land, and make a little go a great way. It lies together in as small parcels as if it was placed in pots out at your window in Gradechurch-Street,

Cant. Ha ha! ha! ha!

LOgle What d'ye laugh at Canton?

Cant. Ah! que cette similitude est drole! So clever what you say, miler!

L Ogle. [to Fanny.] You seem mightily engaged, madam. What are those pretty hands so busily employed about?

Fan. Only making up a nosegay, my lord!Will your lordship do me the honour of accepting it?

[presenting it. L Ogle. I'll wear it next my heart, madam!-1 see the young creature doats on me.

[Apart. Miss Ster. Lord, sister you've loaded his lordship with a bunch of flowers as big as the cook or the nurse carry to town on Monday morning for a beaupot.Will your lordship give me leave to present you with this rose and, a sprig of sweet briar? ¿

L Ogle. The truest emblems of yourself, Madam! all sweetness and poignancy.-A little jealous poor soul!

[Apart. Ster. Now, my lord, if you please, I'll carry you to see my ruins.

Mrs Heidel. You'll absolutely fatigue his lordship with overwalking, brother!

L Ogle. Not at all, madam ? We're in the garden of Eden, you know; in the region of perpetual spring, youth, and-beauty. [leering at the women. Mrs Heidel. Quite the man of quality, I pertest. [Apart. Cant. Take a my arm, milor!

[Lord Ogleby leans on him. Ster. I'll only shew his lordship my ruins, and the cascade, and the Chinese bridge, and then we'll go to breakfast.

L Ogle. Ruins, did you say, Mr Sterling?

Ster. Ay, ruins, my lord! and they are reckoned very fine ones too. You would think them ready to tumble on your head. It has just cost me a hundred and fifty pounds to put my ruins in thorough repair. This way, if your lordship pleases.

VOL. III.

LOgli

LOgle. [going stops.] What steeple's that we see yonder the parish-church, I suppose.

Ster. Ha? ha! ha! that's admirable. It is no church at all, my lord! it is a spire that I have built against a tree, a field or two off, to terminate the prospect. One must always have a church, or an obelisk, or a something, to terminate the prospect, you know. That's a rule of taste, my lord!

LOgle. Very ingenious indeed! For my part, I desire no finer prospect, than this I see before me. [leering at the women.]-Simple, yet varied; bounded, yet extensive. -Get away, Canton! [pushing away Canton.] I want no as istance. I'll walk with the ladies.

Ster. This way, my lord!

L Ogle Lead on sir!-We young folks here will follow you.-Madam! Miss Sterling! Miss Fanny! I attend you. [Exit after Sterling, gallanting the ladies. Cant. [following.] He is cock o' de game, ma foi !

Manet Sir John Melvil, and Lovewell.

[Exit.

Sir John. You must know then, notwithstanding all appearances, that this treaty of marriage between Miss Sterling and me will come to nothing:

Love. How!

Sir John. It will be no match, Lovewell.
Love. You amaze me. What should prevent it.

Sir John. I.

Love. You! wherefore?

Sir John. I dont like her.

Love. Very plain indeed! I never supposed that you was extremely devoted to her from inclination, but thought you alway sconsidered it as a matter of convenience, rather than affection.

Sir John. Very true. I came into the family without any impressions on my mind-with an unimpassioned indifference ready to receive one woman as soon as another. I looked upon love, serious, sober, love, as a chimæra, and marriage as a thing of course, as you know most people do, But I who was lately so great an infidel in love, am now one of its sincerest votaries.-In short, my defection from Miss Sterling proceeds from the violence of my attachment to another.

Love.

Love. Another! So! so! here will be fine work. And pray who is she?

Sir John. Who is she! who can she be? but Fanny, the tender, amiable, engaging Fanny.

Love. Fanny! What Fanny?

Sir John. Fanny Sterling. Her sister-Is not she an angel, Lovewell?

Love. Her sister? Confusion ?—You must not think of it, Sir John.

Sir John. Not think of it? I can think of nothing else. Nay, tell me, Lovewell! was it possible for me to be indulged in a perpetual intercourse with two such objects as Fanny and her sister, and not find my heart led by insensible attraction towards her?. You seem confounded

Why don't you answer me?

Love. Indeed, Sir John, this event gives me infinite con

cern.

Sir John. Why so?-Is not she an angel, Lovewell ?. Love. I foresee that it must produce the worst consequences. Consider the confusion it must unavoidably create. Let me persuade you to drop these thoughts in time.

Sir John. Never-never, Lovewell!

Love. You have gone too far to recede. A negotiation, so nearly concluded, cannot be broken off with any grace. The lawyers, you know, are hourly expected; the prileminaries almost finally settled between lord Ogleby and Mr Sterling; and Miss Sterling herself ready to receive youas a husband.

Sir John. Why, the bans have been published, and nobody has forbidden them, 'tis true-but you know either of the parties may change their minds even after they enter the church.

Love. You think too lightly of this matter. To carry your addresses so far-and then to desert her-and for her sister too!-it will be such an affront to the family, that they can never put up with it.

Sir John. I don't think so: for as to my transferring my passion from her to her sister, so much the better!--for then, you know, I don't carry my affections out of the family.

B 2

Love

it.

Love. Nay, but prithee be serious, and think better of

Sir John. I have thought better of it already, you see. Tell me honestly, Love well! can you blame me? Is there any comparison between them?

Love. As to that now-why that-that is just-just as it may strike different people. There are many admirers of Miss Sterling's vivacity.

Sir John. Vivacity! a medley of Cheapside pertness, and Whitechapel pride.-No-no-if I do go so far into the city for the wedding-dinner, it shall be upon a turtle at least.

Love. But I see no probability of success; for, grant ing that Mr Sterling wou'd have consented to it at first, he cannot listen to it now. Why did not you break this affair to the family before?

Sir John. Under such embarrassed circumstances as I have been, can you wonder at my irresolution or perplexty Nothing but despair, the fear of losing my dear Fanny, could bring me to a declaration even now and yet, I think I know Mr Sterling so well, that, as strange as my proposal may appear, if I can make it advan ageons to him as a money-transaction, as I am sure I can, he will certainly come into it, nossa N

Love. But even suppose he should, which I very much doubt, I don't think Fanny herself wou'd listen to your addresses.

Sir John. You are deceived a little in that particular.
Love. You'll find I am in the right.

Sir John. I have some little reason to think otherwise. 1. Love. You have not declared your passion to her already?

it ?

Sir John. Yes, I have.

Love. Indeed!-And-and-and how did she receive

Sir John. I think it is not very easy for me to make my addresses to any woman, without receiving some little en couragement?

Love Encouragement! did she give you any encou ragement?

Sir John. I don't know what you call encouragementbut she blushed-and cried and desired me not to think

of

of it any more: upon which I prest her hand-kissed itswore she was an angel-and I cou'd see it tickled her to the soul.

Love, And did she express no surprise at your declaration?

Sir John. Why faith, to say the truth, she was a little surprised and she get away from me too, before I cou'd thoroughly explain myself. If I should not meet with an opportunity of speaking to her, I must get you to deliver a letter from me.

Love. I!-a letter!-I had rather have nothing

Sir John. Nay, you promised me your assistance-and I am sure you cannot scruple to make yourself useful on such an occasion. You may, without suspicion, acquaint her verbally of my determined affection for her, and that I am resolved to ask her father's consent.

Love. As to that, your commands, you know that is, if she-Indeed, Sir John, I think you are in the wrong.

Sir John. Well-well-that's my concern-Ha! there she goes, by heav'n! along that walk yonder, d'ye see?I'll go to her immediately.

Love. You are too precipitate. Consider what you are doing.

Sir John, I would not lose this opportunity for the uni

verse.

Love. Nay, pray don't go! your violence and eagernes may overcome her spirits.-The shock will be too much for her. [detaining bim.

Sir John. Nothing shall prevent me. Ha! now she turns into another walk.-Let me go! [breaks from him.] I shall lose her.[going, turns back.] Be sure now to keep out of the way.-If you interrupt us, I shall never forgive you. [Exit bastily.

LOVEWELL alone.

'Sdeath! I can't bear this. In love with my wife! acq: aint me with his passion for her! make his addresses before my face! I shall break out before my time. This was the meaning of Fanny's uneasiness. She could not

B 3

encourage