:

himself to be my admirer, 'tis true,but he was never so presumptuous to entertain any dishonourable notion of things; so that if this be made plain-I don't see how my daughter can in conscience, or honour, or any thing in the world

Sir P. Indeed if this be made plain, as my lady your mother says, child.

Lady P. Plain! I was informed of it by Mr. Careless-and I assure you Mr. Careless is a person-that has a most extraordinary respect and honour for you, Sir Paul.

Cyn. [Aside.] And for your ladyship too, I believe, or else you had not changed sides so soon; now I be-gin to find it.

Sir P. I am much obliged to Mr. Careless, really, he is a person that I have a great value for, not only for that, but because he has a great veneration for your ladyship.

Lady P. O la, no indeed, Sir Paul, it is upon your

account.

Sir P. No, I protest and vow I have no title to his esteem, but in having the honour to appertain in some measure to your ladyship, that's all.

Lady P. O la, now, I swear and declare, it shan't be so, you are too modest, Sir Paul.

Sir P. It becomes me when there is any comparison made between

Lady P. O fy, fy, Sir Paul, you'll put me out of countenance-Your very obedient and affectionate wife, that 's all-and highly honoured in that title.

Sir P. Gad's-bud I am transported! Give me leave to kiss your ladyship's hand.

66

Cyn. That my poor father should be so very silly." [Aside. Lady P. My lip, indeed, Sir Paul, I swear you shall. [He kisses her, and bows very low.

Sir P. I humbly thank your ladyship-I don't know whether I fly on ground, or walk in air-gads-bud, she was never thus before- -Well, I must own myself beholden to Mr. Careless-As sure as can be this is all his doing-something that he has said; well, 't is a rare thing to have an ingenious friend. Well, your ladyship is of opinion that the match may go forward.

Lady P. By all means-Mr. Careless has satisfied me of the matter.

Sir P. Well, why then, lamb, you may keep your oath, but have a care of making rash vows; come hither to me, and kiss papa.

Lady P. I swear and declare, I am in such a twitter to read Mr. Careless's letter, that I cannot forbear any longer-But though I may read all letters first by prerogative, yet I'll be sure to be unsuspected this time.Sir Paul.

Sir P. Did your Ladyship call?

Lady P. Nay, not to interrupt you,

Only lend me your letter, which you

my dearhad from your

steward to-day: I would look upon the account again; and may be increase the allowance.

H

Sir Paul. There it is, madam.

and ink?

Do you want a pen [Bows and gives the letter.

Lady P. No, no, nothing else, I thank you, Sir Paul-So now I can read my own letter under the cover of his. [Aside.

Sir P. He? and wilt thou bring a grandson at nine months end-He? a brave chopping boy.-I'll settle a thousand pounds a year upon the rogue as soon as ever he looks me in the face, I will, gadsbud. I am overjoyed to think I have any of my family that will bring children into the world. For I would fain have some resemblance of myself in my posterity, he, Thy! "Cannot you contrive that affair, girl? Do; "Gads-bud think on thy old father;" heh! Make the young rogue as like as you can.

Cyn. I am glad to see you so merry, sir.

Sir P. Merry! Gads-bud I am serious! I'll give thee 5ool. for every inch of him that resembles me; ah, this eye, this left eye! A thousand pounds for this left eye. This has done execution in its time, girl; why, thou hast my leer, hussy, just thy father's leer. Let it be transmitted to the young rogue by the help of imagination-Why 'tis the mark of our family, Thy; our house is distinguished by a languishing eye, as the house of Austria is by a thick lip- -Ah! when I was of your age, hussy, I would have held fifty to one I could have drawn my own picture-Gads-bud, but I could have done not so much as you neither, -but-nay, don't blush,

Cyn. I don't blush, sir, for I vow I don't understand.

Sir P. Pshaw, pshaw, you fib, you baggage, you do understand, and you shall understand: Come, don't be so nice; Gads-bud don't learn after your mother-in-law, my lady here-Marry, Heaven forbid that you should follow her example, that would spoil all indeed. Bless us, if you should take a vagary, and make a rash resolution on your wedding-night to die a maid, as she did, all were ruined, all my hopes lost -My heart would break, and my estate would be left to the wide world, he! I hope you are a better Christian than to think of living a nun, he? Answer

me.

Cyn. I am all obedience, sir, to your commands.

Lady P. [Having read the letter.] O dear Mr. Careless, I swear he writes charmingly, and he looks charmingly, and he has charmed me as much as I have charmed him; and so I'll tell him in the wardrobe when 'tis dark. O Crimine! I hope Sir Paul has not seen both letters-[Puts the wrong letter hastily ups and gives him her own.] Sir Paul, here's your letter, to-morrow morning I'll settle accounts to your advan. tage.

Enter BRISK.

Brisk. Sir Paul, Gad's-bud you are an uncivil person, let me tell you, and all that; and I did not think it had been in you.

Sir P. O la, what's the matter now? I hope you are not angry, Mr. Brisk?

Brisk. Deuce take me, I believe you intend to marry your daughter yourself; you are always brooding over her like an old hen, as if she were not well hatched, 'egad, he?

Sir P. Good, strange! Mr. Brisk is such a merry facetious person, he, he, he. No, no, I have done with her, I have done with her now.

Brisk. The fiddles have stayed this hour in the hall, and my Lord Froth wants a partner; we can never begin without her.

Sir P. Go, go, child, go, get you gone and dance and be merry; I will come and look at you by and by. Where is my son Mellefont?

is

Lady P. I'll send him to them, I know where he

Brisk. Sir Paul, will you send Careless into the hall if you meet him.

Sir P. I will, I will, I'll go and look for him on purpose. [Exit all but Brisk. Brisk. So now they are all gone, and I have an opportunity to practice▬▬Ah! my dear Lady Froth! She's a most engaging creature, if she were not so fond of that damned coxcombly Lord of hers; and yet I am forced to allow him wit too, to keep in with him

-No matter, she's a woman of parts, and 'egad parts will carry her. She said, she would follow me into the gallery-Now to make my approachesHem, hem! Ah, madam! [Bows]--Pox on't, why