one at second hand, for present use; so bespeak a new one, and then all's easy.

Moody. Why, troth, sir, I don't think this could have held you above a day longer.

Sir Fran. D'ye think so, John?

Moody. Why, you ha' had it ever since your worship were high sheriff.

Sir Fran. Why, then, go and see what Doll has got us for supper; and come, and get off my boots.

[Exeunt Sir Francis and Moody, L. Lady W. [Jenny comes forward.] In the mean time, miss, do you step to Handy, and bid her get some fresh night-clothes. [Exit.

Jenny. Yes, mamma, and some for myself, too. 'Squire R. Odds flesh! and what mun I do all alone? I'll e'en seek out where t'other pratty miss is, And she and I'll go play at cards for kisses. [Drinks, and, while drinking, Jenny goes behind him, and pushes his head forward.-Exeunt 'Squire and Jenny, fighting.

END OF ACT II..

ACT III.

SCENE I.-Lord Townly's House.

Enter LORD TOWNLY, L., and WILLIAMS, R.

Lord T. (c.) Who's there?

Wil. (R.) My lord!

Lord T. Bid them get dinner. [Exit Williams, R. Lady Grace, your servant!

Enter LADY GRACE, R.

Lady G. (R.) What! is the house up already ?-My lady is not dressed yet.

Lord T. (L. c.) No matter-it's five o'clock-she may break my rest, but she shall not alter my hours.

Lady G. (R. C.) Nay, you need not fear that now, for she dines abroad.

Lord T That, I suppose, is only an excuse for her not being ready yet.

Ludy G. No, upon my word, she is engaged in company.

Lord T. But, pr'ythee, sister, what humour is she in to-day?

Lady G. Oh, in tip-top spirits, I can assure you !— She won a good deal last night.

Lord T. I know no difference between her winning or losing, while she continues her course of life.

Lady G. However, she is better in good humour, than bad.

Lord T. Much alike: when she is in good humour, other people only are the better for it-when in a very ill humour, then, indeed, I seldom fail to have a share of her.

Lady G. Well, we won't talk of that now.-Does any body dine here?

Lord T. Manly promised me-By the way, madam, what do you think of his last conversation?

Lady G. I am a little at a stand about it.

Lord T. How so?

Lady G. Why-I have received a letter this morning, that shows him a very different man from what I thought him.

Lord T. A letter from whom?"

Lady G. That I don't know: but there it is.

Lord T. Pray let's see

[Gives a letter. [Reads. "The inclosed, madam, fell accidently into my hands; if it no way concerns you, you will only have the trouble of reading this, from your sincere friend and humble servant, unknown, &c."

Lady G."And this was the inclosed.
Lord T. [Reads.]

"To CHARLES MANLY, Esq.

[Gives another.

"Your manner of living with me of late convinces me, that I now grow as painful to you as to myself; but, however, though you can love me no longer, I hope you will not let me live worse than I did, before I left an honest income, for the vain hopes of being ever your's. "MYRTILLA DUPE."

"P. S. 'Tis above four months since I received a shilling from you."

Lady G. What think you now?
Lord T. I am considering-

Lady G. You see it's directed to him?

Lord T. That's true; but the postscript seems to be a reproach that, I think, he is not capable of deserving.

Lady G. But who could have concern enough to send it to me?

Lord T. I have observed, that these sort of letters from unknown friends generally come from secret enemies. Lady G. What would you have me do in it?

Lord T. What I think you ought to do-fairly show it him, and say I advised you to it.

Lady G. Will not that have a very odd look from me? Lord T. Not at all, if you use my name in it; if he is innocent, his impatience to appear so will discover his regard to you. If he is guilty, it will be the best way of preventing his addresses.

Lady G. But what pretence have I to put him out of countenance?

Lord T. I can't think there's any fear of that.

Lady G. Pray, what is it you do think, then?

Lord T. Why, certainly, that it's much more probable this letter may be all an artifice, than that he is in the least concerned in it.

Enter WILLIAMS, L.

Wil. Mr. Manly, my lord.

Lord T. Do you receive him, while I step a minute to

my lady.

Enter MANLY, L.

[Exit, L.

[Exit.

Manly. (L.) Madam, your most obedient-they told me my lord was here.

Lady G. (R.) He will be here presently; he is but just gone in to my sister.

Manly. (L. C.) So, then, my lady dines with us?
Lady G. No; she is engaged.

Manly. I hope you are not of her party, madam?
Lady G. (R. C.) Not till after dinner.

Manly. And pray how may she have disposed of the rest of the day?

Lady G. Much as usual: she has visits till about eight; after that, till court time, she is to be at quadrille, at Mrs. Idle's; after the drawing-room, she takes a short supper with my Lady Moonlight; and from thence they go together to my Lord Noble's assembly.

Manly. And are you to do all this with her, madam ? Lady G. Only a few of the visits: I would, indeed, have drawn her to the play; but I doubt we have so much upon our hands, that it will not be practicable.

Manly. But how can you forbear all the rest of it? Lady G. There is no great merit in forbearing what one is not charmed with.

Manly. And yet I have found that very difficult in my time.

Lady G. How do you mean?

Manly. Why, I have passed a great deal of my life in the hurry of the ladies, though I was generally better pleased when I was at quiet without them.

Lady G. What induced you, then, to be with them? Manly. Idleness and the fashion.

Lady G. No mistresses in the case?

Manly. To speak honestly-yes--Being often in the toy-shop, there was no forbearing the baubles.

Lady G. And of course, I suppose, sometimes you were tempted to pay for them, twice as much as they were worth?

Manly. Madam!

Lady G. I'll be free with you, Mr. Manly-I don't know a man in the world, that, in appearance, might better pretend to a woman of the first merit, than yourself: and yet I have a reason in my hand, here, to think you have your failings.

Manly. I have, infinite, madam! but I am sure the want of an implicit respect for you is not among the number-Pray what is in your hand, madam?

Lady G. Nay, sir, I have no title to it, for the direction is to you. [Gives him a letter. Manly. To me! I don't remember the hand.

[Reads to himself. Lady G. I can't perceive any change of guilt in him; and his surprise seems natural. [Aside.] Give me leave to tell you one thing by the way, Mr. Manly, that I should never have shown you this, but that my brother enjoined me to it.

Manly. I take that to proceed from my lord's good opinion of me, madam.

Lady G. I hope, at least, it will stand as an excuse, for my taking this liberty.

Manly. I never yet saw you do any thing, madam, that wanted an excuse; and I hope you will not give me an instance to the contrary, by refusing the favour I am going to ask you.

Lady G. I don't believe I shall refuse any that you think proper to ask.

Manly. Only this, madam, to indulge me so far as to let me know how this letter came into your hands. Lady G. Inclosed to me in this without a name. Manly. If there be no secret in the contents, madam

Lady G. Why-there is an impertinent insinuation in it! but, as I know your good sense will think it so too, 1 will venture to trust you.

Manly. You'll oblige me, madam.

[He takes the other letter, and reads. Lady G. [Aside.] Now am I in the oddest situation ! Methinks our conversation grows terribly critical.— This must produce something-Oh, lud, would it were over!

Manly. Now, madam, I begin to have some light into the poor project that is at the bottom of all this.

Lady G. I have no notion of what could be proposed by it.

Manly. A little patience, madam.-First, as to the insinuation you mention

Lady G. Oh! what is he going to say now? [Aside.] Manly. Though my intimacy with my lord may have allowed my visits to have been very frequent here of late, yet, in such a talking town as this, you must not wonder, if a great many of those visits are placed to your account: and this, taken for granted, I suppose, has been told to my Lady Wronghead, as a piece of news, since her arrival, not improbably, with many more imaginary circumstances.

Lady G. My Lady Wronghead!

Manly. Ay, madam; for I am positive this is her hand.

Lady G. What view could she have in writing it?

Manly. To interrupt any treaty of marriage she may have heard I am engaged in; because, if I die without heirs, her family expects that some part of my estate may return to them again. But I hope she is so far mistaken, that if this letter has given you the least uneasiness-I shall think that the happiest moment of my life.

Lady G. That does not carry your usual complaisance, Mr. Manly.

Manly, Yes, madam, because I am sure I can convince you of my innocence.

Lady G. I am sure I have no right to inquire into it.