Maj. O brave! keep up this spirit, and

for ever.

you are made

Oak. You shall see now, Major!-Who's there?

Enter a SERVANT.

Order the coach directly. I shall dine out to-day.
Serv. The coach, sir!--Now, sir?
Oak. Ay, now, immediately.

Serv. Now, sir!--the-the-coach, sir?--that is -my mistress

Maj. Sirrah! do as you are bid.

this instant.

Sero. Ye-yes, sir-yes, sir.
Oak. Well, where shall we dine?

Bid them put to

[Exit.

Maj. At the St. Albans, or where you will. This is excellent, if you do but hold it.

Oak. I will have my own way, I am determined.

Maj. That's right.

Oak. I am steel.

Maj. Bravo!

Oak. Adamant.

Maj. Bravissimo!

Oak. Just what you'd have me.

BIBL

Maj. Why that's well said. But, will you do it? Oak. I will.

Maj. You won't.

Oak. I will. I'll be a fool to her no longer. But, harkye, Major; my hat and cane lie in my study. I'll go and steal them out, while she is busy talking with Charles.

Maj. Steal them! for shame! Pr'ythee take them boldly; call for them, make them bring them to you here; and go out with spirit, in the face of your whole family.

Oak. No, no,-you are wrong-let her rave after I am gone, and when I return, you know, I shall exert

myself with more propriety, after this open affront to her authority.

Maj. Well, take your own way.

Oak. Ay, ay-let me manage it, let me manage

it.

[Exit.

Maj. Manage it! ay, to be sure, you are a rare manager! It is dangerous, they say, to meddle between man and wife. I am no great favourite of Mrs. Oakly's already and in a week's time I expect to have the door shut in my teeth.

Enter CHARLES.

How now, Charles, what news?

Charles. Ruined and undone! She's gone, uncle! my Harriet's lost for ever.

Maj. Gone off with a man?-I thought so: they are all alike.

Charles. Oh no! Fled to avoid that hateful match with Sir Harry Beagle.

Maj. 'Faith, a girl of spirit, but whence comes all this intelligence?

Charles. In an angry letter from her father- -How miserable I am! If I had not offended my Harriet, much offended her, by that foolish riot and drinking at your house in the country, she would certainly, at such a time, have taken refuge in my arms.

Maj. A very agreeable refuge for a young lady to be sure, and extremely decent!

Charles. What a heap of extravagancies was I guilty of!

Maj. Extravagancies with a witness! Ah, you silly young dog, you would ruin yourself with her father, in spite of all I could do. There you sat, as drunk as a lord, telling the old gentleman the whole affair, and swearing you would drive Sir Harry Beagle out of the country, though I kept winking and nodding, pulling

you by the sleeve, and kicking your shins under the table, in hopes of stopping you; but all to no purpose.

Charles. What distress may she be in at this instant! Alone and defenceless!Where, where can she be? Maj. What relations or friends has she in town?

Charles. Relations! let me see.-'Faith, I have it! -If she is in town, ten to one but she is at her aunt's, Lady Freelove's. I'll go thither immediately.

Maj. Lady Freelove's! Hold, hold, Charles!--do you know her ladyship?

Charles. Not much; but I'll break through all, to get to my Harriet.

Maj. I do know her ladyship.

Charles. Well, and what do you know of her?

Maj. O nothing!--Her ladyship is a woman of the world, that's all

Charles. What do you mean?

Maj. That Lady Freelove is an arrant

-By the by, did not she, last summer, make formal proposals to Harriet's father from Lord Trinket?

Charles. Yes; but they were received with the utmost contempt. The old gentleman, it seems, hates a lord, and he told her so in plain terms.

Maj. Such an aversion to the nobility may not run in the blood. The girl, I warrant you, has no objection. However, if she's there, watch her narrowly, Charles. Lady Freelove is as mischievous as a monkey, and as cunning too. Have a care of her, I say have a care of her.

Charles. If she's there, I'll have her out of the house within this half hour, or set fire to it.

Maj. Nay, now you are too violent-stay a moment, and we'll consider what's best to be done.

Enter OAKLY.

Oak. Come, is the coach ready? let us begone. Does Charles go with us?

Charles. I go with you!--What can I do? I am so vexed and distracted, and so many thoughts crowd in upon me, I don't know which way to turn myself.

Mrs. Oak. [Within.] The coach!-dines out!-where is your master?

Oak. Zounds, brother! here she is!

Enter MRS. OAKLY.

Mrs. Oak. Pray, Mr. Oakly, what is the matter you cannot dine at home to-day?

Oak. Don't be uneasy, my dear!-I have a little business to settle with my brother; so I am only just going to dinner with him and Charles, to the tavern.

Mrs. Oak. Why cannot you settle your business here, as well as at a tavern? but it is some of your ladies' business, I suppose, and so you must get rid of my company. This is chiefly your fault, Major Oakly!

Maj. Lord, sister, what signifies it, whether a man dines at home or abroad?

[Coolly, Mrs. Oak. It signifies a great deal, sir! and I don't choose

Maj. Phoo! let him go, my dear sister, let him go! he will be ten times better company when he comes back. I tell you what, sister-you sit at home, till you are quite tired of one another, and then you grow cross, and fall out. If you would but part a little now and then, you might meet again in good humour.

Mrs. Oak. I beg, Major Oakly, that you would trouble yourself about your own affairs; and let me tell you, sir, that I

Oak. Nay, do not put thyself into a passion with the Major, my dear!-It is not his fault; and I shall come back to thee very soon.

Mrs. Oak. Come back!-why need you go out?—I know well enough when you mean to deceive me; for then there is always a pretence of dining with Sir John,

or my lord, or somebody; but when you tell me, that you are going to a tavern, it's such a bare-faced affront

Oak. This is so strange now!-Why, my dear, I shall only just

Mrs. Oak. Only just go after the lady in the letter, I

suppose.

Oak. Well, well, I won't go then.-Will that convince you? I'll stay with you, my dear!—will that satisfy you?

Maj. For shame! hold out, if you are a man. [Apart. Oak. She has been so much vexed this morning already, I must humour her a little now. [Apart. Maj. Fie! Fie! go out, or you are undone. [Apart. Oak. You see it's impossible.-[Apart to MRS. OAKLY.] I'll dine at home with thee, my love.

Mrs. Oak. Ay, ay, pray do, sir.-Dine at a tavern, indeed! [Going. Oak. [Returning.] You may depend on me another time, Major.

Maj. Steel and adamant!--Ah!

Mrs. Oak. [Returning.] Mr. Oakly!

Oak. O, my dear! [Exeunt MR. and MRS. OAKLY.

Maj. Ha ha ha! there's a picture of resolution! there goes a philosopher for you! ha! Charles!

Charles. O, uncle! I have no spirits to laugh now. Maj. So! I have a fine time on't between you and my brother. Will you meet me to dinner at the St. Albans by four? We'll drink her health, and think of this affair.

Charles. Don't depend on me. I shall be running all over the town, in pursuit of my Harriet; at all events I'll go directly to Lady Freelove's. If I find her not there, which way I shall direct myself, heaven knows. Maj. Harkye, Charles! If you meet with her, you may be at a loss. Bring her to my house: I have a snug room, and