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the greatest favour you can do me, is to leave the house immediately.

Charles. That your ladyship may depend on.

Since you have put Miss Russet to flight, you may be sure of not being troubled with my company. I'll after her immediately.

Lady F. If she has any regard for her reputation, she'll never put herself into such hands as yours.

Charles. O, madam, there can be no doubt of her regard for that, by her leaving your ladyship. Lady F. Leave my house.

Charles. Directly-A charming house! and a charming lady of the house too!-Ha! ha! ha! Lady F. Vulgar fellow !

Charles. Fine lady!

[Exeunt severally.

ACT III.

Scene I-Lady Freelove's House.

Enter LADY FREELOVE, and Lord Trinket.

Lord T. Doucement, doucement, my dear Lady Freelove! -Excuse me, I meant no harm, 'pon honour!

Lady F. Indeed, indeed, my Lord Trinket, this is absolutely intolerable! What, to offer rudeness to a young lady in my house! What will the world say of

it?

Lord T. Just what the world pleases.- -It does not signify a doit what they say. However, I ask pardon; but, egad, I thought it was the best way.-Devil take Sir Harry, and t'other scoundrel too!-That they should come driving hither just at so critical an instant !—And that the wild little thing should take wing, and fly away the lord knows whither!-'Pon honour, Lady Free

love, I can scarce believe this obstinate girl a relation of yours.

Lady F. Come, come, my lord, a truce with your reflections on my niece! Let us consider what is best to be done.-Will you submit to be governed by me, then?

Lord T. I'll be all obedience--your ladyship's slave, 'pon honour.

Lady F. Why then, as this is rather an ugly affair in regard to me, as well as your lordship, and may make some noise, I think it absolutely necessary, merely to save appearances, that you should wait on her father, palliate matters as well as you can, and make a formal repetition of your proposal of marriage.

Lord T. Your ladyship is perfectly in the right. You are quite au fait of the affair. It shall be done immediately, and then your reputation will be safe, and my conduct justified to all the world. But should the old rustic continue as stubborn as his daughter, your ladyship, I hope, has no objections to my being a little rusée, for I must have her, 'pon honour.

Lady F. Do what you will, I wash my hands of it. She's out of my care now, you know.-But you must beware your rivals. One, you know, is in the house with her, and the other will lose no opportunities of getting to her.

Lord T. As to the fighting gentleman, I shall cut out work for him in his own way. I'll send him a petit billet to-morrow morning, and then there can be no great difficulty in outwitting her bumpkin father, and the baronet.

Enter a SERVANT.

Serv. Captain O'Cutter, to wait on your ladyship. Lady F. O the hideous fellow! The Irish sailor-man, for whom I prevailed on your lordship to get the post of regulating captain. I suppose, he is come to load me

with his odious thanks. I won't be troubled with him.

now.

Lord T. Let him in, by all means. He is the best creature to laugh at in nature. He is a perfect sea monster, and always looks and talks as if he was upon deck. Besides, a thought strikes me—————— -He may be of

use.

Lady F. Well-send the creature up then. [Exit SERVANT.] But what fine thought is this?

Lord T. A coup de maitre, 'pon honour! I intendbut, hush! here the porpus comes.

Enter CAPTAIN O'CUTTER.

Lady F. Captain, your humble servant! I am very glad to see you.

O'Cut. I am much obliged to you, my lady! Upon my conscience, the wind favours me at all points. I had no sooner got under way, to tank your ladyship, but I have borne down upon my noble friend his lordship too. I hope your lordship's well?

Lord T. Very well, I thank you, Captain !-But you seem to be hurt in the service: what is the meaning of that patch over your right eye?

O'Cut. Some advanced wages from my new post, my lord! This pressing is hot work, though it entitles us to

smart money.

Lady F. And pray, in what perilous adventure did you get that scar, Captain?

O'Cut. Quite out of my element, indeed, my lady. I got it in an engagement by land. A day or two ago, I 'spied three stout fellows, belonging to a merchantman. They made down Wapping. I immediately gave my lads the signal to chase, and we bore down right upon them. They tacked, and lay to-We gave them a thundering broadside, which they resaved like men; and one of them made use of small arms, which carried off the weathermost corner of Ned Gage's hat; so I

immediately stood in with him, and raked him, but resaved a wound on my starboard eye, from the stock of the pistol. However, we took them all, and they now lie under the hatches, with fifty more, a-board a tender off the Tower.

Lord T. Well done, noble Captain!-But, however, you will soon have better employment, for I think, the next step to your present post, is commonly a ship.

'Cut. The sooner the better, my lord! Honest Terence O'Cutter shall never flinch, I warrant you; and has had as much sea-sarvice, as any man in the navy.

Lord T. You may depend on my good offices, Captain! But, in the meantime, it is in your power to do me a favour.

O'Cut. A favour, my lord?-your lordship does me honour. I would go round the world, from one end to the other, by day or by night, to sarve your lordship, or my good lady here.

Lord T. Dear madam, the luckiest thought in nature! [Apart to LADY F.]-The favour I have to ask of you, Captain, need not carry you so far out of your way. The whole affair is, that there are a couple of impudent fellows, at an inn in Holborn, who have affronted me, and you would oblige me infinitely, by pressing them into his majesty's service.

Lady F. Now I understand--Admirable! [Apart. O'Cut. With all my heart, my lord, and tank you too, 'fait. But, by the by, I hope they are not housekeepers, or freemen of the city. There's the devil to pay in meddling with them. They boder one so about liberty, and property, and stuff.-It was but t'other day, that Jack Trowser was carried before my Lord Mayor, and lost above a twelvemonth's pay, for nothing at all, at all.

Lord T. I'll take care you shall be brought into no trouble. These fellows were formerly my grooms. If

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you'll call on me in the morning, I'll go with you to the place.

O'Cut. I'll be with your lordship, and bring with me four or five as pretty boys, as you'll wish to clap your two looking eyes upon of a summer's day.

Lord T. I am much obliged to you-But, Captain, I have another little favour to beg of you.

O'Cut. Upon my shoul, I'll do it.

Lord T. What, before

you know it? O'Cut. Fore and aft, my lord!

Lord T. A gentleman has offended me in a point of honour-

O'Cut. Cut his troat!

Lord T. Will you carry him a letter from me?

O'Cut. Indeed and I will:-and I'll take you in tow too; and you shall engage him yard-arm and yard-arm. Lord T. Why, then, Captain, you'll come a little earlier to-morrow morning than you proposed, that you may attend him with my billet, before you proceed on the other affair.

O'Cut. Never fear it, my lord--Your sarvant !My ladyship, your humble sarvant!

Lady F. Captain, yours-Pray give my service to my friend Mrs. O'Cutter. How does she do?

O'Cut. I tank your ladyship's axing-The dear creature is purely tight and well.

Lord T. How many children have you, Captain? O'Cut. Four, and please your lordship, and another upon the stocks.

Lord T. When it is launched, I hope to be at the christening. I'll stand godfather, Captain!

O'Cut. Your lordship's very good.

Lord T. Well, you'll come to-morrow.

O'Cut. Ay, my lord, and every day next week.Little Terence O'Cutter never fails, fait, when a troat is to be cut. [Exit. Lady F. Ha ha! ha! But, sure you don't intend to

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