Manly. As any sharper in town.

Moody. Well, measter

[Aside.

Lord T. My service to Sir Francis, and my lady, John.

Lady G. And mine, pray, Mr. Moody.

Moody. Ay, your honours; they'll be proud on't, I dare say.

Manly. I'll bring my compliments myself: so, honest John

Moody. Dear Measter Manly! the goodness of goodness bless and preserve you!

Lord T. What a natural creature 'tis !

[Exit.

Lady G. Well, I can't but think John, in a wet afternoon, in the country, must be very good company.

Lord T. Oh, the tramontane! If this were known at half the quadrille tables in town, they would lay down their cards, to laugh at you.

Lady G. And the minute they took them up again, they would do the same at the losers-But, to let you see that I think good company may sometimes want cards to keep them together, what think you, if we three sat soberly down to kill an hour at ombre ? Manly. I shall be too hard for you, madam.

Lady G. No matter; I shall have as much advantage of my lord, as you have of me.

Lord T. Say you so, madam? have at you then. Here! get the ombre table and cards.

[Exit. Lady G. Come, Mr. Manly-I know you don't forgive me now.

Manly. I don't know whether I ought to forgive your thinking so, madam. Where do you imagine I could pass my time so agreeably?

Lady G. I'm sorry my lord is not here to take his share of the compliment-But he'll wonder what's become of us. [Exit. Manly. It must be so- -She sees I love her yet with

what unoffending decency she avoids an explanation ! How amiable is every hour of her conduct! What a vile opinion have I had of the whole sex for these ten years past, which this sensible creature has recovered in less than one! Such a companion, sure, might compensate all the irksome disappointment that folly and falsehood ever gave me !

Could women regulate, like her, their lives,
What halcyon days were in the gift of wives;
Vain rovers, then, might envy what they hate;
And only fools would mock the married state.

[Exit.

ACT II.

Scene I.-Mrs. Motherly's House.

Enter MRS. MOTHERLY and COUNT BASSET.

Count B. I tell you, there is not such a family in England for you. Do you think I would have gone out of your lodgings for any body that was not sure to make you easy for the winter?

Mrs. M. Nay, I see nothing against it, sir, but the gentleman's being a parliament man; and when people may, as it were, think one impertinent, or be out of humour, you know, when a body comes to ask for one's

own

Count B. Psha! Pr'ythee, never trouble thy head; his pay is as good as the bank-Why, he has above two thousand a year.

Mrs. M. Alas-a-day, that's nothing! your people of ten thousand a year have ten thousand things to do with it.

Count B. Nay, if you are afraid of being out of your money, what do you think of going a little with me, Mrs. Motherly?

Mrs. M. As how?

Count B. Why, I have a game in my hand, in which, if you'll help me to play it, you shall go five hundred to nothing.

Mrs. M. Say you so?-Why, then I go, sir-and now, pray let's see your game.

Count B. In one word, my cards lieth us— -When I was down this summer at York, I happened to lodge in the same house with this knight's lady, that's now coming to lodge with you.

Mrs. M. Is this your game? I would not give sixpence for it. What, you have a passion for her pinmoney!-No, no, country ladies are not so flush of it! Is this your way of making my poor niece, Myrtilla, easy?-Had you not a letter from her this morning?

Count B. I have it here in my pocket-this is it.

[Shows it, and puts it up again. Mrs. M. Aye, but I don't find you have made any

answer to it.

Count B. How the devil can I, if you won't hear me! You must know, this country knight and his lady bring up with them their eldest son and a daughter'

Mrs. M. Well

Count B. The son is an unlicked whelp, about sixteen, just taken from school, and begins to hanker after every wench in the family; now, him we must secure for Myrtilla. The daughter, much of the same age; a pert hussy, who, having eight thousand pounds left her by an old doting grandmother, seems to have a devilish mind to be busy in her way too-Now, what do you say

to me?

Mrs. M. Say! why, I shall not sleep for thinking of

it. But, as you say, one for t'other, sir; I stick to that -if you don't do my niece's business with the son, I'll blow you with the daughter, depend upon't.

Count B. Pay as we go, I tell you; and the five hundred shall be staked down.

Mrs. M. That's honest

Enter MYRTILLA.

So, niece, are all the rooms done out, and the beds sheeted?

Myr. Yes, madam; but Mr. Moody tells us, the lady always burns wax in her own chamber, and we have none in the house.

Mrs. M. Odso! then I must beg your pardon, Count; this is a busy time, you know.

Count B. Myrtilla, how dost thou do, child?
Myr. As well as a losing gamester can.

[Exit.

Count B. Psha! hang these melancholy thoughts! Suppose I should help thee to a good husband?

Myr. I suppose you'll think any one good enough, that will take me off o' your hands.

Count B. What do you think of the young country 'squire, the heir of the family that's coming to lodge here?

Myr. How should I know what to think of him?

Count B. Nay, I only give you the hint, child; it may be worth your while, at least to look about you. Enter MRS. MOTHERLY, in haste.

Mrs. M. Sir! sir! the gentleman's coach is at the door; they are all come.

Count B. What, already?

Mrs. M. They are just getting out!-Won't you

step, and lead in my lady? Do you be in the way, niece; I must run and receive them.

[Exit.

Count B. And think of what I told you.

[Exit.

Myr. A faithless fellow! I am sure I have been

true to him;

be rid of me.

be rogues.

and, for that only reason, he wants to But while women are weak, men will

Enter MRS. MOTHERLY, showing in LADY WRONGHEAD, led by COUNT BASSET.

Mrs. M. If your ladyship pleases to walk into this parlour, madam, only for the present, till your servants have got all your things in.

Lady W. Well, dear sir, this is so infinitely obliging -I protest it gives me pain, though, to turn you out of your lodging thus.

Count B. No trouble in the least, madam: we single fellows are soon moved; besides, Mrs. Motherly's my old acquaintance, and I could not be her hinderance.

Mrs. M. The Count is so well bred, madam, I dare say he would do a great deal more to accommodate your ladyship.

Lady W. Oh, dear madam !—A good, well-bred sort of a woman. [Apart to the COUNT. Count B. Oh, madam! she is very much among people of quality; she is seldom without them in her house.

Lady W. Are there a good many people of quality in this street, Mrs. Motherly?

Mrs. M. Now your ladyship is here, madam, I don't believe there is a house without them.

Lady W. I am mighty glad of that; for, really, I think people of quality should always live among one another.

Count B. 'Twas what one would choose, indeed, madam.

Lady W. Bless me! but where are the children all this while?

Sir Fran. [Within] John Moody! stay you by the coach, and see all our things out-Come, children.