Count B. I don't know that, sir; but, I am sure, what you are pleased to say makes me so.

Manly. The most impudent modesty that ever I met with!

Lady W. Lard, how ready his wit is!

[Aside.

[Aside.

Sir Fran. Don't you think, sir, the Count's a very

fine gentleman?

Manly. Oh, among the ladies, certainly.

[Apart. [Apart.

Sir Fran. And yet he's as stout as a lion. Waunds,

he'll storm any thing!

[Apart.

Manly. Will he so? Why, then, sir, take care of

your citadel.

[Apart.

[Apart.

Sir Fran. Ah, you are a wag, cousin!

Manly. I hope, ladies, the town air continues to agree with you.

Jenny. Oh, perfectly well, sir! We have been abroad, in our new coach, all day long-and we have bought an ocean of fine things. And to-morrow we go to the masquerade; and on Friday to the play; and on Saturday to the opera; and on Sunday we are to be at the what d'ye call it-assembly, and see the ladies play at quadrille, and piquet, and ombre, and hazard, and basset; and on Monday we are to see the king; and so on Tuesday

Lady W. Hold, hold, miss! you must not let your tongue run so fast, child-you forget; you know I brought you hither to learn modesty.

Manly. Yes, yes, and she is improved with a vengeance! [Aside.

Jenny. Lawrd, mamma! I am sure I did not say any harm: and, if one must not speak in one's turn, one may be kept under as long as one lives, for ought I see. Lady W. O' my conscience, this girl grows so headstrong

Sir Fran. Ay, ay, there's your fine growing spirit for you! Now tack it dawn, añ' you can.

Jenny. All I said, papa, was only to entertain my cousin Manly.

Manly. My pretty dear, I am mightily obliged to you.

Jenny. Look you there now,

madam.

Lady W. Hold your tongue, I say.

Jenny. [Turning away, and pouting.] I declare it, I won't bear it: she is always snubbing me before you, sir! I know why she does it, well enough

[Aside to the COUNT. Count B. Hush, hush, my dear! don't be uneasy at

that; she'll suspect us.

[Aside. Jenny. Let her suspect! what do I care?-I don't know but I have as much reason to suspect as shethough, perhaps, I am not so afraid of her.

Count B. [Aside.] 'Egad, if I don't keep a tight hand on my tit, here, she'll run away with my project, before I can bring it to bear!

Lady W. [Aside.] The young harlot is certainly in love with him; but I must not let them see I think so -and yet I can't bear it.- -Upon my life, Count, you'll spoil that forward girl-you should not encourage

her so.

Count B. Pardon me, madam, I was only advising her to observe what your ladyship said to her.-In one word, madam, she has a jealousy of your ladyship, and I am forced to encourage her, to blind it; 'twill be better to take no notice of her behaviour to me. [Apart. Lady W. You are right; I will be more cautious.

[Apart. Count B. To-morrow, at the masquerade, we may lose her.

[Apart.

Lady W. We shall be observed; I'll send you a note, and settle that affair-go on with the girl, and don't mind me. [Apart. Count B. I have been taking your part, my little angel.

Lady W. Jenny! come hither, child-you must not be so hasty, my dear-I only advise you for your good. Jenny. Yes, mamma; but when I am told of a thing before company, it always makes me worse, you know.

Manly. If I have any skill in the fair sex, miss and her mamma have only quarrelled because they are both of a mind. This facetious Count seems to have made a very genteel step into the family! [Aside.

Enter MYRTILLA. MANLY talks apart with her.

Lady W. Well, Sir Francis, and what news have you brought us from Westminster to-day?

Sir Fran. News madam! 'Ecod, I have some-and such as does not come every day, I can tell you. Α word in your ear-I have got a promise of a place at court of a thousand pawnd a year already.

Lady W. Have you so, sir? And, pray, who may you thank for't? Now, who is in the right? Is not this better than throwing so much away after a stinking pack of fox-hounds in the country? Now your family may be the better for it.

Sir Fran. Nay, that's what persuaded me to come up, my dove.

Lady W. Mighty well! Come-let me have another hundred pound then.

Sir Fran. Another, child! Waunds! you have had one hundred this morning; pray, what's become of that, my dear?

Lady W. What's become of it! Why, I'll show you, my love. Jenny, have you the bills about you? Jenny. Yes, mamma.

Lady W. What's become of it? Why, laid out, my dear, with fifty more to it, that I was forced to borrow of the Count here.

Jenny. Yes, indeed, papa, and that would hardly do neither-There's the account.

Sir Fran. [Turning over the bills.] Let's see! let's see! what the devil have we got here?

Manly. Then you have sounded your aunt, you say, and she readily comes in to all I proposed to you?

you, sir.

[Apart. Myr. Sir, I'll answer with my life, she is most thankfully yours in every article. She mightily desires to see [Apart. Manly. I am going home directly; bring her to my house in half an hour; and, if she makes good what you tell me, you shall both find your account in it.

[Apart. [Apart-Exit.

Myr. Sir, she shall not fail you. Sir Fran. Ods life, madam! here's nothing but toys and trinkets, and fans, and clock stockings, by wholesale.

Lady W. There's nothing but what's proper, and for your credit, Sir Francis-Nay, you see I am so good a housewife, that, in necessaries for myself, I have scarce laid out a shilling.

Sir Fran. No, by my troth, so it seems; for the devil o' one thing's here that I can see you have any occa

sion for.

Lady W. My dear, do you think I came hither to live out of the fashion! why, the greatest distinction of a fine lady, in this town, is in the variety of pretty things that she has no occasion for.

Jenny. Sure, papa, could you imagine, that women of quality wanted nothing but stays and petticoats? Lady W. Now, that is so like him!

Manly. So, the family comes on finely!

[Aside.

Sir Fran. An hundred pound in the morning, and want another afore night! Waunds and fire! the lord mayor of London could not hold it at this rate. Manly. Oh, do you feel it, sir?

[Aside.

Lady W. My dear, you seem uneasy; let me have

the hundred pound, and compose yourself.

Sir Fran. Compose the devil, madam! why, do you consider what a hundred pound a day comes to in a year?

Lady W. My life, if I account with you from one day to another, that's really all my head is able to bear at a time-But I'll tell you what I consider-I consider that my advice has got you a thousand pound a year this morning-That, now, methinks, you might consider, sir.

Sir Fran. A thousand pound! Yes; but may hap I mayn't receive the first quarter ou't this half year.

Enter 'SQUIRE Richard.

'Squire R. Feyther, an you doan't come quickly, the meat will be coaled: and I'd fain pick a bit with you. Lady W. Bless me, Sir Francis! you are not going to sup by yourself?

Sir Fran. No, but I'm going to dine by myself, and that's pretty near the matter, madam.

Lady W. Had not you as good stay a little, my dear? We shall all eat in half an hour; and I was thinking to ask my cousin Manly to take a family morsel with us. Sir Fran. Nay, for my cousin's good company, I don't care if I ride a day's journey without baiting. Manly. By no means, Sir Francis. I am going upon a little business.

Sir Fran. Well, sir, I know you don't love compli

ments.

Manly. You'll excuse me, madam

Lady W. Since you have business, sir

Enter MRS. Motherly.

[Exit MANLY.

Oh, Mrs. Motherly! you were saying, this morning, you had some very fine lace to show me-can't I see it now? [SIR FRANCIS stares. Mrs. M. Why, really, madam, I had made a sort