Manly. Sir Francis--my lady is ready to receive your commands for her journey, whenever you please to appoint it.

Sir Fran. Ah, cousin, I doubt I am obliged to you for it.

Manly. Come, come, Sir Francis, take it as you find it. Obedience in a wife is a good thing, though it were never so wonderful!- -And now, sir, we have nothing to do but to dispose of this gentleman.

Count B. Mr. Manly; sir, I hope you won't ruin me? Manly. Did not you forge this note for five hundred pounds, sir!

Count B. Sir-I see you know the world, and therefore I shall not pretend to prevaricate-But it has hurt nobody yet, sir; I beg you will not stigmatize me; since you have spoiled my fortune in one family, I hope you won't be so cruel to a young fellow, as to put it out of my power, sir, to make it in another, sir.

Manly. Look you, sir, I have not much time to waste with you but if you expect mercy yourself, you must show it to one you have been cruel to.

Count B. Cruel, sir!

Manly. Have you not ruined this young woman?
Count B. I, sir!

Manly. I know you have therefore you can't blame her, if, in the fact you are charged with, she is a principal witness against you. However, you have one, and only one chance to get off with. Marry her this instant-and you take off her evidence.

Count B. Dear sir!

Manly. No words, sir, a wife, or a mittimus.

Count B. Lord, sir! this is the most unmerciful mercy!

Manly. A private penance, or a public one-Constable!

Count B. Hold, sir, since you are pleased to give me

my choice, I will not make so ill a compliment to the lady, as not to give her the preference.

Manly. It must be done this minute, sir; the chaplain you expected is still within call.

Myr. Come, sir, don't repine: marriage is at worst but playing upon the square.

Count B. Ay, but the worst of the match too, is the devil.

Manly. Well, sir, to let you see it is not so bad as you think it; as a reward for her honesty, in detecting your practices, instead of the forged bill you would have put upon her, there's a real one of five hundred pounds, to begin a new honeymoon with. [Gives it to Myrtilla. Count B. Sir, this is so generous an act

Manly. No compliments, dear sir-I am not at leisure now to receive them. Mr. Constable, will you be so good as to wait upon this gentleman into the next room, and give this lady in marriage to him? [Exit. Const. Sir, I'll do it faithfully.

Count B. Well, five hundred will serve to make a handsome push with, however. And I am not the first of the fraternity who has run his head into one noose, to keep it out of another-Come, spouse.

Myr. Yes, my life.

[Exeunt MYRTILLA, COUNT, and CONSTABLE. Sir Fran. And that I may be sure my family's rid of him for ever-come, my lady, let's even take our chil dren along with us, and be all witness of the ceremony. [Exeunt.

Scene II-A Dressing Room.

LADY TOWNLY discovered as just up, MRS. TRUSTY

waiting.

Mrs. T. Dear madam, what should make your lady. ship so ill?

Lady T. How is it possible to be well, where one is killed for want of sleep?

Mrs. T. Dear me! it was so long before you rung, madam, I was in hopes your ladyship had been finely composed.

Lady T. Composed! why I have lain in an inn here; this house is worse than an inn with ten stage-coaches: what between my lord's impertinent people of business in a morning, and the intolerable thick shoes of footmen at noon, one has not a wink all night.

Mrs. T. Indeed, madam, it's a great pity my lord can't be persuaded into the hours of people of quality-though I must say that, madam, your ladyship is certainly the best matrimonial manager in town.

Lady T. Oh, you are quite mistaken, Trusty! I manage very ill; for, notwithstanding all the power I have, by never being over fond of my lord-yet I want money infinitely oftener than he is willing to give it

me.

Mrs. T. Ah! if his lordship could but be brought to play himself, madam, then he might feel what it is to want money.

Lady T. Oh, don't talk of it! do you know that I am undone, Trusty?

Mrs. T. Mercy forbid, madam!

Lady T. Broke, ruined, plundered!-stripped, even to a confiscation of my last guinea!

Mrs. T. You don't tell me so, madam!

Lady T. And where to raise ten pound in the world -What is to be done, Trusty?

Mrs. T. Truly, I wish I were wise enough to tell you, madam: but may be your ladyship may have a run of better fortune upon some of the good company that comes here to-night.

Lady T. But I have not a single guinea to try my fortune.

Mrs. T. Ha! that's a bad business indeed, madam

Adad, I have a thought in my head, madam, if it is not too late

Lady T. Out with it quickly, then, I beseech thee.

Mrs. T. Has not the steward something of fifty pounds, madam, that you left in his hands to pay somebody about this time?

Lady T. Oh, ay; I had forgot-'twas to a-what's his filthy name?

Mrs. T. Now I remember, madam, 'twas to Mr. Lutestring, your old mercer, that your ladyship turned off about a year ago, because he would trust you no longer.

Lady T. The very wretch! If he has not paid it, run quickly, dear Trusty, and bid him bring it hither immediately. [Exit TRUSTY.] Well, sure mortal woman never had such fortune! five, five and nine, against poor seven, for ever!-No, after that horrid bar of my chance that Lady Wronghead's fatal red fist upon the table, I saw it was impossible ever to win another stake Sit up all night-lose all one's money-dream of winning thousands-wake without a shilling! and then- -How like a hag I look!-In short—the pleasures of life are not worth this disorder. If it were not for shame, now, I could almost think Lady Grace's sober scheme not quite so ridiculous- -If my wise lord could but hold his tongue for a week, 'tis odds, but I should hate the town in a fortnight-But I will not be driven out of it, that's positive.

Enter MRS. TRUSTY.

Mrs. T. Oh, madam, there's no bearing of it! Mr. Lutestring was just let in at the door, as I came to the stair foot; and the steward is now actually paying him the money in the hall.

Lady T. Run to the staircase head again—and scream to him, that I must speak with him this instant.

[MRS. TRUSTY runs out, and speaks.

Mrs. T. [Within.] Mr. Poundage!-a hem! Mr. Poundage, a word with you quickly!

Pound. [Within.] I'll come to you presently.

Mrs. T. [Within.] Presently won't do, man; you must come this minute.

Pound. [Within.] I am but just paying a little money here.

Mrs. T. [Within.] Ods my life, paying money! Is the man distracted? Come here, I tell you, to my lady, this moment-quick!

Enter MRS. TRUSTY.

Lady T. Will the monster come, or no?

Mrs. T. Yes, I hear him now, madam; he is hob bling up as fast as he can.

Lady T. Don't let him come in-for he will keep such a babbling about his accounts-my brain is not able to bear him.

[POUNDAGE comes to the door, with a money bag in his hand

Mrs. T. Oh, it's well you are come, sir! where's the fifty pounds?

Pound. Why, here it is; if you had not been in such haste, I should have paid it by this time-the man's now writing a receipt below for it.

Mrs. T. No matter; my lady says you must not pay him with that money; there's not enough, it seemsthere's a pistole, and a guinea, that is not good, in it— besides there is a mistake in the account too-[Twitching the bag from him.] But she is not at leisure to examine it now so you must bid Mr. What-d'ye-call-um call another time.

Lady T. What is all that noise there?

Pound. Why, and it please your ladyship

Lady T. Pr'ythee don't plague me now; but do as you were ordered.

Pound. Nay, what your ladyship pleases, madam.

[Exit.