see him kiss your sweet hand? Did not I hear his protestations? Was not I a witness of your dissembled modesty?—No, no, my dear! don't imagine that you can make a fool of your elder sister so easily.

Fanny. Sir John, I own, is to blame; but I am above the thoughts of doing you the least injury.

Miss Sterl. We shall try that, madam.—I hope, miss, you'll be able to give a better account to my papa and my aunt, for they shall both know of this matter, I promise you. [Exit.

Fanny. How unhappy I am! my distresses multiply upon me.—Mr. Lovewell must now become acquainted with Sir John's behaviour to me, and in a manner that may add to his uneasiness. My father, instead of being disposed by fortunate circumstances to forgive any transgressions, will be previously incensed against me. My sister and my aunt will become irreconcilably my enemies, and rejoice in my disgrace.-Yet, on all events, I am determined on a discovery. I dread it, and am resolved to hasten it. It is surrounded with more horrors every instant, as it appears every instant more necessary. [Exit.

ACT III.

Scene I.-A Hall.

Enter a SERVANT, conducting in SERGEANT FLOWER, and COUNSELLORS TRAVERSE and TRUEMAN, all booted.

Serv. This way, if you please, gentlemen! my master is at breakfast with the family at present, but I'll let him know, and he will wait on you immediately.

Flow. Mighty well, young man, mighty well.

Serv. Please to favour me with your names, gentle

men.

Flow. Let Mr. Sterling know, that Mr. Sergeant Flower, and two other gentlemen of the bar, are come to wait on him according to his appointment.

Serv. I will, sir.

[Going.

Flow. And harkye, young man, [SERVANT returns.] desire my servant-Mr. Sergeant Flower's servant, to bring in my green and gold saddle-cloth and pistols, and lay them down here in the hall, with my port

manteau.

Serv. I will, sir.

[Exit.

Flow. Well, gentlemen! the settling these marriage articles falls conveniently enough, almost just on the eve of the circuits.-Let me see-the Home, the Midland, and Western; ay, we can all cross the country well enough to our several destinations.-Traverse, when do you begin at Hertford?

Trav. The day after to-morrow.

Flow. That is commission-day with us at Warwick

too.

Trav. Pray, Mr. Sergeant, are you concerned in Jones and Thomas, at Lincoln ?

Flow. I am-for the plaintiff.

Trav. And what do you think on't?

Flow. A nonsuit.

Trav. I thought so.

Flow. Oh, no matter of doubt on't-luce clarius-we have no right in us.-We have but one chance.

Trav. What's that.

Flow. Why, my Lord Chief does not go the circuit this time, and my brother Puzzle being in the commission, the cause will come on before him.

True. Ay, that may do indeed, if you can but throw dust in the eyes of the defendant's counsel.

Flow. True.-Mr. Trueman, I think you are concerned for Lord Ogleby in this affair? [To TRUEMAN.

True. I am, sir-I have the honour to be related to his lordship, and hold some courts for him in Somerset

shire-go the Western circuit-and attend the sessions at Exeter, merely because his lordship's interests and property lie in that part of the kingdom.

Flow. Ha!-and pray, Mr. Trueman, how long have you been called to the bar?

True. About nine years and three quarters.

Flow. Ha!-I don't know that I ever had the pleasure of seeing you before.-I wish you success, young gentleman!

Enter STERLING.

Sterl. Oh, Mr. Sergeant Flower, I am glad to see you-Your servant, Mr. Sergeant! gentlemen, your servant!-Well, are all matters concluded? Has that snail-paced conveyancer, old Ferret, of Gray's-inn, settled the articles at last? Do you approve of what he has done? Will his tackle hold, tight and strong?Eh, Master Sergeant?

Flow. My friend Ferret's slow and sure, sir-But then serius aut citius, as we say, sooner or later, Mr. Sterling, he is sure to put his business out of hand as he should do. My clerk has brought the writings, and all other instruments along with him, and the settlement is, I believe, as good a settlement as any settlement on the face of the earth!

Sterl. But that d-n'd mortgage of 60,000l.-There don't appear to be any other incumbrances, I hope?

Trav. I can answer for that, sir-and that will be cleared off immediately on the payment of the first part of Miss Sterling's proportion.-You agree, on your part, to come down with 80,000l.

Sterl. Down on the nail.-Ay, ay, my money is ready to-morrow if he pleases-he shall have it in India bonds, or notes, or how he chooses. Your lords and your dukes, and your people at the court end of the town, stick at payments sometimes-debts unpaid, no credit

lost with them-but no fear of us substantial fellows→→ Eh, Mr. Sergeant?

Flow. Sir John having last term, according to agree ment, levied a fine, and suffered a recovery, has hitherto cut off the entail of the Ogleby estate, for the better effecting the purposes of the present intended marriage; on which above-mentioned Ogleby estate, a jointure of 2000l. per annum is secured to your eldest daughter now Elizabeth Sterling, spinster, and the whole estate, after the death of the aforesaid earl, descends to the heirs male of Sir John Melvil, on the body of the aforesaid Elizabeth Sterling lawfully to be begotten.

Trav. Very true-and Sir John is to be put in immediate possession of as much of his lordship's Somersetshire estate, as lies in the manors of Hogmore and Cranford; amounting to between two and three thousand per annum, and at the death of Mr. Sterling, a further sum of seventy thousand

Enter SIR JOHN MELVIL.

Sterl. Ah, Sir John! Here we are-hard at it→→ paving the road to matrimony.-First the lawyers, then comes the doctor. Let us but dispatch the long-robe, we shall soon get pudding-sleeves to work, I warrant you.

Sir John. I am sorry to interrupt you, sir-but I hope that both you and these gentlemen will excuse me. Having something very particular for your pri vate ear, I took the liberty of following you, and beg you will oblige me with an audience immediately.

Sterl. Ay, with all my heart!-Gentlemen, Mr. Sergeant, you'll excuse it-business must be done, you know. The writings will keep cold till to-morrow morning.

Flow. I must be at Warwick, Mr. Sterling, the day after.

Sterl. Nay, nay, I shan't part with you to-night, gentlemen, I promise you.-My house is very full, but I have beds for you all, beds for your servants, and stabling for all your horses.-Will you take a turn in the garden, and view some of my improvements before dinner? Or will you amuse yourselves on the green, with a game at bowls and a cool tankard?-My servants shall attend you.-Do you choose any other refreshment? Call for what you please; do as you . please ;-make yourselves quite at home, I beg of you. -Here, Thomas! Harry! William! wait on these gentlemen!-[Follows the lawyers out, bawling and talking, and then returns to SIR JOHN.] And now, sir, I am entirely at your service. What are your commands with

me, Sir John?

Sir John. After having carried the negociation between our families to so great a length; after having assented so readily to all your proposals, as well as received so many instances of your cheerful compliance with the demands made on our part, I am extremely concerned, Mr. Sterling, to be the involuntary cause of any uneasiness.

Sterl. Uneasiness! what uneasiness?-Where business is transacted as it ought to be, and the parties understand one another, there can be no uneasiness. You agree, on such and such conditions, to receive my daughter for a wife; on the same conditions I agree to receive you as a son-in-law; and as to all the rest, it follows of course, you know, as regularly as the payment of a bill after acceptance.

Sir John. Pardon me, sir, more uneasiness has arisen than you are aware of. I am myself, at this instant, in a state of inexpressible embarrassment; Miss Sterling, I know, is extremely disconcerted too; and unless you will oblige me with the assistance of your friendship, I foresee the speedy progress of discontent and animosity through the whole family.