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Í sha'n't forsake my niece, I assure you. Ah, if my poor dear Mr. Heidelberg, and our sweet babes, had been alive, he would not have behaved so.

Sterl. Did I, Sir John?Nay, speak!-Bring me off, or we are ruined. [Apart to SIR JOHN. Sir John. Why, to be sure, to speak the truth

Mrs. Heidel. To speak the truth, I'm ashamed of you both. But have a care what you are about, brother! have a care, I say.—The counsellors are in the house, I hear; and if every thing is not settled,to my liking, I'll have nothing more to say to you, if I live these hundred years.I'll go over to Holland, and settle with Mr. Vanderspracken, my poor husband's first cousin, and my own fammaly shall never be the better for a farden of my money, I promise you. [Exit.

Sterl. I thought so.

to it.

I knew she never would agree

Sir John. 'Sdeath, how unfortunate! What can we do, Mr. Sterling?

Sterl. Nothing.

Sir John. What, must our agreement break off the moment it is made, then?

Sterl. It can't be helped, Sir John.-The family, as I told you before, have great expectations from my sister; and if this matter proceeds, you hear yourself that she threatens to leave us.-My brother Heidelberg was a warm man—a very warm man; and died worth a plumb, at least:-a plumb! ay, I warrant you, he died worth a plumb and a half.

Sir John. Well; but if I

Sterl. And then, my sister has three or four very good mortgages, a deal of money in the three per cents, and old South Sea annuities, besides large concerns in the Dutch and French funds. The greatest part of all this she means to leave to our family.

Sir John. I can only say, sir

1

Sterl. Why, your offer of the difference of thirty thousand, was very fair and handsome, to be sure, Sir John.

Sir John. Nay, but I am even willing to

Sterl. Ay, but if I was to accept it against her will, I might lose above a hundred thousand; so you see the balance is against you, Sir John.

Sir John. But is there no way, do you think, of prevailing on Mrs. Heidelberg to grant her consent? Sterl. I am afraid not.- -However, when her passion is a little abated-for she's very passionate-you may try what can be done: but you must not use my name any more, Sir John.

Sir John. Suppose I was to prevail on Lord Ogleby to apply to her, do you think that would have any influence over her?

Sterl. I think he would be more likely to persuade her to it than any other person in the family. She has a great respect for Lord Ogleby. She loves a lord.

Sir John. I'll apply to him this very day.—And if he should prevail on Mrs. Heidelberg, I may depend on your friendship, Mr. Sterling?

Sterl. Ay, ay, I shall be glad to oblige you, when it is in my power; but as the account stands now, yoụ see it is not upon the figures. And so your servant, Sir John.

[Exit.

Sir John. What a situation am I in!-Breaking off with her whom I was bound by treaty to marry; rejected by the object of my affections; and embroiled with this turbulent woman, who governs the whole family. And yet opposition, instead of smothering, increases my inclination. I must have her. I'll apply immediately to Lord Ogleby; and if he can but bring over the aunt to our party, her influence will overcome the scruples and delicacy of my dear Fanny, and I shall be the happiest of mankind. [Exit.

ACT IV.

Scene I.-A Room.

Enter MR. STERLING, MRS. HEIDELBERG, and Miss
STERLING.

Sterl. What! will you send Fanny to town, sister? Mrs. Heidel. To-morrow morning. I've given orders about it already.

Sterl. Indeed!

Mrs. Heidel. Posatively.

Sterl. But consider, sister, at such a time as this, what an appearance it will have.

ödd

Mrs. Heidel. Not half so odd as her behaviour, brother. This time was intended for happiness, aud I'll keep no incendiaries here to destroy it. I insist on her going off to-morrow morning.

Sterl. I'm afraid this is all your doing, Betsy.

Miss Sterl. No indeed, papa. My aunt knows that it is not. For all Fanny's baseness to me, I am sure would not do or say any thing to hurt her with you or my aunt for the world.

Mrs. Heidel. Hold your tongue, Betsy; I will have my way. When she is packed off, every thing will go on as it should do. Since they are at their intrigues, I'll let them see that we can act with vigur on our part; and the sending her out of the way, shall be the purluminary step to all the rest of my perceedings.

Sterl. Well, but sister

Mrs. Heidel. It does not signify talking, brother Sterling, for I'm resolved to be rid of her, and I will. -Come along, child. [To MISS STERLING.] The postshay shall be at the door by six o'clock in the morning; and if Miss Fanny does not get into it, why, I will and so there's an end of the matter, [Bounces

out with MISS STERLING; then returns.] One word more, brother Sterling.-I expect that you will take your eldest daughter in your hand, and make a formal complaint to Lord Ogleby, of Sir John Melvil's behaviour. -Do this, brother;-show a proper regard for the honour of your fammaly yourself, and I shall throw in my mite to the raising of it. If not-but now you know my mind. So act as you please, and take the consequences.

[Exit.

Sterl. The devil's in the women for tyranny!Mothers, wives, mistresses, or sisters, they always will govern us. As to my sister Heidelberg, she knows the strength of her purse, and domineers upon the credit of it." I will do this," and " you shall do that," and "you shall do t'other, or else the fammaly sha'n't have a farden of"-[Mimicking.]So absolute with her money!-But, to say the truth, nothing but money can make us absolute, and so we must e'en make the best of her.

[Exit.

Scene II.-The Garden.

Enter LORD OGLEBY and CANTON.

Lord O. What! Mademoiselle Fanny to be sent away!-Why?-Wherefore?-What's the meaning of

all this?

Can. Je ne sçais pas-I know nothing.

Lord O. It can't be-it sha'n't be :-I protest against the measure. She's a fine girl, and I had much rather that the rest of the family were annihilated, than that she should leave us.- -Her vulgar father, that's the very abstract of 'Change-Alley-the aunt, that's always endeavouring to be a fine lady—and the pert sister, for ever showing that she is one, are horrid company indeed, and without her would be intolerable. Ah, la petite Fanchon! she's the thing: isn't she, Canton ?

Can. Dere is very good sympatie entre vous, and dat young lady, my lor.

~ Lord O. I'll not be left among these Goths and Vandals, your Sterlings, your Heidelbergs, and Devilbergs -if she goes, I'll positively go too.

Can. In de same post-chay, my lor? You have no objection to dat, I believe, nor mademoiselle neither too-ha, ha, ha!

Lord O. Pr'ythee hold thy foolish tongue, Cant. Does thy Swiss stupidity imagine that I can see and talk with a fine girl without desires!- -My eyes are involuntarily attracted by beautiful objects—I fly as naturally to a fine girl——

Can. As de fine girl to you, my lor, ha, ha, ha! you alway fly togedre like un pair de pigeons

Lord O. Like un pair de pigeons-[Mocks him.]— Vous etes un sot, Mons. Canton-Thou art always dreaming of my intrigues, and never seest me badiner but you suspect mischief, you old fool, you.

Can. I am fool, I confess, but not always fool in dat, my lor, he, he, he!

Lord O. He, he, he!thy absurdities amuse one.

-Thou art incorrigible, but
Thou art like my rappee

here, [Takes out his box.] a most ridiculous superfluity, but a pinch of thee now and then is a more delicious

treat.

Can. You do me great honeur, mi lor.

Lord O. "Tis fact, upon my soul. Thou art properly my cephalic snuff, and art no bad medicine against megrims, vertigoes, and profound thinking-ha, ha, ha!

Can. Your flatterie, my lor, vil make me too prode. Lord O. The girl has some little partiality for me, to be sure: but pr'ythee, Cant. is not that Miss Fanny yonder?

Can. [Looking with a glass.] Ah-la voila! En verité, 'tis she, my lor-'tis one of de pigeons de pigeons d'amour.

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