Lord 0. Don't be ridiculous, you old monkey.

[Smiling.

Can. I am monkee, I am ole, but I have eye, I have ear, and a little understand, now and den.

Lord 0. Taisez vous bête!

Can. Elle vous attend, my lor.- -She vil make a

love to you.

Lord O. Will she? Have at her then! A fine girl can't oblige me more- -Egad, I find myself a little enjoué- -Come along Cant.! she is but in the next walk- -but there is such a deal of this d-ned crinkum-crankum, as Sterling calls it, that one sees people for half an hour before one can get to themAllons, Mons. Canton, allons, donc !

[Exeunt, singing in French,

Scene III.-Another Part of the Garden.

Enter LOVEWELL and FANNY.

Lov. My dear Fanny, I cannot bear your distress! it overcomes all my resolutions, and I am prepared for the discovery.

Fan. But how can it be effected before my departure?

seems to enter

Lov. I'll tell you.-Lord Ogleby tain a visible partiality for you; and, notwithstanding the peculiarities of his behaviour, I am sure that he is humane at the bottom. He is vain to an excess; but withal extremely good-natured, and would do any thing to recommend himself to a lady.- -Do you open the whole affair of our marriage to him immediately. It will come with more irresistible persuasion from you than from myself; and I doubt not but you'll gain his friendship and protection at once. His influence and authority will put an end to Sir John's solicitations,

remove your aunt's and sister's unkindness and suspicions, and, I hope, reconcile your father and the whole family to our marriage.

Fanny. Heaven grant it! Where is my lord?

Lov. I have heard him and Canton, since dinner, singing French songs under the great walnut-tree by the parlour door. If you meet with him in the garden, you may disclose the whole immediately.

Fanny. Dreadful as the task is, I'll do it.-Any thing is better than this continual anxiety.

Lov. By that time the discovery is made, I will appear to second you.- -Ha! here comes my lord,

Now, my dear Fanny, summon up all your spirits, plead our cause powerfully, and be sure of suc[Going.

cess.

Fanny. Ah, don't leave me!

Lov. Nay, you must let me.

Fanny. Well, since it must be so, I'll obey you, if I have the power. Oh, Lovewell!

Lov. Consider, our situation is very critical. Tomorrow morning is fixed for your departure, and if we lose this opportunity, we may wish in vain for another. He approaches I must retire. Speak, my dear Fanny, speak, and make us happy!

[Exit. Fanny. What shall I do? What shall I say to him? I am all confusion.

Enter LORD OGLEBY and CANTON.

Lord O. To see so much beauty so solitary, madam, is a satire upon mankind, and 'tis fortunate that one man has broke in upon your reverie for the credit of our sex. I say one, madam ; poor Canton here,

for

from age and infirmities, stands for nothing.

Can. Noting at all, indeed.

Fanny. Your lordship does me great honour.-I had a favour to request, my lord!

Lord O. A favour, madam !- -To be honoured with your commands, is an inexpressible favour done to me, madam.

Fanny. If your lordship could indulge me with the honour of a moment's- -What's the matter with me? [Aside. Lord O. The girl's confused- -He! -here's something in the wind, faith-I'll have a tete-à-tete with her -Allez vous en ! [TO CANTON. Can. I go-Ah, pauvre mademoiselle! My lor, have pitié upon the poor pigeone!

Lord O. I'll knock you down, Cant.

[Smiling. Can. Den I go—[Shuffles along.]. You are mosh please, for all dat.

[Aside, and exit.

Fanny. I shall sink with apprehension.

[Aside.

Lord O. What a sweet girl!—she's a civilized being, and atones for the barbarism of the rest of the family.

Fanny. My lord! I [She curtsies, and blushes. Lord O. [Addressing her.] I look upon it, madam, to be one of the luckiest circumstances of my life, that I have this moment the honour of receiving your commands, and the satisfaction of confirming with my tongue, what my eyes perhaps have. but too weakly expressed that I am literally-the humblest of your

servants.

Fanny. I think myself greatly honoured by your lordship's partiality to me; but it distresses me, that I am obliged, in my present situation, to apply to it for protection.

Lord O. I am happy in your distress, madam, because it gives me an opportunity to show my zeal.Beauty to me is a religion in which I was born and bred a bigot, and would die a martyr.

tolerable spirits, 'faith!

-I'm in

[Aside.

Fanny. There is not, perhaps, at this moment, a more distressed creature than myself. Affection, duty,

hope, despair, and a thousand different sentiments, are struggling in my bosom; and even the presence of your lordship, to whom I have flown for protection, adds to my perplexity.

-Venus forbid !

-My

Lord O. Does it, madamold fault; the devil's in me, I think, for perplexing young women. [Aside, and smiling.] Take courage, madam! dear Miss Fanny, explain. You have a powerful advocate in my breast, I assure you~My heart, madamI am attached to you by all the laws of sympathy and delicacy.By my honour, I am. Fanny. Then I will venture to unburden my mind Sir John Melvil, my lord, by the most misplaced and mistimed declaration of affection for me, has made me the unhappiest of women.

Lord O. How, madam? Has Sir John made his addresses to you?

Fanny. He has, my lord, in the strongest terms. But I hope it is needless to say, that my duty to my father, love to my sister, and regard to the whole family, as well as the great respect I entertain for your lordship, [Curtsying.] made me shudder at his addresses.

Lord O. Charming girl!-Proceed, my dear Miss Fanny, proceed! ·

Fanny. In a moment

-give me leave, my lord!

-But if what I have to disclose should be received

with anger or displeasure

Lord O. Impossible, by all the tender powers!Speak, I beseech you, or I shall divine the cause before you utter it.

Fanny. Then, my lord, Sir John's addresses are not only shocking to me in themselves, but are more parti. cularly disagreeable to me at this time-as-as

Lord O. As what, madam?

[Hesitating.

Fanny. As-pardon my confusion-I am entirely devoted to another.

Lord O. If this is not plain, the devil's in it[Aside.] But tell me, my dear Miss Fanny, for I must know; tell me the how, the when, and the whereTell me

Enter CANTON, hastily.

Can. My lor, my lor, my lor!

Lord O. D-n your Swiss impertinence! how durst you interrupt me in the most critical melting moment that ever love and beauty honoured me with?

Can. I demande pardonne, my lor! Sir John Melvil, my lor, sent me to beg you do him de honeur to speak a lor.

little to you, my

Lord O. I'm not at leisure-I am busy-Get away, you stupid old dog, you Swiss rascal, or I'll

Can. Fort bien, my lor. [CANTON goes out on tip-toe. Lord O. By the laws of gallantry, madam, this interruption should be death; but as no punishment ought to disturb the triumph of the softer passions, the criminal is pardoned and dismissed. Let us return, madam, to the highest luxury of exalted minds-a declaration of love from the lips of beauty.

Fanny. The entrance of a third person has a little relieved me, but I cannot go through with it; and yet I must open my heart with a discovery, or it will break with its burden.

[Aside. Lord O. What passion in her eyes! I am alarmed to agitation. [Aside.] I presume, madam, (and as you have flattered me, by making me a party concerned, I hope you'll excuse the presumption) that

Fanny. Do you excuse my making you a party concerned, my lord, and let me interest your heart in my behalf, as my future happiness or misery in a great measure depend

Lord O. Upon me, madam?

Fanny. Upon you, my lord.

[Sighs.

Lord O. There's no standing this: I have caught the infection-her tenderness dissolves me.

[Sighs.