Sterl. Why, you would not offer to marry her without my consent! would you, Lovewell?

Love. Marry her, sir!

[Confused.

Sterl. Ay, marry her, sir!—I know very well, that a warm speech or two from such a dangerous young spark as you are would go much further towards persuading a silly girl to do what she has more than a month's mind to do, than twenty grave lectures from fathers or mothers, or uncles or aunts, to prevent her. But you would not, sure, be such a base fellow, such a treacherous young rogue, as to seduce my daughter's affections, and destroy the peace of my family in that manner.—I must insist on it, that you give me your word not to marry her without my consent.

Love. Sir-I-I-as to that-I-I-beg, sir,Pray, sir, excuse me on this subject at present.

Sterl. Promise then, that you will carry this matter no further without my approbation.

Love. You may depend on it, sir, that it shall go no further.

Sterl. Well-well-that's enough-I'll take care of the rest, I warrant you.-Come, come, let's have done with this nonsense!-What's doing in town?—Any news upon 'Change?

Love. Nothing material.

Sterl. Have you seen the currants, the soap, and Madeira, safe in the warehouse! Have you compared the goods with the invoice and bills of lading, and are they all right?

Love. They are, sir.

Sterl. And how are stocks?

Love. Fell one and a half this morning.

Sterl. Well, well-some good news from America, and they'll be up again.-But how are Lord Ogleby and Sir John Melvil ?—when are we to expect them? Love. Very soon, sir. I came on purpose to bring

you their commands. Here are letters from both of them.

[Giving letters. Sterl. Let me see-let me see- 'Slife, how his lordship's letter is perfumed!-It takes my breath away." [Opening it.] And French paper too!-with a slippery gloss on it that dazzles one's eyes.- -My dear Mr. Sterling.[Reading.] Mercy on me! his lordship writes a worse hand than a boy at his exercise.-But how's this?-Eh!-With you to-night-[Reading.] Lawyers to-morrow morning.-To-night!-that's sudden, indeed. -Where's my sister Heidelberg? She should know of this immediately.-Here, John! Harry! Thomas! [Calling the SERVANTS.] Harkye, Lovewell! Love. Sir.

Sterl. Mind now, how I'll entertain his lordship and Sir John-We'll show your fellows at the other end of the town how we live in the city—They shall eat gold -and drink gold-and lie in gold.- -Here, Cook! Butler! [Calling.] What signifies your birth, and education, and titles!-Money, money!-that's the stuff that makes the great man in this country.

Love. Very true, sir.

Sterl. True, sir!-Why then, have done with your nonsence of love and matrimony. You're not rich enough to think of a wife yet. A man of 'business should mind nothing but his business. Where are these fellows?-John! Thomas !-[Calling.] Get an estate, and a wife will follow of course.— -Ah, Lovewell! an English merchant is the most respectable character in the universe.-'Slife, man, a rich English merchant may make himself a match for the daughter of a nabob.- -Where are all my rascals?-Here, [Exit, calling. Love. So as I suspected.Quite averse to the match, and likely to receive the news of it with great displeasure.- -What's best to be done?-Let me see -Suppose I get Sir John Melvil to interest himself in

William!

this affair. He may mention it to Lord Ogleby with a better grace than I can, and more probably prevail on him to interfere in it. I can open my mind also more freely to Sir John. He told me, when I left him in town, that he had something of consequence to communicate, and that I could be of use to him. I am glad of it for the confidence he reposes in me, and the service I may do him, will ensure me his good offices.

-Poor Fanny! it hurts me to see her so uneasy, and her making a mystery of the cause adds to my anxiety.

-Something must be done upon her account; for, at all events, her solicitude shall be removed.

[Exit.

Scene II.-Another Apartment.

Enter MISS STERLING and MISS FANNY.

Miss Sterl. O, my dear sister, say no more!-This is downright hypocrisy.-You shall never convince me that you don't envy me beyond measure.-Well, after all, it is extremely natural-It is impossible to be angry with you.

Fanny. Indeed, sister, you have no cause.

Miss Sterl. And you really pretend not to envy me? Fanny. Not in the least.

Miss Sterl. And you don't in the least wish that you was just in my situation?

Fanny. No, indeed, I don't. Why should I?

Miss Sterl. Why should you? What! on the brink of marriage, fortune, title--But I had forgot-There's that dear sweet creature Mr. Lovewell in the case.You would not break your faith with your true love now for the world, I warrant you.

Fanny. Mr. Lovewell!-always Mr. Lovewell!— Lord, what signifies Mr. Lovewell, sister?

Miss Sterl. Pretty peevish soul!-O, my dear grave,

romantic sister!-a perfect philosopher in petticoats! Love and a cottage!-ch, Fanny-Ah, give me indifference and a coach and six!

Fanny. And why not a coach and six without the indifference?-But, pray, when is this happy marriage of yours to be celebrated? I long to give you joy.

Miss Sterl. In a day or two-I cannot tell exactly— Oh! my dear sister!—I must mortify her a little: [Aside.] I know you have a pretty taste. Pray give me your opinion of my jewels.-How do you like the style of this esclavage? [Showing jewels.

Fanny. Extremely handsome, indeed, and well fancied.

Miss Sterl. What d'ye think of these bracelets? I shall have a miniature of my father set round with diamonds, to one, and Sir John's to the other.-And this pair of ear-rings!-set transparent!-Here, the tops, you see, will take off, to wear in a morning, or in an undress-how d'ye like them? [Shows jewels.

Fanny. Very much, I assure you-Bless me, sister, you have a prodigious quantity of jewels-you'll be the very queen of diamonds.

Miss Sterl. Ha, ha, ha! very well, my dear!-I shall be as fine as a little queen, indeed.—I have a bouquet to come home to-morrow-made up of diamonds, and rubies, and emeralds, and topazes, and amethystsjewels of all colours, green, red, blue, yellow, intermixed -the prettiest thing you ever saw in your life!-The jeweller says, I shall set out with as many diamonds as any body in town, except Lady Brilliant, and Polly What-d'ye-call-it, Lord Squander's kept mistress.

Fanny. But what are your wedding clothes, sister? Miss Sterl. O, white and silver, to be sure, you know. -I bought them at Sir Joseph Lutestring's, and sat above an hour in the parlour behind the shop, consulting Lady Lutestring about gold and silver stuffs, on purpose to mortify her.

Fanny. Fie, sister! how could you be so abominably provoking?

Miss Sterl. Oh, I have no patience with the pride of your city-knights' ladies.-Did you ever observe the airs of Lady Lutestring, dressed in the richest brocade out of her husband's shop, playing crown whist at Haberdasher's Hall-Whilst the civil smirking Sir Joseph, with a snug wig trimmed round his broad face, as close as a new-cut yew-hedge, and his shoes so black that they shine again, stands all day in his shop, fastened to his counter, like a bad shilling?

Fanny. Indeed, indeed, sister, this is too much-If you talk at this rate, you will be absolutely a bye-word in the city-You must never venture on the inside of Temple Bar again.

Miss Sterl. Never do I desire it-never, my dear Fanny, I promise you. Oh, how I long to be transported to the dear regions of Grosvenor Square-far— far from the dull districts of Aldersgate, Cheap, Candlewick, and Farringdon Without and Within!-my heart goes pit-a-pit at the very idea of being introduced at court!-gilt chariot !-pieballed horses!-laced liveries!—and then the whispers buzzing round the circle

"Who is that young lady? Who is she?"-" Lady Melvil, ma'am !"--Lady Melvil! My ears tingle at the sound. And then at dinner, instead of my father perpetually asking-" Any news upon 'Change?"-to cry, "Well, Sir John! any thing new from Arthur's?"— or, to say to some other woman of quality, "Was your ladyship at the Duchess of Rubber's last night?— Did you call in at Lady Thunder's? In the immensity of crowd I swear I did not see you-Scarce a soul at the opera last Saturday-Shall I see you at Carlisle, House next Thursday?"-Oh, the dear Beau Monde ! I was born to move in the sphere of the great world.

Fanny. And so, in the midst of all this happiness,