you have no compassion for me-no pity for us poor mortals in common life.

Miss Sterl. [ffectedly.] You?-You're above pity.You would not change conditions with me.- -You're over head and ears in love, you know.-Nay, for that matter, if Mr. Lovewell and you come together, as I doubt not you will, you will live very comfortably, I dare say. He will mind his business-you'll employ yourself in the delightful care of your family-and once in a season, perhaps, you'll sit together in a front box at a benefit play, as we used to do at our dancing master's, you know-and perhaps I may meet you in the summer, with some other citizens at Tunbridge. For my part, I shall always entertain a proper regard for my relations. You sha'n't want my countenance, I assure you.

Fanny. Oh, you're too kind, sister!

Enter MRS. Heidelberg.

Mrs. Heidel. [At entering.] Here this evening!-I vow and pertest we shall scarce have time to provide for them-Oh, my dear! [To MISS STERLING.] I am glad to see you're not quite in a dish-abille. Lord Ogleby and Sir John Melvil will be here to-night.

Miss Sterl. To-night, ma'am?

Mrs. Heidel. Yes, my dear, to-night.-Oh, put on a smarter cap, and change those ordinary ruffles!—Lord, I have such a deal to do, I shall scarce have time to slip on my Italian lutestring.-Where is this dawdle of a housekeeper?

Enter MRS. TRUSTY.

Oh, here, Trusty! do you know that people of qualaty are expected here this evening?

Trusty. Yes, ma'am.

Mrs. Heidel. Well-Do you be sure now that every thing is done in the most genteelest manner-and to the honour of the family.

Trusty. Yes, ma'am.

Mrs. Heidel. Well-but mind what I say to you.
Trusty. Yes, ma'am.

Mrs. Heidel. His lordship is to lie in the chintz bedchamber-d'ye hear?-and Sir John in the blue damask room-his lordship's valet-de-shamb in the opposite

Trusty. But Mr. Lovewell is come down-and you know that's his room, ma'am.

Mrs. Heidel. Well-well-Mr. Lovewell may make shift or get a bed at the George. But harkye, Trusty!

Trusty. Ma'am !

Mrs. Heidel. Get the great dining-room in order as soon as possable. Unpaper the curtains, take the kivers off the couch and the chairs, and, do you hear-take the china dolls out of my closet, and put them on the mantlepiece immediately, and mind, as soon as his lordship comes in, be sure you set all their heads a nodding.

Trusty. Yes, ma'am.

Mrs. Heidel. Be gone, then! fly, this instant!Where's my brother Sterling?

Trusty. Talking to the butler, ma'am.

Mrs. Heidel. Very well. [Exit TRUSTY.] Miss Fanny! I pertest I did not see you before-Lord, child, what's the matter with you?

Fanny. With me! Nothing, ma'am.

Mrs. Heidel. Bless me! Why your face is as pale, and black, and yellow-of fifty colours, I vow and pertest. And then you have drest yourself as loose and as big-I declare there is not such a thing to be seen now, as a young woman with a fine waistYou all make yourselves as round as Mrs. Deputy Barter. Go, child!-You know the qualaty will be here by and by.-Go, and make yourself a little more fit to be seen. [Exit FANNY.] She is gone away in tears

-absolutely crying, I vow and pertest.This ridicalous love! we must put a stop to it. It makes a perfect nataral of the girl.

Miss Sterl. Poor soul! she can't help it. [Affectedly.

Mrs. Heidel. Well, my dear! Now I shall have an opportoonity of convincing you of the absurdity of what you was telling me concerning Sir John Melvil's behaviour to you.

Miss Sterl. Oh, it gives me no manner of uneasiness. But, indeed, ma'am, I cannot be persuaded but that Sir John is an extremely cold lover. Such distant civility, grave looks, and lukewarm professions of es teem for me and the whole family! I have heard of flames and darts, but Sir John's is a passion of mere ice and snow.

Mrs. Heidel. Oh fie, my dear! I am perfectly ashamed of you. That's so like the notions of your poor sister! What you complain of as coldness and indiffarence, is nothing but the extreme gentilaty of his address, an exact pictur of the manners of qualaty.

Miss Sterl. O, he is the very mirror of complaisance! full of formal bows and set speeches!-I declare, if there was any violent passion on my side, I should be quite jealous of him:

Mrs. Heidel. Jealous!-I say, jealous, indeed-Jealous of who, pray?

Miss Sterl. My sister Fanny. She seems a much greater favourite than I am, and he pays her infinitely more attention, I assure you.

Mrs. Heidel. Lord! d'ye think a man of fashion, as he is, cannot distinguish between the genteel and the vulgar part of the family?-Between you and your sister, for instance- -or me and my brother?-Be advised by me, child! It is all puliteness and goodreeding. Nobody knows the qualaty better than I do. Miss Sterl. In my mind the old lord, his uncle, has ten times more gallantry about him than Sir John.

He is full of attentions to the ladies, and smiles, and grins, and leers, and ogles, and fills every wrinkle of his old wizen face with comical expressions of tenderness. I think he would make an admirable sweetheart.

Enter STERLING.

Sterl. [At entering.] No fish?-Why the pond was dragged but yesterday morning-There's carp and tench in the boat.-Pox on't, if that dog Lovewell had any thought, he wou'd have brought down a turbot, or some of the land-carriage mackrell.

Mrs. Heidel. Lord, brother, I am afraid his lordship and Sir John will not arrive while it is light.

Sterl. I warrant you. But, pray, sister Heidelberg, lẹt the turtle be dressed to-morrow, and some venison-and let the gardener cut some pine-applesand get out some ice.I'll answer for wine, I warrant you—I'll give them such a glass of champagne as they never drank in their lives-no, not at a duke's table.

Mrs. Heidel. Pray now, brother, mind how you behave. I am always in a fright about you with people of qualaty. Take care that you don't fall asleep directly after supper, as you commonly do. Take a good deal of snuff; and that will keep you awake-And don't burst out with your horrible loud horse-laughs. It is monstrous wulgar.

Sterl. Never fear, sister!- -Who have we here? Mrs. Heidel. It is Mons. Cantoon, the Swish gentleman, that lives with his lordship, I vow and pertest. Enter CANTON.

Sterl. Ah, mounseer! your servant.

glad to see you, mounseer.

I am very

Can. Mosh oblige to Mons. Sterling.-Ma'am, I am your-Matemoiselle, I am your. [Bowing round. Mrs. Heidel. Your humble servant, Mr. Cantoon !

Can. Kiss your hand, matam!

Sterl. Well, mounseer!-and what news of your good family?when are we to see his lordship and Sir John?

Can. Mons: Sterling! Milor Ogleby and Sir Jean Melvil will be here in one quarter-hour.

Sterl. I am glad to hear it.

Mrs. Heidel. O, I am perdigious glad to hear it. Being so late, I was afeard of some accident.-Will you please to have any thing, Mr. Cantoon, after your journey?

Can. No, tank you, ma'am.

Mrs. Heidel Shall I go and show you the apartments, sir?

Can. You do me great honeur, maʼam.

Mrs. Heidel. Come then!-come, my dear.

[To MISS STERLING.-Exeunt.

Sterl. Pox on't, it's almost dark-It will be too late to go round the garden this evening. However, I will carry them to take a peep at my fine canal at least, I am determined.

[Exit.

ACT II.

Scene I.-An Anti-Chamber to LORD OGLEBY's Bed ChamTable with Chocolate, and small Case for Medi

ber.

cines.

BRUSH, my LORD's Valet-de-Chambre, and STERLING'S
CHAMBERMAID, discovered.

Brush. You shall stay, my dear, I insist upon it. Cham. Nay, pray, sir, don't be so positive; I cannot stay indeed.

Brush. You shall drink one cup to our better acquaintance.