[They retire and turn round, Modely fires, and Aura drops as if shot.

Free. Oh, he is shot! he is killed! my poor boy is murdered.

Mode. What have I done? Curse on my steady hand.

Free. Help! Murder! Murder! Help!

Enter Countrymen.

Mode. Say you so? Nay, then 'tis time to save one; by your leave, as fast as my feet or my fears can carry [Exeunt all but Freehold and Aura.

me.

Aura. What are they gone? Is the stage clear? Free. Hah, let me kiss thee, my dear little girl; this was admirably performed. I was afraid you durst not have stood the powder.

Aura. No, no-I put in but half a charge, and no wadding I had really much ado to provoke him to fight: so, so, we'll shew him a little country-play now; we'll teach him to ravish, I warrant.

Free. Well, I must wait upon his companion, honest Heartwell. He expects me to attend him to Sir John's, according to his wife's request.

Aura. Do so; while I slip the back way through the orchard, into the hall-house, and undress, that I may be with you time enough to finish my part: this is a day of business, i'faith.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

The Hall of Sir JOHN's House. Enter DOUBLEJUGG and SHACKLEFIGURE.

"Shack. Verily, Madam Betty hath invited every "creature in the parish to-morrow.

"Doub. And Sir John hath commanded me to "throw the cellar-doors open, and make the whole "country reel-Here will be brave randing, i'faith; "all the steeples in the country are to rock---and I "have summoned together all the bagpipes, tabor's, "drums, trumpets, and the whole fraternity of catsguts within seven miles round.

"Shack. One would imagine Madam Betty stood "candidate for the county--

"Doub. And was to drink her way to Wetminster "thro' a sea of October.

"Shack. What are all these uncommon prepara"tions designed for?

"Doub. Nay, I don't know; I don't inquire into << state affairs, but I shall know more on't when I am "drunk; for then I am very peery.

"Shack. In the mean time

"have much business to do.

mind your affairs; we

[Exit Doub.] I must

"wait here, to introduce the strange gentleman, "whom my master is so fond of.” ́·

Enter HEARTWELL and FREEHOLD.

Heart. How could you use a lover so roughly?

Free. A rough lover should be used so: why, he was just going to knock her down-I suppose that is his method.

Heart. And the little girl stood his fire gallantly? Free. O, most heroically! O' my conscience, I believe she would have fought him in earnest. Heart. Is he taken ?

Free. Ay, ay, we have him fast.

Heart. Well, then let his fears pay the price of his sin: I think his punishment very just. But see where old Steady-muscle stands in form to introduce us.

Free. Ay, come on now; you shall see a worthy piece of antiquity, a right bred old English country gentleman; one who keeps open house all the whole year round, and yet never took or paid a penny for a vote in his life.

Shack. Sir, with the greatest submission, if it shall be your worship's good pleasure, I will wait on the company within, and know if it shall be their pleasure to receive you.

Free. Do so, old Stiff-rump, do.

himself as regular as his day-book.

[Exit Shack.

This fellow keeps

Heart. Company! What company?

Free. A friend or two only, perhaps, that Sir John has invited to a dance, or so.

Heart. A dance---a friend---'Sdeath, you distract me! Excuse me to him, I beg you.

Free. No, no: what, you must bear with a little noise at first---A bridegroom, and afraid of a fiddle. But see the door opens, and the company are moving towards us.

I

SCENE III.

Opens. FLORA and two Women Servants appear drest genteelly; they move down towards HEARTWELL.

Heart. What's here? Ladies too! So, I find I must run thro' the impertinence of the night. I would give a little finger now to be in bed, the curtains drawn, and all quiet, with my dear girl by my side. So---it seems I must salute them- -Hah!

Flora. Sir, you have stolen a wedding among us here, and we come time enough, I hope, to give you joy of it.

Heart. My love! my dear! I am surprised! Why hast thou changed thyself thus from what thou wert? Flora. I hope my features are not altered with my dress.

Heart. I swear, my love, thou canst receive no addition by dress, but what will injure the simplicity of thy charms. But, pr'ythee, tell me why you have changed your dress? "Sure you must be sensible you "wanted nothing to make you victorious in your "other habit."

Flora. To tell you, Sir, the truth, then I was obliged to change my dress; my landlord has obliged me to it, and you know we country-folk must obey our landlords.

Heart. Well, I am satisfied.

him then.

-You have obeyed

Flora. Yes, Sir; but he is a very obstinate, self

3

willed man; and I think a little too barbarously in

sists

Heart. Insists! Upon what?

Flora. Why, he insists upon my performance of the Custom of the Manor; and therefore, in order to make me more pleasing in his eyes, commanded me to dress thus.

Heart. Custom of the Manor-Dress yourself— Commanded you to be pleasing to his eye---What is all this heap of confusion and nonsense?

Free. Why, Sir, I'll tell you, in short; 'tis thisThe lord of our manor has claimed by prescription, time out of mind, and still does claim, the first night's lodging of every tenant's daughter married here; therefore our maidens, when they marry, go out of this parish, unless they are willing to pay the forfeit in kind.

Heart. What! you are merry; very merry; so, gó on: how!

Free. Yet when such an accident as this happened here, he generally used to take an equivalent in money or goods: but now he is resolved to be paid in kind; he will take no modus; and for that reason has sent for you hither, to let you know his claim.

Heart. Confound his claim-curse upon his manor, and his custom too: I'll shoot him through the head for having the insolence to think on't.

Free. Ay, but that is not the case; that is not the business, my friend.