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Mrs. HARDCASTLE.

I fay you shan't.

TONY.

We'll fee which is the strongest, you or I.

[Exit, hauling her out.

HARDCASTLE, fólus.

Aye, there goes a pair that only spoil each other. But is not the whole age in a combination to drive fenfe and difcretion out of doors? There's my pretty darling Kate! the fashions of the times have almost infected her too. By living a year or two in town, she is as fond of gauze, and French frippery, as the best of them.

Enter Mifs HARDCASTLE.

HARDCASTLE.

Bleffings on my pretty innocence! dreft out as ufual, my Kate. Goodnefs! What a quantity of fuperfluous filk haft thou got about thee, girl! I could never teach the fools of this age, that the indigent world could be cloathed out of the trimmings of the vain.

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

You know our agreement, Sir. You allow me the morning to receive and pay vifits, and to drefs in my own manner; and in the evening, I put on my housewife's drefs to please you.

HARD

HARDCASTLE.

Well, remember I infift on the terms of our agreement; and, by the bye, I believe I fhall have occafion to try your obedience this very evening. Mifs HARDCASTLE.

I proteft, Sir, I don't comprehend your mean

ing.

HARDCASTLE.

Then to be plain with you, Kate, I expect the young gentleman I have chofen to be your hufband from town this very day. I have his father's letter, in which he informs me his fon is fet out, and that he intends to follow himself fhortly after.

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

Indeed! I wish I had known fomething of this before. Blefs me, how fhall I behave? It's a thoufand to one I shan't like him; our meeting will be fo formal, and fo like a thing of business, that 1 fhall find no room for friendship or esteem.

HARDCASTLE.

Depend upon it, child, I never control your choice; but Mr. Marlow, whom I have pitched upon, is the fon of my old friend, Sir Charles Marlow, of whom you have heard me talk fo often. The young gentleman has been bred a scholar, and is defigned for an employment in the service of his country. I am told he's a man of an excellent understanding.

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My dear papa, fay no more, (kiffing his hand) he's mine, I'll have him.

HARDCASTLE.

And, to crown all, Kate, he's one of the most bafhful and referved young fellows in all the world. Mifs HARDCASTLE.

Eh! you have frozen me to death again. That word reserved, has undone all the rest of his accomplishments. A referved lover, it is faid, always makes a fufpicious husband.

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HARDCASTLE.

On the contrary, modefty feldom refides in a breast that is not enriched with nobler virtues. It was the very feature in his character that first ftruck

me.

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

He must have more striking features to catch me, I promise you. However, if he be fo young, fo handfome, and fo every thing, as you mention, I believe he'll do ftill. I think I'll have him.

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HARDCASTLE.

Aye, Kate, but there is ftill an obftacle. It's more than an even wager, he may not have you. Mifs HARDCASTLE.

My dear papa, why will you mortify one fo?Well, if he refuses, inftead of breaking my heart at his indifference, I'll only break my glafs for its Alattery. Set my cap to fome newer fashion, and look out for fome lefs difficult admirer.

HARDCASTLE.

Bravely refolved! In the mean time I'll go prepare the fervants for his reception; as we feldom fee company, they want as much training as a company of recruits the first day's muster. [Exit.

Mifs HARDCASTLE folus.

Lud, this news of papa's put me all in a flutter. Young, handfome; these he put laft? but I put them foremoft. Senfible, good-natured; I like all that. But then reserved, and sheepish, that's much against him. Yet can't he be cured of his timidity, by being taught to be proud of his wife? Yes, and can't I-But I vow I'm difpofing of the hufband, before I have fecured the lover.

Enter

Enter Mifs NEVILLE.

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

I'm glad you're come, Neville, my dear. Tell me, Conftance, how do I look this evening? Is there any thing whimsical about me? Is it one of my well looking days, child? am I in face today ?

Mifs NEVILLE.

Perfectly, my dear. Yet now I look again-blefs me!-fure no accident has happened among the canary birds, or the gold fishes. Has your brother or the cat been meddling? or has the laft novel been too moving?

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

No; nothing of all this. I have been threatened -I can scarce get it out-I have been threatened with a lover.

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As I live, the most intimate friend of Mr. Hastings, my admirer. They are never afunder. I

believe

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