HASTINGS.

(To him) Bravo, bravo. Never spoke so well in your whole life. Well! Mifs Hardcastle, I fee that you and Mr. Marlow are going to be very good company. I believe our being here will but embarrass the interview.

MARLOW.

Not in the leaft, Mr. Haftings.

We like your

company of all things. (To him) Zounds! George, fure you won't go? how can you leave us?

HASTINGS.

Our prefence will but spoil conversation, so we'll retire to the next room. (To him) You don't confider, man, that we are to manage a little tête-à-tête of our own. [Exeunt.

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

(After a pause) But you have not been wholly an obferver, I prefume, Sir: the ladies I fhould hope have employed fome part of your addreffes.

MARLOW.

(Relapfing into timidity) Pardon me, madam, I-I-I-as yet have ftudied-only-to-deferve them.

Mifs HARDCASTLE,

And that, fome fay, is the very worst way to ob

tain them.

MARLOW.

Perhaps fo, madam. But I love to converfe only with the more grave and fenfible part of the sex.— But I'm afraid I grow tiresome,

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

Not at all, Sir; there is nothing I like fo much as grave converfation myfelf; I could hear it for ever. Indeed I have often been surprised how a man of fentiment could ever admire thofe light airy pleasures, where nothing reaches the heart.

MARLOW.

It's a difeafe- -of the mind, madam. In the variety of tastes there mukt be fome who wanting a relishfor-um-a-um.

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

I understand you, Sir. There must be some, whọwanting a relish for refined pleasures, pretend to despise what they are incapable of tafting.

MARLOW.

My meaning, madam, but infinitely better expreffed. And I can't help obferving-aMifs HARDCASTLE.

(Afide) Who could ever fuppofe this fellow impudent upon fuch occafions. (To him) You were going to obferve, Sir—

MARLOW.

I was observing madam-I proteft, madam, I forget what I was going to obferve.

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

(Afide) I vow and fo do I. (To him) You were obferving, Sir, that in this age of hypocrify fomething about hypocrify, Sir.

MARLOW.

Yes, madam. In this age of hypocrify there are few who upon ftrict inquiry do not—a—a—a—

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

I understand you perfectly. Sir.

MARLOW.

(Afide) Egad! and that's more than I do myself. Mifs HARDCASTLE.

You mean that in this hypocritical age there are few that do not condemn in public what they practife in private, and think they pay every debt to virtue when they praise it.

MARLOW.

True, madam; those who have most virtue in their mouths, have least of it in their bosoms.

I'm fure I tire you, madam.

Mifs HARDCASTLE,

But

Not in the leaft, Sir; there's fomething fo agreeable and fpirited in your manner, fuch life and force-pray, Sir, go on.

MARLOW.

Yes, madam. I was faying-that there are fome occafions-when a total want of courage, madam, destroys all the and puts us-upon

a

I

Mifs HARDCASTLE,

agree with you entirely, a want of courage upon fome occafions affumes the appearance of ignorance,

and

and betrays us when we moft want to excel. I beg you'll proceed.

MARLOW.

Yes, madam. Morally speaking, madam-But I fee Mifs Neville expecting us in the next room. I would not intrude for the world.

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

I proteft, Sir, I never was more agreeably entertained in all my life. Pray go on.

MARLOW.

Yes, madam, I was

-But he beckons us to

join her. Madam, shall I do myself the honour to attend you?

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

Well then, I'll follow.

MARLOW.

(Afide) This pretty smooth dialogue has done for [Exit.

me.

Mifs HARDCASTLE, fola.

Ha ha ha! Was there ever such a fober sentimental interview? I'm certain he scarce look'd in my face the whole time. Yet the fellow, but for his unaccountable bashfulness, is pretty well too. He has good fenfe, but then fo buried in his fears, that it fatigues one more than ignorance. If I could teach him a little confidence, it would be doing fomebody that I know of a piece of fervice. But who is that fomebody ?-That, faith, is a queftion I can fcarce answer.

N 4

[Exit.

Enter

Enter TONY and Mifs NEVILLE, followed by Mrs. HARDCASTLE and HASTINGS.

TONY.

What do you follow me for, coufin Con? I wonder you're not afham'd to be fo very engaging.

Mifs NEVILLE.

I hope, coufin, one may speak to one's own relations, and not be to blame.

TONY.

Aye, but I know what fort of a relation you want to make me though; but it won't do. I tell you, coufin Con, it won't do ; fo I beg you'll keep your distance, I want no nearer relationship.

[She follows, coquetting him to the back scene.

Mrs. HARDCASTLE.

Well! I vow, Mr. Haftings, you are very entertaining. There's nothing in the world I love to talk of fo much as London, and the fashions, though I was never there myself.

HASTINGS.

Never there! You amaze me! From your air and manner, I conclude you had been bred all your life either at Ranelagh, St. James's, or Tower Wharf.

Mrs. HARDCASTLE.

: We

I'm in

O! Sir, you're only pleased to fay fo. country perfons can have no manner at all. love with the town, and that ferves to raise me