HASTINGS. Dear madam, permit me to lecture the young gentleman a little. I'm certain I can persuade him to his duty. Mrs. HARDCASTLE. Well! I must retire. Come, Conftance, my love. You fee, Mr. Haftings, the wretchedness of my fituation was ever poor woman so plagued with a dear, fweet, pretty, provoking, undutiful boy. [Exeunt Mrs. Hardcastle and Mifs Neville. HASTINGS, TONY. TONY, finging. "There was a young man riding by, and fain "would have his will. Rang do didlo dee.". Don't mind her. Let her cry. It's the comfort of her heart. I have feen her and fifter cry over a book for an hour together, and they faid, they liked the book the better the 'more it made them cry. HASTINGS. Then you're no friend to the ladies, I find, my pretty young gentleman ? That's as I find 'um. TONY. HASTINGS. Not to her of your mother's chufing, I dare anfwer? And yet the appears to me a pretty well-tempered girl. TONY. TONY. That's because you don't know her as well as I. Ecod! I know every inch about her; and there's not a more bitter cantanckerous toad in all chriftendom. HASTINGS. (Afide) Pretty encouragement this for a lover! TONY. I have feen her fince the height of that. She has as many tricks as a hare in a thicket, or a colt the firft day's breaking. HASTINGS.. To me the appears fenfible and filent! TONY. Aye, before company. But when she's with her play-mate fhe's as loud as a hog in a gate. HASTINGS. But there is a meek modesty about her that charms me. TONY. Yes, but curb her never fo little, fhe kicks up, and you're flung in a ditch. HASTINGS. Well, but you must allow her a little beauty.Yes, you must allow her fome beauty. TONY. Bandbox! She's all a made up thing, mum. Ah! could you but fee Bet Bouncer of these parts, you you might then talk of beauty. Ecod, fhe has two eyes as black as floes, and cheeks as broad and red as a pulpit cushion. She'd make two of fhe. HASTINGS. Well, what fay you to a friend that would take this bitter bargain off your hands? Anon. TONY. HASTINGS. Would you thank him that would take Mifs Neville, and leave you to happiness and your dear Betfy? TONY. Aye; but where is there fuch a friend, for who would take her ? HASTINGS. I am he. If you but affift me, I'll engage to whip her off to France, and you shall never hear more of her. TONY. Affift you! Ecod I will, to the last drop of my blood. I'll clap a pair of horses to your chaise that fhall trundle you off in a twinkling, and may be get you a part of her fortin befide, in jewels, that you little dream of. HASTINGS. My dear 'fquire, this looks like a lad of spirit, TONY, TONY. Come along then, and you fhall fee more of my spirit before you have done with me. We are the boys That fears no noife (Singing.) Where the thundering cannons roar. [Exeunt VOL. II ACT ACT THE THIRD. Enter HARDCASTLE, folus. HARDCASTLE. WHAT could my old friend Sir Charles mean by recommending his fon as the modefteft young man in town? To me he appears the most impudent piece of brafs that ever spoke with a tongue. He has taken poffeffion of the eafy chair by the firefide already. He took off his boots in the parlour, and defired me to fee them taken care of. I'm defirous to know how his impudence affects my daughter. She will certainly be fhocked at it. Enter Mifs HARDCASTLE, plainly dreffed. HARDCASTLE. Well, my Kate, I fee you have changed your dress, as I bid you; and yet, I believe, there was no great occafion. Mifs HARDCASTLE. I find fuch a pleasure, Sir, in obeying your commands, that I take care to obferve them without ever debating their propriety. HARD |