HARDCASTLE.

And yet, Kate, I fometimes give you fome caufe, particularly when I recommended my modest gentleman to you as a lover to-day.

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

You taught me to expect fomething extraordinary, and I find the original exceeds the defcription. HARDCASTLE.

I was never fo surprised in my life! He has quite confounded all my faculties!

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

I never faw any thing like it: and a man of the world too!

HARDCASTLE.

Aye, he learned it all abroad,-what a fool was I, to think a young man could learn modesty by travelling. He might as foon learn wit at a mafquerade.

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

It feems all natural to him.

HARDCASTLE.

A good deal affifted by bad company and a French dancing master.

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

Sure you mistake, papa! A French dancingmafter could never have taught him that timid look, -that aukward addrefs,-that bashful manner—

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

Mr. Marlow's his mauvaise honte, his timidity ftruck me at the first fight.

HARDCASTLE.

Then your first fight deceived you; for I think him one of the moft brazen firft fights that ever aftonished my fenfes.

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

Sure, Sir, you rally! I never faw any one fo modeft.

HARDCASTLE.

And can you be ferious! I never saw such a bouncing fwaggering puppy fince I was born. Bully Dawson was but a fool to him.

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

Surprifing! He met me with a respectful bow, a ftammering voice, and a look fixed on the ground. HARDCASTLE.

He met me with a loud voice, a lordly air, and a familiarity that made my blood freeze again.

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

He treated me with diffidence and refpe&t; cenfured the manners of the age; admired the prudence of girls that never laughed; tired me with apologies for being tirefome; then left the room with a bow, and, "madam, I would not for the "world detain you."

HARDCASTLE.

He spoke to me as if he knew me all his life be-
Afked twenty queflions, and never waited

fore.

for

for an answer, interrupted my beft remarks with fome filly pun, and when I was in my beft ftory of the Duke of Marlborough and Prince Eugene, he afked if I had not a good hand at making punch. Yes, Kate, he asked your father if he was a maker of punch.

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

One of us must certainly be mistaken.

HARDCASTLE.

If he be what he has fhewn himfelf, I'm determined he shall never have my confent.

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

And if he be the fullen thing I take him, he shall never have mine.

HARDCASTLE.

In one thing then we are agreed-to reject him.
Mrs. HARDCASTLE.

Yes.

But upon conditions. For if you should find him lefs impudent, and I more prefuming; if you find him more refpectful, and I more importanate—I don't know the fellow is well enough for a man-Certainly we don't meet many fuch at a horfe race in the country.

HARDCASTLE.

I'm

If we should find him fo-But that's impoffible. The first appearance has done my business. feldom deceived in that.

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

And yet there may be many good qualities under

that first appearance.

O 3

HARD

HARDCASTLE.

Aye, when a girl finds a fellow's outfide to her tafte, she then fets about gueffing the rest of his furniture. With her, a smooth face ftands for good fenfe, and a genteel figure for every virtue.

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

I hope, Sir, a conversation begun with a compliment to my good sense won't end with a fneer at my understanding?

HARDCASTLE.

Pardon me, Kate. But if young Mr. Brazen can find the art of reconciling contradictions, he may please us both, perhaps.

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

And as one of us must be mistaken, what if we go to make farther difcoveries?

HARDCASTLE.

Agreed. But depend on't I'm in the right.
Mifs HARDCASTLE.

And depend on't I'm not much in the wrong.

[Exeunt.

Enter TONY, running in with a casket.

TONY.

Ecod! I have got them. Here they are. My coufin Con's necklaces, bobs and all. My mother fhan't cheat the poor fouls out of their fortin neither. O my genus, is that you?

Enter

Enter HASTINGS.

HASTINGS.

My dear friend, how have you managed with your mother? I hope you have amused her with pretending love for your coufin, and that you are willing to be reconciled at last? Our horfes will be refreshed in a fhort time, and we shall foon be ready to fet off.

TONY.

And here's fomething to bear your charges by the way, (giving the cafket) your fweetheart's jewels. Keep them, and hang thofe, I fay, that would rob you of one of them.

HASTINGS.

But how have you procured them from your mother.

TONY.

Afk me no questions, and I'll tell you no fibs. I procured them by the rule of thumb. If I had not a key to every drawer in mother's bureau, how could I go to the alehouse so often as I do? An honeft man may rob himself of his own at any time.

HASTINGS.

Thousands do it every day. But to be plain with you, Mifs Neville is endeavouring to procure them from her aunt this very inftant. If the fucceeds, it will be the most delicate way at least of obtaining them.