TONY.

Well, keep them, till you know how it will be. But I know how it will be well enough, she'd as foon part with the only found tooth in her head.

HASTINGS.

But I dread the effects of her refentment, when fhe finds fhe has loft them.

TONY.

Never you mind her refentment, leave me to manage that. I don't value her refentment the bounce of a cracker. Zounds! here they are. Morrice! Prance! [Exit Haftings.

1

TONY, Mrs. HARDCASTLE, and Mifs NEVILLE.

Mrs. HARDCASTLE,

Indeed, Conftance, you amaze me.

Such a girl

as you want jewels? It will be time enough for jewels, my dear, twenty years hence, when your beauty begins to want repairs.

Mifs NEVILLE.

But what will repair beauty at forty, will certainly improve it at twenty, madam.

Mrs. HARDCASTLE.

Yours, my dear, can admit of none. That natural blush is beyond a thoufand ornaments. Refides, child, jewels are quite out at prefent. Don't you fee half the ladies of our acquaintance, my lady Kill-day-light, and Mrs. Crump, and the rest of

them,

them, carry their jewels to town, and bring nothing but paste and marcafitės back.

Mifs NEVILLE.

But who knows, madam, but fomebody that fhall be nameless would like me beft with all my little finery about me?

Mrs. HARDCASTLE.

Confult your glass, my dear, and then fee if with fuch a pair of eyes, you want any better fparklers. What do you think, Tony, my dear? does your coufin Con want any jewels, in your eyes, to set off her beauty?

TONY.

That's as thereafter may be.

Mifs NEVILLE.

My dear aunt, if you knew how it would oblige

me.

Mrs. HARDCASTLE.

Befides, I be

A parcel of old-fashioned rose and table cut things. They would make you look like the court of king Solomon at a puppet-shew. lieve I can't readily come at them. miffing for aught I know to the contrary.

TONY.

They may be

(Apart to Mrs. Hardcastle.) Then why don't you tell her fo at once, as fhe's fo longing for them? Tell her they're loft. It's the only way to quiet her. Say they're loft, and call me to bear witness.

Mrs.

Mrs. HARDCASTLE.

(Apart to Tony.) You know, my dear, I'm only keeping them for you. So if I fay they're gone, you'll bear me witness, will you? He! he he!

Never fear me,

TONY.

Ecod! I'll fay I faw them taken

out with my own eyes.

Mifs NEVILLE.

I defire them but for a day, madam. Just to be permitted to fhew them as relics, and then they may be locked up again.

Mrs. HARDCASTLE.

To be plain with you, my dear Constance; if I could find them, you fhould have them. They're miffing, I affure you. Loft for aught I know; but we must have patience wherever they are.

Mifs NEVILLE.

I'll not believe it; this is but a fhallow pretence to deny me. I know they are too valuable to be so flightly kept, and as you are to anfwer for the lofs. Mrs. HARDCASTLE.

Don't be alarm'd, Conftance. If they be loft, I muft reftore an equivalent. But my fon knows they are miffing, and not to be found.

- TONY.

That I can bear witnefs to. and not to be found, I'll take

They are miffing, my oath on't.

Mrs.

Mrs. HARDCASTLE.

You must learn refignation, my dear; for though · we lose our fortune, yet we should not lofe our pas tience. See me, how calm I am.

Mifs NEVILLE,

Aye, people are generally calm at the misfortunes of others.

Mrs. HARDCASTLE.

Now, I wonder a girl of your good fenfe fhould waste a thought upon fuch trumpery. We fhall foon find them; and in the mean time, you fhall make ufe of my garnets till your jewels be found. Mifs NEVILLE.

I deteft garnets.

Mrs. HARDCASTLE.

The most becoming things in the world to fet off a clear complexion. You have often seen how well they look upon me. You fhall have them.. [Exit. Mifs NEVILLE.

I dislike them of all things. You fhan't ftir.Was ever any thing fo provoking to miflay my own jewels, and force me to wear her trumpery.

TONY.

Don't be a fool. If the gives you the garnets, take what you can get. The jewels are your own already. I have stolen them out of her bureau, and the does not know it. Fly to your fpark, he'll tell you more of the matter. Leave me to manage her. Mifs NEVILLE.

My dear coufin !

ΤΟΝΥ.

TONY.

Vanifh. She's here, and has miffed them already. Zounds! how the fidgets and fpits about like a catharine wheel.

Enter Mrs. HARDCASTLE.

Mrs. HARDCASTLE.

Confufion thieves! robbers! we are cheated, plundered, broke open, undone,

TONY.

What's the matter, what's the matter, mamma ? I hope nothing has happened to any of the good family!

MIS HARDCASTLE.

We are robbed. My bureau has been broken open, the jewels taken out, and I'm undone.

TONY.

Oh! is that all? Ha! ha! ha! By the laws, I neve faw it better acted in my life. Ecod, I thought you was ruin'd in earnest, ha! ha! ha!

Mrs. HARDCASTLE.

Why, boy, I'm ruin'd in earnest. My bureau has been broke open, and all taken away.

TONY.

Stick to that; ha! ha! ha! ftick to that.

bear witnefs, you know, call me to bear withefs.

Mrs. HARDCASTLE.

I tell you, Tony, by all that' precious, the jewels

are gone, and I fhall be ruin'd for ever.

TONY.