Mifs HARDCASTLE.

Give me that hour then, and I hope to fatisfy

you.

HARDCASTLE.

Well, an hour let it be then. But I'll have no trifling with your father. All fair and open, do you mind me.

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

I hope, Sir, you have ever found that I confidered your commands as my pride; for your kindnefs is fuch, that my duty as yet has been inclination.

ACT THE FOURTH.

Enter HASTINGS and Mifs NEVILLE.

HASTINGS.

You furprife me! Sir Charles Marlow expected

here this night? Where have you had your information !

Mifs NEVILLE.

You may depend upon it. I juft faw his letter to Mr. Hardcastle, in which he tells him he intends fetting out a few hours after his fon.

HASTINGS.

Then, my Conftance, all must be compleated before he arrives. He knows me; and should he find me here, would difcover my name, and perhaps my defigns, to the rest of the family.

Mifs NEVILLE.

The jewels, I hope, are fafe.

HASTINGS.

Yes, yes. I have fent them to Marlow, who keeps the keys of our baggage. In the mean time, I'll go to prepare matters for our elopement. I have had the 'fquire's promife of a fresh pair of horses;

and,

and, if I should not fee him again, will write him farther directions.

Mifs NEVILLE.

[Exit.

Well! fuccefs attend you. In the mean time I'll go amufe my aunt with the old pretence of a violent paffion for my cousin.

Enter MARLOW, followed by a fervant.

MARLOW.

[Exit.

I wonder what Haftings could mean by fending me fo valuable a thing as a casket to keep for him, when he knows the only place I have is the feat of a post

coach at an inn-door. Have you depofited the casket with the landlady, as I ordered you? Have you put it into her own hands?

SERVANT.

Yes, your honour.

MARLOW.

She faid fhe'd keep it fafe, did fhe ?

SERVANT.

Yes, fhe faid fhe'd keep it fafe enough; fhe afk'd me how I came by it? and the said she had a great mind to make me give an account of myself.

MARLOW.

[Exit Servant.

What an

Ha! ha! ha! They're fafe however. unaccountable fet of beings have we got amongft! This little bar-maid though runs in my head moft ftrangely, and drives out the abfurdities of all the

reft

reft of the family. She's mine, fhe must be mine, or I'm greatly mistaken.

Enter HASTINGS.

HASTINGS.

Blefs me! I quite forgot to tell her that I intended to prepare at the bottom of the garden. Marlow here, and in fpirits too!

MARLOW.

Give me joy, George! Crown me, shadow me' with laurels! Well, George, after all, we modest fellows don't want for fuccefs among the women.

HASTINGS.

Some women you mean.

But what fuccefs has

your honour's modesty been crowned with now, that

it grows fo infolent upon us?

MARLOW.

Didn't you fee the tempting, brifk, lovely, little thing, that runs about the house with a bunch of keys to its girdle?

Well, and what then?

HASTINGS.

MARLOW.

She's mine, you rogue you. Such fire, fuch motion, fuch eyes, fuch lips-but, egad! fhe would not let me kifs them though.

HASTINGS.

But are you fo fure, so very sure of her?

MAR

MARLOW.

Why, man, fhe talk'd of fhewing me her work above ftairs, and I am to improve the pattern.

HASTINGS.

But how can you, Charles, go about to rob a woman of her honour ?

MARLOW.

Pfhaw! pfhaw! We all know the honour of the bar-maid of an inn. I don't intend to rob her, take my word for it, there's nothing in this houfe, I fhan't honeftly pay for..

HASTINGS.

I believe the girl has virtue.

MARLOW.

And if he has, I fhould be the last man in the world that would attempt to corrupt it.

HASTINGS.

You have taken care, I hope, of the casket I fent you to lock up? It's in fafety?

MARLOW.

Yes, yes. It's fafe enough. I have taken care ! of it. But how could you think the feat of a postcoach at an inn-door a place of fafety? Ah! numbskull! I have taken better precautions for you than you did for yourfelf-I have

What!

HASTINGS.

MARLOW.

I have fent it to the landlady to keep for you.

HAST