"you promised. Dispatch is neceffary, as the hag "(aye the hag) your mother, will otherwife fufpect "us. Yours, Haftings." Grant me patience. I fhall run distracted. My rage choaks me.

Mifs NEVILLE.

I hope, madam, you'll fufpend your refentment for a few moments, and not impute to me any impertinence, or finifter defign, that belongs to another.

Mrs. HARDCASTLE.

(Curtefying very low.) Fine fpoken, madam, you are moft miraculously polite and engaging, and quite the very pink of curtefy and circumfpection, madam. (Changing her tone) And you, you great ill-fashioned oaf, with scarce sense enough to keep your mouth fhut. Were you too join'd against me? But I'll defeat all your plots in a moment, As for you, madam, fince you have got a pair of fresh horfes ready, it would be cruel to disappoint them. So, if you please, inftead of running away with your fpark, prepare, this very moment, to run off with me. Your old aunt Pedigree will keep you fecure, I'll warrant me. You too, Sir, may mount your horfe, and guard us upon the way. Here, Thomas, Roger, Diggory, I'll fhew you, that I wish you better than you do yourselves.

Mifs NEVILLE,

So now I'm completely ruined.

[Exit.

TONY.

Aye, that's a fure thing.

Mifs NEVILLE.

What better could be expected from being connected with fuch a stupid fool, and after all the nods and figns I made him?

TONY.

By the laws, Mifs, it was your own cleverness, and not my ftupidity, that did your bufinefs. You were fo nice and so busy with your Shake-bags and Goosegreens, that I thought you could never be making

believe.

Enter HASTINGS.

HASTINGS.

So, Sir, I find by my fervant,

fhewn my letter, and betray'd us.

done, young gentleman ?

TONY.

that you have

Was this well

Here's another. Afk Mifs there who betray'd you? Ecod, it was her doing, not mine.

Enter MARLOW,

MARLOW.

So I have been finely ufed here among you. Rendered contemptible, driven into ill manners, despifed, infulted, laughed at.

TONY.

Here's another. We fhall have old Bedlam broke loose presently.

Mifs NEVILLE.

And there, Sir, is the gentleman to whom we all owe every obligation.

MARLOW.

What can I say to him, a mere boy, an idiot, whofe ignorance and age are a protection.

HASTINGS.

A poor contemptible booby, that would but difgrace correction.

Mifs NEVILLE.

Yet with cunning and malice enough to make himself merry with all our embarrassments.

An infenfible cub.

HASTINGS.

MARLOW.

Replete with tricks and mifchief.

TONY.

Baw! damme, but I'll fight you both one after the other, with baskets.

MARLOW.

As for him, he's below refentment. But your conduct, Mr. Haftings, requires an explanation. You knew of my mistakes, yet would not undeceive

me.

HASTINGS.

Tortured as I am with my own disappointments, is this a time for explanations. It is not friendly, Mr. Marlow.

But, Sir

MARLOW.

Mifs NEVILLE.

Mr. Marlow, we never kept on your mistake, till it was too late to undeceive you. Be pacified.

Enter SERVANT.

SERVANT.

My mistress defires you'll get ready immediately,

madam. The horses are putting to.

and things are in the next room.

thirty miles before morning.

Mifs NEVILLE.

Well, Well; I'll come prefently.

MARLOW.

Your hat

We are to go

[Exit fervant.

(To Haftings) Was it well done, Sir, to affift in rendering me ridiculous. To hang me out for the fcorn of all my acquaintance. Depend upon it, Sir, I fhall expect an explanation.

HASTINGS.

Was it well done, Sir, if you're upon that fubject, to deliver what I entrusted to yourfelf, to the care of another, Sir.

Mifs NEVILLE.

Mr. Haftings. Mr. Marlow. Why will you increase my diftrefs by this groundless difpute? I implore, I intreat you

En

I come. Pray be pacified. If I leave you thus, I shall die with apprehenfion.

Enter SERVANT.

SERVANT.

Your fan, muff, and gloves, madam. The horfes are waiting.

Mifs NEVILLE

O, Mr. Marlow! if you knew what a fcene of contraint and ill-nature lies before me, I'm sure it would convert your refentment into pity.

MARLOW.

I'm fo diftracted with a variety of paffions, that I don't know what I do. Forgive me, madam. George, forgive me. You know my hafty temper, and should not exafperate it.

HASTINGS.

The torture of my fituation is my only excufe.

Mifs NEVILLE.

Well, my dear Haftings, if you have that esteem for me that I think, that I am sure you have, your conftancy for three years will but encrease the happiness of our future connexion. If—

Mrs.