GARNET.

Yes, and his daughter fhe will be. If he don't confent to their marriage, they talk of trying what a Scotch parfon can do.

Mifs RICHLAND.

Well, I own they have deceived me-And fo demurely as Olivia carried it too!-Would you believe it, Garnet, I told her all my secrets; and yet the fly cheat concealed all this from me?

GARNET.

And, upon my word, madam, I don't much blame her: fhe was loth to trust one with her fecrets, that was fo very bad at keeping her own.

Mifs RICHLAND,

But, to add to their deceit, the young gentleman, it feems, pretends to make me ferious propofals, My guardian and he are to be here prefently, to open the affair in form. You know I am to lofe half my fortune if I refufe him.

GARNET.

Yet, what can you do?

For being, as you are,

in love with Mr. Honeywood, madam

Mifs RICHLAND,

How! idiot; what do you mean?

In love with

Mr. Honeywood! Is this to provoke me?

GARNET.

That is madam, in friendship with him; I meant nothing more than friendfhip, as I hope to be mar

ried; nothing more.

Mifs RICHLAND.

Well, no more of this! As to my guardian, and his fon, they shall find me prepared to receive them; I'm refolved to accept their proposal with feeming pleasure, to mortify them by compliance, and fo throw the refufal at last upon them.

GARNET.

Delicious! and that will fecure your whole fortune to yourself. Well, who could have thought fo innocent a face could cover fo much cutenefs!

Mifs RICHLAND.

Why, girl, I only oppofe my prudence to their cunning, and practise a leffon they have taught me against themselves.

GARNET.

Then you're likely not long to want employment, for here they come, and in close conference.

Enter CROAKER, LEONTINE.

LEONTINE.

Excufe me, Sir, if I feem to hesitate upon the point of putting to the lady fo important a quef

tion.

CROAKER.

Lord! good Sir, moderate your fears; you're fo plaguy fhy, that one would think you had changed fexes. I tell you we must have the half or the whole. Come, let me fee with what fpirit you begin? Well, why don't you? Eh! What? Well

then

then-I muft, it feems-Mifs Richland, my dear, f believe you guefs at our business; an affair which my fon here comes to open, that nearly concerns your happiness.

Mifs RICHLAND.

Sir, I fhould be ungrateful not to be pleased with. any thing that comes recommended by you.

CROAKER.

How, boy, could you defire a finer opening? Why don't you begin, I say? (To Leont.)

LEONTINE.

'Tis true, madam, my father, madam, has fome intentions-hem-of explaining an affair-whichhimself-can beft explain, madam.

CROAKER.

Yes, my dear; it comes entirely from my fon; it's all a request of his own, madam. And I will permit him to make the best of it.

LEONTINE.

The whole affair is only this, madam; my father has a propofal to make, which he infifts none but himself shall deliver.

CROAKER,

My mind mifgives me, the fellow will never be brought on. (Afide.) In fhort, madam, you fee before you one that loves you; one whofe whole happiness is all in you,

Mifs RICHLAND.

I never had any doubts of your regard, Sir; and I hope you can have none of my duty.

CROAKER.

That's not the thing, my little sweeting; my love! No, no, another guess lover than I; there he ftands, madam, his very looks declare the force of his paffion-Call up a look, you dog (Afide.)-But then, had you seen him, as I have, weeping, speaking foliloquies and blank verfe, fometimes melancholy, and fometimes abfent

Mifs RICHLAND.

I fear, Sir, he's abfent now; or fuch a declaration would have come moft properly from himfelf.

CROAKER.

Himfelf! madam, he would die before he could make fuch a confession; and if he had not a channel for his paffion through me, it would ere now have drowned his understanding.

Mifs RICHLAND.

I muft grant, Sir, there are attractions in modest diffidence above the force of words. A filent addrefs is the genuine eloquence of fincerity.

CROAKER.

Madam, he has forgot to fpeak any other language; filence is become his mother tongue.

Mifs RICHLAND.

And it must be confeffed. Sir, it fpeaks very powerfully in his favour. And yet I fhall be

thought

thought too forward in making fuch a confeffion : fhan't I, Mr. Leontine?

LEONTINE.

But, if

Confufion! my referve will undo me. modefty attracts her, impudence may difguft her. I'll try. (Afide.) Don't imagine from my filence, madam, that I want a due fenfe of the honour and happiness intended me. My father, madam, tells me, your humble fervant is not totally indifferent to you. He admires you; I adore you; and when we come together, upon my foul I believe we fhall be the happiest couple in all St. James's.

Mifs RICHLAND.

If I could flatter myfelf, you thought as you fpeak, Sir

LEONTINE.

Doubt my fincerity, madam? By your dear felf I fwear. Ask the brave, if they defire glory? afk cowards, if they covet fafety

CROAKER.

Well, well, no more questions about it.

LEONTINE.

Afk the fick, if they long for health? afk mifers, if they love money? afk

CROAKER.

Afk a fool, if they can talk nonfenfe! What's come over the boy? What fignifies afking, when there's not a foul to give you an answer? If you

would