would ask to the purpose, afk this lady's confent to make you happy.

Mifs RICHLAND.

Why indeed, Sir, his uncommon ardour almost compels me forces me to comply. And yet I'm afraid he'll despise a conquest gained with too much ease: won't you, Mr. Leontine ?

LEONTINE.

Confufion! (Afide.) Oh, by no means, madam, by no means. And yet, madam, you talked of force. There is nothing I would avoid fo much as compulfion in a thing of this kind. No, madam, I will ftill be generous, and leave you at liberty to refufe.

CROAKER.

But I tell you, Sir, the lady is not at liberty. It's a match. You fee fhe fays nothing. Silence gives confent.

LEONTINE.

But, Sir, fhe talked of force. Confider, Sir, the cruelty of conftraining her inclinations.

CROAKER.

But I fay there's no cruelty. Don't you know, blockhead, that girls have always a roundabout way of faying yes before company? So get you both gone together into the next room, and hang him that interrupts the tender explanation. Get you gone, I fay; I'll not hear a word.

VOL. II,

D

LE

But, Sir, I muft beg leave to insist→→→→

CROAKER.

Get off, you puppy, or I'll beg leave to infift upon knocking you down. Stupid whelp! But I don't wonder, the boy takes entirely after his mother.

[Exeunt Mifs Rich. and Leont.

Enter Mrs. CROAKER.

Mrs. CROAKER.

Mr. Croaker, I bring you fomething, my dear, that I believe will make you smile.

CROAKER.

I'll hold you a guinea of that, my dear.

Mrs. CROAKER.

A letter; and, as I knew the hand, I ventur'd to open it.

CROAKER.

And how can you expect your breaking open my letters fhould give me pleasure?

Mrs. CROAKER.

Poo, it's from your fifter at Lyons, and contains good news: read it.

CROAKER.

What a Frenchified cover is here!

That fifter of

mine has fome good qualities, but I could never

teach her to fold a letter.

Mrs. CROAKER.

Fold a fiddleflick. Read what it contains.

CROAKER,

CROAKER, reading.

"DEAR NICK,

"AN English gentleman, of large fortune, has for fome time made private, though honourable "propofals to your daughter Olivia. They love " each other tenderly, and I find fhe has confented, "without letting any of the family know, to crown "his addreffes. As fuch good offers don't come every day, your own good fenfe, his large fortune, "and family confiderations, will induce you to for"give her.

"Yours ever,

"RACHAEL CROAKER."

My daughter Olivia, privately contracted to a man of large fortune! This is good news, indeed. My heart never foretold me of this. And

yet, how flily the little baggage has carried it fince fhe came home. Not a word on't to the old ones for the world. Yet, I thought, I faw fomething she wanted to conceal.

Mrs. CROAKER.

Well, if they have concealed their amour, they fhan't conceal their wedding; that shall be public, I'm refolved.

CROAKER.

I tell thee, woman, the wedding is the most foolish part of the ceremony. I can never get this woman to think of the more ferious part of the nuptial en

gagement,

D 2

Mrs.

Mrs. CROAKER.

What, would you have me think of their funeral? But come, tell me, my dear, don't you owe more to me than you care to confefs? Would you have ever been known to Mr. Lofty, who has undertaken Mifs Richland's claim at the treafury, but for me? Who was it firft made him an acquaintance at lady Shabbaroon's rout? Who got him to promife us his intereft? Is not he a back-ftairs favourite, one that can do what he pleases with thofe that do what they pleafe? Is not he an acquaintance that all your groaning and lamentations could never have got

He is a man of importance, I grant you. And yet, what amazes me is, that while he is giving away places to all the world, he can't get one for

himself.

Mrs. CROAKER.

That perhaps may be owing to his nicety. Great men are not easily fatisfied.

Enter FRENCH SERVANT.

SERVANT.

An expreffe from Monfieur Lofty. He vil be vait upon your honour's inftrammant. He be only giving four five inftruction, read two three memorial, call upon von ambaffadeur. He vil be vid you in one tree minutes.

Mrs.

Mrs. CROAKER.

You fee now, my dear. What an extenfive department! Well, friend, let your mafter know, that we are extremely honoured by this honour. Was there any thing ever in a higher ftyle of breeding! All meffages among the great are now done by exprefs.

CROAKER.

To be fure, no man does little things with more folemnity, or claims more refpect than he. But he's in the right on't. In our bad world, refpect is given, where respect is claim'd.

Mrs. CROAKER.

Never mind the world, my dear; you were never in a pleasanter place in your life. Let us now think of receiving him with proper refpect (a loud rapping at the door) and there he is, by the thundering

rap.

CROAKER.

Ay, verily, there he is! as clofe upon the heels. of his own exprefs, as an indorfement upon the back of a bill. Well, I'll leave you to receive him, whilft I go to chide my little Olivia for intending to fteal a marriage without mine, or her aunt's confent. I must seem to be angry, or the too may be gin to defpife my authority.

D 3

[Exit.

Enter