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love go with me! Go you to the devil, you and your little Cupid together; I'm fo frightened, I fcarce know whether I fit, ftand, or go. Perhaps this moment I'm treading on lighted matches, blazing brimstone, and barrels of gunpower. They are preparing to blow me up into the clouds. Murder! We fhall be all burnt in our beds; we shall be all burnt in our beds.

Enter Mifs RICHLAND.

Mifs RICHLAND.

Lord, Sir, what's the matter?

CROAKER.

Murder's the matter. We shall be all blown up in our beds before morning.

Mifs RICHLAND.

I hope not, Sir.

CROAKER.

What fignifies what you hope, madam, when I have a certificate of it here in my hand? Will no thing alarm my family? Sleeping and eating, fleeping and eating is the only work from morning till night in my houfe. My infenfible crew could fleep, though rock'd by an earthquake; and fry beef steaks at a volcano.

Mifs RICHLAND.

But, Sir, you have alarmed them fo often already, we have nothing but earthquakes, famines, plagues, and mad dogs from year's end to year's end. You

remem

remember, Sir, it is not above a month ago, you affured us of a confpiracy among the bakers, to poifon us in our bread; and fo kept the whole family a week upon potatoes.

CROAKER.

And potatoes were too good for them. But why do I stand talking here with a girl, when I should be facing the enemy without? Here, John, Nicodemus, fearch the house. Look into the cellars, to fee if there be any combustibles below; and above, in the apartments, that no matches be thrown in at the windows. Let' all the fires be put out, and let the engine be drawn out in the yard, to play upon the house in cafe of neceflity. [Exit.

Mifs RICHLAND, alone.

What can he mean by all this? Yet, why should I enquire, when he alarms us in this manner almoft every day! But Honeywood has defired an interview with me in private. What can he mean? or, rather what means this palpitation at his approach? It is the first time he ever fhewed any thing in his conduct that feemed particular. Sure he cannot mean to but he's here.

Enter HONEYWOOD.

HONEYWOOD.

I prefumed to folicit this interview, madam, be

fore I left town, to be permitted

Mifs RICHLAND.

Indeed! Leaving town, Sir?

HONEYWOOD.

Yes, madam; perhaps the kingdom. I have prefumed, I fay, to defire the favour of this interview, -in order to difclofe fomething which our long friendship prompts. And yet my fears

Mifs RICHLAND.

His fears! What are his fears to mine? (Afide.) We have indeed been long acquainted, Sir; very long. If I remember, our first meeting was at the French ambaffador's.-Do you recollect how you were pleased to rally me upon my complexion there?

HONEYWOOD.

Perfectly, madam: I prefumed to reprove you for painting but your warmer blushes foon convinced the company, that the colouring was all from

nature.

:

Mifs RICHLAND.

And yet you only meant it, in your good-natured way, to make me pay a compliment to myself. In the fame manner you danced that night with the moft aukward woman in company, because you faw nobody else would take her out.

HONEYWOOD.

Yes; and was rewarded the next night, by dancing with the finest woman in company, whom every body wished to take out.

Mifs RICHLAND.

Well, Sir, if you thought fo then, I fear your judgment has fince corrected the errors of a firft impreffion. We 'generally fhew to most advantage at firft. Our fex are like poor tradefmen, that put their best goods to be feen at the windows.

me.

HONEYWOOD.

all

The firft impreffion, madam, did indeed deceive I expected to find a woman with all the faults of conscious flattered beauty. I expected to find her vain and infolent. But every day has fince taught me that it is poñible to poffefs sense without pride, and beauty without affectation.

Mifs RICHLAND.

This, Sir, is a ftyle very unusual with Mr. Honeywood; and I should be glad to know why he thus attempts to increase that vanity, which his own leffons have taught me to defpife.

HONEYWOOD.

I ask pardon, madam. Yet, from our long friendfhip, I prefumed I might have fome right to offer, without offence, what you may refuse without offending.

Mifs RICHLAND.

Sir! I beg you'd reflect; though, I fear, I fhall fcarce have any power to refufe a request of yours; yet you may be precipitate: confider, Sir.

HONEYWOOD.

I own my rashness; but, as I plead the cause of friendship, of one who loves-Don't be alarmed,

madam

madam-who loves you with the most ardent paffion, whofe whole happiness is placed in you

Mifs RICHLAND.

I fear, Sir, I fhall never find whom you mean, by this defcription of him.

HONEYWOOD.

Ah, madam, it but too plainly points him out; though he should be too humble himself to urge his pretenfions, or you too modeft to understand them. Mifs RICHLAND.

Well; it would be affectation any longer to pretend ignorance; and I will own, Sir, I have long been prejudiced in his favour.

to wish to make his heart mine, felf ignorant of its value.

HONEYWOOD.

It was but natural

as he feemed him-,

I fee fhe always loved him. (Afide.) I find, madam, you're already fenfible of his worth, his paffion. How happy is my friend, to be the favourite of one with fuch fenfe to diftinguish merit, and fuch beauty to reward it.

Mifs RICHLAND.

Your friend, Sir! What friend?

HONEYWOOD.

My best friend-my friend Mr. Lofty, madam. Mifs RICHLAND.

He, Sir !

HONEYWOOD.

Yes, he, madam. He is, indeed, what your warmeft wishes might have formed him. And to

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