TONY.

I'm in hafte, mother, I cannot stay.

Mrs. HARDCASTLE.

You fhan't venture out this raw evening, my dear: You look moft shockingly.

TONY.

I can't ftay, I tell you. The three pigeons expects me down every moment.

going forward.

fo.

HARDCASTLE.

There's fome fun

Aye; the ale-house, the old place: I thought

Mrs. HARDCASTLE.

A low, paltry fet of fellows.

TONY.

Not fo low neither. There's Dick Muggins the exciseman, Jack Slang the horfe doctor, little Aminadab that grinds the mufic box, and Tom Twist that spins the pewter platter.

Mrs. HARDCASTLE.

Pray, my dear, difappoint them for one night at leaft.

TONY.

As for difappointing them I fhould not fo much mind; but I can't abide to disappoint myself.

Mrs. HARDCASTLE.

(Detaining him) You shan't go.

I will, I tell you.

TONY.

Mrs.

Mrs. HARDCASTLE.

I say you fhan't.

TONY.

We'll fee which is ftrongest, you or I.

[Exit, hauling her out.

HARDCASTLE, folus.

Aye, there goes a pair that only spoil each other. But is not the whole age in a combination to drive fenfe and discretion out of doors? There's my pretty darling Kate; the fashions of the times have almoft infected her too. By living a year or two in town, she is as fond of gauze, and French frippery, as the beft of them.

Enter Mifs HARDCASTLE.

HARDCASTLE.

Bleffings on my pretty innocence! dreft out as ufual, my Kate. Goodnefs! What a quantity of fuperfluous filk haft thou got about thee, girl! I could never teach the fools of this age, that the indigent world could be cloathed out of the trimmings of the vain.

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

You know our agreement, Sir. You allow me the morning to receive and pay vifits, and to dress in my own manner; and in the evening, I put on my housewife's dress to please you.

HARD

HARDCASTLE.

Well, remember I infift on the terms of our agrement; and, by the bye, I believe I fhall have occafion to try your obedience this

very evening.

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

I proteft, Sir, I don't comprehend your meaning.

HARDCASTLE.

Then, to be plain with you, Kate, I expect the young gentleman I have chofen to be your bufband from town this very day. I have his father's letter, in which he informs me his fon is fet out, and that he intends to follow himself shortly after.

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

Indeed! I wish I had known fomething of this before. Blefs me, how fhall I behave? It's a thoufand to one I shan't like him; our meeting will be fo formal, and fo like a thing of business, that I shall find no room for friendship or esteem.

HARDCASTLE.

Depend upon it, child, I'll never control your choice; but Mr. Marlow, whom I have pitched upon, is the fon of my old friend, Sir Charles Marlow, of whom you have heard me talk fo often. The young gentleman has been bred a scholar, and is defigned for an employment in the service of his country. I am told he's a man of an excellent understanding.

My dear papa, fay no more, (kiffing his hand) he's mine, I'll have him.

HARDCASTLE.

And, to crown all, Kate, he's one of the most bashful and reserved young fellows in all the world. Mifs HARDCASTLE.

Eh! you have frozen me to death again. That word reserved, has undone all the rest of his accomplishments. A referved lover, it is faid, always makes a fufpicious husband,

HARDCASTLE.

On the contrary, modesty feldom refides in a breaft that is not enriched with nobler virtues. It was the very feature in his character that first struck

me.

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

He must have more ftriking features to catch me, I promise you. However, if he be fo young, fo handsome, and fo every thing, as you mention, I believe he'll do ftill. I think I'll have him.

HARDCASTLE.

Aye, Kate, but there is ftill an obftacle. more than an even wager, he may not have you. Mifs HARDCASTLE.

It's

My dear papa, why will you mortify one fo?— Well, if he refufes, instead of breaking my heart at his indifference, I'll only break my glafs for its flattery. Set my cap to fome newer fashion, and look out for fome lefs difficult admirer.

HARDCASTLE.

Bravely refolved! In the mean time I'll go prepare the fervants for his reception; as we feldom fee company, they want as much training as a company of recruits, the first day's mufter. [Exit.

Mifs HARDCASTLE, fola.

Lud, this news of papa's puts me all in a flutter, Young, handfome; these he put laft? but I put them foremost. Senfible, good-natured; I like all that. But then referved, and fheepish, that's much against him. Yet can't he be cured of his timidity, by being taught to be proud of his wife? Yes, and can't I-But I vow I'm difpofing of the husband, before I have fecur'd the lover.

Enter