HASTINGS.

(To him) You never spoke better in your whole life. Keep it up, and I'll infure you the victory. Mifs HARDCASTLE.

I'm afraid you flatter, Sir. You that have seen so much of the finest company can find little entertainment in an obfcure corner of the country.

MARLOW.

(Gathering courage) I have lived, indeed, in the world, madam; but I have kept very little company. I have been but an observer upon life, madam, while others were enjoying it.

Mifs NEVILLE.

But that, I am told, is the way to enjoy it at laft.

HASTINGS.

(To him) Cicero never spoke better. Once more, and you are confirmed in afsurance for ever.

MARLOW.

(To him) Hem! ftand by me then, and when I'm down, throw in a word or two to fet me up again.

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

An obferver, like you, upon life, were, I fear, difagreeably employed, fince you must have had much more to cenfure than to approve.

MARLOW.

Pardon me, madam. I was always willing to be amufed. The folly of moft people is rather an object of mirth than uneasiness.

HASTINGS.

(To him) Bravo, bravo. Never spoke so well im your whole life. Well! Mifs Hardcastle, I fee that you and Mr. Marlow are going to be very good company. I believe our being here will but embarrafs the interview.

MARLOW.

Not in the leaft, Mr. Haftings. We like your company of all things. (To him) Zounds! George,. fure you won't go ? how can you leave us?

HASTINGS.

Our prefence will but fpoil converfation, fo we'll retire to the next room. (To him) You don't confider, man, that we are to manage a little tête-à-tête of our own. [Exeunt.

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

(After a paufeJ But you have not been wholly an obferver, I prefume, Sir: the ladies I fhould hope have employed fome part of your addreffes.

MARLOW.

(Relapfing into timidity) Pardon me, madam, I-I-I-as yet have ftudied-only-to-deferve them..

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

And that, fome fay, is the very worst way to obtain them.

MARLOW.

Perhaps fo, madam. But I love to converfe only with the more grave and fenfible part of the fex.But I'm afraid I grow tirefome.

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

Not at all, Sir; there is nothing I like fo much as grave converfation myself; I could hear it for ever. Indeed I have often been furprised how a man of fentiment could ever admire thofe light airy pleasures, where nothing reaches the heart.

MARLOW.

In

It's- -a disease—of the mind, madam. the variety of tastes there must be some who wanting a relish

-for

-um-a-um.

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

I understand you, Sir. There must be fome, who wanting a relish for refined pleasures, pretend to despise what they are incapable of tafting.

MARLOW.

My meaning, madam, but infinitely better expreffed. And I can't help obferving

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

a

(Afide) Who could ever suppose this fellow impudent upon fuch occafions. (To him)

going to obferve, Sir

MARLOW.

You were

I was obferving, madam-I protest, madam, I forget what I was going to obferve.

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

(Afide) I vow and fo do I. (To him) You were observing, Sir, that in this age of hypocrify fomething about hypocrify, Sir.

MARLOW.

Yes, madam. In this age of hypocrify there are few who upon ftrict inquiry do not-a-a

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

I understand you perfectly, Sir.

MARLOW,

(Afide) Egad! and that's more than I do myself. Mifs HARDCASTLE,

You mean that in this hypocritical age there are few that do not condemn in public what they practife in private, and think they pay every debt to virtue when they praise it.

MARLOW.

True, madam; those who have most virtue in their mouths, have least of it in their bofoms. But I'm fure I tire you, madam.

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

Not in the leaft, Sir; there's fomething fo agreeable and spirited in your manner, fuch life and force-pray, Sir, go on.

MARLOW.

Yes, madam. I was faying that there are fome occafions-when a total want of courage, madam, destroys all the and puts us— -upon

a

I

a

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

agree with you entirely, a want of courage upon fome occafions affumes the appearance of ignorance,

and

and betrays us when we most want to excel. I beg you'll proceed.

MARLOW.

Yes, madam. Morally speaking, madam-But I see Miss Neville expecting us in the next room. I would not intrude for the world.

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

I proteft, Sir, I never was more agreeably entertained in all my life. Pray go on.

MARLOW.

Yes, madam. I was -But fhe beckons us to join her. Madam, fhall I do myself the honour to attend you?

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

Well then, I'll follow.

MARLOW.

(Afide) This pretty smooth dialogue has done for

me.

Mifs HARDCASTLE, fola.

[Exit.

Ha ha ha! Was there ever such a fober fentimental interview? I'm certain he fcarce look'd in my face the whole time. Yet the fellow, but for his unaccountable bashfulness, is pretty well too. He has good fenfe, but then fo buried in his fears, that it fatigues one more than ignorance. If I could teach him a little confidence, it would be doing somebody that I know of a piece of service. But who is that fomebody ?-That, faith, is a queftion I can scarce answer.

N 4

[Exit.

Enter