ACT THE THIRD.

Enter HARDCASTLE, folus.

WHAT

HARDCASTLE.

HAT could my old friend Sir Charles mean by recommending his fon as the modefteft young man in town? To me he appears the most impudent piece of brass that ever spoke with a tongue. He has taken poffeffion of the easy chair by the firefide already. He took off his boots in the parlour, and defired me to fee them taken care of. I'm defirous to know how his impudence affects my daughter. She will certainly be shocked at it.

Enter Mifs HARDCASTLE, plainly dreffed.

HARDCASTLE.

Well, my Kate, I fee you have changed your drefs as I bid you; and yet, I believe, there was no great

occafion.

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

I find fuch a pleasure, Sir, in obeying your commands, that I take care to obferve them without ever debating their propriety.

HARD

HARDCASTLE.

And yet, Kate, I fometimes give you some cause, particularly when I recommended my modeft gentleman to you as a lover to-day.

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

You taught me to expect fomething extraordinary, and I find the original exceeds the description.

HARDCASTLE.

I was never so surprised in my life! He has quite confounded all

my

faculties!

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

I never faw any thing like it: and a man of the world too!

HARDCASTLE.

Aye, he learned it all abroad,-what a fool was I, to think a young man could learn modefty by travelling. He might as foon learn wit at a masquerade.

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

It seems all natural to him.

HARDCASTLE.

A good deal affifted by bad company and a French dancing-mafter.

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

Sure you mistake, papa! A French dancingmafter could never have taught him that timid look, —that aukward address,—that bashful manner—

HARDCASTLE.

Whofe look? whofe manner, child?

02

Mifs

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

Mr. Marlow's his mauvaife honte, his timidity ftruck me at the first fight.

HARDCASTLE.

Then your first fight deceived you; for I think him one of the moft brazen firft fights that ever aftonished my fenfes.

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

Sure, Sir, you rally! I never faw any one fo modeft.

HARDCASTLE.

And can you be ferious! I never faw fuch a bouncing fwaggering puppy fince I was born. Bully Dawson was but a fool to him.

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

Surprifing! He met me with a refpectful bow, a ftammering voice, and a look fixed on the ground. HARDCASTLE.

He met me with a loud voice, a lordly air, and a familiarity that made my blood freeze again.

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

He treated me with diffidence and refpect; cenfured the manners of the age; admired the prudence of girls that never laughed; tired me with apologies for being tiresome; then left the room with a bow, and, "madam, I would not for the "world detain you."

HARDCASTLE.

He spoke to me as if he knew me all his life before. Afked twenty questions, and never waited

for

for an answer, interrupted my beft remarks with fome filly pun, and when I was in my best story of the Duke of Marlborough and Prince Eugene, he asked if I had not a good hand at making punch. Yes, Kate, he asked your father if he was a maker of punch.

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

One of us muft certainly be mistaken.

HARDCASTLE.

If he be what he he has fhewn himself, I'm determined he shall never have my confent.

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

And if he be the fullen thing I take him, he shall never have mine.

HARDCASTLE.

In one thing then we are agreed-to reject him. Mifs HARDCASTLE.

Yes. But upon conditions. For if you should find him lefs impudent, and I more prefuming; if you find him more refpectful, and I more importu-I don't know-the fellow is well enough for a man-Certainly we don't meet many such at a horfe race in the country.

nate

HARDCASTLE.

If we should find him fo-But that's impoffible, The first appearance has done my business. I'm feldom deceived in that.

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

And yet there may be many good qualities untler that first appearance.

0 3

HARD

HARDCASTLE.

Aye, when a girl finds a fellow's outfide to her tafte, she then fets about gueffing the rest of his furniture. With her, a fmooth face ftands for good fenfe, and a genteel figure for every virtue.

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

I hope, Sir, a conversation begun with a compliment to my good fense won't end with a fneer at my understanding?

HARDCASTLE.

Pardon me, Kate. But if young Mr. Brazen can find the art of reconciling contradictions, he may please us both, perhaps.

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

And as one of us must be mistaken, what if we go to make further difcoveries?

HARDCASTLE.

Agreed. But depend on't I'm in the right.

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

And depend on't I'm not much in the wrong.

[Exeunt.

Enter TONY, running in with a casket.

TONY.

Ecod! I have got them. Here they are. My coufin Con's necklaces, bobs and all. My mother fhan't cheat the poor fouls out of their fortin neither. O! my genus, is that you?

Enter