Enter HASTINGS.

HASTINGS.

My dear friend, how have you managed with your mother? I hope you have amufed her with pretending love for your coufin, and that you are willing to be reconciled at last? Our horfes will be refreshed in a fhort time, and we fhall foon be ready to fet off.

ΤΟΝΥ.

And here's fomething to bear your charges by the way, giving the cafket) your fweetheart's jewels. Keep them, and hang those, I fay, that would rob you of one of them.

HASTINGS.

But how have you procured them from your mother?

TONY.

Afk me no queftions, and I'll tell you no fibs. I procured them by the rule of thumb. If I had not a key to every drawer in mother's bureau, how could I go to the alehouse so often as I do? An honest man may rob himself of his own at any time.

HASTINGS.

Thousands do it every day. But to be plain with you, Mifs Neville is endeavouring to procure them from her aunt this very inftant. If the fucceeds, it will be the most delicate way at least of obtaining them.

TONY.

Well, keep them, till you know how it will be. But I know how it will be well enough, fhe'd as foon part with the only found tooth in her head,

HASTINGS.

But I dread the effects of her refentment, when fhe finds fhe has loft them.

TONY.

Never you mind her refentment, leave me to manage that. I don't value her refentment the bounce of a cracker. Zounds! here they are.

Prance!

Morrice!

[Exit Haftings.

TONY, Mrs. HARDCASTLE, and Mifs NEVILLE.

Mrs. HARDCASTLE.

Indeed, Conftance, you amaze me.

Such a girl

as you want jewels? It will be time enough for jewels, my dear, twenty years hence, when your beauty begins to want repairs.

Mifs NEVILLE.

But what will repair beauty at forty, will certainly improve it at twenty, madam.

Mrs. HARDCASTLE.

Yours, my dear, can admit of none.

That natu

ral blush is beyond a thousand ornaments. Befides, child, jewels are quite out at prefent. Don't you fee half the ladies of our acquaintance, my lady Kill-day-light, and Mrs. Crump, and the rest of

them,

them, carry their jewels to town, and bring nothing but pafte and marcafites back.

Mifs NEVILLE.

But who knows, madam, but fomebody that fhall be nameless would like me beft with all

finery about me?

Mrs. HARDCASTLE.

my little

Confult your glass, my dear, and then fee if, with

fuch a pair of eyes,

you want any better sparklers.

What do you think,

Tony, my dear? does your

coufin Con, want any jewels, in your eyes, to fet off

My dear aunt, if you knew how it would oblige

me.

Mrs. HARDCASTLE,

A parcel of old-fashioned rose and table cut things. They would make you look like the court of king Solomon at a puppet-shew.

lieve I can't readily come at them.

Befides, I be

They may be miffing for aught I know to the contrary.

TONY.

(Apart to Mrs. Hardcastle.) Then why don't you tell her fo at once, as fhe's fo longing for them ? Tell her they're loft. her. Say they're loft,

It's the only way to quiet and call me to bear witness.

Mrs,

Mrs. HARDCASTLE.

(Apart to Tony.) You know, my dear, I'm only keeping them for you. So if I fay they're gone, you'll bear me witnefs, will you? He! he! he!

Never fear me.

TONY.

Ecod! I'll fay I saw them taken

out with my own eyes.

Mifs NEVILLE.

I defire them but for a day, madam. Just to be permitted to fhew them as relics, and then they may be lock'd up again.

Mrs. HARDCASTLE.

To be plain with you, my dear Conftance; if I could find them, you should have them. They're miffing, I affure you. Loft, for aught I know; but we must have patience wherever they are.

Mifs NEVILLE.

I'll not believe it; this is but a fhallow pretence to deny me. I know they're too valuable to be fo flightly kept, and as you are to answer for the lofs. Mrs. HARDCASTLE.

Don't be alarm'd, Constance. If they be loft, I muft reftore an equivalent. But my fon knows they are missing, and not to be found.

TONY.

That I can bear witnefs to. They are miffing, and not to be found, I'll take my oath on't.

Mrs.

Mrs. HARDCASTLE.

You must learn refignation, my dear; for though we lose our fortune, yet we should not lose our patience. See me, how calm I am.

Mifs NEVILLE.

Aye, people are generally calm at the misfortunes of others.

Mrs. HARDCASTLE.

Now, I wonder a girl of your good sense should waste a thought upon fuch trumpery. We fhall foon find them; and, in the mean time, you shall make use of my garnets till your jewels be found. Mifs NEVILLE.

I deteft garnets.

Mrs. HARDCASTLE.

The most becoming things in the world to fet off

I dislike them of all things. You fhan't ftir.Was ever any thing fo provoking to miflay my own jewels, and force me to wear her trumpery.

TONY.

Don't be a fool. If the gives you the garnets, take what you can get. The jewels are your own already. I have stolen them out of her bureau, and she does not know it. Fly to your spark, he'll tell you more of the matter. Leave me to manage her. Mifs NEVILLE.

My dear coufin!

TONY.