MARLOW.

And why now, my pretty fimplicity?

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

Because it puts me at a distance from one, that if I had a thousand pound I would give it all to.

MARLOW.

(Afide) This fimplicity bewitches me, fo that if I ftay I'm undone. I must make one bold effort, and leave her. (To her) Your partiality in my favour, my dear, touches me moft fenfibly, and were I to live for myself alone, I could eafily fix my choice. But I owe too much to the opinion of the world, too much to the authority of a father, fo that I can scarcely speak it—it affects me. wel.

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

Fare

[Exit.

I never knew half his merit till now. He shall not go, if I have power or art to detain him. I'll ftill preserve the character in which I ftoop'd to conquer, but will undeceive my papa, who, perhaps, may laugh him out of his refolution. [Exit.

Enter TONY, Mifs NEVILLE.

TONY.

Aye, you may fteal for yourselves the next time. I have done my duty. She has got the jewels again, that's a fure thing; but she believes it was all a mistake of the fervants.

Mifs NEVILLE.

But, my dear coufin, fure you won't forfake us in this distress. If the in the leaft fufpects that I am going off, I fhall certainly be locked up, or fent to my aunt Pedigree's, which is ten times worse.

TONY.

To be fure, aunts of all kinds are damn'd bad things. But what can I do? I have got you a pair of horses that will fly like Whistlejacket, and I'm fure you can't say but I have courted you nicely before her face. Here fhe comes, we muft court a bit or two more, for fear she should suspect us.

[They retire, and feem to fondle.

Enter Mrs. HARDCASTLE.

Mrs. HARDCASTLE.

Well, I was greatly fluttered, to be fure. But my fon tells me it was all a mistake of the fervants. I shan't be eafy, however, till they are fairly married, and then let her keep her own fortune. But what do I fee! fondling together, as I'm alive. I never faw Tony fo fprightly before. Ah! have I caught you, my pretty doves! What, billing, exchanging stolen glances, and broken murmurs. Ah!

TONY.

As for murmurs, mother, we grumble a little now and then, to be fure. But there's no love loft be

tween us.

Mrs.

Mrs. HARDCASTLE.

A mere sprinkling, Tony, upon the flame, only to make it burn brighter.

Mifs NEVILLE.

Coufin Tony promises to give us more of his company at home. Indeed, he shan't leave us any more. It won't leave us, coufin Tony, will it?

TONY.

O! it's a pretty creature. No, I'd fooner leave my horse in a pound, than leave you when you fmile upon one fo. Your laugh makes you fo becoming.

Mifs NEVILLE.

Agreeable coufin! Who can help admiring that natural humour, that pleasant, broad, red, thoughtlefs, (patting his cheek) ah! it's a bold face.

Mrs. HARDCASTLE,

Pretty innocence !

TONY.

I'm fure I always lov'd cousin Con's hazle eyes, and her pretty long fingers, that fhe twifts this way and that, over the hafpicholls, like a parcel of bobbins.

Mrs. HARDCASTLE.

I

Ah, he would charm the bird from the tree. was never fo happy before. My boy takes after his father, poor Mr. Lumpkin, exactly. The jewels, my dear Con, fhall be yours incontinently. You fhall have them, Isn't he a fweet boy, my dear?

You fhall be married to-morrow, and we'll put off the reft of his education, like Dr. Drowfy's fermons, to a fitter opportunity.

Enter DIGGORY.

DIGGORY.

Where's the 'fquire? I have got a letter for your

Give it to my mamma. She reads all my

firft.

DIGGORY.

letters

I had orders to deliver it into your own hands,

TONY.

Who does it come from?

DIGGORY.

Your worship mun ask that o' the letter itself,

TONY.

I could wish to know, though (turning the letter, and gazing on it,)

Mifs NEVILLE,

(Afide) Undone! undone!

A letter to him from

Haftings. I know the hand. If my aunt fees it we are ruined for ever. I'll keep her employ'd a little if I can. (To Mrs. Hardcastle) But I have not told you, madam, of my coufin's fmart answer just now to Mr. Marlow. We fo laugh'd-You must know, madam,-This way a little, for he must, not [They confer. ΤΟΝΥ.

hear us.

TONY.

(Still gazing) A damn'd cramp piece of penmanfhip, as ever I faw in my life. I can read your print hand very well. But here there are fuch handles, and fhanks, and dashes, that one can scarce tell the head from the tail. "To Anthony Lump"kin, efquire." It's very odd, I can read the outfide of my letters, where my own name is, wel! enough. But when I come to open it, it's allbuzz. That's hard, very hard; for the infide of the letter is always the cream of the correfpondence.

Mrs. HARDCASTLE.

Ha ha ha! Very well, very well. And fo my fon was too hard for the philofopher.

Mifs NEVILLE.

Yes, madam; but you must hear the reft, madam. A little more this way, or he may hear us. You'll hear how he puzzled him again.

Mrs. HARDCASTLE.

He feems ftrangely puzzled now himself, methinks.

TONY.

(Still gazing) A damn'd up and down hand, as if it was disguised in liquor. (Reading) Dear Sir. Aye, that's that. Then there's an M, and a T, and an S, but whether the next be an izzard or an R, confound me, I cannot tell.

Mrs.