Mrs. HARDCASTLE.

What's that, my dear. Can I give you any affiftance?

Mifs NEVILLE.

Pray, aunt, let me read it. No body reads a cramp hand better than I. (twitching the letter from ber) Do you know who it is from?

TONY.

Can't tell, except from Dick Ginger the feeder. Mifs NEVILLE.

Aye, fo it is, (pretending to read) Dear 'fquire, hoping that you're in health, as I am at this prefent. The gentlemen of the Shake-bag club has cut the gentlemen of Goofe-green quite out of feather. The odds-um-odd battle-um-long fighting-um- here, here, it's all about cocks and fighting; it's of no confequence, here, put it up, put it up. [Thrusting the crumpled letter upon him.

TONY.

But I tell you, mifs, it's of all the confequence in the world. I would not lose the rest of it for a guiHere, mother, do you make it out. Of no [Giving Mrs. Hardcastle the letter. Mrs. HARDCASTLE.

nea.

confequence!

How's this! (reads) "Dear 'fquire, I'm now waiting for Mifs Neville, with a post-chaife and pair, at the bottom of the garden, but I find my "horfes yet unable to perform the journey. I ex

..

6

pect you'll affift us with a pair of fresh horses, as

"you

you promised. Difpatch is neceffary, as the hag (aye the hag) your mother, will otherwife fufpect tus. Yours, Haftings." Grant me patience. I shall run distracted. My rage choaks me.

Mifs NEVILLE.

I hope, madam, you'll fufpend your refentment for a few moments, and not impute to me any impertinence, or finifter defign, that belongs to another.

Mrs. HARDCASTLE.

(Curtefying very low.) Fine spoken, madam, you are moft miraculously polite and engaging, and quite the very pink of curtefy and circumfpection, madam. (Changing her tone) And you, you great ill-fashioned oaf, with fcarce fenfe enough to keep your mouth fhut. Were you too join'd against me? But I'll defeat all your plots in a moment. As for you, madam, fince you have got a pair of fresh horfes ready, it would be cruel to difappoint them. So, if you please, instead of running away with your fpark, prepare, this very moment, to run off with me. Your old aunt Pedigree will keep you fecure, I'll warrant me. You too, Sir, may mount your horfe, and guard us upon the way. Here, Thomas, Roger, Diggory, I'll fhew you, that I wish you better than you do yourselves.

Mifs NEVILLE.

So now I'm completely ruined.

TONY.

Aye, that's a fure thing.

[Exit.

Mifs NEVILLE.

What better could be expected from being connected with such a stupid fool, and after all the nods and figns I made him ?

TONY.

By the laws, Mifs, it was your own cleverness, and not my ftupidity, that did your bufinefs. You were fo nice and fo bufy with your Shake-bags and Goosegreens, that I thought you could never be making believe.

Enter HASTINGS,

HASTINGS.

So, Sir, I find by my fervant,

fhewn my letter, and betray'd us.

done, young gentleman ?

ΤΟΝΥ.

that you have

Was this well

Here's another. Afk Mifs there who betray'd you? Ecod, it was her doing, not mine.

Enter MARLOW.

MARLOW.

So I have been finely ufed here among you. Rendered contemptible, driven into ill manners, defpifed, infulted, laughed at.

TONY.

Here's another. We shall have old Bedlam broke

loose presently.

And there, Sir, is the gentleman to whom we all owe every obligation.

MARLOW.

What can I say to him, a mere boy, an idiot, whofe ignorance and age are a protection.

HASTINGS.

A poor contemptible booby, that would but difgrace correction.

Mifs NEVILLE.

Yet with cunning and malice enough to make himself merry with all our embarrassments.

HASTINGS.

An infenfible cub.

MARLOW

Replete with tricks and mischief.

ΤΟΝΥ.

Baw! damme, but I'll fight you both one after the other, with baskets.

MARLOW.

As for him, he's below refentment. But your conduct, Mr. Haftings, requires an explanation. You knew of my mistakes, yet would not undeceive

me.

HASTINGS.

Tortured as I am with my own difappointments, is this a time for explanations. It is not friendly, Mr. Marlow.

But, Sir

MARLOW.

Mifs NEVILLE.

Mr. Marlow, we never kept on your mistake, till it was too late to undeceive you. Be pacified.

Enter SERVANT.

SERVANT.

My mistress defires you'll get ready immediately, madam. The horses are putting to.

and things are in the next room.

thirty miles before morning.

Mifs NEVILLE.

Well, well; I'll come prefently.

MARLOW.

Your hat

We are to go

[Exit fervant.

(To Haftings) Was it well done, Sir, to afflift in rendering me ridiculous. To hang me out for the fcorn of all my acquaintance. Depend upon it, Sir, I fhall expect an explanation.

HASTINGS.

Was it well done, Sir, if you're upon that subject, to deliver what I entrusted to yourfelf, to the care of another, Sir.

Mifs NEVILLE.

Mr. Haftings. Mr. Marlow. Why will you increase my distress by this groundless difpute? I implore, I intreat you

Enter