box; trailing through a minuet at Almack's; and then, in the public gardens, looking for all the world like one of the painted ruins of the place.

HONBYWOOD.

Every age has its admirers, ladies. While you, perhaps, are trading among the warmer climates of youth; there ought to be fome to carry on an useful commerce in the frozen latitudes beyond fifty.

Mifs RICHLAND.

But, then, the mortifications they must suffer, before they can be fitted out for traffic. I have seen one of them fret an whole morning at her hairdreffer, when all the fault was her face.

HONEYWOOD.

And yet, I'll engage, has carried that face at laft to a very good market. This good-natur'd town, madam, has husbands, like spectacles, to fit every age, from fifteen to fourscore.

you

Mrs. CROAKER.

Well, you're a dear good-natur'd creature. But know you're engaged with us this morning upon a ftrolling party. I want to fhew Olivia the town, and the things; I believe I fhall have bufinefs for you for the whole day.

HONEYWOOD.

I am forry, madam, I have an appointment with Mr. Croaker, which it is impoffible to put off.

Mrs.

Mrs. CROAKER.

What! with my husband! then I'm refolved to take no refusal. Nay, I proteft you must. You know I never laugh so much as with you. HONEYWOOD.

Why, if I muft, I muft. I'll fwear you have put me into fuch spirits. Well, do you find jeft, and I'll find laugh, I promise you. We'll wait for the chariot in the next room. [Exeunt.

Enter LEONTINE and OLIVIA.

LEONTINE.

There they go, thoughtless and happy. My deareft Olivia, what would I give to see you capable of sharing in their amusements, and as cheerful as they are?

OLIVIA.

How, my Leontine, how can I be cheerful, when I have so many terrors to opprefs me? the fear of being detected by this family, and the apprehenfions of a cenfuring world, when I must be detected

LEONTINE.

The world! my love, what can it fay? At worst it can only fay that, being compelled by a mercenary guardian to embrace a life you disliked, you formed a refolution of flying with the man of your choice; that you confided in his honour, and took refuge in my father's houfe; the only one where your's could remain without cenfure.

OLIVIA.

But confider, Leontine, your difobedience and 'my indifcretion: your being fent to France to bring home a fifter; and, inftead of a fifter, bringing home

LEONTINE.

One dearer than a thoufand fifters. One that I am convinc'd will be equally dear, to the rest of the family, when she comes to be known.

OLIVIA.

And that, I fear, will shortly be.
LEONTINE.

Impoffible, 'till we ourselves think proper to make the difcovery. My fifter, you know, has been with her aunt, at Lyons, fince he was a child, and you find every creature in the family takes you for her. ÓLIVIA.

But mayn't fhe write, mayn't her aunt write?

LEONTINE.

Her aunt fcarce ever writes, and all my letters are directed to me.

OLIVIA.

fifter's

But won't your refufing Mifs Richland, for whom you know the old gentleman intends you, create a fufpicion?

LEONTINE.

There, there's my master-stroke. I have refolved not to refufe her; nay, an hour hence I have confented to go with my father, to make her an offer of my heart and fortune.

OLIVIA

Your heart and fortune!

LEONTINE.

Don't be alarm'd, my deareft. Can Olivia think fo meanly of my honour, or my love, as to fuppofe I could ever hope for happiness from any but her ? No, my Olivia, neither the force, nor, permit me to add, the delicacy of my paffion, leave any room to fufpect me. I only offer Miss Richland an heart, I am convinc'd she will refufe; as I am confident, that, without knowing it, her affections are fixed upon Mr. Honeywood

OLIVIA.

Mr. Honeywood! You'll excufe my apprehenfions; but when your merits come to be put in the balance

LEONTINE.

You view them with too much partiality. However, by making this offer, I fhew a feeming compliance with my father's command; and perhaps, upon her refufal, I may have his confent to chufe for myself.

OLIVIA.

Well, I fubmit. And yet, my Leontine, I own, I shall envy her, even your pretended addreffes. I confider every look, every expreffion of your esteem, as due only to me. This is folly perhaps I allow it but it is natural to fuppofe, that merit which

:

has made an impreffion on one's own heart, may be

powerful over that of another.

LEONTINE.

Don't, my life's treasure, don't let us make imaginary evils, when you know we have fo many real ones to encounter. At worst, you know, if Mifs Richland fhould confent, or my father refuse his pardon, it can but end in a trip to Scotland; and

Enter CROAKER.
CROAKER.

Where have you been, boy? I have been seeking you. My friend Honeywood here, has been saying fuch comfortable things. Ah! he's an example indeed. Where is he? I left him here.

LEONTINE.

Sir, I believe you may see him, and hear him too in the next room: he's preparing to go out with the ladies.

CROAKER.

Good gracious, can I believe my eyes or my ears! I'm ftruck dumb with his vivacity, and stunn'd with the loudness of his laugh. Was there ever such a transformation! (A laugh behind the Scenes, Croaker mimics it.) Ha! ha ha! there it goes: a plague take their balderdash; yet I could expect nothing lefs, when my precious wife was of the party. On

my conscience, I believe, fhe could fpread an horselaugh through the pews of a tabernacle,

LEON