Enter SERVANT.

SERVANT.

Your cloak, madam. My mistress is impatient.

Mifs NEVILLE.

[Exit Servant.

I come. Pray be pacified. If I leave you thus, I shall die with apprehenfion.

Enter SERVANT.

SERVANT.

Your fan, muff, and gloves, madam. The horses are waiting.

Mifs NEVILLE.

O, Mr. Marlow! if you knew what a scene of tonftraint and ill-nature lies before me, I'm fure it would convert your refentment into pity.

MARLOW.

I'm fo diftracted with a variety of paffions, that Forgive me, madam. George, forgive me. You know my hasty temper, and should not exafperate it.

I don't know what I do.

HASTINGS.

The torture of my fituation is my only excufe.

Mifs NEVILLE.

Well, my dear Haftings, if you have that efteem for me that I think, that I am fure you have, your conftancy for three years will but encrease the happinefs of our future connexion. If

Mrs.

Mrs. HARDCASTLE.

(Within) Mifs Neville. Conftance, why Conftance, I fay.

Mifs NEVILLE.

I'm coming. Well, conftancy. Remember, conftancy is the word.

HASTINGS.

[Exit.

My heart! how can I fupport this. To be fo near happiness, and such happiness!

MARLOW.

(To Tony) You fee now, young gentleman, the effects of your folly. What might be amusement to you, is here disappointment, and even diftrefs.

TONY.

(From a reverie) Ecod, I have hit it. It's here. Your hands. Yours and yours, my poor Sulky. My boots there, ho. Meet me two hours hence at the bottom of the garden; and if you don't find Tony Lumpkin a more good-natur'd fellow than you thought for, I'll give you leave to take my best horse, and Bet Bouncer into the bargain. Come along. My boots, ho!

[Exeunt.

ACT

ACT THE FIFT H.

SCENE Continues.

Enter HASTINGS and SERVANT.

HASTINGS.

YOU faw the old lady and Mifs Neville drive off,

you fay.

SERVANT.

Yes, your honour. They went off in a poft coach, and the young 'fquire went on horseback. They're thirty miles off by this time.

HASTINGS.

Then all my hopes are over.

SERVANT.

Yes, Sir. Old Sir Charles is arrived.

He and,

the old gentleman of the house have been laughing at Mr. Marlow's mistake this half hour. They are coming this way.

HASTINGS.

Then I must not be seen. So now to my fruitlefs appointment at the bottom of the garden. This

Enter Sir CHARLES and HARDCASTLE.

HARDCASTLE.

Ha ha ha! The peremptory tone in which he fent forth his fublime commands.

Sir CHARLES.

And the referve with which I fuppofe he treated all your advances.

HARDCASTLE.

And yet he might have feen fomething in me above a common inn-keeper, too.

Sir CHARLES.

Yes, Dick, but he mistook you for an uncommon inn-keeper, ha! ha! ha!

HARDCASTLE.

Well, I'm in too good fpirits to think of any thing but joy. Yes, my dear friend, this union of our families will make our perfonal friendships hereditary; and though my daughter's fortune is but fmall

Sir CHARLES.

Why, Dick, will you talk of fortune to me? My fon is poffeffed of more than a competence already, and can want nothing but a good and virtuous girl to share his happiness and encrease it. If they like each other, as you fay they do

HARDCASTLE.

If, man! I tell you they do like each other. My daughter as good as told me fo.

Sir CHARLES.

But girls are apt to flatter themselves, you know.

HARDCASTLE.

I saw him grafp her hand in the warmeft manner myfelf; and here he comes to put you out of your ifs, I warrant him.

Enter MARLOW.

MARLOW.

I come, Sir, once more, to ask pardon for my ftrange condu&t. I can fcarce reflect on my infolence without confufion.

HARDCASTLE.

Tut, boy, a trifle. You take it too gravely. An hour or two's laughing with my daughter will fet all to rights again. She'll never like you the worfe for it.

MARLOW.

Sir, I fhall be always proud of her approbation.

HARDCASTLE.

Approbation is but a cold word, Mr. Marlow; if I am not deceived, you have something more than approbation thereabouts. You take me.

MARLOW.

Really, Sir, I have not that happiness.