HARDCASTLE.

Forty miles in three hours; fure, that's too much,

my youngster.

TONY.

Stout horfes and willing minds make fhort journeys, as they fay. Hem.

Mrs. HARDCASTLE.

(From behind) Sure he'll do the dear boy no harm.

HARDCASTLE.

But I heard a voice here; I fhould be glad to know from whence it came.

TONY.

It was I, Sir, talking to myself, Sir. I was faying that forty miles in four hours was very good going. Hem. As to be fure it was. Hem. I have got a fort of cold by being out in the air. We'll go in, if you please. Hem.

HARDCASTLE.

But if you talk'd to yourself, you did not answer yourself. I am certain I heard two voices, and am refolved (raifing his voice) to find the other out. Mrs. HARDCASTLE.

(From behind) Oh! he's coming to find me out. Oh!

TONY.

What need you go, Sir, if I tell you. Hem. I'll lay down my life for the truth--hem-I'll tell you

all, Sir.

[Detaining him. HARD

I tell

HARDCASTLE.

you, I will not be detained.

I infift on fee

ing. It's in vain to expect I'll believe you.

Mrs. HARDCASTLE.

(Running forward from behind) O lud! he'll murder my poor boy, my darling. Here good gentleman, whet your rage upon me. Take my money, my life, but spare that young gentleman, fpare my child, if you have any mercy.

HARDCASTLE.

My wife as I'm a Chriftian. From whence can fhe come? or what does fhe mean?

Mrs. HARDCASTLE.

(Kneeling) Take compaffion on us, good Mr. Highwayman. Take our money, our watches, all we have, but spare our lives. We will never bring you to juftice, indeed we won't, good Mr. High

wayman.

HARDCASTLE.

I believe the woman's out of her fenfes. What, Dorothy, don't you know me?

Mrs. HARDCASTLE.

Mr. Hardcaftle, as I'm alive! My fears blinded me. But who, my dear, could have expected to meet you here, in this frightful place, so far from home? What has brought you to follow us?

HARDCASTLE.

Sure, Dorothy, you have not loft your wits? So far from home, when you are within forty yards of

your

your own door. (To him) This is one of your old tricks, you graceless rogue you. (To her) Don't you know the gate, and the mulberry-tree; and don't you remember the horsepond, my dear?

Mrs. HARDCASTLE.

Yes, I fhall remember the horsepond as long as I live; I have caught my death in it. (To Tony) And is it to you, you graceless varlet, I owe all this. I'll teach you to abuse your mother, I will.

TONY.

Ecod, mother, all the parish says you have spoil'd me, and fo you may take the fruits on't.

Mrs. HARDCASTLE.

I'll fpoil you, I will.

[Follows him off the Stage. Exit. HARDCASTLE.

There's morality, however, in his reply. [Exit.

Enter HASTINGS and Mifs NEVILLE.

HASTINGS.

My dear Conftance, why will you deliberate thus? If we delay a moment, all is loft for ever. Pluck up a little refolution, and we shall foon be out of the reach of her malignity.

Mifs NEVILLE.

I find it impoffible. My fpirits are fo funk with the agitations I have fuffered, that I am unable to face any new danger. Two or three years patience will at last crown us with happiness.

HAST

HASTINGS.

Such a tedious delay is worse than inconftancy. Let us fly, my charmer. Let us date our happiness from this very moment. Perish fortune! Love and content will encrease what we poffefs beyond a monarch's revenue. Let me prevail?

Mifs NEVILLE.

No, Mr. Haftings; no. Prudence once more comes to my relief, and I will obey its dictates. In the moment of paffion, fortune may be defpifed, but it ever produces a lasting repentance. I'm refolved to apply to Mr. Hardcastle's compaffion and justice for redrefs.

HASTINGS.

But though he had the will, he has not the to relieve you.

Mifs NEVILLE.

power

But he has influence, and upon that I am refolved to rely.

HASTINGS.

I have no hopes. But fince you perfift, I must reluctantly obey you.

SCENE changes.

[Exeunt.

Enter Sir CHARLES and Mifs HARDCASTLE.

Sir CHARLES.

What a fituation am I in! If what you fay appears, I fhall then find a guilty fon. If what he

VOL. II.

S

fays

fays be true, I fhall then lofe one, that, of all others, I most wish'd for a daughter.

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

I am proud of your approbation, and to fhew I merit it, if you place yourselves as I directed, you shall hear his explicit declaration. But he comes. Sir CHARLES.

I'll to your father, and keep him to the appoint[Exit Sir Charles.

ment.

Enter MARLOW.

MARLOW.

Though prepar'd for fetting out, I come once more to take leave, nor did I, till this moment, know the pain I feel in the feparation.

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

(In her own natural manner) I believe thefe fufferings cannot be very great, Sir, which you can fo eafily remove. A day or two longer, perhaps, might leffen your uneafinefs, by fhewing the little value of what you now think proper to regret.

MARLOW.

(Afide) This girl every moment improves upon me. (To her) It must not be, madam. I have already trifled too long with my heart. My very pride begins to fubmit to my paffion. The difparity of education and fortune, the anger of a parent, and the contempt of my equals, begin to lofe their

weight;