weight; and nothing can restore me to myself, but this painful effort of refolution.

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

Then go, Sir. I'll urge nothing more to detain you. Though my family be as good as hers you came down to vifit, and my education, I hope, not inferior, what are thefe advantages without equal affluence? I must remain contented with the flight approbation of imputed merit; I must have only the mockery of your addreffes, while all your ferious aims are fixed on fortune.

Enter HARDCASTLE and Sir CHARLES from behind.

Sir CHARLES.

Here, behind this fcreen.

HARDCASTLE.

Aye, aye, make no noise. I'll engage my Kate covers him with confufion at laft.

MARLOW.

By Heavens, madam, fortune was ever my smallest confideration. Your beauty at firft caught my eye; for who could see that without emotion. But every moment that I converfe with you, fteals in fome new grace, heightens the picture, and gives it ftronger expreffion. What at firft feem'd ruftic plainnefs, now appears refin'd fimplicity. What

feem'd forward affurance, now ftrikes me as the refult of courageous innocence, and conscious virtue. Sir CHARLES.

What can it mean? He amazes me !

HARDCASTLE.

I told you how it would be. Hush!

MARLOW.

I am now determined to stay, madam, and I have too good an opinion of my father's difcernment, when he fees you, to doubt his approbation.

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

No, Mr. Marlow, I will not, cannot detain you. Do you think I could fuffer a connexion, in which there is the fmalleft room for repentance? Do you think I would take the mean advantage of a tranfient paffion, to load you with confufion? Do you think I could ever relish that happiness, which was acquired by leffening yours?

MARLOW.

By all that's good, I can have no happiness but what's in your power to grant me. Nor fhall I ever feel repentance, but in not having seen your merits before. I will stay, even contrary to your wishes ; and though you should perfift to fhun me, I will make my refpe&ful affiduities atone for the levity of my paft conduct.

Sir, I muft entreat you'll defift. As our acquaintance began, fo let it end, in indifférence. I

might have given an hour or two to levity; but seriously, Mr. Marlow, do you think I could ever fubmit to a connexion, where I muft appear mercenary, and you imprudent? do you think I could ever catch at the confident addreffes of a fecure admirer ?

MARLOW.

(Kneeling) Does this look like fecurity? Does this look like confidence? No, madam, every moment that fhews me your merit, only ferves to encrease my diffidence and confufion. Here let me continue

Sir CHARLES.

I can hold it no longer. Charles, Charles, how haft thou deceived me! Is this your indifference, your uninterefting conversation!

HARDCASTLE.

Your cold contempt; your formal interview. What have you to say now?

MARLOW.

That I'm all amazement! What can it mean!

HARDCASTLE.

It means that you can fay and unfay things at pleasure. That you can addrefs a lady in private, and deny it in public; that you have one ftory for us, and another for my daughter!

MARLOW.

Daughter!-this lady your daughter!

HARDCASTLE.

Yes, Sir, my only daughter. My Kate, whose elfe fhould fhe be?

Oh, the devil!

MARLOW.

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

Yes, Sir, that very identical tall fquinting lady you were pleased to take me for, (curtesying) she that you addreffed as the mild, modest, sentimental man of gravity, and the bold forward agreeable Rattle of the ladies club; ha! ha! ha!

MARLOW.

Zounds, there's no bearing this; it's worse than death.

Mifs HARDCASTLE.

In which of your characters, Sir, will you give us leave to addrefs you. As the faultering gentleman, with looks on the ground, that fpeaks juft to be heard, and hates hypocrify; or the loud confident creature, that keeps it up with Mrs. Mantrap, and old Mifs Biddy Buckskin, till three in the morning; ha ha! ha!

MARLOW.

O, curfe on my noify head. I never attempted to be impudent yet, that I was not taken down. I must be

gone.

HARD

HARDCASTLE.

By the hand of my body, but you fhall not. I see it was all a mistake, and I am rejoiced to find You fhall not, Sir, I tell you. I know she'll forgive you. Won't you forgive him, Kate. We'll all forgive you. Take courage, man.

it.

[They retire, fhe tormenting him to the back Scene.

Enter Mrs. HARDCASTLE, TONY.

Mrs. HARDCASTLE.

So, fo, they're gone off. Let them go, I care

Who, my honeft George Haftings! As worthy a fellow as lives, and the girl could not have made a more prudent choice.

HARDCASTLE.

Then, by the hand of my body, I'm proud of the

connexion.

S 4

Mrs.