LEONTINE.

Since you find so many objections to a wife, fir, how can you be fo earnest in recommending one to me?

CROAKER.

I have told you, and tell you again, boy, that Mifs Richland's fortune must not go out of the family; one may find comfort in the money, whatever

one does in the wife.

LEONTINE.

But, Sir, though, in obedience to your defire, I am ready to marry her; it may be poffible, fhe has no inclination to me.

CROAKER.

I'll tell you once for all how it ftands. A good part of Mifs Richland's large fortune confifts in a claim upon government, which my good friend, Mr. Lofty, affures me the treasury will allow. One half of this she is to forfeit, by her father's will, in cafe fhe refuses to marry you. So, if the rejects you, we feize half her fortune; if she accepts you, we feize the whole, and a fine girl into the bargain.

LEONTINE.

But, Sir, if you will but liften to reason

CROAKER.

Come, then, produce your reafons. I tell you I'm fix'd, determined, fo now produce your reafons. When I'm determined, I always liften to reafon, because it can then do no harm,

LEON

LEONTINE.

You have alledged that a mutual choice was the first requifite in matrimonial happiness.

CROAKER.

Well, and you have both of you a mutual choice. She has her choice-to marry you, or lofe half her fortune; and you have your choice-to marry her, or pack out of doors without any fortune at all.

LEONTINE.

An only fon, Sir, might expect more indulgence. CROAKER.

An only father, Sir, might expect more obedience; befides, has not your fifter here, that never disobliged me in her life, as good a right as you? He's a fad dog, Livy, my dear, and would take all from you. But he fhan't, I tell you he fhan't, for you fhall have your share.

OLIVIA.

Dear Sir, I wish you'd be convinced that I can never be happy in any addition to my fortune, which is taken from his.

CROAKER.

Well, well, it's a good child, fo fay no more; but come with me, and we shall see something that will give us a great deal of pleasure, I promise you; old Ruggins, the curry-comb-maker, lying in ftate; I'm told he makes a very handsome corpfe, and becomes his coffin prodigiously. He was an intimate friend of mine, and thefe are friendly things we ought to do for each other.

[Exeunt.

ACT

ACT THE SECOND.

SCENE, CROAKER'S Houfe.

Mifs RICHLAND, GARNET.

Mifs RICHLAND.

OLIVIA not his fifter? Olivía not Leontine's

fifter? You amaze me!

GARNET.

No more his fifter than I am; I had it all from his own fervant; I can get any thing from that quarter.

Mifs RICHLAND.

But how? Tell me again, Garnet.

GARNET.

Why, madam, as I told you before, instead of going to Lyons, to bring home his fifter, who has been there with her aunt these ten years; he never went further than Paris; there he faw and fell in love with this young lady, by the bye, of a prodigious family.

Mifs RICHLAND.

And brought her home to my guardian, as his daughter?

GAR

GARNET.

Yes, and his daughter fhe will be. If he don't confent to their marriage, they talk of trying what a Scotch parfon can do.

Mifs RICHLAND.

Well, I own they have deceived me—And fo demurely as Olivia carried it to!-Would you believe it, Garnet, I told her all my secrets; and yet the fly cheat concealed all this from me?

GARNET.

And, upon my word, madam, I don't much blame her; she was loth to trust one with her fecrets, that was so very bad at keeping her own.

Mifs RICHLAND.

But, to add to their deceit, the young gentleman, it feems, pretends to make me ferious proposals. My guardian and he are to be here presently, to open the affair in form. You know I am to lose half my fortune if I refuse him.

GARNET.

Yet, what can you do? For being, as you are, in love with Mr. Honeywood, madam

Mifs RICHLAND.

How! idiot; what do you mean? In love with Mr. Honeywood! Is this to provoke me?

GARNET.

That is, madam, in friendship with him; I meant nothing more than friendship, as I hope to be married; nothing more.

Mifs RICHLAND.

Well, no more of this! As to my guardian, and his fon, they shall find me prepared to receive them; I'm refolved to accept their propofal with feeming pleasure, to mortify them by compliance, and fo throw the refufal at laft upon them.

GARNET.

Delicious! and that will fecure your whole fortune to yourself. Well, who could have thought fo innocent a face could cover fo much cutenefs!

Mifs RICHLAND.

Why, girl, I only oppofe my prudence to their cunning, and practise a lesson they have taught me against themselves.

GARNET.

Then you're likely not long to want employment, for here they come, and in close conference.

Enter CROAKER, LEONTINE.

LEONTINE.

Excufe me, Sir, if I feem to hefitate upon the point of putting to the lady fo important a queftion.

CROAKER.

Lord! good Sir, moderate your fears; you're fo plaguy fhy, that one would think you had changed fexes. I tell you we must have the half or the whole. Come, let me fee with what spirit you begin? Well, why don't you? Eh! What? Well

then