But red with your mother's desire to keep it secret. since I find she turns it to a wrong use, I must now decfare, you have been of age these three months. Tony. Of age! Am I of age, father? Hard. Above three months. Tony. Then you'll see the first use I'll make of my liberty. [Taking Miss Neville's hand] Witness all men by these presents, that I, Anthony Lumpkin, esquire, of Blank place, refuse you, Constantia Neville, spinster, of no place at all, for my true and lawful wife. So Constantia Neville may marry whom she pleases, and Tony Lumpkin is his own man again. Sir Char. O brave 'squire! Hast. My worthy friend! Mrs. Hard. My undutiful offspring! Mar. Joy, my dear George, I give you joy sincere. ly. And could I prevail upon my little tyrant here to be less arbitrary, I should be the happiest man alive, if you would return me the favour. Hast. [To Miss Hardcastle] Come, Madam, you are now driven to the very last scene of all your contrivances. I know you like him, I'm sure he loves you, and you must and shall have him. Hard. [Joining their hands] And I say so too. And, Mr. Marlow, if she makes as good a wife as she has a daughter, I don't believe you'll ever repent your bargain. So now to supper. To-morrow we shall gather all the poor of the parish about us, and the mistakes of the night shall be crown'd with a merry mornΚ ing; so, boy, take her: and as you have been mistaken in the mistress, my wish is, that you may never be mistaken in the wife. [Exeunt. EPILOGUE. By Dr. GOLDSMITH. WELL, having stoop'd to conquer with success The first act shews the simple country maid, Talks loud, coquets the guests, and scolds the waiters, Pretends to taste, at Operas cries caro, Till, having lost in age the power to kill, |