nephew's lady, will be a most valuable wife; she has all the vulgar spirits of her father and aunt, happily blended with the termagant qualities of her deceased mother. Some peppermint water, Brush-How happy is it, Canton, for young ladies in general, that people of quality overlook every thing in a marriage contract but their fortune.

Can. C'est bien heureux, et commode aussi.

Lord O. Brush, give me that pamphlet by my bed side. [BRUSH goes for it.] Canton, do you wait in the anti-chamber, and let nobody interrupt me till I call you.

Can. Mush good may do your lordship.

[Exit.

Lord O. [To BRUSH, who brings the pamphlet.] And now, Brush, leave me a little to my studies. [Exit BRUSH.]-What can I possibly do among these women here, with this confounded rheumatism? It is a most grievous enemy to gallantry and address. [Gets off his chair.] He courage, my lor! by heavens, I'm another creature. [Hums and dances a little.] It will do, faith.

-Bravo, my lor! these girls have absolutely inspir'd me- -If they are for a game of romps- -Me viola pret! [Sings and dances.]—Oh!-that's an ugly twinge-but it's gone.I have rather too much of the lily this morning in my complexion; a faint tincture of the rose will give a delicate spirit to my eyes for the day. [Unlocks a drawer at the bottom of the glass, and takes out rouge; while he's painting himself, a knocking at the door.] Who's there? I won't be disturb'd.

Can. [Without.] My lor! my lor! here is Monsieur Sterling to pay his devoir to you this morn in your chambre.

Lord O. [Softly.] What a fellow!-[Aloud.] I am extremely honour'd by Mr. Sterling.-Why don't you see him in, monsieur!. -I wish he was at the bottom of his stinking canal. [Door opens.] Oh, my dear Mr. Sterling, you do me a great deal of honour.

Enter STERLING and LovEwell.

Sterl. I hope, my lord, that your lordship slept well in the night-I believe there are no better beds in Europe than I have—I spare no pains to get them, nor money to buy them.-His majesty, God bless him, don't sleep upon a better out of his palace; and if I had said in too, I hope no treason, my lord.

Lord O. Your beds are like every thing else about you-incomparable!-They not only make one rest well, but give one spirits, Mr. Sterling.

Sterl. What say you, then, my lord, to another walk in the garden? You must see my water by day-light, and my walks, and my slopes, and my clumps, and my bridge, and my flow'ring trees, and my bed of Dutch tulips.-Matters look'd but dim last night, my lord. I feel the dew in my great toe-but I would put on a cut shoe, that I might be able to walk you about-I may be laid up to-morrow.

Lord O. I pray heaven you may!
Sterl. What say you, my lord?

[Aside.

Lord O. I was saying, sir, that I was in hopes of seeing the young ladies at breakfast: Mr. Sterling, they are, in my mind, the finest tulips in this part of the world, he, he, he!

Can. Bravissimo, my lor! ha, ha, he!

Sterl. They shall meet your lordship in the garden -we won't lose our walk for them; I'll take you a little round before breakfast, and a larger before dinner, and in the evening you shall go the grand tour, as I call it, ha, ha, ha!

Lord O. Not a foot, I hope, Mr. Sterling; consider your gout, my good friend-you'll certainly be laid by the heels for your politeness, he, he, he!

Can. Ha, ha, ha! 'tis admirable, en verité!

[Laughing very heartily. Sterl. If my young man [To LOVEWELL.] here would

but laugh at my jokes, which he ought to do, as mounseer does at yours, my lord, we should be all life and mirth.

Lord O. What say you, Canton, will you take my kinsman into your tuition? You have certainly the most companionable laugh I ever met with, and never out of tune.

Can. But when your lordship is out of spirits.

Lord O. Well said, Canton! But here comes my nephew, to play his part.

Enter SIR JOHN MELVIL.

Well, Sir John, what news from the island of love? Have you been sighing and serenading this morning? Sir John. I am glad to see your lordship in such spirits this morning.

Lord O. I'm sorry to see you so dull, sir-What poor things, Mr. Sterling, these very young fellows are! they make love with faces, as if they were burying the dead-though, indeed, a marriage sometimes may be properly called a burying of the living-eh, Mr. Sterling?

Sterl. Not if they have enough to live upon, my -Ha, ha, ha!

Can. Dat is all Monsieur Sterling tink of.

lord

Sir John. [Apart.] Pr'ythee, Lovewell, come with me into the garden; I have something of consequence for you, and I must communicate it directly.

Lov. [Apart.] We'll go together. If your lordship and Mr. Sterling please, we'll prepare the ladies to attend you in the garden.

[Exeunt SIR JOHN and LOVEWELL. Sterl. My girls are always ready, I make them rise soon and to bed early; their husbands shall have them with good constitutions, and good fortunes, if they have nothing else, my lord.

Lord O. Fine things, Mr. Sterling!

Sterl. Fine things, indeed, my lord !—Ah, my lord, had you not run off your speed in your youth, you had not been so crippled in your age, my lord.

Lord O. Very pleasant, he, he, he!

[Half laughing.

Sterl. Here's mounseer now, I suppose, is pretty near your lordship's standing; but having little to eat, and little to spend in his own country, he'll wear three of your lordship out-eating and drinking kills us all. Lord O. Very pleasant, I protest-What a vulgar dog!

[Aside. Can My lor so old as me!-He is chicken to meand look like a boy to pauvre me.

Sterl. Ha, ha, ha! Well said, mounseer—keep to that, and you'll live in any country of the worldHa, ha, ha!-But, my lord, I will wait upon you in the garden: we have but a little time to breakfast-I'll go for my hat and cane, fetch a little walk with you, my lord, and then for the hot rolls and butter! [Exit. Lord O. I shall attend you with pleasure-Hot rolls and butter in July! I sweat with the thoughts of it-What a strange beast it is!

Can. C'est un barbare.

Lord O. He is a vulgar dog, and if there was not so much money in the family, which I can't do without, I would leave him and his hot rolls and butter directly Come along, monsieur !

[Exeunt LORD OGLEEY and CANton.

Scene II.-The Garden.

Enter SIR JOHN MELVIL and Lovewell.

Lov. In my room this morning? Impossible.
Sir John. Before five this morning, I promise you.
Lov. On what occasion?

Sir John. I was so anxious to disclose my mind to you, that I could not sleep in my bed-but I found that you could not sleep neither-The bird was flown, and the nest long since cold- Where was you, Love

well?

Lov. Pooh! pr'ythee! ridiculous!

Sir John. Come now, which was it? Miss Sterling's maid? a pretty little rogue! or Miss Fanny's Abigail? ̧ a sweet soul too-or

Lov. Nay, nay, leave trifling, and tell me your business.

Sir John. Well, but where was you, Lovewell? Lov. Walking-writing-what signifies where I was?

Sir John. Walking! yes, I dare say. It rained as hard as it could pour. Sweet refreshing showers to walk in! No, no, Lovewell. Now would I give twenty pounds to know which of the maids

Lov. But your business! your business, Sir John! Sir John. Let me a little into the secrets of the family.

Lov. Psha!

Sir John. Poor Lovewell, he can't bear it, I see. She charged you not to kiss and tell. Eh, Lovewell! However, though you will not honour me with your confidence, I'll venture to trust you with mine.What do you think of Miss Sterling?

Lov. What do I think of Miss Sterling? Sir John. Ay; what do you think of her? Lov. An odd question!-but I think her a smart, lively girl, full of mirth and sprightliness.

Sir John. All mischief and malice, I doubt.

Lov. How!

Sir John. But her person-what d'ye think of that?

Lov. Pretty and agreeable.

Sir John. A little grisette thing.

Lov. What is the meaning of all this?