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Lord A. Farewell, then!

Patty.
Giles.

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Giles.

For ever!

I vow and protest,

'Twas kind of his honour,

To gain thus upon her;

We're so much beholden, it can't be exprest.
I feel something here,

'Twixt hoping and fear:

Haste, haste, friendly night,
To shelter our flight-

A thousand distractions are rending my
breast.

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Sir Harry. Why, miss, will you mind when you're spoke

Lord A.
Theo.
Giles.

All.

to, or not?

Must I stand in waiting,

While you're here a prating?

May ev'ry felicity fall to your lot !

She court'sies!-Look there,
What a shape, what an air!

How happy! how wretched! how tired am I!
Your lordship's obedient; your servant ;
good bye.

[Exeunt.

ACT THE THIRD.

SCENE I.

The Portico to LORD AIMWORTH's House.

Enter LORD AIMWORTH, SIR HARRY and LADY SYCAMORE.

Lady S. A wretch! a vile, inconsiderate wretch ! coming of such a race as mine, and having an example like me before her!

Lord A. I beg, madam, you will not disquiet yourself: you are told here, that a gentleman lately arrived from London has been about the place to-day; that he has disguised himself like a gipsy, came hither, and had some conversation with your daughter: you are even told, that there is a design formed for their going off together; but possibly there may be some mistake in all this.

Sir Harry. Ay, but, my lord, the lad tells us the gentleman's name: we have seen the gipsies; and we know she has had a hankering

Lady S. Sir Harry, my dear, why will you put in your word, when you hear others speaking?—I protest, my lord, I'm in such confusion, I know not what to say I can hardly support myself

Lord A. This gentleman, it seems, is at a little inn at the bottom of the hill.

Sir Harry. I wish it was possible to have a file of musqueteers, my lord; I could head them myself, being in the militia and we could go and seize him directly.

Lord A. Softly, my dear sir; let us proceed with a little less violence in this matter, I beseech you. We should first see the young lady-Where is Miss Sycamore, madam?

Lady S. Really, my lord, I don't know; I saw her go into the garden about a quarter of an hour ago, from our chamber window.

Sir Harry. Into the garden! perhaps she has got an inkling of our being informed of this affair, and is gone to throw herself into the pond. Despair, my lord, makes girls do terrible things. 'Twas but the Wednesday before we left London, that I saw, taken out of Rosamond's Pond, in St. James's Park, as likely a young woman as ever you would desire to set your eyes on, in a new callimancoe petticoat, and a pair of silver buckles in her shoes.

Lord A. I hope there is no danger of any such fatal accident happening at present; but you will oblige me, Sir Harry?

Sir Harry. Surely, my lord

Lord A. Will you commit the whole direction of this affair to my prudence?

Sir Harry. My dear, you hear what his lordship says?

Lady S. Indeed, my lord, I am so much ashamed, I don't know what to answer; the fault of my daughter

Lord A. Don't mention it, madam; the fault has been mine, who have been innocently the occasion of a young lady's transgressing a point of duty and decorum, which, otherwise, she would never have violated. But if you and Sir Harry will walk in and repose yourselves, I hope to settle every thing to the general satisfaction.

Lady S. Come in, Sir Harry. [Exit. Lord A. I am sure, my good friend, had I known that I was doing a violence to Miss Sycamore's inclinations, in the happiness I propose to myself

Sir Harry. My lord, 'tis all a case-My grandfather, by the mother's side, was a very sensible man-he was elected knight of the shire in five successive parliaments; and died high sheriff of his county-a man of fine parts, fine talents, and one of the most curiousest dockers of horses in all England (but that he did only now and then for his amusement)-And he used to say, my lord, that the female sex were good for nothing but to bring forth children, and breed disturbance.

Lord A. The ladies were very little obliged to your ancestor, Sir Harry: but, for my part, I have a more favourable opinion

Sir Harry. You are in the wrong, my lord: with submission, you are really in the wrong.

AIR.

To speak my mind of womenkind,
In one word 'tis this;
By nature they're design'd,
Το say and do amiss.

Be they maids, be they wives,

Alike they plague our lives;
Wanton, headstrong, cunning, vain ;
Born to cheat, and give men pain.

Their study, day and night,
Is mischief, their delight:
And if we should prevent,
At one door, their intent,
They quickly turn about,
And find another out.

[Exit,

Enter FAIRFIELD.

Lord A. How now, Master Fairfield! what brings you here?

Fair. I am come, my lord, to thank you for your bounty to me and my daughter this morning, and most humbly to entreat your lordship to receive it at our hands again.

Lord A. Ay-why, what's the matter?

Fair. I don't know, my lord: it seems your generosity to my poor girl has been noised about the neighbourhood; and some evil-minded people have put it into the young man's head, that was to marry her, that you would never have made her a present so much above her deserts and expectations, if it had not been upon some naughty account: now, my lord, I am a poor man, 'tis true, and a mean one, but Í and my father, and my father's father, have lived tenants upon your lordship's estate, where we have always been known for honest men; and it shall never be said that Fairfield, the miller, became rich, in his old days, by the wages of his child's shame. Lord A. What, then, Master Fairfield, do you believe

Fair. No, my lord, no; Heaven forbid! but when I consider the sum, it is too much for us: it is indeed, my lord, and enough to make bad folks talk.

Lord A. The farmer then refuses to marry Patty, notwithstanding their late reconciliation ?

Fair. Yes, my lord, he does indeed; and has made a wicked noise, and used us in a very base

manner.

Lord A. Well, master Fairfield, I will not press on you a donation, the rejection of which does you so much credit; you may take my word, however, that your fears upon this occasion are entirely groundless:

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