[Apart. Charles. Yes; but they were received with Maj. O. For shame! hold out, if you are the utmost contempt. The old gentleman, it a man. seems, hates a lord, and he told her so in plain terms. Oak. She has been so much vexed this morning already, I must humour her a little [Apart. [Apart. Maj. O. Such an aversion to the nobility now. Maj. O. Fie! fie! go out, or you are undone. [Apart to Mrs. Oakly. Mrs. O. Ay, ay, pray do, sir.-Dine at a Charles. If she's there, I'll have her out of tavern indeed! Going. the house within this half hour, or set fire Oak. [Returning] You may depend on me to it. another time, major. Maj. 0. Nay, now you are too violentstay a moment, and we'll consider what's best to be done. Enter OAKLY. Oak. Come, is the coach ready? Let us be gone. Does Charles go with us? Charles. I go with you!-What can I do? I am so rexed and distracted, and so many thoughts crowd in upon me, I don't know which way to turn myself. Mrs. 0. [Within] The coach!-dines out! -where is your master? Oak. Zounds, brother! here she is! Re-enter MRS. OAKLY. Mrs. O. Pray, Mr. Oakly, what is the matter you cannot dine at home to-day? Oak. Don't be uneasy, my dear!-I have a little business to settle with my brother; so I am only just going to dinner, with him and Charles, to the tavern, Mrs.0. Why cannot you settle your business here, as well as at a tavern? but it is some of your ladies' business, I suppose, and So you must get rid of my company.-This chielly your fault, major Oakly! is Maj. O. Steel and adamant!-Ah! Oak. O, my dear! [Exit, with Mrs. Oakly. Maj. O. Ha, ha, ha! there's a picture of resolution! there goes a philosopher for you! ha! Charles! Charles. O, uncle! I have no spirits to laugh now. Maj. O. So! I have a fine time on't between you and my brother. Will you meet me to dinner at the St. Albans by four? We'll drink her health. and think of this affair. Charles. Don't depend on me. I shall be running all over the town, in pursuit of my Harriot; at all events I'll go directly to lady Freelove's. If I find her not there, which way I shall direct myself, heaven knows. Maj. O. Harkye, Charles! If you meet with her, you may be at a loss. Bring her to my house; I have a snug room, and Charles. Phoo! Pr'ythee, uncle, don't triffle with me now. Maj. O. Well, seriously then, my house is at your service. Charles. I thank you; but I must be gone. Maj. O. Ay, ay, bring her to my house, Maj. U. Lord, sister, what signifies it, whether and we'll settle the whole affair for you. You a man dines at home or abroad? [Coolly shall clap her into a post-chaise, take the Mrs. O. It signifies a great deal, sir! and chaplain of our regiment along with you, wheel her down to Scotland), and when you Maj. O. Phoo! let him go, my dear sister, come back, send to settle her fortune with let him go! he will be ten times better com- her father; that's the modern art of making pany when he comes back. I tell you what, love, Charles! [Exeunt. sister-you sit a home till you are quite tired I don't choose of one another, and then you grow cross, ACT II. and fall out. If you would but part a little SCENE I-A Room in the Bull and Gate Inn. How and then, you might meet again in humour. Mrs. O. I beg, major Oakly, that you would Enter SIR HARRY BEAGLE 2) trouble yourself about your own affairs; and the man? hey, Tom! let me tell you, sir, that I Tom. Yes, your honour. and Toм. and a crown Sir H. And are you sure, Tom, that there no flaw in his blood? Tom. He's a good thing, sir, and as little beholden to the ground, as any horse that Oak. Nay, do not put thyself into a passion with the major, my dear! It is not his fault; is and I shall come back to thee very soon. Mrs. O. Come back;-why need you go out?--I know well enough when you mean to deceive me; for then there is always a pretence of dining with sir John, or my lord, or somebody; but when you tell me that you are going to a tavern, it's such a bare-faced afiront Oak. This is so strange now!-Why, my dear, I shall only just— Mrs. O. Only just go after the lady in the letter, I suppose. Oak, Well, well, I won't go then.-Will that convince you? I'll stay with you, my dear.-Will that satisfy you? 1) A spirited girl in England, when opposed in her choice of a husband by her parents, used to make nothing of agreeing with her lover to set off with him to Gretna Green (on the borders of Scotland), to get married; but now this custom is abolished, and the blacksmith who used to perform the marriage ceremony has been forbidden to act, since Lord E-took his flight towards those regions on the same errand; so that, now the lovers are obliged to have the ceremony performed in a boat on the river there, and this marriage is perfectly valid. 2) We have an excellent specimen, in sir H, Beagle, of one of our racing and fox-hunting country-squires; as he speaks entirely in the language of the turf (raceground), some of his sporting terms require an explanation, ever went over the turf upon four legs. Why I lose my match with lord Chokejade, by not here's his whole pedigree, 1) your honour! riding myself, and I shall have no opportunity Sir H. Is it attested? to hedge ) my bets neither-what a damned Tom. Very well attested; it is signed by piece of work have I made on't-I have knocked Jack Spur and my lord Startal. up poor Snip, shall lose my match, and as to [Giving the Pedigree. Harriot, why the odds are that I lose my Sir H. Let me see. [Reads] Tom-come-match there too—a skittish young tit! 2) If I tickle-me was out of the famous Tantivy once get her tight in hand, I'll make her mare, by sir Aaron Driver's chesnut hors, wince for it.-Her estate, joined to my own, White Stockings. White Stockings, his dam, I would have the finest stud and the noblest was got by lord Hedge's South Barb, full kennel in the whole country.-But here comes sister to the Proserpine Filly, and his sire her father, puffing and blowing, like a brokenTom Jones; his grandam was the Irish winded horse up bill. Duchess, and his grandsire Squire Sportley's Trajan; his great and great great grandam were Newmarket Peggy and Black Enter RUSSET. Rus. Well, sir Harry, have you heard any Sir H. Yes, I have been asking Tom about Moll; and his great grandsire, and great thing of her? great grandsire, were sir Ralph Whip's Regulus, and the famous Prince Anamaboo. her, and he says you may have her for five hundred guineas. his JOHN SPUR. Tom. All fine horses, and won every thing! a foal out of your honour's bald-fac'd Venus, by this horse, would beat the world. Sir H. Well then, we'll think on't. But, plague on't, Tom, I have certainly knocked up my little roan gelding in this damn'd wildgoose chase of threescore miles an end. 2) Tom. He's deadly blown, to be sure, your honour; and I am afraid we are upon a wrong scent after all. Madam Harriot certainly took across the country, instead of coming on to London. Rus. Five hundred guineas! how d'ye mean? where is she? which way did she take? Sir H. Why, first she went to Epsom, then to Lincoln, then to Nottingham, and now she is at York. Rus. Impossible! she could not go over half the ground in the time. What the devil are you talking of? Sir H. Of the mare you was just now saying you wanted to buy. Rus. The devil take the mare!-who would think of her, when I am mad about an affair of so much more consequence? Sir H. You seemed mad about her a little while ago. She's a fine mare, and a thing of shape and blood. Sir H. No, no, we traced her all the way up. But d'ye hear, Tom, look out among the Rus. Damn her blood!-Harriot! my dear, stables and repositories here in town, for a provoking Harriot! Where can she be? Have smart road nag, and a strong horse to carry you got any intelligence of her? a portmanteau. Sir H. No, faith, not I: we seem to be Tom. Sir Roger Turf's horses are to be quite thrown out 3) here — but, however, I sold-I'll see if there's ever a tight thing there have ordered Tom to try if he can hear any -but I suppose, sir, you would have one thing of her among the ostlers. somewhat stronger than Snip-I don't think Rus. Why don't you inquire after her yourhe's quite enough of a horse for your honour. self? why don't you run up and down the Sir H. Not enough of a horse! Snip's a whole town after her?-t'other young rascal powerful gelding; master of two stone more knows where she is, I warrant you. - What than my weight. If Snip stands sound, a plague it is to have a daughter! When one would not take a hundred guineas for him. loves her to distraction, and has toiled and Poor Snip! go into the stable, Tom, see they laboured to make her happy, the ungrateful give him a warm mash, and look at his heels slut will sooner go to hell her own wayand his eyes. But where's Mr. Russet all but she shall have him-I will make her happy, this while? if I break her heart for it.-A provoking gipsy Tom. I left the squire at breakfast on a cold-to run away, and torment her poor father, pigeon pie, and inquiring after madam Harriot, that dotes on her! I'll never see her face in the kitchen. I'll let him know your honour again.-Sir Harry, how can we get any inwould be glad to see him here. telligence of her? Why don't you speak?" why don't you tell me?-Zounds! you seem as indifferent as if you did not care a farthing about her. Sir H. Ay, do; but harkye, Tom, be sure you take care of Snip. Tom. I'll warrant your honour. Sir H. I'll be down in the stables myself Sir H. Indifferent! you may well call me by-and-by. [Exit Tom] Let me see out of indifferent!-this damned chase after her will the famous Tantwivy by White Stockings; cost me a thousand-if it had not been for White Stockings, his dam, full sister to the her, I would not have been off the course *) Proserpine Filly; and his sire-pox on't, how this week to have saved the lives of my whole unlucky it is that this damned accident should family-I'll hold you six to two that— happen in the Newmarket week!-ten to one 1) The pedigree of a horse, is as religiously kept as that of any ancient family in Wales, or rather as the same is done among the Arabians, where as in England the blood proves the goodness of the horse; and the names given to the horses are sometimes not a little singular. 2) Without stopping. Rus. Zounds! hold your tongue, or talk 1) To draw back. 2) An unmanageable little horse Block more to the purpose-I swear she is too good teach my young mistress to be gadding. She Sir H. Soho! hark forward! wind 'em and friend, consider how we may discover where cross 'em! hark forward! Yoics! Yoics! she is fled to. Sir H. Suppose you put an advertisement into the newspapers, describing her marks, her age, her height, and where she strayed from. I recovered a bay mare once by that method. SCENE II.-OAKLY'S House. Enter MRS. OAKLY. [Exeunt. up to Mrs. O. After all, that letter was certainly Rus. Advertise her!-What! describe my intended for my husband. I see plain enough daughter, and expose her, in the public papers, they are all in a plot against me. My husband with a reward for bringing her home, like intriguing, the major working him horses stolen or strayed!- recovered a bay affront me, Charles owning his letters, and mare!-the devil's in the fellow! - he thinks so playing into each other's hands. They of nothing but racers, and bay mares, and think me a fool, I find-but I'll be too much stallions. Sdeath, I wish yourfor them yet.-I have desired to speak with Sir H. I wish Harriot was fairly pounded; 2) Mr. Oakly, and expect him here immediately. it would save us both a deal of trouble. His temper is naturally open; and if he thinks Rus. Which way shall I turn myself?-I my anger abated, and my suspicions laid am half distracted.If I go to that young asleep, he will certainly betray himself by his dog's house, he has certainly conveyed her behaviour. I'll assume an air of good humour, somewhere out of my reach-if she does not pretend to believe the fine story they have send to me to-day, I'll give her up for ever- trumped up, throw him off his guard, and so perhaps, though, she may have met with some draw the secret out of him.-Here he comes. accident, and has nobody to assist her.-No, How hard it is to dissemble one's anger! Oh, she is certainly with that young rascal.-II could rate him soundly! but I'll keep down wish she was dead, and I was dead.—I'll my indignation at present, though it chokes me. blow young Oakly's brains out. Re-enter Toм. Enter OAKLY. my dear! I am very glad to see you. Sir H. Well, Tom, how is poor Snip? Pray sit down [They sit] I longed to see Tom. A little better, sir, after his warm you. It seemed an age till I had an oppormash: but Lady, the pointing bitch that follo-tunity of talking over the silly affair that hapwed you all the way, is deadly foot-sore. pened this morning. Rus. Damn Snip and Lady!-have you heard any thing of Harriot? Tom. Why, I came on purpose to let my master and your honour know, that John Ostler says as how, just such a lady as I told him madam Harriot was, came here in a four-wheel chaise, and was fetched away soon after by a fine lady in a chariot. Rus. Did she come alone? Tom. Quite alone, only a servant maid, please your honour. Rus. And what part of the town did they go to? the coachman drive to Grosvenor-square. Sir H. Sobo! puss-Yoics! 2) [Mildly. Oak. Why really, my dear- Oak. Indeed! I rejoice to hear it! You make Mrs. O. Indeed I begin to think. 0. I'll endeavour to get the better of it. And really sometimes it is very ridiculous. My uneasiness this morning, for instance, ha, ha, ha! To Tam. John Ostler says as how they bid be so much alarmed about that idle letter, which turned out quite another thing at last was not I very angry with you? ha, ha, ha! Rus. She is certainly gone to that young [Affecting a Laugh. rogue-he has got his aunt to fetch her from Oak. Don't mention it. Let us both forget hence or else she is with her own aunt, lady it. Your present cheerfulness makes amends Freelove-they both live in that part of the for every thing. town. I'll go to his house, and in the mean Mrs. O. I am apt to be too violent; I love while, sir Harry, you shall step to lady Free- you too well to be quite easy about you. love's. We'll find her, I warrant you. I'll Fondly] Well-no matter-what is become of Charles? 1) A horse, or other animal, which has quitted its confining stray-cattle, and there it must remain till the owner pays a certain sum, for its release, which young lady. is called poundage Mrs. O. Where is he gone pray? 1 These are the words used in that most melodious of Oak. First of all, I believe, to some of her ail sounds, for a sportsman, the view-halloo! com- relations. pared to which, the war-whoop of a Cherokee is mere pering. The game being in sight, the sudden burst Mrs. O. Relations! Who are they? Where of this enthusiastic soho! from the mouths of twenty do they live? thirty riders, inflames the horses, and dogs almost Oak. There is an aunt of hers lives just in madarss, while it brings inevitable death to the poor the neighbourhood; lady Freelove. kare before them; the horns are completely drowned in the cry-Pass means hare. Mrs. O Lady Freelove! Oho! gone to lady Freelove's, is he?—and do you think he will¦ hear any thing of her? Oak. I don't know; but I hope so, with all my soul. Mrs. O. Hope! with all your soul; do you [Alarmed. hope so? Oak. Hope so! ye-yes-why, don't you hope so? Mrs. O. True. Oak. Now I was thinking, that he might, with your leave, my dear. Mrs. O. Well! Oak. Bring her home here- Oak. Yes, bring her home here, my dear;— [Surprised. it will make poor Charles's mind quite easy: Mrs. O. Why-yes-[Recovering]-O, ay, and you may take her under your protection to be sure. I hope it of all things. You know, till her father comes to town. my dear, it must give me great satisfaction, Mrs. O. Amazing! this is even beyond my as well as yourself, to see Charles well settled. Oak. I should think so; and really I don't know where he can be settled so well. She is a most deserving young woman, I assure you. Mrs. O. You are well acquainted with her then? Oak. To be sure, my dear; after seeing her so often last summer, at the major's house in the country, and at her father's. Mrs. O. So often! Oak. O, ay-very often-Charles took care of that-almost every day. Mrs. O. Indeed! But pray-a-a-a-I say expectation. Oak. Why!-what! Mrs. O. VVas there ever such assurance! [Rises] Take her under my protection! What! would you keep her under my nose? Oak. Nay, I never conceived-I thought you would have approved Mrs. O. What! make me your convenient woman!-No place but my own house to serve your purposes? Oak. Lord, this is the strangest misapprehension! I am quite astonished. Mrs. O. Astonished! yes-confused, detected, [Confused. betrayed, by your vain confidence of imposing on me. Why, sure you imagine me an idiot, a driveller. Charles, indeed! yes, Charles is a fine excuse for you. The letter this morning, the letter, Mr. Oakly! Oak. What do you say, my dear? Mrs. O. I say—a—a—[Štammering] Is she handsome? Oak. Prodigiously handsome indeed. Mrs. O. Prodigiously handsome! and is she reckoned a sensible girl? Oak. The letter! why sure thatMrs. O. Is sufficiently explained. You have Oak. A very sensible, modest, agreeable, made it very clear to me. Now I am conyoung lady as ever I knew. You would be vinced. I have no doubt of your perfidy. extremely fond of her, I am sure. You can't But I thank you for some hints you have given imagine how happy I was in her company. me, and you may be sure I shall make use Poor Charles! she soon made a conquest of of them: nor will I rest till I have full conhim, and no wonder, she has so many elegant viction, and overwhelm you with the strongest accomplishments! such an infinite fund of proof of your baseness towards me. cheerfulness and good humour! Why, she's the darling of the whole country. Oak. Nay, but Mrs. O. Go, go! I have no doubt of your Mrs. O. Lord! you seem quite in raptures falsehood: away! about her! [Exit. Oak. Was there ever any thing like this? Oak. Raptures!-not at all. I was only Such unaccountable behaviour! angry I don't telling you the young lady's character. I know why! jealous of I know not what! thought you would be glad to find that Charles Hints! - hints I have given her!-What can had made so sensible a choice, and was so she mean? likely to be happy. Mrs. O. Oh, Charles! True, as you say, Charles will be mighty happy. Oak. Don't you think so? Enter TOILET, crossing the Stage. Toil. To order the porter to let in no company to my lady to-day. She won't see a single soul, sir. [Exit. Mrs. O. I am convinced of it. Poor Charles! I am much concerned for him. He must be very uneasy about her. I was thinking whether Ŏak. What an unhappy woman! Now will we could be of any service to him in this affair. she sit all day feeding on her suspicions, till Oak. Was you, my love? that is very good she has convinced herself of the truth of them. of you. Why, to be sure, we must endeavour to assist him. Let me see How can we Enter JOHN, crossing the Stage. manage it? 'Gad! I have hit it. The luckiest Well, sir, what's your business? thought! and it will be of great service to John. Going to order the chariot, sir!— Charles. my lady's going out immediately. [Exit. Mrs. O. Well, what is it? [Eagerly]-You Oak. Going out! what is all this? But know I would do any thing to serve Charles, every way she makes me miserable. Wild and oblige you. [Mildly and ungovernable as the sea or the wind! Oak. That is so kind! Lord, my dear, if made up of storms and tempests! I can't bear you would but always consider things in this it: and one way or other I will put an end proper light, and continue this amiable temper, to it. we should be the happiest people— [Exi SCENE III-LADY FREELOVE's House. Mrs. O. I believe so; but what's your Enter LADY FREELOVE, with a Card; a Ser proposal? Oak. I am sure you'll like it.-Charles, you know, may perhaps be so lucky as to meet with this lady vant following. Lady F. [Reading as she enters] - An will take the liberty of waiting on her ladyshi en cavalier, as he comes from the manège. yours speak a very different language. Indeed Does any body wait that brought this card? you have fine eyes, child! and they have made Serv. Lord Trinket's servant is in the hall, fine work with lord Trinket. madam. Har. Lord Trinket! [Contemptuously. Lady F. Yes, lord Trinket; you know it as well as I do; and yet, you ill-natured thing, you will not vouchsafe him a single smile. But you must give the poor soul a little encouragement, pr'ythee do." Lady F. My compliments, and I shall be glad to see his lordship.—Where is miss Russet? Serv. In her own chamber, madain. Lady F. What is she doing? Serv. Writing, I believe, madam. Lady F. Oh, ridiculous!-scribbling to that Har. Indeed I can't, madam, for of all Oakly, I suppose. [Apart]-Let her know, mankind lord Trinket is my aversion. I should be glad of her company here. [Exit Lady F. Why so, child? He is counted a Servant] It is a mighty troublesome thing to well-bred, sensible, young fellow, and the manage a simple girl, that knows nothing of women all think him handsome. the world. Harriot, like all other girls, is Har. Yes, he is just polite enough to be foolishly fond of this young fellow of her own able to be very unmannerly, with a great choosing, her first love; that is to say, the deal of good breeding; is just handsome enough first man that is particularly civil; and the to make him most excessively vain of his perfirst air of consequence which a young lady son; and has just reflection enough to finish gives herself. Poor silly soul!-But Oakly him for a coxcomb; qualifications which are must not have her, positively. A match with all very common among these whom your lord Trinket will add to the dignity of the ladyship calls men of quality. family. I must bring her into it. But here she comes. Enter HARRIOT. Lady F. A satirist too! Indeed, my dear, this affectation sits very awkwardly upon you. There will be a superiority in the behaviour of persons of fashion. Well, Harriot, still in the pouts! nay, pr'ythee, Har. A superiority, indeed! for his lordship my dear little runaway girl, be more cheer- always behaves with so much insolent famiful! your everlasting melancholy puts me into liarity, that I should almost imagine he was the vapours. soliciting me for other favours, rather than Har. Dear madam, excuse me. How can to pass my whole life with him. I be cheerful in my present situation? I know Lady F. Innocent freedoms, child, which my father's temper so well, that I am sure every fine woman expects to be taken with this step of mine must almost distract him. her, as an acknowledgment of her beauty. I sometimes wish that I had remained in the Har. They are freedoms which I think no country, let what would have been the con- innocent woman can allow. sequence. Lady F. Romantic to the last degree!Why, you are in the country still, Harriot! Enter a Servant. Lady F. Why, it is a naughty 1) child, that's certain; but it need not be so uneasy about papa, as you know that I wrote by Last night's post to acquaint him that his Intle lost sheep was safe, and that you were ready to obey his commands in every parti cular, except marrying that oaf, sir Harry Beagle.-Lord! Lord! what a difference there Enter LORD TRINKET, in Boots, etc. as from is between a country and a town education! the Riding-house. Sero. My lord Trinket, madam. [Exit. Lady F. I swear now I have a good mind to tell him all you have said. Why, a London lass would have jumped out Your lordship's most obedient humble servant. of a window into a gallant's arms, and without Lord T. Your ladyship does me too much Leaking of her father, unless it were to have honour. Here I am en bottine as you seedrawn a few bills on him, been a hundred just come from the manège. mes off in nine or ten hours, or perhaps Lady F. Your lordship is always agreeable aut of the kingdom in twenty-four. in every dress. Har. I fear I have already been too precipitate. I tremble for the consequences. Lord T. Vastly obliging, lady Freelove. Miss Russet, I am your slave. I declare it Lady F. I swear, child, you are a down- makes me quite happy to find you together. right prude. Your way of talking gives me 'Pon honour, ma'am, [To Harriot] I begin the spleen; so full of affection, and duty, and to conceive great hopes of you; and as for virtue, is just like a funeral sermon. And you, lady Freelove, I cannot sufficiently comyet, pretty soul! it can love.-Well, I wonder mend your assiduity with your fair pupil. at your taste; a sneaking, simple gentleman, She was before possessed of every grace that ithout a title! and when to my knowledge nature could bestow on her, and nobody is you might have a man of quality to-morrow. so well qualified as your ladyship to give her Har. Perhaps so. Your ladyship must ex- the bon ton. euse me, but many a man of quality would Har. Compliment and contempt all in a breath!-My lord, I am obliged to you. But, Lady F. Indeed, my dear, these antediluvian waving my acknowledgments, give me leave stions will never do now-a-days; and at the to ask your lordship whether nature and the same time too, those little wicked eyes of bon ton (as you call it) are so different, that we must give up one in order to obtain the other? rake me miserable. -) The nurses speak to children in this manner, and this is the language used to ridicule persons who still continue in leading-strings at a time when they are to jd for it. Lord T. Totally opposite, madam. The chief aim of the bon ton is to render persons |