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Seriously. fashion.

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Mrs. HARDCASTLE.

Then I fhall be, too young for the

HASTINGS.

No lady begins now to put on jewels 'till fhe's paft forty. For inftance, Mifs there, in a polite circle, would be confidered as a child, as a mere maker of famplers.

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And yet Mrs. Niece thinks herself as much a woman, and is as fond of jewels as the oldest of us all.

HASTINGS.

Your niece, is fhe? And that young gentleman, a brother of yours, I fhould prefume?

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My fon, Sir. They are contracted to each other. Obferve their little fports. They fall in and out ten times a day, as if they were man and wife already. (To them.) Well Tony, child, what foft things are you faying to your coufin Conftance this evening?

TONY.

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I have been faying no foft things; but that it's very hard to be followed about fo. Ecod! I've not a place in the houfe now that's left to myself but' the stable.

Mrs. HARDCASTLE.. Never mind him, Con. my dear. He's in ang other story behind your back.

Mifs NE VILLE..

There's fomething generous in my coufin's manHe falls out before faces to be forgiven in

ner.

private.

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311 TAON Y

That's a damned confounded crack.

Mrs. HARDCASTLE.

Ah! he's a fly one. Don't you think they're like each other about the mouth, Mr. Haftings? The Blenkinfop mouth to a T. They're of a fize too. Back to back, my pretties, that Mr. Haftings may fee you. Come Tony.

TONY.

You had as good not make me, I tell you.

Mifs NE VILLE.

(measuring.)

O lud! he has almoft cracked my head.

Mrs. HARDCASTLE. O the monster! For fhame, Tony. man, and behave fo!

TONY.

You a

If I'm a man, let me have my fortin. Ecod! I'll not be made a fool of no longer.

Mrs. HARDCASTLE.

Is this, ungrateful boy, all that I'm to get for the pains I have taken in your education? I that have rock'd you in your cradle, and fed that pretty mouth with a fpoon! Did not I work that waistcoat to make you genteel? Did not I prefcribe for you every day, and weep while the receipt was operating?

T ON Y...

Ecod! you had reafon to weep, for you have been dofing me ever fince I was born. I have gone through every receipt in the complete hufwife ten times over; and you have thoughts of courfing me through Quincy next spring. But, Ecod! I tell you, I'll not be made a fool of no longer.

Mrs.

Mrs. HARDCASTLE, Wasn't it all for your good, viper? Wasn't it all for your good?

TONY.

I wish you'd let me and my good alone then. Snubbing this way when I'm in fpirits. If I'm to have any good, let it come of itself; not to keep dinging it, dinging it into one fo.

Mrs. HARD CASTLE.

That's falfe; I never fee you when you're in fpirits. No, Tony, you then go to the alehoufe or kennel. I'm never to be delighted with your agreeable, wild notes, unfeeling monfter!

TONY.

Ecod! Mamma; your own notes are the wildeft of the two.

Mrs. HARDCASTLE.

Was ever the like? But I fee he wants to break my heart, I fee he does.

HASTINGS.

Dear Madam, permit me to lecture. the young gentleman a little. I'm certain can perfuade him to his duty.

Mrs. HARDCASTLE.

Well! I must retire. Come, Conftance, my love. You see Mr. Haftings, the wretchedness of my fituation: Was ever poor woman fo plagued with a dear, fweet, pretty, provoking, undutiful boy.

[Exeunt Mrs. Hardcastle and Mifs Neville.

HASTINGS. TONY.

TONY, finging.

There was a young man riding by, and fain would bave his will. Rang do didlo dee. Don't mind her.

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Let

Let her cry. It's the comfort of her heart. I have feen her and fifter cry over a book for an hour together, and they said, they liked the book the better the more it made them cry.

HASTINGS.

Then you're no friend to the ladies, I find, my pretty young gentleman?

TONY.

That's as I find 'um,

HASTINGS.

Not to her of your mother's chufing, I dare anfwer? And yet the appears to me a pretty well-tempered girl.

TONY.

That's because you don't know her as well as I. Ecod! I know every inch about her, and there's not a more bitter cantanckerous toad in all Christendom.

HASTIN.G. S.

(Afide) Pretty encouragement this for a lover!

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I have feen her fince the height of that. She has as many tricks as a hare in a thicket, or a colt the fifft day's breaking.

HASTINGS.

To me the appears fenfible and filent

TONY.

Ay, before company. But when she's with her play-mates fhe's as loud as a hog in a gates ⠀⠀

HASTINGS.

But there is a meek modefty about her that

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charms me!

TONY.

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Yes, but curb her never fo little, the kicks up, and you're flung in a ditch.

HASTINGS.

Well, but you must allow her a little beauty. Yes, you must allow her fome beauty.

TONY.

Bandbox! She's all a made up thing, mun. Ah! could you but fee Bet Bouncer of these parts, you might then talk of beauty. Ecod, the has two eyes as black as floes, and cheeks as broad and red as a pulpit cushion. She'd make two of the.

HASTINGS.

Well, what fay you to a friend that would take this bitter bargain off your hands?

Anon.

TONY.

HASTINGS.

Would you thank him that would take Miss Neville and leave you to happiness and your dear Betfy? TONY.

Ay; but where is there fuch a friend, for who would take her?

HASTINGS.

I am he. If you but affift me, I'll engage to whip her off to France, and you fhall never hear more of her.

TONY.

Affift you! Ecod I will, to the laft drop of my blood. I'll clap a pair of horses to your chaife that shall trundle you off in a twinkling, and may be get you a part of her fortin befide, in jewels, that you little dream of.

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