LOFTY.

I fuppofe now, Mr. Honeywood, you think my rent-roll very confiderable, and that I have vast fums of money to throw away; I know you do. The world to be fure fays fuch things of me.

HONEYWOOD.

The world, by what I learn, is no ftranger to your generofity. But where does this tend?

LOFTY.

To nothing; nothing in the world. The town, to be fure, when it makes fuch a thing as me the fubject of converfation, has afferted, that I never yet patronized a man of merit.

HONEYWOOD.

I have heard inftances to the contrary, even from yourself.

LOFTY.

Yes, Honeywood, and there are inftances to the contrary, that you shall never hear from myself.

HONEYWOOD.

Ha! dear Sir, permit me to ask you but one queftion.

LOFTY.

Sir, afk me no queftions: I fay, Sir, ask me no queftions; I'll be damn'd, if I anfwer them.

HONEYWOOD.

I will ask no further. My friend! my benefactor, it is, it must be here, that I am indebted for freedom, for honour. Yes, thou worthiest of men,

from

from the beginning I fufpected it, but was afraid to return thanks; which, if undeserved, might seem reproaches.

LOFTY.

I proteft I don't understand all this, Mr. Honeywood. You treat me very cavalierly. I do affure you, Sir.-Blood, Sir, can't a man be permitted to enjoy the luxury of his own feelings, without all this parade?

HONEYWOOD.

Nay, do not attempt to conceal an action that adds to your honour. Your looks, your air, your manner, all confefs it.

LOFTY.

Confefs it, Sir! Torture itself, Sir, fhall never bring me to confefs it. Mr. Honeywood, I have admitted you upon terms of friendship. Don't let us fall out; make me happy, and let this be buried in oblivion. You know I hate oftentation; you know I do. Come, come, Honeywood, you know I always loved to be a friend, and not a patron. I beg this may make no kind of distance between us. Come, come, you and I must be more familiarIndeed we must.

HONEYWOOD.

Heavens! Can I ever repay fuch friendship! Is there any way! Thou best of men, can I ever return the obligation?

LOFTY.

LOFTY.

A bagatelle, a mere bagatelle! But I fee your heart is labouring to be grateful. You fhall be grateful. It would be cruel to disappoint you.

HONEYWOOD.

How! teach me the manner. Is there any way? LOFTY.

From this moment you're mine. Yes, my friend, you shall know it-I'm in love.

And to whom shall I speak in your favour ?

LOFTY.

To a lady with whom you have great intereft, I affure you: Mifs Richland.

HONEYWOOD.

Mifs Richland!

LOFTY.

Yes, Mifs Richland. She has ftruck the blow up to the hilt in my bofom, by Jupiter.

Ho

HONEYWOOD.

Heavens! was ever any thing more unfortunate! It is too much to be endured.

LOFTY.

Unfortunate indeed! And yet I can endure it, till you have opened the affair to her for me. Between ourselves, I think fhe likes me. I'm not apt to boat, but I think fhe does.

HONEYWOOD.

Indeed! But, do you know the perfon you apply to ?

LOFTY.

Yes, I know you are her friend and mine: that's enough. To you, therefore, I commit the fuccefs of my paffion. I'll fay no more, let friendship do the reft. I have only to add, that if at any time my little intereft can be of fervice-but, hang it, I'll make no promifes-you know my intereft is yours at any time. No apologies, my friend, I'll not be answered, it fhall be fo. [Exit.

HONEYWOOD.

Open, generous, unfufpecting man! He little thinks that I love her too; and with such an ardent paffion!—But then it was ever but a vain and hopeless one; my torment, my perfecution! What shall I do! Love, friendship, an hopeless paffion, a deferving friend! Love, that has been my tormentor; a friend, that has, perhaps, diftreffed himself, to ferve me. It fhall be fo. Yes, I will difcard the fondling hope from my bofom, and exert all my influence

influence in his favour. And yet to fee her in the poffeffion of another!-Infupportable! But then to betray a generous, trufting friend!-Worfe, worfe! Yes, I'm refolved. Let me but be the inftrument of their happiness, and then quit a country, where I must for ever defpair of finding my

own.

[Exit.

Enter OLIVIA, and GARNET, who carries a Mil

liner's Box.

OLIVIA.

Dear me, I wish this journey were over.

No news

of Jarvis yet? I believe the old peevish creature delays purely to vex me.

GARNET.

Why, to be fure, madam, I did hear him fay, a little fnubbing, before marriage, would teach you to bear it the better afterwards.

OLIVIA.

To be gone a full hour, though he had only to get a bill changed in the city! How provoking!

GARNET.

I'll lay my life, Mr. Leontine, that had twice as much to do, is fetting off by this time from his inn; and here you are left behind.

OLIVIA.

Well, let us be prepared for his coming, however. Are you fure you have omitted nothing, Garnet?

VOL. II.

G

GAR