door open to a more commodious apartment, for | the happiness of a private friend, or so? The prettiest brass lock---fast, um; that won't do.--Sdeath, you are a beautiful woman; I am sure you are. Prithee, let me see your face. It is your interest, child---the longer you delay, the more I shall expect. Therefore,--[Taking her hand.] my dear, soft, kind, new acquaintance, thus let me take your hand; and, whilst you gently, with the other, let day-light in upon me, let me softly hold you to me, that, with my longing lips, I may receive the warmest, best impression.---[She unmasks.]---Clarinda!

Cla. Ha, ha! your servant, cousin RangerHa, ha, ha!

Ran. Oh, your humble servant, madam. You had like to have been beholden to your mask, cousin I must brazen it out.

[Aside.

to.

Cla. In boy's clothes! this is worth attending [Aside. Ran. Gad, I no more suspected her being a

Ran. Oh, I knew you, too; but I fancied you had taken a particular liking to my person, and had a mind to sink the relation under that little piece of black velvet! and, egad, you never find me behind hand in a frolic. But, since it is otherwise, my merry, good-humoured cousin, I am as heartily glad to see you in town, as I should be to meet any of my old bottle acquaintance.

Cla. And, on my side, I am as happy in meeting your worship, as I should be in a rencounter with e'er a petticoat in Christendom.

Ran. And if you have any occasion for a dangling gallant to Vauxhall, Ranelagh, or even the poor neglected Park, you are so unlike the rest of your virtuous sisters of the petticoat, that I will venture myself with you.

Cla. Take care what you promise; for who knows but this face, you were pleased to say so many pretty things before you saw it, may raise so many rivals among your kept mistresses, and reps of quality

Ran. Hold, hold! a truce with your satire, sweet coz; or, if scandal must be the topic of every virtuous woman's conversation, call for your tea-waiter, and let it be in it's proper element. Come, your tea, your tea!

Enter Maid.

Cla. With all my heart- -Who's there? Get tea-upon condition that you stay till it

comes.

Ran. That is according as you behave, ma

dam.

Cla. Oh, sir, I am very sensible of the favour. Ran. Nay, you may, I assure you; for there is but one woman of virtue, besides yourself, I would stay with ten minutes (and I have not

a

Cla. How did you discover it at last?

Ran. Why, faith, she very modestly dropt me hint of it herself.

Cla. Herself! If this should be Jacintha !

[Aside. Ran. Ay, 'foregad, did she; which I imagined a good sign at midnight—eh, cousin? So I e'en invented a long story of a passion I had for her, though I had never seen her before—you know my old way; and said so many tender things—

Cla. As you said to me just now.

Ran. Pho! quite in another style, I assure you. It was midnight, and I was in a right cue. Cla. Well! And what did she answer to all these protestations ?

Ran. Why, instead of running into my arms at once, as I expected

Cla. To be sure.

Ran. 'Gad, like a free-hearted, honest girl, she frankly told me she liked another better than she liked me; that I had something in my face that shewed I was a gentleman; and she would e'en trust herself with me, if I would give her my word I would convey her to her spark.

Cla. Oh, brave! and how did you bear this? Ran. Why, curse me, if I am ever angry with a woman for not having a passion for me! Cla. No!

Ran. Never. I only hate your sex's vain pretence of having no passions at all. Gad, I loved the good-natured girl for it; took her at her word; stole her out of the window; and this morning made a very honest fellow happy in the possession of her.

Cla. And her name is Jacintha?
Ran. Ha!

Cla. Your amours are no secrets, sir. You see you might as well have told me all the whole of last night's adventure; for you find I know

Ran. All! Why, what do you know?

ber

Ran. The devil!

Cla. But a husband is such an odd, impertinent, awkward creature, that he will be stumbling over it.

Ran. Here has been fine work. [Aside.] But how, in the name of wonder, should you know all this?

Cla. By being in the same house.

Ran. In the same house!

Cla. Ay, in the same house, a witness of the confusion you have made.

Ran. Frankly's Clarinda, by all that's fortunate! It must be so! [Aside. Cla. And let me tell you, sir, that even the dull, low-spirited diversions you ridicule in us tame creatures, are preferable to the romantic exploits that only wine can raise you to.

Ran. Yes, cousin: but I'll be even with you. [Aside. Cla. If you reflect, cousin, you will find a great deal of wit in shocking a lady's modesty, disturbing her quiet, tainting her reputation, and ruining the peace of a whole family.

Ran. To be sure.

Cla. These are the high-mettled pleasures of you men of spirit, that the insipidity of the virtuous can never arrive at. And can you, in reality, think your Burgundy, and your Bacchus, your Venus, and your Loves, an excuse for all this? Fie, cousin, fie!

Ran. No, cousin.

Cla. What, dumb! I am glad you have modesty enough left not to go about to excuse yourself.

Ran. It is as you say; when we are sober, and reflect but ever so little on the follies we commit, we are ashamed and sorry and yet the very next minute we run again into the same absurdities.

Cla. What! moralizing, cousin! ha, ha, ha! Ran. What you know is not half, not a hundredth part of the mischief of my last night's frolic; and yet the very next petticoat I saw this morning, I must follow it, and be damned to me; though, for aught I know, poor Frankly's life may depend upon it.

Cla. Whose life, sir?

Ran. And here do I stand prating to you

now.

Cla. Pray, good cousin, explain yourself.
Ran. Good cousin! She has it. [Aside.]-

Cla. Before what? I'm frightened out of my wits!

Ran. Not that Frankly cared three half-pence for the girl.

Cla. But there was no mischief done, I hope? Ran. Pho! a slight scratch; nothing at all, as the surgeon said: though he was but a queer looking son of a bitch of a surgeon, neither.

Cla. Good God! why, he should have the best that can be found in London.

Ran. Ay, indeed, so he should that was what I was going for, when I saw you. [Sits down.] They are all at Jack Meggot's hard by, and you will keep me here?

Cla. I keep you here! For Heaven's sake, be

gone.

Ran. Your tea is a damned while a coming.
Cla. You shall have no tea now, I assure you.
Ran. Nay! one dish.

Cla. No, positively, you shall not stay. Ran. Your commands are absolute, madam. [Going. Cla. Then Frankly is true, and I only am to blame.

Ran. [Returns.] But I beg ten thousand pardons, cousin, that I should forgetCla. Forget what!

Ran. Forget to salute you.

Cla. Pshaw! how can you trifle at such a time as this?

Ran. A trifle! wrong not your beauty. Cla. Lord, how teasing you are. There. Ran. [Kisses her.] Poor thing! how uncasy she is. Nay, no ceremony, you shall not stir a step with me.

Cla. I do not intend it. This is downright provoking. [Exit RANGER.] Who's there? Enter Landlady.

Land. Madam, did your ladyship call? Cla. Does one Mr Meggot live in this neighbourhood?

Land. Yes, madam, a fine gentleman, and keeps a noble house, and a world of company. Cla. Very well; I don't want his history. I wonder my servants are not come yet.

Land. Lack a-day, madam, they are all below. Cla. Send up one, then, with a card to me. I must know the truth of this immediately.

[Exeunt

SCENE I-A room in MR STRICTLAND'S house.

MR and MRS STRICTLAND discovered; she weeping, and he writing.

Mrs Strict. HEIGH ho!

Strict. What can possibly be the occasion of that sigh, madam? you have yourself agreed to a maintenance, and a maintenance no dutchess need be ashamed of.

Mrs Strict. But the extremities of provocation, that drove me to that agreement

Strict. Were the effect of your own follies. Why do you disturb me? [Writes on. Mrs Strict. I would not willingly give you a moment's uneasiness; I but desire a fair and equal hearing; and if I satisfy you not in every point, then abandon me, discard me to the world, and its malicious tongues.

!

Strict. What was it you said? Damn this pen Mrs Strict. I say, Mr Strictland, I would only

Strict. You would only- -You would only repeat what you have been saying this hour; I am innocent; and when I shewed you the letter I had taken from your maid, what was then your poor evasion, but that it was to Clarinda, and you were innocent?

Mrs Strict. Heaven knows, I am innocent! Strict. But I know your Clarinda, your woman of honour, is your blind, your cover, yourBut why do I distract myself about a woman I have no longer any concern with? Here, madam, is your fate. A letter to your brother in the

country.

Mrs Strict. Sir

Strict. I have told him what a sister he has to receive, and how to bid her welcome.

Mrs Strict. Then my ruin is complete. My brother!

Strict. I must vindicate my own honour, what will the world say?

else

Mrs Strict. That brother was my only hope, my only ground of patience. In his retirement, I hoped my name might have been safe, and slept, till, by some happy means, you might at length have known me innocent, and pitied me.

Strict. Retirement! pretty soul! no, no; that face was never made for retirement; it is another sort of retiring you are fittest for. Ha! hark! What's that? [A knocking at the door.] Two gentle taps-and why but two! was that the signal, madam? Stir not, on your life!

Mrs. Strict. Give me resolution, Heaven, to bear this usage, and keep it secret from the world! [Aside. Strict. I will have no signs, no items, no hem to tell him I am here. Ha! another tap. The gentleman is in haste, find. [Opens the door, and enter TESTER.] Tester! Why did you not

:

Test. Sir! [Staring.] it is Mr Buckle, sir. Strict. I am mad: I know not what to say, or do, or think. But let's read [Reads to himself.] 'Sir, we cannot bear to reflect that Mrs Strict'land may possibly be ruined in your esteem, and in the voice of the world, only by the confusion 'which our affairs have made in your family, 'without offering all within our power to clear 'the misunderstanding between you. If you will 'give yourself the trouble but to step to Mr Meggot's, where all parties will be, we doubt not 'but we can entirely satisfy your most flagrant suspicions, to the honour of Mrs Strictland, and 'the quiet of your lives.

JACINTHA. JOHN BELLAMY. Hey! Here is the whole gang witnessing for one another. They think I am an ass, and will be led by the nose to believe every thing. Call me a chair. [Exit TESTER.] Yes, I will go to this rendezvous of enemies-I will-and find out all her plots, her artifices and contrivances: it will clear my conduct to her brother, and all her friends. [Erit MR STRICTLAND.

Mrs Strict. Gone so abruptly! What can that letter be about? no matter; there is no way left to make us easy, but by my disgrace, and I must learn to suffer; time and innocence will teach me to bear it patiently.

Enter LUCETTA,

Luc. Mrs Bellamy, madam, (for my young lady is married) begs you would follow Mr Strictland to Mr Meggot's; she makes no doubt but she shall be able to make you and my master easy.

Mrs Strict. But how came she to know any thing of the matter?

Luc. I have been with them, madam; I could not bear to see so good a lady ill-treated. Mrs Strict. I am indeed, Lucetta, ill-treated: but I hope this day will be the last of it.

| Luc. Madam Clarinda and Mr Frankly will be there: and the young gentleman, madam, whe was with you in this room last night.

Luc. Dear lady, let me call a chair. Mrs Strict. I go with you. I cannot be more wretched than I am.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II-A room in JACK MEGGOT's house.

Enter FRANKLY, Ranger, BellamY, JACINTHA, and JACK MEGGOT.

Frank. Oh, Ranger, this is news indeed! your cousin, and a lady of such fortune!

Ran. I have done the business for you: I tell you she's your own. She loves you.

Frank. You make my heart dance with joy! Words are too faint to tell the joy I feel!

Ran. I have put that heart of hers into such a flutter, that I'll lay a hundred guineas, with the assistance which this lady has promised me, I fix her yours directly.

Jac. Ay, ay, Mr Frankly, we have a design upon her which cannot fail. But you must obey

orders.

Frank. Most willingly: but remember, dear lady, I have more than life at stake.

Jac. Away, then, into the next room; for she is this instant coming hither.

Frank. Hither! you surprise me more and

more.

Jac. Here is a message from her, by which she desires leave to wait on me this afternoon.

Ran. Only for the chance of seeing you here, I assure ye.

Frank. Let me hug thee; though I know not how to believe it.

Ran. Psha! prithee don't stifle me! It is a busy day, a very busy day.

J. Meg. Thou art the most unaccountable creature in life.

Ran. But the most lucky one, Jack, if I succeed for Frankly as I have for Bellamy; and my heart whispers me I shall. Come in, most noble Mr Buckle! and what have you to propose?

Enter BUCKLE.

Buc. A lady, madam, in a chair, says her name is Clarinda.

Jac. Desire her to walk up.

Bel. How could you let her wait? [Exit BUCKLE.] You must excuse him, madam; Buckle is a true bachelor's servant, and knows no man

ners.

Jac. Away, away, Mr Frankly, and stay till I call you. A rap with my fan shall be the signal. [Exit FRANKLY.] We make very free with your house, Mr Meggot.

J. Meg. Oh! you could not oblige me more. Enter CLARINDA.

Cla. Dear Mrs Bellamy, pity my confusion. I am to wish you joy, and ask you pardon, all in VOL. II.

ashamed of my last night's behaviour.

Jac. Come, come, Clarinda, it is all well; all is over, and forgot. Mr Bellamy

[Salute. Cla. I wish you joy, sir, with all my heart, and should have been very sorry if any folly of mine had prevented it.

Bel. Madam, I am obliged to you.

Cla. I see nothing of Mr Frankly! my mind misgives me. Aside. Ran. And so, you came hither purely out of friendship, good-nature, and humility? Cla. Purely.

Ran. To confess your offences, to beg pardon, and to make reparation?

Cla. Purely. Is this any thing so extraordi

nary?

J. Meg. The most so of any thing in life, I think.

Ran. A very whimsical business for so fine a lady! and an errand you seldom went on before, I fancy, my dear cousin?

Jac. Never, I dare swear, if I may judge by the awkward concern she shews in delivering it.

Cla. Concern! Lard! well, I protest, you are all exceeding pretty company! Being settled for life, Jacintha, gives an ease to the mind that brightens conversation strangely.

Jac. I am sorry, with all my heart, you are not in the same condition; for, as you are, my dear, you are horridly chagriné.

Ran. But with a little of our help, madam, the lady may recover, and be very good company.

Cla. Hum! What does he mean, Mr Bcllamy?

ble.

Bel. Ask him, madam.

Cla. Indeed, I shall not give myself the trou

Jac. Then, you know what he means? Cla. Something impertinent, I suppose, not worth explaining.

Jac. It is something you won't let him explain, I find.

Enter BUCKLE, and whispers MEGGOT.

J. Meg. Very well. Desire him to walk into the parlour. Madain, the gentleman is below. Jac. Then every one to your posts. You know your cues? Ran. I warrant ye. [Exeunt Gentlemen. Cla. All gone! I am glad of it, for I want to speak to you.

Jac. And I, my dear Clarinda, have something which I do not know how to tell you: but it must be known sooner or latter.

Cla. What's the matter?
Jac. Poor Mr Frankly-

Cla. You fright me out of my senses !
Jac. Has no wounds but what you can cure.
Ha, ha, ha!

Cla. Psha! I am angry. 4 U

the business of this day to go abroad into the world, it might prove a very useful lesson: the men would see how their passions may carry them into the danger of wounding the bosom of a friend and the ladies would learn, that, after the marriage rites are performed, they ought not

:

to suffer their powers of pleasing to languish away, but should still remember to sacrifice to the graces.

To win a man, when all your pains succeed, The WAY TO KEEP HIM, is a task indeed. [Exeunt omnes.