Rus. Marry-She durst not do it. Maj. Consider, sir, they have long been fond of each other-old acquaintance-faithful lovers —turtles—and may be very happy. Rus. Well, well-since things are so— -I love my girl. Hark'e, young Oakly, if you don't make her a good husband, you'll break my heart, you rogue. Cha. Do not doubt it, sir! my Harriot has reformed me altogether. Rus. Has she?-Why then-there-Heaven bless you both-there-now, there's an end on't. Sir Har. So, my lord, you and I are both distanced-A hollow thing, damme! Lord Trink. N'importe. Sir Har. [Aside.] Now this stake is drawn, my lord may be for hedging off mayhap. Ecod! I'll go to Jack Speed's, and secure Nabob, and be out of town in an hour. Soho! Lady Freelove! Yoics! [Exit. Enter LADY FREELOVE. Lady Free. My dear Miss Russet, you'll ex Cuse Cha. Mrs Oakly, at your ladyship's service. Har. Not yet, madam; but my father has been so good as to give his consent. Lady Free. I protest I am prodigiously glad of it. My dear, I give you joy-and you, Mr Oakly. I wish you joy, Mr Russet, and all the good company-for I think the most of them are parties concerned. Maj. How easy, impudent, and familiar! [Aside. Lady Free. Lord Trinket here, too! I vow I did not see your lordship before. Lord Trink. Your ladyship's most obedient slave. [Bowing. Lady Free. You seem grave, my lord!-Come, come, I know there has been some difference between you and Mr Oakly-You must give me leave to be a mediator in this affair. Lord Trink. Here has been a small fracas to be sure, madam !-We are all blown, 'pon ho my friend Charles here ?-The letter! Charles! Out with it this instant! Cha. Yes, I have the credentials of her ladyship's integrity in my pocket. Mr Russet, the letter you read a little while ago was inclosed in this cover, which also I now think it my duty to put into your hands. Rus. [Reading.] To the right honourable la'dy Freelove- Sdeath and hell!-and now I recollect, the letter itself was pieced with scraps of French, and madam, and your ladyship-Fire and fury! madai, how came you to use me so? I am obliged to you, then, for the insult that has been offered me? Lady Free. What is all this? Your obligations to me, Mr Russet, are of a nature that Rus. Fine obligations! I dare say I am partly obliged to you, too, for the attempt on my daughter, by that thing of a lord yonder at your house. Zouns! madam, these are injuries never to be forgiven- -They are the grossest affronts to me and my family-All the word shall know them-Zouns!-I'll Lady Free. Mercy on me! how boisterous are these country gentlemen! Why really, Mr Russet, you rave like a man in Bedlam-I am afraid you'll beat me-and then you swear most abominably. How can you be so vulgar?—I see the meaning of this low malice-But the reputa tions of women of quality are not so easily impeached-My rank places me above the scandal of little people, and I shall meet such petty insolence with the greatest ease and tranquillity.. But you and your simple girl will be the sufferers. I had some thoughts of introducing her into the first company-But now, madam, I shall neither receive, nor return your visits, and will entirely withdraw my protection from the ordinary part of the family. [Exit. Rus. Zouns, what impudence! that's worse than all the rest. Lord Trink. Fine presence of mind, faith!The true French nonchalance-But, good folks, why such a deal of rout and tapage about nothing at all?-If Mademoiselle Harriot had rather be Mrs Oakly than lady Trinket-Why, I wish her joy, that's all. Mr Russet, I wish you joy of your son-in-law-Mr Oakly, I wish you joy of the lady-and you, madam, [To HARRIOT.] of the gentleman-And, in short, I wish you all joy of one another, 'pon honour! Exit Rus. There's a fine fellow of a lord now! The devil's in your London folks of the first fashion, as you call them. They will rob you of your estate, debauch your neighbour, or lie with your wife-and all as if they were doing you a favour, 'pon honour! Maj. Hey! what now? [Bell rings violently. Enter OAKLY. Oak. D'ye, hear, major? d'ye hear? Maj. Zouns! what a clatter! She'll pull down all the bells in the house. Oak. My observations, since I left you, have confirmed my resolution. I see plainly, that her good-humour, and her ill-humour, her smiles, her tears, and her fits, are calculated to play upon me. Maj. Did not I always tell you so? It's the way with them all-they will be rough and smooth, and hot and cold, and all in a breath.— Any thing to get the better of us. Mrs Oak. Might have more sense, as well as tenderness, than to give ear to such idle stuff.— Oak. Lord, lord! I me. Mrs Oak. You, and your wise counsellor there, suppose, think to carry all your points with Ŏak. She is in all moods at present, I promise you-I am at once angry and ashamed of her; and yet she is so ridiculous, I can't help laughing at her There has she been in her chamber, fuming and fretting, and dispatching a messenger to me every two minutes-servant after servant now she insists on my coming to her-now, Oak. You had better learn to govern yourself again, she writes a note to entreat-then, Toilet is by half. Your passion makes you ridiculous.— sent to let me know that she is ill, absolutely dy- Did ever any body see so much fury and vioing-then, the very next minute, she'll never scelence? affronting your best friends, breaking my my face again-she'll go out of the house direct-peace, and disconcerting your own temper. And ly. [Bell rings.] Again! now the storm rises! fall for what? For nothing. 'Sdeath, madam! at Maj. It will soon drive this way, then-now, these years, you ought to know better. brother, prove yourself a man-You have gone Mrs Oak. At these years! Very fine !— too far to retreat. to be talked to in this manner? Oak. Was ever any thing Mrs Oak. But it won't do, sir. You shall find that I will have my own way, and that I will govern my own family. Am Oak. Retreat!Retreat!—No, no !—I'll Ouk. Talked to! Why not? You have talked preserve the advantage I have gained, I am de- to me long enough-almost talked me to death termined. -and I have taken it all in hopes of making you Maj. Ay, ay! keep your ground! fear no-quiet-but all in vain; for the more one bears, thing-up with your noble heart! Good discip- the worse you are. Patience, I find, is all thrown line makes good soldiers; stick close to my ad-away upon you; and henceforward, come what vice, and you may stand buff to a tigress- may, I am resolved to be master of my own Oak. Here she is, by Heavens!-now, ther! Maj. And now, brother! Now or never! Enter MRS OAKLY. bro-house. Mrs Oak. So, so! Master, indeed! Yes, sir, and you'll take care to have mistresses enough, too, I warrant you. Oak. Perhaps I may; but they shall be quict ones, I can assure you. Mrs Oak. Indeed! And do you think I am such a tame fool as to sit quietly and bear all this? You shall know, sir, that I will resent this -You shall find that I have a spi Mrs Oak. I think, Mr Oakly, you might have had humanity enough to have come to see how I did. You have taken your leave, I suppose, of all tenderness and affection-but I'll be calm-behaviour I'll not throw myself into a passion-you want to ritdrive me out of your house-I see what you aim at, and will be aforehand with you-let me keep my temper! I'll send for a chair, and leave the house this instant. Oak. True, my love! I knew you would not think of dining in your chamber alone, when I had company below. You shall sit at the head of the table, as you ought, to be sure, as you say, and make my friends welcome. Mrs Oak. Excellent raillery! Look ye, Mr Oakly, I see the meaning of all this affected coolness and indifference. Oak. My dear, consider where you areMrs Oak. You would be glad, I find, to get me out of your house, and have all your flirts a bout you. Oak. Before all this company! Fy! Oak. Of the devil. Mrs Oak. Intolerable! You shall find, then, that I will exert that spirit. I am sure I have need of it. As soon as the house is once cleared again, I'll shut my doors against all company. You shan't see a single soul for this month. Oak. 'Sdeath, madam, but I will! I'll keep open house for a year. I'll send cards to the whole town-Mr Oakly's route! All the world will come-and I'll go among the world, too— I'll be mewed up no longer. Mrs Oak. Provoking insolence! This is not to be endured-Look'e, Mr Oakly Oak. And look'e, Mrs Oakly, I will have my own way. Mrs Oak. Nay, then, let me tell you, sir———— Mrs Oak. But I'll disappoint you, for I shall be crossed-I wont be made a fool. Mrs Oak. Why, you wont let me speak! Mrs Oak. Was there ever such a monster! I can bear this no longer. [Bursts into tears.] O you vile man! I can see through your designyou cruel, barbarous, inhuman-such usage to your poor wife!you'll be the death of her. real truth. I can explain every thing to your satisfaction. Mrs Oak. May be so- -I cannot argue with you. Mrs Oak. Well-well-proceed. uneasy. -Hush! [Apart. [Apart. Oak. She shan't be the death of me, I am de- Maj. Hushtermined. Hur. I understand, madam, that your first Mrs Oak. That it should ever come to this!-alarm was occasioned by a letter from my father To be contradicted--[Sobbing.]—insulted-abus- to your nephew, ed-aated-'tis too much-my heart will burst Rus. I was in a bloody passion to be sure, ma with-oh-oh!- [Falls into a fit. HARRIOT, Cha. For Heaven's sake, sir, she will be~ Oak. Let her alone, I say; I won't have her touched-let her alone-if her passions throw her into fits, let the strength of them carry her through them. Hur. Pray, my dear sir, let us assist her. may She Õak. I don't care-you shan't touch her—let her bear them patiently-she'll learn to behave better another time- -Let her alone, I say. Mrs Oak. [Rising.] O you monster!-you villain!-you base man! Would you let me die for want of help?-would you dam!-The letter was not over civil, I believe--I did not know but the young rogue had ruined my girl-But its all over now, and so Mrs Oak. You was here yesterday, sir? Rus. Yes, I came after Harriot. I thought I should find my young madam with my young sir, here. Mrs Oak. With Charles, did you say, sir? Rus. Ay, with Charles, madam! The young rogue has been fond of her a long time, and she of him, it seems. Mrs Oak. I fear I have been to blame. [Aside. Rus. I ask pardon, madam, for the disturbance I made in your house. Har. And the abrupt manner in which I came into it, demands a thousand apologies. But the Oak. Bless me! madam, your fit is very vio-occasion must be my excuse. lent-take care of yourself. Mrs Oak. Despised, ridiculed-but I'll be revenged-you shall see, sir Oak. Tol-de-rol loll-de-rol loll-de-rol loll! Mrs Oak. How have I been mistaken! [Aside. -But did not I overhear you and Mr Oakly--[TO HARRIOT. Har. Dear madam! you had but a partial hearing of our conversation. It related entirely [Singing. Mrs Oak. What, am I made a jest of? Ex-to this gentleman. posed to all the world?-If there's law or jus-f tice Oak. Tol-de-rol loll-de-rol loll-de-rol loll! [Singing Mrs Oak. I shall burst with anger-Ilave a care, sir, you may repent this-Scorned and made ridiculous!-No power on earth shall hinder my revenge! [Going Har. [Interposing.] Stay, madam. Mrs Oak. Let me go. I cannot bear this place. Har. Let me beseech you, madam. [Apart. Cha. To put it beyond doubt, madam, Mr Russet and my guardian have consented to our marriage; and we are in hopes that you will not withhold your approbation. Mrs Oak. I have no further doubt-I see you are innocent, and it was cruel to suspect youYou have taken a load of anguish off my mind--and yet your kind interposition comes too late. Mr Oakly's love for me is entirely destroyed. Oak. I must go to her―― Maj. Not yet! -Not yet! [Weeping. [Apart. Apart. Har. Do not disturb yourself with such apMaj. Courage, brother! you have done won-prehensions. I am sure Mr Oakly loves you most ders. [Apart. Oak. I think she'll have no more fits. [Apart. Har. Stay, madam-Pray stay but one moment. I have been a painful witness of your uncasiness, and in great part the innocent occasion of it. Give me leave then-- Mrs Oak. I did not expect, indeed, to have found you here again. But, however Har. I see the agitation of your mind, and it makes me miserable. Suffer me to tell you the VOL. II. affectionately. Oak. I can hold no longer. [Going to her.] My affection for you, madam, is as warm as ever. Nothing can ever extinguish it. My constrained behaviour cut me to the soul-For, within these few hours, it has been all constrained—and it was with the utmost difficulty that I was able to support it. Mrs Oak. O, Mr Oakly, how have I exposed myself! What low arts has my jealousy induced 5 K me to practise! I see my folly, and fear that you can never forgive me. have had an admirable effect, and so don't be angry with your physician. Mrs Oak. I am indeed obliged to you, and I Oak. Forgive you ! -You are too good, my love!-Forgive you !-Can you forgive me?-feelThis change transports me Brother! Mr Russet! Charles! Harriot! give me joy!—I am the happiest man in the world. Maj. Joy, much joy to you both! though, by the by, you are not a little obliged to me for it. Did not I tell you I would cure all the disorders in your family? I beg pardon, sister, for taking the liberty to prescribe for you. My medicines have been somewhat rough, I believe, but they Oak. Nay, my dear, no more of this. All that's past must be utterly forgotten. Mrs Oak. I have not merited this kindness, but it shall, hereafter, be my study to deserve it. Away with all idle jealousies! And since my suspicions have hitherto been groundless, I am resolved for the future never to suspect at all. [Exeunt omnes. Scene-A garden belonging to SIR JOHN DORILANT's house in the country, with an arbour, garden-chairs, &c. SCENE I-A garden. ACT I. Enter ARAMINTA with an affected carelessness, and knotting; MODELY following. Mode. BUT, madam ! Ara. But, sir! what can possibly have alarmed you thus? You see me quite unconcerned. I only tell you in a plain, simple, narrative manner this plaguy thread)-and merely by way of conversation, that you are in love with Calia; and where is the mighty harm in all this? Mode. The harm in it, madam! have I not told you a thousand and a thousand times, that you were the only woman who could possibly make me happy? Ara. Why, aye, to be sure you have, and sworn a thousand and a thousand oaths to confirm that assertion. Mode. And am not I here now, expressly to marry you? Ara. Why, that, too, is true-but-you are in love with Cælia. Mode. Bless me, madam, what can I say to you? If it had not been for my attendance upon you, I had never known Cælia, or her mother either-though they are both my relations. The mother has since indeed put some kind of confidence in me-she is a widow, you know Ara. And wants consolation! The poor orphan, too, her daughter!-Well, charity is an excellent virtue. I never considered it in that light before. You are vastly charitable, Mr Modely. Mode. It is impossible to talk with you.—If you will not do me justice, do it to yourself, at least. Is there any comparison betwixt you and |