LEONTINE. But, Sir, I must beg leave to infift CROAKER. Get off, you puppy, or I'll beg leave to infift upon knocking you down. Stupid whelp! But I don't wonder, the boy takes entirely after his mother [Exeunt Mifs Rich. and Leont. Enter Mrs. CROAKER. Mrs. CROAKER. Mr. Croaker, I bring you fomething, my dear, that I believe will make you fmile. CROAKER. I'll hold you a guinea of that, my dear. A letter; and, as I knew the hand, I ventur'd to open it. CROAKER. And how can you expect your breaking open my letters fhould give me pleasure ? Mrs. CROAKER. Poo, it's from your fifter at Lyons, and contains good news: read it. CROAKER. What a Frenchified cover is here! That fifter of mine has fome good qualities, but I could never teach her to fold a letter. Mrs. CROAKER. Fold a fiddlestick. Read what it contains. CROAKER. CROAKER, reading. "DEAR NICK, "AN English gentleman, of large fortune, has "for fome time made private, though honourable "propofals to your daughter Olivia. They love "each other tenderly, and I find she has confented, "without letting any of the family know, to crown "his addreffes. As fuch good offers don't come "every day, your own good fenfe, his large fortune, "and family confiderations, will induce you to for"give her. "Yours ever, "RACHAEL CROAKER." My daughter, Olivia, privately contracted to a man of large fortune! This is good news, indeed. My heart never foretold me of this. And yet, how flily the little baggage has carried it since she came home. Not a word on't to the old ones for the world. Yet, I thought, I faw fomething fhe wanted to conceal. Mrs. CROAKER. Well, if they have concealed their amour, they fhan't conceal their wedding; that shall be public, I'm refolved. CROAKER. I tell thee, woman, the wedding is the most foolish part of the ceremony. I can never get this woman to think of the more ferious part of the nuptial engagement. D 2 Mrs. • Mrs. CROAKER. What, would you have me think of their funeral? But come, tell me, my dear, don't you owe more to me than you care to confefs? Would you have ever been known to Mr. Lofty, who has undertaken Mifs Richland's claim at the treasury, but for me? Who was it first made him an acquaintance at lady Shabbaroon's rout? Who got him to promise us his intereft? Is not he a back-stairs favourite, one that can do what he pleases with those that do what they pleafe? Is not he an acquaintance that all your groaning and lamentations could never have got us? CROAKER. He is a man of importance, grant you. And yet, what amazes me is, that while he is giving away places to all the world, he can't get one for himself. Mrs. CROAKER. That perhaps may be owing to his nicety. Great men are not eafily fatisfied. giving four five inftruction, read two three memorial, call upon von ambaffadeur. He vil be vid you in one tree minutes. Mrs. Mrs. CROAKER. Was You fee now, my dear. What an extenfive department! Well, friend, let your mafter know, that we are extremely honoured by this honour. there any thing ever in a higher ftyle of breeding! All meffages among the great are now done by exprefs. CROAKER. To be fure, no man does little things with more folemnity, or claims more refpect than he. But he's in the right on't. In our bad world, respect is given, where respect is claim'd. Mrs. CROAKER. Never mind the world, my dear; you were never in a pleasanter place in your life. Let us now think of receiving him with proper refpect (a loud rapping at the door) and there he is by the thundering rap. CROAKER. Ay, verily, there he is; as close upon the heels of his own exprefs, as an indorsement upon the back of a bill. Well, I'll leave you to receive him, whilft I go to chide my little Olivia for intending to steal a marriage without mine, or her aunt's confent. I must seem to be angry, or she too may gin to defpife my authority. be [Exit. Enter LOFTY, fpeaking to his Servant. LOFTY. "And if the Venetian ambaffador, or that teazing creature the marquis, fhould call, I'm not at home. Dam'me, I'll be pack-horse to none of them." My dear madam, I have juft fnatched a moment—“ And if the expreffes to his grace be ready, let them be fent off; they're of importance." Madam, I afk a thoufand pardons. Mrs. CROAKER. Sir, this honour LOFTY. “And Dubardieu! if the person calls about the commiffion, let him know that it is made out. As for lord Cumbercourt's ftale requeft, it can keep cold you understand me." Madam, I ask ten thoufand pardons. Mrs. CROAKER, Sir, this honour LOFTY. .. And, Dubardieu! if the man comes from the Cornish borough, you must do him; you must do him, I fay." Madam, I ask ten thousand pardons. "And if the Ruffian-ambassador calls: but he will fcarce call to-day, I believe." And now, madam, I have just got time to exprefs my happiness in having the honour of being permitted to profefs myself your moit obedient humble servant, Mrs, |