remember, Sir, it is not above a month ago, you affured us of a confpiracy among the bakers, to poifon us in our bread; and fo kept the whole family a week upon potatoes.

CROAKER.

And potatoes were too good for them. But why do I ftand talking here with a girl, when I should be facing the enemy without? Here, John, Nicodemus, fearch the house. Look into the cellars, to fee if there be any combuftibles below; and above, in the apartments, that no matches be thrown in at the windows. Let all the fires be put out, and let the engine be drawn out in the yard, to play upon the house in cafe of neceflity. [Exit.

Mifs RICHLAND, alone.

What can he mean by all this? Yet, why fhould I inquire, when he alarms us in this manner almost every day! But Honeywood has defired an interview with me in private. What can he mean? or, rather, what means this palpitation at his approach? It is the first time he ever fhewed any thing in his conduct that feemed particular. Sure he cannot

mean to

-but he's here.

Enter HONEYWOOD.

HONEYWOOD.

I prefumed to folicit this interview, madam, before I left town, to be permitted

Mifs RICHLAND.

Indeed! Leaving town, Sir ?—

HONEYWOOD.

Yes, madam; perhaps the kingdom. I have prefumed, I fay, to defire the favour of this interview, -in order to difclofe fomething which our long friendship prompts. And yet my fears

Mifs RICHLAND.

His fears! What are his fears to mine? (Afide.) We have indeed been long acquainted, Sir; very long. If I remember, our first meeting was at the French ambaffador's.-Do you recollect how you were pleased to rally me upon my complexion there?

HONEYWOOD.

Perfectly, madam: I prefumed to reprove you for painting but your warmer blushes foon convinced the company, that the colouring was all from

nature.

Mifs RICHLAND.

And yet you only meant it, in your good-natured way, to make me pay a compliment to myfelf. In the fame manner you danced that night with the most aukward woman in company, because you saw nobody else would take her out.

HONEYWOOD.

Yes; and was rewarded the next night, by dancing with the finest woman in company, whom every body wished to take out,

Mifs RICHLAND.

Well, Sir, if you thought fo then, I fear your judgment has fince corrected the errors of a first impreffion. We generally fhew to most advantage at firft. Our fex are like poor tradesmen, that put all their best goods to be feen at the windows,

me.

HONEYWOOD.

The first impreffion, madam, did indeed deceive I expected to find a woman with all the faults of conscious flattered beauty. I expected to find her vain and infolent. But every day has fince taught me that it is poffible to poffefs fense without pride, and beauty without affectation.

Mifs RICHLAND,

This, Sir, is a ftyle very unufual with Mr. Honeywood; and I should be glad to know why he thus attempts to encrease that vanity, which his own leffons have taught me to defpife,

HONEYWOOD.

I afk pardon, madam. Yet, from our long friendfhip, I prefumed I might have fome right to offer, without offence, what you may refufe without offending.

Mifs RICHLAND.

Sir! I beg you'd reflect; though, I fear, I fhall fcarce have any power to refufe a request of yours; yet you may be precipitate: confider, Sir.

HONEYWood.

I own my rafhnefs; but, as I plead the cause of friendship, of one who loves-Don't be alarmed, madam

madam-who loves you with the most ardent paffion, whose whole happiness is placed in you

Mifs RICHLAND.

I fear, Sir, I fhall never find whom you mean, by this description of him.

HONEYWOOD.

Ah, madam, it but too plainly points him out; though he should be too humble himself to urge his pretenfions, or you too modeft to understand them. Mifs RICHLAND.

Well; it would be affectation any longer to pretend ignorance; and I will own, Sir, I have long been prejudiced in his favour. It was but natural to wish to make his heart mine, as he feemed himfelf ignorant of its value.

HONEYWOOD.

I fee fhe always loved him. (Afide.) I find, mas dam, you're already fenfible of his worth, his paffion. How happy is my friend, to be the favourite of one with fuch sense to distinguish merit, and such beauty to reward it.

Mifs RICHLAND.

Your friend, Sir! What friend?

HONEYWOOD.

My best friend-my friend Mr. Lofty, madam. Mifs RICHLAND.

He, Sir!

HONEYWOOD.

Yes, he, madam. He is, indeed, what your warmest wishes might have formed him.

And to

his other qualities, he adds that of the moft paffionate regard for you.

Mifs RICHLAND.

Amazement!-No more of this, I beg you, Sir. HONEYWOOD.

I fee your confusion, madam, and know how to interpret it. And, fince I fo plainly read the language of your heart, fhall I make my friend happy, by communicating your fentiments?

By no means.

Mifs RICHLAND.

HONEYWOOD.

Excufe me; I muft; I know you defire it.

Mifs RICHLAND.

Mr. Honeywood, let me tell

you, that

you wrong my fentiments and yourself. When I firft applied to your friendship, I expected advice and affiftance; but, now, Sir, I fee that it is vain to expect hap↓ piness from him, who has been fo bad an œconomist of his own; and that I must disclaim his friendship, who ceases to be a friend to himself.

HONEYWOOD.

[Exit.

How is this! he has confeffed she loved him, and yet she seemed to part in displeasure. Can I have done any thing to reproach myfelf with? No: I believe not yet, after all, these things should not be done by a third perfon; I fhould have fpared her confufion. My friendship carried me a little too

far.

Enter