Lord T. Madam, if you were to win ten thousand, it would be no satisfaction to me.

what! not so

-Ten thou

Lady T. Oh, the churl! ten thousand much as wish I might win ten thousand! sand! Oh, the charming sum! what infinite pretty things might a woman of spirit do with ten thousand guineas! O' my conscience, if she were a woman of true spirit,-she-she might lose them all again.

Lord T. And I had rather it should be so, madam, provided I could be sure, that were the last you would lose.

Lady T. Well, my lord, to let you see I design to play all the good housewife I can; I am now going to a party at quadrille, only to trifle with a little of it, at poor two guineas a fish, with the Duchess of Quiteright. [Exit.

Lord T. Insensible creature! neither reproaches nor indulgence, kindness nor severity, can wake her to the least reflection! Continual licence has lull'd her into such a lethargy of care, that she speaks of her excesses with the same easy confidence, as if they were so many virtues. What a turn has her head taken!-But how to cure it take my friend's opinion-Manly will speak freely-my sister with tenderness to both sides. They know my case- -I'll talk with them.

Enter WILLIAMS.

Wil. Mr. Manly, my lord, has sent to know if your lordship was at home.

Lord T. They did not deny me?

Wil. No, my lord.

Lord T. Very well; step up to my sister, and say,

I desire to speak with her.

Wil. Lady Grace is here, my lord.

[Exit.

Enter Lady GRAce.

Lord T. So, lady fair; what pretty weapon have you been killing your time with?

Lady G. A huge folio, that has almost killed me—I think I have half read my eyes out.

Lord T. Oh! you should not pore so much just after dinner, child.

Lady G. That's true; but any body's thoughts are better than always one's own, you know.

Lord T. Who's there?

Enter WILLIAMS.

Leave word at the door, I am at home to nobody but Mr. Manly. [Exit WILLIAMS. Lady G. And why is he excepted, pray, my lord? Lord T. I hope, madam, you have no objection to his company?

Lady G. Your particular orders, upon my being here, look, indeed, as if you thought I had not.

Lord T. And your ladyship's inquiry into the reason of those orders, shows, at least, it was not a matter indifferent to you.

Lady G. Lord, you make the oddest constructions, brother!

Lord T. Look you, my grave Lady Grace-in one serious word-I wish you had him.

Lady G. I can't help that.

Lord T. Ha! you can't help it, ha ha! The flat simplicity of that reply was admirable.

Lady G. Pooh, you tease one, brother!

Lord T. Come, I beg pardon, child-this is not a point, I grant you, to trifle upon; therefore, I hope you'll give me leave to be serious.

Lady G. If you desire it, brother, though, upon my word, as to Mr. Manly's having any serious thoughts of me I know nothing of it.

Lord T. Well-there's nothing wrong in your making a doubt of it-But, in short, I find by his conversation of late, he has been looking round the world for a wife; and if you were to look round the world for a husband, he is the first man I would give to you.

Lady G. Then, whenever he makes me any offer, brother, I will certainly tell you of it.

Lord T. Oh, that's the last thing he'll do! he'll never make you an offer, till he's pretty sure it won't be refused.

Lady G. Now you make me curious. Pray, did he ever make any offer of that kind to you?

Lord T. Not directly-but that imports nothing; he is a man too well acquainted with the female world to be brought into a high opinion of any one woman, without some well-examined proof of her merit; yet I have reason to believe, that your good sense, your turn of mind, and your way of life, have brought him to so favourable a one of you, that a few days will reduce him to talk plainly to me: which, as yet, notwithstanding our friendship, I have neither declined, nor encouraged him to.

Lady G. I am mighty glad we are so near in our way of thinking; for, to tell you the truth, he is much upon the same terms with me; you know he has a satirical turn, but never lashes any folly, without giving due encomiums to its opposite virtue. and, upon such occasions, he is sometimes particular, in turning his compliments upon me, which I don't receive with any reserve, lest he should imagine I take them to myself.

Lord T. You are right, child; when a man of merit makes his addresses, good sense may give him an answer, without scorn or coquetry.

Lady G. Hush! he's here—

Enter MR. MANLY.

Manly. My lord, your most obedient.

Lord T. Dear Manly, yours-I was thinking to send

to you.

Manly. Then I am glad I am here, my lord-Lady Grace, I kiss your hands-What, only you two!-How many visits may a man make, before he falls into such unfashionable company! A brother and sister, soberly sitting at home, when the whole town is a gadding; I question if there is so particular a tête à téte again, in the whole parish of St. James's.

Lady G. Fie, fie, Mr. Manly, how censorious you are!

Manly. I had not made the reflection, madam, but that I saw you an exception to it—Where's my lady? Lord T. That, I believe, is impossible to guess. Manly. Then I won't try, my lord.

Lord T. But, 'tis probable, I may hear of her by that time I have been four or five hours in bed.

Manly. Now, if that were my case-I believe I— But I beg pardon, my lord.

me

Lord T. Indeed, sir, you shall not: you will oblige if you speak out, for it was upon this head I wanted

to see you.

Manly. Why, then, my lord, since you oblige me to proceed-I have often thought that the misconduct of my lady has, in a great measure, been owing to your lordship's treatment of her.

Lady G. Bless me!
Lord T. My treatment!

Manly. Ay, my lord; you so idolized her before marriage, that you even indulged her like a mistress after it in short, you continued the lover, when you should have taken up the husband; and so, by giving her more power than was needful, she has none where

she wants it; having such entire possession of you, she is not mistress of herself.-And, mercy on us! how many fine women's heads have been turned upon the

same occasion!

Lord T. Oh, Manly, 'tis too true! there's the source of my disquiet; she knows, and has abused her

power.

Manly. However, since you have had so much patience, my lord, even go on with it a day or two more; and upon her ladyship's next sally, be a little rounder in your expostulations: if that don't work-drop her some cool hints of a determined reformation, and leave her- -to breakfast upon them.

Lord T. You are perfectly right. How valuable is a friend, in our anxiety!

Manly. Therefore, to divert that, my lord, I beg, for the present, we may call another cause.

Lady G. Ay, for goodness' sake, let us have done with this.

Lord T. With all my heart.

Lady G. Have you no news abroad, Mr. Manly? Manly. Apropos-I have some, madam; and I believe, my lord, as extraordinary in its kind

Lord T. Pray, let us have it.

Manly. Do you know that your country neighbour, and my wise kinsman, Sir Francis Wronghead, is coming to town, with his whole family?

Lord T. The fool! what can be his business here? Manly. Oh! of the last importance, I'll assure you -No less than the business of the nation.

Lord T. Explain.

Manly. He has carried his election-against Sir John Worthland.

Lord T. The deuce! What! for-for

Manly. The famous borough of Guzzledown.
Lord T. A proper representative, indeed!