Lord T. You are a most impertinent scoundrel, and I'll whip you through the lungs, 'pon honour.

[They fight-HARRIET runs out, screaming, Help! &c.

Enter LADY FREELOVE, SIR HARRY BEAGLE, and SERVANTS.

Lady F. How's this?-Swords drawn in my house! -Part them- -[They are parted.] This is the most

impudent thing-

Lord T. Well, rascal, I shall find a time; I know you, sir!

too.

Charles. The sooner the better; I know your lordship

Sir H. I'faith, madam, [To LADY FREELOVE.] we had like to have been in at the death.

Lady F. What is all this? Pray, sir, what is the meaning of your coming hither, to raise this disturbance? Do you take my house for a brothel ? [TO CHARLES. Charles. Not I, indeed, madam; but I believe his lordship does.

Lord T. Impudent scoundrel!

Lady F. Your conversation, sir, is as insolent as your behaviour. Who are you? What brought you here?

Charles. I am one, madam, always ready to draw my sword in defence of innocence in distress, and more especially in the cause of that lady I delivered from his lordship's fury; in search of whom I troubled your ladyship's house.

Lady F. Her lover, I suppose; or what?

Charles. At your ladyship's service; though, not quite so violent in my passion as his lordship there. Lord T. Impertinent rascal!

Lady F. You shall be made to repent of this insolence.

Lord T. Your ladyship may leave that to me.

Charles. Ha ha!

Sir H. But, pray what is become of the lady all this while? Why, Lady Freelove, you told me she was not

here, and i'faith, I was just drawing off another way, if I had not heard the view-halloo.

Lady F. You shall see her immediately, sir! Who's there?

Enter a SERVANT.

Where is Miss Russet!

Serv. Gone out, madam.

Lady F. Gone out? Where?

Sero. I don't know, madam: but she ran down the back stairs, crying for help, crossed the servants' hall in tears, and took a chair at the door.

Lady F. Blockheads! to let her go out in a chair alone!-Go and inquire after her immediately. [Exit SERVANT. Sir H. Gone!-What a pox, had I just run her down, and is the little puss stole away at last?

Lady F. Sir, if you will walk in, [To SIR HARRY.] with his lordship and me, perhaps you may hear some tidings of her; though it is most probable, she may be gone to her father. I don't know any other friend she has in town.

Charles. I am heartily glad she is gone. She is safer any where than in this house.

Lady F. Mighty well, sir!-My lord, Sir Harry,-I attend you.

Lord T. You shall hear from me, sir! [To CHarles. Charles. Very well, my lord.

Sir H. Stole away!- -pox on't——stole away !

[Exeunt SIR HARRY and LORD Trinket. Lady F. Before I follow the company, give me leave to tell you, sir, that your behaviour here has been so extraordinary.

Charles. My treatment here, madam, has indeed been very extraordinary.

Lady F. Indeed!-Well, no matter-permit me to acquaint you, sir, that there lies your way out, and that

the greatest favour you can do me, is to leave the house immediately.

Charles. That your ladyship may depend on.

Since you have put Miss Russet to flight, you may be sure of not being troubled with my company. I'll after her immediately.

Lady F. If she has any regard for her reputation, she'll never put herself into such hands as yours.

Charles. O, madam, there can be no doubt of her regard for that, by her leaving your ladyship. Lady F. Leave my house.

Charles. Directly-A charming house! and a charming lady of the house too!-Ha! ha! ha!

Lady F. Vulgar fellow!

Charles. Fine lady!

[Exeunt severally.

ACT III.

Scene I-Lady Freelove's House.

Enter LADY FREELOVE, and LORD TRINKET.

Lord T. Doucement, doucement, my dear Lady Freelove! -Excuse me, I meant no harm, 'pon honour!

Lady F. Indeed, indeed, my Lord Trinket, this is absolutely intolerable! What, to offer rudeness to a young lady in my house! What will the world say of

it?

Lord T. Just what the world pleases.- -It does not signify a doit what they say. However, I ask pardon; but, egad, I thought it was the best way.-Devil take Sir Harry, and t'other scoundrel too!-That they should come driving hither just at so critical an instant!-And that the wild little thing should take wing, and fly away the lord knows whither!- -Pon honour, Lady Free

love, I can scarce believe this obstinate girl a relation of yours.

Lady F. Come, come, my lord, a truce with your reflections on my niece! Let us consider what is best to be done.-Will you submit to be governed by me, then?

Lord T. I'll be all obedience--your ladyship's slave, 'pon honour.

Lady F. Why then, as this is rather an ugly affair in regard to me, as well as your lordship, and may make some noise, I think it absolutely necessary, merely to save appearances, that you should wait on her father, palliate matters as well as you can, and make a formal repetition of your proposal of marriage.

Lord T. Your ladyship is perfectly in the right.You are quite au fait of the affair. It shall be done immediately, and then your reputation will be safe, and my conduct justified to all the world. But should the old rustic continue as stubborn as his daughter, your ladyship, I hope, has no objections to my being a little rusée, for I must have her, 'pon honour.

Lady F. Do what you will, I wash my hands of it. She's out of my care now, you know.-But you must beware your rivals. One, you know, is in the house with her, and the other will lose no opportunities of getting to her.

Lord T. As to the fighting gentleman, I shall cut out work for him in his own way. I'll send him a petit billet to-morrow morning, and then there can be no great difficulty in outwitting her bumpkin father, and the baronet.

Enter a SERVANT,

Serv. Captain O'Cutter, to wait on your ladyship. Lady F. O the hideous fellow! The Irish sailor-man, for whom I prevailed on your lordship to get the post of regulating captain. I suppose, he is come to load me

with his odious thanks. I won't be troubled with him

now.

He is the best

Lord T. Let him in, by all means. creature to laugh at in nature. He is a perfect sea monster, and always looks and talks as if he was upon deck. Besides, a thought strikes me▬▬ -He may be of

use.

Lady F. Well-send the creature up then. [Exit SERVANT.] But what fine thought is this?

Lord T. A coup de maitre, 'pon honour! I intendbut, hush! here the porpus comes.

Enter CAPTAIN O'CUTTER.

Lady F. Captain, your humble servant! I am very glad to see you.

O'Cut. I am much obliged to you, my lady! Upon my conscience, the wind favours me at all points. I had no sooner got under way, to tank your ladyship, but I have borne down upon my noble friend his lordship too. I hope your lordship's well?

Lord T. Very well, I thank you, Captain!-But you seem to be hurt in the service: what is the meaning of that patch over your right eye?

O'Cut. Some advanced wages from my new post, my lord! This pressing is hot work, though it entitles us to smart money.

Lady F. And pray, in what perilous adventure did you get that scar, Captain?

O'Cut. Quite out of my element, indeed, my lady. I got it in an engagement by land. A day or two ago, I 'spied three stout fellows, belonging to a merchantman. They made down Wapping. I immediately gave my lads the signal to chase, and we bore down right upon them. They tacked, and lay to-We gave them a thundering broadside, which they resaved like men; and one of them made use of small arms, which carried off the weathermost corner of Ned Gage's hat; so I