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Lady G. Pray, Mr. Manly, don't I know him? Manly. You have dined with him, madam, when I was last down with my lord, at Bellmont.

Lady G. Was not that he, that got a little merry before dinner, and overset the tea-table in making his compliments to my lady?

Manly. The same.

Lady G. Pray what are his circumstances? I know but very little of him.

Manly. Then he is worth your knowing, I can tell you, madam. His estate, if clear, I believe, might be a good two thousand pounds a year; though, as it was left him saddled with two jointures, and two weighty mortgages upon it, there is no saying what it is-But that he might be sure never to mend it, he married a profuse young hussy, for love, without a penny of money. Thus, having, like his brave ancestors, provided heirs for the family (for his dove breeds like a tame pigeon), he now finds children and interest-money make such a bawling about his ears, that at last he has taken the friendly advice of his kinsman, the good Lord Danglecourt, to run his estate two thousand pounds more in debt, to put the whole management of what is left into Paul Pillage's hands, that he may be at leisure himself to retrieve his affairs, by being a parliament

man.

Lord T. A most admirable scheme, indeed!

Manly. And with this politic prospect, he is now upon his journey to London

Lord T. What can it end in?

Manly. Pooh! a journey into the country again. Lord T. Do you think he'll stir, till his money is gone; or, at least, till the session is over?

Manly. If my intelligence is right, my lord, he won't sit long enough to give his vote for a turnpike.

Lord T. How so?

Manly. Oh, a bitter business; he had scarce a vote

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in the whole town, besides the returning officer. Sir John will certainly have it heard at the bar of the house, and send him about his business again.

Lord T. Then he has made a fine business of it indeed.

Manly. Which, as far as my little interest will go, shall be done in as few days as possible.

Lady G. But why would you ruin the poor gentleman's fortune, Mr. Manly?

Manly. No, madam; I would only spoil his project to save his fortune.

Lady G. How are you concerned enough to do either?

Manly. Why I have some obligations to the family, madam: I enjoy, at this time, a pretty estate, which Sir Francis was heir at law to: but-by his being a booby, the last will of an obstinate old uncle gave it to me.

Enter WILLIAMS.

your ser

Williams. [To MANLY.] Sir, here is one of vants, from your house, desires to speak with you. Manly. Will you give him leave to come in, my lord ?

Lord T. Sir-the ceremony's of your own making. [Exit WILLIAMS.

Enter JAMES.

Manly. Well, James, what's the matter?

James. Sir, here is John Moody just come to town: he says Sir Francis, and all the family, will be here tonight, and is in a great hurry to speak with you. Manly. Where is he?

James. At our house, sir: he has been gaping and stumping about the streets, in his dirty boots, and asking every one he meets, if they can tell him where he may have a good lodging for a parliament man, till he

can hire a handsome whole house, fit for all his family, for the winter.

Manly. I am afraid, my lord, I must wait upon Mr. Moody.

Lord T. Pr'ythee let us have him here; he will divert us.

Manly. Oh, my lord, he's such a cub! Not but he's so near common sense, that he passes for a wit in the family.

Lady G. I beg, of all things, we may have him: I am in love with nature, let her dress be never so homely.

Manly. Then desire him to come hither, James.

[Exit JAMES. Lady G. Pray what may be Mr. Moody's post? Manly. Oh! his maître d' hotel, his butler, his bailiff, his hind, his huntsman, and sometimes--his companion.

Lord T. It runs in my head, that the moment this knight has set him down in the house, he will get up, to give them the earliest proof of what importance he is to the public in his own county.

Manly. Yes, and when they have heard him, he will find, that his utmost importance stands valued atsometimes being invited to dinner.

Lady G. And her ladyship, I suppose, will make as considerable a figure in her sphere, too?

Manly. That you may depend upon: for (if I don't mistake) she has ten times more of the jade in her than she yet knows of: and she will so improve in this rich soil in a month, that she will visit all the ladies that will let her into their houses; and run in debt to all the shopkeepers that will let her into their books: in short, before her important spouse had made five pounds by his eloquence at Westminster, she will have lost five hundred at dice and quadrille in the parish of St. James's.

Lord T. So that, by that time he is declared unduly elected, a swarm of duns will be ready for their money; and his worship-will be ready for a gaol.

Manly. Yes, yes, that I reckon will close the account of this hopeful journey to London-But see, here comes the fore-horse of the team!

Oh, honest John!

Enter JOHN MOODY.

Moody. Ad's waunds and heart, Measter Manly! I'm glad I ha' fun ye. Lawd, lawd, give me your hand! Why, that's friendly naw. Flesh! I thought we would never ha' got hither. Well, and how do you do, measter?-Good lack! I beg pardon for my bawldness--I did not see 'at his honour was here.

Lord T. Mr. Moody, your servant: I am glad to see you in London: I hope all the good family is well.

Moody. Thanks be praised, your honour, they are all in pretty good heart; tho'f we have had a power of crosses upo' the road.

Lady G. I hope my lady has had no hurt, Mr. Moody.

Moody. Noa, and please your ladyship, she was never in better humour: there's money enough stirring

now.

Manly. What has been the matter, John?

Moody. Why, we came up in such a hurry, you mun think that our tackle was not so tight as it should be.

Manly. Come, tell us all.

Lord T. Come, let us sit down.
Manly. Pray how do they travel?

[They take chairs.

Moody. Why, i'the awld coach, measter; and 'cause my lady loves to do things handsom, to be sure, she would have a couple of cart-horses clapped to the four old geldings, that neighbours might see she went up to

London in her coach and six; and so Giles Joulter, the ploughman, rides postillion..

Manly. Very well! The journey sets out as it should do. [Aside] What, do they bring all the children with

them too?

Moody. Noa, noa, only the younk. 'squoire, and Miss Jenny. The other foive are all out at board, at half a crown a head, a week, with John Growse, at Smokedung-hill farm.

Manly. Good again! a right English academy for younger children! Moody. Anon, sir.

[Not understanding him.

Lord T. And when do you expect them here, John? Moody. Why, we were in hopes to ha' come yesterday, an it had no' been that th' awld weazlebelly horse tired and then we were so cruelly loaden, that the two fore wheels came crash down at once, in Waggonrut-lane, and there we lost four hours 'fore we could set things to rights again.

Manly. So they bring all the baggage with the coach

then?

Moody. Ay, ay, and good store on it there is-Why, my lady's geer alone were as much as filled four portmantel trunks, beside the great deal box that heavy Ralph and the monkey sit upon behind.

Lord T. Lady G. Manly..

Ha ha! ha!

Lady G. Well, Mr. Moody, and pray how many are they within the coach?

Moody. Why there's my lady, and his worship; and the younk 'squoire, and Miss Jenny, and the fat lapdog, and my lady's maid, Mrs. Handy, and Doll Tripe the cook, that's all-Only Doll puked a little with riding backward; so they hoisted her into the coach-box, and then her stomach was easy.

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