Mrs. Oak. My dear madam!--Mighty well!Oak. Hush!-hark!--what noise- -no-no thing. But I'll be plain with you, madam, we may be interrupted.--The family considerations I hinted at, is nothing else than my wife. She is a little unhappy in her temper, madam ;—and if you were to be admitted into the house, I don't know what would be the conse quence.

Mrs. Oak. Very fine!

Har. My behaviour, sir!

Oak. My dear life, it would be impossible for you to behave in such a manner, as not to give her suspicion. Har. But if your nephew, sir, took every thing upon himself

Oak. Still that would not do, madam!- Why, this very morning, when the letter came from your father, though I positively denied any knowledge of it, and Charles owned it, yet it was almost impossible to pacify her.

Har. What shall I do?-What will become of me? Oak. Why, lookye, my dear madam, since my wife is so strong an objection, it is absolutely impossible for me to take you into the house. Nay, if I had not known she was gone out, just before you came, I should be So we must uneasy at your being here, even now. manage as well as we can.—I'll take a private lodging for you a little way off, unknown to Charles, or my wife, or any body; and if Mrs. Oakly should discover it at last, why the whole matter will light upon Charles, you know.

Mrs. Oak. Upon Charles !

Har. How unhappy is my situation! [Weeping.] I am ruined for ever.

Oak. Ruined! Not at all. Such a thing as this has happened to many a young lady before you, and all has been well again--Keep up your spirits! I'll contrive, if I possibly can, to visit you every day.

Mrs. Oak. [Advancing.] Will you so? O, Mr. Oakly! have I discovered you at last? I'll visit you, indeed! And you, my dear madam, I'll

Har. Madam, I don't understand

Mrs. Oak. I understand the whole affair, and have understood it for some time past.-You shall have a private lodging, miss!It is the fittest place for you, I believe.- -How dare you look me in the face?

Oak. For Heaven's sake, my love, don't be so violent. -You are quite wrong in this affair-you don't know who you are a-talking to. This lady is a person of

fashion.

Mrs. Oak. Fine fashion, indeed! to seduce other women's husbands!

Har. Dear madam; how can you imagine

Oak. I tell you, my dear, this is the young lady that Charles

Mrs. Oak. Mighty well! but that won't do, sir!— Did not I hear you lay the whole intrigue together? Did not I hear your fine plot of throwing all the blame upon Charles?

Oak. Nay, be cool a moment.

-You must know, my dear, that the letter which came this morning related to this lady——

Mrs, Oak, I know it..

Oak. And since that, it seems, Charles has been so fortunate as to

Mrs. Oak. O, you deceitful man!- That trick is too stale to pass again with me.—— -It is plain now what you meant by your proposing to take her into the house this morning.- -But the gentlewoman could introduce herself, I see.

Oak. Fie! fie! my dear, she came on purpose to inquire for you.

Mrs. Oak. For me!--better and better!- -Did not she watch her opportunity, and come to you just as I went out? But I am obliged to you for your visit,

madam. It is sufficiently paid. Pray, don't let me detain you.

Oak. For shame! for shame! Mrs. Oakly! How can you be so absurd? Is this proper behaviour to a lady of her character?

Mrs. Oak. I have heard her character. Go, my fine runaway madam! Now you have eloped from your family, and run away from your aunt! Go!- -You sha'n't stay here, I promise you.

Oak. Pr'ythee, be quiet. You don't know what you are doing. She shall stay.

Mrs. Oak. She sha'n't stay a minute.

Oak. She shall stay a minute, an hour, a day, a week, a month, a year!- -'Sdeath, madam, she shall

stay for ever, if I choose it.

Mrs. Oak. How!

Har. For heaven's sake, sir, let me go.

I am

-She shall stay, I

Rus. [Within.] I tell you, sir, I will go up. I am sure the lady is here, and nothing shall hinder me.

Har. O, my father! my father!

[Faints away. Oak. See! she faints. [Catching her.]Ring the bell! Who's there?

Mrs. Oak. What! take her into your arms too!-I have no patience.

Enter RUSSET.

Rus. Where is this-ha! fainting! [Running to her.] 0, dear Harriet! my my child! my child! Oak. Your coming so abruptly shocked her spirits.

But she revives. How do you, madam?

Har. [To RUSSET.] O, sir!

Rus. O, my dear girl! how could

you

run away

from

your father, that loves you with such fondness!--But

I was sure I should find you

VOL. I.

here-

N

Mrs. Oak. There-there!-sure he should find her here! Did I not tell you so?Are not you a wicked man, to carry on such base, underhand doings, with a gentleman's daughter?

Rus. Let me tell you, sir, whatever you may think of the matter, I shall not easily put up with this behaviour. How durst you encourage my daughter to an elopement, and receive her in your house?

Mrs. Oak. There, mind that!

as the light.

Oak. I tell

-The thing is as plain

you, you misunderstand

Rus. Look you, Mr. Oakly, I shall expect satisfaction from your family for so gross an affront.

-Zounds, sir, I am not to be used ill by any man in England. Har. My dear sir, I can assure you——

Rus. Hold your tongue, girl! You'll put me in a passion.

Oak. Sir, this is all a mistake.

Rus. A mistake! Did not I find her in your house? Oak. Upon my soul, she has not been in my house above

Mrs. Oak. Did not I hear you say, you would take her a lodging, a private lodging?

Oak. Yes, but that

Rus. Has not this affair been carried on a long time in spite of my teeth?

Oak. Sir, I never troubled myself——

Mrs. Oak. Never troubled yourself!-Did not you insist on her staying in the house, whether I would or no?

Oak. No.

Rus. Did not you send to meet her, when she came to town?

Oak. No.

Mrs. Oak. Did not you deceive me about the letter this morning?

Mrs. Oak. Yes-yes-yes-I tell you, yes.
Rus. Sha'n't I believe my own eyes?

Mrs. Oak. Sha'n't I believe my own ears?
Oak. I tell you, you are both deceived.
Rus. Zounds, sir, I'll have satisfaction.

Mrs. Oak. I'll stop these fine doings, I warrant you. Oak. 'Sdeath, you will not let me speak-and you are both alike, I think.- -I wish you were married to

Mrs. Oak. Mighty well!, mighty well!

Rus. I shall soon find a time to talk with you.

Oak. Find a time to talk! you have talked enough now for all your lives.

Mrs. Oak. Very fine! Come along, sir! Leave that lady with her father. Now she is in the properest hands.

Oak. I wish I could leave you in his hands. [Going, returns.] One word with you, sir!--The height of your passion, and Mrs. Oakly's strange misapprehension of this whole affair, makes it impossible to explain matters to you at present, I will do it when you please, and how you please.

Rus. Yes, yes; I'll have satisfaction.- -So, madam! I have found you at last. -You have made a fine con

fusion here.

Har. I have, indeed, been the innocent cause of a great deal of confusion.

Rus. Innocent!--What business had you to be running hither after

Har. My dear sir, you misunderstand the whole affair. I have not been in this house half an hour.

Rus. Zounds, girl, don't put me in a passion!You know I love you- -but a lie puts me in a passion. But come along-we'll leave this house directly -[CHARLES, singing without.] Hey day! what now?