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Lady G. Oh, I see them! I see them go by me. Ha! ha! [Laughing.

Moody. Then you mun think, measter, there was some stowage for the belly, as well as the back too; children are apt to be famished upon the road; so we had such cargoes of plum-cake, and baskets of tongues, and biscuits, and cheese, and cold boiled beef--And then, in case of sickness, bottles of cherry brandy, plague water, sack, tent, and strong beer so plenty, as made th' awld coach crack again. Mercy upon them! and send them all well to town, I say. Manly. Ay, and well out on't again, John.

Moody. Ods bud, measter! you're a wise man; and for that matter, so am I- Whoam's whoam, I say: I am sure we ha' got but little good e'er sin we turned our backs on't. Nothing but mischief! Some devil's trick or other plagued us aw the day lung. Crack, goes one thing! bawnce, goes another! Woa! says Roger-Then, sowse! we are all set fast in a slough. Whaw, cries miss! Scream, go the maids! and bawl, just as tho'f they were stuck. And so, mercy on us! this was the trade from morning to night. But my lady was in such a murrain haste to be here, that set out she would, tho'f I told her it was Childermas day. Manly. These ladies, these ladies, John-

Moody. Ay, measter! I ha' seen a little of them: and I find that the best-when she's mended, won't" ha much goodness to spare.

Lord T. Well said, John-Ha! ha!

Manly. I hope, at least, you and your good woman agree still.

Moody. Ay, ay, much of a muchness.

Bridget

sticks to me; tho' as for her goodness-why, she was willing to come to London, too-But, hauld a bit! Noa, noa, says I; there may be mischief enough done without you.

Manly. Why, that was bravely spoken, John, and like a man.

Moody. Ah, weast heart! were measter but hawf the mon that I am-Ods wookers! thof' he'll speak · stautly too, sometimes-But then he canno' hawld itno, he canno' hawld it.

Lord T.

Lady G.
Manly.

Ha! ha! ha!

Moody. Ods flesh! but I mun hie me whoam; the coach will be coming every hour naw▬▬ but measter charged me to find your worship out; for he has hugey business with you; and will certainly wait upon you, by that time he can put on a clean neckcloth. Manly. Oh, John, I'll wait upon him!

Moody. Why, you wonno' be so kind, wull ye?
Manly. If you'll tell me where you lodge.

Moody. Just i' the street next to where your worship dwells, at the sign of the golden ball-It's gold all over; where they sell ribbons and flappits, and other sort of geer for gentlewomen.

Manly. A milliner's?

Moody. Ay, ay, one Mrs. Motherly. Waunds, she has a couple of clever girls there, stitching i'th' fore

room.

Manly. Yes, yes, she's a woman of good business, no doubt on't-Who recommended that house to you, John?

Moody. The greatest good fortune in the world, sure; for, as I was gaping about the streets, who should look out of the window there, but the fine gentleman, that was always riding by our coach side at York races- -Count- -Basset; aye, that's he. Manly. Basset! Oh, I remember; I know him by sight.

to

Moody. Well, to be sure, as civil a gentleman to see

Manly. As any sharper in town.

Moody. Well, measter——

[Aside.

Lord T. My service to Sir Francis, and my lady, John.

Lady G. And mine, pray, Mr. Moody.

Moody. Ay, your honours; they'll be proud on't, I dare say.

Manly. I'll bring my compliments myself: so, honest John

Moody. Dear Measter Manly! the goodness of goodness bless and preserve you!

Lord T. What a natural creature 'tis !

[Exit.

Lady G. Well, I can't but think John, in a wet afternoon, in the country, must be very good com

pany.

Lord T. Oh, the tramontane! If this were known at half the quadrille tables in town, they would lay down their cards, to laugh at you.

Lady G. And the minute they took them up again, they would do the same at the losers-But, to let you see that I think good company may sometimes want cards to keep them together, what think you, if we three sat soberly down to kill an hour at ombre?

Manly. I shall be too hard for you, madam.

Lady G. No matter; I shall have as much advantage of my lord, as you have of me.

Lord T. Say you so, madam? have at you then. Here! get the ombre table and cards. [Exit. Lady G. Come, Mr. Manly-I know you don't forgive me now.

Manly. I don't know whether I ought to forgive your thinking so, madam. Where do you imagine I could pass my time so agreeably?

Lady G. I'm sorry my lord is not here to take his share of the compliment-But he'll wonder what's become of us. [Exit. Manly. It must be so-She sees I love her-yet with

what unoffending decency she avoids an explanation ! How amiable is every hour of her conduct! What a vile opinion have I had of the whole sex for these ten years past, which this sensible creature has recovered in less than one! Such a companion, sure, might compensate all the irksome disappointment that folly and falsehood ever gave me!

Could women regulate, like her, their lives,
What halcyon days were in the gift of wives;
Vain rovers, then, might envy what they hate;
And only fools would mock the married state.

[Exit.

ACT II.

Scene I.-Mrs. Motherly's House.

Enter MRS. MOTHERLY and COUNT BASSET.

Count B. I tell you, there is not such a family in England for think I would have gone you. Do you out of your lodgings for any body that was not sure to make you easy for the winter?

Mrs. M. Nay, I see nothing against it, sir, but the gentleman's being a parliament man; and when people may, as it were, think one impertinent, or be out of humour, you know, when a body comes to ask for one's

own

Count B. Psha! Pr'ythee, never trouble thy head; his pay is as good as the bank-Why, he has above two thousand a year.

Mrs. M. Alas-a-day, that's nothing! your people of ten thousand a year have ten thousand things to do with it.

Count B. Nay, if you are afraid of being out of your money, what do you think of going a little with me, Mrs. Motherly?

Mrs. M. As how?

Count B. Why, I have a game in my hand, in which, if you'll help me to play it, you shall go five hundred to nothing.

Mrs. M. Say you so?-Why, then I now, pray let's see your game.

go, sir-aud

Count B. In one word, my cards lieth us- -When I was down this summer at York, I happened to lodge in the same house with this knight's lady, that's now coming to lodge with you.

Mrs. M. Is this your game? I would not give sixpence for it. What, you have a passion for her pinmoney!-No, no, country ladies are not so flush of it! Is this your way of making my poor niece, Myrtilla, easy ?-Had you not a letter from her this morn

ing?

Count B. I have it here in my pocket-this is it. [Shows it, and puts it up again. Mrs. M. Aye, but I don't find you have made any answer to it.

Count B. How the devil can I, if you won't hear me! You must know, this country knight and his lady bring up with them their eldest son and a daughter

Mrs. M. Well

Count B. The son is an unlicked whelp, about sixteen, just taken from school, and begins to hanker after every wench in the family; now, him we must secure for Myrtilla. The daughter, much of the same age; a pert hussy, who, having eight thousand pounds left her by an old doting grandmother, seems to have a devilish mind to be busy in her way too-Now, what do you say

to me?'

Mrs. M. Say! why, I shall not sleep for thinking of

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