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Hard. I must insist, sir, you'll make yourself easy on that head.

Mar. You see I'm resolved on it. [Aside.] A very troublesome fellow this, as ever I met with.

Hard. Well, sir, I'm resolved at least to attend you. [Aside.] This may be modern modesty, but I never saw anything look so like old-fashioned impudence.

[Exeunt Marlow and Hardcastle, R. Hast. So, I find this fellow's civilities begin to grow troublesome. But who can be angry at those assiduities which are meant to please him? Ha! what do I see! Miss Neville, by all that's happy!

Enter Miss NEVILLE, L.

Miss N. My dear Hastings! To what unexpected good fortune, to what accident, am I to ascribe this happy meeting?

Hast. Let me ask the same question, as I could never have hoped to meet my dearest Constance at an inn.

Miss N. An inn! you mistake; my aunt, my guardian, lives here. What could induce you to think this house an inn ?

A

Hast. My friend, Mr. Marlow, with whom I came down, and I, have been sent here as to an inn, I assure you. young fellow, whom we accidentally met at a house hard by, directed us hither.

Miss N. Certainly it must be one of my hopeful cousin's tricks, of whom you have heard me talk so often; ha ha ha! ha!

Hast. He whom your aunt intends for you? He of whom I have such just apprehensions?

Miss N. You have nothing to fear from him, I assure you. You'd adore him if you knew how heartily he despises me. My aunt knows it too, and has undertaken to court me for him, and actually begins to think she has made a conquest.

Hast. You must know, my Constance, I have just seized this happy opportunity of my friend's visit here, to get admittance into the family. The horses that carried us down are now fatigued with the journey, but they'll soon be refreshed; and then, if my dearest girl will trust

to her faithful Hastings, we shall soon be out of their power.

Miss N. I have often told you, that though ready to obey you, I yet should leave my little fortune behind with reluctance. The greatest part of it was left me by my uncle, the India director, and chiefly consists in jewels. I have been for some time persuading my aunt to let me wear them. I fancy I'm very near succeeding. The instant they are put into my possession you shall find me ready to make them and myself yours.

Hast. Perish the baubles! Your person is all I desire. In the meantime, my friend Marlow must not be let into his mistake. I know the strange reserve of his temper is such, that if abruptly informed of it, he would instantly quit the house before our plan was ripe for execution.

Miss N. But how shall we keep him in the deception? Miss Hardcastle is just returned from walking; what if we persuade him she has come to this house as to an inn? Come this way. [They confer.

Enter MARLOW, R.

Mar. The assiduities of these good people teaze me beyond bearing. My host seems to think it ill manners to leave me alone, and so he claps not only himself but his old-fashioned wife on my back. They talk of coming to sup with us too; and then, I suppose, we are to run the gauntlet through all the rest of the family-What have we got here?

Hast. My dear Charles! Let me congratulate youthe most fortunate accident! Who do you think is just alighted.

Miss Hardcastle and Miss introduce Miss Constance

Mar. Cannot guess. Hast. Our mistresses, boy; Neville. Give me leave to Neville to your acquaintance. Happening to dine in the neighborhood, they called on their return to take fresh horses here. Miss Hardcastle has just stepped into the next room, and will be back in an instant. Wasn't it lucky, eh?

Mar. [Aside.] I have just been mortified enough of all

conscience, and here comes something to complete my embarrassment.

Hast. Well, but wasn't it the most fortunate thing in the world?

Mar. Oh, yes, very fortunate—a most joyful encounter! But our dresses, George, you know, are in disorder.— What if we should postpone the happiness till to-morrow? -To-morrow at her own house. It will be every bit as convenient, and rather more respectful. To-morrow let it be. [Offering to go.

Miss N. By no means, sir. Your ceremony will displease her. The disorder of your dress will show the ardor of your impatience. Besides, she knows you are in the house, and will permit you to see her.

Mar. Oh, the devil she will! How shall I support it? Hem! hem! Hastings, you must not go. You are to assist me, you know. I shall be confoundedly ridiculous. Hast. Pshaw, man! it's but the first plunge, and all's over. She's but a woman, you know.

Mar. And of all women, she that I most dread to en

counter.

Enter MISS HARDCASTLE, as returning from walking, with a bonnet, &c.

Hast. [Introducing him.] Miss Hardcastle, Mr. Marlow. I'm proud of bringing two persons of such merit together, that only want to know, to esteem each other.

Miss H. [Aside.] Now for meeting my modest gentleman. [After a pause, in which he appears very uneasy and disconcerted.] I'm glad of your safe arrival, sir. I'm told you had some accidents by the way.

Mar. Only a few, madam.-Yes, we had some.—Yes, madam, a good many accidents, but should be sorry, madam-or rather, glad of any accidents-that are so agreeably concluded. Hem!

Hast. [To Marlow.] You never spoke better in your whole life. Keep it up, and I'll insure you the victory. Miss H. I'm afraid you flatter, sir. You that have seen so much of the finest company can find little entertainment in an obscure corner of the country.

Mar. [Gathering courage.] I have lived, indeed, in the world, madam, but I have kept very little company. I

have been an observer upon life, madam, while others were enjoying it.

Hast. [To Marlow.] Cicero never spoke better. Once more, and you are confirmed in assurance forever.

Mar. [To Hastings.] Hem! Stand by me then, and when I'm down, throw in a word or two to set me up again.

Miss H. An observer, like you, upon life, were, I fear, disagreeably employed, since you must have had much more to censure than to approve.

Mar. Pardon me, madam, I was always willing to be amused. The folly of most people is rather an object of mirth than uneasiness.

Hast. [To Marlow.] Bravo, bravo! never spoke so well in your whole life. Well, Miss Hardcastle, I see that you and Mr. Marlow are going to be very good company. I believe our being here will but embarrass the interview.

Mar. Not in the least, Mr. Hastings. We like your company of all things. [To Hastings.] Zounds! George, sure you won't go ! How can you leave us?

Hast. Our presence will but spoil conversation; so we'll retire to the next room. [To Marlow.] You don't consider, man, that we are to manage a little tête-à-tête of our own. [Exeunt Hastings and Miss Neville, R. Mar. What the devil shall I do? [Aside.] Will you please to be seated, madam; I say, ma'am

Miss H. Sir!

Mar. I am afraid, ma'am, I am not so happy as to make myself agreeable to the ladies—

Miss H. The ladies, I should hope, have employed some part of your addresses.

Mar. [Relapsing into timidity.] Pardon me, madam, I-I-I-as yet have studied-only-to-deserve them. Miss H. And that, some say, is the very worst way to to obtain them.

Mar. Perhaps so, madam. But I love to converse only with the more grave and sensible part of the sex-But I'm afraid I grow tiresome.

Miss H. Not at all, sir; there is nothing I like so much as grave conversation myself; I could hear it forever. Indeed I have often been surprised how a man of senti

ment could ever admire those light airy pleasures, where nothing reaches the heart.

Mar. It's a disease-of the mind, madam. In the variety of tastes there must be some who, wanting a relish -for-um-a—um.

There must be some

Miss H. I understand you, sir. who, wanting a relish for refined pleasure, pretend to dispise what they are incapable of tasting.

Mar. My meaning, madam, but infinitely better expressed. And I can't help observing-a

Miss H. [Aside.] Who could ever suppose this gentleman impudent upon some occasions! [To Marlow.] You were going to observe, sir.

Mar. I was observing, madam-I protest, madam, I forget what I was going to observe.

Miss H. [Aside.] I vow and so do I. [To Marlow.] You were observing, sir, that in this age of hypocrisy something about hypocrisy, sir.

Mar. Yes, madam, in this age of hypocrisy there are few who upon strict inquiry do not—a—a—a—

Miss H. I understand you perfectly, sir.

Mar. [Aside.] Egad! and that's more than I do myself. Miss H. You mean that in this hypocritical age there are few who do not condemn in public what they practice in private, and think they pay every debt to virtue when they praise it.

Mar. True, madam; those who have most virtue in their mouths, have least of it in their bosoms. But I'm sure I tire you, madam.

Miss H. Not in the least, sir; there's something so agreeable and spirited in your manner, such life and force -Pray, sir, go on.

Mar. Yes, madam, I was saying-But I see Miss Neville expecting us in the next room. I would not

intrude for the world.

Miss H. I protest, sir, I never was more agreeably entertained in all my life.

Mar. But she beckons us to join her. Madam, shall I do myself the honor to attend you?

Miss H. Well, then, I'll follow.-[Exit Marlow, R.]— Ha ha ha! ha! Was there ever such a sober sentimental interview! I'm certain he scarce looked in my face

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