Miss H. I never saw anything like it: and a man of the world too?

Hard. Ay, he learned it all abroad. What a fool was I, to think a young man could learn modesty by travelling. He might as soon learn wit at a masquerade.

Miss H. It seems all natural to him.

Hard. A good deal assisted by bad company and a French dancing-master.

Miss H. Sure you mistake, papa! A French dancingmaster could never have taught him that timid look—that awkward address-that bashful manner

Hard. Whose look ? whose manner, child?

Miss H. Mr. Marlow's his mauvaise honte, his timidity, struck me at the first sight.

Hard. Then your first sight deceived you; for I think him one of the most brazen first-sights that ever astonished my senses.

Miss H. Sure, sir, you rally? I never saw any one so modest.

Hard. And can you be serious? I never saw such a bouncing swaggering puppy, since I was born. Bully Dawson was but a fool to him.

Miss H. Surprising! He met me with a respectful bow, a stammering voice, and a look fixed on the ground. Hard. He met me with a loud voice, a lordly air, and a familiarity that froze me to death.

Miss H. He treated me with diffidence and respect; censured the manners of the age; admired the prudence of the girl that never laughed; tired me with apologies for being tiresome; then left the room with a bow, and, Madam, I would not detain you." [Mimicking Marlow. Hard. He spoke to me as if he knew me all his life before. Asked twenty questions, and never waited for an answer. Interrupted my best remarks with some silly pun, and when I was talking of the Duke of Marlborough and my friend Brooks, he asked if I was not a good hand at making punch. Yes, Kate, he asked your father if he was not a maker of punch!

Miss H. One of us must certainly be mistaken. Hard. In one thing, however, we are agreed-to reject him.

Miss H. Yes. But

upon conditions. For if you should

find him less impudent, and I more presuming; if you find him more respectful, and I more importunate—I don't know—the man is well enough for a man-certainly he has a very passable complexion.

Hard. If we should find him so- -But that's impossible. The first appearance has done my business; I'm seldom deceived in that.

Miss H. Then as one of us must be mistaken, what if we go to make further discoveries?

Hard. Agreed. But, depend on't, I'm in the right. Miss H. And depend on't I'm not much in the wrong. [Exeunt, L.

Enter TONY, running in with a Casket, R.

My

Tony. Ecod! I have got them. Here they are. cousin Con's necklaces, bobs and all. My mother shan't cheat the poor souls out of their fortin neither.

Enter HASTINGS, R.

Oh, my genus, is that you ?

Hust. My dear friend, how have you managed with your mother? I hope you have amused her with pretending love for your cousin, and that you are willing to be reconciled at last; we shall be ready to set off in a short time.

Tony. And here's something to bear your charges by the way. [Giving a casket.] Your sweetheart's jewels. Keep them, and hang those, I say, that would rob you of one of them.

Hast. But how have you procured them from your

mother?

Tony. Ask me no questions, and I'll tell you no fibs. I procured them by the rule of thumb. If I had not a key to every drawer in mother's bureau, how could I go to the alehouse so often as I do? An honest man may rob himself of his own at any time.

Hast. Thousands do it every day. But to be plain with you; Miss Neville is endeavoring to procure them from her aunt this very instant. If she succeeds, it will be the most delicate way at least of obtaining them.

Tony. Well, keep them, till you know how it will be.

But I know how it will be well enough, she'd as soon part with the only sound tooth in her head.

Hast. But I dread the effects of her resentment, when she finds she has lost them.

Tony. Never you mind her resentment, leave me to manage that. I don't value her resentment the bounce of a cracker. Zounds! here they are. Morrice. Prance. [Exit Hastings, L.

Enter MRS. HARDCASTLE and MISS NEVILLE, R.

Mrs. H. Indeed, Constance, you amaze me; such a girl as you want jewels! It will be time enough for jewels, my dear, these twenty years hence, when your beauty begins to want repairs.

Miss N. But what will repair beauty at forty, will certainly improve it at twenty, madam.

Mrs. H. Yours, my dear, can admit of none. That natural blush is beyond a thousand ornaments. Besides, child, jewels are quite out at present. Don't you see half the ladies of our acquaintance, my Lady-kill-day-light, and Mrs. Crump and the rest of them, carry their jewels to town, and bring nothing but paste and marcasites back?

Miss N. But who knows, madam, but somebody that shall be nameless would like me best with all my little finery about me?

Mrs. H. Consult your glass, my dear, and then see if, with such a pair of eyes, you want any better sparklers. What do you think, Tony, my dear, does your cousin Con want any jewels in your eyes, to set off her beauty?

Tony. That's as hereafter may be.

Miss N. My dear aunt, if you knew how it would oblige me

Mrs. H. A parcel of old fashioned rose and table cut things. They would make you look like the court of King Solomon at a puppet-show. Besides, I believe I can't readily come at them. They may be missing for aught I know to the contrary.

Tony. [Aside to Mrs. Hardcastle.] Then why don't you tell her so at once, as she's so longing for them? Tell her they're lost. It's the only way to quiet her. Say they are lost, and call me to bear witness.

Mrs. H. Aside to Tony.] You know, my dear, I'm only keeping them for you. So, if I say they're gone, you'll bear me witness, will you? He! he he!

Tony. Never fear me. Ecod! I'll say I saw them taken out with my own eyes.

Miss N. I desire them but for a day, madam. Just to be permitted to show them as relics, and then they may be locked up again.

Mrs. H. To be plain with you, my dear Constance, if I could find them, you should have them. They're missing I assure you. Lost, for aught I know. But we must

have patience wherever they are.

Miss N. I'll not believe it; this is but a shallow pretence to deny me. I know they're too valuable to be so slightly kept, and as you are to answer for the loss

Mrs. H.

Don't be alarmed, Constance. If they be lost, I must restore an equivalent. But my son knows they're missing and not to be found.

Tony. That I can bear witness to.

They are missing, and not to be found, I'll take my oath on't.

Mrs. H. You must learn resignation, my dear; for though we lose our fortune, yet we should not lose our patience. See me, how calm I am.

Miss N. Ay, people are generally calm at the misfortunes of others.

Mrs. H. Now, I wonder a girl of your good sense should waste a thought upon such trumpery. We shall soon find them, and in the meantime you shall make use of my garnets till your jewels be found.

Miss N. I detest garnets.

Mrs. H. The most becoming things in the world to set off a clear complexion. You have often seen how well they looked upon me. You shall have them. [Exit, R. Miss N. I dislike them of all things. You shan't stir. -Was ever any thing so provoking, to mislay my own jewels, and force me to wear trumpery!

Tony. Don't be a fool. If she gives you the garnets, take what you can get. The jewels are your own already. I have stolen them out of her bureau, and she does not know it. Fly to your spark, he'll tell you more of the matter. Leave me to manage her.

Miss N. My dear cousin!

Tony. Vanish. She's here and has missed them already. Zounds! how she fidgets and spits about like a Catharine wheel. [Exit Miss Neville, L.

Enter MRS. HARDCASTLE, R.

Mrs. H. Confusion! thieves! robbers! We are cheated, plundered, broke open, undone.

Tony. What's the matter, what's the matter, mamma? I hope nothing has happened to any of the good family? Mrs, H. We are robbed. My bureau has been broke open, the jewels taken out, and I'm undone.

Tony. Oh! is that all? Ha! ha! ha! By the laws, I never saw it better acted in my life. Ecod, I thought you was ruined in earnest, ha! ha! ha!

Mrs. H. Why, boy, I am ruined in earnest. bureau has been broke open, and all taken away.

My

Tony. Stick to that; ha! ha! ha! stick to that; I'll bear witness, you know; call me to bear witness.

Mrs. H. I tell you, Tony, by all that's precious, the jewels are gone, and I shall be ruined forever.

Tony. Sure I know they're gone, and I am to say so. Mrs. H. My dearest Tony, but hear me. They're gone, I say.

Tony. By the laws, mamma, you make me for to laugh, ha ha! I know who took them well enough, ha! ha! ha!

Mrs. H. Was there ever such a blockhead, that can't tell the difference between jest and earnest. I tell you I'm not in jest, booby.

Tony. That's right, that's right: you must be in a bitter passion, and then nobody will suspect either of us. I'll bear witness that they are gone.

Mrs. H. Was there ever such a cross-grained brute, that won't hear me? Can you bear witness that you're no better than a fool? Was ever poor woman so beset with fools on the one hand, and thieves on the other! Tony. I can bear witness to that.

Mrs. H. Bear witness again, you blockhead you, and I'll turn you out of the room directly. My poor niece, what will become of her? Do you laugh, you unfeeling brute, as if you enjoyed my distress?

Tony. I can bear witness to that.