mist of his own; and that I must disclaim his friendship, who ceases to be a friend to himself. [Exit.

Mr. H. How is this! she has confessed she loved him, and yet she seemed to part in displeasure. Can I have done any thing to reproach myself with ?—No, I believe not,

Enter CROAKER, with the Letter in his Hand, and MRS. CROAKER.

Mrs. C. Ha! ha! ha! And so, my dear, it's your supreme wish that I should be quite wretched upon this occasion? Ha! ha!

Croak. [Mimicking.] Ha! ha! ha! and so, my dear, it's your supreme pleasure to give me no better consolation?

Mrs. C. Positively, my dear, what is this incendiary stuff and trumpery to me? Our house may travel through the air, like the house of Loretto, for aught I care, if I'm to be miserable in it.

Croak. 'Would to Heaven it were converted into a house of correction, for your benefit. Have we not every thing to alarm us? Perhaps, this very moment, the tragedy is beginning.

Mrs. C. Then let us reserve our distress till the rising of the curtain, or give them the money they want, and have done with them.

Croak. Give them my money! And pray, what right have they to my money?

Mrs. C. And pray, what right then, have you to my good humour?

Croak. And so your good humour advises me to part with my money! Why, then, to tell your good humour a piece of my mind, I'd sooner part with my wife. Here's Mr. Honeywood, see what he'll say to it. My dear Honeywood, look at this incendiary letter dropped at my door. It will freeze you with terror; and yet lovey here can read it-can read it, and laugh.

Mrs. C. Yes, and so will Mr. Honeywood. Croak. If he does, I'll suffer to be hanged the next minute, in the rogue's place, that's all.

Mrs. C. Speak, Mr. Honeywood; is there any thing more foolish, than my husband's fright upon this occasion?

Mr. H. It would not become me to decide, madam; but doubtless, the greatness of his terrors now, will but invite them to renew their villany another time.

Mrs. C. I told you he'd be of my opinion.

Croak. How, sir! do you maintain that I should lie down under such an injury, and show, neither by my tears, or complaints, that I have something of the spirit of a man in me?

Mr. H. Pardon me, sir; You ought to make the loudest complaints, if you desire redress. The surest way to have redress, is to be earnest in the pursuit of it.

Croak. Then you think I'm in the right.
Mr. H. Yes.

Croak. Ay, whose opinion is he of now?

Mrs. C. But don't you think that laughing off our fears, is the best way?

Mr. H. What is the best, madam, few can say; but I'll maintain it to be a very wise way.

Mrs. C. O, then you think I'm quite right?
Mr. H. Perfectly right.

Croak. A plague of plagues! we can't be both right. I ought to be sorry, or I ought to be glad. -My hat must be on my head, or my hat must be off.

Mrs. C. Certainly, in two opposite opinions, if one be perfectly reasonable, the other can't be perfectly right.

Mr. H. And why may not both be right, madam ? Mr. Croaker in earnestly seeking redress, and you, in waiting the event in good humour? Pray let me see