acquaintance give him a very different character among creatures of another stamp: you understand me. 230 Miss Hard. An odd character, indeed! I shall never be able to manage him. What shall I do ? Pshaw, think no more of him, but trust to occurrences for success. But how goes on your own affair, my dear? Has my mother been 235 courting you for my brother Tony, as usual? Miss Nev. I have just come from one of our agreeable tête-à-têtes. She has been saying a hundred tender things, and setting off her pretty monster as the very pink of perfection. Miss Hard. And her partiality is such that she actually thinks him so. A fortune like your's is no small temptation. Besides, as she has the sole management of it, I'm not surprized to see her unwilling to let it go out of the family. 240 245 Miss Nev. A fortune like mine, which chiefly consists in jewels, is no such mighty temptation. But at any rate, if my dear Hastings be but constant, I make no doubt to be too hard for her at last. However, I let her suppose that I am 250 in love with her son, and she never once dreams that my affections are fixed upon another. Miss Hard. My good brother holds out stoutly. I could almost love him for hating you so. Miss Nev. It is a good natured creature at 255 bottom, and I'm sure would wish to see me married to any body but himself. But my aunt's bell rings for our afternoon's walk round the improvements. Allons. Courage is necessary, as our affairs are critical. Miss Hard. Would it were bed time and all were well. SCENE [2]. An Alehouse Room. fellows, with punch and tobacco. Exeunt. Several shabby Tony at the head of the table, a little higher than the rest : a mallet in his hand. Omnes. Hurrea, hurrea, hurrea, bravo! First Fellow. Now, gentlemen, silence for a song. The 'Squire is going to knock himself down for a song. Omnes. Ay, a song, a song. Tony. Then I'll sing you, gentlemen, a song I made upon this ale-house, The Three Pigeons. SONG. Let school-masters puzzle their brain, With grammar, and nonsense, and learning; Good liquor, I stoutly maintain, Gives genus a better discerning, 258 round the improvements, octavos; but modern editions, through. 260 5 ΙΟ Let them brag of their Heathenish Gods, Toroddle, toroddle, toroll! When Methodist preachers come down, They always preach best with a skinful. But you, my good friend, are the pigeon. 15 20 Toroddle, toroddle, toroll! 25 Then come, put the jorum about, And let us be merry and clever, Our hearts and our liquors are stout, Here's the Three Jolly Pigeons for ever. Let some cry up woodcock or hare, 30 Your bustards, your ducks, and your widgeons; But of all the birds in the air, Here's a health to the Three Folly Pigeons. Toroddle, toroddle, toroll! 32 the birds. Some later editions read gay birds, but there is no sanction for this in the octavos. Omnes. Bravo, bravo! First Fell. The 'Squire has got spunk in him. Second Fell. I loves to hear him sing, bekeays he never gives us nothing that's low. Third Fell. O damn any thing that's low, I cannot bear it! Fourth Fell. The genteel thing is the genteel thing at any time. If so be that a gentleman bees in a concatenation accordingly. 35 40 Third Fell. I like the maxum of it, Master Muggins. What, tho' I am obligated to dance 45 a bear, a man may be a gentleman for all that. May this be my poison if my bear ever dances but to the very genteelest of tunes. Parted, or the minuet in Ariadne. Water Second Fell. What a pity it is the 'Squire is 50 not come to his own. It would be well for all the publicans within ten miles round of him. Tony. Ecod, and so it would, Master Slang. I'd then shew what it was to keep choice of company. 55 Second Fell. O, he takes after his own father for that. To be sure, old 'Squire Lumpkin was the finest gentleman I ever set my eyes on. For winding the streight horn, or beating a thicket for a hare, or a wench, he never had his fellow. 60 It was a saying in the place that he kept the best horses, dogs, and girls in the whole county. Tony. Ecod, and when I'm of age, I'll be no bastard, I promise you. I have been thinking of Bett Bouncer and the miller's grey mare to 65 begin with. But come, my boys, drink about and be merry, for you pay no reckoning. Well, Stingo, what's the matter? Enter Landlord. Landlord. There be two gentlemen in a postchaise at the door. They have lost their way 70 upo' the forest; and they are talking something about Mr. Hardcastle. Tony. As sure as can be, one of them must be the gentleman that's coming down to court my sister. Do they seem to be Londoners? Land. I believe they may. They look woundily like Frenchmen. 75 Tony. Then desire them to step this way, and I'll set them right in a twinkling. (Exit Landlord.) Gentlemen, as they mayn't be good 80 enough company for you, step down for a moment, and I'll be with you in the squeezing of a lemon. Exeunt Mob. Tony, solus. Tony. Father-in-law has been calling me whelp and hound, this half year. Now, if I 85 pleased, I could be so revenged upon the old |