can't tell!- -You are all fools. -Go about your business. [John going] Come here. [Returns] Go to the major's-no-it does not signify-go along-[John going] Yes, harkye, [Returns] go to the major's, and see if your master is there.

John. Give your compliments, madam?

Mrs. O. My compliments, blockhead! Get along. [John going] Come hither. [Returns] Can't you go to the major's, and bring me word if Mr. Oakly is there, without taking any further notice?

John. Yes, ma'am.

Mrs. O. Well, why don't you go then? And make haste back. -And, d'ye hear, John? [John going, returns. John. Madam!

Mrs. O. Nothing at all-go along

[John goes] How

uneasy Mr. Oakly makes me!-Harkye, John!

John. Madam!

Mrs. O. Send the porter here.

John. Yes, madam.

[John returns.

[Exit. Toil. So, she's in a rare humour! I shall have a fine time on't. [Aside] Will your ladyship choose to dress? Mrs. O. Pr'ythee, creature, don't tease me with your fiddle-faddle stuff-I have a thousand things to think of.- -Where is the porter? why has not that booby sent him? What is the meaning

Re-enter JOHN.

John. Madam, my master is this moment returned, with major Oakly, and my young master, and the lady that was here yesterday.

Mrs. O. Very well. [Exit John] Returned-yes, truly, he is returned-and in a very extraordinary manner. This is setting me at open defiance. But I'll go down, and show them I have too much spirit to endure such usage. [Going] Or, stay-I'll not go amongst his company-I'll Toil. Ma'am outToilet!

Mrs. O. Order the coach; I'll go out. [Toilet going] Toilet, stay-I'll e'en go down to them--NoToilet!

Toil. Ma'am !

Mrs. O. Order me a boiled chicken--I'll not go down to dinner--I'll dine in my own room, and sup there I'll not see his face these three days. [Exeunt.

Enter OAKLY, MAJOR OAKLY, CHARLES, and
HARRIOT.

Charles. My dear Harriot, do not make yourself so uneasy.

Har. Alas! I have too much cause for my uneasiness. Who knows what that vile lord has done with my father?

Oak. Be comforted, madam; we shall soon hear of Mr. Russet, and all will be well, I dare say.

Har. You are too good to me, sir; I shall never forgive myself for having disturbed the peace of such a worthy family.

Maj. O. Don't mind that, madam; they'll be very good friends again. This is nothing among married people- 'Sdeath, here she is!-No-its only Mrs.

Toilet.

Re-enter TOILET.

Oak. Well, Toilet, what now? [Tiolet whispers] Not well?-Can't come down to dinner?-Wants to see me above? Hark ye, brother, what shall I do? Maj. O. If you go, you are undone.

Har. Go, sir, go to Mrs. Oakly-Indeed you had better

Maj. O. 'Sdeath, brother, don't budge a foot-This is all fractiousness and ill humour-

Oak. No, I'll not go-Tell her I have company, and we shall be glad to see her here.

Maj. O. That's right.

[Exit Toilet. Oak. Suppose I go and watch how she proceeds? Maj. O. What d'ye mean? You would not go to her? Are you mad?

Oak. By no means go to her-I only want to know how she takes it. I'll lie perdue in my study, and observe her motions.

Maj. O. I don't like this pitiful ambuscade workthis bush fighting. Why can't you stay here?-Ay, ay! -I know how it will be- -She'll come bounce in upon you with a torrent of anger and passion, or, if necessary, a whole flood of tears, and carry all before her at

once.

Oak. You shall find that you are mistaken, major. Now I am convinced I'm in the right, I'll support that right with ten times your steadiness.

Maj. O. You talk this well, brother.
Oak. I'll do it well, brother.

Maj. O. If you don't, you are undone.
Oak. Never fear, never fear.
Maj. O. Well, Charles.

[Exit.

Charles. I can't bear to see my Harriot so uneasy. I'll go immediately in quest of Mr. Russet. Perhaps I may learn at the inn where his lordship's ruffians have carried him.

Rus. [Without] Here! Yes, yes, I know she's here well enough. Come along, sir Harry, come along.

Har. He's here!-My father; I know his voice. Where is Mr. Oakly? O, now, good sir, [To the Major] do but pacify him, and you'll be a friend indeed.

Enter RUSSET, LORD TRINKET, and SIR HARRY BEAGLE.

Lord T. There, sir-I told you it was so!

Rus. Ay, ay, it is too plain.- -O you provoking slut! Elopement after elopement!-And at last to have your father carried off by violence! to endanger my life! Zounds! I am so angry I dare not trust myself within reach of you.

Charles. I can assure you, sir, that your daughter is entirely

Rus. You assure me! You are the fellow that has perverted her mind-That has set my own child against me-

Charles. If you will but hear me, sir—

Rus. I won't hear a word you say. I'll have my daughter-I won't hear a word.

Maj. O. Nay, Mr. Russet, hear reason. If you will but have patience

Rus. I'll have no patience, I'll have my daughter, and she shall marry sir Harry to-night.

Lord T. That is dealing rather too much en cavalier with me, Mr. Russet, 'pon honour. You take no notice of my pretensions, though my rank and family

Rus. What care I for rank and family? I don't want to make my daughter a rantipole woman of quality. I'll give her to whom I please. Take her away, sir Harry; she shall marry you to-night.

Maj. O. Only three words, Mr. Russet-
Rus. Why don't the booby take her?

Sir H. Hold hard! Hold hard! You are all on a wrong scent; Hold hard! I say, hold hard!—Harkye, squire Russet.

Rus. Well, what now?

Sir H. It was proposed, you know, to match me with miss Harriot- -But she can't take kindly to me. When one has made a bad bet, it is best to hedge off, you know-and so I have e'en swopped her with lord Trinket here for his brown horse, Nabob.

Rus. Swopped her? Swopped my daughter for a horse! Zounds, sir, what d'ye mean?

Sir H. Mean? Why I mean to be off, to be sure-It won't do I tell you it won't do--First of all I knocked up myself and my horses, when they took for London-and now I have been stewed aboard a tender -I have wasted three stone at least-If I could have rid my match it would not have grieved me--And so, as I said before, I have swopped her for Nabob.

Rus. The devil take Nabob, and yourself, and lord Trinket, and

Lord T. Pardon! je vous demande pardon, monsieur Russet, 'pon honour.

Rus. Death and the devil! I shall go distracted! My daughter plotting against me-the

Maj. O Come, come, Mr. Russet, I am your man after all. Give me but a moment's hearing, and I'll engage to make peace between you and your daughter,

2

and throw the blame where it ought to fall most deservedly.

Sir H. Ay, ay, that's right. Put the saddle on the right horse, my buck!

Rus. Well, sir-What d'ye say?-Speak-I don't know what to do.

Maj. O. I'll speak the truth, let who will be offended by it. I have proof presumptive and positive for you, Mr. Russet. From his lordship's behaviour at lady Freelove's, when my nephew rescued her, we may fairly conclude that he would stick at no measures to carry his point-there's proof presumptive.-But, sir, we can give you proof positive too-proof under his lordship's own hand, that he likewise was the contriver of the gross affront that has just been offered you.

Rus. Hey! how?

Lord T. Every syllable romance, 'pon honour.
Maj. O. Gospel, every word on't.

Charles. This letter will convince you, sir! In consequence of what happened at lady Freelove's, his lordship thought fit to send me a challenge; but the messenger blundered, and gave me this letter instead of it. [Giving the Letter] I have the case which enclosed it in my pocket.

Lord T. Forgery from beginning to end, 'pon ho

nour.

Maj. O. Truth, upon my honour.-But read, read, Mr. Russet, read, and be convinced.

Rus. Let me see-let me see-[Reads]-Um-um— um-um- so, so-um-um-um-damnation!· Wish me success-obedient slave-TRINKET--Fire and fury! How dare you do this?

Lord T. When you are cool, Mr. Russet, I will explain this matter to you.

Rus. Cool! 'Sdeath and hell!-I'll never be cool again I'll be revenged--So my Harriot, my dear girl, is innocent at last. Say so, my Harriot; tell me you are innocent. [Embraces her. Har. I am indeed, sir, and happy beyond expression at your being convinced of it.