-but I have more pleasure in serving my friendsWell, how does my lady?

Sir Bash. We don't hit at all, Mr. Lovemore.

Love. No?

Sir Bash. No, no-not at all-I think she has been rather worse since you spoke to her.

Love. A good symptom, that.

[Aside. Sir Bash. She still talks of parting; and has even sent to her lawyer about it.-Obstinate as a mule, Mr. Lovemore! has had the diamond buckles, and sulky stillnot one word about them.

Love. Time will bring things about

Sir Bash. Po! there is not a moment to be lost.-She is set upon it, Mr. Lovemore; and when she sets in she blows like a trade wind, all one way,-and so, to prevent extremities, I have e'en thought of explaining myself to her.

Love. What! acquaint her with your passion?

Sir Bash. Yes, and trust to her honour.-I know I could not do it myself in person-I should blush, and look silly, and falter-So I e'en set down to write her a letter-here it is, Mr. Lovemore, signed and sealedbut it is not directed-I got into a puzzle about thatfor my servant, you know, would wonder at my writing a letter to her.

Love. So he would.

Sir Bash. Yes, yes, he would have smok'd me,—but you are come most opportune-I'll tell you what, you shall direct it and send it to her-Nobody will be a jot the wiser.

Love. Well, I'll take it home with me, and send it to her to-morrow morning.

Sir Eash. No, no; now, directly now.

Love. I'll step to her then and speak for you-Why should you send a letter-If it does not take, she has you in her power-you can't go back-She'll have it under your hand.

Sir Bash. Why, that's true-that's true-And yet if I can obtain a letter from her, I shall have it under her hand. It must be so- -If you go, she'll send a verbal answer by you, and then deny it afterwards.

Love. But I shall be a witness against her.

Sir Bash. That will never do-I shall this way draw her in to write a letter, and then I shall have her bound down.

Love. Better take a little time to consider of it.

Sir Bash. No, no, I can't defer it a moment; it burns like a fever here I must have immediate relief; Mr. Lovemore, you must be my friend-Sit you down, and direct it for me-I'll step and send my servant to carry it for you-Sit down, sit down.

Enter SIDEBOARD.

Side. Sir Brilliant Fashion, sir, is below.

Sir Bash. Sir Brilliant Fashion!-Rascal! why did you say I was at home?

Side. I had no orders to the contrary, sir.

Love. 'Sdeath, he must not come up-Step to him, Sir Bashful; amuse him, talk to him; tell him the news, any thing, rather than let him come hither to interrupt us.

Sir Bash. No, no, he shan't come up.

Love. By no means; and be sure you don't let him know that I am here-The fellow follows me every where I go. [Aside.

Sir Bash. Never fear-He shan't come near you— and in the mean time, be sure you direct the letter.

Love. I will; but you lose time; away; begone! [Pushes him out.] A lucky accident this-I have gain'd time by it-what in the name of wonder has he wrote to her?-I am defeated if this preposterous fellow brings things to an explanation-matters were in a fine train, and he himself levelling the road for me; and now, if this takes, I am blown up into the air at once: some

unlucky planet rules to-day.-First the Widow Bellmour-and now this will-o'the-wisp—what can he have wrote to her?-Friendship and wafer, by your leavebut will that be delicate? No-but 'twill be convevient. [Opens it.] This letter shall never go—I'll write another myself a lucky thought!-I absolve my stars -here is every thing ready-[Sits down.]-What shall I say?-Any thing will do[Reads and writes.

Why should I conceal, my dear madam, that your charms have touched my heart?-Um-loved you long; adored- Um-Um- flatter-Um-Um-Um-hap piest of mankind- -Um-Um-Um-sweetest revenge -Um-Um- ·husband⋅ Um-Um-Um-UmUm-Secret pleasure of rewarding the tenderness of your sincerest admirer,

LOVEMORE.

This will do Let me seal it, and now direct it.

Enter SIR BASHFUL CONSTANT.

Sir Bash. Well, well, have you sent it?

Love. No. Your servant has not been with me yet. Sir Bash. Sideboard! why don't you wait on the gentleman as I order'd?-Sideboard-I have got rid of Sir Brilliant.

Love. Have you ?

Sir Bash. Yes, yes, I would not let him come up the world.

for

Enter SIDEBOARD.

Here, sirrah! Mr. Lovemore wants you.

Love. Master Sideboard, you must step to your lady Iwith this letter.

Sir Bash. Charming! Charming! Ha! ha! [Aside.] You must take it up to her directly.

Side. Take it up, sir; my lady's in the next room.

Sir Bash. Is she? then take it in there then to hermake haste-begone!. [Exit SIDEBOARD.

Love. No danger in this, she'll know her own interest, and have prudence to conceal every thing. [Aside. Sir Bash. I hope this will succeed, Mr. Lovemore. Love. I hope it will.

Sir Bash. I shall for ever be oblig'd to you-and so will my lady too.

Love. I dare believe she won't prove ungrateful.

Sir Bash. Hush! hush!-I should like to see how she receives it-See, the door is conveniently open. [Goes on tiptoe to the door.] Yes, yes, I can see her-there she sits. [Peeping. Love. Methinks, I should like to observe her too. Sir Bash. Hush-no noise. [Aside. Love. Now, my dear boy, Cupid, incline her heart.

[Aside. Sir Bash. She has got it! She has got it!-I am frighted out of my wits!

Love. Hold your tongue-She opens it. My dear Venus, now or never!

Sir Bash. She colours.

[Aside.

Love. I like that rising blush-A tender token.
Sir Bash. She turns pale!

Love. The natural working of the passions.

Sir Bash. And now she reddens again—In disorder, too-Death and fury, she tears the letter!-I'm un[Walks away from the door.

done!

Love. She has flung it from her with indignationI'm undone too! [Goes from the door. Sir Bash. Mr. Lovemore, you see what it's all come to! Love. I am sorry to see it come to this, indeed. Sir Bash. Did you ever see such an insolent scorn? Love. I never was so disappointed in all my life. Sir Bash. An absurd, ungrateful woman!

Love. Ungrateful indeed!-To make such a return to so kind a letter.

Sir Bash. Yes, to so kind a letter.

Love. So full of the tenderest protestations.

Sir Bash. You say right-the tenderest protestations! Love. So generous, so unreserved a declaration of love!

Sir Bash. Made with the greatest openness of heart— throwing one's self at her feet

Love. Very true; throwing one's self at her very feet. Sir Bash. And then to be spurned, kicked, and treated like a puppy!

Love. Ay, there it stings-to be treated like a puppy! Sir Bash. I can't bear this!-My dear Mr. Lovemore, do you know in nature a thing so mortifying to the pride of man, as to be rejected and despised by a fine woman?

Love. Oh, 'tis the d-n'dest thing in the world— makes a man look so mean in his own eyes.

Sir Bash. Mr. Lovemore, I'm heartily obliged to you for taking this affair so much to heart.

Love. I take it more to heart than you are aware of, • I assure you.

Sir Bash. You are very kind indeed.

-This is enough to make one ashamed all the rest of one's life.

[Both speak these broken sentences in a kind of reverie.

Enter SIR BRILLIANT.

Sir Bril. Sir Bashful, Sir Bashful! I forgot to tell you the highest thing-Hey! what's the matter here? Love. 'Sdeath! what brings him here again? [Aside. Sir Bril. You seem both out of humour.

Sir Bash. The blockheads of servants to let him in!

[Aside. Sir Bril. Upon my soul, but this is very odd !-Perhaps Lovemore is borrowing money of you, Sir Bashful, and you can't agree about the premium?

Sir Bash. Pressing business, Sir Brilliant.

Sir Bril. Po! po!-he's a very honest fellow; let him have the money-By the way, Lovemore, I have a crow to pluck with you.