Sir J. Ten thousand thanks for it! And now, success attend me! [Going. Ster. Harkye, Sir John! [Sir J. returns.] Not a word of the thirty thousand to my sister, Sir John. Sir J. O, I am dumb, I am dumb, sir. [Going. Ster. You'll remember it is thirty thousand? Sir J. To be sure I do.

Ster. But, Sir John! one thing more. [Sir J. returns.] My lord must know nothing of this stroke of friendship between us.

Sir J. Not for the world. Let me alone! let me alone! Offering to go. Ster. [Holding him.] And when everything is agreed, we must give each other a bond to be held fast to the bargain.

Sir J. To be sure. A bond, by all means; a bond, or whatever you please. [Exit hastily. Ster. I should have thought of more conditions. He's in a humour to give me everything. Why, what mere children are your fellows of quality, that cry for a plaything one minute, and throw it by the next! As changeable as the weather, and as uncertain as the stocks. Special fellows to drive a bargain! and yet they are to take care of the interest of the nation, truly! Here does this whirligig man of fashion offer to give up thirty thousand pounds in hard money, with as much indifference as if it were a China orange. By this mortgage, I shall have a hold on his terra firma; and if he wants more money, as he certainly will, let him have children by my daughter or no, I shall have his whole estate in a net for the benefit of my family. Well, thus it is, that the children of citizens who have acquired fortunes, prove persons of fashion; and thus it is, that persons of fashion, who have ruined their fortunes, reduce the next generation to cits. [Exit.

SCENE II.-Another Apartment.

Enter Mrs. HEIDELBERG and Miss STERLING. Miss S. This is your gentle-looking, soft-speaking, sweet-smiling, affable Miss Fanny, for you!

Mrs. H. My Miss Fanny! I disclaim her. With all her arts, she never could insinuate herself into my good graces; and yet she has a way with her, that deceives man, woman, and child, except you and me, niece.

Miss S. O, ay; she wants nothing but a crook in ner hand, and a lamb under her arm, to be a perfect picture of innocence and simplicity.

Mrs. H. Just as I was drawn at Amsterdam, when I went over to visit my husband's relations.

Miss S. And then she's so mighty good to servants." Pray, John, do this; pray, Thomas, do that: thank you, Jenny ;"-and then so humble to her relations "To be sure, papa;-as my aunt pleases;-my sister knows best." But with all her demureness and humility, she has no objection to be Lady Melvil, it secms, nor to any wickedness that can make her so

Mrs. H. She Lady Melvil! Compose y niece. I'll ladyship her, indeed: a little cantin-She sha'nt be the better for a farden i 23 money. But tell me, child, how does this intriga with Sir John correspond with her partially a Lovewell? I don't see a concatunation here.

Miss S. There I was deceived, madam. I all their whisperings and stealings into corner, be the mere attraction of vulgar minds; b hold! their private meetings were not to com their own insipid happiness, but to conspire aga... mine. But I know whence proceeds Mr. Lovene. resentment to me. I could not stoop to be fami with my father's clerk, and so I have lost his inter est.

Mrs. H. My spurit to a T. My dear ch [Kisses her.] Mr. Heidelberg lost his election member of parliament, because I would not dens myself to be slabbered about by drunken s makers, beastly cheesemongers, and tallow-chatlers. However, niece, I can't help diffuring a litte in opinion from you in this matter. My experun" and sagucity makes me still suspect that there something more between her and that Lovest notwithstanding this affair of Sir John. I bad =1 eye upon them the whole time of breakfast. 5: John, I observed, looked a little confounded, a deed, though I knew nothing of what had passed a the garden. You seemed to sit upon thorns to but Fanny and Mr. Lovewell made quite anotherguess sort of a figur! and were as perfect a pictur of two distressed lovers as if it had been drawn by Raphael Angelo. As to Sir John and Fanny, I want a matter-of-fact.

Miss S. Matter-of-fact, madam! Did not I came unexpectedly upon them? Was not Sir John keel. ing at her feet, and kissing her hand? Did not he look all love, and she all confusion? Is not that matter-of-fact? And did not Sir John, the moment that papa was called out of the room to the lawyermen, get up from breakfast, and follow him immediately? And I warrant you that by this time he has made proposals to him to marry my sister. Oh, that some other person, an eari or a duae, make his addresses to me, that I might be revenge on this monster!

Mrs. H. Be cool, child. You shall be Lady Me vil, in spite of all their caballins, if it costs me ten thousand pounds to turn the scale. Sir Joht may apply to my brother indeed; but I'll make the know who governs in this fammaly.

Miss S. As I live, madam, yonder comes St John. A base man! I can't endure the sighthim. I'll leave the room this instant. Dis

Mrs. H. Poor thing! Well, retire to your chamber, child. I'll give it him, I warrant yis and by-and-by I'll come and let you know all th has past between us.

Miss S. Pray do, madam. [Looking back.) A im wretch! Erst in a rag

Enter Sir JOHN MELVIL. Sir J. Your most obedient humble servas. dam. [Bowing very rape janu Mrs. H. Your servant, Sir John.

[Dropping a half curtiry entity Sir J. Miss Sterling's manuer of room on my approach, and the visible your behaviour to me, madam, convince has acquainted you with what passed this mind

Mrs. H. I am very sorry, Sir Johu, t. be maf acquainted with anything that should induct mult

hange the opinion which I would always wish to ntertain of a person of qualaty. [Pouting. Sir J. It has always been my ambition to merit e best opinion from Mrs. Heidelberg; and when e comes to weigh circumstances, I flatter myself Mrs. H. You do flatter yourself, if you imagine hat I can approve of your behaviour to my niece, Sir ohn. And give me leave to tell you, Sir John, hat you have been drawn into an action much beeath you, Sir John; and that I look upon every jury offered to Miss Betty Sterling, as an affront myself, Sir John. [Warmly. Sir J. I would not offend you for the world, maam; but when I am influenced by a partiality for nother, however ill-founded, I hope your discernhent and good sense will think it rather a point of onour to renounce engagements which I could not ulfil so strictly as I ought; and that you will exuse the change in my inclinations, since the new bject, as well as the first, has the honour of being your niece, madam.

Mrs. H. I disclaim her as a niece, Sir John; Miss Sterling disclaims her as a sister; and the whole fammaly must disclaim her, for her monstrous baseness and treachery.

Sir J. Indeed she has been guilty of none, malam. Her hand and her heart are, I am sure, enirely at the disposal of yourself and Mr. Sterling. And if you should not oppose my inclinations, I am ure of Mr. Sterling's consent, madam. Mrs. H. Indeed?

Sir J. Quite certain, madam.

Enter STERLING unperceived.

Mrs H. I am perfectly ashamed of you. Have you no spurrit? no more concern for the honour of our fammaly than to consent

Ster. Consent! I consent! As I hope for mercy, I never gave my consent. Did I consent, Sir John? Sir J. Not absolutely, without Mrs. Heidelberg's concurrence. But in case of her approbationSter. Ay, in case, I grant you; that is, if my sister approved. But that's quite another thing, you know. [To Mrs. H.

Mrs. H. Your sister approve, indeed! I thought you knew her better, brother Sterling. What! approve of having your eldest daughter returned upon your hands, and exchanged for the younger? I am surprised how you could listen to such a scandalous proposal.

Ster. I tell you, I never did listen to it. Did not I say that I would be entirely governed by my sister, Sir John? And unless she agreed to your marrying Fanny

Mrs. H. I agree to his marrying Fanny !-abominable! The man is absolutely out of his senses. Can't that wise Lead of your's foresee the conse quence of all this, brother Sterling? Will Sir John take Fanny without a fortune? No! After you have settled the largest part of your property on your youngest daughter, can there be an equal portion left for the eldest? No! Does not this overturn the whole systum of the fammaly? Yes, yes, yes!

ance.

Mrs. H. To marry Fanny?
Sir J. Yes, madam.
Mrs. H. My brother has given his consent, you

Say?

Sir J. In the most ample manner, with no other restriction than the failure of your concurrence, madam. [Sees Sterling.] Oh, here's Mr. Sterling, who will confirm what I have told you.

Mrs. H. What, have you consented to give up your eldest daughter in this manner, brother?

Ster. Give her up? heaven forbid! No, not give her up, sister; only in case that you-Zounds! I am afraid you have said too much, Sir John.

[Apart to Sir J. Mrs. H. Yes, yes; I see now that it is true enough what my niece told me. You are all plottin and caballin against her. Pray, does Lord Ögleby

know of this affair?

Sir J. Nay, but Mr. SterlingMrs. H. We, who are the persons of most consequence and experunce in the two fammalies, are to know nothing of the matter, till the whole is as good as concluded upon. But his lordship, I am sure, will have more generosaty than to countenance such a perceding. And I could not have expected such behaviour from a person of your qualaty, Sir John. And as for you, brotherSter. Nay, nay, but hear me, sister.

her. As for Fanny, if she could, with a fortune of twenty or thirty thousand pounds, get a knight, or a member of parliament, or a rich common councilman, for a husband, I thought it might do very well.

Sir J. But if a better match should offer itself, why should it not be accepted, madam?

Mrs. H. What! at the expense of her elder sister? O fie, Sir John! How could you bear to hear such an indignaty, brother Sterling?

Ster. I Nay, I sha'n't hear of it, I promise you. I can't hear of it, indeed, Sir John.

Mrs. H. But you have heard of it, brother Sterling; you know you have, and sent Sir John to propose it to me. But if you can give up your daughter, I sha'n't forsake my niece, I assure you. Ah! if my poor dear Mr. Heidelberg, and our sweet babes had been alive, he would not have behaved so.

Ster. Did I, Sir John? Nay, speak! Bring me off, or we are ruined. [Apart to Sir J.

Sir J. Why, to be sure, to speak the truthMrs. H. To speak the truth!-To speak the truth, I'm ashamed of you both. But have a care what you are about, brother! have a care, I say. The counsellors are in the house, I hear; and if everything is not settled to my liking, I'll have nothing more to say to you, if I live these hundred years. I'll go over to Holland, and settle with Mr. Vanderspracken, my poor husband's first cousin, and my own fammaly shall never be the better for a farden of my money, I promise you. Ster. I thought so. agree to it. Sir J. 'Sdeath, how unfortunate! What can we do, Mr. Sterling?

[Exit.

I knew she would never

against megrims, vertigoes, and profound thinking -ha, ha, ha!

Can. Your flatterie, mi lor, vil make me too prode.

Lord 0. The girl has some little partiality for me, to be sure: but pr'ythee, Cant, is not that Miss Fanny yonder?

Can. [Looks with a glass.] Ah-la voila! En veritè, 'tis she, mi lor-'tis one of de pigeons-de pigeons d'amour.

Lord O. Don't be ridiculous, you old monkey. Can. I am monkee. I am ole; but I have eye, I have ear, and a little understand, now and den. Lord O. Taisez vous, bête.

Can. Elle vous attend, my lor.-She vil make a love to you.

Lord O. Will she? Have at her then! A fine girl can't oblige me more. 'Egad, I find myself a little enjoué. Come along, Cant.; she is but in the next walk; but there is such a deal of this d-d crinkum-crankum, as Sterling calls it, that one sees people for half an hour before one can get to them. Allons! Monsieur Canton, allons! donc.

[Exeunt singing in French.

SCENE III.-Another part of the Garden.

Enter LOVEWELL and FANNY.

Love. My dear Fanny, I cannot bear your distress; it overcomes all my resolutions, and I am prepared for the discovery.

Fan. But how can it be effected before my departure?

Love. I'll tell you.-Lord Ogleby seems to entertain a visible partiality for you; and, notwithstanding the peculiarities of his behaviour, I am sure that he is humane at the bottom. He is vain to an ex: cess; but withal extremely good-natured, and would do anything to recommend himself to a lady. Do you open the whole affair of our marriage to him immediately. It will come with more irresistible persuasion from you than from myself; and I doubt not but you'll gain his friendship and protection at once. His influence and authority will put an end to Sir John's solicitations, remove your aunt's and sister's unkindness and suspicions, and, I hope, reconcile your father and the whole family to our marriage.

Fan. Heaven grant it! Where is my lord ? Love. I have heard him and Canton, since dinner, singing French songs under the great walnut-tree, by the parlour-door. If you meet with him in the garden, you may disclose the whole immediately; To-morrow morning is fixed for your departure, and if we lose this opportunity, we may wish in vain for another. He approaches: I must retire. Speak, any dear Fanny, speak, and make us happy! [Exit. Fan. What shall I do? What shall I say to him? I am all confusion.

Enter Lord OGLEBY and CANTON.

Lord O. To see so much beauty so solitary, madam, is a satire upon mankind; and it is fortunate that one man has broken in upon your reverie for the credit of our sex. I say one, madam; for poor Canton here, from age and infirmities, stands for nothing.

Can. Noting at all, indeed.

Fan. Your lordship does me great honour. I have favour to request, my lord.

your commands is an inexpressible favour done to me, madam.

Fan. If your lordship could indulge me with the honour of a moment's-What's the matter with me? {Aside.

Lord O. The girl's confused-Hey!-here's something in the wind, faith. I'll have a tête-à-tête with her. [Aside.] Allez-vous-en. [To CANTON. Can. I go.-Ah, pauvre mademoiselle! Mi lor, have pitié upon the poor pigeon.

Apart to Lord OGLEBY. Lord O. I'll knock you down, Cant. [Smiles. Can. Den I go. Shuffles along.] You are mosh please, for all dat. [Aside.-Erit.

Fan. I shall sink with apprehension. [Aside. Lord O. What a sweet girl!-she's a civilized being, and atones for the barbarism of the rest of the family. [Aside.

Fan. My lord, I— [Courtseys and blushes. Lord O. I look upon it, madam, to be one of the luckiest circumstances of my life, that I have, at this moment, the honour of receiving your commands, and the satisfaction of confirming with my tongue, what my eyes, perhaps, have but too weakly expressed-that I am literally the humblest of your

servants.

Fan. I think myself greatly honoured by your lordship's partiality to me; but it distresses me that I am obliged, in my present situation, to apply to it for protection.

Lord O. I am happy in your distress, madam, because it gives me an opportunity to shew my zeal. Beauty, to me, is a religion, in which I was born and bred a bigot, and would die a martyr. I'm in tolerable spirits, faith! [Aside.

Fan. There is not, perhaps, at this moment, a more distressed creature than myself. Affection, duty, hope, despair, and a thousand different sentiments, are struggling in my bosom; and even the presence of your lordship, to whom I have flown for protection, adds to my perplexity.

Lord O. Does it, madam? Venus forbid -My old fault; the devil's in me, I think, for perplexing young women. [Aside, and smiling.] Take courage, madam! dear Miss Fanny, explain. You have a powerful advocate in my breast, I assure you. My heart, madam-I am attached to you by all the laws of sympathy and delicacy-by my honour, I am.

Fan. Then I will venture to unburthen my mind -Sir John Melvil, my lord, by his most misplaced and mistimed declaration of affection for me, has made me the unhappiest of women.

Lord O. How, madam? Has Sir John made his addresses to you?

Fan. He has, my lord, in the strongest terms. But I hope it is needless to say that my duty to my father, love to my sister, and regard to the whole family, as well as the great respect I entertain for your lordship,-[Courtseys.]—made me shudder at his addresses.

Lord O. Charming girl! Proceed, my dear Miss Fanny, proceed.

Fan. In a moment-give me leave, my lord:But if what I have to disclose should be received with anger or displeasure

Lord O. Impossible! by all the tender powers! Speak, I beseech you, or I shall divine the cause be fore you utter it.

Fun. Then, my lord, Sir John's addresses are not only shocking to me in themselves, but are more particularly disagreeable to me at this time-as

Hesitates.