can't tell !You are all fools.Go about your business. [John going] Come bere. (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 returns.
John. Madam!
Mrs. 0. Send the porter bere.
John. Yes, madam.

[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. 0. Prythee, creature, don't lease 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. 0. 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 lo endure such usage. [Going] Or, stay-I'll not go amongst his company_1'll go out- -Toilet!

Toil. Ma'am!

Mrs. O. Order the coach; I'll go out. [Toilet going] Toilet, stay—I'll c'en go down to them-No Toilet!

Toil. Ma'am!

Mrs. 0. 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 loo 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 distarbed the peace of such
a worthy family.

Maj. 0. Don't mind that, madam; they'll be very
good friends again. This is nothing among married
people - Sdeath, here she is !-Nomits only Mrs.
Toilet,

Re-enter Toilet.
Vak. Well, Toilet, what now? [Tiolet whispers) Not
well?-Can't come down to dinner?-Wants to see me
-above ?m-Harkye, brother, what shall I do?

Muj. 0. If you go, you are undone.

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

Maj. 0. '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. [Exit Toilet.

Maj. 0. That's right.
Ouk. Suppose I go and watch how she proceeds ?

Maj. 0. What d'ye mean? You would not go to her?
Are you mad?

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

once.

Maj. O. I don't like this pitiful ambuscade work this bush fighting. Why can't you stay here?-Ay, as! -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

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

[Erit. Maj. O. Well, Charles.

Charles. can't bear to see my Harriot so upeasy, I'll go immediately in quest of Mr. Russet. Perhaps I may learn at the inn where his lordship's ruffians hare 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; 1" know his voice.
Where is Mr. Oakly? 0, 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 slat! Elopement after elopement And at last to have your father carried off hy 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 bear me, sir

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

a

Maj. O. Nay, Mr. Russet, hear reason.

If you will but have patience

Rus. I'll have no patience, I'll have any 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, thougb my rank and family

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

Maj. 0. Only three words, Mr. Russel
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 liedge off, you knowmand so I have e'en swapped 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 sore-It won't dom 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 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 bearing, and I'N engage to make peace between you and your daughter;

And so,

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 toom-proof under his lordship's own hand, that be likewise was the contriver of the gross affront that has just been offered you.

Rus. Hey! how?
Lord T. Every syllable romance, 'pon bonour.
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 blondered, and gave me this letter instead of it. [Giving the Letter] 1 bave the case which enclosed it in my pocket.

Lord T. Forgery from beginning to end, ’pon loMaj. 0. Truth, upon my honour..But read, read, Mr. Russet, read, and be convinced.

Rus. Let me seem-let me see--[Reads)-Um-umum-um so, so-um-um-im-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 ex. plain this matter to you.

Rus. Cool! 'Sdeath and hell! I'll nerer be cool againI'll be revenged-So my Harriot, my dear girl, is innocent at last. Say so, my Harriot; tell me you are innocent.

Hur. I am indeed, sir, and happy beyond expression at your being convinced of it.

nour.

80

dei

[Embraces her

.