to-morrow?-To-morrow at her own house-It will be every bit as convenient-and rather more respectfulTo-morrow let it be. [Offering to go.

Miss Neville.

By no means, Sir. Your ceremony will displease her. The disorder of your dress will shew the ardour of your impatience. Besides, she knows you are in the house, and will permit you to see her.

Marlow.

O! the devil! how shall I support it? hem! hem! Hastings, you must not go. You are to assist me, you know. I shall be confoundedly ridiculous. Yet hang it! I'll take courage. Hem!

Hastings.

Pshaw man! it's but the first plunge, and all's over. She's but a woman, you know.

Marlow.

And of all woman, she that I dread most to encounter!

Enter Miss HARDCASTLE, as returned from walking.

Hastings, (introducing them.)

Miss Hardcastle, Mr. Marlow. I'm proud of bringing two persons of such merit together, that only want to know, to esteem each other.

Miss Hardcastle.

(Aside) Now for meeting my modest gentleman with a demure face, and quite in his own manner. (After a pause, in which he appears very uneasy and disconcerted.) I'm glad of your safe arrival, Sir-I'm told you had some accidents by the way.

Marlow.

Only a few, madam. Yes, we had some. Yes, madam, a good many accidents, but should be sorrymadam-or rather glad of any accidents-that are so agreeably concluded. Hem!

Hastings.

(To him) You never spoke better in your whole life. Keep it up, and I'll insure you the victory.

Miss Hardcastle.

I'm afraid you flatter, Sir. You that have seen so much of the finest company, can find little entertainment in an obscure corner of the country.

Marlow.

(Gathering courage) I have lived, indeed, in the world, madam; but I have kept very little company. I have been but an observer upon life, madam, while others were enjoying it.

Miss Neville.

But that, I am told, is the way to enjoy it at last.

Hastings.

(To him) Cicero never spoke better. Once more, and you are confirmed in assurance for ever.

Marlow.

(To him) Hem! stand by me then, and when I'm down, throw in a word or two to set me up again.

Mrs. Hardcastle.

An observer, like you, upon life were, I fear, disagreeably employed, since you must have had much more to censure than to approve.

Marlow.

Pardon me, madam. I was always willing to be amused. The folly of most people is rather an object of mirth than uneasiness.

Hastings.

(To him) Bravo, bravo. Never spoke so well in your whole life. Well! Miss Hardcastle, I see that you and Mr. Marlow are going to be very good company. I believe our being here will but embarrass the interview.

Marlow.

Not in the least, Mr. Hastings. We like your company of all things. (To him) Zounds! George, sure you won't go? how can you leave us?

Hastings.

Our presence will but spoil conversation; so we'll retire to the next room.

der, man, that we are to

(To him) You don't consimanage a little tête-à-tête of

our own.

[Exeunt.

Miss Hardcastle.

(After a pause) But you have not been wholly an observer, I presume, Sir: the ladies I should hope have employed some part of your addresses.

Marlow.

(Relapsing into timidity) Pardon me, madam, III-as yet have studied-only-to-deserve them.

Miss Hardcastle.

And that, some, say, is the very worst way to obtain them.

Marlow.

Perhaps so, madam. But I love to converse only with the more grave and sensible part of the sex.— But I'm afraid I grow tiresome.

Miss Hardcastle.

Not at all, Sir; there is nothing I like so much as grave conversation myself; I could hear it for ever. Indeed I have often been surprised how a man of sen

timent could ever admire those light airy pleasures, where nothing reaches the heart.

Marlow.

It's a disease

-of the mind, madam. In the

variety of tastes there must be some who wanting a relish-for- -um-a-um.

Miss Hardcastle.

I understand you, Sir. There must be some, who wanting a relish for refined pleasures, pretend to despise what they are incapable of tasting.

Marlow.

My meaning, madam, but infinitely better expressed. And I cant't help observing-a

Miss Hardcastle.

(Aside) Who could ever suppose this fellow impudent upon such occasions. (To him) You were going to observe, Sir

Marlow.

I was observing, madam-I protest, madam, I forget what I was going to observe.

Miss Hardcastle.

(Aside) I vow and so do I. (To him) You were observing, Sir, that in this age of hypocrisy-something about hypocrisy, Sir.

Marlow.

Yes, madam. In this age of hypocrisy there are few who upon strict inquiry do not-a-a

Miss Hardcastle.

I understand you perfectly, Sir.

Marlow.

a

(Aside) Egad! and that's more than I do myself.

2

Miss Hardcastle.

You mean that in this hypocritical age, there are few that do not condemn in public what they practise in private, and think they pay every debt to virtue when when they praise it.

Marlow.

True, madam; those who have most virtue in their mouths, have least of it in their bosoms. But I'm sure, I tire you, madam.

Miss Hardcastle.

Not in the least, Sir; there's something so agreeable and spirited in your manner, such life and forcepray, Sir, go on.

Marlow.

Yes, madam. I was saying

-that there are some

occasions- -when a total want of courage, madam, destroys all the and puts us-upon a-a

Miss Hardcastle.

I agree with you entirely, a want of courage upon some occasions assumes the appearance of ignorance, and betrays us when we most want to excel. I beg you'll proceed.

Marlow.

I

Yes, madam. Morally speaking, madam-But I see Miss Neville expecting us in the next room. would not intrude for the world.

Miss Hardcastle.

I protest, Sir, I never was more agreeably entertained in all my life.

Pray go on.

Marlow.

Yes, madam, I was— her. Madam, shall I do you?

-But she beckons us to join myself the honor to attend