Miss Hardcastle.

Yes, Sir. A poor relation appointed to keep the keys, and to see that the guests want nothing in my pow. er to give them.

Marlow.

That is, you act as bar-maid of this inn.

Miss Hardcastle.

Inn. O law What brought that in your head? One of the best families in the country keep an inn! Ha! ha! ha! old Mr. Hardcastle's house an inn!

Marlow.

Mr. Hardcastle's house! Is this Mr. Hardcastle's house, child?

on.

Miss Hardcastle.

Aye, sure. Whose else should it be?

Marlow.

So then all's out, and I have been damnably imposed

O confound my stupid head, I shall be laugh'd at over the whole town. I shall be stuck up in carricatura in all the print-shops. The Dullissimo maccaroni. To mistake this house of all others for an inn, and my fathers old friend for an inn-keeper! What a swaggering puppy must he take me for? What a silly puppy do I find myself? There again, may I be hanged my dear, but I mistook you for the bar-maid.

Miss Hardcastle.

Dear me dear me! I'm sure there's nothing in my behaviour to put me upon a level with one of that stamp.

Marlow.

Nothing, my dear, nothing. But I was in for a list of blunders, and could not help making you a subscriber. My stupidity saw every thing the wrong way.

I mistook your assiduity for assurance, and your simplicity for allurement. But it's over-This house I no more shew my face in.

Miss Hardcastle.

I hope, Sir, I have done nothing to disoblige you. I'm sure I should be sorry to affront any gentleman who has been so polite, and said so many civil things to me. I'm sure I should be sorry (pretending to cry) if he left the family upon my account. I'm sure I should be sorry, people said any thing amiss, since I have no fortune but my character.

Marlow.

(Aside.) By Heaven, she weeps. This is the first mark of tenderness I ever had from a modest woman, and it touches me. (To her) Excuse me, my lovely girl, you are the only part of the family I leave with reluctance. But to be plain with you, the difference of our birth, fortune and education makes an honorable connection impossible; and I can never harbor a thought of seducing simplicity that trusted in my honor, of bringing ruin upon one, whose only fault was being too lovely.

Miss Hardcastle.

(Aside.) Generous man! I now begin to admire him. (To him) But I am sure my family is as good as Miss Hardcastle's, and though I'm poor, that's no great misfortune to a contented mind, and, until this moment, I never though that it was bad to want for

tune.

Marlow.

And why now, my pretty simplicity?

Miss Hardcastle.

Because it puts me at a distance from one, that if I had a thousand pounds I would give it all to.

Marlow.

(Aside.) This simplicity bewitches me, so that if I stay I'm undone. I must make one bold effort, and leave her. (To her) Your partiality in my favor, my dear, touches me most sensibly, and were I to live for myself alone, I could easily fix my choice. But I owe too much to the opinion of the world, too much to the authority of a father, so that I can scarely speak it— it affects me. Farewell.

Miss Hardcastle.

[Exit.

He shall not

I never knew half his merit till now. go, if I have power or art to detain him. I'll still preserve the character in which I stooped to conquer, but will undeceive my papa, who perhaps, may laugh him out of his resolution.

Enter TONY, Miss NEVILLE.

Tony.

[Exit.

Aye, you may steal for yourselves the next time. I have done my duty. She has got the jewels again, that's a sure thing; but she believes it was all a mistake of the servants.

Miss Neville.

But, my dear cousin, sure you won't forsake us in this distress. If she in the least suspects that I am going off, I shall certainly be locked up, or sent to my aunt Pedigree's which is ten times worse.

Tony.

To be sure, aunts of all kinds are damn'd bad things, But what can I do? I have got you a pair of horses that will fly like Whistlejacket, and I'm sure you can't say but I have courted you nicely before her face. Here she comes, we must court a bit or two more, for fear she should suspect us.

{They retire, and seem to fondle.

Enter Mrs. HARDCASTLE.

Mrs. Hardcastle.

But my

I

Well, I was greatly fluttered, to be sure. son tells me it was all a mistake of the servants. shan't be easy, however, till they are fairly married, and then let her keep her own fortune. But what do

I see! fondling together, as I'm alive. I never saw Tony so sprightly before. Ah! have I caught you, my pretty doves! What, billing, exchanging stolen glances and broken murmurs. Ah!

Tony.

As for murmurs, mother, we grumble a little now and then, to be sure. But there's no love lost between

us.

Mrs. Hardcastle.

A mere sprinkling, Tony, upon the flame, only to make it burn brighter.

Miss Neville.

Cousin Tony promises to give us more of his company at home. Indeed, he shan't leave us any more. It won't leave us, cousin Tony, will it?

Tony.

O! it's a pretty creature. No, I'd sooner leave my horse in a pond, than leave you when you smile upon one so. Your laugh makes you so becoming.

Miss Neville.

Agreeable cousin! Who can help admiring that natural humor, that pleasant, broad, red, thoughtless, (patting his cheek) ah! it's a bold face.

Tony.

I'm sure I always lov'd cousin Con's hazle eyes, and her pretty long fingers, that she twists this way and that, over the haspicolls, like a parcel of bobbins.

Mrs. Hardcastle.

Ah, he would charm the bird from the tree. I was never so happy before. My boy takes after his father, poor Mr. Lumpkin, exactly. The jewels, my dear Con, shall be yours incontinently. You shall have them. Isn't he a sweet boy, my dear? You shall be married to-morrow, and we'll put off the rest of his education, like Dr. Drowsy's sermons, to a fitter opportunity.

Enter DIGGORY.

Diggory.

Where's the 'squire? I have got a letter for your worship.

Give it to my mamma.

first.

Tony.

She reads all my letters

Diggory.

I had orders to deliver it into your own hands.

Tony.

Who does it come from?

Diggory.

Your worship mun ask that o' the letter itself.

Tony.

I could wish to know, though, (turning the letter, and gazing on it.)

Miss Neville.

(Aside) Undone! undone! A letter to him from Hastings. I know the hand. If my aunt sees it we