Enter WARFORD and Lady HENRIETTA.

Lady Henrietta. How can I thank you, fir? Nay, don't deny your generofity---I have learnt all from Sir Thomas---And tell me honeftly, Mr. Warford, have you not by extricating me involved yourfelf?

Warford. No, Lady Henrietta; I gain'd this money by easy, honourable means; out of an annuity of two hundred pounds, allowed me thefe ten years past by my uncle, I have by frugality and prudence annually saved a moiety---faved it to befriend me in the hour of danger! And if it has affifted you, how great and ample is my recompence! But think not of that---think of Sir Charles Dazzle---What brings him to Sir Thomas's ?

Lady Henrietta. The worst of purposes---he comes to be my husband! Sir Thomas has accepted his propofals, and in my father's abfence I have no friend to protect me but you---Oh, Mr. Warford! little did I think, when I entered my uncle's house, I fhou'd again be in the power of fuch an enemy.

!

Warford. Nor fhall you be---I'll fee Sir Thomas inftantly---expofe Sir Charles's villainies.

Lady Henrietta. That would be useless---Alas! there is but one way---and that is fo difficult--fo uncertain! You know in confequence of my imprudence, Sir Thomas had adopted Rofa for his heiress.

Warford. He had.

Lady Henrietta. Previous to my arrival, he quarrell'd with her, and fent her back to the parfonage houfe---Now, as I know the old gentleman only wants a man of rank to inherit his

eftate, the way to fave me, wou'd be to reftore Rofa to his favour.

Warford. I understand---But how---how is that to be accomplished?

Lady Henrietta. By feeing her father, the minifter of the parish, by perfuading him to interfere for his daughter---if he fucceeds--

Enter a Servant.

Servant. Your uncle and Sir Charles Dazzle requests your ladyship's company.

Lady Henrietta. Is it poffible? Am I forced to meet the man who has fo infulted me? To be under the fame roof with him, and at last be doom'd to marry him?

Warford. Talk not of it---I'll endeavour to reftore Rofa to your uncle's favour. Tell me, fir, (to Servant.) where does the clergyman live?

Servant. What, the new minister, Mr. Medium, fir?

И'arford. Yes.

Servant. He lives across the field at the White House, fir.

Warford. Then I'll wait on him, and return to you inftantly.

Lady Henrietta. Adieu, Mr. Warford! Oh, now more than ever, I feel the effect of my follies! Had I like him, grown rich by prudence and economy, I might ere this have fixed my own choice, and inftead of being united to a man I deteft, I might have found one who would have loved and honoured me! But as it is,--farewell, fir,---We fhall foon meet again. [Exit. Warford. Farewell, Lady Henrietta. Diftraction! Muft that villain triumph over her!

No,

No, I'll not lofe a moment---I'll fee this minifter. (Going.)

Enter Pavè, (who stops him).

Pavè. See the minifter! What, in that dress? Pooh! you can't get an audience.

Warford. Excufe me, fir---I've the most important business--

Pavè. Why, he's in town I tell you.

Warford. He's in the neighbourhood I tell you, and where I muft and will fee him.

So, stand back and don't detain me from an interview that makes or mars my peace for ever.

[Pushes Pavè afide and exit. Pavè. In the neighbourhood! The minifter in the neighbourhood! Impoffible! This is not his county--And yet---he's on a visit perhaps, or on a fecret expedition! If he fhould, and I can catch his eye! Get a fqueeze, a nod, or a fmile, and at laft wheedle him into my lift of promifes whugh!

Enter HIPPY.

Hippy. Odraten! I've made my escape---Mifs Rofa poke to her father, who fpoke to Sir Thomas, and now if I can find Mr. Medium, and thank him---Pray, fir, have you feen the minifter?

Pavè. There! Have I feen the minifter? They're all after him.

Hippy. He has faved me and Nicky---But here's his daughter, Mifs Rofa.

Pavè. His daughter! The minister's daughter! My dear fellow, take this-(gives him maney.) and d'ye hear? Speak to her in my favour--

Speak

Speak highly of me-hint I'm of the old Nor man blood.

Hippy. What blood?

Pave. The old Norman blood !-You underftand, mum! You understand

Enter Rosa.

Rofa. Its a fhame! to turn me out of the house and adopt Lady Henrietta, and all because I cou❜dn't marry a great man! Faith, I've a great mind to run away with churchwarden-— I have, and---Blefs me! What pretty looking gentleman's this?

Hippy. Mifs, he wishes to say a word to you--(whispers her.) he's an old Norman blood. [Exit. Pavè. (afide.) To ufe her father's language I wish the budget was open'd, Ma'am! (bowing.)

Rofa. (curtfying.) Lord what a charming

man !

Pavè. She fmiles upon me---now then for the ways and means.---Oh you paragon! 'Till I throw myself at your father's feet allow me to fall at yours! (kneeling.) And thus, and thus--(kiffing her band) to fwear allegiance to you, your fire, and your whole auguft family.

Rofa. Was there ever fuch an elegant creature !

Pavè. Here let me fwear to ratify the treaty of alliance, to cement the family-compact, and preferve the balance of power as long as I live.

Rofa. Dear, how he must adore me! I can't ftand it much longer.

Pavè. Never will I rife till you fign preliminary articles, 'till you fwear you believe me

your

your faithful ally, your leagued confederate, and ever loyal vaffal.

Rofa. (kneeling by him.) I do! I do! And moreover I fwear that I honour the Norman race more than my own! And fooner than fuch a fweet looking gentleman fhould break his heart for me, faith!-I'll run away with him directly.

Pavè. What! Let me tafte that treasury of charms?

Rofa. Yes.

Pavè. And carry off that exchequer of ex, cellence ?

Rofa. I would! I would! this very hour 1 would!

Pavè. Huzza! huzza! I'm the Prime Mi nifter's fon.

Rofa. What! (rifing.)

Pave. I'm the Minifter's fon! Now let Lord Orville bow to the ground-Let Sir Charles Dazzle wipe my fhoes---Let those that kept me dangling in their halls ftand fhivering in mine! And they who fpurn'd me, pitied me, and call'd me "poor Pavè"---Let 'em now pull off their hats and cry "Room for the Minister's fon," dam'me, while it lafts I'll make the most of it!

Rofa. Lord, I knew he was a great man by his talking fo unintelligibly. Let's to Sir Tho mas Roundhead's directly.

Pavè. To a Baronet's! pooh!

Rofa. Nay; he's a great friend of my father's, and will rejoice at our marriage.

Pavè. Well then --But your father, my angel! How I long to fee him, to help him in his orations !

Rofa.