management? Did not I make a dupe of the grandfather?

Veritas. You did.

Mrs. Rigid. And why do I give you my interest? Why do I select you for her husband?— Why, but because you are to give me a moiety?

Veritas. Granted. We'll divide the fortune-and thus I seal the bargain-thus with a righteous kiss. Mrs. Rigid. (Drawing back.) How! is the man out of his senses?-Don't you recollect

Veritas. I do.-I beg pardon-You're for the Platonic.

Mrs. Rigid. I am for the Platonic system, Sir, and hitherto I have not suffered my lips to be profaned by man!-Never, Sir!-Not so much from fear of the consequences to myself, as from the danger in which it might involve all mankind.

Veritas. That's true philanthropy, Mrs. Rigid; and the longer you persevere in your system, the more our sex will be obliged to you. Ha! Here comes Albina!-Pray, is she also for the Platonic? Mrs. Rigid. Sweet little innocent! She has hardly sense enough to discriminate one passion from another. She is the most artless, lively, tender-hearted creature! Look at her, cousin only eighteen!

Enter ALBINA.

Albina. Oh, governess! I have been all over the Castle, looking at the rooms-the picturesthe-(Seeing Veritas, she stops.)

Mrs. Rigid. 'Tis Mr. Veritas. You saw him at Dover, you know.

Albina. So I did he was there at the same time Mr. Howard was. Oh, Lord! I'm so happy

to see you, Sir!-I am, indeed!

Veritas. Granted. She loves me!-Poor pupil! Poor Howard! (Aside to Mrs. Rigid.)

Albina. That I am- because now I shall hear

something about Mr. Howard. (To Veritas.) Pray, Mr. Tutor-first we'll talk of his looks, if you please-Is he as handsome now?-as charming as ever?

Mrs. Rigid. For shame, Albina! - After what you have just heard from Sir Solomon, how can you condescend to name him? Did not he tell you of his passion for a gamekeeper's daughter? Albina. He did; but

Mrs. Rigid, What, Miss?

Albina. That passion may be only Platonic, you know, governess!

Mrs. Rigid. Look'ye: let me hear no more of Mr. Howard! If you mention his name again, I'll resort to my old mode of punishment-I'll show you I have not forgot the art of locking up, Miss.

Albina. There now! I thought it would come to this! The owner of this immense castle will pass most of her days in one of the closets!

Mrs. Rigid. No murmuring!- but go directly with this worthy man-walk with him to see the park-the plantations.

Albina. Well, since it must be so-come, Mr.-Worthy.

Veritas. (Aside to Albina.) Mum! I am not what I seem-When we're alone I'll communicate-Cousin, we take our leave. Albina. Madam, good day! (Going.).

Enter SIR SOLOMON.

Albina. Oh, Sir Solomon! You're the very person I wanted to see.-Do you know, there's an old

man in the hall, who says he was servant to my grandfather thirty years; and now, because his dogs, killed a hare on your grounds, that he is dismissed from his place, and he and his family must starve!-Dear!-If all your game is purchased at so high a price, I wonder you're not choaked!

Mrs. Rigid. Go where I ordered you, Miss. Sir Solomon and I have business.

Albina. And, Sir-Sir Solomon! How came you to trouble yourself about Mr. Howard's loveaffairs: I tell you what-I believe you're a great poacher; and if I catch you snaring any game on my manor

Mrs. Rigid. Begone, Miss!- Begone directly: Albina. Well: I'm going, governess-I'm going. Come, Mr. Tutor; and if we meet that poor old man by the way, I'll tell him he may kill all the game on my estate; and if that won't keep his family from starving, I'll bid him shoot all Sir Solomon's! I have plenty of money, and I can't dispose of it better than in protecting an old favourite of him who gave it me!-Comegood b'ye. [Veritas and Albina exeunt. Sir Sol. Um! There's the sex! There's true woman!

Mrs. Rigid. I must watch her her disposition alters with her fortune. But, Sir Solomon, now we're alone, what is the secret you promised to communicate to me?

Sir Sol. I'll tell you Mandeville is arrivedI've seen him.

Mrs. Rigid. Seen Mandeville!

Sir Sol. Not half an hour ago-He is now in search of his daughter.

Mrs. Rigid. Mandeville come home!--Mercy!

A

What shall we do? Why, if he once gets hold of her, he'll persuade her to pay his debts-trick her out of the whole fortune!

Sir Sol. I know it. He's a sad profligate; and therefore do you lock up Albina, and I'll lock up Mandeville-We'll keep them apart, till she has got a husband to protect her. I'll go directly, and order Realize to take out a writ.

Mrs. Rigid. Will you?

Sir Sol. I will.-Odsheart!-it was the wish of my life that Howard should marry Albina; but his attachment to other women shows he is not worthy her affections; and his now associating with her father, proves he would waste every shilling of the property-Therefore, the sooner she marries Mr. Veritas, the better. Adieu ! ---Go and lock her up.

Mrs. Rigid. I won't lose a moment. Ah, Sir Solomon! If Mr. Howard had copied the example of his uncle!-If, like you, he had never associated with profligate men, or low-bred women!--- You would not have fixed your affections on a gamekeeper's daughter?

Sir Sol. Me! Lord help you! you suppose such a thing? (Confused.)

How could

Mrs. Rigid. I don't suppose it. I know she is too unpolished-too illiterate

Sir Sol. Psha! She's too young-too-too every thing!-No, Mrs. Rigid, if ever I again become a slave to the tender passions, I should select a woman of your time of life a woman of experience! - Your young things take no pains to please a man; they rely on their youth and beauty: but your middled-aged woman-she is so industrious!--she dresses at you, talks at you,

glances at you——Oh! Time makes women wonderfully dextrous in the art of love! [Exeunt, Mrs. Rigid ogling Sir Solomon.

SCENE-A Garden.

Enter VERITAS and ALBINA.

Veritas. Ha! ha! ha!-I told you I was not what I seemed. It was very well to put on the mask of learning and gravity before Sir Solomon and Mrs. Rigid; but now I'll pull it off-now I'll show you my real character! - Bless you! I'm an honest fellow!-I'm a choice spirit-a buck of the first water!

Albina. And pray, Sir, what made a man of your gaiety become an usher?

Veritas. You shall hear:-I finished my fortune before I finished my education. At Westminster School I found I could keep a curricle— At Oxford I found I could keep a pack of hounds-and in London I found I could not keep myself. So not wishing so much talent should remain in obscurity, I set up for Tutor, in order to disperse my knowledge amongst the rising generation.

is

Albina. Upon my word, the rising generation very much obliged to you.

Veritas. Nay: if I have not done much good, I have done little harm; for with all my follies, of this you may be assured-I never did right without rejoicing at it, or wrong without repenting it. This is my history. And now to apply my talents to the right purpose-to Love!— Here's Mrs. Rigid.