52 The estate, you know, is to be made over to him. Now, if I could wheedle him, sister, ha? you understand me?

Mrs. For. I do; and will help you, to the utmost of my power. And I can tell you one thing that falls out luckily enough; my aukward daughter-in-law, who, you know, is designed to be his wife, is grown fond of Mr. Tattle; now, if we can improve that, and make her have an aversion for the booby, it may go a Here they come great way towards his liking you. together; and let us contrive some way or other to leave them together.

Enter TATTLE and Miss PRUE.

Miss P. Mother, mother, mother, look here? you Mrs. For. Fie, fie, miss, how you bawl!-Besides, I have told you, you must not call me mother.

Miss P. What must I call you then? are you not my father's wife?

Mrs. For. Madam; you must say madam.—By my soul, I shall fancy myself old indeed, to have this great girl call me mother.-Well, but, miss, what are you so overjoyed at ?

Miss P. Look you here, madam, then, what Mr. Tattle has given me.-Look you here, cousin; here's a snuff-box; nay, there's snuff in't-here, will you have any?-Oh good! how sweet it is!-Mr. Tattle is all over sweet; his peruke is sweet, and his gloves are sweet-and his handkerchief is sweet, pure sweet,

sweeter than roses,-smell him, mother-madam, I mean.—He gave me this ring, for a kiss.

Tatt. O fie, miss; you must not kiss, and tell.

Miss P. Yes; I may tell my mother-and he says he'll give me something to make me smell so.-Oh, pray lend me your handkerchief.-Smell, cousin; he says, he'll give me something that will make my smocks smell this way. Is not it pure?-It's better than la. vender, mun.-I'm resolved I won't let nurse put any more lavender among my smocks-ha, cousin? Mrs. F. Fie, miss; amongst your linen you must say-you must never say smock.

Miss P. Why, it is not bawdy, is it, cousin?

Tatt. Oh, madam! you are too severe upon miss : you must not find fault with her pretty simplicity; it becomes her strangely.-Pretty miss, don't let them persuade you out of your innocency!

Mrs. For. Oh, demn you, toad!—I wish you don't persuade her out of her innocency.

Tatt. Who I, madam ?—O Lord, how can your las dyship have such a thought ?—sure you don't know

me!

Mrs. F. Ah, devil, sly devil-He's as close, sister, as a confessor.-He thinks we don't observe him.

Mrs. For. A cunning cur! how soon he could find out a fresh harmless creature-and left us, sister, presently.

Tatt. Upon reputation

Mrs. F. They're all so, sister, these men-they love

to have the spoiling of a young creature; they are as fond of it, as of being first in the fashion, or of seeing a new play the first day.-I warrant it would break Mr. Tattle's heart, to think that any body else should be before-hand with him!

Tatt. Oh, Lord, I swear I would not for the worldMrs. F. O, hang you; who'll believe you?-You'll be hang'd before you'd confess—we know you-she's very pretty!—Lord, what pure red and white!—she looks so wholesome;—ne'er stir, I don't know, but I fancy if I were a man

Miss P. How you love to jeer one, cousin.

Mrs. For. Hark'ee, sister-by my soul, the girl is spoiled already-d'ye think she'll ever endure a great lubberly tarpawlin ?-Gad, I warrant you she won't let him come near her, after Mr. Tattle.

Mrs. F. On my soul, I'm afraid not-eh! filthy creature, that smells all of pitch and tar!-Devil take you, you confounded toad-why did you see her before she was married;

Mrs. For. Nay, why did we let him?-My husband will hang us-he'll think we brought them acquainted.

Mrs. F. Come, faith, let us be gone-If my brother Foresight should find us with them, he'd think so, sure enough.

Mrs. For. So he would-but then the leaving them together is as bad-and he's such a sly devil, he'll never miss an opportunity.

Mrs. F. I don't care; I won't be seen in it.

Mrs. For. Well, if you should, Mr. Tattle, you'll have a world to answer for: remember, I wash my hands of it; I'm thoroughly innocent.

[Exeunt Mrs. Frail and Mrs. Foresight.

Miss P. What makes them go away, Mr. Tattle ?— What do they mean, do you know?

Tatt. Yes, my dear-I think I can guess-but hang me if I know the reason of it.

Miss P. Come, must not we go too?

Tatt. No, no; they don't mean that.

Miss P. No what then? What shall you and I do together?

Tatt. I must make love to you, pretty miss; will you let me make love to you?

What a pox does Mrs.

Miss P. Yes, if you please. Tatt. Frank, egad, at least. Foresight mean by this civility? Is it to make a fool of me or does she leave us together out of good morality, and do as she would be done by? Egad, I'll understand it so. [Aside.

Miss P. Well, and how will you make love to me? -Come, I long to have you begin.-Must I make love too? You must tell me how.

Tatt. You must let me speak, miss; you must not speak first. I must ask you questions, and you must

answer.

Miss P. What, is it like the catechism?-Come then, ask me.

Tatt. D'ye think you can love me?

Miss P. Yes.

Tatt. Pooh, pox, you must not say yes already. I shan't care a farthing for you then, in a twinkling. Miss P. What must I say then?

Tatt. Why you must say no; or, believe not; or, you can't tell.

Miss P. Why, must I tell a lie then?

Tatt. Yes, if you'd be well-bred. All well-bred persons lie-Besides, you are a woman; you must never speak what you think: your words must contradict your thoughts; but your actions may contradict your words. So, when I ask you, if you can love me, you must say no; but you must love me too.If I tell you you are handsome, you must deny it, and say, I flatter you. But you must think yourself more charming than I speak you-and like me for the beauty which I say you have, as much as if I had it myself. If I ask you to kiss me, you must be angry; but you must not refuse me. If I ask you for more, you must be more angry, but more complying; and as soon as ever I make you say, you'll cry out, you must be sure to hold your tongue.

Miss P. O Lord, I swear this is pure !—I like it better than our old-fashioned country way of speaking one's mind.And must not you lie too?

Tatt. Hum!-Yes; but you must believe I speak truth. Miss P. O Gemini! Well, I always had a great mind to tell lies-but they frighted me, and said it was a sin.

Tatt. Well, my pretty creature, will you make me happy by giving me a kiss?