Will. Yes, Sir; a lady answering Mrs. Belford's defcription, was feen this morning at a farm-house about eight miles off.

Clif. Indeed!-my hopes revive, and she shall anfwer for her haughty conduct. Come, fhew me the way.

Sir H. What, will you leave me alone, Jack? Clif. You! why I thought you were going to Tunbridge.

Sir H. Yes; but I'd rather go with you. It will be luxury to the folitude of a poft-chaife; and, befides, who knows but this is the very woman I'm to fall in love with.

Clif. Have a care, Sir; cross me in my paffion, and

Sir H. You'll blow my brains out?-There I defy you; for, if I thought I had any, I fhould have done them that honour many years ago. But come now, a friend may be useful; you may want his advice, his affiftance.

Clif. Well, I don't like to part with you; fo

allons.

Sir H. Allons: and now I ftart fair again.But hold, hold-all right and honourable, I hope? -One had better do nothing, than do badly: and, to fight against time, a man must fleep of nightsaye, and of days too: fo remember, Jack, you found me fleeping; and don't, by drawing me into a bad a&ion, deprive me of the best friend I have

in the world.

[Exeupt.

SCENE-A Room at Mrs. DECOY'S.

Enter Mrs. DECOY and BETTY.

Mrs. D. Ha! ha! the day's our own:-they're fnar'd, they're caught; and your ruin'd mistress will once more roll in wealth and fplendour.

Betty. She will, Madam; and all owing to your coming to this town on a matrimonial fpeculation. Mrs. D. Matrimonial fpeculation indeed, Betty! -Yes, when a run of luck had reduced me to the laft fhilling, didn't I tell you I would go to a watering place, and fave myself by catching a golden calf? And I've fucceeded; and how?-fimply, by telling Mr. Craftly I was heiress to a rich baronet; devoted to retirement; and would give him twelve hundred pounds, and a third of what's fettled on me, merely for his trouble in confenting. Betty. I know. But are you fure of your hufband's wealth?

His

Mrs. D. Oh, there you may truft me. uncle, now in Jamaica, lately changed his name to Primitive, for a fortune of two hundred thousand pounds; and, in confequence of his daughter's death, adopted his nephew Gabriel, and appointed Mr. Craftly his guardian-and a rare guardian he is ! While he is nightly picking up a few pounds at his library, here have I, at one throw, raffled myfelf into a provifion for life.

Betty. You have, Ma'am; and I'm fure Mr. Gabriel's a lucky man.

Mrs. D. That's more than I know: he's but the husband of neceffity: my coufin, my dear Sir Harry Torpid is the object of my choice.-But

filence!

filence! here are the two Gabies: I muft fupport

my character.

[Exit BETTY.

Enter CRAFTLY and GABRIEL.

Craft. (bowing all refpe&t, &c.) Madam, my ward has told me of your condefcenfion; and though you laughed at him about Meters and Tafio

Gabr. Laughed at me! Lord help you! why Mrs. Decoy isn't fingular there; and, if it wou'dn't make her jealous, I could tell her that all the women do the fame :-yes, other young bucks may boaft that the dear creatures fmile upon them; but, icod! I never look them in the face that they arn't in an absolute roar, he! he!

Craft. True; Gaby's an eternal fource of goodhumour. And now, if you've nothing further to propose

Mrs. D. Nothing, Sir: only, to prevent the poffibility of any mifunderstanding, I hope Mr. Gabriel has no objections to feparate fervants, feparate incomes,-in fhort, a feparate establishment?

Gabr. None at all, Ma'am: if you wish it, I'll fign articles of feparation firft, and marry you afterwards; I will, with all my heart and foul; that is, if Guardy approves, for I always obey him.

Craft. Good boy! and this marriage is a reward for your obedience. But now to read Mr. Primitive's letter, in lieu of fettlement. Liften, for 'tis most important.-(reads) "Dear coufin "Craftly, Although I difapprove of early mar

riages, (having in the perfon of my unfortunate daughter feen the fatal effects of them,) yet, as I "intend fhortly to return to England, I beg you "will felect for Gabriel a wife of a quiet, retired "difpofition;

"difpofition; and if, after refiding with them at "the cottage one twelvemonth, I approve of their " conduct, I hereby pledge myself to settle on "them two thoufand a year during my life, and "the bulk of my fortune after my decease."

Gabr. Bravo, nunky! Dang it, we fhall be up to our chins in clover, Ma'am.

Craft. Stop; here's an awful provifo.-(reads) "But if, on the contrary, I find them unworthy

my esteem, I shall not only revoke this promise, "but confider myself at liberty to adopt whoever "I think proper. Paul Primitive."

Gabr. That awful! rot it, it's main hard if we can't keep worthy for a twelvemonth. Besides, who elfe is he to adopt?

Craft. Who! why, the child of this unfortunate daughter he speaks of. Though he deferted her in confequence of her marrying Marchmont, he was ftill doatingly fond of her; and if Rofa fhould throw herself in her grandfather's way-

Mrs. D. True; the fight of her might revive fenfations

Craft. Never fear; I've been aware of all that; and Marchmont and his daughter fhall be kept out of the way. There are arrears of rent-and neither of them fhall fee Mr. Primitive.-Mum!

Enter a SERVANT.

Serv. Madam, the clergyman is this moment arrived.

Mrs. D. The clergyman! Lord! I'm fo embarraffed-ar'n't you, Mr. Gabriel?

Gabr. Why, I do feel fomewhat furried; but it's because I'm not used to it; if I was like you, I should not mind it. Lord bless you, I fhall be

quite bold and comfortable the next time I marry. But come, first for the ceremony, then for the cottage.

Mrs. D. Ay, then for the cottage; and when we get there, I hope Mr. Craftly will recollect that we fhall want feveral new and additional articles of furniture.

Craft. I know; and, as it will give me a confequence in the town, I beg you'll fo far indulge me, that whatever either of you want I may befpeak of my own tradesmen in my own name.

Gabr. Icod, we'll indulge you; and to begin, bespeak us a set of high horfes and low carriages. Mrs. D. Ay; a dafhing curricle, and a gay fociable.

Gabr. No, not that; because, if we've a feparate establishment, any thing fociable will knock all up, you know. No, if we muft travel together, we'll have such a carriage as Mr. and Mrs. Jar have -a wide postchaife, with a fine thick partition between us; that's the way to prevent wrangling. But now for it; now for the clergyman; and then, Gaby, receive the reward of thy youth, thy beauty, and thy accomplished manners.

END OF THE FIRST ACT.