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Prim. There he is! there's the true, genuine, and unadulterated child of nature-Come to thy uncle's arms (GAB. is afraid to leave CRAFTLY's arm). S'life, what are you afraid of, Gabriel? come to thy uncle's arms, I fay! (GAB. leaves CRAFTLY's arm, but finding he can't support himself, staggers and reels back to CRAFTLY) look! now, look at that rural embarraffiment! don't be afhamed, boy, it is worth all the cafe and impudence of town-bred puppies.

Gabr. I'm quite overcome, I affure you, uncle. Prim. Delightful diffidence! you rogue, I've heard of your pranks, of your early rifing every morning, and of your being at home every evening; and if I hadn't, your countenance would have betrayed you:-look at that flush of health (GABR. fmiles)-look at that fofy hue (GABR. burfts cut laughing)-ha, ha! there again! now that's the true broad laugh of innocence and nature.

Gabr. (afide to CRAFT.) I fay, guardy, there's no fear of his finding me out-for ecod! he's as drunk as Chloe,

Prim. But come, where is your other half? If The prove as uncorrupted as yourself, I shan't wait till the year's out, no-I'll fign the fettlement to

morrow.

Enter MRS. LACKBRAIN in a plain Chip Hat,
Cloak, &c.

Craft. That's well, that's a neat cottage drefs. Gabr. Ah! here fhe is, uncle, here's the sweet fource of connubial joy.

Mrs. L. Dear Gabriel!

Gabr. Divine Lydia! (taking her hand and kiffing it.)

Prim. Fond pair! the Golden Age is returned, and I fee-(taking out his handkerchief and balf crying)-I fee they were born to make me the happiest of middle-aged gentlemen.-But now for it, now for the infide.-Odfheart! I forgot though -I must particularly recommend this lady to the attention of you both; fhe is an object of compaf-. fion (taking MRS. B. by the hand,); and, as fuch, I'm fure must be welcome, (GABR. and MRS. L. both draw back.)-Why, what d'ye ftare at? She deferves it, believe me, he deferves it.

Mrs. L. No doubt; but pray, Sir, have you known the lady long?

Prim. Till yesterday I never faw her.

Mrs. L. So I thought :-but this is not a proper place for explanation; pray walk in, and we'll talk further. This way, Ma'am, this way.

--

Prim. Aye, this way.-And now, as the fong

fays,

Henceforth I'll lead a village life,

In cottage moft obfcure-a;

For, with this loving man and wife,
My joys are quite fecure-a.

[Exeunt PRIMITIVE, MRS. B. and MRS. L. Craft. Well, Gabriel, what do you think?

Gabr. Think! that he beats me hollow:-I'm only a child of nature; but, damme! he's a natural. And now, if fpoufe undermines the ftranger

Craft. Aye, once get her out of the house, and Clifford will inftantly take her abroad. You fee that veffel yonder-he's waiting for me to bring him information.

Gabr. Indeed!

Craft. Yes and Marchmont and his daughter are for ever cut out of their chance. So now all's

fafe;

fafe; and while I go to Clifford, do you fend for a lawyer to prepare the fettlement; and then we'll fay the Golden Age is returned.

Gabr. We will; and I'll go fend for a lawyer directly.[Exit CRAFT.]-But now, first for my paddock gentleman: by this time I hope my fervants have found him out, and-dang it! nothing fhall make me forget my promise to cousin baronet and then, let nunky once fign the fettlement, and I'll alfo fay, as the song says

The scene is chang'd, 'tis alter'd quite,
No more I'm fimple Gaby;

I'll learn to dance, to fing, and fight,
And ogle every lady.

[Exit.

Enter SIR

SCENE-A Small Room in the Cottage; a Door in the Flat, a Chair placed near it. HARRY TORPID from Door in Flat.

Sir H. 'Sdeath! this will never do: I have been alone in that dreffing-room these two hours; and though I'm in love, I ftill can't fupport folitudeno, I fhall certainly relapfe, if fomebody don't come and rattle me into an agreeable state of vexation. I feel all the fymptoms, the doze, the ftupor, the numbness.-Egad! I almost long for my friend Gabriel, and his lumps and bumps; any thing in preference to this dying ftyle of living.Ha! a reprieve! I fee the thing of all others likely to produce agitation-a petticoat! and, no doubt, Mrs. Gabriel. I'll return to the dreffingroom.-[Re enters.]

Enter

Enter PRIMITIVE and MRS. BELFORD. Prim. Now do, for my fake, pray, pray justify yourself.

Mrs. B. Sir, I have told you I am flandered.

Prim. Well but confider, what Mrs. Gabriel fays is perfectly true; I know nothing of your hiftory, fhe does; and if I fhould defile this innocent abode, by introducing to it a perfon of fufpicious

character

Mrs. B. Sufpicious!

Prim. Pardon me; thefe were my niece's words, not mine: and when he added, her husband's conftancy might be corrupted

Mrs. B. Corrupted! and by me!-Sir, I can only answer, I am innocent; and if this be doubted, let me be gone, I know, by lofing you, I've loft my beft, my only friend; but if you think I'd be indebted for my fafety to thofe who fay I would difgrace my benefactor, and mar connubial and domestic love, you know but little of me. I cannot guefs the motive for their cruelty; nor fhould I, by accufing others, vindicate myfelf; but let me tell you, Sir, flander is a rank and poifonous weed, and never yet took root in pure unfullied ground.

Prim. Well then, why don't you explain yourfelf?-Plague on't! why not tell me your name, your family, your hiftory?-Come now do, do be good-natured.

Mrs. B. Alas! I dare not.

Prim. Dare not!

Mrs. B. No; my pride won't fuffer me and my story would but expofe one, whom, fpite of all my wrongs, I ftill am weak enough to pulls out ber bandkerchief and weeps.)-Afk me no morepity me, and let me begone.

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Prim. (half crying.) 'Tis all over-I fee 'tis all over.-Farewell!

Mrs. B. Farewell! and, for the fervice you have rendered me, my gratitude fhall only die with me. -(Going, fhe returns and kies his hand.)-Oh! I did hope you would have proved a father to me.

Prim. Did you? (weeps.) My poor daughter hoped the fame-but I deferted her. I-go; fince you won't communicate, I entreat you go: for pity's fake, don't let us be bidding farewell all night.-(Takes out a purse, and puts it in her hand) There, you know where to apply when you want more; you understand me; whilft I have a guinea, you shall never want a part of it.

Mrs. B. Blefs you! blefs you, Sir !-But I forgot; I have left fome drawings and manuscripts in the next room, may I venture to return for them?

Prim. You may: but if you fee me when you come back, don't fpeak to me; we've had enough of leave-taking-damn it! another farewell would. choak me.-[Exit MRS. BELFORD.]-Poor foul ! I hope 'tis no crime to pity her.-And, fpite of the chafte fociety of the Cottage, I've a great mind to call her back, and-no, no, I mustn't risk defiling fo spotlefs and immaculate a scene.-Heigho! I'll fit down and compose myself.-(Looks round.) — Ay, ay, in that chair I may reft unfeen by her while the paffes.-(Pointing to the chair near the Aat.)-Yes, here I may be quiet.—(Sits in it.)— And if I can but fleep and forget her.-Poor foul! the hoped I might have proved a father to her.Poor foul!-(falls back and dozes.)

(SIR HARRY opens door, which is exactly bebind the chair, but don't push it far enough to hit the chair.)

8

Sir H.

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