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upholsterer, and her milliner.-Oh, yes ;-fhe carries it fo far, that t'other day, when her humanity threw her into a fpunging house, she didn't let me know it, for a whole half hour, Sternly ;-But I forget- I promised to return in three days, and every poft overfet the mail with love letters. And that I may be punctual, now to vifit nunky.(Going.)

Sternly. Stop-that isn't the way to divert Sir Edward's gloom, he and Mrs. Sapling keep the honeymoon at Delauney houfe-and there you'll find Mifs Honoria álfo-and fo, good day

Henry. Pooh! What do I care for Mifs Honoria? I tell you the word "Wife," is to me flavery-chains-leaks--fhort allowance-fea-ficknefs-and a prefs-gang-no-let me be a free man -go where I like-do what I like-ftayZounds! there's the mail coach-I must make hafte with my love-letters, or there'll be more fits, hartshorn, laudanum, and cordials, [Exeunt.

SCENE.-An Apartment at an Inn,
PAUL POSTPONE (without).

Waiter! Waiter!

Waiter. (Witbout.) Coming, Sir,-coming. Paul. (Without.) Where is this room, and the wine, and the fandwiches?

Waiter (without). Here, your honour-all ready,

Enter PAUL POSTPONE in a Tavelling Drefs-bis Clerk with a bag--and two Waiters, with Table, Chairs, Wine, and Sandwiches.

Paul. (taking off his Hat, and puffing and fanning bimjelf.) Pheugh! What a fagging life is mine!Never a moment's relaxation!--No fooner the drudgery of term over, than brought from London

to

to flave at the affizes here-and on a Saturdaythe day I always run down to my Brentford villa but here (Jeeing wine, &c.)—here's confolationClerk! fit down, Clerk.

Clerk. Sir, I thank you-but really it is time to go into the cafe now-confider, fir, you have so put it off from day to day, that you hav'n't even read your client's inftructions.

Paul. (having fat down.)-Pha-time enough to-morrow and never-never talk business on an empty ftomach, (eating and drinking) Waiter!tell us fomething about your town-whofe fine feat is that on the hill?

Waiter. Mr. Scrip's-a ftock-jobber, fir.

Paul. And the large ftone houfe in the valley? Waiter. Mr. Shortstuff's, fir-another stockjobber.

Paul. Two ftock-jobbers !-damme, that's two much for one town.-Clerk, here's, " may lame ducks multiply." (both drink.)

Enter STERNLY.

Sternly. Mr. Poftpone, I understand-happy to wait on a gentleman fo celebrated for honeftyinduftry-(bowing.)

Paul. Sir! (bowing in return, but not quitting bis feat.)

Sternly. I am fent by Sir Edward Delauny, to beg you'll come inftantly to his house, and confult on the cafe.

Paul. Sir, my compliments to Sir Edward,and in the first place, never ftir till the bottle's out and, in the next, bid him not be afraid-I'll bring him off.

Sternly. Bring him off! why, he's the profecutor. Clerk (afide across the table).-There, fir, I told you how it would be.

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Paul.

Paul. (rifing.) True-true-as you fay, he's the profecutor and the prifoner's name is Thomfon--no-Johnstone-no-but stop-stop--what was I going to afk you?-fomething very material-oh-does Sir Edward keep hounds? Sternly. Yes, fir.

Paul. And hunters?
Sternly. Yes, fir.

Paul. And pray-any fteel traps in the neighbourhood?-for once at my Brentford villa, my horfe was caught by the foreleg, and fmafh went I -right through a cucumber frame.-Laid me up a whole term

Sternly. Sir, I'm very forry; but with fubmiffion, we are all most anxious for your opinion; and if our only witnefs can't be found, what think you of that part of the cafe, about the Scotch marriage? -of a poor half-pay lieutenant, like St. Orme, deluding thus the noble Mifs Delauny?

Paul. Scotch-Oh, ay :-I recollect nowbut that won't do-will it, Clerk ?-no-there's no legal harm in Scotch marriages; because if the parties chufe to stay there nine months, the first child is a Northcountryman; and, to their credit, they always provide for their families.-That's my opinion and now let the reft ftand over-enough quite enough for one morning.

Sternly. Nay: Sir Edward is waiting, and Mr. and Mrs. Sapling expect you at their Sylvan fête, Paul. Sylvan fête !

Sternly. Aye: an entertainment of dancing and finging, given to amufe their hoft, and celebrate their wedding.

Paul. Come along, Clerk-now the morning's broke in upon, we may as well make a day of it; and in a few years-Yes; let me work in the hard manner I do now, only a few years longer,

and

and I'll give musical parties! Though a dealer in difcord, I delight in harmony, and, if finging be a requifite--I'll chaunt a bill of cofts with any gentleman on the roll.

Sternly. Stay, fir.-One word in private-Sir Edward bid me hint to you, that in case of conviction, your fees fhould be trebled.

Paul. Then Sir Edward did wrong.-If the poor fellow's guilty, let him fuffer-if not, bribes fhan't convict him; law is fufficiently profitable, without a man turning rafcal to live by it.-Yes, fir: and, much as I like bufinefs, I've no objection to a little pleasure, and how can I feel any if I fubmit to be corrupted-Come, Clerk-to-morrow for labour-to-day for mirth and revelry. [Exeunt.

SCENE.-Delauny House at a distance-Park Gates opening to extenfive Park.

Enter HENRY SAPLING and THOMAS.

Henry. Away to town express-say that I feel her abfence infupportable, and will return to-night ➖➖yet stop-what's this you tell me about poor St. Orme?

Thomas. Why, fir-I heard that Lieutenant St. Orme, who fail'd home with us from America, was now in the county gaol.

Henry. Impoffible! but if it prove as you relate, he and his daughter fhall not want a friendno-I will feek Lauretta and her father

Thomas. Seek his daughter!-Lord, fir-you quite frighten me-you forget that Lady Senfiuve is fo anxious to keep you to herself, fir-

Henry. So fhe is-tis a pleafure to think of itfweet fufceptible foul!-don't you remember the day before we left town, Tom, how the burst into tears when I patted her lap dag?" I see,”—faid

fhe

fhe" your partiality, and either I or that little ugly French monfter leave the houfe, Mr. Sapling!" and afterwards at dinner, when I prais'd the dreffing of fome of the made difhes- I was right,"-faid fhe-and the rufh'd down ftairs, and ditcharged the cook instantly.-Oh! these are all proofs of her affe&tion and my happiness-fo mind

not a word of St. Orme and Lauretta. (Thomas exit.)-And now to vifit nunky at Delauny house here (Turns up stage and starts).—Ha!Who is that yourg lady walking and reading in the park?-upon my word, fomething very handfome and very extraordinary!-I don't think I ever faw any thing of this kind in London-fhe's certainly very different from Lady Senfitive, and yet-somehow not at all uninteresting! fhe's coming this way-'gad! if I thought Tom were out of fight, and her ladyship wouldn't hear of it, I fhould like just to ascertain-she's here!-So it's no fault of mine-every body fees I can't help myself.

Enter HONORIA through the Park Gate with a Book.

Honoria. Welcome to England, fir-after an abfence of four tedious years, welcome to your native home.

Henry. (bowing.) Madam!-I-I—

Honoria. What! don't you recollect me? Nay that's unkind, Mr. Henry-forget the companion of your early years!-forget Honoria!

Henry. Honoria! blefs my foul-how you are improv'd that is, altered-that is mean how different you are from the London ladies. Honoria. What!—because you find me reading?

-Nay you wrong them

Henry. I don't they never open a book-never

for

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