Enter from the House STERNLY and Farmer NIGHT♪

SHADE.

Sternly. Enough-I'll tell Sir Edward.-Good day!

Nightshade. Good day!

Sternly. Remember now-be more than ever wary:

Nightshade. Fear not this fecures me (hewing purfe, and exit STERNLY): but plague on't; I can't manage without a fervant; and this Yorkfhire rafcal that I fent for one-what the devil is become of him?

Henry (Looking out from behind the wing). It's he! I know him now (comes forward with LAURETTA). So, Mafter Nightshade, you want a fervant, don't you?

Nightshade. I do, Squire Sapling-want mainly and fent my ploughman

one

Henry. I know it, and I've brought one-ee (pointing to LAURETTA)-I'm fure you'll take my recommendation.

Nightfbade. That I will, fir-and thank you for this timely service; besides, I like the lad's countenance he looks difcreet and trufty :-come along, boy.-Only this, fir,-I hope he don't mind folitude-we fee nobody at Ivy Farm.

Henry. All the better-isn't it, boy?there -now you're safe, till I inform your father, and return (afide to LAURETTA).-Adieu!--You've get a treafure, Nightfhade.

Nightfbade. I think I have, fir

and as

to my lazy Yorkshireman-if he don't come home directly, he fha'n't come home at all.

Henry. And ferve him right (NIGHTSHADE and LAURETTA exeunt).-Low-lifed, fcurrilous blockhead!I dare fay he is now all the time at the public

public-house, boafting that he's cousin to a lady.Well-with all my heart-I only know it is impoffible he can be a coufin to my lady.-Yes:there's a native elegance-a fort of noble indefcribable-and I'd a dream that fo reviv'd and riverted my love-(going.)-Heh! who is walking yonder with that coxcomical-By heaven! Honoria, and the bufband they design her!-and see -he kneels to her-he kiffes her hand--and fhe permits it!-So, fohe likes him-fne prefers him!-Oh! after all, give me the woman who turns off cooks and lap-dogs; not her who selects privileg'd men-and that decides it. I'm for her ladyship and London.

Enter THOMAS baftily.

Thomas. Sir, Lady Senfitive has fent me posthafte with this letter.

دو

Henry. I'm glad on't.-I long to hear from her -I figh to fee her dear delicious hand!—Oh, that that for the falfe Honoria's letter (taking it from his pocket, and throwing it down).-Now let me dwell on a fuperior compofition(reads). "You know too well my tender nature; and if "you do not fet off for London directly, you will never see me more.' Sweet innocent! how I have neglected her!-(reading on.) "Never, you "falt-water favage !-Thanks to your uncle, Bob "is arriv'd-my Yorkshire coufin Bob, fir!-and "if you don't quit this Mifs Honoria Thingam"bob, I'll come down-fhoot you-ftab her"and poifon myfelf!-My head goes round and "round-I write this between my fits-and have

already emptied the laudanum, hartfhorn, and "all the other bottles in the houfe.-Yours, &c. "A. Senfitive.". -Pheugh! (trembles and lets the letter fall.)-I fhall have a fit myfelf-Thomas!

you

you don't believe that is her ladyfhip's hand, do you, Thomas?

Thomas. Sir, I faw her write it.

Henry. Did you, Thomas?-Perhaps then I didn't read it rightly—I'll just look again—(Takes up HONORIA's letter by mistake, and reads)." One "who pities the unfortunate-who was the friend "of Mrs. St. Orme," Confufion, fhame(bursts into tears).-Oh fool! fool!-And you, fir,-you, who must have known this grofs decep

tion

Thomas. Nay, fir,-what could I do?-nothing would open your eyes-nothing!-for don't you remember, in one of her faintings, when you fent for the great physician?

--

Henry. I do and 'itead of phyfic, he prefcrib'd bank notes; and on putting a twenty pound one into her hand, fhe leer'd at it, jump'd up-and went shopping directly!-Oh, I perceive it nowbrought up at fea and in the country, I know but little of the world, and never fhall-feeing no joy in guilt myfelf, I can't conceive how others fhould purlue it.

Thomas. Aye: but how will you ftop her, fir? fhe'll come down and kill us all, and-Oh Lord;-here he is-I'm frighten'd out of my fenfes.

Henry. Frighten'd!at what, blockhead ? (trembling and turning away.)-Look out-dues the leem very violent?

Thomas. No, fir-Now I look again, it feems a different perfon.

Henry (looking). Yes: it is a different perfon -Honoria flying from her lover! treating him with fcorn and indignation!-and look here nowI'm more afraid of her than of the other;-I can't encounter her kind virtuous fmiles, becaufe I feel

I don't

I don't deserve them-I'm all perplexity and fear -pick up the letter-come along this moment; and if you'd never be the wretch that I am, take a wife, Thomas-Oh, there's rapture in the worda wife to me is a hip well man'd, a profperous. pilot, a fuccefsful voyage, victory, prize money, and first lord of the admiralty.

[Exit with THOMAS.

Enter HONORIA baftily.

Honoria. Gone! avoid me!-leave me to the mercy of this infulting coxcomb!-Surely it was Henry but perhaps he faw me not; or if he did, knew not the ferious danger I'm expofed to.Alone, unprotected, and menac'd by an artful wretch, whofe heart's unmanly as his form; who, with a look effeminate, conceals a favage and ferocious mind. How fhall I fhun him?-how reach home in fafety?

Enter PAUL POSTPONE and Servant.

Paul. Very well, that's Ivy Farm; and Lauretta is difguis'd in a green coat, white waistcoat, round hat enough. Tell Sir Edward that the witness is fecure, and, in law or in mufic, that Paul is first fiddle.

Honoria, Oh, Mr. Poftpone, I'm fo glad to fee Now I'm fafe-I'm fure you'll give protection to a timid, helpiefs woman.

you.

Paul. That I will-but as I told you before, it must be in the long vacation-I hav'n't a moment now-unlefs, indeed-Lord! fhe's quite overcoming-and, if I thought witness wouldn't escape again-but no, no-away, Cupid! Remember it's the affizes.-(Croffes Honoria to go into Farm-Houfe.)

Honoria.

Honoria. Then I must protect myself for yonder's my tormentor, ftill feeking to infult me-fir, I fhall not reproach you, but when expos'd to infolence and peril

Paul (not regarding her, but looking out). Oho! are you there, my little-"toll de roll loll." -(Singing and capering )

Honoria. How!-treat me with ridicule and fcorn?-Oh Henry! is it not hard that none have feeling to defend and fave me?

[Exit. Paul (till looking out and recurring to his pocket book). Green coat! white waiftcoat! round hat ! -"toll de roll loll."

Enter PRIVILEGE baftily.

(N. B. previously to this Scene, he must appear in Green Coat, &c. fo as to refemble LAURETTA'S Drefs as nearly as poffible.)

Privilege. There fhe goes. Oh Lord! how I am fatigu'd! But I'll after her! Paul (coming before him, fmiling, bis bat before his face with one band, other offering the fubpana). Take it, I'm naturally to modest and

very thought makes me blush fo, foul I'm asham'd to look at you. you?

and putting and with the will you?Really the that upon my Take it, will

Privilege. Afham'd to look at me? Why who the devil are you? and what's this?

Paul. The fubpoena, you cunning little rogue! and the next time you difguife yourself, do it better-for to pay you the compliment that's due to you, fo far from any thing coarfe or mafculine, curle me if ever I faw a more feminine delicate creature in my life; never-and I shan't want gallantry