Enter Dr. Pliable. Oh Doctor! thee art the very man-we dan't knaw how to tell a good round fib-now thee can't help us without trouble.-(Sophia intercedes) He can! for at the club, he's next to old Lieutenant Jobbins. Doctor. Next to old Lieutenant Jobbins! Giles. Aye; and but for his ftory of the Algerines-don't thee remember?-When feized on by three furious Algerines; two of their heads he cut off in a twinkling-but for the third-icod! he fwore the third did cut off his !-and ever fince, inftead of "That's a lie!"-the club all fay that "'Tis a Jobbins!" when if thee'd had'ft thy right, I must confefs they would have faid it was "a Doctor." Doctor. Silence, Sir-no impertinence and let me inftantly fend Mrs. Villars to detect her hufband. Giles. Detect her husband! Doctor. Ay let me fee, if she'll repeat to me→ "There lies your way, Doctor;"-no-I can now convince her he is gone to Lady Davenant. Sophia. Gone to Lady Davenant!-impoffible! -Heavens!-who told you this? Giles. Who!-why Jobbins!—and as I do think thee wilt get more by going to cure thy patients, than by coming here to kill other people-there lies thy way, Doctor!-there lies-'Raten! didn't I tell thee fhe had loft her child? Doctor. Well! if you did-what's that to-look'ye, Sir-your aunt has proof Giles. And look you, Sir-in Mr. Villar's abfence, I be the man o' the houfe-his wife be under my protection and fince both aunt and thee do feem main fond of scandal: knaw, I shall watch her all night long-and fo far reprefent her husband, that that she shall feel no forrow I can help!-fo there be thy door-here mine-and now, Soph-'ftead of a low and odious falfhood-now for an honest, gentlemanly plumper. Doctor. 'Sdeath, Sir!-this won't do you must apologize Giles. Muft I? Doctor. Ay: you must ask pardon ! Giles. Icod! you muft fhew I the way, then-for as I dan't offend, fo I's not apt to ftoop or kneel -never except at church-and if thee'd oftener try that mode-he! he !-mayhap thee would'ft be less upon thy knees elsewhere! Doctor. Mighty well, Sir-but I'll inftantly report you to your aunt-fhe-fhe fhall talk to you Giles. Let her and let I talk to her of her cruel 'haviour to Soph and her lover-and-but -I won't ferve her, as thee do ferve Mr. Villars-I won't judge aforehand-for by the law of this land every perfon be innocent, till they be prov'd guilty-always "hear it out" I fay-and you do knaw it were three whole clubs before I did shake my head at thee and Jobbins-fo I do with thee fafe through the foreft-don't thee, Soph ? Sophia. Indeed I do-for 'tis a dark and dreary road. Giles. Ay: and alone, and in bad company!dang it-I be quite frighten'd for him-for when we cross it on long wintery nights, we call in conscience to amufe us-and that we ever may-come -let us lofe no time in doing good-but hedang it! I be quite frighten'd for him. [Exit with Sophia. Doctor. Frighten'd for me!-plague on the fellow for putting fuch thoughts in my head;-but pfha!-Frank has already rid me of one fear-and - D4 though though I came to fecure Mifs Gurnet's marriage, by keeping Mrs, Villars from her uncle-yet ftill they can't prevent it-no-and that accomplish'd, I will atone in earnest-for I begin to feel the guilty have the worst on't-and fo far I agree with Mr. Giles-d-n me, I wish I was fafe through the foreft? [Exit. SCENE-The Street in the Town.-Outfide of Dr. Pliable's and Mifs Gurnet's Houfes. Enter Tourly with the basket-the bandage is removed from bis eyes. Tourly. So here's a blind bargain !—and never was poor traveller more completely trick'd by a rafcally jack o' lantern.-He is gone-and when I pull'd the bandage off, and peep'd into the basket— and faw a little fleeping, ruddy-Oh! I shall live the laughing stock of Oxford-of the world!—I hear them there goes Charles Tourly and his basket! -unlefs-and there again!-the mark's rubb'd out! -the mark's effac'd!-I cannot find it in the town, Enter Jack Analyse. Jack. Oh! I'm glad I've found you-we want your management-Sir Andrew is about to form a match, that will for ever part me from Sophia— and were we free, we might prevent this dreaded union-but, as it is, the doctor and his myrmidons Tourly. I know and could I find-(runs to a door in the wing, and examines it,)—what's herepo-curfe it Jack. Why, what the devil are you poking after? Tourly. Tourly (examining door after door). What's that to any body?—and chiefly you, Jack, who'll crow over my bad management-who'll chuckle-(coming against Mifs Gurnet's door.)-Huzza! for the honour of Oxford!-Oh! Sinon and his Trojan horfe-Columbus and his new world-Sir Ifaac Newton and his folar fyftem-they will be nothing to Charles Tourly and his little scratch! (rings loudly at the door.) Jack. Zounds!-whofe is that house? Tourly. Curfe me, if I know or care-but I'll teach them to play tricks on travellers! (Enter David, the Servant, from Mifs Gurnet's boufe.) It won't do, my lad! - here's your prefent back again! (giving him the basket.) David. Prefent back!-Oh! from the alderman ! (afide.)-'Tis little Peter, isn't it? Tourly. Yes-yes-'tis little Peter! Tourly, No-I'm paid handfomely-and now you're paid hand fomely-(Servant exit into house with the basket.)-Take care of the door-and now we'll go pay the Doctor handsomely-look! -(baking purse,)—a hundred guineas?—heh!— who's cock of the party now? Jack. Heavens!-how could you get a hundred guineas? Tourly. How!-by playing blindman's buff, my boy! (Enter Sir Andrew Analyse behind.)-By catching fome poor devil in the dark! (pointing to Mifs Gurnet's house,)—but now to find the Doctor -and then-Oh Jack! if carrying baskets always be fo profitable, that (napping his fingers,) for old Oxford and the Temple !-my court of practice fhall be Covent Garden,-dear-darling-jovial Covent Garden! [Exit with Jack. Sir And. (advancing.) So-(fanning himself with bis bat,) still in the basket!-upon my word, this 1 is the most extraordinary(Looking out.) That fellow again! and Jack with him! Zounds! I'il look into it, and if I find I am imposed upon, I'll be a great Encyclopedia of revenge. [Exit. SCENE-An Apartment at Mifs Gurnet's. Enter Mifs Gurnet and David. Mifs G. Very well-poor little Peter, and faft asleep, you say? David. Yes, Ma'am. Mifs G. And in my dreffing-room? David. Yes, Ma'am; little Peter is fast asleep in your dreffing-room. Mifs G. Then, mind he is not d:fturbed till(Sir Andrew Speaks behind.) Retire-here is Sir Andrew. [Exit David. Enter Sir Andrew Analyfe. Sir And. Pha!-I'll rid it from my mind-I'll banish low fufpicion, and think only-(afide.)Yes" look in her face, and I forget it all,”. my dear Mifs Gurnet Mifs G. Oh Sir Andrew! Sir And. Here is the herald of approaching blifs -here is the licence-and below my fteward waits to hear how beft our nuptials can be crown'd with eaftern fplendour and magnificence! Mifs G. Nay, Sir Andrew-the heart.that's full of conftancy and love, admits no room for worldly, oftentatious thoughts-and when I think-Oh! how could Mrs. Villars fo negle&—— Sir And. Don't talk of her-I lov'd her as my own child; nurs'd, watch'd, educated her, and though he has flander'd and forgotten her old uncle-no-I have forgotten her and fhe fhall fee |