all but himself. But he muft quickly refolve, for next week his wife's month will be up.

Jen. He promised to call about four.

Mrs. Mech. But don't let him think we are at a lofs for a husband; there is to my knowledge a merchant's clerk in the city, a comely young man, and comes of good friends, that will take her with but a fmall place in the custom-house.

Jen. He fhall know it.

Mrs. Mech. Ay, and tell him, that the party's party has intereft enough to obtain it whenever he will. And then the bridegroom may put the purchase-money too of that fame presentation into his pocket.

Jen. Truly, ma'am, I fhould think this would prove the best match for the lady.

Mrs. Mech. Who doubts it?-Here, Jenny, carry these things above ftairs. Take care of the aigrette, leave the watch upon the table, and be fure you don't mislay the pearl necklace; the lady goes to Mrs. Cornelly's to-night; and, if fhe has any luck, fhe will be fure to redeem it to-morrow. [Exit Jenny.

Sim. What a world of affairs! it is a wonder, madam, how you are able to remember them all.

Mrs. Mech. Trifles, mere trifles, mafter Simon. -But I have a great affair in hand-Such an affair, if well managed, it will be the making of us all.

Sim. If I, ma'am, can be of the leaft ufeMrs. Mech. Of the higheft! there is no doing without you. You know the great

Enter JENNY.

Jen. I have put the things where you ordered,

maʼam.

OF

Mrs.

Mrs. Mech. Very well, you may go.-Exit Jenny.]-1 fay, you know the great commissary, that is come to lodge in my houfe. Now they fay this Mr. Fungus is as rich as an Indian governor; heaven knows how he came by it: but that you know is no bufinefs of ours. Pretty pickings, I warrant, abroad.-Loud knocking. Who the deuce can that be? But let it be who it will, you muft not go till I speak to you.

Enter JENNY.

Jen. The widow Loveit, ma'am.

Mrs. Mech. What, the old liquorifh dowager from Devonshire Square? fhew her in.-[Exit Jenny.]—You'll wait in the kitchen, Simon, I shall foon dispatch her affair. [Exit Simon.

Enter Mrs. LOVEIT.

Mrs. Lov. So, fo, good morning to you, good Mrs. Mechlin. John, let the coach stand at the

corner.

Mrs. Mech. You had better fit here, madam.

Mrs. Lov. Any where. Well, my dear woman, I hope you have not forgot your old friend -Ugh, ugh, ugh,-[coughs.]-Confider I have no time to loofe, and you are always fo full of employment.

Mrs. Mech. Forgot you! you fhall judge, Mrs. Loveit. I have, ma'am, provided a whole cargo of husbands for you, of all nations, complexions, ages, tempers, and fizes: fo you fee you have nothing to do but choose.

Mrs. Lov. To choose! Mrs. Mechlin; Lord help me, what choice can I have? I look upon wedlock to be a kind of a lottery, and I have already drawn my prize; and a great one it was!

My

My poor dear man that's gone, I fhall never meet with his fellow.

Mrs. Mech. 'Pfhaw! madam, don't let us trouble our heads about him, it's high time that he was forgot.

Mrs. Lov. But won't his relations think me rather too quick.

Mrs Mech. Not a jot; the greateft compliment you could pay to his memory; it is a proof he gave you reafon to be fond of the ftate. But what do you mean by quick! Why he has been buried thefe three weeks

Mrs. Lov. And three days, Mrs. Mechlin.
Mrs. Mech. Indeed! quite an age!

Mrs. Lov. Yes; but I fhall never forget him; fleeping, or waking, he's always before me. His dear fwelled belly, and his poor fhrunk legs, Lord blefs me, Mrs. Mechlin, he had no more calf than my fan.

Mrs. Mech. No!

Mrs. Lou. No, indeed; and then, his bit of a purple nose, and his little weezen face as sharp as a razor-don't mention it, I can never forget him. [Cries.

Mrs. Mech, Sweet marks of remembrance, indeed. But, ma'am, if you continue to be fo fond of your last husband, what makes you think of another?

Mrs. Lov. Why, what can I do, Mrs. Mechlin? a poor lone widow woman as I am; there's no body minds me; my tenants behind-hand, my fervants all carelefs, my children undutiful-Ugh, ugh, ugh[Coughs. Mrs. Mech. You have a villainous cough, Mrs. Loveit; fhall I fend for fome lozenges?

Mrs?

Mrs. Lov. No, I thank you, it's nothing at all; mere habit, juft a little trick I've got.

Mrs. Mech. But I wonder you fhould have all thefe vexations to plague you, madam, you, wha are fo rich, and fo

Mrs. Lov. Forty thousand in the Four per Cents. every morning I rife, Mrs. Mechlin, befides two houses at Hackney; but then my affairs are fo weighty and intricate; there is fuch tricking in lawyers, and fuch torments in children, that I can't do by myfelf; I must have a helpmate; quite neceffity, no matter of choice.

Mrs. Mech. Oh, I understand you, you marry merely for convenience; juft only to get an affiftant, a kind of a guard, a fence to your property? Mrs. Lov. Nothing else.

Mrs. Mech. I thought fo; quite prudential; fo that age is none of your obje&; you don't want a fcampering, giddy, fprightly, young

Mrs. Lov. Young! Heaven forbid. What, do you think, like fame ladies I know, that I want to have my husband taken for one of my grand-children; No, no; thank Heaven, fuch vain thoughts never entered my head.

Mrs. Mech. But yet, as your matters ftand, he ought not to be so very old neither; for inftance now, of what use to you would be a husband of fixty ?

Mrs. Lov. Sixty! Are you mad, Mrs. Mechlin, what do you think I want to turn nurse ?

Mrs. Mech. Or fifty-five ?

Mrs. Love. Ugh, ugh, ugh.

Mrs. Mech. Or fifty?

Mrs. Lov. Oh

that's too cunning an age;

men, now-a-days, rarely marry at fifty, they are

too knowing and cautious.

Mrs.

Mrs. Mech. Or forty-five, or forty, orMrs. Lov. Shall, I Mrs. Mechlín, tell you a piece of my mind?

Mrs. Mech. I believe ma'am that will be your beft way.

Mrs. Lov. Why then, as my children are young and rebellious, the way to fecure and preferve their obedience, will be to marry a man that won't grow old in a hurry.

Mrs. Mech. Why I thought you declared against youth.

1

Mrs. Lov. So I do, fo I do; but then, fix or feven and twenty is not fo very young, Mrs. Mechlin.

Mrs. Mech. No, no, a pretty ripe age; for at that time of life, men can buftle and ftir, they are not easily check'd, and whatever they take in hand they go through with.

Mrs. Lov. True, true.

Mrs. Mech. Ay, ay, it is then they may be faid to be useful; it is the only tear and wear season.

Mrs. Lov. Right, right.

Mrs. Mech. Well, ma'am, I fee what you want, and to-morrow about this time, if you'll do me the favour to call

Mrs. Lov I fhan't fail.

Mrs. Mech. I think I can fuit you.

Mrs. Lov. You'll be very obliging.

Mrs. Mech. You may depend upon't, I'll do my endeavours.

Mrs. Lov. But, Mrs. Mechlin, be fure don't let him be older than that, not above feven or eight and twenty at moft; and let it be as foon as you conveniently can.

Mrs. Mech. Never fear, ma'am.

Mrs.