fidering the confequences, may have inferted this malicious article, by way of pleasantry, as a kind of jeft upon James.

Sir Rob. Nothing fo probable, Lady Rifcounter this town fwarms with fuch forward, frivolous puppies.

Enter Servant.

Well, where is James?

Ser. Sir, he is not within.

Sir Rob. What, is the rascal run off? Lady Rifc. No, my dear, perhaps only gone out with fome bills for acceptance.

Sir Rob. Like enough. When will he be back?

Ser. The reft of the clerks have not feen him to-day.

Sir Rob. Not feen him to-day? what are all of them blind then?

Lady Rifc. Nay, Sir Robert, perhaps he has not been in the fhop. Ser. So they fay.

[Exit. Sir Rob. Then they could not fee him, indeed. Not in the fhop? nay, then the bufinefs is clear; guilt, guilt, flight is full as bad as confeffion.

Lady Rifc. It does look fufpicious, I own; but then nothing ill can happen without your daughter's concurrence, and you have not the leaft doubt of her.

Sir Rob. Doubt! hey!

Lady Rifc. And, in fact, have nothing to fear.

Sir Rob. Fear! doubt! I hope your Ladyship has no more doubts than myself.

Lady Rifc. Why fhould I? how does this affair concern me?

Sir Rob.

As it concerns me, Lady Rifcounter; do you fuppofe I fhould have been indifferent, if fuch a charge had fallen on Lucy? Lady Rifc. Such a charge can never fall my daughter Lucy.

upon

Sir Rob. Full as foon as on my daughter Lydia.

Lady Rifc. I am not, Sir Robert, so certain of that.

Sir Rob. Lady Rifcounter, you begin to alarm me; you know more of this matter than you are willing to own.

Lady Rifc. Whatever I know, Sir Robert, I am refolved not to communicate.

Sir Rob. And why not?

Lady Rifc. Whatever a mother-in-law fays, the good-natured world always imputes to malice.

Sir Rob. Generally the cafe, I must own. But to me you may, nay, you ought to reveal. Lady Rifc. Since you are so earnest, I own fome rumours have reach'd me.

Sir Rob. Of what kind?

Lady Rife. You will pardon me there: if you will examine your daughter's maid, Kitty; fhe, I am told, can fatisfy all your enquiries.

Sir Rob. An artful baggage, I know. For heaven's fake, my dear, fend her hither directly. Lady Rife. But not the least mention of me. [Exit.

Sir Rob. Very well, I never obferv'd the leaft correfpondence between Lydia and James: but what of that? they would take good care, warrant, to conceal it from me.

Enter

Enter Kitty.

So, I find you were the go-between, the little infamous agent in this curs'd

Kitty. Sir Robert

Sir Rob. You must have been a volunteer; I am fure, James was not able to bribe you, for he is as poor as a pillag'd black in Bengal.

Kitty. Really, Sir, I don't understand you. Sir Rob. You mean, huffey, you won't: Come, you may as well tell ne all the particulars concerning Lydia and James; with the main article, you fee I am already acquainted.

Kitty. Don't prefs me, pray Sir; I would rather die than fay any thing to hurt my young miftrefs. Cries)

Sir Rob. Nay, pr'ythee, Kitty, don't cry, you are a good girl, and love my daughter, I fee.

Kitty. And not without reafon, for fhe has been the kindest, best

Sir Rob. Nay, till now, fhe was ever an amiable girl; but here, child, you will do hér a capital fervice.

Kitty. Indeed, Sir.

Sir Rob. For if her affections are fix'd upon James, tho' I may lament, I fhall not oppofe him.

Kitty. Since that is the cafe, I can't say, but early one morning, hearing a noife in Mifs Lydia's apartment, I ftepp'd down to fee what was the matter.

Sir Rob. Well?

Kitty. Juft as I got at the foot of the stairs, her door open'd, and out came Mr. James. Sir Rob.

4

Sir Rob. Did he? and why did not you alarm the house and feize the villain directly?

Kitty. That, Sir, would have ruined my Lady's reputation at once.

Sir Rob. True enough, you did wifely. Did the fellow perceive you?

Kitty. Yes, Sir, and made me a fign to be filent.

Sir Rob. I don't doubt it.

Kitty. Indeed, he came to me two hours after, told me he had a paffion for Mifs, never could get an opportunity of difclofing his mind, and defperate, at finding his hopes on the point of being ruin'd, he had stolen that morning into her chamber, humbly, to implore her compaffion and pity.

Sir Rob. He chofe a fine time and place for the purpose.

Kitty. On his knees he defired, I would not difclofe to any mortal what I had feen.

Sir Rob. Which you should not have done. Kitty. He was too late in his caution; not five minutes before I had told it to Mrs. Hemfhot, Mifs Lucy's maid.

Sir Rob. No wonder then the ftory is public. Kitty. I am certain fure, my young Miftrefs is innocent, for Mr. James vowed and declared he was all upon honour.

Sir Rob. The malice of mankind will never be brought to believe it; you may go. [Exit Kitty.] So the giri's reputation is gone, and a retreat from the world the only choice that is left her: all my calamities are come upon me at once; my child ruin'd, and from the general diftrefs, my own fame and fortune on the brink of deftruction: the attorney and broker

D

broker will be inftantly here to contrive means for propping my tottering credit. Am I in a condition to think of expedients, or to liften

to

Enter Servant.

Serv. A card, Sir.

[Exit,

Sir Rob. [Reads.] "Sir James Biddulph's compliments to Sir Robert Rifcounter, and "if convenient will take the liberty to wait on "him this morning." Prepar'd, as I expected, our misfortunes have reach'd him, and he comes to break off the match; he is not to be blam'd. This rafh, inconfiderate-I'll to her, and if fhe has the leaft atom of feelling, I'll-And yet, how could the poor girl help his intrufion? the might be ignorant, and yet the fellow without encouragement, would never have dared toYet the impudence of fome men is amazing, and fo indeed is the folly of women: the original fault must be his. But her after-compli ance makes her equally guilty, for had the dif approv'd, fhe would have reveal'd the fact to her mother or me. That, that, condemns her at once; I will to her directly, and find out the full extent of her guilt.

[Exit.

END OF THE FIRST AC T.

ACT