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Mifs Lin. I hope your ladyship does not fuppose

L. Cath. A lady lineally defcended fra the great Offian himself, and allied to aw the illuftrious houses abroad and at home

Mifs Lin. I beg, madam, your ladyfhip

L. Cath. And Kitty Linnet, a little play actor, wha gets applauded or hiffed juft e'en as the mobility wulls.

Mifs Lin. I am extremely concern'd, that→→

L. Cath. Look'ye, Mefs, I will cut maters fhort: You ken weel enow, the first notice that e'er I took of you was on your acting in Alan Ramfay's play of Patie and Roger; ere fin I hae been your faft friend; but an you continue obftinate, and will na fuccumb, I fhall ftraightway withdraw my protection.

Mifs Lin. I fhall be extremely unhappy in lofing your ladyfhip's favour.

L. Cath. Mels, that depends entirely on yourfel.

Mifs Lin. Well, madam, as a proof how highly I rate it, and how defirous I am of obeying the commands of my parents, it fha'n'r be my fault if their wishes are not accomplished.

L. Cath. That's aw wright now, Kitty Gi me a kifs! you are the prudent lafs that I thought you. Love, Mefs, is a pastime for boys and green girls; aw stuff, fit for nothing but novels and romances; there is nathing folid, na ftability.

Mifs Lin. Madam

L. Cath. But to fix your fortune at once, to get above the power p' the world, that, child, is a ferious concern.

Mrs,

Mrs. Lin. [without.] With your ladyship's leave

L. Cath. You may come in, Mrs. Linnet;

Enter Mrs. Linnet.

your daughter is brought to a proper sense of her duty, and is ready to coincide with your with.

Mrs. Lin. We are infinitely bound to your ladyship! This is lucky, indeed! Mr. Flint is now below, madam, and begs to be admitted.·

L. Cath. Ah! the mon comes in the nick : Shew him in, the instant. [Exit Mrs. Lin. Now, Kitty, is your time! do na be fhy, lafs; but throw out aw your attractions, and fix him that he canna gang back:

Mifs Lin. Madam, I hope to behave

L. Cath. Gad's mercy, how the girl trembles and quakes! Come, pluck up a heart, and confider your aw is at stake.

Mifs Lin. I am afraid I fhall be hardly able to fay a fingle

L. Cath. Suppofe then you fing; gi him a fong; there is nothing moves a love-fick loon mair than a fong-[Noife without.] I hear the lad on the ftairs. But let the words be aw melting and foft: The Scotch tunes, you ken, are unco pathetic; fing him the Birks of Endermay, or the Braes of Balendine, or the

Enter Flint and Mrs. Linnet.

Maifter Flint, your fervant! There, Sir, you ken the lafs of your heart: I have laid for you a pretty folid foundation; but as to the edifice; you must e'en erect it yoursel.

[Exit.

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Flint. Please your ladyfhip, I will do my endeavour.-Madam Linnet, I have made bold to bring you a prefent, a fmall paper of tea, in my pocket: You will order the tea-kettle on. Mrs. Lin. Oh, Sir, you need not have Flint. I won't put you to any expence. Exit Mrs. Lin. Well, Mifs; I understand here by my lady, that fhe-that is, that you-with refpect and regard to the-ah! ah! won't you please to be feated? [Reaches two chairs.

Mifs Lin. Sir?-My lover seems as confufed as myself.

[Afide Flint. I fay, Mifs, that as I was a-faying,' your friends have fpoke to you all how and

about it.

Mifs Lin. About it! about what ?

Flint. About this here bufinefs that I come about. Pray, Mifs, are you fond of the country? Mifs Lin. Of the country!

Flint. Ay: Because why, I think it is the most prettiest place for your true lovers to live in; fomething fo rural! For my part, I can't fee what pleasure pretty Miffes can take in galloping to plays, and to balls, and fuch expenfive vagaries; there is ten times more paftime in fetching walks in the fields, in plucking of daifies

Mifs Lin. Haymaking, feeding the poultry,. and milking the cows.

Flint. Right, Mifs.

Mifs Lin. It must be owned they are pretty employments for ladies.

Flint. Yes; for my mother ufed to fay, who, between ourselves, was a notable housewife,

Fools

Fools that are idle,

May live to bite the bridle.

Mifs Lin. What a happiness to have been bred under fo prudent a parent!

Flint. Ay, Mifs, you will have reason to say fo; her maxims have put many a pound into my pocket.

Mifs Lin. How does that concern me?
Flint. Because why, as the faying is,

Tho' I was the maker,

You may be the partaker.

Mifs Lin. Sir, you are very obliging.

Flint. I can tell you, fuch offers are not every day to be met with: Only think, Mifs, to have victuals and drink conftantly found you, without coft or care on your fide! especially, now meat is fo dear.

Mifs Lin. Confiderations by no means to be flighted.

Flint. Moreover, that you may live and appear like my wife, I fully intend to keep you a coach.

Mifs Lin. Indeed!

Flint. Yes; and you fhall command the horfes whenever you pleafe, unless during the harvest, and when they are employed in plowing and carting; because the main chance must be minded, you know,

Mifs Lin. True, true.

Flint. Though I don't think you will be vaftly fond of coaching about; for why, we are off of the turnpike, and the floughs are deadly deep about we.

Mifs Lin. What, you intend to refide in the Country?

Flint. Without doubt; for then, you know, Mifs, I fhall be fure to have you all to myself.

Mifs Lin. An affectionate motive!But even in this happy state, where the most perfect union prevails, fome folitary hours will intrude, and the time, now and then, hang heavy on our hands.

Flint. What, in the country, my dear Mifs? not a minute: You will find all paftime and jollity there; for what with minding the dairy, dunning the tenants, preferving and pickling, nurfing the children, fcolding the fervants, mending and making, roafting, boiling, and baking, you won't have a moment to fpare; you will be merry and happy as the days they are long.

Mifs Lin. I am afraid the days will be hardly long enough to execute fo extenfive a plan of enjoyment.

Flint. Never you fear! I am told, Mifs, that you write an exceeding good hand. Mifs Lin. Pretty well, I believe.

Flint. Then, Mifs, there is more pleasure in ftore; for you may employ any leifure time that you have in being my clerk, as a justice of peace: You fhall fhare fixpence out of every warrant, to buy you any little thing that you

want.

Mifs Lin. That's finely imagined!-A's your enjoyments are chiefly domeftic, I prefume you have contrived to make home as convenient as can be: You have, Sir, good gardens, no doubt? Flint. Gardens ay, ay: Why, before the great parlour window there grows a couple of

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