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carry away; not above ten or twelve minutes at · most.

Mrs. Fl. Indeed!

Mrs. Sim. Even the dowager-duchefs of Drowfy was never known to nod at my Doctor; and then he doesn't pore, with his eyes close to the book, like a clerk that reads the first leffon; not he! but all extemporary, madam; with a cambrick handkerchief in one hand, and a diamond ring on the other: and then he waves this way, and that way; and he curtfies, and he bows, and he bounces, that all the people are ready to-But then his wig, madam! I am fure you must admire his dear wig; not with the bushy, brown buckles, dangling and dropping like a Newfoundland spaniel; but fhort, rounded off at the ear, to fhew his plump cherry cheeks; white as a curd, feather-topped, and the curls as clofe as a cauliflower.

Mrs. Fl. Why, really, madam

Mrs. Sim. Then, my Doctor is none of your fchi atics, madam; believes in the whole thirtynine; and so he would, if there were nine times as many.

Mrs. Fl. Very obedient.

Mrs. Sim, Obedient! As humble and meek as a curate; does duly his duties; never fcruples to bury, though it be but a tradefman-unlefs, in, deed, he happens to be better engaged.

Mrs. Fl. Why, with all thefe good qualities, I fhould think our fuccefs must be certain.

Mrs. Sim. With your affistance, madain, I have not the leaft doubt in the world: fo, madam, begging your pardon for having intruded fo long, I leave Mr. Flaw and you to confer on the fubject. Not a step, I beseech you,-Lord bless

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me! I had like to have forgot: my memory, as the Doctor fays, is fo very tenacious, that it is not one time in twenty I can remember the text, Befides all I have faid, my Doctor, madam, poffeffes a pretty little poetical vein: I have brought you here a little hymn in my pocket.

Mrs. Fl. Madam, you are very

Mrs. Sim. Of which the Doctor defires your opinion.

Mrs. Fl. Hymn! then the Doctor fings, I prefume.

Mrs. Sim. Not a better pipe at the playhouse; he has been long notorious for that. Then he is as chearful, and has fuch a choice collection of fongs! Why, he is conftantly afked at the great city feafts; and does, I verily believe, more in'door chriftenings than any three of the cloth. But this compofition, madam, is of a different kind: It is but fhort; but if the party, your worthy friend and relation, fhould happen to like the manner of writing, he has a much longer one for his immediate perufal.-Madam, I ain your obfequious, and very devoted-Not a step, my good Mr. Flaw! my chairmen are, you know, in waiting. [Exit.

Ms. Fl. A hymn! what the deuce can the woman mean by a hymn? Let me fee-" Pro"mife to pay to the bearer one hundred pounds, "for the governor and company"-Ay, marry, this is coming plump to the business: No man can deny, Mr. Flaw, but thefe lines are fterling. If the Doctor's profe is as good as his poetry, I don't wonder he has fo many admirers. But when fhall I fee you?

Flaw. Immediately after I have paid my pro vincials a vifit.

Mrs. Fl

Mrs. Fl. Oh, then I may have time to execute a little fcheme of my own.

Flaw. Of what kind?

Mrs. Fl. One that will turn out both pleasant and profitable: You know the prim mercer, not far from St. Paul's?

Flaw. What, young Prig, that presents you an eternal attitude to all hacks of the city, and ftands in stiff buckle before his own fhop, like a fign?

Mrs. Fl. Even he.

Flaw. The fellow is a fop, to be fure; but you will not find it an eafy matter to gull him; the coxcomb is fufpicious and guarded.

Mrs. Fl. Against a common contrivance, perhaps; otherwife he would be no object for one of my original genius. Befides, there is a neceffity for fome new filks to grace my niece's nuptials, you know.

Flaw. True, true: well, fuccefs attend you!

Mrs. Fl. Be in no pain about me.

[Exit.

Who's

there?

Enter a Servant.

Order the carriage to the door; and do the coachman put on your best liveries. Serv. Yes, madam.

you and

Mrs. Fl. And, do you hear, John? if they fhould be inquifitive, where I ftop, as to my place of abode, give 'em no information: I fhould be forry to have it known, that one of my rank and fortune was pent up in a paltry lodging.

Sery. Your Ladyfhip need be under no fears. Mrs. Fl.

Mrs. Fl. If, at coming from the mercer's, where I fhall go first, the mafter of the shop should get into the coach, drive to Doctor Hellebore's, who, you know, is famous for curing of mad folks; the third door to the left in Lincoln's Inn Fields.

Serv. I fhall give the coachman directions:

Mrs. Fl. And, John! if any body should call in my abfence, let them know that I am gone, with the Countess of Carnarby, to fee the preparations for the great trial in Weftminfter Hall. Serv. Mighty well, madam.

[Exit. Mrs. Fl. That fellow has uncommon talents, for one of his ftation: What a matchless porter would he make to a great minifter! for he lies like an attorney, and his muscles are as fteady as thofe of his master.

[Exit.

ACT II. SCENE I

A Bagnio. Enter Flaw, followed by Tom.

Flaw.

HAVE not you a family here, that came lately out of the country?

Tom. I fuppofe you mean, Sir, Mr. Aircastle. Flaw. I do; is the gentleman within?

Tom. In the back dining-room, up one pair of ftairs.

Flaw. Will you let him know there is a perfon who wishes to fee him? If he wants to know my

name

Tom. I can tell him.

Flaw.

Flaw. Ay! why, have we been ever acquainted? Tam. What! have you forgot Tom, master Flaw, at the Crown and Rolls in Chancery-lane? Flaw. I recollect. But I thought by this time you had fet up for yourself: you feemed in a very good way.

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Tom. Pretty well, mafter, for that part of the town: but, Lord, Sir, the penurious pence of the lawyers won't do for us, who are the fuperior knights of the napkin; after poring an hour over a fix and eight-penny bill," Here, Tom, give us "change! and mind, there is a groat for yourself:" How was it poffible to fupport a girl and a gelding upon such a two-penny tax? it could not be. Flaw. That is true, indeed.

Tom. No, no. So, dipping pretty deeply in debt, I got a friendly commiffion of bankruptcy to discharge my old scores,, and removed to this end of the town.

Flaw. Where you thrive, without doubt.

Tom. To give you a fample-it was but laft night, Sir Ralph Riot moved, that every man in the club fhould give the waiter two guineas apiece by way of furprising the rafcal.

Flaw. And it was carried?

Tom. Oh, nem. con.-the members never flinch at a frolic.

Flaw. I wish you joy of your ftation!-But, pray, by what accident came the family above to your house? There must have been fome miftake in the matter, for they are people of very good reputation.

Tom. I can't guess. Only that the town is thin, and business begins to grow dead, we should hardly have given them admittance; they are a strange unaccountable tribe: Pray who the deuce are they?

Flaw.

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