Tom. None at all, unless you repair the wrongs fhe has fuffered. Toby. But if I was minded to comply with her wifh, I don't fee how I can bring it about. Tom. You are one-and-twenty, no doubt. Toby. These three years and above. Tom. And Miss ? Toby. Within a twelvemonth of me. Tom. Oh, then I will manage matters, I warrant. Where are you going? Toby. To call on father, at a fhop near the old black man a-horseback; the wind has blown his hat from his head. Tom. Very well! Give them the flip as foon as you can; run back here; you will find usBetfy. What, is he a-going? oh! Toby. Nay, Betfy, be quiet! ben't I ready to do all that you want? If you faint any more, wish I may die if I'll have you. Betfy. Won't you? Toby. No. Tom. Courage, Mifs! keep up your I Toby. Right, Mr., or, if the muft faint, can't the wait a little, till I get out of the house? Exit. Tom. He is off: Finely managed! Do not ftir from hence; I will run to the Commons, and be back again in a-One kifs as a reward for the part I have Enter Toby. Toby. I forgot to afk, Sir, where I fhouldTom. Run! here, Sir! fhe is fainting again! Toby. Is the then call fomebody elfe, for I will make the beft of my way Tom and Betfy. Ha, ha, ha! A [Exit, [Exeunt. АСТ ACT III.: SCENE I. Enter Mrs. Fleece'em and Prig. Mrs. Fleece'em. IT is lucky the Doctor is at home [afide] John, you may take the filks of Mr. Prig, and put them into the coach.-How could I be fo giddy to forget my purfe, and leave it on the table? All my fervants are honest, I hope. Prig. No doubt; it would be the greatestest of crimes, to injure a lady of your affability and aimiability. Mrs. Fl. Quite polite, I proteft, Mr. Prig! I am forry, however, Sir, to have given you all this trouble. Prig. I confider it, madam, as one of the most greatesteft pieces of happiness that could have befallen Paul Prig. Your la'fhip is a perfect pattern of humility: To fuffer a fimple tradefman like me to occupy part of your la'ship's coach, is fuch an honour that- Mrs. Fl. Honour! by no means, Mr. Prig: I don't know a ftation more useful, or indeed more reputable, than that of a citizen like you, who condefcends to employ his genius in adorning his fellow creatures. The ladies, indeed, are most obliged to your labours. Prig. Were all the ladies like you, madam, my condition would be celeftial indeed; for, as Master Shakfpur says, "The labour we delight in phyficks pain." D Mrs. Mrs. Fl. Mr. Prig, I proteft you furprize me! who could have expected fo much gallantry from the Ward of Farringdon-Within? Prig. Your charms, madam, would animate even a native of Hockley in the Hole! Mrs. Fl. Fy, Mr.- Enter a Servant. Ser. My mafter begs you would step into his ftudy. [Exit. Mrs. Fl. Mr. Prig, you will excufe me a moment: It is lucky my lawyer is at home; Ishall take the money, and not give you the trouble to go so far as my house. I fhall foon call again at your shop. [Exit, Prig. The greatest pleasure, madam, that I could ever have.-Ha, ha! left her purse on the table? a likely story, indeed! No, no; I understand her ogles and leers; her eyes spoke more truth than her tongue. I don't recollect to have feen her before; but fhe has feen me, that is clear, from the ftrength of her paffion. "Soon call at your fhop?" and how foft the tone of her voice! Yes, yes; I believe you will. Well, well, you fha'n't be difapointed, my dear; his worst enemies can't accufe Paul Prig of being cruel. Enter a Servant. Serv. You had better ftep into this room; there is a fire. ઃઃ Prig. By all means. "A ftation more useful, "or more reputable, than that of a"-poor creter! he must be very far gone indeed. [Exeunt. Another Another Room. Doctor Hellebore and Mrs. Fleece'm discovered. Helle. To whofe recommendation, madam, do I owe the honour Mrs. Fl. The world's, doctor; your great reputation. Helle. Oh, madam! Mrs. Fl. But, as I was obferving to you, Sir, if it was not for thefe unaccountable whims in my uncle, no man in England has a finer underftanding, or a clearer conception: Nothing irre gular in his conduct; difcharges all the focial duties with the utmoft exactnels; reafons with the moft perfect precifion upon every fubject. Helle. And the ftate of his bodily health? Helle. And thefe diftractions are frequent? Helle. Ay, the great tenfion of the Pia-mater muft enfeeble the fyftem; and the paroxisms, of courfe, oftener repeated, and of longer continuance. And his whims, you say Mrs. Fl. To the laft degree extravagant: Laft week he fuppofed himfelf a young neftling crow, and conftantly opened his mouth, like a bill, and cawed for food, when he found himself hungry. Helle. A manifeft mark of distraction! Mrs. Fl. His whim of to-day is peculiar enough. Mrs. Fl. He fuppofes himself a mercer upon Ludgate-Hill. Helle. A mercer! Mrs. Fl. And that he has fold me a parcel of filks, for the payment of which I have conducted him hither. Helle. Why, madam, we do now and there meet with extraordinary inftances: But could not I fee your uncle? Mrs. Fl. I brought him hither on purpofe. Helle. [calling] Defire the gentleman below to walk up. Why, madam, the goodness of his health we look upon as a bad fymptom, in thefe kind of of cafes; when they arife from a fever, why Mrs. Fl. I hope there will be no occation for violent remedies, fuch as correction, or ftraight waistcoats? Helle. Not if he is tractable. Mrs. Fl. But if that fhould not be the cafe, Sir? Helle. The beft way, ma'am, is to leave him to my care a little: I have a convenient houfe not far from town, where mad people are managed with greater advantage. Mrs. Fl. I fhall fubmit his treatment entirely to you. But fuppofe, Sir, it will be right for me to withdraw, as you may have fome queftions to afk him, improper for the ear of a lady. I will pay a fhort vifit, now I am in this part of the town. Helle. As you pleafe, madam.-A difcreet perfon! this does not feem to be a family complaint. [Afide. Mrs. Fl. Here he is. I muft humour him a little. Enter Prig. This gentleman, Sir, will fettle our little affair. Helle. Come, Sir, take a chair. Helle |