with me: I have charged her; but the ftoutly denies it. L. Cath. Mefs, you munna be bashful: An you folecit a cure, your phyfician must ken the caufe o' your malady. Mifs Lin. Your ladyfhip may believe me, madam, I have no complaint of that kind. L. Cath. The lafs is obftinate. Meftrefs Linnet, cannot yourfel gi a guess? Mrs. Lin. I can't fay that I have obfervedIndeed, fome time ago, I was inclined to believe Mr. Button L. Cath. What yon taylor in Stall-Street? Ah, Mrs. Linnet, you are aw oot in your guess: The lafs is twa weel bred, and twa faunzy to gi her heart to fik a burgis as he: Wully Button? nae, he is nae the lad avaw. Mrs. Lin. Major Racket, I once thoughtbut your ladyship knows his affairs took a different turn. L. Cath. Ah! Racket! that's another man's mater: Laffes are apt enow to fet their hearts upon fcarlet; a cockade has muckle charms wi our fex; yes. Well, Mefs, comes the wind fra that corner? Mifs Lin. Does your ladyship think, to dislike Mr. Flint, it is abfolutely neceffary to have a prepoffeffion for fomebody else? L. Cath. Mrs. Linnet, an you wull withdraw for a while, perhaps Mefs may throw aff her referve, when there's nobody by but ourselves; a mother, you ken weel, may prove ane too many fome times. Mrs. Lin. Your ladyfhip is moft exceedingly kind.-D'ye hear, Kitty? mind what her ladyC4 ship fhip fays; do, my dear; and be ruled by your friends; they are older and wifer than you. [Exit. L. Cath. Well, Mefs, what's the cause of aw this? what makes you fo averfe to the wull of your friends? Mifs Lin. Your ladyship knows Mr. Flint. Mifs Lin. Can your ladyship then be at a lofs for a cause ? L. Cath. I canna fay Mr. Flint is quite an Adonis; but wha is it that in matrimony gets aw they wish? When I entermarried with Sir Launcelot Coldstream, I was e'en fik a sprak lass as yourfel, and the baronet bordering upon his grand climacteric. You mun ken, Mess, my father was fo unfaunzy as to gang out wi' Charley in the forty-five; after which, his fidelity was rewarded in France by a commiffion that did na bring him in a bawbee, and a pension that he never was paid. Mifs Lin. Infamous ingratitude! L. Cath. Ay; but I dinna think they will find ony mair fik fools i' the North. Mifs Lin. I hope not. L. Cath. After this, you canna think, Mefs, there was mickle filler for we poor bairns that were left; fo that, in troth, I was glad to get an establishment; and ne'er heeded the difparity between my guid mon and myfel. Mifs Lin. Your ladyship gave great proofs of your prudence; but my affairs are not altogether fo defperate. L. Cath. Gad's mercy, Mefs! I hope you dinna make any comparison between Lady Catharine Coldstream, wha has the best blood in Scotland that runs in her veins Mifs Lin. I hope your ladyship does not fuppofe 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 ladyship— 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 short: You ken weel enow, the firft notice that e'er I took of you was on your acting in Allan Ramfay's play of Patie and Roger; ere fin I hae been your fast friend; but an you continue obftinate, and will na fuccumb, I shall straightway withdraw my protection. Mifs Lin. I fhall be extremely unhappy in lofing your ladyship's favour. fel. L. Cath. Mefs, that depends entirely on your 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't 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 ftuff, fit for nothing but novels and romances; there is nathing folid, na ftability. Mifs Lin. Madam- L. Catb. But to fix your fortune at once, to get above the power of 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 wish. 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, lass; 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 shall 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 stairs.-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. Flint. Please your ladyfhip, I will do my endeavour.-Madam Linnet, I have made bold to bring you a prefent, a small 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 the-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 feems as confufed as myself. [Afide. Flint. I fay, Mifs, that as I was a-faying, your friends have spoke 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 such expensive 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 |