poor unfortunate victim, I want words to acknowledge. Your felf-denial, and mortified ftate, place you above the reach of any pecuniary O'Don. My fweet pretty cratur! in acts of charity, indade, to folks poorer than we are, if any fuch can be found, we are always plaased to convey any donations. Jenny. I fhall think myself happy to affist so pious a purpose [feels for her, purfe.]-Blefs me! is not that my dear Dicky, who ftands there at the corner? O'Don. Dear Dicky! who the divil is he?" Jenny. The very youth to whom you were going to convey me. O'Don. Pho, pho! how can that be? becaafe why, I left him at home; and how can he be in two places at once? unless, indade, he had wings. ! Jenny. His impatience, I suppose, made him follow you hither. O'Don. Pox take his impatience! But I tell you, Mifs, it can't be; becaafe why, I never faw that parfon before. Jenny. But I have, and therefore can't doubt: I must run to him, father; for I know it is he. O'Don. Is it? Then my best way is to run from him as fast as I can: [Exit. Jenny. Dicky! Dick. My dearest Jenny! this is an unexpected pleasure, indeed. But who was that with you? Jenny. The honeft father you fent to conduct me. Dick. Me! I have neither seen nor spoke to a foul. Jenny. Jenny. No! Dick. No. This is fome plot of your parents, to get you into their clutches. Jenny. Perhaps fo. But where can we go ? have you fecured no retreat? Dick. How could I, my love? as I hadn't the fmalleft hopes of But here comes the priest again, and fomebody with him; let us turn down this street, and avoid him. Enter O'Donnavan and Viper. O'Don. There, there they go! [Exeunt. Viper. I fee, I fee. A fine girl, as I live! too nice a tid-bit for an apprentice, or my mufty old knight I'll try if I can't fecure her myself.→→→ O'Flam! you know Bet Bonnet, the milliner's girl, that lived with me in London? O'Don. You may say that. Viper. When I went with the knight, I left her in my lodgings in town; ftep to her this inftant. O'Don. Well? Viper. Explain to her the business of Hamper; convey her to him as Minnikin's daughter; the knows well enough how to affume the airs of a novice. But there is hardly time to instruct her. Ten to one, too, this blockead will make fome damned blunder or other.-O'Flam! O'Don. Well? Viper. Upon fecond thoughts, you had best undertake this business yourself. O'Don. What d'ye main ? Viper. Pass yourself on the knight as the party. O'Don. What, me, for old Minnikin's daughter ? Viper. Ay. O'Don O'Don. Oh, lave off! I fhall be aafily taken for a lovely lafs, to be fure. Viper. Why not? he must be in the dark, to execute his own intentions, you know. O'Don. That is true. But how fhall I hide my voice? he may fee that, you know, without the help of a candle; befides, I am told I have a fmall twift in my tongue. Viper. Oh, as to that, Hamper is no critic in dialects; befides, fay little, and soften your tones as much as you can. O'Don. But if he should turn out too familiar what will I do then, Doctor Viper? Viper. It will be eafy enough to repel any violence from a man of his age. Befides, I will think of fome expedient to bring you speedy relief. O'Don. Well, well! upon my fhoul, after all, there is a good daal of fun in the fancy. Viper. You are to take him for Drugget, you know. O'Don. No bad match for my linfey-woolfey. Viper. Oh, a truce to your wit now, and difpatch, I beseech you. O'Don. I go, I go. [Exit. Viper. They are either housed, or must return back again; this is no thoroughfare. Oh, here they come. Enter Dicky and Jenny. I am glad I have met with you. Come, come! I hav'n't a moment to lose. Jenny and Dicky. Sir! Viper. That rafcally prieft is gone for the guard; you will have a file of mufqueteers here in a minute. Dicky, What have I done? Viper. Done! don't you know, that to steal a girl from a convent in this country is a capital crime? Dicky. Sir, as I hope for mercy, I am inno cent! Viper. Innocent! befides, a priest to accuse you! won't they find you together? is not that proof enough of your guilt? In a word, I know your whole story; I pity, and am ready to serve you. Jenny. Good Sir, what can we do? Viper. You hav'n't a moment to lose: Run to the port, throw yourself into the first vessel you fee, and make for England as faft as you can. Dicky. And what must become of Mifs Jenny? Viper. Leave her to my care; I am well known in this town, and can conceal her with ease. Jenny. But, Sir, how-who Viper. Oh, child, be under no apprehenfions; my motive is folely compaffion: Befides, my cloth is a fufficient fecurity. Dicky. Cloth? perhaps the gentleman is a clergym Viper. Huh! that must not be known where we are. Jenny. On that facred character I can fafely rely. Viper. We lofe time! a truce to your regrets, and your raptures; I will foon bring you together, I warrant. That way leads to the quay. Come, Mifs; it is but a ftep to my house. Jenny. This wonderful efcape I owe to your goodness. Viper. I could do no lefs, as a Chriftian. [Exe. A Chamber, darkened. Sir Harry Hamper alone. Sir H. Mifs will foon be here, I fuppofe. Well, after all, for improving the mind, and removing foolish prejudices, there is no country like France: No wonder our young folks of fashion turn out fuch fine fellows, ecod!— Here he is, I believe. No.-A lad who comes over here at nineteen or twenty, may well pick up all the pretty accomplishments, when I, at feventy, in less than three months, have learnt to game, whore, defpife my own country, laugh at religion, and, as far as inclination will go, am ripe and ready for any frolic or fun. Well faid, old Harry! After all this, my young miftrefs in London can't refufe me, I think; the devil's in her, if I hav'n't done enough to convince her that I have fcowered off all the sneaking fnivelling cit, and am as profligate as if I had been born a-Hufh! the door opens. Enter O'Donnovan. O'Don. Sir Harry ! Sir H. Well? O'Don. Are you fure you are there? Sir H. Without doubt. O'Don. And alone? Sir H. Yes. O'Don. And no light? Sir H. Don't you fee? O'Don. I didn't know but you might have a candle concaaled. Sir H. Where? in my pocket? O'Don. Come, Mifs, you may enter. [Exit. Jenny. |