when, perhaps, madam, if I was to die of old age some folks might have reason to look about them. Mrs. Har. She feels it, I see; Oh, I delight in mortifying her. [Aside.] Sister, if I did not love you, I am sure I should not talk to you in this manner. But how can you make so unkind a return now, as to alarm me about myself? In some sixteen or eighteen years after you, to be sure, I own I shall begin to think of making my will. How could you be so severe? Miss Har. Some sixteen or eighteen years, madam! If you would own the truth, madamI believe, madam-you would find, madam, that the disparity, madam, is not so very great, madam Mrs. Har. Well! do you know now, when your blood circulates a little, that I think you look mighty well! But you was in the wrong not to marry at my age-sweet three and twenty! You can't conceive what a deal of good it would have done your temper and your spirits, if you had married early Miss Har. Insolent! provoking! female malice ! Mrs. Har. But to be waiting till it is almost too late in the day, and force one's self to say strange things with the tongue and heart at variance all the time- I don't mind the hideous men'-'I am very happy as I am'—and all that time, my dear dear sister, to be upon the tenterhooks of expectation Miss Har. I upon tenter-hooks! Mrs. Har. And to be at this work of sour grapes, till one is turned of three and fortyMiss Har. Three and forty, madam! I desire sister-I desire, madam-three and forty, madam. Miss Har. He is warm, passionate and tender. Mrs. Har. But you don't know how long that Mrs. Har. Nay, nay, nay; don't be angry-may last; and here are you going to break off a don't blame me; blame my husband; he is your very suitable match, which all your friends liked own brother, you know, and he knows your age. and approved, a match with Captain Cape, who He told me so. Miss Har. Oh, madam, I see your driftbut you need not give yourself those airs, madam the men don't see with your eyes, madam-years, indeed! Three and forty, truly! I'll assure you-upon my word-hah! very fine! But I see plainly, inadam, what you are at Mr. Clerimont, madam! Mr. Clerimont, sister, that's what frets you-a young husband, madam-Younger than your husband, madam-Mr. Clerimont, let me tell you, madam to be sure Miss Har. Don't name Captain Cape, I beseech you! don't name him. Mrs. Har. Captain Cape, let me tell you, is not to be despised; he has acquired by his voyages to India, a very pretty fortune has a charming box of a house upon Hackney Marsh, and is of an age every way suitable to you. for ever! Years, years, my years! But I tell you Miss Har. There again, now! age, age, age once for all, Mr. Clerimont does not see with your eyes; I am determined to hear no more of Captain Cape; odious Hackney Marsh ! ah, sis ter! you would be glad to see me married in a middling way Mr. Har. No, not I; I wish she may be married to one or the other of them-for her temper is really grown so very sour, and there is such eternal wrangling between ye both, that I wish to see her in her own house, for the peace and quiet of mine. Mrs. Har. I, sister! I am sure nobody will rejoice more at your preferment-I am resolved never to visit her, if Mr. Clerimont marries her. [Aside. Miss Har. Well, well; I tell you, Mr. Clerimont has won my heart; young, handsome, rich-town house, country house-equipage--there is a very fine fortune-I wish he may to him, and only him, will I surrender myself three and forty, indeed! ha, ha! you see my dear, dear sister, that these features are still regular and blooming; that the love-darting eye has not quite forsook me; and that I have made a conquest which your boasted youth might be vain of. Ms. Har. Oh, madam, I beg your pardon if I have taken too much liberty for your good— Miss Har. I humbly thank you for your advice, my sweet, dear, friendly sister; but don't envy me, I beg you won't; don't fret yourself; you can't conceive what a deal of good a serenity of mind will do your health. I'll go and write an answer directly to this charming, charming letter-sister, yours-I shall be glad to see you sister, at my house in Hill Street, when I am Mrs. Clerimont--and remember what I tell you that some faces retain their bloom and beauty longer than you imagine, my dear sister come, Trifle, let me fly this moment-sister, your servant. [Erit MISS HARLOW, with TRIFLE. Mrs. Har. Your servant, my dear. Well, I am determined to lead the gayest life in nature, if she marries Clerimont I'll have a new equipage, that's one thing-and I'll have greater routs than her, that's another-positively, I must outshine her there-and I'll keep a polite enmity with her go and see her, may be once or twice in a winter- Madam, I am really so hurried with such a number of acquaintances, that I can't possibly find time.'-and then to provoke her, I wish you joy, sister; I hear you are breeding. Ha, ha! that will so mortify herI wish it may be a boy, sister.'-Ha, ha! and then when her husband begins to dispise her, Really sister, I pity you had you taken my advice, and married the India Captain-your case is a compassionate one.'-Compassion is so insolent when a body feels none at all-ba, ha! it is the finest way of insulting 6 Enter MR. HARLOW. Mr. Har. So, my dear; how are my sister's affairs going on? Mrs. Hur. Do you know this Mr. Clerimont? Mr. Har. No; but I have heard of the family hold his intention. Mrs. Har. Why, I doubt it vastly. Mr. Har. And truly so do I; for between ourselves, I see no charms in my sister Mrs. Har. For my part, I can't comprehend it-how she could strike his fancy, is to me the most astonishing thing-after this, I shall be surprised at nothing Mr. Har. Well, strange things do happen; so she is but married out of the way, I am satisfied an old maid in a house is the devil Enter a Servant. Ser. Mr. Clerimont, sir, to wait on you. Mr. Har. Shew him in-[Exit Servant]How comes this visit, pray? Mrs. Har. My sister wrote to him to explain himself to you; well it is mighty odd-but I'll leave you to yourselves. The man must be an idiot to think of her. [Aside and exit. Enter CLERIMONT. Mr. Hur. Sir, I am glad to have this pleasure. Cle. I presume, sir, you are no stranger to the business that occasions this visit? Mr. Har. Sir, the honour you do me and my family Cle. Oh, sir, so be allied to your family by so tender a tie as marriage to your sister, will at once reflect a credit upon me, and conduce to my happiness in the most essential point. The lady charmed me at the very first sight. Mr. Har. The devil she did! [Aside. Cle. The sensibility of her countenance, the elegance of her figure, the sweetness of her manner— Mr. Har. Sir, you, are pleased to-compliment. Cle. Compliment! not in the least, sir. Mr. Har. The sweetness of my sister's manner!-Aside.]-Ha, ha ! Cle. The first time I saw her was a few nights ago at Ranelagh; though there was a crowd of beauties in the room, thronging and pressMrs. Har. Why, my dear she has had ano-ing all around, yet she shone amongst them all ther letter from Mr. Clerimont; did you ever hear of such an odd, unaccountable thing, patched up in a hurry here? Mr. Har. Why, it is sudden to be sure. Mrs. Har. Upon my word, I think you had better advise her not to break off with Captain Cape with superior lustre-she was walking arm in arm with another lady-no opportunity offered for me to form an acquaintance amidst the hurry and bustle of the place, but I enquired their names as they were going into their chariot, and learned they were Mrs. and Miss Harlow. From that moment she won my heart, and, at one glance, I became the willing captive of her beauty Mr. Har. A very candid declaration, sir! How can this be? The bloom has been off the peach any time these fifteen years, to my knowledge-Aside. You see my sister with a favourable eye, sir. Cle. A favourable eye! He must greatly want discernment, who has not a quick perception of her merit. Mr. Har. You do her a great deal of honour -but this affair is it not somewhat sudden, sir? Cle. I grant it; you may, indeed, be surprised at it, sir; nor should I have been hardy enough to make any overtures to you, as least yet a while, if she herself had not condescended to listen to my passion, and authorised me, under her own fair hand, to apply to her brother for his consent Mr. Har. I shall be very ready, sir, to give my approbation to my sister's happiness. Cle. No doubt you will; but let me not cherish n unavailing flame, a flame that already lights up all my tenderest passions. Mr. Har. To you, sir, there can be no exception: I am not altogether a stranger to your family and fortune-His language is warm, considering my sister's age; but I won't hurt her preferment-Aside.]-You will pardon me, sir, one thing; you are very young Cle. Sir, I am almost three and twenty. Mr. Har. But have you consulted your friends? Cle. I have; my uncle, Mr. Heartwell, who proposes to leave me a very handsome addition to my fortune, which is considerable already he, sir Mr. Har. Well, sir, if he has no objection, I can have none. Cle. He has none, sir; he has given his consent; he desires me to lose no time; I will bring him to pay you a visit; he rejoices in my choice-you shall have it out of his own mouth -name your hour, and he shall attend youMr. Har. Any time to-day; I shall stay at home on purpose. Cle. In the evening I will conduct him hither; in the mean time, I feel an attachment herethe lady, sir Mr. Har. Oh! you want to see my sister? I will send her to you, sir, this instant. I beg your pardon for leaving you alone; ha, ha! who could have thought of her making a conquest at last![Exit MR. HARLOW. Cle. Sir your most obedient,-now, Clerimont, now your heart may rest content-your doubts and fears may all subside, and joy and rapture take their place-Miss Harlow shall be mineshe receives my vows; she approves my passion. [Sings and dances.] Soft! here she comes-Her very appearance controuls my wildest hopes, and hushes my proud heart into respect and silent admiration Enter Mrs. HARLOW. Mrs. Har. Sir, your servant- [Bows respectfully. Mrs. Har. I thought Mr. Harlow was here, sir. Cle. How her modesty throws a veil over her Mrs. Har. He seems in confusion-a pretty man, too! That this should be my sister's luck! [Aside. Cle. Madam! [Embarrassed. Mrs. Har. I imagine you have been talking to him on the subject of the letter you sent this morning Cle. Madam, I have presumed to Mrs. Har. Well, sir! and he has no objection, I hope? Cle. She, hopes! Heavens bless her for the word! [Aside.] Madam, he has frankly consented, if his sister will do me that honour Miss Har. For his sister, I think I may venture to answer, sir Cle. Generous, generous creature! Mrs. Har. You are sure, sir, of Miss Harlow's admiration, and the whole family hold themselves much obliged to you Cle. Madam, this extreme condescension has added rapture to the sentiments I felt before;and it shall be the endeavour of my life to prove deserving of the amiable object I have dared to aspire to Mrs. Har. Sir, I make no doubt of your sincerity-I have already declared my sentimentsyou know Mr. Harlow's; and, if my sister is willing, nothing will be wanting to conclude this business-If no difficulties arise from her, for her temper is uncertain-as to my consent, sir, your air, your manner, have commanded itSir, your most obedient—I'll send my sister to you[Exit. Cle. Madam, [Bowing.] I shall endeavour to repay this goodness with excess of gratitude― Oh, she is an angel! and yet, stupid that I am, I could not give vent to the tenderness I have within-it is ever so with sincere and generous love; it fills the heart with rapture, and then denies the power of uttering what we so exquisitely feel. Generous Miss Harlow! who could thus see through my confusion, interpret all appearances favourably, and with a dignity superior to her sex's little arts, forego the idle ceremonies of coquetting, teazing, and tormenting her admirer! I hear somebody. Oh! here comes Mrs. Harlow- -what a gloom sits upon her features! She assumes authority here, I find; but I'll endeavour by insinuation and respect Enter MISS HARLOW. Miss Har. My sister has told me, sirCle. Madam[Bowing cheerfully. Miss Har. He is a sweet figure [Aside. Cle. She rather looks like Miss Harlow's mother than her sister-in-law[Aside. Miss Har. He seems abashed; his respect is the cause. [Aside.] My sister told me, sir, that you was here. I beg pardon for making you wait so long derstanding, I warrant her; [Aside.] but let me intreat you, madam, to do justice to my principles, and believe me a sincere, a generous lover. Miss Har. Sir, I will frankly own that I have been trying you all this time, and from henceforth all doubts are banished. Cle. Your words recal me to new life; I shall for ever study to merit this goodness; but your fair sister-do you think I can depend upon her consent? May I flatter myself she will not Cle. Oh, madam! [Bows.] the gloom disap-change her mind? pears from her face, but the lines of ill-nature remain[Aside. Miss Har. I see he loves me by his confusion; I'll cheer him with affability. [Aside.] Sir, the letter you was pleased to send, my sister has Cle. No, madam, she has none-and Mr. Harlow, I have seen him too-he has honoured me with his consent) Now, madam, the only doubt remains with you; may I be permitted to hope Miss Har. Sir, you appear like a gentleman, and- Cle. Madam, believe me, never was love more sincere, more justly founded on esteem, or kindled into higher admiration. Miss Har. Sir, with the rest of the family, I hold myself much obliged to you, and Cle. Obliged! 'tis I that am obliged-there is no merit on my side-it is the consequence of impressions made upon my heart; and what heart can resist such beauty, such various graces! Miss Har. Sir, I am afraid-I wish my sister heard him. [Aside.] Sir, I am afraid you are lavish of your praise; and the short date of your love, sir Cle. It will burn with unabating ardour; the same charms, that first inspired it, will for ever cherish it, and add new fuel-But I presume you hold this style to try my sincerity-I see that's your aim: but could you read the feelings of my heart, you would not thus cruelly keep me in suspense. Miss Har. Heavens! if my sister saw my power over him! [Aside.] A little suspence cannot be deemed unreasonable; marriage is an important affair-an affair for life; and some caution you will allow necessary Cle. Madam! [Disconcerted.] oh, I dread the sourness of her look![Aside. Miss Har. I cannot help observing, sir, that you dwell chiefly on articles of external and superficial merit; whereas the more valuable qualities of the mind, produce good sense, a wellregulated conduct Cle. Oh, madam! I am not inattentive to those matters- -Oh! she has a notable household un Miss Har. My sister cannot be insensible of the honour you do us all; and, sir, as far as I can act with propriety in the affair, I will endeavour to keep them all inclined to favour youCle. Madam! [Bows. Miss Har. You have an interest in my breast that will be busy for you Cle. I am eternally devoted to you, madam [Bows. [Aside. Miss Har. How modest, and yet how expressive he is! Cle. Madam, I shall be for ever sensible of this extreme condescension, and shall think no pains too great to prove the gratitude and esteem I bear you--I beg my compliments to Mr. Harlow, and I shall be here with my uncle in the evening-as early as possible I shall come; my respects to your sister, madam; and pray, madanı, keep her in my interest. Madam, your most obedient-I have managed the motherly lady finely, I think. [Aside.] Madam! [Bows and Exit. Miss Har. What will my sister say now? I shall hear no more of her taunts-A malicious thing! I fancy she now sees that your giddy flirts are not always the highest beauties -Set her up, indeed! Had she but heard him, the dear man! what sweet things he said! and what sweet things he looked Enter MRS. HARLOW. Mrs. Har. Well, sister! how! what does he say? Miss Har. Say, sister! Every thing that is charming he is the prettiest man! Mrs. Har. Well, I am glad of it! but all is well that ends well Miss Har. Envy, sister! Envy, and downright malice! Oh, had you heard all the tender things he uttered, and with what ectasy, too: what tenderness! what delight restrained by modesty! Mrs. Har. I don't know, though; there is something odd in it still Miss Har. Oh, I don't doubt but you will say so! but you will find I have beauty enough left | to make some noise in the world still. The men, sister, are the best judges of female beauty-Don't concern yourself about it, sister.Leave it all to them Mrs. Har. But only think of a lover, you saw but once, at Ranelagh |