a collateral branch by the mother's side, the Apprices of Lantrindon; and we have ever since quartered in an escutcheon of pretence the three goats tails rampant, divided by a chevron, field argent, with a leek pendant in the dexter point, to distinguish the second house. Sir Greg. Wonderful! wonderful! nearly, nearly, related! good now, good now! if Dame Winifred were here she'd make them all out with a wet finger; but they are above me. Prithee, Tim, good now! see after the horses; and, d'ye hear! try if you can get any news-papers. Tim. Yes, father. But, cousin What-d'ye-callum, not a word about Mally Pengrouse! Hart. Mum! [Exit Timothy. Sir Greg. Good now, that boy will make some mistake about the horses now! I'll go myself. Good now, no farther cousin! if you please,no ceremony! -A hundred and fifty a week! the Fool! ha, ha, ha! wonderful! an odd dog. [Exit Sir Gregory. Jenk. So, Jack, here's a fresh spoke in your wheel. Hart. This is a cursed cross incident! Jenk. Well, but something must be done to frustrate the scheme of your new cousin. Can you think of nothing? Hart. I have been hammering: - pray, are the two knights intimate? are they well acquainted with each other's person? Jenk. Faith, I can't tell; but we may soon know. Hart. Could you recommend me a good spirited girl, who has humour and compliance to follow a few directions, and understanding enough to barter a little inclination for 3000l. a year and a fool? Jenk. In part I guess your design: the man's daughter of the house is a good lively lass, has a fortune to make, and no reputation to lose. I'll call her.-Jenny! But the enemy is at hand; -I'll withdraw and prepare Jenny. When the worshipful family are retired I'll introduce the wench. [Exit Jenkins. Enter Sir Gregory and Timothy. Sir Greg. Pray now, cousin, are you in friendship with Sir, Penurious Trifle? Hart. I have the honour, sir, of that gentleman's acquaintance. Sir Greg. May be so, may be so! but, lack-aday, cousin, is he such a miser as folks say? Good now, they tell me we shall hardly have necessaries for ourselves and horses at Gripe-Hall: but, as you are a relation, you should, good now, know the affairs of the family. Here is Sir Penurious's letter; here, cousin. Hart. "Your overture I receive with pleasure, and should be glad to meet you in Shropshire."-I fancy, from a thorough knowledge of Sir Penurious's disposition, and by what I can collect from the contents of that letter, he would be much better better pleased to meet you here than at his own house. Sir Greg. Lack-a-day! may be so! a strange man! wonderful! But, good now, cousin, what must we do? Hart. I will this morning pay Sir Penurious a visit; and, if you will honour me with your com mands, I'll Sir Greg. Wonderful! to-day! good now, that's lucky! cousin, you are very kind: good now! I'll send a letter, Tim, by cousin Hartop. Hart. A letter from so old an acquaintance, and upon so happy an occasion, will secure me a favourable reception. Sir Greg. Good lack, good lack! an old ac quaintance indeed, cousin Hartop! we were at Herefordshire 'size together- -let's see, wonderful! how long ago? 'twas while I was courting Dame Winny; the year before I married; good now, how long? let's see, that year the hackney-stable was built, and Peter Ugly, the blind pad, fell into a saw-pit. Tim. Mother says, father and she was married, the 1st of April, in the year 10; and I knows 'tis there about, for I am two-and-thirty; and brother Jeremy, and Roger, and Gregory, and sister Nelly, were born'd before I. Sir Greg. Good now, good now! how time wears away! wonderful! thirty-eight years ago, Tim; I could not have thought it. But come in, let's set about the letter. But pray, cousin, what diversions, good now! are going forward in Lon don? Hart. Oh, sir, we are in no distress for amuse, ment; we have plays, balls, puppet-shows, masquerades, bull-baitings, boxings, burlettas, routs, drums, and a thousand others. But I am in haste for your epistle, Sir Gregory. Sir Greg. Cousin your servant. [Erit Sir Greg. and Tim. Hart. I am your most obedient. Thus far our scheme succeeds; and, if Jenkins's girl can assume the aukward pertness of the daughter with as much success as I can imitate the spirited folly of Sir Penurious, the father, I don't despair of a hap py catastrophe. Enter Jenny. Jenny. Sir, Mr. Jenkins Hart. Oh, child, your instructions shall be ad ministered within. Jenny. Mr. Jenkins has opened your design, and I am ready and able to execute my part. Hart. My dear, I have not the least doubt of either your inclination or ability. But, pox take this old fellow! what in the devil's name can bring him back? Scour, Jenny. Enter Sir Gregory. Exit Jenny. Sir Greg. Cousin, I beg pardon, but I have a fayour to beg;-good now, could not you make interest at some coffee house in London to buy, for a small small matter, the old books of news papers, and send them into the country to me? They would pass away the time rarely in a rainy day! Hart. Sir, I'll send you a cart-load. Sir Greg. Good now, good now! ten thousand thanks! you are a cousin indeed! But pray, cousin, let us, good now! see some of the works of that same Fool. Hart. I'll send them you all; but a Sir Greg. What all? lack-a-day, that's kind, cousin? The Terra Incognita,-both the Needles, -a great deal of that!-But what bishop is to be pope? Hart. Zounds, sir, I am in haste for your letter; when I return ask as many questions Sir Greg. Good now, good now! that's true!I'll in, and about it. But, cousin, the pope is not to have Gibraltar? Hart. No, no; damn it, no! as none but the Fool could say it, so none but ideots would believe him! Pray, Sir Gregory, Sir Greg. Well, well, cousin! Lack-a-day, you are so Hart. Damn your praying! if you don't finish your letter immediately you may carry it your self! Sir Greg. Well, well, cousin! Lack-a-day, you are in such a — Good now, I go, I go! Hart. But, If the truth should be discovered, I shall be inevitably disappointed. Sir Greg. But, cousin, are Scilly-rocks Hart. I wish they were in your guts with all my heart! I must quit the field, I find, B4 ¡Exit. Sir Greg |