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Bet. Yes, indeed; and indeed, ma'am he is. I saw him crossing the court-yard in his boots.

Fan. I am glad to hear it. -But pray no, my dear Betty, be cautious. Don't mention that word again on any account. You know, we have agreed never to drop any expressions of that sort for fear of an accident. Bet. Dear ma'am, you may depend upon me.

There

is not a more trustier creature on the face of the earth, than I am. Though I say it, I am as secret as the grave -and if it's never told, till I tell it, it may remain untold till doomsday for Betty.

Fan. I know you are faithful-but in our circumstances we cannot be too careful,

Bet. Very true, ma'am !—and yet I vow and protest, there's more plague than pleasure with a secret; especially if a body may'nt mention it to four or five of one's particular acquaintance.

Fan. Do but keep this secret a little while longer, and then I hope you may mention it to any body-Mr Lovewell will acquaint the family with the nature of our situation as soon as possible.

Bet. The sooner the better, I believe: for if he does not tell it, there's a little tell-tale, I know of, will come and tell it for him.

Fan. Fie, Betty! [blushing:]

Bet. Ah! you may well blush.-But you're not so sick, and so pale, and so wan, and so many qualms—

Fan. Have done! I shall be quite angry with you. Bet. Angry!-bless the dear puppet! I am sure I shall love it, as much as if it was my own.-I meant no harm, heaven knows.

Fan. Well-say no more of this-It makes me uneasy —All I have to ask of you, is to be faithful and secret, and not to reveal this matter, till we disclose it to the family ourselves.

Bet. Me reveal it !-if I say a word, I wish I may be burned. I would not do you any harm for the world. And as for Mr Lovewell, I am sure I have loved the dear gentleman ever since he got a tide-waiters place for my brother-But let me tell you both, you must leave off your soft looks to each other, and your whispers, and your glances, and your always sitting next to one another at dinner,

and

and your long walks together in the eveningFor my part, if I had not been in the secret, I should have known you were a pair of lovers at least, if not man and wife,

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Fan. See there now! again. Pray be careful.
Bet. Well-well-nobody hears me.

that

-Man and wife I'll say no more-what I tell you is very true for all

Love. [Calling within.] William !

Bet. Hark! I hear your husband-
Fan. What!

Bet. I say, here comes Mr Lovewell-Mind the caution I give you I'll be whipped now, if you are not the first person he sees or speaks to in the family- -However, if you chuse it, it's nothing at all to me as you sow, you must reap as you brew, so you must bake.-I'll e'en slip down the back stairs and leave you together.

FANNY alone.

[Exit.

I see, I see I shall never have a moment's ease till our marriage is made public. New distresses crowd in upon me every day. The solicitude of my mind sinks my spirits, preys upon my health, and destroys every comfort of my life. It shall be relieved, let what will be the consequence.

Enter LOVEWELL.

Love. My love !-how's this?-In tears?-Indeed this is too much. You promised me to support your spirits, and to wait the determination of our fortune with patience. For my sake, for your own, be comforted! why will you study to add to our uneasiness and perplexity?

Fan. Oh, Mr Lovewell! The indelicacy of a secret marriage grows every day more and more shocking to me. I walk about the house like a guilty wretch; I imagine myself the object of the suspicion of the whole family; and am under the perpetual terrors of a shameful detection.

Love. Indeed, indeed, you are to blame. The amiable delicacy of your temper, and your quick sensibility, only serves to make you unhappy.-To clear up this affair properly to Mr Sterling, is the continual employment of my thoughts. Every thing now is in a fair train. It begins

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now to grow ripe for a discovery; and I have no doubt of its concluding to the satisfaction of ourselves, of your father, and the whole family.

Fan. End how it will, I'm resolv'd it will end soon-I would not live another week in this agovery soon.ny of my mind to be mistress of the universe.

Lore. Do not be too valiant neither. Do not let us disturb the joy of your sister's marriage with the tumult this matter may occasion!- -I have brought letters from lord Ogleby and Sir John Melvil to Mr Sterling.They will be here this evening-and, I dare say, within this hour.

Fan, I am sorry for it.

Love. Why so?

Fan. No matter-Only let us disclose our marriage immediately!

Love. As soon as possible.

Fan. But directly.

Love. In a few days you may depend on it.

Fan. To-night-or to morrow morning.

Love. That, I fear, will be impracticable.

Fan. Nay, but you must.
Love. Must! why?

Fan. Indeed, you must. reasons for it.

I have the most alarming

Love. Alarming indeed! for they alarm me, even before I am acquainted with them- What are they?

Fan. I cannot tell you.

Love. Not tell me?

Fan. Not at present. When all is settled, you shall be acquainted with every thing.

Love. Sorry they are coming!-Must be discovered! What can this mean? Is it possible you can have any reasons that need be concealed from me?

Fan. Do not disturb yourself with conjectures-but rest assured, that though you are unable to divine the cause, the consequence of a discovery, be it what it will, cannot be attended with half the miseries of the present interval.

Love. You put me upon the rack.--I would do any thing to make you easy.- But you know your father's temper. Money, (you will excuse my frankness) is the spring of all his actions, which nothing but the idea of

acquiring

acquiring nobility or magnificence can ever make him forego

-and these he thinks his money will purchase.You know too your aunt's, Mr Heidelbergs' notions of the sp end ur of high life, her contempt for every thing that does not relish of what she calls quality, and that from the vast fortune in her hands, by her late husband, she absolutely governs Mr Sterling and the whole family; now, if they should come to the knowledge of this affair too abruptly, they might, perhaps be incensed beyond all hopes of reconciliation.

Fun. But if they are made acquain ed with it otherwise than by ourselves, it will be ten times worse; and a discovery grows every day more probable. The whole family have long suspected our affection. We are also in the power of a foolish maid servant; and if we may even depend on her fidelity, we cannot answer for her discretion.

-Discover it therefore immediately, lest some accident should bring it to light, and involve us in additional disgrace.

Love. Well-Well-I meant to discover it sɔon; but would not do it too precipitately.-I have more than onee sounded Mr Sterling about it, and will attempt him more seriously the next opportunity. But my prircipa! hopes are these. My relationship to lord Ogleby, and his having placed me with your father, have been, you know, the first links in the ch. in of this connection between the two families; in conse quence of which, I am at present in high favour with all parties: while they all remain thus well effected to me, I propose to lay our case before the old lord; And if I can prevail on him to meditate in this affair, I make no doubt but he will be able to appease your father; and, being a lord and a mau of quality, I am sure he may bring Mrs Heidelberg into good-humour at any time. Let me beg you, therefore, to ha e but a little patience, as you see, we are upon the very eve of discovery, that must probably be to our advantage.

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Fan. Manage it your own way. I am persuaded.
Love. But in the mean time make yourself easy.

Fun. As easy as I can, I will.——We had better not remain together any longer at present.-Think of this business, and let me know how you proceed.

Love. Depend on my care! but, pray, be cheaiful,
Fun. I will.

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As he is going out, Enter STERLING.

Ster. Hey-day! who have we got here?
Fan. [confused.] Mr Lovewell, Sir!
Ster. And where are you going hussey!
Fun. To my sisters chamber, Sir !

[Exit. Ster. Ah, Lovewell! what! always getting my foolish giri yonder into a corner -well-well-let us but once see her elder sister fast married to Sir John Melvil, we'll soon provide a good husband for Fanny, 1 warrant you. Love Wou'd to heaven, sir, you would provide her one of my recommendation !

Ster. Yourself? eh, Lovewell!

Love. With your pleasure, sir!
Ster. Mighty well!

Love. And I flatter myself, that such a proposal would not be very disagreeable to Miss Fanny.

Ster. Better and better!

Love And if I could but obtain your consent, sir!-Ster. What! you marry Fanny !-no-ro -that will never do, Lovewell!. -You're a good boy to be sureI have a great value for you-but can't think of you for a son-in-law. There's no stuff in the case; no money, Lovewell'

Love. My pretensions to fortune, indeed. are but moderate: but tho not equal to spiendour, sufficient to keep us above distress.- Add to which, that I nope by diligence

to increase it-and have love, honour

Ster. But not the stuff, Lovewell! Add one Little round o to the sum tutal of your fortune, and that will be the fi nest thing you can say to me.—————— You know I've a regard for you would do any thing to serve you-any thing on the footing of friendship-but

Love. If you think me worthy of your friendship, sir, be assured, that there is no instance in which I should rate your friendship so highly.

Ster. Psha! psha! that's another thing, you know.Where money or interest is concerned, friendsuip is quite out of the question.

Love. But where the happiness of a daughter is at stake, you wou'd not scruple, suie, to sacrifice a little to her inclinations,

Ster

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