-In a week you'll lose your seat at Westminster: in a fortnight my lady will run you into jail, by keeping the best company- -In four-and-twenty hours your daughter will run away with a sharper, because she han't been used to better company: and your son will steal into marriage with a cast mistress, because he has not been used to any company at all.

Sir Fran. I' th' name o' goodness, why should you think all this?

Man. Because I have proof of it; in short, I know so much of their secrets, that if all this is not prevented to-night, it will be out of your power to do it to-morrow morning.

Sir Fran. Mercy upon us! you frighten me— Well, sir, I will be governed by you: but what am I to do in this case?

Man. I have not time here to give you proper in. structions; but about eight this evening I'll call at your lodgings, and there you shall have full conviction how much I have it at heart to serve you.

Enter a Servant.

Serv. Sir, my lord desires to speak with you.
Man. I'll wait upon him.

Sir Fran. Well, then, I'll go strait home, naw.
Man. At eight depend upon me.

Sir Fran. Ah, dear cousin! I shall be bound to you as long as I live. Mercy deliver us, what a terrible journey have I made on't. [Exeunt severally.

SCENE II.

Opens to a Dressing-room; Lady TowNLY, as just up, walks to her Toilet, leaning on Mrs. TRUSTY.

Trust. Dear madam, what should make your ladyship so out of order?

Lady T. How is it possible to be well, where one is killed for want of sleep?

Trust. Dear me! it was so long before you rung, madam, I was in hopes your ladyship had been finely composed.

Lady T. Composed! why I have lain in an inn here; this house is worse than an inn with ten stagecoaches what between my lord's impertinent people of business in a morning, and the intolerable thick shoes of footmen at noon, one has not a wink all night.

Trust. Indeed, madam, it's a great pity my lord cann't be persuaded into the hours of people of quality-though I must say that, madam, your ladyship is certainly the best matrimonial manager in town.

Lady T. Oh, you are quite mistaken, Trusty! I manage very ill; for, notwithstanding all the power I have, by never being over-fond of my lord—yet I want money infinitely oftener than he is willing to give it me.

Trusty. Ah! if his lordship could but be brought

to play himself, madam, then he might feel what it

is to want money.

Lady T. Oh, don't talk of it! do you know that I am undone, Trusty?

Trusty. Mercy forbid, madam!

Lady T. Broke, ruined, plundered !-stripped, even to a confiscation of my last guinea!

Trusty. You don't tell me so, madam?

Lady T. And where to raise ten pound in the world-What is to be done, Trusty?

Trusty. Truly, I wish I were wise enough to tell you, madam: but may be your ladyship may have a run of better fortune upon some of the good company that comes here to-night.

Lady T. But I have not a single guinea to try my fortune.

Trusty. Ha! that's a bad business indeed, madam— Adad, I have a thought in my head, madam, if it is not too late

Lady T. Out with it quickly, then, I beseech thee. Trusty. Has not the steward something of fifty pounds, madam, that you left in his hands to pay somebody about this time?

Lady T. Oh, ay; I had forgot-'twas to-a-what's his filthy name?

Trusty. Now I remember, madam, 'twas to Mr. Lutestring, your old mercer, that your ladyship turned off about a year ago, because he would trust you no longer.

Lady T. The very wretch! If he has not paid it,

run quickly, dear Trusty, and bid him bring it hither immediately-[Exit Trusty.] Well, sure mortal woman never had such fortune! five, five and nine, against poor seven for ever—— -No, after that horrid bar of my chance, that Lady Wronghead's fatal red fist upon the table, I saw it was impossible ever to win another stake-Sit up all night; lose all one's money; dream of winning thousands; wake without a shilling; and then-How like a hag I look!In short-the pleasures of life are not worth this disorder. If it were not for shame, now, I could almost think Lady Grace's sober scheme not quite so ridiculous- If my wise lord could but hold his tongue for a week, 'tis odds but I should hate the town in a fortnight- -But I will not be driven out

of it, that's positive.

TRUSTY returns.

Trusty. Oh, madam, there's no bearing of it! Mr. Lutestring was just let in at the door, as I came to the stair foot; and the steward is now actually paying him the money in the hall.

Lady T. Run to the stair-case head again-and scream to him, that I must speak with him this in[Trusty runs out and speaks.

stant.

Trusty. Mr. Poundage-a-hem! Mr. Poundage,

a word with you quickly.

[Without.

[Without.

Pound. [Within.] I'll come to you presently.

Trusty. Presently won't do, man, you must come

this minute.

[Without.

Pound. I am but just paying a little money here.

[Without.

Trusty. Cods my life, paying money! Is the man distracted? Come here, I tell you, to my lady this moment, quick! [Without

TRUSTY returns.

Lady T. Will the monster come or no ?

Trusty. Yes, I hear him now, madam; he is hob bling up as fast as he can.

Lady T. Don't let him come in-for he will keep such a babbling about his accounts-my brain is not able to bear him.

[Poundage comes to the door, with a money-bag in his hand.

Trusty. Oh, it's well you are come, sir! where's the fifty pounds?

Pound. Why, here it is; if you had not been in such haste, I should have paid it by this time-the man's now writing a receipt, below, for it.

Trusty. No matter; my lady says you must not pay him with that money! there's not enough, it seems; there's a pistole, and a guinea, that is not good, in it

-besides, there is a mistake in the account too[Twitches the bag from him.] But she is not at leisure to examine it now; so you must bid Mr. What-d'ye call-um call another time.

Lady T. What is all that noise there?