I guess what they have been talking of—I shall hear it in my turn, I suppose, but it won't become me to be inquisitive. [Exit Lady Grace.

Enter Lord TOWNLY and MANLY.

Lord T. I did not think my Lady Wronghead had such a notable brain: though I cann't say she was so very wise, in trusting this silly girl, you call Myrtilla, with the secret.

Man. No, my lord, you mistake me; had the girl been in the secret, perhaps I had never come at it myself.

Lord T. Why, I thought you said the girl writ this letter to you, and that my Lady Wronghead sent it inclosed to my sister?

Man. If you please to give me leave, my lord-▬▬▬▬ the fact is thus-This inclosed letter to Lady Grace was a real original one, written by this girl, to the count we have been talking of: the count drops it, and my Lady Wronghead finds it: then only chang ing the cover, she seals it up as a letter of business, just written by herself, to me and pretending to be in a hurry, gets this innocent girl to write the direction for her.

Lord T. Oh, then the girl did not know she was superscribing a billet-doux of her own to you?

:

Man. No, my lord; for when I first questioned her about the direction, she owned it immediately but when I shewed her that her letter to the count was within it, and told her how it came into my hands,

the poor creature was amazed, and thought herself betrayed both by the count and my lady-in short, upon this discovery, the girl and I grew so gracious, that she has let me into some transactions, in my Lady Wronghead's family, which, with my having a careful eye over them, may prevent the ruin of it.

Lord T. You are very generous, to be solicitous for a lady that has given you so much uneasiness.

Man. But I will be most unmercifully revenged of her: for I will do her the greatest friendship in the world-against her will.

Lord T. What an uncommon philosophy art thou master of, to make even thy malice a virtue !

Man. Yet, my lord, I assure you, there is no one action of my life gives me more pleasure than your approbation of it.

Lord T. Dear Charles! my heart's impatient 'till thou art nearer to me: and, as a proof that I have long wished thee so, while your daily conduct has chosen rather to deserve than ask my sister's favour, I have been as secretly industrious to make her sensible of your merit: and since on this occasion you have opened your whole heart to me, 'tis now with equal pleasure I assure you we have both succeeded -she is as firmly yours

Man. Impossible! you flatter me!

Lord T. I'm glad you think it flattery: but she herself shall prove it none: she dines with us alone : when the servants are withdrawn, I'll open a conversation, that shall excuse my leaving you together.

Oh, Charles! had I, like thee, been cautious in my choice, what melancholy hours had this heart avoided, Man. No more of that, I beg, my lord

Lord T. But 'twill, at least, be some relief to my anxiety, however barren of content the state has been to me, to see so near a friend and sister happy in it. Your harmony of life will be an instance how much the choice of temper is preferable to beauty.

While your soft hours in mutual kindness move,
You'll reach by virtue what I lost by love.

[Exeunt.

ACT IV. SCENE I.

Mrs. MOTHERLY's House. Enter Mrs. MOTHERLY, meeting MYRTILLA.

Motherly.

So, niece! where is it possible you can have been

these six hours?

Myr. Oh, madam, I have such a terrible story to tell you.

Moth. A story! Ods my life! What have you done with the count's note of five hundred pounds, I sent you about? Is it safe? Is it good? Is it security?

Myr. Yes, yes, it is safe: but for its goodnessMercy on us! I have been in a fair way to be hanged about it!

Moth. The dickens! has the rogue of a count played us another trick then?

Myr. You shall hear, madam; when I came to Mr. Cash, the banker's, and shewed him his note for five hundred pounds, payable to the count, or order, in two months- -he looked earnestly upon it, and desired me to step into the inner room, while he examined his books—after I had stayed about ten minutes, he came in to me- -claps to the door, and charges me with a constable for forgery.

Moth. Ah, poor soul! and how didst thou get off? Myr. While I was ready to sink in this condition, I begged him to have a little patience, 'till I could send for Mr. Manly, whom he knew to be a gentleman of worth and honour, and who, I was sure, would convince him, whatever fraud might be in the note, that I was myself an innocent abused woman

-and, as good luck would have it, in less than half an hour Mr. Manly came-so, without mincing the matter, I fairly told him upon what design the count had lodged that note in your hands, and, in short, laid open the whole scheme he had drawn us into to make our fortune.

Moth. The devil you did!

Myr. Why, how do you think it was possible I could any otherwise make Mr. Manly my friend, to help me out of the scrape I was in? To conclude, he soon made Mr. Cash easy, and sent away the constable: nay, farther, he promised me, if I would trust the note in his hands, he would take care it should be

fully paid before it was due, and at the same time would give me an ample revenge upon the count; so that all you have to consider now, madam, is, whe ther you think yourself safer in the count's hands, or Mr. Manly's.

Moth. Nay, nay, child; there is no choice in the matter! Mr. Manly may be a friend indeed, if any thing in our power can make him so.

Myr. Well, madam, and now, pray, how stand matters at home here? What has the count done with

the ladies?

Moth. Why, every thing he has a mind to do, by this time, I suppose. He is in as high favour with miss, as he is with my lady.

Myr. Pray, where are the ladies?

Moth. Rattling abroad in their own coach, and the well-bred count along with them: they have been scouring all the shops in town over, buying fine things and new clothes from morning to night: they have made one voyage already, and have brought home such a cargo of bawbles and trumpery-Mercy. on the poor man that's to pay for them!

Myr. Did not the young 'squire go with them?

Moth. No, no; miss said, truly he would but disgrace their party: so they even left him asleep by the kitchen fire.

Myr. Has not he ask'd after me all this while? For I had a sort of an assignation with him.

Moth. Oh, yes, he has been in a bitter taking about