yourself happy in a hackney-coach before now!-If I had gone to Knightsbridge, or to Chelsea, or to Spring-garden, or to Barn-elms, with a man alonesomething might have been said.

Mrs. For. Why, was I ever in any of those places? —What do you mean, sister?

Mrs. F. Was I? what do you mean?

Mrs. For. You have been at a worse place.

Mrs. F. I at a worse place, and with a man?

Mrs. For. I suppose you would not go alone to the World's-end.

Mrs. F. The World's-end! What, do you mean to banter me?

Mrs. For. Poor innocent! you don't know that there is a place called the Word's-end? I'll swear, you can keep your countenance purely; you'd make an admirable player!

Mrs. F. I'll swear you have a great deal of confidence, and in my mind too much for the stage.

Mrs. For. Very well, that will appear who has most. You never were at the World's end?

Mrs. F. No.

Mrs. For. You deny it positively to my face?
Mrs. F. Your face! what's your face?

"Mrs. For. No matter for that; it's as good a face

"as yours.

"Mrs. F. Not by a dozen years wearing." Bu do deny it positively to your face then.

1

Mrs. For. I'll allow you now to find fault with my face; for I'll swear your impudence has put me out

of countenance.-But look you here now,-where did you lose this gold bodkin? Oh, sister, sister! Mrs. F. My bodkin!

Mrs. For. Nay, 'tis yours; look at it.

Mrs. F. Well, if you go to that, where did you find this bodkin -Oh, sister, sister!-sister every way! Mrs. For. O, devil on't! that I could not discover her, without betraying myself! [Aside.

Mrs. F. I have heard gentlemen say, sister, that one should take great care, when one makes a thrust in fencing, not to lay open one's self.

Mrs. For. It is very true, sister. Well, since all's out, and, as you say, since we are both wounded, let us do what is often done in duels, take care of one another, and grow better friends than before.

Mrs. F. With all my heart. “ Ours are but slight "flesh wounds; and if we keep them from air, not at "all dangerous." Well, give me your hand, in token of sisterly secrecy and affection.

Mrs. For. Here it is, with all my heart.

Mrs. F. Well, as an earnest of friendship and confidence, I'll acquaint you with a design that I have.— "To tell truth, and speak openly one to another." I'm afraid the world have observed us more than we have observed one another. You have a rich husband, and are provided for: I am at a loss, and have no great stock either of fortune or reputation, and therefore must look sharply about me. Sir Sampson has a son, that is expected to-night; and by the account I have heard of his education, can be no conjuror.

The estate, you know, is to be made over to him.Now, if I could wheedle him, sister, ha? you understand me?

Mrs. For. I do; and will help you, to the utmost of my power. And I can tell you one thing that falls out luckily enough; my aukward daughter-in-law, who, you know, is designed to be his wife, is grown fond of Mr. Tattle; now, if we can improve that, and make her have an aversion for the booby, it may go a great way towards his liking you. Here they come. together; and let us contrive some way or other to leave them together.

Enter TATTLE and Miss PRUE.

Miss P. Mother, mother, mother, look you here? Mrs. For. Fie, fie, miss, how you bawl!-Besides, I have told you, you must not call me mother. Miss P. What must I call you then? are you not my father's wife?

Mrs. For. Madam; you must say madam.-By my soul, I shall fancy myself old indeed, to have this great girl call me mother.-Well, but, miss, what are you so overjoyed at ?

Miss P. Look you here, madam, then, what Mr. Tattle has given me.-Look you here, cousin; here's a snuff-box; nay, there's snuff in't-here, will you have any?-Oh good! how sweet it is!-Mr. Tattle is all over sweet; his peruke is sweet, and his gloves are sweet-and his handkerchief is sweet, pure sweet,

sweeter than roses,-smell him, mother-madam, I mean. He gave me this ring, for a kiss.

Tatt. O fie, miss; you must not kiss, and tell.

Miss P. Yes; I may tell my mother-and he says he'll give me something to make me smell so.-Oh, pray lend me your handkerchief.-Smell, cousin; he says, he'll give me something that will make my smocks smell this way. Is not it pure?—It's better than lavender, mun.-I'm resolved I won't let nurse put any more lavender among my smocks-ha, cousin ? · Mrs. F. Fie, miss; amongst your linen you must say-you must never say smock.

Miss P. Why, it is not bawdy, is it, cousin?

Tatt. Oh, madam! you are too severe upon miss : you must not find fault with her pretty simplicity; it becomes her strangely.-Pretty miss, don't let them persuade you out of your innocency!

Mrs. For. Oh, demn you, toad!-I wish you don't persuade her out of her innocency.

Tatt. Who I, madam ?-O Lord, how can your ladyship have such a thought-sure you don't know

me!

Mrs. F. Ah, devil, sly devil-He's as close, sister, as a confessor.-He thinks we don't observe him.

Mrs. For. A cunning cur! how soon he could find out a fresh harmless creature-and left us, sister, presently.

Tatt. Upon reputation

Mrs. F. They're all so, sister, these men-they love

to have the spoiling of a young creature; they are as tond of it, as of being first in the fashion, or of seeing a new play the first day.I warrant it would break Mr. Tattle's heart, to think that any body else should be before-hand with him!

Tatt. Oh, Lord, I swear I would not for the world

Mrs. F. O, hang you; who'll believe you ?—You'll be hang'd before you'd confess—we know you-she's very pretty!-Lord, what pure red and white!—she looks so wholesome;-ne'er stir, I don't know, but 1 fancy if I were a man

Miss P. How you love to jeer one, cousin.

Mrs. For. Hark'ee, sister-by my soul, the girl is spoiled already-d'ye think she'll ever endure a great lubberly tarpawlin ?-Gad, I warrant you she won't let him come near her, after Mr. Tattle.

Mrs. F. On my soul, I'm afraid not-eh! filthy creature, that smells all of pitch and tar!-Devil take you, you confounded toad-why did you see her before she was married;

Mrs. For. Nay, why did we let him ?—My husband will hang us-he'll think we brought them acquainted. Mrs. F. Come, faith, let us be gone-If my brother Foresight should find us with them, he'd think so, sure enough.

Mrs. For. So he would-but then the leaving them together is as bad--and he's such a sly devil, he'll never miss an opportunity.

Mrs. F. I don't care; I won't be seen in it.