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Ster. Inclinations! why, you wou'd not persuade me that the girl is in love with you-ch, Lovewell!

Love. I cannot absolutely answer for Miss Fanny, sir; but am sure that the chief happiness or misery of my life depends entirely upon her,

Ster. Why, indeed, now, if your kinsman, lord Ogleby, would come down handsomely for you—but that's impossible—1:0, no—'twill never do-I must hear no more of this-Come, Lovewell, promise me that I shall hear no more. of this.

Love. [besitating.] I am afraid, sir, I shou'd not be able to keep my word with you, If I did promise you.

Ster. Why, you wou'd not offer to marry her without my corsent! wou'd you, Lovewell?

Love, Marry her, sir! [Confused.]

Ster. Ay marry her, sir !—I know very well that a warm speech or two from such a dangerous young spark, as you are. will go much farther towalos persuading a silly girl to do what she has more than a month's mind to do, than twenty grave lectures from fathers or mothers or uncles er aunts, to prevent her-But you wou'd not, sure, be such a base fellow, such a treacherous young rogue, as to seduce my daughter's affections, and destroy the peace of my family in that manner.—I must insist on it, that you give me your word not to marry her without my consent.

Love. Sir-I-1-as to that--I-I beg sir-Pray, sir, excuse me on this subject at present.

Ster. Promise then, that you will carry this matter ne further without my approbation.

Love. You may depend on it, sir, that it shall go no turther.

Ster. Well-well-that's enough-I'll take care of the rest, 1 warrant you.- Come, come, let's have done with this tronsense?—what's doing in town?any news upon change?

Love. Nothing material.

Ster. Have you seen the currants, the soap, and Madeira, safe in the warehouses? have you compared the goods with the envoice and bills of lading, and are they all right? Love. They are, cir ?

Ster. And how are stocks?

Love. Fell one and half this morning.

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Ster. Well-well-some good news from America, aud they'll be up again,-But how lord O leby and sir John Melvil? when are you to expect them?

Love. Very soon, sir! I came on purpose to bring you their commands. Here are letters from both of them.

[Giving letters.

Sterl. Let me see let me see-'slife, how his lordships letter is perfumed! it takes my breath away. [opening it. And French paper too! with a fine border of flowers and flourishes and a slippery gloss on it that dazzles one's eyes. -My dear Mr Sterling-[readirg.]-Mercy on me! his lordship writes a worse hand than a boy at his exercise. -But how's this?-eh !—with you to-night-[reading.] -Lawyers to-morrow morning.-To-night !-that's sudden indeed. Where's my sister Heidieberg? she wou'd know of this immedia ely.. Here John! Harry! Thomas! [calling the servants.] Hark ye, Lovewell!

Love. Sir!

Ster. Iviind now, how I'll en'ertain his lordship and sir John We'll show your fellows at the other end of the town how we live in the city-They shall eat gold-and drink gold-and lie in gold-Here! cook, butler! [Calling. What signifies your birth and education, and titles? Money, money, that's the stuff that makes the great man in this country.

Love. Very true, Sir!

Ster. True sir?-Why then, have done with your nonsense of love and matrimony. You're not rich enough to think of a wife yet. A man of business should mind nothing but his business. Where are these fellows? John! Thomas! [Calling.]-Get an estate, and a wife will fol low of course.- -Ah! Lovewell! an English merchant is the most respectable character in the universe. 'Slife, man, a rich English merchant may make himself a match for the daughter of a Nabob.-Where are all my rascals ? Exit calling. hire, William!

LOVEWELL alone.

So!-As I suspected-Quite averse to the match, and likely to receive the news of it with great displeasure.What's best to be done?-Let me see!-Suppose I get sir John Melvil to interest himself in this affair. He may men.

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tion it to lord Ogleby with a better grace than I can, and more probably prevail on him to interfere in it. I can open my mind also more freely to sir John. He told me, when I left him in town, that he had something of consequence to communicate, and that I could be of use to him. I am glad of it: for the confidence he reposes in me, and the service I may do him, will ensure me his good offices. Poor Fanuy! it hurts me to see her so uneasy, and her making a mystery of the cause adds to my anxiety.Something must be done upon her account, for at all events, her solicitude shall be removed.

Scene changes to another Chamber.

Enter Mifs STERLING, and Mifs FANNY.

[Exit.

Miss Ster. Oh, my dear sister, say no more! This is downright hypocricy.-You shall never convince me that you don't envy me beyond measure.-Well, after all it is extremely natural-It is impossible to be angry with you. Fan. Indeed, sister, you have no cause.

Miss Ster. And you really pretend not to envy me?
Fan. Not in the least.

Miss Ster. And you don't in the least wish that you was just in my situation?

Fun. No, indeed, I don't. Why should I?

Miss Ster. Why should you?-what! on the brink of marriage, fortune, title-But I had forgot.-There's that dear sweet creature Mr Lovewell in the case.-You would not break your faith with your true love now for the world, I warrant you.

Fan. Mr Lovewell-always Mr Lovewell!-Lord, what signifies Mr Lovewell, Sister?

Miss Ster. Pretty peevish soul!-Oh, my dear, grave, romantic sister!-a perfect philosopher in petticoats!-love and a cottage-eh, Fanny !-ah, give me indifference and

a coach and six !—

Fun. And why not the coach and six without the indifference? -But, pray, when is this happy marriage of your's to be celebrated?-I long to give you joy.

Miss Ster. In a day or two-I can't tell exactly.-Oh, my dea sister!-I must mortify her a little. Aside.]—【 A $ know

know you have a pret y tas e. Pray g ve me your opinion of my jewels.-How d'ye like the style of this esclavage? [Shewing jewels.

Fan. Extremely handsome indeed, and well fancied. Miss Star. What d'ye think of these bracelets? I shall have a miniature of my father, set round with diamonds, to one, and sir John's to the other-And this pair of earrings! set transparent!-here, the tops, you see, will take off to wear in a morning, or in an undress-how d'ye like then. Shewing jewels.

Fan. Very much, I assure you-Bless me! sister, you have a prodigious quantity of jewels-You'll be the very queen of diamonds.

Miss Ster. Ha, ha, ha! very well, my dear;-I shall be as fine as a little queen indeed.—I have a b uquet to come home to-morrow-made up of di monds, a: drubies, and emeralds, and topazes, and amethysts-jev els of all colours, green, red, blue, yellow, intermixt- he prettiest thing you ever saw in your life!-the jeweller says I shall set out with as many diamonds as any body in town, except lady Brilliant, and Polly What d'ye call it, lord Squander's kept mistress.

Fan. But what are your wedding cloaths, sister?

Miss Ster. Oh, white and silver to be sure, you know.I bought them at sir Joseph Lutestring's, and sat above an hour in the parlour behind the shop, consulting lady Lutestring about gold and silver stuffs, on purpose to mortify her.

Fan Fie, sister; how could you be so abominably prcvoking?

Miss Ster. Oh, I have no patience with the pride of your city-knights ladies.-Did you never observe the airs of lady Lutestring drest in the richest brocade out of her husbands shop, playing crown-whist at haberdasher's-hall?-While the civil smirking sir Joseph, with a snug wig trimmed round his broad face as close as a new-cut yew-hedge, and his shoes so black that they shine again, stands all day in his shop, fastened to his counter like a bad shilling?

Fun. Indeed, indeed sister, this is too much-If you talk at this rate, you will be absolutely a bye-word in the city You must never venture on the inside of Temple bar

again.

Miss Ster. Never do I desire it-never, my dear Fanny, I promise you. Oh, how I long to be transported to the dear legions of Grosvenor Square-far-far from the dull districts of Aldersgate, Cheap, Candlewick, and Farringdon Without and Within-My heart goes pit-a-pat at the very idea of being introduced at court-gilt chariotpyeballed horses-laced liveries-and then the whispers buzzing round the circle-"Who is that young lady! who is she?""Lady Melvil, ma'am."- -Lady Melvil! my ears twingle at the sound. - -And then at dinner, instead of my father perpetually asking-"Any news upon 'change?"-to cry-well, Sir John; any thing new from Arthur's?-or-to say to some other woman of quality, was your ladyship at the dutchess of Rubber's last night?did you call in at lady Thunder's? In the immensity of crowd I swear I did not see you-scarce a soul at the opera last Saturday shall I see you at Carlisle-house next Thursday? Oh the dear Beau-Monde! I was born to move the sphere of the great world.

Fan. And so, in the midst of all this happiness, you have no compassion for me-no pity for us poor mortals in common life.

Miss Ster. [affectedly.] You?-you're above pity.You would not change conditions with me- -you're over head and ears in love, you know.-Nay, for that matter, if Mr. Lovewell and you come together, as I doubt not you will, you will live very comfortably, I dare say.-He will mind his business-you'll employ yourself in the delightful care of your family-and once in a season perhaps you'll sit together in a front-box at the benefit play, as we used to do at our dancing-master's, you know-and perhaps I may meet you in the summer with some other citizens at Tunbridge.-For my pait, I shall always entertain a proper regard for my relations. You shan't want my countenance I assure you.

Fan. Oh, you're too kind, sister.

Enter Mrs. HEIDELBERG.

Mrs Heidel. [at entering ] Here this evening!-I vow and protest we shall scarce have time to provide for them Oh, my dear; [To Miss Ster.] I am glad to see you're

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