Miss Not. O! my lady will be at home presently!but pray how came your lordship here then?

Lord G. Why, my life, I chanc'd to be driving by, and perhaps saw you go in.

[Takes her by the band.

Miss Not. Well, and what then?

Lord G. Why then, upon enquiry, I found you were here alone, and that made me come in-My dear Miss! how charming you look to-day!

Miss Not, Pshah!

Lord G. What's the matter, my soul?

Miss Not. To tell me I look charming, and then call one Miss.

Lord G. O! I ask a thousand pardons.

Miss Not. No, dear Lord George, never call me Miss again, you don't call Mrs. Conquest so; and though she's bigger, and more out of shape, you know, than I, I 'm sure I'm as much a woman in my heart as she; nay, and in my passions too: for I could kill any woman that would rob me of a lover, and die for the dear man that would not be won from

me.

Lord G. O, the pretty tenderness! But, my dear, take heed how you look upon me, for I am fam'd for assurance; and if once encourag'd, " 'egad my hope "sets no bounds to it's impudence, but falls down

right to resolving, and cocks it's hat to the fair " one's face, though in the very fury of her virtue. "Miss Not. I fancy now you are as gentle as the " rest of your brother beaus, whose greatest assurance " is only of bragging of more than you have.

Lord G. Nay, if you doubt my virtues, child, I'll "give you a taste of 'em, my dear. [Kisses her.

56

"Miss Not. Hold! hold! O lud! The duce take you for me.

"Lord G. Death! what a pouting lip the rogue "has! 'egad I think my friend Wronglove 's in the " right on't, sure.

"Miss Not. Besides, do you think this bullying is any proof of your courage ?

[Affectedly grave.

"Lord G. Why then, my dear, to prevent all mis"takes for the future, I now give you fair warning"If you have a mind I should not like you, don't "flatter me any more; for I tell you, I'm a down" right believing puppy, and upon the least hint of a " hope, can no more forbear proceeding."

Miss Not. Look you, my lord, all this is but stuff, for, upon my word, you'll find it no easy matter to flatter me: I know well enough how you're dispos'd of.

Lord G. Why then, by all the pains, pangs, and torments-In short, I'm a fool; I won't speak a word more to you.

Miss Not. Fy! fy! you had better give yourself these airs to Mrs. Conquest.

Lord G. I don't know but I had, madam; for I suppose you 'll tell my Lord Wronglove of it.

Miss Not. Ah! poor soul! if Mrs. Conquest lik'd you no better than I do my Lord Wronglove, you'd think yourself a miserable creature.

Lord G. If Mrs. Conquest lik'd me but half so well as I like you, I am sure she'd be a miserable

creature.

"Miss Not. Umh! how can you design upon me so? " Lord G. How can you think to impose upon me

"So?"

Miss Not. My lord, I shall take it very ill, if you tell me of my Lord Wronglove.

Lord G. Then perhaps, madam, I shan't take it

well to be told of Mrs. Conquest.

Miss Not. My Lord Wronglove!

Lord G. Mrs. Conquest!

Miss Not. I'd have you know, my lord, of all mankind, he's the farthest from my thoughts.

Lord G. And I'd have you know, madam, of all

womankind, Mrs. Conquest 's as far out of mine. Miss Not. Lard! the assurance of some men!

Lord G. Look you, madam, in short, I can prove what I say; and I hold ten pound of tea to a pinch of snuff, you won't let me prove it: come, and I 'll take the same bet of you, that you don't prove to me, what you said to me of my Lord Wronglove.

Miss Not. Come, it's done!

Lord G. Done!

Miss Not. Done, for both !
Lord G. Done!

Miss Not. Why then, to prove that I am innocent of the least inclination for him, I own he has teaz'd ine these two months; and because I was resolved to give him his answer and his punishment at the same time, I this very afternoon made him an appointment

F

--then went immediately and told my Lady Wronglove he was to meet a mistress at such an hour, to my knowledge, and so sent her in a fury after him to catch 'em together.

Lord G. But how could you escape yourself, all this while?

Miss Not. O! I did not tell her it was I; for as soon as I had blown up her jealousy, I whipt into a hackneycoach, and got to my lord before her, where I just popp'd out my head to him, and told him, in a pretended fright, my lady had dogg'd him, and I durst not stay; then drove away as fast as I could, and e'en left her to make up accounts with him.

Lord G. Why then, my life, I do pronounce, that the stoutest wife of 'em all, with the spirit of revenge in her, could not have better bustled through this business than you have.

Miss Not. And to let you see, sir, that I never do design him any favour, I give you leave to tell him, that I sent my lady after him Which if he does, I'm sure my Lord Wronglove must suspect an intimacy between us. [Aside.] Nay, and if you'll but stay a moment, you'll have an opportunity, for I know he'll be at home presently,

Lord G. Then you are but just come from him! Miss Not. The minute you saw me come in. And now, sir, if you can but give me half as good a proof, that your heart is innocent of Mrs. Conquest-why 't is possible, when you 've been about seven years in the same mind, I may then begin to think whether I shall consider of it or no.

Lord. G. A notable encouragement, truly! But to let you see, madam, I can't bear the scandal of a passion I'm not guilty of, as the last proof of my innocence, if either she doubts of my indifference, or you of my inclination, I am content to own both before your faces.

Miss Not. And so afterwards deny both behind both our backs. Indeed you must think again, that won't do" An old bite."

Lord G. Come, I'll do more-I'll pretend to trust you with my passion for a third person, and give you leave, in the tenderest touches art or woman's wit can paint it, to tell it that third person, while Mrs. Conquest is by.

Miss Not. Uuh! this has a face.

Lord G. Nay, with a mask upon 't too; for while I am convincing you I don't care a button for her; I impose upon a third person, purely to make a secret of my passion for you.

Miss Not. Better still-But when I have a mind to pull off the mask, you shan't refuse to show your face -for I don't care a man should be asham'd of his passion neither.

Lord G. As you please for that.

Miss Not. I begin to like this strangely-This will teize Mrs. Conquest to death-But now the difficulty is to find out this third person-It must be one I'm acquainted with-What think you of my Lady Wronglove?