Blun. But perhaps she is right; at least, in treating one of us so, I am sure she is; and I will forgive her wronging the one, for the sake of her doing justice to the other.

Enter HENRY: he starts at seeing BLACKMAN and BLUNTLY.

Hen. Who are these?

Blac. "Who are these?" Did you ever hear such impertinence? (Going up to him.) Pray who are you, sir?

Hen. I am a man.

Blac. Yes; but I am a lawyer.

Hen. Whatever you are, this apartment is mine, not your's and I desire you to leave it.

Blac. But to-morrow it will be mine, and then I shall desire you to leave it, and force you to leave it. Hen. Eleanor, retire to the other chamber; I am sorry I left you. (Leads her off.)

Blac. And I am sorry that I and my friend should come here to be affronted.

Blun. Mr Blackman, I won't be called names. Blac. Names, sir! What names did I call you ? Blun. Did not you call me your friend? I assure you, sir, I am not used to be called names. I am but a servant, whose character is every thing; and I'll let you know that I am not your friend. Blac. Why, you blockhead, does not your master call himself my friend?

Blun. Yes, my master is a great man, and he can get a place without a character, but if I lose mine, am ruined; therefore, take care how you miscal me for the future, for I assure you I won't bear it. I am not your friend, and you shall find I am not.

[Exit (in great anger,) BLACKMAN following.

ACT THE SECOND,

SCENE I.

An Apartment at SIR GEORGE SPLENDORVILLE'S.

Enter SIR GEORGE, followed by BLUNTLY.

Sir Geo. What's o'clock?

Blun. Just noon, sir.

(Rubbing his eyes.)

Sir Geo. Why was I waked so early?

Blun. You were not waked, sir-You rung.

Sir Geo. Then it was in my sleep and could not you suppose so? After going to bed at five, to make me rise at noon! (in a violent passion.) What am I to do with myself, sir, till it is time to go out for the evening?

sir.

Blun. You have company to dinner you know,

Sir Geo. No, it is to supper-and what am I to do with myself till that time?

Blun. Company again to supper, sir?

Sir Geo. Yes, and the self-same company I had last night; I invited them upon lady Caroline's ac count to give her an opportunity of revenge, for

the money she lost here yesterday evening; and I am all weariness; I am all lassitude and fretfulness till the time arrives. But now I call to mind, I have an affair that may engage my attention a few hours. You were giving me an account, Bluntly, of that beautiful girl I saw enter at Blackman's?

Blun. Yes, sir, I saw her late last night in Mr Blackman's house; she lodges there.

Sir Geo. Indeed! In Blackman's house? I am glad to hear it.

Blun. And he has assured me, sir, that she and her family are in the greatest poverty imaginable. Sir Geo. I am glad to hear it.

Blun. They have been it seems above a twelvemonth in London, in search of some rich relations ; but instead of meeting with them, the father was seen and remembered by an old creditor, who has thrown him into prison.

Sir Geo. I am very glad to hear it.

Blun. But the young woman, sir, has been se short a time in town, she has, seemingly, a great deal of modesty and virtue.

Sir Geo. And I am very glad to hear of that too--I like her the better-you know I do-for I am weary of that ready compliance I meet with from the sex.

Blun. But if I might presume to advise, sir-as you are so soon to be married to her ladyship, whom you love with sincere affection, you should give up this pursuit.

Sir Geo. And I shall give it up, Bluntly, before my marriage takes place; for, short as that time may be, I expect this passion will be over and forgotten, long before the interval has passed away. But that brother you were mentioning

Blun. I have some reason to think, that with all his poverty, he has a notion of honour.

Sir Geo. (Laughing.) Oh! I have often tried the effect of a purse of gold with people of honour. Have you desired them to be sent for as I ordered?

Blun. I have, sir.

Sir Geo. See if they are come. (Exit BLUNTLY.) Ah! my dear Lady Caroline, it is you, and only you, whom I love with a sincere passion! but in waiting this long expected event of our marriage, permit me to indulge some less exalted wishes.

Enter BLUNTLY.

Sir Geo. Are they come?

"

Blun. The young man is in the anti-chamber, sir, but his sister is not with him. (Speaking to Henry who is without.) Please to walk this way-my master desires to see you.

Sir Geo. No, no, no-I do not desire to see him, if his sister is not there. Zounds, you scoundrel, what do you call him in for?

Enter HENRY, and bows.

(SIR GEORGE looks at him with a careless familiarity-BLUNTLY leaves the room.)

Sir Geo. Young man, I am told you are very poor: you may have heard that I am very rich; and I, suppose you are acquainted with the extensive meaning of the word-generosity.

Hen. (After an hesitation.) Perhps not, sir.

Sir Geo. The meaning of it, as I comprehend, is, for the rich to give to the poor. Have you any thing to ask of me in which I can serve you?

Hen. Your proposal is so general, I am at a loss what to answer; but you are, no doubt, acquainted with the extensive meaning of the word, pride,-and that will apologize for the seeming indifference with which I receive your offer.

Sir Geo. Your pride seems extensive indeed. I heard your father was in prison, and I pitied him.

Hen. Did you, sir? Did you pity my father :-I beg your pardon-if I have said any thing to offend you, pray forgive it; nor let my rudeness turn your compassion away from him, to any other object.

Sir Geo. Would a small sum release him from confinement? Would about a hundred pounds

Hen. I have no doubt but it would. 1

Sir Geo. Then take that note.-Be not surprised; I mean to dispose of a thousand guineas this way, instead of fitting up a theatre in my own house. That (giving him the note,) is a mere trifle; my box at the opera, or my dinner; I mean to dine alone to morrow, instead of inviting company.

Hen. Sir George, I spoke so rudely to you at first, that I know no other way to shew my humility, than to accept your present without reluctance I do therefore, as the gift of benevolence, not as the insult of better fortune.

Sir Geo. You have a brother, have not you?
Hen. No, sir-and only one sister.

Sir Geo. A sister is it? well, let me see your father and your brother-sister I mean-did not you say? you said a sister, did not you?

Hen. Yes, sir.

Sir Geo. Well, let me see your father and her; they will rejoice at their good fortune-I imagine, and I wish to be a witness of their joy.

Hen. I will this moment go to our lawyer, extricate my father, and we will all return and make you the spectator of the happiness you have bestowed. Forgive my eagerness to disclose your bounty, sir, if, before I have said half I feel, I fly to reveal it to my father; to whom I can more powerfully express my sensations-than in your presence. Exit.