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ndeed. But apropos, Georgy; what fun I had with your ld Earl last night at Almack's-ha! ha! ha!

Lady P. My old Earl!

Lady A. He came in, thawed with a decent dinner; the premier's Steinburg had given the cadavre a bloom; pon my life he talked impudence to me.

Lady P. The Earl of Pompion !

Lady A. It would have delighted you to watch such signs of restored animation. A knot of politicians had nearly secured him-politics at Almack's-I darted in in amongst them, crying "treason," seized Pompey himself, and whirled him into the most delirious polka.

Lady P. A polka!

[Hums a polka.

Lady A. Toe and heel, as I'm a widow and a sinner; we threw Jullien into extacies, till I restored the Home Secretary to his party, a wiser and a better man.

Enter LORD POMPION, C., from L. down L.

Didn't I, Pompey?

Lord P. Lady Alice, et tous jours gaie, where's my coun

tess?

Lady A. Not up yet, look! [Points to Lady Pompion, who is pulling her Spaniel's ears.] or stay, she is making Bichon's toilette.

Lord P. I forgot to mention that I expect Mr. Coke, of Yorkshire, on a visit: he has lately been returned for Ashby, and I want his interest and a loan to secure Charles for Closeborough-we must show him attention.

Lady P. Very well, write down his name, and I'll send it to the housekeeper.

Lady A. Long live old English hospitality!

Lord P. He has some of his family with him.

Lady P. They can have the britzska, and you must manage something for their Opera-leave it to the housekeeper.

Lady A. Talking of visitors, I have invited a couple to you.

Lady P. To us!

Lady A. Yes-Colonel Rocket and his daughter old friends of mine-my bonbonniere in Brook Street only holds me and my plagues, but, fortunately, having a card

of yours in my case, I thought how glad you'd be. I mentioned six as your dinner hour. Don't be anxious-they'll be here in a minute.

Lord P. How rash-he may be of the opposition. Lady A. An East India Director, with two boroughs. [Aside.] Rabbit ones.

Lord P. Is the girl presentable?

Lady A. Met them at Devonshire House

Lord P. Two boroughs! my dear Alice, you are rash, but you mean well.

Lady P. Of course I do-only think of two boroughs, Pompey. [Aside.] A half-pay colonel, with less interest than a treasury clerk, but a glorious old fellow. I'll bet he'll kiss the Countess in a week-what fun!

[Lady Alice and Lord Pompion retire up stage, c. Enter a SERVANT, L.

Ser. Lord Charles Roebuck.

Enter ROEBUCK, followed by LITTLETON COKE, L. Roe. My dearest mother!

Lady P. Ah! Charles, how d'ye do, dear? [Lifts her eye-glass.] Bless me, how brown you're grown-for heaven's sake, take care of Bichon, there. [Shakes his hand over the dog.] Have you brought me the Eau de Cologne ? Roe. Yes, everything-but, my dear mother

Lady P. Dear-how old he looks for a son of mine. Lord P. But undoubtedly improved

Roe. My dear father, forgive me!

[Advances on the L.

[Offering both his hands. Lord P. [Regarding him.] A Pompion, decidedly. Lady P. Tell me, Charles, your Italian is Roman-and -ah! I see you wear Bouquet du Roi. I understand that esprit d' Isabella was the court scent at the Tuilleries, just now.

Lord P. Of course your present appearance is the remains of a diplomatic compliment to the Court of Versail les very judicious

Lady P. I trust, Charles, you have picked up no foreign immoralities-I mean, you go to church sometimes; w have a pew at St. George's-and, apropos, have glacé silks gone out yet, in Paris?

Roe. Really, dearest mother, I didn't notice.
Lady P. Ah! boys are so thoughtless.

Lord P. You don't make yourself remarkable in dress or equipage, Charles?

Lady P. I hope you have no penchant for liaisons with public people or unmarried women, dear?

Lord P. Every notoriety, which is not political, is hurtful.

Lady P. I trust you don't swear, Charles-I mean in English; and excuse the anxiety of a mother-you continue to use the almond paste I wrote to you about?

Lord P. Apropos-you'll find in my room a list of the doubtful ones of our party, so that you may know where to lose your money, at Crockford's-of course, you will not enter any of the lower gaming clubs—and, by the bye -be cool to Vernon.

Roe. My dear father-my schoolfellow, Dick Vernon, once saved my life.

Lord P. Possibly-but he voted against us on the Barbadoes Bill, and he has talked of conscientious principles, and in presence of the Premier-in short-he was omitted in the Premier's dinner yesterday-of course, you speak German?

Lady P. Do you bet?

Lady A. Do you Polk?

Roe. Blest voice-surely—it is

Lady A. Your cousin Alice-how are you, Charley. [He hesitates.] all right-go on-Roe. crosses to her.] I'm human nature! [He kisses her.] What's your friend's name? we are acquainted, I know, but I can't recollect who he is!

Roe. [Aside.] Coke-I had almost forgetten him-what can he think of my cold reception; how frigidly they will receive him-I am fairly ashamed to-[Brings Coke down on the L. c.] My lord and lady, mother, allow me, Mr. Coke.

Lord P. Coke! of Yorkshire?

Lit. Yes.

Lord P. Ashby?

Lit. The same.

[Crosses to Littletcn.

Lord P. [Heartily.] My dear sir, I'm delighted to see you! [Shaking him by both hands.] delighted! this is an

unexpected pleasure, to find in you a friend of my son's allow me-the Countess-Mr. Čoke, of Ashby.

Lady A. Mr. Coke, of Ashby! Take care of Bichon, ha ha!

Roe. Mr. Coke-Lady Alice Hawthorn, with whom the whole world is in love.

Lady A. Speak for yourself, sir.

[Speaks aside with Coke.-Lady Pompion sounds a gong, and a Servant enters, L., who unwraps her feet and wraps the dog in the shawl.

Lord P. You will excuse me, Mr. Coke—the business of the nation-till dinner, eh? sans adieu! [Shakes his hand.] Charles, I can spare you a moment; follow me to my study. [Crosses, L., and exit. Lady A Adieu, Charles! au plaisir, Mr. Poke-by, by, Alice.

Lady A. Adieu, Bichon.

[Exit Lady Pompion, R., followed by the Servant carrying the dog.

Roe. What can this mean? Coke received with such fervour and this-this is my return, after three years' absence! well! [Going, L. Lady A. (R.) I say, Charley, are glacé silks out in Paris?

Roe. By heaven!

Lady A. Ah! ah! I hope you don't swear- -I mean in English! ah! ah! ah! [Exit Roebuck, L.-Aside] So! a pair of recruits to my staff!

Lit. [Aside.] And this glorious creature is the deadly widow whom Roebuck gives up without a sigh. [A pause. Lady A. Well, Mr. Coke, if you have nothing droll to say, give us your maiden speech; on what question do you come out.

Lit. To love, or not to love!

Lady A. I'll settle that--to love-carried, eh?
Lit. Without a division.

[Kisses her hand. Lady A. [Aside.] Hang the fellow's impudence.-Well, if you can't say something funny, make me cry; I haven't cried since my marriage, except with laughing. You are on a visit here, eh? you will find it a horrid bore.

Lit. I can view it only as a paradise at present; when your ladyship leaves it, I may see in it a desert.

Lady A. Are you an old friend of my cousin's'

Lit. Lord Charles and I entered Eton on the same day, and never parted for nine years-I may say we are brothers.

Lady A. I have a secret with which I mean to electrify the old folks here-I want a partner in the scheme -can I trust you?

Lit. With your whole heart.

Lady A. Miss Rocket, a friend of mine, is in love with my cousin Charles here-don't stare!—I found it out, and have asked her on a visit.

Lit. To supplant yourself!-why, the Earl sent for Roebuck home, to-expressly-to-marry you. Lady A. Me! oh, the old fox!

Ha ha! so, so!- -SO much the better; I'll teach him to keep his intrigues within Whitehall.-To begin, then, let's be friends.

Lit. Ah! beware, Lady Alice! the friend of a young and lovely woman should have sixty years, at least, and holy orders for his qualification.

Lady A. Young man, take my advice; a woman never likes her lover to be more careful of her character than she is herself, or too provident in his heart's economy; your sex arrogates too much on the solitary advantage which nature has given it over ours.

Lit. What is that?

Lady A. You are born without reputation.-What club owns you?

Lit. None!

Lady A. Right-allow neither your opinions nor your society to be dictated to you ;—what clique claims you? Lit. Only one-Aside.] the Queen's Bench,-[Aloud.] but they are too exclusive and confined for me. Lady A. You love liberty?

Lit. As a mistress likely to be lost.

Lady A. You are a man after my own heart.
Lit. I am, and I trust soon to come up with it.
Lady A. What is the world?

Lit. A gentler synonym for vice in town.

Lady A. It seems to me that your sex is capable of but two characters-selfish politicians or reckless gamesters. Did modern chivalry erect new orders, one half nobility would range under the folds of a minister's table cloth, while the other would canonize Crockford.

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