Miss Vor. I believe my curricle is the first carriage. 0. Rap. Dear me ! [Looking at Miss Vortex.] Vor. My daughter seems to please you, sir. O. Rup. What a shape! Miss Vor. Oh, sir, you're uncommon polite! O. Rap. What elegance!-what fashion! upon the whole, its the best-made little spencer I've seen for some time. [Vortex and daughter in amazement. Y. Rap. Oh, the devil!-The fact is, ma'am, my father is the most particular man on earth about dress-the beau of his time-Beau Rapid.-You know, father, they always called you Beau Rapid. I dare say he's had more suits of clothes in his house than any man in England. Miss Vor, An uncommon expensive whim! Y. Rap. I don't think his fortune has suffered by it. Miss Vor. [To Old Rapid.] Shall I have the honour of driving you? O. Rap. Oh, madam, I can't think of giving you so much trouble as to drive me. Miss Vor. My dear sir, I shall be uncommon happy! O. Rap. Oh, madam! [Simpers and titters to his son, then takes Miss Vortex's hand, and trots off] Vor. We'll follow. Y. Rap. If you please :-not that I particularly like to follow. Vor. I suppose, sir, now summer approaches, London begins to fill for the winter. Y. Rap. Yes, sir, Vor. Any thing new in high life?-what is the present rage with ladies of fashion? Y. Rap. Why, sir, as to the ladies ;-[Aside.]—What shall I say?-Oh! the ladies, sir,-why, heaven bless them, sir! they they keep moving!-but, to confess the truth, sir, my fashionable education has been very much neglected. Vor. That's a pity. Y. Rap. Very great pity, sir. Vor. Suppose I become your preceptor. Y. Rap. If you would be so kind—I would treasure any little short rule. Vor. Why there is a short rule necessary for every man of fashion to attend to. Y. Rap. What is it? Y. Rap. Never reflect!-what, push on-keep moving? my dear sir-that's my way-suits me exactly. Vor. Then you must be known. Y. Rap. To be sure ;-I'll give away thousands in charities. Vor. Charities! You would be forgot in a week.-To be known, you must be mischievous ;-malice has a much better memory than gratitude;-and then you must be gallant. Are there no pretty girls you should like to be well with, eh? Y. Rap. A very extensive assortment, sir. Vor. And perhaps there may be a married woman you would like to intrigue with. Y. Rap. A very large quantity.-Oh! how I long to begin! -Are you married, sir? Vor. Why, no! Enter JOHN, L. John. The carriage is ready. Y. Rap. So am I; come, sir,—four horses, I hope. Y. Rap. That's a great pity. Pray, sir, will you have the goodness to tell your coachman to drive like the devil? Vor Sir, to oblige you. Y. Rap. Sir, I'll be very much obliged to you. Enter WAITER, L. Wai. Your clothes are come, sir. Y. Rap. That's lucky. Vor. Then I'll wait for you. Y. Rap. Wait for me!-nobody need wait for me-I'll be with you in a crack-Do you push on-I'll keep moving -I'll take care nobody waits for me. [Exeunt, L. SCENE II-A Room in the Nabob's House. Three Chairs. Enter OATLAND, dejected; FRANK and JESSY leading him, R. Jes. (R.) Be comforted, father. Oat. (c.) To see thee brought to service! [Sighs.]—I've done this:-I that have Fra. (L.) Never mind-we be young and healthy, and don't heed it-do us, Jessy? Oat. To be ashamed to look my own children in the face! I, who ought to have been the fore-horse of the team, to be pulled along through life by this young tender thing! Jes. Don't despond, father-Sir Hubert will see your contrition, and restore you to his favour. Out. When the hen sees the hawk ready to pounce, she gathers her young ones under her wing-when misfortune hovers over my sweet chicken here, I leave her to shift for herself! Jes. Come, no more of this. Oat. Even the savage hawk takes care of its nestlingswhat then am I?-Children, do you hate me ? Fra. Hate thee! pugh, feyther, dan't thee talk so-good bye to thee-cheer up-thee has long been a feyther to me, now it is my turn, and I'll be a feyther to thee. Oat. I cannot speak-[Crosses, R.]—take care of my girl, Frank. [Exit, R. Fra. Care of her ?—though she be a sarvant, let me catch any body striking her, that's all.-Well, Jessy, we mun not be sheamed-I know poverty be no sin, because parson said so last Sunday.Talk of that, I do hear that your sweetheart, Mr. Rapid, be worth such a desperate sight of money as never was! Jes. [Sighs.] If his fortunes are so prosperous, brother, he is exalted above my hopes,-if his heart be mercenary, he is sunk below my wishes.-Heigho! yet he might have sent to know if I were well, he might no matter! Fra. He be coming to Neabob's here, on a visitation. Fra. Ees-and Mr. Brouze do say while he be here I am to be his sarving-man. Jes. You his servant! Fra. Don't thee cry, Jessy! [Weeps. Jes. [Recovering herself.] I won't; it was weak, it was wrong. Frank, be sure you conceal from Mr. Rapid who you are I have reasons for it.-Edward here!-when we meet, it will be a hard trial. Yet why should I dread it?let perfidy and pride shrink abashed, virtuous integrity will support me. Fra. That's right, Jessy, shew a proper spirit.-Ecod, if he were to pull out his purse and to offer to make thee a present of five guineas, dan't thee take it.-[Jessy smiles dejectedly -Here be thy new mistress. Jes. Leave me. Fra. Do'st thou hear? Dom it, dan't thee take it. Enter MISS Vortex, r. [Exit, L. Miss Vor. (R.) Oh! my new attendant, I suppose ! What's your name, child? Jes. (L.) Jessy Oatland, madam. Miss Vor. Well, Oatland, [Taking out her glass.] look at -Umph-not at all contemptible-that's a charming nosegay-[Jessy presents it.]—all exotics, I declare. me. Jes. No, madam, neglected wild flowers; I took them from their bed of weeds, bestowed care on their culture, and by transplanting them to a more genial soil, they have flourished with luxuriant strength and beauty. Miss Vor. A pretty amusement. Jes. And it seemed, madam, to convey this lesson-Not to despise the lowly mind, but rather, with fostering hand, to draw it from its chill obscurity, that, like these humble flowers, it might grow rich in worth and native energy. Miss Vor. Oh! [Aside ]-mind-energy!-What's the matter with the poor girl, I wonder! uncommon odd !— I hear, Oatland, you are reduced in your circumstances. Jes. Yes, madam. Miss Vor. That's very lucky, because it will make you humble, child!-Well, what are your qualifications? Jes. Cheerful industry, madam. I can read to you, write for you, or converse Miss Vor. Converse with me! I dare say you can.-No thank you, child-instead of my listening to your voice, you will be polite enough to be as silent as convenient, and do me the honour of listening to mine.-Oh! here comes Mr. Rapid. Jes. Ah! [In great agitation.] May I retire, madam ? Miss Vor. Yes; I shall follow to dress.-No, stay.—Yes, you may go. Jes. Oh, thank you! thank you, dear madam! [Exit with rapidity, L. Miss Vor. That poor girl appears to me rather crazy. Enter OLD and YOUNG RAPID, and VORTEX, R. Miss Vor. Welcome to Bangalore Hall, gentlemen. Y. Rap. Charming house! plenty of room. [Runs about and looks at every thing. 0. Rap. A very spacious apartment, indeed. Vor. Yes, sir; but I declare I forget the dimensions of this room. O. Rup. Sir, if you please, I'll measure it—my cane is exactly a yard, good honest measure-and that mark is the half-yard, and Y. Rap. [Overhears, and snatches the cane from him.] Confound it! The pictures, father-look at the pictures; [Pointing with the cane.] did you ever see such charmingMiss Vor. Do you like pictures? Y. Rap. Exceedingly, ma'am ; but I should like them a great deal better if they just moved a little. Miss Vor. Ha! ha! I must retire to dress-till dinner, gentlemen, adieu. [Exit, R. Y. Rap. [To his father.] Zounds! you'll ruin every thing! can't you keep the tailor under. Vor. Your son seems rather impatient. O. Rap. Very, sir; always was. I remember a certain duke Y. Rap. That's right, lay the scene high-push the duke -push him as far as he'll go. O. Rap. I will, will. I remember a certain duke used to say, Mr. Rapid, your son is as sharp as a needle. Y. Rap. At it again! 0. Rap. As a needle Y. Rap. [Interrupting him.] Is true to the pole. As a needle is true to the pole, says the duke; so will your son, says the duke, be to every thing spirited and fashionable, says the duke. Am I always to be tortured with your infernal needles ? [Aside to Old Rapid. Vor. Now to sound them. I hear, gentlemen, your business in this part of the country is with Sir Hubert Starley, respecting some money transactions. 0. Rap. "Tis a secret. Vor. Oh! no-the baronet avows his wish to sell his estate. O. Rap. Oh! that alters the case. Vor. I think it would be a desirable purchase for youI should be happy in such a neighbour-and if you should want forty or fifty thousand, ready money, I'll supply it with pleasure. 0. Rap. Oh, sir, how kind! If my son wishes to purchase, I would rather leave it entirely to him. Y. Rap. And I would rather leave it entirely to you. Vor. Very well, I'll propose for it. [Aside.] This will cut Sir Hubert to the soul. There is a very desirable borough interest-then you could sit in parliament. Y. Rap. I in parliament? ha! ha! O. Rap. No; that would be a botch. Y. Rap. No, no; I was once in the gallery-crammed in -no moving-expected to hear the great guns-got up a little fellow, nobody knew who, gave us a three hours' speech-I got dev'lish fidgetty-the house called for the |