Miss Val. Sir, I obey

[Exit.

Val. Ah, there's nothing like severity! children are so vile, that one dares not indulge one's good inclination towards them: I have brought all this on me by my own. generosity: but now for the business with Boncour, I will go to my lawyer, and we will draw up proposals together. An imprudent man in my situation would have testified immediate raptures, but the best general rule I know is, never to discover your thoughts, either in your words, or your countenance.

SCENE II.

SCENE, BONCOUR's House.

Enter BONCOUR and MISS BONCOUR.

[Exit.

Miss Bonc. Dear papa, don't teaze me about the fellow: I care not if he was hanged, and all other fellows! I affections for the creature! I wonder who can have put it into your head.

Bonc. Nay, if it be not so, tell me frankly, and you shall be left out of the treaty which I am carrying on with the old gentleman, relative to a match between your brother and his daughter.

Miss Bonc. A match between my brother and Miss Valence!

Bonc. We met this morning, and shall meet again this afternoon about it.

Miss Bonc. And pray tell me, dear Sir, what makes you suspect any thing between me and Mr.

get the creature's name?

Bonc. Are my suspicions well grounded?

I for

Miss Bonc. La, Sir, I can't conceive what should make

you imagine any such thing.

Bonc. You will not answer me directly?

Miss Bonc. I don't know what to answer.

Bonc. Nay I desire no more! well, my dear, we will not be long in finishing the settlements.

Miss Bonc. Settlements! Sir, you frighten me. I hope I have not said any thing-can't one converse and dance with a man-But, I assure you, Sir, it is no such thing.

Enter YOUNG BONCOUR.

Bonc. So, George, you find me engaged in an impossible task.

Young Bonc. I am sorry for that, Sir, pray what is it? Bonc. Nothing more than trying to get truth from a woman; it seems we have been under a mistake all this while, and one half of our treaty is abortive; your sister disavows all regard for Mr. Valence.

Young Bonc. I am glad of it! for I should be sorry if she threw away her affections on one so worthless-one who, while he is addressing her, is engaged to another

woman.

Bonc. How!

Young Bonc. Sir, I have had ocular demonstration; nay, I question if he be not married already; at least, I am certain every thing is concluded.

Bonc. Say you so; this very well accounts for that backwardness which surprised me in the father—

Miss Bonc. Ha, ha, ha,—an affection, indeed!-ha, ha, ha!-no, I assure you, Sir, I have no affection-an affection truly no, I have all the abhorrence and contempt in the world for him.

Young Bonc. Dear sister, don't be in a passion.

Miss Bonc. I am in no passion, brother; it is impossible for a man I hate and despise to put me in a passion; no, brother, when I know a man to be a villain, I assure

you, brother, he shall never have it in his power to give me uneasiness.

Young Bonc. But, my dear

Miss Bonc. No, brother, I would not have you think I am in a passion on his account; all that vexes me is, that my father should think I had a value for him.

Young Bonc. Well, dear Sir, I believe I need not fear to ask you the success of the business you was so kind to undertake.

Bonc. Upon my word, George, it was such as surprised me, till you accounted for it, by this engagement of young Valence's; I think, on comparing his circumstances, I might have expected a more hearty concurrence; but I do assure you, the best answer I could obtain was, that he would consider of it.

Young Bonc. O, Sir, that was only to lessen the opinion which he feared you might have had of the advantageousness of the proposal; I think I know him so well, that he would make an outward difficulty of assenting to a point, which inwardly, he heartily wish'd to compass; especially, when he had no fear of losing it by so doing; as perhaps your good natur'd forwardness made him secure on that side.

Bonc. Aye, faith, it is surprising there should be such foolish wise men in the world.

Miss Bonc. Brother, one word with you; who told you this villain was to be married?

Young Bonc. Excuse me-I cannot tell you.

Miss Bonc. I would not deny you, brother.

Young Bonc. I should not have curiosity enough to ask what no ways concern'd me.

Miss Bonc. But suppose it did concern me.

Young Bonc. Is that possible?-what, he that never made any addresses to you?-

Miss Bonc. Addresses, pugh!-Pshaw, this is using me in a manner I did not expect; I would not conceal a secret from you, especially a secret of this nature.

Young Bonc. Oh! a secret of this nature; now, be honest, and tell me why you call'd Valence a villain, and I will discover the whole.

Miss Bonc. A villain! if you knew as much as I, you would think it a term too gentle. Don't imagine I have the least concern at losing him; but if what you say is true, he is the most perfidious wicked villain that ever broke his solemn vows to a woman.

Young Bonc. Then to be as honest and sincere with you, there is not one single syllable of truth in all I have said. I am convinc'd he loves you sincerely, and since I find you return his passion with equal ardour

Miss Bonc. What do you mean, brother?—

Bonc. Nay, child, 'tis in vain to dissemble, you are fairly caught.

Miss Bonc. Well, I protest now, this is the most barbarous treatment; and so the story you rais'd of poor Valence is absolutely false?

Young Bonc. As mere fiction as ever came from a traveller or a newspaper.

Bonc. Well, child, I think you need say no more to encourage me to include you in the treaty, at least I shall take your silence for consent.

Miss Bonc. Then if I must speak

Young Bonc. Let it be truth for once.

Miss Bonc. The devil take the story-for I never was more frightened by one in all my life.

Bonc. George, I think there will be no farther obstruction; Mr. Valence will be here this afternoon; and as soon as matters can be settled by the lawyers, you may depend on your happiness.

Young Bonc. Here is my mother coming this way; I

believe it would be my sister's wish, as well as mine, that this affair should be yet a secret from her.

Bonc. I think you are in the wrong there; nor am I willing she should be unacquainted with a thing of this

nature.

Young Bonc. At least, Sir, till I have the honour of seeing you again.

Miss Bonc. Aye, do, dear Sir.

Bonc. Well, so far I will indulge you.

[Exeunt Young Bonc. and Miss Bonc.

Enter MRS. BONCOUR.

Mrs. Bonc. Do Mr. Valence's family dine here to

day?

Bonc. Yes, my dear.

Mrs. Bonc. Very well, then I will dine abroad.

Bonc. As you please, child, since your daughter is at

home.

Mrs. Bonc. I know, Sir, it is a matter of indifference to you; but I think you need not affect it-it would be civiller to express some regard for me, though it was never so counterfeit.

Bonc. Would you have me say you shall not dine abroad?

Mrs. Bonc. Shall not! I should laugh at that indeed! Bonc. Why, my dear, should I ever discover an inclination contrary to your's, by which you must be driven to the uneasiness of knowing you thwart one or the other? you know, child, concealments of this kind are the greatest delicacies of friendship.

Mrs. Bonc. To be sure I can conceal nothing, nor I have no delicacy of friendship about me; I wonder you would choose so indelicate a woman.

Bonc. Come, it is happy for you I did choose you; at least, you might have fallen to the lot of one who would