flatter'd, that's pos! my Lady's caft fuits will ferve her, after I have given them the wearing. Befides, when I am worth a thousand pound, I fhall certainly carry off the Steward-Madam Vellum !-how prettily that will found! Here, bring out Madam Vellum's chaife-nay, I do not know but it may be a chariot-It will break the Attorney's wife's heart-for I fhall take place of every body in the parish but my Lady. If I have a fon, he fhall be call'd Fantome. But fee, Mr. Vellum, as I could wish. I know his humour, and will do my utmost to gain his heart.. L Enter VELLUM with a pint of fack. VELLU M. Mrs. Abigal, don't I break in upon you unfeasonably? ABIGA L. Oh, no, Mr. Vellum, your vifits are always seasonable. I have brought with me a taste of fresh canary, which I think is delicious. ABIGA L. Pray fet it downI have a dram-glass just by- I'll pledge you; my Lady's good health. VELLU. M... And your own with itfweet Mrs. Abigal. ABIGA L. Pray, good Mr. Vellum, buy me a little parcel of this fack, and put it under the article of tea-I would not have my name appear to it. ABIGAL Mrs. Abigal, your name feldom appears in my bills and yet if you will allow me a merry expreflion-you have been always in my books, Mrs. Abigal. Ha, ha, ha! ABIGA L. Ha, ha, ha! Mr. Vellum, you are such a dry jefting man! VELLU M. Why truly, Mrs. Abigal, have been looking over my papers--and I find you have been a long time my debtor. For my heart, Mrs. Abigal-and our accounts will not be balanc'd between us, till I have yours in exchange for it. Ha, ha, ha! ABIGA L: Ha, ha, ha! you are the moft gallant dun, Mri Vellum. VELLU M. But I am not us'd to be paid by words only, Mrs. Abigal; when will you be out of my debt? ABIGA L. Oh, Mr. Vellum, you make one blush-my humble fervice to you. VELLU M.. I must answer you, Mrs. Abigal, in the country phrase -Your love is fufficient. Ha, ha, ha! ABIGA L. Ha, ha, ha! Well, I must own I love a merry man! Let me fee, how long is it, Mrs. Abigal, fince I first broke my mind to you-It was, I think, Undecimo Gulielmi, -we have convers'd together these fifteen ---and yet, Mrs. Abigal, I muft drink to our better acquaintance. He, he, heMrs. Abigal, you know I am naturally jocofe. years ABIGA L. Ah, you men love to make sport with us filly creatures. VELLU M. Mrs. Abigal, I have a trifle about me, which I would willingly make you a prefent of., It is indeed but a little toy. ABIGA L. You are always exceedingly obliging. VELLU M. It is but a little toy-fcarce worth your acceptance I ABIGA L. Pray do not keep me in fufpence; what is it, Mr. Vellum? VELLUM. A filver thimble. ABIGA L. I always faid, Mr. Vellum was a generous lover. But I must put it on myfelf, Mrs. Abigal-you have the prettiest tip of a finger-I mult take the freedom to falute it. ABIGA L. Oh fy! you make me afhan'd, Mr. Vellum; how can do fo? I proteft I am in fuch a confusion 1 you [A feign'd struggle. VELLU M. This finger is not the finger of idlenefs; it bears the honourable fears of the needle-but why are you fo cruel as not to pare your nails? ABIGA L. Oh, I vow you prefs it fo hard! pray give me my finger again. VELLU M. This middle finger, Mrs. Abigal, has a pretty neighbour a wedding ring would become it mightilyHe, he, he! ABIGAL. You're fo full of your jokes. Ay, but where muft I find one for it? VELLU M. I defign this thimble only as the forerunner of it, they will fet off each other, and are-- -indeed a twofold emblem. The first will put you in mind of being a good hufwife, and the other of being a good wife. Ha, ha, ha! ABIGAL, I thought you had forfaken me I am fure you cannot forget the many repeated vows and promifes you formerly made me. 2 VELLU M. I fhould as foon forget the multiplication table. I have always taken your part before my Lady. You have fo, and I have Item'd it in my memory. For I have always look'd upon your interefts as my own. VELLU M. It is nothing but your cruelty can hinder them from being fo. ABIGAL. I must strike while the iron's hot. [Afide]Well, Mrs. Vellum, there is no refufing you, you have fuch a bewitching tongue! VELLU M. How? fpeak that again! W ABIGA L. Why then in plain English I love you. VELLU M. I'm overjoy'd! ABI ABIGA L. I must own my passion for you. I'm transported. VELLU M. [Catches her in bis arms. ABIGA L Dear charming man! VELLU M. Thou fum total of all my happiness! I fhall grow extravagant! I can't forbear!-to drink thy virtuous inclinations in a bumper of fack. Your Lady must make hafte, my duck, or we shall provide a young fteward to the eftate, before fhe has an heir to it-Pr'ythee my dear, does the intend to marry Mr. Tinsel ? ABIGA L. Marry him! my love, no, no! we must take care of that! there would be no ftaying in the house for us if she did. That young rake-hell would fend all the old fervants a grazing. You and I fhould be discarded before the honey-moon was at an end. VELLU M. Pr'ythee, fweet one, does not this drum put the thoughts of marriage out of her head? ABIGA L. This drum, my dear, if it be well manag'd, will be no less than a thousand pound in our way. VELLU M. Ay, fay'ft thou fo, my Turtle? ABIGAL Since we are now as good as man and wifemean, almoft as good as man and wife-I ought to conceal nothing from you. VEL LU M. Certainly, my dove, not from thy yoke-fellow, thy help-mate, thy own flesh and blood? A BIGA L. Hush! I hear Mr. Tinfel's laugh, my Lady and he are a com |