This woman has lately had two children at a birth.

Now, because I used to meet her fometimes in the garden, she has faid them both

To thee.

Sir GEORGE.

GARDINER.

What a power of learning he must have! he knows

I would defire to know whether I am really father to them both?

Stand before me, let me furvey thee round. [Lays his hand upon his head, and wakes him turn about. COACHMAN.

Look yonder, John, the filly dog is turning about under the conjurer's wand. If he has been faucy to him, we shall fee him puffed off in a whirlwind immediately. by Sir GEORGE...

Twins, doft thou fayl (Still turning him. GAR

GARDINER.

Ay; are they both mine, d'ye think?

Sir GEORGE.

Own but one of them.LAY

GARDINER.

Ah, but Mrs. Abigal will have me take care of them both-fhe's always for the butler-if my poor master Sir George had been alive, he would have made him go halves with me.

Sir GEORGE.

What, was Sir George a kind mafter ?

GARDINER.

Was he! ay, my fellow-fervants will bear me witness. Sir GEORGE.

Did you love Sir George?

BUTLER.

Γ

Every body loved him

COACHMAN.

There was not a dry eye in the parish at the news of his death.

GARDINER.

He was the best neighbour

BUTLER.

The kindeft hufband

COACH MAN.

The trueft friend to the poor

BUTLER.

My good Lady took on mightily, we all thought it would have been the death of her

Sir GEORGE.

I protest these fellows melt me! I think the time long until I am their master again, that I may be kind to them.

Enter

Enter V ELLUM.

VELLU M.

Have you provided the Doctor every thing he has occafion for? if fo-you may depart. [Exeunt Servants. Sir GEORGE.

I can as yet fee no hurt in my wife's behaviour; but ftill have fome certain pangs and doubts, that are natural to the heart of a fond man. I muft take the advantage of my difguife to be thoroughly satisfied. It would neither be for her happiness, hor mine, to make myself known to her till I am fo [Afide.]-Dear Vellum! I am impatient to hear fome news of my wife, how does the after her fright?

VELLUM.

It is a faying fome where in my Lord Coke, that a widow

Sir GEORG E.

I ask of my wife, and thou talk'ft to me of my Lord Coke pr'ythee tell me how she does, for I am in pain

for her.

VELLUM.

She is pretty well recovered, Mrs. Abigal has put her in good heart; and I have given her great hopes from your skill.

Sir GEORGE.

That I think cannot fail, fince thou haft

got this fecret out of Abigal. But I could not have thought my friend Fantome would have ferved me thus

VELLU M.,

You will ftill fancy you are a living man

Sir GEORGE.

That he fhould endeavour to enfnare

VELLU M.

my wife

You have no right in her, after your demife: Death

extinguishes all property,-Quoad hanc—it is a maxim

in the law.

A

Sir GEORGE.

pox on your learning! well, but what's become of Tinfel?

VELLU M.

He rushed out of the house, called for his horfe, clapped fpurs to his fides, and was out of fight in lefs time than I

can

- tell

ten.

Sir GEORGE.

This is whimsical enough! my wife will have a quick fucceffion of lovers, in one day

Fantome has driven

out Tinfel, and I shall drive out Fantome.

VELLU M.

Ev'n as one wedge driveth out another-he, he, he! you must pardon me for being jocular.

Sir GEORGE.

Was there ever fuch a provoking blockhead! but hé means me well. [Afide.] Well! I must have fatisfaction of this traitor Fantome; and cannot take a more proper one, than by turning him out of my house, in a manner that fhall throw fhame upon him, and make him ridiculous as long as he lives. -You must remember, Vellum, you have abundance of business upon your hands, and I have but just time to tell it you over; all 1 require of you is dispatch, therefore hear

me.

VELLU M.

And as one has rightly obferved, the benefit that attends it is four-fold.

Firft

Sir GEORGE.

There is no bearing this! thou art a going to defcribe dispatch, when thou fhould't be practifing it. VELLU M..

But your Ho--nour will not give me the hearingSir GEORGE.

Thou wilt not give me the hearing

I am still.

VELLU M.

Sir GEORGE.

[Angrily.

In the first place, you are to lay my wig, hat, and fword, ready for me in the closet, and one of my fcarlet coats. You know how Abigal has defcribed the ghost to you.

It fhall be done.

VELLU M.

Sir GEORGE.

Then you must remember, whilft I am laying this ghoft, you are to prepare my wife for the reception of her real husband; tell her the whole story, and do it with all the art you are master of, that the surprise may not be too great for her.

VELLU M.

It fhall be done-but fince her Ho--nour has seen this apparition, fhe defires to fee you once more, before you encounter it.

Sir GEORGE.

I fhall expect her impatiently. For now I can talk to her without being interrupted by that impertinent rogue Tinfel. I hope thou haft not told Abigal any thing of the fecret,

VELLUM.

ร

Mrs. Abigal is a woman; there are many reasons

why