I have gained admiffion for you as a conjurer. -My That's enough! I'll gain admiffion for myself as a husband. Does the believe there is any thing in my art ? VELLU M. It is hard to know what a woman believes. Sir GEORGE. Did fhe afk no questions about me? VELLU M. Sundryfhe defires to talk with you herself, before you enter upon your business. But when? Sir GEORG E. Pugh. What haft thou been doing all this while! Why didft not tell me fo? give me my cloke-have you yet met with Abigal? VELLU M. I have not yet had an opportunity of talking with her. But we have interchanged fome languishing glances. Sir GEORGE. Let thee alone for that, Vellum, I have formerly feen thee ogle her through thy fpectacles. Well! this is a moft venerable cloke, after the business of this day is over, I'll make thee a prefent of it. "Twill become thee mightily. VELLU M. He, he, he! would you make a conjurer of your fteward? Sir GEORGE. Pr'ythee don't be jocular, I'm in hafte. Help me on with my beard. VELLU M. And what will your ho--nour do with your caft beard? Sir GEORGE. Why, faith, thy gravity wants only fuch a beard to it; if thou would't wear it with the cloke, thou would'st make a moft compleat heathen philofopher. But where's my wand? VELLU M. A fine taper ftick! it is well chofen. I will keep this till you are sheriff of the county. It is not my cuftom to let any thing be loft. Sir GEORGE. Come, Vellum, lead the way. You must introduce me to your Lady. Thou'rt the fitteft fellow in the world to be a master of the ceremonies to a conjurer. [Exeunt. Enter A B IGAL croffing the flage, TINSEL following. TINSEL. Naby, Naby, whither fo faft, child! ABIGA L. Keep your hands to yourself. I'm going to call the fteward to my Lady. TINSE L. What goodman Twofold? I met him walking with a ftrange old fellow yonder. I fuppofe he belongs to the family too. He looks very antique. He must be fome of the furniture of this old manfion-house. ABIGA L. What does the man mean? don't think to palm me as you do my Lady. L 3 VEL TINSEL. Pr'ythee, Nab, tell me one thing; what's the reafon thou art my enemy? ABIGA L. Marry, because I'm a friend to my Lady. TINSEL. Doft thou fee any thing about me thou doft not like? Come hither, huffy, give me a kifs: don't be ill-natured. ABIGA L. Sir, I know how to be civil [Kifles her] rogue will carry off my Lady, if I don't take care. TINSE L. this [Afide. Thy lips are as foft as velvet, Abigal, I must get thee a husband. ABIGA L. Ay, now you don't speak idly, I can talk to you. In the horse-guards-But he has one fault I must tell thee of. If thou canft bear with that he's a man for thy purpose! ABIGA L. Pray, Mr. Tinfel, what may that be? TINSEL. TINSEL. He's but five and twenty years old. ABIGA L. 'Tis no matter for his age, if he has bee well educated. TINSE L. No man better, child; he'll tie a wig, tofs a dye, make a pass, and fwear with such a grace, as would make thy heart leap to hear him. ABIGA L. Half these accomplishments will do, provided he has an eftate-Pray what has he? Not a farthing. TINSE L. ABIGA L. Pox on him, what do I give him the hearing for![Afide. TINSE L. But as for that I would make it up to him. How? ABIGA L. TINSE L. Why, look ye, child, as foon as I have married thy Lady, Idefign to discard this old prig of a steward, and to put this honeft gentleman, I am speaking of, into his place. ABIGA L. This fellow's a fool-I'll have no more to fay to him.-[Afide]-Hark! my Lady's a coming! TINSEL. Depend upon it, Nab, I'll remember my promise. ABIGA L. Ay, and fo will I too-to your coft. [Afide [Exit Abigal. TINSEL. My dear is purely fitted up with a maid-but I fhall d the houfe of her. L 4 Enter Enter LA D ́ Y. LADY. I am Oh, Mr. Tinfel, I am glad to meet you here. going to give you an entertainment, that won't be disagreeable to a man of wit and pleasure of the town There may be fomething diverting in a converfation between a conjurer and this conceited afs. TINSEL. [Afide. She loves me to distraction, I fee that. [Afide.] Prythee, widow, explain thyself. LADY. You must know here is a ftrange fort of a man come to town, who undertakes to free the house from this difturbance. The fteward believes him a conjurer. TINSEL.. Ay; thy steward is a deep one! LADY. He's to be here immediately, It is indeed an odd figure of a man. TINSEL. Oh! I warrant you he has ftudied the black art ! Ha, ha, ha! Is he not an Oxford scholar?- -Widow, thy house is the most extraordinarily inhabited of any widow's this day in chriftendomI think thy four chief domeftics area withered Abigala fuperan nuated stewarda ghostand a conjurer. LADY. [mimicking Tinfel.] And you would have it inhabited by a fifth, who is a more extraordinary person than any of all these four. TINSE L. It's a fure fign a woman loves you, when the imitates our manner. [Afide.]-Thou'rt very fmart, my dear. But fee! fmoke the doctor, Enter. |