Page:The Clandestine Marriage (1766).djvu/29

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A COMEDY.
13

cheſs of Rubber's laſt night?—Did you call in at Lady Thunder's? In the immenſity of croud I ſwear I did not ſee you—ſcarce a ſoul at the opera laſt Saturday—ſhall I ſee you at Carliſle-Houſe next Thurſday?—Oh, the dear Beau-Monde! I was born to move in the ſphere of the great world.

Fanny. And ſo, in the midſt of all this happineſs, you have no compaſſion for me—no pity for us poor mortals in common life.

Miſs Sterl. [affectedly.] You?—You're above pity.—You would not change conditions with me—you're over head and ears in love, you know.—Nay, for that matter, if Mr. Lovewell and you come together, as I doubt not you will, you will live very comfortably, I dare ſay.—He will mind his buſineſs—you'll employ yourſelf in the delightful care of your family—and once in a ſeaſon perhaps you'll ſit together in a front-box at a benefit play, as we uſed to do at our dancing-maſter's, you know—and perhaps I may meet you in the ſummer with ſome other citizens at Tunbridge.—For my part, I ſhall always entertain a proper regard for my relations.—You ſha'n't want my countenance, I aſſure you.

Fanny. Oh, you're too kind, ſiſter!


Enter Mrs. Heidelberg.

Mrs. Heidel. [at entring.] Here this evening!—I vow and perteſt we ſhall ſcarce have time to provide for them—Oh, my dear! [to Miſs Sterl.] I am glad to ſee you're not quite in diſh-abille. Lord Ogleby and Sir John Melvil will be here to-night.

Miſs Sterl. To-night, Ma'am?

Mrs. Heidel. Yes, my dear, to-night.—Do, put on a ſmarter cap, and change thoſe ordinary ruffles!—Lord, I have ſuch a deal to do, I ſhall ſcarce have time to ſlip on my Italian luteſtring.—Where is this dawdle of a houſekeeper?—[Enter Mrs. Truſty.] Oh, here, Truſty! do you know that people of qualaty are expected here this evening?

Truſty.