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could not be mistaken in his honesty-he does love me→ on my life he does.

Rur. [Aside.] I must get some assistance in my plot, these young hearts are such strange things.-My dear young lady, I want your help in a little plot of mine; you understand these matters better than I do, and will assist me-Littleton has fallen in love.

Lady A. [Aside.] Bless this dear old man, he's always in the wrong.-Ha! he has confessed it to you, then? Rur. He is as open-hearted as a child; but you will

not mention it?

Lady A. I think I was his first confidant, sir.

Rur. Then, you will join me, in trying to reconcile these dear children, and recovering to my affection, my favourite I mean, my dearest hope.

Lady A. I will.-[Aside.] I thought it was affectation --but I am too happy to think of revenging it. Yes, yes, yes, my dear, dear sir-I will be all you wish-all he wishes.

Rur. What a kind, warm heart it is.

Lady A. Where is he?

Rur. I dare say, like young folks-ha! he has stolen to her.

Lady A. To her-who?

Rur. Miss Rocket-bless me, are you ill?

Lady A. Miss Rocket! Has he then

Rur. Confessed to me his love for her-yes-his gro velling adoration-servilely, meanly, despicably infatua. ted-bless his impetuous heart!

Lady A. And Lord Charles?
Rur. Nobly presses his suit.
Lady A. I cannot believe it.

Rur My dear child, his lordship told me so himself.

Enter Miss ROCKET, L.

Lady A. Kate-tell me—are you deceiving me?

Kate. What do you mean ?

[Crosses to Kate.

Lady A. Mr. Coke is in love with you.

Kate. With me!

Lady A. He has been confessing it all over the house -to me-to him-to Lord Charles

Kate. Why, it can't be-what means Lord Charles's declaration to me?

Kur. My dear young lady, he means nothing to you: you mistook his intentions-he was wooing for his friend, wno was ridiculously jealous of him-Lord Charles told me just now that he was betrothed to her ladyship, and devoted to her-the earl has since said the same thingtherefore it must be true.

Lady A. Kate!

Kate. Alice!

Lady A. That villain, Charles, wished at once to deceive his friend-destroy you-and cheat me.

Kate. Destroy me-oh, Alice!

[They embrace, Rur. Tears! what strange things young hearts are.

Enter a SERVANT, L.

Serv. Your ladyship's carriage waits.

Lady A. Kate-be a woman—

Rur. She is-she is a woman

[Crosses, R.

Lady A. These pair of wretches are doubtless in the stalls at the opera, directing a lorgnette battery against all the beauty in the house; let us go and show them we can be as heartless as they.

[Crosses to L., goes to table, and gets an opera-glass. Rur. Yes-exactly-what can it all mean? There is nothing so puzzling to an old head, as a young heart.

[Lady Alice takes one of Rural's arms, and places her opera-glass in his hand.

There! my dear child-don't weep. [Is going to apply her handkerchief to her eyes, when Miss Rocket takes the other arm and checks him.] Well! woman is a wonderful and mysterious thing!

Lady A. Wretches-both.

Rur. Ah!

Kate. Villains!

Rur. Yes-[Aside.] I wonder what they mean, and what they are going to do with me?

[Exeunt, ladies pulling Rural through centre doors.

END OF ACT III.

ACT IV.

SCENE I.-The same as Act III.

Enter COLONEL ROCKET, C., with a newspaper.

Rock. Here's news! A copy of this evening's Closeborough Independent has been despatched to me. [Reads. "We gladly issue a second edition, to give the earliest publicity to the following address, which reached us after going to press :

"To the Independent Electors of Closeborough.

"Gentlemen-In reply to a requisition from a numerous and highly respectable body of your townsmen, I too happily accede to your wishes, and shall be proud to represent your opinions in Parliament, which I cannot but suppose are violently adverse to those of my noble friend and antagonist, Lord Roebuck, whose character, speaking publicly, I must despise-but whose private character, generally, I know nothing about.

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"I am, gentlemen, your obedient servant, 'LITTLETON COKE." Hurrah! now I can show fight! now I've outflanked his Norman Lordship. My villa at Closeborough, Ghuznee Lodge, and its estate, gives me the influence of thirty votes-ha! ha! ha! I'll not sleep another night beneath this noble roof-I've despatched orders to Corporal Stripe to have the guard out, in their old uniforms-my travelling carriage will be here in two hours-I'll canvass the whole town before breakfast. Ho! ho! damme, I've never been so excited since Bhurtpore !

Enter RURAL, L. C.

Rur. Had I been the first-born of Richelieu, and the favourite pupil of Machiavel, I could not have surround ed myself with more intrigues, plots, and difficulties. Those two dear girls took me to the opera; they beguiled the way, by crying and endeavouring to discover which could invent the worst name for her lover. When we arrived, I found myself amongst soldiers and footmen

hen labrynths and lights; then in a little closet with one wall out, apparently for the admission of noise and glare. I was astonished into the place, and amazed out of it, and thankful I am to get here again.-[Aside.] Here's the Colonel-I'll venture to-to sound him about his consent to the marriage.-My military friend, will you allow me to ask—has Littleton acquainted you with his intentions? Rock. No, sir-I wish he had-however, accident has revealed them to me.

Rur. And dare he hope that you will grant your consent?

Rock. Grant! I'll secure his success. He shall have Tack Rocket's interest, sir.

Rur. Then you approve of his offer?

[Astonished. Rock. I could not have selected from all England a finer fellow-more after my own heart.

Rur. He is―he is

Rock. Noble souled.

Rur. Princely.

Rock. Honest, free.

Rur. God bless you!

Rock. No stiff-backed pretension

Rur. What a kind soul you are.

Rock. I'll lay a thousand, his father was at the battle of Hastings.

Rur. But, your daughter

Rock. Kate! ay-she'll go with him., heart and soul!
Rur. She will; she has said as much.

Rock. Bless her heart, it always says right.

Rur. My dear benefactor, don't, don't overcome me with gratitude: what shall I say or do-may I run and tell Littleton ?

Rock. Tell the rascal, I'll never forgive him not coming to me at first.

Rur. At first, ha! ha!

Rock. Tell him, my carriage is at his service-my house at his command.

Rur. Ha! ha! I shall do something very foolish for joy when I get out!

Rock. Advise him to lose no time: he should clinch the affair before breakfast to-morrow.

Rur. To-morrow! isn't that rather, rather early, eh?

Rock. Too late sir-I like despatch.

Rur. But the lady?

Rock. Kate! pooh! you don't know the girl, she'l} spring up at five in such a cause.

Rur. Bless me!

Rock. No more-I'm off. Remember my carriage will be at the door in two hours, let him use it.

Rur. Use it to

Rock. Not a word-orders given-ho! great guns! this is glorious!

Rur. Miraculous!

Rock. I'm in the saddle again, huzza! [Twinges.] Oh! the gout!-I'm a rusty old arquebuse, only fit to hang up for a show of old times; but no! I'll be charged and primed, and damme I'll go off once more, if I'm blown to the devil for it !-Hurrah! eh! ha! ha! hurrah.

[The Colonel shouts, becomes excited, and exit, L. Ru

ral, very excited, joins feebly in his boisterous shouts. Rur. Hurrah! bless me, how exciting all this is ;-ha! ha! [He runs about.] I'm inclined to do something very frantic-Huzza!

Enter LORD POMPION, R. C.

Lord P. My dear sir.-[Aside.] What is the old man about?-Will you have the kindness to inform Mr. CokeRur. Certainly, in two hours

Lord P. I mean the member, sir; that I would be happy to see him here—

Rur. Before breakfast

Lord P. On parliamentary business—

Rur. Of course. Tell the rascal I'll never forgive him. Lord P. Mr. Rural-will you

Rur. Spring up at five in such a cause. [Crosses to R. Lord P. He is possessed

Rur. Great guns! this is glorious!

Enter SERVANT, L.

Serv. Mr. Crawl, my lord.

Hurrah! hurrah!

[Exit Rural, c.

Lord P. Show him in. [Exit Servant, L.] Charles informs me that Bribe sends word that he is engaged against us by the opposing candidate; but he has proved himself a trustworthy fellow, for he has despatched an

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