g them to me, Sam: tell him I am here in the Library.

_Sam_. I'll send him to your ladyship in a crack, madam. [_Exit_.

_Enter_ NANNY.

_Nan_. Miss Constantia desires to speak to you, Mrs. Betty.

_Bet_. How is she now? any better, Nanny?

_Nan_. Something; but very low spirited still. I verily believe it is as
you say.

_Bet_. O! I would take my book oath of it. I can not be deceived in that
point, Nanny.--Ay, ay, her business is done, she is certainly breeding,
depend upon it.

_Nan_. Why so the housekeeper thinks too.

_Bet_. Nay, I know the father--the man that ruined her.

_Nan_. The deuce you do?

_Bet_. As sure as you are alive, Nanny;--or I am greatly deceived,--and
yet--I can't be deceived neither.--Was not that the cook that came
gallopping so hard over the common just now?

_Nan_. The same:--how very hard he gallopped;---he has been but three
quarters of an hour, he says, coming from Hyde Park Corner.

_Bet_. And what time will the family be down?

_Nan._ He has orders to have dinner ready by five; there are to be lawyers
and a great deal of company here--he fancies there is to be a private
wedding to night between our young Master Charles and Lord Lumbercourt's
Daughter, the Scotch lady, who he says is just come post from Bath in
order to be married to him.

_Bet._ Ay, ay--Lady Rodolpha--nay, like enough--for I know it has been
talked of a good while;--well, go tell Miss Constantia that I will be with
her immediately.

_Nan._ I shall, Mrs. Betty. [_Exit._

_Bet._ Soh! I find they all believe the impertinent creature is
breeding--that's pure! it will soon reach my lady's ears, I warrant.

_Enter_ JOHN.

Well, John, ever a letter for me?

_John._ No, Mrs. Betty, but here is one for Miss Constantia.

_Bet._ Give it me.--Hum!--my lady's hand.

_John._ And here is one which the postman says is for my young master--but
it's a strange direction. [_reads._] '_To_ Charles Egerton, _Esq._'

_Bet._ O! yes, yes,--that is for Master Charles, John:--for he has dropped
his father's name of Macsycophant, and has taken up that of Egerton--the
parliament has ordered it.

_John._ The parliament!--pr'ythee, why so, Mrs. Betty?

_Bet._ Why you must know, John, that my lady, his mother, was an Egerton
by her father:--she stole a match with our old master, for which all her
family on both sides have hated Sir Pertinax and the whole crew of the
Macsycophants ever since.

_John._ Excep