HRY. Why, then you must know, how old Mr. Lovit is a going for to marry
the West-Indian young gentleman to young Mistress Airy, I think he call'd
her; and so you can go try Mistress Harriet yourself, for I'm sure she
won't have him now.

WORTHNOUGHT. Why, pray?

HUMPHRY. Why if she gets him, she'll get a bastard, for old Mr. Lovit isn't
his father.

WORTHNOUGHT. No?

HUMPHRY. No;--and then he and the Schoolmaster kick'd up a proper rumpus
about a challenge I fetch'd him; and that's all the news you'll get for
your money.--A poor shilling that won't buy ale to my oysters to-night.

[_Exit._

WORTHNOUGHT [_manet_].

This is a lucky meeting, 'foregad;--I'll go immediately and report, that
young Loveyet has of late seen my quondam charmer carry a copy of him in
miniature about her, which (strange to tell) is continually growing nearer
to the life; and that he refuses to have her, on that account.--"If she
gets him, she will get a bastard."--By which I choose to
understand,--matters have gone so far, that she cannot save herself from
that disgrace, even if she marries him.--Now, in order that this tale of
mine may transpire briskly, I must first see some of my tattling female
friends;--they will set it a going like wild-fire.--Split me, but it is an
excellent thought;--ha, ha, ha. Poor Loveyet.

[_Exit._

SCENE III. _HERALD'S House._

_Enter CANTWELL and HERALD._

CANTWELL. I am very happy to find you home;--I was almost eat up with the
vapours before I saw you. [_Sighs._]--Well, what's the news, Miss Herald?

HERALD. Nothing strange, Miss Tabitha; I am as barren of anything new, as
an old Almanack.

CANTWELL. Oh shocking!--"as barren of anything new."--What an odious
expression!--The most vulgarest comparison in nature.

HERALD. Umph.--I suppose, if Mr. Gracely was here, you would not be so much
in the dumps.

CANTWELL. Ah, Miss Herald!--If you felt the corruptions of your wicked
heart, you would be in the dumps too, as you call it.

[_Sighs._

HERALD. I believe there is a certain corruption in your heart, which our
sex are apt to feel very sensibly, and that is the want of a husband.

CANTWELL. The want of a husband!--I vow, you are monstrous indelicate, Miss
Herald; I am afraid you are wandering from the paths of vart