a more complying humour, and try if she cannot serve me at present in some other capacity.-There are a good many gipsies hereabout, are there not?

Ralph. Softly-I have a whole gang of them here in our barn; I have kept them about the place these three months, and all on account of she.

Mervin. Really!

Ralph. Yea, but for your life don't say a word of it to any christian-I am in love with her. Mervin. Indeed!

Ralph. Feyther is as mad with me about it as Old Scratch; and I gets the plague and all of anger; but

I don't mind that.

Mervin. Well, friend Ralph, if you are in love, no doubt you have some influence over your mistress : don't you think you could prevail upon her, and her companions, to supply me with one of their habits, and let me go up with them to-day to my Lord Aimworth's?

Ralph. Why, do you want to go a mumming? We never do that but in the Christmas holidays.

Mervin. No matter: manage this for me, and manage it with secrecy; and I promise you shall not go unrewarded.

Ralph. Oh! as for that, sir, I don't look for any thing; I can easily get you a bundle of their rags; but I don't know whether you'll prevail on them to go up to my lord's, because they're afraid of a big dog that's in the yard; but I'll tell you what I can do; I can go up before you, and have the dog fastened, for I know his kennel.

Mervin. That will do very well. [Exit RALPH]By means of this disguise, I shall probably get a sight of her; and I leave the rest to love and fortune.

[Exit.

AIR.

I am young and I am friendless,
And poor, alas! withal;
Sure my sorrows will be endless;
In vain for help I call.

Have some pity in your nature,
To relieve a wretched creature,
Though the gift be ne'er so small.

[MERVIN gives her Money.

May you, possessing every blessing,
Still inherit, sir, all you merit, sir,
And never know what 'tis to want;

Sweet Heaven, your worship all happiness grant.

[Exit.

Ralph. Now I'll go and take that money from her; and I have a good mind to lick her, so I have. Mervin. Pho! pr'ythee, stay where you are.

Ralph. Nay, but I hate to see a toad so devilish greedy.

Mervin. Well, come, she has not got a great deal, and I have thought how she may do me a favour in her turn.

Ralph. Ay, but you may put that out of your head, for I can tell you she won't.

Mervin. How so?

Ralph. How so! why, she's as cunning as the devil.

Mervin. Oh, she is!-I fancy I understand you. Well, in that case, friend Ralph-Your name's Ralph, I think?

Ralph. Yes, sir, at your service, for want of a

better.

Mervin. I say, then, friend Ralph, in that case, we will remit the favour you think of, till the lady is in

a more complying humour, and try if she cannot serve me at present in some other capacity.-There are a good many gipsies hereabout, are there not?

Ralph. Softly-I have a whole gang of them here in our barn; I have kept them about the place these three months, and all on account of she.

Mervin. Really!

Ralph. Yea, but for your life don't say a word of it to any christian-I am in love with her. Mervin. Indeed!

Ralph. Feyther is as mad with me about it as Old Scratch; and I gets the plague and all of anger; but I don't mind that.

Mervin. Well, friend Ralph, if you are in love, no doubt you have some influence over your mistress: don't you think you could prevail upon her, and her companions, to supply me with one of their habits, and let me go up with them to-day to my Lord Aimworth's?

Ralph. Why, do you want to go a mumming? We never do that but in the Christmas holidays.

Mervin. No matter: manage this for me, and manage it with secrecy; and I promise you shall not go unrewarded.

Ralph. Oh! as for that, sir, I don't look for any thing; I can easily get you a bundle of their rags; but I don't know whether you'll prevail on them to go up to my lord's, because they're afraid of a big dog that's in the yard; but I'll tell you what I can do; I can go up before you, and have the dog fastened, for I know his kennel.

Mervin. That will do very well. [Exit RALPH.]— By means of this disguise, I shall probably get a sight of her; and I leave the rest to love and fortune.

[Exit.

SCENE IV.

Outside of the Mill.

Enter PATTY, RALPH, GILES, and FANNY.

Giles. So his lordship was as willing as the flowers in May--and as I was coming along, who should I meet but your father-and he bid me run in all haste, and tell you-for we were sure you would be deadly glad.

Patty. I know not what business you had to go to my lord's at all, Farmer.

Giles. Nay, I only did as I was desired

-Master

Fairfield bid me tell you moreover, as how he would have you go up to my lord out of hand, and thank him.

Ralph. So she ought; and take off those clothes, and put on what's more becoming her station; you know my father spoke to you of that this morning

too.

Patty. Brother, I shall obey my father.

AIR.

Lie still my heart; oh! fatal stroke,
That kills at once my hopes and me!

Miss Pat!

What?

Nay, I only spoke:

Take courage, mon, she does but joke.
Come, sustir, somewhat kinder be.

Giles.

Patty.

Giles.

Ralph.

Fanny.

This is a thing the most oddest;

Ralph.

and

Fanny.

Giles.

Ralph.

Some folks are so plaguily modest:
Were we in the case,

To be in their place,

We'd carry it off with a different face.
Thus I take her by the lily hand,
So soft and white.

Why, now that's right;

And kiss her too, mon, never stand.

Patty

and

What words can explain
My pleasure-my pain?
It presses, it rises,

Giles.

Fanny.

My heart it surprises;

I can't keep it down, tho' I'd never so fain.

So here the play ends,

The lovers are friends;

Ralph.

Hush!

Patty.

-Psha!

All.

What torments exceeding, what joys are above, The pains and the pleasures that wait upon love?

ACT THE SECOND.

SCENE I.

[Exeunt.

A Marble Portico, ornamented with Statues, which opens from LORD AIMWORTH'S House; two Chairs near the Front.

Enter LORD AIMWORTH, reading.

Lord A. In how contemptible a light would the situation I am now in show me to most of the fine men of the present age! In love with a country girl! rivalled by a poor fellow, one of my meanest tenants, and uneasy at it!