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followed your papa and me into the garden-How far did you go with that wench?

Theod. They are gipsies, madam, they say-Indeed, I don't know what they are.

Lady S. I wish, miss, you would learn to give a rational answer.

Sir Harry. Eh! what's that? gipsies! Have we gipsies here? Vagrants, that pretend to a knowledge of future events! diviners-fortune-tellers!

Fanny. Yes, your worship, we'll tell your fortune, or her ladyship's, for a crum of bread, or a little broken victuals-what you throw to your dogs, an please you.

Sir Harry. Broken victuals, hussy! How do you think we should have broken victuals ?-If we were at home, indeed, perhaps you might get some such thing from the cook : but here we are only on a visit to a friend's house, and have nothing to do with the kitchen at all.

Lady S. And do you think, Sir Harry, it is necessary to give the creature an account?

Sir Harry. No, love, no; but what can you say to obstinate people?-Get you gone, bold face-I once knew a merchant's wife in the city, my lady, who had her fortune told by some of those gipsies.-They said she should die at such a time; and, I warrant, as sure as the day came the poor gentlewoman actually died with the conceit. Come, Dossy, your mamma and I are going to take a walk.-My lady, will you have hold of my arm?

Lady S. No, Sir Harry, I choose to go by myself. Mer. Now, love, assist me !-[Turning to the Gipsies.]-Follow, and take all your cues from me-Nay, but, good lady and gentleman, you won't go, without remembering the poor gipsies?

Sir Harry. Hey, here is all the gang after us!
Gipsies. Pray, your noble honour!

Lady S. Come back into the garden; we shall be covered with vermin.

Gipsies. Out of the bowels of your commiseration! Lady S. They press upon us more and more; yet that girl has no mind to leave them: I shall swoon

away.

Sir Harry. Don't be frighten'd, my lady; let me advance.

AIR.

You vile pack of vagabonds, what do you mean?
I'll maul you, rascallions,

Ye tatterdemallions

If one of them comes within reach of my cane.

Such cursed assurance!
'Tis past all endurance.
Nay,

, nay, pray come away.
They're liars and thieves,
And he that believes
Their foolish predictions,
Will find them but fictions,

A bubble that always deceives.

[Exeunt all but FANNY and GIPSY.

Fanny. Oh! mercy, dear--The gentleman is so bold, 'tis well if he does not bring us into trouble. Who knows but this may be a justice of peace? and see, he's following them into the garden!

Gipsy. Well, 'tis all your seeking, Fan.

Fanny. We shall have warrants to take us up, I'll be hanged else! We had better run away-the servants will come out with sticks, to lick us. [Exeunt.

Enter MERVIN and GIPSIES.

Mervin. Cursed ill fortune!-She's gone, and, perhaps, I shall not have another opportunity And you

you blundering blockhead! I won't give you a halfpenny-Why did you not clap to the garden door, when I called to you, before the young lady got in ? The key was on the outside, which would have given me some time for an explanation.

2 Gipsy. An' please your honour, I was dubus.

Mervin. Dubus! plague choke ye! However, it is some satisfaction that I have been able to let her see me, and know where I am-[Turning to the GIPSIES, who go off] Go, get you gone, all of you, about your [THEODOSIA appears in the Pavilion. Theod. Disappeared-fled! Oh, how unlucky this is! Could he not have patience to wait a moment?

business.

Mervin. I know not what to resolve on.
Theod. Hem!

Meroin. I'll go back to the garden door.

Theod. Mr. Mervin !

Mervin. What do I see?-'Tis she-'tis she herself!-Oh, Theodosia !-Shall I climb the wall, and come up to you?

Theod. No; speak softly: Sir Harry and my lady sit below, at the end of the walk-How much am I obliged to you for taking this trouble!

Mervin. Say but you love me.

Theod. What proof would you have me give you? I know but of one: If you please, I am willing to go off with you.

Mervin. Are you ?. -'Would to Heaven I had brought a carriage.

Theod. How did you come? Have you not horses? Mervin. No; there's another misfortune! To avoid suspicion, I despatched my servant with them an hour ago: neither can we, nearer than the next town, get a post-chaise.

Theod. You say you have made a convert of the miller's son return to your place of rendezvous—— my father has been asked this moment by Lord Aim

worth, who is in the garden, to take a walk with him down to the mill-they will go before dinner, and it shall be hard if I cannot contrive to be one of the company.

Mervin. And what then?

Theod. Why, in the mean time, you may devise some method to carry me from hence; and I'll take care you shall have an opportunity of communicating it to me.

Mervin. Well-but, dear Theodosia

AIR. THEODOSIA.

Hist, hist! I hear

my

mother call

Pr'ythee begone!

We'll meet anon:

Catch this, and this-
Blow me a kiss,

In pledge of promised truth, that's all.
Farewell!-and yet, a moment stay;
Something beside I had to say:
Well, 'tis forgot;

No matter what

Love grant us grace;

The mill's the place :

She calls again, I must away.

Enter FANNY.

[Exit.

Funny. 'Please your honour, you were so kind as to say, you would remember my fellow-travellers for their trouble; and they think I have gotten the money.

Mervin. Oh, here; give them this-[Gives her Money.] And for you, my dear little pilot, you have brought me so cleverly through my business, that I

must

Fanny. Oh, Lord, your honour-[MERVIN kisses her.] Pray don't-kiss me again.

Mervin. Again, and again-There's a thought come into my head.-Theodosia will certainly have no objection to putting on the dress of a sister of mine. So, and so only, we might escape to-nightThis girl, for a little money, will provide us with necessaries.

Fanny. Dear gracious! I warrant you, now, I am as red as my petticoat: why would you royster and touzle one so?-If Ralph was to see you, he'd be as jealous as the vengeance!

Mervin. Hang Ralph! Never mind him.-There's a guinea for thee.

Fanny. What! a golden guinea?

Mervin. Yes; and if thou art a good girl, and do as I desire thee, thou shalt have twenty. Fanny. Ay, but not all gold?

Mervin. As good as that is.

Fanny. Shall I, though, if I do as you bids me? Mervin. You shall.

Fanny. Precious heart!-He's a sweet gentleman! Icod, I have a great mind

Mervin. What art thou thinking about?

Fanny. Thinking, your honour? Ha! ha! ha!
Mervin. Indeed! so merry?

Fanny. I don't know what I am thinking about,

not I-Ha! ha! ha!-Twenty guineas!

Mervin. I tell thee thou shalt have them.

Fanny. Ha! ha! ha! ha! ha!

Mervin. By Heaven, I am serious!

Fanny. Ha! ha! ha!-Why, then, I'll do whatever your honour pleases.

Mervin. Stay here a little, to see that all keeps quiet you'll find me. presently at the mill, where we'll talk farther.

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