Page:Miscellaneous Plays 1.pdf/263

out fire, till they get to the staircase door, where he falls down with his body tight across the door to prevent its opening, as if he were in a fit.) Heaven preserve us! the man's in a fit, and the door won't open. Who's there? Fire! fire! fire!

Enter Landlady and Dolly.

LANDLADY.

Fire in my house, mercy on us! how strong it smells here. O lud! lud! I'm a ruined woman! Where can it have broke out? O lud! lud!

DOLLY.

Lack-a-daisy! I smell it over head. I'll pawn my life it is in the north garret, where my new gown lies. O dear! O dear!

LANDLADY (running distractedly about).

Fire! fire! Water! water! will nobody assist a poor ruined woman? Oh, all my good furniture! Oh, my new dimity bed!

Enter Sir John Hazelwood in his night-gown.

SIR JOHN HAZELWOOD.

Confound your new dimity bed! Where is Miss Martin?

LADY GOODBODY.

O my child! my child! where is my child?