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A COMEDY.
85

young lady are thrown away—Sir John Melvil is at this moment lock'd up with this lady's younger ſiſter.

Serjeant Flower. The thing is a little extraordinary, to be ſure—but, why were we to be frighten'd out of our beds for this? Could not we have try'd this cauſe to-morrow morning?

Miſs Sterl. But, Sir, by to-morrow morning, perhaps, even your aſſiſtance would not have been of any ſervice—the birds now in that cage would have flown away.


Enter Lord Ogleby. [in his robe de chambre, night cap &c.leaning on Canton.]

Lord Ogle. I had rather loſe a limb than my night's reſt—what's the matter with you all?

Sterl. Ay, ay, 'tis all over!—Here's my Lord too.

Lord Ogle. What is all this ſhrieking and ſcreaming?—Where's my angelick Fanny. She's ſafe, I hope!

Mrs. Heidel. Your angelick Fanny, my Lord, is lock'd up with your angelick nephew in that chamber.

Lord Ogle. My nephew! then will I be excommunicated.

Mrs. Heidel. Your nephew, my Lord, has been plotting to run away with the younger ſiſter; and the younger ſiſter has been plotting to run away with your nephew: and if we had not watch'd them and call'd up the fammaly, they had been upon the ſcamper to Scotland by this time.

Lord Ogle. Look'ee, ladies!—I know that Sir John has conceiv'd a violent paſſion for Miſs Fanny; and I know too that Miſs Fanny has conceiv'd a violent paſſion for another perſon; and I am ſo well convinc'd of the rectitude of her affections, that I will ſupport them with my fortune, my honour, and my life.—Eh, ſhant I, Mr. Sterling? [ſmiling] what ſay you?—

Sterl.