received from Laura. A wife, who defires the affection of her husband, ought to try every method to pleafe him; and dress is

PHYLLIS.

What, madam, is all this difplay only for your husband, to whom you won't have the fatisfaction of fhewing it? Ah, madam, don't flatter yourself that fir George will return time enough for you to see him to-day. That happens fo feldom.

MELISSA.

That's true, indeed But I have a ftrong prefumption that he will return foon, Phyllis, That idea gives me pleasure, and I am refolved, as you fee, to receive him in the moft agreeable manner, and with all the gaiety I am miftrefs of,

PHYLLIS.

Well, for once at leaft, here's a hufband expected in a very uncommon mannet.

MELISSA.

That's not all, Phyllis; at the hazard of fir George's returning this evening, affift me to find out fome entertainment, which may engage his attention, and furprize him.

PHYLL I S.

For to-night, madam ?

MELISSA.

Yes, to-night, this inftant, if poffible

PHYLL I S.

Lard, what can I think of in fo fhort a time?-Oh, I have it, fing and dance round about him.

MELISSA.

What, by myself. He'll take me for a fool.

PHYLLIS.

True, all that I can do for your ladyfhip's fervice is,

to join in the folly.

MELISSA.

That will never do, child, and I shall fail of my

end.

PHYLL I S

And yet really that's all I can think of at present, your defign is fo extraordinary! But

I have it, madam.

What is it?

MELISSA.

PHYLL

ftay

yes

Sir Novelty, who, you know, takes so much pains to calm your griefs, was to have given you an entertainment to-night. I am in the fecret. He has got together a parcel of dancers, incog. who were to have diverted your ladyfhip; let us employ them for the entertainment of fir George.

MELISSA.

Excellent, nothing could happen better.

PHYLL I S.

You will be the firft wife who ever made an entertainment, prepared by her lover, ferve for the amuse ment of her husband. But that fingularity will make the turn more pleasant.

MELISSA.

But if fir Novelty fhould return in the mean time.

PHYLLIS.

Fear nothing, madam; fir Novelty is a man of too much politenefs, to tell fir George that he is the author of this gallantry, and you may take the whole upon yourself.

MELISSA

You are in the right, Phyllis, and as dancing is one of the qualifications I have most cultivated, 'tis to that I ought moft to truft for the fuccefs of my project.

The

The very lightnefs of this drefs fuits with your idea. I hear fomebody coming, let's lofe no time. Let us look for these people, and difpofe of them in the best manner to ferve my enterprize.

PHYLLIS. [Goes out, and returns.]

Madam, your prefumption was not without fourdation, here is fir George himself.

MELISSA.

Let us be gone quickly, that he mayn't meet us.

SCE NE II:

Enter Sir GEORGE and JEREMY.

JEREM Y.

What, fir, are you return'd to fup at home?

SIR GEORGE.

So it appears, as you fee.

JEREM Y.

So much the better, fir. It would make my lady extremely happy, if you was to have your entertainments at home more frequently.

That's what I was juft thinking upon, Jeremy, I reproach myself for leaving her fo alone every day.

JEREMY.

Ah, you reproach yourself. I'll lay a wager that you and Mrs. Laura have had a falling out, and fo this comes about.

SIR GEORGE.

You are in the right. I went to her at my return from the opera, as I promised. I don't know from whence she had it, but I found het in fuch an extra

ordinary

ordinary humour, that I could not poffibly ftay. Į don't think I fhall return thither in a hurry.

Ah, fir, every man has his private reafons. I love Phyllis, fir, and I can't bear Lifetta, Phyllis has promis'd to marry me, if you return to Meliffa. So

SIR GEORGE.

Well then, Jeremy, you have good hopes
JEREMY.

Have I? O my dear mafter, I always faid you would make the beft husband in the world. But you must have had a terrible quarrel with Laura, to break with her in fo ferious and fudden a manner...

SIR GEORGE.

No, the rail'd, for nothing in the world, against all mankind in general; that piqued me; I undertook their defence. There arofe a little paffion and bitternefs on her fide, and I ended by making my bow, and taking leave.

Ah! my dear mafter, keep where you are. She is fuch, a tyrant, that between you and I, you was quite a flave.

SIR GEORGE.

A flave! who I a flave. No, no, I affure you, not that. Her wit, her talents amufed me, and that was all. But he is become infipid, difagreeableI am refolv'd-difguft for difguft, and I had rather run the risk with my wife, than any other.

JEREM Y.

Truly the has fome right to demand the preference

SIR GEORGE.

She has more, I give you my honour, if Meliffa had but thrown afide her melancholy and love of folitude, to which fhe abandons herfelf, I fhould never have flid into this diffipated way of life, at the expence of every thing which I owe to a wife, whom I love and regard from the bottom of my heart.

JEREMY.

So you fay, fir, but that's not enough; and if you would only give her more frequent proofs, affure yourself she would have all the gaiety you defire. Her melancholy only proceeds from your neglect of her.

SIR GEORGE.

No, Jeremy, Melia is naturally of a ferious turn. Let me do what I will, I can never make her lively and agreeable, otherwife fhe has every requifite; but fhe is glad that custom forbids it. A wife endeavour in good earnest to appear agreeable to her husband ! Fye, fye, that's contrary to all good breeding,

S CEN. E III.

Enter MELISSA, Sir GEORGE, JEREMY. But what elegant figure is that? do I deceive myself? 'Tis Meliffa; how prettily she is drefs'd.

JEREMY.

Ah, fir, whatever you may think, look upon her, and confefs, that no miftrefs in the world

Nay then, if I must hold my tongue here, I'll go

and chatter below ftairs with Phyllis.

[Exit.

SCENE