We

Miss Hardcastle - Then it's odd I should not know it. brew all sorts of wines in this house, and I have lived here these eighteen years.

Marlow Eighteen years! Why, one would think, child, you kept the bar before you were born. How old are you? Miss Hardcastle — O! sir, I must not tell my age. They say women and music should never be dated.

Marlow-To guess at this distance, you can't be much above forty [approaching]. Yet, nearer, I don't think so much [approaching]. By coming close to some women they look younger still; but when we come very close indeed - [attempting to kiss her].

One

Miss Hardcastle Pray, sir, keep your distance. would think you wanted to know one's age, as they do horses, by mark of mouth.

Marlow - I protest, child, you use me extremely ill. If you keep me at this distance, how is it possible you and I can ever be acquainted?

Miss Hardcastle - And who wants to be acquainted with you? I want no such acquaintance, not I. I'm sure you did not treat Miss Hardcastle, that was here awhile ago, in this obstropalous manner. I'll warrant me, before her you looked dashed, and kept bowing to the ground, and talked, for all the world, as if you was before a justice of peace.

Marlow [aside]- Egad, she has hit it, sure enough! [To her] In awe of her, child? Ha! ha! ha! A mere awkward squinting thing; no, no. I find you don't know me. I laughed and rallied her a little; but I was unwilling to be too severe. No, I could not be too severe, curse me!

Miss Hardcastle -O! then, sir, you are a favorite, I find, among the ladies?

And yet hang
At the Ladies'
Rattle, child,
My name is

Marlow-Yes, my dear, a great favorite. me, I don't see what they find in me to follow. Club in town I'm called their agreeable Rattle. is not my real name, but one I'm known by. Solomons; Mr. Solomons, my dear, at your service.

[Offering to salute her.

Miss Hardcastle Hold, sir; you are introducing me to your club, not to yourself. And you're so great a favorite there, you say?

Marlow Yes, my dear. There's Mrs. Mantrap, Lady Betty Blackleg, the Countess of Sligo, Mrs. Langhorns, old

Miss Biddy Buckskin, and your humble servant, keep up the spirit of the place.

Miss Hardcastle - Then it's a very merry place, I suppose? Marlow Yes, as merry as cards, supper, wine, and old women can make us.

Miss Hardcastle — And their agreeable Rattle, ha! ha! ha! Marlow [aside] Egad! I don't quite like this chit.

She looks knowing, methinks. You laugh, child?

Miss Hardcastle — I can't but laugh, to think what time they all have for minding their work or their family.

Marlow [aside] - All's well; she don't laugh at me. [To her] Do you ever work, child?

Miss Hardcastle Ay, sure.

There's not a screen or quilt

in the whole house but what can bear witness to that.

Marlow Odso! then you must show me your embroidery. I embroider and draw patterns myself a little. If you want a judge of your work, you must apply to me. [Seizing her hand.

Miss Hardcastle-Ay, but the colors do not look well by candlelight. You shall see all in the morning. [Struggling. Marlow And why not now, my angel? Such beauty fires beyond the power of resistance. Pshaw! the father here! My old luck: I never nicked seven that I did not throw ames ace three times following. [Exit Miss Hardcastle.

Enter HARDCASTLE.

Hardcastle - I no longer know my own house. It's turned all topsy-turvy. His servants have got drunk already. I'll bear it no longer; and yet, from my respect for his father, I'll be calm. [To him] Mr. Marlow, your servant. I'm your very humble servant.

[Bowing low. Marlow Sir, your humble servant. [Aside] What's to be the wonder now?

Hardcastle — I believe, sir, you must be sensible, sir, that no man alive ought to be more welcome than your father's son, sir. I hope you think so?

Marlow I do from my soul, sir. I don't want much entreaty. I generally make my father's son welcome wherever he goes.

Hardcastle-I believe you do, from my soul, sir. But though I say nothing to your own conduct, that of your serv ants is insufferable. Their manner of drinking is setting a very bad example in this house, I assure you.

Marlow-I protest, my very good sir, that is no fault of mine. If they don't drink as they ought, they are to blame. I ordered them not to spare the cellar. I did, I assure you. [To the side scene] Here, let one of my servants come up. [To him] My positive directions were that, as I did not drink myself, they should make up for my deficiencies below. Hardcastle Then they had your orders for what they do? I'm satisfied!

Marlow - They had, I assure you. You shall hear from one of themselves.

Enter Servant, drunk.

Marlow-You, Jeremy! Come forward, sirrah! What were my orders? Were you not told to drink freely, and call for what you thought fit, for the good of the house?

Hardcastle [aside] - I begin to lose my patience.

Jeremy - Please your honor, liberty and Fleet Street forever! Though I'm but a servant, I'm as good as another man. I'll drink for no man before supper, sir, damme! Good liquor will sit upon a good supper, but a good supper will not sit upon - hiccup on my conscience, sir.

Marlow You see, my old friend, the fellow is as drunk as he can possibly be. I don't know what you'd have more, unless you'd have the poor devil soused in a beer barrel.

HardcastleZounds! he'll drive me distracted, if I contain myself any longer. Mr. Marlow - sir; I have submitted to your insolence for more than four hours, and I see no likelihood of its coming to an end. I'm now resolved to be master here, sir; and I desire that you and your drunken pack may leave my house directly.

Marlow-Leave your house!-Sure you jest, my good friend! What? when I'm doing what I can to please you.

Hardcastle-I tell you, sir, you don't please me; so I desire you'll leave my house.

Marlow Sure you cannot be serious! At this time o' night, and such a night? You only mean to banter me.

Hardcastle-I tell you, sir, I'm serious! and now that my passions are roused, I say this house is mine, sir; this house is mine, and I command you to leave it directly.

Marlow-Ha! ha ha! A puddle in a storm. I shan't stir a step, I assure you. [In a serious tone] This your house, fellow! It's my house. Mine, while I

This is my house.

choose to stay. What right have you to bid me leave this house, sir? I never met with such impudence, curse me; never in my whole life before.

Hardcastle Nor I, confound me if ever I did. To come to my house, to call for what he likes, to turn me out of my own chair, to insult the family, to order his servants to get drunk, and then to tell me, "This house is mine, sir." By all that's impudent, it makes me laugh. Ha! ha ha! Pray, sir [bantering], as you take the house, what think you of taking the rest of the furniture? There's a pair of silver candlesticks, and there's a fire screen, and here's a pair of brazen-nosed bellows; perhaps you may take a fancy to them?

Marlow Bring me your bill, sir; bring me your bill, and let's make no more words about it.

Hardcastle-There are a set of prints, too. What think you of the "Rake's Progress," for your own apartment? Marlow Bring me your bill, I say; and I'll leave you and your infernal house directly.

Hardcastle-Then there's a mahogany table that you may see your own face in.

Marlow My bill, I say.

Hardcastle-I had forgot the great chair for your own particular slumbers, after a hearty meal.

Marlow-Zounds! bring me my bill, I say, and let's hear no more on't.

Hardcastle-Young man, young man, from your father's letter to me, I was taught to expect a well-bred modest man as a visitor here, but now I find him no better than a coxcomb and a bully; but he will be down here presently, and shall hear more of it. [Exit.

Marlow - How's this! Sure I have not mistaken the house. Everything looks like an inn: the servants cry, "Coming"; the attendance is awkward; the barmaid too to attend us. But she's here and will further inform me. [To Miss Hardcastle, who enters.] Pray, child, answer me one question. What are you, and what may your business in this house be? Miss Hardcastle - A relation of the family, sir.

Marlow What, a poor relation?

Miss Hardcastle-Yes, sir: a poor relation appointed to keep the keys, and to see that the guests want nothing in my power to give them.

Marlow That is, you act as barmaid of the inn.

Miss Hardcastle - Inn! O la- what brought that into your head? One of the best families in the country keep an innHa ha ha! old Mr. Hardcastle's house an inn!

Marlow-Mr. Hardcastle's house! Is this Mr. Hardcastle's house, child?

Miss Hardcastle

Aye, sure. Whose else should it be? Marlow So, then, all's out, and I have been damnably imposed on. Oh, confound my stupid head, I shall be laughed at over the whole town, I shall be stuck up in caricature in all the print shops the Dullissimo Macaroni. To mistake this house of all others for an inn, and my father's old friend for an innkeeper! What a swaggering puppy must he take me for! What a silly puppy do I find myself!

LETTERS OF HORACE WALPOLE.

[HORACE WALPOLE: An English author; born in London, October 5, 1717; died there March 2, 1797. He was the son of Sir Robert Walpole, the Prime Minister, and was educated at Eton and Cambridge. After traveling about the Continent, he purchased an estate at Twickenham, his house afterward becoming famous as Strawberry Hill. There he set up a printing press and published his own and other works. His most noteworthy writings are his "Letters," published in nine volumes, 1857-1859. His other works include: "A Catalogue of the Royal and Noble Authors of England" (1758), "Anecdotes of Painting in England " (1761-1771), "The Castle of Otranto," (1764), "The Mysterious Mother" (1768), and "Memoirs of the Last Ten Years of the Reign of George II." (1822).]

PLEASURES OF YOUTH, AND YOUTHFUL RECOLLECTIONS.

TO GEORGE MONTAGU, ESQ.

KING'S COLLEGE, May 6, 1736.

DEAR GEORGE, - I agree with you entirely in the pleasure you take in talking over old stories, but can't say but I meet every day with new circumstances, which will be still more pleasure to me to recollect. I think at our age 'tis excess of joy to think, while we are running over past happinesses, that it is still in our power to enjoy as great. Narrations of the greatest actions of other people are tedious in comparison of the serious trifles that every man can call to mind of himself while he was learning those histories. Youthful passages of

VOL. XVIII.-18