Sir John. Let me a little into the ſecrets of the family.
Lovew. Pſha!
Sir John. Poor Lovewell! he can't bear it, I ſee. She charged you not to kiſs and tell.—Eh, Lovewell! However, though you will not honour me with your confidence, I'll venture to truſt you with mine.—What d'ye think of Miſs Sterling?
Lovew. What do I think of Miſs Sterling?
Sir John. Ay; what d'ye think of her?
Lovew. An odd queſtion!—but I think her a ſmart, lively girl, full of mirth and ſprightlineſs.
Sir John. All miſchief and malice, I doubt.
Lovew. How?
Sir John. But her perſon—what d'ye think of that?
Lovew. Pretty and agreeable.
Sir John. A little griſette thing.
Lovew. What is the meaning of all this?
Sir John. I'll tell you. You muſt know, Lovewell, that notwithſtanding all appearances—[ſeeing Lord Ogleby &c.] We are interrupted—When they are gone, I'll explain.
Enter Lord Ogleby, Sterling, Mrs. Heidelberg, Miſs Sterling, and Fanny.
Lord Ogle. Great improvements indeed, Mr. Sterling! wonderful improvements! The four ſeaſons in lead, the flying Mercury, and the baſin with Neptune in the middle, are all in the very extreme of fine taſte. You have as many rich figures as the man at Hyde-Park Corner.
Sterl. The chief pleaſure of a country houſe is to make improvements, you know, my Lord. I ſpare no expence, not I.—This is quite another-gueſs ſort of a place than it was when I firſt took it, my Lord. We were ſurrounded with trees. I cut down above fifty to make the lawn before the houſe, and let in the wind and the ſun—ſmack-ſmooth—as you ſee.—Then I made a green-houſe out of the old laundry,
and
