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Show The Recruiting Officer. iy Bait. He's happy, and I'm fatisfy'd: The Strokes of Heaven 1 can bear ; but Injuries from Men, Mr. Worthy, are not fo eafily fupported. Wor. 1 hope, Sir, you're under no Apprehenfion of Wrong from any Body. Ball. You know, I ought to be. Wor. You wrong m y Honour, Sir, in believing I cou'd know any thing to your Prejudice, without relenting it as much as you fhou'd. Ball. This Letter, S<r, which I tear in pieces to conceal the Perfon that fent it, informs me, that Plume has a Defign upon Silvia, and that you are privy to't. Wor. N a y then, Sir, I muft do m y felf Juftice, and endeavour to find out the Author. (Takes up a Bit.) Sir, I know the hand, and if you refufe to difcover the Contents, Melinda fhall tell me. (Going. Ball. Hold, Sir, the Contents I have told you already, only with this Circumftance, that her Intimacy with Mr. Worthy had drawn the Secret from him. Wor. Her Intimacy with m e ! Dear Sir, let me pick up the pieces of this Letter; 'twill give m e fuch a Power over her Pride to have her o w n an Intimacy under her hand: 'Twas the luckieft Accident! (Gathering up the Letter.) The Afper-iion, Sir, was nothing but Malice, the Effedt of a little Quarrel between her and Mrs. Silvia. Ball. Are you fure of that, Sir ? Wor. Her Maid gave m e the Hiftory of part of the Battel, juft now, as fhe over-heard it. But I hope, Sir, your Daughter has fuffer'd nothing upon the Account. Ball. N o , no, poor Girl, fhe's fo afflicted with the N e w s of her Brother's Death, that to avoid Company, fhe beg'd leave to be gone into the Country. Wor. A n d is fhe gone ? Ball. I cou'd not refufe her, fhe wasfo preffing; the Coach went from the Door the Minute before you came. Wor. So preffing to be gone, Sir! 1 find her Fortune will give her the fame Airs with Melinda, and then Plume and I may laugh at one another. Ball. Like enough, W o m e n are as fubject to Pride as we are, and why may'nt great W o m e n , as well as great Men, forget their old Acquaintance ? But come, where's this young Fellow ? I love him fo well, it would break the Heart of m e to think him a Rafcal Fin glad m y Daughter's gone fairly off tho'. (Afide.) Where does the Captain quarter? B b 2 Wor. |