Eger.  Dear girl, adieu! and think of love, of happiness, and the man who never can be blest without you. [Exit Constantia.

    Enter SAM.

Sam.  Sir Pertinax and my lady are come, sir,—­and my lady desires to speak with you in her own room:—­oh! here she is, sir. [Exit.

    Enter Lady MACSYCOPHANT.

Lady Mac. [In great confusion and distress.] Dear child, I am glad to see you:  why did you not come to town yesterday to attend the levee? your father is incensed to the uttermost at your not being there.

Eger. [With great warmth.] Madam, it is with extreme regret I tell you, that I can no longer be a slave to his temper, his politics, and his scheme of marrying me to this woman,—­therefore you had better consent at once to my going out of the kingdom, and my taking Constantia with me, for without her I never can be happy.

Lady Mac.  As you regard my peace, or your own character, I beg you will not be guilty of so rash a step.—­You promised me you never would marry her without my consent.—­I will open it to your father.—­Pray, dear Charles, be ruled:—­let me prevail.

    Sir PERTINAX. [Without, in great anger.]

Sir Per.  Sir, wull ye do as ye are bid—­and haud your gab, you rascal.—­ You are so full of gab, you scoundrel.—­Take the chesnut gelding, I say, and return to town directly, and see what is become of my Lord Lumbercourt.

Lady Mac.  Here he comes.—­I will get out of his way.—­But I beg, Charles, while he is in this ill humour that you will not oppose him, let him say what he will—­when his passion is a little cool, I will return, and try to bring him to reason:  but do not thwart him.

Eger.  Madam, I will not. [Exit Lady Mac.

Sir Per. [Witbout.] Here, you Tomlins, where is my son Egerton?

Tom. [Without.] In the library, sir.

Sir Per. [Without.] As soon as the lawyers come, be sure bring me word, [Enters with great haughtiness, and in anger.  EGERTON bows two or three times most submissively low.] Weel, sir!—­vary weel!—­vary weel!—­ are nat ye a fine spark? are nat ye a fine spark, I say?—­ah! you are a—­ so you wou’d not come up till the levee?

Eger.  Sir, I beg your pardon—­but—­I was not very well; besides I did not think my presence there was necessary.

Sir Per. [Snapping him up.] Sir, it was necessary—­I tauld you it was necessary—­and, sir, I must now tell you, that the whole tenor of your conduct is most offensive.

Eger.  I am sorry you think so, sir; I am sure I do not intend to offend you.

Sir Per.  I care not what you intend.—­Sir, I tell you, you do offend.  What is the meaning of this conduct, sir? neglect the levee!—­’sdeath, sir, you—­what is your reason, I say, for thus neglecting the levee, and disobeying my commands?