the happy event of his embassy had on poor Paddy, was too great to suffer him to think with any degree of prudence on any thing else. The excess of his joy was such, that he for got the impatience and anxiety of a tender parent, and until he gave that sufficient vent among all his intimates, he never thought of imparting the news where it was most wanted and desired. From this Sir Robert took the first hint of that odd composition of fidelity and blunders which he has so humorously worked up in the character of Teague. of the Howard Family. Anecdotes The other characters of Mr. and Mrs, Day, and their hope. ful son Abel, are preserved unalloyed; and it certainly was praiseworthy in Mr, KNIGHT, to accommodate an excellent Comedy of the seventeenth, to the taste and approbation of an audience in the nineteeth century. Dramatis Personae. COVENT GARDEN. Men. Mr. Brunton. Mr. Claremont. Mr. Davenport. Mr. Simmons. Mr. Munden. Messrs. Thompson and Wyld. Mr. Curteis. Mr. Abbot. Mr. Johnstone. L An Inn Door. Mrs. DAY. [Without.] ET the porter carry our bundles down to Enter Mrs. DAY, ARABELLA, RUTH, Captain MANLY, and COACHMAN. Mrs. D. Out upon't, how dusty 'tis !-'tis a sad thing for people of the better sort, who are us'd to travel in a different style, to put up with a filthy stage coach. I believe our places are paid for, coachman, are they not? Coach. Yes, ma'am-paid for at Oxford. Mrs. D. Very well.-Something for you to drink. Coach. Thank you, ma'am. [Exit. Mrs. D. Why, how now, Arabella!-what, sad! by my faith you need not-say I told you so. My son Abel has been pining the whole month that have been absent; you 66 and his ho"nour, Mr. Day, your guardian, my husband, and justice of the peace, was quite impatient "till we should fetch you home again. I know 66 you'll like our son Abel;" he's much improv'd of late; grown quite genteel, I assure you. Arab. Then he is improv'd indeed! [Aside. Mrs. D. Now we talk of Abel, I wonder he, or my husband's chief clerk, Obadiah, is not here ready to attend me. [Seeing Manly.] How is it with you, sir? weary of your journey, I suppose? Man. Her tongue will never tire. [Aside.] Yes, ma'am, so many in the coach has rather heated me. Enter OBADIAH and ABEL. Mrs. D. Oh! are you come? did'nt you think it fit that I should find attendance ready for me when I alighted? Ob. I ask your honour's pardon: I do profess I should have attended sooner, but that his young honour, Mr. Abel, delayed me. 1 |