CROAKER. I'll hold you a guinea of that, my dear. MRS. CROAKER. A letter; and, as I knew the hand, I ventured to open it. CROAKER. And how can you expect your breaking open my letters should give me pleasure? MRS. CROAKER. Pooh, it's from your sister at Lyons, and contains good news: read it. [Illustration: LEONT.—"_But, if modesty attracts her, impudence may disgust her. I'll try._"—_p._ 282. ] CROAKER. What a Frenchified cover is here! That sister of mine has some good qualities, but I could never teach her to fold a letter. MRS. CROAKER. Fold a fiddlestick! Read what it contains. CROAKER. (_reading._) "Dear Nick,—An English gentleman, of large fortune, has for some time made private, though honourable, proposals to your daughter Olivia. They love each other tenderly, and I find she has consented, without letting any of the family know, to crown his addresses. As such good offers don't come every day, your own good sense, his large fortune, and family considerations, will induce you to forgive her.—Yours ever, Rachel Croaker." My daughter Olivia privately contracted to a man of large fortune! This is good news indeed. My heart never foretold me of this. And yet, how slily the little baggage has carried it since she came home! Not a word on't to the old ones, for the world! Yet I thought I saw something she wanted to conceal. MRS. CROAKER. Well, if they have concealed their amour, they shan't conceal their wedding; that shall be public, I'm resolved. CROAKER. I tell thee, woman, the wedding is the most foolish part of the ceremony. I can never get this woman to think of the more serious part of the nuptial engagement. MRS. CROAKER. What, would you have me think of their funeral? But come, tell me, my dear, don't you owe more to me than you care to confess? Would you have ever been known to Mr. Lofty, who has undertaken Miss Richland's claim at the Treasury, but for me? Who was it first made him an acquaintance at Lady Shabbaroon's rout? Who got him to promise us his interest? Is not he a back-stairs favourite, one that can do what he pleases with those that do what they please? Isn't he an acquaintance that all your groaning and lamentations could never have got us? CROAKER. He is a man of importance, I grant you; and yet, what amazes me is, that while he is giving away places to all the world, he can't get one for himself. MRS. CROAKER. That perhaps may be owing to his nicety. Great men are not easily satisfied. _Enter_ FRENCH SERVANT. SERVANT. An expresse from Monsieur Lofty. He vil be vait upon your honours instamment. He be only giving four five instruction, read two tree memorial, call upon von ambassadeur. He vil be vid you in one tree minutes.