MARIA. I only judge of your heart, by your tongue; and the abundance of the former is generally inferred from the speech of the latter.--Yes, yes--that constant, hypocritical heart of yours is now throbbing with love, hope, curiosity, and--a thousand speechless sensations, the improper subject of which, I do not hesitate to declare, is odious man; and that man, the accomplished Mr. Loveyet. HARRIET. Pshaw,--how can you tantalize one so? MARIA. Well, well, it shall not be serv'd like Tantalus any more: _he_ was doom'd to behold; and, beholding, to wish and languish for the tempting draught, in vain: but a better doom awaits the happy Harriet;--what she desires is not thus interdicted, but will soon be obtain'd, and-- HARRIET. How strangely you talk, Maria. MARIA. Well, I will not keep you in suspense any longer. Old Mr. Loveyet has received a letter from his son, signifying his intention to leave the West-Indies shortly after its date, so you may expect to see him very soon. Then hey for a wedding, &c. HARRIET. Ha, ha; you are a droll girl. MARIA. But my time is precious; I am just going to the widow Affable's:--about twelve months ago she paid me a visit, when, agreeably to the form in such cases made and provided, she beg'd I would be more sociable, and she would take it so kindly of me:--accordingly I shall step in _en passant_, to shew her my sociability and kindness, which I shall, perhaps, repeat at the end of another year. HARRIET. How can you be so cruel? The pleasure I experience in your society, makes me regret that any one should be deprived of it. MARIA. That is very strange:--I should imagine, if you priz'd my company so much, you would wish me to withhold it from others; because, the more I bless them with my presence, the less will come to your share, you know, my dear;--nor is it easy to conceive how you could be so fond of my sweet person, without being jealous at the partiality of others;--but, after all, good people, they say, are scarce; and my humble admirers shall find the saying verified in me; because they are not fully sensible of my superior value; but, since you prove the contrary, by extolling my conversation and friendship so much, I likewise shall observe a contrary conduct, and indulge you with a _tête-à-tête_ frequently, my dear.--But I have fifty places to call at yet:--I am to wait on Miss Nancy Startup, Miss Biddy Dresswise, Miss Gaudy, Miss Titterwell, Mrs. Furbelow, Mrs. Neverhome, Mrs--_et cætera, et cætera_; which visits I mean to pay with all the formality and fashionable shortness in my power: from thence I shall proceed to Mademoiselle Mincit, the milliner; from thence to two or three score of shops in William-Street, to buy a prodigious number of important-- HARRIET. Trifles. MARIA. You are right, my dear;--as I live, I would not be one of those officious "Nothing else, Ma'ms?" for all the goods from the North Church to Maiden-Lane.--Adieu,--I leave you to meditate on what I have told you.