_Enter LADY CAROLINE BRAYMORE._

_Lady Car._ Do I interrupt business?

_Sir Simon._ Not in the least. Pray, Lady Caroline, come in. His
lordship and I have just concluded.

_Lord Fitz._ And I must go and walk my three miles, this morning.

_Sir Simon._ Must you, my lord?

_Lord Fitz._ My physician prescribed it, when I told him I was apt
to be dull, after dinner.

_Sir Simon._ I would attend your lordship;--but since Lady Caroline
favours me with--

_Lady Car._ No, no--don't mind me. I assure you, I had much rather
you would go.

_Sir Simon._ Had you?--hum!--but the petticoats have their new
school of good breeding, too, they tell me. [_Aside._] Well, we are
gone--we have been glancing over the writings, Lady Caroline, that
form the basis of my son's happiness:--though his lordship isn't
much inclined to read.

_Lady Car._ But I am.--I came here to study very deeply, before
dinner.

_Sir Simon._ What, would your ladyship, then, wish to--
[_Showing the Writings._

_Lady Car._ To read that? My dear Sir Simon! all that Hebrew, upon
parchment as thick as a board!--I came to see if you had any of the
last novels in your book room.

_Sir Simon._ The last novels!--most of the female new school are
ghost bitten, they tell me. [_Aside._] There's Fielding's Works; and
you'll find Tom Jones, you know.

_Lady Car._ Psha! that's such a hack!

_Sir Simon._ A hack, Lady Caroline, that the knowing ones have
warranted sound.

_Lady Car._ But what do you think of those that have had such a run
lately?

_Sir Simon._ Why, I think most of them have run too much, and want
firing.
[_Exeunt SIR SIMON, and LORD FITZ BALAAM._

_Lady Car._ I shall die of ennui, in this moping manor house!--Shall
I read to-day?--no, I'll walk.--No, I'll----Yes, I'll read first,
and walk afterwards. [_Rings the Bell, and takes a
Book._]--Pope.--Come, as there are no novels, this may be tolerable.
This is the most triste house I ever saw! [_Sits down and reads._

"In these deep solitudes, and awful cells,
Where heavenly-pensive--"

_Enter ROBERT._

_Rob._ Did you ring, my lady?

_Lady Car._ ----"Contemplation dwells--" Sir? Oh, yes;--I should
like to walk. Is it damp under foot, sir?--"And ever musing--"

_Rob._ There has been a good deal of rain to-day my lady.

_Lady Car._ "Melancholy reigns--"

_Rob._ My lady--

_Lady Car._ Pray, sir,