[Exeunt Hastings and Miss Neville.

Marlow: I am afraid, madam, I—hem—grow tiresome.

Kate: Not at all, sir; there is nothing I like so much as grave consideration. You were going to observe——

Marlow: I was about to observe, madam—I was—I protest, I forgot——

Kate: Something about hypocrisy—this age of hypocrisy.

Marlow: Ah, yes. In this age of hypocrisy there are few who—a—a—— But I see Miss Neville expects us; shall I——

Kate: I'll follow you. If I could teach him a little confidence!

[Exeunt.

Mrs. Hardcastle, Miss Neville, Hastings and Tony enter. In pursuance of their plot, Constance engages Tony in a determined flirtation, to his extreme disgust, while Hastings wins the heart of Mrs. Hardcastle by extravagant flatteries. On the pretext of bringing the "dear, sweet, pretty, provoking, undutiful boy" to a better mind, Hastings gets rid of the ladies, and then offers to take Miss Neville off Tony's hands. Tony joyfully engages to help the elopement, and procure Miss Neville's jewels.

Act III