Mary. It's three days since I've seen my music

master.

Copp. Well, and can't you sing without him?
Mary. Without him I can't sing well.

Copp. And what's become of him?

Mary. [Pettishly.] I can't teil, its very tiresome. If he did not mean to come again, he might have said

80.

Copp. Oddsfish, neglect thee – neglect his duty! I'll break him on the spot. Thou shalt have another master, my girl.

Mary. [Eagerly.] Oh no, on no account; I dare say he is not well, some accident has happened. Besides, there is no other teacher in town equal to him, he sings with such feeling.

Copp. Ah! girl, if I had my old messmate, Jack Ratlin, here, he'd teach thee to sing. He had a voicefaith it would make all the bottles dance, and glasses jingle on the table! Talk of feeling! Why, when Jack would sit of an evening on the capstan when on watch, and sing about sweethearts and wives, and jolly tars, and true lovers' knots, and the roaring seas, and all that; smite my timbers, but it was enough to melt the heart of a grampus. Poor Jack, he taught me the only song I ever knew, it's a main good one though

[Sings á Stave.]

In the time of the Rump,

As old Admiral Trump,

With his broom swept the chops of the Channel :
And his crew of Bigbreeches,

Those Dutch sons of

Mary. [Putting her hand on his mouth.] Oh, uncle, uncle, don't sing that horrible rough song.

Copp. Rough? that's the beauty of it. It rouses one up, pipes all hands to quarters like a boatswain's call. Go in, Mary, but go in at the other door; don't go near the bar go up to your own room, my dear, and your music-master will come to you presently, never fear. [Exit MARY, L.

Voice within. [At door in flat, R. E. L.] Hollohouse! waiter! Captain Copp! another bottle, my hearty fellow.

Copp. There they go again! I can't stand it any longer. I am an old cruiser, and can't hear an engage

ment without longing to be in the midst of it. Avast, though [stopping short], these lads are spending too much money. Have a care, friend Copp, don't sink the sailor in the publican; don't let a free-hearted tar ruin himself in thy house-no, no, faith. If they want more wine they shall have it; but they shall drink as messmates, not as guests. So have at you boys; it's my

turn to treat now.

"In the time of the Rump"

[Exit COPP into house, door in flat.

SCENE III.-A Room in COPP's House.-Stairs L. S. E.-Two large windows in flat, with shutters closed.

Enter MARY, L. D.

Mary. How provoking this absence of Mr. Georgini ! It would be serving him right to let my uncle discharge him but then I should like just to learn that song he is teaching me-hark!--How my heart beats! Hark! I'll wager it's Georgini-I have a gift of knowing people before I see them-my heart whispers me—

Enter EDWARD, as GeoRGINI, L. D.

Mary. So, sir, you are come at last, are you? I ha supposed you did not intend to come any more, and was about to look out for another teacher.

Edw. Pardon me for my absence-you have no idea what I have suffered.

Mary. [With anxiety.] Suffered !-Have you been ill then?

Edw. Very ill

Mary. Indeed! and what was your complaint?
Edw. [Smiling.] The not seeing you.

Mary. [Half piqued, half pleased.] Mighty fine, sir; it is a complaint that you might have cured in a moment. I have been angry, sir-very angry at your neglect-don't smile, sir-I won't be laughed at

Edw. Laugh at you! Can you suspect me of such a thing? I do but smile from the pleasure of seeing you again-nothing but circumstances that I could not control caused my absence.

Mary, [Softening.] Well, it's very provoking to be interrupted in one's lessons just in the middle of a new song-I'll warrant you've been teaching it all over town.

Edw. Indeed I teach it to no one but yourself-for no one else can do it such justice.

Mary. [Smiling.] Nay, now you are flattering-have you brought it with you?

Edw. Here it is--if you please, we will sing it at

once.

Mary. Yes-but-but-don't look so steadily at me while I sing-it puts me out; and then-and then-I don't know what I'm singing.

Edw. What!-have you fear of me then?

Mary. Oh yes; I fear that I may not please you. Edw. [Apart.] Amiable innocence! for the world would I not betray thee.

DUETTO.

Mary. Love one day essay'd to gain
Entrance into Beauty's bower,..
Many a toil, and many a chain,
Guarded round the precious flower.

Edw. But Love laid aside his bow,
Veil'd his wing, hid his dart,
Enter'd more than Beauty's bower,
Enter'd also Beauty's heart.

Mary. Hence was the sweet lesson learnt,
Fond hearts never should despair,
Kept with truth, and led by hope,
What is there Love may not dare?

Enter COPP, a little gay, L. D.

Copp. Aha! master crotchet and quaver, so you've come at last, have you? What the deuce did you stay away for, and let my little girl get out of tune?

Edw. Oh! I have explained all, sir, and made my peace.

Copp. [Crosses to c.] Ah, she's a forgiving little baggage, and amazing fond of music-why she's always on the look-out for you an hour before the time. Mary. Never mind, uncle. Are your strange companions here still?

Copp. Here still? ay, and likely to stay here-ha! ha ha!-no getting rid of them; they're a couple of devils, of right down merry devils, ha! ha! ha! They've flustered me a little, i'faith.

Edw. You seem to have a great deal of company in the house, sir; I'll take my leave.

Copp. You shall take no such thing-you shall take tea with us, my little semibreve, and we'll have a les

son of music too. Oddsfish! you shall give me a lesson-I am confoundedly out of practice, and can't turn my old song for the life of me. [Begins.] In the time of the Rump"

66

Mary. Never mind the song now, uncle, we must have tea first, and Mr. Georgini will help me make it.

Copp. Ay, faith, and we'll add a bowl of punch and a flask of old Madeira to make a set out-my two messmates in the other room are to be of the party.

Mary. What, those wild sailors who have been keeping the house in an uproar?

Copp. To be sure-they're good lads, though they have a little of the devil in them. They asked to clink the cup with me, and you know I can't well refuse, by trade, to clink the cup with any one. In troth they had put me in such rare good humour-ha! ha! ha!-that I could not refuse them for the life of me.

Mary. But they are such a couple of harebrains

Copp. Oh! don't be afraid-they are rough, but good-natured-sailor-like: besides, am not I always within hail? One of them, I see, is heaving in sight already. Come with me, my girl, and help to prepare the punch and get the tea-you, my king of crotchets, will stay and receive our guests-make yourself at home-[Sings as he goes.] "In the time of the Rump"

[Exeunt CoPP and MARY, R. L. E. up Stairs. Edw. Here's a transformation! from a court page behold me master of ceremonies at a Wapping tavern. [Starts.] Good heaven! whom have we here? The Earl of Rochester in that rude garb!

Enter ROCHESTER laughing.

Roch. Ha! ha! ha! The shouts of those jolly fellows began to turn my brain-his majesty is in fine humour to get into a scrape; and if he does, to make his difficulties more perplexing, I have secured his purse, so that he cannot bribe his way out of them-Hey! Edward?

Edw. [Confused.] My lord Roch ster

Roch. Silence, you rogue! I am no lord here, no Rochester. I am a seaman-my name Tom Taffrel. The king, my messmate, is Jack Mizen.

Edw. The king with you!-[Aside] I see it allhe's after Mary-ah! I am lost.

Roch. Don't be alarmed, friend Georgini; none but the most innocent motives have brought us here

Edw. Innocent motives bring you and the king, at night, to a tavern in Wapping, where there is a beautiful girl? Ah! my lord, my lord

Rock. Nay, to convince you that you have nothing to fear, I permit you to remain with us-[Aside.] He may assist my scheme-[Aloud.] You must play off your character of music-master upon the king.

Edw. Impossible! His majesty will recognise my features.

Roch. Psha! you have not been page a month; he probably has not seen your face three times. But take care how you act; the least indiscretion on, your part

Edw. Ah! my lord, I am too much interested in keeping the secret.

Roch. That is not all. In whatever situation the king may find himself, whatever chagrin he may suffer, I forbid you to assist him in the slightest manner. You are to see in him only the sailor, Jack Mizen.

Edw. Should his majesty chance to incur any danger, my lord, I can never be passive. In such case, I have but one course.

Roch. There can be no danger-I shall myself watch over his safety.

Edw. That decides me-I think I apprehend the object, and will obey your lordship.

Chas. [Without] Yo ho! Messmate!

Roch. The king approaches-Silence! let each resume his part.

Enter CHARLes, L.

Chas. Yo ho! Well, messmate, shall we soon see this marvellous beauty?

Edw. [Apart.] So- this is his majesty's innocent motive.

Roch. Peace, friend Jack, here's one of her admirers-her music-master

Chas. Ah! you teach the young lady music, do you? [looking earnestly at him.], Zounds! how like he is to the page you gave me lately.

Edw. [Apart.] Ah! my face strikes him.

Roch. Hum-I can't say I see much resemblance. He is taller than Edward, and older, and the expression of his countenance is not the same.

Chas. No, no, not altogether, but there is a something