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what they intend。
LADY PLYANT。 I'm satisfied that my cousin Mellefont has been much
wronged。
CYNT。 ＇Aside。＇ I'm amazed to find her of our side； for I'm sure
she loved him。
LADY PLYANT。 I know my Lady Touchwood has no kindness for him； and
besides I have been informed by Mr。 Careless； that Mellefont had
never anything more than a profound respect。 That he has owned
himself to be my admirer 'tis true； but he was never so presumptuous
to entertain any dishonourable notions of things； so that if this be
made plain； I don't see how my daughter can in conscience； or
honour； or anything in the world …
SIR PAUL。 Indeed if this be made plain； as my lady； your mother；
says； child …
LADY PLYANT。 Plain！ I was informed of it by Mr。 Careless。 And I
assure you； Mr。 Careless is a person that has a most extraordinary
respect and honour for you； Sir Paul。
CYNT。 ＇Aside。＇ And for your ladyship too； I believe； or else you
had not changed sides so soon； now I begin to find it。
SIR PAUL。 I am much obliged to Mr。 Careless really； he is a person
that I have a great value for； not only for that； but because he has
a great veneration for your ladyship。
LADY PLYANT。 O las； no indeed； Sir Paul； 'tis upon your account。
SIR PAUL。 No； I protest and vow； I have no title to his esteem； but
in having the honour to appertain in some measure to your ladyship；
that's all。
LADY PLYANT。 O law now； I swear and declare it shan't be so； you're
too modest； Sir Paul。
SIR PAUL。 It becomes me； when there is any comparison made between
…
LADY PLYANT。 O fie； fie； Sir Paul； you'll put me out of
countenance。 Your very obedient and affectionate wife； that's all。
And highly honoured in that title。
SIR PAUL。 Gads…bud； I am transported！ Give me leave to kiss your
ladyship's hand。
CYNT。 That my poor father should be so very silly！ ＇Aside。＇
LADY PLYANT。 My lip indeed； Sir Paul； I swear you shall。 ＇He
kisses her； and bows very low。＇
SIR PAUL。 I humbly thank your ladyship。 I don't know whether I fly
on ground； or walk in air。 Gads…bud； she was never thus before。
Well； I must own myself the most beholden to Mr。 Careless。 As sure
as can be； this is all his doing； something that he has said； well；
'tis a rare thing to have an ingenious friend。 Well； your ladyship
is of opinion that the match may go forward。
LADY PLYANT。 By all means。 Mr。 Careless has satisfied me of the
matter。
SIR PAUL。 Well； why then； lamb； you may keep your oath； but have a
care about making rash vows； come hither to me； and kiss papa。
LADY PLYANT。 I swear and declare； I am in such a twitter to read
Mr。 Careless his letter； that I can't forbear any longer。 But
though I may read all letters first by prerogative； yet I'll be sure
to be unsuspected this time； Sir Paul。
SIR PAUL。 Did your ladyship call？
LADY PLYANT。 Nay； not to interrupt you； my dear。 Only lend me your
letter； which you had from your steward to…day； I would look upon
the account again； and may be increase your allowance。
SIR PAUL。 There it is； madam； do you want a pen and ink？ ＇Bows and
gives the letter。＇
LADY PLYANT。 No； no； nothing else； I thank you； Sir Paul。 So； now
I can read my own letter under the cover of his。 ＇Aside。＇
SIR PAUL。 He？ And wilt thou bring a grandson at nine months end
he？ A brave chopping boy。 I'll settle a thousand pound a year upon
the rogue as soon as ever he looks me in the face； I will； gads…bud。
I'm overjoyed to think I have any of my family that will bring
children into the world。 For I would fain have some resemblance of
myself in my posterity； he； Thy？ Can't you contrive that affair；
girl？ Do； gads…bud； think on thy old father； heh？ Make the young
rogue as like as you can。
CYNT。 I'm glad to see you so merry； sir。
SIR PAUL。 Merry； gads…bud； I'm serious； I'll give thee five hundred
pounds for every inch of him that resembles me； ah； this eye； this
left eye！ A thousand pounds for this left eye。 This has done
execution in its time； girl； why； thou hast my leer； hussey； just
thy father's leer。 Let it be transmitted to the young rogue by the
help of imagination； why； 'tis the mark of our family； Thy； our
house is distinguished by a languishing eye； as the house of Austria
is by a thick lip。 Ah！ when I was of your age； hussey； I would have
held fifty to one； I could have drawn my own picturegads…bud I
could have donenot so much as you； neither； butnay； don't blush。
CYNT。 I don't blush； sir； for I vow I don't understand。
SIR PAUL。 Pshaw； pshaw； you fib； you baggage； you do understand；
and you shall understand； come； don't be so nice。 Gads…bud； don't
learn after your mother…in…law my lady here。 Marry； heaven forbid
that you should follow her example； that would spoil all indeed。
Bless us！ if you should take a vagary and make a rash resolution on
your wedding night； to die a maid； as she did； all were ruined； all
my hopes lost。 My heart would break； and my estate would be left to
the wide world； he？ I hope you are a better Christian than to think
of living a nun； he？ Answer me？
CYNT。 I'm all obedience； sir； to your commands。
LADY PLYANT。 ＇Having read the letter。＇ O dear Mr。 Careless； I
swear he writes charmingly； and he looks charmingly； and he has
charmed me； as much as I have charmed him； and so I'll tell him in
the wardrobe when 'tis dark。 O criminy！ I hope Sir Paul has not
seen both letters。 ＇Puts the wrong letter hastily up； and gives him
her own。＇ Sir Paul； here's your letter； to…morrow morning I'll
settle accounts to your advantage。
SCENE IV。
＇To them＇ BRISK。
BRISK。 Sir Paul； gads…bud； you're an uncivil person； let me tell
you； and all that； and I did not think it had been in you。
SIR PAUL。 O law； what's the matter now？ I hope you are not angry；
Mr。 Brisk。
BRISK。 Deuce take me； I believe you intend to marry your daughter
yourself； you're always brooding over her like an old hen； as if she
were not well hatched； egad； he。
SIR PAUL。 Good strange！ Mr。 Brisk is such a merry facetious
person； he； he； he。 No； no； I have done with her； I have done with
her now。
BRISK。 The fiddles have stayed this hour in the hall； and my Lord
Froth wants a partner； we can never begin without her。
SIR PAUL。 Go； go child； go； get you gone and dance and be merry；
I'll come and look at you by and by。 Where's my son Mellefont？
LADY PLYANT。 I'll send him to them； I know where he is。
BRISK。 Sir Paul； will you send Careless into the hall if you meet
him？
SIR PAUL。 I will； I will； I'll go and look for him on purpose。
SCENE V。
BRISK alone。
BRISK。 So now they are all gone； and I have an opportunity to
practice。 Ah！ My dear Lady Froth； she's a most engaging creature；
if she were not so fond of that damned coxcombly lord of hers； and
yet I am forced to allow him wit too； to keep in with him。 No
matter； she's a woman of parts； and； egad； parts will carry her。
She said she would follow me into the gallery。 Now to make my
approaches。 Hem； hem！ Ah ma… ＇bows。＇ dam！ Pox on't； why should I
disparage my parts by thinking what to say？ None but dull rogues
think； witty men； like rich fellows； are always ready for all
expenses； while your blockheads； like poor needy scoundrels； are
forced to examine their stock； and forecast the charges of the day。
Here she comes； I'll seem not to see her； and try to win her with a
new airy invention of my own； hem！
SCENE VI。
＇To him＇ LADY FROTH。
BRISK ＇Sings； walking about。＇ 'I'm sick with love；' ha； ha； ha；
'prithee； come cure me。 I'm sick with；' etc。 O ye powers！ O my
Lady Froth； my Lady Froth； my Lady Froth！ Heigho！ Break heart；
gods； I thank you。 ＇Stands musing with his arms across。＇
LADY FROTH。 O heavens； Mr。 Brisk！ What's the matter？
BRISK。 My Lady Froth！ Your ladyship's most humble servant。 The
matter； madam？ Nothing； madam； nothing at all； egad。 I was fallen
into the most agreeable amusement in the whole province of
contemplation： that's all（I'll seem to conceal my passion； and
that will look like respect。） ＇Aside。＇
LADY FROTH。 Bless me； why did you call out upon me so loud？
BRISK。 O Lord； I； madam！ I beseech your ladyshipwhen？
LADY FROTH。 Just now as I came in； bless me； why； don't you know
it？
BRISK。 Not I； let me perish。 But did I？ Strange！ I confess your
ladyship was in my thoughts； and I was in a sort of dream that did
in a manner represent a very pleasing object to my imagination； but…
…but did I indeed？To see how love and murder will out。 But did I
really name my Lady Froth？
LADY FROTH。 Three times aloud； as I love letters。 But did you talk
of love？ O Parnassus！ Who would have thought Mr。 Brisk could have
been in love； ha； h