Sir _Fran._ Ay, ay, there's your fine growing spirit for you! Now tack
it dawn, an' you can.
_Jenny._ All I said, Papa, was only to entertain my cousin _Manly_.
_Man._ My pretty dear, I am mightily obliged to you.
_Jenny._ Look you there now, Madam.
Lady _Wrong._ Hold your tongue, I say.
_Jenny._ [_Turning away and glowting._] I declare it, I won't bear it:
she is always snubbing me before you, Sir!----I know why she does it
well enough----
[_Aside to the Count._
Count _Bas._ Hush! hush, my dear! don't be uneasy at that! she'll
suspect us.
[_Aside._
_Jenny._ Let her suspect, what do I care----I don't know, but I have as
much reason to suspect, as she--tho' perhaps I'm not so afraid of her.
Count _Bas._ [_Aside._] I'gad, if I don't keep a tight hand on my tit
here, she'll run away with my project before I can bring it to bear.
Lady _Wrong._ [_Aside._] Perpetually hanging upon him! The young harlot
is certainly in love with him; but I must not let them see I think
so----and yet I can't bear it: Upon my life, Count, you'll spoil that
forward girl----you should not encourage her so.
Count _Bas._ Pardon me, Madam, I was only advising her to observe what
your Ladyship said to her.
_Man._ Yes, truly, her observations have been something particular.
[_Aside._
Count _Bas._ In one word, Madam, she has a }
jealousy of your Ladyship, and I am forc'd to }
encourage her, to blind it; 'twill be better to }
take no notice of her behaviour to me. }
}
Lady _Wrong._ You are right, I will be more }
cautious. } _Apart._
}
Count _Bas._ To-morrow at the masquerade, }
we may lose her. }
}
Lady _Wrong._ We shall be observ'd. I'll send }
you a note, and settle that affair----go on }
with the girl, and don't mind me. }
Count _Bas._ I have been taking your part, my little angel.
Lady _Wrong._ _Jenny_! come hither, child----you must not be so hasty
my dear----I only advise you for your good.
_Jenny._ Yes, Mama; but when I am told of a thing before company it
always makes me worse, you know.
_Man._ If I have any skill in the fair sex; Miss, and her Mama, have
only quarrel'd, because they are both of a mind. This facetious Count
seems to have made a very genteel step into the family.
[_Aside._
_Enter ~Myrtilla~._ [_~Manly~ talks apart with her._]
Lady _Wrong._ Well, Sir _Francis_, and what news have you brought us
from _Westminster_, to-day?
Sir _Fran._ News, Madam? I'cod! I have some----and such as does not
come every day, I can tell you----a word in your ear----I have got a
promise of a place at Court of a thousand pawnd a year already.
Lady _Wrong._ Have you so, Sir? And pray who may you thank for't? Now!
who is in the right? Is not this better than throwing so much away,
after a stinking pack of fox-hounds, in the country? Now your family
may be the better for it!
Sir _Fran._ Nay! that's what persuaded me to come up, my Dove.
Lady _Wrong._ Mighty well--come----let me have another hundred pound
then.
Sir _Fran._ Another! child? Waunds! you have had one hundred this
morning, pray what's become of that, my dear?
Lady _Wrong._ What's become of it? why I'll shew you, my Love! Jenny!
have you the bills about you?
_Jenny._ Yes, Mama.
Lady _Wrong._ What's become of it? Why laid out, my dear, with fifty
more to it, that I was forced to borrow of the Count here.
_Jenny._ Yes, indeed, Papa, and that would hardly do neither--There's
th' account.
Sir _Fran._ [_Turning over the bills._] Let's see! let's see! what the
devil have we got here?
_Man._ Then you have sounded your aunt you }
say, and she readily comes into all I propos'd }
to you? }
}
_Myr._ Sir, I'll answer, with my life, she is }
most thankfully yours in every article: she }
mightily desires to see you, Sir. } _Apart._
}
_Man._ I am going home directly; bring }
her to my house in half an hour; and if she }
makes good what you tell me, you shall both }
find your account in it. }
}
_Myr._ She shall not fail you. }
Sir _Fran._ Ods-life, Madam, here's nothing but toys and trinkets, and
fans, and clock stockings, by whole-sale.
Lady _Wrong._ There's nothing but what's proper, and for your credit,
Sir _Francis_----Nay you see I am so good a housewife, that in
necessaries for myself I have scarce laid out a shilling.
Sir _Fran._ No, by my troth, so it seems; for the devil o' one thing's
here, that I can see you have any occasion for!
Lady _Wrong._ My dear! do you think I came hither to live out of the
fashion? why, the greatest distinction of a fine lady in this town is
in the variety of pretty things she has no occasion for.
_Jenny._ Sure, Papa, could you imagine, that women of quality wanted
nothing but stays and petticoats?
Lady _Wrong._ Now, that is so like him!
_Man._ So! the family comes on finely.
[_Aside._
Lady _Wrong._ Lard, if men were always to govern, what dowdies would
they reduce their wives to!
Sir _Fran._ An hundred pound in the morning, and want another before
night! waunds and fire! the Lord Mayor of London could not hold it at
this rate!
_Man._ O! do you feel it, Sir?
[_Aside._
Lady _Wrong._ My dear, you seem uneasy; let me have the hundred pound,
and compose yourself.
Sir _Fran._ Compose the devil, Madam! why do you consider what a
hundred pound a day comes to in a year?
Lady _Wrong._ My life, if I account with you from one day to another,
that's really all my head is able to bear at a time----But I'll tell
you what I consider----I consider that my advice has got you a thousand
pound a year this morning----That now methinks you might consider, Sir.
Sir _Fran._ A thousand a year? wounds, madam, but I have not touch'd a
penny of it yet!
_Man._ Nor ever will, I'll answer for him.
[_Aside._
_Enter Squire ~Richard~._
Squ. _Rich._ Feyther an you doan't come quickly, the meat will be
coal'd: and I'd fain pick a bit with you.
Lady _Wrong._ Bless me, Sir _Francis!_ you are not going to sup by
yourself!
Sir _Fran._ No, but I am going to dine by myself, and that's pretty
near the matter, Madam.
Lady _Wrong._ Had not you as good stay a little, my dear? we shall all
eat in half an hour; and I was thinking to ask my cousin _Manly_ to
take a family morsel with us.
Sir _Fran._ Nay, for my cousin's good company, I don't care if I ride a
day's journey without baiting.
_Man._ By no means, Sir _Francis_. I am going upon a little business.
Sir _Fran._ Well, Sir, I know you don't love compliments.
_Man._ You'll excuse me, Madam----