Sir Chr. I wish, like other plays, it don't end in a marriage. Rack. Then shall I be most confoundedly bit. But come, Knight! Sir Chr. Rot you! I do as fast as I can.-I can't think, Rackett, what the deuce makes thee so warm in this business; there is certainly something at the bottom that I don't comprehend. But do, Major, have pity on the poor girl : Upon my foul, she is a sweet little syren! Io innocent and Rack. Pho, pho! don't be absurd ! I thought that matter had been fully explained. This, Knight, is no time to look back ; but suppose now I should have a little mischief in hand Sir Chr. How! of what kind ? Rack. “Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest Knight, till done, and then applaud the deed !" Sir Chr. It is very extraordinary, Major Rackett, if you are determined to make the devil a visit, that you can't pay it alone ; or, if you must have company, what a pox makes you think of fixing on me Rack. Hey-day! ha, ha, ha! What, in the vapours again? we must have some more punch. Sir Chr. You are mistaken ; that won't have power to change the state of my mind : My resolves are too firm Rack. And who wishes to break them? I only ask your assistance to-night ; and your reformation, you recollect, don't begin till toinorrow. Sir Chr. That's true, indeed : But no human power shall prevail on me to put it off any longer than to-morrow. Rack. Rack. Or the next day at furthest. Exeunt Rack, and Sir Chr. Poul. Come, lads, light your pipes! Which of us shall be first to attack ? 'Billy Button. Won't it be rather too bold for me to begin?' Poul. Then let us leave it to chance.-Hush! I hear him lumbering in ! compose your looks; let his reception be folemn and grave. Button. Leave that chair for him. Enter Flint. Flint. How fares it, my lads ?--Well, boys, matters are settled at last ; the little Kate has complied, and to-morrow is fixed for the day. Poul. You have settled it then ? Flint, No, to be sure, you great fool! What the deuce would Poultice be at ? Paul. Nay then, neighbours, what we have been saying will just fignify nothing. , Flint. Saying! why, you have not heard that is, nobody---Poul . No, nothing - very material-only--but as the matter is carried so far Flint. So far! why, I hope you have not found out any flaw ! Kitty, has not- ! Poul. No, no; nothing of that; no, upon my word! Í believe, a very modest, prudent, good girl, neighbours. All. No manner of doubt. '300 VIEW meaning meaning of this ? you all fit as filent and glumwhy, can't you speak out, with a pox? Poul . Why, 'Squire, as we are all your fixed friends, we have been canvafling this matter amongst us. Flint. You have ? Poul. Marriage, you know very well, is no trifling affair ; too much caution and care can't be used. Flint. That I firmly believe, which has made me defer it so long. Poul. Pray lend me your hand; how is the state of your health ? do you find yourself hearty and strong ? Flint. I think so; that is, 1-you ha'n't observed any bad symptoms of late ? Poul. No; but you used to have pains flying about you. Flint. Formerly ; but fince I have fixed my gout to a fit, they are gone': 'that, indeed, lays me up for four or five months in a year. Poul. A pretty long spell : And, in such a case, now, do you think that marriage Flint. The most best receipt in the world : Why, that, man, was one of my motives : Wives, you know, are allowed to make very good nurses. Poul. That, indeed Flint. Ay; and then they are always at hand; and, besides, they don't coft one a farthing. Poul. True, true. Why, you look very jolly, and fresh ; does not he? All. Exceedingly. Poul. Yet he can't be less than-let me see! Wasn't you under old Syntax at Wells ? Flirt. He died the year I left school. Poule Poul. That must be a good forty years since. Poul. And Miss Linnet-sixteen : You are a bold man ! Not but there are instances, where men have survived many years such disproportionate marriages as these. Flint. Survived ! and why should they not? Poul. But then their stamina must be prodigiously strong: Flint. Stamina ! Poul. Let us fee, Button! there was Dr. Dotage, that married the Devonshire girl ; he had a matter of Button. No, no; he dropped off in fix months. Poul. True, true ; I had forgot. Button. Indeed, an old master of mine, Sir Harry O'Tuff, is alive, and walks about to this day: Flint. Hey! Poul. But you forget where Sir Harry was born, and how soon his lady eloped. Button. In the honey-moon; with Captain Pike, of the guards : I mind iç full well. Poul. That, indeed, alters the case. Flint. Well, but, Billy, you are not serious in this ? you don't think there is any danger of death? Button. As to the matter of death, the Doc. tor knows better than I, because why, that lies in his way: But I shall never forget Colonel Crazy, one of the best customers that ever 'I had; I never think of him without dropping a tear. had; Flint. Why? what was the matter with him? Button. Married Lady Barbary Bonnie, as it might be about midnight on Monday Flint. Well ! Button. But never more saw the sweet face of the fun. Flint. What! did he die ? Button. Within an hour after throwing the stocking Flint. Good Lord ! that was dreadful indeed! Of what age might he be ? Button. About your time of life. Flint. That is vastly alarming. Lord bless me, Bill, I am all of a tremble ! Button. Ay, truly, it behoves your honour to consider what you are about. Flint. True. Button. Then, what a world of money must go! running forwards and backwards to town, and jaunting to see all the fine lights in the place Flint. I sha'n't take her to many of them : perhaps I may shew her the Parliament-house, the plays, and Boodles, and Bedlam, and my Lord-Mayor, and the lions. Button. And then the vast heap of fine cloaths you must make Flint. What occasion for that ? Button. As you ar'n't known, there is no doing without; because why, every body passes there for what they appears. Flint. Right, Billy; but I believe I have found out a way to do that pretty cheap. Button. Which way may be that? |