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Flint. You have feen the minifter that's come down to tack us together

Button. I have: Is he a fine man in the pulpit?

Flint. He don't care much to meddle with that; but he is a prodigious patriot, and a great politician to boot.

Button. Indeed?

Flint. And he has left behind him, at Paris, a choice collection of curious rich cloaths, which he has promised to fell me a pennorth.

Poul. Pho! what Billy talks of are trifles to the evils you are to expect: To have a young girl break in upon all your old ways; your afternoon's nap interrupted, and perhaps not fuffered to take your pipe of a night

Flint. No?

Poul. All your former friends forbidden your house

Flint. The fewer comes in, the less will go out: I fha'n't be very forry for that.

Poul. To make room for her own numerous clan-

Flint. Not a foul of them fhall enter the doors.

Poul. A brood of babes at your board, whofe fathers fhe herself won't find it easy to nameFlint. To prevent that, I'll lock her up in a

room.

Poul. The King's-Bench will break open the door.

Flint. Then I'll turn her out of the house. Poul. Then her debts will throw you into a gaol.

Flint. Who told you fo?
Poul. A dozen of proctors.

Flint. Then I will hang myself out of the

way.

Poul. So fhe will become poffeffed of her jointure, and her creditors foreclofe your estate. Flint. What a miferable poor toad is a huf band, whofe misfortunes not even death can relieve!

Button. Think of that, 'Squire, before it be too late.

Flint. Well, but, friends, neighbours, what the deuce can I do? Are you all of a mind?

De far. All, all; dere is no queftion at all. What, a garçon of your antient famille, to take up with a pauvre petite bourgoife a?

Plint. Does that never happen in France?

De far. Never, but when Monfieur de Baron is very great beggar, and de bourgoife has damn'd deal de guinea.

Poul. That is none of our case.

Flint. No, no.-Mynheer, do your people never make up fuch matches?

Sour-Cr. Never, never: What! a German dishonour his stock! Why, Mefter Flint, should Mistress Linnet bring you de children for de ten generations to come, they could not be chofe de Canons de Stratfbourg.

Flint. No?

Poul. So, 'Squire, take it which way you will, what dreadful danger you run!

Flint. I do.

Poul. Lofs of friends-

Button. Pipe and afternoon's nap

Sour-Cr. Your famille gone to de dogs-
De Jar. Your peace of mind to de devil-

Poul. Your health

Button. Your wealth

Poul.

Poul. Plate, money, and manors

All. Your

Flint. Enough, dear neighbours, enough! I feel it, I feel it too well! Lord have mercy, what a miferable scrape am I in! And here too, not an hour ago, it coft me the Lord knows what in making her prefents.

Poul. Never mind that; you had better part with half you are worth in the world.

Flint. True, true,-Well, then, I'll

break off all matters this minute.

Poul. The wifeft thing you can do.
Button. The fooner the better.

go and

Flint. No doubt, no doubt in the-And yet, Button, she is a vast pretty girl: I should be heartily forry to lofe her. Doft think one could not get her on eafier terms than on marriage?

Button. It is but trying, however.

Flint. To tell truth, Billy, I have always had that in my head; and, at all events, I have thought of a project that will answer my purpose.

Button. Ay, Squire! what is it?

Flint. No matter.-And, do you hear, Billy? fhould I get her confent, if you will take her off my hands, and marry her when I begin to grow tired, I'll fettle ten pounds a-year upon you,' for both your lives.

Button. Without paying the taxes?

Flint. That matter we will talk of hereafter.

[Exit. Poul. So, fo! we have fettled this bufiness, however.

Button. No more thoughts of his taking a

Poul.

Poul. He would fooner be tied to a gibbet. But, Billy, ftep after him (they will let you in at Sir Chriftopher Cripple's) and bring us, Bill, a faithful account.

Button. I will, I will. But where shall you be? Poul. Above, in the Phoenix; we won't stir out of the house. But be very exact!

Button. Never fear.

A Chamber.

Mifs Linnet alone.

[Exeunt.

Mifs Lin. Heigh-ho! what a facrifice am I going to make! but it is the will of those who have a right to all my obedience; and to that I will fubmit.-[Loud knocking at the door.] Blefs me! who can that be at this time of night?Our friends may err; and projects, the most prudentially pointed, may mifs of their aim: But age and experience demand respect and attention, and the undoubted kindness of our parents' defigns claims, on our part, at least a grateful and ready compliance.

Enter Nancy.

Mifs Lin. Nancy, who was that at the door? Nancy. Mr. Flint, Mifs, begs the favour of speaking five words to you.

Mifs Lin. I was in hopes to have had this night at least to myself.-Where is my mother? Nancy. In the next room, with Lady Ca tharine, confulting about your cloaths for the morning.

go.

Mifs Lin. He is here.-Very well; you may [Exit Nancy.

Enter

Enter Flint.

Flint. She is alone, as I wifhed.-Mifs, I beg pardon for intruding at this time of night: But

Mifs Lin. Sir!

Flint. You can't wonder that I defire to enjoy your good company every minute I can.

Mifs Lin. Thofe minutes a fhort space will place, Mr. Flint, in your power: If 'till then you had permitted me to

Flint. Right. But to fay truth, I wanted to have a little ferus talk with you of how and about it. I think, Mifs, you agree, if we marry, to go off to the country directly.

Mifs Lin. If we marry? is it then a matter of doubt?

Flint. Why, I will tell you, Mifs: With regard to myself, you know, I am one of the moft antienteft families in all the country round

Mifs Lin. Without doubt.

Flint. And as to money and lands, in these parts, I believe, few people can match me. Mifs Lin. Perhaps not.

Flint. And as to yourself, (I don't speak in a difparaging way) your friends are low folks, and your fortune juft nothing at all.

Mifs Lin. True, Sir: But this is no new dif covery; you have known this

Flint. Hear me out. Now as I bring all thefe good things on my fide, and you have nothing to give me in return but your love, I ought to be pretty fure of the poffeffion of that. Mifs Lin. I hope the properly discharging all

the

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