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 fcrape 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 go and break off all matters this minute.

Poul. The wifeft thing you can do.

Button. The fooner the better.

Flint. No doubt, no doubt in the-And yet, Button, fhe is a vaft pretty girl: I fhould 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, fol we have fettled this business, 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 ftir 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.] Bless 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 fpeaking 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 Catharine, confulting about your cloaths for the morning.

go.

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

Enter

1

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, go off to the country directly.

to

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

the duties of that condition, which I am shortly to owe to your favour, will give you convincing proofs of my gratitude.

Flint. Your gratitude, Mifs! but we talk of your love! and of that I muft have plain and pofitive proofs.

Mifs Lin. Proofs! of what kind?

Flint. To fteal away directly with me to my lodgings

Mifs Lin. Your lodgings!

Flint. There pass the night; and in the morning, the very minute we rife, we will march away to the Abbey.

Mifs Lin. Sir!

Flint. In fhort, Miss, I must have this token of your love, or not a fyllable more of the marriage.

Mifs Lin. Give me patience!

Flint. Come, Mifs! we have not a moment to lofe; the coaft is clear: Should fomebody come, you will put it out of my power to do what I design.

Mifs Lin. Power? Hands off, Mr. Flint! Power? I promise you, Sir, you fhall never have

me in your power!

Flint. Hear, Mifs!

Mifs Lin. Despicable wretch! From what part of my character could your vanity derive a hope that I would fubmit to your infamous. purpose?

Flint. Don't be in a

Mifs Lin. To put principle out of the queftion, not a creature that had the leaft tincture of pride could fall a victim to fuch a contemptible

Flint. Why, but, Mifs

Mifs Lin.

Mifs. Lin. It is true, in compliance with the earnest request of my friends, I had confented to facrifice my peace to their pleasure: and, though reluctant, would have given you my hand.

Flint. Vaftly well!

Mifs Lin. What motive, but obedience to them, could I have had in forming an union with you? Did you prefume I was ftruck with your perfonal merit, or think the fordidness of mind and manners would tempt me?

your

Flint. Really, Mifs, this is carrying— Mifs Lin. You have wealth, I confefs; but where could have been the advantage to me? As a reward for becoming your drudge, I might perhaps have received a fcanty fubfiftence; for I could hardly fuppofe you would grant the free use of that to your wife, which your meanness had denied to yourself.

Flint. So, fo, fo! By and bye she will alarm the whole house!

Mifs Lin. The whole houfe? the whole town shall be told! Sure, the greateft misfortune that Poverty brings in its train, is the subjecting us to the infults of wretches like this, who have no other merit than what their riches bestow on them.

Flint. What a damnable vixen!

Mifs Lin. Go, Sir! leave the house! I am afhamed you have had the power to move me; and never more let me be fhocked with your fight!

Enter Lady Catharine and Mrs. Linnet. L. Cath. How's aw wi you within?-Gad's mercy, what's the mater wi Mefs? I well hope, E Maifter