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for want of issue male？ O impiety！ But did you swear； did that
sweet creature swear？ ha！ How durst you swear without my consent；
ah？ Gads…bud； who am I？
CYNT。 Pray don't be angry； sir； when I swore I had your consent；
and therefore I swore。
SIR PAUL。 Why then the revoking my consent does annul； or make of
none effect your oath； so you may unswear it again。 The law will
allow it。
CYNT。 Ay； but my conscience never will。
SIR PAUL。 Gads…bud； no matter for that； conscience and law never go
together； you must not expect that。
LADY PLYANT。 Ay； but； Sir Paul； I conceive if she has sworn； d'ye
mark me； if she has once sworn； it is most unchristian； inhuman； and
obscene that she should break it。 I'll make up the match again；
because Mr。 Careless said it would oblige him。 ＇Aside。＇
SIR PAUL。 Does your ladyship conceive so？ Why； I was of that
opinion once too。 Nay； if your ladyship conceives so； I'm of that
opinion again； but I can neither find my lord nor my lady to know
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。