SCENE I.--SEALAND'S _House.

_Enter_ PHILLIS, _with lights, before_ MYRTLE, _disguised like old_ SIR GEOFFRY; _supported by_ MRS. SEALAND, LUCINDA, _and_ CIMBERTON.

_Mrs. Seal._ Now I have seen you thus far, Sir Geoffry, will you excuse me a moment while I give my necessary orders for your accommodation? [_Exit_ MRS. SEAL.

_Myrt._ I have not seen you, cousin Cimberton, since you were ten years old; and as it is incumbent on you to keep up our name and family, I shall, upon very reasonable terms, join with you in a settlement to that purpose. Though I must tell you, cousin, this is the first merchant that has married into our house.

_Luc._ Deuce on 'em! am I a merchant because my father is? [_Aside._

_Myrt._ But is he directly a trader at this time?

_Cimb._ There's no hiding the disgrace, sir; he trades to all parts of the world.

_Myrt._ We never had one of our family before who descended from persons that did anything.

_Cimb._ Sir, since it is a girl that they have, I am, for the honour of my family, willing to take it in again, and to sink her into our name, and no harm done.

_Myrt._ 'Tis prudently and generously resolved--Is this the young thing?

_Cimb._ Yes, sir.

_Phil._ Good madam, don't be out of humour, but let them run to the utmost of their extravagance.--Hear them out. [_To_ LUC.

_Myrt._ Can't I see her nearer? My eyes are but weak.

_Phil._ Beside, I am sure the uncle has something worth your notice. I'll take care to get off the young one, and leave you to observe what may be wrought out of the old one for your good. [_To_ LUC. _Exit._

_Cimb._ Madam, this old gentleman, your great uncle, desires to be introduced to you, and to see you nearer!--Approach, sir.

_Myrt._ By your leave, young lady. [_Puts on spectacles._]--Cousin Cimberton! She has exactly that sort of neck and bosom for which my sister Gertrude was so much admired in the year sixty-one, before the French dresses first discovered anything in women below the chin.

_Luc._ [_Aside._] What a very odd situation am I in! though I cannot but be diverted at the extravagance of their humours, equally unsuitable to their age--Chin, quotha--I don't believe my passionate lover there knows whether I have one or not. Ha! ha!

_Myrt._ Madam, I would not willingly offend, but I have a better glass. [_Pulls out a large one._

_Enter_ PHILLIS.

_Phil._ [_To_ CIMBERTON.] Sir, my lady desires to show the apartment to you that she intends for Sir Geoffry.

_Cimb._ Well, sir! by that time you will have sufficiently gazed and sunned yourself in the beauties of my spouse there.--I will wait on you again. [_Exit_ CIMB. _and_ PHIL.

_Myrt._ Were it not, madam, that I might be troublesome, there is something of importance, though we are alone, which I would say more safe from being heard.

_Luc._ There is something in this old fellow, methinks, that raises my curiosity. [_Aside._

_Myrt._ To be free, madam, I as heartily contemn this kinsman of mine as you do, and am sorry to see so much beauty and merit devoted by your parents to so insensible a possessor.

_Luc._ Surprising!--I hope, then, sir, you will not contribute to the wrong you are so generous as to pity, whatever may be the interest of your family.

_Myrt._ This hand of mine shall never be employed to sign anything against your good and happiness.

_Luc._ I am sorry, sir, it is not in my power to make you proper acknowledgments; but there is a gentleman in the world whose gratitude will, I am sure, be worthy of the favour.

_Myrt._ All the thanks I desire, madam, are in your power to give.

_Luc._ Name them and command them.

_Myrt._ Only, madam, that the first time you are alone with your lover, you will, with open arms, receive him.

_Luc._ As willingly as his heart could wish it.

_Myrt._ Thus, then, he claims your promise. O Lucinda!

_Luc._ Oh! a cheat! a cheat! a cheat!

_Myrt._ Hush! 'tis I, 'tis I, your lover, Myrtle himself, madam.

_Luc._ O bless me! what a rashness and folly to surprise me so--But hush--my mother.

_Enter_ MRS. SEALAND, CIMBERTON, _and_ PHILLIS.

_Mrs. Seal._ How now! what's the matter?

_Luc._ O madam! as soon as you left the room my uncle fell into a sudden fit, and--and--so I cried out for help to support him and conduct him to his chamber.

_Mrs. Seal._ That was kindly done! Alas! sir, how do you find yourself?

_Myrt._ Never was taken in so odd a way in my life--pray lead me! Oh! I was talking here--(pray carry me)--to my cousin Cimberton's young lady.

_Mrs. Seal._ [_Aside._] My cousin Cimberton's young lady! How zealous he is, even in his extremity, for the match! A right Cimberton. [CIMBERTON _and_ LUCINDA _lead him, as one in pain._

_Cimb._ Pox! Uncle, you will pull my ear off.

_Luc._ Pray, uncle! you will squeeze me to death.

_Mrs. Seal._ No matter, no matter--he knows not what he does.--Come, sir, shall I help you out?

_Myrt._ By no means! I'll trouble nobody but my young cousins here. [_They lead him off._

_Phil._ But pray, madam, does your ladyship intend that Mr. Cimberton shall really marry my young mistress at last? I don't think he likes her.

_Mrs. Seal._ That's not material! Men of his speculation are above desires--but be as it may. Now I have given old Sir Geoffry the trouble of coming up to sign and seal, with what countenance can I be off?

_Phil._ As well as with twenty others, madam. It is the glory and honour of a great fortune to live in continual treaties, and still to break off: it looks great, madam.

_Mrs. Seal._ True, Phillis--yet to return our blood again into the Cimbertons is an honour not to be rejected--But were not you saying that Sir John Bevil's creature, Humphry, has been with Mr. Sealand?

_Phil._ Yes, madam; I overheard them agree that Mr. Sealand should go himself and visit this unknown lady that Mr. Bevil is so great with; and if he found nothing there to fright him, that Mr. Bevil should still marry my young mistress.

_Mrs. Seal._ How! nay, then, he shall find she is my daughter as well as his. I'll follow him this instant, and take the whole family along with me. The disputed power of disposing of my own daughter shall be at an end this very night. I'll live no longer in anxiety for a little hussy that hurts my appearance wherever I carry her: and for whose sake I seem to be at all regarded, and that in the best of my days.

_Phil._ Indeed, madam, if she were married, your ladyship might very well be taken for Mr. Sealand's daughter.

_Mrs. Seal._ Nay, when the chit has not been with me, I have heard the men say as much. I'll no longer cut off the greatest pleasure of a woman's life (the shining in assemblies) by her forward anticipation of the respect that's due to her superior. She shall down to Cimberton-Hall--she shall--she shall.

_Phil._ I hope, madam, I shall stay with your ladyship.

_Mrs. Seal._ Thou shalt, Phillis, and I'll place thee then more about me--But order chairs immediately; I'll be gone this minute. [_Exeunt._