Chapter 2

_Luck_. Discharge all your ill-nature on me, madam, but spare poor Miss Harriot.

_Money_. Oh! then it is plain. I have suspected your familiarity a long while. You are a base man. Is it not enough to stay three months in my house without paying me a farthing, but you must ruin my child?

_Luck_. I love her as my soul. Had I the world I'd give it her all.

_Money_. But, as you happen to have nothing in the world, I desire you would have nothing to say to her. I suppose you would have settled all your castles in the air. Oh! I wish you had lived in one of them, instead of my house. Well, I am resolved, when you have gone away (which I heartily hope will be very soon) I'll hang over my door in great red letters, "No lodgings for poets." Sure never was such a guest as you have been. My floor is all spoiled with ink, my windows with verses, and my door has been almost beat down with duns.

_Luck_. Would your house had been beaten down, and everything but my dear Harriot crushed under it!

_Money_. Sir, sir----

_Luck_. Madam, madam! I will attack you at your own weapons; I will pay you in your own coin.

_Money_. I wish you'd pay me in any coin, sir.

_Luck_. Look ye, madam, I'll do as much as a reasonable woman can require; I'll shew you all I have; and give you all I have too, if you please to accept it. [_Turns his pockets Inside out_.

_Money_. I will not be used in this manner. No, sir, I will be paid, if there be any such thing as law.

_Luck_. By what law you will put money into my pocket I know not; for I never heard of any one who got money by the law but the lawyers. I have told you already, and I tell you again, that the first money I get shall be yours; and I have great expectations from my play. In the mean time your staying here can be of no service, and you may possibly drive some line thoughts out of my head. I would write a love scene, and your daughter would be more proper company, on that occasion, than you.

_Money_. You would act a love-scene, I believe; but I shall prevent you; for I intend to dispose of myself before my daughter.

_Luck_. Dispose of yourself!

_Money_. Yes, sir, dispose of myself. 'Tis very well known that I have had very good offers since my last dear husband died. I might have had an attorney of New Inn, or Mr Fillpot, the exciseman; yes, I had my choice of two parsons, or a doctor of physick; and yet I slighted them all; yes, I slighted them for--for--for you.

_Luck_. For me?

_Money_. Yes, you have seen too visible marks of my passion; too visible for my reputation. [_Sobbing_.

_Luck_. I have heard very loud tokens of your passion; but I rather took it for the passion of anger than of love.

_Money_. Oh! it was love, indeed. Nothing but love, upon my soul!

_Luck_. The devil! This way of dunning is worse than the other.

_Money_. If thou can'st not pay me in money, let me have it in love. If I break through the modesty of my sex let my passion excuse it. I know the world will call it an impudent action; but if you will let me reserve all I have to myself, I will make myself yours for ever.

_Luck_. Toll, loll, loll!

_Money_. And is this the manner you receive my declaration, you poor beggarly fellow? You shall repent this; remember, you shall repent it; remember that. I'll shew you the revenge of an injured woman.

_Luck_. I shall never repent anything that rids me of you, I am sure.