Fanny. Oh, Lord, your honour-[Mervin kisses her.] Pray don't-kiss me again. Nervin. Again, and again-There's a thought come into my head.—Theodosia will certainly have no objection to putting on the dress of a sister of mine. So, and so only, we might escape to-nightThis girl, for a little money, will provide us with necessaries. Funny. Dear gracious! I warrant you, now, I am as red as my petticoat: why would you royster and touzle one so ?-If Ralph was to see you, he'd be as jealous as the vengeance ! Mervin. Hang Ralph! Never mind him. There's a guinea for thee. Fanny. What! a golden guinea ? Mervin. Yes; and if thou art a good girl, and do as I desire thee, thou shalt have twenty. Fanny. Ay, but not all gold? Fanny. Precious heart !-He's a sweet gentleman! Icod, I have a great mind Mervin. What art thou thinking about? Fanny. I don't know what I am thinking about, not I-Ha! ha! ha!-Twenty guineas ! Meroin. I tell thee thou shalt have them. Fanny. Ha ! ha! ha!-Why, then, I'll do whatever your honour pleases. Mervin, Stay here a little, to see that all keeps quiet: you'll find me. presently at the mill, where we'll talk farther, AIR. Yes, 'lis decreed, thou maid divine. I must, I will, possess thee: To kiss and call thee mine! Why should we dally; Stand shilly-shally? Love will attend us ; Love will befriend us ; [Exit. Enter RALPH. Fanny. What a dear, kind soul he is!--Here comes Ralph I can tell him, unless he makes me his lawful wife, as he has often said he would, the devil a word more shall he speak to me! Ralph. So, Fan, where's the gentleman ? Fanny. How should I know where he is ?-what do you ask me for? Ralph. There's no harm in putting a civil question, be there? Why you look as cross and ill-natured Fanny. Well, mayhap I do, and mayhap I have wherewithal for it. Ralph. Why, has the gentleman offered any thing uncivil ?-'Ecod, I'd try a bout as soon as look at him. Fanny. He offer !-no, he's a gentleman, every inch of him : but you are sensible, Ralph, you have been promising me, a great while, this, and that, and t'other; and, when all comes to all, I don't see but you are like the rest of them. Ralph. Why, what is it I have promised ? Funny. To marry me in the church, you have, a hundred times. Ralph. Well, and mayhap I will, if you'll have patience. Fanny. Patience me no patience; you may do it now if you please Ralph. Well, but suppose I don't please; I tell you, Fan, you're a fool, and want to quarrel with your bread and butter; I have had anger enow from feyther already, upon your account, and you want me to come by more--As I said, if you have patience, mayhap things may fall out, and mayhap not. Fanny. With all my heart then; and, now I know your mind, you may go hang yourself. Ralph. Ay, ay ! Ralph. Well, and who cares for you, an you go to that? Fanny. A menial feller! Go, mind your mill and your drudgery ; I don't think you worthy to wipe my shoes,-feller! Ralph. Nay, but Fan, keep a civil tongue in your head-Odds flesh! I would fain know what fly bites all of a sudden now. Fanny. Marry come up! the best gentlemen's sons in the country have made me proffers; and if one is a miss, be a miss to a gentleman, I say, that will give one fine clothes, and take one to see the show, and put money in one's pocket. Ralph. Whu-whu-[Fanny hits him a Slap.] What's that for? Funny. What do you whistle for then? Do you think I am a dog? Ralph. Never trust me, Fan, if I have not a mind to give you, with this switch in my hand here, as good a lacing Fanny. Touch me, if you dare : touch me, and I'll swear my life against you. Ralph. A murrain! with her damn'd little fist as hard as she could draw! · Fanny. Well, it's good enough for you: I'm not necessitated to take up with the impudence of such a low-lived monkey as you are.—A gentleman's my friend, and I can have twenty guineas in my hand, all as good as this is. Ralph. Belike from this Londoner, eh? Fanny. Yes, from him-so you may take your promise of marriage; I don't value it that--[Spits.] and if you speak to me, I'll slap your chops again. AIR. Ļord, sir, you seem mighty uneasy; But I the refusal can bear: . Nor die in a fit of despair. For, sir, for to let you to know, But I have two strings to my bow. (Exit, Ralph. Indeed! Now, I'll be judged by any soul living in the world, if ever there was a viler piece of treachery than this here; there is no such a thing as a true friend upon the face of the globe, and so I have said a hundred times ! A couple of base, deceitfulafter all my love and kindness shown. Well, I'll be revenged; see an I ben't-Master Marvint, that's his name, an he do not sham it: he has come here and disguised unself; whereof 'tis contrary to law so to do: besides I do partly know why he did it; and I'll fish out the whole conjuration, and go up to the castle, and tell every syllable; a sha'n't carry a wench from me, were he twenty times the mon he is, and twenty times to that again, and moreover than so, the first time I meet un, I'll knock un down, tho't 'twas before my lord himself; and he may capias me for it afterwards an he wull. AIR. As they count me such a niny, So to let them rule the roast, They have scored without their host. A trick that's fairly worth two of it, Thought the work as good as done, Was so easy to be won. [Exit. SCENE III. A Room in the Mill; two Chairs, with a Table, and a Tankard of Beer. Enter FAIRFIELD and LORD AIMWORTH. Fair. Oh the goodness, his lordship's honour-you are come into a littered place, my noble sir-the arm-chair-will it please your honour to repose you on this, till a better Lord A. Thank you, Miller, there's no occasion |