down.

_Mr. D._ [gives her his hand, without looking up]. Good morning.

_Mrs. D._ You are busy.

_Mr. D._ I shall have done in a moment.

_Mrs. D._ I'll leave you.

_Mr. D._ [rising]. It is done now.

_Mrs. D._ You seem angry.

_Mr. D._ No wonder--that man----

_Mrs. D._ Who?

_Mr. D._ My hopeful ward Lewis--as I am not always ready to pay his
debts, he sets the Chancellor upon me.

_Mrs. D._ Again? Very strange.

_Mr. D._ I am continually pestered with applications for the payment.

_Mrs. D._ And you----

_Mr. D._ With all due respect for these applications, I'll not pay.

_Mrs. D._ Very well: but----

_Mr. D._ And now this Chancellor sends me a letter, desiring me to
bring him my accounts, as guardian to Lewis this afternoon that he may
overlook them. I'll not do it. [Takes a letter off the table, and gives
it to Mrs. Drave--walks angrily up and down while she reads it--takes
it back]. What do you think of it?

_Mrs. D._ It is unpleasant--but why send a positive refusal?

_Mr. D._ And why not?

_Mrs. D._ The Chancellor is a very powerful man.

_Mr. D._ I do not fear him.

_Mrs. D._ He takes every opportunity to injure us; his hatred is
implacable. What can you oppose to his base intrigues?

_Mr. D._ My heart, and plain dealing.

_Mrs. D._ Do not offend him so sensibly: rather send the accounts.

_Mr. D._ Never! The very sum he now troubles me for is to pay himself.
He lent it to Lewis, through a third person, upon exorbitant interest.

_Mrs. D._ Base enough. But, I repeat it, he is powerful, and will
revenge himself.

[Mr. D. seals the letter, rings the bell.--Enter
a Servant.]

_Mrs. D._ You will have it so. I wish all may be well.

_Mr. D._ [giving the letter to the Servant]. To the Chancellor's.
[Exit Servant.

_Mrs. D._ Had you only done it in a better manner--You may remember
'twas for your rashness he withdrew the L.4000.

_Mr. D._ For my rashness? Oh, no.--To place it out at higher interest
somewhere else.--At such an unseasonable time too--there again--thus to
undermine good houses, that he may have full scope for his unfair
practices.

_Mrs. D._ It may be so--But in regard to Lewis--I wish your behaviour
were different: it may have such unpleasant consequences--for I must
inform you, he seems to have an attachment to Augusta.

_Mr. D._ [surprised]. So?--and Augusta?

_Mrs. D._ She loves him.

_Mr. D._ Merciful God!

_Mrs