is._ Let him stop at the Red Cow, as plump as a porker, and
you'd send him away, in a week, like a weasel.--Bite maccaroony, my
darling! [_Offering the Plate to MARY._

_Mary._ I thank you.

_Dennis._ 'Faith, no merit of mine; 'twas the butler that stole
it:--take some. [_Lets the Plate fall._] Slips by St. Patrick!

_Mrs. Brul._ [_Screaming._] Our best china plate broke all to
shivers!

_Dennis._ Delf, you deceiver; delf. The cat's dining dish, rivetted.

_Mary._ Pray now, let me hear your news.

_Dennis._ That I will.--Mrs. Brulgruddery, I take the small liberty
of begging you to get out, my lambkin.

_Mrs. Brul._ I shan't budge an inch. She needn't be asham'd of any
thing that's to be told, if she's what she should be.

_Mary._ I know what I should be, if I were in your place.

_Mrs. Brul._ Marry come up! And what should you be then?

_Mary._ More compassionate to one of my own sex, or to any one in
misfortune. Had you come to me, almost broken hearted, and not
looking like one quite abandoned to wickedness, I should have
thought on your misery, and forgot that it might have been brought
on by your faults.

_Dennis._ At her, my little crature! By my soul, she'll bother the
ould one!--'Faith, the Madeira has done her a deal of service!

_Mrs. Brul._ What's to be said, is said before _me_; and that's
flat.

_Mary._ Do tell it, then, [_To DENNIS._] but, for others' sakes,
don't mention names. I wish to hide nothing now, on my own account;
though the money that was put down for me, before you would afford
me shelter, I thought might have given me a little more title to
hear a private message.

_Mrs. Brul._ I've a character, for virtue, to lose, young woman.

_Dennis._ When that's gone, you'll get another--that's of a damn'd
impertinent landlady. Sure, she has a right to her parlour; and
hav'n't I brought her cash enough to swallow up the Red Cow's rent
for these two years?

_Mrs. Brul._ Have you!--Well, though the young lady misunderstands
me, it's always my endeavour to be respectful to gentlefolks.

_Dennis._ Och, botheration to the respect that's bought, by knocking
one shilling against another, at an inn! Let the heart keep open
house, I say; and if charity is not seated inside of it, like a
beautiful barmaid, it's all a humbug to stick up the sign of the
christian.

_Mrs. Brul._ I'm sure Miss shall have any thing she likes, poor dear
thing! There's one chicken--