ogative, yet I'll be sure to be unsuspected
this time, Sir Paul.

SIR PAUL. Did your ladyship call?

LADY PLYANT. Nay, not to interrupt you, my dear. Only lend me your
letter, which you had from your steward to-day; I would look upon the
account again, and may be increase your allowance.

SIR PAUL. There it is, madam, do you want a pen and ink? [_Bows and
gives the letter_.]

LADY PLYANT. No, no, nothing else, I thank you, Sir Paul. So, now I can
read my own letter under the cover of his. [_Aside_.]

SIR PAUL. He? And wilt thou bring a grandson at nine months end--he? A
brave chopping boy. I'll settle a thousand pound a year upon the rogue
as soon as ever he looks me in the face, I will, gads-bud. I'm overjoyed
to think I have any of my family that will bring children into the world.
For I would fain have some resemblance of myself in my posterity, he,
Thy? Can't you contrive that affair, girl? Do, gads-bud, think on thy
old father, heh? Make the young rogue as like as you can.

CYNT. I'm glad to see you so merry, sir.

SIR PAUL. Merry, gads-bud, I'm serious; I'll give thee five hundred
pounds for every inch of him that resembles me; ah, this eye, this left
eye! A thousand pounds for this left eye. This has done execution in
its time, girl; why, thou hast my leer, hussey, just thy father's leer.
Let it be transmitted to the young rogue by the help of imagination; why,
'tis the mark of our family, Thy; our house is distinguished by a
languishing eye, as the house of Austria is by a thick lip. Ah! when I
was of your age, hussey, I would have held fifty to one, I could have
drawn my own picture--gads-bud I could have done--not so much as you,
neither; but--nay, don't blush.

CYNT. I don't blush, sir, for I vow I don't understand.

SIR PAUL. Pshaw, pshaw, you fib, you baggage, you do understand, and you
shall understand; come, don't be so nice. Gads-bud, don't learn after
your mother-in-law my lady here. Marry, heaven forbid that you should
follow her example; that would spoil all indeed. Bless us! if you should
take a vagary and make a rash resolution on your wedding night, to die a
maid, as she did; all were ruined, all my hopes lost. My heart would
break, and my estate would be left to the wide world, he? I hope you are
a better Christian than to think of living a nun, he? Answer me?

CYNT. I'm all obedience, sir, to your commands.

LADY PLYANT. [_Having read the letter_.] O de