r ages, but as the years are on the side of the
husband, so 'twill be all the better for the wife, in having a matured
preceptor.

RIP.

Beg [pardon],(80) sir; but it strikes me you are only carrying on your
rigs mit me.

DERRIC.

No, on my honour; and, to convince you that I'm in earnest, I have
brought with me a contract, by which our offspring, when of age, are
bound to intermarry, or forfeit their several fortunes. I shall settle
all mine on Herman, and I shall expect you to do the same for your
daughter.

RIP.

Yah! yah! [ech woll](81); I'll give her all [I got](82); all my money;
but she must be [d----d](83) smart if she can find ['em.](84) Take a
drink, [Mr.](85) Burgomaster. [_Drinks._

DERRIC.

Well, here are the two contracts, both binding and legally drawn.

RIP.

Yah! yah! [_Drinks._--DERRIC _gives him the pen._] What you want me to do
mit dis?

DERRIC.

Merely sign your name.

RIP.

Me, [put](86) my name to dat [paper], mitout my old woman knowing?--mine
goot [friend],(87) she would skin me. [_Noise in closet._] [Schat! you
witch!](88)

DERRIC.

But I was about to propose, on condition of your signing the contract,
to let you live rent free, in future.

RIP.

Rent free! I'll sign! but [stop]!(89) my old woman [must] play [old
hob](90) mit me--so put down dat I can break dat contract, if I choose,
in twenty years and a day.--[_Noise._]--[Schat! you witch!](91)

DERRIC.

[_Writing._] As you please.(92) [_Noise._

RIP.

Schat! you witch!(93) [_Drinks._

DERRIC.

Is that a cat, friend Rip? [_Writing._

RIP.

I don't know if it is a cat--but, if it is my dog [Snider],(94) I
wouldn't be in his skin when de old woman comes back.

DERRIC.

There, friend Rip, I have inserted, at your request, this codicil:
"Should the said Rip Van Winkle think fit to annul this contract, within
twenty years and a day, he shall be at full liberty to do so."

RIP.

Yah, yah! [dos] is recht--dat is goot. Now [Mr.](95) Burgomaster, what
you want me to do?

DERRIC.

Sign it!

RIP.

Wass?

DERRIC.

Sign!

RIP.

Give me de [paper](96).--[_Takes it._]--How my head turns
round.--[_Reading._]--"Should the said Rip Van Winkle"--yah, yah! dat is
me.--"Rip Van Winkle--twenty years and a day."--Oh, dat is all
recht.--[_Writing._]--R-i-p V-a-n--[_Noise._]--Schat! you witch!