out of it.

D. DIEGO.--But poor Frog, what has he done! On my conscience, if there
be an honest, sincere man in the world, it is that Frog.

MRS. BULL.--I think I need not tell you how much Frog has been obliged
to our family from his childhood; he carries his head high now, but
he had never been the man he is without our help.* Ever since the
commencement of this lawsuit, it has been the business of Hocus, in
sharing out expenses, to plead for Frog. "Poor Frog," says he, "is in
hard circumstances, he has a numerous family, and lives from hand to
mouth; his children don't eat a bit of good victuals from one year's end
to the other, but live upon salt herring, sour curd, and borecole. He
does his utmost, poor fellow, to keep things even in the world, and has
exerted himself beyond his ability in this lawsuit; but he really has
not wherewithal to go on. What signifies this hundred pounds? place it
upon your side of the account; it is a great deal to poor Frog, and a
trifle to you." This has been Hocus's constant language, and I am sure
he has had obligations enough to us to have acted another part.

* Complaints of the House of Commons of the unequal burden
of the war.

D. DIEGO.--No doubt Hocus meant all this for the best, but he is a
tender-hearted, charitable man; Frog is indeed in hard circumstances.

MRS. BULL--Hard circumstances! I swear this is provoking to the last
degree. All the time of the lawsuit, as fast as I have mortgaged, Frog
has purchased: from a plain tradesman, with a shop, warehouse, and a
country hut with a dirty fish-pond at the end of it, he is now grown a
very rich country gentleman, with a noble landed estate, noble palaces,
manors, parks, gardens, and farms, finer than any we were ever master
of.* Is it not strange, when my husband disbursed great sums every
term, Frog should be purchasing some new farm or manor? so that if this
lawsuit lasts, he will be far the richest man in his country. What is
worse than all this, he steals away my customers every day; twelve of
the richest and the best have left my shop by his persuasion, and whom,
to my certain knowledge, he has under bonds never to return again: judge
you if this be neighbourly dealing.

* The Dutch acquisitions in Flanders.

D. DIEGO--Frog is indeed pretty close in his dealings, but very honest:
you are so touchy, and take things so hotly, I am sure there must be
some mistake in this.

MRS. BULL--A plaguy one inde