ion.

VAN ROUGH

Right, child; very right. A young woman should be very sober when she
is making her choice, but when she has once made it, as you have done,
I don't see why she should not be as merry as a grig; I am sure she has
reason enough to be so. Solomon says that "there is a time to laugh,
and a time to weep." Now, a time for a young woman to laugh is when she
has made sure of a good rich husband. Now, a time to cry, according to
you, Mary, is when she is making choice of him; but I should think that
a young woman's time to cry was when she despaired of getting one.
Why, there was your mother, now: to be sure, when I popp'd the question
to her she did look a little silly; but when she had once looked down
on her apron-strings, as all modest young women us'd to do, and drawled
out ye-s, she was as brisk and as merry as a bee.

MARIA

My honoured mother, Sir, had no motive to melancholy; she married the
man of her choice.

VAN ROUGH

The man of her choice! And pray, Mary, an't you going to marry the man
of your choice--what trumpery notion is this? It is these vile books
[throwing them away]. I'd have you to know, Mary, if you won't make
young Van Dumpling the man of your choice, you shall marry him as the
man of my choice.

MARIA

You terrify me, Sir. Indeed, Sir, I am all submission. My will is
yours.

VAN ROUGH

Why, that is the way your mother us'd to talk. "My will is yours, my
dear Mr. Van Rough, my will is yours"; but she took special care to
have her own way, though, for all that.

MARIA

Do not reflect upon my mother's memory, Sir--

VAN ROUGH

Why not, Mary, why not? She kept me from speaking my mind all her
life, and do you think she shall henpeck me now she is dead too? Come,
come; don't go to sniveling; be a good girl, and mind the main chance.
I'll see you well settled in the world.

MARIA

I do not doubt your love, Sir, and it is my duty to obey you. I will
endeavour to make my duty and inclination go hand in hand.

VAN ROUGH

Well, Well, Mary; do you be a good girl, mind the main chance, and
never mind inclination. Why, do you know that I have been down in the
cellar this very morning to examine a pipe of Madeira which I purchased
the week you were born, and mean to tap on your wedding day?--That pipe
cost me fifty pounds sterling. It was well worth sixty pounds; but I
over-reach'd Ben Bulkhead, the supercargo. I'll tell you the whole
sto