l ask thy pardon!--though I never hold
Communion with thee more!

_Wal_. [After a pause, putting up his sword.]
My sword is sheathed?
Wilt let me take thy hand?

_True_. 'Tis thine, good sir,
And faster than before--A fault confessed
Is a new virtue added to a man!
Yet let me own some blame was mine. A truth
May be too harshly told--but 'tis a theme
I am tender on--I had a sister, sir,
You understand me!--'Twas my happiness
To own her once--I would forget her now!--
I have forgotten!--I know not if she lives!--
Things of such strain as we were speaking of,
Spite of myself, remind me of her!--So!--

_Nev_. Sit down! Let's have more wine.

_Wild_. Not so, good sirs.
Partaking of your hospitality,
I have overlooked good friends I came to visit,
And who have late become sojourners here--
Old country friends and neighbours, and with whom
I e'en take up my quarters. Master Trueworth,
Bear witness for me.

_True_. It is even so.
Sir William Fondlove and his charming daughter.

_Wild_. Ay, neighbour Constance. Charming, does he say?
Yes, neighbour Constance is a charming girl
To those that do not know her. If she plies me
As hard as was her custom in the country,
I should not wonder though, this very day,
I seek the home I quitted for a month! [Aside.]

Good even, gentlemen.

_Hum_. Nay, if you go,
We all break up, and sally forth together.

_Wal_. Be it so--Your hand again, good Master Trueworth!
I am sorry I did pain you.

_True_. It is thine, sir.

[They go out.]

SCENE III.--Sir William Fondlove's House.--A Room.

[Enter SIR WILLIAM FONDLOVE.]

_Sir Wil_. At sixty-two, to be in leading-strings,
Is an old child--and with a daughter, too!
Her mother held me ne'er in check so strait
As she. I must not go but where she likes,
Nor see but whom she likes, do anything
But what she likes!--A slut bare twenty-one!
Nor minces she commands! A brigadier
More coolly doth not give his orders out
Than she! Her waiting-maid is aide-de-camp;
My steward adjutant; my lacqueys serjeants;
That bring me her high pleasure how I march
And counter-march--when I'm on duty--when
I'm off--when suits it not to tell it me
Herself--"Sir William, thus my mistress says!"
As saying it were enough--no will of mine
Consulted! I will marry. Must I serve,
Better a wife, my mistress, than a daughter!
And yet the vixen says, if I do marry,
I'll find she'll rule my wife, as well as me!

[Enter TRUEWORTH