_Dennis._ A chicken!--Fie on your double barbarity! Would you murder
the tough dunghill cock, to choke a customer?--A certain person,
that shall be nameless, will come to you in the course of this day,
either by himself, or by friend, or by handwriting.

_Mary._ And not one word--not one, by letter, now?

_Dennis._ Be asey--won't he be here soon? In the mean time, here's
nineteen guineas, and a seven shilling piece, as a bit of a
postscript.

_Mrs. Brul._ Nineteen guineas and----

_Dennis._ Hold your gab, woman.--Count them, darling!--
[_Putting them on the Table--MARY counts the Money._

_Mrs. Brul._ [_Drawing DENNIS aside._] What have you done with the
rest?

_Dennis._ The rest!

_Mrs. Brul._ Why, have you given her all?

_Dennis._ I'll tell you what, Mrs. Brulgruddery; it's my notion, in
summing up your last accounts, that, when you begin to dot, ould
Nick will carry one; and that's yourself, my lambkin.

_Shuff._ [_Without._] Holo? Red Cow!

_Dennis._ You are call'd, Mrs. Brulgruddery.

_Mrs. Brul._ I, you Irish bear!--Go, and [_Looking towards the
window._]--Jimminy! a traveller on horseback! and the handsomest
gentleman I ever saw in my life. [_Runs out._

_Mary._ Oh, then it must be he!

_Dennis._ No, 'faith, it isn't the young squire.

_Mary._ [_Mournfully._] No!

_Dennis._ There--he's got off the outside of his horse: it's that
flashy spark I saw crossing the court yard, at the big house.--Here
he is.

_Enter TOM SHUFFLETON._

_Shuff._ [_Looking at MARY._] Devilish good-looking girl, upon my
soul! [_Sees DENNIS._] Who's that fellow?

_Dennis._ Welcome to Muckslush Heath, sir.

_Shuff._ Pray, sir, have you any business, here?

_Dennis._ Very little this last week, your honour.

_Shuff._ O, the landlord. Leave the room.

_Dennis._ [_Aside._] Manners! but he's my customer. If he don't
behave himself to the young cratur, I'll bounce in, and thump him
blue. [_Exit._

_Shuff._ [_Looking at MARY._] Shy, but stylish--much elegance, and
no brass: the most extraordinary article that ever belonged to a
brazier.--[_Addressing her._] Don't be alarmed, my dear. Perhaps you
didn't expect a stranger?

_Mary._ No, sir.

_Shuff._ But you expected somebody, I believe, didn't you?

_Mary._ Yes, sir.

_Shuff._ I come from him: here are my credentials. Read that, my
dear little girl, and you'll see