[_Aside._

MARIA. You are striving to unravel the mystery, sir.--I am afraid the man
has made some serious mistake.

LOVEYET. No matter,--it could not have come to a more suitable place; for,
now it is here, it shall be yours, if you will consent to a proposal I have
to make to you; for I have discovered it to be my property, after all.

MARIA. If I can with propriety consent to anything you may propose, I will,
sir;--but I hope you do not think either your or your son's _money_ will
tempt me.

LOVEYET. No, madam,--that is to say, I dare say it will not tempt you to
do anything that is wrong;--but money is a tempting thing too,--though
not quite so tempting as Miss Maria.--Hem, hem.--There was a delicate
compliment for her! [_Aside._

MARIA. Mercy on me! What can the ugly old mortal mean! It cannot be
possible he would have the vanity to propose his odious self.
[_Aside._

LOVEYET. You must know, madam, my son has lately arrived from the
West-Indies--

MARIA. Really?--You rejoice me, sir.--Happy, happy Harriet!

LOVEYET. Not so happy as you imagine, madam; for she is not to have my son,
I assure you; I intend a lady of greater beauty and merit for him, who is
not very far from me now,--provided she and her father have no
objection.--There I put it home to her [_Aside._]. Ugh, ugh.

MARIA. I fear there is something in this rumour about Harriet.
[_Aside._

LOVEYET. Come, shall it be so, eigh?--Well, silence gives consent.--I know
you can't have any particular objection. I must have you for a--Ugh, ugh,
uh.

MARIA. I must humour this joke a little. [_Aside._]--The honour you wish to
confer on me, is so great, Mr. Loveyet, that I want words to express a
suitable acknowledgment;--but what will the world say, when a gentleman of
Mr. Loveyet's sedateness and experience stoops to a giddy girl like me?

LOVEYET. By my body, she thinks I want to have her myself.--Why, what a
lucky young dog I am! I wish old Trueman was here now;--'ods my heart, and
my life, and my--ugh, ugh,--but I must talk the matter over coolly with
her. Hem, hem. [_Aside._]--Oh, you dear little charming, angelic
creature;--I love you so much, I cou'd find in my heart to--'Zounds! I
cou'd eat you up.--By my body, but you must g