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LADY PLYANT。 Oh； you have conquered； sweet； melting； moving
sir； you have conquered。 What heart of marble can refrain to weep； and
yield to such sad sayings！ ＇Cries。＇
CARE。 I thank Heaven； they are the saddest that I ever said。 Oh！ （I
shall never contain laughter。） ＇Aside。＇
LADY PLYANT。 Oh； I yield myself all up to your uncontrollable
embraces。 Say； thou dear dying man； when； where； and how。 Ah；
there's Sir Paul。
CARE。 'Slife； yonder's Sir Paul； but if he were not come； I'm so
transported I cannot speak。 This note will inform you。 ＇Gives her a
note。＇
SCENE III。
LADY PLYANT； SIR PAUL； CYNTHIA。
SIR PAUL。 Thou art my tender lambkin； and shalt do what thou wilt。
But endeavour to forget this Mellefont。
CYNT。 I would obey you to my power； sir； but if I have not him； I
have sworn never to marry。
SIR PAUL。 Never to marry！ Heavens forbid！ must I neither have
sons nor grandsons？ Must the family of the Plyants be utterly extinct for
want of issue male？ O impiety！ But did you swear； did that sweet
creature swear？ ha！ How durst you swear without my consent； ah？
Gads…bud； who am I？
CYNT。 Pray don't be angry； sir； when I swore I had your consent；
and therefore I swore。
SIR PAUL。 Why then the revoking my consent does annul； or make
of none effect your oath； so you may unswear it again。 The law will
allow it。
CYNT。 Ay； but my conscience never will。
SIR PAUL。 Gads…bud； no matter for that； conscience and law never
go together； you must not expect that。
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LADY PLYANT。 Ay； but； Sir Paul； I conceive if she has sworn； d'ye
mark me； if she has once sworn； it is most unchristian； inhuman； and
obscene that she should break it。 I'll make up the match again； because
Mr。 Careless said it would oblige him。 ＇Aside。＇
SIR PAUL。 Does your ladyship conceive so？ Why； I was of that
opinion once too。 Nay； if your ladyship conceives so； I'm of that opinion
again； but I can neither find my lord nor my lady to know what they
intend。
LADY PLYANT。 I'm satisfied that my cousin Mellefont has been
much wronged。
CYNT。 ＇Aside。＇ I'm amazed to find her of our side； for I'm sure she
loved him。
LADY PLYANT。 I know my Lady Touchwood has no kindness for
him； and besides I have been informed by Mr。 Careless； that Mellefont had
never anything more than a profound respect。 That he has owned himself
to be my admirer 'tis true； but he was never so presumptuous to entertain
any dishonourable notions of things； so that if this be made plain； I don't
see how my daughter can in conscience； or honour； or anything in the
world …
SIR PAUL。 Indeed if this be made plain； as my lady； your mother；
says； child …
LADY PLYANT。 Plain！ I was informed of it by Mr。 Careless。
And I assure you； Mr。 Careless is a person that has a most extraordinary
respect and honour for you； Sir Paul。
CYNT。 ＇Aside。＇ And for your ladyship too； I believe； or else you
had not changed sides so soon； now I begin to find it。
SIR PAUL。 I am much obliged to Mr。 Careless really； he is a person
that I have a great value for； not only for that； but because he has a great
veneration for your ladyship。
LADY PLYANT。 O las； no indeed； Sir Paul； 'tis upon your account。
SIR PAUL。 No； I protest and vow； I have no title to his esteem； but
in having the honour to appertain in some measure to your ladyship； that's
all。
LADY PLYANT。 O law now； I swear and declare it shan't be so；
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you're too modest； Sir Paul。
SIR PAUL。 It becomes me； when there is any comparison made
between …
LADY PLYANT。 O fie； fie； Sir Paul； you'll put me out of
countenance。 Your very obedient and affectionate wife； that's all。 And
highly honoured in that title。
SIR PAUL。 Gads…bud； I am transported！ Give me leave to kiss
your ladyship's hand。
CYNT。 That my poor father should be so very silly！ ＇Aside。＇
LADY PLYANT。 My lip indeed； Sir Paul； I swear you shall。 ＇He
kisses her； and bows very low。＇
SIR PAUL。 I humbly thank your ladyship。 I don't know whether I
fly on ground； or walk in air。 Gads…bud； she was never thus before。 Well；
I must own myself the most beholden to Mr。 Careless。 As sure as can be；
this is all his doing； something that he has said； well； 'tis a rare thing to
have an ingenious friend。 Well； your ladyship is of opinion that the
match may go forward。
LADY PLYANT。 By all means。 Mr。 Careless has satisfied me of
the matter。
SIR PAUL。 Well； why then； lamb； you may keep your oath； but have
a care about making rash vows； come hither to me； and kiss papa。
LADY PLYANT。 I swear and declare； I am in such a twitter to read
Mr。 Careless his letter； that I can't forbear any longer。 But though I may
read all letters first by prerogative； yet I'll be sure to be unsuspected this
time； Sir Paul。
SIR PAUL。 Did your ladyship call？
LADY PLYANT。 Nay； not to interrupt you； my dear。 Only lend me
your letter； which you had from your steward to…day； I would look upon
the account again； and may be increase your allowance。
SIR PAUL。 There it is； madam； do you want a pen and ink？ ＇Bows
and gives the letter。＇
LADY PLYANT。 No； no； nothing else； I thank you； Sir Paul。 So；
now I can read my own letter under the cover of his。 ＇Aside。＇
SIR PAUL。 He？ And wilt thou bring a grandson at nine months
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end he？ A brave chopping boy。 I'll settle a thousand pound a year
upo