Volume Ii Part 62 (1/2)

Sir _Tim_. Alas, poor Soul! Lady, I beg your Pardon. How soft-hearted she is! I am in love; I find already a kind of tickling of I know not what, run frisking through my Veins. [_Aside_.

_Bet_. Ay, Sir, the good Alderman has been dead this twelve-month just, and has left his Daughter here, my Mistress, three thousand Pound a Year.

[_Weeping_.

Sir _Tim_. Three thousand Pound a Year! Yes, yes, I am in love.

[_Aside_.

_Bet_. Besides Money, Plate, and Jewels.

Sir _Tim_. I'll marry her out of hand, [_Aside_.] Alas, I cou'd even weep too; but 'tis in vain. Well, Nephew, you may be gone now; for 'tis not necessary you shou'd be seen here, d'ye see.

[_Pus.h.i.+ng him out_.

_Wild_. You see, Sir, now, what Heaven has done for me; and you have often told me, Sir, when that was kind you wou'd be so. Those Writings, Sir, by which you were so good to make me Heir to all your Estate, you said you wou'd put into my possession, whene'er I made it appear to you I could live without 'em, or bring you a Wife of Fortune home.

Sir _Tim_. And I will keep my word; 'tis time enough.

[_Putting him out_.

_Wild_. I have, 'tis true, been wicked; but I shall now turn from my evil ways, establish my self in the religious City, and enter into the a.s.sociation. There want but these same Writings, Sir, and your good Character of me.

Sir _Tim_. Thou shalt have both, all in good time, Man: Go, go thy ways, and I'll warrant thee for a good Character, go.

_Wild_. Ay, Sir, but the Writings, because I told her, Sir, I was your Heir; nay, forc'd to swear too, before she wou'd believe me.

Sir _Tim_. Alas, alas! how shreudly thou wert put to't!

_Wild_. I told her too, you'd buy a Patent for me; for nothing woos a City-Fortune like the hopes of a Ladys.h.i.+p.

Sir _Tim_. I'm glad of that; that I can settle on her presently.

[_Aside_.

_Wild_. You may please to hint something to her of my G.o.dly Life and Conversation; that I frequent Conventicles, and am drunk no where but at your true Protestant Consults and Clubs, and the like.

Sir _Tim_. Nay, if these will please her, I have her for certain.

[_Aside_.

Go, go, fear not my good word.

_Wild_. But the Writings, Sir--

Sir _Tim_. Am I a Jew, a Turk? Thou shalt have any thing, now I find thee a Lad of Parts, and one that can provide so well for thy Uncle.

[_Aside_.

[_Puts him out, and addresses himself to the Lady_.

_Wild_. Wou'd they were hang'd that trust you, that have but the art of Legerdemain, and can open the j.a.pan-Cabinet in your Bed-chamber, where I know those Writings are kept. Death, what a disappointment's here! I wou'd ha' sworn this Sham had past upon him. [_Aside_.] But, Sir, shall I not have the Writings now?

Sir _Tim_. What, not gone yet! for shame, away; canst thou distrust thy own natural Uncle? Fie, away, _Tom_, away.

_Wild_. A Plague upon your d.a.m.n'd Dissimulation, that never failing Badge of all your Party, there's always mischief at the bottom on't; I know ye all; and Fortune be the Word. When next I see you, Uncle, it shall cost you dearer.