abroad for, but to tell me stories when you came home. Young Ken. You sent me abroad, Sir, to learn to be a fine gentleman, and to teach me to despise clownish fellows. Val. Come, Sir Gregory, perhaps the young gentleman will be more open over a bottle; what say you? Sir Greg. You know I never flinch from a bottle; and we will have some stories after a glass. Well, Greg, you know what I came to town about, and this gentleman will assist us; he will recommend a wife to you. Young Ken. I am this gentleman's very humble servant; but I want none of his assistance. There is a lady whom I knew before I went abroad, and saw again last night with another young lady at the play, and mortblue if I marry any other woman. Sir Greg. How! sirrah. Young Ken. Pray, dear old gentleman, don't put on that grum look rat me, do you think I have made the tour of Europe to be snubb'd by an English father, when I came home again? Sir Greg. Sirrah, I'll beat the tour of Europe out of you again: have I made you a fine gentleman, in order to despise your father's authority! Val. Pray, Sir Gregory—— you; Sir Greg. Sirrah, I'll disinherit I'll send your brother Will a travelling, and make Frank a parliament man in your room. Young Ken. A fig for your disinheriting! it is not in your power; if I can but get this girl, I'll marry her, and carry her back to France. There is as good English company at Boulogne, as I ever desire to crack a bottle with what do you take me for? a boy! and that you are to make me do what you please, as you did before I went abroad; Diable! do you think to use me as you do brother Frank, who is but your whipper-in? mortblue, I have been hunting with the King of France. Sir Greg. If you have been hunting with the devil, I'll make you know I am your father; and, though you are a fine gentleman, the same pains will make your brother Will as fine a gentleman to the full. Val. Pray, Sir, consider; don't disoblige your father. Come, Sir Gregory, I have order'd a bottle of wine within; let us go and talk over that matter; I dare say I shall bring the young gentleman to reason; come, pray walk in. Sir Greg. He shall obey me, or Young Ken. I have travell'd to a fine purpose, truly. SCENE, BONCOUR's House. Enter BONCOUR and YOUNG BONCOUR. [Exeunt. Young Bonc. Though the articles are a little unreasonable, if you had any compassion or love for your children, who you know have plac'd their hearts on the match, you would comply. Bonc. My children are ungrateful, if they upbraid me with want of affection: but this is a mere trick, a poor scheme of Mr. Valence's, to take advantage of your passions, and my indulgence. Young Bonc. So, we are sacrificed to contention 'twixt our fathers for the superiority of understanding. Bonc. You injure me, son; the low dirty reputation of cunning I scorn and detest. Enter MRS. BONCOUR. Mrs. Bonc. So, Sir, I hear there are marriages going on in the family, which I was not to be acquainted with. Bonc. Pardon me, my dear; I intended to have acquainted you, and should before, but for a particular reason. Mrs. Bonc. What reason, pray ? Bonc. You need not concern yourself. Mrs. Bonc. Indeed! not concern myself! who am I? have not I an equal concern; aye, and a superior one? Bonc. But hear me, Madam. Mrs. Bonc. No, I won't hear any thing said for the match; it is below them in family and fortune both. Bonc. I do not intend Mrs. Bonc. I don't care what you intend; you may keep your reasons to yourself, if you please; but, as for the double marriage, I will have no such thing; all your plots shan't compass it. Bonc. I tell you it is broke off-there is to be no match. Mrs. Bonc. How, no match! and pray what was the reason you kept it a secret from me? Bonc. Ma'am! Mrs. Bonc. So; I am nobody in the house; matches are made and unmade, and I know nothing of the matter. And why do you break it off? Bonc. Because his demands were monstrous-exorbitant beyond credibility. Mrs. Bonc. And pray what was the reason you kept it a secret from me? nay, I will know-I am resolved I will know-won't you tell me?—you are a barbarous man, and have not the least affection for me in the world (crying). Enter MISS BONCOUR. Miss Bonc. Bless me, Madam, what is the matter? Mrs. Bonc. Nothing extraordinary; your father has behaved to me like a monster. Miss Bonc. La, Sir, how can you vex my mamma in this manner! Bonc. So she for whom I suffer'd all this, is the first to accuse me. Mrs. Bonc. It seems you are to be married without my knowledge. Miss Bonc. Married, Madam! to whom, pray ? Mrs. Bonc. Nay, I don't know whether it is to be so now; for the same wise head that made the match, has, it seems, broke it off again. Bonc. Yes, child; Mr. Valence hath been pleas'd, from my easy behaviour to him, to use me in such a manner, and insist upon such terms, that I can't, either consistently with common sense or honour, comply with; now, my dear, you see I do not keep all secrets from you, examine them yourself. Miss Bonc. (Aside) So, so, so! after my affections are engag'd, they are to be baulked, it seems: but there shall go two words to that bargain. Mrs. Bonc. I can't see any thing so unreasonable in his demands: if the match was otherwise good, I should not have broken it off on this account. Bonc. What! would you subvert the order of nature, and change places with your children? would you depend on their duty and gratitude for your bread; and give way to the exorbitant demands of a man, who has made them for no other reason, but because I offered him more than he expected, or could have hoped for? Mrs. Bonc. I say his demands are for the advantage of our children, and truly if I can submit to them, you, Mr. Boncour, may be satisfied. Young Bonc. Nay, then, I think it is a good time for me to appear: O, Madam, eternal blessings on your goodness, which it shall be the business of my life to deserve; O cease not till you have prevailed on his obdurate heart to relent. Miss Bonc. I must second my brother-Have pity on him, dear mamma! see how he trembles, his lips are pale, his voice falters! O consider what he suffers with the apprehension of losing the woman he loves; though my father's cruel heart is deaf to all his sufferings, you are all goodness, all tenderness; you, I know, will not bear to see him miserable! Mrs. Bonc. Why do you address yourself to me? there stands the good man, who wisely contriv'd this match, and then with so much resolution broke it off. Young Bonc. My passion, till you encouraged it, was governable-'Twas you, Sir, who bid me hope, who cherish'd my young love; and, though the modesty of her sex may make her backward to own it, my sister's heart is as deeply concern'd as mine. Miss Bonc. Thank you, brother, but never mind me: -I had my father's command to give my promise, and I must not obey him if he commands me to break it. Young Bonc. (Takes hold of his sleeve.) Sir, I beseech you Miss Bonc. (Takes hold of the other.) Dear papa— Mrs. Bonc. And for what reason was this secret kept from me? Miss Bonc. When he hath put it into his children's heads Young Bonc. When their whole happiness is at stake. -Then it is into a family of so good a character▬▬ Mrs. Bonc. I must take my children's parts, and you shall consent, or never Miss Bonc. I'll never let go your hand- |