LEONT. But, sir, if you will but listen to reason— CROAKER. Come, then produce your reasons. I tell you I'm fixed, determined, so now produce your reasons. When I'm determined I always listen to reason, because it can then do no harm. LEONT. You have alleged that a mutual choice was the first requisite in matrimonial happiness— CROAKER. Well, and you have both of you a mutual choice. She has her choice—to marry you, or lose half her fortune; and you have your choice—to marry her, or pack out of doors without any fortune at all. LEONT. An only son, sir, might expect more indulgence. CROAKER. An only father, sir, might expect more obedience; besides, has not your sister here, that never disobliged me in her life, as good a right as you? He's a sad dog, Livy my dear, and would take all from you. But he shan't, I tell you he shan't, for you shall have your share. OLIVIA. Dear sir, I wish you'd be convinced that I can never be happy in any addition to my fortune, which is taken from his. CROAKER. Well, well, it's a good child; so say no more, but come with me, and we shall see something that will give us a great deal of pleasure, I promise you; old Ruggins, the currycomb maker, lying in state: I'm told he makes a very handsome corpse, and becomes his coffin prodigiously. He was an intimate friend of mine, and these are friendly things we ought to do for each other. [_Exeunt._ ACT II. SCENE.—CROAKER'S _house_. MISS RICHLAND, GARNET. MISS RICH. Olivia not his sister? Olivia not Leontine's sister? You amaze me! GARNET. No more his sister than I am; I had it all from his own servant; I can get anything from that quarter. MISS RICH. But how? Tell me again, Garnet. GARNET. Why madam, as I told you before, instead of going to Lyons to bring home his sister, who has been there with her aunt these ten years he never went further than Paris; there he saw and fell in love with this young lady: by the bye, of a prodigious family. MISS RICH. And brought her home to my guardian, as his daughter. GARNET. Yes, and daughter she will be. If he don't consent to their marriage, they talk of trying what a Scotch parson can do. MISS RICH. Well, I own they have deceived me—And so demurely as Olivia carried it too!—Would you believe it, Garnet, I told her all my secrets; and yet the sly cheat concealed all this from me? GARNET. And, upon my word, madam, I don't much blame her; she was loth to trust one with her secrets, that was so very bad at keeping her own. MISS RICH. But, to add to their deceit, the young gentleman, it seems, pretends to make me serious proposals. My guardian and he are to be here presently, to open the affair in form. You know I am to lose half my fortune if I refuse him. GARNET. Yet what can you do? for being, as you are, in love with Mr. Honeywood, madam—