_Pereg._ Do not trust me. I have brought you a friend, child, in whom, Nature tells us, we ever should confide. _Mary._ What, here, sir? _Pereg._ Yes;--when he hurts you, he must wound himself;--and so suspicious is the human heart become, from the treachery of society, that it wants that security. I will send him to you. [_Exit._ _Mary._ Who can he mean? I know nobody but Mr. Rochdale, that, I think, would come to me. For my poor dear father, when he knows all my crime, will abandon me, as I deserve. _Enter JOB THORNBERRY, at the Door PEREGRINE has gone out at._ _Job._ Mary! [_MARY shrieks and falls, her Father runs to her._] My dear Mary!--Speak to me! _Mary._ [_Recovering._] Don't look kindly on me, my dear father! Leave me; I left you:--but I was almost mad. _Job._ I'll never leave you, till I drop down dead by your side. How could you run away from me, Mary? [_She shrieks._] Come, come, kiss me, and we'll talk of that another time. _Mary._ You hav'n't heard half the story, or I'm sure you'd never forgive me. _Job._ Never mind the story now, Mary;--'tis a true story that you're my child, and that's enough for the present. I hear you have met with a rascal. I hav'n't been told who, yet. Some folks don't always forgive; braziers do. Kiss me again, and we'll talk on't by and by. But, why would you run away, Mary? _Mary._ I could'nt stay and be deceitful; and it has often cut me to the heart, to see you show me that affection, which I knew I didn't deserve. _Job._ Ah! you jade! I ought to be angry; but I can't. Look here--don't you remember this waistcoat? you worked it for me, you know. _Mary._ I know I did. [_Kissing him._ _Job._ I had a hard struggle to put it on, this morning; but I squeezed myself into it, a few hours after you ran away.--If I could do that, you might have told me the worst, without much fear of my anger. How have they behaved to you, Mary? _Mary._ The landlord is very humane, but the landlady------ _Job._ Cruel to you? I'll blow her up like gunpowder in a copper. We must stay here to-night;--for there's Peregrine, that king of good fellows, we must stay here till he comes back, from a little way off, he says. _Mary._ He that brought you here? _Job._ Ay, he. I don't know what he intends--but I trust all to him;--and when he returns, we'll have such a merry-making! Hollo! house! Oh, damn it, I'll be good to the landlord; but I'll play hell with his wife! Come with me, and let us call about us a bit. Hollo!--house! Come, Mary! odsbobs, I'm so happy to have you again! House!--Come, Mary, [_Exeunt._ * * * * * ACT THE FOURTH. SCENE I. _The Outside of the Red Cow._ _DENNIS BRULGRUDDERY before the Door._