_Sir Har._ Look ye, Mr. Tipkin, the main article with me is, that foundation of wive's rebellion, and husband's cuckoldom, that cursed pin-money. Five hundred pounds per annum pin-money! _Tip._ The word pin-money, Sir Harry, is a term. _Sir Har._ It is a term, brother, we never had in our family, nor ever will. Make her jointure in widowhood accordingly large, but four hundred pounds a year is enough to give no account of. _Tip._ Well, Sir Harry, since you can't swallow these pins, I will abate to four hundred pounds. _Sir Har._ And to mollify the article, as well as specify the uses, we'll put in the names of several female utensils, as needles, knitting-needles, tape, thread, scissors, bodkins, fans, play-books, with other toys of that nature. And now, since we have as good as concluded on the marriage, it will not be improper that the young people see each other. _Tip._ I don't think it prudent till the very instant of marriage, lest they should not like one another. _Sir Har._ They shall meet--As for the young girl, she cannot dislike Numps; and for Numps, I never suffered him to have anything he liked in his life. He'll be here immediately; he has been trained up from his childhood under such a plant as this, in my hand--I have taken pains in his education. _Tip._ Sir Harry, I approve your method; for since you have left off hunting you might otherwise want exercise, and this is a subtle expedient to preserve your own health and your son's good manners. _Sir Har._ It has been the custom of the Gubbins to preserve severity and discipline in their families: I myself was caned the day before my wedding. _Tip._ Ay, Sir Harry, had you not been well cudgelled in your youth, you had never been the man you are. _Sir Har._ You say right, sir, now I feel the benefit of it. There's a crab-tree near your house which flourishes for the good of my posterity, and has brushed our jackets from father to son, for several generations. _Tip._ I am glad to hear you have all things necessary for the family within yourselves. _Sir Har._ Oh, yonder, I see Numps is coming--I have dressed him in the very suit I had on at my own wedding; 'tis a most becoming apparel. _Enter_ HUMPHRY GUBBIN. _Tip._ Truly, the youth makes a good marriageable figure. _Sir Har._ Come forward, Numps; this is your uncle Tipkin, your mother's brother, Numps, that is so kind as to bestow his niece upon you.--Don't be so glum, sirrah, don't bow to a man with a face as if you'd knock him down, don't, sirrah. [_Apart._ _Tip._ I am glad to see you, cousin Humphry.--He is not talkative, I observe already. _Sir Har._ He is very shrewd, sir, when he pleases.--Do you see this crab-stick, you dog? [_Apart._]--Well, Numps, don't be out of humour.--Will you talk? [_Apart._]--Come, we're your friends, Numps; come, lad. _Hump._ You are a pure fellow for a father. This is always your tricks, to make a great fool of one before company. [_Apart to his father._