_Enter_ SIR JOHN BEVIL _and_ HUMPHRY. _Sir J. Bev._ Have you ordered that I should not be interrupted while I am dressing? _Humph._ Yes, sir; I believed you had something of moment to say to me. _Sir J. Bev._ Let me see, Humphry; I think it is now full forty years since I first took thee to be about myself. _Humph._ I thank you, sir, it has been an easy forty years; and I have passed 'em without much sickness, care, or labour. _Sir J Bev._ Thou hast a brave constitution; you are a year or two older than I am, sirrah. _Humph._ You have ever been of that mind, sir. _Sir J. Bev._ You knave, you know it; I took thee for thy gravity and sobriety, in my wild years. _Humph._ Ah, sir! our manners were formed from our different fortunes, not our different age. Wealth gave a loose to your youth, and poverty put a restraint upon mine. _Sir J. Bev._ Well, Humphry, you know I have been a kind master to you; I have used you, for the ingenuous nature I observed in you from the beginning, more like an humble friend than a servant. _Humph._ I humbly beg you'll be so tender of me as to explain your commands, sir, without any farther preparation. _Sir J. Bev._ I'll tell thee, then: In the first place, this wedding of my son's in all probability--shut the door--will never be at all. _Humph._ How, sir! not be at all? for what reason is it carried on in appearance? _Sir J. Bev._ Honest Humphry, have patience; and I'll tell thee all in order. I have, myself, in some part of my life, lived (indeed) with freedom, but, I hope, without reproach. Now, I thought liberty would be as little injurious to my son; therefore, as soon as he grew towards man, I indulged him in living after his own manner. I knew not how, otherwise, to judge of his inclination; for what can be concluded from a behaviour under restraint and fear?[117] But what charms me above all expression is, that my son has never, in the least action, the most distant hint or word, valued himself upon that great estate of his mother's, which, according to our marriage settlement, he has had ever since he came to age. _Humph._ No, sir; on the contrary, he seems afraid of appearing to enjoy it, before you or any belonging to you. He is as dependent and resigned to your will as if he had not a farthing but what must come from your immediate bounty. You have ever acted like a good and generous father, and he like an obedient and grateful son. _Sir J. Bev._ Nay, his carriage is so easy to all with whom he converses, that he is never assuming, never prefers himself to others, nor ever is guilty of that rough sincerity which a man is not called to, and certainly disobliges most of his acquaintance; to be short, Humphry, his reputation was so fair in the world, that old Sealand, the great India merchant, has offered his only daughter, and sole heiress to that vast estate of his, as a wife for him. You may be sure I made no difficulties, the match was agreed on, and this very day named for the wedding.