_Bev. Jun._ Think? that I am still your son, sir. Sir, you have been married, and I have not. And you have, sir, found the inconvenience there is when a man weds with too much love in his head. I have been told, sir, that at the time you married, you made a mighty bustle on the occasion. There was challenging and fighting, scaling walls, locking up the lady, and the gallant under an arrest for fear of killing all his rivals. Now, sir, I suppose you having found the ill consequences of these strong passions and prejudices, in preference of one woman to another, in case of a man's becoming a widower---- _Sir J. Bev._ How is this? _Bev. Jun._ I say, sir, experience has made you wiser in your care of me; for, sir, since you lost my dear mother, your time has been so heavy, so lonely, and so tasteless, that you are so good as to guard me against the like unhappiness, by marrying me prudentially by way of bargain and sale. For, as you well judge, a woman that is espoused for a fortune, is yet a better bargain if she dies; for then a man still enjoys what he did marry, the money, and is disencumbered of what he did not marry, the woman. _Sir J. Bev._ But pray, sir, do you think Lucinda, then, a woman of such little merit? _Bev. Jun._ Pardon me, sir, I don't carry it so far neither; I am rather afraid I shall like her too well; she has, for one of her fortune, a great many needless and superfluous good qualities. _Sir J. Bev._ I am afraid, son, there's something I don't see yet, something that's smothered under all this raillery. _Bev. Jun._ Not in the least, sir. If the lady is dressed and ready, you see I am. I suppose the lawyers are ready too. _Humph._ This may grow warm if I don't interpose. [_Aside._]--Sir, Mr. Sealand is at the coffee-house, and has sent to speak with you. _Sir J. Bev._ Oh! that's well! Then I warrant the lawyers are ready. Son, you'll be in the way, you say. _Bev. Jun._ If you please, sir, I'll take a chair, and go to Mr. Sealand's, where the young lady and I will wait your leisure. _Sir J. Bev._ By no means. The old fellow will be so vain if he sees---- _Bev. Jun._ Ay; but the young lady, sir, will think me so indifferent. _Humph._ Ay, there you are right; press your readiness to go to the bride--he won't let you. [_Aside to_ BEV. JUN. _Bev. Jun._ Are you sure of that? [_Aside to_ HUMPH. _Humph._ How he likes being prevented. [_Aside._ _Sir J. Bev._ No, no. You are an hour or two too early. [_Looking on his watch._ _Bev. Jun._ You'll allow me, sir, to think it too late to visit a beautiful, virtuous young woman, in the pride and bloom of life, ready to give herself to my arms; and to place her happiness or misery, for the future, in being agreeable or displeasing to me, is a----Call a chair.