_Mr. Seal._ Oh! not at all offended; but I don't love to leave any part of the account unclosed. Look you, Sir John, comparisons are odious, and more particularly so on occasions of this kind, when we are projecting races that are to be made out of both sides of the comparisons. _Sir J. Bev._ But, my son, sir, is, in the eye of the world, a gentleman of merit. _Mr. Seal._ I own to you, I think him so.--But, Sir John, I am a man exercised and experienced in chances and disasters. I lost, in my earlier years, a very fine wife, and with her a poor little infant. This makes me, perhaps, over cautious to preserve the second bounty of providence to me, and be as careful as I can of this child. You'll pardon me, my poor girl, sir, is as valuable to me as your boasted son to you. _Sir. J. Bev._ Why, that's one very good reason, Mr. Sealand, why I wish my son had her. _Mr. Seal._ There is nothing but this strange lady here, this _incognita_, that can be objected to him. Here and there a man falls in love with an artful creature, and gives up all the motives of life to that one passion. _Sir J. Bev._ A man of my son's understanding cannot be supposed to be one of them. _Mr. Seal._ Very wise men have been so enslaved; and, when a man marries with one of them upon his hands, whether moved from the demand of the world or slighter reasons, such a husband soils with his wife for a month perhaps--then good be w'ye, madam, the show's over--Ah! John Dryden points out such a husband to a hair, where he says,-- "And while abroad so prodigal the dolt is, Poor spouse at home as ragged as a colt is." Now, in plain terms, sir, I shall not care to have my poor girl turned a-grazing, and that must be the case when---- _Sir J. Bev._ But pray consider, sir, my son---- _Mr. Seal._ Look you, sir, I'll make the matter short. This unknown lady, as I told you, is all the objection I have to him; but, one way or other, he is, or has been, certainly engaged to her. I am therefore resolved, this very afternoon, to visit her. Now from her behaviour, or appearance, I shall soon be let into what I may fear or hope for. _Sir J. Bev._ Sir, I am very confident there can be nothing inquired into relating to my son, that will not, upon being understood, turn to his advantage. _Mr. Seal._ I hope that as sincerely as you believe it.--Sir John Bevil, when I am satisfied, in this great point, if your son's conduct answers the character you give him, I shall wish your alliance more than that of any gentleman in Great Britain; and so your servant. [_Exit._ _Sir J. Bev._ He is gone in a way but barely civil; but his great wealth, and the merit of his only child, the heiress of it, are not to be lost for a little peevishness. _Enter_ HUMPHRY. Oh! Humphry, you are come in a seasonable minute. I want to talk to thee, and to tell thee that my head and heart are on the rack about my son. _Humph._ Sir, you may trust his discretion; I am sure you may.