_Cha._ Nay then, I pity you; for the Jew my Father will no more part with her, and 30000 Pound, than he wou'd with a Guinea to keep me from starving. Sir _Geo._ Now you see Gold can't do every thing, _Charles_. _Cha._ Yes, for 'tis her Gold that bars my Father's Gate against you. Sir _Geo._ Why, if he is this avaricious Wretch, how cam'st thou by such a Liberal Education? _Cha._ Not a Souse out of his Pocket, I assure you; I had an Uncle who defray'd that Charge, but for some litte Wildnesses of Youth, tho' he made me his Heir, left Dad my Guardian till I came to Years of Discretion, which I presume the old Gentleman will never think I am; and now he has got the Estate into his Clutches, it does me no more good, than if it lay in _Prester John_'s Dominions. Sir _Geo._ What can'st thou find no Stratagem to redeem it? _Cha._ I have made many Essays to no purpose; tho' Want, the Mistress of Invention, still tempts me on, yet still the old Fox is too cunning for me--I am upon my last Project, which if it fails, then for my last Refuge, a Brown Musquet. Sir _Geo._ What is't, can I assist thee? _Cha._ Not yet, when you can, I have Confidence enough in you to ask it. Sir _Geo._ I am always ready, but what do's he intend to do with _Miranda?_ Is she to be sold in private? or will he put her up by way of Auction, at who bids most? If so, Egad, I'm for him: my Gold, as you say, shall be subservient to my Pleasure. _Cha._ To deal ingeniously with you, Sir _George_, I know very little of Her, or Home; for since my Uncle's Death, and my Return from Travel, I have never been well with my Father; he thinks my Expences too great, and I his Allowance too little; he never sees me, but he quarrels; and to avoid that, I shun his House as much as possible. The Report is, he intends to marry her himself. Sir _Geo._ Can she consent to it? _Cha._ Yes faith, so they say; but I tell you, I am wholly ignorant of the matter. _Miranda_ and I are like two violent Members of a contrary Party, I can scarce allow her Beauty, tho' all the World do's; nor she me Civility, for that Contempt, I fancy she plays the Mother-in-law already, and sets the old Gentleman on to do mischief. Sir _Geo._ Then I've your free Consent to get her. _Cha._ Ay and my helping-hand, if occasion be. Sir _Geo._ Pugh, yonder's a Fool coming this way, let's avoid him. _Cha._ What _Marplot_, no no, he's my Instrument; there's a thousand Conveniences in him, he'll lend me his Money when he has any, run of my Errands and be proud on't; in short, he'll Pimp for me, Lye for me, Drink for me, do any thing but Fight for me, and that I trust to my own Arm for. Sir _Geo._ Nay then he's to be endur'd; I never knew his Qualifications before. _Enter _Marplot_ with a Patch cross his Face._ _Marpl._ Dear _Charles_, your's,--Ha! Sir _George Airy_, the Man in the World, I have an Ambition to be known to (_aside_.) Give me thy Hand, dear Boy--