_Comp._ He, he, he, I was going down, as you say _Peg_, but I thought better on't, and turn'd back: I heard an ill Report of my Neighbours there; the devouring Sharks, and other Sea-Monsters, whose Company, to tell you the Truth, I did not like; and therefore resolv'd to come home and bide with thee my Girl--Come kiss thy poor Hubby, kiss me I say, for Sorrow begins to ebb apace. _Peg._ A thousand, thousand Welcomes home dear _Numpy_! _Comp._ An Ocean of Thanks, kind _Peggy_: Well, and how goes all at Home? What Lank still, poor _Peg_? Wil't ne're be full Sea at our Wharf? _Peg._ Alas, Husband, what do you mean? _Comp._ A Lass, is it, or a Lad, Wench? I shou'd be glad of both; I look'd for a pair of Compasses long afore now. _Peg._ What, and you from home, Love? _Comp._ I from home? Why tho I was from home, and other of our Neighbours from home, does that follow that every body else is from home? _Peg._ I am pleased you are so merry, Husband. _Comp._ Merry, nay I'll be merrier yet; why shou'd I be sorry? I hope my Boy's well, is he not? Od's fish, I look for another by this Time. _Peg._ Boy, what Boy, Deary? _Comp._ What Boy! why the Boy I got when I came home in the Cock-boat one Night, about a Year ago; You have not forgotten it, I hope, I think I left behind me for a Boy, and a Boy I look for. _Peg._ I find he knows all--What shall I do? [_Aside._] O dear Husband, pray pardon me. [_Kneels._] _Comp._ Pardon thee; why I hope thou hast not made away with my Boy, hast thou? Od's death I'll hang thee, if there were never a Whore more in _London_, if thou hast. _Peg._ O no; but your long Absence, and the Rumour of your Death, [_Cries._] made me think I might venture. _Comp._ Venture, quoth a, I can't blame thee, _Peg_; for _Wapping_, if it were twice _Wapping_, can't hold out always, no more than _Redriff_, _Limehouse_ or _Shadwel_, nay or the strongest Suburbs about _London_; and when it comes to that, wo be to the City too, Girl. _Peg._ Consider, Husband, I'm but a Woman, neither the first or last that have done the same, and truly I won't deny but I have a Child. _Comp._ Have you so? And what by Consequence must I have then, I pray? _Peg._ If you'l forgive me this Time, it shall be so no more, indeed and indeed, now. _Comp._ Well, well. I will forgive thee, _Peg_, upon this Condition, that you tell me who it was that fell foul aboard thee, and sprung this Leak in thee. _Peg._ O dear Husband! _Comp._ Nay, no Excuses, for I must know. _Peg._ Why then truly it was Mr. _Venter_ the Merchant. _Comp._ I am beholding to him, and wou'd requite his Civility, if his Wife were but as willing, tho he be one of our Merchants at Sea, he shall give me leave to be Owner at home; and where is my Boy? what, shan't I see him? _Peg._ Yes if you please, good Husband: He's nurs'd at _Bednal green_; 'tis now too late, to Morrow will be better. _Comp._ Come then we'l home and to bed.