_Helen._ More shame for him. His partial feelings to his nephew, and unnatural disregard of his son, have long since made me hate him. In short, you are for money, and choose lord Austencourt: I am for love, and prefer his poor cousin. _Sir W._ Then, once for all, as my lady Worret must be obeyed, I no longer consult you on the subject, and it only remains for you to retain the affection of an indulgent father, by complying with my will (I mean my wife's) or to abandon my protection. [_Exit._ _Helen._ I won't marry him, papa, I won't, nor I won't cry, though I've a great mind. A plague of all money, say I. Oh! what a grievous misfortune it is to be born with 12,000l. a year? but if I can't marry the man I like, I won't marry at all; that's determined: and every body knows the firmness of a woman's resolution, when she resolves on contradiction. [_Exit._ SCENE III.--O'Dedimus's _office. Boxes round the shelves._ O'Dedimus _discovered writing at an office table. A few papers and parchments, &c._ _O'Dedimus._ There! I think I've expressed my meaning quite plainly, (_reads_) "Farmer Flail, I'm instructed by lord Austencourt, your landlord, to inform you, by word of letter, that if you can't afford to pay the additional rent for your farm, you must turn out." I think that's clear enough. "As to your putting in the plea of a large family, we cannot allow that as a set off; because, when a man can't afford to support seven children with decency, he ought not to trouble himself to get them." I think that's plain English. "Your humble servant, "CORNELIUS O'DEDIMUS, "Attorney at law. "P.S. You may show this letter to his lordship, to convince him I have done my duty; but as I don't mean one word of it, if you'll come to me privately, I'll see what can be done for you, without his knowing any thing of the matter," and I think _that's_ plain English. _Enter_ gamekeeper _with a_ countryman _in custody._ _O'Ded._ Well, friend, and what are you? _Countryman._ I be's a poacher: so my lord's gamekeeper here do say. _O'Ded._ A poacher! Faith that's honest. _Gamekeeper._ I caught him before day-light on the manor. I took away his gun and shot his dog. _O'Ded._ That was bravely done. So, you must pamper your long stomach with pheasants and partridges, and be damned to ye! Will you prefer paying five pounds now, or three month's hard labour in the house of correction? _Countrym._ Thank ye, sir, I don't prefer either, sir. _O'Ded._ You must go before the justice. He'll exhort you, and commit ye. _Countrym._ Ees, I do know that _extortion_ and _commission_, and such like, be the office of the justice; but I'll have a bit of law, please punch. He ha' killed my poor dog, that I loved like one o' my own children, and I've gotten six of 'em, Lord bless 'em. _O'Ded._ Six dogs! _Countrym._ Dogs! No, children, mun. _O'Ded._ Six children! Och, the fruitful sinner!