_Fanny._ Oh, sir! I'm in sad distress--my father has discovered my intercourse with lord Austencourt, and says, he is sure my lord means to deny our marriage; but I have told him, as you and your master were present, I am sure you will both be ready to prove it, should my lord act so basely. _Pon._ I must mind my hits here, or shall get myself into a confounded scrape--ready to do what, did you say, ma'am, to prove your marriage? _Fan._ Yes, as you both were present. _Pon._ Present! me! Lord bless me, what is it you mean? Marriage! prove! me! present! _Fan._ Why do you hesitate? come, come, you do but jest with me--you cannot have forgotten it-- _Pon._ Hey? why no! but I can't say I remember it-- _Fan._ Sure, sure, you cannot have the barbarity to deny that you were a witness to the ceremony! _Pon._ I may be mistaken--I've a remarkably short memory; but to the best of my recollection I certainly-- _Fan._ Ay, you recollect it-- _Pon._ I certainly _never was_ present-- _Fan._ Cruel! you were--indeed, indeed you were. _Pon._ But at one wedding in my life. _Fan._ And that was mine-- _Pon._ No, that was mine. _Fan._ Merciful Heaven! I see my fate--it is disgrace and misery! _Pon._ Bless you, if I could remember it; but I can't--however I'll speak to my master about it, and if _he_ recollects it I dare say _I_ shall. _Fan._ I have then no hope, and the fate of the hapless Fanny is decided. _Pon._ Ha! yonder I see comes my master and his lordship. I wonder what they are thinking of--they're coming this way. _I_ think we had better retire. _Fan._ O hide me! hide me! In any corner let me hide my head, from scorn, from misery, and, most of all, from him-- _Pon._ You can't escape that way, so you must come this. They wont think of coming here. (_puts her into another room_) Poor girl! I've a great mind to confess the whole affair. What shall I get by that? Nothing! nothing! Oh! that's contrary to law! [_Exit. Enter_ lord Austencourt _and_ O'Dedimus. _Lord A._ Are you certain no one can overhear us? _O'Ded._ There's nobody can hear us except my ould housekeeper, and she's as deaf as St. Dunstan's clock-strikers. _Lord A._ There is no time to be lost. You must immediately repair to Fanny--tell her my affection is unabated--tell her I shall ever love her, and make her such pecuniary offers, as shall convince her of my esteem and affection; but we must meet no more. (_Fanny utters a cry behind._) _O'Ded._ What's that? _Lord A._ We are betrayed! _O'Ded._ Och! 'tis only my ould housekeeper. _Lord A._ Your housekeeper! I thought you told me she was deaf. _O'Ded._ Yes; but she isn't dumb. Devil a word can she _hear_ for sartin; but she's apt to _say_ a great many, and so we may proceed. _Lord A._ You will easily accomplish this business with Fanny. _O'Ded._ I'm afraid not. To tell you the truth, my lord, I don't like the job. _Lord A._ Indeed! and why, sir?