Sir ANTHONY I am glad you are so sensible of my attention--and you shall be master of a large estate in a few weeks. ABSOLUTE Let my future life, sir, speak my gratitude; I cannot express the sense I have of your munificence.--Yet, sir, I presume you would not wish me to quit the army? Sir ANTHONY Oh, that shall be as your wife chooses. ABSOLUTE My wife, sir! Sir ANTHONY Ay, ay, settle that between you--settle that between you. ABSOLUTE A wife, sir, did you say? Sir ANTHONY Ay, a wife--why, did not I mention her before? ABSOLUTE Not a word of her, sir. Sir ANTHONY Odd so!--I mustn't forget her though.--Yes, Jack, the independence I was talking of is by marriage--the fortune is saddled with a wife--but I suppose that makes no difference. ABSOLUTE Sir! sir!--you amaze me! Sir ANTHONY Why, what the devil's the matter with the fool? Just now you were all gratitude and duty. ABSOLUTE I was, sir,--you talked to me of independence and a fortune, but not a word of a wife. Sir ANTHONY Why--what difference does that make? Odds life, sir! if you have the estate, you must take it with the live stock on it, as it stands. ABSOLUTE If my happiness is to be the price, I must beg leave to decline the purchase.--Pray, sir, who is the lady? Sir ANTHONY What's that to you, sir?--Come, give me your promise to love, and to marry her directly. ABSOLUTE Sure, sir, this is not very reasonable, to summon my affections for a lady I know nothing of! Sir ANTHONY I am sure, sir, 'tis more unreasonable in you to object to a lady you know nothing of. ABSOLUTE Then, sir, I must tell you plainly that my inclinations are fixed on another--my heart is engaged to an angel. Sir ANTHONY Then pray let it send an excuse. It is very sorry--but business prevents its waiting on her. ABSOLUTE But my vows are pledged to her. Sir ANTHONY Let her foreclose, Jack; let her foreclose; they are not worth redeeming; besides, you have the angel's vows in exchange, I suppose; so there can be no loss there. ABSOLUTE You must excuse me, sir, if I tell you, once for all, that in this point I cannot obey you. Sir ANTHONY Hark'ee, Jack;--I have heard you for some time with patience--I have been cool--quite cool; but take care--you know I am compliance itself--when I am not thwarted;--no one more easily led--when I have my own way;--but don't put me in a frenzy. ABSOLUTE Sir, I must repeat it--in this I cannot obey you. Sir ANTHONY Now damn me! if ever I call you Jack again while I live! ABSOLUTE Nay, sir, but hear me. Sir ANTHONY Sir, I won't hear a word--not a word! not one word! so give me your promise by a nod--and I'll tell you what, Jack--I mean, you dog--if you don't, by---- ABSOLUTE What, sir, promise to link myself to some mass of ugliness! to----