CUTLET Aye, poor lamb! poor lamb! I can witness. I have run in such a haste, hearing how affairs stood, that I have left my shambles without a protector. If your worship had seen how she cried _(pointing to Marian),_ and trembled, and insisted upon being brought to her father. Mr. Davenport here could not stay her. FLINT I can forbear no longer. Marian, will you play once again, to please your old father? MARIAN I have a good mind to make you buy me a new grand piano for your naughty suspicions of me. DAVENPORT What is to become of me? FLINT I will do more than that. The poor lady shall have her jewels again. MARIAN Shall she? FLINT Upon reasonable terms _(smiling)._ And now, I suppose, the court may adjourn. DAVENPORT Marian! FLINT I guess what is passing in your mind, Mr. Davenport; but you have behaved upon the whole so like a man of honour, that it will give me pleasure, if you will visit at my house for the future; but _(smiling)_ not clandestinely, Marian. MARIAN Hush, father. FLINT I own I had prejudices against gentry. But I have met with so much candour and kindness among my betters this day--from this gentleman in particular--_(turning to the Justice)_--that I begin to think of leaving off business, and setting up for a gentleman myself. JUSTICE You have the feelings of one. FLINT Marian will not object to it. JUSTICE But _(turning to Miss Flyn)_ what motive could induce this lady to take so much disgrace upon herself, when a word's explanation might have relieved her? MISS FLYN This gentleman _(turning to Pendulous)_ can explain. PENDULOUS The devil! MISS FLYN This gentleman, I repeat it, whose backwardness in concluding a long and honourable suit from a mistaken delicacy-- PENDULOUS How! MISS FLYN Drove me upon the expedient of involving myself in the same disagreeable embarrassments with himself, in the hope that a more perfect sympathy might subsist between us for the future. PENDULOUS I see it--I see it all. JUSTICE (_To Pendulous._) You were then tried at York? PENDULOUS I was--CAST-- JUSTICE Condemned-- PENDULOUS EXECUTED. JUSTICE How? PENDULOUS CUT DOWN and CAME TO LIFE AGAIN. False delicacy, adieu! The true sort, which this lady has manifested--by an expedient which at first sight might seem a little unpromising, has cured me of the other. We are now on even terms. MISS FLYN And may-- PENDULOUS Marry,--I know it was your word. MISS FLYN And make a very quiet-- PENDULOUS Exemplary-- MISS FLYN Agreeing pair of-- PENDULOUS ACQUITTED FELONS. FLINT And let the prejudiced against our profession acknowledge, that a money-lender may have the heart of a father; and that in the casket, whose loss grieved him so sorely, he valued nothing so dear as _(turning to Marian)_ one poor domestic jewel. * * * * * THE WIFE'S TRIAL; OR, THE INTRUDING WIDOW A DRAMATIC POEM _Founded on Mr. Crabbe's Tale of "The Confidant."_ (1827)