_Jane._ Bless me, feyther! No time for anger now. Here's Lady Amaranth's chariot, drawn by her new grand long-tailed horses.--La! it stops. _F. Gam._ Her ladyship is coming out, and walks this way.--She may wish to rest herself in my house. Jane, we must always make rich folks welcome. _Jane._ Dear me, I'll run in and set things to rights. But, feyther, your cravat and wig are all got so rumplified with your cross-grained tantarums.--I'll tie your neck in a big beau, and for your wig, if there is any flour in the drudging box--[_Adjusts them, and runs into the house._] _F. Gam._ Oh! the bailiff too that I engaged. _Enter_ TWITCH. _Twitch._ Well, Master Gammon, as you desir'd, I'm come to serve this here warrant of yours, and arrest Master Banks; where is he? _F. Gam._ Yes, now I be's determined on't--he's--zounds! stand aside, I'll speak to you anon. [_Looking out._] _Enter_ LADY AMARANTH, ZACHARIAH _following_. _Lady Am._ Friend, Jane, whom I have taken to be my handmaid, is thy daughter? _F. Gam._ Ay, so her mother said, an't please your ladyship. _Lady Am._ Ephraim Smooth acquainteth me thou art a wealthy yeoman. _F. Gam._ Why, my lady, I pay my rent. _Lady Am._ Being yet a stranger on my estate around here, I have passed through thy hamlet to behold with mine own eye the distresses of my poor tenants. I wish to relieve their wants. _F. Gam._ Right, your ladyship: for charity hides a deal of sins. How good of you to think of the poor! that's so like me; I'm always contriving how to relieve my neighbours--you must lay Banks in jail to-night. [_Apart to_ TWITCH.] _Enter_ JANE. _Jane._ A'nt please you, will your ladyship enter our humble dwelling, and rest your ladyship in feyther's great cane bottom'd elbow chair with a high back. [_Curtsies._] _F. Gam._ Do, my lady. To receive so great a body from her own chariot is an honour I dreamt not of; though, for the hungry and weary foot traveller, my doors are always open, and my morsel ready. Knock; when he comes out, touch him. [_Aside to_ TWITCH.] _Lady Am._ Thou art benevolent, and I will enter thy dwelling with satisfaction. _Jane._ O precious! This way, my lady. [_Exeunt all but_ TWITCH. _Twitch._ Eh, where's the warrant? [_Feels his pocket, and knocks at_ BANKS'S _door_.] _Enter_ BANKS. _Banks._ Master Twitch! What's your business with me? _Twitch._ Only a little affair here against you. _Banks._ Me! _Twitch._ Yes; Farmer Gammon has bought a thirty pound note of hand of yours. _Banks._ Indeed! Well, I didn't think his malice could have stretched so far--I thought the love, he professed for my sister, might--why, it is true, Master Twitch, to lend our indigent cottagers small sums when they've been unable to pay their rents, I got lawyer Quirk to procure me this money, and hoped their industry would have put it in my power to take up my note before now. However, I'll go round and try what they can do, then call on you and settle it.