_Rover._ A lady! Ma'am, your most obedient humble servant. [_Bows._] A quaker too! They are generally kind and humane, and that face is the prologue to a play of a thousand good acts--may be she'd help us here. [_Aside._] Ma'am, you must know that--that I--no--this gentleman--I mean this gentleman and I--He got a little behind hand, as every honest, well principled man often may, from--bad harvests and rains--lodging corn--and his cattle--from murrain, and--rot the murrain! you know this is the way all this affair happened, [_To Banks._] and then up steps this gentleman, [_To Twitch._] with a--a tip in his way--madam, you understand? And then in steps I--with my a--In short, madam, I am the worst story teller in the world, where myself is the hero of the tale. _Twitch._ Mr. Banks has been arrested for thirty pounds, and this gentleman has paid twenty guineas of the debt. _Banks._ My litigious neighbour to expose me thus! _Lady Am._ The young man and maiden within, have spoken well of thy sister, and pictured thee as a man of irreproachable morals, though unfortunate. _Rover._ Madam, he's the honestest fellow--I've known him above forty years, he has the best hand at stirring a fire--If you was only to taste his currant wine. _Banks._ Madam, I never aspired to an enviable rank in life: but hitherto pride and prudence kept me above the reach of pity: but obligations from a stranger-- _Lady Am._ He really a stranger, and attempt to free thee? But, friend, [_To Rover._] thou hast assumed a right which here belongeth alone to me. As I enjoy the blessings which these lands produce, I own also the heart delighting privilege of dispensing those blessings to the wretched. Thou mad'st thyself my worldly banker, and no cash of mine in thine hands, [_Takes a note from a pocket book._] but thus I balance our account. [_Offers it._] _Rover._ "Madam, my master pays me, nor can I take money from another hand, without injuring his honour, and disobeying his commands." "Run, run, Orlando, carve on every tree, The fair, the chaste, the unexpressive she." [_Runs off._ _Banks._ But, sir, I insist you'll return him his money. [_To Twitch._] Stop! [_Going._] _Twitch._ Aye, stop! [_Holds the skirt of his coat._] _Lady Am._ Where dwelleth he? _Banks._ I fancy, where he can, madam. I understand, from his discourse, that he was on his way to join a company of actors in the next town. _Lady Am._ A profane stage-player with such a gentle, generous heart! Yet so whimsically wild, like the unconscious rose, modestly shrinking from the recollection of its own grace and sweetness. _Enter_ JANE, _from the house, more dressed_. _Jane._ Now, my lady, I'm fit to attend your ladyship. I look so genteelish, mayhap her ladyship may take me home with her. _Lady Am._ This maiden may find out for me whither he goeth. [_Aside._] Call on my steward, and thy legal demands shall be satisfied. [_To Twitch._]