_Rover._ Madam, if you'd been fighting, as I have, you'd--well, well, [_Fills and drinks._] now I'm as well as any man--"In Illyria," got a few hard knocks though. _Amelia._ You'd better repose a little, you seem'd much disorder'd coming in. _Rover._ [_Places a chair, and both sit._] Why, ma'am, you must know thus it was-- _Enter_ SHERIFF'S OFFICER. _Off._ Come, ma'am, Mr. Gammon says this chair is wanted to make up the half dozen above. [_Lays hold of_ AMELIA'S _chair, she rises terrified_.] _Rover._ What, what's all this? _Off._ Why the furniture's seized on execution, and a man must do his duty. _Rover._ Then, scoundrel, know, that a man's first duty is civility and tenderness to a woman. _Amelia._ Heavens! where's my brother? This gentleman will bring himself into trouble. _Off._ Master, d'ye see, I'm representative for his honour the High Sheriff. _Rover._ Every High Sheriff should be a gentleman, and when he's represented by a rascal, he's dishonour'd.--Dem it, I might as well live about Covent Garden, and every night get beating the watch; for here, among groves and meadows, I'm always squabbling with constables. [_Whips up a stick from a corner of the room, and holds it behind him._] _Off._ Come, come, I must-- _Rover._ "As you say, sir, last Wednesday, so it was"--Sir, your most obedient, humble servant--[_Bows respectfully._] Pray, sir, may I take the liberty to know, have you ever been astonished? [_With great ceremony._] _Off._ What? _Rover._ Because, sir, I intend to astonish you; my dear fellow, give me your hand. [_Takes his hand, and beats him_--] Now, sir, you are astonished? _Off._ Yes; but see if I don't suit you with an action. _Rover._ "Right, suit the action to the word, the word to the action;" "See if the gentlewoman be not affrighted"--"Michael, I'll make thee an example." _Off._ Yes, fine example, when goods are seized here by the law, and-- _Rover._ "Thou worm and maggot of the law!" "Hop me over every kennel, or you shall hop without my custom." _Off._ I don't value your custom. _Rover._ You are astonished, now I'll amaze you. _Off._ No, sir, I won't be amazed--but only see if I don't-- _Rover._ Hop! [_Exit_ OFFICER _muttering and bullying, yet frightened_. Stop, ma'am, these sort of gentry are monstrous bad company for a lady--So I'll just see him to the door, and then I'll see him outside the door.--Ma'am, I'm your most obedient humble servant. [_Bows respectfully, and exit hastily_.] _Amelia._ I feel a strange curiosity to know who this young gentleman is. I find my heart interested, I can't account for--he must have known the house by the freedom--but then his gaiety, (without familiar rudeness) native elegance of manners, and good breeding, seem to make him at home any where.--My brother, I think, must know-- _Enter_ BANKS _hastily, and agitated_.