_Jer._ Ay, they are happy sparks! Nay, I know some of my schoolfellows, who, when we were at school, were two years younger than me; but now, I know not how, are grown men before me, and go where they will, and look to themselves. But my curmudgeonly mother won't allow me wherewithal to be a man of myself with. _Free._ Why, there 'tis; I knew your mother was in fault. Ask but your schoolfellows what they did to be men of themselves. _Jer._ Why, I know they went to law with their mothers: for they say, there's no good to be done upon a widow mother, till one goes to law with her; but mine is as plaguy a lawyer as any's of our inn. Then would she marry too, and cut down my trees. Now, I should hate, man, to have my father's wife kissed and slapped, and t'other thing too, (you know what I mean,) by another man: and our trees are the purest, tall, even, shady twigs, by my fa-- _Free._ Come, squire, let your mother and your trees fall as she pleases, rather than wear this gown and carry green bags all thy life, and be pointed at for a Tony.[114] But you shall be able to deal with her yet the common way. Thou shalt make false love to some lawyer's daughter, whose father, upon the hopes of thy marrying her, shall lend thee money and law to preserve thy estate and trees: and thy mother is so ugly nobody will have her, if she cannot cut down thy trees. _Jer._ Nay, if I had but anybody to stand by me, I am as stomachful as another. _Free._ That will I: I'll not see any hopeful young gentleman abused. _B. Boy._ By any but yourself. [_Aside._ _Jer._ The truth on't is, mine's as arrant a widow-mother to her poor child as any's in England. She won't so much as let one have sixpence in one's pocket to see a motion,[115] or the dancing of the ropes, or-- _Free._ Come, you shan't want money; there's gold for you. _Jer._ O lord, sir, two guineas! D'ye lend me this? Is there no trick in't? Well, sir, I'll give you my bond for security. _Free._ No, no; thou hast given me thy face for security: anybody would swear thou dost not look like a cheat. You shall have what you will of me; and if your mother will not be kinder to you, come to me, who will. _Jer._ [_Aside._] By my fa--he's a curious fine gentleman!--[_Aloud._] But will you stand by one? _Free._ If you can be resolute. _Jer._ Can be resolved! Gad, if she gives me but a cross word, I'll leave her to-night, and come to you. But now I have got money, I'll go to Jack-of-all-Trades, at t'other end of the Hall, and buy the neatest purest things-- _Free._ [_Aside._] And I'll follow the great boy, and my blow at his mother. Steal away the calf, and the cow will follow you. [_Exit_ JERRY, _followed by_ FREEMAN. _Re-enter, on the other side_, MANLY, Widow BLACKACRE, _and_ Major OLDFOX. _Man._ Damn your cause, can't you lose it without me? which you are like enough to do, if it be, as you say, an honest one: I will suffer no longer for't.