SCENE I.
MY Lord, can you blame my Brother Plyant, if he refuse his Daughter upon this Provocation? The Contract's void by this unheard of Impiety.
I don't believe it true; he has better Principles—Pho, 'tis nonsense. Come, come, I know my Lady Plyant has a large Eye, and wou'd centre every thing in her own Circle; 'tis not the first time she has mistaken Respect for Love, and made Sir Paul jealous of the Civility of an undesigning per∣son, the better to bespeak his security in her unfeigned Pleasures.
You censure hardly, my Lord; my Sister's Honour is very well known.
Yes, I believe I know some that have been fami∣liarly acquainted with it. This is a little Trick wrought by some pitiful Contriver, envious of my Nephew's Merit.
Nay, my Lord, it may be so, and I hope it will be found so: but that will require some time; for in such a Case as this, demonstration is necessary.
There should have been demonstration of the con∣trary too, before it had been believ'd—
So I suppose there was.
How! Where? When?
That I can't tell; nay, I don't say there was—I am willing to believe as favourably of my Nephew as I can.
I don't know that.
How? Don't you believe that, say you, my Lord?
No, I don't say so—I confess I am troubled to find you so cold in his Defence.
His Defence! bless me, wou'd you have me de∣fend an ill thing?
You believe it then?