ACTI.

acti.

scenei.—anapartmentatflint'shouse.

flint.william.

flintcarrythoseumbrellas,cottons,andwearing-apparel,upstairs.youmaysendthatchestoftoolstorobins's.

williamthatwhichyoulentsixpoundsupontothejourneymancarpenterthathadthesickwife?

flint

thesame.

william

themansays,ifyoucangivehimtillthursday—

flintnotaminutelonger.histimewasoutyesterday.theseimprovidentfools!

williamthefinicalgentlemanhasbeenhereaboutthesealthatwashisgrandfather's.

flinthecannothaveit.truly,ourtradewouldbebroughttoafinepass,ifwewereboundtohumourthefanciesofourcustomers.thismanwouldbetakingalikingtoasnuff-boxthathehadinherited;andthatgentlewomanmightconceitafavouritechemisethathaddescendedtoher.

williamtheladyinthecarriagehasbeenherecryingaboutthosejewels.shesays,ifyoucannotletherhavethemattheadvancesheoffers,herhusbandwillcometoknowthatshehaspledgedthem.

flintihaveusesforthosejewels.sendmariantome.(exitwilliam.)iknownoothertradethatisexpectedtodepartfromitsfairadvantagesbutours.idonotseethebaker,thebutcher,theshoemaker,or,togohigher,thelawyer,thephysician,thedivine,giveupanyoftheirlegitimategains,evenwhenthepretencesoftheirarthadfailed;yetwearetobebrandedwithanodiousname,stigmatized,discountenancedevenbytheadministratorsofthoselawswhichacknowledgeus;scowledatbythelowersortofpeople,whoseneedsweserve!

entermarian.

comehither,marian.come,kissyourfather.thereportrunsthatheisfullofspottedcrime.whatisyourbelief,child?

marianthatnevergoodreportwentwithourcalling,father.ihaveheardyousay,thepoorlookonlytotheadvantageswhichwederivefromthem,andoverlooktheaccommodationswhichtheyreceivefromus.butthepoorarethepoor,father,andhavelittleleisuretomakedistinctions.iwishwecouldgiveupthisbusiness.

flint

youhavenotseenthatidlefellow,davenport?

marian

no,indeed,father,sinceyourinjunction.

flint

itakebutmylawfulprofit.thelawisnotoverfavourabletous.

marian

marianisnojudgeofthesethings.

flint

theycallmeoppressive,grinding.—iknownotwhat—

marian

alas!

flint

usurer,extortioner.amithesethings?

marianyouaremarian'skindandcarefulfather.thatisenoughforachildtoknow.

flinthere,girl,isalittleboxofjewels,whichthenecessitiesofafoolishwomanofqualityhavetransferredintoourtrueandlawfulpossession.go,placethemwiththetrinketsthatwereyourmother's.theyareallyours,marian,ifyoudonotcrossmeinyourmarriage.nogentryshallmatchintothishouse,toflouttheirwifehereafterwithherparentage.iwillholdthisbusinesswithconvulsivegrasptomydyingday.iwillplaguethesepoor,whomyouspeaksotenderlyof.

marian

youfrightenme,father.donotfrightenmarian.

flint

ihaveheardthemsay,theregoesflint—flint,thecruelpawnbroker!

marian

stayathomewithmarian.youshallhearnouglywordstovexyou.

flint

youshallrideinagildedchariotuponthenecksofthesepoor,

marian.theirtearsshalldroppearlsformygirl.theirsighsshallbe

goodwindforus.theyshallblowgoodformygirl.putupthejewels,

marian.[exit.]

enterlucy.

lucy

miss,miss,yourfatherhastakenhishat,andissleptout,andmr.

davenportisonthestairs;andicametotellyou—

marian

alas!wholethimin?