Nurse. I most humbly thank your honours; and may your children swarm about you like bees about a honeycomb!

Miss Hoyd. Ecod, with all my heart—the more the merrier, I say—ha, nurse?

Enter Lory.

Lory. One word with you, for Heaven’s sake.

[Taking Tom Fashion hastily aside.

Fash. What the devil’s the matter?

Lory. Sir, your fortune’s ruined if you are not married. Yonder’s your brother arrived, with two coaches and six horses, twenty footmen, and a coat worth fourscore pounds—so judge what will become of your lady’s heart.

Fash. Is he in the house yet?

Lory. No, they are capitulating with him at the gate. Sir Tunbelly luckily takes him for an impostor; and I have told him that we have heard of this plot before.

Fash. That’s right.—[Turning to Miss Hoyden.] My dear, here’s a troublesome business my man tells me of, but don’t be frightened; we shall be too hard for the rogue. Here’s an impudent fellow at the gate (not knowing I was come hither incognito) has taken my name upon him, in hopes to run away with you.

Miss Hoyd. Oh, the brazen-faced varlet! its well we are married, or maybe we might never have been so.

Fash. [Aside.] Egad, like enough.—[Aloud.] Pr’ythee, nurse, run to Sir Tunbelly, and stop him from going to the gate before I speak to him.

Nurse. An’t please your honour, my lady and I had better lock ourselves up till the danger be over.

Fash. Do so, if you please.

Miss Hoyd. Not so fast; I won’t be locked up any more, now I’m married.

Fash. Yes, pray, my dear, do, till we have seized this rascal.

Miss Hoyd. Nay, if you’ll pray me, I’ll do anything.

[Exit with Nurse.

Fash. Hark you, sirrah, things are better than you imagine. The wedding’s over.

Lory. The devil it is, sir!

[Capers about.

Fash. Not a word—all’s safe—but Sir Tunbelly don’t know it, nor must not yet. So I am resolved to brazen the brunt of the business out, and have the pleasure of turning the impostor upon his lordship, which I believe may easily be done.

Enter Sir Tunbelly Clumsy.

Did you ever hear, sir, of so impudent an undertaking?