Eger.  Madam, I most solemnly promise, I never will.

Lady Rod.  And I, sir, most solemnly, and sincerely [Curtsies.] thank you—­for [Curtsies.] your resolution, and your agreeable aversion—­ha, ha, ha! for you have made me as happy as a poor wretch, reprieved in the vary instant of intended execution.

Eger.  Pray, madam, how am I to understand all this?

Lady Rod.[With frankness, and, a reverse of manners.] Why, sir, your frankness and sincerity demand the same behaviour on my side;—­therefore, without farther disguise or ambiguity, know, sir, that I myself [With a deep sigh.] am as deeply smitten with a certain swain, as I understand you are with your Constantia.

Eger.  Indeed, madam!

Lady Rod. [With an amiable, soft, tender sincerity.] O! sir, notwithstanding aw my shew of courage and mirth,—­here I stand—­as errant a trembling Thisbe, as ever sighed or mourned for her Pyramus,—­and, sir, aw my extravagant levity and ridiculous behaviour in your presence now, and ever since your father prevailed upon mine to consent till this match, has been a premeditated scheme to provoke your gravity and guid sense intill a cordial disgust, and a positive refusal.

Eger.  Madam, you have contrived and executed your scheme most happily.

Lady Rod.  Then, since Cupid has thus luckily disposed of you till your Constantia, and me till my swain, we have nothing to think of now, sir, but to contrive how to reduce the inordinate passions of our parents intill a temper of prudence and humanity.

Eger.  Most willingly I consent to your proposal.——­But, with your leave, madam, if I may presume so far;—­’pray, who is your lover?

Lady Rod.  Why, in that too I shall surprise you perhaps more than ever.—­In the first place—­he is a beggar—­and in disgrace with an unforgiving father;—­and in the next place,—­he is [Curtsies.] your ain brother.

Eger.  Is it possible?

Lady Rod.  A most amorous truth, sir;—­that is, as far as a woman can answer for her ain heart. [in a laughing gaiety.] So you see, cousin Charles, thof I you’d nai mingle affections with you—­I have nai ganged out of the family.

Eger. [A polite rapture, frank.] Madam, give me leave to congratulate myself upon your affection,—­you cou’d not have placed it on a worthier object; and, whatever is to be our chance in this lottery of our parents, be assured that my fortune shall be devoted to your happiness and his.

Lady Rod.  Generous, indeed, cousin—­but not a whit nobler, I assure you, than your brother Sandy believes of you.—­And, be assured, sir, that we shall both remember it, while the heart feels, or the memory retains a sense of gratitude.—­But now, sir, let me ask one question:—­Pray, how is your mother affected in this business?