Sir Per. Vary weel.—­Now then, my very guid friend, guin you wou’d but give him that hint, and take an opportunity to speak a guid word for him till the wench;—­and guin you wou’d likewise cast about a little now,—­and contrive to bring them together once,—­why, in a few days after he wou’d nai care a pinch of snuff for her. [Sidney starts up.] What is the matter with you, man?—­What the devil gars you start and look so astounded?

Sid. Sir, you amaze me.—­In what part of my mind or conduct have you found that baseness, which entitles you to treat me with this indignity?

Sir Per. Indignity!  What indignity do you mean, sir?  Is asking you to serve a friend with a wench an indignity?  Sir, am I not your patron and benefactor?  Ha?

Sid. You are, sir, and I feel your bounty at my heart;—­but the virtuous gratitude, that sowed the deep sense of it there, does not inform me that, in return, the tutor’s sacred function, or the social virtue of the man must be debased into the pupil’s pander, or the patron’s prostitute.

Sir Per. How! what, sir! do you dispute?  Are you nai my dependent? ha?  And do you hesitate about an ordinary civility, which is practised every day by men and women of the first fashion?  Sir, let me tell you,—­however nice you may be, there is nai a client about the court that wou’d nai jump at sic an opportunity to oblige his patron.

Sid. Indeed, sir, I believe the doctrine of pimping for patrons, as well as that of prostituting eloquence and public trust for private lucre, may be learned in your party schools:—­for where faction and public venality are taught as measures necessary to good government and general prosperity—­there every vice is to be expected.

Sir Per. Oho! oho! vary weel! vary weel! fine slander upon ministers! fine sedition against government!  O, ye villain! you—­you—­you are a black sheep;—­and I’ll mark you.—­I am glad you shew yourself.—­Yes, yes,—­you have taken off the mask at last;—­you have been in my service for many years, and I never knew your principles before.

Sid. Sir, you never affronted them before:—­if you had, you should have known them sooner.

Sir Per. It is vary weel.—­I have done with you.—­Ay, ay; now I can account for my son’s conduct—­his aversion till courts, till ministers, levees, public business, and his disobedience till my commands.—­Ah! you are a Judas—­a perfidious fellow;—­you have ruined the morals of my son, you villain.—­But I have done with you.—­However, this I will prophecy at our parting, for your comfort,—­that guin you are so very squeamish about bringing a lad and a lass together, or about doing sic an a harmless innocent job for your patron, you will never rise in the church.

Sid. Though my conduct, sir, should not make me rise in her power, I am sure it will in her favour, in the favour of my own conscience too, and in the esteem of all worthy men;—­and that, sir, is a power and dignity beyond what patrons, or any minister can bestow. [Exit.