Aldo. Hold, hold; I charge thee hold, on thy obedience.  I forgive thee heartily:  I have proof enough thou art my son; but tame thee that can, thou art a mad one.

Pleas. Why this is as it should be.

Aldo. [To him.] Not a word of any passages betwixt us; it is enough we know each other; hereafter we will banish all pomp and ceremony, and live familiarly together.  I’ll be Pylades, and thou mad Orestes, and we will divide the estate betwixt us, and have fresh wenches, and ballum rankum every night.

Wood. A match, i’faith:  and let the world pass.

Aldo. But hold a little; I had forgot one point:  I hope you are not married, nor engaged?

Wood. To nothing but my pleasures, I.

Aldo. A mingle of profit would do well though.  Come, here is a girl; look well upon her; it is a mettled toad, I can tell you that:  She will make notable work betwixt two sheets, in a lawful way.

Wood. What, my old enemy, Mrs Pleasance!

Mrs Brain. Marry Mrs Saintly’s daughter!

Aldo. The truth is, she has past for her daughter, by my appointment; but she has as good blood running in her veins, as the best of you.  Her father, Mr Palms, on his death-bed, left her to my care and disposal, besides a fortune of twelve hundred a year; a pretty convenience, by my faith.

Wood. Beyond my hopes, if she consent.

Aldo. I have taken some care of her education, and placed her here with Mrs Saintly, as her daughter, to avoid her being blown upon by fops, and younger brothers.  So now, son, I hope I have matched your concealment with my discovery; there is hit for hit, ere I cross the cudgels.

Pleas. You will not take them up, sir?

Wood. I dare not against you, madam:  I am sure you will worst me at all weapons.  All I can say is, I do not now begin to love you.

Aldo. Let me speak for thee:  Thou shalt be used, little Pleasance, like a sovereign princess:  Thou shalt not touch a bit of butchers’ meat in a twelve-month; and thou shall be treated—­

Pleas. Not with ballum rankum every night, I hope!

Aldo. Well, thou art a wag; no more of that.  Thou shall want neither man’s meat, nor woman’s meat, as far as his provision will hold out.

Pleas. But I fear he is so horribly given to go a house-warming abroad, that the least part of the provision will come to my share at home.

Wood. You will find me so much employment in my own family, that I shall have little need to look out for journey-work.

Aldo. Before George, he shall do thee reason, ere thou sleepest.

Pleas. No; he shall have an honourable truce for one day at least; for it is not fair to put a fresh enemy upon him.

Mrs Brain. [To PLEAS.] I beseech you, madam, discover nothing betwixt him and me.