SCENE VIII.


CARELESS, SIR PAUL, LADY PLYANT.

SIR PAUL. A humour of my wife's: you know women have little
fancies. But as I was telling you, Mr. Careless, if it were not for
one thing, I should think myself the happiest man in the world;
indeed that touches me near, very near.

CARE. What can that be, Sir Paul?

SIR PAUL. Why, I have, I thank heaven, a very plentiful fortune, a
good estate in the country, some houses in town, and some money, a
pretty tolerable personal estate; and it is a great grief to me,
indeed it is, Mr. Careless, that I have not a son to inherit this.
'Tis true I have a daughter, and a fine dutiful child she is, though
I say it, blessed be providence I may say; for indeed, Mr. Careless,
I am mightily beholden to providence. A poor unworthy sinner. But
if I had a son! Ah, that's my affliction, and my only affliction;
indeed I cannot refrain tears when it comes in my mind. [Cries.]

CARE. Why, methinks that might be easily remedied--my lady's a fine
likely woman -

SIR PAUL. Oh, a fine likely woman as you shall see in a summer's
day. Indeed she is, Mr. Careless, in all respects.

CARE. And I should not have taken you to have been so old -