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1 Trades. Happy to serve you, sir.

2 Trades. We shall all be glad of your custom, sir. Omnes. All, all!

Dorn. And do you come expecting to be paid? 1 Trades. Money, sir, is always agreeable! 2 Trades. Tradesmen find it a scarce commodity! 3 Trades. Bills come round quick!

4 Trades. Workmen must eat!

2 Trades. For my part, I always give a gentleman, who is a gentleman, his own time.

Dorn. I understand you!-And what are you, sir, who seem to stand apart from the rest?

Hosier. A hosier, sir; I am unworthy the company of these honest gentlemen, who live in style. I never affront a punctual paymaster, not I: and, what they will think strange, I get more by those, who do look over their bills, than those who do not.

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Dorn. And what may be the amount of your bill, sir?

Hosier. A trifle, for which I have no right to ask. Dorn. No right!-What do you mean?

Hosier. Your son, sir, made me what I am; redeemed me and my family from ruin; and it would be an ill requital of his goodness to come here, like a dun, at such a time as this, when I would rather, if that could help him, give him every shilling I have in the world.

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Dorn. Would you? Would you? [Greatly affected.] -You look like an honest man!-But what do you do here then?

Hosier. Mr Dornton, sir, knew I should be unwilling to come, and sent me word he would never speak to me more if I did not; and, rather than offend him, I would even come here on a business like this.

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Dorn. [Shakes him by the hand.] You are an honest fellow! An unaccountable!And so Harry has been your friend?

Hosier: Yes, sir; a liberal-minded friend; for he lent me money, though I was sincere enough to tell him of his faults.

Dorn. Zounds, sir! How came you to be a weaver of stockings?

Hosier. I'don't know, sir, how I came to be at all; I only know that here I am.

Dorn. A philosopher!

Hosier. I am not fond of titles, sir-I'm a man. Dorn. Why, is it not a shame, now, that the soul of Socrates should have crept and hid itself in the body of a stocking-weaver? Give me your bill!

Hosier. Excuse me, sir.

Dorn. Give me your bill, I tell

bill myself.

Hosier. I cannot, must not, sir.
Dorn. Sir, I insist on-

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Enter HARRY DORNTON.

So, sir! [Turning angrily round.] Why have you assembled these people, into whose debt you have dishonestly run, wanting the power to pay; and who have as dishonestly trusted you, hoping to profit exorbitantly by your extravagance?

Harry. O, sir, you don't know them! They are very complaisant, indulgent kind of people. Are not you, gentlemen?

1 Trades. Certainly, sir.

Omnes. Certainly.

Harry. Be kind enough to wait a few minutes without, my very good friends. [Exeunt TRADESMEN.]

Mr Williams

Hosier. Sir

[Takes his hand.

[Exit.

Dorn. How dare you introduce this swarm of locusts here? How dare you?

Harry. [With continued good humour.] Despair, sir, is a dauntless hero.

Dorn. Have you the effrontery to suppose, that I can or shall pay them?-What is it you mean? Harry. To let you see I have creditors.

Dorn. Cheats! Bloodsuckers!

Harry. Some of them : but that is my fault-They must be paid.

Dorn. Paid!

Harry. The innocent must not suffer for the guilty. Dorn. You will die in an alms-house!

Harry. May be so; but the orphan's and the widow's curse shall not meet me there!

Dorn. Harry! Zounds! [Checking his fondness.] Paid! Whom do you mean to rob? Harry. My name is Dornton, sir. Dorn. Are you notHarry. Yes, sir.

Dorn. Quit the room! Begone!

[Wanting words.

Harry. You are the best of men, sir, and I-But I hate whining. Repentance is a pitiful scoundrel, that never brought back a single yesterday. Amendment is a fellow of more mettle-But it is too lateSuffer I ought, and suffer I must-My debts of honour discharged, do not let my tradesmen go unpaid. Dorn. You have ruined me!

Harry. The whole is but five thousand pounds! Dorn. But!The counter is loaded with the destruction you have brought upon us all!

Harry. No, no-I have been a sad fellow, but not even my extravagance can shake this house.

Enter MR SMITH, in Consternation.

Mr Smith. Bills are pouring in so fast upon us, we shall never get through!

Harry. [Struck: seized almost with horror.] What! -What is that you say?

Mr Smith. We have paid our light gold so often over, that the people are very surly!

Dorn. Pay it no more!—Sell it instantly for what it is worth, disburse the last guinea, and shut up the doors!

Harry, [Taking MR SMITH aside.] Are you serious?

Mr Smith. Sir!

Harry. [Impatiently.] Are you serious, I say?— Is it not some trick to impose upon me?

Mr Smith. Look into the shop, sir, and convince yourself!-If we have not a supply in half an hour, we must stop!

[Exit. Harry. [Wildly.] Tol de rol-My father!-Sir! [Turning away.] Is it possible?-Disgraced?-Ruined?-In reality ruined!-By me?-Are these things so?-Tol de rol

Dorn. Harry!—How you look!—You frighten

me!

Harry. [Starting.] It shall be done!

Dorn. What do you mean?-Calm yourself, Harry!

Harry. Ay! By Heaven!
Dorn. Hear me, Harry!
Harry. This instant!

Dorn. [Calling.] Harry!

[Going.

Harry. Don't droop. [Returning.] Don't despair! I'll find relief-[Aside.] First to my friend-He cannot fail! But if he should!-Why, ay, then to Megæra! I will marry her in such a cause, were she fifty widows and fifty furies!

Dorn. Calm yourself, Harry!

Harry. I am calm!-Very calm!-It shall be done! Don't be dejected-You are my father-You were the first of men in the first of cities-Revered by the good, and respected by the great-You flourished prosperously!-But you had a son!-I remember it! Dorn. Why do you roll your eyes, Harry?

F

Harry. I won't be long away.

Dorn. Stay where you are, Harry! [Catching his hand. All will be well! I am very happy! Do not leave me !-I am very happy!-Indeed, I am, Harry! Very happy!

Harry. Tol de rol-Heaven bless you, sir! You are a worthy gentleman!-I'll not be long! Dorn. Hear me, Harry!-I am very happy!

Enter a CLERk.

Clerk. Mr Smith, sir, desires to know whether we may send to the Bank for a thousand pounds worth of silver.

Harry. [Furiously.] No, scoundrel!

[Breaks away, and exit. Dorn. [Calling and almost sobbing.] Harry!-Harry -I am very happy!--Harry Dornton !-[In a kind of stupor.] I am very happy!-Very happy!

SCENE III.

[Exit, following

The House of MR SILKY.

Enter MR SILKY and JACOB.

Silky. Mr Goldfinch not called yet, Jacob?
Jacob. No, sir.

Silky. Nor any message from the widow ?

Jacob. No, sir.

[Knocking heard. Silky. See who knocks, Jacob! [Exit JACOB.] I dare say it is one or t'other! They must come to me at last!

Enter HARRY DORNTON, in wild Haste, following
JACOB.

Harry. [Entering.] Are you sure he is at home?
Jacob. He is here, sir.

Harry. Mr Silky !

Exit. [Panting.

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