Eger. Is Constantia your daughter, sir?
Mel. She is; and was the only comfort that nature, fortune, or my own extravagance had left me.
Sir Per. Guid traith, then, I fancy you will find but vary little comfort fra her, for she is nai better than she shou'd be.—She has had nai damage in this mansion. I am told she is with bairn, but you may gang till Hadley, till one farmer Hodges's, and there you may learn the whole story, and wha the father of the bairn is, fra a cheeld they call Melville.
Mel. Melville!
Sir Per. Yes, sir, Melville.
Mel. O! would to heaven she had no crime to answer, but her commerce with Melville.—No, sir, he is not the man; it is your son, your Egerton, that has seduced her; and here, sir, are the evidence of his seduction.
Eger. Of my seduction!
Mel. Of yours, sir, if your name be Egerton.
Eger. I am that man, sir; but pray, what is your evidence?
Mel. These bills, and these gorgeous jewels, not to be had in her menial state, but at the price of chastity.—Not an hour since she sent them— impudently sent them—by a servant of this house—contagious infamy started from their touch.