Helen. I won’t marry him, papa, I won’t, nor I won’t cry, though I’ve a great mind. A plague of all money, say I. Oh! what a grievous misfortune it is to be born with 12,000l. a year? but if I can’t marry the man I like, I won’t marry at all; that’s determined: and every body knows the firmness of a woman’s resolution, when she resolves on contradiction. [Exit.
[SCENE III.]—O’Dedimus’s office. Boxes round the shelves. O’Dedimus discovered writing at an office table. A few papers and parchments, &c.
O’Dedimus. There! I think I’ve expressed my meaning quite plainly, (reads) “Farmer Flail, I’m instructed by lord Austencourt, your landlord, to inform you, by word of letter, that if you can’t afford to pay the additional rent for your farm, you must turn out.” I think that’s clear enough. “As to your putting in the plea of a large family, we cannot allow that as a set off; because, when a man can’t afford to support seven children with decency, he ought not to trouble himself to get them.” I think that’s plain English.
“Your humble servant,
“CORNELIUS O’DEDIMUS,
“Attorney at law.
“P.S. You may show this letter to his lordship, to convince him I have done my duty; but as I don’t mean one word of it, if you’ll come to me privately, I’ll see what can be done for you, without his knowing any thing of the matter,” and I think that’s plain English.
Enter gamekeeper with a countryman in custody.
O’Ded. Well, friend, and what are you?
Countryman. I be’s a poacher: so my lord’s gamekeeper here do say.