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54 to propoſe it to me. But if you can give up your daughter, I ſhan't forſake my niece, I aſſure you. Ah! if my poor dear Mr. Heidelberg, and our ſweet babes had been alive, he would not have behaved ſo.

Sterl. Did I, Sir John? nay ſpeak!—Bring me off, or we are ruined. [apart to Sir John.

Sir John. Why, to be ſure, to ſpeak the truth—

Mrs. Heidel. To ſpeak the truth, I'm aſhamed of you both. But have a care what you are about, brother! have a care, I ſay. The lawyers are in the houſe, I hear; and if every thing is not ſettled to my liking, I'll have nothing more to ſay to you, if I live theſe hundred years.—I'll go over to Holland, and ſettle with Mr. Vanderſpracken, my poor husband's firſt couſin; and my own fammaly ſhall never be the better for a farden of my money, I promiſe you.

[Exit.

Sterl. I thought ſo, I knew ſhe never would agree to it.

Sir John. 'Sdeath, how unfortunate! What can we do, Mr. Sterling?

Sterl. Nothing.

Sir John. What! muſt our agreement break off, the moment it is made then?

Sterl. It can't be helped, Sir John. The family, as I told you before, have great expectations from my ſiſter; and if this matter proceeds, you hear yourſelf that ſhe threatens to leave us.—My brother Heidelberg was a warm man; a very warm man; and died worth a Plumb at leaſt; a Plumb! ay, I warrant you, he died worth a Plumb and a half.

Sir John. Well; but if I—

Sterl. And then, my ſiſter has three or four very good mortgages, a deal of money in the three per cents. and old South-Sea annuities, beſides large concerns in the Dutch and French funds.—The greateſt