The Busie Body | Page 7

in the Park, but he infallibly
will go out this Afternoon, she says; but I must step again to know the
Hour.
_Marpl._ What did Whisper say now? I shall go stark Mad, if I'm not
let into this Secret. (_Aside._
_Cha._ Curst Misfortune, come along with me, my Heart feels Pleasure
at her Name. Sir George, yours; we'll meet at the old place the usual

Hour.
Sir _Geo._ Agreed; I think I see Sir Francis yonder. (_Exit._
_Cha._ Marplot, you must excuse me, I am engag'd. (_Exit._
_Marpl._ Engag'd, Egad I'll engage my Life, I'll know what your
Engagement is. (_Exit._
_Miran._ (_Coming out of a Chair._) Let the Chair wait: My Servant,
That dog'd Sir George said he was in the Park.
_Enter Patch._
Ha! Mis Patch alone, did not you tell me you had contriv'd a way to
bring Isabinda to the Park?
_Patch._ Oh, Madam, your Ladiship can't imagine what a wretched
Disappointment we have met with: Just as I had fetch'd a Suit of my
Cloaths for a Disguise: comes my old Master into his Closet, which is
right against her Chamber Door; this struck us into a terrible Fright--At
length I put on a Grave Face, and ask'd him if he was at leisure for his
Chocolate, in hopes to draw him out of his Hole; but he snap'd my
Nose off, No, I shall be busie here this two Hours; at which my poor
Mistress seeing no way of Escape, order'd me to wait on your Ladiship
with the sad Relation.
_Miran._ Unhappy _Isabinda!_ Was ever any thing so unaccountable
as the Humour of Sir Jealousie Traffick.
_Patch._ Oh, Madam, it's his living so long in Spain, he vows he'll
spend half his Estate, but he'll be a Parliament-Man, on purpose to
bring in a Bill for Women to wear Veils, and the other odious Spanish
Customs--He swears it is the height of Impudence to have a Woman
seen Bare-fac'd even at Church, and scarce believes there's a true
begotten Child in the City.
_Miran._ Ha, ha, ha, how the old Fool torments himself! Suppose he

could introduce his rigid Rules--does he think we cou'd not match them
in Contrivance? No, no; Let the Tyrant Man make what Laws he will,
if there's a Woman under the Government, I warrant she finds a way to
break 'em: Is his Mind set upon the Spaniard for his Son-in-law still?
_Patch._ Ay, and he expects him by the next Fleet, which drives his
Daughter to Melancholy and Despair: But, Madam, I find you retain
the same gay, cheerful Spirit you had, when I waited on your
Ladiship.--My Lady is mighty good-humour'd too, and I have found a
way to make Sir Jealousie believe I am wholly in his Interest, when my
real Design is to serve her; he makes me her Jaylor, and I set her at
Liberty.
_Miran._ I know thy Prolifick Brain wou'd be of singular Service to her,
or I had not parted with thee to her Father.
_Patch._ But, Madam, the Report is that you are going to marry your
Guardian.
_Miran._ It is necessary such a Report shou'd be, Patch.
_Patch._ But is it true, Madam?
_Miran._ That's not absolutely necessary.
_Patch._ I thought it was only the old Strain, coaxing him still for your
own, and railing at all the young Fellows about Town; in my Mind now,
you are as ill plagu'd with your Guardian, Madam, as my Lady is with
her Father.
_Miran._ No, I have Liberty, Wench, that she wants; what would she
give now to be in this dissabilee in the--open Air, nay more, in pursuit
of the young Fellow she likes; for that's my Case, I assure thee.
_Patch._ As for that, Madam, she's even with you; for tho' she can't
come abroad, we have a way to bring him home in spight of old Argus.
_Miran._ Now Patch, your Opinion of my Choice, for here he

comes--Ha! my Guardian with him; what can be the meaning of this?
I'm sure Sir Francis can't know me in this Dress--Let's observe 'em.
(_They withdraw._
_Enter Sir Francis Gripe and Sir George Airy._
Sir _Fran._ Verily, Sir George, thou wilt repent throwing away thy
Money so, for I tell thee sincerely, Miranda, my Charge do's not love a
young Fellow, they are all vicious, and seldom make good Husbands;
in sober Sadness she cannot abide 'em.
_Miran._ (_Peeping._) In sober Sadness you are mistaken--what can
this mean?
Sir _Geo._ Look ye, Sir Francis, whether she can or cannot abide
young Fellows is not the Business; will you take the fifty Guineas?
Sir _Fran._ In good truth--I will not, for I knew thy Father, he was a
hearty wary Man, and I cannot consent that his Son should squander
away