--ROWLEY and SIR OLIVER--

SIR OLIVER. Ha! ha! ha! and so my old Friend is married, hey?--
a young wife out of the country!--ha! ha! that he should have stood
Bluff to old Bachelor so long and sink into a Husband at last!

ROWLEY. But you must not rally him on the subject Sir Oliver--'tis
a tender Point I assure you though He has been married only seven
months.

SIR OLIVER. Ah then he has been just half a year on the stool
of Repentance--Poor Peter! But you say he has entirely given up
Charles--never sees him, hey?

ROWLEY. His Prejudice against him is astonishing--and I am sure
greatly increased by a jealousy of him with Lady Teazle--which
he has been industriously led into by a scandalous Society--
in the neighbourhood--who have contributed not a little to Charles's
ill name. Whereas the truth is[,] I believe[,] if the lady
is partial to either of them his Brother is the Favourite.

SIR OLIVER. Aye--I know--there are a set of malicious prating
prudent Gossips both male and Female, who murder characters to kill
time, and will rob a young Fellow of his good name before He has years
to know the value of it. . . but I am not to be prejudiced against
my nephew by such I promise you! No! no--if Charles has done nothing
false or mean, I shall compound for his extravagance.

ROWLEY. Then my life on't, you will reclaim him. Ah, Sir, it gives