books; your Charles Grandisons, your Sentimental
Journals, and your Robinson Crusoes, and such other
trumpery. No, no, no! child; it is money makes the
mare go; keep your eye upon the main chance, Mary.


MARIA

Marriage, Sir, is, indeed, a very serious affair.


VAN ROUGH

You are right, child; you are right. I am sure I
found it so, to my cost.


MARIA

I mean, Sir, that as marriage is a portion for life,
and so intimately involves our happiness, we cannot
be too considerate in the choice of our companion.


VAN ROUGH

Right, child; very right. A young woman should
be very sober when she is making her choice, but
when she has once made it, as you have done, I don't
see why she should not be as merry as a grig; I am