Mrs. Coupler: Now, you must know, stripl...

Mrs. Coupler: Now, you must know, stripling, your brother’s a knave. He has given me a bond of a thousand pounds for helping him to this fortune, and has promised me as much more, in ready money, upon the day of marriage; which, I understand by a friend, he never designs to pay me; and his just now refusing to pay me a part is a proof of it. If, therefore, you will be a generous young rogue, and secure me five thousand pound, I’ll help you to the lady. Thy brother’s face not one of the family ever saw; the whole business has been managed by me, and all of his letters go through my hands. Sir Tunbelly Clumsy, my relation - for that’s the old gentleman’s name - is apprised of his lordship’s being down here, and expects him tomorrow to receive his daughter’s hand; but the peer, I find, means to bait here a few days longer, to recover the fatigue of his journey, I suppose. Now you shall go to Muddymoat Hall in his place. I’ll give you a letter of introduction: and if you don’t marry the girl before sunset, you deserve to be hanged before morning.