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A COMEDY.
169


LADY GOODBODY (pressing it still more earnestly).

Indeed, indeed, it will cure you, and I must positively insist upon your taking it.

WORSHIPTON (defending himself vehemently).

Positively then, madam, you oblige me to say—(breaking suddenly away.) Pest take all the drugs in the world! (Aside.)

SIR JOHN HAZELWOOD.

You must not, Lady Goodbody, insist on curing a man against his will: he likes the pain perhaps; let him enjoy it.

WORSHIPTON (returning).

Indeed I am very much obliged to your ladyship; I am much better now. Forgive my impatience; I don't know what I said.

LADY GOODBODY.

I am very glad you are better, and I forgive you with all my heart, tho' it is a remedy that I have long had the greatest faith in, distill'd by myself from the very best ingredients, and has cured a great many people, I assure you. (To Sir John.) So you took this lady for Sir Rowland's daughter? (pointing to Miss Martin.) Do you see no traces in her countenance of my sister and Colonel Martin? She lost both her parents early, and she has ever since been my child.