Mrs. Hard. Well, if he has taken away the lady, he has not taken her fortune, that remains in this family to console us for her loss. Hard. Sure, Dorothy, you would not be so mercenary? Mrs. Hard. Ay, that's my affair, not yours. But you know, if your son when of age, refuses to marry his cousin, her whole fortune is then at her own disposal. Hard. Ay, but he's not of age, and she has not thought proper to wait for his refusal. Enter HASTINGS and MISS NEVILLE. Mrs. Hard. [aside]. What! returned so soon? I begin not to like it. Hastings [To HARDCASTLE]. For my late attempt to fly off with your niece, let my present confusion be my punishment. We are now come back, to appeal from your justice to your humanity. By her father's consent, I first paid her my addresses, and our passions were first founded in duty. Miss Neville. Since his death, I have been obliged to stoop to dissimulation to avoid oppression. In an hour of levity, I was ready even to give up my fortune to secure my choice. But I'm now recovered from the delusion, and hope from your tenderness what is denied me from a nearer connection. Mrs. Hard. Pshaw, pshaw! this is all but the whining end of a modern novel. Hard. Be it what it will, I'm glad they're come back to reclaim their due. Come hither, Tony, boy. Do you refuse this lady's hand whom I now offer you? Tony. What signifies my refusing? You know I can't refuse her till I'm of age, father. Hard. While I thought concealing your age, boy, was likely to conduce to your improvement, I concurred with your mother's desire to keep it secret. But since I find she turns it to a wrong use, I must now declare, you have been of age these three months. Tony. Of age! Am I of age, father? Hard. Above three months. Tony. Then you'll see the first use I'll make of my liberty. [Taking MISS NEVILLE's hand.] Witness all men by these presents, that I, Anthony Lumpkin, Esquire, of BLANK place, refuse you, Constantia Neville, spinster, of no place at all, for my true and lawful wife. So Constance Neville may marry whom she pleases, and Tony Lumpkin is his own man again! Sir Charles. O brave 'Squire! Hastings. My worthy friend! Mrs. Hard. My undutiful offspring! Marlow. Joy, my dear George, I give you joy sincerely. And could I prevail upon my little tyrant here to be less arbitrary, I should be the happiest man alive, if you would return me the favour. Hastings [To MISS HARDCASTLE]. Come, madam, you are now driven to the very last scene of all your contrivances. I know you like him, I'm sure he loves you, and you must and shall have him. Hard. [Joining their hands]. And I say so, too. And Mr. Marlow, if she makes as good a wife as she has a daughter, I don't believe you'll ever repent your bargain. So now to supper, to-morrow we shall gather all the poor of the parish about us, and the Mistakes of the Night shall be crowned with a merry morning; so, boy, take her; as you have been mistaken in the mistress, my wish is, that you may never be mistaken in the wife. EPILOGUE 49 BY DR. GOLDSMITH WELL, having stooped to conquer with success, Talks loud, coquets the guests, and scolds the waiters. And quits her Nancy Dawson,51 for Che Faro.52 Swims round the room, the Heinel 53 of Cheapside: Ogles and leers with artificial skill, Till, having lost in age the power to kill, She sits all night at cards, and ogles at spadille.5 54 EPILOGUE To be spoken in the character of Tony Lumpkin BY J. CRADOCK, ESQ. 56 WELL-now all's ended-and my comrades gone, |