HASTINGS. My dear fquire, this looks like a lad of fpirit. Come along then, and you fhall fee more of my fpirit before you have done with me (Singing). We are the boys that fears no noife where the thundering cannons roar. [Exeunt A C T III. Enter HARDCASTLE folus. W HARDCASTLE. HAT could my old friend Sir Charles mean by recommending his fon as the modeftest young man in town? To me he appears the most impudent piece of brafs that ever spoke with a tongue. He has taken poffeffion of the easy chait by the fire-fide already. He took off his boots in the parlour, and defired me to fee them taken care of. I'm defirous to know how his impudence affects my daughter. She will certainly be shocked at it. Enter Mifs HARDCASTLE, plainly drefs'd. HARDCASTLE. Well, my Kate, I fee you have changed your drefs as I bid you; and yet, I believe, there was no great occafion. Mifs HARDCASTLE. I find fuch a pleasure, Sir, in obeying your commands, that I take care to obferve them without ever debating their propriety. HARDCASTLE. And yet, Kate, I fometimes give you fome cause, particularly when I recommended my modeft gentleman to you as a lover to-day. Mifs HARDCASTLE. You taught me to expect fomething extraordinary, and I find the original exceeds the defcrip tion. HARD HARDCASTLE. I was never so furprized in my life! He has quite confounded all my faculties ! Mifs HARDCASTLE. I never faw any thing like it: And a man of the world too! HARD CASTLE. Ay, he learned it all abroad,-what a fool was I, to think a young man could learn modesty by travelling. He might as foon learn wit at a maf querade. Mifs HARDCASTLE. : It feems all natural to him. HARDCASTLE. A good deal affifted by bad company and a French dancing-master. Mifs HARDCASTLE. Sure you mistake, papa! a French dancingmafter could never have taught him that timid look, that aukward address, that bashful man ner HARDCASTLE. Whofe look? whofe manner? child! Mifs HARDCASTLE. Mr. Marlow's his meauvaise honte, his timidity ftruck me at the first fight. HARDCASTLE. Then your first fight deceived you; for I think him one of the moft brazen firft fights that ever aftonished my fenfes. Mifs HARDCASTLE. Sure, Sir, you rally! I never faw any one fo modeft. HARD HARDCASTLE. And can you be ferious! I never faw fuch a bouncing fwaggering puppy fince I was born. Bully Dawson was but a fool to him. Mifs. HARDCASTLE. Surprizing! He met me with a respectful bow, a ftammering voice, and a look fixed on the ground. HARDCASTLE. He met me with a loud voice, a lordly air, and a familiarity that made my blood freeze again. Mifs HARDCASTLE. He treated me with diffidence and refpect; cenfured the manners of the age; admired the pru dence of girls that never laughed; tired me with apologies for being tirefome; then left the room with a bow, and, madam, I would not for the world detain you. HARDCASTLE. He spoke to me as if he knew me all his life before. Afked twenty queftions, and never waited for an answer. Interrupted my best remarks with fome filly pun, and when I was in my best story of the Duke of Marlborough and Prince Eugene, he asked if I had not a good hand at making punch. Yes, Kate, he alk'd your father if he was a maker of punch! Mifs HARDCASTLE. One of us muft certainly be mistaken. HARDCASTLE. If he be what he has fhewn himself, I'm deter mined he shall never have my confent. Mifs HARDCASTLE. And if he be the fullen thing I take him, he shall never have mine. HARDCASTLE. In one thing then we are agreed-to reject him. Yes. But upon conditions. For if you fhould find him lefs impudent, and I more prefuming; if you find him more refpectful, and I more importunateI don't know the fellow is well enough for a man-Certainly we don't meet many fuch at a horfe race in the country. HARDCASTLE. If we should find him fo-But that's impoffible. The first appearance has done my bufinefs. I'm feldom deceived in that. Mifs HARDCASTLE. And yet there may be many good qualities under that first appearance. HARDCASTLE. Ay, when a girl finds a fellow's outfide to her tafte, the then fets about gueffing the rest of his furniture. With her, a fmooth face ftands for good fenfe, and a genteel figure for every virtue. Mifs HARDCASTLE. I hope, Sir, a converfation begun with a compliment to my good fenfe won't end with a fneer at my understanding? HARDCASTLE. Pardon me, Kate. But if young Mr. Brazen can find the art of reconciling contradictions, he may please us both, perhaps. Mifs HARDCASTLE. And as one of us must be mistaken, what if we go to make further discoveries? HARDCASTLE. Agreed. But depend on't I'm in the right. Mife |