ÆäÀÌÁö À̹ÌÁö
PDF
ePub

turkey's feather. He stops short in confusion. The little ones burst into a loud laugh, and come up.]

Frank. Come on! let us see the temper of your sword! Ed. Do not add to his confusion. He only deserves contempt.

Wil. Aha! This was it, then, that you alone had a right to wear.

Charles. He will not do any terrible .harm to anybody with that terrible weapon.

Frank. I could punish you now for your rudeness, but I should blush to take such a revenge.

Ed. He is no longer worthy of our company. Let us all leave him to himself.

Wil. Good-bye to you, Mr. Knight of the turkey's feather.

Charles. We shall not come here again until you be disarmed. for you are too terrible now. As they are going, Frank stops them.]

Frank. Let us stay and give an account of our behavior to his father, otherwise appearances will be against us.

Ed. You are right. What would he think of us, were we to leave his house thus, without seeing him? [Enter Lord Onsburg. They all put on an air of respect at the entrance of Lord Onsburg. Augustus goes aside, and cries for spite.]

Lord O. [To Augustus, looking at him with indignation.] Well, sir, you have honored your sword noblyshame! sir, shame! [Augustus sobs but cannot speak.]

Frank. My lord, you will pardon this disturbance that appears among us. It was not caused by us. From the first moment of our coming, Mr. Onsburg received us so ill

Lord O Do not be uneasy, my dear little friend. I know all. I was in the next room, and heard, from the be

ginning, my son's unbecoming discourse. He is the more blamable, as he had just been making me the fairest promises. I have suspected his impertinence for a long time, but I wished to see myself how far he was capable of carrying it; and, for fear of mischief. I put a blade to his sword, that. as you see, will not spill much blood. [The children burst out a laughing.

Frank. Excuse the freedom my lord, that I took in telling him the truth a little bluntly.

Lord O. I rather owe you my thanks for it.

You are

an excellent young gentleman, and deserve. much better than he does, to wear this badge of honor. As a token of my esteem and acknowledgment, accept this sword; but I will first put a blade to it that may be worthy of you.

Frank. Your lordship is too good; but allow us to withdraw. Our company may not be agreeable to Mr. Onsburg, to-day.

Lord O. No, no, my dear boys, you shall stay. My son's presence shall not disturb your pleasure. You may divert yourselves together, and my daughter shall take care to provide you with whatever may amuse you. Come with me into another apartment. As for you. sir, [To Augustus |

do not offer to stir from this place. You may celebrate your birthday here all alone. You shall never wear a sword [Exeunt.]

again until you deserve one.

XVI-MARRIAGE OF A DAUGHTER.--O'Brien.

GRUB-MRS. GRUB.

Grub. My dear, there's rare news from the Alley, India stock is mounting every minute.

Mrs. Grub. I am glad to hear it, my dear.

Grub. Yes I thought you would be glad to hear of it. I have just sent Consol to the Alley to see how matters go --I should have gone myself, but I wanted to open an affair of some importance to you

Mrs. G. Ay. ay, you have always some affair of great Importance.

Grub. Nay this is one-I have been thinking, my dear. that it is high time we had fixed our daughter; 'tis high time that Emily were married.

Mrs. G. You think so, do you? I have thought so many a time these three years; and so has Emily too I fancy. I wanted to talk to you about the same subject.

Grub. You did? Well I declare that's pat enough; he. he, he vow and protest I'm pleased at this-why our inclinations do seldom jump together.

Mrs. G. Jump quotha! No I should wonder if they did, and how comes it to pass now? What! I suppose

you have been employing some of your brokers, as usual; or perhaps advertising, as you used to do; but I expect to hear no more of these tricks, now that we are come to this end of the town.

Grub. No, no, my dear, this is no such matter. The ger. tleman I intend

Mrs. G.

You intend !

Grub. Yes, I intend.

Mrs. G. You intend! What! do you presume to dispose of my child without my consent? Mind your money matters, Mr. Grub look at your bulls, and your bears, and your lame ducks, and take care they don't make you waddle out of the Alley, as the saying is—but leave to me the management of my child.--What! Things are come to a fine

pass indeed! I suppose you intend to marry the poor inno

cent to one of your city cronies, your factors, your supercargoes, packers or dry salters; but I'll have none of them. Mr. Grub, no, I'll have none of them It shall never be said, that, after coming to this end of the town, the great Miss Grub was forced to trudge into the city again for a husband. Grub. Why, you are mad, Mrs. Grub.

Mrs. G. No, you shall find I am not mad, Mr. Grub ;that I know how to dispose of my child, Mr. Grub.-What! did my poor dear brother leave his fortune to me and my child, and shall she now be disposed of without consulting me?

Grub. Why, you are mad. certainly! If you will but hear me, you shall be consulted.-Have I not always consulted you?-To please you, was I not inclined to marry my daughter to a lord? and has she not been hawked about, till all the peerage of the three kingdoms turn up their noses at you and your daughter? Did I not treat with my Lord Spindle, my Lord Thoughtless, and my Lord Manikin? and did we not agree, for the first time in our lives that it would be better to find out a commoner for her as the people of quality now a days marry for only a winter or so?

Mrs. G. Very well, we did so; and who. pray. is the proper person to find out a match for her? Who, but her inother, Mr. Grub?-who goes into company with no other view. Mr. Grub-who flatters herself she is no contemptible judge of mankind Mr. Grub-yes, Mr. Grub, as good a judge as any woman on earth, Mr. Grub.

Grub. That I believe, Mrs. Grub.

Mrs. G. Who then but me should have the disposal of

her? and very well I have disposed of her. I have got her a husband in my eye.

Grub. You got her a husband?

Mrs. G.

Yes. I have got her a husband.

Grub. No. no, no, Mrs. Grub, that will never do.-What! have I been toiling upwards of fifty years,-up early, down late, shopkeeper and housekeeper, made a great fortune, which I could never find in my heart to enjoy-and now, when all the comfort I have in the world, the settlement of my child. is in agitation, shall I not speak? shall I not have leave to approve of her husband?

Mrs. G. Heyday! You are getting into your tantrums, I see.

Grub. What did I not leave the city, every friend in the world with whom I used to pass an evening? Did I not, to please you, take this house here? Nay, did I not make a fool of myself, by going to learn to come in and go out of a room, with the grown gentlemen in Cow-lane? Did I not put on a sword, too. at your desire? and had I not like to have broken my neck down stairs, by its getting between my legs, at that diabolical Lady what-d'ye-call-her's rout? and did not all the footmen and chairmen laugh at me?

Mrs. G. And well they might. truly. An obstinate old fool

Grub. Ay, ay, that may be; but I'll have my own way -I'll give my daughter to the man I like-I'll have no Sir This nor Lord Tother-I'll have no fellow with his waist down to his knees, and a shirt like a monkey's jacket -with a coat no bigger than its button, his shoe-buckles upon his toes, and cue thicker than his leg.

Mrs. G. Why, Mr. Grub, you are certainly mad, raving, distracted.-No, the man I propose

Grub. And the man I propose

Mrs. G. Is a young gentleman of fortune, discretion, parts, sobriety. and connections.

Grub. And the man I propose is a gentleman of abilities, fine fortune, prudence, temperance, and every virtue. Mrs. G. And his name is

Grub. And his name is Bevil.

[blocks in formation]

Grub. Yes. Bevil, I say. and a very pretty name, too. Mrs. G What! Mr. Bevil of Lincolnshire?

Grub. Yes, Mr. Bevil of Lincolnshire.

Mrs. G. Oh, my dear Mr. Grub, you delight me! Mr. Bevil is the very man I meant.

Grub. Is it possible? Why, where have you met him? Mrs. G. O, at several places; but particularly at Mrs. Matchem's assemblies.

Grub. Indeed! was ever anything so fortunate? Didn't I tell you that our inclinations jumped; but I wonder that he never told me that he was acquainted with you.

Mrs. G. Nay, I cannot help thinking it odd that he should never tell me he had met with you! but I see he is a prudent man: he was determined to be liked by both of But where did you meet with him?

us.

Grub. Why, he bought some stock of me, and so we became acquainted; but I am so overjoyed, I scarce know what to say. My dear Mrs. Grub, let us send for the child and open the business at once to her.--I am so overjoyed— who would have thought it? Let us send for Emily-poor dear soul, she little thinks how happy we are going to make her.

XVII. FROM THE RIVALS.-Sheridan.

SIR ANTHONY

ABSOLUTE-CAPTAIN ABSOLUTE-FAG-ERRAND

BOY.

Scene 1.-Captain Absolute's Lodgings.

[Enter Fag and Sir Anthony.]

Fag. Sir Anthony Absolute, sir. [Exit.]

Capt. A. Sir Anthony, I am delighted to see you here, and looking so well! your sudden arrival at Bath made me apprehensive for your health.

Sir A. Very apprehensive, I dare say, Jack. Jack What, you are recruiting here, hey?

Capt. A. Yes, sir. I am on duty.

Sir A. Well, Jack, I am glad to see you, though I did not expect it, for I was going to write to you on a little matter of business. Jack, I have been considering that I grow old and infirm, and shall probably not trouble you long.

Capt. A. Pardon me, sir, I never saw you look more strong and hearty, and I pray fervently that you may continue so.

« ÀÌÀü°è¼Ó »