ACT IV.

Enter HASTINGS and Miss NEVILLE.

OU

HASTINGS.

YOU surprise me! Sir Charles Marlow expected here this night? Where have you had your information?

Miss NEVILLE.

You may depend upon it. I just saw his letter to Mr. Hardcastle, in which he tells him he intends setting out a few hours after his son.

HASTINGS.

Then, my Constance, all must be completed before he arrives. He knows me; and should he find me here, would discover my name, and perhaps my designs, to the rest of the family.

Miss NEVILLE The jewels, I hope, are safe.

HASTINGS.

Yes, yes. I have sent them to Marlow, who keeps the keys of our baggage. In the meantime, I'll go to prepare matters for our elopement. I have had the Squire's promise of a fresh pair of horses; and, if I should not see him again, will write him further directions. [Exit.

Miss NE VILLE.

Well! success attend you. In the meantime, I'll go amuse my aunt with the old pretence of a violent passion for my cousin.

K

[Exit.

Enter

Enter MARLOW, followed by a Servant.
MARLO W.

I wonder what Hastings could mean by sending me so valuable a thing as a casket to keep for him, when he knows the only place I have is the feat of a post-coach at an Inn-door. Have you deposited the casket with the landlady, as I ordered you? Have you put it into her own hands?

SERVANT.

Yes, your honour.

MARLO W.

She said he'd keep it safe, did she?

SERVAN T.

Yes, she said he'd keep it safe enough; the ask'd me how I came by it? and she said she had a great mind to make nie give an account of myself.

MARLOW.

[Exit Servant.

Ha ha ha! They're safe however. What an unaccountable set of beings have we got amongst! This little bar-maid though runs in my head most strangely, and drives out the absurdities of all the rest of the family. She's mine, she must be mine, or I'm greatly mistaken.

Enter HASTINGS.

HASTINGS.

Bless me! I quite forgot to tell her that I intended to prepare at the bottom of the garden. Marlow here, and in spirits too !

MARLO W.

Give me joy, George! Crown me, shadow me with laurels! Well, George, after all, we modest fellows don't want for success among the women.

HAST

HASTINGS.

Some women you mean.

But what success has your honour's modesty been crowned with now, that it grows so insolent upon us?

MARLOW."

Didn't you see the tempting, brisk, lovely, little thing that runs about the house with a bunch of keys to its girdle?

HASTINGS.

Well! and what then?

MARLO W.

She's mine, you rogue you. Such fire, such motion, such eyes, such lipsbut, egad! The would not let me kiss them though.

HASTINGS.

But are you so sure, so very sure of her?

MARLO W..

Why man, she talk'd of showing me her work above-stairs, and I am to improve the

pattern.

ASTINGS.

But how can you, Charles, go about to rob a woman of her honour?

MARLOW.

A

Phaw! pshaw! we all know the honour of the bar-maid of an inn. I don't intend to rob her, take my word for it, there's nothing in this house, I shan't honestly pay for.

HASTINGS.

'I believe the girl has virtue.

MARLO W.

And if he has, I should be the last man in the world that would attempt to corrupt it.

HASTINGS

You have taken care, I hope, of the casket I sent you to lock up? It's in safety?

K 2

MAR

MARLO W.

Yes, yes. It's safe enough. I have taken care of it. But how could you think the seat of a postcoach at an Inn-door a place of safety? Ah! numbskull! I have taken better precautions for you than you did for yourself.I have

What!

HASTINGS.

MARLOW.

I have sent it to the landlady to keep for you.

HASTINGS.

To the landlady!

MARLO W.

The landlady.

HASTINGS.

You did.

MARLOW.

I did. She's to be answerable for its forth-coming, you know.

HASTINGS.

Yes, she'll bring it forth, with a witness.

MARLO W.

Wasn't I right? I believe you'll allow that I acted prudently upon this occasion?

HASTINGS.. (Aside.) He must not see my uneasiness.

MARLO W.

You seem a little disconcerted though, methinks. Sure nothing has happened?

HASTINGS.

No, nothing. Never was in better spirits in all my life. And so you left it with the landlady, who, no doubt, very readily undertook the charge?

MAR

MARLO W.

Rather too readily. For she not only kept the casket; but, thro' her great precaution, was going to keep the messenger too. Ha! ha! ha!

HASTINGS.

He he he! They're safe however.

MARLOW.

As a guinea in a miser's purse.

HASTINGS.

(Aside.) So now all hopes of fortune are at an end, and we must set off without it. (To him.) Well, Charles, I'll leave you to your meditations on the pretty bar-maid, and, he! he! he! may you be as successful for yourself as you have been for [Exit.

me.

MARLO W.

Thank ye, George! I ask no more. Ha! ha! ha!

Enter HARD CASTLE.

HARD CASTLE.

I no longer know my own house. It's turned all topsey-turvey. His servants have got drunk already. I'll bear it no longer, and yet, from my respect for his father, I'll be calm. (To him.) Mr. Marlow, your servant. I'm your very humble servant.

MARLOW.

(bowing low.

Sir, your humble servant. (Aside.) What's to be the wonder now?

HARD CASTLE.

I believe, Sir, you must be sensible, Sir, that no man alive ought to be more welcome than your father's son, Sir. I hope you think fo?

MAR