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Mifs NEVILLE.

I'm coming. Well, constancy. Remember, constancy is the word.

HASTINGS.

[Exit.

My heart! How can I support this. To be so near happiness, and such happiness.

MARLO.W.

[To Tony.] You see now, young gentleman, the effects of your folly. What might be amusement to you, is here disappointment, and even distress. TONY.

[From a reverie.] Ecod, I have hit it. Its here. Your hands. Yours and yours, my poor Sulky. My boots there, ho. Meet me two hours hence at the bottom of the garden; and if you don't find Tony Lumpkin a more good-natur'd fellow than you thought for, I'll give you leave to take my best horse, and Bet Bouncer into the bargain. Come along. My boots, ho. [Exeunt.

END OF THE FOURTH ACT.

ACT

ACT

V.

SCENE Continues.

Enter HASTINGS and SERVANT.

HASTINGS.

Y drive off, you fay.

faw the Old Lady and Miss Neville

SERVANT.

Yes, your honour. They went off in a post coach, and the young 'Squire went on horseback. They're thirty miles off by this time.

HASTINGS.

Then all my hopes are over.

SERVA N T.

Yes, Sir. Old Sir Charles is arrived. He and the Old Gentleman of the house have been laughing at Mr. Marlow's mistake this half hour. They are coming this way.

HASTINGS.

Then I must not be seen. So now to my fruitless appointment at the bottom of the garden. This is about the time.

[Exit.

Enter Sir CHARLES and HARDCASTLE

HARDCASTLE.

Ha ha ha! The peremptory tone in which he sent forth his sublime commands.

Sir CHARLES.

And the reserve with which I suppose he treated all your advances.

HARD.

HARDCASTLE.

And yet he might have seen something in me above a common inn-keeper, too.

Sir CHARLES.

Yes, Dick, but he mistook you for an uncom mon innkeeper, ha! ha! ha!

HARDCASTLE.

Well, I'm in too good spirits to think of any thing but joy. Yes, my dear friend, this union of our families will make our personal friendships hereditary; and tho' my daughter's fortune is but small

Sir CHARLES.

Why, Dick, will you talk of fortune to me. My son is possessed of more than a competence already, and can want nothing but a good and virtuous girl to share his happiness and encrease it. If they like each other, as you say they do

HARDCASTLE.

If, man. I tell you they do like each other. My daughter as good as told me so.

Sir CHARLES.

But girls are apt to flatter themselves, you know.

HARDCASTLE.

I saw him grasp her hand in the warmest manner myself; and here he comes to put you out of your ifs, I warrant him.

Enter MARLOW.

MARLOW.

I come, Sir, once more, to ask pardon for my strange conduct. I can scarce reflect on my insolence without confusion.

HARD

HARD CASTL E.

Tut, boy, a trifle. You take it too gravely. An hour or two's laughing with my daughter will set all to rights again. She'll never like you the worse for it.

MARLO W.

Sir, I shall be always proud of her approba tion.

HARD CASTLE.

Approbation is but a cold word, Mr. Marlow; if I am not deceived, you have something more than approbation thereabouts. You take me. MARLOW.

Really, Sir, I have not that happiness.
HARD CASTLE.

Come, boy, I'm an old fellow, and know what's what, as well as you that are younger.

what has past between you; but mum.

MARLO W.

I know

Sure, Sir, nothing has past between us but the most profound respect on my side, and the most distant reserve on her's. You don't think, Sir, that my impudence has been past upon all the rest of the family.

Miss HARDCASTLE.

Impudence! No, I don't say that—Not quite impudence Though girls like to be play'd with, and rumpled a little too sometimes. But she has told no tales, I assure you.

MARLO W.

I never gave her the slightest cause.

HARDCASTLE.

Well, well, I like modesty in its place well enough. But this is over-acting, young gentleman. You may be open. Your father and I will like you the better for it.

MAR

MARLO W.

May I die, Sir, if I ever

HARD CASTLE.

I tell you, she don't dislike you; and as I'm sure you like her

MARLO W.

Dear Sir—I protest, Sir

HARD CASTLE.

I see no reason why you should not be joined as fast as the parson can tie you.

MARLOW.

But hear me, Sir

HARDCASTLE.

Your father approves the match, I admire it, every moment's delay will be doing mischief,

fo

MARLOW.

But why won't you hear me? By all that's just and true, I never gave miss Hardcastle the slightest mark of my attachment, or even the most distant hint to suspect me of affection. We had but one interview, and that was formal, modest and uninteresting.

HARD CASTLE. (Aside.) This fellow's formal modest impu dence is beyond bearing.

Sir CHARLES.

And you never grasped her hand, or made any protestations!

MARLO W.

As heaven is my witness, I came down in obedience to your commands. I saw the lady without emotion, and parted without reluctance. I hope you'll exact no further proofs of my duty, nor prevent me from leaving a house in which I suffer so many mortifications.

N

[Exit.

Sir

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