Miss. Hard. He must have more striking features to catch me, I promise you. However, if he be so young, so handsome, and so everything as you mention, I believe he'll do still. I think I'll have him. Hard. Ay, Kate, but there is still an obstacle. It's more than an even wager he may not have you. Miss Hard. My dear papa, why will you mortify one so? Well, if he refuses, instead of breaking my heart at his indifference, I'll only break my glass for its flattery, set my cap to some newer fashion, and look out for some less difficult admirer. Hard. Bravely resolved! In the meantime, I'll go prepare the servants for his reception: as we seldom see company, they want as much training as a company of recruits the first day's muster. [Exit. Miss Hard. [Alone.] Lud, this news of papa's puts me all in a flutter. Young, handsome; these he put last; but I put them foremost. Sensible, good-natured; I like all that. But then reserved and sheepish, that's much against him. Yet cant he be cured of his timidity, by being taught to be proud of his wife? Yes; and cant I teach him? but I vow I'm disposing of the husband, before I have secured the lover. Enter MISS NEVILLE. Miss Hard. I'm glad you're come, Neville, my dear. Tell me, Constance, how do I look this evening? Is there anything whimsical about me? Is it one of my well-looking days, child? am I in face to-day? Miss Nev. Perfectly, my dear. Yet now I look again-bless me! sure no accident has happened among the canary birds or the gold fishes. Has your brother or the cat been meddling? or has the last novel been too moving? Miss Hard. No; nothing of all this. I have been threatened-I can scarce get it out-I have been threatened with a lover. Miss Nev. And his name Miss Hard. The son of Sir Charles Marlow. Miss Nev. As I live, the most intimate friend of Mr. Hastings, my admirer. They are never asunder. I believe you must have seen him when we lived in town. Miss Nev. He's a very singular character, I assure you. Among women of reputation and virtue, he is the modestest man alive; but his acquaintance give him a very different character among creatures of another stamp; you understand me. Miss Hard. An odd character indeed. I shall never be able to manage him. What shall I do? Psha! think no more of him, but trust to occurrences for success. But how goes on your own affair, my dear? has my mother been courting you for my brother Tony as usual? Miss Nev. I have just come from one of our agreeable tête-à-têtes. She has been saying a hundred tender things, and setting off her pretty monster as the very pink of perfection. Miss Hard. And her actually thinks him so. small temptation. partiality is such, that she A fortune like yours is no Besides, as she has the sole management of it, I'm not surprised to see her unwilling to let it go out of the family. Miss Nev. A fortune like mine, which chiefly consists in jewels, is no such mighty temptation. But at any rate, if my dear Hastings be but constant, I make no doubt to be too hard for her at last. However, I let her suppose that I am in love with her son; and she never once dreams that my affections are fixed upon another. Miss Hard. My good brother holds out stoutly. I could almost love him for hating you so. Miss Nev. It is a good-natured creature at bottom; and I'm sure would wish to see me married to anybody but himself. But my aunt's bell rings for our afternoon's walk round the improvements. Allons! Courage is necessary, as our affairs are critical. Miss Hard. "Would it were bed-time, and all were well." [Exeunt. Several shabby fellows with punch and tobacco. TONY at the head of the table, a little higher than the rest, a mallet in his hand. Omnes. Hurra! hurra! hurra! bravo! First Fel. Now, gentlemen, silence for a song. The squire is going to knock himself down for a song. Omnes. Ay, a song! a song! Tony. Then I'll sing you, gentlemen, a song I made upon this alehouse-the Three Pigeons. Song. Let schoolmasters puzzle their brain, With grammar, and nonsense, and learning; Good liquor, I stoutly maintain, Gives genus a better discerning. Let them brag of their heathenish gods, Their Lethes, their Styxes, and Stygians; Toroddle, toroddle, toroll. When methodist preachers come down, They always preach best with a skin full. But you, my good friend, are the pigeon. Then come, put the jorum about, Here's the Three Jolly Pigeons for ever. Your bustards, your ducks, or your widgeons; Here's a health to the Three Jolly Pigeons. Omnes. Bravo, bravo! First Fel. The squire has got spunk in him. Second Fel. I loves to hear him sing, bekays he never gives us nothing that's low. Third Fel. Oh, damn anything that's low, I cannot bear it. Fourth Fel. The genteel thing is the genteel thing at any time. If so be that a gentleman bees in a concatenation accordingly. Third Fel. I like the maxum of it, Master Muggins. What though I am obligated to dance a bear, a man may be a gentleman for all that. May this be my poison if my bear ever dances but to the very genteelest of tunes: "Water Parted," or "The Minuet in Ariadne." Second Fel. What a pity it is the squire is not come It would be well for all the publicans to his own. within ten miles round of him. Tony. Ecod, and so it would, Master Slang. I'd then show what it was to keep choice of company. Second Fel. Oh, he takes after his own father for that. To be sure old Squire Lumpkin was the finest gentleman I ever set my eyes on. For winding the strait horn, or beating a thicket for a hare, or a wench, he never had his fellow. It was a saying in the place, that he kept the best horses, dogs, and girls in the whole county. Tony. Ecod, and when I'm of age, I'll be no bastard, I promise you. I have been thinking of Bet Bouncer and the miller's grey mare to begin with. But come, my boys, drink about and be merry, for you pay no reckoning. Well, Stingo, what's the matter? Enter LANDLord. Land. There be two gentlemen in a post-chaise at the door. They have lost their way upo' the forest; and they are talking something about Mr. Hardcastle. Tony. As sure as can be, one of them must be the gentleman that's coming down to court my sister. they seem to be Londoners? Do Land. I believe they may. They look woundily like Frenchmen. Tony. Then desire them to step this way, and I'll set them right in a twinkling. (Exit Landlord.] Gentlemen, as they maynt be good enough company for you, step down for a moment, and I'll be with you in the squeezing of a lemon. Tony. [Alone.] Father-in-law has been calling me whelp and hound this half year. Now, if I pleased, I could be so revenged upon the [Exeunt mob. old grumbletonian. |