farm of Appledoorn; and I am sure you can't do better than to let him have it, for he's as good a farmer, and as honest a young man

Amer. If you interest yourself for him, my dear Gertrude, that is sufficient.—[Aside to Swyzel.] Swyzel, come here I am much interested about this girl!-I've taken a great fancy to her!

Swy. What, to our Gertrude?-to that poor, simple thing? Well, I thought just now you seemed rathereh? You're a terrible man, captain! What will mamzelle say?

Amer. Oh, it's all in pure friendship, I assure you; but come this way, and tell me all you know about her. [Aloud to Peter.] I'll speak to you presently, young man.

[Amersfort and Swyzel enter the summer-house, R. s. E. Ger. Peter, you'll have the farm!

Pet. No, shall I, though? Well, I thought he said something like it; and because you asked him, too! I say, you and he seem great friends-he'd got his arm around your waist!

Ger. Had he?—oh, yes, I believe he had.

Pet. Well, now, I've known you ever since you were that high, and I'm sure I never put my arm round your waist!

Ger. No, that you never did! But then, he's my sweetheart!

Pet. Your sweetheart ?-yours? What, the captain? Pshaw! you're joking!

Ger. Joking!-indeed I'm not joking! What is there so strange in it, pray?

Pet. Why, in the first place, he's mamzelle's sweetheart!

Ger. Not now.

Pet. What, has he left her for you? Why, what can a rich officer like that see in a poor servant girl?

Ger. Don't be a brute, Peter! If you can't see anything to like in me, it's no reason that others should not.

Pet. Me!-oh, that's a different affair; because you and I, you know, there's not so much difference between us, and-oh, by the bye, talking of that-I've been thinking of what you said to me, and I wont wait any longer-not even till to-morrow-I've fixed on Anne Stein. Her mo

ther was here just now, on some business with old Swyzel, and something was dropped about my having the Appledoorn farm; and Swyzel says, she gave him a hint that her daughter Anne was very fond of me, and that decided me at once.

Ger. It did?

Pet. Oh, yes; because, where a woman is really fond of one, you know-So, directly I've settled with the captain about the farm, I'll post off to Widow Stein's, and—well, what's the matter with you, Gertrude? Why, you are crying!

Ger. Nothing-nothing! I wish you may be happy— that's all, Peter.

Pet. Thank ye-thank ye! It's very kind of you to cry for joy about me, I'm sure—and I won't forget my pro

mise.

Re-enter AMERSFORT and SwYZEL from the summerhouse, R. S. E.

Swy. You can't be in earnest, Captain?

Amer. I tell you, there it is, in black and white! Put a wafer in that [Giving a note], and send it immediately to my lawyer's, as directed.

Swy. [Aside.] Two thousand crowns to portion off a wench like that. 'Gad, she wont want a husband long. [Exit, R. Amer. [To Peter.] Now for you, Farmer. I find there are writing materials in the summer-house, so we can― Ger. Stop! stop!—one word.

Amer. What is it?

Ger. [Leading him apart from Peter.] You are my beau, you know, and you're to do everything I bid you l

Amer. Of course.

Ger. Well, then, I bid you refuse the farm to Peter Spyk!

Amer. Refuse!-Why, I thought you said—

Ger. It doesn't signify what I said!-I've changed my mind! I suppose I may do that as well as your fine ladies! You're to obey me!-Mamzelle Ernestine said so: and I don't choose vou shall let Peter have the farm!

[Speaking the last five words loud enough for Peter to

hear.

Pet. [Aside.] “Let Peter have the farm!" 'Gad, she's giving me a famous lift with the Captain.

Amer. Well, if you don't choose, he sha'n't have it, certainly; and I'm not sorry, for I don't think he deserves it. And now listen to me. I mean to help you to a good husband, and, in return, you must assist me in a little plot. I can't stay to tell you now; but meet me in half an hour's time at the sun-dial yonder. May I depend upon you? Ger. That you may.

Amer. Enough! Now, [Crosses, L.] Master Peter Spyk, follow me. There's no occasion for writing: we can settle this business in two words.

Pet. [Aside.] The farm's mine! [To Gertrude.] I owe you a good turn for this! [Exit with Amersfort, L.

Ger. Indeed you do. If Anne Stein marries him now, I'm mistaken in the family altogether.

Re-enter SwYZEL, R.

Swy. I've sent Delve with the note; but I've made up my mind. I'm not a young man, certainly; and I had no idea of changing my situation; but two thousand crowns will suit me as well as anybody in the world, and so here goes-there's nothing like being first in the field [Aloud.] Gertrude! Gertrude !-come hither, Gertrude; I want to say a word to you in private !

Ger. To me, Master Steward? [Aside.] Oh, dear, now he's going to scold me for something, I'm sure. A cross old patch!

Swy. Come here, I tell you! Nearer-don't be afraid -I'm going to propose something for your good, my dear!

Ger. [Aside.] "My dear!" Bless me, how kind he's grown all of a sudden!

Swy. I've known you a long while. Gertrude-from your cradle, in fact. I knew your poor dear father and mother, and I always had a great affection for you!

Ger. You, Mynheer Swyzel ?—I'm sure you never showed it, then.

Swy. May be not-may be not! I was afraid of spoiling you, as a child; but now, you know, you are grown up, and very nicely you have grown up-I see it more and more every day-and, in short, Gertrude I've been think

ing that, as I am a bachelor, I couldn't do better than marry a good, pretty girl like you, whose character aud temper I have watched the growth of from an infant.

Ger. You-you, Mynheer Swyzel, marry me?

Swy. Why not-why not?—if you have no objection. I'm only fifty-five, and a hale, hearty man for that age. I have saved some money in the service, and—

Ger. But I haven't a doit in the world!

Swy. Nay; nay!-you are richer than you think for!

Ger. Eh?

Swy. In charms-in youth and beauty!

Ger. [Aside.] So-so! here's a real, downright sweetheart at last!-and old Swyzel, too, of all men in the world! I shall die of laughing!

Swy. [Aside. She's silent!-she hesitates! thousand crowns are mine!

The two

Ger. [Aside. Here's Peter coming back. If I could manage [Aloud.] Besides, that isn't the way to swear you love a body-you should go down on your knees!

Swy. There!-there, then! [Kneels.] Charming Gertrude, on my knees I swear eternal love and constancy! Enter PETER, L

Pet. Halloo!-why, Mynheer Swyzel, what are you doing there?

Swy. [Scrambling up.] Confusion! [Aloud.] I--nothing-only kneeling to—[Aside to Gertrude.] Don't say anything to that fool. Come to my room as soon as you've got rid [Exit, R.

of him.

Ger. You here again, Peter?

Pet. Here again!-I believe I am, too; and just as I went away. Would you believe it ?-Captain Amersfort

won't let me have the farm after all!

Ger. Dear me !-you don't say so?

Pet. He wouldn't hear a word; and, to make matters worse, old Widow Stein, who saw me talking to him, waited to hear the upshot; and, when I told her, she as good as gave me to understand that I wasn't match enough for her daughter, and that Anne herself liked Groot, the miller, much better than she did me! A coquette!-you said she was a coquette !-and you were quite right. I don't know how it is, but you're always right!-you've got more sense than all of 'em put together; and, for the matter of looks, why, there's the captain's vows-and, talking of vows, what was old Swyzel about on his knees? I do believe he was vowing, too!

Ger. Between you and me, he was vowing all sorts of love to me!—and he wants me to marry him!

Pet. Marry him!-marry old Swyzel!—and will you? Ger. I don't know!-what do think? Would you like me to marry him, Peter?

you

Pet. Not at all! I don't know how it is, but I can't fancy your marrying anybody--that is, I never thought of your marrying anybody; and, now I do think of it, I thinkGer. Well-What?

Enter DELVE, with a note, R.

Del. Oh, Gertrude, here you are; here's a note for you. It's very particular-they gave me a florin to run all the way!

Ger. A note for me?-who is it from?

Del. The clerk at Van Nickem's, the lawyer's. I took a letter there for the captain, and, as his master wasn't at home, the clerk opened it, and wrote this answer to the captain, and then scribbled that for you, and begged me to give you yours first-and so I have: and now I must find the captain.

[Exit, R.