DUTCH AIR.-GERTRUDE.
Think not I the heart would keep,
I'm content to borrow;

See, if I don't have a heap,

To pay it from, to-morrow.
Money, money makes, they say-
The job is to get any!

And lovers grow-so money may.

ERNESTINE.

Oh, yes, one fool makes many.

Ern. [To Amersfort.] One step, and you lose me forever.

[Exit. Amer. [To himself.] This passes everything. I am a fool, indeed, and love her like a fool, or I would never bear

Ger. Only think! I've got a beau at last-and such a beau--an officer! a fine, young, handsome officer! What'll Peter say to that?

Amer. And while I thus humour her caprices, she returns to the house to flirt with that puppy, Amstell, or that booby, Blankenburg.

Ger. But he takes no more notice of me than Peter, himself.

Amer. I will not endure it. I will follow her, and

Ger. Stop! stop! you mustn't run away-you're only lent to me, you know-and if I should lose you, there'll be a pretty business!

Amer. [Laughing in despite of himself.] Upon my word, this is is too ridiculous. So you really look upon me as

a loan, do you?

Ger. Yes, and I don't choose to be left alone. My stars! Peter could do that.

Amer. Peter! who's Peter? I thought you said hadn't a sweetheart in the world?

Ger. Nor have I.

you

Amer. Come, come, no fibs! You've betrayed yourse.f. This said Peter, isn't he a sweetheart?

Gr. No, I don't think he is at least, I don't know. What do you call a sweetheart-one whom you love, or one who loves you?

Amer. One who loves you, of course.

B

Ger. Well, then, I'm right, he is not my sweetheart; but I am his, for I love him dearly.

Amer. What a candid little soul!

And so you really

But

love Peter dearly, though Peter doesn't love you? are you sure he doesn't love you ?

Ger. I don't believe he ever thought about it.

Amer. Is it possible! Why, you are very pretty. [Aside.] Upon my soul, she is uncommonly pretty. I wonder I never noticed her before. [Aloud.] And so Peter has never thought about you?

Ger. No

SONG.-("Faut l'oblier.")

I've no money; so, you see,
Peter never thinks of me-
I own it to my sorrow!

Oh, could I grow rich, and he
Be reduced to poverty,

What sweet revenge 'twould be for me
To marry him to-morrow!

Peter's thought almost a fool,
You have profited by school-

Wit from you folks borrow!

Peter's plain-you handsome, gay;
But if you were both to say-

"Will you have me, Gertrude, pray?"
I'd marry him to-morrow!

Amer. There's love!-there's devotion!

What charming frankness!-what innocent enthusiasm! By Jove! if she wasn't so fond of another, I should be almost tempted -if it were only to punish Ernestine! 1-I—[Aloud.] Confound that Peter! Almost a fool-he must be a downright idiot not to fall head over ears in love with such a sweet, dear, bewitching [Catches her round the waist; he is about to kiss her as PETER SPYK enters with SWYZEL.

Swy. I beg your pardon, captain.

[Both stop short-Peter staring at Gertrude.

Ger. [Aside.] Oh, lud, there is Peter!

Amer. What the devil do you want?

Swy. Only to introduce Peter Spyk-an honest young farmer-who desires to be your honour's tenant.

Amer. Peter Spyk! What, is this the Peter?

Ger. Yes, that's Peter Spyk: and he wants to rent your

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 happythat'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 you 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 !

e;

A cross

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

Siry. 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