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such things have happened-oh, dear! I do not like it at

all.

Pet. There she goes! there she goes!
Ern. With the Captain?

Pet. No, by herself-and there's Delve after her as hard as he can scamper! I'll follow-I'll-no, I can'tI can't move—I—I feel very ill-my head spins round like a top. Here comes the Captain.

Ern. Amersfort! I am ready to sink!

Pet. Don't, don't, mamzelle-for I've no strength to catch you.

Enter AMERSFORT, L.

Amer. [Aside.] She is here-now for the trial.-Mademoiselle Ernestine, I came to seek you.

Ern. Indeed, sir: and for what ? purpose I thought I had desired you to pay your attentions in another quarter for the present.

Amer. It is in perfect accordance with that desire, that I have sought this interview. I am anxious to express my gratitude for the blessing which you have so unexpectedly bestowed on me.

Ern. What do you mean, sir?

Amer. I mean, Mademoiselle Rosendaal, that the heart you treated with so much indifference has been accepted by one of the most lovely and amiable of your sex; and that, in the affection of Gertrude, it has found a balm for all the wounds you had so wantonly inflicted on it.

Pet. There! there! I told you so!

Ern. Upon my word, sir! and you have the assurance to make this confession to me?

Amer. Why not, Mademoiselle? We are not masters of our own affections, and therefore I will not reproach you. But can you be surprised that I should weary of loving one who did not love me? or that, stung to the quick by your contempt, I should be more sensible to the kindness and sympathy of another? Gertrude is lovely! Pet. She is! she is!

Amer. The sweetest tempered-the most frank and affectionate of beings!

Pet. Too true! too true!

Amer. The possession of her heart is a blessing monarchs might envy me.

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Amer. And monarchs have matched with maidens as lowly born, and far less deserving.

Ern. Enough!-enough, sir!

Pet. No, it's not enough! he can't say too much about her. She hasn't her equal upon earth.

Amer. You are right, farmer; and I thank you for the honest warmth with which you justify my choice. Pet. Your choice! Don't touch me.

Amer. My sweet bride,-my affianced wife,-Madame Amersfort will thank you in person.

Pet. His wife! Madame Amersfort! Cruel, faithless Gertrude!

Amer. Faithless! why, did you ever propose to her? Amer. No: but I meant to do so.—Oh, dear!

Ern. Your wife! your wife! And you really intend to marry this orphan girl?

her mar

Amer. I have desired my lawyer to prepare riage contract, which shall be signed this evening. Pet. Oh!

Ern. Not in this house, sir! I will not be insulted to that extent. I go this moment to inform my father. Amer. The Baron Van Rosendaal is already informed; and approves of my intentions.

Ern. Approves! We shall see, sir-we shall see!

AIR.-(From "The Challenge.")

ERNESTINE.

Such perfidy never was known-
I joy in its unmasking!

PETER.

Ch, Gertrude, you've a heart of stone,
To break a heart so true!

AMERSFORT.

Why, had she promised you?

PETER.

No, there's her falsehood shown!
So bent was she on jilting me,
She could not wait for asking.

AMERSFORT.

Well, there with you I must agree,
Such falsehood ne'er was known.

PETER.

I'm sure with me you must agree
Such falsehood ne'er was known.

ERNESTINE.

'Tis well, 'tis well, sir, we shall see.
Such falsehood ne'er was known.

[Exit, R.

Amer. Aside.] Yes, yes, my fair tyrant, your father is in the plot! I think we have you now.- -[Aloud.] Well, my good friend, I must say I pity you extremely :-you have lost a model of a wife.

Pet. Don't! don't!

Amer. But where is she?-where is my adored Gertrude?

Enter Gertrude, L. S. E., dressed as a bride. Amersfort makes signs to her not to speak, and points at Peter, who stands in an attitude of comic despair, with his back towards them.

I must hasten to find her. I cannot bear to be an instant from her sight. Oh, Peter! Peter! what a treasure has escaped you! [Exit, R., exchanging signs with Gertrude.

Pet. [Soliloquising.] Escaped me!-as if I was a mad dog, and it was an escape for Gertrude! An escape! and I have let her escape! Well, well, she wont be Madame Swyzel, nor Madame Sneek; and that rascal Delve hasn't got her-that's one comfort. Comfort! I talk of comfort? I shall never know comfort again! Oh, Gertrude ! Gertrude!

Ger. [Advancing, R.] Did you call me, Peter?

Pet. Ha! what do I see? There's a dress-a wedding dress! It is! it is!

Ger. It is it is a beautiful dress, as you say, and I don't wonder you start to see me in such a dress; but as the bride of a Captain, you know

Pet. (L.) It is true, then, you are going-going to marry Captain Amersfort ?

Ger. Ah, he has told you, then? Well, I was in hopes of giving you an agreeable surprise.

Pet. An agreeable surprise!

Ger. Why, are you not delighted, Peter, at my good fortune?

Pet. Delighted!

Ger. Only think-a poor orphan girl like me, whom nobody loved, and nobody cared about

Pet. It isn't true. I cared about you-I loved you— I doated on you!

Ger. You, Peter! you! Mercy on me! And why didn't you tell me so, then?

Pet. Because I didn't know it myself, then; but I do now, Gertrude-I do now.

Ger. Now!-now that it is too late?

Pet. But is it ?—Is it too late? You are not married yet.

Ger. No, but I have promised. The contract is ordered, and this beautiful dress was bought by the Captain on purpose. You would not have me behave so shamefully to one who loves me dearly?

Pet. But I-I love you dearly.

Ger. Ah, if you had but said so an hour ago! But you thought of everybody but me.

Pet. I know it-I know it. But then nobody thought of you; and now everybody does, and it proves to me that you-you are the only girl in the world that I ought to marry; and if you won't have me, I-I know what I'll do.

Ger. Dear me, Peter, what?

Pet. I'll fling myself into the canal.

Ger, Nonsense!

Pet. You see if I don't then.

I'm not desperate till I

take anything in my head; but then nothing can turn me.

AIR.("Take care of the corner.")

PETER.

I rush to my fate,

And my funeral straight

Way shall follow my latest transgression '
And in the church-yard

It shall go very hard,

But it meets with your bridal procession'
When my coffin appears,

You will melt into tears,

And your friends in your grief will be shares

GERTRUDE.

Oh, yes, not only J,

But my husband will cry

"Stand out of the way," to the bearers!

Pet. Laughed at! I'll jump over the wall, here, into the canal, before your face.

Ger. Indeed you shan't. Peter, don't be a fool.-[Trying to hold him.]-Oh, dear, he will! Murder!-help!

Enter ERNESTIne, r.

Ern. What's the matter now?

Ger. Oh, Mamzelle, help me to hold Peter. He wants to drown himself.

Ern. He is sillier than ever I supposed him, if he would drown himself for so worthless a person. I wonder you are not ashamed to look me in the face.

Ger. I'm very sorry, Mamzelle. I know you only lent me a lover; but how can I give you him back, if he wont go?

Ern. Cease your impertinence. Your simplicity is all affected.

Ger. I'm sure, Mamzelle, if the Captain will only consent, I'll give him up with pleasure.

Pet. You will?

Ern. You will? Hark ye, Gertrude! Don't think that I care the least about Captain Amersfort-his behaviour has entirely destroyed any little affection I might have had for him; but only to vex him in my turn, if you will promise not to marry him

Pet. De, do.

Ern, I will settle a handsome income on you.

Pet. There! there!

Ern. Tell him that you do not love him.

Pet. Yes, yes.

Ern. That you love another-anybody.

Pet. Yes, me!-I'm ready to be loved.

Ger. [Aside.] I see him!-now's the time. [Aloud.] Well, Mamzelle, 1 believe it would be only the truth-Í have a great respect for Captain Amersfort, but I certainly do not love him and perhaps I do love somebody else. [Looking at Peter.

Pet. Oh, Gertrude !

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