ÆäÀÌÁö À̹ÌÁö
PDF
ePub

ter?-Good lack! I beg pardon for my bawldnessI did not see 'at his honour was here.

Lord T. Mr. Moody, your servant: I am glad to see you in London: I hope all the good family are well? Moody. Thanks be praised, your honour, they are all in pretty good heart, tho'f we have had a power of crosses upo' the road.

Lady G. I hope my lady has had no hurt, Mr. Moody? Moody. Noa, and please your ladyship, she was never in better humour: there's money enough stirring now. Man. What has been the matter, John?

Moody. Why, we came up in such a hurry, you mun think that our tackle was not so tight as it should be. Man. Come, tell us all.

Lord T. Come, let us sit down. [They take Chairs. Man. Pray how do they travel?

Moody. Why, i'the awld coach, measter; and 'cause my lady loves to do things handsome, to be sure, she would have a couple of cart-horses clapped to the four old geldings, that neighbours might see she went up to London in her coach and six; and so Giles Joulter, the ploughman, rides postillion.

Man. Very well! The journey sets out as it should do. [Aside] What, do they bring all the children with them too?

Moody. Noa, noa, only the younk squoire and miss Jenny. The other foive are all out at board, at half-as crown a head a week, with John Growse, at Smokedunghill farm.

Man. Good again! a right English academy for younger children! Moody. Anon, sir.

[Not understanding him. Lord T. And when do you expeet them here, John? Moody. Nay, nay, for that matter, madam, they're i'very good hands; Joan loves 'em as tho'f they were all her own; for she was wet nurse to every mother's babe o'um Ay, ay, they'll ne'er want a bellyful there. Why we were in hopes to ha' come yesterday, an it had no been that th' awld weazlebelly horse tired: and then we were so cruelly loaden that the two fore

wheels came crash down at once in Waggon-rut-lane, and there we lost four hours 'fore we could set things to rights again.

Man. So they bring all the baggage with the coach, then?

Moody. Ay, ay, and good store on it there is-Why my lady's geer alone were as much as filled four portmantel trunks, beside the great deal box that heavy Ralph and the monkey sit upon behind.

Lord T.

Lady G. Ha, ha, ha!

Man.

Lady G. Well, Mr. Moody, and pray how many are they within the coach?

Moody. Why there's my lady, and his worship, and the younk squoire, and miss Jenny, and the fat lapdog, and my lady's maid, Mrs. Handy, and Doll Tripe the cook, that's all-Only Doll puked a little with riding backward; so they hoisted her into the coach-box, and then her stomach was easy.

ha!

Lady G. Oh, I see them! I see them go by me. Ha, [Laughing. Moody. Then you mun think, measter, there was some stowage for the belly as well as the back too; children are apt to be famished upon the road; so we had such cargoes of plum-cake, and baskets of tongues, and biscuits, and cheese, and cold boiled beef-And then, in case of sickness, bottles of cherry brandy, plague water, sack, tent, and strong beer so plenty as inade th' awld coach crack again. Mercy upon them! and send them all well to town, I say.

Man. Ay, and well out on't again, John.

Moody. Odds bud, measter! you're a wise man; and for that matter, so am I- Whoam's whoam, I say: I am sure we ha' got but little good e'er sin we turned our backs on't. Nothing but mischief! Some devil's trick or other plagued us aw the day lung. Crack goes one thing! bawnce goes another! Woa! says Roger-Then sowse! we are all set fast in a slough. Whaw, cries miss! Scream go the maids! and bawl

just as tho'f they were stuck. And so, mercy on us! this was the trade from morning to night. But my lady was in such a murrain haste to be here, that set out she would, tho'f I told her it was Childermas day. Man. These ladies, these ladies, John

Moody. Ay, measter! I ha' seen a little of them: and I find that the best- -when she's mended, won't ha' much goodness to spare.

Lord T. Well said, John-Ha, ha!

Man. I hope, at least, you and your good woman agree still.

Moody. Ay, ay, much of a muchness. Bridget sticks to me; though as for her goodness-why, she was willing to come to London too-But hauld a bit! Noa, noa, says I, there may be mischief enough done without

you.

Man. Why that was bravely spoken, John, and like

a man.

Moody. Ah, weast heart! were measter but hawf the mon that I am-Odds wookers! tho'f he'll speak stautly too sometimes-But then he canno' hawld it—no, he canno' hawld it.

Lord T.

Lady G. Ha, ha, ha!
Man.

Moody. Odds flesh! but I mun hie me whoam; the coach will be coming every hour naw-but measter charged me to find your worship out; for he has hugey business with you, and will certainly wait upon you by that time he can put on a clean neckcloth.

Man. Oh, John, I'll wait upon him.

Moody. Why you wonno' be so kind, wull ye?
Man. If you'll tell me where you lodge.

Moody. Just i'the street next to where your worship dwells, at the sign of the Golden-ball-its gold all over, where they sell ribbons and flappits, and other sort of geer for gentlewomen.

Man. A milliner's?

Moody. Ay, ay, one Mrs. Motherly. Waunds, she has a couple of clever girls there stitching i'th' fore

room.

Man. Yes, yes, she's a woman of good business, no doubt on't-Who recommended that house to you, John?

Moody. The greatest good fortune in the world, sure; for as I was gaping about the streets, who should look out of the window there but the fine gentleman that was always riding by our coach side at York races -Count-Basset; ay, that's he.

to

Man. Basset! Oh, I remember; I know him by sight. Moody. Well, to be sure, as civil a gentleman to see

Man. As any sharper in town.

Moody. Well, measter—

[Aside.

Lord T. My service to sir Francis and my lady, John.

Lady G. And mine pray, Mr. Moody.

Moody. Ay, your honours; they'll be proud on't, I dare say.

Man. I'll bring my compliments myself: so, honest John

Moody. Dear measter Manly! the goodness of goodness bless and preserve you!

[Exit.

Lord T. What a natural creature 'tis! Ludy G. Well, I can't but think John, in a wet afternoon, in the country, must be very good company.

Lord T. Oh, the tramontane! If this were known at half the quadrille tables in town, they would lay down their cards to laugh at you.

Lady G. And the minute they took them up again they would do the same at the losers--But to let you see that I think good company may sometimes want cards to keep them together, what think you, if we three sat soberly down to kill an hour at ombre?

Man. I shall be too hard for you, madam.

Lady G. No matter, I shall have as much advantage of my lord as you have of me.

Lord T. Say you so, madam? have at you then. Here! get the ombre table and cards.

[Exit. Lady G. Come, Mr. Manly-I know you don't forgive me now.

Man. I don't know whether I ought to forgive your thinking so, madam. Where do you imagine I could pass my time so agreeably?

Lady G. I'm sorry my lord is not here to take his share of the compliment-But he'll wonder what's be[Exit.

come of us.

Man. It must be so-She sees I love her-yet with what unoffending decency she avoids an explanation! How amiable is every hour of her conduct! What a vile opinion have I had of the whole sex for these ten years past, which this sensible creature has recovered in less than one! Such a companion, sure, might compensate all the irksome disappointment that folly and falsehood ever gave me!

Could women regulate, like her, their lives,
What halcyon days were in the gift of wives;
Vain rovers then might envy what they hate,
And only fools would mock the married state.

[Exit.

« ÀÌÀü°è¼Ó »