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but he's still the modest man I first took him for; the mean time I'll go amuse my aunt with the old you'll be convinced of 't as well as I. pretence of a violent passion for my cousin.

Hardcastle. By the nand of my body I believe his impudence is infectious! Didn't I see him seize your hand? Didn't I see him haul you about like a milk-maid? And now you talk of his respect and his modesty, forsooth!

Miss Hardcastle. But if I shortly convince you of his modesty, that he has only the faults that will pass off with time, and the virtues that will improve with age, I hope you'll forgive him.

Hardcastle. The girl would actually make one run mad! I tell you I'll not be convinced. I am convinced. He has scarce been three hours in the house, and he has already encroached on all my prerogatives. You may like his impudence, and call it modesty; but my son-in-law, madam, must have very different qualifications.

[Exit.

Enter MARLOW, followed by a Servant. Marlow. I wonder what Hastings could mean by sending me so valuable a thing as a casket to keep for him, when he knows the only place ] have is the seat of a post-coach at an inn-door. Have you deposited the casket with the landlady, as I ordered you? Have you put it into her own hands?

Servant. Yes, your honour.

Marlow. She said she'd keep it safe, did she? Servant. Yes, she said she'd keep it safe enough; she asked me how I came by it? and she said she had a great mind to make me give an ac[Exit Servant.

Miss Hardcastle. Sir, I ask but this night to count of myself. convince you.

Hardcastle. You shall not have half the time, for I have thoughts of turning him out this very hour.

Miss Hardcastle. Give me that hour then, and I hope to satisfy you.

Hardcastle. Well, an hour let it be then. But I'll have no trifling with your father. All fair and open, do you mind me.

Miss Hardcastle. I hope, sir, you have ever found that I considered your commands as my pride; for your kindness is such, that my duty as yet has been my inclination.

ACT IV.

[Exeunt.

Enter HASTINGS and MISS NEVILLE.

Hastings. You surprise me: Sir Charles Marlow expected here this night! Where have you had your information?

Miss Neville. You may depend upon it. I just saw his letter to Mr. Hardcastle, in which he tells him he intends setting out a few hours after his

son.

Hastings. Then, my Constance, all must be completed before he arrives. He knows me; and, should he find me here, would discover my name, and perhaps my designs, to the rest of the family. Miss Neville. The jewels, I hope, are safe? Hastings. Yes, yes. I have sent them to Marlow, who keeps the keys of our baggage. In the mean time I'll go to prepare matters for our elopement. I have had the 'Squire's promise of a fresh pair of horses; and if I should not see him again, will write him further directions. [Exit.

Miss Neville. Well! success attend you. In

Marlow. Ha ha! ha! They're safe, however. What an unaccountable set of beings have we got amongst! This little bar-maid though runs in my head most strangely, and drives out the absurdities of all the rest of the family. She's mine, she must be mine, or I'm greatly mistaken.

Enter HASTINGS.

Hastings. Bless me! I quite forgot to tell her that I intended to prepare at the bottom of the garden. Marlow here, and in spirits too!

Marlow. Give me joy, George! Crown me, shadow me with laurels! Well, George, after all, we modest fellows don't want for success among the women.

Hastings. Some women, you mean. But what success has your honour's modesty been crowned with now, that it grows so insolent upon us?

Marlow. Didn't you see the tempting, brisk, lovely, little thing, that runs about the house with a bunch of keys to its girdle?

Hastings. Well, and what then?

Marlow. She's mine, you rogue you. Such fire, such motion, such eyes, such lips-but, egad! she would not let me kiss them though.

Hastings. But are you so sure, so very sure of her?

Marlow. Why, man, she talked of showing me her work above stairs, and I am to approve the pattern.

Hastings. But how can you, Charles, go about to rob a woman of her honour?

Marlow. Pshaw! pshaw! We all know the honour of the bar-maid of an inn. I don't intend to rob her, take my word for it; there's nothing in this house I shan't honestly pay for.

Hastings. I believe the girl has virtue.

Marlow. And if she has, I should be the last man in the world that would attempt to corrupt it.

Hastings. You have taken care, I hope, of the casket I sent you to lock up? It's in safety?

Marlow. Yes, yes. It's safe enough. I have taken care of it. But how could you think the seat of a post-coach at an inn-door a place of safety? Ah! numskull! I have taken better precautions for you than you did for yourself have

Hastings. What?

that of your servants is insufferable. Their manner of drinking is setting a very bad example in this house, I assure you.

Marlow. I protest, my very good sir, that is no fault of mine. If they don't drink as they ought, they are to blame. I ordered them not to spare the cellar. I did, I assure you. [To the side-scene.] Here, let one of my servants come up. [To him.] My positive directions were, that as I did not drink

Marlow. I have sent it to the landlady to keep myself, they should make up for my deficiencies for you.

Hastings. To the landlady!
Marlow. The landlady.
Hastings. You did?
Marlow. I did.

below.

Hardcastle. Then they had your orders for what they do! I'm satisfied!

Marlow. They had, I assure you. You shall

She's to be answerable for its hear from one of themselves.

forthcoming, you know.
Hastings. Yes, she'll bring it forth with a wit-

ness.

Marlow. Wasn't I right? I believe you'll allow that I acted prudently upon this occasion. Hastings [aside]. He must not see my uneasi

ness.

Marlow. You seem a little disconcerted though, methinks. Sure nothing has happened?

Enter SERVANT, drunk.

Marlow. You, Jeremy! Come forward, sirrah! What were my orders? Were you not told to drink freely, and call for what you thought fit, for the good of the house?

Hardcastle [aside]. I begin to lose my patience. Jeremy. Please your honour, liberty and Fleetstreet for ever! Though I'm but a servant, I'm as Hastings. No, nothing. Never was in better good as another man. I'll drink for no man before spirits in all my life. And so you left it with the supper, sir, damme! Good liquor will sit upon a andlady, who, no doubt, very readily undertook good supper, but a good supper will not sit uponthe charge. [hickuping]—upon my conscience, sir.

Marlow. You see, my old friend, the fellow is as drunk as he can possibly be. I don't know what you'd have more, unless you'd have the poor devil soused in a beer-barrel.

Marlow. Rather too readily. For she not only kept the casket, but, through her great precaution, was going to keep the messenger too. Ha! ha! ha! Hastings. He! he! he! They're safe, however. Marlow. As a guinea in a miser's purse. Hardcastle. Zounds! he'll drive me distracted, Hastings [aside]. So now all hopes of fortune if I contain myself any longer. Mr. Marlow. Sir; are at an end, and we must set off without it. I have submitted to your insolence for more than [To him.] Well, Charles, I'll leave you to your four hours, and I see no likelihood of its coming to meditations on the pretty bar-maid, and, he! he! an end. I'm now resolved to be master here, sir, and he! may you be as successful for yourself as you I desire that you and your drunken pack may leave have been for me! [Exit. my house directly. Marlow. Thank ye, George: I ask no more, Ha! ha! ha!

Enter HARDCASTLE.

Hardcastle. I no longer know my own house. Lalq turned all topsy-turvy. His servants have got drunk already. bear it no longer; and yet, from my respect for his father, I'll be calm. [To him.] Mr. Marlow, your servant. I'm your very humble servant. [Bowing low.

Marlow. Sir, your humble servant. [Aside.] What's to be the wonder now?

Hardcastle. I believe, sir, you must be sensible, sir, that no man alive ought to be more welcome than your father's son, sir. I hope you think so? Marlow. I do from my soul, sir. I don't want much entreaty. I generally make my father's son welcome wherever he goes.

Hardcastle. I believe you do, from my soul, sir. But though I say nothing to your own conduct,

Marlow. Leave your house!Sure you jest, my good friend! What? when I'm doing what I can to please you.

Hardcastle. I tell you, sir, you don't please me; so I desire you'll leave my house.

Marlow. Sure you can not be serious? at this time o' night, and such a night? You only mean to banter me.

Hardcastle. I tell you, sir, I'm serious! and now that my passions are roused, I say this house is mine, sir; this house is mine, and I command you to leave it directly.

Marlow. Ha! ha! ha! A puddle in a storm. 1 shan't stir a step, I assure you. [In a serious tone.] This your house, fellow! It's my house. This is my house. Mine, while I choose to stay. What right have you to bid me leave this house, sir? I never met with such impudence, curse me; never in my whole life before.

Hardcastle. Nor I, confound me if ever I did.

but he's still the modest man I first took him for; [the mean time I'll go amuse my aunt with the old you'll be convinced of it as well as I. pretence of a violent passion for my cousin.

[Exit.

Enter MARLOW, followed by a Servant,
Marlow. I wonder what Hastings could mean

Hardcastle. By the nand of my body I believe his impudence is infectious! Didn't I see him seize your hand? Didn't I see him haul you about like a milk-maid? And now you talk of his respect and his modesty, forsooth! Miss Hardcastle. But if I shortly convince you by sending me so valuable a thing as a casket to of his modesty, that he has only the faults that keep for him, when he knows the only place 1 will pass off with time, and the virtues that will have is the seat of a post-coach at an inn-door. improve with age, I hope you'll forgive him. Have you deposited the casket with the landlady, Hardcastle. The girl would actually make one as I ordered you? Have you put it into her own run mad! I tell you I'll not be convinced. I am hands? convinced. He has scarce been three hours in the house, and he has already encroached on all my prerogatives. You may like his impudence, and call it modesty; but my son-in-law, madam, must have very different qualifications. Miss Hardcastle. Sir, I ask but this night to count of myself. convince you.

Hardcastle. You shall not have half the time, for I have thoughts of turning him out this very hour.

Miss Hardcastle. Give me that hour then, and I hope to satisfy you.

Hardcastle. Well, an hour let it be then. But I'll have no trifling with your father. All fair and open, do you mind me.

Miss Hardcastle. I hope, sir, you have ever found that I considered your commands as my pride; for your kindness is such, that my duty as yet has been my inclination.

ACT IV.

[Exeunt.

Enter HASTINGS and MISS NEVILLE.

Hastings. You surprise me: Sir Charles Marlow expected here this night! Where have you had your information?

Miss Neville. You may depend upon it. I just saw his letter to Mr. Hardcastle, in which he tells him he intends setting out a few hours after his

son.

Hastings. Then, my Constance, all must be completed before he arrives. He knows me; and, should he find me here, would discover my name, and perhaps my designs, to the rest of the family. Miss Neville. The jewels, I hope, are safe? Hastings. Yes, yes. I have sent them to Marlow, who keeps the keys of our baggage. In the mean time I'll go to prepare matters for our elopement. I have had the 'Squire's promise of a fresh pair of horses; and if I should not see him again, will write him further directions.

[Exit.

Servant. Yes, your honour.

Marlow. She said she'd keep it safe, did she? Servant. Yes, she said she'd keep it safe enough; she asked me how I came by it? and she said she had a great mind to make me give an ac[Exit Servant.

Marlow. Ha ha! ha! They're safe, however. What an unaccountable set of beings have we got amongst! This little bar-maid though runs in my head most strangely, and drives out the absurdities of all the rest of the family. She's mine, she must be mine, or I'm greatly mistaken.

Enter HASTINGS.

Hastings. Bless me! I quite forgot to tell her that I intended to prepare at the bottom of the garden. Marlow here, and in spirits too!

Marlow. Give me joy, George! Crown me, shadow me with laurels! Well, George, after all, we modest fellows don't want for success among the women.

Hastings. Some women, you mean. But what success has your honour's modesty been crowned with now, that it grows so insolent upon us?

Marlow. Didn't you see the tempting, brisk, lovely, little thing, that runs about the house with a bunch of keys to its girdle?

Hastings. Well, and what then?

Marlow. She's mine, you rogue you. Such fire, such motion, such eyes, such lips-but, egad! she would not let me kiss them though.

Hastings. But are you so sure, so very sure of her?

Marlow. Why, man, she talked of showing me her work above stairs, and I am to approve the pattern.

Hastings. But how can you, Charles, go about to rob a woman of her honour?

Marlow. Pshaw! pshaw! We all know the honour of the bar-maid of an inn. I don't intend to rob her, take my word for it; there's nothing in this house I shan't honestly pay for.

Hastings. I believe the girl has virtue.

Marlow. And if she has, I should be the last Miss Neville. Well! success attend you. In man in the world that would attempt to corrupt it.

Hastings. You have taken care, I hope, of the that of your servants is insufferable. Their mancasket I sent you to lock up? It's in safety? ner of drinking is setting a very bad example in this house, I assure you.

Marlow. Yes, yes. It's safe enough. I have taken care of it. But how could you think the seat of a post-coach at an inn-door a place of safety? Ah! numskull! I have taken better precautions for you than you did for yourselfhave

Hastings. What?

Marlow. I protest, my very good sir, that is no fault of mine. If they don't drink as they ought, they are to blame. I ordered them not to spare the -1 cellar. I did, I assure you. [To the side-scene.] Here, let one of my servants come up. [To him.] My positive directions were, that as I did not drink

Marlow. I have sent it to the landlady to keep myself, they should make up for my deficiencies

for you.

Hastings. To the landlady!
Marlow. The landlady.
Hastings. You did?
Marlow. I did.

below.

Hardcastle. Then they had your orders for what they do! I'm satisfied!

Marlow. They had, I assure you. You shall

She's to be answerable for its hear from one of themselves.

forthcoming, you know.
Hastings. Yes, she'll bring it forth with a wit-

Bess.

Marlow. Wasn't I right? I believe you'll allow that I acted prudently upon this occasion. Hastings [aside]. He must not see my uneasi

ness.

Marlow. You seem a little disconcerted though, methinks. Sure nothing has happened?

Hastings. No, nothing. Never was in better spirits in all my life. And so you left it with the andlady, who, no doubt, very readily undertook the charge.

Enter SERVANT, drunk.

Marlow. You, Jeremy! Come forward, sirrah! What were my orders? Were you not told to drink freely, and call for what you thought fit, for the good of the house?

Hardcastle [aside]. I begin to lose my patience. Jeremy. Please your honour, liberty and Fleetstreet for ever! Though I'm but a servant, I'm as good as another man. I'll drink for no man before supper, sir, damme! Good liquor will sit upon a good supper, but a good supper will not sit upon[hickuping]-upon my conscience, sir.

Marlow. You see, my old friend, the fellow is as drunk as he can possibly be. I don't know what you'd have more, unless you'd have the poor devil soused in a beer-barrel.

Marlow. Rather too readily. For she not only kept the casket, but, through her great precaution, was going to keep the messenger too. Ha! ha! ha! Hastings. He! he! he! They're safe, however. Marlow. As a guinea in a miser's purse. Hardcastle. Zounds! he'll drive me distracted, Hastings [aside]. So now all hopes of fortune if I contain myself any longer. Mr. Marlow. Sir; are at an end, and we must set off without it. I have submitted to your insolence for more than [To him.] Well, Charles, I'll leave you to your four hours, and I see no likelihood of its coming to meditations on the pretty bar-maid, and, he! he! an end. I'm now resolved to be master here, sir, and he! may you be as successful for yourself as you I desire that you and your drunken pack may leave my house directly.

have been for me!

[Exit. Marlow. Thank ye, George: I ask no more, Ha! ha! ha!

Enter HARDCASTLE.

Hardcastle. In longer know my own house. Les turned all topsy-turvy. His servants have got runk already. bear it no longer; and yet, from my respect for his father, I'll be calm. [To him.] Mr. Marlow, your servant. I'm your very humble servant. [Bowing low. Marlow. Sir, your humble servant. [Aside.] What's to be the wonder now?

Hardcastle. I believe, sir, you must be sensible, sir, that no man alive ought to be more welcome than your father's son, sir. I hope you think so? Marlow. I do from my soul, sir. I don't want much entreaty. I generally make my father's son welcome wherever he goes.

Hardcastle. I believe you do, from my soul, sir. But though I say nothing to your own conduct,

Marlow. Leave your house! Sure you jest, my good friend! What? when I'm doing what I can to please you.

Hardcastle. I tell you, sir, you don't please me; so I desire you'll leave my house.

Marlow. Sure you can not be serious? at this time o' night, and such a night? You only mean to banter me.

Hardcastle. I tell you, sir, I'm serious! and now that my passions are roused, I say this house is mine, sir; this house is mine, and I command you to leave it directly.

Marlow. Ha! ha! ha! A puddle in a storm. 1 shan't stir a step, I assure you. [In a serious tone.] This your house, fellow! It's my house. This is my house. Mine, while I choose to stay. What right have you to bid me leave this house, sir? I never met with such impudence, curse me; never in my whole life before.

Hardcastle. Nor I, confound me if ever I did.

To come to my house, to call for what he likes, to Marlow. So then, all's out, and I have been turn me out of my own chair, to insult the family, damnably imposed on. O confound my stupid to order his servants to get drunk, and then to tell head, I shall be laughed at over the whole town. I me, "This house is mine, sir." By all that's im- shall be stuck up in caricature in all the printpudent it makes me laugh. Ha! ha! ha! Pray, shops. The Dullissimo-Maccaroni. To misSir, [bantering] as you take the house, what think take this house of all others for an inn, and my you of taking the rest of the furniture? There's a father's old friend for an innkeeper! What a swagpair of silver candlesticks, and there's a fire-screen, and here's a pair of brazen-nosed bellows; perhaps you may take a fancy to them.

gering puppy must he take me for? What a silly puppy do I find myself. There, again, may I be hang'd, my dear, but I mistook you for the bar

Marlow. Bring me your bill, sir; bring me your maid. bili, and let's have no more words about it.

Miss Hardcastle. Dear me ! dear me ! I'm sure there's nothing in my behaviour to put me on a level with one of that stamp.

Marlow. Nothing, my dear, nothing. But 1

Hardcastle. There are a set of prints, too. What think you of the Rake's Progress for your own apartment? Marlow. Bring me your bill, I say; and I'll leave was in for a list of blunders, and could not help you and your infernal house directly. making you a subscriber. My stupidity saw every

Hardcastle. Then there's a mahogany table that thing the wrong way. I mistook your assiduity you may see your face in.

Marlow. My bill, I say.

Hardcastle. I had forgot the great chair for your own particular slumbers, after a hearty meal. Marlow. Zounds! bring me my bill, I say, and

let's hear no more on't.

for assurance, and your simplicity for allurement. But it's over-This house I no more show my face in.

Miss Hardcastle. I hope, sir, I have done nothing to disoblige you. I'm sure I should be sorry to affront any gentleman who has been so polite, Hardcastle. Young man, young man, from your and said so many civil things to me. I'm sure I father's letter to me, I was taught to expect a well-should be sorry [pretending to cry] if he left the bred modest man as a visiter here, but now I find him no better than a coxcomb and a bully; but he will be down here presently, and shall hear more of it. [Exit.

Marlow. How's this! Sure I have not mistaken the house. Every thing looks like an inn; the servants cry coming; the attendance is awkward; the bar maid too to attend us. But she's here, and will further inform me. Whither so fast, child. A word with you.

Enter MISS HARDCASTLE. Miss Hardcastle. Let it be short, then. I'm in a hurry. [aside.] I believe he begins to find out his mistake. But it's too soon quite to undeceive him.

family upon my account. I'm sure I should be sorry people said any thing amiss, since I have no fortune but my character.

Marlow [aside]. By Heaven! she weeps. This is the first mark of tenderness I ever had from a modest woman, and it touches me. [To her.] Excuse me, my lovely girl; you are the only part of the family I leave with reluctance. But to be plain with you, the difference of our birth, fortune, and education, makes an honourable connexion impossible; and I can never harbour a thought of seducing simplicity that trusted in my honour, of bringing ruin upon one, whose only fault was being too lovely.

Miss Hardcastle [aside]. Generous man! I now begin to admire him. [To him.] But I am sure my. family is as good as Miss Hardcastle's; and though I'm poor, that's no great misfortune to a contented mind; and, until this moment, I never

Marlow. Pray, child, answer me one question.
What are you, and what inay your business in this
house be?
Miss Hardcastle. A relation of the family, sir. thought that it was bad to want fortune.
Marlow. What, a poor relation?

Miss Hardcastle. Yes, sir; a poor relation appointed to keep the keys, and to see that the guests want nothing in my power to give them.

Marlow. That is, you act as bar-maid of the inn. Miss Hardcastle. Inn! O la-what brought that in your head? One of the best families in the county keep an inn-Ha! ha! ha! old Mr. Hardcastle's house an inn!

Marlow. And why now, my pretty simplicity? Miss Hardcastle. Because it puts me at a distance from one that, if I had a thousand pounds, I would give it all to.

Marlow [aside]. This simplicity bewitches me, so that if I stay, I'm undone. I must make one bold effort, and leave her. [To her.] Your par tiality in my favour, my dear, touches me most sensibly; and were I to live for myself alone, I could

Marlow. Mr. Hardcastle's house. Is this Mr. easily fix my choice. But I owe too much to the Hardcastle's house, child? opinion of the world, too much to the authority of

Miss Hardcastle. Ay, sure. Whose else should a father; so that I can scarcely speak it-it affects it be? me. Farewell. [Exit.

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