Enter Hardcastle, who stands in surprize.

Miss Hard. Ay, but the colours don't look 455 well by candle light. You shall see all in the morning. Struggling.

Marl. And why not now, my angel? Such beauty fires beyond the power of resistance.

-Pshaw! the father here! My old luck: 1460 never nick'd seven that I did not throw amesace three times following. Exit Marlow.

Hardcastle. So, madam! So I find this is your modest lover. This is your humble admirer that kept his eyes fixed on the ground, and only ador'd 465 at humble distance. Kate, Kate, art thou not asham'd to deceive your father

so?

Miss Hard. Never trust me, dear papa, but he's still the modest man I first took him for; you'll be convinced of it as well as I.

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

Miss Hard. 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.

Enter Hardcastle. Placed in octavos after 1. 462, but see 11. 471-72.

470

475

Hard. The girl would actually make one run 480 mad! I tell you I'll not be convinced. I am convinced. He has scarcely 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,485 must have very different qualifications.

Miss Hard. Sir, I ask but this night to convince you.

Hard. You shall not have half the time, for I have thoughts of turning him out this very 490 hour.

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

But

Hard. Well, an hour let it be then. I'll have no trifling with your father. All fair 495 and open, do you mind me?

Miss Hard. 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 inclination.

END OF THIRD ACT.

Exeunt. 500

ACT IV.

[SCENE 1. The House.]

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.

5

Hast. Then, my Constance, all must be completed before he arrives. He knows me; and should he find me here, would discover my 10 name, and perhaps my designs, to the rest of the family.

Miss Nev. The jewels, I hope, are safe.

Hast. Yes, yes. I have sent them to Marlow, who keeps the keys of our baggage. In 15 the meantime, 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 Nev. Well, success attend you! In 20

the meantime, I'll go amuse my aunt with the old pretence of a violent passion for my cousin. 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 I 25 have is the seat of a post-coach at an inn-door. Have you deposited the casket with the landlady, as I ordered you? her own hands?

Have you put it into

Servant. Yes, your honour.

30

Marl. She said she'd keep it safe, did she? Serv. Yes, she said she'd keep it safe enough; she ask'd me how I came by it, and she said she had a great mind to make me give an account of myself. Exit Servant. 35

Marl. 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 40 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!

Marl. Give me joy, George! Crown me, 45 shadow me with laurels! Well, George, after all, we modest fellows don't want for success the women.

among

Hast. Some women, you mean. But what success has your honour's modesty been crowned 50 with now that it grows so insolent upon

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

Hast. Well! and what then?

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

55

Hast. But are you sure, so very sure of her? Marl. Why, man, she talk'd of shewing me 60 her work above-stairs, and I am to improve the pattern.

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

Marl. Pshaw! pshaw! we all know the hon- 65 our 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!

Hast. I believe the girl has virtue.

Marl. And if she has, I should be the last 70

61 improve. Percy's edition (1801, ii., 388) prints approve. 68 word for it. The octavos have only a comma after for it.