ethione fat so formal, and so like a thing of business, that I shall find no room for friendship or esteem. Hard. Depend upon it, child, I'll never control your choice; but Mr. Marlow, whom I have pitched upon, is the son of my old friend, Sir Charles Marlow, ofwhom you have heard me talk so often. The young gentleman has been bred a scholar, and is designed for an employment in the service of his country. I am told he's a man of an excellent understanding. Miss Hard. Is he? Hard. Very generous. Miss Hard. I believe I shall like him. Hard. Young and brave. Miss Hard. I'm sure I shall like him. Hard. And very handsome. Miss Hard. My dear papa, say no more [kissing his hand]; he's mine, I'll have him! Hard. And to crown all, Kate, he's one of the most bashful and reserved young fellows in all the world. Miss Hard. Eh! you have frozen me to death again. That word reserved has undone all the rest of his accomplishments. A reserved lover, it is said, always makes a suspicious husband. Hard. On the contrary, modesty seldom resides in a breast that is not enriched with nobler virtues. It was the very feature in his character that first struck me. Miss Hard. He must have more striking features to catch me, I promise you. However, if he be so young, so handsome, and so everything, as you mention, I believe he'll do still. I think I'll have him, Hard. Ay, Kate, but there is still an obstacle. It's more than an even wager, he may not have you. Miss Hard. My dear papa, why will you mortify one so? Well, if he refuses, instead of breaking my heart at his indifference, I'll only break my glass for its flattery, set my cap to some newer fashion, and look out for some less difficult admirer. Hard. Bravely ravely resolved! In the meantime I'll go prepare the servants for his reception; as we seldom see company, they want as much training as a company of recruits the first day's muster. Fers MISS HARDCASTLE, sola. 〃 [Exit. Miss Hard. This news of papa's puts me all in a flutter. Young handsome: these he puts last; but I' mor put them foremost. Sensible good-natured: I like all that. But then-reserved, and sheepish that's Enter Miss NEVILLE. Miss Hard. I'm glad you're come, Neville, my dear. Tell me, Constance how do I look this evening? Is there anything whimsical about me? Is it one of my "well-looking days, child? Am I in face to-day? Miss Nev. Perfectly, my dear. Yet, now I look again-bless me !-sure no accident has happened among the canary birds, or the gold fishes. Has your brother or the cat been meddling? Or, has the last novel been too moving? CA Miss Hard. No; nothing of all this. threatened—I can scarce get it out threatened with a lover. Miss Nev. And his name Miss Hard. Is Marlow. Miss Nev. Indeed! I have been I have been Miss Hard. The son of Sir Charles Marlow. Miss Nev As I live, the most intimate friend of Mr. Hastings, my admirer. They are never asunder. I believe must have seen him when we lived in town. you Miss Hard. Never. Miss Nev. He's a very singular character, I assure you. Among women of reputation and virtue, he is the modestest man alive; but his acquaintance give him a very different character among creatures of another stamp: you understand ment Miss Hard. An odd character, indeed. I shall never be able to manage him. What shall I do? Pshaw, think no more of him, but trust to occurrences for success. But how goes on your own affair, my dear? Has my mother been courting you for my brother Tony, as usual? Miss Nev. I have just come from one of our agreeable tête-à-têtes. She has been saying a hundred tender things, and setting off her pretty monster as the very pink of perfection. Miss Hard. And her actually thinks him so. partiality is such, that she A fortune like yours is no small temptation. Besides, as she has the sole management of it, I'm not surprised to see her unwilling to let it go out of the family. One Miss Nev. A fortune like mine, which chiefly consists in jewels, is no such mighty temptation. But at~~ any rate, if my dear Hastings be but constant, I make no doubt to be too hard for her at last. However, I let her suppose that I am in love with her son, and she never once dreams that my affections are fixed upon another. C Hard. My good brother holds out stoutly. I could almost Thic Miss Nev. It is a good-natured creature at bottom, and I'm sure would wish to see me married to anybody but himself. But my aunt's, bell rings for our afternoon's walk round the improvements. Allons! Courage is necessary, as our affairs are critical. Miss Hard. Would it were bed-time, and all were well. ! [Exeunt. A SCENE, II.--An ale-house room. lows, with punch and tobacco. Several shabby Fel- of the table, a little higher than the rest: a mallet Qmnes. Hurrea, hurrea, hurrea, bravo! 1 Fel. Now, gentlemen, silence for a song. 'squire is going to knock himself down for a song. Omnes. Ay, a song, a song! The Tony. Then I'll sing you, gentlemen, a song I made upon this ale-house, the Three Pigeons. SONG. Let schoolmasters puzzle their brain, With grammar, and nonsense, and learning; 1920 242 Toroddle, toroddle, toroll. When Methodist preachers come down, A preaching that drinking is sinful, They always preach best with a skin-full. I'll leave it to all men of sense, But you, my good friend, are the pigeon. Toroddle, toroddle, toroll. Then come, put the jorum about, And let us be merry and clever; Our hearts and our liquors are stout, Here's the Three Jolly Pigeons for ever! Let some cry up woodcock or hare, Your bustards, your ducks, and your widgeons, But of all the birds in the air, Here's a health to the Three Jolly Pigeons ! Omnes. Bravo! bravo! Toroddle, toroddle, toroll. 1 Fel. The 'squire has got spunk in him. 2 Fel. I loves to hear him sing, bekeays he never gives us nothing that's low. 5 3 Fel. Oh, nothing that's low, I cannot bear it. 4 Fel. The genteel thing is the genteel thing any time. If so be that a gentleman bees in a concatenation accordingly. |