5 C Acres. What's the matter with the gentleman? Abs. He is only expressing his great satisfaction at hearing that Julia has been so well and happy — that's all-hey, Faulkland? Faulk. Oh! I am rejoiced to hear it has a happy disposition! yes, yes, she she is so ac Acres. That she has indeed. Then complished so sweet a voice so expert at her harpsichord such a mistress of flat and sharp, squallante, 10 rumblante, and quiverante! - There was this time month odds minims and crochets! how she did chirrup at Mrs. Piano's concert! Faulk. There again, what say you to this? You see she has been all mirth and song not a thought 15 of me! - Abs. Pho! man, is not music the food of love? 25 Not I indeed. Abs. Stay, now, they were some pretty melancholy purling-stream airs, I warrant; perhaps you may recollect; did she sing, When absent from my soul's delight? Acres. No, that wa’n't it. Abs. Or, Go, gentle gales! [Sings. Acres. Oh, no! nothing like it. Odds! now I recollect one of them My heart's my own, my will is free. [Sings. Faulk. Fool! fool that I am! to fix all my happiness on such a trifler! 'Sdeath! to make herself the pipe and 30 balladmonger of a circle! to soothe her light heart with catches and glees! — What can you say to this, sir? Abs. Why, that I should be glad to hear my mistress had been so merry, sir. Faulk. Nay, nay, nay - I'm not sorry that she has been happy no, no, I am glad of that I would not have her sad or sick-yet surely a sympathetic heart 5 would have shown itself even in the choice of a song she might have been temperately healthy, and somehow, plaintively gay; — but she has been dancing too, I doubt not! Acres. What does the gentleman say about dancing? 10 Abs. He says the lady we speak of dances as well as she sings. Acres. Ay, truly, does she there was at our last race ball Faulk. There! there -I told you so! I told you 15 so! Oh! she thrives in my absence! - Dancing! but her whole feelings have been in opposition with mine; I have been anxious, silent, pensive, sedentary — my days have been hours of care, my nights of watchfulness. She has been all health! spirit! laugh! song! dance! Abs. For Heaven's sake, Faulkland, don't expose yourself so! Suppose she has danced, what then? - does not the ceremony of society often oblige — 20 Faulk. Well, well, I'll contain myself - perhaps as you say for form's sake. What, Mr. Acres, you were 25 praising Miss Melville's manner of dancing a minuet hey? but what I was Acres. Oh, I dare insure her for that going to speak of was her country-dancing. mings! she has such an air with her! Odds swim Faulk. Now disappointment on her!- Defend this, 30 Mot I but to be Absolute; why don't you defend this? - Country-dances! jigs and reels! am I to blame now? A minuet I could have forgiven I should not have minded that I say I should not have regarded a minuet- but country5 dances ! - Zounds! had she made one in a cotillon believe I could have forgiven even that monkey-led for a night! - to run the gauntlet through a string of amorous palming puppies! - to show paces like a managed filly! Oh, Jack, there never can be but one 10 man in the world whom a truly modest and delicate woman ought to pair with in a country-dance; and, even then, the rest of the couples should be her great-uncles and aunts! Abs. Ay, to be sure!-grandfathers and grandmothers! 15 Faulk. If there be but one vicious mind in the set, 'twill spread like a contagion - the action of their pulse beats to the lascivious movement of the jig — their quivering, warm-breathed sighs impregnate the very air the atmosphere becomes electrical to love, and each amor20 ous spark darts through every link of the chain ! — I must leave you I own I am somewhat flurried and that confounded looby has perceived it. 25 [Going. Abs. Nay, but stay, Faulkland, and thank Mr. Acres for his good news. Faulk. Damn his news! [Exit. Abs. Ha! ha! ha! poor Faulkland five minutes since "nothing on earth could give him a moment's uneasiness!" Acres. The gentleman wa'n't angry at my praising 30 his mistress, was he? Abs. A little jealous, I believe, Bob. |