[Tosses the letter in the air, and begins dancing. Cox does the same. Mrs. B. [Putting her head in at door.] The little second floor back room is quite ready! Cox. I don't want it! Box. No more do I ! Cox. What shall part us? Box. What shall tear us asunder? Cox. Box! Box. Cox! [About to embrace-Box stops, seizes Cox's hand, and looks eagerly in his face.] You'll excuse the apparent insanity of the remark, but the more I your features, the more I'm convinced that you're my long lost brother. gaze on Cox. The very observation I was going to make to you! Box. Ah-tell me-in mercy tell me-have you such a thing as a strawberry mark on your left arm? Cox. No! Box. Then it is he! [They rush into each other's arms. Cox. Of course we stop where we are? Box. Of course! Cox. For, between you and me, I'm rather partial to this house. Box. So am I-I begin to feel quite at home in it. Box. And I'm sure the mistress of it, from what I have seen of her, is very anxious to please. Cox. So she is-and 1 vote, Box, that we stick by her. Box. Agreed! There's my hand upon it--join but your's-agree that the house is big enough to hold us both, then Box Cox. And Cox- [The Curtain Falls. THE END. No. LXXX. SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER. A Comedy IN FIVE ACTS. BY DR. GOLDSMITH. WITH THE STAGE BUSINESS, CAST OF CHARACTERS, COSTUMES, RELATIVE POSITIONS, ETC. NEW YORK: WM. TAYLOR & CO. 151 NASSAU STREET, CORNER OF SPRUCE. Box. [Tossing.] Heads! Cox. [Tossing.] Heads! Box. Ain't you rather tired of turning up heads, sir? Cox. Couldn't you vary the monotony of our proceedings by an occasional tail, sir? Box. [Tossing.] Heads! Cox. [Tossing.] Heads! Box. Heads? Stop, sir! Will you permit me-[Taking Cox's sixpence.] Holloa! your sixpence has got no tail, sir ! Cox. [Seizing Box's shilling.] And your shilling has got two heads, sir! Box. Cheat! Cox. Swindler! [They are about to rush upon each other, then retreat to some distance, and commence sparring, and striking fiercely at one another.] Enter MRS. BOUNCER, L. H. C. Box & Cox. Is the little back second floor room ready? Mrs. B. Not quite, gentlemen. I can't find the pistols, but I have brought you a letter-it came by the General Post yesterday. I'm sure I don't know how I forgot it, for I put it carefully in my pocket. Cox. And you've kept it carefully in your pocket ever since ? Mrs. B. Yes, sir. I hope you'll forgive me, sir. [Going.] By the bye, I paid twopence for it. Cox. Did you? Then I do forgive you. [Exit Mrs B. [Looking at letter.] "Margate." The post-mark decidedly says "Margate.” Box. Oh, doubtless a tender epistle from Penelope Ann. Cox. Then read it, sir. [Handing letter to Box.] Box. Me, sir? Cox. Of course. You don't suppose I'm going to read a letter from your intended? Box. My intended? Pooh! It's addressed to you— C. O. X.! Cox. Do you think that's a C.? It loo's to me like a B. Box. Nonsense! Fracture the seal! Cox. [Opens letter-starts.] Goodness gracious! Box. [Snatching letter-starts.] Gracious goodness! Cox.Taking letter again.] "Margate-May the 4th. Sir, I hasten to convey to you the intelligence of a melancholy accident, which has bereft you of your intended wife." He means your intended! Box. No, yours! However, it's perfectly immaterial— but she unquestionably was yours. Cox. How can that be? You proposed to her first! Box. Yes, but then you-now don't let us begin again -Go on. Cox. [Resuming letter.] "Poor Mrs. Wiggins went out for a short excursion in a sailing boat-a sudden and violent squall soon after took place, which, it is supposed, upset her, as she was found, two days afterwards, keel upwards." Box. Poor woman! Cox. The boat, sir! [Reading.] "As her man of business, I immediately proceeded to examine her papers, amongst which I soon discovered her will; the following extract from which will, I have no doubt, be satisfactory 'I hereby bequeath my entire property to my intended husband.'" Excellent, but unhappy creature ! [Affected.] to you. Box. Generous, ill-fated being! [Affected.] Cox. And to think that I tossed up for such a woman! Box. When I remember that I staked such a treasure on the hazard of a die! Cox. I'm sure, Mr. Box, I can't sufficiently thank you for your sympathy. Box. And I'm sure, Mr. Cox, you couldn't feel more, if she had been your own intended ! Cox. If she'd been my own intended? She was my own intended! Didn't you Box. Your intended? Come, I like that! very properly observe just now, sir, that I proposed to her first? Cox. To which you very sensibly replied that you'd come to an untimely end. Box. I deny it ! Cox. I say you have! Box. The fortune's mine! Cox. Mine! Box. I'll have it! |
