Mrs. Oak. You would be glad, I find, to get me out of your house, and have all flirts about you. your Oak. Before all this company! Fie! Mrs. Oak. But I'll disappoint you, for I shall remain in it, to support my due authority-as for you, Major Oakly—— aj. Hey-day! What have I done? Mrs. Oak. I think you might find better employment, than to create divisions between married people—and you, sir Oak. Nay, but my dear! Mrs. Oak. Might have more sense, as well as tenderness, than to give ear to such idle stuff, Oak. Lord, lord! Mrs. Oak. You and your wise counsellor there, I suppose, think to carry all your points with me Oak. Was ever any thing―― Mrs. Oak. But it won't do, sir. You shall find that I will have my own way, and that I will govern my own family. Oak. You had better learn to govern yourself, by half. Your passion makes you ridiculous. Did ever any body see so much fury and violence; affronting your best friends, breaking my peace, and disconcerting your own temper. And all for what? For nothing. 'Sdeath, madam! at these years you ought to know better. Mrs. Oak. At these years! Very fine!--Am I to be talked to in this manner? Oak. Talked to!-Why not?--You have talked to me long enough-almost talked me to death-and I have taken it all, in hopes of making you quiet-but all in vain. Patience, I find, is all thrown away upon you; and henceforward, come what may, I am resolved to be master of my own house. Mrs. Oak. So, so!-Master, indeed!--Yes, sir; and you'll take care to have mistresses enough too, I warrant you. Oak. Perhaps I may; but they shall be quiet ones, I can assure you. Mrs. Oak. Indeed!-And do you think I am such a tame fool, as to sit quietly and bear all this? You shall know, sir, that I will resent this behaviour--You shall find that I have a spirit- Oak. Of the devil. Mrs. Oak. Intolerable!-You shall find, then, that I will exert that spirit. I am sure I have need of it. As soon as the house is once cleared again, I'll skut my doors against all company.-You shan't see a single soul for this month. Oak. 'Sdeath, madam, but I will!-I'll keep open house for a year.-I'll send cards to the whole town -Mr. Oakly's rout!All the world will come-and I'll go among the world too-I'll be mewed up no longer. Mrs. Oak. Provoking insolence! This is not to be endured.Lookye, Mr. Oakly Oak. And lookye, Mrs. Oakly, I will have my own way. Mrs. Oak. Nay, then, let me tell you, sir Oak. And let me tell you, madam, I will not be crossed- -I won't be made a fool. Mrs. Oak. Why, you won't let me speak. Oak Because you don't speak as you ought. Madam, madam! you shan't look, nor walk, nor talk, nor think, but as I please. Mrs. Oak. Was there ever such a monster! I can bear this no longer. [Bursts into tears.] O, you vile man! I can see through your design-you cruel, barbarous, inhuman—such usage to your poor wife!-you'll be the death of her. Oak. She shan't be the death of me, I am determined. Mrs. Oak. That it should ever come to this!-To be contradicted-[Sobbing.]—insulted--abused-hated -'tis too much-my heart will burst with-oh▬▬ oh! [Falls into a fit. HARRIET, CHARLES, &c. run to her assistance. Oak. [Interposing.] Let her alone. Har. Sir, Mrs. Oakly Charles. For heaven's sake, sir, she will be- Har. Pray, my dear sir, let us assist her. may Oak. I don't care―― -Let her alone, I say. She Mrs. Oak. [Rising.] O, you monster!—you villain! -you base man! -Would you let me die for want of help?—would you Oak. Bless me! madam, your fit is very violent— take care of yourself. Mrs. Oak. Despised, ridiculed-but I'll be revenged -you shall see, sir [Singing. Oak. Tol-de-rol loll-de-rol loll-de-rol loll. Mrs. Oak. What, am I made a jest of? Exposed to all the world?-If there's law or justice—— Oak. Toll-de-rol loll-de-roll loll-de-rol loll. [Singing. Mrs. Oak. I shall burst with anger.-Have a care, sir; you may repent this.-Scorned and made ridiculous!-No power on earth shall hinder my revenge! [Going. Har. [Interposing.] Stay, madam. Mrs. Oak. Let me go. I cannot bear this place. Maj. Courage, brother! you have done wonders. [Apart. Oak. I think she'll have no more fits. [Apart. Har. Stay, madam-Pray stay but one moment. I have been a painful witness of your uneasiness, and in great part the innocent occasion of it. Give me leave, then- Mrs. Oak. I did not expect, indeed, to have found you here again. But however— Har. I see the agitation of your mind, and it makes me miserable. Suffer me to tell the real truth. I can explain every thing to your satisfaction. Mrs. Oak. May be so--I cannot argue with you. Chartes. Pray, madam, hear her for my sakefor your own-dear madam ! Mrs. Oak. Well, well-proceed. Har. I understand, madam, that your first alarm was occasioned by a letter from my father to your nephew. Rus. I was in a bloody passion, to be sure, madam! The letter was not over civil, I believe.-I did not know but the young rogue had ruined my girl. it's all over now, and SO Mrs. Ouk. You was here yesterday, sir? But Rus. Yes; I came after Harriet. I thought I should find my young madam with my young sir, here. Mrs. Oak. With Charles, did you say, sir? Rus. Ay, with Charles, madam! The young rogue has been fond of her a long time, and she of him, it seems. Mrs. Oak. I fear I have been to blame. [Aside. Rus. I ask pardon, madam, for the disturbance I made in your house. Har. And the abrupt manner, in which I came into it, demands a thousand apologies. But the occasion must be my excuse. Mrs. Oak. How have I been mistaken! [Aside.]— But did not I overhear you and Mr. Oakly [TO HARRIET. Har. Dear madam! you had but a partial hearing of our conversation. It related entirely to this gentle man, Charles. To put it beyond doubt, madam, Mr. Russet and my guardian have consented to our marriage; and we are in hopes that you will not withhold your approbation. Mrs. Oak. I have no further doubt--I see you are innocent, and it was cruel to suspect you--You have taken a load of anguish off my mind--and yet your kind interposition comes too late; Mr. Oakly's love for me is entirely destroyed. Oak. I must go to her Maj. Not yet!-Not yet! [Weeping. [Apart. [Apart. Har. Do not disturb yourself with such apprehensions; I am sure Mr. Oakly loves you most affectionately. Oak. I can hold no longer. [Going to her.] My affection for you, madam, is as warm as ever. My constrained behaviour has cut me to the soul-For it was all constrained-and it was with the utmost difficulty that I was able to support it. Mrs. Oak. O, Mr. Oakly, how have I exposed myself! What low arts has my jealousy induced me to practise! I see my folly, and fear that you can never forgive me. Oak. Forgive you!This change transports me! -Brother! Mr. Russet! Charles! Harriet! give me joy!--I am the happiest man in the world! Maj. Joy, much joy, to you both! though, by the by, 7, you are not a little obliged to me for it. Did not I tell you, I would cure all the disorders in your family? I beg pardon, sister, for taking the liberty to prescribe for you. My medicines have been somewhat rough, I believe, but they have had an admirable effect, and so don't be angry with your physician. Mrs. Ouk. I am indeed obliged to you, and I feel— Oak. Nay, my dear, no more of this. All that's past must be utterly forgotten. |