A CT V. SCENE Continues. Enter HASTINGS and SERVANT. HASTINGS. OU faw the Old Lady and Mifs Neville drive off, you fay. SERVANT. Yes, your honour. They went off in a poft coach, and the young 'Squire went on horfeback. They're thirty miles off by this time. HASTINGS. Then all my hopes are over. SERVA N T. Yes, Sir. Old Sir Charles is arrived. He and the Old Gentleman of the house have been laughing at Mr. Marlow's mistake this half hour. They are coming this way. HASTINGS. Then I must not be seen. So now to my fruitlefs appointment at the bottom of the garden. This is about the time. [Exit. Enter SIR CHARLES and HARDCASTLE. HARDCASTLE. Ha, ha, ha. The peremptory tone in which he fent forth his fublime commands. all Sir CHARLES. And the referve with which I fuppofe he treated your advances. HARD HARDCASTLE. And yet he might have seen fomething in me above a common inn-keeper, too. Sir CHARLES. Yes, Dick, but he mistook you for an uncom‐ mon innkeeper, ha, ha, ha. HARD CASTLE. Well, I'm in too good fpirits to think of any thing but joy. Yes, my dear friend, this union of our families will make our personal friendships hereditary; and tho' my daughter's fortune is but fmall Sir CHARLES. Why, Dick, will you talk of fortune to me. My fon is poffeffed of more than a competence already, and can want nothing but a good and virtuous girl to fhare his happiness and encrease it. If they like each other, as you fay they do HARDCASTLE. If, man. I tell you they do like each other. My daughter as good as told me so. Sir CHARLES. But girls are apt to flatter themselves, you know. HARDCASTLE. I faw him grafp her hand in the warmest manner myself; and here he comes to put you out of your iffs, I warrant him. Enter M ARLOW. MARLO W. I come, Sir, once more, to ask pardon for my ftrange conduct. I can fcarce reflect on my infolence without confufion. HARD H.A.RIDE CASTLE. Tut, boy, andrifle. You take it too gravely. An hour or two's laughing with my daughter will fet all to rights again. She'll never like you the worse for it. Sir, I fhall be always proud of her approba tion. Para di HARD CASTLE. Approbation is but a cold word, Mr. Marlow; if I am not deceived, you have fomething more than approbation thereabouts. You take me.. MARLOW. Really, Sir, have not that happiness. A HARDCASTLE, Come, boy, I'm an old fellow, and know what's what, as well as you that are younger. I know what has paft between you; but mum. MAR DO W, H Sure, Sir, nothing has past between us but the moft profound refpect on my fide,, and the moft diftant reserve on her's. You don't think, Sir, that my impudence has been past upon all the reft of the family. Mifs HARDCASTLE. Impudence. No, I don't fay that Not quite impudence Though girls like to be play'd with, and rumpled a little too fometimes. But he has told no tales, I affure you. MARLO W.X I never gave her the flighteft caufe. HARD CASTLE. Well, well, I like modefty in its place well enough. But this is over-acting, young gentleman. You may be open. Your father and I will like you! the better for it. MAR MARLO W. May I die, Sir, if I ever L HARD CASTLE. I tell you, fhe don't diflike you; and as I'm you like her. Ture MARLO W. Dear Sir-I proteft, Sir HARD CASTLE. I fee no reason why you should not be joined as faft as the parfon can tie you. MARLO W. But hear me, Sir HARD CASTLE. Your father approves the match, I admire it, every moment's delay will be doing mifchief, fo MARLO W. But why won't you hear me? By all that's juft and true, I never gave mifs Hardcastle the flighteft mark of my attachment, or even the most diftant hint to fufpect me of affection. We had but one interview, and that was formal, modeft and uninteresting. HARDCASTLE. (Afide.) This fellow's formal modeft impudence is beyond bearing. Sir CHARLES. And you never grafp'd her hand, or made ^ny proteftations! MARLO W. As heaven is my witness, I came down in obedience to your commands. I faw the lady without emotion, and parted without reluctance. I hope you'll exact no further proofs of my duty, nor prevent me from leaving a houfe in which I fuffer fo many mortifications. N [Exit. Sir he parted. HARD CASTLE. And I'm aftonish'd at the deliberate intrepidity of his affurance. Sir CHARLES. I dare pledge my life and honour upon his truth. HARD CASTLE. Here comes my daughter, and I would ftake my happiness upon her veracity. Enter Mifs HARDCASTLE. HARD CASTLE. Kate, come hither, child. Anfwer us fincerely, and without referve; has Mr. Marlow made you any profeffions of love and affection? Mifs HARDCASTLE. The queftion is very abrupt, Sir! But fince you require unreferved fincerity, I think he has. HARD CASTLE. (To Sir Charles) You fee. Sir CHARLES. And pray, madam, have you and my son had more than one interview? Mifs HARDCASTLE. Yes, Sir, feveral. HARD CASTLE. (To Sir Charles) You fee. Sir CHARLES. But did he profefs any attachment? A lafting one. Sir CHARLES. Did he talk of love? Mifs |