Mifs HARDCASTLE. Nectar! nectar! That's a liquor there's no call for in thofe parts. French, I fuppofe. We keep no French wines here, Sir. MARLOW. Of true English growth, I affure you. Mifs HARDCASTLE. Then it's odd I fhould not know it. We brew all forts of wines in this houfe, and I have lived here thefe eighteen years. MARLOW. - Eighteen years! Why one would think, child, you kept the bar before you was born. are you? Mifs HARDCASTLE. How old O! Sir, I must not tell my age. They fay women and mufic fhould never be dated. MARLOW. To guess at this distance you can't be much above forty (approaching). Yet nearer I don't think so much (approaching). By coming close to fome women they look younger ftill; but when we come very close indeed-(attempting to kifs her.) Mifs HARDCASTLE. Pray, Sir, keep your diftance. One would think you wanted to know one's age as they do horfes, by mark of mouth. MAR MARLOW. If you I proteft, child, you use me extremely ill. keep me at this distance, how is it poffible you and I can ever be acquainted? Mifs HARDCASTLE.. 3 And who wants to be acquainted with you? I want no fuch acquaintance, not I. I'm sure you did not treat Mifs Hardcaftle that was here awhile ago in this obftropalous manner. I'll warrant me, before her you look'd dafh'd, and kept bowing to the ground, and talk'd, for all the world, as if you was before a juftice of peace. MARLOW. (Afide) Fgad! She has hit it, fure enough. (To ber) In awe of her, child? Ha! ha! ha! A mere aukward fquinting thing, no, no. I find you don't know me. I laugh'd, and rallied her a little; but I was unwilling to be too fevere. be too fevere, curfe me! Mifs HARDCASTLE. No, I could not O! then, Sir, you are a favourite, I find, among the ladies? me, MARLOW. Yes, my dear, a great favourite. And yet, hang I don't see what they find in me to follow. At the ladies club in town, I'm called their agreeable Rattle. Rattle, child, is not my real name, but one I'm known by. My name is Solomons. P 2 Mr. Solo Solomons, my dear, at your fervice. (Offering to faLute ber.) Mifs HARDCASTLE. Hold, Sir; you are introducing me to your club, not to yourself. there, you say? Yes, my dear. And you're fo great a favourite MARLOW. There's Mrs. Mantrap, lady Bet ty Blackleg, the countess of Sligo, Mrs. Langhorns, old Mifs Biddy Buckskin, and your humble fervant, keep up the fpirit of the place. Mifs HARDCASTLE. Then it's a very merry place, I fuppofe? Yes, as merry as cards, fupper, wine, and old wo men, can make us. Mifs HARDCASTLE. And their agreeable Rattle, ha! ha! ha! (Afide) Egad! I don't quite like this chat. She looks knowing, methinks. You laugh, child! Mifs HARDCASTLE. I can't but laugh to think what time they all have for minding their work or their family. MARLOW. (Afide) All's well; fhe don't laugh at me. (To her) Do you ever work, child? Mifs Mifs HARDCASTLE. Aye, fure. There's not a screen or a quilt in the whole house but what can bear witnefs to that. MARLOW. Odfo! then you must fhew me your embroidery, I embroider and draw patterns myself a little. If you want a judge of your work you must apply to [Seizing her hand. me. Mifs HARDCASTLE. Aye, but the colours do not look well by candlelight. You fhall fee all in the morning. MARLOW. [Struggling. And why not now, my angel? Such beauty fires beyond the power of refiftance.-Pfhaw! the father here! My old luck: I never nick'd feven that I did not throw ames ace three times following. [Exit Marlow. Enter HARDCASTLE, who ftands in furprize. HARDCASTLE. So, madam. So I find this is your modest lover. This is your humble admirer that kept his eyes fixed on the ground, and only ador'd at humble diftance. Kate, Kate, art thou not asham'd to deceive your father fo? Mifs HARDCASTLE. Never trust me, dear papa, but he's ftill the modet man I first took him for, you'll be convinc'd of it as well as I. is HARDCASTLE. By the hand of my body I believe his impudence Us! Didn't I fee him feize your hand? fee him hawl you about like a milk-maid? and now you talk of his refpect and his modefty, forfooth! Mifs HARDCASTLE. But if I fhortly convince you of his modefty, that he has only the faults that will pafs off with time, and the virtues that will improve with age, I hope you'll forgive him. HARDCASTLE. The girl would actually make one run mad! I tell you I'll not be convinced. I am convinced. He has fcarce been three hours in the houfe, and he has already encroached on all my prerogatives. You may like his impudence, and call it modefty. But my fon-in-law, madam, must have very different qualifications. Mifs HARDCASTLE. Sir, I ask but this night to convince you. HARDCASTLE. You shall not have half the time, for I have thoughts of turning him out this very hour. |