Mrs. HARDCASTLE. (Within) Mifs Neville. Conftance, why Conftance, I say. Mifs NEVILLE. I'm coming. Well, conftancy. Remember, conftancy is the word. HASTINGS. [Exit. My heart! how can I fupport this. To be fo near happiness, and fuch happiness! MARLOW. (To Tong) You fee now, young gentleman, the effects of your folly. What might be amufement to you, is here difappointment, and even diftrefs. TONY. (From a reverie) Ecod, I have hit it. It's here. Your hands. Yours and yours, my poor Sulky: My boots there, ho. Meet me two hours hence at the bottom of the gardon; and if you don't find Tony Lumpkin a more good natur'd fellow than you thought for, I'll give you leave to take my best horse, and Bet Bouncer into the bargain. Come along. My boots, ho! [Exeunt. ACT ACT THE FIFTH. Enter HASTINGS and SERVANT. HASTINGS. You faw the old lady and Miss Neville drive off, you say. SERVANT. Yes, your honour. They went off in a poftcoach, and the young 'fquire went on horfeback. They're thirty miles off by this time. HASTINGS. Then all my hopes are over. SERVANT. 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 feen. So now to my fruitlefs appointment at the bottom of the garden. This is about the time. [Exit. Enter Enter Sir CHARLES and HARDCASTLE. HARDCASTLE. Ha! ha! ha! The peremptory tone in which he fent forth his fublime commands. Sir CHARLES. And the referve with which I fuppofe he treated all your advances. HARDCASTLE. And yet he might have seen something in me above a common inn-keeper, too. Sir CHARLES. Yes, Dick, but he mistook you inn-keeper, ha ha! ha! HARDCASTLE. for an uncommon Well, I'm in too good spirits to think of any thing but joy. Yes, my dear friend, this union of our families will make our perfonal friendships hereditary; and though 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 share his happiness and encrease it. If they like each other, as you say they do HARDCASTLE. If, man! I tell you they do like each other. My daughter as good as told me fo. Sir CHARLES. But girls are apt to flatter themselves, you know. HARDCASTLE. I saw him grafp her hand in the warmest manner myfelf; and here he comes to put you out of your ifs, I warrant him. Enter MARLOW. MARLOW. I come, Sir, once more, to ask pardon for my frange conduct. I can scarce reflect on my infolence without confufion. HARDCASTLE. Tut, boy, a trifle. 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 worfe for it. MARLOW. Sir, I fhall be always proud of her approbation. 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, I have not that happiness.. 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. MARLOW. Sure, Sir, nothing has paft between us but the moft profound refpect on my fide, and the most diftant referve on her's. You don't think, Sir, that my impudence has been paft upon all the rest of the family. HARDCASTLE. Impudence! No, I don't say that-not quite impudence-though girls like to be play'd with, and rumpled a little too fometimes. But fhe has told no tales, I affure you. MARLOW. I never gave her the flighteft cause. HARDCASTLE. i 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. MARLOW. May I die, Sir, if I ever HARDCASTLE. I tell you, fhe don't diflike you; and as I'm fure you like her |