登陆注册
18377100000025

第25章 ACT THE FIFTH.(4)

MARLOW. By all that's good, I can have no happiness but what's in your power to grant me! Nor shall I ever feel repentance but in not having seen your merits before. I will stay even contrary to your wishes; and though you should persist to shun me, I will make my respectful assiduities atone for the levity of my past conduct.

MISS HARDCASTLE. Sir, I must entreat you'll desist. As our acquaintance began, so let it end, in indifference. I might have given an hour or two to levity; but seriously, Mr. Marlow, do you think I could ever submit to a connexion where I must appear mercenary, and you imprudent? Do you think I could ever catch at the confident addresses of a secure admirer?

MARLOW. (Kneeling.) Does this look like security? Does this look like confidence? No, madam, every moment that shows me your merit, only serves to increase my diffidence and confusion. Here let me continue----SIR CHARLES. I can hold it no longer. Charles, Charles, how hast thou deceived me! Is this your indifference, your uninteresting conversation?

HARDCASTLE. Your cold contempt; your formal interview! What have you to say now?

MARLOW.That I'm all amazement!What can it mean?

HARDCASTLE. It means that you can say and unsay things at pleasure: that you can address a lady in private, and deny it in public: that you have one story for us, and another for my daughter.

MARLOW.Daughter!--This lady your daughter?

HARDCASTLE. Yes, sir, my only daughter; my Kate; whose else should she be?

MARLOW.Oh, the devil!

MISS HARDCASTLE. Yes, sir, that very identical tall squinting lady you were pleased to take me for (courtseying); she that you addressed as the mild, modest, sentimental man of gravity, and the bold, forward,agreeable Rattle of the Ladies' Club.Ha! ha! ha!

MARLOW.Zounds! there's no bearing this; it's worse than death!

MISS HARDCASTLE. In which of your characters, sir, will you give us leave to address you? As the faltering gentleman, with looks on the ground, that speaks just to be heard, and hates hypocrisy; or the loud confident creature, that keeps it up with Mrs. Mantrap, and old Miss Biddy Buckskin, till three in the morning? Ha! ha! ha!

MARLOW. O, curse on my noisy head. I never attempted to be impudent yet, that I was not taken down. I must be gone.

HARDCASTLE. By the hand of my body, but you shall not. I see it was all a mistake, and I am rejoiced to find it. You shall not, sir, I tell you. I know she'll forgive you. Won't you forgive him, Kate? We'll all forgive you. Take courage, man. (They retire, she tormenting him, to the back scene.)Enter MRS. HARDCASTLE and Tony.

MRS. HARDCASTLE.So, so, they're gone off.Let them go, I care not.

HARDCASTLE.Who gone?

MRS. HARDCASTLE. My dutiful niece and her gentleman, Mr. Hastings, from town. He who came down with our modest visitor here.

SIR CHARLES. Who, my honest George Hastings? As worthy a fellow as lives, and the girl could not have made a more prudent choice.

HARDCASTLE. Then, by the hand of my body, I'm proud of the connexion.

MRS. HARDCASTLE. Well, if he has taken away the lady, he has not taken her fortune; that remains in this family to console us for her loss.

HARDCASTLE.Sure, Dorothy, you would not be so mercenary? MRS. HARDCASTLE.Ay, that's my affair, not yours.

HARDCASTLE. But you know if your son, when of age, refuses to marry his cousin, her whole fortune is then at her own disposal.

MRS. HARDCASTLE. Ay, but he's not of age, and she has not thought proper to wait for his refusal.

Enter HASTINGS and MISS NEVILLE.

MRS. HARDCASTLE.(Aside.)What, returned so soon!I begin not to like it.

HASTINGS. (To HARDCASTLE.) For my late attempt to fly off with your niece let my present confusion be my punishment. We are now come back, to appeal from your justice to your humanity. By her father's consent, I first paid her my addresses, and our passions were first founded in duty.

MISS NEVILLE. Since his death, I have been obliged to stoop to dissimulation to avoid oppression. In an hour of levity, I was ready to give up my fortune to secure my choice. But I am now recovered from the delusion, and hope from your tenderness what is denied me from a nearer connexion.

MRS. HARDCASTLE. Pshaw, pshaw! this is all but the whining end of a modern novel.

HARDCASTLE. Be it what it will, I'm glad they're come back to reclaim their due. Come hither, Tony, boy. Do you refuse this lady's hand whom I now offer you?

TONY. What signifies my refusing? You know I can't refuse her till I'm of age, father.

HARDCASTLE. While I thought concealing your age, boy, was likely to conduce to your improvement, I concurred with your mother's desire to keep it secret. But since I find she turns it to a wrong use, I must now declare you have been of age these three months.

TONY.Of age!Am I of age, father? HARDCASTLE.Above three months.

TONY. Then you'll see the first use I'll make of my liberty. (Taking MISS NEVILLE's hand.) Witness all men by these presents, that I, Anthony Lumpkin, Esquire, of BLANK place, refuse you, Constantia Neville, spinster, of no place at all, for my true and lawful wife. So Constance Neville may marry whom she pleases, and Tony Lumpkin is his own man again.

SIR CHARLES.O brave 'squire! HASTINGS.My worthy friend!

MRS. HARDCASTLE.My undutiful offspring!

MARLOW.Joy, my dear George!I give you joy sincerely.Andcould I prevail upon my little tyrant here to be less arbitrary, I should be the happiest man alive, if you would return me the favour.

HASTINGS. (To MISS HARDCASTLE.) Come, madam, you are now driven to the very last scene of all your contrivances. I know you like him, I'm sure he loves you, and you must and shall have him.

HARDCASTLE. (Joining their hands.) And I say so too. And, Mr. Marlow, if she makes as good a wife as she has a daughter, I don't believe you'll ever repent your bargain. So now to supper. To-morrow we shall gather all the poor of the parish about us, and the mistakes of the night shall be crowned with a merry morning. So, boy, take her; and as you have been mistaken in the mistress, my wish is, that you may never be mistaken in the wife. [Exeunt Omnes.]

同类推荐
  • 戊戌定乱平粜记略

    戊戌定乱平粜记略

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • English Stories Germany

    English Stories Germany

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 释迦谱

    释迦谱

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 稽神录

    稽神录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 美芹十论

    美芹十论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 优秀小学生应该知道的礼仪小常识

    优秀小学生应该知道的礼仪小常识

    一本书无法改变整个世界,但可能会塑造孩子的一生。《优秀小学生:应该知道的礼仪小常识》以礼仪小故事、你来评对错、礼仪小常识的形式,讲述小学生应该知道的个人形象,家庭、生活,校园、学习,社会交往,外出、公共,媒介使用,涉外等方面的礼仪小常识,紧密结合新时代、新风尚以及现代礼仪,同时容纳传统礼仪的精粹。《优秀小学生:应该知道的礼仪小常识》是市场上第一本培养礼仪小公民的经典读本,能在轻松的课外阅读中帮助小学生知书识礼、全面发展,为将来成为高素质、有教养的新世纪人才打下坚实的基础。
  • 初夏之光

    初夏之光

    “吶,你知道吗?听说樱花飘落的速度是秒速五厘米哦。”秒速5厘米,那是樱花飘落的速度,那么怎样的速度才能走完我与你之间的距离?----秒速五厘米“你知道吗?再一次初夏,当太阳升起,我一定会紧紧地﹑紧紧地抓住你!”----初夏之光
  • 红电

    红电

    雷远好端端练着剑突然让雷给劈了,从此身体里仿佛住进了一个恶魔,时不时就失去理智大杀一方。然而这股力量却让所谓的名门正派也觊觎万分。这力量来自何方?雷远是否该放任自流,与那恶魔一起屠尽天下?抑或坚守己身,在正邪夹攻中苟延残喘?
  • 静思集

    静思集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 那些年我们的青春

    那些年我们的青春

    第一次相遇,有了误会第二次相遇,有了悸动第三次相遇……
  • 死亡软件

    死亡软件

    一介学生泉雄进入“骗局”,现实世界的死亡游戏,谁是敌谁是友?装备,技能,妹子,不要太多好不好。!!新人作者,望大家支持。
  • 归魅校园

    归魅校园

    在一个校园发生的一系列怪异的事情一系列的恐怖故事
  • 问鼎万道

    问鼎万道

    万道神界.强者争雄.道统林立.万道荟萃.十大道统震天彻地,演绎着一个万道盛事。但却因一纨绔子弟南宫墨睿打破,与万道争锋,踏万道而为帝,征战诸天万道!
  • 我的娇蛮毒后

    我的娇蛮毒后

    老公,我在前面放毒,你在后面救人好不好?老婆,这样不太厚道吧。唐娇想了想道:哦,那你在前面救人,我在后面放毒吧!华丘生一脸黑线……思忖之下说道:老婆,要不这样吧。怎样?我们召唤一群毒蛇进村,你用以毒攻毒,我用医药攻毒,看看谁更厉害。唐娇莫名欢喜,大叫:好耶,老公好棒!
  • 宅男的水晶宫召唤

    宅男的水晶宫召唤

    你想建立一个前无古人,后无来者的水晶宫吗?想亲眼见识或体验所有学姊、学妹、同班、同学、女老师、青梅竹马、千金大小姐、金发、黑发、茶色发、银发、长发、中长发、短发、清汤挂面、直筒、卷发、离子烫、双马尾、单马尾、双辫子、单辫子、波浪卷、乱翘发、水手服、西装式制服、体育服、柔道服、弓道服、保姆、护士、女仆、女警、巫女、修女、军人、秘书、萝莉、傲娇少女、啦啦队、空姐、女服务生、黑哥德装、白哥德装、旗袍、卧病美少女、白子电波系、妄想症、双重人格、女王、公主、长筒袜、吊袜带、女扮男装、眼镜、眼罩、绷带、学校泳装、连身泳装、比基尼泳装、V型泳装、细绳泳装、妖怪、幽灵、兽耳少女等等吗?”YesorNo。