forth your hoards! Let him once more be himself, and bid me kiss the dust! Widow. [Aside.] Elegant youth! [Eagerly.] Wilt thou? Widow, be his support? Widow. Cruel question! How can I deny? Harry. Immortal blessings be upon thee! My father Widow. Will be all rapture to hear Harry. [Shakes his head.] Ah, ha, ha, ha! [Sighs.] You don't know my father! A strange, affectionate-! That loves me- ! Oh! He- ! And you see how I use him! you see how I use him. But no matter.-Tol de rol-We'll be married to-night. Widow. Oh, fie! Harry. Ay, my Madona! To-night's the day. The sooner the better. 'Tis to rescue a father, blithsome Widow! A father! To save him have I fallen in love. Remember-Sin with open eyes, Widow-Money-I must have money. Early in the morn, ere counters echo with the ring of gold, fifty thousand must be raised! Widow. It shall, Mr. Dornton. Harry. Why, shall it? Shall it? Speak again, beautiful vision, speak! Shall it? Widow. Dear Mr. Dornton, it shall. Harry. Remember! Fifty thousand the first thing in the morning? Widow. And would not a part this evening-? [Coquetting. Harry. [Suddenly.] What sayest thou? Oh, no! -Whoo!-Thousands Widow. I have a trifling sum. Harry. Six? Widow. Which I meant to have disposed of, butHarry. No, no! I'll dispose of it, dear Widow! Kisses her.] I'll dispose of it in a twinkling! [Elated.] Doubt not my gratitude-Let this and this-[Kissing.] Widow. Fie! You are a sad man. But I'll bring you a draft! Harry. Do, my blooming Widow! Empress of the golden isles, do. Widow. But, remember, this trifle is for your own use. Harry. No, my pearl unparalleled! My father! My father's. Save but my father, and I will kiss the ground which thou treadest, and live and breathe but on thy bounty! [With self-indignation. [Exit WIDOW, r. At least till time and fate shall means afford Jenny. Sir! Harry. Ah, ha! my merry maid of May! Jenny. I suppose you are waiting to see Miss Sophy, now you have got rid of the old lady. Harry. Got rid of the old lady? Thou brazen pinplacer! thou virgin of nine-and-twenty years occupation! No! I have not got rid of the old lady! the old lady is to be my blooming, youthful bride! and I, happy youth, am written and destined in the records of eternity her other half! Heigho! Jenny. Lord, sir, what rapturation :-but stay a little, and I'll tell Miss Sophy her mamma wants her, here; so then-Hush!- [JENNY retires, L. making a sign. Re-enter the WIDOW WARREN, R. Widow. Here's the draft. Harry. Thanks, my Sultana !-this halcyon night the priest, pronouncing conjurations dire Widow. Fie! I won't look at you. Harry. Ay, to-night we'll marry; shall we not? [Sitting down and coquetting. Enter SOPHIA, skipping, K. U. E. but stops short on seeing them. Harry. To-night shall be a night of wonder; and we'll love like-[Aside]-like Darby and Joan. Widow. [Languishing.] I shall hate you intoler[SOPHIA advancing on tip-toe, L. Harry. Hey for the parson's permission! Hey, my sublime Widow. ably. Widow. To steal thus upon one at an unguarded mo ment. Harry. But here first let me kneel, and thus to Ceres [Going to kiss her hand in rapture, meets the eye of SOPHIA. pay-- Sophia. [Coming between them with bursting trepidation, taking the Valentine from her bosom, and presenting it.] There, sir. Widow. Ah. Sophia. There, sir-oh, pray, sir, take it, sir. Widow. Why, minikin Sophia. I request, sir. I desire, sir. Harry. [Declining it.] Tol de rol Sophia. [Tearing the paper piecemeal, and throwing it spitefully away.] Why then there, sir-and there, sir-and there, there, there, there, sir! Widow. Poor minikin! I declare she is jealous. Sophia. [Her sobs rising.] And I'll—I'll-Wri-i-iite to my-to my grandma-a-a-a directly Widow. Fie, child! Sophia. And I'll go do-o-own-into Glo-o-o-ostershire Widow. Go up to your chamber, child! Sophia. And I'll tell my grandma-a what a false, base, bad man you are; and she shall ha-ate you, and despise you; and I'll ha-a-ate you, and despise you myself! Widow. Poor thing. Sophia. And moreover I'll hate and despise all mankind! and for your sake [With great energy] I'll live and die a maid. Widow. Yes, child, that I dare be sworn you will. Harry. Widow! I'm a sad fellow! don't have me! -I'm a vile fellow! Sophy! you are right to despise me ! I am going to marry your mother. Sophia. I'll go down into Glo-o-ostershire-I wo-on't live in such a false-hearted city! And you ought to be ashamed of yourself, ma', to make yourself so ridiculous! Harry. No, no, sweet Sylph, it is my fault! all my fault. Widow. [Enraged.] Be gone, Miss. Harry. [Interposing.] Sweet Widow ! gentle Widow ! -I've sold myself, Sophy! six thousand pounds is the earnest money paid down, for the reptile Harry Dornton!-I love you, Sophy. Widow. How, Mr. Dornton? Harry. I do, by heaven! take back your money, Widow. [Offering the draft.] I'm a sad scoundrel! Sophia. You are a base, faithless, man, you know you are. And you are a pitiless woman, a merciless woman, for all you are my own mother, to let my poor brother Milford go to be starved to death in a dark dungeon. Harry. Milford in prison? Sophia. (c.) Yes, sir; arrested by your cruel, old, ugly father! I'm sure he is ugly! though I never saw him in my life, I'm sure he is an ugly, hideous, ugly [Exit, R, monster. Harry. [Rising.] Is this true, Widow? Widow. [Rising—stammering.] Sir Harry. Arrested by my father?-squandering her money, on a ruined reprobate, and won't release her husband's son. Widow. Nay but, dear Mr. Dornton. Harry. I'll be with you again presently, Widow ! presently, presently. [Exit, L. Widow. [Speaking after him.] To-night, you know, Mr. Dornton- ! Enter JENNY, L. Jenny. Mr. Goldfinch is coming up, ma'am. Widow. I have no time to waste with Mr. Goldfinch. I'll presently send him about his business. Mr. Dornton talks I don't know how, Jenny. Says it must be to-night. Enter GOLDFINCH, L. Gold. (L.) Well, Widow? [Walks to the R. disdainfully. Jenny. [Aside to GOLDFINCH.] Have you got the licence? Gold. No. Jenny. No! Gold. No-been to Tattersall's. Jenny, And not for the licence? Gold. Tellee I've been to Tattersall's! Jenny. Ah! it's all over! Gold. Made sure of the Eclipse colts!-must not lose 'em! Jenny. [Aside.] Stupid booby! Widow. [Advancing.] What is your present busi ness, sir? Gold. My business? ha, ha, ha! that's a good one! I'll tell you my business [Approaching with open arms, Widow. [Haughtily.] Keep your distance, sir! Gold. Dis ance, Widow? No; that's not the way. I should be double distanced if I did. Widow. Were you indeed a man of deportment and breeding-! Gold. Breeding ?-Look at my spurs! Widow. Had you the manner, the spirit, the- ! But no, you are no gentleman- Gold. Whew! no gentleman? [Claps on his hat, and takes a lounging impudent swagger.] Dammee, that's a good one!-Charles Goldfinch no gentleman? -Ask in the box-lobby! inquire at the school. [In a boxing attitude. Widow. Sir, you are a tedious person: your company is troublesome. Gold. Turf or turnpike, keep the best of cattlewalk, trot, or gallop-Run, amble, or canter-laugh at every thing on the road-Give 'em all the go-by.-Beat the trotting butcher !-Gentleman!-That's your sort! Jenny. [Aside to GOLD.] Follow me. [Exit, R. Widow. I beg, sir, I may not be intruded upon with you or your horse-jockey jargon any more. [Exit, R. Gold. Here's a kick up-dish'd again-I knew I should have no luck-started badly in the morningd-n all dancing-masters and their umbrellas. [Exit, L. SCENE II-An Apartment at the House of a Enter HARRY DORNTON, with an OFFICER, R. Harry. Dispatch, man! dispatch! Tell Jack Milford I can't wait a moment !-hold-write an acquittal instantly for the thousand pounds. But say not a word to him of my intention. Officer. A thousand, sir; it is almost five thousand! Harry. Impossible! Officer. There are detainers already lodged to that amount. Harry, Five thousand? Officer. Must I write the acquittal for the sum total? |