she stoops to conquer-第9节

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MAID。　　But　what　do　you　hope　from　keeping　him　in　his　mistake？

MISS　HARDCASTLE。　　In　the　first　place　I　shall　be　seen；　and　that　is　no　small　advantage　to　a　girl　who　brings　her　face　to　market。　　Then　I　shall　perhaps　make　an　acquaintance；　and　that's　no　small　victory　gained　over　one　who　never　addresses　any　but　the　wildest　of　her　sex。　　But　my　chief　aim　is；　to　take　my　gentleman　off　his　guard；　and；　like　an　invisible　champion　of　romance；　examine　the　giant's　force　before　I　offer　to　combat。

MAID。　　But　you　are　sure　you　can　act　your　part；　and　disguise　your　voice　so　that　he　may　mistake　that；　as　he　has　already　mistaken　your　person？

MISS　HARDCASTLE。　　Never　fear　me。　　I　think　I　have　got　the　true　bar　cantDid　your　honour　call？Attend　the　Lion　therePipes　and　tobacco　for　the　Angel。The　Lamb　has　been　outrageous　this　half…hour。

MAID。　　It　will　do；　madam。　　But　he's　here。　　＇Exit　MAID。＇


Enter　MARLOW。


MARLOW。　　What　a　bawling　in　every　part　of　the　house！　　I　have　scarce　a　moment's　repose。　　If　I　go　to　the　best　room；　there　I　find　my　host　and　his　story：　if　I　fly　to　the　gallery；　there　we　have　my　hostess　with　her　curtsey　down　to　the　ground。　　I　have　at　last　got　a　moment　to　myself；　and　now　for　recollection。　　＇Walks　and　muses。＇

MISS　HARDCASTLE。　　Did　you　call；　sir？　　Did　your　honour　call？

MARLOW。　　（Musing。）　　As　for　Miss　Hardcastle；　she's　too　grave　and　sentimental　for　me。

MISS　HARDCASTLE。　　Did　your　honour　call？　　（She　still　places　herself　before　him；　he　turning　away。）

MARLOW。　　No；　child。　　（Musing。）　　Besides；　from　the　glimpse　I　had　of　her；　I　think　she　squints。

MISS　HARDCASTLE。　　I'm　sure；　sir；　I　heard　the　bell　ring。

MARLOW。　　No；　no。　　（Musing。）　　I　have　pleased　my　father；　however；　by　coming　down；　and　I'll　to…morrow　please　myself　by　returning。　　＇Taking　out　his　tablets；　and　perusing。＇

MISS　HARDCASTLE。　　Perhaps　the　other　gentleman　called；　sir？

MARLOW。　　I　tell　you；　no。

MISS　HARDCASTLE。　　I　should　be　glad　to　know；　sir。　　We　have　such　a　parcel　of　servants！

MARLOW。　　No；　no；　I　tell　you。　　（Looks　full　in　her　face。）　　Yes；　child；　I　think　I　did　call。　　I　wantedI　wantedI　vow；　child；　you　are　vastly　handsome。

MISS　HARDCASTLE。　　O　la；　sir；　you'll　make　one　ashamed。

MARLOW。　　Never　saw　a　more　sprightly　malicious　eye。　　Yes；　yes；　my　dear；　I　did　call。　　Have　you　got　any　of　yourawhat　d'ye　call　it　in　the　house？

MISS　HARDCASTLE。　　No；　sir；　we　have　been　out　of　that　these　ten　days。

MARLOW。　　One　may　call　in　this　house；　I　find；　to　very　little　purpose。　　Suppose　I　should　call　for　a　taste；　just　by　way　of　a　trial；　of　the　nectar　of　your　lips；　perhaps　I　might　be　disappointed　in　that　too。

MISS　HARDCASTLE。　　Nectar！　nectar！　　That's　a　liquor　there's　no　call　for　in　these　parts。　　French；　I　suppose。　　We　sell　no　French　wines　here；　sir。

MARLOW。　　Of　true　English　growth；　I　assure　you。

MISS　HARDCASTLE。　　Then　it's　odd　I　should　not　know　it。　　We　brew　all　sorts　of　wines　in　this　house；　and　I　have　lived　here　these　eighteen　years。

MARLOW。　　Eighteen　years！　　Why；　one　would　think；　child；　you　kept　the　bar　before　you　were　born。　　How　old　are　you？

MISS　HARDCASTLE。　　O！　sir；　I　must　not　tell　my　age。　　They　say　women　and　music　should　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　some　women　they　look　younger　still；　but　when　we　come　very　close　indeed（attempting　to　kiss　her）。

MISS　HARDCASTLE。　　Pray；　sir；　keep　your　distance。　　One　would　think　you　wanted　to　know　one's　age；　as　they　do　horses；　by　mark　of　mouth。

MARLOW。　　I　protest；　child；　you　use　me　extremely　ill。　　If　you　keep　me　at　this　distance；　how　is　it　possible　you　and　I　can　ever　be　acquainted？

MISS　HARDCASTLE。　　And　who　wants　to　be　acquainted　with　you？　　I　want　no　such　acquaintance；　not　I。　　I'm　sure　you　did　not　treat　Miss　Hardcastle；　that　was　here　awhile　ago；　in　this　obstropalous　manner。　　I'll　warrant　me；　before　her　you　looked　dashed；　and　kept　bowing　to　the　ground；　and　talked；　for　all　the　world；　as　if　you　was　before　a　justice　of　peace。

MARLOW。　　（Aside。）　　Egad；　she　has　hit　it；　sure　enough！　　（To　her。）　　In　awe　of　her；　child？　　Ha！　ha！　ha！　　A　mere　awkward　squinting　thing；　no；　no。　　I　find　you　don't　know　me。　　I　laughed　and　rallied　her　a　little；　but　I　was　unwilling　to　be　too　severe。　　No；　I　could　not　be　too　severe；　curse　me！

MISS　HARDCASTLE。　　O！　then；　sir；　you　are　a　favourite；　I　find；　among　the　ladies？

MARLOW。　　Yes；　my　dear；　a　great　favourite。　　And　yet　hang　me；　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；　Mr。　Solomons；　my　dear；　at　your　service。　　（Offering　to　salute　her。）

MISS　HARDCASTLE。　　Hold；　sir；　you　are　introducing　me　to　your　club；　not　to　yourself。　　And　you're　so　great　a　favourite　there；　you　say？

MARLOW。　　Yes；　my　dear。　　There's　Mrs。　Mantrap；　Lady　Betty　Blackleg；　the　Countess　of　Sligo；　Mrs。　Langhorns；　old　Miss　Biddy　Buckskin；　and　your　humble　servant；　keep　up　the　spirit　of　the　place。

MISS　HARDCASTLE。　　Then　it's　a　very　merry　place；　I　suppose？

MARLOW。　　Yes；　as　merry　as　cards；　supper；　wine；　and　old　women　can　make　us。

MISS　HARDCASTLE。　　And　their　agreeable　Rattle；　ha！　ha！　ha！

MARLOW。　　（Aside。）　　Egad！　I　don't　quite　like　this　chit。　　She　looks　knowing；　methinks。　　You　laugh；　child？

MISS　HARDCASTLE。　　I　can't　but　laugh；　to　think　what　time　they　all　have　for　minding　their　work　or　their　family。

MARLOW。　　（Aside。）　　All's　well；　she　don't　laugh　at　me。　　（To　her。）　　Do　you　ever　work；　child？

MISS　HARDCASTLE。　　Ay；　sure。　　There's　not　a　screen　or　quilt　in　the　whole　house　but　what　can　bear　witness　to　that。

MARLOW。　　Odso！　then　you　must　show　me　your　embroidery。　　I　embroider　and　draw　patterns　myself　a　little。　　If　you　want　a　judge　of　your　work；　you　must　apply　to　me。　　（Seizing　her　hand。）

MISS　HARDCASTLE。　　Ay；　but　the　colours　do　not　look　well　by　candlelight。　　You　shall　see　all　in　the　morning。　　（Struggling。）

MARLOW。　　And　why　not　now；　my　angel？　　Such　beauty　fires　beyond　the　power　of　resistance。Pshaw！　the　father　here！　　My　old　luck：　I　never　nicked　seven　that　I　did　not　throw　ames　ace　three　times　following。　　＇Exit　MARLOW。＇


Enter　HARDCASTLE；　who　stands　in　surprise。


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　adored　at　humble　distance。　　Kate；　Kate；　art　thou　not　ashamed　to　deceive　your　father　so？

MISS　HARDCASTLE。　　Never　trust　me；　dear　papa；　but　he's　still　the　modest　man　I　first　took　him　for；　you'll　be　convinced　of　it　as　well　as　I。

HARDCASTLE。　　By　the　hand　of　my　body；　I　believe　his　impudence　is　infectious！　　Didn't　I　see　him　seize　your　hand？　　Didn't　I　see　him　haul　you　about　like　a　milkmaid？　　And　now　you　talk　of　his　respect　and　his　modesty；　forsooth！

MISS　HARDCASTLE。　　But　if　I　shortly　convince　you　of　his　modesty；　that　he　has　only　the　faults　that　will　pass　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　scarce　been　three　hours　in　the　house；　and　he　has　already　encroached　on　all　my　prerogatives。　　You　may　like　his　impudence；　and　call　it　modesty；　but　my　son…in…law；　madam；　must　have　very　different　qualifications。

MISS　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。

MISS　HARDCASTLE。　　Give　me　that　hour　then；　and　I　hope　to　satisfy　you。

HARDCASTLE。　　Well；　an　hour　let　it　be　then。　　But　I'll　have　no　trifling　with　your　father。　　All　fair　and　open；　do　you　mind　me。

MISS　HARDCASTLE。　　I　hope；　sir；　you　have　ever　found　that　I　considered　your　commands　as　my　pride；　for　your　kindness　is　such；　that　my　duty　as　yet　has　been　inclination。　　＇Exeunt。＇



ACT　THE　FOURTH。


Enter　HASTINGS　and　MISS　NEVILLE。


HASTINGS。　　You　surprise　me；　Sir　Charles　Marlow　expected　here　this　night！　　Where　have　you　had　your　information？

MISS　NEVILLE。　　You　may　depend　upon　it。　　I　just　saw　his　letter　to　Mr。　Hardcastle；　in　which　he　tells　him　he　intends　setting　out　a　few　hours　after　his　son。

HASTINGS。　　Then；　my　Constance；　all　must　be　completed　before　he　arrives。　　He　knows　me；　and　should　he　find　me　here；　would　discover　my　name；　and　perhaps　my　designs；　to　the　rest　of　the　family。

MISS　NEVILLE。　　The　jewels；　I　hope；　are　safe？

HASTINGS。　　Yes；　yes；　I　have　sent　them　to　Marlow；　who　keeps　the　keys　of　our　baggage。　　In　the　mean　time；　I'll　go　to　prepare　matters　for　our　elopement。　　I　have　had　the　'squire's　promise　of　a　fresh　pair　of　horses；　and　if　I　should　not　see　him　again；　will　write　him　further　directions。　　＇Exit。＇

MISS　NEVILLE。　　Well！　success　attend　you。　　In　the　mean　time　I'll　go　and　amuse　my　aunt　with　the　old　pretence　of　a　violent　passion　for　my　cousin。　　＇Exit。＇


Enter　MARLOW；　followed　by　a　Servant。


MARLOW。　　I　wonder　what　Hastings　could　mean　by　sending　me　so　valuable　a　thing　as　a　casket　to　keep　for　him；　when　he　knows　the　only　place　I　have　is　the　seat　of　a　post…coach　at　an　inn…door。　　Have　you　deposited　the　casket　with　the　landlady；　as　I　ordered　you？　　Have　you　put　it　into　her　own　hands？

SERVANT。　　Yes；　your　honou