the fashion. I remember, when I was on my travels among the madames and signoras, we never saluted more than the tip of the ear. The. Really, papa, you have a very strange opinion of my delicacy; I had no such stuff in my thoughts. Sir Har. Well, come my poor Dossy, I see you are chagrined, but you know it is not my fault; on the contrary, I assure you I had always a great regard for young Mervin, and should have been very glad The. How then, papa, could you join in forcing me to write him that strange letter, never to see me more; or how, indeed, could I comply with your commands? What must he think of ine ? Sir Har. Ay, but hold, Dossy; 'your mamma convinced me that he was not so proper a sonin-law for us as lord Aimworth. The. Convinced you! Ah, my dear papa, you were not convinced. Sir Har. What! don't I know when I am convinced? The. Why no, papa; because your good-nature and easiness of temper is such, that you pay more respect to the judgment of mamma, and less to your own, than you ought to do. Sir Har. Well, but, Dossy, don't you see how you mamma loves me? if my finger does but ache she's like a bewitched woman; and, if I was to die, I don't believe she would outlive the burying of me: nay, she has told me as much herself. The. Her fondness, indeed, is very extraordi nary. Sir Har. Besides could you give up the prospect of being a countess, and mistress of this fine place? The. Yes, truly could I. AIR. With the man that I love, was I destined to drell, On a mountain, a moor, in a cot, in a cell, Retreats the most barren, most desert, would be More pleasing than courts, or a palace to me. Let the rain and the venal, in wedlock aspire To what folly esteems, and the vulgar admire; 1 yield them the bliss, where their wishes are placed; Insensible creatures, 'tis all they can taste. Enter LADY SYCAMORE. Lady Syc. Sir Harry, where are you? Lady Syc. I am just come from looking over his lordship's family trinkets. Well, Miss Sycamore, you are a very happy creature, to have diamonds, equipage, title, all the blessings of life poured thus upon you at once. The. Blessings, madam! do you think, then I am such a wretch as to place my felicity in the possession of any such trumpery. Lady Syc. Upon my word, miss, you have a very disdainful manner of expressing yourself. I believe there are very few young women of fashion, who would think any sacrifice they could make too much for them. Did you ever hear the like of her, Sir Harry? Sir Har. Why, my dear, I have just been talking to her in the same strain; but, whatever she has got in her head Lady Syc. Oh, it is Mr. Mervin, her gentleman of Bucklersbury. Fie, miss, marry a cit! where is your pride, your vanity? have you nothing of the person of distinction about you? Sir Har. Well, but, my lady, you know I am a piece of a cit myself, as I muy say; for my great grandfather was a dry salter. The. And yet, madam, you condescended to marry my papa. Lady Syc. Well, if I did, miss, I had but five thousand pounds to my portion, and Sir Harry knows I was past eight and thirty, before I would listen to him. Sir Har. Nay, Dossy, that's true; your mamma owned eight and thirty, before we were married; but, by the la, my dear, you were a lovely angel! and by candle-right, nobody would have taken you for above five and twenty. Lady Syc. Sir Harry, you remember the last time I was at my lord Duke's? Sir Har. Yes, my love; it was the very day your little bitch Minxey pupt. Lady Syc. And pray what did the whole family say ? my lord John, and my lord Thomas, and my lady duchess in particular? cousin, says her grace to me--for she always called me cousin The. Well, but, madam to cut this matter short at once, my father has a great regard for Mr. Mervin, and would consent to our union with all his heart. Lady Syc. Do you say so, Sir Harry. Sir Har. Who I, love! Lady Syc. Then all my care and prudence are come to nothing. Sir Har. Well, but stay, my lady-Dossy, you are always making inischief. The. Ah! my dear sweet Lady Syc. Do, miss; that's right; coaxThe. No, madam, I am not capable of any such meanness. Lady Syc. 'Tis very civil of you to contradict me, however, Sir Har. Eh! what's that?-hands off, Dossy; don't come near me. AIR. Why, how now, Miss Pert, Do you think to divert My anger by fawning and stroking? Would you make me your fool, Your plaything, your tool? Was ever young mint so provoking? Get out of my sight! 'Twould be serving you right, Sir Har. My lord, I kiss your lordship's hands -I hope he did not overhear us squabbling Aside.]-I have been chattering, here, with my wife and daughter, my lord-We have been examining your lordship's pictures. Lord Aim. I flatter myself, then, her ladyship found something to entertain her; there are a few of them counted tolerable. Well now, master Giles, what is it you have got to say to me? If I can do you a service, this company will give you leave to speak. Giles. I thank your lordship; I has not got a great deal to say. I do come to your lordship about a little business, if you'll please to give me a hearing. Lord Aim. Certainly, only let me know what it is. Giles. Why, an please you, my lord; being left alone, as I may say, feyther dead, and all the business upon my own hands, I do think of settling and taking a wife, and am come to ax your honour's consent. Lord Aim. My consent, farmer! If that be necessary, you have it with all my heart-I hope you have taken care to make a prudent choice? Giles. Why, I do hope so, my lord. Lord Aim. Well, and who is the happy fair one? Does she live in my house? Giles. No, my lord, she does not live in your house, but she's a parson of your acquaintance. Lord Aim. Of my acquaintance? Giles. No offence, I hope, your honour. Lord Aim. None in the least; but how is she an acquaintance of mine? Giles Your lordship do know miller Fairfield? Lord Aim. Well Giles. And Patty Fairfield, his daughter, my lord? Lord Aim. Ay! is it her you think of marrying? Giles. Why, if so be as your worship has no objection; to be sure, we wili do nothing without your consent and approbation. Lord Aim. Upon my word, farmer, you have made an excellent choice-It is a god-daughter of my mother's, madam, who was bred up under her care, and I protest I do not know a more amiable young woman. But are you sure, farmer, that Patty herself is inclinable to this match? Giles. O yes, my lord, I am certain of that. Lord Aim. Perhaps, then, she desired you to come and ask my consent? Giles. Why, as far as this here, my lord; to be sure, the miller did not care to publish the banns, without making your lordship acquainted -But I hope your honour's not angry with I? -- Lord Aim. Angry, farmer! Why should you think so? What interest have I in it to be an gry? Sir Har. And so, honest farmer, you are going to be married to little Patty Fairfield? She's an old acquaintance of mine; how long have you and she been sweethearts? Giles. Not a long while, an please your worship. Sir Har. Well, her father's a good warm fellow; I suppose, you take care that she brings someting to make the pot boil? Lady Syc. What does that concern you, Sir Harry? How often must I tell you of meddling with other people's affairs? Sir Har. My lord, a penny for your thoughts. Lord Aim. I beg your pardon, Sir Harry : upon my word, I did not think where I was. Giles. Well then, your honour, I'll make bold to be taking my leave; I may say you gave consent for Miss Patty and I to go on? Lord Aim. Undoubtedly, farmer, if she ap proves of it; but are you not afraid, that her education has rendered her a little unsuitable for a wife for you? Lady Syc. Oh, my lord, if the girl's handySir Har. Oh, ay-when a girl's handynothing comes amiss to her; she's cute at every Giles. Handy! Why, saving respect, there's varsal kind of thing. Lord Aim. I protest, my dear friend, I don't understand you. Lady Syc. Nor nobody else: Sir Harry, you are going at some beastliness now. Sir Har. Who, I, my lady! Not I, as I hope to live and breathe! 'tis nothing to us, you know, what my lord does before he is married; when I was a bachelor, I was the devil among the wenches myself; and yet I vow to George, my lord, since I knew my Lady Sycamore, and we shall be man and wife eighteen years, if we live till next Candlemas day, I never had to do Lady Syc. Sir Harry, come out of the room, desire. Sir Har. Why, what's the matter, my lady! I did not say any harm. I Lady Syc. I see what you are driving at; you want to make me faint. Sir Hur. I want to make you faint, my lady! Lady Syc. Yes, you do—and, if you don't come out this instant, I shall fall down in the chamber -I beg, my lord, you won't speak to him. Will you come out, Sir Harry? Sir Har. Nay, but, my lady- SCENE III.-Outside of the Mill. Enter RALPH, with MERVIN, in a Riding-dress, followed by FANNY. Fun. Ah, pray, your honour, try if you have not something to spare for poor Fanny the gipsey! Ralph. I tell you, Fan, the gentleman has no change about him; why the plague will you be so troublesome? Fan. Lord, what is it to you, if his honour has a mind to give me a trifle? Do, pray, gentleman, put your hand in your pocket. Mer. I am almost distracted! Ungrateful Theodosia, to change so suddenly, and write me such a letter! However, I am resolved to have my dismission face to face; this letter may be forced from her by her mother, who, I know was never cordially my friend. I could not get a sight of her in London, but here they will be less on their guard; and see her I will, by one means or other. Fan. Then your honour will not extend your charity? AIR. I am young, and I am friendless, In vain for help I call. [Exeunt SIR HAR. and LADY SYC. Lord Aim. This worthy baronet and his lady are certainly a very whimsical couple; however their daughter is perfectly amiable, in every respect: and yet, I am sorry I have brought her down here; for can I in honour marry her, while my affections are engaged to another? To what does the pride of condition, and the censure of the world, force me! Must I, then, renounce the only person that can make me happy; becausebecause what? because she's a miller's daughter? Vaiu pride, and unjust censure! has she not all the graces that education can give her sex, improved by a genius seldom found among the highest? has she not modesty, sweetness of temper, and beauty of person, capable of adorning a rank Ralph. Now I'll go and take that money from the most exalted? But it is too late to think of her, and I have good mind to lick her, so I these things now; my hand is promised, my ho-have. nour engaged and if it was not so, she has engaged herself; the farmer is a person to her mind, and I have authorised their union by my approbation. May you, possessing every blessing, Still inherit, sir, all you merit, sir, And never know what it is to want; Sweet heaven, your worship all happiness grant! [Exit FANNY. Mer. Pho! pr'ythec, stay where you are. Ralph. Nay, but I hate to see a toad so devilish greedy. Mer. Well, come, she has not got a great deal, and I have thought how she may do me a favour in ber turn. Ralph. Ay, but you may put that out of your head, for I can tell you she won't. Mer. How so? Ralph. How so! why, she's as cunning as the devil. Mer. O she is I fancy I understand you. Well, in that case, friend Ralph-Your name's Ralph, I think? Ralph. Yes, sir, at your service, for want of a better. Mer. I say, then, friend Ralph, in that case, Mer. Indeed! Ralph. Feyther is as mad with me about it as old Scratch; and I gets the plague and all of anger; but I don't mind that. Mer. Well, friend Ralph, if you are in love, no doubt you have some influence over your mistress. Don't you think you could prevail upon her, and her companions, to supply me with one of their habits, and let me go up with them today to my Lord Aimworth's? Ralph. Why, do you want to go a mumming? We never do that here, but in the Christmas holidays. Mer. No matter: manage this for me, and manage it with secrecy, and I promise you shall not go unrewarded. Ralph. Oh! as for that, sir, I don't look for any thing: I can easily get you a bundle of their rags; but I don't know whether you'll prevail on them to go up to my lord's, because they're afraid of a big dog that's in the yard: but I'll tell you what I can do; I can go up before you, and have the dog fastened, for I know his ken nel. SCENE IV.-Near the Mill. Enter PATTY, RALPH, GILES, and FANNY. Giles. So his lordship was as willing as the flowers in May-and as I was coming along, who should I meet but your father—and he bid me run in all haste to tell you-for we were sure you would be deadly glad. Pat. I'know not what business you had to go to my lord's at all, farmer. Giles. Nay, I only did as I was desired-Master Fairfield bid me tell you, moreover, as how he would have you go up to my lord out of hand, and thank him. Ralph. So she ought; and take off those clothes, and put on what's more becoming her station; you know my father spoke to you of that this morning too. Pat. Brother, I shall obey my father. ACT II. SCENE I.-A marble portico, ornamented with statues, which opens from LORD AIMWORTH'S house; two chairs near the front. Enter LORD AIMWORTH, reading. Pat. Yes, my lord. Lord Aim. Well, and don't you think you could have made a better choice than farmer Giles? I should imagine your person, your accomplishments, might have entitled you to look higher. rank and fortune, my dear Patty, are arbitrary Lord Aim. In what respect? The degrees of distinctions, unworthy the regard of those who consider justly. The true standard of equality is seated in the mind: those who think nobly In how contemptible a light would the situation I am now in show me to most of the fine men little merit: the education I received in your faPat. Your lordship is pleased to over-rate my of the present age! In love with a country girl-mily does not entitle me to forget my origin; and rivalled by a poor fellow, one of my meanest the farmer is my equal. tenants, and uneasy at it! If I had a mind to her, I know they would tell me, I ought to have taken care to make myself easy long ago, when I had her in my power. But I have the testimony of my own heart in my favour; and I think, was it to do again, I should act as I have done. Let's see what we have here-perhaps a book may compose my thoughts. [Reads, and throws the book away.] It's to no purpose-I can't read, I can't think, I can't do any thing! Pat. Now comes the trial! no, my sentence is already pronounced, and I will meet my fate with prudence and resolution. Lord Aim. Who's there? Pat. My Lord! Lord Aim. Patty Fairfield! are noble. Pat. The, farmer, my lord, is a very honest man. Lord Aim. So he may-I don't suppose he would break into a house, or commit a robbery on the highway: what do you tell me of his honesty for? Pat. I did not mean to offend your lordship. Lord Aim. Offend! I am not offended, Patty; not at all offended-But is there any great merit in a man's being honest? Pat. I don't say there is, my lord. Lord Aim. The farmer is an ill-bred, illiterate booby; and what happiness can you propose to. yourself in such a society? Then, as to his perhim; and if so, I am doing a wrong thing. son, I am sure-But perhaps, Patty, you like Pat. Upon my word, my lord Lord Aim. Nay, I see you do: he has had the good fortune to please you; and, in that case, you are certainly in the right to follow your inclinations-I must tell you one thing, Patty, however Pat. I humbly beg pardon, my lord, for press--I hope you won't think it unfriendly of meing so abruptly into your presence; but I was told I might walk this way; and I am come by my father's commands to thank your lordship for all your favours. Lord Aim. Favours, Patty! what favours? I have done you none: but why this metamorphosis? I protest, if you had not spoke, I should not have known you; I never saw you wear such clothes as these in my mother's life-time. Pat. No, my lord, it was her ladyship's pleasure I should wear better, and therefore I obeyed; but it is now my duty to dress in a manner more suitable to my station and future prospects in life. Lord Aim. I am afraid, Patty, you are too humble-come, sit down-nay, I will have it so What is it I have been told to-day, Patty? It seems you are going to be married? But I am determined farmer Giles shall not stay a moment on my estate, after next quarter-day. Pat. I hope, my lord, he has not incurred your displeasure Lord Aim. Ihat's of no signification-Could I find as many good qualities in him as you do, perhaps-But 'tis enough, he's a fellow I don't like; and, as you have a regard for him, I would have you advise him to provide himself. Pat. My lord, I am very unfortunate ! Lord Aim. She loves him, 'tis plain-Come, Patty, don't cry; I would not willingly do any thing to make you uneasy-Have you seen Miss Sycamore yet?—I suppose you know she and I are going to be married. Pat. So I hear my lord-Heaven make you both happy. |