首页 >出版文学> The Love—Chase>第5章
  SCENEIII。——AnotherChamberinSirWilliam'shouse。
  [CONSTANCEdiscovered。]
  Con。I'llpinetodeathfornoman!Wiseitwere,Indeed,todieforneighbourWildrake——No!—
  Iknowthedutyofawoman,better—
  Whatfitsamaidofspirit!IamoutOfpatiencewithmyself,tocastathoughtAwayuponhim。Hanghim!LoverscostNoughtbutthepainsofluring。I'llgetfifty,Andbreaktheheartofeveryoneofthem!
  Iwill!I'llbethechampionofmysex,Andtakerevengeonshallow,fickleman,Whogiveshishearttofools,andslightstheworthOfproperwomen!Isupposeshe'shandsome!
  Myface'gainsthers,athazardofmineeyes!
  Amaidofmind!I'lltalkhertoastand,Ortiemytongueforlife!Amaidofsoul!
  Anartful,managing,dissemblingone!
  Orshehadnevercaught。Him!——he'snomanTofallinlovehimself,orlongagoIwarranthehadfall'ninlovewithme!
  Ihatethefool——Ido!Ha,herehecomes。
  Whatbringshimhither?Letmedrymyeyes;
  HemustnotseeIhavebeencrying。Hanghim,Ihavemuchtodo,indeed,tocryforhim!
  [EnterWILDRAKE]
  Wild。Yourservant,neighbourConstance。
  Con。Servant,sir!
  Nowwhat,Iwonder,comesthefooltosay,Makeshimlooksoimportant?
  Wild。NeighbourConstance,Iamahappyman。
  Con。Whatmakesyouso?
  Wild。Athrivingsuit。
  Con。InChancery?
  Wild。Oh,no!
  Inlove。
  Con。Oh,true!Youareinlove!Goon!
  Wild。Well,asIsaid,mysuit'sathrivingone。
  Con。Youmeanyouarebelovedagain!——Idon'tBelieveit。
  Wild。Icangiveyouproof。
  Con。Whatproof?
  Loveletters?She'sashamelessmaidTowritethem!Canshespell?Ay,IsupposeWithpromptingofadictionary!
  Wild。NayWithoutone。
  Con。IwilllayyoutentooneShecannotspell!Howknowyoushecanspell?
  Youcannotspellyourself!YouwritecommandWithasingleM—C—O—M—A—N—D:
  YourstoCo—mand。
  Wild。IdidnotsayshewroteLoveletterstome。
  Con。ThenshesuffersyoutopressHerhand,perhaps?
  Wild。Shedoes。
  Con。Doesshepressyours?
  Wild。Shedoes。——Itgoesonswimmingly![Aside。]
  Con。Shedoes!
  Sheisnomodestwoman!I'llbebound,Yourarmthemadamsuffersroundherwaist?
  Wild。Shedoes!
  Con。Shedoes!Outrageousforwardness!
  Doessheletyoukissher?
  Wild。Yes。
  Con。Sheshouldbe—
  Wild。What?
  Con。Whatyougotthriceyourshareofwhenatschool,Andyetnothalfyourdue!Abrazenface!
  Morecouldnotgrantamaidabouttowed。
  Wild。Sheisso。
  Con。What?
  Wild。Howswimminglyitgoes![Aside。]
  Con。[Withsuppressedimpatience。]Areyouabouttomarry,neighbourWildrake?
  Areyouabouttomarry?
  Wild。Excellent。[Aside。]
  Con。[Breakingout。]Whydon'tyouanswerme?
  Wild。Iam。
  Con。Youare—
  Itellyouwhat,sir——You'reafool!
  Wild。Forwhat?
  Con。Youarenotfittomarry。DonotknowEnoughoftheworld,sir!Havenomoreexperience,Thought,judgment,thanaschoolboy!HavenomindOfyourown!——yourwifewillmakeafoolofyou,Willjiltyou,breakyourheart!IwishshemayIdo!Youhavenomorebusinesswithawife;
  ThanIhave!Doyoumeantosay,indeed,Youareabouttomarry?
  Wild。Yes,indeed。
  Con。Andwhen?
  Wild。I'llsayto—morrow![Aside。]
  Con。When,Isay?
  Wild。To—morrow。
  Con。Thankyou:muchbeholdentoyou!
  You'vetoldmeon'tintime!I'mverymuchBeholdentoyou,neighbourWildrake!
  And,Iprayyou,atwhathour?
  Wild。ThatwehaveleftForyoutoname。
  Con。Forme!
  Wild。Foryou。
  Con。Indeed。
  You'reverybountiful!IshouldnotwonderMeantyouIshouldbebridemaidtothelady?
  Wild。'TisjustthethingImean!
  Con。[Furiously。]Thethingyoumean!
  Nowprayyou,neighbour,tellmethatagain,Andthinkbeforeyouspeak;formuchIdoubtYouknowwhatyouaresaying。DoyoumeanToaskmetobebridemaid?
  Wild。Evenso。
  Con。Bridemaid?
  Wild。Ay,bridemaid!——ItiscomingfastUntoahead。[Aside。]
  Con。And'tisformeyouwaitTofixtheday?Itshallbedoomsday,then!
  Wild。Bedoomsday?
  Con。Doomsday!
  Wild。Whereforedoomsday?
  Con。Wherefore!——[Boxeshim。]
  Goaskyourbride,andgiveherthatfromme。
  Look,neighbourWildrake!youmaythinkthisstrange,Butdon'tmisconstrueit!Foryouarevain,sir!
  Andmayputdownforlovewhatcomesfromhate。
  Ishouldnotwonder,thoughtyouIwasjealous;
  ButI'mnotjealous,sir!——wouldscorntobesoWhereitwasworthmywhile——IprayhenceforthWemaybestrangers,sir——youwillobligemeBygoingoutoftown。IshouldnotlikeTomeetyouonthestreet,sir。Marry,sir!
  Marryto—day!Thesooner,sir,thebetter!
  Andmayyoufindyouhavemadeabargain,sir。
  Asforthelady!——muchIwishherjoy。
  Iprayyousendmenobridecake,sir!
  Norgloves——Ifyoudo,I'llgivethemtomymaid!
  Orthrowthemintothekennel——orthefire。
  Iamyourmostobedientservant,sir!
  [Goesout。]
  Wild。Sheisariddle,solveherhewhocan!
  [Goesout。]
  ACTV。
  SCENEI。——ARoominSirWilliamFondlove's。
  [SIRWILLIAMseatedwithtwoLawyers。]
  SirWil。HowmanywordsyoutaketotellfewthingsAgain,againsayoverwhat,saidonce,Methinksweretoldenough!
  FirstLawyer。Itisthelaw,Whichlaboursatprecision。
  SirWil。Yes;andthrivesUponuncertainty——andmakesit,too,Withallitspainstoshunit。IcouldbindMyself,methinks,withbutthetwentiethpartOfallthiscordage,sirs。——Buteveryman,Astheysay,tohisownbusiness。YouthinkThesettlementishandsome?
  FirstLawyer。Very,sir。
  SirWil。Thennow,sirs,wehavedone,andtakemythanks,Which,withyourcharges,IwillrenderyouAgainto—morrow。
  FirstLawyer。Happynuptials,sir。
  [Lawyersgoout。]
  SirWil。Whopassesthere?Hoa!sendmydaughtertome,AndMasterWildraketoo!Iwaitforthem。
  Boldwork!——Withoutherleavetowaituponher,Andaskhergotochurch!——'TistakingherBystorm!WhatelsecouldmoveheryesterdayButjealousy?WhatcausethjealousyButlove?She'sminethemomentshereceivesConclusiveproof,likethis,thatheartandsoul,Andmindandperson,Iamallherown!
  Heighho!Thesesoftalarmsareverysweet,Andyettormentingtoo!Ha!MasterWildrake,[EnterWILDRAKE。]
  Iamgladyou'reready,forI'mallinarmsTobearthewidowoff。Come!Don'tbesad;
  Allmustgomerrily,youknow,to—day!—
  Shestilldothbearhimhard,Isee!ThegirlAffectshimnot,andTrueworthisatfault,Thoughclearitisthathedothdieforher。[Aside。]
  Well,daughter?——SoIseeyou'rereadytoo。
  [EnterCONSTANCE。]
  Why,what'samisswiththee?
  Phoebe。[Entering。]Thecoachishere。
  SirWil。Come,Wildrake,offerheryourarm。
  Con。[ToWILDRAKE。]Ithankyou!
  Iamnotaninvalid!——canusemylimbs!
  Heknowsnothowtomakeanarm,befitsAladyleanupon。
  SirWil。Why,teachhim,then。
  Con。Teachhim!TeachMasterWildrake!Teach,indeed!
  Itaughtmydogtobeg,becauseIknewThathecouldlearnit。
  SirWil。Peace,thoulittleshrew!
  I'llhavenowranglingonmywedding—day!
  Here,takemyarm。
  Con。I'llnot!——I'llwalkalone!
  Live,diealone!IdoabominateThefoolandallhissex!
  SirWil。Again!
  Con。Ihavedone。
  Whendoyoumarry,MasterWildrake?SheWillwantahusbandgoestochurchwiththee!
  [Theygoout。]
  SCENEII。——WidowGreen'sDressing—room。
  [WIDOWGREENdiscoveredatherToilet,attendedbyAMELIA,WALLER'S
  LettertoLYDIAinherhand。]
  W。Green。Oh,bondofdestiny!——Fairbond,thatseal'stMyfateinhappiness!I'llreadtheeyetAgain——althoughthou'rtwrittenonmyheart。
  Butherehishand,indictingthee,didlie!
  Andthisthetracingofhisfingers!SoIreadtheethatcouldrhymethee,asmyprayers!
  "Atmornto—morrowIwillmakeyoumine。
  Willyouacceptfrommethenameofwife—
  Thenameofhusbandgivemeinexchange?"
  Thetraitress!tobreakopemybillet—doux,Andtaketheenvelope!——ButIforgiveher,Sinceshedidleavetherichcontentsbehind。
  Amelia,givethisfeathermoreaslope,Thatitsitdroopingly。IwouldlookallDissolvement,noughtaboutmetobespeakBoldness!Iwouldappearatimidbride,Tremblinguponthevergeofwifehood,asIne'erbeforehadstoodthere!Thatwilldo。
  Ohdear!——HowIamagitated——don'tIlookso?Ihavefoundasecretout,—
  NothinginwomanstrikesamansomuchAstolookinteresting!HangthischeekOfmine!Itistoosaucy;whatapityTohaveacolourofone'sown!——Amelia!
  Couldyoucontrive,deargirl,tobleachmycheek,HowIwouldthankyou!IcouldgiveitthenWhattintIchose,andthatshouldbethehecticBespeaksaheartindelicatecommotion。
  Iammuchtooflorid!Stickaroseinmyhair,Thebrightestyoucanfind,'twillhelp,mygirl,Subduemyrebelcolour——Nay,theroseDothlosecomplexion,notmycheek!ExchangeitForacarnation。That'stheflower,Amelia!
  Youseehowitdothtriumpho'ermycheek。
  Areyoucontentwithme?
  Amelia。Iam,mylady。
  W。Green。Andwhitherthinkyouhasthehussygone,Whoseplaceyoufillsowell?——Intothecountry?
  Orfancyyoushestopsintown?
  Amelia。Ican'tConjecture。
  W。Green。Shameuponher!——LeaveherplaceWithoutamoment'swarning!——withaman,too!
  Seemedheagentlemanthattookherhence?
  Amelia。Hedid。
  W。Green。Youneversawhimherobefore?
  Amelia。Never。
  W。Green。NotloungingontheothersideOfthestreet,andreconnoitringthewindows?
  Amelia。Never。
  W。Green。'Twasplannedbyletter。Notes,youknow,Haveoftencometoher——ButIforgiveher,SincethisadviceshechancedtoleavebehindOfgentleMasterWaller'swishes,whichIblessmyselfinblessing!——Gods,aknock!
  'Tishe!ShowinthoseladiesaresokindToactmybridemaidsformeonthisbriefAndagitatingnotice。
  [AMELIAgoesout。]
  Yes,IlookAbridesufficiently!AndthisthehandThatgivesawaymylibertyagain。
  Uponmylifeitisaprettyhand,Adelicateandsentimentalhand!
  Nolotionequalsgloves;nowomanknowsTheuseofthemthatdoesnotsleepinthem!
  Myneckhathkeptitscolourwondrously!
  Well;afterallitisnomiracleThatIshouldwintheheartofayoungman。
  Mybridemaidscome!——Ohdear!
  [EntertwoLadies。]
  FirstLady。Howdoyou,love?Agoodmorningtoyou——Poordear,Howmuchyouareaffected!WhywethoughtYoune'erwouldsummonus。
  W。Green。Onetakes,youknow,Whenoneisflurried,twicethetimetodress。
  Mydears,haseitherofyousalts?Ithankyou!
  Theyareexcellent;thevirtue'sgonefrommine,NorthoughtIofrenewingthem——Indeed,I'munprovided,quite,forthisaffair。
  FirstLady。Ithinkthebridegroom'scome!
  W。Green。Don'tsayso!HowYou'vemademyheartjump!
  FirstLady。Asyousentforus,Anew—launchedcarriagedroveuptothedoor;
  Theservantsallinfavours。
  W。Green。'Ponmylife,Inevershallgetthroughit;lendmeyourhand。
  [Halfrises,andthrowsherselfbackonherchairagain。]
  Imustsitdownagain!TherecamejustnowAfeelingliketoswooningoverme。
  Iamsurebefore'tisoverIshallmakeAfoolofmyself!IvowIthoughtnothalfSomuchofmyfirstwedding—day!I'llmakeAneffort。Letmeleanuponyourarm,Andgivemeyours,mydear。Amelia,mindKeepnearmewiththesmelling—bottle。
  Servant。[Entering。]Madam,Thebridegroom'scome。
  [Goesout。]
  W。Green。Thebrutehasknockedmedown!
  Toboltitoutso!IhadstartedlessIfhehadfiredacannonatmyear。
  HowshallIevermanagetoholdupTillallisdone!I'mtremorheadtofoot。
  Youcanexcuseme,can'tyou?——Pityme!
  Onemayfeelqueeruponone'swedding—day。
  [Theygoout。]
  SCENETHELAST。——ADrawing—room。
  [EnterServants,showinginSIRWILLIAMFONDLOVE,CONSTANCE,andMASTERWILDRAKE——Servantsgooutagain。]
  SirWil。[AsidetoWILDRAKE。]GoodMasterWildrake,lookmorecheerfully!——Come,Youdonothonourtomywedding—day。
  HowbriskamI!Mybodymovesonsprings!
  MystaturegivesnoinchIthrowaway;
  Mysupplejointsplayfreeandsportfully;
  I'meveryatomwhatamanshouldbe。
  Wild。Iprayyoupardonme,SirWilliam!
  SirWil。Smile,then,Andtalkandrallyme!Ididexpect,Erehalfanhourhadpassed,youwouldhaveputmeAdozentimestotheblush。Withoutsuchthings,Abridegroomknowsnothisownwedding—day。
  Isee!Herlooksareglossarytothine,Shefloutstheestill,Imarvelnotatthee;
  There'sthunderinthatcloud!Iwouldto—dayItwoulddisperse,andgatherinthemorning。
  Ifearmemuchthouknow'stnothowtowoo。
  I'llgivetheealesson。Everthere'saway,Butknowsonehowtotakeit?TwentymenHavecourtedWidowGreen。Whohashernow?
  Isenttoadvertiseherthatto—dayImeanttomarryher。Shewouldn'topenMynote。AndgaveIup?ItookthewayTomakeherloveme!Ididsend,againToprayherleavemydaughtershouldbebridemaid。
  Thatlettertoocameback?DidIgiveup?
  Itookthewaytomakeherloveme!Yet,AgainIsenttoaskwhatchurchshechoseTomarryat;mynotecamebackagain;
  AnddidIyetgiveup?ItookthewayTomakeherloveme!AllthewhileIfoundShewaspreparingforthewedding。TakeAhintfromme!Shecomes!MyflutteringheartGivesnotetheempressofitsrealmsisnear。
  Now,MasterWildrake,markandlearnfrommeHowitbehovesabridegroomplayhispart。
  [EnterWIDOWGREEN,supportedbyherBridemaids,andfollowedbyAMELIA。]
  W。Green。Icannotraisemyeyes——theycannotbearThebeamsofhis,which,likethesun's,IfeelAreonme,thoughIseethemnotenlighteningTheheavenofhisyoungface;nordareIscanThebrightnessofhisform,whichsymmetryAndyouthandbeautyinenrichingvie。
  Hekneelstome!Nowgrowsmybreathingthick,AsthoughIdidawaitaseraph'svoice,Toorichformortalear。
  SirWil。Mygentlebride!
  W。Green。Who'sthat!whospeakstome?
  SirWil。Thesetransportscheck。
  Lo,anexampletomankindIsetOfamorousemprise;andwhoshouldthriveInlove,ifnotLove'ssoldier,whodothpressThedoubtfulsiege,andwillnotownrepulse。
  Lo,hereItendertheemyfealty,Tolivethyduteousslave。Myqueenthouart,Infrownsorsmiles,togivemelifeordeath。
  Oh,deignlookdownuponme!InthyfaceAloneIlookonday;itismysunMostbright;thewhichdenied,nosundothrise。
  Shineoutuponme,mydivinity!
  MygentleWidowGreen!Mywifetobe;
  Mylove,mylife,mydrooping,blushingbride!
  W。Green。SirWilliamFondlove,you'reafool!
  SirWil。Afool!
  W。Green。Whycomeyouhither,sir,intrimlikethis?
  Orratherwhyatall?
  SirWil。WhycomeIhither?
  Tomarrythee!
  W。Green。Themanwilldrivememad!
  SirWilliamFondlove,I'mbutforty,sir,Andyouaresixty,seventy,ifaday;
  Atleastyoulookit,sir。Imarryyou!
  Whendidawomanwedhergrandfather?
  SirWil。Herbrainisturned!
  W。Green。You'reinyourdotage,sir,Andyetaboyinvanity!ButknowYourselffromme;youareoldandugly,sir。
  SirWil。Doyoudenyyouareinlovewithme?
  W。Green。Inlovewiththee!
  SirWil。Thatyouarejealousofme?
  W。Green。Jealous!
  SirWil。Toverylunacy。
  W。Green。Tohearhim!
  SirWil。Doyouforgetwhathappenedyesterday?
  W。Green。SirWilliamFondlove!—
  SirWil。WidowGreen,fairplay!—
  Areyounotlaughing?Isitnotajest?
  Doyoubelievemeseventytoaday?
  DoIlookit?AmIoldandugly?Why,WhydoIseethosefavoursinthehall,Theseladiesdressedasbridemaids,theeasbride,Unlesstomarryme?
  [Knock。]
  W。Green。Heiscoming,sir,Shallansweryouforme!
  [EnterWALLER,withGentlemenasBridemen。]
  Wal。Whereisshe?What!
  Allthatbespeakstheday,exceptthefairThat'squeenofit?MostkindofyoutograceMynuptialsso!ButthatIrenderyouMythanksinfull,makefullmyhappiness,Andtellmewhere'smybride?
  W。Green。She'shere。
  Wal。Where?
  W。Green。Here,FairMasterWaller!
  Wal。Lady,donotmockme。
  W。Green。Mockthee!Myheartisstrangertosuchmood,'Tisserioustendernessanddutyall。
  Iprayyoumocknotme,forIdostriveWithfearsandsoftemotionsthatrequireSupport。Takenotawaymylittlestrength,Andleavemeatthemercyofafeather。
  Iamthybride!If'tisthyhappinessTothinkmeso,believeit,andberichTothymostboundlesswishes!MasterWaller,Iamthywaitingbride,theWidowGreen!
  Wal。Lady,nowidowisthebrideIseek,ButonethechurchhasnevergivenyetThenuptialblessingto!
  W。Green。Whatmeanyou,sir?
  Whycomeabridegroomhere,ifnottomeYousuedtobeyourbride?Isthisyourhand,sir?[Showingletter。]
  Wal。Itis,addressedtoyourfairwaiting—maid。
  W。Green。Mywaiting—maid!Thelaughispassinground,Andnowtheturnisyours,sir。Sheisgone!
  Eloped!runoff!andwiththegentlemanThatbroughtyourbillet—doux。
  Wal。IsTrueworthfalse?
  Hemustbefalse。WhatmadnesstemptedmeTotrusthimwithsuchaudienceasIknewMustsense,andmind,andsoulofmanentrance,Andleavehimbutthepowertofeelitsspell!
  Ofhisownlessonhewouldprofittake,Andpleadatonceanhonourablelove,Supplantingmine,lesspure,reformedtoolate!
  Andifhedid,whatmeritI,exceptTolosethemaidIwouldhavewronglywon;
  And,hadIrightlyprizedher,nowhadworn!
  Igetbutmydeservings!
  [EnterTRUEWORTH,leadinginLYDIA,richlydressed,andveiledfrontheadtofoot。]
  MasterTrueworth,Thoughforthytreacherythouhastexcuse,Thoumustaccountforit;somuchIlose!
  Sir,youhavewrongedmetoamountbeyondAcres,andgold,andlife,whichmakesthemrich。
  AndcompensationIdemandofyou,Suchasamanexpects,andnonebutoneThat'slessthanmanrefuses!Where'sthemaidYoufalselydidabstract?
  True。Itookherhence,Butnotbyguile,noryetenforcement,sir;
  Butofherfreewill,knowingwhatshedid。
  That,asIfound,Icannotgiveherback,Iownherstateischanged,butinherplaceThismaidIofferyou,herimagefarAsfeature,form,complexion,naturego!
  Resemblancehalting,onlythere,wherethouThyselfdidstpause,condition,forthismaidIsgentlybornandgenerouslybred。
  Lo!foryourfairloss,fairequivalent!
  Wal。Showmeanothersun,anotherearthIcaninherit,asthisSunandEarth;
  Asthoudidsttakethemaid,themaidherselfGiveback!herself,hersoleequivalent!
  True。HersoleequivalentIofferyou!
  Mysister,sir,longcountedlost,nowfound,Whofledherhomeunwelcomebandsto'scape,Whichahalf—fatherwouldhaveforceduponher,Takingadvantageofherbrother'sabsenceAwayontravelinadistantland!
  Returned,Imissedher;ofthecausereceivedInvention,coward,falseandcriminating!
  Andgaveherupforlost;buthappilyDidfindheryesterday——Beholdher,sir!
  [Removesveil。]
  Wal。Lydia!
  W。Green。Mywaiting—maid!
  Wal。Thysister,Trueworth!
  Artthoufitbrothertothisvirtuousmaid?
  True。[GivingLYDIAtoWALLER。]Letthisassurethee。
  Lydia。[ToWIDOWGREEN。]Madam,pardonmeMydoublecharacter,forhonesty,Nootherendassumed——andmyconcealmentOfMasterWaller'slove。InallthingselseItrustImaybelieveyouholdmeblameless;
  Atleast,I'llsayforyou,Ishouldbeso,Foritwaspastime,madam,notatask,Towaituponyou!Littleyouexacted,AndevermadethemostofwhatIdidInmereobediencetoyou!
  W。Green。Givemeyourhand,Nolovewithoutalittleroguery。
  Ifyoudoplaythemistresswellasmaid,Youwillhearoffthebell!ThereneverwasAbettergirl!——Ihavemademyselfafool。
  Iamundone,ifgoesthenewsabroad。
  MyweddingdressIdonnedfornoeffectExcepttoputitoff!Imustbemarried。
  I'malostwoman,ifanotherdayIgowithoutahusband!——WhatasightHelooksbyMasterWaller!——YetheisphysicIdiewithout,soneedsmustgulpitdown。
  I'llswallowhimwithwhatgoodgraceIcan,SirWilliamFondlove!
  SirWil。WidowGreen!
  W。Green。IownIhavebeenrudetoyou。ThoudostnotlookSooldbythirty,forty,yearsasI
  Didsay。Thou'rtfarfromugly——veryfar!
  AndasIsaid,SirWilliam,oncebefore,Thouartakindandrightgood—humouredman:
  Iwasbutangrywithyou!Why,I'lltellyouAtmoreconvenientseason——andyouknowAnangrywomanheedsnotwhatshesays,Andwillsayanything!
  SirWil。IwereunworthyThenameofman,ifanapologySograciouscameoffprofitless,andfromAlady!Willyoutakeme,WidowGreen?
  W。Green。Hem![Curtsies。]
  True。[ToWILDRAKE。]MasterWildrakedressedtogotochurch!
  Shehasacknowledged,then,shelovesthee?——No?
  Givemethyhand,I'llleadtheeuptoher。
  Wild。'Sdeath!whatareyouabout?Youknowhernot。
  She'llbrainthee!
  True。Fearnot:comealongwithme。
  FairMistressConstance!
  Con。Well,sir!
  Wild。[ToTRUEWORTH。]Mind!
  True。Don'tfear。
  LoveyounotneighbourWildrake?
  Con。Love,sir?
  True。Yes,Youdo。
  Con。Helovesanother,sir,hedoes!
  Ihatehim。Wewerechildren,sir,togetherForfifteenyearsandmore;therenevercameThedaywedidnotquarrel,makeitup,Quarrelagain,andmakeitupagain:
  Wereneverneighboursmorelikeneighbours,sir。
  Sincehebecameaman,andIawoman,Itstillhasbeenthesame;norearedIeverTogiveafrowntoanyother,sir。
  Andnowtocomeandtellmehe'sinlove,Andaskmetobebridemaidtohisbride!
  Howdursthedoit,sir!——Tofallinlove!
  Methinksatleasthemighthaveaskedmyleave,NorhadIwonderedhadheaskedmyself,sir!
  Wild。Thengivethyselftome!
  Con。How!what!
  Wild。Bemine,Thouarttheonlymaidthyneighbourloves。
  Con。Artserious,neighbourWildrake?
  Wild。InthechurchI'llanswerthee,ifthouwilttakeme;thoughIneitherdress,norwalk,nordance,norknow"TheWidowJones"fromanItalian,French,OrGermanair。
  Con。Nomoreofthat。——Myhand。
  Wild。Givestitasfreeasthoudidstyesterday?
  Con。[Affectingtostrikehim。]Nay!
  Wild。Iwillthankit,giveithowthouwilt。
  W。Green。Atriplewedding!MaytheWidowGreenObtainbriefhearinge'ershequitsthescene,TheLove—ChasetoyourkindnesstocommendInfavourofanold,nowabsent,friend!