Page images
PDF
EPUB

mother was taken off so suddenly, and his affairs called him up to London, if Patty would have remained at the castle, she might have had the command of all; or if she would have gone any where else, he would have paid for her fixing, let the cost be what it would. 202

Giles. Why, for that manner, folks did not spare to say, that my lord had a sort of a sneaking kindness for her himself: and I remember, at one time, it was rife all about the neighbourhood, that she was actually to be our lady.

Fai. Pho, pho! a pack of woman's tales.
Giles. Nay, to be sure they'll say any thing.

209

Fai. My lord's a man of a better way of thinking, friend Giles-but this is neither here nor there to our business- -Have you been at the castle yet? 212

Giles. Who I! Bless your heart I did not hear a syllable of his lordship's being come down, 'till your lad told me.

Fai. No! why then go up to my lord, let him know you have a mind to make a match with my daughter; hear what he has to say to it; and afterwards we will try if we can't settle matters.

219

Giles. Go up to my lord! I cod if that be all, I'll do it with the biggest pleasure in life.—But where's Miss Pat? Might one not ax her how she do?

Fai. Never spare it; she's within there.

Giles. I sees her-odd rabbit it, this hatch is locked -Miss Pat-Miss Patty-She makes believe not to hear me.

now

Fai. Well, well, never mind; thou'lt come and eat a morsel of dinner with us.

Giles. Nay, but just to have a bit of a joke with her -Miss Pat, I say won't you open the

at presentdoor?

231

AIR.

Hark! 'tis I your own true lover,
After walking three long miles,
One kind look at least discover,
Come and speak a word to Giles.
You alone my heart I fix on:
Ah, you little cunning vixen !
I can see your roguish smiles.
Addslids! my mind is so possest,
Till we're sped, I shan't have rest;
Only say the thing's a bargain,
Here an you like it,

Ready to strike it,

There's at once an end of arguing:

I'm her's, she's mine;

Thus we seal, and thus we sign.

240

SCENE IV.

FAIRFIELD, PATTY.

Fai. Patty, child, why would'st not thou

[blocks in formation]

door for our neighbour Giles?

Pat. Really, father, I did not know what was the

matter.

250

Fai. Well, another time; he'll be here again presently. He's gone up to the castle, Patty; thou know'st it would not be right for us to do any thing without giving his lordship intelligence, so I have sent the farmer to let him know that he is willing, and we are willing; and with his lordship's approbation— Pat. Oh dear father-what are you going to say? Fai. Nay child, I would not have stirr'd a step for fifty pounds, without advertising his lordship beforehand.

260

Pat. But surely, surely, you have not done this rash, this precipitate thing.

Fai. How rash, how is it rash, Patty? I don't understand thee.

Pat. Oh, you have distress'd me beyond imagination-but why would you not give me notice, speak to me first?

Fai. Why han't I spoken to thee an hundred times? No, Patty, 'tis thou that would'st distress me, and thou❜lt break my heart.

Pat. Dear father!

270

Fai. All I desire is to see thee well settled; and now that I am likely to do so, thou art not contented; I am sure the farmer is as sightly a clever lad as any in the country; and is he not as good as we ?

Pat. 'Tis very true, father; I am to blame; pray forgive me.

Fai. Forgive thee! Lord help thee, my child, I am not angry with thee; but quiet thyself, Patty, and thou'lt see all this will turn out for the best.

280

SCENE V.

PATTY.

What will become of me?-my lord will certainly imagine this is done with my consent-Well, is he not himself going to be married to a lady, suitable to him in rank, suitable to him in fortune, as this farmer is to me; and under what pretence can I refuse the husband my father has found for me! Shall I say that I have dared to raise my inclinations above my condition, and presumed to love, where my duty taught me only gratitude and respect? Alas! who could live in the house with lord Aimworth, see him, converse with him, and not love him! I have this consolation, however, my folly is yet undiscover'd to any; else, how should I be ridiculed and despised; nay, would not my lord himself despise me, especially, if he knew that I have more than once construed his natural affability and politeness into sentiments as unworthy of him, as mine are bold and extravagant. Unexampled vanity! did I possess any thing capable of attracting such a notice, to what purpose could a man of his distinction cast his eyes on a girl, poor,

meanly born, and indebted for every thing to the ill.

[blocks in formation]

Changes to a Chamber in Lord AIMWORTH's House. SIR HARRY SYCAMORE, THEODOSIA.

S. Har. Well, but Theodosia, child, you are quite unreasonable.

The. Pardon me, papa, it is not I am unreasonable: when I gave way to my inclinations for Mr. Mervin, he did not seem less agreeable to you and my mama than he was acceptable to me. It is, therefore, you have been unreasonable, in first encouraging his addresses, and afterwards forbidding him your house, in order to bring me down here, to force me on a gentleman 320

S. Har. Force you, Dossy, what do you mean! By the la, I would not force you on the Czar of Muscovy.

« PreviousContinue »