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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