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MARLOW。 （To HASTINGS。） Was it well done； sir； to assist in
rendering me ridiculous？ To hang me out for the scorn of all my
acquaintance？ Depend upon it； sir； I shall expect an explanation。
HASTINGS。 Was it well done； sir； if you're upon that subject； to
deliver what I entrusted to yourself； to the care of another sir？
MISS NEVILLE。 Mr。 Hastings！ Mr。 Marlow！ Why will you
increase my distress by this groundless dispute？ I implore； I entreat you…
…
Enter Servant。
SERVANT。 Your cloak； madam。 My mistress is impatient。 ＇Exit
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Servant。＇
MISS NEVILLE。 I come。 Pray be pacified。 If I leave you thus； I
shall die with apprehension。
Enter Servant。
SERVANT。 Your fan； muff； and gloves； madam。 The horses are
waiting。
MISS NEVILLE。 O； Mr。 Marlow！ if you knew what a scene of
constraint and ill…nature lies before me； I'm sure it would convert your
resentment into pity。
MARLOW。 I'm so distracted with a variety of passions； that I don't
know what I do。 Forgive me； madam。 George； forgive me。 You know
my hasty temper； and should not exasperate it。
HASTINGS。 The torture of my situation is my only excuse。
MISS NEVILLE。 Well； my dear Hastings； if you have that esteem
for me that I think； that I am sure you have； your constancy for three years
will but increase the happiness of our future connexion。 If
MRS。 HARDCASTLE。 （Within。） Miss Neville。 Constance； why
Constance； I say。
MISS NEVILLE。 I'm coming。 Well； constancy； remember；
constancy is the word。 ＇Exit。＇
HASTINGS。 My heart！ how can I support this？ To be so near
happiness； and such happiness！
MARLOW。 （To Tony。） You see now； young gentleman； the effects
of your folly。 What might be amusement to you； is here disappointment；
and even distress。
TONY。 （From a reverie。） Ecod； I have hit it。 It's here。 Your
hands。 Yours and yours； my poor Sulky！My boots there； ho！Meet me
two hours hence at the bottom of the garden； and if you don't find Tony
Lumpkin a more good…natured fellow than you thought for； I'll give you
leave to take my best horse； and Bet Bouncer into the bargain。 Come
along。 My boots； ho！ ＇Exeunt。＇
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ACT THE FIFTH。
（SCENE continued。）
Enter HASTINGS and Servant。
HASTINGS。 You saw the old lady and Miss Neville drive off； you
say？
SERVANT。 Yes； your honour。 They went off in a post…coach； and
the young 'squire went on horseback。 They're thirty miles off by this
time。
HASTINGS。 Then all my hopes are over。
SERVANT。 Yes； sir。 Old Sir Charles has arrived。 He and the old
gentleman of the house have been laughing at Mr。 Marlow's mistake this
half hour。 They are coming this way。
HASTINGS。 Then I must not be seen。 So now to my fruitless
appointment at the bottom of the garden。 This is about the time。 ＇Exit。＇
Enter SIR CHARLES and HARDCASTLE。
HARDCASTLE。 Ha！ ha！ ha！ The peremptory tone in which he
sent forth his sublime commands！
SIR CHARLES。 And the reserve with which I suppose he treated all
your advances。
HARDCASTLE。 And yet he might have seen something in me
above a common innkeeper； too。
SIR CHARLES。 Yes； Dick； but be mistook you for an uncommon
innkeeper； ha！ ha！ ha！
HARDCASTLE。 Well； I'm in too good spirits to think of anything
but joy。 Yes； my dear friend； this union of our families will make our
personal friendships hereditary； and though my daughter's fortune is but
small
SIR CHARLES。 Why； Dick； will you talk of fortune to ME？ My
son is possessed of more than a competence already； and can want nothing
but a good and virtuous girl to share his happiness and increase it。 If they
like each other； as you say they do
HARDCASTLE。 IF； man！ I tell you they DO like each other。 My
daughter as good as told me so。
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SIR CHARLES。 But girls are apt to flatter themselves； you know。
HARDCASTLE。 I saw him grasp her hand in the warmest manner
myself； and here he comes to put you out of your IFS； I warrant him。
Enter MARLOW。
MARLOW。 I come； sir； once more； to ask pardon for my strange
conduct。 I can scarce reflect on my insolence without confusion。
HARDCASTLE。 Tut； boy； a trifle！ You take it too gravely。 An
hour or two's laughing with my daughter will set all to rights again。
She'll never like you the worse for it。
MARLOW。 Sir； I shall be always proud of her approbation。
HARDCASTLE。 Approbation is but a cold word； Mr。 Marlow； if I
am not deceived； you have something more than approbation thereabouts。
You take me？
MARLOW。 Really； sir； I have not that happiness。
HARDCASTLE。 Come； boy； I'm an old fellow； and know what's
what as well as you that are younger。 I know what has passed between
you； but mum。
MARLOW。 Sure； sir； nothing has passed between us but the most
profound respect on my side； and the most distant reserve on hers。 You
don't think； sir； that my impudence has been passed upon all the rest of the
family。
HARDCASTLE。 Impudence！ No； I don't say thatnot quite
impudencethough girls like to be played with； and rumpled a little too；
sometimes。 But she has told no tales； I assure you。
MARLOW。 I never gave her the slightest cause。
HARDCASTLE。 Well； well； I like modesty in its place well enough。
But this is over…acting； young gentleman。 You may be open。 Your
father and I will like you all the better for it。
MARLOW。 May I die； sir； if I ever
HARDCASTLE。 I tell you； she don't dislike you； and as I'm sure you
like her
MARLOW。 Dear sirI protest； sir
HARDCASTLE。 I see no reason why you should not be joined as
fast as the parson can tie you。
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MARLOW。 But hear me； sir
HARDCASTLE。 Your father approves the match； I admire it； every
moment's delay will be doing mischief。 So
MARLOW。 But why won't you hear me？ By all that's just and true；
I never gave Miss Hardcastle the slightest mark of my attachment； or even
the most distant hint to suspect me of affection。 We had but one
interview； and that was formal； modest； and uninteresting。
HARDCASTLE。 （Aside。） This fellow's formal modest impudence
is beyond bearing。
SIR CHARLES。 And you never grasped her hand； or made any
protestations？
MARLOW。 As Heaven is my witness； I came down in obedience to
your commands。 I saw the lady without emotion； and parted without
reluctance。 I hope you'll exact no farther proofs of my duty； nor prevent
me from leaving a house in which I suffer so many mortifications。
＇Exit。＇
SIR CHARLES。 I'm astonished at the air of sincerity with which he
parted。
HARDCASTLE。 And I'm astonished at the deliberate intrepidity of
his assurance。
SIR CHARLES。 I dare pledge my life and honour upon his truth。
HARDCASTLE。 Here comes my daughter； and I would stake my
happiness upon her veracity。
Enter MISS HARDCASTLE。
HARDCASTLE。 Kate； come hither； child。 Answer us sincerely
and witho