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alehouse and the stable are the only schools he'll ever go to。
MRS。 HARDCASTLE。 Well； we must not snub the poor boy now；
for I believe we shan't have him long among us。 Anybody that looks in
his face may see he's consumptive。
HARDCASTLE。 Ay； if growing too fat be one of the symptoms。
MRS。 HARDCASTLE。 He coughs sometimes。
HARDCASTLE。 Yes； when his liquor goes the wrong way。
MRS。 HARDCASTLE。 I'm actually afraid of his lungs。
HARDCASTLE。 And truly so am I； for he sometimes whoops like a
speaking trumpet（Tony hallooing behind the scenes）O； there he goesa
very consumptive figure； truly。
Enter TONY； crossing the stage。
MRS。 HARDCASTLE。 Tony； where are you going； my charmer？
Won't you give papa and I a little of your company； lovee？
TONY。 I'm in haste； mother； I cannot stay。
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MRS。 HARDCASTLE。 You shan't venture out this raw evening； my
dear； you look most shockingly。
TONY。 I can't stay； I tell you。 The Three Pigeons expects me down
every moment。 There's some fun going forward。
HARDCASTLE。 Ay； the alehouse； the old place： I thought so。
MRS。 HARDCASTLE。 A low； paltry set of fellows。
TONY。 Not so low； neither。 There's Dick Muggins the exciseman；
Jack Slang the horse doctor； Little Aminadab that grinds the music box；
and Tom Twist that spins the pewter platter。
MRS。 HARDCASTLE。 Pray； my dear； disappoint them for one night
at least。
TONY。 As for disappointing them； I should not so much mind； but I
can't abide to disappoint myself。
MRS。 HARDCASTLE。 （detaining him。） You shan't go。
TONY。 I will； I tell you。
MRS。 HARDCASTLE。 I say you shan't。 TONY。 We'll see which
is strongest； you or I。 ＇Exit； hauling her out。＇
HARDCASTLE。 （solus。） Ay； there goes a pair that only spoil each
other。 But is not the whole age in a combination to drive sense and
discretion out of doors？ There's my pretty darling Kate！ the fashions of
the times have almost infected her too。 By living a year or two in town；
she is as fond of gauze and French frippery as the best of them。
Enter MISS HARDCASTLE。
HARDCASTLE。 Blessings on my pretty innocence！ drest out as
usual； my Kate。 Goodness！ What a quantity of superfluous silk hast
thou got about thee； girl！ I could never teach the fools of this age； that
the indigent world could be clothed out of the trimmings of the vain。
MISS HARDCASTLE。 You know our agreement； sir。 You allow
me the morning to receive and pay visits； and to dress in my own manner；
and in the evening I put on my housewife's dress to please you。
HARDCASTLE。 Well； remember； I insist on the terms of our
agreement； and； by the bye； I believe I shall have occasion to try your
obedience this very evening。
MISS HARDCASTLE。 I protest； sir； I don't comprehend your
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meaning。
HARDCASTLE。 Then to be plain with you； Kate； I expect the young
gentleman I have chosen to be your husband from town this very day。 I
have his father's letter； in which he informs me his son is set out； and that
he intends to follow himself shortly after。
MISS HARDCASTLE。 Indeed！ I wish I had known something of
this before。 Bless me； how shall I behave？ It's a thousand to one I
shan't like him； our meeting will be so formal； and so like a thing of
business； that I shall find no room for friendship or esteem。
HARDCASTLE。 Depend upon it； child； I'll never control your
choice； but Mr。 Marlow； whom I have pitched upon； is the son of my old
friend； Sir Charles Marlow； of whom you have heard me talk so often。
The young gentleman has been bred a scholar； and is designed for an
employment in the service of his country。 I am told he's a man of an
excellent understanding。
MISS HARDCASTLE。 Is he？
HARDCASTLE。 Very generous。
MISS HARDCASTLE。 I believe I shall like him。
HARDCASTLE。 Young and brave。
MISS HARDCASTLE。 I'm sure I shall like him。
HARDCASTLE。 And very handsome。
MISS HARDCASTLE。 My dear papa； say no more； （kissing his
hand）； he's mine； I'll have him。
HARDCASTLE。 And； to crown all； Kate； he's one of the most
bashful and reserved young fellows in all the world。
MISS HARDCASTLE。 Eh！ you have frozen me to death again。
That word RESERVED has undone all the rest of his accomplishments。
A reserved lover； it is said； always makes a suspicious husband。
HARDCASTLE。 On the contrary； modesty seldom resides in a
breast that is not enriched with nobler virtues。 It was the very feature in
his character that first struck me。
MISS HARDCASTLE。 He must have more striking features to catch
me； I promise you。 However； if he be so young； so handsome； and so
everything as you mention； I believe he'll do still。 I think I'll have him。
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HARDCASTLE。 Ay； Kate； but there is still an obstacle。 It's more
than an even wager he may not have you。
MISS HARDCASTLE。 My dear papa； why will you mortify one
so？Well； if he refuses； instead of breaking my heart at his indifference；
I'll only break my glass for its flattery； set my cap to some newer fashion；
and look out for some less difficult admirer。
HARDCASTLE。 Bravely resolved！ In the mean time I'll go
prepare the servants for his reception： as we seldom see company； they
want as much training as a company of recruits the first day's muster。
＇Exit。＇
MISS HARDCASTLE。 （Alone）。 Lud； this news of papa's puts me
all in a flutter。 Young； handsome： these he put last； but I put them
foremost。 Sensible； good…natured； I like all that。 But then reserved and
sheepish； that's much against him。 Yet can't he be cured of his timidity；
by being taught to be proud of his wife？ Yes； and can't IBut I vow I'm
disposing of the husband before I have secured the lover。
Enter MISS NEVILLE。
MISS HARDCASTLE。 I'm glad you're come； Neville； my dear。
Tell me； Constance； how do I look this evening？ Is there anything
whimsical about me？ Is it one of my well…looking days； child？ Am I in
face to…day？
MISS NEVILLE。 Perfectly； my dear。 Yet now I look againbless
me！sure no accident has happened among the canary birds or the gold
fishes。 Has your brother or the cat been meddling？ or has the last novel
been too moving？
MISS HARDCASTLE。 No； nothing of all this。 I have been
threatenedI can scarce get it outI have been threatened with a lover。
MISS NEVILLE。 And his name
MISS HARDCASTLE。 Is Marlow。
MISS NEVILLE。 Indeed！
MISS HARDCASTLE。 The son of Sir Charles Marlow。
MISS NEVILLE。 As I live； the most intimate friend of Mr。 Hastings；
my admirer。 They are never asunder。 I believe you must have seen him
when we lived in town。
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MISS HARDCASTLE。 Never。
MISS NEVILLE。 He's a very singular character； I assure you。
Among women of reputation and virtue he is the modestest man alive； but
his acquaintance give him a very different character among creatures of
another stamp： you understand me。
MISS HARDCASTLE。 An odd character indeed。 I shall nev