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fortune； to what accident； am I to ascribe this happy meeting？
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HASTINGS。 Rather let me ask the same question； as I could never have
hoped to meet my dearest Constance at an inn。
MISS NEVILLE。 An inn！ sure you mistake： my aunt； my guardian；
lives here。 What could induce you to think this house an inn？
HASTINGS。 My friend； Mr。 Marlow； with whom I came down； and I；
have been sent here as to an inn； I assure you。 A young fellow； whom we
accidentally met at a house hard by； directed us hither。
MISS NEVILLE。 Certainly it must be one of my hopeful cousin's
tricks； of whom you have heard me talk so often； ha！ ha！ ha！
HASTINGS。 He whom your aunt intends for you？ he of whom I
have such just apprehensions？
MISS NEVILLE。 You have nothing to fear from him； I assure you。
You'd adore him； if you knew how heartily he despises me。 My aunt
knows it too； and has undertaken to court me for him； and actually begins
to think she has made a conquest。
HASTINGS。 Thou dear dissembler！ You must know； my
Constance； I have just seized this happy opportunity of my friend's visit
here to get admittance into the family。 The horses that carried us down
are now fatigued with their journey； but they'll soon be refreshed； and then；
if my dearest girl will trust in her faithful Hastings； we shall soon be
landed in France； where even among slaves the laws of marriage are
respected。
MISS NEVILLE。 I have often told you； that though ready to obey
you； I yet should leave my little fortune behind with reluctance。 The
greatest part of it was left me by my uncle； the India director； and chiefly
consists in jewels。 I have been for some time persuading my aunt to let
me wear them。 I fancy I'm very near succeeding。 The instant they are
put into my possession； you shall find me ready to make them and myself
yours。
HASTINGS。 Perish the baubles！ Your person is all I desire。 In
the mean time； my friend Marlow must not be let into his mistake。 I
know the strange reserve of his temper is such； that if abruptly informed of
it； he would instantly quit the house before our plan was ripe for
execution。
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MISS NEVILLE。 But how shall we keep him in the deception？
Miss Hardcastle is just returned from walking； what if we still continue to
deceive him？This； this way＇They confer。＇
Enter MARLOW。
MARLOW。 The assiduities of these good people teaze me beyond
bearing。 My host seems to think it ill manners to leave me alone； and so
he claps not only himself； but his old…fashioned wife； on my back。 They
talk of coming to sup with us too； and then； I suppose； we are to run the
gantlet through all the rest of the family。What have we got here？
HASTINGS。 My dear Charles！ Let me congratulate you！The
most fortunate accident！Who do you think is just alighted？
MARLOW。 Cannot guess。
HASTINGS。 Our mistresses； boy； Miss Hardcastle and Miss Neville。
Give me leave to introduce Miss Constance Neville to your acquaintance。
Happening to dine in the neighbourhood； they called on their return to take
fresh horses here。 Miss Hardcastle has just stept into the next room； and
will be back in an instant。 Wasn't it lucky？ eh！
MARLOW。 （Aside。） I have been mortified enough of all
conscience； and here comes something to complete my embarrassment。
HASTINGS。 Well； but wasn't it the most fortunate thing in the
world？
MARLOW。 Oh！ yes。 Very fortunatea most joyful encounterBut
our dresses； George； you know are in disorderWhat if we should
postpone the happiness till to…morrow？To…morrow at her own houseIt
will be every bit as convenientand rather more respectfulTo…morrow let
it be。 ＇Offering to go。＇
MISS NEVILLE。 By no means； sir。 Your ceremony will displease
her。 The disorder of your dress will show the ardour of your impatience。
Besides； she knows you are in the house； and will permit you to see her。
MARLOW。 O！ the devil！ how shall I support it？ Hem！ hem！
Hastings； you must not go。 You are to assist me； you know。 I shall be
confoundedly ridiculous。 Yet； hang it！ I'll take courage。 Hem！
HASTINGS。 Pshaw； man！ it's but the first plunge； and all's over。
She's but a woman； you know。
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MARLOW。 And； of all women； she that I dread most to encounter。
Enter MISS HARDCASTLE； as returned from walking； a bonnet；
etc。
HASTINGS。 （Introducing them。） Miss Hardcastle； Mr。 Marlow。
I'm proud of bringing two persons of such merit together； that only want to
know； to esteem each other。
MISS HARDCASTLE。 （Aside。） Now for meeting my modest
gentleman with a demure face； and quite in his own manner。 （After a
pause； in which he appears very uneasy and disconcerted。） I'm glad of
your safe arrival； sir。 I'm told you had some accidents by the way。
MARLOW。 Only a few； madam。 Yes； we had some。 Yes； madam；
a good many accidents； but should be sorrymadamor rather glad of any
accidentsthat are so agreeably concluded。 Hem！
HASTINGS。 （To him。） You never spoke better in your whole life。
Keep it up； and I'll insure you the victory。
MISS HARDCASTLE。 I'm afraid you flatter； sir。 You that have
seen so much of the finest company； can find little entertainment in an
obscure corner of the country。
MARLOW。 （Gathering courage。） I have lived； indeed； in the world；
madam； but I have kept very little company。 I have been but an observer
upon life； madam； while others were enjoying it。
MISS NEVILLE。 But that； I am told； is the way to enjoy it at last。
HASTINGS。 （To him。） Cicero never spoke better。 Once more；
and you are confirmed in assurance for ever。
MARLOW。 （To him。） Hem！ Stand by me； then； and when I'm
down； throw in a word or two； to set me up again。
MISS HARDCASTLE。 An observer； like you； upon life were； I fear；
disagreeably employed； since you must have had much more to censure
than to approve。
MARLOW。 Pardon me； madam。 I was always willing to be
amused。 The folly of most people is rather an object of mirth than
uneasiness。
HASTINGS。 （To him。） Bravo； bravo。 Never spoke so well in
your whole life。 Well； Miss Hardcastle； I see that you and Mr。 Marlow
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are going to be very good company。 I believe our being here will but
embarrass the interview。
MARLOW。 Not in the least； Mr。 Hastings。 We like your company
of all things。 （To him。） Zounds！ George； sure you won't go？ how can
you leave us？
HASTINGS。 Our presence will but spoil conversation； so we'll retire
to the next room。 （To him。） You don't consider； man； that we are to
manage a little tete…a…tete of our own。 ＇Exeunt。＇
MISS HARDCASTLE。 （after a pause）。 But you have not been
wholly an observer； I presume； sir： the ladies； I should hope； have
employed some part of your addresses。
MARLOW。 （Relapsing into timidity。） Pardon me； madam； III
as yet have studiedonlytodeserve them。
MISS HARDCASTLE。 And that； some say； is the very worst way to
obtain them。
MARLOW。 Perhaps so； madam。 But I love to converse only with
the more grave and sensible part of the sex。 But