the young people love each other-why make any mystery! Ha! here is my boy-he seems annoyed-a— [Seats himself, c., and watches, L. Enter LITTLETON COKE, L., he walks up and down after a pause. Lit. I don't think there was a fool in the house whom she did not flirt with through her opera-glass. Every one noticed it she swept over the stalls, smiling at every eager eye that was fixed on her-damme, she appears intimate with the whole subscription—and then the omnibus boxes-oh, that was awful-why, every man in 'em went round into her box-they went by two's, relieving each other every five minutes, like sentries before Whitehall. She made herself the focus for every lorgnette in the pit -and not content with that, she goes round into Lady Pompion's box, turns her back full upon the stage and me, and flirts with Tom, as if she had only six hours to live. I was obliged to groan in the middle of one of Grisi's finest arias-and nearly got turned out. Rur. (L.) Littleton, fortune smiles on you-my dear boy, I give you joy-she is yours. Lit. (R.) Is she? Rur. The colonel says, his carriage and house are at your service, and that the affair ought to be settled before breakfast to-morrow. Lit. [Aside.] In all this excitement I had almost forgotten my election, and the colonel-of course! Roebuck told me he was violently opposed to his politics, he will aid my return-I'll accept his offer. Rur. His carriage will be at the door in an hour. Lit. Then it shall bear me from this fatal scene of enchantment, and you will accompany me. Rur. May I-oh! what, with you! [Embracing him. Lit. Forgive me, if in my moments of passion I have slighted your affection. Rur. Slighted! let me hear any one say you slighted -my dear boy, you have been all love, and-let's go[Aside.] I'll write to Tom to follow, ha! ha! Enter Toм COKE and LADY ALICE HAWTHORN, with letters, laughing, L. Lit. Ha! they follow to outrage me even here. I'll re[Retires up, R. main. Lady A. [c.-To Littleton.] Oh! Mr. Coke, did you hear Lablache in the finale? ha! ba! Lit. [Aside.] She must have seen me leave the house in disgust before it; I felt every eye was upon me. Lady A. Ha! ha! he was too droll to bear. I would not hear or see any thing after that-'twould be a sacrilege. Lit. [Aside.] She can be amused, too! Tom. [Aside.] She loves me-I felt it-I am too full of happiness to remain unforgiving: my heart has been knocking against my will all day long. I could not look at him wi'out a blush.-Brother Littleton, a word wi' you. [Littleton Coke bows aside, and advances a littleTom hesitates. Lady A. [Aside to Rural.] Go, leave them to me. Rur. Bless you, angel that you are-that is-that you will be-join those young hearts and gain an old man's last prayers. [Rur. and Lady A. retire into the inner room. Tom. Brother, a'm not goin to reproach you, but-but —no matter what you've been-forgive and forget. Littleton, we are brothers-flesh and blood do tingle against our parting this way-you are my father's son-the child of my mother--don't look from me, brother Littletonbecause there are tears in ma eyes that a'm not ashamed of-you tremble-so do I-'ave got my hand out, though you don't see it—you'll take it? Lit. This charity seems strangely sudden-to what do I owe it? Tom. (L.) To her. Lit. Lady Alice! Lit. [R-Aside.] She loves him. : Coming down, c. Lady A. I've taken a fancy to see you two shake hands whoever begins shall be rewarded with my waist for the first polka at Rochester House to-night; do you hear, you statue? [She goes to Littleton, who is standing, R., with his back towards his brother Tom.] Come, give me your hand. Lit. His hand will suffice your ladyship for the present. Lady A. [Aside.] Aha! have I reduced you to submission? now I'll try on him if I have learned, by heart, the lesson he taught me an hour ago. [Aloud to Tom.] Will you favour me with a moment's tête-à-tête with this amu. sing creature? Tom. You command me. Lit. Will your ladyship excuse me? [Exit, c. [He pauses, she draws out a letter. She takes a letter from her breast-'tis to me. [She opens it.] No-she opens it-she reads it-[She sighs,] she is affected-what can it mean? Lady A. Mr. Coke-I-I hurt my hand this evening, and am unable to write-would you have the kindness to answer, for me, this letter, and write as I tell you? Lit. Write as!-[Aside.] What does she-perhaps 'tis from Tom-it is-] Lady A. [Having settled the writing materials for him.] Pray be seated. [He sits.] Now, will you promise me to write as I tell you? Lit. [Aside. She smiles, ah!-[Aloud.] I'll swear it. Lady A. "My dear"-let's see-yes-" dear sir”— Lit. Two adjectives? Lady A. Yes! "If [Reading letter,] fondest hopes" -poor fellow!- "if y f you imagine my treatment of you to be cruel" Lit. [Aside.] Damme, if she isn't making me wii'e a love letter to somebody; oh, that's too good! [Rises and throws down pen. Lady A. Bad pen? don't stir, here's another. [Offers a pen, he looks at her, and sneaks back.] "You will forgive me, your letter now before me, so full of deep affection"[Reads letter,] mad affection-ah!" has touched me to the heart." Lit. If I write that, may I- Lit. Go on your ladyship is very kind—proceed. Lady A. "Let me confess, that I am at this moment inflicting upon you a torture, which, although you deserve, I am too feeling to continue. Rather than see you suffer longer, let me own myself, for ever, your's." Lit. Is there any more? Lady A. Yes, the direction. Lit. Ha! who's the inf-gentleman ? Lady A. "To Littleton Coke, Esq." Lit. [Starting up.] Myself-could you-- Lit. That letter Lady A. Take it. [Crosses to R. Lit. Blank!-ha! my own to Miss Rocket. Lady A. Ha! ha! ha! Lit. And you love me? Lady A. Let me sign that letter. Lit. Which?-a-this-oh! yes, true. Lady A. [Looking over it.] Why, it's blank, too: you did not write a line, then? Lit. Not a syllable; and for such a document I would have given my life; stop, we'll begin again. Lady A. No, no! had you kept your promise, you would now have possessed mine to be for ever yours. 66 [Goes to table, L., and sits, ready to write. Lit. I won't occupy you long; we'll come to I'll be for ever, your's" at once; eh! sign a new lease of life to me. Lady A. No, leave the document for me to look over. Lit. While suspense is making me feel like one great pulse. Lady A. There is a prescribed time to wear mourning for a husband, and a certain time to wear reserve to a lover. I cannot throw it off so early-think how short is our acquaintance. Lit. But how much can be done in it, by hearts like ours; you are no slave to society, nor am I. [Embraces her. Lady A. You impetuous wretch-release me. Lit. One word, then. Lady A. Hush!—some one. Lit. Bob! Enter BOB, L. Bob. [Aside to him.] Sir-sir-Craft's Lit. Craft! Bob. On the premises, saw him myself, and dressed like a gentleman-so he's serious, and means to have you -get out of the house. Lit. But now? Bob. By any way but the hall door; it's old Scriven's debt. Lit. And it's above £20. Rui!-in twelve hours I should have been a Member of Parliament, and free. Bob! go to the top of the staircase-watch-prevent him from coming up, by any means, tumble on him, pitch him over the banisters accidentally, any way. [Bob goes out, L. Lady A. Who is that? Lit. A-a-my agent; he tells me that I must start for Closeborough immediately-every moment's delay is an agony to him. Lady A. Closeborough! Lit. Yes-the poll takes place to-morrow. I must be there to-night. Lady A. An election without me-that's enough to unseat the candidate-and only a few miles from town, too. Lit. 'Tis not too late-with your voice in my favour. Lady A. Oh, if I could but escape! the Earl considers me bound to canvass for you, Charles-ha! ha! fancy me stealing a march on Pompey, turning Closeborough into a modern Pharsalia, to run away, like Cleopatra, when the battle began, and leave Pompey in the minority. Ha! ha! ha! Lit. Not run away, only desert to the enemy. Lady A. That's true-I'll do it-consider yourself M. P. for Closeborough-ha! ha! ha! I'll be off at once. Lit. Hark! your carriage is driving round into the stables. Lady A. Let the horses be kept in it; I shall be ready before the earl can return. Lit. Can you afford Mr. Rural a seat? Lit. And me? Lady A. Impertinent !-certainly not. Lady A. Don't dare to approach me, by a mile. Lit. But you go to Ghuznee Lodge, where I am invited also. Lady A. Then you must occupy the village inn, while I am there. Now the fellow pouts again; listen: must I not preserve my reputation intact, even from you, before |
