marriage, or you may call it in question with yourself afcer it? Send to me your dear old friend-gcod bye. Lit. But stop one moment, this letter Lady A. Well? Lit. 'Twas written and directed, but unsealed— Lit. No, I'm alive-thus [Kisses her hand,] Paradise is regained. [Exit Lady Alice, c.] She loves me, there is not the slightest doubt on the point-I am beloved by an angel and five thousand a-year-do I remember awaking this morning? Enter ROEBUCK, in a postillion's jacket and cap, L. Charles-what's this? Roe. Old Rocket's carriage has just driven up to the door-a thought struck me-] e-I'll use it to elope with his daughter. Lit. Where to? Roe. To Closeborough; I have not the courage to argue with my father, or with her's. I'll make a demonstration-I'll ask Lady Alice to accompany her; for form's sake I shall leave her at the Lodge, and to preserve the reputation I prize beyond my own. I will not compromise it by showing myself to the servants, but, without dismounting, return to the Rocket Arms, in the village. Lit. You're five minutes too late: she's engaged to me on the same road. Roe. To elope? Lit. Very near-own brother to the fact. Roe. Ha ha! you're jealous of my speed in loveyou're distanced-look, this is a suit of our family livery: I'll rattle down to Ghuznee Lodge in two hours and forty minutes. Enter BOB, L. Lit. [Crosses to Bob.] Run down to the stables, and slip a saddle on the near-horse in the Brougham fly.Exit Bob, L.] All right. Lady Alice is going down on my interest with Rural-she refused me a seat inside her carriage: damme, I'll take one outside her horse, and give Craft the slip-this is glorious-where is the livery ?-in the harness-room? I know-all right. Enter RURAL, L. c. My dear old friend, give me your hand. [Shakes it violently.] You said fortune smiled upon me-a mistake— she roars-don't ask me to explain—I couldn't. There's Roebuck-ask him-he's in his senses-shall I survive it? [Runs out, L. Rural approaches Roebuck, who is walking hastily up and down. Rur. Tell me, what does it mean? Roe. It means rapture-success-madness. Roe. You-you take Lady Alice down to her carriage, and mum-do you understand? Rur. Not quite ! but never mind. Roe. While the colonel's carriage waits below. Roe. [Aside.] Ha! the old gentleman is deeper than I thought he sees through our plot.-Then, my dear sir, two of the happiest dogs in London, will whirl down two of its loveliest denizens to Closeborough. Rur. What an extraordinary preface to marriage. Had I not heard of its approval from the lips of the old gentleman, I should have considered it too wonderful to be correct. Enter BOB, L., breathlessly. Bot It's all ready, sir; saddled complete. Roe. To your conduct is confided Miss Rocket. Bob. [Aside. Oh! I thought it was an elopement my master was about. Roe. Hush! she is here; run to her lady's maid, and get her shawl; I'll not give hesitation a chance. Enter Miss ROCKET, L. c. Bob. [Looking off] Oh, that's the lady-well-he has my consent. [Exit Bob, L. Rur. This appears very strange. Kate. Charles! and in this dress! Ree. Do not waste our precious time in wonder; I will explain it presently. Kate. I have suspected you unworthily, wickedly, but Alice has made me ashamed of my folly; let me suffer something to gain your pardon. Roe. I will. Your carriage waits: suffer me to fly with you. Kate. Fly! Roe. Only to your own house-'Twill be enough tc show our tyrants that their opposition would be vain.Bob will conduct you to your carriage. Kate. Bob! Roe. Ha! oh! I never. Crawl, Bob Crawl-Alice is going Kate. To elope Roe. With Coke.-[Aside.] Nothing convinces a woman or a judge like a precedent. Kate. I dare not-how-to Roe. I will waft you both down like a zephyr. [To Rural, who is coming down, c.] My dear sir, join your prayers to mine-she refuses to go. Kate. But my father?— Rur. My dear young lady, if that's all, your father desires it-commands it-declares that the affair must be settled before breakfast to-morrow. Kate. That's he-I must credit you. Rur. He ordered the carriage-have no scruples-he assured me that you would not. Kate. Can I believe my ears? Rur. You may; it's extraordinary, but you may. Re-enter BOB, with the shawl and bonnet, L. Bob. Here they are, sir: only cost me a kiss and a few promises. Kate. I'm in a dream! Rur. So am I ! [Rural, with Kate and Roebuck, go up stage. Bob. [Aside.] The old money-lender here, and on such a job-ah! gets his bill out of her fortune. I must make something. Excellent! a paragraph in the Morning Post. Elopement in high life-Littleton Coke, Esq., with the great heiress and lovely daughter of Colonel Rocket. Bilious father-it's in time for to-morrow's impressionthey'll make an express of it. Let's see, I'll ask a small per centage on the magnitude of her fortune-I'll try twenty thousand a-year. I may get five pounds; besides, 'twill civilize the creditors. Roe. [Coming down.] Be assured, dearest; confide in my devoted love, and farewell. Enough-I leave her to your care; farewell, dearest-now for the saddle, and I'm off-hurra for the road! [Exit, L. Lit. [Appearing at R., in the dress of a postillion.] Is she ready? Bob. Very near, sir: all right. Lit. Make haste! Bob. That's for you to do, sir Lit. True-I'll introduce the turnpikes to fourteen miles an hour. Kate. I tremble Rur. So do I, my dear child. [Exit, L. Enter LADY ALICE HAWTHORN, L., dressed. Lady A. Kate! Kate, Alice! Bob. [Aside. Hollo! here's Lady A. What does this mean? Rur. Exactly-now-we'll have it. Lady A. I-I-I'm-give me a kiss, Kate; we are both a pair of fools, dear. Rur. Well, 'tis no clearer now-my dear-he waits. Bob. [Aside.] Extraordinary express-another elopement. Lord Charles Roebuck with the Lady Alice Hawthorn. Ten pounds Rur. 'Tis no clearer now. [Lady Alice takes his arm. Bob. This way. [Conducts Miss Rocket, L. Rural goes up with Lady Alice, L. c. Rur. I wish you-both-farewell. Kate. [Going with Bob, L.] Alice, what will become of me? Lady A. You will get married, dear. Kate. Farewell. Rur. I wish you happy-farewell! [Exeunt. END OF ACT IV. ACT V. SCENE I. Ghuznec Lodge.—The house is a villa, with an Indian character apparently forced upon it-the lawn and shrubberies extend out, c. F., hrubberies, R. and L., with a pagoda summer-house, L. 3d E.—a broad carriage entrance leads off, L-extreme entrance—a sentry box is discovered c., in a bush. STRIPE is discovered standing in c. at the back, directing a field-glass down the avenue—a VETERAN, in Bombay cavalry uniform, walks as if keeping guard. Stripe. No signs of the colonel, yet his orders were for us to be in readiness to receive him at two this morning, and here's half-past eleven-I've despatched Wilcox with the old howitzer to the top of the hill, to give us a signal; hollo! whom have we here? good light cavalry figure. Enter LITTLETON COKE down the avenue, L. Aid-de-camp with despatches from head-quarters, perhaps. Lit. I've leftB ob addressing the free and independent electors of Closeborough from the hustings. [Very distant shouts, L.] There's another shout, elicited by his rhetoric. I believe the rascal has compromised me with every opinion on the political creed; 'twas useless arguing with him-he said, 'twas no good in losing a vote for a mere promise-so, damn the fellow, if he didn't promise every thing to everybody. [Distant shouts, R. U. E.] Whether I am whig, tory, or radical, will puzzle the Times to disco ver. Enter RURAL from the house, R. Rur. (L.) My dear boy, I don't know what's the matter inside, but something has gone wrong; Lady Hawthorn won't hear a word from me. Lit. [Aside.] She has discovered my disguise; no mat ter, she will readily forgive it. Rur. Just now, she and Miss Rocket flew upon me; out all they could say was, "Explain, sir, explain." Lit. And you? |
