Ros. Upon my honour, Sir William, what has happened, has been the mere effect of chance; I came hither unknown to your son, and he unknown to me: I never in the least suspected that Thomas the gardener was other than his appearance spoke him; and least of all, that he was a person with whom I had so close a connection. Mr. Hawthorn can testify the astonishment I was in when he first informed me of it; but I thought it was my duty to come to an immediate explanation with you.

82

Sir Will. Is not she a neat wench, master Hawthorn? May I never do an ill turn but she is-But you little plaguy devil, how came this love affair between you?

Ros. I have told you the whole truth very ingenuously, Sir since your son and I have been fellowservants, as I may call it, in this house, I have had more than reason to suspect he had taken a liking to me; and I will own with equal frankness, had I not looked upon him as a person so much below me, I should have had no objection to receiving his courtship.

93

Haw. Well said, by the lord Harry, all above board, fair and open.

Ros. Perhaps I may be censured by some for this candid declaration; but I love to speak my sentiments; and I assure you, Sir William, in my opinion, I should prefer a gardener with your son's good qualities, to a knight of the shire without them.

100

AIR.

Tis not wealth, it is not birth,
Can value to the soul convey;
Minds possess superior worth,

Which chance nor gives, nor takes away.
Like the sun true Merit shews;

By nature warm, by nature bright;
With inbred flames he nobly glows,

Nor needs the aid of borrow'd light.

Haw. Well, but, Sir, we lose time-is not this about the hour appointed to meet in the garden?

Ros. Pretty near it.

111

Haw. Oons then, what do we stay for? Come, my old friend, come along, and by the way we will consult how to manage your interview.

Sir Will. Ay, but I must speak a word or two to my man about the horses first.

SCENE III.

ROSSETTA, HODGE.

Ros. Well-What's the business?

Hodge. Madam-Mercy on us, I crave pardon!

Ros. Why, Hodge, don't you know me ?

119

Hodge. Know you! ecod I don't know whether I do or not: never stir, if I did not think it was some lady belonging to the strange gentlefolks: why, you be'nt dizen'd this way to go to the statute dance presently, be you?

Ros. Have patience and you'll see :-but is there any thing amiss that you came in so abruptly?

Hodge. Amiss! why there's ruination.

Ros. How?-where?

130

Hodge. Why, with Miss Lucinda: her aunt has catch'd she and the gentleman above stairs, and overheard all their love discourse.

Ros. You don't say so!

Hodge. Ecod, I had like to have pop'd in among them this instant; but, by good luck, I heard Mrs. Deborah's voice, and run down again, as fast as ever my legs could carry me.

Ros. Is your master in the house?

Hodge. What, his worship! no, no, he is gone into the fields to talk with the reapers and people.

141

Ros. Poor Lucinda, I wish I could go up to her,

but I am so engaged with my own affairs

Hodge. Mistress Rossetta.

Hodge. Odds bobs, I must have one smack of your

sweet lips.

know I r
I never a allow liberties.

in

Ros. Oh stand off, f, you kno Hodge. Nay, but why so coy, there's reason! roasting of eggs; I would not deny you such a

thing.

151

71

Ros. That's kind: ha, ha, ha-But what will become of Lucinda? Sir William waits for me, I must be gone. Friendship, a moment by your leave; yet as our sufferings have been mutual, so shall our joys; I already lose the remembrance of all former pains and anxieties.

HODGE, Mrs. DEBORAH WOODCOCK, LUCINDA.

Hodge. Hist, stay ! don't I hear a noise ?
Luc. (within) Well, but dear, dear aunt

Mrs. Deb. (within) You need not speak to me, for it does not signify.

Hodge. Adwawns, they are coming here! ecod I'll

get out of the way--Murrain take it, this door is bolted now-So, so.

172

Mrs. Deb. Get along, get along; (Driving in Lucinda before her) you are a scandal to the name of Woodcock; but I was resolved to find you out, for I have suspected you a great while, though your father, silly man, will have you such a poor innocent.

Mrs. Deb. I was determined to discover what you and your pretended music-master were about, and lay in wait on purpose: I believe he thought to escape me, by slipping into the closet when I knocked at the door; but I was even with him, for now I have him under lock and key, and please the fates there he shall remain till your father comes in: I will convince him of his error, whether he will or not.

Luc. You won't be so cruel, I am sure you won't: I thought I had made you my friend by telling you the truth.

189

Mrs. Deb. Telling me the truth, quotha! did I not over-hear your scheme of running away to-night, thro' the partition? did not I find the very bundles pack'd up in the room with you ready for going off? No, brazenface, I found out the truth by my own sagacity, tho' your father says I am a fool, but now we'll be judged who is the greatest.--And you, Mr. Rascal, my brother shall know what an honest servant he has got.

Hodge. Madam!