第5章
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  SCENEIII。——AnotherChamberinSirWilliam\'shouse。

  [CONSTANCEdiscovered。]

  Con。I\'llpinetodeathfornoman!Wiseitwere,Indeed,todieforneighbourWildrake——No!—

  Iknowthedutyofawoman,better—

  Whatfitsamaidofspirit!IamoutOfpatiencewithmyself,tocastathoughtAwayuponhim。Hanghim!LoverscostNoughtbutthepainsofluring。I\'llgetfifty,Andbreaktheheartofeveryoneofthem!

  Iwill!I\'llbethechampionofmysex,Andtakerevengeonshallow,fickleman,Whogiveshishearttofools,andslightstheworthOfproperwomen!Isupposeshe\'shandsome!

  Myface\'gainsthers,athazardofmineeyes!

  Amaidofmind!I\'lltalkhertoastand,Ortiemytongueforlife!Amaidofsoul!

  Anartful,managing,dissemblingone!

  Orshehadnevercaught。Him!——he\'snomanTofallinlovehimself,orlongagoIwarranthehadfall\'ninlovewithme!

  Ihatethefool——Ido!Ha,herehecomes。

  Whatbringshimhither?Letmedrymyeyes;

  HemustnotseeIhavebeencrying。Hanghim,Ihavemuchtodo,indeed,tocryforhim!

  [EnterWILDRAKE]

  Wild。Yourservant,neighbourConstance。

  Con。Servant,sir!

  Nowwhat,Iwonder,comesthefooltosay,Makeshimlooksoimportant?

  Wild。NeighbourConstance,Iamahappyman。

  Con。Whatmakesyouso?

  Wild。Athrivingsuit。

  Con。InChancery?

  Wild。Oh,no!

  Inlove。

  Con。Oh,true!Youareinlove!Goon!

  Wild。Well,asIsaid,mysuit\'sathrivingone。

  Con。Youmeanyouarebelovedagain!——Idon\'tBelieveit。

  Wild。Icangiveyouproof。

  Con。Whatproof?

  Loveletters?She\'sashamelessmaidTowritethem!Canshespell?Ay,IsupposeWithpromptingofadictionary!

  Wild。NayWithoutone。

  Con。IwilllayyoutentooneShecannotspell!Howknowyoushecanspell?

  Youcannotspellyourself!YouwritecommandWithasingleM—C—O—M—A—N—D:

  YourstoCo—mand。

  Wild。IdidnotsayshewroteLoveletterstome。

  Con。ThenshesuffersyoutopressHerhand,perhaps?

  Wild。Shedoes。

  Con。Doesshepressyours?

  Wild。Shedoes。——Itgoesonswimmingly![Aside。]

  Con。Shedoes!

  Sheisnomodestwoman!I\'llbebound,Yourarmthemadamsuffersroundherwaist?

  Wild。Shedoes!

  Con。Shedoes!Outrageousforwardness!

  Doessheletyoukissher?

  Wild。Yes。

  Con。Sheshouldbe—

  Wild。What?

  Con。Whatyougotthriceyourshareofwhenatschool,Andyetnothalfyourdue!Abrazenface!

  Morecouldnotgrantamaidabouttowed。

  Wild。Sheisso。

  Con。What?

  Wild。Howswimminglyitgoes![Aside。]

  Con。[Withsuppressedimpatience。]Areyouabouttomarry,neighbourWildrake?

  Areyouabouttomarry?

  Wild。Excellent。[Aside。]

  Con。[Breakingout。]Whydon\'tyouanswerme?

  Wild。Iam。

  Con。Youare—

  Itellyouwhat,sir——You\'reafool!

  Wild。Forwhat?

  Con。Youarenotfittomarry。DonotknowEnoughoftheworld,sir!Havenomoreexperience,Thought,judgment,thanaschoolboy!HavenomindOfyourown!——yourwifewillmakeafoolofyou,Willjiltyou,breakyourheart!IwishshemayIdo!Youhavenomorebusinesswithawife;

  ThanIhave!Doyoumeantosay,indeed,Youareabouttomarry?

  Wild。Yes,indeed。

  Con。Andwhen?

  Wild。I\'llsayto—morrow![Aside。]

  Con。When,Isay?

  Wild。To—morrow。

  Con。Thankyou:muchbeholdentoyou!

  You\'vetoldmeon\'tintime!I\'mverymuchBeholdentoyou,neighbourWildrake!

  And,Iprayyou,atwhathour?

  Wild。ThatwehaveleftForyoutoname。

  Con。Forme!

  Wild。Foryou。

  Con。Indeed。

  You\'reverybountiful!IshouldnotwonderMeantyouIshouldbebridemaidtothelady?

  Wild。\'TisjustthethingImean!

  Con。[Furiously。]Thethingyoumean!

  Nowprayyou,neighbour,tellmethatagain,Andthinkbeforeyouspeak;formuchIdoubtYouknowwhatyouaresaying。DoyoumeanToaskmetobebridemaid?

  Wild。Evenso。

  Con。Bridemaid?

  Wild。Ay,bridemaid!——ItiscomingfastUntoahead。[Aside。]

  Con。And\'tisformeyouwaitTofixtheday?Itshallbedoomsday,then!

  Wild。Bedoomsday?

  Con。Doomsday!

  Wild。Whereforedoomsday?

  Con。Wherefore!——[Boxeshim。]

  Goaskyourbride,andgiveherthatfromme。

  Look,neighbourWildrake!youmaythinkthisstrange,Butdon\'tmisconstrueit!Foryouarevain,sir!

  Andmayputdownforlovewhatcomesfromhate。

  Ishouldnotwonder,thoughtyouIwasjealous;

  ButI\'mnotjealous,sir!——wouldscorntobesoWhereitwasworthmywhile——IprayhenceforthWemaybestrangers,sir——youwillobligemeBygoingoutoftown。IshouldnotlikeTomeetyouonthestreet,sir。Marry,sir!

  Marryto—day!Thesooner,sir,thebetter!

  Andmayyoufindyouhavemadeabargain,sir。

  Asforthelady!——muchIwishherjoy。

  Iprayyousendmenobridecake,sir!

  Norgloves——Ifyoudo,I\'llgivethemtomymaid!

  Orthrowthemintothekennel——orthefire。

  Iamyourmostobedientservant,sir!

  [Goesout。]

  Wild。Sheisariddle,solveherhewhocan!

  [Goesout。]

  ACTV。

  SCENEI。——ARoominSirWilliamFondlove\'s。

  [SIRWILLIAMseatedwithtwoLawyers。]

  SirWil。HowmanywordsyoutaketotellfewthingsAgain,againsayoverwhat,saidonce,Methinksweretoldenough!

  FirstLawyer。Itisthelaw,Whichlaboursatprecision。

  SirWil。Yes;andthrivesUponuncertainty——andmakesit,too,Withallitspainstoshunit。IcouldbindMyself,methinks,withbutthetwentiethpartOfallthiscordage,sirs。——Buteveryman,Astheysay,tohisownbusiness。YouthinkThesettlementishandsome?

  FirstLawyer。Very,sir。

  SirWil。Thennow,sirs,wehavedone,andtakemythanks,Which,withyourcharges,IwillrenderyouAgainto—morrow。

  FirstLawyer。Happynuptials,sir。

  [Lawyersgoout。]

  SirWil。Whopassesthere?Hoa!sendmydaughtertome,AndMasterWildraketoo!Iwaitforthem。

  Boldwork!——Withoutherleavetowaituponher,Andaskhergotochurch!——\'TistakingherBystorm!WhatelsecouldmoveheryesterdayButjealousy?WhatcausethjealousyButlove?She\'sminethemomentshereceivesConclusiveproof,likethis,thatheartandsoul,Andmindandperson,Iamallherown!

  Heighho!Thesesoftalarmsareverysweet,Andyettormentingtoo!Ha!MasterWildrake,[EnterWILDRAKE。]

  Iamgladyou\'reready,forI\'mallinarmsTobearthewidowoff。Come!Don\'tbesad;

  Allmustgomerrily,youknow,to—day!—

  Shestilldothbearhimhard,Isee!ThegirlAffectshimnot,andTrueworthisatfault,Thoughclearitisthathedothdieforher。[Aside。]

  Well,daughter?——SoIseeyou\'rereadytoo。

  [EnterCONSTANCE。]

  Why,what\'samisswiththee?

  Phoebe。[Entering。]Thecoachishere。

  SirWil。Come,Wildrake,offerheryourarm。

  Con。[ToWILDRAKE。]Ithankyou!

  Iamnotaninvalid!——canusemylimbs!

  Heknowsnothowtomakeanarm,befitsAladyleanupon。

  SirWil。Why,teachhim,then。

  Con。Teachhim!TeachMasterWildrake!Teach,indeed!

  Itaughtmydogtobeg,becauseIknewThathecouldlearnit。

  SirWil。Peace,thoulittleshrew!

  I\'llhavenowranglingonmywedding—day!

  Here,takemyarm。

  Con。I\'llnot!——I\'llwalkalone!

  Live,diealone!IdoabominateThefoolandallhissex!

  SirWil。Again!

  Con。Ihavedone。

  Whendoyoumarry,MasterWildrake?SheWillwantahusbandgoestochurchwiththee!

  [Theygoout。]

  SCENEII。——WidowGreen\'sDressing—room。

  [WIDOWGREENdiscoveredatherToilet,attendedbyAMELIA,WALLER\'S

  LettertoLYDIAinherhand。]

  W。Green。Oh,bondofdestiny!——Fairbond,thatseal\'stMyfateinhappiness!I\'llreadtheeyetAgain——althoughthou\'rtwrittenonmyheart。

  Butherehishand,indictingthee,didlie!

  Andthisthetracingofhisfingers!SoIreadtheethatcouldrhymethee,asmyprayers!

  \"Atmornto—morrowIwillmakeyoumine。

  Willyouacceptfrommethenameofwife—

  Thenameofhusbandgivemeinexchange?\"

  Thetraitress!tobreakopemybillet—doux,Andtaketheenvelope!——ButIforgiveher,Sinceshedidleavetherichcontentsbehind。

  Amelia,givethisfeathermoreaslope,Thatitsitdroopingly。IwouldlookallDissolvement,noughtaboutmetobespeakBoldness!Iwouldappearatimidbride,Tremblinguponthevergeofwifehood,asIne\'erbeforehadstoodthere!Thatwilldo。

  Ohdear!——HowIamagitated——don\'tIlookso?Ihavefoundasecretout,—

  NothinginwomanstrikesamansomuchAstolookinteresting!HangthischeekOfmine!Itistoosaucy;whatapityTohaveacolourofone\'sown!——Amelia!

  Couldyoucontrive,deargirl,tobleachmycheek,HowIwouldthankyou!IcouldgiveitthenWhattintIchose,andthatshouldbethehecticBespeaksaheartindelicatecommotion。

  Iammuchtooflorid!Stickaroseinmyhair,Thebrightestyoucanfind,\'twillhelp,mygirl,Subduemyrebelcolour——Nay,theroseDothlosecomplexion,notmycheek!ExchangeitForacarnation。That\'stheflower,Amelia!

  Youseehowitdothtriumpho\'ermycheek。

  Areyoucontentwithme?

  Amelia。Iam,mylady。

  W。Green。Andwhitherthinkyouhasthehussygone,Whoseplaceyoufillsowell?——Intothecountry?

  Orfancyyoushestopsintown?

  Amelia。Ican\'tConjecture。

  W。Green。Shameuponher!——LeaveherplaceWithoutamoment\'swarning!——withaman,too!

  Seemedheagentlemanthattookherhence?

  Amelia。Hedid。

  W。Green。Youneversawhimherobefore?

  Amelia。Never。

  W。Green。NotloungingontheothersideOfthestreet,andreconnoitringthewindows?

  Amelia。Never。

  W。Green。\'Twasplannedbyletter。Notes,youknow,Haveoftencometoher——ButIforgiveher,SincethisadviceshechancedtoleavebehindOfgentleMasterWaller\'swishes,whichIblessmyselfinblessing!——Gods,aknock!

  \'Tishe!ShowinthoseladiesaresokindToactmybridemaidsformeonthisbriefAndagitatingnotice。

  [AMELIAgoesout。]

  Yes,IlookAbridesufficiently!AndthisthehandThatgivesawaymylibertyagain。

  Uponmylifeitisaprettyhand,Adelicateandsentimentalhand!

  Nolotionequalsgloves;nowomanknowsTheuseofthemthatdoesnotsleepinthem!

  Myneckhathkeptitscolourwondrously!

  Well;afterallitisnomiracleThatIshouldwintheheartofayoungman。

  Mybridemaidscome!——Ohdear!

  [EntertwoLadies。]

  FirstLady。Howdoyou,love?Agoodmorningtoyou——Poordear,Howmuchyouareaffected!WhywethoughtYoune\'erwouldsummonus。

  W。Green。Onetakes,youknow,Whenoneisflurried,twicethetimetodress。

  Mydears,haseitherofyousalts?Ithankyou!

  Theyareexcellent;thevirtue\'sgonefrommine,NorthoughtIofrenewingthem——Indeed,I\'munprovided,quite,forthisaffair。

  FirstLady。Ithinkthebridegroom\'scome!

  W。Green。Don\'tsayso!HowYou\'vemademyheartjump!

  FirstLady。Asyousentforus,Anew—launchedcarriagedroveuptothedoor;

  Theservantsallinfavours。

  W。Green。\'Ponmylife,Inevershallgetthroughit;lendmeyourhand。

  [Halfrises,andthrowsherselfbackonherchairagain。]

  Imustsitdownagain!TherecamejustnowAfeelingliketoswooningoverme。

  Iamsurebefore\'tisoverIshallmakeAfoolofmyself!IvowIthoughtnothalfSomuchofmyfirstwedding—day!I\'llmakeAneffort。Letmeleanuponyourarm,Andgivemeyours,mydear。Amelia,mindKeepnearmewiththesmelling—bottle。

  Servant。[Entering。]Madam,Thebridegroom\'scome。

  [Goesout。]

  W。Green。Thebrutehasknockedmedown!

  Toboltitoutso!IhadstartedlessIfhehadfiredacannonatmyear。

  HowshallIevermanagetoholdupTillallisdone!I\'mtremorheadtofoot。

  Youcanexcuseme,can\'tyou?——Pityme!

  Onemayfeelqueeruponone\'swedding—day。

  [Theygoout。]

  SCENETHELAST。——ADrawing—room。

  [EnterServants,showinginSIRWILLIAMFONDLOVE,CONSTANCE,andMASTERWILDRAKE——Servantsgooutagain。]

  SirWil。[AsidetoWILDRAKE。]GoodMasterWildrake,lookmorecheerfully!——Come,Youdonothonourtomywedding—day。

  HowbriskamI!Mybodymovesonsprings!

  MystaturegivesnoinchIthrowaway;

  Mysupplejointsplayfreeandsportfully;

  I\'meveryatomwhatamanshouldbe。

  Wild。Iprayyoupardonme,SirWilliam!

  SirWil。Smile,then,Andtalkandrallyme!Ididexpect,Erehalfanhourhadpassed,youwouldhaveputmeAdozentimestotheblush。Withoutsuchthings,Abridegroomknowsnothisownwedding—day。

  Isee!Herlooksareglossarytothine,Shefloutstheestill,Imarvelnotatthee;

  There\'sthunderinthatcloud!Iwouldto—dayItwoulddisperse,andgatherinthemorning。

  Ifearmemuchthouknow\'stnothowtowoo。

  I\'llgivetheealesson。Everthere\'saway,Butknowsonehowtotakeit?TwentymenHavecourtedWidowGreen。Whohashernow?

  Isenttoadvertiseherthatto—dayImeanttomarryher。Shewouldn\'topenMynote。AndgaveIup?ItookthewayTomakeherloveme!Ididsend,againToprayherleavemydaughtershouldbebridemaid。

  Thatlettertoocameback?DidIgiveup?

  Itookthewaytomakeherloveme!Yet,AgainIsenttoaskwhatchurchshechoseTomarryat;mynotecamebackagain;

  AnddidIyetgiveup?ItookthewayTomakeherloveme!AllthewhileIfoundShewaspreparingforthewedding。TakeAhintfromme!Shecomes!MyflutteringheartGivesnotetheempressofitsrealmsisnear。

  Now,MasterWildrake,markandlearnfrommeHowitbehovesabridegroomplayhispart。

  [EnterWIDOWGREEN,supportedbyherBridemaids,andfollowedbyAMELIA。]

  W。Green。Icannotraisemyeyes——theycannotbearThebeamsofhis,which,likethesun\'s,IfeelAreonme,thoughIseethemnotenlighteningTheheavenofhisyoungface;nordareIscanThebrightnessofhisform,whichsymmetryAndyouthandbeautyinenrichingvie。

  Hekneelstome!Nowgrowsmybreathingthick,AsthoughIdidawaitaseraph\'svoice,Toorichformortalear。

  SirWil。Mygentlebride!

  W。Green。Who\'sthat!whospeakstome?

  SirWil。Thesetransportscheck。

  Lo,anexampletomankindIsetOfamorousemprise;andwhoshouldthriveInlove,ifnotLove\'ssoldier,whodothpressThedoubtfulsiege,andwillnotownrepulse。

  Lo,hereItendertheemyfealty,Tolivethyduteousslave。Myqueenthouart,Infrownsorsmiles,togivemelifeordeath。

  Oh,deignlookdownuponme!InthyfaceAloneIlookonday;itismysunMostbright;thewhichdenied,nosundothrise。

  Shineoutuponme,mydivinity!

  MygentleWidowGreen!Mywifetobe;

  Mylove,mylife,mydrooping,blushingbride!

  W。Green。SirWilliamFondlove,you\'reafool!

  SirWil。Afool!

  W。Green。Whycomeyouhither,sir,intrimlikethis?

  Orratherwhyatall?

  SirWil。WhycomeIhither?

  Tomarrythee!

  W。Green。Themanwilldrivememad!

  SirWilliamFondlove,I\'mbutforty,sir,Andyouaresixty,seventy,ifaday;

  Atleastyoulookit,sir。Imarryyou!

  Whendidawomanwedhergrandfather?

  SirWil。Herbrainisturned!

  W。Green。You\'reinyourdotage,sir,Andyetaboyinvanity!ButknowYourselffromme;youareoldandugly,sir。

  SirWil。Doyoudenyyouareinlovewithme?

  W。Green。Inlovewiththee!

  SirWil。Thatyouarejealousofme?

  W。Green。Jealous!

  SirWil。Toverylunacy。

  W。Green。Tohearhim!

  SirWil。Doyouforgetwhathappenedyesterday?

  W。Green。SirWilliamFondlove!—

  SirWil。WidowGreen,fairplay!—

  Areyounotlaughing?Isitnotajest?

  Doyoubelievemeseventytoaday?

  DoIlookit?AmIoldandugly?Why,WhydoIseethosefavoursinthehall,Theseladiesdressedasbridemaids,theeasbride,Unlesstomarryme?

  [Knock。]

  W。Green。Heiscoming,sir,Shallansweryouforme!

  [EnterWALLER,withGentlemenasBridemen。]

  Wal。Whereisshe?What!

  Allthatbespeakstheday,exceptthefairThat\'squeenofit?MostkindofyoutograceMynuptialsso!ButthatIrenderyouMythanksinfull,makefullmyhappiness,Andtellmewhere\'smybride?

  W。Green。She\'shere。

  Wal。Where?

  W。Green。Here,FairMasterWaller!

  Wal。Lady,donotmockme。

  W。Green。Mockthee!Myheartisstrangertosuchmood,\'Tisserioustendernessanddutyall。

  Iprayyoumocknotme,forIdostriveWithfearsandsoftemotionsthatrequireSupport。Takenotawaymylittlestrength,Andleavemeatthemercyofafeather。

  Iamthybride!If\'tisthyhappinessTothinkmeso,believeit,andberichTothymostboundlesswishes!MasterWaller,Iamthywaitingbride,theWidowGreen!

  Wal。Lady,nowidowisthebrideIseek,ButonethechurchhasnevergivenyetThenuptialblessingto!

  W。Green。Whatmeanyou,sir?

  Whycomeabridegroomhere,ifnottomeYousuedtobeyourbride?Isthisyourhand,sir?[Showingletter。]

  Wal。Itis,addressedtoyourfairwaiting—maid。

  W。Green。Mywaiting—maid!Thelaughispassinground,Andnowtheturnisyours,sir。Sheisgone!

  Eloped!runoff!andwiththegentlemanThatbroughtyourbillet—doux。

  Wal。IsTrueworthfalse?

  Hemustbefalse。WhatmadnesstemptedmeTotrusthimwithsuchaudienceasIknewMustsense,andmind,andsoulofmanentrance,Andleavehimbutthepowertofeelitsspell!

  Ofhisownlessonhewouldprofittake,Andpleadatonceanhonourablelove,Supplantingmine,lesspure,reformedtoolate!

  Andifhedid,whatmeritI,exceptTolosethemaidIwouldhavewronglywon;

  And,hadIrightlyprizedher,nowhadworn!

  Igetbutmydeservings!

  [EnterTRUEWORTH,leadinginLYDIA,richlydressed,andveiledfrontheadtofoot。]

  MasterTrueworth,Thoughforthytreacherythouhastexcuse,Thoumustaccountforit;somuchIlose!

  Sir,youhavewrongedmetoamountbeyondAcres,andgold,andlife,whichmakesthemrich。

  AndcompensationIdemandofyou,Suchasamanexpects,andnonebutoneThat\'slessthanmanrefuses!Where\'sthemaidYoufalselydidabstract?

  True。Itookherhence,Butnotbyguile,noryetenforcement,sir;

  Butofherfreewill,knowingwhatshedid。

  That,asIfound,Icannotgiveherback,Iownherstateischanged,butinherplaceThismaidIofferyou,herimagefarAsfeature,form,complexion,naturego!

  Resemblancehalting,onlythere,wherethouThyselfdidstpause,condition,forthismaidIsgentlybornandgenerouslybred。

  Lo!foryourfairloss,fairequivalent!

  Wal。Showmeanothersun,anotherearthIcaninherit,asthisSunandEarth;

  Asthoudidsttakethemaid,themaidherselfGiveback!herself,hersoleequivalent!

  True。HersoleequivalentIofferyou!

  Mysister,sir,longcountedlost,nowfound,Whofledherhomeunwelcomebandsto\'scape,Whichahalf—fatherwouldhaveforceduponher,Takingadvantageofherbrother\'sabsenceAwayontravelinadistantland!

  Returned,Imissedher;ofthecausereceivedInvention,coward,falseandcriminating!

  Andgaveherupforlost;buthappilyDidfindheryesterday——Beholdher,sir!

  [Removesveil。]

  Wal。Lydia!

  W。Green。Mywaiting—maid!

  Wal。Thysister,Trueworth!

  Artthoufitbrothertothisvirtuousmaid?

  True。[GivingLYDIAtoWALLER。]Letthisassurethee。

  Lydia。[ToWIDOWGREEN。]Madam,pardonmeMydoublecharacter,forhonesty,Nootherendassumed——andmyconcealmentOfMasterWaller\'slove。InallthingselseItrustImaybelieveyouholdmeblameless;

  Atleast,I\'llsayforyou,Ishouldbeso,Foritwaspastime,madam,notatask,Towaituponyou!Littleyouexacted,AndevermadethemostofwhatIdidInmereobediencetoyou!

  W。Green。Givemeyourhand,Nolovewithoutalittleroguery。

  Ifyoudoplaythemistresswellasmaid,Youwillhearoffthebell!ThereneverwasAbettergirl!——Ihavemademyselfafool。

  Iamundone,ifgoesthenewsabroad。

  MyweddingdressIdonnedfornoeffectExcepttoputitoff!Imustbemarried。

  I\'malostwoman,ifanotherdayIgowithoutahusband!——WhatasightHelooksbyMasterWaller!——YetheisphysicIdiewithout,soneedsmustgulpitdown。

  I\'llswallowhimwithwhatgoodgraceIcan,SirWilliamFondlove!

  SirWil。WidowGreen!

  W。Green。IownIhavebeenrudetoyou。ThoudostnotlookSooldbythirty,forty,yearsasI

  Didsay。Thou\'rtfarfromugly——veryfar!

  AndasIsaid,SirWilliam,oncebefore,Thouartakindandrightgood—humouredman:

  Iwasbutangrywithyou!Why,I\'lltellyouAtmoreconvenientseason——andyouknowAnangrywomanheedsnotwhatshesays,Andwillsayanything!

  SirWil。IwereunworthyThenameofman,ifanapologySograciouscameoffprofitless,andfromAlady!Willyoutakeme,WidowGreen?

  W。Green。Hem![Curtsies。]

  True。[ToWILDRAKE。]MasterWildrakedressedtogotochurch!

  Shehasacknowledged,then,shelovesthee?——No?

  Givemethyhand,I\'llleadtheeuptoher。

  Wild。\'Sdeath!whatareyouabout?Youknowhernot。

  She\'llbrainthee!

  True。Fearnot:comealongwithme。

  FairMistressConstance!

  Con。Well,sir!

  Wild。[ToTRUEWORTH。]Mind!

  True。Don\'tfear。

  LoveyounotneighbourWildrake?

  Con。Love,sir?

  True。Yes,Youdo。

  Con。Helovesanother,sir,hedoes!

  Ihatehim。Wewerechildren,sir,togetherForfifteenyearsandmore;therenevercameThedaywedidnotquarrel,makeitup,Quarrelagain,andmakeitupagain:

  Wereneverneighboursmorelikeneighbours,sir。

  Sincehebecameaman,andIawoman,Itstillhasbeenthesame;norearedIeverTogiveafrowntoanyother,sir。

  Andnowtocomeandtellmehe\'sinlove,Andaskmetobebridemaidtohisbride!

  Howdursthedoit,sir!——Tofallinlove!

  Methinksatleasthemighthaveaskedmyleave,NorhadIwonderedhadheaskedmyself,sir!

  Wild。Thengivethyselftome!

  Con。How!what!

  Wild。Bemine,Thouarttheonlymaidthyneighbourloves。

  Con。Artserious,neighbourWildrake?

  Wild。InthechurchI\'llanswerthee,ifthouwilttakeme;thoughIneitherdress,norwalk,nordance,norknow\"TheWidowJones\"fromanItalian,French,OrGermanair。

  Con。Nomoreofthat。——Myhand。

  Wild。Givestitasfreeasthoudidstyesterday?

  Con。[Affectingtostrikehim。]Nay!

  Wild。Iwillthankit,giveithowthouwilt。

  W。Green。Atriplewedding!MaytheWidowGreenObtainbriefhearinge\'ershequitsthescene,TheLove—ChasetoyourkindnesstocommendInfavourofanold,nowabsent,friend!

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