she stoops to conquer-第7部分

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MISS　HARDCASTLE。　　You　taught　me　to　expect　something　extraordinary；　and　I　find　the　original　exceeds　the　description。

HARDCASTLE。　　I　was　never　so　surprised　in　my　life！　　He　has　quite　confounded　all　my　faculties！

MISS　HARDCASTLE。　　I　never　saw　anything　like　it：　and　a　man　of　the　world　too！

HARDCASTLE。　　Ay；　he　learned　it　all　abroadwhat　a　fool　was　I；　to　think　a　young　man　could　learn　modesty　by　travelling。　　He　might　as　soon　learn　wit　at　a　masquerade。

MISS　HARDCASTLE。　　It　seems　all　natural　to　him。

HARDCASTLE。　　A　good　deal　assisted　by　bad　company　and　a　French　dancing…master。

MISS　HARDCASTLE。　　Sure　you　mistake；　papa！　　A　French　dancing…master　could　never　have　taught　him　that　timid　lookthat　awkward　addressthat　bashful　manner

HARDCASTLE。　　Whose　look？　　whose　manner；　child？

MISS　HARDCASTLE。　　Mr。　Marlow's：　his　mauvaise　honte；　his　timidity；　struck　me　at　the　first　sight。

HARDCASTLE。　　Then　your　first　sight　deceived　you；　for　I　think　him　one　of　the　most　brazen　first　sights　that　ever　astonished　my　senses。

MISS　HARDCASTLE。　　Sure；　sir；　you　rally！　　I　never　saw　any　one　so　modest。

HARDCASTLE。　　And　can　you　be　serious？　　I　never　saw　such　a　bouncing；　swaggering　puppy　since　I　was　born。　　Bully　Dawson　was　but　a　fool　to　him。

MISS　HARDCASTLE。　　Surprising！　　He　met　me　with　a　respectful　bow；　a　stammering　voice；　and　a　look　fixed　on　the　ground。

HARDCASTLE。　　He　met　me　with　a　loud　voice；　a　lordly　air；　and　a　familiarity　that　made　my　blood　freeze　again。

MISS　HARDCASTLE。　　He　treated　me　with　diffidence　and　respect；　censured　the　manners　of　the　age；　admired　the　prudence　of　girls　that　never　laughed；　tired　me　with　apologies　for　being　tiresome；　then　left　the　room　with　a　bow；　and　〃Madam；　I　would　not　for　the　world　detain　you。〃

HARDCASTLE。　　He　spoke　to　me　as　if　he　knew　me　all　his　life　before；　asked　twenty　questions；　and　never　waited　for　an　answer；　interrupted　my　best　remarks　with　some　silly　pun；　and　when　I　was　in　my　best　story　of　the　Duke　of　Marlborough　and　Prince　Eugene；　he　asked　if　I　had　not　a　good　hand　at　making　punch。　　Yes；　Kate；　he　asked　your　father　if　he　was　a　maker　of　punch！

MISS　HARDCASTLE。　　One　of　us　must　certainly　be　mistaken。

HARDCASTLE。　　If　he　be　what　he　has　shown　himself；　I'm　determined　he　shall　never　have　my　consent。

MISS　HARDCASTLE。　　And　if　he　be　the　sullen　thing　I　take　him；　he　shall　never　have　mine。

HARDCASTLE。　　In　one　thing　then　we　are　agreedto　reject　him。

MISS　HARDCASTLE。　　Yes：　but　upon　conditions。　　For　if　you　should　find　him　less　impudent；　and　I　more　presumingif　you　find　him　more　respectful；　and　I　more　importunateI　don't　knowthe　fellow　is　well　enough　for　a　manCertainly；　we　don't　meet　many　such　at　a　horse…race　in　the　country。

HARDCASTLE。　　If　we　should　find　him　soBut　that's　impossible。　　The　first　appearance　has　done　my　business。　　I'm　seldom　deceived　in　that。

MISS　HARDCASTLE。　　And　yet　there　may　be　many　good　qualities　under　that　first　appearance。

HARDCASTLE。　　Ay；　when　a　girl　finds　a　fellow's　outside　to　her　taste；　she　then　sets　about　guessing　the　rest　of　his　furniture。　　With　her；　a　smooth　face　stands　for　good　sense；　and　a　genteel　figure　for　every　virtue。

MISS　HARDCASTLE。　　I　hope；　sir；　a　conversation　begun　with　a　compliment　to　my　good　sense；　won't　end　with　a　sneer　at　my　understanding？

HARDCASTLE。　　Pardon　me；　Kate。　　But　if　young　Mr。　Brazen　can　find　the　art　of　reconciling　contradictions；　he　may　please　us　both；　perhaps。

MISS　HARDCASTLE。　　And　as　one　of　us　must　be　mistaken；　what　if　we　go　to　make　further　discoveries？

HARDCASTLE。　　Agreed。　　But　depend　on't　I'm　in　the　right。

MISS　HARDCASTLE。　　And　depend　on't　I'm　not　much　in　the　wrong。　　＇Exeunt。＇


Enter　Tony；　running　in　with　a　casket。


TONY。　　Ecod！　I　have　got　them。　　Here　they　are。　　My　cousin　Con's　necklaces；　bobs　and　all。　　My　mother　shan't　cheat　the　poor　souls　out　of　their　fortin　neither。　　O！　my　genus；　is　that　you？


Enter　HASTINGS。


HASTINGS。　　My　dear　friend；　how　have　you　managed　with　your　mother？　　I　hope　you　have　amused　her　with　pretending　love　for　your　cousin；　and　that　you　are　willing　to　be　reconciled　at　last？　　Our　horses　will　be　refreshed　in　a　short　time；　and　we　shall　soon　be　ready　to　set　off。

TONY。　　And　here's　something　to　bear　your　charges　by　the　way　（giving　the　casket）；　your　sweetheart's　jewels。　　Keep　them：　and　hang　those；　I　say；　that　would　rob　you　of　one　of　them。

HASTINGS。　　But　how　have　you　procured　them　from　your　mother？

TONY。　　Ask　me　no　questions；　and　I'll　tell　you　no　fibs。　　I　procured　them　by　the　rule　of　thumb。　　If　I　had　not　a　key　to　every　drawer　in　mother's　bureau；　how　could　I　go　to　the　alehouse　so　often　as　I　do？　　An　honest　man　may　rob　himself　of　his　own　at　any　time。

HASTINGS。　　Thousands　do　it　every　day。　　But　to　be　plain　with　you；　Miss　Neville　is　endeavouring　to　procure　them　from　her　aunt　this　very　instant。　　If　she　succeeds；　it　will　be　the　most　delicate　way　at　least　of　obtaining　them。

TONY。　　Well；　keep　them；　till　you　know　how　it　will　be。　　But　I　know　how　it　will　be　well　enough；　she'd　as　soon　part　with　the　only　sound　tooth　in　her　head。

HASTINGS。　　But　I　dread　the　effects　of　her　resentment；　when　she　finds　she　has　lost　them。

TONY。　　Never　you　mind　her　resentment；　leave　ME　to　manage　that。　　I　don't　value　her　resentment　the　bounce　of　a　cracker。　　Zounds！　here　they　are。　　Morrice！　Prance！　　＇Exit　HASTINGS。＇


Enter　MRS。　HARDCASTLE　and　MISS　NEVILLE。


MRS。　HARDCASTLE。　　Indeed；　Constance；　you　amaze　me。　　Such　a　girl　as　you　want　jewels！　　It　will　be　time　enough　for　jewels；　my　dear；　twenty　years　hence；　when　your　beauty　begins　to　want　repairs。

MISS　NEVILLE。　　But　what　will　repair　beauty　at　forty；　will　certainly　improve　it　at　twenty；　madam。

MRS。　HARDCASTLE。　　Yours；　my　dear；　can　admit　of　none。　　That　natural　blush　is　beyond　a　thousand　ornaments。　　Besides；　child；　jewels　are　quite　out　at　present。　　Don't　you　see　half　the　ladies　of　our　acquaintance；　my　Lady　Kill…daylight；　and　Mrs。　Crump；　and　the　rest　of　them；　carry　their　jewels　to　town；　and　bring　nothing　but　paste　and　marcasites　back。

MISS　NEVILLE。　　But　who　knows；　madam；　but　somebody　that　shall　be　nameless　would　like　me　best　with　all　my　little　finery　about　me？

MRS。　HARDCASTLE。　　Consult　your　glass；　my　dear；　and　then　see　if；　with　such　a　pair　of　eyes；　you　want　any　better　sparklers。　　What　do　you　think；　Tony；　my　dear？　does　your　cousin　Con。　want　any　jewels　in　your　eyes　to　set　off　her　beauty？

TONY。　　That's　as　thereafter　may　be。

MISS　NEVILLE。　　My　dear　aunt；　if　you　knew　how　it　would　oblige　me。

MRS。　HARDCASTLE。　　A　parcel　of　old…fashioned　rose　and　table…cut　things。　　They　would　make　you　look　like　the　court　of　King　Solomon　at　a　puppet…show。　　Besides；　I　believe；　I　can't　readily　come　at　them。　　They　may　be　missing；　for　aught　I　know　to　the　contrary。

TONY。　　（Apart　to　MRS。　HARDCASTLE。）　　Then　why　don't　you　tell　her　so　at　once；　as　she's　so　longing　for　them？　　Tell　her　they're　lost。　　It's　the　only　way　to　quiet　her。　　Say　they're　lost；　and　call　me　to　bear　witness。

MRS。　HARDCASTLE。　　（Apart　to　TONY。）　　You　know；　my　dear；　I'm　only　keeping　them　for　you。　　So　if　I　say　they're　gone；　you'll　bear　me　witness；　will　you？　　He！　he！　he！

TONY。　　Never　fear　me。　　Ecod！　I'll　say　I　saw　them　taken　out　with　my　own　eyes。

MISS　NEVILLE。　　I　desire　them　but　for　a　day；　madam。　　Just　to　be　permitted　to　show　them　as　relics；　and　then　they　may　be　locked　up　again。

MRS。　HARDCASTLE。　　To　be　plain　with　you；　my　dear　Constance；　if　I　could　find　them　you　should　have　them。　　They're　missing；　I　assure　you。　　Lost；　for　aught　I　know；　but　we　must　have　patience　wherever　they　are。

MISS　NEVILLE。　　I'll　not　believe　it！　this　is　but　a　shallow　pretence　to　deny　me。　　I　know　they　are　too　valuable　to　be　so　slightly　kept；　and　as　you　are　to　answer　for　the　loss

MRS。　HARDCASTLE。　　Don't　be　alarmed；　Constance。　　If　they　be　lost；　I　must　restore　an　equivalent。　　But　my　son　knows　they　are　missing；　and　not　to　be　found。

TONY。　　That　I　can　bear　witness　to。　　They　are　missing；　and　not　to　be　found；　I'll　take　my　oath　on't。

MRS。　HARDCASTLE。　　You　must　learn　resignation；　my　dear；　for　though　we　lose　our　fortune；　yet　we　should　not　lose　our　patience。　　See　me；　how　calm　I　am。

MISS　NEVILLE。　　Ay；　people　are　generally　calm　at　the　misfortunes　of　others。

MRS。　HARDCASTLE。　　Now　I　wonder　a　girl　of　your　good　sense　should　waste　a　thought　upon　such　trumpery。　　We　shall　soon　find　them；　and　in　the　mean　time　you　shall　make　use　of　my　garnets　till　your　jewels　be　found。

MISS　NEVILLE。　　I　detest　garnets。

MRS。　HARDCASTLE。　　The　most　becoming　things　in　the　world　to　set　off　a　clear　complexion。　　You　have　often　seen　how　well　they　look　upon　me。　　You　SHALL　have　them。　　＇Exit。＇

MISS　NEVILLE。　　I　dislike　them　of　all　things。　　You　shan't　stir。Was　ever　anything　so　provoking；　to　mislay　my　own　jewels；　and　force　me　to　wear　her　trumpery？

TONY。　　Don't　be　a　fool。　　If　she　gives　you　the　garnets；　take　what　you　can　get。　　The　jewels　are　your　own　already。　　I　have　stolen　them　out　of　her　bureau；　and　she　does　not　know　it。　　Fly　to　your　spark；　he'll　tell　you　more　of　the　matter。　　Leave　me　to　manage　her。

MISS　NEVILLE。　　My　dear　cousin！

TONY。　　Vanish。　　She's　here；　and　has　missed　them　already。　　＇Exit　MISS　NEVILLE。＇　Zounds！　how　she　fidgets　and　spits　about　like　a　Catherine　wheel。


Enter　MRS。　HARDCASTLE。


MRS。　HARDCASTLE。　　Confusion！　thieves！　robbers！　we　are　cheated；　plundered；　broke　open；　undone。

TONY。　　What's　the　matter；　what's　the　matter；　mamma？　　I　hope　nothing　has　happened　to　any　of　the　good　family！

MRS。　HARDCASTLE。　　We　are　robbed。　　My　bureau　has　been　broken　open；　the　jewels　taken　out；　and　I'm　undone。

TONY。　　Oh！　is　that　all？　　Ha！　ha！　ha！　　By　the　laws；　I　never　saw　it　acted　better　in　my　life。　　Ecod；　I　thought　you　was　ruined　in　earnest；　ha！　ha！　ha！

MRS。　HARDCASTLE。　　Why；　boy；　I　AM　ruined　in　earnest。　　My　bureau　has　been　broken　open；　and　all　taken　away。

TONY。　　Stick　to　that：　ha！　ha！　ha！　stick　to　that。　　I'll　bear　witness；　you　know；　call　me　to　bear　witness。

MRS。　HARDCASTLE。　　I　tell　you；　Tony；　by　all　that's　precious；　the　jewels　are　gone；　and　I　shall　be　ruined　for　ever。

TONY。　　Sure　I　know　they're　gone；　and　I'm　to　say　so。

MRS。　HARDCASTLE。　　My　dearest　Tony；　but　hear　me。　　They're　gone；　I　say。

TONY。　　By　the　laws；　mamma；　you　make　me　for　to　laugh；　ha！　ha！　　I　know　who　took　them　well　enough；　ha！　ha！　ha！

MRS。　HARDCASTLE。　　Was　there　ever　such　a　blockhead；　that　can