She Stoops to Conquer

by coming down, and I’ll tomorrow please myself by returning. Taking out his tablets, and perusing. Miss Hardcastle Perhaps the other gentleman called, sir? Marlow I tell you, no. Miss Hardcastle I should be glad to know, sir. We have such a parcel of servants! Marlow No, no, I tell you. Looks full in her face. Yes, child, I think I did call. I wanted⁠—I wanted⁠—I vow, child, you are vastly handsome. Miss Hardcastle Oh, la, sir, you’ll make one ashamed. Marlow Never saw a more sprightly, malicious eye. Yes, yes, my dear, I did call. Have you got any of your⁠—a⁠—what d’ ye call it in the house? Miss Hardcastle No, sir, we have been out of that these ten days. Marlow One may call in this house, I find, to very little purpose. Suppose I should call for a taste, just by way of a trial, of the nectar of your lips; perhaps I might be disappointed in that too. Miss Hardcastle Nectar! nectar! That’s a liquor there’s no call for in these parts. French, I suppose. We sell no French wines here, sir. Marlow Of true English growth, I assure you. Miss Hardcastle Then it’s odd I should not know it. We brew all sorts of wines in this house, and I have lived here these eighteen years. Marlow Eighteen years! Why, one would think, child, you kept the bar before you were born. How old are you? Miss Hardcastle O! sir, I must not tell my age. They say women and music should never be dated. Marlow To guess at this distance, you can’t be much above forty. Approaching. Yet, nearer, I don’t think so much. Approaching. By coming close to some women, they look younger still; but when we come very close indeed⁠—Attempting to kiss her. Miss Hardcastle Pray, sir, keep your distance. One would think you wanted to know one’s age, as they do horses, by mark of mouth. Marlow I protest, child, you use me extremely ill. If you keep me at this distance, how is it possible you and I can ever be acquainted? Miss Hardcastle And who wants to be acquainted with you? I want no such acquaintance, not I. I’m sure you did not treat Miss Hardcastle, that was here awhile ago, in this obstropolous manner. I’ll warrant me, before her you looked dashed, and kept bowing to the ground, and talked, for all the world, as if you was before a justice of peace. Marlow Aside. Egad, she has hit it, sure enough! To her. In awe of her, child? Ha! ha! ha! A mere awkward, squinting thing! No, no. I find you don’t know me. I laughed and rallied her a little; but I was unwilling to be too severe. No, I could not be too severe, curse me! Miss Hardcastle Oh, then, sir, you are a favourite, I find, among the ladies? Marlow Yes, my dear, a great favourite. And yet hang me, I don’t see what they find in me to follow. At the Ladies’ Club in town I’m called their agreeable Rattle. Rattle, child, is not my real name, but one I’m known by. My name is Solomons; Mr. Solomons, my dear, at your service. Offering to salute her. Miss Hardcastle Hold, sir; you are introducing me to your club, not to yourself. And you’re so great a favourite there, you say? Marlow Yes, my dear. There’s Mrs. Mantrap, Lady Betty Blackleg, the Countess of Sligo, Mrs. Langhorns, old Miss Biddy Buckskin, and your humble servant, keep up the spirit of the place. Miss Hardcastle Then it’s a very merry place, I suppose? Marlow Yes, as merry as cards, supper, wine, and old women can make us. Miss Hardcastle And their agreeable Rattle, ha! ha! ha! Marlow Aside. Egad! I don’t quite like this chit. She looks knowing, methinks.⁠—You laugh, child? Miss Hardcastle I can’t but laugh, to think what time they all have for minding their work or their family. Marlow Aside. All’s well; she don’t laugh at me. To her. Do you ever work, child? Miss Hardcastle Ay, sure. There’s not a screen or quilt in the whole house but what can bear witness to that. Marlow Odso! then you must show me your embroidery. I embroider and draw patterns myself a little. If you want a judge of your work, you must apply to me. Seizing her hand. Enter Hardcastle, who stands in surprise. Miss Hardcastle Ay, but the colours do not look well by candlelight. You shall see all in the morning. Struggling. Marlow And why not now, my angel? Such beauty fires beyond the power of resistance. Pshaw! the father here! My old luck; I never nicked seven that I did not throw ames ace three times following. Exit Marlow. Hardcastle So, madam. So, I find this is your modest lover. This is your humble admirer, that kept his eyes fixed on the ground, and only adored at humble distance. Kate, Kate, art thou not ashamed to deceive your father so? Miss Hardcastle Never trust me, dear papa, but he’s still the modest man I first took him for; you’ll be convinced of it as well as I. Hardcastle By the hand of my body, I believe his impudence is infectious! Didn’t I see him seize your hand? Didn’t I see him haul you about like a milkmaid? And now you talk of his respect and his modesty, forsooth! Miss Hardcastle But if I shortly convince you of his modesty, that he has only the faults that will pass off with time, and the virtues that will improve with age, I hope you’ll forgive him. Hardcastle The girl would actually make one run mad! I tell you, I’ll not be convinced. I am convinced. He has scarce been three hours in the house, and he has already encroached on all my prerogatives. You may like his impudence, and call it modesty; but my son-in-law, madam, must have very different qualifications. Miss Hardcastle Sir, I ask but this night to convince you. Hardcastle You shall not have half the time, for I have thoughts of