She Stoops to Conquer

that kept here are hanged, and the other three may not find us. Don’t be afraid. Is that a man that’s galloping behind us? No; it’s only a tree. Don’t be afraid. Mrs. Hardcastle The fright will certainly kill me. Tony Do you see anything like a black hat moving behind the thicket? Mrs. Hardcastle Oh, death! Tony No; it’s only a cow. Don’t be afraid, mamma; don’t be afraid. Mrs. Hardcastle As I’m alive, Tony, I see a man coming towards us. Ah! I’m sure on’t. If he perceives us, we are undone. Tony Aside. Father-in-law, by all that’s unlucky, come to take one of his night walks. To her. Ah, it’s a highwayman with pistols as long as my arm. A damned ill-looking fellow. Mrs. Hardcastle Good Heaven defend us! He approaches. Tony Do you hide yourself in that thicket, and leave me to manage him. If there be any danger, I’ll cough, and cry hem. When I cough, be sure to keep close. Mrs. Hardcastle hides behind a tree in the back scene. Enter Hardcastle. Hardcastle I’m mistaken, or I heard voices of people in want of help. Oh, Tony! is that you? I did not expect you so soon back. Are your mother and her charge in safety? Tony Very safe, sir, at my aunt Pedigree’s. Hem. Mrs. Hardcastle From behind. Ah, death! I find there’s danger. Hardcastle Forty miles in three hours; sure that’s too much, my youngster. Tony Stout horses and willing minds make short journeys, as they say. Hem. Mrs. Hardcastle From behind. Sure he’ll do the dear boy no harm. Hardcastle But I heard a voice here; I should be glad to know from whence it came. Tony It was I, sir, talking to myself, sir. I was saying that forty miles in four hours was very good going. Hem. As to be sure it was. Hem. I have got a sort of cold by being out in the air. We’ll go in, if you please. Hem. Hardcastle But if you talked to yourself you did not answer yourself. I’m certain I heard two voices, and am resolved Raising his voice. to find the other out. Mrs. Hardcastle From behind. Oh! he’s coming to find me out. Oh! Tony What need you go, sir, if I tell you? Hem. I’ll lay down my life for the truth⁠—hem⁠—I’ll tell you all, sir. Detaining him. Hardcastle I tell you I will not be detained. I insist on seeing. It’s in vain to expect I’ll believe you. Mrs. Hardcastle Running forward from behind. O lud! he’ll murder my poor boy, my darling! Here, good gentleman, whet your rage upon me. Take my money, my life, but spare that young gentleman; spare my child, if you have any mercy. Hardcastle My wife, as I’m a Christian! From whence can she come, or what does she mean? Mrs. Hardcastle Kneeling. Take compassion on us, good Mr. Highwayman. Take our money, our watches, all we have, but spare our lives. We will never bring you to justice; indeed we won’t, good Mr. Highwayman. Hardcastle I believe the woman’s out of her senses. What, Dorothy, don’t you know me? Mrs. Hardcastle Mr. Hardcastle, as I’m alive! My fears blinded me. But who, my dear, could have expected to meet you here, in this frightful place, so far from home? What has brought you to follow us? Hardcastle Sure, Dorothy, you have not lost your wits? So far from home, when you are within forty yards of your own door! To him. This is one of your old tricks, you graceless rogue, you! To her. Don’t you know the gate, and the mulberry tree; and don’t you remember the horsepond, my dear? Mrs. Hardcastle Yes, I shall remember the horsepond as long as I live; I have caught my death in it. To Tony. And it is to you, you graceless varlet, I owe all this? I’ll teach you to abuse your mother, I will. Tony Ecod, mother, all the parish says you have spoiled me, and so you may take the fruits on’t. Mrs. Hardcastle I’ll spoil you, I will. Follows him off the stage. Exit. Hardcastle There’s morality, however, in his reply. Exit. Enter Hastings and Miss Neville. Hastings My dear Constance, why will you deliberate thus? If we delay a moment, all is lost forever. Pluck up a little resolution, and we shall soon be out of the reach of her malignity. Miss Neville I find it impossible. My spirits are so sunk with the agitations I have suffered, that I am unable to face any new danger. Two or three years’ patience will at last crown us with happiness. Hastings Such a tedious delay is worse than inconstancy. Let us fly, my charmer. Let us date our happiness from this very moment. Perish fortune! Love and content will increase what we possess beyond a monarch’s revenue. Let me prevail! Miss Neville No, Mr. Hastings, no. Prudence once more comes to my relief, and I will obey its dictates. In the moment of passion fortune may be despised, but it ever produces a lasting repentance. I’m resolved to apply to Mr. Hardcastle’s compassion and justice for redress. Hastings But though he had the will, he has not the power to relieve you. Miss Neville But he has influence, and upon that I am resolved to rely. Hastings I have no hopes. But since you persist, I must reluctantly obey you. Exeunt.

Scene III The house.

	Enter Sir Charles and Miss Hardcastle.
Sir Charles	What a situation am I in! If what you say appears, I shall then find a guilty son. If what he says be true, I shall then lose one that, of all others, I most wished for a daughter.
Miss Hardcastle	I am proud of your approbation, and to show I merit it, if you place yourselves as I directed, you shall hear his explicit declaration. But he comes.
Sir Charles	I’ll to your father, and keep him to the appointment.
	Exit Sir Charles.
	Enter Marlow.
Marlow	Though prepared for