________________________________________________
_ ACT V - SCENE V
SCENE V. A Room in MARIA'S House.
[MARIA and OLD LOVEYET discovered sitting.]
LOVEYET.
It certainly is a mistake, madam;
I have sent nothing out of my house to-day.
MARIA.
He said it was from Mr. Loveyet, sir.
--I confess I could not conceive what
could induce you to send me a trunk of money.
LOVEYET.
Who brought it, madam?
MARIA.
A clownish kind of person, sir,--a countryman, I believe.
LOVEYET.
Ah, now I begin to suspect something.--What a sad rascal!
--want to cheat his father! But this lucky mistake will
spoil his project.
[Aside.]
MARIA.
You are striving to unravel the mystery, sir.
--I am afraid the man has made some serious mistake.
LOVEYET.
No matter,--it could not have come to a more suitable place; for, now it is here, it shall be yours, if you will consent to a proposal I have to make to you; for I have discovered it to be my property, after all.
MARIA.
If I can with propriety consent to anything you may propose, I will, sir;--but I hope you do not think either your or your son's money will tempt me.
LOVEYET.
No, madam,--that is to say, I dare say it will not tempt you to do anything that is wrong;--but money is a tempting thing too,--though not quite so tempting as Miss Maria.--Hem, hem.--There was a delicate compliment for her!
[Aside.]
MARIA.
Mercy on me! What can the ugly old mortal mean! It cannot be possible he would have the vanity to propose his odious self.
[Aside.]
LOVEYET.
You must know, madam, my son has lately arrived from the West-Indies--
MARIA.
Really?--You rejoice me, sir.--Happy, happy Harriet!
LOVEYET.
Not so happy as you imagine, madam; for she is not to have my son, I assure you; I intend a lady of greater beauty and merit for him, who is not very far from me now,--provided she and her father have no objection.--There I put it home to her
[Aside.].
Ugh, ugh.
MARIA.
I fear there is something in this rumour about Harriet.
[Aside.]
LOVEYET.
Come, shall it be so, eigh?--Well, silence gives consent.--I know you can't have any particular objection. I must have you for a--Ugh, ugh, uh.
MARIA.
I must humour this joke a little.
[Aside.]
--The honour you wish to confer on me, is so great, Mr. Loveyet, that I want words to express a suitable acknowledgment;--but what will the world say, when a gentleman of Mr. Loveyet's sedateness and experience stoops to a giddy girl like me?
LOVEYET.
By my body, she thinks I want to have her myself.--Why, what a lucky young dog I am! I wish old Trueman was here now;--'ods my heart, and my life, and my--ugh, ugh,--but I must talk the matter over coolly with her. Hem, hem.
[Aside.]
--Oh, you dear little charming, angelic creature;--I love you so much, I cou'd find in my heart to--'Zounds! I cou'd eat you up.--By my body, but you must give me a sweet kiss.
[Offers to kiss her.]
'Sblood! I can't bear it any longer.
[Snatches a kiss.]
--Ugh, ugh.
MARIA.
What a preposterous old dotard!
[Aside.]
--You will excuse me, Mr. Loveyet; I have company waiting for me.
LOVEYET.
By all means, my blossom;--it goes to my very heart to part with you, though;--but go to your company, my love, go, go.--I wou'dn't disoblige you, nor put the least thing in your way, for the seraglio--of the Grand Seignior. You may give up the trunk to my son now, if he calls for it, my love.
[Exit MARIA.]
Oh, what a dear creature! Such sweet lips,--such panting, precious, plump, little--oh, I cou'd jump out of my skin at the thoughts of it!--By my body, I must have her, and poor Charles may have Harriet, for all.--A fig for both the Constitutions now, I say; I wou'dn't give my dear little Maria for a score of them.
[Exit.] _
Read next: Act 5 - Scene 6
Read previous: Act 5 - Scene 4
Table of content of Politician Out-Witted
GO TO TOP OF SCREEN
Post your review
Your review will be placed after the table of content of this book
