she stoops to conquer- 第5部分

HARDCASTLE。　　Well；　sir；　I'm　resolved　at　least　to　attend　you。　　（Aside。）　　This　may　be　modem　modesty；　but　I　never　saw　anything　look　so　like　old…fashioned　impudence。　　＇Exeunt　MARLOW　and　HARDCASTLE。＇

HASTINGS。　　（Alone。）　　So　I　find　this　fellow's　civilities　begin　to　grow　troublesome。　　But　who　can　be　angry　at　those　assiduities　which　are　meant　to　please　him？　　Ha！　what　do　I　see？　　Miss　Neville；　by　all　that's　happy！


Enter　MISS　NEVILLE。


MISS　NEVILLE。　　My　dear　Hastings！　　To　what　unexpected　good　fortune；　to　what　accident；　am　I　to　ascribe　this　happy　meeting？

HASTINGS。　　Rather　let　me　ask　the　same　question；　as　I　could　never　have　hoped　to　meet　my　dearest　Constance　at　an　inn。

MISS　NEVILLE。　　An　inn！　sure　you　mistake：　my　aunt；　my　guardian；　lives　here。　　What　could　induce　you　to　think　this　house　an　inn？

HASTINGS。　　My　friend；　Mr。　Marlow；　with　whom　I　came　down；　and　I；　have　been　sent　here　as　to　an　inn；　I　assure　you。　　A　young　fellow；　whom　we　accidentally　met　at　a　house　hard　by；　directed　us　hither。

MISS　NEVILLE。　　Certainly　it　must　be　one　of　my　hopeful　cousin's　tricks；　of　whom　you　have　heard　me　talk　so　often；　ha！　ha！　ha！

HASTINGS。　　He　whom　your　aunt　intends　for　you？　he　of　whom　I　have　such　just　apprehensions？

MISS　NEVILLE。　　You　have　nothing　to　fear　from　him；　I　assure　you。　　You'd　adore　him；　if　you　knew　how　heartily　he　despises　me。　　My　aunt　knows　it　too；　and　has　undertaken　to　court　me　for　him；　and　actually　begins　to　think　she　has　made　a　conquest。

HASTINGS。　　Thou　dear　dissembler！　　You　must　know；　my　Constance；　I　have　just　seized　this　happy　opportunity　of　my　friend's　visit　here　to　get　admittance　into　the　family。　　The　horses　that　carried　us　down　are　now　fatigued　with　their　journey；　but　they'll　soon　be　refreshed；　and　then；　if　my　dearest　girl　will　trust　in　her　faithful　Hastings；　we　shall　soon　be　landed　in　France；　where　even　among　slaves　the　laws　of　marriage　are　respected。

MISS　NEVILLE。　　I　have　often　told　you；　that　though　ready　to　obey　you；　I　yet　should　leave　my　little　fortune　behind　with　reluctance。　　The　greatest　part　of　it　was　left　me　by　my　uncle；　the　India　director；　and　chiefly　consists　in　jewels。　　I　have　been　for　some　time　persuading　my　aunt　to　let　me　wear　them。　　I　fancy　I'm　very　near　succeeding。　　The　instant　they　are　put　into　my　possession；　you　shall　find　me　ready　to　make　them　and　myself　yours。

HASTINGS。　　Perish　the　baubles！　　Your　person　is　all　I　desire。　　In　the　mean　time；　my　friend　Marlow　must　not　be　let　into　his　mistake。　　I　know　the　strange　reserve　of　his　temper　is　such；　that　if　abruptly　informed　of　it；　he　would　instantly　quit　the　house　before　our　plan　was　ripe　for　execution。

MISS　NEVILLE。　　But　how　shall　we　keep　him　in　the　deception？　　Miss　Hardcastle　is　just　returned　from　walking；　what　if　we　still　continue　to　deceive　him？This；　this　way＇They　confer。＇


Enter　MARLOW。


MARLOW。　　The　assiduities　of　these　good　people　teaze　me　beyond　bearing。　　My　host　seems　to　think　it　ill　manners　to　leave　me　alone；　and　so　he　claps　not　only　himself；　but　his　old…fashioned　wife；　on　my　back。　　They　talk　of　coming　to　sup　with　us　too；　and　then；　I　suppose；　we　are　to　run　the　gantlet　through　all　the　rest　of　the　family。What　have　we　got　here？

HASTINGS。　　My　dear　Charles！　　Let　me　congratulate　you！The　most　fortunate　accident！Who　do　you　think　is　just　alighted？

MARLOW。　　Cannot　guess。

HASTINGS。　　Our　mistresses；　boy；　Miss　Hardcastle　and　Miss　Neville。　　Give　me　leave　to　introduce　Miss　Constance　Neville　to　your　acquaintance。　　Happening　to　dine　in　the　neighbourhood；　they　called　on　their　return　to　take　fresh　horses　here。　　Miss　Hardcastle　has　just　stept　into　the　next　room；　and　will　be　back　in　an　instant。　　Wasn't　it　lucky？　　eh！

MARLOW。　　（Aside。）　　I　have　been　mortified　enough　of　all　conscience；　and　here　comes　something　to　complete　my　embarrassment。

HASTINGS。　　Well；　but　wasn't　it　the　most　fortunate　thing　in　the　world？

MARLOW。　　Oh！　yes。　　Very　fortunatea　most　joyful　encounterBut　our　dresses；　George；　you　know　are　in　disorderWhat　if　we　should　postpone　the　happiness　till　to…morrow？To…morrow　at　her　own　houseIt　will　be　every　bit　as　convenientand　rather　more　respectfulTo…morrow　let　it　be。　　＇Offering　to　go。＇

MISS　NEVILLE。　　By　no　means；　sir。　　Your　ceremony　will　displease　her。　　The　disorder　of　your　dress　will　show　the　ardour　of　your　impatience。　　Besides；　she　knows　you　are　in　the　house；　and　will　permit　you　to　see　her。

MARLOW。　　O！　the　devil！　how　shall　I　support　it？　　Hem！　hem！　　Hastings；　you　must　not　go。　　You　are　to　assist　me；　you　know。　　I　shall　be　confoundedly　ridiculous。　　Yet；　hang　it！　　I'll　take　courage。　　Hem！

HASTINGS。　　Pshaw；　man！　it's　but　the　first　plunge；　and　all's　over。　　She's　but　a　woman；　you　know。

MARLOW。　　And；　of　all　women；　she　that　I　dread　most　to　encounter。


Enter　MISS　HARDCASTLE；　as　returned　from　walking；　a　bonnet；　etc。


HASTINGS。　　（Introducing　them。）　　Miss　Hardcastle；　Mr。　Marlow。　　I'm　proud　of　bringing　two　persons　of　such　merit　together；　that　only　want　to　know；　to　esteem　each　other。

MISS　HARDCASTLE。　　（Aside。）　　Now　for　meeting　my　modest　gentleman　with　a　demure　face；　and　quite　in　his　own　manner。　　（After　a　pause；　in　which　he　appears　very　uneasy　and　disconcerted。）　　I'm　glad　of　your　safe　arrival；　sir。　　I'm　told　you　had　some　accidents　by　the　way。

MARLOW。　　Only　a　few；　madam。　　Yes；　we　had　some。　　Yes；　madam；　a　good　many　accidents；　but　should　be　sorrymadamor　rather　glad　of　any　accidentsthat　are　so　agreeably　concluded。　　Hem！

HASTINGS。　　（To　him。）　　You　never　spoke　better　in　your　whole　life。　　Keep　it　up；　and　I'll　insure　you　the　victory。

MISS　HARDCASTLE。　　I'm　afraid　you　flatter；　sir。　　You　that　have　seen　so　much　of　the　finest　company；　can　find　little　entertainment　in　an　obscure　corner　of　the　country。

MARLOW。　　（Gathering　courage。）　　I　have　lived；　indeed；　in　the　world；　madam；　but　I　have　kept　very　little　company。　　I　have　been　but　an　observer　upon　life；　madam；　while　others　were　enjoying　it。

MISS　NEVILLE。　　But　that；　I　am　told；　is　the　way　to　enjoy　it　at　last。

HASTINGS。　　（To　him。）　　Cicero　never　spoke　better。　　Once　more；　and　you　are　confirmed　in　assurance　for　ever。

MARLOW。　　（To　him。）　　Hem！　　Stand　by　me；　then；　and　when　I'm　down；　throw　in　a　word　or　two；　to　set　me　up　again。

MISS　HARDCASTLE。　　An　observer；　like　you；　upon　life　were；　I　fear；　disagreeably　employed；　since　you　must　have　had　much　more　to　censure　than　to　approve。

MARLOW。　　Pardon　me；　madam。　　I　was　always　willing　to　be　amused。　　The　folly　of　most　people　is　rather　an　object　of　mirth　than　uneasiness。

HASTINGS。　　（To　him。）　　Bravo；　bravo。　　Never　spoke　so　well　in　your　whole　life。　　Well；　Miss　Hardcastle；　I　see　that　you　and　Mr。　Marlow　are　going　to　be　very　good　company。　　I　believe　our　being　here　will　but　embarrass　the　interview。

MARLOW。　　Not　in　the　least；　Mr。　Hastings。　　We　like　your　company　of　all　things。　　（To　him。）　　Zounds！　　George；　sure　you　won't　go？　how　can　you　leave　us？

HASTINGS。　　Our　presence　will　but　spoil　conversation；　so　we'll　retire　to　the　next　room。　　（To　him。）　　You　don't　consider；　man；　that　we　are　to　manage　a　little　tete…a…tete　of　our　own。　　＇Exeunt。＇

MISS　HARDCASTLE。　　（after　a　pause）。　　But　you　have　not　been　wholly　an　observer；　I　presume；　sir：　the　ladies；　I　should　hope；　have　employed　some　part　of　your　addresses。

MARLOW。　　（Relapsing　into　timidity。）　　Pardon　me；　madam；　IIIas　yet　have　studiedonlytodeserve　them。

MISS　HARDCASTLE。　　And　that；　some　say；　is　the　very　worst　way　to　obtain　them。

MARLOW。　　Perhaps　so；　madam。　　But　I　love　to　converse　only　with　the　more　grave　and　sensible　part　of　the　sex。　　But　I'm　afraid　I　grow　tiresome。

MISS　HARDCASTLE。　　Not　at　all；　sir；　there　is　nothing　I　like　so　much　as　grave　conversation　myself；　I　could　hear　it　for　ever。　　Indeed；　I　have　often　been　surprised　how　a　man　of　sentiment　could　ever　admire　those　light　airy　pleasures；　where　nothing　reaches　the　heart。

MARLOW。　　It'sa　diseaseof　the　mind；　madam。　　In　the　variety　of　tastes　there　must　be　some　who；　wanting　a　relishforumaum。

MISS　HARDCASTLE。　　I　understand　you；　sir。　　There　must　be　some；　who；　wanting　a　relish　for　refined　pleasures；　pretend　to　despise　what　they　are　incapable　of　tasting。

MARLOW。　　My　meaning；　madam；　but　infinitely　better　expressed。　　And　I　can't　help　observinga

MISS　HARDCASTLE。　　（Aside。）　　Who　could　ever　suppose　this　fellow　impudent　upon　some　occasions？　　（To　him。）　　You　were　going　to　observe；　sir

MARLOW。　　I　was　observing；　madamI　protest；　madam；　I　forget　what　I　was　going　to　observe。

MISS　HARDCASTLE。　　（Aside。）　　I　vow　and　so　do　I。　　（To　him。）　　You　were　observing；　sir；　that　in　this　age　of　hypocrisysomething　about　hypocrisy；　sir。

MARLOW。　　Yes；　madam。　　In　this　age　of　hypocrisy　there　are　few　who　upon　strict　inquiry　do　notaaa

MISS　HARDCASTLE。　　I　understand　you　perfectly；　sir。

MARLOW。　　（Aside。）　　Egad！　and　that's　more　than　I　do　myself。

MISS　HARDCASTLE。　　You　mean　that　in　this　hypocritical　age　there　are　few　that　do　not　condemn　in　public　what　they　practise　in　private；　and　think　they　pay　every　debt　to　virtue　when　they　praise　it。

MARLOW。　　True；　madam；　those　who　have　most　virtue　in　their　mouths；　have　least　of　it　in　their　bosoms。　　But　I'm　sure　I　tire　you；　madam。

MISS　HARDCASTLE。　　Not　in　the　least；　sir；　there's　something　so　agreeable　and　spirited　in　your　manner；　such　life　and　forcepray；　sir；　go　on。

MARLOW。　　Yes；　madam。　　I　was　sayingthat　there　are　some　occasions；　when　a　total　want　of　courage；　madam；　destroys　all　theand　puts　usupon　aaa

MISS　HARDCASTLE。　　I　agree　with　you　entirely；　a　want　of　courage　upon　some　occasions　assumes　the　appearance　of　ignorance；　and　betrays　us　when　we　most　want　to　excel。　　I　beg　you'll　proceed。

MARLOW。　　Yes；　madam。　　Morally　speaking；　madamBut　I　see　Miss　Neville　expecting　us　in　the　next　room。　　I　would　not　intrude　for　the　world。

MISS　HARDCASTLE。　　I　protest；　sir；　I　never　was　more　agreeably　entertained　in　all　my　life。　　Pray　go　on。

MARLOW。　　Yes；　madam；　I　wasBut　she　beckons　us　to　join　her。　　Madam；　shall　I　do　myself　the　honour　to　attend　you？

MISS　HARDCASTLE。　　Well；　then；　I'll　follow。

MARLOW。　　（Aside。）　　This　pretty　smooth　dialogue　has　done　for　me。　　＇Exit。＇

MISS　HARDCASTLE。　　（Alone。）　　Ha！　ha！　ha！　　Was　there　ever　such　a　sober；　sentimental　interview？　　I'm　certain　he　scarce　looked　in　my　face　the　whole　time。　　Yet　the　fellow；　but　for　his　unaccountable　bashfulness；　is　pretty　well　too。　　He　has　good　sense；　but　then　so　buried　in　his　fe