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out his tablets； and perusing。＇
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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 wantedI wantedI vow； child； you are vastly
handsome。
MISS HARDCASTLE。 O 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 yourawhat 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
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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 obstropalous 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。 O！ 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
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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。）
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。＇
Enter HARDCASTLE； who stands in surprise。
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。
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