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it was her doing； not mine。
Enter MARLOW。
MARLOW。 So I have been finely used here among you。
Rendered contemptible； driven into ill manners； despised； insulted；
laughed at。
TONY。 Here's another。 We shall have old Bedlam broke loose
presently。
MISS NEVILLE。 And there； sir； is the gentleman to whom we all
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owe every obligation。
MARLOW。 What can I say to him； a mere boy； an idiot； whose
ignorance and age are a protection？
HASTINGS。 A poor contemptible booby； that would but disgrace
correction。
MISS NEVILLE。 Yet with cunning and malice enough to make
himself merry with all our embarrassments。
HASTINGS。 An insensible cub。
MARLOW。 Replete with tricks and mischief。
TONY。 Baw！ damme； but I'll fight you both； one after the other
with baskets。
MARLOW。 As for him； he's below resentment。 But your conduct；
Mr。 Hastings； requires an explanation。 You knew of my mistakes； yet
would not undeceive me。
HASTINGS。 Tortured as I am with my own disappointments； is this
a time for explanations？ It is not friendly； Mr。 Marlow。
MARLOW。 But； sir
MISS NEVILLE。 Mr。 Marlow； we never kept on your mistake till it
was too late to undeceive you。
Enter Servant。
SERVANT。 My mistress desires you'll get ready immediately；
madam。 The horses are putting to。 Your hat and things are in the next
room。 We are to go thirty miles before morning。 ＇Exit Servant。＇
MISS NEVILLE。 Well； well： I'll come presently。
MARLOW。 （To HASTINGS。） Was it well done； sir； to assist in
rendering me ridiculous？ To hang me out for the scorn of all my
acquaintance？ Depend upon it； sir； I shall expect an explanation。
HASTINGS。 Was it well done； sir； if you're upon that subject； to
deliver what I entrusted to yourself； to the care of another sir？
MISS NEVILLE。 Mr。 Hastings！ Mr。 Marlow！ Why will you
increase my distress by this groundless dispute？ I implore； I entreat you…
…
Enter Servant。
SERVANT。 Your cloak； madam。 My mistress is impatient。 ＇Exit
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Servant。＇
MISS NEVILLE。 I come。 Pray be pacified。 If I leave you thus； I
shall die with apprehension。
Enter Servant。
SERVANT。 Your fan； muff； and gloves； madam。 The horses are
waiting。
MISS NEVILLE。 O； Mr。 Marlow！ if you knew what a scene of
constraint and ill…nature lies before me； I'm sure it would convert your
resentment into pity。
MARLOW。 I'm so distracted with a variety of passions； that I don't
know what I do。 Forgive me； madam。 George； forgive me。 You know
my hasty temper； and should not exasperate it。
HASTINGS。 The torture of my situation is my only excuse。
MISS NEVILLE。 Well； my dear Hastings； if you have that esteem
for me that I think； that I am sure you have； your constancy for three years
will but increase the happiness of our future connexion。 If
MRS。 HARDCASTLE。 （Within。） Miss Neville。 Constance； why
Constance； I say。
MISS NEVILLE。 I'm coming。 Well； constancy； remember；
constancy is the word。 ＇Exit。＇
HASTINGS。 My heart！ how can I support this？ To be so near
happiness； and such happiness！
MARLOW。 （To Tony。） You see now； young gentleman； the effects
of your folly。 What might be amusement to you； is here disappointment；
and even distress。
TONY。 （From a reverie。） Ecod； I have hit it。 It's here。 Your
hands。 Yours and yours； my poor Sulky！My boots there； ho！Meet me
two hours hence at the bottom of the garden； and if you don't find Tony
Lumpkin a more good…natured fellow than you thought for； I'll give you
leave to take my best horse； and Bet Bouncer into the bargain。 Come
along。 My boots； ho！ ＇Exeunt。＇
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ACT THE FIFTH。
（SCENE continued。）
Enter HASTINGS and Servant。
HASTINGS。 You saw the old lady and Miss Neville drive off； you
say？
SERVANT。 Yes； your honour。 They went off in a post…coach； and
the young 'squire went on horseback。 They're thirty miles off by this
time。
HASTINGS。 Then all my hopes are over。
SERVANT。 Yes； sir。 Old Sir Charles has arrived。 He and the old
gentleman of the house have been laughing at Mr。 Marlow's mistake this
half hour。 They are coming this way。
HASTINGS。 Then I must not be seen。 So now to my fruitless
appointment at the bottom of the garden。 This is about the time。 ＇Exit。＇
Enter SIR CHARLES and HARDCASTLE。
HARDCASTLE。 Ha！ ha！ ha！ The peremptory tone in which he
sent forth his sublime commands！
SIR CHARLES。 And the reserve with which I suppose he treated all
your advances。
HARDCASTLE。 And yet he might have seen something in me
above a common innkeeper； too。
SIR CHARLES。 Yes； Dick； but be mistook you for an uncommon
innkeeper； ha！ ha！ ha！
HARDCASTLE。 Well； I'm in too good spirits to think of anything
but joy。 Yes； my dear friend； this union of our families will make our
personal friendships hereditary； and though my daughter's fortune is but
small
SIR CHARLES。 Why； Dick； will you talk of fortune to ME？ My
son is possessed of more than a competence already； and can want nothing
but a good and virtuous girl to share his happiness and increase it。 If they
like each other； as you say they do
HARDCASTLE。 IF； man！ I tell you they DO like each other。 My
daughter as good as told me so。
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