Single Life. Buckstone John Baldwin

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СКАЧАТЬ the state of his feelings.

      Boss. (L.) And whenever they meet, of course the lady looks for a declaration.

      Miss Sna. And of course he can’t find courage to utter a word.

      Boss. How distressing! I am passing your door, Miss Snare, will you take my arm?

      Miss Sna. You are very kind!

      Boss. (L.) Beautiful color this cloth, is it not? (Shewing the sleeve of his coat.)

      Miss Sna. Beautiful!

      Boss. And the pattern of my waistcoat.

      Miss Sna. Exquisite!

      Boss. May I ask you if you admire me collectively.

      Miss Sna. Oh, that I do, from the extreme point of your boot, to the loftiest summit of your hair.

      Boss. ’Pon my life she’s a desirable woman!

[They are going off L.; they meet MISS SKYLARK, who is re-entering.

      Miss Sky. Stop, stop; as I was going out at the door, who should I meet but Mr. Pinkey; on seeing me he stammered, blushed, and said that he was going to call on you, Miss Snare. I informed him that you were here, and now he is stumbling up stairs to speak to you. Come in, Mr. Pinkey, the lady that you wish to see is here.

MR. PETER PINKEY enters, F.E.L

      Miss Sna. Good morning, Mr. Pinkey.

      Pin. Good morning, ma’am.

      Miss Sna. You wish to see me?

      Pin. I have merely called to say that I have received your note, and I shall do myself the pleasure of taking tea with you to-morrow, at eight o’clock precisely.

      Miss Sky. Alone, with Miss Skylark.

      Pin. Oh, Lord, no; I hope not.

      Miss Sna. ’Tis a general invitation to all our friends. You will find a card at your house, Miss Skylark. Perhaps Mr. P. will escort you.

      Pin. I’ll do anything to make myself agreeable. I’ll call for you. Shall I? (To MISS SKYLARK.)

      Miss Sna. If you please.

      Pin. I will.

      Miss Sna. Do!

      Pin. I will!

      Miss Sna. (To BOSS.) We’ll leave them together; he may overcome his bashfulness when he gets used to being alone with his object. He is fond of her, no doubt – true love is never very loquacious.

      Boss. Can’t say, never having known the passion!

      Miss Sna. Ah, you will know it some day.

      Boss. What are the symptoms? Explain as we go along, that I may be aware of my malady when I am attacked. (Crosses to L.)

      Miss Sna. For me to attempt to explain, would be to confess that I have experienced the emotion myself.

      Boss. You have.

      Miss Sna. No!

      Boss. You Circe, you have.

      Miss Sna. No, I declare.

      Boss. Well then, you may —

      Miss Sna. If I am much in your society, there is no knowing what I may experience.

[Exeunt F.E.L.MISS SKYLARK seated, R., looking after them; sings

      “Is there a heart that never loved,

      Or felt soft woman’s sigh!”

      Pin. Beautiful!

      Miss Sky. Eh?

      Pin. Oh, nothing. Dear me, I am quite alone with her – I wish I could say something confounded clever. I’ll be hanged if I don’t try. Hem! (Quickly.) How are you to-day, miss?

      Miss Sky. (Imitating him.) Very well! how are you?

       Pin. Very well, all but a slight pain in my side.

      Miss Sky. Indeed!

      Pin. Yes. I’ll be hanged if I can say another word. What can I talk about? What do people talk about? I have worn out the weather, and she has no particular relations to ask about. There is her grandmother, to be sure – I see no harm in asking after her. One must say something, miss?

      Miss Sky. (R.) Yes.

      Pin. How’s your grandmother?

      Miss Sky. Very well indeed for her age!

      Pin. How old is she?

      Miss Sky. Seventy-two – I’ve told you so twenty times.

      Pin. Dear me, then I must have asked that question twenty times. Now what more can I say, I wonder? Is there anything in the room I can talk about? (Looks about.) Nice place this, isn’t it?

      Miss Sky. Very!

      Pin. So airy?

      Miss Sky. Very!

      Pin. I’ve soon finished that subject. I wish she’d say something – I can’t find conversation for one, much more two!

      Miss Sky. (Singing.) “Oh, bear me to some distant shore or solitary cell.”

      Pin. You are partial to singing, ar’n’t you?

      Miss Sky. Very. Do you sing?

      Pin. I never tried but once.

      Miss Sky. Indeed!

      Pin. It was at a party.

      Miss Sky. Indeed!

      Pin. Yes, I could hardly get through the first verse of my song. In fact, I didn’t get through it.

      Miss Sky. What prevented you?

      Pin. When I begun, everybody looked at me so hard, that I felt so confused that I jumped up, rushed out of the house, and ran all the way home. And – and when I looked in the glass there, I found I had come away with the footman’s laced hat on my head!

      Miss Sky. Singular!

      Pin. Yes. (Aside.) Well I think I have talked more to her this morning than ever I did before – I know I only want encouragement. Oh! when shall I be able to touch upon the tender topic – I never shall get heart to venture – it’s odd she never alludes to my letters. I suppose she receives them. I’ve written another to her, asking for the state of her feelings – I’ll be my own postman, then СКАЧАТЬ