Single Life. Buckstone John Baldwin
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Название: Single Life
Автор: Buckstone John Baldwin
Издательство: Public Domain
Жанр: Зарубежная классика
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Nig. Who could have thought it?
Dam. That designing woman, Miss Coy, was at the appointed place waiting for her victim sure enough. There was the chaise too; but what do you think? there was also the full-grown young man in earnest conversation with her. When we appeared, he tried to avoid us. We demanded who he was – she refused to explain. One word led to another – I told her all I had heard of her. She flew into a rage, showered her abuse upon me, whilst I dragged away my friend.
Nig. She’s at the door, chaise and all. What’s to be done?
Dam. She sha’n’t come in – let her knock. There is no doubt of the truth of the report. That young man is her son; and this infatuated old fellow was going to join his fate with such a character! Hav’n’t I saved you from perdition?
Nig. You have, indeed! My lot in life is clearly developed – I never am to be married. What am I to do with the cards?
Dam. Burn them.
Nig. What with the cake?
Dam. Eat it – we’ll all eat it.
Nig. So we will – so we will.
Dam. Sit down all of you, and be comfortable. (Hands the cake.) Take a bit, Miss Kitty – Pinkey, bless your bashfulness; ’tis your best friend – it will prevent you ever making a fool of yourself. Niggle, eat in peace and thankfulness; for I have once more saved you from the abyss of matrimony. (Loud knocking, without.) Ha! ha! you can’t come in. Go away, woman! go away! Finish the cake, and let the artful creature knock till she’s tired! Go away!
ACT II
SCENE I. —Interior of a neat cottage, door and window in flat; table on the R., a china flower-stand on it. MISS MARIA MACAW discovered, hemming a handkerchief; she takes a note from the table and reads.
Miss Mac. (Reading.) “Miss Snare will be happy to have the pleasure of Miss Macaw’s company to tea this evening; of course Miss Macaw’s niece is included in the invitation.” I am sure I have no inclination to go, but Jessy insists upon it, she is so anxious to make an acquaintance with any one, that I’m sure if the gardener were to ask her to dine with him, she would accept the invite. I hope there will no men there, the brutes. One of the chief things that has reconciled me to this country life, is the very few male creatures that I have met with here. Ah, if I had my will, the sex should be exterminated! Well, niece?
Miss Mea. Ah, my dear aunt, at your needle as usual. I have been gathering flowers in our little garden – there. (She places the bouquet in the flower-glass on the table.) Are they not beautiful? I love flowers – I have a passion for them.
Miss Mac. You should not use such ardent expressions. It is very unseemly in a young lady to talk of having a passion for anything, whether animate or inanimate. If you begin with flowers, you may end with the same enthusiasm in behalf of a human object; and if that object were to be a man, I should tremble for the result!
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