Lit. Then you should have come unaccompanied by tho wolf-I care not to avow it-I am madly in love. Rur. My goodness! [Crosses, L. Lit. Servilely-despicably-meanly-infatuated-willing-anxious to exchange degrading worship for contempt, to return blind grovelling adoration for indifference! Rur. The dear impetuous boy. Lit. Look around you, and judge if I have cause for misery. [Goes up and seats himself, R. Rur. Misery-cause-let me see! [Puts on his spectacles, looks round, sees Roebuck and Miss Rocket.] Oh! oh! oh! there it is-well-poor Littleton! perhaps I can do something here! it may not be hopeless. [Tom comes down, L. Tom. 'Tis my opinion there's honest nature in that girl, and wholesome feeling, too-I'll wait, and see if it be his lordship's Burgundy, or my reason, that's at work upon my heart-Minister! [Rural advances, R. Rur. Well, Tom. Tom. You noticed yon blithe lass, I'm thinking. Tom. Do't again—I'm not clear about it; but it's more than likely I'm in love. Rur. Bless me, how very remarkable ! Tom. I have hesitated, minister, because I thought Lit. tleton did seem that way inclined. Rur. Thank heaven, I can answer no to that!-no, Tom, he is in love, but 'tis there. [Points to Miss Rocket. Tom. Ar't sure? Rur. He owned it to me. Tom. 'Tis loike him-to drag a poor, trusting, loving girl from comfort here to share his discontent. [Goes up, L. Rur. I'm determined-yes, that will do the bequest left me by the father of these boys, 1 have never thought of till this moment-'tis not a fortune, but with my vicarage-enough-enough-Littleton shall have her-I-I will provide for all-they shall come to me, and my happiness will be too much-more than I deserve; then Tom will relent, I know his good heart, and I shall be blessed in their union once again!-how shall I begin ?— Thinks apart. Enter the GROOM OF THE CHAMBERS, L., with shawls. Serv. The carriage waits, my lady. Lady P. I had almost forgotten the opera. Lord P. [Advancing c.] Mr. Coke, a seat in our box is at your service. [Tom crosses to Lady P. and shawls her, then crosses back to Lady Alice. Tom. Oh, too happy, [To Lady Alice, does your la dyship accompany us? Lady A. I don't mind, though I have a box of my own on the pit tier-Russell, have they sent my Brougham? Serv. Not yet, my lady. Lady A. Then, I'll follow you, for I hate three in a chariot. Lady P. Charles, dear, do take Bichon to his valet. I think he's sleepy. Lord P. Colonel, shall we stroll down to the house? Rock. Your lordship's pardon-I've an appointment at my club-the Oriental. Lady A. Here, one of you men, run and see if my carriage is come. [To Littleton.] You'll do, and ask my footman if the lorgnette is in the pocket. There, do go, run. [Exit Littleton Coke, L.] Colonel, [Taking Rocket's arm, suppose you propose me at the Oriental? Rock. Would you not prefer being a member of the Jockey Club? Lady A. No; I could amuse myself with your old drolls, but nothing appears to me so slow as your soi-disant fast man. Come, do propose me. Rock. You would kill us all off with laughing in a week. Rock. No, no. [Exeunt talking, L. Lady Pompion and Tom go out, L., Kate, following Roebuck, with dog shawled up, is going, R. Roe. [Dropping the dog.] Miss Rocket, one word. Kate. Don't detain me!-[Aside.] I must let him know how valuable his time is, or he will let me go.-[Aloud.] Let me say farewell, my father leaves town to-morrow. Roe. To-morrow!-then there is no time for delicacy. Kate. Not a mom—that is, I mean, let me go-how I tremble Roe. Lean on me! Kate. Thank you. I am so faint- Rur. [Aside-coming down, R. How ve y extraordina ry-here's more love. It appears to me that the young people in this house don't do anything else. Roe. [While Miss Rocket hides her face in her hands.] Kate-dear Kate-need words pass between us, doesn't this speak for itself? Your father's tyranny will defeat itself, and excuse this precipitation of an avowal, Kate. My father's tyranny!-you mean that of the severe and haughty earl. Koe. No, dearest, fear nothing from him-I am his son, "is true, and, as such, will yield him the obedience I ought. But 'tis to my children, not to my father, that I am answerable for the choice of my heart -I claim, therefore, my freedom and your hand-assure me that I have won it. Kate. Spare me a reply-but, my father Roe. On what pretext can he withhold his consent? Roe. Ha! I see-my father has already spoken to the colonel-that accounts for his sudden departure. Kate. I fear so-but don't mind papa, he's nobody— Roe. How are not his orders peremptory? Kate. Yes-so is his obedience-he's a dear, noisy old man-the worst-tempered, best-hearted creature in the world; he's fond of reviewing, so I let him burn his der, and then I march him home again-ha! ha! Roe. I took him for a tyrant. pow Kate. He why he has the heart of a woman-when my mother died, before I was two years old, I've heard that he would watch me like a nurse-f -fearing to touch me, but envying the Ayeh to whom I was confided. Roe. But you had some female relatives? Kate. Not one-nor did I feel their absence. I felt myself, as our mess-room used to toast me, "the fair colonel." Oh, Charles, you will love him so-could you have seen him as I have, under the scorching sun of India, pacing along the ranks, trying to inspect the men with a regulation frown, and swearing down their honest murmurs of" bless his old wig and spurs," 'till, suffocated with their benedictions, with tears in his eyes, he'd cryGet out of the sun, you mutinous rascals! 66 Dismiss! I'll flog every man of you-march-God bless you, boys." Oh, I could have cried with pride. Roe. And when you leave this, where do you go? Kate. To our villa at Closeborough. Roe. The very seat which I was to represent; the elec tion, or rather the nomination, occurs to-morrow. Kate. Another obstacle-my father's politics Roe. I am a martyr to them-I abdicate the honour in favour of Littleton Coke-but have you no excuse by which your departure might be retarded? Kate. I-yes-my father's gout has prevented him lately from accompanying me in my daily ride; he has consented to allow me a groom of my own; I have not yet selected a Roe. A groom? A moment-ha! will you take one of my recommendation? one in whose confidence you may rely as in my own. Kate. What do you mean? Roe. Rely on me-I mean all for the best. Roe. My angel! Enter COLONEL ROCKET, L. [Kisses her. Rock. Hollo, there-Kate-recover arms—the devil! Rock. You-you-you-here's mutiny! and you, sir, how dare you, against general orders? [Crosses to c. Roe. Hush! my father!-should he overhear. Rock. Don't think your Norman blood will Kate. Roe. Hush! I entreat-the Earl. } Together. We shall be ruined. Rock. [Still enraged, but under his breath.] What do I care whether he hears or not-I hope he will-you pair of disaffected mutineers. [Gradually breaking out.] Don't imagine I want to steal a recruit from your family into mine-because I'd see it Kate. My dear father! he's only in the next room. Rock. [Under his breath.] Very well, then-don't Earl me-who's the Earl ?—you?—harkye, sir, [Kate throws her arms round his neck,] you may have come over after the battle of Hastings-though I can't say I see much glory in arriving when the fight's done-but I can count scars for every branch in your genealogical tree-so look ye, if you think there's any ambuscade here to catch your lordship, fall back-your retreat is still open; but if you try a surprise on my baggage here, damme, look out for a warm reception. [Kate stops his mouth with a kiss. Rur. Don't be alarmed, Colonel, I heard it all. Roe. [Aside.] Ruin-ruin-nothing can prevent this simple old fellow from committing our secret with my fa ther. Rock. You have brought on a twinge of the gout, you have, you graceless baggage-then what do you careyou'd run off with the first fellow whose grandfather came over after the battle of Hastings, and leave your infirm old father with nothing to swear at but his crutch. If I had a family poodle to leave my money to, damme I'd cut you off with a rupee-give me a kiss-I would, you—oh! -don't laugh at my sufferings-oh! [Exeunt, assisted by Miss Rocket, L. Roe. My dear old friend, one word.-[Aside.-Brings Rural forward,] what shall I say?-You never thought I was making love to that lady? Rur. It did strike me-but if not, what were you making? Roe. Why, can't you guess ? Rur. No! making love is very unlike anything else I know of. Roe. You are right—I was-but-but-not on my own account. Rur. Oh! Roe. I pressed the suit for-for a friend-in fact, for Coke. Rur. For Littleton ? Rock. [Without, L.] Don't tell me— Kate. [Without, L.] No-but Roe. You must be aware that I am destined by my father for Lady Alice-and-of course-I-I am devoted to her. Rur. And Littleton was jealous of you! generous young man how he will repent when he is aware of |