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Char. And won't accept of " I thank you," in return ? Stra. No.

Char. You really are cruel, sir, I must tell you. There are three of us ladies at the Castle, and we are all dying with curiosity to know who you are. [Exit Stranger, R.] The master is crabbed enongh, however. Let me try what I can make of the man. Pray, sir-[Francis crosses, R.]— The beginning promises little enough. Friend, why won't you look at me?

Fra. I like to look at green trees better than green eyes. Char. Green eyes, you monster! Who told you that my eyes were green? Let me tell you, there have been sonnets made on my eyes before now. Green eyes!

Fra. Glad to hear it.

Char. To the point, then, at once.

master?

Fra. A man.

What is your

Char. I surmised as much. But what's his name?

Fra. The same as his father's.

Char. Not unlikely; and his father was

Fra. Married

Char. To whom?

Fra. To a woman.

Char. [Enraged.] I'll tell you what; who your master is I see I shall not learn, and I don't care; but I knew what you are.

Fra. Well, what am I?

Char. A bear!

Exit at Gate.

Fra. Thank you! Now to see how habit and example corrupt one's manners. I am naturally the civilest spoken fellow in the world to the pretty prattling rogues; yet, following my master's humour, I've rudely driven this wench away. I must have a peep at her though.

[Looking towards the Park gate.

Enter STRANger, r.

Stra. Is that woman gone?

Fra. Yes.

Stra. Francis!

Fra. Sir.

Stra. We must be gone, too.

Fra. But whither?

Stra. I don't care.

Fra. I'll attend you.
Stra. To any place?
Fra. To death.

Stra. Heaven grant it-to me, at least! There is peace.

Fra. Peace is every where. Let the storm rage without, if the heart be but at rest. Yet I think we are very well where we are the situation is inviting; and nature lavish of her beauties, and of her bounties too.

Stra. But I am not a wild beast, to be stared at, and sent for as a show. Is it fit I should be ?

Fra. Another of your interpretations! That a man, the life of whose only son you have saved, should invite you to his house, seems to me not very unnatural.

Stra. I will not be invited to any house.

Fra. For once, methinks, you might submit. You'll not be asked a second time.

[Hulf aside. Stra. Proud wretches! They believe the most essential service is requited, if one may but have the honour of sitting at their table. Let us begone. [Crosses, L.

Fra. Yet hold, sir! This hustle will soon be over. Used to the town, the Count and his party will soon be tired of simple nature, and you will again be freed from observation.

Stra. Not from your's.

Fra. This is too much. Do I deserve your doubts?
Stra. Am I in the wrong?

Fra. You are, indeed!

Stra. Francis, my servaut, you are my only friend.
Fra. That title makes amends for all.

Stra. But, look! look, Francis! There are uniforms and gay dresses in the walk again. No, I must be gone. Here I'll stay no longer. [Crosses, R.

Fra. Well, then, I'll tie up my bundle.

Stra. The sooner the better! They come this way. Now must I shut myself in my hovel, and lose this fine breeze. Nay, if they be your high-bred class of all, they may have impudence enough to walk into my chamber. Fraucis, I shall lock the door.

[Goes into the Lodge, locks the door, and is fustening the shutters.

Fra. And I'll be your centinel. Stra. Very well. [Closes the shutters. Fra. Now, should these people be as inquisitive as their maid, I must sunmon my whole stock of impertinence. But their questions and my answers need little study. They can learn nothing of the Stranger from me: for the best of all possible reasons-I know nothing of him myself.

Enter BARON and COUNTESS, from Gates.

Countess. (Comes down c.) There is a strange face.

The servant, probably.

Bar. (L.) Friend, can we speak to your master ?
Fra. (R.) No.

Bar. Only for a few minutes.

Fra. He has locked himself in his room.

Countess. Tell him a lady waits for him.

Fra. Then he's sure not to come.

Countess. Does he hate our sex?

Fra. He hates the whole human race, but women particularly.

Countess. And why?

Fra. He may have been deceived.

Countess. This is not very courteous.

Fra. My master is not over courteous; but when he sees a chance of saving a fellow-creature's life, he'll attempt it at the hazard of his own.

Bar. You are right. Now hear the reason of our visit. The wife and brother-in-law of the man, whose child your master has saved, wish to acknowledge their obligations to him.

Fra. That he dislikes. He only wishes to live unnoticed.

Countess. He appears to be unfortunate.

Fra. Appears!

Countess. An affair of honour, perhaps, or some unhappy attachment may have

Fra. It may.

Countess. Be this as it may, I wish to know who he is. Fra. So do 1.

Count. What! Don't you know him yourself?

Fra. Oh! I know him well enough. I mean his real self-His heart-his soul-his worth-his honour !-Perhaps you think one knows a man, when one is acquainted with his name and person.

[Exit, R.

Countess. "Tis well said, friend; you please me much. And now I should like to know you. Who are you? Fra. Your humble servant. Countess. This is affectation! A desire to appear singular! Every one wishes to make himself distinguished. One sails round the world; another creeps into a hovel.

Bar. And the man apes his master!

Countess. Come, brother, let us seek the Count. He and Mrs. Haller turned into the lawn

[Going

Bar. Stay. First a word or two, sister. I am in love. Countess. For the hundredth time.

Bar. For the first time in my life.

Countess. I wish you joy.

Bar. Till now you have evaded my inquiries. Who is she? I beseech you, sister, be serious. There is a time for all things.

Countess. Well, if I am to be serious, I obey. I do not know who Mrs. Haller is, as I have already told you; but what I do know of her, shall not be concealed from you. It may now be three years ago, when, one evening, about twilight, a lady was announced, who wished to speak to me in private. Mrs. Haller appeared with all that grace and modesty which have enchanted you. Her features, at that moment, bore keener marks of the sorrow and confusion which have since settled into gentle melancholy. She threw herself at my feet; and besought me to save a wretch who was on the brink of despair. She told me she had heard much of my benevolence, and offered herself as a servant to attend me. I endeavoured to dive into the cause of her sufferings, but in vain. She concealed her secret; yet opening to me more and more each day a heart, chosen by virtue as her temple, and an understanding improved by the most refined attainments. She no longer remained my servant, but became my friend; and, by her own desire, has ever since resided here. [Curtesying.] Brother, I have done.

Bar. Too little to satisfy my curiosity; yet enough to make me realise my project. Sister, lend me your aid-I would marry her.

Countess. You!

Bar. I.

Countess. Baron Steinfort !

Bar. For shame! If I understand you.

Countess. Not so harsh, and not so hasty! Those great sentiments of contempt of inequality in rank are very fine in a romance; but we happen not to be inhabitants of an ideal world. How could you introduce her to the circle we live in? You, surely, would not attempt to present her

to

Bar. Object as you will-my answer is-I love. Sister, you see a man before you, who

Countess. Who wants a wife.

Bar. No; who has deliberately poised advantage against disadvantage; domestic ease and comfort against the false gaieties of fashion. I can withdraw into the country,

D

I need no honours to make my tenants happy; and my heart will teach me to make their happiness my own. With such a wife as this, children who resemble her, and fortune enough to spread comfort around me, what would the soul of man have more?

Countess This is all vastly fine. I admire your plan; o ly you seem to have forgotten one trifling circumstance. Bar. And that is

Countess. Whether Mrs. Haller will have you or not. Bar. There, sister, I just want your assistance.-Good Henrietta!

Countess. Well, here's my hand. I'll do all I can for you. St! We had near been overheard. They are coming. Be patient and obedient.

Enter at the Gates, COUNT, and MRS. HALLER leaning on his arm, L. They advance in c.

Count. Upon my word, Mrs. Haller, you are a nimble walker: I should be sorry to run a race with you

Mrs. H. Custom, my lord. You need only take the same walk every day for a month.

Count. Yes; if I wanted to resemble my greyhounds. Well, what says the Stranger?

Countess. He gave Charlotte a flat refusal; and you see his door, and even his shutters, are closed against us.

Count. What an unaccountable being! But it won't do.

st show my gratitude one way or other. [Crosses to Steinfort.] Steinfort, we will take the ladies home, and then you shall try once again to see him. You can talk to these oddities better than I can.

Bar. If you wish it, with all my heart,

Count. Thank you, thank you. Come, ladies: coine, Mrs. Haller.

[Exeunt Countess and Mrs. H., Count and Baron, through Gates.

SCENE II-A Chamber in the Castle.

Enter COUNTESS and MRS. HALLER, R.

Countess. Well, Mrs. Haller, how do you like the man that just now left us?.

Mrs. H Who do you mean, madam

Countess. My brother.

Mrs. H. He deserves to be your brother.

Countess. [Curtesying.]

Your most obedient! That

shall be written in my pocket-book.

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