Miss Vor. And young Stanley's arrival; oh! what a sweet youth! Vortex. Oh! what a sweet borough interest! But I'm glad your heart is interested. some of your election bills remain unliquidated, and I fear without a further mortgageSir Hub. Don't torture. Pardon me, good old man. Miss Vor. Heart interested! Lud, how can Heart. Truly, Sir Hubert, what might have you suspect me of so uncommon vulgar a been effected with 50007. some years ago, will sensation. I trust my joy is occasioned by now require ten-you must retrench your ideas more becoming a woman of fashion.-hospitable benevolence. I am charmed because his fortune is large, Sir Hub. My worthy steward, my head has his family ancient; and because my marriage long acknowledg'd the truth of your arithwill render all my female friends so uncom-metic--but my head could never teach it to mon miserable; and because I suspect that my heart. Ellen met young Stanley at Spa, and that she Heart. And, sir, you may raise your rents. dares aspire toSir Hub. Never, Heartley-never.-What! Vortex. I wish she were out of the house. shall the many suffer that I may be at ease!Miss Vor. No-she shall stay to witness my But away with care-this is a moment detriumph. voted to extasy this is the hour a doating Vortex. Shall stay.-I'm not to be contra-father is to clasp an only child, who, after dicted, you know-my physicians— combating with disease and death, returns Miss Vor. Certainly not, my dear Nabob; triumphant to his arms in lusty health and but I may recommend; I'm sure no physician manhood.-Ah! he approaches; 'tis my boy-would object to your taking advice. Ah! does Dost thou not see him in the beechen avenue.Ellen love you as I do? will she listen to Dull old man, advance thine hand thus-[Putyour speech as I intend to do? would she ting his Hand over his Forehead.]-See how throw away thousands for you in a night, his eyes wander with delight, and renovate as I do? Vortex. Very true! very true! the pictures of his youth.-Ah! now he sees [Exeunt. his father, and flies like lightning. SCENE III-A Pleasure Ground, and a View of an Ancient Castle. Enter Four Servants, dressed in old-fashioned Liveries, then SIR HUBERT STANLEY and HEARTLEY. Enter CHARLES STANLEY-[Kneels.] Charles. My honour'd-my lov'd father! Sir Hub. Rise to my heart.-Stand off, and let my eyes gloat upon thee-thou art well.Thy arm, good Heartley.-Nay, do not weep, old Honesty, twill infect me. Sir Hub. Good Heartley, is all prepared for my boy's reception, his favourite study on the Charles. Ah! my excellent old friend-in southern battlement? Are his dogs train'd-health, I hope? his hunters well condition'd? Heart. Aye, good master, and this day will make me young again. Heart. To say, truth, Sir Hubert, the castle has been all day in quarrel, each servant claim- Charles. Dear father, already must I become ing the right of exclusive attendance on his a suitor to you. - Passing Oatland's farm, I dear young master. found his lovely daughter Jessy in tears, ocSir Hub. I thank their honest loves. He casion'd by her father's inability to pay his writes me he is well, good Heartley; quite rent. I dried thera with a promise-Heartwell. Ha! the village bells proclaim my boy's ley shakes his Head, and Sir Hubert averts arrival. Dost thou hear the people's shouts? his Face.]-Ha! your brow is clouded with Heart. Aye, and it revives my old heart. unhappiness; pray, sirSir Hub. These welcomes are the genuine Sir Hub. Good Heartley, leave us— -[Exeunt effusions of love and gratitude-Spite of this Heartley and Servants]-Charles, so mixed Nabob's arts, you see how my loving neigh- is the cup of life, that this day, the happiest bours respect me. thy old father can e'er hope to see, is dash'd with bitterness and sorrow, boy. I have been a very unthrift to thee. Enter Servant. Where is my boy? Serv. These rejoicings are for the Nabob's daughter, who is just come from London. Charles. Oh, sir. Sir Hub. Listen to me.— You have heard how my father kept alive the benevolent hospitality that once distinguished Old England, and I not finding in modern ethics aught likely Sir Hub. Indeed! [peevishly] Well, well. to improve either the morals or happiness of Serv. My young master will alight privately mankind, determined to persevere in the ways at Oatland's farm, and walk through the park. of my fathers. Soon after you went abroad, [Exit. the adjoining estate was purchased by an East Sir Hub. The Nabob's daughter!-Well, let Indian, groaning under wealth produc'd by it pass.-Heartley, what said farmer Oatland? groans. Like the viper, after collecting in the Heart. Nothing but what profligacy and in-warm sunshine his bag of venom, he came to solence dictated - he defied your power, and the abode of peace and innocence, and dissent to the Nabob. seminated his poison. But mark me-think Sir Hub. Ungrateful man! let a distress be me not so unjust, boy, as with random slander issued.-Hold; no, no. - Heart. Indeed, Sir Hubert, he is undeserving your lenity. Besides, sir, your mortgagee, Mr. Rapid, the wealthy taylor, will be here to-day -the interest on the mortgage must be paid-| to censure any body of men. No, thank heaven! there are numbers whom Providence, in addition to the power, has added the will, to render wealth a blessing to all around them. Charles. You are ever just and liberal. Frank. If your honour be so gracious. Sir Hugh. But for this vile exception, this Mr. Vortex, I tell thee, riot, contention, indolence, and vice, succeeded. I struggled against this mischief, which spurr'd him on to oppose me in my election. This contest (I trust, Charles, you think the dignity of our family demanded it)—this contest, I say, oblig'd me o' I. to mortgage my estate to a considerable amount; and I fear, boy, even that will not suffice. Dost thou not blame thy father? Charles. Come, brother student, your hand. Frank. My hand! Lord dong it, only think [Exeunt Hand in Hand. ACT II. SCENE I-A Room in an Inn. Charles. Blame, sir? my fortune, nay, my Enter Two WAITERS, with Luggage, meeting life is held but to promote your happiness. Sir Hub. Glorious boy! then all will be well again-thy estate restor'd, thy wealth enlarg'd. Charles. How? Sir Hub. By marriage, Charles. BRONZE. 1st. Wait. Coming, sir. Young R. [Without] Zounds, why don't you come? Why don't all of you come, eh? [Charles averts his Face with dejection. Bronze. Waiter who are these people? Charles. Marriage, sir!-To conceal the 1st. Wait. I don't know, Mr. Bronze.-The passion that triumphs here were but to deceive young one seems a queer one-he jump'd out a father, and injure the bright excellence of the mail, ran into the kitchen, whipp'd the love. When I was ill at Spa, the votaries of turnspit into a gallop, and made him keep pleasure avoided me as the harbinger of me- moving; and tho' not a minute in the house, lancholy, and I was despis'd as a thing pas- he has been in every room, from the garret sing into oblivion by all but one fair creature. to the cellar. I obtained an opportunity to thank her for 2d. Wait. Father and son, I understand.— the charitable pity her eye had beam'd on me. The name on the luggage, I see, is Rapid. Love soon kindled his torch at Pity's altar, Bronze. Rapid! [Aside] Perhaps it is my for I found in Miss Vortex such excellence-old master, the great tailor, and his harumscarum son-I'll observe., Sir Hub. Who? Charles. Miss Vortex, sir. Charles. The same. Sir Hub. She that is now propos'd for your Charles. Is it possible? [alliance? Sir Hub. And awaits your arrival in the neighbourhood. Charles. Oh let me haste to her. - Yet hold! Frank Oatland attends to hear your determination. 1st. Wait. Here he comes full dash, and the old man trotting after him like a terrier. [Exeunt. Enter OLD and YOUNG RAPID. Young R. Come along, dad-push on, my dear dad. Well, here we are-keep moving. Old R. Moving! Zounds, haven't I been moving all night in the mail-coach to please you? Young R. Mail! famous thing, isn't? Je up! whip over counties in a hop, step, and jump Sir Hub. At present, Charles, I cannot grant-dash along. your suit.- [Charles beckons in Frank.]— Old R. Od rot such hurry-scurry doings, I Young man, tell your father the law must take say. Here have I ground my old bones all its course. When I see in him symptoms of night in the mail, to be eight hours before contrition and amendment, I may restore him. my appointment with Sir Hubert Stanley; and Frank. Thank ye,-thank ye, sur. now I must sit biting my fingers. Charles. How came this distress to fall on him? Young R. Biting your fingers! No, no, I'll find you something to do. Come, we'll keep moving! [Takes his Father by the Arm, who resists. Enter LANDLORD. Frank. Why, sur, he went on farming pretty tightish, didn't he, sur? till he keept company wi' Nabob's sarvants; then all of a sudden he took to the gentleman line. I conceats, sur, he didn't much understand the trim on't, for the gentleman line didn't answer at all. I hope your honour bean't angry wi' I for speaking to young 'squire; your worship do know Itleman. were a bit of a playfellow wi'un, and we followed our studies together. Sir Hub. Indeed! Frank. Ees, sur, we went through our letlers and a-b, ab-e-b, eb-there somehow I stuck, and 'squire went clean away into abreviation and abomination 1); and then I never cou'd take much to your pens, they be so cruel small; now a pitchfork do fit my hand so desperate kindly as never was. Sir Hub. Ha! ha! Come, my boy, you'll want refreshment. [Exit.-Frank bows, and is going. Charles. What, honest Frank, will you not walk with me to the castle! 1) These are the first words of 5 syllables that children are taught to learn in their spelling-books. Land. Gentlemen, I beg leave- Young R. Gently, dad-dash away, sir. Land. And expects him at the castle. Old R. Well, I won't. Young R. That's settled-I say-what's your business with Sir Hubert?-Some secret, eh? Old R. [Aside] I won't tell you. Oh noa bill he owes me for making his clothes and liveries. Young R. Pugh! he's a ready-money man. needles now for? - [Searches the Pocket]— I never made a bill out for him in my life. Sure enough, here it is-one end stuck into It won't do. a letter, and the other into my back, I believe. Old R. Well then sit down, and I'll tell Curse it?-Eh!-what's this? [Reads] "To you. [They sit] Can you sit still a moment? Mr. Rapid-Free-Hubert Stanley." Ha, ha, Young R. [Jumping up] To be sure I can ha! here's dad's secret-Now for it! [Reads -now tell me, briefly-briefly. [Sits again very quick] “Sir Hubert Stanley will exOld R. [Aside] Indeed I will not. You pect to see Mr. Rapid at the Castle, and must know Young R. Aye Old R. You must know wou'd be glad to extend the mortgage, which is now 50,0001." What's this?-[Reads again] "Extend the mortgage, which is now 50,0007. Young R. Zounds! you have said that, twice to seventy." Fifty thousand! huzza!-'tis so-now don't say it again. my old dad worth fifty thousand - perhaps Old R. Well, I won't-You must know-seventy-perhaps-I'll-no—I'll— 'tis a very long story. Young R. [Rising] Then I'll not trouble you. Old R. [Aside] I thought so. And pray what might induce you to come with me? Enter WAITER. Wait. The buggy's ready sir. Young R. Dare to talk to me of a buggy, and i'll Wait. Perhaps you would prefer a chaise and pair? Young R. [Aside] Won't tell him of Jessy. Oh, as we had given up trade, left off stitching you know my way I like to push onchange the scene, that's all-keep moving. Young R. No, I'll have a chaise and twelve. Old R. Moving! [Yawns] Oh, my poor Abscond! [Exit Waiter] I must-1 must keep old bones! Waiter, bring me a night-gown. moving.-I must travel for improvement. First [Waiter helps him on with a Night-I'll see the whole of my native country, its gown-he lays his Coat on a Chair, agriculture and manufactories. That, I think, Young R. What are you at, dad? will take me full four days and a half. Next Old R. Going to take a nap on that sofa. I'll make the tour of Europe; which, to do Young R. A nap-pugh! properly, will, I dare say, employ three weeks or a month. Then, returning as completely versed in foreign manners and language as the best of them, I'll make a push at high life. In the first circles I'll keep moving. Fifty thousand! perhaps more-perhaps-oh! Waiter. [Without] You can't come in. Bronze. [Without] I tell you I will come in. Young R. Will come in!- that's rightpush on, whoever you are. Old R. Zounds! I've no comfort of my life with you. Young R. Say no more. Old R. But I will, tho-hurry, hurry-od rabbit it, I never get a dinner that's half dressed; and as for a comfortable sleep, I'm sureYoung R. You sleep so slow. Old R. Sleep slow! I'll sleep as slow as I please; so at your peril disturb me. Sleep slow indeed! [Yawning. Exit. Young R. Now to visit Jessy. Waiter! Wait. Sar! [With great quickness. Young R. That's right-sir-short-you're a fine fellow. Wait. Yes, sar. Enter BRONZE. Bronze. I thought so. How do you do, Mr. Rapid? Don't you remember Bronze, your father's foreman, when you were a boy? Young R. Ah, Bronze! how do Young R. Does Farmer Oatland live here- Bronze? Any thing to say, Bronze? Keep abouts? Young R. To have flanked along a pair of blood things at sixteen miles an hour. [Puts you do, moving. Do you know, Bronze, by this letter I have discover'd that my father is worthhow much, think you? Bronze. Perhaps ten thousand. Young R. Keep moving. Young R. Fifty-perhaps-sixty-seventy oh! I'll tell you. He has lent 30,000l., on mortgage, to an old baronet, Bronze. Sir Hubert St Young R. [Stopping him] I know his name as well as you do. Bronze. [Aside] Here's news for my master! --Well, sir, what do you mean to do? Young R. Do! Push on-become a man of fashion, to be sure. Bronze. What would you say, if I were himself in the act of driving, and sits on to get you introduced to a Nabob? the Chair where Old Rapid left his Coat- Young R. A Nabob! oh! some flash-in-thesprings from it again] - What the devil's pan chap. that? Zounds! something has run into my Bronze. Oh, no! back. I'll bet a hundred 'tis a needle in father's Young R. What, one of your real, genuine, pocket. Confound it! what does he carry neat as imported, Nabobs? Bronze. Yes, Mr. Vortex-Did you never mously. It's my business to reduce it. [Aside] hear of him? -Now, my dear dad, in the first place, never call me Neddy. Young R. To be sure I have. But will you? Bronze. Yes. Young R. Ah! but will you do it directly? Bronze. I will. Young R. Then push off-Stop--stop-I beg your pardon-it cuts me to the heart to stop any man, because I wish every body to keep moving. But won't dad's being a tailor make an objection? Bronze. No; as you never went out with the pattern-books. Young R. [Sighing] Oh yes, I did. Bronze. That's awkward. But you never operated? Young R. [With Melancholy] What do you say? Bronze. I say you never [Describes in action the act of sewing. Young R. [Sighing deeper] Oh! yes, I did. Bronze. That's unlucky. Young R. Very melancholy, indeed! Bronze. I have it. Suppose I say you are merchants. Young R. My dear fellow, sink the tailor, and I'll give you a hundred. Bronze. Will you? Thank you. Bronze. But don't be out of the way. Young R. Me; Bless you, I'm always the way. Bronze. Don't move. Old R. Why, what must I call you? Young R. Ned-short-Ned. Old R. Ned! O, Ned! Young R. That will do. And in the next place, sink the tailor. Whatever you do, sink the tailor. Old R. Sink the tailor! What do you mean? Young R. I've news for you. We are going to be introduced to Mr. Vortex, the rich Nabob. Old R. You don't say so! Huzza; it will be the making of us. Young R. To be sure. Such fashion! Such style! Old R. Aye, and such a quantity of liveries, and-Oh dear me! [With great dejection. Young R. What's the matter? Young R. Business! Old R. [Sighing] I forgot I had left off business. Confound it! Now, pray keep the tailor under, will you? I'll send an express to London. [Runs to the Table. Old R. An express! for what? Young R. I don't know. Enter WAITER. Waiter. The bill of fare, gentlemen. Young R. Bring it here.-[Reads]—“Turbots-Salmon-Soles - Haddock-Beef-Mutin ton-Veal-Lamb-Pork-Chickens-Ducks Young R. Yes, I must move a little, away you go-[Pushes Bronze off]-Huzza! now to awake old dad.-[Exit, and returns with Old Rapid - Come along, dad. Turkies-Puddings-Pies." Dress it all-that's the short way. Waiter. All! Young R. Every bit. Old R. No, no, nonsense.-The short way indeed! Come here, sir.--Let me see—[Reads] sir——Um-Um-"Ribs of beef.”—That's a good Young R. What? Old R. [Half asleep] Yes, sir-yes, I'll measure you directly I'll measure you thing;-I'll have that. directly. Young R. He's asleep.-Awake! Old R. What's the matter, eh! What's the matter. Young R. What's the matter! I have found fifty thousand in that letter? Old R. Indeed! [Opens the Letter eagerly] Ah! Neddy, have you found out Young R. I have-that you are worth how much. Old R. Why, since what's past- Old R. I've been a fortunate man. My old partner us'd to say, "Ah! you are lucky, Rapid; your needle always sticks in the right place." Young R. No, not always. [Shrugging]But how much? Old R. Why, as it must out, there are fifty thousand lent on mortgage. Item, fifteen thousand in the consols-Item Young R. Never mind the items.-The total, my dear dad-the total. Old R. What do you think of a plumb! Young R. A plum! Oh, sweet, agreeable, little, short word! Waiter. Ribs of beef, sir. Young R. Are they the short ribs? Waiter. Yes, sir. Young R. That's right. Waiter. What liquor wou'd like? your honour Young R. [Jumping up.] Spruce-beer. Young R. I must have some clothes. Old R. I'm sure that's a very good coat. Young R. Waiter!-I must have a dashing coat for the Nabob.-Is there a rascally tailor any where near you? Waiter. Yes, sir;-there are two close by. [Father and Son look at each other. Young R. Umph! then tell one of them to send me some clothes. Waiter. Sir, he must take your measure. Old R. To be sure he must. Young R. Oh, true! I remember the fellows do measure you somehow with long bits of -Well-send for the scoundrel. [Exit Wailer. Old R. Oh, for shame of yourself! I've no patience. Young R. Like you the better.-Hate patience as much as you do, ha! ha!- Must swagger a little. Old R. Ah! I am too fond of you, I am, Old R. Besides seven hundred and ninetyYoung R. Never mind the odd money-that will do. But how came you so rich, dad? Dam'me, you must have kept moving. Old R. Why, my father, forty years ago, Ned. Take my fortune; but only remember left me five thousand pounds; which, at com- this - By the faith of a man I came by it pound interest, if you multiplyhonestly, and all I ask is, that it may go as Young R. No; you have multiplied it fa- it came. Young R. Certainly. But we must keep moving, you know. Old R. Well, I don't care if I do take a bit of a walk with you. Miss V. The matter! won't you resent this? Miss V. Will you bear an insult? Fortex. My physicians order me not to Young R. Bit of a walk! Dam'me, we'll mind being insulted at all: nothing is to prohave a gallop together. Come, along, dad-voke me. Push on, dad. [Exeunt. Miss V. Provoke you!-If I were a man, SEENE II. A Room in MR. VORTEX'S House. madam! Miss V. Yes, I. Ellen. I'll not believe it. Miss V. Well, I vow that's uncommon comic. And why not, my forsaken cousin? I would-Oh! Vortex. I don't like his looks, he seems a desperate Miss V. What do you mean to do? case Miss K. Certainly. Vortex. I think it best to-adjourn. [Goes up the Stage, Miss Vortex follows. STANLEY and ELLEN come forward. Ellen. First, madam, I know Charles Stanley would only form so sacred an alliance where his affections pointed cut the object. Charles. I perceive the mistake; but my Secondly, I feel those affections to be mine. heart confess'd but one Miss Vortex.-I thought Vortex. Thirdly, an inconstant swain was the name, like the superior virtues you adorn a thing never heard of; and, to conclude, it with, attached alone to Ellen. The embarpray peruse that letterrassments of my paternal estate demanded a marriage with a woman of fortuneEllen. What do I hear? Ellen. [Reads.]— Sir Hubert Stanley informs Mr. Vortex that his son embraces, with eager joy, the proposals for his marriage with Mr. Vortex's daughter.-[Drops the letter.]-Then every thing is possible. Oh, love! Vortex. Nay, don't you abuse poor Cupid -his conduct has been perfectly parliamentary. Self-interest has made the little gentleman move over to the other side, that's all. [Knocking at the Door. Serv. Young Mr. Stanley, sir, Ellen. I thank you, madam. [Going] Hold. Charles. Why this alarm? Ellen. Alarm! Must not those words terrify which separate me from you for ever? Charles. What means my Ellen? Ellen. Oh, Stanley, hear me. On my return to England, Mr. Vortex, to whom the care of my property was entrusted, was ever pressing on my mind the difficulty of recovering my father's India possessions. Each messenger that arrived from you confirmed the melancholy tale, that my Stanley was sinking into an early grave. Oh! what then was fortune, or the world, to me? I sought out solitude, and willingly assigned to Mr. Vortex what he called my expectations, for five thousand pounds. Charles. Yet you shall be mine. Ellen. No, Charles, I will not bring you [Returns. poverty. I'll return to solitude, and endeavour to teach this lesson to my heart, "That it will be joy enough to know that Stanley is well and happy." [Going. Miss V. Just as you please. What a triumph; [Retires from the Front of the Stage. Charles. Stay, Ellen-think deeply before you consign the man that loves you to cer Enter CHARLES STANLEY with eagerness-tain misery. Miss V. How he's struck! Charles. What can this mean [Aside] that Miss V. I must cheer him with a smile. [During this Ellen advances to the Front of the Stage, so as to leave Miss Vortex between her und Stanley. Charles. [Seeing Ellen] Ah! what heaven of brightness breaks in upon me! Lovely Miss Vortex, can I believe my happiness! Will those arms receive me! [Miss Vortex, thinking this addressed to her, opens her Arms; Stanley rushes past her to Ellen] My Ellen! Ellen. Oh, Charles, the sufferings my heart underwent this moment, and the joy it now feels, is such, I cannot speak. [They retire. Miss V. Nabob! Nabob! Vortex. What's the matter? Ellen. True-in a few hours let me see you again. The opposing agitations my mind has suffered unfit me for further conversation. Charl. s. In a few hours, then, you'll allow me to see you? Ellen. Allow you to see me!-Oh! Stanley, farewell! [Exit. MR. and MISS VORTEX come forward. Miss V. Now speak. Vortex. We had better pair off. Miss V. No-speak with spirit. Vortex. I will.-Sir, I cannot help saying that every man, that is, every man of honourMiss V. That's right!-say that again, Vortex. That every man of honour[Raising his Voice. Charles, Well, sir? |