become a young woman. gentleman! No! Captain Absolute is indeed a fine Lyd. Ay, the Captain Absolute you have seen. [Aside. Mrs. Mal. Then he's so well bred; - so full of alacrity, and adulation! — and has so much to say for himself:- in such good language too!- His physiognomy so grammatical!- Then his presence is so noble! I protest, when I saw him, I thought of what Hamlet says in the play: "Hesperian curls-the front of Job himself! An eye, like March, to threaten at command!-- A station, like Harry Mercury, new Something about kissing 611 on a hill - however, the similitude struck me directly. Lyd. How enraged she'll be presently, when she discovers her mistake! [Aside. Enter SERVANT. Ser. Sir Anthony and Captain Absolute are below, ma'am. Mrs. Mal. Show them up here. [Exit SERVANT.] Now, Lydia, I insist on your behaving as becomes a young woman. Show your good breeding, at least, though you have forgot your duty. Lyd. Madam, I have told you my resolution! — I shall not only give him no encouragement, but I won't even speak to or look at him. [Flings herself into a chair, with her face from the door. Enter SIR ANTHONY ABSOLUTE and CAPTAIN ABSOLUTE. Sir Anth. Here we are, Mrs. Malaprop; come to mitigate the frowns of unrelenting beauty, and difficulty enough I had to bring this fellow. I don't know what's the matter; but if I had not held him by force, he'd have given me the slip. Mrs. Mal. You have infinite trouble, Sir Anthony, in the affair. I am ashamed for the cause! - [Aside to LYDIA.] Lydia, Lydia, rise, I beseech you! pay your respects! Sir Anth. I hope, madam, that Miss Languish has reflected on the worth of this gentleman, and the regard due to her aunt's choice and my alliance.--[Aside to CAPTAIN ABSOLUTE.] Now, Jack, speak to her. Abs. [Aside.] What the devil shall I do!-[Aside to SIR ANTHONY.] You see, sir, she won't even look at me whilst you are here. I knew she would n't! I told you so. - Let me entreat you, -- sir, to leave us together! [Seems to expostulate with his father. Lyd. [Aside.] I wonder I h'an't heard my aunt exclaim yet! sure she can't have looked at him!--- perhaps their regimentals are alike, and she is something blind. Sir Anth. I say, sir, I won't stir a foot yet! Mrs. Mal. I am sorry to say, Sir Anthony, that my affluence over my niece is very small. [Aside to LYDIA.] Turn round, Lydia: I blush for you! Sir Anth. May I not flatter myself that Miss Languish will assign what cause of dislike she can have to my son!-[Aside to CAPTAIN ABSOLUTE.] Why don't you begin, Jack?— Speak, you puppy speak. Mrs. Mal. It is impossible, Sir Anthony, she can have any. She will not say she has. don't you answer? [Aside to LYDIA.] Answer, hussy! why Sir Anth. Then, madam, I trust that a childish and hasty predilection will be no bar to Jack's happiness. -[Aside to CAPTAIN ABSOLUTE.] Zounds! sirrah! why don't you speak! Lyd. [Aside.] I think my lover seems as little inclined to conversation as myself. - How strangely blind my aunt must be! Abs. Hem! hem! madam-hem!-[Attempts to speak, then returns to SIR ANTHONY.] Faith! sir, I am so confounded! — and · |