SCENE FROM "THE LOVE CHASE." BY JAMES SHEridan Knowle3. CONSTANCE. WILDRAKE. Constance. I'll pine to death for no man! Wise it were, Indeed, to die for neighbour Wildrake-No!— I know the duty of a woman, better- Lovers cost Of patience with myself, to cast a thought I'll get fifty, I will! I'll be the champion of my sex, I warrant he had fall'n in love with me! I hate the fool!—I do! Ha, here he comes. Enter WILDRAKE. Wild. Your servant, neighbour Constance. Now what, I wonder, comes the fool to say, Wild. Neighbour Constance, I am a happy man. Con. What makes you so? Wild. O no! In love. Con. O, true! You are in love! Go on! Wild. Well, as I said, my suit's a thriving one. Con. You mean you are beloved again!-I don't Believe it. Wild. I can give you proof. Con. What proof? Love-letters? She's a shameless maid To write them! Can she spell? Ay, I suppose, With prompting of a dictionary! Wild. Nay, Without one. Con. I will lay you ten to one She cannot spell! How know you she can spell? You cannot spell yourself! You write command With a single M-C-O-M-A-N-D: Yours to Co-mand. Wild. I did not say she wrote Love-letters to me. Con. Then she suffers you to press Her hand, perhaps? Wild. She does. Con. Does she press yours? Wild. She does.-It goes on swimmingly! [Aside. Con. She does! She is no modest woman! I'll be bound, Your arm the madam suffers round her waist ? Wild. She does! Con. She does! Outrageous forwardness! Does she let you kiss her? Wild. Yes. Con. She should be Wild. What? Con. What you got thrice your share of when at school, And yet not half your due! A brazen face! More could not grant a maid about to wed. Wild. She is so. Con. What. Wild. How swimmingly it goes! [Aside. Con. [With suppressed impatience.] Are you about to marry, neighbour Wildrake? Are you about to marry? Wild. Excellent. [Aside. Con. [Breaking out.] Why don't you answer me? Wild. I am. Con. You are— I tell you what, sir-You're a fool! Wild. For what? Con. You are not fit to marry. Do not know Enough of the world, sir! Have no more experience, Thought, judgment, than a schoolboy! Have no mind Of your own!-Your wife will make a fool of you, Will jilt you, break your heart! I wish she may, Wild. Yes, indeed. Con. And when? Wild. I'll say to-morrow! Con. When, I say? Wild. To-morrow. Con. Thank you! much beholden to you! You've told me on 't in time! I'm very much Beholden to you, neighbour Wildrake! And, pray you, at what hour? I Wild. That we have left For you to name. Con. For me! Wild. For you. Con. Indeed! You're very bountiful! I should not wonder [Aside. Con. [Furiously.] The thing you mean! Wild. Even so. Con. Bridemaid? Wild. Ay, Bridemaid!—It is coming fast Unto a head. Con. And 't is for me you wait To fix the day? It shall be doomsday, then! [Aside. Wild. Be doomsday? Con. Doomsday! Wild. Wherefore doomsday? Con. Wherefore! [Boxes him. Go ask your bride, and give her that for me. Look, neighbour Wildrake! you may think this strange, But don't misconstrue it! For you are vain, sir! I pray you send no bride-cake, sir, to me! Nor gloves-If you do, I'll give them to my maid! Or throw them into the kennel-or the fire. I am your most obedient servant, sir! Wild. She is a riddle, solve her he who can! Con. He loves another; he does; I hate him! We were children, together, For fifteen years and more; there never came Quarrel again, and make it up again: Were never neighbours more like neighbours. |