[Aside. Fit. [Sternly ] Pray, my friend, were you ever brought to the halberts ! Pat. Sir! Fit. How came you absent from your regiment ? Have you a furlough? Pat. [Confused.] Not about me, sir. Fit. Because, you must know, I have the honour to bear the king's commission, and am obliged to take you up for a deserter. Pat. Sir, it was a reliance on your honour and goodnature that trepanned me here; therefore, sir Fit. No talk, sir ; it was for the good of the service I trepann'd you hither, as you call it. I've a proper person prepared here, into whose custody I shall deliver you. (Unlocks the door. Pat. (L.) What a cruel piece of treachery! Fit. [Presenting Norah.] Since you reject me, madam, here's one that will know how to deal with you. Nor. My Patrick! Fit. No, Patrick, you were my deliverer; I am that very officer whose life you saved. Is it possible, that, seeing me now without uniform, you should not recollect me? Take from me the reward of your generosity, valour, and constancy. F. Luke. [Without, R.] No, I can't find the runaway rascal. Pat. Your uncle ! Fit. Don't be alarm’d. R.-Dermot and Kathlane cross behind to 1.. F. Luke. What's here? Patrick ! Dermot and Darby, lay hold of him. Der. Not I. Dar. I'm no constable. F.Luke. I say, take him. The sergeant shall lay hold of him. Dar. Why, sir, the white sergeant has laid hold of him. Fit. Dear sir, don't be so violent against a young ipan that you'll presently marry to your niece. F. Luke. Me! Fit. Don't you wish to be a bishop ? F. Luke. A fine road to bring a foot soldier into iny family; then a halbert must be my crosier, and my mitre a grenadier's cap,--a common soldier indeed ! Fit. He's no longer so: I have a commission to dispose of, and I cannot set a higher value on it, than by bestowing it on one so worthy. F. Luke. An officer! Oh, that's another thing. Dar. Pat an officer! I'll list to-morrow, in spite of the i black patch. Kat. [To Norah.] My dear Norah, I wish you joy. Dar. [Apart to Kathlane.] How dare you make so fiee with an officer's lady? F. Luke. But, Captain, why do you give up my niece ? Fit. Sir, the captain thought himself unworthy of her, wben he found superior merit in the poor soldier. ! FINALE. With my commission, yet, dearest life, My charming wife, When drum and fife to arms, Kat. SA Thus, love my wishes has granted: Less pleas'd with a duke, When good Father Luke Dar. You impudent hussy, a pretty rate Of love you prate; But bark ye, Kate, Will find that his pad Has got a nice-kick in her gallop. You merit excommunication. In love but agree, And shortly, you'll see, Der. Nor. The devil a bit ome cares a bean, For neat and clean We'll both be seen, Next Sunday at mass, To each kind friend, (Courtesies. Your pardon-with joy we're delighted. More true felicity I shall find When those are join'd, [To Pat. & Nor. By fortune kind ; So happy to see Fit. DISPOSITION OF THE CHARACTERS AT THE FALL OF THE CURTAIN. |