plays [42]
ambition
first; then, the rounded vanity - victory still novel; and last,
as you say, the royal mood of the mature man; to abdicate for
others . . . Sir, you touched me hard about my dead friend; still
harder about my living duty; and I am not so young but I can take
a lesson. There is my hand upon it: she shall be my wife.
FENWICK. Ah, Mr. Austin, I was sure of it.
AUSTIN. Then, sir, you were vastly mistaken. There is nothing
of Beau Austin here. I have simply, my dear child, sate at the
feet of Mr. Fenwick.
FENWICK. Ah, sir, your heart was counsellor enough.
AUSTIN. Pardon me. I am vain enough to be the judge: there are
but two people in the world who could have wrought this change:
yourself and that dear lady. (TOUCHES BELL.) Suffer me to
dismiss you. One instant of toilet, and I follow. Will you do
me the honour to go before, and announce my approach? (ENTER
MENTEITH.)
FENWICK. Sir, if my admiration -
AUSTIN. Dear child, the admiration is the other way. (EMBRACES
HIM. MENTEITH SHOWS HIM OUT.)
SCENE V
AUSTIN
AUSTIN. Upon my word, I think the world is getting better. We
were none of us young men like that - in my time, to quote my
future brother. (HE SITS DOWN BEFORE THE MIRROR.) Well, here
ends Beau Austin. Paris, Rome, Vienna, London - victor
everywhere: and now he must leave his bones in Tunbridge Wells.
(LOOKS AT HIS LEG.) Poor Dolly Musgrave! a good girl after all,
and will make me a good wife; none better. The last - of how
many? - ay, and the best! Walks like Hebe. But still, here ends
Beau Austin. Perhaps it's time. Poor Dolly - was she looking
poorly? She shall have her wish. Well, we grow older, but we
grow no worse.
SCENE VI
AUSTIN, MENTEITH
AUSTIN. Menteith, I am going to be married.
MENTEITH. Well, Mr. George, but I am pleased to hear it. Miss
Musgrave is a most elegant lady.
AUSTIN. Ay, Mr. Menteith? and who told you the lady's name?
MENTEITH. Mr. George, you was always a gentleman.
AUSTIN. You mean I wasn't always? Old boy, you are in the
right. This shall be a good change for both you and me. We have
lived too long like a brace of truants: now is the time to draw
about the fire. How much is left of the old Hermitage?
MENTEITH. Hard upon thirty dozen, Mr. George, and not a bad cork
in the bin.
AUSTIN. And a mistress, Menteith, that's worthy of that wine.
MENTEITH. Mr. George, sir, she's worthy of you.
AUSTIN. Gad, I believe it. (SHAKES HANDS WITH HIM.)
MENTEITH (BREAKING DOWN). Mr. George, you've been a damned good
master to me, and I've been a damned good servant to you; we've
been proud of each other from the first; but if you'll excuse my
plainness, Mr. George, I never liked you better than to-day.
AUSTIN. Cheer up, old boy, the best is yet to come. Get out the
tongs, and curl me like a bridegroom. (SITS BEFORE
DRESSING-GLASS; MENTEITH PRODUCES CURLING IRONS AND PLIES THEM.
AUSTIN SINGS) -
'I'd crowns resign
To call her mine, S
weet Lass of Richmond Hill!'
DROP
MUSICAL INDUCTION: the 'Minuet' from 'DON GIOVANNI'
ACT III.
The stage represents Miss Foster's lodging as in Act I.
SCENE I
DOROTHY, R., at tambour; ANTHONY, C., bestriding chair; MISS
FOSTER, L.C.
ANTHONY. Yes, ma'am, I like my regiment: we are all gentlemen,
from old Fred downwards, and all of a good family. Indeed, so
are all my friends, except one tailor sort of fellow, Bosbury.
But I'm done with him. I assure you, Aunt Evelina, we are
Corinthian to the last degree. I wouldn't shock you ladies for
the world -
MISS FOSTER. Don't mind me, my dear; go on.
ANTHONY. Really, ma'am, you must pardon me: I trust I
understand what topics are to be avoided among females - And
before my sister, too! A girl of her age!
DOROTHY. Why, you dear, silly fellow, I'm old enough to be your
mother.
ANTHONY. My dear Dolly, you do not understand; you are not a man
of the world. But, as I was going on to say, there is no more
spicy
first; then, the rounded vanity - victory still novel; and last,
as you say, the royal mood of the mature man; to abdicate for
others . . . Sir, you touched me hard about my dead friend; still
harder about my living duty; and I am not so young but I can take
a lesson. There is my hand upon it: she shall be my wife.
FENWICK. Ah, Mr. Austin, I was sure of it.
AUSTIN. Then, sir, you were vastly mistaken. There is nothing
of Beau Austin here. I have simply, my dear child, sate at the
feet of Mr. Fenwick.
FENWICK. Ah, sir, your heart was counsellor enough.
AUSTIN. Pardon me. I am vain enough to be the judge: there are
but two people in the world who could have wrought this change:
yourself and that dear lady. (TOUCHES BELL.) Suffer me to
dismiss you. One instant of toilet, and I follow. Will you do
me the honour to go before, and announce my approach? (ENTER
MENTEITH.)
FENWICK. Sir, if my admiration -
AUSTIN. Dear child, the admiration is the other way. (EMBRACES
HIM. MENTEITH SHOWS HIM OUT.)
SCENE V
AUSTIN
AUSTIN. Upon my word, I think the world is getting better. We
were none of us young men like that - in my time, to quote my
future brother. (HE SITS DOWN BEFORE THE MIRROR.) Well, here
ends Beau Austin. Paris, Rome, Vienna, London - victor
everywhere: and now he must leave his bones in Tunbridge Wells.
(LOOKS AT HIS LEG.) Poor Dolly Musgrave! a good girl after all,
and will make me a good wife; none better. The last - of how
many? - ay, and the best! Walks like Hebe. But still, here ends
Beau Austin. Perhaps it's time. Poor Dolly - was she looking
poorly? She shall have her wish. Well, we grow older, but we
grow no worse.
SCENE VI
AUSTIN, MENTEITH
AUSTIN. Menteith, I am going to be married.
MENTEITH. Well, Mr. George, but I am pleased to hear it. Miss
Musgrave is a most elegant lady.
AUSTIN. Ay, Mr. Menteith? and who told you the lady's name?
MENTEITH. Mr. George, you was always a gentleman.
AUSTIN. You mean I wasn't always? Old boy, you are in the
right. This shall be a good change for both you and me. We have
lived too long like a brace of truants: now is the time to draw
about the fire. How much is left of the old Hermitage?
MENTEITH. Hard upon thirty dozen, Mr. George, and not a bad cork
in the bin.
AUSTIN. And a mistress, Menteith, that's worthy of that wine.
MENTEITH. Mr. George, sir, she's worthy of you.
AUSTIN. Gad, I believe it. (SHAKES HANDS WITH HIM.)
MENTEITH (BREAKING DOWN). Mr. George, you've been a damned good
master to me, and I've been a damned good servant to you; we've
been proud of each other from the first; but if you'll excuse my
plainness, Mr. George, I never liked you better than to-day.
AUSTIN. Cheer up, old boy, the best is yet to come. Get out the
tongs, and curl me like a bridegroom. (SITS BEFORE
DRESSING-GLASS; MENTEITH PRODUCES CURLING IRONS AND PLIES THEM.
AUSTIN SINGS) -
'I'd crowns resign
To call her mine, S
weet Lass of Richmond Hill!'
DROP
MUSICAL INDUCTION: the 'Minuet' from 'DON GIOVANNI'
ACT III.
The stage represents Miss Foster's lodging as in Act I.
SCENE I
DOROTHY, R., at tambour; ANTHONY, C., bestriding chair; MISS
FOSTER, L.C.
ANTHONY. Yes, ma'am, I like my regiment: we are all gentlemen,
from old Fred downwards, and all of a good family. Indeed, so
are all my friends, except one tailor sort of fellow, Bosbury.
But I'm done with him. I assure you, Aunt Evelina, we are
Corinthian to the last degree. I wouldn't shock you ladies for
the world -
MISS FOSTER. Don't mind me, my dear; go on.
ANTHONY. Really, ma'am, you must pardon me: I trust I
understand what topics are to be avoided among females - And
before my sister, too! A girl of her age!
DOROTHY. Why, you dear, silly fellow, I'm old enough to be your
mother.
ANTHONY. My dear Dolly, you do not understand; you are not a man
of the world. But, as I was going on to say, there is no more
spicy