plays [49]
it vastly less entertaining.
MENTEITH. Yes, madam, indeed; In these distinguished circles,
life is but a slavery. None of the best set would relish
Tunbridge without Mr. George; Tunbridge and Mr. George (if you'll
excuse my plainness, madam) are in a manner of speaking
identified; and indeed it was the Dook's desire alone that
brought us here.
BARBARA. What? the Duke? O dear! was it for that?
MENTEITH. Though, to be sure, madam, Mr. George would always be
charmed to find himself (BOWING) among so many admired members of
his own set.
MISS FOSTER. Upon my word, Menteith, Mr. Austin is as fortunate
in his servant as his reputation.
MENTEITH. Quite so, madam. But let me observe that the
opportunities I have had of acquiring a knowledge of Mr. George's
character have been positively unrivalled. Nobody knows Mr.
George like his old attendant. The goodness of that gentleman -
but, madam, you will soon be equally fortunate, if, as I
understand, it is to be a match.
MISS FOSTER. I hope, Menteith, you are not taking leave of your
senses. Is it possible you mean my niece?
MENTEITH. Madam, I have the honour to congratulate you. I put a
second curl in Mr. George's hair on purpose.
SCENE II
TO THESE, AUSTIN. MENTEITH FALLS BACK, AND AUSTIN TAKES HIS
PLACE IN FRONT OF MISS FOSTER, HIS ATTITUDE A COUNTERPART OF
MENTEITH'S.
AUSTIN. Madam, I hasten to present my homage.
MISS FOSTER. A truce to compliments! Menteith, your charming
fellow there, has set me positively crazy. Dear George Austin,
is it true? can it be true?
AUSTIN. Madam, if he has been praising your niece he has been
well inspired. If he was speaking, as I spoke an hour ago
myself, I wish, Miss Foster, that he had held his tongue. I have
indeed offered myself to Miss Dorothy, and she, with the most
excellent reason, has refused me.
MISS FOSTER. Is it possible? why, my dear George Austin . . . .
then I suppose it is John Fenwick after all!
AUSTIN. Not one of us is worthy.
MISS FOSTER. This is the most amazing circumstance. You take my
breath away. My niece refuse George Austin? why, I give you my
word, I thought she had adored you. A perfect scandal: it
positively must not get abroad.
AUSTIN. Madam, for that young lady I have a singular regard.
Judge me as tenderly as you can, and set it down, if you must, to
an old man's vanity - for, Evelina, we are no longer in the
heyday of our youth - judge me as you will: I should prefer to
have it known.
MISS FOSTER. Can you? George Austin, you? My youth was
nothing; I was a failure; but for you? no, George, you never can,
you never must be old. You are the triumph of my generation,
George, and of our old friendship too. Think of my first dance
and my first partner. And to have this story - no, I could not
bear to have it told of you.
AUSTIN. Madam, there are some ladies over whom it is a boast to
have prevailed; there are others whom it is a glory to have
loved. And I am so vain, dear Evelina, that even thus I am proud
to link my name with that of Dorothy Musgrave.
MISS FOSTER. George, you are changed. I would not know you.
AUSTIN. I scarce know myself. But pardon me, dear friend
(TAKING HIS WATCH), in less than four minutes our illustrious
guest will descend amongst us; and I observe Mr. Fenwick, with
whom I have a pressing business. Suffer me, dear Evelina! -
SCENE III
To these, FENWICK. MISS FOSTER remains seated, L. AUSTIN goes
R. to FENWICK, whom he salutes with great respect
AUSTIN. Mr. Fenwick, I have played and lost. That noble lady,
justly incensed at my misconduct, has condemned me. Under the
burden of such a loss, may I console myself with the esteem of
Mr. Fenwick?
FENWICK. She refused you? Pardon me, sir, but was the fault not
yours?
AUSTIN. Perhaps to my shame, I am no novice, Mr. Fenwick; but I
have never felt nor striven as to-day. I went upon your errand;
but, you may trust me, sir, before I had done I found it was my
own. Until
MENTEITH. Yes, madam, indeed; In these distinguished circles,
life is but a slavery. None of the best set would relish
Tunbridge without Mr. George; Tunbridge and Mr. George (if you'll
excuse my plainness, madam) are in a manner of speaking
identified; and indeed it was the Dook's desire alone that
brought us here.
BARBARA. What? the Duke? O dear! was it for that?
MENTEITH. Though, to be sure, madam, Mr. George would always be
charmed to find himself (BOWING) among so many admired members of
his own set.
MISS FOSTER. Upon my word, Menteith, Mr. Austin is as fortunate
in his servant as his reputation.
MENTEITH. Quite so, madam. But let me observe that the
opportunities I have had of acquiring a knowledge of Mr. George's
character have been positively unrivalled. Nobody knows Mr.
George like his old attendant. The goodness of that gentleman -
but, madam, you will soon be equally fortunate, if, as I
understand, it is to be a match.
MISS FOSTER. I hope, Menteith, you are not taking leave of your
senses. Is it possible you mean my niece?
MENTEITH. Madam, I have the honour to congratulate you. I put a
second curl in Mr. George's hair on purpose.
SCENE II
TO THESE, AUSTIN. MENTEITH FALLS BACK, AND AUSTIN TAKES HIS
PLACE IN FRONT OF MISS FOSTER, HIS ATTITUDE A COUNTERPART OF
MENTEITH'S.
AUSTIN. Madam, I hasten to present my homage.
MISS FOSTER. A truce to compliments! Menteith, your charming
fellow there, has set me positively crazy. Dear George Austin,
is it true? can it be true?
AUSTIN. Madam, if he has been praising your niece he has been
well inspired. If he was speaking, as I spoke an hour ago
myself, I wish, Miss Foster, that he had held his tongue. I have
indeed offered myself to Miss Dorothy, and she, with the most
excellent reason, has refused me.
MISS FOSTER. Is it possible? why, my dear George Austin . . . .
then I suppose it is John Fenwick after all!
AUSTIN. Not one of us is worthy.
MISS FOSTER. This is the most amazing circumstance. You take my
breath away. My niece refuse George Austin? why, I give you my
word, I thought she had adored you. A perfect scandal: it
positively must not get abroad.
AUSTIN. Madam, for that young lady I have a singular regard.
Judge me as tenderly as you can, and set it down, if you must, to
an old man's vanity - for, Evelina, we are no longer in the
heyday of our youth - judge me as you will: I should prefer to
have it known.
MISS FOSTER. Can you? George Austin, you? My youth was
nothing; I was a failure; but for you? no, George, you never can,
you never must be old. You are the triumph of my generation,
George, and of our old friendship too. Think of my first dance
and my first partner. And to have this story - no, I could not
bear to have it told of you.
AUSTIN. Madam, there are some ladies over whom it is a boast to
have prevailed; there are others whom it is a glory to have
loved. And I am so vain, dear Evelina, that even thus I am proud
to link my name with that of Dorothy Musgrave.
MISS FOSTER. George, you are changed. I would not know you.
AUSTIN. I scarce know myself. But pardon me, dear friend
(TAKING HIS WATCH), in less than four minutes our illustrious
guest will descend amongst us; and I observe Mr. Fenwick, with
whom I have a pressing business. Suffer me, dear Evelina! -
SCENE III
To these, FENWICK. MISS FOSTER remains seated, L. AUSTIN goes
R. to FENWICK, whom he salutes with great respect
AUSTIN. Mr. Fenwick, I have played and lost. That noble lady,
justly incensed at my misconduct, has condemned me. Under the
burden of such a loss, may I console myself with the esteem of
Mr. Fenwick?
FENWICK. She refused you? Pardon me, sir, but was the fault not
yours?
AUSTIN. Perhaps to my shame, I am no novice, Mr. Fenwick; but I
have never felt nor striven as to-day. I went upon your errand;
but, you may trust me, sir, before I had done I found it was my
own. Until