The Contrast [12]
you are going to make home with us.
MANLY
Indeed I cannot. I have seen my uncle and explained that matter.
CHARLOTTE
Come and dine with us, then. We have a family dinner about half-past four o'clock.
MANLY
I am engaged to dine with the Spanish ambassador. I was introduced to him by an old brother officer; and instead of freezing me with a cold card of compliment to dine with him ten days hence, he, with the true old Castilian frankness, in a friendly manner, asked me to dine with him to-day--an honour I could not refuse. Sister, adieu--Madam, your most obedient--[Exit.
CHARLOTTE
I will wait upon you to the door, brother; I have something particular to say to you. [Exit.
LETITIA, alone.
What a pair!--She the pink of flirtation, he the essence of everything that is outre and gloomy.--I think I have completely deceived Charlotte by my manner of speaking of Mr. Dimple; she's too much the friend of Maria to be confided in. He is certainly rendering himself disagreeable to Maria, in order to break with her and proffer his hand to me. This is what the delicate fellow hinted in our last conversation. [Exit.
SCENE II. The Mall.
Enter JESSAMY.
Positively this Mall is a very pretty place. I hope the cits won't ruin it by repairs. To be sure, it won't do to speak of in the same day with Ranelagh or Vauxhall; however, it's a fine place for a young fellow to display his person to advantage. Indeed, nothing is lost here; the girls have taste, and I am very happy to find they have adopted the elegant London fashion of looking back, after a genteel fellow like me has passed them.--Ah! who comes here? This, by his awkwardness, must be the Yankee colonel's servant. I'll accost him.
Enter JONATHAN.
JESSAMY
Votre tres-humble serviteur, Monsieur. I under- stand Colonel Manly, the Yankee officer, has the honour of your services.
JONATHAN
Sir!--
JESSAMY
I say, Sir, I understand that Colonel Manly has the honour of having you for a servant.
JONATHAN
Servant! Sir, do you take me for a neger,--I am Colonel Manly's waiter.
JESSAMY
A true Yankee distinction, egad, without a differ- ence. Why, Sir, do you not perform all the offices of a servant? do you not even blacken his boots?
JONATHAN
Yes; I do grease them a bit sometimes; but I am a true blue son of liberty, for all that. Father said I should come as Colonel Manly's waiter, to see the world, and all that; but no man shall master me. My father has as good a farm as the colonel.
JESSAMY
Well, Sir, we will not quarrel about terms upon the eve of an acquaintance from which I promise myself so much satisfaction;--therefore, sans ceremonie--
JONATHAN
What?--
JESSAMY
I say I am extremely happy to see Colonel Manly's waiter.
JONATHAN
Well, and I vow, too, I am pretty considerably glad to see you; but what the dogs need of all this out- landish lingo? Who may you be, Sir, if I may be so bold?
JESSAMY
I have the honour to be Mr. Dimple's servant, or, if you please, waiter. We lodge under the same roof, and should be glad of the honour of your acquaintance.
JONATHAN
You a waiter! by the living jingo, you look so top- ping, I took you for one of the agents to Congress.
JESSAMY
The brute has discernment, notwithstanding his appearance.--Give me leave to say I wonder then at your familiarity.
JONATHAN
Why, as to the matter of that, Mr.--; pray, what's your name?
JESSAMY
Jessamy, at your service.
JONATHAN
Why, I swear we don't make any great matter of distinction in our state between quality and other folks.
JESSAMY
This is, indeed, a levelling principle.--I hope, Mr. Jonathan, you have not taken part with the insurgents.
JONATHAN
Why, since General Shays has sneaked off and given us the bag to hold, I don't care to give my opinion; but you'll promise not to tell--put your ear this way--you won't tell?--I vow I did think the sturgeons were right.
JESSAMY
I thought,
MANLY
Indeed I cannot. I have seen my uncle and explained that matter.
CHARLOTTE
Come and dine with us, then. We have a family dinner about half-past four o'clock.
MANLY
I am engaged to dine with the Spanish ambassador. I was introduced to him by an old brother officer; and instead of freezing me with a cold card of compliment to dine with him ten days hence, he, with the true old Castilian frankness, in a friendly manner, asked me to dine with him to-day--an honour I could not refuse. Sister, adieu--Madam, your most obedient--[Exit.
CHARLOTTE
I will wait upon you to the door, brother; I have something particular to say to you. [Exit.
LETITIA, alone.
What a pair!--She the pink of flirtation, he the essence of everything that is outre and gloomy.--I think I have completely deceived Charlotte by my manner of speaking of Mr. Dimple; she's too much the friend of Maria to be confided in. He is certainly rendering himself disagreeable to Maria, in order to break with her and proffer his hand to me. This is what the delicate fellow hinted in our last conversation. [Exit.
SCENE II. The Mall.
Enter JESSAMY.
Positively this Mall is a very pretty place. I hope the cits won't ruin it by repairs. To be sure, it won't do to speak of in the same day with Ranelagh or Vauxhall; however, it's a fine place for a young fellow to display his person to advantage. Indeed, nothing is lost here; the girls have taste, and I am very happy to find they have adopted the elegant London fashion of looking back, after a genteel fellow like me has passed them.--Ah! who comes here? This, by his awkwardness, must be the Yankee colonel's servant. I'll accost him.
Enter JONATHAN.
JESSAMY
Votre tres-humble serviteur, Monsieur. I under- stand Colonel Manly, the Yankee officer, has the honour of your services.
JONATHAN
Sir!--
JESSAMY
I say, Sir, I understand that Colonel Manly has the honour of having you for a servant.
JONATHAN
Servant! Sir, do you take me for a neger,--I am Colonel Manly's waiter.
JESSAMY
A true Yankee distinction, egad, without a differ- ence. Why, Sir, do you not perform all the offices of a servant? do you not even blacken his boots?
JONATHAN
Yes; I do grease them a bit sometimes; but I am a true blue son of liberty, for all that. Father said I should come as Colonel Manly's waiter, to see the world, and all that; but no man shall master me. My father has as good a farm as the colonel.
JESSAMY
Well, Sir, we will not quarrel about terms upon the eve of an acquaintance from which I promise myself so much satisfaction;--therefore, sans ceremonie--
JONATHAN
What?--
JESSAMY
I say I am extremely happy to see Colonel Manly's waiter.
JONATHAN
Well, and I vow, too, I am pretty considerably glad to see you; but what the dogs need of all this out- landish lingo? Who may you be, Sir, if I may be so bold?
JESSAMY
I have the honour to be Mr. Dimple's servant, or, if you please, waiter. We lodge under the same roof, and should be glad of the honour of your acquaintance.
JONATHAN
You a waiter! by the living jingo, you look so top- ping, I took you for one of the agents to Congress.
JESSAMY
The brute has discernment, notwithstanding his appearance.--Give me leave to say I wonder then at your familiarity.
JONATHAN
Why, as to the matter of that, Mr.--; pray, what's your name?
JESSAMY
Jessamy, at your service.
JONATHAN
Why, I swear we don't make any great matter of distinction in our state between quality and other folks.
JESSAMY
This is, indeed, a levelling principle.--I hope, Mr. Jonathan, you have not taken part with the insurgents.
JONATHAN
Why, since General Shays has sneaked off and given us the bag to hold, I don't care to give my opinion; but you'll promise not to tell--put your ear this way--you won't tell?--I vow I did think the sturgeons were right.
JESSAMY
I thought,