The Contrast [21]
Sir! No person more approves of an inter- course between the sexes than I do. Female conver- sation softens our manners, whilst our discourse, from the superiority of our literary advantages, improves their minds. But, in our young country, where there is no such thing as gallantry, when a gentleman speaks of love to a lady, whether he mentions marriage or not, she ought to conclude either that he meant to in- sult her or that his intentions are the most serious and honourable. How mean, how cruel, is it, by a thou- sand tender assiduities, to win the affections of an ami- able girl, and, though you leave her virtue unspotted, to betray her into the appearance of so many tender partialities, that every man of delicacy would suppress his inclination towards her, by supposing her heart engaged! Can any man, for the trivial gratification of his leisure hours, affect the happiness of a whole life! His not having spoken of marriage may add to his perfidy, but can be no excuse for his conduct.
DIMPLE
Sir, I admire your sentiments;--they are mine. The light observations that fell from me were only a principle of the tongue; they came not from the heart; my practice has ever disapproved these principles.
MANLY
I believe you, Sir. I should with reluctance sup- pose that those pernicious sentiments could find ad- mittance into the heart of a gentleman.
DIMPLE
I am now, Sir, going to visit a family, where, if you please, I will have the honour of introducing you. Mr. Manly's ward, Miss Letitia, is a young lady of immense fortune; and his niece, Miss Charlotte Manly, is a young lady of great sprightliness and beauty.
MANLY
That gentleman, Sir, is my uncle, and Miss Manly my sister.
DIMPLE
The devil she is! [Aside.] Miss Manly your sister, Sir? I rejoice to hear it, and feel a double pleasure in being known to you.--Plague on him! I wish he was at Boston again, with all my soul. [Aside.]
MANLY
Come, Sir, will you go?
DIMPLE
I will follow you in a moment, Sir. [Exit Manly.] Plague on it! this is unlucky. A fighting brother is a cursed appendage to a fine girl. Egad! I just stopped in time; had he not discovered himself, in two minutes more I should have told him how well I was with his sister. Indeed, I cannot see the satisfac- tion of an intrigue, if one can't have the pleasure of communicating it to our friends. [Exit.
END OF THE THIRD ACT.
ACT IV. SCENE I.
CHARLOTTE'S Apartment.
CHARLOTTE leading in MARIA.
CHARLOTTE
THIS is so kind, my sweet friend, to come to see me at this moment. I declare, if I were going to be married in a few days, as you are, I should scarce have found time to visit my friends.
MARIA
Do you think, then, that there is an impropriety in it?--How should you dispose of your time?
CHARLOTTE
Why, I should be shut up in my chamber; and my head would so run upon--upon--upon the solemn ceremony that I was to pass through!--I declare, it would take me above two hours merely to learn that little monosyllable--Yes. Ah! my dear, your senti- mental imagination does not conceive what that little tiny word implies.
MARIA Spare me your raillery, my sweet friend; I should love your agreeable vivacity at any other time.
CHARLOTTE
Why, this is the very time to amuse you. You grieve me to see you look so unhappy.
MARIA
Have I not reason to look so?
CHARLOTTE
What new grief distresses you?
MARIA
Oh! how sweet it is, when the heart is borne down with misfortune, to recline and repose on the bosom of friendship! Heaven knows that, although it is im- proper for a young lady to praise a gentleman, yet I have ever concealed Mr. Dimple's foibles, and spoke of him as of one whose reputation I expected would be linked with mine; but his late conduct towards me has turned my coolness into contempt. He behaves as if he meant to insult and disgust me; whilst my father, in the last conversation on the subject of our marriage, spoke of it as a matter which lay near his
DIMPLE
Sir, I admire your sentiments;--they are mine. The light observations that fell from me were only a principle of the tongue; they came not from the heart; my practice has ever disapproved these principles.
MANLY
I believe you, Sir. I should with reluctance sup- pose that those pernicious sentiments could find ad- mittance into the heart of a gentleman.
DIMPLE
I am now, Sir, going to visit a family, where, if you please, I will have the honour of introducing you. Mr. Manly's ward, Miss Letitia, is a young lady of immense fortune; and his niece, Miss Charlotte Manly, is a young lady of great sprightliness and beauty.
MANLY
That gentleman, Sir, is my uncle, and Miss Manly my sister.
DIMPLE
The devil she is! [Aside.] Miss Manly your sister, Sir? I rejoice to hear it, and feel a double pleasure in being known to you.--Plague on him! I wish he was at Boston again, with all my soul. [Aside.]
MANLY
Come, Sir, will you go?
DIMPLE
I will follow you in a moment, Sir. [Exit Manly.] Plague on it! this is unlucky. A fighting brother is a cursed appendage to a fine girl. Egad! I just stopped in time; had he not discovered himself, in two minutes more I should have told him how well I was with his sister. Indeed, I cannot see the satisfac- tion of an intrigue, if one can't have the pleasure of communicating it to our friends. [Exit.
END OF THE THIRD ACT.
ACT IV. SCENE I.
CHARLOTTE'S Apartment.
CHARLOTTE leading in MARIA.
CHARLOTTE
THIS is so kind, my sweet friend, to come to see me at this moment. I declare, if I were going to be married in a few days, as you are, I should scarce have found time to visit my friends.
MARIA
Do you think, then, that there is an impropriety in it?--How should you dispose of your time?
CHARLOTTE
Why, I should be shut up in my chamber; and my head would so run upon--upon--upon the solemn ceremony that I was to pass through!--I declare, it would take me above two hours merely to learn that little monosyllable--Yes. Ah! my dear, your senti- mental imagination does not conceive what that little tiny word implies.
MARIA Spare me your raillery, my sweet friend; I should love your agreeable vivacity at any other time.
CHARLOTTE
Why, this is the very time to amuse you. You grieve me to see you look so unhappy.
MARIA
Have I not reason to look so?
CHARLOTTE
What new grief distresses you?
MARIA
Oh! how sweet it is, when the heart is borne down with misfortune, to recline and repose on the bosom of friendship! Heaven knows that, although it is im- proper for a young lady to praise a gentleman, yet I have ever concealed Mr. Dimple's foibles, and spoke of him as of one whose reputation I expected would be linked with mine; but his late conduct towards me has turned my coolness into contempt. He behaves as if he meant to insult and disgust me; whilst my father, in the last conversation on the subject of our marriage, spoke of it as a matter which lay near his