The School For Scandal [38]
this is one of the Points which I intend Snake shall give you
conviction on--
SIR PETER. I wish I were once satisfied of that--She looks this
way----what a remarkably elegant Turn of the Head she has!
Rowley I'll go to her--
ROWLEY. Certainly--
SIR PETER. Tho' when it is known that we are reconciled, People
will laugh at me ten times more!
ROWLEY. Let--them laugh--and retort their malice only by
showing them you are happy in spite of it.
SIR PETER. Efaith so I will--and, if I'm not mistaken we may yet
be the happiest couple in the country--
ROWLEY. Nay Sir Peter--He who once lays aside suspicion----
SIR PETER. Hold Master Rowley--if you have any Regard for me--
never let me hear you utter anything like a Sentiment. I have had
enough of THEM to serve me the rest of my Life.
[Exeunt.]
SCENE THE LAST.--The Library
SURFACE and LADY SNEERWELL
LADY SNEERWELL. Impossible! will not Sir Peter immediately
be reconciled to CHARLES? and of consequence no longer oppose
his union with MARIA? the thought is Distraction to me!
SURFACE. Can Passion--furnish a Remedy?
LADY SNEERWELL. No--nor cunning either. O I was a Fool, an Ideot--
to league with such a Blunderer!
SURFACE. Surely Lady Sneerwell I am the greatest Sufferer--yet you
see I bear the accident with Calmness.
LADY SNEERWELL. Because the Disappointment hasn't reached your
HEART--your interest only attached you to Maria--had you felt for
her--what I have for that ungrateful Libertine--neither your Temper
nor Hypocrisy could prevent your showing the sharpness of your
Vexation.
SURFACE. But why should your Reproaches fall on me for this
Disappointment?
LADY SNEERWELL. Are not you the cause of it? what had you to bate
in your Pursuit of Maria to pervert Lady Teazle by the way.--had you
not a sufficient field for your Roguery in blinding Sir Peter and
supplanting your Brother--I hate such an avarice of crimes--'tis
an unfair monopoly and never prospers.
SURFACE. Well I admit I have been to blame--I confess I deviated
from the direct Road of wrong but I don't think we're so totally
defeated neither.
LADY SNEERWELL. No!
SURFACE. You tell me you have made a trial of Snake since we met--
and that you still believe him faithful to us--
LADY SNEERWELL. I do believe so.
SURFACE. And that he has undertaken should it be necessary--to swear
and prove that Charles is at this Time contracted by vows and Honour
to your Ladyship--which some of his former letters to you will serve
to support--
LADY SNEERWELL. This, indeed, might have assisted--
SURFACE. Come--come it is not too late yet--but hark! this is
probably my Unkle Sir Oliver--retire to that Room--we'll consult
further when He's gone.--
LADY SNEERWELL. Well but if HE should find you out to--
SURFACE. O I have no fear of that--Sir Peter will hold his tongue
for his own credit sake--and you may depend on't I shall soon Discover
Sir Oliver's weak side!--
LADY SNEERWELL. I have no diffidence of your abilities--only
be constant to one roguery at a time--
[Exit.]
SURFACE. I will--I will--So 'tis confounded hard after such bad
Fortune, to be baited by one's confederate in evil--well at all
events my character is so much better than Charles's, that I
certainly--hey--what!--this is not Sir Oliver--but old Stanley
again!--Plague on't that He should return to teaze me just now--
I shall have Sir Oliver come and find him here--and----
Enter SIR OLIVER
Gad's life, Mr. Stanley--why have you come back to plague me
at this time? you must not stay now upon my word!
SIR OLIVER. Sir--I hear your Unkle Oliver is expected here--
and tho' He has been so penurious to you, I'll try what He'll
do for me--
SURFACE. Sir! 'tis impossible for you to stay now--so I must
beg----come any other time and I promise you you shall be assisted.
SIR OLIVER. No--Sir Oliver and I must be acquainted--
SURFACE. Zounds Sir then [I] insist on your quitting the--
Room directly--
SIR OLIVER.