she stoops to conquer(屈身求爱)-第17章
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from the tail。〃To Anthony Lumpkin； Esquire。〃 It's very odd； I can read
the outside of my letters； where my own name is； well enough； but when I
come to open it； it's allbuzz。 That's hard； very hard； for the inside of
the letter is always the cream of the correspondence。
MRS。 HARDCASTLE。 Ha！ ha！ ha！ Very well； very well。 And so
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my son was too hard for the philosopher。
MISS NEVILLE。 Yes； madam； but you must hear the rest； madam。
A little more this way； or he may hear us。 You'll hear how he puzzled
him again。
MRS。 HARDCASTLE。 He seems strangely puzzled now himself；
methinks。
TONY。 （Still gazing。） A damned up and down hand； as if it was
disguised in liquor。（Reading。） Dear Sir；ay； that's that。 Then there's
an M； and a T； and an S； but whether the next be an izzard； or an R；
confound me； I cannot tell。
MRS。 HARDCASTLE。 What's that； my dear？ Can I give you any
assistance？
MISS NEVILLE。 Pray； aunt； let me read it。 Nobody reads a cramp
hand better than I。 （Twitching the letter from him。） Do you know who it
is from？
TONY。 Can't tell； except from Dick Ginger； the feeder。
MISS NEVILLE。 Ay； so it is。 （Pretending to read。） Dear 'Squire；
hoping that you're in health； as I am at this present。 The gentlemen of the
Shake…bag club has cut the gentlemen of Goose…green quite out of feather。
The oddsumodd battleumlong fightingumhere； here； it's all about
cocks and fighting； it's of no consequence； here； put it up； put it up。
（Thrusting the crumpled letter upon him。）
TONY。 But I tell you； miss； it's of all the consequence in the world。
I would not lose the rest of it for a guinea。 Here； mother； do you make it
out。 Of no consequence！ （Giving MRS。 HARDCASTLE the letter。）
MRS。 HARDCASTLE。 How's this？（Reads。） 〃Dear 'Squire； I'm
now waiting for Miss Neville； with a post…chaise and pair； at the bottom of
the garden； but I find my horses yet unable to perform the journey。 I
expect you'll assist us with a pair of fresh horses； as you promised。
Dispatch is necessary； as the HAG （ay； the hag）； your mother； will
otherwise suspect us！ Yours； Hastings。〃 Grant me patience。 I shall
run distracted！ My rage chokes me。
MISS NEVILLE。 I hope； madam； you'll suspend your resentment for
a few moments； and not impute to me any impertinence； or sinister design；
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that belongs to another。
MRS。 HARDCASTLE。 （Curtseying very low。） Fine spoken；
madam； you are most miraculously polite and engaging； and quite the very
pink of courtesy and circumspection； madam。 （Changing her tone。）
And you； you great ill…fashioned oaf； with scarce sense enough to keep
your mouth shut： were you； too； joined against me？ But I'll defeat all
your plots in a moment。 As for you； madam； since you have got a pair of
fresh horses ready； it would be cruel to disappoint them。 So； if you
please； instead of running away with your spark； prepare； this very
moment； to run off with ME。 Your old aunt Pedigree will keep you
secure； I'll warrant me。 You too； sir； may mount your horse； and guard us
upon the way。 Here； Thomas； Roger； Diggory！ I'll show you； that I
wish you better than you do yourselves。 ＇Exit。＇
MISS NEVILLE。 So now I'm completely ruined。
TONY。 Ay； that's a sure thing。
MISS NEVILLE。 What better could be expected from being
connected with such a stupid fool；and after all the nods and signs I made
him？
TONY。 By the laws； miss； it was your own cleverness； and not my
stupidity； that did your business。 You were so nice and so busy with your
Shake…bags and Goose…greens； that I thought you could never be making
believe。
Enter HASTINGS。
HASTINGS。 So； sir； I find by my servant； that you have shown my
letter； and betrayed us。 Was this well done； young gentleman？
TONY。 Here's another。 Ask miss there； who betrayed you。 Ecod；
it was her doing； not mine。
Enter MARLOW。
MARLOW。 So I have been finely used here among you。
Rendered contemptible； driven into ill manners； despised； insulted；
laughed at。
TONY。 Here's another。 We shall have old Bedlam broke loose
presently。
MISS NEVILLE。 And there； sir； is the gentleman to whom we all
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owe every obligation。
MARLOW。 What can I say to him； a mere boy； an idiot； whose
ignorance and age are a protection？
HASTINGS。 A poor contemptible booby； that would but disgrace
correction。
MISS NEVILLE。 Yet with cunning and malice enough to make
himself merry with all our embarrassments。
HASTINGS。 An insensible cub。
MARLOW。 Replete with tricks and mischief。
TONY。 Baw！ damme； but I'll fight you both； one after the other
with baskets。
MARLOW。 As for him； he's below resentment。 But your conduct；
Mr。 Hastings； requires an explanation。 You knew of my mistakes； yet
would not undeceive me。
HASTINGS。 Tortured as I am with my own disappointments； is this
a time for explanations？ It is not friendly； Mr。 Marlow。
MARLOW。 But； sir
MISS NEVILLE。 Mr。 Marlow； we never kept on your mistake till it
was too late to undeceive you。
Enter Servant。
SERVANT。 My mistress desires you'll get ready immediately；
madam。 The horses are putting to。 Your hat and things are in the next
room。 We are to go thirty miles before morning。 ＇Exit Servant。＇
MISS NEVILLE。 Well； well： I'll come presently。
MARLOW。 （To HASTINGS。） Was it well done； sir； to assist in
rendering me ridiculous？ To hang me out for the scorn of all my
acquaintance？ Depend upon it； sir； I shall expect an explanation。
HASTINGS。 Was it well done； sir； if you're upon that subject； to
deliver what I entrusted to yourself； to the care of another sir？
MISS NEVILLE。 Mr。 Hastings！ Mr。 Marlow！ Why will you
increase my distress by this groundless dispute？ I implore； I entreat you…
…
Enter Servant。
SERVANT。 Your cloak； madam。 My mistress is impatient。 ＇Exit
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Servant。＇
MISS NEVILLE。 I come。 Pray be pacified。 If I leave you thus； I
shall die with apprehension。
Enter Servant。
SERVANT。 Your fan； muff； and gloves； madam。 The
