she stoops to conquer(屈身求爱)-第21章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
visit； and my education； I hope； not inferior； what are these advantages
without equal affluence？ I must remain contented with the slight
approbation of imputed merit； I must have only the mockery of your
addresses； while all your serious aims are fixed on fortune。
Enter HARDCASTLE and SIR CHARLES from behind。
SIR CHARLES。 Here； behind this screen。
HARDCASTLE。 Ay； ay； make no noise。 I'll engage my Kate
covers him with confusion at last。
MARLOW。 By heavens； madam！ fortune was ever my smallest
consideration。 Your beauty at first caught my eye； for who could see that
without emotion？ But every moment that I converse with you steals in
some new grace； heightens the picture； and gives it stronger expression。
What at first seemed rustic plainness； now appears refined simplicity。
What seemed forward assurance； now strikes me as the result of
courageous innocence and conscious virtue。
SIR CHARLES。 What can it mean？ He amazes me！
HARDCASTLE。 I told you how it would be。 Hush！
MARLOW。 I am now determined to stay； madam； and I have too
good an opinion of my father's discernment； when he sees you； to doubt
his approbation。
MISS HARDCASTLE。 No； Mr。 Marlow； I will not； cannot detain
you。 Do you think I could suffer a connexion in which there is the
smallest room for repentance？ Do you think I would take the mean
70
… Page 71…
〃SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER〃
advantage of a transient passion； to load you with confusion？ Do you
think I could ever relish that happiness which was acquired by lessening
yours？
MARLOW。 By all that's good； I can have no happiness but what's in
your power to grant me！ Nor shall I ever feel repentance but in not
having seen your merits before。 I will stay even contrary to your wishes；
and though you should persist to shun me； I will make my respectful
assiduities atone for the levity of my past conduct。
MISS HARDCASTLE。 Sir； I must entreat you'll desist。 As our
acquaintance began； so let it end； in indifference。 I might have given an
hour or two to levity； but seriously； Mr。 Marlow； do you think I could ever
submit to a connexion where I must appear mercenary； and you imprudent？
Do you think I could ever catch at the confident addresses of a secure
admirer？
MARLOW。 （Kneeling。） Does this look like security？ Does this
look like confidence？ No； madam； every moment that shows me your
merit； only serves to increase my diffidence and confusion。 Here let me
continue
SIR CHARLES。 I can hold it no longer。 Charles； Charles； how hast
thou deceived me！ Is this your indifference； your uninteresting
conversation？
HARDCASTLE。 Your cold contempt； your formal interview！
What have you to say now？
MARLOW。 That I'm all amazement！ What can it mean？
HARDCASTLE。 It means that you can say and unsay things at
pleasure： that you can address a lady in private； and deny it in public： that
you have one story for us； and another for my daughter。
MARLOW。 Daughter！This lady your daughter？
HARDCASTLE。 Yes； sir； my only daughter； my Kate； whose else
should she be？
MARLOW。 Oh； the devil！
MISS HARDCASTLE。 Yes； sir； that very identical tall squinting
lady you were pleased to take me for （courtseying）； she that you addressed
as the mild； modest； sentimental man of gravity； and the bold； forward；
71
… Page 72…
〃SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER〃
agreeable Rattle of the Ladies' Club。 Ha！ ha！ ha！
MARLOW。 Zounds！ there's no bearing this； it's worse than death！
MISS HARDCASTLE。 In which of your characters； sir； will you
give us leave to address you？ As the faltering gentleman； with looks on
the ground； that speaks just to be heard； and hates hypocrisy； or the loud
confident creature； that keeps it up with Mrs。 Mantrap； and old Miss Biddy
Buckskin； till three in the morning？ Ha！ ha！ ha！
MARLOW。 O； curse on my noisy head。 I never attempted to be
impudent yet； that I was not taken down。 I must be gone。
HARDCASTLE。 By the hand of my body； but you shall not。 I see
it was all a mistake； and I am rejoiced to find it。 You shall not； sir； I tell
you。 I know she'll forgive you。 Won't you forgive him； Kate？ We'll
all forgive you。 Take courage； man。 （They retire； she tormenting him；
to the back scene。）
Enter MRS。 HARDCASTLE and Tony。
MRS。 HARDCASTLE。 So； so； they're gone off。 Let them go； I
care not。
HARDCASTLE。 Who gone？
MRS。 HARDCASTLE。 My dutiful niece and her gentleman； Mr。
Hastings； from town。 He who came down with our modest visitor here。
SIR CHARLES。 Who； my honest George Hastings？ As worthy a
fellow as lives； and the girl could not have made a more prudent choice。
HARDCASTLE。 Then； by the hand of my body； I'm proud of the
connexion。
MRS。 HARDCASTLE。 Well； if he has taken away the lady； he has
not taken her fortune； that remains in this family to console us for her loss。
HARDCASTLE。 Sure； Dorothy； you would not be so mercenary？
MRS。 HARDCASTLE。 Ay； that's my affair； not yours。
HARDCASTLE。 But you know if your son； when of age； refuses to
marry his cousin； her whole fortune is then at her own disposal。
MRS。 HARDCASTLE。 Ay； but he's not of age； and she has not
thought proper to wait for his refusal。
Enter HASTINGS and MISS NEVILLE。
MRS。 HARDCASTLE。 （Aside。） What； returned so soon！ I
72
… Page 73…
〃SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER〃
begin not to like it。
HASTINGS。 （To HARDCASTLE。） For my late attempt to fly off
with your niece let my present confusion be my punishment。 We are now
come back； to appeal from your justice to your humanity。 By her father's
consent； I first paid her my addresses； and our passions were first founded
in duty。
MISS NEVILLE。 Since his death； I have been obliged to stoop to
dissimulation to avoid oppression。 In an hour of levity； I was ready to
give up my fortune to secure my choice。 But I am now recovered from
the delusion； and hope from your tenderness what is denied me from a
nearer connexion。
MRS。 HARDCASTLE。 Pshaw； pshaw！ this is all but the whining
end of a modern novel。
HARDCASTLE。 Be it what it will； I'm glad they're come back to
reclaim their due。 Come hither； Tony； boy。 Do you refuse this lady's
hand whom I now offer you
