Hear me, when I swear that the farm is your own
Through all changes Fortune may make;
The base charge of falsehood I never have known;
This promise I never will break.
ROSE and LUCY. Hear him, when he swears that the farm is our own
Through all changes Fortune may make;
The base charge of falsehood he never has known;
This promise he never will break.
Enter YOUNG BENSON.
YOUNG BENSON. My sister here! Lucy! begone, I command.
SQUIRE. To your home I restore you again.
YOUNG BENSON. No boon I’ll accept from that treacherous hand
As the price of my sister’s fair fame.
SQUIRE. To your home!
YOUNG BENSON (to LUCY.) Hence away!
LUCY. Brother dear, I obey.
SQUIRE. I restore.
YOUNG BENSON. Hence away!
YOUNG BENSON, ROSE and LUCY. Let us leave.
LUCY. He swears it, dear brother.
SQUIRE. I swear it.
YOUNG BENSON. Away!
SQUIRE. I swear it.
YOUNG BENSON. You swear to deceive.
SQUIRE. Hear me, when I swear that the farm is your own
Through all changes Fortune may make.
LUCY and ROSE. Hear him when he swears that the farm is our own.
Through all changes Fortune may make.
YOUNG BENSON. Hear him swear, hear him swear, that the farm is our own
Through all changes Fortune may make.
SQUIRE. The base charge of falsehood I never have known,
This promise I never will break.
LUCY and ROSE. The base charge of falsehood he never has known,
This promise he never will break.
YOUNG BENSON. The base charge of falsehood he often has known
This promise he surely will break.
[Exeunt omnes.
Re-enter FLAM, in a walking-dress.
FLAM. The coast is clear at last. What on earth the conversation can have been, at which Rose was wanted, and I was not, I confess my inability to comprehend; but away with speculation, and now to business.—(Rings.)
Enter Servant.
Pen and ink.
SERVANT. Yes, sir.
[Exit Servant.
FLAM (solus). Nearly all the tenantry will be assembled here at the ball to-night; and if the father of this rustic Dulcinea is reinstated in his farm, he and his people will no doubt be among the number. It will be easy enough to entice the girl into the garden, through the window opening on the lawn; a chaise can be waiting in the quiet lane at the side, and some trusty fellow can slip a hasty note into Norton’s hands informing him of the flight, and naming the place at which he can join us. (Re-enter Servant with pen, ink, taper and two sheets of notepaper; he places them on the table and exit.) I may as well reply to my friend Mr. John Ellis’s obliging favour now, too, by promising that the money shall be forwarded in the course of three days’ post. (Takes the letter from his pocket, and lays it on the table.) Lie you there. First, for Norton’s note.—‘Dear Norton,—knowing your wishes—seized the girl—no blame attach to you. Join us as soon as people have dispersed in search of her in all directions but the right one,—fifteen miles off.’ (Folds it ready for an envelope and lays it by the side of the other letter.) Now for John Ellis. Why, what does the rascal mean by bringing but two sheets of paper? No matter: that affair will keep cool till to-morrow, when I have less business on my hands, and more money in my pockets, I hope. (Crumples the letter he has just written, hastily up, thrusts it into his pocket, and folds the wrong one in the envelope. As he is sealing it
Enter MARTIN, very cautiously.
MARTIN (peeping). There he is, hatching some mysterious and diabolical plot. If I can only get to the bottom of these dreadful designs, I shall immortalise myself. What a lucky dog I am, to be such a successful gleaner of news, and such a confidential person into the bargain, as to be the first to hear that he wanted some trustworthy person. All comes of talking to everybody I meet, and drawing out everything they hear. Capital custom! He don’t see me. Hem! (Coughs very loud, and when FLAM looks round, nods familiarly.) How are you again?
FLAM. How am I again! Who the devil are you?—and what do you want here?
MARTIN. Hush!
FLAM. Eh?
MARTIN. Hush! I’m the man.
FLAM. The man!
MARTIN.