me to your lady. Thou'rt the fittest fellow in the world to be a master of the ceremonies to a conjurer. Nabby, Nabby, whither so fast, child? Keep your hands to yourself. I'm going to call the steward to my lady. را I TINSEL. What, Goodman Two-fold? I met him walking with a strange old fellow yonder. I suppose he belongs to the family too. He looks very antique. He must be some of the furniture of this old mansion, house. What does the man mean? Don't think to palm me, as you do my lady. Prithee, Nab, tell me one thing; what's the reason thou art my enemy? ABIGAIL. Marry, because I'm a friend to my lady. TINSEL. Dost thou see any thing about me thou dost not like? Come hither, hussy, give me a kiss. Don't be ill-natur'd. ABIGAIL. Sir, I know how to be civil. [Kisses her.]This rogue will carry off my lady, if I don't take care. TINSEL [Aside. Thy lips are as soft as velvet, Abigail. I must get thee a husband. ABIGAIL. Ay, now you don't speak idly, I can talk to you.. TINSEL. I have one in my eye for thee. Dost thou love a young lusty son of a whore? .10In the Horse-Guards But he has one fault I must tell thee of. If thou canst bear with that, he's a man for thy purpose. or VP 61 510шI O. SVRABIGAIL. Pray, Mr. Tinsel, what may that be? hizo.] TINSEL. He's but five and twenty years old. ABIGAIL. 'Tis no matter for his age, if he has been well educated. TINSEL. No man better, child; he'll tie a wig, toss a die, make a pass, and swear with such a grace as would make thy heart leap to hear him. ABIGAIL. Half these accomplishments will do, provided he Pray what has he?. has an estate Not a farthing. TINSEL. ABIGAIL. Pax on him, what do I give him the hearing for! TINSEL. But as for that I would make it up to him. [Aside. Why, look ye, child, as soon as I have married thy lady, I design to discard this old prig of a steward, and to put this honest gentleman, I am speaking of, into his place. ABIGAIL. This fellow's a fool I'll have no more to say to him. [Aside.]Hark! my lady's a coming! TINSEL Depend upon it, Nab, I'll remember my promise. 1 ABIGAIL. Ay, so will I too to your cost. TINSEL. [Aside. {Exit Abigail. But I My dear is purely fitted up with a maid shall rid the house of her. ENTER LADY. LADY. Oh, Mr. Tinsel, I am glad to meet you here. I am going to give you an entertainment, that won't be disagreeable to a man of wit and pleasure of the townThere may be something diverting in a conversation between a conjurer and this conceited ass. [Aside. TINSEL. She loves me to distraction, I see that. [Aside.]— Prithee, widow, explain thyself. SEVE LADY. You must know here is a strange sort of a man come to town, who undertakes to free the house from this disturbance. The steward believes him a conjurer. TINSEL. Ay, thy steward is a deep one! LADY. He's to be here immediately. It is indeed an odd figure of a man. TINSEL. Oh! I warrant you he has studied the black art! Ha ha ha! Is he not an Oxford scholar? -Widow, thy house is the most extraordinarily inhabited of any widow's this day in Christendom. I think thy four chief domestics are-a wither'd Abigail-a superannuated steward—a ghost-and a conjurer. LADY, mimicking Tinsel. And you would have it inhabited by a fifth, who is a more extraordinary person than any of all these four. TINSEL. It's a sure sign a woman loves you when she imitates your manner. [Aside.]-Thou'rt very smart, my dear. But see! smoke the doctor. ENTER VELLUM, and SIR GEORGE in his conjurer's habit. VELLUM. I will introduce this profound person to your ladyship, and then leave him with you Sir, this is her ho--nour, [Exit Vellum. That dear I could weep [Aside, walking in a musing posture.] woman! The sight of her unmans me. for tenderness, did not I, at the same time, feel an indignation rise in me, to see that wretch with her: and yet I cannot but smile to see her in the company of her first and second husband at the same time. LADY. Mr. Tinsel, do you speak to him; you are us'd to the company of men of learning. |