Page:Miscellaneous Plays 1.pdf/286

266

No, no! I do mean to make an apology to the old lady.—Ha! ha! ha! tho' I can't help laughing when I think how I have cheated that wonderful piece of goodness and circumspection. I must coax her a little to bring round the old fellow, my father-in-law, for I must have a brace of thousands to begin with immediately.

Yes, you are perfectly right to make as much of him as you can. (Sir John leans thoughtfully against the side scene, and Worshipton struts conceitedly up and down, whilst Miss Martin and Hannah come forward from the bottom of the stage, engaged in conversation.)

So you see, my dear Mary, you must just tell my aunt that he ran away with me, and I could not help it. For, O la! he is so in love with me you can't think! And do you know we were married by such a queer-looking man: he had fifteen holes in his cassock, for I counted them all over the time of the service. And do you know, when we came to the church door, Mr. Worshipton had never a ring to put upon my finger. And do you know he borrowed an old ugly silver one of a woman who sold ballads by the gate, and gave her half-a-guinea for it, tho' it is not worth a sixpence. But