Читать книгу The Complete Works of Jane Austen - Джейн Остин, Сет Грэм-Смит, The griffin classics - Страница 60

Scene the first

a Parlour

enter LORD FITZGERALD and STANLY

StanlyCousin, your servant.FitzgeraldStanly, good morning to you. I hope you slept well last night.StanlyRemarkably well, I thank you.FitzgeraldI am afraid you found your Bed too short. It was bought in my Grandmother's time, who was herself a very short woman & made a point of suiting all her Beds to her own length, as she never wished to have any company in the House, on account of an unfortunate impediment in her speech, which she was sensible of being very disagreable to her inmates.StanlyMake no more excuses, dear Fitzgerald.FitzgeraldI will not distress you by too much civility — I only beg you will consider yourself as much at home as in your Father's house. Remember, "The more free, the more Wellcome."

exit FITZGERALD

StanlyAmiable Youth! "Your virtues, could he imitate How happy would be Stanly's fate!"

exit STANLY

Scene the 2d.

STANLY and MISS FITZGERALD, discovered.

StanlyWhat Company is it you expect to dine with you to Day, Cousin?Miss F. Sir Arthur & Lady Hampton; their Daughter, Nephew & Neice.StanlyMiss Hampton & her Cousin are both Handsome, are they not?Miss F.Miss Willoughby is extreamly so. Miss Hampton is a fine Girl, but not equal to her.StanlyIs not your Brother attached to the Latter?Miss F.He admires her, I know, but I beleive nothing more. Indeed I have heard him say that she was the most beautifull, pleasing, & amiable Girl in the world, & that of all others he should prefer her for his Wife. But it never went any farther, I'm certain.StanlyAnd yet my Cousin never says a thing he does not mean.Miss F.Never. From his Cradle he has always been a strict adherent to Truth.

Exeunt Severally

End of the First Act.