She Stoops to Conquer; Or, The Mistakes of a Night: A ComedyGoldsmith, Oliver
General
She Stoops to Conquer; Or, The Mistakes of a Night: A Comedy
Goldsmith, Oliver
Comedy plays
MISS NEVILLE. What better could be expected from being connected with
such a stupid fool,--and after all the nods and signs I made him?
TONY. By the laws, miss, it was your own cleverness, and not my
stupidity, that did your business. You were so nice and so busy with
your Shake-bags and Goose-greens, that I thought you could never be
making believe.
Enter HASTINGS.
HASTINGS. So, sir, I find by my servant, that you have shown my
letter, and betrayed us. Was this well done, young gentleman?
TONY. Here’s another. Ask miss there, who betrayed you. Ecod, it was
her doing, not mine.
Enter MARLOW.
MARLOW. So I have been finely used here among you. Rendered
contemptible, driven into ill manners, despised, insulted, laughed at.
TONY. Here’s another. We shall have old Bedlam broke loose
presently.
MISS NEVILLE. And there, sir, is the gentleman to whom we all owe
every obligation.
MARLOW. What can I say to him, a mere boy, an idiot, whose ignorance
and age are a protection?
HASTINGS. A poor contemptible booby, that would but disgrace
correction.
MISS NEVILLE. Yet with cunning and malice enough to make himself
merry with all our embarrassments.
HASTINGS. An insensible cub.
MARLOW. Replete with tricks and mischief.
TONY. Baw! damme, but I’ll fight you both, one after the
other----with baskets.
MARLOW. As for him, he’s below resentment. But your conduct, Mr.
Hastings, requires an explanation. You knew of my mistakes, yet would
not undeceive me.
HASTINGS. Tortured as I am with my own disappointments, is this a time
for explanations? It is not friendly, Mr. Marlow.
MARLOW. But, sir----
MISS NEVILLE. Mr. Marlow, we never kept on your mistake till it was
too late to undeceive you.
Enter Servant.
SERVANT. My mistress desires you’ll get ready immediately, madam. The
horses are putting to. Your hat and things are in the next room. We
are to go thirty miles before morning. [Exit Servant.]
MISS NEVILLE. Well, well: I’ll come presently.
MARLOW. (To HASTINGS.) Was it well done, sir, to assist in rendering
me ridiculous? To hang me out for the scorn of all my acquaintance?
Depend upon it, sir, I shall expect an explanation.
HASTINGS. Was it well done, sir, if you’re upon that subject, to
deliver what I entrusted to yourself, to the care of another sir?
MISS NEVILLE. Mr. Hastings! Mr. Marlow! Why will you increase my
distress by this groundless dispute? I implore, I entreat you----
Enter Servant.
SERVANT. Your cloak, madam. My mistress is impatient. [Exit
Servant.]
MISS NEVILLE. I come. Pray be pacified. If I leave you thus, I
shall die with apprehension.
Enter Servant.
SERVANT. Your fan, muff, and gloves, madam. The horses are waiting.
MISS NEVILLE. O, Mr. Marlow! if you knew what a scene of constraint
and ill-nature lies before me, I’m sure it would convert your
resentment into pity.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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