[_Exit._
CHARLOTTE. I will wait upon you to the door, brother; I have something
particular to say to you.
[_Exit._
LETITIA [_alone_]. What a pair!--She the pink of flirtation, he the
essence of everything that is _outré_ and gloomy.--I think I have
completely deceived Charlotte by my manner of speaking of Mr. Dimple;
she's too much the friend of Maria to be confided in. He is certainly
rendering himself disagreeable to Maria, in order to break with her and
proffer his hand to me. This is what the delicate fellow hinted in our
last conversation.
[_Exit._
SCENE II. _The Mall._
_Enter JESSAMY._
Positively this Mall is a very pretty place. I hope the cits won't ruin
it by repairs. To be sure, it won't do to speak of in the same day with
Ranelagh or Vauxhall; however, it's a fine place for a young fellow to
display his person to advantage. Indeed, nothing is lost here; the girls
have taste, and I am very happy to find they have adopted the elegant
London fashion of looking back, after a genteel fellow like me has
passed them.--Ah! who comes here? This, by his awkwardness, must be the
Yankee colonel's servant. I'll accost him.
_Enter JONATHAN._
JESSAMY. _Votre très-humble serviteur, Monsieur._ I understand Colonel
Manly, the Yankee officer, has the honour of your services.
JONATHAN. Sir!--
JESSAMY. I say, sir, I understand that Colonel Manly has the honour of
having you for a servant.
JONATHAN. Servant! Sir, do you take me for a neger,--I am Colonel
Manly's waiter.
JESSAMY. A true Yankee distinction, egad, without a difference. Why,
sir, do you not perform all the offices of a servant? do you not even
blacken his boots?
JONATHAN. Yes; I do grease them a bit sometimes; but I am a true blue
son of liberty, for all that. Father said I should come as Colonel
Manly's waiter, to see the world, and all that: but no man shall master
me: my father has as good a farm as the Colonel.
JESSAMY. Well, sir, we will not quarrel about terms upon the eve of an
acquaintance from which I promise myself so much satisfaction;--therefore,
_sans cérémonie_--
JONATHAN. What?--
JESSAMY. I say I am extremely happy to see Colonel Manly's waiter.
JONATHAN. Well, and I vow, too, I am pretty considerably glad to see
you; but what the dogs need of all this outlandish lingo? Who may you
be, sir, if I may be so bold?
JESSAMY. I have the honour to be Mr. Dimple's servant, or, if you
please, waiter. We lodge under the same roof, and should be glad of the
honour of your acquaintance.
JONATHAN. You a waiter! by the living jingo, you look so topping, I took
you for one of the agents to Congress.
JESSAMY. The brute has discernment, notwithstanding his
appearance.--Give me leave to say I wonder then at your familiarity.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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