ABSOLUTE No, upon my soul, I do not. But a devil of a fellow, hey? [Going.] ACRES True, true--but stay--stay, Jack--you may add, that you never saw me in such a rage before--a most devouring rage! ABSOLUTE I will, I will. ACRES Remember, Jack--a determined dog! ABSOLUTE Ay, ay, Fighting Bob! [Exeunt severally.] * * * * * * * Scene II--Mrs. MALAPROP's Lodgings. [Mrs. MALAPROP and LYDIA.] Mrs. MALAPROP Why, thou perverse one!--tell me what you can object to him? Isn't he a handsome man?--tell me that. A genteel man? a pretty figure of a man? LYDIA [Aside.] She little thinks whom she is praising!--[Aloud.] So is Beverley, ma'am. Mrs. MALAPROP No caparisons, miss, if you please. Caparisons don't become a young woman. No! Captain Absolute is indeed a fine gentleman! LYDIA [Aside.] Ay, the Captain Absolute you have seen. Mrs. MALAPROP Then he's so well bred;--so full of alacrity, and adulation!--and has so much to say for himself:--in such good language, too! His physiognomy so grammatical! Then his presence is so noble! I protest, when I saw him, I thought of what Hamlet says in the play:-- "Hesperian curls--the front of Job himself!-- An eye, like March, to threaten at command!-- A station, like Harry Mercury, new----" Something about kissing--on a hill--however, the similitude struck me directly. LYDIA [Aside.] How enraged she'll be presently, when she discovers her mistake! [Enter SERVANT.] SERVANT Sir Anthony and Captain Absolute are below, ma'am. Mrs. MALAPROP Show them up here.---- [Exit SERVANT.] Now, Lydia, I insist on your behaving as becomes a young woman. Show your good breeding, at least, though you have forgot your duty. LYDIA Madam, I have told you my resolution!--I shall not only give him no encouragement, but I won't even speak to, or look at him. [Flings herself into a chair, with her face from the door.] [Enter Sir ANTHONY ABSOLUTE and CAPTAIN ABSOLUTE.] Sir ANTHONY Here we are, Mrs. Malaprop; come to mitigate the frowns of unrelenting beauty,--and difficulty enough I had to bring this fellow.--I don't know what's the matter; but if I had not held him by force, he'd have given me the slip. Mrs. MALAPROP You have infinite trouble, Sir Anthony, in the affair. I am ashamed for the cause!--[Aside to LYDIA.] Lydia, Lydia, rise, I beseech you!--pay your respects! Sir ANTHONY I hope, madam, that Miss Languish has reflected on the worth of this gentleman, and the regard due to her aunt's choice, and my alliance.--[Aside to CAPTAIN ABSOLUTE.] Now, Jack, speak to her. ABSOLUTE [Aside.] What the devil shall I do!--[Aside to Sir ANTHONY.] You see, sir, she won't even look at me whilst you are here. I knew she wouldn't! I told you so. Let me entreat you, sir, to leave us together! [Seems to expostulate with his father.] LYDIA [Aside.] I wonder I ha'n't heard my aunt exclaim yet! sure she can't have looked at him!--perhaps the regimentals are alike, and she is something blind.