Sir ANTHONY I say, sir, I won't stir a foot yet! Mrs. MALAPROP I am sorry to say, Sir Anthony, that my affluence over my niece is very small.--[Aside to LYDIA.] Turn round, Lydia: I blush for you! Sir ANTHONY May I not flatter myself, that Miss Languish will assign what cause of dislike she can have to my son!--[Aside to CAPTAIN ABSOLUTE.] Why don't you begin, Jack?--Speak, you puppy--speak! Mrs. MALAPROP It is impossible, Sir Anthony, she can have any. She will not say she has.--[Aside to LYDIA.] Answer, hussy! why don't you answer? Sir ANTHONY Then, madam, I trust that a childish and hasty predilection will be no bar to Jack's happiness.--[Aside to CAPTAIN ABSOLUTE.] Zounds! sirrah! why don't you speak? LYDIA [Aside.] I think my lover seems as little inclined to conversation as myself.--How strangely blind my aunt must be! ABSOLUTE Hem! hem! madam--hem!--[Attempts to speak, then returns to Sir ANTHONY.] Faith! sir, I am so confounded!--and--so--so--confused!--I told you I should be so, sir--I knew it.--The--the--tremor of my passion entirely takes away my presence of mind. Sir ANTHONY But it don't take away your voice, fool, does it?--Go up, and speak to her directly! [CAPTAIN ABSOLUTE makes signs to Mrs. MALAPROP to leave them together.] Mrs. MALAPROP Sir Anthony, shall we leave them together?--[Aside to LYDIA.] Ah! you stubborn little vixen! Sir ANTHONY Not yet, ma'am, not yet!--[Aside to CAPTAIN ABSOLUTE.] What the devil are you at? unlock your jaws, sirrah, or---- ABSOLUTE [Aside.] Now Heaven send she may be too sullen to look round!--I must disguise my voice.--[Draws near LYDIA, and speaks in a low hoarse tone.] Will not Miss Languish lend an ear to the mild accents of true love? Will not---- Sir ANTHONY What the devil ails the fellow? why don't you speak out?--not stand croaking like a frog in a quinsy! ABSOLUTE The--the--excess of my awe, and my--my--my modesty, quite choke me! Sir ANTHONY Ah! your modesty again!--I'll tell you what, Jack; if you don't speak out directly, and glibly too, I shall be in such a rage!--Mrs. Malaprop, I wish the lady would favour us with something more than a side-front. [Mrs. MALAPROP seems to chide LYDIA.] ABSOLUTE [Aside.] So all will out, I see!--[Goes up to LYDIA, speaks softly.] Be not surprised, my Lydia, suppress all surprise at present. LYDIA [Aside.] Heavens! 'tis Beverley's voice! Sure he can't have imposed on Sir Anthony too!--[Looks round by degrees, then starts up.] Is this possible!--my Beverley!--how can this be?--my Beverley? ABSOLUTE [Aside.] Ah! 'tis all over. Sir ANTHONY Beverley!--the devil--Beverley!--What can the girl mean?--this is my son, Jack Absolute. Mrs. MALAPROP For shame, hussy! for shame! your head runs so on that fellow, that you have him always in your eyes!--beg Captain Absolute's pardon directly. LYDIA I see no Captain Absolute, but my loved Beverley! Sir ANTHONY Zounds! the girl's mad!--her brain's turned by reading.