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daughter as good as told me so。
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SIR CHARLES。 But girls are apt to flatter themselves； you know。
HARDCASTLE。 I saw him grasp her hand in the warmest manner
myself； and here he comes to put you out of your IFS； I warrant him。
Enter MARLOW。
MARLOW。 I come； sir； once more； to ask pardon for my strange
conduct。 I can scarce reflect on my insolence without confusion。
HARDCASTLE。 Tut； boy； a trifle！ You take it too gravely。 An
hour or two's laughing with my daughter will set all to rights again。
She'll never like you the worse for it。
MARLOW。 Sir； I shall be always proud of her approbation。
HARDCASTLE。 Approbation is but a cold word； Mr。 Marlow； if I
am not deceived； you have something more than approbation thereabouts。
You take me？
MARLOW。 Really； sir； I have not that happiness。
HARDCASTLE。 Come； boy； I'm an old fellow； and know what's
what as well as you that are younger。 I know what has passed between
you； but mum。
MARLOW。 Sure； sir； nothing has passed between us but the most
profound respect on my side； and the most distant reserve on hers。 You
don't think； sir； that my impudence has been passed upon all the rest of the
family。
HARDCASTLE。 Impudence！ No； I don't say thatnot quite
impudencethough girls like to be played with； and rumpled a little too；
sometimes。 But she has told no tales； I assure you。
MARLOW。 I never gave her the slightest cause。
HARDCASTLE。 Well； well； I like modesty in its place well enough。
But this is over…acting； young gentleman。 You may be open。 Your
father and I will like you all the better for it。
MARLOW。 May I die； sir； if I ever
HARDCASTLE。 I tell you； she don't dislike you； and as I'm sure you
like her
MARLOW。 Dear sirI protest； sir
HARDCASTLE。 I see no reason why you should not be joined as
fast as the parson can tie you。
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MARLOW。 But hear me； sir
HARDCASTLE。 Your father approves the match； I admire it； every
moment's delay will be doing mischief。 So
MARLOW。 But why won't you hear me？ By all that's just and true；
I never gave Miss Hardcastle the slightest mark of my attachment； or even
the most distant hint to suspect me of affection。 We had but one
interview； and that was formal； modest； and uninteresting。
HARDCASTLE。 （Aside。） This fellow's formal modest impudence
is beyond bearing。
SIR CHARLES。 And you never grasped her hand； or made any
protestations？
MARLOW。 As Heaven is my witness； I came down in obedience to
your commands。 I saw the lady without emotion； and parted without
reluctance。 I hope you'll exact no farther proofs of my duty； nor prevent
me from leaving a house in which I suffer so many mortifications。
＇Exit。＇
SIR CHARLES。 I'm astonished at the air of sincerity with which he
parted。
HARDCASTLE。 And I'm astonished at the deliberate intrepidity of
his assurance。
SIR CHARLES。 I dare pledge my life and honour upon his truth。
HARDCASTLE。 Here comes my daughter； and I would stake my
happiness upon her veracity。
Enter MISS HARDCASTLE。
HARDCASTLE。 Kate； come hither； child。 Answer us sincerely
and without reserve： has Mr。 Marlow made you any professions of love
and affection？
MISS HARDCASTLE。 The question is very abrupt； sir。 But since
you require unreserved sincerity； I think he has。
HARDCASTLE。 （To SIR CHARLES。） You see。
SIR CHARLES。 And pray； madam； have you and my son had more
than one interview？
MISS HARDCASTLE。 Yes； sir； several。
HARDCASTLE。 （To SIR CHARLES。） You see。
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SIR CHARLES。 But did be profess any attachment？
MISS HARDCASTLE。 A lasting one。
SIR CHARLES。 Did he talk of love？
MISS HARDCASTLE。 Much； sir。
SIR CHARLES。 Amazing！ And all this formally？
MISS HARDCASTLE。 Formally。
HARDCASTLE。 Now； my friend； I hope you are satisfied。
SIR CHARLES。 And how did he behave； madam？
MISS HARDCASTLE。 As most profest admirers do： said some civil
things of my face； talked much of his want of merit； and the greatness of
mine； mentioned his heart； gave a short tragedy speech； and ended with
pretended rapture。
SIR CHARLES。 Now I'm perfectly convinced； indeed。 I know his
conversation among women to be modest and submissive： this forward
canting ranting manner by no means describes him； and； I am confident；
he never sat for the picture。
MISS HARDCASTLE。 Then； what； sir； if I should convince you to
your face of my sincerity？ If you and my papa； in about half an hour；
will place yourselves behind that screen； you shall hear him declare his
passion to me in person。
SIR CHARLES。 Agreed。 And if I find him what you describe； all
my happiness in him must have an end。 ＇Exit。＇
MISS HARDCASTLE。 And if you don't find him what I describeI
fear my happiness must never have a beginning。 ＇Exeunt。＇
SCENE changes to the back of the Garden。
Enter HASTINGS。
HASTINGS。 What an idiot am I； to wait here for a fellow who
probably takes a delight in mortifying me。 He never intended to be
punctual； and I'll wait no longer。 What do I see？ It is he！ and perhaps
with news of my Constance。
Enter Tony； booted and spattered。
HASTINGS。 My honest 'squire！ I now find you a man of your
word。 This looks like friendship。
TONY。 Ay； I'm your friend； and the best friend you have in the world；
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