Next Door Neighbours - LightNovelsOnl.com
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_Enter_ ELEANOR.
BLACKMAN. [_Aside._ My lodger! ah! ah! (_To her in a whisper_) You may stay another quarter. [_Exit._
SIR GEORGE.
(_To_ Eleanor) I am glad to see you.--Bluntly--
[_Makes a sign to him to leave the room._
BLUNTLY.
Sir?
[SIR GEORGE _waves his hand and nods his head a second time_.
BLUNTLY.
Sir?----
[_Still affecting not to understand him._
SIR GEORGE.
I bid you go. [_Angrily._
BLUNTLY.
You bid me go, sir?--Oh yes, sir.--Very well, sir.--But indeed, sir, I did not hear you before, sir.--Indeed I did not.
[_Bows, and exit with reluctance, which_ ELEANOR _observes_.
ELEANOR.
Pardon me, sir.--I understood my brother was here, but I find he is not.
SIR GEORGE.
He is but this instant gone, and will return immediately.--Stay then with me till he comes. (_Takes her hand._) Surely you cannot refuse to remain with me a few moments; especially as I have a great deal to say to you that may tend to your advantage.
Why do you cast your eyes with such impatience on that door? (_Goes and locks it._) There, now you may look at it in vain.
ELEANOR.
For heaven sake, why am I locked in?
SIR GEORGE.
Because you should not escape.
ELEANOR.
That makes me resolve I will--Open the door, sir. [_Going to it._
SIR GEORGE.
Nay, listen to me. Your sentiments, I make no doubt, are formed from books.
ELEANOR.
No, from misfortunes--yet more instructive.
SIR GEORGE.
You shall never know misfortune more--you, nor your relations.--But this moment I presented your brother with a sum of money, and he left me with professions of the deepest grat.i.tude.
ELEANOR.
My brother!--Has he received money from you? Ah! he promised me he'd not disgrace his family.
SIR GEORGE.
How! Family, indeed!
ELEANOR.
I cannot remain here a moment longer. Open the door, sir--open it immediately. [_Raising her voice._
BLUNTLY. [_Without._ Sir, sir, sir,--open the door, if you please--you are wanted, sir.
SIR GEORGE.
S'death! who can want me in such haste? [_Opens the door, and appears confounded._
_Enter_ BLUNTLY.
SIR GEORGE.
Well, sir!
BLUNTLY.
----Did you call, sir?
SIR GEORGE.
It was _you_ who called, sir.
BLUNTLY.
Who, I, sir?
SIR GEORGE.
Yes, sir, you--Who wants me?
BLUNTLY. [_Looking at_ ELEANOR.
Perhaps it was _you_ that called, Ma'am.
ELEANOR.
It _was_ I that called: and pray be so kind as to conduct me to my own lodgings.
[BLUNTLY _offers her his hand_.
SIR GEORGE.
Dare not to touch her--or to stay another moment in the room.--Begone.
[BLUNTLY _looks at_ ELEANOR _aside, and points to the pistol; then bows humbly, and retires_.
SIR GEORGE.
And now, my fair Lucretia----
