Fontainbleau - LightNovelsOnl.com
You're reading novel online at LightNovelsOnl.com. Please use the follow button to get notifications about your favorite novels and its latest chapters so you can come back anytime and won't miss anything.
_Lack._ Miss, don't mind me--people say I'm particular--but I'm the most condescending--Bull, be seated.
_Sir J. B._ Bull! I will not be seated.
_Lack._ Yes, she is a fine girl, indeed.
_Sir J. B._ Who, Doll? Yes, Doll's a dev'lish fine girl, and I shall give fourscore thousand pounds with her.
_Lack._ What!--[_Aside._] This may prove a good hit--but such a vulgar family!--Hearkye--pray--[_With Haughtiness and Contempt._] You've kept shop?
_Sir J. B._ Fifteen years--the Gra.s.shopper, on Garlick Hill.
_Lack._ And you sold raisins, and--
_Sir J. B._ Yes, I did, and figs too.
_Lady B._ D'ye hear him?
_Lack._ [_Aside._] Hem! Yes, I'll marry her--a dowdy--he's a seller of figs--yet, fourscore thousand--
_Sir J. B._ And yet, do you know----
_Lack._ [_Puts him back gently._] Softly--Ma'am, [_To MISS DOLLY BULL._]--upon my soul, you're a very fine creature!
_Miss Dolly B._ Sir! [_Aside._] Lord, I like him, vastly!
_Lack._ I say, ma'am, I--but, hold--I had best begin with a compliment to the mother though--Ma'am,--[_Looks first at LADY BULL, then at SIR JOHN._]--Figs! [_Stifling a Laugh._] Ma'am, your dress is extremely elegant--admirably fancied--and----
_Sir J. B._ Yet if I was to advise----
_Lack._ [_Puts him back, without looking at him._] Be quiet, Bull--with so many native charms--difficult to say, whether ornaments grace the person, or the person ornaments the dress.
_Miss Dolly B._ He's vastly well bred, mamma.
_Lady B._ Yes, but speaks English too plain for a gentleman.
_Lack._ Miss Bull's spirit and good humour, is the emblem of English liberty, and your ladys.h.i.+p, [_Bows._] the Ninon de l'Enclos of Britain.
_Sir J. B._ [_Aside._] Ninon-don--talks French--I lent him a guinea too--well!
_Lack._ I presume, ladies, you go to the ball to-night--if disengaged, miss, I should be proud of the honour of your hand.
_Miss Dolly B._ Yes, sir, with all my heart, sir.
_Sir J. B._ Your heart, hussy! didn't you promise Squire Tallyho?
_Miss Dolly B._ True, papa; but then, I hadn't seen this gentleman.
_Lady B._ Haven't I hopes of Colonel Epaulette, for you?
_Miss Dolly B._ Ay, but none of us have ever seen the colonel--he mayn't like me, and, perhaps, I mayn't like him.
_Lady B._ Dolly, you're too ready with your yes.
_Lack._ Consider, if your ladys.h.i.+p had always cruelly said no, Miss Dolly could never have been the admiration of the Court of Versailles.
_Sir J. B._ Yes, and I dare say----
_Lack._ Softly, my honest fellow.
_Sir J. B._ [_Stamping._] What d'ye mean, friend--honest fellow! I don't believe you know who you're talking to!--[_Aside._] Oh, oh! Tallyho is likely to be jockeyed here--[_Calls out._] Bob, if Squire Tallyho comes, show him----
_Lady B._ Show him out of the house.
_Miss Dolly B._ What! the Squire?
_TALLYHO sings without._
_At six in the morning, by most of the clocks, We rode to Kilruddery, in search of a fox. Tol de rol lol._
_Lack._ Here comes Tallyho--Yes, Casey's burgundy has quite done him up.
_Lady B._ Fontainbleau! one might as well be at Ascot Heath.
_Enter TALLYHO, drunk, and singing._
Tall. _Or, I'll leap over you, your blind gelding and all, tol de rol_--Ha! ha! ha! Sir John, I am so sorry you should be hurt by that fall!
_Sir J. B._ Ha! ha! ha! Yes, I see you are very sorry.
_Tall._ But how is your leg?
_Sir J. B._ My leg! it's my forehead.
_Tall._ Ah! ha! my old prize fighter!
_Sir J. B._ I've been fighting your battles here.--
[_LADY BULL looks scornfully at TALLYHO._
_Tall._ Right, Sir John--[_Observing her._] for I see, if the grey mare's the better horse, I lose the filly.
_Lady B._ I can't stay with this savage.
_Lack._ Will your ladys.h.i.+p honour me--Miss Dolly, your lily hand--
[_Takes her Hand._
