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_Enter CELIA, running._
_Celia._ Oh, my dear Captain! but I didn't know you had company--a thousand pardons--[_Courtesies round._] but, upon my word, I don't know how to apologize for this strange intrusion of mine--Captain, don't be vain, if I make this horrible news of your danger, an excuse for my coming hither.
_Henry._ A thousand thanks for this kind solicitude!--My lord--Sister--give me leave to introduce a lady, who, I hope, will soon honour our family by the dearest tie.
_Miss Dolly B._ [_Without._] Run, husband, or they'll catch us.
_Enter LACKLAND and MISS DOLLY BULL._
_Lack._ Let's rally, and face the enemy.
_Enter SIR JOHN and LADY BULL._
_Sir J. B._ So, you're a pretty jade! but I'll----
[_Advancing._
_Lack._ No abuse.
[_Stops him._
_Sir J. B._ What! not my own daughter?
_Lack._ n.o.body must abuse my wife.
_Sir J. B._ Wife! I shall go mad!--my daughter married to a fellow that I saw this morning in white shoes, and a black s.h.i.+rt?
_Lady B._ Ay, you would have English.
_Sir J. B._ I hope he's a rogue.
[_LACKLAND bows._
_Henry._ Your son-in-law!
_Sir J. B._ If he was myself--I hope he's a rogue--
_Lady B._ Tell me Dolly, how dare you take up with that person?
_Miss Dolly B._ Why, la, mamma! when the Colonel and 'Squire Tallyho left me, I was glad to catch at any body.
_Lack._ What's that you say, Mrs. Lackland?--I'm very much obliged to you--you have done me infinite honour!
[_Makes a low Bow._
_Enter TALLYHO._
_Tall._ Eh, what, have you all got about the winning-post here?
_Miss Dolly B._ Yes, and now, you may canter off to Newmarket.
_Tall._ Lackland, I give you joy of little Ginger, for she was never good, egg, or bird.
_Enter COLONEL EPAULETTE._
_Colonel E._ How do you, good folks, damme? Ah, Miss Dolly coquin, run away!
_Miss Dolly B._ Yes, Colonel, and didn't even wait for my dancing pumps!
_Colonel E._ How is my good Lady de Bull? zounds!
_Lady B._ Sir, if you're a Frenchman, behave like one.
_Colonel E._ I vill never behave myself, damme!
_Tall._ Oh, Captain, you made the betts against my mare--when do we share, my Trojan?
_Henry._ Sir, I don't understand----
_Tall._ Why, didn't I pay forfeit, and let the colonel's Black Prince walk over the course to-day?
_Henry._ And, seriously, did you dare to think that I'd join in such a scandalous affair?
_Tall._ Then you may fling your cap at Celia.
_Henry._ Hus.h.!.+ you laid me five thousand yourself--consent to my marriage with your sister, or I'll proclaim you, not only here, at Fontainbleau, but at every racecourse in England.
_Tall._ I'm had--yes, and tricked, choused, slanged, and banged! Celia, take him against the field--clever--has nicked me, that have nicked hundreds!
_Henry._ I fancy, the first real good ever produced by gaming; our winning is but a decoy, its joys, built upon the grief of others, and our losses stop but in ruin, or dishonour.
_Tall._ May be so; but, as I set out a young pigeon, I'll die an old rook.
_Sir J. B._ But how shall I get this rook [_To LACKLAND._] out of my pigeon-house?
_Colonel E._ Ah, pauvre Lackland! I ave procure de commission for you, in my regiment.
_Lack._ Thank you, Colonel, but while I can raise the price of a drumstick, I'll never draw a sword against my country.
_Sir J. B._ What!--your hand, my Briton!--you shall never want a nail for your hat, in my parlour, at dinner time--you shall post my books, and take the whip hand of my lady's gig on a Sunday.
_Lack._ Drive a gig! My dear dad, you shall rattle up in your vis-a-vis, to the astonishment of all Garlick Hill.
_Sir J. B._ My dearee and I ride, side by side, in a vis-a-vis! ha! ha!
ha!
