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_Lord W._ My dear creature! how could you think of Fontainbleau, of all places--and at such a time too! so full of English, and fifty people that may know both you and me! Safer, as I advised you, waiting for me at Villeneuve, and, by a cross route, got to Paris.
_Rosa._ Nay, don't be angry with me! if I had remained at all in the village, the abbess might have discovered my retreat; for, though in my noviciate, I dare say, she's highly incensed at my escape.
_Lord W._ Your letter says, you got out of the convent in boy's clothes, ha! ha! ha!
_Rosa._ Yes; and I was e'en obliged to change them before I reached Fontainbleau. Oh, my lord! this is a wicked step of me!
_Lord W._ The impiety was mine, my love! to rob Heaven of an angel--But how unlucky! here, my dear, you've got into the house of this Lapoche--the most busy little c.o.xcomb!
_Rosa._ I wish, indeed, I had been any where else!
_Lord W._ Well, we may get from hence to-night: my death, from that rencontre with your brother, is every where believed.
_Rosa._ My dear lord! now only yours--I know no guide but your opinion.
_Lord W._ My sweet Rosa! though I wasn't to be threatened into a marriage, by the young Chamont, your brother, when he overtook us at Rochester; on my return to England, I shall, with pride, acknowledge my sweet Rosa to be Lady Winlove.
AIR.--LORD WINLOVE.
_Flow'rs their beauties all surrender, When the sun withdraws his ray; Now they s.h.i.+ne in borrow'd splendour, Painted by the beam of day.
With each good fair Eden planted, Ev'ry sweet that sense could move, Pa.s.sion, sighs, though all is granted, No enjoyment without love.
Dearest maid! thy smiles bestowing, Bright and gay, my hours shall be; By this heart, with rapture glowing, Thou art light and love to me._
_Enter NANNETTE._
_Nan._ Oh, madam! madam! here my master has brought in a new lodger with him; the charmingest, beautifulest young officer--our countryman too!--
_Lord W._ Young officer!
_Nan._ I ask pardon, sir; I didn't see you.
_Lord W._ Then I see the necessity for our immediate departure: I'll instantly order a chaise, and remove you, my love, out of this group of jockeys, grooms, peers, and pickpockets.
[_Exit._
_Nan._ Ah, madam! See all the men in the globe, give me an Englishman after all!--This pretty officer--[_Opens the folding Doors wider--HENRY discovered asleep on a Sofa._]--Dear madam, look! asleep--yes, he complained to my master, that he had been up all night.
[_Makes Signs to ROSA, to go and kiss him._
_Rosa._ Oh fie, Nannette!--D'ye hear, Nannette, when that gentleman returns, you'll call me to him.
[_Exit._
_Nan._ Lud, how nice we are!--then I'll win the gloves myself--[_Stealing softly towards him--HENRY stirs._] Oh lud! he's awake!
_Henry._ [_Coming forward._] This travelling by night--thought to have slept in the chaise; but, not a wink----
_Nan._ Did you call, sir?
_Henry._ Who are you, my little countrywoman?
_Nan._ Nanny, sir, at your service: [_Courtesies._]--Master will call me Nannette, though, in the French fas.h.i.+on.
_Henry._ Oh, you're the little English fille de chambre to Monsieur Lapoche, the French tailor?
_Nan._ At your service, sir.
AIR.--NANNETTE.
_Indeed, I'll do the best I can To please so kind a gentleman, You lodge with us, and you shall see, How careful poor Nannette will be: So nice, so neat, so clean your room, With beau-pots for the sweet perfume!
An't please you, sir, When you get up, Your coffee brown, In China cup, Dinner, desert, And bon souper, Sur mon honneur, At night you be, With waxen taper light to bed By poor Nannette, your chambermaid._
_Enter LAPOCHE, gets round, and turns NANNETTE from HENRY._
_Lap._ Ah! here is fine doings in my house!--And you come here vid your vaxen taper, and your caper; your smile and your smirk, on dis English boy--Pardi! I vill knock his head against de--[_Turns to HENRY._] Hope you had a good sleep, sir. [_To NANNETTE._] Get you down stair--I vill tump his nose flat; allez, allez! [_Exit NANNETTE._] I hope you find every ting agreeable, sir--hope n.o.body disturb you, and dat you like your apartements;--here you have all conveniency; here you may have two course and desert; S'il vous plait, you may invite your English friend to drink de bon vin--here in my house you may all get so merry, and so drunk, and laugh and roar, and sing, and knock your fistes against von anoder's head, so friendly, a la mode de Londres--Aha!--you please to valk dis vay, sir; I vill show you your chambre a manger.
_Enter NANNETTE._
_Nan._ Here is----
_Lap._ Go, get you gone. Vat, you come again here, peeping at de men.
_Nan._ Monsieur, I only want----
_Lap._ You vant! Oui, I know vat you vant. Allez, allez! Begar, I shall have no girl to myself--all de girl in my house vill come after dis jolie garcon!
_Nan._ Sir, you won't let me tell you, that Colonel Epaulette has sent to know if his new liveries are finished; and the great English squire, Mr. Tally-ho, has sent for his hunting frock.
_Lap._ Colonel Epaulette and Squire Tally-ho, monsieur, dese are my great customer; dey match de two horse to run on de race to-morrow: Dat Squire Tally-ho is fine man. Ah! I do love to vork for Milor Anglaise!--dis vay, s'il vous plait, monsieur--you vill excuse a me--[_To NANNETTE._] Come, he vill excuse a you too.
[_Exeunt._
SCENE III.
_Another Room at LAPOCHE'S._
_Enter ROSA._
_Rosa._ I wonder what can keep Lord Winlove! I wish we were once upon the road!--this anxiety is tormenting; I long, though why desire, to see England, when all I love, is here?
