Page:Representative American plays.pdf/75
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
58
THE CONTRAST
cash out in trinkets for his dear Fanny. I want a dozen pretty things myself; have you got the notes with you?
Manly. I shall be ever willing to contribute, as far as it is in my power, to adorn or in any way to please my sister; yet I hope I shall never be obliged for this to sell my notes. I may be romantic, but I preserve them as a sacred deposit. Their full amount is justly due to me, but as embarrassments, the natural consequences of a long war, disable my country from supporting its credit, I shall wait with patience until it is rich enough to discharge them. If that is not in my day, they shall be transmitted as an honourable certificate to posterity, that I have humbly imitated our illustrious Washington, in having exposed my health and life in the service of my country, without reaping any other reward than the glory of conquering in so arduous a contest.
Charlotte. Well said heroics. Why, my dear Henry, you have such a lofty way of saying things, that I protest I almost tremble at the thought of introducing you to the polite circles in the city. The belles would think you were a player run mad, with your head filled with old scraps of tragedy; and as to the beaux, they might admire, because they would not understand you. But, however, I must, I believe, introduce you to two or three ladies of my acquaintance.
Letitia. And that will make him acquainted with thirty or forty beaux.
Charlotte. Oh! brother, you don't know what a fund of happiness you have in store.
Manly. I fear, sister, I have not refinement sufficient to enjoy it.
Charlotte. Oh! you cannot fail being pleased.
Letitia. Our ladies are so delicate and dressy.
Charlotte. And our beaux so dressy and delicate.
Letitia. Our ladies chat and flirt so agreeably.
Charlotte. And our beaux simper and bow so gracefully.
Letitia. With their hair so trim and neat.
Charlotte. And their faces so soft and sleek.
Letitia. Their buckles so tonish and bright.
Charlotte. And their hands so slender and white.
Letitia. I vow, Charlotte, we are quite poetical.
Charlotte. And then, brother, the faces of the beaux are of such a lily-white hue! None of that horrid robustness of constitution, that vulgar corn-fed glow of health, which can only serve to alarm an unmarried lady with apprehension, and prove a melancholy memento to a married one, that she can never hope for the happiness of being a widow. I will say this to the credit of our city beaux, that such is the delicacy of their complexion, dress, and address, that, even had I no reliance upon the honour of the dear Adonises, I would trust myself in any possible situation with them, without the least apprehensions of rudeness.
Manly. Sister Charlotte!
Charlotte. Now, now, now, brother (interrupting him), now don't go to spoil my mirth with a dash of your gravity; I am so glad to see you, I am in tiptop spirits. Oh! that you could be with us at a little snug party. There is Billy Simper, Jack Chaffe, and Colonel Van Titter, Miss Promonade, and the two Miss Tambours, sometimes make a party, with some other ladies, in a side-box at the play. Everything is conducted with such decorum. First we bow round to the company in general, then to each one in particular, then we have so many inquiries after each other's health, and we are so happy to meet each other, and it is so many ages since we last had that pleasure, <and, if a married lady is in company, we have such a sweet dissertation upon her son Bobby's chin-cough> then the curtain rises, then our sensibility is all awake, and then, by the mere force of apprehension, we torture some harmless expression into a double meaning, which the poor author never dreamt of, and then we have recourse to our fans, and then we blush, and then the gentlemen jog one another, peep under the fan, and make the prettiest remarks; and then we giggle and they simper, and they giggle and we simper, and then the curtain drops, and then for nuts and oranges, and then we bow, and it's pray, Ma'am, take it, and pray, Sir, keep it, and oh! not for the world, Sir; and then the curtain rises again, and then we blush and giggle and simper and bow all over again. Oh! the sentimental charms of a