Abs. Ma’am.

[Turns round.

Lyd. O heavens! Beverley!

Abs. Hush;—hush, my life! softly! be not surprised!

Lyd. I am so astonished! and so terrified! and so overjoyed!— for Heaven’s sake! how came you here?

Abs. Briefly, I have deceived your aunt—I was informed that my new rival was to visit here this evening, and contriving to have him kept away, have passed myself on her for Captain Absolute.

Lyd. O charming! And she really takes you for young Absolute.

Abs. Oh, she’s convinced of it.

Lyd. Ha! ha! ha! I can’t forbear laughing to think how her sagacity is overreached!

Abs. But we trifle with our precious moments—such another opportunity may not occur; then let me conjure my kind, my condescending angel, to fix the time when I may rescue her from undeserving persecution, and with a licensed warmth plead for my reward.

Lyd. Will you then, Beverley, consent to forfeit that portion of my paltry wealth?—that burden on the wings of love?

Abs. Oh, come to me—rich only thus—in loveliness! Bring no portion to me but thy love—’twill be generous in you, Lydia,—for well you know it is the only dower your poor Beverley can repay.

Lyd. How persuasive are his words!—how charming will poverty be with him!

[Aside.

Abs. Ah! my soul, what a life will we then live! Love shall be our idol and support! we will worship him with a monastic strictness; abjuring all worldly toys, to centre every thought and action there. Proud of calamity, we will enjoy the wreck of wealth; while the surrounding gloom of adversity shall make the flame of our pure love show doubly bright. By Heavens! I would fling all goods of fortune from me with a prodigal hand, to enjoy the scene where I might clasp my Lydia to my bosom, and say, the world affords no smile to me but here—[Embracing her.] If she holds out now, the devil is in it!

[Aside.

Lyd. Now could I fly with him to the antipodes! but my persecution is not yet come to a crisis.

[Aside.

Re-enter Mrs. Malaprop, listening.

Mrs. Mal. I am impatient to know how the little hussy deports herself.

[Aside.

Abs. So pensive, Lydia!—is then your warmth abated?

Mrs. Mal. Warmth abated!—so!—she has been in a passion, I suppose.

[Aside.