Fontainbleau Part 9

_Henry._ Oh, I forgot to pay you, that's it; but I wasn't gone.--[_Looking out._] If she mixes in that crowd, I shall certainly lose her--may I venture to leave Rosa in this fellow's care? [_Aside._]

Lepoche, I want to speak to a person yonder, you'll oblige me exceedingly, if you'll not quit this lady till I return.

_Lep._ [_Apart._] I varrant I vil stick close.

_Henry._ Rosa, I shall be back in a few minutes.

[_Exit._

_Lap._ [_Aside._] Ah, dat you may never come back, except to pay a me.

_Rosa._ Cruel Henry! so severely to censure me for a pa.s.sion, of which, your own heart is so susceptible!

_Lap._ Oh my dearest, sweetest----

_Rosa._ Tell me, have you seen the gentleman since?

_Lep._ De pretty gentilhomme dat love a you? oui.

_Rosa._ Where?

_Lep._ Dis morning, in my looking gla.s.s.

_Rosa._ How perplexing! Tell me, man--I mean the gentleman that--has that gentleman been to inquire for me since?

_Lep._ Ah, sly coquin--I have hear all about you--You, 'scape from de convent in man's coat, to de gentleman--den here you run avay vid de captain from de gentleman, and now, I see it in your eye, you vant to run back to de gentleman again.

_Rosa._ You're not much out there.

_Lep._ I see she love me ver much. [_Aside._] I vill go see vere de captain is got--hush you little devil of a sly pretty rogue!

[_Exit._

_Rosa._ How perverse! by loitering here, Lord Winlove and Henry must certainly meet, and I have the worst to dread from their violence of temper.

_Enter LAPOCHE._

_Lap._ All is safe--your captain is facing up to anoder lady--come to my house vid me.

_Rosa._ 'Tis certainly the surest, and speediest means of seeing my lord again--then the necessity of relieving him from the anxiety, into which, my absence must have thrown him--I'm strongly tempted, notwithstanding the impertinence of this fellow.

_Lep._ She ver fond of me, vonce I have her in my power, if she be unkind--up I lock her for de Lady Abbess. [_Aside._] Oh, you pretty pattern for a tailor's wife--I do adore de dimple of your chin--your hand soft as Englis broad cloth--your lip, Genoa velvet, and your eye bright as de Birmingham b.u.t.ton.

SCENE II.

_Another Part of the Course._

_Enter CELIA and HENRY._

_Henry._ Charming creature! since the joy inspired by your conversation at the opera, and the grief of such a hopeless parting, to the instant of this lucky meeting, I have not enjoyed a moment's peace.

_Celia._ You think this a lucky meeting, sir; I congratulate you on your good fortune, and leave you to the enjoyment of your happiness.

[_Courtesies and going, he takes her Hand._

_Henry._ One moment, my love!

_Celia._ Very fine, this; so here my captive presumes to make his conqueror a prisoner of war!

_Henry._ I am your captive, your slave--thus I kiss my chain; [_Kisses her Hand._] and thus on my knee--

_Celia._ Stop, you'll soil your regimentals.

_Henry._ Dear, charming--[_Aside._] I wish I knew her name.

_Celia._ Ha! ha! ha! do forgive me.

_Henry._ I am enchanted with your gaiety, charmed with your beauty--

_Celia._ 'Pray, were you ever enchanted, or charmed before?

_Henry._ But never lov'd till now.

_Celia._ Oh, if you're serious, I must--Come, come, come, I'll talk no more to you; walk that way, and I'll walk this way.

_Henry._ Nay, but my angel--

_Celia._ Well, well, I know all that, but if you really expect to meet me in the field again, you must send me a challenge by my brother--Eh--but I'll not tell you, for you seem to be conceited enough already.

AIR.--CELIA.

_No hurry I'm in to be married, But if it's the will of my brother, I'd much rather stay, Yet, since in the way, I as well may have you as another._

_A strange custom this, to be marry'd, Though follow'd by father and mother, The grave and the gay, But, since in the way, I as well may have you as another._

_A prude, though she long to be marry'd, Endeavours her wishes to smother, I'd give you her nay, But, since in the way, I as well may have you as another._

[Exit.

_Henry._ Charming woman!

_Tallyho._ [_Without._] Yoics! I'll bring in the stragglers--I'm the boy to fill the rooms, and empty the bottles.

_Henry._ Oh, here's Tallyho--as this brother she speaks of, is a man of the turf, probably he knows him--I'll just ask him, and--then for my sister Rosa.