The Parent's Assistant Part 19

(_He swallows down a jelly or two--Landlord is going._)

_Enter_ TALBOT.

_Talbot._ Hallo, Landlord! where are you making off so fast? Here, your jellies are all going as fast as yourself.

_Wheel._ (_aside_). Talbot!--I wish I was a hundred miles off.

_Landlord._ You are heartily welcome, Mr. Talbot. A good morning to you, sir; I'm glad to see you--very glad to see you, Mr. Talbot.

_Talb._ Then shake hands, my honest landlord.

(_Talbot, in shaking hands with him, puts a purse into the Landlord's hands._)

[Ill.u.s.tration: _'Then shake hands, my honest landlord.'_]

_Landlord._ What's here? Guineas?

_Talb._ The hunter, you know; since Wheeler won't pay, I must--that's all. Good morning.

_Wheel._ (_aside._) What a fool!

(_Landlord, as Talbot is going catches hold of his coat._)

_Landlord._ Hold, Mr. Talbot, this won't do!

_Talb._ Won't it? Well, then, my watch must go.

_Landlord._ Nay, nay! but you are in such a hurry to pay--you won't hear a man. Half this is enough for your share o' the mischief, in all conscience. Mr. Wheeler, there, had the horse on the same day.

_Wheel._ But Bursal's my witness----

_Talb._ Oh, say no more about witnesses; a man's conscience is always his best witness, or his worst. Landlord, take your money, and no more words.

_Wheel._ This is very genteel of you, Talbot. I always thought you would do the genteel thing, as I knew you to be so generous and considerate.

_Talb._ Don't waste your fine speeches, Wheeler, I advise you, this election time. Keep them for Bursal or Lord John, or some of those who like them. They won't go down with _me_. Good morning to you. I give you notice, I'm going back to Eton as fast as I can gallop; and who knows what plain speaking may do with the Eton lads? I may be captain yet, Wheeler. Have a care! Is my horse ready there?

_Landlord._ Mr. Talbot's horse, there! Mr. Talbot's horse, I say.

_Talbot sings._

He carries weight--he rides a race-- 'Tis for a thousand pound!

(_Exit Talbot._)

_Wheel._ And, dear me! I shall be left behind. A horse for me, pray; a horse for Mr. Wheeler!

(_Exit Wheeler._)

_Landlord_ (_calls very loud_). Mr. Talbot's horse! Hang the hostler!

I'll saddle him myself.

(_Exit Landlord._)

SCENE II

_A Dining-room in the Inn at Salt Hill_

MRS. TALBOT _and_ LOUISA

_Louisa_ (_laughing_). With what an air Mrs. Landlady made her exit!

_Mrs. Talbot._ When I was young, they say, I was proud; but I am humble enough now: these petty mortifications do not vex me.

_Louisa._ It is well my brother was gone before Mrs. Landlady made her _entree_; for if he had heard her rude speech, he would at least have given her the retort courteous.

_Mrs. Talb._ Now tell me honestly, my Louisa----You were, a few days ago, at Bursal House. Since you have left it and have felt something of the difference that is made in this world between splendour and no splendour, you have never regretted that you did not stay there, and that you did not bear more patiently with Miss Bursal's little airs?

_Louisa._ Never for a moment. At first Miss Bursal paid me a vast deal of attention; but, for what reason I know not, she suddenly changed her manner, grew first strangely cold, then condescendingly familiar, and at last downright rude. I could not guess the cause of these variations.

_Mrs. Talb._ (_aside_). I guess the cause too well.

_Louisa._ But as I perceived the lady was out of tune, I was in haste to leave her. I should make a very bad, and, I am sure, a miserable toad eater. I had much rather, if I were obliged to choose, earn my own bread, than live as toad eater with anybody.

_Mrs. Talb._ Fine talking, dear Louisa!

_Louisa._ Don't you believe me to be in earnest, mother? To be sure, you cannot know what I would do, unless I were put to the trial.

_Mrs. Talb._ Nor you either, my dear.

(_She sighs, and is silent._)

_Louisa_ (_takes her mother's hand_). What is the matter, dear mother?

You used to say that seeing my brother always made you feel ten years younger; yet even while he was here, you had, in spite of all your efforts to conceal them, those sudden fits of sadness.

_Mrs. Talb._ The Montem--is not it to-morrow? Ay, but my boy is not sure of being captain.

_Louisa._ No; there is one Wheeler, who, as he says, is most likely to be chosen captain. He has taken prodigious pains to flatter and win over many to his interest. My brother does not so much care about it; he is not avaricious.

_Mrs. Talb._ I love your generous spirit and his! but, alas! my dear, people may live to want, and wish for money, without being avaricious. I would not say a word to Talbot; full of spirits as he was this morning, I would not say a word to him, till after the Montem, of what has happened.

_Louisa._ And what has happened, dear mother? Sit down,--you tremble.

_Mrs. Talb._ (_sits down and puts a letter into Louisa's hand_). Read that, love. A messenger brought me that from town a few hours ago.

_Louisa_ (_reads_). 'By an express from Portsmouth, we hear the _Bombay Castle_ East Indiaman is lost, with all your fortune on board.' _All!_ I hope there is something left for you to live upon.