The Contrast | Page 9

misfortune?from our cottage with a smile. At a father's command,?I could almost submit to what every female heart?knows to be the most mortifying, to marry a weak?man, and blush at my husband's folly in every company?I visited. But to marry a depraved wretch,?whose only virtue is a polished exterior; who is?actuated by the unmanly ambition of conquering the?defenceless; whose heart, insensible to the emotions?of patriotism, dilates at the plaudits of every unthinking?girl; whose laurels are the sighs and tears of the?miserable victims of his specious behaviour,--can he,?who has no regard for the peace and happiness of?other families, ever have a due regard for the peace?and happiness of his own? Would to heaven that?my father were not so hasty in his temper? Surely,?if I were to state my reasons for declining this match,?he would not compel me to marry a man, whom,?though my lips may solemnly promise to honour, I?find my heart must ever despise. [Exit.
END OF THE FIRST ACT.
ACT II. SCENE I.
Enter CHARLOTTE and LETITIA.
CHARLOTTE [at entering].
BETTY, take those things out of the carriage and?carry them to my chamber; see that you don't tumble?them. My dear, I protest, I think it was the homeliest?of the whole. I declare I was almost tempted to?return and change it.
LETITIA
Why would you take it?
CHARLOTTE
Didn't Mrs. Catgut say it was the most fashionable?
LETITIA
But, my dear, it will never fit becomingly on you.
CHARLOTTE
I know that; but did you not hear Mrs. Catgut?say it was fashionable?
LETITIA
Did you see that sweet airy cap with the white?sprig?
CHARLOTTE
Yes, and I longed to take it; but, my dear, what?could I do? Did not Mrs. Catgut say it was the?most fashionable; and if I had not taken it, was not?that awkward, gawky, Sally Slender, ready to purchase?it immediately?
LETITIA
Did you observe how she tumbled over the things?at the next shop, and then went off without purchasing?anything, nor even thanking the poor man for his?trouble? But, of all the awkward creatures, did you?see Miss Blouze endeavouring to thrust her unmerciful?arm into those small kid gloves?
CHARLOTTE
Ha, ha, ha, ha!
LETITIA
Then did you take notice with what an affected?warmth of friendship she and Miss Wasp met? when?all their acquaintance know how much pleasure they?take in abusing each other in every company.
CHARLOTTE
Lud! Letitia, is that so extraordinary? Why, my?dear, I hope you are not going to turn sentimentalist.?Scandal, you know, is but amusing ourselves with the?faults, foibles, follies, and reputations of our friends;?indeed, I don't know why we should have friends, if?we are not at liberty to make use of them. But no?person is so ignorant of the world as to suppose, because?I amuse myself with a lady's faults, that I am?obliged to quarrel with her person every time we?meet: believe me, my dear, we should have very few?acquaintance at that rate.
SERVANT enters and delivers a letter to CHAR-
LOTTE, and--[Exit.
CHARLOTTE
You'll excuse me, my dear.?[Opens and reads to herself.
LETITIA
Oh, quite excusable.
CHARLOTTE
As I hope to be married, my brother Henry is in?the city.
LETITIA
What, your brother, Colonel Manly?
CHARLOTTE
Yes, my dear; the only brother I have in the world.
LETITIA
Was he never in this city?
CHARLOTTE
Never nearer than Harlem Heights, where he lay?with his regiment.
LETITIA
What sort of a being is this brother of yours? If?he is as chatty, as pretty, as sprightly as you, half the?belles in the city will be pulling caps for him.
CHARLOTTE
My brother is the very counterpart and reverse of?me: I am gay, he is grave; I am airy, he is solid; I?am ever selecting the most pleasing objects for my?laughter, he has a tear for every pitiful one. And?thus, whilst he is plucking the briars and thorns from?the path of the unfortunate, I am strewing my own?path with roses.
LETITIA
My sweet friend, not quite so poetical, and a little?more particular.
CHARLOTTE
Hands off, Letitia. I feel the rage of simile upon?me; I can't talk to you in any other way. My brother?has a heart replete with the noblest sentiments, but?then, it is like--it is like--Oh! you provoking girl,?you have deranged all my ideas--it is like--Oh! I?have it--his heart is like an old maiden lady's bandbox;?it contains many costly things, arranged with?the most scrupulous nicety, yet the misfortune is that?they are too delicate, costly, and antiquated for common?use.
LETITIA
By what I can pick out of your flowery description,?your brother is no beau.
CHARLOTTE
No, indeed; he makes no pretension to the character.?He'd ride, or rather fly, an hundred miles to?relieve a distressed object, or to do a gallant act in the?service of his country; but should you drop your fan?or bouquet in his presence, it is ten to one that some?beau at the farther end of the room would have the?honour of presenting it to you before he had observed?that it fell. I'll tell you one of his antiquated, antigallant?notions. He said once in my presence, in a?room full of company,--would you believe it?--in a?large circle of ladies, that the best evidence a gentleman?could give a young