358 Hone Polonicce. [April, 



there but tlie object whose presence makes every thing look handsome in my eyes ? 

 ( Goes towards the house.) 



Mrs. K. {eagerly) Stop one moment, I request ! 



Vin. {knocking at the door) Why, what ceremony is this ? Surely you jest ! 



Mrs, K. {pulls him hy the arm and gets before him) Don't go in, I beg ! 



Vin. Why, madam, what is this? just this moment you were in a hurry to offer — 



Mr.<!. K. I did not think of what I was saying. In fact, I'm all in confusion within, 

 and for a long time I have not received any body. 



Vin. Not even your fiiends. 



Mrs. K. Not even my friends ! 



Vin. Not even him who has come on the faith of your oaths to consecrate to you 

 the remainder of his life ? 



Mrs. K. My oaths, sir ! 



Vin. You do not recollect them it appears. 



Mrs. K. Why, in truth my memory is so bad that I do not remember in the evening 

 what 1 say in the morning. 



Vin. What a disappointment ! 



Mrs- K. You are right ; I am wrong to be entering into such details. Tlie night 

 darkens — I hinder you from continuing on your way ! 



Vin. {astonished) What do you say, madam ? 



Mrs. K. I thank you for your visit, and cannot think of detaining you any longer. 

 Good night ! {She slaps tlie door in his face.) 



Although Mrs. Kriwdine's character is not very cleverly managed, it will be 

 owned that there is some humour in this scene. Poor Vincent, left alone, mora- 

 lizes in the usual style on such occasions, on the ingratitude, frivolity and fickle- 

 ness of womaft, until hunger reminds him that he should look out somewhere for 

 supper. He knocks accordingly at the house of Mr. John, who appears with a 

 candle in his hand at his door. 



Mr. J. What do you want? 



Vin. Supper and bed. 



Mr. J. Supper you may have — bed you cannot ; the house is full. 



Vin. What ! have not you any little chamber at all ? 



Mr. J. None. 



Vin, Any comer where I could he do^vn ? 



Mr, J. Oh ! if you only want shelter, there's the barn. 



Vin. The barn ! excellent. 



Mr. J. You shall have clean straw — I can't promise any thing else. 



Vin. Clean straw ! capital- Come, let me have supper as soon as you can. 



Mr. J. You are hungry then ? 



Vin. Hungry as a traveller. 



Mr. J- What do you wish, sir, for supper — venison or partridge? 



Vin. Very well. 



Mr. J. Which will you have — one or both ? 



Vin. Ay ! one and both. 



Mr. J. I must tell you game is dear, 



Vin. I leave it to your honesty : fix the price yourself, and I shall pay you some 

 day or a nother. 



Mr. J. {astonished) What ? 



Vin. W^herever chance conducts me, my dear landlord, I shall send you the money 

 by the speediest way. 



Mr, J. You wish to sup on credit ? 



Vin. In fact, I have no money about me now, but as soon as — 



Mr. J. Aye, aye, I see ! you have no money and want a supper. 



Vin. I say notliing of the gratification you will give me, for the gratification must 

 be greater to him who confers a benefit. 



Mr. J. {whistles) May be so ! 



Vin. I know I must give you great satisfaction by offering you an opportunity of 

 serving your fellow-man. 



Mr, J. I feel infinitely obliged. 



Vin. I might have gone to the other public-house. 



Mr. J. There is still time enough — I do not wish to hinder any body from doing 



hat they please. 



Vin. No ! I had rather that you should enjoy the pleasure of assisting me. 



Mr. ./. The man's mad ! 



