When ... if ... the lady will appoint a day
For me to wait on you--and her.

_Tresham._ So soon
As I am made acquainted with her thoughts
On your proposal--howsoe'er they lean--
A messenger shall bring you the result.

_Mertoun._ You cannot bind me more to you, my lord.
Farewell till we renew ... I trust, renew
A converse ne'er to disunite again.

_Tresham._ So may it prove!

_Mertoun._ You, lady, you, sir, take
My humble salutation!

_Guendolen and Austin._ Thanks!

_Tresham._ Within there!

[_+Servants+ enter. TRESHAM conducts MERTOUN to the door. Meantime
AUSTIN remarks_,

Here I have an advantage of the Earl,
Confess now! I'd not think that all was safe
Because my lady's brother stood my friend!
Why, he makes sure of her--"do you say, yes"--
"She'll not say, no,"--what comes it to beside?
I should have prayed the brother, "speak this speech,
For Heaven's sake urge this on her--put in this--
Forget not, as you'd save me, t'other thing,--
Then set down what she says, and how she looks,
And if she smiles, and" (in an under breath)
"Only let her accept me, and do you
And all the world refuse me, if you dare!"

_Guendolen._ That way you'd take, friend Austin? What a shame
I was your cousin, tamely from the first
Your bride, and all this fervor's run to waste!
Do you know you speak sensibly to-day?
The Earl's a fool.

_Austin._ Here's Thorold. Tell him so!

_Tresham_ [_returning_]. Now, voices, voices! 'St! the lady's first!
How seems he?--seems he not ... come, faith give fraud
The mercy-stroke whenever they engage!
Down with fraud, up with faith! How seems the Earl?
A name! a blazon! if you knew their worth,
As you will never! come--the Earl?

_Guendolen._ He's young.

_Tresham._ What's she? an infant save in heart and brain.
Young! Mildred is fourteen, remark! And you ...
Austin, how old is she?

_Guendolen._ There's tact for you!
I meant that being young was good excuse
If one should tax him....

_Tresham._ Well?

_Guendolen._ --With lacking wit.

_Tresham._ He lacked wit? Where might he lack wit, so please you?

_Guendolen._ In standing straighter than the steward's rod
And making you the tiresomest harangue,
Instead of slipping over to my side
A