-mouthed, ugly creature!

CHARLOTTE. But her fortune may have charms?

DIMPLE. Not to a heart like mine. The man, who has been blessed with the
good opinion of my Charlotte, must despise the allurements of fortune.

CHARLOTTE. I am satisfied.

DIMPLE. Let us think no more on the odious subject, but devote the
present hour to happiness.

CHARLOTTE. Can I be happy when I see the man I prefer going to be
married to another?

DIMPLE. Have I not already satisfied my charming angel that I can never
think of marrying the puling Maria? But, even if it were so, could that
be any bar to our happiness? for, as the poet sings,

_Love, free as air, at sight of human ties,
Spreads his light wings, and in a moment flies._

Come, then, my charming angel! why delay our bliss? The present moment
is ours; the next is in the hand of fate.

[_Kissing her._

CHARLOTTE. Begone, sir! By your delusions you had almost lulled my
honour asleep.

DIMPLE. Let me lull the demon to sleep again with kisses. [_He struggles
with her; she screams._]

_Enter MANLY._

MANLY. Turn, villain! and defend yourself. [_Draws._]

_VAN ROUGH enters and beats down their swords._

VAN ROUGH. Is the devil in you? are you going to murder one another?

[_Holding DIMPLE._

DIMPLE. Hold him, hold him,--I can command my passion.

_Enter JONATHAN._

JONATHAN. What the rattle ails you? Is the old one in you? let the
Colonel alone, can't you? I feel chock full of fight,--do you want to
kill the Colonel?--

MANLY. Be still, Jonathan; the gentleman does not want to hurt me.

JONATHAN. Gor! I--I wish he did; I'd shew him yankee boys play, pretty
quick.--Don't you see you have frightened the young woman into the
_hystrikes_?

VAN ROUGH. Pray, some of you explain this; what has been the occasion of
all this racket?

MANLY. That gentleman can explain it to you; it will be a very diverting
story for an intended father-in-law to hear.

VAN ROUGH. How was this matter, Mr. Van Dumpling?

DIMPLE. Sir,--upon my honour,--all I know is, that I was talking to this
young lady, and this gentleman broke in on us in a very extraordinary
manner.

VAN ROUGH. Why, all this is nothing to the purpose; can you explain it,
Miss? [_To CHARLOTTE._]

_Enter LETITIA_ [_through the back scene_].

LETITIA. I can explain it to that gentleman's confusion. Thoug