Act the Second -- Juvenilia – Volume I by Jane Austen -- Free eBooks Reading

Scene the first

The Drawing Room

Chairs set round in a row. LORD FITZGERALD, MISS FITZGERALD & STANLY seated.

Enter a Servant.

Exit SERVANT

Enter the Company.

Miss F.: I hope I have the pleasure of seeing your Ladyship well. Sir Arthur, your servant. Yrs., Mr. Willoughby. Dear Sophy, Dear Cloe, —

They pay their Compliments alternately.

They sit

Miss F.: Bless me! there ought to be 8 Chairs & there are but 6. However, if your Ladyship will but take Sir Arthur in your Lap, & Sophy my Brother in hers, I beleive we shall do pretty well.
Lady H.: Oh! with pleasure… .
Sophy: I beg his Lordship would be seated.
Miss F.: I am really shocked at crouding you in such a manner, but my Grandmother (who bought all the furniture of this room) as she had never a very large Party, did not think it necessary to buy more Chairs than were sufficient for her own family and two of her particular freinds.
Sophy: I beg you will make no apologies. Your Brother is very light.
Stanly (aside): What a cherub is Cloe!
Cloe (aside): What a seraph is Stanly!

Enter a Servant.

They all rise.

STANLY hands CLOE; LORD FITZGERALD, SOPHY; WILLOUGHBY, MISS FITZGERALD; and SIR ARTHUR, LADY HAMPTON

Exeunt.

Scene the 2d.

The Dining Parlour

MISS FITZGERALD at top. LORD FITZGERALD at bottom. Company ranged on each side. Servants waiting.

Cloe: I shall trouble Mr. Stanly for a Little of the fried Cow heel & Onion.
Stanly: Oh Madam, there is a secret pleasure in helping so amiable a Lady.
Lady H.: I assure you, my Lord, Sir Arthur never touches wine; but Sophy will toss off a bumper I am sure, to oblige your Lordship.
Lord F.: Elder wine or Mead, Miss Hampton?
Sophy: If it is equal to you, Sir, I should prefer some warm ale with a toast and nutmeg.
Lord F.: Two glasses of warmed ale with a toast and nutmeg.
Miss F.: I am afraid, Mr. Willoughby, you take no care of yourself. I fear you don't meet with any thing to your liking.
Willoughby: Oh! Madam, I can want for nothing while there are red herrings on table.
Lord F.: Sir Arthur, taste that Tripe. I think you will not find it amiss.
Lady H.: Sir Arthur never eats Tripe; tis too savoury for him, you know, my Lord.
Miss F.: Take away the Liver & Crow, & bring in the suet pudding.

a short Pause.

Miss F.: Sir Arthur, shan't I send you a bit of pudding?
Lady H.: Sir Arthur never eats suet pudding, Ma'am. It is too high a Dish for him.
Miss F.: Will no one allow me the honour of helping them? Then John, take away the Pudding, & bring the Wine.

SERVANTS take away the things and bring in the Bottles & Glasses.

Lord F.: I wish we had any Desert to offer you. But my Grandmother in her Lifetime, destroyed the Hothouse in order to build a receptacle for the Turkies with its materials; & we have never been able to raise another tolerable one.
Lady H.: I beg you will make no apologies, my Lord.
Willoughby: Come Girls, let us circulate the Bottle.
Sophy: A very good notion, Cousin; & I will second it with all my Heart. Stanly, you don't drink.
Stanly: Madam, I am drinking draughts of Love from Cloe's eyes.
Sophy: That's poor nourishment truly. Come, drink to her better acquaintance.

MISS FITZGERALD goes to a Closet & brings out a bottle

Miss F.: This, Ladies & Gentlemen, is some of my dear Grandmother's own manufacture. She excelled in Gooseberry Wine. Pray taste it, Lady Hampton
Lady H.: How refreshing it is!
Miss F.: I should think, with your Ladyship's permission, that Sir Arthur might taste a little of it.
Lady H.: Not for Worlds. Sir Arthur never drinks any thing so high.
Lord F.: And now my amiable Sophia, condescend to marry me.

He takes her hand & leads her to the front

They advance.

Miss F.: Since you, Willoughby, are the only one left, I cannot refuse your earnest solicitations—There is my Hand.
Lady H.: And may you all be Happy!

Finis