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.WilloughbyCome Girls, let us circulate the Bottle.SophyA very good notion, Cousin; & I will second it with all my Heart. Stanly, you don't drink.StanlyMadam, I am drinking draughts of Love from Cloe's eyes.SophyThat'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 HamptonLady 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
StanlyOh! Cloe, could I but hope you would make me blessed—CloeI will.
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
Dedication
The Mystery
An Unfinished Comedy
To the Revd George Austen
Sir,
I humbly solicit your Patronage to the following Comedy, which tho' an unfinished one is, I flatter myself, as complete a Mystery as any of its kind.
I am Sir your most Humble Servant.
The Author
Dramatis Personae
Men:
Colonel Elliott
Sir Edward Spangle
Old Humbug
Yong Humbug, and
Corydon
Women:
Fanny Elliott
Mrs. Humbug, and
Daphne
Act the First
Scene the First
A Garden.
Enter CORYDON.
CoryBut Hush! I am interrupted.
Exit CORYDON.
Enter OLD HUMBUG and his SON, talking.
Old HumIt is for that reason I wish you to follow my advice. Are you convinced of it's propriety?Young HumI am, Sir, and will certainly manner what you have pointed out to me.Old HumThen let us return to the House.
Exeunt.
Scene the Second
A Parlour in Humbug's House.
MRS. HUMBUG and FANNY, discovered at work.
Mrs. HumYou understand me, my Love?FannyPerfectly ma'am. Pray continue your narration.Mrs. HumAlas! It is nearly concluded, for I have nothing more to say on the Subject.
Enter DAPHNE.
DaphneMy dear Mrs. Humbug, how d'ye do? Oh! Fanny, t'is all over.FannyIt is indeed!Mrs. HumI'm very sorry to hear it.FannyThen t'was to no purpose that I…DaphneNone upon Earth.Mrs. HumAnd what is to become of…DaphneOh! That's all settled.
Whispers to MRS. HUMBUG
FannyAnd how is it determined?DaphneI'll tell you.
Whispers to FANNY.
Mrs. HumAnd is he to…DaphneI'll tell you all I know of the matter.
Whispers MRS. HUMBUG and FANNY.
FannyWell! Now I know everything about it, I'll go away.Mrs. Hum and DaphneAnd so will I.
Exeunt.
Scene the Third
The Curtain rises and discovers Sir Edward Spangle reclined in an elegant Attitude on a Sofa, fast asleep.
Enter COLONEL ELLIOTT.
ColonelMy Daughter is not here I see… . There lies Sir Edward… . Shall I tell him the secret?… No, he'll certainly blab it… . But he is asleep and won't hear me… . So I'll e'en venture.
Goes up to SIR EDWARD, whispers to him, and exits.
Dedication
The Three Sisters
To Edward Austen Esquire
The following unfinished Novel is respectfully inscribed by his obedient humble servant.
The Author
Letter the 1st
Miss Stanhope to Mrs. ——
