TheWorksofCharlesandMaryLamb—Volume4SCENE.—AninnerApartment.

scene.—aninnerapartment.

(johnisdiscoveredkneeling.—margaretstandingoverhim.)

john(rises)

icannotbear

toseeyouwastethatyouthandexcellentbeauty,

('tisnowthegoldentimeofthedaywithyou,)

intendingsuchabrokenwretchasiam.

margaret

johnwillbreakmargaret'sheart,ifhespeakso.

osir,sir,sir,youaretoomelancholy,

andimustcallitcaprice.iamsomewhatbold

perhapsinthis.butyouarenowmypatient,

(youknowyougavemeleavetocallyouso,)

andimustchidethesepestilenthumoursfromyou.

john

theyaregone.—

mark,love,howcheerfullyispeak!

icansmiletoo,andialmostbegin

tounderstandwhatkindofcreaturehopeis.

margaret

nowthisisbetter,thismirthbecomesyou,john.

john

yettellme,ifiover-actmymirth.

(beingbutanovice,imayfallintothaterror,)

thatwereasadindecency,youknow.

margaret

nay,neverfear.

iwillbemistressofyourhumours,

andyoushallfrownorsmilebythebook.

andhereinishallbemostperemptory,

cry,"thisshewswell,butthatinclinestolevity,

thisfrownhastoomuchofthewoodvilinit,

butthatfinesunshinehasredeem'ditquite."

john

howsweetlymargaretrobsmeofmyself!

margaret

togiveyouinyoursteadabetterself!

suchasyouwere,whentheseeyesfirstbeheld

youmountedonyoursprightlysteed,whitemargery,

sirrowlandmyfather'sgift,

andallmymaidensgavemyheartforlost.

iwasayoungthingthen,beingnewlycome

homefrommyconventeducation,where

sevenyearsihadwastedinthebosomoffrance:

returninghometrueprotestant,youcall'dme

yourlittlehereticnun.howtimid-bashful

didjohnsalutehislove,beingnewlyseen.

sirrowlandterm'ditararemodesty,

andprais'ditinayouth.

john