"
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.
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