Astraea, child! You, Arden, stand aside. Ay, if she were a maid you might speak first, But being a widow she must find her tongue. Astraea, they await you. State the fact As soon as you are questioned, fearlessly. Open the battle with artillery.

ASTRAEA:

What is the matter, uncle Homeware?

HOMEWARE (playing fox):

What? Why, we have watched your nice preliminaries From the windows half the evening. Now run in. Their patience has run out, and, as I said, Unlimber and deliver fire at once. Your aunts Virginia and Winifred, With Lady Oldlace, are the senators, The Dame for Dogs. They wear terrific brows, But be not you affrighted, my sweet chick, And tell them uncle Homeware backs your choice, By lawyer and by priests! by altar, fount, And testament!

ASTRAEA:

My choice! what have I chosen?

HOMEWARE:

She asks? You hear her, Arden?—what and whom!

ARDEN:

Surely, sir! . . . heavens! have you . . .

HOMEWARE:

Surely the old fox, In all I have read, is wiser than the young: And if there is a game for fox to play, Old fox plays cunningest.

ASTRAEA:

Why fox? Oh! uncle, You make my heart beat with your mystery; I never did love riddles. Why sit they Awaiting me, and looking terrible?

HOMEWARE:

It is reported of an ancient folk Which worshipped idols, that upon a day Their idol pitched before them on the floor

ASTRAEA:

Was ever so ridiculous a tale!

HOMEWARE

To call the attendant fires to account Their elders forthwith sat . . .

ASTRAEA:

Is there no prayer Will move you, uncle Homeware?

HOMEWARE:

God-daughter, This gentleman for you I have proposed As husband.

ASTRAEA:

Arden! we are lost.

ARDEN:

Astraea! Support him! Though I knew not his design, It plants me in mid-heaven. Would it were Not you, but I to bear the shock. My love! We lost, you cry; you join me with you lost! The truth leaps from your heart: and let it shine To light us on our brilliant battle day And victory

ASTRAEA:

Who betrayed me!

HOMEWARE:

Who betrayed? Your voice, your eyes, your veil, your knife and fork; Your tenfold worship of your widowhood; As he who sees he must yield up the flag, Hugs it oath-swearingly! straw-drowningly. To be reasonable: you sent this gentleman Referring him to me . . . .

ASTRAEA:

And that is false. All's false. You have conspired. I am disgraced. But you will learn you have judged erroneously. I am not the frail creature you conceive. Between your vision of life's aim, and theirs Who presently will question me, I cling To theirs as light: and yours I deem a den Where souls can have no growth.

HOMEWARE:

But when we touched The point of hand-pressings, 'twas rightly time To think of wedding ties?

ASTRAEA:

Arden, adieu!

(She rushes into house.)

SCENE VIII ARDEN, HOMEWARE

ARDEN:

Adieu! she said. With her that word is final.

HOMEWARE:

Strange! how young people blowing words like clouds On winds, now fair, now foul, and as they please Should still attach the Fates to them.

ARDEN:

She's wounded Wounded to the quick!

HOMEWARE:

The quicker our success: for short Of that, these dames, who feel for everything, Feel nothing.

ARDEN:

Your intention has been kind, Dear sir, but you have ruined me.

HOMEWARE:

Good-night. (Going.)

ARDEN:

Yet she said, we are lost, in her surprise.

HOMEWARE:

Good morning. (Returning.)

ARDEN:

I suppose that I am bound (If I could see for what I should be glad!) To thank you, sir.

HOMEWARE:

Look hard but give no thanks.

I found my girl descending on the road Of breakneck coquetry, and barred her way. Either she leaps the bar, or she must back. That means she marries you, or says good-bye. (Going again.)

ARDEN:

Now she's among them. (Looking at window.)

HOMEWARE:

Now she sees her mind.

ARDEN:

It is my destiny she now decides!

HOMEWARE:

There's now suspense on earth and round the spheres.

ARDEN:

She's mine now: mine! or I am doomed to go.

HOMEWARE:

The marriage ring, or the portmanteau now!

ARDEN:

Laugh as you like, air! I am not ashamed To love and own it.

HOMEWARE:

So the symptoms show. Rightly, young man, and proving a good breed. To further it's a duty to mankind And I have lent my push, But recollect: Old Ilion was not conquered in a day. (He enters house.)

ARDEN:

Ten years! If I may win her at the end!

CURTAIN

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