ACT I.

SCENE I.

A Hall in a Castle.

Enter JEROME and FLORA.

Flora. I Can't go at present, Mr. Jerome, for I expect my Lady every moment to ring, and if I should be out of the way she will be angry; and as I am but new in her service—

Jerome. She angry! Oh you don't know her yet—When you have been a day or two with her you'll find she is never angry—She is the best tempered creature—and were it not for her aversion to us men, she would not have a fault.

Flora. Do you consider that as a fault, Mr. Jerome?

Jerome. To be sure I do—For my part, I think she had much better be too fond of us, as the rest of her sex are.

Flora. Pray, Mr. Jerome, what caused her aversion to the men?

Jerome. I'll tell you, Flora, if it wo'nt make you melancholy.

Flora. Oh, no, Mr. Jerome—I like a melancholy story—I like dearly to cry, when it is not on my own account.

Jerome. Well then—When my Lady was only fifteen she fell deep in love with a fine handsome young fellow, inferior to her both in rank and fortune; but my good old Lord, her father, who doated upon her, was afraid a disappointment might break her heart, and so consented to her having him; but he proved so bad a husband that my poor old Master soon died with grief.

Flora. Poor man!

Jerome. Don't cry yet, there's something worse to come—My Lady, on this, took such a dislike to her husband, that he died of grief too.

Flora. Indeed, Mr. Jerome, this is very moving. ( cries. )

Jerome. On this—

Flora. I hope there is nothing worse to come?

Jerome. On this, my Lady made a vow to shut herself up from the whole sex.

Flora. Well, that is more affecting than any of it.

Jerome. And she immediately retired to this lonely castle, where, except the house of Donna Isabella next door, we have not a neighbour for miles; and even there we are strangers—for my part I have never so much as seen Donna Isabella, or exchanged a word with any of the servants since they came to the place—though indeed they have not been here above eight days.

Flora. But how long has my Lady kept this vow of avoiding all your sex?

Jerome. Eighteen months.

Flora. Eighteen weeks! what a time!

Jerome. Months.

Flora. Months! she has certainly lost her senses.

Jerome. Not she.

Flora. O but I am sure she must have lost some of them.

Jerome. I tell you no.—But I must leave you now, Mrs. Flora, for yonder is Don Antonio, and I believe he is coming this way.

Flora. I thought no man was admitted into the castle but you, Mr. Jerome?

Jerome. Yes; Don Antonio lives here—but then he is my Lady's uncle; and you know there can be no fear of her falling in love with him, as he is a relation.

Flora. But you are no relation, Mr. Jerome.

Jerome. Why, as you say, she might fall in love with me—Stranger things have happened—and to tell you the truth, she does not seem positive she shan't, for she bids me keep out of her sight as much as possible, for fear I should put her in mind of that handsome villain that brought her to this retirement.

Flora. Here comes the old Gentleman!

Jerome. Then I must go, for he'll be wanting to say something to you—he is for ever running after all the maids—I am sorry to leave you—I am, indeed, Flora; indeed I am—Oh it would be a happy thing for me if I could bring myself to care as little for the women, as my Lady does for the men. [ Exit Jerome.

Flora. A fine sweetheart, truly, I have got—and if this old fright proves another, I'll be even with him.

Enter Antonio— She courtesys

Antonio. Hah!—what!—what is all this!—what have we here?—what have we here?—a pretty girl—a very pretty girl indeed!—My niece's new maid, I suppose—Aye, aye, I had the other sent about her business—She must be like her mistress forsooth, and have nothing to say to a man—( going up to Flora ) My dear, come this way—I think your's is a new face—

Flora. Yes, Sir—and I think your's is an old one.

Antonio. Hem—hem.—Pray what is your name?

Flora. A very good name—and I intend never to change it for a bad one.—

Antonio. Look in my face—What do you blush for?

Flora. For you.

Antonio. Come, come, no pertness—but let me bid you welcome to the castle. ( offers to salute her. )

Flora. No, indeed you shan't.

Antonio. I will bid you welcome to the castle. ( after a struggle he salutes her. )

Flora. Upon my word, Sir, you are very rude—How would you like I should serve you so?

Antonio. Do—Do—serve me so—you are very welcome.

Enter JEROME.

Jerome. Flora, there's a young woman at the gate, who says she lives with Donna Isabella, and wants to speak to you upon some particular business—Can your Honor spare her with no inconvenience to yourself?

Antonio. Yes—Yes—she may go—( Exit Flora and Jerome ) A young woman at the gate, now do I want to bid her welcome to the castle—a maid of Donna Isabella, our neighbour—by the bye I must bring about an acquaintance with Donna Isabella and the Countess my niece, if I can, for I am told Isabella is a very beautiful lady—and I should like to bid her welcome to the castle—but, notwithstanding all the pains I have taken, ever since she has arrived, to procure a sight of her, I have not been able—I would, however, force myself into the house, but it seems she has a young brother, the Marquis, come down on a visit to her within these three days, and he might take upon him to resent my gallantry—and I can't say I am fond of resentments, rage and hatred—no, no, the softer passions possess me wholly. [ Exit.