The Earl's? Alas, that first pair of the six They paw the ground-Ah, Walter! and that brute 6th Ret. Ay-Ay! You, Philip, are a special hand, I hear, At soups and sauces —what's a horse to you? D'ye mark that beast they 've slid into the midst 1st Ret. No? That's comfort. 2nd Ret. Peace, Cook! The Earl descends.-Well, Gerard, see The Earl at least! Come, there's a proper man, 3rd Ret. But leave my hawks alone! 4th Ret. So tall and shapely! 5th Ret. His eyes are blue— So young, and yet Here's Lord Tresham's self! There now-there 's what a nobleman should be! He's older, graver, loftier, he's more like A House's Head! 2nd Ret. But you 'd not have a boy -And what's the Earl beside ?-possess too soon That stateliness? 1st Ret. Our Master takes his handRichard and his white staff are on the move Back fall our people-(tsh!-there's Timothy Sure to get tangled in his ribbon-ties And Peter's cursed rosette 's a-coming off!) -At last I see our Lord's back and his friend's- Close round them-in they go! [Jumping down from the window-bench, and making for the table and its jugs, &c.] Good health, long life, Great joy to our Lord Tresham and his House! 6th Ret. My father drove his father first to court, After his marriage-day-ay, did he ! 2nd Ret. God bless Lord Tresham, Lady Mildred, and the Earl! Ger. Drink, my boys: Don't mind me-all 's not right about me- -drink! 2nd Ret. [Aside.] He's vexed, now, that he let the show escape! [TO GER.] Remember that the Earl returns this way— Ger. That way ? 2nd Ret. Ger. 2nd Ret. Just so. Then my way 's here. [Goes. Will die soon-mind, I said it! He was used That touched the House's honour, not an eye Such a point decorous, and such by rule- 2nd Ret. God help him! Who's for the great servants'-hall To hear what's going on inside? They'd follow 3rd Ret. 4th Ret. I! I!— Leave Frank alone for catching, at the door, 1st Ret. Have at you! Boys, hurrah! SCENE II.-A Saloon in the Mansion. Enter LORD TRESHAM, LORD MERTOUN; AUSTIN and GUENDOLEN. Tresh. I welcome you, Lord Mertoun, yet once more, To this ancestral roof of mine. Your name -Noble among the noblest in itself, Yet taking in your person, fame avers, New price and lustre,—(as that gem you wear, Mer. Thanks! Tresh. The worthiness and grace and dignity Our Houses even closer than respect Unites them now-add these, and -But add to that, you must grant One favor more, nor that the least,-to think The welcome I should give ;-'tis given! My lord, Our cousin, Lady Guendolen-betrothed To Austin all are yours. : Mer. I thank you-less For the expressed commendings which your seal, My putting from me . . to my heart I take Your praise.. but praise less claims my gratitude, Of what must needs be uppermost with one Firmly, near boldly, near with confidence That gift, I have to thank you.-Yes, Lord Tresham, That lady.. oh more, more I love her! Wealth, Rank, all the world thinks me, they're yours, you know, To hold or part with, at your choice-but grant My true self, me without a rood of land, A piece of gold, a name of yesterday, Grant me that lady, and you . . . Death or life? Guen. [apart to Aus.] Why, this is loving, Austin ! He's so young! Aus. Guen. Young? Old enough, I think, to half surmise He never had obtained an entrance here, Were all this fear and trembling needed. Ever with best desert goes diffidence. On this occasion, when a falcon's eye Were dull compared with mine to search out faults, If hers encourage you. I trust it will. Have you seen Lady Mildred, by the way? Mer. I. . I . . our two demesnes, remember, touch I have been used to wander carelessly After my stricken game-the heron roused Deep in my woods, has trailed its broken wing Thro' thicks and glades a mile in yours, or else |