BLEN. Ah, Sir William! I am afraid I am a little over my time. I beg your pardon—I was not aware you had strangers.
SIR W. (confused) My uncle, and—and his wife. I thought you might be already acquainted.
PLATO. And so we are, now I look again—’tis Captain Blenheim, the son of an old friend. Allow me to introduce you to Lady Plato, my dear—you will be charmed to make the lady’s acquaintance.
LADY P. (curtseying with gravity) I shall at all times be delighted at an introduction to any friend of my husband.
SIR W. (aside) I’m perfectly astonished!
MAR. (aside) I couldn’t make believe like that.
PLATO. (to SIR WILLIAM) You see, my dear nephew! you perceive what sweetness, what refined obedience. Ah! a thousand pities you did not make such a selection; but, as we say in the classics—“a fronte præcipitium a tergo lupus,”—I need say no more.
SIR W. (aside) Indeed you needn’t! I am perfectly satisfied with my unfortunate choice. What dissimulation! (aloud) Margaret, my dear, will you kiss me?
MAR. Oh, won’t I? There!
SIR W. And there! (embracing her) You don’t want to kiss cousin Joe now, I hope?