RECK. And I am to go back like a glass milk-pot, am I not? (gets out.) Snail! leave thy shell. In thy mistress’s house, Ralph Reckless, and suffer thyself to be packed up like a fish, and sent off as mute? No, no; I’ve given the lady my tailor’s card for a direction. Ha, ha, ha! (looks in closet.) what have we here?—a broken pestle and mortar, and a stone ball from the garden entrance. These shall go in the basket, (puts them in.) they will pass for me as well as I did for grocery.
[Exit L. H.
Enter FANNY, L. H.
FANNY. How cross Missus Facile is, and only a visitor too! I shall give her a bit of my mind if she goes on so, not but I like a woman of spirit. How beautiful she did throw the thingummy-gig out of the window—that was fine now; I can give the devil his due. (goes to window.) But, oh! there’s a boat party—and, oh! there’s my admirer, Thomas—and, oh! he’s sitting by a female—and, oh! (hides her face.) how shocking, horrid, disgusting—he kissed her; it is so low-lived to kiss in the open air! He shall see how I’ll trim his jacket when I meet him again! I’ll give—but what’s this, a basket? M-i-ss, Miss—F-a-n, Fan-n-y-ny, Fanny—Miss Fanny P-e-p, Pep—Miss Fanny Pep-p-e-r, per—Miss Fanny Pepper. It’s horrid writing, (tears off note.) a present, but I won’t keep it; I’ll—I’ll do as Mrs. Facile did, I’ll shy it out of window into the water. (tries to lift it.) Oh, gemini, how heavy it is. Hush! there’s footsteps.
EUCLID. (without.) So is B to C.
FANNY. It is Mr. Facile; he has no pride, though he is a gentleman—I’ll call him. Mr. Facile!
Enter EUCLID, L. H.
EUCLID. Well, Frances Pepper?
FANNY. (aside.) I knew he’d come. I have a favour to ask—Are you strong, Mr. Facile?
EUCLID. (aside.) Now what the deuce should she ask that for?