Why, my dear, there is the sweetest parcel of silks come over you ever saw! Nancy Brilliant has a full suit come; she sent over her measure, and it fits her to a hair; it is immensely dressy, and made for a court-hoop.I thought they said the large hoops were going out of fashion.
CHARLOTTE
Did you see the hat? Is it a fact that the deep laces round the border is still the fashion?
DIMPLE within.Upon my honour, Sir.
MARIA
Ha! Dimple's voice! My dear, I must take leave of you.There are some things necessary to be done at our house.Can't I go through the other room?
Enter DIMPLE and MANLY.
DIMPLE
Ladies, your most obedient.
CHARLOTTE
Miss Van Rough, shall I present my brother Henry to you? Colonel Manly, Maria,--Miss Van Rough, brother.
MARIA
Her brother! [turns and sees Manly.] Oh! my heart! the very gentleman I have been praising.
MANLY
The same amiable girl I saw this morning!
CHARLOTTE
Why, you look as if you were acquainted.
MANLY
I unintentionally intruded into this lady's presence this morning, for which she was so good as to promise me her forgiveness.
CHARLOTTE
Oh! ho! is that the case! Have these two pense-rosos been together? Were they Henry's eyes that looked so tenderly? [Aside.] And so you promised to pardon him? and could you be so good-natured?
have you really forgiven him? I beg you would do it for my sake [whispering loud to Maria].But, my dear, as you are in such haste, it would be cruel to detain you; I can show you the way through the other room.
MARIA
Spare me, my sprightly friend.
MANLY
The lady does not, I hope, intend to deprive us of the pleasure of her company so soon.
CHARLOTTE
She has only a mantua-maker who waits for her at home.But, as I am to give my opinion of the dress, I think she cannot go yet.We were talking of the fashions when you came in, but I suppose the subject must be changed to something of more importance now.Mr.Dimple, will you favour us with an account of the public entertainments?
DIMPLE
Why, really, Miss Manly, you could not have asked me a question more mal-apropos.For my part, I must confess that, to a man who has travelled, there is noth-ping that is worthy the name of amusement to be found in this city.
CHARLOTTE
Except visiting the ladies.
DIMPLE
Pardon me, Madam; that is the avocation of a man of taste.But for amusement, I positively know of nothing that can be called so, unless you dignify with that title the hopping once a fortnight to the sound of two or three squeaking fiddles, and the clattering of the old tavern windows, or sitting to see the miserable mummers, whom you call actors, murder comedy and make a farce of tragedy.
MANLY
Do you never attend the theatre, Sir?
DIMPLE
I was tortured there once.
CHARLOTTE
Pray, Mr.Dimple, was it a tragedy or a comedy?
DIMPLE
Faith, Madam, I cannot tell; for I sat with my back to the stage all the time, admiring a much better actress than any there--a lady who played the fine woman to perfection; though, by the laugh of the horrid creatures round me, I suppose it was comedy.
Yet, on second thoughts, it might be some hero in a tragedy, dying so comically as to set the whole house in an uproar.Colonel, I presume you have been in Europe?
MANLY
Indeed, Sir, I was never ten leagues from the conti-nent.
DIMPLE
Believe me, Colonel, you have an immense pleasure to come; and when you shall have seen the brilliant exhibitions of Europe, you will learn to despise the amusements of this country as much as I do.
MANLY
Therefore I do not wish to see them; for I can never esteem that knowledge valuable which tends to give me a distaste for my native country.
DIMPLE
Well, Colonel, though you have not travelled, you have read.
MANLY
I have, a little; and by it have discovered that there is a laudable partiality which ignorant, untrav-elled men entertain for everything that belongs to their native country.I call it laudable; it injures no one;adds to their own happiness; and, when extended, be-comes the noble principle of patriotism.Travelled gentlemen rise superior, in their own opinion, to this;but if the contempt which they contract for their coun-try is the most valuable acquisition of their travels, Iam far from thinking that their time and money are well spent.
MARIA
What noble sentiments!
CHARLOTTE
Let my brother set out where he will in the fields of conversation, he is sure to end his tour in the temple of gravity.
MANLY
Forgive me, my sister.I love my country; it has its foibles undoubtedly;--some foreigners will with pleasure remark them--but such remarks fall very ungracefully from the lips of her citizens.
DIMPLE
You are perfectly in the right, Colonel--America has her faults.
MANLY
Yes, Sir; and we, her children, should blush for them in private, and endeavour, as individuals, to re-form them.But, if our country has its errors in com-mon with other countries, I am proud to say America--I mean the United States--has displayed virtues and achievements which modern nations may admire, but of which they have seldom set us the example.
CHARLOTTE
But, brother, we must introduce you to some of our gay folks, and let you see the city, such as it is.Mr.
Dimple is known to almost every family in town; he will doubtless take a pleasure in introducing you.
DIMPLE
I shall esteem every service I can render your brother an honour.
MANLY
I fear the business I am upon will take up all my time, and my family will be anxious to hear from me.
MARIA
His family! but what is it to me that he is married!
[Aside.] Pray, how did you leave your lady, Sir?
CHARLOTTE
My brother is not married [observing her anxiety];it is only an odd way he has of expressing himself.
Pray, brother, is this business, which you make your continual excuse, a secret?
MANLY
