Part 40 (1/2)
_Lady Eth._ (_screaming._) Oh! oh!
[_Peter leads her to a chair, and she goes into hysterics._
_Peter._ How very affecting.
_Enter Sir Gilbert._
_Adm._ What's all this! Is Lady Etheridge ill?
_Peter._ A little overcome with joy, Sir Gilbert. It will be your turn next.
_Adm._ (_Going to Lady Etheridge, who recovers._) What's the matter, my love?
_Lady Eth._ (_spitting_). O the wretch--the brute! He has taken liberties!
_Adm._ Taken liberties, the scoundrel! Pray, sir, what liberties have you taken with Lady Etheridge?
_Peter._ I only smothered her with kisses.
_Adm._ What do you mean, sir? Are you mad? Smothering her with kisses!
_Peter._ (_smiling_). I certainly did a.s.sume that privilege, Sir Gilbert.
_Adm._ Did you, you rascal? then I'll just a.s.sume another. (_Thrashes Peter round the room._)
_Peter._ My father! O my honoured parent! Oh! your own son! Oh, your affectionate----
[_Exit Peter, pursued by the Admiral._
_Adm._ (_returning, puffing and blowing_). Why, positively, the fellow is stark, staring mad.
_Enter Agnes, Captains Etheridge and Mertoun._
_Capt. Eth._ What is all this disturbance, my dear father?
_Adm._ What is it, why, I hardly can tell. There has been an impudent scoundrel--that young Bargrove--kissing your mother till she has fainted, and swearing that he is my son. Called me his honoured parent--but I cudgelled the rascal!
_Agnes._ (_leaning on Captain Etheridge's shoulder_). O heavens!
_Capt. Eth._ The fellow himself has just now been trying to elbow me out of my birthright. However, I met his pretensions with the same argument as you did. Who could have put all this nonsense into his addled head so firmly, that two good cudgellings cannot beat it out?
_Capt. Mer._ Etheridge, your sister is unwell.
_Capt. Eth._ Don't be alarmed, my dear Agnes.
_Agnes._ Oh! but indeed I am--I expected this.
_Adm._ Expected this! Have you, then, heard anything, my love?
_Agnes._ Yes, I have indeed; just before my brother arrived I was told that my real name was Agnes Bargrove.