Part 4 (1/2)

CHRISTINE. [_Aside._] What is to be done? I have not a moment to lose; my father is stern and unyielding--I know his temper too well, to hope that my entreaties will prevail with him--the farmer is rich, and gold is a powerful tempter. I must be gone--follow Lenox, and in disguise, to avoid this hateful match. I'll in, whilst un.o.bserved.

[_Enters the cottage._

JASPER. Come, sit down, farmer and neighbours; and you, my pretty lads and la.s.ses, let's have a dance. Ah, here is a foraging party.

[_Enter SOLDIERS._

_Party dance--several pastoral and fancy dances--and as the whole company retires, CHRISTINE comes from the cottage with cautious steps--she is dressed in a frock coat, pantaloons and hat._

CHRISTINE. They are gone--now to escape. Scenes of my infancy--of many a happy hour, farewell! Oh, farewell, forever!

[_Exit._

_JASPER and JERRY return._

JERRY. She refused me plumply.

JASPER. Impossible!

JERRY. No, it's quite possible. Farmer, said she, I will _not_ marry you--and hang me if there's any joke in that.

JASPER. Refuse an honest man? A wealthy one, too? And one whom her father gives to her? Trifling girl! Insensible to her happiness and interest. What objections had she to you, farmer?

JERRY. Objections! Oh, none in the world, only she wouldn't marry me; she didn't seem struck at all with my person.

JASPER. Mere coyness--maiden bashfulness.

JERRY. So I thought, sergeant Jasper, and was going to give her a little kiss, when she gave me such a look, and such a push, as quite astounded me.

JASPER. I will seek and expostulate with the stubborn girl. Ah, Jerry, times have strangely altered, when young women choose husbands for themselves, with as much ease and indifference, as a ribbon for their bonnet.

[_Enters the cottage._

JERRY. So they do--the little independent creatures as they are--but what Miss Crissy could see in me to refuse, hang me if I can tell. I'm call'd as sprightly a fellow as any in our county, and up to everything--always ready for fun, and perfectly good-natured.

[_Enter JASPER from the cottage, agitated._

JASPER. She is nowhere to be found--she has gone off and left her poor old father. In her room, I found these lines scrawled with a pencil: ”You have driven your daughter from you, by urging a match that was hateful to her. Was her happiness not worth consulting?” What's to be done? Where has she gone? Ah, a light breaks in upon me--to the camp--to the camp!

JERRY. Oho! I smell a rat too--she's gone after Mr. Lenox, the infantry ossifer. Oh, the young jade! But come along, old soger--get your hat and cane, and we'll go arter her--I'm a magistrate, and will bring her back by a habes corpus.

[_They enter the cottage._

SCENE II. _A Wood._

_Enter CHRISTINE in haste, looking back with fear._

CHRISTINE. On, on, or I shall be pursued and o'ertaken--I have lost my way. Ah, yonder is the camp--I see the flags and tents--a short time and I shall be with you, dear Lenox.