_The Market Place._
_Enter_ PLUME _and_ KITE.
_Plume._ A baker, a tailor, a smith, butchers, carpenters, and
journeymen shoemakers, in all thirty-nine--I believe the first colony
planted in Virginia had not more trades in their company than I have in
mine.
_Kite._ The butcher, sir, will have his hands full, for we have two
sheep-stealers among us--I hear of a fellow, too, committed just now for
stealing of horses.
_Plume._ We'll dispose of him among the dragoons--Have we never a
poulterer among us?
_Kite._ Yes, sir, the king of the gipsies is a very good one; he has an
excellent hand at a goose or a turkey--Here's Captain Brazen, sir. I
must go look after the men.
_Enter_ BRAZEN, _reading a Letter_.
_Brazen._ Um, um, um, the canonical hour----Um, um, very well--My dear
Plume! give me a buss.
_Plume._ Half a score, if you will, my dear! What hast got in thy hand,
child?
_Brazen._ 'Tis a project for laying out a thousand pounds.
_Plume._ Were it not requisite to project first how to get it in?
_Brazen._ You can't imagine, my dear, that I want twenty thousand
pounds! I have spent twenty times as much in the service--But if this
twenty thousand pounds should not be in specie----
_Plume._ What twenty thousand?
_Brazen._ Harkye---- [_Whispers._
_Plume._ Married!
_Brazen._ Presently; we're to meet about half a mile out of town, at the
waterside--and so forth--[_Reads._] _For fear I should be known by any
of Worthy's friends, you must give me leave to wear my mask till after
the ceremony which will make me for ever yours._--Lookye there, my dear
dog!
[_Shows the Bottom of the Letter to_ PLUME.
_Plume._ Melinda! and by this light her own hand! Once more, if you
please, my dear--Her hand exactly--Just now, you say?
_Brazen._ This minute; I must be gone.
_Plume._ Have a little patience, and I'll go with you.
_Brazen._ No, no, I see a gentleman coming this way that may be
inquisitive; 'tis Worthy, do you know him?
_Plume._ By sight only.
_Brazen._ Have a care, the very eyes discover secrets. [_Exit._
_Enter_ WORTHY.
_Wor._ To boot and saddle, captain, you must mount.
_Plume._ Whip and spur, Worthy, or you won't mount.
_Wor._ But I shall; Melinda and I are agreed; she's gone to visit
Sylvia, we are to mount and follow; and could we carry a parson with us,
who knows what might be done for us both?
_Plume._ Don't trouble your head; Melinda has secured a parson already.
_Wor._ Already! do you know more than I?
_Plume._ Yes, I saw it under her hand--Brazen and she are to meet half
a mile hence, at the waterside, there to take boat, I suppose, to be
ferried over to the Elysian Fields, if there be any such thing in
matrimony.
_Wor._ I parted with Melinda just now; she assured me she hated Brazen,
and that she resolved to discard Lucy for daring to write letters to him
in her name.
_Plume._ Nay, nay, there's nothing of Lucy in this--I tell ye, I saw
Melinda's hand as surely as this is mine.
_Wor._ But I tell you, she's gone this minute to Justice Balance's
country-house.
_Plume._ But I tell you, she's gone this minute to the waterside.
_Enter a_ SERVANT.
_Serv._ Madam Melinda has sent word that you need not trouble yourself
to follow her, because her journey to Justice Balance's is put off, and
she's gone to take the air another way. [_To_ WORTHY.
_Wor._ How! her journey put off?
_Plume._ That is, her journey was a put off to you.
_Wor._ 'Tis plain, plain--But how, where, when is she to meet Brazen?
_Plume._ Just now, I tell you, half a mile hence, at the waterside.
_Wor._ Up or down the water?
_Plume._ That I don't know.
_Wor._ I'm glad my horses are ready--I shall return presently. [_Exit._
_Plume._ You'll find me at the Hall: the justices are sitting by this
time, and I must attend them. [_Exit._