A Lady of England: The Life and Letters of Charlotte Maria Tucker. Agnes Giberne
off all hope …
Charles. Give me the slip then, and I will give them the slip! quick, quick, and the cloak and hood.
Horatia. Here, here! O despatch! while you remain here I tread on hot iron.
Charles. I am to personate your Aunt.
Horatia. Yes, yes, any one, but make haste.
Charles. So, I’m equipped. Farewell, Lady!
Horatia. Pull the hood over your face. O farewell! [Exit Charles.]
Horatia. One hour more of excitement, and then … [Exit.]
SCENE IV.
THE CHURCHYARD.
Enter Corporal Catchup and Soldiers.
Corp. Silence! Silence! halt! advance bending down and with your bayonets presented. Comrades, this is a glorious day, and if we catch the Pretender we shall have little cause to grieve that we arrived a day too late for the Battle of Culloden. What were the deeds of the Duke of Cumberland to ours? He but wounded the fox, we catch him by the nose. We shall be made Aldermen, every man of us. Take ground behind those bushes; keep silence. I hear a voice in the vault. On your lives be silent—be steady!
Daresby. [In the vault.] I can find no one, yet here is a bed prepared. What a strange place to make an hospital of! [Emerging from the vault.] Perhaps the poor fellow has got frightened and delirious …
Corp. Stand!
Daresby. Ah, here is my Patient. So you have got the cholera, my Friend!
Corp. No, unless that’s one of your titles. Surrender or die!
Daresby. He must be in a high fever! Be calm, my good man, I will render you all the assistance in my power.
Corp. You will, will you?
Daresby. Come with me to the house, come. This is no place for a person in your state.
Corp. Well, if this arn’t droll! he’s trying to humbug me.
Daresby. You may catch your death of cold.
Corp. I’ll catch nothing but you. Come along, Sir, offer no resistance, for it’s of no use. I’m sorry for you, but I’ve a duty to perform, and a reward to get.
Daresby. What do you mean, fellow? Stand off!
Corp. Ho! guards there! [Daresby is surrounded.]
Daresby. This is some error. By whose warrant do you dare to apprehend one of his Majesty’s subjects?
Corp. No use in all that deception, Sir: all’s discovered now.
Daresby. What’s discovered, fellow, what deception? Who dares use such terms to me! You shall answer for your conduct, Sir; this shall not be passed over, I’ll warrant you.
Corp. I hope not, Sir.
Daresby. This is not to be endured. By whose orders do you presume to place me under arrest?
Corp. We are under the orders of Colonel Stumply.
Daresby. I must see the Colonel instantly. He shall give me an explanation of this extraordinary affair. Take me to him directly.
Corp. All in good time, Sir. Stickum, have you handcuffs with you?
Daresby. Handcuffs, villain!
Stickum. No.
Corp. Keep your hand on his collar, then. Soldiers, present bayonets. Let him attempt to escape, and he dies.
Daresby. With what effrontery …
Corp. Move on, Sir, if you please. [To the Soldiers.] Keep your eye on him. If he but raise his hand or turn his head—fire! [Exeunt.]
SCENE V.
THE GARDEN GATE.
O’Shannon.
O’Shan. A could, misty, morning, and I am left here to keep watch without a drop of the cratur to cheer my heart or keep my spirits from sinking. There’s all the rest of them gone to catch the Pretender and get the prize-money, and it’s nothing that I’m likely to catch here but a cold. I wish that I had never left the tallow business, that I do, for all this murthering work. It was a lucky chance that we were a day too late for the fair at Culloden; it’s no fancy I have for the Highlanders’ dirks. Awful slashing work they made, ’tis said. Well-a-day! I must shoulder my gun; if the Corporal found me standing at ease, he would order me a round dozen: there’s no fear of it’s going off for its own accord, the cratur, for I forgot to load it this morning.
Enter Charles in disguise.
Charles. [Aside.] And there is a Sentry! Horatia was right! But what they should want to arrest either me or my Father for is more than I can comprehend! This is really nervous work. I fear that I shall find it as difficult to pass this fellow as I found it at school to parse a sentence from my grammar-book. Notwithstanding the dress with which Ratty provided me, I shall need all the address of which I am master to get through this scrape should he address me. I must put on an air of confidence. Perhaps he may let me pass without question.
O’Shan. A black morning, Ma’am.
Charles. [Attempting to slip past.] Did you ever see mourning any other colour?
O’Shan. Can’t pass here, Ma’am.
Charles. No! and why?
O’Shan. ‘Cause I am posted here to keep a good watch.
Charles. [Attempting to pass again.] Easier to keep a good watch than to get one!
O’Shan. I have orders to let no one pass.
Charles. O but, my good fellow, I have very important business. You must let me go.
O’Shan. Keep back, Ma’am. Now I thinks on’t, your hood looks rather suspicious.
Charles. [Retreating a step.] Does it? A sort of robbin’ hood, I suppose. [Aside.] I wish the fellow were at Jericho.
O’Shan. And that dress was never made for you? Let me see a little closer. [Advancing.]
Charles. [Retreating. Aside.] Shall I run for my life?
O’Shan. Stop, stop, my good Lady! Methinks your dress is uncommon short, too, it hardly reaches to the clocks of your stockings.
Charles. Mind your watch, and leave my clocks alone. [Aside.] O dear! O dear! If I were but once fairly off! [Attempts to run.]
O’Shan. Stop, or I’ll shoot ye! I’ll send a bullet through your head if ye stir an inch farther.
Charles. [Aside.] I’m done for!
O’Shan. [Aside.] I’ll make sure. [Suddenly darts towards Charles and pulls back his hood.] Hillo! hillo! I’ve caught him! I’ve caught him, ’tis the man himself.
Charles. [Aside.] One struggle for life. [Aloud.] Beware, fellow, I have arms. [Aside.] None but what nature gave me.
O’Shan. [Retreating a step. Aside.] Murther! and the gun is not loaded!
Charles. [Aside.] I’ve staggered him! [Aloud.] Lay but a finger on me and I’ll lay you with the dust.
O’Shan. Keep off, or I’ll shoot ye.
Charles. [Retreating.] A fig for your gun!
O’Shan. [Aside. Retreating.] I wish some one would come. I’ve heard he’s a raal hero. I’ll call for help. Holloa! there.
Charles. Hold your peace, or I’ll cut you piece-meal.
O’Shan.