ar from well. If
you will permit me, I will inquire after her, leaving Captain Mertoun to
cultivate your acquaintance. [_Exit Capt. Etheridge._

_Capt. Mer._ An honour, madam, I have long courted.

_Lady Eth._ O sir! if your leisure is now, as it were, unoccupied, I
should be most happy to be your cicero. There are such grounds----

_Capt. Mer._ (_ogling Lady Etheridge_). For admiration, when I cast my
eyes that way.

_Lady Eth._ The quintessence of politeness, I declare. This way, sir.

_Capt. Mer._ The arm of the humblest of your slaves.

(_Offering his arm._)

_Lady Eth._ Infinitely honoured.

[_Exeunt ambo, ceremoniously, and mutually complimenting each other
in dumb show._

_Scene IV._

_A Drawing-Room at the Hall._

_Enter Sir Gilbert and Captain Etheridge._

_Capt. Eth._ Well, my dear father, where is Agnes?

_Adm._ She has been here just now; she appears to be much distressed
about something. She will return directly.

_Capt. Eth._ What can have annoyed her?

_Adm._ That I don't know. Perhaps my Lady Etheridge. She wishes her to
break off with Lucy Bargrove, but that I will resist--that is--that
is--as much as I can.

_Capt. Eth._ My dear father, why do you submit to such tyranny? You,
that have led fleets to victory, to be governed by a woman! A little
firmness on your part would soon relieve you from your thraldom, and
bring my mother to a proper sense of her duties.

_Adm._ (_shaking his head_). Too late--too late, Edward.

_Capt. Eth._ Never too late, sir. Take courage for once, and I'll
answer for the success. With all respect to my mother, bullies are
always cowards.

_Adm._ Why, really, Edward, your advice is good; and, as I must always
keep up a running fight, I don't see why we shouldn't have a general
action.

_Capt. Eth._ Bravo, sir, a decisive engagement to your honour, if you
only bring decision into play. I agree with you, in respect to Lucy
Bargrove, heartily.

_Adm._ Edward, this girl has been so long with me, and has so entwined
herself about my heart, that I cannot bear that she should be used ill.
Your sister is fond of her, and I dote upon her.

_Capt. Eth._ Why, yes, sir, I acknowledge that she is a nice girl, but
still, there is a line to be drawn. You would not, for instance, like to
see her my wife.

_Adm._ Indeed but I would, Edward, for your own sake. You would have a
fair prospect of matrimonial bliss. Talking about marriage, Edward, I
again re