Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1910 edition. Excerpt: ... ACT SECOND Scene--The lawn before Oak Hall, a fine Elizabethan mansion; a drawing-room is seen through large French windows at the back. Statues, urns and garden chairs about the stage. Enter Pert, through window, left, to James, who is discovered. Pert. James, Miss Grace requests that you will watch at the avenue and let her know when the squire's carriage is seen on the London road. James. I will go to the lodge. Pert. How I long to see what kind of a man Sir Harcourt Courtly is! They say he is sixty; so he must be old, and consequently ugly. If I were Miss Grace, I would rather give up all my fortune and marry the man I liked, than go to church with a stuffed eel-skin. But taste is everything--she doesn't seem to care whether he is sixty or sixteen; jokes at love; prepares for matrimony as she would for dinner; says it is a necessary evil, and what can't be cured must be endured. Now, I say this is against all nature; and she is either no woman, or a deeper one than I am, if she prefers an old man to a young one. Here she comes! looking as cheerfully as if she was going to, marry Mr. Jenks! My Mr. Jenks! whom nobody won't lead to the halter till I have that honor. Enter Grace, from the drawing-room, left. Grace. Well, Pert! any signs of my uncle yet? Pert. (Left.) No, Miss Grace; but James has gone to watch the road. Grace. In my uncle's letter he mentions a Mr. Dazzle, whom he has invited; so you must prepare a room for him. He is some friend of my husband that is to be, and my uncle seems to have taken an extraordinary predilection for him. Apropos! I must not forget to have a bouquet for the dear old man when he arrives. Pert. The dear old man! Do you mean Sir Harcourt? Grace. La, no! my uncle of course. (Plucking flowers.) What...
