Racine: Phaedra

SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER 427
Marlow. How's this? Sure, I have not mistaken the house?
Everything looks hke an inn. The servants cry " coming."
The attendance is awkward ; the barmaid, too, to attend
us. But she's here, and will further inform me. Whither
so fast, child ? A word with you.
Enter Miss Hardcastle.
Miss Hardcastle. Let it be short, then. I'm in a hurr)'.
[Aside.] I believe he begins to find out his mistake, but
it's too soon quite to undeceive him.
Marlow. Pray, child, answer me one question. What are you,
and what may your business in this house be?
Miss Hardcastle. A relation of the family, sir.
Marlow. What? A poor relation?
Miss Hardcastle. Yes, sir. A poor relation appointed to keep
the keys, and to see that the guests want nothing in my
power to give them.
Marlow. That is, you act as the barmaid of this inn.
Miss Hardcastle. Inn ! O law !—What brought that in your
head ? One of the best families in the county keep an inn 1
Ha, ha, ha, old Mr. Hardcastle's house an inn
Marlow. Mr. Hardcastle's house! Is this house Mr, Hard-
castle's house, child?
Miss Hardcastle. Ay, sure. Whose else should it be?
Marlow. So, then all's out, and I have been damnably imposed
on. O, confound my stupid head, I shall be laughed at
over the whole town. I shall be stuck up in caricature in
all the print-shops. The Dullissimo Macaroni! To mis-
take this house of all others for an inn, and my father's
old friend for an inn-keeper ! What a swaggering puppy
must he take me for! What a silly puppy do I find my-
self I There again, may I be hanged, my dear, but I mistook
you for the barmaid
Miss Hardcastle. Dear me! dear me! I'm sure there's nothing
in my behavior to put me upon a level with one of that
stamp.
Marlow. Nothing, my dear, nothing. But I was in for a list
of blunders, and could not help making you a subscriber.
My stupidity saw everything the wrong way. I mistook