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Becoming America - An Exploration of American Literature from Precolonial to Post-Revolution, 2018a

Becoming America - An Exploration of American Literature from Precolonial to Post-Revolution, 2018a

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BECOMING AMERICA<br />

REVOLUTIONARY AND EARLY NATIONAL PERIOD LITERATURE<br />

LETITIA<br />

Did you observe how she tumbled over the things at the next shop, and then went<br />

o without purchasing anything, nor even thanking the poor man for his trouble?<br />

But, <strong>of</strong> all the awkward creatures, did you see Miss Blouze endeavouring <strong>to</strong> thrust<br />

her unmerciful arm in<strong>to</strong> those small kid gloves?<br />

Ha, ha, ha, ha!<br />

CHARLOTTE<br />

LETITIA<br />

Then did you take notice with what an aected warmth <strong>of</strong> friendship she and Miss<br />

Wasp met? when all their acquaintance know how much pleasure they take in<br />

abusing each other in every company.<br />

CHARLOTTE<br />

Lud! Letitia, is that so extraordinary? Why, my dear, I hope you are not going <strong>to</strong><br />

turn sentimentalist. Scandal, you know, is but amusing ourselves with the faults,<br />

foibles, follies, and reputations <strong>of</strong> our friends; indeed, I don’t know why we should<br />

have friends, if we are not at liberty <strong>to</strong> make use <strong>of</strong> them. But no person is so<br />

ignorant <strong>of</strong> the world as <strong>to</strong> suppose, because I amuse myself with a lady’s faults,<br />

that I am obliged <strong>to</strong> quarrel with her person every time we meet: believe me, my<br />

dear, we should have very few acquaintance at that rate.<br />

SERVANT enters and delivers a letter <strong>to</strong> CHARLOTTE, and—[Exit.]<br />

You’ll excuse me, my dear.<br />

CHARLOTTE<br />

[Opens and reads <strong>to</strong> herself.]<br />

Oh, quite excusable.<br />

LETITIA<br />

CHARLOTTE<br />

As I hope <strong>to</strong> be married, my brother Henry is in the city.<br />

LETITIA<br />

What, your brother, Colonel Manly?<br />

CHARLOTTE<br />

Yes, my dear; the only brother I have in the world.<br />

Page | 593

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