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

BECOMING AMERICA
REVOLUTIONARY AND EARLY NATIONAL PERIOD LITERATURE
SCENE II.
VAN ROUGH’S House.
VAN ROUGH, alone
It cannot possibly be true! The son of my old friend can’t have acted so unadvisedly.
Seventeen thousand pounds! in bills! Mr. Transfer must have been mistaken. He
always appeared so prudent, and talked so well upon money matters, and even
assured me that he intended to change his dress for a suit of clothes which would
not cost so much, and look more substantial, as soon as he married. No, no, no! it
can’t be; it cannot be. But, however, I must look out sharp. I did not care what his
principles or his actions were, so long as he minded the main chance. Seventeen
thousand pounds! If he had lost it in trade, why the best men may have ill-luck; but
to game it away, as Transfer says—why, at this rate, his whole estate may go in one
night, and, what is ten times worse, mine into the bargain. No, no; Mary is right.
Leave women to look out in these matters; for all they look as if they didn’t know a
journal from a ledger, when their interest is concerned they know what’s what; they
mind the main chance as well as the best of us. I wonder Mary did not tell me she
knew of his spending his money so foolishly. Seventeen thousand pounds! Why, if
my daughter was standing up to be married, I would forbid the banns, if I found it
was to a man who did not mind the main chance.—Hush! I hear somebody coming.
‘Tis Mary’s voice; a man with her too! I shouldn’t be surprised if this should be
the other string to her bow. Aye, aye, let them alone; women understand the main
chance.—Though, I’ faith, I’ll listen a little. [Retires into a closet.
MANLY leading in MARIA.
MANLY
I hope you will excuse my speaking upon so important a subject so abruptly; but,
the moment I entered your room, you struck me as the lady whom I had long loved
in imagination, and never hoped to see.
MARIA
Indeed, Sir, I have been led to hear more upon this subject than I ought.
MANLY
Do you, then, disapprove my suit, Madam, or the abruptness of my introducing
it? If the latter, my peculiar situation, being obliged to leave the city in a few days,
will, I hope, be my excuse; if the former, I will retire, for I am sure I would not give
a moment’s inquietude to her whom I could devote my life to please. I am not so
indelicate as to seek your immediate approbation; permit me only to be near you,
and by a thousand tender assiduities to endeavour to excite a grateful return.
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