_Enter Lady Etheridge._
Lady Etheridge, my sister has just quitted the room far 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 repeat, if, as you say, the happiness of Agnes depends upon her union with Mertoun, from the character you have given him, I shall raise no objections; but, as I do think in the disposal of her children, the mother has some claim to be consulted, I suppose he must be permitted to follow up your plan, rather a novel one, of bearding the father to gain the daughter.
_Capt. Eth._ You forget, sir, that you are to have a general action, and then it will be no longer necessary.
_Enter Captain Mertoun._
Here comes Mertoun.
_Adm._ True, true, I forgot that. Well Captain Mertoun, I hope you have found amus.e.m.e.nt.
_Capt. Mer._ I have, sir, been walking with my lady, who has just gone into her room to take off her bonnet.
_Enter Lady Etheridge and Agnes._
_Lady Eth._ I am quite exhausted with my pedestrian performance.
(_Captain Mertoun hands a chair, she sits._) Sir Gilbert, I am sorry to request that you will reprove your daughter for disobedience, for, notwithstanding my command of this morning, I find that she has again visited Lucy Bargrove. You say that you have no objection, but I tell you it shall not be, so there is an end of the matter, and of the discussion; and I insist upon it, Admiral, I insist that you give her a proper lecture in my presence. Now, Sir Gilbert.
_Capt. Eth._ (_aside_). Now, sir, this is your time, we"ll support you.
_Adm._ My dear Lucy is concerned--I don"t feel that I want any support.
Agnes, your mother has expressed her disapprobation at your visit to Lucy Bargrove.
_Agnes._ My dear father!
_Adm._ And I don"t agree with your mother.
_Lady Eth._ Sir Gilbert!
_Adm._ I consider Lucy Bargrove a very amiable, good girl. I am partial to her, and have no objection to your visiting her whenever you please.
_Lady Eth._ (_more loudly_). Sir Gilbert!
_Capt. Eth._ (_aside_). Excellent, Sir Gilbert.
_Adm._ I repeat again, Agnes, that so far from agreeing with, I totally disagree with Lady, and, in this matter, I will not allow her to interfere in future. I intend to be _master of my own house_!
_Lady Eth._ (_screaming_). Sir Gilbert!!!
_Capt. Eth._ (_aside_). The day"s our own.
_Adm._ (_angrily_). Yes, my lady, master of my own house! and expect humility and submission on your part. (_Softening_). Although I never shall forget that I have advanced you to the dignity of Lady Etheridge.
_Lady Eth._ Captain Mertoun! Captain Mertoun! Oh! Oh! will n.o.body a.s.sist me? Oh! lead me to my room.
_Adm._ Edward, help your mother to her room, Captain Mertoun will a.s.sist you. [_Exeunt Lady Etheridge, Captains Mertoun and Etheridge.
Manent, Sir Gilbert and Agnes._
_Adm._ I have, my dear Agnes, as you perceive, made a resolution to be no longer second in my own house, but your good sense will point out to you, that your mother deserves your respect.