_Mrs. Talb._ About 150 a year for us all.
_Louisa._ That is enough, is it not, for you?
_Mrs. Talb._ For me, love? I am an old woman, and want but little in this world, and shall be soon out of it.
_Louisa_ (_kneels down beside her_). Do not speak so, dearest mother.
_Mrs. Talb._ Enough for me, love! Yes, enough, and too much for me. I am not thinking of myself.
_Louisa._ Then, as to my brother, he has such abilities, and such industry, he will make a fortune at the bar for himself, most certainly.
_Mrs. Talb._ But his education is not completed. How shall we provide him with money at Cambridge?
_Louisa._ This Montem. The last time the captain had eight hundred, the time before a thousand, pounds. Oh, I hope--I fear! Now, indeed, I know that, without being avaricious, we may want, and wish for money.
(_Landlady"s voice heard behind the scenes._)
_Landlady._ Waiter!--Miss Bursal"s curricle, and Mr. Bursal"s _vis-a-vis_. Run! see that the Dolphin"s empty. I say run!--run!
_Mrs. Talb._ I will rest for a few moments upon the sofa, in this bedchamber, before we set off.
_Louisa_ (_goes to open the door_). They have bolted or locked it. How unlucky!
(_She turns the key, and tries to unlock the door._)
_Enter_ WAITER.
_Waiter._ Ladies, I"m sorry--Miss Bursal and Mr. Bursal are come--just coming upstairs.
_Mrs. Talb._ Then, will you be so good, sir, as to unlock this door?
(_Waiter tries to unlock the door._)
_Waiter._ It must be bolted on the inside. Chambermaid! Sally! Are you within there? Unbolt this door.
_Mr. Bursal"s voice behind the scenes._ Let me have a basin of good soup directly.
_Waiter._ I"ll go round and have the door unbolted immediately, ladies.
(_Exit Waiter._)
_Enter_ MISS BURSAL, _in a riding dress, and with a long whip._
_Miss Bursal._ Those creatures, the ponies, have a"most pulled my _"and_ off. Who _"ave_ we _"ere_? Ha! Mrs. Talbot! Louisa, _"ow_ are ye? I"m so vastly glad to see you; but I"m so shocked to _"ear_ of the loss of the _Bombay Castle_. Mrs. Talbot, you look but poorly; but this Montem will put everybody in spirits. I _"ear_ everybody"s to be _"ere_; and my brother tells me, "twill be the finest ever seen at _H_ Eton. Louisa, my dear, I"m sorry I"ve not a seat for you in my curricle for to-morrow; but I"ve promised Lady Betty; so, you know, "tis impossible for me.
[Ill.u.s.tration: _Enter Miss Bursal, in a riding dress._]
_Louisa._ Certainly; and it would be impossible for me to leave my mother at present.
_Chambermaid_ (_opens the bedchamber door_). The room"s ready now, ladies.
_Mrs. Talb._ Miss Bursal, we intrude upon you no longer.
_Miss Burs._ Nay, why do you decamp, Mrs. Talbot? I _"ad_ a thousand things to say to you, Louisa; but am so tired and so annoyed----
(_Seats herself. Exeunt Mrs. Talbot, Louisa, and Chambermaid._)
_Enter_ MR. BURSAL, _with a basin of soup in his hand._
_Mr. Burs._ Well, thank my stars the _Airly Castle_ is safe in the Downs.
_Miss Burs._ Mr. Bursal, can you inform me why Joe, my groom, does not make his appearance?
_Mr. Burs._ (_eating and speaking_). Yes, that I can, child; because he is with his _"orses_, where he ought to be. "Tis fit they should be looked after well; for they cost me a pretty penny--more than their heads are worth, and yours into the bargain; but I was resolved, as we were to come to this Montem, to come in style.
_Miss Burs._ In style, to be sure; for all the world"s to be here--the King, the Prince of W_h_ales, and Duke o" York, and all the first people; and we shall cut a dash! Dash! dash! will be the word to-morrow!--(_playing with her whip_).
_Mr. Burs._ (_aside_). Dash! dash! ay, just like her brother. He"ll pay away finely, I warrant, by the time he"s her age. Well, well, he can afford it; and I do love to see my children make a figure for their money. As Jack Bursal says, what"s money for, if it e"nt to make a figure? (_Aloud._) There"s your brother Jack, now. The extravagant dog!
he"ll have such a dress as never was seen, I suppose, at this here Montem. Why, now, Jack Bursal spends more money at Eton, and has more to spend, than my Lord John, though my Lord John"s the son of a marchioness.
_Miss Burs._ Oh, that makes no difference nowadays. I wonder whether her ladyship is to be at this Montem. The only good I ever got out of these stupid Talbots was an introduction to their friend Lady Piercefield.
What she could find to like in the Talbots, heaven knows. I"ve a notion she"ll drop them, when she hears of the loss of the _Bombay Castle_.
_Enter a_ WAITER, _with a note._
_Waiter._ A note from my Lady Piercefield, sir.
_Miss B._ Charming woman! Is she here, pray, sir?
_Waiter._ Just come. Yes, ma"am.
(_Exit Waiter._)
_Miss B._ Well, Mr. Bursal, what is it?
_Mr. B._ (_reads_). "Business of importance to communicate----" Hum!
what can it be?--(_going_).
_Miss B._ (_aside_). Perhaps some match to propose for me! (_Aloud._) Mr. Bursal, pray before you go to her ladyship, do send my _ooman_ to me to make me _presentable_.
(_Exit Miss Bursal at one door._)
_Mr. B._ (_at the opposite door_). "Business of importance!" Hum! I"m glad I"m prepared with a good basin of soup. There"s no doing business well upon an empty stomach. Perhaps the business is to lend cash; and I"ve no great stomach for that. But it will be an honour, to be sure.
(_Exit._)
SCENE III