RICHARD PENN SMITH
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step, I should guess that you have been a soldier in your time.
(Re-enter Mrs. Mack.—with bottle &c.)
Major McCrea. I have served a campaign and know something of the world. At the age of fifteen I left my father's
house; a juvenile frolic—you recollect, mother.
Mrs. Mack. Yes, the libertine, but he is now likely to be settled in life for this is his intended.
Capt. Stanley. A charming creature.—Here['s] to a speedy and happy marriage. (Drinks.)
Lucy. Happy. O! never fear, sir, after our marriage we shall never quarrel.
Capt. Stanley. That 's well, an excellent resolution, but more frequently made than kept, my pretty one.
(Enter Andre.)
Andre. At last I am at home again, thanks to as good a pair of shanks as ever grew among the highlands o' bonny Scotland.
Mrs. Mack. How unfortunate! See, my son has returned.
Major McCrea. No matter.—
Mrs. Mack. Do not betray yourself.
Major McCrea. Fear nothing; be on your guard and take your cue from me.
Andre. The detachment here already! This General Macomb is a practical man in the way of business, and kens right weel what is due from the government to an honest citizen who pays his taxes on the nail when called upon. But how is this! the carls have red coats upon their backs. Are ye the volunteers from York, gentlemen?
Capt. Stanley. No, we are his majesty's soldiers from the Eighty-second.
Andre. The de'il's blessings on you for the information.
Major McCrea. Ah! brother, I am delighted that you have returned so soon.
Andre. Brother! and who may this oily tongued carl be with my ane clothes upon his back, and Lucy hanging on his arm with as little shame as if she were a canty quean. And these desperado soldiers here!—My mill's besieged and Andre Macklegraith's a ruined man.
Capt. Stanley. Don't be alarmed, friend, you have nothing to fear from us.
Mrs. Mack. Yes, Andre, these gentlemen have told your brother that they have come to protect us.
Andre. My brother! How, mother, are you, too, in tlie same ridiculous story?
Capt. Stanley. Come, my boy, and take a social cup with us.
Andre. No; I'm not athirst. A bonny kettle o' fish is this'. The first steals my liquor and then asks me to drink with
him. I would not as much as take a pinch o' sneezer with such a knave, and that's more economical.
Major McCrea. Why, brother, you will not be such a churl as to refuse?
Andre. Brother again! and what the de'il man made you my brother? You are none of my father's begetting unless indeed over the left shoulder, and such it would not be beseeming in me to acknowledge in my good mother's presence.
Major McCrea. Your folly will anger me.
Andre. My folly! Hoot awa! I take myself to be as wise a man as ever stood upon your shanks.
Major McCrea. Go brother, go into the house; you know not what you say. Go into the house.
Andre. I won't. I'm not a fool. Hear me.
Lucy. Come Andre, come with me.
Andre. I won't; and the de'il fly away with me if I stir a peg until I see the siftings of the plot against me.
Major McCrea. Poor fellow.—Captain, he is sometimes a little touched—you understand me.
Capt. Stanley. Oh! perfectly!
Mrs. Mack. He is a good hearted boy, but when he takes a drop too much.—
Andre. A drop too much! Why, mother, not a mouthful has passed my windpipe since breakfast, saving and excepting an cup of molasses and water, which I swallowed out of pure friendship for Dr. Drench. And well you know that a hale man might swill a pale [1] full of such like taplash [2] and not become heady.—But how is this, mother, that you combine with my enemies against your own flesh and blood?—And Lucy too, whom I intend at no distant day to make Mistress Macklegraith—
Capt. Stanley. Ha! Ha! An odd fellow! why he'11 take your sweetheart from you presently, comrade.
Andre. His sweetheart! Am I awake!
Lucy. This is one of the causes of his strange behaviour. He loves me, but as
