MICHAEL
Pooh! Pooh! Best, you are joking.
CAPTAIN BEST
I never was more in earnest. Best exits.
MICHAEL
(in a towering rage)
You -- you! Hang you for a meddling brat, your hand is in everybody's pie. What business had you to come brawling and quarreling here, with a gentleman who has fifteen hundred a-year?
Michael runs after Best.
DOROTHY
(gasps)
Oh, I shall die; I know I shall. I shall never leave this spot.
CAPTAIN GROGAN
(whisper to Dorothy)
The Captain is gone.
Dorothy, giving him an indignant look, jumps up and walks towards the house.
CAPTAIN GROGAN
(in a soothing tone to Roderick)
This is a pretty way to recommend yourself to the family.
RODERICK
(shouts after Michael)
The man that marries Dorothy Dugan must first kill me -- do you mind that?
MICHAEL
(shouting back from a distance)
Pooh, sir. Kill you -- flog you, you mean! I'll send for Nick the huntsman to do it.
CAPTAIN GROGAN
You are a gallant lad, and I like your spirit. But what Dugan says is true. It's a hard thing to give a lad counsel who is in such a far-gone state as you; but, believe me, I know the world, and if you will but follow my advice, you won't regret having taken it. Dorothy Dugan has not a penny; you are not a whit richer. And, my poor boy, don't you see -- though it's a hard matter to see -- that she's a flirt, and does not care a pin for you or Best either?
RODERICK
Dorothy might love me or not, as she likes, but Best will have to fight me before he marries her!
CAPTAIN GROGAN
Faith, I think you are a lad that's likely to keep your word.
He looks hard at Roderick for a second to two, then he walks away, humming a tune, looking back at Roderick as he goes through the old gate out of the garden.
When Grogan is gone, Roderick is quite alone, and he flings himself down on the bench where Dorothy had made believe to faint, and had left her handkerchief and the ribbons and, taking them up, hides his face in them, and bursts into a passion of tears.
RODERICK (V.O.)
I must have sat for some hours bemoaning myself on the garden-bench, for the dinner-bell clanged as usual at three o'clock, which wakened me from my reverie.
As Roderick passes the courtyard, he sees the Captain's saddle still hanging up at the stable-door, and his odious red-coated brute of a servant, swaggering with the scullion-girls and kitchen people.
MAID
The Englishman's still there, Master Roderick. He's there in the parlor. Go in, and don't let 'im browbeat you, Master Roderick.
Roderick enters and takes his place at the bottom of the big table; the butler speedily brings him a cover.
UNCLE
Hello, Roddy, my boy! Up and well? That's right.
AUNT
He'd better be home with his mother.
UNCLE
Don't mind her. It's the cold goose she ate for breakfast -- didn't agree with her. Take a glass of spirits, Mrs. Dugan, to Roderick's health.
It is evident that his uncle doesn't know of what happened, but Michael, who is at dinner too, and Harry, and almost all the girls, look exceedingly black and the captain foolish; and Miss Dorothy, who is again by his side, ready to cry. Captain Grogan sits smiling, and Roderick looks on as cold as stone.
His uncle is in high good-humor.
UNCLE
Dorothy, divide that merry thought with the captain! See who'll be married first. Jack Best, my dear boy, never mind a clean glass for the claret, we're short of crystal at Castle Dugan; take Dorothy's and the wine will taste none the worse. Mrs. Dugan and ladies, if you please; this is a sort of toast that is drunk a great deal too seldom in my family, and you'll please to receive it with all the honors. Here's to Captain and Mrs. John Best, and long life to them. Kiss her, Jack, you rogue; for faith, you've got a treasure.
RODERICK
(spring up)
His already?!
HARRY
Hold your tongue, you fool -- hold your tongue!
RODERICK
(shouting)
He has already been slapped in the face this morning, Captain John Best; he's already been called a coward, Captain John Best; and this is the way I'll drink his health. Here's your health, Captain John Best.
Roderick flings a glass of claret into his face. The next moment, he is under the table, tripped up by Harry, who hits him a violent cuff on the head; as he goes down, he hardly has time to hear the general screaming and scurrying that is taking place above him, being so fully occupied with kicks, and thumps and curses, with which Harry is belaboring him.
HARRY
You fool! You great blundering marplot -- you silly beggarly brat (a thump at each) Hold your tongue!
When Roderick gets up from under the table, the ladies are all gone; but he has the satisfaction of seeing the captain's nose is bleeding, as his is -- Best is cut across the bridge, and his beauty spoiled forever.
UNCLE
In Heaven's name, what does all the row mean? Is the boy in fever again?
HARRY
(turning to his father)
The fact is, sir, that the young monkey has fallen in love with Dorothy, and finding her and the captain mighty sweet in the garden today, he was for murdering Jack Best.
CAPTAIN BEST
(bristling up)
And, I'll tell you what, Mr. Dugan, I've been insulted grossly in this house. I ain't at all satisfied with these here ways of going on. I'm an Englishman, I am, and a man of property; and I -- I -
HARRY
If you're insulted, and not satisfied, remember there's two of us, Best.
On which, the captain falls to washing his nose in water, and answering never a word.
RODERICK
(in dignified tone)
Mr. Best may also have satisfaction any time he pleases, by calling on Roderick James, Esquire, of Jamesville.
His uncle bursts out laughing, and in this laugh, Captain Grogan joins.
RODERICK
Captain Grogan, I beg you to understand that, for my cousin Harry, who has been my best friend through life, I could put up with rough treatment from him; yet, even that sort of treatment I will bear from him no longer; and any other person who ventures on the like will not like the cost. Mr. Best knows that fact very well; and, if he's man, he'll know where to find me.
UNCLE
It is getting late, and your mother will be anxious about you. One of you had better go home with him.
(turning to his sons)
Or the lad may be playing more pranks.
HARRY
Both of us ride home with Best here.
CAPTAIN BEST
I'm not afraid of highwaymen. My man is armed, and so am I.
HARRY
You know the use of arms very well, Best, and no one can doubt your courage; but Michael and I will see you home for all that.
UNCLE
Why, you'll not be home till morning, boys. Kilwangan's a good ten miles from here.
HARRY
We'll sleep in Best's quarters. We're going to stop a week there. And, in another week, my boy.
And here, Harry whispers something in the Captain's ear.
CAPTAIN GROGAN
I'll go home with the boy.
Grogan walks with Roderick.
CAPTAIN GROGAN
A pretty day's work of it you have made, Master Roderick. Knowing your uncle to be distressed for money, and try and break off a match which will bring fifteen hundred a-year into the family? Best has promised to pay off the four thousand pounds which is bothering your uncle so. He takes a girl without a penny -- a girl that has been flinging herself at the head of every man in these parts these ten years past, and missing them all, and a boy who ought to be attached to your uncle as to your father.