The Witlings and the Woman Hater

Geoffrey M Sill

• Publisher: Taylor & Francis
• Year: 2016
• Print ISBN: 9780367875886
• eBook ISBN: 9781315476711
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: British Drama
• Index: Literature

This edition contains two of Frances Burney's comedies: The Witlings, (1778-80) which satirizes the bluestockings; and The Woman Hater (1800-02), which explores social pretension and gender conflict.

The Witlings

A Comedy

By a Sister of the Order

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

BEAUFORT.

CENSOR.

DABLER.

JACK, half Brother to Beaufort.

CODGER, Father to Jack, and Father in Law to Beaufort.

BOB, Son to Mrs. Voluble.

LADY SMATTER, Aunt to Beaufort.

CECILIA.

MRS. SAPIENT.

MRS. VOLUBLE.

MRS. WHEEDLE, a Milliner.

MISS JENNY, her aprentice.

BETTY, Maid to Mrs. Voluble.

ACT I

Scene, a Milliner’s Shop. A Counter is spread with Caps, Ribbons, Fans and Band Boxes. MISS JENNY and several young women at Work.

Enter MRS. WHEEDLE.

MRS. WHEEDLE. So, young ladies! pray what have you done to Day? (she examines their Work.) Has any body been in yet?
MISS JENNY. No, ma’am, nobody to Signify; – only some people a foot.
MRS. WHEEDLE. Why, Miss Sally, who is this Cap for?
MISS SALLY. Lady Mary Megrim, ma’am.	5
MRS. WHEEDLE. Lady Mary Megrim, Child? Lord, she’ll no more wear it than I shall! why how have you done the Lappets? they’ll never set while it’s a Cap; – one would think you had never worked in a Christian Land before. Pray, Miss Jenny, set about a Cap for Lady Mary yourself.	10
MISS JENNY. Ma’am I can’t; I’m working for Miss Stanley.
MRS. WHEEDLE. O ay, for the Wedding.
MISS SALLY. Am I to go on with this Cap, ma’am?
MRS. WHEEDLE. Yes, to be sure, and let it be sent with the other things to Mrs. Apeall in the Minories; it will do well enough for the City.	15

Enter a FOOTMAN.

FOOTMAN. IS Lady Whirligig’s Cloak ready?
MRS. WHEEDLE. Not quite, Sir, but I’ll send it in five minutes.
FOOTMAN. My Lady wants it immediately; it was bespoke a Week ago, and my lady says you promised to let her have it last Friday.
MRS. WHEEDLE. Sir it’s just done, and I’ll take care to let her Ladyship have it directly.	20
Exit FOOTMAN.

MISS JENNY. I don’t think it’s Cut out yet.
MRS. WHEEDLE. I know it i’n’t. Miss Sally, you shall set about it when you’ve done that Cap. Why Miss Polly, for goodness’ sake what are you doing?	25
MISS POLLY. Making a Tippet, ma’am, for Miss Lollop.
MRS. WHEEDLE. Miss Lollop would as soon wear a Halter: ’twill be fit for nothing but the Window, and there the Miss Notables who Work for themselves may look at it for a Pattern.

Enter a YOUNG WOMAN.

YOUNG WOMAN. If you please, ma’am, I should be glad to look at some Ribbons.	30
MRS. WHEEDLE. We’ll shew you some presently.

Enter MRS. VOLUBLE.

MRS. VOLUBLE. Mrs. Wheedle, how do do? I’m vastly glad to see you. I hope all the young Ladies are well. Miss Jenny, my dear, you look pale; I hope you a’n’t in Love, Child? Miss Sally, your Servant. I saw your Uncle the other Day, and he’s very well, and so are all the children; except, indeed, poor Tommy, and they’re afraid he’s going to have the Whooping Cough. I don’t think I know that other young lady? O Lord yes, I do, – it’s Miss Polly Dyson! I beg your pardon, my dear, but I declare I did not recollect you ...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Table of Contents
• List of Illustrations
• Acknowledgements
• Short Titles
• Introduction
• Note on the Text
• Select Bibliography
• Chronology
• The Witlings (1778–80)
• The Woman-Hater (1800–02)
• Notes
• Appendix: Literary Allusions