The Country Girl
The Country Girl lives in eighteenth century England. Her old guardian keeps her in seclusion on his country estate, meaning to marry her. She grows to womanhood without ever having seen any young men. When Phyllis is eighteen, the Squire takes her to London, where she is to be made his wife. His sister, Alithea, goes with them. The Squire intends Alithea for Sparkish, a boon companion of his. In London Phyllis meets Belville, a handsome youth. They fall in love. Alithea is attracted to young Harcourt, and the idea of marrying their aged suitors becomes unendurable to both the girls. The Squire schemes to break off the affair between his ward and Belville. At his dictation, she writes her lover a note, telling him that she detests him and hopes she may never see him again. But at the last moment, she substitutes another note she has written, urging Belville to have a minister in readiness so that she may escape and marry him. The Squire delivers the letter. On his return, Phyllis pretends to him that it is not she, but Alithea, who loves Belville. The Squire, overjoyed, writes Belville his full consent to his marriage "with this lady," and Phyllis, disguised in Alithea's mantle, hat and veil, is the bearer of the note. Thus, she keeps the tryst and she and Bellville are married. The old Squire has no choice left but to realize that youth must wed with youth. He consents to the marriage, also to that of Alithea and Harcourt.
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