Scene 1

Act 5 begins inside the Hardcastle manor. Hastings enters, followed by a servant. The servant confirms that Constance and Mrs. Hardcastle have driven off and that Sir Charles Marlow has arrived on the premises. Hastings then expresses hopelessness over his situation. The two exit.

Sir Charles and Mr. Hardcastle enter, joking about Marlow’s mistake good-naturedly. They then express their excitement over the imminent union of their families. Marlow enters. He extends an apology to Mr. Hardcastle for his behavior, which the latter accepts readily. Mr. Hardcastle then teases him about his feelings for Kate, to which Marlow reacts by denying that he and Kate ever shared any sort of connection or intimacy. This confuses Mr. Hardcastle, because he saw Marlow and Kate (whom Marlow thought was a maid) flirting only a few hours earlier. Mr. Hardcastle presses Marlow, but the latter insists that he and Kate had but one meeting, which was formal and brief. Marlow exits.

Kate enters. Sir Charles Marlow and Mr. Hardcastle immediately ask her about Marlow’s advances towards her. Kate affirms that she and Marlow have had several meetings and that he has already professed his love for her. This confounds Sir Charles and Mr. Hardcastle, as they had just heard Marlow deny anything of the sort. Kate assures them that if they hide behind the nearby screen, they will hear Marlow confess his feelings for her.

Scene 2

Scene 2 takes place at the back of the Hardcastle garden. Hasting enters, muttering to himself that Tony is late for their meeting. Tony enters. Hastings asks him where Constance and Mrs. Hardcastle are, as Tony is their travelling companion. Tony reveals to him that he has deceived the two. Constance and Mrs. Hardcastle have been led to believe that they are travelling forward when they have actually been travelling around and back to the manor. At present, Tony says, the two believe that they are forty miles from the estate when they are really at a horse-pond in the bottom of the garden. Hastings thanks Tony for his help and exits.

Mrs. Hardcastle enters. Tony scares her by saying that they are at Crackskull Common, one of the most dangerous spots in the country. Seeing Mr. Hardcastle approaching, he then pretends he senses imminent danger and bids Mrs. Hardcastle to hide behind a tree. Mr. Hardcastle enters.

Mr. Hardcastle questions Tony about Mrs. Hardcastle’s journey, and Tony responds with glib lies. Mr. Hardcastle becomes suspicious of him, and the two have a heated altercation. Sensing that something is wrong, Mrs. Hardcastle jumps up from her hiding place and is surprised to see her husband wrestling with Tony. The Hardcastles learn that Tony had deceived Mrs. Hardcastle and that she and Constance had been at their estate all along. Mrs. Hardcastle chases Tony in a rage. The three exit.

Hastings and Constance enter. Hastings begs Constance to leave with him at once. Constance, however, is adamant about claiming her inheritance. Hastings concedes.

Scene 3

Scene 3 takes place inside the Hardcastle manor once more. Kate enters, followed by Marlow. Sir Charles and Mr. Hardcastle, meanwhile, are shown eavesdropping behind the screen.

Marlow announces to Kate that he has come to say goodbye. Kate implores him to stay a while, but Marlow replies that staying will only torture him with the knowledge that they can never be together. Kate then points out that, since Marlow is so concerned with fortune, she will have to concede to his departure and content herself with the “slight approbation” he has given her. Touched by Kate’s words, Marlow resolves to...