Mrs. Con. Why then, if I do love him, child, you may depend upon't, 'tis only from the assurances I have of his loving me only.

Miss Not. But since you see (as the world will too in a little time) how false these assurances are, had not you better seem to leave him, than lie under the scandal of his leaving you?

Mrs. Con. No, child; I'll still keep up my pretensions, if it be only to hinder other vain creatures from coming into hopes of him: for I know, were I once to own myself disengaged, then every impertinent coquet in town would be giving airs to him.

Miss Not. Was ever any thing so stupidly vain?

[Aside.] Lard! madam, you have a mighty opinion of your perfections sure, to think it impossible a man can be false to you: some women would ha' been a-top of the house by this time, if they had only heard of their lover's common civility to another. You are strangely happy sure, when his owning a passion to your friend, before your face, can't make you uneasy; heh! heh!

Mrs. Con. Methinks, child, my want of jealousy from what you've said, gives you a little uneasiness. I should be loth to think his idle way of raillery had taught you to think of love so soon.

Miss Not. So soon! I suppose, madam, if I had the forwardness of your ladyship's inclination, I might produce as good proofs of his passion for me, as you can of his constancy to you.

Mrs. Con. So, she's stirred. I must have the rest on't. [Aside.] His passion to thee, love! that were

impossible. Have a passion for any thing so incapable to conceive it! Why, love's a thing you won't be fit to think of these two years.

Miss Not. Not think of it! I'd have you know, madam, there are men in the world that think me as fit for a lover as your ladyship.

Mrs. Con. So, now its coming.

[Aside.

Miss Not. And however unfit you think me, madam, I'd have you, next time any man's idle raillery flatters you into a passion for him, don't let me know it; I say, don't let me know it, for fear my unfitness should deceive your vanity, by taking him from you. Not think of it! I shall live to see you burst with envy, madam. Do you observe me! Burst! burst! Not think of it!

Mrs. Con. Nay, now I am convinced. This passion, I dare swear, is real. He has certainly said some civil thing, before he was aware-But for what you said of him just now, to my Lady Gentle, my pretty one

Miss Not. Pretty one! Pray, madam-Though I'm sorry I can't say the same of your ladyship.

Mrs. Con. I say, all your late sobbing, and pretending to throw gold about the room, and diamonds out of the window, and all that stuff, my honey, I am now confirmed was all, from first to last, the pretty fiction of thy own little pride and jealousy, only to have the ease of giving me pain, from his supposed forsaking me.

Miss Not. Ha, ha, ha! I am glad to see your vanity so swelled, madam; but since I find is your disease,

I'll be your friend for once, and work your cure by bursting it. Know then you have guessed a truth that has undone you: the part I've acted of his pretended passion to another, was, as you said indeed a fiction all, and only played to give my pride the diversion of his owning to your face, how little he regards you. But know the fatal face to which you owe your ruin, was not my Lady Gentle's, that was my own invention, but mine; not her, nor you, but me, and me alone he loves.. -These poor unfit features have seduced him from you. And now let all the world, that sees how barbarously your vanity, or mine, has mistaken idle raillery for love, judge who's most fit to think of it. [Exit.

Mrs. Con. Now the mystery's unfolded. Oh! this subtle devil! how artfully has he fooled this forward girl to his assistance. Well, there's something in the barefaced excess of his assurance that makes me smile : I'm loth to say he's impudent, but he has an undaunted modesty that's certain, and for that very one quality 'twill be worth my while not to trust him even with my Lady Gentie. Oh, sir

Enter Sir FRIENDLY MORAL.

Sir Fr. So, child, how stand affairs now? Any fresh discovery?

Mrs. Con. Only a trifling confirmation or two, sir, of what we suspected before. Therefore what we do must be done quickly. Have you considered what I proposed, sir?

have a

Sir Fr. In troth, 't is a wild thought, but you wild spark to deal with, and for ought I know, his own snares may be likeliest t hold him. Only take this general caution with you, that the warmth of your understanding don't carry you into any action, that the discretion of your sex can't answer.

Mrs. Con. Fear not, sir, I know my man, and know myself.

Sir Fr. Then here's your letter writ, and sealed as you directed.

Mrs. Con. And here comes my lady; 't will be now a fit occasion to make use of it,

Sir Fr. I'll leave you then.

Mrs. Con. When I have done with her, sir, I would consult you farther.

Sir Fr. I'll expect you in my chamber.

[Exit Sir Friendly.

Enter Lady GENTLE.

Lady Gent. Oh, child, I'm glad I have found you. Mrs. Con. What's the natter, madam?

Lady Gent. I think I was never more provoked in my life.

Mrs. Con. Any thing from Lord George?

Lady Gent. Yes-something that makes me shudder at the thought.

Mrs. Con. Bless me!

Lady G. Something so grossly insolent in the overrespectfulness of his behaviour, such an affected awe when he but speaks to me, something that shews

within his heart so vain, so arrogant a hope! it mor provokes me than all the aukward follies of a bare faced impudence: and since I find he secretly pre sumes upon my knowing his odious secret, 't will be therefore but equal justice to myself and you, to crush his idle hopes at once: for not to check, is to encou rage them: and when once a woman's known to be followed, let her virtue be never so famed, or fortified, the good natured town always concludes the lover successful.

Mrs. Con. You did not seem to understand his behaviour?

Lady Gent. I can't tell whether he understood me or no; but I could not help saying in a very grave manner, that whatever strait I put myself to, his thousand pounds should certainly be paid him next week.

Mrs. Con. And how did he take it?

Lady Gent. Oh! he is not to be put out of counte

nance, that I see, for he pressed me with a world of easy civility, not to give myself the least concern; for if I pleased, he would immediately give me a very fair chance to pay him, without ever drawing a line for it.

Mrs. Con. A fair chance! What was it?

Lady Gent. Why he offered me indeed at picquet such odds, as I am sure he is not able to give me; for Count Tailly, who stood by, thought it so considerable an advantage, that he begged he might go my halves, or what part of the money I pleased.

Mrs. Con. Well said, Count-This may come to something She must play with him for posi