Sir Bash. By all that's false, I'm gulled, cheated, imposed upon, deceived, and dubbed-Ay, here her ladyship comes-And now she shall hear her own.

Love. 'Sdeath! let me fly the approaching storm

Sir Bashful, your humble servant, sir-I wish you a good night. [Going.

Sir Bash. You must not go-you shan't leave me in this exigence-you shall be a witness of our separation. Love. No, I can't bear the sight of her after what has pass'd-Good night-[SIR BASHFUL holds him.] D-nation! I must weather it! [Aside.

Enter LADY CONSTANT.

Lady Con. I am surprised, Mr. Lovemore, that you will offer to stay a moment longer in this house. Love. How the devil shall I give a turn to this affair?

[Aside.

[Aside. Sir Bash. Mr. Lovemore is my friend, madam; and I desire he'll stay here as long as he pleases, madam. Love. All must come out. Lady Con. Your friend, Sir Bashful!—And do you authorize him to make sport of me, sir?—I wonder, Mr. Lovemore, you would think of sending me such a letter!-Do you presume, sir, upon my having admitted a trifling act of civility from you?-Do you come disguised, sir, under a mask of friendship to undo me?

Love. It's a coming.

[Aside. Sir Bash. A mask of friendship!-I know Mr. Lovemore too well, and I desired him to send that letter. Love. Sir Bashful desired me, madam.

Sir Bash. I desired him, madam.

Love. He desired me, madam.

Lady Con. What, to affront me, sir?

Sir Bash. There was not one word of truth in it.
Love. Not one word of truth, madam.

Sir Bash. It was all done to try you, madam; merely to know you a little or so.

Love. Merely to know you! pure innocent mirth.

Lady Con. And am I to be treated thus, sir; to be ever tormented by you?-And could you, Mr. Lovemore, be so unmanly as to make yourself an accomplice in so mean an attempt to ensnare me?

Sir Bash. To ensnare me !-She calls it ensnaring— It is pretty plain from all that has pass'd between us that our tempers are not fit for one another; and I now tell you that I am ready to part as soon as you please. Nay I will part.

Lady Con. That is the only thing we can agree in, sir. Sir Bush. Had that letter come from another quarter, I know it would have been highly acceptable.

Lady Con. I disdain the imputation!

Sir Bash. I will vent no more reproaches-This is the last of our conversing together-And take this with you, by the way, you are not to believe one word of that letter-And as to any passion, that any body declares for you, there was no such thing-was there, Lovemore? [Goes over to him. Love. He states it all very right, madam. Sir Bash. Let us laugh at her, Lovemore. Ha! ha! ha!

Love. Silly devil!-I can't help laughing at him. [Aside.] Ha! ha! ha!

Sir Bash. Ha! ha! ha!-all a bam, madam!-ha! ha! nothing else in the world!-all to make sport of you. Ha ha ha!

Lady Con. I cannot bear this usage any longerTwo such brutes!-Is my chair ready there?—You may depend, sir, this is the last you will see of me in your house. [Exit LADY Constant. Sir Bash. A bargain, madam, with all my heart!Ha ha! Lovemore, this was well managed.

Love. Charmingly managed, indeed!—I did not think you had so much spirit in

you.

Sir Bash. I have found her out-I know her at last.But, Mr. Lovemore, never own the letter; deny it to the last.

Love. You may depend upon me.

Sir Bush. I return you a thousand thanks.-A foolish woman, how she stands in her own light!

Love. Truly, I think she does.-Sir Bashful, I am mighty sorry I could not succeed better in this affair. Sir Bash. And so am I.

Love. I have done my best, you see-and now I'll take my leave.

Sir Bash. Nay, stay a little longer.

Love. Had your lady proved tractable, I should not care how long I staid-but as things are situated, your humble servant, Sir Bashful.-Well off this bout-well off! [Aside.

Sir Bash. Mr. Lovemore, your servant; a good night to you. But harkye, Mr. Lovemore; if I can serve you with your lady

Love. I thank you as much as if you did.

Sir Bash. Be sure you deny every thing.-Fare you well.[Exit LOVEMORE.] Sideboard, see the gentleman out. -He is a true friend indeed! I should have been undone but for him. -My Lady Constant! My Lady Constant!-Let me drive her from my thoughts.— Can I do it?-Rage, fury, love, think no more of love I never will own a tittle of that letter.Odso! yonder it lies in fragments upon the ground— I'll pick them up this moment-keep them safe in my own custody-And, as to Sir Brilliant, I shall know how to proceed with madam in regard to him-I'll watch them both if I can but get ocular demonstration of her guilt-If I can but get the means in my power, to prove to the whole world that she is vile enough to cuckold me, I shall be happy. [Exit.

ACT V.

Scene I.-An Apartment at MR. LOVEMORE'S.

Enter MRS. LOVEMORE, elegantly dressed, MUSLIN following her.

Mus. Why to be sure, ma'am ; it is so for certain, and you are very much in the right of it.

Mrs. Love. I fancy I am I see the folly of my former conduct, and I am determined never to let my spirits sink into a melancholy state again.

Mus. Why, that's the very thing, ma'am; the very thing I have been always preaching up to you. Did not I always say, see company? Ma'am, take your share of pleasure, and never break your heart for any man. This is what I always said.

Mrs. Love. It's very well, you need not say any

more now.

Mus. I always said so. And what did the world say? Heavens bless her for a sweet woman! and a plague go with him for an inhuman, barbarous, bloody murdering brute.

Mrs. Love. No more of these liberties, I desire.

Mus. Nay, don't be angry: they did say so indeed. But dear heart, how every body will be overjoy'd, when they find you have pluck'd up a little! As for me, it gives me new life, to have so much company in the house, and such a racketing at the door with coaches and chairs, enough to hurry a body out of one's wits.-Lard, this is another thing, and you look quite like another thing, ma'am, and that dress quite becomes you. I suppose, ma'am, you will never wear your negligée again? It is not fit for you, indeed, ma'am.

It might pass very well with some folks, ma'am, but the like of you—

Mrs. Love. Pr'ythee truce with your tongue, and see who is coming up stairs.

Enter MRS. Bellmour.

Mrs. Bellmour, I revive at the sight of you. Muslin, do you step down stairs, and do as I have ordered you. Mus. What the deuce can she be at now? [Exit. Mrs. Bell. You see I am punctual to my time.-Well, I admire your dress of all things. It's mighty pretty.

Mrs. Love. I am glad you like it. But, under all this appearance of gaiety, I have at the bottom but an aching heart.

Mrs. Bell. Be ruled by me, have courage, courage, and I'll answer for the event. Why, really, now you look just as you should do.-Why should you neglect so fine a figure?

Mrs. Love. You are so civil, Mrs. Bellmour.

Mrs. Bell. And so true too-What was beautiful before, is now heightened by the additional ornaments of dress; and if you will but animate and inspire the whole by those graces of the mind, which I am sure you possess, the impression cannot fail of being effectual upon all beholders, and even upon the depraved mind of Mr. Lovemore.- You have not seen him since, have you?

Mrs. Love. No-not a glimpse of him.

Mrs. Bell. If he does but come home time enough, depend upon it my plot will take. Well, and have you got together a good deal of company?

Mrs. Love. Pretty well.

Mrs. Bell. That's right: show him that you will consult your own pleasure.-Is Sir Brilliant of the party? Mrs. Love. Apropos, as soon as I came home I received a letter from him; he there urges his addresses with great warmth, begs to see me again, and has something particular to tell me you shall see it.-O lud, I have not it about me!-I left it in my dressing-room