Lord T. Sometimes her husband.

Lady T. And don't you think a husband under the same obligation?

Lord T. Certainly.

Lady T. Why then we are agreed, my lord-For if I never go abroad till I am weary of being at home— (which you know is the case)—is it not equally reasonable, not to come home till one is weary of being abroad? Lord T. If this be your rule of life, madam, 'tis time to ask you one serious question.

Lady T. Don't let it be long a coming then, for I am in haste.

Lord T. Madam, when I am serious, I expect a serious

answer.

Lady T. Before I know the question?

Lord T. Pshaw!-Have I power, madam, to make you serious by entreaty?

Lady T. You have.

Lord T. And you promise to answer me sincerely? Lady T. Sincerely.

Lord T. Now then, recollect your thoughts, and tell me seriously why you married me.

Lady T. You insist upon truth, you say?
Lord T. I think I have a right to it.

Lady T. Why then, my lord, to give you at once a proof of my obedience and sincerity-I think-I married-to take off that restraint that lay upon my pleasures while I was a single woman.

Lord T. How, madam! is any woman under less restraint after marriage than before it?

Lady T. Oh, my lord, my lord! they are quite different creatures! Wives have infinite liberties in life, that would be terrible in an unmarried woman to take. Lord T. Name one.

Lady T. Fifty, if you please-To begin, then-in the morning-A married woman may have men at her toilet-invite them to dinner-appoint them a party in the stage-box at the play-engross the conversation there-call them by their christian names-talk louder

than the players: from thence, clatter again to this end of the town-break, with the morning, into an assembly-crowd to the hazard-table-throw a familiar levant upon some sharp, lurching man of quality, and if he demands his money, turn it off with a loud laugh, and cry you'll owe it him, to vex him, ha, ha!

Lord T. Prodigious! [Aside. Lady T. These now, my lord, are some few of the many modish amusements that distinguish the privilege of a wife from that of a single woman.

Lord T. Death, madam!" what law has made these liberties less scandalous in a wife than in an unmarried woman?

Lady T. Why, the strongest law in the world, custom-custom, time out of mind, my lord.

Lord T. Custom, madam, is the law of fools; but it shall never govern me.

Lady T. Nay then, my lord, 'tis time for me to observe the laws of prudence.

Lord T. I wish I could see an instance of it.

Lady T. You shall have one this moment, my lord; for I think when a man begins to lose his temper at home, if a woman has any prudence, why she'll go abroad till he comes to himself again. [Going.

Lord T. Hold, madam; I am amazed you are not more uneasy at the life we lead. You don't want sense, and yet seem void of all humanity; for, with a blush Í say it, I think I have not wanted love.

Lady T. Oh, don't say that, my lord, if you suppose I have my senses.

Lord T. What is it I have done to you? What can you complain of?

Lady T. Oh, nothing, in the least! 'Tis true you have heard me say I have owed my lord Lurcher an hundred pounds these three weeks; but what then? a husband is not liable to his wife's debts of honour, you know ; and if a silly woman will be uneasy about money she can't be sued for, what's that to him? As long as he loves her, to be sure, she can have nothing to complain of.

Lord T. By heaven, if my whole fortune, thrown into your lap, could make you delight in the cheerful duties of a wife, I should think myself a gainer by the purchase.

Lady T. That is, my lord, I might receive your whole estate, provided you were sure I would not spend a shilling of it.

Lord T. No, madam; were I master of your heart, your pleasures would be mine; but, different as they are, I'll feed even your follies to deserve it-Perhaps you may have some other trifling debts of honour abroad, that keep you out of humour at home — at least it shall not be my fault if I have not more of your company- -There, there's a bill of five hundred--and now, madam

Lady T. And now, my lord, down to the ground, I thank you.

Lord T. If it be no offence, madam

Lady T. Say what you please, my lord; I am in that harmony of spirits, it is impossible to put me out of humour.

Lord T. How long, in reason then, do you think that sum ought to last you?

Lady T. Oh, my dear, dear lord, now you have spoiled all again! how is it possible I should answer for an event that so utterly depends upon fortune? But to show you that I am more inclined to get money than to throw it away, I have a strong possession that with this five hundred I shall win five thousand.

Lord T. Madam, if you were to win ten thousand, it would be no satisfaction to me.

Lady T. Oh, the churl! ten thousand: what! not so much as wish I might win ten thousand!- -Ten thousand! Oh, the charming sum! what infinite pretty things might a woman of spirit do with ten thousand guineas! Ö'my conscience, if she were a woman of true spirit-she-she might lose them all again.

Lord T. And I had rather it should be so, madam, provided I could be sure that were the last you would

lose.

Lady T. Well, my lord, to let you see I design to play all the good housewife I can, I am now going to a party at quadrille, only to trifle with a little of it, at poor two guineas a fish, with the duchess of Quiteright. [Exit.

Lord T. Insensible creature! neither reproaches nor indulgence, kindness nor severity, can wake her to the least reflection! Continual licence has lull'd her into such a lethargy of care, that she speaks of her excesses with the same easy confidence as if they were so many virtues. What a turn has her head taken!-But how to cure it-take my friend's opinion-Manly will speak freely-my sister with tenderness to both sides. They know my case-I'll talk with them.

Enter WILLIAMS.

Wil. Mr. Manly, my lord, has sent to know if your lordship was at home.

Lord T. They did not deny me?

Wil. No, my lord.

Lord T. Very well; step up to my sister, and say I desire to speak with her.

Wil. Lady Grace is here, my lord.

Enter LADY GRACE.

[Exit.

Lord T. So, lady fair, what pretty weapon have you been killing your time with?

Lady G. A huge folio, that has almost killed me-I think I have half read my eyes out.

Lord T. Oh! you should not pore so much just after dinner, child.

Lady G. That's true; but any body's thoughts are better than always one's own, you know.

Lord T. Who's there?

Re-enter WILLIAMS.

Leave word at the door I am at home to nobody but Mr. Manly. [Exit Williams. Lady G. And why is he excepted, pray, my lord? Lord T. I hope, madam, you have no objection to his company?

Lady G. Your particular orders, upon my being here, look indeed as if you thought I had not.

Lord T. And your ladyship's inquiry into the reason of those orders shows, at least, it was not a matter indifferent to you.

Lady G. Lord, you make the oddest constructions, brother!

Lord T. Look you, my grave lady Grace-in one serious word-I wish you had him.

Lady G. I can't help that.

Lord T. Ha! you can't help it, ha, ha! The flat simplicity of that reply was admirable.

Lady G. Pooh, you tease one, brother!

Lord T. Come, I beg pardon, child-this is not a point, I grant you, to trifle upon; therefore I hope you'll give me leave to be serious.

Lady G. If you desire it, brother; though, upon my word, as to Mr. Manly's having any serious thoughts of me I know nothing of it.

Lord T. Well-there's nothing wrong in your making a doubt of it-But, in short, I find by his conversation of late, he has been looking round the world for a wife; and if you were to look round the world for a husband, he is the first man I would give to you.

Lady G. Then whenever he makes me any offer, brother, I will certainly tell you of it.

Lord T. Oh, that's the last thing he'll do! he'll never make you an offer till he's pretty sure it won't be refused.

Lady G. Now you make me curious. Pray did he ever make any offer of that kind to you?

Lord T. Not directly-but that imports nothing; he is a man too well acquainted with the female world to be brought into a high opinion of any one woman, without some well-examined proof of her merit; yet have reason to believe that your good sense, your turn of mind, and your way of life, have brought him to so favourable a one of you, that a few days will reduce him to talk plainly to me; which, as yet, notwithstanding our friendship, I have neither declined nor encouraged him to do.