But I must not be seen, lest they mistake my innocent curiosity for jealousy.

Char. Well, but you might have thrown in a civil thing to me in my turn too.

Frank. Alas, poor lady! Pray, what one civil thing did I mean to any body but yourself? Besides, was not you one of the three goddesses, miss Charlotte? Which of the company do you suppose I meant by Venus, pray?

Char. How silly you make me!

Frank. Nay, I was going to say a great deal more to you, if my lady had not stopped my mouth.

Soph. Is it possible!

[Aside. Char. Why, then, I beg your pardon; for, in short, I find I have only been fool enough to be uneasy, because they had not sense enough to be mortified. Frank. A pretty innocent confession, truly. Soph. Have I my senses?

Char. Well, but tell me, what was it you had a mind to say to me?

Frank. Nothing to what I now could say-Oh, Charlotte, my heart grows full of you; the least look of kindness softens me to folly!-Indeed I love you. Soph. Soh

Char. And for what, after all?

[Smiling. Frank. For that, and for a thousand charms beside. [Pressing her Hand] There's something in your looks so soft, so gentle, so resign'd, and plaintive; I loved before I knew it, and only thought I gave the pity that I wanted.

Char. What transport's in the passion, when the tenderness is mutual!

Soph. Oh, the enormous creature! but I'll begone, Jest her intoxication should know no bounds-No, on second thoughts, I'll stay: [During this Frankly and Charlotte seem in an amorous dispute, till he kisses her] -A kiss! nay, then, 'tis insupportable. [She goes to them] Sister, I am amazed you can stand trifling here, when my father is come home, and you know he wants you.

Char. She has certainly seen us.

[Apart to Frank. Frank. No matter; seem easy, and take no notice. [Apart to Charlotte. Soph. Shall I tell him you will not come, madam? Char. Well, do not be in a passion, dear sister. Frank. Oh, fie! why should you think so?-But is sir Gilbert come in, madam? have a little business with him. If you please, madam, I'll wait upon you to him.

Char. With all my heart.

[Exeunt Frankly and Charlotte. Soph. What means this turbulence of thought?It cannot, nay, I will not have it jealousy-No, if I were capable of folly, Granger might mislead me; yel still I am disturbed-but can I not assign the cause?Oh, I have found it!-Having first offered up his heart to me, his giving it to another, without my leave, is an insult on my merit, and worthy my resentment-that's all-How, then, shall I punish him?-By securing her to his rival-Witling shall have her; I will work it by my lady; she seems his friend.

Thus both shall suffer, doom'd to different fates,
His be despair; be hers, the man she hates.

[Exit.

Enter LADY WRANGLE and SOPHRONIA.

Lady W. Impossible! you amaze me! Kiss her, say you? What, as a lover?

Soph. With all the fervour of a libertine.

Lady W. Then I am deceived indeed. But, tell me, dear Sophronia, how did that naughty girl behave to him? Did she resist, or -Oh, tell me all his baseness! I burn to know, yet wish to be deceived.

Soph. -Speratque miserrima falli-Directly jealous of him; but I'll make my usus of it. [Aside] Nay, madam, I must own the guilty part was chiefly hers. Had you but seen the advances that she made him, you would think his crime, compared to hers, but frailty.

Lady W. Oh, the little sorceress!-But I shall stop her in her career: I'll have her know, forward as she is, her inclinations shall wait upon my choice; and since she will run riot, I'll have her clogged immedi

C

ately. I'll marry her, Sophronia; but where I think fit. No, Mr. Willing is her man, or she's single for

ever.

Soph. That, madam, I doubt, she will never be brought to; she mortally hates him.

Lady W. So much the better; I do not design him, therefore, as her happiness, but her punishment.

Soph. This is fortunate; she even prevents my purpose. [Aside. Lady W. Oh, that a man of his sublime faculties could fall from such a height! Was ever any thing so mean, Sophronia ?

Soph. I am surprised indeed. My sister, too, is so illiterate, madam.

Lady W. To contaminate his intellects with such a chit of an animal; O tempora!

Soph. O mores! "Tis a degenerate age, indeed, madam.

Lady W. But I'll take care of her. I'll send to Mr. Witling this moment, and invite him to dine here. I desire you will be in the way, child, and assist me in bringing this matter to a speedy conclusion. [Exit. Soph. Yes, I shall assist you, madam; though not to gratify your resentments, but my own. Poor lady! is this then all the fruit of your philosophy? Good heaven!-Can she be this creature, and know it not?And yet 'tis so-so partial's nature to herself. The faults of others we with ease discern, But our own frailties are the last we learn.

Enter FRANKLY and CHARLOTTE.

Ha! perpetually together!

[Going.

Char. In contemplation, sister? I am afraid we disturb you: come, Mr. Frankly, we'll go into the next

room.

Soph. No, madam, if you have any secrets, I'll retire. Char. Nay, we have none now, sister, but what I dare swear you are certainly let into; ha, ha, ha! Frank. So she must have a gentle insult, I find; but it will be prudent in me to keep the peace. [Áside.

Soph. These taunts are insupportable! but to confess the smart, were adding to her triumph. Char. Why so grave, Sophronia?

[Aside.

Soph. Why that question, madam? Do you often see me otherwise?

Char. No; but I thought, upon your supposing we had secrets, you drew up a little.

Soph. "Tis possible, I might not be in a laughing humour, without thinking any of your secrets impor

tant.

Frank. People, madam, that think much, always wear a serious aspect. [To Charlotte. Soph. As the contrary, sister, may be a reason for your continual mirth.

Char. Well, well; so I am but happy, sister, I am content you should be wise as long as you live.

Soph. You have one sign of wisdom, I see: a little thing contents you. -There's no bearing her. [Aside and exit.

Char. She's in a high miff.

Frank. I am afraid there is no good towards us: I observed my lady, as she passed too, had much the same cloud upon her brow.

Char. Then she has certainly told her how she caught us fooling together.

Frank. No doubt on't; therefore we must expect all the mischief that either of them can do us.

Ckar. My sister can't do us much, at least.

Frank. She can imitate my lady; and, you know, my lady governs your father.

Char. She does a little overbear him indeed; not but he will make his party good with her upon occasion : I have known it come to a drawn battle between them, especially when he has any body to stand by him. A sad life though, Mr. Frankly, when conjugal engagements are only battles; does not their example frighten you?

Frank. I can see no hazard in taking my chance with you, madam.