Mrs. Bell. Don't decide that too rashly.-Besides, you have heard his sentiments.-Perhaps you are a little to blame yourself. We will talk this matter over coolly-Ma'am, you have saved me, and I must now discharge the obligation.-You shall stay and dine with me.

Mrs. Love. I can't possibly do that I won't give you so much trouble.

Mrs. Bell. It will be a pleasure, ma'am-you shall stay with me- -I will not part with you; and I will lay such a plan as may ensure him yours for ever.-Come, come, my dear madam, don't you still think he has some good qualities to apologize for his vices?

Mrs. Love. I must own, I still hope he has.

Mrs. Bell. Very well then, and he may still make atonement for all;-and, let me tell you, that a man who can make proper atonement for his faults, should not be entirely despised.-Allons-Come, come, a man is worth thinking a little about, before one throws the hideous thing away for ever. [Exeunt.

ACT IV.

Scene I.-Sir Bashful Constant's.

Enter LADY CONSTANT, with a card, and FURNISH.

Lady Con. Is the servant waiting?

Fur. He is, madam.

Lady Con. Very well-I need not write-Give my humble service to Mrs. Lovemore, and I shall certainly wait on her.

Fur. I shall, madam.

[Going.

Lady Con. Has the servant carried back the things to Sir Brilliant Fashion, as I ordered?

Fur. We expect him back every moment, madam.

Lady Con. The insolence of that man, to think he can bribe me with his odious presents!-Very well, go and send my answer to Mrs. Lovemore.-[Exit FURNISH.] What can this mean?

[Reads.

Begs the favour of her ladyship's company to cards this evening.Cards at Mrs. Lovemore's-there's something new in that.[Reads.] Hopes her ladyship will not refuse, as it is a very particular affair requires Mrs. Lovemore's friends to be present.-There is some mystery in all this

-What can it be?

Enter SIR BASHFUL CONSTAnt.

Sir Bash. Here she is-Now let me see whether she will take any notice of the diamond buckles-Your servant, madam.

Lady Con. Your servant, sir.

Sir Bash. You seem out of humour, I think.

Lady Con. And considering that you never give me cause, that's very strange, is it not?

Sir Bash. My Lady Constant, if you did not give me

cause

Lady Con. For heaven's sake, sir, let us have no more disagreeable altercation-I am tired of your violence of temper; your frequent starts of passion, and unaccountable fancies, which you too often mistake for realities.

Sir Bash. Fancies, madam! When do I take fancies for realities?-Do I only fancy that you are eternally making exorbitant demands upon me for money, for the various articles of your expenses? And when you were for ever teasing me for diamonds, and I know not what, was that a fancy I had taken into my head without foundation?

Lady Con. Pray, sir, let us not dispute-I promise you, never to trouble you on that head again.

Sir Bash, She has received them I see, and is ob

stinately resolved not to tell me. [Aside.] Madam, I will not render myself ridiculous in the eyes of the world, for your whims.

Lady Con. Nor will I, sir, be ridiculous any longer on account of your caprice.-I have wrote to my solicitor to attend me here to-morrow morning with the articles of separation; and I presume, sir, that you can have no objection to their being carried into execution. -I have no time now to squander in frivolous debates, I must prepare to go out.— -Your servant, sir. [Exit.

Sir Bash. I must unburden myself at last!-Must disclose the secrets of my heart--She has possessed my very soul;-is ever present to my imagination ;— mingles with all my thoughts;-inflames my tenderest passions, and raises such a conflict here-I cannot any longer keep this fire pent up-I'll throw myself open to her this very moment- -Is any body in the way?

Enter SIDEBOARD.

Where's your mistress?

Side. In her own room, sir.

Sir Bash. Draw that table over this way

-A letter

will do the business-It shall be so.-Reach me a chair. -You blockhead, why don't you reach a chair? Side. There, your honour.

shall

Sir Bash. Do you stay while I write a letter-You carry it for me. [He sits down to write. Side. Yes, sir-I hope he has got some intrigue upon his hands-A servant always thrives under a master that has his private amusements.- -Love on, say I, if you are so given; it will all bring grist to my mill.

and

Sir Bash. This will be a strange surprise upon my Lady Constant-Soft, passionate, and tender, so far,— yet it does not come up to what I feel. It is a hard thing, in excessive love like mine, to speak as delicately as we think, to the person that we adore. [Writes on. Side. Let me see if there is any news in the

paper

of

to-day. [Takes a newspaper out of his pocket and reads.] What in the name of wonder is all this?-O lord! 0 lord! —I can't help laughing-Ha! ha!—I never heard of the like before-Ha! ha!

Sir Bash. What does this rascal mean? [Stares at him.] He does not suspect me, does he?

Side. Ha ha! ha!

Sir Bash. [Stares still at him.] Perhaps he overheard my conversation with Mr. Lovemore-Harkye, sirrah! [Rises.] if ever I find that you dare listen at any door in the house, I'll cut your ears off, I will.

Side. Sir!--——,

Sir Bash. Confess the truth;-have not you been listening, and overhearing my conversation?

Side. Who, I sir?-Not I, sir; as I hope to live, sir, I would not be guilty of such a thing, sir, for ever so much I never did the like in my born days.

Sir Bash. What was you laughing at, rascal? Side. An article, sir, I found in the newspaper, that's all, sir-I'll read it to you, sir

[Reads.

We hear that a new comedy is now in rehearsal at one of the theatres, and will speedily be performed, entitled, The Amorous Husband; or, the Man in Love with his own Wife.

Sir Bash. Sir Brilliant told me truth, I see. [Aside.] -Well, and what do you see to laugh at there, sir? Side. Lord bless me, sir, I never heard of the like before,—I have served in a great many families, and I never heard of such a thing.

Sir Bash. Lookye there now!-[Aside.] Sirrah! let me never hear that you have the trick of listening at any of my doors.

Side. No, sir-to be sure, sir-What has he got in his head?

Sir Bash. Wounds! I shall be laugh'd at by my own servants.—But no more scruples-pass that by; it shall

all out-[Sits down.] That fellow has so disconcerted me! -There, I have laid my whole heart open to her -I'll seal it directly. Here, take this, and bring me an answer-And, do you hear?-come hither-mind what I say; take care that nobody sees you.

Side. I warrant, sir.

[Exit SIDEBOARd, Sir Bash. I feel as if a load was off my breast-and yet I fear but I'm embark'd, and so I'll wait the event. Enter SIDEBOARD.

Side. A word or two by way of direction, sir, would not be amiss.

Sir Bash. Blockhead!-Have not I directed it?

[Takes it back. Side. I could never have suspected him of having an intrigue.

[Aside.

Sir Bash. This rascal does not know the secret of my heart, and he shall remain so-Lovemore shall open the affair to her-I am glad I have not trusted him-should I direct this, the fellow would find me out-You may go about your business, Sideboard-I don't want you.

Side. Very well, sir-what's he at now?-If he does not let me manage his intrigues for him, I'll give him warning.

[Exit. Sir Bash. Ay, Mr. Lovemore shall do it-the explanation will be more natural and easy from him.— This scoundrel is coming again—no, it is not he.

Enter LOVEMore.

Sir Bash. Ha! Mr. Lovemore!-I am glad to see you! Mr. Lovemore, you are heartily welcome!

Love. You see me here this second time to-day, Sir Bashful, entirely on the score of friendship. Sir Bash. I thank you, Mr. Lovemore; heartily thank you!

Love. I broke away from company on purpose to attend you they would have had me stay the evening,

VOL. II.