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

I believe; you shall see it by and by: I took your advice, and sent him word he might come. That lure brought him hither immediately: he makes no doubt of his success with me.

Mrs. Bell. Well! two such friends as Sir Brilliant and Mr. Lovemore, I believe, never existed!

Mrs. Love. Their falsehood to each other is unparalleled. I left Sir Brilliant at the whist table: as soon as the rubber is out, he'll certainly quit his company in pursuit of me. Apropos-my Lady Constant is here. Mrs. Bell. Is she?

Mrs. Love. She is, and has been making the strangest discovery Mr. Lovemore has had a design there too. Mrs. Bell. Lud a mercy! what would have become of the poor man, if he had succeeded with us all.

Mrs. Love. [Arap at the door.] As I live and breathe, I believe this is Mr. Lovemore.

Mrs. Bell. If it is, every thing goes on swimmingly within.

Mrs. Love. I hear his voice; it is he! How my heart beats!

Mrs. Bell. Courage, and the day's your own. Where must I run?

Mrs. Love. In there, ma'am. Make haste; I hear his step on the stair-head.

Mrs. Bell. Success attend you. I am gone.

[Exit. Mrs. Love. I am frightened out of my senses. What the event may be I fear to think; but I must go through with it.

Enter LOVEMore.

Mr. Lovemore, you are welcome home.

Love. Mrs. Lovemore, your servant.

.

[Without looking at her. Mrs. Love. It is somewhat rare to see you at home so early.

Love. I said I would come home, did not I? I always

like to be as good as my word.-What could she mean by this usage? to make an appointment, and break it

thus abruptly!

Mrs. Love. He seems to muse upon it.

[Aside. [Aside.

Love. She does not mean to do so infamous a thing as to jilt me? [Aside.] O lord! I am wonderfully tired. [Yawns and sinks into an arm chair.

Mrs. Love. You an't indisposed, I hope, my dear? Love. No, my dear; I thank you, I am very well;— a little fatigued only, with jolting over the stones all the way from the city. I drank coffee with the old banker. I have been there ever since I saw you.Confoundedly tired.-Where's William?

Mrs. Love. Do you want any thing?

Love. Only my slippers. I am not in spirits, I think.

[Yawns. Mrs. Love. You never are in spirits at home, Mr. Lovemore.

Love. I beg your pardon: I never am any where more cheerful, [Stretching his arms.] I wish I may die if I an't very happy at home,very, [yawns] very happy!

Mrs. Love. I can hear otherwise, I am informed, that Mr. Lovemore is the inspirer of mirth and good humour wherever he goes.

Love. O! you overrate me; upon my soul you do.

Mrs. Love. I can hear, sir, that no person's company is so acceptable to the ladies; that 'tis your wit that inspirits every thing; that you have your compliment for one, your smile for another, a whisper for a third, and so on, sir: you divide your favours, and are every where, but at home, all whim, vivacity, and spirit.

Love. No! no! [laughing] how can you talk so? I swear I can't help laughing at the fancy. All whim, vivacity, and spirit! How can you banter so?I divide my favours too!-O, heavens! I can't stand this raillery such a description of me!-I that am rather saturnine, of a serious cast, and inclined to be pensive!

I can't help laughing at the oddity of the conceit.
O lord! O lord!

[Laughs. Mrs. Love. Just as you please, sir. I see that I am ever to be treated with indifference.

[Walks across the stage.

Love. [Rises and walks the contrary way.] I can't put this Widow Bellmour out of my head.

[Aside. Mrs. Love. If I had done any thing to provoke this usage, this cold insolent contempt[Walking. Love. I wish I had done with that business entirely; but my desires are kindled, and must be satisfied.

[Aside.

[They walk for some time silently by each other. Mrs. Love. What part of my conduct gives you offence, Mr. Lovemore?

Love. Still harping upon that ungrateful string?— but pr'ythee don't set me a laughing again.- -Offence!-nothing gives me offence, child!—you know I am very fond-[Yawns and walks.]—I like you of all things, and think you a most admirable wife ;-prudent, managing,-careless of your own person, and very attentive to mine;-not much addicted to pleasure,-grave, retired, and domestic; govern your house, pay the tradesmen's bills, [yawns] scold the servants, and love your husband :-upon my soul, a very good wife!-as good a sort of a wife [yawns] as a body might wish to have.- Where's William ?—I must go

to bed.

Mrs. Love. To bed so early! Had not you better join the company?

Love. I shan't go out to-night.

Mrs. Love. But I mean the company in the drawing

room.

Love. What

company?

Mrs. Love. That I invited to a rout.

[Stares at her.

Love. A rout in my house!—and you dressed out too!-What is all this?

Mrs. Love. You have no objection, I hope.