Love. Taken so unaccountably; my old complaint. Sir Bril. What complaint?

Love. I must have a surgeon-occasioned by the stroke of a tennis-ball;-my lord Racket's unlucky left hand. Let me pass-there is something forming there-let me pass. -To be caught is the devil.[Aside] Don't name my name; you'll ruin all that I said for you, if you do. Sir Brilliant, your servant -There certainly something forming. [Exit. Sir Bril. Something forming there-I believe there is something forming here!-What can this mean?—I must have this explain'd.-Then Mrs. Lovemore's suspicions are right; I must come at the bottom of it. Re-enter MRS. BELMOUR.

My dear Mrs. Belmour!

Mrs. B. Heavens! What brings you here?

Sir Bril. I congratulate with myself upon the felicity of meeting you thus at home.

Mrs. B. Your visit is unseasonable-you must be gone.

Sir Bril. Madam, I have a thousand things
Mrs. B. Well, well, another time.

Sir Bril. Of the tenderest import.

Mrs. B. I can't hear you now-fly this moment!-I have a lady taken ill in the next room.

Sir Bril. Ay, and you have had a gentleman taken ill here too.

Mrs. B. Do you dispute my will and pleasure!-fly this instant. [Turns him out] So-I'll make sure of the

door.

Re-enter MRS. LOVEMORE, leaning on MIGNIONET. Mig. This way, madam; here's more air in this room. Mrs. B. How do you find yourself, ma'am? Pray sit down. [She sits. Mrs. L. My spirits are too weak to bear up any longer against such a scene of villany. Mrs. B. Villany! What villany?

Mrs. L. Of the blackest die! I see, madam, you are acquainted with my husband.

Mrs. B. Acquainted with your husband!

Mrs. L. A moment's patience;-that gentleman that was here with you, is my husband!

Mrs. B. Lord Etheridge your husband?

[Rises.

Mrs. L. Lord Etheridge, as he calls himself, and as you have been made to call him also, is no other than Mr. Lovemore.

Mrs. B. And has he then been base enough to assume that title to ensnare me to my undoing?

Mrs. L. To see my husband carrying on this dark business-to see the man I have loved-the man I have esteem'd-the man I am afraid I must still love, though esteem him again I cannot, to be a witness to his complicated wickedness, it was too much for sensibility like mine-I felt the shock too severely, and sunk under it.

Mrs. B. I am ready to do the same myself now—I sink into the very ground with amazement. The first time I ever saw him, was at Mrs. Loveit's-she introduced him to me; the appointment was of her own making.

Mrs. L. You know her character, I suppose, madam? Mrs. B. She's a woman of fashion, and sees a great deal of good company.

Mrs. L. Very capable of such an action for all that. Mrs. B. Well, I could never have imagined that any woman would be so base as to pass such a cheat upon me.-Step this moment, and give orders never to let him within my doors again. [Exit Mignionet] I am much obliged to you, madam, for this visit ;-to me it is highly fortunate, but I am sorry for your share in't, as the discovery brings you nothing but the conviction of your husband's baseness.

Mrs. L. I am determined to be no further uneasy about him; nor will I live a day longer under his roof. Mrs. B. Hold! hold! make no violent resolutions. -You'll excuse me-I can't help feeling for you; and I think this incident may be still converted to your advantage.

Mrs. L. That can never be-I am lost beyond redemption.

АСТ 5. Mrs. B. 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. L. I can't possibly do that-I won't give you so much trouble.

Mrs. B. 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. L. I must own I still hope he has.

Mrs. B. 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.

SCENE I. SIR BASHFUL CONSTANT's House.

Enter LADY CONSTANT, with a Card, and FURNISH. Lady C. Is the servant waiting?

Fur. He is, madam.

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

Fur. We expect him back every moment, madam. Lady C. 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 thatHopes her ladyship will not refuse, as it is a very particular affair requires Mrs. Lovemore's friends to be

present. can it be?

-There is some mystery in all this

Enter SIR BASHFUL CONSTANT.

-What

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

Lady C. Your servant, sir.

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

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

Lady C. 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