tell you that I am ready to part as soon as you please. Nay, I will part.

sir.

Lady Con. That is the only thing we can agree in,

Sir Bash. Had that letter come from another quarter, I know it would have been highly acceptable.

Lady Con. I disdain the imputation!

Sir Bash. I will vent no more reproaches-This is the last of our conversing together-And take this with you, by the way, you are not to believe one word of that letter-And as to any passion, that any body declares for you, there was no such thing-was there, Lovemore? [Goes over to him. Love. He states it all very right, madam. Sir Bash, (L.) Let us laugh at her, Lovemore. Ha! ha! ha!

Love. Silly devil! I can't help laughing at him, [Aside.] Ha ha! ha!

Sir Bash. Ha! ha! ha!-all a bam, madam !-ha ! ha! nothing else in the world!-all to make sport of you. Ha ha! ha!

Lady Con. I cannot bear this usage any longer-Two such brutes ! Is my chair ready there? You may depend, sir, this is the last you will see of me in your house. [Exit LADY CONSTANT, L. Sir Bash. A bargain, madam, with all my heart! Ha ha! Lovemore, this was well managed.

Love. Charmingly managed, indeed! I did not think you had so much spirit in you.

Sir Bash. I have found her out. I know her at last. But, Mr. Lovemore, never own the letter; deny it to the last.

Love. You may depend upon me.

Sir Bash. I return you a thousand thanks. A foolish woman, how she stands in her own light.

Love. Truly, I think she does. Sir Bashful, I am mighty sorry I could not succeed better in this affair. Sir Bash. And so am I.

Love. I have done my best, you see-and now I'll take my leave.

Sir Bash. Nay, stay a little longer.

Love. Had your lady proved tractable, I should not care how long I staid-but as things are situated, your humble servant, Sir Bashful. Well off this bout-well

off!

[Aside.

Sir Bash. Mr. Lovemore, your servant; a good night to you. But hark ye, Mr. Lovemore; if I can serve you with your lady

Love. I thank you as much as if you did.

Sir Bash. Be sure you deny every thing. Fare you well--[Exit LOVEMORE, L. D.] Sideboard, see the gentleman out,--He is a true friend, indeed! I should have been undone but for him. My Lady Constant! My Lady Constant! Let me drive her from my thoughts. Can I do it? Rage, fury, love-think no more of love -I never will own a tittle of that letter.-Odso! yonder it lies in fragments upon the ground-I'll pick them up this moment-keep them safe in my own custody -and, as to Sir Brilliant, I shall know how to proceed with madam in regard to him-I'll watch them both-if I can but get ocular demonstration of her guilt-if I can but get the means in my power, to prove to the whole world that she is vile enough to cuckold me, I shall be happy. [Exit, R. D.

END OF ACT IV.

ACT V.

SCENE I.-Apartment at Mr. Lovemore's.

Enter MRS. LOVEMORE, R., 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? Heaven 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 overjoyed, when they find you have plucked 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, L.

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, L. Mrs. Bell. (L.) You see I am punctual to my time. Well, I admire your dress of a I things. It's mighty pretty.

1

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 it not 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. [A rap 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.

step on the stair-head.

Mrs. Bell. Success attend you.

Make haste; I hear his

I am gone.

[Exit, R. D.

Mrs. Love. [Near R. D.] 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, L..

Mr. Lovemore, you are welcome home.
Love. Mrs. Lovemore, your servant.

[Without looking at her, taking a chair and sits
L. C. with his back towards 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!

[Aside. [Aside.

Mrs. Love. He seems to muse upon it. Love. She does not mean to do so infamous a thing as to jilt me? [Aside.] O, lord! I am wonderfully tired. [Yawns, and falls back in his chair. Mrs. Love. [Stands at his back.] 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 ?—