vite me also. If you'll let me escort you, I'll let you into a mystery as we go, in which you must play a part when we arrive. Aman. But we have two hours yet to spare-the carriages are not ordered till eight, and it is not a five minutes drive. So, cousin, let us keep the colonel to play piquet with us, till Mr Loveless comes home. Berin. As you please, madam, but you know I have a letter to write. Town. Madam, you know you may command me, though I'm a very wretched gamester. Aman. O, you play well enough to lose your money, and that's all the ladies require-and so, without any more ceremony, let us go into the next room, and call for cards and candles. (Exeunt. SCENE III. BERINTHIA'S Dressing-Room. Enter LOVEless. Love. So-thus far all's well-I have got into her dressing-room, and it being dusk, I think nobody has perceived me steal into the house. I heard Berinthia tell my wife she had some particular letters to write this evening, before we went to Sir Tunbelly's, and here are the implements for correspondence-How shall I muster up assurance to shew myself when she comes?-I think she has given me encouragementand, to do my impudence justice, I have made the most of it. I hear a door open, and some one com ing; if it should be my wife, what the devil should I say ?-I believe she mistrusts me, and, by my life, I don't deserve her tenderness; however, I am determined to reform, though not yet. Hah!-Berinthia -so I'll step in here till I see what sort of humour she is in. (Goes into the closet. Enter BERINTHIA. Berin. Was ever so provoking a situation !-To think I should sit and hear him compliment Amanda to my face!—I have lost all patience with them both. I would not for something have Loveless know what temper of mind they have piqued me into, yet I can't bear to leave them together. No-I'll put my papers away, and return to disappoint them. (Goes to the closet.) O Lord! a ghost! a ghost! a ghost! Enter LovEless. Love. Peace, my angel!-'tis no ghost-but one worth a hundred spirits. Berin. How, sir, have you had the insolence te presume to-run in again, here's somebody coming. Enter Maid. Maid. O Lord, ma'am, what's the matter ? Berin. O, Heavens, I'm almost frightened out of my wits! I thought verily I had seen a ghost, and 'twas nothing but a black hood pinned against the wall. -You may go again, I am the fearfullest fool! (Exit Maid. Re-enter LoVELESS. Love. Is the coast clear? Berin. The coast clear!-Upon my word I wonder at your assurance. Love. Why then you wonder before I have given you a proof of it. But where's my wife? Berin. At cards. Love. With whom? Berin. With Townly. Love. Then we are safe enough. Berin. You are so !-Some husbands would be of another mind were he at cards with their wives. Love. And they'd be in the right on't too-but I dare trust mine. Berin. Indeed!—And she, I doubt not, has the same confidence in you. Yet do you think she'd be content to come and find you here? Love. 'Egad, as you say, that's true-then, for fear she should come, hadn't we better go into the next room out of her way? Berin. What-in the dark? Love. Ay-or with a light, which you please. Love. Nay then-let me conduct you, my angel. Berin. Hold, hold, you are mistaken in your angel, I assure you. Love. I hope not, for by this hand I swear Berin. Come, come, let go my hand or I shall hate you; I'll cry out as I live. Love. Impossible !-you cannot be so cruel. Berin. Ha!-here's some one coming-be gone instantly. Love. Will you promise to return if I remain here? Berin. Never trust myself in a room with you again while I live. Love. But I have something particular to communicate to you. Berin. Well, well, before we go to Sir Tunbelly's I'll walk upon the lawn. If you are fond of a moonlight evening, you will find me there. Love. I'faith, they're coming here now-I take you at your word. (Exit LOVELESS into the closet. Berin. 'Tis Amanda, as I live-I hope she has not heard his voice. Though I mean she should have her share of jealousy in turn. Enter AMANDA. Aman. Berinthia, why did you leave me? Berin. I thought I only spoiled your party. Aman. Since you have been gone, Townly has at tempted to renew his importunities- -I must break with him-for I cannot venture to acquaint Mr Loveless with his conduct. Berin. O no any means. -Mr Loveless mustn't know of it by Aman. O not for the world-I wish, Berinthia, you would undertake to speak to Townly on the subject. Berin. Upon my word it would be a very pleasant subject for me to talk to him on-But come-let us go back, and you may depend on't I'll not leave you together again if I can help it. (Exeunt. Enter LOVEless. Love. So-so!-a pretty piece of business I have overheard-Townly makes love to my wife—and I'm not to know it for the world-I must inquire into this-and, by Heaven, if I find that Amanda has in the smallest degree-Yet what have I been at here?-O, 'sdeath! that's no rule. That wife alone unsullied credit wins, Whose virtues can atone her husband's sins; [Exit. ACT THE FIFTH. SCENE I. A Garden-Moon-light. Enter LOVELESS. Love. Now, does she mean to make a fool of me or not?—I sha'n't wait much longer, for my wife will soon be inquiring for me to set out on our supping party-Suspence is at all times the devil-but of all modes of suspence, the watching for a loitering mis. tress is the worst-but let me accuse her no longershe approaches with one smile to overpay the anxiety of a year. Enter BERINTHIA. O, Berinthia, what a world of kindness are you in my debt!-had you stayed five minutes longer— Berin. You would have been gone, I suppose. Berin And I assure you 'twas ten to one that I came at all. In short, I begin to think you are to dangerous a being to trifle with; and, as I shall probably only make a fool of you at last, I believe wo had better let matters rest as they are. |