Lady G. What think you now? Lord T. I am considering Lady G. You see it's directed to him— Lord T. That's true; but the postscript seems to be a reproach that I think he is not capable of deserving. Lady G. But who could have concern enough to send it to me? Lord T. I have observed that these sort of letters from unknown friends generally come from secret enemies. Lady G. What would you have me do in it? Lord T. What I think you ought to do-fairly shew it to him, and say I advised you to it. Lady G. Will not that have a very odd look from me? Lord T. Not at all, if you use my name in it; if he is innocent, his impatience to appear so will discover his regard to you. If he is guilty, it will be the best way of preventing his addresses. Lady G. But what pretence have I to put him out of countenance? Lord T. I cann't think there's any fear of that. Lord T. Why, certainly, that it's much more pro, bable this letter may be all an artifice, than that he is in the least concerned in it Lord T. Do you receive him, while I step a minute in to my lady. [Exit Lord Townly. Enter Manly. Man. Madam, your most obedient; they told me my lord was here. Lady G. He will be here presently; he is but just gone in to my sister. Man. So, then my lady dines with us. Lady G. No; she is engaged. Man. I hope you are not of her party, madam. Man. And, pray, how may she have disposed of the rest of the day? Lady G. Much as usual; she has visits till about eight; after that, till court-time, she is to be at quadrille, at Mrs. Idle's; after the drawing-room, she takes a short supper with my Lady Moonlight. And from thence they go together to my Lord Noble's assembly. Man. And are you to do all this with her, madam? Lady G. Only a few of the visits: I would, indeed, have drawn her to the play; but I doubt we have so much upon our hands, that it will not be practicable. Man. But how can you forbear all the rest of it? Lady G. There's no great merit in forbearing what one is not charmed with. Man. And yet I have found that very difficult in my time. Lady G. How do you mean? Man. Why, I have passed a great deal of my life in the hurry of the ladies, though I was generally better pleased when I was at quiet without them. Lady G. What induced you then to be with them? Man. Idleness, and the fashion. Lady G. No mistresses in the case? Man. To speak honestly-yes-Being often in the toy-shop, there was no forbearing the baubles. Lady G. And of course, I suppose, sometimes you were tempted to pay for them twice as much as they were worth. "Man. Why, really, where fancy only makes the "choice, madam, no wonder if we are generally bub"bled in those sort of bargains; which, I confess, "has been often my case: for I had constantly some 66 coquette or other upon my hands, whom I could "love, perhaps, just enough to put it in her power "to plague me. "Lady G. And that's a power, I doubt, commonly "made use of. "Man. The amours of a coquette, madam, seldom "have any other view; I look upon them and prudes "to be nuisances just alike, though they seem very "different: the first are always plaguing the men, "and the others are always abusing the women. "Lady G. And yet both of them do it for the same. "vain ends; to establish a false character of being. "virtuous. "Man. Of being chaste, they mean; for they know A&t III. "no other virtue; and, upon the credit of that, they "traffic in every thing else that's vicious. They (even "against nature) keep their chastity, only because they "find they have more power to do mischief with it, "than they could possibly put in practice without it. 66 Lady G. Hold, Mr. Manly: I am afraid this se"vere opinion of the sex is owing to the ill choice you "have made of your mistresses. "Man. In a great measure it may be so; but, ma"dam, if both these characters are so odious, how "vastly valuable is that woman, who has attained all "they aim at, without the aid of the folly or vice of "" either! "Lady G. I believe those sort of women to be as "scarce, sir, as the men that believe there are any "such; or that, allowing such, have virtue enough "to deserve them. "Man. That could deserve them, then-had "been a more favourable reflection." Lady G. Nay, I speak only from my little experiénce; for (I'll be free with you, Mr. Manly) I don't know a man in the world that, in appearance, might better pretend to a woman of the first merit than yourself: and yet I have a reason in my hand, here, to think you have your failings. Man. I have infinite, madam; but I am sure the want of an implicit respect for you, is not among the number-Pray, what is in your hand, madam ? 'Lady G. Nay, sir, I have no title to it, for the direc tion is to you. [Gives him a letter. Man. To me! I don't remember the hand. [Reads to himself. Lady G. I cann't perceive any change of guilt in him; and his surprise seems natural. [Aside.]-Give me leave to tell you one thing by the way, Mr. Manly; that I should never have shewn you this, but that my brother enjoined me to it. Man. I take that to proceed from my Lord's good opinion of me, madam. Lady G. I hope, at least, it will stand as an excuse for my taking this liberty. Man. I never yet saw you do any thing, madam, that wanted an excuse; and I hope you will not give me an instance to the contrary, by refusing the favour I am going to ask you. Lady G. I don't believe I shall refuse any that you think proper to ask. Man. Only this, madam, to indulge me so far as to let me know how this letter came into your hands. Lady G. Inclosed to me in this, without a name. Man. If there be no secret in the contents, madam.Lady G. Why there is an impertinent insinuation in it but as I know your good sense will think it so too, I will venture to trust you. : Man. You'll oblige me, madam. [He takes the other letter and reads. Lady G. [Aside.] Now am I in the oddest situation ; methinks our conversation grows terribly critical. This must produce something-Oh, lud! would it were over! I |