ACT II.

SCENE CONTINUES.

Enter SIMPSON, l.

Simp. Thanks to the intercession of Mrs. Bromley, 1 n friends with my wife; she has pardoned me, as she pleased to express it, though I'm as innocent as a neworn babe. This was our first quarrel, and pray heaven may be the last; for, from this little specimen, I am ertain that when a man's better half is discontented, other half has a damnable time of it.

Enter MRS. BROMLEY, L.

My dear Mrs. Bromley, how much am I obliged to you; out for you I had been a lost man.

Mrs. B. Mr. Simpson, I am glad I find you alone; I desire a little private conversation with you.

Simp. With me?

Mrs. B. Pray, look whether any one is within hearing, close the door, and hand me a chair.

Simp. [Placing the chairs.—Aside.] What is all this to lead to?

Mrs. B. [After a short pause, and very seriously.] Mr. Simpson-you know my regard for your wife; you know I consider Susan and you as our best friends; and it is natural I should take a deep interest in all that concerns

you.

Simp. You're a kind soul; if it hadn't been for your interference just now

Mrs. B. Well, well, it has had its effect; I am persuaded. therefore, you will not take amiss my speaking to you upon this very delicate subject.

I

Simp. No, ma'am-no-no.-[Aside.] Something new,

suppose.

Mrs. B. Then, sir, if you are not too far gone, [Simpson starts,] I would prevent the recurrence of the unhappy disagreement your misconduct has occasionedSimp. My misconduct! it is an invention, a libel, a calumny, and I never in my life

Mrs. B. I had prepared myself for all you would say, Mr. Simpson; but listen to me as your friend; the past will be forgotten, but for the future-pray, pray, Mr. Simpson, let the scenes of this day serve you as a warning; and do not you, either by bad counsel, or pernicious example, corrupt my poor Charles.

Simp. I corrupt him! I!—don't drive me stark staring mad.

Enter MRS. SIMPSON, L.

Mrs. S. [Endeavouring to suppress her passion.] Very pretty-sweetly pretty, indeed-I congratulate you-1I admire your taste, Mr. Simpson. Simp. My taste! in what?

Mrs. S. She is very handsome, I must allow—it would be difficult to make a better choice.

Simp. Again the same eternal, infernal subject!— [Aside, and as if startled by a sudden thought.] Lord help me! Is it possible I could have gone astray without knowing it?

Mrs. S. Twenty, or two-and-twenty at the utmost; blue eyes, ruby lips, complexion like a rose—

Simp. [Unable any longer to suppress his anger.] Madam, what is your reason for all this? am I to be made the laughing-stock of the whole house? During this entire day, have I been worried by one or the other. Can there be any thing like appearances against me? Let me see: on Tuesday I supped with my old aunt; Wednesday—

Mrs. S. Don't be at the trouble of inventing excuses. Simp. Not I, madam; I shan't condescend to justify myself. Flesh and blood can bear this no longer! Do what you please, say what you please, call me what you will; and since you are determined to be jealous, hang me if I haven't a great mind to take the trouble of giving you cause- -Mrs. Simpson! [Exit, L.

Mrs. B. [Aside.] His manner convicts him. Mrs. S. It's the way with them all; when they have nothing to say in their defence, they assume the airs of the injured party.

Mrs. B. But, my dear, what's the meaning of this al tercation?

Mrs. S. The profligate little imagines that just now I

his red morocco pocket-book lying on his writing e. I know not what impulse prompted me to open out finding nothing in it except papers of business-seities, I believe-I was going to replace it, when I perved a spring in the corner; I pressed upon it, removed ecret slide, and there, to my horror, discoveredMrs. B. Letters?

Mrs. S. Worse! the creature's portrait.

Mrs. B. Abominable !-[Aside.] Charles shall positively solve partnership.

orse.

Mrs. S. She is handsome enough, but so much the And he !-to hear him one would think his whole ul is wrapt up in me; but I know him now; I have und him out at last, the perfidious monster!

Mrs. B. You have done well to conceal from him your scovery.

Mrs. S. Oh, my dear, had I mentioned it to him, he would have sworn it was the portrait of some sixteenth ousin in Yorkshire, or a lady to whom he paid his adresses in his youth.

Mrs. B. No doubt of it.

Mrs. S. But I'll confound him yet. I replaced the book just where he left it—but their letters-their letters! No doubt, the dear souls occasionally write to each other -I'll contrive to obtain possession of some of their tender epistles, and we shall then hear what the wretch will have to say for himself.

Mrs. B. Susan, my love, instead of anger and reproaches, the common error of offended wives, endeavour to reform him by kind and gentle remonstrances. Except in hearts utterly depraved, these wild attachments are seldom of long duration, when opposed by the disinterested affection of a wife.

Mrs. S. True, true, I'll-I know not what I'll do. But here comes Mr. Bromley. Ah! Anna, you are a happy woman! Let me quit you, my love, for the very sight of a faithful husband renders my monster more odious to [Exit, L. Mrs. B. Poor thing! my heart bleeds for her.

me.

Enter BROMLEY, gaily, R.

Brom. [Speaking as he enters 1 Where is my partner? I

C

have recovered the whole of our debt, and now-where

is Simpson?

Mrs. B. Oh, Charles, don't name him. Did you but know what has passed during your absence!

Brom. What, more evidence against the gay deceiver? Mrs. B. The wretch! But I'm glad you are returned, for, though he does not deserve your intercession, you must, for his wife's sake, endeavour to restore harmony between them.

Brom. Me, my love! this is a very delicate affair; and for me to interfere

Mrs. B. You are, in all respects, the properest person. Besides, in these cases, example goes a great way; and, by holding up to him your own excellent conduct as a-

Brom. True, true; but my conduct—that is, it would appear like vanity in me to-besides-in a word, my love, what would you have me say to him?

Mrs. B. Say to him, Mr. Bromley! Do you, then, encourage him in his wicked doings?

Brom. What, I!—[Aside.] I shall betray myself.[With affected energy.] I encourage him? 'Tis infamous! 'tis abominable! I'll read him such a lecture as shall make him sink into the earth; I'll overwhelm him with

Mrs. B. Do with him as you please, love; do not spare him, for we now have the most positive proof of his having a mistress.

Brom. [Eagerly.] Is she pretty?— [Checks himself. Mrs. B. Blue eyes, ruby lips, complexion like a rose. Brom. [Aside.] Exactly like Mrs. Fitzallan.

Mrs. B. But were she an angel, her beauty is no apology for him.

Brom. Certainly not, certainly not. What business has the husband of one of the prettiest women in the city to be running after angels? 'tis scandalous, 'tis.[Aside.] I'm in a cursed awkward position here, and the sooner I get away the better.-But I'll attack him at once; I'll lecture him; I'll Hector him; and he must reform his conduct, or no longer call me his friend.

Mrs. B. You are right, my love; for, as it is, the man is no company for you.

Brom. No; I've done with him; I've no pity for a man who goes astray-[Aside,]-and wants address to guard against detection.

[Exit, R.

Irs. B. I doubt his success; Mr. Simpson, I fear, is a dened sinner. Besides, he knows too well the purity ny Charles's principles, to confess his error to him.

Enter a SERVANT, L.

Serv. Mrs. Fitzallan, ma'am.

Mrs. B. Mrs. Fitzallan? I'm not acquainted with the man. [Looking out.] Ah! 'tis Marianne.

[Exit Servant, L.

Enter MRS. FITZALLAN, L.

y dear Marianne, my earliest friend, how delighted I m to meet you once again.

Mrs. F. After a separation of five years, at length we eet. How often have I thought on my old school-friend. have a thousand things to ask, a thousand things to say

O you.

Mrs. B. But, before I answer you a single question, ou must tell me all that has happened to you since you eft England.

Mrs. F. Ah! my dear!-My history, though short, is a sad one. You heard of my going to India; there I married General Fitzallan, and within two years after our marriage

Mrs. B. How! already a widow !

Mrs. F. Too true.

[Weeps.

[Sighing.

Mrs. B. Come, come, love; this is the day of our re

union, and I shall insist on your being very gay.

Mrs. F. Well, well.-And you, too, are married? Mrs. B. Yes, sure; I am settled down in Mincing Lane, in the midst of invoices, ledgers, and bills of lading; I am a plain, sober, city wife.

Mrs. F. And your husband? Come, tell me all about him. Is he an old stumpy little man in a grey coat and a brown wig? or young and handsome, and-like the beings at the other side of Temple Bar? and is he kind and attentive to you? And are you happy together?

Mrs. B. That, indeed, we are; but you will see him presently, and I'll answer for it you will be delighted with him. If he have a fault, it is that his fondness for me renders him almost ill-bred in his behaviour to every other

woman.