MRS. FRAMPTON
I like not this beginning—
SELBY
Pray you, attend.
"The Secret, like a night-hag, rid his sleeps,
And took the youthful pleasures from his days,
And chased the youthful smoothness from his brow,
That from a rose-cheek'd boy he waned and waned
To a pale skeleton of what he was;
And would have died, but for one lucky chance."
KATHERINE
Oh!
MRS. FRAMPTON
Your wife—she faints—some cordial—smell to this.
SELBY
Stand off. My sister best will do that office.
MRS. FRAMPTON
Are all his tempting speeches come to this?
[Aside.]
SELBY
What ail'd my wife?
KATHERINE
A warning faintness, sir,
Seized on my spirits, when you came to where
You said "a lucky chance." I am better now,
Please you go on.
SELBY
The sequel shall be brief.
KATHERINE
But brief or long, I feel my fate hangs on it.
[Aside.]