True. Her sole equivalent I offer you!
My sister, sir, long counted lost, now found,
Who fled her home unwelcome bands to ’scape,
Which a half-father would have forced upon her,
Taking advantage of her brother’s absence
Away on travel in a distant land!
Returned, I missed her; of the cause received
Invention, coward, false and criminating!
And gave her up for lost; but happily
Did find her yesterday—Behold her, sir!
[Removes veil.]
Wal. Lydia!
W. Green. My waiting-maid!
Wal. Thy sister, Trueworth!
Art thou fit brother to this virtuous maid?
True. [Giving Lydia to Waller.] Let this assure thee.
Lydia. [To Widow Green.] Madam, pardon me
My double character, for honesty,
No other end assumed—and my concealment
Of Master Waller’s love. In all things else
I trust I may believe you hold me blameless;
At least, I’ll say for you, I should be so,
For it was pastime, madam, not a task,
To wait upon you! Little you exacted,
And ever made the most of what I did
In mere obedience to you!
W. Green. Give me your hand;
No love without a little roguery.
If you do play the mistress well as maid,
You will bear off the bell! There never was
A better girl!—I have made myself a fool.
I am undone, if goes the news abroad.
My wedding dress I donned for no effect
Except to put it off! I must be married.
I’m a lost woman, if another day
I go without a husband!—What a sight
He looks by Master Waller!—Yet he is physic
I die without, so needs must gulp it down.
I’ll swallow him with what good grace I can.
Sir William Fondlove!
Sir Wil. Widow Green!
W. Green. I own
I have been rude to you. Thou dost not look
So old by thirty, forty, years as I
Did say. Thou’rt far from ugly—very far!
And as I said, Sir William, once before,
Thou art a kind and right good-humoured man:
I was but angry with you! Why, I’ll tell you
At more convenient season—and you know
An angry woman heeds not what she says,
And will say anything!