Married Life: A Comedy, in Three Acts

by John Baldwin Buckstone

Mrs. Dove. My lamb, you forget yourself.

Dove. Deuce take them bells, I never can hear one without running to answer it.

Mrs. Dove. Good morning, Mrs. Lynx—Good morning, Madam,—Good morning, Sir—(curtseying profoundly to each.)—Now, my dear, (aside to DOVE.)—Don’t forget to leave the room like a gentleman.—(They approach the L. H. door, when they both make a profound obeisance, and go off. MRS. LYNX falls in a chair, hiding her face in her hands.)

Mrs. Y. My dear Mrs. Lynx, pray don’t allow this matter to affect you so seriously.

Young. Louisa, why do you check the feelings of our friend? you ought to be aware that tears are a great relief when one is suffering from mental agitation.

Mrs. Y. No, they a’nt; a pretty relief, indeed, to break one’s heart with crying.

Young. It is a relief.

Mrs. Y. No it is’nt—how do you know?—you never cry, you harden’d creature.

Young. I prefer preserving my tears for a certain event.