Married Life: A Comedy, in Three Acts

by John Baldwin Buckstone

Mrs. Ly. She tells me that her name is Coddle.——

Mrs. Cod. (Starting up.)—What!

Mrs. Ly. (Pointing to CODDLE.)—And that she is that man’s wife.

Cod. (Groaning.)—Oh! I wish I could vanish through the floor.

Mrs. Ly. This letter is for you, Madam.

Mrs. Cod. For me!—(She tears the letter open, a marriage certificate falls on the floor.)—What is this?—Oh, I can’t read it—I shall faint, I have no power to read, pray take it—some one, Mr.—any body—pray read it.—(She holds out the letter, DOVE takes it.)

All, (but CODDLE and MRS. DOVE.)—Read it, Mr. Dove.

Dove. I—I can’t.

Mrs. Dove. Henry—how can you so expose yourself?

Dove. You read it, Ma’am.—(Giving it to MRS. YOUNGHUSBAND.)