Lynx. You shall first know that you have good cause to be so; that villain in early life wronged my sister; she afterwards married; had her previous intimacy with this man been known, ruin, in the noble sphere in which she moved, must have awaited her; I kept her secret religiously, and as you know, at the expence of my own peace; I was as a father to the girl; and though she left the asylum in which I placed her, yet ’twas for an honourable and a happy marriage.
Mrs. Ly. No more, no more, dear Lionel; I have been a weak, and foolish woman, but never will I doubt you again.
Lynx. And never more, dear Emmeline will I give you cause; on the conduct of the husband chiefly rests the virtue of the wife, and I here renounce all my follies for ever. But for that villain——
Mrs. Ly. Nay, nay, be satisfied, be at peace; and let mutual confidence henceforth secure to us that happiness to which we have so long been strangers.
Lynx. It shall, Emmeline, it shall.—(They embrace.)
Enter MR. and MRS. YOUNGHUSBAND and MR. and MRS. DISMAL, arm in arm, and laughing; MRS. DOVE following.
Mrs. Y. What! Mr. and Mrs. Lynx, and embracing too: then you have explained and made it up, as we have done. Well, this is delightful! Mr. and Mrs. Dismal are friends; I saw him watching his house; I rushed out—dragged him in.—Y., who was with him, followed; we pouted a little—coquetted a little—cried a little—and then rushed into one another’s arms; didn’t we, Frederick?
Young. No, I——
Mrs. Y. Hush! remember, dear; you have promised never to contradict me again.
Mrs. Dis. And my George has vowed to be as kind, and as attentive in future, as——