Miss Sna. Tea, Miss Coy?
Miss Coy. Presently, miss. Hem!
Dam. (To NIGGLE.) Clearing her throat to begin.
Nig. If she plays upon my feelings I’m done for.
Dam. She is sure to try to do that—they all try to do that.
Miss Coy. You must be all well aware by this time, that I was about to be married to that fluctuating bachelor, Mr. Niggle, and, that the match is broken off, as much through the interference of his friend, as his want of the moral courage, necessary for so important an act as matrimony.
All. (But DAMPER and NIGGLE.) Ha! ha! Moral courage for matrimony.
Dam. (To NIGGLE.) Don’t let them have the laugh against you. Speak out, speak out.
Nig. (Rising.) I confess it has been a want of moral courage: for, long as I have pined for the joys of conjugal life, such is my universal admiration of the fair sex, that if I have hesitated to pass my life in the society of one female, ’twas in fear that I should discover some radical defect of temper or manner, that might disturb my notions of woman generally; and I rather prefer to admire you through the gay medium of fancy, than venture to take a peep at you through the pale optics of truth.
All. Hear! hear! hear!