COLONEL TOWNLY.
By the faith of a true lover, I speak from conviction. This very day I saw them together, and overheard—
AMANDA.
Peace, sir! I will not even listen to such slander—this is a poor device to work on my resentment, to listen to your insidious addresses. No, sir; though Mr. Loveless may be capable of error, I am convinced I cannot be deceived so grossly in him as to believe what you now report; and for Berinthia, you should have fixed on some more probable person for my rival than her who is my relation and my friend: for while I am myself free from guilt, I will never believe that love can beget injury, or confidence create ingratitude.
COLONEL TOWNLY.
If I do not prove to you—
AMANDA.
You never shall have an opportunity. From the artful manner in which you first showed yourself to me, I might have been led, as far as virtue permitted, to have thought you less criminal than unhappy; but this last unmanly artifice merits at once my resentment and contempt. [Exit.]
COLONEL TOWNLY.
Sure there’s divinity about her; and she has dispensed some portion of honour’s light to me: yet can I bear to lose Berinthia without revenge or compensation? Perhaps she is not so culpable as I thought her. I was mistaken when I began to think lightly of Amanda’s virtue, and may be in my censure of my Berinthia. Surely I love her still, for I feel I should be happy to find myself in the wrong. [Exit.]
Re-enter LOVELESS and BERINTHIA.
BERINTHIA.
Your servant, Mr. Loveless.
LOVELESS.
Your servant, madam.
BERINTHIA.
Pray what do you think of this?
LOVELESS.
Truly, I don’t know what to say.