ABSOLUTE Ah! my soul, what a life will we then live! Love shall be our idol and support! we will worship him with a monastic strictness; abjuring all worldly toys, to centre every thought and action there. Proud of calamity, we will enjoy the wreck of wealth; while the surrounding gloom of adversity shall make the flame of our pure love show doubly bright. By Heavens! I would fling all goods of fortune from me with a prodigal hand, to enjoy the scene where I might clasp my Lydia to my bosom, and say, the world affords no smile to me but here—[Embracing her.] [Aside.] If she holds out now, the devil is in it!
LYDIA [Aside.] Now could I fly with him to the antipodes! but my persecution is not yet come to a crisis.
[Re-enter Mrs. MALAPROP, listening.]
Mrs. MALAPROP
[Aside.] I am impatient to know how the little hussy deports herself.
ABSOLUTE
So pensive, Lydia!—is then your warmth abated?
Mrs. MALAPROP
[Aside.] Warmth abated!—so!—she has been in a passion, I suppose.
LYDIA
No—nor ever can while I have life.
Mrs. MALAPROP [Aside.] An ill tempered little devil! She'll be in a passion all her life—will she?
LYDIA Think not the idle threats of my ridiculous aunt can ever have any weight with me.
Mrs. MALAPROP
[Aside.] Very dutiful, upon my word!