Mrs. Lov. Sir Harry, you have oblig'd me infinitely, I wou'd'nt but have known this Story for the World.
Sir Har. But when shall we be happy in each other?
Mr. Lov. I'll give you leave to hope; when I have study'd well, what Virtue is, I'll tell you more; but at present I must leave you, for I have a hundr'd and fifty Holes to mend in a lac'd Head just going to the Wash.
Sir Har. Not a Word o'the Secret.
Mrs. Lov. [angrily] Sir Harry, I'm no tattler, depend upon't; 'tis lock'd up in this Breast, safe and secure as lodg'd within your own [aside]. I'm ready to burst, 'till I tell it my Lady.
Sir Har. So she's brimful of it already.——Now Exit, for my Friend to humour the design. [Exit.
Enter Lady Rodomont, and Mrs. Lovejoy.
L. Rod. Prithee, Cozen, what is't you mean by the Collonel's going to be marry'd? You credulous Creatures, that are ignorant of the World, believe all the stuff you hear. Or suppose him going to be marry'd; why do you trouble me with such idle Stories?
Mrs. Lov. Nay, Madam, your Ladiship need'n't be discompos'd about the Matter, I only told it you as a piece o'news, and if it be no concern t'you, you may soon forget it.
L. Rod. Discompos'd, Creature! Have you had your being in my Family so long not to know nothing under the Sun's considerable enough to discompose me? But 'tis a thing impossible; it's not two Hours since he kneel'd to me, said his sole Happiness depended on my Smiles, with utmost Arguments enforc'd his Passion, faulter'd, look'd pale, and trembl'd as he spoke it: Not that I who have had foreign Princes at my Feet, value the conqu'ring an English Collonel; but I that know my Power infallible, drew him by policy to that Confession, to have him, as I wou'd have all Mankind, my Slave.