cies, and you know I have often told you that you are of too refining a temper: you create for yourself imaginary misunderstandings, and then are ever entering into explanations. But this watching for intelligence, from the spies and misrepresenters of conversation, betrays strong symptoms of jealousy. I would not be married to a jealous man for the world.

Bev. Now she's seeking occasion to break off. [Aside.]-Jealousy, ma'am, can never get admission into my breast. I am of too generous a temper: a certain delicacy I own I have; I value the opinion of my friends, and when there are circumstances of a doubtful aspect, I am glad to set things in their true light. And if I do so with others, surely with you, on whom my happiness depends, to desire a favourable interpretation of my words and actions cannot be improper.

Belin. But these little humours may grow up, and gather into the fixed disease of jealousy at last. [Lady Restless crosses the stage, and rings a bell at the door.] And there now,—there goes a lady who is a victim to her own fretful imagination.

Bev. Who is the lady, pray ?

Belin. My Lady Restless. Walk this way, and I will give you her whole character. I am not acquainted with her ladyship, but I have heard much of her. This way. [Exit Belinda and Beverley.

Lady Rest. [Ringing at the door.] What do these servants mean? There is something going forward here. I will be let in, or I will know the reason

why. [Rings again.] But in the mean time, Sir John can let any body he pleases out at the streetdoor: I'll run up the steps here, and observe. [Exit.

TATTLE opens the door, MARMALET follows her.

Tat. Who rung this bell?—I don't see any body; and yet I am sure the bell rung. Well, Mrs. Marmalet, you will be going, I see.

Mar. Yes, Mrs. Tattle; I am obliged to leave you. I'll step across the Park, and I shall soon reach Grosvenor Square. When shall I see you at our house?

Tat. Heaven knows when I shall be able to get out; my lady leads us all such lives! I wish I had such another place as you have of it.

Mar. I have nothing to complain of.

Tat. No, that you have not: when shall I get such a gown as that you have on by my lady? She will never fling off such a thing, and give it to a poor servant! Worry, worry, worry herself, and every body else too.

Re-enter Lady RESTLESS.

Lady Rest. No; there is nobody stirring that way. What do I see? A hussey coming out of my house! Mar. Well, I must be gone, Mrs. Tattle: fare you well.

Lady Rest. She is dizen'd out tool why did not you open the door, Tattle, when I rung?

Tat. I came as soon as possible, madam.

Lady Rest. Who have you with you here? What is your business, mistress?

Mar. My business, madam?

[To Marmalet.

Lady Rest. In confusion too! The case is plain. You come here after Sir John, I suppose.

Mar. I come after Sir John, madam?

Lady Rest. Guilt in her face! Yes, after Sir John: and, Tattle, you are in the plot against me; you were favouring her escape, were you?

Tat. I favour her escape, madam? What occasion for that? This is Mrs. Marmalet, madam; an acquaintance of mine, madam; as good a kind of body as any at all.

Lady Rest. Oh! very fine, mistress! you bring your creatures after the vile man, do you?

Mar. I assure you, madam, I am a very honest girl.

Lady Rest. Oh! I dare say so. Where did you get that gown.

Mar. La, ma'am! I came by it honestly; my Lady Conquest gave it to me. I live with my Lady Conquest, madam.

Lady Rest. What a complexion she has! How long have you lived in London ?

Mar. Three years, madam.

Lady Rest. In London three years with that complexion! it cann't be: perhaps she is painted: all these creatures paint. You are all so many painted dolls. [Rubs her face with a white handkerchief.] No, it does not come off. So, Mrs. Tattle, you

bring your fresh country girls here to my house, do you?

Tat. Upon my credit, ma'am

Lady Rest. Don't tell me: I see through this affair. Go you about your business, mistress, and let me never see you about my doors again: go, go your ways.

Mar. Lord, ma'am, I shan't trouble your house. Mrs. Tattle, a good day. Here's a deal to-do, indeed! I have as good a house as hers to go to, whatever she may think of herself. [Exit. Lady Rest. There, there, there; see there; she goes off in a huff! the way with them all. Ay! I see how it is, Tattle: you false, ungrateful—that gown was never given her by a woman, she had that from Sir John. Where is Sir John?

Tat. Sir John an't at home, ma'am.

Lady Rest. Where is he? Where is he gone ?— When did he go out?

Tat. I really don't know, ma'am.

Lady Rest. Tattle, I know you fib now. But I'll sift this to the bottom.. I'll write to my Lady Conquest to know the truth about that girl that was here but

now.

Tat. You will find I told you truth, madam.

Lady Rest. Very well, Mrs. Pert. I'll go and write this moment. Send Robert, to give me an account of his master. Sir John, Sir John, you will distract me.

[Exeunt.

Re-enter BELINDA and BEVERLEY.

Belin. Ay! but that quickness, that extreme sensibility is what I am afraid of. I positively would not have a jealous husband for the world.

Bev. By heaven no earthly circumstance shall ever make me think injuriously of you. Jealousy !ha, ha!-it is the most ridiculous passion!-ha, ha!

Belin. You may laugh, sir; but I know your overrefining temper too well, and I absolutely will have it in our marriage-articles, that I must not be plagued with your suspicions.

Bev. I subscribe, ma'am.

Belin. I will have no enquiries where I am going to visit: no following me from place to place: and if we should chance to meet, and you should perceive a man of wit, or a pretty fellow, speaking to me, I will not have you fidgetting about on your chair, knitting your brow, and looking at your watch My dear, is it not time to go home-my love, the coach is waiting:'-and then, if you are prevailed upon to stay, I will not have you converse with a 'Yes, sir,' and a 'No, sir,' for the rest of the evening, and then wrangle with me in the carriage all the way home, and not be commonly civil to me for the rest of the night. I positively will have none of this.

Bev. Agreed, ma'am, agreed

Belin. And you shan't tell me you are going out of town, and then steal privately to the play, or to Ra