Lady _Town._ Say what you please, my Lord; I am in that harmony of
spirits, it is impossible to put me out of humour.
Lord _Town._ How long then in reason do you think that sum ought to
last you?
Lady _Town._ Oh, my dear, dear Lord! now you have spoiled all again!
How is it possible I should answer for an event, that so utterly
depends upon fortune? But to shew you that I am more inclined to get
money, than to throw it away----I have a strong prepossession, that
with this five hundred, I shall win five thousand.
Lord _Town._ Madam, if you were to win ten thousand, it would be no
satisfaction to me.
Lady _Town._ O! the churl! ten thousand! what! not so much as wish I
might win ten thousand!----Ten thousand! O! the charming sum! what
infinite pretty things might a woman of spirit do, with ten thousand
guineas! O' my conscience, if she were a woman of true spirit--she--she
might lose 'em all again.
Lord _Town._ And I had rather it should be so, Madam; provided I could
be sure, that were the last you would lose.
Lady _Town._ Well, my Lord, to let you see I design to play all the
good housewife I can; I am now going to a party of _Quadrille_, only
to piddle with a little of it at poor two guineas a fish, with the
Dutchess of _Quiteright_.
[_Exit Lady ~Townly~._
Lord _Town._ Insensible creature! neither reproaches, or indulgence,
kindness or severity, can wake her to the least reflection! Continual
licence has lull'd her into such a lethargy of care, that she speaks
of her excesses with the same easy confidence, as if they were so many
virtues. What a turn has her head taken?----But how to cure it----I
am afraid the physic must be strong that reaches her----Lenitives, I
see, are to no purpose----take my friend's opinion----_Manly_ will
speak freely----my sister with tenderness to both sides. They know my
case----I'll talk with 'em.
_Enter a Servant._
_Serv._ Mr. _Manly_, my Lord has sent to know, if your Lordship was at
home.
Lord _Town._ They did not deny me?
_Serv._ No, my Lord.
Lord _Town._ Very well; step up to my sister, and say, I desire to
speak with her.
_Serv._ Lady _Grace_ is here, my Lord.
[_Exit Serv._
_Enter Lady ~Grace~._
Lord _Town._ So, Lady fair; what pretty weapon have you been killing
your time with!
Lady _Grace._ A huge folio that has almost killed me--I think I have
half read my eyes out.
Lord _Town._ O! you should not pore so much just after dinner, child.
Lady _Grace._ That's true, but any body's thoughts are better than
always one's own, you know.
Lord _Town._ Who's there?
_Enter Servant._
Leave word at the door I am at home to nobody but Mr. _Manly_.
Lady _Grace._ And why is he excepted, pray, my Lord?
Lord _Town._ I hope, Madam, you have no objection to his company?
Lady _Grace._ Your particular orders upon my being here, look, indeed,
as if you thought I had not.
Lord _Town._ And your Ladyship's enquiry into the reason of those
orders, shews, at least, it was not a matter indifferent to you!
Lady _Grace._ Lord! you make the oddest constructions, brother!
Lord _Town._ Look you my grave Lady _Grace_----in one serious word--I
wish you had him.
Lady _Grace._ I can't help that.
Lord _Town._ Ha! you can't help it! ha! ha! The flat simplicity of that
reply was admirable!
Lady _Grace._ Pooh! you teize one, brother!
Lord _Town._ Come, I beg pardon, child----this is not a point, I grant
you, to trifle upon; therefore, I hope you'll give me leave to be
serious.
Lady _Grace._ If you desire it, brother! though upon my word, as to Mr.
_Manly_'s having any serious thoughts of me--I know nothing of it.
Lord _Town._ Well----there's nothing wrong, in your making a doubt of
it----But, in short, I find, by his conversation of late, that he has
been looking round the world for a wife; and if you were to look round
the world for a husband, he's the first man I would give to you.
Lady _Grace._ Then, whenever he makes me an offer, brother, I will
certainly tell you of it.
Lord _Town._ O! that's the last thing he'll do; he'll never make you an
offer, 'till he's pretty sure it won't be refus'd.
Lady _Grace._ Now you make me curious. Pray! did he ever make an offer
of that kind to you?
Lord _Town._ Not directly; but that imports nothing; he is a man too
well acquainted with the female world, to be brought into a high
opinion of any one woman, without some well examined proof of her
merit: Yet I have reason to believe, that your good sense, your turn
of mind, and your way of life, have brought him to so favourable a one
of you, that a few days will reduce him to talk plainly to me: Which
as yet, (notwithstanding our friendship) I have neither declin'd nor
encouraged him to.
Lady _Grace._ I am mighty glad we are so near in our way of thinking:
For, to tell you the truth, he is much upon the same terms with me:
You know he has a satirical turn; but never lashes any folly, without
giving due encomiums to its opposite virtue: and upon such occasions,
he is sometimes particular, in turning his compliments upon me, which I
don't receive, with any reserve, lest he should imagine I take them to
myself.
Lord _Town._ You are right, child, when a man of merit makes his
addresses: good sense may give him an answer, without scorn, or
coquetry.