_Man._ Fomentations, Madam, are sometimes necessary to dispel rumours;
tho' I don't directly advise my Lord to do this----This is only what,
upon the same provocation, I would do myself.
Lady _Grace._ Ay! ay! You would do! Batchelors wives, indeed, are
finely governed.
_Man._ If the married mens were as well----I am apt to think we should
not see so many mutual plagues taking the air, in separate coaches!
Lady _Grace._ Well! but suppose it was your own case; would you part
with a wife because she now and then stays out, in the best company?
Lord _Town._ Well said, Lady _Grace_! come, stand up for the privilege
of your sex! This is like to be a warm debate! I shall edify.
_Man._ Madam, I think a wife, after midnight, has no occasion to be in
better company than her husband; and that frequent unreasonable hours
make the best company----the worst company she can fall into.
Lady _Grace._ But if people of condition are to keep company with one
another; how is it possible to be done unless one conforms to their
hours?
_Man._ I can't find that any woman's good breeding obliges her to
conform to other people's vices.
Lord _Town._ I doubt, child, we are got a little on the wrong side of
the question.
Lady _Grace._ Why so, my Lord? I can't think the case so bad, as Mr.
_Manly_ states it----People of quality are not ty'd down to the rules
of those, who have their fortunes to make.
_Man._ No people, Madam, are above being ty'd down to some rules, that
have fortunes to lose.
Lady _Grace._ Pooh! I'm sure, if you were to take my side of the
argument, you would be able to say something more for it.
Lord _Town._ Well, what say you to that, _Manly_?
_Man._ Why, 'troth, my Lord, I have something to say.
Lady _Grace._ Ay! that I would be glad to hear, now!
Lord _Town._ Out with it!
_Man._ Then in one word, this, my Lord, I have often thought that the
mis-conduct of my Lady has, in a great measure, been owing to your
Lordship's treatment of her.
Lady _Grace._ Bless me!
Lord _Town._ My treatment!
_Man._ Ay, my Lord, you so idoliz'd her before marriage, that you even
indulg'd her like a mistress, after it; In short, you continued the
lover, when you should have taken up the husband.
Lady _Grace._ O frightful! this is worse than t'other! can a husband
love a wife too well!
_Man._ As easy, Madam, as a wife may love her husband too little.
Lord _Town._ So! you two are never like to agree, I find.
Lady _Grace._ Don't be positive, brother;----I am afraid we are both of
a mind already. [_Aside._] And do you, at this rate, ever intend to be
married, Mr. _Manly_?
_Man._ Never, Madam; 'till I can meet a woman that likes my doctrine.
Lady _Grace._ 'Tis pity but your mistress should hear it.
_Man._ Pity me, Madam, when I marry the woman that won't hear it.
Lady _Grace._ I think, at least, he can't say that's me.
[_Aside._
_Man._ And so, my Lord, by giving her more power than was needful, she
has none where she wants it; having such entire possession of you, she
is not mistress of herself! And, mercy on us! how many fine womens
heads have been turn'd upon the same occasion!
Lord _Town._ O _Manly_! 'tis too true! there's the source of my
disquiet! she knows and has abused her power: Nay, I am still so weak
(with shame I speak it) 'tis not an hour ago, that in the midst of my
impatience--I gave her another bill for five hundred to throw away.
_Man._ Well----my Lord! to let you see I am sometimes upon the side
of good nature, I won't absolutely blame you; for the greater your
indulgence, the more you have to reproach her with.
Lady _Grace._ Ay, Mr. _Manly_! here now, I begin to come in with you:
Who knows, my Lord, you may have a good account of your kindness!
_Man._ That, I am afraid, we had not best depend upon: But since you
have had so much patience, my Lord, even go on with it a day or two
more; and upon her Ladyship's next sally, be a little rounder in your
expostulation; if that don't work--drop her some cool hints of a
determin'd reformation, and leave her----to breakfast upon 'em.
Lord _Town._ You are perfectly right! how valuable is a friend, in our
anxiety!
_Man._ Therefore to divert that, my Lord, I beg for the present, we may
call another cause.
Lady _Grace._ Ay, for goodness sake let's have done with this.
Lord _Town._ With all my heart.
Lady _Grace._ Have you no news abroad, Mr. _Manly_?
_Man._ _A propos_----I have some, Madam; and I believe, my Lord, as
extraordinary in its kind----
Lord _Town._ Pray let's have it.
_Man._ Do you know that your country neighbour, and my wise kinsman,
Sir _Francis Wronghead_, is coming to town with his whole family?
Lord _Town._ The fool! what can be his business here?
_Man._ Oh! of the last importance, I'll assure you--No less than the
business of the nation.
Lord _Town._ Explain!
_Man._ He has carried his election----against Sir _John Worthland_.