ring to retire.

Cl. You may say all that you please to say before these gentlewomen.--
Mr. Lovelace may have secrets--I have none:--you seem to think me faulty:
I should be glad that all the world knew my heart. Let my enemies sit in
judgment upon my actions; fairly scanned, I fear not the result; let them
even ask me my most secret thoughts, and, whether they make for me, or
against me, I will reveal them.

Capt. Noble Lady! who can say as you say?

The women held up their hands and eyes; each, as if she had said,--Not I.

No disorder here! said Miss Rawlins:--but, (judging by her own heart,) a
confounded deal of improbability, I believe she thought.

Finely said, to be sure, said the widow Bevis, shrugging her shoulders.

Mrs. Moore sighed.

Jack Belford, thought I, knows all mine; and in this I am more ingenuous
than any of the three, and a fit match for this paragon.

Cl. How Mr. Lovelace has found me out here I cannot tell: but such mean
devices, such artful, such worse than Waltham disguises put on, to
obtrude himself into my company; such bold, such shocking untruths--

Capt. The favour of but one word, Madam, in private--

Cl. In order to support a right which he has not over me!--O Sir!--O
Captain Tomlinson!--I think I have reason to say, that the man, (there he
stands!) is capable of any vileness!--

The women looked upon one another, and upon me, by turns, to see how I
bore it. I had such dartings in my head at the instant, that I thought I
should have gone distracted. My brain seemed on fire. What would I have
given to have had her alone with me!--I traversed the room; my clenched
fist to my forehead. O that I had any body here, thought I, that,
Hercules-lie, when flaming in the tortures of Dejanira's poisoned shirt,
I could tear in pieces!

Capt. Dear Lady! see you not how the poor gentleman--Lord, how have I
imposed upon your uncle, at this rate! How happy did I tell him I saw
you! How happy I was sure you would be in each other!

Cl. O Sir, you don't know how many premeditated offences I had forgiven
when I saw you last, before I could appear to you what I hoped then I
might for the future be!--But now you may tell my uncle, if you please,
that I cannot hope for his mediation. Tell him, that my guilt, in giving
this man an opportunity to spirit me away from my tried, my experienced,
my natural friends, (harshly as they treated me,) stares me every day
more and more in