was even with her; he was up to the
notch--ha, ha, ha!

JESSAMY

But, Mr. Jonathan, you must not laugh so. Why you ought to have
tittered piano, and you have laughed fortissimo. Look here; you see
these marks, A, B, C, and so on; these are the references to the other
part of the book. Let us turn to it, and you will see the directions
how to manage the muscles. This [turns over] was note D you blundered
at.--You must purse the mouth into a smile, then titter, discovering
the lower part of the three front upper teeth.

JONATHAN

How? read it again.

JESSAMY

"There was a certain man"--very well!--"who had a sad scolding
wife,"--why don't you laugh?

JONATHAN

Now, that scolding wife sticks in my gizzard so pluckily that I can't
laugh for the blood and nowns of me. Let me look grave here, and I'll
laugh your belly full, where the old creature's a-dying.

JESSAMY

"And she asked her husband"--[Bell rings.] My master's bell! he's
returned, I fear.--Here, Mr. Jonathan, take this gamut; and I make no
doubt but with a few years' close application, you may be able to smile
gracefully." [Exeunt severally.

SCENE II.

CHARLOTTE'S Apartment.

Enter MANLY.

MANLY

WHAT, no one at home? How unfortunate to meet the only lady my heart
was ever moved by, to find her engaged to another, and confessing her
partiality for me! Yet engaged to a man who, by her intimation, and
his libertine conversation with me, I fear, does not merit her. Aye!
there's the sting; for, were I assured that Maria was happy, my heart
is not so selfish but that it would dilate in knowing it, even though
it were with another. But to know she is unhappy!--I must drive these
thoughts from me. Charlotte has some books; and this is what I believe
she calls her little library. [Enters a closet.

Enter DIMPLE leading LETITIA.

LETITIA

And will you pretend to say now, Mr. Dimple, that you propose to break
with Maria? Are not the banns published? Are not the clothes
purchased? Are not the friends invited? In short, is it not a done
affair?

DIMPLE

Believe me, my dear Letitia, I would not marry her.

LETITIA

Why have you not broke with her before this, as you all along deluded
me by saying you would?

DIMPLE

Because I was in hopes she would, ere this, have broke with me.

LETITIA

You could not expect it.

DIMPLE

Nay, but be calm a moment; 'twas from my regard to