Take no notice, but observe me. Now, cast off, and meet me
at the lower end of the room, and then join hands again; I could teach my
lord this dance purely, but I vow, Mr. Brisk, I can't tell how to come so
near any other man. Oh here's my lord, now you shall see me do it with
him. [_They pretend to practise part of a country dance_.]

LORD FROTH. Oh, I see there's no harm yet, but I don't like this
familiarity. [_Aside_.]

LADY FROTH. Shall you and I do our close dance, to show Mr. Brisk?

LORD FROTH. No, my dear, do it with him.

LADY FROTH. I'll do it with him, my lord, when you are out of the way.

BRISK. That's good, egad, that's good. Deuce take me, I can hardly hold
laughing in his face. [_Aside_.]

LORD FROTH. Any other time, my dear, or we'll dance it below.

LADY FROTH. With all my heart.

BRISK. Come, my lord, I'll wait on you. My charming witty angel! [_To
her_.]

LADY FROTH. We shall have whispering time enough, you know, since we are
partners.

SCENE VIII.

LADY PLYANT _and_ CARELESS.

LADY PLYANT. Oh, Mr. Careless, Mr. Careless, I'm ruined, I'm undone.

CARE. What's the matter, madam?

LADY PLYANT. Oh, the unluckiest accident, I'm afraid I shan't live to
tell it you.

CARE. Heaven forbid! What is it?

LADY PLYANT. I'm in such a fright; the strangest quandary and premunire!
I'm all over in a universal agitation; I dare swear every circumstance of
me trembles. O your letter, your letter! By an unfortunate mistake I
have given Sir Paul your letter instead of his own.

CARE. That was unlucky.

LADY PLYANT. Oh, yonder he comes reading of it; for heaven's sake step
in here and advise me quickly before he sees.

SCENE IX.

SIR PAUL _with the Letter_.

SIR PAUL. O Providence, what a conspiracy have I discovered. But let me
see to make an end on't. [_Reads_.] Hum--After supper in the wardrobe
by the gallery. If Sir Paul should surprise us, I have a commission from
him to treat with you about the very matter of fact. Matter of fact!
Very pretty; it seems that I am conducting to my own cuckoldom. Why,
this is the very traitorous position of taking up arms by my authority,
against my person! Well, let me see. Till then I languish in
expectation of my adored charmer.--Dying Ned Careless. Gads-bud, would
that were matter of fact too. Die and be damned for a Judas Maccabeus
and Iscariot both. O friendship! what art thou but a name? Henceforward