islike every good thing I have mentioned this morning,
Maria,--except one.

MARIA. What's that, my dear?

HARRIET. Mr. Frankton.

MARIA. Ha, ha. Why, to be sure, the good things of this life are not to be
despis'd, and men are not the worst creatures belonging to this life, nor
Mr. Frankton the worst of men, but--apropos, about plays--did you observe
how much I was affected the other night at the tragedy of Zara?

HARRIET. I really did not--I wish I had seen such a pleasing proof of your
sensibility.

MARIA. Oh, you cruel creature!--wish to see your friend in tears?

HARRIET. 'Tis rather unusual to see a lady of your taste and spirit, either
weep at a pathetic incident in tragedy, or laugh at a comic scene; and as
for the gentlemen, your lads of spirit, such as are falsely called _ladies'
men_, they are not so masculine as to understand, and, therefore, not so
effeminate as to weep; tho' one would conclude, from their effeminacy in
appearance and behaviour, that they would cry if you were to look at them.

MARIA. To be sure, a little matter will draw tears from the feminine part
of mankind.

HARRIET. For your part, you seem'd to be neither laughing nor crying, but
rather displeas'd and uneasy.

MARIA. Oh, you mistake the matter entirely, my dear; your skill in
physiognomy is but indifferent, I find--why, after the tragedy was over, I
laugh'd most inordinately for a considerable time.

HARRIET. On what account, pray?

MARIA. Why, you must know, my dear, Mr. Frankton sat in the box opposite to
the one I was in.

HARRIET. Yes, I know your dear Mr. Frankton was in the opposite box.

MARIA. My dear Mr. Frankton! Did I say so? Why I could not say more of him,
were he my husband.

HARRIET. If you conform to custom, you would not say so much of a husband.

MARIA. But I did not say any such thing. Says I, you must know, my dear
Harriet----

HARRIET. No, no, there was no Harriet mentioned.

MARIA. But I say there was--so, as I was going to tell you, you must know,
my dear Harriet, that Mr. Frankton sat opposite to me at the theatre; and
as he seem'd to be very much chagrin'd at the attention which was paid me
by a couple of beaux, I took some pains to mortify him a little; for, tho'
he strove to hide his uneasiness by chattering, and whispering, and
tittering, and shewing his white teeth, his embarrassment was very visible
under his affected unconcern.

HARRIET. How exactly she has described her own situatio