o yourself.

Mrs. ANDREWS. What, and he innocent?

MARIA. Hath he not wrong'd you?------beyond all redress?
Labour'd to blast your spotless fame for ever,
Whilst you are innocent?

Mrs. ANDREWS. Yet much to blame. [Aside.]

MARIA. Wherefore, your honour calls aloud for vengeance.

Mrs. ANDREWS. True; his harsh, cruel, groundless, information
Hath to my poor mind's peace been most injurious.

MARIA. It is the only means I can devise,
At once to wipe away this foul aspersion,
And all the other mischiefs that may follow.

Mrs. ANDREWS. But how, I pray? none bear more fair repute.

MARIA. Yet vers'd in gallantry.

Mrs. ANDREWS. So I have heard.

MARIA. That answers well; suppose then, in a letter,
You mention earnestly, his having made
Some overtures injurious to your honour,
And should he persevere, that you'll disclose
This breach of truth and friendship to your husband?
Then, let this letter, as it were by chance,
Fall in my master's way.--Consider this.

Mrs. ANDREWS. [Pauses] A most ingenious thought!--but to
pursue it--[Pauses again.]
Shall I at such dark villainy connive!--
Are there no means to 'scape the tongue of calumny,
But by imbibing her infectious breath,
And blasting innocence with sland'rous falsehood?
Chang'd howsoe'er I be, yet my soul shudders
Ev'n at the thought of an unjust revenge--
I ne'er could reconcile it to myself.

MARIA. Again I say, your own defence demands it.
It is the sole resource you have to save you.

Mrs. ANDREWS. I am myself the cause of all these miseries. [Aside.]
I see great difficulties in this matter.

MARIA. I, not any--do you but write this letter;
The rest be mine--but soft!--my master's voice--

Mrs. ANDREWS. What shall I do? I would not meet him now.

MARIA. You must not, till our purpose is effected.
Be not distress'd--I'll urge a fit excuse.
So, to your chamber, and prepare the letter,
No patience can submit to such indignities. [Goes off.]

Mrs. ANDREWS. I dread the very thoughts of this--and yet--
To rest beneath so vile an accusation--
It cannot--must not be--I should be false,
And to myself unjust--and then, revenge
Upon this slanderer--I'm much perplex'd. [Goes off.]

SCEN