is woman is so hackney'd in all baseness,
That even truth from her would be disgrac'd. [Aside.]
Had her condition far exceeded all
Your seeming tender fears; or did I hear
The peal of her death bell, I shou'd not wonder.
Was she not up all night? Was ever seen
Such rapid havock as this life of riot
Spreads o'er her bloom, which ev'ry art abash'd,
Now vainly practis'd to repair its ruin!
Sad victim to the world's most baleful fashions!

MARIA. Some friends staid later here last night than usual.
But if you knew how much she's indispos'd,
I'm sure 'twould pierce your heart; as I well know,
You love her tenderly, as she does you.

ANDREWS. Wou'd I had lov'd her less, or ne'er had seen her!
Retire awhile, I pray--I wou'd be private.

MARIA. [As she goes off] We now shall execute the scheme I plann'd.

ANDREWS. I am the veriest wretch that breathes the air,
And nought but desperation is before me.

[A Servant BOY enters hastily at a different door,
as if passing to another room, with a letter in
his hand, starts, (as if at seeing his master)
and affects to conceal the letter.]

ANDREWS. You seem confus'd--What paper's that?

BOY. 'Tis, sir--'tis a letter--

ANDREWS. From whom? and to whom?

BOY. From, sir,--Why, 'tis--

[He seizes the boy's hand, who drops the letter, and whilst
his master is taking it up, runs off.]

ANDREWS. Ha! what, gone off! how guilt betrays itself!
Here is some secret scheme--'tis in my wife's hand.
The superscription to my old friend Wilson--
I never yet approv'd of opening letters
By any, save by those to whom address'd;
But to detect deceit, such means are just;
And here it seems, as matters were on foot,
With which, 'tis meant I should not be acquainted.
Besides, of late, I have at times surpriz'd them
in close and intimate discourse together;
When, it now strikes me, they seem'd much confounded.
Upon the whole, I think I ought to read it:
Necessity demands the doubtful deed. [He opens and reads the letter.]

"Sir,
I might have thought the repulse you so lately receiv'd,
with the declaration I then made of acquainting my husband
with your conduct, would have deterred you from ever making
any further attempt.--How f