s come
out of my brother's house, half dead with fright?

SOPH. (_to herself, continuing._) It was distress that compelled me to
this step, though I knew that the match was not likely to hold good;
my object was, that in the mean time life might be supported.

CHREM. (_apart, to himself._) Upon my faith, surely, unless my
recollection deceives me, or my sight's not very good, I espy my
daughter's nurse.[73]

SOPH. (_to herself._) And we are not able to find----

CHREM. (_apart._) What must I do?

SOPH. (_to herself._) Her father.

CHREM. (_to himself, apart._) Shall I accost her, or shall I wait to
learn more distinctly what it is she's saying?

SOPH. (_to herself._) If now I could find him, there's nothing that I
should be in fear of.

CHREM. (_apart, to himself, aloud._) 'Tis the very woman. I'll address
her.

SOPH. (_turning round._) Who's that speaking here?

CHREM. (_coming forward._) Sophrona.

SOPH. Mentioning my name, too?

CHREM. Look round at me.

SOPH. (_seeing him._) Ye Gods, I do beseech you, isn't this Stilpho?

CHREM. No.

SOPH. Do you deny it?

CHREM. (_in a low voice._) Step a little this way from that door,
Sophrona, if you please (_pointing_). Don't you, henceforth, be
calling me by that name.

SOPH. Why? Pray, are you not the person you always used to say you
were?

CHREM. Hush! (_pointing to his own house._)

SOPH. Why are you afraid about that door?

CHREM. (_in a low voice._) I have got a shrew of a wife shut up there.
For by that name I formerly falsely called myself, in order that you
might not chance indiscreetly to blab it out of doors, and then my
wife, by some means or other, might come to know of it.

SOPH. I' faith, that's the very reason why we, wretched creatures,
have never been able to find you out here.

CHREM. Well, but tell me, what business have you with that family from
whose house you were coming out? Where are the ladies?[74]

SOPH. Ah, wretched me!

CHREM. Hah! What's the matter? Are they still alive?

SOPH. Your daughter is alive. Her poor mother died of grief.

CHREM. An unfortunate thing!

SOPH. As for me, being a lone old woman, in want, {and} unknown,
I contrived, as well as I could, to get the young woman married to the
young man who is master of this house (_pointing_).

CHREM. What! to Antipho?

SOPH. The very same, I say.

CHREM. What? {Has} he {got} two wives?

SOPH. Dear no, prithee, he has only got this one.

CHREM. What