[_Exit._

SCENE II.

_The Antichamber._

_Enter CHARLOTTE._

_Char._ No, indeed, my lady! If you chuse to bury yourself in the
country, I shall take my leave. I am not calculated for a country life.
And, to sum up all, when I think of this Mrs. Haller--

_Enter SOLOMON._

_Sol._ [_Overhearing her last words._] What of Mrs. Haller, my sweet
Miss?

_Char._ Why, Mr. Solomon, who is Mrs. Haller? You know every thing; you
hear every thing.

_Sol._ I have received no letters from any part of Europe on the
subject, Miss.

_Char._ But who is to blame? The Count and Countess. She dines with
them; and at this very moment is drinking tea with them. Is this proper?

_Sol._ By no means.

_Char._ Shouldn't a Count and a Countess, in all their actions, show a
certain degree of pride and pomposity?

_Sol._ To be sure! To be sure they should!

_Char._ No, I won't submit to it. I'll tell her ladyship, when I dress
her to-morrow, that either Mrs. Haller or I must quit the house.

_Sol._ [_Seeing the BARON._] St!

_Enter BARON._

_Bar._ Didn't I hear Mrs. Haller's name here?

_Sol._ [_Confused._] Why--yes--we--we--

_Bar._ Charlotte, tell my sister I wish to see her as soon as the
tea-table is removed.

_Char._ [_Aside to SOLOMON._] Either she or I go, that I'm determined.

[_Exit._

_Bar._ May I ask what it was you were saying?

_Sol._ Why, please your Honourable Lordship, we were talking here and
there--this and that--

_Bar._ I almost begin to suspect some secret.

_Sol._ Secret! Heaven forbid! Mercy on us! No! I should have had letters
on the subject if there had been a secret.

_Bar._ Well then, since it was no secret, I presume I may know your
conversation.

_Sol._ You do us great honour, my lord. Why, then, at first, we were
making a few common-place observations. Miss Charlotte remarked that we
had all our faults. I said, "Yes." Soon after I remarked that the best
persons in the world were not without their weaknesses. She said, "Yes."

_Bar._ If you referred to Mrs. Haller's faults and weaknesses, I am
desirous to hear more.

_Sol._ Sure enough, sir, Mrs. Haller is an excellent woman; but she's
not an angel for all that. I am an old faithful servant to his
Excellency the Count, and therefore it is my duty to speak, when any
thing is done disadvantageous to his i