SCENE.-Mrs.Selby'sChamber.

scene.-mrs.selby'schamber.

mrs.frampton.katherine.

mrs.frampton

didiexpressmyselfintermssostrong?

katherine

asnothingcouldhavemoreaffrightedme.

mrs.frampton

thinkitahurtfriend'sjest,inretribution

ofasuspectedcoolinghospitality.

and,formystayinghere,orgoinghence,

(nowiremembersomethingofourargument,)

selbyandicansettlethatbetweenus.

youlookamazed.whatifyourhusband,child,

himselfhascourtedmetostay?

katherine

youmove

mywonderandmypleasureequally.

mrs.frampton

yes,courtedmetostay,waiv'dallobjections.

madeitafavourtoyourselves;notme,

histroublesomeguest,asyousurmised.child,child!

whenirecallhisflatteringwelcome,i

begintothinktheburdenofmypresence

was—

katherine

what,forheaven—

mrs.frampton

alittle,littlespice

ofjealousy—that'sall—anhonestpretext,

nowifeneedblushfor.saythatyoushouldsee

(asoftentimeswewidowstakesuchfreedoms,

yetstillonthissidevirtue,)inajest

yourhusbandpatmeonthecheek,orsteal

akiss,whileyouwereby,—notelse,forvirtue'ssake.

katherine

icouldendureallthis,thinkingmyhusband

meantitinsport—

mrs.frampton

butifindownrightearnest

(puttingmyselfoutofthequestionhere)

yourselby,asipartlydosuspect,

own'dadividedheart—

katherine

myownwouldbreak—

mrs.frampton

why,whatablindandwitlessfoolitis,

thatwillnotseeitsgains,itsinfinitegains—

katherine

gaininaloss,

ormirthinutterdesolation!