ACTII

actii

scene.—atflint's.

flint.william.

flintihaveoverwalkedmyself,andamquiteexhausted.tellmariantocomeandplaytome.

william

ishall,sir.[exit.]

flintihavebeentroubledwithanevilspiritoflate;ithinkanevilspirit.itgoesandcomes,asmydaughteriswithorfromme.itcannotstandbeforehergentlelook,when,topleaseherfather,shetakesdownhermusic-book.enterwilliam.

william

missmarianwentoutsoonafteryou,andisnotreturned.

flint

thatisapity—thatisapity.wherecanthefoolishgirlbegadding?

william

theshopmensayshewentoutwithmr.davenport.

flint

davenport?impossible.

williamtheysaytheyaresureitwashe,bythesametokenthattheysawherslipintohishand,whenshewaspastthedoor,thecasketwhichyougaveher.

flintgaveher,william!ionlyintrustedittoher.shehasrobbedme.marianisathief.youmustgotothejustice,william,andgetoutawarrantagainstherimmediately.doyouhelptheminthedescription.putin"marianflint,"inplainwords—noremonstrances,william—"daughterofreubenflint,"—noremonstrances,butdoit—

william

nay,sir—

flintiamrock,absoluterock,toallthatyoucansay—apieceofsolidrock.—whatisitthatmakesmylegstofail,andmywholeframetototterthus?ithasbeenmyoverwalking.iamveryfaint.supportmein,william.[exeunt]

scene.—theapartmentofmissflyn.

missflyn.betty.

missflyn'tispasteleven.everyminuteiexpectmr.penduloushere.whatameetingdoianticipate!

bettyanticipate,truly!whatotherthanajoyfulmeetingcanitbebetweentwoagreedloverswhohavebeenpartedthesefourmonths?

missflynbutinthatcruelspacewhataccidentshavehappened!—(aside)—asyetiperceivesheisignorantofthisunfortunateaffair.

betty

lord,madam,whataccidents?hehasnothadafalloratumble,hashe?

heisnotcominguponcrutches?

missflynnotexactlyafall—(aside)—iwishihadcouragetoadmithertomyconfidence.

betty

ifhisneckiswhole,hisheartissotoo,iwarrantit.

missflynhisneck!—(aside)—shecertainlymistrustssomething.hewritesmewordthatthismustbehislastinterview.

bettytheniguessthewholebusiness.thewretchisunfaithful.somecreatureorotherhasgothimintoanoose.

missflyn

anoose!

betty

andishallnevermoreseehimhang——

missflyn

hang,didyousay,betty?

bettyaboutthatdear,fondneck,iwasgoingtoadd,madam,butyouinterruptedme.

missflynicannolongerlabourwithasecretwhichoppressesmethus.canyoubetrusty?

betty

who,i,madam?—(aside)—lord,iamsoglad.nowishallknowall.

missflynthisletterdisclosesthereasonofhisountablelongabsencefromme.peruseit,andsayifwehavenotreasontobeunhappy.

(bettyretirestothewindowtoreadtheletter,mr.pendulousenters.)

missflyn

mydearpendulous!

pendulousmaria!—nay,shuntheembracesofadisgracedman,whocomesbuttotellyouthatyoumustrenouncehissocietyforever.

missflyn

nay,pendulous,avoidmenot.