COLONEL TOWNLY. [_Aside_.] So, so! she hasn’t even the modesty to dissemble! [_Aloud_.] Pray, madam, may I, without impertinence, trouble you with a few serious questions? BERINTHIA. As many as you please; but pray let them be as little serious as possible. COLONEL TOWNLY. Is it not near two years since I have presumed to address you? BERINTHIA. I don’t know exactly—but it has been a tedious long time. COLONEL TOWNLY. Have I not, during that period, had every reason to believe that my assiduities were far from being unacceptable? BERINTHIA. Why, to do you justice, you have been extremely troublesome—and I confess I have been more civil to you than you deserved. COLONEL TOWNLY. Did I not come to this place at your express desire, and for no purpose but the honour of meeting you?—and after waiting a month in disappointment, have you condescended to explain, or in the slightest way apologise for, your conduct? BERINTHIA. O heavens! apologise for my conduct!—apologise to you! O you barbarian! But pray now, my good serious colonel, have you anything more to add? COLONEL TOWNLY. Nothing, madam, but that after such behaviour I am less surprised at what I saw just now; it is not very wonderful that the woman who can trifle with the delicate addresses of an honourable lover should be found coquetting with the husband of her friend. BERINTHIA. Very true: no more wonderful than it was for this honourable lover to divert himself in the absence of this coquette, with endeavouring to seduce his friend’s wife! O colonel, colonel, don’t talk of honour or your friend, for Heaven’s sake! COLONEL TOWNLY. [_Aside.]_ ’Sdeath! how came she to suspect this!—[_Aloud._] Really, madam, I don’t understand you. BERINTHIA. Nay, nay, you saw I did not pretend to misunderstand you.—But here comes the lady; perhaps you would be glad to be left with her for an explanation. COLONEL TOWNLY. O madam, this recrimination is a poor resource; and to convince you how much you are mistaken, I beg leave to decline the happiness you propose me.—Madam, your servant. _Enter_ AMANDA. COLONEL TOWNLY _whispers_ AMANDA, _and exit_. BERINTHIA. [_Aside._] He carries it off well, however; upon my word, very well! How tenderly they part!—[_Aloud_] So, cousin; I hope you have not been chiding your admirer for being with me? I assure you we have been talking of you. AMANDA. Fy, Berinthia!—my admirer! will you never learn to talk in earnest of anything? BERINTHIA. Why this shall be in earnest, if you please; for my part, I only tell you matter of fact. AMANDA. I’m sure there’s so much jest and earnest in what you say to me on this subject, I scarce know how to take it. I have just parted with Mr. Loveless; perhaps it is fancy, but I think there is an alteration in his manner which alarms me. BERINTHIA. And so you are jealous; is that all? AMANDA. That all! is jealousy, then, nothing? BERINTHIA. It should be nothing, if I were in your case.