_Bel._ Don't trouble yourself to explain. For if I'm not mistaken, you and I have had some of these necessary Dialogues before now with the same Intention. _Lady Brute._ Why, I swear, _Belinda_, some People do give strange agreeable Airs to their Faces in speaking. Tell me true--Did you never practise in the Glass? _Bel._ Why, did you? _Lady Brute._ Yes, 'faith, many a time. _Bel._ And I too, I own it; both how to speak myself, and how to look when others speak. But my Glass and I could never yet agree what Face I should make when they come blunt out with a nasty thing in a Play: For all the Men presently look upon the Women, that's certain: so laugh we must not, tho' our Stays burst for't, because that's telling Truth, and owning we understand the Jest. And to look serious is so dull, when the whole House is a laughing-- _Lady Brute._ Besides, that looking serious does really betray our Knowledge in the matter, as much as laughing with the Company would do: For if we did not understand the thing, we shou'd naturally do like other People. _Bel._ For my part, I always take that occasion to blow my Nose. _Lady Brute._ You must blow your Nose half off, then, at some Plays. _Bel._ Why don't some Reformer or other be at the Poet for't? _Lady Brute._ Because he is not so sure of our private Approbation, as of our publick Thanks. Well, sure there is not upon Earth so impertinent a thing as Women's Modesty. _Bel._ Yes: Men's Fantasque, that obliges us to it. If we quit our Modesty, they say we lose our Charms: and yet they know that very Modesty is Affectation, and rail at our Hypocrisy. _Lady Brute._ Thus, one would think 'twere a hard matter to please 'em, Niece; yet our kind Mother Nature has given us something that makes amends for all. Let our Weakness be what it will, Mankind will still be weaker; and whilst there is a World, 'tis Woman that will govern it. But, pr'ythee, one Word of poor _Constant_ before we go to bed, if it be but to furnish matter for Dreams: I dare swear he's talking of me now, or thinking of me at least, tho' it be in the middle of his Prayers. _Bel._ So he ought, I think; for you were pleas'd to make him a good round Advance to-day, Madam. _Lady Brute._ Why, I have e'en plagu'd him enough to satisfy any reasonable Woman: He has besieg'd me these two Years, to no purpose. _Bel._ And if he besieg'd you two Years more, he'd be well enough pay'd, so he had the plundering of you at last. _Lady Brute._ That may be; but I'm afraid the Town won't be able to hold out much longer: for to confess the Truth to you, _Belinda_, the Garrison begins to grow mutinous. _Bel._ Then the sooner you capitulate, the better. _Lady Brute._ Yet, methinks, I wou'd fain stay a little longer to see you fix'd too, that we might start together, and see who cou'd love longest. What think you, if _Heartfree_ shou'd have a Month's Mind to you?