_Lady Brute._ [_Aside to ~Const~._] Pray be gone: He's so drunk he can't hurt us to-night, and to-morrow Morning you shall hear from us. _Const._ I'll obey you, Madam. Sir, when you are cool, you'll understand Reason better. So then I shall take the pains to inform you. If not----I wear a Sword, Sir, and so good by t'ye. Come along, _Heartfree_. [_Exit._ _Sir John._ Wear a Sword, Sir--And what of all that, Sir? He comes to my House; eats my Meat; lies with my Wife; dishonours my Family; gets a Bastard to inherit my Estate----And when I ask a civil Account of all this--Sir, says he, I wear a Sword--Wear a Sword, Sir? Yes, Sir, says he, I wear a Sword----It may be a good Answer at Cross-purposes; but 'tis a damn'd one to a Man in my whimsical Circumstance----Sir, says he, I wear a Sword! [_To Lady ~Brute~._] And what do you wear now? ha! tell me. [_Sitting down in a great Chair._] What, you are modest, and can't--Why, then, I'll tell you, you Slut, you. You wear----an impudent, lewd Face----A damn'd designing Heart----And a Tail----and a Tail full of----[_He falls fast asleep, snoaring._] _Lady Brute._ So; thanks to kind Heaven, he's fast for some Hours. _Bel._ 'Tis well he is so, that we may have time to lay our Story handsomely; for we must lye like the Devil, to bring ourselves off. _Lady Brute._ What shall we say, _Belinda_? _Bel._ [_Musing._]----I'll tell you: It must all light upon _Heartfree_ and I. We'll say he has courted me some time, but, for Reasons unknown to us, has ever been very earnest the thing might be kept from Sir _John_. That therefore hearing him upon the Stairs, he ran into the Closet, tho' against our Will, and _Constant_ with him, to prevent Jealousy. And to give this a good impudent Face of Truth, (that I may deliver you from the trouble you are in) I'll e'en, if he pleases, marry him. _Lady Brute._ I'm beholden to you, Cousin; but that wou'd be carrying the Jest a little too far for your own sake: You know he's a younger Brother, and has nothing. _Bel._ 'Tis true: But I like him, and have Fortune enough to keep above Extremity: I can't say I would live with him in a Cell, upon Love and Bread and Butter: But I had rather have the Man I love, and a middle State of Life, than that Gentleman in the Chair there, and twice your Ladyship's Splendour. _Lady Brute._ In truth, Niece, you are in the right on't; for I am very uneasy with my Ambition. But, perhaps, had I married as you'll do, I might have been as ill us'd.