_Lett._ Well, after all, madam, I did not think that gentleman displeased you. _Pen._[55] Had but young Bookwit his mien and conversation, how easily would he exclude Lovemore! _Enter_ SERVANT. _Ser._ Mr. Lovemore is coming up, madam. _Pen._ He has not heard, sure, of this new proposal! _Lett._ 'Tis possible he may, and come to rant or upbraid your ladyship. I wonder you endure him on these occasions. _Pen._ I'll rack his very heart-strings. He shall know all that man e'er suffered for his native mistress, woman. _Lett._ His father, madam, has been so long coming out of Suffolk---There are strange tricks in the world, but 'tis not my place to speak. _Pen._ However, his father, may come at last. I will not wholly lose him; as bad as he is, he's better than no husband at all. Stay in the room; I'll talk to you as if he were not present. _Enter_ LOVEMORE. _Love._[56] Ah! Penelope! inconstant, fickle Penelope! _Pen._ But, Lettice, you don't tell me what the gentleman said. Now there's nobody here, you may speak. _Love._ Now there's nobody here? Then I am a thing, a utensil! I am nobody, I have no essence that I am sensible of! I think 'twill be so soon!--This ingrate--this perjured! _Pen._ Tell me, I say, how the match happened to break off? _Love._ This is downright abuse! What! don't you see me, madam? _Lett._ He had the folly, upon her being commonly civil to him, to talk of directing her affairs before his time. In the first place, he thought it but necessary her maid, her faithful servant, Mrs. Betty, should be removed. _Love._ Her faithful servant, Mrs. Betty? Her betrayer, her whisperer, Mrs. Lettice! Madam, would you but hear me? I will be heard! _Pen._ Prithee step, Lettice, and see what noise is that without. _Love._ The noise is here, madam; 'tis I that make what you call noise. 'Tis I that claim aloud my right and speak to all the world the wrongs I suffer. _Pen._ Cooling herbs, well steeped--a good anodyne at night, made of the juice of hellebore, with very thin diet, may be of use in these cases. [_Both looking at him as disturbed._ _Love._ Cases! what cases? I shall downright run mad with this damned usage! Am I a jest? _Lett._ A jest? No, faith, this is far from a merry madness. Ha! ha! ha! _Love._ Harkee, Lettice, I'll downright box you. Hold your tongue, gipsy. _Lett._ Dear madam, save me! Go you to him. _Pen._ Let him take you.--Bless me, how he stares! Take her. _Lett. Pen._ Take her. [_Running round each other._ _Love._ Very fine!--No, madam, your gallant, your spark last night; your fine dancer, entertainer, shall take you. He that was your swain; and you, I warrant, a fantastic nymph of the flood or forest. Ha! ha! ha! To be out all night with a young fellow! Oh! that makes you change your countenance, does it so? Fine lady--you wonder how I came to know. Why, choose a discreeter the next time--he told me all himself. Swoon--die for shame at hearing of these words--do!