MISS MAC. _(Rising and calling to DAMPER.)_ Oh! you brute. Oh! you brute. MISS MEA. Aunt, pray keep your seat and your temper. MISS COY. _(Recovering herself.)_ And you, Miss Skylark, you must make _your_ little additions to the tittle-tattle. MISS SKY. I. MISS COY. A female adventurer, am I? deep in debt, and only anxious for a husband to remove that burthen from my shoulders; that I loiter in shady lanes, and pretend to study botany as an excuse for solitary walks; that I practice attitudes, sighs, and simulate fainting to attract attention. MISS SKY. Never said a thing of the sort, miss, and the consciousness that you have really been so ridiculous, has alone made you suppose such things to have been applied to you. _(She returns to her seat.)_ PIN. _(Advancing with great courage.)_ Oh, come, come, Miss, if that lady _has_ said that you were a botanist, and practice antics, I see no such harm in it. MISS COY. You see, sir: what can it matter what you may see, sir? PIN. Perhaps it don't; but it may matter what I can hear. Ah, you may look, I'll make _my_ little additions now, and then. I give you leave to turn all your vengeance on me, in lieu of attacking that lady. _(Pointing to MISS SKYLARK.)_ Very fine indeed, to sit here pretending not to know your own son. DAM. Well said, Pinkey--excellent. NIG. If the little monster insults her, I'll knock him down. MISS COY. What does the lunatic mean? PIN. It's not very often that I can say much, but when the fit is on me I can find words as fast as anybody, to express my meaning. DAM. Express your strongest, Pinkey. NIG. _(Striving to leave his seat, is kept back by DAMPER.)_ He shall not. DAM. Sit down and hear all. PIN. Now, ma'am, while I'm in the vein I'll have my say. You know that person there _(Pointing to CHESTER.)_ is your clandestine son, and if Mr. Niggle had been unfortunate enough to have fallen a victim to your wiley arts, he would have found himself, not only the surreptitious father-in-law of a full grown young man, but responsible for a budget of bills, from milliners, linen-drapers, wig-makers, butchers, and wine depóts--and--that's all. DAM. And quite enough I think. Look at her, see how confounded she is now. MISS COY. _(Falling into her chair.)_ Well, this is the _climax_ of scandal. [_MISS MEADOWS rises and comes forward, followed by MISS MACAW._ MISS MEA. _(To MISS MACAW.)_ Pray let us leave the house. CHE. _(Advancing and detaining her.)_ Are we never to meet again? MISS MEA. Never, while so much mystery surrounds you. MISS COY. _(To MISS MACAW.)_ A word with you, madam, if you please. MISS MAC. With me? MISS COY. If that gentleman _is_ so closely related to me a reported, it becomes my positive duty to warn him against forming any connection with you, madam, and your supposed niece, there. MISS MAC. What may you have to warn him against?