_Arch_. I humbly beg leave to be excused: my master, madam, pays me; nor dare I take money from any other hand, without injuring his honour, and disobeying his commands. [_Exit Archer and Scrub_. _Dor_. This is surprising! Did you ever see so pretty a well-bred fellow? {281} _Mrs. Sul_. The devil take him for wearing that livery! _Dor_. I fancy, sister, he may be some gentleman, a friend of my lord's, that his lordship has pitched upon for his courage, fidelity, and discretion, to bear him company in this dress, and who ten to one was his second too. _Mrs. Sul_. It is so, it must be so, and it shall be so!-- for I like him. _Dor_. What! better than the Count? {290} _Mrs. Sul_. The Count happened to be the most agreeable man upon the place; and so I chose him to serve me in my design upon my husband. But I should like this fellow better in a design upon myself. _Dor_. But now, sister, for an interview with this lord and this gentleman; how shall we bring that about? _Mrs. Sul_. Patience! you country ladies give no quarter if once you be entered. Would you prevent their desires, and give the fellows no wishing-time? Look'ee, Dorinda, if my Lord Aimwell loves you or deserves you, he'll find a way to see you, and there we must leave it. My business comes now upon the tapis. Have you prepared your brother? {303} _Dor_. Yes, yes. _Mrs. Sul_. And how did he relish it? _Dor_. He said little, mumbled something to himself, promised to be guided by me--but here he comes. _Enter Squire Sullen_. _Squire Sul_. What singing was that I heard just now? _Mrs. Sul_. The singing in your head, my dear; you complained of it all day. {310} _Squire Sul_. You're impertinent _Mrs. Sul_. I was ever so, since I became one flesh with you. _Squire Sul_. One flesh! rather two carcasses joined unnaturally together. _Mrs. Sul_. Or rather a living soul coupled to a dead body. _Dor_. So, this is fine encouragement for me! _Squire Sul_. Yes, my wife shows you what you must do. _Mrs. Sul_. And my husband shows you what you must suffer. {321} _Squire Sul_. 'Sdeath, why can't you be silent? _Mrs. Sul_. 'Sdeath, why can't you talk? _Squire Sul_. Do you talk to any purpose? _Mrs. Sul_. Do you think to any purpose? _Squire Sul_. Sister, hark'ee I--[_Whispers_.] I shan't be home till it be late. [_Exit_. _Mrs. Sul_. What did he whisper to ye? {328} _Dor_. That he would go round the back way, come into the closet, and listen as I directed him. But let me beg you once more, dear sister, to drop this project; for as I told you before, instead of awaking him to kindness, you may provoke him to a rage; and then who knows how far his brutality may carry him? _Mrs. Sul_. I 'm provided to receive him, I warrant you. But here comes the Count: vanish! [_Exit Dorinda_. _Enter Count Bellair_.