_Mrs. Dig._ I care not what slander says--I will rely upon my innocence. _Coun._ But I will not, madam, nor shall you--it is not sufficient for my sister, your husband’s wife, or female reputation, to rely on innocence alone--women must not only be innocent, they must appear so too. _Mrs. Dig._ Brother, I don’t know what you mean by all this. I beg you will explain. _Coun._ I will--know then, this coxcomb Mushroom-- _Mrs. Dig._ Mushroom! _Coun._ Mushroom!--as a man of wit and spirit, thought himself obliged to take some hints your levity had given him. _Mrs. Dig._ I give him hints--brother, you wrong me. _Coun._ Pray hear me--this spark, I say, like a true man of intrigue, not only returns your hints with a letter of gallantry, but bribes your own woman to deliver it. _Mrs. Dig._ My woman! _Coun._ The same. _Mrs. Dig._ I am ignorant of all this, and will turn her out of the house this instant. _Coun._ Softly! hear the whole! the maid, instead of carrying the letter to you, delivers that, and many others, to her master, who, in your name, hand, stile, and sentiment, has answered them all, and carried on an amorous correspondence with the gentleman, even up to an assignation; and, now, at this very instant, the spark is preparing for the happy interview, and has made the town the confidants of his good fortune. _Mrs. Dig._ O heavens! _Coun._ Now judge what your husband, brother, and your friends must feel, and what the world must think of her, whose conduct could entitle a coxcomb to such liberties. _Mrs. Dig._ Brother, I shall make no defence--the story shocks me! and though I know my own intentions, yet what people may say--but, be assured, I shall be more prudent for the future--perhaps I have been to blame--pray advise me--only say what I shall do to be revenged upon the fellow for his impudence, and what will convince my husband, you, and all the world of my innocence, and I will do it. I protest you have given such a motion to my heart, and such a trouble and a trembling, as it never felt before. _Coun._ It is a virtuous motion--encourage it--for the anxiety and tears of repentance, though the rarest, are the brightest ornaments a modern fine lady can be deck’d in. Katty _and_ O’Dogherty _without_. _O’Dogh._ I shall be in here with the counsellor, Katty, and the moment he comes, bring me word. _Katty._ I shall, sir. _Coun._ Here your husband comes. _Mrs. Dig._ I am ashamed to see him. _Enter_ O’Dogherty. _O’Dogh._ Well, brother, have you spoke to her? _Coun._ There she is, sir--and as she should be--bathed in the tears of humility and repentance. _O’Dogh._ Ogh! I am sorry to see this indeed--I am afraid you have gone too far. If I had been by, I assure you, brother, you should not have made her cry.--Yerrow, Nancy, child, turn about, and don’t be crying there.