MIRA. Mr. Fainall, it is now time that you should know that your lady, while she was at her own disposal, and before you had by your insinuations wheedled her out of a pretended settlement of the greatest part of her fortune— FAIN. Sir! Pretended? MIRA. Yes, sir. I say that this lady, while a widow, having, it seems, received some cautions respecting your inconstancy and tyranny of temper, which from her own partial opinion and fondness of you she could never have suspected—she did, I say, by the wholesome advice of friends and of sages learned in the laws of this land, deliver this same as her act and deed to me in trust, and to the uses within mentioned. You may read if you please [_holding out the parchment_], though perhaps what is written on the back may serve your occasions. FAIN. Very likely, sir. What’s here? Damnation! [_Reads_] _A Deed of Conveyance of the whole estate real of Arabella Languish_, _widow_, _in trust to Edward Mirabell_. Confusion! MIRA. Even so, sir: ’tis the way of the world, sir; of the widows of the world. I suppose this deed may bear an elder date than what you have obtained from your lady. FAIN. Perfidious fiend! Then thus I’ll be revenged. [_Offers to run at_ MRS. FAINALL.] SIR WIL. Hold, sir; now you may make your bear-garden flourish somewhere else, sir. FAIN. Mirabell, you shall hear of this, sir; be sure you shall. Let me pass, oaf. MRS. FAIN. Madam, you seem to stifle your resentment. You had better give it vent. MRS. MAR. Yes, it shall have vent, and to your confusion, or I’ll perish in the attempt. SCENE _the Last_. LADY WISHFORT, MRS. MILLAMANT, MIRABELL, MRS. FAINALL, SIR WILFULL, PETULANT, WITWOUD, FOIBLE, MINCING, WAITWELL. LADY. O daughter, daughter, ’tis plain thou hast inherited thy mother’s prudence. MRS. FAIN. Thank Mr. Mirabell, a cautious friend, to whose advice all is owing. LADY. Well, Mr. Mirabell, you have kept your promise, and I must perform mine. First, I pardon for your sake Sir Rowland there and Foible. The next thing is to break the matter to my nephew, and how to do that— MIRA. For that, madam, give yourself no trouble; let me have your consent. Sir Wilfull is my friend: he has had compassion upon lovers, and generously engaged a volunteer in this action, for our service, and now designs to prosecute his travels. SIR WIL. ’Sheart, aunt, I have no mind to marry. My cousin’s a fine lady, and the gentleman loves her and she loves him, and they deserve one another; my resolution is to see foreign parts. I have set on’t, and when I’m set on’t I must do’t. And if these two gentlemen would travel too, I think they may be spared. PET. For my part, I say little. I think things are best off or on. WIT. I’gad, I understand nothing of the matter: I’m in a maze yet, like a dog in a dancing school. LADY. Well, sir, take her, and with her all the joy I can give you.