BETTY Ha! ha! ha! What a funny story, madam; and is this all you make such a fuss about? I should not care if twenty of my lovers had been---- (_seeing Pendulous_)--Lord, Sir, I ask pardon. PENDULOUS Are we not alone, then? MISS FLYN 'Tis only Betty--my old servant. You remember Betty? PENDULOUS What letter is that? MISS FLYN O! something from her sweetheart, I suppose. BETTY Yes, ma'am, that is all. I shall die of laughing. PENDULOUS You have not surely been shewing her---- MISS FLYN I must be ingenuous. You must know, then, that I was just giving Betty a hint--as you came in. PENDULOUS A hint! MISS FLYN Yes, of our unfortunate embarrassment. PENDULOUS My letter! MISS FLYN I thought it as well that she should know it at first. PENDULOUS 'Tis mighty well, madam. 'Tis as it should be. I was ordained to be a wretched laughing-stock to all the world; and it is fit that our drabs and our servant wenches should have their share of the amusement. BETTY Marry come up! Drabs and servant wenches! and this from a person in his circumstances! _(Betty flings herself out of the room, muttering.)_ MISS FLYN I understand not this language. I was prepared to give my Pendulous a tender meeting. To assure him, that however, in the eyes of the superficial and the censorious, he may have incurred a partial degradation, in the esteem of one, at least, he stood as high as ever. That it was not in the power of a ridiculous _accident,_ involving no guilt, no shadow of imputation, to separate two hearts, cemented by holiest vows, as ours have been. This untimely repulse to my affections may awaken scruples in me, which hitherto, in tenderness to you, I have suppressed. PENDULOUS I very well understand what you call tenderness, madam; but in some situations, pity--pity--is the greatest insult. MISS FLYN I can endure no longer. When you are in a calmer mood, you will be sorry that you have wrung my heart so. _[Exit.]_ PENDULOUS Maria! She is gone--in tears. Yet it seems she has had her scruples. She said she had tried to smother them. Mermaid Betty intimated as much. _Re-enter Betty._ BETTY Never mind Retty, sir; depend upon it she will never 'peach. PENDULOUS 'Peach! BETTY Lord, sir, these scruples will blow over. Go to her again, when she is in a better humour. You know we must stand off a little at first, to save appearances. PENDULOUS Appearances! _we!_ BETTY It will be decent to let some time elapse. PENDULOUS Time elapse! Lost, wretched Pendulous! to scorn betrayed, The scoff alike of mistress and of maid! What now remains for thee, forsaken man, But to complete thy fate's abortive plan, And finish what the feeble law began? [_Exeunt._] _Re-enter Miss Flyn, with Marian._ MISS FLYN Now both our lovers are gone, I hope my friend will have less reserve. You must consider this apartment as yours while you stay here. 'Tis larger and more commodious than your own.