Sir Francis Acton. O that same villain Wendoll! ’twas his tongue That did corrupt her; she was of herself Chaste, and devoted well. Is this the house? Cranwell. Yes, sir, I take it here your sister lies. Sir Francis Acton. My brother Frankford showed too mild a spirit In the revenge of such a loathèd crime; Less than he did, no man of spirit could do: I am so far from blaming his revenge, That I commend it. Had it been my case, Their souls at once had from their breasts been freed: Death to such deeds of shame is the due meed. [_They enter the house_. SCENE V.--_A Room in the Manor_. _Enter_ Sir Francis Acton, Susan, Sir Charles Mountford, Cranwell, _and_ Malby; Jenkin _and_ Cicely _following them_. Jenkin. O my mistress, my mistress, my poor mistress. Cicely. Alas that ever I was born! what shall I do for my poor mistress? Sir Charles Mountford. Why, what of her? Jenkin. O Lord, sir, she no sooner heard that her brother and his friends were come to see how she did, but she, for very shame of her guilty conscience, fell into such a swoon, that we had much ado to get life into her. Susan. Alas that she should bear so hard a fate! Pity it is repentance comes too late. Sir Francis Acton. Is she so weak in body? Jenkin. O sir, I can assure you there’s no hope of life in her, for she will take no sustenance: she hath plainly starved herself, and now she is as lean as a lath. She ever looks for the good hour. Many gentlemen and gentlewomen of the country are come to comfort her. [_Exeunt_. SCENE VI.--Mistress Frankford’s _Bedchamber_. Mistress Frankford _in bed; enter_ Sir Charles Mountford, Sir Francis Acton, Malby, Cranwell, _and_ Susan. Malby. How fare you, Mistress Frankford? Mistress Frankford. Sick, sick, oh, sick. Give me some air, I pray you. Tell me, oh, tell me where is Master Frankford? Will not he deign to see me ere I die? Malby. Yes, Mistress Frankford: divers gentlemen, Your loving neighbours, with that just request Have moved, and told him of your weak estate: Who, though with much ado to get belief, Examining of the general circumstance, Seeing your sorrow and your penitence, And hearing therewithal the great desire You have to see him ere you left the world, He gave to us his faith to follow us, And sure he will be here immediately. Mistress Frankford. You have half revived me with those pleasing news: Raise me a little higher in my bed. Blush I not, brother Acton? Blush I not, Sir Charles? Can you not read my fault writ in my cheek? Is not my crime there? tell me, gentlemen. Sir Charles Mountford. Alas! good mistress, sickness hath not left you Blood in your face enough to make you blush. Mistress Frankford. Then sickness, like a friend, my fault would hide. Is my husband come? My soul but tarries His arrive, then I am fit for Heaven.