_Gripe._ Oh, impudent woman, speak softly! _Mrs. Joyn._ I will not speak softly; for innocence is loud as well as barefaced. Is this your return, after you have made me a mere drudge to your filthy lusts? _Gripe._ Speak softly; my sister, daughter, and servants, will hear. _Mrs. Joyn._ I would have witnesses, to take notice that you blast my good name, which was as white as a tulip, and as sweet as the head of your cane, before you wrought me to the carrying on the work of your fleshly carnal seekings. _Gripe._ Softly! softly! they are coming in. _Enter_ Lady FLIPPANT _and_ Mrs. MARTHA. _L. Flip._ What's the matter, brother? _Gripe._ Nothing, nothing, sister, only the godly woman is fallen into a fit of zeal against the enormous transgressions of the age. Go! go! you do not love to hear vanity reproved; pray begone! _Mrs. Joyn._ Pray stay, madam, that you may know-- _Gripe._ [_Aside to_ Mrs. JOYNER.] Hold! hold! here are five guineas for thee,--pray say nothing.--[_Aloud._] Sister, pray begone, I say.--[_Exeunt_ Lady FLIPPANT _and_ Mrs. MARTHA.] Would you prejudice your own reputation to injure mine? _Mrs. Joyn._ Would you prejudice your own soul to wrong my repute, in truly? [_Pretends to weep._ _Gripe._ Pray have me in excuse. Indeed, I thought you had a share of the five hundred pounds, because you took away my seal-ring; which they made me send, together with a note to my cash-keeper for five hundred pounds. Besides, I thought none but you knew it was my wonted token to send for money by. _Mrs. Joyn._ 'Tis unlucky I should forget it, and leave it on the table!--But oh the harlotry! did she make that use of it then? 'twas no wonder you did not stay till I came back. _Gripe._ I stayed till the money released me. _Mrs. Joyn._ Have they the money, then? five hundred pounds! _Gripe._ Too certain. _Mrs. Joyn._ They told me not a word of it; and have you no way to retrieve it? _Gripe._ Not any. _Mrs. Joyn._ [_Aside._] I am glad of it.--[_Aloud._] Is there no law but against saints? _Gripe._ I will not for five hundred pounds publish my transgression myself, lest I should be thought to glory in't: though, I must confess, 'twould tempt a man to conform to public praying and sinning, since 'tis so chargeable to pray and sin in private. _Mrs. Joyn._ But are you resolved to give off a loser? _Gripe._ How shall I help it? _Mrs. Joyn._ Nay, I'll see you shall have what the young jade has, for your money; I'll make 'em use some conscience, however.--Take a man's money for nothing! _Gripe._ Thou sayest honestly, indeed. And shall I have my pennyworths out of the little gentlewoman for all this? _Mrs. Joyn._ I'll be engaged body for body for her, and you shall take the forfeiture on me else. _Gripe._ No, no, I'll rather take your word, Mrs. Joyner. _Mrs. Joyn._ Go in and dress yourself smug, and leave the rest to me. _Gripe._ No man breathing would give-off a loser, as she says. [_Exeunt._