_Ran._ Confirm me by a smile then, madam; remove that cloud, which makes me apprehend foul weather. [_Goes to take off her mask._]--Mr. Vincent, pray retire; 'tis you keep on the lady's mask, and no displeasure which she has for me.--Yet, madam, you need not distrust his honour or his faith.--But do not keep the lady under constraint; pray leave us a little, Master Vincent. _Chris._ You must not leave us, sir; would you leave me with a stranger? _Val._ How's that! [_Aside._ _Ran._ [_Aside._] I've done amiss, I find, to bring her hither.--Madam, I understand you--[_Apart to_ CHRISTINA. _Chris._ Sir, I do not understand you. _Ran._ You would not be known to Mr. Vincent. _Chris._ 'Tis your acquaintance I would avoid. _Ran._ [_Aside._] Dull brute that I was, to bring her hither!--I have found my error, madam; give me but a new appointment, where I may meet you by and by, and straight I will withdraw as if I knew you not. [_Softly to her._ _Chris._ Why, do you know me? _Ran._ [_Aside._] I must not own it.--No, madam, but--[_Offers to whisper._ _Chris._ Whispering, sir, argues an old acquaintance; but I have not the vanity to be thought of yours, and resolve you shall never have the disparagement of mine.--Mr. Vincent, pray let us go in here. _Ran._ How's this! I am undone, I see; but if I let her go thus, I shall be an eternal laughing-stock to Vincent. [_Aside._ _Vin._ Do you not know him, madam? I thought you had come hither on purpose to meet him. _Chris._ To meet him! _Vin._ By your own appointment. _Chris._ What strange infatuation does delude you all? you know, he said he did not know me. _Vin._ You writ to him; he has your letter. _Chris._ Then, you know my name sure? yet you confessed but now you knew me not. _Ran._ I must confess your anger has disguised you more than your mask: for I thought to have met a kinder Christina here. _Chris._ [_Aside._] Heavens! how could he know me in this place? he watched me hither sure; or is there any other of my name.--[_Aloud._] That you may no longer mistake me for your Christina, I'll pull off that which soothes your error. [_Pulls off her mask._ _Ran._ Take but t'other vizard off too, (I mean your anger,) and I'll swear you are the same, and only Christina which I wished, and thought, to meet here. _Chris._ How could you think to meet me here? _Ran._ [_Gives her the letter._] By virtue of this your commission; which now, I see, was meant a real challenge: for you look as if you would fight with me. _Chris._ The paper is a stranger to me; I never writ it. You are abused. _Vin._ Christina is a person of honour, and will own what she has written, Ranger. _Ran._ [_Aside._] So! the comedy begins; I shall be laughed at sufficiently if I do not justify myself; I must set my impudence to hers. She is resolved to deny all, I see, and I have lost all hope of her. _Vin._ Come, faith, Ranger--