Capt.  I have nothing to offer, but what Mr. Lovelace is a party to, and may hear, except one private word or two, which may be postponed to the last.

Cl.  Pray, Ladies, keep your seats.—­Things are altered, Sir, since I saw you.  You can mention nothing that relates to me now, to which that gentleman can be a party.

Capt.  You surprise me, Madam!  I am sorry to hear this!—­Sorry for your uncle’s sake!—­Sorry for your sake!—­Sorry for Mr. Lovelace’s sake!—­And yet I am sure he must have given greater occasion than he has mentioned to me, or—­

Lovel.  Indeed, Captain,—­indeed, Ladies, I have told you great part of my story!—­And what I told you of my offence was the truth:—­what I concealed of my story was only what I apprehended would, if known, cause this dear creature to be thought more censorious than charitable.

Cl.  Well, well, Sir, say what you please.  Make me as black as you please—­make yourself as white as you can—­I am not now in your power:  that consideration will comfort me for all.

Capt.  God forbid that I should offer to plead in behalf of a crime, that a woman of virtue and honour cannot forgive!  But surely, surely, Madam, this is going too far.

Cl.  Do not blame me, Captain Tomlinson.  I have a good opinion of you, as my uncle’s friend; but if you are Mr. Lovelace’s friend, that is another thing; for my interest and Mr. Lovelace’s must now be for ever separated.

Capt.  One word with you, Madam, if you please—­offering to retire.

Cl.  You may say all that you please to say before these gentlewomen.—­ Mr. Lovelace may have secrets—­I have none:—­you seem to think me faulty:  I should be glad that all the world knew my heart.  Let my enemies sit in judgment upon my actions; fairly scanned, I fear not the result; let them even ask me my most secret thoughts, and, whether they make for me, or against me, I will reveal them.

Capt.  Noble Lady! who can say as you say?

The women held up their hands and eyes; each, as if she had said,—­Not I.

No disorder here! said Miss Rawlins:—­but, (judging by her own heart,) a confounded deal of improbability, I believe she thought.

Finely said, to be sure, said the widow Bevis, shrugging her shoulders.

Mrs. Moore sighed.

Jack Belford, thought I, knows all mine; and in this I am more ingenuous than any of the three, and a fit match for this paragon.

Cl.  How Mr. Lovelace has found me out here I cannot tell:  but such mean devices, such artful, such worse than Waltham disguises put on, to obtrude himself into my company; such bold, such shocking untruths—­

Capt.  The favour of but one word, Madam, in private—­

Cl.  In order to support a right which he has not over me!—­O Sir!—­O Captain Tomlinson!—­I think I have reason to say, that the man, (there he stands!) is capable of any vileness!—­