Lord Townley soliloquises [for my lady is at least virtuous] “she thinks it a greater merit still, in her chastity, not to care for her husband; and while she herself is solacing in one continual round of cards and good company, he, poor wretch, is left at large to take care of his own contentment.  ’Tis time, indeed, some care were taken, and speedily there shall be.  Yet let me not be rash.  Perhaps this disappointment of my heart may make me too impatient; and some tempers, when reproach’d, grow more untractable.”

And when Lady Townley, all graces and ribbons and laces, enters on the scene my lord meekly asks: 

* * * * *

“Going out so soon after dinner, madam?”

“Lady T. Lord, my Lord, what can I possibly do at home?

“Lord T. What does my sister, Lady Grace, do at home?

“Lady T. Why, that is to me amazing!  Have you ever any pleasure at home?

“Lord T. It might be in your power, madam, I confess, to make it a little more comfortable to me.

“Lady T. Comfortable! and so, my good lord, you would really have a woman of my rank and spirit, stay at home to comfort her husband!  Lord! what notions of life some men have!

“Lord T. Don’t you think, madam, some ladies notions are full as extravagant?”

“Lady T. Yes, my lord, when tame doves live cooped within the pen of your precepts, I do think ’em prodigious indeed!

“Lord T. And when they fly wild about this town, madam, pray what must the world think of ’em then?

“Lady T. Oh! this world is not so ill bred as to quarrel with any woman for liking it.

“Lord T. Nor am I, madam, a husband so well bred as to bear my wife’s being so fond of it; in short, the life you lead, madam—­

“Lady T. Is, to me, the pleasantest life in the world.

“Lord T. I should not dispute your taste, madam, if a woman had a right to please nobody but herself.

“Lady T. Why, whom would you have her please?

“Lord T. Sometimes her husband.

“Lady T. And don’t you think a husband under the same obligation?

“Lord T. Certainly.

“Lady T. Why then we are agreed, my lord.  For if I never go abroad till I am weary of being at home—­which you know is the case—­is it not equally reasonable, not to come home till one’s a weary of being abroad?

“Lord T. If this be your rule of life, madam, ’tis time to ask you one serious question.

“Lady T. Don’t let it be long acoming then, for I am in haste.

“Lord T. Madam, when I am serious, I expect a serious answer.

“Lady T. Before I know the question? [Here we can imagine Wilks, who played Lord Townley, waxing exceeding wroth at my lady.]

“Lord T. Pshah—­have I power, madam, to make you serious by intreaty?

“Lady T. You have.

“Lord T. And you promise to answer me sincerely.