SERVANT. I don't know, sir.

SQUEEZEPURSE. I saw your lady, sir, as I came by, go into a house in the other street.

MR. STEDFAST. Show me that house immediately, good Mr. Squeezepurse. I will fetch her home, I am determined. It is a fine age to marry in, when a wife cannot stay at home on her wedding-day.

SCENE III.-MILLAMOUR'S Lodgings.

MILLAMOUR, CLARINDA.

MILLAMOUR. Cruel Clarinda-Thus to stop short when we are at the brink of happiness: to show my eager soul a prospect of elysium, and then refuse it the possession.

CLARINDA. With how much juster reason may I complain of you! Ah! Millamour, didst thou not, when the very day of our marriage was appointed, didst thou not then forsake me?

MILLAMOUR. Heaven knows with what reluctancy, nor could any thing but my fear of your misery have compelled me to it.

CLARINDA. It is a strange love that makes its object miserable, for fear of its becoming so. Nor can the heart that loves be, in my opinion, ever miserable, while in possession of what it loves.

MILLAMOUR. Oh! let that plead my cause, and whisper to thy tender heart

SCENE IV.

To him, BRAZEN.

BRAZEN. Oh, sir! Undone, undone.

MILLAMOUR. What's the matter?

BRAZEN. Mr. Stedfast, sir, is below with another gentle

man-He swears his wife is in the house, and he will have her.

CLARINDA. I shall faint.

MILLAMOUR. What's to be done?-There's another woman in the closet, whom she must not see.

[Runs to the closet, and returns.

BRAZEN. Sir, he will be up stairs in a moment.
CLARINDA. Oh, heavens!

[Falls back into a chair. MILLAMOUR. Sirrah, be at hand, and assist me with lying. Her fright has inspired me with the only method to preserve her. Give me my gown and cap instantly. Away to your post-Madam, do you pretend yourself as ill as possible-So! hush, hush, what noise is this?

SCENE V.

MILLAMOUR, CLARINDA, BRAZEN, MR. STEDFAST, SQUEEZE

PURSE.

MR. STEDFAST. Where is this wicked, vile, rambling woman? Where are you, sorceress, that are run away from your husband's house on your wedding-day?

MILLAMOUR. Hold, sir, you must not disturb the lady.
MR. STEDFAST. Must not disturb her, sir?
MILLAMOUR. No, sir.

MR. STEDFAST. Why, pray, sir, who are you?

SQUEEZEPURSE. Mr. Stedfast, give me leave if you please. Whoever you are, sir, I believe you scarce know what you are doing. Do you know, sir, that this lady is a femme couverte, and the consequence of detaining such without the leave of her husband first had and obtained? Mr. Stedfast, you have as good an action against the gentleman as any man can wish to have. Juries, nowadays, give great damages in the affair of wives.

MILLAMOUR. Is this lady your wife, sir?

MR. STEDFAST. Yes, sir, to my exceeding great sorrow.

MILLAMOUR. Then, sir, you owe her life to me; for had not immediate application been made, the whole College could not have saved her.

MR. STEDFAST. To you! who the devil are you?

MILLAMOUR. Sir, I am an unworthy practiser of the art of physic.

MR. STEDFAST. How came she here, in the devil's name? MILLAMOUR. By a most miraculous accident-She was taken ill just at my door. My servant too was then, by as great good luck, standing at it. Brazen, give the gentleman an account how you brought the lady in, when you saw her drop down at my door.

BRAZEN. I was standing, sir, as my master says, picking my teeth at the door, when the sick lady who sits in the chair, as my master says, and ready to drop down, as my master says; and so I took her up in my arms, and brought her up stairs, and set her down in the great chair, and called my master, who, I believe, can cure her if any doctor in England can; for though I say it, who am but a poor servant, he is a most able physician in this sort of falling fits.

SQUEEZEPURSE. I saw nothing of this happen when she came in, and this fellow's a good evidence, or I am mistaken.

CLARINDA.

Oh, heavens! where am I?

MR. STEDFAST. Where are you? Not where you should be at home at your husband's.

CLARINDA. My husband's voice! Mr. Stedfast, where are you?

MILLAMOUR. Go near her, sir-Now you may go as near her as you please.

MR. STEDFAST. What's the matter with you, madam? CLARINDA. I cannot tell you, sir; I was taken in the strangest giddy manner, with such a swimming in my head, that every thing seemed to dance before my eyes.

MR. STEDFAST. You may thank yourself. What did you do a-gadding? But is this giddy, swimming, dancing distemper over, pray?

CLARINDA. Not quite over; but I am much better.