Enter a servant who gives HEARTFREE a letter.

Bel. Heartfree your husband, say you? ’Tis impossible!

Lady F. Would to kind heaven it were! but ’tis too true; and in the world there lives not such a wretch. I’m young; and either I have been flattered by my friends, as well as my glass, or nature has been kind and generous to me. I had a fortune too was greater far than he could ever hope for; but with my heart I am robbed of all the rest. I am slighted and I’m beggared both at once; I have scarcely a bare subsistence from the villain, yet dare complain to none; for he has sworn, if ever ’tis known I am his wife, he’ll murder me.

[Weeping.

Bel. The traitor!

Lady F. I accidentally was told he courted you; charity soon prevailed upon me to prevent your misery; and, as you see, I’m still so generous even to him, as not to suffer he should do anything, for which the law might take away his life.

[Weeping.

Bel. Poor creature! How I pity her!

[They continue talking aside.

Heart. [aside]. Death and the devil!—Let me read it again. [Reads.] “Though I have a particular reason not to let you know who I am till I see you, yet you’ll easily believe ’tis a faithful friend that gives you this advice. [Good!] I have a child by Belinda—[Better and better]—which is now outatnurse—[Heaven be praised!]—and I think the foundation laid for another—[Ha! old true-penny!]—no rack could have tortured this story from me; but friendship has done it. I heard of your design to marry her, and could not see you abused. Make use of my advice, but keep my secret till I ask you for it again.”

[Exit Lady FANCIFUL.

Con. [to Belinda]. Come, madam, shall we send for the parson! I doubt here’s no business for the lawyers; younger brothers have nothing to settle but their hearts, and that I believe my friend here has already done very faithfully.

Bel. [scornfully]. Are you sure, sir, there are no old mortgages upon it?

Heart. [coldly]. If you think there are, madam, it mayn’t be amiss to defer the mortgage till you are sure they are paid off.

Bel. We’ll defer it as long as you please, sir.

Heart. The more time we take to consider on’t, madam, the less apt we shall be to commit oversight: therefore, if you please, we will put it off for just nine months.

Bel. Guilty consciences make men cowards.

Heart. And they make women desperate.

Bel. I don’t wonder you want time to resolve.

Heart. I don’t wonder you are so quickly determined.

Bel. What does the fellow mean?