Pert. I little thought, madam, to see your spirit tamed to this degree, who banished poor Mr. Lackwit but for taking up another lady’s fan in your presence.

Lov. My knowing of such odious fools contributes to the making of me love Dorimant the better.

Pert. Your knowing of Mr. Dorimant, in my mind, should rather make you hate all mankind.

Lov. So it does, besides himself.

Pert. Pray, what excuse does he make in his letter?

Lov. He has had business.

Pert. Business in general terms would not have been a current excuse for another; a modish man is always very busy when he is in pursuit of a new mistress.

Lov. Some fop has bribed you to rail at him; he had business, I will believe it, and will forgive him.

Pert. You may forgive him anything, but I shall never forgive him his turning me into ridicule, as I hear he does.

Lov. I perceive you are of the number of those fools his wit has made his enemies.

Pert. I am of the number of those he’s pleased to rally, madam; and if we may believe Mr. Wagfan and Mr. Caperwell, he sometimes makes merry with yourself too among his laughing companions.

Lov. Blockheads are as malicious to witty men as ugly women are to the handsome; ’tis their interest, and they make it their business to defame ’em.

Pert. I wish Mr. Dorimant would not make it his business to defame you.

Lov. Should he, I had rather be made infamous by him than owe my reputation to the dull discretion of those fops you talk of.

Enter Belinda.

[Running to her. Belinda!

Bel. My dear.

Lov. You have been unkind of late.

Bel. Do not say unkind, say unhappy!

Lov. I could chide you; where have you been these two days?

Bel. Pity me rather, my dear, where I have been so tired with two or three country gentlewomen, whose conversation has been more insufferable than a country fiddle.

Lov. Are they relations?

Bel. No, Welsh acquaintance I made when I was last year at St. Winifred’s; they have asked me a thousand questions of the modes and intrigues of the town, and I have told ’em almost as many things for news that hardly were so when their gowns were in fashion.

Lov. Provoking creatures, how could you endure ’em?