SCENE II.

_A Room at a Boarding House._

_Enter MRS. LYNX, followed by MRS. CODDLE, MRS. YOUNGHUSBAND, MRS. DISMAL, and MRS. DOVE._

MRS. COD. The unhappy creature, Mrs. Belvidera Coddle, is lodging here, you tell me.--(_To MRS. DISMAL._)

MRS. DIS. Yes, 'twas at the door of this house that I saw Mr. Lynx talking to her yesterday.

MRS. COD. As she is not within, I shall look in again. I am resolved to see her, for the more I reflect, the more I am incensed against my husband. Oh! I am a wretched woman.

MRS. LY. Indeed, I am.

MRS. DOVE. So am I.

MRS. DIS. So am I.

MRS. Y. I'm completely miserable--miserable.

MRS. COD. I went home, but Coddle never came near the house; he has absconded, no doubt; I did not close my eyes all night.

MRS. DOVE. I have been in a state of perfect distraction since my unhappy disagreement, with Henry--where _can_ he have gone?

MRS. Y. I would not go to my aunt--I changed my mind, called on Mrs. Dismal and sat up with her, I am determined not to return home till Frederick fetches me; it _was_ Uncle Tolloday that gave me the thimble.

MRS. DIS. If you had not come to me, Mrs. Y., I should have died before morning; as it is, Mr. D's. cruel indifference has worn me to a shade.

MRS. COD. Indifference! I am sure the apathy of my husband was never equalled; I have flirted with a dozen young men in one evening, to excite him to a little harmless jealousy, but in vain; and I really think, he would neither have stirred, nor cared, had I eloped with three captains at once. And now to discover that he has another wife! Oh, if I could see him again--I think I should assassinate him! a monster! a--oh!--(_Sobbing._)

MRS. DIS. Just like my Dismal; when we go into company, he always gets as far away from me as he can--never notices me--never smiles at me--never looks as if he loved me. I--I--I am a very ill-used woman.--(_Sobbing._)

MRS. Y. (_Sobbing._)--Don't weep, Mrs. Dismal; don't weep; I wont, if--if--I break my heart. Y. sha'n't say that I ever dropped a tear at his absence--an aggravating creature; though I _could_ be comfortable with him, if he would not contradict me in every thing I say--and do--and--and--oh!--(_Crying._)

MRS. DOVE. (_Sobbing._)--Oh, Henry!--Once reconciled, I will never correct you again; you may select your own words from any dictionary you may think proper.

MRS. LY. (_Sobbing._)--My wretched fate is fixed; I have suffered beyond the bounds of endurance, and can suffer no more.

MRS. COD. My friends!--ladies!--bless me, we are all in tears! this must not be; what would our husbands say if they knew of our weakness? No, no--we must not break our hearts for such creatures: we must rally and laugh. Ha! ha! ha! laugh, ladies, laugh--and make your arrangements for the future with resolution and spirit. You, Mrs. Lynx, will, I presume, for the present lodge here. I shall now step to my friends and return in half an hour. Mrs. Dove, you are a sensible and well-educated woman; pray accompany me, and give me your advice! we may hear of Mr. Dove while we are gone. Mrs. Y., you, of course, will stay with Mrs. Dismal for the present. Good bye, my dears--good bye! Now pray, don't fret; be women--be women--don't weep about a man. What are men?--mere self-elected law-makers. Don't despair, ladies; the time is fast coming when _we_ shall have voices in the legislation of the country, and then let them look to their questions. The wrongs done to our sex, for centuries, shall be well revenged in the first session.

[_Exit with MRS. DOVE, L. H._

MRS. Y. Good bye, Mrs. Lynx; if you wish to see us, we are only next door to you--you know. And pray, if you hear anything of our husbands apprize us immediately, and we will do the same for you.--(_Taking MRS. DISMAL'S arm._)--Now, if Mr. Dismal passes the house again, I _will_ call him in.

MRS. DIS. No, no; you shall not.

MRS. Y. I _will._

MRS. DIS. I won't hear of it.

MRS. Y. I'm not used to contradict, but you must. Though I am wretched, if I can assist in restoring happiness to others, Mrs. Frederick Younghusband is not the woman to be idle in such a matter. So come, dear D., smile and look pleasant!

[_Exit with MRS. DISMAL, L. H. D._

MRS. LYNX. (_Alone._)--Now what course shall I take?--that my husband is guilty, I have abundant of proof--and that I can never, never live with him again, is equally sure. I have sought a refuge here, in a miserable lodging-house; for where had I to go? Where _could_ an outraged and a homeless wife seek for shelter? with friends--with relations? No, no; I could not endure that bitter humiliation. If I am to be wretched, it shall be unseen and alone; I'll have no cold and affected sympathy--no pity from my kindred. Pity! there is no such feeling! 'tis disguised triumph, and we know it too; else why does the soul rise up within us and spurn it?--(_Looking off, R. H., F. E._)--Ah, _he_ here! the writer of the letter I received yesterday? then he has traced me to this house. What shall I do? he must not see me. Hark!--(_listens_)--he is making enquiries concerning me; how shall I avoid him? To retaliate upon my husband, I affected to encourage that man, and he thus presumes upon it. But now, though I shall never return again to my home, I must avoid all that would make me cease to respect myself--I'll to my room.

[_Exit, R. H. F. E._

_Enter LYNX, L. H._

LYNX. I have been rightly informed, my wife _is_ here. Now that I have no further occasion for secresy, she shall know all; and if I _can_ awake her to a sense of the mischiefs that will arise from a too watchful jealousy, I will henceforth pursue that line of conduct which must and shall ensure happiness.--(_He is going R. H._)--What! who is that?--(_looking off_)--he speaks to my wife--she repulses him--he follows her. Villain!--(_LYNX rushes off, R. H._)

_CODDLE heard without, L. H._

COD. Come along, Dove, come along; my wife is here. Come, my best friend--my preserver.

_Enter CODDLE, dragging DOVE; DOVE'S coat is torn, and striving in vain to release himself from the grasp of CODDLE._

COD. Huzza! Huzza! you've told the truth, Dove--you've told the truth--Belvidera has retreated and left me master of the field. Be grateful, you villain, be grateful. She would have torn your eyes out, murdered you, had it not been for me.

DOVE. But Mr. Coddle, my coat is separating; let me go.

COD. No, no, I must now introduce you to my wife. Where is she? Mrs. Coddle!--(_calling_)--Mrs. Coddle! they told me she was here; where are you, my dear, where are you? She can't be in the house; then we'll run all over London, but we'll find her. Come, Dove, my friend, my preserver, come.

DOVE. Oh, Mr. Coddle, let me go, let me go.

COD. No, no, I'll never part with my witness; come, you delightful fellow, come, you shall never leave me till I am restored to happiness.--(_CODDLE, during the foregoing exclamations, has dragged DOVE round the stage, and goes off with him again, L. H._)