SCENE V.--_Another part of the same.

_Enter_ VINCENT _and_ VALENTINE.

_Vin._ I am glad I have found you, for now I am prepared to lead you out of the dark and all your trouble: I have good news.

_Val._ You are as unmerciful as the physician who with new arts keeps his miserable patient alive and in hopes, when he knows the disease is incurable.

_Vin._ And you, like the melancholy patient, mistrust and hate your physician, because he will not comply with your despair: but I'll cure your jealousy now.

_Val._ You know, all diseases grow worse by relapses.

_Vin._ Trust me once more.

_Val._ Well, you may try your experiments upon me.

_Vin._ Just as I shut the door upon you, the woman Ranger expected came up stairs; but finding another woman in discourse with him, went down again; I suppose, as jealous of him, as you of Christina.

_Val._ How does it appear she came to Ranger?

_Vin._ Thus: Dapperwit came up after he had brought her, just then, in a chair from St. James's by Ranger's appointment; and it is certain your Christina came to you.

_Val._ How can that be? for she knew not I was in the kingdom.

_Vin._ My man confesses, when I sent him to inquire of her woman about her lady's being here in the Park last night, he told her you were come; and she, it seems, told her mistress.

_Val._ [_Aside._] That might be.--[_Aloud._] But did not Christina confess, Ranger was in her lodging last night?

_Vin._ By intrusion, which she had more particularly informed me of, if her apprehensions of your danger had not posted me after you; she not having yet (as I suppose) heard of Clerimont's recovery. I left her, poor creature! at home, distracted with a thousand fears for your life and love.

_Val._ Her love, I'm sure, has cost me more fears than my life; yet that little danger is not past (as you think) till the great one be over.

_Vin._ Open but your eyes, and the fantastic goblin's vanished, and all your idle fears will turn to shame; for jealousy is the basest cowardice.

_Val._ I had rather, indeed, blush for myself than her.

_Vin._ I'm sure you will have more reason. But is not that Ranger there?

_Enter_ RANGER, _followed by_ CHRISTINA _and_ ISABEL; _after them_ LYDIA _and_ LEONORE.

_Val._ I think it is.

_Vin._ I suppose his friend Dapperwit is not far off; I will examine them both before you, and not leave you so much as the shadow of doubt: Ranger's astonishment at my lodging confessed his mistake.

_Val._ His astonishment might proceed from Christina's unexpected strangeness to him.

_Vin._ He shall satisfy you now himself to the contrary, I warrant you; have but patience.

_Val._ I had rather, indeed, he should satisfy my doubts than my revenge; therefore I can have patience.

_Vin._ But what women are those that follow him?

_Val._ Stay a little--

_Ran._ Lydia, Lydia--poor Lydia!

_Lyd._ If she be my rival, 'tis some comfort yet to see her follow him, rather than he her. [_To_ LEONORE.

_Leo._ But if you follow them a little longer, for your comfort you shall see them go hand in hand.

_Chris._ Sir! sir!--[_To_ RANGER.

_Leo._ She calls to him already.

_Lyd._ But he does not hear, you see; let us go a little nearer.

_Vin._ Sure it is Ranger!

_Val._ As sure as the woman that follows him closest is Christina.

_Vin._ For shame! talk not of Christina; I left her just now at home, surrounded with so many fears and griefs she could not stir.

_Val._ She is come, it may be, to divert them here in the Park; I'm sure 'tis she.

_Vin._ When the moon, at this instant, scarce affords light enough to distinguish a man from a tree, how can you know her?

_Val._ How can you know Ranger, then?

_Vin._ I heard him speak.

_Val._ So you may her too, I'll secure you, if you will draw but a little nearer; she came, doubtless, to no other end but to speak with him: observe--

_Chris._ [_To_ RANGER.] Sir, I have followed you hitherto; but now, I must desire you to follow me out of the company; for I would not be overheard nor disturbed.

_Ran._ Ha! is not this Christina's voice? it is, I am sure; I cannot be deceived now.--Dear madam--

_Vin._ It is she indeed. [_Apart to_ VALENTINE.

_Val._ Is it so?

_Chris._ Come, sir--[_To_ RANGER.

_Val._ Nay, I'll follow you too, though not invited. [_Aside._

_Lyd._ I must not, cannot stay behind. [_Aside._ [_They all go off together hastily._

_Re-enter_ CHRISTINA, ISABEL, _and_ VALENTINE _on the other side._

_Chris._ Come along, sir.

_Val._ So! I must stick to her when all is done; her new servant has lost her in the crowd, she has gone too fast for him; so much my revenge is swifter than his love. Now shall I not only have the deserted lover's revenge, of disappointing her of her new man, but an opportunity infallibly at once to discover her falseness, and confront her impudence. [_Aside._

_Chris._ Pray come along, sir, I am in haste.

_Val._ So eager, indeed!--I wish that cloud may yet withhold the moon, that this false woman may not discover me before I do her. [_Aside._

_Chris._ Here no one can hear us, and I'm sure we cannot see one another.

_Val._ 'Sdeath! what have I giddily run myself upon? 'Tis rather a trial of myself than her;--I cannot undergo it. [_Aside._

_Chris._ Come nearer, sir.

_Val._ Hell and vengeance! I cannot suffer it--I cannot. [_Aside._

_Chris._ Come, come; yet nearer,--pray come nearer.

_Val._ It is impossible! I cannot hold! I must discover myself, rather than her infamy. [_Aside._

_Chris._ You are conscious, it seems, of the wrong you have done me, and are ashamed, though in the dark. [_Speaks, walking slowly._

_Val._ How's this! [_Aside._

_Chris._ I'm glad to find it so; for all my business with you is, to show you your late mistakes, and force a confession from you of those unmannerly injuries you have done me.

_Val._ What! I think she's honest; or does she know me?--sure she cannot. [_Aside._

_Chris._ First, your intrusion, last night, into my lodging; which, I suppose, has begot your other gross mistakes.

_Val._ No, she takes me for Ranger, I see again. [_Aside._

_Chris._ You are to know, then, (since needs you must,) it was not me you followed last night to my lodging from the Park, but some kinswoman of yours, it seems, whose fear of being discovered by you prevailed with me to personate her, while she withdrew, our habits and our statures being much alike; which I did with as much difficulty, as she used importunity to make me; and all this my Lady Flippant can witness, who was then with your cousin.

_Val._ I am glad to hear this. [_Aside._

_Chris._ Now, what your claim to me, at Mr. Vincent's lodging, meant; the letter and promises you unworthily, or erroneously, laid to my charge, you must explain to me and others, or--

_Val._ How's this! I hope I shall discover no guilt but my own:--she would not speak in threats to a lover. [_Aside._

_Chris._ Was it because you found me in Mr. Vincent's lodgings you took a liberty to use me like one of your common visitants? but know, I came no more to Mr. Vincent than you. Yet, I confess, my visit was intended to a man--a brave man, till you made him use a woman ill; worthy the love of a princess, till you made him censure mine; good as angels, till you made him unjust:--why, in the name of honour, would you do't?

_Val._ How happily am I disappointed!--poor injured Christina! [_Aside._

_Chris._ He would have sought me out first, if you had not made him fly from me. Our mutual love, confirmed by a contract, made our hearts inseparable, till you rudely, if not maliciously, thrust in upon us, and broke the close and happy knot: I had lost him before for a month, now for ever. [_Weeps._

_Val._ My joy and pity makes me as mute as my shame; yet I must discover myself. [_Aside._

_Chris._ Your silence is a confession of your guilt.

_Val._ I own it. [_Aside._

_Chris._ But that will not serve my turn; for straight you must go clear yourself and me to him you have injured in me! if he has not made too much haste from me to be found again. You must, I say; for he is a man that will have satisfaction; and in satisfying him, you do me.

_Val._ Then he is satisfied.

_Chris._ How! is it you? then I am not satisfied.

_Val._ Will you be worse than your word?

_Chris._ I gave it not to you.

_Val._ Come, dear Christina, the jealous, like the drunkard, has his punishment with his offence.

_Re-enter_ VINCENT.

_Vin._ Valentine! Mr. Valentine!

_Val._ Vincent!--

_Vin._ Where have you been all this while? [VALENTINE _holds_ CHRISTINA _by the hand; who seems to struggle to get from him._

_Val._ Here with my injured Christina.

_Vin._ She's behind with Ranger, who is forced to speak all the tender things himself; for she affords him not a word.

_Val._ Pish! pish! Vincent; who is blind now? who deceived now?

_Vin._ You are; for I'm sure Christina is with him. Come back and see. [_They go out on one side, and return on the other._

_Re-enter_ LYDIA _and_ LEONORE, _followed by_ RANGER.

_Ran._ [_To_ LYDIA.] Still mocked! still abused! did you not bid me follow you where we might not be disturbed or overheard?--and now not allow me a word!

_Vin._ Did you hear him? [_Apart to_ VALENTINE.

_Val._ Yes, yes, peace. [_Apart to_ VINCENT.

_Ran._ Disowning your letter and me at Mr. Vincent's lodging, declaring you came to meet another there, and not me, with a great deal of such affronting unkindness, might be reasonable enough, because you would not entrust Vincent with our love; but now, when nobody sees us nor hears us, why this unseasonable shyness?

_Lyd._ It seems she did not expect him there, but had appointed to meet another:--I wish it were so. [_Aside._

_Ran._ I have not patience!--do you design thus to revenge my intrusion into your lodging last night? sure if you had then been displeased with my company, you would not have invited yourself to't again by a letter? or is this a punishment for bringing you to a house so near your own, where, it seems, you were known too? I do confess it was a fault; but make me suffer any penance but your silence, because it is the certain mark of a mistress's lasting displeasure.

_Lyd._ My--is not yet come. [_Aside._

_Ran._ Not yet a word! you did not use me so unkindly last night, when you chid me out of your house, and with indignation bid me begone. Now, you bid me follow you, and yet will have nothing to say to me; and I am more deceived this day and night than I was last night;--when, I must confess, I followed you for another--

_Lyd._ I'm glad to hear that. [_Aside._

_Ran._ One that would have used me better; whose love I have ungratefully abused for yours; yet from no other reason but my natural inconstancy.--[_Aside._] Poor Lydia! Lydia!

_Lyd._ He muttered my name sure; and with a sigh. [_Aside._

_Ran._ But as last night by following (as I thought) her, I found you, so this night, by following you in vain, I do resolve, if I can find her again, to keep her for ever.

_Lyd._ Now I am obliged, and brought into debt, by his inconstancy:--faith, now cannot I hold out any longer; I must discover myself. [_Aside._

_Ran._ But, madam, because I intend to see you no more, I'll take my leave of you for good and all; since you will not speak, I'll try if you will squeak. [_Goes to throw her down, she squeaks._

_Lyd._ Mr. Ranger! Mr. Ranger!

_Vin._ Fy! Fy! you need not ravish Christina sure, that loves you so.

_Ran._ Is it she! Lydia all this while!--how am I gulled! and Vincent in the plot too! [_Aside._

_Lyd._ Now, false Ranger!

_Ran._ Now, false Christina too!--you thought I did not know you now, because I offered you such an unusual civility.

_Lyd._ You knew me!--I warrant you knew, too, that I was the Christina you followed out of the Park last night! that I was the Christina that writ the letter too!

_Ran._ Certainly, therefore I would have taken my revenge, you see, for your tricks.

_Val._ Is not this the same woman that took refuge in your house last night, madam? [_To_ CHRISTINA.

_Chris._ The very same.

_Val._ What, Mr. Ranger, we have chopped, and changed, and hid our Christinas so long and often, that at last we have drawn each of us our own?

_Ran._ Mr. Valentine in England!--the truth on't is, you have juggled together, and drawn without my knowledge; but since she will have it so, she shall wear me for good and all now. [_Goes to take her by the hand._

_Lyd._ Come not near me.

_Ran._ Nay, you need not be afraid I would ravish you, now I know you.

_Lyd._ And yet, Leonore, I think 'tis but justice to pardon the fault I made him commit? [_Apart to_ LEONORE, RANGER _listens._

_Ran._ You consider it right, cousin; for indeed you are but merciful to yourself in it.

_Lyd._ Yet, if I would be rigorous, though I made a blot, your oversight has lost the game.

_Ran._ But 'twas rash woman's play, cousin, and ought not to be played again, let me tell you.

_Enter_ DAPPERWIT.

_Dap._ Who's there? who's there?

_Ran._ Dapperwit.

_Dap._ Mr. Ranger, I am glad I have met with you, for I have left my bride just now in the house at Mulberry-garden, to come and pick up some of my friends in the Park here to sup with us.

_Ran._ Your bride! are you married then? where is your bride?

_Dap._ Here at Mulberry-garden, I say, where you, these ladies and gentlemen, shall all be welcome, if you will afford me the honour of your company.

_Ran._ With all our hearts:--but who have you married? Lucy?

_Dap._ What! do you think I would marry a wench? I have married an heiress worth thirty thousand pounds, let me perish!

_Vin._ An heiress worth thirty thousand pounds!

_Dap._ Mr. Vincent, your servant; you here too?

_Ran._ Nay, we are more of your acquaintance here, I think.--Go, we'll follow you, for if you have not dismissed your parson, perhaps we may make him more work. [_Exeunt._