Scene IX.

Love for Love

by William Congreve

MRS FORESIGHT and MRS FRAIL.

MRS FRAIL
What have you to do to watch me? 'S'life I'll do
what I please.

MRS FORESIGHT
You will?

MRS FRAIL
Yes, marry will I. A great piece of business to
go to Covent Garden Square in a hackney coach, and take a turn with
one's friend.

MRS FORESIGHT
Nay, two or three turns, I'll take my oath.

MRS FRAIL
Well, what if I took twenty--I warrant if you had
been there, it had been only innocent recreation. Lord, where's the
comfort of this life if we can't have the happiness of conversing
where we like?

MRS FORESIGHT
But can't you converse at home? I own it, I
think there's no happiness like conversing with an agreeable man; I
don't quarrel at that, nor I don't think but your conversation was
very innocent; but the place is public, and to be seen with a man in
a hackney coach is scandalous. What if anybody else should have seen
you alight, as I did? How can anybody be happy while they're in
perpetual fear of being seen and censured? Besides, it would not
only reflect upon you, sister, but me.

MRS FRAIL
Pooh, here's a clutter: why should it reflect
upon you? I don't doubt but you have thought yourself happy in a
hackney coach before now. If I had gone to Knight's Bridge, or to
Chelsea, or to Spring Garden, or Barn Elms with a man alone,
something might have been said.

MRS FORESIGHT
Why, was I ever in any of those places? What
do you mean, sister?

MRS FRAIL
Was I? What do you mean?

MRS FORESIGHT
You have been at a worse place.

MRS FRAIL
I at a worse place, and with a man!

MRS FORESIGHT
I suppose you would not go alone to the
World's End.

MRS FRAIL
The World's End! What, do you mean to banter
me?

MRS FORESIGHT
Poor innocent! You don't know that there's a
place called the World's End? I'll swear you can keep your
countenance purely: you'd make an admirable player.

MRS FRAIL
I'll swear you have a great deal of confidence,
and in my mind too much for the stage.

MRS FORESIGHT
Very well, that will appear who has most; you
never were at the World's End?

MRS FRAIL
No.

MRS FORESIGHT
You deny it positively to my face?

MRS FRAIL
Your face, what's your face?

MRS FORESIGHT
No matter for that, it's as good a face as
yours.

MRS FRAIL
Not by a dozen years' wearing. But I do deny it
positively to your face, then.

MRS FORESIGHT
I'll allow you now to find fault with my face;
for I'll swear your impudence has put me out of countenance. But
look you here now, where did you lose this gold bodkin? Oh, sister,
sister!

MRS FRAIL
My bodkin!

MRS FORESIGHT
Nay, 'tis yours, look at it.

MRS FRAIL
Well, if you go to that, where did you find this
bodkin? Oh, sister, sister! Sister every way.

MRS FORESIGHT
Oh, devil on't, that I could not discover her
without betraying myself. [Aside.]

MRS FRAIL
I have heard gentlemen say, sister, that one
should take great care, when one makes a thrust in fencing, not to
lie open oneself.

MRS FORESIGHT
It's very true, sister. Well, since all's
out, and as you say, since we are both wounded, let us do what is
often done in duels, take care of one another, and grow better
friends than before.

MRS FRAIL
With all my heart: ours are but slight flesh
wounds, and if we keep 'em from air, not at all dangerous. Well,
give me your hand in token of sisterly secrecy and affection.

MRS FORESIGHT
Here 'tis, with all my heart.

MRS FRAIL
Well, as an earnest of friendship and confidence,
I'll acquaint you with a design that I have. To tell truth, and
speak openly one to another, I'm afraid the world have observed us
more than we have observed one another. You have a rich husband, and
are provided for. I am at a loss, and have no great stock either of
fortune or reputation, and therefore must look sharply about me. Sir
Sampson has a son that is expected to-night, and by the account I
have heard of his education, can be no conjurer. The estate you know
is to be made over to him. Now if I could wheedle him, sister, ha?
You understand me?

MRS FORESIGHT
I do, and will help you to the utmost of my
power. And I can tell you one thing that falls out luckily enough;
my awkward daughter-in-law, who you know is designed to be his wife,
is grown fond of Mr Tattle; now if we can improve that, and make her
have an aversion for the booby, it may go a great way towards his
liking you. Here they come together; and let us contrive some way or
other to leave 'em together.