'Your slut,' said she; 'your wench, your shepherdess.'
'By all that's sacred!' cries James, 'I do not know who the shepherdess was.'
'By all that's sacred then,' says she, 'she told me so, and I am convinced she told me truth. But I do not wonder at you denying it; for that is equally consistent with honour as to behave in such a manner to a wife who is a gentlewoman. I hope you will allow me that, sir. Because I had not quite so great a fortune I hope you do not think me beneath you, or that you did me any honour in marrying me. I am come of as good a family as yourself, Mr. James; and if my brother knew how you treated me he would not bear it.'
'Do you threaten me with your brother, madam?' said James.
'I will not be ill-treated, sir,' answered she.
'Nor I neither, madam,' cries he; 'and therefore I desire you will prepare to go into the country to-morrow morning.'
'Indeed, sir,' said she, 'I shall not.'
'By heavens! madam, but you shall,' answered he: 'I will have my coach at the door to-morrow morning by seven; and you shall either go into it or be carried.'
'I hope, sir, you are not in earnest,' said she.
'Indeed, madam,' answered he, 'but I am in earnest, and resolved; and into the country you go to-morrow.'
'But why into the country,' said she, 'Mr. James? Why will you be so barbarous to deny me the pleasures of the town?'
'Because you interfere with my pleasures,' cried James, 'which I have told you long ago I would not submit to. It is enough for fond couples to have these scenes together. I thought we had been upon a better footing, and had cared too little for each other to become mutual plagues. I thought you had been satisfied with the full liberty of doing what you pleased.'
'So I am; I defy you to say I have ever given you any uneasiness.'
'How!' cries he; 'have you not just now upbraided me with what you heard at the masquerade?'
'I own,' said she, 'to be insulted by such a creature to my face stung me to the soul. I must have had no spirit to bear the insults of such an animal. Nay, she spoke of you with equal contempt. Whoever she is, I promise you Mr. Booth is her favourite. But, indeed, she is unworthy any one's regard, for she behaved like an arrant dragoon.'
'Hang her!' cries the colonel, 'I know nothing of her.'
'Well, but, Mr. James, I am sure you will not send me into the country. Indeed I will not go into the country.'
'If you was a reasonable woman,' cries James, 'perhaps I should not desire it. And on one consideration--'
'Come, name your consideration,' said she.
'Let me first experience your discernment,' said he. 'Come, Molly, let me try your judgment. Can you guess at any woman of your acquaintance that I like?'
'Sure,' said she, 'it cannot be Mrs. Booth!'
'And why not Mrs. Booth?' answered he. 'Is she not the finest woman in the world?'
'Very far from it,' replied she, 'in my opinion.'
'Pray what faults,' said he, 'can you find in her?'
