The Conscious Lovers

you’ll stay a bit, I’ll goa and ask the gentlewoman that’s with her. Mr. Sealand Why, sirrah, though you are a country boy, you can see, can’t you? You know whether she is at home, when you see her, don’t you? Boy Nay, nay, I’m not such a country lad neither, master, to think she’s at home because I see her. I have been in town but a month, and I lost one place already for believing my own eyes. Mr. Sealand Why, sirrah! have you learnt to lie already? Boy Ah, master! things that are lies in the country are not lies at London. I begin to know my business a little better than so⁠—But an you please to walk in, I’ll call a gentlewoman to you that can tell you for certain⁠—she can make bold to ask my lady herself. Mr. Sealand Oh! then, she is within, I find, though you dare not say so. Boy Nay, nay! that’s neither here nor there: what’s matter whether she is within or no, if she has not a mind to see anybody? Mr. Sealand I can’t tell, sirrah, whether you are arch or simple; but, however, get me a direct answer, and here’s a shilling for you. Boy Will you please to walk in; I’ll see what I can do for you. Mr. Sealand I see you will be fit for your business in time, child; but I expect to meet with nothing but extraordinaries in such a house. Boy Such a house! Sir, you han’t seen it yet. Pray walk in. Mr. Sealand Sir, I’ll wait upon you. Exeunt.

Scene III. Indiana’s House.

	Enter Isabella.
Isabella	What anxiety do I feel for this poor creature! What will be the end of her? Such a languishing unreserved passion for a man that at last must certainly leave or ruin her! and perhaps both! Then the aggravation of the distress is, that she does not believe he will⁠—not but, I must own, if they are both what they would seem, they are made for one another, as much as Adam and Eve were, for there is no other of their kind but themselves.
	Enter Boy.
	So, Daniel! what news with you?
Boy	Madam, there’s a gentleman below would speak with my lady.
Isabella	Sirrah! don’t you know Mr. Bevil yet?
Boy	Madam, ’tis not the gentleman who comes every day, and asks for you, and won’t go in till he knows whether you are with her or no.
Isabella	Ha! that’s a particular I did not know before. Well! be it who it will, let him come up to me.
	Exit Boy; and re-enters with Mr. Sealand; Isabella looks amazed.
Mr. Sealand	Madam, I can’t blame your being a little surprised to see a perfect stranger make a visit, and⁠—
Isabella	I am indeed surprised!⁠—I see he does not know me. Aside.
Mr. Sealand	You are very prettily lodged here, madam; in troth you seem to have everything in plenty⁠—A thousand a year, I warrant you, upon this pretty nest of rooms, and the dainty one within them. Aside, and looking about.
Isabella	Apart. Twenty years, it seems, have less effect in the alteration of a man of thirty than of a girl of fourteen⁠—he’s almost still the same; but alas! I find, by other men, as well as himself, I am not what I was. As soon as he spoke, I was convinced ’twas he; how shall I contain my surprise and satisfaction! He must not know me yet.
Mr. Sealand	Madam, I hope I don’t give you any disturbance; but there is a young lady here with whom I have a particular business to discourse, and I hope she will admit me to that favour.
Isabella	Why, sir, have you had any notice concerning her? I wonder who could give it you.
Mr. Sealand	That, madam, is fit only to be communicated to herself.
Isabella	Well, sir! you shall see her.⁠—Aside. I find he knows nothing yet, nor shall from me. I am resolved I will observe this interlude, this sport of nature and of fortune.⁠—You shall see her presently, sir; for now I am as a mother, and will trust her with you.
	Exit.
Mr. Sealand	As a mother! right; that’s the old phrase for one of those commode ladies, who lend out beauty for hire to young gentlemen that have pressing occasions. But here comes the precious lady herself. In troth a very sightly woman⁠—
	Enter Indiana.
Indiana	I am told, sir, you have some affair that requires your speaking with me.
Mr. Sealand	Yes, madam, there came to my hands a bill drawn by Mr. Bevil, which is payable tomorrow; and he, in the intercourse of business, sent it to me, who have cash of his, and desired me to send a servant with it; but I have made bold to bring you the money myself.
Indiana	Sir! was that necessary?
Mr. Sealand	No, madam; but to be free with you, the fame of your beauty, and the regard which Mr. Bevil is a little too well known to have for you, excited my curiosity.
Indiana	Too well known to have for me! Your sober appearance, sir, which my friend described, made me expect no rudeness, or absurdity, at least⁠—Who’s there?⁠—Sir, if you pay the money to a servant, ’twill be as well.
Mr. Sealand	Pray, madam, be not offended; I came hither on an innocent, nay, a virtuous design; and, if you will have patience to hear me, it may be as useful to you, as you are in a friendship with Mr. Bevil, as to my only daughter, whom I was this day disposing of.
Indiana	You make me hope, sir, I have mistaken you. I am composed again; be free, say on⁠—Aside.⁠—what I am afraid to hear.
Mr. Sealand	I feared, indeed, an unwarranted passion here, but I did not think it was in abuse of so worthy an object, so accomplished a lady as your sense and mien bespeak; but the youth of our age care not what merit and virtue they