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of her is her telling me of the many temptations she has resisted。
MEL。 Nay； then you have her； for a woman's bragging to a man that
she has overcome temptations is an argument that they were weakly
offered； and a challenge to him to engage her more irresistibly。 'Tis only an
enhancing the price of the commodity； by telling you how many customers
have underbid her。
CARE。 Nay； I don't despair。 But still she has a grudging to you。 I
talked to her t'other night at my Lord Froth's masquerade； when I'm
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satisfied she knew me； and I had no reason to complain of my reception；
but I find women are not the same bare…faced and in masks； and a vizor
disguises their inclinations as much as their faces。
MEL。 'Tis a mistake； for women may most properly be said to be
unmasked when they wear vizors； for that secures them from blushing and
being out of countenance； and next to being in the dark； or alone； they are
most truly themselves in a vizor mask。 Here they come： I'll leave you。
Ply her close； and by and by clap a BILLET DOUX into her hand； for a
woman never thinks a man truly in love with her； till he has been fool
enough to think of her out of her sight； and to lose so much time as to
write to her。
SCENE VI。
CARELESS； SIR PAUL； and LADY PLYANT。
SIR PAUL。 Shan't we disturb your meditation； Mr。 Careless？ You
would be private？
CARE。 You bring that along with you； Sir Paul； that shall be always
welcome to my privacy。
SIR PAUL。 O sweet sir； you load your humble servants； both me and
my wife； with continual favours。
LADY PLYANT。 Sir Paul； what a phrase was there？ You will be
making answers； and taking that upon you which ought to lie upon me。
That you should have so little breeding to think Mr。 Careless did not apply
himself to me。 Pray what have you to entertain anybody's privacy？ I
swear and declare in the face of the world I'm ready to blush for your
ignorance。
SIR PAUL。 I acquiesce； my lady； but don't snub so loud。 ＇Aside to
her。＇
LADY PLYANT。 Mr。 Careless； if a person that is wholly illiterate
might be supposed to be capable of being qualified to make a suitable
return to those obligations； which you are pleased to confer upon one that
is wholly incapable of being qualified in all those circumstances； I'm sure I
should rather attempt it than anything in the world； ＇Courtesies＇ for I'm
sure there's nothing in the world that I would rather。 ＇Courtesies＇ But I
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THE DOUBLE…DEALERA COMEDY
know Mr。 Careless is so great a critic； and so fine a gentleman； that it is
impossible for me …
CARE。 O heavens！ madam； you confound me。
SIR PAUL。 Gads…bud； she's a fine person。
LADY PLYANT。 O Lord！ sir； pardon me； we women have not those
advantages； I know my imperfections。 But at the same time you must
give me leave to declare in the face of the world that nobody is more
sensible of favours and things； for with the reserve of my honour I assure
you； Mr。 Careless； I don't know anything in the world I would refuse to a
person so meritorious。 You'll pardon my want of expression。
CARE。 O； your ladyship is abounding in all excellence； particularly
that of phrase。
LADY PLYANT。 You are so obliging； sir。
CARE。 Your ladyship is so charming。
SIR PAUL。 So； now； now； now； my lady。
LADY PLYANT。 So well bred。
CARE。 So surprising。
LADY PLYANT。 So well dressed； so BONNE MINE； so eloquent；
so unaffected； so easy； so free； so particular； so agreeable。
SIR PAUL。 Ay； so； so； there。
CARE。 O Lord； I beseech you madam； don't。
LADY PLYANT。 So gay； so graceful； so good teeth； so fine shape； so
fine limbs； so fine linen； and I don't doubt but you have a very good skin；
sir；
CARE。 For heaven's sake； madam； I'm quite out of countenance。
SIR PAUL。 And my lady's quite out of breath； or else you should
hearGads…bud； you may talk of my Lady Froth。
CARE。 O fie； fie； not to be named of a day。 My Lady Froth is very
well in her accomplishments。 But it is when my Lady Plyant is not
thought of。 If that can ever be。
LADY PLYANT。 O； you overcome me。 That is so excessive。
SIR PAUL。 Nay； I swear and vow that was pretty。
CARE。 O； Sir Paul； you are the happiest man alive。 Such a lady！
that is the envy of her own sex； and the admiration of ours。
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SIR PAUL。 Your humble servant。 I am； I thank heaven； in a fine
way of living； as I may say； peacefully and happily； and I think need not
envy any of my neighbours； blessed be providence。 Ay； truly； Mr。
Careless； my lady is a great blessing； a fine； discreet； well… spoken woman
as you shall see； if it becomes me to say so； and we live very comfortably
together； she is a little hasty sometimes； and so am I； but mine's soon over；
and then I'm so sorry。O Mr。 Careless； if it were not for one thing …
SCENE VII。
CARELESS； SIR PAUL； LADY PLYANT； BOY with a letter。
LADY PLYANT。 How often have you been told of that； you
jackanapes？
SIR PAUL。 Gad so； gad's…bud。 Tim； carry it to my lady； you should
have carried it to my lady first。
BOY。 'Tis directed to your worship。
SIR PAUL。 Well； well； my lady reads all letters first。 Child； do so
no more； d'ye hear； Tim。
BOY。 No； and please you。
SCENE VIII。
CARELESS； SIR PAUL； LADY PLYANT。
SIR PAUL。 A humour of my wife's： you know women have little
fancies。 But as I was telling you； Mr。 Careless； if it were not for one
thing； I should think myself the happiest man in the world； indeed that
touche