Scene + 

II + 

Lady Wishfort’s closet. + 

Mrs. Marwood alone. + 

Mrs. Marwood + 

Indeed, Mrs. Engine, is it thus with you? Are you become a go-between of this importance? Yes, I shall watch you. Why this wench is the passe-partout, a very master-key to everybody’s strong box. My friend Fainall, have you carried it so swimmingly? I thought there was something in it; but it seems it’s over with you. Your loathing is not from a want of appetite then, but from a surfeit. Else you could never be so cool to fall from a principal to be an assistant, to procure for him! A pattern of generosity, that I confess. Well, Mr. Fainall, you have met with your match.⁠—O man, man! Woman, woman! The devil’s an ass: if I were a painter, I would draw him like an idiot, a driveller with a bib and bells. Man should have his head and horns, and woman the rest of him. Poor, simple fiend!⁠—“Madam Marwood has a month’s mind, but he can’t abide her.”⁠—’Twere better for him you had not been his confessor in that affair, without you could have kept his counsel closer. I shall not prove another pattern of generosity; he has not obliged me to that with those excesses of himself, and now I’ll have none of him. Here comes the good lady, panting ripe, with a heart full of hope, and a head full of care, like any chemist upon the day of projection. + 

To her Lady Wishfort. + 

Lady Wishfort + 

O dear Marwood, what shall I say for this rude forgetfulness? But my dear friend is all goodness. + 

Mrs. Marwood + 

No apologies, dear madam. I have been very well entertained. + 

Lady Wishfort + 

As I’m a person, I am in a very chaos to think I should so forget myself. But I have such an olio of affairs, really I know not what to do.⁠—Foible!⁠—Calls. I expect my nephew Sir Wilfull ev’ry moment too.⁠—Why, Foible!⁠—He means to travel for improvement. + 

Mrs. Marwood + 

Methinks Sir Wilfull should rather think of marrying than travelling at his years. I hear he is turned of forty. + 

Lady Wishfort + 

Oh, he’s in less danger of being spoiled by his travels. I am against my nephew’s marrying too young. It will be time enough when he comes back, and has acquired discretion to choose for himself. + 

Mrs. Marwood + 

Methinks Mrs. Millamant and he would make a very fit match. He may travel afterwards. ’Tis a thing very usual with young gentlemen. + 

Lady Wishfort + 

I promise you I have thought on’t⁠—and since ’tis your judgment, I’ll think on’t again. I assure you I will; I value your judgment extremely. On my word, I’ll propose it. + 

Enter Foible. + 

Lady Wishfort + 

Come, come, Foible⁠—I had forgot my nephew will be here before dinner⁠—I must make haste. + 

Foible + 

Mr. Witwoud and Mr. Petulant are come to dine with your ladyship. + 

Lady Wishfort + 

Oh dear, I can’t appear till I am dressed. Dear Marwood, shall I be free with you again, and beg you to entertain ’em? I’ll make all imaginable haste. Dear friend, excuse me. + 