Enter MRS. SIMPSON, L.

orning, my dear. Why, bless me, what ails you? m out of spirits.

S. No-not I. It was late when you came home at?

B. The concert was longer than usual.

S. Ah me! While you and Bromley were amuourselves at a concert, I was moping alone in the y corner.

· B. And Mr. Simpson? was not he there to keep mpany?

. S. No; he was busy all the evening in his countuse-Aside,] as he said.

s. B. Well, this evening will make amends to you e last. I expect an old friend to dinner; you will with us, and afterwards we all go to the opera. It your good little man we are indebted for this treat. rs. S. Ah! my good little man is very obliging.

rs. B. Now, really, you ought to be more thankful m, considering that he himself is not fond of public

sements.

Irs. S. So he says, and I suppose I must believe him et he often goes out, very often.

Irs. B. Do you know, my love, I sometimes think you jealous?

Mrs. S. No, 1 am not, nor do I believe I have any se to be so; yet I wish my husband were less fond of counting-house, and more assiduous in his attentions me-in short, that he would follow the example of

urs.

Mrs. B. Consider that men's characters differ; that r. Bromley is, by some years, a younger man than— Mrs. S. I am aware of all you would say, butMrs. B. But! Surely you delight in tormenting your elf.

Mrs. S. I am not jealous; but when I look about mong our neighbours, men who all adore their wivesAh! my dear! Some through vanity, others from mere nconstancy of character.-Why, there's our next-door neighbour, Mr. Honeymoon, who loves his wife to distraction, yet was not he seen the other day in a tilbury

B

with an opera-dancer? And as for Mr. Ledger, over the way, who doats upon Mrs. L.-if what the world says be

true

Mrs. B. But be assured that Mr. Simpson is none of these.

Mrs. S. I hope so; but those men, those men ! there's no knowing them, believe me.

Enter a SERVANT, L.

Servant. A French lady, calling herself Madam La Trappe, desires to speak with you, ma'am.

Mrs. B. With me? I know no such person.

quest her to walk in.

But re

Servant ushers in MADAME LA TRAPPE—a small parcel in her hand.

Mad. L. Mi ledi, I have the honneur to salute you. I will to speak wid my ledi Bromley.

Mrs. B. If you mean Mistress Bromley, madam, I am the person.

Mad. L. Mistress, I am your servant-Madame La Trappe, from Paris. [Looking cautiously about.] I sell de littel contraband-I smuggle de littel marchandize from Paris-I am recommend to you from mi ledi Ledger, over de vay-I have de advantage to sell to her many littel ting vat I smuggle, and I sall be proud to take the advantage of you.

Mrs. B. Pray, madam, don't give yourself the trouble. Mad. L. Trouble! Oh, Mon Dieu! Mon Dieu! is no trouble for so amiable ledi-[Turning and curtseying to Mrs. Simpson,] for so amiable two ledi-and some lace which was make for Madam La Duchesse ;-Mon Dieu! I not remember myself-here is forty yard, I sell for two guinea one yard.

Mrs. S. Two guineas a yard! that's extremely dear. Mad. L. Oh, madame!-mais madame is so amiable, I sell it for one guinea.

Mrs. B. Really, ma'am, we cannot buy anything to-day. Mad. L. Mais, madame, c'est egal, you sall not buy, wut I have much pleasure to make you see.-Here is do veil, it is pretty as one angel. Ha ha ha! ha! I tell you-it was a sentiment one great mi lord buy for two

red guinea for Mam'selle Pirouette, of de Grana a.—Ha! ha! ha! Dat poor mi lord! he gave it her y; to-morrow she sell it to me, and yesterday I sall to everybody else.

rs. B. Once more, ma'am, I must beg you will give self no further trouble.

ad. L. [ While making up her parcels.] Dat is vell, ame; I come to-day, because I have to receive fifty nd in de bureau-de counting-house down de stair. Irs. S. To receive fifty pounds!

Iad. L. Oui, madame, one littel acceptation of Mon r Simonison; I receive it of one very pretty ledi, utiful, who buy of me some lace-Madame-Madame forget her name, but she live in Harley-street.

Mrs. S. A lady in Harley-street paying for lace with acceptance of my husband's!

Mad. L. You know de gentleman vat live in de count g-house?

Mrs. B. Yes, we

Mrs. S. [Interrupting her.] No, ma'am, no; do you?— et her speak, my dear, let her speak.

Mad. L. I know him-dat is, I only know him from to

ee him.

Mrs. S. Aye, you saw him at the lady's house?

Mad. L. Oh, no, madame, I will not say so, because t will not be true; beside, if I did see him, I am too disreet-Oh, Mon Dieu! Mon Dieu! But how I know him, it is so-Ha! ha! ha! ha!-It make me laugh when I tink-Two time I see him wait at de door, he walk up and he walk down, backward and forward; and he stamp, and he swear, and he look in great rage, like he was jealous, and he look at de window, and de door-you understand

Mrs. S. Go on, ma'am: pray go on.

Mad, L. De first time I make no attention to him; but when I see him vash two time before de door, I tinkAh! ha! Monsieur! Yet you know, madame, dat vas only suspect; but when I come to-day to touch my fifty pound-Ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! it is droll, I see de genhemen vat I sec valk about before de house of de pretty ledi.

Mrs. S. Are you certain the gentleman you have just now seen is the same ?

Mad. L. Oh! madame, vid his littel sanctify lookHa ha

ha!

Mrs. B. And what does it signify whether it be or not? Mad. L. Mi ledi, I beg pardon to derange you; when you sall want de lace, de glove, de rouge, &c., I sall sell you for very littel gain, and you sall not forget Madame La Trappe. [Curtseys.] Mi ledi, I have de honneur to salute you, I am your very respectable servant, indeed.— [Mrs. Bromley follows her to the door.] Mon Dieu! Mon Dieu! Mon Dieu! madame, do not give yourself de pain. I sall call again last veek vid some beautiful dress, as vat you see-and I can tell you more vat please you about the other gentilhomme, in the bureau down stairs, and perhaps comme j'espere-anoder littel acceptation for fifty pound de ledi will give me for what she is going to buy wid it-sans façon, sans adieu-jusqu'au revoir. [Exit, L.

Mrs. S. Well, my dear, what say you to this? Mrs. B. Oh! the idle talk of a chattering French dealer in smuggled goods.

Mrs. S. Idle talk! Then how comes it that this pretty lady pays for lace with my husband's acceptance?

Mrs. B. The acceptances of the house are negotiated like bank-notes, and, passing from hand to hand, one may have fallen into the possession of the lady in Harley street. Upon the same grounds I might as reasonably suspect Bromley.

Mrs. S. Bromley, indeed! no, no.—] -Besides, it was not Bromley she recognised in the counting-house; Bromley wasn't "de littel sober gentilhomme" she twice saw watching the house in a jealous fury; and isn't the gentleman "with a littel sanctify look," as she calls it,—the exact description of my husband? She has said quite enough to satisfy me.

Mrs. B. Be calm, my dear; all this will be satisfactorily explained to you, and you will be the first to laugh at your suspicions. For the present, keep what you have heard a secret from every body, and above all from your husband.-Aside.] The hypocritical villain!

Mrs. S. Well, I'll endeavour, by concealing what I know, to learn more. Nor do you, on any account, men

tion it to Bromley.

Irs. B. Be assured, I will not. Irs. S. The monster! if he be guilty, I promise you before two days have passed over his head he shall 'he cruel monster! I could almost cry with vexation. [Bursts into tears. 1rs. B. [Aside.] Poor Mrs. Simpson! She is really to pitied, poor thing!

Enter SIMPSON, garly, R.

Simp. So, here you are, Susan, my dear. Business is er for the day, and now I am at your disposal. 'Gad, I lieve I must begin to copy Bromley, and run out of the unting-house every half hour to visit my wife.

Mrs. S. [Dryly.] Indeed, sir! Upon my word-I ner before saw you so gallant.

Simp. True, my duck, true! I mean to make amends. Mrs. S. To be plain with you, sir-a little change in our conduct would be very desirable.

Mrs. B. [In an under voice, and as if anxious to prevent quarrel.] My love

Simp. Well, from this time forward you shall find me uite another thing; every leisure moment I have shall e yours. I'll act the lover, rather than the husband; I'll e a downright Romeo, ha ha! ha!

Mrs. S. Your determination to reform is rather sudden, ir.

Simp. Don't throw cold water over me, my darling; don't you see I'm gay, I'm joyous? On making up my accounts of happiness, I find a large balance of content in my favour; business goes on swimmingly; I've a wife whom I love; and-in short, all my little arrangements are mighty comfortable.

Mrs. S. [Aside. His little arrangements!-I congratulate you sincerely on your comfortable little arrangements, Mr. Simpson.

Mrs. B. [To her.] Pray, have a care.

Simp. Mr. Simpson! and sir!--this is very strange? What the deuce is the meaning of all this coldness and formality?

Mrs. S. Ask that of yourself, sir; look into your heart, and you will there discover the cause.

Mrs. B. [Checking her.] Hush!