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142 WILLIAM CONGREVE [ACT III
ACT THE THIRD
SCENE I
The Gallery in Lord TOUCHWOOD'S House
Enter Lord TOUCHWOOD and Lady TOUCHWOOD.
LADY TOUCH. My lord, can you blame my brother Plyant,
if he refuse his daughter upon this provocation? the contract's
void by this unheard of impiety.
Lord Touch. I don't believe it true; he has better principles—Pho,
'tis nonsense! Come, come, I know my Lady
Plyant has a large eye, and would centre everything in her
own circle, 'Tis not the first time she has mistaken respect
for love, and made Sir Paul jealous of the civility of an
undesigning person, the better to bespeak his security in
her unfeigned pleasures.
Lady Touch. You censure hardly, my lord; my sister's
honour is very well known.
Lord Touch. Yes, I believe I know some that have been
familiarly acquainted with it. This is a little trick wrought
by some pitiful contriver, envious of my nephew's merit.
Lady Touch. Nay, my lord, it may be so, and I hope it
will be found so: but that will require some time; for
in such a case as this, demonstration is necessary.
Lord Touch. There should have been demonstration of
the contrary too, before it had been believed.
Lady Touch. So I suppose there was.
Lord Touch. How? where? when?
Lady Touch. That I can't tell; nay, I don't say there
was. I am willing to believe as favourably of my nephew
as I can.
Lord Touch. I don't know that. [Half aside.
Lady Touch. How? don't you believe that, say you, my
lord?
Lord Touch. No, I don't say so.—I confess I am troubled
to find you so cold in his defence.
Lady Touch. His defence! bless me, would you have me
defend an ill thing?
Lord Touch. You believe it then?