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SCENE v] THE DOUBLE-DEALER 173
a little penance and my absolution, all this may turn to
good account.
Lady Touch. [Aside.] Hold in, my passion! and fall, fall
a little, thou swelling heart! let me have some intermission
of this rage, and one minute's coolness to dissemble.
[She weeps.
Mel. You have been to blame—I like those tears, and
hope they are of the purest kind—penitential tears.
Lady Touch. O the scene was shifted quick before me!—
I had not time to think—I was surprised to see a monster
in the glass, and now I find 'tis myself. Can you have mercy
to forgive the faults I have imagined, but never put in
practice?—O consider, consider how fatal you have been to
me! you have already killed the quiet of this life. The love
of you was the first wandering fire that e'er misled my
steps, and while I had only that in view, I was betrayed
into unthought-of ways of ruin.
Mel. May I believe this true?
Lady Touch. D be not cruelly incredulous!—How can
you doubt these streaming eyes? Keep the severest eye
o'er all my future conduct; and if I once relapse, let me
not hope forgiveness, 'twill ever be in your power to ruin
me.—My lord shall sign to your desires; I will myself create
your happiness, and Cynthia shall be this night your bride.
—Do but conceal my failings, and forgive.
Mel. Upon such terms, I will be ever yours in every honest
way.
MASKWELL softly introduces Lord TOUCHWOOD.
Mask. [To Lord TOUCHWOOD.! I have kept my word, he's
here, but I must not be seen. \Exit.
Lord Touch. \Aside.] Hell and amazement! she's in tears.
Lady Touch. [Kneeling.] Eternal blessings thank you!—
[Aside.] Ha! my lord listening! O Fortune has o'erpaid me
all, all! all's my own!
Mel. Nay, I beseech you rise.
Lady Touch. Never, never! I'll grow to the ground, be
buried quick beneath it, ere I'll be consenting to so damned
a sin as incest! unnatural incest!
Mel. Ha!
Lady Touch. O cruel man! will you not let me go?—
I'll forgive all that's past—O Heaven you will not ravish me!