Untitled - OUDL Home

226 WILLIAM CONGREVE [ACT II
Mrs. Fore. Why, was I ever in any of those places? what
do you mean, sister?
Mrs. Frail. Was I? what do you mean?
Mrs. Fore. You have been at a worse place.
Mrs. Frail. I at a worse place, and with a man!
Mrs. Fore. I suppose you would not go alone to the
World's-End.
Mrs. Frail. The world's-end! what, do you mean to banter
me?
Mrs. Fore. Poor innocent! you don't know that there's a
place called the World's-End? I'll swear you can keep your
countenance purely, you'd make an admirable player.
Mrs. Frail. I'll swear you have a greal deal of confidence,
and in my mind too much for the stage.
Mrs. Fore. Very well, that will appear who has most; you
never were at the World's-End?
Mrs. Frail. No.
Mrs. Fore. You deny it postively to my face?
Mrs. Frail. Your face! what's your face?
Mrs. Fore. No matter for that, it's as good a face as yours.
Mrs. Frail. Not by a dozen years' wearing.—But I do
deny it positively to your face then.
Mrs. Fore. I'll allow you now to find fault with my
face;—for I'll swear your impudence has put me out of
countenance:—but look you here now—where did you lose
this gold bodkin?—D sister, sister!
Mrs. Frail. My bodkin?
Mrs. Pore. Nay, 'tis yours, look at it.
Mrs. Frail. Well, if you go to that, where did you find
this bodkin?—D sister, sister!—sister every way.
Mrs. Fore. [Aside.] D devil on't, that I could not discover
her without betraying myself!
Mrs. Frail. I have heard gentlemen say, sister, that nne
should take great care, when one makes a thrust in fencing,
not to lie open one's self.
Mrs. Fore. It's very true, sister; well, since all's out, and
as you say, since we are both wounded, let us do what is
often done in duels, take care of one another, and grow
bettrr friends than before.
Mrs. Frail. With all my heart: ours are but slight flesh
wounds, and if we keep 'em from air, not at all dangerous:
well, give me your hand in token of sisterly secrecy and
affection.