While they are Lovers, if they have Fire and Sense, their Jealousies are insupportable: And when they cease to Love, (we ought to think at least) they loath; they look upon us with Horror and Distaste; they meet us like the Ghosts of what we were, and as such fly from us.

MRS. MARWOOD. True, 'tis an unhappy Circumstance of Life, that Love shou'd ever die before us; and that the Man so often shou'd out-live the Lover. But say what you will, 'tis better to be left, than never to have been lov'd. To pass our Youth in dull Indifference, to refuse the Sweets of Life because they once must leave us; is as preposterous, as to wish to have been born Old, because we one Day must be Old. For my part, my Youth may wear and waste, but it shall never rust in my Possession.

MRS. FAINALL. Then it seems you dissemble an Aversion to Mankind, only in compliance with my Mothers Humour.

MRS. MARWOOD. Certainly. To be free; I have no Taste of those insipid dry Discourses, with which our Sex of force must entertain themselves, apart from Men. We may affect Endearments to each other, profess eternal Friendships, and seem to doat like Lovers; but 'tis not in our Natures long to persevere. Love will resume his Empire in our Breasts, and every Heart, or soon or late, receive and readmit him as its lawful Tyrant.

MRS. FAINALL. Bless me, how have I been deceiv'd! Why you profess a Libertine.

MRS. MARWOOD. You see my Friendship by my Freedom. Come, be as sincere, acknowledge that your Sentiments agree with mine.

MRS. FAINALL. Never.

MRS. MARWOOD. You hate Mankind?

MRS. FAINALL. Heartily, Inveterately.

MRS. MARWOOD. Your Husband?

MRS. FAINALL. Most transcendantly; ay, tho' I say it, meritoriously.

MRS. MARWOOD. Give me your Hand upon it.

MRS.