BELL. Why, faith, I think it will do well enough, if the husband
be out of the way, for the wife to show her fondness and impatience
of his absence by choosing a lover as like him as she can; and what
is unlike, she may help out with her own fancy.

VAIN. But is it not an abuse to the lover to be made a blind of?

BELL. As you say, the abuse is to the lover, not the husband. For
'tis an argument of her great zeal towards him, that she will enjoy
him in effigy.

VAIN. It must be a very superstitious country where such zeal
passes for true devotion. I doubt it will be damned by all our
Protestant husbands for flat idolatry. But, if you can make
Alderman Fondlewife of your persuasion, this letter will be
needless.

BELL. What! The old banker with the handsome wife?

VAIN. Ay.

BELL. Let me see--LAETITIA! Oh, 'tis a delicious morsel. Dear
Frank, thou art the truest friend in the world.

VAIN. Ay, am I not? To be continually starting of hares for you
to course. We were certainly cut out for one another; for my
temper quits an amour just where thine takes it up. But read that;
it is an appointment for me, this evening--when Fondlewife will be
gone out of town, to meet the master of a ship, about the return of