_Selby_. You move my wonder strangely. Pray, proceed.
_Mrs. F._ An eye of wanton liking he had placed Upon a Widow, who liked him again, But stood on terms of honorable love, And scrupled wronging his most virtuous wife-- When to their ears a lucky rumor ran, That this demure and saintly-seeming wife Had a first husband living; with the which Being question'd, she but faintly could deny. "A priest indeed there was; some words had pass'd, But scarce amounting to a marriage rite. Her friend was absent; she supposed him dead; And, seven years parted, both were free to choose."
_Selby_. What did the indignant husband? Did he not With violent handlings stigmatize the cheek Of the deceiving wife, who had entail'd Shame on their innocent babe?
_Mrs. F._ He neither tore His wife's locks nor his own; but wisely weighing His own offence with hers in equal poise, And woman's weakness 'gainst the strength of man, Came to a calm and witty compromise. He coolly took his gay-faced widow home, Made her his second wife; and still the first Lost few or none of her prerogatives. The servants call'd her mistress still; she kept The keys, and had the total ordering Of the house affairs; and, some slight toys excepted, Was all a moderate wife would wish to be.
_Selby_. A tale full of dramatic incident!-- And if a man should put it in a play, How should he name the parties?
_Mrs. F._ The man's name Through time I have forgot--the widow's too;-- But his first wife's first name, her maiden one, Was--not unlike to _that_ your Katherine bore, Before she took the honor'd style of Selby.
_Selby_. A dangerous meaning in your riddle lurks. One knot is yet unsolved; that told, this strange And most mysterious drama ends. The name Of that first husband--
_Mrs. F._ Sir, your pardon-- The allegory fits your private ear. Some half hour hence, in the garden's secret walk, We shall have leisure. [_Exit_.
_Lucy_. From your poor Katherine's chamber, where she droops In sad presageful thoughts, and sighs, and weeps, And seems to pray by turns. At times she looks As she would pour her secret in my bosom-- Then starts, as I have seen her, at the mention Of some immodest act. At her request, I left her on her knees.