SCENE VII.——ARGAN, BÉLINE, TOI.NETTE.

TOI..
Madam.

BEL.
How is this? Why do you put my husband in a passion?

TOI..
(in a soft tone). I, Madam? Alas! I don't know what you mean, and my only aim is to please master in everything.

ARG.
Ah! the deceitful girl!

TOI..
He said to us that he wished to marry his daughter to the son of Mr. Diafoirus. I told him that I thought the match very advantageous for her, but that I believed he would do better to put her in a convent.

BEL.
There is not much harm in that, and I think that she is right.

ARG.
Ah! deary, do you believe her? She is a vile girl, and has said a hundred insolent things to me.

BEL.
Well, I believe you, my dear. Come, compose yourself; and you, TOI.nette, listen to me. If ever you make my husband angry again, I will send you away. Come, give me his fur cloak and some pillows, that I may make him comfortable in his arm-chair. You are all anyhow. Pull your night-cap right down over your ears; there is nothing that gives people such bad colds as letting in the air through the ears.
ARG.
Ah, deary! how much obliged I am to you for all the care you take of me.

BEL.
(adjusting the pillows, which she puts round him). Raise yourself a little for me to put this under you. Let us put this one for you to lean upon, and this one on the other side; this one behind your back, and this other to support your head.

TOI..
(clapping a pillow rudely on his head). And this other to keep you from the evening damp.

ARG.
(rising angrily, and throwing the pillows after TOI.nette, who runs away). Ah, wretch! you want to smother me.