Act 2 Summary

As the second act begins, Angelica's uncle, Foresight, enters his home with a servant. Foresight is perplexed because none of the women of the house appear to be at home. Foresight orders the servant to find Sir Sampson, Valentine's father, to inform Sampson that Foresight will soon call on him for business. Suddenly, Angelica enters the room and asks to use her uncle's carriage because hers is broken down. Foresight does not approve of women riding around in carriages by themselves. He chastises Angelica, who seems to be catching her uncle's wrath in lieu of all the other women who are not at home at the moment.

Angelica is not bothered by her uncle's accusations that riding alone through town will result in a bad reputation, and retorts that Foresight himself has been seen engaging in inappropriate behavior with the nurse of the...