Page "The School for Scandal" Paragraph 5

Scene II: At Lady Sneerwell's, the scandal-mongers have great fun at the expense of friends not present.

Lady Teazle and Maria arrive ; Lady Teazle joins in, but Maria is disgusted.

So is Sir Peter, when he arrives, and rather breaks up the party with his comments.

He departs, the others retire to the next room, and Joseph seizes the opportunity to court Maria, who rejects him again.

Lady Teazle returns and dismisses Maria, and it is revealed that she is seriously flirting with Joseph-who doesn't want her, but cannot afford to alienate her.