_Lord Fitz._ My attorney will be here to-morrow, Sir Simon. I prefer reading by deputy. [_Both rise._ _Sir Simon._ Many people of rank read in the same way, my lord. And your lordship will receive the forty thousand pounds, I am to pay you, by deputy also, I suppose. _Lord Fitz._ I seldom swear, Sir Simon; but, damn me if I will. _Sir Simon._ I believe you are right. Yet there are but two reasons for not trusting an attorney with your money:--one is, when you don't know him very well; and the other is, when you do.--And now, since the marriage is concluded, as I may say, in the families, may I take the liberty to ask, my lord, what sort of a wife my son Frank may expect in Lady Caroline? Frank is rather of a grave, domestic turn: Lady Caroline, it seems, has passed the three last winters in London. Did her ladyship enter into _all_ the spirit of the first circles? _Lord Fitz._ She was as gay as a lark, Sir Simon. _Sir Simon._ Was she like the lark in her hours, my lord? _Lord Fitz._ A great deal more like the owl, Sir Simon. _Sir Simon._ I thought so. Frank's mornings in London will begin where her ladyship's nights finish. But his case won't be very singular. Many couples make the marriage bed a kind of cold matrimonial well; and the two family buckets dip into it alternately. _Enter LADY CAROLINE BRAYMORE._ _Lady Car._ Do I interrupt business? _Sir Simon._ Not in the least. Pray, Lady Caroline, come in. His lordship and I have just concluded. _Lord Fitz._ And I must go and walk my three miles, this morning. _Sir Simon._ Must you, my lord? _Lord Fitz._ My physician prescribed it, when I told him I was apt to be dull, after dinner. _Sir Simon._ I would attend your lordship;--but since Lady Caroline favours me with-- _Lady Car._ No, no--don't mind me. I assure you, I had much rather you would go. _Sir Simon._ Had you?--hum!--but the petticoats have their new school of good breeding, too, they tell me. [_Aside._] Well, we are gone--we have been glancing over the writings, Lady Caroline, that form the basis of my son's happiness:--though his lordship isn't much inclined to read. _Lady Car._ But I am.--I came here to study very deeply, before dinner. _Sir Simon._ What, would your ladyship, then, wish to-- [_Showing the Writings._ _Lady Car._ To read that? My dear Sir Simon! all that Hebrew, upon parchment as thick as a board!--I came to see if you had any of the last novels in your book room. _Sir Simon._ The last novels!--most of the female new school are ghost bitten, they tell me. [_Aside._] There's Fielding's Works; and you'll find Tom Jones, you know. _Lady Car._ Psha! that's such a hack! _Sir Simon._ A hack, Lady Caroline, that the knowing ones have warranted sound. _Lady Car._ But what do you think of those that have had such a run lately?