_Clar._ Never; I don't think it fits well upon women; it's very masculine, and has too much of a rake; you see how it makes the men swear and curse. Sure it must incline the women to do the same too if they durst give way to it. Lady _Ara._ So it does; but hitherto for a little decency, we keep it in; and when in spite of our teeth, an oath gets into our mouths, we swallow it. _Clar._ That's enough to burst you; but in time perhaps you'll let 'em fly as they do. Lady _Ara._ Why, 'tis probable we may, for the pleasure of all polite womens lives now, you know, is founded upon entire liberty to do what they will. But shall I tell you what happened t'other night? having lost all my money but ten melancholy guineas, and throwing out for them, what do you think slipt from me? _Clar._ An oath? Lady _Ara._ Gud soons! _Clar._ O Lord! O Lord! did not it frighten you out of your wits? Lady _Ara._ _Clarinda_, I thought a gun had gone off.--But I forget you are a prude, and design to live soberly. _Clar._ Why 'tis true; both my nature and education, do in a good degree incline me that way. Lady _Ara._ Well, surely to be sober is to be terribly dull. You will marry; won't you? _Clar._ I can't tell but I may. Lady _Ara._ And you'll live in town? _Clar._ Half the year, I should like it very well. Lady _Ara._ And you wou'd live in _London_ half a year, to be sober in it? _Clar._ Yes. Lady _Ara._ Why can't you as well go and be sober in the country? _Clar._ So I wou'd the other half year. Lady _Ara._ And pray what pretty scheme of life wou'd you form now, for your summer and winter sober entertainments? _Clar._ A scheme that I think might very well content us. Lady _Ara._ Let's hear it. _Clar._ I cou'd in summer pass my time very agreeably, in riding soberly, in walking soberly, in sitting under a tree soberly, in gardening soberly, in reading soberly, in hearing a little music soberly, in conversing with some agreeable friends soberly, in working soberly, in managing my family and children (if I had any) soberly, and possibly by these means I might induce my husband to be as sober as myself. Lady _Ara._ Well, _Clarinda_, thou art a most contemptible creature. But let's have the sober town scheme too, for I am charm'd with the country one. _Clar._ You shall, and I'll try to stick to my sobriety there too. Lady _Ara._ If you do, you'll make me sick of you. But let's hear it however. _Clar._ I wou'd entertain myself in observing the new fashion soberly, I wou'd please myself in new clothes soberly, I wou'd divert myself with agreeable friends at home and abroad soberly. I wou'd play at quadrille soberly, I wou'd go to court soberly, I wou'd go to some plays soberly, I wou'd go to operas soberly, and I think I cou'd go once, or, if I lik'd my company, twice to a masquerade, soberly. Lady _Ara._ If it had not been for that last piece of sobriety, I was going to call for some surfeit-water.