Lady _Grace._ O see him by all means, we shall have time enough; in the mean while I'll step in, and have an eye upon my brother. Nay, nay, don't mind me--have business.---- _Man._ You must be obey'd---- [_Retreating while Lady Grace goes out._ Desire _Sir Francis_ to walk in---- [_Exit servant._ I suppose by this time his wise worship begins to find, that the balance of his journey to London is on the wrong side. _Enter Sir ~Francis~._ Sir _Francis_, your servant; how came I by the favour of this extraordinary visit? Sir _Fran._ Ah! cousin! _Man._ Why that sorrowful face, man? Sir _Fran._ I have no friend alive but you---- _Man._ I am sorry for that----but what's the matter? Sir _Fran._ I have play'd the fool by this journey, I see now----for my bitter wife---- _Man._ What of her? Sir _Fran._ Is playing the devil! _Man._ Why truly, that's a part that most of your fine ladies begin with, as soon as they get to _London_. Sir _Fran._ If I am a living man, cousin, she has made away with above two hundred and fifty pounds since yesterday morning! _Man._ Hah! I see a good housewife will do a great deal of work in a little time. Sir _Fran._ Work do they call it! fine work indeed! _Man._ Well, but how do you mean made away with it? What, she has laid it out, may be----but I suppose you have an account of it. Sir _Fran._ Yes, yes, I have had the account indeed; but I mun needs say, it's a very sorry one. _Man._ Pray, let's hear. Sir _Fran._ Why, first I let her have an hundred and fifty, to get things handsom about her, to let the world see that I was somebody! and I thought that sum very genteel. _Man._ Indeed I think so; and in the country, might have serv'd her a twelvemonth. Sir _Fran._ Why so it might----but here in this fine tawn, forsooth! it could not get through four and twenty hours----for in half that time, it was all squandered away in baubles, and new fashion'd trumpery. _Man._ O! for ladies in _London_, Sir _Francis_, all this might be necessary. Sir _Fran._ Noa, theere's the plague on't! the devil o' one useful thing do I see for it, but two pair of lac'd shoes, and those stond me in three pound three shillings a pair too. _Man._ Dear Sir! this is nothing! Why we have city wives here, that while their good man is selling three penny worth of sugar, will give you twenty pound for a short apron. Sir _Fran._ Mercy on us! what a mortal poor devil is a husband! _Man._ Well, but I hope you have nothing else to complain of? Sir _Fran._ Ah would I could say so too--but there's another hundred behind yet, that goes more to my heart, than all that went before it. _Man._ And how might that be disposed of? Sir _Fran._ Troth I am almost ashamed to tell you. _Man._ Out with it. Sir _Fran._ Why she has been at an assembly. _Man._ What, since I saw you! I thought you had all supt at home last night?