_Lady Smart._ Fie, fie, Miss! for Shame of the World, and Speech of good People. [Neverout _to_ Miss, _who is cooking her Tea and Bread and Butter_. _Neverout._ Come, come, Miss, make much of naught; good Folks are scarce. _Miss._ What! and You must come in with your Two Eggs a Penny, and Three of them rotten. _Col._ [_to Ld. Sparkish._] But, my Lord, I forgot to ask you, How you like my new Cloaths? _Ld. Sparkish._ Why, very well, Colonel; only, to deal plainly with you, methinks the worst Piece is in the Middle. [——_Here a loud Laugh, often repeated._—— _Col._ My Lord, you are too severe on your Friends. _Miss._ Mr. _Neverout_, I’m hot; are you a Sot? _Neverout._ Miss, I’m cold; are you a Scold? Take you that. _Lady Smart._ I confess, that was home. I find, Mr. _Neverout_, you won’t give your Head for the washing, as they say. _Miss._ Oh! he’s a sore Man, where the Skin’s off. I see, Mr. _Neverout_ has a Mind to sharpen the Edge of his Wit, on the Whetstone of my Ignorance. _Ld. Sparkish._ Faith, _Tom_, you are struck! I never heard a better Thing. _Neverout._ Pray, Miss, give me Leave to scratch you for that fine Speech. _Miss._ Pox on your Picture; it cost me a Groat the drawing. _Neverout._ [_to Lady Smart._] ’Sbuds, Madam, I have burnt my Hand with your plaguy Tea-kettle. _Lady Smart._ Why, then, Mr. _Neverout_, you must say, God save the King. _Neverout._ Did you ever see the like? _Miss._ Never, but once, at a Wedding. _Col._ Pray, Miss, how old are you? _Miss._ Why, I’m as old as my Tongue, and a little older than my Teeth. _Ld. Sparkish._ [_to Lady Ans._] Pray, Madam, is Miss _Buxom_ married? I hear, ’tis all over the Town. _Lady Answ._ My Lord, she’s either married, or worse. _Col._ If she ben’t marry’d, at least she’s lustily promis’d. But, is it certain, that Sir _John Blunderbuss_ is dead at last? _Ld. Sparkish._ Yes; or else he’s sadly wrong’d, for they have bury’d him. _Miss._ Why, if he be dead, he’ll eat no more Bread. _Col._ But, is he really dead? _Lady Answ._ Yes, Colonel; as sure as you’re alive—— _Col._ They say, he was an honest Man. _Lady Answ._ Yes, with good looking to. [——Miss _feels a Pimple on her Face_.—— _Miss._ Lord! I think my Goodness is coming out. Madam, will your Ladyship please to send me a Patch? _Neverout._ Miss, if you are a Maid, put your Hand upon your Spot. _Miss._ ——There—— [_Covering her Face with both her Hands._—— _Lady Smart._ Well, thou art a mad Girl. [_Gives her a Tap._ _Miss._ Lord, Madam; is that a Blow to give a Child? [——_Lady_ Smart _lets fall her Handkerchief, and the Colonel stoops for it_.—— _Lady Smart._ Colonel, you shall have a better Office. _Col._ Oh! Madam, I can’t have a better, than to serve your Ladyship. _Col._ [_to Lady Sparkish._] Madam, has your Ladyship read the new Play, written by a Lord? it is call’d, _Love in a Hollow Tree_. _Lady Sparkish._ No, Colonel.