_Lady Smart._ Colonel, you can’t do a kinder thing: Well, you are all heartily welcome, as I may say. _Col._ They say, there are Thirty-and-two good Bits in a Shoulder of Veal. _Lady Smart._ Ay, Colonel; Thirty bad Bits, and Two good ones: you see, I understand you; but I hope, you have got one of the two good ones. _Neverout._ Colonel, I’ll be of your Mess. _Col._ Then, pray, _Tom_, carve for yourself: They say, Two Hands in a Dish, and One in a Purse: Hah, said I well, _Tom_? _Neverout._ Colonel, you spoke like an Oracle. _Miss._ [_to Lady Answ._] Madam, will your Ladyship help me to some Fish? _Ld. Smart._ [_to Neverout._] _Tom_, they say, Fish should swim thrice. _Neverout._ How is that, my Lord? _Ld. Smart._ Why, _Tom_, first it should swim in the Sea, (do you mind me?) then it should swim in Butter; and at last, Sirrah, it should swim in good Claret. I think, I have made it out. _Footman._ [_to Ld. Smart._] My Lord, Sir _John Linger_ is coming up. _Ld. Smart._ God so! I invited him to dine with me To-day, and forgot it: Well, desire him to walk in. [_Sir_ John Linger _comes in_. _Sir John._ What! are you at it? Why, then, I’ll be gone. _Lady Smart._ Sir _John_, I beg you will sit down: Come, the more the merrier. _Sir John._ Ay; but the fewer the better Cheer. _Lady Smart._ Well, I am the worst in the World at making Apologies; it was my Lord’s Fault: I doubt you must kiss the Hare’s Foot. _Sir John._ I see you are fast by the Teeth. _Col._ Faith, Sir _John_, we are killing that, that would kill us. _Ld. Sparkish._ You see, Sir _John_, we are upon a Business of Life and Death: Come, will you do as we do? You are come in Pudden-Time. _Sir John._ Ay; this would you be doing if I were dead. What! you keep Court-Hours I see: I’ll be going, and get a Bit of Meat at my Inn. _Lady Smart._ Why, we won’t eat you, Sir _John_. _Sir John._ It is my own Fault; but I was kept by a Fellow who bought some _Derbyshire_ Oxen from me. _Neverout._ You see, Sir _John_, we stay’d for you, as one Horse does for another. _Lady Smart._ My Lord, will you help Sir _John_ to some Beef? Lady _Answerall_, pray, eat, you see your Dinner: I am sure, if we had known we should have such good Company, we should have been better provided; but you must take the Will for the Deed. I’m afraid you are invited to your Loss. _Col._ And, pray, Sir _John_, how do you like the Town? You have been absent a long Time. _Sir John._ Why, I find, little _London_ stands just where it did when I left it last. _Neverout._ What do you think of _Hannover-Square_? Why, Sir _John_, _London_ is gone out of Town since you saw it. _Lady Smart._ Sir _John_, I can only say, you are heartily welcome; and I wish I had something better for you. _Col._ Here’s no Salt; Cuckolds will run away with the Meat. _Ld. Smart._ Pray, edge a little, to make more Room for Sir _John_: Sir _John_, fall to, you know Half an Hour is soon lost at Dinner.