MRS. JOUR. Everybody is a body who is in the right, and who has more sense than you. For my part, I am quite shocked at the life you lead. I don't know our home again. One would think, by what goes on, that it was one everlasting carnival here; and as soon as day breaks, for fear we should have any rest in it, we have a regular din of fiddles and singers, that are a positive nuisance to all the neighbourhood. NIC. What mistress says is quite right. There is no longer any chance of having the house clean with all that heap of people you bring in. Their feet seem to have gone purposely to pick up the mud in the four quarters of the town in order to bring it in here afterwards; and poor Francoise is almost off her legs with the constant scrubbing of the floors, which your masters come and dirty every day as regular as clockwork. MR. JOUR. I say there, our servant Nicole; you have a pretty sharp tongue of your own for a country wench. MRS. JOUR. Nicole is right, and she has more sense by far than you have. I should like to know, for instance, what you mean to do with a dancing master at your age? NIC. And with that big fencing master, who comes here stamping enough to shake the whole house down and to tear up the floor tiles of our rooms. MR. JOUR. Gently, my servant and my wife. MRS. JOUR. Do you mean to learn dancing for the time when you can't stand on your legs any longer? NIC. Do you intend to kill anybody? MR. JOUR. Hold your tongues, I say. You are only ignorant women, both of you, and understand nothing concerning the prerogative of all this. MRS. JOUR. You would do much better to think of seeing your daughter married, for she is now of an age to be provided for. MR. JOUR. I shall think of seeing my daughter married when a suitable match presents itself; but, in the meantime, I wish to think of acquiring fine learning. NIC. I have heard say also, mistress, that, to go the whole hog, he has now taken a professor of philosophy. MR. JOUR. To be sure I have. I wish to be clever, and reason concerning things with people of quality. MRS. JOUR. Had you not better go to school one of these days, and get the birch, at your age? MR. JOUR. Why not? Would to heaven I were flogged this very instant, before all the world, so that I might know all they learn at school. NIC. Yes, to be sure; that would much improve the shape of your leg. MR. JOUR. Of course. MRS. JOUR. And all this is very necessary for the management of your house. MR. JOUR. Certainly. You both speak like asses; and I am ashamed of your ignorance. (_To_ MRS. JOURDAIN) Let me see, for instance, if you know what you are speaking this very moment. MRS. JOUR. Yes, I know that what I speak is rightly spoken; and that you should think of leading a different life. MR. JOUR. I do not mean that. I ask you what the words are which you are now speaking. MRS. JOUR. They are sensible words, I tell you, and that is more than your conduct is.