_Trap_. Sir, in this play I keep exactly up to nature, nor is there anything said in this scene that I have not heard come out of the mouths of the finest people of the age. Sir, this scene has cost me ten shillings in chair-hire, to keep the best company, as it is called. _Mrs M_. Indeed, my lord, I cannot guess it at less than ten pounds a yard. _Place_. Pray, madam, was you at the last ridotto? _Fust_. Ridotto! the devil! a country mayoress at a ridotto! Sure, that is out of character, Mr Trapwit! _Trap_. Sir, a conversation of this nature cannot be earned on without these helps; besides, sir, this country mayoress, as you call her, may be allowed to know something of the town; for you must know, sir, that she has been woman to a woman of quality. _Fust_. I am glad to hear that. _Mrs M_. Oh, my lord! mention not those dear ridottos to me, who have been confined these twelve long months in the country; where we have no entertainment but a set of hideous strolling players; nor have I seen any one human creature till your lordship came to town. Heaven send us a controverted election! then I shall go to that dear delightful place once more. _Miss M_. Yes, mama, and then we shall see Faribelly, the strange man-woman that they say is with child; and the fine pictures of Merlin's cave at the playhouses; and the rope-dancing and the tumbling. _Fust_. By miss's taste I believe she has been bred up under a woman of quality too. _Place_. I cannot but with pleasure observe, madam, the polite taste miss shows in her choice of entertainments; I dare swear she will be much admired in the beau monde, and I don't question but will be soon taken into keeping by some man of quality. _Miss M_. Keeping, my lord? _Place_. Ay, that surprize looks well enough in one so young, that does not know the world; but, miss, every one now keeps and is kept; there are no such things as marriages now-a-days, unless merely Smithfield contracts, and that for the support of families; but then the husband and wife both take into keeping within a fortnight. _Mrs M_. My lord, I would have my girl act like other young ladies; but she does not know any men of quality, who shall introduce her to 'em? _Place_. That, madam, must be your part; you must take a house and see company; in a little while you may keep an assembly, and play at cards as high as you can; and almost all the money that is won must be put into the box, which you must call _paying for the cards_; though it is indeed paying for your candles, your cloaths, your lodgings, and, in short, everything you have. I know some persons who make a very considerable figure in town, whose whole estate lies in their card-box. _Mrs M_. And have I been so long contented to be the wife of a poor country tradesman, when I might have had all this happiness? _Fust_. How comes this lady, Mr Trapwit, considering her education, to be so ignorant of all these things?