Lady G. How do you mean?

Lady T. He said, the wives of this age were come to that pass, that he would not desire even his own daughter should be trusted with pin-money; so that my whole train of separate inclinations are left entirely at the mercy of a husband's odd humours.

Lady G. Why, that, indeed, is enough to make a woman of spirit look about her.

Lady T. Nay, but to be serious, my dear; what would you really have a woman do, in my case ?

Lady G. Why if I had a sober husband, as you have, I would make myself the happiest wife in the world, by being as sober as he.

Lady T. Oh, you wicked thing! how can you tease one at this rate, when you know he is so very sober, that (except giving me money) there is not one thing in the world he can do to please me. And I, at the same time, partly by nature, and partly, perhaps, by keeping the best company, do, with my soul, love almost every thing he hates. I dote upon assem, blies; my heart bounds at a ball; and at an opera-I expire. Then I love play to distraction; cards en. chant me and dice-put me out of my little witsDear, dear hazard I-Oh, what a flow of spirits it gives one! Do you never play at hazard, child?

Lady G. Oh, never! I don't think it sits well upon women; there's something so masculine, so much the air of a rake in it. You see how it makes the men swear and curse; and when a woman is thrown into the same passion-why

Lady T. That's very true; one is a little put to it, sometimes, not to make use of the same words to express it.

Lady G. Well-and, upon ill luck, pray what words are you really forced to make use of?

Lady T. Why, upon a very hard case, indeed, when a sad wrong word is rising, just to one's tongue's end, I give a great gulp-and swallow it.

Lady G. Well-and is not that enough to make you forswear play as long as you live?

Lady T. Oh, yes: I have forsworn it.

Lady G. Seriously?

Lady T. Solemnly! a thousand times; but then one is constantly forsworn.

Lady G. And how can you answer that?

Lady T. My dear, what we say, when we are losers, we look upon to be no more binding than a lover's oath, or a great man's promise. But I beg pardon, child; I should not lead you so far into the world; you are a prude, and design to live soberly.

Lady G. Why, I confess, my nature and my education do, in a good degree, incline me that way.

Lady T. Well, how a woman of spirit (for you don't want that, child) can dream of living soberly, is to me inconceivable; for you will marry, I suppose. Lady G. I cann't tell but I may.

Lady T. And won't you live in town?

Lady G. Half the year, I should like it very well. Lady T. My stars! and you would really live in London half the year to be sober in it?

Lady G. Why not?

Lady T. Why cann't you as well go and be sober in the country?

Lady G. So I would-t'other half year.

Lady T. And pray, what comfortable scheme of life would you form, now, for your summer and winter sober entertainments

Lady G. A scheme that I think might very well

content us.

Lady T. Oh, of all things, let's hear it.

Lady G. Why, in summer, I could pass my leisure hours in riding, in reading, walking by a canal, or sitting at the end of it under a great tree; in dressing, dining, chatting with an agreeable friend; perhaps, hearing a little music, taking a dish of tea, or a game of cards, soberly; managing my family, looking into its accounts, playing with my children, if I had any, or in a thousand other innocent amusements

-soberly; and possibly, by these means, I might induce my husband to be as sober as myself—

Lady T. Well, my dear, thou art an astonishing creature! For sure such primitive antediluvian notions of life have not been in any head these thousand years——————-Under a great tree! Oh, my soul!— But I beg we may have the sober town-scheme toofor I am charmed with the country one!

Lady G. You shall, and I'll try to stick to my sobriety there too.

Lady T. Well, though I'm sure it will give me the vapours, I must hear it however.

Lady G. Why then, for fear of your fainting, madam, I will first so far come into the fashion, that I

would never be dressed out of it—but still it should be soberly: for I cann't think it any disgrace to a woman of my private fortune, not to wear her lace as fine as the wedding-suit of a first dutchess. Though there is one extravagance I would venture to come up to.

Lady T. Aye, now for it

Lady G. I would every day be as clean as a bride. Lady T. Why, the men say, that's a great step to be made one- -Well, now you are drest-Pray let's see to what purpose?

Lady G. I would visit—that is, my real friends; but as little for form as possible.I would go to court; sometimes to an assembly, nay, play at quadrille soberly: I would see all the good plays; and, because 'tis the fashion, now and then an opera

-but I would not expire there, for fear I should never go again: and, lastly, I cann't say, but for curiosity, if I liked my company, I might be drawn in once to a masquerade; and this, I think, is as far as any woman can go soberly.

Lady T. Well, if it had not been for that last piece of sobriety, I was just going to call for some surfeit

water.

Lady G. Why, don't you think, with the farther aid of breakfasting, dining, and taking the air, supping, sleeping, not to say a word of devotion, the four and twenty hours might roll over in a tolerable

manner?

Lady T. Tolerable! Deplorable! Why, child, all

you purpose is but to endure life now I want to en

joy it

Enter Mrs. TRUSTY.

Trust. Madam, your ladyship's chair is ready. Lady T. Have the footmen their white flambeaux yet? For last night I was poisoned.

Trust. Yes, madam; there were some come in this morning. [Exit Trusty. Lady T. My dear, you will excuse me; but you know my time is so precious

Lady G. That I beg I may not hinder your least enjoyment of it.

Lady T. You will call on me at lady Revel's ?
Lady G. Certainly.

Lady T. But I am so afraid it will break into your scheme, my dear.

Lady G. When it does, I will-soberly break from you.

Lady T. Why then, 'till me meet again, dear sister, I wish you all tolerable happiness. [Exit Lady T. Lady G. There she goes-Dash! into her stream of pleasures! Poor woman, she is really a fine creature; and sometimes infinitely agreeable; nay, take her out of the madness of this town, rational in her notions, and easy to live with: but she is so borne down by this torrent of vanity in vogue, she thinks every hour of her life is lost that she does not lead at the head of it. What it will end in, I tremble to imagine!————Ha, my brother, and Manly with him!