Lady.—Oh! I am sure I shall deal if I go to my mercer.
Cit.—Well, but if you should, let us go for a frolic, and give the other as much trouble as we can for nothing, and see how he'll behave, for I want to be satisfied; if I find them as your ladyship has been told, I'll never go there any more.
Lady.—Upon that condition I agree—I will go with you; but I will go and lay out my money at my own mercer's first, because I wont be tempted.
Cit.—Well, Madam, I'll wait on your ladyship till you have laid out your money.
After this discourse they drove away to the mercer's shop where the lady used to buy; and when they came there, the lady was surprised—the shop was shut up, and nobody to be seen. The next door was a laceman's, and the journeyman being at the door, the lady sent her servant to desire him to speak a word or two to her; and when he came, says the lady to him,
Pray, how long has Mr—'s shop been shut up?
Laceman.—About a month, madam.
Lady.—What! is Mr—dead?
Laceman.—No, madam, he is not dead.
Lady.—What then, pray?