Worthy. And how do you pass your Sunday evenings?
Bragwell. My wife and daughters go a visiting Sunday afternoons. My daughters are glad to get out, at any rate; and as to my wife, she says that being ready dressed, it is a pity to lose the opportunity; besides, it saves her time on a week day; so then you see I have it all my own way, and when I have got rid of the ladies, who are ready to faint at the smell of tobacco, I can venture to smoke a pipe, and drink a sober glass of punch with half a dozen friends.
Worthy. Which punch, being made of smuggled brandy, and drank on the Lord's day, and very vain, as well as profane and worldly company, you are enabled to break both the law of God, and that of your country at a stroke: and I suppose when you are got together, you speak of your cattle, or of your crops, after which perhaps you talk over a few of your neighbors' faults, and then you brag a little of your own wealth or your own achievements.
Bragwell. Why, you seem to know us so well, that any one would think you had been sitting behind the curtain; and yet you are a little mistaken too; for I think we have hardly said a word for several of our last Sundays on any thing but politics.
Worthy. And do you find that you much improve your Christian charity by that subject?
Bragwell. Why to be sure we do quarrel till we are very near fighting, that is the worst on't.
Worthy. And then you call names, and swear a little, I suppose.
Bragwell. Why when one is contradicted and put in a passion, you know, and when people especially if they are one's inferiors, won't adopt one's opinions, flesh and blood won't bear it.
Worthy. And when all your friends are gone home, what becomes of the rest of the evening?
Bragwell. That is just as it happens; sometimes I read the newspaper; and as one is generally most tired on the days one does nothing, I go to bed earlier on Sundays than on other days, that I may be more fit to get up to my business the next morning.