Lady Town. Well, tho' I'm sure it will give me the vapours, I must hear it however.
Lady Grace. 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 can't think it any disgrace to a woman of my private fortune, not to wear her lace as fine as a wedding-suit of a first Dutchess. Tho' there is one extravagance I would venture to come up to.
Lady Town. Ay, now for it——
Lady Grace. I would every day be as clean as a bride.
Lady Town. 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 Grace. 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 can't say, but for curiosity, if I lik'd my company, I might be drawn in once to a masquerade! And this, I think, is as far at any woman can go——soberly.
Lady Town. Well! if it had not been for that last piece of sobriety, I was just going to call for some surfeit water.
Lady Grace. Why, don't you think, with the farther aid of breakfasting, dining, 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 Town. Tolerable? deplorable! Why, child, all you propose, is but to endure life, now I want to enjoy it——