Mr. Neverout (continuing). "The whole genius, humour, politeness, and eloquence of England are summed up in it."
Miss Notable. Oh la! Let anyone now take a matron down to dinner, or sit out a dance with a pretty girl!
Lord Sparkish. "The whole genius, humour, politeness, and eloquence of England" must have gone out with full-bottomed wigs and hooped petticoats.
Lady Answerall. I protest that a neat repartee, or a "smart turn of wit or humour," is the rarest of things nowadays.
Lord Smart. Save among cabmen and costers.
Sir John Linger. Faith, my Lord, your street Arabs and gutter-snipes have a smack of it. They are the true Neverouts and Notables of the time.
Miss Notable. Sir John, you do me proud!
Mr. Neverout. Out on this pestilent, levelling democracy, which brings even wit to its last refuge, the gutter!
Colonel Alwit. Better lie, like Sheridan, with Wit in the gutter, than perch, like H——y, with Dulness on the Woolsack!
Mr. Neverout. Egad! Miss Notable has wit at will.