Page:Dramas 1.pdf/202

long. We poor waiting gentlewomen have all them tedious matters to finish, as it is called; that is to say, to do two thirds of the whole.

DICKENSON.

Yonder it lies: I desired my new man to clear the table for tea, and he has put every thing upon the chairs, I see, which he should not have done. But he'll know better by and by.

SMOOTHLY.

It will always be by and by with him, I fear, poor stupid oaf. I wonder you could bring such a creature into the family. Isaac tells me he has spilt a plate of soup on my mistress's gown at dinner, which is very hard upon me, Mr. Dickenson. To have the fingerless fool spoiling my perquisites!

DICKENSON.

You'll get the gown all the sooner for that: why, he's serving you, child.

SMOOTHLY.

Serving me! I should have had it in a fortnight, and not a smutch upon it. And what do you think of his sneaking behind doors, and listening too?—speak of the devil and he appears: I see him at this very moment lurking in the passage. (Calling off the stage.) Come in, sirrah; it is you I am talking of, and I'll say all I have said to your face. (Enter Charville, disguised in livery, and a silver waiter in his