shins clambering over the
benches, and always came in so dirty, as if he had been dragged through
the kennel at a boarding-school. He lost his money at chuck-farthing,
shuffle-cap, and all-fours; sold his books, pawned his linen, which we
were always forced to redeem. Then the whole generation of him are so in
love with bagpipes and puppet-shows! I wish you knew what my husband has
paid at the pastry-cook's and confectioner's for Naples biscuits, tarts,
custards, and sweetmeats. All this while my husband considered him as
a gentleman of a good family that had fallen into decay, gave him
good education, and has settled him in a good creditable way of
living--having procured him, by his interest, one of the best places of
the country. And what return, think you, does this fine gentleman
make us? he will hardly give me or my husband a good word, or a civil
expression. Instead of Sir and Madam (which, though I say it, is our
due), he calls us "goody" and "gaffer" such-a-one; says he did us a
great deal of honour to board with us; huffs and dings at such a rate,
because we will not spend the little we have left to get him the title
and estate of Lord Strutt; and then forsooth, we shall have the honour
to be his woollen-drapers.** Besides, Esquire South will be Esquire
South still; fickle, proud, and ungrateful. If he behaves himself so
when he depends on us for his daily bread, can any man say what he will
do when he is got above the world?

* Something relating to the manners of a great prince,
superstition, love of operas, shows, etc.

** Something relating to forms and titles.

D. DIEGO.--And would you lose the honour of so noble and generous an
undertaking? Would you rather accept this scandalous composition, and
trust that old rogue, Lewis Baboon?

MRS. BULL.--Look you, Friend Diego, if we law it on till Lewis turns
honest, I am afraid our credit will run low at Blackwell Hall. I wish
every man had his own; but I still say, that Lord Strutt's money shines
as bright and chinks as well as Esquire South's. I don't know any other
hold that we tradesmen have of these great folks but their interest: buy
dear and sell cheap, and I warrant ye you will keep your customer. The
worst is, that Lord Strutt's servants have got such a haunt about that
old rogue's shop, that it will cost us many a firkin of strong beer to
bring them back again; and the longer they are in a bad road, the harder
it will be to get them