GITTIPIN: |
Now here, I never
saw such company in my life. You are always talking of your books.
I like to be where we talk. You had better take a walk so that we
may have some pleasure. I am sure I never see any pleasure. There's
Double Elephant's Girls, they have their own way, and there's Miss
Filligree, [she and cast take a deep breath] for work she goes out
in her coaches and her footman and her maids and Stormonts and Balloon
hats and a pair of Gloves every day and the Sorrows of Werter and
Robinsons and the Queen of Frances Puss colour and my Cousin Gibble
Gabble says that I am like nobody else. I might as well be in a
nunnery! [deep breath] There they go in post-chaises and stages
to Vauxhall and Ranelagh. And I hardly know what a coach is, except
when I go to Mr. Jacko's. He knows what riding is and his wife is
the most agreeable woman you hardly know she has a tongue in her
head. [deep breath] And he is the funniest fellow, and I do believe
he'll go in partnership with his master, and they have black servants
lodge at their house. I never saw such a place in my life. He says
he has six and twenty rooms in his house, and I believe it and he
is not such a liar as Quid thinks he is.
|
|
[everyone expels a deep sigh
of relief] |
COLUMN: |
[approaches SCOPPRELL slowly, turns him
violently by the collar] They call women the weakest vessel, but
I think they are the strongest. A girl has always more tongue than
a boy. I have seen a little brat no higher than a nettle, and she
had as much tongue as a city clerk; but the boy would be such a
fool, not have anything to say, and if anybody asked him a question
he would put his head into a hole and hide it. [To GITTIPIN] I am
sure I take but little pleasure. You have as much pleasure as I
have. Here I stand and bear every fool's insult. If I had only myself
to care for, I'd wring off their noses. |
SCOPPRELL: |
I think ladies' discourses, Mr. Column,
are some of them more improving than any book. That is the way I
get most of my knowledge. |
GITTIPIN: |
Mr. Scopprell, do you know the song of
Phebe and Jellicoe? |
PHILOSOPHERS: |
AHH. [During song, COLUMN makes
faces and pretends to cry, which entertains GIMBLET, but infuriates
SCOPRELL] |