Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 8.djvu/342

332 Footman. [''to Ld. Smart''.] My lord, sir John Linger is coming up.

''Ld. Smart''. God so! I invited him to dine with me to day, and forgot it: well, desire him to walk in.

Sir John. What! are you at it? why, then, I'll be gone.

Lady Smart. Sir John, I beg you will sit down; come, the more the merrier.

Sir John. Ay; but the fewer the better cheer.

Lady Smart. Well, I am the worst in the world at making apologies; it was my lord's fault: I doubt you must kiss the hare's foot.

Sir John. I see you are fast by the teeth.

Col. Faith, sir John, we are killing that that would kill us.

''Ld. Sparkish''. You see, sir John, we are upon a business of life and death; come, will you do as we do? you are come in pudding-time.

Sir John. Ay; this would be doing if I were dead. What! you keep court hours I see: I'll be going, and get a bit of meat at my inn.

Lady Smart. Why, we won't eat you, sir John.

Sir John. It is my own fault; but I was kept by a fellow, who bought some Derbyshire oxen of me.

Neverout. You see, sir John, we staid for you as one horse does for another.

Lady Smart. My lord, will you help sir John to some beef? Lady Answerall, pray eat, you see your dinner: I am sure, if we had known we should have such good company, we should have been better provided;