Wife.—­Why, first, I keep five maids, you see, and a footman; I shall immediately give three of my maids warning, and the fellow also, and save you that part of the expense.

Husb.—­How can you do that?—­you can’t do your business.

Wife.—­Yes, yes, there’s nobody knows what they can do till they are tried; two maids may do all my house-business, and I’ll look after my children myself; and if I live to see them grown a little bigger, I’ll make them help one another, and keep but one maid; I hope that will be one step towards helping it.

Husb.—­And what will all your friends and acquaintance, and the world, say to it?

Wife.—­Not half so much as they would to see you break, and the world believe it be by my high living, keeping a house full of servants, and do nothing myself.

Husb.—­They will say I am going to break upon your doing thus, and that’s the way to make it so.

Wife.—­I had rather a hundred should say you were going to break, than one could say you were really broke already.

Husb.—­But it is dangerous to have it talked of, I say.

Wife.—­No, no; they will say we are taking effectual ways to prevent breaking.

Husb.—­But it will put a slur upon yourself too.  I cannot bear any mortifications upon you, any more than I can upon myself.

Wife.—­Don’t tell me of mortifications; it would be a worse mortification, a thousand times over, to have you ruined, and have your creditors insult me with being the occasion of it.

Husb.—­It is very kind in you, my dear, and I must always acknowledge it; but, however, I would not have you straiten yourself too much neither.

Wife.—­Nay, this will not be so much a mortification as the natural consequence of other things; for, in order to abate the expense of our living, I resolve to keep less company.  I assure you I will lay down all the state of living, as well as the expense of it; and, first, I will keep no visiting days; secondly, I’ll drop the greatest part of the acquaintance I have; thirdly, I will lay down our treats and entertainments, and the like needless occasions of expense, and then I shall have no occasion for so many maids.

Husb.—­But this, my dear, I say, will make as much noise almost, as if I were actually broke.

Wife.—­No, no; leave that part to me.

Husb.—­But you may tell me how you will manage it then.

Wife.—­Why, I’ll go into the country.

Husb.—­That will but bring them after you, as it used to do.

Wife.—­But I’ll put off our usual lodgings at Hampstead, and give out that I am gone to spend the summer in Bedfordshire, at my aunt’s, where every body knows I used to go sometimes; they can’t come after me thither.

Husb.—­But when you return, they will all visit you.