Room of the chamber, madam, but not as a footman. _Mrs. Sul_. I suppose you served as footman before? _Arch_. For that reason I would not serve in that post again; for my memory is too weak for the load of messages that the ladies lay upon their servants in London. My Lady Howd'ye, the last mistress I served, called me up one morning, and told me, 'Martin, go to my Lady Allnight with my humble service; tell her I was to wait on her ladyship yesterday, and left word with Mrs. Rebecca, that the preliminaries of the affair she knows of, are stopped till we know the concurrence of the person that I know of, for which there are circumstances wanting which we shall accommodate at the old place; but that in the meantime there is a person about her ladyship, that from several hints and surmises, was accessory at a certain time to the disappointments that naturally attend things, that to her knowledge are of more importance--' {191} _Mrs. Sul_., _Dor_. Ha! ha! ha! where are you going, sir? _Arch_. Why, I han't half done!--The whole howd'ye was about half an hour long; so I happened to misplace two syllables, and was turned off, and rendered incapable. _Dor_. [_Aside to Mrs. Sullen_.] The pleasantest fellow, sister, I ever saw!--[_To Archer_.] But, friend, if your master be married, I presume you still serve a lady? _Arch_. No, madam, I take care never to come into a married family; the commands of the master and mistress are always so contrary, that 'tis impossible to please both. {203} _Dor_. There's a main point gained: my lord is not married, I find. [_Aside_. _Mrs. Sul_. But I wonder, friend, that in so many good services, you had not a better provision made for you.
