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 LIBRARY 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF , 
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 THE LIBRARY 
 
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 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
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 IN MEMORY OF 
 CAROLINE GUSHING DUNIWAY 
 
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Digitized by tine Internet Arciiive 
 
 in 2007 witii funding from 
 
 IVIicrosoft Corporation 
 
 littp://www.arcliive.org/details/clierryviolettaleOOmannricli 
 
w m 
 
 CHERRY & VIOLET, 
 ^ TJLE of the GREAT PLAGUE. 
 
 BY 
 
 Thb Authob of * Mabt Powbll.* 
 
 Atl taihjf m^tHf, I taUted to mjifeff, 
 And thui to mg/eff mid I. 
 
 % 
 
 LONDON: 
 Printed for Arthur Hall, Virtue, & Co. 
 at 25, Paternojler Row, 
 

 CHAP. L 
 
 The Re?ninifcences of Mijlrefs Cherry. 
 —The Fire, & Double Tide.— 
 Mal'Converfation . 
 
 I WONDER whether many People, 
 on reviewing their paft Lives, feel 
 as I do on looking back on mine ; 
 that, had they had the ordering the 
 outward Circumftances connedled 
 with them beforehand, fuch as 
 Time, Place, Health, Sicknefs, 
 Friends, Acquaintances, and fuch- 
 like Conditions, they could not 
 have arranged them half fo well as 
 they have been difpofed for them. 
 When I fall into a Mufe on the 
 Paft, the Moments fly fo fwiftly 
 B that 
 
 6688 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 1632 
 
 that I am loft in Amazement when 
 I find how the Time has flipped by 
 while thus pleafantly employed. 
 And yet many of the Arrangements 
 which were made for me by a 
 greater Wifdom than mine, were 
 fuch as at the Time were far from 
 agreeable to me ; nay, were fome- 
 times fo repugnant to Flefli and 
 Blood as to nourifh rebellious 
 Thoughts, and call forth Showers 
 of Tears. And ftill the Procefs 
 went on; as I now fee, all for my 
 Good. 
 
 My Father married my Mother 
 in the Spring of the Year 1632: 
 being then in the Prime of Life, a 
 perfonable, charming-looking Man, 
 though fmall of Stature, and with 
 a Nofe fomewhat awry. In his 
 Conditions he was ever moft lovely; 
 of a fweet Temper, fhrewd Obfer- 
 vance, ftout Heart, and lively Wit. 
 
 Many, 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 Many, no Doubt, had read more, 
 by reafon of their Opportunities ; 
 but what few Books he knew, he 
 turned to Profit, and perhaps no 
 Man concodled his Reading into 
 Judgment better than he; by which 
 he became fo judicious and oracular, 
 as that though he could not indeed 
 prophefy, he could prefage ; and 
 fome of his Prefages came true and 
 others not, biit might have done fo, 
 had Events taken but in a very 
 flight Degree a different Courfe. 
 He knew how to found his Cuf- 
 tomers, and fuck the Marrow of! 
 their Knowledge, while keeping 
 his own Counfel : but this was his 
 Prudence, not Pufillanimity, for I 
 have heard it remarked by one who 
 knew him well, that the Trojan 
 Horfe was not more full of Valour 
 than he, for fo fmall a Man. Being 
 a Hair-drefTer, this was not fo 
 
 evident 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 evident in him as if he had been 
 a Soldier ; but yet every Man's Life 
 affords Occafions, as my Father's 
 certainly did, of fhow^ing what is in 
 him and vs^hat is not. 
 
 In Drefs, his Tafte w^as exceflive 
 neat, and yet gaudy ; fo that on 
 Sundays, when he appeared in what 
 he called his Marigold-and-Poppy, 
 with his Hair, which Men then 
 wore very long, combed down in 
 large fmooth Curls, his laced Collar 
 nicely ironed, his Beaver well 
 brufhed, and his Shoes fhining like 
 Coals ... it would have been diffi- 
 cult to find a Grain of Fault with 
 him, fave that, as my Coufin Mark 
 was wont to fay, the Colours of his 
 Suit did too much fwear at one 
 another. For my own Part, I 
 always had an Impreffion that he 
 was an exceffive well-looking Man, 
 not out of any Prejudice, but down- 
 right 
 
Cherry & Violet. 
 
 right PrepofTeffion ; and yet my 
 dear Mother, who I am fure loved 
 him truly, always faid to me when 
 I alluded to the Subjedl, ** My Dear, 
 ** the Qualities of his Perfon were 
 " always far exceeded by thofe of 
 '' his Mind." 
 
 Of my Coufin Marky who was 
 my Father's Apprentice, there could 
 not be two Opinions. He was 
 winfome, lightfome, debonair; of 
 moft comely Perfon and Afped: : 
 we were all very proud of him, and 
 he of himfelf. If he had a Fault, 
 it was thinking too much of himfelf 
 and too little of others ; but this is 
 fo common that I do not know I 
 am juftified in particularizing it. 
 Alfo he was fomewhat of a Coward, 
 not in refped: of perfonal, animal 
 Courage, of which I fuppofe he 
 had as much as the aforefaid Trojan 
 Horfe, whatever that might be ; 
 
 but 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 but morally cowardly, as to what 
 would be thought of him by others, 
 and dreading the Evil of the prefent 
 Moment, and fo forth ; which Men 
 don't think fo bad a kind of Cow- 
 ardice as the other, but I do. 
 
 But his Temper was moft fweet : 
 his Manners moft engaging. Oh ! 
 how much he came to be thought 
 of, at length, all along the Bridge ! 
 I have no other Fault to find in 
 him befides thofe already reckoned ; 
 unlefs it were a general Want of 
 Principle, which was lefs apparent 
 than it would have been, had it not 
 been covered rather than fupplied by 
 good Feeling. But 'tis ill reckoning 
 the Faults of one's Friends. 
 
 Of my Mother, how fhall I fay 
 enough ? She was tall, flender, and 
 comely to look upon, with fweet 
 and quick grey Eyes. She was 
 naturally of a high Spirit, which 
 
 had 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 had been brought under a Curb by 
 Divine Grace. She was kind and 
 obliging to all, ftirring and thrifty, 
 yet not niggardly; foft-hearted to 
 the Poor, of wonderful Propriety 
 without the leaft Priggifhnefs, loved 
 by her Friends, and efpecially in 
 her own Family. Now I have 
 counted up the whole Houfe except 
 our Lodger, Mafter B/ower, and 
 Do/fyy the Cook. 
 
 My Father's Shop was on the 
 eaft Side of London Bridge. Over 
 his Door hung his Sign of " The 
 ** Lock of Hair; " and over the Shop- 
 front was painted in yellow Letters 
 the follovring Infcription, — 
 
 "Peter Curling sells all Sorts of Hair, 
 " Curled or Uncurled, Roses, Braids, Cauls, 
 *' Bibbons^ Weav'mg, Sewing-silk, Cards, 
 '' and Blocks. Together with Combs, Crisp- 
 ** ing-pins. Perfumery , and all other Goods 
 " made use of by Tonsors and Hairdressers, 
 " at the Lowest Prices,'^ 
 
 On 
 
Cherry & Violet. 
 
 On the oppolite Side of the Way, 
 was a Vintner*s, by the Name of 
 Abely who had humoroufly fet up 
 a Bell for his Sign, and painted 
 beneath it, ** Quoth the Wag, I am 
 " Abei:' 
 
 Next Door to us on one Side, 
 lived a Bookfeller and Stationer 
 named Benjkiriy whofe Sign was 
 the Bible and Star; and next Door 
 to us on the other Side was a Glover 
 named Hugh Braidfooty a jolly, good- 
 tempered Bachelor, black-haired, 
 frefh-coloured, and fix Feet high, 
 whofe Sign was the Roebuck. 
 
 A few Weeks after my Birth, 
 which was in February y 1633, in 
 the Midft of a notable hard Froft, 
 there broke out a moft dreadful 
 Fire at the north End of the Bridge, 
 which confumed all the Houfes on 
 both Sides, from St, Magnus Church 
 to the firft open Space on the 
 
 Bridge. 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 Bridge. There was, I have heard 
 tell, much bodily Hurt as well as 
 Deftruftion of Property ; many 
 Perfons in precipitating themfelves 
 from upper Stories, getting their 
 Limbs broken. ** Water! Water!" 
 was the Cry, and all in vain, for 
 though the Thames lay right under 
 the Houfes, 'twas one great Cake of 
 Ice, and the only Refource was to 
 break the Conduit Pipes that ran 
 through the Streets leading to the 
 Bridge, and fweep the Water down 
 with Brooms, to fupply the three 
 Engines that every one had thought 
 would be fuch Helps in Time of 
 Need, but which proved very forry 
 Helps indeed. In the Midft of the 
 Tumult and Danger, fome Neigh- 
 bours of ours that were burned out 
 of Houfe and Home, took Refuge 
 with us; to wit, the Wife and 
 infant Daughter of Mafter Samuel 
 
 Armytagey 
 
lo i Cherry & FioUt. 
 
 jlrmytage^ Habcrdartier of fmall 
 Wares; the Infant being, like my- 
 fclf, a Nurfling of only a few Weeks 
 old. Thefe homelefs Strangers did 
 my Mother hofpitably and Chriftianly 
 entertain, beftirring herfelf more in 
 her Care for them than in her 
 tender Cafe it was fit (he (hould 
 have done, and putting us two 
 Infants into one and the fame Cradle. 
 With our little Arms locked about 
 one another, in an Atmofphere of 
 Chriflian Love, 'twas no Wonder 
 that little Violet and I conceived a 
 Tendernels for each other, e'en 
 while Sucklings, that grew with 
 our Growth, and ftrengthened with 
 our Strength. As for the elder 
 Parties, Hofpitality on the one Side 
 and Thankiulnels on the other 
 caufed a more than common Friend- 
 lineis to fpring up between them 
 from that Time forth. And when 
 
 the 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 the Fugitives were re-eftabliflied in 
 their re-built Houfes, they long had 
 an impreflive and folemnifying Re- 
 membrance of their narrow Efcapc 
 from an awful and terrible Death. 
 
 Now, though I cannot, of courfe, 
 remember Anything of the Fire, 
 I have a perfed Recollection of the 
 next notable Occurrence among us, 
 of the Double Tide^ which happened 
 in my eighth Year; and how the 
 River, after lying as ftill as a Stone 
 for more than an Hour, fuddenly 
 came foaming up from Greenwich^ 
 roaring, boiling, and fplafhing to 
 that Degree that it was Horror to 
 look upon. And my Father, after 
 contemplating the Prodigy along 
 with all the reft, exclaimed, **Well, 
 " Friends ! you may fay what you 
 ** will ; but I, though not a fuper- 
 " ftilious Man, think Something 
 " will come of it." And did not 
 
 Something 
 
12 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 Something come of it . . or, at any 
 Rate, after it ? and were not we, 
 that had previoufly been fleeping 
 on the ftill Waters of a fettled 
 Government, horribly overwhelmed 
 with a Tide of Rebellion, Anarchy, 
 and Republicanifm ? 
 Mo- The Year before the Double Tide, 
 
 there had been much Talk in my 
 Father's Shop, about the Earl of 
 Strafford being given over to the 
 Black Rod, which I, being of fuch 
 tender Years, could not well make 
 out, but it feemed to carry an ill 
 Sound with it. After that, he was 
 taken to his Trial ; and pafTed from 
 his Prifon in the Tower to JVeJi- 
 minjiery under our Bridge. We 
 looked forth of our Windows, and 
 difcerned him plainly in one of the 
 Barges, guarded by Soldiers with 
 Partizans ; and there was much 
 Yelling and Hooting as he went 
 
 through 
 
Cherry & Violet. 1 3 
 
 through the Arch, which I for my 
 Part was forry for, he was fo hand- 
 fome and perfonable a Gentleman. 
 The People, however, were much 
 incenfed againft him ; and, about 
 three Months after the Double Tide, 1641. 
 there was what I may call a Double 
 Tide of 'Prentices and tumultuous 
 Citizens, to the Number of about 
 fix Thoufand, (my Coufin, Mark 
 Blenkinfopy being among them,) who 
 aflembled themfelves in an intimi- 
 dating Manner at Wejlminjlery many 
 of them armed with Swords and 
 Staves, and demanded Lord Strafford's 
 Death of the Peers as they went to 
 the Houfe. 
 
 I remember my Father, for as 
 fmall a Man as he was, collaring 
 Mark when he came back, and 
 dealing him one or two Blows, 
 which made me begin to cry, and 
 run in between them. And Mark^ 
 
 though 
 
H 
 
 Cherry & Violet. 
 
 though a great, tall Lad of his 
 Years, began to whimper too, which 
 reminds me again of the Trojan 
 Horfe, and the Valour that may 
 dwell in a little Body, and the 
 Pufillanimity that may be in a large 
 one. And, " fure. Uncle," fays 
 Marky " the Earl deferves to die, 
 " for his " . . Malconverfation, or 
 Malminiftration, I forget which. 
 And my Father replied, " Never 
 ".trouble your Head with that. 
 " Leave the Powers that be to fettle 
 " their own Affairs. Fine Times, 
 " indeed, when Barbers' 'Prentices 
 " muft be meddling in State-politics! 
 "To his own Mafter, the Earl 
 " ftandeth or falleth." 
 
 Had all Men been of my Father's 
 equable and temperate Mind, we 
 fliould not have fallen into the 
 Diforders we prefently did; wherein, 
 no Doubt, there was much Wrong 
 
 on 
 
Cherry Gf Violet. 
 
 on both Sides. One Night we 
 were roufed from Sleep by Cries 
 in the Street that ** the King and 
 " his Papifts were coming to fire 
 " the City and cut our Throats in 
 " our Beds ;" but my Father, after 
 putting his Head forth to learn 
 the Nature of the Tumult, drew it 
 in again and clofed the Window, 
 allaying our fomewhat ungoverned 
 Fears with that Compofure which 
 it behoves every Mafter of a Family 
 to afliime when he can, in Seasons 
 of Danger or the Appreheniion 
 of it. 
 
 Soon there was open War be- 
 tween King and Parliament ^ which 
 went on increafing till the whole 
 Country was filled with Bloodshed 
 and Confufion, and only ended in 
 a total Change of Government. 
 We were now in a State of 
 Fortification; for the Lords and 
 
 Commons 
 
i6 
 
 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 Commons had direfted that the 
 whole City fhould be put in a 
 State of Defence, and that the 
 Lord Mayor and Citizens fliould 
 trench, flop, and fortify all High- 
 ways leading thereunto. Where- 
 fore, all Entrances into London 
 except five, were floned and 
 bricked up altogether; and thofe 
 five were made as flrong as 
 could be, with Breafl-works and 
 Turnpikes, Mufket-proof. And 
 all Sheds and Out-buildings out- 
 fide London JVall, that were near 
 enough to be advantageous to an 
 Enemy, were taken down; and 
 this gave a great deal of Work 
 to do that behoved to be done 
 quickly ; wherefore even Women 
 and Children helped the Men in 
 carrying Earth, Stones, &c., for, 
 by this Time, there was in the 
 City a pretty general DifafFeftion 
 
 towards 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 towards the King; and thofe that 
 
 wiflied him well and could not 
 
 get to him, found it beft to hold 
 their Peace. 
 
 17 
 
 CHAP 
 
i8 
 
 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 Cherry endeavours to remember if Jhe 
 were pretty. — A Water-party. 
 
 And now my Memory flies 
 
 on to the Time when, I fuppofe, 
 I was as happy a Girl as any on 
 the Bridge^ I know not whether 
 I were pretty or not, — I rather 
 fuppofe I was, but my Father 
 praifed me too much, and my dear 
 Mother never praifed me at all, fo 
 that I have no Clue to what was 
 really thought of me. There's an 
 old Saying, '* Even a little Beetle 
 ^' is a Beauty in the Eyes of its 
 '* Mother,"— I am bold to think 
 
 that 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 that if I had been a little Black- 
 beetle, I fhould ftill have been a 
 Beauty in the Eyes of my Father. 
 My Mother ufed to tell him " all 
 ** his Geefe were Swans," which 
 was as much as to fay that hers 
 were not : be that as it may, if fhe 
 praifed me lefs, I always felt fhe 
 loved me as much as he did ; and 
 I loved her to the full as much as 
 I loved him. 
 
 I remember coming down Stairs 
 one Sunday Morning, drefled for 
 Church, — (we had no Liturgy, nor 
 Church oi England CX^vgymtn then, 
 fuch was the Will of Parliament y) — 
 drefled in a primrofe Petticoat and 
 grafs-green Mantua neatly bundled 
 up behind ; black Mits without a 
 Creafe in them for Tightnefs, white 
 Pinners ftarched and crimped, and 
 a fmall fteeple- crowned Hat, — 
 when Marky meeting me at the 
 
 Stair-foot, 
 
20 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 Stair-foot, ftepped out of my Way 
 with a Hiding Bow, faid, " Blefs me, 
 how pretty we are ! " and looked 
 attentively after me. I feh afhamed 
 and yet elated ; and thought fome- 
 what more of myfelf and of him 
 after that ; yet I am not quite fure, 
 now, that his Speech was not 
 ironical, after all. 
 
 Of my Friend and Schoolfellow, 
 Violet ArtTiytagey there could not be 
 two Opinions. She was exceffively 
 pretty, and knew it too well: which 
 was partly the Fault of her Father, 
 who was always calling her his 
 " iwcttJVi-let; " and yet, even if he 
 had not, I think fhe would have 
 found it out, for all that. My 
 Father called me his rofy Cherry^ 
 but I knew it for his Manner of 
 Speaking. But Violet always be- 
 lieved Everything that was faid in 
 her Praife. She was fond of me 
 
 by 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 by Fits and Starts ; and when the 
 afFeftionate Fit was on, fhe would 
 bring her Work and lit with me 
 in the Arbour at the Top of our 
 Houfe, by the Hour together. 
 Sometimes my Father and Mother 
 would join us there, in the long 
 Summer Evenings, and we would 
 fup in the open Air ; no one objed:- 
 ing to it but Dolly y who had to 
 carry the Things up fo many Pair 
 of Stairs. 
 
 At other Times, when my Father 
 and Mother were otherwife en- 
 gaged, Mark would come up to us ; 
 and fit upon the Roller or Watering- 
 pot, and fay ever fo many funny 
 Things to us both ; which we 
 thought very pleafant. Sometimes 
 Violet would let her Ball of Thread 
 roll through the Rails and drop 
 down into the Street, and fend him 
 to fetch it; and when he had 
 
 brought 
 
 21 
 
22 
 
 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 brought it fhe would do the fame 
 Thing again; which he faid was 
 too bad, but I don't think he 
 minded it. I never played him 
 fuch Tricks myfelf ; for, what was 
 Angular, though we lived in the 
 fame Houfe together, I was (hycr 
 of him than fhe was. 
 
 Our firft Floor was let to a very 
 learned and excellent Man, though 
 a very fingular one, the Reverend 
 Nathanael Blowery who had been 
 Curate of St. Magnus till the Form 
 of Religion changed. Then he was 
 hard put to it, where to lay his 
 Head without fleeing the Country 
 or getting into Trouble ; for the 
 Independents were mighty intole- 
 rant; and he whom we ufed to 
 think it a great Honour to get a 
 pafling Word and a Smile from, 
 was now thankful to take up his 
 Reft among us. Holy Writ tells 
 
 us 
 
Cherry & Violet. \ 23 
 
 us that fome have entertained 
 Angels unawares : if we entertained 
 an Angel, it was not unawares, 
 though he was a very eccentric and 
 untidy one. He faid he would 
 have called my Mother the good 
 Shunammite if it had not been a 
 Shame to provoke Comparifon be- 
 tween himfelf and the Prophet 
 Elijah. Indeed his was fomewhat 
 like the " Chamber on the Wall," 
 for the Back-room in which he 
 flept was a Lean-to that ftuck 
 againft the main Wall like a 
 Swallow's Neft, and hung periloufly 
 over the foaming River, trembling 
 at every half-ebb Tide ; but Ufe 
 inures us to Everything, and he 
 faid he flept as well in his Neil 
 as a Sailor in his Hammock. As 
 to his Sitting-chamber, it was foon 
 a perfed: Pig-fly (if Pigs ever had 
 Books ) of Papers, Parchments, 
 
 Books, 
 
24 
 
 Cherry Gf Violet. 
 
 Books, Pamphlets, old Shoes, Hats 
 and Coats, Medicines, Cordials, 
 SnufF-boxes, Pipes, Walking-fticks, 
 and Everything that is untidy. 
 After a Time he began to think 
 whether he might not, by a 
 confcientious Conformity, be a 
 Working-bee rather than a Drone 
 in the Hive ; and, having fome 
 Acquaintance with Mafter ^ohn 
 Howe, the Whitehall Preacher, who 
 was known to be forward in affifting 
 the Royalists and Epifcopalians in 
 Diftrefs, if they were but Men of 
 Merit, he went and took his Advice 
 on the Subjed: before he prefented 
 himfelf before the Triers, that is to 
 fay, thofe who tried the ejedled 
 Minifters whether they might be 
 allowed to officiate again in Public 
 or not. Along with him went 
 Dodlor Fuller, fo well known by 
 his wife and witty Books ; who was 
 
 generally 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 generally upon the merry Pin, for 
 as pious a Man as he was. He, 
 prefenting himfelf before Mafter 
 Howe, faid, 
 
 ** Sir, you may obferve I am a 
 " pretty corpulent Man, and I am 
 ''to go through a Paflage that is 
 '* very ftrait. I beg you would be 
 *' fo kind as to give me a Shove, 
 " and help me through !*' 
 
 Mafter Howe fmiled, and frankly 
 debated the Subjed: with him and 
 Mafter Blower ; and the End of it 
 was, that when the Triers put it to 
 Mafter Fuller whether he had ever 
 had any Experience of a Work of 
 Grace upon his Heart, he made 
 Anfwer, that he could appeal to the 
 Searcher of Hearts, that he made 
 Confcience of his very Thoughts; 
 and Mafter Blower faid in other 
 Words what amounted to the fame 
 Thing ; howbeit, like Pharaolis 
 
 Butler 
 
26 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 Butler and Baker, one was accepted 
 — the other not. 
 
 And the Reafon was, that they 
 got upon the Queftion of particular 
 Faith, which was very prevalent in 
 Oliver CromwelPs Court, and put it 
 to him whether he did not believe 
 that all who afked for Anything in 
 Faith would have it granted them, 
 as well as have an Affurance on the 
 Spot that it would be fo. Which 
 he faid, in that large, unqualified 
 Senfe, he did not, for that he 
 believed many timid Believers had 
 the Faith of Adherence who had 
 not the Faith of Affurance; and 
 that if Prayer were made for fome 
 unreafonable Thing, however fer- 
 vently, he did not think it would 
 be granted. That would not ftand 
 Mafler Blower ; fo he had to come 
 back to his Swallow's Neft. 
 
 ** But is it not an extraordinary 
 
 '' Thing, 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 ** Thing, now," faith he to my 
 Mother, ** that they fhould, except 
 ** for the Sake of catching a Man 
 ** in his Talk, fo hardly infift on 
 " the literal Acceptanceof a Dogma 
 " which they themfelves muft know 
 ** they overftrain ? For would one 
 ** of them dare to pray that his 
 ** Father or Mother might come to 
 ** Life again in this prefent World, 
 " however much he might long to 
 " fee them in the Body ? Or that 
 ** all Jews, Infidels, and Heretics, 
 ** might be converted this very 
 ** Moment, however defirable a 
 " Thing it might be ? We do the 
 " Word of God Diflionour and 
 " make it of none Effedt when we 
 " interpret by the Letter inftead of 
 " the Spirit." 
 
 In this Fafliion would the ex- 
 cellent Mafter Blower vouchfafe to 
 converfe with my Mother in my 
 
 Hearing, 
 
28 
 
 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 Hearing, much to her Edification 
 and mine. Meantime Violet Army- 
 tage was much more given to 
 Fhrting than Preaching; and had 
 more Admirers than any Girl on 
 the Bridge; but the Man whom 
 iTie and her Mother were chiefly 
 defirous fhe fhould captivate was 
 no Admirer of hers at all. This 
 was Hugh Braidfoot, the Glover, 
 who lived next Door to us; and 
 who talked the Matter over with 
 my Father very freely when they 
 had the Shop to themfelves ; I 
 fewing in the Parlour behind. 
 
 *' I can fee quite plainly through 
 ** the old Lady," quoth he, as he 
 fate on his favourite Seat, the 
 Counter, with his Feet eafily 
 reaching the Floor, " I can fee 
 ** what fhe's driving at, and don't 
 ** refpe6t her for it a bit. Why 
 ** fhould fhe always be buying 
 
 '' Gloves 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 " Gloves three or four Sizes too 
 " fmall for her broad red Hand, 
 " and then be fending Violet over 
 ** to change them again and again 
 " till they fit ? Tve a dozen Pair 
 " v^afted that (he has ftretched. 
 ** And v^here is the other Daughter, 
 " and w^hy is fhe alw^ays in the 
 "Background?'' 
 
 ^' Kitty is fickly and a little lame," 
 fays my Father, *' and has her 
 " Health better in the Country." 
 
 " I don't believe (he's either 
 fickly or lame," fays Hugh Braid- 
 foot, " only the Mother wants to 
 " get this Daughter off firft — and 
 " ftands in her ovv^n Light by her 
 " Manoeuvres, I can tell her. 
 " Defend me from a managing 
 "Mother!" 
 
 About this Time, my Father's 
 Trade had a ifhort but furprifmg 
 Impetus, v^hich, as he faid to my 
 
 Mother, 
 
 29 
 
IP ' Ckrmr & Fizlet, 
 
 Mother, " was but the Flaring op 
 *' of a Candk in the Socket, joft 
 " before it goes oat.** Cropped 
 Heads and long CoHs being now 
 the Signs of difieient Parties, and 
 dbe Roond-heads having the upper- 
 moll, nomeioos Perfims that had 
 hitherto been rain enough of their 
 long and graceful Trcflcs, which 
 bnwght no finall Gain to the Hair- 
 drc&is, were now anxious to be 
 Iborn as dkA as Fremcb Poodles, fbr 
 Fear of getting into Scrapes with 
 the reigning Power. And as, like 
 the Sheep after Shearing, they left 
 their Fleeces behind diem, which 
 were in many Cafes exceeding 
 valuable, my Father and Mark were 
 bufied from Meaning to Ni^t, | 
 in wafhing, baking, and weai-ing 
 beautiful Sets of Ibir, which were | 
 carcfulhr rcfi»ved fiw future Occa- 
 fion. 
 
 "For 
 
Cherry & Viokt. 31 
 
 " For you will lee," quoth my 
 Father, ** there will fbouer or later 
 '* be a Re-adioo ; / voacf not live 
 *' to lee it, but you Toungftcis will ; 
 " People will be tired of Puri- 
 *' taniiin and Rebellioo fiMiie of; 
 
 theie Days, and then the old 
 
 State of Things will come back ; 
 
 and the Croppies will be as 
 << afhamed of tfan^ Stubble Heads 
 *' as the CaTaliers are of their Lore- 
 ''locks now; and, as Hair won't 
 *' grow as faft as green Peas» tfacj ^ 
 '* will then be conftrained to wear 
 '* Wigs, and then will eome a rare 
 "Time for the Barbers!" Every 
 Word of which, like fi> many other! 
 of his Prophefyings and Prelagcs, 
 in due Sealbn proved Ari^y true ! 
 
 Meantime, though this Fury for 
 cropping filled the Till as long as 
 {there was any long Hair to cut 
 off*, yet, this being prclcntly done, | 
 
 agrcat| 
 
32 
 
 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 a great Stagnation of Bufinefs 
 enfued ; for, whereas the curled 
 Locks had required conftant curl- 
 ing, brufhing, and trimming, the 
 round Heads were eafily kept fhort, 
 and brought only Pence where the 
 others had brought Shillings. My 
 Father kept his Hair long to the 
 laft ; and, to exprefs his Opinion of 
 the Times fo as e'en they who ran 
 might read, he fet up two waxen 
 Effigies in his Window, not merely 
 Heads, but half Lengths ; the one 
 reprefenting an exceeding comely 
 and handfome young Man, (very 
 much like my Coulin Mark,) with 
 long, fair Treffes moft beautifully 
 crimped, falling over his Vandyke 
 Collar and black Velvet Coat : the 
 other, with as red a Nofe as old 
 Nolly clofe cropped, fo as to fhow 
 his large Ears flicking out on each 
 Side. And to make the Satire 
 
 more 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 [nore pungent, the Roundhead made 
 is though pointing to the CavaHer, 
 with a fmall Label fuperfcribed, 
 '* See what I was ! " — and the 
 Cavalier, with a Look of filent 
 Difguft, was figning at the Round- 
 bead and faying, " See what I fhall 
 ^^be!" 
 
 This Comicality, which had coft 
 [ny Father and Mark fundry Hours 
 Df evening Labour, — (I Gad made 
 the DrefTes,) drew Crowds of People 
 to the Window, fo as even to 
 Dbftrud: the Paflage along the 
 Bridge ; and excited Peals of 
 ironical Laughter ; till, at length. 
 Mirth proceeding to Mifchief, 
 Blows began to enfue among thofe 
 who favoured oppofite Sides. Then 
 the Bridgewardens came with Con- 
 ftables and Weapons to quell the 
 Diflurbance, and an idle Fellow 
 was fet in the Cage, and another 
 D with 
 
34 
 
 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 with long Hair, put in the Stocks; 
 and one or two of our Panes of 
 Glafs were broken ; fo that what 
 began in Sport ended much too 
 ferioufly ; and my Father, finding 
 he muft yield to the Times, changed 
 the Cavalier's Placard into ** See 
 " what you had better be," and 
 finally removed it altogether, faying 
 he was naufeated with time-ferving. 
 But he perfifted in wearing his own 
 long Hair, come what would ; 
 which drew from the Reverend 
 Mafter Blower that Similitude about 
 the 'Trojan Horfe, who, I fuppofe, 
 perfifted in wearing his Mane and 
 long Tail after they had become 
 Types of a Party. And when my 
 Father was called in queftion for 
 it by one of the Bridgewardens, 
 and afked why he perfevered in 
 troubling Ifraely he with his ufual 
 Spirit retorted upon him with, 
 
 *'How 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 35 
 
 '^ How can a Tonfor be exped:ed 
 ** to hold with a Party that puts 
 " Pence into his Till inftead of Shil- 
 *Mings?" Whereupon the Bridge- 
 warden called him a felf-interefted 
 DemaSy and faid no more to him. 
 
 Hugh Braidfoot upheld him 
 through thick and thin, laughing 
 all the while ; though he kept his 
 own buihy Head as fhort as a 
 Blacking-brufh. Indeed, this Man, 
 though the Effence of Mirth and 
 Good-humour, ftrongly built, and 
 fix Foot high, had not a Quarter of 
 my Father's Valour. 
 
 As for Mafter Blower^ he made 
 a wry Face on it, faying that Mag- 
 nafheh Mikiheh (which I after- 
 wards heard was Hebrew for well- 
 fet Hair) was now of no Account. 
 
 — One Evening, — I have good 
 Reafon to remember it, — the Days 
 being fultry and at their longeft, — 
 
 we 
 
36 
 
 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 we made a Pleafu re-party to Green- 
 wich^ and took Water below the 
 Bridge. Coming back juft as the 
 Moon was rifing, a Boat-full of 
 uproarious and half- intoxicated 
 young Men fell foul of us and 
 upfet us. I fhall never forget my 
 Senfations as I went into the Water! 
 — The next Minute, I was half out 
 of it again, and found Mark's Arm 
 clofe round me, while with the 
 other he flruck out, and prefently 
 brought me afhore. My dear 
 Father alfo refcued my Mother; 
 and Hugh Braidfoofs long Legs 
 helped him more in wading out 
 like a Heron, I think, than his 
 Arms in fwimming, for he, too, 
 prefently came aland, covered with 
 Mud. My Mother and I cried, 
 and felt very grateful to Marky who 
 flood panting and colouring, and 
 looking very much pleafed with 
 
 himself; 
 
Cherry & Violet.. 37 
 
 himfelf ; and prefently we were all 
 in another Boat on our Way to the 
 Bridge Stairs, drenched, quiet, and 
 thankful for our providential Efcape. 
 . . I, efpecially, feeling, oh ! how 
 happy! — Yet, in after Days, there 
 was a Time when I was ready to 
 wifh Mark had left me in the 
 River — . 
 
 f 
 
 CHAP, 
 
38 
 
 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 Refult of the JVater-Party. 
 
 — The only Perfon in the Boat, 
 who was left for the Boatman to 
 fave, was MiHrefs G/oJ/op, the Widow 
 of a Cheapjide Hairdreffer in a much 
 larger Way of Bufinefs than my 
 Father, with whom we were on 
 very intimate Terms. She was a 
 Woman of about forty-five, tall, 
 bulky, and with a very heated 
 Face, which was the Refult of 
 Intemperance, not in drinking, but 
 eating, as I have often heard her 
 acknowledge. She was fond of 
 Everything nice, and had a Habit 
 
 of 
 
Cherry & Violet. 
 
 of faying, '' Oh, I can't refift this !'' 
 "I never can refifl that!" which 
 ufed to difguft me with her; and 
 make me ready to fay, " More fhame 
 for you if you cannot." She and 
 her Hufband had always been well 
 to do; and now flie was Miflrefs 
 of a large Bufinefs, with Court- 
 patronage, fuch as it was, and a 
 Foreman and three 'Prentices under 
 her ; befides keeping a profeffed 
 Cook, Houfemaid, and Scullion. 
 And whereas fhe and Mafter Glojfop 
 had always been Companions and 
 Goffips of my Father and Mother, 
 whofe Ages were fuitable to them, 
 yet, now fhe had caft off her Weeds, 
 fhe went mighty fine ; and Marky 
 who thought her fufHciently un- 
 agreeable, though he often went on 
 Errands to her, faid he was fure fhe 
 was cafling about for a fecond. To 
 a Woman of her Habit, the Ducking 
 
 fhe 
 
 39 
 
40 
 
 Cherry & Violet. 
 
 {he got was unlikely to be of much 
 Good ; and as for her flame^coloured 
 Mantua, and pea-green Mantle, they 
 were ruined outright : however, fhe 
 was very merry about it, and as we 
 were all engaged to fup with her, 
 would hear of no excufe. Howbeit, 
 my Mother was too wet for doing 
 Anything but going Home and to 
 Bed : my Father would not leave 
 her ; Hugh Braidfoot faid he would 
 join us, but did not ; and the End 
 was, that Mark and I, when we had 
 drefTed ourfelves afrefh and kept 
 our Engagement, found Nobody to 
 meet us but fome Cheapfide Shop- 
 keepers who had not been on the 
 Water. And though they made 
 very merry, and though there were 
 Lobfters, and Pound-cake, and 
 Ducks, and green Peas, and fried 
 Plum-pudding, and Goofeberry Pie, 
 and other Delicacies too numerous 
 
 to 
 
Cherry & Violet. 
 
 41 
 
 \ 
 
 to mention, I had no Mind to eat, 
 but fat fhivering, and fcorching, and 
 thinking of the Water clofing over 
 me ; and at length, before any one 
 elfe was ready to leave, begged 
 Miftrefs Glojfop to let me v^ifh her 
 Good-night. 
 
 Mark, though he v^as in high 
 Spirits, came aw^ay with me, and 
 very kindly fa id he feared I was 
 the worfe for the Accident. And 
 though he had been very talkative 
 at the Supper-table, yet as foon as 
 we got into the open Air we 
 became as quiet as two Judges, and 
 walked Home fcarcely fpeaking a 
 Word, till we came to that laft one, 
 " Good-night." 
 
 I had taken Cold, which, with 
 a good deal of Fever attending 
 it, made me very poorly for fome 
 Days; and my dear Mother, who 
 did not fhew it fo much at firft, 
 
 had 
 
42 
 
 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 had in fa6l taken her Death-chill, 
 though we knew it not till long 
 afterwards. Meantime, fhe kept 
 about ; I feeming at firft the worft 
 of the two, and fitting by the Fire 
 in a Cloke, very chilly, though 
 'twas clofe upon the Dog-days. 
 Violet Army t age came over the Way 
 to fee me ; and faith fhe, ^' Dear 
 " Cherry y how well Mark behaved ! 
 ** I fhall think the better of him for 
 ** it as long as I live !" 
 
 I felt I fhould do fo too, but had 
 no Mind to fpeak much about it; 
 and, my Cold being heavy, and 
 making me indifpofed to talk, fhe 
 foon went away. Almoft daily, 
 however, fhe came acrofs ; and, 
 when file did not, Mark went at 
 her Defire to tell her how I was. 
 
 And fo I got well ; and juft as 
 I was fit for going out again, my 
 dear Mother's Illnefs became fo 
 
 apparent 
 
Cherry G? Violet, 
 
 apparent that I kept wholly to the 
 Houfe. At firft we thought it 
 troublefome rather than dangerous, 
 and were not frightened ; and, 
 though I fat by her Bed almoft all 
 Day long, fhe would fometimes 
 fend me down to work below and 
 keep an Eye to the Houfe. Her 
 lllnefs fubdued me a good deal," 
 and Mark was become unwontedly 
 gentle and filent; fo that, though 
 we fcarce faw each other fave at 
 Meals, we faid little; and yet I never 
 felt him to be better Company. 
 
 Violet fent me Word that unufual 
 Prefs of Bufinefs in the Shop kept 
 her from coming over, but begged 
 I would never let a Day pafs 
 without fending her Word how my 
 Mother was ; which I did, though 
 thinking, now and then, (he might 
 have juft run over, if but for a 
 
 Minute. 
 
 One 
 
 43 
 
44 
 
 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 One fultry Evening, my Mother 
 being ready to compofe herfelf to 
 Sleep, bade me fit below till fhe 
 rang for me, as fhe was fure the 
 Room muft be warm and clofe. 'It 
 was fo, in fad:, and I was feeling 
 a little faint, therefore was glad to 
 fit at the open Cafement of our 
 Parlour behind the Shop. The 
 Bufinefs of the Day was done ; my 
 Father was gofliping with Hugh 
 Braidfoot next Door; there was a 
 pleafing Confufion of diftant Sounds 
 from the City and along the Water; 
 Boatmen calling " Yo, heave ho," 
 and finging Snatches of Boat- 
 fongs ; the Water trembling and 
 murmuring among the Arches, and 
 the Evening Air feeling foft and 
 reviving. 
 
 While I was thus fitting, all 
 alone fave for T>olly in the Kitchen, 
 and Mafl:er Blower on the firfl: 
 
 Story, 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 Story, Mark comes in and gives me 
 a Pofy, faying, ** Violet fends you 
 ** thefe Flowers:" and then re- 
 mained, with his Hand refting on 
 the Back of my Chair. 
 
 I know not how long we thus 
 remained, quite lilent, and I con- 
 fcious of great Pleafure in his 
 Prefence; till at laft, for want of 
 Anything more important to fay, I 
 obferved, ** Howpleafant the Evening 
 ** Air is coming over the Water !" 
 
 '* Very," faid he, without feeming 
 to be thinking much about it : and 
 again we were both quiet. 
 
 ** Coufin," faid he at length, in 
 a very gentle Voice, — which was 
 not his ufual Way of addreffing 
 me, for in common, he called me 
 Cherry, — 
 
 — "Dear Coufin, I have fome- 
 " thing to fay to you" — and 
 flopped. 
 
 '' What 
 
46 
 
 Cherry & Violet. 
 
 **What is it, Mark?'' faid I, 
 foftly. 
 
 ** We have lived long together/^ 
 began he again, faintly laughing, 
 ** and I never felt afraid of fpeaking 
 ** to you, before — How odd it is 
 *' that I fhould feel fo, now!" 
 
 ** What have you to be afraid 
 "about?" faid I, looking up at 
 him : on which he coloured and 
 looked away; and I did the fame, 
 without knowing why. 
 
 " You have always been my 
 ** Friend," refumed he, taking 
 Courage, •" you will not be angry 
 " with me ? " 
 
 "Why fhould I?" faid I. "Is 
 " there Anything to be angry 
 " about ? " 
 
 " Perhaps you may think fo," 
 faid he, " when you come to know 
 " all. Dear Cherry, I'm in Love!" 
 And laughed, and then was filent. 
 
 I never 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 I never felt fo perplexed what to 
 fay next. ^ ** I don't fee that is any 
 " Matter of mine," faid I at length. 
 
 " Don't you, though ? But that 
 ** depends upon whom Tm in Love 
 ** with !" faid he, fmiling. " If it 
 ** were with Anybody a hundred 
 " Miles off, that you had never feen 
 " or heard of, you might fay it was 
 ** no Matter of yours ; but. Cherry y 
 '' {he's not one Mile off! She's the 
 " prettieft Girl on the Bridge !" 
 
 ** Then," faid I, turning fcarlet 
 as I fpoke, ** it muft certainly be 
 ** Violet Army t age!'' 
 
 " It is ! " cried he rapturoufly, 
 ** What a GuefTer you are ! — Dear 
 " Cherry!'' 
 
 Oh! what a Bound my Heart 
 gave ; and then feemed to flop ! 
 For,^ — Fm only fpeaking to myfelf ; 
 to myfelf I may own the Truth — I 
 had not thought he meant Violet ! 
 
 '' Ah," 
 
 47 
 
48 
 
 Cherry & Violet. 
 
 "Ah," faid he, after a long 
 Silence, which I was as unable as 
 he was difinclined to break, " I dare 
 " fay youVe feen it all along — I 
 ** may have told you no News — you 
 ** are fuch a good Secret-keeper, 
 ''Cherry!'' 
 
 I could not yet fay a Word — He 
 had taken my Hand and wrung it ; 
 and I gently prefTed his in Sign of 
 Sympathy ; it was all I could do, 
 but it was quite enough. 
 
 "How kind you are!" faid he. 
 ** What do you think my Uncle 
 "will fay?" ' 
 
 " What do you think her Father 
 "will fay?" faid I faintly. 
 
 " We are not going to tell him 
 "juft yet," returned he, "nor yet 
 " her Mother." 
 
 " That founds bad, Mark—'' 
 
 " Nay, Cherry y you know how 
 " crazy the old Lady is to have 
 
 " Braidfoot 
 
Cherry & Violet, 49 
 
 ^* Braidfoot for her Son-in-law ; 
 ** (he'll find in Time he won't 
 ** come forward, and Violet will 
 "take care he (hall not, for 
 ** (he will give him no Encourage- 
 ** ment ; but, till her Mother finds 
 " it won't do, there's no Ufe in 
 " my fpeaking, for you know 
 ** I have nothing to marry upon, 
 " yet." 
 
 "When (hall you have?" faid I. 
 
 " When ?" repeated he, looking a 
 little annoyed, ** why, feme of thefe 
 " DaySy as the Saying is. You 
 " know I am thorough Mafter of 
 " my Bufinefs now, have ferved my 
 " time, receive good Wages, and am 
 " very ufeful to your Father. Who 
 " knows but that, as Time goes on, 
 " he'll take me for a Partner, and 
 " finally retire from Bufinefs ?" 
 
 "Ah, Marky fo little comes in now, 
 
 " that he will have nothing to retire 
 
 E " upon. 
 
50 
 
 Cherry & Violet. 
 
 upon. We can but juft go on as 
 we do/' 
 
 *' Well/' faid he laughing, with 
 little Embarraflment, ** perhaps 
 Miflrefs Glojfop will take me into 
 Partnerfhip. Tm a Favourite in 
 that Quarter." 
 
 "Miflrefs Glojfop! Oh, Markr 
 " Nay, Cherry y don't you fee, if 
 old Mafter Armytage takes a 
 Fancy to me, he may make it 
 worth her while to do fo, for the 
 Sake of his * fweet Wi-let ' ? " 
 ** Ah, Marky Mafter Armytage is 
 himfelf in a very fmall Way of 
 Buiinefs — nothing at all to com- 
 pare with Miftrefs Glojfop' s. We 
 love and efteem them for old 
 Acquaintance fake, but fhe looks 
 quite down upon them. There 
 are fo many fmall Haberdafhers 
 on the Bridge!" 
 
 " Well, the fmaller he is, the lefs 
 
 "Reafon 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 51 
 
 Reafon he will have to look down 
 upon me. I fuppofe you don't 
 mean to fay, Cherry^ that no 
 young Man thinks of Marriage 
 unlefs he is better off than I 
 am?" 
 
 '* So far from it, Marky that I 
 cannot fee what Right the Army- 
 tages have to expeft a better 
 Match for their Daughter; and 
 therefore I think it a Pity there 
 fhould be any Concealment." 
 ** Marry come up !" cries he, ^* I 
 would rather draw a Double-tooth 
 for a. fiery Dragon than tell 
 Mafter Army t age I was Suitor for 
 his fweet Wi-let !'' 
 " Why, you will have to tell him 
 fooner or later," faid I. 
 ** Not . . not if we wait till he 
 dies," faid Mark. 
 ''Dies! oh, MarkT— 
 " It's ill, reckoning on dead 
 
 '' Men's 
 
52 Cherry & Violet. 
 
 " Men's Shoes, I own/' faid he, 
 looking rather afhamed. 
 
 ^* It's unfeeling and indelicate in 
 the higheft Degree," faid I. "Why 
 " fhould not Violet tell her Father?'* 
 
 " Ah, Cherry y (he will not ; and 
 " what's more, fhe has made me 
 ** folemnly promife that / will not, 
 " at prefent ; fo you fee there's no 
 ** more to be faid. We muft juft 
 " go on, hoping and waiting, as 
 " many young Couples have done 
 ** before us ; knowing that we love 
 ** one another — and is not that, for 
 '' a While at leaft, enough?" 
 
 I faintly faid, ** Yes." 
 
 " You don't fpeak fo heartily, 
 though, as I thought you would," 
 faid he. *' Don't you fympathize 
 ** with us. Cherry V^ 
 
 I looked up at him with a Smile, 
 though my Lip quivered, and faid 
 fervently, *' Oh, yes!" 
 
 " That's 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 " That's right ! '' faid he gladly. 
 ** Now I fhall feel that whether 
 " Things go rough or fmooth with 
 " me, you take cordial Part in them. 
 "God blefs you, Cherry! And if 
 " ever Fm in any little Difficulty 
 " with Violet y I (hall come to you 
 " for Advice and Help, rely upon 
 " it ! — Hark, there is your Mother's 
 " Bell." 
 
 I ran off, glad to leave him ; and 
 found my Mother coughing, and in 
 want of fome Water. When fhe 
 had recovered herfelf, and compofed 
 herfelf again to Sleep, I fat by her 
 Cafement, looking out on the fame 
 Scene I had been gazing on an 
 Hour before ; but oh ! with what 
 different Feelings ! 
 
 The Trouble of my Soul taught 
 me how much I had cared for him, 
 what Exped:ations I had nourished 
 of him, what Difappointment I felt 
 
 in 
 
54 Cherry G" Violet, 
 
 in him. All was changed, all was 
 fhivered: never to be built up again! 
 And yet no one knew what Hopes 
 were wrecked within me. — The 
 World was going on juft the fame ! 
 
 I thought how kind my Father 
 and Mother had been to him, and 
 how likely it was they had hoped 
 he would marry me, and how 
 certainly, in that cafe, my Father 
 would have fhared his Bufinefs with 
 him. 
 
 I thought how dull and forlorn a 
 Place the World would now feem 
 to me, but refolved they fhould 
 never know it. I would go on, in 
 all Refpedls, juft the fame. 
 
 Large Tears were flowing un- 
 reftrained down my Cheeks, when 
 Mafter Blower s Bell, having been 
 once rung already, was now pulled 
 again with fome Impatience; and 
 as T)riUy had ftepped out, I anfwered 
 
 it 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 it myfelf, and found he wanted his 
 Supper, which he took at no par- 
 ticular Time, but juft whenever he 
 was incHned to lay afide his Reading 
 or Writing. I might have fpread 
 the Table for him nineteen Times 
 out of twenty, without his ever 
 looking at me; however, on this 
 Occafion he happened to have 
 nothing better to do, and obferved 
 I was in trouble. 
 
 '' Child," faid he, *Ms thy Mother 
 worfe?" 
 
 ** No, Sir, I humbly thank you." 
 
 ** Then," fays he, '' Something 
 ** elfe has happened to grieve thee, 
 *^ for thine Eyes are red with 
 " weeping. What is it ?" 
 
 But I could not tell him. 
 
 '' Well," faid he, after a Paufe, 
 ** young Girls may have their Griefs 
 " that they don't care to tell about. 
 ** — Man is born to Trouble, as the 
 
 ** Sparks 
 
56 
 
 Cherry & Violet. 
 
 ** Sparks fly upward. And fome- 
 " times thofe Griefs we fhow leafl, 
 " we feel moft. But remember, 
 *' my good Girl, (for a good Girl, 
 ^^ Cherry y thou art!) that there is 
 " One to whom we may always 
 '* carry our Burthens ; One who 
 " can eafe them, too, either by 
 " giving us Strength to bear them, 
 *' or by removing them altogether 
 ** — Go pray, my Child, go 
 **pray!'' 
 
 And I did as he bade me, and 
 found Balm for a bleeding Heart. 
 He was a good and wife Man, was 
 Mafler Blower, 
 
 When my Mother awoke, fhe 
 faid, " Cherry y I don't know what 
 " has come over me, but I feel a 
 ^* Peace and a Quiet pafl exprefling 
 " . . I fhould not wonder if you 
 ** have been praying for me, my 
 " Child." 
 
 I prelTed 
 
Cherry & Violet. 
 
 I prefled her Hand and faid, 
 ** Yes, Mother, I have . . . and for 
 ^* myfelf too/' 
 
 ** This lUnefs of mine may be 
 " a Blefling in Difguife to us 
 " both," faid fhe after a Paufe — 
 "it has taught me your Value, 
 '' Cherry:' 
 
 " What a funny Story," refumed 
 fhe prefently, quietly fmiling, 
 ** might be written by a clever 
 ** Hand about a Perfon who always 
 " fancied herfelf undervalued! * The 
 " Undervalued Woman!' — There are 
 " a good many fuch in the World, 
 ** I fancy ; poor Things, it feems 
 ** no Joke to them. People who 
 " have that Impreffion of themfelves 
 ** generally take fuch filly Methods 
 " to prevent their being over- 
 " looked ! They had better make 
 ** themfelves of real Importance, 
 " by being ufeful and thoughtful 
 
 "for 
 
58 
 
 Cherry & Violet. 
 
 ** for others. They had better take 
 ** Pattern hy you ^ Cherry!'' 
 
 How dear, a Mother's Praife! 
 Efpecially when fo feldom be- 
 ftowed ! 
 
 CHAP. 
 
Cherry & Violet. 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 Chelfea Buns. 
 
 Violet feemed afraid (and yet 
 why fliould fhe be?) to come near 
 me, after Mark's Communication ; 
 and, as my dear Mother could ill 
 fpare me, I kept clofe Houfe. We 
 now felt the Bleffing of having a 
 difcreet and godly Minifter for our 
 Inmate; for Mafter Blower read and 
 prayed much with my Mother, and 
 comforted her greatly by his Dif- 
 courlings. I likewife derived Benefit 
 from the good Seed he fcattered, 
 which fell, as it were, into Ground 
 much foftened by heavy Rain. 
 
 When 
 
6o Cherry & Violet. 
 
 When I was able and inclined to 
 ftep acrofs to Violety I found only 
 Mafter Armytage in the Shop ; who 
 faid to me with fome fhortnefs, 
 " You will find my Daughters 
 " within, — I wifh your Father 
 " would find Something more 
 " profitable for your Coufin to do, 
 ** than to be always in our Parlour, 
 ** a hindering of Bufinefs." 
 
 I knew Mark was not there juft 
 then, at any Rate, having left him 
 at Home; and, ftepping into Mafter 
 Armytage' s Back-room, I only found 
 there a pale, gentle-looking Girl, 
 with large, brown Eyes, diligently 
 putting Shop-marks to a Box of 
 new Ribbons. I knew her for 
 Kitty^ though her return Home 
 was News to me ; and, having not 
 much to fay to a Stranger, I afked 
 her how fhe liked the Bridge, She 
 faid, ** Not at all ; I have been ufed 
 
 "to 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 ** to look upon Trees and Fields, 
 ** and mifs the Green ; the Noifes 
 ** make my Head ache, and my 
 " Mother keeps me fo clofe to my 
 ** Work, that I pine for frefli Air." 
 
 I faid, ** Sure there is enough of 
 " it blowing through that open 
 ** Window from the River!" 
 
 '' Do you call it frefh ?" faid fhe, 
 rather contemptuoufly, ** I do not, 
 " I can tell you ! Inftead of being 
 " fcented with Cows' Breath and 
 " new-mown Hay, it comes from 
 ** Tan-yards and Butchers' Shops." 
 
 When Violet c2iVnQ in, fhe blufhed 
 very red, but we only fpoke of 
 indifferent Subjects : and, flrange as 
 it was of two fuch clofe Intimates, 
 we never, from that Time forward, 
 had any clofer Communication. 
 Perhaps it was her Fault, perhaps 
 it was mine : or perhaps, no Fault 
 of either, but a jufl and becoming 
 
 Senfe 
 
 6i 
 
62 Cherry & Violet. 
 
 Senfe of what was beft for two 
 modeft Girls in our new Relation. 
 For, though it needed not to be 
 fuppofed that fhe knew Anything 
 of what was paffing in my Mind, 
 I am perfuaded that fhe did. 
 
 And thus the Families fell apart ; 
 and Mark never renewed his Con- 
 fidences to me after that firft 
 Evening ; and, if he had Moments 
 of keen Pleafure now and then, I 
 am perfuaded he had Hours of Pain 
 he had never known before. For 
 Violet was capricious and coquettifh, 
 and fometimes would vex him by 
 being unreafonable and hard to 
 pleafe : at other Times, by laying 
 herfelf out to pleafe others, as 
 Mailer Braidfooty and their Lodger 
 Mafter Clarke. And though fhe 
 gave out to Mark that this was only 
 for a Feint, to draw off the Atten- 
 tion of her Father and Mother from 
 
 himfelf. 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 himfelf, yet fometimes it was cer- 
 tainly with no other Purpofe than 
 to plague him, and at other Times, 
 I fear, with no better Purpofe than 
 to pleafe herfelf ; and I know it coft 
 him many a Tear. 
 
 Poor Mark! how my Heart 
 ached for him, and fwelled againft 
 her, when I found him one Evening 
 with his Arms on the Table, and 
 his Head on his Arms, and faw, 
 when he looked up, that he had 
 been crying. He rofe, and looked 
 out of Window, and faid, "Has it 
 ** done raining yet ? I think I have 
 ** been afleep!** But I knew he 
 had not. 
 
 All his Money now went in fine 
 Clothes for himfelf, and Prefents 
 for her ; fo that if he needed a little 
 Purfe againft his Marriage Day, 
 he was not going the Way to fill 
 it. 
 
 There 
 
64 Cherry & Violet. 
 
 There was great Talk among the 
 young People, about this Time, of 
 an Excurfion up the River, to eat 
 Buns and drink Whey at Chelfea. 
 I was invited to join them, but 
 declined, on account of my Mother: 
 but Mark was to go, and could 
 think of Nothing elfe. I wafhed 
 and ftarched his Collar and Bands 
 myfelf, and fewed a new Lace on 
 his Hat. He wore a plain filver- 
 grey Cloth Suit, which was fober, 
 but very becoming, for he never 
 affefted ftrong Contrails, like my 
 Father. Knowing he was fond of 
 a Flower in his Button-hole, but 
 was preffed for Time to get one, 
 I gave a little Girl a Penny to run 
 down to the Market for the beft 
 Mofs-rofe (he could buy, and gave 
 it him myfelf. He thanked me 
 moft pleafantly for it, and looked fo 
 comely and cheerful, that when he 
 
 went 
 
Cherry & Violet. 65 
 
 went forth, I could not help ftanding 
 juft behind the Window-blind, to 
 look after him, and to fee the gay 
 Party fet out fromMd-Aer ^rmytage's. 
 Fir ft, a Boy was fent forward, with 
 a great Bafket full of Veal-pies and 
 other Dainties; then came out 
 Mafter Armytage^ with Miftrefs 
 Glojfopy who had condefcended to 
 join the Party, and wore a peach- 
 blofTom Silk, with pea - green 
 Ribbons. Then, Miftrefs Armytage^ 
 with a little Bafket covered up, no 
 Doubt containing Something very 
 precious ; and Hugh Braidfoot by 
 himfelf, with his Hands in his 
 Pockets, as if he expedted to be 
 afked to carry it, and did not mean 
 to offer, walking a little in Advance 
 of her ; then Violet y looking fweet ! 
 between Mark and Mafter Clarke — 
 (I know ftie liked having two better 
 than one, whatever might be her 
 
 Value 
 
66 
 
 Cherry & Violet. 
 
 Value for either,) and then Kitty y 
 who by Rights fhould have had one 
 or other of them, flowly following 
 with Mafter and Miftrefs Benjkin, 
 I obferved her to be a very little 
 lame, but Nothing to fpeak of. 
 
 Well ! the Day was fine, the 
 Water looked lovely, there was 
 Nothing to prevent their having a 
 moft charming Party of Pleafure, 
 unless it were their own Fault. I 
 thought of them many Times, as 
 I fat quietly weaving Hair at my 
 Mother's Bedfide ; and fancied them 
 floating on the River, landing 
 under tall Trees, rambling among 
 Meadows, fitting on the Grafs, 
 eating and drinking in the Shade, 
 and fcattering in fmall Parties. 1 
 fancied what I fhould do and feel if 
 I were Violet y and how Mark would 
 comport himfelf, and what he would 
 fay : but, when I looked on my 
 
 Mother's 
 
Cherry & Violet. 
 
 Mother's pain-worn Face, I did not 
 wifli to change Places. 
 
 They did not come Home till 
 very late ; much too late. I had 
 perfuaded my Father to go to Bed, 
 and let me fit up for Mark, for 
 Fear of difturbing my Mother. He 
 faid Dolly might as well fit up too ; 
 however, fhe proved heavy to fleep, 
 fo I fent her to Bed. 
 
 Then I fat at my Window, which 
 was over Mafter Blower's Sitting- 
 room, and looked out on the Bridge. 
 The Harveft-moon, brightly fhining, 
 made our Side of the Way as light 
 as Day, but Mafter Army t age's Side 
 was in deep Shade. I heard St. 
 Magnus's Clock, and St. PauFs, and 
 St. Mary Overys, ftrike Eleven. 
 Then I faw fome dark Figures 
 coming along in the Shade, and 
 ftop at Mafter Armytage's Door, 
 and knock up the Maid, who, after 
 
 long 
 
 67 
 
68 
 
 Cherry & Violet. 
 
 long Delay, came fleepily to the 
 Door with a Candle, Then the 
 others, who had been talking, but 
 not much, like People who were 
 very tired after too long a Day's 
 Pleafure, faid ** Good-night;" and 
 I faw Hugh Braidfoot fhake Hands 
 with the Girl on his Arm, and ftep 
 acrofs to his own Door in the broad 
 Moonfhine. Mafter and Miftrefs 
 Ben/kin had gone Home before, and 
 let themfelves in with the Houfe- 
 key, I counted thofe that entered 
 Mafter Armytage'sy and only made 
 out his own Family. Mark had 
 doubtlefs feen Miftrefs Glojfop to her 
 own Door, as was right and fitting. 
 For him, then, I muft exped: to 
 wait a good While longer: and I 
 did wait a good While ; till all the 
 Clocks ftruck Twelve. Juft as they 
 had done ftriking, I heard and knew 
 his Step, and opened the Door 
 
 without 
 
Cherry & Violet. 
 
 without his knocking. ** Have you 
 " had a pleafant Day ?'' faid I. 
 
 I looked at him as I fpoke, and 
 (hall never forget his Face ! 
 
 — "Good Night/* faid he fliortly, 
 ** we'll talk it over to-morrow." 
 
 And impatiently took from my 
 Hands his Candle, which I was 
 trying to light for him at mine. 
 But it had been fnuffed too fhort, 
 and would not light as readily as he 
 wifhed ; which made him curfe it 
 in a low, deep Voice. I had never 
 heard him fwear before. 
 
 ^^Marky' faid I, looking anxioufly 
 at him, " you are ill." 
 
 *^ No, I'm not," faid he abruptly, 
 ** good Night. Thank you for 
 " fitting up for me." 
 
 "I'm not at all tired," faid I, 
 " and there's fome Supper for you 
 ** in the Kitchen. Let us go there, 
 " and have a little Chat over the 
 
 " Pleafures 
 
70 
 
 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 ** Pleafures of the Day — you don't 
 " look fleepy." 
 
 From white he turned to deep 
 red. 
 
 " The Day has not been fo 
 ** pleafant as you fuppofe," faid he 
 hufkily; ** you have been better and 
 *' happier at your Mother's Bedlide. 
 ** I wifh there were more fuch as 
 ** you in the World. Good Night, 
 ** dear, good Cherry!" 
 
 — And fprang Up-ftairs without 
 another Word, taking two Steps at 
 a Time. I went to Bed, but not to 
 fleep ; I could not get his ftrange 
 Look and Manner out of my Head. 
 
 The next Morning, at Breakfaft- 
 time, Mark did not appear. Dolly 
 faid he had gone out early. My 
 Father was angry, and fent acrofs 
 the Way for him, knowing he was 
 but too often at Mafter Ar my t age's. 
 But Dolly brought back Word they 
 
 had 
 
Cherry & Violet. 
 
 had feen Nothing of him. Then 
 we conduded he had gone for an 
 early Walk, as was often his Cuftom, 
 and had outftayed his Time. How- 
 ever, we breakfafted without him 
 at length, and ftill he did not come 
 back. 
 
 ** Confound that Boy," faid my 
 patient Father at laft — (thus, the 
 Fault of one Party provoked the 
 Sin of another,) — " it's plaguy tire- 
 " fome of him to be playing Truant 
 " this Morning, of all Days in the 
 " Year, for I have prefling Bufinefs 
 " in Eajlcheapr 
 
 ** Leave me in Charge of the 
 " Shop, Father:' faid I,— ^* my 
 " Mother's Cough is quiet, now (he 
 " is dozing ; and I {hall hear her 
 " Bell." 
 
 '' Well, I fuppofe I muft," faid 
 he very reluftantly ; " but I fhall 
 " trounce Mafter Mark well for 
 
 " his 
 
72 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 *^ his Condudl when I fee him next, 
 " he may rely upon it!*' 
 
 So he left me in Charge ; and 
 my loved Mother being in a Kind 
 of lethargic Slumber, which often 
 lafted many Hours, I left the Doors 
 open between us, and fat in the 
 Shop. As Fate would have it, not 
 a fingle Cuftomer looked in the 
 whole Time my Father was away ; 
 which was lucky, though we did 
 not feel very thankful, in ufual, for 
 this Falling-ofF in Bufinefs. Before 
 he returned, Mark came in, and 
 beckoned me into the Parlour. 
 
 "What is the Matter?" faid I, 
 with a violently beating Heart. 
 
 "I've done it!" faid he breath- 
 leffly. 
 
 "Done what?" faid I. 
 
 " Married !" faid he : and hid his 
 Face in his Hands. 
 
 "Dear Marky how imprudent !" 
 
 I exclaimed 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 I exclaimed afFedlionately, ** what 
 ^' will the Army t ages fay ?" 
 
 **What will they, indeed!'' re- 
 peated he, ** Violet efpecially ! She 
 " drove me to it!" 
 
 '* Violet ? Drove you to marry 
 **her?" I cried. — It founded fo 
 ftrange ! 
 
 *' Oh, Cherry I what will you 
 " fay ? It makes me fhudder to tell 
 " you !" he rapidly faid ; ** Nothing 
 " butthatGirl's incorrigible Coquetry 
 " could have made me break with 
 " her as I did ; and then Reproaches 
 " led to Taunts, and Taunts to 
 " Threatenings, till bad led to 
 " worfe, and {he twitted me with 
 ** my Poverty, and I told her I 
 ** could be a richer Man in twenty- 
 *^ four Hours than her Father, and 
 ** look down upon them all, and 
 ** (he dared me to it, and faid a 
 " better Man than me was waiting 
 
 **for 
 
 73 
 
74 
 
 Cherry & Violet. 
 
 " for her, and fo — Temptation to 
 ** be revenged on her came in my 
 ** Way, and — I've married Miftrefs 
 ''Glo(fopr 
 
 '' Oh, Mark r 
 
 — " Nay, Cherry y don't give way 
 " fo," faid he, beginning to fhed 
 Tears himfelf when he faw me 
 weeping bitterly, — " Love is not a 
 " Man's whole Life, and what I've 
 " tailed of it has n't made me very 
 " happy — I've ftepped into a famous 
 " Bufinefs, and I fhall have a quiet 
 " Fire-fide, and a capital Table, and 
 " kind Looks if not pretty ones, and 
 " — a done Thing can't be undone : 
 '' fo there's an End on 't !" 
 
 Then, fancying he heard my 
 Father's Step, though 'twas only 
 Mafter Blower Sy he haftily ex- 
 claimed, " You muft tell my Uncle 
 " — Good-bye, Cherry V and hurried 
 out of the Houfe. 
 
 When 
 
Cherry & Violet. 
 
 7S 
 
 When he was gone, I fat in a 
 Kind of Stupor. . Married? and to 
 fuch a Wife! — How could he? — 
 how could flie ? . . and this increafed 
 my Amazement, for he had been 
 befide himfelf with Anger and 
 Jealoufy, and hardly knew what he 
 was doing, — but that fhe, cool, 
 colledied, and at her Time of Life, 
 could have clofed with his Propofals 
 without the Delay of a fmgle Day ! 
 — how difgufting ! — Ah, fhe was 
 afraid of lofing him ! 
 
 — Immerfed in thefe fad Thoughts, 
 
 I with my Hands clafped on my Lap, 
 
 j I was unaware of my Father's 
 
 I Return till he flood before me. I 
 
 ftarted. 
 
 ** Has Mark returned ?" cried he. 
 ** He came back, and is again 
 '' gone," faid L 
 
 '*The young Rafcal!" exclaimed 
 I my Father very paffionately, " what 
 i " does 
 
76 
 
 Cherry & Violet. 
 
 " does he mean by this outrageous 
 " Condudt ? Tve a great Mind to 
 " lock the Door againft him when 
 ** he comes back!" 
 
 ** Father, he will never come 
 " back ! — He is married ! . . married 
 " to Miftrefs Glojfopr 
 
 And, trying to fpeak compofedly, 
 all would not do ; the Tears rained 
 from my Eyes. 
 
 My Father remained perfeftly 
 mute. I could underftand his 
 Amazement, his Vexation, by my 
 own; accompanied, as I knew it 
 muft be in his Cafe, by great 
 Anger. I expedted every Moment 
 to hear fome violent Expreffion of 
 Indignation : he had been fo un- 
 ufually difpleafed with him already 
 for what was comparatively a 
 Trifle. 
 
 All at once, I found myfelf folded 
 in his Arms. He did not fay a 
 
 Word; 
 
Cherry & Violet. 
 
 Word ; but the longer he held me, 
 the more and more I felt that his 
 Hopes for me had been ruined as 
 well as mine, that his Schemes and 
 Vifions of the Future were all dif- 
 perfed and overclouded, that he 
 knew Something of what was 
 paffing within me, and felt Sympathy 
 without having the Power of ex- 
 prefling it. 
 
 ** Well, — " faid he, releafing me 
 at laft, — and I faw that his Eyes 
 were wet, " Man propofes, but God 
 " difpofes. We 've had an Efcape 
 ** from this young Man. Un- 
 ** grateful young Fellow ! And 
 " blind to his own Intereft, too, 
 " for I could have done better for 
 " him. Cherry^ than he knows of. 
 ** But — he deferves his Fate. A 
 " miferable one it will be ! He'll 
 '* never profper!" 
 
 ** Oh, Father! don't prophefy 
 
 ** againft 
 
 17 
 
78 
 
 Cherry & Violet. 
 
 " againfl him ! We need not wifh 
 ** him ill." 
 
 " I don't wifh him ill," returned 
 he, " but he'll come to no Good. 
 " He has done for himfelf in this 
 " Marriage. And fo. Cherry y you'll 
 "fee!" 
 
 CHAP. 
 
Cherry & Violet. 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 A Shadow on the Hoiife, 
 
 Oh ! how dreary now feemed 
 the Houfe ! Its Light and its Life 
 were gone. The unfeen Prefence 
 of Love no longer gladdened it, 
 and the Shadow of Death was flowly 
 creeping on. 
 
 Violet came to pour out her 
 Wretchednefs and her Self-re- 
 proaches to me as foon as fhe heard 
 what had happened. She declared 
 fhe could never be happy again — 
 flie could never ceafe thinking of 
 him. I told her it would be very 
 wicked of her now, to think of him 
 
 in 
 
8o 
 
 Cherry & Violet. 
 
 in the Way fhe meant, any more. 
 For faying which, I fuppofe flie 
 was offended at me; for ftie did not 
 come near me again for a good 
 While. 
 
 I don't fuppofe Tears are often 
 flied over thick Slices of Bride- 
 cake, with Sugar and Almonds an 
 Inch deep, fuch as Violet and I 
 received (tied up with fuch vulgar 
 white Satin Knots!) from Miflrefs 
 Glojfopy now, alas! Miflrefs Blenk- 
 in/op. When I took it up to my 
 Mother, fhe turned away her Head, 
 and faid with her gentle Smile, 
 ** You may give my Share to Dolfyy 
 " — perhaps fhe will like it to dream 
 '' upon/' 
 
 I faid, '* I don't believe Dolly 
 •* will touch it;" however, there I 
 was miflaken. She faid, ** Law, 
 ** Miflrefs Cherry y Vm fure Miflrefs 
 ** is very good. . . I grudge the 
 
 ** eating 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 ** eating of it, too ; for *tis an un- 
 " feemly Match, I calls it ; but, 
 " there, — one don't get fuch Cake 
 " as this every Day!" 
 
 When I repeated this Saying to 
 my Mother, (he faid, " She belongs 
 " to the Glojfop School, Cherry, that 
 ** never can forbear.'* 
 
 Miftrefs Blenktnfop would have 
 been glad, I fancy, to (hew off her 
 young Hulband on the Bridge ; but 
 fhe received no Encouragement; 
 and as lor Mark, who had certainly 
 intended to pique Violet^ he was 
 now as wretched as herfelf, to judge 
 from his Looks, as reported to us 
 by one or two who had feen Some- 
 thing of what was going on. Happy 
 or unhappy, he never came near us, 
 on Bufinefs or Pleafure ; and as my 
 Father dropped the Connexion, 
 which was more to his Lofs than 
 Miftrefs Blenkinfofs, we now faw 
 Q Nothing 
 
 81 
 
82 
 
 Cherry & Violet. 
 
 Nothing of one another. For I 
 fcarce went out at all; but now 
 and then Miftrefs Ben/kin would let 
 fall how flie had met the Blenkinfops 
 going to fuch and fuch a Place of 
 Public Refort ; he looking afhamed 
 and tired of his Companion; and 
 {he as fine as the Rainbow. For fhe 
 would not only fee Funamble Turk^ 
 and pay her Shilling to ride round 
 HydeParkyhui intrude herfelf among 
 the Quality in Mulberry Garden, I 
 warrant her ! 
 
 About this Time Mafter Armytage 
 died. Thereby his Family fuftained 
 great Lofs, not only of a kind 
 Hufband and Father, but of worldly 
 Goods; for the Widow only got a 
 Third of the Worth of the Bufinefs, 
 and the Son, who was married and 
 not very friendly with her, choofing 
 to live on the Premises and carry 
 on the Concern, fhe and her 
 
 Daughters 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 Daughters prefently went into an 
 exceeding fmall Houfe in the 
 Boroughy where they opened a little 
 Shop that did not anfwer very well. 
 After a While, Violet^ unufed to 
 fuch fcant Living, was glad to come 
 back as Shopwoman to her Brother, 
 whofe Wife had no Turn for 
 Bufinefs; but it went fore againft 
 her to be Second in the Houfe 
 where fhe had hitherto been always 
 treated like Firft ; and alfo it was a 
 Grievance to her to live among a 
 Family of young Children. Thefe 
 Trials fretted her till they impaired 
 her Beauty, making her grow 
 peevifli and thin. 
 
 Meantime, her younger Sifter 
 took Plain-work when fhe could 
 get it ; and the Benjkins and Hugh 
 Braidfoot fupplied her with what 
 they could, which fhe accepted 
 gratefully ; though, in her Father's 
 
 Life-time, 
 
84 Cherry Gf Violet. 
 
 Life-time, it would have quite 
 aiFronted Miftrefs Armytage that her 
 Girls fhould fet a Stitch for either 
 of them. But Times were altered 
 now ; (he was unable even to keep 
 a Servant; and, one Day, when I 
 looked in upon her, I noticed fo 
 many little Symptoms of Poverty, 
 that, on repeating them to my 
 Mother, (he made me put up a 
 Variety of little Prefents for her, 
 and take them to her with her old 
 Neighbour's Love. 
 
 When I reached her Houfe, I 
 found her on her Knees, fcouring the 
 Door-ftep with fuch Zeal and Noife, 
 that I could not at firft make her hear 
 my Voice, or become feniible of my 
 Prefence. When (he did, (he did 
 not appear particularly glad to fee 
 me, but pulled her Pail out of my 
 Way, and faid, '' Oh !— Youll find 
 '' Kitty within — Kitty! Kitty T 
 
 And 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 And juft within the Door, fure 
 enough, was Kitty ftanding with 
 her back to me, before Mafter 
 Braidfooty who was feated, with a 
 fringed Glove in his Hand, and 
 holding forth to her very earneflly. 
 He had fent her a Box of Gloves to 
 fringe, and I fuppofe fhe had not 
 trimmed them to his Mind, for flie 
 was hanging her Head, and looking 
 very uncomfortable. As foon as he 
 faw me, he brought his Difcourfe 
 to a Finifh by faying, '* Of which, 
 ** more anon;" and nodding a Good- 
 bye to me, ftepped over Miftrefs 
 Armytage's Pail, and walked off. 
 Miftrefs Armytage now came in, 
 taking off her Apron in a great 
 Buftle ; and feemingly much more 
 glad to fee me than fhe had been 
 juft before. And {he received my 
 Mother's Prefents in mighty good 
 Part, efpecially the Brandy-cherries, 
 
 which 
 
 85 
 
86 
 
 Cherry & Violet. 
 
 which had been put in quite as an 
 After-thought, faying they would 
 make a pretty little Di(h for Supper. 
 I thought fhe and KittyhzA, been more 
 in the Way of Bread-and-Cheefe 
 Suppers now, but made no Comment. 
 Some People would as foon die as 
 not try to be thought genteel. 
 
 When I had nearly reached 
 Home, I faw Mark coming along 
 the Bridge, in a hefitating, reludant 
 Sort of Way. When he faw me, 
 he ftepped out more brifkly, and 
 came up, holding out his Hand. 
 
 " Cherry y' faid he, lowering his 
 Voice, ** my old Lady and I had 
 "almoft a Tiff this Morning, 
 ** becaufe fhe wanted you and my 
 " Uncle to come and eat fome of 
 " the firft green Peas of the Seafon 
 •* with us, and I told her I did not 
 ** think you would. But, will you?" 
 
 ** Thank you kindly," faid I, '' but 
 
 ** my 
 
Cherry & Violet. 
 
 ** my Mother is fo ill, we have no 
 " Heart to go anywhere now." 
 
 " I knew it was fo," faid he, 
 looking relieved, ** but you will not 
 " think me unfeeling, I hope, for 
 " putting the Queftion?" 
 
 *' Oh no, I think it very kind of 
 " you," faid I, ** I take it as I know 
 ** it was meant. Won't you come 
 ** in ? We have k^n nothing of 
 ** you for a long Time." 
 
 " Thank you, not juft now," 
 faid he, ** good-bye." And walked 
 off as if he were in a great Hurry. 
 
 When I returned to my dear 
 Mother, (he faid, ^^ Cherry^ Tm fure 
 *' you will be amufed when I tell 
 *' you what I have been dreaming 
 " about, — I dreamed you were 
 " married!" 
 
 I faid, " Dear Mother, if you 
 " take to dreaming, and my 
 ** Father to prefaging, there '11 
 
 "be 
 
88 
 
 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 ** be Nothing left to be furprifed 
 ** about!" 
 
 " Ah, well," faid fhe, gently 
 fmiling, ** but this was a very 
 " pretty, pleafant Dream — You were 
 " married to a Perfon a good Deal 
 ** older than yourfelf, but very much 
 " to your own Mind, notwith- 
 " {landing, and were living like a 
 " Lady, with Every-thing genteel 
 ** and comfortable about you." 
 
 I fmiled to cover a Sigh; and 
 kiffing her thin Hand, faid, ** May 
 ** you live, dear Mother, to fee 
 " it." 
 
 '' No," faid fhe, '' I know I (hall 
 ** not do that — my Time is growing 
 ** very fhort now ; but yet I fhall 
 *' leave you in Peace, Cherry^ — I 
 '* am fo certain of your doing well. 
 " I don't mean becaufe of this foolifh 
 '' Dream." 
 
 *' As for doing well," faid I, 
 
 '' God's 
 
Cherry & Violet. 
 
 ** God's Bleffing generally refts on 
 '' the Child of many Prayers, . . 
 ** but if by doing well, you mean 
 "marrying well, do you think that 
 "is the only Way I can be 
 "happy?" 
 
 " No,'' faid fhe after a Paufe, 
 " I do not. I think there is no 
 " other Happinefs equal to it, where 
 " the Parties are well afforted, and 
 " are good to the Core ; but much 
 " depends upon each other, and 
 " much upon themfelves; fo much, 
 " that it had often been better for 
 " them they had never met." 
 
 " And as fo few are good to the 
 " Core," faid I, " perhaps the 
 " Balance of Happinefs may not lie 
 " on the Side you think." 
 
 " Perhaps not," faid fhe, " but 
 " every one hopes to be the Excep- 
 " tion. — However," fhe added, after 
 another Paufe, " thefe Things are 
 
 "not 
 
 89 
 
90 
 
 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 ** not of our ordering ; and what- 
 " ever be the happier Lot, it is 
 " certain we cannot fecure it unless 
 " it be appointed us, whether for 
 " ourfelves or for thofe we dearly 
 ** love. It may be God's Will that 
 " you fhall be Cherry Curling all 
 ** your Days, in Spite of my Dream, 
 ** and in Spite of your being fitted 
 ** for Happinefs in another State; 
 " but that it is his Purpofe to make 
 ** you happy in yourfelf^ whatever 
 " you are, I feel as fure of as that 
 ** I fee you now." 
 
 When I told her what Satif- 
 faftion the Brandy -cherries had 
 given, fhe fmiled quietly, and faid, 
 " The fame Woman, ftill ! — You 
 " ihall take her fome potted Salmon 
 " to-morrow." 
 
 I did fo ; but did not, this Time, 
 find the Widow cleaning her Door- 
 ftep. She had gone to Market; 
 
 the 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 the Shop was empty, and I walked 
 
 through it into the Httle Parlour 
 
 beyond. Here I again came upon 
 
 Kitty and Hugh Braidfoot : fhe was 
 
 fitting this Time, and he ftanding, 
 
 and, the Moment fhe faw me, fhe 
 
 fiiatched away her Hand from him, 
 
 which he was holding, and ran up 
 
 Stairs. I felt very awkward, and 
 
 was retreating without a Word ; but 
 
 he, turning about upon me with a 
 
 Sort of homely, manly Dignity, a 
 
 Mixture of Placid and Refolute in 
 
 his Manner that I never faw before, 
 
 and which became him very well, 
 
 held out his Hand to me, and faid, 
 
 ** You fee. Cherry ^ how it is to be. 
 
 ** There'll foon be a Wedding in 
 
 " this Houfe. The old Lady has 
 
 " meant there fhould be, all along ; 
 
 " but what though ? Shall a Man 
 
 ** that knows his own Mind be 
 
 " flayed from it for Fear of playing 
 
 " into 
 
 91 
 
92 
 
 Cherry & Violet. 
 
 ** into a managing Woman's Hands? 
 " Had the Widow been lefs eager, 
 " the Thing might have been fooner 
 " brought about ; however, you and 
 " I have known her longer than 
 ** Yefterday— fhe's Kittys Mother ; 
 " and enough's faid ! '* 
 
 I wiflied him Joy, and faid I 
 thought he and Kitty would be very 
 happy together. Then, fetting down 
 my Mother's little Gift on the 
 Table, I turned to go away. 
 '' What's that ?" faid he. '' Only a 
 " little potted Salmon for Miftrefs 
 " Armytage,'' faid I. '' I'll call 
 " Kitty down," faid he ; and going 
 to the Stair-foot, he called " Kitty ! 
 ^^ Kitty r but fhe did not anfwer; 
 and giving me a knowing Smile, he 
 faid, ** I don't think fhe'll come 
 " down while we are both here" — 
 " I'm going," faid I, ** but here 
 " comes Miftrefs Armytage from 
 
 " Market." 
 
Cherry & Violet. \ 93 
 
 '' Market." '' Oh, then, I'm going 
 "too!" cried he, laughing and 
 catching up his Hat, *^ Tve no Mind 
 " to break the News to the Widow, 
 " fo come your Ways, Cherry y we'll 
 "walk to the Bridge together; don't 
 " look behind you." . . " 'Tis Pity 
 " o' my Life," continued he fmiling, 
 when we had walked a little Way 
 together, "that refpect her I cannot; 
 " for you fee. Cherry y a Man can 
 " never refpecft a Woman whom he 
 " fees trying to draw him in ! He 
 " may walk into her Trap with his 
 " Eyes open, and let her fave him 
 " fome Trouble, but refped: her or 
 " truft her, is out of his Power. 
 " Firft, fhe wanted to have me for 
 " Violet : that would not do — then, 
 " Kitty was kept out of Sight till 
 " (he found I would not have the 
 " other ; but as foon as fhe found 
 " I liked the youngeft Sifter beft, 
 
 "poor 
 
94 
 
 Cherry & Violet. 
 
 ** poor Violet was put in the Shade, 
 '' and Kitty s Turn came. 'Tis ill 
 " to fpeak this Way of one's Mother- 
 " in-Law eleft ; I hope fhe'll breed 
 ** no Trouble between us when 
 ** fhe's Mother-in-Law in earneft ; I 
 " fhould like to penfion the old 
 ** Gentlewoman off, but that can't 
 " well be ; fo we muft let her have 
 ** the Run of the Houfe, and try to 
 ** make her comfortable as long as 
 ** fhe lets us be fo." 
 
 Then, turning to a more agree- 
 able Subjed, he fang Kitty s Praifes; 
 and, reaching his own Door, hoped 
 fhe and I fhould be good Neigh- 
 bours. ** Your Father and you 
 ** muft come to the Wedding- 
 '* Dinner," faid he, ** we may not 
 " have as many good Things as the 
 " Blenkinfops had, but I fancy 'twill 
 ** be a cheerfuller Dinner." 
 
 When I told my Mother the 
 
 News, 
 
Cherry & Violet. 
 
 News, fhe took it very compofedly, 
 but I obferved her Eyelids give 
 one little, involuntary Movement, 
 that betrayed more Surprife than 
 fhe w^as willing to fhew. "Ah, 
 ** my dear Mother,'' thought I, 
 ** another of your little Caftles in 
 " the Air for me has been thrown 
 " down, I fear. This was, no 
 " Doubt, the Hero of the Dream, 
 ** who was to make me fo comfort- 
 " able ! What a lucky Thing that 
 " I care not a Rufli for him." 
 However, we never faid a Word to 
 one another on the Subjedl. 
 
 So the Wedding took place, and 
 my Father and I were at the Dinner, 
 which confifted of every Nicety that 
 Money could procure ; for Miflrefs 
 Army t age faid that Hugh Bratdfoot 
 fhould have all his favourite Difhes, 
 and fhe took Care to have her own, 
 whether they correfponded or not. 
 
 So 
 
 95 
 
96 Cherry Gf Violet, 
 
 So there was roaft Pig, and pickled 
 Salmon, Calf's Head and green 
 Goofe, Lobfter Salad and Marrow- 
 bones, and more Sweets than I ever 
 faw out of a Paftry-cook*s Shop. 
 As fome Things were in Seafon and 
 others were not, the latter, though 
 fweet in the Mouth, were bitter 
 in Digeftion; I mean, to Mafter 
 Braidfoot when he came to pay the 
 Bills. And then Miftrefs ArmytagCy 
 afliamed of having exceeded be- 
 coming Limits, went about to 
 feveral of the Tradefmen, who were 
 Hugh Braidfoot' s perfonal Friends, 
 and who already were difpleafed 
 enough at not having been invited 
 to the Feaft ; and (he incenfed them 
 the more by trying to get them to 
 lower their Bills, which they 
 thought and called exceffive mean. 
 Thereby, Miftrefs Armytage got 
 into bad Odour, and Kitty came in 
 
 for 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 for her Share, and ftied her firft 
 Tears after Marriage upon it, which 
 I wifh had been her laft. However, 
 Mafter Braidfoot laughed the Matter 
 off, in a jovial, carelefs Sort of a 
 Way ; and went round himfelf and 
 paid every one in full, and made 
 Friends with them with a few 
 merry Sayings; fo Peace was rc- 
 ftored, that Time. 
 
 97 
 
 CHAP. 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 • CHAP. VI, 
 
 Metaloia. 
 
 When I fee what a little Way 
 the Solemnization of Matrimony in 
 the Common Prayer Book lies from 
 the Burial- fervice for the Dead, 
 (only feparated by the Order for the 
 Vifitation of the Sick,) it makes me 
 think how fometimes in actual Life 
 Marriages and Funerals feem to 
 tread upon the Heels of one another. 
 Scarce were the Bills for Mafter 
 Braidfoofs Wedding - dinner paid, 
 when my dear Mother, who had 
 been fail but gently finking, de- 
 parted this Life without a Sigh. I 
 
 had 
 
Cherry Gf Violet. 
 
 had left her much as ufual the 
 Night before ; but in the Morning 
 was aware of a grey Shadow over 
 her Face, unUke Anything I had 
 yet feen, and impoffible to defcribe, 
 that made me fenfible of the Prefence 
 of Death. My Father fupported 
 her in his Arms, Mafter Blower 
 prayed aloud befide her, I bathed 
 her Face with Vinegar, and Dolly 
 ran for the Doftor, but juft as he 
 crofled our Threfhold, fhe gently 
 breathed her laft. 
 
 How empty the Houfe feemed ! 
 For, though a Perfon may take no 
 adtive Part in its Bufinefs, yet a 
 Senfe of their Nearnefs is accom- 
 panied by a conftant Feeling of 
 Companionfhip, fuch as I think 
 we might feel with regard to our 
 Heavenly Father if we would 
 look into the Fa(ft of his being 
 conftantly about us a little more 
 
 narrowly. 
 
loo Cherry & Violet. 
 
 narrowly. Excellent Mafter Blower 
 was a Tower of Strength to us under 
 this Bereavement; knowing how to 
 comfort a Man better than I could, 
 and poiTeffed of more Calmnefs and 
 Compofednefs than I could be ex- 
 pefted to have, though he faid his 
 Heart bled for us all the while. 
 But he fet before us the Bleffednefs 
 of my Mother in her glorified State 
 fo ftrongly, that it was impoffible 
 not to feel that our Lofs was her 
 Gain. 
 
 While the Houfe was yet dark- 
 ened, I heard a huflied Voice that 
 had become ftrange to my Ears of 
 late, faying to my Father in the 
 next Room, ** I am fure. Uncle, if 
 ** you would look upon it as a Mark 
 '' of Refpeca." . . and my Father, 
 in Tears, made Anfwer to him, " I 
 '* fhould, Mark, I ihould ! I fhall 
 " be glad for you to accompany us 
 
 "to 
 
Cherry & Violet. 
 
 " to the Grave ; for, indeed, my 
 ^* Boy, flie was very kindly affec- 
 ** tioned towards you." 
 
 And then cried again ; and, I 
 think, Mark cried too. It was 
 Bahn to my Heart to think he was 
 going to the Funeral. An ill- 
 advifed Deed had in the firft 
 Inftance baniflied him from us, and, 
 in Time, he had not only become 
 reconciled to his Banifhment, but, 
 from what I made out of the Report 
 of others, had learnt to rejoice in it. 
 The firft Signal of a better Frame 
 was his returning to us, which coft 
 him an Effort, and then repaid it/elf, 
 Mafter Blower called it Metaloia^ 
 whatever that meant. 
 
 Violet was very kind to me. All 
 her old Affection for me now re- 
 turned; and fhe would bring her 
 Work and fit with me for Hours. 
 Alfo the Benjkins and Braidfoots 
 
 were 
 
I02 Cherry & Violet. 
 
 were kind in their Way, though 
 after a homely Fafhion. But one 
 that better underftood comforting 
 was nearer at Hand. One Evening, 
 I heard Mafter Blower^ as he met 
 my Father on the Stairs, fay, 
 ** Why, old Friend, we have lived 
 *' many a Year under the fame Roof, 
 " and have never broken Bread 
 ** together yet ! Bring Cherry with 
 ** you, and fup with me to-night !" 
 My difconfolate Father, being 
 taken by Surprife, had no Power 
 to refufe the Honour ; Dolly was 
 fent for a Crab, and we fpent a 
 very peaceful and pleafant Evening 
 together, not ended without Prayer. 
 As we left, the kind Man faid, 
 " Well, Friend, fince you won't 
 " afk me. Til afk myfelf to fup to- 
 " morrow Night with you'' And 
 fo he did; and many a rich and 
 learned Man might have envied us 
 
 the 
 
Cherry & Violet. 
 
 103 
 
 the difcreet and pleafant Gueft that 
 honoured our poor Table. From 
 that Time, we thus fpent two 
 Evenings together every Week. 
 
 By this Time my Friend Kitty 
 had t^ken upon her all the Import- 
 ance of a well-to-do Tradesman's 
 Wife, which fitted her as well as 
 one of her Hufband's beft Pair of 
 Gloves. Inflead of Stuffand Dimity, 
 flowered Chintz and even Silk was 
 now the Wear! looped well up, too, 
 to fhew the grafs- green quilted 
 Petticoat and clocked Stockings. 
 Nothing, Mafter Braidfoot thought, 
 was too good for her. And inftead 
 of its being ** good Hufband," 
 " honoured Mafter Braidfooty' fo 
 bafhfully fpoken, as at firft, now it 
 was, " dear Hughy' ** fweet Hughy' 
 or ^^ Hugh'' by itfelf alone. And 
 happy, without a Cloud, would the 
 Lives of this worthy Couple have 
 
 been 
 
I04 
 
 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 been but for the Hinderances of 
 Miftrefs Armytage, Now it was 
 her Parfimony in Something her 
 Son-in-Law could well afford and 
 defired to have; now her Expen- 
 fivenefs in Something for which fhe 
 dared not give him the Bill; and 
 then he would find it out, and rate 
 her, half in Sport, and then fhe 
 would take Offence in right Earnefl. 
 Then Kitty would cry, and then 
 her Mother would fay fhe knew 
 fhe was only in the Way, and would 
 go off for a While to her old 
 Quarters. When fhe got there, her 
 Tongue lay not ftill, like a good 
 Houfe-dog in its Kennel, but mufl 
 needs yap, yap, like a little Terrier, 
 that flies at every Comer; and, to 
 every Neighbour along the Borough 
 it was, ** Oh, you know not what a 
 '"Turk . ./" — ''My poor, poor 
 " Daughter ! " — " Temper of an 
 
 ''Angel!" 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 " Angel !" — '' Will wear her out at 
 '' laft ! " — '' Never know a Man 
 *^ before he's married!" — "Peace 
 " and Poverty for my Money "... 
 and fuch-like. 
 
 Meanwhile, Hugh and Kitty were 
 as merry as Crickets in their own 
 Chimney-corner, little gueffing or 
 caring what an ill Report of their 
 Firefide was fpreading all along 
 Southwark: and if Hugh met e'er 
 a Neighbour's Wife that gave him 
 a. dark Look, as much as to fay, 
 " Ah ! for all your blythe Face, I 
 " know what I know !" — all he did 
 was to cry, " Neighbour, how do 
 "you do?" in a jovial Voice that 
 rang along the Street. Thus the 
 Hufband and Wife would go on, 
 mighty comfortable by themfelves, 
 till fome favourite Difh, perhaps, 
 of Miftrefs Armytage's would be fet 
 on Table, and Kitty y with a Tear 
 
 in 
 
 i05 
 
io6 
 
 Cherry & Violet. 
 
 in her Eye, would fay, " Poor, dear 
 '* Mother is fo fond of a roaft 
 " Pig.'* '' Set it down before the 
 '* Fire again, then," fays Hugh, 
 *' while I run and fetch the old 
 " Gentlewoman. . I'll be back in 
 *' five Minutes." — And, in about 
 a Quarter of an Hour, fure enough, 
 he would return with the Widow 
 on his Arm, and there would be a 
 little kiffing and crying, and then 
 all would fit down in high Good- 
 humour with one another, and 
 Things would go on quietly till 
 Hugh and his Mother-in-Law quar- 
 relled again. 
 
 About this Time, dear, good 
 Maflier Blower, who had hitherto 
 led a removed Life among us, 
 hidden and yet known, minifi:ering 
 and being minifl:ered unto by many 
 of his old Flock on the Sly, did by 
 fome Indifcretion or Mifadventure 
 
 provoke 
 
Cherry & Violet, 107 
 
 provoke the Notice of the Powers 
 then riding paramount, and, coming 
 Home to us in great Perturbation 
 one Day, told us he muft at once 
 take Ship to Holland in a VeiTel 
 going down the River the next 
 Morning. This was greatly to the 
 Sorrow of my Father and myfelf ; 
 and fome Tears of mine fell on his 
 little Packet of clean Linen as I 
 made it up for him ; and I thought 
 it no Wrong to flip into the eafy 
 Slippers I knew he would not fail 
 to take out at the Journey's End, a 
 little Purfe with feven Gold Carolufes 
 in it, that I had long been hoarding 
 for fome good Ufe. The Wind 
 was light, but yet fair : there was 
 a Remedy againfl Sea-ficknefs in 
 my Father's Shop-window that I 
 had not much Faith in, it had lain 
 fo long in the Sun, even fuppofing 
 there ever were any Virtue in it; 
 
 however, 
 
io8 Cherry & Violet. 
 
 however, I thought there could be 
 no Harm in juft fewing it in the 
 Lining of his Coat, according to the 
 Diredlions printed . . at leaft, fo I 
 thought at the Time, but afterwards 
 I obferved I had made a Miftake, 
 but it did no Harm, if no Good. 
 And Father gave him a Bottle of 
 Cognac Brandy, which really had 
 fome Virtue in it, fo we did for 
 him what we could, one Way or 
 another. And he packed up what 
 few Papers he could carry, and 
 burned others, and locked up the 
 reft, leaving them and his Books in 
 my Charge, with his Bleffing. And 
 fo the good Man went. 
 
 Often afterwards, when I was 
 fetting his Rooms in Order, and 
 dufting his Books, I would ftand, 
 with my Dufter in my Hand, 
 looking at the Table at which he 
 ufed to write, and the old Arm- 
 chair 
 
Cherry & Violet. 
 
 chair in which he ufed to fit, and 
 fall into a Kind of Mufe, till I 
 almoft feemed to fee his large, 
 quiet, brown Eyes, that wefe fet fo 
 far under the Shadow of his Brows, 
 and feemed lighted up, fomehow, 
 from within, looking up at me, and 
 his pleafant Face fmiling at me, (he 
 had a very fweet Smile, had Mafter 
 Blower^ and his pleafant Voice 
 faying, ** Well, Cherry^ is it Eating- 
 " time again, already?" 
 
 Now and then I would open one 
 or other of his Books, and, if I 
 chanced upon Anything I under- 
 ftood and that interefted me, would 
 ftand reading on and on, till I was 
 ftartled by hearing my Father call 
 for me. At length, he knew where 
 to look for me ; and took to laughing 
 at me for taking fuch a Turn for 
 Study ; but one Day he fell to 
 reading one of Mafter Blower s Books 
 
 him fe!f, 
 
 109 
 
I lO 
 
 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 himfelf, and liked it fo well, that, 
 we being but quiet Companions for 
 one another, now there was fo little 
 to fay, we fpent many an Hour, 
 fitting over-againft each other, each 
 with our Book. 
 
 One Day, as I fat fewing in the 
 Parlour, and my Father was cutting 
 a Man's Hair, I heard his Cuftomer 
 fay, " My Lord ProteBor's very ill, 
 '' and like to die." 
 
 " Don't believe it," faid my 
 Father, ^^he'll never die in his Bed." 
 Which, for once, was a Prefage 
 that did not come true. 
 
 " Well, he feems to think fo 
 ** too," faid the other ; " at all 
 *' Events he's having Thanks put 
 " up for his Recovery, while yet 
 ** he's as bad as can be ; which 
 ** looks premature." 
 
 ** That's the Faith of ^^r^;7<r^, 
 " I call it," faid my Father dryly. 
 
 " Well, 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 " Well, now, what may be the 
 " Matter with his Grace ? — a Pain 
 " in his Heart, or his Head, or 
 *^what?'' 
 
 ' ** A tertian Fever, they fay," re- 
 turned his Companion; *'you know 
 " his favourite Daughter died fcarce 
 ** a Month back, and, in her laft 
 ** Moments, fhe told him many a 
 ** Thing that no one had had 
 " Courage to tell him before, and 
 " expoftulated with him on his 
 " Ways, and charged him with 
 "flaying the Lord's Anointed; 
 *' which, 'tis thought, he took fo 
 " much to Heart as that his troubled 
 " Mind invited if it did not occafion 
 ** this Illnefs." 
 
 "Well," faid my Father, "I'd 
 " rather be the dead King than the 
 " dying Protedlor. What has be- 
 " come now of all his Truft in the 
 " Lord, and inward Alfurance ? 
 
 " Does 
 
 II I 
 
112 
 
 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 " Does the Grandeur he has earned 
 *^ with fo much Guilt, fmooth his 
 '' fick Pillow? Is the Death he fo 
 " boldly confronted on the Battle- 
 " field quite fo eafy to face, now he 
 " lies quiet and watchful all Night, 
 " with his Silk Curtains drawn 
 ** about him ? Does he feel as 
 ** fecure of being one of the Eleft, 
 " unable to fall into final Reproba- 
 " tion, as when he wasiighting his 
 ** Way up to a dead Man's Chair? 
 " Ah, Sir, we may afk one another 
 **.thefe Queftions, but our own 
 ** Hearts muft give their only 
 " Anfwer." 
 
 In Fadt, O/iver Cromwe/I prckntly 
 breathed his laft, amidft a Tempeft 
 of Wind and Rain, that feemed 
 a Type of his own tempeftuous 
 Charadter. And in his Place was 
 fet up one that^ did not fill it : his 
 quiet and peaceable Son, Richard, 
 
 who 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 who had gone on his Knees to his 
 Father to pray that the Kings Head 
 might not be cut off. He was 
 gentle, generous, and humane ; but 
 thofe were no Recommendations in 
 the Eyes of the Army or ParHa- 
 ment, fo he was prefently fet afide. 
 Whereon enfued fuch SquabbHngs 
 and Heart-burnings, I was glad I 
 was not a Man. 
 
 One Day, Mark came in, all 
 flufhed and eager, looking like his 
 old felf; and ** Uncle !" fays he, 
 *' there's a brave Time coming again 
 *' for HairdrefTers ! It's my Fancy, 
 ''Wigs will prefently be in, (for 
 " Cavalier Curls won't grow in a 
 ''Night!) and then you'll have a 
 " Market for that Lot of Hair that 
 " you and I put fo carefully afide." 
 
 " How fo, Mark?'' fays my Father. 
 
 " Why," fays Mark, ''honejl George 
 
 " Monk, as the Soldiers call him, is 
 
 I " marching 
 
 113 
 
114 i Cherry Gf Violet, 
 
 *' inarching up to London ^ and you 
 ** have always faid he was a Royalift 
 '' in his Heart." 
 
 ** Heaven defend us from Siege 
 *' and civil War," fays Father, 
 " we've had too much of them 
 " already. Better one Mafter than 
 " many, even fuch a Mafter as old 
 ''Noll; and if General Monk is 
 '' coming up to feat himfelf in his 
 *' Place, 'twill be better for us than 
 '' thefe City Tumults, wherein a 
 " Parcel of young 'Prentices that 
 " deferve a good Threfliing, get 
 " together and clamour for Things 
 ** they know not, till grown Men 
 " are forced to put them down with 
 '' a ftrong Hand. Where there's 
 " Order y there's Liberty ; and No- 
 " where elfe." 
 
 Mark's News proved true ; the 
 difaffedted Regiments were fent out 
 of London^ and General Monk with 
 
 his 
 
Cherry & Violet. 
 
 115 
 
 his Army entered Wejiminjler, He 
 was a right-judging as well as right- 
 meaning Man on the whole, to my 
 Mind, prudent and moderate, though 
 he (ided firft with one Party, then 
 with the other, then back to the 
 firft again. One of the evil Con- 
 fequences of our evil Times was, 
 fo many confcientious Men were fet 
 down for obftinate and pig-headed, 
 or elfe Turncoats. My Father, to 
 reprefent the Humour of the Time, 
 had removed the obnoxious Cavalier 
 and Puritan from his Window, and 
 fet up in their ftead a Head that 
 united half of both, which, re- 
 volving flowly when he pulled a 
 String, fhewed now one Side, now 
 the other, and, as he obferved, never 
 looked fo bad as when you faw a 
 little of both. But as foon as Monk, 
 throwing off his late Shew of 
 Moderation, marched into the City, 
 
 removed 
 
ii6 
 
 Cherry & Violet. 
 
 removed the Polls and Chains acrofs 
 the Streets, feized on obnoxious 
 Perfons, and broke down our Gates 
 and PortculUfes, my Father became 
 fure that a great Change was at 
 Hand, and the King would enjoy 
 his own again. Whereon, he com- 
 menced beautifying and renewing 
 the waxen Cavalier, which had got 
 a little fly-fpitten, and privately 
 fmuggled into the Houfe a moft 
 beautiful female Counterpart for 
 it, extremely like ^een Henrietta 
 Mariuy whom I immediately fet 
 about dreffing in the favourite Style 
 of her Majefty, that is to fay, in a 
 rich velvet Boddice, with a falling 
 Collar of Cut-work, Vandyked at 
 the Edge, relieved by a blue Breaft- 
 knot. My Father drefTed her Hair 
 in long, drooping, dark Curls, with 
 a few pearl Pins ; and, abiding the 
 right Time with Calmnefs and 
 
 Confidence, 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 up the comely 
 Clofet till the 
 
 Confidence, fhut 
 
 Pair in a dark 
 
 happy Moment for their burfting 
 
 upon the World fhould arrive. 
 
 117 
 
 CHAP. 
 
ii8 
 
 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 CHAP. VII. 
 Signs in the Air. 
 
 And now the glorious Reftoration 
 at length arrived, and 'tis incredible 
 what a Spur it was to Trade, and 
 how the Mercers and Drapers could 
 hardly fupply their Cuftomers faft 
 enough with expenfive Goods ; and 
 how the Tailors and Sempftrefles 
 worked all Night, and Hairdreflers 
 fold their Ell-wigs, and Hatters their 
 Hats, and Horfe-dealers their Horfes 
 good and bad. For every one was 
 for pouring out of Londony acrofs 
 our Bridge, at leaft as far as Black- 
 heath. Oh ! what a bufy, what a 
 
 joyous 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 joyous Sight it was! All the Streets 
 from the Bridge to Whitehall were 
 hung with Tapeftry, and the 
 Windows filled with Ladies. The 
 Lord Mayor s Cooks fet up a gay 
 Tent in St, George s Fields, to 
 prepare a Refedlion for his Majefty. 
 The Livery Companies in their 
 various rich Drefles of Crimfon, 
 Violet, Purple, and Scarlet, lined 
 the Streets on one Side, and the 
 Trained Bands on the other : Burfts 
 of gay Mufic were intermingled 
 with Cheers and Laughter ; Every- 
 body feemed in tip-top Spirits that 
 the King was coming. We let our 
 Windows for a good Premium to 
 fome of the Grandees; but had a 
 good View ourfelves of what was 
 going on, from the Leads — now 
 there would come along a Troop of 
 two or three Hundred or more, in 
 Cloth of Silver Doublets ; then four 
 
 or 
 
1 20 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 or five Times as many in Velvet 
 Coats, vv^ith Attendants in Purple ; 
 then another Party in Buff Coats 
 w^ith Cloth of Silver Sleeves and 
 green Scarfs, others in pale Blue 
 and Silver, others in Scarlet : by 
 and by, fix Hundred of the Livery 
 on Horfeback, in black Velvet with 
 Gold Chains, then the Trumpeters, 
 Waits, City Oflicers, Sheriffs, and 
 Lord Mayor . • in fhort, there was 
 no End to the Splendour and Glory 
 of that Day ; for we had hardly 
 refl:ed ourfelves after feeing them 
 all go forth, when they began to 
 come back, with the King in the 
 midfl:. Oh ! what Shouts ! what 
 Cheers! what Burfi:s of Mufic ! 
 And he, bowing this Side and that, 
 fo fmiling and gracious ! *' It 
 '' feemed," he faid, '' as if it mufl: 
 ^^ have been his own Fault he 
 '* came not fooner back, Every- 
 
 **one 
 
Cherry & Violet. 
 
 " one appeared fo glad to fee 
 *' him ! " 
 
 But the Ladies' Dreffes!— Oh, 
 how grieved I was ! — Sure, they 
 were refolved to make up for the 
 Dulnefs and Decorum they had 
 been reftridted to during the Pro- 
 tectorate ; for indeed, they feemed 
 to think Decorum and Dulnefs 
 went together, and fhould now be 
 thrown overboard in Company. 
 The Henrietta Maria Drefs I had 
 fo complacently made up for our 
 Wax Doll, was now twenty Years 
 behind the Fafhion ! fit only to 
 laugh at! — and what had taken its 
 Place, I thought fit only to blufh 
 at. 
 
 For a Moment, when the Party 
 that had hired our firft- floor 
 Window had thrown off their 
 Clokes, I felt a dreadful Prefenti- 
 ment that their Charafters could 
 
 not 
 
 121 
 
122 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 not be over-good ; or elfe, thought 
 I, they never could drefs in fuch a 
 Manner. Only, knowing who they 
 were, I thought again, that can 
 never be — dear Heart! what can 
 they be thinking of? we fhall 
 have Stones and Mud thrown up at 
 the Window. " Sure, Madam," 
 faid I to the youngeft and prettieft, 
 " you will catch Cold at the open 
 " Window . . the Wind blows in 
 ** very frefh from the River — will 
 ** you juft have this Scarf a little 
 " over your Shoulders ? " ** No, 
 ** thank you," fays fhe, fhaking 
 back quite a Bufh of fair Hair, and 
 looking up at me with her Eyes 
 half fhut, as if fhe were fleepy 
 already. " Forfooth," thought I, 
 " thofe Curls are equal to a Fur 
 ** Tippet" — And, looking acrofs at 
 our Neighbours' Windows, I faw 
 we need not fear pelting, for that 
 
 all 
 
Cherry & Violet. j 123 
 
 all the other Ladies were drefFed 
 juft the fame. Then thought I, 
 Oh, this is the Rejioratioriy is it? 
 If you, fair Ladies, provoke ill 
 Thoughts of you, you muft not feel 
 aggrieved if People think not of 
 you very well. 
 
 I difliked this Symptom of the 
 Reftoration from the very firft — 
 not that it had, naturally, any Con- 
 nexion with it. — The King had 
 lived long abroad, had become fond 
 of foreign Fafhions \ but were the 
 modeft Ladies oi England ^ therefore, 
 to give in to them ? Then, what 
 the upper Claffes affed:, the lower 
 Claffes foon ape : I knew we fhould 
 ptefently have Miftrefs Blenkinfop 
 and Violet trying which could wear 
 the longeft Curls and fhorteft Petti- 
 coats, and look the moft languifhing. 
 The only Difference would be, that 
 the one would become the Fafhion, 
 
 and 
 
124 
 
 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 and the other make it ridiculous. 
 Perhaps, thought I, I am growing 
 prudifh and old-maidifli, I am 
 Eight and Twenty ; but fo is 
 Violet. 
 
 I have often thought, that if the 
 Ladies of 'England had at this Time 
 been what they ought, a good Deal 
 of Folly and Sin that prefently 
 ftained this Reign would never have 
 happened. What! could the merry 
 Glance and free Word of a light 
 young Monarch break down Barriers 
 that were not tottering already ? 
 What had Mothers and Teachers 
 been about ? Where were the Lady 
 Fanjhawes and Lucy Hutchinfons? 
 There muft have been Something 
 wrong in the Bringing-up — I can 
 never believe all thefe fair young 
 Ladies were fo good one Day and 
 fo bad the next. 
 
 But the joyfulleft Event, to our- 
 
 felves. 
 
Cherry & Violet. 
 
 felves, on that glorious Twenty- 
 ninth of May^ was the Reftoration 
 to his Country and Home of our 
 excellent Friend and Lodger, Mailer 
 Blower, He feemed to be rejuve- 
 nized by the general Spirit of 
 Hilarioufnefs ; for I proteft it feemed 
 as though ten Years were taken off 
 his Shoulders. And he talked of 
 being foon replaced in his Curacy ; 
 but, inftead of that, his Friends 
 prefently got him a Living in the 
 City, which took him away from 
 us, as there was a Parfonage Houfe. 
 But we went to his Church on 
 Sundays ; and, as he was not one of 
 thofe who forget old Friends or 
 humble ones, he would make my 
 Father and me fup with him about 
 once a Quarter, and come to us of 
 his own Accord about as often, and 
 talk over the Times, which in fome 
 Refpefts, as far as Sabbath-keeping 
 
 and 
 
 125 
 
126 
 
 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 and general Morality went, we 
 could not fay were bettered. 
 
 And now a fhocking Sight was 
 to be feen at the Bridge Gate, — 
 the Heads, namely, of thofe Traitors 
 who brought about the Death of 
 the late King, and who richly de- 
 ferved their bad End. There they 
 have remained for many a Year, a 
 Terror to all Evil-doers. 
 
 It was in the Spring following 
 the Reftoration, in the Month of 
 March, that we and the Braidfoots 
 were taking our Supper together on 
 the Leads, the Weather being very 
 warm for the Seafon, when our 
 Attention was attracted by the un- 
 common Appearance of the Clouds, 
 which, as will often be the Cafe 
 after much Rain, were exceeding 
 gorgeous and grotefque. Mailer 
 Braidfoot was the firfl of us who 
 noticed them, and cried, " See, fee, 
 
 " Neighbours! 
 
Cherry & Violet. 
 
 ** Neighbours ! Cannot you now 
 " credit how Lovers of the Marvel- 
 '* lous have oft-times fet Tales afloat 
 '* of Armies feen fighting in the 
 *' Air ? Do not thofe two JBattahons 
 ** of Clouds, impelled by oppofite 
 *' Currents, look like two great 
 ** Armies with Spears and Banners, 
 " about to encounter each other ? 
 *' Now they meet, now they fall 
 ** together, now one vanifhes away ! 
 " Now, they both are gone!" 
 
 ** And fee, dear Hugh" cries 
 Kitty y ** there's another that looks 
 *' like a Cathedral ; and another 
 " like an exceeding big Mountain, 
 " with a Rent in its Side ; and out 
 ** of the Rent comes Something 
 *' that looks like a Crocodile, with 
 '* its Jaws wide open; no! now it 
 '' is liker to a Bull, or rather to a 
 - Lion." 
 
 '^ Very like a Whale!" faid a 
 
 Man, 
 
 127 
 
128 
 
 Cherry & Violet. 
 
 Man, as if to himfelf, on the Top 
 of the next Houfe. It was Mafter 
 Benjkins Lodger, who wrote for the 
 Bookfellers. 
 
 Kitty ftarted, and lowered her 
 Voice; for we were not on fpeaking 
 Terms with him ; however, fhe 
 fqueezed my Arm and faid foftly, 
 *' It really is becoming Something 
 ** Hke a Whale now, though !'' On 
 which, Mafter Braidfoot burft into 
 one of his ringing Laughs, and cried, 
 ** Why, Kitty y you give it as many 
 ^* Faces as the Moon ! What will 
 " you fancy it next?" 
 
 '* I wonder what it means," fays 
 (he, very gravely. 
 
 " Means?'' faid her Hulband, ftill 
 laughing, ** why, it means we fhall 
 *^ have fome more wet Weather. So 
 " we'll put off our Pleafure Party. 
 ** See what a red Flame the fetting 
 '' Sun cafts all along the City!" 
 
 About 
 
Cherry & Violet. 
 
 About a Week after this, oui 
 Neighbour, Mafler Benjkiriy gave 
 my Father a Httle Pamphlet of four 
 Leaves, writ by his Lodger; the 
 Title of which was truly tremen- 
 dous. It was this, — 
 
 " Strange News from the West ! being a true 
 " and perfect Account of several Miracu- 
 " lous Si J hts seen in the Air westwardy 
 " on Thursday last, by divers Persons of 
 " Credit, standing on London Bridge be- 
 " tween Seven and Eight of the Clock. 
 " Two great Armies marching forth of two 
 ^' Clouds, and encountering each other ; but, 
 "after a sharp Dispute, they suddenly 
 " vanished. Also, some remarkable Sights 
 " that were seen to issue forth of a Cloud 
 " that seemed like a Mountain, in the 
 " Shapes of a Bull, a Bear, a Lyon, a7id 
 " an Elephant with a Castle on his Back ; 
 " and the Manner how they all van- 
 " ished." 
 
 ** Well," faid my Father, turn- 
 ing the Leaf, ** is it dedicated to 
 ^'Miftrefs Braidfoot? Here feems 
 
 ''to 
 
130 
 
 Cherry & Violet. 
 
 ** to be much Ado about Nothing, 
 *^ I think." 
 
 ** Nothing or Something," faid 
 Mafter Benjkin laughing, and jing- 
 ling his Pockets, " it has enabled 
 '* my Lodger to pay up feven 
 ** Weeks' Arrears ; fo it's an ill 
 " Wind that blows Nobody any 
 " Good. The Trifle has had a 
 "Run, Sir!" 
 
 "So this is the Way Books are 
 " made, and Stories are vamped 
 " up," faid my Father. " Truly, it 
 ** makes one ferious." 
 
 But, a little Time after, a Ru- 
 mour was repeated in the Shop 
 'that did indeed make one ferious, 
 to wit, that the Plague was in 
 Holland y and would very likely come 
 acrofs to us. However, though the 
 following Year it did indeed rage 
 very badly in Amjierdam and Rot- 
 terdanjy yet it crofled not the Water 
 
 for 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 for another twelve Months or more; 
 and as we had no fuch Things as 
 printed Newfpapers in thofe Days, 
 fuch as I have Hved to fee fince, 
 Reports did not inftantly fpread 
 over the whole Nation as they do 
 now. 
 
 Howbeit, at the latter End of 
 November^ 1664, there really were 
 two Cafes of Plague in Long Acre, 
 which frightened People a good 
 deal. A third Man afterwards died 
 of the fame Diftemper in the fame 
 Houfe, which kept alive our Un- 
 eafinefs ; but after that, nothing 
 was heard of it for fix Weeks or 
 more, when it broke out beyond 
 Concealment. 
 
 At this Time, Mafter Benjkins 
 Shop -window was full of fmall 
 Books with awakening Titles, fuch 
 as ** Britain s Remembrancer," — 
 ^* Come out of her, my People," — 
 
 '' Give 
 
 131 
 
132 
 
 Cherry & Violet. 
 
 ** Give Ear, ye carelels Daughters," 
 and fuch-like, many of them ema- 
 nating from the Pen of his Lodger 
 in the Attick ; and with thefe and 
 Lilly s Almanacks, he drove a 
 thriving Trade. 
 
 Violet was fitting with me one 
 Morning, when Mark fuddenly 
 entered, and feeing her with me, 
 loft his Prefence of Mind direftly, 
 and forgot what he had to fay. She 
 on her Part, being juft then in 
 Mourning for one of her Brother's 
 Children, for whom I am bold to 
 fay fhe had fcarce fhed a Tear, (he 
 being a humourfome Child, par- 
 ticularly difagreeable to her,) fetches 
 a deep Sigh, and with a pretty, 
 penfive Air takes up her Work, 
 rifes, mutely curtfies to him, and 
 retires. On which he, after a 
 Minute's Silence, fays fadly, ^^ Violet 
 ** is as beautiful, I fee, as ever," — 
 
 and 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 and I was grieved to find he ftill 
 thought fo much about her. 
 
 Juft then, my Father enters ; and 
 Mark of a fudden recollefting his 
 Bufinefs, exclaimed, ** Oh, Uncle, 
 *' here is a capital Opening for you. 
 ** 'Tis an ill Wind, fure enough, 
 *' that blows nobody any Good, — I 
 '* don't know why you fhould not 
 ** do a good Turn of Bufinefs as 
 '* well as ourfelves by being Agent 
 " for the Sale of thefe patent 
 ** Noftrums "... and thereon 
 pulled out a Parcel of Bills, headed 
 ** Infallible Preventive-pills againft 
 " the Plague." . . '' Never-failing 
 *^ Prefervatives againft Infection." . . 
 ** Sovereign Cordials againft the 
 ** Corruption of the Air.'* . . ** The 
 '' Royal Antidote — " and fo forth. 
 
 — " No, Boy, no," faid my Father, 
 putting them by, one after another, 
 as he looked over them, " Time 
 
 " was 
 
 133 
 
134 
 
 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 " was when I fhould have thought 
 " it as innocent to laugh in my 
 ** Sleeve at other People's Credulity 
 ** and turn a Penny by their Delu- 
 *' fions as yourfelf, and many others 
 ** that are counted honeft Men; but 
 " I'm older and fadder now. To 
 ** the beft of my Belief, every and 
 " all of thefe Remedies are Counter- 
 ** feits, that will not only rob People 
 ** of their Money, but peradventure 
 ^* of their Lives, by inducing them 
 " to truft in what they have bought 
 ** inftead of going to the Expenfe 
 " of proper Medicines. A folemn 
 ** Time is coming ; my own Time 
 " may be fhort ; and whether I be 
 *' taken or whether I be left, God 
 " forbid I fhould carry a Lie in my 
 '* right Hand, or fet it in my Shop- 
 ** window." 
 
 A Cuftomer here fummoned him 
 and Marky inftead of de- 
 parting. 
 
 away; 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 parting, fat down befide me and 
 faid, " What think you, Cherry ^ of 
 ** this approaching Vifitation ? Are 
 ** you very much affrighted ?" 
 
 ** Awe-ftricken, rather," I made 
 Anfwer, ** I only fear for myfelf 
 *^ along with the reft, and I fear 
 " moft for my Father, who will be 
 " more expofed to it than I fhall ; 
 " but I feel I can leave the Matter 
 " in God's Hand.'' 
 
 "I wifh I could," faid poor Mark^ 
 fighing. "I own to you. Cherry ^ 
 " I am horribly difmayed. I have 
 ** a Prefentiment that I fhall not 
 " efcape. My Wife,' continued he, 
 with great Bitternefs in his Tone . . 
 he commonly fpoke of her with 
 alTumed Reckleflhefs as ** his old 
 '* Lady " . . . " my Wife has no 
 " Senfe of the Danger — mocks at 
 " it, defies it ; refufes to leave her 
 " Houfe and her Bufinefs, come 
 
 '' what 
 
136 
 
 Cherry & Violet. 
 
 '* what may, and tells me with a 
 " Scoff I fhall frighten myfelf to 
 ** Death, and that Ralph Denzel 
 *' fhall be her Third. — Don't you 
 ** hate. Cherry, to hear Hufbands 
 '* and Wives, even in Sport, making 
 " light of each other's Deaths?" 
 
 Her Groffnefs was offenfive to 
 me, and I faid in a low Voice, 
 - I do." 
 
 *' And if I die, as die I very 
 ** likely fhall," purfued he, hur- 
 riedly, ** you may do me a Kind- 
 ** nefs, Cherry y by telling Violet that 
 '' I never—" 
 
 This was infupportable to me. 
 " Dear Mark,'' I cried, ** why yield 
 '* to this Notion of Evil which may 
 " be its own Fulfilment ? God 
 *^ watches over all. With proper 
 *^ Precaution, and with his Bleffin.g, 
 '* we may efcape. No one knows 
 *^ his Hour : the brittle Cup oft 
 
 '' lafts 
 
Cherry & Violet, 137 
 
 '^ lafts the longeft. — Many a Cafu- 
 ** alty may cut us ofF before the 
 ** Day of general Vilitation." 
 
 " Aye," he repHed, with a fick- 
 ened Look, ** but I had a Dream 
 '* laft Night . . . and, juft now, as 
 ** I came through £/yi^^/>^^/^ Church- 
 " yard, a Crowd of People were 
 ** watching a Ghoft among the 
 *^ Tombs, that was figning to Houfes 
 " that fhould be ftricken, and to yet 
 ** undug Graves." 
 
 ''Watching it?" faid I. ** Did 
 ** you fee it?" 
 
 ** Well, I rather think I did," 
 faid Marky ** but am not quite 
 '* afTured — the Prefs was very great. 
 ** At any rate, I faw thofe who 
 " evidently did fee it. My Wife 
 '* has had her Fortune told, and the 
 ** Fortune-teller avouched to her 
 " (he fhould efcape ; fo there's the 
 *' Ground of her Comfort. To 
 
 '' make 
 
138 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 ** make doubly fure, fhe wears a 
 " Charm. For me, I am neither 
 " for Charm nor Fortune-telling, — 
 ** if I die, I die, and what then ! 
 ** I've often felt Life fcarce worth 
 " keeping ; only one don't know 
 ** what comes after !" 
 
 And, with a faint Laugh, he rofe 
 to go away. I faid, ^* Mark ! 
 ''Mark!'' 
 
 "What is it?" he faid, and 
 flopped. I faid, " Don't go away 
 ** with that light Saying in your 
 " Mouth—" 
 
 He faid, "Oh!" and fmiling, 
 opened the Door. I faid, looking 
 full at him, " Faith in God is the 
 " beft Amulet." 
 
 " It is," he faid more gravely ; 
 and went out. 
 
 Prefently my Father came in to 
 Supper ; and fat down, while it was 
 making ready, near the Window, 
 
 looking 
 
Cherry & Violet. 
 
 looking out on the River quite 
 calmly. Our large white Cat fat 
 purring belide him. Stroking her 
 kindly, he faid, ** Puffy, you muft 
 ^* keep clofe, or your Days will be 
 " few . . . they've given Orders, 
 " now, to kill all the Dogs and 
 ** Cats. I believe. Cherry^ we are 
 ** as fafe here as we fhould be in 
 ^' the privateft Retreat in the King- 
 " dom, for Infedlion never harbours 
 ** on the Bridge^ the Current of 
 "Air always blows it away, one 
 " Way or the other. But, my dear, 
 " we may be called away at any 
 " Hour, and I never Sleep worfe of 
 " a Night for bearing in Mind I 
 " may not fee another Morning. 
 " But I reft all the peacefuller, 
 '* Cherry y for knowing you will 
 " never be in want, though this 
 " poor Bulinefs fhould dwindle away 
 *' to nothing. Mafter Benjkin and 
 
 " Hugh 
 
 139 
 
140 
 
 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 " Hugh Braidfoot know all about 
 " my little Hoard, and will manage 
 ** it well for you, my Daughter. 
 *' And now, let's fee what is under 
 " this bright little Cover. Pettitoes, 
 " as fure as London Bridge is built 
 '' on Wool-packs !'' 
 
 And he ate his frugal Meal 
 cheerfully, I thinking in my Mind, 
 as I had fo often done before, that 
 the firmeft Heart is oft found in 
 the littleft Body. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 141 
 
 CHAP. VIII. 
 
 The Plague, 
 
 As Spring advanced, the Plague 
 came on amain. Houfes were fhut 
 up, fome empty, fome with infefted 
 People in them under Guard, ne'er 
 to be let out, fave in perfedl Health 
 or to be caft into the Dead-cart. 
 Swarms of People hurried out of 
 Town, fome in Health, fome already 
 infedled : never was fuch a Blockade 
 of Carts, Coaches, and Horfemen 
 on the Bridge; and I was told, on 
 the northern and weftern Roads 
 'twas ftill worfe. Every Horfe, 
 good and bad, was in requeft, at 
 
 enormous 
 
142 
 
 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 enormous Hire : as foon as they 
 had done Duty for one Party, they 
 came back for another, fo that the 
 poor Things had an ill Time o't. 
 The Court fet the Example of 
 running away; the Nobility and 
 Gentry followed it ; the Soldiers 
 were all fent to Country Quarters, 
 the Tower was left under the Guard 
 of a few Beef-eaters, all the Courts 
 of Law were clofed, and even the 
 middle and lower Ranks that could 
 not well afford to leave their Shops 
 and Houfes, thought it a good | 
 Matter to efcape for bare Life, and | 
 live about the Country in removed 
 Places, camping in the Fields, and 
 under Hedges. 
 
 Thus the City, which had pre- 
 vioufly been fo over-filled as to pro- 
 voke the comparing of it with 
 yeriifalem before the laft PaiTover, 
 was in a Manner fo depopulated, 
 
 that 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 that though vaft Numbers remained 
 in its By-ftreets and Lanes, whole 
 Rows of Houfes flood empty. 
 Thofe that walked abroad kept the 
 Middle of the Streets for Fear of 
 Infection ; Grafs began to grow be- 
 tween the Paving-ftones ; the Sound 
 of Wheels was fcarce heard, for 
 People were afraid of ufing the 
 Hackney - coaches ; Beggars, and 
 Street-fingers, and Hawkers, had 
 altogether difappeared ; fo that 
 there was nothing to break the 
 awful Stillnefs fave the Shrieks of 
 dying Perfons in lone Houfes, or 
 the Rumbling of the Dead-cart. 
 
 Meanwhile, though the Dif- 
 temper was raging on both Sides of 
 us and all about us, it came not on 
 the Bridge. Crowded Affemblages 
 of Buyers and Sellers at Markets, 
 &c., being much to be avoided, we 
 laid in as much Stock as our fmall 
 
 Premifes 
 
144 Cherry & Violet. 
 
 Premifes would hold and our fmall 
 Family require, of Soap, Candles, 
 Groceries, Cheefe, Bacon, fait But- 
 ter, and fuch-like. And whereas 
 the Plague raged worfe than Any- 
 where among the Butchers' Stalls 
 and low Fifhmongers, we made a 
 Merit of Neceffity, and fafted from 
 both Fifh and frefh Meat, as well 
 for our Health as our Sins, which, 
 if fundry others had done in a 
 proper Frame and Temper, 'tis 
 likely they might have been fpared. 
 Thus we kept clofe and went 
 Abroad little, except to Public 
 Prayers ; reading and meditating 
 much at Home, and confidering, 
 as Noah' dindi his Family probably 
 did in the Ark, that if our Confine- 
 ment were irkfome, 'twas a cheap 
 Price to pay for Safety. Of the 
 Blenkinfops we faw nothing after the 
 regular Outburft of the Calamity; 
 
 but 
 
Cherry & Violet. 
 
 but we knew that Miftrefs Blenktn- 
 fop was not only refolved not to ftir, 
 but that fhe would not fo much as 
 lay in Stores for daily Confumption; 
 perverfely and cruelly perfifting in 
 fending her Servants into the Danger, 
 fhe feared not for herfelf to pur- 
 chafe Pennyworths of Things fhe 
 might have bought wholefale. 
 
 Meantime, though our Bridge, by 
 reafon of its being one of the great 
 Thoroughfares of London^ could not 
 well be fhut up, yet the Bridge- 
 wardens took all the Care of us 
 they could, keeping the Gates with 
 much Jealoufy, and burning large 
 Fires of refinous and flrong-fmelling 
 Subflances. Early in the Seafon, 
 there was one Perfon who took a 
 mighty Panic at her own Danger, 
 which was Miflrefs Armytage, She 
 had left her Lodgings, oflenfibly to 
 be with Kitty during her Confine- 
 ment, 
 
146 
 
 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 ment, but in Reality, as the Event 
 proved, to be out of the Reach of 
 Infedlion. However, the New^s of 
 each Day, v^hich fhe greedily 
 gathered, becoming difmaller, and 
 the Crow^ds of People pouring out 
 of Town exciting her Defire to be 
 among them, fhe wearied Hugh 
 Braidfoot with Entreaties that he 
 would promife to go into the 
 Country as foon as Kitty got about 
 again ; and, one Night, a Coffin 
 leaping into her Lap out of the 
 Fire, her Fears for herfelf could no 
 longer be allayed, but fhe declared 
 fhe mufl go the next Morning, 
 come what would. I heard much 
 fobbing and loud talking through 
 the Wall overnight; and the next 
 Morning at Day-break, faw the 
 Widow departing with a fmall 
 Bundle in her Hand, and a young 
 Lad carrying her heavy Box. How- 
 ever, 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 ever, the End, which was impreflive, 
 was this. She over-heated herfelf 
 in her felfifh Flight, flept in a damp 
 Bed the next Night, and took a 
 Hurt which ended her Life before 
 the Year was out, though not by 
 the Plague. 
 
 Soon after, Kitty gave Birth to 
 twin Daughters, the fweeteft little 
 Dears that ever were feen, whom 
 {he very prettily infifled on naming 
 Violet and Cherry. But now, the 
 Plague being more and more talked 
 of, and fhe being unable to nurfe 
 both, it became a momentous Quef* 
 tion with her whether to bring one 
 up by Hand or fend it to a Fofler- 
 nurfe in the Country. At length, 
 the latter was decided upon ; and 
 little Violet was put out to nurfe at 
 Lewi/ham, 
 
 And now the Judgment of God 
 fell very heavy on us ; infomuch 
 
 that 
 
148 
 
 Cherry fff Violet. 
 
 that amid the general Vifitation and 
 Bereavement, it would have been 
 ftrange indeed if even the unafflifted 
 could have been fo unfeeling as 
 to hold back from the general 
 Mourning. The Cry from every 
 Pulpit and every Altar was, *' Spare, 
 " O Lord, fpare thy People, 
 '* whom thou haft redeemed with 
 ** thy precious Blood;'* and the 
 Churches were open all Day long 
 and crowded with Penitents, till it 
 was found that Contagion was 
 thereby augmented ; whereon all 
 but the bold fell to exchanging 
 public for private Devotion. 
 
 About this Time, poor Kitty 
 Braidfoot fell into much Danger. 
 She was nurfing her little Cherry 
 one Morning, and faying to me 
 how her Heart yearned for a Sight 
 of its Twin-fifter, when, as if in 
 Anfwer to her Wifli, in comes the 
 
 Fofter- 
 
Cherry & Violet. 
 
 Fofter-nurfe, looking defiant and 
 heated, with the Infant in her 
 Arms, whom without more Ado 
 {he fets upon the Table, and then 
 retreats to the Door. 
 
 '' There's your Babby, Miftrefs,'* 
 fays fhe bluntly, ** and you owes 
 '' me one and twenty Shillings for 
 '' the lafl fix Weeks' nurfing, at 
 '' Three and Sixpence a Week . . . 
 ** it's taken the Plague, and I can't 
 ** have my own Babby infed:ed, fo 
 *^ I declines the farther Charge of 
 '* it — 'tis a puny little Thing, and 
 ** I doefn't think would anyhow ha' 
 '' lived long." 
 
 ''Puny!" cries Kitty y with Eyes 
 darting Fire, " why, you've flarved 
 " it for the Sake of your own Baby! 
 ** 'Twas as fine a Child as this, and 
 " now a downright Skeleton !" 
 
 The Woman had an Anfwer on 
 her Lips, but Something in Kitty s 
 
 Eye 
 
I50 
 
 Cherry & Violet. 
 
 Eye and in her own Heart fuddenly 
 abafhed her ; and with a ** Marry 
 ** come up ! " fhe haftily turned 
 about and quitted the Houfe, with- 
 out fo much as afking again for her 
 one and twenty ShilHngs. Poor 
 Kitty exclaimed, " Oh, you Httle 
 ** Starveling ! '' and burfling into 
 Tears, put Cherry into my Arms, 
 and began to unfaften her own Drefs. 
 I faid, ** Remember, you cannot 
 •*nurfe both—." She faid, ''I 
 ** muft commit the other to you to 
 " bring up by Hand and keep out 
 *^ of the Infection — I cannot let this 
 ** little Thing perifh," and fhowered 
 on it KifTes and Tears, quite thought- 
 lefs of her own Safety. 
 
 Juft then, Hugh came in, and flood 
 amazed when he faw Kitty fondling 
 the famifhed little Infant. She, 
 thoughtful of him alfo before her- 
 felf, cried, " Don't come near me, 
 
 ''Hugh! 
 
Cherry & Violet. 
 
 '' Hugh! Baby has the Plague. Tm 
 " thankful the Woman brought it 
 ** Home ; God forbid a Child of 
 *' mine fhould endanger a Child of 
 ** hers !*' And preffed her little one 
 yet clofer to her, and kifled its little, 
 meagre Hands. Poor Hugh flood 
 aghaft at the News, regarding her 
 from where he firft flood with a 
 Mixture of Wonder, Admiration, 
 and Fear; at length exclaiming, 
 '' God be your Bleffing, Kitty!''— 
 he brufhed off a Tear and turned 
 away. Again faw I that the 
 ftrongeft Heart is not always in 
 the biggeft Body. As for Kitty^ I 
 thought fhe had never looked fo 
 beautiful as that Moment. She 
 was now eagerly feeking for fome 
 Token of the Difeafe about her 
 Child, but could find none. ^* What 
 " and if 'twere a falfe Alarm } " 
 cries fhe, — ** Heaven grant it! — But 
 
 *^ now> 
 
52 
 
 Cherry & Violet. 
 
 ^^ now, dear Cherry y take your little 
 " Charge out of Harm's Reach — and 
 " bid Nell tend dear Hugh all fhe can 
 " — I've Everything I want here, 
 " and they can fet down my Meals 
 *' at the Door without coming in.'' 
 
 I looked back at her as I clofed 
 the Door, and faw her fmiling fo 
 over her Baby that it really feemed 
 as if fhe felt fhe had in it Every- 
 thing fhe wanted. And when I lay 
 down by my little Cherry at Night, 
 and felt its little Mites of Hands 
 flraying over my Face, I felt drawn 
 towards it with a Love I had never 
 experienced for a Child before, and 
 wondered not how Kitty , who might 
 call it Part and Parcel of herfelf, 
 could fo cheerfully rifk her own 
 Life for that of her Child. 
 
 Next Morning, both our Heads 
 were thrufl fimultaneouHy out of 
 our Bedroom Windows. ^* Violet is 
 
 *^ doing 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 " doing purely," cries ihe, ** there's 
 ** no Plague-fpot — How is Cherry?'' 
 We exchanged Congratulations and 
 heartfelt Bleffings. 
 
 In fhort, it proved a falfe Alarm ; 
 but as Cherry was fo miraculoufly 
 contented under my Care, her 
 Mother would not have her back 
 till every Fear of Danger was over, 
 by which Time the pretty Creature 
 was well weaned. If Hugh had 
 loved his Wife before this, he now 
 abfolutely adored her : he faid he 
 had learned the Value of his Trea- 
 fures too dearly to run any farther 
 Rifk of lofing them, come what 
 might to his Bulinefs. So he fhut 
 up Shop, left an old Woman in 
 Charge, bought a Tent, Horfe, and 
 Cart, and Everything elfe he wanted 
 or could take ; and, one fair Morn- 
 ing, he mounted Kitty all fmiling 
 under the Tilt, with a Darling on 
 
 each 
 
 ^53 
 
1 54 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 each Arm, and Bags, Bafkets, and 
 Crockery-ware all about her; and 
 fhouldering his Carter's Whip, 
 ftarted off with his Family for Kent^ 
 like a blythe, honeft Patriarch. 
 
 CHAP, 
 
Cherry & Violet. 
 
 ^5S 
 
 1 
 
 CHAP. IX. 
 
 
 Forejhadows. 
 
 
 Ah ! with that little Gipfey- 
 
 party went all the Smiles I was to 
 
 
 fee for many a Day, though I knew 
 
 
 it not. 
 
 
 My Father about this Time 
 
 
 feemed dull and forry of Cheer. 
 
 
 I afked him if aught ailed him in 
 
 
 Body or Mind, or had gone wrong 
 
 
 in his Affairs. He faid, no — that he 
 
 
 was.fenfible of a Heavinefs on his 
 
 
 Spirits, but could no Ways account 
 
 
 for it. And, with that Stoutnefs of 
 
 
 Heart which had become a fecond 
 
 
 Nature, he buftled about and tried 
 
 
 to 
 
 
156 
 
 Cherry & Violet. 
 
 to caft it ofF. Still I watched him 
 narrowly, but could detedt no Signs 
 of Diforder. I lay awake at Night, 
 thinking of him ; and amid the 
 Stillnefs all about, could faintly 
 hear the diftant Wail of that poor 
 diftradted Madman, who inceffantly 
 ran about the Streets of the City, 
 crying, "Oh! the great and dreadful 
 "God!" 
 
 After Breakfaft, my Father faid 
 to me, " Cherry y I fliall be abfent 
 " for an Hour or two, but you may 
 " exped: me punctually at Dinner." 
 
 I faid, " Oh, Father ! why muft 
 " you go forth ? is there any preffing 
 "Occafion?" 
 
 " Why, yes, there is," faid he, 
 " for a Man who owes me Money 
 " is going to make the Plague a 
 " Pretext for leaving the Country, 
 " and has fucceeded, I underftand, 
 " in getting a clean Bill of Health." 
 
 I faid. 
 
Cherry & Violet. 
 
 I faid, ** Let it be, if it be no 
 " great Matter/' 
 
 '' Nay/' he faid gently, " it h a 
 ** great Matter to People in our 
 *' Condition, with whom Trade is 
 " at a Stand-ftill. I have not yet 
 " held aloof from any neceifary 
 " Affairs, but I give you my Word 
 " I will run no needlefs Rifles." 
 
 And fo was going forth, when I 
 faid, ** There is a little white on 
 " your fhoulder," and brufhed it off 
 with my Apron. When I had done 
 it, he turned about and kiffed me. 
 
 We were to have Bacon and 
 Eggs that Day. I had a Prefenti- 
 ment he would be after his Time, 
 in fpite of what he had faid, and 
 told Dolly not to fry them till he 
 came in. Hour after Hour paffed, 
 long after Dinner-time, and flill he 
 came not. Then I grew troubled, 
 and kept looking along the Bridge, 
 
 At! 
 
 "^Sl 
 
158 
 
 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 At laft, when it was growing 
 dufk, I put on my Hood and went 
 to the Bridge Gate. I faid to the 
 Gate-keeper, " Did you fee my 
 " Father pafs the Gate this Morn- 
 " ing, Mafler PrincepsV 
 
 "Yes, Miftrefs Cherry, I did," 
 returned he, ** more by Token he 
 " faid he was going either through 
 ** or to Lime Street, I forget 
 " which." 
 
 I faid, *^ I can't think why he 
 ** don't come back." 
 
 ^^Oh!" fays he, "he'll be back 
 " prefently," which, though fpoken 
 entirely at random, yet being uttered 
 in a cheerful Tone, fomewhat heart- 
 ened me, and I returned Home. 
 
 Mafler Benjkin was putting up 
 his Shop Shutters. I faid, " I can't 
 " think what has become of my 
 " Father, Mafler Benjkin^ He 
 faid, " Has not he come Home ? 
 
 "Oh, 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 ** Oh, Something unforefeen muft 
 ** have delayed him. You know 
 " that might happen to any of us." 
 And put the Screw in his laft 
 Shutter. 
 
 I faid, ** What ihould you do if 
 ** you were me ?" He faid, ** Well, 
 " Fm fure I can't tell what I fhould 
 ** do — I don't fee I could do Any- 
 ** thing — He'll come Home pre- 
 ** fently, I dare fay . . don't be 
 " uneafy." And went in. I thought, 
 ** yob's Comforters are ye all." 
 
 About ten o' the Clock at Night, 
 I went down to the Bridge Gate 
 again. They were fhutting it up 
 for the Night, and making up the 
 great Bonfire in the Middle of the 
 Street. This Time I could hardly 
 fpeak for crying ; I faid, ** Mafter 
 ** Princeps, I can't think ivhy my 
 ** Father doefn't come back! I think 
 ** Something muft have happened!" 
 
 '' Nay," 
 
 159 
 
i6o Cherry & Violet. 
 
 " Nay/' fays he, ** what can have 
 " happened ? Very likely he has 
 '* been unexpeftedly detained, and 
 ** thinks he fhall not be back before 
 " the Gate is fhut, and is too 
 ** neighbourly to wifh to knock me 
 " up. So he takes a Bed with the 
 *' Friend he is with. — Now weVe 
 *' got it all clear, depend upon it!" 
 
 '' But," faid I, ** there's no Friend 
 ** he can be with, that I know of." 
 
 '* Why, in Lime Street!'' fays he 
 with all the Confidence imaginable. 
 
 " Lime Street ? Dear Mafter 
 " PrincepSy my Father knows no- 
 " body in Lime Street,'' 
 
 — '* Don't he though?" fays he 
 doubtfully. ** Well, I'm fure I think 
 " he faid he was going through or 
 " to Lime Street^ I can't juftly re- 
 *^ member which." 
 
 I turned away in deep Difap- 
 pointment and Trouble. As I 
 
 pafTed 
 
Cherry & Violet. 
 
 i6i 
 
 pafled under the deep Shade of the 
 Houfes, fome one coming clofe up 
 to me, faid, ^^ Cherry! ^v^tty C herry ! 
 ** is that you ?" But it was not my 
 Father's Voice, and I pafled on in 
 Difguft. I would not faften the 
 Houfe-door, and fat jufl within it 
 all Night, a Candle fet in the 
 Window. I opened my Bible at 
 random, in Hope of Something to 
 hearten and comfort — The Words 
 I lighted on were, ** I fought him, 
 " but could not find him ; I called 
 ** him, but he gave me no Anfwer." 
 And the Page was wet with my 
 Tears. 
 
 As foon as Day broke, I was 
 again at the Door. People going 
 to Market early looked at me 
 flrangely as they pafl^ed. It ftruck 
 me my Appearance was not very 
 tidy, fo I went in, wafhed and re- 
 drefltd myfelf, which refrefhed me 
 M a little. 
 
l62 
 
 Cherry & Violet. 
 
 a little, drank a Cup of Milk, and 
 then put on my Hood and went 
 down to the Gate. I faid, ^'Mafter 
 ** PrincepSy I can't think what's 
 " come to my Father." 
 
 " Blefs my Soul ! " cries he, 
 " what, has he not been Home all 
 *' Night? Then you fee, he muji 
 ** be fleeping out, and will not have 
 " rifen yet, to difturb his Friend's 
 *' Family. So, go your Ways back, 
 ** Miftrefs Cherry y and don't be 
 " fretting ; rely on it he will return 
 ** as foon as he has breakfafted, 
 *' which he cannot have done yet." 
 
 So I turned away, fad at my 
 Heart; and as I pafTed yohn Army- 
 tage's Shop, I looked up at Violet's 
 Window, and faw her drefled, and 
 juft putting back her white Curtains. 
 She looked down on me, and 
 nodded, and fmiled, but I fliook 
 my Head forrowfully, and turned 
 
 my 
 
Cherry & Violet. 
 
 my Face away. Before I reached 
 my own Door, I felt fome one 
 twitching my Cloak behind, and 
 fhe comes up to me all panting. 
 
 ** Cherry! dear Cherry!'^ fays fhe 
 breathleflly, ''what's the Matter?" 
 
 'Tve loft my Father," faid I^ 
 with filling Eyes. 
 
 *' Dead ! " cries fhe, looking 
 affrighted. 
 
 " He may be," faid I, burfting 
 into Tears, " for he has not come 
 '' Home all Night." * 
 
 ''Oh, if that's all," fays fhe, 
 putting her Arm round me and 
 drawing me into the Houfe, " all 
 "may yet be well. — How many 
 " Women might cry. Cherry ^ if 
 " they thought their Hufbands and 
 " Fathers were dead, every Time 
 " they ftayed out all Night ! 
 " Come, tell me all about it — ." 
 And fhe entered with fuch Concern 
 
 into 
 
164 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 into my Grief that its Bitternefs 
 was allayed. 
 
 " Come," flie faid, ** let us give 
 " him till Dinner-time — he may 
 " drop in any Minute, you know, 
 ** and if you go looking for him, 
 " you know not where, you may 
 " mifs him. So give him till 
 " Dinner-time, and after that, if he 
 " comes not, go and knock at every 
 " Door in Lime Street y if you 
 " will.'' 
 
 And ihe flayed, wiling the flow 
 Time as long as fhe could with 
 talking of this and that. At length. 
 Dinner-time came ; I could fcarce 
 await it, and direftly the Clock 
 flruck, I ftarted forth. It occurred 
 to me I would go to Mark. 
 
 As I approached the Gate, I 
 heard Mafler Princeps fay to the 
 fecond Gate-keeper, ** I'll lay you 
 ** a Wager this Girl is coming again 
 
 *^to 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 '^ to afk me why fhe can't find her 
 '' Father." 
 
 Inftead of which, I only faid as 
 I came up to him, ^* Fm going to 
 ^* look for my Father, Mafter 
 " Princeps'^ 
 
 "Well," fays he, "I wifh you 
 ** may find him with all my Heart, 
 '* but it feems like looking for a 
 " Pin in a Hayfield — Perhaps he'll 
 " return while you are away . . take 
 '^ Care where you go, the Streets 
 ** and Lanes are dangerous — " 
 
 There were People paying Toll ; 
 and while I was waiting to pafs, I 
 heard one Man afk another if he 
 had feen the great Plague-pit dug 
 in Aldgatey forty Feet long, and 
 twenty Feet deep ; adding, he be- 
 lieved many People that were 
 picked up in the Streets were caft 
 into it before it was well known if 
 they were dead or alive. 
 
 I darted 
 
Cherry & Violet. 
 
 I darted through the Toll-gate 
 the Moment it was clear, and made 
 for Cheapjide, Oh ! how awful the 
 Change, during a few Weeks ! Not 
 a Creature ftirring, where lately all 
 had been alive — At the Turn of a 
 Lane I met a Man wheeling a dead 
 Perfon in a Hand-barrow, and 
 turning his own Head afide. Houfes 
 were deferted or filent, marked with 
 the fatal red Crofs. Within one, 
 I heard much wailing and fobbing. 
 At length I reached Mark's Houfe. 
 'Twas all (hut up ! — and a Watch- 
 man fat fmoking on the Door-ftep. 
 He faid, " Young Woman, what 
 " do you want ?" I faid, " I want 
 " to fpeak to Mark Blenkiizfop y . . 
 He faid, '' Nobody muft go out or 
 "in — the Houfe is under Vifita- 
 '' tion." — My Heart fank when I 
 remembered Mark's Forebodings of 
 himfelf, and I faid, "Is he dead?" 
 
 " I know 
 
Cherry & Violet. 
 
 " I know not whether he be dead 
 " or no," replied the Watchman, 
 *' a Maid-fervant was put into the 
 *' Cart the Night before laft, and 
 ** a 'Prentice the Night before that 
 *' — Since then, they've kept mighty 
 ** quiet, and afked for Nothing, 
 '' though I've rung the Houfe-bell 
 ** two or three Times. But the 
 ** Night-watch told me that a 
 ** Woman put her Head out of 
 " Window during the Night, and 
 " called out, ' Oh ! Death, Death, 
 ** Death!' three feveral Times." 
 
 I faid, " Ring the Bell again ! " 
 
 He did fo, and pulled it fo 
 violently this Time, that the Wire 
 broke. We gave each other a blank 
 Look. 
 
 " See ! " faid I, '' there's a 
 " Window open on the Second 
 '' Story—" 
 
 *^ 'Tis where the Woman put out 
 
 "her 
 
i68 
 
 Cherry & Violet. 
 
 ** her Head and fcreeched, during 
 '' the Night," faid he, 
 
 ** Could not you get a Ladder/' 
 faid I, "and look in?" 
 
 " Well," faid he, '' I will, if you 
 " will flay here and fee that no one 
 " comes out while Tm gone." 
 
 So I faid I would, but I fhould 
 have been a forry Guard had any 
 one indeed rufhed forth, fo weak 
 was I and trembling. I thought of 
 Mark lying within, perhaps ftiff 
 and cold. 
 
 Prefently the Watchman returned 
 with a Ladder, but it was too fhort, 
 fo then he had to go for another. 
 This Time he was much longer 
 gone, fo that I was almoft befide 
 myfelf with waiting. All this Time 
 not a Creature paifed. At length 
 a Man came along the Middle of 
 the Street, holding a red Rod before 
 him. He cried, " What do you 
 
 "there?" 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 "to 
 
 *^ Window 
 
 " there ?" I faid, " We know not 
 " whether the Family be dead or 
 " have deferted the Houfe — a 
 ** Watchman has gone for a Ladder 
 look through the open 
 He faid, "I will 
 " fend fome one to look to it/' and 
 pafTed on. 
 
 Then the Watchman and another 
 Man appeared, carrying a long 
 Ladder between them. They fet 
 it againft the Window, and the 
 Watchman went up. When he 
 had looked in, he cried out in a 
 fearful Voice, ** There's a Woman 
 *^ in white, lying all along on the 
 " Floor, feemingly dead, with a 
 " Cafket of Jewels in her Hand — 
 "Shall I go in?"— "Aye, do," I 
 exclaimed. The other Man, hearing 
 talk of Jewels, cried, " Here, come 
 " you down, if you be afraid, and 
 " I'll go in," and gave the Ladder 
 
 a little 
 
 169 
 
170 
 
 Cherry & Violet. 
 
 a little Shake ; which, however, 
 only made the Watchman at once 
 jump through the Window. Then 
 up came two Men, faying, ** We 
 '* are from my Lord May or y em- 
 *^ powered to feal up any Property 
 ** that may be left, if the Family 
 ** indeed be dead." — So they went 
 up the Ladder too, and the other 
 Man had no Mind to go now ; and 
 prefently the Watchman comes out 
 of the Houfe-door, looking very 
 pale, and fays he, ** Befides the 
 ** Lady on the Floor, with all her 
 " Jewels about her, there's not a 
 ** Soul alive nor dead in the Houfe, 
 " the others muft have efcaped over 
 '' the back Walls and Out-houfes." 
 Then my Heart gave a great 
 Beat, for I concluded Mark had 
 efcaped, leaving his Wife to die 
 alone ; and now all my Thoughts 
 returned to my Father. I haftened 
 
 to 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 171 
 
 to one or two Acquaintances of his, 
 
 who, it was juft poffible, might 
 
 have feen him; but their Houfes 
 
 were one and all fhut up, and, 
 
 lying fome Way apart from each 
 
 other, this took up much Time. 
 
 I I now became bewildered and almoft 
 
 j wild, not knowing where to look 
 
 for him ; and catching like a 
 
 ; drowning Man at a Straw, I went 
 
 ! to Lime Street. Here I went all 
 
 I up one Side and all down the other, 
 
 j knocking at every Door that was 
 
 I not padlocked. At firft I made 
 
 j my Inquiries coherently enough, 
 
 I and explained my Diftrefs and got 
 
 i a civil Anlwer ; but, as I went on 
 
 i and ftill did not find him, my Wits 
 
 ! feemed to unfettle, and, when any 
 
 I one came to the Door, which was 
 
 ' often not till after much knocking 
 
 and waiting, I had got nothing to 
 
 fay to them but, " Have you feen 
 
 ** my 
 
1/2 
 
 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 " my Father ? " and when they 
 flared and faid, ** Who is your 
 "Father?*' I could not rightly 
 bring his Name to Mind. This 
 gave me fome Sign of Wildnefs, 
 I fuppofe, for after a While, the 
 People did not fo much look ftrange 
 as pitying, and faid, ** Who is your 
 "Father, poor Girl?" and waited 
 patiently for me to anfwer. All 
 except one rough Man, who cried 
 fiercely, " In the Dead-pit in Aid- 
 " gatey very likely, where my only 
 " Child will be to-night." Then 
 I loft Senfe altogether, and ihrieked, 
 "Oh! he's in the Pit! Father! 
 " Father I " and went running 
 through the Streets, a-wringing 
 my Hands. At length a Voice far 
 off anfwered, "Daughter! Daughter! 
 " here I am !" and I rufhed towards 
 it, crying, "Oh, where? Fm coming! 
 " I'm coming !" And fo got nearer 
 
 and 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 and nearer till it was only juft at 
 the Turn of the next Street; but 
 when I gained it, I came upon a 
 Party of diforderly young Men. 
 One of them cries, " Here I am, 
 " Daughter ! " and burfl out 
 laughing. But I faid, ** Oh, you 
 " are not he," and brake away 
 from him. 
 
 ^* Stay, I know all about him," 
 cries another, ** was he tall or 
 ^^fhort?" Oh, wicked, wicked 
 Men, thought I, 'tis fuch as you 
 that break Fathers' Hearts ! 
 
 How I got back to the BridgCy 
 I know not. I was put to Bed in 
 a raging Fever. In my Deliration 
 I feemed to fee my Father talking 
 earneftly with another Man whofe 
 Face I knew not, and who appeared 
 to hear him with Impatience, and 
 want to leave him, but my Father 
 laid his Hand upon his Arm, Then 
 
 the 
 
 173 
 
J 74 
 
 Cherry & Violet. 
 
 the other, methought, plucked a 
 heavy Bag from under his Cloke, 
 and caft it towards my Father, 
 crying, " Plague take it and you 
 ** too ! '' Then methought my 
 Father took it up and walked off* 
 with it into the Street, but as he 
 went, he changed Colour, flopped 
 fhort, ftaggered, and fell. Prefently 
 I feemed to hear a Bell, and a difmal 
 Voice crying, ** Bring out your 
 "Dead!" — and a Cart came rum- 
 bling along, and a Man held a 
 Lanthorn to my Father's Face, and 
 without more Ado, took him up 
 and caft him into the Cart. Then 
 methought, a Man in the Cart 
 turned the Horfe about, and drove 
 away without waiting to call any- 
 where elfe, to a difmal lone Field, 
 lying all in the Blacknefs of Dark- 
 nefs, where the Cart turned about, 
 and ihot a Heap of fenfelefs Bodies 
 
 into 
 
Cherry & Violet. 
 
 175 
 
 into a great, yawning Pit . . them 
 that a few Hours back had been 
 
 
 flrong, hearty Men, beautiful 
 Women, fmihng Children. 
 
 
 m 
 
 
 CHAP. 
 
 
176 
 
 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 CHAP. X. 
 
 A Friend in Need. 
 
 When I returned to my Reafon, 
 it was with an inexpreflible Senfe 
 of Weaknefs and Wearinefs. The 
 firft Thing I faw was dear Violet* s 
 Face clofe to mine, her large, dark 
 Eyes fixed full upon me ; and as 
 foon as fhe faw that I knew her, 
 fhe exclaims, ** Cherry ^ dear Cherry! 
 ** I thought I had no more Tears 
 ** left to fhed, but I muft cry again 
 *^ with Pleafure now — " and wept 
 over me. 
 
 I faid, ** Is he come back yet?'' 
 
 She 
 
Cherry & Violet. 
 
 She faid, ** You muft only think of 
 *^ getting well now." 
 
 *^Ah," I faid, ** I know he is 
 ** not;" and turned my Head away. 
 And ftill felt her warm Tears drop- 
 ping over me. They feemed to 
 heal where they fell ; and prefently, 
 I fhed Tears too, which cleared my 
 Head, and fomewhat relieved me; 
 but oh ! the Weaknefs ! — 
 
 I was very flow getting well. 
 All the While, dear Violet kept with 
 me, read to me, cheered me, 
 cherifhed me . . oh, what a Friend ! 
 How Trouble brings out the real 
 Good in People's Characters, if 
 there be any ! 
 
 Before I was well able to fit up, 
 Mafter Benjkin fent in Word he 
 had Something important to fay to 
 me as foon as I was equal to hearing 
 it. I thought he might have got 
 fome Clue to my Father, and faid 
 K I was 
 
 177 
 
178 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 I was quite equal to hearing Any- 
 thing he had to tell. Then he 
 came in, treading on Tip-toe, and 
 looking very awe-ftricken ; and, 
 fays he, " Miftrefs Cherry y' — taking 
 a Chair as he fpoke, a good Way 
 off from me, — " the lamented Event 
 " which we may now confider to 
 ** have taken place . . " 
 
 " No, Mafter Benjkin, no," in- 
 terrupted I, faintly ; ** I ftill hope 
 '* there has been no lamented 
 " Event—'' 
 
 ** Makes it my Duty," continued 
 he, without minding me, ** to tell 
 '* you that you need be under no 
 *' Uneafinefs about pecuniary Cir- 
 " cumftances." 
 
 *^ I am not, I aiTure you," faid 
 I. " Oh that I had nothing worfe 
 " to be uneafy about ! " 
 
 ** This Houfe," continued he, 
 " was your Father's for ninety-nine 
 
 '' Years, 
 
Cherry Gf Violet » 179 
 
 " Years, and is now yours ; and he 
 ** moreover had faved six hundred 
 ** Pounds, three hundred of which 
 ** he lent me, and three hundred 
 " Hugh Braidfoot^ we paying him 
 ** five per Cent., which we will 
 *' continue to pay you, or hand over 
 " to you the Principal, whichever 
 *'you like." 
 
 *' Thank you, Mafter Benjkiriy' 
 faid I, *' I fhould wifh Everything 
 *' to continue juft as it is .. I am 
 *' fure my Father's Money can't be 
 ** in better Hands ; and I fliall re- 
 *' commence inquiring for him 
 ** diredily I am ftrong enough, 
 " which I almoft am already." 
 
 " Ah," faid he, with a forrowful 
 Smile and a Shake of the Head, 
 " how flow Women are to give up 
 "Hope! . . Sure enough, 'tis one 
 " of the cardinal Virtues ; but they 
 ** pradlife it as if 'twere their 
 
 '' Nature, 
 
i8o Cherry & Violet. 
 
 ** Nature, without making a Merit 
 " of it. I wifh you well from my 
 " Heart, Mifs Cherry:' 
 
 All this While I was fretting to 
 fee Mafter Blower, I faid often to 
 Violet^ " I wifli Mafter Blower would 
 '* look in to fee me, and talk to me 
 '' and pray with me as he ufed to 
 ** do with my Mother. Sure, Tm 
 *' lick enow ! and he might, for as 
 '* long as he has known me, count 
 *' me the fame as one of his own 
 " Congregation." 
 
 And Violet would make Anfwer, 
 '* Indeed, Cherry y if you confider 
 '/ how the good Man is wearing 
 ** himfelf out among his own Flock, 
 " going hither and thither without 
 ** fetting his Life at a Pin's Purchafe, 
 ** fpending all his Time in Vifita- 
 " tion that is not taken up with the 
 " Services of the Church, you need 
 *' not be furprifed he comes not fo 
 
 '* far 
 
Cherry & Violet. 
 
 '' far as this, efpecially as he knows 
 '*■ not- of your Afflidlion nor your 
 - Illnefs." 
 
 " How do you, that are not a 
 ** Church woman, know he does all 
 ^'you fay?" faid I. 
 
 ** I had it from the old Woman 
 " that brings the Curds and Whey," 
 returned Violet; '^ fhe, you know, 
 " is one of his Parifhioners ; and, 
 ** from what flie fays of him, it 
 ^* appears he could not do more if 
 " he were a Diffenter." 
 
 " A Diffenter, indeed ! I admire 
 **that!" faid I. ^^f he were a 
 " flothful, timid, felf - indulgent 
 " Perfon, you would beftow all his 
 " Faults on his Church ; but be- 
 *^ caufe his Light fhines before 
 " Men, fo that they cannot help 
 ** glorifying his Father which is in 
 '* Heaven, you fay he could hardly 
 " do more if he were a Diffenter ! 
 
 '* —I fhall 
 
 i8i 
 
l82 
 
 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 ** — I fhall go to him as foon as 
 ^* ever I get well." 
 
 And fo I did ; while, indeed, I 
 was hardly ftrong enough for fo 
 long a Walk ; for I had a Notion 
 he would tell me where to find my 
 Father ; or comfort me, maybe, if 
 he thought he could not be found. 
 It was now late in September. — His 
 Parifh was one of the worft in 
 Whitechapel, — he lived in a roomy, 
 gloomy old Parfonage-houfe, too 
 large for a fingle Man, in a Street 
 that was now deferted and grafs- 
 grown. The firft Thing I faw was 
 a Watchman afleep on the Steps, 
 which gave me a Pang ; for, having 
 heard Mafter Blower was fo ad:ive 
 in his Parifh, I fomehow had never 
 reckoned on his being among the 
 Sick, though that was a very just 
 Reafon why he fhould be. I had 
 thought fo good a Man would lead 
 
 a charmed 
 
Cherry & Violet. 
 
 a charmed Life, forgetful that in 
 this World there is often one Event 
 to the Righteous and to the Wicked, 
 and that if the Good always efcapedj 
 no Harm would have befallen my 
 Father. However, this fudden 
 Shock, for fuch it was, brought 
 Tears into my Eyes, and I began to 
 be at my Wit's End, who fhould 
 tell me now where to find my 
 Father, and to lament over the 
 Illnefs of my good and dear Friend, 
 Mafter Blower. Then I bethought 
 me, — Perhaps he is not in the 
 Houfe, but may have left it in 
 Charge of fome Woman, who is 
 ill, — if I waken the Watchman, he 
 certainly will not let me in; the 
 Key is grafped firmly in his Hand, 
 fo firmly that I dare not try to take 
 it, but yet I muft and will get 
 in. — 
 
 Then I obferved that, in care- 
 
 leffly 
 
1^4 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 leffly locking the Door, the Lock 
 had overfhot it, fo that in Fadl, 
 the Door, inftead of being locked, 
 would not even fhut. So I ftept 
 lightly paft the Watchman and into 
 the Houfe ; and the firft Thing 
 within the Threfhold was a Can of 
 Milk, turned quite four, which 
 fhewed how long it muft have flood 
 without any Body's being able to 
 fetch it. I clofed the Door foftly 
 after me, and went into all the 
 ground -floor Rooms ; they were 
 empty and clofe fhuttered : the 
 Motes dancing in the Sunbeams 
 that came through the round Holes 
 in the Shutters. Then I went foftly 
 up Stairs, and looked timidly into 
 one or two Chambers, not knowing 
 what ghaftly Sight I might chance 
 upon ; but they were tenantlefs. 
 As I flood at paufe in the Midfl of 
 one of them, which was a Sitting- 
 room, 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 room, and had one or two Chairs 
 out of their Places, as if it had been 
 never fet to rights fince it was laft 
 in Occupation, I was ftartled by 
 hearing a Man in the Room beyond 
 giving a loud, prolonged Yawn, as 
 though he were faying, ** Ho, ho, 
 " ho, ho, hum ! *' Then all was 
 filent again : I thought it muft be 
 Mafter Blower^ and went forward, 
 but paufed, with my Hand on the 
 Lock. Then I thought I heard 
 a murmuring Voice within; and, 
 foftly opening the Door and looking 
 in, perceived a great four-poft Bed 
 with dark green Curtains drawn 
 clofe all round it, ftanding in the 
 Midft of a dark oaken Floor that 
 had not been bees-waxed recently 
 enough to be flippery. Two or 
 three tall, ftrait-backed Chairs flood 
 about ; a Hat upon one, a Boot upon 
 another, quite in the Style of Mafter 
 
 Blower ; 
 
 185 
 
i86 
 
 Cherry & Violet. 
 
 Blower ; and clofe to the Bed was 
 a Table with Jugs, Cups, and 
 Phials, and a Night-lamp ftill 
 burning, though 'twas broad Day. 
 The Shutters alfo were partially 
 fhut, admitting only one long Stream 
 of flanting Light over-againft the 
 Bed ; but whether any one were in 
 the Bed, I could not at firft make 
 out, for all was as ftill as Death. 
 Prefently, however, from within the 
 Curtains came a somewhat thick 
 Voice, exclaiming, " Oh Lord, my 
 " Heart is ready, my Heart is ready ! 
 ^^ I will ling and give Praife with the 
 " beft Member that I have ! Awake, 
 ** Lute and Harp ! I myfelf will 
 " awake right early !" 
 
 Here the dear good Man fell a 
 coughing, as if Something ftuck in 
 his Throat ; and I tip-toeing up to 
 the Bed-fide, withdrew the Curtains 
 and foftly faid, '' Mafter Blower!'' 
 
 Never 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 Never ihall I forget my firft 
 Sight of him ! There he lay on his 
 Back, with Everything quite clean 
 and frefh about him, not routed 
 and tumbled as moft Men's would 
 have been, but as fmooth as if juft 
 mangled : — his Head, without e'er 
 a Nightcap, lying ftraight on his 
 Pillow, his Face the Mirror of 
 Compofednefs and Peaceification, 
 and his great, brown Eyes, glowing 
 with fome fteady, not feverifli Light, 
 turned flowly round upon me, as if 
 frefh from beholding fome beatific, 
 folemnifying Sight. 
 
 " Why, Cherry^' fays he, looking 
 much pleafed, " are you come 
 " to look on me before I die ? 
 ** I thought I had taken my 
 ^Maft Sight of all below,"— and 
 reaching out his Hand to me 
 from under the Bedclothes, I was 
 fhocked to perceive how it was 
 
 wafted : 
 
 187 
 
i88 
 
 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 wafted : every Knuckle a perfeft 
 Knob. 
 
 " Don't touch me ! " cries he, 
 plucking it away again, and burying 
 it out of Sight, — "I forgot you 
 ** hadn't had the Plague. — What a 
 ** felfifh Fellow I am ! — How's your 
 "dear Father, Cherry V 
 
 I could not withhold myfelf 
 from weeping, and was unable to 
 anfwer. 
 
 • " Ah, I fee how it is," fays he 
 kindly, **poor Cherry! poor Cherry! 
 *' ' the Righteous perifh and no 
 " Man layeth it to Heart,' — I heard 
 ** a Voice fay, ' Write : Bleffed are 
 ** the Dead which die in the Lord. 
 " Yea, faith the Spirit, for they reft 
 " from their Labours.' . . I fhall 
 " fee him before you will. Cherry. 
 " Go Home, Child, go Home, . . 
 '' this Air is fraught with Danger." 
 
 I faid, " I am not afraid of it, 
 
 " Sir,— 
 
Cherry & Violet. \ 189 
 
 ** Sir, — I would rather ftay a While 
 ** with you." 
 
 " Well, then,'' faid he, **juft 
 ** give me a Drink of Water, or 
 " Anything liquid you can find ; 
 *' for I have had Nothing but what 
 ** I could help myfelf to, thefe 
 *' twenty- four Hours. My Throat 
 *' is fo bad, I cannot fwallow Any- 
 '' thing folid . . Oh! Oh!—" And 
 as he held back his Throat to drink, 
 I noticed the Plague Swellings. 
 
 ** That will do. nicely, now," 
 fighed he, when I had fmoothed 
 his Pillow, "and now go, I prithee, 
 ** dear Cherry^ and look after poor 
 " Dorcas^ who, I fear, muft be 
 ** dead or dying fomewhere about 
 " the Houfe." 
 
 So I did as he bade me ; and, as 
 I knew fhe was not on the Floor 
 below, I went in queft of her up 
 Stairs. Dorcas had lived with 
 
 Mafter 
 
igo 
 
 Cherry & Violet. 
 
 Mafter Blower ever fince he com- 
 menced Houfekeeping ; and had 
 had the Help of a younger Maid, 
 who now, it feemed, had left, or 
 died. She was a Widow-woman 
 in her third fcore, eccentric, like 
 her Mafter, in fome Matters; but 
 withal, of the fweeteft, pleafanteft 
 Countenance ! and of pleafant Con- 
 ditions too, fo that they were well 
 matched. She preferred being 
 called Miftrefs Peach; but Mafter 
 Blower liked calling her Dorcasy 
 and carried his Point. 
 
 I found her in the upper Story, 
 lying all acrofs her Bed, drefled, 
 but more dead than alive. ** Alas ! 
 ** young Woman,'' fays fhe . . . 
 "What! is it Miftrefs Cherry? 
 ** Heaven be praifed ! How is my 
 " Mafter ? Doth he live yet ? " 
 
 I faid. Yes, and I hoped was 
 going on well. 
 
 " Ah," 
 
Cherry & Violets 
 
 t( 
 
 it 
 
 '' Ah," fays ihe, '' I left him at 
 " Death's Door, but could no lon- 
 " ger keep about myfelf ; fo, fet him 
 " ftraight as well as I could, and 
 then crawled up here, thinking to 
 bundle my Mattrefs down Stairs, 
 and at all events die within hearing 
 of him. But 'twas quite beyond 
 *' my Strength . . I fell all along, 
 ** and here I've been ever fince." 
 
 Then fhe began to groan terribly, 
 but I made her as comfortable as 
 I could, dreffed her Throat, per- 
 fuaded her to fwallow a little 
 cooling Drink, and- loofened her 
 Clothes ; all which fhe took very 
 thankfully, but then became reftlefs 
 about her Mafter, and prayed me to 
 go down to him, for he wanted me 
 more than flie did. 
 
 So I returned to Mafter Blower^ 
 whom I now found a good deal 
 more fufFering and feverifh than 
 
 when 
 
 191 
 
192 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 when I left him, and beginning to 
 tofs about. I quite gave up all 
 Intention of leaving the Houfe, yet 
 thought Violet might be uneafy 
 about me; therefore I ftepped down 
 to beg the Watchman to fend a 
 MefTage to her ; but found the 
 Houfe-door locked. 
 
 On my rapping againft it and 
 calling, he unlocked it and looked 
 in. ** Hallo, young Woman," fays 
 he, "how came you here?" 
 
 ** I ftepped in while you were 
 " afleep," faid I, ** the Door being 
 " ajar." 
 
 " Afleep ? that's a pretty Tale to 
 " tell of me," quoth he, ** I wonder 
 " if you wouldn't feel fleepy fome- 
 " times, fitting from Morn to Night 
 *' on a Door-ftep, full in the Sun !" 
 
 ** I want to tell no Tales," faid 
 I, " but only desire to fend Word to 
 " my Friends on the Bridge that I 
 
 " cannot 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 " cannot return to them at prefent, 
 " being wanted here." 
 
 " Return ? of courfe you cannot," 
 fays he, ** why, do you fuppofe 
 " Perfons are to be allowed to walk 
 ** in and out of Houfes under Vifita- 
 •** tion at their Will ? 'Tis clear 
 ** againft my Lord Af^^^rV Orders." 
 
 This had efcaped me ; however, 
 it made no Difference ; and he 
 engaged to let Violet know the 
 Caufe of my Detention. Then I 
 returned to my Charges, and, to my 
 great Surprife, found Dorcas had 
 crawled nearly all down the Flight 
 of Stairs between her and Mafter 
 Blower, and was now lying all 
 along. She faid, ** I thought I 
 " mujft fee how Mafter was . . if 
 ** you will but tumble the Mattrefs 
 *' down, Miftrefs Cherry , Til lie 
 "juft within his Door, — then you 
 " won't have to run up and down 
 
 " Stairs 
 
 193 
 
194 
 
 Cherry & Violet. 
 
 ** Stairs fo often/' It did, indeed, 
 make it eafier for me to attend to 
 them both; and truly I never had 
 fuch a Night before nor fince ; for 
 though my dear Mother's Sufferings 
 had been long drawn out and very 
 fad to witnefs, they had never 
 amounted to acute Agony. The 
 Fever of both ran very high all 
 Night, and it feemed to me that 
 Mafter Blower in his Deliration 
 went through the whole Book of 
 yob in his Head, from the dif- 
 jointed Fragments he uttered here 
 and there. Alfo he feemed much 
 argufying with an impenitent Sinner 
 in his Flock, his Reafonings and 
 tender Perfuafives with whom were 
 enough to have melted a Stone. 
 As to Miflrefs Peach, I muft fay 
 her Thoughts ran moftly on her 
 Jams, . . . fhe conceited herfelf 
 opening Pot after Pot and finding 
 
 every 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 every one fermented ; and kept 
 exclaiming in a doleful Voice, 
 ** Oh dear, here's another Bifhop's 
 '' Wig !" So that, what with being 
 ready to laugh at her, and to cry 
 over him, I was quite carried out of 
 myfelf, and away from my own 
 Troubles. Towards Day-dawn they 
 both became quiet ; I fumigated 
 the Room, bathed their Temples 
 with Vinegar, moiftened their 
 Mouths, and then knelt down in 
 a Corner to pray ; after which, 
 I dozed a little. I had heard the 
 Death-cart going its melancholy 
 Round during the Night ; and had 
 felt thankful we had no Dead to be 
 carried out. 
 
 In the Morning, both my Patients 
 feemed bettering. Dorcas^ with my 
 Help, got to her Mailer's Bediide, 
 and looked in on him. ** Dear Sir," 
 fays fhe, **how are you now?" 
 
 ** Somewhat 
 
 195 
 
196 
 
 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 " Somewhat eafier, but very 
 " thirfty, Miftrefs Peachy' fays he. 
 
 '' Oh dear. Sir," fays fhe, '' don't 
 " call me Miftrefs Peach, or I fhdl 
 " think you're going to die. I like 
 " Dorcas beft now. What a Mercy 
 ** it was. Sir, Miftrefs Cherry came 
 " in as ftie did, for we were both 
 " at Death's Door. I dare fay. Sir, 
 " you miffed me ?" 
 
 "How ftiould I do otherwife?" 
 faid he, fpeaking very thick, and 
 with evident Pain. . . " I've got a 
 "Wafp's Neft in my Throat, I 
 " think. . . How ftiould I do other- 
 *' wife, I fay, when no one came 
 " near me for twenty-four Hours ?" 
 
 " Ah, Sir," fays flie, " I'm fure 
 *^ I beg your Pardon for behaving 
 " fo ill, — for being fo ill, that is ; 
 *' but indeed I could not help it. 
 " I thought," continues ftie, turning 
 to me, " I wouldn't die, as 'twere^ 
 
 "juft 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 **juft under his Nofe, fo crawled 
 '' out of Sight ; but put Everything 
 'Vnear him that he could want 
 '* before I took the Liberty of 
 " leaving him ; and did the beft 
 " Thing I could for him at parting, 
 ** by putting a fine drawing Plafter 
 "round his Throat. . . Pray, Sir, 
 "did it draw?" 
 
 " Draw ?" cries he, with the firft 
 indignant Flafh I ever faw from his 
 pleafant Eyes . . . and 'twas half 
 humourous, too, — " Like a Cart- 
 " horfe ! I fhould have been dead 
 " Hours ago, you Woman, had I 
 "kept it on!'' 
 
 Sorrowful as I was, I could not 
 help burfting- out a-laughing, and 
 he did fo too, when fuddenly 
 flopping fhort and looking very 
 odd, — " I don't know whatever has 
 " given way in my Throat," fays 
 he, " but verily I think that Laugh 
 
 " has 
 
 197 
 
198 
 
 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 '* has faved me! Here! give me 
 " fome Water, or Milk, or Any- 
 " thing to drink, for I can fwallow 
 " now." 
 
 So I gave him fome Water, and 
 ran dow^n Stairs for fome Milk, the 
 Night-watchman having promifed 
 to fet fome within the Door. When 
 I got back, there was quite another 
 Expreffion on his Face; compofed 
 and thankful. Dorcas was fhedding 
 Tears as fhe tended him, quite 
 thoughtlefs of herfelf. 
 
 ** Now, Cherry " fays he, " do 
 ! " perfuade this dear Woman to lie 
 I " down and take Care of herfelf, 
 " for fhe has had Faith enough in 
 " her famous Plafters to have put 
 " one about her own Throat, and 
 ** I know what flie muft be fufFer- 
 ** ing, or will have to fuffer." 
 
 So I gently led her back to her 
 Mattrefs, and then, fitting down by 
 
 Mafter 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 Mafter Blower y fed him with fome 
 Sponge-cake that was none the 
 worfe for being ftale when fopped 
 in Milk, warm from the Cow. He 
 took it with great Satisfaction, and 
 faid he hoped I fhould not think 
 him greedy when I remembered 
 how long he had failed. Then he 
 would not be peaceified till I went 
 down Stairs and breakfafted by 
 myfelf: telling me his Mind to 
 him a Kingdom was, or fomewhat 
 to that Effed:, which I could 
 thoroughly believe. When I came 
 back, Dorcas feemed fleeping 
 foundly, though not very eafily. 
 Mafter Blower had got the fame 
 heavenly Look as when I firft faw 
 him. I afked him if there were 
 Anything I could do for him. He 
 faid. Yes, I could read him the 
 fortieth Pfalm. When I had done 
 fo, he faid, ** And now you can read 
 
200 
 
 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 " me the hundred and fixteenth." 
 That, he faid, would do to refled: 
 upon, and I might go my Ways 
 now; he fhould want Nothing more 
 for a good While. So I fat down 
 in a great Arm-chair with a tall 
 Back, wherein, the Chair being 
 mighty cornfortable, and I fome- 
 what overwearied with watching, 
 (not being very ftrong yet,) or ever 
 I was aware I fell afleep, which 
 certainly was not very good Nurfing 
 nor good Manners. 
 
 When I woke up, which may 
 perhaps have been not fo foon as it 
 feemed to me, " Well, Miftrefs 
 " Cherry y' fays Mafter Blower y 
 fomewhat ironically, ** I hope you 
 " have had a good Nap. A Penny 
 " for your Dream.'* 
 
 I faid it had been a wonderful 
 pleafant one . . . too wonderful, I 
 feared, to come true. 
 
 <^ Well 
 
Cherry & Violet. 
 
 20I 
 
 ** Well, let's have it, neverthelefs," 
 fays he ; ** I like hearing wonderful 
 '* Dreams fometimes, when I've 
 " Nothing better to do. So, now 
 " for it." 
 
 — When I came to think it over, 
 however, it feemed fo different, 
 waking and fleeping, that I de- 
 fpaired of making it feem to him 
 Anything like what it had feemed 
 to me. 
 
 ** Come," faid he, "you're making 
 " a new one." 
 
 '* Oh, no. Sir !" faid I, " I would 
 " not do fuch a Thing on any 
 ** Account. — My Dream was this; 
 '* — only I fear you'll call it a 
 ** comical one. . . Methought I was 
 *' walking with you. Sir, (I beg 
 '* your Pardon for dreaming of you, 
 " which I ihould not have done if 
 " I had not been nurfing of you, 
 " I dare fay) — " 
 
 " Pardon's 
 
202 
 
 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 
 " Pardon's granted," fays he. 
 
 
 " Go on." 
 
 
 " I thought, Sir, I was walking 
 
 
 '* with you in a Garden all full of 
 
 
 " Rofes, Pinks, Crownations, Co- 
 
 
 " lumbines. Jolly-flowers, Hearts- 
 
 
 " eafe, and — and . . " 
 
 
 " A Kifs behind the Garden 
 
 
 '' Gate," fays he. 
 
 
 I was quite thrown out ; and faid. 
 
 
 I did not believe there was fuch a 
 
 
 Flower. 
 
 
 ** Oh yes, there is," fayis he, — 
 
 
 "Well, but the reft of your 
 
 
 "Dream—" 
 
 
 " That's all. Sir." 
 
 
 "^//.^" cries he. 
 
 
 "Yes, Sir; only that we went 
 
 
 " on walking and walking, and the 
 
 
 " Garden was fo mighty pleafant." 
 
 
 " Why, you told me there was 
 
 
 ^* Something wonderful in it ! " fays 
 
 
 he. 
 
 
 I faid 
 
Cherry & Violet. 
 
 I faid it had feemed wonderful at 
 the Time — 
 
 "That there was not a Kifs be- 
 " hind the Garden-gate," fays he 
 laughing. ** O ^t^ Cherry V^ 
 
 I felt quite afhamed ; and faid it 
 was very filly to tell Dreams, or to 
 believe in them. 
 
 "Why, yes," faid he ferioufly, 
 " it is foolifh to believe in the dif- 
 " jointed Images thrown together 
 " by a diftempered Fancy ; though 
 ^* aforetime it oft pleafed our 
 " Heavenly Father to commu- 
 " nicate his Will to his Servants 
 " through the Avenues of their 
 " fleeping Senfes. How fhould you 
 ** and I be walking in a Garden 
 " together ? There are no Gardens 
 " in Whitechapely Cherry. In Berk- 
 ^^/hirey indeed, my Brother the 
 " Squire has a Garden fomething 
 " like what you defcribe, full of 
 
 " Rofes, 
 
 203 
 
204 Cherry & Violet. 
 
 ** Rofes, Pinks, and Gilly-flowers, 
 " with great, flourifhed iron Gates, 
 '* and broad, turfen Walks, and 
 ** Arbours, like green Wigs, and 
 ** clipped Hedges full of Snails, and 
 "Ponds full of Fifh. If I go 
 ** down there to get well. Cherry^ 
 ** as peradventure I may, for I fhall 
 " want fetting up again before Pm 
 ** jfit for Work — (Pve fallen away 
 *^ till Pm as thin as Don ^ixotelj 
 ^^ Pll afk his Wife to invite you 
 " down. Cherry y to fee the Garden ; 
 *' and then we'll look up all thofe 
 *' Flowers we were talking about." 
 
 " Thank you kindly. Sir," faid 
 I, forrowfully, "but P don't think 
 " I can go , . I muft be looking for 
 " my Father." 
 
 " Your Father ! " cries he, in 
 Amaze. " Why, dear Cherry ^ I 
 " thought you told me he was 
 " dead ! " 
 
 I tried 
 
Cherry & Violet. 
 
 I tried to anfwer him, but could 
 not, and fell a-fobbing. 
 
 ** Come," fays he, quite moved, 
 " I want to hear all this fad Story." 
 
 When I was compofed enough 
 to tell it him, he liftened with deep 
 Attention, and I faw a Tear ileal 
 down his Cheek. 
 
 '* Cherry y' fays he at length, 
 " you muft give over hoping he 
 " will return, my Dear. There is 
 ** not a Likelihood of it. Confider 
 ** how long a Time has elapfed 
 " fince he went forth ; and how 
 " many, as dear to their Families as 
 " your Father to you, have been 
 ** cut off in the Streets at a 
 ** Moment's Notice, and carried off 
 "to the Dead-pits before they 
 ** were recognifed. For fuch awful 
 " Cafualties the Good are not un- 
 " prepared. Inftead of carrying 
 " back Infedlion and Defolation to 
 
 **his 
 
 205 
 
2o6 
 
 Cherry & Violet. 
 
 ^* his Home, and lingering for 
 " Hours and Days in unfpeakable 
 ** Agonies, the good Man was 
 " doubtlefs carried at once to the 
 '' Bofom of his God." 
 
 Then he fpake Words that killed 
 Hope, and yet brought Healing ; 
 and after weeping long and plenti- 
 fully, I began to fee Things as he 
 did, and to feel convinced I fhould 
 fee my Father's Face no more : 
 which, indeed, I never did. 
 
 CHAP, 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 CHAP. XI. 
 
 DifiinBion between would & Jhould, 
 
 Dorcas, who continued very ill 
 all this Day, began thereafter to 
 amend, and was able to take the 
 fple Night-watch. But the Watch- 
 man would not let me go forth, 
 though he would fend my MeiTages 
 to Violet^ and give me the Packages 
 of Clothing and fo forth that Violet 
 fent me. However, one Day a 
 Dodlor called, and gave as his 
 Reafon for not coming before, that 
 he had been ill himfelf. And he 
 faid both my Patients were in fuch 
 a fair Way of Recovery, that he 
 
 thought 
 
 207 
 
2o8 
 
 Cherry & Violet. 
 
 thought in another Week I might 
 leave the Houfe without Danger to 
 myfelf or others, only attending to 
 the proper Fumigations. 
 
 Mafter Blower now fat up in his 
 eafy Chair, half wakeful, half 
 dozing, for he was too weak to 
 read much. But he liked me to 
 read to him, which I did for Hours 
 together ; and the Subjedl-matter 
 of the Book often gave Rife to 
 much pleafant Talk, infomuch that 
 I began to be fecretly and felfiihly 
 forry that the Time was fo near 
 at Hand when he would be well 
 enough to do without me. 
 
 At other Times I got him to talk 
 to me about the Country-houfe of 
 his Brother, the Squire, wherein he 
 himfelf had been born, and had 
 fpent all his boyifh Days. And 
 when I heard him tell about the 
 little ivy-covered Church, and the 
 
 pretty 
 
Cherry & Violet. 
 
 pretty Churchyard planted with 
 Flowers, and the ruftic Congrega- 
 tion in their red Cloaks and white 
 Frocks, and the Village Choir 
 with their Pipes and Rebecks, it 
 feemed to me I would rather, a 
 thoufand Times, be Vicar or even 
 Curate of fuch a Place as that 
 than have ever fuch a large, grand 
 Living in WhitechapeL And fo I 
 told him. 
 
 At other Times I fat fewing quite 
 filent by the Window, leaving him 
 to doze if he could ; and fometimes 
 I could fee without looking up, 
 that his Eye would reft on me for 
 a good While at a Time. I did 
 not care a Pin about it, and made 
 as though I took no Notice. 
 
 ** Cherry j' fays he, after one of 
 thefe Ruminations, ** what have the 
 " Men been about, that you have 
 ** never got married ?" 
 
 P I plucked 
 
 209 
 
2IO 
 
 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 I plucked up my Spirit on this ; 
 and, " Sir/' faid I, " if you can tell 
 " me of any fuitable Anfwer I can 
 " poffibly make to fuch a Queftion 
 " as that, rU be much obliged to you 
 '' for it, and will make Ufe of it !'* 
 
 "Well!'' fays he, ** it was a 
 " queer Queftion . . . only, the 
 " Thing feems fo wonderful to 
 " me ! Such a pretty Girl as 
 " you were when I firft knew 
 " you ! " 
 
 " Ah, that was a long While 
 " ago. Sir," faid I, threading rny 
 Needle. 
 
 "It was!" faid he, decidedly; 
 and then looking at me in an 
 amufed Kind of Way, to fee how 
 I took it. "A long While ago, 
 " as you fay. Cherry ! And, do 
 " you know, I think exadtly the 
 " fame of you now, that I did 
 "then!" 
 
 "I am 
 
Cherry & Violet. 
 
 " I am very much obliged to 
 ^* you. Sir," faid I ; and went to 
 make him a Bread-pudding. 
 
 Another Time, we fell to talking 
 about the Awfulnefs of the Vifita- 
 tion, which, he faid, he feared 
 would make no lafling Impreflion 
 on the People. And he fpoke 
 much about individual Sins helping 
 to bring down national Chaftife- 
 ments ; and individual Interceffions 
 and Supplications inviting Forgive- 
 nefs of general Tranfgreffions ; 
 quoting Daniel, and Abrahaniy and 
 'Jeremiah, ** Run ye to and fro 
 ** through the Streets of Jerufalemy 
 ** and fee now and know, and feek 
 ** in the broad Places thereof, if ye 
 " can find a Man that executeth 
 " Judgment, that feeketh the Truth; 
 " and I will pardon it." 
 
 Another Time, feeling weaker 
 than common, he began to defpond 
 
 about 
 
 211 
 
212 
 
 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 about getting down to his Brother 
 the Squire's. I faid, ** Dear Sir, if 
 ** you are not equal to fo long a 
 '* Journey, you can come, for 
 " Change of Air, to your old 
 ^* Quarters on the Bridge." 
 
 **Ah, Cherry y' faid he, faintly 
 fmiling, " what would Folks fay if 
 'M did that?" 
 
 *' Why, what Jhould they fay, 
 "Sir?" faid I. 
 
 *^ Tm not conlidering what they 
 ''Jhould fay," faid he; ** what they 
 ** would fay. Cherry y would probably 
 *' be, that I meant to marry you; 
 ** or ought to mean it." 
 
 I faid I did not fuppofe they 
 would or could fay any fuch 
 Thing; I being fo long known 
 on the Bridge, — and he of his 
 Years—" 
 
 " Humph ! " faid he, " I am but 
 ** forty-four ! To hear you talk, 
 
 " one 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 213 
 
 ** one might think I was a — " 
 . . . I forget what Sort of an 
 Arian he called himfelf, — *' Do 
 " you know what that means, 
 " Cherry ? " 
 
 I faid, I believed it was fome 
 Sort of a Diflenter. On which he 
 laughed outright ; and faid it meant 
 fixty or feventy Years of Age, I 
 forget which. 
 
 ** And Tm not quite fuch an old 
 " Codger as that," faid he, " fo I 
 " won't accept your kind Invitation, 
 " though I thank you heartily for 
 *' it. But we muft not let our 
 ** Good be evil fpoken of." 
 
 All this was fpoken in fuch a 
 fimple, genial, attaching Sort of a 
 Way, — for his Manners were always 
 gentle and well-nurtured, — that it 
 only went to make me like him 
 more and more, and think what 
 a Privilege it was to be thus in 
 
 hourly 
 
2 14 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 hourly Communion with Mafter 
 Blower, 
 
 Parting Time came at laft. It 
 was my own Fault if I left not 
 that Houfe a wifer, better, and 
 happier Woman. Dorcas and I 
 faw him ftart off for Berkjhire ; and 
 there was a Tear in my Eye, when 
 he took my Hand to bid me Fare- 
 well. 
 
 ''Cherry;' faid he, ftill holding 
 my Hand, and looking at me with 
 great Goodnefs and Sweetnefs, ** I 
 '' fhall never forget that to you, 
 " under Heaven, I owe my Life. 
 " And, by the Way, there is Some- 
 " thing I have often thought of 
 " naming to you, only that it never 
 " occurred to me at the proper 
 " Time . . a very odd Circumftance. 
 ** — When I efcaped to Hoi land y 
 " and, as fome People thought, was 
 '' in Want of Money, I found feven 
 
 gold 
 
Cherry & Violet. 2 1 5 
 
 " gold Pieces in the Infide of one 
 *' of my Slippers ! Who could have 
 ** put them there, do you think? 
 '' Ah, C/i^rry/— There ! God blefs 
 **you!" 
 
 CHAP. 
 
2l6 
 
 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 CHAP. XII. 
 
 Camping out in Epping Forejl. 
 
 When I returned Home, my 
 Neighbours looked ftrangely on me, 
 as though I were one rifen from 
 the Dead, after nurfing two People 
 through the Plague without Hurt. 
 I faid not much, however, to any 
 of them except to Violet. 
 
 When I had told her all I had to 
 tell, fhe faid, "Well, I think the 
 ** Tale ends rather flatly : you and 
 " Mailer Blower might as well have 
 '' made a Match of it." 
 
 '' Truly, Violet;' faid I, " I think 
 "Women of our Age may be 
 
 " capable 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 ** capable of a difinterefted Action, 
 ** without Queftion of Match- 
 " making/' 
 
 ** As to Women of our Age," 
 retorted fhe, '* fpeak for yourfelf, 
 ** if you pleafe ! You may make 
 " out yourfelf to be as old as you 
 ** will ; but I mean to flick at 
 *^ Twenty-eight!" 
 
 I faid not another Word, but 
 fecretly wondered how ftrangely 
 tender fome People are on the Sub- 
 jeft of Age. Even Mafter Blowery 
 who had owned to Forty -four, 
 did not like me to reckon him at 
 Fifty. 
 
 It was now quite the latter End 
 of Odfober^ the Diftemper was 
 abating, and People were beginning 
 to venture back to their Homes, 
 and a few Shops were re-opened. 
 Hugh Braidfoot and his Family re- 
 turned among the reft. But too 
 
 heedlefs 
 
 217 
 
2l8 
 
 Cherry & Violet. 
 
 heedlefs an Expofure to the Infec- 
 tion yet lingering among us caufed 
 the Diftemper to rage again with 
 great Fury before it abated for 
 good. 
 
 I now kept myfelf clofe, and 
 fpent the Chief of the Day at my 
 Needle or Book, working much for 
 the Poor, who were like enough to 
 be deflitute in the Winter. Firft, 
 however, I put on Mourning for 
 my poor, dear Father, whom I 
 could not bear to deny this Mark of 
 Remembrance, though the Mortality 
 being fo great. People had quite 
 left off wearing Black for their 
 Friends. Much he dwelt in my 
 fad, folitary Thoughts; and when 
 they ran not on him, they chiefly 
 fettled on Mailer Blower. The 
 more I confidered their Characfters, 
 the more Beauty I found in them. 
 
 I never opened the Shop-fhutters 
 
 now. 
 
Cherry & Violet. 
 
 now, except for a little Light. 
 Trade was utterly ftagnant ; and 
 my Father's Bufinefs had dropped 
 with him. The little I might have 
 done in the Perfumery Line, had 
 the Town not been empty, would 
 not have been worth fpeaking of : 
 it was a Mercy, therefore, that my 
 dear Father had left me well pro- 
 vided. 
 
 One Evening, when it was getting 
 too dufk to work or read, and I was 
 falling into a Mufe, a tall Shadow 
 darkened the Door, which happened 
 to be ajar, and the next Moment a 
 Man whom I did not immediately 
 recognife, entered the Parlour and 
 ftepped up to me. 
 
 " Cherry! dear Cherry T he faid 
 in a ftifled Voice, and took me in 
 his Arms with a Brother's Aifection. 
 It was poor Mark, 
 
 ^^Dear Mark!'' I faid, ^* where 
 
 " have 
 
 219 
 
2 20 i Cherry & Violet, 
 
 ** ha've you been ? Oh, how often 
 " have I thought of you !" 
 
 *' Aye, Cherry^ well you might, 
 *' and pray for me, too," faid he, 
 fomewhat wildly. ** Oh, what a 
 ** Tale I have to tell you ! — You 
 will either hate or defpife me." 
 
 *'You are ill, very ill," faid I, 
 looking fearfully at his haggard 
 Face ; *' let me give you Something 
 " before you fay another Word." 
 
 "Wine, then," faid he; and 
 drank with avidity the Glafs I 
 poured out, and then filled it again 
 himfelf. " Thanks, dear Cherry! — 
 " will my Uncle be coming in ? " 
 
 I looked at him and at my Drefs, 
 and could not fpeak ; but there was 
 no need — " Ah ! " — said he ; and 
 wrung my Hand, and then dropped 
 it. 
 
 " Cherry,'' faid he, after a Mo- 
 ment's Paufe, " you know how 
 
 " afraid 
 
Cherry & Violet. 
 
 221 
 
 ** afraid I was of the Plague, and 
 ** how my Wife taunted me for it, 
 ** and for taking the commoneft 
 *^ Precautions. She herfelf braved 
 ** it, defied it ; fecure in her Amulet 
 " and Fortune-telling. What was 
 ** worfe, fhe cruelly expofed her 
 ** Servants to it, for the mereft 
 ** Trifles. We had Words about it 
 '' often : bitter Words, at laft — She 
 ** accufed me, utterly without Foun- 
 " dation, of caring more for the 
 ** Servant-girl than for her, reviled 
 ** me for tempting my own Fate by 
 " Fear ; finally, faid I fhould be no 
 ** great Lofs, for I had never cared 
 " much for her, nor fhe for me. 
 ^^ All this embittered me againft 
 '* her. Well, the poor Maid caught 
 " the Plague at the Butchers' Stalls, 
 " and, the next Night, was in the 
 " dead Cart. The following Day, 
 " our youngeft 'Prentice died. The 
 
 '' other 
 
222 
 
 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 ** other decamped in the Night. I 
 " now became nearly Mad with 
 " Fear and Anger; and, finding my 
 ** Wife would not flir, or at leaft, 
 " as fhe faid, * not yet/ I confidered 
 '* that Self-prefervation was the firft 
 *^ Law of Nature ; and, taking a 
 " good Supply of Money with me, 
 " I left the Houfe in the Night. 
 *^ Fear of being driven back was 
 ** my fole Feeling till I got clear 
 " out of London ; then, I began to 
 " have an Impreffion I had done 
 " wrong. But 'twas Death, 'twas 
 *' Madnefs to think of turning back. 
 " On I went . . . 
 
 " It had been my Impreffion, 
 " Cherry y that, with plenty of 
 " Money in my Pocket, I could 
 " make my Way wherever I would ; 
 ** but now, in whatever Direftion I 
 " went, I came upon a Watchman, 
 " who, becaufe I had no Clean Bill 
 
 "of 
 
Cherry & Violet. 
 
 *' of Health to fhow, would not let 
 ** me pafs. At length, after run- 
 ** ning hither and thither, through- 
 ** out the Night, I came upon a 
 " couple of Men, with a fmall Cart 
 " and Horfe. They feemed to be 
 " in the fame Strait as myfelf, and 
 " talked of fetching a Compafs to 
 " Bow. I afked them to let me 
 **join them, and they confented. 
 ** They were a rough Sort of 
 " Fellows ; one it feemed had de- 
 ** ferted his Mother, the other his 
 " Wife. Their Condud:, and their 
 ** brutal Way of talking of it, only 
 ** made mine feem more ugly. 
 
 ** On Bow Bridge the Watch 
 " would have queftioned us, but we 
 ^* crofled the Road into a narrow 
 " Way leading to Old Ford. After- 
 ** wards we got on to Homerton and 
 " Hackney y and at length into the 
 ** northern Road. Here we went 
 
 "on 
 
 223 
 
224 
 
 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 ** on till we faw fome Men running 
 " towards us ; then we ftruck into 
 '* a Lane, halted at a Barn, and had 
 " fome Bread and Cheefe. The 
 " Food was theirs, but I paid for 
 " my Share ; and I saw them curi- 
 ** oufly eying my Money. After- 
 " wards they aflced one or two 
 " Queftions about my Refources, 
 *' which I did not much like. 
 
 " Well, we kept on till we were 
 " many Miles from London, occa- 
 ** fionally dodging Villages and 
 " Conftables. At Nightfall we 
 " reached the Skirt of a Wood. 
 " Here my Companions propofed 
 *' to fleep ; but as foon as they were 
 ** fairly off, I ftole away. I wan- 
 ** dered a long Way from them in 
 " the Wood ; at length took re- 
 " fuge in a Cow-flied. I thought 
 ** I heard Voices, not far off, 
 ** which made me uneafy ; how- 
 
 " ever. 
 
Cherry & Violet. 
 
 225 
 
 ever, I was fo tired that I fell 
 afleep. 
 
 '* As foon as Day dawned, I made 
 off; and, not knowing which 
 Track to take, went on at Randorn, 
 till I came to a large old Barn. 
 To my Surprife, I heard fome 
 one praying within. I looked in, 
 and faw, not one, but a dozen 
 Men, and two or three Women 
 and Children. I flood reverently 
 alide till the old Man had done, 
 and heard him pray that they 
 might all continue to be fpared 
 from the awful Vifitation. When 
 they uncovered their Faces, I 
 ftept forward, on which there 
 was a loud Cry, and they warned 
 me off. It was to no Ufe 
 fpeaking, they would not hear 
 me as I had no Paffport. Dif- 
 pirited and hungry, I ftrayed 
 away till I came tp the Skirt of 
 
 ''the 
 
226 
 
 Cherry & Violet. 
 
 ** the Wood, in Sight of a Clufter 
 '* of Houfes. I was about to make 
 ** for them, when three Men, with 
 " a Pitchfork, Bludgeon, and Horfe- 
 " whip rufhed upon me and collared 
 '* me, faying, ^ Here's one of them!' 
 *^ — I ftruggled, and faid, ^ One of 
 ** whom ? I belong to no Party, 
 " and am a healthy, innocent Man.' 
 " * That founds well,' faid one of 
 ** them, * but we guefs you are 
 " one of a Gang that, after threat- 
 ** ening and intimidating our Town 
 *^ yefterday, broke into a lone Farm- 
 '' houfe laft Night ; fo we'll take 
 ** you before a Magiftrate.' * Do 
 " fo,' faid I, ' for it will be better 
 *' than ftarving in the Wood, and 
 " I fhall be able to clear myfelf.' 
 ** So, after a Time, finding I made 
 " no Refiftance, they gave over 
 '* dragging me, and let me walk by 
 '^ myfelf, only keeping clofe about 
 
 " me. 
 
Cherry & Violet. 
 
 '* me, with an ugly Bull-dog at my 
 ** Heels. However, I did not feel 
 *' over-fure, Cherry y that my Story 
 ** would fatisfy the Magiftrate, fo 
 ** when we reached a fmall Public- 
 " houfe where we found a Conftable, 
 " I privately flipped a Half-crown 
 ** into his Hand, and he, after a 
 ** little Parley, gave it as his Opinion 
 ** that I was an honefl Man, whereon 
 *' the others defifted from giving 
 " me in Charge. But they would 
 ** by no Means admit me into the 
 " Houfe, only brought out fome 
 ^* Bread and Beer and fet them at 
 " a Diilance, and then went away 
 " while I ate and drank. 
 
 ** There feemed Nothing to do 
 ** but to turn again into the Wood ; 
 *^ and as I was without Objecft, 
 " foot-fore, and fpiritlefs, I paufed 
 ** at the firft inviting Spot I came 
 " to, and cafl myfelf along under a 
 
 "Tree. 
 
 227 
 
228 
 
 Cherry 6? Violet. 
 
 Tree. Here I fuppofe I flept a 
 good While : when I awoke, it 
 was with a ftrange Senfe of De- 
 preffion, and it occurred to me 
 I might be plague-ftricken after 
 all. As if I could fly yet from 
 the Diflemper, if that were the 
 Cafe, I refolved to be moving; 
 for I had no Mind to die like a 
 Rat in a Hole. Juft then I heard 
 Voices clofe on the other Side 
 the Tree; and, eyeing the Speakers 
 between the Branches, could make 
 out a numerous Band of Men and 
 a few Women, who were eating 
 and drinking. I did not like their 
 Appearance much, and thought 
 of retreating, when one of them, 
 feeing me flir, cries, — *A Spy!* 
 and drags me into the Midft. I 
 was pretty roughly handled till 
 they fettled it to their Minds I 
 was a harmlefs Sort of a Fellow ; 
 
 "and 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 " and then they told me they would 
 " let me join the Crew if I would 
 " caft my Lot among them, and 
 ** put whatever I had about me into 
 " the common Stock. I was no 
 ** Ways minded to do this ; however, 
 ** I gave them a few Shillings. 
 ** which, after a little Demur, they 
 ** took, and I then was free of the 
 " Company. I foon had Reafon to 
 ** apprehend they were the Band 
 " who had affrighted the Townfmen 
 " the Day before, and plundered 
 " the Farm in the Night ; and it 
 *' feemed as if a feled: Council of 
 " them were concerting Something 
 " of the Sort again, though they 
 ** did not invite me to participate. 
 " As this was not the Sort of Com- 
 " pany I had any Mind to aflbciate 
 ** with, I dragged through the 
 ** Afternoon and Evening as well 
 ** as I could, moftly apart. They 
 
 '' then 
 
 229 
 
230 
 
 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 ** then began to put up Booths and 
 
 '' Tents for the Night, at which I 
 
 ** was glad to affift, rather than do 
 
 ** Nothing ; but I lay a little Way. 
 
 *^ off, under a Tree. In the Night 
 
 " I felt fome one lugging at the 
 
 " little Parcel of Clothing I laid 
 
 *^ my Head upon. — I hit a Blow at 
 
 '* Random, which made whoever it 
 
 ** was move off without a Word ; 
 
 *^ and then I thought it was Time 
 
 " for me to move off too. I got 
 
 " away unperceived, and could not 
 
 ** fettle again all Night. When 
 
 ^* Day broke, I was in a Part of 
 
 ** the Foreft that was new to me, . 
 
 ** The Sun was ihining on fbme 
 
 " gnarled old Oaks, and along green 
 
 *^ Glades ; there were Birds finging, 
 
 "Hares running acrofs the Grafs, 
 
 ** and Wild-flowers overhanging a 
 
 " little Brook of clear Water. Oh, 
 
 " Cherry ! how I fliould have en- 
 
 " joyed 
 
Cherry & Violet. 
 
 231 
 
 ''joyed idling in fuch a Place if I 
 " had had a quiet Mind ! 
 
 " I drank fome Water, and wafhed 
 "my Face; and juft then I faw 
 " fome Women paffing through the 
 *' Trees, carrying large, country 
 " Loaves, and tin Cans of Milk. 
 " They did not fee me, but fet 
 " down their Burthens near a large 
 " Stone. Then they retreated and 
 " flood a little Way off, and pre- 
 "fently, two pretty-looking Girls 
 " came tripping out of the Wood, 
 " took up the Loaves, emptied the 
 " Milk into brown Pitchers of their 
 " own, put fome Silver on the 
 *' Stone, and cried, ^ Here's your 
 *' Money, good People ! ' 
 
 " Then they returned into the 
 " Wood, and I followed them. I 
 *' faid, ' Shall I carry one of your 
 " Pitchers?' they looked affrighted, 
 " and cried, ' Pray, Sir, keep off . . 
 
 " how 
 
32 
 
 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 ** how do we know that you may 
 **not have the Plague?' I faid, *I 
 " affure you, it was to efcape from 
 " the Plague that I came into the 
 " Wood, and here I feem likely to 
 " ftarve, though I have Plenty of 
 "Money.' They looked at one 
 ** another, and faid, * If it be true, 
 '* his Cafe is hard, — let us tell my 
 ** Father.' They went away, and by 
 ** and by an elderly Man came to me 
 " from among the Trees. He quef- 
 " tioned me very narrowly, and fatif- 
 " fying himfelf at length that I was 
 **both found and refpeftable, he 
 ** admitted me to their little En- 
 " campment, which confifted of five 
 ** or fix little Huts, a Family in 
 ** each ; befides a few Cabins the 
 ** fingle Men had fet up for them- 
 ** felves. I did the like, added my 
 " Stock to theirs, and continued 
 " with them all the Time their 
 
 " Encampment 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 " Encampment lafted, which was 
 ** till Yefterday, when, the Weather 
 ** turning cold, and the News of 
 " the Abatement of the Diftemper 
 " having reached us, we refolved to 
 " return to our Homes. — I could 
 ** make you quite in Love with our 
 " Camp Life, Cherry^ if I chofe to 
 ** enlarge upon fome Things, and 
 " leave others out of Sight, — in 
 ** fhort, make it appear the Thing 
 " it was not. But, honeftly fpeak- 
 " ing, though we were very thankful 
 ** to buy our Safety at the Price 
 ** of much Inconvenience, all the 
 ** Romance of our Situation foon 
 " faded away, and we were right 
 " glad to fet our Faces homewards 
 '* again, even without being fully 
 ** certified we could do fo with 
 ** Impunity. 
 
 ** But, to what a Home did I 
 ** return ! . The Houfe was pad- 
 
 " locked 
 
 233 
 
234 
 
 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 '* locked up, and Everything in 
 '' the Poffeffion of the Lord Mayor, 
 ** And, from a Watchman out 
 '^ of Employ, who was taking 
 '* Care of a Houfe over the 
 '* Way, and who did not know 
 '* me, I heard the Circumftances 
 '' of my Wife's frightful Death. 
 "Oh, Cherry ! we did not care 
 " for each other much ; but I fear 
 *' it was cowardly and cruel of me 
 ** to forfake her!" 
 
 — And Mark laid his Head on 
 his Arms and wept. Prefently he 
 faid, **What to do, I know not. 
 '* I ihall be able, by Application 
 ** to the Lord Mayor to-morrow, 
 " to get back my Houfe and 
 '* Property ; but — to tell you the 
 " Truth — I have no great Fancy 
 "to go back there; at any Rate, 
 " till the Houfe has been well 
 " fumigated. So that • . . will you 
 
 " take 
 
Cherry & Violet. 
 
 235 
 
 " take Compaffion on me, and let 
 ** me return awhile to my old 
 *' Quarters, Cherry V 
 
 Of courfe I faid I would. 
 
 CHAP 
 
236 Cherry & Violet. 
 
 CHAP. XIII 
 
 Ghq/is, 
 
 It was now Supper-time; and 
 Marky having leffened the Senfe of 
 his Troubles by telling of them, 
 although he began by thinking he 
 could not eat a Mouthful, ended 
 by making a very hearty Supper. 
 Indeed, he fo much commended 
 the one or two iimple Difhes fet 
 upon Table, and fpoke fo ftrongly, 
 though briefly, on the Subjecft of 
 good and bad Cookery, that, as it 
 had been his Difpofition to be con- 
 tented with Anything that was fet 
 before him in his unmarried Days, 
 
 I fet 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 I fet it all down to the Difcomfort 
 of his late Life in the Foreft. 
 Afterwards I was difpofed to change 
 my Mind about this, and to decide 
 that Miftrefs Blenkinfop, who in th^ir 
 early married Days had pampered 
 and petted him amazingly, (whereby 
 his good Looks had fufFered no 
 little,) had really deftroyed the 
 fimple Taftes which were once fo 
 becoming in him, and had made 
 him Something of an Epicure. 
 
 After the Table was cleared, he 
 drew near me again, and with real 
 Concern in his Manner, preiTed me 
 to tell him about my Father. I 
 did fo from firft to laft, with many 
 Tears ; adding thereunto my nurfing 
 of Mafter Blower. He fighed a 
 good many Times as I went on, 
 and after I had done ; exclaiming 
 at laft, "What a Difference between 
 '' you and me !'* 
 
 " All 
 
 237 
 
238 Cherry & Violet. 
 
 ** All People have not the fame 
 " Qualifications/' faid 1. 
 
 ** No/' faid he, and feemed to 
 think I had now hit the right Nail 
 on the Head. 
 
 '' And Violet — " faid he, after a 
 Paufe, and colouring deeply. " Is 
 ** fhe quite well. Cherry?'' 
 
 ** Quite," I faid; and could think 
 of Nothing more to fay. 
 
 ** I wonder," faid he in a low 
 Voice, as if he were almoft afraid 
 to hear the Echo of his own 
 Thoughts, ** whether fhe would 
 " now have Anything to fay to 
 "me?" 
 
 I faid, looking away from him, 
 ** Such Queftions as that fhould 
 ** only be put to the Parties con- 
 ** cerned/' 
 
 ** You are right," faid he; and 
 fat a long While filent, leaning his 
 Head upon his Hand. At length, 
 
 he 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 he faid, " I am rich now, and fhe 
 " is poor, Cherry, '' 
 
 I faid, ** Riches and Poverty 
 ** don't make much Difference, 
 ** Marky when People really love 
 ** one another." 
 
 ** As I have loved — " faid he. 
 
 I faid, " It is Bed-time now, 
 *^ and here is Dolly coming in to 
 " Prayers." 
 
 The next Morning, he faid he 
 muft go to the Lord Mayor about 
 his Houfe. For the abandoned 
 Effedls of fuch Families as were 
 entirely fwept away and left no 
 known Heirs, went to the Kingy 
 who made them over to the Lord 
 Mayor and Aldermen^ to be applied 
 to the Ufe of the Poor ; and Mark's 
 Abfence had made it appear that 
 his Property was in that Cafe. 
 
 Soon after he was gone, the un- 
 common, and, I may almoft fay, 
 
 unparalleled 
 
 239 
 
240 
 
 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 unparalleled Event occurred to me 
 of receiving a Letter; I w^as fo 
 furprifed at the Circumftance, that 
 for the Moment, I thought it muft 
 be from my Father ; or, at lead, to 
 tell me he vs^as alive. But no, it 
 was from Mafter Blower ; and this 
 was vs^hat he put in it. 
 
 " Bucklands Hall, Berks, 
 
 "Oct. 27, 1665. I 
 
 '' Dear Miftrefs Cherry y 
 
 *^ On firft coming 
 down here, I was fo ill at Eafe i 
 and out of Sorts, as to require | 
 much Care and Nurfing. Heaven 
 be praifed, I am now well, and 
 I hope you are the fame. Though 
 the Pinks and Gilly-flowers are 
 pretty well over, there are ftill 
 fome gay Autumn Flowers in the 
 old Garden with the Iron Gate ; 
 and my Brother, the Squire, and 
 
 '^his 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 ** his good Wife want to fee the 
 " brave Miftrefs Cherry who nurfed 
 ** me through the Plague. So come 
 ** down to us, dear Cherry y to- 
 ^* morrow, if you can, yohriy the 
 " Coachman, (a fteady Man,) will 
 ** be at your Door, with a white 
 *^ Horfe and a Pillion at Seven o' 
 " the Clock. And be fo good, if 
 " it will not be inconvenient to 
 ** you, as to bring my Sifter-in-Law 
 " a little Mace and green Ginger ; 
 " and alfo (on my Account) one of 
 ** thofe SafFron-cakes they ufed to 
 " be fo famous for at the Bridge- 
 " foot. 
 
 "Your faithful and obliged Friend, 
 " Nathanael Blower. 
 
 " If you don't come, you mull 
 '' write.'' 
 
 Here was an Event ! An Invita- 
 tion to the Country was a ftill more 
 R ftartling 
 
 241 
 
242 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 ftartling Occurrence than the Re- 
 ceipt of a Letter. Many of the 
 Circumftances connedled with it 
 were delightful ; but then, it feemed 
 fo ftrange, fo awful, to go to ftay 
 with People I had never feen, . . . 
 fuch grand People, too ! I that was 
 fo unufed to fine Company, and did 
 not know how to behave! — And 
 Mafter Blower knew all this, knew 
 exaftly what I was, and yet had 
 prevailed with them to fay they 
 fhould be happy to fee me ! — Oh, 
 his Goodnefs of Heart had this 
 Time carried him too far ! They 
 had faid fo juft to pleafe him, 
 without expefting I fhould go ! — 
 And yet, if the Lady were very 
 much put to it for Mace and green 
 Ginger. . . And if Mafter Blower s 
 Heart were very much fet upon 
 giving her the Saifron-cake. . . I 
 fuppofed I had better go. If T 
 
 found 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 found myfelf very much out of 
 Place, I could come away the next 
 Day. 
 
 Then I thought I would go and 
 confult Violet ; for, in Fadl, I 
 wanted a little perfuading to do 
 what I very much liked. So I 
 ftepped acrofs the Bridge. The 
 Shop was open, but nobody was in 
 it ; fo I went to the Parlour Door, 
 and opened it. 
 
 Direftly I had done fo, I faw 
 Violet and Marky fitting clofe to- 
 gether, their Backs to me, and his 
 Arm round her Waift. I clofed 
 the Door fo foftly that they did 
 not know it had been opened, and 
 went Home. A Pang (hot through 
 my Heart. It was entirely on their 
 own Accounts, for I had ceafed, for 
 Years, to have Anything but a moft 
 lifterly Concern in him ; and his 
 Character, compared with thofe of 
 
 the 
 
 243 
 
244 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 the People I had moft loved, 
 failed to ftand the Teft : but I 
 thought this was too quick, too 
 fudden, to be quite comely or de- 
 cent; there was too much Paffion, 
 too little Self-refped:. 
 
 I now made up my Mind with- 
 out any more Hefitation, that I 
 would go into the Country. I gave 
 my parting Dirediions to Dolly, and 
 defired her to let Mark have Things 
 comfortable. Then I made up my 
 little Travelling-equipage, not for- 
 getting my Commiffiors. Being in 
 frefh, well-made Mourning, there 
 was no Trouble or Anxiety about 
 Drefs. I quite enjoyed the plealing 
 Buflle of Preparation, though I did 
 not exped: to be abfent longer than 
 a Week. 
 
 Mark was not very pund:ual to 
 the Supper-hour; and as he faid 
 Nothing of his Vifit over the Way, 
 
 I was 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 I was to conclude him all Day at 
 my Lord Mayor's or in Cheapjide, 
 But the deep Carmine of his Cheek 
 and the burning Light of his Eye, 
 told Tales. I afked him if he had 
 dined. He careleflly replied yes, 
 with a Friend. I alked him if he 
 had feen the Lord Mayor, He faid 
 yes, it had been a more trouble- 
 fome Bufinefs than he expedled : 
 they had afked him fo many fearch- 
 ing Queftions, and had got the 
 whole Story out of him. He feared 
 he had cut a forry Figure.. At any 
 Rate, he had in his own Sight. 
 Then I alked him whether he had 
 got back his Houfe. He faid yes, and 
 had put an old Woman into it, who 
 had undertaken to fumigate it. Every- 
 thing feemed fealed up, but he could 
 not help fearing many Things were 
 gone. The old Place looked fodifmal, 
 he came away as foon as he could. 
 
 After 
 
 245 
 
246 Cherry & Violet. 
 
 After a Paufe, he faid, " Cherry ^ 
 " I feel a ftrong Inclination to get 
 " rid of that Concern altogether. 
 '* The Situation is capital, and I 
 ** fhall get Something for the Bufi- 
 '* nefs ; but I have a great Mind 
 " to fet up fomewhere elfe ; and 
 ** though your Father's was a much 
 " fmaller Bufinefs than ours, yet 
 " my happieft Hours have been 
 " pafTed under this Roof; and if 
 ** you like to give up the Shop to 
 " me, I v^ill give for it v^hatever 
 ** I get fgr my own. And you can 
 " ftill live with us. . . I mean, we 
 " can ftill live here together. What 
 " fay you. Cherry f 
 
 I faid, ** Dear Marky I have no 
 ^* Wifli to receive for thefe Premifes 
 '' what you get for your own. The 
 '* Shop you are welcome to ; the 
 " Bufinefs you will have to remake 
 " for yourfelf, for it has dwindled 
 
 ** quite 
 
Cherry & Violet. 
 
 *' quite away ; I fhall be very glad 
 " to continue to live with you as 
 *' long as you like to have me." 
 
 ** We . . I fhall always like to 
 " have you. Cherry,'' faid he, " for 
 *' there is only one Perfon dearer to 
 '' me in the whole World." 
 
 ** My Father has left me fo com- 
 '' fortably provided," faid I, " that 
 " I fhall never need to be a Burthen 
 
 *' on any one. 
 
 " I am glad of it for youF own 
 ** Sake," returned he ; ** but, as to 
 ** my taking up the Bufinefs without 
 *' paying for it, that is not to be 
 ** thought of. Whatever I get for 
 ** mine, you fhall have for yours." 
 
 " So let it ftand at prefent, at 
 " at any Rate," faid I. '' Hence- 
 " forth, the Shop is yours. And, 
 " Marky you will have the whole 
 ** Houfe to youjjp^lf to-morrow, for 
 " I am going into the Country." 
 
 " Where ?" 
 
 247 
 
248 Cherry & Violet. 
 
 ** Where ? '* fald he, opening his 
 Eyes very wide. 
 
 " To Bucklands Hally in Berkfhire; 
 ** to flay with Mafter . . . with 
 " Squire and Miftrefs Blower,^' 
 
 A broad Smile fpread over his 
 Face. ** I am very glad indeed 
 ^* to hear of it, Cherry" faid he. — 
 " Very glad of it." 
 
 Afterwards, as we fat chatting 
 over our Supper, we got on the 
 Subjed: of Ghofts. He afked me 
 if I believed in them. I faid no. 
 
 "Well, I do,'' faid he fighing. 
 And told me of a Story he had had 
 from the Servant of Sir Richard 
 Harty who, travelling with his 
 Mafter, had been fummoned by 
 him early one Morning, and charged 
 to ride Home with all Speed, a 
 Diftance of feventeen Miles, and 
 fee how fared his Daughter, whom 
 he conceited to have feen in the 
 
 Night 
 
Cherry & Violet. 
 
 Night, ftanding at his Bed-foot, 
 with her Hand preffed to her Head. 
 The Man rode back as he was told ; 
 and returned with the News that the 
 young Lady had indeed been taken 
 ill about four o'Clock that Morning, 
 but had had a Doftor with her, 
 and was now pretty well again. 
 However, in the Courfe of the Day 
 fhe died. 
 
 I faid, " Her Father, in a Dream, 
 " may have had fo ftrong an Im- 
 *^ preflion he was waking, that to 
 " him it had all the Effedt of being 
 '* awake." 
 
 ** But fuch a Dream as fhould 
 ** fo raife the Dead, or pre-figure 
 '' their Death, Cherry,'' faid Mark, 
 ** would be as bad as if they were 
 ^* raifed — to us, \ . I think I, for 
 *' one, could not ftand it." And 
 I faw then why he was afraid to 
 return to his own Houfe. 
 
 We 
 
250 
 
 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 We talked the Matter quietly 
 over for fome Time ; and I afked 
 him why, if the Courfe taken by 
 Divine Providence in the Admini- 
 ft ration of human Affairs ever 
 admitted of the Re-appearance of 
 the Dead, the recorded Cafes of 
 fuch fuppofed Appearances fhould 
 only be to frighten fome timid 
 Perfon, reftore a Bag of Gold, or 
 acquaint fome one with what they 
 would otherwife know a few Hours 
 after. This appeared to ftrike him; 
 but he faid it might be for the 
 Sake of Warning. I faid. If for 
 Warning, why not for Comfort? 
 How glad fhould I have been, for 
 Inflance, to be informed fuper- 
 naturally that all was well with my 
 Father? He faid, not that Way, 
 furely. I replied yes, that Way or 
 any Way that it had pleafed the 
 Almighty to vouchfafe me fuch 
 
 Knowledge. 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 Knowledge. I fhould not be afraid 
 (and there was an Intenfity of 
 Earneftnefs in me as I faid it) to 
 fee either him or my Mother, either 
 in or out of the Body. 
 
 **Well," muttered he, half under 
 his Breath, " I wifh I could feel as 
 " much with regard to my Wife." 
 And, regarding me with fome 
 Earneftnefs, added, *^ You're a bold 
 '' little Thing, Cherry ! " 
 
 As I wifhed him good Night, 
 he ftayed me for a Moment, 
 and faid, with all his old Frank- 
 nefs and Truft, ^^ Violet and I have 
 " made Things out between us, 
 " Cherry r 
 
 I faid fervently, ** Then, may 
 " you both be happy. My Belief 
 " is, that fhe is likelier to make 
 " you happy now, than fhe was 
 " Wore." 
 
 " Not quite fo pretty, though," 
 
 faid 
 
 251 
 
252 
 
 Cherry & Violet. 
 
 faid he, rather regretfully. ** How- 
 " ever, I don't mind that. — 
 " For, you fee. Cherry y I love 
 ^'herf' 
 
 CHAP. 
 
Cherry & Violet. 
 
 CHAP. XIV. 
 
 Riding a Pillion, 
 
 Dolly and I had fpent great 
 Part of the Afternoon in brufhing 
 up and cleaning an old black riding 
 Skirt of my Mother's, which it was 
 a Wonder I had not cut up into 
 Garments for the Poor. When we 
 had cleaned it with Hollands, and 
 ironed it nicely, it looked very well; 
 for our Houfe was fo airy, that our 
 Clothes never had the Moth. 
 
 Precifely at the Hour named, an 
 old Man in purple Livery rode up 
 to the Door, on a grey Horfe with 
 a Pillion. Mark^ who was very 
 
 lively 
 
254 
 
 Cherry & Violet. 
 
 lively this Morning, told me he 
 thought the Horfe looked like a 
 Bolter; but I knew he was only 
 laughing at me. Then he afked 
 me how I meant to mount ; I said, 
 with a Chair, to be fure. He faid, 
 ** Nonfenfe ! " and lifted me up in 
 a Moment, and arranged my Riding- 
 fkirt as nicely as if he had been 
 a Lady's Groom. Then he told the 
 old Man to be careful of me ; but 
 the old Coachman proved to be 
 both dull and deaf, by reafon of 
 great Age ; fo Mark whifpered me 
 that he was not afraid of his run- 
 ning away with me, if the Horfe 
 did not ; finifhing with " Good bye, 
 ** Mijlrefs Bhwer'' 
 
 I gave him an indignant Look, 
 and faid, " For fhame, Mark ! I 
 ** have not deferved that ! '' 
 
 '' Well," faid he, '' I think you 
 ''have" And juft then the old 
 
 Man 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 Man jerked the Rein of the old 
 Horfe, which moved off fo fud- 
 denly, that I was fain to catch hold 
 of the old Man's Coat; and the 
 last Glance I had of Mark was 
 a merry one. 
 
 At firft 1 felt a little bit fright- 
 ened ; but foon got ufed to my new 
 Position ; efpecially as the Horfe 
 walked till we were off the Stones. 
 Still we feemed a long while getting 
 out of London ; and we met a great 
 many Peoples returning to it, in 
 Carts, Waggons, and Coaches. 
 
 At length we got quite out of 
 Town, and between green Hedges, 
 with Trees beyond them that were 
 turning all manner of Colours ; 
 with only a Houfe here and there, 
 or a Wayfide Inn. At one of the 
 latter we flopped in the middle of 
 the Day, to reft the Horfe, and take 
 fome Refrefhment. Then we con- 
 tinued 
 
256 
 
 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 tinued our Journey, which lafted 
 till Sunfet, and the latter Part of 
 which was mighty pleafant and 
 delightfome ; only I was beginning 
 to be a little weary with fo much 
 shaking. But, when I faw how 
 charming a Place the Country was, 
 I wondered how People could live 
 in Towns . . . unlefs on a Bridge. 
 
 At length, we turned oiF the 
 Highway into a Bye-road, fhaded 
 with tall Trees, which, after a Mile 
 or two, brought us to a ftraggling 
 Village ; and, fays- the Coachman, 
 ** Miftrefs, now we's in Bucklands.*' 
 Prefently we pafTed the abfoluteft 
 curiofity of a little old Church ! . . 
 it feemed hardly bigger than a 
 Nutmeg-grater! — and hard by it, 
 the old Parsonage, with three Stone 
 Peaks in front, and a great Pear- 
 Tree before the Door. 
 
 Then we came to a Village 
 
 Green, 
 
Cherry & Violet. 
 
 Green, with a Clump of large 
 Trees in the Midft, that had Seats 
 round them, whereon fat old Men, 
 while young Men played Cricket, 
 and little Boys were fetting a Puppy 
 to bark at fome white Geefe. Here 
 we came to a great Iron Gate, at 
 which flood a hale, hearty-looking 
 Gentleman about fifty ; fquare-built, 
 and not over-tall; with a good- 
 humoured, red, mottled Face. And, 
 fays he, coming up to me, as we 
 flopped, '' Miftrefs Cherry^ I'm 
 *' Squire Blower. 1 can guefs who 
 '* you are, though my Brother did 
 '* not tell me you were fuch a pretty 
 "Girl.— Oh, the Sinner!" And 
 lifted me off the Horfe. 
 
 "Well," fays he, "you don't 
 " look quite fure that I's I . . . I am, 
 " though ! Certainly, not much 
 " like Naty who was always the 
 " Beauty of the Family. Ah ! now 
 s " you 
 
258 
 
 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 ** you laugh, which was juft what 
 " I wanted. My Brother faid your 
 " filver Laugh faved his Life; — do 
 ** you know what he meant by 
 " that ? " 
 
 We were now walking up a 
 ftrait gravel Walk, between clipped 
 Hedges, to an old red-brick Houfe, 
 with ftone Facings. " I fuppofe, 
 " Sir," faid I, after thinking a little, 
 " he meant that my laughing was 
 *'as good as Silver to him, becaufe 
 " it faved him the Doctor." 
 
 " That was it, no doubt," returns 
 he, '^ juft fuch an Anfwer, Miftrefs 
 ** Cherry y as I expedled. I fee we 
 ** fhall get on very well together, 
 " though Nat is not here to help 
 " the Acquaintance. — He has gone 
 " to fee his old Fofter-mother, who 
 " is dying. People will die, you 
 ** know, when they get to eighty or 
 <* ninety." 
 
 We 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 We were now going up a Flight 
 of fhallow Steps, with Stone Balluf- 
 ters, which led us into a Hall, 
 paved with great Diamonds of 
 black and white Marble, and hung 
 about with Guns, Fifhing-rods, and 
 Stag's Horns. An Almanack and 
 King Charleses golden Rules were 
 pafted againft the Wall ; and a 
 fluffed Otter in a Glafs Cafe hung 
 over the great Fire-place, where a 
 Wood-fire burned on the Hearth. 
 
 Before this Wood-fire was fpread 
 a fmall Turkey Carpet ; and on the 
 Carpet flood a Table and four 
 heavy Chairs ; in one of which fat 
 an old Lady knitting. The Squire 
 bluntly accofled her with *' Mother, 
 ** here's Miflrefs Cherry;'' on which 
 fhe faid, ** Ho ! "— laid down her 
 Knitting, and looked hard at me; 
 firfl over, and then through her 
 Speftacles. 
 
 ^^Hum!" 
 
 259 
 
26o Cherry & Violet, 
 
 "Hum!'' fays fhe, " Miflrefs 
 " Cherry y you are welcome. A 
 " good Day to you. Pray make 
 ** yourfelf at Home, and be feated.*' 
 
 So I fat down over againft her, 
 and we looked at each other very 
 ftifF. She was fhort and fat, with 
 round blue Eyes, and a rofy 
 Complexion ; and had a fharper, 
 flirewder Look than the Squire. 
 
 ** I dare fay fhe's hungry, 
 ** Mother," fays the Squire ; ** give 
 " her a Piece of Gingerbread or 
 ** Something. — How foon fhall we 
 ** have Supper ? " 
 
 " You are always in fuch a Hurry, 
 ** Father, to be eating ; " fays his 
 Lady. " Forfooth, are we not to 
 ** wait for your Brother ? " 
 
 And without waiting for his 
 Anfwer, fhe took a bunch of Keys 
 from her Apron-ftring, and un- 
 locked a little Corner-cupboard, 
 
 from 
 
Cherry & Violet. 
 
 from which fhe brought me a Slice 
 of rich Seed-cake, and a large Glafs 
 of Wine. 
 
 " Thank you. Madam ; I am not 
 " hungry," faid I. 
 
 ** Pooh ! Child, you muft be ; " 
 returns fhe, rather authoritatively. 
 " Never be afraid of eating and 
 " drinking before Company, as if 
 " it were a Crime ! " 
 
 So, thus admonifhed, I ate and 
 drank : though I would as lief have 
 waited a little. 
 
 ** Are you ftiff with your Ride ?" 
 fays fhe. 
 
 " A little, Madam," faid I; '^for 
 " I was ne'er on a Horfe before." 
 
 " Is it pofTible ? " cries fhe, burfl- 
 ing out a-laughing. " Father, did 
 '' you hear that ? " 
 
 " Famous ! " faid he ; and they 
 eyed me as if I were a Curiofity. 
 
 " Do you know, now," fays the 
 
 Squire's 
 
262 
 
 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 Squire's Lady to me, after a while, 
 *^ I never was in Lunnon ! " 
 
 " That feems as ftrange to me, 
 " Madam," faid I, " as it feems to 
 ** you that I (hould never have been 
 " on Horfeback." 
 
 '' It is ftrange," fays fhe. '' Both 
 " are ftrange." 
 
 " And now Fll tell you Some- 
 " thing that is ftrange," fays the 
 Squire, *^ lince we all feem fur- 
 " prifing one another. Do you 
 *' know, Miftrefs Cherry,'' ftepping 
 up behind his Wife, and laying 
 a Hand on each of her Shoulders, 
 while he fpcke to me over her 
 Head; " that this little round-about 
 ** Woman was once as pretty a Girl 
 " as you are ? " 
 
 " Stuff*! Squire," fays his Lady. 
 
 **Fact!" perfifted he. *' Nay, 
 '' prettier ! " 
 
 " Not a Word of Truth in it," 
 
 fays 
 
Cherry & Violet, : 263 
 
 fays fhe, fhaking him oiF. ** I was 
 " all very well, — nothing more. 
 " Come, Father, here's Gatty going 
 " to fpread the Cloth for Supper, 
 " which you'll be glad of. But, 
 '' Gatty, in the firft Place fliew 
 " Miftrefs Cherry to her Chamber, 
 " . . fhe will perhaps like to drefs a 
 *^ little. You'll excufe my attending 
 *' you, my Dear; the Stairs try my 
 '' Breath." 
 
 I followed Gatty up-flairs to the 
 prettiefk Room that ever was! 
 When I came down, the Cloth was 
 fpread, and the Squire's Lady ligned 
 me to the Chair over againft her, 
 and was juft going to fay Some- 
 thing, when, croffing between me 
 and the Sun, I faw the Shadow of 
 a Man againft the Wall, and knew 
 it for Mafter Blower's. Ah ! what 
 came over me at that Moment, to 
 make me fo ftupid, I know not. — 
 
 Perhaps 
 
264 Cherry & Violet. 
 
 Perhaps that faucy Saying oi Mark's 
 . . but whatever it was, inftead of 
 my going up to Mafter Blower^ 
 when he came in, which he did the 
 next Moment, and afking him, 
 limply and ftraitforwardly how he 
 was, I mufl needs colour all over 
 like a Goofe, and wait till he came 
 quite up to me, without having 
 a Word to fay for myfelf. 
 
 " Ah, Cherry /" fays he, taking 
 my Hand quite frankly, " how glad 
 ** I am to fee you ! Are you quite 
 ^*well?:' 
 
 And, the Moment I heard his 
 pleafant Voice, I was quite com- 
 fortable again, and felt myfelf at 
 Home for the firft Time. 
 
 " Quite, thank you. Sir," faid I, 
 " and I hope you are better than 
 " you were." 
 
 " Well, now that civil Things 
 ** have paffed on both Sides," faid 
 
 the 
 
Cherry & Violet. 
 
 the Squire, who had already feated 
 himfelf, " come and fay Grace, 
 ** Naty for here's a Couple of 
 " beautiful Fowls getting cold." 
 
 — Well, the Supper was as 
 pleafant as could be, and it was 
 growing quite dufk before the 
 Table was cleared, yet the Squire 
 would not hear of having Candles ; 
 fo then his Lady defired Gatty to 
 carry Lights into the green Parlour, 
 ** Where," fays fhe, "I and this 
 " young Perfon will retire, and be 
 ** good enough Company fpr each 
 " other, I dare fay." 
 
 Oh, I'm a young Perfon, am I? 
 thought L So I followed her into 
 the green Parlour, where jfhe fettled 
 herfelf in an eafy Chair, with her 
 Feet on a Footftool, and made me 
 fit facing her. " Now," fays fhe, 
 " the Men can profe by themfelves, 
 " and we'll have a Coze by our- 
 
 ** felves. 
 
 265 
 
266 
 
 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 " felves. Pray, Child, how was it 
 " you came to think of nurfing my 
 "Brother?'' 
 
 So I began to tell her how I 
 went to him in Hope of his telling 
 me how to find my Father; but 
 then, fhe wanted to know how my 
 Father came to be miffing, fo I had 
 to go further back. And then I 
 could not help putting in by the 
 Way how good and excellent a 
 Man he was, how tender a Father, 
 how loving a Hufband, which 
 brought in my Mother. But I 
 checked myfelf, and begged the 
 Lady's Pardon for entering on that, 
 which I knew could no Ways in- 
 tereft her. — *' Nay, let me hear it 
 "all," fays fhe, "I fhall like to 
 " hear Something about your 
 " Mother." So then I told her of 
 her holy Life, and faintlike End ; 
 and of Mailer Blower s invaluable 
 
 Miniftrations, 
 
Cherry & Violet. 
 
 Miniftrations, which of courfe in- 
 terefted her a good deal ; and indeed 
 I faw a Tear fteal down her Cheek, 
 while I kept mine down as well as 
 I could. Then I went on to the 
 Plague, and my Father's Heavinefs 
 of Spirits ; and his going forth and 
 never coming back, and my going 
 in queft of him, and all the Events 
 of that terrible Day, which I could 
 not go over without crying very 
 heartily. She wept too ; yet cried, 
 "Go on, go on!" So then I got 
 to Mafter Blower y and the fleeping 
 Watchman, and my getting into 
 the Houfe, and going from Room 
 to Room, and hearing him yawn, — 
 which made her laugh ; though fhe 
 cried again when fhe heard of his 
 praying, and of his Sufferings that 
 fearful Night and many Days after. 
 At the End of all, fhe got up, put 
 her Arms about my Neck, and 
 
 kiffed 
 
268 Cherry fs? Violet. 
 
 kifled me. " Cherry^'' fays fhe, 
 ** you're an excellent Creature!" — 
 Juft then, a great Bell began to 
 ring,— <* That's the Prayer-bell!" 
 fays fhe, "We will return to the 
 " Hall, my Dear." 
 
 So we returned to the Hall, 
 much more at our Eafe together 
 than when we left it. And there, 
 ftanding in a Row, were half a 
 Dozen Men and Women Servants, 
 and the Table had Candles and a 
 large > Bible on it. Mafter Blower 
 read, and then prayed : had I not 
 been fo tired, I could have wifhed 
 him to go on all Night ! Then we 
 difperfed to our feveral Chambers ; 
 and I had fo much to think about 
 that it feemed as though I fhould 
 never get to fleep : however, I did 
 at laft. 
 
 CHAP, 
 
Cherry & Violet. 
 
 CHAP. XV. 
 
 T^he Squire's Garden, 
 
 Before I went to Bed, I peeped 
 out of my Window, and faw the 
 full Moon fliining over the broad 
 gravel Walks and Fifh-ponds ; and 
 I thought how much I fhould like 
 to go round the Garden before 
 Breakfaft. However, when I woke 
 in the Morning, I feared I had 
 been overfleeping myfelf, fo drefled 
 in a great Hurry, and went down 
 Stairs. There I found two Maids 
 flooding the great Hall with Pails 
 of Water, and they told me we 
 were to breakfafl in the green 
 
 Parlour, 
 
 269 
 
270 
 
 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 Parlour, but not for an Hour yet. 
 So I ftrayed out into the Garden, 
 where were ftill a good many 
 Flowers, though the Seafon was fo 
 late, backed by Evergreen Hedges, 
 and Rows of tall Trees that were 
 turning yellow and scarlet ; and it 
 feemed to me juft like the Garden 
 of Eden. 
 
 So I went on and on, thinking 
 it mighty pleafant, and wondering 
 what might be the Names of fome 
 of the Flowers; and at length I 
 came to a Bowling-green, of 
 wonderful fine Turf, between high 
 Horn-beam Hedges ; and having a 
 Sun-dial at one End, and a little 
 brick Summer- houfe faced with 
 Stone at the other. Into the 
 Summer-houfe I went; and there, 
 with all his Books and Papers about 
 him, fat Mafter Blower writing. 
 
 " Ah, Cherry !" fays he, holding 
 
 out 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 out his Hand, ** fo you've found 
 ** out my Snuggery ! Have they 
 ** fent you to fummon me to Break- 
 '* faft ? " 
 
 "No, Sir," faid I, "I did not 
 ** know you were here." And 
 turned away. 
 
 " Stop a Minute," fays he, haftily 
 putting up his Papers, ** and we 
 *' will take a Turn together round 
 ** this wonderful Garden. The 
 " Garden of your Dream y Cherry,'* 
 
 I faid how very odd it was I 
 (hould have dreamed about it, — the 
 Garden of my Dream being fo 
 exadtly like the Reality. 
 
 • ** Why, you fimple Girl," fays 
 he, laughing; "becaufe I muft 
 " have defcribed it to you before, 
 " though you and I had forgotten 
 ^*it!" 
 
 I felt quite fure in my own Mind 
 that he had not. 
 
 ^^Well," 
 
 271 
 
2/2 
 
 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 "Well," fays he, fetting out 
 with me along the Bowling-green, 
 " what's the News, Cherry ? The 
 '* Plague, you fay, is abating, but 
 " not gone. Have you feen or 
 ** heard Anything of my poor 
 " People ?'* 
 
 I faid yes. Miftrefs Peach had 
 come to me on my fending for her 
 the Evening before I left ; and had 
 told *me how Things were going 
 on. 
 
 " And how are they going on ? " 
 faid he. 
 
 " Well, Sir, it would be a poor 
 " Compliment to you, if they were 
 ** going on as well in your Abfence, 
 " as in your Prefence." 
 
 " That's true," fays he, looking 
 grave, *' but, for Particulars." 
 
 " Many Perfons in Trouble of one 
 " kind or another, knock at your 
 "Door; and when they find they 
 
 " cannot 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 ** cannot fee you, go away in 
 '' Tears." 
 
 ** Poor Souls ! " faid he, much 
 moved, ** I will return to them 
 **fhortly. I think I am almoft 
 ** well enough now. Cherry, They 
 " think I am negledting them ?'' 
 
 ** No, Sir, they are very forry 
 ** you need recruiting ; but they are 
 " forry for themfelves too." 
 
 " It's a very nice Point," fays he 
 mufingly, " when we ought to lie 
 ** by. I believe, had I not left 
 " Town when I did, I might have 
 " been dead now — and yet, perhaps 
 " I was like a Soldier deferting his 
 " Poft." 
 
 I faid, " No, Sir, you v^ere liker 
 " to a Soldier carried off the Battle- 
 " field to the Hofpital." 
 
 ** Thank you. Cherry,'' fays he, 
 
 taking my Hand and drawing it 
 
 under his Arm. We had now 
 
 T reached 
 
 273 
 
274 
 
 Cherry & Violet. 
 
 reached the End of the Bowling- 
 green ; but inftead of turning into 
 the Garden, we continued walking 
 up and down. 
 
 '* And what elfe?" fays he. 
 " Come, let me hear all." 
 
 " Well, Sir," faid I, " there's not 
 " much more to tell — " 
 
 " Something, though, I can fee ! " 
 faid he. *^ Come ! out with it, 
 " Cherry r 
 
 " Sir," faid I, '' it's of no Ufe 
 " for us to trouble and vex our- 
 " felves about what wicked People 
 ** will fay of us in mere wantonefs." 
 
 ^* Sometimes, though, we may 
 ** hear the Truth from an Enemy," 
 fays he. ** And what do wicked, 
 " wanton People fay of me ?" 
 
 ** Why, Sir, — fome very evil- 
 ** minded, malapert Perfon hath 
 ** writ on your Church-door, *A 
 ^* Pulpit to Let!'" 
 
 "The 
 
Cherry & Violet, 275 
 
 ^^The Rafcal!" faid he haftily, 
 and colouring very red. ** Why 
 ** now, did I not keep on. Sabbaths 
 ** and Week-days, till the Plague- 
 " fwellings were adlually in my 
 ** Throat, though my Congregation 
 ** often confifted of only two or 
 ** three old Women ? Is not this 
 *^ enough to provoke a Man, 
 '' Cherry r' 
 
 I faid, " Yes, Sir, — only there's 
 " no Ufe in being provoked." 
 
 ** None, none," fays he, much 
 perturbed, — ** God forgive me for 
 ** it ! — I can hardly have Patience, 
 " though, with them." 
 
 I faid, " Dear Sir, you muft 
 ** have Nothing but Patience with 
 '' them." 
 
 " You are right, you are right," 
 fays he, cooling, but ftill much 
 moved. ** 111 or well, I muft go 
 ** back to them forthwith . . the 
 
 ^^Fad 
 
276 
 
 Cherry & Violet. 
 
 ** Facft is, there is a Matter I would 
 ** gladly have fettled here, a little 
 ** at my Leifure. — But, Duty before 
 " all ! So, ril go back. Cherry, to 
 " mine." 
 
 I fmiled a little as I faid, ** Some- 
 ** body has been doing Duty for 
 " you, the laft Week or ten Days, 
 '' Sir." 
 
 "Who?" cried he. 
 
 I faid, ** An Independent Mini- 
 " fter." 
 
 A complex Kind of Expreflion 
 croffed his Face ; for a Moment he 
 looked pained and provoked, and 
 then burft out a-laughing. 
 
 ** God blefs the w^orthy Fellov^ !" 
 cries he, " I'll do him a good Turn 
 " if I can, the firft Time he'll let 
 " me ! * The good Lord accept 
 ** every one that prepareth his Heart 
 " to feek God, the Lord God of 
 '* his Fathers, even though he be 
 
 "not 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 '* not cleanfed according to the 
 ** Purification of the Sanftuary !' — 
 '* Well, Cherry^ I muft go ! and 
 ** that forthwith, — I would fain have 
 " tarried here while your Vifit 
 " lafted.'' 
 
 I looked quite blank at the Idea 
 of being left behind ; and faid, 
 *^Muft I, then, flay?" 
 
 ** Why," cried he, " what is to 
 " prevent you ? Your Vifit is not 
 " to me^ Cherry /" 
 
 I faid, '' Oh, Sir, but . . " and 
 flopped, for I did not know whether 
 it were right to fay I fhould feel fo 
 lonely without him. But the Tears 
 came into my Eyes. 
 
 ** 1 hope," fays he, in his kindefl 
 Way, ^* you will flay and have a very 
 '' pleafant Vifit." 
 
 I faid, '' It won't, — it can't be 
 " pleafant now." 
 
 ** Cherry y' he faid, yet more 
 aifecSionately, 
 
 277 
 
278 Cherry & Violet. 
 
 afFedtionately, " we fhall foon meet 
 " again . . you fhake your Head. — 
 ** Well, our Lives are not in our 
 " own keeping, certainly, and may 
 ** be called in the next Minute, 
 " here as well as in London. And I 
 " fhould not like to die away from 
 ** my Port. But, Cherry^ fince you 
 " are inexpreffibly dear to me, and 
 " I think I am, in a lefs Degree, 
 ** dear to you, why, when we meet 
 " next, fhould we ever part again ? 
 " — Nay, hear me. Cherry ! for I 
 "have long meant to fay this, 
 ** though not quite fo foon . . I 
 " thought it would feem fo abrupt; 
 '* I wanted to bring you to it by 
 " Degrees, left I fhould get an 
 " Anfwer I did not like. For, in- 
 *' deed. Cherry y I know how much 
 " too old I am for you, how 
 " thoroughly unworthy of you." 
 I could not ftand this, and cried, 
 
 " Oh, 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 " Oh, how can you fay fuch Things, 
 " Sir ! Unworthy of mey indeed ! 
 " when any Woman — " 
 
 Might be proud to have you, 
 was my Thought, but I did not 
 fay it. 
 
 ** Cherry y' fays he, ** there was 
 " never — ." And juft at that Mo- 
 ment a Man fhouted, ** High ! " at 
 the Top of his Voice, and then, 
 "Break-faft!" 
 
 " We're keeping them waiting," 
 faid I, flipping my Hand from his 
 Arm, " and you've left your Papers 
 ** all blowing about in the Summer- 
 '* houfe." And fo, ran oif to the 
 Houfe. 
 
 Fain would I not have gone ftraight 
 to Breakfafl, but there was no Help 
 for it ; and the Squire kept loading 
 my Plate, and yet faying I ate 
 Nothing. He and his Lady were 
 wondrous forry to hear Mafter 
 
 Blower 
 
28o Cherry & Violet. 
 
 Blower fay he muft return to Town 
 the next Day; and looked rather 
 afl?:ance at me for having brought 
 down any Tidings that fhould 
 fummon him thither. After Break- 
 faft, however, he took his Brother 
 aiide to explain to him how needful 
 was his Return to his Parifh ; and 
 Miftrefs Blower y bringing forth an 
 immenfe Quantity of Patchwork of 
 very intricate Contrivance, faid, 
 " Now, you and I will do a good 
 " Morning's Work:'' — and told me 
 it was a Fancy of hers to furniih a 
 little Bed-chamber with Patchery, 
 lined with Pink, and fringed with 
 White. However, Mafter Blower 
 put a Check to all this, as far as 
 my Help went, by coming in and 
 faying that as this was to be his laft 
 Day in the Country, he wanted to 
 take a long Walk with me, and 
 fhew me the fineft View in the 
 
 County. 
 
Cherry & Violet. 
 
 County. Miflrefs Blower made one 
 or two Objedtions, which he fum- 
 marily over-ruled ; fo, in a very 
 few Minutes, off we were walking 
 together. And iirft, without any 
 Reference to what had been faid 
 before Breakfaft, he took me round 
 the Village Green, and into the 
 Church and Churchyard ; and made 
 me look over the Parfonage Gate. 
 I faid, *^ Dear me, if I were you, 
 " Sir, how much fooner I would 
 " be Parfon here than in White- 
 ''chapel!'' 
 
 " Would you ?'' cries he. " Oh, 
 ** but this is a very poor Living !*' 
 
 I faid, ''I did not know you cared 
 " much for Money." 
 
 '' Well," he faid, '' not to fpend 
 ** on myfelf, but as a Means of Ufe- 
 ** fulnefs. And, oh Cherry I there is 
 " fo much Wretchednefs in LondoUy 
 '' that one cannot, after all, relieve ! 
 
 —'' rii 
 
282 Cherry & Violet. 
 
 — " rU tell you what I do," con- 
 tinues he, turning down a green 
 Lane with me, " as a general Rule 
 ** I give away half. That was 
 ** Zaccheus* Meafure, you know. 
 " But, as a fingle Man, I have found 
 ** the other Half a great deal too 
 ** much for me, fo I give away all 
 ** I can of it in Cafualties . . juft to 
 ** pleafe myfelf, as it were. But I 
 ** don't confider this Sub-divifion 
 " imperative ; therefore, when you 
 *' and I commence Houfekeeping 
 " together, which I hope will be in 
 " a very little While, we will fpend 
 " the full Half. Will that fuffice 
 "you?" 
 
 **No indeed. Sir," faid I, "I 
 ** fliall be very forry indeed if I add 
 " to your Expenfes fo much as that. 
 " 1 would rather give the Poor 
 " another Mouthful than deprive 
 " them of one ; and as I fhall only 
 
 "coft 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 " coft you juft what I eat and wear, 
 " I hope it won't make much 
 ** Difference." 
 
 " You're a comical Girl," fays he. 
 " But, Cherry^ Fm forry to fay, that 
 ** rambling old Houfe of mine is 
 " now fo completely out of Repair, 
 ** as to be unfit for a Lady's Occu- 
 **pation. We muft paint it and 
 ^*point it, and mend the Roof." 
 
 " Well, but," faid I, " my Father 
 " has left me fix hundred Pounds, 
 " which will do all that very well." 
 
 " Six hundred Pounds!" fays he, 
 opening his Eyes very wide, and 
 then laughing. " Why, you've a 
 ** Fortune, Cherry ! How could the 
 " dear, good Man have faved it ? I 
 " thought his Bufinefs feemed quite 
 " dwindled away." 
 
 " He had fome Money with my 
 " Mother, Sir," faid I. " And an 
 ** Uncle left him a Legacy. Befides 
 
 " this 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 '* this Money, which Mafter Benjkin 
 ** and Mafter Braidfoot pay Intereft 
 '' for, the Houfe is mine for a long 
 **Term; and Mark means to buy 
 ** the Bufinefs; fo that I hope I 
 '* fhall not be very expenfive to 
 " you.'' 
 
 " Well," fays he, " it will be for 
 '^ After-confideration whether we 
 ^* repair the Parfonage at once or 
 *' not. All fhall be as you wiih it, 
 " Cherry'' And then we went on 
 talking of this and that till we came 
 to a Seat under a Tree ; and there 
 we fat and talked all the Reft of 
 the Morning; for he did not care 
 much for going on to fee the 
 Profped:. 
 
 After Dinner, it became Mafter 
 Blower's Objedl to perfuade me to 
 name a very early Day indeed — even 
 that Day Week; and, though I 
 could hardly endure to think of fo 
 
 fudden 
 
Cherry & Violet. 
 
 fudden a Change, and thought it 
 would feem fo ftrange and fo un- 
 womanly to Everybody, yet the 
 main Thing that wrought upon me 
 was what I kept to myfelf ; namely, 
 the Danger he was going to incur 
 in returning to his Duties before 
 the Infedion was over. And I 
 thought how I fhould reproach 
 myfelf if he fell ill, and died for 
 want of my Nurling. But then, 
 again, it would feem fo outrageous 
 to the Squire and his Lady. . . Not 
 at all, he faid, they knew all about 
 his wanting to marry me before ever 
 they fent for me, and the Squire's 
 Lady had at firft been very cool 
 about it; but before we parted at 
 Night, I had quite won her over ; 
 and fhe faid to him when the Door 
 clofed upon me, ** Well, Nat^ you 
 " may marry that Girl as foon as 
 ** you like." 
 
 I could 
 
 285 
 
286 
 
 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 I could hardly help laughing. — 
 What was I to do ? I faid, oh, 
 very well, I fuppofed they mull 
 all have their own Way, — I would 
 try to be not very miferable about 
 it. So, when we went in to Supper, 
 Mafter Blower made no Secret of 
 what we had been talking about; 
 and Miftrefs Blower kiffed me, and 
 fo did the Squire, and we had a 
 wonderful pleafant Supper. When 
 Mafter Blower was taking leave of 
 me, he alked me if I had any 
 Meffage to fend Home. It then 
 ftruck me I muft fend Word to 
 Mark and Dolly how foon my Con- 
 dition was going to be changed, — 
 but, what could I fay ? — I had fcarce 
 written a Letter in my Life ; leaft 
 of all to Mark ; and could not for 
 the Life of me think of any Way 
 of telHng him the News, fufficiently 
 round-about to prevent its feeming 
 
 abrupt 
 
Cherry & Violet. 287 
 
 abrupt after all. So, thought I, 
 leaft faid, fooneft mended : and, 
 fitting down to Pen, Ink, and Paper, 
 I wrote in my finalleft, neateft 
 Hand, — 
 
 '^ Dear Mark, 
 
 ** I'm going to be Miftrefs 
 
 '' Blower:' 
 
 And fealed it up and diredted it. 
 Mafter Blower faid, ** Short, if not 
 **fweet!" and promifed it fhould 
 be faithfully delivered. 
 
 When he was gone, the Patch- 
 work was put away, and the 
 Wedding-dreiTes fent for. Dear 
 Miftrefs Blower was as kind as a 
 Mother to me, though her Hufband 
 was only five Years older than 
 mine. Indeed fhe and the Squire 
 looked upon me quite as a Girl, 
 though I told them over and over 
 
 again 
 
288 
 
 Cherry & Violet. 
 
 again I was not. Though they 
 called each other Father and 
 Mother, they had never had but 
 one Child, which died at three 
 Years old; but I fuppofe it was 
 always in their Thoughts. 
 
 What a happy Week that was ! 
 — though Mafter Blower was away. 
 On the Whole, his Abfence was a 
 good Thing : it gave me Time to 
 fteady a little, and feel that it was 
 not a Dream that I was going to 
 live always within the Sound of his 
 dear Voice. And, as there was 
 much Sewing to do, I had Plenty 
 of Time to think of it. Miftrefs 
 Blower gave me my Wedding- 
 clothes, — we had Poft-horfes to the 
 old Coach, and went to buy them 
 at the County Town. The Gown 
 was white Silk ; the Hat trimmed 
 with a Wreath of very little pink 
 Rofes round the Crown ; and I had 
 
 a cherry- 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 a cherry-colour Habit for travelling. 
 Mafter Blower faid he did not de- 
 lerve fuch a pretty Bride, — but that 
 was his kind Way of fpeaking. 
 I only wifh I were better worth his 
 having ! 
 
 — We went away from the 
 Church-door, — as happy a Bride- 
 groom and Bride as ever rode a 
 Pillion. When we had got out 
 of Everybody's Sight, my Hufband 
 faid, ** How are you getting on, 
 '' Miftrefs Blower f' I faid, " I am 
 " fmiling fo that I am quite glad 
 " there's Nobody to fee me." ** May 
 ** the Reft of your Life be all 
 ** Smiles and no Tears, Cherry y' 
 fays he, — " with God's Bleffing, it 
 " fhall be fo if I can make it fo!" 
 "Ah!" faid I, ** I'm content to 
 '' take the Rough and the Smooth 
 '' together, fince I fhall henceforth 
 " fhare them with you. Sir," 
 
 " Deareft 
 
 289 
 
290 
 
 Cherry & Violet. 
 
 ** Deareft Cherry y'' fays he, " you 
 " really muft leave off calling me 
 " Sir! " ** I don't know that I can, 
 '* Sir," faid I, " but Fll try." 
 
 Though the Journey was delight- 
 fome, yet towards the latter End of 
 it, every Mile of the Road became 
 lefs and lefs pleafant, till at length 
 we got into the Tide of People, 
 on Horfe and on Foot, fetting in 
 towards London. Then, how ftrange 
 it feemed to me that I was not 
 going back to the Bridge ! where 
 I had lived all the Days of my Life 
 till within the laft Week ! I began 
 to tremble a little ; and the Idea of 
 the great old roomy, gloomy Houfe 
 in Whitechapely with no bright, 
 fparkling Water to look out upon, 
 became rather oppreffive to me, till 
 I thought how Mafter Blower's 
 continual Prefence would light it 
 up. The Streets now becoming 
 
 thronged. 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 thronged, he prefled my Arm tighter 
 to him and bade me hold on clofe ; 
 and I felt he was all the World to 
 me, be the Houfe what it would. 
 But when we reached it, what a 
 Difference ! The whole Front had 
 had a frefh Coat of Paint, which 
 made it wondrous lightfome and 
 cheerful, the Door-flep was frefh 
 whitened, the Door frefh varnifhed, 
 the Knocker frefh polifhed, and 
 Miflrefs Peach flanding on the Step 
 with a new Cap plaited clofe round 
 her fweet, pleafant Face, and dreffed 
 in a new grafs-green Gown. I 
 could not help kifling her as I ran 
 in; fhe faid, *' God blefs you, 
 " Miflrefs !" with hearty Cordiahty, 
 and followed me from Room to 
 Room. Everything had been cleaned 
 up, and file told me, laughing, that 
 though fhe had had Plenty of 
 Helps, it had been the hardefl 
 
 Week's 
 
 291 
 
292 
 
 Cherry & Violet. 
 
 Week's Work fhe had ever had in 
 her Life. The old green Bed- 
 furniture had given Place to new 
 white Dimity ; there was a Lady's 
 Pincufhion on the Toilette, with 
 " May you be happy!" in minikin 
 Pins ; and a Beau-pot of Flowers 
 on the Window-feat. '' All that 
 "is Miftrefs Violet's doing," faid 
 Dorcas, ** fhe has not left the Houfe 
 " half an Hour, I aflure you, and 
 " her Needle went in and out as 
 " faft as could be when fhe was 
 "finifhing the lafl Muflin Blind. 
 " Oh, fhe has been very bufy, has 
 *^Miflrefs Vio/et f 'Twas fhe fet 
 ** out the Supper Table with the 
 ** Flowers, and Sweet-meats, and 
 " Pound-cake." 
 
 CHAP. 
 
Cherry & Violet, 293 
 
 CHAP. XVI. 
 
 The Burning City. 
 
 Next Day, the Holiday of Life 
 was over, its Duties re-commenced. 
 Mafter Blower had an Accumulation 
 of Bufinefs to attend to, and I had 
 Plenty to do about the Houfe. 
 Before the End of the Week, I was 
 immerfed in Cares that were Plea- 
 fures to me, inafmuch as they light- 
 ened his own. But I could not 
 refift paying a Viiit to the Bridge, 
 and fpending an Hour in the dear 
 old Houfe, and another, afterwards, 
 with Violet, She and Mark came 
 to fup with us. I found they were 
 
 not 
 
294 
 
 Cherry & Violet. 
 
 not going to marry till fix Months 
 were out, which was full quick, 
 after all; but I was thankful they 
 would wait fo long. A Change 
 feemed coming over Mark ; he was 
 fteady, compofed, attentive to Bufi- 
 nefs, and far pleafanter, whether 
 lively or fad, than in his earlier 
 Days. As to Violet^ fhe was in- 
 finitely foftened, and the old Spirit 
 of Coquetry feemed quite to have 
 burned out. We did not fee them 
 often, but Mafter Blower always 
 received them kindly, and they 
 feemed to confider it a Privilege as 
 well as a Pleafure to come to us. 
 
 Thus, the Winter wore on : the 
 Plague was ftayed ; and though it 
 was common to meet in the Streets 
 Men in their Nightcaps, limping, 
 or with their Throats bound up, no 
 one thought of getting out of their 
 Way, for the Infeftion had fpent 
 
 itfelf 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 itfelf. And Perfons that were 
 Strangers to each other might be 
 heard exchanging Congratulations 
 on the improved State of Things, 
 now that Houfes and Shops were 
 re-opening, the Weeds beginning to 
 difappear from the Thoroughfares, 
 and Men no longer walked along 
 the Middle of the Streets, but on 
 the Foot-pavements. 
 
 My dear Hufband endeavoured to 
 imprefs the Hearts and Minds of 
 his People, in Seafon and out of 
 Seafon, with a Senfe of the Mercy 
 that had preferved them ; but, I am 
 forry to fay, with very little perma- 
 nent Effed:. True it is, at firfl the 
 Ground was broken up, and the 
 Clods were foft, and the good Seed 
 that was caft in feemed likely to 
 fruftify; but alas, the hot Sun of 
 worldly Temptation foon hardened 
 the Ground and burnt the Seed up, 
 
 and 
 
 295 
 
296 
 
 Cherry & Violet. 
 
 and People that had almoft miracu- 
 loufly efcaped the general Judgment, 
 feemed little better than they were 
 before. This deprefled my dear 
 Hufband very much ; but, inftead 
 of relaxing his Efforts, he only re- 
 doubled them ; and he faid I 
 ftrengthened his Hands. 
 
 There was alfo a great deal of 
 Diflrefs, owing to the general 
 Stagnation of Trade, and the vaft 
 Numbers of People thrown out of 
 Employ. So that, though we did 
 all we could, it was heart-rending 
 to witnefs the Mifery in fome of 
 the lower Diftridis of our Parilh. 
 We pinched ourfelves to help them, 
 voluntarily giving up fuch and fuch 
 Things at our Table ; and this with 
 fuch Cheerfulnefs that I really be- 
 lieve our Self-privations gave us 
 more aftual Enjoyment than if we 
 had ate the Fat and drank the 
 
 Sweet 
 
Cherry & Violet. 
 
 Sweet to our Hearts' Defire. And 
 once or twice it remarkably hap- 
 pened that when we had a little 
 exceeded in this Way, and had 
 fupplied thereby the Needs of a 
 more than ordinary Number, a great 
 Hamper would arrive from Miflrefs 
 Blower y full of Game, Poultry, Eggs, 
 Butter, Brawn, Hams, Tongues, 
 and Everything that w^as good. 
 Often we talked over that fweet 
 Place the Hampers came from ; 
 and it feemed to me that my 
 Hufband more and more inclined 
 towards the Country ; efpecially as 
 his Throat had never quite re- 
 covered the Eifefts of the Plague, 
 and he found he could not make 
 himfelf heard throughout the re- 
 moter Parts of his large Church 
 without Difficulty. Quite at the 
 End of the Summer, the old Incum- 
 bent of Bucklands Parfonage died ; 
 
 and 
 
 297 
 
298 
 
 Cherry & Violet. 
 
 and as the living was in the Squire's 
 Gift, and he had fome Notion his 
 Brother would like it, he wrote to 
 offer it to him. My Hufband alked 
 my Mind about it : I faid I fhould 
 like it of all Things, if he could be 
 content with fo fmall and quiet a 
 Field of Adtion. He faid, yes, the 
 Time had been when it had been 
 otherwife with him, the harder the 
 Work the greater the Pleafure, 
 efpecially as carrying fome Senfe of 
 Glory in the Viftory over it; but 
 it was not fo with him now : he 
 could be content with trying to do 
 good on a fmall Scale ; efpecially as 
 he had not been quite fo fuccefsful 
 on the larger Field of Adlion as he 
 had hoped and expedted. 
 
 '' Could I preach like Apollos,'' 
 continued he, *' to what Good, to 
 *' the Half of my Congregation who 
 '* cannot catch one Word in ten ? 
 
 "So 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 " So that, in Fad:, I preach to a 
 " fmall Congregation already. And 
 ** I've no Mind to receive the Pay 
 " without doing the Work. There's 
 " no Fear, Cherry^ of my not 
 " making myfelf audible in Buck- 
 ** lands Church ! — Belides, do you 
 " know I fancy I have a little 
 " domeftic Miffion there. My dear, 
 ** good Brother, who has dozed 
 ** under Dodlor Bray for fo many 
 " Years, has languifhed under a 
 " fpiritual Dearth. He is now 
 ** getting in Years, and I think I 
 " may do Something for him — you 
 ** know he told you he thought my 
 " Sermons were the real Thing.'* 
 
 " He faid," replied I, *' that you 
 ** not only hit the right Nail on 
 *^ the Head, but hammered it well 
 
 " in." 
 
 After fome further Talk, which 
 only went to prove how completely 
 
 we 
 
 299 
 
300 
 
 Cherry & Violet. 
 
 we were of a Mind on the Matter, 
 the Letters were written and fent — 
 to accept the one Living and refign 
 the other. That was on the Second 
 of Septeinber. The fame Night, 
 broke out that dreadful Fire, which 
 lafted three Days and three Nights, 
 and deftroyed fifteen of the twenty- 
 fix City Wards, including four hun- 
 dred Streets and Lanes, and thirteen 
 thoufand Houfes. Oh, what a 
 dreadful Calamity ! We were in 
 Bed, a little after Ten, when 
 Shrieks and Cries of " Fire ! " 
 awoke us; and my dear Hufband 
 put his Head forth of the Window 
 and afked where it was. A Man 
 running along anfwered, " On or 
 "at the Foot oi London Bridge T 
 Then our Hearts failed us for Violet 
 and Mark, and all our old Friends ; 
 and we drefl^ed and went forth, for 
 I could not be fliayed from accom- 
 panying 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 panying yi.2A.tr Blower . But before 
 we could reach the Bridge Foot, 
 we found Accefs to it cut off, both 
 by Reafon of the Crowd and of the 
 Flames : the only Comfort was, 
 that the Fire kept off the Bridge. 
 There was fo much Tumult and 
 Preflure that we could only keep 
 on the Skirts of the Crowd, where 
 we hung about without doing any 
 Good for fome Hours. 
 
 The next Morning, we were in 
 Hope of hearing the Fire had been 
 got under; inftead of which, the 
 whole Bankjide was wrapped in 
 Flames, and all the Houfes from 
 the Bridge Foot, and all Thames 
 Street were lying in Afhes. The 
 People feemed all at Paufe, gazing 
 on, without ftirring Hand or Foot, 
 and thofe that were perfonal Suf- 
 ferers were venting their Grief in 
 Cries and Lamentations. But we 
 
 could 
 
 301 
 
302 
 
 Cherry & Violet. 
 
 could not find that any Life had yet 
 been loft ; and the Fire kept off the 
 Bridge. 
 
 When I went Home at Dufk, it 
 was to pray for the poor Sufferers, 
 and then to mufe how far the 
 Calamity might extend. Supper 
 was on Table, but I had no Mind 
 to eat ; which was all the better, 
 as my Hufband prefently brought in 
 a poor, weeping Family who had 
 loft Everything, and had not touched 
 a Morfel all Day. We gave them 
 a good Meal, and Shelter for the 
 Night. They flept, but we could 
 not. There was no Need of Candles 
 all that Night, which was as light 
 as Day for ten Miles round. The 
 Fire was now fpreading all along 
 the South Part of the City, leaping 
 from Houfe to Houfe, and Street 
 to Street, for the very Air feemed 
 ignited; Showers of Sparks and 
 
 Afhes 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 Afhes were falling in every Direc- 
 tion, and the Pavement was growing 
 almoft too hot to tread upon. My 
 Hufband kept bringing in new Re- 
 fugees as long as our Houfe would 
 hold them, and I was too bufy 
 caring for them to have Leifure to 
 go forth, even had it been fafe ; 
 but each New-comer brought frefh 
 Tidings of the Defolation, which 
 was now extending to Churches, 
 public Monuments, Hofpitals, Com- 
 panies' Halls, as though it would 
 carry all before it. We now began 
 to be in fome Alarm for ourfelves ; 
 and to confider what we fhould do 
 if it came our Way ; and now we 
 experienced the Convenience of 
 having but little Treafure that 
 Moth, Ruft, or Fire could injure, 
 for when Mafter Blower had made 
 up a fmall Packet of Papers and 
 ready Money that we could readily 
 
 carry 
 
 303 
 
304 
 
 Cherry & Violet. 
 
 carry about us, there was Nothing 
 left for the Deftroyer to confume 
 but our poor Furniture and the 
 Houfe over our Heads. Very op- 
 portunely, at this Time came to our 
 Door a Berkfliire Countryman with 
 one of the good Squire's Hampers 
 full of Eatables. I never faw a poor 
 Fellow look fo feared ! He got a 
 good View of the Calamity from a 
 Diftance, and then fet his Face 
 homewards in as great a Hurry as 
 if the Flames were in Chafe of 
 him. The Streets were now full of 
 Carts loaded with Moveables, which 
 their Owners were conveying out 
 of Town ; giving Way to the 
 Calamity rather than feeking to 
 arreft it, which, indeed, it was now^ 
 vain to attempt, though I think 
 Something might have been done 
 at lirft. St, Paul's was now in a 
 Blaze; the great Stones exploding 
 
 w4th 
 
Cherry & Violet. 
 
 intenfe Heat, and the melted Lead 
 running along the Gutters. This 
 Night, alfo, we got fcarce any 
 Reft. 
 
 The next Morning, while I was 
 overlooking my Stores, and con- 
 fidering how I fhould beft hufband 
 them for my poor Inmates, in 
 comes Mark, his Face blackened, 
 j his Hair full of Afhes, his Clothes 
 i finged in many Places, and his Shoes 
 nearly burnt off his Feet. 
 
 " Thank God, you are fafe, 
 " then ! " cries he, catching hold of 
 both my Hands. ** The Sky looked 
 " fo fiery in this Quarter during the 
 ** Night, that Violet and I were in 
 ** dreadful Fear for you, and I ftarted 
 " at Daybreak, and came here by 
 " making a great Round, to fee how 
 " it fared with you. And Violet 
 " bids me fay that fhe has not for- 
 " gotten your Father's and Mother's 
 
 ** Kindnefs 
 
3o6 Cherry £? Violet. 
 
 " Kindnefs to her Father and 
 ** Mother when they were burned 
 *' out of Houfe and Home, nor how 
 ** (he and you were put together in 
 ** the fame Cradle ; and it will 
 ** make her and me, dear Cherry ^ 
 " unfpeakably happy to receive you 
 " and Mafter Blower under the very 
 " fame Roof, fhould you be burnt 
 " out of your own." 
 
 I faid, " Dear Mark, that is fo 
 ** like you and Violet I Juft the 
 " Kindnefs I fhould have expedted ! 
 " Believe me, we (hall thankfully 
 " accept it, if there be Need. But 
 " at prefent the Fire is all about us, 
 ** yet comes not to us. We have 
 " made up our little Parcel of 
 " Treafures (a little one, indeed, 
 ** Mark I ) and are ready to ftart at 
 " a Minute's Notice, trufting to 
 ** a good God to fpare our Lives. 
 ** This old Houfe, if it once catches, 
 
 '' will 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 307 
 
 ** will burn like Tinder ; mean- 
 ** while, come and fee how many 
 ** it holds." j 
 
 So I led him from Room to 
 Room, and fhewed him Mothers; 
 nurfing their Infants, Children ' 
 eating Bread and Milk, and old 
 People flill fleeping heavily. He 
 was greatly interefted and imprefled. 
 " What a good Soul you are ! " faid 
 he, — " I can give you no Notion of 
 ** the Scenes of Mifery on the Out- 
 " ikirts through which I pafled on 
 " my Way here. People huddled 
 ** in Tents, or lying under Hedges, 
 ** or on Heaps of Litter and broken 
 ** Furniture, without a Morfel of 
 ** Bread or a Cup of Milk, yet none 
 *' begging ! . . I faw a few Bread- 
 " Carts and Milk-people coming 
 ** up to them as I palTed along, but 
 ** many had no Money, not even 
 " a Penny, to buy a Breakfaft. I 
 
 **had 
 
3o8 
 
 Cherry & Violet, 
 
 " had filled my Purfe, Cherry ^ with 
 '' all that was in the Till, before I 
 ^' fet out ; but you fee there's not 
 " much in it now — " 
 
 And he pulled out an empty 
 Purfe, with a Smile that fhewed he 
 was well pleafed with the Way its 
 Contents had gone. Then we fhook 
 Hands heartily, and parted. 
 
 To the loud Crackling of Flames 
 and Crafh of falling Buildings, was 
 now added the blowing up of Houfes 
 with Gunpowder, which, indeed, 
 made the Neighbourhood of them 
 very dangerous to Byftanders, but 
 checked the Progrefs of the Fire. 
 However, Nothing effectual could 
 have been done, had it not pleafed 
 Almighty God to ftay his Judg- 
 ment by abating the high Wind, 
 which fell all at once ; whereby the 
 Flames ceafed to fpread, though the 
 glowing Ruins continued to burn. 
 
 The 
 
Cherry & Violet. 
 
 The Crifis being now paft, we 
 ceafed to be in Apprehenfion for 
 ourfelves, and devoted all our Atten- 
 tion to the poor, bereft People 
 under our Care. Some of thefe 
 were fetched away by their Country 
 Friends; fooner or later all dif- 
 perfed ; and then we went out into 
 the Fields adjoining the City, to 
 afford what little Help we could. 
 But oh! the Defolation ! To at- 
 tempt to affuage that Accumulation 
 of Deftitution by our trivial Means 
 feemed like eifaying to fubdue the 
 Fire with a Cup of Water : yet we 
 know that every Little helps ; and 
 that even a Cup of Water, to the 
 thirfty Man who drinks it, quenches 
 not his Thirft the lefs, that Thou- 
 fands befide are parched with 
 Drought. And thus, by Analogy, 
 concerning the general Amount of 
 human Suffering furrounding us at 
 
 all 
 
3IO ! Cherry & Violet, 
 
 all Times, which the Wife of a 
 Whitechapel Parfon is perhaps as ! 
 well qualified to fpeak of as any one 
 elfe — We need not be difcouraged 
 from aiding any, becaufe we cannot, 
 fuccour all ; fince the Relief afforded 
 is as grateful to him who has it, as 
 though all were relieved, which it 
 is not God's Will that any ihould 
 have Power to accomplifh. 
 
 By the End of the Month this 
 terrible Calamity was over-paft ; at 
 leaft, as far as we had Anything to 
 do with it, though we continued to 
 give Shelter to poor, ruined Ploufe- 
 holders as long as the Parfonage 
 was our own. The Gentleman 
 who fucceeded my dear Hufband 
 feemed a benevolent Sort of Man, a I 
 little pompous, maybe, but tenderly i 
 difpofed towards the Poor. 
 
 And now. Everything being | 
 fettled, we fold fome of our old 
 
 Furniture, 
 
Cherry & Violet, 
 
 Furniture, and fent down the Reft, 
 with Miftrefs Peachy by the Wagon. 
 And my dear Hufband and I entered 
 Bucklands exaftly as we had left it, 
 and on the very fame Horfe ; I in 
 my cherry-colour Habit, that was as 
 frefh as on my Wedding-day. And 
 here we have been ever fince ; and 
 he calls me his right Hand, and fays 
 my Attention to all his fecular Affairs 
 leaves his Mind at Liberty to purfue 
 his Duties and Studies without Dif- 
 tradlion — and that I underftand the 
 Poor even better than he does — and 
 that I am his beft Counfellor, his 
 deareft Friend, his pleafanteft Com- 
 panion, his darling Cherry I — Yes; 
 he calls me, and I believe he thinks 
 me all this : and as for my being 
 happy in him ... I fhould think fo, 
 indeed ! 
 
 FINIS. 
 
THE 
 OLD CHELSEA BUN-HOUSE 
 
 A Tale of the Laji Century. 
 
 BY 
 
 The Author of 'Mary Powell.' 
 
 See liow the World its Votaries rewards ! 
 A Youth of Folly, an Old Age of Cards ! 
 
 But trust me, Dears, Good-humour will prevail, 
 When Airs, and Flights, and Screams, and Scoldings fail. 
 Beauties in vain their pretty Eyes may roll, 
 Charms strike the Sight, hut Merit wins the Soul. 
 
 Pope : Rape of the Loch. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed for Arthur Hall, Virtue ^ Co. 
 25, Paternojler Row, 
 1855. 
 
Chapter I. 
 Lady Betty s Folly, 
 
 It is a fad Thing when a Lady of 
 Quality, who has been a Toaft in her 
 Youth, and has feen the white-gloved 
 Beaux, as Mr. Pope calls them, bowing 
 to her from the Pit, and kiffing the fcented 
 Tips of their Gloves to her in the Ring ; 
 who has flaunted at Vauxhall, and flione 
 in a Side-Box of the Opera-Houfe in 
 Lincoln s Inn Fields; has run down Handel, 
 and run after Bononcini ; has had her gay 
 Water-Parties to Jenny's Whiniy attended 
 by Violins and Hautboys; and has brought, 
 not only her own Company, but her own 
 Strawberries and Cherries to our Bun-houfe, 
 
2 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 as if our own were not good enough; 
 it is mortifying, I fay, when fuch a Lady 
 of Quality falls into the fear and yellow 
 Autumn of Life, and finds herfelf a dif- 
 regarded Thing, with no refources but 
 green Tea and Brag. And fuch is the 
 Cafe with poor Lady Betty Spadille. 
 
 How well I remember her, on the 
 Occafion I have fomewhat malicioufly 
 alluded to, for it fticks in my Throat, 
 arriving at our Bun-Houfe in her peach- 
 coloured Sacque, Mechlin Head, and red- 
 heeled Shoes, the Foreparts richly em- 
 broidered with Silver ; loudly talking and 
 laughing, and turning her Head right and 
 left, now to this Beau, now to t'other, 
 who fluttered round her with their clouded 
 Canes and perfumed Wigs; now burft- 
 ing into what the French People call des 
 grands Eclats de Rtre, now flirting her Fan, 
 or rapping it on the Shoulder of one of 
 the Ladies who accompanied her. Having 
 jufl: fet my Mark, a Sprig of Rofemary, in 
 the midft of one of good Bifhop Atterbury\ 
 
Lady Betty s Folly. 3 
 
 Sermons, I thought within myfelf, " Is this 
 " a Creature that is formed for Eternity ? " 
 Meanwhile, two tall Lacqueys, with im- 
 menfe Shoulder-Knots, bore between them 
 a great Hamper of French Wine ; while 
 a little black Page, in pale Blue, laced 
 with Silver, tottered under the Fruit from 
 Rogers's; and certainly it was very fine. 
 I never faw fuch Strawberries and Cherries 
 before nor fince. 
 
 I did not think her a Belle of the firft 
 Order, fetting her Rank and Style aiide. 
 Her Shape was fine; her Hand and Foot 
 delicately formed; but fhe rolled her Eyes 
 too much, and had too high a Colour. I 
 don't believe fhe painted. Altogether, 
 fhe feemed in the very Flufh of Exiflence; 
 as if fhe had never met with a Reverfe, 
 nor ever expefted one. She feemed to 
 think " Let us Eat and Drink," without 
 adding, " To-morrow we die,'' 
 
 We had fet our oval Walnut-wood 
 Table under the umbrageous Shade of two 
 large Elms, and had fpread it with one of 
 
4 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 our beft Tablecloths. This was fuper- 
 cilioufly removed by the two Footmen, 
 who fpread a Tablecloth and Napkins 
 they had brought with them. Our China 
 Service and water Caraffes they con- 
 defcended to ufe. Meanwhile, the Boat- 
 men brought up a fecond Hamper, con- 
 taining Ham, Tongue, Chicken, Sallet, 
 and other Matters : but the Footmen, I 
 fhould mention, brought the Plate, in- 
 cluding not only iilver Forks, but a filver 
 Stew- Pan. 
 
 The gay Bevy having ftreamed hither 
 and thither, making their humourous and 
 contemptuous Remarks, which were con- 
 tinually interfperfed with, " Oh, my Lord! " 
 and, *'Oh, Sir Charles!'' at length fettled 
 down to their Repaft. There were three 
 Ladies and four Gentlemen. Alfo, there 
 was a tall, flender Girl in Black, whom 
 I concluded my Ladys own Woman, be- 
 caufe fhe flood the whole Time, a little 
 behind Lady Betty, holding her Handker- 
 chief and Scent-Bottle, watching her Eye, 
 
Lady Betty s Folly, 5 
 
 and obeying her Commands, almoft before 
 fpoken ; notwithflanding which, my Ladys 
 Lip was often put up, and fuch words as 
 ** Thou'rt ftrangely flow . . . Canfl not 
 ** hear me. Creature ?" were muttered by 
 her rofy mouth. 
 
 And there was pale Mr. Fenwick, fitting 
 at his open Cafement over the Bun-Shop, 
 Book in Hand, hearing, feeing, and filently 
 noting all. 
 
 One of the Gentlemen was my Lord 
 Earljioke, (to whom the Town gave Lady 
 Betty y) a weak-eyed, puny Peer; another. 
 Sir Charles Seftoriy all Fafhion and Froth ; 
 a third, a handfome young Gentleman, 
 whom they called Mr. Arbuthnot : the 
 fourth, who had the Wit and Sprightlinefs 
 of all the Reft, (for whereas they con- 
 tinually laughed, he continually gave 
 them Something worth laughing at,) was 
 a lank, ungraceful, underfized Perfonage, 
 of olivander Complexion, with projed:ing 
 Teeth, quick, black Eyes, and a not un- 
 agreeable Phyfiognomy, though his Figure 
 
6 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 was mean and almoft Diftorted. His 
 Name was Caryly which I learned not 
 at firft, they were fo given to addrefs him 
 by his baptifmal Name of Paul, 
 
 Then, for the Ladies, there was Lady 
 Maryy my Lord's Aunt, and the Duenna 
 of the Party ; and Lady Grace y a fweet 
 pretty Creature, but empty and felf-fuf- 
 ficient. 
 
 It might have been thought, that two 
 able-bodied Men and a Foot-page were 
 Servitors enow for a Party of feven; but 
 on the contrary, they kept my younger 
 Sifter Prudence, who was then very pretty, 
 continually afoot, tripping to and from the 
 Houfe on one impertinent errand or an- 
 other, while I attended to the general Cuf- 
 tomers. At length, coming up to me 
 with a painful Blufh on her Cheek, 
 " Patty,' fays fhe, " do oblige me by 
 changing Places, will you ? I can't abide 
 the ways of thefe Quality, and give no 
 fatisfad:ion, and only get fcofFed at." 
 
 " Perhaps I may pleafe them no better. 
 
Lady Betty s Folly. j 
 
 Prue;' faid I, '' however, I'll try." And 
 as I proceeded to take her Place, I heard 
 Mr. Paul (that's to fay, Mr. Caryly) 
 obferve to Sir Charles^ "Humph! we've 
 loft Rachel and got Leahy 
 
 This was not over-civil ; but I took no 
 notice. 
 
 " Now then," cries Lady Betty, in high 
 Good-Humour, ** I'll make you what we 
 have called a Peter/ham Chicken, ever 
 fince Lady Caroline's Frolick. Here are 
 feven of us, and here are fcven Chickens, 
 which muft, in the firft Place, be finely 
 minced; fo let each take one." And 
 while every one was laughing and min- 
 cing their Chicken, fhe pulls off ever fo 
 many diamond Rings from her white Fin- 
 gers, and gives them to her Woman to 
 hold. 
 
 " Don't trouble yourfelf, my Lcrd^ 
 fays fhe, carelefsly, as he ftoops to pick up 
 one fhe had let fall on the Grafs, ** Gatty 
 " will find it. Here, Child, take them all ; 
 " and," (afide with a Frown), **be fure you 
 
8 T:he Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe, 
 
 " don't lofe them. Now, Pompey! the fpirit- 
 " Lamp ; three pats of Butter, and a Flaggon 
 *' of fpring Water. The only variation I 
 " make in Lady Caroline's cookery is to flew 
 " my Chicken in a filver Stew-Pan, inftead 
 ** of in a China Difh, which might crack 
 " over the Lamp. Prithee, Pompey, don't 
 ** let the Grafs grow under your Feet!" 
 
 Methought, if her Ladyfhip had been 
 obliged to cook her own Supper, fhe would 
 have confidered herfelf demeaned by it 
 very much : however, there is nothing 
 that Quality will not do for a Freak. By 
 and by, fhe gets tired of ftewing her 
 Chicken over the Lamp, and bids the 
 young Perfon fhe calls Gatty to carry it 
 in-doors and drefs it over the Fire. **And 
 be fure. Child, not to let it burn." As I 
 did not feem wanted, I fhe wed Mrs. Gatty 
 the way to the Kitchen, and flood by 
 while fhe flirred the Stew-Pan over the 
 Fire. " I'm ready to drop ! " fays fhe, at 
 length. " No wonder," faid I, taking the 
 filver Spoon from her, and ufing it myfelf, 
 
Lady Betty's Folly, 9 
 
 '* you have never once fat down fince you 
 ** left the Boat, and 'tis the Dog-Days. 
 ** Reft awhile, and I'll mind the Chicken." 
 ** Thank you heartily," fays fhe, dropping 
 into a Seat, and turning from Red to 
 White, and then Red again. *^ May I take 
 a draught of this cold Water ? " '' Aye, 
 and welcome," faid I, *^ fo that you're not 
 afraid of drinking it while you're fo hot." 
 ** Oh, I'm not afraid," fays fhe, drinking 
 plentifully of it, and fetting down the Mug 
 with a Sigh of relief. ** I'm better now, 
 but there was fuch a glare upon the River." 
 ** Are you her Lady fhip's Woman ? " faid 
 I. With that, fhe fetches a deep Sigh ; 
 and, fays fhe, " I'm no better, now, and a 
 hard Life to me it is. I am the Daughter 
 of a poor Country Curate, who died and 
 left a large Family pennilefs: but my 
 MotheVy who married him for love, 
 had high Connections; fo Lady Betty 
 takes me for her Woman, partly, as 
 fhe fays, out of Charity, and partly 
 becaufe fhe prefers being ferved by a 
 
TO The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 decayed Perfon of Condition. I have 
 twenty Pounds by the Year, and indeed 
 'tis hardly earned." *' That I can well 
 believe," faid I. '' But what can I do?" 
 fays fhe. '* My Lady has engaged to 
 give me enough caft-off Apparel, to keep 
 me in Clothing ; fo that I fhall be able to 
 fend the twenty Pounds to my Mother J' 
 *^ There'll be fome comfort to you in doing 
 that," faid I. " The greateft of comforts," 
 fays fhe ; ** and 'tis that which keeps me 
 up, in fpite of hard Work, late Hours, 
 and contumely ; for no one has a better 
 and dearer Mother than I have." "Well, 
 the Chicken is done now," faid I. *' Shall 
 I carry it out for you ?" " Oh no, I dare 
 *^not remain behind," fays Gatty; ** but 
 " do you come along with me, for you will 
 *^ make me feel lefs lonely." So I went 
 with her according to her wifh ; and when 
 we came up to the Table, we found Lady 
 Betty talking about her foreign Travels; 
 for, it feemed fhe had been abroad with 
 my Lord her Father^ on fome public 
 
Lady Bettys Folly » ii 
 
 Miffion or Ambaflade, to this and the 
 other diftant Land, that had formerly been 
 the Seat of War. And, to my Fancy, fhe 
 difcourfed agreeably enough of Bel- 
 grade, Peterwaradin, and Prince Eugene, 
 though my Lord did not feem to think fo; 
 for, once, he covered his Mouth with his 
 Hand to conceal a Yawn, not fo adroitly 
 but that my Lady perceived it; and there- 
 upon fhe immediately diverted her Conver- 
 fation to Sir Charles, and never fpoke to 
 his Lord/hip another Word. The Peters- 
 ham Chicken was too Grofs, as 'twas like 
 to be, with that monftrous quantity of 
 Butter : my Lady Betty was annoyed, and 
 faid Airs. Gatty had oiled it over the Fire, 
 darting at her a fide-look of Reproach. 
 It was fent away, and the Fruit fet upon 
 Table; and the Black Boy, producing a 
 Theorbo, fang foreign Airs while they 
 finifhed their Repafl. A brifk encounter 
 of Wits then enfuing between Mr. Caryl, 
 Mr. Arbuthnot, and Sir Charles, my Lady 
 prefently found herfelf cut out; .notwith- 
 
12 T:he Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 ftanding fhe made one or two inefFedtual 
 efforts to recover the lead; and extremely 
 mortified that fhe fhould, even for a few 
 Minutes, be Second, fhe threw herfelf 
 back in her Chair, called for Effences, and 
 bade Mrs. Gatty fupport her to the Houfe; 
 protefling fhe had the Vapours to that 
 degree, that nothing but Seclufion and 
 Repofe could reflore her fufficiently to 
 enable her to take Boat. The other two 
 Ladies, conftrained to follow her, made 
 wry Faces to one another behind her Back, 
 but accompanied her in-doors, leaving the 
 Gentlemen to faunter about, or fit over 
 their Wine. Having entered our little 
 Parlour and made a prodigious fufs, till we 
 were all in waiting on her, *' How horridly 
 "vapourifh I feel!" cries fhe; "But 
 ** what ! Is that fome real Dragon China 
 ''on the Mantel-Shelf? How did you 
 '' come by it, 'Mrs. Patty T' 
 
 I coldly replied, " My Father bought 
 '* it. Madam:' 
 
 '' And, thofe Jofi^es and Mandarins," 
 
Lady Betty's Folly. 13 
 
 purfues fhe, *' have pofitively the appear- 
 *' ance of being, nay, they are genuine ! 
 ''What lovely Chelfea China! Thefe 
 " ShepherdefTes fondling Lambs and Kids 
 *' are nearly equal to mine. Sure, can 
 '^ a Perfon of your Father s Condition, 
 '' Mrs. Patty, afford to be a Virtuofo ?'' 
 
 " Had my Hujband not been a Virtuofo, 
 *' Madam,'' fays my Mother, quietly look- 
 ing up from making an Hippocrates' fleeve 
 for our Jelly, " thefe Girls had never 
 *' needed to keep a Bun-Houfe." Which 
 indeed, was true enough, for my Father, 
 who had been apprenticed to the firft 
 Jeweller in London, might have commanded 
 a flourifhing Bufinefs, and accumulated a 
 Fortune, but for his unhappy Tafle for 
 Articles of Virtu, which led him into con- 
 nection with unprincipled Men of Quality, 
 who ran in his Debt, and would have run 
 him through if he had dunned 'em ; and 
 that again led to his drowning Trouble in 
 Intemperance. So that, had not a Legacy, 
 opportunely left to my dear Mother for 
 
14 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 her fole and feparate ufe, enabled her to 
 purchafe our prefent Houfe and Bufi- 
 nefs, for Prudence and me, 'twould have 
 fared ill with her and with us, and with 
 my poor Father too. And hitherto, we 
 had gone on fo fteadily and relped:ably, 
 that we had given general Satisfadlion, 
 and notwithflanding our unprotecfted State 
 (for my poor Father was almoft worfe than 
 no Proted:ion,) had kept good Names, 
 and met with no Let nor Hindrance. 
 
 Lady Betty, without vouchfafing more 
 than a Stare at the Speaker of the Words 
 jufl addrefled to her, turns her Head 
 flowly round towards me, and with more 
 Haughtinefs than I can defcribe, " Prithee, 
 " Mrs. Patty,'' fays fhe, " is that good 
 ** Woman your Mother?'' 
 
 Now certainly, to be a good Woman 
 is the chief Merit of our Sex; and to have 
 it acknowledged that one whom we dearly 
 love and reverence is ,fuch, ought to be 
 taken as a compliment, rather than the 
 other way : but yet I knew full well that 
 
Lady Betty's Folly. 15 
 
 Lady Betty had not ufed this term refpedt- 
 fully and kindly, but quite the reverfe; 
 wherefore I replied, '^ Yes, Madam y' very 
 bluntly. 
 
 *' How are the Men amufing them- 
 "felves?" fays fhe to Lady Gracey who 
 was looking out of the Window. 
 
 ** Mr. Caryl feems reading them a copy 
 *' of Verfes which diverts them hugely," 
 faid Lady Grace. 
 
 " Odious Creature ! " cried Lady Betty y 
 forgetting all her Languor, and fanning 
 herfelf vehemently, '* A Man of Letters 
 " is the very worft pcffible Ingredient in 
 ** a Party of Pleafure ; he thinks of No- 
 " thing but fliewing himfelf off. I'll never 
 *' invite another to a Folly. Sure 'tis Time 
 ** for us now to think of returning.'* 
 
 '^ Were we not to wait for the Moon?" 
 fays Lady Grace, 
 
 " If you particularly wifh it, we will 
 '' do fo," fays Lady Betty, '' but I really 
 '' believe the evening Air on the Water 
 '' will kill me." 
 
1 6 The Old Chelfea Bun-Hotife. 
 
 " Oh, then the Moon will be too ex- 
 " penfive a luxury/' fays Lady Grace, ** let 
 '* us return at once by all means." 
 
 And the Black Boy was inftantly fent to 
 prepare the Gentlemen for the reembark- 
 ation. 
 
 " Give me my Cardinal, Child," fays 
 Lady Betty to Gatty, *^ Why, what on 
 ** Earth is the matter with your Hands ? 
 *' They are covered with a Rafh. Your 
 *' Face, too, is as red as this Velvet. 
 ** Huh ! don't come near me ! Stay, let 
 ** me rufli into the open Air. You are fick- 
 " ening with fome infedlious Complaint." 
 
 Poor Gatty ftood transfixed and aghaft ; 
 Lady Grace gave a little Shriek, and ran 
 to the door after Lady Betty ; while the 
 elder Lady, lefs abfurdly timorous, flood 
 at paufe, looking at the poor Girl, who 
 did, indeed, appear very much heated. 
 
 "You are really ill, I believe, young 
 " Woman," faid fhe flifHy. " What is to 
 " be done ? You cannot go back with 
 " us in the Boat." 
 
Lady Betty s Folly, 17 
 
 And following Lady Betty ^ fhe held a 
 Dialogue with her in the open Air. 
 
 *' She can't come near me ; fhe fhan't 
 *' come near me/' cries Lady Betty vehe- 
 mently; and then the three Ladies talked 
 under their Breath. At length Lady Mary 
 returned. 
 
 " Young Woman," fays fhe; **Dear me, 
 ** Mrs. Patty ^ you are very incautious, to 
 " hold her Hand that Way, with her Head 
 ** refling on your Neck ; there's no know- 
 ** ing what fhe may communicate." 
 
 " I'm not afraid of her communicating 
 ** any Harm, Madam," faid L 
 
 *' I have come to afk you," refumes 
 Lady Mary, '' whether you know of any 
 " decent Lodging, where this young Per- 
 ^' fon may be placed till her Illnefs declares 
 " itfelf one Way or another. I fuppofe 
 " there mufl be plenty of People that 
 ** would readily take her in." 
 
 '' Indeed, Madam," faid my Mother, 
 again taking up the Word, '* if the 
 " Diforder be, as you feem to fuppofe. 
 
I 8 T:he Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 ** infectious, I do not fee how we can afk 
 ** any of our Neighbours to incur the 
 " Hazard of it; but, for myfelf, I am fo 
 " Httle fearful of the Confequences, that I 
 '* will undertake the Care of Mrs. Gatty, if 
 " Lady Betty wifhes it, till, as your Lady- 
 ^^ /Jiip fays, her Illnefs declares itfelf one 
 *' Way or another." 
 
 ** An excellent Plan ! extremely well 
 " thought of," fays Lady Mary. '' Of 
 " courfe. Lady Betty will remunerate you 
 *' handfomely for your Trouble." 
 
 " And Rifk," put in my Mother. 
 
 " And Rifk," repeated Lady Mary ; 
 " though, I proteft, I think there is none ; 
 ** but that the young Woman has merely 
 " been overheated, and taken a Chill 
 " upon it." 
 
 Though Lady Mary fpoke not fincerely, 
 yet her expreffed Opinion was fo much like 
 my Mother s real one, that the Arrange- 
 ment was fpeedily concluded. And then, 
 after as much Fufs in departing as they 
 had made in arriving, thefe heartlefs 
 
Lady Betty s Folly, 19 
 
 Denizens of the Great World quitted us ; 
 full of themfelves, caring very little for 
 each other, and leaft of all for the poor 
 Dependent left fick upon our Hands. 
 
 '* Thank Goodnefs they're gone ! " ex- 
 claimed Prudence y as the laft Ruftle of 
 Silk, and the laft empty Laugh was heard. 
 
 ^* And now, where to beftow our young 
 " Charge?" faid my Mother. 
 
 ** Oh, how kind you are to me!" faid 
 Gatty ; Tears rolling down her Cheeks. 
 *' Any Place will do." 
 
 '* I think Prudence muft fleep in the 
 '' little Clofet beyond my Chamber," faid 
 my Mot her y ** and then, Patty, you can 
 *' {hare your Bed with Mrs. Gatty, You 
 '* are not afraid. Child, are you ? " 
 
 ' 'Afraid, Mother ? No ! " 
 
Chapter II. 
 
 Mrs, Patty & Mrs, Gatty, 
 
 The Bed and Night-Clothes were foon 
 prepared ; and as I helped Mrs. Gatty to 
 undrefs, I could not help noting, that 
 though her Gown was of the plaineft 
 black Stuff, her under Garments were 
 beautifully Fine, and fitted to a Nicety; 
 which corroborated what fhe had faid of 
 her being a young Woman of good Con- 
 dition. ** You muft not alarm yourfelf, 
 *• Mrs. Gatty,'' faid I ; " you will very 
 " likely be quite well to-morrow." 
 
 " Don't call me Mrs. Gatty,' fays fhe. 
 *' Call me Gertrude, which is my proper 
 " Name, and it will put me in Mind of 
 '' Home." 
 
Mrs. Patty & Mrs. Gatty, 2 1 
 
 " Well, then, Mrs. Gertrude;' faid I. 
 
 *' Not Mrs. at all, I entreat of you,'' 
 faid fhe, ** plain, fimple Gertrude;' 
 
 ** Simple Gertrude^ you may be," faid I, 
 " but plain Gertrude y you certainly are 
 '' not." 
 
 She fmiled faintly, and faid, '* Ah, you 
 "are very Kind, and mean kindly; but 
 *' the fineft Compliment in the World is 
 ** of little Value to me, compared with 
 ** a Word of Kindnefs: and yours only 
 " pleafes me fo far as Kindnefs is expreffed 
 ** in it. And now, dear Mrs. Patty ^ let 
 " down the Curtain, and make the Cham- 
 " ber as dark as you can, and I will try 
 *^ to fleep; for my Head aches to Dif- 
 *' tradtion, and there is Nothing you can 
 ** do for me." 
 
 When I went down Stairs, I found my 
 Mother mentioning Gattys Cafe to Dr. 
 Elwesy who frequently ftepped in to fmoak 
 a quiet Pipe under our Elms. He im- 
 mediately went up Stairs to fee her ; and 
 was guarded in pronouncing whether fhe 
 
22 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 had a Fever, a Chill, a Surfeit, or what ; but 
 faid Time would difclofe, and he would 
 fee her again in the Morning. Mean- 
 while, fhe was to be kept Cool and Quiet; 
 and he would write a Prefcription for a 
 Compofing Draught; which accordingly 
 he did. 
 
 ** And now, with refped: to Supper," 
 faid I, when he was gone. " Dear me ! 
 " who has thought, all this Time, of Mr. 
 Fenwick V 
 
 No one had remembered him; fo I 
 immediately carried up his Whey and 
 Buns, fmote to the Heart at his having 
 been fo entirely overlooked. When I 
 went in, he was ftill fitting at the Cafe- 
 ment. He faid, "Well, Leah!'" with a 
 gentle Smile, which affured me that he 
 had heard and remembered what had 
 paifed at Lady Betty's Table. 
 
 " Dear Sir," faid I, *' I am quite forry 
 " you fhould have been fo long forgotten. 
 ** We have had fuch a noify Party this 
 " Afternoon." 
 
Mrs, Patty & Mrs. Gatty. 23 
 
 *' Rather tumultuous certainly," faid he ; 
 " they helped to amufe me, and it was 
 " not my Fault that I heard every Word 
 '' they faid." 
 
 " How loudly High-Bred People laugh 
 "and talk. Sir!" faid I. 
 
 ** I doubt if it be High-Breeding to do 
 " fo," faid he ; " Ill-Breeding it feems to 
 
 me." 
 
 '' What did you think. Sir, of Mr. 
 " Caryl f Mr. Paul, as they called him ?" 
 
 *' Well, I thought he tried to ferve the 
 " Peter/ham Chicken with Walpole Sauce." 
 
 '* He was very fmart and ready. Sir, 
 "wasn't he?" 
 
 '' Yes, Mrs. Patty, he had plenty of 
 " Repartee." 
 
 " What is a Repartee, Sir ?" 
 
 " A fmart Reply. When Mr. Pope, 
 " w^ho was deformed, afked a young 
 " Officer if he knew what a Note of 
 " Interrogation was, the other replied, * A 
 " little crooked Thing that afks Quef- 
 " tions.' That was a Repartee." 
 
24 "the Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 " A very ill-natured One, though. Sir. 
 ** When Sir Charles faid of the unfor- 
 '' tunate Emigrant Lady, * That Woman 
 " deferves a Crown,' and Mr. Paul re- 
 -joined, that he had not a Crown to lay 
 '' at her Feet, but he had Half-a-Crown 
 " very much at her Service : was that a 
 ** Repartee?'' 
 
 ** Yes, it was fuggefted by the Remark 
 " of the Firft, and could not have been 
 " prepared. You have culled a Grain of 
 ''Wheat, Mrs. Patty, from a Bufhel of 
 '' Chaff." 
 
 " You thought Lady Betty a great 
 '' Beauty, I fuppofe, Mr. Fenwick .^" 
 
 '' Well, fhe is what is called a Fine- 
 *' Woman, I believe. Fine Eyes, and 
 " Teeth; good Carriage of the Head." 
 
 '' Oh Sir ! had you feen her tofs that 
 *' Head at my poor Mother ! 'Twas as 
 ** much as I could ftand ! " 
 
 '' I am glad, then, that I did not. She 
 ** has Wit, however, but is too artificial, 
 *' flighty, and exa^ling. There's a degree 
 
Mrs. Patty & Mrs. Gatty. 25 
 
 ** of Coarfenefs about her. 'Twas fo hu- 
 " mourous, to hear her trying to recover 
 " her Supremacy in that Dialogue among 
 ** the Men, when fhe began once and 
 " again * When I was at Peterwaradiuy 
 ** and no one was liftening to her !" 
 
 " Except you and me. Sir. Well, I 
 '* muft not keep you from Supper." 
 
 ** Nor muft I keep you ftanding. How 
 " are you going to manage about Mrs. 
 '' Gatty r' 
 
 ^* She's going to fleep with me. Sir ; if 
 '' I fleep at all, that is." 
 
 '* You expedt a reftlefs Night." 
 
 " I doubt if I fhall lie down if fhe con- 
 ** tinue as fhe is." 
 
 *' If you are going to fit up, you will 
 '* require Something to keep you awake. 
 *^ Shall I find you a Book to read ?" 
 
 *^ Do, if you pleafe. Sir ; I fhall grate- 
 " fully thank you ! '' 
 
 ** Well then, what will you have? You 
 ** know I have no Novels. Here is a 
 ** charming Paper of Mr. Addison's, in 
 
26 T^lie Old Chelfea Bun-H'oufe. 
 
 *^ one of the old SpeBatorSy which I was 
 ** reading when you came in. * Cheerful- 
 " nefs preferable to Mirth,^ How well it 
 " opens! * I have always preferred Cheer- 
 ** fulnefs to Mirth. The latter I confider 
 " as an Acfl, the former as a Habit of the 
 ^^Mind."' 
 
 ^* That will not take long in reading, 
 " Sir. Might I have one of Shakfpeare's 
 ** Plays? I liked the Merchant of Venice 
 "fo much!" 
 
 " Certainly you may. Did you like 
 ** Borneo and fuliet ? " 
 
 '' Not at all. Sir." 
 
 '^ Come, then, here is the Winter s Tale 
 ** for you. Or ftay, here is Cymbeline, 
 ** You will like much of it, though not 
 *' all ; for you have as nice a Tafle in 
 '' Books, Mrs. Patty, as your Father has 
 ** in old China. Imogen is one of the 
 ** pureft, lovelieft Creations of the Poet. 
 " When you get tired of her Companions, 
 '* turn the Leaf till you come to her, and 
 '^you won't fall afleep. Her two Brothers, 
 
Mrs. Patty & Mrs, Gatty, 27 
 
 " too, in the Cave, are charming. What 
 *' a fine Leffon is given here, in a mere 
 " paffing Word of the Phyfician to the 
 ** Oueen, againft Cruelty to dumb Ani- 
 " mals ! She tells him fhe experimen- 
 " talizes with Poifons on Creatures not 
 " worth the hanging ; and he tells her fhe 
 " hardens her Heart, and proceeding from 
 ** low degrees to higher, will become 
 ^* carelefs of inflicfling pain and death on 
 " fuperior Natures. Here it is, Mrs. 
 " Patty.'* 
 
 I took the Book, curtfeyed, and with- 
 drew ; thinking that this little Dialogue 
 with the good young Curate after the 
 Noife and Babble of Lady Betty's Party, 
 was like gazing on cool Green, after one's 
 Eyes had been dazzled by garifh Sunfhine. 
 Since he had lodged with us, to drink frefh 
 Whey and recover his Health, I, being the 
 elder and plainer Sifler of the two, had 
 principally waited upon him; though I 
 feldom encroached fo much on his Leifure 
 as on this Evening, which I partly ventured 
 
'28 T:he Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 on, becaufe I felt I had negledled him 
 during the Afternoon. 
 
 Mrs. Gatty pafTed a reftlefs Night, and 
 rambled a good deal, fancying herfelf at 
 Home, or what I concluded such; and 
 talking of, and to her Kinsfolk and 
 Intimates by name. What with attending 
 to her and reading my Play-Book, I got 
 not much Reft; but towards Day-Break, 
 she became Quiet; fo then I had a good 
 Nap, with my Cloathes loofened, but not 
 off, and awoke refrefhed, juft in time to 
 go and fee the Milk and Bread fent out, 
 which was my daily Duty. 
 
 Our's had become a large Concern. At 
 firft, we only fold Bread and Buns to thofe 
 who came to the Shop ; then we got on to 
 having two Carts, that went into Town 
 twice a Week ; then Whey was wanted, 
 and we had a Cow ; but the Cow was not 
 in Milk all the Year round, fo then we 
 had two ; and then we kept their Calves, 
 Priie and I undertaking to bring them up 
 by Hand ; and the pretty Creatures grew fo 
 
Mrs. Patty & Mrs, Gatty, 29 
 
 fond of us, that they would run round the 
 Meadow after us if we but held out our 
 Finger to them. In fliort, our Milk and 
 Whey became in fuch repute, that we got 
 on from two Cows to fix, and at length 
 to Twelve, and had the largeft Milk-walk 
 in the neighbourhood. Our man Andrew^ 
 who was from Devon/hire y looked after the 
 Dairy ; and Saunders, who was a Scot, was 
 our Baker ; but a Miftrefs's Eye is worth 
 two Pair of Hands ; and one Reafon of our 
 Succefs was undoubtedly that we looked 
 clofely after our Bufinefs ourfelves, no 
 matter how much Money was coming 
 into the Till. 
 
 Dr. Elwes ufed to fay, that he never 
 knew better Samples of a genteel Induftry 
 than in our Eftablifhment ; but doubtlefs, 
 the good Doctor's Judgment was fomewhat 
 biaifed by his Partiality for my dear Mother ; 
 whom, I am bold to think, if he had 
 known her before fhe was married, and 
 before he himfelf had rifen from the 
 Ranks, (if one may fay fo of a Civilian,) 
 
30 T^he Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 he would have gladly made his Wife. 
 What a different Lot for my poor Mother I 
 But then, the whole Story of our Lives 
 would have been altered, and the Divine 
 Purpofes quite otherwife manifefted ; and 
 my poor Father would have gone down 
 the Stream, with ne'er a Hand held out to 
 draw him towards Shore. 
 
 Juft as I was booking the Loaves put 
 into the Carts, up rides Mr. Arbuthnot on 
 a mighty fine Horfe. He was, as good 
 Mr. Matthew Henry fays of Prince 
 Adonijah, a pretty, comely young Gentle- 
 man ; and he lighted down, and gave his 
 Bridle to Peter^ and ftept up to me, to 
 inquire how fared Mrs. Gatty, faying that 
 he hoped to make himfelf welcome to 
 Lady Betty by carrying good news, there- 
 fore had ridden to Chelfea before Breakfaft. 
 I replied fhe had had a difturbed Night, 
 but was then fleeping ; on which, having 
 not much more to fay, and feeing me 
 bufied, he went his ways. 
 
 Juft then, my Mother called over the 
 
Mrs, Patty & Mrs, Gatty. 31 
 
 Stair-Head, in rather an agitated Voice, to 
 inquire whether my Father had yet got his 
 Difh of ftrong green Tea ; and knowing 
 that he had come Home fomewhat con- 
 vivial in the Middle of the Night, and was 
 likely to be troubled with Head-Ache, 
 low Spirits, and Ill-Humours this Morning, 
 I haftily w^ent into the back Parlour. 
 But there was dear Prudence already at 
 her Pofl, frefh as a Primrofe, with the Tea 
 brewed, and the Table fpread with a 
 tempting variety of Meats, frefh Eggs, and 
 hot Rolls, not one of which had my poor 
 Father the Appetite to tafte, but fat with 
 trembling Hands, endeavouring to pour 
 the Cream into his Tea without fpilling 
 it. On my coming in, he looks up and 
 fays : — ■ 
 
 *^Have thofe Rafcals brought the Ham- 
 "per yet?" 
 
 '' What Hamper, Father ? " 
 
 <* Why, a Hamper and Packing-Cafe of 
 *' Chelsea China I bought at the Aud:ion- 
 " Rooms yefterday." 
 
32 rhe Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 *^ Alas, Father, have you been buying 
 "more China?" 
 
 " Yes, I have, Mifs Patty , more by 
 ** Token, I bought it as a CompHment to 
 ** your Mother, and outbade my Lord 
 ** Fribble ; so what have you to fay to that 
 ^'now?" 
 
 " Dear Father, my Mother will feel the 
 " compliment ; but, had you let it alone, 
 *' 'twould have been the greater Kindnefs." 
 
 ** That's a Solecifm, Patty ; but here 
 comes Peter with the Cafe ; and here comes 
 your Mother to fee it unpacked." 
 
 As 'twas no use to crofs him about a 
 Thing that was done, I ran to be my dear 
 Mother's ** live Walking-Stick ; " and when 
 I had fettled her in her Eafy-Chair, with 
 all her little Comforts about her, fhe takes 
 Breath, and fays to my Father, " Good 
 Morning, my Dear." 
 
 ** Good Morning, my Dear," replies he; 
 *' this is our Wedding-Day;" and got up, 
 and kiffed her. 
 
 This was fo unlike his ufual Mood, 
 
Mrs. Patty & Mrs, Gatty. 33 
 
 that Prudence and I were surprised and 
 touched. 
 
 " I dare fay now/' purfues he, " that 
 ^' you had forgot it ?'' 
 
 *' Oh no, Mr. Honeywood, — my Dear, I 
 *^ mean," fays my Mother ^ wiping her eyes, 
 '' I remembered it before I got out of Bed 
 " — and the last thing overnight, too. Td 
 ** no Notion your Memory would be fo 
 " good, my dear." 
 
 " Well," fays he, " it feems we each 
 ** did the other Injuftice, this Time — a good 
 ** Thing if we never do fo any more. But 
 '* I remembered it yefterday, and bought 
 '* you a little Trifle, in Token of it." 
 
 ** lamfure I am much obliged to you, my 
 " Dear," fays my M^Z/z^T. " Pray what is it ? " 
 
 ** You fhall fee what you fhall fee — you 
 " fhall fee what you fhall fee," repeats he 
 very deliberately, proceeding to take the 
 Silver Paper off fundry little Figures, as 
 Peter difengaged them from the Straw — 
 ** The five Senfes, my Dear — the greateft 
 ** Bargain I evef knew." 
 
34 T^he Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe, 
 
 My poor Mother lifted up her Hands 
 and Eyes. " At your old Tricks again, Mr. 
 ** Honey woody' faid fhe softly. 
 
 ** Old Tricks ! " repeated he, with the 
 Air of an injured Man; ** why, thefe are 
 ** the moft exquilite little Gems you ever 
 "saw! A Nobleman could not make a 
 " more delicate Prefent to his Miftrefs. — 
 ** Look at this charming little Creature 
 " ftroking her Lapdog . . . and this high- 
 " bred Toaft taking a Pinch of SnufF, this 
 ** Lady of Quality fipping Tokay, and this 
 " Opera-belle ready to fwoon with Extafy 
 " at Bononcini — where are your Eyes, my 
 "Dear?" 
 
 " Ah, Mr. Honey woody you know the 
 " old Saying, * Pleafe the Eye and plague 
 " the Heart.' " 
 
 " Plague my Heart, then ! " cries he in 
 rifing Dudgeon, " if you are not the moft 
 " hard to pleafe of any Woman alive. 
 " Why, a Peer bade againft me ! " 
 
 " My Dear, I wifh the Lot had been 
 " knocked down to him. Thefe are fuit- 
 
Mrs. Patty & Mrs. Gatty. 35 
 
 " able Toys for a Perfonage of that Con- 
 ** dition, but not for us. Why, now, I 
 ^' venture to fay this Set coft you five and 
 ** twenty Pounds, at the loweft Figure." 
 
 " Five and twenty ? You may add 
 " Something to that. Why, Mrs. Honey- 
 " woody you muft be a Dolt, to know their 
 ** Value no better than that, or elfe you are 
 ** faying fo to incenfe me !" 
 
 " Indeed, my Dear, I have learnt the 
 " World's Value for fuch Things but too 
 " well, by having to pay for them fo often. 
 ^^ Are thefe paid for?" 
 
 " Confuiion, Madam ! Do you mean 
 " to doubt my Honour ? " 
 
 ** Why really, Mr. Honey woody you have 
 ** fo little ready Money except what is 
 ** earned by thefe poor Girls, that I might 
 *' be excufed for afking. And in Truth 
 '* I do not feel it fo much of a Compliment 
 " as I could wifh, to have Prefents bought 
 " to gratify your own Tafte, which you 
 *^ know do not fuit mine, and after all, be 
 '' obliged to pay the Bill." 
 
36 The Old Chelfea Bun-House. 
 
 " This is Language I will ftand from no 
 " Woman." 
 
 " Nay, Mr. Honeywood, juft look at thofe 
 " ShepherdefTes on the Mantel-Shelf, and 
 " fay if it were not fo with them ,. . ." 
 . . . (Smafh went the ShepherdefTes.) 
 
 ** The Senfes fhall go next," cried he, 
 " if you fay another Word ! Don't ding 
 " to me, Patty! They fhall." 
 
 " Dear Father ^ my Mother is not going 
 " to fay another Word. Pray be calm." 
 
 " I proteft . . ." begins my Mother. 
 
 ** Dear Mother y pray don't — Father! 
 " Father ! Pray withdraw — as a Favour!" 
 
 ** What ! be turned out of the Room 
 ^' like a chidden Child ? Your Fat her y 
 " Mrs. Patty ? I'll fit here till Dinner, 
 " I vow. Pruey fetch me the Daily 
 ** Courant, and a clean Pipe." 
 
 " It has not come in yet. Father,'* 
 
 ** Hang it! everything is out of joint! 
 " I fhall go to the Trumpet ^ in Sheer Lane, 
 " and you won't hear of me again, any of 
 " you, for a good While." 
 
Mrs. Patty & Mrs. Gatty. 37 
 
 Prue and I tried to ftay him, but in 
 vain. My Mother was fhedding filent 
 Tears. 
 
 " Heaven forgive me," faid fhe, " if I 
 " fpoke too warmly, or crollly. After his 
 ** Kifs, and all! it feemed fo ungracious to 
 " take it amifs. But I know too well, he 
 ** only ufed our Wedding-day as a BUnd, 
 ** and if he gets into thefe old Ways again, 
 ** he will not merely end his own Days in 
 " Jail, but fend you there too. So that 
 ^* proteft I muft, if I hadn't another Breath 
 *' to draw!'' 
 
 About Noon, Mr. yames, one of Lady 
 Betty s laced Footmen, came to inquire 
 after a Diamond Ring her Ladyfhip faid 
 Gatty muft have dropped on the Grafs. 
 We looked for it carefully, but could not 
 find it. 
 
 ** I dare fay we fhall find that my Lady 
 '' has it at Home all the While," fays Mr. 
 James (which, indeed, proved afterwards 
 to be the Cafe). ** However, if it 
 " fhould not turn up. Woe to poor Mrs. 
 
38 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 ** Gatty ! She will lie under awful Blame 
 " for Heedleffnefs, if not be counted a 
 " Thief. And pray how is Mrs. Gatty this 
 ** Morning ? we Servants are all concerned 
 ** for her, fhe is fo gentle and pretty- 
 " behaved, though fhe does keep us at a 
 *^ Diftance ! I wifh to know on my own 
 ** Account, I affure you, as well as to take 
 " back the News to my Lady, though fhe 
 " does not care much about her, except as 
 ** far as her own Convenience goes." 
 
 ** Mrs. Gatty continues very ill," said 
 I, ^* and has twice been feen by a Phy- 
 " fician, who thinks fhe will take fome 
 " Time to recover. You may as well 
 *' report this to Lady Betty y for the Dodlor 
 ^^ had not paid his fecond Vifit when Mr. 
 " Arbiithnot called." 
 
 "'Mr. Arbuthnot! Why fhould he 
 "call?" fays lAx, James. *' Lady Betty 
 ** would be mad enough to think he took 
 " the Trouble of knowing whether Mrs. 
 ** Gatty were alive or dead." 
 
 ** He called in order to report her 
 
Mrs. Patty & Mrs. Gatty. 39 
 
 '' Condition to Lady Betty ^ said I. " Rely 
 " on it," faid Mr. Jamesy ** he called on 
 " his own Account, for Humanity sake, if 
 " nothing more. He hasn't been near my 
 " Lady to-day, and I had it from his Man 
 *' that he has gone down to dine in the 
 '' Country with the old Earl ; that's Lady 
 ** Grace's Father. Sure, he muft have 
 '' named Lady Grace, not Lady Betty.'' 
 
 There was no more to be faid, and I 
 never encourage mere Tattle; but I 
 thought that good and pretty as Gertrude 
 was, it could be no Advantage to have a 
 Gentleman like IsAv . Ar but knot conctvnmg 
 himfelf about her. 
 
 We are all mighty fond of high Matches ; 
 not confidering that what is a high Match 
 on one Side muft be a low one on the 
 other; and that there is little real Hap- 
 pinefs to be looked for where Eftates are 
 widely unequal. 
 
 I afked Mr. James whether my Lady 
 were not much put out by the Lofs of her 
 Woman's Services. 
 
40 T^he Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe, 
 
 He replied, ** Oh no, fhe keeps one for 
 " Shew and one for Ufe. Mrs. Gattyy 
 ** for as hard a Life as fhe leads, does 
 " Nothing in Comparifon of Madam Pom- 
 ^* poriy who is the real Waiting-Maid of 
 ** the two. But my Lady requires a 
 ** fecond, who fhall have white Hands, 
 ** and do Quantities of fine Work, and be 
 ** at her Beck and bear with her Humours. 
 '* Why fhould fhe not require two Women 
 ** to few in her Ante-Chamber, as well as 
 ** two Men to hang behind her Chariot?" 
 
 Two Women and two Men to wait 
 upon one ! Well ! there mufl needs be 
 different Levels; and maybe the Time will 
 come when Habits of Living fhall be 
 fimpler. I have read, in one of Mr. Fen- 
 wick's Books, of an Englijh King in old 
 Times, that had his Barge rowed by eight 
 other Kings. And of another, that had a 
 Menial whofe fole Office was to lie under 
 the Table, and chafe and cherifh his Ma- 
 jefly's Feet in cold Weather. King Adoni- 
 bezek had threefcore and ten Kings, having 
 
Mrs. Patty & Mrs, Gatty. 41 
 
 their Thumbs and great Toes cut off, that 
 gathered their Meat under his Table. 
 The making one's own Glory lie in the 
 abjed: or lowly State to which we reduce 
 others, always feems to me to relifh of Bar- 
 barifm, however high Degree may carry 
 it off. 
 
Chapter III. 
 'The Houfehold of a Virtuofo. 
 
 Ah ! how forry a Thing is it, when a 
 Man's Abfence from his own Home is felt 
 by all the Houfehold to be a Relief! My 
 poor Father kept his Word, of not coming 
 nigh us, for a good While ; and, could we 
 have been aiTured of his being well, and 
 doing well, there would have been no 
 Alloy to our Comfort under the Depriva- 
 tion, however we might feel afhamed to 
 acknowledge it. 
 
 The unfortunate Habit of buying Things 
 he did not want, had become a Kind of 
 Difeafe, that I verily think he could no 
 longer controul ; but it might have been 
 checked in its firft Beginnings in early Life, 
 
The Houfehold of a Virtuofo, 43 
 
 for it could not have been born with him. 
 How careful fhould People be to fhun the 
 firft Temptations to needlefs and lawlefs 
 Expenditure ! inftead of putting them- 
 felves in the Way of it, as I am free to fay 
 many do, out of mere Wantonnefs. 'Tis 
 they that keep up our Lace-Shops and 
 Audlions, on whofe Spoils unprincipled 
 Dealers grow rich, while honefter People 
 cannot get their Bills paid by them, and fo 
 are ruined. Lady Betty's Man had fcarce 
 left us, when I went to my Father s Ward- 
 robe, to put away fome Linen I had been 
 repairing; when, in one of the Drawers, 
 I came upon five Pairs of red Silk Stock- 
 ings, worth eight or ten Shillings the Pair, 
 that had never been fo much as put on ! 
 He had bought them, years ago, to wear 
 with his Sad-coloured Coat and Scarlet 
 Waiftcoat; but the Fafhion for them had 
 already gone by, and one Pair would have 
 fufficed a Man that needed 'em fo feldom ; 
 whereas, I warrant, he took an Half- 
 Dozen. 
 
44 'Th^ Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 To return to the Matter in Hand. When 
 I carried Mr. Fenwick his Chocolate 
 and Ruflcs, I found him with Writing 
 Implements and Papers all about, hurriedly- 
 affixing his fine Carnelion Seal to a fome- 
 what bulky Packet. I faid, '* Dear Heart, 
 ** Sir, are you prudent, do you think, in 
 *' writing fo much ? " 
 
 " If you cut me off from writing, Mrs. 
 ** Patty,'' fays he, with his pleafant Smile, 
 ** pray what do you leave me ? I am 
 ** already forbidden to talk, I am unable 
 " to walk, and I cannot always be reading. 
 " Oblige me by porting this Packet by a 
 ** fafe Hand ; or flay, here is a Shilling for 
 ** a fpecial MefTenger, if you will find 
 '' one." 
 
 I faid, ^* I will. Sir," and happening to 
 cafl my Eye abfently on the Superfcription 
 of the Packet as I withdrew, I faw that it 
 was addreffed to Mr. Paul Caryl, Will's 
 Coffee-Houfe, which flruck me, as I knew 
 not that he was any Acquaintance of Mr. 
 Fenwick! s. 
 
T^he Houfehold of a Virtuofo. 45 
 
 Mrs. Gatty continued exceeding ill all 
 that Day, her Tongue forked and crimfon- 
 red, her Eyes wandering, and her Delira- 
 tion incefTantly finding Vent in an inco- 
 herent Babble, of which few Words could 
 be made out, fo thick and quick was her 
 Voice. When Dr. Elwes faw her next, 
 he fhook his Head, and laying his Hand 
 kindly on my Shoulder, ^* You are in for 
 " it now, Mrs. Patty" fays he. '' I don't 
 " believe you will take Infecflion, but it 
 ** may be as well to keep yourfelf to your- 
 " felf, and not go below, efpecially to your 
 " younger Sifter. This poor Thing's Fever 
 *' will turn in a few Days ; and in the 
 ** mean Time, you muft continue to be 
 ** what you have begun, by being a good 
 ** Samaritan J*^ I dropped a few Tears to 
 hear him talk thus, but he bade me by no 
 Means to give Way to low Spirits, but take 
 plenty of generous Nouriftiment ; and he 
 would fet them on their Guard below, 
 without frightening them. He alfo faid 
 fomewhat of an hired Nurfe, but I begged 
 
46 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 him not to think of it, unlefs indeed I 
 fhould fall fick myfelf, and then I would 
 rather have one than endanger Prue, 
 
 When he was gone, I kneeled down and 
 prayed ; then rofe with much Compofure 
 and fat down to my Work, which was 
 making a Net to keep the Flies from the 
 Paftry, occafionally laying it afide to render 
 the poor Sufferer what Attention {he re- 
 quired. 
 
 By and by I heard the Tap of my dear 
 Mother^s Walking-Stick, coming up the 
 Stairs ; but I would by no Means let her 
 in, only fpoke to her through the Door, 
 as cheerfully as I could, and bade her take 
 Care of dear Prue and her dear Self. 
 
 The next few Days and Nights were 
 very trying. I obtained a nearer Sight of 
 the dark Valley we muft all pafs through 
 foon or late than I had ever done before. 
 It feemed to throw an entirely different 
 Hue over the Face of natural and fpiritual 
 Things, and to fhew the littlenefs of many 
 Things that are commonly confidered great. 
 
"The Houfehold of a Firtuofo. 47 
 
 and the greatnefs of many that are con- 
 lidered Uttle. 
 
 At length the Fever took a Turn, and 
 poor Gatty opened her Eyes with a Look 
 that had Senfe and Recognition in it. She 
 faid, *'Oh me, how weak I am ! Are you 
 " flill here, dear Mrs. Patty ? How ftrange 
 '' it feems to me to be lying a-bed without 
 *^ hearing my Lady pulling her Bell, and 
 ** rapping the Floor with her Slipper!" 
 
 I bent over her and kiffed her wan Lips, 
 which fhe requited by a thankful Smile, 
 and then dozed off into what I was ready 
 to believe was a reftoring Sleep. I was 
 very defirous not to difturb it, fo fat per- 
 fectly ftill at my Netting, clofe to the open 
 Window, through which the warm Sum- 
 mer Air came refrefhingly, without waving 
 the white Curtains of the Bed. Mr. 
 Fenwick's Window, which was alfo open, 
 was immediately below ; and through it I 
 could hear Voices, and what they were 
 faying. I fhould remark that I afterwards 
 learnt from Prue^ that, from the Time of 
 
48 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 my confining myfelf above Stairs, Mr. 
 Fenwicky upon whom it had been her Por- 
 tion to wait, had been uncommon reftlefs 
 and fidgetty. 
 
 "*He fo feldom received a Vifitor, that I 
 was furprifed to hear a Man's Voice in his 
 Chamber. Nor did I at firft think I had 
 ever heard it before. 
 
 Prue had probably announced the Name 
 without its reaching me; for the firft Ex- 
 clamation I heard was from Mr. Fenwick, 
 who appeared to ftart from the Window- 
 Seat, with, '* Sir ! — This Condefcenfion con- 
 " fers both Honour and Pleafure ! " 
 
 " Don't name it," faid the other eafily, 
 ** the Pleafure is mine. I came to fee the 
 '* ingenious Madman to whom I was.indebted 
 ** for the Letter and the Manufcript." 
 
 ** Madman?" repeated Mr. Fenwick, 
 deprecatingly. 
 
 ** Yes, Madman," reiterated the other, 
 ^*for who, in his Senfes, would addrefs a 
 ** Poem to a Patron almoft as pennilefs as 
 ^^himfelf?" 
 
'The Houfehold of a Virtuofo. 49 
 
 " Sir, there are other Claims to Reve- 
 " rence," replied Mr. Fenwick, ** beiides 
 '' thofe of Wealth." 
 
 " Truly I hope fo/' replied his Vifitor, 
 " but I don't know that they are germane 
 " to the prefent Queftion. You write a 
 " Poem; you want a Meccenas; and inflead 
 *' of addreffing a laudatory Dedication to 
 ** fome Peer of Mark and Magnitude, you 
 " light upon a poor Brother Witling and 
 ** Authorling like myfelf." 
 
 '' Your Courtefy leffens not the Diftance 
 ** between us," faid Mr. Fenwick ; ** you 
 " are a recognifed Wit and fuccefsful Man 
 '' of Letters ; I only a poor Afpirant." 
 
 " Aye, Man, but Wits don't make one 
 ** another's Fortunes. S/iak/peare, Spenfer^ 
 " and yonfon^ did not dedicate to one 
 ** another. Shakfpeare had his Southamp- 
 ** /d?;2 ; Spenfer his Raleigh y Sidney y Hatton, 
 '* Burleigh y a whole Cloud or Galaxy of 
 ** Sponfors." 
 
 " There's fomething wrong and humili- 
 '* ating in the Syftem," faid Mr. Fenwick. 
 
5© T!he Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 " Something rotten in the State of 
 ^'Denmark?'' faid the other. "Truly 
 " there is ! Shakfpeare may have un- 
 " feignedly admired Southampton and 
 " Spenfer Sidney ; but the relation between 
 ** Patron and Client has degenerated into 
 ** Something unworthy of free, upright 
 *' Minds. Does my Thought jump with 
 "yours?** 
 
 " It does, I confefs to you. I am poor ; 
 " moft of our Fraternity are. I am cut 
 " off from my profeffional Duties, and 
 " have employed a Seafon of Leifure, and 
 " cheated fome Hours of Languor, by 
 '* what, it muft be owned, I compofed for 
 " downright Pleafure rather than for Gain. 
 " Yet a Man does not willingly let his 
 *' cheriihed Thoughts die.'' 
 
 " Certainly not." 
 
 " Therefore I afpired to fee mine in 
 " Print ; infcribed not to fome bloated 
 " Peer, more competent to decide on the 
 " Merits of a Pipe of Bordeaux than of 
 "an Ode by Horace, but to fome one 
 
'The Houfehold of a Virtuofo. 51 
 
 ** whofe Genius and turn of Thought I 
 " fincerely admired." 
 
 *' Mr. Fenwicky have you a private For- 
 *^tune?" 
 
 " Oh no. Sir . . . only a poor Curacy 
 ** of fifty Pounds a Year." 
 
 *' Your Taftes are expenfive, let me 
 " tell you, for a poor Man. Had you 
 ** v^rit your Dedication to my Lord Earl- 
 ^^ Jloke inftead of to me, he might have 
 " given you twenty Pounds ! " 
 
 ** I would rather have burned my 
 '' Poem." 
 
 '^ Sir Charles S eft on might have given 
 **you thirty." 
 
 *' But had I faid to him what I have faid 
 ** to you, it would have been a Lie." 
 
 " Pooh ! you are too nice. Why, Man, 
 " I have writ Dedications myfelf. I know 
 ** the Market- Value of thefe Things. 
 " Moreover, the Bookfellers will laugh at 
 " you, and probably will refufe to print." 
 
 " Well, Sir, no great Harm done ; I 
 " fhall be disappointed, but not heart- 
 
52 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 ** broken. Happy for me, I am not writ- 
 " ing for Bread." 
 
 " Hark ye, Mr. Fenwick — " 
 
 And I could not catch the Senfe nor 
 Connexion of what followed. Mr. Caryl 
 feemed to lead away quite from the Sub- 
 jedl in Hand to College Matters, and afking 
 Mr. Fenwick's Opinion about this and 
 t'other Poet; for fuch I took 'em to be, 
 becaufe they got upon fuch Names as 
 Lucretius and Catullusy and others ending 
 in usy the which I had ktn tagged to the 
 Mottoes of the Tatler and Spectator. And 
 they feemed to talk over their Merits, and 
 declare their own Opinions of them, 
 which did not agree, becaufe I heard Mr. 
 Caryl laugh at Mr. Fenwick for battling fo 
 ftoutly with his Patron, Then they got 
 on to Greek Play- Writers, I think, and 
 feemed more of a Mind, and to warm 
 mightily and fpout favourite Paflages, each 
 inciting and kindling the other, fo that 
 'twas quite pleafant to hear 'em, even with- 
 out underftanding a Word of what they 
 
"The Houfehold of a Vtrtuofo, 53 
 
 were faying ; and I was glad Mr. Fenwick 
 had Company fo much to his Mind, that 
 would make the Morning fly away fo fafl ; 
 and only hoped he might not over-exert 
 himfelf, and fuff'er for it afterwards. Then 
 I fell to thinking that if fuch were his 
 Taftes and Capacities, what a wide, wide 
 Barrier there mufl be between his culti- 
 vated Mind and our uncultivated Minds, 
 and how trite and poor mufl feem to him 
 the very beft Remarks that we could offer! 
 And while I was purfuing this Thought, 
 and forgetting to hearken to their Dif- 
 courfe, I was recalled to it all at once by 
 hearing Mr. Caryl fay, 
 
 ** This won't do; I mufl be off. Good 
 *^Day, Sir!" 
 
 And, in fhaking Hands with Mr. Fen- 
 wicky I fuppofe he endeavoured to leave a 
 Purfe in his Hand ; for I heard Mr. Fen- 
 wick quite energetically fay, 
 
 " Oh no ! No indeed ! I cannot think 
 ''of it for a Moment! It mufl not be 
 ''fo!" 
 
54 T^he Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 And the other; " Nay, but it mujl be fo ! 
 " For once, you muft flatter my Vanity by 
 *^ letting me fancy myfelf a Lord Earl- 
 ''ftoker 
 
 " That would, on the contrary, be to 
 '* humble your Vanity. In a Word, Sir, I 
 "cannot! you mufl grant me my Pride, 
 " inflead of pretending to gratify your 
 " Vanity ; and my Pride is to be a free 
 " Man, and fpeak the Truth unpaid." 
 
 ** Well, you are an Eccentricity. I'm 
 ** afraid you won't find it anfwer in the 
 **long Run. I'll tell you what I'll do; 
 " for I muJl do Something. Cave will 
 "flout at the very idea of publifhing 
 " Poems with such a Dedication as yours ; 
 " permit me the Ufe of your Manufcript 
 " for a Day or two. I'll read a Pafl^age 
 *^ of it here and there at my Coff'ee-Houfe, 
 " and ditto at Dodfley'sy fing its Praifes, 
 " and make a Myfl:ery of its Author ; 
 " inflead of off'ering it him for Publication, 
 " I'll wait till he makes Advances to me. 
 " See if that won't do ! " 
 
'The Houfehold of a Virtuofo. 55 
 
 ** Mr. Caryl, you are making me your 
 " Slave — I mean, your Debtor, for Life!" 
 
 " Why, a Debtor is a fort of Slave to 
 ** his Creditor, you free Man ! See how 
 "foon you are chained! However, don't 
 " let us reckon our Chickens before they 
 " are hatched. The Plan may take, or 
 " may fail. Farewell/' 
 
 And I heard him lightly run down 
 Stairs; and looking foftly out of my 
 Window, I could fee Mr. Fenwick leaning 
 on his Window-Sill, his Cheek refting on 
 his Hand, in profound and, I doubt not, 
 blifsful Reverie. Perhaps a Man more 
 peacefully happy than he was at that 
 Moment did not exift. 
 
Chapter IV, 
 
 l^he Chinefe Parlour, 
 
 Mrs. Gattfs Fever having now turned, 
 'tis incredible the Gratitude fhe expreffed 
 to me for all my Care of her during the 
 courfe of it. I may fay that during the 
 whole Term, the only Concern Lady 
 Betty ihewed whether fhe were likely to 
 fink or fwim, was conveyed in a fingle 
 MefTage, and that of the briefefl; to 
 know, was fhe about yet? a likely Thing, 
 when the Girl was at that Moment in a 
 Fever-Lethargy ! Gatty took it mighty 
 little to Heart, I muft fay for her, when 
 fhe learned how little Recolled:ion of her 
 had been intimated ; and fhe faid, with a 
 
The Chinefe Parlour. 57 
 
 Smile, {he was ready to wifh they fhould 
 forget her altogether, fo content was fhe to 
 remain, and fo loth to go back. 
 
 And now her Appetite mended apace, 
 and fhe began to regain Colour and Flefh, 
 and the Chamber was fumigated, and fhe 
 had a warm Bath, and Dr. Elwes pro- 
 nounced that fhe might go below with 
 Safety to herfelf and others. We refolved 
 to make a little Feflival of it, and afked 
 him to fup with us, which he cheerfully 
 confented to ; and I had Pleasure in comb- 
 ing out Gattys long fine Hair, which fhe 
 was yet unequal to doing herfelf, and ar- 
 ranging her Drefs with fome Air of Smart- 
 nefs. 
 
 After this, fhe reclined in the Arm-Chair 
 by the Window, to repofe herfelf a little 
 before fhe went down Stairs. Meanwhile, 
 I tended a Rofe that grew in a Pot that 
 flood in the Window-Sill, and had jufl 
 finifhed watering it, when, as Ill-Luck would 
 have it, the Water, filtering too quickly 
 through the Pot, descended copioufly on 
 
58 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 fome one who had got his Head out of 
 the Window beneath. 
 
 ** Hallo ! Who's that, giving me a 
 ** Shower-Bath?" cries Mr, Fenwick ; at 
 the firft Sound of whofe Voice I drew 
 my Head in quickly, and we both fell a 
 laughing. 
 
 *' Don't let us anfwer," fays Gatty, 
 
 " Let us both put our Heads out at 
 '' the fame Moment/' faid I, '^ and then 
 ** he won't know which it was." 
 
 It was a pert Thing to do, but we were 
 just then in cheerful Spirits ; so we looked 
 out, without looking down, quite uncon- 
 cernedly. 
 
 " I am glad to fee you fo much better, 
 *' Mrs. Gatty,'' said Mr. Fenwick; ** poor 
 " Mrs. Patty, though, looks all the worfe 
 " for her ihutting up. You remind me 
 ** of the two Damfels in Don ^ixote, 
 ** looking through the Inn-Casement, and 
 *' plotting Mifchief " 
 
 " Oh no. Sir," fays Gatty, fo foftly 
 that I only heard her, and immediately 
 
The Chinefe Far lour. 59 
 
 withdrawing and fitting down. I did the 
 fame, actuated by that namelefs Feeling 
 which often tells Women what is feemly 
 and becoming for them to do, without 
 enabling them to fay why. 
 
 Mrs. Gatty fhyly begged me to go down 
 firft, becaufe fhe faid my Mother and Sifter 
 would be glad to fee me ; which indeed 
 they were. Prue had fet out our little 
 Parlour in the prettied Way imaginable. — 
 My Father's Arm- Chair was placed for 
 Gatty at the little Gothic Window wreathed 
 with Jeflamine ; my Mother s Chair was 
 in its accuftomed Place. This Room was 
 hung with a very expenfive Chinefe Paper, 
 that had coft my Father I am afraid to fay 
 how much per Yard, and which was 
 covered with Groups of Chinefe Figures 
 illuftrating the Manners and Cuftoms of 
 that Empire, depicfled with extraordinary 
 Livelinefs and Verifimilitude ; no two 
 Groups alike. This Paper-hanging had 
 been Prue's and my Pifture-Gallery for 
 many a Year ; and when we were Chil- 
 
6o The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 dren, and my Father had it by him in 
 Pieces, we had needed no other Enter- 
 tainment on rainy Days ; preventing the 
 long Rolls from curling up by fetting a 
 Caddy on one End, and a Work-Box on 
 the other. Correfponding with this Paper 
 were fundry JofTes and Jars, much fitter 
 for Lady Betty than for us; and the 
 Mantel-Shelf was decorated with Nofegays 
 of frefh Flowers ; my Mother having put 
 the Five Senfes carefully away, for Fear 
 they fhould fliare the Fate of the Shepherd- 
 efles. As for the Tea-Table, never was 
 fuch a Spread ! Fancy-Bread, Buns, and 
 Cakes of all Defcriptions, cold Fowl, 
 marbled Veal, delicate Slices of pink Ham, 
 and a fuperb Difli of ripe Grapes. Dear 
 Pruey whom I had not feen for fome 
 Days, was blooming with Health and 
 Sprightlinefs. She had put on a pretty 
 chintz Muflin over her Pea-green filk 
 Petticoat, with a Knot or two of pale 
 pink Ribbon to her Stomacher, and her 
 befl: Muflin Apron worked with Panfies 
 
The Chinefe Parlour. 6i 
 
 and Sweet-Peas. A Sweet-Pea flie was 
 herfelf ! fo brightly, delicately tinted with 
 Colour ! fo pliant, flim, and debonnaire ! 
 When we were little Girls, kind Dr. 
 Elwes had been wont to fay we were as 
 like as two Peas, — two Sweet-Peas ; but 
 fomehow, I fell oiF afterwards, loft my 
 Bloom and Frefhnefs, grew lanky and 
 angular, while Prues fcarlet Lips and 
 carmine Cheeks, and violet-blue Eyes, 
 grew brighter and deeper every Day; only 
 (he flopped growing too foon, and, but 
 for her neat Make, would have been too 
 round. 
 
 Well, I went up for Mrs. Gatty^ and 
 entering fomewhat too foftly, furprifed her 
 on her Knees. She flightly coloured as 
 fhe rofe, but faid Nothing, and putting 
 her Arm within mine, went down Stairs ; 
 having doubtleflly vented her Gratitude 
 for late Mercies received, in pious Ejacu- 
 lation, which made me love her all the 
 better. My Mother's and Sifter's Reception 
 of her was moft cordial, to which fhe 
 
62 "The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 refponded with the utmoft Cheerfulnefs ; 
 and we vied with one another in Alacrity 
 in conducfling her to her Seat, and bolftering 
 her up in it. ** Of courfe, you know," 
 faid I to Prudence y ** that Dr. Elwes is 
 going to join us by and by." — ^* Oh, yes," 
 fays fhe, **and Mr. Fenwick too;" which 
 ftartled me a little, and made me caft a 
 furtive Glance at myfelf in a little oval 
 Mirrour in a Shell-work Frame that hung 
 by the Window. The View was not 
 fatisfad:ory ; in dreffing Gertrude^ I had 
 neglecfted bellowing Pains on myfelf: 
 befides, my wan Look and heavy Eyes 
 were what no Pains could remedy. I 
 fuppreffed a little Sigh, and looked at 
 Gatty, Pale as (he yet was, even Prue^s 
 Beauty faded before hers, into the buxom 
 Bloom of a Milkmaid. Gertrude's Love- 
 linefs was independent of red and white, 
 though the delicate Muflin Kerchief over 
 her Neck was not purer than the lily 
 Throat it enclofed. For Convenience fake, 
 I had tied her abundant Hair in a Club 
 
T^he Chinefe Parlour. 63 
 
 behind, low down on the Poll, with a 
 broad black Ribband ; her Gown was of 
 the plaineft mourning Stuff; yet there fhe 
 fate, an enthroned Queen for Beauty in its 
 Glory, without being in the leaft confcious 
 of it. Of courfe. Angels are beautiful with- 
 out being vain; I think G^//y was as removed 
 from Vanity as an Angel, and almoft as 
 beautiful. There was a Dignity, Repofe, 
 and Thought about her, that made you 
 conclude her Mind to be fet upon Some- 
 thing high, even without her fpeaking a 
 Word. As all this ftruck me, I felt in- 
 clined to flip away and smarten myfelf; 
 but then thought, why fhould I ? Tm 
 trim and neat, though neither pretty nor 
 gay; to aim at matching Gatty would be 
 futile ; and as for looking wan, why, /hes 
 my Reward ; for, in nursing her into Health, 
 I have neglected my own. 
 
 So I remained as I was ; and prefently 
 came down Mr. Fenwick, who. Prudence 
 told me, had been quite another Man fince 
 Mr. CaryFs Vifit. Clofe on his Heels 
 
64 "The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 followed Dr. Elwesy in his beft Wig and 
 Ruffles, with a Flower in his Button-Hole; 
 fo our gala Preparations were by no Means 
 in vain. Then our little Feaft began : 
 with two such Men at Table, 'twould 
 have been furprifing if good Converfation 
 had been wanting, and every one feemed 
 in happy Tune. As for the Doctor, he 
 was quite on the merry Pin, praifed the 
 Cream, Butter, and Cakes, partook of 
 Everything, and complimented us hand- 
 fomely all round. I believe my dear Mo- 
 ther had not had fuch a tranquilly pleafant 
 Evening for many a Day. I prefided at 
 the Tea-Board, which was fupplied with 
 fairy-like Cups without Handles, of real 
 China, and the Tea-Caddy was real Chinese 
 too, one of my poor Father's Purchafes. 
 Prue tripped off now and then into the 
 Shop; but our Man Peter was on Duty 
 there, as well as Saunders's Daughter, fo 
 that we could leave the Bufinefs pretty 
 fafely in their Charge. 
 
 All at once enters Nanny Saunders from 
 
The Chinefe Parlour. 65 
 
 the Shop, with a Face as red as Currant- 
 Jelly; and, ** Sir, — Mr, Fenwickf" fays 
 fhe, " here's a Gentleman of Quality 
 "inquiring for you!" and without more 
 ado, ufhers Mr. Paul Caryl in upon us. 
 
 For my Part, I felt greatly confufed ; 
 the reft expreffed by their Looks fimple 
 Surprife, all except Mr. Fenwicky who, up- 
 fetting his Cup (which luckily was empty) 
 in his Hurry to rife, and colouring very 
 red, haftened to meet his Gueft. 
 
 " Faith, I find you pleafantly engaged, 
 " Sir ! '' were the eafy, lively Words firft 
 fpoken by our Man of Fafhion. " Don't 
 " let me difturb any one, pray. — May I 
 " requeft to be prefented to the Ladies ? " 
 And he bowed upon my Mother's Hand as 
 if fhe had been a Duchefs, faluted Prue 
 and me more diftantly, and flood at paufe 
 for a Moment when he came to Gatty, 
 then bowed low, noticed the Doctor, and 
 then turned to Mr. Fenwick. 
 
 ** I've good News for you," faid he 
 gaily, " fo thought I would bring it my- 
 
66 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 " felf. I know how I fhould have Hked 
 ** it, had I been in your Place. But fup- 
 ** pofe we poftpone it a Httle, and enjoy 
 *' the Goods the Gods provide us. Why 
 ** fhould we forget the univerfal Doom of 
 " Man — * Fruges confumere nati' ? Ha, 
 *^Sir?'' 
 
 I mutely offered him a Difh of Tea, 
 which he immediately accepted ; and, as 
 he fipped it, he addreffed fome trifling 
 Remark to my Mother, who cheerfully 
 replied. Many Perfons would have been 
 completely fluttered by the Entry of an 
 unexpedied Guefl, of a Grade fo removed 
 from their own ; but my Mother never 
 lofl her Self-PofTefTion or Self-Refped:; 
 which on this Occafion was fo influential 
 on all around her, that we almofl imme- 
 diately regained our Eafe, and became as 
 cheerful and chatty as we had been before. 
 
 *^ Upon my Life, this is a very pleafant 
 '* little Interlude!" cried Mr. Caryl, 
 " What a lucky Fellow I am ! Always 
 " falling on my Legs ! Here, now, have 
 
The Chinefe Parlour, 67 
 
 " I dropped into the midft of a moft 
 " agreeable little Tea-Party, and am made 
 *' welcome to all thefe good Things as if 
 ** my Prefence were no Intrufion ! " 
 
 " Don't name Intrufion, Sir," fays my 
 Mother. 
 
 " But I muji name it. Madam! Moft 
 ^^ abominable Intrufion! Hum, — hum, — 
 *^ I can't help thinking I have feen that 
 " Lady's Face before " — with his Eyes 
 full upon Gatty. 
 
 ** The Day Lady Betty was here. Sir." 
 
 " Blefs my Soul, yes ! I remember all 
 " about it now. Moft unlucky occur- 
 " rence ! You're quite recovered. Ma'am, 
 ^ahope?" 
 
 And he feemed all at once to refled:, 
 that, whereas he had been here on a pre- 
 vious Occafion with my Ladyy he was now 
 taking Tea with the Lady's Maid. Too 
 well-bred to behave fupercilioufly, he 
 neverthelefs faid not another Syllable to 
 Gattyy but kept eyeing her continually 
 like a fine Pifture. For her Part, Gatty 
 
68 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 looked fo little towards him, that I believe 
 fhe was quite unconfcious of the Attention. 
 A Phyfician is fit Company for Anybody ; 
 and Dr. Ehves put fome Queftion about 
 the News of the Day, which foon led to 
 general and fluent Converfation. Mr. 
 Caryl was evidently not aiming to fhine, 
 as when at Lady Betty's Table. I cannot 
 recal one witty Thing that he faid ; but, 
 on the other Hand, there was a racy, 
 genial flow of fmall Talk, in which all 
 could take their Share, and no one felt 
 diftanced or outfhone, that was even better 
 than Bon-mot or Repartee. Mr. Fenwick 
 was, I believe, on the Tenter-Hooks, at 
 firfl, for Mr. Caryl's good News; but foon 
 making out that it was not immediately 
 forthcoming, he gave himfelf up to the En- 
 joyment of the palling Moment. Ere Tea 
 was well over, they fell to fome amufing 
 Play upon Words, that muft be fhown upon 
 Paper. Writing Implements were imme- 
 diately found Room for ; and from one 
 ingenious Puzzle to another they went on. 
 
T^he Chinefe Parlour. 69 
 
 now giving us Anagrams to make out, 
 now fending round Quips and Queries that 
 each was to anfwer in their own Fafhion, 
 till Dodlor Elwes exclaimed, ** Oh, Brag 
 " and Loo ! how well we can do without 
 " you ! " 
 
 I whifpered to him foftly, *' Shall I fill 
 " your Pipe, Sir ?" 
 
 " No ! " returns he, with equal Quiet- 
 nefs, ** I meant to have had one, but 
 " thefe young Sparks keep me awake 
 *' without it. They 're monftrous good 
 " Company, Mrs. Patty J' 
 
 And fo we went on as merry as Crickets, 
 till I began to think of two Things at 
 once ; that is to fay, of two Dozen — the 
 Anagram before me — and Saufage Rolls, 
 Oyfter Patties, ftewed Sweetbreads, and 
 fo forth for Supper; and to be fenfible 
 that I muft go and look after them. Juft 
 then, I noticed a diftreifed look crofs Prues 
 Face at fome little Attention Mr. Fenwick 
 paid Mrs. Gatty. " Dear me, how foolifh 
 ** of you, Prue^' thought I, ** to be vexed 
 
70 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe, 
 
 *' by Anything like that ! Why, he cares 
 '' very little about youy and Nothing at all 
 '' for her !'' And, ftealing from my Seat, 
 I was about to withdraw quietly to the 
 Kitchen, when fuddenly the Parlour-Door 
 flies wide open, and on the Threfliold ftands 
 my poor Father, with a Face as red as 
 his Waiftcoat, who after giving an amazed 
 Glance round about him, exclaims, 
 
 " Hoity-toity ! Who are all thefe young 
 " Fellows, amufmg themfelves in my Chinefe 
 *' Parlour?" 
 
 I thought Mr. Caryl would have gone 
 into Fits with fuppreflid Laughter. '* Sir," 
 faid he, advancing and bowing, *' I as the 
 *^ chief Intruder, beg to introduce myfelf 
 '' by the Name of Mr. Paul Caryl, of the 
 ** Inner Temple, at your Service ; and this 
 *' is my Friend and your Lodger, Mr. Fen- 
 ** wick, whom I have made a Call upon. 
 *^ The other Gentleman, you will perceive, 
 *' is your Family Phyfician." 
 
 " You feem all monftrous merry and 
 ** mightily at Home with one another," 
 
The Chinefe Parlour. 71 
 
 fays my Father y who evidently had, as was 
 but too common, taken a Uttle too much ; 
 *^ I almoft feem hke an Interloper in my 
 *' own Houfe ; however, I don't care if I 
 '^ have a cheerful Glafs with you to im- 
 " prove our Acquaintance. Hallo ! where's 
 " my Chair gone ? I had like to have fat 
 " down upon the Floor." 
 
 *' Here, Sir," faid Gatty^ haftily rifing. 
 
 " Here, Sir ? and who are yoUy Madam ? 
 ** I don't remember ever to have feen your 
 ** Face before ; not an ugly one, neither! 
 " Pray, are you Mrs. Paul Caryl?'' 
 
 "Oh no. Sir!" 
 
 " Who then ? Mrs. . . . Mrs. ... I 
 " fhall forget my own Name next ; hum ! 
 *^ Hallo ! Why, where are my Senfes ?" 
 
 Mr. Caryl and Mr. Fenwick looked at 
 him in Amazement ; while we knew what 
 he miffed, well enough. 
 
 " Where are they ? " reiterated he, raif- 
 ing his Voice very loud, and ftamping the 
 Floor. "Woman!" addreffing my Mot her y 
 " where, I fay, are my Five Senfes?" 
 
72 rhe Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 ^^ Dear Mr. Honeywood, they're fafe in 
 '' the China Cupboard/' began my Mother ^ 
 which fet Mr. Caryl off in an inextinguifli- 
 able Fit of Laughter. 
 
 '' Are thefe your Manners, Sir ? " cries 
 my Father, fiercely turning upon him. 
 
 '* 'Pon my Honour, I'm afhamed of 
 '* them," fays Mr. Caryl, covering his Face 
 in his Cambric Handkerchief. 
 
 '* Where are my Senfes, I fay?" re- 
 commences my Father; on which Mr. 
 Caryl, unable to ftand it any longer, rufhes 
 into the Shop, and Mr. Fenwick after him. 
 There we hear them, while my poor Fa- 
 ther ftill continues raging, giving way to 
 frefli Peals of Laughter, which they vainly 
 attempt to fmother ; and at length Mr. 
 Caryl departs, without returning to wifh 
 us good bye ; and Dr. Elwes fhortly goes 
 alfo, giving us knowing Looks, and advif- 
 ing Gatty and me to go immediately to 
 Bed. And fo ended the Evening. 
 
Chapter V. 
 
 Two Poets under a Dairy-Window, 
 
 Next Morning, my Father at his Break- 
 faft queftioned us ftraitly as to what had 
 been going on during his Abfence, and 
 feemed fcarcely to know whether to take 
 Offence at it or not. The receiving and 
 nurfing a Stranger under Mrs. Gattys Cir- 
 cumftances would have been Something 
 to cavil at ; but then ihe was own Woman 
 to Lady Betty y for whom, though he only 
 knew her in Public, he entertained great 
 Resped:; and befides, Mrs. Gatty was a 
 fine Woman, which of itfelf was a Letter 
 of Recommendation to him. Moreover, 
 fhe fat by all the While, knitting a White 
 
74 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 Silk Mitten; fo that he could not, for 
 Manners, fpeak againft her in her Hearing ; 
 and my Father ^ when himfelf, was a well- 
 mannered Man. So he hemmed once or 
 twice, and fwallowed any Objedlions he 
 might have made, had we been by our- 
 felves; and then, to turn the Subjed:, " Mrs. 
 '' Gattjy' fays he, '' that Mitten will be- 
 ** come your Hand well ; but moft other 
 ^' Women's Fingers, coming out of it, 
 " would look like Radifhes. And now, 
 " let us clear Decks, and make way for 
 ** the Carpenters." 
 
 *' The Carpenters, Father V repeated 
 Prue and I in a breath. 
 
 *^ Aye, there are a couple of Fellows 
 '* coming down to put up two little Shelves 
 *' and Brackets, for fome little Matters that 
 ^^ the Mantel-Piece is too fhallow for. I 
 *^ bespoke the Men overnight, and brought 
 *^ the Toys in with me. Here, Peter, you 
 ** Knave, bring them in." 
 
 Where was the Ufe of faying Anything ? 
 
 " Now," fays he, laughing as he un- 
 
Two Poets under a Dairy -Window, 75 
 
 ** packed them, *' here are the comicalleft 
 ^* Things you ever faw in your life ; and fo 
 ^^ you'll fay, Mrs. Gatty, Look here — a 
 *^ rural Piece in Cherry- Wood Carving, 
 ^* Farm- Yard and Farm-Houfe ; a Beggar 
 *^ approaching the Door. I wind it up be- 
 " hind, like a Time-Piece. Now, mark 
 ^* you, the Fun of the Thing ! The Beg- 
 *^ gar advances — out flies a MaftiiF from 
 *^ the Houfe, and furioufly attacks him ! ha, 
 '' ha, ha ! 
 
 " Now, look at this other, its Com- 
 *' panion ; a lone Houfe in the Country ; 
 ** Time, Peep of Day. ... A Thief getting 
 ** in at a Firft-Floor Window, by Means 
 ** of a Ladder . . . Hodge, coming out of 
 *^ the Barn, with a Pitchfork, alTails him 
 " from behind, — you fhall fee how, as foon 
 ** as I have wound it up. Now then ! ho ! 
 ** ho ! ho ! fee how he digs into him." 
 
 Gatty burft into fuch an irrepreffible 
 Fit of pretty Laughter, that my Father 
 was her fworn Friend from that Moment ; 
 while Prue and I, influenced by mixed 
 
76 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 Feelings of Vexation and Amufement, 
 laughed with more Conftraint. 
 
 While my Father was making Hodge 
 aflail the Marauder again and again, and 
 each Time burfting into frefh Peals of 
 Merriment, enters to him Peter^ with a 
 Paper in his Hand, a Glance at which 
 changed my Father's Note in an Inftant. 
 
 ** Hark ye, Peter!'' fays he; "why, 
 " your Face is a Yard long! What's your 
 ** Name, Man ? your Sirname, I mean." 
 
 " Greaves is my Sirname, Sir — Peter 
 " Greaves." 
 
 " Peter Grievous, it fhould ha' been! 
 " Peter Grievous-had-a-Cat ! And your 
 " Creft, a Cat proper, with the Motto, 
 " ' When I'm pleafed, I purr!' But this 
 " is no purring Matter, Peter; tell the 
 " Fellow who brought this Paper, that 
 " I'm not at Home — I fha'n't be, by the 
 ** Time you get to him." 
 
 And, fnatching up his Hat, he haftily 
 made off through the Glafs-Door into the 
 Garden; and thence, no Doubt, to his 
 
Two Poets under a T> airy -Window, jj 
 
 Crony, Don Salteroy for whom, indeed, he 
 had fuch a profound Admiration, that I 
 believe no Title of Honour could have 
 been conferred on himfelf that he v^ould 
 have liked half as vs^ell as that of Don 
 Honeywood-o. When he was gone, Prue 
 and I locked up the new Purchafes, and 
 fent away the Carpenters, telling them to 
 await future Orders ; and Gatty wrote a 
 Billet to Lady Betty , to acquaint her with 
 her Amendment, and requeft Dirediions 
 concerning her Return. Meanwhile, I 
 was carrying up Mr. Fenwick's Chocolate, 
 when Prue, meeting me on the Stairs, faid, 
 '' Oh, I meant to have faved you that 
 '' Trouble, dear Patty.'' 
 
 " Oh," I replied, *^ I am able to return 
 '* to all my little Duties now ; you have 
 '* too long worked for both." 
 
 '' I don't think of that," replied fhe, 
 with a little Difappointment in her Air; 
 "Mr. Fenwick has got ufed to me now, 
 " and I thought you would be better for 
 " a little Reft.'^ 
 
78 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe, 
 
 ^* Ah, Prudence, Prudence ! " thought I, 
 as I purfued my Way, '^ this reminds 
 " me of tht paffing Shade on your Brow 
 '^ Yefterday Evening, when he was at- 
 " tending to Mrs. Gatty, Beware of play- 
 ** ing, Hke a Moth, round a Candle, my dear 
 *^ Httle Sifter, for it will lead to no good." 
 
 When I went in, Mr. Fenwick looked 
 round brilkly from his Writing-Table, 
 with a Smile, exclaiming, 
 
 '* Why, I have been expedling — oh ! is 
 ** it you, Mrs. Patty? (with a fcarcely 
 '' perceptible Change in his Voice) ; I have 
 " been expecting my Chocolate, I was going 
 " to fay, this Half-Hour or more; but pray 
 ^* don't think me impatient — Fm fure I 
 *^ ought not to be fo hungry, confidering 
 " how you feafted me laft Night. 'Tis a 
 " Sign of returning Health, I fuppofe." 
 
 *' I fervently hope it may be. Sir," faid 
 I. " Moft likely it is. I am fure every 
 ** Thing in the Way of Nourifhment this 
 *^ Houfe contains is at your Service." 
 
 *^ Thank you, thank you," faid he. 
 
Two Poets under a Dairy -Window, 79 
 
 " Yes, I really believe I am getting well — 
 **have turned the Corner, in Fact; and 
 ** when I have taken this nice Chocolate, 
 ** I think I fhall go and bafk in the Sun 
 *' under thofe Elm-Trees yonder/' 
 
 '^ Then I will put a Cufhion for you, 
 " Sir, on the Garden-Seat, and a Footftool 
 " on the Grafs before it ; for indeed you 
 " muft not get chilled !" 
 
 ** Nay, you will coddle me too much — 
 ** you have made me too luxurious a Fel- 
 " low already. You don't fuppofe I had 
 " all thefe Vagaries in Shore ditch, do you ? 
 '' I want to be there again, though!— I 
 " long to return to my poor People ; only, 
 ^^ I don't know that my Voice is yet ftrong 
 ^^ enough, either for Preaching or Reading. 
 " I muft make Trial of it, Mrs. Patty; 
 " I muft begin by fmall Degrees. I was 
 ** thinking, that if you happened to be by 
 " yourfelves this Evening, it might not be 
 " unagreeable to you for me to come down 
 ** and read to you all for a little While — 
 *^juft for Practice." 
 
8o The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 ** By ourfelves. Sir? — My Father may 
 " or may not be at Home ; we are unlikely 
 " to have any one elfe; and I am fure your 
 ^^ Plan will be a very delightful one to 
 " ourfelves." 
 
 " Very well ; we will wait till the Time 
 '* comes, then, to fee if it be convenient. 
 ** You are all well this Morning, I hope ? 
 " Your Mother, and Sijiery and Mrs. 
 '' GattyV' 
 
 " All well, I kindly thank you. Sir. — 
 ** I hear myfelf called ... I believe I am 
 *' wanted in the Shop." 
 
 I made ufe of the firft fpare Moment, 
 to run and place the Footftool and Cufhion 
 under the Elms, and then returned to my 
 Poft behind the Counter. In the courfe 
 of the Afternoon, enters Mr. Caryl, who 
 falutes me with eafy Urbanity. 
 
 *^ Good Morning, Ma'am," fays he; 
 ^' pray, is Mr. Fenwick within ? " 
 
 ** I believe. Sir, he is fitting under the 
 " Elms in our little Pleafure-Ground," 
 laid I " I ; will fhow you the Way." 
 
Two Poets under a "D airy -Window. 8i 
 
 *^ There's no Need; I know it already/' 
 fays he. " Pray, don't trouble your- 
 -felf.'^ 
 
 However, I knew what were Manners. 
 
 *^ Ha!" faid he, as we paffed through 
 the Parlour, which happened to be vacant, 
 '* what a pleafant Evening we had in this 
 '^ Room laft Night, and how funnily it 
 *^ ended ! — Pray, Ma'am, has the Gentle- 
 " man yet found his five Senfes?" 
 
 And I faw he was brimful of Mirth, 
 that was ready to explode at the mereft 
 Word. 
 
 '' Sir," faid I, '' allow me to fay that 
 ** you did not know where the Gift of that 
 *' Speech lay laft Night. My Father had 
 " prefented my Mother with a Group of 
 ** Porcelain Figures, reprefenting the Five 
 ** Senfes, which fhe, in her Care for them, 
 ** had put away." 
 
 '* Was that all ? " cried he, his Counte- 
 *' nance immediately changing. ** Oh, I 
 " fee ! — aye, aye — How abfurd my Blunder 
 *' was ! Upon my Word, Ma'am, I beg 
 
82 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe, 
 
 ^^ your Pardon for having been fo unman- 
 " nerly. Shocking ! shameful ! " 
 
 Here we came upon Mr. Fenwick, who 
 finding himfelf expofed to a chill Current 
 of Air under the Elms, had got under the 
 Shelter of the Houfe, where my Father 
 had fet up a pretty enough ruflical Seat, 
 juft outfide of our Dairy Wire-Lattice. 
 Hence it came to pafs that I, being pre- 
 fently engaged in feeing the Afternoon 
 Milk brought in, heard a good deal of 
 what pafTed between the two Gentlemen, 
 whether I would or no. 
 
 '' I've fecured Dodjleys Ear," fays Mr. 
 Caryl, cheerfully, " fo that I fancy I have 
 " but to fpeak a Word to fecure your 
 " Piece a Place in his Colle5lion, Nothing 
 ** remains to be done but for you to attend 
 ^' to a little Revifion in the firft Place, 
 ** before you fu^mit it to his critical Eye. 
 ^' What fay you?" 
 
 ** Say? That I am infinitely obliged." 
 
 " * Let my future Life,' &c. — hey? 
 "We'll fuppofe that all fpoken. Well, 
 
Two Poets under a Dairy -Window, 83 
 
 ** here is your Manufcript ; IVe juft fcored 
 " through what I think had better be 
 " altered and left out. You are not 
 " doubtful of my Judgment, I fuppofe ? " 
 
 " Surely not — Juft allow me to fee" — 
 
 " Look here^ — and here — thofe had 
 " better come out. Here again. . . What's 
 "^Phoebus' Mane?'" 
 
 " Phoebus' Wainr 
 
 " Oh, I fee. That's your bad writing ; 
 *' iy^W-writing, of courfe, I mean. Here 
 " again, * thwarting Thunder.' " 
 
 " That's Miltonic." 
 
 " Is it?" 
 
 " * And heal the Harms of thwarting 
 '' Thunder blue: " 
 
 " Hum ! Well then, it ftrikes me, that 
 ** Milton having faid fo once, you had 
 ** better not fay it again." 
 
 '' Very well, I will not." 
 
 ** Then, this about Truth. It's very 
 ** bad — will never do. I was obliged to 
 '* fkip it in reading to Dodjley.'' 
 
84 T^he Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe, 
 
 " But why?" 
 
 '' Why ? Why, becaufe it isn't the Thing ! 
 " — won't go down. Sir ! You carry it out 
 *^ too far, farther than Anybody goes ; it's fo 
 " much Clap-Trap, and fpoils what's real." 
 
 *' But it is not Clap-Trap. It fays no 
 " more than I mean and feel ! No, no ; 
 " ril give up verbal Points to your better 
 " Tafte, but in Matters of Principle, I 
 ** cannot alter." 
 
 " Nay then, the Thing's at an End, for 
 ** I honeftly tell you I won't concern my- 
 " felf with it as it ftands. You may 
 " furely allow me fome little Knowledge 
 '* of thefe Things. However, it's no Ufe 
 *' talking to an infatuated Man — other- 
 " wife, there is another PaiTage I was 
 " going to propofe to you to withdraw, 
 ** which doubtlefs you will maintain to be 
 '' the beft in the Manufcript." 
 
 '' Which is that?" 
 
 " This, about the Water-Nymphs." 
 
 '' Well. — I think it pretty, and can't 
 " fee what there is to objed; to in it ; but. 
 
Two Poets under a T> airy -Window, 85 
 
 ^^ to yield to your better Tafte, it fhall be 
 " withdrawn, if you like." 
 
 " My dear Fenwick ! you don't fay fo ?" 
 
 ** I fay fo, and mean it too." 
 
 ** Why, this will be a great Sacrifice of 
 " yours, efpecially as it is againft your own 
 " Judgment, — of one of the moft ihowy 
 ** PaiTages, though I won't fay one of the 
 *^beft!" 
 
 " Never mind ! Let it be fo." 
 
 " Come, this is docile and agreeable of 
 " you. The Men at Wiltsy in Fact, ex- 
 *^ tolled this PaiTage, and pronounced it to 
 " be my own ! Taxed me with reading 
 '^ a Poem I had written, as that of another 
 ^^Hand!" 
 
 ** Nay, now the Water-Nymphs begin 
 ** to rife in Value in my Eyes." 
 
 " In Fadl, I had faid Somethig like this, 
 " only not fo well, in a former Piece ; and 
 " they thought I had now worked it out, 
 ** and improved on it. So that you fee I 
 ** don't exadtly want our Things to clafh; 
 *' nor to get you accufed of Plagiary. . ." 
 
86 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 ** Mr. Caryly not another Word. — The 
 " Paffage fhall be omitted." 
 
 *' Well, I like this ; I like your Feeling. 
 ** Thank you, thank you. We need never 
 '' allude to it." 
 
 ** Never again." 
 
 **As for * Truth/ let it ftand. You 
 " have yielded a Point to me, I'll yield one 
 [' to you." 
 
 " I'm glad of that, for I really could 
 ** not have v^ithdrawn that Paffage." 
 
 " And I'll fpeak to Dodjley to-morrow, 
 ** and get you into the ColleBion ; fo ex- 
 ** peft a Proof-Sheet at no very diftant 
 " Date, and then we fhall look on you as 
 " one of the Guild." 
 
 And fhaking Hands with him, Mr. Cary/ 
 departed. 
 
 This Converfation afforded me after- 
 wards, as I fat netting behind the Counter, 
 Subjed: for a good deal of Thought. Here 
 was Jealoufy peeping out again ; a great 
 Poet jealous of a fmall one ; for fo, with- 
 out any competent Knowledge of their 
 
Two Poets under a Dairy -Window, 87 
 
 refpeftive Merits, I concluded them to be. 
 But if (which I was not fure of) Mr. Caryl 
 were the better Poet, Mr. Fenwick was the 
 better Man. I had feen him abforbed in 
 the Compofition of that Poem Day after 
 Day; he had given it the niceft Finifli in 
 his Power; there were Thoughts in it 
 which he cherifhed as part of himfelf, and 
 would not be falfe to, nor give up, to 
 pleafe any Patron in the World; but yet a 
 favourite Paflage, the Fancy and Expreffion 
 of which he believed to be good, but 
 which another Man v\as envious of, he 
 could obliterate with Magnanimity. That 
 feemed a great Word for a little Thing ; 
 but was it a little Thing ? The Wits at 
 WilFs had applauded it ; had given it to 
 a popular Writer; then the real Writer 
 deferved to be as popular. He might 
 have been as popular, had he kept it in ; 
 he might not become popular if it were 
 taken out. Then again. Expediency. Had 
 it croffed his Mind that it was expedient 
 to keep well with Mr. Caryl, at the 
 
88 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe, 
 
 Expenfe of a Paflage of Poetry? That 
 did not feem like Mr. Fenwick ; I did 
 not believe the Thought had weighed 
 with him. 
 
 Then I proceeded, in my Foolifhnefs 
 and Self-Ignorance, to ponder how ftrange 
 it was that it fhould be hard to Anybody 
 of Common-Senfe and Good-Feeling, to 
 hear, 
 
 ^^Praife of another with unwounded Ear" 
 
 '' Why now," thought I to myfelf, " / 
 " have never found it a hard Matter to do 
 ** fo. Thefe many Years I have known 
 " that Everybody confidered Prudence 
 "pretty Prue, and me plain Patty y and 
 " yet I have never experienced the flighteft 
 " Emotion of Envy or Jealoufy on that 
 " Account." 
 
 Ah ! we little know ourfelves. " The 
 " Heart is deceitful above all Things, and 
 " defperately wicked — who can know it ? " 
 That's the Scriptural Account of the Mat- 
 
Two Poets under a Dairy -Window, 89 
 
 ter; and however we may glofs it over, 
 efcape from it, or flatly difbelieve in it 
 altogether, it turns out to be the true one 
 at laft. 
 
Chapter VI. 
 
 Duties of my Lady^s Own Woman, 
 
 Mrs. Gatty was circumfped: not to oc- 
 cupy my Father's Arm-Chair this Evening, 
 whether he came to claim it or no. 
 When the Tea-Things were fet, I ftept 
 up to Mr. Fenwick to let him know we 
 were ready. 
 
 **Sofoon?'' faid he, looking up from 
 his Book ; *' why, do you want me to read 
 *^ to you before Tea ? " 
 
 '' We hope you will oblige us with your 
 *^ Company to Tea, Sir," faid I. 
 
 '' Nay then," faid he, in high Good- 
 Humour, '* I'll join you diredly." And 
 
Duties of my Ladys Own Woman. 91 
 
 clofing his Book with Alacrity, he fol- 
 lowed me down Stairs. 
 
 We had made no Difference, to call 
 Difference, for him this Evening. He 
 took us as he found us ; and chatted away 
 on this and that, as much one of ourfelves 
 as if he had not a Word of Latin or Greek 
 in his Head. Once or twice I tried to 
 lead to Something I thought he would 
 have liked better, — Something on which 
 he could have harangued while it would 
 have behoved us to liflen ; but he darted 
 away from it direftly, and would keep down 
 to the Level of his Company, without 
 feeming to mind it. 
 
 After Tea, we all took out our Work, 
 and my Mother began to fnip a Fly-catcher. 
 
 " Oh, now you expedt me to read, I 
 " fuppofe," faid he ; but ftill delayed, to 
 chat and laugh about this and the other 
 Trifle with Prudence and Gatty^ till at lafl, 
 a fudden Paufe occurring, he had no Ex- 
 cufe for idling any longer. 
 
 He faid he would, with our Leave, read 
 
92 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe, 
 
 us Shenjlones " Schoolmijlress'' We had 
 never heard of it, and were quite willing 
 to hear it on his Recommendation. He 
 faid it was a Burlefque in the Spenferian 
 Stanza. We knew what a Burlefque was, 
 but not what was a Spenferian Stanza. 
 He faid, Illuftration was the beft Explana- 
 tion, and began at once. His Voice and 
 Manner of reading were fo mufical, that I 
 liked the Melody ; and could follow him 
 with Eafe till he got to ** Libs, Notus, and 
 *^ Aujler" I fuppofe he gueffed we might 
 be at Fault, fo checked himfelf to tell us 
 they were Names of the Winds. Then he 
 was about to refume, when Prue inter- 
 rupted him with, " Pray, Sir, what is 
 ** unkempt?" 
 
 *' Uncombed, to be fure," put in Gatty, 
 ** Oh, very well, I have been thinking 
 *' of it ever fo long, and could not make 
 " out what it was." 
 
 " If I come to Anything you wifh to 
 " know, pray don't fcruple to flop me," 
 fays Mr. Fenwick ; and went on. 
 
Duties of my Ladys Own Woman, 93 
 
 By and by, Prue gets treading on 
 Gattfs Foot at — 
 
 " As erji the Bard by Mullds Silver Stream^' 
 
 and Gatty frowns at her. Mr. Fenwick, 
 perceiving fome By-Play going on, flops 
 to afk if they have Anything to fay. 
 Prudence hangs her Head over her Work, 
 colours a little, and fays, " No, Sir." 
 
 ** I believe," fays Mr. Fenwick, glan- 
 " cing over the Leaves, " I had better 
 *' modernize the old Style a little, that you 
 ** may follow it better." 
 
 We all thanked him, except Prudence^ 
 who faid fhe liked it beft as it was. 
 
 '' Why ? Did fhe underfland it ?" 
 
 '' No." 
 
 '' Then why did fhe like it?" 
 
 " Becaufe fhe did." This Anfwer made 
 Mr. Fenwick laugh; but I mufl fay I 
 thought it very flupid. However, he 
 went on, till within a few Verfes of the 
 End ; when my Father walked in. 
 
 Mr. Fenwick, laying down the Book 
 
94 ^^^ Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 with that Cheerfulnefs and Self-Poffeffion 
 which fo well became him, took the firft 
 ^ Word, and faid — • 
 
 " Good Evening, Mr. Honeywood ! Here 
 ** am I, you fee, reading to your good 
 ** Wife and Daughters, and trying to pre- 
 *^ pare myfelf for Duty on a larger Scale." 
 
 ** Sir, you do us honour," fays my Father y 
 quite civilly ; ** your Company muft be an 
 *^ Honour to us at any Time, whenever you 
 *^ pleafe to beftow it on us. Pray go on." 
 
 *^ Oh, we can wait a little While," fays 
 Mr. Fenwick. ^* Pray, is there any News 
 '' ftirring ?" 
 
 " There's a Whale in the T/iames,^^ fays 
 my Father. 
 
 *' Indeed!" cried we all. 
 
 ** And there's an Eye-lafli in my Eye," 
 continues he ; *^ pray, Mrs. Honeywood y 
 *^ come and take it out." 
 
 While my Mother was thus engaged, 
 we chatted among ourfelves. ** What will 
 ^^you have. Father?'' faid I. ^* Shall I 
 *^ make you fome Tea ?" 
 
Duties of my Lady's Own Woman, 95 
 
 " No, I'd rather you put on Supper 
 ** half an Hour, and let me have Something 
 " broiled, and fome mulled Wine and 
 '' Toaft." 
 
 When I returned from giving Orders, 
 I found my Father eftablifhed in his Arm- 
 chair, my Mother returned to her Snip- 
 ping, Prue and Gatty embroidering dif- 
 ferent Corners of the fame Apron, and 
 Mr. Fenwick ready to refume his Reading. 
 The Poem was foon finiflied, and when 
 we had talked it over a little, he afked us 
 what he fhould read next. I faid I 
 thought he had better not do too much at 
 firft, and Supper would foon be ready. 
 " He faid, " Oh, he was juft getting into 
 ** the Humour of it, and there was Plenty 
 " of Time to read fome fhort Piece before 
 ^J. Supper." So then my Mother faid flie 
 thought a Paper of the Tatler would be 
 juft long enough ; and mentioned a fa- 
 vourite Number that fhe had not read for 
 a good While — that charming Piece* 
 
 * No. 95. 
 
96 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe, 
 
 beginning, — " There are feveral Perfons 
 " who have many Pleafures and Entertain- 
 ** ments in their Pofleffion which they do 
 *^ not enjoy ; " and proceeding to give fuch 
 a touching Pidure of domeftic FeUcity. 
 Mr. Fenwick read it with fuch FeeHng 
 that we were all delighted with it ; and it 
 feemed to me that even my Father, who 
 fat quite filent, with his Back to us, was 
 moved by it, for I noticed his breathing 
 very hard, — his only Way of expreffing 
 ftrong Feeling. *^Ah!' thought I to 
 myfelf, " if Mr. Fenwick were to read to 
 ^* us in this nice Way every Evening, and 
 ** my Father were to grow fond of it and 
 *^ of him, and get into the Way of coming 
 '* Home early, inftead of fipping Spirits 
 " and Water with Don SalterOy how happy 
 ^' we fhould be!" 
 
 *' And now," fays my Mother, '' there's 
 *^ a Sequel to that Paper, which I fhould 
 " very much like to hear, fave for the Fear 
 ** of tiring Mr. Fenwick.'' 
 
 " Oh, I'm not at all tired," faid he; 
 
Duties of my Ladys Own Woman, 97 
 
 " Pray give it me ; for I am already quite 
 ** in love with this good Man and his 
 '' Wife." 
 
 So my Mother looked him out No. 114, 
 w^hich begins, ^^ I was walking about my 
 " Chamber this Morning in a very gay 
 " Humour, when I faw a Coach flop at 
 " my Door, and a Youth of about fifteen 
 " alight out of it," — and goes on to de- 
 fcribe the Death of the Wife and Mother 
 of the Family. We were prefently all in 
 Tears ; Gatty even fobbing ; and Mr. 
 Fenwick feemed irrefolute once or twice 
 whether to proceed or flop. However, 
 he went on, and when he came to the 
 Hufband fainting, my Attention was 
 divided between him and my Father, 
 who at that Crifis gave not a Sigh but 
 a Snore. He was fafl afleep. My Mother, 
 afhamed of him, gave him a little Nudge, 
 and faid, ^' My Dear! " on which he turned 
 on his Side, murmured, " Very like a 
 ** Whale!" and was off again as found 
 as a Top. None of us could help laughing 
 
98 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 a little, and after this, there were no more 
 Tears fhed. We fupped, and feparated 
 for the Night. 
 
 Gatty and I ftill llept together ; and, as 
 we were undreffing, fhe faid, ** I fear your 
 ** Sifter thought me affedied to-night 
 " for crying at that Death-Bed Scene ; 
 " fhe gave me fuch a Look! Indeed I 
 " could not help it ; I have witnefTed one 
 *^ fo much like it; and my Spirits are yet 
 " tender." 
 
 I faid, ^* Pray do not think of it again — 
 ** Prudence has that fharp Look fometimes, 
 " and feems juft now under fome little 
 " Mifapprehenfion; but in the Main, there 
 " cannot be a better Creature. She has 
 *^ not feen fo much of you as I have, but 
 ** yet, I am fure fhe likes you, and admires 
 ** you too." 
 
 ** Nobody can do that," fays Gatty; 
 " but I don't want to be admired, though 
 " I own it is pleafant to me to be liked, 
 ** and not to be mifapprehended." 
 
 As fhe lay down, fhe faid fighing, " Moft 
 
Duties of my Lady's Own Woman, 99 
 
 " likely, this is the laft Night I fhall pafs 
 '' in this dear little Bed." 
 
 I faid, " Shall you be forry to leave us ?" 
 *' To be fure I fhall !" cried fhe ; ^^ you 
 *' have been Kindnefs itfelf to me ; even my 
 ** Illnefs w^as folaced, and my Recovery 
 ^^ has been very pleafant ; but my Life 
 " in Servitude is anything but comfortable. 
 " I have heard or read a Line fomewhere, 
 
 * And Betty 's praifed for Labours 
 
 *■ not her own' 
 ^' In my Cafe, the Reading might be — 
 
 * And Gatty 's blamed for Blunders 
 
 * not her own J 
 
 ** It cannot be helped. Good Night ! " 
 
 '* I hope," faid I, '' we fhall never quite 
 ^' lofe Sight of one another." 
 
 ^' Oh no ! I hope not. You muft w^rite 
 " to me now and then." 
 
 '* Perhaps you can come to us when you 
 " have a Holiday." 
 
 '* I never have a Holiday. Lady Betty 
 ** knows I had no Friends when I came to 
 
loo 'The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe, 
 
 "Town, and does not approve of my 
 " making any." 
 
 " No Friends ! That does found dreary ! " 
 
 ** It is dreary." 
 
 I had now extinguifhed the Candle. 
 She faid no more; but I could hear her 
 from Time to .Time give a great Sigh. 
 
 '' Gertrude,'' I at length faid foftly, "are 
 " you crying?" 
 
 She cleared her Throat a little, but 
 made no Anfwer. 
 
 "Tell me, Dear, what's the Matter." 
 
 " I'm only a little low," fhe replied, 
 hufkily. 
 
 " How I wifh I had given you fome 
 " reviving Drops, before I put out the 
 " Candle ! I will light it again." 
 
 " Oh no ! Drops would do me no good 
 — they would not give me what I want." 
 
 " What do you want ? " 
 
 "To fee my Mother once more, and 
 " my Brothers, and my Sifters, and every 
 " one at Home. I do pine for them all 
 " fo, you can't think !" 
 
Duties of my Ladys Own Woman, loi 
 
 And now ihe fobbed outright, though 
 quietly. " It feems fo long fince I came 
 ** away, and the Profpedt before me is fo 
 ** forlorn ; no certain Hope of going back; 
 *' or ever, ever feeing them any more!" 
 
 " Gertrude^ 1 /hall gtt up and give you 
 ** the Drops. They will give you Strength." 
 
 '' I'm afraid they won't." 
 
 ** Yes, they will. You have over-tired 
 " yourfelf to-day ; you are trying to get 
 " about too foon. The Drops will quiet 
 " you and fet you to fleep, and to-morrow 
 ** you will be better." 
 
 So I gave her the Drops, which flie 
 thankfully took ; and in Half-an-hour or 
 fo I was glad to find fhe was afleep. 
 
 The next Morning, while we were 
 dreffing, as (he had quite recovered her 
 Compofure, I took Advantage of what 
 might be my laft Opportunity to queftion 
 her a little more than I had yet done on 
 her Pofition at Lady Betty s, 
 
 " Well," fays fhe, " 'tis not good to 
 *' complain, I know, but however, I will 
 
I02 The Old Chelfea Bun-Hoiife. 
 
 " this once fay Somewhat of my Life 
 ** behind the Scenes, with as few Notes 
 " and Comments as I can. My firft 
 ** Grievance is fleeping with that French- 
 *^ woman y a low Perfon whom it is impof- 
 " fible to like. I wake fooner than fhe 
 " does, and avail myfelf of it for a little 
 ^^ quiet Reading or Needlework on my 
 " own Account before fhe is ftirring. But 
 '' firft, I light the Fire in the Httle Clofet 
 " beneath my Lady's Chamber, put down 
 ** the Irons, and warm fome Coffee for 
 " Pompon's Breakfaft and mine, which fhe 
 *' takes in an uncomfortable Sort of Way, 
 " running in and out half dreffed, without 
 *^ ever fitting down, fo that my Breakfaft 
 '^ is uncomfortable too. Then I have to 
 '* iron out every individual Thing that 
 " Lady Betty took off Overnight, even to 
 *' her Gloves; and to air her clean Linen. 
 *^ Having then fed her Parrots and cleaned 
 *^ their Cages, {Pompey has the Monkey 
 " and Lapdog in Charge,) I fit down to 
 ** fine Work, and have fcarce fet a dozen 
 
Duties of my Ladys Own Woman, 103 
 
 ^ Stitches, when Lady Betty's Bell is pul- 
 
 * led as if the Wire would crack, and her 
 
 * High-Heeled SHpper raps the Floor to 
 
 * let me know fhe is ready for her Choco- 
 
 * late. Pompey brings it up to the Door, 
 ^ and I carry it in, and wait on her while 
 
 * fhe drinks it. After this, fhe remains 
 
 * in Bed two Hours, sometimes fleeping, 
 
 * but oftener fitting up propped with Pil- 
 
 * lows, doing any Fancy- Work flie is in 
 ' the Humour for, getting me to thread 
 ^ her Needle, change her Silks, hold her 
 
 * ScifTars, and Sometimes to read a Novel 
 
 * to her. If fhe is very late, it may 
 ^ chance that one of her female Cronies 
 
 * arrives in her Chair, runs up to tell her 
 
 * fome Piece of Goflip, and perhaps 
 
 * roufes her to get up and drefs in a 
 
 * Hurry to go to fome Aud:ion ; in which 
 
 * Cafe fhe needs not fo much two Waiting 
 
 * Women as twenty. But oftener, fhe is 
 
 * uninterrupted, and after wafting half the 
 
 * Morning, rifes to wafle the other half in 
 ^ a lengthened, capricious Toilette ; trying 
 
I04 "The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe, 
 
 *^ on a dozen Things fhe does not mean to 
 " wear, and ftudying what Colours fuit 
 ** her Complexion. As (he does not fo 
 ** much as put on her own Gloves herfelf, 
 " Madame Pompon is on hard Duty all 
 " this While, I Handing by and handing 
 ^* her the Pins and Everything fhe wants. 
 ^* If my Lady thinks herfelf in good 
 *' Looks, all the better for us ; but if fhe 
 ^* fpies out fo much as a Freckle, woe 
 " unto us ! wc are fure to fuffer for what 
 ** we can't help. To put her in good 
 " Humour, Pompon flatters her to a Degree 
 " that is naufeous to me, and fometimes 
 " gets a Rebuff for her Pains : then I am 
 " fet to write half-a-dozen trivial Notes to 
 " her Dictation, or perhaps the Invitations 
 *' to a Rout or a Drum, which Pompey is 
 " then fummoned to carry out. Then, my 
 " Work is called for to be examined; I am 
 ** chidden if I have not done enough, and 
 *' receive numerous Orders and Counter- 
 ** Orders about it. At lafl, my Lady goes 
 " out in iier Chair, during which Time 
 
Duties of my Lady's Own Woman, 105 
 
 ** I keep clofe to my Needle, and then 
 '* Pompon and I dine together. Lady Betty 
 ^^ returns, receives Vilitors, and I am on 
 ^* Duty as Woman in waiting, to bring her 
 '' Scent-Bottle, hold her Handkerchief, her 
 *^ Gloves, and hear the News and Goffip 
 *' of the Day and a thoufand Imperti- 
 '^nences. At length my Lady dines: then 
 '^ I refume my Needle ; then fhe drefles 
 ^* for the Evening, which is as tedious a 
 ** Tranfadlion as her Morning Toilette. 
 ** Her Dreffing-Room is the lovelieft, moft 
 " luxurious Apartment you ever faw ; at 
 ** firft I thought it Fairy-Land, and did 
 ** not mind being fhut up in it ; but oh, 
 " how tired I am of it now ! Its Silken 
 " Draperies, polifhed Mirrors, Spider- 
 ** Tables, Ivory Cafkets, Alabafter Vafes, 
 ^' Silver Footbath, old Porcelain, grotefque 
 " Toys and delicate Trinkets give me no 
 ^* more Entertainment than fo much Rub- 
 "bifh. Elaborately dreffed, fhe goes forth 
 " not to return till two, three, or four 
 " o'clock in the Morning. Madamu Pompon 
 
io6 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 ^* goes down Stairs to play Cards, or puts 
 " on her Calafli and goes out to fee her 
 " Friends, or if fhe flays with me, nods 
 '* over a French Novel, or babbles all kinds 
 *^ of Nonfenfe while fhe manufaftures fome 
 " Piece of Finery. Meanwhile, I few and 
 *^ few at that eternal Embroidery, or try to 
 " keep myfelf awake with a Book, if I 
 *^ can find one to my Mind, till my Lady 
 ^^ returns jaded or excited from the Ridotto, 
 " to be undrefTed and have hot Soup in Bed. 
 ** Thus, you fee, I have no Change, no Ex- 
 '^ercife; and what is worfe, no Food or 
 ** Medicine for the Mind ; and oh, Patty ! 
 " is this a Life for an accountable Crea- 
 ^*ture?'' 
 
Chapter VII. 
 
 Lady Betty s Fright. 
 
 ** However that may be, Gatty,'' faid 
 I, *' 'tis certain you and I have not the 
 " Power of rectifying Abufes, and muft 
 " take Things as we find them ; but you 
 ** muft confole yourfelf with thinking your 
 ** Trial will probably not be long, for I'll 
 " wager a Pound you'll be married within 
 ^^ the Twelvemonth." 
 
 *' Who to?" fays fhe, opening her Eyes 
 wide. 
 
 " Nay, I can 't tell that," faid I, '' but 
 ** you are not the Sort of Girl to be over- 
 '' looked." 
 
 She fmiled fadly and faid, '* You are 
 *^ only fpeaking at Random, nor have I 
 
io8 7he OldChelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 ** any Wifh to be married, any further than 
 " I fhould Uke almoft any Condition better 
 *' than my own. But now, tell me, Patty, is 
 " it not a bad State of Things when young 
 ** Women are fo placed as that they are 
 ** tempted to look to Marriage as an 
 '^Efcape?" 
 
 " Certainly it is,'* faid I ; " but yet, 
 " Gattjy let me tell you, your Condition 
 ** might be many Degrees worfe than it 
 " now is. Nay, if you had been born 
 ** and bred to Servitude, you might even 
 " confider you had a tolerable Place ; 'tis 
 ^^ your gentler Birth and Bringing-up that 
 "makes the Collar fo hard to wear. 
 " Suppofe, for Inftance, Lady Betty y in 
 " addition to her Caprice and Frivolity, 
 ** had the Sufferings, Infirmities, and con- 
 " firmed Ill-Humours of old Age ? Or 
 " fuppofe fhe were married to a trouble- 
 ** fome Hufband ? Or, even as fhe is, 
 *' that {he were a Martyr to fome irritating 
 " Complaint?" 
 
 '' Then I would nurfe her with Pity 
 
Lady Betty s Fright, 109 
 
 *' and Patience," fays Gatty. " However, 
 " 'tis no ufe fuppoling this and the other 
 " — I muft take my Lot and make the beft 
 *' of it ; only I fometimes envy the Shop- 
 ** Girls behind the pooreft Counter, for 
 " methinks they have more Exercife and 
 *^ Variety, and have at leaft their Sundays 
 ** to themfelves ; whereas, * e'en Sunday 
 '* fhines no Sabbath-Day to me.'" 
 
 I had a Word on my Lips as to what 
 the Shop- Women might have to fay on 
 the other Side of the Queftion ; but Time 
 preffed, and I was obliged to run down 
 Stairs to fee the Milk fent out. 
 
 After Breakfaft, Mr. James the Foot- 
 man made his Appearance in Undrefs 
 Livery, carrying a fmall Trunk, and re- 
 quefted to fee Mrs. Gatty. When fhe 
 appeared, ** Mrs. Gatty,' fays he — ** dear 
 ** me, how you've fallen away ! you muft 
 '^ have been ill indeed ! . . . I was about to 
 ** fay, your Billet to my Lady threw us 
 " into fad Confufion Yefterday. I carried 
 *^ it to her on a Salver, and {he, not know- 
 
no The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 " ing who fent it, opened it careleffly, 
 ^* when, feeing your Name, fhe dropped 
 *^ it Hke a red-hot Coal, and fell back on 
 ** her Settee, crying to me to throw the 
 " Billet in the Fire. But then called me 
 " back to bid me look in it firft, and fee 
 " what you faid, fhe fmelling to her Scent- 
 '' Bottle all the While. When I told her 
 " Lady/hip the Contents, fhe faid fhe would 
 ** by no Means have you back yet, it 
 ^* would be highly dangerous, and perhaps 
 " cofl many precious Lives ; that you had 
 " better go down fome where into the 
 " Country, to your Home, in fhort, till 
 " you got thoroughly difinfed:ed ; and 
 ** after that fhe would let you know her 
 ** Mind about you. So I have brought 
 *' your Trunk, and your Half- Year's 
 << Wages ; and here are five Pounds to clear 
 " off your Expenfes here and pay for your 
 ** Journey into the Country." 
 
 I never faw a Face light up with Joy as 
 Gattys did, that Moment ! " Oh, this is 
 '' delightful! " faid fhe, '' Thank you kindly, 
 
Lady Betty s Fright, 1 1 1 
 
 *' James, for being the Bearer of fuch 
 *' good Tidings ! I have little Doubt that 
 " I (hall be quite ftrong and well after 
 " fpending a Month at Home, and then I 
 *^ will do as my Lady pleafes." 
 
 When the Man was gone, (he prefled 
 the five Pounds on my Mother, with the 
 humbleft Expreffions of Gratitude ; but 
 my Mother would by no Means take it. 
 At length it was decided to inclofe three 
 Pounds in a Packet to Dr. Elwes, not to be 
 fent to him till Gatty was gone ; and the 
 other two would pay her Journey, outfide 
 the Coach, to her native Place, fo that my 
 Lady Betty's Bounty but juft cleared Ex- 
 penfes. 
 
 Gatty was now in the gayeft Spirits, and 
 whereas fhe had hitherto feemed rather a 
 quiet Girl, fhe was now talking inceflantly. 
 There was Something moving in witneffing 
 the Joy fhe experienced in looking forward 
 to feeing her Mother, and the Glee with 
 which fhe fpoke of her little Brothers and 
 Sifters, the Dog, the Cat, the mofl trivial 
 
112 'The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe, 
 
 Thing connedled with Home. For In- 
 ftance, *' Puffy ^'' fhe would fay, *' you are 
 ** handfomer than our old Tortoifefhell; and 
 ** yet I would not exchange old Hibby for 
 ^* you." " How glad Towler will be to fee 
 " me ! I fancy him at the Gate, wagging 
 ** his Tail. He is deaf, and has loft moft 
 " of his Teeth, but I hope he is not fo 
 ** blind but what he will know me again." 
 
 As her Luggage was but light, I made 
 her find Room for a fmall but very rich 
 Plum- Cake, a prefent from my Mother 
 to hers, and alfo fome Gingerbread-Nuts 
 for the Children. 
 
 In the Afternoon, a Boatman ftepped 
 into the Shop with fome Boat-Cloaks, fay- 
 ing that Mr. and Mrs. Arbuthnot were 
 coming up from the Water-Side to take 
 Tea in our Gardens. I knew not the young 
 Gentleman was married; and indeed he 
 was not fo, but his Companion proved to 
 be his Aunt; the quieteft, fweeteft-looking 
 old Lady I ever fet Eyes on. The Sky 
 having clouded over, we had little Company 
 
Lady Betty's Fright, 1 1 3 
 
 that Afternoon ; I fet their Table in our 
 niceft Arbour, and had Pleafure in ferving 
 them myfelf, and providing them with the 
 freflieft Shrewjbury Cakes and lightejfl: 
 Buns. They feemed on the pleafanteft of 
 Terms together ; the young Man's Atten- 
 tion to the old Lady, without fulfomenefs, 
 was very agreeable to fee ; and their Con- 
 verfation was fomewhat above the common 
 Run. Towards the Conclufion of their 
 Repaft, a Rain-Shower came on, which 
 alarmed Mrs. Arbuthnot, and made her 
 requeft Shelter in the Houfe. I inftantly 
 fhewed them into our Parlour; where 
 Gatty, having finifhed her Packing, was 
 embroidering an Apron which Prue had 
 commenced for my Mother^ but had got 
 tired of before it was half done. Gatty 
 was fuch a fuperior Needlewoman that her 
 Work, befides being done fo quickly, put 
 Prudence s quite to ihame ; the Leaves, 
 Flowers, and Sprigs feemed to grow under 
 her nimble Fingers. Old Mrs. Arbuthnot 
 watched her a little While, admiring her 
 
114 ^^^ ^^^ Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 Facility ; and then raifing her Eyes from 
 Gattfs white Hands to her almoft as 
 white Face, ** You look very delicate, 
 young Woman," fays fhe. 
 
 " Oh, Ma'am, I'm a great deal better 
 ** now ; almoft well," fays Gatty^ fcarcely 
 looking up. 
 
 ** Have you been very ill ? " 
 
 '* Yes, Madam, I have had a Fever." 
 
 " This is the young Perfon, Aunt," fays 
 Mr. Arhuthnoty *^ whom I mentioned to 
 ** you as having been taken ill, the Day of 
 " Lady Bettfs Folly." 
 
 '* And are you going to return to Lady 
 " Betty ?" fays Mrs. Arbuthnot. 
 
 " No, Madam, I am going Home To- 
 " morrow ; into the Country." 
 
 " The beft Place for you. Child. Are 
 " you going into Service no more ?" 
 
 ** I wifh it were fo, Madam," faid Gatty^ 
 hemming away a Sigh. 
 
 '' I fhould think Lady Bettys Place 
 ^^ too hard for you ; fhe goes out a good 
 " deal." 
 
Lady Betty's Fright. 1 1 5 
 
 " The Hours try me, Madam. I have 
 ** been ufed always to go to Bed early." 
 
 '' How early ?" put in Mr. Arbuthnot, 
 
 '' Nine o'clock. Sir." 
 
 '' And now?— at Lady Bettfs V 
 
 ** Not till Two or Three in the Morning ; 
 " fometimes Four." 
 
 He fhrugged his Shoulders, and drew in 
 his Breath. 
 
 " My Dear," remonftrated Mrs. Ar- 
 but/mot gently, ** I am not fure we have 
 *^ any Right to inquire into the Details of 
 '' her Lady/hifs Houfehold." 
 
 He fmiled, and looked brimfull of 
 Queftions he wanted to alk. 
 
 ** Perhaps fome other Employment 
 " might be found lefs injurious to your 
 '' Health," refumed the old Lady. " You 
 ** feem a fkilful Embroidrefs. That Pat- 
 ** tern is charming; I fhould like to have it." 
 
 " I fhall be very happy to copy it for 
 '' you, Madam," faid Gatty. 
 
 '* Alas, Child, I could not work it if 
 ** you would give it to me, unlefs you 
 
1 1 6 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe, 
 
 " gave me your Eyefight too ! But I'll tell 
 " you what you might do for me. You 
 " are going into the Country, you fay. 
 " Probably you will there have Leifure to 
 ** work on your own Account." 
 
 " Oh yes, Madam ! " 
 
 *' Work me a Set of Aprons, then, as 
 " your Time and Strength permit ; I will 
 " pay you for your Trouble when they are 
 " finifhed ; but here is Something for the 
 " Muflin and Silks, which I will get you 
 " to fupply.'' 
 
 And fhe put Money into her Hand. 
 
 ** I think I have fome prettier Patterns 
 ** than this up-Stairs, Madam," cried Gatty; 
 and fhe flew up-Stairs, without at all re- 
 garding the Trouble of unpacking her 
 Box to get the Patterns, which were at 
 the very Bottom, in order to lie flat. 
 
 " There is Something very well-fpoken 
 ** and obliging about her,'* faid Mrs. Ar- 
 but knot to me. " Is fhe of refpedlable 
 " Condition?" 
 
 " Her Father^ Madam, was a Country 
 
Lady Betty s Fright, 1 17 
 
 " Curate, and died, leaving a large young 
 " Family unprovided. Her Mother is a 
 '' diftant Relation of Lady Betty s, Gatty 
 ^* became Lady Betty s Maid, becaufe no 
 '* better Independence offered to her, and 
 '' fhe v^anted to affift her Mother.'' 
 
 "Tut! tut! This is a fad Story— 
 " Surely Something more fuitable might 
 '' be found." 
 
 " You fpoke of an Embroidery-Shop, 
 *' Madam — we thought of that too, as 
 " Gatty is fo clever, and can defign as well 
 " as execute Patterns ; but my Mother 
 " thought it would expofe fuch a pretty, 
 '* unprotecfled Girl, thoughtlefs and igno- 
 *' rant of Evil, to many Temptations we 
 " had not taken into the Account." 
 
 ** The Clouds are breaking, now. Aunt," 
 faid Mr. Arbuthnot^ returning from the 
 Garden-Door, where he had been appa- 
 rently watching the Weather, but very 
 likely hearing none the lefs of what was 
 faid. '* I think we may ihortly venture 
 " to return." 
 
1 1 8 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 ** Prefently, my Dear. The young 
 " Perfon has gone to fetch me fome 
 " Patterns." 
 
 ** By-the-by, Ma'am, would not fuch a 
 ^^ young Perfon as Mrs. Gatty be very 
 *^ ufeful to you in the Parlour, writing 
 " your Notes, threading your Needles, and 
 ^' piaking Tea for you ? Mrs. Rachael is 
 *' getting part Work now, and is not much 
 *' of a Companion." 
 
 ** My Dear, I have thought of it myfelf, 
 ^* but we will do Nothing haftily. At 
 ^* prefent we will let Mrs. Gatty go Home 
 ** to recover her Health and make my 
 " Aprons." 
 
 Gatty at this Moment reappearing, no 
 more was faid, except about the Patterns, 
 which occafioned more Debate than Mr. 
 Arbuthnot could reafonably be expefted to 
 liften to as patiently as he did. But per- 
 haps he was thinking of fome other Matter 
 all the Time. After this, they went away. 
 
 Though there was now not much Day- 
 light left, Gatty knew ftie fhould match 
 
Lady Betty s Fright. 1 1 9 
 
 the Muflin and Silks fo much better in 
 Town than in the Country, that (he re- 
 folved on going out to buy them ; and I, 
 to have all of her Company I could, went 
 with her. The Walk was a long one, but 
 our Spirits made us infenfible of Fatigue, 
 and the Weather after the Shower was 
 delightful. In the Evening Mr. Fenwick 
 reappeared, though not to Tea, and alked 
 us what he fhould read. " Oh, fome- 
 *^ thing cheerful, pleafe. Sir ! *' cried Gatty 
 haftily, which made us all laugh ; but fhe 
 faid jfhe had no Mind to cry again before 
 fhe went Home. So he read to us about 
 Sir Roger de C overly. 
 
 At Night Gatty was in fuch a nervous 
 Fidget, fhe could fcarce keep ftill. She 
 kept faying, ** I hope to Goodnefs I {hall 
 '* not over-fleep myfelf ! Don't let me 
 *^ over-fleep myfelf!" I told her there was 
 no Danger, for I always could wake what 
 Time I chofe in the Morning, if I refolved 
 on it overnight ; and I had already refolved 
 I would wake, and wake her, at Five. I 
 
1 20 T!he Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 told her I meant to fee her off. She faid, 
 " Oh, don't ! " I faid, '' Yes, I fhall— I want 
 " to fee the Laft of you, fo it's no Ufe 
 *' fpeaking. Otherwife you may mifs the 
 " Coach, and be returned on our Hands 
 *^ Hke a bad Penny." She laughed, and 
 faid, '' It is quite infincere of me to pretend 
 " to wifli you not to go, for I wifh to have 
 " you with me to the very Laft ; only it is 
 " fuch a Shame to give you fo much 
 '* Fatigue and Trouble." I faid, '' People 
 " who really care for one another, don't 
 " mind Fatigue and Trouble. Would not 
 *^ you do as much for me ? " *' Yes, to be 
 '' fure I would," fays fhe. 
 
 '' Very well, then," faid I, ^' fay no 
 ** more about it, but let us get to Sleep as 
 *' faft as we can." 
 
 It was quite Dark when we got up 
 next Morning, but every one was up, to 
 fee Gatty off. We all infifted on her 
 making a hearty Breakfaft, and fhe de- 
 clared that every Morfel feemed to ftick 
 in her Throat ; fo that it was " moft Hafte, 
 
Lady Betty s Fright. I2i 
 
 " worft Speed." Frue put her up a large 
 Packet of Sandwiches and Bifcuits, faying 
 fhe would find her Appetite by-and-by; 
 and my Mother pinned her Handkerchief 
 clofer at the Throat, bidding her beware 
 of Cold. I thought there would be no 
 End to her Leave-taking. — When fhe had 
 kiffed all round, fhe began again. *^ Am 
 ** not I to come in for my Share, Mrs. 
 ^^ GattyV fays my Father y who was 
 eating an Anchovy. " Oh yes. Sir," fays 
 fhe, laughing, and colouring a little ; and 
 kiffed him too. 
 
 '* That's right," fays he ; " you're one 
 ** of the right Sort — frank, without being 
 '* forward — A thorough nice Girl, out and 
 ** out — I wifh the World were full of 
 '** People like you." 
 
 *^ Thank you for all your Kindnefs, 
 " Sir," fays fhe. 
 
 ** Pooh," fays he, ^* I've fhown you no 
 ** Kindnefs ; the Women have, I grant 
 " ye ; all the better for both Parties." 
 
 " Come, Gatty,'' faid I, '' we fhall lofe 
 
122 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 '' the Coach.'* So off we fet, with Peter 
 carrying the Trunk. 
 
 When we reached the Old Angel Inuy 
 a noify Bell was ringing, enough to deafen 
 one ; and a Man blowing a Horn out of 
 Window. The Coach was already at the 
 Door, and a Porter was flioving a very fat 
 Woman into it, to the apparent Difguft of 
 a Gentleman wrapped in a Roquelaure, 
 who was already withiniide. Then the 
 Porter handed the old Woman a Dram- 
 Bottle, and a Puppy-Dog tied up in a red 
 Handkerchief. A thin, tall Gentlewoman 
 in a velvet Hood and green Jofeph next 
 followed ; and two rough-looking Men 
 got in laft. On the Coach-Roof were 
 two Men hallooing and wanting to be oiF. 
 In the Bafket, where Gatty was to go, 
 was an old Woman fmoking a Pipe. We 
 took our laft Kifs — a hearty one, and our 
 laft Look — a cheerful one ; fhe fcrambled 
 up into the Bafket, which was a very 
 awkward Appurtenance, and the lumbering 
 old Coach drove off, rocking and fwaying 
 
Lady Betty's Fright. 123 
 
 from Side to Side like a Ship in a Gale of 
 Wind. Going under the Archway, one 
 of the Men on the coved Roof of the 
 Vehicle got a fevere Rap on the Head. 
 He hallooed out pretty loudly, but his 
 Voice was drowned by the Horn. 
 
Chapter VIII. 
 
 A Voice from the Bajket. 
 
 Before I reached Home, a drizzling Rain 
 began to fall, which I was very forry for on 
 Gattys Account. 
 
 In the Courfe of the Evening, Dr. Elwes 
 called. He faid, *^ What could that young 
 *' Baggage mean by fending me her three 
 " Pounds ? I give them in Charge to you, 
 ** Mrs. Patty y to remit to her, fince I don't 
 " know her Addrefs." 
 
 I faid, *^ You are very kind, Dodtor^ 
 '* but Lady Betty is well able to remu- 
 *^ nerate you." 
 
 He faid, " Oh, hang Lady Betty— I don't 
 ^* return the Money to her, but to Mrs. 
 '' Gattyr 
 
A Voice from the Bajket. 125 
 
 " Perhaps/' faid I, " Mrs. Gattys Pride 
 " will be hurt." 
 
 " And have I no Pride, neither ? " fays 
 he. " I am not accuftomed to take Fees 
 " of a Lady's Maid." 
 
 So, as I faw it was to be fo, I faid no 
 more, except by Way of Thanks in Gattys 
 Name ; and refolved to remit her the 
 Money as foon as I received a Letter from 
 her. 
 
 The Letter was not long a-coming. I 
 have it before me now. 
 
 " Larkfield, Hants, 
 
 " Sept. 14, 1749. 
 
 " Dear Mrs. Patty, 
 
 ** Your laft Look faid fo plainly 
 " that you fhould like to hear a Voice 
 " from the Bafket, that I have taken the 
 ** largefl: Sheet of Paper I can find, to tell 
 " you about my Journey Home, and how 
 ** happy I am. About Half-an-hour after 
 *' we ftarted, it began to rain pretty faft, 
 " which incommoded me more than my 
 
1 26 rhe Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 ** Companion, as ihe covered her Head 
 *^ and Shoulders with a piece of Sacking, 
 *' from which the Rain ran down upon 
 ** me. When we changed Horfes, the 
 " Men infide got out to ftretch themfelves, 
 " and I then obferved that the Paffenger 
 " in the Roquelaure was Squire Heavitree, 
 " the Father of a Gentleman Farmer in 
 " our Neighbourhood whom we know 
 " pretty well^ and who was doubtlefs on 
 " his Way to vifit his Son and have a little 
 " Shooting. He, pitying me in the Rain, 
 " ftepped up and faid, ' Young Woman, if 
 " my Roquelaure will be of any Service 
 " . . . Why, Gatty ! is it you ? Art going 
 " Home, Child ? There's Room infide 
 '^ the Coach for thee . . . Come down, 
 " come down from the Bafket, Til pay 
 '' the Difference ! ' And, almoft whether 
 " I would or no, he made me alight and 
 " get into the Coach, where I had to ride 
 " bodkin between him and the fat Woman 
 with the Puppy-Dog. At firft I was 
 very glad to be fheltered from the Rain, 
 
 a 
 
A Voice from the Bajket. 1 27 
 
 " but the Coach was very clofe^ and we 
 " had only one Window partly open. The 
 *^ Squire chatted fo cordially with me, 
 '' however, that I had Httle Time to think 
 " of Difagreeables ; and when he had told 
 " me all he had to tell, he fell to queftion- 
 ing. Moft of the PafTengers were nod- 
 ding, which was all the better, as I did 
 not like mentioning Names before Folks. 
 By-and-by, the Squire became quiet, 
 and I gueffed he was going to nod too ; 
 but, ftealing a Look at him, I faw he 
 " was only thinking. We were now going 
 " flowly over a heavy, fandy Road, and 
 " the Coach rocked a good deal, and 
 " fometimes ftuck. I feared once or twice 
 " we fhould be overturned ; but the Squire 
 " faid, ' No Danger ; ' and, to divert my 
 " Attention, pointed out a Gibbet acrofs 
 ^' the Heath, on which a Highwayman 
 *^ hung in Chains ; no very pleafant Objed:. 
 '^ As I looked fomewhat apprehenfively 
 " towards it, fuddenly the open Window 
 " was blocked up by a Horfeman with a 
 
 a 
 
128 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 " black Crape' over his Face, who, crying 
 " ^ Your Money or your Lives ! ' fired ftraight 
 " through the Coach, fo as to fhatter the 
 " oppofite Glafs. The next Moment, 
 " another Highv^ayman appeared at the 
 " other Window. There's no defcribing 
 " the Noife, Uproar, and Confufion, the 
 " Smoke, Stench of Gunpowder, fhrieking 
 " of Women, and barking of the Puppy. 
 " The next Moment, our ftout old Squire, 
 " difengaging a Blunderbufs from its Sling 
 " over our Heads, prefented the Muzzle 
 " full at the Highwayman who had not 
 " yet fired, and fprang out of the Coach 
 '^with it; on which, the Man galloped up 
 " the Bank, ftooping low, fo as to keep his 
 " Horfe's Neck between his Head and the 
 " Piece ; at the fame Time dropping his 
 " Piftol, which was fecured to his Waift 
 " by a leathern Strap. He called to the 
 " Poftilion who rode our third Horfe, 
 " ' Drive on ! ' ' No, ftop," cries the Squire, 
 " * for I fee another Coach coming up, 
 " which may contain an unarmed Party ! ' 
 
A Voice from the Bajket, 129 
 
 ^* The Highwayman, reiterating, ^ Drive 
 " on ! * galloped acrofs the Heath, followed 
 ** by his two Companions ; for a third had 
 " been at our firft Horfe's Head all the 
 " While. The Squire continued levelling 
 " his Piece at them as long as they were 
 " within Range, then took oiF his Hat, 
 ** wiped his Head, and turned about to us 
 " with a Look of Satisfadlion. The other 
 " two Men, who all this While had been 
 ** as white as Death and as ftill as Stones, 
 " now cried, * Well done. Squire ! we 're 
 ** much indebted to you!' while the out- 
 ** lide Paflengers gave him three Cheers. 
 " He took mighty little Note of them, but 
 " ftepped up to the Coach that had now 
 ** come up, which proved to contain the 
 '* Duke of Newcajile, who, being unarmed, 
 ** was very glad to continue his Journey in 
 ^* Company with us. Thus were three 
 *^ Defperadoes put to flight by one ener- 
 ** getic old Man ! In another Hour we 
 ** reached the Inn where we were to dine, 
 " where the Duke parted Company with 
 
130 T^he Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 ** us. The Squire fat at the Head of the 
 " Table, and made me fit next him, and 
 " infifted on pledging all the Ladies, to 
 ** keep up our Courage. Every body 
 " talked faft and ate faft too, as we were 
 " elated at our Efcape and pretty hungry. 
 " I fhould tell you, the fat Woman main- 
 " tained that her fnappifh little Puppy had 
 " thrown the Robber off his Guard ; but 
 " the Squire fhook his Head upon't. 
 " While frefh Horfes were putting to, a 
 ** couple of Horfemen, apparently a Clergy- 
 ^* man and his Servant, rode into the Inn- 
 " Yard. The Squire, ftepping out to 
 " them, related what had juft occurred, 
 ** and cautioned them againft croffing the 
 ** Heath unarmed. They thanked him, 
 ** but told him they were two Police- 
 " Officers in Difguife, and well armed in 
 " the Hope of Attack. In faft, as we 
 " have fince learnt, they were befet by the 
 " very Men who had aflailed us, and 
 ** giving Chafe to the Gang, who difperfed 
 ** as wide as they could, followed them all 
 
A Voice from the Bajket. 1 3 1 
 
 ** acrols the Country till they fucceeded in 
 " capturing two ; one of whom fwam his 
 " Horfe acrofs a River, but was taken on 
 ^* the other Side. The Squire has fince 
 *^ been afked to appear againft them, but 
 " has declined, faying there is already fuf- 
 ** ficient Evidence, and he has no Mind to 
 '* fwear away Lives that he fpared when 
 ** his Blood was hot. 
 
 " After this, you may fuppofe we could 
 " talk of Nothing but Murders, Robberies 
 " and fuch-like deHghtful Subjecfls during 
 " the greater Part of our Journey : and 
 '^ each feemed trying to outdo the other, 
 *' in hope of making the others forget how 
 ** tamely all had behaved except the Squire, 
 ** Gradually we dropped our Companions 
 " at one Place or another, till none re- 
 ** mained but the Squire ^ myfelf, and the fat 
 ** Woman. He now began to be amufed 
 ** at the Joy I could not help betraying at 
 " the Sight of every well-known Landmark, 
 ** and tried to teafe me by fuppofing a 
 ** Dozen ridiculous Accidents that might 
 
132 T^he Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe, 
 
 " have happened at Home, to difappoint 
 " me of my Pleafure. At length, we 
 ^' flopped at the Corner of a By-Road in 
 " Larkfield Parifh, and young Mr. Heavi- 
 " tree comes up. * Are you there. Father ? ' 
 '* fays he, fcrambUng up on the Step to 
 " look in. * All right, my Boy,' fays the 
 " Squire, grafping his Hand, which he 
 " fhook heartily, ' and here's Gatty Bower- 
 " bank come Home to fee ' her Mother' 
 *' Mr. Heavitree gave me fuch a cheerful 
 " Smile ! ' How glad they will all be ! ' 
 " faid he, ' they do not in the leaft exped: 
 ** you, and have been wondering why you 
 " have let them be fo long without a Let- 
 '^ ten I was at your Mother's juft now.' 
 '' ' She's quite well, then ?' cried I. ' Oh 
 ^* yes,' faid he, * but you don't look very 
 '' well, I think.' ' Manners, Jack!' fays 
 *^ the Squire, * Well, Father, I meant no 
 ** Harm ; here are Horfes, Sir, for you and 
 " me, and a light Cart for your Luggage.' 
 Put Mrs. Gatty s Baggage into the 
 * Cart too, my Boy,' fays the Squire, ' and 
 
 a c 
 
A Voice from the Bajket, 133 
 
 " fend the Horfes round to the Green 
 '^ Hatch, for I've a Mind to walk acrofs 
 " the Fields with this young Damfel, and 
 *' fee what Reception fhe gets, and I fup- 
 " pofe you won't Mind coming along with 
 '' us.' ' Not I, Sir,' faid Mr. Heavitree, 
 " * I fhall like it very much.' So, when 
 ** the Luggage was put in the Cart, and 
 ** the Coachman was fettled with, we 
 ** flarted off, as fociable as could be, talking 
 '^ about the Highway Robbery; and the 
 " Squire took Care to tell his Son that I 
 ** was the only Woman who did not 
 " fcream when the Piftol was fired into 
 ** the Coach. Well, we got to the dear 
 *' old Garden-Gate ; and there, ftrolling 
 *' along the pebbled Walk juft within it, 
 ** were Lucy and Periy their Arms about 
 " each other's Necks. — The Squire hem- 
 '^ med ; they looked round ; and oh ! what 
 ** a Cry of Joy they gave ! My Mother^ 
 '* hearing the Noife, came out. . . . 
 
 ** Dear Mrs. Fatty ^ I am writing as 
 ** fmall as ever I can, and muft write ftill 
 
134 '^h^ OA/ Chelfea Bun-^Houfe. 
 
 " fmaller, if I mean to get in Half of 
 '^ what I want to fay. Imagine what a 
 ** happy Evening we had ! My dear 
 " Mother fhed many Tears, though, when 
 " £he heard of your Kindnefs to me 
 ^* throughout my Illnefs ; and delired me 
 " to exprefs her Thankfulnefs to you all 
 " in the ftrongeft Terms I could frame. 
 " My Ten Pounds proved very acceptable, 
 " as it made up, with her Savings, juft the 
 ** Sum fhe wants to bind Joe to our Village 
 ** Dodlor. Penelope is learning to make 
 *' Bone-Lace ; and Mrs. Evans is fo well 
 ** content with Lucyy that fhe is going to 
 ** take her as fecond Teacher in her School 
 ** next Quarter, fo that we are all getting 
 ** on mighty well, one Way and another. 
 " Alfo my Mother has realized a pretty 
 ** little Sum by the Sale of fome of my 
 " Father s Latin Books, and there are yet 
 ** more left. Your delicious Plum-Cake 
 " was done ample Juftice to, and the Boys 
 '* declare there never were fuch Ginger- 
 " bread-Nuts. Now I have filled my 
 
A Voice from the Bajket, 135 
 
 " Paper to the very Edge, and yet how 
 ** much I have left unfaid ! Put yourfelf 
 ^* in my Place, and you w^ill know^ all I 
 ** w^ould fay to you, and to dear Mrs. 
 ^' Honeywood, and to Prue; not forgetting 
 *' Mr. Honeywoody to whom give my kind 
 *' Regards. 
 
 ** Your ever attached and grateful 
 
 *^ Gertrude Bowerbank." 
 
 My Father y who was fmoking his Pipe 
 whilft I read this Letter to him and my 
 Mother, prefently faid, *' I fee them all!" 
 
 " See who. Father?'' 
 
 ** Everybody in Mrs. Gattfs Letter — 
 '' The old Woman with her Pipe, the old 
 '* Gentleman in his Roquelaure, the Rob- 
 ** ber hung in Chains on the lone Heath, 
 *' the Highwaymen, the flout old Squire 
 " leaping out with his Blunderbufs, my 
 " Lord Duke coming up, the Police- 
 '* Officers riding into the Yard, the young 
 ** Farmer coming to meet his Father, 
 
136 'The Old Cheljea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 ** Gatty flying up to her Mother — that 
 ^* Letter is as full of Pidtures as this 
 '' Chinefe Paper." 
 
 After ruminating on it a While longer, 
 he began again, with, 
 
 ** Gatty ought to marry the Squire/' 
 ** Oh Father! his Sony if you pleafe ! '' 
 ^* How do you know the Son is a fingle 
 "Man?" 
 
 " Nay, how do we know the Squire is 
 '' a Widower ? He's too old." 
 
 '^ Perhaps ihe won't marry either,^' faid 
 Prue, 
 
 " Perhaps not, Mrs. Prue, but let me 
 " tell you, neither you nor your Sifter 
 " could have writ that Letter." 
 
 " Well, Father y I fuppofe a Woman 
 " does not get married for writing a Let- 
 " ter. For my Part, I don't fee much in 
 *^ it. Anybody, I fuppofe, could write, if 
 " they had Anything to write about." 
 
 " No, that don't follow — it's a nonfequi- 
 " tury as the Scholars fay." 
 
 '' I don't fet up for a Scholar, not I," 
 
A Voice from the Bajket, 1 37 
 
 faid Pruey " I never was fo good a Hand 
 '' at my Pen as Fatty ; but I worked the 
 " beft Sampler, for all that." 
 
 ''Well," fays my Father ^ "fay, when 
 '' you write to her. Fatty ^ that I don't care 
 '' how often I pay a Shilling for fuch a 
 *' Voice from the Bafket as that. I wifh 
 '' fhe'd fend us one every Week." 
 
 It indeed was Something curious, how 
 my Father's Fancy was hit by this Letter, 
 which he got me to read to him many 
 Evenings following. What was more re- 
 markable, Mr. Fenwick praifed it too, 
 though after a more temperate Manner. 
 He called it eafy Writing. Now, fure, 
 what is eafy, is not fo meritorious as what 
 is difficult ! And he added it was almoft 
 as good as fome of the Letters in the 
 Spectator; which, everybody muft own, 
 was immoderate. Gatty could hiflorify 
 plain enough what paffed before her own 
 Eyes and was heard by her own Ears ; but 
 fhe could not frame a Sentence that required 
 fome Exertion of the Mind to follow ; 
 
138 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe, 
 
 which, I take it, is the Perfeffion of good 
 Writing; at leaft, I know that's the Way 
 with our beft Authors. And no Shame to 
 her for it: Women are not to be blamed 
 for not fhining in what is out of their 
 Province ; and fhe fpelt perfectly well, and 
 wrote a neat, flowing Hand, which had 
 found Plenty of Pradlice under Lady Betty; 
 only, to fet her up with the Amandas and 
 Z)^r/W<^j-thatcorrefponded with Sir Richard 
 Steele; why, the Thing was clearly pre- 
 pofterous. 
 
 Meanwhile, Mr. Fenwick continued to 
 find his Way down to us moft Evenings, 
 with his Book in his Hand ; and I mufl: 
 fay he made the Time pafs very pleafantly 
 and fwiftly ; but though he read quite loud 
 enough for fuch a fmall Company, 'twas 
 evident to himfelf as well as to us, that his 
 Voice would by no means yet fill a Church ; 
 befides which, his Breath foon became 
 fhort, and a red Spot would come on his 
 Cheek ; which, whenever my Mother 
 noticed, ihe always made him fhut his 
 
A Voice from the Bajket, 139 
 
 Book, and would talk about Anything that 
 chanced, rather than let him over-tire 
 himfelf. Meanwhile, he heard Nothing, 
 as far as I could glean, of Mr. Caryl: I 
 know he got no Letters, nor received any 
 Viiitor ; and that, I think, tended to make 
 the red Spot infix itfelf on his Cheek. 
 I pitied him heartily — " Hope deferred 
 maketh the Heart fick " — but yet it was 
 a Matter I could not prefume to exprefs 
 Sympathy with him upon ; nor was I 
 qualified to allay any of his Uneafinefs. 
 But I kept anxioufly looking out for Mr. 
 Caryl's entering the Shop. One Forenoon, 
 Lady Betty's Man, Mr. Jamesy came in ; 
 and, fays he, '^ Your Servant, Mrs. Patty — 
 ** My Lady is going to give a grand Mafked 
 *^ Ball to-morrow Evening ; and it occurred 
 ** to me that you and your Sifter might 
 " like to look on. If fo, I can fecure you 
 " good Places, where you will fee without 
 "being feen; and you will only have to 
 *' come early, and afk the Hall Porter for 
 " Mr. Jamesr 
 
140 l^he Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe, 
 
 I thanked him, and faid it would be a 
 vaft Treat to us ; and after a little Talk 
 about Mrs. Gatty, and my offering him 
 fome Refrefhment, which he readily fe- 
 ledted in the Form of Cherry Brandy and 
 Macarons, he went away. 
 
Chapter IX. 
 
 Lady Betty* s Mafquerade. 
 
 Prudence was mighty pleafed to hear of 
 our Engagement, as it would afford her a 
 near View of the gay World, which was 
 what fhe had long been defiring. After 
 the Shop was clofed, we fet forth, attended 
 by Peter, who was alfo to fee us fafe back; 
 and on reaching the Square, we defcried 
 the Houfe diredtly by the lighted Flam- 
 beaux. 
 
 Both the private and public Entrance 
 were already in Commotion ; but we 
 afked the Hall Porter for Mr. yames, who 
 prefently appeared, ftill in Defhabille. 
 " You have taken me at my Word," faid 
 
142 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe, 
 
 he fmiling, " Your Coming is of the 
 ** earlieft, and I dare not let you go up- 
 " Stairs yet, fo you muft wait awhile in 
 ** the Servants' Hall, till the Company 
 ^* begin to arrive." 
 
 I was never in a Servants* Hall of that 
 Defcription before ; and I muft fay that it 
 afforded me Matter and Leifure for feveral 
 Reflections. Servants, Paftry-Cooks — Men 
 and Boys, and fo forth, were buftling in 
 and out, and we were pufhed about a good 
 Deal till we got into a quiet Corner be- 
 hind the Clock. It ftruck me that the 
 Pleafures of the Quality were purchafed at 
 the Price of a good Deal of Immorality in 
 their Dependents. Many a Glafs of Wine 
 did I fee fwallowed on the Sly ; many a 
 Tart and Cuftard whipt off and haftily 
 eaten in Corners. One would have 
 thought, in a great Houfe like this. Frag- 
 ments of Dainties had been fo common 
 that they would have been no Tempta- 
 tions ; but doubtlefs the poor Servants had 
 been fo overwrought and debarred of their 
 
Lady Betty's Mafquerade. 143 
 
 natural Reft and regular Refrefhments, 
 that their Strength required a little keep- 
 ing up, for they had an arduous Evening 
 before them. The Maids flirted and 
 jefted ; the Men ufed intemperate Lan- 
 guage ; in and out among them all failed 
 my Lady Houfekeeper from Time to 
 Time, as proud as a Dutchefs, and in a 
 Head and Primers that a Dutchefs had 
 probably worn, before they were a little 
 foiled. 
 
 By-and-by the Buftle increafes. Mr. 
 James comes in, fuperbly attired, and 
 fmilingly oflfers us Tarts and Tokay ; but, 
 though prefixed, we declined. Then he 
 beckoned us to follow him, and piloted us 
 into a brilliant Ante-room where, behind 
 fome huge Orange Trees in Wooden Tubs, 
 he found us Seats that commanded a Vif- 
 toe of the two Drawing-rooms beyond. 
 Sure, the King's Majefty could fcarce dwell 
 in greater State. I think that neither 
 Whitehall^ Windfory nor Hampton Court 
 could ever have made a greater Show. 
 
144 "The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 The Ante-Chamber Hangings were blue 
 Velvet and Silver, the Drawling-room that 
 came next beyond v^as amber Satin and 
 Gold; the Chamber beyond that was hung 
 with Goblin Tapeftry. Alfo there were 
 fome large Mirrors, in which one might 
 behold one's felf from Head to Foot. 
 
 I had very little Notion of what a 
 Mafked Ball was really like, but I con- 
 cluded the Company being attired as 
 Monarchs, Roman Senators, and Poten- 
 tates of various Defcriptions, would be 
 fufficiently poffefTed with their imaginary 
 Dignities to difplay Geftures and Deport- 
 ment of a correfponding Sort, which 
 would doubtlefs be very majeftical. And 
 thefe again would be relieved by Light- 
 Comedy Parts, which^ well fupported, 
 would be humorous and diverting. 
 
 As, let People aflemble as late as they 
 will, fome one muft ftill be firft, fo it was 
 on the prefent Occafion. A little Man, 
 gaudily attired, entered with a good Deal 
 of Flutter and Importance, who, as foon as 
 
Lady Betty s Mafquerade. 145 
 
 he found the Apartments empty, exchanged 
 his Strut for his ordinary Gait, took off his 
 Mafk and put it on again feveral times, 
 perambulated the Saloons, peeped into 
 everything, examined himfelf again and 
 again before the Mirrours, acted a little in 
 Dumb-Show, fat down before one of them, 
 and finally curled himfelf up on a Settee 
 and dropped afleep. 
 
 I wonder how much the Expeftation of 
 Pleafure makes up the real Amount of 
 Pleafure apportioned to us in this Life. 
 The Pleafure itfelf continually disappoints; 
 the Expedlation of it has often Something 
 troubled and impatient ; fo that either Way 
 there's perpetual Alloy. 
 
 Prudence and I were now mighty 
 anxious for the Company. A Group at 
 length entered, confifting of Maids of 
 Honour and Courtiers of Queen Eliza- 
 beth's Time, very much furbelowed and 
 bedizened, who believed themfelves the 
 firft till they efpied the little Man on the 
 Settee, when there were fome fmall Jokes 
 
146 T^he Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 made about Cymon and Iphigenia^ Milton 
 and the Italian Lady, Sleeping Beauty in 
 the Wood, and fo forth. Then the Ladies 
 fettled their RuiFs at the Mirrours, and 
 failed up and down; and one of them 
 walked through Part of a Minuet without 
 Mufic with a Gentleman fhe called Sir 
 Chriftopher Hatton, who pointed his Toes 
 extremely well. Then one of them faid, 
 '"My Mafk makes my Face fo hot!" 
 ^' And red too," faid the other ; '^ but 
 " what will it be by-and-by ? " ** I wonder 
 ** if Harry will come," fays one ; ** I'll lay 
 " any Wager I ihall find him out."— **;ril 
 " lay any Wager you won't," fays the 
 other. Thought I, is this the Way Maids 
 of Honour ufed to talk in the Days of 
 good Queen Befs? Well, perhaps it may 
 be. 
 
 Juft then the little Man woke up, rub- 
 bing his Eyes, and faying drowfily, ** John, 
 *^ my hot Water at feven . . ." on which 
 the Ladies tittered, and he woke up, 
 looked about, and probably felt foolifh. 
 
Lady Bettfs Mafquerade. i^j 
 
 Now the Muficians came, and took their 
 Places, and began to tune up ; and Prue 
 whifpered to me, *^ How delightful ! " 
 Indeed, the Mufic was, or feemed to me, 
 firft-rate, and I enjoyed it as much as any- 
 thing ; yet at length became inured to it, 
 and fcarce more attentive than to a common 
 Street Band; and finally wifhed the Men 
 would not play fo loud, for it prevented 
 my hearing what People were faying. 
 The Bail-Rooms now began to fill faft; 
 and were foon crowded with Jews, Turksy 
 and Saracensy Nuns, Monks, and Friars, 
 Goddefses, Shepherdefses, and Milkmaids, 
 Pulcinelloes, Mountebanks, and Minifters 
 of State. Their Drefses were exceffive 
 fine, and I almoft trembled to think of the 
 Expenfe People had put themfelves to for 
 the Amufement of one Night ; however, 
 that was all for the good of Trade — if fo 
 be they paid their Bills. 
 
 As for fupporting their Characters, there 
 was fcarce an Attempt at it; the utmoft 
 that the greater Part of 'em did was to fay. 
 
148 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 in little fqueaking Voices, ** You don't 
 "know me!" *^ I know you!" This 
 feemed to me ftupider than Child's-Play ; 
 and I was beginning to weary of it, when 
 Prudence jogged me as a very pretty Figure 
 paffed, in ftriped Gauze and pink Satin, 
 fprinkled with Flowers, as the Goddefs 
 Flora ; and whifpered, " Lady Grace Bel- 
 " lair:' 
 
 Soon after, a smart young Spanifli Cava- 
 liero came in, whom fhe pronounced to be 
 Mr. Arbuthnot ; and a Bafhaw with three 
 Tails, whom fhe decided upon as Sir 
 Charles Sefton. Whether any of her 
 Guefses were right, I knew not. By- 
 and-by. Dancing began in the inner Sa- 
 loon; and, for the firft Time, I had a 
 Glimpfe of Lady Betty y who was the only 
 Woman without a Mafk ; and when I faw 
 how great was her Advantage therein over 
 the reft, I wondered how Perfons that 
 evidently thought mainly of outward Ap- 
 pearances could make themfelves fuch 
 Frights. 
 
Lady Betty's Mafquerade, 149 
 
 By-and-by a fingular Couple, Arm in 
 Arm, left the Ball-Rooms for the Ante- 
 Chamber, drefsed like Charles the Second's 
 Courtiers, all but their Heads ; for one had 
 the Head of a Fox, and the other of a 
 monftrous Goofe. The latter faid,** Quack!" 
 whenever he was pujfhed by the Crowd, 
 which was held an exceeding good Joke, 
 for Folks cried, " Well done, Goofe ! 
 '* Quack again!" and, when he did fo, 
 went into Peals of Laughter. At Length, 
 with his Friend the Fox, he fat down on 
 a Bench juft in Front of our Orange- 
 Trees, exclaiming to his Companion, 
 " Precious hot Work ! Even Popularity 
 " may be too fatiguing." 
 
 " I never had enough of it to know 
 " that," fays the Fox. 
 
 " You ! Why, you've been fteeped in it 
 ** to the Lips !— among a certain Coterie 
 " at any Rate. You are feigning Modefty, 
 '' Mr. Fox." 
 
 " All I faid was, I had never had too 
 *^ much ; perhaps, not enough. We 
 
150 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 ** belong to an infatiable Race. By-the- 
 *^ by, I proved myfelf a Goofe To-Night in 
 ** choofing to play Fox, for you are by far 
 ** the more popular." 
 
 *' And only by faying Quack." 
 
 ** Quackery goes a great Way in this 
 " World, — I might have known 't would 
 '' be fo." 
 
 '* Monftrous fine Mafquerade this ! " 
 faid the Goofe. 
 
 " Oh, delightful ! Have you made out 
 *^ many People?'' 
 
 " Why, to tell you the Truth, I've been 
 " fo obferved myfelf, I've had no Time to 
 *' obferve others." 
 
 '' Quack!" 
 
 " Sir ! name your Hour, Place, and 
 '' Weapon." 
 
 ** How quiet and retired is everything 
 ** in this little Spot ! You have Time to 
 ^* obferve now." 
 
 " Why did you deny yourfelf to me 
 " Yefterday ? I know you were at Home." 
 
 '* The Truth is, I was defperately hypped." 
 
Lady Betty s Mafquerade, 151 
 
 '' What made you fo ? " 
 
 " Study." 
 
 " What were you ftudying ? The na- 
 " tural Hiftory of the Fox ?" 
 
 *' No, I was learning fome Verfes by 
 " Heart ; and I'll fpout them to you." 
 
 *' Now then; don't be tedious." 
 
 ^* * Three Things an Author's modeji Wijhes 
 
 bound ; 
 ** My Friend/hip, and a Prologue ^ and ten 
 
 Found: " 
 
 '' Oh, come! that's FopeT' 
 
 " Well, and it's my Cafe too — pretty 
 " near. A callow Poetling writes a Piece, 
 ** dedicates it to me, and expefts me to 
 " patronize and print it." 
 
 ^* You ? Why, I never faw your Name 
 " head a Dedication ! " 
 
 " Well, Sir, you may fhortly — if I find 
 " no Way of adroitly declining the Ho- 
 " nour, as I have done fimilar Favours 
 '' before." 
 
 "Why decline?" 
 
152 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe, 
 
 " Oh, the Thing's burthenfome." 
 
 '* The ten Pounds may be ; but moft 
 " People confider themfelves honoured, 
 " and are willing to pay for an expenfive 
 " Luxury." 
 
 *' Well, it's no Luxury to me." 
 
 '' Don't have it, then." 
 
 " How avoid it?" 
 
 '' By fimple Negledl. He can t ajk for 
 ** the ten Pounds, if you forget to fend 
 " them." 
 
 *^ No, but he may abufe me." 
 
 " If his Abufe is not clever. Nobody 
 " will read it. Come, you are making a 
 " Mountain of a Molehill. If he has 
 " fent his Poem to you, fend it back * with 
 " Thanks,' or forget to return it altogether, 
 *' or let a Spark fall upon it." 
 
 " Then a Spark would fall upon me,'' 
 
 " Nay, if none of thofe Expedients can 
 " fit you, you muft help yourfelf to one. 
 ** I begin to think you ought to have played 
 *' Goofe, in good Earneft." 
 
 They now fell to talking of the Com- 
 
Lady Betty s Mafquerade. 153 
 
 pany, and criticizing their Dreffes and 
 Deportment, but I was too pre-occupied 
 with what they had been faying to attend 
 much to their cauftic Remarks ; for though 
 they fpoke quietly, and their falfe Heads 
 fomewhat difguifed their Voices, I could 
 not help entertaining an Impreffion that 
 the Fox was Mr. Caryl. Was it poor 
 Mr. Fenwicky then, he alluded to fo un- 
 handfomely? Oh, the Hollownefs of 
 Worldlings ! Why, had I not with my 
 own Ears heard him commend Mr. 
 Fenwick's Poem to his Face, and thank 
 him for the Compliment of the Dedication ? 
 And yet, here he was waiving it off, as 
 't were, and even hinting that Mr. Fenwick 
 wanted to be paid for it ! whereas I 
 knew he had refufed Money when of- 
 fered ! Oh, the Meannefs ! . . He was 
 jealous, and envious too, I could make out, 
 of a Man that had- writ better Verfes than 
 his own; and would fain have them fup- 
 preft. Well, well, this is a wicked World 
 we live in; and that's no News neither. 
 
1 54 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 A falfe Head and a falfe Heart, thought 
 I, as the Fox walked off with the Goofe. 
 I declare my Hands tingled to pull off that 
 Fox's Head and expofe him; but that 
 would have been witlefs. I got tired of 
 the Vanity-Fair long before Prudence did. 
 At length even fhe had had enough (and 
 no Wonder, for our Attention had been on 
 the full Stretch for many Hours, without 
 Refrefhment or Change of Pofture) ; but 
 the Difficulty was, how to ileal away ; for 
 the Lobbies and grand Staircafe were as 
 thronged as the Bail-Rooms, and we 
 could not in our plebeian Drefles, and un- 
 mafked, attempt going among the Com- 
 pany ; fo there we continued to fit, long 
 after we wanted to come away. At length 
 the Rooms began to thin; and we took 
 Advantage of a chance Difperfion of the 
 Company to make a fudden Flight to the 
 back Stairs. I thought I heard Remarks 
 and Exclamations made, but never looked 
 round; and there, at the Foot of the back 
 Stairs, flood Peter as pale as Death, think- 
 
Lady Bettfs Mafquerade. 155 
 
 ing he had mifled us, and never fhould find 
 us. He had paffed the Night, of courfe, 
 at a PubUc-Houfe — no good place for him, 
 nor for fcores of others that did the fame ; 
 and was now waiting with our camelot 
 Cloaks and Clogs, which he had flowed 
 fafely fomewhere where he knew he could 
 find them again. Once equipped, we fol- 
 lowed clofe at his Heels as he elbowed his 
 Way through a Rabble-Rout of Chairmen, 
 Link-Boys, Hackney-Coachmen, Pick- 
 pockets, and Lookers-on. It was pouring 
 of Rain, the Pavement fhone like Glafs,Day 
 was breaking, and I never heard fuch an 
 uproar in my Life . . . ** Lady So-and-fo's 
 ** Chariot ! " echoed from one hoarfe Voice 
 to another all along and round the Corner ; 
 and then ** Lady So-and-fo's Chariot flops 
 '' the Way !"— till Lady So-and-fo flepped 
 in and drove ofi\ 
 
 At length we got quit of it all, and 
 picked our Way Home as we befl could, 
 and a long Way it feemed ! We had too 
 much to do in minding our DrelTes, to have 
 
156 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 Leifure for talking. As we got towards 
 the Five Fields we met plenty of Market- 
 Carts ; and now and then we heard the 
 fhrilly Cry of fome poor little Chimney- 
 sweep. Once at Home, we were foon in 
 Bed and afleep ; and I awoke nearly at my 
 ufual Time, chilly and yawnifh, but Prue 
 continued fleeping, and I did not wake her. 
 I was not down quite as foon as ufual, 
 after all, and the Milk and Bread were 
 behind Time ; and, of Courfe, Mr. Fenwick 
 did not get his Chocolate as foon as ufual. 
 When he heard what had made me late, 
 he looked grave. I faid, " Sure, Sir, there 
 ** was no Harm in looking on ?'" He faid, 
 '' Well, I don't know . . It is dangerous to 
 ^* attend not merely Places of pernicious 
 " but of doubtful Amufement. Do not 
 " your Feelings this Morning tell you that 
 ** there was Something unfound and un- 
 '' fafe in the Revelry of laft Night ? And 
 '* if fo in the Cafe of mere Spectators, how 
 " much more in thatof acftual Participators? 
 ** and of all thofe poor People, no volun- 
 
Lady Betty* s Mafquerade. 157 
 
 ^' tary Promoters of it, who only obeyed 
 *^ Orders, and got no Pleafure at all, but 
 *^ what was allied to Difhonefty and In- 
 ** temperance ? I don't want to be over- 
 " ftrid; ; but am I right or wrong, think 
 " you, Mrs. Patty ?" And I was obliged 
 to own that I believed he was in the Right 
 on't. 
 
 As for Prue^ fhe was fit for Nothing all 
 Day ; but fhe would hear of no Wrong 
 in what had to her been fo delightful. So 
 I left her to amufe my quiet Mother with 
 her lively Chat, and attended to the Shop 
 myfelf. 
 
Chapter X. 
 
 Torns Prefents. 
 
 I WAS fitting behind the Counter, when 
 a fmart-looking, funburnt young Man of 
 about two-and-twenty, attired as a Sailor, 
 came into the Shop. He faid, ** Hallo, 
 " Patty ! how are you ?" I faid, '« Why, 
 ** Tom ! can it be you ? I thought you 
 *' had been in China /" 
 
 ** I have been there," fays he, " true 
 '* enough ; more-by-Token, here's a China 
 ** Orange for you ;" and clapped one into 
 my Hand with fuch Force that it went 
 near to go through it. 
 
 " How are you all ? '^ faid he ; " I'm glad 
 
T^oms Prefents, 159 
 
 ** to fee you, and I hope you're glad to fee 
 
 "me.'' 
 
 • *^ Oh yes, very glad, Tom ; pray walk 
 " into the Parlour — we are all at Home." 
 
 " How are you, Uncle V fays he, fo 
 loud and fudden that he made my Father 
 jump. " And you. Aunt /" — kiffing her. 
 " And you ! " kiffing Prue too. 
 
 "* Manners, Jack!'"' fays my Father, 
 quoting Gattys Letter. 
 
 ** My Name's Tom^ Vncle^ not ^acky 
 " though I fuppofe you meant Jack Tar, 
 " Well ! fo here you all are ! I've only 
 **juft landed — Didn't forget one of you 
 " in foreign Lands ; I've brought my Aunt 
 " a Monkey." 
 
 ** A nafty Beaft ! " cries my Father ; 
 ** we won't have him here, Tom ! He'll 
 '' break all my China." 
 
 " Well, Uncky I thought fhe might 
 " do a little Damage that Way, ('tis the 
 ** prettieft little Creature you ever faw ; 
 " her Ears are bored, and her Name's 
 " J^Jfy ') S° ^ brought you. Sir, a Tea- 
 
i6o The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 " Service, to cover Breakages ; the Cups 
 *• and Saucers fitting into each other ; and 
 ** the Teapot, no bigger than this Orange, 
 " fitting in o' Top ; the whole Concern 
 "packs in a Cylinder no bigger than a 
 " Spice-Box." 
 
 ** Dear T^om^ lays my Mother^ nervoufly, 
 ** we've more Tea-Services already than 
 ** we fhould know what to do with, if we 
 •* did not keep a genteel Kind of Tea- 
 ** Garden for the Quality." 
 
 ** But as you do. Ma'am, won't it be 
 ** acceptable ? Or otherwiie, won't you 
 "want Jejfj to break it? She's the 
 ** prettiell little Dear you can imagine, the 
 " Darling of the whole Ship. Well ! it 
 ** ieems you 're each diicontented with the 
 "other's Prefents; — my Uncle don't like 
 ** your having the Monkey, and you don't 
 **likc his having the Crockery. Then 
 " 1 11 tell you what I 'U do — chop and 
 change. 1 11 take your Prefents down 
 to my Father and Mother^ and you fhall 
 have theirs. I 've bought you a Pair of 
 
 €( 
 
 f€ 
 
Thorn's Prefents. i6i 
 
 ^' Slippers, Pruey but of courfe they 're too 
 
 " big." 
 
 And out he pulled a Pair of little 
 Chinefe Slippers that might have pinched 
 Cinderella. 
 
 ** I 'm fure you can't wear them, Prue,'* 
 faid I. 
 
 " I 'm fure I fhan't try," faid fhe, jerking 
 her Chin. 
 
 " Well, Patty y fince I could find you 
 " Nothing better, I 've brought you a 
 " Feather Fan with an Ivory Handle." 
 
 ** Thank you, T:om I " faid I ; ** it will do 
 " nicely to flap the Flies off the Paflry." 
 
 '* And fince you. Aunty will not have 
 ** the Monkey, you mufl be content with 
 ** fome Gunpowder Tea." 
 
 ** I fhall like that a great deal better, 
 " Tom, I afTure you. The only Sort of 
 " Gunpowder I approve." 
 
 Here T^om pulled out of his Pocket 
 what looked like a Mahogany Rule, about 
 nine Inches long. " Now, Sir," fays he 
 to my Father y ** what 's that ?" 
 
1 62 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 " I can't for the Life of me tell/' fays» 
 my Father^ after eyeing it afkance and 
 then handling it. 
 
 " I knew you couldn't ! See," (unfolding 
 it,) '' it 's a Boot-jack ! " 
 
 " A queer one, Tom!'' 
 
 ** And what is it now ? Why, a Read- 
 '' ing-Defk ! What is it now ? A Crib- 
 **bage Board!" 
 
 " Ha ! Toniy that's ingenious." 
 
 "Ingenious, Uncle? I believe it is! 
 " What is it now? A Ruler. What is it 
 ** now? A pair of Snuffers." 
 
 "Ha, ha, ha!" 
 
 " Ah, I knew you'd laugh — what is it 
 " now? An eighteen Inch Rule. What is it 
 " now ? A Pair of Nut-crackers. What 
 " is it now ? Two Candlefticks. What is 
 " it now ? A Picquet-Board. What is it 
 " now ! A Lemon-fqueezer. That's for 
 " you. Uncle, That's all the Changes. 
 " It will go into your Coat Pocket." 
 
 ^^ It Jhall go there, Tom! 'Tis a real 
 " Curiofity." 
 
Thorns Prefents. 163 
 
 " I knew you'd fay fo. Sir. I wasn't 
 ** fure about the Monkey, but I knew 
 " you'd like this. Jejfy fhall go with me 
 " Home, but I fhan't go there till next 
 " Week, becaufe they don't know we've 
 ** come up the River, fo I ihall ftay a 
 '' little here firft." 
 
 '* But, Tom, I don't know how we can 
 " take you in, for we have a Lodger." 
 
 ^* Oh my Goodnefs ! Nay, don't put 
 " the poor Fellow to Inconvenience on my 
 " Account, pray." 
 
 ** Certainly not!" cried Prue, indig- 
 nantly. **Why, Mr. Fenwick is quite a 
 '' Gentleman !" 
 
 ** Oh, is he fo ?" faid Tom, burfting out 
 laughing, ** and pray, what am I ? * Sir, 
 ^^ you 're no Gentleman ! ' — is that it, 
 '' PrueV 
 
 " Why, you're Tom, and that's all." 
 
 '^ And that's enough too, isn't it? Oh, 
 " I can fwing my Hammock anywhere. 
 ** I wouldn't put Anyone to the fmalleft 
 *^ Inconvenience. Would fooner catch 
 
164 TChe Old Cheljea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 ** my Death of Cold, or lofe every Shot 
 ** in my Locker." 
 
 " Toniy you're fuch a thoughtlefs, good- 
 *^ tempered Fellow, we muft pack you in 
 " fome where/' 
 
 ** Oh, no. Uncle! don't think of it. 
 ''V\\ be off to the Three Bells. Only, 
 ** there are two Belles here I like better." 
 
 ** But, Tom^ I fliouldn't like you to get 
 *^ your Pocket picked." 
 
 " And I," faid my Mother y '' fhould not 
 ** like you to take your Death of Cold." 
 
 *' Never caught Cold in my Life, Ma'am, 
 *' that was only Flummery ; a Sailor has 
 " Something elfe to do than keep fneezing 
 " and blowing his Nofe. And I can leave 
 ** my Money and Watch here." 
 
 *^ Prudence^' faid I, ** you and I could 
 " fleep in the little blue Clofet." 
 
 " Why fhouldn't Toniy' faid Prudence^ 
 ** now the other Door is un-nailed ? We 
 " fhould have to move all our Things." 
 
 ** Thank you, Patty y' faid Toniy "you 
 ** were always as fweet as Syrup to me. 
 
T^onis Prefents, 165 
 
 " I fhall like the blue Clofet a precious 
 ** deal the beft, I can affure you, inftead 
 " of being maft-headed." 
 
 So thus it was arranged ; and the light- 
 hearted Fellow was foon eftablifhed among 
 us, fpinning long Yarns, as he called them, 
 about yohn Chinaman, 
 
 The next Day, he was abfent for fome 
 Hours, and when he came back, he faid 
 he wanted Prue and me to go with him 
 in the Evening to fee a Conjuror. Pru- 
 dencCy for fome Whim, would not go; but 
 I accompanied him with Pleafure. The 
 Way Tom went on, however, fpoiled my 
 Evening's Entertainment. 
 
 The Conjurer was dreifed fomewhat in 
 the Oriental Style, and I fhould have taken 
 him for a real Foreigner, only that Tom 
 whifpered to me that was all Sham. In 
 Fad:, he began by addreffing us in very 
 good Englijh, and faying that the Marvels 
 he was about to difplay were unaccom- 
 panied by any Fraud or Deception, and 
 that any Lady or Gentleman who doubted 
 
1 66 T!he Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe, 
 
 his Word might come and fit at his Elbow. 
 ** I accept your Invitation!" cries Tom; 
 and immediately " flued himfelf round/' 
 as he expreflid it, round a Pillar between 
 us and the Stage, flipped down it as if he 
 had been a Monkey, and was at the Man's 
 Side in a Moment. The Conjurer looked 
 fufHciently annoyed, but not more fo than 
 I felt, for it feemed to me that the Eyes 
 of all the Audience were alternately on 
 To?72 and me, as indeed they well might be. 
 Luckily for my Comfort and Refpecta- 
 bility, he left me fitting next to a very 
 fteady-looking elderly Couple, the neareft 
 of which faid, " Never mind, young Lady, 
 " we'll take Care of you." I faid, *' It was 
 " fo very though tlefs of him to leave me!" 
 and felt quite uncomfortable. " It was 
 '' very thoughtlefs," faid the good Woman's 
 Hufband, fmiHng, '' I ihould think, Mifs, 
 '' he's in the fea-faring Line." I faid, 
 *^ Yes, Sir," and we then began to attend 
 to what was going on, on the Stage ; but 
 I fat on Thorns all the While. 
 
Torris Prefents. 167 
 
 Tom, quite unembarraffed by the Publicity 
 of his Polition, kept his Eyes fixed on the 
 Conjurer's Proceedings with an Air of 
 Hvely Intereft. The two or three firft 
 Tricks drew from him fuch Exclamations 
 as " Capital ! Excellent ! " which appeared 
 fomewhat to mollify the Cunning Man ; 
 but at length, when Something was done 
 which feemed very furprifing, Tom coolly 
 remarked, " Ah! I fee how that is managed," 
 in a Voice as clear as a Bell, that was heard 
 all over the Houfe. The Conjurer fhook 
 his Head at him and fr#wned ; but went 
 on to Something elfe. Again Tom was 
 pleafed ; again he clapped as heartily as 
 any. The next Trick he marked his 
 Approval of by faying, " Very neat, very 
 '' neat." At Length came the grand Feat 
 of the Evening, which was fwallowing a 
 Carving-Knife. Everybody's Attention 
 was riveted, when Tom fa id in an Ex- 
 poftulatory Voice, *' But, my dear good 
 " Fellow, how can you fay there is no 
 *^ Fraud or Deception?'' ** Sir, I defy 
 
1 68 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 ^^ you to prove any," fays the Conjurer. 
 ** I will prove it diredily," fays Tom^ *^ for 
 " I have often i^tn the Thing better done 
 " in India J^ " Sir, you are an impertinent 
 *' Fellow," fays the Conjurer; "I muft 
 " infift upon it that you withdraw. If 
 ** you will not retire of your own Accord, 
 " you fhall do fo on Compulfion, for it is 
 " highly indecorous to interrupt a public 
 " Performance in this Manner." 
 
 " Well, but why did you afk me ? " faid 
 Tom, ** I didn't ! " fays the Conjurer. 
 " Yon did," idiys^om, '' Bidnt he ?" to 
 the whole Houfe. *^ Knock him down ! 
 '^ Throw him over!" cried feveral Voices. 
 '' Give him into Cuftody !" '' Nay," fays 
 ToMy " I don't want to make any Difturb- 
 ** ance : — if you wifli me to go, I'll go, 
 '^ for I never like to put People to the 
 ** leaft Inconvenience, and I'm fure if I'd 
 " known you didn't mean to be taken at 
 ** your Word, I would have flayed where 
 *' I was!" Saying which, he fwung him- 
 felf up the Pillar again, and was by my 
 
'Torns Prefents. 169 
 
 Side the next Moment, looking as merry 
 and good-tempered as ever. But I was fo 
 penetrated with Shame, that I could not 
 bear to look up, but begged him to let us 
 go Home, to which he acceded, though 
 with much Surprife. The next Morning, 
 I was giving my Father and Mother an 
 Account of my uncomfortable Evening, 
 when Toniy coming in to Breakfaft, fays, 
 " Who is that pale, lanky Chap I met 
 "juft now upon the Stairs?" 
 
 " Tom ! — " faid Prudence, very indig- 
 nantly, ** it was Mr. Fenwick ?" 
 
 ** How ihould I know who he was ? " 
 rejoined Tom unconcernedly, ** I thought 
 *^ he might be a Thief.'" 
 
 " A Thief, indeed ! " muttered Prue, as 
 fhe buttered her Roll. 
 
 '' Well, Prue;' faid he brifkly, '' I gave 
 " Patty a Treat laft Night, fo now it's 
 ^* your Turn.'* 
 
 *^ You did give Patty a Treat, indeed, 
 " my Lad," fays my Father ironically. 
 
 " I'm glad fhe found it fo, Uncky' fays 
 
I/O "The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe, 
 
 he, quite cheerfully, *^ fo, To-Night, Pru- 
 *^ dence, I'll take you to the Play." 
 
 ** I don't know that I want to go," fays 
 Prudence. . % 
 
 " Oh ! very well, then I'll take Patty.'' 
 
 '' Thank you, Tom;' faid I, '' but I 
 *^ don't quite approve of Theatrical Amufe- 
 '' ments." 
 
 '' You don't ? Oh my Goodnefs !— And 
 ** do^^^^ difapprove of them, Prue V 
 
 " No, not I," faid Prue, " I think Patty 
 " more nice than wife." 
 
 " Oh, then, come along like a good Girl, 
 ** and let's go together." 
 
 '' But, "Tom;' fays my Father, '' I fhall 
 ** put a Spoke in that Wheel, unlefs you 
 *' promife you won't forfake her as you 
 ** did Patty laft Night." 
 
 ^* I'll promife you a Dozen Times, 
 " Uncle y if you think that will make it 
 ** more fecure." 
 
 *^ No, if you promife once in earneft, 
 " that will do." 
 
 ** I do promife." 
 
T^onis Prefents. 171 
 
 ** But, Toniy' put in my dear Mothery 
 " I fhare Patty's Objeftions to the Play- 
 '* Houfe, and I think two fuch young 
 " Heads as you and Prue are hardly to be 
 " trufled there. In fhort, I would rather 
 '' fhe did not go." 
 
 Prue pouted a little on this^ — My Father 
 began to chafe. 
 
 '* Fiddlefticks, my Dear," fays he, ** you 
 ** and I often went to a Play together 
 " when we were young, and why fhouldn't 
 *^they?" 
 
 ** Why, my Dear, as I am no longer 
 " young, I fee Things in a different Light." 
 
 ** It may not be a truer Light, though, 
 " Mrs. Honeywoody and you can't exped: 
 ** young Folks to fee Things differently 
 " from what you yourfelf did when you 
 *' were young. Tut, tut! let the Girl go, 
 ** and fay no more about it." 
 
 " But, Mr. Honeywood . . ." 
 
 " But, Madam !" (very loud and angry,) 
 ** haven't I fald it fhould be fo, and have 
 *' I a Right to be minded ?" 
 
172 "The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 Here my Mother turned pale and trem- 
 bled, which I never could bear to fee ; and 
 I was going to urge Prue and 'Tom^ in a 
 low Voice, to give up their Treat rather 
 than foment a Family Quarrel, when I 
 was called into the Shop, which prevented 
 my knowing how the Matter ended. Pre- 
 fently Tom went through the Shop, out of 
 the Houfe; and the next Time I could 
 look into the Parlour, it was empty. 
 
 PruCy however, was finging about the 
 Houfe, fo I argued that Peace had been 
 reftored fomehow; moft likely by her 
 giving up the Play. By-and-by fhe comes 
 in all Smiles, and fays, " Til take up Mr. 
 Fenwick's Chocolate," and, before I could 
 fay a Word, took the little Tray out of 
 my Hand and was off with it. 
 
 I had forgotten all about this, when, 
 fome Time after, happening to go up 
 Stairs for my Knotting-Bag, in paffing the 
 open Door of Mr. Fenwick's Sitting- Room, 
 I faw him and Prue ftanding at the Win- 
 dow, their Backs towards me, in earneft 
 
Toms Prefents. iji^ 
 
 Converfation ; he holding her by the Hand, 
 and fhe apparently in Tears. This gave 
 me the oddeft Feeling I ever had in my 
 Life — I v^ent up into my Room, fat down 
 on the firft Chair I came to, and could 
 hardly turn my Breath. I could not think 
 what had come over me ! Prefently I got 
 up and tried to drink fome cold Water, 
 but could hardly get it down. It feemed 
 to me as if I could not think; and yet 
 there was a great, dull, dark, unwelcome 
 Thought in my Head all the while ! 
 
 I leant my Head againft the Wall ; and 
 having quieted myfelf a little, rofe to go 
 down Stairs. Juft then, Prue came in, 
 and looked as if fhe had hoped to find the 
 Room unoccupied. I faid, *^ You've been 
 " crying, Prue T' She faid, fharply, " No, 
 ^*I haven't!— and what if I had?"~I 
 faid, ** Only that I fhould have been forry 
 ** to know that you were in Sorrow." She 
 faid, ** Tears are fhed for Joy, fometimes, 
 " as well as Sorrow, are not they?" " Cer- 
 " tainly," faid I; and turned away. " What 
 
174 ^he Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 ** could make you think I had been crying, 
 "Patty?'' fays fhe hurriedly. "Well," 
 I faid, " I thought you might be vexed 
 " about the Play."—" The Play ? oh, that 
 " was given up before Tom w^ent out,'' faid 
 ihe — " Of courfe it did vex me, and I 
 " think it v^as unkind of my Mother not 
 " to let me go." " You knov^ her Mo- 
 " tives are aWays kind," faid I. " Well, 
 " of courfe I do," fays flie, ftill croflly, 
 " but don't harp any more on fuch a dif- 
 " agreeable Subjed:. If you do, I fhall 
 " run away from you." And away fhe 
 ran. 
 
 Then it was not the Play ; then it was 
 not about Anything connedled with Tom, 
 that had made her cry ! I'd thought as 
 much ! " Tears are fhed for Joy as well 
 " as for Sorrow," fometimes, though not 
 very often. I fat down again, and turned 
 my Face to the Wall, with my Head 
 refting againft it, and cried bitterly. Mine 
 were Tears of Sorrow, not of Joy ! 
 
Chapter XI. 
 
 "The Old Angel 
 
 I DO not much like to look back on that 
 Time: — I was under a Cloud; a very dark 
 one ; and faw, heard, and felt Everything 
 under its Shadow. I did not feem to love 
 Prue much, nor to believe fhe loved me ; 
 I took Pleafure in Nothing, and did 
 Nothing well. 
 
 I wonder, now, how I could have been 
 fo filly. I am very glad People could not 
 fee into my Heart, nor guefs what was 
 paffing in my toifed and fretted Mind. 
 Oh ! if our Neighbours fometimes lay to 
 our Charge Things that we know not, how 
 
176 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 often might they lay to our Charge Things 
 that they know not ! They think us on 
 good and pleafant Terms with them, may- 
 be, when we are full of Envy, Jealoufy, 
 and Sufpicion. They utter the carelefs 
 Word and laugh the cheerful Laugh, 
 little gueffing that their lighteft Look, 
 Word and Tone are being weighed in a 
 Balance. 
 
 I fuppofe my troubled Mind tinctured a 
 Letter I wrote, as about this Time, to 
 Gatty; for in her Reply to it, which fol- 
 lowed very quickly, ihe faid, 
 
 "I think I can fee by your Writing 
 that you are not well, nor in good Spirits. 
 How earneftly do I wifh, dear Mrs. Patty ^ 
 you would come down to us here, and try 
 the effed: of a little Change. Yours is a 
 very toilfome, anxious Life, though you 
 carry it off fo well ; always afoot, always 
 thinking of others! But this may be 
 overdone, and I think you have overdone 
 it now ; fo come down, pray, before you 
 get any worfe. You know your Way to 
 
"The Old AngeL i ^'j 
 
 " the Old Angel, dear Patty! and though 
 *^ the Days are fo very fhort now and the 
 *^ Weather cold, the Roads are in fine 
 ** Order and you ihall have a warm Fire- 
 ** fide. My Mother will be more joyed 
 ^* to fee you than I can exprefs, and fo will 
 " my Brothers and Sifters y and I need not 
 " fay how acceptable your Company will 
 ^' be to me ! My Month's Holiday is up, 
 ** and I have writ to Lady Betty ; but fhe 
 ** returns no Anfwer, and perhaps confiders 
 ** me no longer her Servant. I cannot fay 
 " I fhall fret much if it prove fo ; but the 
 " Fadt muft: fhortly be afcertalned ; as in 
 ** that Cafe I mufl; feek another Service. 
 " How I fhould like to go to that reverend, 
 " comfortable old Mrs. Arhuthnot! Per- 
 " haps, when I fend her Aprons, I might 
 ** write a refpedtful Line, faying I am in 
 ** want of a Situation. Hers would be a 
 " vaflily different Service, I fancy, from my 
 ** Lady Betty s. And yet, do you know, 
 ** that fl:range Sifter of mine. Pen, is cer- 
 " tain fhe fhould like to live with my 
 
178 "The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 " Lady ! Dear Mrs. Patty y I muft abruptly 
 " conclude, as we are preparing to fpend 
 *' the Evening at Roaring Houfe, It is a 
 '^ good Step, and there will be no Moon, 
 " but we fliall do well with Lantern and 
 '* Pattens, and are not fear'd at Hob- 
 '' Goblin. 
 
 '' I depend on your coming, fo name the 
 *' Day; and wrap up very warm, or elfe 
 " come infide the Coach. Tell the 
 '* Coachman to fet you down at the Mile- 
 ** Stone, juft before he reaches the Green 
 ^^ Hatch; and we will be there to meet 
 " you. There have been no Highway 
 " Robberies thefe three Weeks, and only 
 " one Overturn, fo don^t be afraid. 
 
 '' Your Affeftionate, 
 
 ** Gertrude Bowerbank." 
 
 ^' Roaring Houfey" flowly repeated my 
 Father^ knocking the Afhes out of his 
 Pipe, when I had read him the greater 
 Part of this Letter. '^ It muft be a very 
 
The Old Angel. 179 
 
 ^* queer Place, I think, that has fuch a queer 
 " Name ... A roaring Houfe ! — hang 
 " it if I fhould like to live in it ! — A 
 *' Houfe that roars, or that has been ac- 
 " cuftomed to roar, very likely in the old 
 ** Days of the roaring Cavaliers! — A 
 '* monftrous queer Name indeed ! — Aye, 
 *' aye, many a Hogfhead of ftrong Ale 
 ^* has been fwilled in its great, rambling 
 ** Kitchen by roaring Boys, I vv^arrant ye — 
 " A great, rambling, fcrambling, fliambling 
 ^^ Houfe, with Doors and Cafements 
 " loofe on their Hinges, that creak in the 
 ** Wind, and with loofe Tiles on the great 
 '* gabled Roofs, and Swallows' Nefts in 
 *^ the great, windy Chimneys, and creak- 
 ** ing Boards in the uneven Floors and 
 ** rotten old Staircafes, and dark Corners, 
 '* and dark Cup-Boards, and windy Key- 
 " Holes and winding Paffages. That's 
 ** my Notion of Roaring Houfe '^ 
 
 ** Is that where Gatty lives ? " faid 
 Prudence heedlefsly. 
 
 " No, where fhe was going to drink 
 
i8o The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe, 
 
 ** Tea ; with Lantern and Pattens," faid 
 my Father — *' Didn't you hear Patty 
 ^' read ? Ha ! Time was, I wouldn't have 
 ** minded being her Foot-Boy." 
 
 '' But, Patty,'' faid my dear Mother 
 anxioufly, " fhe does not think you are 
 " well. Love. Do you wifh to go to 
 '' LarkfieldV 
 
 " Why, certainly. Mother, it would be 
 ** a great Treat ; only I don t fee how I 
 ** could well be fpared." 
 
 " Oh, we can fpare you well enough," 
 cries Prudence ; '* you won't be miffed ! " 
 
 '^ Thank you," faid I abruptly ; and 
 thought I would not go. 
 
 " We will manage to fpare you very 
 ** well, my dear Love," faid my dear 
 Mother — "We will contrive fo that you 
 " fhall not be miffed." 
 
 Jufl the fame Thing, only faid how 
 differently ! I thought I would go. A 
 kind Word fpoken in Seafon, oh! how 
 good is it ! 
 
 In fhort, I decided to go, for I felt I 
 
T: he Old Angel i8i 
 
 wanted a Change ; and I was hourly in 
 dread of faying in my prefent irritable 
 State, something to Prudence which I 
 ihould afterwards be bitterly forry for. I 
 faw fhe wanted me to go ; I knew fbe 
 couldy if fhe would, fupply my Place for a 
 httle While ; and I hoped after a fhort 
 Abfence to return with a new Set of Ideas, 
 and find all Things ftraight. 
 
 So I wrote to Gatty, to name my Day, 
 and began to pack up. When Mr. Fen- 
 wick heard I was going, he looked very 
 much furprifed ; but faid Nothing. I was 
 glad of the one and the other. I liked 
 his being furprifed, and I liked his making 
 no common-place Speeches. In the mean 
 Time, he had, I knew, addreffed a Letter 
 to Mr. Caryl ; and I found, rather unex- 
 peftedly, he had got an Anfwer ; — in this 
 Way. 
 
 I had carried up his Chocolate, and 
 found him with his Elbow on the Mantel- 
 Piece, and his Thumb and Fore-Finger 
 pinching his Chin very hard, while he 
 
1 82 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 frowned anxioufly over a Billet he was 
 reading. 
 
 " This is very ftrange, — very provok- 
 *' ing ! '' cried he, looking round to me 
 for Sympathy — ^* I don't know why I 
 " fhould trouble you to hear about it, 
 '' Mrs. Patty, but I am vexed !" 
 
 " I fhould like to hear about it if you 
 ** pleafe. Sir/' faid I quietly. 
 
 '' Why, — the Matter is this. I fent 
 ** Something I had been writing, — Some- 
 " thing I had taken a good deal of Pains 
 ** with, — to Mr. Paul Caryl, He feemed 
 *^ a good deal pleafed with it, took it up 
 *^ quite warmly, promifed to put it in 
 *^ Train for me and give it his Patronage. 
 " A long Interval has enfued, without 
 ^^ Anything coming of it ; at length I ven- 
 " ture to write him a gentle Reminder ; 
 ** and he, with a hundred thoufand Pro- 
 '^ teftations and Apologies, writes to fay 
 *' that ' how to excufe himfelf he knows not, 
 '* but the plain Fad; is, a Spark falling on my 
 '' Manufcript, has utterly confumed it.' " 
 
T: he Old Angel, 183 
 
 " I don't believe it!" cried I with fud- 
 den Paffion, " I don't believe one Word of 
 "it!" 
 
 *^ Why, it's hard to believe — " begins 
 Mr. Fenwicky with an aggrieved Air. 
 
 " It's not to be believed ! " interrupted 
 I vehemently ; ** it's a Falfehood, if ever 
 ** one was told ! A trumped up, vamped 
 " up Story ! " 
 
 " Hufh, Mrs. Patty—' 
 
 " No, Sir, I can't hufh, I know it's as 
 " I fay : I'm fure of it ! Oh, the Mean- 
 ^^ nefs !— " 
 
 " My dear Patty /— " 
 
 ** It's abominable. Sir ! He^ call himfelf 
 ** a Gentleman V 
 
 " My dear Patty ^ you quite aftound me 
 ** by the Vehemence of your Sympathy. 
 " I can't tell you how gratefully I feel it. 
 '* But your undue Warmth makes me fee 
 *^ my own in its proper Light — I was feel- 
 *' ing this Matter too much. It is morti- 
 " fying enough, I muft own, but I dare 
 " fay what he tells me is true . . ." 
 
1 84 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 "Not a Word!" 
 
 " And whether true or not, the Lofs to 
 " me is the fame — I fhall never fee my 
 " Manufcript again — " 
 
 ** If I were the King or the Lord Mayor, 
 " you fhould !— " 
 
 *' Pooh, pooh! what, whtn i\!s burnt f 
 
 " Burnt or unburnt; or he fhould go to 
 '' Newgate ; that he fhould ! " 
 
 ** No, no, Patty ; Kings and Lord 
 " Mayors don't fend Poets to Newgate, 
 " for being carelefs of other Poets' Papers. 
 ** You make me laugh at my own Annoy- 
 ** ance, you caricature it fo ! I have quite 
 " cleared up, now — I fhall not think of 
 "it again; unlefs with a Smile. But I 
 '* heartily thank you for your warm Sym- 
 "pathy, dear Patty!'' 
 
 "Ah, Sir!—" 
 
 " Yes, Patty, for your acceptable, your 
 " salutary Sympathy." 
 
 And he cordially prefTed my Hand. I 
 withdrew it, and flipped away ; but with 
 a Feeling of Confolation and Complacence 
 
The Old Angel. , 185 
 
 to which my lone Heart had of late been 
 a Stranger. I wiped away a Tear, and 
 went to pack my Box. 
 
 ** In a brotherly sort of Way," thought 
 I ; *' he regards me kindly. Nothing more." 
 
 Oh! what awful Work it is, when 
 Sisters are jealous of one another! The 
 nearer the Heart, the greater the Smart. 
 The clofer the Kin, the greater the Sin. 
 My Heart was in that State, that the leaft 
 Injury, real or fuppofed, made me ready 
 to cry out; and yet I muft look out 
 jealoufly for new Injuries, as if I had not 
 enough already. As for Pruey fhe was in 
 a mofl unpleafant Humour, fnappifh and 
 recklefs, or merry and unfeeHng : laughing 
 twice as much as there was Need, at the 
 mereft Trifle ; or requiring to be fpoke to 
 twice before fhe heard or made Anfwer. 
 There was no Confidence between us now ; 
 and if fhe had made any Approach to it, 
 I fhould have ftarted away from it. I was 
 glad when fhe was going about. Sight- 
 feeing, with Tom; for, as fhe truly faid. 
 
1 86 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe, 
 
 fhe was fo foon to have all the Work to 
 do, that fhe might as well take, her Plea- 
 fure while fhe could : only it was not 
 fpoken kindly. As for Tom, he had been 
 Home and back again : he had taken down 
 his Monkey to his Mother, but had foon 
 got tired, I fancy, of country Quiet, (which, 
 he faid, was as dull as a Roari-torio,) fo 
 made an Excufe to run up to Town again 
 on fome fea-faring Bufinefs. However, 
 he had only left Home for a few Days, 
 and meant to return to it as foon as he had 
 fquired me to the Old Angel ; though I 
 told him I had not the leafl Need of his 
 Protedlion, and wanted Nobody but Peter 
 to go with me. He would not have it fo; 
 but got up fome Hours before Light, brifk 
 as a Lark, to fee me off, like a good- 
 tempered Fellow as he was. He talked 
 all Sorts of Rhodomontade by the Way, 
 that amufed me in fpite of myfelf ; and, 
 juft as we got to the Inn-yard, afked me 
 how often I thought he had been in Love. 
 ** Never once," faid L 
 
The Old Angel 1 87 
 
 " Then, there you're quite out," faid 
 he, ** for I've been in Love four Times." 
 Here a Man ran againft him v^ith a Box, 
 " You might have put out my Eye," fays 
 Tom to him ; ** hov^ever, as you didn't, 
 '* it's no Matter." Here v^e got to the 
 Booking-office, and waited there while the 
 dirty old Coach was being wafhed. 
 
 ^' Four Times,'* repeated Toniy returning 
 to his Subject, ** and I'll tell you who 
 " with." 
 
 '' Oh no," faid I, " pray fpare me!" 
 
 " You don't guefs the Name of the 
 " laft, then," fays he with a roguifh Air. 
 
 ** Patty Honeywood^' doubtlefs, faid I. 
 
 " You're not fo far out, then," fays he, 
 burfting out laughing, 
 
 ^'Hufh, Tom! People will hear you. ." 
 
 " Well, and what if they do ?" 
 
 '* Why, I ftian't put much Faith in your 
 " Paffion, if you talk and laugh fo openly 
 " about it." 
 
 ** Ah," fays he, ** perhaps I may feel as 
 '* much as Fellows that are more affeded." 
 
1 88 T^he Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 Here we got flioved about a good deal by- 
 People coming into the Office. At length, 
 the Horn began to blow and the Bell to 
 clang over our Heads. Tom put me inlide 
 the Coach, within which was as yet only 
 an old Lady in a red Cardinal. Then he 
 flood on the Step, and kept talking to me 
 through the Window. *' Yes," fays he, 
 ** the Letters P. H. are indelibly tattooed 
 *^ on me. Why won't you give a Fellow a 
 " little Encouragement to live upon while 
 '* you're away ?' Here he fere wed up his 
 Face into a very myfterious Expreffion, as 
 much as to fay, " The old Gentlewoman 
 " can't underftand me," and the next Mo- 
 ment was fhowing his good white Teeth 
 from Ear to Ear in a broad Smile. 
 
 " They've flued up your Box now," 
 fays he, *^ and are getting under weigh. 
 There's a blue Peter to the Fore." 
 
 ^* What's that?" faid L 
 
 " Why, the AdmiraFs Flag clapped to 
 " the Foremaft, for failing Orders. What 
 " I mean now, is, that your Man Peter y 
 
the Old AngeL 189 
 
 " looking Blue with Cold, is ftanding at 
 ** the Fore Horfe's Head, and flaring, as 
 *' well he may, at the Poftilion. Well, 
 " you won't carry much Ballaft this Time. 
 " There are fome Barrels of Oyfters in the 
 " Hold, going down to Country Coulins 
 ** that have fent up Geefe and Turkeys." 
 
 ** Dear me ! I wifh I had thought of 
 '' a Barrel of Oyfters,'' faid I. 
 
 '' Too late now ! " faid Tom. " But yet, 
 " if you wifh it, I'll make a Rufh for 
 " them, and come up with you along the 
 " Road. You won't make more than 
 '' three Knots an Hour. Shall I ? " 
 
 ** Oh no, thank you. It's too late 
 now." 
 
 ** Better late than never. And apply 
 ^^ that to me on the Prefent Occafion. 
 " Come, accept me ! Arn't I a very good 
 " Boy, for a Sailor ? You 've never feen 
 ^' me fmoke, nor drink, nor fight, nor get 
 " my Pockets picked, nor ufe any uncom- 
 "fortable Expreflions. Oh no, I can't 
 "bear to put People to the leaft Incon- 
 
190 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe, 
 
 "venience. Here I am, going, going, 
 " going, — fay gone ! " 
 
 " Gone ! " faid I ; and he was off the 
 next Moment. 
 
 ** A light-hearted young Sailor," fays 
 the old Gentlewoman fmiling, " I fhouldn't 
 ** think many young Ladies would fay * No' 
 ** to the Offer he made you." 
 
 The Jumbling of the Coach over the 
 rough Stones precluded the Need of an 
 Anfwer. For fome Time we journeyed 
 in the Dark ; when Daylight came, I was 
 able to amufe myfelf with paffing Objed;s; 
 and though the Cold was fevere, I liked 
 Travelling very well. We flopped to dine 
 at Twelve o' Clock; there was a great, raw 
 Leg of boiled Mutton, which the old Lady 
 faid was bad Meat badly killed and badly 
 cooked. She faid, however, that Travel- 
 ling was improved fince her young Days, 
 when the Coach was three Days going 
 from London to Exeter, and halted to ob- 
 ferve the Sabbath on the Road. We fafely 
 reached the appointed Spot jufl before 
 
'The Old Angel. 191 
 
 Dark, where Gatty^ all Smiles and Cor- 
 diality, — and a healthy, honeft-looking Boy, 
 her Brother, were awaiting me. My Lug- 
 gage was fo light, we carried it between 
 us, laughing and talking as we trudged 
 along to Gattfs Home ; which I found 
 what fhe called *^a good Step." 
 
Chapter XII. 
 
 'The Roaring Houfe. 
 
 ** Why, Gatty T' faid I, as we plodded 
 over the Moor, ** I had no Notion you 
 *' didn't live in Larkfield!'' 
 
 '' But v^e do," faid fhe, '' in Larkfield 
 ^* Parifh. We live in the Foreign, though 
 " not in the Borough. Didn't I ever tell 
 *' you that? When my Father died, we 
 ^* gave up our Town-Houfe, which was 
 ** twenty Pounds by the Year, and took 
 " this, which is but fifteen." 
 
 It feemed to me a lonefome Situation 
 enough ; however, a large, cheerful Family 
 prevents any Houfe from feeming lonely ; 
 and foon we were in a fnug, well-warmed. 
 
"The Roaring Houfe. 193 
 
 well-lighted Room. They were all very 
 glad to fee me; Gattys Sifters were tall, 
 lanky Girls, nothing to compare in Point 
 of Looks with herfelf ; but they feemed 
 very fociable and merry, and their M?M^r 
 was a quiet, kind-fpoken Woman, whom 
 I fhould never have guefled for a Kinfwo- 
 man, however remote, of Lady Betty s, 
 
 Gatty and I flept together, and talked 
 a good Deal before we flept. She was 
 quite ftrong and well now, but feemed 
 m.ore reludlant than ever to go back to 
 Lady Betty; and I thought fhe feemed 
 building on fome vague Hope of getting 
 taken by Mrs. Arbuthnot. I could fee fhe 
 liked her Country Home beft of all, but 
 felt fhe had no Right to ftay. 
 
 Next Day, we took a brifk Walk over 
 the hard frozen Ground» The Trees 
 being leaflefs, and the Sky threatening 
 Snow, I thought the Country had a dreary 
 Look with it ; but the young People were 
 fo gaj' that one could not be dreary in 
 their Prefence ; and we came Home to 
 
1 94 T^he Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 our hot roaft Mutton with red Nofes, blue 
 Fingers, and tip-top Spirits. We were 
 to fpend the Evening at Roaring Houfey 
 which I found was where Mr. Heavitree 
 lived. All the Afternoon the Girls were 
 ironing clean Cuffs, and making cherry- 
 coloured Top-knots. 
 
 Though we ftarted at Three o' Clock, 
 it was quite Dufk before we got to the 
 old Farm-Houfe ; but the ruddy Light of 
 a great Wood Fire through the Diamond- 
 paned Cafements made it look cheerfully 
 enough. We had a hearty Country Re- 
 ception at the Threfhold, from Mr. Heavi- 
 tree, a mighty fmart, good-looking young 
 Man, with quite the Air of a Country 
 Gentleman; and from his Sifter, Mifs Clary, 
 who was a few Years his elder, and who, 
 I had been told as I came along, was foon 
 to be married. There was no other Com- 
 pany than ourfelves, except Mifs Clary's 
 Lover, and her Father the Squire, and the 
 Village Dodlor's Affiftant. We fpent the 
 Evening in an old Stone Hall, with great 
 
'The "Roaring Houfe. 195 
 
 unpainted Girders over our Heads, fundry 
 old Brown-Bills and Bows againft the 
 Walls, and a roaring Fire on the low 
 Hearth, which reminded me of the Name 
 of the Houfe. We did not want Candles 
 for a good While ; we fat about the Hearth 
 and chatted, and had Tea, and great Slices 
 of Plum-Cake ; after that, we danced to 
 warm our Feet, the Squire playing the 
 Fiddle ; and then we had Hide-and-Seek 
 and Hunt-the-Slipper, to pleafe the young 
 Bowerbanks, and then each was called on 
 for a Song; and after that, we told Stories 
 of Ghofts, Murders, Robberies, hidden 
 Treafures, and fuch-like, till we quite 
 feared ourfelves and one another. Then 
 the Squire would begin one and another 
 funny Story with, ** I'll tell you what I 
 " did when I was a Boy ;" and he clapped 
 his Hands after every Song, and laughed at 
 every Story. I never faw an old Gentle- 
 man take fo hugely to young People ; and 
 when nobody was minding him, he would 
 ftand before the Fire with his Hands in his 
 
196 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 Pockets, humming " Oh, the Days when 
 " I was young ! '' and hem away a Sigh. 
 We had Forfeits; and when young Mr. 
 Heavitree was bidden, ** Bow to the pret- 
 ** tieft, kneel to the wittieft, and kifs whom 
 " he loved beft," he kneeled to me, and 
 kiffed Gatfyy which put her out and made 
 her very red ; and I heard her fay in her 
 quiet Way, " That's going too far." We 
 had Turkey and Mince-Pies for Supper, 
 and hot Elder- Wine and Toaft afterwards, 
 to fortify us, they faid, againft the Cold. 
 The Squire wifhed he were young enough 
 to fee us Home, but fince he wafn't. Jack 
 would do as well. So Mr. Jack, that's 
 Mr. Heavitree, went out to put on his great 
 Coat, and came back laughing, and faid the 
 Ground was covered with Snow ! And fo 
 indeed it was, but we trudged through it 
 merrily enough. Next Day, however, 
 the Snow fell fo faft all Day, that we were 
 kept in Doors, and Gatty worked hard at 
 Mrs. Arbuthnofs laft Apron, till flie fin- 
 iihed it. I wrote Home, it being the firft 
 
'The Roaring Houfe. igy 
 
 Opportunity; for the Poft only went out 
 of Larkfield three Times a Week : and that 
 was once oftener, Mrs. Bowerbank faid, 
 than when ihe was firft married. 
 
 There was much Conjediure beftowed 
 as to .whether the Heavitrees would come 
 in the Evening to return our Vilit, accord- 
 ing to Promife. Gatty thought they would 
 not; all the others thought they would, 
 and the two youngeft Girls fpent the beft 
 of the Morning in making Cakes. The 
 young People came, without the Squire, 
 and we had a pleafant Evening, but not fo 
 lively as the laft, partly becaufe the Parlour 
 was fo much fmaller than the Hall, and 
 partly becaufe Mrs. Bowerbank was not fo 
 convivial and humorous as the Squire. 
 
 After this, came two or three Days of 
 inceffant Snow ; and after the Snow, a Froft. 
 All were glad the Snow left off falling, 
 becaufe we were expefted ! at Roaring 
 Houfe, and Mrs. Bowerbank faid ihe could 
 not confent to our going if the Snow con- 
 tinued to fall. So we made our Prepara- 
 
198 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 tions full early; and meantime, a Servant 
 who had been into Larkfield and had called 
 at the Pofl-Office, among other Places, (it 
 being the principal Linen-Draper's and 
 Tea-Grocer's of the Town,) brought Gatty 
 a Letter from Lady Betty y which had been 
 lying there a Day and a Half, and the 
 Contents of which threw us all into Flurry 
 and Difmay. 
 
 My Lady wrote, in a very few Words, 
 by another Hand, to delire Mrs. Gatty 
 would return to her Duties immediately, for 
 that Madam Pompon had left. 
 
 This was a fad Blow to us all : poor 
 Gatty could not help crying ; and we all 
 cried to keep her Company. Lady Betty 
 would not have been much flattered, could 
 ihe have feen the Reception her Letter 
 got. '' Oh, poor Gatty I poor Gatty /" 
 refounded on all Sides; but after inter- 
 mingling Kifles and Tears, fhe was the 
 firft to pluck up Courage, and fay we 
 were only making Things worfe by griev- 
 ing, and fhe would pack up at once, to be 
 
The Roaring Houfe. 199 
 
 ready for the Morning Coach, and then 
 think nothing more about it till the Time 
 came. So her Sifters difperfed, to drefs 
 for our Party, and Gatty and I went up- 
 ftairs to do the fame, and pack her Box ; 
 feveral Times in the Courfe of doing which, 
 fhe burft out crying ; and I thought I had 
 never beheld a Girl fo loth to quit Home, 
 nor fo refolved to do her Duty. 
 
 At length we fet off; and when we got 
 to Roaring Houfcy there was pretty much 
 the fame Thing over again, for Jokes and 
 Laughing were exchanged for Lamenta- 
 tions; and the Gaiety of the Evening was 
 completely clouded. I cannot help think- 
 ing, however, that it was Balm to Gertrude's 
 Heart to find herfelf fo unaffeftedly fym- 
 pathifed with : the Squire patted her on 
 the Shoulder feveral Times, and called her 
 " poor Girl," and "dear Gatty T Mifs Clary 
 more than once fhed a Tear; and Mr. 
 Heavitree feemed quite mute and con- 
 founded. 
 
 We prolonged our Vifit as late as we 
 
200 T!he Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 could ; and when we dared ftay no longer, 
 the Squire and Mifs Clary infifted on add- 
 ing many additional Wraps to our own; 
 he producing fome prodigious large Silk 
 Pocket-handkerchiefs, which he tied him- 
 felf over our Heads and under our Chins, 
 like Capouchins, giving each a Kifs as a 
 Finifh ; and ftriving moreover to perfuade 
 each of us to wear a Pair of his thick 
 Shoes over our own, and fluff up the 
 Difference between them with Rag and 
 brown Paper. While urging Pen to this, 
 his Son came in from the outer Hall, 
 looking deadly pale ; and hit his Head 
 violently againft an old Tortoifefhell- 
 Cabinet, which he ran againft without 
 intending it. 
 
 '* Meafure your Diftance better, yack,'' 
 fays his Father y '* or, what with black 
 '' Eyes and red Eyes, there won't be a Pair 
 '* of Eyes in the Hall worth looking at. 
 "Blefs thee. Child!" very kindly to 
 Gattjy as fhe ftept up to bid him Good- 
 bye. ** Keep thy good Heart and good 
 
T^he Roaring Houfe, 201 
 
 ** Looks, whatever thou doft ; " and fo, 
 kiffed her twice. Gatty dropped a Tear 
 on his Hand; he looked at it quickly, then 
 at her attentively; and giving her Hand 
 a final Shake, pufhed her gently away, fay- 
 ing " There, go ; go along ; and God's 
 '' Bleffing go with thee." 
 
 By this Time we were all equipped. 
 Juft as Mifs Clary was kiffing Gatty at 
 the Door, I noticed the Squire whifper a 
 Word in M.v , Heavitree' s Ear, which made 
 the latter colour very much ; adding to it, 
 " You'll be a Fool, if you don't do as 1 
 *^fay." 
 
 Now, we were all fetting out from the 
 hofpitable Threfhold, the Lights ftreaming 
 from which illumined our Path till we 
 reached the Gate, which M.v , Heavitree 
 held open till we had all pafTed. Gatty' s 
 two younger Sifters, to fhow their Love 
 and Sorrow, were each monopolizing 
 one of her Arms and hanging upon her 
 as they followed Joe, who was taking the 
 Lead with a Lantern, though there was 
 
202 TChe Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 a pale Moon. Mr. Heavitree^ therefore, 
 coming up as foon as he had faftened the 
 Gate, found me juft behind the reft, and 
 fpontaneoufly gave me his Arm ; but the 
 next Minute, in a hurried Manner and 
 lowered Voice faid, *' Dear Mrs. Patty y 
 '* this once be my Friend. I've a Word to 
 '* fay to Gattjy and thofe Girls will never 
 " let me ! " 
 
 I immediately faid, fmiling, ** Truft to 
 ** me ; " and in another Minute had drop- 
 ped his Arm and was walking off with 
 Lucy, and in two or three Minutes more 
 had fecured Penelope too. As we walked 
 on brifkly, Pen faid, *' Hadn't we better ftop 
 '' for GattyV but I faid, ''No, fhe's clofe 
 ** behind, and Mr. Heavitree wants to have 
 " a little Talk with her for the laft Time." 
 This quite fatisfied the artlefs Girls, who 
 foon were bufy chattering about the Lofs 
 of poor Gatty, and their Fears left flie 
 might not have a fafe Journey. They 
 pointed out to me the North Star, and 
 Charles's Wain, and many other Stars or 
 
T^lie Roaring Houfe, 203 
 
 Planets whofe Names I forget, and told 
 me I might always know a Star from a 
 Planet, becaufe Stars twinkle and Planets 
 do not. Pen even added that SiriuSy the 
 Dog-Star, is fixty Times brighter than the 
 Sun, which Fm free to think muft have 
 been a prodigious Blunder of hers. Who 
 can believe it ? Except indeed. Children, 
 who fwallow Incredibilities without any 
 Trouble. 
 
 Arrived at the Gate, we were furprifed at 
 Gatty' s commg up to us alone ; yet I am cer- 
 tain I had had a Glimpfe of two dark Figures 
 following us the Minute before, Direftly 
 we got in-Doors, all was Buftle. Mrs. 
 Bowerbank was fure we mull be perifhing 
 of Cold, and infifted on our going to Bed 
 direcftly ; and promiling to fend each of us 
 a Bafin of hot Gruel to eat in our Beds : 
 Gruel well qualified with Wine, Nutmeg, 
 and Sugar — Caudle, in Fad: ! 
 
 It was no bad Thing to be thus coddled 
 and comforted like Invalids while we felt 
 quite well ; and we were foon undreffing 
 
204 The Old Chelfea Bun-Hoiife. 
 
 as faft as we could. All but Gatty^ who 
 came up to me when I was about half un- 
 drelTed, to fetch a few Things fhe wanted, 
 and to tell me fhe was going to fleep with 
 her Mother, This was a Surprife and 
 Difappointment to me ; I had reckoned on 
 a good Goffip over our Gruel, and on her 
 telling me all about Mr. Heavitree as foon 
 as the Candle was put out. However, it 
 feemed that the Thing had been fettled, 
 even before we ftarted, in order that I 
 might not be difturbed by her early De- 
 parture the next Morning; and her Box 
 had already been carried down, and ihe 
 faid fhe wanted to fpend her lafl Night 
 with h&i Mother^ fo there was no more to 
 be faid. I noticed, however, as fhe kifTed 
 me, that her Eyelids were red with crying, 
 but her Eyes beaming under them very 
 bright. I faid, *' Good Night, but not 
 ** good-bye; for I am refolved to fee you 
 ^* off in the Morning." She faid, ^* Oh, 
 ** you mufl not think of it. All will be 
 " Buflle, and there will be no real Pleafure 
 
Hhe Roaring Houfe. 205 
 
 " in feeing each other. I have quite got over 
 " my Trouble at going, nov;^, and don't 
 ** care at all about it." So fhe kiffed me 
 cheerfully, and repeated, ^' Good-Night 
 *' and good-bye," and ran off. I was ftill 
 refolved to get up in Time to fee the Laft 
 of her ; but I fuppofe the Caudle, being 
 fo ftrong, made me fleep heavier and later 
 than ufual; for though it v^as yet Dark 
 when I got up, I found on going down 
 Stairs that Gatfy had been gone a full 
 Hour. None of the Family had accom- 
 panied her except Joe and the Girl of all 
 Work, who carried her Box ; but Pen told 
 me that juft as fhe was watching Gatty out 
 of Sight by the Light of the Lantern, 
 fome one joined them. 
 
 When Joe returned, he faid their Com- 
 panion had been young Mr. Heavitreey 
 who wanted, he fuppofed, to be at the 
 Beaft-Market betimes, or, fure, he would 
 not have been afoot fo early. Joe added 
 that the Snow was tremendous, — up to a 
 Man's Knees in many Parts, and up to his 
 
2o6 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe, 
 
 Shoulders under the Banks. We thought 
 he muft be exaggerating ; but, however, 
 the poor Boy had certainly been Half his 
 Depth in Snow himfelf, though he averred 
 he had not ftumbled. He faid it was freez- 
 ing now, and the Roads fo flippery that the 
 Horfes ftumbled fo at every Step that they 
 were obliged to be led — he did not believe 
 they would make more than two Miles an 
 Hour, and wondered when Gatty would 
 reach London, Lucy faid, " Hufh," and 
 bade him not frighten their Mother ^ who 
 was juft coming in ; but Mrs. Bowerbank 
 had heard it all from the Cook-Maid, and 
 looked very grave. It turned out, that 
 Mr. Heavitree had made Gatty go in fide, 
 and had accompanied her the firft Stage. 
 Joe's Eyes looked very round, and he faid, 
 " Oh, I wafn't to tell that ; but Women 
 ** will be blabbing." " Who told you not 
 **to tell, Joey?'' fays Lucy. ** If I told 
 " you that, Mifs Lucy,' fays he, '' I fhould 
 ** blab too." So then we fat down to 
 Breakfaft, for they were glad of the Ex- 
 
T!he Roaring Houfe. 207 
 
 cufe to repair their hurried Meal by keep- 
 ing me Company. After that, we fat 
 to our Needles, and yoey did Sums or pre- 
 tended to do them, and drew Pictures on 
 his Slate. Mrs. Bowerbank was a rumi- 
 native Woman of few Words, the younger 
 Girls were rather afraid of her, and rather 
 fliy towards me, and we miffed Gatty 
 fadly. As for getting out of Doors, we 
 were clofe Prifoners, and likely to be for 
 fome Days; the Weather was as bad as 
 could be, and threatened to be worfe. 
 
Chapter XIII. 
 
 A Journey in the Snow. 
 
 I THINK a difmaller Thing can fcarcc be 
 cited, than a lone difmal Houle on a 
 dlfmal lone Moor, in difmal inclement 
 Weather, without anything pajGBng or like 
 to pafs on Horfe or Foot, without even 
 a Cart-Track or a Row of black Foot- 
 prints to the Gate acrofs the Snow. In- 
 Doors, fmall Rooms, fomewhat barely 
 furniflied, either bitterly cold, or hot and 
 clofe to that Degree as almoft to ftifle one. 
 Nobody coming in nor going out ; not fo 
 much as a Tradefman's Knock with his 
 Knuckles at the Back-door; no News- 
 papers, no News, no lively Voices, no 
 
A yourney in the Snow, 209 
 
 Letters to be got from the Poft, nor any 
 Poffibility of getting a Letter to the Poft. 
 Nothing but to depend on one's own Re- 
 fources within the Houfe ; happy for the 
 Houfekeeper if no Bread, nor Meat, nor 
 Tea, nor Salt, nor Sugar, nor Candles, 
 nor Coals, nor Stores of any Sort be 
 a-wanting ! 
 
 I confefs a Day or two of that Life 
 made me heartily fick of it; and yet it 
 continued for nearly a Week. I thought 
 what a Goofe I was to leave Home to 
 come to People I knew fg little of, and 
 who knew fo little of me. I refolved 
 within myfelf it jfhould be long indeed ere 
 I fet out again, **voggetting about," as 
 the Wilt/Jiire People call it. Change of 
 Scene, indeed ! with Nothing to look out 
 at but that lonely Snow-covered Moor! 
 Nobody to fpeak to but a filent Woman, 
 with a couple of unfledged Daughters, as 
 mute as Mice, poring over their Bobbin- 
 Work, and a Schoolboy that was bidden to 
 hold his Peace ! Nothing to do but 
 
21 o "The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 few, few, few, all Day, and think my own 
 melancholy Thoughts, and wifh for a Let- 
 ter from Home, and wonder when I fhould 
 be able to get back ! No Exercife but to 
 go up to my own Room under Pretence 
 of wafhing my Hands, and there gaze out 
 vacantly on the Snow, or dip into a mufty 
 old Book or two ! Why, there was a 
 hundred Times more Variety and Amufe- 
 ment in our Shop, any Day, in the worft 
 of Weathers ! 
 
 As for Mrs. Bower banky (he was not 
 near fo dull,- though a good deal more 
 worried ; becaufe, though fhe brewed and 
 baked at Home, and kept her Store Clofet 
 pretty well fupplied, there were certain 
 little Things that fell fhort during our 
 Siege and Beleaguerment, which fhe had 
 no Means of fupplying. Thus, Butter 
 ran fhort; and we all know there's no 
 Subftitute for that! The Salt-box hap- 
 pened to be nearly empty, and Eggs were 
 fcarce. Luckily, there was no Lack of 
 Bread, becaufe Flour was plenty, and fhe 
 
A Journey in the Snow, 211 
 
 always knew how to keep herfelf fupplied 
 with Yeajft, by putting away the wooden 
 Spoon, unwafhed, with which fhe had 
 ftirred the Yeaft at her laft Baking. But 
 Butcher's Meat was fcarce, which was 
 more felt becaufe we could not have Eggs 
 to our Bacon : however, with one Thing 
 and another we got on pretty well. She 
 called me the moft contented of Guefts; 
 I told her, truly, I was forry fhe fhould 
 treat me as a Stranger, and was quite will- 
 ing to fare with the Reft. 
 
 Indeed, the Tabling troubled me leaft. 
 And when I conlidered how kind they all 
 were to me, a Stranger, and how great 
 muft be the Sufferings of the Poor and 
 Needy in fuch a Seafon, I felt I was quite 
 wicked to be fecretly complaining merely 
 becaufe of the Infeftivity. I played at 
 Tit-tat-to with Joe^ and pofed him with 
 hard Riddles, and he in return put it to 
 me — " If a Herring and a Half coft 
 *' three Halfpence, how far is it to Tyburn 
 ** Turnpike ? " which I told him had 
 
2 1 2 The Old Chelfea Bun-Hou/e, 
 
 puzzled me before he was born ; and then 
 I puzzled him by afking, if a Herring and 
 a Half coft three Halfpence, how many- 
 could he buy for Sixpence ; which took 
 him a good While to make out. The 
 Girls, feeing me condefcend to their 
 younger Brother, began to think me lefs 
 formidable, and to make fome bafhful 
 Efforts at my Entertainment ; and I then 
 offered to tell their Fortunes, and fhowed 
 them fome fimple Hocus-pocuffing, which 
 prefently fet us all laughing ; and I found 
 that the furefl Way of being entertained 
 is to entertain. Befides, we got a little 
 Exercife by this ; for fome of the Conju- 
 rations led to hiding, and feeking, and 
 turning quickly round, and playing For- 
 feits. So that we got on pretty well after | 
 a Time ; only, all the While I was think- 
 ing when will the Froft break up, and, 
 fhall I be able to get Home ? 
 
 All this While, we were in Sufpenfe 
 about Gattys Safety, and unable to get any 
 Letter from her; nor did Mrs. Bower hanky 
 
A journey in the Snow. 213 
 
 by a fingle Word or Hint, enable me to 
 guefs whether Gatty had told her of Any- 
 thing particular that Mr. Heavitree had 
 faid to her or not. My only Reafon for 
 thinking fhe had, was her Mother s fome- 
 times falling into a Reverie as fhe fate by 
 the Fire, with a quiet Smile on her Face, 
 as though fhe were a thinking of Some- 
 what mighty pleafant ; and again, by her 
 frequently praifing Gatty to us all, for her 
 Franknefs and fleady Purfuit of Duty. 
 
 At length, the Snow began to yield a 
 little ; and juft as Mrs. Bower bank was 
 beginning to confider whether fhe might 
 not fend Nanny into the Town for Letters 
 and other Things much wanted, a Farm- 
 Labourer from Roaring Houfe came trudg- 
 ing through the Snow, and faid he had 
 found a Letter lying at the Pofl-OfHce for 
 Mrs. Bowerbanky and had thought fhe might 
 be glad to have it. The Man got a Cup 
 of warm Beer for his Pains ; and Mrs. 
 Bowerbanky feeing the Direftion in Gatty^s 
 Hand, came into the Parlour to read the 
 
2 14 '^^^ 0/<^ Chelfea Bun-Houfe, 
 
 Letter by the Fire, and communicate the 
 beft Part of it to us. 
 
 Gatty faid (he was much furprifed and 
 very thankful to find that Mr. Heavitree 
 was going to fee her fafe to the End of 
 the firft Stage. He had infifted on her 
 going infide, and faid he would fettle about 
 that with Mrs. Bower bank afterwards ; and 
 the Weather was fo dreadful that fhe had 
 felt herfelf juftified in being perfuaded. 
 They were the only infide Pafl^engers, and, 
 with all the Windows up, were not fo very 
 cold ; but the Windows were fo covered 
 with Ice that it was impoflible to fee 
 through them when Day broke. They 
 knew the Horfes were being led, and that 
 they were going very flowly, but did not 
 much mind it, and judged they mufl: have 
 travelled feveral Miles, when all at once 
 they found the Coach give a great Lurch, 
 and roll over on its Side. They were 
 quite unable to help themfelves, and very 
 uncomfortable, and rather frightened : 
 Mr. Heavitree did not like breaking the 
 
A yourney in the Snow. 2 1 5 
 
 Window, for fear of the Shivers falling on 
 Gattjy and of the Cold to which they fhould 
 fubfequently be expofed. At length, with 
 very great Difficulty, he contrived to open 
 one of the Windows; and the Guard 
 helped him to fcramble out, and lift out 
 Gatty, To their great Surprife and Mor- 
 tification they faw juft oppolite to them a 
 Finger-poft, with " Hhree Miles to Lark- 
 ^^ field,'' on it. In Fadt, they had only juft 
 reached the Heath, where the Road being 
 marked by no Boundaries, was hidden under 
 the Snow, and they had ftrayed off it and 
 got into a pretty deep Ditch, wherein the 
 Coach was so faft fet as to be immoveable. 
 There was a Turnpike about a hundred 
 Yards oiF, and the Turnpike Man came 
 running out to fee if he could give any 
 Affiftance ; fo then all the Men, Paffengers 
 and all, fet their Shoulders to the Coach 
 to heave it up ; but in forcing it up, one 
 of the Fore- Wheels came off. Then the 
 three Horfes, which had already broken 
 their Traces, were fent back to Larkfield 
 
2i6 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 with the PoftiHon, Guard, and Oftler that 
 had been leading, and the Paffengers had 
 no Help for it but to wait till Poft- 
 Chaifes were fent. The Turnpike-Man 
 invited them into his Cottage, which 
 they were very thankful to take Shelter 
 in ; there was only one outfide Faffenger, 
 whofe Face was purple, almoft black, 
 with Cold; and he ftaggered fo that 
 Gatty at firft thought he had been 
 drinking, but it was becaufe he was be- 
 numbed and dizzy. The Turnpike-Man's 
 Wife received them very kindly : fhe was 
 ironing, and the Room was very fmall and 
 fteamy, but {he made them welcome to 
 ftand round her Fire, and faid fhe had put 
 off her Wafliing as long as (he poffibly 
 could, becaufe there was only Snow-water 
 for ufe, now the Pond was frozen. There 
 was a Baby crying in its Cradle all the 
 Time, which its Mother faid was becaufe 
 of the Cold ; but Gatty thought it might 
 be becaufe the Mother had not Time to 
 attend to it; fo fhe took it up, and cherifhed 
 
A yourney in the Snow. 2 1 7 
 
 it at the Fire, and rubbed its little blue 
 Hands and Feet till £he quieted it. Mean- 
 while, Mr. Heavitree produced fome famous 
 hot Gingerbread Nuts, which Mrs. Clary 
 had given him, and the outfide Paffenger 
 pulled out a Cafe-bottle of Brandy, and 
 the good Woman gave them hot Water, 
 and fupplied Tumblers and Cups, and they 
 had a very feafonable Luncheon. The 
 Turnpike-Man faid he had not taken 
 Tolls to the Amount of Tenpence during 
 the laft two Days. His Wife, touched 
 by Gattfs fondling the Baby, faid with 
 a kind of Remorfe, that fhe wifhed fhe 
 could be fure all was well with a young 
 Woman carrying an Infant, who had, 
 with Tears in her Eyes, begged, the Day 
 before, to chafe its poor little Limbs at 
 the Fire for a few Minutes before fhe 
 croffed the Moor. '* There was Some- 
 " thing wild and unfettled in her Look," 
 faid the good Woman, *^ that I did not 
 ** like, and I alked her, ' Why crofs the 
 '' Moor at all?' fhe faid, fhe muft, for her 
 
2 1 8 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 *^ only Chance of Shelter; I afked whence 
 ** fhe came, but fhe would not fay. So 
 ** the only Thing was to make her as com- 
 *^ fortable as I could while fhe remained — 
 ** there was fome good ftrong Peafe Soup 
 " on the Fire, and I gave her a Bafin of it, 
 '* with a Slice of Bread. I never faw a 
 ** poor Soul fo grateful; fhe faid it warmed 
 ^* her to the Heart. I alfo made her take 
 " off her wet Stockings, which were fine 
 " but very old, and put on an old Pair of 
 " thick Woollen ones I had given up 
 " wearing ; and I buttoned a Pair of old 
 " Gaiters over all. So then fhe fuckled 
 " the Babe and went her Ways, praying 
 *^ God to blefs me ; and I watched her 
 " ftraggling acrofs the Moor, and now and 
 " then plunging into a Snow-Drift. My 
 *' Heart ached for her, it did ! — and I 
 *' couldn't help thinking, in the Night, 
 ** that when the Thaw came, we might 
 " find her poor Corpfe under the Snow." 
 
 It was Noon, Gatty faid, when one 
 Pofl-Chaife made its Appearance ; fo into 
 
A Journey in the Snow. 2 1 9 
 
 this fhe and Mr. Heavkree and the other 
 Paflenger were packed, and her Box tied 
 on behind ; and they recommenced their 
 Journey, Mr. Heavkree fitting between 
 the two. Their Pace was mended, and 
 they were congratulating themfelves on 
 their Speed, when, by Reafon of the 
 roundnefs of the Road, over went the 
 Chaife. However, they foon righted 
 again, the Chaife being fo much lighter 
 than the Coach; and they did not over- 
 turn again till jufi: as they got to Newton 
 Buzzard; which was the firft Stage, of 
 fourteen Miles, from Larkfield, How- 
 ever, the Day was now fo far fpent, it 
 being about three o'Clock, at which 
 Hour even the Stage-Coach always pulls 
 up for the Night during Winter, that Mr. 
 Heavkree faid it would be Madnefs to pro- 
 ceed, expecially as the following Stage 
 included Splkskull HUL He had an Aunt 
 in the Town, at whofe Houfe he always 
 flept when he attended the Markets ; fo 
 he went to her while Gatty remained at 
 
220 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 the Inn, to fifh for an Invitation. And 
 the Invitation v^as not long forthcoming, 
 fo he came back almoft directly, and told 
 Gatty his Aunt would take no Denial ; fo 
 they went there and had a very hofpitable 
 Reception from the old Lady, who gave 
 them a hot Supper and well-aired Beds. 
 The next Day, the Coach being reported 
 ftill immoveable and very ruinous, they 
 went on as before in a Chaife, and, the 
 Roads being more beaten, got on much 
 fafter and without any more Impediment, 
 till they fafely reached London^ where kind 
 Mr. Heavitree took leave of Gatty at Lady 
 Betty s Door. 
 
 But, now, — oh! what News. Gatty on 
 entering the Houfe, and being fairly fhut 
 into it, learned to her Difmay that Lady 
 Betty had not fummoned her up in one 
 of her Capricchios, but was laid up with 
 the Small-Pox, which had caufed Madam 
 Pompon and feveral other Servants to defert 
 her, and had occafioned her fending fo 
 peremptorily and laconically for Gatty. 
 
A Journey in the Snow. 221 
 
 Mrs. Bowerbanky when fhe got to this, 
 laid down the Letter and began to cry. 
 She faid fhe knew Gatty would take the 
 Infeftion and die, or elfe be marked for 
 life ; what a cruel Thing it was of Lady 
 Betty to fend for her, especially as her 
 Lady/hip had been fo afraid of catching 
 the Fever from Gatty. I thought fo too, 
 and quite felt for the poor Mother. She 
 faid that fhe would go and take Gatty 
 away direftly, without minding what 
 Lady Betty might think, were it not now 
 too late to fave her from Danger; befides, 
 how could fhe bring her Home to her 
 other Children, who had never had the 
 Difeafe ? 
 
 Then fhe went on to finifh the Letter, 
 crying over it all the While ; and Gatty 
 proceeded to fay, that finding what was 
 required of her, Ihe recommended herfelf 
 to God, and, having laid afide her travel- 
 ling Drefs and taken fome flight Refrefh- 
 ment, fhe went ftraight up to my Ladfs 
 Chamber, where fhe found Lady Betty in 
 
222 "The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 Bed, in very high Fever, attended only by 
 one of the inferior Servants, quite a low 
 Perfon, who had had the Diforder, there- 
 fore had Nothing to fear. That Lady 
 Betty, being blinded, did not at firft re- 
 cognise her; but, catching the Sound of 
 her Voice, cried peremptorily, " Is that 
 ** Gattjy at laft ? Then fend Jenny away. 
 " You are not to leave the Room again, 
 ** Gattyy but make them bring Everything 
 ** to you." Since which, Gatty had re- 
 mained at her Bedfide, where fhe was now 
 writing, while my Lady lay in a kind of 
 Stupor, brought on perhaps by her quieting 
 Medicine ; lince the Irritation was fo great, 
 fhe could not keep her Hands off herfelf, 
 much lefs fleep. Indeed, once fhe had 
 bidden Gatty tie her Hands up, that fhe 
 might not disfigure herfelf in her Torment ; 
 yet fhe had foon been unable to keep from 
 fighting at herfelf again, and when Gatty 
 had gently tried to flay her, had fiercely 
 cried, " Isn't my Face my own, to do with 
 ^*asl like?" 
 
A Journey in the Snow. 223 
 
 Oh poor Lady Betty! She that was fo 
 vain of her Beauty ! and carried her Head 
 fo high ! to be laid thus low, and maftered 
 by inexorable Difeafe! deferted by her 
 pampered Menials that had flattered her 
 in Health, and beholden for the commoneft 
 Attentions, firft to a poor Scullion, and 
 now to one whom fhe had inhumanely 
 neglecfled in her own Extremity ! Was it 
 not a Leflx)n to poor, purfe-proud, pufFed- 
 up Humanity ? And was not Gatty like 
 an Angel, returning Good for Evil ? I lay 
 awake thinking of it at Night, for many 
 an Hour. 
 
Chapter XIV. 
 
 The RecaL 
 
 That fame Evening, at Dufk, as we fat 
 round the Fire, roafting Cheftnuts and 
 Raifins, in comes young Mr. Heavitreey 
 buttoned to the Chin; and his Eyes and 
 Cheeks in fuch a Glow with Exercife that 
 I could not help thinking to myfelf, 
 ** What a nice-looking young Man you 
 ** are ! " He fhook Hands very heartily 
 all round, firft with Mrs. Bower hanky next 
 with me ; and, addreffing me firft, ** Mrs. 
 ** Patty y' fays he, ** I come to repair and 
 *^ excufe the Negligence of my ftupid 
 " Fellow, who forgot he had taken up at 
 " the Poft-ojffice two Letters for this 
 
T!he RecaL 225 
 
 " Houfe, and brought one addrefled to you 
 ^* on to Roaring HoufeT 
 
 I eagerly received it ; and feeing Prue's 
 Hand, haftily broke the Seal. At the 
 fame Inftant, Mrs. Bower bank ^ in a lament- 
 able Voice, fays, "Oh, lAx, Heavitree ! 
 " only think of our Gatty taking the 
 "Small-Pox!" 
 
 He turned fo deadly white, that I faw 
 in a Moment how it was with him, and 
 haftily cried, " Lady Betty y you mean, 
 "Ma'am, not Gatty!'' 
 
 " But Gatty has no doubt taken it by 
 " this Time," fays her Mother ^ " fince fhe 
 " is conftantly with Lady Betty'' 
 
 Seeing Mr. Heavitree look much agi- 
 tated, and supposing he might like to be 
 alone with Mrs. Bow er bank ^ I rofe and 
 left the Room, to read my Letter up- 
 ftairs, thinking fhe might fend the Girls 
 away if fhe wifhed. On running through 
 Prudence's Letter, I was quite difappointed 
 to find it contain fo little, whether of 
 News or AfFeftion. Mr. Fenwick and 
 
226 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 Tom, fhe never fo much as named; my 
 Mother y fhe faid, was pretty well, my Fa- 
 ther the fame as ufual ; there were fundry 
 little Details about our Bufinefs, but not a 
 Word I cared to hear; ending with the 
 fame comfortlefs Burthen, " We can get 
 on perfecflly well without you." I was fo 
 tired of the Country, that I had hoped 
 there would have been fome Wifh ex- 
 preffed for my Company, which would 
 have been a decent Pretext for my Return ; 
 but no ! Nothing of the Sort ! I remained 
 mufing over my Letter with great Morti- 
 fication till I got quite numbed with Cold, 
 and was roufed by hearing the Gate {hut. 
 I faw Mr. Heavitree going away; and when 
 I went down, Mrs. Bower bank was not in 
 the Room, and the Girls and their Brother 
 were ftill roafting their Cheftnuts. 
 
 The next Day was much like the pre- 
 ceding, except that a rapid Thaw fet in. 
 On the Day following that, a Poll: was 
 due, and Joe was fent through Mud ami 
 Mire to fee if there were any Letter from 
 
T'he RecaL 227 
 
 Gatty. There was not; but there was 
 one for me ; that made me think I woflld 
 never wantonly defire a Pretext for a Recal 
 again. It was from Prudence ; but oh, in 
 how different a Spirit from the other ! She 
 wrote in the utmoft Hurry and Diftrefs to 
 tell me that my Father had fallen down 
 Stairs and broken his Leg, and had like- 
 wife injured his Head fo much, that Dr. 
 Elwes thought there was a Concuffion of 
 the Brain. My dear Mother and Prue 
 were inceffantly in Attendance on him, 
 and conlidered him in great Danger; they 
 hoped I would return as foon as I poffibly 
 could. 
 
 With my Eyes full of Tears, I went to 
 communicate my bad News to Mrs. Bower- 
 bank, who was vaftly diftreffed for me, and 
 would fay Nothing to delay my Journey, 
 efpecially now that the Thaw rendered 
 the Roads much fafer. So I packed up at 
 once, and, the next Morning, left them all 
 with many Thanks for their Kindnefs. 
 Joe, who had become quite my little Cava- 
 
228 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 lier, accompanied me to the Corner, where 
 we met the Coach, carrying for me a 
 Balket of the large Cat's-head Apples 
 that fome call ** Go-no-farther." I w^as 
 the only Paflenger, and was two Days on 
 the Road inftead of one; but performed 
 the Journey in perfedt Safety. 
 
 It was quite dark when I reached Home. 
 Prudence, hearing my Voice, flew down 
 Stairs and threw her Arms round my 
 Neck all in Tears. I wept too, and never 
 was there a more lifterly Meeting. She 
 told me my dear Father was ftill very 
 bad; and though my Mother kept up 
 wonderfully, fhe was exerting herfelf fo 
 much for him that fhe would probably 
 experience a dangerous Re-action. *^ But 
 ** what can I do ? " fays Prue weeping, 
 " I've hovered about him continually and 
 ** done my very beit; but whenever he's 
 " himfelf, he doesn't like my Nurfing, 
 ** and fays, * There, let me have your 
 ''Mother till Patty comes back!'" And 
 fhe cried bitterly. 
 
The Recal. 229 
 
 I faid, *' Dear Prue, People when they 
 ** are ill will take unaccountable Fancies ; 
 "and we have a divided Duty, between 
 " the Sick-Room and the Shop. Let us 
 " each take that which fuits us befl: ; do 
 ** you attend to the Bufinefs, which you 
 ** underftand fo well, and I will help my 
 " Mother to nurfe my Father,'' 
 
 She faid, ftill crying, '' I fuppofe that 
 " will be beft ; but I love him as well as 
 *^ you do, and you muft let me take my 
 " Turn now and then, or my Heart will 
 " break." 
 
 I faid, " I will, I will ;" and all this 
 While I was taking oiF my Wraps, and 
 making ready to go up Stairs ; but Pru- 
 dence would make me take a Difh of Tea 
 firft, which was ready poured out, faying, 
 that when I was once up-Stairs I fhould 
 be clofe Prifoner, and my Father could 
 not bear fo much as the Click of a Spoon. 
 She added, " Dr. Elwes is not afraid of 
 " the Brain now ; but my Father is of 
 " fuch an inflammatory Habit that his 
 
230 Hhe Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 " Fever runs very high, and he is not 
 ** always himfelf." 
 
 '' And Mr. Fenwick ?" faid I. "Is not 
 " he truly concerned about it?" 
 
 '' Mr. Fenwick ?" cries fhe, " Why, 
 " Mr. Fenwick is not here now ! " 
 
 " Not here now?" I exclaimed. 
 
 ** Oh no, he returned to his Parifh the 
 ** Day before Father's Accident, thinking 
 " himfelf well enough to do Duty now, 
 " and we have not heard of him fince." 
 
 I was ftruck dumb. I looked full at 
 Prudence, who fpoke and carried herfelf 
 quite compofedly. Seeing me look fo 
 hard at her, however, ihe bluihed all over; 
 Cheek, Neck, and Brow, one hot Flufh ; 
 and flarted up to bufy herfelf about fome 
 Trifle. 
 
 I felt a Pang, but it was for her, not 
 myfelf. Poor Prue found herfelf defer ted! 
 All my old Love for her refumed its 
 Strength ; but there was no Time now for 
 Pity or Complaint — I rofe up, faying, 
 ** Well, I will go up-Stairs now; keep 
 
The RecaL 231 
 
 " yourfelf up, dear Prue; there's no know- 
 " ing how much your Strength may be 
 " wanted." 
 
 *^ There is not, indeed/' faid fhe, burft- 
 ing into Tears afrefh. I could not ftand 
 this — I faid, " Come, Pruey come, . . /' 
 and put my Arm about her, and flie laid 
 her Head on my Shoulder. I was obliged 
 to gulp down my own Tears, but I faid 
 gently, " This will never do — we muft 
 *' not give way — Only think how much 
 " more poor Father y and dear Mother too, 
 *^ have to bear than we have. You muft 
 ** give over Crying, for indeed I cannot go 
 " up till you do." 
 
 *^ You may go now," fays fhe, wiping 
 her Eyes and fmiling up at me, ** for, 
 ** ftrange as it may feem to you, I'm the 
 " better for this Cry. Go up now, go 
 "foftly; and fend dear Mother down to 
 ** me prefently, if you can, for fhe needs 
 " Reft and Refrefhment." 
 
 I faid, *'I will," and went up. My 
 Father was dozing when I entered — my 
 
232 7he Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 Mother fitting befide him, with her Hands 
 clafped on her Knee. As foon as fhe faw 
 me, fhe mutely held out her Arms without 
 rifing ; and the next Inflant I was folded 
 to her Heart. We fpoke a little in 
 Whifpers ; and for a While I thought 
 not nor defired to perfuade her to go. At 
 length I did ; and fhe, after a little Refis- 
 tance, yielded ; for fhe was very much 
 exhaufled. I quietly took her Place, and 
 remained in it a long While, inadiive in 
 Body, but with a Mind how bufy ! 
 
 Home, at laft! and to a Scene how 
 changed ! Everything as flill and quiet as 
 on Larkfield Moor! He that had been 
 the Life of many a noify, convivial Party, 
 laid low — perhaps rapidly drawing nigh 
 an unknown World. My Mother, roufed 
 from her incapable State by flrong Affec- 
 tion ; Prue, loving me again, and in Tears 
 — Mr. Fenwick gone ! 
 
 What a Dream this World feems fome- 
 times ! Befides, my Head was mazed 
 with my Journey, and I was fliff with fo 
 
"The RecaL 233 
 
 much Jolting, and the Clofenefs and 
 Warmth of the Chamber after the biting 
 Cold of the outer Air made me feel 
 drowfy. But I would not yield to it. 
 
 A Coffin flew out of the Fire. I was 
 thankful not to be fuperftitious. But yet 
 I'd as lief it had been a Purfe. 
 
 I thought of Gattys lone Watch ; and 
 how much harder her Poflwas than mine. 
 I was not incurring perfonal Danger in 
 the Service of an imperious, unfeeling 
 Patient; I was not feparated from a 
 Mother and Sifler whom I loved ; I was 
 watching over fome one very dear to me. 
 Thinking of her and of my Father and 
 Mother^ I framed my Thoughts to Prayer. 
 Suddenly my Fathery without opening his 
 Eyes, murmured, ^^ Delia! give me your 
 Hand! . . Poor Delia^ I have been very 
 untoward to thee — •" 
 
 Silently, I placed my Hand in his. 
 Cordelia was my Mother s Name, but he 
 wasaccuftomed to call her Delia for'fhort; 
 or rather, had been accuftomed, in their 
 
234 'T^he Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 old Days of Love and Harmony. I took 
 it for a good Sign, his calling her fo again; 
 it fhowed that his Illnefs and her Tender- 
 nefs had melted him. I always liked his 
 Abbreviation of her Name, myfelf, though 
 Prue thought it only fit for a China 
 Shepherdefs. 
 
 "Who have I got hold of?" fays he. 
 " This ifn't Delia's Hand !— Ah, I fee the 
 " Shadow of Fatty's Nofe againfl the Bed- 
 " curtain. Welcome, Child ! come, kifs 
 " thy poor old Dad:' 
 
 Daddy, again, was a Word he never 
 ufed but lovingly. I ftooped over him, 
 and kiifed him two or three Times ; then 
 fet him completely to rights, for his Head 
 had flipped off the Pillow, and he was 
 lying very uncomfortably, without the 
 Power to right himfelf. 
 
 " You're a prime one ! " fays he. ** Thy 
 "dear Mother has no Strength to handle 
 " me, though the Will's ne'er a-wanting ; 
 " and I can't bear her to move me for fear 
 " of her doing herfelf a Hurt. As for 
 
'The Recal, 235 
 
 ** Pruey file does nought but fit by the 
 " Fire and figh ! But thou'rt able and 
 ** willing both, Patty ; fo keep about me 
 " all you can/' 
 
 I promifed him I would, and he foon 
 became again quiet. Prudence prefently 
 ftole in ; and in dumb Show bade me go 
 down to fup with my Mother, As my 
 Father feemed fleeping, I did fo, and had 
 a long Talk with dear Mother; after 
 which, I prevailed with her to fleep with 
 Prue^ and let me keep Watch, aflxiring 
 her I was quite frefh. She confented at 
 length, from flieer Incapacity to hold out 
 any longer; and, after a good Meal, I 
 went up and took my Sifter's Place. 
 Shortly, the Houfe became perfedlly filent, 
 and the diftant Clocks ftruck Twelve. 
 
 I fate by the Fire, mufing on many 
 Things and Perfons, and a good deal of 
 Mr. Fenwick; and, before I was aware, 
 large Tears were quietly rolling down my 
 Face. I was not pleafed with my late 
 Condudl of my own Mind, and refolved on 
 
236 T^he Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 more Self-control and Self-difcipline. 
 While framing thefe feafonable Refolu- 
 tions, a Strain of low, fweet, folemn 
 Mufic ftole through the Air. The Chrifl- 
 mas Waits were playing beneath fome 
 diftant Window, and at the End of their 
 foft Melody, I could make out by the 
 Rhythm, though not by the Articulation, 
 the poor Muficians crying out, 
 
 *^ The Chelfea Waits make bold to call, 
 ** Good-morrow to yoUy Majlers and Mijirejfes 
 all:' 
 
 I dreaded their waking my Father as 
 they drew nearer, but there was no Help 
 for it. I refted my Head againft the high 
 Back of the Nurling-chair, in a Kind of 
 dreamy, lazy Luxury, liftening to the 
 lovely Sounds; and called to Mind the old 
 Text, "Ye fhall have a Song in the Night; 
 as when fome holy Solemnity is kept." 
 
 Ah, thought I, we are apt to fancy our- 
 felves in the Blacknefs of Darknefs, when 
 
The RecaL 237 
 
 any Sorrow or Bereavement comes over us, 
 and yet our good God fends us a Song in 
 the Night! — The poor Shepherds in the 
 Fields of Bethlehem lay watching their 
 Flocks by Night, when all sqemed dark 
 and dreary, but fuddenly a Light fhone 
 upon them, and they heard fweet Mulic in 
 the Air, even fweeter than that which I 
 hear now. . 
 
 Then I thought of the Manger, and the 
 holy Child, and the Mother; and the wife 
 Men following the Star. The Folds of 
 the Window-curtains were a little apart, 
 and I could fee the Stars glimmering. 
 
 All at once, my Father y in a hurried 
 Voice, exclaims, " They're moving 
 now ! " 
 
 "What, dear Father V faid I foftly, 
 looking in on him. 
 
 " Cover them up ! cover them up ! '' 
 cries he rapidly ; " tie their Legs, or they'll 
 ** fet my Head fpinning — Hey, diddle 
 " diddle ! the Cat plays the Fiddle ; and 
 " the Shepherdefs is gavotting with the 
 
238 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houje. 
 
 ^'Turnlpit! Lock 'em up, I fay! Dafh 
 *' them in Pieces ! Break them ! " 
 
 "Hufh, dear Father, hufh— " faid I 
 gently; but he was quite unconfcious of 
 my Prefence, or of anything about him, 
 and grew more and more Hght-headed. 
 Had I not previoufly nurfed Gatty in her 
 DeHration, I ihould have been even more 
 terrified than I was : at all Events, it was 
 awful Work ; it was more fearful to hear 
 a ftrong Man raving than the lunatic 
 Ramblings of a gentle Girl. But what 
 Help was there for it ? I muft e'en do the 
 beft I could. He tofled his Arms about 
 wildly ; and once or twice made as though 
 he would ftart up ; but the Splint on his 
 Leg prevented that. Then he groaned 
 heavily, gnafhed his Teeth, called for 
 Drink, rolled his Eyes, fhuddered, and 
 finally fubfided into fitful Mutterings. 
 Gradually thefe yielded to Stupor; I looked 
 in on him from Time to Time, hoping 
 to find him afleep, but there were his half- 
 open, unwinking Eyes, glaring at me. 
 
l^he RecaL 239 
 
 without any Token of Recognition. I do 
 not know that my Strength was ever more 
 sorely tried. 
 
 Towards Day-dawn he flumbered. I 
 am afliamed to fay, I dropped afleep too ; 
 it was not for long, I believe, yet when 
 I woke up, the Fire was nearly out ; and 
 Prue, in her Dreffing- Jacket, was on her 
 Knees before it, ftealthily reviving it. She 
 put her Finger on her Lips, then came to 
 me and kiifed me. The fnapping of a 
 very fmall Stick woke my reftlefs Father^ 
 who, no longer in his Fever-fit, and excef- 
 five low and finking, cries in a feeble Voice, 
 *' Who's there ? Prue, I know, by her 
 Sighing ! Go, get me fome fpiced Wine 
 and Toafl:, for I'm ebbing away as fafl: as 
 I can." 
 
 ** He always talks like that, when he 
 ** comes to," whifpers Prue^ feeing me 
 look frightened. **We dare not give him 
 " Wine, but Tea and Toafl: he fhall have. 
 ** I will bring it him dired:ly ; and then 
 ^* you fhall go down and have fome too. 
 
240 T^he Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 ** while I flay with him, for you look 
 " completely worn out." 
 
 In fad:, I felt fo jufl then; and though 
 quite afhamed to be knocked up with one 
 Night's Nurfitig, yet my two Days' 
 Journey began to tell upon me ; and I 
 felt, that to hulband my Strength for what 
 probably lay before me, I muft take com- 
 mon Precautions. Therefore, when Prue 
 brought up my Father s Breakfaft, I went 
 down to mine. 
 
Chapter XV. 
 
 Mr, Honeywood's Fancies, 
 
 Though the Sun had not yet rifen, I 
 found a bright little Fire already kindled 
 in the Parlour, and the little oval Table 
 drawn clofe to it, and fpread for Breakfaft, 
 with ftrong Tea and hot Toaft awaiting 
 me on the Hob. I felt very grateful to 
 Prudence for this Kindnefs ; and had fcarce 
 feated myfelf when I heard the foft Tap 
 of my Mother's Ivory-headed Walking- 
 cane as fhe came down Stairs. I haftened 
 to receive her; fhe kiffed my Forehead, 
 and then looked at me with anxious Af- 
 fediion. 
 
 ^* You are weary, my dear Love,'* faid 
 
242 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 fhe, '* and no wonder. What kind of a 
 ^^ Night?" 
 
 ** He was feverifli, dear Mother'' 
 
 '^ And wandering, doubtlefs — I fee it 
 " was fo. Were you frightened ? " 
 
 ** Not much — you know I had nurfed 
 " Gattyr 
 
 "Ah, poor Gatty! — a very different 
 '' Patient—" 
 
 " Yes, Mother; but his Ramblings gave 
 - " me no Diftrefs, except as they betokened 
 " the height of his Fever — He fancied 
 " himfelf playing Cards: — and feemed to 
 " think People were dancing. He fpoke 
 ** very kindly of you." 
 
 My Mother wiped her Eyes. " That 
 " has been the folitary Alleviation all 
 ** along," faid fhe. ** His old Liking for 
 " me has returned." 
 
 After we had breakfafted, fhe accom- 
 panied me to his Chamber : " Ah, you're 
 ** come at laft," faid my Father^ feebly 
 extending his Hand to her, " I was 
 '* wearying of Prue's Sighs." 
 
Mr. Honey wood's Fancies. 243 
 
 *^ Dear Father, I haven't been fighing," 
 faid Prudence, haftily. 
 
 *' Oh, haven't you though, Mrs. Prue ? " 
 — She put her Hand before her Eyes, and 
 filently quitted the Room. 
 
 ** My Love, how are you ? " fays my 
 Mother to him. 
 
 ** I've had fine Company all Night, Mrs. 
 *^ Honeywood. I've been to the queereft 
 ** Ball ! — Ah, you think I'm v^andering, 
 ** but I'm. not — my Head is as clear as 
 " yours. At twelve o'Clock at Night, a 
 ** Flourifli of Tin Trumpets announced the 
 " Commencement of the Entertainment." 
 
 My Mother looked at me in Diftrefs. 
 
 *^ An old Jofs in the Corner," continues 
 he, *' played the Hautboy. A Mandarin 
 " kept Time, nodding his Head. Then, 
 " down came the Five Senfes — you think 
 *^ I've loft mine, but I haven't ! — followed 
 " by the Shepherds and ShepherdefTes, all 
 " in Chelfea China, and took their re- 
 *' fpedtive Places. A Row of Drefden 
 ** Cups were the Byftanders, backed by 
 
244 '^f^^ ^Id Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 ** fome richly painted Plates againft the 
 ** Wall. Bang! went the Drum. The 
 *' Ball immediately opened, and I knew 
 " not which Dancer moft to admire. Such 
 ** finking! fuch rifing! fuch eafy Turns 
 '^ and Inflections ; fuch pointing of Toes 
 " and prefenting of Hands ! Meantime, 
 " the Mufic plays fafter and fafler ; the 
 ** Jofs blows himfelf out of Breath, the 
 ** Mandarin niddle-noddles, till it makes 
 *^ one's Head fpin to look at him. Down 
 " falls a Dragon and gets cracked ; the 
 *^ others fall and fprawl over him; never 
 ** mind, he's up again, and they're at it 
 ** harder than ever. Hands acrofs, down 
 ** the Middle, turn the Corners and 
 *^ poufette ! My Head is too weak to bear 
 " it ; a fmall Cream-Ewer invites me into 
 ** the Card-room. Gratefully I accept it, 
 " when one of the Senfes aflails me, in- 
 " lifting I fhall dance the Minuet de la 
 " Cour. I put her afide, {he returns, I 
 " burft from her, fhe purfues ; I hurry 
 *' into the Card-room, where four refped;- 
 
Mr. Honeywood's Fancies, 245 
 
 ^^able Chinefe 2iVQ playing at Loo. They 
 " make Room for me, I fit down, we get 
 '^ on very comfortably together ; when lo 
 *' you ! in burft the Five Senfes again, 
 ** calling me a Recreant, and I know not 
 " what all, plucking at me, nipping, 
 " pinching, grinning in my Face ; the 
 ** Mufic playing furioufly all the While — 
 " They cry out the Prices at which I 
 ** bought them ; one of them names the 
 " wrong Sum. I exclaim, * That's falfe ! ' 
 " and give her a Cuff that breaks her all to 
 ** fmafh. * Going, going, going, gone !' cries 
 " the Audlioneer in the Corner. Down goes 
 " his Hammer : the Ball is ended. Why, 
 ** Mrs. Honey wood. Ma'am, you're crying ! " 
 Juft then. Dr. Elwes very opportunely 
 came in, with his grave, kind Face. The 
 Sound of his Voice feemed to re-colledl 
 my Father's fcattered Faculties; he did 
 not appear half fo bad as he had done 
 before ; neverthelefs, I could fee the good 
 Phylician thought unfavourably of him. 
 In fhort, for feveral Days he hung between 
 
246 "The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe, 
 
 Life and Death ; after that, he wandered 
 no more, and llowly amended ; requiring 
 inceffant and vigilant Nurling. 
 
 It was one Day, when Prue and my 
 Mother had infifted on my going down 
 Stairs for a Httle Change, that, on entering 
 the Parlour, I fuddenly came on Mr. 
 Fenwick, ** Ah ! " — faid he, and held out 
 his Hand. Overcome by the Surprise, I 
 turned afide my Head, and burft into Tears. 
 The next Moment, his Arm was round my 
 Waift; and as quickly withdrawn. 
 
 '' Dear Patty T' faid he. 
 
 I drew back, and would have left the 
 Room, but he gently detained me, and led 
 me to a Chair next the Fire. 
 
 " I was quite unprepared to hear of this 
 ** domeftic Calamity," faid he, '^ and have 
 ** been greatly moved by it. Your good 
 ** Mother has been telling me how admi- 
 *' rably you have behaved. She wept about 
 *^ it, and faid never was fuch a Daughter." 
 
 This fet my Tears flowing again — I faid 
 there was Nothing out of the Common in 
 
Mr . Honey wood' s Fancies. 247 
 
 a Daughter's tending of a Parent fhe loved. 
 He did not dwell on it ; but went on to 
 talk as only a good, feeling, and faithful 
 Minifter, a holy, high-minded, heavenly 
 spirited Servant of God can talk. I know 
 not how long this delightful Converfation 
 lafted ; perhaps an Hour ; and when he 
 went away, he faid he would foon come 
 again. From that Moment, I was a new 
 Creature : quite frefh, quit^ able to return 
 anew to my Poft. My Heart was full of 
 Peace. If the Body fometimes bears down 
 the Mind, the Mind fometimes wondrously 
 fuftains the Body. 
 
 This was, however, a joylefs Chriftmas 
 to ujs all. Not one of the Family was 
 able to leave the Houfe to go to Church ; 
 and though roaft Beef and Plum-pudding 
 were dreifed^ they were fparingly and fadly 
 partaken of. My loved Mother forgot 
 not, however, to fend Portions to fundry 
 poor Widows and Mothers who were 
 habituated to come to us for our ftale 
 Paftry, Broken-meat, and Cinders. 
 
248 "The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. ^ 
 
 When my Father began to recover a 
 little, he became curious to hear me talk 
 about my Vifit to Larkfield ; and he made 
 me minutely defcribe Gattys Family, and 
 the Family at Roaring Houfe, In a very 
 little While he fettled it to his own Satif- 
 fadion that Gatty v^ould fome Day be 
 Mrs. Heavitree. But v^hen he heard of 
 her being recalled to Servitude by Lady 
 Betty, of her perilous, protraded Journey, 
 and of her finding my Lady in the Small- 
 pox, he became greatly perturbed. 
 ^* What," fays he, ** have not one of you 
 *' had fo much Humanity nor even fo 
 *' much Curiofity, (a Quality, one would 
 *' think, not often lacking in your Sex,) as 
 " to afcertain whether this poor Girl fink 
 '' or fwim ? " 
 
 ^' Dear Father^ we have been fo bufied 
 " about you . . ." 
 
 '^ Fiddlefl:icks' Ends ! I have never had 
 *^ more than one of you about me at a 
 ^* Time ; and has everything elfe been at 
 " a Stand-fl:ill ? Have your Shop-shutters 
 
Mr. Honeywoo{fs Fancies. 249 
 
 " been put up, have your Cuftomers been 
 *' kept out, have you intermitted your 
 ** Baking and your Milking? Pfhaw! Fm 
 " naufeated with fuch a falfe Excufe. If 
 *^you couldn't go, you might w^ rite ; if you 
 ** could not write, you might fend ; if you 
 *^ could not fpare one of the Men, you 
 ^' might have fent a Boy for Twopence. 
 ** Let me hear by To-morrow Morning, I 
 " infift upon't, whether Mrs. Gatty be 
 ** alive or dead." 
 
 He was quite in a Turmoil about it, 
 and for my Part, I was glad enough to be 
 commiffioned to fend ; and as Peter knew 
 the Houfe, I contrived he fhould go that 
 fame Afternoon, and af!<: for Mr. yames, 
 and inquire how fared Mrs. Gatty and 
 Lady Betty — bidding him be fure he put 
 Lady Betty's Name firft, or they would 
 think we knew no Manners. 
 
 So he went, and brought back Word, 
 with Mr. James' Services, that my Lady 
 was ftill very ill, and ftill kept her Cham- 
 ber, and fo did Mrs. Gatty. 
 
250 rhe Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 I faid, " Did he mean Mrs. Gatty was 
 ^^ confined to her own Chamber or to my 
 '' Ladfs? for that makes all the Dif- 
 ^* ference." 
 
 Peter fays, '' Well, Ma'am, I underftood 
 " him to mean fhe kept my Lady's Cham- 
 '' ber ; but I gave you the very Words he 
 " faid." 
 
 So Igave them, juft the fame, to my Father. 
 
 ** Blockhead! Dunderhead!" exclaimed 
 he impatiently. " Well, if fhe^s in her 
 *' Chamber, fhe's not in the Churchyard 
 " at any Rate — And I fhall foon be able 
 " to fpare you, Patty y to go and fee how 
 " fhe really is." 
 
 That Night Prudence and I flept to- 
 gether, for the firft Time fince my Return 
 Home. Before that, I had lain in the 
 little Clofet clofe to my Father s Room, 
 to be within Call. We undreffed filently 
 enough, and I noticed again the great 
 Depreffion fhe had betrayed ever fince my 
 Return ; but yet I was as quiet as fhe. 
 
 When the Candle was put out, fhe 
 
Mr. Honey wood's Fancies. 251 
 
 crept clofer to me ; and though fhe was 
 quiet for a While, I had an Impreflion fhe 
 was going to fay Something. At length, 
 *' Patty y' fays fhe, — and I could perceive 
 her Voice was unfleady, " did you ever 
 " know what a Burthen it was to have 
 " Something on your Mind that you longed, 
 "yet feared, to tell?" 
 
 " Well," faid I, " I can form fome 
 " Notion of the Pain it mufl give." 
 
 " I have that Pain," fays fhe, and fell a 
 crying. 
 
 I faid, " Come, Prue^ tell me what it 
 '* is. We didn't ufe to have any Secrets 
 " from one another." 
 
 " Nor needed to have," fays fhe in her 
 Tears — '* All that's altered now." 
 
 "Why fhould it be?" faid I. She 
 made no Anfwer. 
 
 " Come, what is it?" I faid. 
 
 " Don't you remember faying to me, 
 " ' How fine we are ! ' a Day or two back," 
 fays Prue^ " when you noted a Ruby Ring 
 " on my Finger?" 
 
252 T^he Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe, 
 
 ^^ A Mock Ruby, you mean ! It's a Glafs 
 ** Ring, if ever there was one! I told you, 
 " if I wore Jewels at all, they (hould be 
 '' real." 
 
 '"^ Yes, and I faid Nothing, and I dare 
 ** fay you thought I was fulky, but I wasn't. 
 " People often make great Miftakes in 
 ''judging others. Well, that Ring was 
 '* given me by Tom'' 
 
 " It wouldn't ruin him then," "faid I 
 laughing. '' Unlefs indeed, poor Fellow, 
 " as is like enough, 'twas palmed upon 
 '' him for a real Stone. Well, PruCy is 
 '' this what all the Sighing has been about? 
 '* You needn't break your Heart, I think, 
 '' at having accepted it of him." 
 
 " Don't laugh, or you'll kill me," fays 
 Prudence, *' it's no laughing Matter, I can 
 '' tell you. It don't matter whether the 
 " Stone be real or falfe ; but, in fadt, it's a 
 *' Wedding ... no, a Guard-Ring." 
 
 '' A what ?" cried I. " Do fay it over 
 '' again ! " But fhe was crying paffionately. 
 
 " What's this about Wedding and Guard- 
 
Mr, Honey wood's Fancies. 253 
 
 ** Rings, Prue ? Do you mean to fay you 
 ** are married V 
 
 '' Oh Patty ! don't fpeak fo unkindly— 
 '' I can't bear it." 
 
 " I don't mean to be unkind," — and I 
 kiffed her. " But you rack me with 
 ** Sufpenfe. Do fpeak out ! Are you, can 
 " you be married to Tom ?" 
 
 " Whether or no, I'm engaged to him 
 " quite as irrevocably, laflure you, Patty.'' 
 
 ** You amaze and diftrefs me beyond 
 Meafure," faid I. 
 
 '* I knew you would be very angry with 
 me," faid fhe. 
 
 "Angry? why fhould I be angry? 
 " There's no Reafon why Tom and you 
 " fhould not marry, if you like it, except 
 " his Profeffion, and his being unable to 
 ** keep a Wife. Two ferious Exceptions, 
 " I admit." 
 
 *' So ferious, Patty, that I fear my 
 " Father and Mother would never overlook 
 ** them — Oh ! how angry my Father would 
 " be ! I {hould never hear the Laft of it." 
 
254 'T^he Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 ^* Well, he would be angry, I dare fay, 
 ** but it would not be the firft Time ; and 
 **you generally bear his Rebukes pretty 
 " fturdily. If I were in love with Tom, 
 '' I think I could ftand that." 
 
 " Do you indeed, dear Patty ? Ah, but 
 " you don't know the Worft." 
 
 \' What is the Worft, then?" cried I 
 impatiently — ** Say in a Word." But (he 
 could not fpeak it. 
 
 " I can't make Head nor Tail of it," 
 faid I — *^ It feems fuch an unaccountable 
 " Bufinefs. I thought you cared for Mr. 
 " Fenwick.'' 
 
 '' Mr. Fenwick ? Oh, Patty I how 
 *' could you be fuch a Goofe ?" 
 
 " Well, Prue, I chanced to fee him 
 ** one Day holding you by the Hand at 
 " his Window, and talking very ear- 
 '' neftly." 
 
 ** Why, he was talking about Tom, and 
 ** advifing me not to go to the Play !" 
 
 ** Was that it ? Dear me ! " 
 
 ** Yes ; and — and — You know, Patty, 
 
Mr, Honeywood's Fancies. 255 
 
 '* Tom paid me a good Deal of Attention 
 '^ from the Firft ; and fomehow I was won 
 " by it, there 's Something fo lincere and 
 *^ genuine about him. And he 's very 
 ** diverting too, and the Soul of Good- 
 " humour — in fhort, I liked him very 
 " much ; all the better for his liking me, 
 " and telling me fo whenever we went 
 " out together. Well, when he went 
 ** Home with the Monkey, I miffed him 
 *' fadly ; and as you were very fhort upon 
 ** me about that Time, I thought you faw 
 ** how it was and didn't like it ; which 
 " made me vex a good Deal. When he 
 " came back, I was very glad ; and when 
 *^ you were gone, he kept flaying on, till 
 ^* it was Time to return to his Ship. The 
 ** laft Walk we took together, which was 
 ** when he was on the very Brink of 
 '* Sailing, out it all came ! he made me 
 ** a downright Offer, and faid you knew 
 " all about it, he had fpoken to you at 
 *' the Old Angel, and you were favourable. 
 *' Well, this encouraged me, and fo I as 
 
256 T^he Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 ** good as faid yes, only I told him I knew 
 *' Father and Mother would be hurt at it, 
 " on fuch a fhort Courting, and therefore 
 ** could not tell them of it till he returned 
 ^* from his next Voyage. Tom was quite 
 *' willing ; for what good would it have 
 " done him ? only he begged and prayed 
 " me to keep conftant to him, and not be 
 ** over-perfuaded, while he was away, to 
 " have any one elfe ; which of courfe I 
 " promifed. So we walked along together 
 ** as merry as Birds, though on the Point 
 ** of parting for two Years, without much 
 ** noting Anything going on around us, till 
 " we were forced to paufe by a Knot of 
 " People on the Pavement, feeing a fine 
 " Lady get out of a Hackney-Coach. Tom 
 *^ drew me clofer to him ; and at the fame 
 " Moment a Man in a black Coat pops 
 *' his Face under Tom's Hat, and fays, 
 " ' Will you like to be married. Sir ?' Tom 
 *' burfts out laughing with Surprife, and 
 " fays, * Aye, that I fhould, my Lad !' and 
 " the Man taking him by the Shoulders 
 
Mr, Honeywood's Fancies. 257 
 
 ^* and giving him a Pufh, we were under 
 " a little Gothic Doorway the next 
 ** Minute. A gay bridal Party coming 
 " out, prefTed us againft the Wall. * Dear 
 '^ Tom,* whifpered I fearfully, * what Place 
 "is this? It's no Church.' * Not a bit 
 " of it,' replies he, fmiling, * but yet here's 
 " a Parfon marrying People, many of them 
 ** of Quality too ; and though I don't 
 " fuppofe he can tie a very tight Knot, it 
 " will ferve to keep you engaged to me 
 *' till I come back ; and then we'll have 
 " a merry Wedding, with Mr. Fenwick for 
 " our Parfon.' And oh, Patty, he took 
 " me fo by Surprife that I was over-per- 
 "fuaded!" 
 
Chapter XVI. 
 
 ^ . 'The Imprudence of Prudence, 
 
 " I NEVER heard tell of fuch a TThing in 
 ** my Life ! " cried I, breathleffly. 
 
 *' Ah, I knew you'd fay fo," faid Pru- 
 dence^ lapfing into Tears. *' It was fo 
 " very silly." 
 
 '' Silly ? Wicked ! Such a Mockery ! 
 ** You don't call it a real Marriage, I 
 "hope!" 
 
 '* Oh dear, no. But if you were in my 
 " Place, you wouldn't confide r yourfelf at 
 *^ Liberty to marry another ? " 
 
 " I can't fancy myfelf in your Place, 
 " Prudence ! I would not have done fuch 
 " a Thing for the World ! Certainly, I 
 
The Imprudence of Prudence, 259 
 
 " could not confider myfelf free ! Nor him 
 " fecure ! Fleet Marriages, I know, are 
 ** binding in Law; but there's no Religion 
 ** in them. Have you got a Certificate ? " 
 " Oh yes, a Licenfe, and a Certificate, 
 " and a Crown Stamp that coft a Guinea; 
 ** and a Ring—" 
 
 '' That coft Two-pence! All of a Piece 
 ** with the Reft. I never knew fudi a 
 '^ Jumble in all my Life ! Never ! " 
 *' It was great Folly — " 
 " You know, Priie^ what Mr. Fenwick 
 ** told us Folly is fynonymous with in 
 ** Scripture — Sin. ' The Fooliflmefs of 
 '' Fools is Folly'— He told us that was the 
 ** fame as- * the Fooliftinefs of Fools is 
 '' Sinr' 
 
 " Oh, Patty, don't trample upon me, 
 " now I'm down. I've vexed enough 
 ** about it, already. That is, I've vexed 
 ** about what you, and Mother, and Father, 
 ^' would think of it; for I muft fay, I'm 
 " glad to be fecure of Tom again ft he next 
 " comes Home — " 
 
26o The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 " You might have been fecure of him 
 *^ already ; if his Love v\^as worth Any- 
 ^' thing, which I can readily believe it to 
 ^' be. You might have trufted him." 
 
 " I might ; and he me. It was only 
 '' the Folly of a Moment." 
 
 ^^ Ah, PruCy how often has the Folly of 
 " a Moment been the Ruin of a Life ! 
 " This Man was a Clergyman, I fuppofe?" 
 
 " Oh yes, no doubt of that. He was 
 ^^ a Reverend Mr. Sympforiy of fome Col- 
 " lege, Cambridgey and late Chaplain of 
 '' the Earl of Rothes, So he faid." 
 
 " That's well put in." 
 
 " Well, he looked quite refpedlable, 
 " and you know there are many Clergy 
 '* within the Rules. Don't be too fuf- 
 " picious, Patty.'' 
 
 ** Why, haven't I good Reafon to be, 
 ** Prue ? Only it's all too late, now — Oh 
 ** dear me ! " And I groaned heavily. 
 
 '' Yes, it's all too late now," faid Prue 
 rapidly, " and I meant no Harm, and we 
 " muft make the beft of it, and I feel a 
 
T!he Imprudence of Prudence, 261 
 
 *' great Load off my Mind, now Fve told 
 
 ''you—' 
 
 '* Why, you've only fhifted it from 
 
 " your own Mind to mine ! I don't feel at 
 
 ** all obliged to you !" 
 
 '' Well, perhaps poor Mother might fay 
 
 *' the fame ; fo we had better not tell her." 
 " Oh, Prue, Prue ! how one Sin leads 
 
 " to another ! The Cafe is quite different. 
 
 '' She has a right to her Child's Conii- 
 
 '' dence." 
 
 " Yfhjy you don't tell her Everything, 
 
 '' do you ?" 
 
 ** What have I ever concealed?" 
 
 ** That you care about Mr. Fenwick" 
 
 The Blood rufhed to my Face, though 
 
 we were in the Dark. ** That's quite 
 
 " another Matter," faid I. " You don't 
 
 " know that I care for him." 
 
 ** Oh Patty ! how can you fay fo ?" 
 ** At all Events, he has never fhown me 
 
 *' any decided Preference that would jus- 
 
 " tify me, as a modeft young Woman, in 
 
 " letting his Name efcape my Lips. You 
 
262 'The Old Chelfea Biin-Houfe. 
 
 ** know. Prudence y how different the Cafes 
 '^ are. Certainly, if my dear Mother y who 
 ^* is all Kindnefs and Truth, were to think 
 ** fit to fpeak to me on that or any fimilar 
 " Subjecft, I might blufh, I might fhed a 
 ** Tear, I might feel very uncomfortable, 
 *' but I (hould anfwer her with perfed: 
 " Sincerity." 
 
 '^ Ah Patty! you are very good — And 
 ** I am very bad — " 
 
 ^' Nay, I won't hear you fay that of 
 '* yourfelf. You have certainly been very, 
 '' very fooHfh." 
 
 ^^ And * the Foolifhnefs of Fools is Sin.'" 
 Here flie again wept. 
 
 " Well, Pruey \i \\, be fo, ftill we know 
 ** what is to be done." 
 
 *^What? Oh, tell me!" 
 
 *^ ' I will arife, and go unto my Father, 
 ^* and will fay unto him — ' " 
 
 '' Oh, not to my Father!'' 
 
 *' ' To my Mother y and will fay unto 
 " her. Mother, I have . . .' " 
 
 My own Tears here burft forth. I 
 
The Imprudence of Prudence, 263 
 
 believe they, and the few Words of the 
 Text I had cited proved the beft Eloquence; 
 for in an Inftant Prue was clinging to me, 
 choking in Tears, and faying, ** I will ! I 
 will!" 
 
 Overcome by our Emotions, we faid no 
 more till we flept, I holding her to my 
 Heart, full of Love and Pity, though 
 perturbed beyond Expreffion at her Con- 
 dudl. 
 
 My Father requiring fo much of our 
 Care, it was feldom that we were all three 
 together ; however, the next Day, after he 
 had dined with more Comfort to himfelf 
 than ufual, he folded his Hands together 
 and faid, ** Thank God for my good 
 ** Dinner ! And now I'll have a Nap, 
 " and you may all go down Stairs till I 
 '' pull the Bell." 
 
 Some trifling Affair prevented my im- 
 mediately joining my Mother and Sifter. 
 When I went into the Parlour, I found 
 Prue had jufl fere wed her Courage to the 
 Point of Confeffion. " Mother,'' fhe was 
 
264 'The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 faying, " I've done fo wrong — " and began 
 to cry. 
 
 ''What is it, PrueV faid my Mother 
 gently, who was blanching Almonds. 
 
 *^ Say firft. Mother^ that you'll forgive 
 " me—" 
 
 " Nay, let me firft hear what I have to 
 " forgive. I am not fuch a very unfor- 
 " giving Perfon, Child, am I?" 
 
 "No indeed. Mother!'' kiffing her 
 Hand. " But oh ! I don't know what 
 " you'll fay ! I'm engaged to Tom!'' 
 
 '^ I gueifed as niuch long ago," faid my 
 Mother coolly. 
 
 ''You did !'^ 
 
 "Yes — you were very poor Secret- 
 " keepers, Prue ; clumfy Adepts in Con- 
 " cealment! I gueffed, ever fince he went, 
 " that that Glafs Ring was a Love-token." 
 
 Prue blufhed very deeply. " Ah," faid 
 fhe, fluttering, and looking with downcaft 
 Fondnefs on the flighted Bauble, " it is a 
 "Love-token, indeed. Mother! and even 
 " more than that." 
 
T^he Imprudence of Prudence, 265 
 
 ^* What more?" faid my Mother qaickly. 
 Prudence was filent. 
 
 "You don't mean. Prudence,'' with 
 fome Agitation in her Tone, ** that it's a 
 "Wedding Ring?" 
 
 " What if it were, dear Mother V (fal- 
 tering) — "Should you be very angry?" 
 
 " I fhould be angry and hurt — deeply 
 "hurt!" 
 
 " Ah — " Prue, who was kneeling be- 
 fide my Mother y turned her Head afide and 
 looked into the Fire. 
 
 "Speak, Patty!'' faid my Mother, 
 much perturbed, " and tell me if you can 
 " — fince your Sifter will not — Has there 
 " been a Marriage ?" 
 
 " A Fleet-Marriage, or Something of 
 " that Sort," faid I, reluftantly. 
 
 " A Fleet-Marriage ?" cried my Mother , 
 holding up her Hands, and finking back in 
 her Chair. 
 
 ^^ Mother! Mother! hear me," cries 
 Prucy cafting her Arms acrofs my Mother's 
 knees and looking up at her. "We parted 
 
266 T!he Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 " at the Church-door, — Houfe-door, I 
 ^' mean ; we knew we were only engaged; 
 *^ we did not look on it as a regular 
 ** Marriage, — only as binding us together 
 ** a little — it was the Thought of a Mo- 
 '* ment — Tom propofed it firft — " 
 
 " I fuppofe fo/' faid my Mother , with a 
 Tone of infinite Scorn; '* but I little 
 *' thought that a Daughter of mine could 
 ** be fo perfuaded. Oh Prue, Prue! I 
 " never could have believed it of you ! 
 ** No Wonder you have gone about figh- 
 '^ ing and hanging your Head — it has been 
 *' your only Ad: of Grace." 
 
 Prue, humiliated beyond Expreffion at 
 thefe Reproaches, was crying filently — 
 '* Don't tell my Father^'* at length faid 
 fhe. 
 
 " Certainly I fhall not," faid my Mother, 
 ftill chafed. ** I fhould be quite afhamed 
 " of mentioning fuch a difgraceful Trans- 
 " aftion to him — worthier of a Wapping 
 '' Sailor than of his Brother's Son — Mate 
 *' to a refpedtable Merchant Veffel. A 
 
'The Imprudence of Prudence, 267 
 
 " Thing only done by the Loweft of the 
 " Low—" 
 
 "And a few of the Higheft of the 
 '' High," put in I. 
 
 '* Who thereby reduce themfelves to an 
 " ignominious Level with the Loweft of 
 " the Low," perfifted my Mother. '' It 
 " ought to be put down by Adl of Parlia- 
 " ment ! It will fhortly, I underftand 
 " from Dr. Elwes^ who was fpeaking of 
 " the Abufe a little While ago, little 
 " thinking that a Culprit ftood in his 
 " Prefence. I never could have believed 
 " it of Tom! never have fuppofed that he 
 ** could fo abufe a Mother's Confidence, 
 " and fail off, leaving Diffimulation and 
 ** Difcord behind him — he that ufed to 
 " fay * he couldn't bear to put People to 
 ** the leaft Inconvenience ! '" 
 
 At the Recurrence to this old Catch- 
 Word of his, Prue and I could neither of 
 us help burfting out laughing. My 
 Mother, quite againft her Will, was ob- 
 liged to laugh too. At this Moment, the 
 
268 mie Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 Door opened; and who fhould come in 
 but Gatty! 
 
 I fprang towards her, while Priie^ with 
 a brief Word in paffing, took the Oppor- 
 tunity to efcape. 
 
 ^^ Are you not afraid of coming near 
 ^*me?" faid Gatty fmiHng, as I kiffed 
 her. 
 
 " Oh no ! Our Time came long ago ; 
 *' no Danger of Infection here ! But, dear 
 ** Gatty ^ we have been in fuch Sufpenfe 
 ** about you ! Have you not been ill ? " 
 
 *^ No, I have been mercifully preferved 
 — James told me you had fent to inquire 
 ^^ how I was getting on ; and as Lady 
 " Betty is a good deal foftened towards me 
 "juft now, I had not much Difficulty in 
 '^ prevailing with her to let me come 
 " out for a few Hours, and I thought I 
 '" would put your Fears at reft by coming 
 '' to you." 
 
 Finding fhe could ftay, we made her 
 remove her damp Cloak and Calaifh, and 
 take an early Difh of Tea with us. We 
 
The Imprudence of Prudence, 269 
 
 had a long Firefide Chat ; and my Mother 
 at length going up to my Father ^ who had 
 flept long, Gatty became more unreferved 
 with me, and I foon drew from her all 
 that had happened. 
 
 It appeared that Mr. Heavitree had 
 propofed to her during their Walk from 
 Roaring Houfe ; but fhe then confidered 
 herfelf engaged for the Time to Lady 
 Betty y fo as fhe could not in Honour nor 
 Juftice draw back; and therefore fhe 
 would not hear of giving up her Journey 
 to Town, though fhe promifed to give 
 Lady Betty Notice that fhe fhould leave 
 her Service as foon as her Lady/hip was 
 fuited. On the following Day, when 
 they journeyed together, Mr. Heavitree 
 renewed his Suit, and obtained from her 
 that fhe would quit Lady Betty at the very 
 earliefl Day fhe decently could; after 
 which they talked over their Profpedl of 
 mutual Happinefs with great Satisfaction, 
 till the Coach overturned. When Gatty 
 reached Town and found Lady Betty in 
 
270 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe, 
 
 the Small-Pox, fhe was a good deal as- 
 tounded, not being quite clear whether fhe 
 were exempt from it or not; however, fhe 
 thought her Duty lay plainly before her, 
 and embraced it with as good a Grace as 
 fhe could. Being her Lady/hip's fole At- 
 tendant, her Poll was arduous ; however, 
 fhe filled it fo as to fecure very thorough 
 Satisfaction, though very little Gratitude; 
 Lady Betty being one of thofe who think 
 Gold can requite any Amount of Obliga- 
 tion ; at leafl, as far as the Lower Orders 
 are concerned. And what Amount of 
 Gold, then, had my Lady beflowed on the 
 young Creature who, under Providence, 
 had faved her Life at the Rifk of her own ? 
 An Annuity ? A Purfe full of Guineas ? 
 No fuch Thing ! An old Gold Snuff-Box, 
 prefented to her Ladyjhifs Grandfather by 
 the obfcure Members of fome forgotten 
 Corporation ! A Thing of no earthly Con- 
 fideration to her Lady/hip ; though Gatty 
 guefTed that if fold by the Ounce, it might 
 fetch her feven or perhaps ten Guineas. 
 
T^he Imprudence of Prudence, 271 
 
 But Lady Betty was in a dreadful Way 
 about her Face — all marked and feamed; 
 and her fine Complexion quite gone ! 
 And though, Gatty faid, 'twas hoped 
 when the Rednefs had gone off, that fhe 
 would not look fo bad, yet the Diforder 
 had left an Imprefs of Ordinarinefs, of 
 Commonefs behind it, as is not unfrequent, 
 that went fadly againft the Stomach of my 
 Lady, And when I faid I fhould have 
 thought that a Perfonage who fet fuch 
 Store by herfelf, would have been blinded 
 by Self-prepoffeffion, to any falling off, 
 Gatty faid 'twas quite the other Way ; for 
 her Lady/Iiip was fo well acquainted with 
 every good Point about her, that fhe was 
 Lynx-eyed to the fmalleft Deficience, and 
 more intolerant of it than any indifferent 
 Party could be. Whereby it befel that 
 fhe was ready to dafh into Pieces every 
 Looking-glafs in the Houfe, and would 
 have them covered up, and would only fit 
 in a Chamber artfully darkened, and would 
 not for the Prefent let any Man get Sight 
 
2/2 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 of her, nor even any of her favourite 
 female Friends, though fhe was quite w^ell 
 enough to receive them, fo much dreaded 
 fhe their fpreading difparaging Reports. 
 She meant to go dow^n to fome Watering- 
 place w^here fhe was unknown, and there 
 lead a hermetical Life direcflly the Weather 
 was fine enough; having a Notion that 
 the Sea Air- would take off the Rednefs. 
 Meanwhile, fhe kept Gatty on hard Duty 
 all Day long, playing Picquet and reading 
 Novels ; and Gatty faid fhe only wifhed 
 they were in fome Language fhe did not 
 underfland, for fhe feared fo much trafhy 
 Reading mufl impair her Mind 'in fpite of 
 her Repugnance to it. And when my 
 Lady had Nothing better to do, fhe 
 abufed Gatty for not tying her Hands 
 when fhe was worfl at all Hazards, rather 
 than let her tear at her Face like as one 
 would hackle Flax; averring it would 
 have been better to die than to live fuch a 
 Fright. However, Gatty faid fhe knew 
 that had not been her Ladyjliifs Mind at 
 
T^he Imprudence of Prudence, 273 
 
 the Time, and fhe did not confider that 
 fhe fhould have been borne out in it. She 
 faid fhe had now learnt at laft the Value 
 of Lap.-dogs and Parrots, for they helped 
 to divert Lady Betty from her mortifying 
 Refledlions more than Anything elfe. And 
 there w^as this Good gained, that my Lady 
 now always made her begin and end the 
 Day with reading Prayers and a Chapter ; 
 and though fhe did not feem to attend 
 much, yet Nobody knew but fome good 
 Word might make itfelf heard at lafl. 
 
 Having thus relieved her Mind, Gatty 
 was inclined to hear of our own Affairs 
 while we were taking Tea. She was very 
 forry to hear of my Father's fad Accident ; 
 and, learning from Prue that he would be 
 very glad to fhake Hands with her if fhe 
 did not mind going into his fick-Chamber, 
 where he was now promoted to an eafy 
 Chair by the Fire, fhe flepped up to him 
 with me, and enlivened him for Half-an- 
 Hour with her cheerful Talk. Of courfe 
 he rallied her about Mr. Heavitree, — that 
 
274 "The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 was to be expected, — but fhe took it very 
 bravely, and gave him back Quip for 
 Crank ; yet all fo modeft and innocent- 
 fpoken, as the Jeft of a Girl like Gatty 
 w^as certain to be. And fomehow, by 
 Way of Lady Betty ^ fhe got round, quite 
 naturally, to Something ferious, about 
 Life and Death, Judgment and Eternity, 
 that my Father took better of her than he 
 would have done from us, and that left us 
 all with our Minds in a State of ferious 
 Compofednefs. 
 
Chapter XVII. 
 
 Mr, Honeywoodt s Convalefcence. 
 
 When Prue and I made up our Books at 
 the Year's End, we found to our great 
 Thankfulnefs and Satisfaction, that in fpite 
 of our having paid many heavy Bills of 
 my Father's, we were on the right Side 
 the Poft, and had cleared a good Year's 
 Income. And this I told my Father in fo 
 many Words, thinking it would pleafe 
 him as well as ourfelves. 
 
 " Humph !^' faid he; '''In fpite of 
 " having paid many of your Father's 
 " heavy Bills." This carries an ill 'Sound 
 I " with it. And the Senfe is worfe. Many 
 
2/6 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe, 
 
 " a Father grudges paying his thought- 
 *' lefs Son's bills : well may induftrious 
 " Daughters grudge paying the Bills of a 
 '' though tlefs Father — " 
 
 **Dear Father! Tm fure we don*t 
 *^ grudge — " 
 
 '* Silence, Mrs. Patty! If Vm falling 
 ** into a profitable and penitent State of 
 *' Mind, why fhould you hinder me ? Do 
 ** you want Nobody to be good but your- 
 *' felf ? That's your Pride. I've got my 
 ** Share of Self-Knowledge and Humilia- 
 ** tion, I hope, as well as other People ; 
 ** and when I fay I've been thoughtlefs, 
 ** Madam, (fmiting the Table with his 
 Fift,) '' I ferioufiy mean it ! " 
 
 As Mr. Fenwick had juft been talking 
 with him, I attributed this virtuous Self- 
 Indignation to his Influence, and only 
 hoped it might lafl:. My Father and he 
 were now mighty Friends : although we 
 were fo far from Shoreditch, Mr. Fenwick 
 ilepped over to us at leaft once a Week, 
 faying he could not forget our Attentions 
 
Mr. Honey wood's Convalefcence. 277 
 
 to himfelf during his Illnefs, and con- 
 fidered us as a kind of Out-Parifhioners. 
 On thefe Occalions he frequently fpent an 
 Hour alone with my Father^ and then 
 joined us at the Tea-Table, which was 
 profitable to the one Party and pleafant to 
 the other. 
 
 At Length, it became pradlicable to 
 remove my Father down Stairs. But 
 before this was accomplifhed, he beckoned 
 to my Mother and faid, ** Delia y I prithee 
 " cover up or hide away all the China 
 *^ Figures dovwi Stairs before I come into 
 " the Chinefe Parlour, or they will bring 
 " my Dream to Mind, and fet me fancying 
 " I fee 'em all dancing. Anything but 
 " that ! I loathe the very Thought of 
 " them ! — You may fell them if you will 
 ** — fend them to Dick Harper with my 
 " Card, and they'll fetch a pretty Figure 
 ^* at the next Auftion, efpecially if you 
 " throw in the Five Senfes. Idle Bag- 
 " gages ! they led me aftray, as they've led 
 ^^ many a better Man before me. Happy 
 
278 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 " he who can difembarrafs himfelf from 
 " their Extravagancies thus eafily ! '' 
 
 My Mother did, in Fad:, get a pretty 
 httle Sum for them ; and my Father never 
 bought another Piece of China nor at- 
 tended another Auftion from that Day to 
 this. But this by the Way. 
 
 We were fitting very comfortably about 
 the Fire, congratulating ourfelves upon 
 being thus re-united, — and my Father was 
 enjoying a Bafin of ftrong Gravy Soup, 
 (for it was a little before Noon,) and 
 wifhing my Mother would have a little of 
 it, when all at once down fell a Smelling- 
 Bottle from the Chimney-Piece; a Water- 
 Caraife on the Table upfet; Doors banged. 
 Bells rang without being pulled, the Walls 
 fhook, and the Ground fank and rofe under 
 us like a Ship at Sea. We fhrieked out, 
 and clung to one another ; and I, in ad- 
 dition to my Terror, experienced great Nau- 
 fea, as if I were on Shipboard. My Father 
 immediately exclaimed, " Heyday ! there's 
 " a Powder-Mill blown up at Hounjlow /" 
 
Mr, Honeywood's Convalefcence. 279 
 
 " God pity the poor Creatures in and 
 ** about it," cries my Mother. The next 
 Moment, in rufhes Peter^ as white as a 
 Sheet. 
 
 " An Earthquake ! an Earthquake ! " 
 cries he, " Did you feel the Earthquake ? " 
 
 " Earthquake ? you Dolt," fays my Fa- 
 ther ; " 'tis a Powder-Mill blown up at 
 ** Hounjlow, I tell ye ; and fo you'll find 
 " before To-morrow." 
 
 " Well, Sir," fays Peter, '' all the 
 ^* Neighbours fay as I do, and are feared 
 " out of their Wits, expedling another 
 ** Shock prefently, which, for Aught we 
 ** know, may fwallow us up alive." 
 
 ^* Peter^ you're an Oaf — a Lubber ! " 
 fays my Father contemptuoufly ; on which 
 Peter retired ; but Prue, who was much 
 frightened, began to cry. 
 
 " What's the ufe of crying. Chit?" 
 fays my Father y ** is that a Cure for an 
 ** Earthquake?" 
 
 **.No, Father y but it's fo very awful — " 
 
 " Very awful," faid my Mother, ferioufly . 
 
28o T^he Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 ** Very awful indeed, *' faid I. 
 
 " Well, of courfe it would be, if it were 
 " an Earthquake," fays my Father ; " but 
 ** I fay 'twas only a Powder-Mill blowing 
 ^* up fomewhere, and fo you'll fee.'* 
 
 When the Apothecary who had fet 
 Father s Leg came in, however, he con- 
 firmed the general Opinion that there had 
 been a fmart Shock of an Earthquake, and 
 added that it had been accompanied by 
 what we had not noticed, namely, a loud 
 crafhing or crackling Noife. Everybody 
 that came into the Shop fpoke about it ; 
 and there was a general Uncomfortablenefs 
 and Senfe of Infecurity. 
 
 In the Dufk of Evenings Dr. Elwes 
 looked in on us ; and while he remained, 
 Mr. Fenwick came in. Both fpoke of the 
 Earthquake, though my Father would not 
 entirely give into it till it was pofitively 
 afcertained that no Mill had blown up. 
 Dr. Elwes faid that the Shock had been 
 felt on both Sides of the River, as far as 
 Greenwich^ and remarked that the natural 
 
Mr. Honey wood's Convalefcence, 281 
 
 Phenomena of the laft Month had furely 
 been fuch as to awaken the carelefs and 
 folemnize the thoughtful Mind. 
 
 ** For Inftance," fays he, ** the new 
 " Year was ufhered in by a very remark- 
 ** able Appearance in the Heavens, of a 
 ** duiky red Light that feemed to gather 
 ** into a Focus southward, emitting bril- 
 ** liant Corufcations. I was warm in 
 " Bed and afleep at the Time, but I heard 
 ** it from thofe who faw it, and it was in 
 " the public Prints." 
 
 I here put in that I had feen it ; being 
 on Watch over my Father at the Time, 
 who was then in his Deliration. I had 
 feen a red Light glowing through the 
 white Window-Curtains, and on going to 
 look out, perceived fuch a ruddy Glow in 
 the Sky that I had furmifed a dreadful, 
 diftant Fire fomewhere. And again, a 
 few Weeks after, Prue and I were wakened 
 in the Night by fuch an awful Storm of 
 Thunder, Lightning, Rain, Sleet, and Hail, 
 accompanied by terrific Blafts of Wind, as 
 
282 "The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 feemed to go nigh to (hake the Houfe to 
 Pieces. 
 
 ** I flept through it all," faid my Father 
 " — However, Patty does not exaggerate, 
 " for the Mifchief done by that Tempeft 
 ** at Brijiol was immenfe, and filled the 
 " Inhabitants with Confternation." 
 
 ** I wonder what it all means," faid 
 Prudence ruefully. 
 
 ** Means ! " repeated my Father y with 
 Contempt. 
 
 *^ It means that we fliould watch," faid 
 Mr. Fenwick, mildly, ** fince our Lord 
 " will come at an Hour we know not of. 
 " Many poor People in Shore ditch came 
 ** to me in great Alarm, to afk me if I 
 *' thought the End of the World was 
 ** coming. I told them I knew no more 
 " then they did, for that of that Hour 
 '' knoweth no Man ; no, not the Angels in 
 " Heaven, but only the Father; but that 
 ** what our Saviour hadjfaid to his own 
 *' Difciples, he had faid unto all — 
 **^ Watch!'" 
 
Mr , Honey wood' s Convalefcence, 283 
 
 And he went on to fpeak of the Defira- 
 blenefs and Duty of a continual State of 
 Preparednefs for whatever might happen 
 to us from within or without, and the 
 Confidence with which Believers might 
 repofe on the Care of their heavenly 
 Father, with fuch Feeling and Power, 
 that all of us went to Bed that Night 
 in a State of chaftened Compofure, widely 
 apart from ungodly Indifference or flavifh 
 Fear. There was more Solemnity and 
 Aifedlion than ufual in our Parting for 
 the Night ; fince we knew not but we 
 might be fwallowed up quick like Dathan 
 and Abiram ere Morning Light, though 
 we humbly hoped, in that Cafe, to re- 
 open our Eyes in a better World. 
 
 This being our State of Mind, it was 
 with Difguft that I learnt on the follow- 
 ing Day, that the recklefs Men of Fafhion 
 and Quality who had fupped Overnight at 
 Bedford Houfe, had gone about the Town 
 on their Way Home, betwixt four and 
 five o'clock in the Morning, knocking at 
 
284 "The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 Doors and mifchievoufly frightening timid 
 harmlefs People, by bawling out, " Paft 
 ** four o'clock, and a dreadful Earth- 
 " quake!" "The Fool hath faid in his 
 " Heart, There is no God ! " 
 
 During the Remainder of this Month 
 we went on quietly enough, feeing few 
 Perfons except in the Way of Buiinefs, 
 which, by Reafon of the Severity of the 
 Seafon, was much flacker than in fine 
 Weather. My Father progreffed fo flowly 
 that we had our private Doubts whether 
 he were not invalided for Life. However, 
 from being one of the moft impatient, he 
 had now become the moft patient of 
 Men; fo that 'twas quite a Pleafure to 
 nurfe him. His gay Companions having 
 altogether forfook him in his Illnefs, he 
 was now grown totally indifferent to them, 
 and if one or other of them dropped in 
 on him, he treated them with fo much 
 fardonic Irony that they were unlikely to 
 intrude very foon on him again. He 
 miffed 'em very little, having now taken a 
 
Mr. Honey wood's Convalefcence. 285 
 
 great Fancy to reading, and to the Com- 
 pany of my Mother^ both of which were 
 very fafe and inexpenfive Luxuries. He 
 had grown fingularly fond of Mr. Fenwick 
 and of Dr. Elwes^ the latter of whom 
 frequently honoured us by dropping in to 
 play a Rubber — they were Men of two 
 different Worlds, but yet neither of them 
 fo unacquainted with the World that was 
 charadleriftically the other's, as to be 
 wholly unable to make Allowances : — one 
 brought my Father worldly Wifdom and 
 Wit, the other heavenly Wifdom and in- 
 nocent Pleafantry ; one fupplied him with 
 humorous Books, the other, with profit- 
 able Reading ; fo that, between 'em both, 
 he fared not badly. He was now getting 
 through the Hiftory of Don ^ixote de la 
 Manchay which he read Snatches of with 
 infinite Gufto to my Mother; and was 
 continually quoting the Proverbs of Sancho 
 Panza, Thus we went peacefully on, 
 and were lofing all Fear or even Memory 
 of the Earthquake; when, on the very 
 
286 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 fame Day of the very next Month, .which 
 is to fay, February 1750, we were affrighted 
 out of our Senfes by a worfe Shock and 
 abundantly more terrifical, between Five 
 and Six o'Clock in the Morning. Oh ! 
 how Prue and I fhrieked out, and rufhed 
 down, half dreifed, to my Father and 
 Mother, They were fitting up in Bed, 
 having been woke out of Sleep by a loud, 
 rumbling Noife, accompanied by thick, 
 low Flaihes of Lightning. The Houfe 
 was ftill rocking and the Ground heaving 
 all about us. Bells ringing. Clocks ftriking, 
 Glafs and China jingling, and Furniture 
 fhifting from one Place to another. My 
 Father was this Time ferioufly frightened, 
 and cried, *^ Come to my Arms, my Chil- 
 ** dren, and let us die together — we heeded 
 ^^ not the firfi; Warning. 'Tis as well to 
 ** meet our Fate here, all together, as any- 
 " where elfe, fince whither could we flee 
 ** from Danger ? even if I were an able- 
 " bodied Man, which I am not. Good 
 ** Lord, deliver us. Becaufe there is 
 
Mr. Honey wooct s Convalefcence. 287 
 
 ** none other that can help us, but only 
 '' thou, O Lord ! " 
 
 So I remained folded in his Arms, and 
 Prue in my Mother Sy while we heard 
 Perfons in wild Affright loudly fhrieking 
 in the open Air. I have often thought 
 fince, that had Death indeed come upon 
 us at that Moment, it would have been 
 attended with much Mitigation of its 
 Bitternefs. 
 
 By-and-by, the Vibration having ceafed, 
 we flowly withdrew from one another's 
 Arms, with deep-drawn Breaths ; and fet 
 about dreffing and refuming the Occupa- 
 tions of the Day in strange Difcomfort 
 and Sadnefs. I have fince read, in Books 
 of Travellers, that in Countries where 
 Earthquakes are prevalent, the Natives are 
 in many Inftances far more confternated 
 by them than Strangers, who being unac- 
 cuftomed to them do not in one View 
 concentrate all their difaftrous Confe- 
 quences. This I can well believe; for 
 certainly all London was infinitely more 
 
288 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 appalled by this fecond Shock than by the 
 firft. How can I convey any Figure of 
 the Impreffions of Fear and Superftition? 
 how defcribe the alarmed Confciences of 
 Sinners, the Perturbation of grave Men, 
 the Diftrefs of tender Mothers^ the Cries 
 of affrighted Children at a Danger fo 
 novel and ftupendous ? To increafe the 
 general Panic, while godly Preachers like 
 Bifhop Sherlock and Bifhop Seeker were 
 endeavouring to improve the Judgment to 
 Purpofes of Penitence and Piety among 
 the upper Ranks, and good Minifters like 
 Mr. Fenwick were calling on the lower 
 Orders to repent and be faved, a fanatic 
 Itinerant began preaching in the Streets, 
 and boldly prophefying another Shock on 
 the fame Day of Aprtly which would 
 fwallow up all London, The Impreffion 
 produced by this Predidlion was fuch as 
 that Churches now filled to overflowing, 
 Public-Houfes were deferted, good Books 
 were read, Alms liberally beflowed on the 
 Poor, and the Sick and them that lay in 
 
Mr. Honeywooits Convalefcence. 289 
 
 Prifon vifited. O that fuch Deeds of 
 Humanity had fprung from fome better 
 Principle than felfifh Fear ! " Ah/' fays 
 one poor Man lying in Newgate^ " I exped: 
 ** that when the next Earthquake occurs, 
 ** my Chains, like thofe of St, Paul, will 
 " fall off." " Let us eat and drink,'* cries 
 another tipfily, ** for To-morrow we die ! " 
 — ** I can't help fearing this next Shock that 
 ** is to happen in^r/7," fays a poor Wretch 
 in the Hofpital that is fure not to live out 
 the Week. " Ah," fays a meek Patient in 
 the next Bed, placidly fmiling, " I fhall be 
 *^ out of Harm's Way before that comes ! " 
 Others combated their Neighbours' 
 Fears with Reafon and Ridicule ; others 
 drowned Thought altogether in additional 
 Excefs of Riot. I underftood from Gatiy 
 that many fmart Things were faid about 
 the Earthquake in the upper Circles ; and 
 every frefh Inftance of a fine Lady caring 
 for her Soul and going to Prayers elicited 
 Fits of modifh Laughter. And yet, who 
 deferved the Judgment of Heaven to fall 
 
290 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 upon them, if the Rich did not? whofe 
 DiiTolutenefs and Difregard of Decency 
 and Order had now come to that Pafs as 
 quite to paravaunt over the Vices and 
 Crimes of the common Orders. God's 
 facred Name habitually blafphemed, 
 Christ and the Holy Spirit ignored, 
 the Devil difbelieved, Chaftity laughed at. 
 Ribaldry approved, Drunkennefs confidered 
 Good-Breeding, Servants treated as if not 
 of the fame Flefli and Blood with them- 
 felves. Sabbaths defecrated. Gambling 
 carried to an incredible Extent, the Hang- 
 ing of poor Wretches at Tyburn counted a 
 Speftacle worthy to recreate Noblemen, 
 public Honour a mere Name, Patriotifm 
 the Synonyme for revolutionary Principle, 
 no Truth, nor Honour, nor Juftice, in 
 Court nor in public Offices . . . who, 
 then, had Reafon to dread the juft Judg- 
 ments of God ? 
 
 At the very Time the Earth was rocking 
 with the firfl Shock, there were profane 
 Scoffers in Club-houfes who would bet. 
 
Mr. Honey wood's Convalefcence. 291 
 
 whether it were an Earthquake or the 
 Explofion of a Gunpowder Magazine. 
 At the very Time two- thirds of London 
 were on their Knees, obferving a general 
 Faft and Day of Humiliation, the Gamb- 
 ling-houfes were filled with Members of 
 Parliament, who found themfelves with a 
 Day of Leifure on their Hands. A Man 
 dropped down Dead at the Door of White's 
 Coffee-houfe : he was carried in; the Club 
 immediately made Bets whether he were 
 dead or not; a Surgeon came in to bleed 
 him ; the Wagerers interpofed, faying it 
 would affedl the Fairnefs of the Bet ! 
 
 O Madnefs of mortal Men ! O Hard- 
 nefs, paft Belief, of impenitent Sinners ! 
 
Chapter XVIII. 
 
 The Night of Terror. 
 
 As the dreaded Day approached, the public 
 Panic increafed to that Degree, that even 
 the Sceptics with a ScofF on their Lips 
 thought it would be as well to **keep 
 " out of Harm*s Way,'' and " Follow the 
 " Fafhion." Not that they intended Peni- 
 tence and Self-recolleftion, no, no ; but 
 fince London was to be fwallowed up, they 
 would take Lodgings, that Night, in the 
 Country. 
 
 In Confequence of this, every one that 
 had a Room or Bed to let, in Chelfea, 
 Hammerfmithy Kenfngton, Kew, Richmond, 
 or anywhere within a moderate Diftance 
 
T!he Night of Terror. 293 
 
 of the Metropolis, raifed their Prices to an 
 immoderate Height; and in every little 
 Shop or Parlour Window a Card or Paper, 
 ill writ and ill fpelt, might be ktn pafted 
 or wafered, notifying that ** Hear might 
 be had a Bedd or Bedds on the enfewing 
 Nite of the Erthquak." Nay, Women 
 whofe Fortunes or Occupations did not 
 admit of their leaving their City Homes, 
 quilted themfelves warm " Earthquake 
 Bedgowns," in which to take Flight in the 
 Night, if their Houfes (hould tumble 
 about their Ears. 
 
 It might be about a Week before 
 the Event was expefted, and while the 
 Churches were daily filled to overflowing, 
 that Gatty came to inquire whether her 
 Lady could have the Sitting-room and 
 Bed-chamber formerly occupied by Mr. 
 Fenwick^ for ** the Earthquake Night." 
 Though the Apartments were unlet, my 
 Mother did not much relifh Lady Betty for 
 her Gueft, even for twenty-four Hours, 
 and faid fhe did not know {he was minded 
 
294 "The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 to let the Rooms at all ; fhe was fure we 
 could not do Things to my Ladys liking. 
 However, Gattyy who was to be Lady 
 Betty s Companion, and had a great Fancy 
 for coming to us on her own Account, 
 faid fhe was inftrudied to offer us any 
 Price within Reafon, and of her own 
 Head offered fo handfome a Sum, that my 
 Mother faid fhe fhould be afhamed of 
 taking it for one Night. There was 
 Nothing in that, Gatty faid; Lady Betty 
 never grudged any Money on herfelf, and 
 could well afford to pay it, and would 
 rather like boafling beforehand and after- 
 wards, how much her Earthquake Lodg- 
 ings cofl her. So, as we well knew all 
 our Neighbours were making the fame 
 Market, and we fhould really be difaccom- 
 modated by having her Lady/hip and find- 
 ing a Lodging for Mr. Jatnes, we would 
 not be fo nice as to hold out, but accepted 
 the Terms in confideration of the Trouble. 
 I fhould, indeed, have put in a Provifo for 
 Mr. Fenwicky whofe Safety was infinitely 
 
T^he Night of Terror, 295 
 
 more important than my Ladys, had I 
 believed there was the leaft Chance of his 
 confenting to occupy his old Quarters ; 
 but I knew already that he would by no 
 Means forfake his poor People in Shore- 
 ditchy even on the Suppofal of any efpecial 
 Dangeroufnefs on that Night, which he 
 did not, averring the myfterious Intentions 
 of Providence to be altogether hidden out 
 of Sight, in fpite of the Prefagings of 
 Impoftors and Fanatics. 
 
 Gatty joyfully left us therefore, having, 
 fhe owned, been a little infedled by the 
 Fears of thofe around her, which were 
 efpecially prevalent in the Servants' Hall, 
 where the poor Maids and Men were to be 
 left in their ordinary Charge ; my Lady 
 not entertaining the fame Fear of their 
 being fwallowed up alive as of herfelf. 
 
 And was it not ftrange, now, that a 
 Lady who might have commanded the 
 Ufe of various Country Seats, or have 
 hired an entire Houfe fomewhere in the 
 remoter Parts by the Week, for about the 
 
296 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 fame Sum fhe was to pay for a fingle 
 Night, ftiould prefer her own felfifh Ac- 
 commodation before that of her whole 
 Houfehold ? But, I am forry to fay, 
 hers was not a fmgular Cafe. 
 
 The Buftle into which we and our 
 Neighbours were put, by the Expeftance 
 of our Quality-Lodgers, had Something 
 in it flrangely diffonant to the Occafion. 
 Here were Carts arriving at the Door with 
 my Ladys own Feather-Bed and Blankets, 
 my Lady's own Linen and Toilette, my 
 Lady's own Cufhions and Foot-stool, even 
 my Ladfs own Parrot : and Wine, and 
 Cordials, and Sweetmeats, and Packs of 
 Cards; though the Supper was to be 
 provided by us, *' for the good of the 
 ** Houfe." It feemed that though my 
 Lady intended to be only a Mile or two 
 beyond the Profpect of burying alive, and 
 within Sound and Sight of an engulfed 
 City, fhe by no Means purpofed a refledlive 
 Watch and Paufe while the Crifis im- 
 pended, but rather thought to kill Time 
 
'The Night of Terror. 297 
 
 and drown Fear by Jollity and Enter- 
 tainment. To this End, ihe invited certain 
 of her Intimates, including Mr. Paul Caryl ^ 
 (for fhe had got tired of keeping the Men 
 at a Diftance,) who had likewife fecured 
 Lodgings in Chelfeay to fpend the Evening 
 with her, and purfue their Diverfions far 
 into the Night. 
 
 We were not to exped: her till the 
 Afternoon previous to the Occafion ; but 
 however, fhoals of poor, terrified People 
 who had engaged Lodgings in remoter and 
 lefs expenfive Parts, could not be hindered 
 of pouring into the Country for two or 
 three Days beforehand ; and as every 
 imaginable Vehicle was preffed into the 
 Service, all the Highroads and leading 
 Thoroughfares of London were abfolutely 
 blockaded with Coaches, Chaifes, and 
 Chairs, as well as innumerable Foot-Paf- 
 fengers, often inextricably wedged together 
 for ten or fifteen Minutes. One Family, 
 I undcrflood, even took Flight in a Hearfe : 
 indeed. Dr. Elwes faid it could be likened 
 
298 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 to Nothing but the confternated Flight 
 that took place at the Beginning of the 
 Great Plague. He added, that the Fields 
 were full of People preparing to Camp 
 out for the Night ; juft as they were 
 conftrained to do after the Fire of London ; 
 and finifhed by obferving with an ironical 
 Laugh, ** There's a good Time coming for 
 " the Dodlors ; for plenty of Colds will 
 ** be caught to-night in the wet Fields, 
 ** to fay Nothing of damp Lodgings." 
 
 About five o'clock in the Afternoon, 
 my Lady arrived in her Coach. She was 
 handed out by her Nephew, Mr. Sandys, 
 and her Phyfician Dr. Plw7jptree ; and 
 Gafty followed vath the Lap-Dog. Her 
 Lady/hip wore a cherry-colour Sacque 
 and large Straw Hat; but neither the 
 Shadow of the one nor the hue of the 
 other could conceal how her Beauty was 
 ruinated by her fad Complaint. She was 
 no longer even ordinarily comely ; all her 
 fine red and white and fmooth Skin loft, 
 and her Eyes bleared and fpoilt. With 
 
The Night ofT error, 299 
 
 much Fufs we got her fettled in the upper 
 Parlour ; but to fay Nothing of her own 
 two Servants, fhe contrived, the whole of 
 the Time fhe was under our Roof, to keep 
 Priie and me continually on the Trot. 
 Inquiry foon was made for Mr. Caryl ; he 
 had not appeared : my Lady was difap- 
 pointed ; fhe had expedted him to be the 
 Life of the Party. By-and-by, in fpite 
 of her Shawls and Cufhions, fhe fancied 
 a Draught from the Window ; I was 
 fummoned to cure it, and had to cobble 
 an additional Breadth of Dimity to the 
 Curtain as quickly as I could ; while 
 my Lady flroked her Lap-Dog at the 
 Fire, and chatted with her two Com- 
 panions. 
 
 " Awfully cold," fays xk\Q^Bo5ior, 
 ** Screaming cold," fays the Nephew, 
 ** Thefe inferior Houfes always have thin 
 ** Walls ; one might think it was January, 
 " To-night, all London's out of Town — 
 " Lady Frances Arundel^ and Lord and 
 ** Lady Galway have gone ten Miles into 
 
300 T^he Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe, 
 
 " the Country, to play Brag till five in the 
 *' Morning, and then come back." 
 
 " A good many wjll play Brag," faid 
 the Dodlory fimpering — " the real Brag- 
 " garts, I think, are thofe that jftay behind." 
 
 " Then you really are afraid. Doctor?'' 
 fays Lady Betty. 
 
 " Well, my Lady, I think it would be 
 " a Tempting of Providence to incur any 
 " Rifk needleffly." 
 
 Juft then, in came Mr. Caryl. ** A 
 " thoufand Excufes," fays he. ^* I was 
 " coming along the Five Fields, when a 
 " couple of crazy old Houfes tumbled 
 " down and blocked up the Way, fo I 
 " was obliged to come round." 
 
 ** A lucky Efcape for you, Patily' fays 
 Mr. Sandys, " it might have been as bad 
 " for you as an Earthquake." 
 
 '' Why, yes," fays Mr. Caryl, '' though 
 ** not eafily fluttered, it did give me a 
 ** Qualm, I confefs. Befides, it might 
 " have been a premonitory Quake that 
 ** brought the Houfes down." 
 
The Night ofT error. 301 
 
 '' My Salts, Gatty!'' cries Lady Betty, 
 
 '' Any Cafualties ? " fays the DoBor 
 careleflly. 
 
 '' To tell you the Truth," fays Mr. 
 Caryly " I was fo rejoiced to fave my own 
 " Bones that I did not flop to inquire 
 ** whether anyone elfe had theirs broken." 
 And lightly laughed. 
 
 ** Feeling!" mutters Mr. Sandys. 
 
 '^'-Quack ! " refponds Mr. Caryl foftly. 
 
 And then I knew them, that Moment, 
 for the Fox and the Goofe ! 
 
 ** Whereabouts in the Five Fields did 
 " it happen ?" refumes the DoBor. 
 
 " Juft by that old, empty Houfe, Do^or, 
 " wherein two Women were found ftarved 
 " to Death with Cold and Hunger, fome- 
 " where about Chrijimas.'' 
 
 *^ Fm fure fuch Things as that ought 
 '* not to occur," fays Lady Betty, dabbing 
 her Forehead with fome Eflence, ** fo well 
 ** as the Poor are provided for." 
 
 *^ Oh yes, efpecially this Chrijimas,' 
 fays Mr. Sandys careleflly — ^* for, you 
 
302 The Old Chelfea Biin-Houje. 
 
 " know, a great many Hogs were feized 
 ** by the Church-wardens and Overfeers 
 ** of St. George's Parifh, that were kept in 
 " private Houfes and Yards contrary to the 
 "Statute made and provided; whereby 
 " the Poor, of that Parifh at leaft, if they 
 " had not their Chriftmas Beef, had their 
 " Chriftmas Pork ; for it was diftributed 
 '* among them." 
 
 " Not gratis, though/' faid the Dodlor, 
 
 ** No, but very cheap ; " faid Mr. Sandys, 
 '' So I underftood." 
 
 ** I wonder you fhould underftand or 
 " hear Anything about it, Harry y' fays 
 Lady Betty contemptuoufly. 
 
 *' Well, Aunty I happened to hear it 
 ** named by Mr. Arbuthnot'' 
 
 ** When is Mr. Arbuthnot to marry 
 '' Lady Grace V fays Mr. Caryl 
 
 " After Lent, I believe," faid the DoBor^ 
 — " They that marry in Lent will live to 
 '' repent." 
 
 " Why fo ?" fays Lady Betty. 
 
 " Nay, Madam, afk your Chaplain. I 
 
^he Night of Terror. 303 
 
 " fuppofe People fhould not be feafting 
 " when they ought to be failing." 
 
 *' Ah, that's it, no Doubt," fays Lady 
 Betty — "Let us have Tea now, Gatty ; 
 " and Plenty of Genoa Macaroons." 
 
 The next Time I went up Stairs, which 
 was not till after Dark, they were all play- 
 ing at Brag. 
 
 As I went down, a fudden Blaft of 
 Wind from the front Door of the Houfe 
 blew my Candle out, and I groped along 
 into the Shop, muttering, " Who on Earth 
 *' can be ftanding in the Draught fuch a 
 "cold Night as this?" At the fame Mo- 
 ment I caught a Glimpfe of a Couple of 
 dufky Figures ftanding in the Door-way, 
 and heard, in earneft Under-tones, the 
 Words, ''Gatty! is that you?" "Mr. 
 " Heavitree ! can it be you ? What in the 
 " World can have brought you here, and 
 " at this Time of Night ?"— " To be with 
 " you, deareft Gatty y in cafe of your being 
 " alarmed, and — and — in cafe of Anything 
 " happening . . ." 
 
304 ^he Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 I would not overhear another Word, 
 but went ftraight into the Parlour and lit 
 my Candle, faying quietly to my Mother, 
 *' There's Mr. Heavitree outfide, talking to 
 " Gattyr 
 
 " Have him in ! '' cries my Father y 
 whofe Ears were quicker than I thought, 
 *^ I want to fee what the young Chap is 
 'Mike."— ** Hufli, Father, he'll overhear 
 ** you — Maybe he will prefer faying a few 
 '' Words to Gatty by herfelf firft." " Very 
 " likely, very likely," fays my Father 
 chuckling — " but I hope he won't go 
 " away without coming in, for all that." 
 
 I now thought I might go out again 
 with the Candle, and fet it in the Shop ; 
 but the Current of Air from the Door 
 again nearly blew it out, though I fcreened 
 it with my Hand. The Stream of Light 
 fell upon Gatty, who turned about and 
 faid, " Patty, here's an old Acquaintance, 
 — I'm furc I may afk him in, may not I?" 
 *' And welcome," faid I. "I am almoft 
 " too dirty to be feen," fays Mr. Heavitree, 
 
'The Night of T^ err or, 305 
 
 coming in. "Why, you are all muddy 
 "from Head to Foot," cries Gatty, 
 " What can you have been doing ?" 
 
 Juft then. Lady Betty s Bell was pulled 
 pretty fharply, and Gatty was obliged to 
 run off. I could fee, by Mr. Heavitree's^ 
 wincing, that he could not abide the Re- 
 membrance of her menial Pofition, and 
 that it would not be his Fault if fhe long 
 retained it. I ufhered him into the Par- 
 lour. My Father^ in his eafy Chair, 
 flretches out his Hand to him. " Mr. 
 " HeavitreCy' fays he heartily, " I'm glad 
 " to fee you." " You fee a very dirty 
 " Fellow, Sir," fays Mr. Heavitree laugh- 
 ing. " Why, you are dirty, indeed," fays 
 my Father y furveying him ; "is this the 
 " Way you come a-courting ? I fhould 
 " fay you had been rolling in the Gutter." 
 " Something like it," fays Mr. Heavitree ; 
 "we Country Folks got feared by this 
 " Talk of the Earthquake, fo I thought 
 " rd juft come up to Town and look after 
 " Gatty; but. Sir, what a Place this 
 
306 T^he Old Chelfea Bun-Houje. 
 
 ** London is! My Danger along the Road, 
 ** of being attacked by the Fellow they call 
 ** the Flying Highwayman, was nothing 
 " to what it was when I got into the 
 " Streets. I put up my Horfe at an Inn, 
 ** and then fet forth, as clean as you'd wifh 
 " to fee me, to Lady Betty's, where I ex- 
 " pedled to find Gatty ; but it was already 
 *' getting dark, and^by Reafon of the Panic 
 ** the Tow^n was almoft deferted except by 
 " the very worft Sort, who care neither 
 " for Heaven nor Earth, and who feemed 
 " minded to make the Defertion of Houfes 
 ^' an Occafion for pretty general Plunder. 
 *' Here and there twinkled a miferable little 
 " folitary Oil Lamp ; here and there a Lan- 
 ** tern flitted acrofs, or a Ray of a Tallow 
 " Candle flreamed from fome Window, but 
 ** with thefe Exceptions, which only feemed 
 ** to make Darknefs more difmal, there was 
 *^ Nothing to prevent one from breaking 
 ** one's Shins againft Pofts and Door-Steps, 
 ** or walking ftraight into the Gutters. I 
 ** was huftled once or twice, and began to 
 
The Night of Terror. 307 
 
 ^ think Affairs were not much mended 
 ^ fince my Lord Mayor and the Aldermen 
 ^ went up to the King, Suddenly I was 
 ' pounced on by three diforderly Fellows, 
 
 * who collared me and dragged me into a 
 ^ dark Cellar. One of them held a Lan- 
 
 * tern to my Face and faid, * fem, this 
 
 * ifn't our Man/ on which I was pufhed 
 
 * out pretty near as roughly as I was 
 ^pulled in. This did not hinder me of 
 ^ taking to my Heels, which occafioned 
 
 * my ftumbling into an enormous Heap 
 ' of wet Mud by the Side of the Foot- 
 
 * Path, with ne'er a Lamp near it, which 
 ' made me in the Pickle you fee. How- 
 ' ever, I got to Lady Betty Sy where I 
 
 * found the Manfion deferted by all fave 
 ' one poor Maid, who fate reading of her 
 
 * Bible by the Light of a Kitchen Candle ; 
 ^ all the reft having decamped as foon 
 
 * as my Lady was off, in the Opinion 
 
 * that their Safety was quite as dear 
 
 * to them as hers to her. I afked the 
 
 * poor Creature if fhe were not afeared to 
 
3o8 572^ Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 " be alone at fuch a Crifis ; but flie feemed 
 ** to be Something of a Predeftinarian, and 
 ** faid her Time could come but once, and 
 " when the Lord would ; fhe could truft 
 *' herfelf in his Hands. I obtained from 
 " her that Gatty and my Lady had gone to 
 ** the Chelfea Bun-Houfe ; fo then I knew 
 " they were with you, Mrs. Patty ; and 
 " having got a Diredlion to Chelfea, I foon 
 " made out, when I reached it, my Way 
 " here. But oh, what a State all the 
 ** Fields and wafte Grounds about you are 
 '* in ! People in Tents, Booths, Carts, 
 " Coaches, and Caravans ; awaiting the 
 *^ Morning Light. The Field Preachers 
 " are bufy among them, and are exhorting 
 " attentive Multitudes : but will the Im- 
 " preffion furvive To-morrow? — I think, 
 ** Sir, my Mud is dry now ; and if you 
 " will lend me a Clothes-BruHi, Til ftep 
 *' out and groom myfelf a little.'' 
 
Chapter XIX. 
 
 The Vigil. 
 
 " That's as good-looking a young Man," 
 fays my Father ^ **as ever I faw — quite 
 '' a Mate for Gatty:' 
 
 ** Hufh, Father^ he'll hear you," fays 
 Frue foftly. 
 
 ^' He can't," fays Father ^ lowering his 
 Voice, however. 
 
 " How provoking it muft be to Gatty^^ 
 fays Frue, ** to know he is here, and yet 
 be kept in attendance on my Lady ! " 
 
 *^ Tufli, Child, fhe'd rather know he 
 " was here than not. . . . Well, Mr. 
 *' Heavitree,'' (when our Vifitor returned,) 
 
3 1 o The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 " have you confidered where you are to 
 *'get a Bed to-night?" 
 
 '' Why, no. Sir, really I have not." 
 
 " Then Til tell you ! You may take 
 **your Choice of all the Beds in this 
 " Houfe except Lady Betty s ; for w^e are 
 " all going to fit up ! " 
 
 *^ Why, then. Sir, v^ith your Leave, 
 '' I '11 fit up too ! " 
 
 " Do fo, young Gentleman, and wel- 
 " come. You fee, we have quality Lod- 
 ** gers in the Houfe, who keep late 
 " Hours ; and as they require a good Deal 
 ** of waiting on, we think.it beft to fit up 
 '' — 'Tis but for one Night." 
 
 *' Befides which," put in my Mother y 
 " though we are not ourfelves apprehenfive 
 " of an Earthquake this Night any more 
 ** than any other, yet having fuch a frefli 
 " Recolled:ion of the Terror we expe- 
 ** rienced during the laft Shock, and know- 
 " ing that fo many Thoufands of People 
 " are in diftrefling Apprehenfion of a 
 " fimilar and more terrible Occurrence, it 
 
T^he Vigil. 3 1 1 
 
 " feems unfeeling to think of lleeping and 
 " taking one's natural Reft, inftead of 
 ** watching with others, and fympathifmg 
 '' with them.'' 
 
 ** I think precifely as you do. Madam," 
 faid Mr, Heavitree ; '* I ^"aflure you that 
 ** though I am not of thofe who exped: 
 " the Earthquake, I am difpofed for Any- 
 " thing but Levity, and feel this to be an 
 " impreflive Occafion." 
 
 So, this being his acknowledged Feeling, 
 we fate about the Fire and fell into a 
 fomewhat graver Strain of Converfation 
 than ufual; and I was glad to find that 
 the young Man could talk ferioufly as well 
 as pleafantly. Though he had not let fall 
 a Word about want of Refrefhment, I 
 knew he muft have been fafting for fome 
 Time, and therefore helped him plentifully 
 to cold Beef with his Tea and Bread and 
 Butter, which he pronounced very accept- 
 able. While he was eating, Gatty re- 
 turned, all Smiles, and faid, ^' I am glad to 
 " fee you doing fo well, Mr. Heavitree ! " 
 
312 The Old Chelfea Bun-Hoiife. 
 
 but juft as he had made Room for her 
 befide him, tinkle went the Bell, and 
 away fhe was obliged to run again. 
 
 '' Can't we muffle that Bell?" fays he, 
 fomewhat impatiently. 
 
 ** Then my Lady would hammer on the 
 " Floor," faid I, '' and would keep her 
 ** up-Stairs altogether." 
 
 ** Yes," fays Father, " that would an- 
 " fwer as ill as the two Houfemaids in 
 '* Mfofs Fables, that killed the Cock for 
 '' waking their Miftrefs." 
 
 " Well," fays Mr. Heavitree, " it won't 
 ** be for long, that's one Bleffing. Her 
 " Time's up on Monday, and I fliall ftay 
 ** in Town till then, and take her down 
 *' with me in the old Coach." 
 
 ** I hope you won't have fo many 
 " overturns this Time," faid my Mo- 
 ther. 
 
 ** Why, no," faid he fmiling, '* we can 
 " difpenfe with them now ; but I protell: 
 " that Snow- Journey was the pleafanteft 
 ** I ever had in my Life." 
 
The Vigil. 313 I 
 
 I 
 *' You are going to poflefs a Treafure, 
 
 *' Sir," faid my Father energetically. 
 
 " Indeed I think fo, Sir ! I was not , 
 aware you fo well knew her Value." 
 
 '' Always took to her, Mr. Heavitree^ 
 '' from the very firft; Didn't I, Girls?" 
 
 " Indeed you did. Father,'' 
 
 ** And when is it to be ?" fays my Fa- 
 ther fignificantly. 
 
 " Nay, Sir," faid Mr. Heavitree with a 
 little EmbarralTment, " Tve not got Gatty 
 *' to name the Day yet, but I hope it will 
 ** be before long ; and as my Sifter Clarijfa 
 ** is fhortly to be married, which will 
 " deprive Roaring Houfe of its prefent 
 " Miftrefs, perhaps we may arrange to 
 *^ have two Weddings on the fame Day." 
 
 ** Was that poor Wayfarer found under 
 *' the Snow?" faid my Mother, 
 
 ** Oh no. Ma'am, we conclude flie ac- 
 " complifhed her Journey in Safety." 
 
 By-and-by, Gatty joined us again ; and 
 we all fate chatting till Twelve o'Clock. 
 Then my Ladys Supper went up, and 
 
3 1 4 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 then we had our own ; a pretty fubftantial 
 one, as watching makes People hungry. 
 
 After Supper, we, according to Cuftom, 
 had Prayers; and I thought it not amifs 
 to feledl for our Evening Portion the 
 twenty-fourth Chapter of St. Matthew^ 
 which fpeaks of Famines, Peftilences, and 
 Earthquakes. After this, we again drew 
 round the Fire ; for Watching makes 
 people chilly : and Mr. Heavitree began 
 to repeat fome Reports he had gathered, 
 of the wretched State our Gaols were in, 
 at that Time, overflowing with the Refufe 
 of our Army and Navy, who, for Want of 
 honeft Employment, were perifhing mi- 
 ferably amidft the Stench and Horrors of 
 noifome Dungeons. 
 
 " That they are," fays my Father; ** and 
 " as for Newgate^ it is now in fo pefti- 
 " lential a State of Infeftion from the 
 ** overcrowding together of dirty, ftarving 
 " Felons, that the Effluvium they have 
 " brought into Court on their Trials hath 
 " coft us the Lives of a Lord Mayor, an 
 
The Vigil, 315 
 
 " Alderman, two Judges, divers Lawyers, 
 *^ the greater Part of the Jury, and I 
 " know not how many of the By-standers. 
 " This Spread of the Gaol Fever among 
 " the upper Clafles will do more to get 
 " the Abufe remedied than the Deaths of 
 ** Hundreds of Criminals in their Cells ; 
 *' but yet I can't for the Life of me help 
 " regretting that fo many able-bodied Men, 
 ** whofe Labour might be ferviceable to 
 ** the Community, fliould be idling at the 
 " public Expenfe in Prifon." 
 
 Mr. Heavitree was filent, and Gatty 
 prefently afked him what he was mufing 
 about. He faid, ** Thofe Rogues who 
 '* pulled me into the dark Cellar faid I 
 " was not the right Man. I was wonder- 
 *' ing if they have found him yet, and 
 " what they have done to him," 
 
 This led to fundry difmal Stories, of 
 Footpads and Street- A iTaffins ; and of 
 Lord Harboroiig/is being befet by Robbers 
 in Piccadilly in broad Daylight, and one of 
 the Chairmen pulling a Pole out of his 
 
3 1 6 i:he Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 Lord/hip's Chair and knocking down one 
 of the Villains, while the Earl, leaping 
 out, and drawing his Sword, put the Reft 
 to flight. Then we wondered whether 
 Times could get worfe, and whether they 
 would ever mend, and whether the next 
 Generation would liften to fuch Facts as 
 idle Tales, or whether Abufes would in- 
 creafe to that Degree as to bring down a 
 Providential Judgment on the City, like 
 that which overtook Gomorrah, or like 
 that which we were now expecfling. 
 
 Soon after this, my Father fell faft 
 afleep, and my Mother began to nod. 
 Prudence was knitting with all her Might, 
 and I took up my Mother's Knotting, and 
 on Pretence of getting nearer the Light, 
 edged my Chair further off from Gatty, 
 who continued converfing with Mr. Heavi-*' 
 tree in an under Tone, which became lower 
 and lower. I am perfuaded neither of 
 them felt in the leaft fleepy, nor had the 
 fmalleft Apprehenfions of the Earthquake ; 
 but Prue yawned awfully from Time to 
 
"The Vigil. 3 1 7 
 
 Time, and I was profoundly filent and very 
 ferious. 
 
 All at once. Lady Betty's Bell rang 
 violently, and Gatty ran up Stairs. The 
 Wax Lights had burned out, and at firft it 
 feemed that there were no others, which 
 put my Lady into a fad Taking. The 
 Idea of her being left in the Dark with an 
 Earthquake I Happily, another Pacquet 
 of Wax Candles was found, and, after 
 Ratafia had been ferved round, they fell 
 to their Card-playing again ; but Gatty 
 affirmed that my Lady changed Colour, 
 and laid down her Hand on Mr. Sandys' s 
 roguifhly fhaking the Table. 
 
 At Length, all the Clocks ftruck Five ; 
 at which Hour everybody conceived them- 
 felves fafe, as witleffly as they had pre- 
 "'vioufly held themfelves to be in Danger. 
 The Card-Party now broke up ; Gatty 
 went to undrefs my Lady^ and I went to 
 lock out the Gentlemen, who departed 
 in a Body, looking fagged and haggard 
 enough. Juft as Mr. Caryl was goings' 
 
iC 
 
 
 318 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe, 
 
 forth, he paufed for a Moment and faid, 
 " By-the-bye, this is where Mr. — Mr. 
 " what's his Name ? Mr. Fenwick lodged 
 ^* — Can you tell me where he is at pre- 
 
 fent, Mr^. Patty?'' 
 
 I coolly anfwered, **With his poor 
 
 People in S/wreditch, Sir." 
 
 Shoreditch? Shoreditch? Ha, I'll try 
 ** to remember that," fays he carelefTly ; 
 and turned on his Heel. I thought to 
 myfelf, I don't believe you will ; your Cue 
 is to forget. 
 
 Then I went to get my Father and 
 Mother to Bed, and fend off Prue, and 
 laftly, to go to Bed myfelf. As for Mr. 
 Heavitree, he was content with a couple 
 of Chairs by the Fire. Gatty flept with 
 my Ladyy who did not feel brave enough 
 to be alone. 
 
 The Watch made us all latifli, and 
 arife yawnifh. Peter told me the Roads 
 were all aftir before Light, with People 
 returning to their Homes ; and that the 
 Preachers were trying to enforce on their 
 
"The Vigil, 319 
 
 Penitents that they had had an Anfwer to 
 Prayer. Lady Betty did not rife till Noon ; 
 what with her Vapours, her Whims, and 
 her Breakfaft, fhe did not depart till two 
 o'clock. We had fcarcely a Word of 
 Gattyy but fhe ran in to us juft at laft, and 
 kiifed us all round, taking Leave of us 
 once for all, and receiving our good 
 Wifhes for her future Happinefs with 
 many Blufhes and Smiles. Mr. Heavitree 
 had already gone off; and as foon as we 
 had tidied my Ladys Rooms, we all fub- 
 fided into our ufual Quiet. 
 
 The following Day, about Noon, I was 
 behind the Counter, when I received a 
 great Shock by hearing a Cuftomer fay 
 cafually, " Dr. Elwes is dead — he went 
 ** off quite fuddenly at fix this Morn- 
 -ing.*' 
 
 I could hardly go on weighing fome 
 Comfits, the Tears crowded fo faft into 
 my Eyes at the unexped:ed Lofs of our 
 old Friend. I remained but to have the 
 ill News confirmed and gather the Par- 
 
320 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 ticulars, and then went up to break them 
 to my Mother^ who was fitting with my 
 Father in their own Chamber. She was 
 a good deal afFecfled, and my Father under- 
 took the Office of Confoler with great 
 KindUnefs. After a While I went down 
 and afl<:ed Prue^ who felt lefs Concern 
 than I did for the Do^ory to take my 
 Place a little While in the Shop. Then 
 I went and fate down in the Parlour, and 
 thought over his various Acts of Kindnefs 
 to me, and fhed fome Tears of unafl^edled 
 Regret. He had never been a decidedly 
 religious Charafter, but was much liked 
 by his Patients, defervedly loved by the 
 Poor, and to us had been a tried and 
 valued Friend. 
 
 While I was in this forrowful Mood, 
 in comes Mr. Fenwicky fo flufhed with 
 Exercife and good Spirits as to look quite 
 handfome. Feeling fo low as I did juft 
 then, I did not reciprocate his Salutation 
 quite fo cheerfully as he feemed to expedl ; 
 and he, on his Part, on finding that my 
 
The Vigil. 321 
 
 Father and Mother were well, paid lefs 
 Attention to my Depreffion than he might 
 have done ; and, for the lirft Time in my 
 Life, I thought him a little feliifh. 
 
 " I have fome good News," faid he. 
 
 " I am glad to hear it," faid I, " for I 
 ** have fome bad News." 
 
 *• What's that ? " faid he. 
 
 " Our dear Friend Dr. Elwes is dead ;" 
 and I put the Corner of my Apron to my 
 Eyes. 
 
 ** Well, — I am forry to hear it," refumes 
 he, after a Paufe ; *' he was not, I fear, a 
 " very thoughtful Man." 
 
 ** A very good Man/' faid I, warming. 
 
 " A very kindly, attentive Man in a 
 " Sick-room," fays he, *' and a pleafant 
 " Companion, which is all I know about 
 
 '' him." 
 
 " JVe knew a good Deal more," faid I, 
 " and know that his Lofs won't be foon 
 ** fupplied. We fhall mifs him very much. 
 '* He was truly benevolent, whatever you 
 " may think." 
 
322 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 " I don't deny it, I aflure you," faid he, 
 looking furprifed at my Heat, " I only 
 " wifhed there had been a more Chriftian 
 " Bafis for his many good Qualities." 
 
 " It is not very Chriftian, I think, to 
 " depreciate them, efpecially at a Time like 
 " this." 
 
 " My dear Patty y I ftand reproved. I 
 ** did not fufficiently confider, nor, indeed, 
 ** fufficiently know the Wound your Feel- 
 ** ings had juft experienced." 
 
 This touched me, and I faid, ** We will 
 " fpeak of it no more. Sir. I am glad to 
 ** fee you looking fo well. You told me, I 
 ** think, you had heard fome good News." 
 
 " Yes, from Mr. Caryiy 
 
 " Quack ! " faid I haftily ; lofing my 
 Temper and good Manners in my revived 
 Impreffion of that Gentleman's Duplicity 
 and Hollownefs. 
 
 " Patty /" faid Mr. Fenwicky in a Tone 
 of mild Surprife. 
 
 **I beg your Pardon, Sir," faid I, 
 aftiamed of myfelf, " but you know I 
 
T^he Vigil. 323 
 
 " never can hear that Gentleman's Name 
 " with Patience." 
 
 ** I do know it," faid he, fmiling very 
 pleafantly, " and (hould retort on you the 
 **Accufation of Uncharitablenefs, or elfe 
 ** endeavour to laugh you out of your 
 ** fingular Prejudice againft him, but that 
 ** I feel Something in it fo flattering to 
 " myfelf, that I am difarmed. However, 
 ** I have that to tell you of him now, 
 ** which will, I fancy, alter your Opinion." 
 
 ** Nothing will alter my Opinion of 
 *' him," perfifted I, " no Good will ever 
 " come to you from that Quarter." 
 
 "Why not?" 
 
 ** Becaufe I know him better than you 
 " do." He laughed. 
 
 "You may laugh. Sir," faid I, "but 
 "you'll fee in Time that I am right. 
 " Have you feen him lately ? " 
 
 " Not fince I was in this Houfe." 
 
 " Ah, well, I have feen him more than 
 " once — I've feen him and heard him 
 " among his own Set, when he didn't 
 
324 "The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 ** know I was by, and he faid Things that 
 " . . . convinced me he was a falfe 
 " Friend to you." 
 
 " What were thofe Things ?" 
 
 ** Tm not clear that I have a Right to 
 " repeat them." 
 
 ** An accufed Party has always a Right 
 " to have the Charge againft him fubftan- 
 " tiated. You are filent? — Well, Mrs. 
 ** Patty y fince you are fo inveterate againft 
 " this poor Gentleman, I fhall only irritate 
 ** you, I am afraid, by acquainting you 
 " with Anything in his Favour, and there- 
 ** fore ril keep my News to myfelf — '* 
 
 ** Juft tell me one Thing— Has he fent 
 " you back your Poem ? " 
 
 ** My Poem ! No — you know he ac- 
 ** cidently burnt that. Months ago." 
 
 "Pfhaw!" 
 
 " You never will believe it," continued 
 he laughing, ** nor forgive him for it. 
 " Why, / have forgiven him, this long 
 " While; and if I have, C2LVi\you?" 
 
 " No." 
 
T^he Vigil. 325 
 
 " Well, Fatty y this Intereft in the Fate 
 " of my unlucky Manufcript is, as I have 
 ** before told you, very gratifying to me ; 
 " but ftill, I fhould be more gratified if you 
 " would do Juftice to an innocent Man." 
 
 *' Why, he was here, the Night before 
 " laft. Sir ! and from the carelefs Way in 
 " which he inquired for you, I could fee 
 ** he did not value you a Straw ! I really 
 ** wonder at you, Mr. Fenwick.'* 
 
 " Nay, I muft fay I wonder at yoUy 
 ^* Mrs, Fatty; but fince we are getting 
 ** rather too warm upon it, Til wifh you 
 ** Good-bye for the Prefent, and converfe 
 " with you fome other Time on what is in 
 " my Mind, but which I fear would juft 
 " now meet with an unfavourable Hear- 
 " ing.'' Saying which, he took up his Hat, 
 and was going away quite formally, when, 
 turning fhort about, he looked full into 
 my Face for a Minute, and faid with an 
 inexpreflible Sweetnefs of Reproach, 
 
 **Why, Fatty/ I didn't think you 
 ** could be fo crofs ! " 
 
Chapter XX, 
 
 Mr, Fenwick's Proceedings, 
 
 I HAVE his Face before me this Minute ! 
 My Mother was wont to fay, ** Mr. Fen- 
 '^ wick had fmiUng Eyes/* but I proteft 
 I found they could cut me to the Heart. 
 I ran up-stairs as foon as ever he was 
 gone, and had a good Cry by my own 
 Bed-fide ; and wondered what on Earth 
 could have made me fo knaggy and up- 
 fettifh. 
 
 When I went down, Prue was ftill in 
 the Shop; and feeing me with red Eyes, 
 I dare fay fhe thought I had been crying 
 about Dr. Elwes, I hadn't, however! 
 There were Cuftomers buying Buns, fo 
 
Mr. Fenwick's Proceedings. 327 
 
 I left her to attend to them, and returned 
 to the Parlour; and there, who fhould 
 there be, fitting at the Window and fmell- 
 ing to fome Primrofes, but Mr. Fenwick! 
 I declare I ftarted as if it had been his 
 Ghoft. 
 
 " Well," fays he fmiling, *^ Tve foon 
 "come back again . . . Why, Patty! — I 
 '^ do believe you've been fhedding Tears ! " 
 
 " What of that. Sir?" faid I, ready to 
 begin again. 
 
 ** Only this," faid he, " that I am very 
 " glad of it, becaufe it feems as if you 
 *^ were forry for the little Tiff we had jufl 
 " now — And Fm forry too, and came back 
 ** expreffly to fay fo. But perhaps Tm 
 " miftaken, and thefe Tears were not 
 " about the Tiff, but about Dr. Elwes 
 ". . . hey, Patty?'' 
 
 I fhook my Head. 
 
 " Well then, all's right," faid he, taking 
 my Hand, and drawing me towards the 
 Window. " I'm fure I regret the old 
 ** Gentleman as much as anyone can be 
 
328 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 " expedted to do who cared very little 
 " about him ; but the Fadl is, I was felf- 
 ** ifhly preoccupied with a Piece of good 
 ** Fortune that had happened to myfelf, 
 ** and which, you fee, I could not be 
 ** eafy till I had made you a Party to. 
 ** How is it I care about telling you, 
 " Patty ? How is it you were the firft 
 ** Perfon whofe Sympathy I wanted to 
 *' fecure? hey?" 
 
 ** Tm fure I can t tell. Sir/' 
 
 '' Well, I think I can tell— If I can't, 
 " I've made a tremendous Blunder, after 
 " a great Deal of Self-Examination. 
 " What do you think of my having been 
 *' prefented to the Living of St. Margery- 
 ''under-the-WallV 
 
 ** You don't fay fo?" exclaimed I, 
 clafping my Hands with delight — ** Oh, 
 *' that /> joyful!" 
 
 ** Four Hundred a Year, clear," faid 
 he, " that's a good Income, is not it ? " 
 
 "It's Wealth r' faid I. "And no 
 " more than you deferve, Mr. Fenivick ! " 
 
Mr. Fenwick's Proceedings. 329 
 
 " I knew this was how you would 
 '' feel," faid he, kiffing my Hand. " What 
 *^ makes you cloud over, Patty ?" 
 
 " I was only thinking. Sir — " 
 
 " What ? Come, fay it out . . ." 
 
 ** That this would remove you from 
 " us farther than ever — " 
 
 *' Oh no! A Quarter of a Mile nearer!" 
 
 ** I don't mean that Sort of Diftance, 
 ^* Sir. But no Matter — I rejoice in it 
 " with all my Heart, Mr. Fenwick ! " 
 
 He looked at me earneftly, was going 
 to fay Something, and flopped. 
 
 ** Don't you think," faid he, after a 
 Minute's Silence, *' that I might marry on 
 *^this?" 
 
 '' Surely, Sir!" 
 
 " And could you, Patty y whom I know 
 ** fo^' thoroughly and love fo heartily, con- 
 " fent to be the Wife of a City Parfon ? " 
 
 — Oh ! there could be only one Mo- 
 ment in Life like that ! — And yet, have 
 not I had many happy Moments, Hours, 
 and Years fmce ? I can't, to this Day, 
 
330 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 make out how he ever came to think of 
 me; when there were Prue, and Gatty^ 
 and doubtlefs many young Gentlewomen 
 of his Congregation, to fay Nothing of 
 remote Country Coufins, (for he had no 
 near Relations,) to whom I could be but 
 a mere Foil! I could not make it out 
 then, and I can't make it out now; but 
 I am quite content to leave the Myftery 
 unfolved, and decide that AfFedlion fettles 
 all Diftincflions, and Marriages are made 
 in Heaven. I muft fay I was very thank- 
 ful to dear, good Dr. Elwes, when his 
 Will came to be opened, (which had been 
 made fome Months before his fudden 
 Death,) to find he had left Prue and me 
 Five Hundred Pounds each, in the hand- 
 fomeft Manner, with more Terms of 
 Praife of our *^ laudable Condud: in dif- 
 ** ficult Circumflances," than I need to 
 repeat. I fay, I was glad of this Legacy, 
 and of the handfome Way in which it was 
 left, becaufe it feemed to make me a little 
 lefs unworthy of Mr. Fenwick's Regard ; 
 
Mr. Fenwick's Proceedings, 331 
 
 not that it had a Bit of Influence with 
 him, however, his Offer having been made 
 and accepted before the Will was opened : 
 fo that Nothing could be more difinter- 
 efted than his Behaviour from firft to lafl. 
 
 And the Prefentation to this Living 
 came through the Recommendation of 
 Mr. Caryl ! — accompanied by a very flat- 
 tering Letter, faying it was a Piece of 
 Juftice, and that he knew of no Man on 
 whom his Uncle could have better be- 
 ftowed it. A Piece of Jujikey I privately 
 confider it ; and a Salve to his own Con- 
 fcience for pitifully burning the Poem of 
 a Man that writ better than himfelf. 
 Nothing can deftroy that Convidlion. 
 But I keep it quite fecret ; the only 
 Secret I have ever kept or will keep 
 from my Hufband, and this only becaufe 
 I would not lower his Patron's Nephew 
 in his Efl:imation. 
 
 Certainly the Gift of a good Living was 
 far more than an Equivalent for the beft 
 Poem that ever was writ; but yet, 
 
332 The Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 Poets have naturally fuch an overween- 
 ing Opinion of the Importance of their 
 Produftions to the World, and of their 
 ow^n Miffion as Regenerators of Society, 
 that to them it is an exceeding hard Thing 
 to lofe the Fame and Influence they 
 believe they deferve ; and I queftion 
 w^hether thofe of 'em that take the highefl 
 Flights (from practical Affairs and common 
 Senfe, that is,) would confider themfelves 
 at all compenfated for the Lofs of a heavy 
 Poem by the Gain of a fat Living. 
 
 But my Hufband hath fince appeared in 
 Print, in a Way that's highly honourable 
 to himfelf and gratifying to his Connexions, 
 without being beholden to any Patron 
 whatfoever. He has printed a Funeral 
 Sermon on Mrs. Eufebia Crate y a highly 
 eftimable Member of his Congregation, 
 which was brought out by Meffrs. A and 
 B, Tliompforiy at the Sign of the Bible and 
 Stary Fleet Street, handfomely bound in 
 (hiny black Leather, with a black Margin 
 to the Title. This Sermon, which was 
 
Mr. Fenwick's Proceedings. 333 
 
 publiflied by Subfcription, brought my 
 Hufband enough to buy a very handfome 
 Mahogany Bookcafe for his Study, and a 
 Pair of Pulpit Sconces, belides its being 
 named in the Gentleman's Magazine, And 
 though Money was not my Hufband's 
 Objeft, yet, as the Work, it is thought, 
 may attain to a fecond Edition, who 
 knows but hereafter he may be as fuccefs- 
 ful as Dr. Hugh Blair^ who for his laft 
 Volume of Sermons received Six Hundred 
 Pounds ! Though amazing, it muft be 
 true, for they fay it in Fater Nojier Row ! 
 As for dear Fruey her Legacy was as 
 acceptable to her as mine to me, for though 
 l^om confcientioufly brings her all his' 
 Earnings and is now Captain of a fine 
 Merchantman, Sailors are never over-rich ; 
 I think her queer Engagement to him 
 fteadied her a good Deal : it put an End to 
 the leaft Approach to Trifling or Flirting, 
 which fhe might have indulged in, had 
 they been lefs ferioufly bound to one 
 another; and my Mother's Contempt for 
 
334 "^^^^ Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 the Contradt and " the Bit of red Glafs," 
 went fo to poor Prudence's Heart as to 
 engender a Degree of Humility and Sub- 
 miffivenefs quite contrary to her previous 
 Character. With all this, {he was deeply 
 in Love with Tomy and filently, ferioufly 
 happy; nor would fhe, I am convinced, 
 have been releafed from her Engagement 
 for the World. But it took away all Defire 
 to be otherways placed than where fhe was, 
 in the Bofom of her own Family, in the 
 quiet, fteady Performance of domeftic 
 Duties. So that, when I left Home, it 
 was with the comfortable Conviftion, 
 which I have never feen the leaft Reafon 
 to alter, that fhe would fupply my Place 
 to my dear Father and Mother y as well as 
 in the Bufinefs. Indeed, fince my Huf- 
 band married her to Toniy the neceffary 
 Abfences of the latter from his Wife have 
 rendered it very agreeable to all Parties 
 that Frue's Home fhould flill be in the 
 Old Chelfea Bun-Houfe. There's an Op- 
 pofition Houfe fet up now, which has a 
 
Mr.Fenwick's Proceedings. 335 
 
 little injured the old Bufinefs; but, happily, 
 none of us are fo dependent on it as we 
 once were ; and their Buns are accounted 
 heavy, fo that the ancient, fleady-going 
 Cuflomers ftill refort to 
 
 The Old Original Chelfea Bun-Houfe. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 Loi:don ; Printed by Biohard Clat. 
 
IN PREPARATION, BY THE SAME AUTHOR. 
 
 f 
 
 THE ADVENTURES 
 
 CALIPH HAROUN ALRASCHID 
 
 Scattered pearls are less precious than when they are stmng, though the 
 thread be a sorry twine." 
 
 Just published, in fcap. cloth, price 2s. 6d. 
 
 A THE HILL SIDE; 
 
 OB, 
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS OF SOME OF THE SIMPLEST TERMS 
 USED IN LOGIC. 
 
 The Author of " Mary Powell." 
 

 
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