feeling the ftuff of my gown, and holding my apron between her and the light, to obferve the quality of the gauze and the texture of the lace. "Is this fuit your own, child; or have you "borrowed it for the occafion ?"—" My own, "Ma'am."" So much the worse. Why, this "is a lace at twelve fhillings the yard: Was "there ever fuch extravagance! But perhaps "you had it cheap at an old-cloaths fhop. Tell "the truth, child; for I abominate liars." I began now to see a little into her character, and refolved to take no offence. In fact she had gueffed the real history of the apron, which I had bought that morning in my way to her La dyfhip's house; and I owned it was fo, and that I had it at a third of the value. "Why, that's " right again, child. I like you the better for "that: "Tis a good thing to be sharp at a "bargain. Such pennyworths as I have had " in my day! And now that I can't bustle fo "well as I once could, a body like you may "be useful.-Was you ever at a fale,—a roup❝ing you call it in this country?” “No, Ma"dam ; I came to town only last night."

Why then you shall go with me to a fale to"morrow. Let me fee;-(taking out a little "memorandum book.) Tuesday, Lady Fan(c fick's: Tea and table china.-Wednesday, "Mrs. Grifkin's: Kitchen-furniture. — Thurf"day,

-

"day, Mr. Gimcrack's: Antiques, books, and << pictures: I don't understand them things."Friday, Mrs. Thrifty's: Bed and table linen, "feather-beds and blankets, damask in the "web, eider-down quilts, chintz curtains and "chairflips: Ay, there will be fome rare bar"gains: every thing of the best fort, I war"rant it. Poor Thrifty! fhe went to the "devil through pure economy. - Saturday, "The elegant furniture of a gentleman juft "going abroad: A mere bite of Vamp the "Auctioneer's-his own old trumpery."

Thus fhe went on; and I found her Ladyfhip had made a regular entry in her books, for ten fucceffive days, of every fale there was to be in town. "Why fure, Madam," said I, *6 your Ladyship does not mean to attend all "the fales you mentioned ?". "Yes, I do "mean it, and as many more every week, if I "can find them.-How elfe do you think I "could pafs my time? Tell me now what was

your favourite occupation. -How did you

fpend your time in the country?"—" Time, "Madam, never lay heavy on my hands. I "affifted my mother in the care of her family, "and at my leisure hours amused myself with "reading and writing.' "Why, that's "right:-fo you fhall do here. You shall help "me in the family matters; and for reading

<< and

" and writing, you shall read all the newspapers, "and write down the advertisements of all the "fales. But come," faid fhe, "I must fhew 66 you what is to be your household-occupation." Her Ladyfhip then conducted me through her house; and here I beheld a museum of a new and most extraordinary nature. Her Ladyship occupied a large old houfe, every room of which was fo completely filled with furniture, that it was impoffible to find one's way from one end to the other, without winding through a labyrinth of chests of drawers, commodes, cabinets, and boxes, which occupied the whole floors, walls, and even windows. Yet in this apparent confufion there was much order and regularity; for each room had its diftinct clafs of articles, to which it was exclufively appropriated. But the two apartments which her Ladyship considered as the most valuable of her museum, and which fhe never fuffered to be entered but in her own presence, were her chinaroom and wardrobe. piles of plates and dishes, and pyramids of cups and faucers, reaching from the floor to the cieling. In one quarter was a rampart of tureens and foup-difhes, in another an embattlement of punch-bowls, caudle-cups, and porringers. The dark blue of Nankeen was contrafted with the VOL. III. ancient

In the former were

F

ancient red of Japan, the production of Drefden was oppofed to the manufacture of Seves, and the mock Saxon of Derby to the mock Indian of Staffordshire. In the ornamental porcelain, the eye was completely loft in a chaos of pagodas, wagging-headed mandareens, and bonzes, red lions, golden dogs, and fiery dragons. In the other apartment, the wardrobe, was repofited every article of female apparel that had been in ufe during the laft fixty years. To attempt an enumeration is utterly impoffible; for in the two years I have been with her Ladyship, I have not yet learnt half the names of thefe wonderful accoutrements. As the most exact order was observed in arranging the different articles of drefs, it might even have amufed you, Mr. Lounger, as a philofopher, to have marked the various fluctuations of fashion in the habits of our whimfical fex, and the fantaftical coverings in which we have chosen, at different periods, to disguise our natural shapes. Here, Sir, you might observe the gradual progrefs of the hoop, both in its increase and wane, the alternate elevation and depreffion of the ftays, the ftages of gradation from the stiff jacket and farthingale to the fack, and from the negligée to the polonaife; the regular fucceffion of laced hoods, caps, mobs, French night-caps

and

and Robin Grays; the progrefs of bonnets from the Quaker to the Shepherdefs and Kitty Fisher, and thence to the Werter, the Lunardi, and Parachute.

Her Ladyfhip was now pleased to inform me of those services the expected from me as her attendant and companion; and left I should scruple at the severity or menial nature of any of my tasks, he took care to inform me, that I was to be but an afliftant to herself in every one of them. They confifted in cleaning and fweeping out the feveral apartments, airing the feather-beds and blankets, turning and ranging the fuits of linen; pinching, plaiting, and folding the different articles in the wardrobe; washing,. dufting, and blowing the china; rubbing and polishing, with bees-wax, the chairs, tables, and cabinet-work, and fcouring the kitchenfurniture. In thefe two laft departments, however, we were to have the additional aid of the cook and chambermaid.

Early next morning (her Ladyfhip always rifes at five o'clock) I entered upon office; and being furnished with an apron and ftomacher of blue flannel, went to work upon the tables and chairs, and in this I acquitted myfelf fo much to her Ladyfhip's fatisfaction, that she declared me a good clever girl; and added, that fhe had feldom feen a better hand at the rubber