face

grew broader with triumph, and I was afraid she would have taken me for the pleasure of continuing her infult; but, happily the next word was, pray, Mrs. Gentlewoman, troop down ftairs. You may believe I obeyed her.

I returned, and met with a better reception from my coufin than I expected; for while I was out, she had heard that Mrs. Standish, whose husband had lately been raised from a clerk in an office, to be Commiffioner of the Excise, had taken a fine house, and wanted a maid.

To Mrs. Standifh I went, and, after having waited fix hours, was at laft admitted to the top of the ftairs, when she came out of her room, with two of her company. There was a smell of punch. So, young woman, you want a place, whence do you come? From the country, Madam.-Yes, they are all come out of the country. And what brought you to town, a baftard? Where do you lodge? At the Seven Dials. What, you never heard of the Foundling-Houfe! Upon this they all laughed fo obftreperously, that I took the opportunity of fneaking off in the tumult.

I then heard of a place at an elderly lady's.She was at cards; but, in two hours, I was told, The would speak to me. She asked me if I could

keep an account, and ordered me to write. I wrote two lines out of fome book that lay by her. She wondered what poor people meant, to breed up poor girls to write at that rate. I fuppofe, Mrs. Flirt, if I was to see your work, it would be fine ftuff! You may walk. I will not have love-letters written from my houfe to every young fellow

in the street.

Two days after, I went on the fame purfuit to Lady Lofty, dreffed, as I was directed, in what little ornaments I had, because she had lately got a place at Court. Upon the first fight of me, fhe turns to the woman that fhowed me in-Is this the lady that wants a place? Pray what place would you have, Mifs? a maid of honour's place? Servants now-a-days!--Madam, I heard you wanted-Wanted what? Somebody finer than myself! A pretty fervant indeed-I fhould be afraid to fpeak to her. I fuppofe, Mrs. Minx, these fine hands cannot bear wetting.-A fervant indeed! Pray move off-I am refolved to be the head perfon in this house-You are ready drefs'd, the taverns will be open.

I went to enquire for the next place in a clean linen gown, and heard the fervant tell his lady, there was a young woman, but he faw fhe would not do. I was brought up, however. Are

you

the

trollop

trollop that has the impudence to come for my place? What, you have hired that nasty gown and are come to fteal a better.-Madam, I have another, but being obliged to walk-Then the fe are your manners, with your blufhes, and your courtefies, to come to me in your worst gown. Madam, give me leave to wait upon you in my other. Wait on me, you faucy flut! Then you are fure of coming-I could not let fuch a drab come near me. Here you girl, that came up with her, have you touched her? If you have, wash your hands before you drefs me-Such trollops! Get you down-What, whimpering? pray walk.

"

I went away with tears; for my cousin had loft all patience. However, fhe told me, that having a refpe&t for my relations, fhe was willing to keep me out of the ftreet, and would let me have another week.

The first day of this week I faw two places. At one I was afked where I had lived? And upon my anfwer, was told by the lady, that people fhould qualify themselves in ordinary places, for fhe fhould never have done if he was to follow girls about. At the other houfe I was a fmirking huffy, and that fweet face I might make money of.-For her part, it was a rule with her never to take any creature that thought herfelf bandfome.

The three next days were spent in Lady Bluff's entry, where I waited fix hours every day for the pleasure of feeing the fervants peep at me, and go away laughing-Madam will ftretch her small fhanks in the entry; fhe will know the house again. At fun-fet, the two first days, I was told, that my lady would fee me to-morrow, and on the third, that her woman ftaid.

My week was now near its end, and I had no hopes of a place. My relation, who always laid upon me the blame of every mifcarriage, told me that I muft learn to humble myself, and that all great ladies had particular ways; that if I went on in that manner, fhe could not tell who would keep me; fhe had known many that had refused. places, fell their clothes, and beg in the streets.

It was to no purpose that the refufal was declared by me to be never on my fide; I was reafoning against intereft, and againft ftupidity; and therefore I comforted myfelf with the hope of fucceeding better in my next attempt, and went to Mrs. Courtly, a very fine lady, who had routes at her houfe, and faw the beft of company in

town.

I had not waited two hours before I was called up, and found Mr. Courtly and his lady at pi

quet,

quet, in the height of good humour. This I looked on as a favourable fign, and ftood at the lower end of the room in expectation of the common queftions. At laft Mr. Courtly called out, after a whifper, ftand facing the light, that one may fee you. I changed my place, and blushed. They frequently turned their eyes upon me, and feemed to discover many fubje&s of merriment; for at every look they whifpered, and laughed with the moft violent agitations of delight. At laft Mr. Courtly cried out, is this colour your own, child? Yes, fays the lady, if fhe has not robbed the kitchen hearth. This was fo happy a conceit, that it renewed the form of laughter, and they threw down their cards in hopes of better sport. The lady then called me to her, and began with an affected gravity to enquire what I could do? But firft turn about, and let us fee your fine shape. Well, what are you fit for, Mrs. Mum? You would find your tongue, I fuppofe in the kitchen. No, no, fays Mr. Courtly, the girl's a good girl yet, but I am afraid a brifk young fellow, with fine tags on his fhoulders-Come, child, hold up your head; what! have you ftole nothing?-Not yet, fays the lady, but fhe hopes to fleal your heart quickly. Here was a laugh of happinefs and triumph, prolonged by the confufion which I could no longer reprefs. At laft the lady recollected herfelf: Stole!

no