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"Shillings on it till I come back; "but bid him on no Pretence to "part with it."

I did fo, not much liking the Job- there are often fuch queer People there; for old Ifaac deals not onlie in old Books, but old Silver Spoons. Howbeit, I took the Volume to his Shop, and as I went in, Betty came out! What had been her Bufineffe, I know not; but she lookt at me and my Book as though she should like to know mine; but, with her usual demure Curtsey, made Way for me, and walked off. I got the Money with much Waiting, but not much other Difficultie,

and

and took it to Father, who sent twenty Shillings to Ellwood, and gave me five for my Payns. Poor Ellwood! he hath good Leisure to muse now on Guli Springett.

Mother was foe worried by the Odour of the Rats, that they alle started off a Day fooner than was first intended, leaving me merelie a little extra Packing. Confequence was, that this Morning, before Dawn, being earlie at my Task, there taps me at the Window an old Harridan that Mother can't abide, who is always a crying, "Anie

"Kitchen-ftuff have you, Maids?"

Quoth

1665.

1665.

Quoth I, "We've Nothing for

"you."

66

Sure, my deary," answers fhe, in a cajoling voyce, "there's the

66

Dripping and Candles you pro“mised me this Morning, along with "the Pot-liquor."

"Dear Heart, Mrs. Deb!" fays Nurse, laughing, "there is, indeed, "a Lot of Kitchen-ftuff hid up near "the Sink, which I dare fay your "Maid told her fhe was to have; "and as it will only make the House "smell worse, I don't see why she "should not have it, and pay for it

Soe I laught, and gave it her forthe,

and

and fhe put into my Hand two Shillings; but then fays, "Why, where's "the Cheese?"

66

"We've no Cheese for you,” fayd I.
"Well," fays fhe, "it's a dear

Bargayn; but... peering to

wards me, “is t'other Mayd gone, "then?"

66

Oh, yes! both of 'em," says I; "and I'm the Mistress," foe burst out a laughing, and fhut the Window, while fhe ftumped off, with Something between a Grunt and a Grone. Of course, I gave the Money to Nurse.

We had much Talk overnight of my poor dear Mother. Nurse

came

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1665.

came to her when Anne was born, and remained in the Family till after the Death of Father's fecond Wife. She was a fayr and delicate Gentlewoman, by Nurfe's Account, soft in Speech, fond of Father, and kind to us and the Servants; but all Nurfe's Suffrages were in Favour of mine own loved Mother.

I afkt Nurse how there came to have beene a Separation betweene Father and Mother, foone after their Marriage. She made Anfwer, fhe never could understand the Rights of it, having beene before her Time; but they were both fo good, and tenderly affectioned, fhe never could believe