Chapter 33 - Page 2

understand you. I thank God, though I want friends in this part of the world, I do not want money, so far as may be necessary, though I do not abound in that neither': this I added because I would not make her expect great things. 'Well, madam,' says she, 'that is the thing indeed, without which nothing can be done in these cases; and yet,' says she, 'you shall see that I will not impose upon you, or offer anything that is unkind to you, and if you desire it, you shall know everything beforehand, that you may suit yourself to the occasion, and be neither costly or sparing as you see fit.'

I told her she seemed to be so perfectly sensible of my condition, that I had nothing to ask of her but this, that as I had told her that I had money sufficient, but not a great quantity, she would order it so that I might be at as little superfluous charge as possible.

She replied that she would bring in an account of the expenses of it in two or three shapes, and like a bill of fare, I should choose as I pleased; and I desired her to do so.

The next day she brought it, and the copy of her three bills was a follows:--

1. For three months' lodging in her house, including my diet, at 10s. a week . . . . . .6#, 0s., 0d.

2. For a nurse for the month, and use of childbed linen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1#, 10s., 0d.

3. For a minister to christen the child, and to the godfathers and clerk . . . . . . . .1#, 10s., 0d.

4. For a supper at the christening if I had five friends at it . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1#, 0s., 0d.

For her fees as a midwife, and the taking off the trouble of the parish . . . . . . . . 3#, 3s., 0d.

To her maid servant attending . 0#, 10s., 0d.

________________

13#, 13s. 0d
This was the first bill; the second was the same terms:--

1. For three months' lodging and diet, etc., at 20s.
per week . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13#, 0s., 0d.

2. For a nurse for the month, and the use of linen
and lace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2#, 10s., 0d.

3. For the minister to christen the child, etc., as
above . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2#, 0s., 0d.

4. For supper and for sweetmeats

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3#, 3s., 0d.

For her fees as above . . . . . . 5#, 5s., 0d.

For a servant-maid . . . . . . . . 1#, 0s., 0d.

_______________

26#, 18s., 0d
This was the second-rate bill; the third, she said, was for a degree higher, and when the father or friends appeared:--

1. For three months' lodging and diet, having two
rooms and a garret for a servant . . 30#, 0s., 0d.,

2. For a nurse for the month, and the finest suit
of childbed linen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4#, 4s., 0d.

3. For the minister to christen the child, etc. . .2#,