Chapter 8 - Page 2

covered by the show
of outward mirth and good-humour, the hearty laugh and buxom jest with
which the dame knew well how to conciliate the elder part of her
neighbours, and the many petty arts by which she could recommend
herself to the younger, those especially of her own sex.

Dame Ursula was, in appearance, scarce past forty, and her full, but
not overgrown form, and still comely features, although her person was
plumped out, and her face somewhat coloured by good cheer, had a
joyous expression of gaiety and good-humour, which set off the remains
of beauty in the wane. Marriages, births, and christenings were seldom
thought to be performed with sufficient ceremony, for a considerable
distance round her abode, unless Dame Ursley, as they called her, was
present. She could contrive all sorts of pastimes, games, and jests,
which might amuse the large companies which the hospitality of our
ancestors assembled together on such occasions, so that her presence
was literally considered as indispensable in the families of all
citizens of ordinary rank, at such joyous periods. So much also was
she supposed to know of life and its labyrinths, that she was the
willing confidant of half the loving couples in the vicinity, most of
whom used to communicate their secrets to, and receive their counsel
from, Dame Ursley. The rich rewarded her services with rings, owches,
or gold pieces, which she liked still better; and she very generously
gave her assistance to the poor, on the same mixed principles as young
practitioners in medicine assist them, partly from compassion, and
partly to keep her hand in use.

Dame Ursley's reputation in the city was the greater that her practice
had extended beyond Temple Bar, and that she had acquaintances, nay,
patrons and patronesses, among the quality, whose rank, as their
members were much fewer, and the prospect of approaching the courtly
sphere much more difficult, bore a degree of consequence unknown to
the present day, when the toe of the citizen presses so close on the
courtier's heel. Dame Ursley maintained her intercourse with this
superior rank of customers, partly by driving a small trade in
perfumes, essences, pomades, head-gears from France, dishes or
ornaments from China, then already beginning to be fashionable; not to
mention drugs of various descriptions, chiefly for the use of the
ladies, and partly by other services, more or less connected with the
esoteric branches of her profession heretofore alluded to.

Possessing such and so many various modes of thriving, Dame Ursley was
nevertheless so poor, that she might probably have mended her own
circumstances, as well as her husband's, if she had renounced them
all, and set herself quietly down to the care of