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 as 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 10s. 0d. |
| 4. For a supper, the gentlemen to send in the wine | £6 0s. 0d. |
| For my fees, etc. | £10 10s. 0d. |
| The maid, besides their own maid, only | £0 10s. 0d. |
| £53 14s. 0d. |
I looked upon all three bills, and smiled, and told her I did not see but that she was very reasonable in her demands, all things considered, and for that I did not doubt but her accommodations were good.
She told me I should be judge of that when I saw them. I told her I was sorry to tell her that I feared I must be her lowest-rated customer. “And perhaps, madam,” said I, “you will make me the less welcome upon that account.” “No, not at all,” said she; “for where I have one of the third sort I have two of the second, and four to one of the first, and I get as much by them in proportion as by any; but if you doubt my care of you, I will allow any friend you have to overlook and see if you are well waited on or no.”
Then she explained the particulars of her bill. “In the first place, madam,” said she, “I would have you observe that here is three months’ keeping; you are but ten shillings a week; I undertake to say you will not complain of my table. I suppose,” says she, “you do not live cheaper where you are now?” “No, indeed,” said I, “not so cheap, for I give six shillings per week for my chamber, and find my own diet as well as I can, which costs me a great deal more.”
“Then, madam,” says she, “if the child should not live, or should be dead-born, as you know sometimes happens, then there is the minister’s article saved; and if you have no friends to come to you, you may save the expense of a supper; so that take those articles out, madam,” says she, “your lying in will not cost you above £5, 3s. in all more than your ordinary charge of living.”
This was the most reasonable thing that I ever heard of; so I smiled, and told her I would come and be her customer; but I told her also, that as I had two months and more to do, I might perhaps be obliged to stay longer with her than three months, and desired to know if she would not be obliged to remove me before it was proper. No, she said; her house was large, and besides, she never put anybody to remove, that had lain in, till they were willing to go; and if she had more ladies offered, she was not so ill-beloved among her neighbours but she could provide accommodations for twenty, if there was occasion.
I found she was an eminent lady in her way; and, in short, I agreed to put myself into her hands, and promised her. She then talked of other things, looked about into my accommodations where I was, found fault with my wanting attendance and conveniences, and that I should not be used so at her house. I told her I was shy of speaking, for the woman of the house looked stranger, or at least I thought so, since I had been ill, because I was with child; and I was afraid she would put some affront or other upon me, supposing that I had been able to give but a slight account of myself.
“Oh dear,” said she, “her ladyship is no stranger to these things; she has tried to entertain ladies in your condition several times, but she could not secure the parish; and besides, she is not such a nice lady as you take her to be; however, since you are a-going, you shall not meddle with her, but I’ll see you are a
