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.

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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.

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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.

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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.




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