to leave town suddenly, he gave
Fox the money to pay her, begging him to apologize to the lady for his
not having paid the debt of honour in person. Fox unfortunately lost
every shilling of it before morning. Mrs Crewe often met the
supposed debtor afterwards, and, surprised that he never noticed the
circumstance, at length delicately hinted the matter to him. 'Bless me,'
said he, 'I paid the money to Mr Fox three months ago!' 'Oh, you did,
sir?' said Mrs Crewe good-naturedly, 'then probably he paid me and I
forgot it.'

This famous Mrs Crewe was the wife of Mr Crewe, who was created, in
1806, Lord Crewe. She was as remarkable for her accomplishments and her
worth as for her beauty; nevertheless she permitted the admiration of
the profligate Fox, who was in the rank of her admirers, and she was a
gamestress, as were most of the grand ladies in those days. The lines
Fox wrote on her were not exaggerated. They began thus:--

'Where the loveliest expression to features is join'd, By Nature's most
delicate pencil design'd; Where blushes unhidden, and smiles without
art, Speak the softness and feeling that dwell in the heart, Where in
manners enchanting no blemish we trace, But the soul keeps the promise
we had from the face; Sure philosophy, reason, and coldness must prove
Defences unequal to shield us from love.'

'Nearly eight years after the famous election at Westminster, when she
personally canvassed for Fox, Mrs Crewe was still in perfection, with
a son one-and-twenty, who looked like her brother. The form of her
face was exquisitely lovely, her complexion radiant. "I know not,"
Miss Burney writes, "any female in her first youth who could bear the
comparison. She _uglifies_ every one near her."

'This charming partisan of Fox had been active in his cause; and
her originality of character, her good-humour, her recklessness of
consequences, made her a capital canvasser.'(101)

(101) Wharton, _The Queens of Society._

THE GAMBLING BARROW-WOMEN.

In 1776 the barrow-women of London used generally to carry dice with
them, and children were induced to throw for fruit and nuts.

However, the pernicious consequences of the practice beginning to be
felt, the Lord Mayor issued an order to apprehend all such offenders,
which speedily put an end to such street-gambling. At the present day a
sort of roulette is used for the same purpose by the itinerant caterers
to the sweetmeat and fruit-loving little ones.

G