your hood and cloak behind the door."

There were no bonnets in those days, nor shawls; women wore hoods or
tall hats on their heads when they went out, and cloaks in cold weather;
when it was warm they merely tied on a muslin or linen tippet, fastening
it with a bow of ribbon at the throat.

The gown sleeves then came down mostly to the wrist; but sometimes only
to the elbows, where they were finished with a little frill. How the
neck was covered, in the house, depended on its owner's notions. If she
were gay and fashionable, it was not covered at all. But if she were
sensible and quiet, she generally wore the same kind of muslin tippet
that was used on warm days out of doors. Old women sometimes wore the
close frill round the neck, which had been used in Queen Elizabeth's
time; but this was quite gone out of fashion for younger ones.

Mrs Jane's room was empty. Jenny knew her way to it well enough, for
she had often been there before; but her heart beat high when she saw
something in the corner that had never been there before--a neat, little
low bed, covered with a quilt of coarse, padded blue silk. That was for
Jenny, as Jenny knew. The room was long, low, and somewhat narrow.
Four windows, so close together as to have the effect of one, ran along
the whole length of one end, filled with small diamond-shaped panes of
greenish glass.

In the midst of these stood a toilet-table, whereon were a number of
pots and boxes, the uses of which were as yet unknown to the new maid.
The large bed was hung with flowered cherry-coloured satin; an inlaid
chair, filled with cushions, stood before the fireplace, and a small
Turkey carpet lay in front of it.

Jenny stood contemplating everything, with a sense of great elation to
think that her place henceforward would be in the midst of all this
comfort and grandeur. Suddenly a quick step ran up the polished
staircase, the door opened, and a young lady made her made her
appearance.

Her description will serve for the ladies of that day in general.

Her skirt came just down to the foot, and was moderately full; it was
made of green satin. Over this was the actual gown, of tawny or
yellowish-brown silk, trimmed with silver lace. The skirt was open in
front, and was bunched up all round so as barely to reach the knees.
The bodice, which was tight to the figure, was laced up in front with
silver; it was cut low on the neck, and over it was a tippet of clear
muslin, tie