door, and delivers to the
pretty maid a note for her ladyship from a handsome, well-shaped youth
who frequents the coffee-houses about Charing Cross. There is no
answer to the note: her ladyship is too disturbed with household
affairs. Her Welsh maid has left her under suspicious circumstances,
and has carried off some articles. The lady is even now writing to
Mr. Bickerstaff of the _Tatler_ to implore his aid.

This is the list of the things she has missed--at least, as much of
the list as my mind remembers as it travels back over the years:

[Illustration: {A woman of the time of Anne}]

A thick wadded Calico Wrapper.

A Musk-coloured Velvet Mantle lined with Squirrels'
Skins.

Eight night shifts, four pairs of stockings curiously
darned.

Six pairs of laced Shoes, new and old, with the heels of
half 2 inches higher than their fellows.

A quilted Petticoat of the largest size, and one of
Canvas, with whalebone hoops.

Three pairs of Stays boulstered below the left shoulder.
Two pairs of Hips of the newest fashion.

Six Roundabout Aprons, with Pockets, and four strip'd
Muslin night rails very little frayed.

A silver Cheese toaster with three tongues.

A silver Posnet to butter eggs.

A Bible bound in Shagreen, with guilt Leaves and Clasps,
never opened but once.

Two Leather Forehead Cloathes, three pair of oiled
Dogskin Gloves.

Two brand new Plumpers, three pair of fashionable
Eyebrows.

Adam and Eve in Bugle work, without Fig-leaves, upon
Canvas, curiously wrought with her Ladyship's own hand.

Bracelets of braided Hair, Pomander, and Seed Pearl.

A large old Purple Velvet Purse, embroidered, and
shutting with a spring, containing two Pictures in
Miniature, the Features visible.

A Silver gilt box for Cashu and Carraway Comfits to be
taken at long sermons.

A new Gold Repeating Watch made by a Frenchman.

Together with a Collection of Receipts to make Pastes
for the Hands, Pomatums, Lip Salves, White Pots, and
Water of Talk.

Of these things one strikes the eye most curiously--the canvas
petticoat with whalebone hoops. It dates the last, making me know that
the good woman lost her things in or about the year 1710. We are just
at the beginning of the era of the tremendous hoop skirt.

This gentleman from the country will tell me all about it. I stop him