our three friends, and they
accordingly entered the Shop. Tallyho entreated of the Linen-draper,
that he would be merciful to the unfortunate woman, in consideration of
her being so far in a family way.

"And yet, sir," answered the Shopkeeper, "I fancy we shall be able to
relieve the lady without the assistance of a midwife." The woman was
then taken into a back room and searched by two of her own sex. The
result ~136~~of this investigation was soon made known.--The pregnancy
was assumed, the better to evade suspicion; her under garments were
completely lined with hooks, to which were suspended, in vast variety,
articles of stolen property, including not only those of light weight,
viz. handkerchiefs, shawls, stockings, &c. but several of less portable
description, amongst which were two pieces of Irish linen. These
articles she had conveyed through an aperture in her upper habiliment of
sufficient dimensions to admit an easy access to the general repository.
The ingenuity of this invention created much surprise, and as it greatly
facilitated concealment and evaded detection, there is no doubt of its
having frequently produced a rich harvest. This female adept was now
committed to the charge of an officer, the Shopkeeper having identified
upon her person several articles of stolen property.

CHAPTER IX

Ladies,--the chariot waits;--the toilet now
Where erst so many hours were idly spent,
Asks of its wonted due the tythe alone;--
Braid then your tresses of luxuriant now,
And wrap your forms angelic in the dress
Simple, yet rich and elegant, that gives
Your matchless beauties half revealed to view;
The broad capacious bosom's luscious swell,
Still heaving strong, and suing to be prest;--
Grace then the vehicle.--We, observers
Of Real Life, the while, in London go
To "catch the living manners as they rise,
"And give the age its very form and pressure."

~137~~ CONTINUING their route down Holborn, the adventure in the
Linen-draper's shop became the theme of conversation.--"It is not
alone," said Dashall, "to the lower orders and necessitous that this
system of Shop-lifting is confined; many recent instances have occurred
of similar depredation, by women above the mediocrity of rank, who,
however, frequently contrive to compromise prosecution, while the
delinquent of poverty is visi