Jane Douglas (1761)
Old Jane was possessed of the art of getting her girls into keeping to gentlemen, whom she assured with the most solemn attestations, that they would prove as chaste as a wife, if taken into keeping by any gentleman, and save more than any wife either in the city or court end of the town.
By these means Jane often found herself a considerable gainer, and no sooner had she feathered her nest in this manner, but she addressed the unhappy victim in terms like these. "Now Mrs Bitchington I have done for you, and made you a gentlewoman. You can't do less in return than let me draw a bill upon you, though you owe me nothing: I am sure the gentleman will pay it."
The poor girl for her own sake was ready to close with whatever was proposed by the substitute of Satan so they proceed as follows,
Miss H––t, dr. to Jane D––s.
|
|
£ |
s. |
d. |
| To 12 weeks board; |
25 |
4 |
0 |
| Paid for stays, |
2 |
2 |
0 |
| Holland for shifts, |
2 |
3 |
9 |
| To the apothecary, |
9 |
18 |
0 |
| For shoes, |
3 |
1 |
9 |
| Total |
42 |
9 |
6 |
These bills were generally paid; but Jane happening upon a time to send in an unreasonable one to a Welsh gentleman. The descendant of Caractaacus was incensed to such a degree, that he reproached her in the most injurious terms: and Jane not being of a very mild disposition answered him in the same style. This provoked the Cambro-Briton so far, that forgetting the sex, and respectable charader of Mother D––s, he had recourse to fisticuffs, and the consequence of which Jane was obliged to keep her bed for a fortnight afterwards.
Daring her disorder, which was dangerous, she expressed great concern at being interrupted in her business to which she was attached by by principles. Her common expressions were, "Lord! what will become of the house when I am gone."