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Authors: Mary Hooper
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to hear the chink of money exchanging hands.
Another week went by and the weather grew hotter. The fat man didn’t return, and Ma Gwyn refused to say what they’d been talking about, but other odd things happened. A woman appeared at the house, a seamstress, and Eliza was measured up for – well, for what she didn’t know. A gown, or a suit, or a waistcoat? Ma wasn’t saying. All she would say was that Eliza would know soon enough and it was going to be a most excellent garment.
Eliza didn’t know whether she should fret. A newgown, a brand-new gown especially for her, was an undreamed-of treat. But for what occasion was it needed? Not for a wedding, surely?
Susan didn’t know either. ‘Maybe ’tis something for the Midsummer Fair?’ she suggested. ‘I’m having a new dress for that, too – but mine will be a newly ragged one so that I may earn lots from my begging!’
‘What happens at the Midsummer Fair?’ Eliza asked her.
Susan’s face grew rapt with excitement. ‘Oh, there’s a mighty crush of people all intent on entertainment. There’s a man tightrope walking – and another eats fire! There are pageants and waxworks and clever animals who do tricks. And there are the curiosities: last year there was a woman with three arms and another with two heads!’
‘There couldn’t possibly be!’ Eliza said, thinking how sad it was that the little girl was so disfigured that she’d never find a husband.
‘’Twas true!’ Susan assured her. ‘And there was a man covered all over in hair like a wolf – but you had to pay sixpence to see him and my ma wouldn’t – and a great many peddlers and stalls and things to buy: fairings and sweetmeats and ribbons and gloves. There’s a hiring fair where people go to seek positions, and apothecaries and travelling doctors. There’s a mint of money to be made from begging at the fair!’
‘Does everyone go?’ Eliza asked, wondering if she’d be allowed there.
‘ Everyone ,’ Susan assured her. ‘’Tis on for three days and all the great ladies and gentlemen go, and their servants – why, ’tis even said that last year the king and queen went!’
Eliza looked at her, wide-eyed. ‘The king and queen …’ she gasped. To her the words meant some remote, divine, God-like creatures. She’d never thought of them as being living and breathing people who could actually attend fairs .
‘But they always come in disguise,’ Susan went on earnestly. ‘They sometimes dress as coachmen and milkmaids and mix in with the crowd to hear what everyone’s saying about them.’ She dropped her voice, ‘So when you’re at the Midsummer Fair you must never, never say anything treasonous against the king, just in case he’s nearby.’
‘I would never!’ Eliza promised, for she’d been brought up as a Royalist and respected the Crown, and couldn’t understand how anyone would turn against the real and anointed king. Feeling some of Susan’s excitement about the Midsummer Fair, she hoped desperately that Ma Gwyn would let her out of the house for such an occasion. And maybe, too, there was a chance that her father might be there for the hiring fair.
The seamstress making the outfit for Eliza came back to Coal Yard Alley with some materials to show to Ma Gwyn, the like of which Eliza, used to country tweeds, rough calico and cheesecloth, had never before seen. There were bolts of deep green brocade, shiny blue taffeta, emerald-green tulle, silver tissue and sumptuous silk that shimmered in the sunlight. Some of these were embellished with sparkling beads of sea-blue, tiny spangles of silver or buttons of pearl.
The seamstress flung different lengths of material over Eliza in turn, then she and Ma stood back to look at the results and chose which should be used.
‘These are the best and finest materials in the land,’ said the seamstress. ‘And I think you’ll agree they’ll suit your purpose.’
‘Indeed!’ said Ma. ‘Our Eliza is going to be
Another week went by and the weather grew hotter. The fat man didn’t return, and Ma Gwyn refused to say what they’d been talking about, but other odd things happened. A woman appeared at the house, a seamstress, and Eliza was measured up for – well, for what she didn’t know. A gown, or a suit, or a waistcoat? Ma wasn’t saying. All she would say was that Eliza would know soon enough and it was going to be a most excellent garment.
Eliza didn’t know whether she should fret. A newgown, a brand-new gown especially for her, was an undreamed-of treat. But for what occasion was it needed? Not for a wedding, surely?
Susan didn’t know either. ‘Maybe ’tis something for the Midsummer Fair?’ she suggested. ‘I’m having a new dress for that, too – but mine will be a newly ragged one so that I may earn lots from my begging!’
‘What happens at the Midsummer Fair?’ Eliza asked her.
Susan’s face grew rapt with excitement. ‘Oh, there’s a mighty crush of people all intent on entertainment. There’s a man tightrope walking – and another eats fire! There are pageants and waxworks and clever animals who do tricks. And there are the curiosities: last year there was a woman with three arms and another with two heads!’
‘There couldn’t possibly be!’ Eliza said, thinking how sad it was that the little girl was so disfigured that she’d never find a husband.
‘’Twas true!’ Susan assured her. ‘And there was a man covered all over in hair like a wolf – but you had to pay sixpence to see him and my ma wouldn’t – and a great many peddlers and stalls and things to buy: fairings and sweetmeats and ribbons and gloves. There’s a hiring fair where people go to seek positions, and apothecaries and travelling doctors. There’s a mint of money to be made from begging at the fair!’
‘Does everyone go?’ Eliza asked, wondering if she’d be allowed there.
‘ Everyone ,’ Susan assured her. ‘’Tis on for three days and all the great ladies and gentlemen go, and their servants – why, ’tis even said that last year the king and queen went!’
Eliza looked at her, wide-eyed. ‘The king and queen …’ she gasped. To her the words meant some remote, divine, God-like creatures. She’d never thought of them as being living and breathing people who could actually attend fairs .
‘But they always come in disguise,’ Susan went on earnestly. ‘They sometimes dress as coachmen and milkmaids and mix in with the crowd to hear what everyone’s saying about them.’ She dropped her voice, ‘So when you’re at the Midsummer Fair you must never, never say anything treasonous against the king, just in case he’s nearby.’
‘I would never!’ Eliza promised, for she’d been brought up as a Royalist and respected the Crown, and couldn’t understand how anyone would turn against the real and anointed king. Feeling some of Susan’s excitement about the Midsummer Fair, she hoped desperately that Ma Gwyn would let her out of the house for such an occasion. And maybe, too, there was a chance that her father might be there for the hiring fair.
The seamstress making the outfit for Eliza came back to Coal Yard Alley with some materials to show to Ma Gwyn, the like of which Eliza, used to country tweeds, rough calico and cheesecloth, had never before seen. There were bolts of deep green brocade, shiny blue taffeta, emerald-green tulle, silver tissue and sumptuous silk that shimmered in the sunlight. Some of these were embellished with sparkling beads of sea-blue, tiny spangles of silver or buttons of pearl.
The seamstress flung different lengths of material over Eliza in turn, then she and Ma stood back to look at the results and chose which should be used.
‘These are the best and finest materials in the land,’ said the seamstress. ‘And I think you’ll agree they’ll suit your purpose.’
‘Indeed!’ said Ma. ‘Our Eliza is going to be
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