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from that
quarter?'—'FUDGE!'
    'Why, my dear,' says the Lady, 'you know my reader and companion
has left me, to be married to Captain Roach, and as my poor eyes
won't suffer me to write myself, I have been for some time looking
out for another. A proper person is no easy matter to find, and to
be sure thirty pounds a year is a small stipend for a well-bred
girl of character, that can read, write, and behave in company; as
for the chits about town, there is no bearing them about
one.'—'FUDGE!'
    'That I know,' cried Miss Skeggs, 'by experience. For of the
three companions I had this last half year, one of them refused to
do plain-work an hour in the day, another thought twenty-five
guineas a year too small a salary, and I was obliged to send away
the third, because I suspected an intrigue with the chaplain.
Virtue, my dear Lady Blarney, virtue is worth any price; but where
is that to be found?'—'FUDGE!'
    My wife had been for a long time all attention to this
discourse; but was particularly struck with the latter part of it.
Thirty pounds and twenty-five guineas a year made fifty-six pounds
five shillings English money, all which was in a manner going
a-begging, and might easily be secured in the family. She for a
moment studied my looks for approbation; and, to own a truth, I was
of opinion, that two such places would fit our two daughters
exactly. Besides, if the 'Squire had any real affection for my
eldest daughter, this would be the way to make her every way
qualified for her fortune. My wife therefore was resolved that we
should not be deprived of such advantages for want of assurance,
and undertook to harangue for the family. 'I hope,' cried she,
'your Ladyships will pardon my present presumption. It is true, we
have no right to pretend to such favours; but yet it is natural for
me to wish putting my children forward in the world. And I will be
bold to say my two girls have had a pretty good education, and
capacity, at least the country can't shew better. They can read,
write, and cast accompts; they understand their needle,
breadstitch, cross and change, and all manner of plain-work; they
can pink, point, and frill; and know something of music; they can
do up small cloaths, work upon catgut; my eldest can cut paper, and
my youngest has a very pretty manner of telling fortunes upon the
cards.'—'FUDGE!'
    When she had delivered this pretty piece of eloquence, the two
ladies looked at each other a few minutes in silence, with an air
of doubt and importance. At last, Miss Carolina Wilelmina Amelia
Skeggs condescended to observe, that the young ladies, from the
opinion she could form of them from so slight an acquaintance,
seemed very fit for such employments: 'But a thing of this kind,
Madam,' cried she, addressing my spouse, requires a thorough
examination into characters, and a more perfect knowledge of each
other. Not, Madam,' continued she, 'that I in the least suspect the
young ladies virtue, prudence and discretion; but there is a form
in these things, Madam, there is a form.'
    My wife approved her suspicions very much, observing, that she
was very apt to be suspicious herself; but referred her to all the
neighbours for a character: but this our Peeress declined as
unnecessary, alledging that her cousin Thornhill's recommendation
would be sufficient, and upon this we rested our petition.

CHAPTER 12
    Fortune seems resolved to humble the family of Wakefield.
Mortifications are often more painful than real calamities
    When we were returned home, the night was dedicated to schemes
of future conquest. Deborah exerted much sagacity in conjecturing
which of the two girls was likely to have the best place, and most
opportunities of seeing good company. The only obstacle to our
preferment was in obtaining the 'Squire's recommendation; but he
had already shewn us too many instances of his friendship to doubt
of it now. Even in bed my wife kept up the usual theme: 'Well,
faith, my dear Charles, between ourselves, I think we