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Chapter I.
Lady Betty's Folly.
It is a sad Thing when a Lady ofQuality, who has been a Toast in herYouth, and has seen the white-glovedBeaux, as Mr. Pope calls them, bowingto her from the Pit, and kissing the scentedTips of their Gloves to her in the Ring;who has flaunted at Vauxhall, and shonein a Side-Box of the Opera-House inLincoln's Inn Fields; has run down Handel,and run after Bononcini; has had her gayWater-Parties to Jenny's Whim, attendedby Violins and Hautboys; and has brought,not only her own Company, but her ownStrawberries and Cherries to our Bun-house,[2]as if our own were not good enough;it is mortifying, I say, when such a Ladyof Quality falls into the sear and yellowAutumn of Life, and finds herself a disregardedThing, with no resources butgreen Tea and Brag. And such is theCase with poor Lady Betty Spadille.
How well I remember her, on theOccasion I have somewhat maliciouslyalluded to, for it sticks in my Throat,arriving at our Bun-House in her peach-colouredSacque, Mechlin Head, and red-heeledShoes, the Foreparts richly embroideredwith Silver; loudly talking andlaughing, and turning her Head right andleft, now to this Beau, now to t'other,who fluttered round her with their cloudedCanes and perfumed Wigs; now burstinginto what the French People call desgrands Eclats de Rire, now flirting her Fan,or rapping it on the Shoulder of one ofthe Ladies who accompanied her. Havingjust set my Mark, a Sprig of Rosemary, inthe midst of one of good Bishop Atterbury's[3]Sermons, I thought within myself, "Is thisa Creature that is formed for Eternity?"Meanwhile, two tall Lacqueys, with immenseShoulder-Knots, bore between thema great Hamper of French Wine; whilea little black Page, in pale Blue, lacedwith Silver, tottered under the Fruit fromRogers's; and certainly it was very fine.I never saw such Strawberries and Cherriesbefore nor since.
I did not think her a Belle of the firstOrder, setting her Rank and Style aside.Her Shape was fine; her Hand and Footdelicately formed; but she rolled her Eyestoo much, and had too high a Colour. Idon't believe she painted. Altogether,she seemed in the very Flush of Existence