The Merry Past 



Determined to do all she could to ensure success in 

 a less ambitious line, she was very assiduous in pleasing 

 her customers ; musical instruments formed a part of 

 the furniture in her apartments, and to those who 

 delighted in reading, books were supplied for their 

 amusement, while the lovers of recreation might 

 entertain themselves by promenading in a garden 

 tastefully laid out. 



The care which she took of the animals which were 

 the means of her subsistence, attending early in the 

 morning and late in the evening to see them fed, 

 gained her great credit with the fashionable patrons 

 who frequented her house. But the exertions of 

 carrying on this business proving too much for her 

 strength, and finding herself drawing near the verge 

 of life, she entrusted her concerns to those who, 

 either not taking sufficient care, or having their own 

 interests in view, suffered her to be arrested for the 

 sum of ^60 14s. for the payment of silk, furniture, 

 and the like to adorn her premises. 



Her son, who was a very amiable man, and an ex- 

 cellent scholar, had allowed his mother an annuity 

 till his death. Her daughter, who lived under 

 another name, had long been patronised by some 

 noble families, who knew her mother in better days. 

 Lady Cowper had left her an annuity, and her musical 

 talents easily procured her an introduction into the 

 best circles ; nevertheless, the unfortunate Mrs. Cor- 

 nelis herself ended her life in the Fleet Prison. 



234 



