The Merry Past 



feathers, and diamonds ; " laced shoes, pink hose, 

 gartered above the knee." She would appear on the 

 Steyne in half a dozen dresses a day, all made of the 

 best materials, though sometimes of a queer fashion, 

 and most gaudy colours. She lived in all respects 

 in a most dashing style ; but there was no ap- 

 pearance of the source from whence she drew 

 her wealth, seemingly she had no particular 

 friend or protector. At last, however, her golden 

 dream of pleasure came to an end, and the frail 

 nymph determined to fly by night. Accordingly, 

 one Wednesday, about midnight, in high and jovial 

 spirits, she mounted the coach-box with coachee, 

 put the child she kept into the chariot, and 

 set off for town full gallop, her footman following 

 with the saddle-horses. Arriving at the turnpike 

 near Cuckfield, the carriage passed through, and the 

 footman, with the horses, was left to pay the toll. 

 Unfortunately he had no money, and said so rather 

 insolently, with the result that the turnpike-man, 

 who was a most resolute dog, ran after the carriage, 

 and insisted on payment. Mrs. Potter, however, 

 appeared inclined to give him " more kicks than half- 

 pence," and poured on him a torrent of abuse, en- 

 riched by many flowers of oratory gleaned at Bar- 

 tholomew Fair, besides which she swore that if she 

 had a pistol she would blow his brains out. The 

 turnpike-man, though stout-hearted, was not a little 

 astonished to see so fair a lady in such a fine equipage 

 beat him in his own slang ; and fearing the odds were 

 too much against him in a single-hand contest with 



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