196 LADIES 



regaining my former position, or even of advancing from 

 my present, was entirely precluded. Nevertheless, neither 

 envy nor despair entered into my composition ; and the 

 kind feeling and urbanity of manner of the majority of 

 those with whose company I was honoured, reconciled 

 me to my fate. Almost daily some occurrence would 

 take place, or some conversation would arise, that not 

 only excited my curiosity, and sometimes interested me, 

 but Avould call forth my surprise. It exhibited our 

 nature in all its phases, and furnished examples of 

 cupidity in quarters I, in my simplicity, should never 

 have dreamt of, but which, if I were to repeat, would 

 only cause my veracity to be doubted. I mention this 

 only as a proof of what I stated in the early part of this 

 book — that the sitting behind four good horses, and the 

 being permitted to hold the reins, often induced a con- 

 versation of more than ordinary interest and importance. 



But there was confidence reposed in me of a more 

 pleasing nature, that was much better adapted to my 

 position — that of now and then being entrusted with the 

 charge of ladies of rank. This was gratifying to my 

 pride, as well as advantageous to my pocket. 



Here I cannot help recording a ludicrous scene that 

 was exhibited at Cambridge, on the occasion of my 

 having two ladies, the daughters of a noble viscount in 

 Surrey, of which county he was lord lieutenant. They 

 were going on a visit to a relative near Lynn, and of 

 them I had especial charge. A dinner had been ordered 

 in a private apartment, and I was to present them to the 

 landlady, who stood on the steps to receive them ; but 

 an untoward accident prevented this. The horsekeeper 



