I told her she seemed to be so perfectly sensible of my condition, that I had nothing to ask of her but this, that as I had told her that I had money sufficient, but not a great quantity, she would order it so that I might be at as little superfluous charge as possible.

She replied that she would bring in an account of the expenses of it in two or three shapes, and like a bill of fare, I should choose as I pleased; and I desired her to do so.

The next day she brought it, and the copy of her three bills was a follows:—­

1.   For three months’ lodging in her house, including
my diet, at 10s. a week . . . . . . . . . . . 6#,  0s., 0d.

2.   For a nurse for the month, and use of childbed
linen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1#, 10s., 0d.

3.   For a minister to christen the child, and to the
godfathers and clerk  . . . . . . . . . . . . 1#, 10s., 0d.

4.   For a supper at the christening if I had five friends
at it . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1#,  0s., 0d.

For her fees as a midwife, and the taking off the
trouble of the parish . . . . . . . . . . . . 3#,  3s., 0d.

To her maid servant attending . . . . . . . . 0#, 10s., 0d.
________________
13#, 13s., 0d.

This was the first bill; the second was the same terms:—­

1.   For three months’ lodging and diet, etc., at 20s.
per week . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13#,  0s., 0d.

2.   For a nurse for the month, and the use of linen
and lace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  2#, 10s., 0d.

3.   For the minister to christen the child, etc., as
above . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2#,  0s., 0d.

4.   For supper and for sweetmeats
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3#,  3s., 0d.

For her fees as above . . . . . . . . . . . . 5#,  5s., 0d.

For a servant-maid  . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1#,  0s., 0d.
_______________
26#, 18s., 0d.

This was the second-rate bill; the third, she said, was for a degree higher, and when the father or friends appeared:—­

1.   For three months’ lodging and diet, having two
rooms and a garret for a servant . . . . . . 30#,  0s., 0d.,

2.   For a nurse for the month, and the finest suit
of childbed linen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4#,  4s., 0d.

3.  For the minister to christen the child, etc. 2#, 10s., 0d.

4.   For a supper, the gentlemen to send in the
wine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  6#,  0s., 0d.

For my fees, etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . .  10#, 10s., 0d.

The maid, besides their own maid, only
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0#, 10s., 0d.
_________________
53#, 14s., 0d.

I looked upon all three bills, and smiled, and told her I did not see but that she was very reasonable in her demands, all things considered, and for that I did not doubt but her accommodations were good.