that she heard
on all sides such accounts of their grandeur, their feasts, their
carriages, and their liveries, that she and her husband ought even
to deny themselves comforts to oblige such a generous son, who did
all this in honor of their daughter; besides, if he did not send the
money soon, they might be obliged to lay down their coach, and then
she would never be able to show her face again. At length Mr.
Bragwell lent him the money on his bond; he knew Squeeze's income
was large; for he had carefully inquired into this particular, and
for the rest he took his word. Mrs. Squeeze also got great presents
from her mother, by representing to her how expensively they were
forced to live to keep up their credit, and what honor she was
conferring on the family of the Bragwell's, by spending their money
in such grand company. Among many other letters she wrote her the
following:

"TO MRS. BRAGWELL.

"You can't imagine, dear, mother, how charmingly we live. I lie
a-bed almost all day, and am up all night; but it is never dark,
for all that, for we burn such numbers of candles all at once,
that the sun would be of no use at all in London. Then I am so
happy; for we are never quiet a moment, Sundays or working-days;
nay, I should not know which was which, only that we have most
pleasure on a Sunday; because it is the only day on which people
have nothing to do but to divert themselves. Then the great
folks are all so kind, and so good; they have not a bit of
pride, for they will come and eat and drink, and win my money,
just as if I was their equal; and if I have got but a cold, they
are so very unhappy that they send to know how I do; and though
I suppose they can't rest till the footman has told them, yet
they are so polite, that if I have been dying they seem to have
forgotten it the next time we meet, and not to know but they
have seen me the day before. Oh! they are true friends; and for
ever smiling, and so fond of one another, that they like to meet
and enjoy one another's company by hundreds, and always think
the more the merrier. I shall never be tired of such a
delightful life.

"Your dutiful daughter,
"BETSY SQUEEZE."

The style of her letters, however, altered in a few months. She
owned that though things went on gayer and grander than ever, yet
she hardly ever saw her husband, except her house was full of
company, and cards or dancing was going