but the characters of these were so well known in the neighbourhood,
that it is doing them no injury to make a short description of them.

The eldest* was a termagant, imperious, prodigal, lewd, profligate
wench, as ever breathed; she used to rantipole about the house, pinch
the children, kick the servants, and torture the cats and the dogs; she
would rob her father's strong box, for money to give the young fellows
that she was fond of. She had a noble air, and something great in her
mien, but such a noisome infectious breath, as threw all the servants
that dressed her into consumptions; if she smelt to the freshest
nosegay, it would shrivel and wither as it had been blighted: she used
to come home in her cups, and break the china, and the looking-glasses;
and was of such an irregular temper, and so entirely given up to her
passion, that you might argue as well with the North wind, as with her
ladyship: so expensive, that the income of three dukedoms was not enough
to supply her extravagance. Hocus loved her best, believing her to be
his own, got upon the body of Mrs. Bull.

* Polemia.

The second daughter,* born a year after her sister, was a peevish,
froward, ill-conditioned creature as ever was, ugly as the devil, lean,
haggard, pale, with saucer eyes, a sharp nose, and hunched backed; but
active, sprightly, and diligent about her affairs. Her ill complexion
was occasioned by her bad diet, which was coffee** morning, noon, and
night. She never rested quietly a-bed, but used to disturb the whole
family with shrieking out in her dreams, and plague them next day with
interpreting them, for she took them all for gospel; she would cry
out "Murder!" and disturb the whole neighbourhood; and when John came
running downstairs to inquire what the matter was, nothing forsooth,
only her maid had stuck a pin wrong in her gown; she turned away one
servant for putting too much oil in her salad, and another for putting
too little salt in her water-gruel; but such as by flattery had procured
her esteem, she would indulge in the greatest crime. Her father had
two coachmen; when one was in the coach-box, if the coach swung but
the least to one side, she used to shriek so loud, that all the street
concluded she was overturned; but though the other was eternally drunk,
and had overturned the whole family, she was very angry with her father
for turning him away. Then she used to carry tales and stories from one
to another, till s