es' accounts.
Notwithstanding their disguise, he recognised some of them, particularly
Miss Temple's and Miss Price's maids, and her whom Miss Hobart had
lately discarded: these creatures all returned either filled with
wonder and amazement, or petrified with terror and fear. Miss Temple's
chamber-maid deposed that he assured her she would have the small-pox,
and her mistress the great, within two months at farthest, if her
aforesaid mistress did not guard against a man in woman's clothes. Miss
Price's woman affirmed that, without knowing her, and only looking in
her hand, he told her at first sight that, according to the course of
the stars, he perceived that she was in the service of some good-natured
lady, who had no other fault than loving wine and men. In short, every
one of them, struck with some particular circumstance relating to their
own private affairs, had either alarmed or diverted their mistresses
with the account, not failing, according to custom, to embellish the
truth, in order to enhance the wonder.

Miss Price, relating these circumstances one day to her new friend, the
devil immediately tempted her to go in person, and see what sort of a
creature this new magician was. This enterprise was certainly very rash;
but nothing was too rash for Miss Jennings, who was of opinion that a
woman might despise appearances, provided she was in reality virtuous.
Miss Price was all compliance, and thus having fixed upon this glorious
resolution, they only thought of the proper means of putting it into
execution.

It was very difficult for Miss Jennings to disguise herself, on account
of her excessive fair and bright complexion, and of something particular
in her air and manner: however, after having well considered the matter
the best disguise they could think of was to dress themselves like
orange girls.

[These frolics appear to have been not unfrequent with persons of
high rank at this period. In a letter from Mr. Henshaw to Sir
Robert Paston, afterwards Earl of Yarmouth, dated October 13, 1670,
we have the following account: "Last week, there being a faire
neare Audley-end, the queen, the Dutchess of Richmond, and the
Dutchess of Buckingham, had a frolick to disguise themselves like
country lasses, to red petticoats, wastcotes, &c., and so goe see
the faire. Sir Barnard Gascoign, on a cart jade, rode before the
queen; another stranger before the Dutchess of Buckingham; and Mr.
R