vices and follies of
ours; that, in fine, they were scarce less execrable than ridiculous in
their monstrous inconsistence, of loathing and contemning women, and at
the same time apeing all their manners, airs, lisps, scuttle, and, in
general, all their little modes of affectation, which become them at
least better, than they do these unsexed, male misses."

But here, washing my hands of them, I re-plunge into the stream of my
history, which I may very properly ingraft a terrible sally of Louisa's,
since I had some share in it myself, and have besides engaged myself to
relate it, in point of countenance to poor Emily. It will add, too, one
more example to thousands, in confirmation of the maxim, that women get
once out of compass, there are no lengths of licentiousness, that they
are not capable of running.

One morning then, that both Mrs. Cole and Emily were gone out for the
day, and only Louisa and I (not to mention the house-maid) were left in
charge of the house, whilst we were loitering away the time, in looking
through the shop windows, the son of a poor woman, who earned very hard
bread indeed by mending of stockings, in a stall in the neighbourhood,
offered us some nosegays, ranged round a small basket; by selling of
which the poor boy eked out his mother's maintenance of them both: nor
was he fit for any other way of livelihood, since he was not only
a perfect changeling, or idiot, but stammered so that there was no
understanding even those sounds his half-dozen animals ideas, at most,
prompted him to utter.

The boys and servants in the neighbourhood had given him the nick-name
of good-natured Dick, from the soft simpleton's doing every thing he
was bid at the first word, and from his naturally having no turn
to mischief; then, by the way, he was perfectly well made, stout,
clean-limbed, tall of his age, as strong as a horse, and, withal, pretty
featured; so that he was not, absolutely, such a figure to be snuffled
at neither, if your nicety could, in favour of such essentials, have
dispensed with a face unwashed, hair tangled for want of combing, and
so ragged a pliht, that he might have disputed points of shew with any
heathen philosopher of them all.

This boy we had often seen, and bought his flowers, out of pure
compassion, and nothing more; but just at this time as he stood
presenting us his basket, a sudden whim, a start of wayward fancy,
seized Louisa; and, without consulting me, she calls him in