.

Next morning I attended Lady Belfield to the exhibition. In driving home
through one of the narrow passages near Oxford-street, I observed that
we were in the street where the poor flower-maker lived. Lady Belfield
directed her footman to inquire for the house. We went into it, and in a
small but clean room, up three pair of stairs, we found a very pretty
and very genteel young girl at work on her gay manufacture. The young
woman presented her elegant performances with an air of uncommon grace
and modesty.

She was the more interesting, because the delicacy of her appearance
seemed to proceed from ill health, and a tear stood in her eye while she
exhibited her works. "You do not seem well, my dear," said Lady
Belfield, with a kindness which was natural to her. "I never care about
my own health, madam," replied she, "but I fear my dear mother is
dying." She stopped, and the tears which she had endeavored to restrain
now flowed plentifully down her cheeks. "Where is your mother, child?"
said Lady Belfield. "In the next room, madam." "Let us see her," said
her ladyship, "if it won't too much disturb her." So saying, she led the
way, and I followed her.

We found the sick woman lying on a little poor, but clean, bed, pale and
emaciated, but she did not seem so near her end as Fanny's affection had
made her apprehend. After some kind expressions of concern, Lady
Belfield inquired into their circumstances, which she found were
deplorable. "But for that dear girl, madam, I should have perished with
want," said the good woman; "since our misfortunes I have had nothing to
support me but what she earns by making these flowers. She has ruined
her own health, by sitting up the greatest part of the night to procure
me necessaries, while she herself lives on a crust."

I was so affected with this scene, that I drew Lady Belfield into the
next room; "if we can not preserve the mother, at least let us save the
daughter from destruction," said I; "you may command my purse." "I was
thinking of the same thing," she replied. "Pray, my good girl, what sort
of education have you had?" "O, madam," said she, "one much too high for
my situation. But my parents, intending to qualify me for a governess,
as the safest way of providing for me, have had me taught every thing
necessary for that employment. I have had the best masters, and I hope I
have not misemployed my time." "How comes it then," said I, "that you
were not placed out in some