they were reduced to cockles? They have no appearances to keep up, and
if they cannot earn enough to support themselves they must be poor
creatures indeed.

It is the large families of moderate income, who are delicate, and have
delicate tastes, that feel the twinge: and especially the poor girls. I
remember a man, with little care for his personal appearance, of small
means but with a very rich sense of humour, describing to me his
experiences when staying at a certain ducal house in the country, where
his feelings must have been very similar to those of Christopher Sly. In
particular he drew a charming picture of the magnificent attendant who
in the morning _would_ put out his clothes for him, which had not been
made by Mr. Poole, nor very recently by anybody. The contempt which he
well understood his Grace's gentleman must have felt for him afforded
him genuine enjoyment. But with young ladies, in a similar position,
matters are very different; they have rarely a sense of humour, and
certainly none strong enough to counteract the force of a personal
humiliation. I have known some very charming ones, compelled to dress on
a very small allowance, who, in certain mansions where they have been
occasionally guests, have been afraid to put their boots outside their
door, because they were not of the newest, and have trembled when the
officious lady's-maid has meddled with their scanty wardrobe. A
philosopher may think nothing of this, but, considering the tender skin
of the sufferer, it may be fairly called a pinch.

In the investigation of this interesting subject, I have had a good deal
of conversation with young ladies, who have given me the fullest
information, and in a manner so charming, that, if it were common in
witnesses generally, it would make Blue-Books very pretty reading.