convinced me that the hands never looked so white as when they
did nothing. Instead therefore of finishing George's shirts, we
now had them new modelling their old gauzes, or flourishing upon
catgut. The poor Miss Flamboroughs, their former gay companions,
were cast off as mean acquaintance, and the whole conversation
ran upon high life and high lived company, with pictures, taste,
Shakespear, and the musical glasses.

But we could have borne all this, had not a fortune-telling
gypsey come to raise us into perfect sublimity. The tawny sybil
no sooner appeared, than my girls came running to me for a
shilling a piece to cross her hand with silver. To say the truth,
I was tired of being always wise, and could not help gratifying
their request, because I loved to see them happy. I gave each of
them a shilling; though, for the honour of the family, it must be
observed, that they never went without money themselves, as my
wife always generously let them have a guinea each, to keep in
their pockets; but with strict injunctions never to change it.
After they had been closetted up with the fortune-teller for some
time, I knew by their looks, upon their returning, that they had
been promised something great.--'Well, my girls, how have you
sped? Tell me, Livy, has the fortune-teller given thee a
pennyworth?'--'I protest, pappa,' says the girl, 'I believe she
deals with some body that's not right; for she positively
declared, that I am to be married to a 'Squire in less than a
twelvemonth!'--'Well now, Sophy, my child,' said I, 'and what
sort of a husband are you to have?' 'Sir,' replied she, 'I am to
have a Lord soon after my sister has married the 'Squire.'--
'How,' cried I, 'is that all you are to have for your two
shillings! Only a Lord and a 'Squire for two shillings! You