She had a hoop, forsooth, as large and as stiff--and it
showed a pair of bandy legs, as thick as two--I was nearer the door
by an apron's length, and the pert hussy brushed by me, as who
should say, Make way for your betters, and with one of her London
bobs--but Mrs. Dorothy did not let her pass with it; for all the
time of drinking tea, she spoke of the precedency of family, and the
disparity there is between people who are come of something and your
mushroom gentry who wear their coats of arms in their purses."
Her indignation was interrupted by the arrival of her maid with a
damask table-cloth, and a set of napkins, from the loom, which had
been spun by her mistress's own hand. There was the family crest in
each corner, and in the middle a view of the battle of Worcester,
where one of her ancestors had been a captain in the king's forces;
and with a sort of poetical licence in perspective, there was seen
the Royal Oak, with more wig than leaves upon it.
On all this the good lady was very copious, and took up the
remaining intervals of filling tea, to describe its excellencies to
Harley; adding, that she intended this as a present for his wife,
when he should get one. He sighed and looked foolish, and
commending the serenity of the day, walked out into the garden.
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