Clarissa, Volume 6 - The History Of A Young Lady

Clarissa, Volume 6 − The History Of A Young Lady 121
'Mrs. Sinclair commended her; Dorcas envied her, and took her cue: and Mabell soon returned with the
mantua−maker's journey−woman; (she resolved, she said, but she would not come without her); and then
Dorcas went off guard.
'The lady looked out the gown and petticoat, and before the workwoman caused Mabell to try it on; and, that
it might fit the better, made the willing wench pull off her upper−petticoat, and put on that she gave her. Then
she bid them go into Mr. Lovelace's apartment, and contrive about it before the pier−glass there, and stay till
she came to them, to give them her opinion.
'Mabell would have taken her own clothes, and hood, and short cloak with her: but her lady said, No matter;
you may put them on again here, when we have considered about the alterations: there's no occasion to litter
the other room.
'They went; and instantly, as it is supposed, she slipt on Mabell's gown and petticoat over her own, which was
white damask, and put on the wench's hood, short cloak, and ordinary apron, and down she went.
'Hearing somebody tripping along the passage, both Will. and Dorcas whipt to the inner−hall door, and saw
her; but, taking her for Mabell, Are you going far, Mabell? cried Will.
'Without turning her face, or answering, she held out her hand, pointing to the stairs; which they construed as
a caution for them to look out in her absence; and supposing she would not be long gone, as she had not in
form, repeated her caution to them, up went Will, tarrying at the stairs−head in expectation of the supposed
Mabell's return.
'Mabell and the workwoman waited a good while, amusing themselves not disagreeably, the one with
contriving in the way of her business, the other delighting herself with her fine gown and coat. But at last,
wondering the lady did not come in to them, Mabell tiptoed it to her door, and tapping, and not being
answered, stept into the chamber.
'Will. at that instant, from his station at the stairs−head, seeing Mabell in her lady's clothes; for he had been
told of the present, [gifts to servants fly from servant to servant in a minute,] was very much surprised,
having, as he thought, just seen her go out in her own; and stepping up, met her at the door. How the devil can
this be? said he: just now you went out in your own dress! How came you here in this? and how could you
pass me unseen? but nevertheless, kissing her, said, he would now brag he had kissed his lady, or one in her
clothes.
'I am glad, Mr. William, cried Mabell, to see you here so diligently. But know you where my lady is?
'In my master's apartment, answered Will. Is she not? Was she not talking with you this moment?
'No, that's Mrs. Dolins's journey−woman.
'They both stood aghast, as they said; Will, again recollecting he had seen Mabell, as he thought, go out in her
own clothes. And while they were debating and wondering, up comes Dorcas with your fourth letter, just then
brought for the lady, and seeing Mabell dressed out, (whom she had likewise beheld a little before), as she
supposed, in her common clothes; she joined in the wonder; till Mabell, re−entering the lady's apartment,
missed her own clothes; and then suspecting what had happened, and letting the others into the ground of the
suspicion, they all agreed that she had certainly escaped. And then followed such an uproar of mutual
accusation, and you should have done this, and you have done that, as alarmed the whole house; every
apartment in both houses giving up its devil, to the number of fourteen or fifteen, including the mother and her
partners.