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¬We now reached the house, where we were received, at a magnificent entrance, by a person who seemed to me to be a lady of the most affable and pleasing manners ; her gown was like one of our rich flowered silks, but rather of an old pattern, and it had been some time worn ; but I was particularly struck with the singular appearance of a very large bunch of keys where our women wear their watches. — I bowed to her with great respect, and asked my friend to present me to her. — " You need not," he said, " bow so profoundly ; it would please her far better if you were to look in your pocket for the largest piece of money in it. How could you imagine she was a lady ; did not I tell you there were none here at this season ? We are not in an enchanted castle ; the woman is not made of wood or marble, nor fastened, as you may see, to the floor ; and, if she were her own mistress, would soon be far enough off. She is only the housekeeper to shew the apart- ments, and pray let us make haste through them ; they smell damnably after having been -so ¬
