88
THE FORTUNES AND MISFORTUNES OF MOLL FLANDERS
abound in that neither': this I added, because I would not make her expect great things, 'Well, madam', says she, 'that is the thing, indeed, without which nothing can be done in these cases; and yet', says she, you shall see that I will not impose upon you, or offer anything that is unkind to you, and you shall know everything beforehand, that you may suit yourself to the occasion, and be either costly or sparing as you see fit.'
I told her she seemed to be so perfectly sensible of my condition, that I had nothing to ask of her but this, that as I had money sufficient, but not a great quantity, she would order it so that I might be at as little superfluous charge as possible.
She replied, that she should bring in an account of the expenses of it in two or three shapes; I should choose as I pleased; and I desired her to do so.
The next day she brought it, and the copy of her three bills was as follows:
| £ | s | d | |||
| 1. | For three months' lodging in her house, including my diet, at 10s. a week | 6 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2. | For a nurse for the month, and use of childbed linen | 1 | 10 | 0 | |
| 3. | For a minister to christen the child, and to the godfathers and clerk | 1 | 10 | 0 | |
| 4. | For a supper at the christening if I had five friends at it | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| For her fees as a midwife, and the taking off the trouble of the parish | 3 | 3 | 0 | ||
| To her maidservant attending | 0 | 10 | 0 | ||
| £13 | 13 | 0 | |||
This was the first bill; the second was in the same terms: | |||||
| £ | s | d | |||
| 1. | For three months' lodging and diet, &c. at 20s. a week | 12 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2. | For a nurse for the month, and the use of linen and lace | 2 | 10 | 0 | |
| 3. | For the minister to christen the child, &c., as above | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| 4. | For a supper and for sweetmeats | 3 | 3 | 0 | |
| For her fees as above | 3 | 5 | 0 | ||
| To a servant-maid | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| £25 | 18 | 0 | |||
This was the second-rate bill; the third, she said, was for a degree higher, and when the father or friends appeared: | |||||
| £ | s | d | |||
| 1. | For three months' lodging and diet, having two rooms and a garret for a servant | 30 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2. | For a nurse for the month, and the finest suit of child-bed linen | 4 | 4 | 0 | |
| 3. | For the minister to christen the child, &c. | 2 | 10 | 0 | |
| 4. | For a supper, the gentlemen to send in the wine | 3 | 3 | 0 | |
| For my fees, &c. | 10 | 10 | 0 | ||
| The maid, besides their own maid, only | 0 | 10 | 0 | ||
| £53 | 14 | 0 | |||
I looked upon all the three bills, and smiled, and told her I did not see but that she was very reasonable in her demands, all things considered, and I did not doubt but her accommodations were good.
She told me I should be a judge of that when I saw them. I told her
