We can see in fancy the large, cumbrous, top-heavy coach toiling up the steep hill, tacking like a ship against a head-wind, until it landed its passengers at the coach office, the Bird-in-Hand,[239] or, higher up, at the Upper Flask. Say that it is the afternoon of a summer’s day in 1713-14. Amongst a crowd of other passengers, a lady in a little flutter of expectation, her head-dress a lace or muslin hood, with turnover (a species of fichu) ... and ruffles to match, steps out on the points of her high-heeled shoes, letting her hoop expand with a grace totally unknown to the modern wearers of crinoline.[240]
Be sure she has in her netted or embroidered hand-bag a little of the famous ‘Bavarian red liquor,’ which gave such a ‘delightful blushing colour to the cheeks pale or white,’ and which is not ‘to be discovered as other than the natural colour by the most fine sight.’ Nor is she without a bottle of Hungary, or citron water, for being a fine lady she must have nerves.
To-morrow what a stir she will create on the Well Walk in her voluminous brocade or Italian silk gown, shining with gold or silver flowers, and cut in the latest fashion!
There is no dearth of matters to be discussed by the general company. The Lottery and the South Sea Scheme are flourishing, and afford interesting topics for all grades of society; then there is the opera and the theatres, and the last duel, and, apart from the ladies, the recent doings at Hendon and Hockley-in-the-Hole.
Should Arbuthnot, or Swift, or Steele, happen to be amongst the crowd of visitors, Pope, who has already made a name in literature, and, like his friend Mr. Murray, been early admitted to the fellowship of the wits at Button’s and the Scriblerus Club, is not likely to find their criticisms on his recently-published verses wholly favourable, though regarded as giving great promise, which the ‘little fellow,’ as Johnson subsequently called him, is bound to make good.
Quite in opposition to Dr. Gibbons’ advice, the ladies, one and all, file into the tea-room, where the best Bohea at eighteen shillings a pound is dispensed in diminutive Nankin china cups without handles, to hold and drink out of which gracefully is in itself a fine art. Pope describes
‘How her red lips affected zephyrs blow
To cool Bohea, and inflame the beau;
While one white finger and a thumb conspire