Dr Meade’s hour-glass is broke of the sexton. I am fain to hear the same, if it shall cut his sermons shorter.
Note 1. At this time, shaking hands indicated warmer cordiality than the kiss, which last was the common form of greeting amongst all classes.
Note 2. Four-hours answered to afternoon tea, and was usually served, as its name denotes, at four o’clock.
Note 3. Millicent has really no connection with Melissa, though many persons have supposed so. It comes, through Milisent and Melisende, from the Gothic Amala-suinde, which signifies Heavenly wisdom.
Note 4. Bade is the imperfect, and bidden the participle, of bid, to invite, as well as of bid, to command.
Note 5. The reader who wishes for more light on this point than was allowed to Milisent, will find it in “Lettice Eden.”
Note 6. At this time “pleasant” meant humorous, and “witty” meant intellectual. This curious child’s play termed Euphuism, to which grave men and sedate women did not hesitate to lower themselves, was peculiar to the age of Elizabeth, than whom never was a human creature at once so great and so small.