Letter XVII

Summary

Well, now, my dear Lady, I will give you my poor Opinion of a Masquerade, 1 to which Mr. B. persuaded me to accompany Miss Darnford; for, as I hinted in my former, I had a great Indifference, or rather Dislike, to go, and Miss therefore wanted so powerful a Second, to get me with her; because I was afraid the Freedoms which I had heard were used there, would not be very agreeable to my apprehensive Temper, at this Time especially.

But finding Mr. B. chose to have me go, if, as he was pleased to say, I had no Objection; I said, I will have none, Sir, I can have none, when you tell me it is your Choice; and so send for the Habits you like, and that you would have me appear in, and I will chearfully attend you.

The Habit Mr. B. pitch’d upon, was that of a Spanish Don, and it well befitted the Majesty of his Person and Air, and Miss chose that of a young Widow; and Mr. B. recommended that of a Quaker for me.We all admir’d one another in our Dresses; and Mr. B. promising to have me always in his Eye, we took Coach, and went thither.

But I never desire to be present at another. Mr. B. was singled out by a bold Nun, who talk’d Italian to him with such free Airs, that I did not much like it, tho’ I know not what she said; for I thought the dear Gentleman no more kept to his Spanish Gravity, than she to the Requisites of the Habit she wore: When I had imagin’d, that all that was tolerable in a Masquerade, was the acting up to the Characters each Person assum’d: And this gave me no Objection to the Quaker's Dress; for I thought I was prim enough for that naturally.

I said softly, Dear Miss, (for Mr. B. and the Nun were out of Sight in a Moment)What is become of that Nun?——Rather, whisper’d she, What is become of the Spaniard?

A Cardinal attack’d me instantly in French: But I answer’d in English, not knowing what he said, Quakers are not fit Company for Red-hats. They are, said he, in the same Language; for a Quaker and a Jesuit is the same Thing.