The lady was all of a flutter with faded lutestring, washed
gauze, and ribbons three times refreshed; but she was most
remarkable for the frisure of her head, which rose, like a
pyramid, seven inches above the scalp, and her face was primed
and patched from the chin up to the eyes; nay, the gallant
himself had spared neither red nor white in improving the nature
of his own complexion. In this attire, they walked together
through the high street to the theatre, and as they passed for
players ready dressed for acting, they reached it unmolested; but
as it was still light when they returned, and by that time the
people had got information of their real character and condition,
they hissed and hooted all the way, and Mrs Jenkins was all
bespattered with dirt, as well as insulted with the opprobrious
name of painted Jezabel, so that her fright and mortification
threw her into an hysteric fit the moment she came home.
Clinker was so incensed at Dutton, whom he considered as the
cause of her disgrace, that he upbraided him severely for having
turned the poor woman's brain. The other affected to treat him
with contempt, and mistaking his forbearance for want of courage,
threatened to horse-whip him into good manners.
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