The dyer introduced Wright to the milliner as a gentleman farmer, who wanted to take home with him a fashionable cap and bonnet, or two, for some ladies in Lincolnshire. The milliner ordered down some dusty bandboxes, which she protested and vowed were just arrived from London with the newest fashions; and, whilst she was displaying these, Wright talked of the races, and the players, and Miss Alicia Barton. “Is she as handsome as they say? I have a huge _cur’osity_ to see her,” said Wright, feigning more rusticity of manner and more simplicity than was natural to him. “I have, truly, a woundy _cur’osity_ to see her, I’ve heard so much of her, even down in Lincolnshire.” “If you go to see the play, sir, you can’t fail to have your curiosity gratified, for Miss Barton plays to-night--(Jenny! reach me a play-bill)--for her own benefit, and appears in her very best character, the Romp.” “The Romp!--Odds! Is that her best character? Why, now, to my notion, bad’s the best, if that be the best of her characters. The Romp!--Odds so! What would our grandmothers say to that?” “Oh, sir, times are changed, as well as fashions, since our grandmothers’ days,” said the milliner. “Put up this bonnet for the gentleman, Jenny.--I am sure I don’t pretend to say any thing in favour of the times, whatever I may of the fashions. But, as to fashion, to be sure no one can be more fashionable, here in York, than Miss Barton. All our gentlemen are dying for her.” “Odds my life, I’ll keep out of her way! And yet I’ve a huge cur’osity to set my eyes upon her. Pray, now, could I any way get to the sight or speech of her in a room, or so? for seeing a woman on the stage is one thing, and seeing her off, as I take it, is another.” “I take it so too, sir. Jenny, put up the cap for the gentleman, and make out a bill.” “No, no; the bonnet’s all I want, which I’ll pay for on the nail.” Wright took out a long purse full of guineas: then put it up again, and opened a pocket-book full of bank-notes. The milliner’s respect for him obviously increased. “Jenny! Do run and see who’s within there. Miss Barton was trying on her dress, I think, half an hour ago: may be she’ll pass through this way, and the gentleman may have a sight of her, since it weighs so much upon his mind. Let me put up the cap too, sir: it’s quite the fashion, you may assure the Lincolnshire ladies.--Oh! here’s Miss Barton.”