Fearing detection
of their identity, Miss Price pulled her forcibly away from the
crowd.
Miss Jennings was after this incident anxious to forego her visit
to the astrologer, and return to Whitehall, but her companion
declaring this would be a shameful want of spirit, they once more
entered a hackney-coach, and requested they might be driven to
the lodgings of the learned Doctor Bendo. Their adventures for
the evening were unfortunately not yet at an end; for just as
they entered Tower Street they saw Henry Brinker, one of the
gentlemen of the bedchamber to the Duke of York. Now it happened
this courtier had been dining with a citizen of worth and wealth,
whose house he was about to leave the moment the maids of honour
drove by. They, knowing him to be a man remarkable for his
gallantries, were anxious to avoid his observation, and therefore
directed the driver to proceed a few doors beyond their
destination; but he, having caught sight of two pretty orange
wenches, followed the coach and promptly stepping up as they
alighted, made some bold observations to them. On this both
turned away their heads that they might avoid his gaze, a
proceeding which caused him to observe them with closer scrutiny,
when he immediately recognised them, without however intimating
his knowledge. He therefore fell to teasing them, and finally
left them with no very pleasant remarks ringing in their ears,
concerning the virtue which obtained among maids of honour, for
he did not doubt their disguise was assumed for purposes of
intrigue.
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