Daniel Defoe: Moll Flanders

2. MOLL FLANDERS (continued)

I told her she seemed to be so perfectly sensible of my condition, that I had nothing to ask of her but this, that as I had told her that I had money sufficient, but not a great quantity, she would order it so that I might be at as little superfluous charge as possible.

She replied that she would bring in an account of the expenses of it in two or three shapes, and like a bill of fare, I should choose as I pleased; and I desired her to do so.

The next day she brought it, and the copy of her three bills was a follows:--

1.  For three months' lodging in her house, including
    my diet, at 10s. a week . . . . . . . . . . . 6#,  0s., 0d.

2.  For a nurse for the month, and use of childbed
    linen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1#, 10s., 0d.

3.  For a minister to christen the child, and to the
    godfathers and clerk  . . . . . . . . . . . . 1#, 10s., 0d.

4.  For a supper at the christening if I had five friends
    at it . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1#,  0s., 0d.

    For her fees as a midwife, and the taking off the
    trouble of the parish . . . . . . . . . . . . 3#,  3s., 0d.

    To her maid servant attending . . . . . . . . 0#, 10s., 0d.
                                                ________________
                                                 13#, 13s., 0d.

This was the first bill; the second was the same terms:--

1.  For three months' lodging and diet, etc., at 20s.
    per week . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13#,  0s., 0d.

2.  For a nurse for the month, and the use of linen
    and lace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  2#, 10s., 0d.

3.  For the minister to christen the child, etc., as
    above . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2#,  0s., 0d.

4.  For supper and for sweetmeats
    . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3#,  3s., 0d.

    For her fees as above . . . . . . . . . . . . 5#,  5s., 0d.