Chapter XXXI

the property of a more than adequate quantity or supply

From this reading They give silver and tears in abundance, but they never descend to the bodily charity of working, like wire-drawers, for withered old women and brats with rosy noses.

later than; following

From this reading After my last letter, I spent two tedious days in employments that I now blush to relate;--no less than doing all the dirty work of the cottage, such as sweeping the room, kindling the fire, cooking the victuals; and trying, by dint of comb and soap, to make cherubs of the children.

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading After my last letter, I spent two tedious days in employments that I now blush to relate;--no less than doing all the dirty work of the cottage, such as sweeping the room, kindling the fire, cooking the victuals; and trying, by dint of comb and soap, to make cherubs of the children.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading After my last letter, I spent two tedious days in employments that I now blush to relate;--no less than doing all the dirty work of the cottage, such as sweeping the room, kindling the fire, cooking the victuals; and trying, by dint of comb and soap, to make cherubs of the children.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading After my last letter, I spent two tedious days in employments that I now blush to relate;--no less than doing all the dirty work of the cottage, such as sweeping the room, kindling the fire, cooking the victuals; and trying, by dint of comb and soap, to make cherubs of the children.

captured, as if under a spell

From this reading What bewitched me, I cannot conceive, for the humanity of other heroines is ever clean, elegant, and fit for the reader.

turn red, as if in embarrassment or shame

From this reading After my last letter, I spent two tedious days in employments that I now blush to relate;--no less than doing all the dirty work of the cottage, such as sweeping the room, kindling the fire, cooking the victuals; and trying, by dint of comb and soap, to make cherubs of the children.

in bodily form

From this reading They give silver and tears in abundance, but they never descend to the bodily charity of working, like wire-drawers, for withered old women and brats with rosy noses.

plural of “brat” — a very troublesome child

From this reading They give silver and tears in abundance, but they never descend to the bodily charity of working, like wire-drawers, for withered old women and brats with rosy noses.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading They give silver and tears in abundance, but they never descend to the bodily charity of working, like wire-drawers, for withered old women and brats with rosy noses.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading After my last letter, I spent two tedious days in employments that I now blush to relate;--no less than doing all the dirty work of the cottage, such as sweeping the room, kindling the fire, cooking the victuals; and trying, by dint of comb and soap, to make cherubs of the children.

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading I can only say, in vindication of myself, that those who sheltered me were poor and helpless themselves, and that they deserved some recompense on my part for their hospitality to me.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading What bewitched me, I cannot conceive, for the humanity of other heroines is ever clean, elegant, and fit for the reader.

a foundation created to promote the public good (not for assistance to any particular individuals)

From this reading They give silver and tears in abundance, but they never descend to the bodily charity of working, like wire-drawers, for withered old women and brats with rosy noses.

plural of “cherub” — a sweet innocent baby

From this reading After my last letter, I spent two tedious days in employments that I now blush to relate;--no less than doing all the dirty work of the cottage, such as sweeping the room, kindling the fire, cooking the victuals; and trying, by dint of comb and soap, to make cherubs of the children.

plural of “child” — a young person of either sex

From this reading After my last letter, I spent two tedious days in employments that I now blush to relate;--no less than doing all the dirty work of the cottage, such as sweeping the room, kindling the fire, cooking the victuals; and trying, by dint of comb and soap, to make cherubs of the children.

free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits

From this reading What bewitched me, I cannot conceive, for the humanity of other heroines is ever clean, elegant, and fit for the reader.

straighten with a comb

From this reading After my last letter, I spent two tedious days in employments that I now blush to relate;--no less than doing all the dirty work of the cottage, such as sweeping the room, kindling the fire, cooking the victuals; and trying, by dint of comb and soap, to make cherubs of the children.

have the idea for

From this reading What bewitched me, I cannot conceive, for the humanity of other heroines is ever clean, elegant, and fit for the reader.

express strong disapproval of

From this reading So you must not condemn me totally; for I do declare to you, that I would much rather have relieved them with my purse, and soothed them with my sympathy, than have fried their herrings and washed their faces.

the act of preparing something (as food) by the application of heat

From this reading After my last letter, I spent two tedious days in employments that I now blush to relate;--no less than doing all the dirty work of the cottage, such as sweeping the room, kindling the fire, cooking the victuals; and trying, by dint of comb and soap, to make cherubs of the children.

a small house with a single story

From this reading After my last letter, I spent two tedious days in employments that I now blush to relate;--no less than doing all the dirty work of the cottage, such as sweeping the room, kindling the fire, cooking the victuals; and trying, by dint of comb and soap, to make cherubs of the children.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading After my last letter, I spent two tedious days in employments that I now blush to relate;--no less than doing all the dirty work of the cottage, such as sweeping the room, kindling the fire, cooking the victuals; and trying, by dint of comb and soap, to make cherubs of the children.

state emphatically and authoritatively

From this reading So you must not condemn me totally; for I do declare to you, that I would much rather have relieved them with my purse, and soothed them with my sympathy, than have fried their herrings and washed their faces.

move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way

From this reading They give silver and tears in abundance, but they never descend to the bodily charity of working, like wire-drawers, for withered old women and brats with rosy noses.

properly deserved

From this reading I can only say, in vindication of myself, that those who sheltered me were poor and helpless themselves, and that they deserved some recompense on my part for their hospitality to me.

interchangeable with “means” in the expression “by means of”

From this reading After my last letter, I spent two tedious days in employments that I now blush to relate;--no less than doing all the dirty work of the cottage, such as sweeping the room, kindling the fire, cooking the victuals; and trying, by dint of comb and soap, to make cherubs of the children.

soiled or likely to soil with dirt or grime

From this reading After my last letter, I spent two tedious days in employments that I now blush to relate;--no less than doing all the dirty work of the cottage, such as sweeping the room, kindling the fire, cooking the victuals; and trying, by dint of comb and soap, to make cherubs of the children.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading So you must not condemn me totally; for I do declare to you, that I would much rather have relieved them with my purse, and soothed them with my sympathy, than have fried their herrings and washed their faces.

-ing form of “do” — engage in

From this reading After my last letter, I spent two tedious days in employments that I now blush to relate;--no less than doing all the dirty work of the cottage, such as sweeping the room, kindling the fire, cooking the victuals; and trying, by dint of comb and soap, to make cherubs of the children.

refined and tasteful in appearance or behavior or style

From this reading What bewitched me, I cannot conceive, for the humanity of other heroines is ever clean, elegant, and fit for the reader.

plural of “employment” — the state of being employed or having a job

From this reading After my last letter, I spent two tedious days in employments that I now blush to relate;--no less than doing all the dirty work of the cottage, such as sweeping the room, kindling the fire, cooking the victuals; and trying, by dint of comb and soap, to make cherubs of the children.

at any time

From this reading What bewitched me, I cannot conceive, for the humanity of other heroines is ever clean, elegant, and fit for the reader.

plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading So you must not condemn me totally; for I do declare to you, that I would much rather have relieved them with my purse, and soothed them with my sympathy, than have fried their herrings and washed their faces.

start firing a weapon

From this reading After my last letter, I spent two tedious days in employments that I now blush to relate;--no less than doing all the dirty work of the cottage, such as sweeping the room, kindling the fire, cooking the victuals; and trying, by dint of comb and soap, to make cherubs of the children.

be agreeable or acceptable to

From this reading What bewitched me, I cannot conceive, for the humanity of other heroines is ever clean, elegant, and fit for the reader.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading What bewitched me, I cannot conceive, for the humanity of other heroines is ever clean, elegant, and fit for the reader.

cooked by frying in fat

From this reading So you must not condemn me totally; for I do declare to you, that I would much rather have relieved them with my purse, and soothed them with my sympathy, than have fried their herrings and washed their faces.

cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading They give silver and tears in abundance, but they never descend to the bodily charity of working, like wire-drawers, for withered old women and brats with rosy noses.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading So you must not condemn me totally; for I do declare to you, that I would much rather have relieved them with my purse, and soothed them with my sympathy, than have fried their herrings and washed their faces.

lacking in or deprived of strength or power

From this reading I can only say, in vindication of myself, that those who sheltered me were poor and helpless themselves, and that they deserved some recompense on my part for their hospitality to me.

plural of “heroine” — the main good female character in a work of fiction

From this reading What bewitched me, I cannot conceive, for the humanity of other heroines is ever clean, elegant, and fit for the reader.

plural of “herring” — valuable flesh of fatty fish from shallow waters of northern Atlantic or Pacific; usually salted or pickled

From this reading So you must not condemn me totally; for I do declare to you, that I would much rather have relieved them with my purse, and soothed them with my sympathy, than have fried their herrings and washed their faces.

kindness in welcoming guests or strangers

From this reading I can only say, in vindication of myself, that those who sheltered me were poor and helpless themselves, and that they deserved some recompense on my part for their hospitality to me.

the quality of being humane

From this reading What bewitched me, I cannot conceive, for the humanity of other heroines is ever clean, elegant, and fit for the reader.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading After my last letter, I spent two tedious days in employments that I now blush to relate;--no less than doing all the dirty work of the cottage, such as sweeping the room, kindling the fire, cooking the victuals; and trying, by dint of comb and soap, to make cherubs of the children.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading After my last letter, I spent two tedious days in employments that I now blush to relate;--no less than doing all the dirty work of the cottage, such as sweeping the room, kindling the fire, cooking the victuals; and trying, by dint of comb and soap, to make cherubs of the children.

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading What bewitched me, I cannot conceive, for the humanity of other heroines is ever clean, elegant, and fit for the reader.

material for starting a fire

From this reading After my last letter, I spent two tedious days in employments that I now blush to relate;--no less than doing all the dirty work of the cottage, such as sweeping the room, kindling the fire, cooking the victuals; and trying, by dint of comb and soap, to make cherubs of the children.

immediately past

From this reading After my last letter, I spent two tedious days in employments that I now blush to relate;--no less than doing all the dirty work of the cottage, such as sweeping the room, kindling the fire, cooking the victuals; and trying, by dint of comb and soap, to make cherubs of the children.

used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs

From this reading After my last letter, I spent two tedious days in employments that I now blush to relate;--no less than doing all the dirty work of the cottage, such as sweeping the room, kindling the fire, cooking the victuals; and trying, by dint of comb and soap, to make cherubs of the children.

a written message addressed to a person or organization

From this reading After my last letter, I spent two tedious days in employments that I now blush to relate;--no less than doing all the dirty work of the cottage, such as sweeping the room, kindling the fire, cooking the victuals; and trying, by dint of comb and soap, to make cherubs of the children.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading They give silver and tears in abundance, but they never descend to the bodily charity of working, like wire-drawers, for withered old women and brats with rosy noses.

engage in

From this reading After my last letter, I spent two tedious days in employments that I now blush to relate;--no less than doing all the dirty work of the cottage, such as sweeping the room, kindling the fire, cooking the victuals; and trying, by dint of comb and soap, to make cherubs of the children.

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading What bewitched me, I cannot conceive, for the humanity of other heroines is ever clean, elegant, and fit for the reader.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading So you must not condemn me totally; for I do declare to you, that I would much rather have relieved them with my purse, and soothed them with my sympathy, than have fried their herrings and washed their faces.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading So you must not condemn me totally; for I do declare to you, that I would much rather have relieved them with my purse, and soothed them with my sympathy, than have fried their herrings and washed their faces.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading After my last letter, I spent two tedious days in employments that I now blush to relate;--no less than doing all the dirty work of the cottage, such as sweeping the room, kindling the fire, cooking the victuals; and trying, by dint of comb and soap, to make cherubs of the children.

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading I can only say, in vindication of myself, that those who sheltered me were poor and helpless themselves, and that they deserved some recompense on my part for their hospitality to me.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading They give silver and tears in abundance, but they never descend to the bodily charity of working, like wire-drawers, for withered old women and brats with rosy noses.

not any; not one

From this reading After my last letter, I spent two tedious days in employments that I now blush to relate;--no less than doing all the dirty work of the cottage, such as sweeping the room, kindling the fire, cooking the victuals; and trying, by dint of comb and soap, to make cherubs of the children.

plural of “nose” — the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract; the prominent part of the face of man or other mammals

From this reading They give silver and tears in abundance, but they never descend to the bodily charity of working, like wire-drawers, for withered old women and brats with rosy noses.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading So you must not condemn me totally; for I do declare to you, that I would much rather have relieved them with my purse, and soothed them with my sympathy, than have fried their herrings and washed their faces.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading After my last letter, I spent two tedious days in employments that I now blush to relate;--no less than doing all the dirty work of the cottage, such as sweeping the room, kindling the fire, cooking the victuals; and trying, by dint of comb and soap, to make cherubs of the children.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading After my last letter, I spent two tedious days in employments that I now blush to relate;--no less than doing all the dirty work of the cottage, such as sweeping the room, kindling the fire, cooking the victuals; and trying, by dint of comb and soap, to make cherubs of the children.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading They give silver and tears in abundance, but they never descend to the bodily charity of working, like wire-drawers, for withered old women and brats with rosy noses.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading I can only say, in vindication of myself, that those who sheltered me were poor and helpless themselves, and that they deserved some recompense on my part for their hospitality to me.

and nothing more

From this reading I can only say, in vindication of myself, that those who sheltered me were poor and helpless themselves, and that they deserved some recompense on my part for their hospitality to me.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading What bewitched me, I cannot conceive, for the humanity of other heroines is ever clean, elegant, and fit for the reader.

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading I can only say, in vindication of myself, that those who sheltered me were poor and helpless themselves, and that they deserved some recompense on my part for their hospitality to me.

deserving or inciting pity

From this reading I can only say, in vindication of myself, that those who sheltered me were poor and helpless themselves, and that they deserved some recompense on my part for their hospitality to me.

a container used for carrying money and small personal items or accessories (especially by women)

From this reading So you must not condemn me totally; for I do declare to you, that I would much rather have relieved them with my purse, and soothed them with my sympathy, than have fried their herrings and washed their faces.

on the contrary

From this reading So you must not condemn me totally; for I do declare to you, that I would much rather have relieved them with my purse, and soothed them with my sympathy, than have fried their herrings and washed their faces.

a person who enjoys reading

From this reading What bewitched me, I cannot conceive, for the humanity of other heroines is ever clean, elegant, and fit for the reader.

payment or reward (as for service rendered)

From this reading I can only say, in vindication of myself, that those who sheltered me were poor and helpless themselves, and that they deserved some recompense on my part for their hospitality to me.

make a logical or causal connection

From this reading After my last letter, I spent two tedious days in employments that I now blush to relate;--no less than doing all the dirty work of the cottage, such as sweeping the room, kindling the fire, cooking the victuals; and trying, by dint of comb and soap, to make cherubs of the children.

(of pain or sorrow) made easier to bear

From this reading So you must not condemn me totally; for I do declare to you, that I would much rather have relieved them with my purse, and soothed them with my sympathy, than have fried their herrings and washed their faces.

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading After my last letter, I spent two tedious days in employments that I now blush to relate;--no less than doing all the dirty work of the cottage, such as sweeping the room, kindling the fire, cooking the victuals; and trying, by dint of comb and soap, to make cherubs of the children.

reflecting optimism

From this reading They give silver and tears in abundance, but they never descend to the bodily charity of working, like wire-drawers, for withered old women and brats with rosy noses.

express in words

From this reading I can only say, in vindication of myself, that those who sheltered me were poor and helpless themselves, and that they deserved some recompense on my part for their hospitality to me.

protected from danger or bad weather

From this reading I can only say, in vindication of myself, that those who sheltered me were poor and helpless themselves, and that they deserved some recompense on my part for their hospitality to me.

a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography

From this reading They give silver and tears in abundance, but they never descend to the bodily charity of working, like wire-drawers, for withered old women and brats with rosy noses.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading So you must not condemn me totally; for I do declare to you, that I would much rather have relieved them with my purse, and soothed them with my sympathy, than have fried their herrings and washed their faces.

a cleansing agent made from the salts of vegetable or animal fats

From this reading After my last letter, I spent two tedious days in employments that I now blush to relate;--no less than doing all the dirty work of the cottage, such as sweeping the room, kindling the fire, cooking the victuals; and trying, by dint of comb and soap, to make cherubs of the children.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading I can only say, in vindication of myself, that those who sheltered me were poor and helpless themselves, and that they deserved some recompense on my part for their hospitality to me.

past form of “soothe” — give moral or emotional strength to

From this reading So you must not condemn me totally; for I do declare to you, that I would much rather have relieved them with my purse, and soothed them with my sympathy, than have fried their herrings and washed their faces.

depleted of energy, force, or strength

From this reading After my last letter, I spent two tedious days in employments that I now blush to relate;--no less than doing all the dirty work of the cottage, such as sweeping the room, kindling the fire, cooking the victuals; and trying, by dint of comb and soap, to make cherubs of the children.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading After my last letter, I spent two tedious days in employments that I now blush to relate;--no less than doing all the dirty work of the cottage, such as sweeping the room, kindling the fire, cooking the victuals; and trying, by dint of comb and soap, to make cherubs of the children.

taking in or moving over (or as if over) a wide area; often used in combination

From this reading After my last letter, I spent two tedious days in employments that I now blush to relate;--no less than doing all the dirty work of the cottage, such as sweeping the room, kindling the fire, cooking the victuals; and trying, by dint of comb and soap, to make cherubs of the children.

an inclination to support or be loyal to or to agree with an opinion

From this reading So you must not condemn me totally; for I do declare to you, that I would much rather have relieved them with my purse, and soothed them with my sympathy, than have fried their herrings and washed their faces.

the process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds)

From this reading They give silver and tears in abundance, but they never descend to the bodily charity of working, like wire-drawers, for withered old women and brats with rosy noses.

so lacking in interest as to cause mental weariness

From this reading After my last letter, I spent two tedious days in employments that I now blush to relate;--no less than doing all the dirty work of the cottage, such as sweeping the room, kindling the fire, cooking the victuals; and trying, by dint of comb and soap, to make cherubs of the children.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading After my last letter, I spent two tedious days in employments that I now blush to relate;--no less than doing all the dirty work of the cottage, such as sweeping the room, kindling the fire, cooking the victuals; and trying, by dint of comb and soap, to make cherubs of the children.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading After my last letter, I spent two tedious days in employments that I now blush to relate;--no less than doing all the dirty work of the cottage, such as sweeping the room, kindling the fire, cooking the victuals; and trying, by dint of comb and soap, to make cherubs of the children.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading After my last letter, I spent two tedious days in employments that I now blush to relate;--no less than doing all the dirty work of the cottage, such as sweeping the room, kindling the fire, cooking the victuals; and trying, by dint of comb and soap, to make cherubs of the children.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading I can only say, in vindication of myself, that those who sheltered me were poor and helpless themselves, and that they deserved some recompense on my part for their hospitality to me.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading So you must not condemn me totally; for I do declare to you, that I would much rather have relieved them with my purse, and soothed them with my sympathy, than have fried their herrings and washed their faces.

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading I can only say, in vindication of myself, that those who sheltered me were poor and helpless themselves, and that they deserved some recompense on my part for their hospitality to me.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading They give silver and tears in abundance, but they never descend to the bodily charity of working, like wire-drawers, for withered old women and brats with rosy noses.

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading I can only say, in vindication of myself, that those who sheltered me were poor and helpless themselves, and that they deserved some recompense on my part for their hospitality to me.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading After my last letter, I spent two tedious days in employments that I now blush to relate;--no less than doing all the dirty work of the cottage, such as sweeping the room, kindling the fire, cooking the victuals; and trying, by dint of comb and soap, to make cherubs of the children.

to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)

From this reading So you must not condemn me totally; for I do declare to you, that I would much rather have relieved them with my purse, and soothed them with my sympathy, than have fried their herrings and washed their faces.

hard to endure

From this reading After my last letter, I spent two tedious days in employments that I now blush to relate;--no less than doing all the dirty work of the cottage, such as sweeping the room, kindling the fire, cooking the victuals; and trying, by dint of comb and soap, to make cherubs of the children.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading After my last letter, I spent two tedious days in employments that I now blush to relate;--no less than doing all the dirty work of the cottage, such as sweeping the room, kindling the fire, cooking the victuals; and trying, by dint of comb and soap, to make cherubs of the children.

a stock or supply of foods

From this reading After my last letter, I spent two tedious days in employments that I now blush to relate;--no less than doing all the dirty work of the cottage, such as sweeping the room, kindling the fire, cooking the victuals; and trying, by dint of comb and soap, to make cherubs of the children.

the act of vindicating or defending against criticism or censure etc.

From this reading I can only say, in vindication of myself, that those who sheltered me were poor and helpless themselves, and that they deserved some recompense on my part for their hospitality to me.

clean by virtue of having been washed in water

From this reading So you must not condemn me totally; for I do declare to you, that I would much rather have relieved them with my purse, and soothed them with my sympathy, than have fried their herrings and washed their faces.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading I can only say, in vindication of myself, that those who sheltered me were poor and helpless themselves, and that they deserved some recompense on my part for their hospitality to me.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading What bewitched me, I cannot conceive, for the humanity of other heroines is ever clean, elegant, and fit for the reader.

which person or people

From this reading I can only say, in vindication of myself, that those who sheltered me were poor and helpless themselves, and that they deserved some recompense on my part for their hospitality to me.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They give silver and tears in abundance, but they never descend to the bodily charity of working, like wire-drawers, for withered old women and brats with rosy noses.

in the company of; together with

From this reading They give silver and tears in abundance, but they never descend to the bodily charity of working, like wire-drawers, for withered old women and brats with rosy noses.

lean and wrinkled by shrinkage as from age or illness

From this reading They give silver and tears in abundance, but they never descend to the bodily charity of working, like wire-drawers, for withered old women and brats with rosy noses.

plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading They give silver and tears in abundance, but they never descend to the bodily charity of working, like wire-drawers, for withered old women and brats with rosy noses.

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading After my last letter, I spent two tedious days in employments that I now blush to relate;--no less than doing all the dirty work of the cottage, such as sweeping the room, kindling the fire, cooking the victuals; and trying, by dint of comb and soap, to make cherubs of the children.

actively engaged in paid work

From this reading They give silver and tears in abundance, but they never descend to the bodily charity of working, like wire-drawers, for withered old women and brats with rosy noses.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading So you must not condemn me totally; for I do declare to you, that I would much rather have relieved them with my purse, and soothed them with my sympathy, than have fried their herrings and washed their faces.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading So you must not condemn me totally; for I do declare to you, that I would much rather have relieved them with my purse, and soothed them with my sympathy, than have fried their herrings and washed their faces.