The ladies—some rouged, some a little pale—

Met the morn as they might. If fine, they rode,

Or walked; if foul, they read, or told a tale,

Sung, or rehearsed the last dance from abroad;

Discussed the fashion which might next prevail,

And settled bonnets by the newest code,

Or crammed twelve sheets into one little letter,

To make each correspondent a new debtor.