The Diamond of Drury Lane

by Julia Golding

  HOYDEN . . . boisterous girl

  ISLINGTON . . . country village, north of London

  JARVEY . . . driver of a hackney cab

  LAID UP IN LAVENDER . . . pawned

  MARYLEBONE FIELDS . . . open land just north of Oxford Street

  MOONSHINE (a load of . . .) . . . insubstantial rubbish

  NIPPING-JIG . . . dance of death on the gallows

  NOSEGAY . . . little bouquet to hide bad odours (and there are plenty of them around my neighbourhood)

  NOT WORTH A FART . . . you don’t really need me to explain this, do you?

  THE PIT . . . lowest level in the theatre, frequented by gentlemen and those aspiring to be counted in that class

  THE POOL . . . moorings in the Thames

  PORTER . . . a dark beer

  PRIG . . . self-righteous know-it-all (as well as lots of other meanings I won’t repeat)

  THE ROOKERIES . . . also known as St Giles, a dangerous district you should avoid if you want to emerge with your possessions, teeth and hair intact

  THEATRE ROYAL, DRURY LANE . . . the best theatre in the world. And my home, just off Covent Garden

  TOGS . . . clothes

  TOWER OF LONDON . . . fortress and prison

  WAPPING . . . the docks (keep an eye on your valuables)