Thanks, Alan, for the "Wapping Alice" reference. I'd argue, though, that even if the cross-dressing *were* a comic technique, it would still be worthy of analysis. But, then, I'd been thinking that cross-dressing was an odd motif to be showing up in 19th-century literature. You are suggesting that it isn't--this is food for thought. Thanks. And, then, too--there's always _1601_ to thinking about! Susan Reed