按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
and supported in a line with his body； when the door flying open
with a violent shock； lieutenant Lismahago rushed into the room
with horror in his looks； exclaiming； 'A mad dog！ a mad dog！' and
throwing up the window sash； leaped into the garden Sir Thomas；
waked by this tremendous exclamation； started up； and forgetting
his gout； followed the lieutenant's example by a kind of
instinctive impulse。 He not only bolted thro' the window like an
arrow from a bow； but ran up to his middle in the pond before he
gave the least sign of recollection。 Then the captain began to
bawl； 'Lord have mercy upon us！ pray； take care of the
gentleman！ for God's sake； mind your footing； my dear boy！ get
warm blankets comfort his poor carcase warm the bed in the
green room。'
Lady Bullford was thunder…struck at this phaenomenon； and the
rest of the company gazed in silent astonishment； while the
servants hastened to assist their master； who suffered himself to
be carried back into the parlour without speaking a word。 Being
instantly accommodated with dry clothes and flannels； comforted
with a cordial； and replaced in statu quo； one of the maids was
ordered to chafe his lower extremities； an operation in
consequence of which his senses seemed to return and his good
humour to revive。 As we had followed him into the room； he
looked at every individual in his turn； with a certain ludicrous
expression in his countenance； but fixed his eyes in particular
upon Lismahago； who presented him with a pinch of snuff； and when
he took it in silence； 'Sir Thomas Bullford （said he）； I am much
obliged to you for all your favours； and some of them I have
endeavoured to repay in your own coin。' 'Give me thy hand （cried
the baronet）； thou hast indeed payed me Scot and lot； and even
left a balance in my hands； for which； in presence of this
company； I promise to be accountable。' So saying； he laughed
very heartily； and even seemed to enjoy the retaliation which had
been exacted at his own expence； but lady Bullford looked very
grave； and in all probability thought the lieutenant had carried
his resentment too far； considering that her husband was
valetudinary but； according to the proverb； he that will play
at bowls must expect to meet with rubbers。 I have seen a tame
bear； very diverting when properly managed； become a very
dangerous wild beast when teized for the entertainment of the
spectators。 As for Lismahago； he seemed to think the fright and
the cold bath would have a good effect upon his patient's
constitution： but the doctor hinted some apprehension that the
gouty matter might； by such a sudden shock； be repelled from the
extremities and thrown upon some of the more vital parts of the
machine。 I should be very sorry to see this prognostic verified
upon our facetious landlord； who told Mrs Tabitha at parting；
that he hoped she would remember him in the distribution of the
bride's favours； as he had taken so much pains to put the
captain's parts and mettle to the proof。 After all； I am afraid
our squire will appear to be the greatest sufferer by the
baronet's wit； for his constitution is by no means calculated for
night…alarms。 He has yawned and shivered all day； and gone to bed
without supper； so that； as we have got into good quarters； I
imagine we shall make a halt to…morrow； in which case； you will
have at least one day's respite from the persecution of
J。 MELFORD
Oct。 3。
To Mrs MARY JONES； at Brambleton…hall。
DEAR MARY JONES；
Miss Liddy is so good as to unclose me in a kiver as fur as
Gloster； and the carrier will bring it to hand God send us all
safe to Monmouthshire； for I'm quite jaded with rambling 'Tis a
true saying； live and learn 0 woman； what chuckling and changing
have I seen！ Well； there's nothing sartain in this world Who
would have thought that mistriss； after all the pains taken for
the good of her prusias sole； would go for to throw away her poor
body？ that she would cast the heys of infection upon such a
carrying…crow as Lashmihago！ as old as Mathewsullin； as dry as a
red herring； and as poor as a starved veezel 0； Molly； hadst
thou seen him come down the ladder； in a shurt so scanty； that it
could not kiver his nakedness！ The young 'squire called him
Dunquickset； but he looked for all the world like Cradoc…ap…Morgan；
the ould tinker； that suffered at Abergany for steeling
of kettle Then he's a profane scuffle； and； as Mr Clinker says；
no better than an impfiddle； continually playing upon the pyebill
and the new…burth I doubt he has as little manners as money； for
he can't say a civil word； much more make me a present of a pair
of gloves for goodwill； but he looks as if he wanted to be very
forewood and familiar O！ that ever a gentlewoman of years and
discretion should tare her air； and cry and disporridge herself
for such a nubjack！ as the song goes
I vow she would fain have a burd
That bids such a price for an owl。
but； for sartain； he must have dealt with some Scotch musician to
bring her to this pass As for me； I put my trust in the Lord；
and I have got a slice of witch elm sowed in the gathers of my
under petticoat； and Mr Clinker assures me； that by the new light
of grease； I may deify the devil and all his works But I nose
what I nose If mistress should take up with Lashmyhago； this is
no sarvice for me Thank God； there's no want of places； and if
it wan't for wan thing； I would but； no matter Madam Baynar's
woman has twenty good pounds a…year and parquisites； and dresses
like a parson of distinkson I dined with her and the valley de
shambles； with bags and golden jackets； but there was nothing
kimfittable to eat； being as how they lived upon board； and
having nothing but a piss of could cuddling tart and some
blamangey； I was tuck with the cullick； and a murcey it was that
mistress had her viol of assings in the cox。
But； as I was saying； I think for sartain this match will go
forewood； for things are come to a creesus； and I have seen with
my own bays； such smuggling But I scorn for to exclose the
secrets of the family； and if it wance comes to marrying； who
nose but the frolick may go round I believes as how； Miss Liddy
would have no reversion if her swan would appear； and you would
be surprised； Molly； to receive a bride's fever from your humble
sarvant but this is all suppository； dear girl； and I have
sullenly promised to Mr Clinker； that neither man； woman； nor
child shall no that arrow said a civil thing to me in the way of
infection。 I hope to drink your health at Brambleton…hall； in a
horn of October； before the month be out Pray let my bed be
turned once a…day； and the windore opened； while the weather is
dry； and burn a few billets with some brush in the footman's
garret； and see their mattrash be dry as a bone： for both our
gentlemen have got a sad could by lying in damp shits at sir
Tummas Ballfart's。 No more at present； but my sarvice to Saul and
the rest of our fellow…sarvents；
being；
Dear Mary Jones；
Always yours；
WIN。 JENKINS
Oct。 4。
To Miss LAETITIA WILLIS； at Gloucester。
MY DEAR LETTY；
This method of writing to you from time to time； without any
hopes of an answer； affords me； I own； some ease and satisfaction
in the 'midst of my disquiet； as it in some degree lightens the
burthen of affliction： but it is at best a very imperfect
enjoyment of friendship； because it admits of no return of
confidence and good counsel I would give the whole world to have
your company for a single day I am heartily tired of this
itinerant way of life。 I am quite dizzy with a perpetual
succession of objects Besides it is impossible to travel such a
length of way； without being exposed to inconveniencies； dangers；
and disagreeable accidents； which prove very grievous to a poor
creature of weak nerves like me； and make me pay very dear for
the gratification of my curiosity。
Nature never intended me for the busy world I long for repose
and solitude； where I can enjoy that disinterested friendship
which is not to be found among crouds； and indulge those pleasing
reveries that shun the hurry and tumult of fashionable society
Unexperienced as I am in the commerce of life； I have seen enough
to give me a disgust to the generality of those who carry it on
There is such malice； treachery； and dissimulation； even among
professed friends and intimate companions； as cannot fail to
strike a virtuous mind with horror； and when Vice quits the stage
for a moment； her place is immediately occupied by Folly； which
is often too serious to excite any thing but compassion。 Perhaps I
ought to be silent on the foibles of my poor aunt； but with you；
my dear Willis； I have no secrets； and； truly； her weaknesses are
such as cannot be concealed。 Since the first moment we arrived at
Bath； she has been employed constantly in spreading nets for the
other sex； and； at length； she has caught a superannuated
lieutenant； who is in a fair way to make her change her name My
uncle and my brother seem to have no objection to this
extraordinary match； which； I make no doubt； will afford
abundance of matter for conversation and mirth； for my part； I am
too sens