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！
this amiable object； he kisses her hand； mutters ejaculations of
rapture； and sings tender airs； and； no doubt； laughs internally
at her folly in believing him sincere。 In order to shew how
little his vigour was impaired by the fatigues of the preceding
day； he this morning danced a Highland sarabrand over a naked
back…sword； and leaped so high； that I believe he would make no
contemptible figure as a vaulter at Sadler's Wells。 Mr Matthew
Loyd； when asked how he relished his bargain； throws up his eyes；
crying； 'For what we have received； Lord make us thankful：
amen。' His helpmate giggles； and holds her hand before her eyes；
affecting to be ashamed of having been in bed with a man。 Thus
all these widgeons enjoy the novelty of their situation； but；
perhaps their notes will be changed； when they are better
acquainted with the nature of the decoy。
As Mrs Willis cannot be persuaded to stay； and Liddy is engaged
by promise to accompany her daughter back to Gloucester； I fancy
there will be a general migration from hence； and that most of us
will spend the Christmas holidays at Bath； in which case； I shall
certainly find an opportunity to beat up your quarters。 By this
time； I suppose； you are sick of alma mater； and even ready to
execute that scheme of peregrination； which was last year
concerted between you and
Your affectionate
J。 MELFORD
Nov。 8。
To Dr LEWIS。
DEAR DOCTOR；
My niece Liddy is now happily settled for life； and captain
Lismahago has taken Tabby off my hands； so that I have nothing
further to do； but to comfort my friend Baynard； and provide for
my son Loyd； who is also fairly joined to Mrs Winifred Jenkins。
You are an excellent genius at hints。 Dr Arbuthnot was but a
type of Dr Lewis in that respect。 What you observe of the vestry…clerk
deserves consideration。 I make no doubt but Matthew Loyd
is well enough qualified for the office； but； at present； you
must find room for him in the house。 His incorruptible honesty
and indefatigable care will be serviceable in superintending the
oeconomy of my farm； tho' I don't mean that he shall interfere
with Barns； of whom I have no cause to complain。 I am just
returned with Baynard； from a second trip to his house； where
every thing is regulated to his satisfaction。 He could not；
however； review the apartments without tears and lamentation； so
that he is not yet in a condition to be left alone； therefore I
will not part with him till the spring； when he intends to plunge
into the avocations of husbandry； which will at once employ and
amuse his attention。 Charles Dennison has promised to stay with
him a fortnight； to set him fairly afloat in his improvements；
and Jack Wilson will see him from time to time； besides； he has a
few friends in the country； whom his new plan of life will not
exclude from his society。 In less than a year； I make no doubt；
but he will find himself perfectly at ease both in his mind and
body； for the one had dangerously affected the other； and I shall
enjoy the exquisite pleasure of seeing my friend rescued from
misery and contempt。
Mrs Willis being determined to return with her daughter； in a few
days； to Gloucester； our plan has undergone some alteration。 Jery
has persuaded his brother…in…law to carry his wife to Bath； and I
believe his parents will accompany him thither。 For my part； I
have no intention to take that route。 It must be something very
extraordinary that will induce me to revisit either Bath or
London。 My sister and her husband； Baynard and I； will take
leave of them at Gloucester； and make the best of our way to
Brambleton hall； where I desire you will prepare a good chine and
turkey for our Christmas dinner。 You must also employ your
medical skill in defending me from the attacks of the gout； that
I may be in good case to receive the rest of our company； who
promise to visit us in their return from the Bath。 As I have
laid in a considerable stock of health； it is to be hoped you
will not have much trouble with me in the way of physic； but I
intend to work you on the side of exercise。 I have got an
excellent fowling…piece from Mr Lismahago； who is a keen
sportsman； and we shall take the heath in all weathers。 That
this scheme of life may be prosecuted the more effectually； I
intend to renounce all sedentary amusements； particularly that of
writing long letters； a resolution； which； had I taken it sooner；
might have saved you the trouble which you have lately taken in
reading the tedious epistles of
MATT。 BRAMBLE
NOV。 20。
To Mrs GWYLLIM； at Brambleton…hall。
GOOD MRS GWYLLIM；
Heaven； for wise porpuses； hath ordained that I should change my
name and citation in life； so that I am not to be considered any
more as manager of my brother's family； but as I cannot surrender
up my stewardship till I have settled with you and Williams； I
desire you will get your accunts ready for inspection； as we are
coming home without further delay。 My spouse； the captain； being
subject to rummaticks； I beg you will take great care to have the
blew chamber； up two pair of stairs； well warmed for his
reception。 Let the sashes be secured； the crevices stopt； the
carpets laid； and the beds well tousled。 Mrs Loyd； late Jenkins；
being married to a relation of the family； cannot remain in the
capacity of a sarvant； therefore； I wish you would cast about for
some creditable body to be with me in her room If she can spin；
and is mistress of plain…work； so much the better but she must
not expect extravagant wages having a family of my own； I must
be more occumenical than ever。 No more at present； but rests
Your loving friend；
TAB。 LISMAHAGO
NOV。 20。
To Mrs MARY JONES； at Brambleton…hall。
MRS JONES；
Providinch hath bin pleased to make great halteration in the
pasture of our affairs。 We were yesterday three kiple chined； by
the grease of God； in the holy bands of mattermoney； and I now
subscrive myself Loyd at your sarvice。 All the parish allowed
that young 'squire Dallison and his bride was a comely pear for
to see。 As for madam Lashtniheygo； you nose her picklearities
her head； to be sure； was fintastical； and her spouse had rapt
her with a long marokin furze cloak from the land of the
selvidges； thof they say it is of immense bally。 The captain
himself had a huge hassock of air； with three tails； and a tum…
tawdry coat； boddered with sulfur。 Wan said he was a monkey…bank；
and the ould bottler swore he was the born imich of
Titidall。 For my part； I says nothing； being as how the captain
has done the handsome thing by me。 Mr Loyd was dressed in a lite
frog； and checket with gould binding； and thof he don't enter in
caparison with great folks of quality； yet he has got as good
blood in his veins as arrow privat 'squire in the county； and
then his pursing is far from contentible。 Your humble sarvant
had on a plain pea…green tabby sack； with my Runnela cap； ruff
toupee； and side curls。 They said； I was the very moral of lady
Rickmanstone； but not so pale that may well be； for her ladyship
is my elder by seven good years and more。 Now； Mrs Mary； our
satiety is to suppurate Mr Millfart goes to Bath along with the
Dallisons； and the rest of us push home to Wales； to pass our
Chrishmarsh at Brampleton…hall As our apartments is to be the
yallow pepper； in the thurd story； pray carry my things thither。
Present my cumpliments to Mrs Gwyllim； and I hope she and I will
live upon dissent terms of civility。 Being； by God's blessing；
removed to a higher spear； you'll excuse my being familiar with
the lower sarvants of the family； but； as I trust you'll behave
respectful； and keep a proper distance； you may always depend
upon the good will and purtection of
Yours；
W。 LOYD
Nov。 20。
FINIS。
End