the expedition of humphry clinker-第105章

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and　joy；　and　she　trembled　with　coyness　and　confusion。　My　uncle
gave　her　away；　and　her　friend　Willis　supported　her　during　the
ceremony。

But　my　aunt　and　her　paramour　took　the　pas；　and　formed；　indeed；
such　a　pair　of　originals；　as；　I　believe　all　England　could　not
parallel。　She　was　dressed　in　the　stile　of　1739；　and　the　day　being
cold；　put　on　a　manteel　of　green　velvet　laced　with　gold：　but　this
was　taken　off　by　the　bridegroom；　who　threw　over　her　shoulders　a
fur　cloak　of　American　sables；　valued　at　fourscore　guineas；　a
present　equally　agreeable　and　unexpected。　Thus　accoutred；　she　was
led　up　to　the　altar　by　Mr　Dennison；　who　did　the　office　of　her
father：　Lismahago　advanced　in　the　military　step　with　his　French
coat　reaching　no　farther　than　the　middle　of　his　thigh；　his
campaign　wig　that　surpasses　all　description；　and　a　languishing
leer　upon　his　countenance；　in　which　there　seemed　to　be　something
arch　and　ironical。　The　ring；　which　he　put　upon　her　finger；　he　had
concealed　till　the　moment　it　was　used。　He　now　produced　it　with　an
air　of　self…complacency。　It　was　a　curious　antique；　set　with　rose
diamonds：　he　told　us　afterwards；　it　had　been　in　the　family　two
hundred　years　and　was　a　present　from　his　grand…mother。　These
circumstances　agreeably　flattered　the　pride　of　our　aunt　Tabitha；
which　had　already　found　uncommon　gratification　in　the　captain's
generosity；　for　he　had；　in　the　morning；　presented　my　uncle　with　a
fine　bear's　skin；　and　a　Spanish　fowling…piece；　and　me　with　a　case
of　pistols　curiously　mounted　with　silver。　At　the　same　time　he
gave　Mrs　Jenkins　an　Indian　purse；　made　of　silk　grass；　containing
twenty　crown　pieces。　You　must　know；　this　young　lady；　with　the
assistance　of　Mr　Loyd；　formed　the　third　couple　who　yesterday
sacrificed　to　Hymen。　I　wrote　to　you　in　my　last；　that　he　had
recourse　to　my　mediation；　which　I　employed　successfully　with　my
uncle；　but　Mrs　Tabitha　held　out　'till　the　love…sick　Jenkins　had
two　fits　of　the　mother；　then　she　relented；　and　those　two　cooing
turtles　were　caged　for　life　　Our　aunt　made　an　effort　of
generosity　in　furnishing　the　bride　with　her　superfluities　of
clothes　and　linen；　and　her　example　was　followed　by　my　sister；
nor　did　Mr　Bramble　and　I　neglect　her　on　this　occasion。　It　was；
indeed；　a　day　of　peace…offering。　　Mr　Dennison　insisted　upon
Liddy's　accepting　two　bank　notes　of　one　hundred　pounds　each；　as
pocket…money；　and　his　lady　gave　her　a　diamond　necklace　of　double
that　value。　There　was；　besides；　a　mutual　exchange　of　tokens　among
the　individuals　of　the　two　families　thus　happily　united。

As　George　Dennison　and　his　partner　were　judged　improper　objects
of　mirth；　Jack　Wilson　had　resolved　to　execute　some　jokes　on
Lismahago；　and　after　supper　began　to　ply　him　with　bumpers；　when
the　ladies　had　retired；　but　the　captain　perceiving　his　drift；
begged　for　quarter；　alledging　that　the　adventure；　in　which　he　had
engaged；　was　a　very　serious　matter；　and　that　it　would　be　more　the
part　of　a　good　Christian　to　pray　that　he　might　be　strengthened；
than　to　impede　his　endeavours　to　finish　the　adventure。　　He　was
spared　accordingly；　and　permitted　to　ascend　the　nuptial　couch
with　all　his　senses　about　him。　　There　he　and　his　consort　sat　in
state；　like　Saturn　and　Cybele；　while　the　benediction　posset　was
drank；　and　a　cake　being　broken　over　the　head　of　Mrs　Tabitha
Lismahago；　the　fragments　were　distributed　among　the　bystanders；
according　to　the　custom　of　the　antient　Britons；　on　the
supposition　that　every　person　who　eat　of　this　hallowed　cake；
should　that　night　have　a　vision　of　the　man　or　woman　whom　Heaven
designed　should　be　his　or　her　wedded　mate。

The　weight　of　Wilson's　waggery　fell　upon　honest　Humphry　and　his
spouse；　who　were　bedded　in　an　upper　room；　with　the　usual　ceremony
of　throwing　the　stocking。　　This　being　performed；　and　the　company
withdrawn；　a　sort　of　catterwauling　ensued；　when　Jack　found　means
to　introduce　a　real　cat　shod　with　walnut…shells；　which　galloping
along　the　boards；　made　such　a　dreadful　noise　as　effectually
discomposed　our　lovers。　　Winifred　screamed　aloud；　and　shrunk
under　the　bed…cloaths　　Mr　Loyd；　believing　that　Satan　was　come　to
buffet　him　in　propria　persona；　laid　aside　all　carnal　thoughts；
and　began　to　pray　aloud　with　great　fervency。　　At　length；　the　poor
animal；　being　more　afraid　than　either；　leaped　into　the　bed；　and
meauled　with　the　most　piteous　exclamation。　　Loyd；　thus　informed
of　the　nature　of　the　annoyance；　rose　and　set　the　door　wide　open；
so　that　this　troublesome　visitant　retreated　with　great
expedition；　then　securing　himself；　by　means　of　a　double　bolt；
from　a　second　intrusion；　he　was　left　to　enjoy　his　good　fortune
without　further　disturbance。

If　one　may　judge　from　the　looks　of　the　parties；　they　are　all　very
well　satisfied　with　what　has　passed　　George　Dennison　and　his　wife
are　too　delicate　to　exhibit　any　strong　marked　signs　of　their
mutual　satisfaction；　but　their　eyes　are　sufficiently　expressive　
Mrs　Tabitha　Lismahago　is　rather　fulsome　in　signifying　her
approbation　of　the　captain's　love；　while　his　deportment　is　the
very　pink　of　gallantry。　　He　sighs；　and　ogles；　and　languishes　at
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