the expedition of humphry clinker-第12章
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vertigo the first day； but； afterwards； all these things became
familiar； and even agreeable。 Right under the Pump…room
windows is the King's Bath； a huge cistern； where you see the
patients up to their necks in hot water。 The ladies wear jackets
and petticoats of brown linen with chip hats； in which they fix
their handkerchiefs to wipe the sweat from their faces； but；
truly； whether it is owing to the steam that surrounds them； or
the heat of the water； or the nature of the dress； or to all
these causes together； they look so flushed； and so frightful；
that I always turn my eyes another way My aunt； who says every
person of fashion should make her appearance in the bath； as well
as in the abbey church； contrived a cap with cherry…coloured
ribbons to suit her complexion； and obliged Win to attend her
yesterday morning in the water。 But； really； her eyes were so
red； that they made mine water as I viewed her from the Pump…room；
and as for poor Win； who wore a hat trimmed with blue； what
betwixt her wan complexion and her fear； she looked like the
ghost of some pale maiden； who had drowned herself for love。 When
she came out of the bath； she took assafoetida drops； and was
fluttered all day； so that we could hardly keep her from going
into hysterics： but her mistress says it will do her good； and
poor Win curtsies； with the tears in her eyes。 For my part； I
content myself with drinking about half a pint of the water every
morning。
The pumper； with his wife and servant； attend within a bar； and
the glasses； of different sizes； stand ranged in order before
them； so you have nothing to do but to point at that which you
choose； and it is filled immediately； hot and sparkling from the
pump。 It is the only hot water I could ever drink； without being
sick Far from having that effect； it is rather agreeable to
the taste； grateful to the stomach； and reviving to the spirits。
You cannot imagine what wonderful cures it performs My uncle
began with it the other day； but he made wry faces in drinking；
and I'm afraid he will leave it off The first day we came to
Bath； he fell into a violent passion； beat two black…a…moors； and
I was afraid he would have fought with their master； but the
stranger proved a peaceable man。 To be sure； the gout had got
into his head； as my aunt observed； but； I believe； his passion
drove it away； for he has been remarkably well ever since。 It is
a thousand pities he should ever be troubled with that ugly
distemper； for； when he is free from pain； he is the best
tempered man upon earth； so gentle； so generous； so charitable；
that every body loves him； and so good to me； in particular； that
I shall never be able to shew the deep sense I have of his
tenderness and affection。
Hard by the Pump…room； is a coffee…house for the ladies； but my
aunt says； young girls are not admitted； insomuch as the
conversation turns upon politics； scandal； philosophy； and other
subjects above our capacity； but we are allowed to accompany them
to the booksellers' shops； which are charming places of resort；
where we read novels； plays； pamphlets； and newspapers； for so
small a subscription as a crown a quarter； and in these offices
of intelligence （as my brother calls them） all the reports of the
day； and all the private transactions of the Bath； are first
entered and discussed。 From the bookseller's shop； we make a tour
through the milliners and toymen； and commonly stop at Mr Gill's；
the pastry…cook； to take a jelly； a tart； or a small bason of
vermicelli。 There is； moreover； another place of entertainment on
the other side of the water； opposite to the Grove； to which the
company cross over in a boat It is called Spring…garden； a
sweet retreat； laid out in walks and ponds； and parterres of
flowers； and there is a long…room for breakfasting and dancing。
As the situation is low and damp； and the season has been
remarkably wet； my uncle won't suffer me to go thither； lest I
should catch cold： but my aunt says it is all a vulgar prejudice；
and； to be sure； a great many gentlemen and ladies of Ireland
frequent the place； without seeming to be the worse for it。 They
say； dancing at Spring…gardens； when the air is moist； is
recommended to them as an excellent cure for the rheumatism。 I
have been twice at the play； where； notwithstanding the
excellence of the performers； the gayety of the company； and the
decorations of the theatre； which are very fine； I could not help
reflecting； with a sigh； upon our poor homely representations at
Gloucester But this； in confidence to my dear Willis You
know my heart； and will excuse its weakness。
After all； the great scenes of entertainment at Bath； are the two
public rooms； where the company meet alternately every evening。
They are spacious； lofty； and； when lighted up； appear very
striking。 They are generally crowded with well…dressed people；
who drink tea in separate parties； play at cards； walk； or sit
and chat together； just as they are disposed。 Twice a…week there
is a ball； the expence of which is defrayed by a voluntary
subscription among the gentlemen； and every subscriber has three
tickets。 I was there Friday last with my aunt； under the care of
my brother； who is a subscriber； and Sir Ulic Mackilligut
recommended his nephew； captain O Donaghan； to me as a partner；
but Jery excused himself； by saying I had got the head…ach； and；
indeed； it was really so； though I can't imagine how he knew it。
The place was so hot； and the smell so different from what we are
used to in the country； that I was quite feverish when we came
away。 Aunt says it is the effect of a vulgar constitution； reared
among woods and mountains； and； that as I become accustomed to
genteel company； it will wear off。 Sir Ulic was very
complaisant； made her a great many high…flown compliments； and；
when we retired； handed her with great ceremony to her chair。 The
captain； I believe； would have done me the same favour； but my
brother seeing him advance； took me under his arm； and wished him
good night。 The Captain is a pretty man； to be sure； tall and
strait； and well made； with light…grey eyes； and a Roman nose；
but there is a certain boldness in his look and manner； that puts
one out of countenance But I am afraid I have put you out of
all patience with this long unconnected scrawl； which I shall
therefore conclude； with assuring you； that neither Bath； nor
London； nor all the diversions of life； shall ever be able to
efface the idea of my dear Letty； from the heart of her ever
affectionate
LYDIA MELFORD
To Mrs MARY JONES； at Brambleton…hall。
DEAR MOLLY JONES；
Heaving got a frank； I now return your fever； which I received by
Mr Higgins； at the Hot Well； together with the stockings； which
his wife footed for me； but now they are of no survice。 No body
wears such things in this place O Molly！ you that live in the
country have no deception of our doings at Bath。 Here is such
dressing； and fidling； and dancing； and gadding； and courting and
plotting O gracious！ if God had not given me a good stock of
discretion； what a power of things might not I reveal； consarning
old mistress and young mistress； Jews with beards that were no
Jews； but handsome Christians； without a hair upon their sin；
strolling with spectacles； to get speech of Miss Liddy。 But she's
a dear sweet soul； as innocent as the child unborn。 She has tould
me all her inward thoughts； and disclosed her passion for Mr
Wilson； and that's not his name neither； and thof he acted among
the player…men； he is meat for their masters； and she has gi'en
me her yallow trollopea； which Mrs Drab； the mantymaker； says
will look very well when it is scowred and smoaked with silfur
You knows as how； yallow fitts my fizzogmony。 God he knows what
havock I shall make among the mail sex； when I make my first
appearance in this killing collar； with a full soot of gaze； as
good as new； that I bought last Friday of madam Friponeau； the
French mullaner Dear girl； I have seen all the fine shews of
Bath； the Prades； the Squires； and the Circlis； the Crashit； the
Hottogon； and Bloody Buildings； and Harry King's row； and I have
been twice in the Bath w
