the expedition of humphry clinker-第92章

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and　felt　his　pulse；　he　declared　that　much　of　the　virus　was
discharged；　and；　giving　him　a　composing　draught；　assured　him　he
had　good　hopes　of　his　recovery。　　This　welcome　hint　he　received
with　the　tears　of　joy　in　his　eyes；　protesting；　that　if　he　should
recover；　he　would　always　think　himself　indebted　for　his　life　to
the　great　skill　and　tenderness　of　his　doctor；　whose　hand　he
squeezed　with　great　fervour；　and　thus　he　was　left　to　his　repose。

We　were　pressed　to　stay　dinner；　that　we　might　be　witnesses　of　his
resuscitation；　but　my　uncle　insisted　upon　our　departing　before
noon；　that　we　might　reach　this　town　before　it　should　be　dark。　　In
the　mean…time；　lady　Bullford　conducted　us　into　the　garden　to　see
a　fishpond　just　finished；　which　Mr　Bramble　censured　as　being　too
near　the　parlour；　where　the　knight　now　sat　by　himself；　dozing　in
an　elbow…chair　after　the　fatigues　of　his　morning　atchievement。　
In　this　situation　he　reclined；　with　his　feet　wrapped　in　flannel；
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