the expedition of humphry clinker-第95章

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My　uncle；　seeing　me　dropping　wet；　comprehended　the　whole　of　what
had　happened；　and　asked　if　all　the　company　was　safe？　　Being
answered　in　the　affirmative；　he　insisted　upon　my　putting　on　dry
clothes；　and；　having　swallowed　a　little　warm　wine；　desired　he
might　be　left　to　his　repose。　Before　I　went　to　shift　myself；　I
inquired　about　the　rest　of　the　family　　I　found　Mrs　Tabitha　still
delirious　from　her　fright；　discharging　very　copiously　the　water
she　had　swallowed。　She　was　supported　by　the　captain；　distilling
drops　from　his　uncurled　periwig；　so　lank　and　so　dank；　that　he
looked　like　Father　Thames　without　his　sedges；　embracing　Isis；
while　she　cascaded　in　his　urn。　Mrs　Jenkins　was　present　also；　in　a
loose　bed　gown；　without　either　cap　or　handkerchief；　but　she
seemed　to　be　as　little　compos　mentis　as　her　mistress；　and　acted
so　many　cross　purposes　in　the　course　of　her　attendance；　that；
between　the　two；　Lismahago　had　occasion　for　all　his　philosophy。
As　for　Liddy；　I　thought　the　poor　girl　would　have　actually　lost
her　senses。　The　good　woman　of　the　house　had　shifted　her　linen；
and　put　her　into　bed；　but　she　was　seized　with　the　idea　that　her
uncle　had　perished；　and　in　this　persuasion　made　a　dismal　out…cry；
nor　did　she　pay　the　least　regard　to　what　I　said；　when　I　solemnly
assured　her　he　was　safe。　Mr　Bramble　hearing　the　noise；　and　being
informed　of　her　apprehension；　desired　she　might　be　brought　into
his　chamber；　and　she　no　sooner　received　this　intimation；　than　she
ran　thither　half　naked；　with　the　wildest　expression　of　eagerness
in　her　countenance　　Seeing　the　'squire　sitting　up　in　the　bed；　she
sprung　forwards　and　throwing　her　arms　about　his　neck；　exclaimed
in　a　most　pathetic　tone；　'Are　you　　Are　you　indeed　my　uncle　　My
dear　uncle！　　My　best　friend！　My　father！　　Are　you　really　living？
or　is　it　an　illusion　of　my　poor　brain！'　Honest　Matthew　was　so
much　affected；　that　he　could　not　help　shedding　tears；　while　he
kissed　her　forehead；　saying；　'My　dear　Liddy；　I　hope　I　shall　live
long　enough　to　shew　how　sensible　I　am　of　your　affection　　But　your
spirits　are　fluttered；　child　　You　want　rest　　Go　to　bed　and
compose　yourself'　　'Well；　I　will　（she　replied）　but　still　methinks
this　cannot　be　real　　The　coach　was　full　of　water　　My　uncle　was
under　us　all　　Gracious　God！　　You　was　under　water　　How　did　you　get
out；　　tell　me　that？　or　I　shall　think　this　is　all　a　deception'　
'In　what　manner　I　was　brought　out；　I　know　as　little　as　you　do；　my
dear　（said　the　'squire）；　and；　truly；　that　is　a　circumstance　of
which　I　want　to　be　informed。'　I　would　have　given　him　a　detail　of
the　whole　adventure；　but　he　would　not　hear　me　until　I　should
change　my　clothes；　so　that　I　had　only　time　to　tell　him；　that　he
owed　his　life　to　the　courage　and　fidelity　of　Clinker：　and　having
given　him　this　hint；　I　conducted　my　sister　to　her　own　chamber。

This　accident　happened　about　three　o'clock　in　the　afternoon；　and
in　little　more　than　an　hour　the　hurricane　was　all　over；　but　as
the　carriage　was　found　to　be　so　much　damaged；　that　it　could　not
proceed　without　considerable　repairs；　a　blacksmith　and
wheelwright　were　immediately　sent　for　to　the　next　market…town；
and　we　congratulated　ourselves　upon　being　housed　at　an　inn；
which；　though　remote　from　the　post…road；　afforded　exceeding　good
lodging。　The　women　being　pretty　well　composed；　and　the　men　all　a…foot；
my　uncle　sent　for　his　servant；　and；　in　the　presence　of
Lismahago　and　me；　accosted　him　in　these　words　　'So；　Clinker；　I
find　you　are　resolved　I　shan't　die　by　water　　As　you　have　fished
me　up　from　the　bottom　at　your　own　risque；　you　are　at　least
entitled　to　all　the　money　that　was　in　my　pocket；　and　there　it
is'　　So　saying；　he　presented　him　with　a　purse　containing　thirty
guineas；　and　a　ring　nearly　of　the　same　value　　'God　forbid！　（cried
Clinker）；　your　honour　shall　excuse　me　　I　am　a　poor　fellow；　but　I
have　a　heart　O！　if　your　honour　did　but　know　how　I　rejoice　to　see　
Blessed　be　his　holy　name；　that　made　me　the　humble　instrument　
But　as　for　the　lucre　of　gain；　I　renounce　it　　I　have　done　no　more
than　my　duty　　No　more　than　I　would　have　done　for　the　most
worthless　of　my　fellow…creatures　　No　more　than　I　would　have　done
for　captain　Lismahago；　or　Archy　Macalpine；　or　any　sinner　upon
earth　　But　for　your　worship；　I　would　go　through　fire　as　well　as
water'　　'I　do　believe　it；　Humphry　（said　the　'squire）；　but　as　you
think　it　was　your　duty　to　save　my　life　at　the　hazard　of　your　own；
I　think　it　is　mine　to　express　the　sense　I　have　of　your
extraordinary　fidelity　and　attachment　　I　insist　upon　your
receiving　this　small　token　of　my　gratitude；　but　don't　imagine
that　I　look　upon　this　as　an　adequate　recompence　for　the　service
you　have　done　me　　I　have　determined　to　settle　thirty　pounds　a…year
upon　you　for　life；　and　I　desire　these　gentlemen　will　bear
witness　to　this　my　intention；　of　which　I　have　a　memorandum　in　my
pocketbook。'　'Lord　make　me　thankful　for　all　these　mercies！　（cried
Clinker；　sobbing）；　I　have　been　a　poor　bankrupt　from　the
beginning　　your　honour's　goodness　found　me；　when　I　was　　naked
when　I　was　　sick　and　forlorn　　I　understand　your　honour's　looks　　I
would　not　give　offence　　but　my　heart　is　very　full　　and　if　your
worship　won't　give　me　leave　to　speak；　　I　must　vent　it　in　prayers
to　heaven　for　my　benefactor。'　When　he　quitted　the　room；　Lismahago
said；　he　should　have　a　much　better　opinion　of　his　honesty；　if　he
did　not　whine　and　cant　so　abominably；　but　that　he　had　always
observed　those　weeping　and　praying　fellows　were　hypocrites　at
bottom。　Mr　Bramble　made　no　reply　to　this　sarcastic　remark；
proceeding　from　the　lieutenant's　resentment　of　Clinker　having；　in
pure　simplicity　of　heart；　ranked　him　with　M'Alpine　and　the
sinners　of　the　earth　　The　landlord　being　called　to　receive　some
orders　about　the　beds；　told　the　'squire　that　his　house　was　very
much　at　his　service；　but　he　was　sure　he　should　not　have　the
honour　to　lodge　him　and　his　company。　He　gave　us　to　understand
that　his　master　who　lived　hard　by；　would　not　suffer　us　to　be　at　a
public　house；　when　there　was　accommodation　for　us　at　his　own；　and
that；　if　he　had　not　dined　abroad　in　the　neighbourhood　he　would
have　undoubtedly　come　to　offer　his　services　at　our　first　arrival。
He　then　launched　out　in　praise　of　that　gentleman；　whom　he　had
served　as　butler；　representing　him　as　a　perfect　miracle　of
goodness　and　generosity。　He　said　he　was　a　person　of　great
learning；　and　allowed　to　be　the　best　farmer　in　the　country：　　that
he　had　a　lady　who　was　as　much　beloved　as　himself；　and　an　only
son；　a　very　hopeful　young　gentleman；　just　recovered　from　a
dangerous　fever；　which　had　like　to　have　proved　fatal　to　the　whole
family；　for；　if　the　son　had　died；　he　was　sure　the　parents　would
not　have　survived　their　loss　　He　had　not　yet　finished　the
encomium　of　Mr　Dennison；　when　this　gentleman　arrived　in　a　post…chaise；
and　his　appearance　seemed　to　justify　all　that　had　been
said　in　his　favour。　He　is　pretty　well　advanced　in　years；　but
hale；　robust；　and　florid；　with　an　ingenuous　countenance；
expressive　of　good　sense　and　humanity。　Having　condoled　with　us　on
the　accident　which　had　happened；　he　said　he　was　come　to　conduct
us　to　his　habitation；　where　we　should　be　less　incommoded　than　at
such　a　paultry　inn；　and　expressed　his　hope　that　the　ladies　would
not　be　the　worse　for　going　thither　in　his　carriage；　as　the
distance　was　not　above　a　quarter　of　a　mile。　My　uncle　having　made
a　proper　return　to　this　courteous　exhibition；　eyed　him
attentively；　and　then　asked　if　he　had　not　been　at　Oxford；　a
commoner　of　Queen's　college？　When　Mr　Dennison　answered；　'Yes；'
with　some　marks　of　surprise　　'Look　at　me　then　（said　our　squire）
and　let　us　see　if　you　can　recollect　the　features　of　an　old
friend；　whom　you　have　not　seen　these　forty　years。'　　The
gentleman；　taking　him　by　the　hand；　and　gazing　at　him　earnestly；　
'I　protest　（cried　he）；　I　do　think　I　recall　the　idea　of　Matthew
Loyd　of　Glamorganshire；　who　was　student　of　Jesus。'　'Well
remembered；　my　dear　friend；　Charles　Dennison　（exclaimed　my　uncle；
pressing　him　to　his　breast）；　I　am　that　very　identical　Matthew
Loyd　of　Glamorgan。'　Clinker；　who　had　just　entered　the　room　with
some　coals　for　the　fire；　no　sooner　heard　these　words；　than
throwing　down　the　scuttle　on　the　toes　of　Lismahag