the expedition of humphry clinker- 第3部分

I　have　followed　your　directions　with　some　success；　and　might　have
been　upon　my　legs　by　this　time；　had　the　weather　permitted　me　to
use　my　saddle…horse。　I　rode　out　upon　the　Downs　last　Tuesday；　in
the　forenoon；　when　the　sky；　as　far　as　the　visible　horizon；　was
without　a　cloud；　but　before　I　had　gone　a　full　mile；　I　was
overtaken　instantaneously　by　a　storm　of　rain　that　wet　me　to　the
skin　in　three　minutes　　whence　it　came　the　devil　knows；　but　it
has　laid　me　up　（I　suppose）　for　one　fortnight。　It　makes　me　sick　to
hear　people　talk　of　the　fine　air　upon　Clifton…downs：　How　can　the
air　be　either　agreeable　or　salutary；　where　the　demon　of　vapours
descends　in　a　perpetual　drizzle？　My　confinement　is　the　more
intolerable；　as　I　am　surrounded　with　domestic　vexations。　My　niece
has　had　a　dangerous　fit　of　illness；　occasioned　by　that　cursed
incident　at　Gloucester；　which　I　mentioned　in　my　last。　　She　is　a
poor　good…natured　simpleton；　as　soft　as　butter；　and　as　easily
melted　　not　that　she's　a
fool　　the　girl's　parts　are　not　despicable；　and　her　education
has　not　been　neglected；　that　is　to　say；　she　can　write　and　spell；
and　speak　French；　and　play　upon　the　harpsichord；　then　she　dances
finely；　has　a　good　figure；　and　is　very　well　inclined；　but；　she's
deficient　in　spirit；　and　so　susceptible　　and　so　tender
forsooth！　　truly；　she　has　got　a　languishing　eye；　and　reads
romances。　　Then　there's　her　brother；　'squire　Jery；　a　pert
jackanapes；　full　of　college…petulance　and　self…conceit；　proud　as
a　German　count；　and　as　hot　and　hasty　as　a　Welch　mountaineer。　As
for　that　fantastical　animal；　my　sister　Tabby；　you　are　no　stranger
to　her　qualifications　　I　vow　to　God；　she　is　sometimes　so
intolerable；　that　I　almost　think　she's　the　devil　incarnate　come
to　torment　me　for　my　sins；　and　yet　I　am　conscious　of　no　sins　that
ought　to　entail　such　family…plagues　upon　me　　why　the　devil
should　not　I　shake　off　these　torments　at　once？　I　an't　married　to
Tabby；　thank　Heaven！　nor　did　I　beget　the　other　two：　let　them
choose　another　guardian：　for　my　part　I　an't　in　a　condition　to
take　care　of　myself；　much　less　to　superintend　the　conduct　of
giddy…headed　boys　and　girls。　You　earnestly　desire　to　know　the
particulars　of　our　adventure　at　Gloucester；　which　are　briefly
these；　and　I　hope　they　will　go　no　further：　　Liddy　had　been　so
long　copped　up　in　a　boarding…school；　which；　next　to　a　nunnery；　is
the　worst　kind　of　seminary　that　ever　was　contrived　for　young
women；　that　she　became　as　inflammable　as　touch…wood；　and　going　to
a　play　in　holiday…time；　'sdeath；　I'm　ashamed　to　tell　you！　she
fell　in　love　with　one　of　the　actors　　a　handsome　young　fellow
that　goes　by　the　name　of　Wilson。　The　rascal　soon　perceived　the
impression　he　had　made；　and　managed　matters　so　as　to　see　her　at　a
house　where　she　went　to　drink　tea　with　her　governess。　　This　was
the　beginning　of　a　correspondence；　which　they　kept　up　by　means　of
a　jade　of　a　milliner；　who　made　and　dressed　caps　for　the　girls　at
the　boarding…school。　When　we　arrived　at　Gloucester；　Liddy　came　to
stay　at　lodgings　with　her　aunt；　and　Wilson　bribed　the　maid　to
deliver　a　letter　into　her　own　hands；　but　it　seems　Jery　had
already　acquired　so　much　credit　with　the　maid　（by　what　means　he
best　knows）　that　she　carried　the　letter　to　him；　and　so　the　whole
plot　was　discovered。　The　rash　boy；　without　saying　a　word　of　the
matter　to　me；　went　immediately　in　search　of　Wilson；　and；　I
suppose；　treated　him　with　insolence　enough。　The　theatrical　hero
was　too　far　gone　in　romance　to　brook　such　usage：　he　replied　in
blank　verse；　and　a　formal　challenge　ensued。　They　agreed　to　meet
early　next　morning　and　decide　the　dispute　with　sword　and　pistol。
I　heard　nothing　at　all　of　the　affair；　till　Mr　Morley　came　to　my
bed…side　in　the　morning；　and　told　me　he　was　afraid　my　nephew　was
going　to　fight；　as　he　had　been　overheard　talking　very　loud　and
vehement　with　Wilson　at　the　young　man's　lodgings　the　night
before；　and　afterwards　went　and　bought　powder　and　ball　at　a　shop
in　the　neighbourhood。　I　got　up　immediately；　and　upon　inquiry
found　he　was　just　going　out。　I　begged　Morley　to　knock　up　the
mayor；　that　he　might　interpose　as　a　magistrate；　and　in　the　mean
time　I　hobbled　after　the　squire；　whom　I　saw　at　a　distance　walking
at　a　great　pace　towards　the　city　gate　　in　spite　of　all　my
efforts；　I　could　not　come　up　till　our　two　combatants　had　taken
their　ground；　and　were　priming　their　pistols。　An　old　house
luckily　screened　me　from　their　view；　so　that　I　rushed　upon　them
at　once；　before　I　was　perceived。　They　were　both　confounded；　and
attempted　to　make　their　escape　different　ways；　but　Morley　coming
up　with　constables；　at　that　instant；　took　Wilson　into　custody；
and　Jery　followed　him　quietly　to　the　mayor's　house。　All　this　time
I　was　ignorant　of　what　had　passed　the　preceding　day；　and　neither
of　the　parties　would　discover　a　tittle　of　the　matter。　The　mayor
observed　that　it　was　great　presumption　in　Wilson；　who　was　a
stroller；　to　proceed　to　such　extremities　with　a　gentleman　of
family　and　fortune；　and　threatened　to　commit　him　on　the　vagrant
act。　　The　young　fellow　bustled　up　with　great　spirit；　declaring
he　was　a　gentleman；　and　would　be　treated　as　such；　but　he　refused
to　explain　himself　further。　The　master　of　the　company　being　sent
for；　and　examined；　touching　the　said　Wilson；　said　the　young　man
had　engaged　with　him　at　Birmingham　about　six　months　ago；　but
never　would　take　his　salary；　that　he　had　behaved　so　well　in　his
private　character；　as　to　acquire　the　respect　and　good…will　of　all
his　acquaintance；　and　that　the　public　owned　his　merit　as　an　actor
was　altogether　extraordinary。　　After　all；　I　fancy；　he　will　turn
out　to　be　a　run…away　prentice　from　London。　　The　manager　offered
to　bail　him　for　any　sum；　provided　he　would　give　his　word　and
honour　that　he　would　keep　the　peace；　but　the　young　gentleman　was
on　his　high　ropes；　and　would　by　no　means　lay　himself　under　any
restrictions：　on　the　other　hand；　Hopeful　was　equally
obstinate；　till　at　length　the　mayor　declared；　that　if　they　both
refused　to　be　bound　over；　he　would　immediately　commit　Wilson　as　a
vagrant　to　hard　labour。　I　own　I　was　much　pleased　with　Jery's
behaviour　on　this　occasion：　he　said；　that　rather　than　Mr　Wilson
should　be　treated　in　such　an　ignominious　manner；　he　would　give
his　word　and　honour　to　prosecute　the　affair　no　further　while　they
remained　at　Gloucester　　Wilson　thanked　him　for　his　generous
manner　of　proceeding；　and　was　discharged。　On　our　return　to　our
lodgings；　my　nephew　explained　the　whole　mystery；　and　I　own　I　was
exceedingly　incensed　　Liddy　being　questioned　on　the　subject；
and　very　severely　reproached　by　that　wildcat　my　sister　Tabby；
first　swooned　away；　then　dissolving　in　a　flood　of　tears；
confessed　all　the　particulars　of　the　correspondence；　at　the　same
time　giving　up　three　letters；　which　was　all　she　had　received　from
her　admirer。　The　last；　which　Jery　intercepted；　I　send　you
inclosed；　and　when　you　have　read　it；　I　dare　say　you　won't　wonder
at　the　progress　the　writer　had　made　in　the　heart　of　a　simple
girl；　utterly　unacquainted　with　the　characters　of　mankind。
Thinking　it　was　high　time　to　remove　her　from　such　a　dangerous
connexion；　I　carried　her　off　the　very　next　day　to　Bristol；　but
the　poor　creature　was　so　frightened　and　fluttered；　by　our　threats
and　expostulations；　that　she　fell　sick　the　fourth　day　after　our
arrival　at　Clifton；　and　continued　so　ill　for　a　whole　week；　that
her　life　was　despaired　of。　It　was　not　till　yesterday　that　Dr
Rigge　declared　her　out　of　danger。　You　cannot　imagine　what　I　have
suffered；　partly　from　the　indiscretion　of　this　poor　child；　but
much　more　from　the　fear　of　losing　her　entirely。　This　air　is
intolerably　cold；　and　the　place　quite　solitary　　I　never　go　down
to　the　Well　without　returning　low…spirited；　for　there　I　meet　with
half　a　dozen　poor　emaciated　creatures；　with　ghostly　looks；　in　the
last　stage　of　a　consumption；　who　have　made　shift　to　linger
through　the　winter　like　so　many　exotic　plants　languishing　in　a
hot…house；　but　in　all　appearance；　will　drop　into　their　graves
before　the　sun　has　warmth　enough　to　mitigate　the　rigour　of　this
ungenial　spring。　　If　you　think　the　Bath…water　will　be　of　any
service　to　me；　I　will　go　thither　so　soon　as　my　niece　can　bear　the
motion　of　the　coach。　Tell　Barns　I　am　obliged　to　him　for　his
advice；　but　don't　choose　to　follow　it。　If　Davis　voluntarily
offers　to　give　up　the　farm；　the　other　shall　have　it；　but　I　will
not　begin　at　this　time　of　day　to　distress　my　tenants；　because
they　are　unfortunate；　and　cannot　make　regular　payments：　I　wonder
that　Barns　should　think　me　capable　of　such　oppression　　As　for
Higgins；　the　fellow　is　a　notorious　poacher；　to　be　sure；　and　an
impudent　rascal　to　set　his　snares　in　my　own　paddock；　but；　I
suppose；　he　thought　he　had　some　right　（especially　in　my　absence）
to　partake　of　what　nature　seems　to　have　intended　for　common　use　
you　may　threaten　him　in　my　name；　as　much　as　you　please；　and　if　he
repeats　the　offence；　let　me　know　it　before　you　have　recourse　to
justice。　　I　know　you　are　a　great　sportsman；　and　oblige　many　of
your　friends：　I　need　not　tell　you　to　make　use　of　my　grounds；　but
it　may　be　necessary　to　hint；　that　I　am　more　afraid　of　my　fowling…piece
than　of　my　game。　When　you　can　spare　two　or　three　brace　of
partridges；　send　them　over　by　the　stagecoach；　and　tell　Gwyllim
that　she　forgot　to　pack　up　my　flannel　and　wide　shoes　in　the
trunk…mail　　I　shall　trouble　you　as　usual；　from　time　to　time；
till　at　last　I　suppose　you　will　be　tired　of　corresponding　with

Your　assured　friend；
M。　BRAMBLE
CLIFTON；　April　17。



To　Miss　LYDIA　MELFORD。

Miss　Willis　has　pronounced　my　doom　　you　are　going　away；　dear
Miss　Melford！　　you　are　going　to　be　removed；　I　know　not　whither！
what　shall　I　do？　which　way　shall　I　turn　for　consolation？　I　know
not　what　I　say　　all　night　long　have　I　been　tossed　in　a　sea　of
doubts　and　fears；　uncertainty　and　distraction；　without　being　able
to　connect　my　thoughts；　much　less　to　form　any　consistent　plan　of
conduct　　I　was　even　tempted　to　wish　that　I　had　never　seen　you；
or　that　you　had　been　less　amiable；　or　less　compassionate　to　your
poor　Wilson；　and　yet　it　would　be　detestable　ingratitude　in　me　to
form　such　a　wish；　considering　how　much　I　am　indebted　to　your
goodness；　and　the　ineffable　pleasure　I　have　der