the expedition of humphry clinker-第14部分
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seems to have intended for better purposes。
About a dozen years ago； many decent families； restricted to
small fortunes； besides those that came hither on the score of
health； were tempted to settle at Bath； where they could then
live comfortably； and even make a genteel appearance； at a small
expence： but the madness of the times has made the place too hot
for them； and they are now obliged to think of other migrations
Some have already fled to the mountains of Wales； and others have
retired to Exeter。 Thither； no doubt； they will be followed by
the flood of luxury and extravagance； which will drive them from
place to place to the very Land's End； and there； I suppose； they
will be obliged to ship themselves to some other country。 Bath is
become a mere sink of profligacy and extortion。 Every article of
house…keeping is raised to an enormous price； a circumstance no
longer to be wondered at； when we know that every petty retainer
of fortune piques himself upon keeping a table； and thinks it is
for the honour of his character to wink at the knavery of his
servants； who are in a confederacy with the market…people； and；
of consequence； pay whatever they demand。 Here is now a mushroom
of opulence； who pays a cook seventy guineas a week for
furnishing him with one meal a day。 This portentous frenzy is
become so contagious； that the very rabble and refuse of mankind
are infected。 I have known a negro…driver； from Jamaica； pay
over…night； to the master of one of the rooms； sixty…five guineas
for tea and coffee to the company； and leave Bath next morning；
in such obscurity； that not one of his guests had the slightest
idea of his person； or even made the least inquiry about his
name。 Incidents of this kind are frequent； and every day teems
with fresh absurdities； which are too gross to make a thinking
man merry。
But I feel the spleen creeping on me apace； and therefore will
indulge you with a cessation； that you may have no unnecessary
cause to curse your correspondence with；
Dear Dick；
Yours ever；
MAT。 BRAMBLE
BATH； May 5。
To Miss LAETITIA WILLIS； at Gloucester。
MY DEAR LETTY；
I wrote you at great length by the post； the twenty…sixth of last
month； to which I refer you for an account of our proceedings at
Bath； and I expect your answer with impatience。 But； having this
opportunity of a private hand； I send you two dozen of Bath
rings； six of the best of which I desire you will keep for
yourself； and distribute the rest among the young ladies； our
common friends； as you shall think proper I don't know how you
will approve of the mottoes； some of them are not much to my own
liking； but I was obliged to take such as I could find ready
manufactured I am vexed； that neither you nor I have received
any further information of a certain person Sure it cannot be
wilful neglect！ O my dear Willis！ I begin to be visited by
strange fancies； and to have some melancholy doubts； which；
however； it would be ungenerous to harbour without further
inquiry My uncle； who has made me a present of a very fine set
of garnets； talks of treating us with a jaunt to London； which；
you may imagine； will be highly agreeable； but I like Bath so
well； that I hope he won't think of leaving it till the season is
quite over； and yet； betwixt friends； something has happened to
my aunt； which will probably shorten our stay in this place。
Yesterday； in the forenoon； she went by herself to a breakfasting
in one of the rooms； and； in half an hour； returned in great
agitation； having Chowder along with her in the chair。 I believe
some accident must have happened to that unlucky animal； which is
the great source of all her troubles。 Dear Letty！ what a pity it
is； that a woman of her years and discretion； should place her
affection upon such an ugly； ill…conditioned cur； that snarls and
snaps at every body。 I asked John Thomas； the footman who
attended her； what was the matter？ and he did nothing but grin。 A
famous dog…doctor was sent for； and undertook to cure the
patient； provided he might carry him home to his own house； but
his mistress would not part with him out of her own sight She
ordered the cook to warm cloths； which she applied to his bowels；
with her own hand。 She gave up all thoughts of going to the ball
in the evening； and when Sir Ulic came to drink tea； refused to
be seen； so that he went away to look for another partner。 My
brother Jery whistles and dances。 My uncle sometimes shrugs up
his shoulders； and sometimes bursts out a…laughing。 My aunt sobs
and scolds by turns； and her woman； Win。 Jenkins； stares and
wonders with a foolish face of curiosity； and； for my part； I am
as curious as she； but ashamed to ask questions。
Perhaps time will discover the mystery； for if it was any thing
that happened in the Rooms； it cannot be long concealed All I
know is； that last night at supper； miss Bramble spoke very
disdainfully of Sir Ulic Mackilligut； and asked her brother if he
intended to keep us sweltering all the summer at Bath？ 'No；
sister Tabitha （said he； with an arch smile） we shall retreat
before the Dog…days begin； though I make no doubt； that with a
little temperance and discretion； our constitutions might be kept
cool enough all the year； even at Bath。' As I don't know the
meaning of this insinuation； I won't pretend to make any remarks
upon it at present： hereafter； perhaps； I may be able to explain
it more to your satisfaction In the mean time； I beg you will be
punctual in your correspondence； and continue to love your ever
faithful
LYDIA MELFORD
BATH； May 6。
To Sir WATKIN PHILLIPS； of Jesus college； Oxon。
So then Mrs Blackerby's affair has proved a false alarm； and I
have saved my money？ I wish； however； her declaration had not
been so premature； for though my being thought capable of making
her a mother； might have given me some credit； the reputation of
an intrigue with such a cracked pitcher does me no honour at all
In my last I told you I had hopes of seeing Quin； in his hours of
elevation at the tavern which is the temple of mirth and good
fellowship； where he； as priest of Comus； utters the inspirations
of wit and humour I have had that satisfaction。 I have dined
with his club at the Three Tuns； and had the honour to sit him
out。 At half an hour past eight in the evening； he was carried
home with six good bottles of claret under his belt； and it being
then Friday； he gave orders that he should not be disturbed till
Sunday at noon You must not imagine that this dose had any other
effect upon his conversation； but that of making it more
extravagantly entertaining He had lost the use of his limbs；
indeed； several hours before we parted； but he retained all his
other faculties in perfection； and as he gave vent to every
whimsical idea as it rose； I was really astonished at the
brilliancy of his thoughts； and the force of his expression。 Quin
is a real voluptuary in the articles of eating and drinking； and
so confirmed an epicure； in the common acceptation of the term；
that he cannot put up with ordinary fare。 This is a point of such
importance with him； that he always takes upon himself the charge
of catering； and a man admitted to his mess； is always sure of
eating delicate victuals； and drinking excellent wine He owns
himself addicted to the delights of the stomach； and often jokes
upon his own sensuality； but there is nothing selfish in this
appetite He finds that good chear unites good company；
exhilerates the spirits； opens the heart； banishes all restraint
from conversation； and promotes the happiest purposes of social
life。 But Mr James Quin is not a subject to be discussed in the
compass of one letter； I shall therefore； at present； leave him
to his repose； and call another of a very different complexion。
You desire to have further acquaintance with the person of our
aunt； and promise yourself much entertainment from her connexion
with Sir Ulic Mackilligut： but in this hope you are baulked
already； that connexion is dissolved。 The Irish baronet is an old
hound； that； finding her carrion； has quitted the scent I have
already told you； that Mrs Tabitha Bramble is a maiden of forty…five。
In her person； she is tall； raw…boned； aukward； flat…chested；
and stooping； her complexion is sallow and freckled； her
eyes are not grey； but greenish； like those of a cat； and
generally inflamed； her hair is of a sandy； or rather dusty hue；
her forehead low； her nose long； sharp； and； towards the
extremity； always red in cool weather； her lips skinny； her mouth
extensive； her teeth straggling and loose； of various colours and
conformation； and her long neck shrivelled into a thousand
wrinkles In her temper； she is proud； stiff； vain； imperious；
prying； malicious； greedy； and uncharitable。 In all likelihood；
her natural austerity has been soured by disappointment in love；
for her long celibacy is by no means owing to her dislike of
matrimony： on the contrary； she has left no stone unturned to
avoid the reproachful epithet of old maid。
Before I was born； she had gone such lengths in the way of
flirting with a recruiting officer； that her reputation was a
little singed。 She afterwards made advances to the curate of the
parish； who dropped some distant hints about the next
presentation to the living； which was in her brother's gift； but
finding that was already promised to another； he flew off at a
tangent； and Mrs Tabby； in revenge； found means to deprive him of
his cure。 Her next lover was lieutenant of a man of war； a
relation of the family； who did not understand the refinements of
the passion； and expressed no aversion to grapple with cousin
Tabby in the way of marriage； but before matters could be
properly adjusted； he went out on a cruise； and was killed in an
engagement with a French frigate。 Our aunt； though baffled so
often； did not yet despair。 She layed all her snares for Dr Lewis；
who is the fidus Achates of my uncle。 She even fell sick upon the
occasion； and prevailed with Matt to interpose in her behalf with
his friend； but the Doctor； being a shy cock； would not be caught
with chaff； and flatly rejected the proposal： so that Mrs Tabitha
was content to
