the expedition of humphry clinker-第34部分

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of　Barton；　and　that　in　all　likelihood　my　lady　Griskin　acted　as
her　auxiliary：　that　this　supposition　would　account　for　their
endeavours　to　convert　him　to　methodism；　an　event　which　would
occasion　a　connexion　of　souls　that　might　be　easily　improved　into
a　matrimonial　union。

My　uncle　seemed　to　be　much　diverted　by　the　thoughts　of　this
Scheme's　succeeding；　but　I　gave　him　to　understand；　that　Barton
was　pre…engaged：　that　he　had　the　day　before　made　a　present　of　an
etuis　to　Liddy；　which　her　aunt　had　obliged　her　to　receive；　with　a
view；　no　doubt；　to　countenance　her　own　accepting　of　a　snuff…box
at　the　same　time；　that　my　sister　having　made　me　acquainted　with
this　incident；　I　had　desired　an　explanation　of　Mr　Barton；　who
declared　his　intentions　were　honourable；　and　expressed　his　hope
that　I　would　have　no　objections　to　his　alliance；　that　I　had
thanked　him　for　the　honour　he　intended　our　family；　but　told
him；　it　would　be　necessary　to　consult　her　uncle　and　aunt；　who
were　her　guardians；　and　their　approbation　being　obtained；　I
could　have　no　objection　to　his　proposal；　though　I　was　persuaded
that　no　violence　would　be　offered　to　my　sister's　inclinations；　in
a　transaction　that　so　nearly　interested　the　happiness　of　her
future　life：　that　he　had　assured　me；　he　should　never　think　of
availing　himself　of　a　guardian's　authority；　unless　he　could
render　his　addresses　agreeable　to　the　young　lady　herself；　and
that　he　would　immediately　demand　permission　of　Mr　and　Mrs
Bramble；　to　make　Liddy　a　tender　of　his　hand　and　fortune。

The　squire　was　not　insensible　to　the　advantages　of　such　a　match；
and　declared　he　would　promote　it　with　all　his　influence；　but　when
I　took　notice　that　there　seemed　to　be　an　aversion　on　the　side　of
Liddy；　he　said　he　would　sound　her　on　the　subject；　and　if　her
reluctance　was　such　as　would　not　be　easily　overcome；　he　would
civilly　decline　the　proposal　of　Mr　Barton；　for　he　thought　that；
in　the　choice　of　a　husband　a　young　woman　ought　not　to　sacrifice
the　feelings　of　her　heart　for　any　consideration　upon　earth　
'Liddy　is　not　so　desperate　（said　he）　as　to　worship　fortune　at
such　an　expence。'

I　take　it　for　granted；　this　whole　affair　will　end　in　smoke；
though　there　seems　to　be　a　storm　brewing　in　the　quarter　of　Mrs
Tabby；　who　sat　with　all　the　sullen　dignity　of　silence　at　dinner；
seemingly　pregnant　with　complaint　and　expostulation。　As　she　had
certainly　marked　Barton　for　her　own　prey；　she　cannot　possibly
favour　his　suit　to　Liddy；　and　therefore　I　expect　something
extraordinary　will　attend　his　declaring　himself　my　sister's
admirer。　This　declaration　will　certainly　be　made　in　form；　as　soon
as　the　lover　can　pick　up　resolution　enough　to　stand　the　brunt　of
Mrs　Tabby's　disappointment；　for　he　is；　without　doubt；　aware　of
her　designs　upon　his　person　　The　particulars　of　the　denouement
you　shall　know　in　due　season：　mean　while　I　am

Always　yours；
J。　MELFORD
LONDON；　June　10。



To　Dr　LEWIS。

DEAR　LEWIS；

The　deceitful　calm　was　of　short　duration。　I　am　plunged　again　in　a
sea　of　vexation；　and　the　complaints　in　my　stomach　and　bowels　are
returned；　so　that　I　suppose　I　shall　be　disabled　from　prosecuting
the　excursion　I　had　planned　　What　the　devil　had　I　to　do；　to　come
a　plague　hunting　with　a　leash　of　females　in　my　train？　Yesterday
my　precious　sister　（who；　by　the　bye；　has　been　for　some　time　a
professed　methodist）　came　into　my　apartment；　attended　by　Mr
Barton；　and　desired　an　audience　with　a　very　stately　air　　'Brother
（said　she）；　this　gentleman　has　something　to　propose；　which　I
flatter　myself　will　be　the　more　acceptable；　as　it　will　rid　you　of
a　troublesome　companion。'　Then　Mr　Barton　proceeded　to　this　effect
　'I　am；　indeed；　extremely　ambitious　of　being　allied　to　your
family；　Mr　Bramble；　and　I　hope　you　will　see　no　cause　to　interpose
your　authority。'　'As　for　authority　（said　Tabby；　interrupting　him
with　some　warmth）；　I　know　of　none　that　he　has　a　right　to　use　on
this　occasion　　If　I　pay　him　the　compliment　of　making　him
acquainted　with　the　step　I　intend　to　take；　it　is　all　he　can
expect　in　reason　　This　is　as　much　as　I　believe　he　would　do　by　me；
if　he　intended　to　change　his　own　situation　in　life　　In　a　word；
brother；　I　am　so　sensible　of　Mr　Barton's　extra　ordinary　merit；
that　I　have　been　prevailed　upon　to　alter　my　resolution　of　living
a　single　life；　and　to　put　my　happiness　in　his　hands；　by　vesting
him　with　a　legal　title　to　my　person　and　fortune；　such　as　they
are。　The　business　at　present；　is　to　have　the　writings　drawn；　and
I　shall　be　obliged　to　you；　if　you　will　recommend　a　lawyer　to　me
for　that　purpose'

You　may　guess　what　an　effect　this　overture　had　upon　me；　who；　from
the　information　of　my　nephew；　expected　that　Barton　was　to　make　a
formal　declaration　of　his　passion　for　Liddy；　I　could　not　help
gazing　in　silent　astonishment；　alternately　at　Tabby；　and　her
supposed　admirer；　who　last　hung　his　head　in　the　most　aukward
confusion　for　a　few　minutes；　and　then　retired　on　pretence　of
being　suddenly　seized　with　a　vertigo　　Mrs　Tabitha　affected　much
concern；　and　would　have　had　him　make　use　of　a　bed　in　the　house；
but　he　insisted　upon　going　home；　that　he　might　have　recourse　of
some　drops；　which　he　kept　for　such　emergencies；　and　his
innamorata　acquiesced　　In　the　mean　time　I　was　exceedingly　puzzled
at　this　adventure　（though　I　suspected　the　truth）　and　did　not　know
in　what　manner　to　demean　myself　towards　Mrs　Tabitha；　when　Jery
came　in　and　told　me；　he　had　just　seen　Mr　Barton　alight　from　his
chariot　at　lady　Griskin's　door　　This　incident　seemed　to　threaten
a　visit　from　her　ladyship；　with　which　we　were　honoured
accordingly；　in　less　than　half　an　hour　　'I　find　（said　she）　there
has　been　a　match　of　cross　purposes　among　you　good　folks；　and　I'm
come　to　set　you　to　rights'　　So　saying；　she　presented　me　with　the
following　billet

'DEAR　SIR；

I　no　sooner　recollected　myself　from　the　extreme　confusion　I　was
thrown　into；　by　that　unlucky　mistake　of　your　sister；　than　I
thought　it　my　duty　to　assure　you；　that　my　devoirs　to　Mrs　Bramble
never　exceeded　the　bounds　of　ordinary　civility；　and　that　my　heart
is　unalterably　fixed　upon　Miss　Liddy　Melford；　as　I　had　the　honour
to　declare　to　her　brother；　when　he　questioned　me　upon　that
subject　　Lady　Griskin　has　been　so　good　as　to　charge　herself；　not
only　with　the　delivery　of　this　note；　but　also　with　the　task　of
undeceiving　Mrs　Bramble；　for　whom　I　have　the　most　profound
respect　and　veneration；　though　my　affection　being　otherwise
engaged　is　no　longer　in　the　power　of

Sir；
Your　very　humble　servant；
RALPH　BARTON。'

Having　cast　my　eyes　over　this　billet；　I　told　her　ladyship；　that　I
would　no　longer　retard　the　friendly　office　she　had　undertaken：
and　I　and　Jery　forthwith　retired　into　another　room。　There　we　soon
perceived　the　conversation　grow　very　warm　betwixt　the　two　ladies；
and；　at　length；　could　distinctly　hear　certain　terms　of
altercation；　which　we　could　no　longer　delay　interrupting；　with
any　regard　to　decorum。　When　we　entered　the　scene　of　contention；
we　found　Liddy　had　joined　the　disputants；　and　stood　trembling
betwixt　them；　as　if　she　had　been　afraid　they　would　have　proceeded
to　something　more　practical　than　words。　Lady　Griskin's　face　was
like　the　full　moon　in　a　storm　of　wind；　glaring；　fiery；　and
portentous；　while　Tabby　looked　grim　and　ghastly；　with　an　aspect
breathing　discord　and　dismay。　　Our　appearance　put　a　stop　to　their
mutual　revilings；　but　her　ladyship　turning　to　me；　'Cousin　（said
she）　I　can't　help　saying　I　have　met　with　a　very　ungrateful　return
from　this　lady；　for　the　pains　I　have　taken　to　serve　her　family'　
'My　family　is　much　obliged　to　your　ladyship　（cried　Tabby；　with　a
kind　of　hysterical　giggle）；　but　we　have　no　right　to　the　good
offices　of　such　an　honourable　go…between。'　'But；　for　all　that；
good　Mrs　Tabitha　Bramble　（resumed　the　other）；　I　shall　be　content
with　the　reflection；　That　virtue　is　its　own　reward；　and　it　shall
not　be　my　fault；　if　you　continue　to　make　yourself　ridiculous　　Mr
Bramble；　who　has　no　little　interest　of　his　own　to　serve；　will；　no
doubt；　contribute　all　in　his　power　to　promote　a　match　betwixt　Mr
Barton　and　his　niece；　which　will　be　equally　honourable　and
advantageous；　and；　I　dare　say；　Miss　Liddy　herself　will　have　no
objection　to　a　measure　so　well　calculated　to　make　her　happy　in
life'　　'I　beg　your　ladyship's　pardon　（exclaimed　Liddy；　with　great
vivacity）　I　have　nothing　but　misery　to　expect　from　such　a
measure；　and　I　hope　my　guardians　will　have　too　much　compassion；
to　barter　my　peace　of　mind　for　any　consideration　of　interest　or
fortune'　　'Upon　my　word；　Miss　Liddy！　（said　she）　you　have　profited
by　the　example　of　your　good　aunt　　I　comprehend　your　meaning；　and
will　explain　it　when　I　have　a　proper　opportunity　　In　the　mean
time；　I　shall　take　my　leave　　Madam；　your　most　obedient；　and
devoted　humble　servant；'　said　she；　advancing　close　up　to　my
sister；　and　curtsying　so　low；　that　I　thought　she　intended　to
squat　herself　down　on　the　floor　　This　salutation　Tabby　returned
with　equal　solemnity；　and　the　expression　of　the　two　faces；　while
they　continued　in　this　attitude；　would　be　no　bad　subject　for　a
pencil　like　that　of　the　incomparable　Hogarth；　if　any　such　should
ever　appear　again；　in　these　times　of　dullness　and　degeneracy。

Jery　accompanied　her　ladyship　to　her　house；　that　he　might　have　an
opportunity　to　restore　the　etuis　to　Barton；　and　advise　him　to
give　up　his　suit；　which　was　so　disagreeable　to　his　sister；
against　whom；　however；　he　returned　much　irritated　　Lady　Griskin
had　assured　him　that　Liddy's　heart　was　pre…occupied；　and
immediately　the　idea　of　Wilson　recurring　to　his　imagination；　his
family…pride　took　the　alarm。　He　denounced　vengeance　against　the
adventurer；　and　was　disposed　to　be　very　peremptory　with　his
sister；　but　I　desired　he　would　suppress　his　resentment；　until　I
should　have　talked　with　her　in　private。

The　poor　girl；　when　I　earnestly　pressed　her　on　this　head；　owned
with　a　flood　of　tears；　that　Wilson　had　actually　come　to　the　Hot
Well　at　Bristol；　and　even　introduced　himself　into　our　lodgings　as
a　Jew　pedlar；　but　that　nothing　had　passed　betwixt　them；　further
than　her　begging　him　to　withdraw　immediately；　if　he　had　any
regard　for　her　peace　of　mind：　that　he　had　disappeared
accordingly；　after　having　attempted　to　prevail　upon　my