the expedition of humphry clinker-第38部分

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blessing　in　something　more　substantial　than　words　　'Clinker　（said
he）；　I　am　so　well　convinced；　both　of　your　honesty　and　courage；
that　I　am　resolved　to　make　you　my　life…guardman　on　the　highway。'

He　was　accordingly　provided　with　a　case　of　pistols；　and　a　carbine
to　be　flung　a…cross　his　shoulders；　and　every　other　preparation
being　made；　we　set　out　last　Thursday；　at　seven　in　the　morning；　my
uncle；　with　the　three　women　in　the　coach；　Humphry；　well　mounted
on　a　black　gelding　bought　for　his　use；　myself　a…horseback；
attended　by　my　new　valet；　Mr　Dutton；　an　exceeding　coxcomb；　fresh
from　his　travels；　whom　I　have　taken　upon　trial　　The　fellow　wears
a　solitaire；　uses　paint；　and　takes　rappee　with　all　the　grimace　of
a　French　marquis。　At　present；　however；　he　is　in　a　ridingdress；
jack…boots；　leather　breeches；　a　scarlet　waistcoat；　with　gold
binding；　a　laced　hat；　a　hanger；　a　French　posting…whip　in　his
hand；　and　his　hair　en　queue。

Before　we　had　gone　nine　miles；　my　horse　lost　one　of　his　shoes；　so
that　I　was　obliged　to　stop　at　Barnet　to　have　another；　while　the
coach　proceeded　at　an　easy　pace　over　the　common。　About　a　mile
short　of　Hatfield；　the　postilions；　stopping　the　carriage；　gave
notice　to　Clinker　that　there　were　two　suspicious　fellows　a…horseback；
at　the　end　of　a　lane；　who　semed　waiting　to　attack　the
coach。　Humphry　forthwith　apprised　my　uncle；　declaring　he　would
stand　by　him　to　the　last　drop　of　his　blood；　and　unflinging　his
carbine；　prepared　for　action。　The　'squire　had　pistols　in　the
pockets　of　the　coach；　and　resolved　to　make　use　of　them　directly；
but　he　was　effectually　prevented　by　his　female　companions；　who
flung　themselves　about　his　neck；　and　screamed　in　concert　　At　that
instant；　who　should　come　up　at　a　hand…gallop；　but　Martin；　the
highway…man；　who；　advancing　to　the　coach；　begged　the　ladies　would
compose　themselves　for　a　moment　then；　desiring　Clinker　to　follow
him　to　the　charge；　he　pulled　a　pistol　out　of　his　bosom；　and　they
rode　up　together　to　give　battle　to　the　rogues；　who；　having　fired
at　a　great　distance；　fled　across　the　common。　They　were　in　pursuit
of　the　fugitives　when　I　came　up；　not　a　little　alarmed　at　the
shrieks　in　the　coach；　where　I　found　my　uncle　in　a　violent　rage；
without　his　periwig；　struggling　to　disentangle　himself　from　Tabby
and　the　other　two；　and　swearing　with　great　vociferation。　Before　I
had　time　to　interpose；　Martin　and　Clinker　returned　from　the
pursuit；　and　the　former　payed　his　compliments　with　great
politeness；　giving　us　to　understand；　that　the　fellows　had
scampered　off；　and　that　he　believed　they　were　a　couple　of　raw
'prentices　from　London。　He　commended　Clinker　for　his　courage；　and
said；　if　we　would　give　him　leave；　he　would　have　the　honour　to
accompany　us　as　far　as　Stevenage；　where　he　had　some　business。

The　'squire；　having　recollected　and　adjusted　himself；　was　the
first　to　laugh　at　his　own　situation：　but　it　was　not　without
difficulty；　that　Tabby's　arms　could　be　untwisted　from　his　neck；
Liddy's　teeth　chattered；　and　Jenkins　was　threatened　with　a　fit　as
usual。　I　had　communicated　to　my　uncle　the　character　of　Martin；　as
it　was　described　by　the　constable；　and　he　was　much　struck　with
its　singularity　　He　could　not　suppose　the　fellow　had　any　design
on　our　company；　which　was　so　numerous　and　well　armed；　he
therefore　thanked　him；　for　the　service　he　had　just　done　them；
said　he　would　be　glad　of　his　company；　and　asked　him　to　dine　with
us　at　Hatfield。　This　invitation　might　not　have　been　agreeable　to
the　ladies；　had　they　known　the　real　profession　of　our　guest；　but
this　was　a　secret　to　all；　except　my　uncle　and　myself。　Mrs　Tabitha；
however；　would　by　no　means　consent　to　proceed　with　a　case　of
loaded　pistols　in　the　coach；　and　they　were　forthwith　discharged
in　complaisance　to　her　and　the　rest　of　the　women。

Being　gratified　in　this　particular；　she　became　remarkably
goodhumoured；　and　at　dinner　behaved　in　the　most　affable　manner　to
Mr　Martin；　with　whose　polite　address　and　agreeable　conversation
she　seemed　to　be　much　taken。　After　dinner；　the　landlord　accosting
me　in　the　yard；　asked　with　a　significant　look；　if　the　gentleman
that　rode　the　sorrel　belonged　to　our　company？　　I　understand　his
meaning；　but　answered　no；　that　he　had　come　up　with　us　on　the
common；　and　helped　us　to　drive　away　two　fellows；　that　looked　like
highwaymen　　He　nodded　three　times　distinctly；　as　much　as　to　say；
he　knows　his　cue。　Then　he　inquired；　if　one　of　those　men　was
mounted　on　a　bay　mare；　and　the　other　on　a　chestnut　gelding　with　a
white　streak　down　his　forehead？　and　being　answered　in　the
affirmative；　he　assured　me　they　had　robbed　three　post…chaises
this　very　morning　　I　inquired；　in　my　turn；　if　Mr　Martin　was　of
his　acquaintance；　and；　nodding　thrice　again；　he　answered；　that　he
had　seen　the　gentleman。

Before　we　left　Hatfield；　my　uncle；　fixing　his　eyes　on　Martin　with
such　expression　as　is　more　easily　conceived　than　described；
asked；　if　he　often　travelled　that　road？　and　he　replied　with　a
look　which　denoted　his　understanding　the　question；　that　he　very
seldom　did　business　in　that　part　of　the　country。　In　a　word；　this
adventurer　favoured　us　with　his　company　to　the　neighbourhood　of
Stevenage；　where　he　took　his　leave　of　the　coach　and　me；　in　very
polite　terms；　and　turned　off　upon　a　crossroad；　that　led　to　a
village　on　the　left　　At　supper；　Mrs　Tabby　was　very　full　in　the
praise　of　Mr　Martin's　good…sense　and　good…breeding；　and　seemed　to
regret　that　she　had　not　a　further　opportunity　to　make　some
experiment　upon　his　affection。　In　the　morning；　my　uncle　was　not　a
little　surprised　to　receive；　from　the　waiter　a　billet　couched　in
these　words　


'SIR；

I　could　easily　perceive　from　your　looks；　when　I　had　the　honour　to
converse　with　you　at　Hatfield；　that　my　character　is　not　unknown
to　you；　and；　I　dare　say　you　won't　think　it　strange；　that　I　should
be　glad　to　change　my　present　way　of　life；　for　any　other　honest
occupation；　let　it　be　ever　so　humble；　that　will　afford　me　bread
in　moderation；　and　sleep　in　safety　　Perhaps　you　may　think　I
flatter；　when　I　say；　that　from　the　moment　I　was　witness　to　your
generous　concern　in　the　cause　of　your　servant；　I　conceived　a
particular　esteem　and　veneration　for　your　person；　and　yet　what　I
say　is　true。　I　should　think　myself　happy；　if　I　could　be　admitted
into　your　protection　and　service；　as　house…steward；　clerk；
butler；　or　bailiff；　for　either　of　which　places　I　think　myself
tolerably　well　qualified；　and；　sure　I　am；　I　should　not　be　found
deficient　in　gratitude　and　fidelity　　At　the　same　time；　I　am　very
sensible　how　much　you　must　deviate　from　the　common　maxims　of
discretion；　even　in　putting　my　professions　to　the　trial；　but　I
don't　look　upon　you　as　a　person　that　thinks　in　the　ordinary
stile；　and　the　delicacy　of　my　situation；　will；　I　know；　justify
this　address　to　a　heart　warmed　with　beneficence　and　compassion　
Understanding　you　are　going　pretty　far　north；　I　shall　take　an
opportunity　to　throw　myself　in　your　way　again；　before　you　reach
the　borders　of　Scotland；　and；　I　hope；　by　that　time；　you　will　have
taken　into　consideration；　the　truly　distressful　case　of；

honoured　sir；
your　very　humble；　and　devoted　servant；
EDWARD　MARTIN'

The　'squire；　having　perused　this　letter；　put　it　into　my　hand；
without　saying　a　syllable；　and　when　I　had　read　it　we　looked　at
each　other　in　silence。　From　a　certain　sparkling　in　his　eyes；　I
discovered　there　was　more　in　his　heart；　than　he　cared　to　express
with　his　tongue；　in　favour　of　poor　Martin；　and　this　was　precisely
my　own　feeling；　which　he　did　not　fail　to　discern；　by　the　same
means　of　communication　　'What　shall　we　do　（said　he）　to　save　this
poor　sinner　from　the　gallows；　and　make　him　a　useful　member　of　the
commonwealth；　and　yet　the　proverb　says；　Save　a　thief　from　the
gallows；　and　he'll　cut　your　throat。'　I　told　him　I　really　believed
Martin　was　capable　of　giving　the　proverb　the　lie；　and　that　I
should　heartily　concur　in　any　step　he　might　take　in　favour　of　his
solicitation。　We　mutually　resolved　to　deliberate　upon　the
subject；　and；　in　the　mean　time；　proceeded　on　our　journey。　The
roads；　having　been　broken　up　by　the　heavy　rains　in　the　spring；
were　so　rough；　that　although　we　travelled　very　slowly；　the
jolting　occasioned　such　pain；　to　my　uncle；　that　he　was　become
exceedingly　peevish　when　we　arrived　at　this　place；　which　lies
about　eight　miles　from　the　postroad；　between　Wetherby　and
Boroughbridge。

Harrigate…water；　so　celebrated　for　its　efficacy　in　the　scurvy　and
other　distempers；　is　supplied　from　a　copious　spring；　in　the
hollow　of　a　wild　common；　round　which；　a　good　many　houses　have
been　built　for　the　convenience　of　the　drinkers；　though　few　of
them　are　inhabited。　Most　of　the　company　lodge　at　some　distance；
in　five　separate　inns；　situated　in　different　parts　of　the
commons；　from　whence　they　go　every　morning　to　the　well；　in　their
own　carriages。　The　lodgers　of　each　inn　form　a　distinct　society；
that　eat　together；　and　there　is　a　commodious　public　room；　where
they　breakfast　in　disabille；　at　separate　tables；　from　eight
o'clock　till　eleven；　as　they　chance　or　chuse　to　come　in　　Here
also　they　drink　tea　in　the　afternoon；　and　play　at　cards　or　dance
in　the　evening。　One　custom；　however；　prevails；　which　I　looked
upon　as　a　solecism　in　politeness。　The　ladies　treat　with　tea　in
their　turns；　and　even　girls　of　sixteen　are　not　exempted　from　this
shameful　imposition　　There　is　a　public　ball　by　subscription　every
night　at　one　of　the　houses；　to　which　all　the　company　from　the
others　are　admitted　by　tickets；　and；　indeed；　Harrigate　treads
upon　the　heels　of　Bath；　in　the　articles　of　gaiety　and
dissipation　　with　this　difference；　however；　that　here　we　are　more
sociable　and　familiar。　One　of　the　inns　is　already　full　up　to　the
very　garrets；　having　no　less　than　fifty　lodgers；　and　as　many
servants。　Our　family　does　not　exceed　thirty…six；　and　I　should　be
sorry　to　see　the　number　augmented；　as　our　accommodations　won't
admit　of　much　increase。

At　present；　the　company　is　more　agreeable　than　one　could　expect
from　an　accidental　assemblage　of　persons；　who　are　utter　strangers
to　one　another　　There　seems　to　be　a　general　disposition　among　us
to　maintain　good…fellowship；　and　promote　the　purposes　of
humanity；　in　favour　of　those　who　come　hither　on　the　score　of
health。　I