the expedition of humphry clinker-第63部分
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enthusiasm。 As for Jenkins； she affects to take all her
mistress's reveries for gospel。 She has also her heart…heavings
and motions of the spirit； and God forgive me if I think
uncharitably； but all this seems to me to be downright hypocrisy
and deceit Perhaps； indeed； the poor girl imposes on herself
She is generally in a flutter； and is much subject to vapours
Since we came to Scotland； she has seen apparitions； and pretends
to prophesy If I could put faith in all these supernatural
visitations； I should think myself abandoned of grace； for I have
neither seen； heard； nor felt anything of this nature； although I
endeavour to discharge the duties of religion with all the
sincerity； zeal； and devotion； that is in the power of；
Dear Letty；
your ever affectionate；
LYDIA MELFORD
GLASGOW； Sept。 7。
We are so far on our return to Brambleton…hall； and I would fain
hope we shall take Gloucester in our way； in which case I shall
have the inexpressible pleasure of embracing my dear Willis Pray
remember me to my worthy governess。
To Mrs MARY JONES； at Brambleton…hall。
DEAR MARY；
Sunders Macully； the Scotchman； who pushes directly for Vails；
has promised to give it you into your own hand； and therefore I
would not miss the opportunity to let you know as I am still in
the land of the living： and yet I have been on the brink of the
other world since I sent you my last letter。 We went by sea to
another kingdom called Fife； and coming back； had like to have
gone to pot in a storm。 What between the frite and sickness； I
thought I should have brought my heart up； even Mr Clinker was
not his own man for eight and forty hours after we got ashore。 It
was well for some folks that we scaped drownding； for mistress
was very frexious； and seemed but indifferently prepared for a
change； but； thank God； she was soon put in a better frame by the
private exaltations of the reverend Mr Macrocodile。 We
afterwards churned to Starling and Grascow； which are a kiple of
handsome towns； and then we went to a gentleman's house at Loff…Loming；
which is a wonderful sea of fresh water； with a power of
hylands in the midst on't。 They say as how it has n'er a bottom；
and was made by a musician and； truly； I believe it； for it is
not in the coarse of nature。 It has got waves without wind； fish
without fins； and a floating hyland； and one of them is a crutch…yard；
where the dead are buried； and always before the person
dies； a bell rings of itself to give warning。
O Mary！ this is the land of congyration The bell knolled when we
were there I saw lights； and heard lamentations。 The gentleman；
our landlord； has got another house； which he was fain to quit；
on account of a mischievous ghost； that would not suffer people
to lie in their beds。 The fairies dwell in a hole of Kairmann； a
mounting hard by； and they steal away the good women that are in
the straw； if so be as how there a'n't a horshoe nailed to the
door： and I was shewn an ould vitch； called Elspath Ringavey；
with a red petticoat； bleared eyes； and a mould of grey bristles
on her sin。 That she mought do me no harm； I crossed her hand
with a taster； and bid her tell my fortune； and she told me such
things descriving Mr Clinker to a hair but it shall ne'er be
said； that I minchioned a word of the matter。 As I was troubled
with fits； she advised me to bathe in the loff； which was holy
water； and so I went in the morning to a private place along with
the house…maid； and we bathed in our birth…day soot； after the
fashion of the country； and behold whilst we dabbled in the loff；
sir George Coon started up with a gun； but we clapt our hands to
our faces； and passed by him to the place where we had left our
smocks A civil gentleman would have turned his head another
way。 My comfit is； he new not which was which； and； as the
saying is； all cats in the dark are grey Whilst we stayed at
Loff…Loming； he and our two squires went three or four days
churning among the wild men of the mountings； a parcel of
selvidges that lie in caves among
the rocks； devour young children； speak Velch； but the vords are
different。 Our ladies would not part with Mr Clinker； because he
is so stout and so pyehouse； that he fears neither man nor
devils； if so be as they don't take him by surprise。 Indeed； he
was once so flurried by an operition； that he had like to have
sounded。 He made believe as if it had been the ould edmiral； but
the old edmiral could not have made his air to stand on end；； and
his teeth to shatter； but he said so in prudence； that the ladies
mought not be afear'd。 Miss Liddy has been puny； and like to go
into a decline I doubt her pore art is too tinder but the
got's…fey has set her on her legs again。 You nows got's…fey is
mother's milk to a Velch woman。 As for mistress； blessed be God；
she ails nothing。 Her stomick is good； and she improves in
grease and godliness； but； for all that； she may have infections
like other people； and I believe； she wouldn't be sorry to be
called your ladyship； whenever sir George thinks proper to ax the
question But； for my part； whatever I may see or hear； not a
praticle shall ever pass the lips of；
Dear Molly；
Your loving friend；
WIN。 JENKINS
GRASCO； Sept。 7。
Remember me； as usual； to Sall。 We are now coming home； though
not the nearest road。 I do suppose； I shall find the kitten a
fine boar at my return。
To Sir WATKIN PHILLIPS； Bart。 at Oxon。
DEAR KNIGHT；
Once more I tread upon English ground； which I like not the worse
for the six weeks' ramble I have made among the woods and
mountains of Caledonia； no offence to the land of cakes； where
bannocks grow upon straw。 I never saw my uncle in such health and
spirits as he now enjoys。 Liddy is perfectly recovered； and Mrs
Tabitha has no reason to complain。 Nevertheless； I believe； she
was； till yesterday； inclined to give the whole Scotch nation to
the devil； as a pack of insensible brutes； upon whom her
accomplishments had been displayed in vain。 At every place where
we halted； did she mount the stage； and flourished her rusty
arms； without being able to make one conquest。 One of her last
essays was against the heart of Sir George Colquhoun； with whom
she fought all the weapons more than twice over。 She was grave
and gay by turns she moralized and methodized she laughed； and
romped； and danced； and sung； and sighed； and ogled； and lisped；
and fluttered； and flattered but all was preaching to the desart。
The baronet； being a well…bred man； carried his civilities as far
as she could in conscience expect； and； if evil tongues are to be
believed； some degrees farther； but he was too much a veteran in
gallantry； as well as in war； to fall into any ambuscade that she
could lay for his affection While we were absent in the
Highlands； she practised also upon the laird of Ladrishmore； and
even gave him the rendezvous in the wood of Drumscailloch； but
the laird had such a reverend care of his own reputation； that he
came attended with the parson of the parish； and nothing passed
but spiritual communication。 After all these miscarriages； our
aunt suddenly recollected lieutenant Lismahago； whom； ever since
our first arrival at Edinburgh； she seemed to have utterly
forgot； but now she expressed her hopes of seeing him at
Dumfries； according to his promise。
We set out from Glasgow by the way of Lanerk； the county…town of
Clydesdale； in the neighbourhood of which； the whole river Clyde；
rushing down a steep rock； forms a very noble and stupendous
cascade。 Next day we were obliged to halt in a small borough；
until the carriage； which had received some damage； should be
repaired； and here we met with an incident which warmly
interested the benevolent spirit of Mr Bramble As we stood at
the window of an inn that fronted the public prison； a person
arrived on horseback； genteelly； tho' plainly； dressed in a blue
frock； with his own hair cut short； and a gold…laced hat upon his
head。 Alighting； and giving his horse to the landlord； he
advanced to an old man who was at work in paving the street； and
accosted him in these words： 'This is hard work for such an old
man as you。' So saying； he took the instrument out of his hand；
and began to thump the pavement。 After a few strokes； 'Have you
never a son （said he） to ease you of this labour？' 'Yes； an
please Your honour （replied the senior）； I have three hopeful
lads； but； at
present； they are out of the way。' 'Honour not me （cried the
stranger）； but more becomes me to honour your grey hairs。 Where
are those sons you talk of？' The ancient paviour said； his eldest
son was a captain in the East Indies； and the youngest had lately
inlisted as a soldier； in hopes of prospering like his brother。
The gentleman desiring to know what was become of the second； he
wiped his eyes； and owned； he had taken upon him his old father's
debts； for which he was now in the prison hard by。
The traveller made three quick steps towards the jail； then
turning short； 'Tell me （said he）； has that unnatural captain
sent you nothing to relieve your distress？' 'Call him not
unnatural （replied the other）； God's blessing be upon him！ he
sent me a great deal of money； but I made a bad use of it； I lost
it by being security for a gentleman that was my landlord； and
was stript of all I had in the world besides。' At that instant a
young man； thrusting out his head and neck between two iron bars
in the prison…window； exclaimed； 'Father！ father！ if my brother
William is in life； that's he！' 'I am！ I am！ （cried the
stranger； clasping the old man in his arms； and shedding a flood
of tears） I am your son Willy； sure enough！' Before the father；
who was quite confounded； could make any return to this
tenderness； a decent old woman bolting out from the door of a
poor habitation； cried； 'Where is my bairn？ where is my dear
Willy？' The captain no sooner beheld her； than he quitted his
father； and ran into her embrace。
I can assure you； my uncle； who saw and heard every thing that
passed； was as much moved as any one of the parties concerned in
this pathetic recognition He sobbed； and wept； and clapped his
hands； and hollowed； and final
