the expedition of humphry clinker-第77部分
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some coals for the fire； no sooner heard these words； than
throwing down the scuttle on the toes of Lismahago； he began to
caper as if he was mad； crying 'Matthew Loyd of Glamorgan！ O
Providence！ Matthew Loyd of Glamorgan！' Then； clasping my
uncle's knees； he went on in this manner 'Your worship must
forgive me Matthew Loyd of Glamorgan！ O Lord； Sir！ I can't
contain myself！ I shall lose my senses' 'Nay； thou hast lost
them already； I believe （said the 'squire； peevishly）； prithee；
Clinker； be quiet What is the matter？' Humphry； fumbling in his
bosom； pulled out an old wooden snuff…box； which he presented in
great trepidation to his master； who； opening it immediately；
perceived a small cornelian seal； and two scraps of paper At
sight of these articles he started； and changed colour； and
casting his eye upon the inscriptions 'Ha！ how！ what！ where
（cried he） is the person here named？' Clinker； knocking his own
breast； could hardly pronounce these words 'Here here here is
Matthew Loyd； as the certificate sheweth Humphry Clinker was the
name of the farrier that took me 'prentice' 'And who gave you
these tokens？' said my uncle hastily 'My poor mother on her
death…bed' replied the other 'And who was your mother？'
'Dorothy Twyford； an please your honour； heretofore bar…keeper at
the Angel at Chippenham。' 'And why were not these tokens
produced before？' 'My mother told me she had wrote to
Glamorganshire； at the time of my birth； but had no answer； and
that afterwards； when she made enquiry； there was no such person
in that county。' 'And so in consequence of my changing my name
and going abroad at that very time； thy poor mother and thou have
been left to want and misery I am really shocked at the
consequence of my own folly。' Then； laying his hand on Clinker's
head； he added； 'Stand forth； Matthew Loyd You see； gentlemen；
how the sins of my youth rise up in judgment against me Here is
my direction written with my own hand； and a seal which I left at
the woman's request； and this is a certificate of the child's
baptism； signed by the curate of the parish。' The company were
not a little surprised at this discovery； upon which Mr Dennison
facetiously congratulated both the father and the son： for my
part； I shook my new…found cousin heartily by the hand； and
Lismahago complimented him with the tears in his eyes； for he had
been hopping about the room； swearing in broad Scotch； and
bellowing with the pain occasioned by the fall of the coalscuttle
upon his foot。 He had even vowed to drive the saul out of the
body of that mad rascal： but； perceiving the unexpected turn
which things had taken； he wished him joy of his good fortune；
observing that it went very near his heart； as he was like to be
a great toe out of pocket by the discovery Mr Dennison now
desired to know for what reason my uncle had changed the name by
which he knew him at Oxford； and our 'squire satisfied him； by
answering to this effect 'I took my mother's name； which was
Loyd； as heir to her lands in Glamorganshire； but when I came of
age； I sold that property； in order to clear my paternal estate；
and resumed my real name； so that I am now Matthew Bramble of
Brambleton…hall in Monmouthshire； at your service； and this is my
nephew； Jeremy Melford of Belfield； in the county of Glamorgan。'
At that instant the ladies entering the room； he presented Mrs
Tabitha as his sister； and Liddy as his niece。 The old gentleman
saluted them very cordially； and seemed struck with the
appearance of my sister； whom he could not help surveying with a
mixture of
complacency and surprize 'Sister （said my uncle）； there is a
poor relation that recommends himself to your good graces The
quondam Humphry Clinker is metamorphosed into Matthew Loyd； and
claims the honour of being your carnal kinsman in short； the
rogue proves to be a crab of my own planting in the days of hot
blood and unrestrained libertinism。' Clinker had by this time
dropt upon one knee； by the side of Mrs Tabitha； who； eyeing him
askance； and flirting her fan with marks of agitation； thought
proper； after some conflict； to hold out her hand for him to
kiss； saying； with a demure aspect； 'Brother； you have been very
wicked： but I hope you'll live to see the folly of your ways I
am very sorry to say the young man； whom you have this day
acknowledged； has more grace and religion； by the gift of God；
than you with all your profane learning； and repeated
opportunity I do think he has got the trick of the eye； and the
tip of the nose of my uncle Loyd of Flluydwellyn； and as for the
long chin； it is the very moral of the governor's Brother； as
you have changed his name pray change his dress also； that livery
doth not become any person that hath got our blood in his
veins。' Liddy seemed much pleased with this acquisition to the
family。 She took him by the hand； declaring she should always be
proud to own her connexion with a virtuous young man； who had
given so many proofs of his gratitude and affection to her
uncle。 Mrs。 Winifred Jenkins； extremely fluttered between her
surprize at this discovery； and the apprehension of losing her
sweet…heart； exclaimed in a giggling tone； 'I wish you joy Mr
Clinker Floyd I would say hi； hi； hi！ you'll be so proud you
won't look at your poor fellow servants； oh； oh； oh！' Honest
Clinker owned he was overjoyed at his good fortune； which was
greater than he deserved 'But wherefore should I be proud？ （said
he） a poor object conceived in sin； and brought forth in
iniquity； nursed in a parish workhouse； and bred in a smithy。
Whenever I seem proud； Mrs Jenkins； I beg of you to put me in
mind of the condition I was in； when I first saw you between
Chippenham and Marlborough。'
When this momentous affair was discussed to the satisfaction of
all parties concerned； the weather being dry； the ladies declined
the carriage； so that we walked all together to Mr Dennison's
house； where we found the tea ready prepared by his lady； an
amiable matron； who received us with all the benevolence of
hospitality。 The house is old fashioned and irregular； but
lodgeable and commodious。 To the south it has the river in front；
at the distance of a hundred paces； and on the north； there is a
rising ground covered with an agreeable plantation； the greens
and walks are kept in the nicest order； and all is rural and
romantic。 I have not yet seen the young gentleman； who is on a
visit to a friend in the neighbourhood； from whose house he is
not expected 'till to…morrow。
In the mean time； as there is a man going to the next market town
with letters for the post； I take this opportunity to send you
the history of this day； which has been remarkably full of
adventures； and you will own I give you them like a beef…steak at
Dolly's； hot and hot； without ceremony and parade； just as they
come from the recollection of
Yours；
J。 MELFORD
To Dr LEWIS。
DEAR DICK；
Since the last trouble I gave you； I have met with a variety of
incidents； some of them of a singular nature； which I reserve as
a fund for conversation； but there are others so interesting；
that they will not keep in petto till meeting。
Know then； it was a thousand pounds to a sixpence； that you
should now be executing my will； instead of perusing my letter！
Two days ago； our coach was overturned in the midst of a rapid
river； where my life was saved with the utmost difficulty； by the
courage； activity； and presence of mind of my servant Humphry
Clinker But this is not the most surprising circumstance of the
adventure The said Humphry Clinker proves to be Matthew Loyd；
natural son of one Matthew Loyd of Glamorgan； if you know any
such person You see； Doctor； that notwithstanding all your
philosophy； it is not without some reason that the Welchmen
ascribe such energy to the force of blood But we shall discuss
this point on some future occasion。
This is not the only discovery which I made in consequence of our
disaster We happened to be wrecked upon a friendly shore The
lord of the manor is no other than Charles Dennison； our fellow…rake
at Oxford We are now happily housed with that gentleman；
who has really attained to that pitch of rural felicity； at which
I have been aspiring these twenty years in vain。 He is blessed
with a consort； whose disposition is suited to his own in all
respects； tender； generous； and benevolent She； moreover；
possesses an uncommon share of understanding； fortitude； and
discretion； and is admirably qualified to be his companion；
confidant； counsellor； and coadjutrix。 These excellent persons
have an only son； about nineteen years of age； just such a youth
as they could have wished that Heaven would bestow to fill up the
measure of their enjoyment In a word； they know no other allay
to their happiness； but their apprehension and anxiety about the
life and concerns of this beloved object。
Our old friend； who had the misfortune to be a second brother；
was bred to the law； and even called to the bar； but he did not
find himself qualified to shine in that province； and had very
little inclination for his profession He disobliged his father；
by marrying for love； without any consideration of fortune； so
that he had little or nothing to depend upon for some years but
his practice； which afforded him a bare subsistence； and the
prospect of an increasing family； began to give him disturbance
and disquiet。 In the mean time； his father dying； was succeeded
by his elder brother； a fox…hunter and a sot； who neglected his
affairs； insulted and oppressed his servants； and in a few years
had well nigh ruined the estate； when he was happily carried off
by a fever； the immediate consequence of a debauch。 Charles； with
the approbation of his wife； immediately determined to quit
business； and retire into the country； although this resolution
was strenuously and zealously opposed by every individual； whom
he consulted on the subject。 Those who had tried the experiment；
assured him that he could not pretend to breathe in the country
for less than the double of what his estate produced； that； in
order to be upon the footing of a gentleman； he would be obliged
