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ladyship over acts her part she not only expatiates on the ample
fortune； the great connexions； and the unblemished character of
Mr Barton； but she takes the trouble to catechise me； and； two
days ago； peremptorily told me； that a girl of my age could not
possibly resist so many considerations； if her heart was not pre…engaged。
This insinuation threw me into such a flutter； that she could not
but observe my disorder； and； presuming upon the discovery；
insisted upon my making her the confidante of my passion。 But；
although I had not such command of myself as to conceal the
emotion of my heart； I am not such a child as to disclose its
secret to a person who would certainly use them to its prejudice。
I told her； it was no wonder if I was out of countenance at her
introducing a subject of conversation so unsuitable to my years
and inexperience； that I believed Mr Barton was a very worthy
gentleman； and I was much obliged to him for his good opinion；
but the affections were involuntary； and mine； in particular； had
as yet made no concessions in his favour。 She shook her head with
an air of distrust that made me tremble； and observed； that if my
affections were free； they would submit to the decision of
prudence； especially when enforced by the authority of those who
had a right to direct my conduct。 This remark implied a design to
interest my uncle or my aunt； perhaps my brother； in behalf of Mr
Barton's passion； and I am sadly afraid that my aunt is already
gained over。 Yesterday in the forenoon； he had been walking with
us in the Park； and stopping in our return at a toy…shop； he
presented her with a very fine snuff…box； and me with a gold
etuis； which I resolutely refused； till she commanded me to
accept it on pain of her displeasure： nevertheless； being still
unsatisfied with respect to the propriety of receiving this toy；
I signified my doubts to my brother； who said he would consult my
uncle on the subject； and seemed to think Mr Barton had been
rather premature in his presents。
What will be the result of this consultation； Heaven knows； but I
am afraid it will produce an explanation with Mr Barton； who
will； no doubt； avow his passion； and solicit their consent to a
connexion which my soul abhors； for； my dearest Letty； it is not
in my power to love Mr Barton； even if my heart was untouched by
any other tenderness。 Not that there is any thing disagreeable
about his person； but there is a total want of that nameless
charm which captivates and controuls the inchanted spirit at
least； he appears to me to have this defect； but if he had all
the engaging qualifications which a man can possess； they would
be excited in vain against that constancy； which； I flatter
myself； is the characteristic of my nature。 No； my dear Willis； I
may be involved in fresh troubles； and I believe I shall； from
the importunities of this gentleman and the violence of my
relations； but my heart is incapable of change。
You know I put no faith in dreams； and yet I have been much
disturbed by one that visited me last night。 I thought I was in
a church； where a certain person； whom you know； was on the point
of being married to my aunt； that the clergyman was Mr Barton；
and that poor forlorn I； stood weeping in a corner； half naked；
and without shoes or stockings。 Now； I know there is nothing so
childish as to be moved by those vain illusions； but；
nevertheless； in spite of all my reason； this hath made a strong
impression upon my mind； which begins to be very gloomy。 Indeed；
I have another more substantial cause of affliction I have some
religious scruples； my dear friend； which lie heavy on my
conscience。 I was persuaded to go to the Tabernacle； where I
heard a discourse that affected me deeply。 I have prayed
fervently to be enlightened； but as yet I am not sensible of
these inward motions； those operations of grace； which are the
signs of a regenerated spirit； and therefore I begin to be in
terrible apprehensions about the state of my poor soul。 Some of
our family have had very uncommon accessions； particularly my
aunt and Mrs Jenkins； who sometimes speak as if they were really
inspired； so that I am not like to want for either exhortation or
example； to purify my thoughts； and recall them from the vanities
of this world； which； indeed； I would willingly resign； if it was
in my power； but to make this sacrifice； I must be enabled by
such assistance from above as hath not yet been indulged to
Your unfortunate friend；
LYDIA MELFORD
June 10。
To Sir WATKIN PHILLIPS； of Jesus college； Oxon。
DEAR PHILLIPS；
The moment I received your letter； I began to execute your
commission With the assistance of mine host at the Bull and
Gate； I discovered the place to which your fugitive valet had
retreated； and taxed him with his dishonesty The fellow was in
manifest confusion at sight of me； but he denied the charge with
great confidence； till I told him； that if he would give up the
watch； which was a family piece； he might keep the money and the
clothes； and go to the devil his own way； at his leisure； but if
he rejected this proposal； I would deliver him forthwith to the
constable； whom I had provided for that purpose； and he would
carry him before the justice without further delay。 After some
hesitation； he desired to speak with me in the next room； where
he produced the watch； with all its appendages； and I have
delivered it to our landlord； to be sent you by the first safe
conveyance。
So much for business。
I shall grow vain； upon your saying you find entertainment in my
letters； barren； as they certainly are； of incident and
importance； because your amusement must arise； not from the
matter； but from the manner； which you know is all my own
Animated； therefore； by the approbation of a person； whose nice
taste and consummate judgment I can no longer doubt； I will
chearfully proceed with our memoirs As it is determined we shall
set out next week for Yorkshire； I went to…day in the forenoon
with my uncle to see a carriage； belonging to a coachmaker in our
neighbourhood Turning down a narrow lane； behind Longacre； we
perceived a crowd of people standing at a door； which； it seems；
opened into a kind of a methodist meeting； and were informed；
that a footman was then holding forth to the congregation within。
Curious to see this phoenomenon； we squeezed into the place with
much difficulty； and who should this preacher be； but the
identical Humphry Clinker。 He had finished his sermon； and given
out a psalm； the first stave of which he sung with peculiar
graces But if we were astonished to see Clinker in the pulpit；
we were altogether confounded at finding all the females of our
family among the audience There was lady Griskin； Mrs Tabitha
Bramble； Mrs Winifred Jenkins； my sister Liddy； and Mr Barton；
and all of them joined in the psalmody； with strong marks of
devotion。
I could hardly keep my gravity on this ludicrous occasion； but
old Square…toes was differently affected The first thing that
struck him； was the presumption of his lacquey； whom he commanded
to come down； with such an air of authority as Humphry did not
think proper to disregard。 He descended immediately； and all the
people were in commotion。 Barton looked exceedingly sheepish；
lady Griskin flirted her fan； Mrs Tabby groaned in spirit； Liddy
changed countenance； and Mrs Jenkins sobbed as if her heart was
breaking My uncle； with a sneer； asked pardon of the ladies； for
having interrupted their devotion； saying； he had particular
business with the preacher； whom he ordered to call a hackney…coach。
This being immediately brought up to the end of the lane；
he handed Liddy into it； and my aunt and I following him； we
drove home； without taking any further notice of the rest of the
company； who still remained in silent astonishment。
Mr Bramble； perceiving Liddy in great trepidation； assumed a
milder aspect； bidding her be under no concern； for he was not at
all displeased at any thing she had done 'I have no objection
（said he） to your being religiously inclined； but I don't think
my servant is a proper ghostly director for a devotee of your sex
and character if； in fact （as I rather believe） your aunt is not
the sole conductress of； this machine' Mrs Tabitha made no
answer； but threw up the whites of her eyes； as if in the act of
ejaculation Poor Liddy； said； she had no right to the title of a
devotee； that she thought there was no harm in hearing a pious
discourse； even if it came from a footman； especially as her aunt
was present； but that if she had erred from ignorance； she hoped
he would excuse it； as she could not bear the thoughts of living
under his displeasure。 The old gentleman； pressing her hand with
a tender smile； said she was a good girl； and that he did not
believe her capable of doing any thing that could give him the
least umbrage or disgust。
When we arrived at our lodgings； he commanded Mr Clinker to
attend him up stairs； and spoke to him in these words 'Since you
are called upon by the spirit to preach and to teach； it is high
time to lay aside the livery of an earthly master； and for my
part； I am unworthy t