按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
opportunity； and shifting quarters every day of her life！
Besides； she has solemnly promised。 No I can't think the girl so
base so insensible to the honour of her family。 What disturbs
me chiefly； is the impression which these occurrences seem to
make upon her spirits These are the symptoms from which I
conclude that the rascal has still a hold on her affection； surely
I have a right to call him a rascal； and to conclude that his
designs are infamous。 But it shall be my fault if he does not one
day repent his presumption I confess I cannot think； much less
write on this subject； with any degree of temper or patience； I
shall therefore conclude with telling you； that we hope to be in
Wales by the latter end of the month： but before that period you
will probably hear again from
your affectionate
J。 MELFORD
Oct。 4。
To Sir WATKIN PHILLIPS； Bart。 of Jesus college； Oxon。
DEAR PHILLIPS；
When I wrote you by last post； I did not imagine I should be
tempted to trouble you again so soon： but I now sit down with a
heart so full that it cannot contain itself； though I am under
such agitation of spirits； that you are to expect neither method
nor connexion in this address We have been this day within a
hair's breadth of losing honest Matthew Bramble； in consequence
of a cursed accident； which I will endeavour to explain。 In
crossing the country to get into the post road； it was necessary
to ford a river； and we that were a…horseback passed without any
danger or difficulty； but a great quantity of rain having fallen
last night and this morning； there was such an accumulation of
water； that a mill…head gave way； just as the coach was passing
under it； and the flood rushed down with such impetuosity； as
first floated； and then fairly overturned the carriage in the
middle of the stream Lismahago and I； and the two servants；
alighting instantaneously； ran into the river to give all the
assistance in our power。 Our aunt； Mrs Tabitha； who had the good
fortune to be uppermost； was already half way out of the coach
window； when her lover approaching； disengaged her entirely； but；
whether his foot slipt； or
the burthen was too great； they fell over head and ears in each
others' arms。 He endeavoured more than once to get up； and even
to disentangle himself from her embrace； but she hung about his
neck like a mill…stone （no bad emblem of matrimony）； and if my
man had not proved a stanch auxiliary； those two lovers would in
all probability have gone hand in hand to the shades below For
my part； I was too much engaged to take any cognizance of their
distress。 I snatched out my sister by the hair of the head； and；
dragging her to the bank； recollected that my uncle had； not yet
appeared Rushing again into the stream； I met Clinker hauling
ashore Mrs Jenkins； who looked like a mermaid with her hair
dishevelled about her ears； but； when I asked if his master was
safe； he forthwith shook her from him； and she must have gone to
pot； if a miller had not seasonably come to her relief。 As for
Humphry； he flew like lightning； to the coach； that was by this
time filled with water； and； diving into it； brought up the poor
'squire； to all appearance； deprived of life It is not in my
power to describe what I felt at this melancholy spectacle it
was such an agony as baffles all description！ The faithful
Clinker； taking him up in his arms； as if he had been an infant
of six months； carried him ashore； howling most piteously all the
way； and I followed him in a transport of grief and
consternation When he was laid upon the grass and turned from
side to side； a great quantity of water ran out at his mouth；
then he opened his eyes； and fetched a deep sigh。 Clinker
perceiving these signs of life； immediately tied up his arm with
a garter； and； pulling out a horse…fleam； let him blood in the
farrier stile。 At first a few drops only issued from the
orifice； but the limb being chafed； in a little time the blood
began to flow in a continued stream； and he uttered some
incoherent words； which were the most welcome sounds that ever
saluted my ear。 There was a country inn hard by； the landlord of
which had by this time come with his people to give their
assistance。 Thither my uncle being carried； was undressed and
put to bed； wrapped in warm blankets； but having been moved too
soon； he fainted away； and once more lay without sense or motion；
notwithstanding all the efforts of Clinker and the landlord； who
bathed his temples with Hungary water； and held a smelling…bottle
to his nose。 As I had heard of the efficacy of salt in such
cases； I ordered all that was in the house to be laid under his
head and body； and whether this application had the desired
effect； or nature of herself prevailed； he； in less than a
quarter of an hour； began to breathe regularly； and soon
retrieved his recollection； to the unspeakable joy of all the by…standers。
As for Clinker； his brain seemed to be affected。 He
laughed； and wept； and danced about in such a distracted manner；
that the landlord very judiciously conveyed him out of the room。
My uncle； seeing me dropping wet； comprehended the whole of what
had happened； and asked if all the company was safe？ Being
answered in the affirmative； he insisted upon my putting on dry
clothes； and； having swallowed a little warm wine； desired he
might be left to his repose。 Before I went to shift myself； I
inquired about the rest of the family I found Mrs Tabitha still
delirious from her fright； discharging very copiously the water
she had swallowed。 She was supported by the captain； distilling
drops from his uncurled periwig； so lank and so dank； that he
looked like Father Thames without his sedges； embracing Isis；
while she cascaded in his urn。 Mrs Jenkins was present also； in a
loose bed gown； without either cap or handkerchief； but she
seemed to be as little compos mentis as her mistress； and acted
so many cross purposes in the course of her attendance； that；
between the two； Lismahago had occasion for all his philosophy。
As for Liddy； I thought the poor girl would have actually lost
her senses。 The good woman of the house had shifted her linen；
and put her into bed； but she was seized with the idea that her
uncle had perished； and in this persuasion made a dismal out…cry；
nor did she pay the least regard to what I said； when I solemnly
assured her he was safe。 Mr Bramble hearing the noise； and being
informed of her apprehension； desired she might be brought into
his chamber； and she no sooner received this intimation； than she
ran thither half naked； with the wildest expression of eagerness
in her countenance Seeing the 'squire sitting up in the bed； she
sprung forwards and throwing her arms about his neck； exclaimed
in a most pathetic tone； 'Are you Are you indeed my uncle My
dear uncle！ My best friend！ My father！ Are you really living？
or is it an illusion of my poor brain！' Honest Matthew was so
much affected； that he could not help shedding tears； while he
kissed her forehead； saying； 'My dear Liddy； I hope I shall live
long enough to shew how sensible I am of your affection But your
spirits are fluttered； child You want rest Go to bed and
compose yourself' 'Well； I will （she replied） but still methinks
this cannot be real The coach was full of water My uncle was
under us all Gracious God！ You was under water How did you get
out； tell me that？ or I shall think this is all a deception'
'In what manner I was brought out； I know as little as you do； my
dear （said the 'squire）； and； truly； that is a circumstance of
which I want to be informed。' I would have given him a detail of
the whole adventure； but he would not hear me until I should
change my clothes； so that I had only time to tell him； that he
owed his life to the courage and fidelity of Clinker： and having
given him this hint； I conducted my sister to her own chamber。
This accident happened about three o'clock in the afternoon； and
in little more than an hour the hurricane was all over； but as
the carriage was found to be so much damaged； that it could not
proceed without considerable repairs； a blacksmith and
wheelwright were immediately sent for to the next market…town；
and we congratulated ourselves upon being housed at an inn；
which； though remote from the post…road； afforded exceeding good
lodging。 The women being pretty well composed； and the men all a…foot；
my uncle sent for his servant； and； in the presence of
Lismahago and me； accosted him in these words 'So； Clinker； I
find you are resolved I shan't die by water As you have fished
me up from the bottom at your own risque； you are at least
entitled to all the money that was in my pocket； and there it
is' So saying； he presented him with a purse containing thirty
guineas； and a ring nearly of the same value 'God forbid！ （cried
Clinker）； your honour shall excuse me I am a poor fellow； but I
have a heart O！ if your honour did but know how I rejoice to see
Blessed be his holy name； that made me the humble instrument
But as for the lucre of gain； I renounce it I have done no more
than my duty No more than I would have done for the most
worthless of my