wife pulled off her gloves, and difcovered what bore an exact refemblance, in cold and colour, to a piece of frozen beef.

6.

of

I wifh, Madam,' quoth the latter, your ladyfhip would not think of going any farther to-night. I am terribly afraid your ladyfhip will not be able to bear the fatigue.'

Why fure,' cries the landlady, her ladyship's honour can never intend it. O blefs me, farther to-night indeed! let me befeech your ladyfhip not to think on't.

But to be fure, your ladyship can't. What will your honour be pleafed to have for fupper? I have mutton kinds and fome nice chicken.'

I think, Madam,' faid the lady, it would be rather breakfast than fupper; but I can't eat any thing; and if I ftay, fhall only lie down for an hour or two. However, if you pleafe, Madam, you may get me a little fack-whey made very fmall and thin."

• Yes, Madam,' cries the mistress of the houfe, I have fome excellent white-wine.' You have no fack then,' fays the lady. Yes, an't please your honour, I have; I may challenge the country for that--but let me beg your ladyfhip to eat fomething."

Upon my word, I can't eat a morfel,' anfwered the lady; and I fhall be much obliged to you, if you will pleafe to get my apartment ready as foon as poffible: for I am refolved to be on horfeback again in three • hours'

Why Sufan,' cries the landlady, is there a fire lit yet in the Wild-goofe?

I am forry, Madam,
Several people of the
Here's a great young

all my best rooms are full. firft quality are now in bed. fquire, and many other great gentlefolks of quality.'

Sufan anfwered, That the Irish gentlemen were got into the Wild-goofe."

Was ever any think like it !' fays the miftrefs; why the devil would you not keep fome of the best rooms. for the quality, when you know fcarce a day paffes without fome calling here?--If they be gentlemen,

I am

I am certain when they know it is for her ladyflip, they will get up again."

• I will

Not upon my account,' fays the lady; have no perfon difturbed for me. If you have a room that is commonly decent, it will serve me very well, though it be ever so plain. I beg, Madam, you will not give yourself fo much trouble on my account. O, Madam,' cries the other, I have feveral very good rooms for that matter, but none good enough for your honour's ladyfhip, However, as you are fo condefcending to take up with the best I have, do, Sufan, get a fire in the Rofe this minute. Will your ladyfhip be pleased to go up now, or Itay till the fire is lighted? I think, I have fufficiently warmed myfelf,' anfwered the lady; fo if you please 1 will go now: I am afraid I have kept people, and particularly that gentleman (meaning Partridge) too long in the cold already. Indeed I cannot bear to think of keeping any perfon from the fire this dreadful weather. She then departed with her maid, the landlady marching with two lighted candles before

her.

When that good woman returned, the converfation in the kitchen was all upon the charms of the young lady. There is indeed in perfect beauty a power which none almoft can withstand: for my landlady, though fhe was not pleafed at the negative given to the fupper, declared fhe had never feen fo lovely a creature. Partridge ran out into the most extravagant encomiums on her face, though he could not refrain from paying fome compliments to the gold lace on her habit: the poft-boy, fung forth the praises of her goodness, which were likewife echoed by the other poil-boy, who was now come in. She's a true good lady, I warrant her,' fays he; fhe hath mercy upon dumb creatures; for the afked me every now and then upon the journey, If f did not think the fhould hurt the horfes by riding too faft; and when he came in, the charged me to give them as much corn as ever they would eat.'

C

Such

It

Such charms are there in affability, and fo fure is it to attract the praifes of all kinds of people. may indeed be compared to the celebrated Mrs. Huffey*. It's equally fure to fet off every female per fection to the higheft advantage, and to palliate and conceal every defect. A fhort reflection which we could not forbear making in this place, where my reader hath feen the lovelinefs of an affable deportment; and truth will now oblige us to contrast it, by fhewing the reverse.

CHA P. IV.

Containing infallible noftrums for procuring univerfal

THE

difefteem and hatred.

lady had no fooner laid herfelf on her pillow, than the waiting-woman returned to the kitchen to regale with fome of thofe dainties which her miftrefs had refused.

The company at he rentrance, fhewed her the fame refpect which they had before paid to her miftrefs, by rifing, but fhe forgot to imitate her, by defiring them to fit down again. Indeed it was fcarce poffible they fhould have done fo: for fhe placed her chair in fuch a pofture, as to occupy almoft the whole fire. She then ordered a chicken to be broiled that inftant, declaring if it was not ready in a quarter of an hour, he would not ftay for it. Now though the faid chicken was then at rooft in the ftable, and required the feveral ceremonies of catching, killing, and picking, before it was brought to the gridiron, my landlady, would nevertheless have undertaken to do all within the time; but the gueft being unfortunately admitted behind the fcenes, muft have been witnefs to the Fourbe rie; the poor woman was therefore ob liged to confefs that he had none in the houfe; but, Madam,' faid fhe, I can get any kind of mutton in an inftant from the butcher's.' VOL. II.

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Do

*A celebrated mantua-maker in the Strand, famous for fetting off the shapes of women.

Do you think then,' anfwered the waiting-gentlewoman, that I have the ftomach of a horse to eat mutton at this time of night? Sure you people that keep inns imagine your betters are like yourfelves. Indeed, I expected to get nothing at this wretched place. I wonder my lady would ftop at it. I fuppofe none but tradefmen and graziers ever • call here.' The landlady fired at this indignity offered to her houfe; however the fuppreffed her temper, and contented herself with faying, Very good quality frequented it, fhe thanked heaven! Don't tell me,' cries the other, of quality! I believe I know more of people of quality than fuch as you. But, prithee, without troubling me with any of your impertinence, do tell me what I can have for fupper; for though I cannot eat horfe-flesh, I am really hungry.' Why, truly, Madam,'anfwered the landlady, you could not take me again at fuch a difadvantage: for I must confefs I have nothing in the houfe, unless a cold piece of beef, which, indeed, a gentleman's footman and the post" boy have almoft cleared to the bone.' Woman,' faid Mrs. Abigail, (fo for fhortnefs we will call her) I entreat you not to make me fick. If I had fafted a month, I could not eat what had been touched by the fingers of fuch fellows: is there nothing neat or decent to be had in this horrid place ?' • What think you of fome eggs and bacon, Madam,' faid the landlady. Are your eggs new laid? are you certain they were laid to-day? and let me have the bacon cut very nice and thin; for I can't endure any thing that's grofs. Prithee, try if you can do a little tolerably for once, and don't think you have 2 farmer's wife, or fome of thofe creatures in the ⚫ house.' The landlady began to handle her knife; but the other ftopt her, faying, Good woman, I

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muft infift on your first washing your hands; for • I am extremely nice, and have been always ufed from my cradle to have every thing in the most elegant ' manner.'

The landlady, who governed herfelf with much difficulty, began now the neceffary preparations; for

as to Sufan, fhe was utterly rejected, and with fuch difdain, that the poor wench was as hard put to it, to restrain her hands from violence, as her mistress had been to hold her tongue. This indeed Sufan did not intirely for though the literally kept it within her teeth yet there it muttered many marry-come-ups, as good flesh and blood as yourfelf,' with other fuch indignant phrafes.

⚫ kitchen;

While the fupper was preparing, Mrs. Abigail began to lament fhe had not ordered a fire in the parlour; but fhe faid that was now too late. However,' faid fhe, I have novelty to recommend a for I do not believe I ever eat in one be fore." Then turning to the poft-boys, the afked them, why they were not in the ftable with their horfes? If I muft eat my hard fare here, Madam,' cries fhe to the landlady, I beg the kitchen may be kept clear, that I may not be farrounded with all the blackguards in town: as for you, Sir, fays the to Partridge, you look fomewhat like a gentleman, and may fit ftill if you please: I don't defire to disturb any body but mob.'

Yes, yes Madam,' cries Partridge, I am a gentleman, I do affure you, and 1 am not fo eafily to be • difturbed. Non femper vox cafualis eft verbo nominativus This Latin the took to be fome affront, and anfwered, you may be a gentleman, Sir; but you don't fhew yourself as one to talk Latin to a woman. que Partridge made a gentle reply, and concluded with more Latin; upon which the toffed up her nofe, and contented herself by abufing him with the name of a great fcholar.

The fupper being now on the table, Mrs. Abigail eat very heartily, for fo delicate a perfon; and while a fecond courfe of the fame was by her order preparing, fhe faid, and fo, Madam, you tell me your houfe is ⚫ frequented by people of great quality?"

• The landlady answered in the affirmative, faying, there were a great many very good quality and gentlefolks in it now. There's young 'fquire Allworthy, as that gentleman there knows.'

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And