1.27MB - Global Grey

says she, "I was overtaken by my husband (for I need not affect toconceal what the world knows too well already). I had the good fortuneto escape in a most surprizing manner, and am now going to London withthis young lady, who is a near relation of mine, and who hath escapedfrom as great a tyrant as my own."His lordship, concluding that this tyrant was likewise a husband, madea speech full of compliments to both the ladies, and as full ofinvectives against his own sex; nor indeed did he avoid some obliqueglances at the matrimonial institution itself, and at the unjustpowers given by it to man over the more sensible and more meritoriouspart of the species. He ended his oration with an offer of hisprotection, and of his coach and six, which was instantly accepted byMrs Fitzpatrick, and at last, upon her persuasions, by Sophia.Matters being thus adjusted, his lordship took his leave, and theladies retired to rest, where Mrs Fitzpatrick entertained her cousinwith many high encomiums on the character of the noble peer, andenlarged very particularly on his great fondness for his wife; saying,she believed he was almost the only person of high rank who wasentirely constant to the marriage bed. "Indeed," added she, "my dearSophy, that is a very rare virtue amongst men of condition. Neverexpect it when you marry; for, believe me, if you do, you willcertainly be deceived."A gentle sigh stole from Sophia at these words, which perhapscontributed to form a dream of no very pleasant kind; but, as shenever revealed this dream to any one, so the reader cannot expect tosee it related here.Chapter ix.The morning introduced in some pretty writing. A stagecoach. Thecivility of chambermaids. The heroic temper of Sophia. Her generosity.The return to it. The departure of the company, and their arrival atLondon; with some remarks for the use of travellers.Those members of society who are born to furnish the blessings of lifenow began to light their candles, in order to pursue their dailylabours for the use of those who are born to enjoy these blessings.The sturdy hind now attends the levee of his fellow-labourer the ox;the cunning artificer, the diligent mechanic, spring from their hardmattress; and now the bonny housemaid begins to repair the disordereddrum-room, while the riotous authors of that disorder, in brokeninterrupted slumbers, tumble and toss, as if the hardness of downdisquieted their repose.In simple phrase, the clock had no sooner struck seven than the ladieswere ready for their journey; and, at their desire, his lordship andhis equipage were prepared to attend them.And now a matter of some difficulty arose; and this was how hislordship himself should be conveyed; for though in stage-coaches,where passengers are properly considered as so much luggage, theingenious coachman stows half a dozen with perfect ease into the placeof four; for well he contrives that the fat hostess, or well-fedalderman, may take up no more room than the slim miss, or taper