The Expedition of Humphry Clinker

THE EXPEDITION OF HUMPHRY CLINKER 137
a footman was then holding forth to the congregation within.
Curious to see this phænomenon, 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 al-
together 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 devo-
tion.
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 com-
manded 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 charac-
ter—if, in fact, (as I rather believe) your aunt is not the sole con-
ductress of this machine—’ Mrs. Tabitha made no answer, but
threw up the white 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