The Expedition of Humphry Clinker

186 TOBIAS SMOLLETT
surmounted by the help of Humphry Clinker, who is a surprising
compound of genius and simplicity. Finding the tools of the
defunct, together with some coals in the smithy, he unscrewed the
damaged iron in a twinkling, and, kindling a fire, united the broken
pieces with equal dexterity and dispatch—While he was at work
upon this operation, the poor woman in the straw, struck with the
well-known sound of the hammer and anvil, started up, and, not-
withstanding all the nurse’s efforts, came running into the smithy,
where, throwing her arms about Clinker’s neck, ‘Ah, Jacob! (cried
she) how could you leave me in such a condition?’
This incident was too pathetic to occasion mirth—it brought
tears into the eyes of all present. The poor widow was put to bed
again; and we did not leave the village without doing something
for her benefit—Even Tabitha’s charity was awakened on this
occasion. As for the tender-hearted Humphry Clinker, he ham-
mered the iron and wept at the same time—But his ingenuity was
not confined to his own province of farrier and black-smith—It was
necessary to join the leather sling, which had been broke; and this
service he likewise performed, by means of a broken awl, which he
new-pointed and ground, a little hemp, which he spun into lingels,
and a few tacks which he made for the purpose—Upon the whole,
we were in a condition to proceed in little more than an hour;
but even this delay obliged us to pass the night at Gisborough—
Next day we crossed the Tees at Stockton, which is a neat agree-
able town; and there we resolved to dine, with purpose to lie at
Durham.
Whom should we meet in the yard, when we alighted, but Martin
the adventurer? Having handed out the ladies, and conducted
them into an apartment, where he paid his compliments to Mrs.
Tabby, with his usual address, he begged leave to speak to my
uncle in another room; and there, in some confusion, he made an
apology for having taken the liberty to trouble him with the letter
at Stevenage. He expressed his hope, that Mr. Bramble had bestowed
some consideration on his unhappy case, and repeated his desire
of being taken into his service.
My uncle, calling me into the room, told him, that we were both
very well inclined to rescue him from a way of life that was equally
dangerous and dishonourable; and that he should have no scruples
in trusting to his gratitude and fidelity, if he had any employment
for him, which he thought would suit his qualifications and his