The Expedition of Humphry Clinker

THE EXPEDITION OF HUMPHRY CLINKER 259
which I had every morning fresh from the mountains, and the
pure air, and chearful company, I have recovered my flesh and
appetite; though there is something still at bottom, which it is not
in the power of air, exercise, company, or medicine to remove—
These incidents would not touch me so nearly, if I had a sensible
confidant to sympathize with my affliction, and comfort me with
wholesome advice—I have nothing of this kind, except Win
Jenkins, who is really a good body in the main, but very ill qualified
for such an office—The poor creature is weak in her nerves, as well
as in her understanding; otherwise I might have known the true
name and character of that unfortunate youth—But why do I call
him unfortunate? perhaps the epithet is more applicable to me for
having listened to the false professions of—But, hold! I have as
yet no right, and sure I have no inclination to believe any thing to
the prejudice of his honour—In that reflection I shall still exert my
patience—As for Mrs. Jenkins, she herself is really an object of
compassion—Between vanity, methodism, and love, her head is
almost turned. I should have more regard for her, however, if she
had been more constant in the object of her affection; but, truly,
she aimed at conquest, and flirted at the same time with my uncle’s
footman, Humphry Clinker, who is really a deserving young man,
and one Dutton, my brother’s valet de chambre, a debauched
fellow; who, leaving Win in the lurch, ran away with another man’s
bride at Berwick.
My dear Willis, I am truly ashamed of my own sex—We com-
plain of advantages which the men take of our youth, inexperience,
sensibility, and all that; but I have seen enough to believe, that our
sex in general make it their business to ensnare the other; and for
this purpose, employ arts which are by no means to be justified—
In point of constancy, they certainly have nothing to reproach the
male part of the creation—My poor aunt, without any regard to her
years and imperfections, has gone to market with her charms in
every place where she thought she had the least chance to dispose
of her person, which, however, hangs still heavy on her hands—
I am afraid she has used even religion as a decoy, though it has not
answered her expectation—She has been praying, preaching, and
catechising among the methodists, with whom this country
abounds; and pretends to have such manifestations and revela-
tions, as even Clinker himself can hardly believe, though the poor
fellow is half crazy with enthusiasm. As for Jenkins, she affects to