The Expedition of Humphry Clinker

288 TOBIAS SMOLLETT
in the utmost agitation) you don’t think me so sordid—I only
hinted what I thought—But, I don’t pretend to impose—’ ‘Yes,
sir, (resumed the lady) it is your prerogative to command, and my
duty to obey—’
So saying, she burst into tears and retired to her chamber, where
she was joined by her aunt—He endeavoured to recollect himself,
and act with vigour of mind on this occasion; but was betrayed by
the tenderness of his nature, which was the greatest defect of his
constitution. He found the aunt in tears, and the niece in a fit,
which held her the best part of eight hours, at the expiration of
which, she began to talk incoherently about death and her dear
husband, who had sat by her all this time, and now pressed her
hand to his lips, in a transport of grief and penitence for the offence
he had given—From thence forward, he carefully avoided mention-
ing the country; and they continued to be sucked deeper and
deeper into the vortex of extravagance and dissipation, leading what
is called a fashionable life in town—About the latter end of July,
however, Mrs. Baynard, in order to exhibit a proof of conjugal
obedience, desired of her own accord, that they might pay a visit to
his country house, as there was no company left in London. He
would have excused himself from this excursion, which was no
part of the œconomical plan he had proposed; but she insisted upon
making this sacrifice to his taste and prejudices, and away they went
with such an equipage as astonished the whole country—All that
remained of the season was engrossed by receiving and returning
visits in the neighbourhood; and, in this intercourse, it was dis-
covered, that sir John Chickwell had a house-steward and one
footman in livery more than the complement of Mr. Baynard’s
household. This remark was made by the aunt at table, and assented
to by the husband, who observed that sir John Chickwell might very
well afford to keep more servants than were found in the family of
a man who had not half his fortune. Mrs. Baynard ate no supper
that evening; but was seized with a violent fit, which completed
her triumph over the spirit of her consort. The two supernumerary
servants were added—The family plate was sold for old silver, and
a new service procured; fashionable furniture was provided, and
the whole house turned topsy turvy.
At their return to London, in the beginning of winter, he, with
a heavy heart, communicated these particulars to me in confidence.
Before his marriage, he had introduced me to the lady as his