The Expedition of Humphry Clinker

312 TOBIAS SMOLLETT
Now tell me, dear knight, what am I to make of this singular
adventure?—Am I to suppose that the horseman I saw was really
a thing of flesh and blood, or a bubble that vanished into air?—
or must I imagine Liddy knows more of the matter than she chuses
to disclose?—If I thought her capable of carrying on any clandes-
tine correspondence with such a fellow, I should at once discard
all tenderness, and forget that she was connected with me by the
ties of blood—But how is it possible that a girl of her simplicity
and inexperience, should maintain such an intercourse, surrounded,
as she is with so many eyes, destitute of all opportunity, and shift-
ing quarters every day of her life!—Besides, she has solemnly
promised—No—I can’t think the girl so base—so insensible to
the honour of her family.—What disturbs me chiefly, is the impres-
sion which these occurrences seem to make upon her spirits—
These are the symptoms from which I conclude that the rascal
has still a hold on her affection—surely I have a right to call him
a rascal, and to conclude that his designs are infamous—But it shall
be my fault if he does not one day repent his presumption—I con-
fess I cannot think, much less write on this subject, with any
degree of temper or patience; I shall therefore conclude with tell-
ing you, that we hope to be in Wales by the latter end of the month:
but before that period you will probably hear again from
your affectionate
Oct. 4. J. MELFORD
To Sir WATKIN PHILLIPS, Bart. at Oxon.
DEAR PHILLIPS,
WHEN I wrote you by last post, I did not imagine I should be
tempted to trouble you again so soon: but I now sit down with a
heart so full that it cannot contain itself; though I am under such
agitation of spirits, that you are to expect neither method or con-
nexion in this address—We have been this day within a hair’s
breadth of losing honest Matthew Bramble, in consequence of a
cursed accident, which I will endeavour to explain.—In crossing
the country to get into the post road, it was necessary to ford
a river, and we that were a-horseback passed without any danger or
difficulty; but a great quantity of rain having fallen last night and