The Expedition of Humphry Clinker

316 TOBIAS SMOLLETT
for your worship, I would go through fire as well as water—’ ‘I do
believe it, Humphry (said the ’squire); but as you think it was your
duty to save my life at the hazard of your own, I think it is mine to
express the sense I have of your extraordinary fidelity and attach-
ment—I insist upon your receiving this small token of my gratitude;
but don’t imagine that I look upon this as an adequate recom-
pence for the service you have done me—I have determined to
settle thirty pounds a-year upon you for life; and I desire these
gentlemen will bear witness to this my intention, of which I have
a memorandum in my pocket-book.’ ‘Lord make me thankful for
all these mercies! (cried Clinker, sobbing) I have been a poor bank-
rupt from the beginning—your honour’s goodness found me, when
I was—naked—when I was—sick and forlorn—I understand your
honour’s looks—I would not give offence—but my heart is very
full—and if your worship won’t give me leave to speak,—I must
vent it in prayers to heaven for my benefactor.’ When he quitted
the room, Lismahago said, he should have a much better opinion
of his honesty, if he did not whine and cant so abominably; but
that he had always observed those weeping and praying fellows
were hypocrites at bottom. Mr. Bramble made no reply to this
sarcastic remark, proceeding from the lieutenant’s resentment of
Clinker’s having, in pure simplicity of heart, ranked him with
M’Alpine and the sinners of the earth.—The landlord being called
to receive some orders about the beds, told the ’squire that his
house was very much at his service, but he was sure he should not
have the honour to lodge him and his company. He gave us to
understand that his master, who lived hard by, would not suffer
us to be at a public house, when there was accommodation for us
at his own; and that, if he had not dined abroad in the neighbour-
hood he would have undoubtedly come to offer his services at our
first arrival. He then launched out in praise of that gentleman,
whom he had served as butler, representing him as a perfect
miracle of goodness and generosity. He said he was a person of
great learning, and allowed to be the best farmer in the country:—
that he had a lady who was as much beloved as himself, and an
only son, a very hopeful young gentleman, just recovered from a
dangerous fever, which had like to have proved fatal to the whole
family; for, if the son had died, he was sure the parents would not
have survived their loss—He had not yet finished the encomium
of Mr. Dennison, when this gentleman arrived in a post-chaise,