The Expedition of Humphry Clinker

328 TOBIAS SMOLLETT
and willows where nothing else would grow; I gradually inclosed
all my farms, and made such improvements, that my estate now
yields me clear twelve hundred pounds a year.—All this time my
wife and I have enjoyed uninterrupted health, and a regular flow
of spirits, except on a very few occasions, when our chearfulness
was invaded by such accidents as are inseparable from the condi-
tion of life.—I lost two children in their infancy, by the small-pox,
so that I have one son only, in whom all our hopes are centred.—
He went yesterday to visit a friend, with whom he has stayed all
night, but he will be here to dinner.—I shall this day have the
pleasure of presenting him to you and your family; and I flatter
myself you will find him not altogether unworthy of our affection.
‘The truth is, either I am blinded by the partiality of a parent,
or he is a boy of a very amiable character; and yet his conduct has
given us unspeakable disquiet.—You must know, we had projected
a match between him and a gentleman’s daughter in the next
county, who will in all probability be heiress of a considerable
fortune; but, it seems, he had a personal disgust to the alliance.—
He was then at Cambridge, and tried to gain time on various pre-
tences; but being pressed in letters by his mother and me to give
a definitive answer, he fairly gave his tutor the slip, and disappeared
about eight months ago.—Before he took this rash step, he wrote
me a letter, explaining his objections to the match, and declaring,
that he would keep himself concealed until he should under-
stand that his parents would dispense with his contracting an engage-
ment that must make him miserable for life, and he prescribed the
form of advertising in a certain newspaper, by which he might be
apprized of our sentiments on this subject.
‘You may easily conceive how much we were alarmed and
afflicted by this elopement, which he had made without dropping
the least hint to his companion Charles Wilson, who belonged to
the same college.—We resolved to punish him with the appearance
of neglect, in hopes that he would return of his own accord; but
he maintained his purpose till the young lady chose a partner for
herself; then he produced himself, and made his peace by the
mediation of Wilson.—Suppose we should unite our families by
joining him with your niece, who is one of the most lovely creatures
I ever beheld.—My wife is already as fond of her as if she were her
own child, and I have a presentiment that my son will be captivated
by her at first sight.’ ‘Nothing could be more agreeable to all our