CHAP. XII.

Fortune feems refolved to humble the family of Wakefield. Mortifications are often more painful than real calamities.

WHEN we were returned home, the

night was dedicated to schemes of future conqueft. Deborah exerted much fagacity in conjecturing which of the two girls was likely to have the best place, and moft opportunities of feeing good compa ny. The only obftacle to our preferment was in obtaining the 'Squire's recommendation; but he had already fhewn us too many inftances of his friendship to doubt of it now. Even in bed my wife kept up the ufual theme: Well, faith, my dear

Charles, between ourselves, I think we have made an excellent day's work of it.' Pretty well,' cried I, not knowing what to fay. well!' returned fhe.

What only pretty

I think it is very

< well.

well. Suppose the girls fhould come to make acquaintances of taste in town! • This I am affured of, that London is the only place in the world for all manner of husbands. Befides, my dear, ftranger things happen every day: and as ladies of quality are fo taken with my daughters, what will not men of quality be! Entre nous, I protest I like my Lady Blarney vaftly, fo very obliging. However, Mifs Carolina Wilelmi⚫ na Skeggs has my warm heart. But yet, when they came to talk of places in town, C you faw at once how I nailed them. Tell me, my dear, don't you think I did for my children there?' Ay,' returned I, not knowing well what to think of the matter, heaven grant they may be

both the better for it this day three months!' This was one of those observations I usually made to impress my wife with an opinion of my fagacity; for if the girls fucceed, then it was a pious wish fulfilled; but if any thing unfortunate enfued, then it might be looked upon as a

prophecy. All this converfation, however, was only preparatory to another scheme, and indeed I dreaded as much. This was nothing lefs than, that as we were now to hold up our heads a little higher in the world, it would be proper to fell the Colt, which was grown old, at a neighbouring fair, and buy us an horfe that would carry fingle or double upon an occafion, and make a pretty appearance at church or upon a vifit. This at first I opposed ftoutly; but it was as ftoutly defended. However, as I weakened, my antagonists gained ftrength, till at last it was refolved to part with him.

As the fair happened on the following day, I had intentions of going myself, but my wife perfuaded me that I had got a cold, and nothing could prevail upon her to permit me from home. No, my

dear,' faid fhe, our fon Mofes is a difcreet boy, and can buy and fell to very good advantage; you know all our great bargains are of his purchasVOL. I.

F

ing.

ing. He always ftands out and higgles, and actually tires them till he gets a bargain,'

As I had fome opinion of my son's prụdence, I was willing enough to entrust him with this commiffion; and the next morning I perceived his fifters mighty bufy in fitting out Mofes for the fair; trimming his hair, brufhing his buckles, and cocking his hat with pins. The bufinefs of the toilet being over, we had at laft the fatisfaction of seeing him mounted upon the Colt, with a deal box before him to bring home groceries in. He had on a coat made of that cloth they call thunder and lightning, which, though grown too fhort, was much too good to be thrown away. His waistcoat was of gofling green, and his fifters had tied his hair with a broad black ribband. We all followed him several paces from the door, bawling after him, Good luck, good luck, till we could see him no longer.

He

He was scarce gone, when Mr. Thornhill's butler came to congratulate us upon our good fortune, faying that he overheard his young mafter mention our names with great commendation.

Good fortune feemed refolved not to come alone. Another footman from the fame family followed, with a card for my daughters, importing, that the two ladies had received fuch pleafing accounts from Mr. Thornhill of us all, that after a few previous enquiries, they hoped to be perfectly fatisfied. Ay,' cried my wife, I now fee it is no eafy matter to get into the families of the great; but when one once gets in, ' one may go fleep.'

then, as Mofes fays,

To this piece of humour, for fhe intended it for wit, my daughters affented with a loud laugh of pleasure. In fhort, fuch was her fatisfaction at this message, that fhe actually put her hand in her pocket, and gave the meffenger seven pence halfpenny.