rse my indiscretion for so suddenly, and with so much emotion,
revealing myself.

The gentlewoman, seeing so strange an alteration in my person, and
features, and voice, and dress, cried out, Murder, help! murder, help! by
turns, for half a dozen times running. This alarmed the house, and up
ran two servant maids, and my servant after them. I cried out for water
and hartshorn, and every one flew a different way, one of the maids as
fast down as she came up; while the gentlewoman ran out of one room into
another, and by turns up and down the apartment we were in, without
meaning or end, wringing her foolish hands, and not knowing what she did.

Up then came running a gentleman and his sister, fetched, and brought in
by the maid, who had run down, and having let in a cursed crabbed old
wretch, hobbling with his gout, and mumbling with his hoarse
broken-toothed voice, who was metamorphosed all at once into a lively,
gay young fellow, with a clear accent, and all his teeth, she would have
it, that I was neither more nor less than the devil, and could not keep
her eye from my foot, expecting, no doubt, every minute to see it
discover itself to be cloven.

For my part, I was so intent upon restoring my angel, that I regarded
nobody else. And, at last, she slowly recovering motion, with bitter
sighs and sobs, (only the whites of her eyes however appearing for some
moments,) I called upon her in the tenderest accent, as I kneeled by her,
my arm supporting her head, My angel! my charmer! my Clarissa! look upon
me, my dearest life!--I am not angry with you; I will forgive you, my
best beloved.

The gentleman and his sister knew not what to make of all this: and the
less, when my fair-one, recovering her sight, snatched another look at
me; and then again groaned, and fainted away.

I threw up the closet-sash for air, and then left her to the care of the
young gentlewoman, the same notable Miss Rawlins, who I had heard of at
the Flask: and to that of Mrs. Moore; who by this time had recovered
herself; and then retiring to one corner of the room, I made my servant
pull off my gouty stockings, brush my hat, and loop it up into the usual
smart cock.

I then stept to the closet to Mr. Rawlins, whom, in the general
confusion, I had not much minded before.--Sir, said I, you have an
uncommon scene before you. The lady is my wife, and no gentleman's
presence is necessary here but my own.

I beg pardon, Sir; if the lady be your