s did the altercation increase
every minute, till Master Mash, who thought it an unpardonable affront
that any one in an inferior station should presume to think or feel for
himself, so far lost all command of his temper as to call the man a
_blackguard_, and strike him upon the face. But the farmer, who
possessed great strength, and equal resolution, very deliberately laid
hold of the young gentleman who had offered him the insult, and, without
the smallest exertion, laid him sprawling upon the ground, at his full
length under the benches, and setting his feet upon his body, told him
that, "since he did not know how to _sit_ quiet at a play, he would have
the honour of teaching him to _lie_; and that if he offered to stir, he
would trample him to pieces;" a threat which was very evident he could
find no difficulty in executing.

This unexpected incident struck a universal damp over the spirits of the
little gentry; and even Master Mash himself so far forgot his dignity,
as to supplicate in a very submissive manner for a release; in this he
was joined by all his companions, and Harry among the rest.

"Well," said the farmer, "I should never have thought that a parcel of
young gentlemen, as you call yourselves, would come into public to
behave with so much rudeness; I am sure that there is ne'er a ploughboy
at my house but what would have shown more sense and manners; but, since
you are sorry for what has happened, I am very willing to make an end of
the affair; more especially for the sake of this little master here, who
has behaved with so much propriety, that I am sure he is a better
gentleman than any of you, though he is not dressed so much like a
monkey or a barber." With these words he suffered the crestfallen Mash
to rise; who crept from his place of confinement, with looks infinitely
more expressive of mildness than he had brought with him; nor was the
lesson lost upon the others, for they behaved with the greatest decency
during the rest of the exhibition.

However, Master Mash's courage began to rise as he went home, and found
himself farther from his formidable farmer; for he assured his
companions, "that, if he had not been so vulgar a fellow, he would
certainly call him out and pistol him."

The next day at dinner Mr Merton and the ladies, who had not accompanied
the young gentlemen to the play, nor had yet heard of the misfortune
which had ensued, were very inquisitive about the preceding night's
enter