that should he give his tongue any more saucy liberties at my expense,
I would crop his ears without any ceremony. This rhodomontade, delivered
with a stern countenance and resolute tone, had the desired effect
upon my antagonist, who, with some confusion, sneaked off, and gave his
friend an account of his reception.

The story, taking air among the servants, procured for me the title of
Gentleman John, with which I was sometimes honoured, even by my
mistress and Narcissa, who had been informed of the whole affair by the
chambermaid. In the meantime, the rival queens expressed their passion
by all the ways in their power: the cook entertained me with choice
bits, the dairymaid with strokings: the first would often encourage me
to declare myself, by complimenting me upon my courage and learning, and
observing, that if she had a husband like me, to maintain order and
keep accounts, she could make a great deal of money, by setting up an
eating-house in London for gentlemen's servants on board wages. The
other courted my affection by showing her own importance, and telling
me that many a substantial farmer in the neighbourhood would be glad to
marry her, but she was resolved to please her eye, if she should plague
her heart. Then she would launch out into the praise of my proper
person, and say, she was sure I would make a good husband, for I was
very good-natured. I began to be uneasy at the importunities of these
inamoratas, whom, at another time perhaps, I might have pleased without
the disagreeable sauce of matrimony, but, at present, my whole soul
was engrossed by Narcissa; and I could not bear the thoughts of doing
anything derogatory to the passion I entertained for her.

CHAPTER XLI

Narcissa being in danger from the brutality of Sir Timothy, is rescued
by me, who revenge myself on my rival--I declare my passion, and
retreat to the seaside--am surrounded by smugglers, and carried to
Boulogne--find my Uncle Lieutenant Bowling in great distress, and
relieve him--our conversation

At certain intervals my ambition would revive; I would despise myself
for my tame resignation to my sordid fate, and revolve a hundred schemes
for assuming the character of a gentleman, to which I thought myself
entitled by birth and education. In these fruitless suggestions time
stole away unperceived, and I had already remained eight months in the
station of a footman, when an accident happened that put an end to my
servitude, a