y expectation, he took umbrage at the contraction of my brow, swore he
did not value my sulky looks a fig's end, and protested he feared no
man breathing. Miss Snapper said, she was very glad to find herself in
company with a man of so much courage, who, she did not doubt, would
protect her from all the attempts of highwaymen during our journey.
"Make yourself perfectly easy on that head, madam," replied the officer.
"I have got a pair of pistols (here they are), which I took from a horse
officer at the battle of Dettingen; they are double loaded, and if any
highwayman in England robs you of the value of a pin while I have the
honour of being in your company, d--n my heart." When he had expressed
himself in this manner, a prim gentlewoman, who had sat silent hitherto,
opened her mouth, and said, she wondered how any man could be so rude
as to pull out such weapons before ladies. "D--me, madam," cried the
champion, "if you are so much afraid at the sight of a pistol, how d'ye
propose to stand fire if there should be occasion?" She then told him
that, if she thought he could be so unmannerly as to use fire-arms in
her presence, whatever might be the occasion, she would get out of the
coach immediately, and walk to the next village, where she might procure
a convenience to herself. Before he could make any answer, my Dulcinea
interposed, and observed that, far from being offended at a gentleman's
using his arms in his own defence, she thought herself very lucky in
being along with one by whose valour she stood a good chance of saving
herself from being rifled. The prude cast a disdainful look at Miss, and
said that people, who have but little to lose, are sometimes the most
solicitous about preserving it. The old lady was affronted at this
inuendo, and took notice, that people ought to be very well informed
before they speak slightingly of other people's fortune, lest they
discover their own envy, and make themselves ridiculous. The daughter
declared, that she did not pretend to vie with anybody in point of
riches; and if the lady, who insisted upon non-resistance, would promise
to indemnify us all for the loss we should sustain, she would be one of
the first to persuade the captain to submission, in case we should be
attacked. To this proposal, reasonable as it was, the reserved lady made
no other reply than a scornful glance and a toss of her head. I was very
well pleased with the spirit of my young mistress, and even wishe