sure of
discharging the bill by stealth, for which I received a great many
apologies and acknowledgments from my guests, and we re-embarked at the
first warning. The officer was obliged, at last, to appease his hunger
with a luncheon of bread and cheese, and a pint bottle of brandy, which
he dispatched in the coach, cursing the inappetence of his lordship, who
had ordered dinner to be put back a whole hour.

Nothing remarkable happened during the remaining part of our journey,
which was finished next day, when I waited on the ladies to the house of
a relation, in which they intended to lodge, and, passing that night at
the inn, took lodgings in the morning for myself.

The forenoon was spent in visiting everything that was worth seeing in
the place, in company with a gentleman to whom Banter had given me a
letter of introduction; and in the afternoon I waited on the ladies, and
found Miss a good deal indisposed with the fatigue of their journey. As
they foresaw they should have occasion for a male acquaintance to squire
them at all public places, I was received with great cordiality, and had
the mother's permission to conduct them next day to the Long Room, which
we no sooner entered, than the eyes of everybody present were turned
upon us, and, when we had suffered the martyrdom of their looks for some
time, a whisper circulated at our expense, which was accompanied with
many contemptuous smiles and tittering observations, to my utter shame
and confusion. I did not so much conduct as follow my charge to a place
where she seated her mother and herself with astonishing composure
notwithstanding the unmannerly behaviour of the whole company,
which seemed to be assumed merely to put her out of countenance. The
celebrated Mr. Nash, who commonly attends in this place, as master of
the ceremonies, perceiving the disposition of the assembly, took upon
himself the task of gratifying their ill-nature further, by exposing my
mistress to the edge of his wit. With this view he approached us, with
many bows and grimaces, and, after having welcomed Miss Snapper to the
place, asked her in the hearing of all present, if she could inform him
of the name of Tobit's dog. Miss was so much incensed at his insolence,
that I should certainly have kicked him where he stood without ceremony,
had not the young lady prevented the effects of my indignation, by
replying with the utmost vivacity, "His name was Nash, and an impudent
dog he was." This