I was forced
to rely upon the strength of my constitution, which I hoped would resist
intoxication longer than the squire's, and to trust to the good nature
and discretion of my mistress for the rest.

Our entertainer, resolving to begin by times, ordered the table to
be furnished with liquor and glasses immediately after tea, but we
absolutely refused to set in for drinking so soon; and prevailed upon
him to pass away an hour or two at whist, in which we engaged as soon
as Narcissa returned. The savage and I happened to be partners at first,
and, as my thoughts were wholly employed in a more interesting game, I
played so ill that he lost all patience, swore bitterly, and threatened
to call for wine, if they would not grant him another associate. This
desire was gratified, and Narcissa and I were of a side; he won for
the same reason that made him lose before; I was satisfied, my lovely
partner did not repine, and the time slipped away very agreeably, until
we were told that supper was served in another room.

The squire was enraged to find the evening so unprofitably spent, and
wreaked his vengeance on the cards, which he tore, and committed to the
flames with many execrations; threatening to make us redeem our loss
with a large glass and quick circulation; and indeed we had no sooner
supped, and my charmer withdrawn, than he began to put his threat in
execution. Three bottles of port (for he drank no other sort of
wine) were placed before us, with as many water glasses, which were
immediately filled to the brim, after his example, by each out of his
respective allowance, and emptied in a trice to the best in Christendom.
Though I swallowed this, and the next, as fast as the glass could be
replenished, without hesitation or show of reluctance, I perceived
that my brain would not be able to bear many bumpers of this sort, and
dreading the perseverance of a champion who began with such vigour, I
determined to make up for the deficiency of my strength by a stratagem,
which I actually put in practice when the second course of bottles was
called for. The wine being strong and heady, I was already a good deal
discomposed by the dispatch we had made. Freeman's eyes began to reel,
and Bruin himself was elevated into a song, which he uttered with
great vociferation. When I therefore saw the second round brought in, I
assumed a gay air, entertained him with a French catch on the subject of
drinking, which, though he did rot und