but perceiving every thing safe, I own their pre fent mortification did not much difpleafe me, as it might give me many opportunities of future triumph, and teach my daughters more humility.

The family ftill refolve to hold up their heads.

MICHAELMAS-EVE happening on the next

day, we were invited to burn nuts, and play tricks at neighbour Flamborough's. Out late mortifications had humbled us a little, or it is probable we might have rejected fuch an invi tation with contempt: however, we fuffered our felves to be happy. Our honest neighbour's goofe and dumplings were fine; and the lambs-wool, even in the opinion of my wife, who was a connoiffeur, was thought excellent. It is true, his manner of telling ftories was not quite fo well. They were very long, and very dull, and all about himself, and we had laughed at them ten times before: however, we were kind enough to laugh at them once more.

Mr. Burchell, who was of the party, was always fond of seeing fome innocent amusement going forward, and set the boys and girls to blindman's buff. My wife, too, was perfuaded to join in the diverfion; and it gave me pleasure to think that she was not yet too old. In the meantime,

my

my neighbour and I looked on, laughed at every feat, and praised our own dexterity when we were young. Hot cockles fucceeded next, queftions and commands followed that; and, last of all, they fat down to hunt the flipper. As every perfon may not be acquainted with this primeval pastime, it may be neceffary to obferve, that the company, at this play, plant themselves in a ring upon the ground, all except one, who ftands in the middle, whofe bufinefs it is to catch a fhoe, which the company shove about under their hams, from one to another, fomething like a weaver's fhuttle. As it is impoffible, in this case, for the lady who is up to face all the company at once, the great beauty of the play lies in hitting her a thump with the heel of the fhoe, on that fide least capable of making a defence. It was in this manner that my eldest daughter was hemmed in, and thumped about, all blowzed, in fpirits, and bawling for fair play, fair play, with a voice that might deafen a ballad-finger; when, confusion on confufion, who fhould enter the room but our two great acquaintances from town, Lady Blarney and Mifs Carolina Wilelmina Amelia Skeggs! Defcription would but beggar, therefore it is unneceffary to defcribe, this new mortification. Death to be feen by ladies of fuch high breeding in fuch vulgar attitudes! Nothing better could enfue from fuch a vulgar play of Mr. Flamborough's propofing. We seemed ftruck to the ground for fome time, as if actually petrified with amazement.

The

The two ladies had been at our houfe to fee us, and finding us from home, came after us hither, as they were uneafy to know what accident could have kept us from church the day before. Olivia undertook to be our prolocutor, and delivered the whole in a fummary way, only saying, "We were thrown from our horses." At which account, the ladies were greatly concerned; but being told the family received no hurt, they were extremely glad but being informed that we were almost killed by the fright, they were vastly sorry; but hearing that we had a very good night, they were extremely glad again. Nothing could exceed their complaifance to my daughters; their profeffions the last evening were warm, but now they were ardent. They protefted a defire of having a more lafting acquaintance. Lady Blarney was particularly attached to Olivia; Miss Carolina Wilelmina Amelia Skeggs (I love to give the whole name) took a greater fancy to her fifter. They fupported the converfation between themselves, while my daughters fat filent, admiring their exalted breeding. But, as every reader, however beggarly himself, is fond of high-lived dialogues, with anecdotes of Lords, Ladies, and Knights of the Garter, I must beg leave to give him the concluding part of the prefent converfation.

"All that I know of the matter," cried Miss Skeggs, "is this, that it may be true, or it may 66 not be true; but this I can affure your Ladyfhip, that the whole route was in amaze; his

Lordship

"Lordship turned all manner of colours; my "Lady fell into a fwoon; but Sir Tomkyn, "drawing his fword, fwore he was hers to the "laft drop of his blood."

"the matter; and I believe her Grace would "keep nothing a fecret from me. But this you

66 may depend upon as a fact, that the next morn"ing my Lord Duke cried out three times to "his valet-de-chambre, Jernigan, Jernigan, Jer"nigan, bring me my garters."

But, previously, I fhould have mentioned the very impolite behaviour of Mr. Burchell, who, during this difcourfe, fat with his face turned to the fire, and, at the conclufion of every fentence, would cry out fudge; an expreffion which displeafed us all, and, in fome measure, damped the rifing spirit of the converfation.

"Besides, my dear Skeggs," continued our Peerefs, "there is nothing of this in the copy "of verses that Dr. Burdock made upon the oc"cafion."

"I am surprized at that," cried Miss Skeggs; "for he feldom leaves any thing out, as he "writes only for his own amusement. But can "your Ladyship favour me with a fight of "them?"

My dear creature," replied our Peeress, " do you think I carry fuch things about me? "Though they are very fine, to be sure, and I "think myself something of a judge; at least, Τ "know

1

"know what pleases myself. Indeed, I was ever "an admirer of all Dr. Burdock's little pieces; "for, except what he does, and our dear Coun* tefs at Hanover-Square, there's nothing comes out but the moft loweft ftuff in nature; not a "bit of high life among them."

"Your Ladyship fhould except," says t'other, 86 your own things in the Lady's Magazine. I "hope you'll fay there's nothing low-lived there; "but, I suppose we are to have no more from

that quarter." "Why, my dear," fays the Lady, "you know my reader and companion "has left me, to be married to Captain Roch; "and, as my poor eyes won't fuffer me to write "myself, I have been for fome time looking out "for another. A proper perfon is no easy matter to find; and, to be fure, thirty pounds a year is a small ftipend for a well-bred girl of "character, that can read, write, and behave in company; as for the chits about town, there is "no bearing them about one."

"That I know," cried Mifs Skeggs, "by ex"perience: for, of the three companions I had "this last half year, one of them refused to do "plain work an hour in the day; another thought "twenty-five guineas a year too small a salary; "and I was obliged to fend away the third, because "I suspected an intrigue with the chaplain. Vir"tue, my dear Lady Blarney, virtue is worth any "price; but where is that to be found?"

My wife had been for a long time all attention to this difcourfe; but was particularly ftruck