AS Mrs. _Bridget_’s finger and thumb were upon the latch, the corporal
did not knock as often as perchance your honour’s taylor——I might have
taken my example something nearer home; for I owe mine, some five and
twenty pounds at least, and wonder at the man’s patience——
——But this is nothing at all to the world: only ’tis a cursed thing to
be in debt; and there seems to be a fatality in the exchequers of some
poor princes, particularly those of our house, which no Economy can
bind down in irons: for my own part, I’m persuaded there is not any one
prince, prelate, pope, or potentate, great or small upon earth, more
desirous in his heart of keeping straight with the world than I am——or
who takes more likely means for it. I never give above half a
guinea——or walk with boots——or cheapen tooth-picks——or lay out a
shilling upon a band-box the year round; and for the six months I’m in
the country, I’m upon so small a scale, that with all the good temper
in the world, I outdo _Rousseau_, a bar length——for I keep neither man
or boy, or horse, or cow, or dog, or cat, or any thing that can eat or
drink, except a thin poor piece of a Vestal (to keep my fire in), and
who has generally as bad an appetite as myself——but if you think this
makes a philosopher of me——I would not, my good people! give a rush for
your judgments.
True philosophy——but there is no treating the subject whilst my uncle
is whistling Lillabullero.
——Let us go into the house.