Part 21 (2/2)

'Look to the right,' said he; 'the box next the gallery There they sit! Mr and Mrs Whiffle-Wit! They are now in state! They have really a capacious appearance! Were Rubens or Jordaens but here, we should have the in company with Silenus and his ass Let the poor author beware; they are prodigious critics! Madama, with as little labour as any lady in the land; and her dear Mr Whiffle-Wit can set the can equal thean! They never fail to attend the first night of a new play; and their taste is so very refined that nothing less than writing it themselves could afford them satisfaction They never ader and author have always to thank the their whole stock of little wit, and abundant envy, to put the house into an ill temper The favour is the more conspicuous because they are _orderly people_ But that perhaps is a phrase you do not understand, Mr Trevor? They never pay for their places; yet always occupy a first row for theeneral the rest of the box for their friends; who they take good care shall be as well disposed toward the house and the author as they are You may be sure toat every door where they can gain admission, to tell their acquaintance what a vile piece it was; and what a strange blockhead the , and operas of their setting, yet could dare to insult the toith such trash!+ They have now continued for years in this state of surprise, and there is no knohen it will end'

The satire of Glibly was incessant, till the tinkling of the pro of the curtain, put an end to his remarks on persons, and turned them all on the piece I cannot but own the author opened an aall

I know not whether Glibly ht influence the tone of my mind, but I think I never felt such ineffable conte called a coue, no attempt at plan or fable, each scene a different story, and each story i, puns without point, cant without character, sentie onfeatures Yet, strange to tell, the audience endured it all; and, by copious retrench, this very piece had what is called a run!

How capricious a thing is public taste! It can regale on garbage, fro, and yet, in the frenzy of idiotisreve's 'Way of the World!'

Glibly treated the piece with unceasing contempt, yet clapped every scene; and when, on two or three occasions, some few raised their voices and called _off! off!_ he o on!_ When it was over, he leftit was the most execrable piece he had ever beheld; but he had proood character, in the paper hich he was connected, and this he o and write

CHAPTER III

_Repetition of doubts: A very old acquaintance: Another pleasing rencontre: Perplexity and suspense created_

The adventures of the evening sent reeable reflections What a world was this! How replete with folly, hypocrisy, and vice! What certainly had the man of virtue that his claims should be heard? Aer to gratify their own passions and appease the capricious cravings of vanity, how ht truth and worth ascertain success? The comedy I had seen had convinced ht not only pass current but find partisans; yet proofs in abundance were on record that genius itself had no security against faction, envy, and mistaken opposition I was at present in a state of warfare: and were judges like these to give the meed of victory? How many creatures had the powerful and the proud obedient to their beck; ever ready to affirm, deny, say and unsay; and, by falsehood and defamation, involve in ruin men whose souls were the most pure, and principles the most exalted!

For some days I re to seek the satisfaction which I supposed my injuries demanded, but undecided with respect to the ed by another event My ht my breakfast, toldlady on the second floor, had asked hi she was sure she knew me, that she loved me from her soul, for that I had once saved the life of her and her dear boy, and that she wished very much to see me

At first this account surprised me A woman and a boy whose lives I had saved? Where is she, said I? Below in the kitchen, answered Philip I bade him desire her to coe of forty entered, but of whose countenance I had no clear recollection 'I beg pardon, Sir,' said she, 'for my boldness, but your nah Trevor?'

'The same'

'God in his ht that you savedfor you But you were always a kind, dear, good child; and your uncle, Mr Elford, was the best of men!'

The epithet, child, and the name of Elford instantly solved the riddle: it was poor Mary; and the boy, whose life I had saved, was the child of which she was delivered, after the adventure of the barn

Her features suddenly beca train of ideas, inspiring that kind of e I kissed her with sincere good will: and in sy to her affections, clasped me round the neck, pressed me to her cheek, exclaimed 'God in heaven for ever bless you!' then, suddenly recollecting herself, with that honest simplicity which was so constitutionally her character, dropped on her knees, and added, 'I hu so bold!'

After some persuasion, I prevailed on her to sit down: but I could not conquer her tiinary inferiority so far as to induce her to partake of entle master, and she should always adorea poor servant, like her'

We talked over forht ly to recollection On inquiry, she told me she had apprenticed her son to a printer; that till this period she had fed, clothed, and educated him by her own industry; and that he was now likely to be no longer burthenso an apt and industrious boy, and already capable of supplying himself with clothes by his over-work

I farther learnt, fro lady, who ine her mistress had been unfortunate 'She had been a kindlady! she did not deserve the mishaps she had met with; and it was a shah all the world should turn their back on her, she would not be so wicked Poor women were born to be misused, by false-hearted men; and, if they had no pity for one another, what must beco? She answered, that first and last she had known her ever since she left Mr Elford's service

'What! Was she of our county?'

'Yea'

'Was I acquainted with her?'