passion;—“what, hath the water washed
away your learning? Why, what is Latin for the
English verb read? Consider before you speak.”
The child considered some time, and then the parson
cried twice or thrice, “Le—, Le—.”
Dick answered, “Lego.”—“Very
well;—and then what is the English,”
says the parson, “of the verb lego?”—“To
read,” cried Dick.—“Very well,”
said the parson; “a good boy: you can do
well if you will take pains.—I assure your
ladyship he is not much above eight years old, and
is out of his Propria quae Maribus already.—Come,
Dick, read to her ladyship;”—which
she again desiring, in order to give the beau time
and opportunity with Fanny, Dick began as in the following
chapter.
The history of two friends, which may afford an
useful lesson to all those persons who happen to take
up their residence in married families.
“Leonard and Paul were two friends.”—“Pronounce
it Lennard, child,” cried the parson.—“Pray,
Mr Adams,” says Lady Booby, “let your son
read without interruption.” Dick then proceeded.
“Lennard and Paul were two friends, who, having
been educated together at the same school, commenced
a friendship which they preserved a long time for each
other. It was so deeply fixed in both their minds,
that a long absence, during which they had maintained
no correspondence, did not eradicate nor lessen it:
but it revived in all its force at their first meeting,
which was not till after fifteen years’ absence,
most of which time Lennard had spent in the East Indi-es.”—“Pronounce
it short, Indies,” says Adams.—“Pray?
sir, be quiet,” says the lady.—The
boy repeated—“in the East Indies,
whilst Paul had served his king and country in the
army. In which different services they had found
such different success, that Lennard was now married,
and retired with a fortune of thirty thousand pounds;
and Paul was arrived to the degree of a lieutenant
of foot; and was not worth a single shilling.
“The regiment in which Paul was stationed happened
to be ordered into quarters within a small distance
from the estate which Lennard had purchased, and where
he was settled. This latter, who was now become
a country gentleman, and a justice of peace, came
to attend the quarter sessions in the town where his
old friend was quartered, soon after his arrival.
Some affair in which a soldier was concerned occasioned
Paul to attend the justices. Manhood, and time,
and the change of climate had so much altered Lennard,
that Paul did not immediately recollect the features
of his old acquaintance: but it was otherwise
with Lennard. He knew Paul the moment he saw
him; nor could he contain himself from quitting the
bench, and running hastily to embrace him. Paul
stood at first a little surprized; but had soon sufficient
information from his friend, whom he no sooner remembered
than he returned his embrace with a passion which
made many of the spectators laugh, and gave to some
few a much higher and more agreeable sensation.
