it is all I can. I have injured myself by purchasing.
I have been too liberal of my money. Indeed, I
fear my heir will find my affairs in a worse situation
than they are reputed to be. Ah! he will have
reason to wish I had loved money more and land less.
Pray, my good neighbour, where should I have that quantity
of riches the world is so liberal to bestow on me?
Where could I possibly, without I had stole it, acquire
such a treasure?” “Why, truly,” says
Adams, “I have been always of your opinion;
I have wondered as well as yourself with what confidence
they could report such things of you, which have to
me appeared as mere impossibilities; for you know,
sir, and I have often heard you say it, that your
wealth is of your own acquisition; and can it be credible
that in your short time you should have amassed such
a heap of treasure as these people will have you worth?
Indeed, had you inherited an estate like Sir Thomas
Booby, which had descended in your family for many
generations, they might have had a colour for their
assertions.” “Why, what do they say
I am worth?” cries Peter, with a malicious sneer.
“Sir,” answered Adams, “I have heard
some aver you are not worth less than twenty thousand
pounds.” At which Peter frowned. “Nay,
sir,” said Adams, “you ask me only the
opinion of others; for my own part, I have always
denied it, nor did I ever believe you could possibly
be worth half that sum.” “However,
Mr Adams,” said he, squeezing him by the hand,
“I would not sell them all I am worth for double
that sum; and as to what you believe, or they believe,
I care not a fig, no not a fart. I am not poor
because you think me so, nor because you attempt to
undervalue me in the country. I know the envy
of mankind very well; but I thank Heaven I am above
them. It is true, my wealth is of my own acquisition.
I have not an estate, like Sir Thomas Booby, that
has descended in my family through many generations;
but I know heirs of such estates who are forced to
travel about the country like some people in torn
cassocks, and might be glad to accept of a pitiful
curacy for what I know. Yes, sir, as shabby fellows
as yourself, whom no man of my figure, without that
vice of good-nature about him, would suffer to ride
in a chariot with him.” “Sir,”
said Adams, “I value not your chariot of a rush;
and if I had known you had intended to affront me,
I would have walked to the world’s end on foot
ere I would have accepted a place in it. However,
sir, I will soon rid you of that inconvenience;”
and, so saying, he opened the chariot door, without
calling to the coachman, and leapt out into the highway,
forgetting to take his hat along with him; which,
however, Mr Pounce threw after him with great violence.
Joseph and Fanny stopt to bear him company the rest
of the way, which was not above a mile.
The arrival of Lady Booby and the rest at Booby-hall.
