LETTER XXIII
MY DEAR FATHER AND MOTHER,
We had a great many neighbouring gentlemen, and their ladies, this day,
at dinner; and my master made a fine entertainment for them: and Isaac,
and Mr. Jonathan, and Benjamin, waited at table: And Isaac tells Mrs.
Jervis, that the ladies will by and by come to see the house, and have
the curiosity to see me; for, it seems, they said to my master, when
the jokes flew about, Well, Mr. B----, we understand you have a
servant-maid, who is the greatest beauty in the county; and we promise
ourselves to see her before we go.
The wench is well enough, said he; but no such beauty as you talk of,
I'll assure ye. She was my mother's waiting-maid, who, on her death-bed,
engaged me to be kind to her. She is young, and every thing is pretty
that is young. Ay, ay, said one of the ladies, that's true; but if your mother had not
recommended her so strongly, there is so much merit in beauty, that I
make no doubt such a fine gentleman would have wanted no inducement to
be kind to it. They all laughed at my master: And he, it seems, laughed for company;
but said, I don't know how it is, but I see with different eyes from
other people; for I have heard much more talk of her prettiness, than
I think it deserves: She is well enough, as I said: but her greatest
excellence is, that she is humble, and courteous, and faithful, and
makes all her fellow-servants love her: My housekeeper, in particular,
doats upon her; and you know, ladies, she is a woman of discernment:
And, as for Mr. Longman, and Jonathan, here, if they thought themselves
young enough, I am told, they would fight for her. Is it not true,
Jonathan? Troth, sir, said he, an't please your honour, I never knew
her peer, and all your honour's family are of the same mind. Do you hear
now? said my master.--Well, said the ladies, we will make a visit to
Mrs. Jervis by and by, and hope to see this paragon.
I believe they are coming; and will tell you the rest by and by. I wish
they had come, and were gone. Why can't they make their game without me?
Well, these fine ladies have been here, and are gone back again. I would
have been absent, if I could, and did step into the closet: so they saw
me when they came in. There were four of them, Lady Arthur at the great white house on the
hill, Lady Brooks, Lady Towers, and the other, it seems, a countess, of
some hard name, I forget what.