Arthur and
Mrs. Brooks were so kind as to wish me joy; and Mrs. Brooks said, You
sent Mr. Brooks, madam, home t'other day, quite charmed with a manner,
which, you have convinced a thousand persons this day, is natural to you.
You do me great honour, madam, replied I. Such a good lady's approbation
must make me too sensible of my happiness. My dear master handed me into
the chariot, and stood talking with Sir Thomas Atkyns, at the door of it,
(who was making him abundance of compliments, and is a very ceremonious
gentleman, a little too extreme in that way,) and, I believe, to
familiarize me to the gazers, which concerned me a little; for I was
dashed to hear the praises of the countrypeople, and to see how they
crowded about the chariot. Several poor people begged my charity, and I
beckoned John with my fan, and said, Divide in the further church-porch,
that money to the poor, and let them come to-morrow morning to me, and I
will give them something more, if they don't importune me now. So I gave
him all the silver I had, which happened to be between twenty and thirty
shillings; and this drew away from me their clamorous prayers for
charity.
Mr. Martin came up to me on the other side of the chariot, and leaned on
the very door, while my master was talking to Sir Thomas, from whom he
could not get away; and said, By all that's good, you have charmed the
whole congregation! Not a soul but is full of your praises! My
neighbour knew, better than any body could tell him, how to choose for
himself.
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