society.'
'Boys, sir!' says Jack; 'I believe I am as good a man as yourself, Mr. ----, and as good a scholar too. Bos fur sus quotque sacerdos. Tell me what's next. D--n me, I'll hold you fifty pounds you don't tell me what's next.'
'You have him, Jack,' cries my lord. 'It is over with him, d--n me! he can't strike another blow.'
'If I had you in a proper place,' cries the clergyman, 'you should find I would strike a blow, and a pretty hard one too.'
'There,' cries my lord, 'there is the meekness of the clergyman--there spoke the wolf in sheep's clothing. D--n me, how big he looks! You must be civil to him, faith! or else he will burst with pride.'
'Ay, ay,' cries Jack,' let the clergy alone for pride; there's not a lord in the kingdom now hath half the pride of that fellow.'
'Pray, sir,' cries the doctor, turning to the other, 'are you a lord?'
'Yes, Mr. ----,' cries he, 'I have that honour, indeed.'
'And I suppose you have pride too,' said the doctor.
'I hope I have, sir,' answered he, 'at your service.'
'If such a one as you, sir,' cries the doctor, 'who are not only a scandal to the title you bear as a lord, but even as a man, can pretend to pride, why will you not allow it to a clergyman? I suppose, sir, by your dress, you are in the army? and, by the ribbon in your hat, you seem to be proud of that too. How much greater and more honourable is the service in which that gentleman is enlisted than yours! Why then should you object to the pride of the clergy, since the lowest of the function is in reality every way so much your superior?'
'Tida Tidu Tidum,' cries my lord.
'However, gentlemen,' cries the doctor, 'if you have the least pretension to that name, I beg you will put an end to your frolic; since you see it gives so much uneasiness to the lady. Nay, I entreat you for your own sakes, for here is one coming who will talk to you in a very different stile from ours.'
'One coming!' cries my lord; 'what care I who is coming?'
'I suppose it is the devil,' cries Jack; 'for here are two of his livery servants already.'
'Let the devil come as soon as he will,' cries my lord; 'd--n me if I have not a kiss!'
Amelia now fell a trembling; and her children, perceiving her fright, both hung on her, and began to cry; when Booth and Captain Trent both came up.
Booth, seeing his wife disordered, asked eagerly what was the matter? At the same time the lord and his companion, seeing Captain Trent, whom they well knew, said both together, 'What, doth this company belong to you?' When the doctor, with great presence of mind, as he was apprehensive of some fatal consequence if Booth should know what had past, said, 'So, Mr. Booth, I am glad you are returned; your poor lady here began to be frighted out of her wits. But now you have him again,' said he to Amelia, 'I hope you will be easy.'
Amelia, frighted as she was, presently took the hint, and greatly chid her husband for leaving her. But the little boy was not so quick- sighted, and cried, 'Indeed, papa, those naughty men there have frighted my mamma out of her wits.'
'How!' cries Booth, a little moved; 'frightened! Hath any one frightened you, my dear?'
'No, my love,' answered she, 'nothing. I know not what the child means. Everything is well now I see you safe.'
