Thus tutored, I asked pardon
of the knight, who, forthwith starting up, embraced me so close,
that I could hardly breathe; and assured me, he loved me as his
own soul. At length, recollecting his night-cap, he pulled it off
in some confusion; and, with his bald-pate uncovered, made a
thousand apologies to the ladies, as he retired -- At that
instant, the Abbey bells, began to ring so loud, that we could
not hear one another speak; and this peal, as we afterwards
learned, was for the honour of Mr Bullock, an eminent cowkeeper
of Tottenham, who had just arrived at Bath, to drink the waters
for indigestion. Mr Bramble had not time to make his remarks upon
the agreeable nature of this serenade, before his ears were
saluted with another concert that interested him more nearly. Two
negroes, belonging to a Creole gentleman, who lodged in the same
house, taking their station at a window in the stair-case, about
ten feet from our dining-room door, began to practise upon the
French-horn; and being in the very first rudiments of execution,
produced such discordant sounds, as might have discomposed the
organs of an ass. You may guess what effect they had upon the
irritable nerves of uncle; who, with the most admirable
expression of splenetic surprize in his countenance, sent his man
to silence these dreadful blasts, and desire the musicians to
practise in some other place, as they had no right to stand there
and disturb all the lodgers in the house.
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