' -- 'Well, dunghill, or not dunghill,
he has got such a clear counter-tenor, that I wish I had such
another at Brambleton-hall, to wake the maids of a morning. Do
you know where I could find one of his brood?' 'Probably in the
work-house at St Giles's parish, madam; but I protest I know not
his particular mew!' My uncle, frying with vexation, cried, 'Good
God, sister, how you talk! I have told you twenty times, that
this gentleman's name is not Gwynn.' -- 'Hoity toity, brother mine
(she replied) no offence, I hope -- Gwynn is an honorable name, of
true old British extraction -- I thought the gentleman had been
come of Mrs Helen Gwynn, who was of his own profession; and if so
be that were the case, he might be of king Charles's breed, and
have royal blood in his veins.' -- 'No, madam (answered Quin, with
great solemnity) my mother was not a whore of such distinction --
True it is, I am sometimes tempted to believe myself of royal
descent; for my inclinations are often arbitrary -- If I was an
absolute prince, at this instant, I believe I should send for the
head of your cook in a charger -- She has committed felony, on the
person of that John Dory, which is mangled in a cruel manner, and
even presented without sauce -- O tempora! O mores!'
This good-humoured sally turned the conversation into a less
disagreeable channel -- But, lest you should think my scribble as
tedious as Mrs Tabby's clack, I shall not add another word, but
that I am as usual
Yours,
J.
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