Nevertheless, Thomas continued obstinate;
and, at length declared, that if the dog was not shot
immediately, he himself would be his executioner -- This
declaration opened the flood-gates of Tabby's eloquence, which
would have shamed the first-rate oratress of Billingsgate. The
footman retorted in the same stile; and the squire dismissed him
from his service, after having prevented me from giving him a
good horse-whipping for his insolence.
The coach being adjusted, another difficulty occurred -- Mrs
Tabitha absolutely refused to enter it again, unless another
driver could be found to take the place of the postilion; who,
she affirmed, had overturned the carriage from malice
aforethought -- After much dispute, the man resigned his place to a
shabby country fellow, who undertook to go as far as Marlborough,
where they could be better provided; and at that place we arrived
about one O'clock, without farther impediment. Mrs Bramble,
however, found new matter of offence; which, indeed, she has a
particular genius for extracting at will from almost every
incident in life. We had scarce entered the room at Marlborough,
where we stayed to dine, when she exhibited a formal complaint
against the poor fellow who had superseded the postilion.
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