As for Clinker, his brain seemed to be affected. -- He
laughed, and wept, and danced about in such a distracted manner,
that the landlord very judiciously conveyed him out of the room.
My uncle, seeing me dropping wet, comprehended the whole of what
had happened, and asked if all the company was safe? -- Being
answered in the affirmative, he insisted upon my putting on dry
clothes; and, having swallowed a little warm wine, desired he
might be left to his repose. Before I went to shift myself, I
inquired about the rest of the family -- I found Mrs Tabitha still
delirious from her fright, discharging very copiously the water
she had swallowed. She was supported by the captain, distilling
drops from his uncurled periwig, so lank and so dank, that he
looked like Father Thames without his sedges, embracing Isis,
while she cascaded in his urn. Mrs Jenkins was present also, in a
loose bed gown, without either cap or handkerchief; but she
seemed to be as little compos mentis as her mistress, and acted
so many cross purposes in the course of her attendance, that,
between the two, Lismahago had occasion for all his philosophy.
As for Liddy, I thought the poor girl would have actually lost
her senses.
Pages:
550
551
552
553
554
555
556
557
558
559
560
561
562
563
564
565
566
567
568
569
570
571
572
573
574