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in my heart； as to be equally proof against all the pulls of
discretion； and the frosts of neglect。
Dear Letty！ I had an alarming adventure at the hunters ball in
Edinburgh While I sat discoursing with a friend in a corner； all
at once the very image of Wilson stood before me； dressed exactly
as he was in the character of Aimwell！ It was one Mr Gordon； whom
I had not seen before Shocked at the sudden apparition； I
fainted away； and threw the whole assembly in confusion However；
the cause of my disorder remained a secret to every body but my
brother； who was likewise struck with the resemblance； and
scolded after we came home I am very sensible of Jery's
affection； and know he spoke as well with a view to my own
interest and happiness； as in regard to the honour of the family；
but I cannot bear to have my wounds probed severely I was not so
much affected by the censure he passed upon my own indiscretion；
as with the reflection he made on the conduct of Wilson。 He
observed； that if he was really the gentleman he pretended to be；
and harboured nothing but honourable designs； he would have
vindicated his pretensions in the face of day This remark made a
deep impression upon my mind I endeavoured to conceal my
thoughts； and this endeavour had a bad effect upon my health and
spirits； so it was thought necessary that I should go to the
Highlands； and drink the goat…milk…whey。
We went accordingly to Lough Lomond； one of the most enchanting
spots in the whole world； and what with this remedy； which I had
every morning fresh from the mountains； and the pure air； and
chearful company； I have recovered my flesh and appetite； though
there is something still at bottom； which it is not in the power
of air； exercise； company； or medicine to remove These incidents
would not touch me so nearly； if I had a sensible confidant to
sympathize with my affliction； and comfort me with wholesome
advice I have nothing of this kind； except Win Jenkins； who is
really a good body in the main； but very ill qualified for such
an office The poor creature is weak in her nerves； as well as in
her understanding； otherwise I might have known the true name and
character of that unfortunate youth But why do I call him
unfortunate？ perhaps the epithet is more applicable to me for
having listened to the false professions of But； hold！ I have as
yet no right； and sure I have no inclination to believe any thing
to the prejudice of his honour In that reflection I shall still
exert my patience。 As for Mrs Jenkins； she herself is really an
object of compassion Between vanity； methodism； and love； her
head is almost turned。 I should have more regard for her；
however； if she had been more constant in the object of her
affection； but； truly； she aimed at conquest； and flirted at the
same time with my uncle's footman； Humphrey Clinker； who is
really a deserving young man； and one Dutton； my brother's valet
de chambre； a debauched fellow； who； leaving Win in the lurch；
ran away with another man's bride at Berwick。
My dear Willis； I am truly ashamed of my own sex We complain of
advantages which the men take of our youth； inexperience；
insensibility； and all that； but I have seen enough to believe；
that our sex in general make it their business to ensnare the
other； and for this purpose； employ arts which are by no means to
be justified In point of constancy； they certainly have nothing
to reproach the male part of the creation My poor aunt； without
any regard to her years and imperfections； has gone to market
with her charms in every place where she thought she had the
least chance to dispose of her person； which； however； hangs
still heavy on her hands I am afraid she has used even religion
as a decoy； though it has not answered her expectation She has
been praying； preaching； and catechising among the methodists；
with whom this country abounds； and pretends to have such
manifestations and revelations； as even Clinker himself can
hardly believe； though the poor fellow is half crazy with
enthusiasm。 As for Jenkins； she affects to take all her
mistress's reveries for gospel。 She has also her heart…heavings
and motions of the spirit； and God forgive me if I think
uncharitably； but all this seems to me to be downright hypocrisy
and deceit Perhaps； indeed； the poor girl imposes on herself
She is generally in a flutter； and is much subject to vapours
Since we came to Scotland； she has seen apparitions； and pretends
to prophesy If I could put faith in all these supernatural
visitations； I should think myself abandoned of grace； for I have
neither seen； heard； nor felt anything of this nature； although I
endeavour to discharge the duties of religion with all the
sincerity； zeal； and devotion； that is in the power of；
Dear Letty；
your ever affectionate；
LYDIA MELFORD
GLASGOW； Sept。 7。
We are so far on our return to Brambleton…hall； and I would fain
hope we shall take Gloucester in our way； in which case I shall
have the inexpressible pleasure of embracing my dear Willis Pray
remember me to my worthy governess。
To Mrs MARY JONES； at Brambleton…hall。
DEAR MARY；
Sunders Macully； the Scotchman； who pushes directly for Vails；
has promised to give it you into your own hand； and therefore I
would not miss the opportunity to let you know as I am still in
the land of the living： and yet I have been on the brink of the
other world since I sent you my last letter。 We went by sea to
another kingdom called Fife； and coming back； had like to have
gone to pot in a storm。 What between the frite and sickness； I
thought I should have brought my heart up； even Mr Clinker was
not his own man for eight and forty hours after we got ashore。 It
was well for some folks that we scaped drownding； for mistress
was very frexious； and seemed but indifferently prepared for a
change； but； thank God； she was soon put in a better frame by the
private exaltations of the reverend Mr Macrocodile。 We
afterwards churned to Starling and Grascow； which are a kiple of
handsome towns； and then we went to a gentleman's house at Loff…Loming；
which is a wonderful sea of fresh water； with a power of
hylands in the midst on't。 They say as how it has n'er a bottom；
and was made by a musician and； truly； I believe it； for it is
not in the coarse of nature。 It has got waves without wind； fish
without fins； and a floating hyland； and one of them is a crutch…yard；
where the dead are buried； and always before the person
dies； a bell rings of itself to give warning。
O Mary！ this is the land of congyration The bell knolled when we
were there I saw lights； and heard lamentations。 The gentleman；
our landlord； has got another house； which he was fain to quit；
on account of a mischievous ghost； that would not suffer people
to lie in their beds。 The fairies dwell in a hole of Kairmann； a
mounting hard by； and they steal away the good women that are in
the straw； if so be as how there a'n't a horshoe nailed to the
door： and I was shewn an ould vitch； called Elspath Ringavey；
with a red petticoat； bleared eyes； and a mould of grey bristles
on her sin。 That she mought do me no harm；