My best friend, who always takes delight to have me praised, seemed much
pleased with our conversation; and he said the kindest, tenderest, and
most respectful things in the world to me. Insomuch, that the rough
Mr. Martin said, Did you ever think our good friend here, who used to
ridicule matrimony so much, would have made so complaisant a husband?
How long do you intend, sir, that this shall hold? As long as my good
girl deserves it, said he; and that, I hope, will be for ever. But,
continued the kind gentleman, you need not wonder I have changed my mind
as to wedlock; for I never expected to meet with one whose behaviour and
sweetness of temper were so well adapted to make me happy.
After dinner, and having drank good healths to each of their ladies, I
withdrew; and they sat and drank two bottles of claret a-piece, and were
very merry; and went away, full of my praises, and vowing to bring their
ladies to see me. John having brought me your kind letter, my dear father, I told my good
master, after his friends were gone, how gratefully you received his
generous intentions as to the Kentish farm, and promised your best
endeavours to serve him in that estate; and that you hoped your industry
and care would be so well employed in it, that you should be very little
troublesome to him,--as to the liberal manner in which he had intended
to add to a provision, that of itself exceeded all you wished. He was
very well pleased with your cheerful acceptance of it.
I am glad your engagements in the world lie in so small a compass. As
soon as you have gotten an account of them exactly, you will be pleased
to send it me, with the list of the poor folks you are so kind to
promise to procure me. I think, as my dear master is so generous, you should account nothing
that is plain, too good. Pray don't be afraid of laying out upon
yourselves. My dear sir intends that you shall not, when you come to us,
return to your old abode; but stay with us, till you set out for Kent;
and so you must dispose of yourselves accordingly. And I hope, my dear
father, you have quite left off all slavish business. As farmer Jones
has been kind to you, as I have heard you say, pray, when you take leave
of them, present them with three guineas worth of good books; such as
a family bible, a common prayer, a whole duty of man, or any other you
think will be acceptable; for they live a great way from church; and in
winter the ways from their farm thither are impassable.