Joseph Andrews, vol 2 | Page 8

introduced me to a man of your charity!
you are indeed a Christian of the true primitive kind, and an honour to
the country wherein you live. I would willingly have taken a pilgrimage
to the Holy Land to have beheld you; for the advantages which we
draw from your goodness give me little pleasure, in comparison of
what I enjoy for your own sake when I consider the treasures you are
by these means laying up for yourself in a country that passeth not
away. We will therefore, most generous sir, accept your goodness, as
well the entertainment you have so kindly offered us at your house this
evening, as the accommodation of your horses to-morrow morning."
He then began to search for his hat, as did Joseph for his; and both they
and Fanny were in order of departure, when the gentleman, stopping
short, and seeming to meditate by himself for the space of about a

minute, exclaimed thus: "Sure never anything was so unlucky; I had
forgot that my house-keeper was gone abroad, and hath locked up all
my rooms; indeed, I would break them open for you, but shall not be
able to furnish you with a bed; for she has likewise put away all my
linen. I am glad it entered into my head before I had given you the
trouble of walking there; besides, I believe you will find better
accommodations here than you expected.--Landlord, you can provide
good beds for these people, can't you?" "Yes, and please your worship,"
cries the host, "and such as no lord or justice of the peace in the
kingdom need be ashamed to lie in." "I am heartily sorry," says the
gentleman, "for this disappointment. I am resolved I will never suffer
her to carry away the keys again." "Pray, sir, let it not make you
uneasy," cries Adams; "we shall do very well here; and the loan of your
horses is a favour we shall be incapable of making any return to."
"Ay!" said the squire, "the horses shall attend you here at what hour in
the morning you please;" and now, after many civilities too tedious to
enumerate, many squeezes by the hand, with most affectionate looks
and smiles at each other, and after appointing the horses at seven the
next morning, the gentleman took his leave of them, and departed to his
own house. Adams and his companions returned to the table, where the
parson smoaked another pipe, and then they all retired to rest.
Mr Adams rose very early, and called Joseph out of his bed, between
whom a very fierce dispute ensued, whether Fanny should ride behind
Joseph, or behind the gentleman's servant; Joseph insisting on it that he
was perfectly recovered, and was as capable of taking care of Fanny as
any other person could be. But Adams would not agree to it, and
declared he would not trust her behind him; for that he was weaker than
he imagined himself to be.
This dispute continued a long time, and had begun to be very hot, when
a servant arrived from their good friend, to acquaint them that he was
unfortunately prevented from lending them any horses; for that his
groom had, unknown to him, put his whole stable under a course of
physic.
This advice presently struck the two disputants dumb: Adams cried out,

"Was ever anything so unlucky as this poor gentleman? I protest I am
more sorry on his account than my own. You see, Joseph, how this
good-natured man is treated by his servants; one locks up his linen,
another physics his horses, and I suppose, by his being at this house last
night, the butler had locked up his cellar. Bless us! how good-nature is
used in this world! I protest I am more concerned on his account than
my own." "So am not I," cries Joseph; "not that I am much troubled
about walking on foot; all my concern is, how we shall get out of the
house, unless God sends another pedlar to redeem us. But certainly this
gentleman has such an affection for you, that he would lend you a
larger sum than we owe here, which is not above four or five shillings."
"Very true, child," answered Adams; "I will write a letter to him, and
will even venture to solicit him for three half-crowns; there will be no
harm in having two or three shillings in our pockets; as we have full
forty miles to travel, we may possibly have occasion for them."
Fanny being now risen, Joseph paid her a visit, and left Adams to write
his letter, which having finished, he despatched a boy with it to the
gentleman, and then seated himself by the door, lighted his pipe, and
betook