The qucftion was whether my eldeft

daughter, as being a matron, fhould not

fit above the two young brides, but the

•'•' • • ... * debate



debate iP9as'£ut&(»t isfy emy ^ii George,
who propofed, ihat ^ite <:<»3irtf |^T)y ^ft^old
fit dndiftrijtninat^ly, ^cwry ^gentlemfin by
hi3 iady, Ph« was teceived vvith .great
appcobation Jby ^U, ^^;^^ik^ it^ wtlb,
who I could ;pcrceit« was rnbt -perfectly
Satisfied, as 'Ihe e^cpe^ted to 4>ave had the
pleaitireof ficnng at ilie head x>f the tai>Ie
and carvuig^ll €he4{iaat ]for -all the <30m*
pany. But.iidi^thftandiiSg ilhk, it«i$4ni^
pofiibk4o dfiTcribe cAar good ^mobr. I
can'tiay whexher we b^ oioj^e wit^a»K)r(gft
us now than ufual ; but 1 am •certain we
had more laughing, which anfwcrcd the
end as well. One jeft I particularly re-

meoibei;, old Mr. Wilmot ^pinking -to
Mofei, whole head was ^rned another
wajy^ my ion seplied^ * 4Vtadam, 1 ^inaak
Vyou.' Upon which the old gmtlefnan
vnnldng Aipon the ^eft ^f -the ^coinpaq^
differ ved -that he was think i(^ ^ *kis 4n)*
ftrcfs. A-t which.jcfti thought the two
Mi^s Flamboroughs would have died with

laughing* As^foon as dinner was oyer.
4 ac-



The Vicar of Wakefield. 223

according to my old cuftom, I requefted
that the table might be taken away, to
have the pleafure of feeing all my family
aflcrablcd once iftore by a chcarful fire-
fide. My two little ones fat upon each
knee, the reft of the company by their
partners. I bad nothing now on this fide
of the grave to wilh for, all my cares were
over, my pleafure was unfpcakable. It
now only remained that my gratitude in
good fortune (hould exceed my former
fubmilTion in adverfity.
FINIS.
