History of English Humour, Vol. 2L'Estrange, A. G. K. (Alfred Guy Kingan)
History
History of English Humour, Vol. 2
L'Estrange, A. G. K. (Alfred Guy Kingan)
English wit and humor -- History and criticism; Wit and humor -- History and criticism
"'Hand down these ere trunks then,' said John.
"'Hand 'n down yourself,' said the porter.
"'Don't you see I can't leave my horses? Come bear a hand, my fine
feller, and Miss will give you some beer,' said John, with a hoarse
laugh.
"The bald-headed man, taking his hands out of his breeches pockets,
advanced on this summons, and throwing Miss Sharp's trunk over his
shoulder, carried it into the house.
"On entering the dining room by the orders of the individual in
gaiters, Rebecca found that apartment not more cheerful than such
rooms usually are when genteel families are out of town.... Two
kitchen chairs and a round table and an attenuated old poker and
tongs were however gathered round the fire place, as was a saucepan
over a feeble sputtering fire. There was a bit of cheese and bread,
and a tin candlestick on the table, and a little black porter in a
pint pot.
"'Had your dinner, I suppose? It is too warm for you? Like a drop
of beer?'
"'Where is Sir Pitt Crawley?' said Miss Sharp majestically.
"'He, he! I'm Sir Pitt Crawley. Reclect you owe me a pint for
bringing down your luggage. He, he! Ask Tinker if I ayn't. Mrs.
Tinker, Miss Sharp, Miss Governess, Mrs. Charwoman, ho ho!'
"The lady addressed as Mrs. Tinker, at this moment made her
appearance with a pipe and paper of tobacco, for which she had been
dispatched a minute before Miss Sharp's arrival; and she handed the
articles over to Sir Pitt, who had taken his seat by the fire.
"'Where's the farden?' says he, 'I gave you three halfpence.
Where's the change, old Tinker?'
"'There,' replied Mrs. Tinker, flinging down the coin, 'it's only
baronets as cares about farthings.'
"'A farthing a day is seven shillings a year,' answered the M.P.,
'seven shillings a year is the interest of seven guineas. Take care
of your farthings, old Tinker, and your guineas will come quite
nat'ral.' ...
"And so with injunctions to Miss Sharp to be ready at five in the
morning, he bade her good night, 'You'll sleep with Tinker
to-night,' he said, 'it's a big bed, and there's room for two. Lady
Crawley died in it. Good night.'"
He sums up Sir Pitt's character by saying. "He never had a taste,
emotion or enjoyment, but what was sordid and foul."
Sir Pitt's brother, the Rector of the parish, is represented as being
almost as abominable as himself, though in a different way--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account