The Shepherd of Salisbury Plain, and Other TalesMore, Hannah
General
The Shepherd of Salisbury Plain, and Other Tales
More, Hannah
Christian life -- Fiction; Conduct of life -- Fiction; Short stories
To this ball Miss Bragwell went, dressed out with a double portion
of finery, pouring out on her head, in addition to her own
ornaments, the whole band-box of feathers, beads, and flowers, her
sister had left behind her. While she was at the ball her father
formed many plans of religious reformation; he talked of lessening
his business, that he might have more leisure for devotion; though
not _just now_, while the markets were so high; and then he began to
think of sending a handsome subscription to the Infirmary; though,
on second thoughts he concluded that he needed not be in a _hurry_,
but might as well leave it in his will; though to _give_, and
_repent_, and _reform_, were three things he was bent upon. But when
his daughter came home at night so happy and so fine! and telling
how she had danced with Squire Squeeze, the great corn contractor,
and how many fine things he had said to her, Mr. Bragwell felt the
old spirit of the world return in its full force. A marriage with
Mr. Dashall Squeeze, the contractor, was beyond his hopes; for Mr.
Squeeze was supposed from a very low beginning to have got rich
during the war.
As for Mr. Squeeze, he had picked up as much of the history of his
partner between the dances as he desired; he was convinced there
would be no money wanting; for Miss Bragwell, who was now looked on
as an only child, must needs be a great fortune, and Mr. Squeeze was
too much used to advantageous contracts to let this slip. As he was
gaudily dressed, and possessed all the arts of vulgar flattery, Miss
Bragwell eagerly caught at his proposal to wait on her father next
day. Squeeze was quite a man after Bragwell's own heart, a genius at
getting money, a fine dashing fellow at spending it. He told his
wife that this was the very sort of man for his daughter; for he got
money like a Jew and spent it like a prince; but whether it was
fairly got or wisely spent, he was too much a man of the world to
inquire. Mrs. Bragwell was not so run away with by appearances but
that she desired her husband to be careful, and make himself quite
sure it was the right Mr. Squeeze, and no impostor. But being
assured by her husband that Betsy would certainly keep her carriage,
she never gave herself one thought with what sort of a man she was
to ride in it. To have one of her daughters drive in her own coach,
filled up all her ideas of human happiness, and drove the other
daughter quite out of her head. The marriage was celebrated with
great splendor, and Mr. and Mrs. Squeeze set off for London, where
they had taken a house.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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