us, a favourite song of Dryden's. Mr Thornhill seemed highly
delighted with their performance and choice, and then took up the
guitar himself. He played but very indifferently; however, my
eldest daughter repaid his former applause with interest, and
assured him that his tones were louder than even those of her
master. At this compliment he bowed, which she returned with a
curtesy. He praised her taste, and she commended his
understanding: an age could not have made them better acquainted.
While the fond mother too, equally happy, insisted upon her
landlord's stepping in, and tasting a glass of her gooseberry.
The whole family seemed earnest to please him: my girls attempted
to entertain him with topics they thought most modern, while
Moses, on the contrary, gave him a question or two from the
ancients, for which he had the satisfaction of being laughed at:
my little ones were no less busy, and fondly stuck close to the
stranger. All my endeavours could scarce keep their dirty fingers
from handling and tarnishing the lace on his cloaths, and lifting
up the flaps of his pocket holes, to see what was there. At the
approach of evening he took leave; but not till he had requested
permission to renew his visit, which, as he was our landlord, we
most readily agreed to.

As soon as he was gone, my wife called a council on the conduct
of the day. She was of opinion, that it was a most fortunate hit;
for that she had known even stranger things at last brought to
bear. She hoped again to see the day in which we might hold up
our heads with the best of them; and concluded, she protested she
could see no reason why the two Miss Wrinklers should marry great
fortunes, and her children get none. As this last argument was
directed to me, I protested I could see no reason for it neither,