who were near the door escaped into other, apartments, while those who
were too much enclosed, for flight, with one accord turned away their
heads.

Captain Aresby, being applied to by some of the ladies to remonstrate
upon this unexampled behaviour, advanced to him, and said, "I am quite
_abime_, Sir, to incommode you, but the commands of the ladies
are insuperable. Give me leave, Sir, to entreat that you would put on
your wig."

"My wig?" cried he, "ay, ay, shall in a moment, only want to wipe my
head first."

"I am quite _assomme_, Sir," returned the Captain, "to disturb
you, but I must really hint you don't comprehend me: the ladies are
extremely inconvenienced by these sort of sights, and we make it a
principle they should never be _accablees_ with them."

"Anan!" cried Mr Briggs, staring.

"I say, Sir," replied the Captain, "the ladies are quite _au
desespoir_ that you will not cover your head."

"What for?" cried he, "what's the matter with my head? ne'er a man
here got a better! very good stuff in it: won't change it with ne'er a
one of you!"

And then, half unconscious of the offence he had given, and half angry
at the rebuke he had received, he leisurely compleated his design, and
again put on his wig, settling it to his face with as much composure