 X.
NED was not of a Temper to endure much, without attempting at Retaliation; and directing the Pipe of his Ferule to the Front of his Adversary, he suddenly discharged the full Contents in his Eyes and Face, and upon his Cloathing; and, strait taking to his Heels, he hoped to get in at Door, before the Stranger could clear his Sight to take Notice where he sheltered.
Ned
however happened, at this Time, to be somewhat over sanguine in his Expectations. Mr.
Snarle,
for that was the Name of the Party bespattered, had just cleared one Eye, in Season, to remark where his Enemy entered; and hastening Home, he washed, undressed, and shifted his Linen and Cloaths, with less Passion and fewer Curses by the Half, than he conceived to be due to so outrageous an Insult.
Mr.
Snarle
had himself been a Humourist, in his Time, and had acquired a pretty Competence by very fashionable Means; such as Gambling, bearing Testimony for a Friend in Distress, procuring Intelligence for the Ministry, and Wenches for the Peerage. He had, some Years ago, been bullied into Marriage by the Relations of a young Termagant, while he attempted to take such a Sample of her Charms as might enable him to recommend her to an Acquaintance of Quality. She was neither gentle by Nature, nor polished by Education; she liked nothing of her Husband except his Fortune; and they lived together in a State of perpetual Altercation, and mutual Disgust.
Old Age, and a quarrelsome Companion for Life, seldom happen to be Sweeteners of the human Temper; and Mr.
Snarle
had now acquired such a Quantum of the Infirmities both of Body and Mind, as might justly apologize for a peevish Disposition. He had lately taken a handsome House on the Hill, for the Benefit of Air. As soon as he had reclaimed himself from the Pickle into which
Ned
had put him, he sent to enquire the Name and Character of the Owner of that House where he had taken Refuge; and, being sufficiently apprized of what he wanted to know, he walked toward Mr.
Fenton
's, hastening his Pace with the Spirit and Expectation of Revenge.
Mr.
Fenton
had arrived but a little before, and desiring to know Mr.
Snarle
's Commands, he was informed, in Terms the most aggravating and inveterate, of the whole Course and History of
Ned
's Misbehaviour. The Delinquent thereupon was called up to instant Trial. He honestly confessed the Facts, but pleaded, in Mitigation, the Beating that Mr.
Snarle
had,
