 red cow going to devour Tom Thumb, I
could do no less than go to the assistance of the little man; but I never dreamt
the baist was one of Mrs. Bramble's attendants - O! if I had, he might have made
his breakfast upon Derrick and wellcome - But, you know, my dear friend, how
natural it is for us Irishmen to blunder, and to take the wrong sow by the ear -
However, I will confess judgment, and cry her mercy; and, 'tis to be hoped, a
penitent sinner may be forgiven.« I told him, that as the offence was not
involuntary of his side, it was to be hoped he would not find her implacable.
    But, in truth, all this concern was dissembled. In his approaches of
gallantry to Mrs. Tabitha, he had been misled by a mistake of at least six
thousand pounds, in the calculation of her fortune; and in this particular he
was just undeceived. He, therefore, seized the first opportunity of incurring
her displeasure decently, in such a manner as would certainly annihilate the
correspondence; and he could not have taken a more effectual method, than that
of beating her dog. When he presented himself at our door, to pay his respects
to the offended fair, he was refused admittance; and given to understand, that
he should never find her at home for the future. She was not so inaccessible to
Derrick, who came to demand satisfaction for the insult she had offered to him,
even in the verge of his own court. She knew it was convenient to be well with
the Master of the Ceremonies, while she continued to frequent the Rooms; and,
having heard he was a poet, began to be afraid of making her appearance in a
ballad or lampoon. - She therefore made excuses for what she had done, imputing
it to the flutter of her spirits; and subscribed handsomely for his poems: so
that he was perfectly appeased, and overwhelmed her with a profusion of
compliment. He even solicited a reconciliation with Chowder; which, however, the
latter declined; and he declared, that if he could find a precedent in the
annals of the Bath, which he would carefully examine for that purpose, her
favourite should be admitted to the next public breakfasting - But, I believe,
she will not expose herself or him to the risque of a second disgrace - Who will
supply the place of Mackilligut in her affections, I cannot foresee; but nothing
in the shape of man can come amiss. Though she is a violent church-
