Chapter 27 - Page 2

communication, since my arrival in this colony."

"I am sure the approbation of your lordship might justly make any man
proud! It is the ambition of my life, my lord, to do the duties of my
station in a proper manner, and to treat all above me with a suitable
respect, my lord, and all below me as in reason bound. If I might presume
to think in such a matter, my lord, I should say, that these colonists are
no great judges of propriety, in their correspondence, or indeed in any
thing else."

The noble visiter shrugged his shoulder, and threw an expression into his
look, that encouraged the retailer to proceed.

"It is just what I think myself, my lord," he continued, simpering; "but
then," he added, with a condoling and patronizing air, "how should they
know any better? England is but an island, after all; and the whole world
cannot be born and educated on the same bit of earth."

"'Twould be inconvenient, Carnaby, if it led to no other unpleasant
consequence."

"Almost, word for word, what I said to Mrs. Carnaby myself, no later than
yesterday, my lord, only vastly better expressed. 'Twould be inconvenient,
said I, Mrs. Carnaby, to take in the other lodger, for every body cannot
live in the same house; which covers, as it were, the ground taken in your
lordship's sentiment. I ought to add, in behalf of the poor woman, that
she expressed, on the same occasion, strong regrets that it is reported
your lordship will be likely to quit us soon, on your return to old
England."

"That is really a subject on which there is more cause to rejoice than to
weep. This imprisoning, or placing within limits, so near a relative of
the crown, is an affair that must have unpleasant consequences, and which
offends sadly against all propriety."

"It is awful, my lord! If it be not sacrilege by the law, the greater the
shame of the opposition in Parliament, who defeat so many other wholesome
regulations, intended for the good of the subject."

"Faith, I am not sure I may not be driven to join them myself, bad as they
are, Carnaby; for this neglect of ministers, not to call it by a worse
name, might goad a man to even a more heinous measure.'

"I am sure nobody could blame your lordship, were your lordship to join
any body, or any thing but the French! I have often told Mrs. Carnaby as
much as that, in our frequent conversations concerning the unpleasant
situation in which your lordship is just now placed."

"I had not thought the awkward transaction attracted so much notice,"
observed the other, evidently wincing under the allusion.

"It attracts it only in a proper and respectful