HENRIETTA.

BOOK THE FIRST.

CHAP. I.

Which introduces our Heroine to the Acquaintance of the Reader in no very advantageous Situation.

About the middle of July, 17——, when the Windsor stage-coach with the accustomed number of passengers was proceeding on its way to London, a young woman genteely dressed, with a small parcel tied up in her handkerchief, hastily bolted from the shelter of a large tree near the road; and calling to the coachman to stop for a moment, asked him, if he could let her have a place? The man, although he well knew his vehicle was already sufficiently crouded, yet being desirous of appropriating this supernumerary fare to himself, replied, that he did not doubt but he could find room for her; and, jumping off his box, begged the company to sit close, and give the young woman a place.

“What do you mean?” said a jolly fat woman, with a face as red as scarlet, “Have you not got your usual number of passengers? Do you think we will be stifled with heat to put money into your pocket?” “There is room enough for such a slender young body as this,” said the coachman, “if you would but sit closer.”

“Sit closer!” repeated the dame, and spreading her cloaths, “Don’t you see we are crouded to death: how dare you pretend to impose another passenger upon us, when your coach is already full?”

“Well,” said a tall lean woman, who sat next her, “This is the first time I ever travelled in a stage-coach, and truly I am sick of it already. There is no bearing the insults one is exposed to in these carriages. Prithee, young woman,” pursued she, with an air of great contempt, “Go about your business, you see there is no room for you—And do you, fellow, get on your box, and drive on.”

“Fellor me! no fellors,” said the coachman, in a surly tone, “I won’t drive till I please. Who are you, pray, that takes so much upon you to order me?”

“Who am I, you fancy Jack-a-napes,” said the lady, “a person that—but I shall not demean myself so much as to tell you who I am: it is my misfortune to be stuffed up in a stage-coach at present—what I have never been used to, I assure you.”

“Good lack-a-day!” said the fat gentlewoman, with a sneer, “A great misfortune truly—I would have you to know, madam, your betters ride in stage-coaches. Here’s a coil indeed with such would-be-gentry.”

“Good woman,” said the other, with an affected calmness, “Pray don’t direct your impertinent discourse to me, I have nothing to say to you.”

“No more a good woman than yourself,” said the plump lady, with a face doubly inflamed with rage; “I scorn your words.”

“Very likely;” said a grave man, who sat on the opposite side, “but I wish it was possible to make room for the young gentlewoman.”—“Ah! God bless your honour,” said the coachman, “I thought you could not find in your heart to let such a pretty young woman as this walk.”

“Pretty!” exclaimed the haughty lady—“You are a fine judge of beauty indeed—but I will not submit to be crouded, fellow: so you and your pretty passenger may ride on the coach-box, if you please.”

“Nay, since you come to that,” says the fat gentlewoman, “I am resolved you shall not have your own way—The young woman may be as good as you; and she shall not be obliged to ride on the coach-box—So open the door, coachman,” said she, shoving her antagonist at the same time with all her force—“Here is room enough.”

A young gentlewoman in a riding-habit, who sat on the same side, but next the widow, declared that she was willing to give part of her seat to the stranger; and begged the haughty lady to yield. “Poh,” said the rosy matron, “don’t stand begging and praying her; since you are on my side, we will be too hard for her, I warrant you.” Saying this, she put one of her huge arms round the young woman’s waist; and thus reinforced, shoved her neighbour so forcibly against the other window, that she cried out with pain and vexation.

The young lady without, who had been the occasion of this contest, and who had hitherto stood silent, with her hat over her eyes, alarmed by the screams of her foe, raised her head; and in a tone of voice so sweet, as immediately fixed the attention of the whole company, intreated them not to quarrel upon her account: it was indeed, she said, of great consequence to her to be admitted, but she would not continue to desire it, since her request had produced so much uneasiness among them.

The passengers who occupied the other side of the coach were two men and a woman big with child; which circumstance had made it impossible for the men to offer her a seat with them, for fear of incommoding the pregnant woman. But the youngest of the men having now got a glimpse of the stranger’s face, declared that the ladies might make themselves easy, for he would resign his seat; adding, that he was extremely glad he had an opportunity of obliging such a handsome lady. He then jumped out of the coach, and taking the stranger’s hand to help her in, stared confidently under her hat, which put her into a little confusion: however, she thanked him very politely, and accepted his offer; but not without expressing some concern for the manner in which he would dispose of himself.

“Oh! madam,” said the coachman, “the gentleman may sit upon the box with me, and he will have the pleasure of viewing the beautiful prospects all the way we go.”—“I shall see none so beautiful,” said the young fellow, “as what they who remain in the coach will behold.”

The fair stranger now blushed more than before, and being willing to avoid any farther speeches of this sort, she hastily got into the coach, thanked the young man a second time, who having seen her seated, placed himself by the coachman on the box, and they proceeded on their journey.