Chapter 6.00: Chapter v. — Containing a few common matters, with a very uncommon observation upon them.

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Chapter v. — Containing a few common matters, with a very uncommon
observation upon them.
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When her master was departed, Mrs Deborah stood silent, expecting her cue
from Miss Bridget; for as to what had past before her master, the prudent
housekeeper by no means relied upon it, as she had often known the
sentiments of the lady in her brother's absence to differ greatly from
those which she had expressed in his presence. Miss Bridget did not,
however, suffer her to continue long in this doubtful situation; for
having looked some time earnestly at the child, as it lay asleep in the
lap of Mrs Deborah, the good lady could not forbear giving it a hearty
kiss, at the same time declaring herself wonderfully pleased with its
beauty and innocence. Mrs Deborah no sooner observed this than she fell to
squeezing and kissing, with as great raptures as sometimes inspire the
sage dame of forty and five towards a youthful and vigorous bridegroom,
crying out, in a shrill voice, “O, the dear little creature! —The
dear, sweet, pretty creature! Well, I vow it is as fine a boy as ever was
seen!”

These exclamations continued till they were interrupted by the lady, who
now proceeded to execute the commission given her by her brother, and gave
orders for providing all necessaries for the child, appointing a very good
room in the house for his nursery. Her orders were indeed so liberal,
that, had it been a child of her own, she could not have exceeded them;
but, lest the virtuous reader may condemn her for showing too great regard
to a base-born infant, to which all charity is condemned by law as
irreligious, we think proper to observe that she concluded the whole with
saying, “Since it was her brother's whim to adopt the little brat,
she supposed little master must be treated with great tenderness. For her
part, she could not help thinking it was an encouragement to vice; but
that she knew too much of the obstinacy of mankind to oppose any of their
ridiculous humours.”

With reflections of this nature she usually, as has been hinted,
accompanied every act of compliance with her brother's inclinations; and
surely nothing could more contribute to heighten the merit of this
compliance than a declaration that she knew, at the same time, the folly
and unreasonableness of those inclinations to which she submitted. Tacit
obedience implies no force upon the will, and consequently may be easily,
and without any pains, preserved; but when a wife, a child, a relation, or
a friend, performs what we desire, with grumbling and reluctance, with
expressions of dislike and dissatisfaction, the manifest difficulty which
they undergo must greatly enhance the obligation.

As this is one of those deep observations which very few readers can be
supposed capable of making themselves, I have thought proper to lend them
my assistance; but this is a favour rarely to be expected in the course of
my work. Indeed, I shall seldom or never so indulge him, unless in such
instances as this, where nothing but the inspiration with which we writers
are gifted, can possibly enable any one to make the discovery.