Being once to attend on her into the country . . . 

 the noble dame, going to enter the vehicle, called 

 him to her. Dear Thesmopolis, said she, I 

 have a great favour to ask of you — you will 

 oblige me much — -it is indeed presuming beyond 

 measure — but I know you will not deny my 

 request, nor put me off with delays. — You may 

 easily suppose that his answer was, that the noble 

 lady had but to lay her commands upon him. — 

 I would not desire it of you, continued the lady, 

 if I was not persuaded that you have the kindest 

 heart in the world, and are a man on whose care 

 and affection I can entirely rely. Would you be 

 so good as to take my Myrrhina into the carriage 

 with you, and see that she wants for nothing ? 

 She is with pup, the poor thing ! and she is near 

 her time. I cannot trust my people ; the per- 

 verse, unmannerly wretches pay no attention on 

 the road even to myself, how can I expect they 

 will have care of the poor animal ! What less 

 could Thesmopolis do, on being petitioned by 

 such a great lady in such a heart-rending tone, 

 and I could almost add with tears, than promise 

 her all she desired ? Meantime it was impossible 

 to behold anything more ridiculous than how the 

 dog with its little snout peeped out from beneath 

 his mantle just below his long beard, and I 

 suppose now and then bedewed his lap (though 

 Thesmopolis did not boast of that circumstance), 



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