2 54 THE BATH ROAD 



worst land this Irishman had seen in Enghxnd, and 

 certainly swarming with beggars. For miles together 

 the coach was pursued by them, from two to nine at 

 a time, almost all of them children. They were 

 more importunate than those of Ireland, or even those 

 in Wales. Poor Tafty ! 



When our traveller reached Bath lie rejoiced greatly, 

 and, the next day being Sunday, went to the Abbey 

 Church with other fashionables, and heard a sorry dis- 

 course, wretchedly delivered. Afterwards, in the Pump 

 Koom, where the yawning visitors were assembled, he 

 met Lady Molyneux, who asked him to dinner, where 

 ho spent the pleasantest day since he came to England, 

 for there were five or six lively Irish girls who sang 

 and danced, and did everything but agree among them- 

 selves. " Women," remarks our diarist, " are certainly 

 more envious than men, or at least they discover it 

 upon more trifling occasions, and they cannot bear 

 with patience that one of their party should obtain a 

 preference of attention ; this was thoroughly exempli- 

 fied this day. One of these, who was a pretty little 

 coquet, went home after dinner to dress for the 

 Rooms, and her colour was certainly altered on 

 returning for tea ; they all fell into a titter, and one 

 of them (who was herself painted, as I conceived) 

 cried out, ' Heavens, look at her cheeks I ' " This, truly, 

 was unkind, and more certainly indiscreet. The 

 young lady with the startling cheeks subsequently 

 sang a song, which somewhat surprised the clergy- 

 man, from its breadth of idea, but the other ladies, 

 and matrons too, " were kicking with laughter." 

 Presently they all went home, the ladies most 



