Despite, however, of these evils of board and lodgment, Mauleverer was exceedingly well pleased with his visit, nor did he terminate it till the shades of the night had begun to close, and the distance from his own residence conspired with experience to remind him that it was possible for a highwayman's audacity to attack the equipage even of Lord Mauleverer. He then reluctantly re-entered his carriage, and bidding the postilion drive as fast as possible, wrapped himself in his roquelaire, and divided his thoughts between Lucy Brandon, and the Homard au gratin with which he purposed to console himself immediately on his return home. However, Fate, which mocks our most cherished hopes, ordained that on arriving at Mauleverer Park the owner should be suddenly afflicted with a loss of appetite, a coldness in the limbs, a pain in the chest, and various other ungracious symptoms of portending malady. Lord Mauleverer went straight to bed; he remained there for some days, and when he recovered, his physicians ordered him to Bath. The Whig Methodists, who hated him, ascribed his illness to Providence; and his Lordship was firmly of opinion that
