inn, Lyndhurst
county:
coords:
Hampshire
SU2908
... We had slept in a room [at Lyndhurst], the access to which was only through another sleeping room, which was also occupied; and, as I had got up about two o'clock at Andover, we went to bed, at Lyndhurst, about half past seven o'clock. I was, of course, awake by three or four; I had eaten little overnight; so that here lay I, not liking (even after day-light began to glimmer) to go through a chamber, where, by possibility, there might be 'a lady' actually in bed; here lay I, my bones aching with lying in bed, my stomach growling for victuals, imprisoned by my modesty. But, at last, I grew impatient; for, modesty here or modesty there, I was not to penned up and starved: so, after having shaved and dressed and got ready to go down, I thrusted GEORGE out a little before me into the other room; and, through we pushed, previously resolving, of course, not to look towards the bed that was there. But, as the devil would have it, just as I was about the middle of the room, I, like Lot's wife, turned my head! All that I shall say is, first, that the consequences that befell her did not befall me, and, second, that I advise those, who are likely to be hungry in the morning, not to sleep in inner rooms; or, if they do, to take some bread and cheese in their pockets. Having got safe down stairs, I lost no time in inquiry after the means of obtaining a breakfast to make up for the bad fare of the previous day; and finding my landlady rather tardy in the work, and not, seemingly, having a proper notion of the affair, I went myself, and, having found a butcher's shop, bought a loin of small, fat, wether mutton, which I saw cut out of the sheep and cut into chops. These were brought to the inn; George and I ate about 2lb, out of the 5lb. and, while I was writing a letter, and making up my packet, to be ready to send from Southampton, George went out and found a poor woman to come and take away the rest of the loin of mutton; for, our fastings of the day before enabled us to do this; and, though we had about forty miles to go, to get to this place (through the route that we intended to take), I had resolved, that we would go without any more purchase of victuals and drink this day also. I beg leave to suggest to my well-fed readers; I mean, those who have at their command more victuals and drink than they can possibly swallow; I beg to suggest to such, whether this would not be a good way for them all to find a means of bestowing charity? ...
