Page:Adventures of Roderick Random.pdf/94

 he set up his throat cry'd O L——d! O L——d! that ever I should live to see my dearest friend reduced to a foot-soldier! O L——d! O L——d! is it come to this? You shall dine with me, and I shall tell you something, that perhaps will not be displeasing to you. It makes my heart bleed to see you in that garb! I thanked him for his invitation; but I had another request to make and that was the loan of a shirt; for although my back had been many weeks a stranger to it, my skin was not yet quite familiarized to the want of it. He stared in my face at this declaration, which he would scarce believe, until I explained it by unbuttoning my coat, and disclosing my naked body which shocked the tender-hearted Strap, who with tears in his eyes run to a chest of drawers and taking but some linen, presented to me a very fine ruffled holland shirt, and cainbrick neckcloth, assuring me he had three dozen of the same kind at my service. I was ravished at this piece of good news, and hugged my benefactor for his generous offer.—He bespoke dinner, and in the interim entertained me with biscuit and burgundy; after which he entreated me to gratify his longing desire of knowing every circumstance of my fortune since his departure from London.—This I complied with, beginning at the adventure of Gawky, and relating every particular event in which I had been concerned from that day to the present hour. dinner