distressed
person that cannot get from thee: 'To speak indiscreetly what we are
obliged to hear, by being hasped up with thee in this publick vehicle,
is in some degree assaulting on the high road."

Here Ephraim paused, and the captain with a happy and uncommon impudence
(which can be convicted and support itself at the same time) cries,
"Faith, friend, I thank thee; I should have been a little impertinent
if thou hadst not reprimanded me. Come, thou art, I see, a smoky old
fellow, and I'll be very orderly the ensuing part of my journey. I was
going to give myself airs, but, ladies, I beg pardon."

The captain was so little out of humour, and our company was so far
from being soured by this little ruffle, that Ephraim and he took a
particular delight in being agreeable to each other for the future; and
assumed their different provinces in the conduct of the company. Our
reckonings, apartments, and accommodation, fell under Ephraim; and the
captain looked to all disputes upon the road, as the good behaviour of
our coachman, and the right we had of taking place as going to London
of all vehicles coming from thence. The occurrences we met with were
ordinary, and very little happened which could entertain by the relation
of them: but when I consider'd the company we were in, I took it for
no small good-fortune that the whole journey was not spent in
impertinences, which to the one part of us might be an entertainment, to
the other a suffering. What therefore Ephraim said when we were almost
arriv'd at London had to me an air not only of good understanding but
good breeding. Upon the young lady's expressing her satisfaction in
the journey, and declaring how delightful it had been to her, Ephraim
delivered himself as follows: "There is no ordinary part of human life
which expresseth so much a good mind, and a right inward man, as his
behaviour upon meeting with strangers, especially such as may seem the
most unsuitable companions to him: such a man, when he falleth in the
way with persons of simplicity and innocence, however knowing he may be
in the ways of men, will not vaunt himself thereof; but will the rather
hide his superiority to them, that he may not be painful unto them. My
good friend (continued he, turning to the officer), thee and I are to
part by and by, and peradventure we may never meet again: but be advised
by a plain man: modes and apparel are but trifles to the real man,
therefore do not think such a man