At The Door
Stood The Cross Maid, Who Also Accosted Me With, "Pray Remember The
Chambermaid." "Yes, Yes," Said I, "I Shall Long Remember Your Most
Ill-Mannered Behaviour And Shameful Incivility;" And So I Gave Her
Nothing.
I hope she was stung and nettled at my reproof; however,
she strove to stifle her anger by a contemptuous, loud, hoarse
laugh.
Thus, as I left Windsor, I was literally followed by abuses
and curses.
I am very sorry to say that I rejoiced when I once more perceived
the towers of Windsor behind me. It is not proper for wanderers to
be prowling near the palaces of kings, and so I sat me down,
philosophically, in the shade of a green hedge, and again read
Milton, no friend of kings, though the first of poets. Whatever I
may think of their inns, it is impossible not to admire and be
charmed with this country.
I took my way through Slough, by Salthill, to Maidenhead. At
Salthill, which can hardly be called even a village, I saw a
barber's shop, and so I resolved to get myself both shaved and
dressed. For putting my hair a little in order, and shaving me, I
was forced to pay him a shilling. Opposite to this shop there
stands an elegant house and a neat garden.
Between Salthill and Maidenhead, I met with the first very
remarkable and alarming adventure that has occurred during my
pilgrimage.
Hitherto I had scarcely met a single foot passenger, whilst coaches
without number every moment rolled past me, for there are few roads,
even in England, more crowded than this western road, which leads to
Bath and Bristol as well as to Oxford.
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