“I never heard a more foolish plan,” said I, “or one less likely to terminate profitably or satisfactorily. I thank you, however, for your offer, which is, I dare say, well meant. If I am to escape from my cares and troubles, and find my mind refreshed and invigorated, I must adopt other means than conducting a French demoiselle to Brighton or Bagnigge Wells, defraying the expense by borrowing from a friend.”
Footnotes:
[0a] Pronounced Lav’en-gro, not Lav-en’gro, the two first syllables exactly like those of lavender. Borrow meant it to stand for “word-master, philologist,” but—nomen omen—already in Grellmann (1787) latcho lavengro stood for “a liar.”
[1a] On 5th July 1803, at East Dereham, Norfolk, 17 miles west-north-west of Norwich.
[1b] Captain Thomas Borrow (1758-1824), the youngest of a family of eight (three daughters and five sons).
[1c] Trethinnick, near St. Cleer.
[2] “In Cornwall are the best gentlemen.”—Corn. Prov. (B.)
[4a] Earl of Orford. Borrow’s father rose from private to sergeant in the Coldstream Guards, and, passing in 1792 to the West Norfolk Militia, was six years later promoted adjutant with the rank of captain (Knapp, i. 7-16).
[4b] Dereham.
[4c] Ann Perfrement (1772-1858). They married in 1793 (Knapp, i. 16-26).