WILDRAKE 
 
 
   Wildrake (Roger), a dissipated royalist. 
-Sir W. Scott, Woodstock (time, Common- 
wealth). 
 
  Wilhelmi'na [BUNDLE], daughter of 
Bundle, the gardener. Tom Tug, the wa- 
terman, and Robin, the gardener, sought 
her in marriage. The father preferred hon- 
est Tom Tug, but the mother liked better 
the sentimental and fine-phrased Robin. 
Wilhelmina said he who first did any act 
to deserve her love should have it. Tom 
Tug, by winning the waterman's badge, 
carried off the bride.-C. Dibdin, The 
Waterman (1774). 
 
  Wilfer (Reginald), called by his wife 
R. W., and by his fellow clerks Rumty. 
He was clerk in the drug-house of Chick- 
sey, Stobbles and Veneering. In person 
Mr. Wilfer   resembled   an  overgrown 
cherub; in manner he was shy and re- 
tiring. 
  Mr. Reginald Wilfer was a poor clerk, so poor 
indeed that he had never yet attained the mod- 
est object of his ambition, which was to wear 
a complete new suit of clothes, hat and boots 
included, at one time. His black hat was brown 
before he could afford a coat; his pantaloons 
were white at the seams and knees before he 
could buy a pair of boots; his boots had worn 
out before he could treat himself to new panta- 
loons; and by the time he worked round to the 
hat again, that shining modern article roofed in 
an ancient ruin of various periods.-Ch. iv. 
  Mrs. Wilfer, wife of Mr. Reginald. A 
most majestic woman, tall and angular. 
She wore gloves, and a pocket-handker- 
chief tied under her chin. A patronizing, 
condescending woman was Mrs. Wilfer, 
with a mighty idea of her own importance. 
"Viper! " "Ingrate! " and such like epi- 
thets were household words with her. 
  Bella Wilfer, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. 
Wilfer. A wayward, playful, affectionate, 
spoilt beauty, "giddy from the want of 
some sustaining purpose, and capricious 
 
 
because she was always fluttering among 
little things." Bella was so pretty, so 
womanly, and yet so childish that she was 
always captivating. She spoke of her- 
self as "the lovely woman," and delighted 
in "doing the hair of the family." Bella 
Wilfer married John Harmon (John Roke- 
smith), the secretary of Mr. Boffin, "the 
golden dustman." 
  Lavinia Wilfer, youngest sister of Bella, 
and called "The Irrepressible." Lavinia 
was a tart, pert girl, but succeeded in 
catching George Samson in the toils of 
wedlock.-C. Dickens, Our Mutual 'Friend 
(1864). 
 
  Wilford, in love with Emily, the com- 
panion of his sister, Miss Wilford. This 
attachment coming to the knowledge of 
Wilford's uncle and guardian, was disap- 
proved of by him; so he sent the young 
man to the Continent, and dismissed the 
young lady. Emily went to live with 
Goodman Fairlop, the woodman, and there 
Wilford discovered her in an archery 
match. The engagement was renewed, 
and ended in marriage.-Sir H. B. Dudley, 
The Woodman (1771). 
 
   Wilford, secretary of Sir Edward Mor- 
timer, and the suitor of Barbara Rawbold 
(daughter of a poacher). Curious to know 
what weighed on his master's mind, he 
pried into an iron chest in Sir Edward's 
library; but while so engaged, Sir Ed- 
ward entered and threatened to shoot him. 
He relented, however, and having sworn 
Wilford to secrecy, told him how and why 
he had committed murder. Wilford, un- 
able to endure the watchful and jealous 
eye of his master, ran away; but Sir Ed- 
ward dogged him from place to place, and at 
length arrested him on the charge of theft. 
Of course, the charge broke down, Wil- 
ford was acquitted, Sir Edward confessed 
                                   Iv 
 
 
243 
 
 
WILFORD