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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/15991-8.txt b/15991-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..23bd415 --- /dev/null +++ b/15991-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,16343 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Japhet, In Search Of A Father, by Frederick Marryat + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Japhet, In Search Of A Father + +Author: Frederick Marryat + +Release Date: June 5, 2005 [EBook #15991] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JAPHET, IN SEARCH OF A FATHER *** + + + + +Produced by Ted Garvin, Daniel Mahu, Charlene Taylor and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + JAPHET, IN SEARCH OF A FATHER + + BY CAPTAIN MARRYAT + + + LONDON + J.M. DENT AND CO. + BOSTON: LITTLE, BROWN AND CO. + + MDCCCXCVI + + + + +Contents + + +CHAPTER I 1 + +CHAPTER II 7 + +CHAPTER III 14 + +CHAPTER IV 18 + +CHAPTER V 24 + +CHAPTER VI 29 + +CHAPTER VII 37 + +CHAPTER VIII 41 + +CHAPTER IX 47 + +CHAPTER X 53 + +CHAPTER XI 60 + +CHAPTER XII 67 + +CHAPTER XIII 73 + +CHAPTER XIV 79 + +CHAPTER XV 84 + +CHAPTER XVI 91 + +CHAPTER XVII 98 + +CHAPTER XVIII 104 + +CHAPTER XIX 110 + +CHAPTER XX 113 + +CHAPTER XXI 118 + +CHAPTER XXII 123 + +CHAPTER XXIII 130 + +CHAPTER XXIV 134 + +CHAPTER XXV 139 + +CHAPTER XXVI 144 + +CHAPTER XXVII 147 + +CHAPTER XXVIII 152 + +CHAPTER XXIX 156 + +CHAPTER XXX 160 + +CHAPTER XXXI 165 + +CHAPTER XXXII 169 + +CHAPTER XXXIII 173 + +CHAPTER XXXIV 176 + +CHAPTER XXXV 182 + +CHAPTER XXXVI 187 + +CHAPTER XXXVII 192 + +CHAPTER XXXVIII 196 + +CHAPTER XXXIX 201 + +CHAPTER XL 206 + +CHAPTER XLI 211 + +CHAPTER XLII 216 + +CHAPTER XLIII 220 + +CHAPTER XLIV 224 + +CHAPTER XLV 229 + +CHAPTER XLVI 234 + +CHAPTER XLVII 237 + +CHAPTER XLVIII 241 + +CHAPTER XLIX 247 + +CHAPTER L 251 + +CHAPTER LI 254 + +CHAPTER LII 259 + +CHAPTER LIII 265 + +CHAPTER LIV 268 + +CHAPTER LV 273 + +CHAPTER LVI 279 + +CHAPTER LVII 285 + +CHAPTER LVIII 290 + +CHAPTER LIX 294 + +CHAPTER LX 299 + +CHAPTER LXI 305 + +CHAPTER LXII 310 + +CHAPTER LXIII 314 + +CHAPTER LXIV 319 + +CHAPTER LXV 322 + +CHAPTER LXVI 327 + +CHAPTER LXVII 333 + +CHAPTER LXVIII 338 + +CHAPTER LXIX 344 + +CHAPTER LXX 349 + +CHAPTER LXXI 355 + +CHAPTER LXXII 362 + +CHAPTER LXXIII 259 + +CHAPTER LXXIV 378 + +CHAPTER LXXV 387 + +CHAPTER LXXVI 394 + +CHAPTER LXXVII 400 + +CHAPTER LXXVIII 408 + +CHAPTER LXXIX 414 + + + + +Prefatory Note + + +In the _Metropolitan Magazine_, where this novel originally appeared +(Sep. 1834-Jan. 1836), Marryat prepared his readers for its reception in +the following words:-- + +"And having now completed 'Jacob Faithful,' we trust to the satisfaction +of our readers, we will make a few remarks. We commenced writing on our +own profession, and having completed four tales, novels, or whatever you +may please to call them" (viz., Frank Mildmay, The King's Own, Newton +Forster, Peter Simple), "in 'Jacob Faithful' we quitted the _salt_ water +for the _fresh_. From the wherry we shall now step on shore, and in our +next number we shall introduce to our readers 'The Adventures of +_Japhet_, in search of his Father.'" + +The promise was faithfully kept, and Japhet, with all his varied +experience, never went to sea. There were indeed few companies on land +to which he did not penetrate. Reared in a foundling hospital, and +apprenticed to a Smithfield apothecary, his good looks, impulsive +self-confidence, and unbounded talent for lying, carried him with éclat +through the professions of quack doctor, juggler, and mountebank, +gentleman about town, tramp, and quaker: to emerge triumphantly at last +as the only son of a wealthy Anglo-Indian general, or "Bengal tiger," as +his friends preferred to call him. + +Japhet's "adventures," of course, are shared by a faithful friend and +ally, Timothy Oldmixon, the Sancho to his Quixote, originally an orphan +pauper like himself, composed of two qualities--fun and affection. He +encounters villains, lawyers, kind-hearted peers, "rooks" and "pigeons," +gipsies, leaders of fashion, fair maidens--enough and to spare. In a +word, Marryat here makes use of well-worn material, and uses it well. He +has constructed a tale of private adventure on the old familiar lines, +in which the local colour--acquired from other books--is admirably laid +on, and the interest sustained to the end. The story is well told, +enlivened by humour, and very respectably constructed. + +The reader will find _Japhet_ thoroughly exciting, and will have no +difficulty in believing that, while it was running in the pages of the +_Metropolitan_, "an American vessel meeting an English one in the broad +Atlantic, instead of a demand for water or supplies, ran up the question +to her mast-head, 'Has Japhet found his father yet?'" + +_Japhet, in search of a Father_, is here re-printed, with a few +corrections, from the first edition in 3 vols. Saunders & Otley, 1836. +On page 360 a few words, enclosed in square brackets, have been +inserted from the magazine version, as the abbreviated sentence, always +hitherto reproduced from the first edition, is unintelligible. + +R.B.J. + + + * * * * * + + + + + Japhet, in Search of a Father + + + + +Chapter I + + Like most other children, who should be my godfather is decided by + Mammon--So precocious as to make some noise in the world and be + hung a few days after I was born--Cut down in time and produce a + scene of bloodshed--My early propensities fully developed by the + choice of my profession + + +Those who may be pleased to honour these pages with a perusal, will not +be detained with a long introductory history of my birth, parentage, and +education. The very title implies that, at this period of my memoirs, I +was ignorant of the two first; and it will be necessary for the due +development of my narrative, that I allow them to remain in the same +state of bliss; for in the perusal of a tale, as well as in the +pilgrimage of life, ignorance of the future may truly be considered as +the greatest source of happiness. The little that was known of me at +this time I will however narrate as concisely, and as correctly, as I am +able. It was on the--I really forget the date, and must rise from my +chair, look for a key, open a closet, and then open an iron safe to hunt +over a pile of papers--it will detain you too long--it will be +sufficient to say that it was on _a_ night--but whether the night was +dark or moonlit, or rainy or foggy, or cloudy or fine, or starlight, I +really cannot tell; but it is of no very great consequence. Well, it was +on a night about the hour--there again I'm puzzled, it might have been +ten, or eleven, or twelve, or between any of these hours; nay it might +have been past midnight, and far advancing to the morning, for what I +know to the contrary. The reader must excuse an infant of--there again +I am at a nonplus; but we will assume of some days old--if, when wrapped +up in flannel and in a covered basket, and, moreover, fast asleep at the +time, he does not exactly observe the state of the weather, and the time +by the church clock. I never before was aware of the great importance of +dates in telling a story; but it is now too late to recover these facts, +which have been swept away into oblivion by the broad wing of Time. I +must therefore just tell the little I do know, trusting to the reader's +good nature, and to blanks. It is as follows:--that, at the hour--of +the night--the state of the weather being also--I, an infant of a +certain age--was suspended by somebody or somebodies--at the knocker +of the Foundling Hospital. Having made me fast, the said somebody or +somebodies rang a peal upon the bell which made the old porter start up +in so great a hurry, that, with the back of his hand he hit his better +half a blow on the nose, occasioning a great suffusion of blood from +that organ, and a still greater pouring forth of invectives from the +organ immediately below it. + +All this having been effected by the said peal on the bell, the said +somebody or somebodies did incontinently take to their heels, and +disappear long before the old porter could pull his legs through his +nether garments and obey the rude summons. At last the old man swung +open the gate, and the basket swung across his nose; he went in again +for a knife and cut me down, for it was cruel to hang a baby of a few +days old; carried me into the lodge, lighted a candle, and opened the +basket. Thus did I metaphorically first come to light. + +When he opened the basket I opened my eyes, and although I did not +observe it, the old woman was standing at the table in very light +attire, sponging her nose over a basin. + +"Verily, a pretty babe with black eyes!" exclaimed the old man in a +tremulous voice. + +"Black eyes indeed," muttered the old woman. "I shall have two +to-morrow." + +"Beautiful black eyes indeed!" continued the old man. + +"Terrible black eyes, for sartain," continued the old woman, as she +sponged away. + +"Poor thing, it must be cold," murmured the old porter. + +"Warrant I catch my death a-cold," muttered the wife. + +"But, dear me, here's a paper!" exclaimed the old man. + +"Vinegar and brown paper," echoed the old woman. + +"Addressed to the governors of the hospital," continued the porter. + +"Apply to the dispenser of the hospital," continued his wife. + +"And sealed," said he. + +"Get it healed," said she. + +"The linen is good; it must be the child of no poor people. Who +knows?"--soliloquised the old man. + +"My poor nose!" exclaimed the old woman. + +"I must take it to the nurses, and the letter I will give to-morrow," +said the old porter, winding up his portion of this double soliloquy, +and tottering away with the basket and your humble servant across the +courtyard. + +"There, it will do now," said the old wife, wiping her face on a towel, +and regaining her bed, in which she was soon joined by her husband, and +they finished their nap without any further interruption during that +night. + +The next morning I was reported and examined, and the letter addressed +to the governors was opened and read. It was laconic, but still, as most +things laconic are, very much to the point. + +"This child was born in wedlock--he is to be named Japhet. When +circumstances permit, he will be reclaimed." + +But there was a postscript by Abraham Newlands, Esq., promising to pay +the bearer, on demand, the sum of fifty pounds. In plainer terms, there +was a bank note to that amount inclosed in the letter. As in general, +the parties who suspend children in baskets, have long before suspended +cash payments, or, at all events, forget to suspend them with the +baskets, my arrival created no little noise, to which I added my share, +until I obtained a share of the breast of a young woman, who, like +Charity, suckled two or three babies at one time. + +We have preparatory schools all over the kingdom; for young gentlemen, +from three to five years of age, under ladies, and from four to seven, +under either, or both sexes, as it may happen; but the most preparatory +of all preparatory schools, is certainly the Foundling Hospital, which +takes in its pupils, if they are sent, from one to three days old, or +even hours, if the parents are in such extreme anxiety about their +education. Here it commences with their weaning, when they are +instructed in the mystery of devouring pap; next, they are taught to +walk--and as soon as they can walk--to sit still; to talk--and as soon +as they can talk--to hold their tongues; thus are they instructed and +passed on from one part of the establishment to another, until they +finally are passed out of its gates, to get on in the world, with the +advantages of some education, and the still further advantage of having +no father or mother to provide for, or relatives to pester them with +their necessities. It was so with me: I arrived at the age of fourteen, +and notwithstanding the promise contained in the letter, it appeared +that circumstances did _not_ permit of my being reclaimed. But I had a +great advantage over the other inmates of the hospital; the fifty pounds +sent with me were not added to the funds of the establishment, but +generously employed for my benefit by the governors, who were pleased +with my conduct, and thought highly of my abilities. Instead of being +bound 'prentice to a cordwainer or some other mechanic, by the influence +of the governors, added to the fifty pounds and interest, as a premium, +I was taken by an apothecary, who engaged to bring me up to the +profession. And now, that I am out of the Foundling, we must not travel +quite so fast. + +The practitioner who thus took me by the hand was a Mr Phineas Cophagus, +whose house was most conveniently situated for business, one side of +the shop looking upon Smithfield Market, the other presenting a surface +of glass to the principal street leading out of the same market. It was +a _corner_ house, but not in a _corner_. On each side of the shop were +two gin establishments, and next to them were two public-houses and then +two eating-houses, frequented by graziers, butchers, and drovers. Did +the men drink so much as to quarrel in their cups, who was so handy to +plaister up the broken heads as Mr Cophagus? Did a fat grazier eat +himself into an apoplexy, how very convenient was the ready lancet of Mr +Cophagus. Did a bull gore a man, Mr Cophagus appeared with his diachylon +and lint. Did an ox frighten a lady, it was in the back parlour of Mr +Cophagus that she was recovered from her syncope. Market days were a +sure market to my master; and if an overdriven beast knocked down +others, it only helped to set him on his legs. Our windows suffered +occasionally; but whether it were broken heads, or broken limbs, or +broken windows, they were well paid for. Every one suffered but Mr +Phineas Cophagus, who never suffered a patient to escape him. The shop +had the usual allowance of green, yellow, and blue bottles; and in hot +weather, from our vicinity, we were visited by no small proportion of +bluebottle flies. We had a white horse in one window, and a brown horse +in the other, to announce to the drovers that we supplied +horse-medicines. And we had all the patent medicines in the known world, +even to the "all-sufficient medicine for mankind" of Mr Enouy; having +which, I wondered, on my first arrival, why we troubled ourselves about +any others. The shop was large, and at the back part there was a most +capacious iron mortar, with a pestle to correspond. The first floor was +tenanted by Mr Cophagus, who was a bachelor; the second floor was let; +the others were appropriated to the housekeeper, and to those who formed +the establishment. In this well-situated tenement, Mr Cophagus got on +swimmingly. I will therefore, for the present, sink the shop, that my +master may rise in the estimation of the reader, when I describe his +person and his qualifications. + +Mr Phineas Cophagus might have been about forty-five years of age when I +first had the honour of an introduction to him in the receiving room of +the Foundling Hospital. He was of the middle height, his face was thin, +his nose very much hooked, his eyes small and peering, with a +good-humoured twinkle in them, his mouth large, and drawn down at one +corner. He was stout in his body, and carried a considerable +protuberance before him, which he was in the habit of patting with his +left hand very complacently; but although stout in his body, his legs +were mere spindles, so that, in his appearance, he reminded you of some +bird of the crane genus. Indeed, I may say, that his whole figure gave +you just such an impression as an orange might do, had it taken to +itself a couple of pieces of tobacco pipes as vehicles of locomotion. He +was dressed in a black coat and waistcoat, white cravat and high collar +to his shirt, blue cotton net pantaloons and Hessian boots, both fitting +so tight, that it appeared as if he was proud of his spindle shanks. His +hat was broad-brimmed and low, and he carried a stout black cane with a +gold top in his right hand, almost always raising the gold top to his +nose when he spoke, just as we see doctors represented at a consultation +in the caricature prints. But if his figure was strange, his language +and manners were still more so. He spoke, as some birds fly, in jerks, +intermixing his words, for he never completed a whole sentence, with +_um--um--_and ending it with "_so on,_" leaving his hearers to supply +the context from the heads of his discourse. Almost always in motion, he +generally changed his position as soon as he had finished speaking, +walking to any other part of the room, with his cane to his nose, and +his head cocked on one side, with a self-sufficient tiptoe gait. When I +was ushered into his presence, he was standing with two of the +governors. "This is the lad," said one of them, "his name is _Japhet_." + +"Japhet," replied Mr Cophagus; "um, scriptural--Shem, Ham, _um_--and so +on. Boy reads?" + +"Very well, and writes a very good hand. He is a very good boy, Mr +Cophagus." + +"Read--write--spell--good, and _so on_. Bring him +up--rudiments--spatula--write labels--um--M.D. one of these days--make a +man of him--and so on," said this strange personage, walking round and +round me with his cane to his nose, and scrutinising my person with his +twinkling eyes. I was dismissed after this examination and approval, and +the next day, dressed in a plain suit of clothes, was delivered by the +porter at the shop of Mr Phineas Cophagus, who was not at home when I +arrived. + + + + +Chapter II + + Like all Tyros, I find the rudiments of learning extremely + difficult and laborious, but advance so rapidly than I can do + without my Master. + + +A tall, fresh-coloured, but hectic looking young man, stood behind the +counter, making up prescriptions, and a dirty lad, about thirteen years +old, was standing near with his basket to deliver the medicines to the +several addresses, as soon as they were ready. The young man behind the +counter, whose name was Brookes, was within eighteen months of serving +his time, when his friends intended to establish him on his own account, +and this was the reason which induced Mr Cophagus to take me, that I +might learn the business, and supply his place when he left. Mr Brookes +was a very quiet, amiable person, kind to me and the other boy who +carried out the medicines, and who had been taken by Mr Cophagus, for +his food and raiment. The porter told Mr Brookes who I was, and left me. +"Do you think that you will like to be an apothecary?" said Mr Brookes +to me, with a benevolent smile. + +"Yes; I do not see why I should not," replied I. + +"Stop a moment," said the lad who was waiting with the basket, lookly +archly at me, "you hav'n't got through your _rudimans_ yet." + +"Hold your tongue, Timothy," said Mr Brookes. "That you are not very +fond of the rudiments, as Mr Cophagus calls them, is very clear. Now +walk off as fast as you can with these medicines, sir--14, Spring +Street; 16, Cleaver Street, as before; and then to John Street, 55, Mrs +Smith's. Do you understand?" + +"To be sure I do--can't I read? I reads all the directions, and all your +Latin stuff into the bargain--all your summen dusses, horez, dìez, +cockly hairy. I mean to set up for myself one of these days." + +"I'll knock you down one of these days, Mr Timothy, if you stay so long +as you do, looking at the print shops; that you may depend upon." + +"I keep up all my learning that way," replied Timothy, walking off with +his load, turning his head round and laughing at me, as he quitted the +shop. Mr Brookes smiled, but said nothing. + +As Timothy went out, in came Mr Cophagus. "Heh! Japhet--I see," said he, +putting up his cane, "nothing to do--bad--must work--um--and so on. Mr +Brookes--boy learn rudiments--good--and so on." Hereupon Mr Cophagus +took his cane from his nose, pointed to the large iron mortar, and then +walked away into the back parlour. Mr Brookes understood his master, if +I did not. He wiped out the mortar, threw in some drugs, and, showing me +how to use the pestle, left me to my work. In half an hour I discovered +why it was that Timothy had such an objection to what Mr Cophagus +facetiously termed the _rudiments_ of the profession. It was dreadful +hard work for a boy; the perspiration ran down me in streams, and I +could hardly lift my arms. When Mr Cophagus passed through the shop and +looked at me, as I continued to thump away with the heavy iron pestle. +"Good,"--said he, "by-and-bye--M.D.--and so on." I thought it was a very +rough road to such preferment, and I stopped to take a little breath. +"By-the-by--Japhet--Christian name--and so on--sirname--heh!" + +"Mr Cophagus wishes to know your other name," said Mr Brookes, +interpreting. + +I have omitted to acquaint the reader that sirnames as well as Christian +names, are always given to the children at the Foundling, and in +consequence of the bank note found in my basket, I had been named after +the celebrated personage whose signature it bore. "Newland is my other +name, sir," replied I. + +"Newland--heh!--very good name--every body likes to see that name--and +have plenty of them in his pockets too--um--very comfortable--and so +on," replied Mr Cophagus, leaving the shop. + +I resumed my thumping occupation, when Timothy returned with his empty +basket. He laughed when he saw me at work. "Well, how do you like the +rudimans?--and so on--heh?" said he, mimicking Mr Cophagus. + +"Not overmuch," replied I, wiping my face. + +"That was my job before you came. I have been more than a year, and +never have got out of those rudimans yet, and I suppose I never shall." + +Mr Brookes, perceiving that I was tired, desired me to leave off, an +order which I gladly obeyed, and I took my seat in a corner of the shop. + +"There," said Timothy, laying down his basket; "no more work for me +_hanty prandium,_ is there, Mr Brookes?" + +"No, Tim; but _post prandium,_ you'll _post_ off again." + +Dinner being ready, and Mr Cophagus having returned, he and Mr Brookes +went into the back parlour, leaving Timothy and me in the shop to +announce customers. And I shall take this opportunity of introducing Mr +Timothy more particularly, as he will play a very conspicuous part in +this narrative. Timothy was short in stature for his age, but very +strongly built. He had an oval face, with a very dark complexion, grey +eyes flashing from under their long eyelashes, and eyebrows nearly +meeting each other. He was marked with the small-pox, not so much as to +disfigure him, but still it was very perceptible when near to him. His +countenance was always lighted up with merriment; there was such a +happy, devil-may-care expression in his face, that you liked him the +first minute that you were in his company, and I was intimate with him +immediately. + +"I say, Japhet," said he, "where did you come from?" + +"The Foundling," replied I. + +"Then you have no friends or relations." + +"If I have, I do not know where to find them," replied I, very gravely. + +"Pooh! don't be grave upon it. I haven't any either. I was brought up by +the parish, in the workhouse. I was found at the door of a gentleman's +house, who sent me to the overseers--I was about a year old then. They +call me a foundling, but I don't care what they call me, so long as they +don't call me too late for dinner. Father and mother, whoever they were, +when they ran away from me, didn't run away with my appetite. I wonder +how long master means to play with his knife and fork. As for Mr +Brookes, what he eats wouldn't physic a snipe. What's your other name, +Japhet?" + +"Newland." + +"Newland--now you shall have mine in exchange: Timothy Oldmixon at your +service. They christened me after the workhouse pump, which had 'Timothy +Oldmixon fecit' on it; and the overseers thought it as good a name to +give me as any other; so I was christened after the pump-maker with some +of the pump water. As soon as I was big enough, they employed me to pump +all the water for the use of the workhouse. I worked at my _papa_, as I +called the pump, all day long. Few sons worked their father more, or +disliked him so much: and now, Japhet, you see, from habit, I'm pumping +you." + +"You'll soon pump dry, then, for I've very little to tell you," replied +I; "but, tell me, what sort of a person is our master?" + +"He's just what you see him, never alters, hardly ever out of humour, +and when he is, he is just as odd as ever. He very often threatens me, +but I have never had a blow yet, although Mr Brookes has complained once +or twice." + +"But surely Mr Brookes is not cross?" + +"No, he is a very good gentleman; but sometimes I carry on my rigs a +little too far, I must say that. For as Mr Brookes says, people may die +for want of the medicines, because I put down my basket to play. It's +very true; but I can't give up 'peg in the ring' on that account. But +then I only get a box of the ear from Mr Brookes, and that goes for +nothing. Mr Cophagus shakes his stick, and says, 'Bad boy--big +stick--_um_--won't forget--next time--and so on,'" continued Timothy, +laughing; "and it is _so on_, to the end of the chapter." + +By this time Mr Cophagus and his assistant had finished their dinner, +and came into the shop. The former looked at me, put his stick to his +nose, "Little boys--always hungry--um--like good dinner--roast +beef--Yorkshire pudding--and so on," and he pointed with the stick to +the back parlour. Timothy and I understood him very well this time: we +went into the parlour, when the housekeeper sat down with us and helped +us. She was a terribly cross, little old woman, but as honest as she was +cross, which is all that I shall say in her favour. Timothy was no +favourite, because he had such a good appetite; and it appeared that I +was not very likely to stand well in her good opinion, for I also ate a +great deal, and every extra mouthful I took I sank in her estimation, +till I was nearly at the zero, where Timothy had long been for the same +offence; but Mr Cophagus would not allow her to stint him, saying, +"Little boys must eat--or won't grow--and so on." + +I soon found out that we were not only well fed, but in every other +point well treated, and I was very comfortable and happy. Mr Brookes +instructed me in the art of labelling and tying up, and in a very short +time I was very expert; and as Timothy predicted, the rudiments were +once more handed over to him. Mr Cophagus supplied me with good clothes, +but never gave me any pocket-money, and Timothy and I often lamented +that we had not even a halfpenny to spend. + +Before I had been many months in the shop Mr Brookes was able to leave +when any exigence required his immediate attendance. I made up the +pills, but he weighed out the quantities in the prescriptions; if, +therefore, any one came in for medicines, I desired them to wait the +return of Mr Brookes, who would be in very soon. One day, when Mr +Brookes was out, and I was sitting behind the counter, Timothy sitting +on it, and swinging his legs to and fro, both lamenting that we had no +pocket-money, Timothy said, "Japhet, I've been puzzling my brains how we +can get some money, and I've hit it at last; let you and I turn doctors; +we won't send all the people away who come when Mr Brookes is out, but +we'll physic them ourselves." + +I jumped at the idea, and he had hardly proposed it, when an old woman +came in, and addressing Timothy, said, "That she wanted something for +her poor grandchild's sore throat." + +"I don't mix up the medicines, ma'am," replied Timothy; "you must apply +to that gentleman, Mr Newland, who is behind the counter--he understands +what is good for every body's complaints." + +"Bless his handsome face--and so young too! Why, be you a doctor, sir?" + +"I should hope so," replied I; "what is it you require--a lotion, or an +embrocation?" + +"I don't understand those hard words, but I want some doctor's stuff." + +"Very well, my good woman; I know what is proper," replied I, assuming +an important air. "Here, Timothy, wash out this vial very clean." + +"Yes, sir," replied Timothy, very respectfully. + +I took one of the measures, and putting in a little green, a little +blue, and a little white liquid from the medicine bottles generally used +by Mr Brookes, filled it up with water, poured the mixture into the +vial, corked, and labelled it, _haustus statim sumendus_, and handed it +over the counter to the old woman. + +"Is the poor child to take it, or is it to rub outside?" inquired the +old woman. + +"The directions are on the label;--but you don't read Latin?" + +"Deary me, no! Latin! and do you understand Latin? What a nice clever +boy!" + +"I should not be a good doctor if I did not," replied I. On second +thoughts, I considered it advisable and safer, that the application +should be _external_, so I translated the label to her--_Haustus_, rub +it in--_statim_, on the throat--_sumendus_, with the palm of the hand. + +"Deary me! and does it mean all that? How much have I to pay, sir?" + +"Embrocation is a very dear medicine, my good woman; it ought to be +eighteen-pence, but as you are a poor woman, I shall only charge you +nine-pence." + +"I'm sure I thank you kindly," replied the old woman, putting down the +money, and wishing me a good morning as she left the shop. + +"Bravo!" cried Timothy, rubbing his hands; "it's halves, Japhet, is it +not?" + +"Yes," I replied; "but first we must be honest, and not cheat Mr +Cophagus; the vial is sold, you know, for one penny, and I suppose the +stuff I have taken is not worth a penny more. Now, if we put aside +two-pence for Mr Cophagus, we don't cheat him, or steal his property; +the other seven-pence is of course our own--being the _profits of the +profession_." + +"But how shall we account for receiving the two-pence?" said Timothy. + +"Selling two vials instead of one: they are never reckoned, you know." + +"That will do capitally," cried Timothy; "and now for halves." But this +could not be managed until Timothy had run out and changed the sixpence; +we then each had our three-pence halfpenny, and for once in our lives +could say that we had money in our pockets. + + + + +Chapter III + + I perform a wonderful cure upon St John Long's principle, having + little or no principle of my own--I begin to puzzle my head with a + problem; of all others most difficult to solve. + + +The success of our first attempt encouraged us to proceed; but afraid +that I might do some mischief, I asked of Mr Brookes the nature and +qualities of the various medicines, as he was mixing the prescriptions, +that I might avoid taking any of those which were poisonous. Mr Brookes, +pleased with my continual inquiries, gave me all the information I could +desire, and thus I gained, not only a great deal of information, but +also a great deal of credit with Mr Cophagus, to whom Mr Brookes had +made known my diligence and thirst for knowledge. + +"Good--very good," said Mr Cophagus; "fine boy--learns his +business--M.D. one of these days--ride in his coach--um, and so on." +Nevertheless, at my second attempt, I made an awkward mistake, which +very nearly led to detection. An Irish labourer, more than half tipsy, +came in one evening, and asked whether we had such a thing as was called +"_A poor man's plaister_. By the powers, it will be a poor man's +plaister when it belongs to me; but they tell me that it is a sure and +sartain cure for the thumbago, as they call it, which I've at the small +of my back, and which is a hinder to my mounting up the ladder; so as +it's Saturday night, and I've just got the money, I'll buy the plaister +first, and then try what a little whiskey inside will do, the devil's in +it if it won't be driven out of me between the two." + +We had not that plaister in the shop, but we had blister plaister, and +Timothy, handing one to me, I proffered it to him. "And what may you be +after asking for this same?" inquired he. + +The blister plaisters were sold at a shilling each, when spread on +paper, so I asked him eighteen-pence, that we might pocket the extra +sixpence. + +"By the powers, one would think that you had made a mistake, and handed +me the rich man's plaister, instead of the poor one's. It's less whiskey +I'll have to drink, anyhow; but here's the money, and the top of the +morning to ye, seeing as how it's jist getting late." + +Timothy and I laughed as we divided the sixpence. It appeared that after +taking his allowance of whiskey, the poor fellow fixed the plaister on +his back when he went to bed, and the next morning found himself in a +condition not be envied. It was a week before we saw him again, and much +to the horror of Timothy and myself, he walked into the shop when Mr +Brookes was employed behind the counter. Timothy perceived him before he +saw us, and pulling me behind the large mortar, we contrived to make our +escape into the back parlour, the door of which we held ajar to hear +what would take place. + +"Murder and turf!" cried the man, "but that was the devil's own plaister +that you gave me here for my back, and it left me as raw as a turnip, +taking every bit of my skin off me entirely, foreby my lying in bed for +a whole week, and losing my day's work." + +"I really do not recollect supplying you with a plaister, my good man," +replied Mr Brookes. + +"Then by the piper that played before Moses, if you don't recollect it, +I've an idea that I shall never forget it. Sure enough, it cured me, but +wasn't I quite kilt before I was cured?" + +"It must have been some other shop," observed Mr Brookes. "You have made +a mistake." + +"Devil a bit of a mistake, except in selling me the plaister. Didn't I +get it of a lad in this same shop?" + +"Nobody sells things out of this shop without my knowledge." + +The Irishman was puzzled--he looked round the shop. "Well, then, if this +a'n't the shop, it was own sister to it." + +"Timothy," called Mr Brookes. + +"And sure enough there was a Timothy in the other shop, for I heard the +boy call the other by the name; however, it's no matter, if it took off +the skin, it also took away the thumbago, so the morning to you, Mr +Pottykarry." + +When the Irishman departed, we made our appearance. "Japhet, did you +sell a plaister to an Irishman?" + +"Yes--don't you recollect, last Saturday? and I gave you the shilling." + +"Very true; but what did he ask for?" + +"He asked for a plaister, but he was very tipsy. I showed him a blister, +and he took it;" and then I looked at Timothy and laughed. + +"You must not play such tricks," said Mr Brookes. "I see what you have +been about--it was a joke to you, but not to him." + +Mr Brookes, who imagined we had sold it to the Irishman out of fun, then +gave us a very severe lecture, and threatened to acquaint Mr Cophagus, +if ever we played such tricks again. Thus the affair blew over, and it +made me very careful; and, as every day I knew more about medicines, I +was soon able to mix them, so as to be of service to those who applied, +and before eighteen months had expired, I was trusted with the mixing up +all the prescriptions. At the end of that period Mr Brookes left us, and +I took the whole of his department upon myself, giving great +satisfaction to Mr Cophagus. + +And now that I have announced my promotion, it will perhaps be as well +that I give the reader some idea of my personal appearance, upon which I +have hitherto been silent. I was thin, between fifteen and sixteen years +old, very tall for my age, and of my figure I had no reason to be +ashamed; a large beaming eye, with a slightly aquiline nose, a high +forehead, fair in complexion, but with very dark hair. I was always what +may be termed a remarkably clean-looking boy, from the peculiarity of my +skin and complexion; my teeth were small, but were transparent, and I +had a very deep dimple in my chin. Like all embryo apothecaries, I +carried in my appearance, if not the look of wisdom, most certainly that +of self-sufficiency, which does equally well with the world in general. +My forehead was smooth, and very white, and my dark locks were combed +back systematically, and with a regularity that said, as plainly as hair +could do, "The owner of this does everything by prescription, +measurement, and rule." With my long fingers I folded up the little +packets, with an air as thoughtful and imposing as that of a minister +who has just presented a protocol as interminable as unintelligible: and +the look of solemn sagacity with which I poured out the contents of one +vial into the other, would have well become the king's physician, when +he watched the "lord's anointed" in _articulo mortis_. + +As I followed up my saturnine avocation, I generally had an open book on +the counter beside me; not a marble-covered dirty volume, from the +Minerva press, or a half-bound, half-guinea's worth of fashionable +trash, but a good, honest, heavy-looking, wisdom-implying book, horribly +stuffed with epithet of drug; a book in which Latin words were +redundant, and here and there were to be observed the crabbed characters +of Greek. Altogether, with my book and my look, I cut such a truly +medical appearance, that even the most guarded would not have hesitated +to allow me the sole conduct of a whitlow, from inflammation to +suppuration, and from suppuration to cure, or have refused to have +confided to me the entire suppression of a gumboil. Such were my +personal qualifications at the time that I was raised to the important +office of dispenser of, I may say, life and death. + +It will not surprise the reader when I tell him that I was much noticed +by those who came to consult, or talk with, Mr Cophagus. "A very fine +looking lad that, Mr Cophagus," an acquaintance would say. "Where did +you get him--who is his father?" + +"Father!" Mr Cophagus would reply, when they had gained the +back parlour, but I could overhear him, "father, um--can't +tell--love--concealment--child born--foundling hospital--put out--and so +on." + +This was constantly occurring, and the constant occurrence made me +often reflect upon my condition, which otherwise I might, from the happy +and even tenor of my life, have forgotten. When I retired to my bed I +would revolve in my mind all that I had gained from the governors of the +hospital relative to myself.--The paper found in the basket had been +given to me. I was born in wedlock--at least, so said that paper. The +sum left with me also proved that my parents could not, at my birth, +have been paupers. The very peculiar circumstances attending my case, +only made me more anxious to know my parentage. I was now old enough to +be aware of the value of birth, and I was also just entering the age of +romance, and many were the strange and absurd reveries in which I +indulged. At one time I would cherish the idea that I was of a noble, if +not princely birth, and frame reasons for concealment. At others--but it +is useless to repeat the absurdities and castle buildings which were +generated in my brain from mystery. My airy fabrics would at last +disappear, and leave me in all the misery of doubt and abandoned hope. +Mr Cophagus, when the question was sometimes put to him, would say, +"Good boy--very good boy--don't want a father." But he was wrong, I did +want a father; and every day the want became more pressing, and I found +myself continually repeating the question, "_Who is my father?_" + + + + +Chapter IV + + Very much puzzled with a new Patient, nevertheless take my degree + at fifteen as an M.D.; and what is still more acceptable, I pocket + the fees. + + +The departure of Mr Brookes, of course, rendered me more able to follow +up with Timothy my little professional attempts to procure pocket-money; +but independent of these pillages by the aid of pills, and making drafts +upon our master's legitimate profits, by the assistance of draughts from +his shop, accident shortly enabled me to raise the ways and means in a +more rapid manner. But of this directly. + +In the meantime I was fast gaining knowledge; every evening I read +surgical and medical books, put into my hands by Mr Cophagus, who +explained whenever I applied to him, and I soon obtained a very fair +smattering of my profession. He also taught me how to bleed, by making +me, in the first instance, puncture very scientifically, all the larger +veins of a cabbage-leaf, until well satisfied with the delicacy of my +hand, and the precision of my eye, he wound up his instructions by +permitting me to breathe a vein in his own arm. + +"Well," said Timothy, when he first saw me practising, "I have often +heard it said, there's no getting blood out of a turnip; but it seems +there is more chance with a cabbage. I tell you what, Japhet, you may +try your hand upon me as much as you please, for two-pence a go." + +I consented to this arrangement, and by dint of practising on Timothy +over and over again, I became quite perfect. I should here observe, that +my anxiety relative to my birth increased every day, and that in one of +the books lent me by Mr Cophagus, there was a dissertation upon the +human frame, sympathies, antipathies, and also on those features and +peculiarities most likely to descend from one generation to another. It +was there asserted, that the _nose_ was the facial feature most likely +to be transmitted from father to son. As I before have mentioned, my +nose was rather aquiline; and after I had read this book, it was +surprising with what eagerness I examined the faces of those whom I met; +and if I saw a nose upon any man's face, at all resembling my own, I +immediately would wonder and surmise whether that person could be my +father. The constant dwelling upon the subject at last created a species +of monomania, and a hundred times a day I would mutter to myself, _"Who +is my father?"_ indeed, the very bells, when they rung a peal, seemed, +as in the case of Whittington, to chime the question, and at last I +talked so much on the subject to Timothy, who was my _Fidus Achates,_ +and bosom friend, that I really believe, partial as he was to me, he +wished my father at the devil. + +Our shop was well appointed with all that glare and glitter with which +we decorate the "_house of call_" of disease and death. Being situated +in such a thoroughfare, passengers would stop to look in, and +ragged-vested, and in other garments still more ragged, little boys +would stand to stare at the variety of colours, and the 'pottecary +gentleman, your humble servant, who presided over so many +labelled-in-gold phalanxes which decorated the sides of the shop. + +Among those who always stopped and gazed as she passed by, which was +generally three or four times a day, was a well-dressed female, +apparently about forty years of age, straight as an arrow, with an +elasticity of step, and a decision in her manner of walking, which was +almost masculine, although her form, notwithstanding that it was tall +and thin, was extremely feminine and graceful. Sometimes she would fix +her eyes upon me, and there was a wildness in her looks, which certainly +gave a painful impression, and at the same time so fascinated me, that +when I met her gaze, the paper which contained the powder remained +unfolded, and the arm which was pouring out the liquid suspended. + +She was often remarked by Timothy, as well as me; and we further +observed, that her step was not equal throughout the day. In her latter +peregrinations, towards the evening, her gait was more vigorous, but +unequal, at the same time that her gaze was more stedfast. She usually +passed the shop for the last time each day, about five o'clock in the +afternoon. + +One evening, after we had watched her past, as we supposed, to return no +more till the ensuing morning, for this peeping in, on her part, had +become an expected occurrence, and afforded much amusement to Timothy, +who designated her as the "mad woman," to our great surprise, and to the +alarm of Timothy, who sprang over the counter, and took a position by my +side, she walked into the shop. Her eye appeared wild, as usual, but I +could not make out that it was insanity. I recovered my +self-possession, and desired Timothy to hand the lady a chair, begging +to know in what way I could be useful. Timothy walked round by the end +of the counter, pushed a chair near to her, and then made a hasty +retreat to his former position. She declined the chair with a motion of +her hand, in which there was much dignity, as well as grace, and placing +upon the counter her hands, which were small and beautifully white, she +bent forwards towards me, and said, in a sweet, low voice, which +actually startled me by its depth of melody, "I am very ill." + +My astonishment increased. Why, I know not, because the exceptions are +certainly as many as the general rule, we always form an estimate of the +voice before we hear it, from the outward appearance of the speaker; and +when I looked up in her face, which was now exposed to the glare of the +argand lamp, and witnessed the cadaverous, pale, chalky expression on +it, and the crow's feet near the eyes, and wrinkles on her forehead, I +should have sooner expected to have heard a burst of heavenly symphony +from a thunder-cloud, than such music as issued from her parted lips. + +"Good heavens, madam!" said I eagerly and respectfully, "allow me to +send for Mr Cophagus." + +"By no means," replied she. "I come to you. I am aware," continued she +in an undertone, "that you dispense medicines, give advice, and receive +money yourself." + +I felt very much agitated, and the blush of detection mounted up to my +forehead. Timothy, who heard what she said, showed his uneasiness in a +variety of grotesque ways. He drew up his legs alternately, as if he +were dancing on hot plates; he slapped his pockets, grinned, clenched +his fists, ground his teeth, and bit his lips till he made the blood +come. At last he sidled up to me, "She has been peeping and screwing +those eyes of her's into this shop for something. It's all up with both +of us, unless you can buy her off." + +"I have, madam," said I, at last, "ventured to prescribe in some trivial +cases, and, as you say, received money when my master is not here; but I +am entrusted with the till." + +"I know--I know--you need not fear me. You are too modest. What I would +request is, that you would prescribe for me, as I have no great opinion +of your master's talents." + +"If you wish it, madam," said I, bowing respectfully. + +"You have camphor julep ready made up, have you not?" + +"Yes, madam," replied I. + +"Then do me the favour to send the boy with a bottle to my house +directly." I handed down the bottle, she paid for it, and putting it +into Timothy's hands, desired him to take it to the direction which she +gave him. Timothy put on his hat, cocked his eye at me, and left us +alone. + +"What is your name?" said she, in the same melodious voice. + +"Japhet Newland, madam," replied I. + +"Japhet--it is a good, a scriptural name," said the lady, musirg in half +soliloquy. "Newland--that sounds of mammon." + +"This mystery is unravelled," thought I, and I was right in my +conjectures. "She is some fanatical methodist;" but I looked at her +again, and her dress disclaimed the idea, for in it there was much taste +displayed. + +"Who gave you that name?" said she, after a pause. + +The question was simple enough, but it stirred up a host of annoying +recollections; but not wishing to make a confidant of her, I gently +replied, as I used to do in the Foundling Hospital on Sunday +morning--"My godfathers and godmothers in my baptism, ma'am." + +"My dear sir, I am very ill," said she, after a pause, "will you feel my +pulse?" + +I touched a wrist, and looked at a hand that was worthy of being +admired. What a pity, thought I, that she should be old, ugly, and half +crazy! + +"Do you not think that this pulse of mine exhibits considerable nervous +excitement? I reckoned it this morning, it was at a hundred and twenty." + +"It certainly beats quick," replied I, "but perhaps the camphor julep +may prove beneficial." + +"I thank you for your advice, Mr Newland," said she, laying down a +guinea, "and if I am not better, I will call again, or send for you. +Good-night." + +She walked out of the shop, leaving me in no small astonishment. What +could she mean? I was lost in reverie, when Timothy returned. The guinea +remained on the counter. + +"I met her going home," said he. "Bless me--a guinea--why, Japhet!" I +recounted all that had passed. "Well, then, it has turned out well for +us instead of ill, as I expected." + +The _us_ reminded me that we shared profits on these occasions, and I +offered Timothy his half; but Tim, with all his _espièglerie_ was not +selfish, and he stoutly refused to take his share. He dubbed me an M.D., +and said I had beat Mr Cophagus already, for he had never taken a +physician's fee. + +"I cannot understand it, Timothy," said I, after a few minutes' thought. + +"I can," replied Timothy. "She has looked in at the window until she has +fallen in love with your handsome face; that's it, depend upon it." As I +could find no other cause, and Tim's opinion was backed by my own +vanity, I imagined that such must be the case. "Yes, 'tis so," continued +Timothy, "as the saying is, there's money bid for you." + +"I wish that it had not been by so ill-favoured a person, at all events, +Tim," replied I; "I cannot return her affection." + +"Never mind that, so long as you don't return the money." + +The next evening she made her appearance, bought, as before, a bottle of +camphor julep--sent Timothy home with it, and asking my advice, paid me +another guinea. + +"Really, madam," said I, putting it back towards her, "I am not entitled +to it." + +"Yes, you are," replied she. "I know you have no friends, and I also +know that you deserve them. You must purchase books, you must study, or +you never will be a great man." She then sat down, entered into +conversation, and I was struck with the fire and vigour of the remarks, +which were uttered in such a melodious tone. + +Her visits, during a month, were frequent, and every time did she press +upon me a fee. Although not in love with her person, I certainly felt +very grateful, and moreover was charmed with the superiority of her +mind. We were now on the most friendly and confiding terms. One evening +she said to me, "Japhet, we have now been friends some time. Can I trust +you?" + +"With your life, if it were necessary," replied I. + +"I believe it," said she. "Then can you leave the shop and come to me +to-morrow evening?" + +"Yes, if you will send your maid for me, saying that you are not well." + +"I will, at eight o'clock. Farewell, then, till to-morrow." + + + + +Chapter V + + My vanity receives a desperate wound, but my heart remains + unscathed--An anomaly in woman, one who despises beauty. + + +The next evening I left Timothy in charge, and repaired to her house; it +was very respectable in outward appearance, as well as its furniture. I +was not, however, shown up into the first floor, but into the room +below. + +"Miss Judd will come directly, sir," said a tall, meagre, +puritanical-looking maid, shutting the door upon me. In a few minutes, +during which my pulse beat quick (for I could not but expect some +disclosure; whether it was to be one of love or murder, I hardly knew +which), Miss Aramathea Judd, for such was her christian name, made her +appearance, and sitting down on the sofa, requested me to take a seat by +her. + +"Mr Newland," said she, "I wish to--and I think I can entrust you with a +secret most important to me. Why I am obliged to do it, you will +perfectly comprehend when you have heard my story. Tell me, are you +attached to me?" + +This was a home question to a forward lad of sixteen. I took her by the +hand, and when I looked down on it, I felt as if I was. I looked up into +her face, and felt that I was not. And, as I now was close to her, I +perceived that she must have some aromatic drug in her mouth, as it +smelt strongly--this gave me the supposition that the breath which drew +such melodious tones, was not equally sweet, and I felt a certain +increased degree of disgust. + +"I am very grateful, Miss Judd," replied I; "I hope I shall prove that I +am attached when you confide in me." + +"Swear then, by all that's sacred, you will not reveal what I do +confide." + +"By all that's sacred I will not," replied I, kissing her hand with more +fervour than I expected from myself. + +"Do me then the favour to excuse me one minute." + +She left the room, and in a very short time, there returned, in the same +dress, and, in every other point the same person, but with a young and +lively face of not more, apparently, than twenty-two or twenty-three +years old. I started as if I had seen an apparation. "Yes," said she, +smiling, "you now see Aramathea Judd without disguise; and you are the +first who has seen that face for more than two years. Before I proceed +further, again I say, may I trust you--swear!" + +"I do swear," replied I, and took her hand for the book, which this time +I kissed with pleasure, over and over again. Like a young jackass as I +was, I still retained her hand, throwing as much persuasion as I +possibly could in my eyes. In fact, I did enough to have softened the +hearts of three bonnet-makers. I began to feel most dreadfully in love, +and thought of marriage, and making my fortune, and I don't know what; +but all this was put an end to by one simple short sentence, delivered +in a very decided but soft voice, "Japhet, don't be silly." + +I was crushed, and all my hopes crushed with me. I dropped her hand, and +sat like a fool. + +"And now hear me. I am, as you must have already found out, an impostor; +that is, I am what is called a religious adventuress--a new term, I +grant, and perhaps only applicable to a very few. My aunt was +considered, by a certain sect, to be a great prophetess, which I hardly +need tell you, was all nonsense; nevertheless, there are hundreds who +believed in her, and do so now. Brought up with my aunt, I soon found +out what fools and dupes may be made of mankind by taking advantage of +their credulity. She had her religious inspirations, her trances, and +her convulsions, and I was always behind the scenes: she confided in me, +and I may say that I was her only confidant. You cannot, therefore, +wonder at my practising that deceit to which I have been brought up from +almost my infancy. In person I am the exact counterpart of what my aunt +was at my age, equally so in figure, although my figure is now disguised +to resemble that of a woman of her age. I often had dressed myself in my +aunt's clothes, put on her cap and front, and then the resemblance was +very striking. My aunt fell sick and died, but she promised the +disciples that she would re-appear to them, and they believed her. I did +not. She was buried, and by many her return was anxiously expected. It +occurred to me about a week afterwards that I might contrive to deceive +them. I dressed in my aunt's clothes, I painted and disguised my face as +you have seen, and the deception was complete, even to myself, as I +surveyed my countenance in the glass. I boldly set off in the evening to +the tabernacle, which I knew they still frequented--came into the midst +of them, and they fell down and worshipped me as a prophetess risen from +the dead; deceived, indeed, by my appearance, but still more deceived +by their own credulity. For two years I have been omnipotent with them; +but there is one difficulty which shakes the faith of the new converts, +and new converts I must have, Japhet, as the old ones die, or I should +not be able to fee my physician. It is this: by habit I can almost throw +myself into a stupor or a convulsion, but to do that effectually, to be +able to carry on the deception for so long a time, and to undergo the +severe fatigue attending such violent exertion, it is necessary that I +have recourse to stimulants--do you understand?" + +"I do," replied I; "I have more than once thought you under the +influence of them towards the evening. I'm afraid that you take more +than is good for your health." + +"Not more than I require for what I have to undergo to keep up the faith +of my disciples; but there are many who waver, some who doubt, and I +find that my movements are watched. I cannot trust the woman in this +house. I think she is a spy set upon me, but I cannot remove her, as +this house, and all which it contains, are not mine, but belong to the +disciples in general. There is another woman, not far off, who is my +rival; she calls me an impostor, and says that she is the true +prophetess, and that I am not one. This will be rather difficult for her +to prove," continued she, with a mocking smile. "Beset as I am, I +require your assistance, for you must be aware that it is rather +discreditable to a prophetess, who has risen from the dead, to be seen +all day at the gin-shop, yet without stimulants now, I could not exist." + +"And how can I assist you?" + +"By sending me, as medicine, that which I dare no longer procure in any +other way, and keeping the secret which I have imparted." + +"I will do both with pleasure; but yet," said I, "is it not a pity, a +thousand pities, that one so young--and if you will allow me to add, so +lovely, should give herself up to ardent spirits? Why," continued I, +taking her small white hand, "why should you carry on the deception; +why sacrifice your health, and I may say your happiness--" What more I +might have said I know not, probably it might have been an offer of +marriage, but she cut me short. + +"Why does everybody sacrifice their health, their happiness, their all, +but for ambition and the love of power? It is true, as long as this +little beauty lasts, I might be courted as a woman, but never should I +be worshipped as--I may say--a god.--No, no, there is something too +delightful in that adoration, something too pleasant in witnessing a +crowd of fools stare, and men of three times my age, falling down and +kissing the hem of my garment. This is, indeed, adoration! the delight +arising from it is so great, that all other passions are crushed by +it--it absorbs all other feelings, and has closed my heart even against +love, Japhet. I could not, I would not debase myself, sink so low in my +own estimation, as to allow so paltry a passion to have dominion over +me; and, indeed, now that I am so wedded to stimulants, even if I were +no longer a prophetess, it never could." + +"But is not intoxication one of the most debasing of all habits?" + +"I grant you, in itself, but with me and in my situation it is +different. I fall to rise again, and higher. I cannot be what I am +without I simulate--I cannot simulate without stimulants, therefore it +is but a means to a great and glorious ambition." + +I had more conversation with her before I left, but nothing appeared to +move her resolution, and I left her lamenting, in the first place, that +she had abjured love, because, notwithstanding the orris root, which she +kept in her mouth to take away the smell of the spirits, I found myself +very much taken with such beauty of person, combined with so much vigour +of mind; and in the second, that one so young should carry on a system +of deceit and self-destruction. When I rose to go away she put five +guineas in my hand, to enable me to purchase what she required. "Add to +this one small favour," said I, "Aramathea--allow me a kiss." + +"A kiss," replied she, with scorn; "no, Japhet, look upon me, for it is +the last time you will behold my youth; look upon me as a sepulchre, +fair without but unsavoury and rottenness within. Let me do you a +greater kindness, let me awaken your dormant energies, and plant that +ambition in your soul, which may lead to all that is great and good--a +better path and more worthy of a man than the one which I have partly +chosen, and partly destiny has decided for me. Look upon me as your +friend; although perhaps, you truly say, no friend unto myself. +Farewell--remember that to-morrow you will send the medicine which I +require." + +I left her, and returned home: it was late. I went to bed, and having +disclosed as much to Timothy as I could safely venture to do, I fell +fast asleep, but her figure and her voice haunted me in my dreams. At +one time, she appeared before me in her painted, enamelled face, and +then the mask fell off, and I fell at her feet to worship her extreme +beauty; then her beauty would vanish, and she would appear an image of +loathsomeness and deformity, and I felt suffocated with the atmosphere +impregnated with the smell of liquor. I would wake and compose myself +again, glad to be rid of the horrid dream, but again would she appear, +with a hydra's tail, like Sin in Milton's Paradise Lost, wind herself +round me, her beautiful face gradually changing into that of a skeleton. +I cried out with terror, and awoke to sleep no more, and effectually +cured by my dream of the penchant which I felt towards Miss Aramathea +Judd. + + + + +Chapter VI + + My prescriptions very effective and palatable, but I lose my + patient--The feud equal to that of the Montagues and the + Capulets--Results different--Mercutio comes off unhurt. + + +The next day I sent Timothy to purchase some highly rectified white +brandy, which I coloured with a blue tincture, and added to it a small +proportion of the essence of cinnamon, to disguise the smell; a dozen +large vials, carefully tied up and sealed, were despatched to her abode. +She now seldom called unless it was early in the morning; I made +repeated visits to her house to receive money, but no longer to make +love. One day I requested permission to be present at their meeting, and +to this she gave immediate consent; indeed we were on the most intimate +terms, and when she perceived that I no longer attempted to play the +fool, I was permitted to remain for hours with her in conversation. She +had, as she told me she intended, re-enamelled and painted her face, but +knowing what beauty was concealed underneath, I no longer felt any +disgust. + +Timothy was very much pleased at his share of this arrangement, as he +seldom brought her the medicine without pocketing half-a-crown. + +For two or three months every thing went on very satisfactorily; but one +evening, Timothy, who had been sent with the basket of vials for Miss +Judd's assistance, returned in great consternation, informing me that +the house was empty. He had inquired of the neighbours, and from the +accounts given, which were very contradictory, it appeared that the +rival prophetess had marched up at the head of her proselytes the +evening before, had obtained entrance, and that a desperate contention +had been the result. That the police had been called in, and all parties +had been lodged in the watch-house; that the whole affair was being +investigated by the magistrates, and that it was said that Miss Judd and +all her coadjutors would be sent to the Penitentiary. This was quite +enough to frighten two boys like us; for days afterwards we trembled +when people came into the shop, expecting to be summoned and imprisoned. +Gradually, however, our fears were dismissed, but I never from that time +heard any thing more of Miss Aramathea Judd. + +After this affair, I adhered steadily to my business, and profiting by +the advice given me by that young person, improved rapidly in my +profession, as well as in general knowledge; but my thoughts, as usual, +were upon one subject--my parentage, and the mystery hanging over it. My +eternal reveries became at last so painful, that I had recourse to +reading to drive them away, and subscribing to a good circulating +library, I was seldom without a book in my hand. By this time I had been +nearly two years and a half with Mr Cophagus, when an adventure occurred +which I must attempt to describe with all the dignity with which it +ought to be invested. + +This is a world of ambition, competition, and rivalry. Nation rivals +nation, and flies to arms, cutting the throats of a few thousands on +each side till one finds that it has the worst of it. Man rivals man, +and hence detraction, duels, and individual death. Woman rivals woman, +and hence loss of reputation and position in high, and loss of hair, and +fighting with pattens in low, life. Are we then to be surprised that +this universal passion, undeterred by the smell of drugs and poisonous +compounds, should enter into apothecaries' shops? But two streets--two +very short streets from our own--was situated the single-fronted shop of +Mr Ebenezer Pleggit. Thank heaven, it was only single-fronted; there, at +least, we had the ascendancy over them. Upon other points, our +advantages were more equally balanced. Mr Pleggit had two large coloured +bottles in his windows more than we had; but then we had two horses, and +he had only one. He tied over the corks of his bottles with red-coloured +paper; we covered up the lips of our vials with delicate blue. It +certainly was the case--for though an enemy, I'll do him justice--that, +after Mr Brookes had left us, Mr Pleggit had two shopmen, and Mr +Cophagus only one; but then that one was Mr Japhet Newland; besides, one +of his assistants had only one eye, and the other squinted horribly, so +if we measured by eyes, I think the advantage was actually on our side; +and, as far as ornament went, most decidedly; for who would not prefer +putting on his chimney-piece one handsome, elegant vase, than two +damaged, ill-looking pieces of crockery? Mr Pleggit had certainly a +gilt mortar and pestle over his door, which Mr Cophagus had omitted when +he furnished his shop; but then the mortar had a great crack down the +middle, and the pestle had lost its knob. And let me ask those who have +been accustomed to handle it, what is a pestle without a knob? On the +whole, I think, with the advantage of having two fronts, like Janus, we +certainly had the best of the comparison; but I shall leave the +impartial to decide. + +All I can say is, that the feuds of the rival houses were most +bitter--the hate intense--the mutual scorn unmeasurable. Did Mr Ebenezer +Pleggit meet Mr Phineas Cophagus in the street, the former immediately +began to spit as if he had swallowed some of his own vile adulterated +drugs; and in rejoinder, Mr Cophagus immediately raised the cane from +his nose high above his forehead in so threatening an attitude as almost +to warrant the other swearing the peace against him, muttering, "Ugly +puppy--knows nothing--um--patients die--and so on." + +It may be well supposed that this spirit of enmity extended through the +lower branches of the rival houses--the assistants and I were at deadly +feud; and this feud was even more deadly between the boys who carried +out the medicines, and whose baskets might, in some measure, have been +looked upon as the rival ensigns of the parties, they themselves +occupying the dangerous and honourable post of standard bearers. + +Timothy, although the kindest-hearted fellow in the world, was as good a +hater as Dr Johnson himself could have wished to meet with; and when +sometimes his basket was not so well filled as usual, he would fill up +with empty bottles below, rather than that the credit of the house +should be suspected, and his deficiencies create a smile of scorn in the +mouth of his red-haired antagonist, when they happened to meet going +their rounds. As yet, no actual collision had taken place between either +the principals or the subordinates of the hostile factions; but it was +fated that this state of quiescence should no longer remain. + +Homer has sung the battles of gods, demigods, and heroes; Milton the +strife of angels. Swift has been great in his Battle of the Books; but I +am not aware that the battle of the vials has as yet been sung; and it +requires a greater genius than was to be found in those who portrayed +the conflicts of heroes, demigods, gods, angels, or books, to do +adequate justice to the mortal strife which took place between the +lotions, potions, draughts, pills, and embrocations. I must tell the +story as well as I can, leaving it as an outline for a future epic. + +Burning with all the hate which infuriated the breasts of the two houses +of Capulet and Montague, hate each day increasing from years of "biting +thumbs" at each other, and yet no excuse presenting itself for an +affray, Timothy Oldmixon--for on such an occasion it would be a sin to +omit his whole designation--Timothy Oldmixon, I say, burning with hate +and eager with haste, turning a corner of the street with his basket +well filled with medicines hanging on his left arm, encountered, equally +eager in his haste, and equally burning in his hate, the red-haired +Mercury of Mr Ebenezer Pleggit. Great was the concussion of the opposing +baskets, dire was the crash of many of the vials, and dreadful was the +mingled odour of the abominations which escaped, and poured through the +wicker interstices. Two ladies from Billingsgate, who were near, +indulging their rhetorical powers, stopped short. Two tom cats, who were +on an adjacent roof, just fixing their eyes of enmity, and about to fix +their claws, turned their eyes to the scene below. Two political +antagonists stopped their noisy arguments. Two dustmen ceased to ring +their bells; and two little urchins eating cherries from the crowns of +their hats, lost sight of their fruit, and stood aghast with fear. They +met, and met with such violence, that they each rebounded many paces; +but like stalwart knights, each kept his basket and his feet. A few +seconds to recover breath; one withering, fiery look from Timothy, +returned by his antagonist, one flash of the memory in each to tell them +that they each had the _la_ on their side, and "Take that!" was roared +by Timothy, planting a well-directed blow with his dexter and dexterous +hand upon the sinister and sinisterous eye of his opponent. "Take that!" +continued he, as his adversary reeled back; "take that, and be d----d to +you, for running against a _gentleman_." + +He of the rubicund hair had retreated, because so violent was the blow +he could not help so doing, and we all must yield to fate. But it was +not from fear. Seizing a vile potation that was labelled "to be taken +immediately," and hurling it with demoniacal force right on the chops of +the courageous Timothy, "Take that!" cried he, with a rancorous yell. +This missile, well directed as the spears of Homer's heroes, came full +upon the bridge of Timothy's nose, and the fragile glass shivering, +inflicted divers wounds upon his physiognomy, and at the same time +poured forth a dark burnt-sienna coloured balsam, to heal them, giving +pain unutterable. Timothy, disdaining to lament the agony of his wounds, +followed the example of his antagonist, and hastily seizing a similar +bottle of much larger dimensions, threw it with such force that it split +between the eyes of his opponent. Thus with these dreadful weapons did +they commence the mortal strife. + +The lovers of _good order_, or at least of fair play, gathered round the +combatants, forming an almost impregnable ring, yet of sufficient +dimensions to avoid the missiles. _"Go it, red-head!" "Bravo! white +apron!"_ resounded on every side. Draughts now met draughts in their +passage through the circumambient air, and exploded like shells over a +besieged town. Bolusses were fired with the precision of cannon shot, +pill-boxes were thrown with such force that they burst like grape and +canister, while acids and alkalies hissed, as they neutralised each +other's power, with all the venom of expiring snakes, "Bravo! white +apron!" "Red-head for ever!" resounded on every side as the conflict +continued with unabated vigour. The ammunition was fast expending on +both sides, when Mr Ebenezer Pleggit, hearing the noise, and perhaps +smelling his own drugs, was so unfortunately rash and so unwisely +foolhardy, as to break through the sacred ring, advancing from behind +with uplifted cane to fell the redoubtable Timothy, when a mixture of +his own, hurled by his own red-haired champion, caught him in his open +mouth, breaking against his only two remaining front teeth, extracting +them as the discharged liquid ran down his throat, and turning him as +sick as a dog. He fell, was taken away on a shutter, and it was some +days before he was again to be seen in his shop, dispensing those +medicines which, on this fatal occasion, he would but too gladly have +dispensed with. + +Reader, have you not elsewhere read in the mortal fray between knights, +when the casque has been beaten off, the shield lost, and the sword +shivered, how they have resorted to closer and more deadly strife with +their daggers raised on high? Thus it was with Timothy: his means had +failed, and disdaining any longer to wage a distant combat, he closed +vigorously with his panting enemy, overthrew him in the first struggle, +seizing from his basket the only weapons which remained, one single +vial, and one single box of pills. As he sat upon his prostrate foe, +first he forced the box of pills into his gasping mouth, and then with +the lower end of the vial he drove it down his throat, as a gunner rams +home the wad and shot into a thirty-two pound carronade. Choked with the +box, the fallen knight held up his hands for quarter; but Timothy +continued until the end of the vial breaking out the top and bottom of +the pasteboard receptacle, forty-and-eight of antibilious pills rolled +in haste down Red-head's throat. Timothy then seized his basket, and +amid the shouts of triumph, walked away. His fallen-crested adversary +coughed up the remnants of the pasteboard, once more breathed, and was +led disconsolate to the neighbouring pump; while Timothy regained our +shop with his blushing honours thick upon him. + +But I must drop the vein heroical. Mr Cophagus, who was at home when +Timothy returned, was at first very much inclined to be wroth at the +loss of so much medicine; but when he heard the story, and the finale, +he was so pleased at Tim's double victory over Mr Pleggit and his +messenger, that he actually put his hand in his pocket, and pulled out +half-a-crown. + +Mr Pleggit, on the contrary, was any thing but pleased; he went to a +lawyer, and commenced an action for assault and battery, and all the +neighbourhood did nothing but talk about the affray which had taken +place, and the action at law which it was said would take place in the +ensuing term. + +But with the exception of this fracas, which ended in the action not +holding good, whereby the animosity was increased, I have little to +recount during the remainder of the time I served under Mr Cophagus. I +had been more than three years with him when my confinement became +insupportable. I had but one idea, which performed an everlasting cycle +in my brain--Who was my father? And I should have abandoned the +profession to search the world in the hope of finding my progenitor, had +it not been that I was without the means. Latterly, I had hoarded up all +I could collect; but the sum was small, much too small for the proposed +expedition. I became melancholy, indifferent to the business, and +slovenly in my appearance, when a circumstance occurred which put an end +to my further dispensing medicines, and left me a free agent. + + + + +Chapter VII + + Looking out for business not exactly minding your own business--The + loss of the scales occasions the loss of place to Timothy and me, + who when weighed in other scales were found wanting--We bundle off + with our bundles on. + + +It happened one market-day that there was an overdriven, infuriated +beast, which was making sad havoc. Crowds of people were running past +our shop in one direction, and the cries of "Mad bull!" were re-echoed +in every quarter. Mr Cophagus, who was in the shop, and to whom, as I +have before observed, a mad bull was a source of great profit, very +naturally looked out of the shop to ascertain whether the animal was +near to us. In most other countries, when people hear of any danger, +they generally avoid it by increasing their distance; but in England, it +is too often the case, that they are so fond of indulging their +curiosity, that they run to the danger. Mr Cophagus, who perceived the +people running one way, naturally supposed, not being aware of the +extreme proximity of the animal, that the people were running to see +what was the matter, and turned his eyes in that direction, walking out +on the pavement that he might have a fairer view. He was just observing, +"Can't say--fear--um--rascal Pleggit--close to him--get all the +custom--wounds--contusions--and"--when the animal came suddenly round +the corner upon Mr Cophagus, who had his eyes the other way, and before +he could escape, tossed him through his own shop windows, and landed him +on the counter. Not satisfied with this, the beast followed him into the +shop. Timothy and I pulled Mr Cophagus over towards us, and he dropped +inside the counter, where we also crouched, frightened out of our wits. +To our great horror the bull made one or two attempts to leap the +counter; but not succeeding, and being now attacked by the dogs and +butcher boys, he charged at them through the door, carrying away our +best scales on his horns as a trophy, as he galloped out of the shop in +pursuit of his persecutors. When the shouts and hallooes were at some +little distance, Timothy and I raised our heads and looked round us; and +perceiving that all was safe, we proceeded to help Mr Cophagus, who +remained on the floor bleeding, and in a state of insensibility. We +carried him into the back parlour and laid him on the sofa. I desired +Timothy to run for surgical aid as fast as he could, while I opened a +vein; and in a few minutes he returned with our opponent, Mr Ebenezer +Pleggit. We stripped Mr Cophagus, and proceeded to examine him. "Bad +case this--very bad case indeed, Mr Newland--dislocation of the os +humeri--severe contusion on the os frontis--and I'm very much afraid +there is some intercostal injury. Very sorry, very sorry, indeed, for my +brother Cophagus." But Mr Pleggit did not appear to be sorry; on the +contrary, he appeared to perform his surgical duties with the greatest +glee. + +We reduced the dislocation, and then carried Mr Cophagus up to his bed. +In an hour he was sensible, and Mr Pleggit took his departure, shaking +hands with Mr Cophagus, and wishing him joy of his providential escape. + +"Bad job, Japhet," said Mr Cophagus to me. + +"Very bad indeed, sir; but it might have been worse." + +"Worse--um--no, nothing worse--not possible." + +"Why, sir, you might have been killed." + +"Pooh!--didn't mean that--mean Pleggit--rascal--um--kill me if he +can--sha'n't though--soon get rid of him--and so on." + +"You will not require his further attendance now that your shoulder is +reduced. I can very well attend upon you." + +"Very true, Japhet;--but won't go--sure of that--damned rascal--quite +pleased--I saw it--um--eyes twinkled--smile checked--and so on." + +That evening Mr Pleggit called in as Mr Cophagus said that he would, +and the latter showed a great deal of impatience; but Mr Pleggit +repeated his visits over and over again, and I observed that Mr Cophagus +no longer made any objection; on the contrary, seemed anxious for his +coming, and still more so, after he was convalescent, and able to sit at +his table. But the mystery was soon divulged. It appeared that Mr +Cophagus, although he was very glad that other people should suffer from +mad bulls, and come to be cured, viewed the case in a very different +light when the bull thought proper to toss him, and having now realised +a comfortable independence, he had resolved to retire from business, and +from a site attended with so much danger. A hint of this escaping him +when Mr Pleggit was attending him on the third day after his accident, +the latter, who knew the value of the _locale_, also hinted that if Mr +Cophagus was inclined so to do, that he would be most happy to enter +into an arrangement with him. Self-interest will not only change +friendship into enmity, in this rascally world, but also turn enmity +into friendship. All Mr Pleggit's enormities, and all Mr Cophagus' +shameful conduct, were mutually forgotten. In less than ten minutes it +was, "_My dear Mr Pleggit_, and so on," and "_My dear brother +Cophagus_." + +In three weeks every thing had been arranged between them, and the shop, +fixtures, stock in trade, and good will, were all the property of our +ancient antagonist. But although Mr Pleggit could shake hands with Mr +Cophagus for his fixtures and _good will_, yet as Timothy and I were not +included in the _good will_, neither were we included among the +_fixtures_, and Mr Cophagus could not, of course, interfere with Mr +Pleggit's private arrangements. He did all he could do in the way of +recommendation, but Mr Pleggit had not forgotten my occasional +impertinences or the battle of the bottles. I really believe that his +_ill will_ against Timothy was one reason for purchasing the _good will_ +of Mr Cophagus, and we were very gently told by Mr Pleggit that he would +have no occasion for our services. + +Mr Cophagus offered to procure me another situation as soon as he could, +and at the same time presented me with twenty guineas, as a proof of +his regard and appreciation of my conduct--but this sum put in my hand +decided me: I thanked him, and told him I had other views at present, +but hoped he would let me know where I might find him hereafter, as I +should be glad to see him again. He told me he would leave his address +for me at the Foundling Hospital, and shaking me heartily by the hand, +we parted. Timothy was then summoned. Mr Cophagus gave him five guineas, +and wished him good fortune. + +"And now, Japhet, what are you about to do?" said Timothy, as he +descended into the shop. + +"To do," replied I; "I am about to leave you, which is the only thing I +am sorry for. I am going, Timothy, in search of my father." + +"Well," replied Timothy, "I feel as you do, Japhet, that it will be hard +to part; and there is another thing on my mind--which is, I am very +sorry that the bull did not break the rudimans (pointing to the iron +mortar and pestle); had he had but half the spite I have against it, he +would not have left a piece as big as a thimble. I've a great mind to +have a smack at it before I go." + +"You will only injure Mr Cophagus, for the mortar will not then be paid +for." + +"Very true; and as he has just given me five guineas, I will refrain +from my just indignation. But now, Japhet, let me speak to you. I don't +know how you feel, but I feel as if I could not part with you. I do not +want to go in search of my father particularly. They say it's a wise +child that knows its own father--but as there can be no doubt of my +other parent--if I can only hit upon her, I have a strong inclination to +go in search of my mother, and if you like my company, why I will go +with you--always, my dear Japhet," continued Tim, "keeping in my mind +the great difference between a person who has been feed as an M.D., and +a lad who only carries out his prescriptions." + +"Do you really mean to say, Tim, that you will go with me?" + +"Yes, to the end of the world, Japhet, as your companion, your friend, +and your servant, if you require it. I love you, Japhet, and I will +serve you faithfully." + +"My dear Tim, I am delighted; now I am really happy: we will have but +one purse, and but one interest; if I find good fortune, you shall share +it." + +"And if you meet with ill luck, I will share that too--so the affair is +settled--and as here come Mr Pleggit's assistants with only one pair of +eyes between them, the sooner we pack up the better." + +In half an hour all was ready; a bundle each, contained our wardrobes. +We descended from our attic, walked proudly through the shop without +making any observation, or taking any notice of our successors; all the +notice taken was by Timothy, who turned round and shook his fist at his +old enemies, the iron mortar and pestle; and there we were, standing on +the pavement, with the wide world before us, and quite undecided which +way we should go. + +"Is it to be east, west, north, or south, Japhet?" said Timothy. + +"The wise men came from the east," replied I. + +"Then they must have travelled west," said Tim; "let us show our wisdom +by doing the same." + +"Agreed." + +Passing by a small shop, we purchased two good sticks, as defenders, as +well as to hang our bundles on--and off we set upon our pilgrimage. + + + + +Chapter VIII + + We take a coach, but the driver does not like his fare and hits us + foul--We change our mode of travelling upon the principle of slow + and sure, and fall in with a very learned man. + + +I believe it to be a very general custom, when people set off upon a +journey, to reckon up their means--that is, to count the money which +they may have in their pockets. At all events, this was done by Timothy +and me, and I found that my stock amounted to twenty-two pounds +eighteen shillings, and Timothy's to the five guineas presented by Mr +Cophagus, and three halfpence which were in the corner of his waistcoat +pocket--sum total, twenty-eight pounds three shillings and three +halfpence; a very handsome sum, as we thought, with which to commence +our peregrinations, and, as I observed to Timothy, sufficient to last us +for a considerable time, if husbanded with care. + +"Yes," replied he, "but we must husband our legs also, Japhet, or we +shall soon be tired, and very soon wear out our shoes. I vote we take a +hackney coach." + +"Take a hackney coach, Tim! we mustn't think of it; we cannot afford +such a luxury; you can't be tired yet, we are now only just clear of +Hyde Park Corner." + +"Still I think we had better take a coach, Japhet, and here is one +coming. I always do take one when I carry out medicines, to make up for +the time I lose looking at the shops, and playing peg in the ring." + +I now understood what Timothy meant, which was, to get behind and have a +ride for nothing. I consented to this arrangement, and we got up behind +one which was already well filled inside. "The only difference between +an inside and outside passenger in a hackney coach, is that one pays, +and the other does not," said I, to Timothy, as we rolled along at the +act of parliament speed of four miles per hour. + +"That depends upon circumstances: if we are found out, in all +probability we shall not only have our ride, but be _paid_ into the +bargain." + +"With the coachman's whip, I presume?" + +"Exactly." And Timothy had hardly time to get the word out of his mouth, +when flac, flac, came the whip across our eyes--a little envious wretch, +with his shirt hanging out of his trousers, having called out, _Cut +behind!_ Not wishing to have our faces, or our behinds cut any more, we +hastily descended, and reached the footpath, after having gained about +three miles on the road before we were discovered. + +"That wasn't a bad lift, Japhet, and as for the whip I never mind that +with _corduroys_. And now, Japhet, I'll tell you something; we must get +into a wagon, if we can find one going down the road, as soon as it is +dark." + +"But that will cost money, Tim." + +"It's economy, I tell you; for a shilling, if you bargain, you may ride +the whole night, and if we stop at a public-house to sleep, we shall +have to pay for our beds, as well as be obliged to order something to +eat, and pay dearer for it than if we buy what we want at cooks' shops." + +"There is sense in what you say, Timothy; we will look out for a wagon." + +"Oh! it's no use now--wagons are like black beetles, not only in shape +but in habits, they only travel by night--at least most of them do. We +are now coming into long dirty Brentford, and I don't know how you feel, +Japhet, but I find that walking wonderfully increases the +appetite--that's another reason why you should not walk when you can +ride--for nothing." + +"Well, I'm rather hungry myself; and dear me, how very good that piece +of roast pork looks in that window!" + +"I agree with you--let's go in and make a bargain!" + +We bought a good allowance for a shilling, and after sticking out for a +greater proportion of mustard than the woman said we were entitled to, +and some salt, we wrapped it up in a piece of paper, and continued our +course, till we arrived at a baker's, where we purchased our bread, and +then taking up a position on a bench outside a public-house, called for +a pot of beer, and putting our provisions down before us, made a hearty, +and, what made us more enjoy it, an independent meal. Having finished +our pork and our porter, and refreshed ourselves, we again started and +walked till it was quite dark, when we felt so tired that we agreed to +sit down on our bundles and wait for the first wagon which passed. We +soon heard the jingling of bells, and shortly afterwards its enormous +towering bulk appeared between us and the sky. We went up to the +wagoner, who was mounted on a little pony, and asked him if he could +give two poor lads a lift, and how much he would charge us for the ride. + +"How much can you afford to give, measters? for there be others as poor +as ye." We replied that we could give a shilling. "Well, then, get up in +God's name, and ride as long as you will. Get in behind." + +"Are there many people in there already?" said I, as I climbed up, and +Timothy handed me the bundles. + +"Noa," replied the wagoner, "there be nobody but a mighty clever +poticary or doctor, I can't tell which; but he wear an uncommon queer +hat, and he talk all sort of doctor stuff--and there be his odd man and +his odd boy; that be all, and there be plenty of room, and plenty o' +clean _stra_'." + +After this intimation we climbed up, and gained a situation in the rear +of the wagon under the cloth. As the wagoner said, there was plenty of +room, and we nestled into the straw without coming into contact with the +other travellers. Not feeling any inclination to sleep, Timothy and I +entered into conversation, _sotto voce_, and had continued for more than +half an hour, supposing by their silence that the other occupants of the +wagon were asleep, when we were interrupted by a voice clear and +sonorous as a bell. + +"It would appear that you are wanderers, young men, and journey you know +not whither. Birds seek their nests when the night falls--beasts hasten +to their lairs--man bolts his door. '_Propria quæ maribus_,' as +Herodotus hath it; which, when translated, means, that 'such is the +nature of mankind.' '_Tribuuntur mascula dicas_' 'Tell me your +troubles,' as Homer says." + +I was very much surprised at this address--my knowledge of the language +told me immediately that the quotations were out of the Latin grammar, +and that all his learning was pretence; still there was a novelty of +style which amused me, and at the same time gave me an idea that the +speaker was an uncommon personage. I gave Timothy a nudge, and then +replied, + +"You have guessed right, most learned sir; we are, as you say, wanderers +seeking our fortunes, and trust yet to find them--still we have a weary +journey before us, '_Haustus horâ somni sumendum_,' as Aristotle hath +it; which I need not translate to so learned a person as yourself." + +"Nay, indeed, there is no occasion; yet am I pleased to meet with one +who hath scholarship," replied the other. "Have you also a knowledge of +the Greek?" + +"No, I pretend not to Greek." + +"It is a pity that thou hast it not, for thou wouldst delight to +commune with the ancients. Esculapius hath these +words--'A_shol_der--offmotton--_acca_pon--pasti--venison,'--which I will +translate for thee--'We often find what we seek, when we least expect +it.' May it be so with you, my friend. Where have you been educated? and +what has been your profession?" + +I thought I risked little in telling, so I replied, that I had been +brought up as a surgeon and apothecary, and had been educated at a +foundation school. + +"'Tis well," replied he; "you have then commenced your studies in my +glorious profession; still, have you much to learn; years of toil, under +a great master, can only enable you to benefit mankind as I have done, +and years of hardship and of danger must be added thereunto, to afford +you the means. There are many hidden secrets. '_Ut sunt Divorum, Mars, +Bacchus, Apollo, Virorum_,'--many parts of the globe to traverse, '_Ut +Cato, Virgilius, fluviorum, ut Tibris, Orontes._' All these have I +visited, and many more. Even now do I journey to obtain more of my +invaluable medicine, gathered on the highest Andes, when the moon is in +her perigee. There I shall remain for months among the clouds, looking +down upon the great plain of Mexico, which shall appear no larger than +the head of a pin, where the voice of man is heard not. '_Vocito, +vocitas vocitavi_,' bending for months towards the earth. '_As in +presenti_,' suffering with the cold--'_frico quod fricui dat_,' as +Eusebius hath it. Soon shall I be borne away by the howling winds +towards the new world, where I can obtain more of the wonderful +medicine, which I may say never yet hath failed me, and which nothing +but love towards my race induces me to gather at such pains and risk." + +"Indeed, sir," replied I, amused with his imposition, "I should like to +accompany you--for, as Josephus says most truly, '_Capiat pillulæ duæ +post prandium_.' Travel is, indeed, a most delightful occupation, and I +would like to run over the whole world." + +"And I would like to follow you," interrupted Timothy. "I suspect we +have commenced our _grand tour_ already--three miles behind a +hackney-coach--ten on foot, and about two, I should think, in this +wagon. But as Cophagus says, _Cochlearija crash many summendush_,' which +means, 'there are ups and downs in this world.'" + +"Hah!" exclaimed our companion. "He, also, has the rudiments." + +"Nay, I hope I've done with the _Rudimans_," replied Timothy. + +"Is he your follower?" inquired the man. + +"That very much depends upon who walks first," replied Timothy, "but +whether or no--we hunt in couples." + +"I understand--you are companions. '_Concordat cum nominativo numero et +persona_.' Tell me, can you roll pills, can you use the pestle and the +mortar, handle the scapula, and mix ingredients?" + +I replied that of course I knew my profession. + +"Well, then, as we have still some hours of night, let us now obtain +some rest. In the morning, when the sun hath introduced us to each +other, I may then judge from your countenances whether it is likely that +we may be better acquainted. Night is the time for repose, as Quintus +Curtius says, '_Custos, bos, fur atque sacerdos_. Sleep was made for +all--my friends, good-night." + + + + +Chapter IX + + In which the adventures in the wagon are continued, and we become + more puzzled with our new companions--We leave off talking Latin, + and enter into an engagement. + + +Timothy and I took his advice, and were soon fast asleep. I was awakened +the next morning by feeling a hand in my trouser's pocket. I seized it, +and held it fast. + +"Now just let go my hand, will you?" cried a lachrymal voice. + +I jumped up--it was broad daylight, and looked at the human frame to +which the hand was an appendix. It was a very spare, awkwardly-built +form of a young man, apparently about twenty years old, but without the +least sign of manhood on his chin. His face was cadaverous, with large +goggling eyes, high cheek bones, hair long and ragged, reminding me of a +rat's nest, thin lips, and ears large almost as an elephant's. A more +woe-begone wretch in appearance I never beheld, and I continued to look +at him with surprise. He repeated his words with an idiotical +expression, "Just let go my hand, can't you?" + +"What business had your hand in my pocket?" replied I, angrily. + +"I was feeling for my pocket-handkerchief," replied the young man. "I +always keeps it in my breeches' pocket." + +"But not in your neighbour's, I presume?" + +"My neighbour's!" replied he, with a vacant stare. "Well, so it is, I +see now--I thought it was my own." + +I released his hand; he immediately put it into his own pocket, and drew +out his handkerchief, if the rag deserved the appellation. "There," said +he, "I told you I put it in that pocket--I always do." + +"And pray who are you?" said I, as I looked at his dress, which was a +pair of loose white Turkish trousers, and an old spangled jacket. + +"Me! why, I'm the fool." + +"More knave than fool, I expect," replied I, still much puzzled with his +strange appearance and dress. + +"Nay, there you mistake," said the voice of last night. "He is not only +a fool by profession, but one by nature. It is a half-witted creature, +who serves me when I would attract the people. Strange in this world, +that wisdom may cry in the streets without being noticed, yet folly will +always command a crowd." + +During this address I turned my eyes upon the speaker. He was an +elderly-looking person, with white hair, dressed in a suit of black, +ruffles and frill. His eyes were brilliant, but the remainder of his +face it was difficult to decipher, as it was evidently painted, and the +night's jumbling in the wagon had so smeared it, that it appeared of +almost every colour in the rainbow. On one side of him lay a large +three-cornered cocked hat, on the other, a little lump of a boy, rolled +up in the straw like a marmot, and still sound asleep. Timothy looked at +me, and when he caught my eye, burst out into a laugh. + +"You laugh at my appearance, I presume," said the old man, mildly. + +"I do in truth," replied Timothy. "I never saw one like you before, and +I dare say never shall again." + +"That is possible; yet probably if you meet me again, you would not know +me." + +"Among a hundred thousand," replied Timothy, with increased mirth. + +"We shall see, perhaps," replied the quack doctor, for such the reader +must have already ascertained to be his profession; "but the wagon has +stopped, and the driver will bait his horses. If inclined to eat, now is +your time. Come, Jumbo, get up; Philotas, waken him, and follow me." + +Philotas, for so was the fool styled by his master, twisted up some +straw, and stuffed the end of it into Jumbo's mouth. "Now, Jumbo will +think he has got something to eat. I always wake him that way," observed +the fool, grinning at us. + +It certainly, as might be expected, did waken Jumbo, who uncoiled +himself, rubbed his eyes, stared at the tilt of the wagon, then at us, +and without saying a word, rolled himself out after the fool. Timothy +and I followed. We found the doctor bargaining for some bread and bacon, +his strange appearance exciting much amusement, and inducing the people +to let him have a better bargain than perhaps otherwise they would have +done. He gave a part of the refreshment to the boy and the fool, and +walked out of the tap-room with his own share. Timothy and I went to the +pump, and had a good refreshing wash, and then for a shilling were +permitted to make a very hearty breakfast. The wagon having remained +about an hour, the driver gave us notice of his departure; but the +doctor was no where to be found. After a little delay, the wagoner drove +off, cursing him for a _bilk_, and vowing that he'd never have any more +to do with a "lamed man." In the mean time, Timothy and I had taken our +seats in the wagon, in company with the fool, and Master Jumbo. We +commenced a conversation with the former, and soon found out, as the +doctor had asserted, that he really was an idiot, so much so, that it +was painful to converse with him. As for the latter, he had coiled +himself away to take a little more sleep. I forgot to mention, that the +boy was dressed much in the same way as the fool, in an old spangled +jacket, and dirty white trousers. For about an hour Timothy and I +conversed, remarking upon the strange disappearance of the doctor, +especially as he had given us hopes of employing us; in accepting which +offer, if ever it should be made, we had not made up our minds, when we +were interrupted with a voice crying out, "Hillo, my man, can you give a +chap a lift as far as Reading, for a shilling?" + +"Ay, get up, and welcome," replied the wagoner. + +The wagon did not stop, but in a moment or two the new passenger climbed +in. He was dressed in a clean smock frock, neatly worked up the front, +leather gaiters, and stout shoes; a bundle and a stick were in his hand. +He smiled as he looked round upon the company, and showed a beautiful +set of teeth. His face was dark, and sun-burnt, but very handsome, and +his eyes as black as coals, and as brilliant as gas. "Heh! player +folk--I've a notion," said he, as he sat down, looking at the doctor's +attendants, and laughing at us. "Have you come far, gentlemen?" +continued he. + +"From London," was my reply. + +"How do the crops look up above, for down here the turnips seem to have +failed altogether? Dry seasons won't do for turnips." + +I replied that I really could not satisfy him on that point, as it was +dark when we passed. + +"Very true--I had forgotten that," replied he. "However, the barleys +look well; but perhaps you don't understand farming?" + +I replied in the negative, and the conversation was kept up for two or +three hours, in the course of which I mentioned the quack doctor, and +his strange departure. + +"That is the fellow who cured so many people at ----," replied he; and +the conversation then turned upon his profession and mode of life, which +Timothy and I agreed must be very amusing. "We shall meet him again, I +dare say," replied the man. "Would you know him?" + +"I think so, indeed," replied Timothy, laughing. + +"Yes, and so you would think that you would know a guinea from a +halfpenny, if I put it into your hands," replied the man. "I do not wish +to lay a bet, and win your money; but I tell you, that I will put either +the one or the other into each of your hands, and if you hold it fast +for one minute, and shut your eyes during that time, you will not be +able to tell me which it is that you have in it." + +"That I am sure I would," replied Tim; and I made the same assertion. + +"Well, I was taken in that way at a fair, and lost ten shillings by the +wager; now, we'll try whether you can tell or not." He took out some +money from his pocket, which he selected without our seeing it, put a +coin into the hand of each of us, closing our fists over it, "and now," +said he, "keep your eyes shut for a minute." + +We did so, and a second or two afterwards we heard a voice which we +instantly recognised. "Nay, but it was wrong to leave me on the way side +thus, having agreed to pay the sum demanded. At my age one walketh not +without fatigue, _Excipenda tamen quædam sunt urbium_, as Philostratus +says, meaning, 'that old limbs lose their activity, and seek the help of +a crutch.'" + +"There's the doctor," cried Timothy, with his eyes still shut. + +"Now open your eyes," said the man, "and tell me, before you open your +hand, what there is in it." + +"A halfpenny in mine," said Tim. + +"A guinea in mine," replied I. + +We opened our hands, and they were _empty_. + +"Where the devil is it?" exclaimed I, looking at Tim. + +"And where the devil's the doctor?" replied he, looking round. + +"The money is in the doctor's pocket," replied the man, smiling. + +"Then where is the doctor's pocket?" + +"Here," replied he, slapping his pocket, and looking significantly at +us. "I thought you were certain of knowing him again. About as certain +as you were of telling the money in your hand." + +He then, to our astonishment, imitated the doctor's voice, and quoted +_prosody syntax, and Latin_. Timothy and I were still in astonishment, +when he continued, "If I had not found out that you were in want of +employ, and further, that your services would be useful to me, I should +not have made this discovery. Do you now think that you know enough to +enter into my service? It is light work, and not bad pay; and now you +may choose." + +"I trust," said I, "that there is no dishonesty?" + +"None that you need practise, if you are so scrupulous; perhaps your +scruples may some day be removed. I make the most of my wares--every +merchant does the same. I practise upon the folly of mankind--it is on +that, that wise men live." + +Timothy gave me a push, and nodded his head for me to give my consent. I +reflected a few seconds, and at last I extended my hand. "I consent," +replied I, "with the reservation I have made." + +"You will not repent," said he; "and I will take your companion, not +that I want him particularly, but I do want you. The fact is, I want a +lad of gentlemanly address, and handsome appearance--with the very +knowledge you possess--and now we will say no more for the present. +By-the-bye, was that real Latin of yours?" + +"No," replied I, laughing; "you quoted the grammar, and I replied with +medical prescriptions. One was as good as the other." + +"Quite--nay, better; for the school-boys may find me out, but not you. +But now observe, when we come to the next cross road, we must get +down--at least, I expect so; but we shall know in a minute." + +In about the time he mentioned, a dark, gipsy-looking man looked into +the wagon, and spoke to our acquaintance in an unknown language. He +replied in the same, and the man disappeared. We continued our route for +about a quarter of an hour, when he got out, asked us to follow him, and +speaking a few words to the fool, which I did not hear, left him and the +boy in the wagon. We paid our fare, took possession of our bundles, and +followed our new companion for a few minutes on the cross road, when he +stopped, and said, "I must now leave you, to prepare for your reception +into our fraternity; continue straight on this road until you arrive at +a lime-kiln, and wait there till I come." + +He sprang over a stile, and took a direction verging at an angle from +the road, forced his way through a hedge, and disappeared from our +sight. "Upon my word, Timothy," said I, "I hardly know what to say to +this. Have we done right in trusting to this man, who, I am afraid! is +a great rogue? I do not much like mixing with these gipsy people, for +such I am sure he belongs to." + +"I really do not see how we can do better," replied Timothy. "The world +is all before us, and we must force our own way through it. As for his +being a quack doctor, I see no great harm in that. People put their +faith in nostrums more than they do in regular medicines; and it is well +known that quack medicines, as they call them, cure as often as others, +merely for that very reason." + +"Very true, Timothy; the mind once at ease, the body soon recovers, and +faith, even in quack medicines, will often make people whole; but do you +think that he does no more than impose upon people in that way?" + +"He may, or he may not; at all events, we need do no more, I suppose." + +"I am not sure of that; however, we shall see. He says we may be useful +to him, and I suppose we shall be, or he would not have engaged us--we +shall soon find out." + + + + +Chapter X + + In which the reader is introduced to several new acquaintances, and + all connected with them, except birth and parentage, which appears + to be the one thing wanting throughout the whole of this work. + + +By this time we had arrived at the lime-kiln to which we had been +directed, and we sat down on our bundles, chatting for about five +minutes, when our new acquaintance made his appearance, with something +in his hand, tied up in a handkerchief. + +"You may as well put your coats into your bundles, and put on these +frocks," said he, "you will appear better among us, and be better +received, for there is a _gathering_ now, and some of them are queer +customers. However, you have nothing to fear; when once you are with my +wife and me, you are quite safe; her little finger would protect you +from five hundred." + +"Your wife! who, then, is she?" inquired I, as I put my head through the +smock frock. + +"She is a great personage among the gipsies. She is, by descent, one of +the heads of the tribe, and none dare to disobey her." + +"And you--are you a gipsy?" + +"No, and yes. By birth I am not, but by choice, and marriage, I am +admitted; but I was not born under a hedge, I can assure you, although I +very often pass a night there now--that is, when I am domestic; but do +not think that you are to remain long here; we shall leave in a few +days, and may not meet the tribe again for months, although you may see +my own family occasionally. I did not ask you to join me to pass a +gipsy's life--no, no, we must be stirring and active. Come, we are now +close to them. Do not speak as you pass the huts, until you have entered +mine. Then you may do as you please." + +We turned short round, passed through a gap in the hedge, and found +ourselves on a small retired piece of common, which was studded with +about twenty or thirty low gipsy huts. The fires were alight and +provisions apparently cooking. We passed by nine or ten, and obeyed our +guide's injunctions, to keep silence. At last we stopped, and perceived +ourselves to be standing by the fool, who was dressed like us, in a +smock frock, and Mr Jumbo, who was very busy making the pot boil, +blowing at the sticks underneath till he was black in the face. Several +of the men passed near us, and examined us with no very pleasant +expression of countenance; and we were not sorry to see our conductor, +who had gone into the hut, return, followed by a woman, to whom he was +speaking in the language of the tribe. "Nattée bids you welcome," said +he, as she approached. + +Never in my life will the remembrance of the first appearance of Nattée, +and the effect it had upon me, be erased from my memory. She was tall, +too tall, had it not been for the perfect symmetry of her form. Her +face of a clear olive, and oval in shape; her eyes jetty black; nose +straight, and beautifully formed; mouth small, thin lips, with a slight +curl of disdain, and pearly teeth. I never beheld a woman of so +commanding a presence. Her feet were bare, but very small, as well as +her hands. On her fingers she wore many rings, of a curious old setting, +and a piece of gold hung on her forehead, where the hair was parted. She +looked at us, touched her high forehead with the ends of her fingers, +and waving her hand gracefully, said, in a soft voice, "You are +welcome," and then turned to her husband, speaking to him in her own +language, until by degrees they separated from us in earnest +conversation. + +She returned to us after a short time, without her husband, and said, in +a voice, the notes of which were indeed soft, but the delivery of the +words was most determined; "I have said that you are welcome; sit down, +therefore, and share with us--fear nothing, you have no cause to fear. +Be faithful, then, while you serve him, and when you would quit us, say +so, and receive your leave to depart; but if you attempt to desert us +without permission, then we shall suspect that you are our enemies, and +treat you accordingly. There is your lodging while here," continued she, +pointing to another hut. "There is but one child with you, this boy +(pointing to Jumbo), who can lay at your feet. And now join us as +friends. Fleta, where are you?" + +A soft voice answered from the tent of Nattée, and soon afterwards came +out a little girl, of about eleven years old. The appearance of this +child was a new source of interest. She was a little fairy figure, with +a skin as white as the driven snow--light auburn hair, and large blue +eyes; her dress was scanty, and showed a large portion of her taper +legs. She hastened to Nattée, and folding her arms across her breast, +stood still, saying meekly, "I am here." + +"Know these as friends, Fleta. Send that lazy Num (this was Philotas, +the fool), for more wood, and see that Jumbo tends the fire." + +Nattée smiled, and left us. I observed she went to where forty or fifty +of the tribe were assembled, in earnest discourse. She took her seat +with them, and marked deference was paid to her. In the meantime Jumbo +had blown up a brisk fire; we were employed by Fleta in shredding +vegetables, which she threw into the boiling kettle. Num appeared with +more fuel, and at last there was nothing more to do. Fleta sat down by +us, and parting her long hair, which had fallen over her eyes, looked us +both in the face. + +"Who gave you that name, Fleta?" inquired I. + +"They gave it me," replied she. + +"And who are they?" + +"Nattée, and Melchior, her husband." + +"But you are not their daughter?" + +"No, I am not--that is, I believe not." + +The little girl stopped short, as if assured that she had said too much, +cast her eyes down on the ground, and folded her arms, so that her hands +rested on each opposite shoulder. + +Timothy whispered to me, "She must have been stolen, depend upon it." + +"Silence," said I. + +The little girl overheard him, and looking at him, put her finger across +her mouth, looking to where Num and Jumbo were sitting. I felt an +interest for this child before I had been an hour in her company; she +was so graceful, so feminine, so mournful in the expression of her +countenance. That she was under restraint was evident; but still she did +not appear to be actuated by fear. Nattée was very kind to her, and the +child did not seem to be more reserved towards her than to others; her +mournful pensive look, was perhaps inherent to her nature. It was not +until long after our first acquaintance that I ever saw a smile upon her +features. Shortly after this little conversation Nattée returned, +walking with all the grace and dignity of a queen. Her husband, or +Melchior, as I shall in future call him, soon joined us, and we sat +down to our repast, which was excellent. It was composed of almost every +thing; sometimes I found myself busy with the wing of a fowl, at another +the leg of a rabbit--then a piece of mutton, or other flesh and fowl, +which I could hardly distinguish. To these were added every sort of +vegetable, among which potatoes predominated, forming a sort of stew, +which an epicure might have praised. I had a long conversation with +Melchior in the evening, and, not to weary the reader, I shall now +proceed to state all that I then and subsequently gathered from him and +others, relative to the parties with whom we were associating. + +Melchior would not state who and what he was previous to his having +joined the fraternity of gipsies; that he was not of humble birth, and +that he had, when young, quitted his friends out of love for Nattée, or +from some other causes not to be revealed, he led me to surmise. He had +been many years in company with the tribe, and although, as one received +into it, he did not stand so high in rank and estimation as his wife, +still, from his marriage with Nattée, and his own peculiar +qualifications and dexterity, he was almost as absolute as she was. + +Melchior and Nattée were supposed to be the most wealthy of all the +gipsies, and, at the same time, they were the most liberal of their +wealth. Melchior, it appeared, gained money in three different +characters; as a quack doctor, the character in which we first saw him; +secondly, as a juggler, in which art he was most expert; and thirdly, as +a fortune-teller, and _wise man_. + +Nattée, as I before mentioned, was of very high rank, or caste, in her +tribe. At her first espousal of Melchior she lost much of her influence, +as it was considered a degradation; but she was then very young, and +must have been most beautiful. The talents of Melchior, and her own +spirit, however, soon enabled her to regain, and even add still more to, +her power and consideration among the tribe, and it was incredible to +what extent, with the means which she possessed, this power was +augmented. + +Melchior had no children by his marriage, and, as far as I could judge +from the few words which would escape from the lips of Nattée, she did +not wish for any, as the race would not be considered pure. The +subdivision of the tribe which followed Nattée, consisted of about +forty, men, women, and children. These were ruled by her during the +absence of her husband, who alternately assumed different characters, as +suited his purpose; but in whatever town Melchior might happen to be, +Nattée and her tribe were never far off, and always encamped within +communication. + +I ventured to question Melchior about the little Fleta; and he stated +that she was the child of a soldier's wife, who had been brought to bed, +and died a few hours afterwards; that, at the time, she was on her way +to join her husband, and had been taken ill on the road--had been +assisted by Nattée and her companions, as far as they were able--had +been buried by them, and that the child had been reared in the camp. + +In time, the little girl became very intimate, and very partial to me. I +questioned her as to her birth, telling her what Melchior had stated; +for a long while she would not answer; the poor child had learned +caution even at that early age; but after we were more intimate, she +said, that which Melchior had stated was _not true_. She could recollect +very well living in a great house, with everything very fine about her; +but still it appeared as if it were a dream. She recollected two white +ponies--and a lady who was her mamma--and a mulberry-tree, where she +stained her frock; sometimes other things came to her memory, and then +she forgot them again. From this it was evident that she had been +stolen, and was probably of good parentage; certainly, if elegance and +symmetry of person and form, could prove blood, it never was more marked +than in this interesting child. Her abode with the gipsies, and their +peculiar mode of life and manners, had rendered her astonishingly +precocious in intellect; but of education she had none, except what was +instilled into her by Melchior, whom she always accompanied when he +assumed his character as a juggler. She then danced on the slack wire, +at the same time performing several feats in balancing, throwing of +oranges, &c. When Melchior was under other disguises, she remained in +the camp with Nattée. + +Of Num, or Philotas, as Melchior thought proper to call him, I have +already spoken. He was a half-witted idiot, picked up in one of +Melchior's excursions, and as he stated to me, so did it prove to be the +fact, that when on the stage, and questioned as a fool, his natural +folly, and idiotical vacancy of countenance, were applauded by the +spectators as admirably assumed. Even at the alehouses and taverns where +we stopped, every one imagined that all his folly was pretence, and +looked upon him as a very clever fellow. There never was, perhaps, such +a lachrymose countenance as this poor lad's, and this added still more +to the mirth of others, being also considered as put on for the +occasion. Stephen Kemble played Falstaff without stuffing--Num played +the fool without any effort or preparation. Jumbo was also "picked up;" +this was not done by Melchior, who stated, that any body might have him +who claimed him; he tumbled with the fool upon the stage, and he also +ate pudding to amuse the spectators--the only part of the performance +which was suited to Jumbo's taste, for he was a terrible little glutton, +and never lost any opportunity of eating, as well as of sleeping. + +And now, having described all our new companions, I must narrate what +passed between Melchior and me, the day after our joining the camp. He +first ran through his various professions, pointing out to me that as +juggler he required a confederate, in which capacity I might be very +useful, as he would soon instruct me in all his tricks. As a quack +doctor he wanted the services of both Tim and myself in mixing up, +making pills, &c., and also in assisting him in persuading the public of +his great skill. As a fortune-teller, I should also be of great service, +as he would explain to me hereafter. In short, he wanted a person of +good personal appearance and education, in whom he might confide in +every way. As to Tim, he might be made useful if he chose, in various +ways; amongst others, he wished him to learn tumbling and playing the +fool, when, at times, the fool was required to give a shrewd answer on +any point on which he would wish the public to be made acquainted. I +agreed to my own part of the performance, and then had some conversation +with Timothy, who immediately consented to do his best in what was +allotted as his share. Thus was the matter quickly arranged, Melchior +observing, that he had said nothing about remuneration, as I should find +that trusting to him was far preferable to stipulated wages. + + + + +Chapter XI + + Whatever may be the opinion of the reader, he cannot assert that we + are _no conjurers_--We suit our wares to our customers, and our + profits are considerable. + + +We had been three days in the camp when the gathering was broken up, +each gang taking their own way. What the meeting was about I could not +exactly discover; one occasion of it was to make arrangements relative +to the different counties in which the subdivisions were to sojourn +during the next year, so that they might know where to communicate with +each other, and, at the same time, not interfere by being too near; but +there were many other points discussed, of which, as a stranger, I was +kept in ignorance. Melchior answered all my questions with apparent +candour, but his habitual deceit was such, that whether he told the +truth or not was impossible to be ascertained by his countenance. + +When the gathering dispersed we packed up, and located ourselves about +two miles from the common, on the borders of a forest of oak and ash. +Our food was chiefly game, for we had some excellent poachers among us; +and as for fish, it appeared to be at their command; there was not a +pond nor a pit but they could tell in a moment if it were tenanted, and +if tenanted, in half an hour every fish would be floating on the top of +the water, by the throwing in of some intoxicating sort of berry; other +articles of food occasionally were found in the caldron; indeed, it was +impossible to fare better than we did, or at less expense. + +Our tents were generally pitched not far from a pool of water, and to +avoid any unpleasant search, which sometimes would take place, +everything liable to detection was sunk under the water until it was +required for cooking; once in the pot, it was considered as safe. But +with the foraging, Timothy and I had nothing to do; we participated in +the eating, without asking any questions as to how it was procured. + +My time was chiefly spent in company with Melchior, who initiated me +into all the mysteries of cups and balls--juggling of every +description--feats with cards, and made me acquainted with all his +apparatus for prepared tricks. For hours and hours was I employed by his +directions in what is called "making the pass" with a pack of cards, as +almost all tricks on cards depend upon your dexterity in this manoeuvre. +In about a month I was considered as a very fair adept; in the meantime, +Timothy had to undergo his career of gymnastics, and was to be seen all +day tumbling and retumbling, until he could tumble on his feet again. +Light and active, he soon became a very dexterous performer, and could +throw a somerset either backwards or forwards, walk on his hands, eat +fire, pull out ribbons, and do fifty other tricks to amuse a gaping +audience. Jumbo also was worked hard, to bring down his fat, and never +was allowed his dinner until he had given satisfaction to Melchior. Even +little Fleta had to practise occasionally, as we were preparing for an +expedition. Melchior, who appeared determined to create an effect, left +us for three days, and returned with not only dresses for Timothy and +me, but also new dresses for the rest of the company; and shortly +afterwards, bidding farewell to Nattée and the rest of the gipsies, we +all set out--that is, Melchior, I, Timothy, Fleta, Num, and Jumbo. Late +in the evening we arrived at the little town of ----, and took up our +quarters at a public-house, with the landlord of which Melchior had +already made arrangements. + +"Well, Timothy," said I, as soon as we were in bed, "how do you like our +new life and prospects?" + +"I like it better than Mr Cophagus's _rudimans_, and carrying out +physic, at all events. But how does your dignity like turning Merry +Andrew, Japhet?" + +"To tell you the truth, I do not dislike it. There is a wildness and a +devil-may-care feeling connected with it which is grateful to me at +present. How long it may last I cannot tell; but for a year or two it +appears to me that we may be very happy. At all events, we shall see the +world, and have more than one profession to fall back upon." + +"That is true; but there is one thing that annoys me, Japhet, which is, +we may have difficulty in leaving these people when we wish. Besides, +you forget that you are losing sight of the principal object you had in +view, that is, of 'finding out your father.'" + +"I certainly never expect to find him among the gipsies," replied I, +"for children are at a premium with them. They steal from others, and +are not very likely therefore to leave them at the Foundling. But I do +not know whether I have not as good a chance in our present employment +as in any other. I have often been thinking that as fortune-tellers, we +may get hold of many strange secrets; however, we shall see. Melchior +says, that he intends to appear in that character as soon as he has made +a harvest in his present one." + +"What do you think of Melchior, now that you have been so much with +him?" + +"I think him an unprincipled man, but still with many good qualities. +He appears to have a pleasure in deceit, and to have waged war with the +world in general. Still he is generous, and, to a certain degree, +confiding; kind in his disposition, and apparently a very good husband. +There is something on his mind which weighs him down occasionally, and +checks him in the height of his mirth. It comes over him like a dark +cloud over a bright summer sun; and he is all gloom for a few minutes. I +do not think that he would now commit any great crime; but I have a +suspicion that he has done something which is a constant cause of +remorse." + +"You are a very good judge of character, Japhet. But what a dear little +child is that Fleta! She may exclaim with you--'Who is my father?'" + +"Yes, we are both in much the same predicament, and that it is which I +believe has so much increased my attachment to her. We are brother and +sister in misfortune, and a sister she ever shall be to me, if such is +the will of Heaven. But we must rise early to-morrow, Tim; so +good-night." + +"Yes, to-morrow it will be juggle and tumble--eat fire--um--and so on, +as Mr Cophagus would have said; so good-night, Japhet." + +The next morning we arrayed ourselves in our new habiliments; mine were +silk stockings, shoes, and white kerseymere kneed breeches, a blue silk +waistcoat loaded with tinsel, and a short jacket to correspond of blue +velvet, a sash round my waist, a hat and a plume of feathers. Timothy +declared I looked very handsome, and as the glass said the same as plain +as it could speak, I believed him. Timothy's dress was a pair of wide +Turkish trousers and red jacket, with spangles. The others were much the +same. Fleta was attired in small, white satin, Turkish trousers, blue +muslin and silver embroidered frock, worked sandals, and her hair +braided and plaited in long tails behind, and she looked like a little +sylph. Melchior's dress was precisely the same as mine, and a more +respectable company was seldom seen. Some musicians had been hired, and +handbills were now circulated all over the town, stating that Signor +Eugenio Velotti, with his company, would have the honour of performing +before the nobility and gentry. The bill contained the fare which was to +be provided, and intimated the hour of the performance, and the prices +to be paid for the seats. The performance was to take place in a very +large room attached to the inn, which, previous to the decadence of the +town, had been used as an assembly-room. A platform was erected on the +outside, on which were placed the musicians, and where we all +occasionally made our appearance in our splendid dresses to attract the +wonder of the people. There we strutted up and down, all but poor little +Fleta, who appeared to shrink at the display from intuitive modesty. +When the music ceased, a smart parley between Melchior and me, and +Philotas, and Timothy, as the two fools, would take place; and Melchior +declared, after the performance was over, that we conducted ourselves to +admiration. + +"Pray, Mr Philotas, do me the favour to tell me how many people you +think are now present?" said Melchior to Num, in an imperative voice. + +"I don't know," said Num, looking up with his idiotical, melancholy +face. + +"Ha! ha! ha'" roared the crowd at Num's stupid answer. + +"The fellow's a fool'" said Melchior, to the gaping audience. + +"Well, then, if he can't tell, perhaps you may, Mr Dionysius," said I, +addressing Tim. + +"How many, sir? Do you want to know exactly and directly?" + +"Yes, sir, immediately." + +"Without counting, sir?" + +"Yes, sir, without counting." + +"Well then, sir, I will tell, and make no mistake; there's _exactly as +many again as half_." + +"Ha! ha! ha!" from the crowd. + +"That won't do, sir. How many may be the half?" + +"How many may be the half? Do you know yourself, sir?" + +"Yes, sir, to be sure I do." + +"Then there's no occasion for me to tell you." + +"Ha! ha! ha!" + +"Well then, sir," continued Melchior to Philotas, "perhaps you'll tell +how many ladies and gentlemen we may expect to honour us with their +company to-night." + +"How many, sir?" + +"Yes, sir, how many." + +"I'm sure I don't know," said Num, after a pause. + +"Positively you are the greatest fool I ever met with," said Melchior. + +"Well, he does act the fool as natural as life," observed the crowd. +"What a stupid face he does put on!" + +"Perhaps you will be able to answer that question, Mr Dionysius," said I +to Tim. + +"Yes, sir, I know exactly." + +"Well, sir, let's hear." + +"In the first place, all the pretty women will come, and all the ugly +ones stay away; and as for the men, all those who have got any money +will be certain to come; those who haven't, poor devils, must stay +outside." + +"Suppose, sir, you make a bow to the ladies." + +"A very low one, sir?" + +"Yes, very low indeed." + +Tim bent his body to the ground, and threw a somerset forward. "There, +sir; I bowed so low, that I came up on the other side." + +"Ha! ha! capital!" from the crowd. + +"I've got a round turn in my back, sir," continued Tim, rubbing himself. +"Hadn't I better take it out again?" + +"By all means." + +Tim threw a somerset backwards. "There, sir, all's right now. One good +turn deserves another. Now I'll be off." + +"Where are you going to, sir?" + +"Going, sir!! Why, I left my lollipop in the tinder-box, and I'm going +to fetch it." + +"Ha! ha! ha!" + +"Strike up, music!" and Master Jumbo commenced tumbling. + +Such was the elegant wit with which we amused and attracted the +audience. Perhaps, had we been more refined, we should not have been so +successful. + +That evening we had the room as full as it could hold. Signor Velotti +_alias_ Melchior astonished them. The cards appeared to obey his +commands--rings were discovered in lady's shoes--watches were beat to a +powder and made whole--canary birds flew out of eggs. The audience were +delighted. The entertainment closed with Fleta's performance on the +slack wire; and certainly never was there anything more beautiful and +graceful. Balanced on the wire in a continual, waving motion, her eyes +fixed upon a point to enable her to maintain her position, she performed +several feats, such as the playing with five oranges, balancing swords, +&c. Her extreme beauty--her very picturesque and becoming dress--her +mournful expression and downcast eyes--her gentle manner, appeared to +win the hearts of the audience; and when she was assisted off from her +perilous situation by Melchior and me, and made her graceful courtesy, +the plaudits were unanimous. + +When the company dispersed I went to her, intending to praise her, but I +found her in tears. "What is the matter, my dear Fleta?" + +"O nothing! don't say I have been crying--but I cannot bear it--so many +people looking at me. Don't say a word to Melchior--I won't cry any +more." + + + + +Chapter XII + + It is very easy to humbug those who are so eager to be humbugged as + people are in this world of humbug--We show ourselves excessively + disinterested, which astonishes everybody. + + +I kissed and consoled her; she threw her arm round my neck, and remained +there with her face hid for some time. We then joined the others at +supper. Melchior was much pleased with our success, and highly praised +the conduct of Timothy and myself, which he pronounced was, for the +first attempt, far beyond his expectations. + +We continued to astonish all the good people of ---- for five days, when +we discovered the indubitable fact, that there was no more money to be +extracted from their pockets, upon which we resumed our usual clothes +and smock frocks, and with our bundles in our hands, set off for another +market town, about fifteen miles distant. There we were equally +successful, and Melchior was delighted with our having proved such a +powerful acquisition to his troop: but not to dwell too long upon one +subject, I shall inform the reader that, after a trip of six weeks, +during which we were very well received, we once more returned to the +camp, which had located within five miles of our last scene of action. +Every one was content--we were all glad to get back and rest from our +labours. Melchior was pleased with his profits, poor little Fleta +overjoyed to be once more in the seclusion of her tent, and Nattée very +glad to hear of our good fortune, and to see her husband. Timothy and I +had already proved ourselves so useful, that Melchior treated us with +the greatest friendship and confidence--and he made us a present out of +the gains, for our exertions; to me he gave ten, and to Timothy five, +pounds. + +"There, Japhet, had you hired yourself I should not have paid you more +than seven shillings per week, finding you in food; but you must +acknowledge that for six weeks that is not bad pay. However, your +earnings will depend upon our success, and I rather think that we shall +make a much better thing of it when next we start, which will be in +about a fortnight; but we have some arrangements to make. Has Timothy a +good memory?" + +"I think he has." + +"That is well. I told you before that we are to try the 'Wise Man,'--but +first we must have Nattée in play. To-morrow we will start for ----," +mentioning a small quiet town about four miles off. + +We did so, early the next morning, and arrived about noon, pitching our +tents on the common, not far from the town; but in this instance we left +all the rest of our gang behind. Melchior's own party and his two tents +were all that were brought by the donkeys. + +Melchior and I, dressed as countrymen, went into the town at dusk, and +entered a respectable sort of inn, taking our seats at one of the tables +in the tap-room, and, as we had already planned, after we had called for +beer, commenced a conversation in the hearing of the others who were +sitting drinking and smoking. + +"Well, I never will believe it--it's all cheat and trickery," said +Melchior, "and they only do it to pick your pocket. Tell your fortune, +indeed! I suppose she promised you a rich wife and half-a-dozen +children." + +"No, she did not," replied I, "for I am too young to marry; but she told +me what I know has happened." + +"Well, what was that?" + +"Why, she told me that my mother had married again, and turned me out of +doors to work for my bread." + +"But she might have heard that." + +"How could she? No, that's not possible; but she told me I had a mole on +my knee, which was a sign of luck. Now how could she know that?" + +"Well, I grant that was odd--and pray what else did she promise you?" + +"Why, she said, that I should meet with my dearest friend to-night. Now +that does puzzle me, for I have but one in the world, and he is a long +way off." + +"Well, if you do meet your friend, then I'll believe her; but if not, +it has been all guess-work; and pray what did you pay for all this--was +it a shilling, or did she pick your pocket?" + +"That's what puzzles me,--she refused to take anything. I offered it +again and again, and she said,'No; that she would have no money--that +her gift was not to be sold.'" + +"Well, that is odd. Do you hear what this young man says," said +Melchior, addressing the others, who had swallowed every word. + +"Yes," replied one; "but who is this person?" + +"The queen of the gipsies, I am told. I never saw such a wonderful woman +in my life--her eye goes right through you. I met her on the common, +and, as she passed, she dropped a handkerchief. I ran back to give it +her, and then she thanked me, and said, 'Open your hand and let me see +the palm. Here are great lines, and you will be fortunate;' and then she +told me a great deal more, and bid God bless me." + +"Then if she said that, she cannot have dealings with the _devil_," +observed Melchior. + +"Very odd--very strange--take no money--queen of the gipsies," was +echoed from all sides. + +The landlady and the barmaid listened with wonder, when who should come +in, as previously agreed, but Timothy. I pretended not to see him, but +he came up to me, seizing me by the hand, and shaking it with apparent +delight, and crying, "Wilson, have you forgot Smith?" + +"Smith!" cried I, looking earnestly in his face. "Why, so it is. How +came you here?" + +"I left Dublin three days ago," replied he, "but how I came here into +this house, is one of the strangest things that ever occurred. I was +walking over the common, when a tall handsome woman looked at me, and +said, 'Young man, if you will go into the third public-house you pass, +you will meet an old friend, who expects you.' I thought she was +laughing at me, but as it mattered very little in which house I passed +the night, I thought, for the fun of the thing I might as well take her +advice." + +"How strange!" cried Melchior, "and she told him the same--that is, he +would meet a friend." + +"Strange--very strange--wonderful--astonishing!" was echoed from all +quarters, and the fame of the gipsy was already established. + +Timothy and I sat down together, conversing as old friends, and Melchior +went about from one to the other, narrating the wonderful occurrence +till past midnight, when we all three took beds at the inn, as if we +were travellers. + +The report which we had circulated that evening induced many people to +go out to see Nattée, who appeared to take no notice of them; and when +asked to tell fortunes, waved them away with her hand. But, although +this plan of Melchior's was, for the first two or three days very +expedient, yet, as it was not intended to last, Timothy, who remained +with me at the inn, became very intimate with the barmaid, and obtained +from her most of the particulars of her life. I, also, from repeated +conversations with the landlady, received information very important, +relative to herself, and many of the families in the town, but as the +employment of Nattée was for an ulterior object, we contented ourselves +with gaining all the information we could before we proceeded further. +After we had been there a week, and the fame of the gipsy woman had been +marvellously increased--many things having been asserted of her which +were indeed truly improbable--Melchior agreed that Timothy should +persuade the barmaid to try if the gipsy woman would tell her fortune: +the girl, with some trepidation, agreed, but at the same time, expecting +to be refused, consented to walk with him over the common. Timothy +advised her to pretend to pick up a sixpence when near to Nattée, and +ask her if it did not belong to her, and the barmaid acted upon his +suggestions, having just before that quitted the arm of Timothy, who had +conducted her. + +"Did you drop a sixpence? I have picked up one," said the girl, +trembling with fear as she addressed Nattée. + +"Child," replied Nattée, who was prepared, "I have neither dropped a +sixpence nor have you found one--but never mind that, I know that which +you wish, and I know who you are. Now what would you with me? Is it to +inquire whether the landlord and landlady of the Golden Lion intend to +keep you in their service?" + +"No," replied the girl, frightened at what she heard; "not to inquire +that, but to ask what my fortune will be?" + +"Open your palm, pretty maid, and I will tell you. Hah! I see that you +were born in the West--your father is dead--your mother is in +service--and let me see,--you have a brother at sea--now in the West +Indies." + +At this intelligence, all of which, as may be supposed, had been +gathered by us, the poor girl was so frightened that she fell down in a +swoon, and Timothy carried her off. When she was taken home to the inn, +she was so ill that she was put into bed, and what she did say was so +incoherent, that, added to Timothy's narrative, the astonishment of the +landlady and others was beyond all bounds. I tried very hard to bring +the landlady, but she would not consent; and now Nattée was pestered by +people of higher condition, who wished to hear what she would say. Here +Nattée's powers were brought into play. She would not refuse to see +them, but would not give answers till she had asked questions, and, as +from us she had gleaned much general information, so by making this +knowledge appear in her questions to them, she made them believe she +knew more. If a young person came to her, she would immediately ask the +name--of that name she had all the references acquired from us, as to +family and connections. Bearing upon them, she would ask a few more, and +then give them an abrupt dismissal. + +This behaviour was put up with from one of her commanding presence, who +refused money, and treated those who accosted her, as if she was their +superior. Many came again and again, telling her all they knew, and +acquainting her with every transaction of their life, to induce her to +prophesy, for such, she informed them, was the surest way to call the +spirit upon her. By these means we obtained the secret history of the +major part, that is, the wealthier part of the town of ----; and although +the predictions of Nattée were seldom given, yet when given, they were +given with such perfect and apparent knowledge of the parties, that when +she left, which she did about six weeks after her first appearance, the +whole town rang with accounts of her wonderful powers. + +It will appear strange that Melchior would not permit Nattée to reap a +harvest, which might have been great; but the fact was, that he only +allowed the seed to be sown that a greater harvest might be gathered +hereafter. Nattée disappeared, the gipsie's tent was no longer on the +common, and the grass, which had been beaten down into a road by the +feet of the frequent applicants to her, was again permitted to spring +up. We also took our departure, and rejoined the camp with Nattée, where +we remained for a fortnight, to permit the remembrance of her to subside +a little--knowing that the appetite was alive, and would not be +satisfied until it was appeased. + +After that time, Melchior, Timothy, and I, again set off for the town +of ----, and stopping at a superior inn in another part of the town, +dressed as travellers, that is, people who go about the country for +orders from the manufacturers, ordered our beds and supper in the +coffee-room. The conversation was soon turned upon the wonderful powers +of Nattée, the gipsy. "Nonsense," said Melchior, "she knows nothing. I +have heard of her. But there is a man coming this way (should he happen +to pass through this town) who will surprise and frighten you. No one +knows who he is. He is named the Great Aristodemus. He knows the past, +the present, and the future. He never looks at people's hands--he only +looks you in the face, and _woe be to them who tell him a lie_. +Otherwise, he is good-tempered and obliging, and will tell what will +come to pass, and his predictions never have been known to fail. They +say that he is hundreds of years old, and his hair is white as silver." +At this information many expressed their doubts, and many others vaunted +the powers of the gipsy. Melchior replied, "that all he knew was, that +for the sum of two guineas paid down, he had told him of a legacy left +him of six hundred pounds, which otherwise he would never have known of +or received." All the town of ---- being quite alive for fortune-telling, +this new report gained wind, and after a week's sojourn, Melchior +thought that the attempt should be made. + + + + +Chapter XIII + + The seed having been carefully sown, we now reap a golden + harvest--We tell every body what they knew before, and we are + looked upon as most marvellous by most marvellous fools. + + +We accordingly packed up, and departed to another market town. Timothy, +dressed in a sombre suit of black, very much like an undertaker, was +provided with a horse, with the following directions: to proceed +leisurely until he was within half a mile of the town of ----, and then +to gallop in as fast as he could, stop at the best inn in the place, and +order apartments for the Great Aristodemus, who might be expected in +half an hour. Every thing in this world depends upon appearances, that +is, when you intend to gull it; and as every one in the town had heard +of the Great Aristodemus, so every one was anxious to know something +about him, and Timothy was pestered with all manner of questions; but he +declared that he was only his courier, and could only tell what other +people said; but then what other people said, by Timothy's account, was +very marvellous indeed. Timothy had hardly time to secure the best +rooms in the hotel, when Melchior, dressed in a long flowing silk gown, +with a wig of long white hair, a square cap, and two or three gold +chains hanging from his neck, certainly most admirably disguised, and +attended by me in the dress of a German student, a wig of long brown +locks hanging down my shoulders, made our appearance in a post-chaise +and four, and drove up to the door of the inn, at a pace which shook +every house in the street, and occasioned every window to be tenanted +with one or more heads to ascertain the cause of this unusual +occurrence, for it was not a very great town, although once of +importance; but the manufactures had been removed, and it was occupied +by those who had become independent by their own exertions, or by those +of their forefathers. + +The door of the chaise was opened by the obsequious Timothy, who pushed +away the ostlers and waiters, as if unworthy to approach his master, and +the Great Aristodemus made his appearance. As he ascended the steps of +the door, his passage was for a moment barred by one whose profession +Melchior well knew. "Stand aside, exciseman!" said he, in a commanding +voice. "No one crosses my path with impunity." Astonished at hearing his +profession thus mentioned, the exciseman, who was the greatest bully in +the town, slipped on one side with consternation, and all those present +lifted up their eyes and hands with astonishment. The Great Aristodemus +gained his room, and shut his door; and I went out to pay for the chaise +and order supper, while Timothy and the porters were busy with our +luggage, which was very considerable. + +"My master will not see any one," said I to the landlord; "he quits this +town to-morrow, if the letters arrive which he expects by the post; +therefore, pray get rid of this crowd, and let him be quiet, for he is +very tired, having travelled one hundred and fifty miles since the dawn +of day." + +When Tim and I had performed this duty, we joined Melchior in his room, +leaving the news to be circulated. "This promises well," observed +Melchior; "up to the present we have expended much time and money; now +we must see if we cannot recover it tenfold. Japhet, you must take an +opportunity of going out again after supper, and make inquiries of the +landlord what poor people they have in the town, as I am very generous, +and like to relieve them; you may observe, that all the money offered to +me for practising my art, I give away to the poor, having no occasion +for it." This I did, and we then sat down to supper, and having unpacked +our baggage, went to bed, after locking the door of the room, and taking +out the key. + +The next morning we had every thing in readiness, and as the letters, as +the reader may suppose, did not arrive by the post, we were obliged to +remain, and the landlord ventured to hint to me, that several people +were anxious to consult my master. I replied, that I would speak to him, +but it was necessary to caution those who came, that they must either +offer gold--or nothing at all. I brought his consent to see one or two, +but no more. Now, although we had various apparatus to use when +required, it was thought that the effect would be greater, if, in the +first instance, every thing was simple. Melchior, therefore, remained +sitting at the table, which was covered with a black cloth, worked with +curious devices, and a book of hieroglyphics before him, and an ivory +wand, tipped with gold, lying by the book. Timothy standing at the door, +with a short Roman sword buckled round his belt, and I, in a respectful +attitude, behind the Great Aristodemus. + +The first person who was admitted was the lady of the mayor of the town; +nothing could be more fortunate, as we had every information relative to +her and her spouse, for people in high places are always talked of. +Aristodemus waved his hand, and I brought forward a chair in silence, +and motioned that she should be seated. Aristodemus looked her in her +face, and then turned over several leaves, until he fixed upon a page, +which he considered attentively. "Mayoress of ----, what wouldst thou +with me?" + +She started, and turned pale. "I would ask--" + +"I know; thou wouldst ask many things, perhaps, had I time to listen. +Amongst others thou wouldst ask if there is any chance of thy giving an +heir to thy husband. Is it not so?" + +"Yes, it is," replied the lady, fetching her breath. + +"So do I perceive by this book; but let me put one question to thee. +Wouldst thou have blessings showered on thee, yet do no good? Thou art +wealthy--yet what dost thou and thy husband do with these riches? Are ye +liberal? No. Give, and it shall be given. I have said." + +Aristodemus waved his hand, and the lady rose to withdraw. A guinea was +in her fingers, and her purse in her hand; she took out four more, and +added them to the other, and laid them on the table. + +"'Tis well, lady; charity shall plead for thee. Artolphe, let that money +be distributed among the poor." + +I bowed in silence, and the lady retired. + +"Who will say that I do no good," observed Melchior, smiling, as soon as +she was gone, "Her avarice and that of her husband are as notorious as +their anxiety for children. Now, if I persuade them to be liberal, I do +service." + +"But you have given her hopes." + +"I have, and the very hope will do more to further their wishes than +anything else. It is despair which too often prevents those who have no +children, from having any. How often do you see a couple, who, after +years waiting for children, have at last given up their hope, and +resigned themselves to the dispensations of Providence, and then, when +their anxiety has subsided, have obtained a family? Japhet, I am a +shrewd observer of human nature." + +"That I believe," replied I; "but I do not believe your last remark to +be correct--but Timothy raps at the door." + +Another lady entered the room, and then started back, as if she would +retreat, so surprised was she at the appearance of the Great +Aristodemus; but as Timothy had turned the key, her escape was +impossible. She was unknown to us, which was rather awkward; but +Melchior raised his eyes from his book, and waved his hand as before, +that she should be seated. With some trepidation she stated, that she +was a widow, whose dependence was upon an only son now at sea; that she +had not heard of him for a long while, and was afraid that some accident +had happened; that she was in the greatest distress--"and," continued +she, "I have nothing to offer but this ring. Can you tell me if he is +yet alive?" cried she, bursting into tears; "but if you have not the art +you pretend to, O do not rob a poor, friendless creature, but let me +depart!" + +"When did you receive your last letter from him?" said Melchior. + +"It is now seven months--dated from Bahia," replied she, pulling it out +of her reticule, and covering her face with her handkerchief. + +Melchior caught the address, and then turned the letter over on the +other side, as it lay on the table. "Mrs Watson," said he. + +"Heavens! do you know my name?" cried the woman. + +"Mrs Watson, I do not require to read your son's letter--I know its +contents." He then turned over his book, and studied for a few seconds. +"Your son is alive." + +"Thank God!" cried she, clasping her hands, and dropping her reticule. + +"But you must not expect his return too soon--he is well employed." + +"Oh! I care not--he is alive--he is alive! God bless you--God bless +you!" + +Melchior made a sign to me, pointing to the five guineas and the +reticule; and I contrived to slip them into her reticule, while she +sobbed in her handkerchief. + +"Enough, madam; you must go, for others require my aid." + +The poor woman rose, and offered the ring. + +"Nay, nay, I want not thy money; I take from the rich, that I may +distribute to the poor--but not from the widow in affliction. Open thy +bag." The widow took up her bag, and opened it. Melchior dropped in the +ring, taking his wand from the table, waved it, and touched the bag. "As +thou art honest, so may thy present wants be relieved. Seek, and thou +shalt find." + +The widow left the room with tears of gratitude; and I must say, that I +was affected with the same. When she had gone, I observed to Melchior, +that up to the present he had toiled for nothing. + +"Very true, Japhet; but depend upon it, if I assisted that poor woman +from no other feelings than interested motives, I did well; but I tell +thee candidly, I did it from compassion. We are odd mixtures of good and +evil. I wage war with fools and knaves, but not with all the world. I +gave that money freely--she required it; and it may be put as a set-off +against my usual system of fraud, or it may not--at all events, I +pleased myself." + +"But you told her that her son was alive." + +"Very true, and he may be dead; but is it not well to comfort her--even +for a short time, to relieve that suspense which is worse than the +actual knowledge of his death? Sufficient for the day is the evil +thereof." + +It would almost have appeared that this good action of Melchior met with +its reward, for the astonishment of the widow at finding the gold in her +reticule--her narrative of what passed, and her assertion (which she +firmly believed to be true), that she had never left her reticule out of +her hand, and that Melchior had only touched it with his wand, raised +his reputation to that degree, that nothing else was talked about +throughout the town, and, to crown all, the next day's post brought her +a letter and remittances from her son; and the grateful woman returned, +and laid ten guineas on the black cloth, showering a thousand blessings +upon Melchior, and almost worshipped him as a supernatural being. This +was a most fortunate occurrence, and as Melchior prophesied, the harvest +did now commence. In four days we had received upwards of £200, and we +then thought it time that we should depart. The letters arrived, which +were expected, and when we set off in a chaise and four, the crowd to +see us was so great, that it was with difficulty we could pass through +it. + + + + +Chapter XIV + + In which Melchior talks very much like an astrologer, and Tim and I + return to our old trade of making up innocent prescriptions. + + +We had taken our horses for the next town; but as soon as we were fairly +on the road, I stopped the boys, and told them that the Great +Aristodemus intended to observe the planets and stars that night, and +that they were to proceed to a common which I mentioned. The post-boys, +who were well aware of his fame, and as fully persuaded of it as +everybody else, drove to the common; we descended, took off the luggage, +and received directions from Melchior in their presence about the +instruments, to which the boys listened with open mouths and wonderment. +I paid them well, and told them they might return, which they appeared +very glad to do. They reported what had occurred, and this simple method +of regaining our camp, added to the astonishment of the good town +of ----. When they were out of sight we resumed our usual clothes, packed +all up, carried away most of our effects, and hid the others in the +furze to be sent for the next night, not being more than two miles from +the camp. We soon arrived, and were joyfully received by Fleta and +Nattée. + +As we walked across the common, I observed to Melchior, "I wonder if +these stars have any influence upon mortals, as it was formerly +supposed?" + +"Most assuredly they have," rejoined Melchior. "I cannot read them, but +I firmly believe in them." + +I made the above remark, as I had often thought that such was Melchior's +idea. + +"Yes," continued he, "every man has his destiny--such must be the case. +It is known beforehand what is to happen to us by an Omniscient Being, +and being known, what is it but destiny which cannot be changed? It is +_fate_," continued he, surveying the stars with his hand raised up, "and +that fate is as surely written there as the sun shines upon us; but the +great book is sealed, because it would not add to our happiness." + +"If, then, all is destiny, or fate, what inducement is there to do well +or ill?" replied I. "We may commit all acts of evil, and say, that as it +was predestined, we could not help it. Besides would it be just that the +Omniscient Being should punish us for those crimes which we cannot +prevent, and which are allotted to us by destiny?" + +"Japhet, you argue well; but you are in error, because, like most of +those of the Christian Church, you understand not the sacred writings, +nor did I until I knew my wife. Her creed is, I believe, correct; and +what is more, adds weight to the truths of the Bible." + +"I thought that gipsies had no religion." + +"You are not the only one who supposes so. It is true that the majority +of the tribe are held by the higher castes as serfs, and are not +instructed; but with--if I may use the expression--the aristocracy of +them it is very different, and their creed I have adopted." + +"I should wish to hear their creed," replied I. + +"Hear it then. Original sin commenced in heaven--when the angels +rebelled against their God--not on earth." + +"I will grant that sin originated first in heaven." + +"Do you think that a great, a good God, ever created any being for its +destruction and eternal misery, much less an angel? Did he not foresee +their rebellion?" + +"I grant it." + +"This world was not peopled with the image of God until after the fall +of the angels: it had its living beings, its monsters perhaps, but not a +race of men with eternal souls. But it was peopled, as we see it now is, +to enable the legions of angels who fell to return to their former happy +state--as a pilgrimage by which they might obtain their pardons, and +resume their seats in heaven. Not a child is born, but the soul of some +fallen cherub enters into the body to work out its salvation. Many do, +many do not, and then they have their task to recommence anew; for the +spirit once created is immortal, and cannot be destroyed; and the +Almighty is all goodness, and would ever pardon." + +"Then you suppose there is no such thing as eternal punishment?" + +"Eternal!--no. Punishment there is, but not eternal. When the legions of +angels fell, some were not so perverse as others: they soon re-obtained +their seats, even when, as children, having passed through the slight +ordeal, they have been summoned back to heaven; but others who, from +their infancy, show how bad were their natures, have many pilgrimages to +perform before they can be purified. This is, in itself, a punishment. +What other punishment they incur between their pilgrimages we know not; +but this is certain, that no one was created to be punished eternally." + +"But all this is but assertion," replied I; "where are your proofs?" + +"In the Bible; some day or other I will show them to you; but now we are +at the camp, and I am anxious to embrace Nattée." + +I thought for some time upon this singular creed; one, in itself, not +militating against religion, but at the same time I could not call to +mind any passages by which it could be supported. Still the idea was +beautiful, and I dwelt upon it with pleasure. I have before observed, +and indeed the reader must have gathered from my narative, that Melchior +was no common personage. Every day did I become more partial to him, and +more pleased with our erratic life. What scruples I had at first, +gradually wore away; the time passed quickly, and although I would +occasionally call to mind the original object of my setting forth, I +would satisfy myself by the reflection, that there was yet sufficient +time. Little Fleta was now my constant companion when in the camp, and I +amused myself with teaching her to write and read. + +"Japhet," said Timothy to me one day as we were cutting hazel broach +wood in the forest, "I don't see that you get on very fast in your +search after your father." + +"No, Tim, I do not; but I am gaining a knowledge of the world which will +be very useful to me when I recommence the search; and what is more, I +am saving a great deal of money to enable me to prosecute it." + +"What did Melchior give you after we left?" + +"Twenty guineas, which, with what I had before, make more than fifty." + +"And he gave me ten, which makes twenty, with what I had before. Seventy +pounds is a large sum." + +"Yes, but soon spent, Tim. We must work a little longer. Besides, I +cannot leave that little girl--she was never intended for a +rope-dancer." + +"I am glad to hear you say that, Japhet, for I feel as you do--she shall +share our fortunes." + +"A glorious prospect truly," replied I, laughing; "but never mind, it +would be better than her remaining here. But how are we to manage that?" + +"Aye! that's the rub; but there is time enough to think about it when we +intend to quit our present occupation." + +"Well, I understand from Melchior that we are to start in a few days." + +"What is it to be, Japhet?" + +"Oh! we shall be at home--we are to cure all diseases under the sun. +To-morrow we commence making pills, so we may think ourselves with Mr +Cophagus again." + +"Well, I do think we shall have some fun; but I hope Melchior won't make +me take my own pills to prove their good qualities--that will be no +joke." + +"O no, Num is kept on purpose for that. What else is the fool good for?" + +The next week was employed as we anticipated. Boxes of pills of every +size, neatly labelled, bottles of various mixtures, chiefly stimulants, +were corked and packed up. Powders of _anything_ were put in papers; +but, at all events, there was nothing hurtful in them. All was ready, +and accompanied by Num (Jumbo and Fleta being left at home) we set off, +Melchior assuming the dress in which we had first met him in the wagon, +and altering his appearance so completely, that he would have been taken +for at least sixty years old. We now travelled on foot with our dresses +in bundles, each carrying his own, except Num, who was loaded like a +pack-horse, and made sore lamentations: + +"Can't you carry some of this?" + +"No," replied I, "it is your own luggage; every one must carry his own." + +"Well, I never felt my spangled dress so heavy before. Where are we +going?" + +"Only a little way," replied Timothy, "and then you will have nothing +more to do." + +"I don't know that. When master puts on that dress, I have to swallow +little things till I'm sick." + +"It's all good for your health, Num." + +"I'm very well, I thank'e," replied the poor fellow; "but I'm very hot +and very tired." + + + + +Chapter XV + + In which Timothy makes a grand speech, quite as true as those + delivered from the hustings--Melchior, like the candidate, states + his pretentions for public favour, and the public, as usual, + swallow the bait. + + +Fortunately for poor Num, we were not far from the market town at which +we intended to open our campaign, which we did the next morning by Num +and Timothy sallying forth, the former with a large trumpet in his hand, +and the latter riding on a donkey. On their arrival at the market-place, +Num commenced blowing it with all his might, while Timothy, in his +spangled dress, as soon as they had collected a crowd, stood upon his +saddle, and harangued the people as follows:-- + +"Gentlemen and ladies--I have the honour to announce to you the arrival +in this town of the celebrated Doctor Appallacheosmocommetico, who has +travelled farther than the sun and faster than a comet. He hath visited +every part of the globe. He has smoked the calumet with the Indians of +North America--he has hunted with the Araucas in the South--galloped on +wild horses over the plains of Mexico, and rubbed noses with the +Esquimaux. He hath used the chopsticks with the Chinese, swung the +Cherok pooga with the Hindoos, and put a new nose on the Great Cham of +Tartary. He hath visited and been received in every court of Europe: +danced on the ice of the Neva with the Russians--led the mazurka with +the Poles--waltzed with the Germans--tarantulaed with the +Italians--fandangoed with the Spanish--and quadrilled with the French. +He hath explored every mine in the universe, walked through every town +on the continent, examined every mountain in the world, ascended Mont +Blanc, walked down the Andes, and run up the Pyrenees. He has been into +every volcano in the globe, and descending by Vesuvius has been thrown +up by Stromboli. He has lived more than a thousand years, and is still +in the flower of his youth. He has had one hundred and forty sets of +teeth one after another, and expects a new set next Christmas. His whole +life has been spent in the service of mankind, and in doing good to his +fellow-creatures; and having the experience of more than a thousand +years, he cures more than a thousand diseases. Gentlemen, the wonderful +doctor will present himself before you this evening, and will then tell +you what his remedies are good for, so that you may pick and choose +according to your several complaints. Ladies, the wonderful doctor can +greatly assist you: he has secrets by which you may have a family if you +should so wish--philters to make husbands constant, and salve to make +them blind--cosmetics to remove pimples and restore to youth and beauty, +and powders to keep children from squalling. Sound the trumpet, +Philotas; sound, and let every body know that the wonderful Doctor +Appallacheosmocommetico has vouchsafed to stop here and confer his +blessings upon the inhabitants of this town." Hereupon Num again blew +the trumpet till he was black in the face; and Timothy, dropping on his +donkey, rode away to other parts of the town, where he repeated his +grandiloquent announcement, followed, as may be supposed, by a numerous +cortege of little ragged boys. + +About four o'clock in the afternoon, Melchior made his appearance in the +market-place, attended by me, dressed as a German student, Timothy and +Num in their costumes. A stage had been already prepared, and the +populace had crowded round it more with the intention of laughing than +of making purchases. The various packets were opened and arranged in +front of the platform, I standing on one side of Melchior, Timothy on +the other, and Num with his trumpet, holding on by one of the scaffold +poles at the corner. + +"Sound the trumpet, Philotas," said Melchior, taking off his +three-cornered hat, and making a low bow to the audience, at every +blast. "Pray, Mr Fool, do you know why you sound the trumpet?" + +"I'm sure I don't know," replied Num, opening his goggle eyes. + +"Do you know, Mr Dionysius?" + +"Yes, sir, I can guess." + +"Explain, then, to the gentlemen and ladies who have honoured us with +their presence." + +"Because, sir, trumpets are always sounded before great conquerors." + +"Very true, sir-, but how am I a great conqueror?" + +"You have conquered death, sir; and he's a very rum customer to have to +deal with." + +"Dionysius, you have answered well, and shall have some bullock's liver +for your supper--don't forget to remind me, in case I forget it." + +"No, that I won't, sir," replied Timothy, rubbing his stomach, as if +delighted with the idea. + +"Ladies and gentlemen," said Melchior to the audience, who were on the +broad grin, "I see your mouths are all open, and are waiting for the +pills; but be not too impatient--I cannot part with my medicines unless +you have diseases which require their aid; and I should, indeed, be a +sorry doctor, if I prescribed without knowing your complaints. _Est +neutrale genus signans rem non animatam_, says Herodotus, which in +English means, what is one man's meat is another man's poison; and +further, he adds, _Ut jecur, ut onus, put ut occiput_, which is as much +as to say, that what agrees with one temperament, will be injurious to +another. Caution, therefore, becomes very necessary in the use of +medicine; and my reputation depends upon my not permitting any one to +take what is not good for him. And now, my very dear friends, I will +first beg you to observe the peculiar qualities of the contents of this +little phial. You observe, that there is not more than sixty drops in +it, yet will these sixty drops add ten years to a man's life--for it +will cure him of almost as many diseases. In the first place, are any of +you troubled with the _ascites_, or dropsy, which, as the celebrated +Galen hath declared, may be divided into three parts, the _ascites_, the +_anasarca_, and the _tympanites_. The diagnostics of this disease are, +swelling of the abdomen or stomach, difficulty of breathing, want of +appetite, and a teasing cough. I say, have any of you this disease? +None. Then I thank Heaven that you are not so afflicted. + +"The next disease it is good for, is the _peripneumonia_, or +inflammation on the lungs--the diagnostics or symptoms of which are, a +small pulse, swelling of the eyes, and redness of the face. Say, have +any of you these symptoms--if so, you have the disease. No one. I thank +Heaven that you are none of you so afflicted. + +"It is also a sovereign remedy for the _diarrhoea_, the diagnostics of +which are, faintness, frequent gripings, rumbling in the bowels, cold +sweats, and spasm." + +Here one man came forward and complained of frequent gripings--another +of rumbling in the bowels, and two or three more of cold sweats. + +"It is well. O I thank Heaven that I am here to administer to you +myself! for what says Hippocrates? _Relativum cum antecedente +concordat_, which means, that remedies quickly applied, kill the disease +in its birth. Here, my friends, take it--take it--pay me only one +shilling and be thankful. When you go to rest, fail not to offer up your +prayers. It is also a sovereign remedy for the dreadful _chiragra_ or +gout. I cured the whole corporation of city aldermen last week, by their +taking three bottles each, and they presented me with the freedom of the +city of London, in a gold box, which I am sorry that I have forgotten to +bring with me. Now the _chiragra_ may be divided into several varieties. +_Gonagra_, when it attacks the knees--_chiragra_, if in the +hands--_onagra_, if in the elbow--_omagra_, if in the shoulder, and +_lumbago_, if in the back. All these are varieties of gout, and for all +these the contents of this little bottle is a sovereign remedy; and, +observe, it will keep for ever. Twenty years hence, when afflicted in +your old age--and the time will come, my good people--you may take down +this little phial from the shelf, and bless the hour in which you spent +your shilling; for as Eusebius declares, '_Verbum personale concordat +cum nominativo_, which is as much as to say, the active will grow old, +and suffer from pains in their limbs. Who, then, has pains in his limbs, +or lumbago? Who, indeed, can say that he will not have them?" + +After this appeal, the number of those who had pains in their limbs, or +who wished to provide against such a disease, proved so great, that all +our phials were disposed of, and the doctor was obliged to promise that +in a few days he would have some more of this invaluable medicine ready. + +"Ladies and gentlemen, I shall now offer to your notice a valuable +plaister, the effects of which are miraculous. Dionysius, come hither, +you have felt the benefit of this plaister; tell your case to those who +are present, and mind you tell the truth." + +Hereupon Timothy stepped forward. "Ladies and gentlemen, _upon my +honour_, about three weeks back I fell off the scaffold, broke my back +bone into three pieces, and was carried off to a surgeon, who looked at +me, and told the people to take measure for my coffin. The great doctor +was not there at the time, having been sent for to consult with the +king's physicians upon the queen's case, of _Cophagus_, or intermitting +mortification of the great toe; but fortunately, just as they were +putting me into a shell, my master came back, and immediately applying +his sovereign plaister to my back, in five days I was able to sit up, +and in ten days I returned to my duty." + +"Are you quite well now, Dionysius?" + +"Quite well, sir, and my back is like whale-bone." + +"Try it." + +Hereupon Dionysius threw two somersets forward, two backward, walked +across the stage on his hands, and tumbled in every direction. + +"You see, gentlemen, I'm quite well now, and what I have said, I assure +you, _on my honour_, to be a fact." + +"I hope you'll allow that to be a very pretty cure," said the doctor, +appealing to the audience; "and I hardly need say, that for sprains, +bruises, contusions, wrenches, and dislocations, this plaister is +infallible; and I will surprise you more by telling you, that I can sell +it for eight-pence a sheet." + +The plaister went off rapidly, and was soon expended. The doctor went on +describing his other valuable articles, and when he came to his +cosmetics, &c., for women, we could not hand them out fast enough. "And +now," said the doctor, "I must bid you farewell for this evening." + +"I'm glad of that," said Timothy, "for now I mean to sell my own +medicine." + +"Your medicine, Mr Dionysius! what do you mean by that?" + +"Mean, sir; I mean to say that I've got a powder of my own contriving, +which is a sovereign remedy." + +"Remedy, sir, for what?" + +"Why, it's a powder to kill fleas, and what's more, it's just as +infallible as your own." + +"Have you, indeed; and pray, sir, how did you hit upon the invention?" + +"Sir, I discovered it in my sleep by accident; but I have proved it, and +I will say, if properly administered, it is quite as infallible as any +of yours. Ladies and gentlemen, I pledge you my honour that it will have +the effect desired, and all I ask is sixpence a powder." + +"But how is it to be used, sir?" + +"Used--why, like all other powders; but I won't give the directions till +I have sold some; promising, however, if my method does not succeed, to +return the money." + +"Well, that is fair, Mr Dionysius; and I will take care that you keep +your bargain. Will anybody purchase the fool's powder for killing +fleas." + +"Yes, I will," replied a man on the broad grin, "here's sixpence. Now, +then, fool, how am I to use it?" + +"Use it," said Timothy, putting the sixpence in his pocket; "I'll +explain to you. You must first catch the flea, hold him so tight between +the forefinger and thumb as to force him to open his mouth; when his +mouth is open you must put a very little of this powder into it, and it +will kill him directly." + +"Why, when I have the flea as tight as you state, I may as well kill him +myself." + +"Very true, so you may, if you prefer it; but if you do not, you may use +this powder, which upon my honour is infallible." + +This occasioned a great deal of mirth among the bystanders. Timothy kept +his sixpence, and our exhibition for this day ended, very much to the +satisfaction of Melchior, who declared he had taken more than ever he +had done before in a whole week. Indeed, the whole sum amounted to £17, +10s., all taken in shillings and sixpences, for articles hardly worth +the odd shillings in the account; so we sat down to supper with +anticipations of a good harvest, and so it proved. We stayed four days +at this town, and then proceeded onwards, when the like success attended +us, Timothy and I being obliged to sit up nearly the whole night to +label and roll up pills, and mix medicines, which we did in a very +scientific manner. Nor was it always that Melchior presided; he would +very often tell his audience that business required his attendance +elsewhere, to visit the sick, and that he left the explanation of his +medicines and their properties to his pupil, who was far advanced in +knowledge. With my prepossessing appearance, I made a great effect, more +especially among the ladies, and Timothy exerted himself so much when +with me, that we never failed to bring home to Melchior a great addition +to his earnings--so much so, that at last he only showed himself, +pretended that he was so importuned to visit sick persons, that he could +stay no longer, and then left us, after the first half hour, to carry on +the business for him. After six weeks of uninterrupted success, we +returned to the camp, which, as usual, was not very far off. + + + + +Chapter XVI + + Important news, but not communicated--A dissolution of partnership + takes place. + + +Melchior's profits had been much more than he anticipated, and he was +very liberal to Timothy and myself; indeed, he looked upon me as his +right hand, and became more intimate and attached every day. We were, of +course, delighted to return to the camp, after our excursion. There was +so much continued bustle and excitement in our peculiar profession, that +a little quiet was delightful; and I never felt more happy than when +Fleta threw herself into my arms, and Nattée came forward with her usual +dignity and grace, but with more than usual condescendence and kindness, +bidding me welcome _home_. Home--alas! it was never meant for my home, +or poor Fleta's--and that I felt. It was our sojourn for a time, and no +more. + +We had been more than a year exercising our talents in this lucrative +manner, when one day, as I was sitting at the entrance to the tent, with +a book in my hand, out of which Fleta was reading to me, a gipsy not +belonging to our gang made his appearance. He was covered with dust, and +the dew drops hanging on his dark forehead, proved that he had travelled +fast. He addressed Nattée, who was standing by, in their own language, +which I did not understand; but I perceived that he asked for Melchior. +After an exchange of a few sentences, Nattée expressed astonishment and +alarm, put her hands over her face, and removed them as quickly, as if +derogatory in her to show emotion, and then remained in deep thought. +Perceiving Melchior approaching, the gipsy hastened to him, and they +were soon in animated conversation. In ten minutes it was over: the +gipsy went to the running brook, washed his face, took a large draught +of water, and then hastened away and was soon out of sight. + +Melchior, who had watched the departure of the gipsy, slowly approached +us. I observed him and Nattée, as they met, as I was certain that +something important had taken place. Melchior fixed his eyes upon +Nattée--she looked at him mournfully--folded her arms, and made a slight +bow as if in submission, and in a low voice, quoted from the Scriptures, +"Whither thou goest, I will go--thy people shall be my people, and thy +God my God." He then walked away with her: they sat down apart, and were +in earnest conversation for more than an hour. + +"Japhet," said Melchior to me, after he had quitted his wife, "what I am +about to tell you will surprise you. I have trusted you with all I dare +trust any one, but there are some secrets in every man's life which had +better be reserved for himself and her who is bound to him by solemn +ties. We must now part. In a few days this camp will be broken up, and +these people will join some other division of the tribe. For me, you +will see me no more. Ask me not to explain, for I cannot." + +"And Nattée," said I. + +"Will follow my fortunes, whatever they may be--you will see her no +more." + +"For myself I care not, Melchior; the world is before me, and remain +with the gipsies without you I will not; but answer me one +question--what is to become of little Fleta? Is she to remain with the +tribe, to which she does not belong, or does she go with you?" + +Melchior hesitated. "I hardly can answer, but what consequence can the +welfare of a soldier's brat be to you?" + +"Allowing her to be what you assert, Melchior, I am devotedly attached +to that child, and could not bear that she should remain here. I am sure +that you deceived me in what you stated, for the child remembers, and +has told me, anecdotes of her infancy, which proves that she is of no +mean family, and that she has been stolen from her friends." + +"Indeed, is her memory so good?" replied Melchior, firmly closing his +teeth. "To Nattée or to me she has never hinted so much." + +"That is very probable; but a stolen child she is, Melchior, and she +must not remain here." + +"Must not." + +"Yes; must not, Melchior; when you quit the tribe, you will no longer +have any power, nor can you have any interest about her. She shall then +choose--if she will come with me, I _will_ take her, and nothing shall +prevent me; and in so doing I do you no injustice, nor do I swerve in my +fidelity." + +"How do you know that? I may have my secret reasons against it." + +"Surely you can have no interest in a soldier's brat, Melchior?" + +Melchior appeared confused and annoyed. "She is no soldier's brat; I +acknowledge, Japhet, that the child was stolen; but you must not, +therefore, imply that the child was stolen by me or by my wife." + +"I never accused you, or thought you capable of it; and that is the +reason why I am now surprised at the interest you take in her. If she +prefers to go with you, I have no more to say, but if not, I claim her; +and if she consents, will resist your interference." + +"Japhet," replied Melchior, after a pause, "we must not quarrel now that +we are about to part. I will give you an answer in half an hour." + +Melchior returned to Nattée, and re-commenced a conversation with her, +while I hastened to Fleta. + +"Fleta, do you know that the camp is to be broken up, and Melchior and +Nattée leave it together?" + +"Indeed!" replied she, with surprise. "Then what is to become of you and +Timothy?" + +"We must of course seek our fortunes where we can." + +"And of me?" continued she, looking me earnestly in the face with her +large blue eyes. "Am I to stay here?" continued she, with alarm in her +countenance. + +"Not if you do not wish it, Fleta; as long as I can support you I +will--that is, if you would like to live with me in preference to +Melchior." + +"If I would like, Japhet; you must know I would like--who has been so +kind to me as you? Don't leave me, Japhet." + +"I will not, Fleta; but on condition that you promise to be guided by +me, and to do all I wish." + +"To do what you wish is the greatest pleasure that I have, Japhet--so I +may safely promise that. What has happened?" + +"That I do not know more than yourself; but Melchior tells me that he +and Nattée quit the gipsy tents for ever." + +Fleta looked round to ascertain if any one was near us, and then in a +low tone said, "I understand their language, Japhet, that is, a great +deal of it, although they do not think so, and I overheard what the +gipsy said in part, although he was at some distance. He asked for +Melchior; and when Nattée wanted to know what he wanted, he answered +that, '_he_ was dead;' then Nattée covered up her face. I could not hear +all the rest, but there was something about a _horse_." + +_He_ was _dead_. Had then Melchior committed murder, and was obliged to +fly the country? This appeared to me to be the most probable, when I +collected the facts in my possession; and yet I could not believe it, +for except that system of deceit necessary to carry on his various +professions, I never found anything in Melchior's conduct which could be +considered as criminal. On the contrary, he was kind, generous, and +upright in his private dealings, and in many points, proved that he had +a good heart. He was a riddle of inconsistency it was certain; +professionally he would cheat anybody, and disregard all truth and +honesty; but, in his private character, he was scrupulously honest, and, +with the exception of the assertion relative to Fleta's birth and +parentage, he had never told me a lie, that I could discover. I was +summing up all these reflections in my mind, when Melchior again came up +to me, and desiring the little girl to go away, he said, "Japhet, I have +resolved to grant your request with respect to Fleta, but it must be on +conditions." + +"Let me hear them." + +"First, then, Japhet, as you always have been honest and confiding with +me, tell me now what are your intentions. Do you mean to follow up the +profession which you learnt under me, or what do you intend to do?" + +"Honestly, then, Melchior, I do not intend to follow up that profession, +unless driven to it by necessity. I intend to seek my father." + +"And if driven to it by necessity, do you intend that Fleta shall aid +you by her acquirements? In short, do you mean to take her with you as a +speculation, to make the most of her, to let her sink, when she arrives +at the age of woman, into vice and misery?" + +"I wonder at your asking me that question, Melchior; it is the first act +of injustice I have received at your hands. No; if obliged to follow up +the profession, I will not allow Fleta so to do. I would sooner that she +were in her grave. It is to rescue her from that very vice and misery, +to take her out of a society in which she never ought to have been +placed, that I take her with me." + +"And this upon your honour?" + +"Yes, upon my honour. I love her as my sister, and cannot help indulging +in the hope that in seeking my father, I may chance to stumble upon +her's." + +Melchior bit his lips. "There is another promise I must exact from you, +Japhet, which is, that to a direction which I will give you, every six +months you will inclose an address where you may be heard of, and also +intelligence as to Fleta's welfare and health." + +"To that I gave my cheerful promise: but, Melchior, you appear to have +taken, all at once, a strange interest in this little girl." + +"I wish you now to think that I do take an interest in her, provided you +seek not to inquire the why and the wherefore. Will you accept of funds +for her maintenance?" + +"Not without necessity compels me; and then I should be glad to find, +when I can no longer help her, that you are still her friend." + +"Recollect, that you will always find what is requisite by writing to +the address which I shall give you before we part. That point is now +settled, and on the whole I think the arrangement is good." + +Timothy had been absent during the events of the morning--when he +returned, I communicated to him what had passed, and was about to take +place. + +"Well, Japhet, I don't know--I do not dislike our present life, yet I am +not sorry to change it; but what are we to do?" + +"That remains to be considered; we have a good stock of money, +fortunately, and we must husband it till we find what can be done." + +We took our suppers all together for the last time, Melchior telling us +that he had determined to set off the next day. Nattée looked very +melancholy, but resigned; on the contrary, little Fleta was so +overjoyed, that her face, generally so mournful, was illuminated with +smiles whenever our eyes met. It was delightful to see her so happy. The +whole of the people in the camp had retired, and Melchior was busy +making his arrangements in the tent. I did not feel inclined to sleep; I +was thinking and revolving in my mind my prospects for the future; +sitting, or rather lying down, for I was leaning on my elbow, at a short +distance from the tents. The night was dark but clear, and the stars +were brilliant. I had been watching them, and I thought upon Melchior's +ideas of destiny, and dwelling on the futile wish that I could read +mine, when I perceived the approach of Nattée. + +"Japhet," said she, "you are to take the little girl with you, I +find--will you be careful of her? for it would be on my conscience if +she were left to the mercy of the world. She departs rejoicing, let not +her joy end in tears. I depart sorrowing. I leave my people, my kin, my +habits, and customs, my influence, all--but it must be so, it is my +destiny. She is a good child, Japhet--promise me that you will be a +friend to her--and give her this to wear in remembrance of me, but--not +yet--not till we are gone--." She hesitated. "Japhet, do not let +Melchior see it in your possession; he may not like me having given it +away." I took the piece of paper containing the present, and having +promised all she required, "This is the last--yes--the very last time +that I may behold this scene," continued Nattée, surveying the common, +the tents, and the animals browsing. "Be it so; Japhet, good-night, may +you prosper!" She then turned away and entered her tent; and soon +afterwards I followed her example. + +The next day, Melchior was all ready. What he had packed up was +contained in two small bundles. He addressed the people belonging to the +gang, in their own language. Nattée did the same, and the whole of them +kissed her hand. The tents, furniture, and the greatest part of his +other property, were distributed among them. Jumbo and Num were made +over to two of the principal men. Timothy, Fleta, and I, were also +ready, and intended to quit at the same time as Melchior and his wife. + +"Japhet," said Melchior, "there is yet some money due to you for our +last excursion--(this was true,)--here it is --you and Timothy keep but +one purse, I am aware. Good-bye, and may you prosper!" + +We shook hands with Nattée and Melchior. Fleta went up to the former, +and crossing her arms, bent her head. Nattée kissed the child, and led +her to Melchior. He stooped down, kissed her on the forehead, and I +perceived a sign of strongly suppressed emotion as he did so. Our +intended routes lay in a different direction, and when both parties had +arrived to either verge of the common, we waved our hands as a last +farewell, and resumed our paths again. Fleta burst into tears as she +turned away from her former guardians. + + + + +Chapter XVII + + A Cabinet Council--I resolve to set up as a gentleman, having as + legitimate pretensions to the rank of one as many others. + + +I led the little sobbing girl by the hand, and we proceeded for some +time in silence. It was not until we gained the high road that Timothy +interrupted my reverie, by observing, "Japhet, have you at all made up +your mind what you shall do?" + +"I have been reflecting, Timothy. We have lost a great deal of time. The +original intention with which I left London has been almost forgotten; +but it must be so no longer. I now have resolved that as soon as I have +placed this poor little girl in safety, that I will prosecute my search, +and never be diverted from it." + +"I cannot agree with you that we have lost time, Japhet; we had very +little money when we started upon our expedition, and now we have +sufficient to enable you to prosecute your plans for a long time. The +question is, in what direction? We quitted London, and travelled west, +in imitation, as we thought, of the _wise men_. With all deference, in +my opinion, it was like _two fools_." + +"I have been thinking upon that point also, Tim, and I agree with you. I +expect, from several causes, which you know as well as I do, to find my +father among the higher classes of society; and the path we took when we +started has led us into the very lowest. It appears to me that we cannot +do better than retrace our steps. We have the means now to appear as +gentlemen, and to mix in good company, and London is the very best place +for us to repair to." + +"That is precisely my opinion, Japhet, with one single exception, which +I will mention to you; but first tell me, have you calculated what our +joint purses may amount to? It must be a very considerable sum." + +I had not examined the packet in which was the money which Melchior had +given me at parting. I now opened it, and found, to my surprise, that +there were Bank notes to the amount of one hundred pounds. I felt that +he had given me this large sum that it might assist me in Fleta's +expenses. "With this sum," said I, "I cannot have much less than two +hundred and fifty pounds." + +"And I have more than sixty," said Timothy. "Really, the profession was +not unprofitable." + +"No," replied I, laughing; "but recollect, Tim, that we had no outlay. +The public provided us with food, our lodging cost us nothing. We have +had no taxes to pay; and at the same time have taxed folly and credulity +to a great extent." + +"That's true, Japhet; and although I am glad to have the money, I am not +sorry that we have abandoned the profession." + +"Nor am I, Tim; if you please, we will forget it altogether. But tell +me, what was the exception you were about to make?" + +"Simply this. Although upwards of three hundred pounds may be a great +deal of money, yet, if we are to support the character and appearance of +gentlemen, it will not last for ever. For instance, we must have our +_valets_. What an expense that will be! Our clothes too--we shall soon +lose our rank and station in society, without we obtain a situation +under government." + +"We must make it last as long as we can, Timothy; and trust to good +fortune to assist us." + +"That's all very well, Japhet; but I had rather trust to our own +prudence. Now hear what I have to say. You will be as much assisted by a +_trusty_ valet as by any other means. I shall, as a gentleman, be only +an expense and an incumbrance; but as a valet I shall be able to play +into your hands, at the same time more than one half the expense will be +avoided. With your leave, therefore, I will take my proper situation, +put on your livery, and thereby make myself of the greatest use." + +I could not help acknowledging the advantages to be derived from this +proposal of Timothy's; but I did not like to accept it. + +"It is very kind of you, Timothy," replied I; "but I can only look upon +you as a friend and an equal." + +"There you are right and are wrong in the same breath. You are right in +looking upon me as a friend, Japhet; and you would be still more right +in allowing me to prove my friendship as I propose; but you are wrong in +looking upon me as an equal, for I am not so either in personal +appearance, education, or anything else. We are both foundlings, it is +true; but you were christened after Abraham Newland, and I after the +workhouse pump. You were a gentleman foundling, presenting yourself with +a fifty pound note, and good clothes. I made my appearance in rags and +misery. If you find your parents, you will rise in the world; if I find +mine, I shall, in all probability, have no reason to be proud of them. I +therefore must insist upon having my own choice in the part I am to play +in the drama, and I will prove to you that it is my right to choose. You +forget that, when we started, your object was to search after your +father, and I told you mine should be to look after my mother. You have +selected high life as the expected sphere in which he is to be found, +and I select low life as that in which I am most likely to discover the +object of my search. So you perceive," continued Tim, laughing, "that we +must arrange so as to suit the views of both without parting company. Do +you hunt among bag-wigs, amber-headed canes, silks and satins--I will +burrow among tags and tassels, dimity and mob caps; and probably we +shall both succeed in the object of our search. I leave you to hunt in +the drawing-rooms, while I ferret in the kitchen. You may throw yourself +on a sofa and exclaim--'Who is my father?' while I will sit in the +cook's lap, and ask her if she may happen to be my mother." + +This sally of Timothy's made even Fleta laugh; and after a little more +remonstrance, I consented that he should perform the part of my valet. +Indeed, the more I reflected upon it, the greater appeared the +advantages which might accrue from the arrangement. By the time that +this point had been settled, we had arrived at the town to which we +directed our steps, and took up our quarters at an inn of moderate +pretensions, but of very great external cleanliness. My first object was +to find out some fitting asylum for little Fleta. The landlady was a +buxom, good-tempered young woman, and I gave the little girl into her +charge, while Timothy and I went out on a survey. I had made up my mind +to put her to some good, but not very expensive, school, if such were to +be found in the vicinity. I should have preferred taking her with me to +London, but I was aware how much more expensive it would be to provide +for her there; and as the distance from the metropolis was but twenty +miles, I could easily run down to see her occasionally. I desired the +little girl to call me her brother, as such I intended to be to her in +future, and not to answer every question they might put to her. There +was, however, little occasion for this caution; for Fleta was, as I +before observed, very unlike children in general. I then went out with +Timothy to look for a tailor, that I might order our clothes, as what we +had on were not either of the very best taste, or in the very best +condition. We walked up the main street, and soon fell in with a +tailor's shop, over which was written in large letters--"Feodor +Shneider, Tailor to his Royal Highness the Prince of Darmstadt." + +"Will that do, Japhet?" said Timothy, pointing to the announcement. + +"Why yes," replied I; "but how the deuce the Prince of Darmstadt should +have employed a man in a small country town as his tailor, is to me +rather a puzzle." + +"Perhaps he made his clothes when he was in Germany," replied Tim. + +"Perhaps he did; but, however, he shall have the honour of making mine." + +We entered the shop, and I ordered a suit of the most fashionable +clothes, choosing my colours, and being very minute in my directions to +the foreman, who measured me; but as I was leaving the shop the master, +judging by my appearance, which was certainly not exactly that of a +gentleman, ventured to observe that it was customary with _gentlemen_, +whom they had not the honour of knowing, to leave a deposit. Although +the very proposal was an attack upon my gentility, I made no reply; but +pulling out a handful of guineas, laid down two on the counter, and +walked away, that I might find another shop at which we might order the +livery of Timothy; but this was only as a reconnoitre, as I did not +intend to order his liveries until I could appear in my own clothes, +which were promised on the afternoon of the next day. There were, +however, several other articles to be purchased, such as a trunk, +portmanteau, hat, gloves, &c., all which we procured, and then went back +to the inn. On my return I ordered dinner. Fleta was certainly clad in +her best frock, but bad was the best; and the landlady, who could +extract little from the child, could not imagine who we could be. I had, +however, allowed her to see more than sufficient money to warrant our +expenses; and so far her scruples were, although her curiosity was not, +removed. + +That evening I had a long conversation with Fleta. I told her that we +were to part, that she must go to school, and that I would very often +come down to see her. At first, she was inconsolable at the idea; but I +reasoned with her, and the gentle, intelligent creature acknowledged +that it was right. The next day my clothes came home, and I dressed +myself. "Without flattery, Japhet," said Timothy, "you do look very much +like a gentleman." Fleta smiled, and said the same. I thought so too, +but said nothing. Putting on my hat and gloves, and accompanied by +Timothy, I descended to go out and order Tim's liveries, as well as a +fit-out for Fleta. + +After I was out in the street I discovered that I had left my +handkerchief, and returned to fetch it. The landlady, seeing a gentleman +about to enter the inn, made a very low courtesy, and it was not until I +looked hard at her that she recognised me. Then I was satisfied; it was +an involuntary tribute to my appearance, worth all the flattering +assertions in the world. We now proceeded to the other tailor's in the +main street. I entered the shop with a flourishing, important air, and +was received with many bows. "I wish," said I, "to have a suit of livery +made for this young man, who is about to enter into my service. I cannot +take him up to town this figure." The livery was chosen, and as I +expressed my wish to be off the next evening, it was promised to be +ready by an hour appointed. + +I then went to a milliner's, and desired that she would call at the inn +to fit out a little girl for school, whose wardrobe had been left behind +by mistake. On the fourth day all was ready. I had made inquiries, and +found out a very respectable school, kept by a widow lady. I asked for +references, which were given, and I was satisfied. The terms were +low--twenty pounds per annum. I paid the first half year in advance, and +lodged fifty guineas more in the hands of a banker, taking a receipt for +it, and giving directions that it was to be paid to the schoolmistress +as it became due. I took this precaution, that should I be in poverty +myself, at all events Fleta might be provided in clothes and schooling +for three years at least. The poor child wept bitterly at the +separation, and I could with difficulty detach her little arms from my +neck, and I felt when I left her as if I had parted with the only +valuable object to me on earth. + +All was now ready; but Timothy did not, as yet, assume his new clothes. +It would have appeared strange that one who sat at my table should +afterwards put on my livery; and as, in a small town there is always +plenty of scandal, for Fleta's sake, if for no other reason, it was +deferred until our arrival in London. Wishing the landlady good-bye, who +I really believed would have given up her bill to have known who we +could possibly be, we got on the outside of the stage-coach, and in the +evening arrived in the metropolis. I have been particular in describing +all these little circumstances, as it proves how very awkward it is to +jump, without observation, from one station in society to another. + + + + +Chapter XVIII + + I receive a letter from my uncle by which I naturally expect to + find out who is my father--Like other outcasts, I am warned by a + dream. + + +But I have omitted to mention a circumstance of great importance, which +occurred at the inn the night before I placed Fleta at the +boarding-school. In looking over my portmanteau, I perceived the present +of Nattée to Fleta, which I had quite forgotten. I took it to Fleta, and +told her from whom it came. On opening the paper, it proved to contain a +long chain of round coral and gold beads, strung alternately; the gold +beads were not so large as the coral, but still the number of them, and +the purity of the metal, made them of considerable value. Fleta passed +the beads through her fingers, and then threw it round her neck, and sat +in deep thought for some minutes. "Japhet," said she at last, "I have +seen this--I have worn this before--I recollect that I have; it rushes +into my memory as an old friend, and I think that before morning it will +bring to my mind something that I shall recollect about it." + +"Try all you can, Fleta, and let me know to-morrow." + +"It's no use trying; if I try, I never can recollect anything. I must +wear it to-night, and then I shall have something come into my mind all +of a sudden; or perhaps I may dream something. Good-night." + +It immediately occurred to me that it was most probable that the chain +had been on Fleta's neck at the time that she was stolen from her +parents, and might prove the means of her being identified. It was no +common chain--apparently had been wrought by people in a state of +semi-refinement. There was too little show for its value--too much +sterling gold for the simple effect produced; and I very much doubted +whether another like it could be found. + +The next morning Fleta was too much affected at parting with me, to +enter into much conversation. I asked whether she had recollected +anything, and she replied, "No; that she had cried all night at the +thoughts of our separation." I cautioned her to be very careful of the +chain, and I gave the same caution to the schoolmistress; and after I +had left the town, I regretted that I had not taken it away, and +deposited it in some place of security. I resolved to do so when I next +saw Fleta; in the meantime, she would be able, perhaps, by association, +to call up some passage of her infancy connected with it. + +I had inquired of a gentleman who sat near me on the coach, which was +the best hotel for a young man of fashion. He recommended the Piazza, in +Covent Garden, and to that we accordingly repaired. I selected handsome +apartments, and ordered a light supper. When the table was laid, Timothy +made his appearance, in his livery, and cut a very smart, dashing +figure. I dismissed the waiter, and as soon as we were alone, I burst +into a fit of laughter. "Really, Timothy, this is a good farce; come, +sit down, and help me to finish this bottle of wine." + +"No, sir," replied Timothy; "with your permission, I prefer doing as the +rest of my fraternity. You only leave the bottle on the sideboard, and I +will steal as much as I want; but as for sitting down, that will be +making too free, and if we were seen, would be, moreover, very +dangerous. We must both keep up our characters. They have been plying me +with all manner of questions below, as to who you were--your name, &c. I +resolved that I would give you a lift in the world, and I stated that +you had just arrived from making a grand tour--which is not a fib, after +all--and as for your name, I said that you were at present _incog_." + +"But why did you make me _incog._?" + +"Because it may suit you so to be; and it certainly is the truth, for +you don't know your real name." + +We were here interrupted by the waiter bringing in a letter upon a +salver. "Here is a letter addressed to 'I, or J.N., on his return from +his tour,' sir," said he; "I presume it is for you?" + +"You may leave it," said I, with nonchalance. + +The waiter laid the letter on the table, and retired. + +"How very odd, Timothy--this letter cannot be for me; and yet they are +my initials. It is as much like a J as an I. Depend upon it, it is some +fellow who has just gained this intelligence below, and has written to +ask for a subscription to his charity list, imagining that I am flush of +money, and liberal." + +"I suppose so," replied Tim; "however, you may just as well see what he +says." + +"But if I open it he will expect something. I had better refuse it." + +"O no, leave that to me; I know how to put people off." + +"After all, it is a fine thing to be a gentleman, and be petitioned." + +I broke open the seal, and found that the letter contained an inclosure +addressed to another person. The letter was as follows:-- + + "My dear Nephew,--['Bravo, sir,' said Timothy; 'you've found an + uncle already--you'll soon find a father.'] From the great + uncertainty of the post, I have not ventured to do more than hint + at what has come to light during this last year, but as it is + necessary that you should be acquainted with the whole transaction; + and as you had not decided when you last wrote, whether you would + prosecute your intended three months trip to Sicily, or return from + Milan, you may probably arrive when I am out of town; I therefore + enclose you a letter to Mr Masterton, directing him to surrender to + you a sealed packet, lodged in his hands, containing all the + particulars, the letters which bear upon them, and what has been + proposed to avoid exposure; which you may peruse at your leisure, + should you arrive before my return to town. There is no doubt but + that the affair may be hushed up, and we trust that you will see + the prudence of the measure; as, once known, it will be very + discreditable to the family escutcheon. ('I always had an idea you + were of good family,' interrupted Tim.) I wish you had followed my + advice, and had not returned; but as you were positive on that + point, I beg you will now consider the propriety of remaining + incognito, as reports are already abroad, and your sudden return + will cause a great deal of surmise. Your long absence at the + Gottingen University, and your subsequent completion of your grand + tour, will have effaced all remembrance of your person, and you can + easily be passed off as a particular friend of mine, and I can + introduce you everywhere as such. Take, then, any name you may + please, provided it be not Smith or Brown, or such vulgarisms; and + on the receipt of this letter, write a note, and send it to my + house in Portman Square, just saying, '_so and so_ is arrived.' + This will prevent the servants from obtaining any information by + their prying curiosity; and as I have directed all my letters to be + forwarded to my seat in Worcestershire, I shall come up immediately + that I receive it, and by your putting the name which you mean to + assume, I shall know whom to ask for when I call at the hotel. + + "Your affectionate Uncle, + + "Windermear." + +"One thing is very clear, Timothy," said I, laying the letter on the +table, "that it cannot be intended for me." + +"How do you know, sir, that this lord is not your uncle? At all events, +you must do as he bids you." + +"What--go for the papers! most certainly I shall not." + +"Then how in the name of fortune do you expect to find your father, when +you will not take advantage of such an opportunity of getting into +society? It is by getting possession of other people's secrets, that +you will worm out your own." + +"But it is dishonest, Timothy." + +"A letter is addressed to you, in which you have certain directions; you +break the seal with confidence, and you read what you find is possibly +not for you; but, depend upon it, Japhet, that a secret obtained is one +of the surest roads to promotion. Recollect your position; cut off from +the world, you have to re-unite yourself with it, to recover your +footing, and create an interest. You have not those who love you to help +you--you must not scruple to obtain your object by fear." + +"That is a melancholy truth, Tim," replied I; "and I believe I must put +my strict morality in my pocket." + +"Do, sir, pray, until you can afford to be moral; it's a very expensive +virtue that; a deficiency of it made you an outcast from the world, you +must not scruple at a slight deficiency on your own part, to regain your +position." + +There was so much shrewdness, so much of the wisdom of the serpent in +the remarks of Timothy, that, added to my ardent desire to discover my +father, which since my quitting the gipsy camp had returned upon me with +two-fold force, my scruples were overcome, and I resolved that I would +not lose such an opportunity. Still I hesitated, and went up into my +room, that I might reflect upon what I should do. I went to bed, +revolving the matter in my mind, and turning over from one position to +the other, at one time deciding that I would not take advantage of the +mistake, at another quite as resolved that I would not throw away such +an opening for the prosecution of my search; at last I fell into an +uneasy slumber, and had a strange dream. I thought that I was standing +upon an isolated rock, with the waters raging around me; the tide was +rising, and at last the waves were roaring at my feet. I was in a state +of agony, and expected that, in a short time, I should be swallowed up. +The main land was not far off, and I perceived well-dressed people in +crowds, who were enjoying themselves, feasting, dancing, and laughing +in merry peals. I held out my hands--I shouted to them--they saw, and +heard me, but heeded me not. My horror at being swept away by the tide +was dreadful. I shrieked as the water rose. At last I perceived +something unroll itself from the main land, and gradually advancing to +the inland, form a bridge by which I could walk over and be saved. I was +about to hasten over, when "Private, and no thoroughfare," appeared at +the end nearest me, in large letters of fire. I started back with +amazement, and would not, dared not pass them. When all of a sudden, a +figure in white appeared by my side, and said to me, pointing to the +bridge, "Self-preservation is the first law of nature." + +I looked at the person who addressed me; gradually the figure became +darker and darker, until it changed to Mr Cophagus, with his stick up to +his nose. "Japhet, all nonsense--very good bridge--um--walk over--find +father--and so on." I dashed over the bridge, which appeared to float on +the water, and to be composed of paper, gained the other side, and was +received with shouts of congratulation, and the embraces of the crowd. I +perceived an elderly gentleman come forward; I knew it was my father, +and I threw myself into his arms. I awoke, and found myself rolling on +the floor, embracing the bolster with all my might. Such was the vivid +impression of this dream, that I could not turn my thoughts away from +it, and at last I considered that it was a divine interposition. All my +scruples vanished, and before the day had dawned I determined that I +would follow the advice of Timothy. An enthusiast is easily led to +believe what he wishes, and he mistakes his own feelings for warnings; +the dreams arising from his daily contemplations for the interference of +Heaven. He thinks himself armed by supernatural assistance, and +warranted by the Almighty to pursue his course, even if that course +should be contrary to the Almighty's precepts. Thus was I led away by my +own imaginings, and thus was my _monomania_ increased to an impetus +which forced before it all consideration of what was right or wrong. + + + + +Chapter XIX + + _An important chapter--I make some important acquaintances, obtain + some important papers which I am importunate to read through._ + + +The next morning I told my dream to Timothy, who laughed very heartily +at my idea of the finger of Providence. At last, perceiving that I was +angry with him, he pretended to be convinced. When I had finished my +breakfast, I sent to inquire the number in the square of Lord +Windermear's town house, and wrote the following simple note to his +lordship, "_Japhet Newland_ has arrived from his tour at the Piazza, +Covent Garden." This was confided to Timothy, and I then set off with +the other letter to Mr Masterton, which was addressed to Lincoln's Inn. +By reading the addresses of the several legal gentlemen, I found out +that Mr Masterton was located on the first floor. I rang the bell, which +had the effect of "Open, Sesame," as the door appeared to swing to admit +me without any assistance. I entered an ante-room, and from thence found +myself in the presence of Mr Masterton--a little old man, with +spectacles on his nose, sitting at a table covered with papers. He +offered me a chair, and I presented the letter. + +"I see that I am addressing Mr Neville," said he, after he had perused +the letter. "I congratulate you on your return. You may not, perhaps, +remember me?" + +"Indeed, sir, I cannot say that I do, exactly." + +"I could not expect it, my dear sir, you have been so long away. You +have very much improved in person, I must say; yet still, I recollect +your features as a mere boy. Without compliment, I had no idea that you +would ever have made so handsome a man." I bowed to the compliment. +"Have you heard from your uncle?" + +"I had a few lines from Lord Windermear, enclosing your letter." + +"He is well, I hope?" + +"Quite well, I believe." + +Mr Masterton then rose, went to an iron safe, and brought out a packet +of papers, which he put into my hands. "You will read these with +interest, Mr Neville. I am a party to the whole transaction, and must +venture to advise you not to appear in England under your own name, +until all is settled. Your uncle, I perceive, has begged the same." + +"And I have assented, sir. I have taken a name instead of my real one." + +"May I ask what it is?" + +"I call myself Mr Japhet Newland." + +"Well, it is singular, but perhaps as good as any other. I will take it +down, in case I have to write to you. Your address is--" + +"Piazza--Covent Garden." + +Mr Masterton took my name and address, I took the papers, and then we +both took leave of one another, with many expressions of pleasure and +good-will. + +I returned to the hotel, where I found Timothy waiting for me, with +impatience. "Japhet," said he, "Lord Windermear has not yet left town. I +have seen him, for I was called back after I left the house, by the +footman, who ran after me--he will be here immediately." + +"Indeed," replied I. "Pray what sort of person is he, and what did he +say to you?" + +"He sent for me in the dining-parlour, where he was at breakfast, asked +when you arrived, whether you were well, and how long I had been in your +service. I replied that I had not been more than two days, and had just +put on my liveries. He then desired me to tell Mr Newland that he would +call upon him in about two hours. Then, my lord," replied I, "I had +better go and tell him to get out of bed." + +"The lazy dog!" said he, "nearly one o'clock, and not out of bed; well, +go then, and get him dressed as fast as you can." + +Shortly afterwards a handsome carriage with greys drew up to the door. +His lordship sent in his footman to ask whether Mr Newland was at home. +The reply of the waiter was, that there was a young gentleman who had +been there two or three days, who had come from making a tour, and his +name did begin with an _N_. "That will do, James; let down the steps." +His lordship alighted, was ushered up stairs, and into my room. There we +stood, staring at each other. + +"Lord Windermear, I believe," said I, extending my hand. + +"You have recognised me first, John," said he, taking my hand, and +looking earnestly in my face. "Good heavens! is it possible that an +awkward boy should have grown up into so handsome a fellow? I shall be +proud of my nephew. Did you remember me when I entered the room?" + +"To tell the truth, my lord, I did not; but expecting you, I took it for +granted that it must be you." + +"Nine years make a great difference, John;--but I forget, I must now +call you Japhet. Have you been reading the Bible lately, that you fixed +upon that strange name?" + +"No, my lord, but this hotel is such a Noah's ark, that it's no wonder I +thought of it." + +"You're an undutiful dog, not to ask after your mother, sir." + +"I was about--" + +"I see--I see," interrupted his lordship; "but recollect, John, that she +still is _your mother_. By-the-by, have you read the papers yet?" + +"No, sir," replied I, "there they are," pointing to them on the side +table. "I really do not like to break the seals." + +"That they will not contain pleasant intelligence, I admit," replied his +lordship; "but until you have read them, I do not wish to converse with +you on the subject, therefore," said he, taking up the packet, and +breaking the seals, "I must now insist that you employ this forenoon in +reading them through. You will dine with me at seven, and then we will +talk the matter over." + +"Certainly, sir, if you wish it, I will read them." + +"I must _insist_ upon it, John; and am rather surprised at your +objecting, when they concern you so particularly." + +"I shall obey your orders, sir." + +"Well, then, my boy, I shall wish you good morning, that you may +complete your task before you come to dinner. To-morrow, if you wish +it--but recollect, I never press young men on these points, as I am +aware that they sometimes feel it a restraint--if you wish it, I say, +you may bring your portmanteaus, and take up your quarters with me. +By-the-bye," continued his lordship, taking hold of my coat, "who made +this?" + +"The tailor to his Serene Highness the Prince of Darmsradt had that +honour, my lord," replied I. + +"Humph! I thought they fitted better in Germany; it's not quite the +thing--we must consult Stulz, for with that figure and face, the coat +ought to be quite correct. Adieu, my dear fellow, till seven." + +His lordship shook hands with me, and I was left alone. Timothy came in +as soon as his lordship's carriage had driven off. "Well, sir," said he, +"was your uncle glad to see you?" + +"Yes," replied I; "and look, he has broken open the seals, and has +insisted upon my reading the papers." + +"It would be very undutiful in you to refuse, so I had better leave you +to your task," said Timothy, smiling, as he quitted the room. + + + + +Chapter XX + + I open an account with my bankers, draw largely upon credulity, and + am prosperous without a _check_. + + +I sat down and took up the papers. I was immediately and strangely +interested in all that I read. A secret!--it was, indeed, a secret, +involving the honour and reputation of the most distinguished families. +One that, if known, the trumpet of scandal would have blazoned forth to +the disgrace of the aristocracy. It would have occasioned bitter tears +to some, gratified the petty malice of many, satisfied the revenge of +the vindictive, and bowed with shame the innocent as well as the guilty. +It is not necessary, nor, indeed, would I, on any account, state any +more. I finished the last paper, and then fell into a reverie. This is, +indeed, a secret, thought I; one that I would I never had possessed. In +a despotic country my life would be sacrificed to the fatal +knowledge--here, thank God, my life as well as my liberty are safe. + +The contents of the papers told me all that was necessary to enable me +to support the character which I had assumed. The reason why the party, +whom I was supposed to be, was intrusted with it, was, that he was in a +direct line, eventually heir, and the question was whether he would +waive his claim with the others, and allow death to bury crime in +oblivion. I felt that were I in his position I should so do--and +therefore was prepared to give an answer to his lordship. I sealed up +the papers, dressed myself, and went to dinner; and after the cloth was +removed, Lord Windermear, first rising and turning the key in the door, +said to me, in a low voice, "You have read the papers, and what those, +nearly as much interested as you are in this lamentable business, have +decided upon. Tell me, what is your opinion?" + +"My opinion, my lord, is, that I wish I had never known what has come to +light this day--that it will be most advisable never to recur to the +subject, and that the proposals made are, in my opinion, most judicious, +and should be acted upon." + +"That is well," replied his lordship; "then all are agreed, and I am +proud to find you possessed of such honour and good feeling. We now drop +the subject for ever. Are you inclined to leave town with me, or what do +you intend to do?" + +"I prefer remaining in town, if your lordship will introduce me to some +of the families of your acquaintance. Of course I know no one now." + +"Very true; I will introduce you, as agreed, as Mr Newland. It may be as +well that you do not know any of our relations, whom I have made to +suppose, that you are still abroad--and it would be awkward, when you +take your right name by-and-bye. Do you mean to see your mother?" + +"Impossible, my lord, at present; by-and-bye I hope to be able." + +"Perhaps it's all for the best. I will now write one note to Major +Carbonnell, introducing you as my particular friend, and requesting that +he will make London agreeable. He knows everybody, and will take you +everywhere." + +"When does your lordship start for the country?" + +"To-morrow; so we may as well part to-night. By-the-by, you have credit +at Drummond's, in the name of Newland, for a thousand pounds; the longer +you make it last you the better." + +His lordship gave me the letter of introduction. I returned to him the +sealed packet, shook hands with him, and took my departure. + +"Well, sir," said Timothy, rubbing his hands, as he stood before me, +"what is the news; for I am dying to hear it--and what is this secret?" + +"With regard to the secret, Tim, a secret it must remain. I dare not +tell it even to you." Timothy looked rather grave at this reply. "No, +Timothy, as a man of honour, I cannot." My conscience smote me when I +made use of the term; for, as a man of honour, I had no business to be +in possession of it. "My dear Timothy, I have done wrong already, do not +ask me to do worse." + +"I will not, Japhet; but only tell me what has passed, and what you +intend to do?" + +"That I will, Timothy, with pleasure;" and I then stated all that had +passed between his lordship and me. + +"And now, you observe, Timothy, I have gained what I desired, an +introduction into the best society." + +"And the means of keeping up your appearance," echoed Timothy, rubbing +his hands. "A thousand pounds will last a long while." + +"It will last a very long while, Tim, for I never will touch it; it +would be swindling." + +"So it would," replied Tim, his countenance falling; "well, I never +thought of that." + +"I have thought of much more, Tim; recollect I must, in a very short +time, be exposed to Lord Windermear, for the real Mr Neville will soon +come home." + +"Good heavens! what will become of us?" replied Timothy, with alarm in +his countenance. + +"Nothing can hurt you, Tim, the anger will be all upon me; but I am +prepared to face it, and I would face twice as much for the distant hope +of finding my father. Whatever Lord Windermear may feel inclined to do, +he can do nothing; and my possession of the secret will ensure even more +than my safety; it will afford me his protection, if I demand it." + +"I hope it may prove so," replied Timothy, "but I feel a little +frightened." + +"I do not; to-morrow I shall give my letter of introduction, and then I +will prosecute my search. So now, my dear Tim, good-night." + +The next morning, I lost no time in presenting my letter of introduction +to Major Carbonnell. He lived in apartments on the first floor in St +James's Street, and I found him at breakfast, in a silk dressing gown. I +had made up my mind that a little independence always carries with it an +air of fashion. When I entered, therefore, I looked at him with a +knowing air, and dropping the letter down on the table before him, said, +"There's something for you to read, Major; and, in the meantime, I'll +refresh myself on this chair;" suiting the action to the word, I threw +myself on a chair, amusing myself with tapping the sides of my boots +with a small cane which I carried in my hand. + +Major Carbonnell, upon whom I cast a furtive eye more than once during +the time that he was reading the letter, was a person of about +thirty-five years of age, well-looking, but disfigured by the size of +his whiskers, which advanced to the corners of his mouth, and met under +his throat. He was tall and well made, and with an air of fashion about +him that was undeniable. His linen was beautifully, clean and carefully +arranged, and he had as many rings on his fingers, and, when he was +dressed, chains and trinkets, as ever were put on by a lady. + +"My dear sir, allow me the honour of making at once your most intimate +acquaintance," said he, rising from his chair, and offering his hand, as +soon as he had perused the letter. "Any friend of Lord Windermear's +would be welcome, but when he brings such an extra recommendation in his +own appearance, he becomes doubly so." + +"Major Carbonnell," replied I, "I have seen you but two minutes, and I +have taken a particular fancy to you, in which I, no doubt, have proved +my discrimination. Of course, you know that I have just returned from +making a tour?" + +"So I understand from his lordship's letter. Mr Newland, my time is at +your service. Where are you staying?" + +"At the Piazza." + +"Very good; I will dine with you to-day; order some mulligatawny, they +are famous for it. After dinner we will go to the theatre." + +I was rather surprised at his cool manner of asking himself to dine with +me and ordering my dinner, but a moment's reflection made me feel what +sort of person I had to deal with. + +"Major, I take that as almost an affront. You will dine with me +_to-day!_ I beg to state that you _must_ dine with me every day that we +are not invited elsewhere; and what's more, sir, I shall be most +seriously displeased, if you do not order the dinner every time that you +do dine with me, and ask whoever you may think worthy of putting their +legs under our table, Let's have no doing things by halves, Major; I +know you now as well as if we had been intimate for ten years." + +The Major seized me by the hand. "My dear Newland, I only wish we _had +known_ one another ten years, as you say--the loss has been mine; but +now--you have breakfasted, I presume?" + +"Yes; having nothing to do, and not knowing a soul after my long +absence, I advanced my breakfast about two hours, that I might find you +at home; and now I'm at your service." + +"Say rather I am at yours. I presume you will walk. In ten minutes I +shall be ready. Either take up the paper, or whistle an air or two, or +anything else you like, just to kill ten minutes--and I shall be at your +command." + + + + +Chapter XXI + + I come out under a first-rate chaperon, and at once am established + into the regions of fashion--Prove that I am deserving of my + promotion. + + +"I beg your pardon, Newland," said the Major, returning from his +dressing-room, resplendent with chains and bijouterie; "but I must have +your Christian name." + +"It's rather a strange one," replied I; "it is Japhet." + +"Japhet! by the immortal powers, I'd bring an action against my +godfathers and godmothers; you ought to recover _heavy damages_." + +"Then I presume you would not have the name," replied I, with a knowing +look, "for a clear ten thousand a year." + +"Whew! that alters the case--it's astonishing how well any name looks in +large _gold_ letters. Well, as the old gentleman, whoever he might have +been, made you compensation, you must forgive and forget. Now where +shall we go?" + +"With your permission, as I came to town in these clothes, made by a +German tailor--Darmstadt's tailor by-the-bye--but still if tailor to a +prince, not the prince of tailors--I would wish you to take me to your +own: your dress appears very correct." + +"You show your judgment, Newland, it _is_ correct; Stulz will be +delighted to have your name on his books, and to do justice to that +figure. _Allons donc_." + +We sauntered up St James's Street, and before I had arrived at Stulz's, +I had been introduced to at least twenty of the young men about town. +The Major was most particular in his directions about the clothes, all +of which he ordered; and as I knew that he was well acquainted with the +fashion, I gave him carte blanche. When we left the shop, he said, "Now, +my dear Newland, I have given you a proof of friendship, which no other +man in England has had. Your dress will be the ne plus ultra. There are +little secrets only known to the initiated, and Stulz is aware that this +time I am in earnest. I am often asked to do the same for others, and I +pretend so to do; but a wink from me is sufficient, and Stulz dares not +dress them. Don't you want some bijouterie? or have you any at home?" + +"I may as well have a few trifles," replied I. + +We entered a celebrated jeweller's, and he selected for me to the amount +of about forty pounds. "That will do--never buy much; for it is +necessary to change every three months at least. What is the price of +this chain?" + +"It is only fifteen guineas, Major." + +"Well, I shall take it; but recollect," continued the Major; "I tell you +honestly, I never shall pay you." + +The jeweller smiled, bowed, and laughed; the Major threw the chain round +his neck, and we quitted the shop. + +"At all events, Major, they appear not to believe your word in that +shop." + +"My dear fellow, that's their own fault, not mine. I tell them honestly +I never will pay them; and you may depend upon it, I intend most +sacredly to keep my word. I never do pay anybody, for the best of all +possible reasons, I have no money; but then I do them a service--I make +them fashionable, and they know it." + +"What debts do you pay then, Major?" + +"Let me think--that requires consideration. Oh! I pay my washer-woman." + +"Don't you pay your debts of honour?" + +"Debts of honour! why I'll tell _you_ the truth; for I know that we +shall hunt in couples. If I win I take the money: but if I lose--why +then I forget to pay; and I always tell them so before I set down to the +table. If they won't believe me, it's not my fault. But what's the hour? +Come, I must make a few calls, and will introduce you." + +We sauntered on to Grosvenor Square, knocked, and were admitted into a +large, elegantly-furnished mansion. The footman announced us--"My dear +Lady Maelstrom, allow me the honour of introducing to you my very +particular friend, Mr Newland, consigned to my charge by my Lord +Windermear during his absence. He has just arrived from the continent, +where he has been making the grand tour." + +Her ladyship honoured me with a smile. "By-the-bye, Major, that reminds +me--do me the favour to come to the window. Excuse us one moment, Mr +Newland." + +The Major and Lady Maelstrom walked to the window, and exchanged a few +sentences, and then returned. Her ladyship holding up her finger, and +saying to him as they came towards me, "Promise me now that you won't +forget." + +"Your ladyship's slightest wishes are to me imperative commands," +replied the Major, with a graceful bow. + +In a quarter of an hour, during which the conversation was animated, we +rose to take our leave, when her ladyship came up to me, and offering +her hand, said, "Mr Newland, the friendship of Lord Windermear, and the +introduction of Major Carbonnell, are more than sufficient to induce me +to put your name down on my visiting list. I trust I shall see a great +deal of you, and that we shall be great friends." + +I bowed to this handsome announcement, and we retired. As soon as we +were out in the square, the Major observed, "You saw her take me on one +side--it was to _pump_. She has no daughters, but about fifty nieces, +and match-making is her delight. I told her that I would stake my honour +upon your possessing ten thousand a year; how much more I could not say. +I was not far wrong, was I?" + +I laughed. "What I may be worth, Major, I really cannot say; but I trust +that the event will prove that you are not far wrong. Say no more, my +dear fellow." + +"I understand--you are not yet of age--of course, have not yet come into +possession of your fortune." + +"That is exactly the case, Major. I am now but little more than +nineteen." + +"You look older; but there is no getting over baptismal registries with +the executors. Newland, you must content yourself for the two next years +in playing Moses, and only peep at the promised land." + +We made two or three more calls, and then returned to St James's Street. +"Where shall we go now? By-the-bye, don't you want to go to your +banker's?" + +"I will just stroll down with you, and see if they have paid any money +in," replied I, carelessly. + +We called at Drummond's, and I asked them if there was any money paid in +to the credit of Mr Newland. + +"Yes, sir," replied one of the clerks: "there is one thousand pounds +paid in yesterday." + +"Very good," replied I. + +"How much do you wish to draw for?" inquired the Major. + +"I don't want any," replied I. "I have more money than I ought to have +in my desk at this moment." + +"Well, then, let us go and order dinner; or perhaps you would like to +stroll about a little more; if so, I will go and order the dinner. +Here's Harcourt, that's lucky. Harcourt my dear fellow, know Mr Newland, +my very particular friend. I must leave you now; take his arm, +Harcourt, for half an hour, and then join us at dinner at the Piazza." + +Mr Harcourt was an elegant young man of about five-and-twenty. Equally +pleased with each other's externals, we were soon familiar: he was +witty, sarcastic, and wellbred. After half an hour's conversation he +asked me what I thought of the Major. I looked him in the face and +smiled. "That look tells me that you will not be his dupe, otherwise I +had warned you: he is a strange character: but if you have money enough +to afford to _keep him_, you cannot do better, as he is acquainted with, +and received by, everybody. His connections are good; and he once had a +very handsome fortune, but it was soon run out, and he was obliged to +sell his commission in the Guards. Now he lives upon the world; which as +Shakespeare says, is his oyster; and he has wit and sharpness enough to +open it. Moreover, he has some chance of falling into a peerage; that +prospect, and his amusing qualities, added to his being the most +fashionable man about town, keeps his head above water. I believe Lord +Windermear, who is his cousin, very often helps him." + +"It was Lord Windermear who introduced me to him," observed I. + +"Then he will not venture to play any tricks upon you, further than +eating your dinners, borrowing your money, and forgetting to pay it." + +"You must acknowledge," said I, "he always tells you beforehand that he +never will pay you." + +"And that is the only point in which he adheres to his word," replied +Harcourt, laughing; "but, tell me, am I to be _your_ guest to-day?" + +"If you will do me that honour." + +"I assure you I am delighted to come, as I shall have a further +opportunity of cultivating your acquaintance." + +"Then we had better bend our steps towards the hotel, for it is late," +replied I; and we did so accordingly. + + + + +Chapter XXII + + The real Simon Pure proves the worse of the two--I am found guilty, + but not condemned; convicted, yet convince; and after having + behaved the very contrary to, prove that I am, a gentleman. + + +On our arrival, we found the table spread, champagne in ice under the +sideboard, and apparently everything prepared for a sumptuous dinner, +the Major on the sofa giving directions to the waiter, and Timothy +looking all astonishment. + +"Major," said I, "I cannot tell you how much I am obliged to you for +your kindness in taking all this trouble off my hands, that I might +follow up the agreeable introduction you have given me to Mr Harcourt." + +"My dear Newland, say no more; you will, I dare say, do the same for me +if I require it, when I give a dinner. (Harcourt caught my eye, as if to +say, "You may safely promise that.") But, Newland, do you know that the +nephew of Lord Windermear has just arrived? Did you meet abroad?" + +"No," replied I, somewhat confused; but I soon recovered myself. As for +Tim, he bolted out of the room. "What sort of a person is he?" + +"That you may judge for yourself, my dear fellow, for I asked him to +join us, I must say, more out of compliment to Lord Windermear than +anything else; for I am afraid that, even I could never make a gentleman +of him. But take Harcourt with you to your room, and by the time you +have washed your hands, I will have dinner on the table. I took the +liberty of desiring your valet to show me in about ten minutes ago. He's +a shrewd fellow that of your's--where did you pick him up?" + +"By mere accident," replied I; "come, Mr Harcourt." + +On our return, we found the real Simon Pure, Mr Estcourt, sitting with +the major, who introduced us, and dinner being served, we sat down to +table. + +Mr Estcourt was a young man, about my own age, but not so tall by two +or three inches. His features were prominent, but harsh; and when I saw +him, I was not at all surprised at Lord Windermear's expressions of +satisfaction, when he suppossd that I was his nephew. His countenance +was dogged and sullen, and he spoke little; he appeared to place an +immense value upon birth, and hardly deigned to listen, except the +aristocracy were the subject of discourse. I treated him with marked +deference, that I might form an acquaintance, and found before we parted +that night, that I had succeeded. Our dinner was excellent, and we were +all, except Mr Estcourt, in high good humour. We sat late--too late to +go to the theatre, and promising to meet the next day at noon, Harcourt +and the Major took their leave. + +Mr Estcourt had indulged rather too much, and, after their departure, +became communicative. I plied the bottle and we sat up for more than an +hour; he talked of nothing but his family and his expectations. I took +this opportunity of discovering what his feelings were likely to be when +he was made acquainted with the important secret which was in my +possession. I put a case somewhat similar, and asked him whether in such +circumstances he would waive his right for a time, to save the honour of +his family. + +"No, by G--d!" replied he, "I never would. What! give up even for a day +my right--conceal my true rank for the sake of relatives? never--nothing +would induce me." + +I was satisfied, and then casually asked him if he had written to Lord +Windermear to inform him of his arrival. + +"No," replied he; "I shall write to-morrow." He soon after retired to +his own apartment, and I rang for Timothy. + +"Good heavens, sir!" cried Timothy, "what is all this--and what are you +about? I am frightened out of my wits. Why, sir, our money will not last +two months." + +"I do not expect it will last much longer, Tim; but it cannot be +helped. Into society I must get--and to do so, must pay for it." + +"But, sir, putting the expense aside, what are we to do about this Mr +Estcourt? All must be found out." + +"I intend that it shall be found out, Tim," replied I; "but not yet. He +will write to his uncle to-morrow; you must obtain the letter, for it +must not go. I must first have time to establish myself, and then Lord +Windermear may find out his error as soon as he pleases." + +"Upon my honour, Japhet, you appear to be afraid of nothing." + +"I fear nothing, Tim, when I am following up the object of my wishes. I +will allow no obstacles to stand in my way, in my search after my +father." + +"Really, you seem to be quite mad on that point, Japhet." + +"Perhaps I may be, Tim," replied I, thoughtfully. "At all events, let us +go to bed now, and I will tell you to-morrow morning, all the events of +this day." + +Mr Estcourt wrote his letter, which Tim very officiously offered to put +into the post, instead of which we put it between the bars of the grate. + +I must now pass over about three weeks, during which I became very +intimate with the Major and Mr Harcourt, and was introduced by them to +the clubs, and almost every person of fashion. The idea of my wealth, +and my very handsome person and figure, ensured me a warm reception, and +I soon became one of the stars of the day. During this time, I also +gained the entire confidence of Mr Estcourt, who put letter after letter +into the hands of Timothy, who of course put them into the usual place. +I pacified him as long as I could, by expressing my opinion, that his +lordship was on a visit to some friends in the neighbourhood of his +seat; but at last, he would remain in town no longer. You may go now, +thought I, I feel quite safe. + +It was about five days after his departure, as I was sauntering, arm in +arm with the Major, who generally dined with me about five days in the +week, that I perceived the carriage of Lord Windermear, with his +lordship in it. He saw us, and pulling his check-string, alighted, and +coming up to us, with the colour mounting to his forehead with emotion, +returned the salute of the Major and me. + +"Major," said he, "you will excuse me, but I am anxious to have some +conversation with Mr Newland; perhaps," continued his lordship, +addressing me, "you will do me the favour to take a seat in my +carriage?" + +Fully prepared, I lost none of my self-possession, but, thanking his +lordship, I bowed to him, and stepped in. + +His lordship followed, and, saying to the footman, "Home--drive fast," +fell back in the carriage, and never uttered one word until we had +arrived, and had entered the dining-parlour. He then took a few steps up +and down, before he said, "Mr Newland, or whatever your name may be, I +perceive that you consider the possession of an important secret to be +your safeguard. To state my opinion of your conduct is needless; who you +are, and what you are, I know not; but," continued he, no longer +controlling his anger; "you certainly can have no pretensions to the +character of a gentleman." + +"Perhaps your lordship," replied I, calmly, "will inform me upon what +you may ground your inference." + +"Did you not, in the first place, open a letter addressed to another?" + +"My lord, I opened a letter brought to me with the initials of my name, +and at the time I opened it I fully believed that it was intended for +me." + +"We will grant that, sir; but after you had opened it you must have +known that it was for some other person." + +"I will not deny that, my lord." + +"Notwithstanding which, you apply to my lawyer, representing yourself as +another person, to obtain sealed papers." + +"I did, my lord; but allow me to say, that I never should have done so, +had I not been warned by a dream." + +"By a dream?" + +"Yes, my lord. I had determined not to go for them, when in a dream I +was ordered so to do." + +"Paltry excuse! and then you break private seals." + +"Nay, my lord, although I did go for the papers, I could not, even with +the idea of supernatural interposition, make up my mind to break the +seals. If your lordship will recollect, it was you who broke the seals, +and insisted upon my reading the papers." + +"Yes, sir, under your false name." + +"It is the name by which I go at present, although I acknowledge it is +false; but that is not my fault--I have no other at present." + +"It is very true, sir, that in all I have now mentioned, the law will +not reach you; but recollect, that by assuming another person's name--" + +"I never did, my lord," interrupted I. + +"Well, I may say, by inducing me to believe that you were my nephew, you +have obtained money under false pretences; and for that I now have you +in my power." + +"My lord, I never asked you for the money; you yourself paid it into the +banker's hands to my credit, and to my own name. I appeal to you now, +whether, if you so deceived yourself, the law can reach me?" + +"Mr Newland, I will say, that much as I regret what has passed, I regret +more than all the rest, that one so young, so prepossessing, so candid +in appearance, should prove such an adept in deceit. Thinking you were +my nephew, my heart warmed towards you, and I must confess, that since I +have seen my real nephew, the mortification has been very great." + +"My lord, I thank you; but allow me to observe, that I am no swindler. +Your thousand pounds you will find safe in the bank, for penury would +not have induced me to touch it. But now that your lordship appears more +cool, will you do me the favour to listen to me? When you have heard my +life up to the present, and my motives for what I have done, you will +then decide how far I am to blame." + +His lordship took a chair, and motioned to me to take another. I +narrated what had occurred when I was left at the Foundling, and gave +him a succinct account of my adventures subsequently--my determination +to find my father--the dream which induced me to go for the papers--and +all that the reader has already been acquainted with. His lordship +evidently perceived the monomania which controlled me, and heard me with +great attention. + +"You certainly, Mr Newland, do not stand so low in my opinion as you did +before this explanation, and I must make allowances for the excitement +under which I perceive you to labour on one subject; but now, sir, allow +me to put one question, and I beg that you will answer candidly. What +price do you demand for your secrecy on this important subject?" + +"My lord!" replied I, rising with dignity; "this is the greatest affront +you have put upon me yet; still I will name the price by which I will +solemnly bind myself, by all my future hopes of finding my father in +this world, and of finding an eternal Father in the next, and that +price, my lord, is a return of your good opinion." + +His lordship also rose, and walked up and down the room with much +agitation in his manner. "What am I to make of you, Mr Newland?" + +"My lord, if I were a swindler, I should have taken your money; if I had +wished to avail myself of the secret, I might have escaped with all the +documents, and made my own terms. I am, my lord, nothing more than an +abandoned child, trying all he can to find his father" My feelings +overpowered me, and I burst into tears. As soon as I could recover +myself, I addressed his lordship, who had been watching me in silence, +and not without emotion. "I have one thing more to say to you, my lord." +I then mentioned the conversation between Mr Estcourt and myself, and +pointed out the propriety of not making him a party to the important +secret. + +His lordship allowed me to proceed without interruption, and after a few +moments' thought said, "I believe that you are right, Mr Newland; and I +now begin to think that it was better that this secret should have been +entrusted to you than to him. You have now conferred an obligation on +me, and may command me. I believe you to be honest, but a little mad, +and I beg your pardon for the pain which I have occasioned you." + +"My lord, I am more than satisfied." + +"Can I be of any assistance to you, Mr Newland?" + +"If, my lord, you could at all assist me, or direct me in my search--" + +"There I am afraid I can be of little use; but I will give you the means +of prosecuting your search, and in so doing, I am doing but an act of +justice, for in introducing you to Major Carbonnell, I am aware that I +must have very much increased your expenses. It was an error which must +be repaired, and therefore, Mr Newland, I beg you will consider the +money at the bank as yours, and make use of it to enable you to obtain +your ardent wish." + +"My lord--" + +"I will not be denied, Mr Newland; and if you feel any delicacy on the +subject, you may take it as a loan, to be repaid when you find it +convenient. Do not, for a moment, consider that it is given to you +because you possess an important secret, for I will trust entirely to +your honour on that score." + +"Indeed, my lord," replied I, "your kindness overwhelms me, and I feel +as if, in you, I had already _almost_ found a father. Excuse me, my +lord, but did your lordship ever--ever--" + +"I know what you would say, my poor fellow: no, I never did. I never was +blessed with children. Had I been, I should not have felt that I was +disgraced by having one resembling you. Allow me to entreat you, Mr +Newland, that you do not suffer the mystery of your birth to weigh so +heavily on your mind; and now I wish you good morning, and if you think +I can be useful to you, I beg that you will not fail to let me know." + +"May Heaven pour down blessings on your head," replied I, kissing +respectfully his lordship's hand; "and may my father, when I find him, +be as like unto you as possible." I made my obeisance, and quitted the +house. + + + + +Chapter XXIII + + The Major prevents the landlord from imposing on me, but I gain + nothing by his interference--For economical reasons I agree to live + with him that he may live on me. + + +I returned to the hotel, for my mind had been much agitated, and I +wished for quiet, and the friendship of Timothy. As soon as I arrived I +told him all that had passed. + +"Indeed," replied Timothy, "things do now wear a pleasant aspect; for I +am afraid, that without that thousand, we could not have carried on for +a fortnight longer. The bill here is very heavy, and I'm sure the +landlord wishes to see the colour of his money." + +"How much do you think we have left? It is high time, Timothy, that we +now make up our accounts, and arrange some plans for the future," +replied I. "I have paid the jeweller and the tailor, by the advice of +the Major, who says, that you should always pay your _first bills_ as +soon as possible, and all your subsequent bills as late as possible; and +if put off _sine die_, so much the better. In fact, I owe very little +now, but the bill here, I will send for it to-night." + +Here we were interrupted by the entrance of the landlord. "O Mr Wallace, +you are the very person I wished to see; let me have my bill, if you +please." + +"It's not of the least consequence, sir," replied he; "but if you wish +it, I have posted down to yesterday," and the landlord left the room. + +"You were both of one mind, at all events," said Timothy, laughing; "for +he had the bill in his hand, and concealed it the moment you asked for +it." + +In about ten minutes the landlord re-appeared, and presenting the bill +upon a salver, made his bow and retired. I looked it over, it amounted +to £104, which, for little more than three weeks, was pretty well. +Timothy shrugged up his shoulders, while I ran over the items. "I do not +see that there is anything to complain of, Tim," observed I, when I came +to the bottom of it; "but I do see that living here, with the Major +keeping me an open house, will never do. Let us see how much money we +have left." + +Tim brought the dressing-case in which our cash was deposited, and we +found, that after paying the waiters, and a few small bills not yet +liquidated, our whole stock was reduced to fifty shillings. + +"Merciful Heaven! what an escape," cried Timothy; "if it had not been +for this new supply, what should we have done?" + +"Very badly, Timothy; but the money is well spent, after all. I have now +entrance into the first circles. I can do without Major Carbonnell; at +all events, I shall quit this hotel, and take furnished apartments, and +live at the clubs. I know how to put him off." + +I laid the money on the salver, and desired Timothy to ring for the +landlord, when who should come up but the Major and Harcourt. "Why, +Newland! what are you going to do with that money?" said the Major. + +"I am paying my bill, Major." + +"Paying your bill, indeed; let us see--£104. O this is a confounded +imposition. You mustn't pay this." At this moment the landlord entered. +"Mr Wallace," said the Major, "my friend Mr Newland was about, as you +may see, to pay you the whole of your demand; but allow me to observe, +that being my very particular friend, and the Piazza having been +particularly recommended by me, I do think that your charges are +somewhat exorbitant. I shall certainly advise Mr Newland to leave the +house to-morrow, if you are not more reasonable." + +"Allow me to observe, Major, that my reason for sending for my bill, was +to pay it before I went into the country, which I must do to-morrow, for +a few days." + +"Then I shall certainly recommend Mr Newland not to come here when he +returns, Mr Wallace, for I hold myself, to a certain degree, after the +many dinners we have ordered here, and of which I have partaken, as I +may say, _particeps criminis_, or in other words, as having been a party +to this extortion. Indeed, Mr Wallace, some reduction must be made, or +you will greatly hurt the credit of your house." + +Mr Wallace declared, that really he had made nothing but the usual +charges; that he would look over the bill again, and see what he could +do. + +"My dear Newland," said the Major, "I have ordered your dinners, allow +me to settle your bill. Now, Mr Wallace, suppose we take off +_one-third_?" + +"One-_third_, Major Carbonnell! I should be a loser." + +"I am not exactly of your opinion; but let me see--now take your choice. +Take off £20, or you lose my patronage, and that of all my friends. Yes +or no?" + +The landlord, with some expostulation, at last consented, he receipted +the bill, and leaving £20 of the money on the salver, made his bow, and +retired. + +"Rather fortunate that I supped in, my dear Newland; now there are £20 +saved. By-the-bye, I'm short of cash. You've no objection to let me have +this? I shall never pay you, you know." + +"I do know you _never_ will pay me, Major; nevertheless, as I should +have paid it to the landlord had you not interfered, I will lend it to +you." + +"You are a good fellow, Newland," said the Major, pocketing the money. +"If I had borrowed it, and you had thought you would have had it repaid, +I should not have thanked you; but as you lend it me with your eyes +open, it is nothing more than a very delicate manner of obliging me, +and I tell you candidly, that I will not forget it. So you really are +off to-morrow?" + +"Yes," replied I, "I must go, for I find that I am not to make ducks and +drakes of my money, until I come into possession of my property." + +"I see, my dear fellow. Executors are the very devil; they have no +feeling. Never mind; there's a way of getting to windward of them. I +dine with Harcourt, and he has come to ask you to join us." + +"With pleasure." + +"I shall expect you at seven, Newland," said Harcourt, as he quitted the +room with the Major. + +"Dear me, sir, how could you let that gentleman walk off with your +money?" cried Timothy. "I was just rubbing my hands with the idea that +we were £20 better off than we thought, and away it went, like smoke." + +"And will never come back again, Tim; but never mind that, it is +important that I make a friend of him, and his friendship is only to be +bought. I shall have value received. And now, Tim, we must pack up, for +I leave this to-morrow morning. I shall go down to ----, and see little +Fleta." + +I dined with Harcourt. The Major was rather curious to know what it was +which appeared to flurry Lord Windermear, and what had passed between +us. I told him that his lordship was displeased on money matters, but +that all was right, only that I must be more careful for the future. +"Indeed, Major, I think I shall take lodgings. I shall be more +comfortable, and better able to receive my friends." + +Harcourt agreed with me, that it was a much better plan, when the Major +observed, "Why, Newland, I have a room quite at your service; suppose +you come and live with me?" + +"I am afraid I shall not save by that," replied I, laughing, "for you +will not pay your share of the bills." + +"No, upon my honour I will not; so I give you fair warning; but as I +always dine with you when I do not dine elsewhere, it will be a saving +to you--for you will _have your lodgings_, Newland; and you know the +house is my own, and I let off the rest of it; so as far as that bill is +concerned, you will be safe." + +"Make the best bargain you can, Newland," said Harcourt; "accept his +offer, for depend upon it, it will be a saving in the end." + +"It certainly deserves consideration," replied I; "and the Major's +company must be allowed to have its due weight in the scale; if +Carbonnell will promise to be a little more economical--" + +"I will, my dear fellow--I will act as your steward, and make your money +last as long as I can, for my _own sake_, as well as yours. Is it a +bargain? I have plenty of room for your servant, and if he will assist +me a little, I will discharge my own." I then consented to the +arrangement. + + + + +Chapter XXIV + + The Major teaches me how to play Whist, so as never to lose, which + is by playing against each other, and into each other's hands. + + +The next day I went to the banker's, drew out £150, and set off with +Timothy for ----. Fleta threw herself into my arms, and sobbed with joy. +When I told her Timothy was outside, and wished to see her, she asked +why he did not come in; and, to show how much she had been accustomed to +see, without making remarks, when he made his appearance in his livery, +she did not, by her countenance, express the least surprise, nor, +indeed, did she put any questions to me on the subject. The lady who +kept the school praised her very much for docility and attention, and +shortly after left the room. Fleta then took the chain from around her +neck into her hand, and told me that she did recollect something about +it, which was, that the lady whom she remembered, wore a long pair of +ear-rings, of the same make and materials. She could not, however, call +to mind anything else. I remained with the little girl for three hours, +and then returned to London--taking my luggage from the hotel, and +installed myself into the apartments of Major Carbonnell. + +The Major adhered to his promise; we certainly lived well, for he could +not live otherwise; but in every other point, he was very careful not to +add to expense. The season was now over, and everybody of consequence +quitted the metropolis. To remain in town would be to lose caste, and we +had a conference where we should proceed. + +"Newland," said the Major, "you have created a sensation this season, +which has done great honour to my patronage; but I trust, next spring, +that I shall see you form a good alliance; for, believe me, out of the +many heartless beings we have mingled with, there are still not only +daughters, but mothers, who are not influenced by base and sordid +views." + +"Why, Carbonnell, I never heard you venture upon so long a moral speech +before." + +"True, Newland, and it may be a long while before I do so again; the +world is my oyster, which I must open, that I may live; but recollect, I +am only trying to recover my own, which the world has swindled me out +of. There was a time when I was even more disinterested, more confiding, +and more innocent than you were when I first took you in hand. I +suffered, and was ruined by my good qualities; and I now live and do +well by having discarded them. We must fight the world with its own +weapons; but still, as I said before, there is some good in it, some +pure ore amongst the dross; and it is possible to find high rank and +large fortune, and at the same time an innocent mind. If you do marry, I +will try hard but you shall possess both; not that fortune can be of +much consequence to you." + +"Depend upon it, Carbonnell, I never will marry without fortune." + +"I did not know that I had schooled you so well; be it so--it is but +fair that you should expect it; and it shall be an item in the match, if +I have anything to do with it." + +"But why are you so anxious that I should marry, Carbonnell?" + +"Because I think you will, in all probability, avoid the gaming-table, +which I should have taken you to myself had you been in possession of +your fortune when I first knew you, and have had my share of your +plucking; but now I do know you, I have that affection for you that I +think it better you should not lose your all; for observe, Newland, my +share of your spoliation would not be more than what I have, and may +still receive, from you; and if you marry and settle down, there will +always be a good house and a good table for me, as long as I find favour +with your wife; and, at all events, a friend in need, that I feel +convinced of. So now you have my reasons; some smack of the +disinterestedness of former days, others of my present worldliness; you +may believe which you please." And the Major laughed as he finished his +speech. + +"Carbonnell," replied I, "I will believe that the better feelings +predominate--that the world has made you what you are; and that had you +not been ruined by the world, you would have been disinterested and +generous; even now, your real nature often gains the ascendency, and I +am sure that in all that you have done, which is not defensible, your +poverty, and not your will, has consented. Now, blunted by habit and +time, the suggestion of conscience do not often give you any +uneasiness." + +"You are very right, my dear fellow," replied the Major; "and in having +a better opinion of me than the world in general, you do me, I trust, no +more than justice. I will not squander your fortune, when you come to +it, if I can help it; and you'll allow that's a very handsome promise on +my part." + +"I'll defy you to squander my fortune," replied I, laughing. + +"Nay, don't defy me, Newland, for if you do, you'll put me on my +mettle. Above all, don't lay me a bet, for that will be still more +dangerous. We have only spent about four hundred of the thousand since +we have lived together, which I consider highly economical. What do you +say, shall we go to Cheltenham? You will find plenty of Irish girls, +looking out for husbands, who will give you a warm reception." + +"I hate your fortune and establishment hunters," replied I. + +"I grant that they are looking out for a good match, so are all the +world; but let me do them justice. Although, if you proposed, in three +days they would accept you; yet once married, they make the very best +wives in the world. But recollect we must go somewhere; and I think +Cheltenham is as good a place as any other. I do not mean for a wife, +but--it will suit my own views." + +This last observation decided me, and in a few days we were at +Cheltenham; and having made our appearance at the rooms, were soon in +the vortex of society. "Newland," said Carbonnell, "I dare say you find +time hang rather heavy in this monotonous place." + +"Not at all," replied I; "what with dining out, dancing, and +promenading, I do very well." + +"But we must do better. Tell me, are you a good hand at whist?" + +"Not by any means. Indeed, I hardly know the game." + +"It is a fashionable and necessary accomplishment. I must make you +master of it, and our mornings shall be dedicated to the work." + +"Agreed," replied I; and from that day, every morning after breakfast +till four o'clock, the Major and I were shut up, playing two dummies +under his instruction. Adept as he was, I very soon learnt all the +finesse and beauty of the game. + +"You will do now, Newland," said the Major one morning, tossing the +cards away. "Recollect, if you are asked to play, and I have agreed, do +not refuse; but we must always play against each other." + +"I don't see what we shall gain by that," replied I; "for if I win, +you'll lose." + +"Never do you mind that; only follow my injunctions, and play as high as +they choose. We only stay here three weeks longer, and must make the +most of our time." + +I confess I was quite puzzled at what might be the major's intentions; +but that night we sauntered into the club. Not having made our +appearance before, we were considered as new hands by those who did not +know the Major, and were immediately requested to make up a game. "Upon +my word, gentlemen, in the first place, I play very badly," replied the +Major; "and in the next," continued he, laughing, "if I lose, I never +shall pay you, for I'm cleaned out." + +The way in which the Major said this only excited a smile; he was not +believed, and I was also requested to take a hand. "I'll not play with +the Major," observed I, "for he plays badly, and has bad luck into the +bargain; I might as well lay my money down on the table." + +This was agreed to by the other parties, and we sat down. The first +rubber of short whist was won by the Major and his partner; with the +bets it amounted to eighteen pounds. I pulled out my purse to pay the +Major; but he refused, saying, "No, Newland, pay my partner; and with +you, sir," said he, addressing my partner, "I will allow the debt to +remain until we rise from the table. Newland, we are not going to let +you off yet, I can tell you." + +I paid my eighteen pounds, and we recommenced. Although his partner did +not perhaps observe it, for he was but an indifferent player, or if he +did observe it, had the politeness not to say anything, the Major now +played very badly. He lost three rubbers one after another, and, with +bets and stakes, they amounted to one hundred and forty pounds. At the +end of the last rubber he threw up the cards, exclaiming against his +luck, and declaring that he would play no more. "How are we now, sir?" +said he to my partner. + +"You owed me, I think, eighteen pounds." + +"Eighteen from one hundred and forty, leaves one hundred and twenty-two +pounds, which I now owe you. You must, I'm afraid, allow me to be your +debtor," continued the Major, in a most insinuating manner. "I did not +come here with the intention of playing. I presume I shall find you here +to-morrow night." + +The gentleman bowed, and appeared quite satisfied. Major Carbonnell's +partner paid me one hundred and forty pounds, which I put in my +pocket-book, and we quitted the club. + + + + +Chapter XXV + + We fund our winnings, and consider to refund, a work of + supererogation--In looking after my father, I obey the old adage, + "Follow your nose." + + +As soon as we were in the street, I commenced an inquiry as to the +Major's motives. "Not one word, my dear fellow, until we are at home," +replied he. As soon as we arrived, he threw himself in a chair, and +crossing his legs, commenced: "You observe, Newland, that I am very +careful that you should do nothing to injure your character. As for my +own, all the honesty in the world will not redeem it; nothing but a +peerage will ever set me right again in this world, and a coronet will +cover a multitude of sins. I have thought it my duty to add something to +our finances, and intend to add very considerably to them before we +leave Cheltenham. You have won one hundred and twenty-eight pounds." + +"Yes," replied I; "but you have lost it." + +"Granted; but, as in most cases, I never mean _to pay_ my losses, you +see that it must be a winning speculation as long as we play against +each other." + +"I perceive," replied I; "but am not I a confederate?" + +"No; you paid when you lost, and took your money when you won. Leave me +to settle my own debts of honour." + +"But you will meet him again to-morrow night." + +"Yes, and I will tell you why. I never thought it possible that we could +have met two such bad players at the club. We must now play against +them, and we must win in the long run: by which means I shall pay off +the debt I owe him, and you will win and pocket money." + +"Ah," replied I, "if you mean to allow him a chance for his money, I +have no objection--that will be all fair." + +"Depend upon it, Newland, when I know that people play as badly as they +do, I will not refuse them; but when we sit down with others, it must be +as it was before--we must play against each other, and I shall owe the +money. I told the fellow that I never would pay him." + +"Yes; but he thought you were only joking." + +"That is his fault--I was in earnest. I could not have managed this had +it not been that you are known to be a young man of ten thousand pounds +per annum, and supposed to be my dupe. I tell you so candidly; and now +good-night." + +I turned the affair over in my mind as I undressed--it was not +honest--but I paid when I lost, and I only took the money when I +won,--still I did not like it; but the bank notes caught my eye as they +lay on the table, and--I was satisfied. Alas! how easy are scruples +removed when we want money! How many are there who, when in a state of +prosperity and affluence, when not tried by temptation, would have +blushed at the bare idea of a dishonest action, have raised and held up +their hands in abhorrence, when they have heard that others have been +found guilty; and yet, when in adversity, have themselves committed the +very acts which before they so loudly condemned! How many of the other +sex, who have expressed their indignation and contempt at those who have +fallen, when tempted, have fallen themselves! Let us therefore be +charitable; none of us can tell to what we may be reduced by +circumstances; and when we acknowledge that the error is great, let us +feel sorrow and pity rather than indignation, and pray that we also may +not be "_led into temptation_" + +As agreed upon, the next evening we repaired to the club, and found the +two gentlemen ready to receive us. This time the Major refused to play +unless it was with me, as I had such good fortune, and no difficulty was +made by our opponents. We sat down and played till four o'clock in the +morning. At first, notwithstanding our good play, fortune favoured our +adversaries; but the luck soon changed, and the result of the evening +was, that the Major had a balance in his favour of forty pounds, and I +rose a winner of one hundred and seventy-one pounds, so that in two +nights we had won three hundred and forty-two pounds. For nearly three +weeks this continued, the Major not paying when not convenient, and we +quitted Cheltenham with about eight hundred pounds in our pockets; the +Major having paid about one hundred and twenty pounds to different +people who frequented the club; but they were Irishmen, who were not to +be trifled with. I proposed to the Major that we should pay those debts, +as there still would be a large surplus: he replied, "Give me the +money." I did so. "Now," continued he, "so far your scruples are +removed, as you will have been strictly honest; but, my dear fellow, if +you know how many debts of this sort are due to me, of which I never did +touch one farthing, you would feel as I do--that it is excessively +foolish to _part with money_. I have them all booked here, and may some +day pay--when convenient; but, at present, most decidedly it is not so." +The Major put the notes into his pocket, and the conversation was +dropped. + +The next morning we had ordered our horses, when Timothy came up to me, +and made a sign, as we were at breakfast, for me to come out. I followed +him. + +"Oh! sir, I could not help telling you, but there is a gentleman with--" + +"With what?" replied I, hastily. + +"With your nose, sir, exactly--and in other respects very like you--just +about the age your father should be." + +"Where is he, Timothy?" replied I, all my feelings in 'search of my +father,' rushing into my mind. + +"Down below, sir, about to set off in a post-chaise and four, now waiting +at the door." + +I ran down with my breakfast napkin in my hand, and hastened to the +portico of the hotel--he was in his carriage, and the porter was then +shutting the door. I looked at him. He was, as Timothy said, _very like_ +me indeed, the _nose_ exact. I was breathless, and I continued to gaze. + +"All right," cried the ostler. + +"I beg your pardon, sir,--" said I, addressing the gentleman in the +carriage, who perceiving a napkin in my hand, probably took me for one +of the waiters, for he replied very abruptly, 'I have remembered you;' +and pulling up the glass, away whirled the chariot, the nave of the hind +wheel striking me a blow on the thigh which numbed it so, that it was +with difficulty I could limp up to our apartments, when I threw myself +on the sofa in a state of madness and despair. + +"Good heavens, Newland, what is the matter?" cried the Major. + +"Matter," replied I, faintly. "I have seen my father." + +"Your father, Newland? you must be mad. He was dead before you could +recollect him--at least so you told me. How then, even if it were his +ghost, could you have recognised him?" + +The Major's remarks reminded me of the imprudence I had been guilty of. + +"Major," replied I, "I believe I am very absurd; but he was so like me, +and I have so often longed after my father, so long wished to see him +face to face--that--that--I'm a great fool, that's the fact." + +"You must go to the next world, my good fellow, to meet him face to +face, that's clear; and I presume, upon a little consideration, you will +feel inclined to postpone your journey. Very often in your sleep I have +heard you talk about your father, and wondered why you should think so +much about him." + +"I cannot help it," replied I. "From my earliest days my father has ever +been in my thoughts." + +"I can only say, that very few sons are half so dutiful to their +fathers' memories--but finish your breakfast, and then we start for +London." + +I complied with his request as well as I could, and we were soon on our +road. I fell into a reverie--my object was to again find out this +person, and I quietly directed Timothy to ascertain from the post-boys +the directions he gave at the last stage. The Major perceiving me not +inclined to talk, made but few observations; one, however struck me. +"Windermear," said he, "I recollect one day, when I was praising you, +said carelessly, 'that you were a fine young man, but a _little tête +montée_ upon one point.' I see now it must have been upon this." I made +no reply, but it certainly was a strange circumstance that the Major +never had any suspicions on this point--yet he certainly never had. We +had once or twice talked over my affairs. I had led him to suppose that +my father and mother died in my infancy, and that I should have had a +large fortune when I came of age; but this had been entirely by indirect +replies, not by positive assertions; the fact was, that the Major, who +was an adept in all deceit, never had an idea that he could have been +deceived by one so young, so prepossessing, and apparently so ingenuous +as myself. He had, in fact, deceived himself. His ideas of my fortune +arose entirely from my asking him, whether he would have refused the +name of _Japhet_ for ten thousand pounds per annum. Lord Windermear, +after having introduced me, did not consider it at all necessary to +acquaint the Major with my real history, as it was imparted to him in +confidence. He allowed matters to take their course, and me to work my +own way in the world. Thus do the most cunning overreach themselves, and +with their eyes open to any deceit on the part of others, prove quite +blind when they deceive themselves. + +Timothy could not obtain any intelligence from the people of the inn at +the last stage, except that the chariot had proceeded to London. We +arrived late at night, and, much exhausted, I was glad to go to bed. + + + + +Chapter XXVI + + In following my nose, I narrowly escaped being _nosed_ by a Beak. + + +And as I lay in my bed, thinking that I was now nearly twenty years old, +and had not yet made any discovery, my heart sank within me. My +monomania returned with redoubled force, and I resolved to renew my +search with vigour. So I told Timothy the next morning, when he came +into my room, but from him I received little consolation; he advised me +to look out for a good match in a rich wife, and leave time to develop +the mystery of my birth; pointing out the little chance I ever had of +success. + +Town was not full, the season had hardly commenced, and we had few +invitations or visits to distract my thoughts from their object. My leg +became so painful, that for a week I was on the sofa, Timothy every day +going out to ascertain if he could find the person whom we had seen +resembling me, and every evening returning without success, I became +melancholy and nervous. Carbonnell could not imagine what was the matter +with me. At last I was able to walk, and I sallied forth, perambulating, +or rather running through street after street, looking into every +carriage, so as to occasion surprise to the occupants, who believed me +mad; my dress and person were disordered, for I had become indifferent +to it, and Timothy himself believed that I was going out of my senses. + +At last, after we had been in town about five weeks, I saw the very +object of my search, seated in a carriage, of a dark brown colour, arms +painted in shades, so as not to be distinguishable but at a near +approach; his hat was off, and he sat upright and formally. "That is +he!" ejaculated I, and away I ran after the carriage. "It is the nose," +cried I, as I ran down the street, knocking every one to the right and +left. I lost my hat, but fearful of losing sight of the carriage, I +hastened on, when I heard a cry of "Stop him, stop him!" "Stop him," +cried I, also, referring to the gentleman in black in the carriage. + +"That won't do," cried a man, seizing me by the collar; "I know a trick +worth two of that." + +"Let me go," roared I, struggling; but he only held me the faster. I +tussled with the man until my coat and shirt were torn, but in vain; the +crowd now assembled, and I was fast. The fact was, that a pickpocket had +been exercising his vocation at the time that I was running past, and +from my haste, and loss of my hat, I was supposed to be the criminal. +The police took charge of me--I pleaded innocence in vain, and I was +dragged before the magistrate, at Marlborough Street. My appearance, the +disorder of my dress, my coat and shirt in ribbons, with no hat, were +certainly not at all in my favour, when I made my appearance, led in by +two Bow Street officers. + +"Whom have we here?" inquired the magistrate. + +"A pickpocket, sir," replied they. + +"Ah! one of the swell mob," replied he. "Are there any witnesses?" + +"Yes, sir," replied a young man, coming forward. "I was walking up Bond +Street, when I felt a tug at my pocket, and when I turned round, this +chap was running away." + +"Can you swear to his person?" + +There were plenty to swear that I was the person who ran away. + +"Now, sir, have you anything to offer in your defence?" said the +magistrate. + +"Yes, sir," replied I; "I certainly was running down the street; and it +may be, for all I know or care, that this person's pocket may have been +picked--but I did not pick it. I am a gentleman." + +"All your fraternity lay claim to gentility," replied the magistrate; +"perhaps you will state why you were running down the street." + +"I was running after a carriage, sir, that I might speak to the person +inside of it." + +"Pray who was the person inside?" + +"I do not know, sir." + +"Why should you run after a person you do not know." + +"It was because of his _nose_." + +"His _nose_?" replied the magistrate, angrily. "Do you think to trifle +with me, sir? You shall now follow your own nose to prison. Make out his +committal." + +"As you please, sir," replied I; "but still I have told you the truth; +if you will allow any one to take a note, I will soon prove my +respectability. I ask it in common justice." + +"Be it so," replied the magistrate; "let him sit down within the bar +till the answer comes." + +In less than an hour, my note to Major Carbonnell was answered by his +appearance in person, followed by Timothy. Carbonnell walked up to the +magistrate, while Timothy asked the officers in an angry tone, what they +had been doing to his _master_. This rather startled them, but both they +and the magistrate were much surprised when the Major asserted that I +was his most particular friend, Mr Newland, who possessed ten thousand +pounds per annum, and who was as well known in fashionable society, as +any young man of fortune about town. The magistrate explained what had +passed, and asked the Major if I was not a little deranged; but the +Major, who perceived what was the cause of my strange behaviour, told +him that somebody had insulted me, and that I was very anxious to lay +hold of the person, who had avoided me, and who must have been in that +carriage. + +"I am afraid, that after your explanation, Major Carbonnell, I must, as +a magistrate, bind over your friend, Mr Newland, to keep the peace." + +To this I consented, the Major and Timothy being taken as +recognisances, and then I was permitted to depart. The Major sent for a +hackney coach, and when we were going home he pointed out to me the +folly of my conduct, and received my promise to be more careful for the +future. Thus did this affair end, and for a short time I was more +careful in my appearance, and not so very anxious to look into +carriages; still, however, the idea haunted me, and I was often very +melancholy. It was about a month afterwards, that I was sauntering with +the Major, who now considered me to be insane upon that point, and who +would seldom allow me to go out without him, when I again perceived the +same carriage, with the gentleman inside as before. + +"There he is, Major," cried I. + +"There is who?" replied he. + +"The man so like my father." + +"What, in that carriage? that is the Bishop of E----, my good fellow. +What a strange idea you have in your head, Newland; it almost amounts to +madness. Do not be staring in that way--come along." + +Still my head was turned quite round, looking at the carriage after it +had passed, till it was out of sight; but I knew who the party was, and +for the time I was satisfied, as I determined to find out his address, +and call upon him. I narrated to Timothy what had occurred, and +referring to the Red Book, I looked out the bishop's town address, and +the next day, after breakfast, having arranged my toilet with the utmost +precision, I made an excuse to the Major, and set off to Portland Place. + + + + +Chapter XXVII + + A Chapter of Mistakes--No benefit of Clergy--I attack a Bishop, and + am beaten off--The Major hedges upon the filly stakes. + + +My hand trembled as I knocked at the door. It was opened. I sent in my +card, requesting the honour of an audience with his lordship. After +waiting a few minutes in an ante-room, I was ushered in. "My lord," said +I, in a flurried manner, "will you allow me to have a few minutes' +conversation with you alone?" + +"This gentleman is my secretary, sir, but if you wish it, certainly, for +although he is my confidant, I have no right to insist that he shall be +yours. Mr Temple, will you oblige me by going up stairs for a little +while." + +The secretary quitted the room, the bishop pointed to a chair, and I sat +down. I looked him earnestly in the face--the nose was exact, and I +imagined that even in the other features I could distinguish a +resemblance. I was satisfied that I had a last gained the object of my +search. "I believe, sir," observed I, "that you will acknowledge, that +in the heat and impetuosity of youth, we often rush into hasty and +improvident connections." + +I paused, with my eyes fixed upon his. "Very true, my young sir; and +when we do we are ashamed, and repent of them afterwards," replied the +bishop, rather astonished. + +"I grant that, sir," replied I, "but at the same time, we must feel that +we must abide by the results, however unpleasant." + +"When we do wrong, Mr Newland," replied the bishop, first looking at my +card, and then upon me, "we find that we are not only to be punished in +the next world, but suffer for it also in this. I trust you have no +reason for such suffering?" + +"Unfortunately, the sins of the fathers are visited upon the children, +and, in that view, I may say that I have suffered." + +"My dear sir," replied the bishop, "I trust you will excuse me, when I +say, that my time is rather valuable; if you have anything of importance +to communicate--anything upon which you would ask my advice--for +assistance you do not appear to require, do me the favour to proceed at +once to the point." + +"I will, sir, be as concise as the matter will admit of. Allow me, +then, to ask you a few questions, and I trust to your honour, and the +dignity of your profession, for a candid answer. Did you not marry a +young woman early in life? and were you not very much pressed in your +circumstances?" + +The bishop stared. "Really, Mr Newland, it is a strange question, and I +cannot imagine to what it may lead, but still I will answer it. I did +marry early in life, and I was, at that time, not in very affluent +circumstances." + +"You had a child by that marriage--your eldest born--a boy!" + +"That is also true, Mr Newland," replied the bishop, gravely. + +"How long is it since you have seen him?" + +"It is many years," replied the bishop, putting his handkerchief up to +his eyes. + +"Answer me, now, sir;--did you not desert him?" + +"No, no!" replied the bishop. "It is strange that you should appear to +know so much about the matter, Mr Newland, as you could have hardly been +born. I was poor then--very poor; but although I could ill afford it, he +had fifty pounds from me." + +"But, sir," replied I, much agitated; "why have you not reclaimed him?" + +"I would have reclaimed him, Mr Newland--but what could I do--he was not +to be reclaimed; and now--he is lost for ever." + +"Surely, sir, in your present affluence, you must wish to see him +again?" + +"He died, and I trust he has gone to heaven," replied the bishop, +covering up his face. + +"No, sir," replied I, throwing myself on my knees before him, "he did +not die, here he is at your feet, to ask your blessing." + +The bishop sprang from his chair. "What does this mean, sir?" said he, +with astonishment. "You my son!" + +"Yes, reverend father--your son; who, with fifty pounds you left--" + +"On the top of the Portsmouth coach!" + +"No, sir, in the _basket_." + +"My son! sir,--impossible; he died in the hospital." + +"No, sir, he has come out of the _hospital_," replied I; "and as you +perceive, safe and well." + +"Either, sir, this must be some strange mistake, or you must be trifling +with me," replied his lordship; "for, sir, I was at his death-bed, and +followed him to his grave." + +"Are you sure of that, sir?" replied I, starting up with amazement. + +"I wish that I was not, sir--for I am now childless; but pray, sir, who, +and what are you, who know so much of my former life, and who would have +thus imposed upon me?" + +"Imposed upon you, sir!" replied I, perceiving that I was in error. +"Alas! I would do no such thing. Who am I? I am a young man who is in +search of his father. Your face, and especially your nose, so resembled +mine, that I made sure that I had succeeded. Pity me, sir--pity me," +continued I, covering up my face with my hands. + +The bishop, perceiving that there was little of the impostor in my +appearance, and that I was much affected, allowed a short time for me to +recover myself, and then entered into an explanation. When a curate, he +had had an only son, very wild, who would go to sea in spite of his +remonstrances. He saw him depart by the Portsmouth coach, and gave him +the sum mentioned. His son received a mortal wound in action, and was +sent to the Plymouth hospital, where he died. I then entered into my +explanation in a few concise sentences, and with a heart beating with +disappointment, took my leave. The bishop shook hands with me as I +quitted the room, and wished me better success at my next application. + +I went home almost in despair. Timothy consoled me as well as he could, +and advised me to go as much as possible into society, as the most +likely chance of obtaining my wish, not that he considered there was any +chance, but he thought that amusement would restore me to my usual +spirits. "I will go and visit little Fleta," replied I, "for a few +days; the sight of her will do me more good than anything else." And the +next day I set off for the town of ----, where I found the dear little +girl, much grown, and much improved. I remained with her for a week, +walking with her in the country, amusing her, and amused myself with our +conversation. At the close of the week I bade her farewell, and returned +to the Major's lodgings. + +I was astonished to find him in deep mourning. "My dear Carbonnell," +said I, inquiringly, "I hope no severe loss?" + +"Nay, my dear Newland, I should be a hypocrite if I said so; for there +never was a more merry mourner, and that's the truth of it. Mr M----, +who, you know, stood between me and the peerage, has been drowned in the +Rhone; I now have a squeak for it. His wife has one daughter, and is +_enceinte_. Should the child prove a boy, I am done for, but if a girl, +I must then come in to the barony, and fifteen thousand pounds per +annum. However, I've hedged pretty handsomely." + +"How do you mean?" + +"Why they say that when a woman commences with girls, she generally goes +on, and the odds are two to one that Mrs M---- has a girl. I have taken +the odds at the clubs to the amount of fifteen thousand pounds; so if it +be a girl I shall have to pay that out of my fifteen thousand pounds per +annum, as soon as I fall into it; if it be a boy, and I am floored, I +shall pocket thirty thousand pounds by way of consolation for the +disappointment. They are all good men." + +"Yes, but they know you never pay." + +"They know I never do now, because I have no money; but they know I will +pay if I come into the estate; and so I will, most honourably, besides a +few more thousands that I have in my book." + +"I congratulate you, with all my heart, Major. How old is the present +Lord B----?" + +"I have just been examining the peerage--he is sixtytwo; but he is very +fresh and hearty, and may live a long while yet. By-the-bye, Newland, I +committed a great error last night at the club. I played pretty high, +and lost a great deal of money." + +"That is unfortunate." + +"That was not the error; I actually paid all my losings, Newland, and it +has reduced the stock amazingly. I lost seven hundred and fifty pounds. +I know I ought not to have paid away your money, but the fact was, as I +was hedging, it would not do not to have paid, as I could not have made +up my book as I wished. It is, however, only waiting a few weeks, till +Mrs M---- decides my fate, and then, either one way or the other, I +shall have money enough. If your people won't give you any more till you +are of age, why we must send to a little friend of mine, that's all, and +you shall borrow for both of us." + +"Borrow!" replied I, not much liking the idea; "they will never lend me +money." + +"Won't they?" replied the Major; "no fear of that. Your signature, and +my introduction, will be quite sufficient." + +"We had better try to do without it, Major; I do not much like it." + +"Well, if we can, we will; but I have not fifty pounds left in my desk; +how much have you?" + +"About twenty," replied I, in despair at this intelligence; "but I think +there is a small sum left at the banker's; I will go and see." I took up +my hat and set off, to ascertain what funds we might have in store. + + + + +Chapter XXVIII + + I am over head and ears in trouble about a lady's ear-rings; commit + myself sadly, and am very nearly committed. + + +I must say, that I was much annoyed at this intelligence. The +money-lenders would not be satisfied unless they knew where my estates +were, and had examined the will at Doctors' Commons; then all would be +exposed to the Major, and I should be considered by him as an impostor. +I walked down Pall Mall in a very unhappy mood, so deep in thought, that +I ran against a lady, who was stepping out of her carriage at a +fashionable shop. She turned round, and I was making my best apologies +to a very handsome woman when her ear-rings caught my attention. They +were of alternate coral and gold, and the fac-simile in make to the +chain given by Nattée to Fleta. During my last visit, I had often had +the chain in my hand, and particularly marked the workmanship. To make +more sure, I followed into the shop, and stood behind her, carefully +examining them, as she looked over a quantity of laces. There could be +no doubt. I waited till the lady rose to go away, and then addressed the +shopman, asking the lady's name. He did not know--she was a stranger; +but perhaps Mr H----, the master, did, and he went back to answer the +question. Mr H---- being at that moment busy, the man stayed so long, +that I heard the carriage drive off. Fearful of losing sight of the +lady, I took to my heels, and ran out of the shop. My sudden flight from +the counter, covered with lace, made them imagine that I had stolen +some, and they cried out, "Stop thief," as loud as they could, springing +over the counter, and pursuing me as I pursued the carriage, which was +driven at a rapid pace. + +A man perceiving me running, and others, without their hats, following, +with the cries of "Stop thief," put out his leg, and I fell on the +pavement, the blood rushing in torrents from my nose. I was seized, +roughly handled, and again handed over to the police, who carried me +before the same magistrate in Marlborough Street. + +"What is this?" demanded the magistrate. + +"A shoplifter, your worship." + +"I am not, sir," replied I; "you know me well enough, I am Mr Newland." + +"Mr Newland!" replied the magistrate, suspiciously; "this is strange, a +second time to appear before me upon such a charge." + +"And just as innocent as before, sir." + +"You'll excuse me, sir, but I must have my suspicions this time. Where +is the evidence?" + +The people of the shop then came forward, and stated what had occurred. +"Let him be searched," said the magistrate. + +I was searched, but nothing was found upon me. "Are you satisfied now, +sir?" inquired I. + +"By no means. Let the people go back and look over their laces, and see +if any are missing; in the meantime I shall detain you, for it is very +easy to get rid of a small article, such as lace, when you are caught." + +The men went away, and I wrote a note to Major Carbonnell, requesting +his attendance. He arrived at the same time as the shopman, and I told +him what had happened. The shopman declared that the stock was not +correct; as far as they could judge, there were two pieces of lace +missing. + +"If so, I did not take them," replied I. + +"Upon my honour, Mr B----," said the Major, to the magistrate, "it is +very hard for a gentleman to be treated in this manner. This is the +second time that I have been sent for to vouch for his respectability." + +"Very true, sir," replied the magistrate; "but allow me to ask Mr +Newland, as he calls himself, what induced him to follow a lady into the +shop?" + +"Her ear-rings," replied I. + +"Her ear-rings! why, sir, the last time you were brought before me, you +said it was after a gentleman's nose--now it appears you were attracted +by a lady's ears; and pray, sir, what induced you to run out of the +shop?" + +"Because I wanted particularly to inquire about her ear-rings, sir." + +"I cannot understand these paltry excuses; there are, it appears, two +pieces of lace missing. I must remand you for further examination, sir; +and you also, sir," said the magistrate, to Major Carbonnell; "for if he +is a swindler, you must be an accomplice." + +"Sir," replied Major Carbonnell, sneeringly, "you are certainly a very +good judge of a gentleman, when you happen by accident to be in his +company. With your leave, I will send a note to another confederate." + +The Major then wrote a note to Lord Windermear, which he despatched by +Timothy, who, hearing I was in trouble, had accompanied the Major. And +while he was away, the Major and I sat down, he giving himself all +manner of airs, much to the annoyance of the magistrate, who at last +threatened to commit him immediately. "You'll repent this," replied the +Major, who perceived Lord Windermear coming in. + +"You shall repent it, sir, by God," cried the magistrate, in a great +passion. + +"Put five shillings in the box for swearing, Mr B----. You fine other +people," said the Major. "Here is my other confederate, Lord +Windermear." + +"Carbonnell," said Lord Windermear, "what is all this?" + +"Nothing, my lord, except that our friend Newland is taken up for +shoplifting, because he thought proper to run after a pretty woman's +carriage; and I am accused by his worship of being his confederate. I +could forgive his suspicions of Mr Newland in that plight; but as for +his taking me for one of the swell mob, it proves a great deficiency of +judgment; perhaps he will commit your lordship also, as he may not be +aware that your lordship's person is above caption." + +"I can assure you, sir," said Lord Windermear, proudly, "that this is my +relative, Major Carbonnell, and the other is my friend, Mr Newland. I +will bail them for any sum you please." + +The magistrate felt astonished and annoyed, for, after all, he had only +done his duty. Before he could reply, a man came from the shop to say +that the laces had been found all right. Lord Windermear then took me +aside, and I narrated what had happened. He recollected the story of +Fleta in my narrative of my life, and felt that I was right in trying to +find out who the lady was. The magistrate now apologised for the +detention, but explained to his lordship how I had before made my +appearance upon another charge, and with a low bow we were dismissed. + +"My dear Mr Newland," said his lordship, "I trust that this will be a +warning to you, not to run after other people's noses and ear-rings; at +the same time, I will certainly keep a look-out for those very ear-rings +myself. Major, I wish you a good morning." + +His lordship then shook us both by the hand, and saying that he should +be glad to see more of me than he latterly had done, stepped into his +carriage and drove off. + +"What the devil did his lordship mean about ear-rings, Newland?" +inquired the Major. + +"I told him that I was examining the lady's ear-rings, as very +remarkable," replied I. + +"You appear to be able to deceive everybody but me, my good fellow. I +know that you were examining the lady herself." I left the Major in his +error, by making no reply. + + + + +Chapter XXIX + + I borrow money upon my estate, and upon very favourable terms. + + +When I came down to breakfast the next morning, the Major said, "My dear +Newland, I have taken the liberty of requesting a very old friend of +mine to come and meet you this morning. I will not disguise from you +that it is Emmanuel, the money-lender. Money you must have until my +affairs are decided, one way or the other; and, in this instance, I will +most faithfully repay the sum borrowed, as soon as I receive the amount +of my bets, or am certain of succeeding to the title, which is one and +the same thing." + +I bit my lips, for I was not a little annoyed; but what could be done? I +must have either confessed my real situation to the Major, or have +appeared to raise scruples, which, as the supposed heir to a large +fortune, would have appeared to him to be very frivolous. I thought it +better to let the affair take its chance. "Well," replied I, "if it must +be, it must be: but it shall be on my own terms." + +"Nay," observed the Major, "there is no fear but that he will consent, +and without any trouble." + +After a moment's reflection I went up stairs and rang for Timothy. +"Tim," said I, "hear me; I now make you a solemn promise, on my honour +as a gentleman, that I will never borrow money upon interest, and until +you release me from it, I shall adhere to my word." + +"Very well, sir," replied Timothy; "I guess your reason for so doing, +and I expect you will keep your word. Is that all?" + +"Yes; now you may take up the urn." + +We had finished our breakfast, when Timothy announced Mr Emmanuel, who +followed him into the room. + +"Well, old cent per cent, how are you?" said the Major. "Allow me to +introduce my most particular friend, Mr Newland." + +"Auh! Master Major," replied the descendant of Abraham, a little puny +creature, bent double with infirmity, and carrying one hand behind his +back, as if to counterbalance the projection of his head and shoulders. +"You vash please to call me shent per shent. I wish I vash able to make +de monies pay that. Mr Newland, can I be of any little shervice to you?" + +"Sit down, sit down, Emmanuel. You have my warrant for Mr Newland's +respectability, and the sooner we get over the business the better." + +"Auh, Mr Major, it ish true, you was recommend many good--no, not always +good--customers to me, and I was very much obliged. Vat can I do for +your handsome young friend? De young gentlemen always vant money; and +it is de youth which is de time for de pleasure and enjoyment." + +"He wants a thousand pounds, Emmanuel." + +"Dat is a large sum--one tousand pounds' he does not vant any more?" + +"No," replied I, "that will be sufficient." + +"Vel, den, I have de monish in my pocket. I will just beg de young +gentleman to sign a little memorandum, dat I may von day receive my +monish." + +"But what is that to be?" interrupted I. + +"It will be to promise to pay me my monish and only fifteen per shent, +when you come into your own." + +"That will not do," replied I; "I have pledged my solemn word of honour, +that I will not borrow money on interest." + +"And you have given de pledge, but you did not swear upon de book?" + +"No, but my word has been given, and that is enough; if I would forfeit +my word with those to whom I have given it, I would also forfeit my word +with you. My keeping my promise, ought to be a pledge to you that I will +keep my promise to you." + +"Dat is veil said--very veil said; but den we must manage some oder way. +Suppose--let me shee--how old are you, my young sir?" + +"Past twenty." + +"Auh, dat is a very pleasant age, dat twenty. Veil, den, you shall shign +a leetle bit of paper, that you pay me £2000 ven you come into your +properties, on condition dat I pay now one tousand. Dat is very +fair--ish it not, Mr Major?" + +"Rather too hard, Emmanuel." + +"But de rishque--de rishque, Mr Major." + +"I will not agree to those terms," replied I; "you must take your money +away, Mr Emmanuel." + +"Veil, den--vat vill you pay me?" + +"I will sign an agreement to pay you £1500 for the thousand, if you +please; if that will not suit you, I will try elsewhere." + +"Dat is very bad bargain. How old, you shay?" + +"Twenty." + +"Vell, I shuppose I must oblige you, and my very goot friend, de Major." + +Mr Emmanuel drew out his spectacles, pen, and inkhorn, filled up a bond, +and handed it to me to sign. I read it carefully over, and signed it; he +then paid down the money, and took his leave. + +It may appear strange to the reader that the money was obtained so +easily, but he must remember that the Major was considered a person who +universally attached himself to young men of large fortune; he had +already been the means of throwing many profitable speculations into the +hands of Emmanuel, and the latter put implicit confidence in him. The +money-lenders also are always on the look out for young men with large +fortunes, and have their names registered. Emmanuel had long expected me +to come to him, and although it was his intention to have examined more +particularly, and not to have had the money prepared, yet my refusal to +sign the bond, bearing interest, and my disputing the terms of the +second proposal, blinded him completely, and put him off his usual +guard. + +"Upon my word, Newland, you obtained better terms than I could have +expected from the old Hunks." + +"Much better than I expected also, Major," replied I; "but now, how much +of the money would you like to have?" + +"My dear fellow, this is very handsome of you; but, I thank Heaven, I +shall be soon able to repay it: but what pleases me, Newland, is your +perfect confidence in one whom the rest of the world would not trust +with a shilling. I will accept your offer as freely as it is made, and +take £500, just to make a show for the few weeks that I am in suspense, +and then you will find, that with all my faults, I am rot deficient in +gratitude." I divided the money with the Major, and he shortly +afterwards went out. + +"Well, sir," said Timothy, entering, full of curiosity, "what have you +done?" + +"I have borrowed a thousand to pay fifteen hundred when I come into my +property." + +"You are safe then. Excellent, and the Jew will be bit." + +"No, Timothy, I intend to repay it as soon as I can." + +"I should like to know when that will be." + +"So should I, Tim, for it must depend upon my finding out my parentage." +Heigho, thought I, when shall I ever find out who is my father? + + + + +Chapter XXX + + The Major is very fortunate and very unfortunate--He receives a + large sum in gold and one ounce of lead. + + +I dressed and went out, met Harcourt, dined with him, and on my return +the Major had not come home. It was then past midnight, and feeling +little inclination to sleep, I remained in the drawing-room, waiting for +his arrival. About three o'clock he came in, flushed in the face, and +apparently in high good humour. + +"Newland," said he, throwing his pocket-book on the table, "just open +that, and then you will open your eyes." + +I obeyed him, and to my surprise took out a bundle of bank-notes; I +counted up their value, and they amounted to £3500. + +"You have been fortunate, indeed." + +"Yes," replied the Major; "knowing that in a short time I shall be +certain of cash, one way or the other, I had resolved to try my luck +with the £500. I went to the hazard table, and threw in seventeen +times--hedged upon the deuce ace, and threw out with it--_voila_. They +won't catch me there again in a hurry--luck like that only comes once in +a man's life; but, Japhet, there is a little drawback to all this. I +shall require your kind attendance in two or three hours." + +"Why, what's the matter?" + +"Merely an affair of honour. I was insulted by a vagabond, and we meet +at six o'clock." + +"A vagabond--but surely, Carbonnell, you will not condescend--" + +"My dear fellow, although as great a vagabond as there is on the face of +the earth, yet he is a peer of the realm, and his title warrants the +meeting--but, after all, what is it?" + +"I trust it will be nothing, Carbonnell, but still it may prove +otherwise." + +"Granted; and what then, my dear Newland? we all owe Heaven a death, and +if I am floored, why then I shall no longer be anxious about title or +fortune." + +"It's a bad way of settling a dispute," replied I, gravely. + +"There is no other, Newland. How would society be held in check if it +were not for duelling? We should all be a set of bears living in a +bear-garden. I presume you have never been out?" + +"Never," replied I, "and had hoped that I never should have." + +"Then you must have better fortune, or better temper than most others, +if you pass through life without an affair of this kind on your hands. I +mean as principal, not as second. But, my dear fellow, I must give you a +little advice, relative to your behaviour as a second; for I'm very +particular on these occasions, and like that things should be done very +correctly. It will never do, my dear Newland, that you appear on the +ground with that melancholy face. I do not mean that you should laugh, +or even smile, that would be equally out of character, but you should +show yourself perfectly calm and indifferent. In your behaviour towards +the other second, you must be most scrupulously polite, but, at the same +time, never give up a point of dispute, in which my interest may be +concerned. Even in your walk be slow, and move, as much as the ground +will allow you, as if you were in a drawing-room. Never remain silent; +offer even trivial remarks, rather than appear distract. There is one +point of great importance--I refer to choosing the ground, in which, +perhaps, you will require my unperceived assistance. Any decided line +behind me would be very advantageous to my adversary, such as the trunk +of a tree, post, &c.; even an elevated light or dark ground behind me is +unadvisable. Choose, if you can, a broken light, as it affects the +correctness of the aim; but as you will not probably be able to manage +this satisfactorily, I will assist you. When on the ground, after having +divided the sun fairly between us, I will walk about unconcernedly, and +when I perceive a judicious spot, I will take a pinch of snuff and use +my handkerchief, turning at the same time in the direction in which I +wish my adversary to be placed. Take your cue from that, and with all +suavity of manner, insist as much as you can upon our being so placed. +That must be left to your own persuasive powers. I believe I have now +stated all that is necessary, and I must prepare my instruments." + +The major then went into his own room, and I never felt more nervous or +more unhinged than after this conversation. I had a melancholy +foreboding--but that I believe every one has, when he, for the first +time, has to assist at a mortal rencontre. I was in a deep musing when +he returned with his pistols and all the necessary apparatus; and when +the Major pointed out to me, and made me once or twice practice the +setting of the hair triggers, which is the duty of the second, an +involuntary shudder came over me. + +"Why, Newland, what is the matter with you? I thought that you had more +nerve." + +"I probably should show more, Carbonnell, were I the principal instead +of the second, but I cannot bear the reflection that some accident +should happen to you. You are the only one with whom I have been on +terms of friendship, and the idea of losing you, is very, very painful." + +"Newland, you really quite unman me, and you may now see a miracle," +continued Carbonnell, as he pressed his hand to his eye, "the moisture +of a tear on the cheek of a London _roué_, a man of the world, who has +long lived for himself and for this world only. It never would be +credited if asserted. Newland, there was a time when I was like +yourself--the world took advantage of my ingenuousness and inexperience; +my good feelings were the cause of my ruin, and then, by degrees, I +became as callous and as hardened as the world itself. My dear fellow, I +thought all affection, all sentiment, dried up within me, but it is not +the case. You have made me feel that I have still a heart, and that I +can love you. But this is all romance, and not fitted for the present +time. It is now five o'clock, let us be on the ground early--it will +give us an advantage." + +"I do not much like speaking to you on the subject, Carbonnell; but is +there nothing that you might wish done in case of accident?" + +"Nothing--why yes. I may as well. Give me a sheet of paper." The Major +sat down and wrote for a few minutes. "Now, send Timothy and another +here. Timothy, and you, sir, see me sign this paper, and put my seal to +it. I deliver this as my act and deed. Put your names as witnesses." +They complied with his request, and then the Major desired Timothy to +call a hackney-coach. "Newland," said the Major, putting the paper, +folded up, in my pocket, along with the bank notes, "take care of this +for me till we come back." + +"The coach is at the door, sir," said Timothy, looking at me, as if to +say, "What can all this be about?" + +"You may come with us and see," said the Major, observing Tim's +countenance, "and put that case into the coach." Tim, who knew that it +was the Major's case of pistols, appeared still more alarmed, and stood +still without obeying the order. "Never mind, Tim, your master is not +the one who is to use them," said the Major, patting him on the +shoulder. + +Timothy, relieved by this intelligence, went down stairs with the +pistols; we followed him. Tim mounted on the box, and we drove to Chalk +Farm. "Shall the coach wait?" inquired Timothy. + +"Yes, by all means," replied I, in a low voice. We arrived at the usual +ground, where disputes of this kind were generally settled; and the +Major took a survey of it with great composure. + +"Now observe, Japhet," said he, "if you can contrive--; but here they +are. I will give you the notice agreed upon." The peer, whose title was +Lord Tineholme, now came up with his second, whom he introduced to me as +Mr Osborn. "Mr Newland," replied the Major, saluting Mr Osborn in +return. We both took off our hats, bowed, and then proceeded to our +duty. I must do my adversary's second the justice to say, that his +politeness was fully equal to mine. There was no mention, on either +side, of explanations and retractions--the insult was too gross, and the +character of his lordship, as well as that of Major Carbonnell, was too +well known. Twelve paces were proposed by Mr Osborn, and agreed to by +me--the pistols of Major Carbonnell were gained by drawing lots--we had +nothing more to do but to place our principals. The Major took out his +snuff-box, took a pinch, and blew his nose, turning towards a copse of +beech trees. + +"With your permission, I will mark out the ground, Mr Osborn," said I, +walking up to the Major, and intending to pace twelve paces in the +direction towards which he faced. + +"Allow me to observe that I think a little more in this direction, would +be more fair for both parties," said Mr Osborn. + +"It would so, my dear sir," replied I, "but, submitting to your superior +judgment, perhaps it may not have struck you that my principal will have +rather too much of the sun. I am incapable of taking any advantage, but +I should not do my duty if I did not see every justice done to the +Major, who has confided to me in this unpleasant affair. I put it to +you, sir, as a gentleman and man of honour, whether I am claiming too +much?" A little amicable altercation took place on this point, but +finding that I would not yield, and that at every reply I was more and +more polite and bland in my deportment, Mr Osborn gave up the point. I +walked the twelve paces, and Mr Osborn placed his principal. I observed +that Lord Tineholme did not appear pleased; he expostulated with him, +but it was then too late. The pistols had been already loaded--the +choice was given to his lordship, and Major Carbonnell received the +other from my hand, which actually trembled, while his was firm. I +requested Mr Osborn to drop the handkerchief, as I could not make up my +mind to give a signal which might be fatal to the Major. They +fired--Lord Tineholme fell immediately--the Major remained on his feet +for a second or two, and then sank down on the ground. I hastened up to +him. "Where are you hurt?" + +The Major put his hand to his hip--"I am hit hard, Newland, but not so +hard as he is. Run and see." + +I left the Major, and went up to where Lord Tineholme lay, his head +raised on the knee of his second. + +"It is all over with him, Mr Newland, the ball has passed through his +brain." + + + + +Chapter XXXI + + The Major pays the only debt of consequence he ever did pay, and I + find myself a man of property. + + +I hastened back to the Major, to examine his wound, and, with the +assistance of Timothy, I stripped him sufficiently to ascertain that the +ball had entered his hip, and probing the wound with my finger, it +appeared that it had glanced off in the direction of the intestines; the +suffusion of blood was very trifling, which alarmed me still more. + +"Could you bear removal, Major, in the coach?" + +"I cannot tell, but we must try; the sooner I am home the better, +Japhet," replied he faintly. + +With the assistance of Timothy, I put him into the hackney-coach, and we +drove off, after I had taken off my hat and made my obeisance to Mr +Osborn, an effort of politeness which I certainly should have neglected, +had I not been reminded of it by my principal. We set off, and the +Major bore his journey very well, making no complaint, but, on our +arrival he fainted as we lifted him out. As soon as he was on the bed, I +despatched Timothy for a surgeon. On his arrival he examined the wound, +and shook his head. Taking me into the next room, he declared his +opinion, that the ball had passed into the intestines, which were +severed, and that there was no hope. I sat down and covered up my +face--the tears rolled down and trickled through my fingers--it was the +first heavy blow I had yet received. Without kindred or connections, I +felt that I was about to lose one who was dear to me. To another, not in +my situation, it might have only produced a temporary grief at the near +loss of a friend; but to me, who was almost alone in the world, the loss +was heavy in the extreme. Whom had I to fly to for solace?--there were +Timothy and Fleta--one who performed the duty of a servant to me, and a +child. I felt that they were not sufficient, and my heart was chilled. + +The surgeon had, in the meantime, returned to the Major, and dressed the +wound. The Major, who had recovered from his weakness, asked him his +candid opinion. "We must hope for the best, sir," replied the surgeon. + +"That is to say, there is no hope," replied the Major; "and I feel that +you are right. How long do you think that I may live?" + +"If the wound does not take a favourable turn, about forty-eight hours, +sir," replied the surgeon; "but we must hope for a more fortunate +issue." + +"In a death-bed case you medical men are like lawyers," replied the +Major, "there is no getting a straightforward answer from you. Where is +Mr Newland?" + +"Here I am, Carbonnell," said I, taking his hand. + +"My dear fellow, I know it is all over with me, and you, of course, know +it as well as I do. Do not think that it is a source of much regret to +me to leave this rascally world--indeed it is not; but I do feel sorry, +very sorry, to leave you. The doctor tells me I shall live forty-eight +hours; but I have an idea that I shall not live so many minutes. I feel +my strength gradually failing me. Depend upon it, my dear Newland, there +is an internal hemorrhage. My dear fellow, I shall not be able to speak +soon. I have left you my executor and sole heir. I wish there was more +for you--it will last you, however, till you come of age. That was a +lucky hit last night, but a very unlucky one this morning. Bury me like +a gentleman." + +"My dear Carbonnell," said I, "would you not like to see somebody--a +clergyman?" + +"Newland, excuse me. I do not refuse it out of disrespect, or because I +do not believe in the tenets of Christianity; but I cannot believe that +my repentance at this late hour can be of any avail. If I have not been +sorry for the life I have lived--if I have not had my moments of +remorse--if I have not promised to amend, and intended to have so done, +and I trust I have--what avails my repentance now? No, no, Japhet, as I +have sown so must I reap, and trust to the mercy of Heaven. God only +knows all our hearts, and I would fain believe that I may find more +favour in the eyes of the Almighty, than I have in this world from those +who--but we must not judge. Give me to drink, Japhet--I am sinking fast. +God bless you, my dear fellow." + +The Major sank on his pillow, after he had moistened his lips, and spoke +no more. With his hand clasped in mine he gradually sank, and in a +quarter of an hour his eyes were fixed, and all was over. He was right +in his conjectures--an artery had been divided, and he had bled to +death. The surgeon came again just before he was dead, for I had sent +for him. "It is better as it is," said he to me. "Had he not bled to +death, he would have suffered forty-eight hours of extreme agony from +the mortification which must have ensued." He closed the Major's eyes +and took his leave, and I hastened into the drawing-room and sent for +Timothy, with whom I sate in a long conversation on this unfortunate +occurrence, and my future prospects. + +My grief for the death of the Major was sincere; much may indeed be +ascribed to habit, from our long residence and companionship; but more +to the knowledge that the Major, with all his faults, had redeeming +qualities, and that the world had driven him to become what he had been. +I had the further conviction, that he was attached to me, and, in my +situation, anything like affection was most precious. His funeral was +handsome, without being ostentatious, and I paid every demand upon him +which I knew to be just--many, indeed, that were not sent in, from a +supposition that any claim made would be useless. His debts were not +much above £200, and these debts had never been expected to be +liquidated by those who had given him credit. The paper he had written, +and had been witnessed by Timothy and another, was a short will, in +which he left me his sole heir and executor. The whole of his property +consisted of his house in St James's Street, the contents of his +pocket-book entrusted to my care, and his personal effects, which, +especially in bijouterie, were valuable. The house was worth about +£4000, as he had told me. In his pocket-book were notes to the amount of +£3500, and his other effects might be valued at £400. With all his debts +and funeral expenses liquidated, and with my own money, I found myself +in possession of about £8000,--a sum which never could have been +credited, for it was generally supposed that he died worth less than +nothing, having lived for a long while upon a capital of a similar +value. + +"I cannot but say," observed Timothy, "but that this is very fortunate. +Had the Major not persuaded you to borrow money, he never would have won +so large a sum. Had he lived he would have squandered it away; but just +in the nick of time he is killed, and makes you his heir." + +"There is truth in your observation, Timothy; but now you must go to Mr +Emmanuel, that I may pay him off. I will repay the £1000 lent me by Lord +Windermear into his banker's, and then I must execute one part of the +poor Major's will. He left his diamond solitaire as a memento to his +lordship. Bring it to me, and I will call and present it." + + + + +Chapter XXXII + + A chapter full of morality, which ends in a Jew refusing upwards of + £1000, proving the Millenium to be nearly at hand. + + +This conversation took place the day after the funeral, and, attired in +deep mourning, I called upon his lordship, and was admitted. His +lordship had sent his carriage to attend the funeral, and was also in +mourning when he received me. I executed my commission, and after a long +conversation with his lordship, in which I confided to him the contents +of the will, and the amount of property of the deceased, I rose to take +my leave. + +"Excuse me, Mr Newland," said he, "but what do you now propose to do? I +confess I feel a strong interest about you, and had wished that you had +come to me oftener without an invitation. I perceive that you never +will. Have you no intention of following up any pursuit?" + +"Yes, my lord, I intend to search after my father; and I trust that, by +husbanding my unexpected resources, I shall now be able." + +"You have the credit, in the fashionable world, of possessing a large +fortune." + +"That is not my fault, my lord: it is through Major Carbonnell's mistake +that the world is deceived. Still I must acknowledge myself so far +participator, that I have never contradicted the report." + +"Meaning, I presume, by some good match, to reap the advantage of the +supposition." + +"Not so, my lord, I assure you. People may deceive themselves, but I +will not deceive them." + +"Nor undeceive them, Mr Newland?" + +"Undeceive them I will not; nay, if I did make the attempt, I should +not be believed. They never would believe it possible that I could have +lived so long with your relative, without having had a large supply of +money. They might believe that I had run through my money, but not that +I never had any." + +"There is a knowledge of the world in that remark," replied his +lordship; "but I interrupted you, so proceed." + +"I mean to observe, my lord, and you, by your knowledge of my previous +history, can best judge how far I am warranted in saying so; that I have +as yet steered the middle course between that which is dishonest and +honest. If the world deceives itself, you would say that, in strict +honesty, I ought to undeceive it. So I would, my lord, if it were not +for my peculiar situation; but at the same time I never will, if +possible, be guilty of direct deceit; that is to say, I would not take +advantage of my supposed wealth, to marry a young person of large +fortune. I would state myself a beggar, and gain her affections as a +beggar. A woman can have little confidence in a man who deceives her +before marriage." + +"Your secret will always be safe with me, Mr Newland; you have a right +to demand it. I am glad to hear the sentiments which you have expressed; +they are not founded, perhaps, upon the strictest code of morality; but +there are many who profess more who do not act up to so much. Still, I +wish you would think in what way I may be able to serve you, for your +life at present is useless and unprofitable, and may tend to warp still +more, ideas which are not quite so strict as they ought to be." + +"My lord, I have but one object in allowing the world to continue in +their error relative to my means, which is, that it procures for me an +entrance into that society in which I have a moral conviction that I +shall find my father. I have but one pursuit, one end to attain, which +is, to succeed in that search. I return you a thousand thanks for your +kind expressions and good-will; but I cannot, at present, avail myself +of them. I beg your lordship's pardon, but did you ever meet the lady +with the ear-rings?" + +Lord Windermear smiled. "Really, Mr Newland, you are a very strange +person; not content with finding out your own parents, you must also be +searching after other people's; not that I do not commend your conduct +in this instance; but I'm afraid, in running after shadows, you are too +indifferent to the substance." + +"Ah, my lord! it is very well for you to argue who have had a father and +mother, and never felt the want of them; but if you knew how my heart +yearns after my parents, you would not be surprised at my perseverance." + +"I am surprised at nothing in this world, Mr Newland; every one pursues +happiness in his own way; your happiness appears to be centred in one +feeling, and you are only acting as the world does in general; but +recollect that the search after happiness ends in disappointment." + +"I grant it but too often does, my lord; but there is pleasure in the +chase," replied I. + +"Well, go, and may you prosper. All I can say is this, Mr Newland, do +not have that false pride not to apply to me when you need assistance. +Recollect, it is much better to be under an obligation, if such you will +consider it, than to do that which is wrong; and that it is a very false +pride which would blush to accept a favour, and yet not blush to do what +it ought to be ashamed of. Promise me, Mr Newland, that upon any reverse +or exigence, you will apply to me." + +"I candidly acknowledge to your lordship, that I would rather be under +an obligation to anyone but you; and I trust you will clearly appreciate +my feelings. I have taken the liberty of refunding the one thousand +pounds you were so kind as to place at my disposal as a loan. At the +same time I will promise, that, if at any time I should require your +assistance, I will again request leave to become your debtor." I rose +again to depart. + +"Farewell, Newland; when I thought you had behaved ill, and I offered to +better you, you only demanded my good opinion; you have it, and have it +so firmly, that it will not easily be shaken." His lordship then shook +hands with me, and I took my leave. + +On my return I found Emmanuel, the money-lender, who had accompanied +Timothy, fancying that I was in want of more assistance, and but too +willing to give it. His surprise was very great when I told him that I +wished to repay the money I had borrowed. + +"Vell, dis is very strange! I have lent my monish a tousand times, and +never once they did offer it me back. Vell, I will take it, sar." + +"But how much must I give you, Mr Emmanuel, for the ten days' loan?" + +"How moch--vy you remember, you vill give de bond money--de fifteen +hundred." + +"What! five hundred pounds interest for ten days, Mr Emmanuel; no, no, +that's rather too bad. I will, if you please, pay you back eleven +hundred pounds, and that I think is very handsome." + +"I don't want my monish, my good sar. I lend you one tousand pounds, on +de condition that you pay me fifteen hundred when you come into your +properties, which will be in very short time. You send for me, and tell +me you vish to pay back de monish directly; I never refuse monish--if +you wish to pay, I will take, but I will not take von farding less dan +de monish on de bond." + +"Very well, Mr Emmanuel, just as you please; I offer you your money +back, in presence of my servant, and one hundred pounds for the loan of +it for ten days. Refuse it if you choose, but I earnestly recommend you +to take it." + +"I will not have de monish, sar; dis is de child's play," replied the +Jew. "I must have my fifteen hundred--all in goot time, sar--I am in no +hurry--I vish you a very good morning, Mr Newland. Ven you vish for more +monish to borrow, I shall be happy to pay my respects." So saying, the +Jew walked out of the room, with his arm behind his back as usual. + + + + +Chapter XXXIII + + _I decide upon honesty as the best policy, and what is more + strange, receive legal advice upon this important point_. + + +Timothy and I burst into laughter. "Really, Timothy," observed I, "it +appears that very little art is necessary to deceive the world, for in +every instance they will deceive themselves. The Jew is off my +conscience, at all events, and now he never will be paid, until--" + +"Until when, Japhet?" + +"Until I find out my father," replied I. + +"Everything is put off till that time arrives, I observe," said Timothy. +"Other people will soon be as interested in the search as yourself." + +"I wish they were, unfortunately it is a secret, which cannot be +divulged." + +A ring at the bell called Timothy down stairs; he returned with a +letter, it was from Lord Windermear, and ran as follows:-- + + "My dear Newland,--I have been thinking about you ever since you + left me this morning, and as you appear resolved to prosecute your + search, it has occurred to me that you should go about it in a more + systematic way. I do not mean to say that what I now propose will + prove of any advantage to you, but still it may, as you will have a + very old, and very clever head to advise with. I refer to Mr + Masterton, my legal adviser, from whom you had the papers which led + to our first acquaintance. He is aware that you were (I beg your + pardon) an impostor, as he has since seen Mr Estcourt. The letter + enclosed is for him, and with that in your hand you may face him + boldly, and I have no doubt but that he will assist you all in his + power, and put you to no expense. Narrate your whole history to + him, and then you will hear what he may propose. He has many + secrets, much more important than yours. Wishing you every success + that your perseverance deserves, + + "Believe me, + + "Yours very truly, + + "Windermear." + +"I believe the advice to be good," said I, after reading the letter. "I +am myself at fault, and hardly know how to proceed. I think I will go at +once to the old gentleman, Timothy." + +"It can do no harm, if it does no good. Two heads are better than one," +replied Timothy. "Some secrets are too well kept, and deserting a child +is one of those which is confided but to few." + +"By-the-bye, Timothy, here have I been, more than so many years out of +the Foundling Hospital, and have never yet inquired if any one has ever +been to reclaim me." + +"Very true; and I think I'll step myself to the workhouse, at St +Bridget's, and ask whether any one has asked about me," replied Timothy, +with a grin. + +"There is another thing that I have neglected," observed I, "which is, +to inquire at the address in Coleman Street, if there is any letter from +Melchior." + +"I have often thought of him," replied Timothy. "I wonder who he can +be--there is another mystery there. I wonder whether we shall ever fall +in with him again--and Nattée, too?" + +"There's no saying, Timothy. I wonder where that poor fool, Philotas, +and our friend Jumbo, are now?" + +The remembrance of the two last personages made us both burst out a +laughing. + +"Timothy, I've been reflecting that my intimacy with poor Carbonnell has +rather hindered than assisted me in my search. He found me with a good +appearance, and he has moulded me into a gentleman, so far as manners +and appearance are concerned; but the constant vortex in which I have +been whirled in his company, has prevented me from doing anything. His +melancholy death has perhaps been fortunate for me. It has left me more +independent in circumstances, and more free. I must now really set to in +earnest." + +"I beg your pardon, Japhet, but did not you say the same when we first +set off on our travels, and yet remain more than a year with the +gipsies? Did not you make the same resolution when we arrived in town, +with our pockets full of money, and yet, once into fashionable society, +think but little, and occasionally, of it? Now you make the same +resolution, and how long will you keep it?" + +"Nay, Timothy, that remark is hardly fair; you know that the subject is +ever in my thoughts." + +"In your thoughts, I grant, very frequently; but you have still been led +away from the search." + +"I grant it, but I presume that arises from not knowing how to proceed. +I have a skein to unravel, and cannot find out an end to commence with." + +"I always thought people commenced with the beginning," replied Tim, +laughing. + +"At all events, I will now try back, and face the old lawyer. Do you +call at Coleman Street, Tim, and at St Bridget's also, if you please." + +"As for St Bridget's, I'm in no particular hurry about my mother; if I +stumble upon her I may pick her up, but I never make diligent search +after what, in every probability, will not be worth the finding." + +Leaving Timothy to go his way, I walked to the house at Lincoln's Inn, +which I had before entered upon the memorable occasion of the papers of +Estcourt. As before, I rang the bell, the door swang open, and I was +once more in the presence of Mr Masterton. + +"I have a letter, sir," said I, bowing, and presenting the letter from +Lord Windermear. + +The old gentleman peered at me through his spectacles. "Why! we have met +before--bless me--why you're the rogue that--" + +"You are perfectly right, sir," interrupted I. "I am the rogue who +presented the letter from Lord Windermear, and who presents you with +another from the same person; do me the favour to read it, while I take +a chair." + +"Upon my soul--you impudent--handsome dog, I must say--great pity--come +for money, I suppose. Well, it's a sad world," muttered the lawyer as he +broke open the letter of Lord Windermear. + +I made no reply, but watched his countenance, which changed to that of +an expression of surprise. "Had his lordship sent me a request to have +you hanged if possible," said Mr Masterton, "I should have felt no +surprise, but in this letter he praises you, and desires me to render +you all the service in my power. I can't understand it." + +"No, sir; but if you have leisure to listen to me, you will then find +that, in this world, we may be deceived by appearances." + +"Well, and so I was, when I first saw you; I never could have believed +you to be--but never mind." + +"Perhaps, sir, in an hour or two you will again alter your opinion. Are +you at leisure, or will you make an appointment for some future day?" + +"Mr Newland, I am not at leisure--I never was more busy; and if you had +come on any legal business, I should have put you off for three or four +days, at least; but my curiosity is so raised, that I am determined that +I will indulge it at the expense of my interest. I will turn the key, +and then you will oblige me by unravelling, what, at present, is to me +as curious as it is wholly incomprehensible." + + + + +Chapter XXXIV + + I attempt to profit by intelligence I receive, and throw a lady + into hysterics. + + +In about three hours I had narrated the history of my life, up to the +very day, almost as much detailed as it has been to the reader. "And +now, Mr Masterton," said I, as I wound up my narrative, "do you think +that I deserve the title of rogue, which you applied to me when I came +in?" + +"Upon my word, Mr Newland, I hardly know what to say; but I like to tell +the truth. To say that you have been quite honest, would not be +correct--a rogue, to a certain degree, you have been, but you have been +the rogue of circumstances. I can only say this, that there are greater +rogues than you, whose characters are unblemished in the world--that +most people in your peculiar situation would have been much greater +rogues; and lastly, that rogue or not rogue, I have great pleasure in +taking you by the hand, and will do all I possibly can to serve you--and +that for your own sake. Your search after your parents I consider almost +tantamount to a wild-goose chase; but still, as your happiness depends +upon it, I suppose it must be carried on; but you must allow me time for +reflection. I will consider what may be the most judicious method of +proceeding. Can you dine _tête-à-tête_ with me here on Friday, and we +then will talk over the matter?" + +"On Friday, sir; I am afraid that I am engaged to Lady Maelstrom; but +that is of no consequence--I will write an excuse to her ladyship." + +"Lady Maelstrom! how very odd that you should bring up her name after +our conversation." + +"Why so, my dear sir?" + +"Why!" replied Mr Masterton, chuckling; "because--recollect, it is a +secret, Mr Newland--I remember some twenty years ago, when she was a +girl of eighteen, before she married, she had a little _faux pas_, and I +was called in about a settlement, for the maintenance of the child." + +"Is it possible, sir?" replied I, anxiously. + +"Yes, she was violently attached to a young officer, without money, but +of good family; some say it was a private marriage, others, that he +was--a _rascal_. It was all hushed up, but he was obliged by the +friends, before he left for the West Indies, to sign a deed of +maintenance, and I was the party called in. I never heard any more +about it. The officer's name was Warrender; he died of the yellow +fever, I believe, and after his death she married Lord Maelstrom." + +"He is dead, then?" replied I mournfully. + +"Well, that cannot affect you, my good fellow. On Friday, then, at six +o'clock precisely. Good afternoon, Mr Newland." + +I shook hands with the old gentleman, and returned home, but my brain +whirled with the fear of a confirmation, of that which Mr Masterton had +so carelessly conveyed. Anything like a possibility, immediately was +swelled to a certainty in my imagination, so ardent and heated on the +one subject; and as soon as I regained my room, I threw myself on the +sofa, and fell into a deep reverie. I tried to approximate the features +of Lady Maelstrom to mine, but all the ingenuity in the world could not +effect that; but still, I might be like my father--but my father was +dead, and that threw a chill over the whole glowing picture which I had, +as usual, conjured up; besides, it was asserted that I was born in +wedlock, and there was a doubt relative to the marriage of her ladyship. + +After a long cogitation I jumped up, seized my hat, and set off for +Grosvenor Square, determining to ask a private interview with her +ladyship, and at once end my harassing doubts and surmises. I think +there could not be a greater proof of my madness than my venturing to +attack a lady of forty upon the irregularities of her youth, and to +question her upon a subject which had been confided but to two or three, +and she imagined had been long forgotten: but this never struck me; all +considerations were levelled in my ardent pursuit. I walked through the +streets at a rapid pace, the crowd passed by me as shadows, I neither +saw nor distinguished them; I was deep in reverie as to the best way of +breaking the subject to her ladyship, for, notwithstanding my monomania, +I perceived it to be a point of great delicacy. After having overturned +about twenty people in my mad career, I arrived at the door and +knocked. My heart beat almost as hard against my ribs with excitement. + +"Is her ladyship at home?" + +"Yes, sir." + +I was ushered into the drawing-room, and found her sitting with two of +her nieces, the Misses Fairfax. + +"Mr Newland, you have been quite a stranger," said her ladyship, as I +walked up to her and made my obeisance. "I did intend to scold you well; +but I suppose that sad affair of poor Major Carbonnell's has been a +heavy blow to you--you were so intimate--lived together, I believe, did +you not? However, you have not so much cause to regret, for he was not a +very proper companion for young men like you: to tell you the truth, I +consider it as a fortunate circumstance that he was removed, for he +would, by degrees, have led you into all manner of mischief, and have +persuaded you to squander your fortune. I did at one time think of +giving you a hint, but it was a delicate point. Now that he is gone, I +tell you very candidly that you have had an escape. A young man like +you, Mr Newland, who could command an alliance into the highest, yes, +the very highest families--and let me tell you, Mr Newland, that there +is nothing like connection--money is of no consequence to you, but +connection, Mr Newland, is what you should look for--connection with +some high family, and then you will do well. I should like to see you +settled--well settled, I mean, Mr Newland. Now that you are rid of the +Major, who has ruined many young men in his time, I trust you will +seriously think of settling down into a married man. Cecilia, my dear, +show your tambour work to Mr Newland, and ask him his opinion. Is it not +beautiful, Mr Newland?" + +"Extremely beautiful, indeed, ma'am," replied I, glad at last that her +ladyship allowed me to speak a word. + +"Emma, my dear, you look pale, you must go out into the air. Go, +children, put your bonnets on and take a turn in the garden, when the +carriage comes round I will send for you." + +The young ladies quitted the room. "Nice innocent girls, Mr Newland; +but you are not partial to blondes, I believe?" + +"Indeed, Lady Maelstrom, I infinitely prefer the blonde to the +brunette." + +"That proves your taste, Mr Newland. The Fairfaxes are of a very old +family--Saxon, Mr Newland. Fair-fax is Saxon for light hair. Is it not +remarkable that they should be blondes to this day? Pure blood, Mr +Newland. You, of course, have heard of General Fairfax, in the time of +Cromwell. He was their direct ancestor--an excellent family and highly +connected, Mr Newland. You are aware that they are my nieces. My sister +married Mr Fairfax." + +I paid the Misses Fairfax the compliments which I thought they really +deserved, for they were very pretty amiable girls, and required no +puffing on the part of her ladyship; and then I commenced. "Your +ladyship has expressed such kind wishes towards me, that I cannot be +sufficiently grateful, but, perhaps, your ladyship may think me +romantic, I am resolved never to marry, except for love." + +"A very excellent resolve, Mr Newland; there are few young men who care +about love now-a-days, but I consider that love is a great security for +happiness in the wedded state." + +"True, madam, and what can be more delightful than a first attachment? I +appeal to your ladyship, was not your first attachment the most +delightful--are not the reminiscences most lasting--do you not, even +now, call to mind those halcyon days when love was all and every thing?" + +"My days of romance are long past, Mr Newland," replied her ladyship; +"indeed I never had much romance in my composition. I married Lord +Maelstrom for the connection, and I loved him pretty well, that is, +soberly, Mr Newland. I mean, I loved him quite enough to marry him, and +to obey my parents, that is all." + +"But, my dear Lady Maelstrom, I did not refer to your marriage with his +lordship; I referred to your first love." + +"My first love, Mr Newland; pray what do you mean?" replied her +ladyship, looking very hard at me. + +"Your ladyship need not be ashamed of it. Our hearts are not in our own +keeping, nor can we always control our passions. I have but to mention +the name of Warrender." + +"Warrender!" shrieked her ladyship. "Pray, Mr Newland," continued her +ladyship, recovering herself, "who gave you that piece of information?" + +"My dear Lady Maelstrom, pray do not be displeased with me, but I am +very particularly interested in this affair. Your love for Mr Warrender, +long before your marriage, is well known to me; and it is to that love, +to which I referred, when I asked you if it was not most delightful." + +"Well, Mr Newland," replied her ladyship, "how you have obtained the +knowledge I know not, but there was, I acknowledge, a trifling +flirtation with Edward Warrender and me--but I was young, very young at +that time." + +"I grant it, and do not, for a moment, imagine that I intend to blame +your ladyship; but, as I before said, madam, I am much interested in the +business." + +"What interest you can have with a little flirtation of mine, which took +place before you were born, I cannot imagine, Mr Newland." + +"It is because it took place before I was born, that I feel so much +interest." + +"I cannnot understand you, Mr Newland, and I think we had better change +the subject." + +"Excuse me, madam, but I must request to continue it a little longer. Is +Mr Warrender dead, or not? Did he die in the West Indies?" + +"You appear to be very curious on this subject, Mr Newland; I hardly can +tell. Yes, now I recollect, he did die of the yellow fever, I think--but +I have quite forgotten all about it--and I shall answer no more +questions; if you were not a favourite of mine, Mr Newland, I should +say that you were very impertinent." + +"Then, your ladyship, I will put but one more question, and that one I +must put, with your permission." + +"I should think, after what I have said, Mr Newland, that you might drop +the subject." + +"I will, your ladyship, immediately; but, pardon me, the question--" + +"Well, Mr Newland--?" + +"Do not be angry with me--" + +"Well?" exclaimed her ladyship, who appeared alarmed. + +"Nothing but the most important and imperative reasons could induce me +to ask the question" (her ladyship gasped for breath, and could not +speak), I stammered, but at last I brought it out. "What has become +of--of--of the sweet pledge of your love, Lady Maelstrom?" + +Her ladyship coloured up with rage, raised up her clenched hand, and +then fell back in violent hysterics. + + + + +Chapter XXXV + + I repair the damage, and make things worse--Plot and + counterplot--Tim gains a watch by setting watch upon his tongue. + + +I hardly knew how to act--if I called the servants, my interview would +be at an end, and I was resolved to find out the truth--for the same +reason, I did not like to ring for water. Some vases with flowers were +on the table; I took out the flowers, and threw the water in her face, +but they had been in the water some time, and had discoloured it green. +Her ladyship's dress was a high silk gown, of a bright slate colour, and +was immediately spoiled; but this was no time to stand upon trifles. I +seized hold of a glass bottle, fancying, in my hurry, it was _eau de +cologne_, or some essence, and poured a little into her mouth; +unfortunately, it was a bottle of marking ink, which her ladyship, who +was very economical, had on the table in disguise. I perceived my +error, and had recourse to another vase of flowers, pouring a large +quantity of the green water down her throat. Whether the unusual +remedies had an effect or not, I cannot tell, but her ladyship gradually +revived, and, as she leant back on the sofa, sobbing, every now and +then, convulsively, I poured into her ear a thousand apologies, until I +thought she was composed enough to listen to me. + +"Your ladyship's maternal feelings," said I. + +"It's all a calumny! a base lie, sir!" shrieked she. + +"Nay, nay, why be ashamed of a youthful passion; why deny what was in +itself creditable to your unsophisticated mind. Does not your heart, +even now, yearn to embrace your son--will not you bless me, if I bring +him to your feet--will not you bless your son, and receive him with +delight?" + +"It was a girl," screamed her ladyship, forgetting herself, and again +falling into hysterics. + +"A girl!" replied I, "then I have lost my time, and it is no use my +remaining here." + +Mortified at the intelligence which overthrew my hopes and castle +buildings, I seized my hat, descended the stairs, and quitted the house; +in my hurry and confusion quite forgetting to call the servants to her +ladyship's assistance. Fortunately, I perceived the Misses Fairfax close +to the iron railing of the garden. I crossed the road, wished them +good-bye, and told them that I thought Lady Maelstrom looked very ill, +and they had better go in to her. I then threw myself into the first +hackney-coach, and drove home. I found Timothy had arrived before me, +and I narrated all that had passed. + +"You will never be able to go there again," observed Timothy, "and +depend upon it, she will be your enemy through life. I wish you had not +said anything to her. + +"What is done cannot be undone; but recollect, that if she can talk, I +can talk also." + +"Will she not be afraid?" + +"Yes, openly, she will; and open attacks can be parried." + +"Very true." + +"But it will be as well to pacify her, if I can. I will write to her." I +sat down and wrote as follows:-- + + "My dear Lady Maelstrom,--I am so astonished and alarmed at the + situation I put you in, by my impertinence and folly, that I hardly + know how to apologise. The fact is, that looking over some of my + father's old letters, I found many from Warrender, in which he + spoke of an affair with a young lady, and I read the name as your + maiden name, and also discovered where the offspring was to be + found. On re-examination, for your innocence was too evident at our + meeting to admit of a doubt, I find that the name, although + something like yours, is spelt very differently, and that I must + have been led into an unpardonable error. What can I say, except + that I throw myself on your mercy? I dare not appear before you + again. I leave town to-morrow, but if you can pardon my folly and + impertinence, and allow me to pay my respects when London is full + again, and time shall have softened down your just anger, write me + one line to that effect, and you will relieve the burdened + conscience of + + "Yours most truly, + + "J. Newland." + +"There, Tim," said I, as I finished reading it over, "take that as a sop +to the old Cerberus. She may think it prudent, as I have talked of +letters, to believe me and make friends. I will not trust her, +nevertheless." + +Tim went away, and very soon returned with an answer. + + "You are a foolish mad-cap, and I ought to shut my doors against + you; you have half-killed me--spoilt my gown, and I am obliged to + keep my bed. Remember, in future, to be sure of the right name + before you make an assertion. As for forgiving you, I shall think + of it, and when you return to town, you may call and receive my + sentence. Cecilia was quite frightened, poor dear girl, what a dear + affectionate child she is--she is a treasure to me, and I don't + think I ever could part with her. She sends her regards. + + "Yours, + + "C. Maelstrom." + +"Come, Timothy, at all events this is better than I expected--but now +I'll tell you what I propose to do. Harcourt was with me yesterday, and +he wishes me to go down with him to ----. There will be the assizes, and +the county ball, and a great deal of gaiety, and I have an idea that it +is just as well to beat the country as the town. I dine with Mr +Masterton on Friday. On Saturday I will go down and see Fleta, and on +Tuesday or Wednesday I will start with Harcourt to his father's, where +he has promised me a hearty welcome. Was there anything at Coleman +Street?" + +"Yes, sir; Mr Iving said that he had just received a letter from your +correspondent, and that he wished to know if the little girl was well; I +told him that she was. Mr Iving laid the letter down on the desk, and I +read the postmark, Dublin." + +"Dublin," replied I. "I should like to find out who Melchior is--and so +I will as soon as I can." + +"Well, sir, I have not finished my story. Mr Iving said, 'My +correspondent wishes to know whether the education of the little girl is +attended to?' 'Yes,' replied I, 'it is.' 'Is she at school?' 'Yes, she +has been at school ever since we have been in London.' 'Where is she at +school?' inquired he. Now, sir, as I never was asked that question by +him before, I did not know whether I ought to give an answer, so I +replied, 'that I did not know.' 'You know whether she is in London or +not, do you not?' 'How should I?' replied I, 'master had put her to +school before I put on his liveries.' 'Does he never go to see her?' +inquired he. 'I suppose so,' said I. 'Then you really know nothing +about it?--then look you, my lad, I am anxious to find out where she is +at school, and the name of the people, and if you will find out the +direction for me, it will be money in your pocket, that's all.' 'Um,' +replied I, 'but how much?' 'Why, more than you think for, my man, it +will be a ten-pound note.' 'That alters the case,' replied I; 'now I +think again, I have an idea that I do remember seeing her address on a +letter my master wrote to her.' 'Ay,' replied Mr Iving, 'it's +astonishing how money sharpens the memory. I'll keep to my bargain; give +me the address, and here's the ten-pound note.' 'I'm afraid that my +master will be angry,' said I, as if I did not much like to tell him. +'Your master will never know anything about it, and you may serve a long +time before he gives you a ten-pound note above your wages.' 'That's +very true,' said I, 'sarvice is no inheritance. Well, then, give me the +money, and I'll write it down.'" + +"And did you give it?" interrupted I. + +"Stop a moment, sir, and you shall hear. I wrote down the address of +that large school at Kensington, which we pass when we go to Mr Aubrey +White's." + +"What, that tremendous large board with yellow letters--Mrs Let--what is +it?" + +"Mrs Lipscombe's seminary--I always read the board every time I go up +and down. I gave him the address, Miss Johnson, at Mrs Lipscombe's +seminary, Kensington. Well--and here's the ten-pound note, sir, which I +have fairly earned." + +"Fairly earned, Tim?" + +"Yes, fairly earned; for it's all fair to cheat those who would cheat +you.' + +"I cannot altogether agree with you on that point, Tim, but it certainly +is no more than they deserve; but this is matter for reflection. Why +should Melchior wish to find out her address without my +knowledge?--depend upon it, there is something wrong." + +"That's what I said to myself coming home; and I made up my mind, that, +for some reason or another, he wishes to regain possession of her." + +"I entertain the same idea, Timothy, and I am glad you have +disappointed him. I will take care that they shall not find her out, now +that I am upon my guard." + +"But, sir, I wish to draw one good moral from this circumstance; which +is, that if you had been served by any common footman, your interest +would, in all probability, have been sacrificed to the ten-pound note; +and that not only in this instance, but in many others, I did a very +wise thing in taking my present situation." + +"I am but too well aware of that, Tim, my dear fellow," said I, +extending my hand, "and depend upon it, that if I rise, you do. You know +me well enough by this time." + +"Yes, I do, Japhet, and had rather serve you than the first nobleman in +the land. I'm going to purchase a watch with this ten-pound note, and I +never shall look at it without remembering the advantage of keeping a +watch over my tongue." + + + + +Chapter XXXVI + + I fall very much in love with honesty because I find that it is + well received in the world--and to prove my honesty, inform the + whole world that honest I have never been. + + +I proved the will of Major Carbonnell, in which there was no difficulty; +and then I sat down to consider in what way I might best husband my +resources. The house was in good repair, and well furnished. At the time +that I lived with the Major, we had our drawing-room, and his bedroom, +and another room equally large, used as his dressing-room, on the first +floor. The second floor was appropriated to me, and the sitting-room was +used as a dining-room when we dined at home, which was but seldom. The +basement was let as a shop, at one hundred pounds per annum, but we had +a private door for entrance, and the kitchens and attics. I resolved to +retain only the first floor, and let the remainder of the house; and I +very soon got a tenant at sixty pounds per annum. The attics were +appropriated to Timothy and the servants belonging to the lodger. + +After having disposed of what was of no service to me, I found that, +deducting the thousand pounds paid into the banker's, for Lord +Windermear, I had a little above three thousand pounds in ready money, +and what to do with this I could not well decide. I applied to Mr +Masterton, stating the exact amount of my finances, on the day that I +dined with him, and he replied, "You have two good tenants, bringing you +in one hundred and sixty pounds per annum--if this money is put out on +mortgage, I can procure you five per cent., which will be one hundred +and fifty pounds per annum. Now, the question is, do you think that you +can live upon three hundred and ten pounds per annum? You have no rent +to pay, and I should think that, as you are not at any great expense for +a servant, you might, with economy, do very well. Recollect, that if +your money is lent on mortgage, you will not be able to obtain it at a +moment's warning. So reflect well before you decide." + +I consulted with Timothy, and agreed to lend the money, reserving about +two hundred pounds to go on with, until I should receive my rents and +interest. On the Friday I went to dine with Mr Masterton, and narrated +what had passed between me and Lady Maelstrom. He was very much +diverted, and laughed immoderately. "Upon my faith, Mr Newland, but you +have a singular species of madness; you first attack Lord Windermear, +then a bishop, and, to crown all, you attack a dowager peeress. I must +acknowledge, that if you do not find out your parents, it will not be +for want of inquiry. Altogether, you are a most singular character; your +history is most singular, and your good fortune is equally so. You have +made more friends before you have come to age, than most people do in +their whole lives. You commence the world with nothing, and here you +are, with almost a competence--have paid off a loan of one thousand +pounds, which was not required--and are moving in the best society. Now +the only drawback I perceive in all this is, that you are in society +under false colours, having made people suppose that you are possessed +of a large fortune." + +"It was not exactly my assertion, sir." + +"No, I grant, not exactly; but you have been a party to it, and I cannot +allow that there is any difference. Now, do you mean to allow this +supposition to remain uncontradicted?" + +"I hardly know what to say, sir; if I were to state that I have nothing +but a bare competence, it will be only injurious to the memory of Major +Carbonnell. All the world will suppose that he has ruined me, and that I +had the fortune, whereas, on the contrary, it is to him that I am +indebted for my present favourable position." + +"That may be very true, Mr Newland; but if I am to consider you as my +protege, and I may add the protege of Lord Windermear, I must make you +_quite honest_--I will be no party to fraud in any shape. Are you +prepared to resign your borrowed plumes, and appear before the world as +you really are?" + +"There is but one inducement, sir, for me to wish that the world may +still deceive themselves. I may be thrown out of society, and lose the +opportunity of discovering my parents." + +"And pray, Mr Newland, which do you think is more likely to tend to the +discovery, a general knowledge that you are a foundling in search of +your parents, or your present method, of taxing everybody upon +suspicion. If your parents wish to reclaim you, they will then have +their eyes directed towards you, from your position being known; and I +will add, there are few parents who will not be proud of you as a son. +You will have the patronage of Lord Windermear, which will always secure +you a position in society, and the good wishes of all, although, I +grant, that such worldly people as Lady Maelstrom may strike your name +off their porter's list. You will, moreover, have the satisfaction of +knowing that the friends which you make have not been made under false +colours and appearances, and a still further satisfaction, arising from +a good conscience." + +"I am convinced, sir, and I thank you for your advice. I will now be +guided by you in everything." + +"Give me your hand, my good lad, I now will be your friend to the utmost +of my power." + +"I only wish, sir," replied I, much affected, "that you were also my +father." + +"Thank you for the wish, as it implies that you have a good opinion of +me. What do you mean to do?" + +"I have promised my friend Mr Harcourt to go down with him to his +father's." + +"Well?" + +"And before I go I will undeceive him." + +"You are right; you will then find whether he is a friend to you or to +your supposed ten thousand pounds per annum. I have been reflecting, and +I am not aware that anything else can be done at present than +acknowledging to the world who you really are, which is more likely to +tend to the discovery of your parents than any other means, but at the +same time I shall not be idle. All we lawyers have among us strange +secrets, and among my fraternity, to whom I shall speak openly, I think +it possible that something may be found out which may serve as a clue. +Do not be annoyed at being cut by many, when your history is known; +those who cut you are those whose acquaintance and friendship are not +worth having; it will unmask your flatterers from your friends, and you +will not repent of your having been honest; in the end, it is the best +policy, even in a worldly point of view. Come to me as often as you +please; I am always at home to you, and always your friend." + +Such was the result of my dinner with Mr Masterton, which I narrated to +Timothy as soon as I returned home. "Well, Japhet, I think you have +found a real friend in Mr Masterton, and I am glad that you have decided +upon following his advice. As for me, I am not under false colours, I am +in my right situation, and wish no more." + +In pursuance of my promise to Mr Masterton, I called upon Harcourt the +next morning, and after stating my intention to go down for a day or two +into the country to see a little girl who was under my care, I said to +him, "Harcourt, as long as we were only town acquaintances, mixing in +society, and under no peculiar obligation to each other, I did not think +it worth while to undeceive you on a point in which Major Carbonnell was +deceived himself, and has deceived others; but now that you have offered +to introduce me into the bosom of your family, I cannot allow you to +remain in error. It is generally supposed that I am about to enter into +a large property when I come of age; now, so far from that being the +case, I have nothing in the world but a bare competence, and the +friendship of Lord Windermear. In fact, I am a deserted child, ignorant +of my parents, and most anxious to discover them, as I have every reason +to suppose that I am of no mean birth. I tell you this candidly, and +unless you renew the invitation, shall consider that it has not been +given." + +Harcourt remained a short time without answering. "You really have +astonished me, Newland; but," continued he, extending his hand, "I +admire--I respect you, and I feel that I shall like you better. With ten +thousand pounds a-year, you were above me--now we are but equals. I, as +a younger brother, have but a bare competence, as well as you; and as +for parents--for the benefit I now derive from them, I might as well +have none. Not but my father is a worthy, fine old gentleman, but the +estates are entailed; he is obliged to keep up his position in society, +and he has a large family to provide for, and he can do no more. You +have indeed an uncommon moral courage to have made this confession. Do +you wish it to be kept a secret?" + +"On the contrary, I wish the truth to be known." + +"I am glad that you say so, as I have mentioned you as a young man of +large fortune to my father, but I feel convinced, when I tell him this +conversation, he will be much more pleased in taking you by the hand, +than if you were to come down and propose to one of my sisters. I repeat +the invitation with double the pleasure that I gave it at first." + +"I thank you, Harcourt," replied I; "some day I will tell you more. I +must not expect, however, that everybody will prove themselves as noble +in ideas as yourself." + +"Perhaps not, but never mind that. On Friday next then, we start." + +"Agreed." I shook hands and left him. + + + + +Chapter XXXVII + + I try back to recover the lost scent, and discover to my + astonishment, that I have been transported for forgery. + + +The behaviour of Harcourt was certainly a good encouragement, and had I +been wavering in my promise to Mr Masterton, would have encouraged me to +proceed. I returned home with a light heart and a pleasing satisfaction, +from the conviction that I had done right. The next morning I set off +for ----, and, as it was a long while since I had seen Fleta, our meeting +was a source of delight on both sides. I found her very much grown and +improved. She was approaching her fifteenth year, as nearly as we could +guess--of course her exact age was a mystery. Her mind was equally +expanded. Her mistress praised her docility and application, and wished +to know whether I intended that she should be taught music and drawing, +for both of which she had shown a decided taste. To this I immediately +consented, and Fleta hung on my shoulder and embraced me for the +indulgence. She was now fast approaching to womanhood, and my feelings +towards her were more intense than ever. I took the chain of coral and +gold beads from her neck, telling her that I must put it into a secure +place, as much depended upon them. She was curious to know why, but I +would not enter into the subject at that time. One caution I gave her, +in case, by any chance, her retreat should be discovered by the +companions of Melchior, which was, that without I myself came, she was, +on no account, to leave the school, even if a letter from me was +produced, requesting her to come, unless that letter was delivered by +Timothy. I gave the same directions to her mistress, paid up her +schooling and expenses, and then left her, promising not to be so long +before I saw her again. On my return to town I deposited the necklace +with Mr Masterton, who locked it up carefully in his iron safe. + +On the Friday, as agreed, Harcourt and I, accompanied by Timothy and +Harcourt's servant, started on the outside of the coach, as younger +brothers usually convey themselves, for his father's seat in ----shire, +and arrived there in time for dinner. I was kindly received by old Mr +Harcourt and his family, consisting of his wife and three amiable and +beautiful girls. But on the second day, during which interval I presume +Harcourt had an opportunity of undeceiving his father, I was delighted +to perceive that the old gentleman's warmth of behaviour towards me was +increased. I remained there for a fortnight, and never was so happy. I +was soon on the most intimate terms with the whole family, and was +treated as if I belonged to it. Yet when I went to bed every night, I +became more and more melancholy. I felt what a delight it must be to +have parents, sisters, and friends--the bosom of a family to retire +into, to share with it your pleasures and your pains; and the tears +often ran down my cheeks, and moistened my pillow, when I had, not an +hour before, been the happiest of the happy, and the gayest of the gay. +In a family party, there is nothing so amusing as any little talent out +of the general way, and my performances and tricks on cards, &c., in +which Melchior had made me such an adept, were now brought forward as a +source of innocent gratification. When I quitted, I had a general and +hearty welcome to the house from the parents; and the eyes of the +amiable girls, as well as mine, were not exactly dry, as we bade each +other farewell. + +"You told your father, Harcourt, did you not?" + +"Yes, and the whole of them, Japhet; and you must acknowledge, that in +their estimation you did not suffer. My father is pleased with our +intimacy, and advises me to cultivate it. To prove to you that I am +anxious so to do, I have a proposal to make. I know your house as well +as you do, and that you have reserved only the first floor for yourself; +but there are two good rooms on the first floor, and you can dispense +with a dressing-room. Suppose we club together. It will be a saving to +us both, as poor Carbonnell said, when he took you in." + +"With all my heart: I am delighted with the proposal." + +Harcourt then stated what it was his intention to offer for his share of +the apartment; the other expenses to be divided, and his servant +dismissed. I hardly need say, that we did not disagree, and before I had +been a week in town, we were living together. My interview with Mr +Masterton, and subsequent events, had made me forget to call on the +governors of the Foundling Hospital, to ascertain whether there had been +any inquiries after me. On my return to town I went there, and finding +that there was a meeting to be held on the next day, I presented myself. +I was introduced into the room where they were assembled. + +"You wish to speak with the governors of the Hospital, I understand," +said the presiding governor. + +"Yes, sir," replied I; "I have come to ask whether an inquiry has been +made after one of the inmates of this charity, of the name of Japhet +Newland." + +"Japhet Newland!" + +"If you recollect, sir, he was bound to an apothecary of the name of +Cophagus, in consequence of some money which was left with him as an +infant, enclosed in a letter, in which it was said that he would be +reclaimed if circumstances permitted." + +"I recollect it perfectly well--it is now about six years back. I think +there was some inquiry, was there not, Mr G----?" + +"I think that there was, about a year and a half ago; but we will send +for the secretary, and refer to the minutes." + +My heart beat quick, and the perspiration bedewed my forehead, when I +heard this intelligence. At last, my emotion was so great, that I felt +faint. "You are ill, sir," said one of the gentlemen; "quick--a glass of +water." + +The attendant brought a glass of water, which I drank, and recovered +myself. "You appear to be much interested in this young man's welfare." + +"I am, sir," replied I; "no one can be more so." + +The secretary now made his appearance with the register, and after +turning over the leaves, read as follows: "August the 16th--, a +gentleman came to inquire after an infant left here, of the name of +Japhet, with whom money had been deposited--Japhet, christened by order +of the governors, Japhet Newland--referred to the shop of Mr Cophagus, +Smithfield Market. He returned the next day, saying that Mr Cophagus had +retired from business--that the parties in the shop knew nothing for +certain, but believed that the said Japhet Newland had been transported +for life for forgery, about a year before." + +"Good heavens! what an infamous assertion!" exclaimed I, clasping my +hands. + +"On reference back to the calendar, we observed that one J. Newland was +transported for such an offence. Query?" + +"It must have been some other person; but this has arisen from the +vindictive feeling of those two scoundrels who served under Pleggit," +cried I. + +"How can you possibly tell, sir?" mildly observed one of the governors. + +"How can I tell, sir?" replied I, starting from my chair. "Why, I am +_Japhet Newland_ myself, sir." + +"You, sir," replied the governor, surveying my fashionable exterior, my +chains, and bijouterie. + +"Yes, sir, I am the Japhet Newland brought up in this asylum, and who +was apprenticed to Mr Cophagus." + +"Probably, then, sir," replied the president, "you are the Mr Newland +whose name appears at all the fashionable parties in high life?" + +"I believe that I am the same person, sir." + +"I wish you joy upon your success in the world, sir. It would not appear +that it can be very important to you to discover your parents." + +"Sir," replied I, "you have never known what it is to feel the want of +parents and friends. Fortunate as you may consider me to be--and I +acknowledge I have every reason to be grateful for my unexpected rise in +life--I would, at this moment, give up all that I am worth, resume my +Foundling dress, and be turned out a beggar, if I could but discover the +authors of my existence."--I then bowed low to the governors, and +quitted the room. + + + + +Chapter XXXVIII + + Mischief brewing--Timothy and I set our wits to work, and he + resumes his old profession of a gipsy. + + +I hastened home with feelings too painful to be described. I had a +soreness at my heart, an oppression on my spirits, which weighed me +down. I had but one wish--that I was dead. I had already imparted to +Harcourt the history of my life, and when I came in, I threw myself upon +the sofa in despair, and relieved my agonised heart with a flood of +tears. As soon as I could compose myself, I stated what had occurred. + +"My dear Newland, although it has been an unfortunate occurrence in +itself, I do not see that you have so much cause to grieve, for you have +this satisfaction, that it appears there has been a wish to reclaim +you." + +"Yes," replied I, "I grant that, but have they not been told, and have +they not believed, that I have been ignominiously punished for a capital +crime? Will they ever seek me more?" + +"Probably not; you must now seek them. What I should recommend is, that +you repair to-morrow to the apothecary's shop, and interrogate relative +to the person who called to make inquiries after you. If you will allow +me, I will go with you." + +"And be insulted by those malignant scoundrels?" + +"They dare not insult you. As an apothecary's apprentice they would, but +as a gentleman they will quail; and if they do not, their master will +most certainly be civil, and give you all the information which he can. +We may as well, however, not do things by halves; I will borrow my +aunt's carriage for the morning, and we will go in style." + +"I think I will call this evening upon Mr Masterton, and ask his +advice." + +"Ask him to accompany us, Newland, and he will frighten them with libel, +and defamation of character." + +I called upon Mr Masterton, that evening, and told my story. "It is +indeed very provoking, Newland; but keep your courage up, I will go with +you to-morrow, and will see what we can make of it. At what time do you +propose to start?" + +"Will it suit you, sir, if we call at one o'clock?" + +"Yes; so good-night, my boy, for I have something here which I must +contrive to get through before that time." + +Harcourt had procured the carriage, and we picked up Mr Masterton at the +hour agreed, and proceeded to Smithfield. When we drove up to the door +of Mr Pleggit's shop, the assistants at first imagined that it was a +mistake; few handsome carriages are to be seen stopping in this quarter +of the metropolis. We descended and entered the shop, Mr Masterton +inquiring if Mr Pleggit was at home. The shopmen, who had not recognised +me, bowed to the ground in their awkward way; and one ran to call Mr +Pleggit, who was up stairs. Mr Pleggit descended, and we walked into the +back parlour. Mr Masterton then told him the object of our calling, and +requested to know why the gentleman, who had inquired after me, had been +sent away with the infamous fabrication that I had been transported for +forgery. Mr Pleggit protested innocence--recollected, however, that a +person had called--would make every inquiry of his shopmen. The head man +was called in and interrogated--at first he appeared to make a joke of +it, but when threatened by Mr Masterton became humble--acknowledged that +they had said that I was transported, for they had read it in the +newspapers--was sorry for the mistake; said that the gentleman was a +very tall person, very well dressed, very much of a gentleman--could not +recollect his exact dress--was a large built man, with a stern face--but +seemed very much agitated when he heard that I had been transported. +Called twice, Mr Pleggit was not in at first--left his name--thinks the +name was put down on the day book--when he called a second time, Mr +Pleggit was at home, and referred him to them, not knowing what had +become of me. The other shopman was examined, and his evidence proved +similar to that of the first. The day-book was sent for, and the day in +August ---- referred to; there was a name written down on the side of the +page, which the shopman said he had no doubt, indeed he could almost +swear, was the gentleman's name, as there was no other name put down on +that day. The name, as taken down, was _Derbennon_. This was all the +information we could obtain, and we then quitted the shop, and drove off +without there being any recognition of me on the part of Mr Pleggit and +his assistants. + +"I never heard that name before," observed Harcourt to Mr Masterton. + +"It is, in all probability, De Benyon," replied the lawyer; "we must +make allowances for their ignorance. At all events, this is a sort of +clue to follow up. The De Benyons are Irish." + +"Then I will set off for Ireland to-morrow morning, sir," said I. + +"You will do no such thing," replied the lawyer; "but you will call upon +me to-morrow evening, and perhaps I may have something to say to you." + +I did not fail to attend Mr Masterton, who stated that he had made every +inquiry relative to the De Benyons; as he had said, they were an Irish +family of the highest rank, and holding the peerage of De Beauvoir, but +that he had written to his agent in Dublin, giving him directions to +obtain for him every possible information in his power relative to all +the individuals composing it. Till this had been received, all that I +could do was to remain quiet. I then narrated to him the behaviour of +the agent, Mr Iving, to Timothy. "There is some mystery there, most +assuredly," observed Mr Masterton; "When do you go again to ----?" + +I replied, that it was not my intention to go there for some time, +unless he would wish to see the little girl. + +"I do, Newland. I think I must take her under my protection as well as +you. We will go down to-morrow. Sunday is the only day I can spare; but +it must be put down as a work of charity." + +The next day we went down to ----. Fleta was surprised to see me so soon, +and Mr Masterton was much struck with the elegance and classical +features of my little protégée. He asked her many questions, and with +his legal tact, contrived to draw from her many little points relative +to her infant days, which she had, till he put his probing questions, +quite forgotten. As we returned to town, he observed, "You are right, +Japhet, that is no child of humble origin. Her very appearance +contradicts it; but we have, I think, a chance of discovering who she +is--a better one, I'm afraid, than at present we have for your +identification. But never mind, let us trust to perseverance." + +For three weeks I continued to live with Harcourt, but I did not go out +much. Such was the state of my affairs, when Timothy came to my room +one morning, and said, "I do not know whether you have observed it, sir; +but there is a man constantly lurking about here, watching the house, I +believe. I think, but still I'm not quite sure, that I have seen his +face before; but where I cannot recollect." + +"Indeed, what sort of a person may he be?" + +"He is a very dark man, stout, and well made; and is dressed in a sort +of half-sailor, half-gentleman's dress; such as you see put on by those +who belong to the Funny Clubs on the river; but he is not at all a +gentleman himself--quite the contrary. It is now about a week that I +have seen him, every day; and I have watched him, and perceive that he +generally follows you as soon as you go out." + +"Well," replied I, "we must find out what he wants--if we can. Point him +out to me; I will soon see if he is tracing my steps." + +Timothy pointed him out to me after breakfast; I could not recollect the +face, and yet it appeared that I had seen it before. I went out, and +after passing half a dozen streets, I turned round and perceived that +the man was dodging me. I took no notice, but being resolved to try him +again, I walked to the White Horse Cellar, and took a seat inside a +Brentford coach about to start. On my arrival at Brentford I got out, +and perceived that the man was on the roof. Of a sudden it flashed on my +memory--it was the gipsy who had come to the camp with the communication +to Melchior, which induced him to quit it. I recollected him--and his +kneeling down by the stream and washing his face. The mystery was +solved--Melchior had employed him to find out the residence of Fleta. In +all probability they had applied to the false address given by Timothy, +and in consequence were trying, by watching my motions, to find out the +true one. "You shall be deceived, at all events," thought I, as I walked +on through Brentford until I came to a ladies' seminary. I rang the +bell, and was admitted, stating my wish to know the terms of the school +for a young lady, and contrived to make as long a stay as I could, +promising to call again, if the relatives of the young lady were as +satisfied as I professed to be. On my quitting the house, I perceived +that my gipsy attendant was not far off. I took the first stage back, +and returned to my lodgings. When I had told all that had occurred to +Timothy, he replied, "I think, sir, that if you could replace me for a +week or two, I could now be of great service. He does not know me, and +if I were to darken my face, and put on a proper dress, I think I should +have no difficulty in passing myself off as one of the tribe, knowing +their slang, and having been so much with them." + +"But what good do you anticipate, Timothy?" + +"My object is to find out where he puts up, and to take the same +quarters--make his acquaintance, and find out who Melchior is, and where +he lives. My knowledge of him and Nattée may perhaps assist me." + +"You must be careful then, Timothy; for he may know sufficient of our +history to suspect you." + +"Let me alone, sir. Do you like my proposal?" + +"Yes, I do; you may commence your arrangements immediately." + + + + +Chapter XXXIX + + I set off on a wild goose chase--and fall in with an old friend. + + +The next morning Timothy had procured me another valet, and throwing off +his liveries, made his appearance in the evening, sending up to say a +man wished to speak to me. He was dressed in highlow boots, worsted +stockings, greasy leather small clothes, a shag waistcoat, and a blue +frock overall. His face was stained of a dark olive, and when he was +ushered in, Harcourt, who was sitting at table with me, had not the +slightest recognition of him. As Harcourt knew all my secrets, I had +confided this; I had not told him what Timothy's intentions were, as I +wished to ascertain whether his disguise was complete. I had merely said +I had given Timothy leave for a few days. + +"Perhaps you may wish me away for a short time," said Harcourt, looking +at Tim. + +"Not at all, my dear Harcourt, why should I? There's nobody here but you +and Timothy." + +"Timothy! excellent--upon my word, I never should have known him." + +"He is going forth on his adventures." + +"And if you please, sir, I will lose no time. It is now dark, and I know +where the gipsy hangs out." + +"Success attend you then; but be careful, Tim. You had better write to +me, instead of calling." + +"I had the same idea; and now I wish you a good evening." + +When Timothy quitted the room, I explained our intentions to Harcourt. +"Yours is a strange adventurous sort of life, Newland; you are +constantly plotted against, and plotting in your turn--mines and +counter-mines. I have an idea that you will turn out some grand +personage after all; for if not, why should there be all this trouble +about you?" + +"The trouble, in the present case, is all about Fleta; who must, by your +argument, turn out some grand personage." + +"Well, perhaps she may. I should like to see that little girl, Newland." + +"That cannot be just now, for reasons you well know; but some other time +it will give me great pleasure." + +On the second day after Tim's departure, I received a letter from him by +the twopenny post. He had made the acquaintance of the gipsy, but had +not extracted any information, being as yet afraid to venture any +questions. He further stated that his new companion had no objection to +a glass or two, and that he had no doubt but that if he could contrive +to make him tipsy, in a few days he would have some important +intelligence to communicate. I was in a state of great mental agitation +during this time. I went to Mr Masterton, and narrated to him all that +had passed. He was surprised and amused, and desired me not to fail to +let him have the earliest intelligence of what came to light. He had not +received any answer as yet from his agent in Dublin. + +It was not until eight days afterwards that I received further +communication from Timothy; and I was in a state of great impatience, +combined with anxiety, lest any accident should have happened. His +communication was important. He was on the most intimate footing with +the man, who had proposed that he should assist him to carry off a +little girl, who was at a school at Brentford. They had been consulting +how this should be done, and Timothy had proposed forging a letter, +desiring her to come up to town, and his carrying it as a livery +servant. The man had also other plans, one of which was to obtain an +entrance into the house by making acquaintance with the servants; +another, by calling to his aid some of the women of his fraternity to +tell fortunes: nothing was as yet decided, but that he was resolved to +obtain possession of the little girl, even if he were obliged to resort +to force. In either case Timothy was engaged to assist. + +When I read this, I more than congratulated myself upon the man's being +on the wrong scent, and that Timothy had hit upon his scheme. Timothy +continued:--that they had indulged in very deep potations last night, +and that the man had not scrupled to say that he was employed by a +person of large fortune, who paid well, and whom it might not be +advisable to refuse, as he had great power. After some difficulty, he +asked Timothy if he had ever heard the name of Melchior in his tribe. +Timothy replied that he had, and that at the gathering he had seen him +and his wife. Timothy at one time thought that the man was about to +reveal everything, but of a sudden he stopped short, and gave evasive +answers. To a question put by Timothy, as to where they were to take the +child if they obtained possession of her, the man had replied, that she +would go over the water. Such were the contents of the letter, and I +eagerly awaited a further communication. + +The next day I called at Long's Hotel upon a gentleman with whom I was +upon intimate terms. After remaining a short time with him, I was +leaving the hotel, when I was attracted by some trunks in the entrance +hall. I started when I read the address of--"A. De Benyon, Esq., to be +left at F----t Hotel, Dublin." I asked the waiter who was by, whether Mr +De Benyon had left the hotel. He replied that he had left it in his own +carriage that morning, and having more luggage than he could take with +him, had desired these trunks to be forwarded by the coach. I had by +that time resumed my serenity. I took out a memorandum-book, wrote down +the address on the trunks, saying that I was sorry not to have seen Mr +De Benyon, and that I would write to him. + +But if I composed myself before the waiter, how did my heart throb as I +hastily passed through Bond Street to my home! I had made up my mind, +upon what very slight grounds the reader must be aware, that this Mr de +Benyon either must be my father, or, if not, was able to tell me who +was. Had not Mr Masterton said that there was a clue--had he not written +to Dublin? The case was to my excited imagination as clear as the +noon-day, and before I arrived at home, I had made up my mind in what +manner I should proceed. It was then about four o'clock. I hastily +packed up my portmanteau--took with me all my ready money, about sixty +pounds, and sent the servant to secure a place in the mail to Holyhead. +He returned, stating that there was a seat taken for me. I waited till +half-past five to see Harcourt, but he did not come home. I then wrote +him a short note, telling him where I was going, and promising to write +as soon as I arrived. + + "Ireland is to be the ground of my future adventures, my dear + Harcourt. Call upon Mr Masterton, and tell him what I have done, + which he surely will approve. Open Timothy's letters, and let me + have their contents. I leave you to arrange and act for me in + every respect until I return. In the meantime believe me, + + "Ever yours, + + "J. Newland." + +I gave the letter to the valet, and calling a coach drove to the office, +and in less than five minutes afterwards was rolling away to Holyhead, +felicitating myself upon my promptitude and decision, little imagining +to what the step I had taken was to lead. + +It was a very dark night in November when I started on my expedition. +There were three other passengers in the mail, none of whom had yet +spoken a word, although we had made several miles of our journey. +Muffled up in my cloak, I indulged in my own reveries as usual, building +up castles which toppled over one after another as I built and rebuilt +again. At last one of the passengers blew his nose, as if to give +warning that he was about to speak; and then inquired of the gentleman +next him if he had seen the evening newspapers. The other replied in the +negative. "It would appear that Ireland is not in a very quiet state, +sir," observed the first. + +"Did you ever read the history of Ireland?" inquired the other. + +"Not very particularly." + +"Then, sir, if you were to take that trouble, you will find that +Ireland, since it was first peopled, never has been in a quiet state, +nor perhaps ever will. It is a species of human volcano--always either +smoking, burning, or breaking out into eruptions and fire." + +"Very true, sir," replied the other. "I am told the White Boys are +mustering in large numbers, and that some of the districts are quite +impassable." + +"Sir, if you had travelled much in Ireland, you would have found out +that many of the districts are quite impassable, without the impediment +of the White Boys." + +"You have been a great deal in Ireland then, sir," replied the other. + +"Yes, sir," said the other with a consequential air, "I believe I may +venture to say that I am in charge of some of the most considerable +properties in Ireland." + +"Lawyer--agent--five per cent.--and so on," muttered the third party, +who sate by me, and had not yet spoken. + +There was no mistaking him--it was my former master, Mr Cophagus; and I +cannot say that I was very well pleased at this intimation of his +presence, as I took it for granted that he would recognise me as soon as +it was daylight. The conversation continued, without any remarks being +made upon this interruption on the part of Mr Cophagus. The agent, it +appeared, had been called to London on business, and was returning. The +other was a professor of music bound to Dublin on speculation. What +called Mr Cophagus in that direction I could not comprehend; but I +thought I would try and find out, I therefore, while the two others were +engaged in conversation, addressed him in a low tone of voice. "Can you +tell me, sir, if the College at Dublin is considered good for the +instruction of surgical pupils?" + +"Country good, at all events plenty of practice--broken heads--and so +on." + +"Have you ever been in Ireland, sir?" + +"Ireland!--never--don't wish to go--must go--old women will +die--executor--botheration--and so on." + +"I hope she has left you a good legacy, sir," replied I. + +"Legacy--humph--can't tell--silver tea-pot--suit of black, and so on. +Long journey--won't pay--can't be helped--old women always troublesome +alive or dead--bury her, come back--and so on." + + + + +Chapter XL + + I deny my master. + + +Although Mr Cophagus was very communicative in his own way, he had no +curiosity with regard to others, and the conversation dropped. The +other two had also asked all the questions which they wished, and we +all, as if by one agreement, fell back in our seats, and shut our eyes, +to court sleep. I was the only one who wooed it in vain. Day broke, my +companions were all in repose, and I discontinued my reveries, and +examined their physiognomies. Mr Cophagus was the first to whom I +directed my attention. He was much the same in face as when I had left +him, but considerably thinner in person. His head was covered with a +white night-cap, and he snored with emphasis. The professor of music was +a very small man, with mustachios; his mouth was wide open, and one +would have thought that he was in the full execution of a bravura. The +third person, who had stated himself to be an agent, was a heavy, +full-faced, coarse-looking personage, with his hat over his eyes, and +his head bent down on his chest, and I observed that he had a small +packet in one of his hands, with his forefinger twisted through the +string. I should not have taken further notice, had not the name of _T. +Iving_, in the corner of the side on which was the direction, attracted +my attention. It was the name of Melchior's London correspondent, who +had attempted to bribe Timothy. This induced me to look down and read +the direction of the packet, and I clearly deciphered, Sir Henry De +Clare, Bart., Mount Castle, Connemara. I took out my tablets, and wrote +down the address. I certainly had no reason for so doing, except that +nothing should he neglected, as there was no saying what might turn out. +I had hardly replaced my tablets when the party awoke, made a sort of +snatch at the packet, as if recollecting it, and wishing to ascertain if +it were safe, looked at it, took off his hat, let down the window, and +then looked round upon the other parties. + +"Fine morning, sir," said he to me, perceiving that I was the only +person awake. + +"Very," replied I, "very fine; but I had rather be walking over the +mountains of Connemara, than be shut up in this close and confined +conveyance." + +"Hah! you know Connemara, then? I'm going there; perhaps you are also +bound to that part of the country? but you are not Irish." + +"I was not born or bred in Ireland, certainly," replied I. + +"So I should say. Irish blood in your veins, I presume." + +"I believe such to be the case," replied I, with a smile, implying +certainty. + +"Do you know Sir Henry de Clare?" + +"Sir Henry de Clare--of Mount Castle--is he not?" + +"The same; I am going over to him. I am agent for his estates, among +others. A very remarkable man. Have you ever seen his wife?" + +"I really cannot tell," replied I; "let me call to mind." + +I had somehow or another formed an idea, that Sir Henry de Clare and +Melchior might be one and the same person; nothing was too absurd or +improbable for my imagination, and I had now means of bringing home my +suspicions. "I think," continued I, "I recollect her--that is, she is a +very tall, handsome woman, dark eyes and complexion." + +"The very same," replied he. + +My heart bounded at the information; it certainly was not any clue to my +own parentage, but it was an object of my solicitude, and connected with +the welfare of Fleta. "If I recollect right," observed I, "there are +some curious passages in the life of Sir Henry?" + +"Nothing very particular," observed the agent, looking out of the +window. + +"I thought that he had disappeared for some time." + +"Disappeared! he certainly did not live in Ireland, because he had +quarrelled with his brother. He lived in England until his brother's +death." + +"How did his brother die, sir?" + +"Killed by a fall when hunting," replied the agent. "He was attempting +to clear a stone wall, the horse fell back on him, and dislocated his +spine. I was on the spot when the accident happened." + +I recollected the imperfect communication of Fleta, who had heard the +gipsy say that "he was dead;" and also the word _horse_ made use of, and +I now felt convinced that I had found out Melchior. "Sir Henry, if I +recollect right, has no family," observed I. + +"No; and I am afraid there is but little chance." + +"Had the late baronet, his elder brother, any family?" + +"What, Sir William? No; or Sir Henry would not have come into the +title." + +"He might have had daughters," replied I. + +"Very true; now I think of it, there was a girl, who died when young." + +"Is the widow of Sir William alive?" + +"Yes; and a very fine woman she is; but she has left Ireland since her +husband's death." + +I did not venture to ask any more questions. Our conversation had roused +Mr Cophagus and the other passenger; and as I had reflected how I should +behave in case of recognition, I wished to be prepared for him. "You +have had a good nap, sir," said I, turning to him. + +"Nap--yes--coach nap, bad--head sore--and so on. Why--bless +me--Japhet--Japhet New--yes--it is." + +"Do you speak to me, sir?" inquired I, with a quiet air. + +"Speak to you--yes--bad memory--hip! quite forgot--old master--shop in +Smithfield--mad bull--and so on." + +"Really, sir," replied I, "I am afraid you mistake me for some other +person." + +Mr Cophagus looked very hard at me, and perceiving that there was no +alteration in my countenance, exclaimed, "Very odd--same nose--same +face--same age too--very odd--like as two pills--beg pardon--made a +mistake--and so on." + +Satisfied with the discomfiture of Mr Cophagus, I turned round, when I +perceived the Irish agent, with whom I had been in conversation, eyeing +me most attentively. As I said before, he was a hard-featured man, and +his small grey eye was now fixed upon me, as if it would have pierced +me through. I felt confused for a moment, as the scrutiny was unexpected +from that quarter; but a few moments' reflection told me, that if Sir +Henry de Clare and Melchior were the same person, and this man his +agent, in all probability he had not been sent to England for nothing; +that if he was in search of Fleta, he must have heard of my name, and +perhaps something of my history. "I appear to have a great likeness to +many people," observed I, to the agent, smiling. "It was but the other +day I was stopped in Bond Street as a Mr Rawlinson" + +"Not a very common face either, sir," observed the agent; "if once seen +not easily forgotten, nor easily mistaken for another." + +"Still such appears to be the case," replied I, carelessly. + +We now stopped to take refreshment. I had risen from the table, and was +going into the passage, when I perceived the agent looking over the +way-bill with the guard. As soon as he perceived me, he walked out in +front of the inn. Before the guard had put up the bill, I requested to +look at it, wishing to ascertain if I had been booked in my own name. It +was so. The four names were, Newland, Cophagus, Baltzi, M'Dermott. I was +much annoyed at this circumstance. M'Dermott was, of course, the name of +the agent; and that was all the information I received in return for my +own exposure, which I now considered certain; I determined, however, to +put a good face on the matter, and when we returned to the coach, again +entered into conversation with Mr M'Dermott, but I found him +particularly guarded in his replies whenever I spoke about Sir Henry or +his family, and I could not obtain any further information. Mr Cophagus +could not keep his eyes off me--he peered into my face--then he would +fall back in the coach. "Odd--very odd--must be--no--says not--um." In +about another half hour, he would repeat his examination, and mutter to +himself. At last, as if tormented with his doubts, he exclaimed, "Beg +pardon--but--you have a name?" + +"Yes," replied I, "I have a name." + +"Well, then--not ashamed. What is it?" + +"My name, sir," replied I, "is Newland;" for I had resolved to +acknowledge to my name, and fall back upon a new line of defence. + +"Thought so--don't know me--don't recollect shop--Mr +Brookes's--Tim--rudiments--and so on." + +"I have not the least objection to tell you my name; but I am afraid you +have the advantage in your recollection of me. Where may I have had the +honour of meeting you?" + +"Meeting--what, quite forgot--Smithfield?" + +"And pray, sir, where may Smithfield be?" + +"Very odd--can't comprehend--same name, same face--don't recollect me, +don't recollect Smithfield?" + +"It may be very odd, sir; but, as I am very well known in London, at the +west end, perhaps we have met there. Lord Windermear's perhaps--Lady +Maelstrom's?"--and I continued mentioning about a dozen of the most +fashionable names. "At all events, you appear to have the advantage of +me; but I trust you will excuse my want of memory, as my acquaintance is +very extensive." + +"I see--quite a mistake--same name, not same person--beg pardon, +sir--apologies--and so on," replied the apothecary, drawing in a long +sigh. + + + + +Chapter XLI + + I turn lawyer. + + +I watched the countenance of the agent, who appeared at last to be +satisfied that there had been some mistake; at least he became more +communicative, and as I no longer put any questions to him relative to +Sir Henry, we had a long conversation. I spoke to him about the De +Benyons, making every inquiry that I could think of. He informed me that +the deceased earl, the father of the present, had many sons, who were +some of them married, and that the family was extensive. He appeared to +know them all, the professions which they had been brought up to, and +their careers in life. I treasured up his information, and, as soon as I +had an opportunity, wrote down all which he had told me. On our arrival +at Holyhead, the weather was very boisterous, and the packet was to +depart immediately. Mr M'Dermott stated his intentions to go over, but +Mr Cophagus and the professor declined, and, anxious as I was to +proceed, I did not wish to be any longer in company with the agent, and, +therefore, also declined going on board. Mr M'Dermott called for a glass +of brandy and water, drank it off in haste, and then, followed by the +porter, with his luggage, went down to embark. + +As soon as he was gone, I burst into a fit of laughter. "Well, Mr +Cophagus, acknowledge that it is possible to persuade a man out of his +senses. You knew me, and you were perfectly right in asserting that I +was Japhet, yet did I persuade you at last that you were mistaken. But I +will explain to you why I did so." + +"All right," said the apothecary, taking my proffered hand, "thought +so--no mistake--handsome fellow--so you are--Japhet Newland--my +apprentice--and so on." + +"Yes, sir," replied I, laughing, "I am Japhet Newland." (I turned round, +hearing a noise, the door had been opened, and Mr M'Dermott had just +stepped in; he had returned for an umbrella, which he had forgotten; he +looked at me, at Mr Cophagus, who still held my hand in his, turned +short round, said nothing, and walked out.) "This is unfortunate," +observed I, "my reason for not avowing myself, was to deceive that very +person, and now I have made the avowal to his face; however, it cannot +be helped." + +I sat down with my old master, and as I knew that I could confide in +him, gave him an outline of my life, and stated my present intentions. + +"I see, Japhet, I see--done mischief--sorry for it--can't be help'd--do +all I can--um--what's to be done?--be your friend--always like you--help +all I can--and so on." + +"But what would you advise, sir?" + +"Advice--bad as physic--nobody takes it--Ireland--wild place--no +law--better go back--leave all to me--find out--and so on." + +This advice I certainly could not consent to follow. + +We argued the matter over for some time, and then it was agreed that we +should proceed together. I was informed by Mr Cophagus that he had +retired with a very handsome fortune, and was living in the country, +about ten miles from the metropolis; that he had been summoned to attend +the funeral of a maiden aunt in Dublin, who had left him executor and +residuary legatee, but that he knew nothing of her circumstances. He was +still a bachelor, and amused himself in giving advice and medicines +gratis to the poor people of the village in which he resided, there +being no resident practitioner within some distance. He liked the +country very much, but there was one objection to it--the cattle. He had +not forgotten the _mad bull_. At a very late hour we retired to our +beds: the next morning the weather had moderated, and, on the arrival of +the mail we embarked, and had a very good passage over. On my arrival at +Dublin I directed my steps to the F----t Hotel, as the best place to make +inquiries relative to Mr De Benyon. Mr Cophagus also put up at the same +hotel, and we agreed to share a sitting-room. + +"Waiter," said I, "do you know a Mr De Benyon?" + +"Yes, sir," replied he; "there is one of the De Benyons at the hotel at +this moment." + +"Is he a married man?" + +"Yes--with a large family." + +"What is his Christian name?" + +"I really cannot tell, sir; but I'll find out for you by to-morrow +morning." + +"When does he leave?" + +"To-morrow, I believe." + +"Do you know where he goes?" + +"Yes, sir, to his own seat." + +The waiter left the room. "Won't do, Japhet," said Cophagus. "Large +family--don't want more--hard times, and so on." + +"No," replied I, "it does not exactly answer; but I may from him obtain +further intelligence." + +"Won't do, Japhet--try another way--large family--want all uncle's +money--um--never tell--good night." + +This remark of Mr Cophagus gave me an idea, upon which I proceeded the +next morning. I sent in my card, requesting the honour of speaking to Mr +De Benyon, stating that I had come over to Ireland on business of +importance, but that, as I must be back if possible by _term_ time, it +would perhaps save much expense and trouble. The waiter took in the +message. "Back by term time--it must be some legal gentleman. Show him +up," said Mr De Benyon. + +I walked in with a business-like air. "Mr De Benyon, I believe?" + +"Yes, sir; will you do me the favour to take a chair?" + +I seated myself, and drew out my memorandum-book. + +"My object, Mr De Benyon, in troubling you, is to ascertain a few +particulars relative to your family, which we cannot so easily find out +in England. There is a _property_ which it is supposed may be claimed by +one of the De Benyons, but which we cannot ascertain until we have a +little search into the genealogical tree." + +"Is the property large?" inquired Mr De Benyon. + +"Not very large," replied I; "but still a very handsome property, I am +told." The reader may surmise that the property referred to was my own +pretty self. "May I ask you a few particulars relative to the present +earl and his brothers?" + +"Most certainly, sir," replied Mr De Benyon; "any information I can give +you will be at your service. The Earl has four brothers. The eldest +Maurice." + +"Is he married?" + +"Yes, and has two children. The next is William." + +"Is he married?" + +"No; nor has he ever been. He is a general in the army. The third is +myself, Henry." + +"You are married, I believe, sir?" + +"Yes, with a large family." + +"May I request you will proceed, sir?" + +"Arthur is the fourth brother. He is lately married, and has two +children." + +"Sir, I feel much obliged to you; it is a curious and intricate affair. +As I am here, I may as well ask one question, although not of great +consequence. The earl is married, I perceive, by the peerage, but I do +not find that he has any children." + +"On the contrary, he has two--and prospects of more. May I now request +the particulars connected with this property?" + +"The exact particulars, sir, I cannot well tell you, as I am not +acquainted with them myself; but the property in question, I rather +think, depends upon a _name_. May I venture to ask the names of all your +children?" + +Mr De Benyon gave me a list _seriatim_, which I put down with great +gravity. + +"Of course, there is no doubt of your second brother not being married. +I believe we ought to have a certificate. Do you know his address?" + +"He has been in the East Indies for many years. He returned home on +furlough, and has now just sailed again for Calcutta." + +"That is unfortunate; we must forward a letter through the India Board. +May I also be favoured with your address, as in all probability it may +be advisable?" + +Mr De Benyon gave me his address. I rose, promised to give him all the +particulars as soon as they were known to me, bowed, and made my exit. +To one who was in his sober senses, there certainly was not any +important information gained; but to me, it was evident that the Mr De +Benyon who was a general in the army was to be interrogated, and I had +almost made up my mind to set off for Calcutta. + + + + +Chapter XLII + + I affront an Irish gentleman, and make a handsome apology, which + is accepted. + + +Before I had gained my own room, I informed Mr Cophagus, who had just +returned from a visit to his maiden aunt's house, of what had passed. + +"Can't see anything in it, Japhet--wild goose chase?--who told +you?--oh! Pleggit's men--sad liars--De Benyon not name, depend upon +it--all stuff, and so on." + +And when I reflected, I could but acknowledge that the worthy +apothecary might be right, and, that I was running after shadows; +but this was only in my occasional fits of despondency. I soon +rallied, and was as sanguine as ever. Undecided how to proceed, and +annoyed by what Cophagus had said, I quitted the hotel, to walk out, +in no very good humour. As I went out, I perceived the agent M'Dermott +speaking to the people in the bar, and the sight of him reminded me of +what, for a moment, I had forgotten, which was, to ascertain whether +Melchior and Sir Henry de Clare were one and the same person. As I +passed a crossing, a man in tattered habiliments, who was sweeping +it, asked for alms, but being in no very charitable humour, I walked +on. He followed me, pestering me so much, that I gave him a tap +with the cane in my hand, saying to him, "Be off, you scoundrel." + +"Oh! very well. Be off, is it you mane? By the blood of the +O'Rourkes but you'll answer for that same, anyhow." + +I passed on, and having perambulated the city of Dublin for some +time, returned to the hotel. A few minutes afterwards, I was told +by the waiter that a Mr O'Donaghan wished to speak to me. "I have +not the honour of his acquaintance," replied I, "but you may show +him up." + +Mr O'Donaghan entered, a tall, thick-whiskered personage, in a +shabby--genteel dress, evidently not made for him, a pair of +white cotton gloves, and a small stick. "I believe that I have the +honour of spaking to the gentleman who crossed over the street +about two hours ago?" + +"Upon my word, sir," replied I, "that is so uncertain a definition, +that I can hardly pretend to say whether I am the person you mean; +indeed, from not having the pleasure of any one's acquaintance +in Dublin, I rather think there must be some mistake." + +"The devil a bit of a mistake, at all at all; for there's the +little bit of cane with which you paid my friend, Mr O'Rourke, the +compliment over his shoulders." + +"I really am quite mystified, sir, and do not understand you; will +you favour me with an explanation?" + +"With all the pleasure in life, for then we shall come to a right +understanding. You were crossing the street, and a gentleman, a +particular friend of mine, with a broom which he carries for his own +amusement, did himself the honour to address you, whereupon of that +same little stick of yours, you did him the honour to give him a +slight taste." + +"What do you mean? do you refer to the sweeper, who was so importunate +when I crossed over the road?" + +"Then, by the powers, you've just hit it, as you did him. That's my +particular friend, Thaddeus O'Rourke, gentleman." + +"Gentleman!" exclaimed I. + +"And with as good and as true Milesian blood as any in Ireland. If you +think, sir, that because my friend, just for his own amusement, thinks +proper to put on the worst of his clothes and carry a broom, just by +way of exercise, to prevent his becoming too lusty, he is therefore to +be struck like a hound, it's a slight mistake, that's all; and here, sir, +is his card, and you will oblige me by mentioning any friend of yours +with whom I may settle all the little points necessary before the +meeting of two gentlemen." + +I could hardly refrain from laughing at this Irish gentleman and his +friend, but I thought it advisable to retain my countenance. "My dear +sir," replied I, "it grieves me to the heart that I should have committed +such an error, in not perceiving the gentility of your friend; had I not +been so careless, I certainly should have requested him to do me the +honour to accept a shilling, instead of having offered him the insult. +I hope it is not now too late?" + +"By the powers, I'm not one of those harum-scarum sort, who would make up +a fight when there's no occasion for it, and as your 'haviour is that of +a gentleman, I think it will perhaps be better to shake hands upon it, +and forget it altogether. Suppose, now, we'll consider that it was all +a mistake? You give the shilling, as you intended to do, I'll swear, +only you were in so great a hurry--and then, perhaps, you'll not object +to throw in another shilling for that same tap with the cane, just to +wipe off the insult as it were, as we do our sins, when we fork out the +money, and receive absolution from the padre; and then, perhaps, you will +not think it too much if I charge another shilling for my time and +trouble, for carrying a message between two gentlemen." + +"On the contrary, Mr O'Donaghan, I think all your demands are reasonable. +Here is the money." + +Mr O'Donaghan took the three shillings. "Then, sir, and many thanks to +you, I'll wish you a good evening, and Mr O'Rourke shall know from me +that you have absolution for the whole, and that you have offered every +satisfaction which one gentleman could expect from another." So saying, +Mr O'Donaghan put his hat on with a firm cock, pulled on his gloves, +manoeuvred his stick, and, with a flourishing bow, took his departure. + +I had hardly dismissed this gentleman, and was laughing to myself at the +ridiculous occurrence, when Mr Cophagus returned, first putting his cane +up to his nose with an arch look, and then laying it down on the table +and rubbing his hands. "Good--warm old lady. No--dead and cold? but left +some thousands--only one legacy--old Tom cat--physic him to-morrow--soon +die, and so on." + +On a more full explanation, I found that the old lady had left about nine +thousand pounds in the funds and bank securities, all of which, with the +exception of twenty pounds per annum to a favourite cat, was left to Mr +Cophagus. I congratulated him upon this accession of fortune. He stated +that the lease of the house and the furniture were still to be disposed +of, and that afterwards he should have nothing more to do; but he wished +me very much to assist him in rummaging over the various cabinets +belonging to the old lady, and which were full of secret drawers; that +in one cabinet alone he had found upwards of fifty pounds in various gold +coins, and that if not well examined, they would probably be sold with +many articles of consequence remaining in them. + +As my only object in Ireland was to find out Sir Henry de Clare, and +identify him (but, really, why I could not have said, as it would have +proved nothing after all), I willingly consented to devote a day to +assist Mr Cophagus in his examination. The next morning after breakfast, +we went together to the house of the old lady, whose name had been +Maitland, as Mr Cophagus informed me. Her furniture was of the most +ancient description, and in every room in the house there was an ormolu, +or Japan cabinet; some of them were very handsome, decorated with +pillars, and silver ornaments. I can hardly recount the variety of +articles, which in all probability had been amassed during the whole of +the old lady's life, commencing with her years of childhood, and ending +with the day of her death. There were antique ornaments, some of +considerable value, miniatures, fans, etuis, notes, of which the ink, +from time, had turned to a light red, packages of letters of her various +correspondents in her days of hope and anticipation, down to those of +solitude and age. We looked over some of them, but they appeared to both +of us to be sacred, and they were, after a slight examination, committed +to the flames. + +After we had examined all the apparent receptacles in these cabinets, we +took them up between us, and shook them, and in most cases found out that +there were secret drawers containing other treasures. There was one +packet of letters which caught my eye, it was from a Miss De Benyon. I +seized it immediately, and showed the inscription to Mr Cophagus. +"Pooh--nothing at all--her mother was a De Benyon." + +"Have you any objection to my looking at these letters?" + +"No--read--nothing in them." + +I laid them on one side, and we proceeded in our search, when Mr Cophagus +took up a sealed packet. "Heh! what's this--De Benyon again? Japhet, look +here." + +I took the packet; it was sealed, and tied with red tape. "Papers +belonging to Lieutenant William De Benyon, to be returned to him at my +decease." "Alice Maitland, _with great_ care," was written at the bottom +of the envelope. + +"This is it, my dear sir," cried I, jumping up and embracing Mr Cophagus +"these are the papers which I require. May I keep them?" + +"Mad--quite mad--go to Bedlam--strait waistcoat--head shaved, and so on." + + + + +Chapter XLIII + + I am not content with minding my own business, but must have a + hand in that of others, by which means I put my foot in it. + + +He then, after his own fashion, told me, that as executor, he must +retain those papers; pointed out to me the little probability there +was of their containing any information relative to my birth, even +allowing that a person of the name of De Benyon did call at the +Foundling to ask for me, which was only a supposition; and, finally, +overthrew all the hopes which had been, for so many days, buoying me +up. When he had finished, I threw myself upon the sofa in despair, and +wished, at the moment, that I had never been born. Still hope again +rose uppermost, and I would have given all I possessed to have been +able to break open the seals of that packet, and have read the contents. +At one moment I was so frantic, that I was debating whether I should not +take them from Mr Cophagus by force, and run off with them. At last I +rose, and commenced reading the letters which I had put aside, but there +was nothing in them but the trifling communications of two young women, +who mentioned what was amusing to them, but uninteresting to those who +were not acquainted with the parties. + +When we had finished, Mr Cophagus collected all together, and putting +them into a box, we returned in a coach to the hotel. The next day Mr +Cophagus had completed all his arrangements, and the day following had +determined to return to England. I walked with him down to the vessel, +and watched it for an hour after it had sailed, for it bore away a packet +of papers, which I could not help imagining were to discover the secret +which I was so eager in pursuit of. A night's sleep made me more +rational, and I now resolved to ascertain where Sir Henry de Clare, or +Melchior, as I felt certain he must be, was to be found. I sent for the +waiter, and asked him if he could inform me. He immediately replied in +the affirmative, and gave his address, Mount Castle, Connemara, asking +me when I intended to set out. It did not strike me till afterwards, +that it was singular that he should be so well acquainted with the +address, and that he should have produced a card with it written upon +it; or, moreover, that he should know that it was my intention to go +there. I took the address, and desired that I might have horses ready +very early the next morning. I then sat down and wrote a letter to +Harcourt, informing him of my proceedings, also one to Mr Masterton +much more explicit, lastly to Timothy, to the care of Harcourt, +requesting him to let me know what had occurred between him and the +gipsies. After dinner, I packed up ready for my journey, and having +settled my bill, I was not sorry to retire to my bed. + +At daylight I was, as I requested, called by the waiter, and taking with +me only a very small portmanteau, having left the rest of my effects in +the charge of the people who kept the hotel, I set off in a post-chaise +on my expedition. I was soon clear of the city, and on a fine smooth road, +and, as I threw myself back in the corner of the chaise, I could not help +asking myself the question--what was the purport of my journey? As the +reader will perceive, I was wholly governed by impulses, and never +allowed reason or common sense to stand in the way of my feelings. "What +have I to do?" replied I to myself; "to find out if Melchior and Sir +Henry de Clare be not one and the same person. And what then?" What +then?--why then I may find out something relative to Fleta's parentage. +Nay, but is that likely--if, as you suppose, Melchior is Sir Henry de +Clare--if, as you suppose, it is he who is now trying to find out and +carry off Fleta--is it probable that you will gain any information from +him? I have an idea that Fleta is the little girl said to have died, who +was the child of his elder brother. Why so? What interest could Melchior +have in stealing his own niece? That I cannot tell. Why did Nattée give +me the necklace? I cannot tell; she would hardly betray her husband. +At all events, there is a mystery, and it can only be unravelled by +being pulled at; and I may learn something by meeting Melchior, whereas, +I shall learn nothing by remaining quiet. This last idea satisfied me, +and for many hours I remained in a train of deep thought, only checked +by paying for the horses at the end of every stage. + +It was now past twelve o'clock, when I found that it was necessary to +change the chaise at every post. The country also, as well as the roads, +had changed much for the worse. Cultivation was not so great, the roads +were mountainous, and civilisation generally disappeared. It was nearly +dark when I arrived at the last post, from whence I was to take horses +to Mount Castle. As usual, the chaise also was to be changed; and I +could not help observing that each change was from bad to worse. Rope +harness was used, and the vehicles themselves were of the most crazy +condition. Still I had travelled very fairly, for an Irish postillion +knows how to make an Irish horse go a very fair pace. I descended from +the chaise, and ordered another out immediately. To this there was no +reply, except, "Wait, your honour; step in a moment, and rest from your +fatigue a little." Presuming this was merely to give them time to get +ready, I walked into the room of the inn, which indeed was very little +better than a hovel, and sat down by the turf fire in company with some +others, whom I could hardly distinguish for smoke. I paid the chaise and +postillion, and soon afterwards heard it drive off, on its way back. +After a few minutes I inquired if the chaise was getting ready. + +"Is it the chaise your honour means?" said the landlady. + +"Yes," replied I, "a chaise on to Mount Castle." + +"Then I am sorry that your honour must wait a little; for our chaise, and +the only one which we have, is gone to the castle, and won't be back till +long after the moon is up. What will your honour please to take?" + +"Not back till moonlight," replied I; "why did you not say so? and I +would have gone on with the other." + +"Is it with the other you mane, your honour? Then if Teddy Driscoll could +make his horses go one step farther than our door, may I never have a +soul to be saved. Will your honour please to sit in the little room +Kathleen shall light a fire." + +Vexed as I was with the idea of passing the night in this horrid place, +there was no help for it: so I took up my portmanteau and followed the +landlady to a small room, if it deserved the appellation, which had been +built after the cottage, and a door broken through the wall into it. +Ceiling there was none, it had only lean-to rafters, with tiles over +head. I took a seat on the only stool that was in the room, and leant +my elbow on the table in no very pleasant humour, when I heard the girl +say, "And why don't you let him go on to the castle? Sure the chaise is +in the yard, and the horses are in the stable." + +"There's orders 'gainst it, Kathleen," replied the landlady. "Mr +M'Dermott was here this blessed day, and who can deny him?" + +"Who is he then?" replied the girl. + +"An attorney with a warrant against Sir Henry; and, moreover, they say +that he's coming to'strain upon the cattle of Jerry O'Toole for the +tithes." + +"He's a bould young chap, at all events," replied the girl, "to come +here all by himself." + +"Oh! but it's not till to-morrow morning, and then we'll have the +troops here to assist him." + +"And does Jerry O'Toole know of this?" + +"Sure enough he does; and I hope there'll be no murder committed in my +house this blessed night. But what can a poor widow do when M'Dermott +holds up his finger? Now, go light the fire, Kathleen, and see if the +poor young man wants anything; it's a burning pity that he shouldn't +have something to comfort him before his misfortunes fall upon him." + +Kathleen made no reply. The horror that I felt at this discourse may +easily be imagined. That it was intended that I should meet with foul +play was certain, and I knew very well that, in such a desolate part +of the country, the murder of an individual, totally unknown, would +hardly be noticed. That I had been held up to the resentment of the +inhabitants as a tithe collector and an attorney with a warrant, was +quite sufficient, I felt conscious, to induce them to make away with me. +How to undeceive them was the difficulty. + + + + +Chapter XLIV + + No hopes of rising next morning alive, as a last chance--I get + into bed. + + +Kathleen came in with fuel to light the fire, and looking rather hard at +me, passed by, and was soon, busy blowing up the turf. She was a very +handsome dark-eyed girl, about nineteen years of age, stout and well +made. "What is your name?" said I. + +"Kathleen, at your service, sir." + +"Listen to me, Kathleen," said I, in a low voice. "You are a woman, +and all women are kind-hearted. I have overheard all that passed between +your mistress and you, and that M'Dermott has stated that I am a tithe +collector and an attorney, with a warrant. I am no such thing. I am a +gentleman who wishes to speak to Sir Henry de Clare on a business which +he does not like to be spoken to about; and to show you what I say is +the truth, it is about the daughter of his elder brother, who was +killed when hunting, and who is supposed to be dead. I am the only +evidence to the contrary; and, therefore, he and M'Dermott have spread +this report that I may come to harm." + +"Is she alive, then?" replied Kathleen, looking up to me with wonder. + +"Yes; and I will not tell Sir Henry where she is, and that is the +reason of their enmity." + +"But I saw her body," replied the girl in a low voice, standing up, +and coming close to me. + +"It was not hers, depend upon it," replied I, hardly knowing what to +answer to this assertion. + +"At all events, it was dressed in her clothes; but it was so long before +it was discovered, that we could make nothing of the features. Well, +I knew the poor little thing, for my mother nursed her. I was myself +brought up at the castle, and lived there till after Sir William was +killed; then we were all sent away." + +"Kathleen! Kathleen!" cried the landlady. + +"Call for everything you can think of one after another," whispered +Kathleen, leaving the room. + +"I cannot make the peat burn," said she to the landlady, after she had +quitted the little room; "and the gentleman wants some whisky." + +"Go out then, and get some from the middle of the stack, Kathleen, and +be quick; we have others to attend besides the tithe proctor. There's +the O'Tooles all come in, and your own Corny is with them." + +"My Corny, indeed!" replied Kathleen; "he's not quite so sure of that." + +In a short time Kathleen returned, and brought some dry peat and a +measure of whisky. "If what you say is true," said Kathleen, "and sure +enough you're no Irish, and very young for a tithe proctor, who must +grow old before he can be such a villain, you are in no very pleasant +way. The O'Tooles are here, and I've an idea they mean no good; for +they sit with all their heads together, whispering to each other, and +all their shillelaghs by their sides." + +"Tell me, Kathleen, was the daughter of Sir William a fair-haired, +blue-eyed girl?" + +"To be sure she was," replied Kathleen, "and like a little mountain +fairy." + +"Now, Kathleen, tell me if you recollect if the little girl or her +mother ever wore a necklace of red beads mixed with gold." + +"Yes, that my lady did; and it was on the child's neck when it was lost, +and when the body was found, it was not with it. Well I recollect that, +for my mother said the child must have been drowned or murdered for +the sake of the gold beads." + +"Then you have proved all I wished, Kathleen; and now I tell you that +this little girl is alive, and that I can produce the necklace which was +lost with her; and more, that she was taken away by Sir Henry himself." + +"Merciful Jesus!" replied Kathleen; "the dear little child that we +cried over so much." + +"But now, Kathleen, I have told you this, to prove to you that I am not +what M'Dermott has asserted, no doubt, with the intention that my brains +shall be knocked out this night." + +"And so they will, sure enough," replied Kathleen, "if you do not +escape." + +"But how am I to escape? and will you assist me?" And I laid down on the +table ten guineas from my purse, "Take that, Kathleen, and it will help +you and Corny. Now will you assist me?" + +"It's Corny that will be the first to knock your brains out," replied +Kathleen, "unless I can stop him. I must go now, and I'll see what can +be done." + +Kathleen would have departed without touching the gold; but I caught +her by the wrist, collected it, and put it into her hand. "That's not +like a tithe proctor, at all events," replied Kathleen; "but my heart +aches, and my head swims, and what's to be done I know not." So saying, +Kathleen quitted the room. + +"Well," thought I, after she had left the room, "at all events, I have +not been on a wrong scent this time. Kathleen has proved to me that Fleta +is the daughter of the late Sir William; and if I escape this snare, +Melchior shall do her justice." Pleased with my having so identified +Melchior and Fleta, I fell into a train of thought, and for the first +time forgot my perilous situation; but I was roused from my meditations +by an exclamation from Kathleen. "No, no, Corny, nor any of ye--not +now--and mother and me to witness it--it shall not be. Corny, hear me, +as sure as blood's drawn, and we up to see it, so sure does Corny +O'Toole never touch this hand of mine." A pause, and whispering followed, +and again all appeared to be quiet. I unstrapped my portmanteau, took +out my pistols, which were loaded, re-primed them, and remained quiet, +determined to sell my life as dearly as possible. + +It was more than half an hour before Kathleen returned; she looked pale +and agitated. "Keep quiet, and do not think of resistance," said she, +"it is useless. I have told my mother all, and she believes you, and +will risk her life to save him who has watched over the little girl whom +she nursed; but keep quiet, we shall soon have them all out of the house. +Corny dare not disobey me, and he will persuade the others." + +She then went out again, and did not return for nearly an hour, when she +was accompanied by her mother. + +"Kathleen has told me all, young sir," said she, "and do what we can, we +will; but we hardly know what to do. To go to the castle would be +madness." + +"Yes," replied I; "but cannot you give me one of your horses to return +the way I came?" + +"That was our intention; but I find that the O'Tooles have taken them all +out of the stable to prevent me; and the house is watched. They will come +at midnight and attack us, that I fully expect, and how to conceal you +puzzles my poor head." + +"If they come, we can but persuade them that he has escaped," replied +Kathleen; "they will no longer watch the house, and he will then have +some chance." + +"There is but one chance," replied the mother, who took Kathleen aside, +and whispered to her. Kathleen coloured to the forehead, and made no +reply. + +"If your mother bids you, Kathleen, there can be no harm." + +"Yes; but if Corny was--" + +"He dare not," replied the mother; "and now put this light out, and do +you get into bed, sir, with your clothes on." They led me to a small +bedroom, a miserable affair; but in that part of the country considered +respectable. "Lie down there," said the mother, "and wait till we call +you." They took the light away, and left me to myself and my own +reflections, which were anything but pleasant. I lay awake, it might +be for two hours, when I heard the sound of feet, and then a whispering +under the window, and shortly afterwards a loud knocking at the door, +which they were attempting to burst open. Every moment I expected that +it would yield to the violence which was made use of, when the mother +came down half-dressed, with a light in her hand, hastened to me, and +desired me to follow her. I did so, and before she left my room, she +threw the window wide open. She led me up a sort of half-stairs, +half-ladder, to a small room, where I found Kathleen sitting up in her +bed, and half-dressed. "O mother! mother!" cried Kathleen. + +"I bid ye do it, child," replied the mother, desiring me to creep into +her daughter's bed, and cover myself up on the side next the wall. + +"Let me put on more clothes, mother." + +"No, no, if you do, they will suspect, and will not hesitate to search. +Your mother bids you." + +The poor girl was burning with shame and confusion. + +"Nay," replied I, "if Kathleen does not wish it, I will not buy my safety +at the expense of her feelings." + +"Yes, yes," replied Kathleen, "I don't mind now; those words of yours +are sufficient. Come in, quick." + + + + +Chapter XLV + + Petticoat interest prevails, and I escape; but I put my head into + the lion's den. + + +There was no time for apology, and stepping over Kathleen, I buried +myself under the clothes by her side. The mother then hastened +downstairs, and arrived at the door just as they had succeeded in forcing +it open, when in pounced a dozen men armed, with their faces blackened. +"Holy Jesus! what is it that you want?" screamed the landlady. + +"The blood of the tithe proctor, and that's what we'll have," replied +the O'Tooles. + +"Not in my house--not in my house!" cried she. "Take him away, at all +events; promise me to take him away." + +"So we will, honey darlint; we'll take him out of your sight, and out +of your hearing too, only show us where he may be." + +"He's sleeping," replied the mother, pointing to the door of the bedroom, +where I had been lying down. + +The party took the light from her hand, and went into the room, where +they perceived the bed empty and the window open. "Devil a bit of a +proctor here, anyhow," cried one of them, "and the window open. He's +off--hurrah! my lads, he can't be far." + +"By the powers! it's just my opinion, Mrs M'Shane," replied the elder +O'Toole, "that he's not quite so far off; so with your lave, or by your +lave, or without your lave, we'll just have a look over the premises." + +"O! and welcome, Mister Jerry O'Toole; if you think I'm the woman to hide +a proctor, look everywhere just as you please." + +The party, headed by Jerry O'Toole, who had taken the light out of Mrs +M'Shane's hand, now ascended the ladder to the upper storey, and as I +lay by Kathleen, I felt that she trembled with fear. After examining +every nook and cranny they could think of, they came to Mrs M'Shane's +room, "O! go in--go in and look, Mr O'Toole; it's a very likely thing +to insinuate that I should have a tithe proctor in my bed. Search, pray," +and Mrs M'Shane led the way into her own room. + +Every part had been examined, except the small sleeping-room of Kathleen; +and the party paused before the door. "We must search," observed O'Toole +doggedly. + +"Search my daughter's! very well, search if you please; it's a fine story +you'll have to tell, how six great men pulled a poor girl out of her bed +to look for a tithe proctor. It will be a credit to you anyhow; and you, +Corny O'Toole, you'll stand well in her good graces, when you come to +talk about the wedding day; and your wife that is to be, pulled out of +her bed by a dozen men. What will ye say to Kathleen, when you affront +her by supposing that a maiden girl has a tithe proctor in bed with her? +D'ye think that ye'll ever have the mother's consent or blessing?" + +"No one goes into Kathleen's room," cried Corny O'Toole, roused by the +sarcasms of Mrs M'Shane. + +"Yes, Corny," replied Mrs M'Shane, "it's not for a woman like me to be +suspected, at all events; so you, and you only, shall go into the room, +if that will content ye, Mr Jerry O'Toole." + +"Yes!" replied the party, and Mrs M'Shane opened the door. + +Kathleen rose up on her elbow, holding the bed clothes up to her throat, +and looking at them, as they entered, said, "O Corny! Corny! this to me?" + +Corny never thought of looking for anybody, his eyes were rivetted upon +his sweetheart. "Murder, Kathleen, is it my fault? Jerry will have it." + +"Are you satisfied, Corny?" said Mrs M'Shane. + +"Sure enough I was satisfied before I came in, that Kathleen would not +have any one in her bedroom," replied Corny. + +"Then good-night, Corny, and it's to-morrow that I'll talk with ye," +replied Kathleen. + +Mrs M'Shane then walked out of the room, expecting Corny to follow; but +he could not restrain himself, and he came to the bedside. Fearful that +if he put his arms round her, he would feel me, Kathleen raised herself, +and allowed him to embrace her. Fortunately the light was not in the +room, or I should have been discovered, as in so doing she threw the +clothes off my head and shoulders. She then pushed back Corny from her, +and he left the room, shutting the door after him. The party descended +the ladder, and as soon as Kathleen perceived that they were all down, +she sprang out of bed and ran into her mother's room. Soon after I heard +them depart. Mrs M'Shane made fast the door, and came up stairs. She +first went to her own room, where poor Kathleen was crying bitterly from +shame and excitement. I had got up when she came into Kathleen's room +for her clothes, and, in about five minutes, they returned together. I +was sitting on the side of the bed when they came in: the poor girl +coloured up when our eyes met. "Kathleen," said I, "you have, in all +probability, saved my life, and I cannot express my thanks. I am only +sorry that your modesty has been put to so severe a trial." + +"If Corny was to find it out," replied Kathleen, sobbing again. "How +could I do such a thing!" + +"Your mother bid you," replied Mrs M'Shane, "and that is sufficient." + +"But what must you think of me, sir?" continued Kathleen. + +"I think that you have behaved most nobly. You have saved an innocent man +at the risk of your reputation, and the loss of your lover. It is not now +that I can prove my gratitude." + +"Yes, yes, promise me by all that's sacred, that you'll never mention it. +Surely you would not ruin one who has tried to serve you." + +"I promise you that, and I hope to perform a great deal more," replied I. +"But now, Mrs M'Shane, what is to be done? Remain here I cannot." + +"No; you must leave, and that very soon. Wait about ten minutes more, and +then they will give up their search and go home. The road to E----" (the +post I had lately come from) "is the best you can take; and you must +travel as fast as you can, for there is no safety for you here." + +"I am convinced that rascal M'Dermott will not leave me till he has rid +himself of me." I then took out my purse, in which I still had nearly +twenty guineas. I took ten of them. "Mrs M'Shane, I must leave you in +charge of my portmanteau, which you may forward by-and-bye, when you +hear of my safety. If I should not be so fortunate, the money is better +in your hands than in the hands of those who will murder me. Kathleen, +God bless you! you are a good girl, and Corny O'Toole will be a happy +man if he knows your value." + +I then wished Kathleen good-bye, and she allowed me to kiss her without +any resistance; but the tears were coursing down her cheeks as I left the +room with her mother. Mrs M'Shane looked carefully out of the windows, +holding the light to ascertain if there was anybody near, and, satisfied +with her scrutiny, she then opened the door, and calling down the saints +to protect me, shook hands with me, and I quitted the house. It was a +dark, cloudy night, and when I first went out, I was obliged to grope, +for I could distinguish nothing. I walked along with a pistol loaded in +each hand, and gained, as I thought, the high road to E----, but I made +a sad mistake; and puzzled by the utter darkness and turnings, I took, +on the contrary, the road to Mount Castle. As soon as I was clear of the +houses and the enclosure, there was more light, and I could distinguish +the road. I had proceeded about four or five miles, when I heard the +sound of horses' hoofs, and shortly afterwards two men rode by me. I +inquired if that was the way to E----. A pause ensued, and a whisper. +"All's right!" replied a deep voice. I continued my way, glad to find +that I had not mistaken it, and cogitating as to what must be the purpose +of two men being out at such an hour. About ten minutes afterwards I +thought I again heard the sound of horses' feet, and it then occurred +to me that they must be highwaymen, who had returned to rob me. I cocked +my pistols, determined to sell my life as dearly as I could, and awaited +their coming up with anxiety; but they appeared to keep at the same +distance, as the sound did not increase. After half an hour I came to +two roads, and was undecided which to take. I stopped and listened--the +steps of the horses were no longer to be heard. I looked round me to +ascertain if I could recognise any object so as to decide me, but I could +not. I took the road to the left, and proceeded, until I arrived at a +brook which crossed the road. There was no bridge, and it was too dark +to perceive the stepping stones. I had just waded about half way across, +when I received a blow on the head from behind, which staggered me. I +turned round, but before I could see my assailant, a second blow laid +me senseless in the water. + + + + +Chapter XLVI + + Under ground but not yet dead and buried--The prospect anything + but pleasant. + + +When my recollection returned I found myself in the dark, but where, I +knew not. My head ached, and my brain reeled. I sat up for a moment to +collect my senses, but the effort was too painful, I fell back, and +remained in a state of half stupor. Gradually I recovered, and again sat +up. I perceived that I had been lying on a bed of straw, composed of two +or three trusses apparently. I felt with my extended arms on each side +of me, but touched nothing. I opened my eyes, which I had closed again, +and tried to pierce through the obscurity, but in vain--all was dark as +Erebus. I then rose on my feet, and extending my hands before me, walked +five or six steps on one side, till I was clear of the straw, and came +to a wall. I followed the wall about twenty feet, and then touched wood; +groping about, I found it was a door. I then made the circuit of the +walls, and discovered that the other side was built with bins for wine, +which were empty, and I then found myself again at the straw upon which +I had been laid. It was in a cellar no longer used--but where? Again I +lay down upon the straw, and, as it may be imagined, my reflections +were anything but pleasing. "Was I in the power of M'Dermott or +Melchior?" I felt convinced that I was; but my head was too painful for +long thought, and after half an hour's reflection, I gave way to a +sullen state of half-dreaming, half-stupor, in which the forms of +M'Dermott, Kathleen, Melchior, and Fleta, passed in succession before +me. How long I remained in this second species of trance I cannot say, +but I was roused by the light of a candle, which flashed in my eyes. +I started up, and beheld Melchior in his gipsy's dress, just as when I +had taken leave of him. + +"It is to you, then, that I am indebted for this treatment?" replied I. + +"No; not to me," replied Melchior. "I do not command here; but I knew +you when they brought you in insensible, and being employed in the +castle, I have taken upon myself the office of your gaoler, that I +might, if possible, serve you." + +I felt, I knew this to be false, but a moment's reflection told me that +it was better at present to temporise. + +"Who then does the castle belong to, Melchior?" + +"To Sir Henry de Clare." + +"And what can be his object in treating me thus?" + +"That I can tell you, because I am a party concerned. You remember the +little girl, Fleta, who left the gipsy camp with you--she is now +somewhere under your care?" + +"Well, I grant it; but I was answerable only to you about her." + +"Very true, but I was answerable to Sir Henry; and when I could only say +that she was well, he was not satisfied, for family reasons now make him +very anxious that she should return to him; and, indeed, it will be for +her advantage, as she will in all probability be his heir, for he has +satisfactorily proved that she is a near relative." + +"Grant all that, Melchior; but why did not Sir Henry de Clare write to +me on the subject, and state his wishes, and his right to demand his +relative? And why does he treat me in this way? Another question--how +is it that he has recognised me to be the party who has charge of the +little girl? Answer me those questions, Melchior, and then I may talk +over the matter." + +"I will answer the last question first. He knew your name from me, and +it so happened, that a friend of his met you in the coach as you were +coming to Ireland: the same person also saw you at the post-house, and +gave information. Sir Henry, who is a violent man, and here has almost +regal sway, determined to detain you till you surrendered up the child. +You recollect, that you refused to tell his agent, the person whose +address I gave you, where she was to be found, and, vexed at this, he +has taken the law into his own hands." + +"For which he shall smart, one of these days," replied I, "if there is +law in this country." + +"There is a law in England, but very little, and none that will harm +Sir Henry in this part of the country. No officer would venture within +five miles of the castle, I can assure you; for he knows very well that +it would cost him his life; and Sir Henry never quits it from one year's +end to the other. You are in his power, and all that he requires is +information where the child may be found, and an order for her being +delivered to him. You cannot object to this, as he is her nearest +relative. If you comply, I do not doubt but Sir Henry will make you +full amends for this harsh treatment, and prove a sincere friend ever +afterwards." + +"It requires consideration," replied I; "at present, I am too much +hurt to talk." + +"I was afraid so," replied Melchior, "that was one reason why I obtained +leave to speak to you. Wait a moment." + +Melchior then put the candle down on the ground, and went out, and +turned the key. I found, on looking round, that I was right in my +conjectures. I was in a cellar, which, apparently, had long been in +disuse. Melchior soon returned, followed by an old crone, who carried +a basket and a can of water. She washed the blood off my head, put some +alve upon the wounds, and bound them up. She then went away, leaving +the basket. + +"There is something to eat and drink in that basket," observed Melchior; +"but I think, Japhet, you will agree with me, that it will be better to +yield to the wishes of Sir Henry, and not remain in this horrid hole." + +"Very true, Melchior," replied I; "but allow me to ask you a question or +two. How came you here? where is Nattée, and how is it, that after +leaving the camp, I find you so reduced in circumstances, as to be +serving such a man as Sir Henry De Clare?" + +"A few words will explain that," replied he. "In my early days I was +wild, and I am, to tell you the truth, in the power of this man; nay, +I will tell you honestly, my life is in his power; he ordered me to come, +and I dare not disobey him--and he retains me here." + +"And Nattée?" + +"Is quite well, and with me, but not very happy in her present situation; +but he is a dangerous, violent, implacable man, and I dare not disobey +him. I advise you as a friend, to consent to his wishes." + +"That requires some deliberation," replied I, "and I am not one of those +who are to be driven. My feelings towards Sir Henry, after this treatment, +are not the most amicable; besides, how am I to know that Fleta is his +relative?" + +"Well, I can say no more, Japhet. I wish you well out of his hands." + +"You have the power to help me, if that is the case," said I. + +"I dare not." + +"Then you are not the Melchior that you used to be," replied I. + +"We must submit to fate. I must not stay longer; you will find all that +you want in the basket, and more candles, if you do not like being in +the dark. I do not think I shall be permitted to come again, till +to-morrow." + +Melchior then went out, locked the door after him, and I was left to +my meditations. + + + + +Chapter XLVII + + A friend in need is a friend in deed--The tables are turned and + so is the key--The issue in deep tragedy. + + +Was it possible that which Melchior said was true? A little reflection +told me that it was all false, and that he was himself Sir Henry de Clare. +I was in his power, and what might be the result? He might detain me, but +he dare not murder me. Dare not! My heart sank when I considered where I +was, and how easy would it be for him to despatch me, if so inclined, +without any one ever being aware of my fate. I lighted a whole candle, +that I might not find myself in the dark when I rose, and exhausted in +body and mind, was soon fast asleep. I must have slept many hours, for +when I awoke I was in darkness--the candle had burnt out. I groped for +the basket, and examined the contents with my hands, and found a +tinder-box. I struck a light, and then feeling hungry and weak, refreshed +myself with the eatables it contained, which were excellent, as well as +the wine. I had replaced the remainder, when the key again turned in the +door, and Melchior made his appearance. + +"How do you feel, Japhet, to-day?" + +"To-day!" replied I; "day and night are the same to me." + +"That is your own fault," replied he. "Have you considered what I +proposed to you yesterday?" + +"Yes," replied I; "and I will agree to this. Let Sir Henry give me +my liberty, come over to England, prove his relationship to Fleta, +and I will give her up. What can he ask for more?" + +"He will hardly consent to that," replied Melchior; "for, once in +England, you will take a warrant out against him." + +"No; on my honour I will not, Melchior." + +"He will not trust to that." + +"Then he must judge of others by himself," replied I. + +"Have you no other terms to propose," replied Melchior. + +"None." + +"Then I will carry your message, and give you his answer to-morrow." + +Melchior then brought in another basket, and took away the former, and +did not make his appearance till the next day. I now had recovered my +strength, and determined to take some decided measures, but how to act +I knew not. I reflected all night, and the next morning (that is, +according to my supposition) I attacked the basket. Whether it was that +ennui or weakness occasioned it, I cannot tell, but either way, I drank +too much wine, and was ready for any daring deed, when Melchior again +the door. + +"Sir Henry will not accept of your terms. I thought not," said Melchior, +"I am sorry--very sorry." + +"Melchior," replied I, starting up; "let us have no more of this +duplicity. I am not quite so ignorant as you suppose. I know who Fleta +is, and who you are." + +"Indeed," replied Melchior; "perhaps you will explain?" + +"I will. You, Melchior, are Sir Henry de Clare; you succeeded to your +estates by the death of your elder brother, from a fall when hunting." + +Melchior appeared astonished. + +"Indeed!" replied he; "pray go on. You have made a gentleman of me." + +"No; rather a scoundrel." + +"As you please; now will you make a lady of Fleta?" + +"Yes, I will. She is your niece." Melchior started back. "Your agent, +M'Dermott, who was sent over to find out Fleta's abode, met me in the +coach, and he has tracked me here, and risked my life, by telling the +people that I was a tithe proctor." + +"Your information is very important," replied Melchior, "You will find +some difficulty to prove all you say." + +"Not the least," replied I, flushed with anger and with wine, "I have +proof positive. I have seen her mother, and I can identify the child by +the necklace which was on her neck when you stole her." + +"Necklace!" cried Melchior. + +"Yes, the necklace put into my hands by your own wife when we parted." + +"Damn her!" replied Melchior. + +"Do not damn her; damn yourself for your villany, and its being brought +to light. Have I said enough, or shall I tell you more?" + +"Pray tell me more." + +"No, I will not, for I must commit others, and that will not do," +replied I; for I felt I had already said too much. + +"You have committed yourself, at all events," replied Melchior; "and now +I tell you, that until--never mind," and Melchior hastened away. + +The door was again locked, and I was once more alone. + +I had time to reflect upon my imprudence. The countenance of Melchior, +when he left me, was that of a demon. Something told me to prepare for +death; and I was not wrong. The next day Melchior came not, nor the next; +my provisions were all gone. I had nothing but a little wine and water +left. The idea struck me, that I was to die of starvation. Was there no +means of escape? None; I had no weapon, no tool, not even a knife. I +had expended all my candles. At last, it occurred to me, that, although +I was in a cellar, my voice might be heard, and I resolved, as a last +effort, to attempt it. I went to the door of the cellar, and shouted at +the top of my lungs, "Murder--murder!" I shouted again and again as loud +as I could, until I was exhausted. As it afterwards appeared, this plan +did prevent my being starved to death, for such was Melchior's villanous +intention. About an hour afterwards I repeated my cries of +"Murder--murder!" and they were heard by the household, who stated to +Melchior, that there was some one shouting murder in the vaults below. +That night, and all the next day, I repeated my cries occasionally. I +was now quite exhausted, I had been nearly two days without food, and my +wine and water had all been drunk. I sat down with a parched mouth and +heated brain, waiting till I could sufficiently recover my voice to +repeat my cries, when I heard footsteps approaching. The key was again +turned in the door, and a light appeared, carried by one of two men +armed with large sledge hammers. + +"It is then all over with me," cried I; "and I never shall find out who +is my father. Come on, murderers, and do your work. Do it quickly." + +The two men advanced without speaking a word; the foremost, who carried +the lantern, laid it down at his feet, and raised his hammer with both +hands, when the other behind him raised his weapon--and the foremost +fell dead at his feet. + + + + +Chapter XLVIII + + Is full of perilous adventures, and in which, the reader may be + assured, there is much more than meets the eye. + + +"Silence," said a voice that I well knew, although his face was +completely disguised. It was _Timothy!_ "Silence, Japhet," again +whispered Timothy; "there is yet much danger, but I will save you, +or die. Take the hammer. Melchior is waiting outside." Timothy put the +lantern in the bin, so as to render it more dark, and led me towards the +door, whispering, "when he comes in, we will secure him." + +Melchior soon made his appearance, and as he entered the cellar, "Is it +all right?" said he, going up to Timothy, and passing me. + +With one blow I felled him to the ground, and he lay insensible. "That +will do," replied Timothy; "now we must be off." + +"Not till he takes my place," replied I, as I shut the door, and locked +it. "Now he may learn what it is to starve to death." + +I then followed Timothy, by a passage which led outside of the castle, +through which he and his companion had been admitted. "Our horses are +close by," said Timothy; "for we stipulated upon leaving the country +after it was done." + +It was just dark when we were safe out of the castle. We mounted our +horses, and set off with all speed. We followed the high road to the post +town to which I had been conveyed, and I determined to pull up at Mrs +M'Shane's, for I was so exhausted that I could go no further. This was +a measure which required precaution, and as there was moonlight, I turned +off the road before I entered the town, or village, as it ought to have +been called, so that we dismounted at the back of Mrs M'Shane's house. +I went to the window of the bedroom where I had lain down, and tapped +gently, again and again, and no answer. At last, Kathleen made her +appearance. + +"Can I come in, Kathleen?" said I; "I am almost dead with fatigue and +exhaustion." + +"Yes," replied she, "I will open the back-door; there is no one here +to-night--it is too early for them." + +I entered, followed by Timothy, and, as I stepped over the threshold, +I fainted. As soon as I recovered, Mrs M'Shane led me up stairs into her +room for security, and I was soon able to take the refreshment I so much +required. I stated what had passed to Mrs M'Shane and Kathleen, who were +much shocked at the account. + +"You had better wait till it is late, before you go on," said Mrs +M'Shane, "it will be more safe; it is now nine o'clock, and the people +will all be moving till eleven. I will give your horses some corn, and +when you are five miles from here, you may consider yourselves as safe. +Holy saints! what an escape!" + +The advice was too good not to be followed, and I was so exhausted, that +I was glad that prudence was on the side of repose. I lay down on Mrs +M'Shane's bed, while Timothy watched over me. I had a short slumber, +and then was awakened by the good landlady, who told me that it was +time for us to quit. Kathleen then came up to me, and said, "I would +ask a favour of you, sir, and I hope you will not refuse it." + +"Kathleen, you may ask anything of me, and depend upon it, I will not +refuse it, if I can grant it." + +"Then, sir," replied the good girl, "you know how I overcame my feelings +to serve you, will you overcome yours for me? I cannot bear the idea +that anyone, bad as he may be, of the family who have reared me, should +perish in so miserable a manner; and I cannot bear that any man, bad as +he is, even if I did not feel obliged to him, should die so full of +guilt, and without absolution. Will you let me have the key, that Sir +Henry de Clare may be released after you are safe and away? I know he +does not deserve any kindness from you; but it is a horrid death, and +a horrid thing to die so loaded with crime." + +"Kathleen," replied I, "I will keep my word with you. Here is the key; +take it up to-morrow morning, and give it to Lady de Clare; tell her +Japhet Newland sent it." + +"I will, and God bless you, sir." + +"Good-bye, sir," said Mrs M'Shane, "you have no time to lose." + +"God bless you, sir," said Kathleen, who now put her arms round me and +kissed me. We mounted our horses and set off. + +We pressed our horses, or rather ponies, for they were very small, till +we had gained about six miles, when we considered that we were, +comparatively speaking, safe, and then drew up, to allow them to recover +their wind. I was very much exhausted myself, and hardly spoke one word +until we arrived at the next post town, when we found everybody in bed. +We contrived, however, to knock them up, and Timothy having seen that +our horses were put into the stable, we lay down till the next morning +upon a bed which happened to be unoccupied. Sorry as were the +accommodations, I never slept so soundly, and woke quite refreshed. The +next morning I stated my intention of posting to Dublin, and asked Tim +what we should do with the horses. + +"They belong to the castle," replied he. + +"Then in God's name, let the castle have them, for I wish for nothing +from that horrid place." + +We stated to the landlord that the horses were to be sent back, and that +the man who took them would be paid for his trouble; and then it occurred +to me, that it would be a good opportunity of writing to Melchior, +_alias_ Sir Henry. I do not know why, but certainly my animosity against +him had subsided, and I did not think of taking legal measures against +him. I thought it, however, right to frighten him. I wrote, therefore, +as follows:-- + + SIR HENRY,--I send you back your horses with thanks, as they have + enabled Timothy and me to escape from your clutches. Your + reputation and your life now are in my power, and I will have + ample revenge. The fact of your intending murder, will be fully + proved by my friend Timothy, who was employed by you in disguise, + and accompanied your gipsy. You cannot escape the sentence of the + law. Prepare yourself, then, for the worst, as it is not my + intention that you shall escape the disgraceful punishment due to + your crimes. + + Yours, JAPHET NEWLAND. + +Having sealed this, and given it to the lad who was to return with the +horses, we finished our breakfast, and took a post-chaise on for Dublin, +where we arrived late in the evening. During our journey I requested +Timothy to narrate what had passed, and by what fortunate chance he had +been able to come so opportunely to my rescue. + +"If you recollect, Japhet," replied Timothy, "you had received one or +two letters from me, relative to the movements of the gipsy, and stating +his intention to carry off the little girl from the boarding-school. My +last letter, in which I had informed you that he had succeeded in gaining +an entrance into the ladies' school at Brentford, could not have reached +you, as I found by your note that you had set off the same evening. The +gipsy, whom I only knew by the name of _Will_, inquired of me the name +by which the little girl was known, and my answer was, Smith; as I took +it for granted that, in a large seminary, there must be one, if not more, +of that name. Acting upon this, he made inquiries of the maid-servant to +whom he paid his addresses, and made very handsome presents, if there was +a Miss Smith in the school; she replied, that there were two, one a young +lady of sixteen, and the other about twelve years old. Of course the one +selected was the younger. Will had seen me in my livery, and his plan was +to obtain a similar one, hire a chariot, and go down to Brentford, with a +request that Miss Smith might be sent up with him immediately, as you +were so ill that you were not expected to live; but previous to his +taking this step, he wrote to Melchior, requesting his orders as to how +he was to proceed when he had obtained the child. The answer from +Melchior arrived. By this time, he had discovered that you were in +Ireland, and intended to visit him; perhaps he had you in confinement, +for I do not know how long you were there, but the answer desired Will +to come over immediately, as there would be in all probability work for +him, that would be well paid for. He had now become so intimate with me, +that he disguised nothing; he showed me the letter, and I asked him what +it meant; he replied that there was somebody to put out of the way, that +was clear. It immediately struck me, that you must be the person if such +was the case, and I volunteered to go with him, to which, after some +difficulty, he consented. We travelled outside the mail, and in four +days we arrived at the castle. Will went up to Melchior, who told him +what it was that he required. Will consented, and then stated he had +another hand with him, which might be necessary, vouching for my doing +anything that was required. Melchior sent for me, and I certainly was +afraid that he would discover me, but my disguise was too good. I had +prepared for it still further, by wearing a wig of light hair, he asked +me some questions, and I replied in a surly, dogged tone, which satisfied +him. The reward was two hundred pounds, to be shared between us; and, as +it was considered advisable that we should not be seen after the affair +was over, by the people about the place, we had the horses provided for +us. The rest you well know. I was willing to make sure that it was you +before I struck the scoundrel, and the first glimpse from the lantern, +and your voice, convinced me." + +"Thank God, Japhet, but I have been of some use to you, at all events." + +"My dear Tim, you have indeed, and you know me too well to think I shall +ever forget it; but now I must first ascertain where the will of the late +Sir William is to be found. We can read it for a shilling, and then I may +discover what are the grounds of Melchior's conduct, for, to me, it is +still inexplicable." + +"Are wills made in Ireland registered here, or at Doctor's Commons in +London?" + +"In Dublin, I should imagine." + +But on my arrival at Dublin I felt so ill, that I was obliged to retire +to bed, and before morning I was in a violent fever. Medical assistance +was sent for, and I was nursed by Timothy with the greatest care, but it +was ten days before I could quit my bed. For the first time, I was +sitting in an easy chair by the fire, when Timothy came in with the +little portmanteau I had left in the care of Mrs M'Shane. "Open it, +Timothy," said I, "and see if there be anything in the way of a note +from them." Timothy opened the portmanteau, and produced one, which was +lying on the top. It was from Kathleen, and as follows:-- + + Dear Sir,--They say there is terrible work at the castle, and + that Sir Henry has blown out his brains, or cut his throat, I + don't know which. Mr M'Dermott passed in a great hurry, but said + nothing to anybody here. I will send you word of what has taken + place as soon as I can. The morning after you went away, I walked + up to the castle and gave the key to the lady, who appeared in a + great fright at Sir Henry not having been seen for so long a + while. They wished to detain me after they had found him in the + cellar with the dead man, but after two hours I was desired to go + away, and hold my tongue. It was after the horses went back that + Sir Henry is said to have destroyed himself. I went up to the + castle, but M'Dermott had given orders for no one to be let in on + any account. + + Yours Kathleen M'Shane. + +"This is news indeed," said I, handing the letter to Timothy. "It must +have been my threatening letter which has driven him to this mad act." + +"Very likely," replied Timothy; "but it was the best thing the scoundrel +could do, after all." + +"The letter was not, however, written, with that intention. I wished to +frighten him, and have justice done to little Fleta--poor child! how glad +I shall be to see her!" + + + + +Chapter XLIX + + Another investigation relative to a child which in the same way + as the former one, ends by the Lady going off in a fit. + + +The next day the newspapers contained a paragraph, in which Sir Henry de +Clare was stated to have committed suicide. No reason could be assigned +for this rash act, was the winding up of the intelligence. I also +received another letter from Kathleen M'Shane, confirming the previous +accounts; her mother had been sent for to assist in laying out the body. +There was now no further doubt, and as soon as I could venture out, I +hastened to the proper office, where I read the will of the late Sir +William. It was very short, merely disposing of his personal property to +his wife, and a few legacies; for, as I discovered, only a small portion +of the estates were entailed with the title, and the remainder was not +only to the heirs male, but the eldest female, should there be no male +heir, with the proviso, that should she marry, the husband was to take +upon himself the name of De Clare. Here, then, was the mystery explained, +and why Melchior had stolen away his brother's child. Satisfied with my +discovery, I determined to leave for England immediately, find out the +dowager Lady de Clare, and put the whole case into the hands of Mr +Masterton. Fortunately, Timothy had money with him sufficient to pay all +expenses, and take us to London, or I should have been obliged to wait +for remittances, as mine was all expended before I arrived at Dublin. +We arrived safe, and I immediately proceeded to my house, where I found +Harcourt, who had been in great anxiety about me. The next morning I +went to my old legal friend, to whom I communicated all that had happened. + +"Well done, Newland," replied he, after I had finished. "I'll bet ten +to one that you find out your father. Your life already would not make +a bad novel. If you continue your hair-breadth adventures in this way, +it will be quite interesting." + +Although satisfied in my own mind that I had discovered Fleta's +parentage, and anxious to impart the joyful intelligence, I resolved not +to see her until everything should be satisfactorily arranged. The +residence of the dowager Lady de Clare was soon discovered by Mr +Masterton; it was at Richmond, and thither he and I proceeded. We were +ushered into the drawing-room, and, to my delight, upon her entrance, I +perceived that it was the same beautiful person in whose ears I had seen +the coral and gold ear-rings matching the necklace belonging to Fleta. I +considered it better to allow Mr Masterton to break the subject. + +"You are, madam, the widow of the late Sir William de Clare." The lady +bowed. "You will excuse me, madam, but I have most important reasons for +asking you a few questions, which otherwise may appear to be intrusive. +Are you aware of the death of his brother, Sir Henry de Clare?" + +"Indeed I was not," replied she. "I seldom look at a paper, and I have +long ceased to correspond with any one in Ireland. May I ask you what +occasioned his death?" + +"He fell by his own hands, madam." + +Lady de Clare covered up her face. "God forgive him!" said she, in a low +voice. + +"Lady de Clare, upon what terms were your husband and the late Sir Henry? +It is important to know." + +"Not on the very best, sir. Indeed, latterly, for years, they never met +or spoke: we did not know what had become of him." + +"Were there any grounds for ill-will?" + +"Many, sir, on the part of the elder brother; but none on that of Sir +Henry, who was treated with every kindness, until he--" Lady de Clare +stopped--"until he behaved very ill to him." + +As we afterwards discovered, Henry de Clare had squandered away the small +portion left him by his father, and had ever after that been liberally +supplied by his eldest brother, until he had attempted to seduce Lady de +Clare, upon which he was dismissed for ever. + +"And now, madam, I must revert to a painful subject. You had a daughter +by your marriage?" + +"Yes," replied the lady, with a deep sigh. + +"How did you lose her? Pray do not think I am creating this distress on +your part without strong reasons." + +"She was playing in the garden, and the nurse, who thought it rather +cold, ran in for a minute to get a handkerchief to tie round her neck. +When the nurse returned, the child had disappeared." Lady de Clare put +her handkerchief up to her eyes. + +"Where did you find her afterwards?" + +"It was not until three weeks afterwards that her body was found in a +pond about a quarter of a mile off." + +"Did the nurse not seek her when she discovered that she was not in +the garden?" + +"She did, and immediately ran in that direction. It is quite strange +that the child could have got so far without the nurse perceiving her." + +"How long is it ago?" + +"It is now nine years." + +"And the age of the child at the time?" + +"About six years old." + +"I think, Newland, you may now speak to Lady de Clare." + +"Lady de Clare, have you not a pair of ear-rings of coral and gold of +very remarkable workmanship?" + +"I have, sir," replied she, with surprise. + +"Had you not a necklace of the same? and if so, will you do me the +favour to examine this?" I presented the necklace. + +"Merciful heaven!" cried Lady de Clare, "it is the very necklace!--it +was on my poor Cecilia when she was drowned, and it was not found with +the body. How came it into your possession, sir? At one time," continued +Lady de Clare, weeping, "I thought that it was possible that the +temptation of the necklace, which has a great deal of gold in it, must, +as it was not found on her corpse, have been an inducement for the +gipsies, who were in the neighbourhood, to drown her; but Sir William +would not believe it, rather supposing that in her struggles in the +water she must have broken it, and that it had thus been detached from +her neck. Is it to return this unfortunate necklace that you have come +here?" + +"No, madam, not altogether. Had you two white ponies at the time?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Was there a mulberry tree in the garden?" + +"Yes, sir," replied the astonished lady. + +"Will you do me the favour to describe the appearance of your child as +she was, at the time that you lost her?" + +"She was--but all mothers are partial, and perhaps I may also be so--a +very fair, lovely little girl." + +"With light hair, I presume?" + +"Yes, sir. But why these questions? Surely you cannot ask them for +nothing," continued she hurriedly. "Tell me, sir, why all these +questions?" + +Mr Masterton replied, "Because, madam, we have some hopes that you have +been deceived, and that it is possible that your daughter was not +drowned." + +Lady de Clare, breathless, and her mouth open, fixed her eyes upon Mr +Masterton, and exclaimed, "Not drowned! O my God! my head!" and then +she fell back insensible. + +"I have been too precipitate," said Mr Masterton, going to her +assistance; "but joy does not kill. Ring for some water, Japhet." + + + + +Chapter L + + In which, if the reader does not sympathise with the parties, he + had better shut the book. + + +In a few minutes Lady de Clare was sufficiently recovered to hear the +outline of our history; and as soon as it was over, she insisted upon +immediately going with us to the school where Fleta was domiciled, as +she could ascertain, by several marks known but to a nurse or mother, +if more evidence was required, whether Fleta was her child or not. To +allow her to remain in such a state of anxiety was impossible, Mr +Masterton agreed, and we posted to ----, where we arrived in the evening. +"Now, gentlemen, leave me but one minute with the child, and when I +ring the bell, you may enter." Lady de Clare was in so nervous and +agitated a state, that she could not walk into the parlour without +assistance. We led her to a chair, and in a minute Fleta was called +down. Perceiving me in the passage, she ran to me. "Stop, my dear Fleta, +there is a lady in the parlour, who wishes to see you." + +"A lady, Japhet?" + +"Yes, my dear, go in." + +Fleta obeyed, and in a minute we heard a scream, and Fleta hastily opened +the door, "Quick! quick! the lady has fallen down." + +We ran in and found Lady de Clare on the floor, and it was some time +before she returned to her senses. As soon as she did, she fell down +on her knees, holding up her hands as in prayer, and then stretched +her arms out to Fleta. "My child! my long-lost child! it is--it is +indeed!" A flood of tears poured forth on Fleta's neck relieved her, +and we then left them together; old Masterton observing, as we took our +seats in the back parlour, + +"By G--, Japhet, you deserve to find your own father!" + +In about an hour Lady de Clare requested to see us. Fleta rushed into my +arms and sobbed, while her mother apologised to Mr Masterton for the +delay and excusable neglect towards him. "Mr Newland, madam, is the +person to whom you are indebted for your present happiness. I will now, +if you please, take my leave, and will call upon you to-morrow." + +"I will not detain you, Mr Masterton; but Mr Newland will, I trust, come +home with Cecilia and me; I have much to ask of him." I consented, and Mr +Masterton went back to town; I went to the principal hotel to order a +chaise and horses, while Fleta packed up her wardrobe. + +In half an hour we set off, and it was midnight before we arrived at +Richmond. During my journey I narrated to Lady de Clare every particular +of our meeting with Fleta. We were all glad to go to bed, and the kind +manner in which Lady de Clare wished me good-night, with "God bless you, +Mr Newland!" brought the tears into my eyes. + +I breakfasted alone the next morning, Lady de Clare and her daughter +remaining up stairs. It was nearly twelve o'clock when they made their +appearance, both so apparently happy, that I could not help thinking, +"When shall I have such pleasure--when shall I find out who is my +father?" My brow was clouded as the thought entered my mind, when Lady +de Clare requested that I would inform her who it was to whom she and +her daughter were under such eternal obligations. I had then to relate +my own eventful history, most of which was as new to Cecilia (as she now +must be called) as it was to her mother. I had just terminated the +escape from the castle, when Mr Masterton's carriage drove up to the +door. As soon as he had bowed to Lady de Clare, he said to me, "Japhet, +here is a letter directed to you, to my care, from Ireland, which I have +brought for you." + +"It is from Kathleen M'Shane, sir," replied I, and requesting leave, I +broke the seal. It contained another. I read Kathleen's, and then hastily +opened the other. It was from Nattée, or Lady H. de Clare, and ran as +follows:-- + + "Japhet Newland,--Fleta is the daughter of Sir William de Clare. + Dearly has my husband paid for his act of folly and wickedness, + and to which you must know I never was a party. + + Yours, + + Nattée." + +The letter from Kathleen added more strange information. Lady de Clare, +after the funeral of her husband, had sent for the steward, made every +necessary arrangement, discharged the servants, and then had herself +disappeared, no one knew whither; but it was reported that somebody very +much resembling her had been seen travelling south in company with a +gang of gipsies. I handed both letters over to Lady de Clare and Mr +Masterton. + +"Poor Lady de Clare!" observed the mother. + +"Nattée will never leave her tribe," observed Cecilia quietly. + +"You are right, my dear," replied I. "She will be happier with her tribe +where she commands as a queen, than ever she was at the castle." + +Mr Masterton then entered into a detail with Lady de Clare as to what +steps ought immediately to be taken, as the heirs-at-law would otherwise +give some trouble; and having obtained her acquiescence, it was time to +withdraw. "Mr Newland, I trust you will consider us as your warmest +friends. I am so much in your debt, that I never can repay you; but I am +also in your debt in a pecuniary way--that, at least, you must permit me +to refund." + +"When I require it, Lady de Clare, I will accept it. Do not, pray, vex +me by the proposition. I have not much happiness as it is, although I am +rejoiced at yours and that of your daughter." + +"Come, Lady de Clare, I must not allow you to tease my protege, you do +not know how sensitive he is. We will now take our leave." + +"You will come soon," said Cecilia, looking anxiously at me. + +"You have your mother, Cecilia," replied I; "what can you wish for more? +I am a--nobody--without a parent." + +Cecilia burst into tears; I embraced her, and Mr Masterton and I left +the room. + + + + +Chapter LI + + I return to the gay world, but am not well received; I am quite + disgusted with it and honesty, and everything else. + + +How strange, now that I had succeeded in the next dearest object of my +wishes, after ascertaining my own parentage, that I should have felt so +miserable; but it was the fact, and I cannot deny it. I could hardly +answer Mr Masterton during our journey to town; and when I threw myself +on the sofa in my own room, I felt as if I was desolate and deserted. +I did not repine at Cecilia's happiness; so far from it, I would have +sacrificed my life for her; but she was a creature of my own--one of the +objects in this world to which I was endeared--one that had been +dependent on me and loved me. Now that she was restored to her parent, +she rose above me, and I was left still more desolate. I do not know +that I ever passed a week of such misery as the one which followed a +_denouement_ productive of so much happiness to others, and which had +been sought with so much eagerness, and at so much risk, by myself. It +was no feeling of envy, God knows; but it appeared to me as if everyone +in the world was to be made happy except myself. But I had more to bear +up against. + +When I had quitted for Ireland, it was still supposed that I was a young +man of large fortune--the truth had not been told. I had acceded to Mr +Masterton's suggestions, that I was no longer to appear under false +colours, and had requested Harcourt, to whom I made known my real +condition, that he would everywhere state the truth. News like this +flies like wildfire; there were too many whom, perhaps, when under the +patronage of Major Carbonnell, and the universal rapture from my +supposed wealth, I had treated with hauteur, glad to receive the +intelligence, and spread it far and wide. My _imposition_, as they +pleased to term it, was the theme of every party, and many were the +indignant remarks of the dowagers who had so often indirectly proposed +to me their daughters; and if there was anyone more virulent than the +rest, I hardly need say that it was Lady Maelstrom, who nearly killed +her job horses in driving about from one acquaintance to another, to +represent my unheard-of atrocity in presuming to deceive my betters. +Harcourt, who had agreed to live with me--Harcourt, who had praised my +magnanimity in making the disclosure--even Harcourt fell off; and about +a fortnight after I had arrived in town, told me that not finding the +lodgings so convenient as his former abode, he intended to return to it. +He took a friendly leave; but I perceived that if we happened to meet in +the streets, he often contrived to be looking another way; and at last, +a slight recognition was all that I received. Satisfied that it was +intended, I no longer noticed him; he followed but the example of others. +So great was the outcry raised by those who had hoped to have secured me +as a good match, that any young man of fashion who was seen with me, had, +by many, his name erased from their visiting lists. This decided my fate, +and I was alone. For some time I bore up proudly; I returned a glance +of defiance, but this could not last. The treatment of others received +a slight check from the kindness of Lord Windermear, who repeatedly asked +me to his table; but I perceived that even there, although suffered as a +proteg of his lordship, anything more than common civility was studiously +avoided, in order that no intimacy might result. Mr Masterton, upon whom +I occasionally called, saw that I was unwell and unhappy. He encouraged +me; but, alas! a man must be more than mortal, who, with fine feelings, +can endure the scorn of the world. Timothy, poor fellow, who witnessed +more of my unhappy state of mind than anybody else, offered in vain his +consolation. "And this," thought I, "is the reward of virtue and honesty. +Truly, virtue is its own reward, for it obtains no other. As long as I +was under false colours, allowing the world to deceive themselves, I was +courted and flattered. Now that I have thrown off the mask, and put on +the raiment of truth, I am a despised, miserable being. Yes; but is not +this my own fault? Did I not, by my own deception, bring all this upon +myself? Whether unmasked by others, or by myself, is it not equally true +that I have been playing false, and am now punished for it? What do the +world care for your having returned to truth? You have offended by +deceiving them, and that is an offence which your repentance will not +extenuate." It was but too true, I had brought it all on myself, and +this reflection increased my misery. For my dishonesty, I had been justly +and severely punished: whether I was ever to be rewarded for my +subsequent honesty still remained to be proved; but I knew very well +that most people would have written off such a reward as a bad debt. + +Once I consulted with Mr Masterton as to the chance of there being any +information relative to my birth in the packet left in the charge of Mr +Cophagus. "I have been thinking over it, my dear Newland," said he, "and +I wish I could give you any hopes, but I cannot. Having succeeded with +regard to your little protege, you are now so sanguine with respect to +yourself, that a trifle light as air is magnified, as the poet says, +'into confirmation strong as holy writ.' Now, consider, somebody calls +at the Foundling to ask after you--which I acknowledge to be a +satisfactory point--his name is taken down by an illiterate brute, as +Derbennon; but how you can decide upon the real name, and assume it is +De Benyon, is really more than I can imagine, allowing every scope to +fancy. It is in the first instance, therefore, you are at fault, as +there are many other names which may have been given by the party who +called; nay, more, is it at all certain that the party, in a case like +this, would give his real name? Let us follow it up. Allowing the name +to have been De Benyon, you discover that one brother is not married, +and that there are some papers belonging to him in the possession of an +old woman who dies; and upon these slight grounds what would you attempt +to establish? that because that person was known not to have married, +therefore _he was married_ (for you are stated to have been born in +wedlock): and because there is a packet of papers belonging to him in the +possession of another party, that this packet of papers _must refer_ to +you. Do you not perceive how you are led away by your excited feelings +on the subject?" + +I could not deny that Mr Masterton's arguments had demolished the whole +fabric which I had built up. "You are right, sir," replied I mournfully, +"I wish I were dead." + +"Never speak in that way, Mr Newland, before me," replied the old lawyer +in an angry tone, "without you wish to forfeit my good opinion." + +"I beg your pardon, sir; but I am most miserable. I am avoided by all +who know me--thrown out of all society--I have not a parent or a +relative. Isolated being as I am, what have I to live for?" + +"My dear fellow, you are not twenty-three years of age," replied Mr +Masterton, "and you have made two sincere friends, both powerful in their +own way. I mean Lord Windermear and myself; and you have had the pleasure +of making others happy. Believe me, that is much to have accomplished at +so early an age. You have much to live for--live to gain more +friends--live to gain reputation--live to do good--to be grateful for +the benefits you have received, and to be humble when chastened by +Providence. You have yet to learn where, and only where, true happiness +is to be found. Since you are so much out of spirits, go down to Lady de +Clare's, see her happiness, and that of her little girl; and then, when +you reflect that it was your own work, you will hardly say that you have +lived in vain." I was too much overpowered to speak. After a pause, Mr +Masterton continued, "When did you see them last?" + +"I have never seen them, sir, since I was with you at their meeting." + +"What! have you not called--now nearly two months? Japhet, you are wrong; +they will be hurt at your neglect and want of kindness. Have you written +or heard from them?" + +"I have received one or two pressing invitations, sir; but I have not been +in a state of mind to avail myself of their politeness." + +"Politeness! you are wrong--all wrong, Japhet. Your mind is cankered, or +you never would have used that term. I thought you were composed of +better materials; but it appears, that although you can sail with a fair +wind, you cannot buffet against an adverse gale. Because you are no +longer fooled and flattered by the interested and the designing, like +many others, you have quarrelled with the world. Is it not so?" + +"Perhaps you are right, sir." + +"I know that I am right, and that you are wrong. Now I shall be seriously +displeased if you do not go down and see Lady de Clare and her daughter, +as soon as you can." + +"I will obey your orders, sir." + +"My wishes, Japhet, not my orders. Let me see you when you return. You +must no longer be idle. Consider, that you are about to recommence your +career in life; that hitherto you have pursued the wrong path, from +which you have nobly returned. You must prepare for exertions, and learn +to trust to God and a good conscience. Lord Windermear and I had a long +conversation relative to you yesterday evening; and when you come back, +I will detail to you what are our views respecting your future advantage." + + + + +Chapter LII + + A new character appears, but not a very amiable one; but I attach + myself to him, as drowning men catch at straws. + + +I took my leave, more composed in mind, and the next day I went down to +Lady de Clare's. I was kindly received, more than kindly, I was +affectionately and parentally received by the mother, and by Cecilia as +a dear brother; but they perceived my melancholy, and when they had +upbraided me for my long neglect, they inquired the cause. As I had +already made Lady de Clare acquainted with my previous history, I had +no secrets; in fact, it was a consolation to confide my griefs to them. +Lord Windermear was too much above me--Mr Masterton was too +matter-of-fact--Timothy was too inferior--and they were all men; but the +kind soothing of a woman was peculiarly grateful, and after a sojourn of +three days, I took my leave, with my mind much less depressed than when +I arrived. + +On my return, I called upon Mr Masterton, who stated to me that Lord +Windermear was anxious to serve me, and that he would exert his interest +in any way which might be most congenial to my feelings; that he would +procure me a commission in the army, or a writership to India; or, if I +preferred it, I might study the law under the auspices of Mr Masterton. +If none of these propositions suited me, I might state what would be +preferred, and that, as far as his interest and pecuniary assistance +could avail, I might depend upon it. "So now, Japhet, you may go home +and reflect seriously upon these offers; and when you have made up your +mind what course you will steer, you have only to let me know." + +I returned my thanks to Mr Masterton, and begged that he would convey my +grateful acknowledgments to his lordship. As I walked home, I met a +Captain Atkinson, a man of very doubtful character, whom, by the advice +of Carbonnell, I had always kept at a distance. He had lost a large +fortune by gambling, and having been pigeoned, had, as is usual, ended +by becoming a _rook_. He was a fashionable, well-looking man, of good +family, suffered in society, for he had found out that it was necessary +to hold his position by main force. He was a noted duellist, had killed +his three or four men, and a cut direct from any person was, with him, +sufficient grounds for sending a friend. Everybody was civil to him, +because no one wished to quarrel with him. + +"My dear Mr Newland," said he, offering his hand, "I am delighted to +see you; I have heard at the clubs of your misfortune, and there were +some free remarks made by some. I have great pleasure in saying that I +put an immediate stop to them, by telling them that, if they were +repeated in my presence, I should consider it as a personal quarrel." + +Three months before, had I met Captain Atkinson, I should have returned +his bow with studied politeness, and have left him; but how changed were +my feelings! I took his hand, and shook it warmly. + +"My dear sir," replied I, "I am very much obliged for your kind and +considerate conduct; there are more who are inclined to calumniate than +to defend." + +"And always will be in this world, Mr Newland; but I have a fellow +feeling. I recollect how I was received and flattered when I was +introduced as a young man of fortune, and how I was deserted and +neglected when I was cleaned out. I know now _why_ they are so civil +to me, and I value their civility at just as much as it is worth. Will +you accept my arm:--I am going your way" + +I could not refuse; but I coloured when I took it, for I felt that I +was not adding to my reputation by being seen in his company; and still +I felt, that although not adding to my reputation, I was less likely to +receive insult, and that the same cause which induced them to be civil +to him, would perhaps operate when they found me allied with him. "Be +it so," thought I, "I will, if possible, _extort_ politeness." + +We were strolling down Bond Street, when we met a young man, well known +in the fashionable circles, who had dropped my acquaintance, after +having been formerly most pressing to obtain it. Atkinson faced him. +"Good morning, Mr Oxberry." + +"Good morning, Captain Atkinson," replied Mr Oxberry. + +"I thought you knew my friend Mr Newland?" observed Atkinson, rather +fiercely. + +"Oh! really--I quite--I beg pardon. Good morning, Mr Newland; you have +been long absent. I did not see you at Lady Maelstrom's last night." + +"No," replied I, carelessly, "nor will you ever. When you next see her +ladyship, ask her, with my compliments, whether she has had another +fainting fit." + +"I shall certainly have great pleasure in carrying your message, Mr +Newland--good morning." + +"That fool," observed Atkinson, "will now run all over town, and you will +see the consequence." + +We met one or two others, and to them Atkinson put the same question, "I +thought you knew my friend Mr Newland?" At last, just as we arrived at +my own house in St James's Street, who should we meet but Harcourt. +Harcourt immediately perceived me, and bowed low as he passed on, so +that his bow would have served for both; but Atkinson stopped. "I must +beg your pardon, Harcourt, for detaining you a moment, but what are the +odds upon the Vestris colt for the Derby?" + +"Upon my word, Captain Atkinson, I was told, but I have forgotten." + +"Your memory appears bad, for you have also forgotten your old friend, +Mr Newland." + +"I beg your pardon, Mr Newland." + +"There is no occasion to beg my pardon, Mr Harcourt," interrupted I; +"for I tell you plainly, that I despise you too much to ever wish to be +acquainted with you. You will oblige me, sir, by never presuming to touch +your hat, or otherwise notice me." + +Harcourt coloured, and started back. "Such language, Mr Newland--" + +"Is what you deserve; ask your own conscience. Leave us, sir;" and I +walked on with Captain Atkinson. + +"You have done well, Newland," observed Atkinson; "he cannot submit to +that language, for he knows that I have heard it. A meeting you will of +course have no objection to. It will be of immense advantage to you." + +"None whatever," replied I; "for if there is any one man who deserves to +be punished for his conduct towards me, it is Harcourt. Will you come up, +Captain Atkinson; and, if not better engaged, take a quiet dinner and a +bottle of wine with me?" + +Our conversation during dinner was desultory, but after the first bottle, +Atkinson became communicative, and his history not only made me feel +better inclined towards him, but afforded me another instance, as well +as Carbonnell's, how often it is that those who would have done well, +are first plundered, and then driven to desperation by the heartlessness +of the world. The cases, however, had this difference, that Carbonnell +had always contrived to keep his reputation above water, while that of +Atkinson was gone, and never to be re-established. We had just finished +our wine when a note was brought from Harcourt, informing me that he +should send a friend the next morning for an explanation of my conduct. +I handed it over to Atkinson. "My dear sir, I am at your service," +replied he, "without you have anybody among your acquaintances whom +you may prefer." + +"Thank you," replied I, "Captain Atkinson; it cannot be in better hands." + +"That is settled, then; and now where shall we go?" + +"Wherever you please." + +"Then I shall try if I can win a little money to-night; if you come you +need not play--you can look on. It will serve to divert your thoughts, +at all events." + +I felt so anxious to avoid reflection, that I immediately accepted his +offer, and, in a few minutes, we were in the well-lighted room, and in +front of the _rouge et noir_ table, covered with gold and bank notes. +Atkinson did not commence his play immediately, but pricked the chances +on a card as they ran. After half an hour he laid down his stakes, and +was fortunate. I could no longer withstand the temptation, and I backed +him; in less than an hour we both had won considerably. + +"That is enough," said he to me, sweeping up his money; "we must not try +the slippery dame too long." + +I followed his example, and shortly afterwards we quitted the house. "I +will walk home with you, Newland; never, if you can help it, especially +if you have been a winner, leave a gaming house alone." + +Going home, I asked Atkinson if he would come up; he did so, and then we +examined our winnings. "I know mine," replied he, "within twenty pounds, +for I always leave off at a certain point. I have three hundred pounds, +and something more." + +He had won three hundred and twenty-five pounds. I had won ninety pounds. +As we sat over a glass of brandy and water, I inquired whether he was +always fortunate. "No, of course I am not," replied Atkinson; "but on +the whole, in the course of the year I am a winner of sufficient to +support myself." + +"Is there any rule by which people are guided who play? I observed many +of those who were seated, pricking the chances with great care, and then +staking their money at intervals." + +"_Rouge et noir_ I believe to be the fairest of all games," replied +Atkinson; "but where there is a per centage invariably in favour of the +bank, although one may win and another lose, still the profits must be +in favour of the bank. If a man were to play all the year round, he would +lose the national debt in the end. As for martingales, and all those +calculations, which you observed them so busy with, they are all useless. +I have tried everything, and there is only one chance of success, but +then you must not be a gambler?" + +"Not a gambler?" + +"No; you must not be carried away by the excitement of the game, or you +will infallibly lose. You must have a strength of mind which few have, or +you will be soon cleaned out." + +"But you say that you win on the whole; have you no rule to guide you?" + +"Yes, I have; strange as the chances are, I have been so accustomed to +them, that I generally put down my stake right; when I am once in a run +of luck, I have a method of my own, but what it is I cannot tell; only +this I know, that if I depart from it, I always lose my money. But that +is what you may call good luck, or what you please--it is not a rule." + +"Where, then, are your rules?" + +"Simply these two. The first it is not difficult to adhere to: I make a +rule never to lose but a certain sum if I am unlucky when I +commence--say twenty stakes, whatever may be the amount of the stake +that you play. This rule is easily adhered to, by not taking more money +with you; and I am not one of those to whom the croupier or porters will +lend money. The second rule is the most difficult, and decides whether +you are a gambler or not. I make a rule always to leave off when I have +won a certain sum--or even before, if the chances of my game fluctuate. +There is the difficulty; it appears very foolish not to follow up luck, +but the fact is, fortune is so capricious, that if you trust her more +than an hour, she will desert you. This is my mode of play, and with me +it answers; but it does not follow that it would answer with another. +But it is very late, or rather, very early--I wish you a good-night." + + + + +Chapter LIII + + I become principal instead of second in a duel, and risk my own + and another's life, my own and others' happiness and peace of + mind, because I have been punished as I deserved. + + +After Captain Atkinson had left me, I stated to Timothy what had passed. +"And do you think you will have to fight a duel, sir?" cried Timothy +with alarm. + +"There is no doubt of it," replied I. + +"You never will find your father, sir, if you go on this way," said +Timothy, as if to divert my attention from such a purpose. + +"Not in this world, perhaps, Tim; perhaps I may be sent the right road +by a bullet, and find him in the next." + +"Do you think your father, if dead, has gone to heaven?" + +"I hope so, Timothy." + +"Then what chance have you of meeting him, if you go out of the world +attempting the life of your old friend?" + +"That is what you call a poser, my dear Timothy, but I cannot help +myself; this I can safely say, that I have no animosity against Mr +Harcourt--at least, not sufficient to have any wish to take away his +life." + +"Well, that's something, to be sure; but do you know, Japhet, I'm not +quite sure you hit the right road when you set up for a gentleman." + +"No, Timothy, no man can be in the right road who deceives; I have been +all wrong; and I am afraid I am going from worse to worse: but I cannot +moralise, I must go to sleep, and forget everything if I can." + +The next morning, about eleven o'clock, a Mr Cotgrave called upon me on +the part of Harcourt. I referred him to Captain Atkinson, and he bowed +and quitted the room. Captain Atkinson soon called; he had remained at +home expecting the message, and had made every arrangement with the +second. He stayed with me the whole day; the Major's pistols were +examined and approved of; we dined, drank freely, and he afterwards +proposed that I should accompany him to one of the hells, as they are +called. This I refused, as I had some arrangements to make; and as soon +as he was gone I sent for Timothy. + +"Tim," said I, "if I should be unlucky to-morrow, you are my executor +and residuary legatee. My will was made when in Dublin, and is in the +charge of Mr Cophagus." + +"Japhet, I hope you will allow me one favour, which is, to go to the +ground with you. I had rather be there than remain here in suspense." + +"Of course, my dear fellow, if you wish it," replied I; "but I must go to +bed, as I am to be called at four o'clock--so let's have no +sentimentalising or sermonising. Good-night, God bless you." + +I was, at that time, in a state of mind which made me reckless of life or +of consequences; stung by the treatment which I received, mad with the +world's contumely, I was desperate. True it was, as Mr Masterton said, I +had not courage to buffet against an adverse gale. Timothy did not go +to bed, and at four o'clock was at my side. I rose, dressed myself with +the greatest care, and was soon joined by Captain Atkinson. We then set +off in a hackney-coach to the same spot to which I had, but a few months +before, driven with poor Carbonnell. His memory and his death came like +a cloud over my mind, but it was but for a moment. I cared little for +life. Harcourt and his second were on the ground a few minutes before +us. Each party saluted politely, and the seconds proceeded to business. +We fired, and Harcourt fell, with a bullet above his knee. I went up to +him, and he extended his hand. "Newland," said he, "I have deserved +this. I was a coward, in the first place, to desert you as I did--and a +coward, in the second, to fire at a man whom I had injured. Gentlemen," +continued he, appealing to the seconds, "recollect, I, before you, acquit +Mr Newland of all blame, and desire, if any further accident should +happen to me, that my relations will take no steps whatever against him." + +Harcourt was very pale, and bleeding fast. Without any answer I examined +the wound, and found, by the colour of the blood, and its gushing, that +an artery had been divided. My professional knowledge saved his life. I +compressed the artery, while I gave directions to the others. A +handkerchief was tied tight round his thigh, above the wound--a round +stone selected, and placed under the handkerchief, in the femoral groove, +and the ramrod of one of the pistols then made use of as a winch, until +the whole acted as a tourniquet. I removed my thumbs, found that the +hemorrhage was stopped, and then directed that he should be taken home +on a door, and surgical assistance immediately sent for. + +"You appear to understand these things, sir," said Mr Cotgrave. "Tell +me, is there any danger?" + +"He must suffer amputation," replied I, in a low voice, so that Harcourt +could not hear me. "Pray watch the tourniquet carefully as he is taken +home, for should it slip it will be fatal." + +I then bowed to Mr Cotgrave, and, followed by Captain Atkinson, stepped +into the hackney-coach and drove home. "I will leave you now, Newland," +said Captain Atkinson; "it is necessary that I talk this matter over, +so that it is properly explained." + +I thanked Captain Atkinson for his services, and was left alone; for I +had sent Timothy to ascertain if Harcourt had arrived safe at his +lodgings. Never did I feel more miserable; my anxiety for Harcourt was +indescribable; true, he had not treated me well, but I thought of his +venerable father, who pressed my hand so warmly when I left his +hospitable roof--of his lovely sisters, and the kindness and affection +which they had shown towards me, and our extreme intimacy. I thought +of the pain which the intelligence would give them, and their +indignation towards me, when their brother first made his appearance +at his father's house, mutilated; and were he to die--good God! I was +maddened at the idea. I had now undone the little good I had been able +to do. If I had made Fleta and her mother happy, had I not plunged +another family into misery? + + + + +Chapter LIV + + This is a strange world; I am cut by a man of no character, + because he is fearful that I should injure his character. + + +Timothy returned, and brought me consolation--the bleeding had not +re-commenced, and Harcourt was in tolerable spirits. An eminent surgeon +had been sent for. "Go again, my dear Timothy, and as you are intimate +with Harcourt's servant, you will be able to find out what they are +about." + +Timothy departed, and was absent about an hour, during which I lay on +the sofa, and groaned with anguish. When he returned, I knew by his +face that his intelligence was favourable. "All's right," cried Timothy; +"no amputation after all. It was only one of the smaller arteries which +was severed, and they have taken it up." + +I sprang up from the sofa and embraced Timothy, so happy was I with the +intelligence, and then I sat down again, and cried like a child. At last +I became more composed. I had asked Captain Atkinson to dine with me, +and was very glad when he came. He confirmed Timothy's report, and I was +so overjoyed, that I sat late at dinner, drinking very freely, and when +he again proposed that we should go to the _rouge et noir_ table, I did +not refuse--on the contrary, flushed with wine, I was anxious to go, and +took all the money that I had with me. On our arrival Atkinson played, +but finding that he was not fortunate, he very soon left off. As I had +followed his game, I also had lost considerably, and he entreated me not +to play any more--but I was a gamester it appeared, and I would not pay +attention to him, and did not quit the table until I had lost every +shilling in my pocket. I left the house in no very good humour, and +Atkinson, who had waited for me, accompanied me home. + +"Newland," said he, "I don't know what you may think of me--you may have +heard that I'm a _roué_, &c. &c. &c., but this I always do, which is, +caution those who are gamesters from their hearts. I have watched you +to-night, and I tell you, that you will be ruined if you continue to +frequent that table. You have no command over yourself. I do not know +what your means may be, but this I do know, that if you were a Croesus, +you would be a beggar. I cared nothing for you while you were the Mr +Newland, the admired, and leader of the fashion, but I felt for you when +I heard that you were scouted from society, merely because it was found +out that you were not so rich as you were supposed to be. I had a +fellow-feeling, as I told you. I did not make your acquaintance to win +your money--I can win as much as I wish from the scoundrels who keep the +tables, or from those who would not scruple to plunder others; and I now +entreat you not to return to that place--and am sorry, very sorry, that +ever I took you there. To me, the excitement is nothing--to you, it is +overpowering. You are a gamester, or rather, you have it in your +disposition. Take, therefore, the advice of a friend, if I may so call +myself, and do not go there again. I hope you are not seriously +inconvenienced by what you have lost to-night." + +"Not the least," replied I. "It was ready money. I thank you for your +advice, and will follow it. I have been a fool to-night, and one folly +is sufficient." + +Atkinson then left me. I had lost about two hundred and fifty pounds, +which included my winnings of the night before. I was annoyed at it, +but I thought of Harcourt's safety, and felt indifferent. The reader +may recollect, that I had three thousand pounds, which Mr Masterton +had offered to put out at mortgage for me, but until he could find an +opportunity, by his advice I had bought stock in the three per cents. +Since that he had not succeeded, as mortgages in general are for larger +sums, and it had therefore remained. My rents were not yet due, and I +was obliged to have recourse to this money. I therefore went into the +city, ordered the broker to sell out two hundred pounds, intending to +replace it as soon as I could--for I would not have liked that Mr +Masterton should have known that I had lost money by gambling. When I +returned from the city, I found Captain Atkinson in my apartments + waiting for me. + +"Harcourt is doing well, and you are not doing badly. I have let all +the world know that you intend to call out whoever presumes to treat +you with indifference." + +"The devil you have! but that is a threat which may easier be made +than followed up by deeds." + +"Shoot two or three more," replied Atkinson, coolly, "and then, depend +upon it, you'll have it all your own way. As it is, I acknowledge there +has been some show of resistance, and they talk of making a resolution +not to meet you, on the score of your being an impostor." + +"And a very plausible reason, too," replied I; "nor do I think I have +any right--I am sure I have no intention of doing as you propose. Surely, +people have a right to choose their acquaintance, and to cut me, if they +think I have done wrong. I am afraid, Captain Atkinson, you have +mistaken me; I have punished Harcourt for his conduct towards +me--deserved punishment. I had claims on him; but I have not upon the +hundreds, whom, when in the zenith of my popularity, I myself, perhaps, +was not over courteous to. I cannot _run the muck_ which you propose, +nor do I consider that I shall help my character by so doing. I may +become notorious, but certainly, I shall not obtain that species of +notoriety which will be of service to me. No, no; I have done too much, +I may say, already; and, although not so much to blame as the world +imagines, yet my own conscience tells me, that by allowing it to suppose +that I was what I was not, I have, to say the least, been a party to the +fraud, and must take the consequence. My situation now is very +unpleasant, and I ought to retire, and, if possible, re-appear with real +claims upon the public favour. I have still friends, thank God! and +influential friends. I am offered a writership in India--a commission in +the army--or to study the law. Will you favour me with your opinion?" + +"You pay me a compliment by asking my advice. A writership in India is +fourteen years' transportation, returning with plenty to live on but no +health to enjoy it. In the army you might do well, and moreover, as an +officer in the army, none dare refuse to go out with you. At the same +time, under your peculiar circumstances, I think if you were in a crack +regiment you would, in all probability, have to fight one half the mess, +and be put in Coventry by the other. You must then exchange on half-pay, +and your commission would be a great help to you. As for the law--I'd +sooner see a brother of mine in his coffin. There, you have my opinion." + +"Not a very encouraging one, at all events," replied I, laughing; "but +there is much truth in your observations. To India I will not go, as it +will interfere with the great object of my existence." + +"And pray, if it be no secret, may I ask what that is?" + +"To find out _who is my father._" + +Captain Atkinson looked very hard at me. "I more than once," said he, +"have thought you a little cracked, but now I perceive you are +_mad_--downright _mad_; don't be angry, I couldn't help saying so, and +if you wish me to give you satisfaction, I shall most unwillingly be +obliged." + +"No, no, Atkinson, I believe you are not very far wrong, and I forgive +you--but to proceed. The army, as you say, will give me a position in +society, from my profession being that of a gentleman, but as I do not +wish to take the advantage which you have suggested from the position, +I shrink from putting myself into one which may lead to much +mortification. As for the law, although I do not exactly agree with you +in your abhorrence of the profession, yet I must say, that I do not like +the idea. I have been rendered unfit for it by my life up to the present. +But I am permitted to select any other." + +"Without wishing to pry into your affairs, have you sufficient to live +upon?" + +"Yes, in a moderate way; about a younger brother's portion, which will +just keep me in gloves, cigars, and eau de cologne." + +"Then take my advice and be _nothing._ The only difference I can see +between a gentleman and anybody else, is that one is idle and the other +works hard. One is a useless, and the other a useful, member of society. +Such is the absurdity of the opinions of the world." + +"Yes, I agree with you, and would prefer being a gentleman in that +respect, and do nothing, if they would admit me in every other; but that +they will not do. I am in an unfortunate position." + +"And will be until your feelings become blunted as mine have been," +replied Atkinson. "Had you acquiesced in my proposal, you would have done +better. As it is, I can be of no use to you; nay, without intending an +affront, I do not know if we ought to be seen together, for your decision +not to _fight_ your way is rather awkward, as I cannot back one with +my _support_ who will not do credit to it. Do not be angry at what I say; +you are your own master, and have a right to decide for yourself,--if +you think yourself not so wholly lost as to be able eventually to recover +yourself by other means, I do not blame you, as I know it is only from +an error in judgment, and not from want of courage." + +"At present I am, I acknowledge, lost, Captain Atkinson; but if I succeed +in _finding my father_--" + +"Good morning, Newland, good morning," replied he, hastily. "I see how it +is; of course we shall be civil to each other when we meet, for I wish +you well, but we must not be seen together, or you may injure my +character." + +"Injure _your_ character, Captain Atkinson?" + +"Yes, Mr Newland, injure my character. I do not mean to say but that +there are characters more respectable, but I have _a_ character which +suits me, and it has the merit of consistency. As you are not prepared, +as the Americans say, _to go the whole hog_, we will part good friends, +and if I have said anything to annoy you, I beg your pardon." + +"Good-bye, then, Captain Atkinson; for the kindness you have shown me I +am grateful." He shook my hand, and walked out of the room. "And for +having thus broken up our acquaintance, more grateful still," thought I, +as he went down stairs. + + + + +Chapter LV + + I cut my new acquaintance, but his company, even in so short a + time, proves my ruin--notwithstanding I part with all my + property, I retain my honesty. + + +In the meantime, the particulars of the duel had found their way into the +papers, with various comments, but none of them very flattering to me, +and I received a note from Mr Masterton, who, deceived by the +representations of that class of people who cater for newspapers, and who +are but too glad to pull, if they possibly can, every one to their own +level, strongly animadverted upon my conduct, and pointed out the folly +of it; adding, that Lord Windermear wholly coincided with him in opinion, +and had desired him to express his displeasure. He concluded by +observing, "I consider this to be the most serious false step which you +have hitherto made. Because you have been a party to deceiving the +public, and because one individual, who had no objection to be intimate +with a young man of fashion, station, and affluence, does not wish to +continue the acquaintance with one of unknown birth and no fortune, you +consider yourself justified in taking his life. Upon this principle, all +society is at an end, all distinctions levelled, and the rule of the +gladiator will only be overthrown by the stiletto of the assassin." + +I was but ill prepared to receive this letter. I had been deeply thinking +upon the kind offers of Lord Windermear, and had felt that they would +interfere with the _primum mobile_ of my existence, and I was reflecting +by what means I could evade their kind intentions, and be at liberty to +follow my own inclinations, when this note arrived. To me it appeared to +be the height of injustice. I had been arraigned and found guilty upon +an _ex parte_ statement. I forgot, at the time, that it was my duty to +have immediately proceeded to Mr Masterton, and have fully explained +the facts of the case; and that, by not having so done, I left the +natural impression that I had no defence to offer. I forgot all this, +still I was myself to blame--I only saw that the letter in itself was +unkind and unjust--and my feelings were those of resentment. What right +have Lord Windermear and Mr Masterton thus to school and to insult me? +The right of obligations conferred. But is not Lord Windermear under +obligations to me? Have I not preserved his secret? Yes; but how did I +obtain possession of it? By so doing, I was only making reparation for +an act of treachery. Well, then, at all events, I have a right to be +independent of them, if I please--any one has a right to assert his +independence if he chooses. Their offers of service only would shackle +me, if I accepted of their assistance. I will have none of them. Such +were my reflections; and the reader must perceive that I was influenced +by a state of morbid irritability--a sense of abandonment which +prostrated me. I felt that I was an isolated being without a tie in the +whole world. I determined to spurn the world as it had spurned me. To +Timothy I would hardly speak a word. I lay with an aching head, aching +from increased circulation. I was mad, or nearly so. I opened the case +of pistols, and thought of suicide--reflection alone restrained me. I +could not abandon the search after my father. + +Feverish and impatient, I wished to walk out, but I dared not meet the +public eye. I waited till dark, and then I sallied forth, hardly knowing +where I went. I passed the gaming house--I did pass it, but I returned +and lost every shilling; not, however, till the fluctuations of the game +had persuaded me, that had I had more money to carry it on, I should have +won. + +I went to bed, but not to sleep; I thought of how I had been caressed and +admired, when I was supposed to be rich. Of what use then was the money +I possessed? Little or none. I made up my mind that I would either gain +a fortune, or lose that which I had. The next morning I went into the +city, and sold out all the remaining stock. To Timothy I had not +communicated my intentions. I studiously avoided speaking to him; he felt +hurt at my conduct, I perceived, but I was afraid of his advice and +expostulation. + +At night-fall I returned to the hell--played with various success; at +one time was a winner of three times my capital, and I ended at last +with my pockets being empty. I was indifferent when it was all gone, +although in the highest state of excitement while the chances were +turning up. + +The next day I went to a house agent, and stated my wish to sell my +house, for I was resolved to try fortune to the last. The agent +undertook to find a ready purchaser, and I begged an advance, which he +made, and continued to make, until he had advanced nearly half the value. +He then found a purchaser (himself, as I believe) at two-thirds of its +value. I did not hesitate, I had lost every advance, one after another, +and was anxious to retrieve my fortune or be a beggar. I signed the +conveyance and received the balance, fifteen hundred and fifty pounds, +and returned to the apartments, no longer mine, about an hour before +dinner. I called Timothy, and ascertaining the amount of bills due, +gave him fifty pounds, which left him about fifteen pounds as a residue. +I then sat down to my solitary meal, but just as I commenced I heard a +dispute in the passage. + +"What is that, Timothy?" cried I, for I was nervous to a degree. + +"It's that fellow Emmanuel, sir, who says that he will come up." + +"Yesh, I vill go up, sar." + +"Let him come, Timothy," replied I. Accordingly Mr Emmanuel ascended. +"Well, Emmanuel, what do you want with me?" said I, looking with contempt +at the miserable creature who entered as before, with his body bent +double, and his hand lying over his back. + +"I vash a little out of breath, Mr Newland--I vash come to say dat de +monish is very scarce--dat I vill accept your offer, and vill take de +hundred pounds, and my tousand which I have lent you. You too mush +gentleman not to help a poor old man, ven he ish in distress." + +"Rather say, Mr Emmanuel, that you have heard that I have not ten +thousand pounds per annum, and that you are afraid that you have lost +your money." + +"Loshe my monish!--no--loshe my tousand pound! Did you not say, dat you +would pay it back to me, and give me hundred pounds for my trouble; dat +vash de last arrangement." "Yes, but you refused to take it, so it is not +my fault. You must now stick to the first, which is to receive fifteen +hundred pounds when I come into my fortune." + +"Your fortune, but you av no fortune." + +"I am afraid not; and recollect, Mr Emmanuel, that I never told you that +I had." + +"Vill you pay me my monish, Mr Newland, or vill you go to prison?" + +"You can't put me in prison for an agreement," replied I. + +"No; but I can prosecute you for a swindler." + +"No, you confounded old rascal, you cannot; try, and do your worst," +cried I, enraged at the word swindler. + +"Veil, Mr Newland, if you have not de ten tousand a year, you have de +house and de monish; you vill not cheat a poor man like me." + +"I have sold my house." + +"You have sold de house--den you have neither de house nor de monish. +Oh! my monish, my monish! Sare, Mr Newland, you are one d----d rascal;" +and the old wretch's frame quivered with emotion; his hand behind his +back shaking as much as the other which, in his rage, he shook in my face. + +Enraged myself at being called such an opprobrious term, I opened the +door, twisted him round, and applying my foot to a nameless part, he +flew out and fell down the stairs, at the turning of which he lay, +groaning in pain. "Mine Got, mine Got, I am murdered!" cried he. "Fader +Abraham, receive me." My rage was appeased, and I turned pale at the +idea of having killed the poor wretch. With the assistance of Timothy, +whom I summoned, we dragged the old man upstairs, and placed him in a +chair, and found that he was not very much hurt. A glass of wine was +given to him, and then, as soon as he could speak, his ruling passion +broke out again. "Mishter Newland--ah, Mish-ter New-land, cannot you +give me my monish--cannot you give me de tousand pound, without de +interest? you are very welcome to de interest. I only lend it to oblige +you." + +"How can you expect a d----d rascal to do any such thing?" replied I. + +"D----d rascal! Ah! it vash I who vash a rascal, and vash a fool to say +the word. Mishter Newland, you vash a gentleman, you vill pay me my +monish. You vill pay me part of my monish. I have de agreement in my +pocket, all ready to give up." + +"If I have not the money, how can I pay you?" + +"Fader Abraham, if you have not de monish--you must have some monish; +den you will pay me a part. How much vill you pay me?" + +"Will you take five hundred pounds, and return the agreement?" + +"Five hundred pounds--lose half--oh! Mr Newland--it was all lent in +monish, not in goods; you will not make me lose so much as dat?" + +"I'm not sure that I will give you five hundred pounds; your bond is not +worth two-pence, and you know it." + +"Your honour, Mishter Newland, is worth more dan ten tousand pounds: but +if you have not de monish, den you shall pay me de five hundred pounds +which you offer, and I will give up de paper." + +"I never offered five hundred pounds." + +"Not offer; but you mention de sum, dat quite enough." + +"Well then, for five hundred pounds, you will give up the paper?" + +"Yes; I vash content to loshe all de rest, to please you." + +I went to my desk, and took out five hundred pounds in notes. "Now, +there is the money, which you may put your hands on when you give up the +agreement." The old man pulled out the agreement and laid it on the +table, catching up the notes. I looked at the paper to see if it was all +right, and then tore it up. Emmanuel put the notes, with a heavy sigh, +into his inside coat pocket, and prepared to depart. "Now, Mr Emmanuel, +I will show that I have a little more honour than you think for. This +is all the money I have in the world," said I, taking out of my desk +the remaining thousand pounds, "and half of it I give to you, to pay you +the whole money which you lent me. Here is five hundred pounds more, and +now we are quits." + +The eyes of the old man were fixed upon me in astonishment, and from my +face they glanced upon the notes; he could, to use a common expression, +neither believe his eyes nor his ears. At last he took the money, again +unbuttoned and pulled out his pocket-book, and with a trembling hand +stowed them away as before. + +"You vash a very odd gentleman, Mishter Newland," said he; "you kick me +down stairs, and--but dat is noting." + +"Good-bye, Mr Emmanuel," said I, "and let me eat my dinner." + + + + +Chapter LVI + + I resolve to begin the world again, and to seek my fortune in the + next path--I take leave of all my old friends. + + +The Jew retired, and I commenced my meal, when the door again slowly +opened, and Mr Emmanuel crawled up to me. + +"Mishter Newland, I vash beg your pardon, but vill you not pay me de +interest of de monish?" + +I started up from my chair, with my rattan in my hand. "Begone, you old +thief," cried I; and hardly were the words out of my mouth, before Mr +Emmanuel travelled out of the room, and I never saw him afterwards. I +was pleased with myself for having done this act of honesty, and for the +first time for a long while, I ate my dinner with some zest. After I had +finished, I took a twenty pound note, and laid it in my desk, the +remainder of the five hundred pounds I put in my pocket, to try my last +chance. In an hour I quitted the hell penniless. When I returned home I +had composed myself a little after the dreadful excitement which I had +been under. I felt a calm, and a degree of negative happiness. I knew my +fate--there was no more suspense. I sat down to reflect upon what I +should do. I was to commence the world again--to sink down at once into +obscurity--into poverty--and I felt happy. I had severed the link +between myself and my former condition--I was again a beggar, but I was +independent--and I resolved so to be. I spoke kindly to Timothy, went to +bed, and having arranged in my own mind how I should act, I fell sound +asleep. + +I never slept better, or awoke more refreshed. The next morning I packed +up my portmanteau, taking with me only the most necessary articles; all +the details of the toilet, further than cleanliness was concerned, I +abjured. When Timothy came in, I told him that I was going down to Lady +de Clare's, which I intended to do. Poor Timothy was overjoyed at the +change in my manner, little thinking that he was so soon to lose me--for, +reader, I had made up my mind that I would try my fortunes alone; and, +painful as I felt would be the parting with so valued a friend, I was +determined that I would no longer have even his assistance or company. +I was determined to forget all that had passed, and commence the world +anew. I sat down while Timothy went out to take a place in the Richmond +coach, and wrote to him the following letter:-- + + My Dear Timothy,--Do not think that I undervalue your friendship, + or shall ever forget your regard for me, when I tell you that we + shall probably never meet again. Should fortune favour me, I + trust we shall--but of that there is little prospect. I have lost + almost everything: my money is all gone, my house is sold, and + all is gambled away. I leave you, with only my clothes in my + portmanteau and twenty pounds. For yourself, there is the + furniture, which you must sell, as well as every other article + left behind. It is all yours, and I hope you will find means to + establish yourself in some way. God bless you--and believe me + always and gratefully yours, + + "Japhet Newland." + +This letter I reserved to put in the post when I quitted Richmond. My +next letter was to Mr Masterton. + + "Sir,--Your note I received, and I am afraid that, unwittingly, + you have been the occasion of my present condition. That I did + not deserve the language addressed to me, you may satisfy + yourself by applying to Mr Harcourt. Driven to desperation, I + have lost all I had in the world, by adding gaming to my many + follies. I now am about to seek my fortune, and prosecute my + search after my father. You will, therefore, return my most + sincere acknowledgments to Lord Windermear, for his kind offers + and intentions, and assure him that my feelings towards him will + always be those of gratitude and respect. For yourself, accept my + warmest thanks for the friendly advice and kind interest which + you have shown in my welfare, and believe me, when I say, that my + earnest prayers shall be offered up for your happiness. If you + can, in any way, assist my poor friend, Timothy, who will, I have + no doubt, call upon you in his distress, you will confer an + additional favour on," + + "Yours, ever gratefully," + + "Japhet Newland." + +I sealed this letter, and when Timothy returned, I told him that I +wished him, after my departure, to take it to Mr Masterton's, and not +wait for an answer. I then, as I had an hour to spare, before the coach +started, entered into a conversation with Timothy. I pointed out to him +the unfortunate condition in which I found myself, and my determination +to quit the metropolis. + +Timothy agreed with me. "I have seen you so unhappy of late--I may say, +so miserable--that I have neither eaten nor slept. Indeed, Japhet, I have +laid in bed and wept, for my happiness depends upon yours. Go where you +will, I am ready to follow and to serve you, and as long as I see you +comfortable, I care for nothing else." + +These words of Timothy almost shook my resolution, and I was near +telling him all; but when I recollected, I refrained. "My dear Timothy," +said I, "in this world we must expect to meet with a chequered +existence; we may laugh at one time, but we must cry at others. I owe +my life to you, and I never shall forget you, wherever I may be." + +"No," replied Timothy, "you are not likely to forget one who is hardly +an hour out of your sight." + +"Very true, Timothy; but circumstances may occur which may separate us." + +"I cannot imagine such circumstances, nor do I believe, that bad as +things may turn out, that they will ever be so bad as that. You have +your money and your house; if you leave London, you will be able to add +to your income by letting your own apartments furnished, so we never +shall want; and we may be very happy running about the world, seeking +what we wish to find." + +My heart smote me when Timothy said this, for I felt, by his devotion +and fidelity, he had almost the same claim to the property I possessed, +as myself. He had been my partner, playing the inferior game, for the +mutual benefit. "But the time may come, Timothy, when we may find +ourselves without money, as we were when we first commenced our career, +and shared three-pence halfpenny each, by selling the old woman the +embrocation." + +"Well, sir, and let it come. I should be sorry for you, but not for +myself, for then Tim would be of more importance, and more useful, than +as valet with little or nothing to do." + +I mentally exclaimed, 'I have, I think I have, been a fool, a great fool, +but the die is cast. I will sow in sorrow, and may I reap a harvest in +joy. I feel,' thought I (and I did feel), 'I feel a delightful +conviction, that we shall meet again, and all this misery of parting will +be but a subject of future garrulity.' "Yes, Tim," said I, in a loud +voice, "all is right." + +"All's right, sir; I never thought anything was wrong, except your +annoyance at people not paying you the attention which they used to +do, when they supposed you a man of fortune." + +"Very true; and Tim, recollect that if Mr Masterton speaks to you about +me, which he may after I am gone to Richmond, you tell him that before +I left, I paid that old scoundrel Emmanuel every farthing that I had +borrowed of him, and you know (and in fact so does Mr Masterton), how +it was borrowed." + +"Well, sir, I will, if he does talk to me, but he seldom says much to +me." + +"But he may, perhaps, Tim; and I wish him to know that I have paid every +debt I owe in the world." + +"One would think that you were going to the East Indies, instead of to +Richmond, by the way you talk." + +"No, Tim; I was offered a situation in the East Indies, and I refused +it; but Mr Masterton and I have not been on good terms lately, and I +wish him to know that I am out of debt. You know, for I told you all +that passed between Emmanuel and myself, how he accepted five hundred +pounds, and I paid him the thousand; and I wish Mr Masterton should +know it too, and he will then be better pleased with me." + +"Never fear, sir," said Tim, "I can tell the whole story with +flourishes." + +"No, Tim, nothing but the truth; but it is time I should go. Farewell, +my dear fellow. May God bless you and preserve you." And, overcome by +my feelings, I dropped my face on Timothy's shoulder, and wept. "What +is the matter? What do you mean, Japhet? Mr Newland--pray, sir, what +is the matter?" + +"Timothy--it is nothing," replied I, recovering myself, "but I have +been ill; nervous lately, as you well know, and even leaving the last +and only friend I have, I may say for a few days, annoys and overcomes +me." + +"Oh! sir--dear Japhet, do let us leave this house, and sell your +furniture, and be off." + +"I mean that it shall be so, Tim. God bless you, and farewell." I went +downstairs, the hackney-coach was at the door. Timothy put in my +portmanteau, and mounted the box. I wept bitterly. My readers may despise +me, but they ought not; let them be in my situation, and feel that they +have one sincere faithful friend, and then they will know the bitterness +of parting. I recovered myself before I arrived at the coach, and shaking +hands with Timothy, I lost sight of him; for how long, the reader will +find out in the sequel of my adventures. + +I arrived at Lady de Clare's, and hardly need say that I was well +received. They expressed their delight at my so soon coming again, and +made a hundred inquiries--but I was unhappy and melancholy, not at my +prospects, for in my infatuation I rejoiced at my anticipated +beggary--but I wished to communicate with Fleta, for so I still call +her. Fleta had known my history, for she had been present when I had +related it to her mother, up to the time that I arrived in London; +further than that she knew little. I was determined that before I +quitted she should know all. I dared not trust the last part to her when +I was present, but I resolved that I would do it in writing. + +Lady de Clare made no difficulty whatever of leaving me with Fleta. She +was now a beautiful creature, of between fifteen, and sixteen, bursting +into womanhood, and lovely as the bud of the moss-rose; and she was +precocious beyond her years in _intellect_. I stayed there three days, +and had frequent opportunities of conversing with her; I told her that +I wished her to be acquainted with my whole life, and interrogated her +as to what she knew: I carefully filled up the chasms, until I brought +it down to the time at which I placed her in the arms of her mother. "And +now, Fleta," said I, "you have much more to learn--you will learn that +much at my departure. I have dedicated hours every night in writing it +out; and, as you will find, have analysed my feelings, and have pointed +out to you where I have been wrong. I have done it for my amusement, as +it may be of service even to a female." + +On the third day I took my leave, and requesting the pony chaise of Lady +de Clare, to take me over to ----, that I might catch the first coach +that went westward, for I did not care which; I put into Fleta's hands +the packet which I had written, containing all that had passed, and I +bid her farewell. + +"Lady de Clare, may you be happy," said I. "Fleta--Cecilia, I should +say, may God bless and preserve you, and sometimes think of your sincere +friend, Japhet Newland." + +"Really, Mr Newland," said Lady de Clare, "one would think we were never +to see you again." + +"I hope that will not be the case, Lady de Clare, for I know nobody to +whom I am more devoted." + +"Then, sir, recollect we are to see you very soon." + +I pressed her ladyship's hand, and left the house. Thus did I commence +my second pilgrimage. + + + + +Chapter LVII + + My new career is not very prosperous at its commencement--I am + robbed, and accused of being a robber--I bind up wounds, and am + accused of having inflicted them--I get into a horse-pond, and + out of it into gaol. + + +I had proceeded half a mile from the house, when I desired the servant +to turn into a cross-road so as to gain Brentford; and, so soon as I +arrived, the distance being only four miles, I ordered him to stop at a +public-house, saying that I would wait till the coach should pass by. I +then gave him half-a-crown, and ordered him to go home. I went into the +inn with my portmanteau, and was shown into a small back parlour; there I +remained about half an hour reflecting upon the best plan that I could +adopt. + +Leaving the ale that I had called for untasted, I paid for it, and, with +the portmanteau on my shoulder, I walked away until I arrived at an old +clothes' shop. I told the Jew who kept it, that I required some clothes, +and also wanted to dispose of my own portmanteau and all my effects. I +had a great rogue to deal with; but after much chaffering, for I now felt +the value of money, I purchased from him two pair of corduroy trousers, +two waistcoats, four common shirts, four pairs of stockings, a smock +frock, a pair of high-lows, and a common hat. For these I gave up all my +portmanteau, with the exception of six silk handkerchiefs, and received +fifty shillings, when I ought to have received, at least, ten pounds; but +I could not well help myself, and I submitted to the extortion. I +dressed myself in my more humble garments, securing my money in the +pocket of my trousers unobserved by the Jew, made up a bundle of the +rest, and procured a stick from the Jew to carry it on, however not +without paying him three-pence for it, he observing that the stick "wash +not in de bargain." Thus attired, I had the appearance of a countryman +well to do, and I set off through the long dirty main street of +Brentford, quite undecided and indifferent as to the direction I should +take. I walked about a mile, when I thought that it was better to come +to some decision previous to my going farther; and perceiving a bench in +front of a public-house, I went to it and sat down. I looked around, +and it immediately came to my recollection that I was sitting on the very +bench on which Timothy and I had stopped to eat our meal of pork, at our +first outset upon our travels. Yes, it was the very same! Here sat I, +and there sat Timothy, two heedless boys, with the paper containing the +meat, the loaf of bread, and the pot of beer between us. Poor Timothy! I +conjured up his unhappiness when he had received my note acquainting him +with our future separation. I remembered his fidelity, his courage in +defence, and his preservation of my life in Ireland, and a tear or two +coursed down my cheek. + +I remained some time in a deep reverie, during which the various +circumstances and adventures of my life were passed in a rapid panorama +before me. I felt that I had little to plead in my own favour, much to +condemn--that I had passed a life of fraud and deceit. I also could not +forget that when I had returned to honesty, I had been scouted by the +world. "And here I am," thought I, "once more with the world before me; +and it is just that I should commence again, for I started in a wrong +path. At least, now I can satisfactorily assert that I am deceiving +nobody, and can deservedly receive no contumely. I am Japhet Newland, +and not in disguise." I felt happy with this reflection, and made a +determination, whatever my future lot might be, that, at least, I would +pursue the path of honesty. I then began to reflect upon another point, +which was, whither I should bend my steps, and what I should do to gain +my livelihood. + +Alas! that was a subject of no little difficulty to me. A person who has +been brought up to a profession naturally reverts to that profession--but +to what had I been brought up? As an apothecary--true; but I well knew +the difficulty of obtaining employment in what is termed a liberal +profession, without interest or recommendation; neither did I wish for +close confinement, as the very idea was irksome. As a mountebank, a +juggler, a quack doctor--I spurned the very idea. It was a system of +fraud and deceit. What then could I do? I could not dig, to beg I was +ashamed. I must trust to the chapter of accidents, and considering how +helpless I was, such trust was but a broken reed. At all events, I had a +sufficient sum of money, upwards of twenty pounds, to exist upon with +economy for some time. I was interrupted by a voice calling out, "Hilloa! +my lad, come and hold this horse a moment." I looked up and perceived a +person on horseback looking at me. "Do you hear, or are you stupid?" +cried the man. My first feeling was to knock him down for his +impertinence, but my bundle lying beside, reminded me of my situation +and appearance, and I rose and walked towards the horse. The gentleman, +for such he was in appearance, dismounted, and throwing the rein on the +horse's neck, told me to stand by him for half a minute. He went into a +respectable-looking house opposite the inn, and remained nearly half an +hour, during which I was becoming very impatient, and kept an anxious eye +upon my bundle, which lay on the seat. At last he came out, and mounting +his horse looked in my face with some degree of surprise. "Why, what are +you?" said he, as he pulled out a sixpence, and tendered it to me. + +I was again nearly forgetting myself, affronted at the idea of sixpence +being offered to me; but I recovered myself, saying, as I took it, "A +poor labouring man, sir." + +"What, with those hands?" said he, looking at them as I took the money; +and then looking at my face, he continued, "I think we have met before, +my lad--I cannot be sure; you know best--I am a Bow Street magistrate." + +In a moment, I remembered that he was the very magistrate before whom I +had twice made my appearance. I coloured deeply, and made no reply. + +"Well, my lad, I'm not on my bench now, and this sixpence you have earned +honestly. I trust you will continue in the right path. Be careful--I have +sharp eyes." So saying, he rode off. + +I never felt more mortified. It was evident that he considered me as one +who was acting a part for unworthy purposes; perhaps one of the swell +mob or a flash pickpocket rusticating until some hue and cry was over. +"Well, well," thought I, as I took up a lump of dirt and rubbed over my +then white hands, "it is my fate to be believed when I deceive, and to +be mistrusted when I am acting honestly;" and I returned to the bench +for my bundle, which--was gone. I stared with astonishment. "Is it +possible?" thought I. "How dishonest people are! Well, I will not carry +another for the present. They might as well have left me my stick." So +thinking, and without any great degree of annoyance at the loss, I turned +from the bench and walked away, I knew not whither. It was now getting +dark, but I quite forgot that it was necessary to look out for a lodging; +the fact is, that I had been completely upset by the observations of the +magistrate, and the theft of my bundle; and, in a sort of brown study, +from which I was occasionally recalled for a moment by stumbling over +various obstructions, I continued my walk on the pathway until I was +two or three miles away from Brentford. I was within a mile of Hounslow, +when I was roused by the groans of some person, and it being now dark + I looked round, trying to catch by the ear the direction in which to +offer my assistance. They proceeded from the other side of a hedge, and +I crawled through, where I found a man lying on the ground, covered with +blood about the head, and breathing heavily. I untied his _neckcloth_, +and, as well as I could, examined his condition. I bound his handkerchief +round his head, and perceiving that the position in which he was lying +was very unfavourable, his head and shoulders being much lower than his +body, I was dragging the body round so as to raise those parts, when I +heard footsteps and voices. Shortly after, four people burst through the +hedge and surrounded me. + +"That is him, I'll swear to it," cried an immense stout man, seizing me; +"that is the other fellow who attacked me, and ran away. He has come to +get off his accomplice, and now we've just nicked them both." + +"You are very much mistaken," replied I, "and you have no need to hold +me so tight. I heard the man groan, and I came to his assistance." + +"That gammon won't do," replied one of them, who was a constable; "you'll +come along with us, and we may as well put on the _darbies_," continued +he, producing a pair of handcuffs. + +Indignant at the insult, I suddenly broke from him who held me, and +darting at the constable, knocked him down, and then took to my heels +across the ploughed field. The whole four pursued, but I rather gained +upon them, and was in hopes to make my escape. I ran for a gap I perceived +in the hedge, and sprang over it, without minding the old adage, of "look +before you leap;" for, when on the other side, I found myself in a deep +and stagnant pit of water and mud. I sank over head, and with difficulty +extricated myself from the mud at the bottom, and when at the surface I +was equally embarrassed with the weeds at the top, among which I +floundered. In the meantime my pursuers, warned by the loud splash, had +paused when they came to the hedge, and perceiving my situation, were at +the brink of the pit watching for my coming out. All resistance was +useless. I was numbed with cold and exhausted by my struggles, and when +I gained the bank I surrendered at discretion. + + + + +Chapter LVIII + + Worse and worse--If out of gaol, it will be to go out of the + world--I am resolved to take my secret with me. + + +The handcuffs were now put on without resistance on my part, and I was +led away to Hounslow by the two constables, while the others returned +to secure the wounded man. On my arrival I was thrust into the clink, +or lock-up house, as the magistrates would not meet that evening, and +there I was left to my reflections. Previously, however, to this, I was +searched, and my money, amounting, as I before stated, to upwards of +twenty pounds, taken from me by the constables, and what I had quite +forgotten, a diamond solitaire ring, which I had intended to have left +with my other bijouterie for Timothy, but in my hurry, when I left +London, I had allowed to remain upon my finger. The gaol was a square +building, with two unglazed windows secured with thick iron bars, and +the rain having beat in, it was more like a pound for cattle, for it +was not even paved, and the ground was three or four inches deep in mud. +There was no seat in it, and there I was the whole of the night walking +up and down shivering in my wet clothes, in a state of mind almost +bordering upon insanity. Reflect upon what was likely to happen, I could +not. I only ran over the past. I remembered what I had been, and felt +cruelly the situation I then was in. Had I deserved it? I thought not. +"Oh! father--father!" exclaimed I, bitterly, "see to what your son is +brought--handcuffed as a felon! God have mercy on my brain, for I feel +that it is wandering. Father, father--alas, I have none!--had you left +me at the asylum, without any clue, or hopes of a clue, to my hereafter +being reclaimed, it would have been a kindness; I should then have been +happy and contented in some obscure situation; but you raised hopes +only to prostrate them--and imaginings which have led to my destruction. +Sacred is the duty of a parent, and heavy must be the account of those +who desert their children, and are required by Heaven to render up an +account of the important trust. Couldst thou, oh! father, but now behold +thy son! God Almighty!--but I will not curse you, father! No, no"--and I +burst into tears, as I leant against the damp walls of the prison. + +The day at last broke, and the sun rose, and poured his beaming rays +through the barred windows. I looked at myself, and was shocked at my +appearance; my smock-frock was covered with black mud, my clothes were +equally disfigured. I had lost my hat when in the water, and I felt the +dry mud cracking on my cheeks. I put my hands up to my head, and I +pulled a quantity of duck-weed out of my matted and tangled hair. I +thought of the appearance I should make when summoned before the +magistrates, and how much it would go against me. "Good God!" thought I, +"who, of all the world of fashion--who, of all those who once caught my +salutation so eagerly--who, of all those worldly-minded girls, who smiled +upon me but one short twelve months since, would imagine, or believe, +that Japhet Newland could ever have sunk so low--and how has he so +fallen? Alas! because he would be honest, and had strength of mind +enough to adhere to his resolution. Well, well, God's will be done; I +care not for life; but still an ignominious death--to go out of the +world like a dog, and that too without finding out who is my father." +And I put my fettered hands up and pressed my burning brow, and remained +in a sort of apathetic sullen mood, until I was startled by the opening +of the door, and the appearance of the constables. They led me out +among a crowd, through which, with difficulty, they could force their +way, and followed by the majority of the population of Hounslow, who +made their complimentary remarks upon the _footpad_, I was brought +before the magistrates. The large stout man was then called up to give +his evidence, and deposed as follows:-- + +"That he was walking to Hounslow from Brentford, whither he had been +to purchase some clothes, when he was accosted by two fellows in +smock-frocks, one of whom carried a bundle in his left hand. They +asked him what o'clock it was; and he took out his watch to tell them, +when he received a blow from the one with the bundle (this one, sir, +said he, pointing to me), on the back of his head; at the same time +the other (the wounded man who was now in custody) snatched his +watch.--That at the time he had purchased his clothes at Brentford, +he had also bought a bag of shot, fourteen pounds weight, which he +had, for the convenience of carrying, tied up with the clothes in the +bundle, and perceiving that he was about to be robbed, he had swung his +bundle round his head, and with the weight of the shot, had knocked +down the man who had snatched at his watch. He then turned to the other +(me) who backed from him, and struck at him with his stick. (The stick +was here produced, and when I cast my eye on it, I was horrified to +perceive that it was the very stick which I had bought of the Jew, for +three-pence, to carry my bundle on.) He had closed in with me, and was +wresting the stick out of my hand, when the other man, who had recovered +his legs, again attacked him with another stick. In the scuffle he had +obtained my stick, and I had wrested from him his bundle, with which, +as soon as he had knocked down my partner, I ran off. That he beat my +partner until he was insensible, and then found that I had left my own +bundle, which in the affray I had thrown on one side." He then made the +best of his way to Hounslow to give the information. His return and +finding me with the other man is already known to the readers. + +The next evidence who came forward was the Jew, from whom I had bought +the clothes and sold my own. He narrated all that had occurred, and +swore to the clothes in the bundle left by the footpad, and to the stick +which he had sold to me. The constable then produced the money found +about my person and the diamond solitaire ring, stating my attempt to +escape when I was seized. The magistrate then asked me whether I had +anything to say in my defence, cautioning me not to commit myself. + +I replied, that I was innocent; that it was true that I had sold my own +clothes, and had purchased those of the Jew, as well as the stick: that +I had been asked to hold the horse of a gentleman when sitting on a +bench opposite a public-house, and that some one had stolen my bundle +and my stick. That I had walked on towards Hounslow, and, in assisting +a fellow-creature, whom I certainly had considered as having been +attacked by others, I had merely yielded to the common feelings of +humanity--that I was seized when performing that duty, and should +willingly have accompanied them to the magistrate's, had not they +attempted to put on handcuffs, at which my feelings were roused, and I +knocked the constable down, and made my attempt to escape. + +"Certainly, a very ingenious defence," observed one of the magistrates; +"pray where--!" At this moment the door opened, and in came the very +gentleman, the magistrate at Bow Street, whose horse I had held. "Good +morning, Mr Norman, you have just come in time to render us your +assistance. We have a very deep hand to deal with here, or else a very +injured person, I cannot tell which. Do us the favour to look over these +informations and the defence of the prisoner, previous to our asking him +any more questions." + +The Bow Street magistrate complied, and then turned to me, but I was so +disguised with mud, that he could not recognise me. "You are the +gentleman, sir, who asked me to hold your horse," said I. "I call you to +witness, that that part of my assertion is true." + +"I do now recollect that you are the person," replied he, "and you may +recollect the observation I made, relative to your hands, when you stated +that you were a poor countryman." + +"I do, sir, perfectly," replied I. + +"Perhaps then you will inform us by what means a diamond ring and twenty +pounds in money came into your possession?" + +"Honestly, sir," replied I. + +"Will you state, as you are a poor countryman, with whom you worked +last--what parish you belong to--and whom you can bring forward in proof +of good character?" + +"I certainly shall not answer those questions," replied I; "if I chose I +might so do, and satisfactorily." + +"What is your name?" + +"I cannot answer that question either, sir," replied I. + +"I told you yesterday that we had met before; was it not at Bow Street?" + +"I am surprised at your asking a question, sir, from the bench, to which, +if I answered, the reply might affect me considerably. I am here in a +false position, and cannot well help myself. I have no friends that I +choose to call, for I should blush that they should see me in such a +state, and under such imputations." + +"Your relations, young man, would certainly not be backward. Who is +your father?" + +"My father!" exclaimed I, raising up my hands and eyes. "My father! +Merciful God!--if he could only see me here--see to what he has reduced +his unhappy son," and I covered my face, and sobbed convulsively. + + + + +Chapter LIX + + By the committing of magisterial mistakes I am personally and + penally committed--I prepare for my trial by calling in the + assistance of the tailor and the perfumer--I am resolved to die + like a gentleman. + + +"It is indeed a pity, a great pity," observed one of the magistrates, +"such a fine young man, and evidently, by his demeanour and language, +well brought up; but I believe," said he turning to the others, "we have +but one course; what say you, Mr Norman?" + +"I am afraid that my opinion coincides with yours, and that the grand +jury will not hesitate to find a bill, as the case stands at present. +Let us, however, ask the witness Armstrong one question. Do you +positively swear to this young man being one of the persons who attacked +you?" + +"It was not very light at the time, sir, and both the men had their +faces _smutted;_ but it was a person just his size, and dressed in the +ame way, as near as I can recollect." + +"You cannot, therefore, swear to his identity?" + +"No, sir; but to the best of my knowledge and belief, he is the man." + +"Take that evidence down as important," said Mr Norman, "it will assist +him at his trial." + +The evidence was taken down, and then my commitment to the county gaol +was made out. I was placed in a cart, between two constables, and driven +off. On my arrival I was put into a cell, and my money returned to me, +but the ring was detained, that it might be advertised. At last, I was +freed from the manacles, and when the prison dress was brought to me to +put on, in lieu of my own clothes, I requested leave from the gaoler to +wash myself, which was granted; and, strange to say, so unaccustomed had +I been to such a state of filth, that I felt a degree of happiness, as I +returned from the pump in the prison-yard, and I put on the prison dress +almost with pleasure; for degrading as it was, at all events, it was +new and clean. I then returned to my cell and was left to my meditations. + +Now that my examination and committal were over, I became much more +composed, and was able to reflect coolly. I perceived the great +danger of my situation--how strong the evidence was against me--and +how little chance I had of escape. As for sending to Lord Windermear, +Mr Masterton, or those who formerly were acquainted with me, my pride +forbade it--I would sooner have perished on the scaffold. Besides, +their evidence as to my former situation in life, although it would +perhaps satisfactorily account for my possession of the money and the +ring, and for my disposing of my portmanteau--all strong presumptive +evidence against me--would not destroy the evidence brought forward as +to the robbery, which appeared to be so very conclusive to the bench of +magistrates. My only chance appeared to be in the footpad, who had not +escaped, acknowledging that I was not his accomplice, and I felt how much +I was interested in his recovery, as well as in his candour. The assizes +I knew were near at hand, and I anxiously awaited the return of the +gaoler, to make a few inquiries. At night he looked through the small +square cut out of the top of the door of the cell, for it was his duty +to go his rounds and ascertain if all his prisoners were safe. I then +asked him if I might be allowed to make a few purchases, such as pens, +ink, and paper, &c. As I was not committed to prison in punishment, but +on suspicion, this was not denied, although it would have been to those +who were condemned to imprisonment and hard labour for their offences; +and he volunteered to procure them for me the next morning. I then +wished him a good-night, and threw myself on my mattress. Worn out with +fatigue and distress of mind, I slept soundly, without dreaming, until +daylight the next morning. As I awoke, and my scattered senses were +returning, I had a confused idea that there was something which weighed +heavily on my mind, which sleep had banished from my memory. "What is +it?" thought I; and as I opened my eyes, so did I remember that I, +Japhet Newland, who but two nights before was pressing the down of +luxury in the same habitation as Lady de Clare and her lovely child, +was now on a mattress in the cell of a prison, under a charge which +threatened me with an ignominious death. I rose, and sat on the bed, +for I had not thrown off my clothes. My first thoughts were directed +to Timothy. Should I write to him? No, no! why should I make him +miserable? + +If I was to suffer, it should be under an assumed name. But what name? +Here I was interrupted by the gaoler, who opened the door, and desired +me to roll up my mattress and bed-clothes, that they might, as was the +custom, be taken out of the cell during the day. + +My first inquiry was, if the man who had been so much hurt was in the +gaol. + +"You mean your 'complice," replied the gaoler. "Yes, he is here, and +has recovered his senses. The doctor says he will do very well." + +"Has he made any confession?" inquired I. + +The gaoler made no reply. + +"I ask that question," continued I, "because if he acknowledges who was +his accomplice, I shall be set at liberty." + +"Very likely," replied the man, sarcastically; "the fact is, there is +no occasion for king's evidence in this case, or you might get off by +crossing the water; so you must trust to your luck. The grand jury +meet to-day, and I will let you know whether a true bill is found +against you or not." + +"What is the name of the other man?" inquired I. + +"Well, you are a good un to put a face upon a matter, I will say. You +would almost persuade me, with that innocent look of yours, that you +know nothing about the business." + +"Nor do I," replied I. + +"You will be fortunate if you can prove as much, that's all." + +"Still, you have not answered my question; what is the other man's name?" + +"Well," replied the gaoler, laughing, "since you are determined I shall +tell you, I will. It must be news to you, with a vengeance. His name is +Bill Ogle, _alias_ Swamping Bill. I suppose you never heard that name +before?" + +"I certainly never did," replied I. + +"Perhaps you do not know your own name? Yet I can tell it you, for Bill +Ogle has blown upon you so far." + +"Indeed," replied I; "and what name has he given to me?" + +"Why, to do him justice, it wasn't until he saw a copy of the +depositions before the magistrates, and heard how you were nabbed in +trying to help him off, that he did tell it; and then he said, 'Well, +Phil Maddox always was a true un, and I'm mortal sorry that he's in +for't, by looking a'ter me.' Now do you know your own name?" + +"I certainly do not," replied I. + +"Well, did you ever hear of one who went by the name of Phil Maddox?" + +"I never did," replied I; "and I am glad that Ogle has disclosed so much." + +"Well, I never before met with a man who didn't know his own name, or had +the face to say so, and expect to be believed; but never mind, you are +right to be cautious, with the halter looking you in the face." + +"O God! O God!" exclaimed I, throwing myself on the bedstead, and +covering up my face, "give me strength to bear even that, if so it +must be." + +The gaoler looked at me for a time. "I don't know what to make of +him--he puzzles me quite, certainly. Yet it's no mistake." + +"It is a mistake," replied I, rising; "but whether the mistake will be +found out until too late, is another point. However, it is of little +consequence. What have I to live for,--unless to find out who is my +father?" + +"Find out your father! what's in the wind now? well, it beats my +comprehension altogether. But did not you say you wished me to get +you something?" + +"Yes," replied I; and I gave him some money, with directions to +purchase me implements for writing, some scented wax, a tooth-brush, +and tooth-powder, eau de cologne, hair-brush and comb, razors, small +looking-glass, and various implements for my toilet. + +"This is a rum world," said the man, repeating what I asked for, as I +put two guineas in his hand. "I've purchased many a article for a +prisoner, but never heard of such rattletraps afore; however, that be +all the same. You will have them, though what _ho de colum_ is I can't +tell, nor dang me if I shall recollect--not poison, be it, for that is +not allowed in the prison?" + +"No, no," replied I, indulging in momentary mirth at the idea; "you may +inquire, and you will find that it's only taken by ladies who are +troubled with the vapours." "Now I should ha' thought that you'd have +spent your money in the cookshop, which is so much more natural. However, +we all have our fancies;" so saying, he quitted the cell, and locked the +door. + + + + +Chapter LX + + I am condemned to be hung by the neck until I am dead, and to go + out of the world without finding out who is my father--Afterwards + my innocence is made manifest and I am turned adrift a maniac in + the high road. + + +It may appear strange to the reader that I sent for the above-mentioned +articles, but habit is second nature, and although two days before, when +I set out on my pilgrimage, I had resolved to discard these +superfluities, yet now in my distress I felt as if they would comfort me. +That evening, after rectifying a few mistakes on the part of the +good-tempered gaoler, by writing down what I wanted on the paper which +he had procured me, I obtained all that I required. + +The next morning, he informed me that the grand jury had found a true +bill against me, and that on the Saturday next, the assizes would be +held. He also brought me the list of trials, and I found that mine would +be one of the last, and would not probably come on until Monday or +Tuesday. I requested him to send for a good tailor, as I wished to be +dressed in a proper manner, previous to appearing in court. As a prisoner +is allowed to go into court in his own clothes instead of the gaol dress, +this was consented to, and when the man came, I was very particular in my +directions, so much so, that it surprised him. He also procured me the +other articles I required to complete my dress, and on Saturday night I +had them all ready, for I was resolved that I would at least die as a +gentleman. + +Sunday passed away, not as it ought to have passed, certainly. I +attended prayers, but my thoughts were elsewhere--how, indeed, could it +be otherwise? Who can control his thoughts? He may attempt so to do, but +the attempt is all that can be made. He cannot command them. I heard +nothing, my mind was in a state of gyration, whirling round from one +thing to the other, until I was giddy from intensity of feeling. + +On Monday morning the gaoler came and asked me whether I would have legal +advice. I replied in the negative. "You will be called about twelve +o'clock, I hear," continued he; "it is now ten, and there is only one +more trial before yours, about the stealing of four geese and half a +dozen fowls." + +"Good God!" thought I, "and am I mixed up with such deeds as these?" I +dressed myself with the utmost care and precision, and never was more +successful. My clothes were black, and fitted well. About one o'clock I +was summoned by the gaoler, and led between him and another to the +court-house, and placed in the dock. At first my eyes swam, and I could +distinguish nothing, but gradually I recovered. I looked round, for I +had called up my courage. My eyes wandered from the judge to the row of +legal gentlemen below him; from them to the well-dressed ladies who sat +in the gallery above; behind me I did not look. I had seen enough, and +my cheeks burned with shame. At last I looked at my fellow-culprit, who +stood beside me, and his eyes at the same time met mine. He was dressed +in the gaol clothes, of pepper and salt coarse cloth. He was a rough, +vulgar, brutal looking man, but his eye was brilliant, his complexion +was dark, and his face was covered with whiskers. "Good heavens," +thought I, "who will ever imagine or credit that we have been +associates?" + +The man stared at me, bit his lip, and smiled with contempt, but made no +further remark. The indictment having been read, the clerk of the court +cried out, "You, Benjamin Ogle, having heard the charge, say, guilty or +not guilty?" + +"Not guilty," replied the man, to my astonishment. + +"You, Philip Maddox, guilty or not guilty?" I did not answer. + +"Prisoner," observed the judge in a mild voice, "you must answer, +guilty or not guilty. It is merely a form." + +"My lord," replied I, "my name is not Philip Maddox." + +"That is the name given in the indictment by the evidence of your +fellow-prisoner," observed the judge; "your real name we cannot pretend +to know. It is sufficient that you answer to the question of whether you, +the prisoner, are guilty or not guilty." + +"Not guilty, my lord, most certainly," replied I, placing my hand to my +heart, and bowing to him. + +The trial proceeded; Armstrong was the principal evidence. To my person +he would not swear. The Jew proved my selling my clothes, purchasing +those found in the bundle, and the stick, of which Armstrong possessed +himself. The clothes I had on at the time of my capture were produced in +court. As for Ogle, his case was decisive. We were then called upon for +our defence. Ogle's was very short. "He had been accustomed to fits all +his life--was walking to Hounslow, and had fallen down in a fit. It must +have been somebody else who had committed the robbery and had made off, +and he had been picked up in a mistake." This defence appeared to make +no other impression than ridicule, and indignation at the barefaced +assertion. I was then called on for mine. + +"My lord," said I, "I have no defence to make except that which I +asserted before the magistrates, that I was performing an act of +charity towards a fellow-creature, and was, through that, supposed to +be an accomplice." + +"Arraigned before so many upon a charge, at the bare accusation of which +my blood revolts, I cannot and will not allow those who might prove what +my life has been, and the circumstances which induced me to take up the +disguise in which I was taken, to appear in my behalf. I am unfortunate, +but not guilty. One only chance appears to be open to me, which is, in +the candour of the party who now stands by me. If he will say to the +court that he ever saw me before, I will submit without murmur to my +sentence." + +"I'm sorry that you've put that question, my boy," replied the man, "for +I have seen you before;" and the wretch chuckled with repressed laughter. + +I was so astonished, so thunderstruck with this assertion, that I held +own my head, and made no reply. The judge then summed up the evidence +to the jury, pointing out to them, that of Ogle's guilt there could be +no doubt, and of mine, he was sorry to say, but little. Still they must +bear in mind that the witness Armstrong could not swear to my person. +The jury, without leaving the box, consulted together a short time, and +brought in a verdict of guilty against Benjamin Ogle and Philip Maddox. +I heard no more--the judge sentenced us both to execution: he lamented +that so young and prepossessing a person as myself should be about to +suffer for such an offence: he pointed out the necessity of condign +punishment, and gave us no hopes of pardon or clemency. But I heard him +not--I did not fall, but I was in a state of stupor. At last, he wound up +his sentence by praying us to prepare ourselves for the awful change, by +an appeal to that heavenly Father--"Father!" exclaimed I, in a voice +which electrified the court, "did you say my father? O God! where is +he?" and I fell down in a fit. The handkerchiefs of the ladies were +applied to their faces, the whole court were moved, for I had, by my +appearance, excited considerable interest, and the judge, with a +faltering, subdued voice, desired that the prisoners might be removed. + +"Stop one minute, my good fellow," said Ogle, to the gaoler, while +others were taking me out of court. "My lord, I've something rather +important to say. Why I did not say it before, you shall hear. You are +a judge, to condemn the guilty, and release the innocent. We are told +that there is no trial like an English jury, but this I say, that many +a man is hung for what he never has been guilty of. You have condemned +that poor young man to death. I could have prevented it if I had chosen +to speak before, but I would not, that I might prove how little there is +of justice. He had nothing to do with the robbery--Phil Maddox was the +man, and he is not Philip Maddox. He said that he never saw me before, +nor do I believe that he ever did. As sure as I shall hang, he is +innocent." + +"It was but now, that when appealed to by him, you stated that you had +seen him before." + +"So I did, and I told the truth--I had seen him before. I saw him go to +hold the gentleman's horse, but he did not see me. I stole his bundle +and his stick, which he left on the bench, and that's how they were found +in our possession. Now you have the truth, and you may either acknowledge +that there is little justice, by eating your own words, and letting him +free, or you may hang him, rather than acknowledge that you are wrong. +At all events, his blood will now be on your hands, and not mine. If +Phil Maddox had not turned tail, like a coward, I should not have been +here; so I tell the truth to save him who was doing me a kind act, and +to let him swing who left me in the lurch." + +The judge desired that this statement might be taken down, that further +inquiry might be made, intimating to the jury, that I should be respited +for the present; but of all this I was ignorant. As there was no placing +confidence in the assertions of such a man as Ogle, it was considered +necessary that he should repeat his assertions at the last hour of his +existence, and the gaoler was ordered not to state what had passed to +me, as he might excite false hopes. + +When I recovered from my fit, I found myself in the gaoler's parlour, +and as soon as I was able to walk, I was locked up in a condemned cell. +The execution had been ordered to take place on the Thursday, and I had +two days to prepare. In the meantime, the greatest interest had been +excited with regard to me. My whole appearance so evidently belied the +charge, that everyone was in my favour. Ogle was requestioned, and +immediately gave a clue for the apprehension of Maddox, who, he said, +he hoped would swing by his side. + +The gaoler came to me the next day, saying, that some of the magistrates +wished to speak with me; but as I had made up my mind not to reveal my +former life, my only reply was, "That I begged they would allow me to +have my last moments to myself." I recollected Melchior's idea of +destiny, and imagined that he was right. "It was my destiny," thought +I: and I remained in a state of stupor. The fact was, that I was very +ill, my head was heavy, my brain was on fire, and the throbbing of my +heart could have been perceived without touching my breast. + +I remained on the mattress all day, and all the next night, with my face +buried in the clothes! I was too ill to raise my head. On Wednesday +morning I felt myself gently pushed on the shoulder by some one; I +opened my eyes; it was a clergyman. I turned away my head, and remained +as before. I was then in a violent fever. He spoke for some time: +occasionally I heard a word, and then relapsed into a state of mental +imbecility. He sighed, and went away. + +Thursday came, and the hour of death,--but time was by me unheeded, as +well as eternity. In the meantime Maddox had been taken, and the contents +of Armstrong's bundle found in his possession; and when he discovered +that Ogle had been evidence against him, he confessed to the robbery. + +Whether it was on Thursday or Friday, I knew not then, but I was lifted +off the bed, and taken before somebody--something passed, but the fever +had mounted up to my head, and I was in a state of stupid delirium. +Strange to say, they did not perceive my condition, but ascribed it all +to abject fear of death. I was led away--I had made no answer--but I was +free. + + + + +Chapter LXI + + When at the lowest spoke of Fortune's wheel, one is sure to rise + as it turns round--I recover my senses and find myself amongst + _Friends._ + + +I think some people shook me by the hand, and others shouted as I walked +in the open air, but I recollect no more. I afterwards was informed that +I had been reprieved, that I had been sent for, and a long exhortation +delivered to me, for it was considered that my life must have been one +of error, or I should have applied to my friends, and have given my +name. My not answering was attributed to shame and confusion--my +glassy eye had not been noticed--my tottering step when led in by the +gaolers attributed to other causes; and the magistrates shook their +heads as I was led out of their presence. The gaoler had asked me +several times where I intended to go. At last, I had told him, _to seek +my father,_ and darting away from him, I had run like a madman down the +street. Of course he had no longer any power over me: but he muttered, +as I fled from him, "I've a notion he'll soon be locked up again, poor +fellow! it's turned his brain for certain." + +As I tottered along, my unsteady step naturally attracted the attention +of the passers-by; but they attributed it to intoxication. Thus was I +allowed to wander away in a state of madness, and before night I was +far from the town. What passed, and whither I had bent my steps, I +cannot tell. All I know is, that after running like a maniac, seizing +everybody by the arm that I met, staring at them with wild and flashing +eyes; and sometimes in a solemn voice, at others in a loud, threatening +tone, startling them with the interrogatory, "Are you my father?" and +then darting away, or sobbing like a child, as the humour took me, I +had crossed the country, and three days afterwards I was picked up at +the door of a house in the town of Reading, exhausted with fatigue and +exposure, and nearly dead. When I recovered, I found myself in bed, my +head shaved, my arm bound up, after repeated bleedings, and a female +figure sitting by me. + +"God in heaven! where am I?" exclaimed I, faintly. + +"Thou hast called often upon thy earthly father during the time of thy +illness, friend," replied a soft voice. "It rejoiceth me much to hear +thee call upon thy Father which is in heaven. Be comforted, thou art in +the hands of those who will be mindful of thee. Offer up thy thanks in +one short prayer, for thy return to reason, and then sink again into +repose, for thou must need it much." + +I opened my eyes wide, and perceived that a young person in a Quaker's +dress was sitting by the bed working with her needle; an open Bible was +on a little table before her. I perceived also a cup, and parched with +thirst, I merely said, "Give me to drink." She arose, and put a teaspoon +to my lips; but I raised my hand, took the cup from her, and emptied it. +O how delightful was that draught! I sank down on my pillow, for even +that slight exertion had overpowered me, and muttering, "God, I thank +thee!" I was immediately in a sound sleep, from which I did not awake +for many hours. When I did, it was not daylight. A lamp was on the table, +and an old man in a Quaker's dress was snoring very comfortably in the +arm-chair. I felt quite refreshed with my long sleep, and was now able +to recall what had passed. I remembered the condemned cell, and the +mattress upon which I lay, but all after was in a state of confusion. +Here and there a fact or supposition was strong in my memory; but the +intervals between were total blanks. I was, at all events, free, that I +felt convinced of, and that I was in the hands of the sect who denominate +themselves Quakers: but where was I? and how did I come here? I remained +thinking on the past, and wondering, until the day broke, and with the +daylight roused up my watchful attendant. He yawned, stretched his arms, +and rising from the chair, came to the side of my bed. I looked him in +the face. "Hast thou slept well, friend?" said he. + +"I have slept as much as I wish, and would not disturb _you,"_ replied +I, "for I wanted nothing." + +"Peradventure I did sleep," replied the man; "watching long agreeth not +with the flesh, although the spirit is most willing. Requirest thou +anything?" + +"Yes," replied I, "I wish to know where I am?" + +"Verily, thou art in the town of Reading in Berkshire, and in the house +of Phineas Cophagus." + +"Cophagus!" exclaimed I; "Mr Cophagus, the surgeon and apothecary?" + +"Phineas Cophagus is his name; he hath been admitted into our sect, and +hath married a daughter of our persuasion. He hath attended thee in thy +fever and thy frenzy, without calling in the aid of the physician, +therefore do I believe that he must be the man of whom thou speakest; +yet doth he not follow up the healing art for the lucre of gain." + +"And the young person who was at my bedside, is she his wife?" + +"Nay, friend, she is half-sister to the wife of Phineas Cophagus by a +second marriage, and a maiden, who was named Susannah Temple at the +baptismal font; but I will go to Phineas Cophagus and acquaint him of +your waking, for such were his directions." + +The man then quitted the room, leaving me quite astonished with the +information he had imparted. Cophagus turned Quaker! and attending me +in the town of Reading. In a short time Mr Cophagus himself entered in +his dressing-gown. "Japhet!" said he, seizing my hand with eagerness, +and then, as if recollecting, he checked himself, and commenced in a +slow tone, "Japhet Newland--truly glad am I--hum--verily do I +rejoice--you, Ephraim--get out of the room--and so on." + +"Yea, I will depart, since it is thy bidding," replied the man, quitting +the room. + +Mr Cophagus then greeted me in his usual way--told me that he had found +me insensible at the door of a house a little way off, and had +immediately recognised me. He had brought me to his own home, but without +much hope of my recovery. He then begged to know by what strange chance +I had been found in such a desolate condition. I replied, "that although +I was able to listen, I did not feel myself equal to the exertion of +telling so long a story, and that I should infinitely prefer that he +should narrate to me what had passed since we had parted at Dublin, +and how it was that I now found that he had joined the sect of Quakers." + +"Peradventure--long word that--um--queer people--very good--and so on," +commenced Mr Cophagus; but as the reader will not understand his +phraseology quite so well as I did, I shall give Mr Cophagus's history +in my own version. + +Mr Cophagus had returned to the small town at which he resided, and, +on his arrival, he had been called upon by a gentleman who was of the +Society of Friends, requesting that he would prescribe for a niece of his, +who was on a visit at his house, and had been taken dangerously ill. +Cophagus, with his usual kindness of heart, immediately consented, and +found that Mr Temple's report was true. For six weeks he attended the +young Quakeress, and recovered her from an imminent and painful disease, +in which she showed such fortitude and resignation, and such +unconquerable good temper, that when Mr Cophagus returned to his +bachelor's establishment, he could not help reflecting upon what an +invaluable wife she would make, and how much more cheerful his house +would be with such a domestic partner. + +In short, Mr Cophagus fell in love, and like all elderly gentlemen who +have so long bottled up their affections, he became most desperately +enamoured; and if he loved Miss Judith Temple when he witnessed her +patience and resignation under suffering, how much more did he love her +when he found that she was playful, merry, and cheerful, without being +boisterous, when restored to her health. Mr Cophagus's attentions could +not be misunderstood. He told her uncle that he had thought seriously +of wedding cake--white favours--marriage--family--and so on; and to the +young lady he had put his cane up to his nose and prescribed, "A dose of +matrimony--to be taken immediately." To Mr Cophagus there was no +objection raised by the lady, who was not in her teens, or by the uncle, +who had always respected him as a worthy man, and a good Christian; but +to marry one who was not of her persuasion, was not to be thought of. +Her friends would not consent to it. Mr Cophagus was therefore dismissed, +with a full assurance that the only objection which offered was, that he +was not of their society. + +Mr Cophagus walked home discomforted. He sat down on his easy chair, and +found it excessively uneasy--he sat down to his solitary meal, and found +that his own company was unbearable--he went to bed, but found that it +was impossible to go to sleep. The next morning, therefore, Mr Cophagus +returned to Mr Temple, and stated his wish to be made acquainted with +the difference between the tenets of the Quaker persuasion and those of +the Established Church. Mr Temple gave him an outline, which appeared to +Mr Cophagus to be very satisfactory, and then referred him to his niece +for fuller particulars. When a man enters into an argument with a full +desire to be convinced, and with his future happiness perhaps depending +upon that conviction; and when, further, those arguments are brought +forward by one of the prettiest voices, and backed by the sweetest of +smiles, it is not to be wondered at his soon becoming a proselyte. Thus +it was with Mr Cophagus, who in a week, discovered that the peace, +humility, and good-will, upon which the Quaker tenets are founded, were +much more congenial to the true spirit of the Christian revelation than +the Athanasian Creed, to be sung or said in our Established Churches; +and with this conviction, Mr Cophagus requested admission into the +fraternity, and shortly after his admission, it was thought advisable by +the Friends that his faith should be confirmed and strengthened by his +espousal of Miss Judith Temple, with whom, at her request--and he could +refuse her nothing--he had repaired to the town of Reading, in which her +relations all resided; and Phineas Cophagus, of the Society of Friends, +declared himself to be as happy as a man could be. "Good people, +Japhet--um--honest people, Japhet--don't fight--little stiff--spirit +moves--and so on," said Mr Cophagus, as he concluded his narrative, and +then shaking me by the hand, retired to shave and dress. + + + + +Chapter LXII + + I fall in love with religion when preached by one who has the + form of an angel. + + +In half an hour afterwards Ephraim came in with a draught, which I was +desired to take by Mr Cophagus, and then to try and sleep. This was good +advice, and I followed it. I awoke after a long, refreshing sleep, and +found Mr and Mrs Cophagus sitting in the room, she at work and he +occupied with a book. When I opened my eyes, and perceived a female, I +looked to ascertain if it was the young person whom Ephraim had stated +to be Susannah Temple; not that I recollected her features exactly, but +I did the contour of her person. Mrs Cophagus was taller, and I had a +fair scrutiny of her before they perceived that I was awake. Her face +was very pleasing, features small and regular. She appeared to be about +thirty years of age, and was studiously neat and clean in her person. +Her Quaker's dress was not without some little departure from the strict +fashion and form, sufficient to assist, without deviating from, its +simplicity. If I might use the term, it was a little coquettish, and +evinced that the wearer, had she not belonged to that sect, would have +shown great taste in the adornment of her person. + +Mr Cophagus, although he did not think so himself, as I afterwards found +out, was certainly much improved by his change of costume. His +spindle-shanks, which, as I have before observed, were peculiarly at +variance with his little orbicular, orange-shaped stomach, were now +concealed in loose trousers, which took off from the protuberance of the +latter, and added dignity to the former, blending the two together, so +that his roundness became fine by degrees, and beautifully less as it +descended. Altogether, the Quaker dress added very much to the +substantiability of his appearance, and was a manifest improvement, +especially when he wore his broad-brimmed hat. Having satisfied my +curiosity, I moved the curtain so as to attract their attention, and +Cophagus came to my bedside, and felt my pulse. "Good--very good--all +right--little broth--throw in bark--on his legs--well as ever--and so on." + +"I am indeed much better this afternoon," replied I; "indeed, so well, +that I feel as if I could get up." + +"Pooh:--tumble down--never do--lie a bed--get strong--wife--Mrs +Cophagus--Japhet--old friend." + +Mrs Cophagus had risen from her chair, and come towards the bed, when +her husband introduced her in his own fashion. "I am afraid that I have +been a great trouble, madam," said I. + +"Japhet Newland, we have done but our duty, even if thou wert not, as +it appears that thou art, a friend of my husband. Consider me, therefore, +as thy sister, and I will regard thee as a brother; and if thou wouldst +wish it, thou shalt sojourn with us, for so hath my husband communicated +his wishes unto me." + +I thanked her for her kind expressions, and took the fair hand which was +offered in such amity. Cophagus then asked me if I was well enough to +inform him of what had passed since our last meeting, and telling me that +his wife knew my whole history, and that I might speak before her, he took +his seat by the side of the bed, his wife also drew her chair nearer, and +I commenced the narrative of what had passed since we parted in Ireland. +When I had finished, Mr Cophagus commenced as usual, "Um--very odd--lose +money--bad--grow honest--good--run away from friends--bad--not hung-- +good--brain fever--bad--come here--good--stay with us--quite +comfortable--and so on." + +"Thou hast suffered much, friend Japhet," said Mrs Cophagus, wiping her +eyes; "and I would almost venture to say, hast been chastised too +severely, were it not that those whom He loveth, He chastiseth. Still +thou art saved, and now out of danger; peradventure thou wilt now quit +a vain world, and be content to live with us; nay, as thou hast the +example of thy former master, it may perhaps please the Lord to advise +thee to become one of us, and to join us as a Friend. My husband was +persuaded to the right path by me," continued she, looking fondly at +him; "who knoweth but some of our maidens may also persuade thee to +eschew a vain, unrighteous world, and follow thy Redeemer in humility?" + +"Very true--um--very true," observed Cophagus, putting more Quakerism +than usual in his style, and drawing out his ums to treble their usual +length; "Happy life--Japhet--um--all at peace--quiet amusements--think +about it--um--no hurry--never swear--by-and-bye heh!--spirit may +move--um--not now--talk about it--get well--set up shop--and so on." + +I was tired with talking so much, and having taken some nourishment, +gain fell asleep. When I awoke in the evening, friend Cophagus and his +wife were not in the room; but Susannah Temple, whom I had first seen, +and of whom I had made inquiry of Ephraim, who was Cophagus's servant. +She was sitting close to the light and reading, and long did I continue +to gaze upon her, fearful of interrupting her. She was the most +beautiful specimen of clear and transparent white that I ever had +beheld--her complexion was unrivalled--her eyes were large, but I could +not ascertain their colour, as they were cast down upon her book, and +hid by her long fringed eyelashes--her eyebrows arched and regular, as +if drawn by a pair of compasses, and their soft hair in beautiful +contrast with her snowy forehead--her hair was auburn, but mostly +concealed within her cap--her nose was very straight but not very large, +and her mouth was perfection. She appeared to be between seventeen and +eighteen years old, as far as I could ascertain, her figure was +symmetrically perfect. Dressed as she was in the modest, simple garb +worn by the females of the Society of Friends, she gave an idea of +neatness, cleanliness, and propriety, upon which I could have gazed for +ever. She was, indeed, most beautiful. I felt her beauty, her purity, +and I could have worshipped her as an angel. While I still had my eyes +fixed upon her exquisite features, she closed her book, and rising from +her chair, came to the side of the bed. That she might not be startled +at the idea of my having been watching her, I closed my eyes, and +pretended to slumber. She resumed her seat, and then I changed my +position and spoke, "Is any one there?" + +"Yes, friend Newland, what is it that thou requirest?" said she, +advancing. "Wouldst thou see Cophagus or Ephraim? I will summon them." + +"O no," replied I; "why should I disturb them from their amusements or +employments? I have slept a long while, and I would like to read a little +I think, if my eyes are not too weak." + +"Thou must not read, but I may read unto thee," replied Susannah. "Tell +me, what is it that thou wouldest have me read? I have no vain books; +but surely thou thinkest not of them, after thy escape from death." + +"I care not what is read, provided that you read to me," replied I. + +"Nay, but thou shouldest care; and be not wroth if I say to thee, that +there is but one book to which thou shouldest now listen. Thou hast been +saved from deadly peril--thou hast been rescued from the jaws of death. +Art thou not thankful? And to whom is gratitude most due, but to thy +heavenly Father, who hath been pleased to spare thee?" + +"You are right," replied I; "then I pray you to read to me from the +Bible." + +Susannah made no reply, but resumed her seat, and selecting those +chapters most appropriate to my situation, read them in a beautiful +and impressive tone. + + + + +Chapter LXIII + + Pride and love at issue--the latter is victorious--I turn Quaker + and recommence my old profession. + + +If the reader will recall my narrative to his recollection, he must +observe, that religion had had hitherto but little of my thoughts. I +had lived the life of most who live in this world; perhaps not quite +so correct in morals as many people, for my code of morality was suited +to circumstances; as to religion, I had none. I had lived in the world, +and for the world. I had certainly been well instructed in the tenets +of our faith when I was at the Asylum, but there, as in most other +schools, it is made irksome, as a task, and is looked upon with almost +a feeling of aversion. No proper religious sentiments are, or can be, +inculcated to a large number of scholars; it is the parent alone who +can instil, by precept and example, that true sense of religion, which +may serve as a guide through life. I had not read the Bible from the +time that I quitted the Foundling Hospital. It was new to me, and when +I now heard read, by that beautiful creature, passages equally beautiful, +and so applicable to my situation, weakened with disease, and humbled +in adversity, I was moved, even unto tears. + +Susannah closed the book and came to the bedside. I thanked her: she +perceived my emotion, and when I held out my hand she did not refuse +hers. I kissed it, and it was immediately withdrawn, and she left the +room. Shortly afterwards Ephraim made his appearance. Cophagus and his +wife also came that evening, but I saw no more of Susannah Temple until +the following day, when I again requested her to read to me. + +I will not detain the reader by an account of my recovery. In three +weeks I was able to leave the room; during that time, I had become very +intimate with the whole family, and was treated as if I belonged to it. +During my illness I had certainly shown more sense of religion than I +had ever done before, but I do not mean to say that I was really +religious. I liked to hear the Bible read by Susannah, and I liked to +talk with her upon religious subjects; but had Susannah been an ugly old +woman, I very much doubt if I should have been so attentive. It was her +extreme beauty--her modesty and fervour, which so became her, which +enchanted me. I felt the beauty of religion, but it was through an +earthly object; it was beautiful in her. She looked an angel, and I +listened to her precepts as delivered by one. Still, whatever may be +the cause by which a person's attention can be directed to so important +a subject, so generally neglected, whether by fear of death, or by love +towards an earthly object, the advantages are the same; and although very +far from what I ought to have been, I certainly was, through my +admiration of her, a better man. + +As soon as I was on the sofa, wrapped up in one of the dressing-gowns of +Mr Cophagus, he told me that the clothes in which I had been picked up +were all in tatters, and asked me whether I would like to have others +made according to the usual fashion, or like those with whom I should, +he trusted, in future reside. I had already debated this matter in my +mind. Return to the world I had resolved not to do; to follow up the +object of my search appeared to me only to involve me in difficulties; +and what were the intentions of Cophagus with regard to me, I knew not. +I was hesitating, for I knew not what answer to give, when I perceived +the pensive, deep blue eye of Susannah fixed upon me, watching +attentively, if not eagerly, for my response. + +It decided the point. "If," replied I, "you do not think that I should +disgrace you, I should wish to wear the dress of the Society of Friends, +although not yet one of your body." + +"But soon to be, I trust," replied Mrs Cophagus. + +"Alas!" replied I, "I am an outcast;" and I looked at Susannah Temple. + +"Not so, Japhet Newland," replied she, mildly; "I am pleased that thou +hast of thy own accord rejected vain attire. I trust that thou wilt not +find that thou art without friends." + +"While I am with you," replied I, addressing myself to them all, "I +consider it my duty to conform to your manners in every way, but +by-and-bye, when I resume my search--" + +"And why shouldst thou resume a search which must prove unavailing, and +but leads thee into error and misfortune? I am but young, Japhet Newland, +and not perhaps so able to advise, yet doth it appear to me, that the +search can only be availing when made by those who left thee. When they +wish for you, they will seek thee, but thy seeking them is vain and +fruitless." + +"But," replied I, "recollect that inquiries have already been made at the +Foundling, and those who inquired have been sent away disappointed--they +will enquire no more." + +"And is a parent's love so trifling, that one disappointment will drive +him from seeking of his child? No, no, Japhet; if thou art yearned for, +thou wilt be found, and fresh inquiries will be made; but thy search is +unavailing, and already hast thou lost much time." + +"True, Susannah, thy advice is good," replied Mrs Cophagus; "in following +a shadow Japhet hath much neglected the substance; it is time that thou +shouldst settle thyself, and earn thy livelihood." + +"And do thy duty in that path of life to which it hath pleased God to +call thee," continued Susannah, who with Mrs Cophagus walked out of the +room. + +Cophagus then took up the conversation, and pointing out the uselessness +of my roving about, and the propriety of my settling in life, proposed +that I should take an apothecary's shop, for which he would furnish the +means, and that he could ensure me the custom of the whole Society of +Friends in Reading, which was very large, as there was not one of the +sect in that line of business. "Become one of us, Japhet--good +business--marry by-and-bye--happy life--little children--and so on." I +thought of Susannah, and was silent. Cophagus then said, I had better +reflect upon his offer, and make up my determination. If that did not +suit me, he would still give me all the assistance in his power. I did +reflect long before I could make up my mind. I was still worldly +inclined; still my fancy would revel in the idea of finding out my +father in high life, and, as once more appearing as a star of fashion, +of returning with interest the contumely I had lately received, and +re-assuming as a right that position in society which I had held under +false colours. + +I could not bear the idea of sinking at once into a tradesman, and +probably ending my days in obscurity. Pride was still my ruling passion. +Such were my first impulses, and then I looked upon the other side of +the picture. I was without the means necessary to support myself; I +could not return to high life without I discovered my parents in the +first place, and in the second, found them to be such as my warm +imagination had depicted. I had no chance of finding them. I had +already been long seeking in vain. I had been twice taken up to Bow +Street--nearly lost my life in Ireland--had been sentenced to death--had +been insane, and recovered by a miracle, and all in prosecuting this +useless search. All this had much contributed to cure me of the +monomania. I agreed with Susannah that the search must be made by the +other parties, and not by me. I recalled the treatment I had received +from the world--the contempt with which I had been treated--the +heartlessness of high life, and the little chance of my ever again being +admitted into fashionable society. + +I placed all this in juxtaposition with the kindness of those with whom I +now resided--what they had done already for me, and what they now +offered, which was to make me independent by my own exertions. I weighed +all in my mind; was still undecided, for my pride still carried its +weight; when I thought of the pure, beautiful Susannah Temple, and--my +decision was made. I would not lose the substance by running after +shadows. + +That evening, with many thanks, I accepted the kind offers of Mr +Cophagus, and expressed my determination of entering into the Society +of Friends. + +"Thou hast chosen wisely," said Mrs Cophagus, extending her hand to me, +"and it is with pleasure that we shall receive thee." + +"I welcome thee, Japhet Newland," said Susannah, also offering her hand, +"and I trust that thou wilt find more happiness among those with whom +thou art about to sojourn, than in the world of vanity and deceit, in +which thou hast hitherto played thy part. No longer seek an earthly +father, who hath deserted thee, but a heavenly Father, who will not +desert thee in thy afflictions." + +"You shall direct me into the right path, Susannah," replied I. + +"I am too young to be a guide, Japhet," replied she, smiling; "but +not too young, I hope, to be a friend." + +The next day my clothes came home, and I put them on. I looked at myself +in the glass, and was anything but pleased; but as my head was shaved, +it was of little consequence what I wore; so I consoled myself. Mr +Cophagus sent for a barber and ordered me a wig, which was to be ready +in a few days; when it was ready I put it on, and altogether did not +dislike my appearance. I flattered myself that if I was a Quaker, at all +events I was a very good looking and a very smart one; and when, a day or +two afterwards, a reunion of friends took place at Mr Cophagus's house to +introduce me to them, I perceived, with much satisfaction, that there was +no young man who could compete with me. After this, I was much more +reconciled to my transformation. + + + + +Chapter LXIV + + I prosper in every way, and become reconciled to my situation. + + +Mr Cophagus was not idle. In a few weeks he had rented a shop for me, and +furnished it much better than his own in Smithfield; the upper part of +the house was let off, as I was to reside with the family. When it was +ready, I went over it with him, and was satisfied; all I wished for was +Timothy as an assistant, but that wish was unavailing, as I knew not +where to find him. + +That evening I observed to Mr Cophagus, that I did not much like putting +my name over the shop. The fact was, that my pride forbade it, and I +could not bear the idea, that Japhet Newland, at whose knock every +aristocratic door had flown open, should appear in gold letters above a +shop-window. "There are many reasons against it," observed I. "One is, +that it is not my real name--I should like to take the name of Cophagus; +another is, that the name, being so well known, may attract those who +formerly knew me, and I should not wish that they should come in and +mock me; another is--" + +"Japhet Newland," interrupted Susannah, with more severity than I ever +had seen in her sweet countenance, "do not trouble thyself with giving +thy reasons, seeing thou hast given every reason but the right one, which +is, that thy pride revolts at it." + +"I was about to observe," replied I, "that it was a name that sounded of +mammon, and not fitting for one of our persuasion. But, Susannah, you +have accused me of pride, and I will now raise no further objections. +Japhet Newland it shall be, and let us speak no more upon the subject." + +"If I have wronged thee, Japhet, much do I crave thy forgiveness," +replied Susannah. "But it is God alone who knoweth the secrets of our +hearts. I was presumptuous, and you must pardon me." + +"Susannah, it is I who ought to plead for pardon; you know me better than +I know myself. It was pride, and nothing but pride--but you have cured +me." + +"Truly have I hopes of thee now, Japhet," replied Susannah, smiling. +"Those who confess their faults will soon amend them; yet I do think +there is some reason in thy observation, for who knoweth, but meeting +with thy former associates, thou mayst not be tempted into falling +away? Thou mayst spell thy name as thou listest; and, peradventure, it +would be better to disguise it." + +So agreed Mr and Mrs Cophagus, and I therefore had it written +_Gnow_-land; and having engaged a person of the society, strongly +recommended to me, as an assistant, I took possession of my shop, and +was very soon busy in making up prescriptions, and dispensing my +medicines in all quarters of the good town of Reading. + +And I was happy. I had enjoyment during the day; my profession was, at +all events, liberal. I was dressed and lived as a gentleman, or rather I +should say respectably. I was earning my own livelihood. I was a useful +member of society, and when I retired home to meals, and late at night, +I found, that if Cophagus and his wife had retired, Susannah Temple +always waited up, and remained with me a few minutes. I had never been +in love until I had fallen in with this perfect creature; but my love +for her was not the love of the world; I could not so depreciate her--I +loved her as a superior being--I loved her with fear and trembling. I +felt that she was too pure, too holy, too good for a vain worldly +creature like myself. I felt as if my destiny depended upon her and her +fiat; that if she favoured me, my happiness in this world and in the +next were secured; that if she rejected me, I was cast away for ever. +Such was my feeling for Susannah Temple, who, perfect as she was, was +still a woman, and perceived her power over me; but unlike the many of +her sex, exerted that power only to lead to what was right. Insensibly +almost, my pride was quelled, and I became humble and religiously +inclined. Even the peculiarities of the sect, their meeting at their +places of worship, their drawling, and their quaint manner of talking, +became no longer a subject of dislike. I found out causes and good +reasons for everything which before appeared strange--sermons in stones, +and good in everything. Months passed away--my business prospered--I +had nearly repaid the money advanced by Mr Cophagus. I was in heart and +soul a Quaker, and I entered into the fraternity with a feeling that I +could act up to what I had promised. I was happy, quite happy, and yet +I had never received from Susannah Temple any further than the proofs +of sincere friendship. But I had much of her society, and we were now +very, very intimate. I found out what warm, what devoted feelings were +concealed under her modest, quiet exterior--how well her mind was +stored, and how right was that mind. + +Often when I talked over past events, did I listen to her remarks, all +tending to one point, morality and virtue; often did I receive from her +at first a severe, but latterly a kind rebuke, when my discourse was +light and frivolous; but when I talked of merry subjects which were +innocent, what could be more joyous or more exhilarating than her +laugh--what more intoxicating than her sweet smile, when she approved +of my sentiments! and when animated by the subject, what could be more +musical or more impassioned than her bursts of eloquence, which were +invariably followed by a deep blush, when she recollected how she had +been carried away by excitement? + +There was one point upon which I congratulated myself, which was, that +she had received two or three unexceptionable offers of marriage during +the six months that I had been in her company, and refused them. At the +end of that period, thanks to the assistance I received from the Friends, +I had paid Mr Cophagus all the money which he had advanced, and found +myself in possession of a flourishing business, and independent. I then +requested that I might be allowed to pay an annual stipend for my board +and lodging, commencing from the time I first came to his house. Mr +Cophagus said I was right--the terms were easily arranged, and I was +independent. + +Still my advances with Susannah were slow, but if slow, they were sure. +One day I observed to her, how happy Mr Cophagus appeared to be as a +married man; her reply was, "He is, Japhet; he has worked hard for his +independence, and he now is reaping the fruits of his industry." That is +as much as to say that I must do the same, thought I, and that I have no +business to propose for a wife, until I am certain that I am able to +provide for her. I have as yet laid up nothing, and an income is not a +capital. I felt that whether a party interested or not, she was right, +and I redoubled my diligence. + + + + +Chapter LXV + + A variety of the Quaker tribe--who had a curious disintegration + of mind and body. + + +I was not yet weaned from the world, but I was fast advancing to that +state, when a very smart young Quaker came on a visit to Reading. He was +introduced to Mr and Mrs Cophagus, and was soon, as might be expected, an +admirer of Susannah, but he received no encouragement. He was an idle +person, and passed much of his time sitting in my shop, and talking with +me, and being much less reserved and guarded than the generality of the +young men of the sect, I gradually became intimate with him. One day when +my assistant was out he said to me, "Friend Gnow-land, tell me candidly, +hast thou ever seen my face before?" + +"Not that I can recollect, friend Talbot." + +"Then my recollection is better than yours, and now having obtained thy +friendship as one of the society, I will remind thee of our former +acquaintance. When thou wert Mr N-e-w-land, walking about town with +Major Carbonnell, I was Lieutenant Talbot, of the--Dragoon Guards." + +I was dumb with astonishment, and I stared him in the face. + +"Yes," continued he, bursting into laughter, "such is the fact. You +have thought, perhaps, that you were the only man of fashion who had +ever been transformed into a Quaker; now you behold another, so no +longer imagine yourself the Phoenix of your tribe." + +"I do certainly recollect that name," replied I; "but although, as you +must be acquainted with my history, it is very easy to conceive why I +have joined the society, yet, upon what grounds you can have so done, +is to me inexplicable." + +"Newland, it certainly does require explanation; it has been, I assert, +my misfortune, and not my fault. Not that I am not happy. On the +contrary, I feel that I am now in my proper situation. I ought to have +been born of Quaker parents--at all events, I was born a Quaker in +disposition; but I will come to-morrow early, and then, if you will +give your man something to do out of the way, I will tell you my history. +I know that you will keep my secret." + +The next morning he came, and as soon as we were alone he imparted to me +what follows. + +"I recollect well, Newland, when you were one of the leaders of fashion, +I was then in the Dragoon Guards, and although not very intimate with +you, had the honour of a recognition when we met at parties. I cannot +help laughing, upon my soul, when I look at us both now; but never mind. +I was of course a great deal with my regiment, and at the club. My +father, as you may not perhaps be aware, was highly connected, and all +the family have been brought up in the army; the question of profession +has never been mooted by us, and every Talbot has turned out a soldier +as naturally as a young duck takes to the water. Well, I entered the +army, admired my uniform, and was admired by the young ladies. Before I +received my lieutenant's commission, my father, the old gentleman, died, +and left me a younger brother's fortune of four hundred per annum; but, +as my uncle said, 'It was quite enough for a Talbot, who would push +himself forward in his profession, as the Talbots had ever done before +him.' I soon found out that my income was not sufficient to enable me +to continue in the Guards, and my uncle was very anxious that I should +exchange into a regiment on service. I therefore, by purchase, obtained +a company in the 23rd, ordered out to reduce the French colonies in the +West Indies, and I sailed with all the expectation of covering myself +with as much glory as the Talbots had done from time immemorial. We +landed, and in a short time the bullets and grape were flying in all +directions, and then I discovered, what I declare never for a moment +came into my head before, to wit--that I had mistaken my profession." + +"How do you mean, Talbot?" + +"Mean why, that I was deficient in a certain qualification, which never +was before denied to a Talbot--courage." + +"And you never knew that before?" + +"Never, upon my honour; my mind was always full of courage. In my mind's +eye I built castles of feats of bravery, which should eclipse all the +Talbots, from him who burnt Joan of Arc, down to the present day. I +assure you, that surprised as other people were, no one was more +surprised than myself. Our regiment was ordered to advance, and I led +on my company, the bullets flew like hail. I tried to go on, but I could +not; at last, notwithstanding all my endeavours to the contrary, I +fairly took to my heels. I was met by the commanding officer--in fact, +I ran right against him. He ordered me back, and I returned to my +regiment, not feeling at all afraid. Again I was in the fire, again I +resisted the impulse, but it was of no use, and at last, just before the +assault took place, I ran away as if the devil was after me. Wasn't it +odd?" + +"Very odd, indeed," replied I, laughing. + +"Yes, but you do not exactly understand why it was odd. You know what +philosophers tell you about volition; and that the body is governed by +the mind, consequently obeys it; now, you see, in my case, it was +exactly reversed. I tell you, that it is a fact, that in mind I am as +brave as any man in existence; but I had a cowardly carcass, and what +is still worse, it proved the master of my mind, and ran away with it. I +had no mind to run away; on the contrary, I wished to have been of the +forlorn hope, and had volunteered, but was refused. Surely, if I had not +courage I should have avoided such a post of danger. Is it not so?" + +"It certainly appears strange, that you should volunteer for the forlorn +hope, and then run away." + +"That's just what I say. I have the soul of the Talbots, but a body +which don't belong to the family, and too powerful for the soul." + +"So it appears. Well, go on." + +"It was go off, instead of going on. I tried again that day to mount +the breach, and as the fire was over, I succeeded; but there was a mark +against me, and it was intimated that I should have an opportunity of +redeeming my character." + +"Well?" + +"There was a fort to be stormed the next day, and I requested to lead +my company in advance. Surely that was no proof of want of courage? +Permission was granted. We were warmly received, and I felt that my legs +refused to advance; so what did I do--I tied my sash round my thigh, and +telling the men that I was wounded, requested they would carry me to the +attack. Surely that was courage?" + +"Most undoubtedly so. It was like a Talbot." + +"We were at the foot of the breach; when the shot flew about me, I +kicked and wrestled so, that the two men who carried me were obliged to +let me go, and my rascally body was at liberty. I say unfortunately, for +only conceive, if they had carried me wounded up the breach, what an +heroic act it would have been considered on my part; but fate decided it +otherwise. If I had lain still when they dropped me, I should have done +well, but I was anxious to get up the breach, that is, my mind was so +bent; but as soon as I got on my legs, confound them if they didn't run +away with me, and then I was found half a mile from the fort with a +pretended wound. That was enough; I had a hint that the sooner I went +home the better. On account of the family I was permitted to sell out, +and I then walked the streets as a private gentleman, but no one would +speak to me. I argued the point with several, but they were obstinate, +and would not be convinced; they said that it was no use talking about +being brave, if I ran away." + +"They were not philosophers, Talbot." + +"No; they could not comprehend how the mind and the body could be at +variance. It was no use arguing--they would have it that the movements +of the body depended upon the mind, and that I had made a mistake--and +that I was a coward in soul as well as body." + +"Well, what did you do?" + +"Oh, I did nothing! I had a great mind to knock them down, but as I knew +my body would not assist me, I thought it better to leave it alone. +However, they taunted me so, by calling me fighting Tom, that my uncle +shut his door upon me as a disgrace to the family, saying, he wished the +first bullet had laid me dead--very kind of him;--at last my patience +was worn out, and I looked about to find whether there were not some +people who did not consider courage as a _sine quæ non_. I found that +the Quakers' tenets were against fighting, and therefore courage could +not be necessary, so I have joined them, and I find that, if not a good +soldier, I am, at all events, a very respectable Quaker; and now you +have the whole of my story--and tell me if you are of my opinion." + +"Why, really it's a very difficult point to decide. I never heard such +a case of disintegration before. I must think upon it." + +"Of course, you will not say a word about it, Newland." + +"Never fear, I will keep your secret, Talbot. How long have you worn +the dress?" + +"Oh, more than a year. By-the-bye, what a nice young person that +Susannah Temple is. I've a great mind to propose for her." + +"But you must first ascertain what your body says to it, Talbot," +replied I, sternly. "I allow no one to interfere with me, Quaker or not." + +"My dear fellow, I beg your pardon, I shall think no more about her," +said Talbot, rising up, as he observed that I looked very fierce. "I +wish you a good morning. I leave Reading to-morrow. I will call on you, +and say good-bye, if I can;" and I saw no more of Friend Talbot, whose +mind was all courage, but whose body was so renegade. + + + + +Chapter LXVI + + I fall in with Timothy. + + +About a month after this, I heard a sailor with one leg, and a handful +of ballads, singing in a most lachrymal tone, + +"Why, what's that to you if my eyes I'm a wiping? A tear is a pleasure, +d'ye see, in its way"-- + +"Bless your honour, shy a copper to Poor Jack, who's lost his leg in the +sarvice. Thanky, your honour," and he continued, + +"It's nonsense for trifles, I own, to be piping, But they who can't +pity--why I pities they. Says the captain, says he; I shall never forget +it, Of courage, you know, boys, the true from the sham," + +"Back your maintopsail, your worship, for half a minute, and just assist +a poor dismantled craft, who has been riddled in the wars--"'Tis a furious +lion.' Long life to your honour--'In battle so let it--' + +"'Tis a furious lion, in battle so let it; But duty appeased--but duty +appeased-- + +"Buy a song, young woman, to sing to your sweetheart, while you sit on +his knee in the dog-watch-- + +"But duty appeased'tis the heart of a lamb." + +I believe there are few people who do not take a strong interest in the +English sailor, particularly in one who has been maimed in the defence +of his country. I always have, and as I heard the poor disabled fellow +bawling out his ditty, certainly not with a very remarkable voice or +execution, I pulled out the drawer behind the counter, and took out some +halfpence to give him. When I caught his eye I beckoned to him, and he +entered the shop. "Here, my good fellow," said I, "although a man of +peace myself, yet I feel for those who suffer in the wars;" and I put +the money to him. + +"May your honour never know a banyan day," replied the sailor; "and a +sickly season for you, into the bargain." + +"Nay, friend, that is not a kind wish to others," replied I. + +The sailor fixed his eyes earnestly upon me, as if in astonishment, for, +until I had answered, he had not looked at me particularly. + +"What are you looking at?" said I. + +"Good heavens!" exclaimed he. "It is--yet it cannot be!" + +"Cannot be! what, friend?" + +He ran out of the door, and read the name over the shop, and then came +in, and sank upon a chair outside of the counter. "Japhet--I have found +you at last!" exclaimed he, faintly. + +"Good Heaven! who are you?" + +He threw off his hat, with false ringlets fastened to the inside of it, +and I beheld Timothy. In a moment I sprang over the counter, and was in +his arms. "Is it possible," exclaimed I, after a short silence on both +sides, "that I find you, Timothy, a disabled sailor?" + +"Is it possible, Japhet," replied Timothy, "that I find you a +broad-brimmed Quaker?" + +"Even so, Timothy. I am really and truly one." + +"Then you are less disguised than I am," replied Timothy, kicking off +his wooden leg, and letting down his own, which had been tied up to his +thigh, and concealed in his wide blue trousers. "I am no more a sailor +than you are, Japhet, and since you left me have never yet seen the +salt water, which I talk and sing so much about." + +"Then thou hast been deceiving, Timothy, which I regret much." + +"Now I do perceive that you are a Quaker," replied Tim; "but do not +blame me until you have heard my story. Thank God, I have found you at +last. But tell me, Japhet, you will not send me away--will you? If your +dress is changed, your heart is not. Pray answer me, before I say +nything more. You know I can be useful here." + +"Indeed, Timothy, I have often wished for you since I have been here, +and it will be your own fault if I part with you. You shall assist me +in the shop; but you must dress like me." + +"Dress like you! have I not always dressed like you? When we started +from Cophagus's, were we not dressed much alike? did we not wear +spangled jackets together? did I not wear your livery, and belong to +you? I'll put on anything, Japhet--but we must not part again." + +"My dear Timothy, I trust we shall not; but I expect my assistant here +soon, and do not wish that he should see you in that garb. Go to a small +public-house at the farther end of this street, and when you see me +pass, come out to me, and we will walk out into the country, and +consult together." + +"I have put up at a small house not far off, and have some clothes +there; I will alter my dress and meet you. God bless you, Japhet." + +Timothy then picked up his ballads, which were scattered on the floor, +put up his leg, and putting on his wooden stump, hastened away, after +once more silently pressing my hand. + +In half an hour my assistant returned, and I desired him to remain in +the shop, as I was going out on business. I then walked to the appointed +rendezvous, and was soon joined by Tim, who had discarded his sailor's +disguise, and was in what is called a shabby genteel sort of dress. +After the first renewed greeting, I requested Tim to let me know what +had occurred to him since our separation. + +"You cannot imagine, Japhet, what my feelings were when I found, by your +note, that you had left me. I had perceived how unhappy you had been for +a long while, and I was equally distressed, although I knew not the +cause. I had no idea until I got your letter, that you had lost all your +money; and I felt it more unkind of you to leave me then, than if you +had been comfortable and independent. As for looking after you, that I +knew would be useless; and I immediately went to Mr Masterton, to take +his advice as to how I should proceed. Mr Masterton had received your +letter, and appeared to be very much annoyed. 'Very foolish boy,' said +he, 'but there is nothing that can be done now. He is mad, and that is +all that can be said in his excuse. You must do as he tells you, I +suppose, and try the best for yourself. I will help you in any way that +I can, my poor fellow,' said he, 'so don't cry.' I went back to the +house and collected together your papers, which I sealed up. I knew that +the house was to be given up in a few days. I sold the furniture, and +made the best I could of the remainder of your wardrobe, and other +things of value that you had left; indeed, everything, with the +exception of the dressing-case and pistols, which had belonged to Major +Carbonnell, and I thought you might perhaps some day like to have them." + +"How very kind of you, Timothy, to think of me in that way! I shall +indeed be glad; but no--what have I to do with pistols or silver +dressing-cases now? I must not have them, but still I thank you all +the same." + +"The furniture and everything else fetched £430, after all expenses were +paid." + +"I am glad of it, Timothy, for your sake; but I am sorry, judging by your +present plight, that it appears to have done you but little good." + +"Because I did not make use of it, Japhet. What could I do with all that +money? I took it to Mr Masterton, with all your papers, and the +dressing-case and pistols;--he has it now ready for you when you ask for +it. He was very kind to me, and offered to do anything for me; but I +resolved to go in search of you. I had more money in my pocket when you +went away than I generally have, and with the surplus of what you left +for the bills, I had twelve or fourteen pounds. So I wished Mr Masterton +good-bye, and have ever since been on my adventures in search of my +master." + +"Not master, Timothy, say rather of your friend." + +"Well, of both if you please, Japhet; and very pretty adventures I have +had, I assure you, and some very hair-breadth escapes." + +"I think, when we compare notes, mine will be found most eventful, +Timothy; but we can talk of them, and compare notes another time. +At present, whom do you think I am residing with?" + +"A Quaker, I presume." + +"You have guessed right so far: but who do you think that Quaker is?" + +"There I'm at fault." + +"Mr Cophagas." + +At this intelligence Timothy gave a leap in the air, turned round on his +heel, and tumbled on the grass in a fit of immoderate laughter. + +"Cophagus!--a Quaker!" cried he at last. "Oh! I long to see him. Snuffle, +snuffle--broad brims--wide skirts--and so on. Capital!" + +"It is very true, Timothy, but you must not mock at the persuasion." + +"I did not intend it, Japhet, but there is something to me so ridiculous +in the idea. But," continued Timothy, "is it not still stranger, that, +after having separated so many years, we should all meet again--and that +I should find Mr Cophagus--an apothecary's shop--you dispensing +medicines--and I--as I hope to be--carrying them about as I did before. +Well, I will row in the same boat, and I will be a Quaker as well as you +both." + +"Well, we will now return, and I will take you to Mr Cophagus, who will, +I am sure, be glad to see you." + +"First, Japhet, let me have some Quaker's clothes--I should prefer it." + +"You shall have a suit of mine, Timothy, since you wish it; but recollect +it is not at all necessary, nor indeed will it be permitted that you +enter into the sect without preparatory examination as to your fitness +for admission." + +I then went to the shop, and sending out the assistant, walked home and +took out a worn suit of clothes, with which I hastened to Timothy. He put +them on in the shop, and then walking behind the counter, said, "This is +my place, and here I shall remain as long as you do." + +"I hope so, Timothy; as for the one who is with me at present, I can +easily procure him other employment, and he will not be sorry to go, for +he is a married man, and does not like the confinement." + +"I have some money," said Timothy, taking out of his old clothes a dirty +rag, and producing nearly twenty pounds. "I am well off, you see." + +"You are, indeed," replied I. + +"Yes, there is nothing like being a sailor with one leg, singing ballads. +Do you know, Japhet, that sometimes I have taken more than a _pound_ a +day since I have shammed the sailor?" + +"Not very honestly, Tim." + +"Perhaps not, Japhet; but it is very strange, +and yet very true, that when honest I could make nothing, and when I +deceived, I have done very well." + + + + +Chapter LXVII + + Timothy commences his narrative of his search after Japhet. + + +I could not help calling to mind that the same consequences as Timothy +related in the last chapter had occurred to me during my eventful career; +but I had long considered that there was no excuse for dishonesty, and +that, in the end, it would only lead to exposure and disgrace. I went +home early in the evening to introduce Timothy to Mr Cophagus, who +received him with great kindness, and agreed immediately that he ought +to be with me in the shop. Timothy paid his respects to the ladies, and +then went down with Ephraim, who took him under his protection. In a few +days, he was as established with us as if he had been living with us for +months. I had some trouble, at first, in checking his vivacity and turn +for ridicule; but that was gradually effected, and I found him not only +a great acquisition, but, as he always was, a cheerful and affectionate +companion. I had, during the first days of our meeting, recounted my +adventures, and made many inquiries of Timothy relative to my few +friends. He told me that from Mr Masterton he had learnt that Lady de +Clare and Fleta had called upon him very much afflicted with the contents +of my letter--that Lord Windermear also had been very much vexed and +annoyed--that Mr Masterton had advised him to obtain another situation +as a valet, which he had refused, and, at the same time, told him his +intention of searching for me. He had promised Mr Masterton to let him +know if he found me, and then bade him farewell. + +"I used to lie in bed, Japhet," continued Timothy, "and think upon the +best method of proceeding. At last, I agreed to myself, that to look for +you as you looked after your father, would be a wild-goose chase, and +that my money would soon be gone; so I reflected whether I might not +take up some roving trade which would support me, and, at the same time, +enable me to proceed from place to place. What do you think was my first +speculation? Why, I saw a man with a dog harnessed in a little cart, +crying dog's meat and cat's meat, and I said to myself, 'Now there's the +very thing--there's a profession--I can travel and earn my livelihood.' +I entered into conversation with him, as he stopped at a low +public-house, treating him to a pot of beer; and having gained all I +wanted as to the mysteries of the profession, I called for another pot, +and proposed that I should purchase his whole concern, down to his knife +and apron. The fellow agreed, and after a good deal of bargaining, I +paid him three guineas for the _set out_ or _set up_, which you please. +He asked me whether I meant to hawk in London or not, and I told him no, +that I should travel the country. He advised the western road, as there +were more populous towns in it. Well, we had another pot to clench the +bargain, and I paid down the money and took possession, quite delighted +with my new occupation. Away I went to Brentford, selling a bit here and +there by the way, and at last arrived at the very bench where we had sat +down together and eaten our meal." + +"It is strange that I did the same, and a very unlucky bench it proved +to me." + +"So it did to me, as you shall hear. I had taken up my quarters at that +inn, and for three days had done very well in Brentford. On the third +evening I had just come back, it was nearly dusk, and I took my seat on +the bench, thinking of you. My dog, rather tired, was lying down before +the cart, when all of a sudden I heard a sharp whistle. The dog sprang +on his legs immediately, and ran off several yards before I could prevent +him. The whistle was repeated, and away went the dog and cart like +lightning. I ran as fast as I could, but could not overtake him; and I +perceived that his old master was running ahead of the dog as hard as he +could, and this was the reason why the dog was off. Still I should, I +think, have overtaken him, but an old woman coming out of a door with a +saucepan to pour the hot water into the gutter, I knocked her down and +tumbled right over her into a cellar without steps. There I was, and +before I could climb out again, man, dog, cart, cat's meat and dog's +meat, had all vanished, and I have never seen them since. The rascal +got clear off, and I was a bankrupt. So much for my first set up in +business." + +"You forgot to purchase the _good-will_ when you made your bargain, +Timothy, for the stock in trade." + +"Very true, Japhet. However, after receiving a very fair share of abuse +from the old woman, and a plaister of hot greens in my face--for she +went supperless to bed, rather than not have her revenge--I walked +back to the inn, and sat down in the tap. The two men next to me were +hawkers; one carried a large pack of dimities and calicoes, and the +other a box full of combs, needles, tapes, scissors, knives, and +mock-gold trinkets. I entered into conversation with them, and, as I +again stood treat, I soon was very intimate. They told me what their +profits were, and how they contrived to get on, and I thought, for a +rambling life, it was by no means an unpleasant one; so having obtained +all the information I required, I went back to town, took out a hawker's +licence, for which I paid two guineas, and purchasing at a shop, to which +they gave me a direction, a pretty fair quantity of articles in the tape +and scissor line, off I set once more on my travels. I took the north +road this time, and picked up a very comfortable subsistence, selling +my goods for a few halfpence here and a few halfpence there, at the +cottages as I passed by; but I soon found out, that without a newspaper, +I was not a confirmed hawker, and the more radical the newspaper the +better. A newspaper will pay half the expenses of a hawker, if he can +read. At every house, particularly every small hedge ale-house, he is +received, and placed in the best corner of the chimney, and has his board +and lodging, with the exception of what he drinks, gratis, if he will +pull out the newspaper and read it to those around him who cannot read, +particularly if he can explain what is unintelligible. Now I became a +great politician, and, moreover, a great radical, for such were the +politics of all the lower classes. I lived well, slept well, and sold +my wares very fast. I did not take more than three shillings in the +day, yet, as two out of the three were clear profit, I did pretty well. +However, a little accident happened which obliged me to change my +profession, or at least, the nature of the articles which I dealt in." + +"What was that?" + +"A mere trifle. I had arrived late at a small ale-house, had put up my +pack, which was in a painted deal box, on the table in the tap-room, and +was very busy, after reading a paragraph in the newspaper, making a fine +speech, which I always found was received with great applause, and many +shakes of the hand, as a prime good fellow--a speech about community of +rights, agrarian division, and the propriety of an equal distribution of +property, proving that, as we were all born alike, no one had a right to +have more property than his neighbour. The people had all gathered round +me, applauding violently, when I thought I might as well look after my +pack, which had been for some time hidden from my sight by the crowd, +when, to my mortification, I found out that my earnest assertions on +the propriety of community of property had had such an influence upon +some of my listeners, that they had walked off with my pack and its +contents. Unfortunately, I had deposited in my boxes all my money, +considering it safer there than in my pockets, and had nothing left but +about seventeen shillings in silver, which I had received within the last +three days. Every one was very sorry, but no one knew anything about it; +and when I challenged the landlord as answerable, he called me a radical +blackguard, and turned me out of the door." + +"If you had looked a little more after your own property, and interfered +less with that of other people, you would have done better, Tim," +observed I, laughing. + +"Very true; but, at all events, I have never been a radical since," +replied Tim. "But to go on. I walked off to the nearest town, and I +commenced in a more humble way. I purchased a basket, and then, with +the remainder of my money, I bought the commonest crockery ware, such +as basins, jugs, mugs, and putting them on my head, off I went again +upon my new speculation. I wandered about with my crockery, but it was +hard work. I could not reap the profits which I did as a hawker and +pedlar. I averaged, however, from seven to nine shillings a week and +that was about sufficient for my support. I went down into as many +kitchens as would have sufficed to have found a dozen mothers, supposing +mine to be a cook; but I did not see anyone who was at all like me. +Sometimes a cook replaced a basin she had broken, by giving me as much +meat as had cost her mistress five shillings, and thus avoided a +scolding, for an article which was worth only two-pence. At other times, +a cottager would give me a lodging, and would consider himself rewarded +with a mug that only cost me one penny. I was more than three months +employed carrying crockery in every direction, and never, during the +whole time, broke one article, until one day, as I passed through +Eton, there was a regular smash of the whole concern." + +"Indeed, how was that?" + +"I met about a dozen of the Eton boys, and they proposed a cockshy, as +they called it; that is, I was to place my articles on the top of a post, +and they were to throw stones at them at a certain distance, paying me a +certain sum for each throw. Well, this I thought a very good bargain, so +I put up a mug (worth one penny) at one penny a throw. It was knocked +down at the second shot, so it was just as well to put the full price +upon them at once, they were such remarkably good aimers at anything. +Each boy had a stick, upon which I notched off their throws, and how +much they would have to pay when all was over. One article after another +was put on the post until my basket was empty, and then I wanted to +settle with them; but as soon as I talked about that, they all burst +out into a loud laugh, and took to their heels. I chased them, but one +might as well have chased eels. If I got hold of one, the others pulled +me behind until he escaped, and at last they were all off, and I had +nothing left." + +"Not your basket?" + +"No, not even that; for while I was busy after some that ran one way, +the others kicked my basket before them like a football, until it was +fairly out of sight. I had only eight-pence in my pocket, so you perceive, +Japhet, how I was going down in the world." + +"You were indeed, Tim." + + + + +Chapter LXVIII + + Timothy finishes his narrative. + + +"Well, I walked away, cursing all the Eton boys and all their tutors, +who did not teach them honesty as well as Latin and Greek, and put up at +a very humble sort of abode, where they sold small beer, and gave beds +at two-pence per night, and I may add, with plenty of fleas in the +bargain. There I fell in with some ballad singers and mumpers, who were +making very merry, and who asked me what was the matter. I told them how +I had been treated, and they laughed at me, but gave me some supper, so +I forgave them. An old man, who governed the party, then asked me +whether I had any money. I produced my enormous capital of eight-pence. +'Quite enough if you are clever,' said he; 'quite enough--many a man +with half that sum has ended in rolling in his carriage. A man with +thousands has only the advance of you a few years. You will pay for your +lodging and then spend this sixpence in matches, and hawk them about +the town. If you are lucky, it will be a shilling by to-morrow night. +Besides, you go down into areas, and sometimes enter a kitchen, when the +cook is above stairs. There are plenty of things to be picked up.' 'But I +am not dishonest,' said I. 'Well, then, every man to his liking; only if +you were, you would ride in your own coach the sooner.' 'And suppose I +should lose all this, or none would buy my matches, what then?' replied +I, 'I shall starve.' 'Starve--no, no--no one starves in this country; +all you have to do is to get into gaol--committed for a month--you will +live better perhaps than you ever did before. I have been in every gaol +in England, and I know the good ones, for even in gaols there is a great +difference. Now the one in this town is one of the best in all England, +and I patronises it during the winter.' I was much amused with the +discourse of this mumper, who appeared to be one of the merriest old +vagabonds in England. I took his advice, bought six pennyworth of matches, +and commenced my new vagrant speculation. + +"The first day I picked up three-pence, for one quarter of my stock, and +returned to the same place where I had slept the night before, but the +fraternity had quitted on an expedition. I spent my two-pence in bread +and cheese, and paid one penny for my lodging, and again I started the +next morning, but I was very unsuccessful; nobody appeared to want +matches that day, and after walking from seven o'clock in the morning, +to past seven in the evening, without selling one farthing's worth, I +sat down at the porch of a chapel, quite tired and worn out. At last, +I fell asleep, and how do you think I was awoke? by a strong sense of +suffocation, and up I sprang, coughing, and nearly choked, surrounded +with smoke. Some mischievous boys perceiving that I was fast asleep, +had set fire to my matches, as I held them in my hand between my legs, +and I did not wake until my fingers were severely burnt. There was an +end of my speculation in matches, because there was an end of all my +capital." + +"My poor Timothy, I really feel for you." + +"Not at all, my dear Japhet; I never, in all my distress, was sentenced +to execution--my miseries were trifles, to be laughed at. However, I felt +very miserable at the time, and walked off, thinking about the propriety +of getting into gaol as soon as I could, for the beggar had strongly +recommended it. I was at the outskirts of the town, when I perceived +two men tussling with one another, and I walked towards them. 'I says,' +says one, who appeared to be a constable; 'you must come along with I. +Don't you see that ere board? All wagrants shall be taken up, and dealt +with according to _la_.' 'Now may the devil hold you in his claws, you +old psalm-singing thief--an't I a sailor--and an't I a wagrant by +profession, and all according to law?' 'That won't do,' says the other; +'I commands you in the king's name, to let me take you to prison, and I +commands you also, young man,' says he--for I had walked up to them--'I +commands you, as a lawful subject, to assist me.' 'What will you give +the poor fellow for his trouble?' said the sailor. 'It's his duty, as a +lawful subject, and I'll give him nothing; but I'll put him in prison if +he don't.' 'Then you old Rhinoceros, I'll give him five shillings if +he'll help me, and so now he may take his choice.' At all events, thought +I, this will turn out lucky one way or the other; but I will support the +man who is most generous; so I went up to the constable, who was a burly +sort of a fellow, and tripped up his heels, and down he came on the back +of his head. You know my old trick, Japhet?" + +"Yes; I never knew you fail at that." + +"'Well,' the sailor says to me, 'I've a notion you've damaged his upper +works, so let us start off, and clap on all sail for the next town. I +know where to drop an anchor. Come along with me, and as long as I've a +shot in the locker, d--n me if I won't share it with one who has proved +a friend in need.' The constable did not come to his senses; he was very +much stunned, but we loosened his neckcloth, and left him there, and +started off as fast as we could. My new companion, who had a wooden leg, +stopped by a gate, and clambered over it. 'We must lose no time,' said +he; 'and I may just as well have the benefit of both legs.' So saying, he +took off his wooden stump, and let down his real leg, which was fixed up +just as you saw mine. I made no comments, but off we set, and at a good +round pace gained a village about five miles distant. 'Here we will put +up for the night; but they will look for us to-morrow at daylight, or a +little after, therefore we must be starting early. I know the law-beggars +well, they won't turn out afore sunrise. He stopped at a paltry ale-house, +where we were admitted, and soon were busy with a much better supper than +I had ever imagined they could have produced; but my new friend ordered +right and left, with a tone of authority, and everybody in the house +appeared at his beck and command. After a couple of glasses of grog, +we retired to our beds. + +"The next morning we started before break of day, on our road to another +town, where my companion said the constables would never take the trouble +to come after him. On our way he questioned me as to my mode of getting +my livelihood, and I narrated how unfortunate I had been. 'One good turn +deserves another,' replied the sailor; 'and now I'll set you up in +trade. Can you sing? Have you anything of a voice?' 'I can't say that I +have,' replied I. 'I don't mean whether you can sing in tune, or have a +good voice, that's no consequence; all I want to know is, have you a +good loud one?' + +'Loud enough, if that's all.' 'That's all that's requisite; so long as +you can make yourself heard--you may then howl like a jackal, or bellow +like a mad buffalo, no matter which--as many pay us for to get rid of us, +as out of charity; and so long as the money comes, what's the odds? Why, +I once knew an old chap, who could only play one tune on the clarionet, +and that tune out of all tune, who made his fortune in six or seven +streets, for every one gave him money, and told him to go away. When +he found out that, he came every morning as regular as clock-work. Now +there was one of the streets which was chiefly occupied by music-sellers +and Italian singers--for them foreigners always herd together--and this +tune, 'which the old cow died of,' as the saying is, used to be their +horror, and out came the halfpence to send him away. There was a sort +of club also in that street, of larking sort of young men, and when +they perceived that the others gave the old man money to get rid of his +squeaking, they sent him out money, with orders to stay and play to them, +so then the others sent out more for him to go away, and between the two, +the old fellow brought home more money than all the cadgers and mumpers +in the district. Now if you have a loud voice, I can provide you with all +the rest.'--'Do you gain your livelihood by that?'--' To be sure I do; +and I can tell you, that of all the trades going, there is none equal to +it. You see, my hearty, I have been on board of a man-of-war--not that +I'm a sailor, or was ever bred to the sea--but I was shipped as a +landsman, and did duty in the waist and afterguard. I know little or +nothing of my duty as a seaman, nor was it required in the station I was +in, so I never learnt, although I was four years on board; all I learnt +was the lingo and slang--and that you must contrive to learn from me. I +bolted, and made my way good to Lunnun, but I should soon have been +picked up and put on board the Tender again, if I hadn't got this wooden +stump made, which I now carry in my hand. I had plenty of songs, and I +commenced my profession, and a real good un it is, I can tell you. Why, +do you know, that a'ter a good victory, I have sometimes picked up as +much as two pounds a-day, for weeks running; as it is, I averages from +fifteen shillings to a pound. Now, as you helped me away from that land +shark, who would soon have found out that I had two legs, and have put +me into limbo as an impostor, I will teach you to arn your livelihood +after my fashion. You shall work with me until you are fit to start +alone, and then there's plenty of room in England for both of us; but +mind, never tell any one what you pick up, or every mumper in the island +will put on a suit of sailor's clothes, and the thing will be blown +upon.' Of course, this was too good an offer to be rejected, and I +joyfully acceded. At first, I worked with him as having only one arm, +the other being tied down to my side, and my jacket sleeve hanging loose +and empty, and we roared away right and left, so as to bring down a shower +of coppers wherever we went. In about three weeks my friend thought I was +able to start by myself, and giving me half of the ballads, and five +shillings to start with, I shook hands and parted with, next to you, +the best friend that I certainly ever had. Ever since I have been +crossing the country in every direction, with plenty of money in my +pocket, and always with one eye looking sharp out for you. My beautiful +voice fortunately attracted your attention, and here I am, and at an end +of my history; but if ever I am away from you, and in distress again, +depend upon it I shall take to my wooden leg and ballads for my support." + +Such were the adventures of Timothy, who was metamorphosed into a precise +Quaker. "I do not like the idea of your taking up a system of deceit, +Timothy. It may so happen--for who knows what may occur?--that you may +again be thrown upon your own resources. Now, would it not be better that +you should obtain a more intimate knowledge of the profession which we +are now in, which is liberal, and equally profitable? By attention and +study you will be able to dispense medicines and make up prescriptions +as well as myself, and who knows but that some day you may be the owner +of a shop like this?" + +"Verily, verily, thy words do savour of much wisdom," replied Tim, in a +grave voice; "and I will even so follow thy advice." + + + + +Chapter LXIX + + I am unsettled by unexpected intelligence, and again yearn after + the world of fashion. + + +I knew that he was mocking me in this reply, but I paid no attention to +that; I was satisfied that he consented. I now made him assist me, and +under my directions he made up the prescriptions. I explained to him the +nature of every medicine; and I made him read many books of physic and +surgery. In short, after two or three months, I could trust to Timothy as +well as if I were in the shop myself; and having an errand boy, I had +much more leisure, and I left him in charge after dinner. The business +prospered, and I was laying up money. My leisure time, I hardly need say + was spent with Mr Cophagus and his family, and my attachment to Susannah +Temple increased every day. Indeed, both Mr and Mrs Cophagus considered +that it was to be a match, and often joked with me when Susannah was not +present. With respect to Susannah, I could not perceive that I was +farther advanced in her affections than after I had known her two months. +She was always kind and considerate, evidently interested in my welfare, +always checking in me anything like levity--frank and confiding in her +opinions--and charitable to all, as I thought, except to me. But I made +no advance that I could perceive. The fact was, that I dared not speak +to her as I might have done to another who was not so perfect. And yet +she smiled, as I thought, more kindly when I returned than at other +times, and never appeared to be tired of my company. If I did sometimes +mention the marriage of another, or attentions paid which would, in all +probability, end in marriage, it would create no confusion or blushing +on her part, she would talk over that subject as composedly as any other. +I was puzzled, and I had been a year and nine months constantly in her +company, and had never dared to tell her that I loved her. But one day Mr +Cophagus brought up the subject when we were alone. He commenced by +stating how happy he had been as a married man, that he had given up +all hopes of a family, and that he should like to see Susannah Temple, +his sister-in-law, well married, that he might leave his property to her +children; and then he put the very pertinent question--"Japhet-- +verily--thou hast done well--good business--money coming in fast--settle, +Japhet--marry, have children--and so on. Susannah--nice girl--good +wife--pop question--all right--sly puss--won't say no--um--what d'ye +say?--and so on." I replied that I was very much attached to Susannah, +but that I was afraid that the attachment was not mutual, and therefore +hesitated to propose. Cophagus then said that he would make his wife +sound his sister, and let me know the result. + +This was in the morning just before I was about to walk over to the shop, +and I left the house in a state of anxiety and suspense. When I arrived +at the shop, I found Tim there as usual; but the colour in his face was +heightened as he said to me, "Read this, Japhet," and handed to me the +"Reading Mercury." I read an advertisement as follows:-- + + "If Japhet Newland, who was left at the Foundling Asylum, and was + afterwards for some time in London, will call at No. 16, + Throgmorton Court, Minories, he will hear of something very much + to his advantage, and will discover that of which he has been so + long in search. Should this reach his eye, he is requested to + write immediately to the above address, with full particulars of + his situation. Should anyone who reads this be able to give any + information relative to the said J.N., he will be liberally + rewarded." + +I sank down on the chair. "Merciful Heaven! this can be no mistake--'he +will discover the object of his search.' Timothy, my dear Timothy, I +have at last found out my father." + +"So I should imagine, my dear Japhet," replied Timothy, "and I trust +it will not prove a disappointment." + +"They never would be so cruel, Timothy," replied I. + +"But still it is evident that Mr Masterton is concerned in it," +observed Timothy. + +"Why so?" inquired I. + +"How otherwise should it appear in the Reading newspaper? He must have +examined the postmark of my letter." + +To explain this, I must remind the reader that Timothy had promised to +write to Mr Masterton when he found me; and he requested my permission +shortly after we had met again. I consented to his keeping his word, but +restricted him to saying any more than "that he had found me, and that +I was well and happy." There was no address in the letter as a clue to +Mr Masterton as to where I might be, and it could only have been from +the postmark that he could have formed any idea. Timothy's surmise was +therefore very probable; but I would not believe that Mr Masterton would +consent to the insertion of that portion of the advertisement, if there +was no foundation for it. + +"What will you do, Japhet?" + +"Do," replied I, recovering from my reverie, for the information had +again roused up all my dormant feelings--"Do," replied I, "why, I shall +set off for town this very morning." + +"In that dress, Japhet?" + +"I suppose I must," replied I, "for I have no time to procure another;" +and all my former ideas of fashion and appearance were roused, and in +full activity--my pride recovered its ascendency. + +"Well," replied Timothy, "I hope you will find your father all that you +could wish." + +"I'm sure of it, Tim--I'm sure of it," replied I; "you must run and take +a place in the first coach." + +"But you are not going without seeing Mr and Mrs Cophagus, and--Miss +Temple," continued Tim, laying an emphasis upon the latter name. + +"Of course not," replied I, colouring deeply. "I will go at once. Give +me the newspaper, Tim." + +I took the newspaper, and hastened to the house of Mr Cophagus. I found +them all three sitting in the breakfast parlour, Mr Cophagus, as usual, +reading, with his spectacles on his nose, and the ladies at work. "What +is the matter, friend Japhet?" exclaimed Mr Cophagus, as I burst into +the room, my countenance lighted up with excitement. "Read that, sir!" +said I to Mr Cophagus. Mr Cophagus read it. "Hum--bad news--lose +Japhet--man of fashion--and so on," said Cophagus, pointing out the +paragraph to his wife, as he handed over the paper. + +In the meantime I watched the countenance of Susannah--a slight emotion, +but instantly checked, was visible at Mr Cophagus's remark. She then +remained quiet until her sister, who had read the paragraph, handed the +paper to her. "I give thee joy, Japhet, at the prospect of finding out +thy parent," said Mrs Cophagus. "I trust thou wilt find in him one who +is to be esteemed as a man. When departest thou?" + +"Immediately," replied I. + +"I cannot blame thee--the ties of nature are ever powerful. I trust that +thou wilt write to us, and that we soon shall see thee return." + +"Yes, yes," said Cophagus, "see father--shake hands--come back--heh!-- +settle here--and so on." + +"I shall not be altogether my own master, perhaps," observed I. "If my +father desires that I remain with him, must not I obey? But I know +nothing at present. You shall hear from me. Timothy can take my place +in the--" I could not bear the idea of the word shop, and I stopped. +Susannah, for the first time, looked me earnestly in the face, but she +said nothing. Mr and Mrs Cophagus, who probably had been talking over +the subject of our conversation, and thought this a good opportunity to +allow me to have an _eclaircissement_ with Susannah, left the room, +saying they would look after my portmanteau and linen. "Susannah," said +I, "you do not appear to rejoice with me." + +"Japhet Newland, I will rejoice at everything that may tend to thy +happiness, believe me; but I do not feel assured but that this trial may +prove too great, and that thou mayst fall away. Indeed, I perceive even +now that thou art excited with new ideas, and visions of pride." + +"If I am wrong, forgive me. Susannah, you must know that the whole object +of my existence has been to find my father; and now that I have every +reason to suppose that my wish is obtained, can you be surprised, or +can you blame me, that I long to be pressed in his arms?" + +"Nay, Japhet, for that filial feeling I do commend thee; but ask thy own +heart, is that the only feeling which now exciteth thee? Dost thou not +expect to find thy father one high in rank and power? Dost thou not +anticipate to join once more the world which thou hast quitted, yet still +hast sighed for? Dost thou not already feel contempt for thy honest +profession:--nay, more, dost thou not only long to cast off the plain +attire, and not only the attire, but the sect which in thy adversity +thou didst embrace the tenets of? Ask thy own heart, and reply if thou +wilt, but I press thee not so to do; for the truth would be painful, +and a lie, thou knowest, I do utterly abhor." + +I felt that Susannah spoke the truth, and I would not deny it. I sat down +by her. "Susannah," said I, "it is not very easy to change at once. I +have mixed for years in the world, with you I have not yet lived two. I +will not deny but that the feelings you have expressed have risen in my +heart, but I will try to repress them; at least, for your sake, Susannah, +I would try to repress them, for I value your opinion more than that of +the whole world. You have the power to do with me as you please:--will +you exert that power?" + +"Japhet," replied Susannah, "the faith which is not built upon a more +solid foundation than to win the favour of an erring being like myself +is but weak; that power over thee which thou expectest will fix thee in +the right path, may soon be lost, and what is then to direct thee? If no +purer motives than earthly affection are to be thy stay, most surely thou +wilt fall. But no more of this; thou hast a duty to perform, which is to +go to thy earthly father, and seek his blessing. Nay, more, I would that +thou shouldst once more enter into the world, there thou mayst decide. +Shouldst thou return to us, thy friends will rejoice, and not one of +them will be more joyful than Susannah Temple. Fare thee well, Japhet, +mayst thou prove superior to temptation. I will pray for thee--earnestly +I will pray for thee, Japhet," continued Susannah, with a quivering of +her lips and broken voice, and she left the room. + + + + +Chapter LXX + + I return to London, and meet with Mr Masterton. + + +I went upstairs, and found that all was ready, and I took leave of Mr +and Mrs Cophagus, both of whom expressed their hopes that I would not +leave them for ever. "Oh, no," replied I, "I should indeed be base, if I +did." I left them, and with Ephraim following with my portmanteau, I +quitted the house. I had gone about twenty yards, when I recollected that +I had left on the table the newspaper with the advertisement containing +the direction whom to apply to, and desiring Ephraim to proceed, I +returned. When I entered the parlour, Susannah Temple was resting her +face in her hands and weeping. The opening of the door made her start +up; she perceived that it was I, and she turned away. "I beg your pardon, +I left the newspaper," said I, stammering. I was about to throw myself +at her feet, declare my sincere affection, and give up all idea of +finding my father until we were married, when she, without saying a +word, passed quickly by me and hastened out of the room. "She loves me +then," thought I; "thank God:--I will not go yet, I will speak to her +first." I sat down, quite overpowered with contending feelings. The +paper was in my hand, the paragraph was again read, I thought but +of my father, and I left the house. + +In half an hour I had shaken hands with Timothy and quitted the town of +Reading. How I arrived in London, that is to say, what passed, or what we +passed, I know not; my mind was in such a state of excitement. I hardly +know how to express the state that I was in. It was a sort of mental +whirling which blinded me--round and round--from my father and the +expected meeting, then to Susannah, my departure, and her tears--castle +building of every description. After the coach stopped, there I remained +fixed on the top of it, not aware that we were in London until the +coachman asked me whether the spirit did not move me to get down. I +recollected myself, and calling a hackney-coach, gave orders to be +driven to the Piazza, Covent Garden. + +"Piazza, Common Garden," said the waterman, "why that ban't an 'otel +for the like o' you, master. They'll torment you to death, them young +chaps." + +I had forgotten that I was dressed as a Quaker. "Tell the coachman to +stop at the first cloth warehouse where they have ready-made cloaks," +said I. The man did so; I went out and purchased a roquelaure, which +enveloped my whole person. I then stopped at a hatter's, and purchased +a hat according to the mode. "Now drive to the Piazza," said I, entering +the coach. I know not why, but I was resolved to go to that hotel. It +was the one I had stayed at when I first arrived in London, and I wished +to see it again. When the hackney coach stopped, I asked the waiter who +came out whether he had apartments, and answering me in the affirmative, I +followed him, and was shown into the same rooms I had previously occupied. + +"These will do," said I, "now let me have something to eat, and send for +a good tailor." The waiter offered to remove my cloak, but I refused, +saying that I was cold. He left the room, and I threw myself on the +sofa, running over all the scenes which had passed in that room with +Carbonnell, Harcourt, and others. My thoughts were broken in upon by the +arrival of the tailor. "Stop a moment," said I, "and let him come in +when I ring." So ashamed was I of my Quaker's dress, that I threw off my +coat and waistcoat, and put on my cloak again before I rang the bell for +the tailor to come up. "Mr--," said I, "I must have a suit of clothes +ready by to-morrow at ten o'clock." "Impossible, sir." + +"Impossible!" said I, "and you pretend to be a fashionable tailor. Leave +the room." + +At this peremptory behaviour the tailor imagined that I must be somebody. + +"I will do my possible, sir, and if I can only get home in time to stop +the workmen, I think it may be managed. Of course, you are aware of the +expense of night work." + +"I am only aware of this, that if I give an order I am accustomed to +have it obeyed; I learnt that from my poor friend, Major Carbonnell." + +The tailor bowed low; there was magic in the name, although the man +was dead. + +"Here have I been masquerading in a Quaker's dress, to please a +puritanical young lady, and I am obliged to be off without any other +clothes in my portmanteau; so take my measure, and I expect the clothes +at ten precisely." So saying, I threw off my roquelaure, and desired him +to proceed. This accomplished, the tradesman took his leave. Shortly +afterwards, the door opened, and as I lay wrapped up in my cloak on the +sofa, in came the landlord and two waiters, each bearing a dish of my +supper. I wished them at the devil; but I was still more surprised when +the landlord made a low bow, saying, "Happy to see you returned, Mr +Newland; you've been away some time--another grand tour, I presume." + +"Yes, Mr ----, I have had a few adventures since I was last here," +replied I, carelessly, "but I am not very well. You may leave the supper, +and if I feel inclined, I will take a little by-and-bye,--no one need +wait." + +The landlord and waiter bowed and went out of the room. I turned the key +of the door, put on my Quaker's coat, and made a hearty supper, for I +had had nothing since breakfast. When I had finished, I returned to the +sofa, and I could not help analysing my own conduct. "Alas," thought I, +"Susannah, how rightly did you judge me! I am not away from you more +than eighteen hours, and here I am ashamed of the dress which I have so +long worn, and been satisfied with, in your society. Truly did you say +that I was full of pride, and would joyfully re-enter the world of vanity +and vexation." And I thought of Susannah, and her tears after my supposed +departure, and I felt angry and annoyed at my want of strength of mind +and my worldly feelings. + +I retired early to bed, and did not wake until late the next morning. +When I rang the bell, the chambermaid brought in my clothes from the +tailor's: I dressed, and I will not deny that I was pleased with the +alteration. After breakfast I ordered a coach, and drove to No. 16, +Throgmorton Court, Minories. The house was dirty outside, and the windows +had not been cleaned apparently for years, and it was with some +difficulty when I went in that I could decipher a tall, haggard-looking +man seated at the desk. + +"Your pleasure, sir?" said he. + +"Am I speaking to the principal?" replied I. + +"Yes, sir, my name is Chatfield." + +"I come to you, sir, relative to an advertisement which appeared in the +papers. I refer to this," continued I, putting the newspaper down on the +desk, and pointing to the advertisement. + +"Oh, yes, very true: can you give us any information?" + +"Yes, sir, I can, and the most satisfactory." + +"Then, sir, I am sorry that you have had so much trouble, but you must +call at Lincoln's Inn upon a lawyer of the name of Masterton: the whole +affair is now in his hands." + +"Can you, sir, inform me who is the party that is inquiring after this +young man?" + +"Why, yes; it is a General De Benyon, who has lately returned from the +East Indies." + +"Good God! is it possible!" thought I; "how strange that my own wild +fancy should have settled upon him as my father!" + +I hurried away, threw myself into the hackney-coach, and desired the man +to drive to Lincoln's Inn. I hastened up to Mr Masterton's rooms: he was +fortunately at home, although he stood at the table with his hat and his +great coat on, ready to go out. + +"My dear sir, have you forgotten me?" said I, in a voice choked with +emotion, taking his hand and squeezing it with rapture. + +"By heavens, you are determined that I shall not forget you for some +minutes, at least," exclaimed he, wringing his hand with pain. "Who +the devil are you?" + +Mr Masterton could not see without his spectacles, and my subdued voice +he had not recognised. He pulled them out, as I made no reply, and fixing +them across his nose--"Hah! why yes--it is Japhet, is it not?" + +"It is indeed, sir," said I, again offering my hand, which he shook +warmly. + +"Not quite so hard, my dear fellow, this time," said the old lawyer; "I +acknowledge your vigour, and that is sufficient. I am very glad to see +you, Japhet, I am indeed--you--you scamp--you ungrateful fellow. Sit +down--sit down--first help me off with my great coat: I presume the +advertisement has brought you into existence again. Well, it's all true; +and you have at last found your father, or, rather, he has found you. +And what's more strange, you hit upon the right person; that is +strange--very strange indeed." + +"Where is he, sir?" interrupted I, "where is he--take me to him." + +"No, rather be excused," replied Mr Masterton, "for he is gone to +Ireland, so you must wait." + +"Wait, sir, oh no--I must follow him." + +"That will only do harm; for he is rather a queer sort of an old +gentleman, and although he acknowledges that he left you as _Japhet_ and +has searched for you, yet he is so afraid of somebody else's brat being +put upon him, that he insists upon most undeniable proofs. Now, we +cannot trace you from the hospital unless we can find that fellow +Cophagus, and we have made every search after him, and no one can tell +where he is." + +"But I left him but yesterday morning, sir," replied I. + +"Good--very good; we must send for him or go to him; besides, he has +the packet intrusted to the care of Miss Maitland, to whom he was +executor, which proves the marriage of your father. Very strange--very +strange indeed, that you should have hit upon it as you did--almost +supernatural. However, all right now, my dear boy, and I congratulate +you. Your father is a very strange person: he has lived like a despot +among slaves all his life, and will not be thwarted, I can tell you. +If you say a word in contradiction he'll disinherit you:--terrible +old tiger, I must say. If it had not been for your sake, I should have +done with him long ago. He seems to think the world ought to be at his +feet. Depend upon it, Japhet, there is no hurry about seeing him;--and +see him you shall not, until we have every proof of your identity ready +to produce to him. I hope you have the bump of veneration strong, Japhet, +and plenty of filial duty, or you will be kicked out of the house in a +week. D--n me, if he didn't call me an old thief of a lawyer." + +"Indeed, sir," replied I, laughing; "I must apologise to you for my +father's conduct." + +"Never mind, Japhet; I don't care about a trifle; but why don't you ask +after your friends?" + +"I have longed so to do, sir," replied I. "Lord Windermear--" + +"Is quite well, and will be most happy to see you." + +"Lady de Clare, and her daughter--" + +"Lady de Clare has entered into society again, and her daughter, as you +call her--your Fleta, alias Cecilia de Clare--is the belle of the +metropolis. But now, sir, as I have answered all your interrogatories, +and satisfied you upon the most essential points, will you favour me +with a narrative of your adventures (for adventures I am sure you must +have had) since you ran away from us all in that ungrateful manner." + +"Most certainly, sir, I will; and, as you say, I have had adventures. +But it really will be a long story." + +"Then we'll dine here, and pass the evening together--so that's settled." + + + + +Chapter LXXI + + In which I am let into more particulars relative to my father's + history. + + +I dismissed the coach, while Mr Masterton gave his orders for dinner, and +we then turned the key of the door to avoid intrusion, and I commenced. +It was nearly dinner-time before I had finished my story. + +"Well, you really appear to be born for getting into scrapes, and getting +out of them again in a miraculous way," observed Mr Masterton. "Your +life would make a novel." + +"It would indeed, sir," replied I. "I only hope, like all novels, it +will wind up well." + +"So do I; but dinner's ready, Japhet, and after dinner we'll talk the +matter over again, for there are some points upon which I require some +explanation." + +We sat down to dinner, and when we had finished, and the table had been +cleared, we drew to the fire, with our bottle of wine. Mr Masterton +tirred the fire, called for his slippers, and then crossing his legs +over the fender, resumed the subject. + +"Japhet, I consider it most fortunate that we have met, previous to +our introduction to your father. You have so far to congratulate +yourself, that your family is undeniably good, there being, as you know, +an Irish peerage in it; of which, however, you have no chance, as the +present earl has a numerous offspring. You are also fortunate as far as +money is concerned, as I have every reason to believe that your father is +a very rich man, and, of course, you are his only child; but I must now +prepare you to meet with a very different person than perhaps the fond +anticipations of youth may have led you to expect. Your father has no +paternal feelings that I can discover; he has wealth, and he wishes to +leave it--he has therefore sought you out. But he is despotic, violent, +and absurd; the least opposition to his will makes him furious, and I am +sorry to add, that I am afraid that he is very mean. He suffered +severely when young from poverty, and his own father was almost as +authoritative and unforgiving as himself. And now I will state how it +was that you were left at the Asylum when an infant. Your grandfather +had procured for your father a commission in the army, and soon +afterwards procured him a lieutenancy. He ordered him to marry a young +lady of large fortune, whom he had never seen, and sent for him for that +purpose. I understand that she was very beautiful, and had your father +seen her, it is probable he would have made no objection, but he very +foolishly sent a peremptory refusal, for which he was dismissed for ever. +In a short time afterwards your father fell in love with a young lady of +great personal attractions, and supposed to possess a large fortune. To +deceive her, he pretended to be the heir to the earldom, and, after a +hasty courtship, they ran off, and were married. When they compared +notes, which they soon did, it was discovered that, on his side, he had +nothing but the pay of a subaltern, and on hers, that she had not one +shilling. Your father stormed, and called his wife an impostor; she +recriminated, and the second morning after the marriage was passed in +tears on her side, and oaths, curses, and revilings on his. The lady, +however, appeared the more sensible party of the two. Their marriage +was not known, she had run away on a pretence to visit a relative, and +it was actually supposed in the county town where she resided, that such +was the case. 'Why should we quarrel in this way?' observed she. 'You, +Edmund, wished to marry a fortune, and not me--I may plead guilty to the +same duplicity. We have made a mistake; but it is not too late. It is +supposed that I am on a visit to--, and that you are on furlough for a +few days. Did you confide your secret to any of your brother officers?' +'Not one,' muttered your father. 'Well, then, let us part as if nothing +had happened, and nobody will be the wiser. We are equally interested in +keeping the secret. Is it agreed?'--Your father immediately consented. He +accompanied your mother to the house at ----, where she was expected, and +she framed a story for her delay, by having met such a very polite young +man. Your father returned to his regiment, and thus did they, like two +privateers, who when they meet and engage, as soon as they find out their +mistake, hoist their colours, and sheer off by mutual consent." + +"I can't say much for my mother's affection or delicacy," observed I. + +"The less you say the better, Japhet--however, that is your father's +story. And now to proceed. It appears that, about two months afterwards, +your father received a letter from your mother, acquainting him that +their short intercourse had been productive of certain results, and +requesting that he would take the necessary steps to provide for the +child, and avoid exposure, or that she would be obliged to confess her +marriage. By what means they contrived to avoid exposure until the period +of her confinement, I know not, but your father states that the child was +born in a house in London, and by agreement, was instantly put into his +hands; that he, with the consent of his wife, left you at the door of +the Asylum, with the paper and the bank note, from which you received +the name of Newland. At the time, he had no idea of reclaiming you +himself, but the mother had, for heartless as she appears to have been, +yet a mother must feel for her child. Your father's regiment was then +ordered out to the East Indies, and he was rapidly promoted for his +gallantry and good conduct during the war in the Mysore territory. Once +only has he returned home on furlough, and then he did make inquiries +after you; not, it appears, with a view of finding you out on his own +account, but from a promise which he made your mother." + +"My mother! what, have they met since?" + +"Yes; your mother went out to India on speculation, passing off as a +single girl, and was very well married there, I was going to say; +however, she committed a very splendid bigamy." + +"Good heavens! how totally destitute of principle!" + +"Your father asserts that your mother was a freethinker, Japhet; her +father had made her one; without religion a woman has no stay. Your +father was in the up country during the time that your mother arrived, +and was married to one of the council of Calcutta. Your father says that +they met at a ball at Government House. She was still a very handsome +woman, and much admired. When your father recognised her, and was told +that she was lately married to the honourable Mr--, he was quite +electrified, and would have quitted the room; but she had perceived +him, and walking up to him with the greatest coolness, claimed him as an +old acquaintance in England, and afterwards they often met, but she never +adverted to what had passed between them, until the time for his +departure to England on leave, and she then sent for him, and begged that +he would make some enquiries after _you_, Japhet. He did so, and you know +the result. On his return to India he found that your mother had been +carried off by the prevailing pestilence. At that period, your father was +not rich, but he was then appointed to the chief command in the Carnatic, +and reaped a golden harvest in return for his success and bravery. It +appears, as far as I could obtain it from him, that as long as your +mother was alive, he felt no interest about you, but her death, and the +subsequent wealth which poured upon him, have now induced him to find out +an heir, to whom it may be bequeathed. + +"Such, Japhet, are the outlines of your father's history; and I must +point out that he has no feelings of affection for you at present. The +conduct of your mother is ever before him, and if it were not that he +wishes an heir, I should almost say that his feelings are those of +dislike. You may create an interest in his heart, it is true: and he may +be gratified by your personal appearance; but you will have a very +difficult task, as you will have to submit to his caprices and fancies, +and I am afraid that, to a high spirit like yours, they will be almost +unbearable." + +"Really, sir, I begin to feel that the fondest anticipations are seldom +realised, and almost to wish that I had not been sought for by my father. +I was happy and contented, and now I do not see any chance of having to +congratulate myself on the change." + +"On one or two points I also wish to question you. It appears that you +have entered into the sect denominated Quakers. Tell me candidly, do you +subscribe heartily and sincerely to their doctrines? And I was going to +add, is it your intention to remain with them? I perceive much +difficulty in all this." + +"The tenets of the sect I certainly do believe to be more in accordance +with the Christian religion than any other; and I have no hesitation in +asserting, from my knowledge of those who belong to that sect, that they, +generally speaking, lead better lives. There are some points connected +with their worship, which, at first, I considered ridiculous: the feeling +has, however, worn off. As to their quaint manner of speaking, that has +been grossly exaggerated. Their dress is a part of their religion." + +"Why so, Japhet?" + +"I can reply to you in the words of Susannah Temple, when I made the +same interrogatory. 'You think the peculiarity of our dress is an +outward form which is not required. It was put on to separate us from +others, and as a proof that we had discarded vanity. I am aware that it +is not a proof of our sincerity; but still, the discarding of the dress +is a proof of insincerity. We consider, that to admire the person is +vain, and our creed is humility. It is therefore an outward and visible +sign, that we would act up to those tenets which we profess. It is not +all who wear the dress who are Quakers in heart or conduct; but we know +that when it is put aside, the tenets of our persuasion are at the same +time renounced, therefore do we consider it essential. I do not mean to +say but that the heart may be as pure, and the faith continue as stedfast +without such signs outwardly, but it is a part of our creed, and we must +not choose, but either reject all or none.'" + +"Very well argued by the little Quakeress; and now, Japhet, I should +like to put another question to you. Are you very much attached to this +young puritan?" + +"I will not deny but that I am. I love her sincerely." + +"Does your love carry you so far, that you would, for her sake, continue +a Quaker, and marry her?" + +"I have asked myself that question at least a hundred times during the +last twenty-four hours, and I cannot decide. If she would dress as others +do, and allow me to do the same, I would marry her to-morrow; whether I +shall ever make up my mind to adhere to the persuasion, and live and die +a Quaker for her sake, is quite another matter--but I am afraid not--I +am too worldly-minded. The fact is, I am in a very awkward position with +respect to her. I have never acknowledged my affection, or asked for a +return, but she knows I love her, and I know that she loves me." + +"Like all vain boys, you flatter yourself." + +"I leave you to judge, sir," replied I, repeating to him our parting +_tête-à-tête_, and how I had returned, and found her in tears. + +"All that certainly is very corroborative evidence; but tell me, Japhet, +do you think she loves you well enough to abandon all for your sake?" + +"No, nor ever will, sir, she is too high principled, too high-minded. +She might suffer greatly, but she never would swerve from what she +thought was right." + +"She must be a fine character, Japhet, but you will be in a dilemma: +indeed, it appears to me, that your troubles are now commencing instead +of ending, and that you would have been much happier where you were, than +you will be by being again brought out into the world. Your prospect is +not over cheerful. You have an awkward father to deal with: you will be +under a strong check, I've a notion, and I am afraid you will find that, +notwithstanding you will be once more received into society, all is +vanity and vexation of spirit." + +"I am afraid you are right, sir," replied I, "but, at all events, it +will be something gained, to be acknowledged to the world by a father of +good family, whatever else I may have to submit to. I have been the sport +of fortune all my life, and probably she has not yet done playing with +me; but it is late, and I will now wish you good-night." + +"Good-night, Japhet; if I have any intelligence I will let you know. Lady +de Clare's address is No. 13, Park Street. You will, of course, go there +as soon as you can." + +"I will, sir, after I have written my letters to my friends at Reading." + + + + +Chapter LXXII + + I am a little jealous, and, like the immortal William[A] Bottom, + inclined to enact more parts than one.--With a big effort my + hankering after bigamy is mastered by Mr Masterton--and by my own + good sense. + + [Footnote A: Or rather Nick--Ed.] + + +I returned home to reflect upon what Mr Masterton had told me, and I must +say that I was not very well pleased with his various information. His +account of my mother, although she was no more, distressed me, and, from +the character which he gave of my father, I felt convinced that my +happiness would not be at all increased by my having finally attained +the long-desired object of my wishes. Strange to say, I had no sooner +discovered my father, but I wished that he had never turned up; and when +I compared the peaceful and happy state of existence which I had lately +enjoyed, with the prospects of what I had in future to submit to, I +bitterly repented that the advertisement had been seen by Timothy; still, +on one point, I was peculiarly anxious, without hardly daring to +anatomise my feelings; it was relative to Cecilia de Clare, and what Mr +Masterton had mentioned in the course of our conversation. The next +morning I wrote to Timothy and to Mr Cophagus, giving them a shortdetail +of what I had been informed by Mr Masterton, and expressing a wish, which +I then really did feel, that I had never been summoned away from them. + +Having finished my letters, I set off to Park Street, to call upon Lady +de Clare and Cecilia. It was rather early, but the footman who opened the +door recognised me, and I was admitted upon his own responsibility. It +was now more than eighteen months since I had quitted their house at +Richmond, and I was very anxious to know what reception I might have. I +followed the servant up stairs, and when he opened the door walked in, +as my name was announced. + +Lady de Clare rose in haste, so did Cecilia, and so did a third person, +whom I had not expected to have met--Harcourt. "Mr Newland," exclaimed +Lady de Clare, "this is indeed unexpected." Cecilia also came forward, +blushing to the forehead. Harcourt held back, as if waiting for the +advances to be made on my side. On the whole, I never felt more +awkwardly, and I believe my feelings were reciprocated by the whole +party. I was evidently _de trop_. + +"Do you know Mr Harcourt?" at last said Lady de Clare. + +"If it is the Mr Harcourt I once knew," replied I, "I certainly do." + +"Believe me it is the same, Newland," said Harcourt, coming to me and +offering his hand, which I took with pleasure. + +"It is a long while since we met," observed Cecilia, who felt it +necessary to say something, but, at the same time, did not like to enter +upon my affairs before Harcourt. + +"It is, Miss de Clare," replied I, for I was not exactly pleased at my +reception; "but I have been fortunate since I had the pleasure of seeing +you last." + +Cecilia and her mother looked earnestly, as much as to say, "in +what?"--but did not like to ask the question. + +"There is no one present who is not well acquainted with my history," +observed I, "that is, until the time that I left you and Lady de +Clare, and I have no wish to create mystery. I have at last discovered +my father." + +"I hope we are to congratulate you, Mr Newland," said Lady de Clare. + +"As far as respectability and family are concerned, I certainly have no +reason to be ashamed," replied I. "He is the brother of an earl, and a +general in the army. His name I will not mention until I have seen him, +and I am formally and openly acknowledged. I have also the advantage of +being an only son, and if I am not disinherited, heir to considerable +property," continued I, smiling sarcastically. "Perhaps I may now be +better _received_ than I have been as Japhet Newland the Foundling: but, +Lady de Clare, I am afraid that I have intruded unseasonably, and will +now take my leave. Good morning;" and without waiting for a reply, I +made a hasty retreat, and gained the door. + +Flushed with indignation, I had nearly gained the bottom of the stairs, +when I heard a light footstep behind me, and my arm was caught by +Cecilia de Clare. I turned round, and she looked me reproachfully in the +face, as the tear stood in her eye. + +"What have we done, Japhet, that you should treat us in this manner?" +said she, with emotion. + +"Miss de Clare," replied I, "I have no reproaches to make. I perceived +that my presence was not welcome, and I would no further intrude." + +"Are you then so proud, now that you have found out that you are well +born, Japhet?" + +"I am much too proud to intrude where I am not wished for, Miss de +Clare. As Japhet Newland, I came here to see the Fleta of former days. +When I assume my real name, I shall always be most happy of an +introduction to the daughter of Lady de Clare." + +"Oh! how changed," exclaimed she, fixing her large blue eyes upon me. + +"Prosperity changes us all, Miss de Clare. I wish you a very good +morning;" and I turned away, and crossed the hall to the door. + +As I went out I could not help looking back, and I perceived that +Cecilia's handkerchief was held to her eyes, as she slowly mounted the +stairs. I walked home to the Piazza in no very pleasant humour. I was +angry and disgusted at the coolness of my reception. I thought myself ill +used, and treated with ingratitude. "So much for the world," said I, as +I sat down in my apartment, and spun my hat on the table. "She has been +out two seasons, and is no longer the same person. Yet how lovely she has +grown! But why this change--and why was Harcourt there? Could he have +prejudiced them against me? Very possibly." While these ideas were +running in my mind, and I was making comparisons between Cecilia de +Clare and Susannah Temple--not much in favour of the former--and looking +forward prospectively to the meeting with my father, the doubts as to my +reception in society colouring everything with the most sombre tints, the +door opened, and in walked Harcourt, announced by the waiter. + +"A chair for Mr Harcourt," said I to the waiter, with formality. + +"Newland," said Harcourt, "I come for two reasons: in the first place, +I am commissioned by the ladies, to assure you--" + +"I beg your pardon, Mr Harcourt, for interrupting you, but I require no +ambassador from the ladies in question. They may make you their +confidant if they please, but I am not at all inclined to do the same. +Explanation, after what I witnessed and felt this morning, is quite +unnecessary. I surrender all claims upon either Lady de Clare or her +daughter, if I ever was so foolhardy as to imagine that I had any. The +first reason of your visit it is therefore useless to proceed with. May +I ask the other reason which has procured me this honour?" + +"I hardly know, Mr Newland," replied Harcourt, colouring deeply, +"whether, after what you have now said, I ought to proceed with the +second--it related to myself." + +"I am all attention, Mr Harcourt," replied I, bowing politely. + +"It was to say, Mr Newland, that I should have taken the earliest +opportunity after my recovery, had you not disappeared so strangely, to +have expressed my sorrow for my conduct towards you, and to have +acknowledged that I had been deservedly punished: more perhaps by my own +feelings of remorse, than by the dangerous wound I had received by your +hand. I take even this opportunity, although not apparently a favourable +one, of expressing what I consider it my duty, as a gentleman who has +wronged another, to express. I certainly was going to add more, but there +is so little chance of its being well received, that I had better defer it +to some future opportunity. The time may come, and I certainly trust it +will come, when I may be allowed to prove to you that I am not deserving +of the coolness with which I am now received. Mr Newland, with every wish +for your happiness, I will now take my leave; but I must say, it is with +painful sentiments, as I feel that the result of this interview will be +the cause of great distress to those who are bound to you, not only by +gratitude, but sincere regard." + +Harcourt then bowed, and quitted the room. "It's all very well," muttered +I, "but I know the world, and am not to be soothed down by a few fine +words. I trust that they will be sorry for their conduct, but see me +again inside their doors they will not," and I sat down, trying to feel +satisfied with myself--but I was not; I felt that I had acted harshly, to +say no more. I ought to have listened to an explanation sent by Cecilia +and her mother, after her coming down stairs to expostulate. They were +under great obligations to me, and by my quick resentment, I rendered the +obligations more onerous. It was unkind of me--and I wished that Harcourt +had not left the room. As for his conduct, I tried to find fault with it, +but could not. It was gentlemanly and feeling. The fact was, I was in a +very bad humour, and could not, at the time, discover the reason, which +was neither more nor less than that I was more jealous of finding +Harcourt so intimate at Lady de Clare's, than I was at the unpalatable +reception which I had met with. The waiter came in, and brought me a note +from Mr Masterton. + + "I have this morning received a summons from your father, who + returned, it appears, two days ago, and is now at the Adelphi + Hotel. I am sorry to say, that stepping out of his carriage when + travelling, he missed his footing, and has snapped his tendon + Achilles. He is laid up on a couch, and, as you may suppose, his + amiability is not increased by the accident, and the pain + attending it. As he has requested me to bring forward immediate + evidence as to your identity, and the presence of Mr Cophagus is + necessary, I propose that we start for Reading to-morrow at nine + o'clock. I have a curiosity to go down there, and having a + leisure day or two, it will be a relaxation. I wish to see my old + acquaintance Timothy, and your shop. Answer by bearer. + + J. MASTERTON." + +I wrote a few lines, informing Mr Masterton that I would be with him at +the appointed hour, and then sat down to my solitary meal. How different +from when I was last at this hotel! Now I knew nobody. I had to regain my +footing in society, and that could only be accomplished by being +acknowledged by my father; and, as soon as that was done, I would call +upon Lord Windermear, who would quickly effect what I desired. The next +morning I was ready at nine o'clock, and set off with post horses, with +Mr Masterton, in his own carriage. I told him what had occurred the day +before, and how disgusted I was at my reception. + +"Upon my word, Japhet, I think you are wrong," replied the old gentleman; +"and if you had not told me of your affection for Miss Temple, to see +whom, by-the-bye, I confess to be one of the chief motives of my going +down with you, I should almost suppose that you were blinded by jealousy. +Does it not occur to you, that, if Mr Harcourt was admitted to the +ladies at such an early hour, there is preference shown him in that +quarter? And now I recollect that I heard something about it. Harcourt's +elder brother died, and he's come into the property, and I heard somebody +say that he would in all probability succeed in gaining the handsomest +girl in London, with a large fortune--that it was said to be a match. +Now, if such be the case, and you broke in upon a quiet reunion between +two young people about to be united, almost without announcement, and so +unexpectedly, after a lapse of so long a time, surely you cannot be +surprised at there being a degree of confusion and restraint--more +especially after what had passed between Harcourt and you. Depend upon +it, that was the cause of it. Had Lady de Clare and her daughter been +alone, your reception would have been very different; indeed, Cecilia's +following you down stairs, proves that it was not from coolness towards +you; and Harcourt calling upon you, and the conversation which took +place, is another proof that you have been mistaken." + +"I never viewed it in that light, certainly, sir," observed I. "I merely +perceived that I was considered intrusive, and finding in the company one +who had treated me ill, and had been my antagonist in the field, I +naturally supposed that he had prejudiced them against me. I hope I may +be wrong; but I have seen so much of the world, young as I am, that I +have become very suspicious." + +"Then discard suspicion as fast as you can, it will only make you +unhappy, and not prevent your being deceived. If you are suspicious, +you will have the constant fear of deception hanging over you, which +poisons existence." + +After these remarks I remained silent for some time; I was analysing my +own feelings, and I felt that I had acted in a very absurd manner. The +fact was, that one of my castle buildings had been, that I was to marry +Fleta as soon as I had found my own father, and this it was which had +actuated me, almost without my knowing it. I felt jealous of Harcourt, +and that, without being in love with Miss de Clare, but actually +passionately fond of another person; I felt as if I could have married +her without loving her, and that I could give up Susannah Temple, whom +I did love, rather than that a being whom I considered as almost of my +own creation, should herself presume to fall in love, or that another +should dare to love her, until I had made up my mind whether I should +take her myself: and this after so long an absence, and their having +given up all hopes of ever seeing me again. The reader may smile at the +absurdity, still more at the selfishness of this feeling; so did I, when +I had reflected upon it, and I despised myself for my vanity and folly. + +"What are you thinking of, Japhet?" observed Mr Masterton, tired with my +long abstraction. + +"That I have been making a most egregious fool of myself, sir," replied +I, "with respect to the De Clares." + +"I did not say so, Japhet; but, to tell you the truth, I thought +something very like it. Now tell me, were you not jealous at finding her +in company with Harcourt?" + +"Exactly so, sir." + +"I'll tell Susannah Temple when I see her, that she may form some idea +of your constancy," replied Mr Masterton, smiling. "Why, what a dog in +the manger you must be--you can't marry them both. Still, under the +circumstances, I can analyse the feeling--it is natural, but all that is +natural is not always creditable to human nature. Let us talk a little +about Susannah, and then all these vagaries will be dispersed. How old +is she?" + +Mr Masterton plied me with so many questions relative to Susannah, that +her image alone soon filled my mind, and I recovered my spirits. "I +don't know what she will say, at my being in this dress, sir," observed +I. "Had I not better change it on my arrival?" + +"By no means; I'll fight your battle--I know her character pretty well, +thanks to your raving about her." + + + + +Chapter LXXIII + + Contains much learned argument upon broad-brims and garments of + grey--I get the best of it--The one great wish of my life is + granted--I meet my father, and a cold reception very indicative + of much after-heat. + + +We arrived in good time at Reading, and, as soon as we alighted at the +inn, we ordered dinner, and then walked down to the shop, where we found +Timothy very busy tying down and labelling. He was delighted to see Mr +Masterton, and perceiving that I had laid aside the Quaker's dress, made +no scruple of indulging in his humour, making a long face, and _thee_-ing +and _thou_-ing Mr Masterton in a very absurd manner. We desired him to go +to Mr Cophagus, and beg that he would allow me to bring Mr Masterton to +drink tea, and afterwards to call at the inn and give us the answer. We +then returned to our dinner. + +"Whether they will ever make a Quaker of you, Japhet, I am very +doubtful," observed Mr Masterton, as we walked back; "but as for making +one of that fellow Timothy, I'll defy them." + +"He laughs at everything," replied I: "and views everything in a +ridiculous light--at all events, they never will make him serious." + +In the evening, we adjourned to the house of Mr Cophagus, having received +a message of welcome. I entered the room first. Susannah came forward to +welcome me, and then drew back, when she perceived the alteration in my +apparel, colouring deeply. I passed her, and took the hand of Mrs +Cophagus and her husband, and then introduced Mr Masterton. + +"We hardly knew thee, Japhet," mildly observed Mrs Cophagus. + +"I did not think that outward garments would disguise me from my +friends," replied I; "but so it appeareth, for your sister hath not even +greeted me in welcome." + +"I greet thee in all kindness, and all sincerity, Japhet Newland," +replied Susannah, holding out her hand. "Yet did I not imagine that, in +so short a time, thou wouldst have dismissed the apparel of our +persuasion, neither do I find it seemly." + +"Miss Temple," interposed Mr Masterton, "it is to oblige those who are +his sincere friends, that Mr Newland has laid aside his dress. I quarrel +with no creed--every one has a right to choose for himself, and Mr +Newland has perhaps not chosen badly, in embracing your tenets. Let him +continue steadfast in them. But, fair young lady, there is no creed +which is perfect, and, even in yours, we find imperfection. Our religion +preaches humility, and therefore we do object to his wearing the garb +of pride." + +"Of pride, sayest thou? hath he not rather put off the garb of humility, +and now appeareth in the garb of pride?" + +"Not so, young madam: when we dress as all the world dress, we wear not +the garb of pride; but when we put on a dress different from others, +that distinguishes us from others, then we show our pride, and the worst +of pride, for it is the hypocritical pride which apes humility. It is +the Pharisee of the Scriptures, who preaches in high places, and sounds +forth his charity to the poor; not the humility of the Publican, who +says, 'Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner.' Your apparel of pretended +humility is the garb of pride, and for that reason have we insisted that +he discards it, when with us. His tenets we interfere not with. There +can be no religion in dress; and that must indeed be weak in itself, +which requires dress for its support." + +Susannah was astonished at this new feature of the case, so aptly put +by the old lawyer. Mrs Cophagus looked at her husband, and Cophagus +pinched my arm, evidently agreeing with him. When Mr Masterton had +finished speaking, Susannah waited a few seconds, and then replied, +"It becomes not one so young and weak as I am, to argue with thee, +who art so much my senior. I cannot cavil at opinions which, if not +correct, at least are founded on the holy writings; but I have been +otherwise instructed." + +"Then let us drop the argument, Miss Susannah, and let me tell you, that +Japhet wished to resume his Quaker's dress, and I would not permit him. +If there is any blame, it is to be laid to me; and it's no use being angry +with an old man like myself." + +"I have no right to be angry with anyone," replied Susannah. + +"But you were angry with me, Susannah," interrupted I. + +"I cannot say that it was anger, Japhet Newland: I hardly know what the +feeling might have been; but I was wrong, and I must request thy +forgiveness;" and Susannah held out her hand. + +"Now you must forgive me too, Miss Temple," said old Masterton, and +Susannah laughed against her wishes. + +The conversation then became general. Mr Masterton explained to Mr +Cophagus what he required of him, and Mr Cophagus immediately acceded. +It was arranged that he should go to town by the mail the next day. Mr +Masterton talked a great deal about my father, and gave his character in +its true light, as he considered it would be advantageous to me so to do. +He then entered into conversation upon a variety of topics, and was +certainly very amusing. Susannah laughed very heartily before the evening +was over, and Mr Masterton retired to the hotel, for I had resolved to +sleep in my own bed. + +I walked home with Mr Masterton: I then returned to the house, and found +them all in the parlour. Mrs Cophagus was expressing her delight at the +amusement she had received, when I entered with a grave face. "I wish +that I had not left you," said I to Mrs Cophagus; "I am afraid to meet my +father; he will exact the most implicit obedience. What am I to do. Must +not I obey him?" + +"In all things lawful," replied Susannah, "most certainly, Japhet." + +"In all things lawful, Susannah! now tell me, in the very case of my +apparel; Mr Masterton says, that he never will permit me to wear the +dress. What am I to do?" + +"Thou hast thy religion and thy Bible for thy guide, Japhet." + +"I have; and in the Bible I find written on tablets of stone by the +prophet of God, 'Honour thy father and thy mother;' there is a positive +commandment; but I find no commandment to wear this or that dress. What +think you?" continued I, appealing to them all. + +"I should bid thee honour thy father, Japhet," replied Mrs Cophagus, +"and you, Susannah--" + +"I shall bid thee good-night, Japhet." + +At this reply we all laughed, and I perceived there was a smile on +Susannah's face as she walked away. Mrs Cophagus followed her, laughing +as she went, and Cophagus and I were alone. + +"Well, Japhet--see old gentleman--kiss--shake hands--and blessing--and +so on." + +"Yes, sir," replied I, "but if he treats me ill, I shall probably come +down here again. I am afraid that Susannah is not very well pleased with +me." + +"Pooh, nonsense--wife knows all--die for you--Japhet, do as you +please--dress yourself--dress her--any dress--no dress like Eve--sly +puss--won't lose you--all right--and so on." + +I pressed Mr Cophagus to tell me all he knew, and I found from him that +his wife had questioned Susannah soon after my departure, had found her +weeping, and that she had gained from her the avowal of her ardent +affection for me. This was all I wanted, and I wished him good-night, and +went to bed happy. I had an interview with Susannah Temple before I left +the next morning, and, although I never mentioned love, had every reason +to be satisfied. She was kind and affectionate; spoke to me in her usual +serious manner, warned me against the world, acknowledged that I should +have great difficulties to surmount, and even made much allowance for my +peculiar situation. She dared not advise, but she would pray for me. +There was a greater show of interest and confidence towards me than I +had ever yet received from her. When I parted from her I said, "Dear +Susannah, whatever change may take place in my fortunes or in my dress, +believe me, my heart shall not be changed, and I shall ever adhere to +those principles which have been instilled into me since I have been in +your company." + +This was a phrase which admitted of a double meaning, and she replied, +"I should wish to see thee perfect, Japhet; but there is no perfection +now on earth; be therefore as perfect as you can." + +"God bless you, Susannah." + +"May the blessing of the Lord be on you always, Japhet," replied she. + +I put my arm round her waist, and slightly pressed her to my bosom. She +gently disengaged herself, and her large eyes glistened with tears as she +left the room. In a quarter of an hour I was with Mr Masterton on the road +to London. + +"Japhet," said the old gentleman, "I will say that you have been very +wise in your choice, and that your little Quaker is a most lovely +creature: I am in love with her myself, and I think that she is far +superior in personal attractions to Cecilia de Clare." + +"Indeed, sir!" + +"Yes, indeed; her face is more classical, and her complexion is +unrivalled; as far as my present knowledge and experience go, she is an +emblem of purity." + +"Her mind, sir, is as pure as her person." + +"I believe it; she has a strong mind, and will think for herself." + +"There, sir, is, I am afraid, the difficulty; she will not yield a point +in which she thinks she is right, not even for her love for me." + +"I agree with you that she will not, and I admire her for it; but, +Japhet, she will yield to conviction, and, depend upon it, she will +abandon the outward observances of her persuasion. Did you observe what +a spoke I put in your wheel last night, when I stated that outward forms +were pride. Leave that to work, and I'll answer for the consequences: she +will not long wear that Quaker's dress. How beautiful she would be if she +dressed like other people! I think I see her now entering a ball-room." + +"But what occasions you to think she will abandon her persuasion?" + +"I do not say that she will abandon it, nor do I wish her to do it, nor +do I wish you to do it, Japhet. There is much beauty and much perfection +in the Quaker's creed. All that requires to be abandoned are the dress +and the ceremonies of the meetings, which are both absurdities. +Recollect, that Miss Temple has been brought up as a Quaker; she has, +from the exclusiveness of the sect, known no other form of worship, and +never heard any opposition to that which has been inculcated; but let +her once or twice enter the Established Church, hear its beautiful +ritual, and listen to a sound preacher. Let her be persuaded to do that, +which cannot be asking her to do wrong, and then let her think and act +for herself, and my word for it, when she draws the comparison between +what she has then heard and the nonsense occasionally uttered in the +Quakers' conventicle, by those who fancy themselves inspired, she will +herself feel that, although the tenets of her persuasion may be more in +accordance with true Christianity than those of other sects, the outward +forms and observances are imperfect. I trust to her own good sense." + +"You make me very happy by saying so." "Well, that is my opinion of her, +and if she proves me to be correct, hang me if I don't think I shall +adopt her." + +"What do you think of Mrs Cophagus, sir?" + +"I think she is no more a Quaker in her heart than I am. She is a +lively, merry, kind-hearted creature, and would have no objection to +appear in feathers and diamonds to-morrow." + +"Well, sir, I can tell you that Mr Cophagus still sighs after his blue +cotton-net pantaloons and Hessian boots." + +"More fool he! but, however, I am glad of it, for it gives me an idea +which I shall work upon by-and-bye; at present we have this eventful +meeting between you and your father to occupy us." + +We arrived in town in time for dinner, which Mr Masterton had ordered at +his chambers. As the old gentleman was rather tired with his two days' +travelling, I wished him good-night at an early hour. + +"Recollect, Japhet, we are to be at the Adelphi hotel to-morrow at one +o'clock--come in time." + +I called upon Mr Masterton at the time appointed on the ensuing day, and +we drove to the hotel in which my father had located himself. On our +arrival, we were ushered into a room on the ground floor, where we found +Mr Cophagus and two of the governors of the Foundling Hospital. + +"Really, Mr Masterton," said one of the latter gentlemen, "one would +think that we were about to have an audience with a sovereign prince, +and, instead of conferring favours, were about to receive them. My time +is precious; I ought to have been in the city this half hour, and here +is this old nabob keeping us waiting as if we were petitioners." + +Mr Masterton laughed and said, "Let us all go up stairs, and not wait to +be sent for." + +He called one of the waiters, and desired him to announce them to +General De Benyon. They then followed the waiter, leaving me alone. I +must say, that I was a little agitated; I heard the door open above, +and then an angry growl like that of a wild beast; the door closed again, +and all was quiet. "And this," thought I, "is the result of all my fond +anticipations, of my ardent wishes, of my enthusiastic search. Instead +of expressing anxiety to receive his son, he litigiously requires proofs, +and more proofs, when he has received every satisfactory proof, already. +They say his temper is violent beyond control, and that submission +irritates instead of appeasing him; what then if I resent? I have heard +that people of that description are to be better met with their own +weapons;--suppose I try it;--but no, I have no right;--I will however be +firm and keep my temper under every circumstance; I will show him, at +least, that his son has the spirit and the feelings of a gentleman." + +As these thoughts passed in my mind the door opened, and Mr Masterton +requested me to follow him. I obeyed with a palpitating heart, and when +I had gained the landing-place up stairs, Mr Masterton took my hand and +led me into the presence of my long-sought-for and much-dreaded _parent_. +I may as well describe him and the whole tableau. The room was long and +narrow, and, at the farther end, was a large sofa, on which was seated +my father with his injured leg reposing on it, his crutches propped +against the wall. On each side of him were two large poles and stands +each with a magnificent macaw. Next to the macaws were two native +servants, arrayed in their muslin dresses, with their arms folded. +A hooka was in advance of the table before the sofa; it was magnificently +wrought in silver, and the snake passed under the table, so that the +tube was within my honoured father's reach. On one side of the room sat +the two governors of the Foundling Hospital, on the other was seated Mr +Cophagus in his Quaker's dress; the empty chair next to him had been +occupied by Mr Masterton. I looked at my father: he was a man of great +size, apparently six feet three or four inches, and stout in proportion +without being burthened with fat: he was gaunt, broad shouldered, and +muscular, and I think, must have weighed seventeen or eighteen stone. +His head was in proportion to his body and very large; so were all his +features upon the same grand scale. His complexion was of a +brownish-yellow, and his hair of a snowy white. He wore his whiskers +very large and joined together under the throat, and these, which were +also white, from the circle which they formed round his face, and +contrasting with the colour of his skin, gave his _tout ensemble_ much +more the appearance of a royal Bengal tiger than a gentleman. General +De Benyon saw Mr Masterton leading me forward to within a pace or two of +the table before the general.--"Allow me the pleasure of introducing +your son, Japhet." + +There was no hand extended to welcome me. My father fixed his proud grey +eyes upon me for a moment, and then turned to the governors of the +hospital. + +"Is this the person, gentlemen, whom you received as an infant and +brought up as Japhet Newland?" + +The governors declared I was the same person; that they had bound me to +Mr Cophagus, and had seen me more than once since I quitted the Asylum. + +"Is this the Japhet Newland whom you received from these gentlemen and +brought up to your business?" + +"Yea, and verily--I do affirm the same--smart lad--good boy, and so on." + +"I will not take a Quaker's affirmation--will you take your oath, sir?" + +"Yes," replied Cophagus, forgetting his Quakership; "take oath--bring +Bible--kiss book, and so on." + +"You then, as a Quaker, have no objection to swear to the identity of +this person?" + +"Swear," cried Cophagus, "yes, swear--swear now--not Japhet!--I'm +damned--go to hell, and so on." + +The other parties present could not help laughing at this explosion from +Cophagus, neither could I. Mr Masterton then asked the general if he +required any more proofs. + +"No," replied the general discourteously; and speaking in Hindostanee +to his attendants, they walked to the door and opened it. The hint was +taken, Mr Masterton saying to the others in an ironical tone, "After so +long a separation, gentlemen, it must be natural that the general should +wish to be left alone, that he may give vent to his paternal feelings." + + + + +Chapter LXXIV + + Father and I grow warm in our argument--Obliged to give him a + little schooling to show my affection--Takes it at last very + kindly, and very dutifully owns himself a fool. + + +In the meantime, I was left standing in the middle of the room; the +gentlemen departed, and the two native servants resumed their stations +on each side of the sofa. I felt humiliated and indignant, but waited in +silence; at last, my honoured parent, who had eyed me for some time, +commenced. + +"If you think, young man, to win my favour by your good looks, you are +very much mistaken: you are too like your mother, whose memory is +anything but agreeable." + +The blood mounted to my forehead at this cruel observation; I folded my +arms and looked my father steadfastly in the face, but made no reply. +The choler of the gentleman was raised. + +"It appears that I have found a most dutiful son." + +I was about to make an angry answer, when I recollected myself, and I +courteously replied, "My dear general, depend upon it that your son will +always be ready to pay duty to whom duty is due; but excuse me, in the +agitation of this meeting you have forgotten those little attentions +which courtesy demands; with your permission I will take a chair, and +then we may converse more at our ease. I hope your leg is better." + +I said this with the blandest voice and the most studied politeness, and +drawing a chair towards the table, I took my seat; as I expected, it put +my honoured father in a tremendous rage. + +"If this is a specimen, sir, of your duty and respect, sir, I hope to +see no more of them. To whom your duty is due, sir!--and pray to whom +is it due, sir, if not to the author of your existence?" cried the +general, striking the table before him with his enormous fist, so as to +make the ink fly out of the stand some inches high and bespatter the +papers near it. + +"My dear father, you are perfectly correct: duty, as you say, is due to +the author of our existence. If I recollect right, the commandment says, +'Honour your father and your mother;' but at the same time, if I may +venture to offer an observation, are there not such things as reciprocal +duties--some which are even more paramount in a father than the mere +begetting of a son?" + +"What do you mean, sir, by these insolent remarks?" interrupted my father. + +"Excuse me, my dear father, I may be wrong, but if so, I will bow to your +superior judgment; but it does appear to me, that the mere hanging me in +a basket at the gate of the Foundling Hospital, and leaving me a +bank-note of fifty pounds to educate and maintain me until the age of +twenty-four, are not exactly all the duties incumbent upon a parent. If +you think that they are, I am afraid that the world, as well as myself, +will be of a different opinion. Not that I intend to make any complaint, +as I feel assured that now circumstances have put it in your power, it is +your intention to make me amends for leaving me so long in a state of +destitution, and wholly dependent upon my own resources." + +"You do, do you, sir? well, now, I'll tell you my resolution, which +is--there is the door--go out, and never let me see your face again." + +"My dear father, as I am convinced this is only a little pleasantry on +your part, or perhaps a mere trial whether I am possessed of the spirit +and determination of a De Benyon, I shall, of course, please you by not +complying with your humorous request." + +"Won't you, by G--d!" roared my father; then turning to his two native +servants, he spoke to them in Hindostanee. They immediately walked to the +door, threw it wide open, and then coming back to me, were about to take +me by the arms. I certainly felt my blood boil, but I recollected how +necessary it was to keep my temper. I rose from my chair, and advancing +to the side of the sofa, I said. + +"My dear father, as I perceive that you do not require your crutches at +this moment, you will not perhaps object to my taking one. These foreign +scoundrels must not be permitted to insult _you_ through the person of +your only son." + +"Turn him out," roared my father. + +The natives advanced, but I whirled the crutch round my head, and in a +moment they were both prostrate. As soon as they gained their feet, I +attacked them again, until they made their escape out of the room; I +then shut the door and turned the key. + +"Thank you, my dear sir," said I, returning the crutch to where it was +before. "Many thanks for thus permitting me to chastise the insolence +of these black scoundrels, whom I take it for granted, you will +immediately discharge;" and I again took my seat in the chair, bringing +it closer to him. + +The rage of the general was now beyond all bounds; the white foam was +spluttered out of his mouth, as he in vain endeavoured to find words. +Once he actually rose from the sofa, to take the law in his own hands, +but the effort seriously injured his leg, and he threw himself down in +pain and disappointment. + +"My dear father, I am afraid that, in your anxiety to help me, you have +hurt your leg again," said I, in a soothing voice. + +"Sirrah, sirrah," exclaimed he at last; "if you think that this will do, +you are very much mistaken. You don't know me. You may turn out a couple +of cowardly blacks, but now I'll show you that I am not to be played +with. I discard you for ever--I disinherit--I disacknowledge you. You +may take your choice, either to quit this room, or be put into the hands +of the police." + +"The police, my dear sir! What can the police do?" + +"I may call in the police for the assault just committed by your +servants, and have them up to Bow Street, but you cannot charge me with +an assault." + +"But I will, by G--d, sir, true or not true." + +"Indeed you would not, my dear father. A De Benyon would never be guilty +of a lie. Besides, if you were to call in the police;--I wish to argue +this matter coolly, because I ascribe your present little burst of +ill-humour to your sufferings from your unfortunate accident. Allowing +then, my dear father, that you were to charge me with an assault, I +should immediately be under the necessity of charging you also, and then +we must both go to Bow Street together. Were you ever at Bow Street, +general?" The general made no reply, and I proceeded. "Besides, my dear +sir, only imagine how very awkward it would be when the magistrate put +you on your oath, and asked you to make your charge. What would you be +obliged to declare? That you had married when young, and finding that +your wife had no fortune, had deserted her the second day after your +marriage. That you, an officer in the army, and the Honourable Captain +De Benyon, had hung up your child at the gates of the Foundling +Hospital--that you had again met your wife, married to another, and had +been an accomplice in concealing her capital offence of bigamy, and had +had meetings with her, although she belonged to another. I say meetings, +for you did meet her, to receive her directions about me. I am +charitable and suspect nothing--others will not be so. Then, after her +death, you come home, and inquire about your son. His identity is +established,--and what then? not only you do not take him by the hand, +in common civility, I might say, but you first try to turn him out of +the house, and to give him in charge of the police: and then you will +have to state for what. Perhaps you will answer me that question, for +I really do not know." + +By this time, my honoured father's wrath had, to a certain degree, +subsided; he heard all I had to say, and he felt how very ridiculous +would have been his intended proceedings, and, as his wrath subsided, +so did his pain increase; he had seriously injured his leg, and it was +swelling rapidly--the bandages tightened in consequence, and he was +suffering under the acutest pain, "Oh, oh!" groaned he. + +"My dear father, can I assist you?" + +"Ring the bell, sir." + +"There is no occasion to summon assistance while I am here, my dear +general. I can attend you professionally, and if you will allow me, will +soon relieve your pain. Your leg has swollen from exertion, and the +bandages must be loosened." + +He made no reply, but his features were distorted with extreme pain. I +went to him, and proceeded to unloose the bandages, which gave him +considerable relief. I then replaced them, _secundum artem_, and with +great tenderness, and going to the sideboard, took the lotion which was +standing there with the other bottles, and wetted the bandages. In a few +minutes he was quite relieved. "Perhaps, sir," said I, "you had better +try to sleep a little. I will take a book, and shall have great pleasure +in watching by your side." + +Exhausted with pain and violence, the general made no reply; he fell back +on the sofa, and, in a short time, he snored most comfortably. "I have +conquered you," thought I, as I watched him as he lay asleep. "If I have +not yet, I will, that I am resolved." I walked gently to the door, +unlocked it, and opening it without waking him, ordered some broth to +be brought up immediately, saying that the general was asleep, and that +I would wait for it outside. I accomplished this little manoeuvre, and +re-closed the door without waking my father, and then I took my seat in +the chair, and resumed my book, having placed the broth on the side of +the fire-grate to keep it warm. In about an hour he awoke, and looked +around him. + +"Do you want anything, my dearest father?" inquired I. + +The general appeared undecided as to whether to recommence hostilities, +but at last he said, "I wish the attendance of my servants, sir." + +"The attendance of a servant can never be equal to that of your own son, +general," replied I, going to the fire, and taking the basin of broth, +which I replaced upon the tray containing the _et ceteras_ on a napkin. +"I expected you would require your broth, and I have had it ready for +you." + +"It was what I did require, sir, I must acknowledge," replied my father, +and without further remark he finished the broth. + +I removed the tray, and then went for the lotion, and again wetted the +bandages on his leg. "Is there anything else I can do for you, sir?" +said I. + +"Nothing--I am very comfortable." + +"Then, sir," replied I, "I will now take my leave. You have desired me +to quit your presence for ever; and you attempted force. I resisted that, + because I would not allow you to have the painful remembrance that you +had injured one who had strong claims upon you, and had never injured +you. I resented it also, because I wished to prove to you that I was a +De Benyon, and had spirit to resist an insult. But, general, if you +imagine that I have come here with a determination of forcing myself upon +you, you are much mistaken. I am too proud, and happily am independent by +my own exertions, so as not to require your assistance. Had you received +me kindly, believe me, you would have found a grateful and affectionate +heart to have met that kindness. You would have found a son, whose sole +object through life has been to discover a father, after whom he has +yearned, who would have been delighted to have administered to his wants, +to have yielded to his wishes, to have soothed him in his pain, and to +have watched him in his sickness. Deserted as I have been for so many +years, I trust that I have not disgraced you, General De Benyon; and if +ever I have done wrong, it has been from a wish to discover you. I can +appeal to Lord Windermear for the truth of that assertion. Allow me to +say, that it is a very severe trial--an ordeal which few pass through +with safety--to be thrown as I have been upon the world, with no friend, +no parent to assist or to advise me, to have to bear up against the +contingency of being of unacknowledged and perhaps disgraceful birth. +It is harder still, when I expected to find my dearest wishes realised, +that without any other cause than that of my features resembling those +of my mother, I am to be again cast away. One thing, General De Benyon, +I request, and I trust it will not be denied, which is, that I may assume +the name which I am entitled to. I pledge you that I never will disgrace +it. And now, sir, asking and expecting no more, I take my leave, and you +may be assured, that neither poverty, privation, nor affliction of any +kind, will ever induce me to again intrude into your presence. General +De Benyon, farewell for ever." + +I made my father a profound bow, and was quitting the room. + +"Stop, sir," said the general. "Stop one moment, if you please." + +I obeyed. + +"Why did you put me out of temper? Answer me that." + +"Allow me to observe, sir, that I did not put you out of temper; and +what is more, that I never lost my own temper during the insult and +injury which I so undeservedly and unexpectedly have received." + +"But that very keeping your temper made me more angry, sir." + +"That is very possible; but surely I was not to blame. The greatest proof +of a perfect gentleman is, that he is able to command his temper, and I +wished you to acknowledge that I was not without such pretensions." + +"That is as much as to say that your father is no gentleman; and this, +I presume, is a specimen of your filial duty," replied the general, +warmly. + +"Far from it, sir; there are many gentlemen who, unfortunately, cannot +command their tempers, and are more to be pitied than blamed for it; +but, sir, when such happens to be the case, they invariably redeem +their error, and amply so, by expressing their sorrow, and offering +an apology." + +"That is as much as to say, that you expect me to apologise to you." + +"Allow me, sir, to ask you, did you ever know a De Benyon submit to +an insult?" + +"No, sir, I trust not." + +"Then, sir, those whose feelings of pride will not allow them to submit +to an insult ought never to insult others. If, in the warmth of the +moment, they have done so, that pride should immediately induce them +to offer an apology, not only due to the party, but to their own +characters. There is no disgrace in making an apology when we are in +error, but there is a great disgrace in withholding such an act of +common justice and reparation." + +"I presume I am to infer from all this, that you expect an apology +from me?" + +"General De Benyon, as far as I am concerned, that is now of little +importance; we part, and shall probably never meet again; if you think +that it would make you feel more comfortable, I am willing to receive it." + +"I must suppose by that observation, that you fully expect it, and +otherwise will not stay?" + +"I never had a thought of staying, general; you have told me that you +have disinherited and discarded me for ever; no one with the feelings +of a man would ever think of remaining after such a declaration." + +"Upon what terms, then, sir, am I to understand that you will consent to +remain with me, and forget all that has passed?" + +"My terms are simple, general; you must say that you retract what you +have said, and are very sorry for having insulted me." + +"And without I do that, you will never come here again?" + +"Most decidedly not, sir. I shall always wish you well, pray for your +happiness, be sorry at your death, and attend your funeral as chief +mourner, although you disinherit me. That is my duty, in return for my +having taken your name, and your having acknowledged that I am your son; +but live with you, or even see you occasionally, I will not, after what +has passed this day, without you make me an apology." + +"I was not aware that it was necessary for a father to apologise to +his son." + +"If you wrong a stranger, you offer an apology; how much more is it due +to a near relation?" + +"But a parent has claims upon his own son, sir, for which he is bound to +tender his duty." + +"I grant it, in the ordinary course of things in this life; but, General +De Benyon, what claims have you as a parent upon me? A son in most cases +is indebted to his parents for their care and attention in infancy--his +education--his religious instruction--his choice of a profession, and +his advancement in life, by their exertions and interest; and when they +are called away, he has a reasonable expectation of their leaving him a +portion of their substance. They have a heavy debt of gratitude to pay +for what they have received, and they are further checked by the hopes +of what they may hereafter receive. Up to this time, sir, I have not +received the first, and this day I am told that I need not expect the +last. Allow me to ask you, General De Benyon, upon what grounds you +claim from me a filial duty? certainly not for benefits received, or +for benefits in expectation; but I feel that I am intruding, and +therefore, sir, once more, with every wish for your happiness, I take +my leave." + +I went out, and had half closed the door after me, when the general +cried out, "Stop--don't go--Japhet--my son--I was in a passion--I beg +your pardon--don't mind what I said--I'm a passionate old fool." + +As he uttered this in broken sentences, I returned to him. He held out +his hand. "Forgive me, boy--forgive your father." I knelt down and kissed +his hand; he drew me towards him, and I wept upon his bosom. + + + + +Chapter LXXV + + Father still dutifully submissive at home--Abroad, I am splitting + a straw in arguments with Susannah about straw bonnets--The rest + of the Chapter contains coquetry, courting, and costumes. + + +It was some time before we were sufficiently composed to enter into +conversation, and then I tried my utmost to please him. Still, there was +naturally a restraint on both sides, but I was so particular and devoted +in my attentions, so careful of giving offence, that when he complained +of weariness, and a wish to retire, he stipulated that I should be with +him to breakfast on the next morning. + +I hastened to Mr Masterton, although it was late, to communicate to him +all that had passed; he heard me with great interest. "Japhet," said he, +"you have done well--it is the proudest day of your life. You have +completely mastered him. The royal Bengal tiger is tamed. I wish you +joy, my dear fellow. Now I trust that all will be well. But keep your +own counsel, do not let this be known at Reading. Let them still imagine +that your father is as passionate as ever, which he will be, by-the-bye, +with everybody else. You have still to follow up your success, and leave +me to help you in other matters." + +I returned home to the Piazza, and, thankful to Heaven for the events of +the day, I soon fell fast asleep, and dreamt of Susannah Temple. The next +morning I was early at the Adelphi hotel; my father had not yet risen, +but the native servants who passed in and out, attending upon him, and +who took care to give me a wide berth, had informed him that "Burra +Saib's" son was come, and he sent for me. His leg was very painful and +uncomfortable, and the surgeon had not yet made his appearance. I +arranged it as before, and he then dressed, and came out to breakfast. +I had said nothing before the servants, but as soon as he was comfortable +on the sofa I took his hand, and kissed it, saying, "Good morning, my +dear father; I hope you do not repent of your kindness to me yesterday." + +"No, no; God bless you, boy. I've been thinking of you all night." + +"All's right," thought I; "and I trust to be able to keep it so." + +I shall pass over a fortnight, during which I was in constant attendance +upon my father. At times he would fly out in a most violent manner, but I +invariably kept my temper, and when it was all over, would laugh at him, +generally repeating and acting all which he had said and done during his +paroxysm. I found this rather dangerous ground at first, but by degrees +he became used to it, and it was wonderful how it acted as a check upon +him. He would not at first believe but that I exaggerated, when the +picture was held up to his view and he was again calm. My father was not +naturally a bad-tempered man, but having been living among a servile +race, and holding high command in the army, he had gradually acquired a +habit of authority and an impatience of contradiction which was +unbearable to all around. Those who were high-spirited and sensitive +shunned him; the servile and the base continued with him for their own +interests, but trembled at his wrath. I had during this time narrated to +my father the events of my life, and, I am happy to say, had, by +attention and kindness joined with firmness and good temper, acquired a +dominion over him. I had at his request removed to the hotel, and lived +with him altogether. His leg was rapidly arriving to a state of +convalescence, and he now talked of taking a house and setting up his +establishment in London. I had seen but little of Mr Masterton during +this time, as I had remained in-doors in attendance upon the general. I +had written once to Mr Cophagus, stating how I was occupied, but saying +nothing about our reconciliation. One morning, Mr Masterton called upon +us, and after a little conversation with the general, he told me that +he had persuaded Mr Cophagus and his wife to leave Reading and come to +London, and that Susannah Temple was to come with them. + +"On a visit?" inquired I. "No, not on a visit. I have seen Cophagus, and +he is determined to cut the Quakers, and reside in London altogether." + +"What! does he intend to return to the pomps and vanities of this wicked +world?" + +"Yes, I believe so, and his wife will join him. She has no objection to +decorate her pretty person." + +"I never thought that she had--but Susannah Temple--" + +"When Susannah is away from her friends, when she finds that her sister +and brother-in-law no longer wear the dress, and when she is constantly +in your company, to all which please to add the effect I trust of my +serious admonitions, she will soon do as others do, or she is no woman. +This is all my plan, and leave it to me--only play your part by seeing +as much of her as you can." + +"You need not fear that," replied I. + +"Does your father know of your attachment?" inquired Mr Masterton. + +"No, I passed her over without mentioning her name," replied I. "It is +too soon yet to talk to him about my marrying; in fact, the proposal +must, if possible, come from him. Could not you manage that?" + +"Yes, I will if I can; but, as you say, wait awhile. Here is their +address--you must call to-morrow, if you can; and do you think you can +dine with me on Thursday?" + +"Yes, if the general continues improving; if not, I will send you word." + +The next day I complained of a headache, and said, that I would walk out +until dinner-time. I hastened to the address given me by Mr Masterton, +and found that Mr Cophagus and his wife were out, but Susannah remained +at home. After our first questions, I inquired of her how she liked +London. + +"I am almost afraid to say, Japhet, at least to you; you would only +laugh at me." + +"Not so, Susannah; I never laugh when I know people are sincere." + +"It appears to me, then, to be a vanity fair." + +"That there is more vanity in London than in any other city, I grant," +replied I; "but recollect, that there are more people and more wealth. +I do not think that there is more in proportion than in other towns in +England, and if there is more vanity, Susannah, recollect also that +there is more industry, more talent, and I should hope a greater +proportion of good and honest people among its multitudes; there is also, +unfortunately, more misery and more crime." + +"I believe you are right, Japhet. Are you aware that Mr Cophagus has put +off his plain attire?" + +"If it grieves you, Susannah, it grieves me also; but I presume he finds +it necessary not to be so remarkable." + +"For him, I could find some excuse; but what will you say, Japhet, when +I tell you that my own sister, born and bred up to our tenets, hath also +deviated much from the dress of the females of our sect?" + +"In what hath she made an alteration?" + +"She has a bonnet of plaited straw with ribbons." + +"Of what colour are the ribbons?" + +"Nay, of the same as her dress--of grey." + +"Your bonnet, Susannah, is of grey silk; I do not see that there is +vanity in descending to straw, which is a more homely commodity. But +what reason has she given?" + +"That her husband wills it, as he does not like to walk out with her +in her Quaker's dress." + +"Is it not her duty to obey her husband, even as I obey my father, +Susannah?--but I am not ashamed to walk out with you in your dress; so +if you have no objection, let me show you a part of this great city." + +Susannah consented; we had often walked together in the town of Reading: +she was evidently pleased at what I said. I soon escorted her to Oxford +Street, from thence down Bond Street, and through all the most frequented +parts of the metropolis. The dress naturally drew upon her the casual +glance of the passengers, but her extreme beauty turned the glance to an +ardent gaze, and long before we had finished our intended walk, Susannah +requested that I would go home. She was not only annoyed but almost +alarmed at the constant and reiterated scrutiny which she underwent, +ascribing it to her dress, and not to her lovely person. As soon as we +returned I sat down with her. + +"So I understand that Mr Cophagus intends to reside altogether in London." + +"I have not heard so; I understood that it was business which called him +hither for a few weeks. I trust not, for I shall be unhappy here." + +"May I ask why?" + +"The people are rude--it is not agreeable to walk out." + +"Recollect, my dear Susannah, that those of your sect are not so plentiful +in London as elsewhere, and if you wear a dress so different from other +people, you must expect that curiosity will be excited. You cannot blame +them--it is you who make yourself conspicuous, almost saying to the people +by your garment, 'Come, and look at me.' I have been reflecting upon what +Mr Masterton said to you at Reading, and I do not know whether he was not +right in calling it a garb of pride instead of a garb of humility." + +"If I thought so, Japhet, even I would throw it off," replied Susannah. + +"It certainly is not pleasant that every one should think that you walk +out on purpose to be stared at, yet such is the ill-natured construction +of the world, and they will never believe otherwise. It is possible, I +should think, to dress with equal simplicity and neatness, to avoid gay +colours, and yet to dress so as not to excite observation." + +"I hardly know what to say, but that you all appear against me, and that +sometimes I feel that I am too presumptuous in thus judging for myself." + +"I am not against you, Susannah; I know you will do what you think is +right, and I shall respect you for that, even if I disagree with you; but +I must say, that if my wife were to dress in such a way as to attract the +public gaze, I should feel too jealous to approve of it. I do not, +therefore, blame Mr Cophagus for inducing his pretty wife to make some +alteration in her attire, neither do I blame but I commend her for +obeying the wishes of her husband. Her beauty is his, and not common +property." + +Susannah did not reply; she appeared very thoughtful. + +"You disagree with me, Susannah," said I, after a pause; "I am sorry for +it." + +"I cannot say that I do, Japhet; I have learned a lesson this day, and, +in future, I must think more humbly of myself, and be more ruled by the +opinions and judgment of others." + +Mr and Mrs Cophagus then came in. Cophagus had resumed his medical coat +and waistcoat, but not his pantaloons or Hessians: his wife, who had a +very good taste in dress, would not allow him. She was in her grey silk +gown, but wore a large handsome shawl, which covered all but the skirts; +on her head she had a Leghorn bonnet, and certainly looked very pretty. +As usual, she was all good-humour and smiles. I told them that we had +been walking out, and that Susannah had been much annoyed by the staring +of the people. + +"Always so," said Cophagus, "never mind--girls like it--feel pleased--and +so on." + +"You wrong me much, brother Cophagus," replied Susannah, "it pained me +exceedingly." + +"All very well to say so--know better--sly puss--will wear dress--people +say, pretty Quaker--and so on." + +Susannah hastily left the room after this attack, and I told them what +had passed. + +"Mrs Cophagus," said I, "order a bonnet and shawl like yours for her, +without telling her, and perhaps you will persuade her to put them on." + +Mrs Cophagus thought the idea excellent, and promised to procure them. +Susannah not making her re-appearance, I took leave and arrived at the +hotel in good time for dinner. + +"Japhet," said the general to me as we were at table, "you have mentioned +Lord Windermear very often, have you called upon him lately?" + +"No, sir, it is now two years and more since I have seen him. When I was +summoned to town to meet you, I was too much agitated to think of +anything else, and since that I have had too much pleasure in your +company." + +"Say, rather, my good boy, that you have nursed me so carefully that you +have neglected your friends and your health. Take my carriage to-morrow, +and call upon him, and after that, you had better drive about a little, +for you have been looking pale these last few days. I hope to get out +myself in a short time, and then we will have plenty of amusement +together in setting up our establishment." + + + + +Chapter LXXVI + + I renew old ties of friendship, and seek new ones of + love--Obliged to take my father to task once more--He receives + his lesson with proper obedience. + + +I took the carriage the next day, and drove to Lord Windermear's. He was +at home, and I gave my name to the servant as Mr De Benyon. It was the +first time that I had made use of my own name. His lordship was alone +when I entered. He bowed, as if not recognising me, and waved his hand +to a chair. + +"My lord, I have given my true name, and you treat me as a perfect +stranger. I will mention my former name, and I trust you will honour +me with a recognition. I was Japhet Newland." + +"My dear Mr Newland, you must accept my apology; but it is so long since +we met, and I did not expect to see you again." + +"I thought, my lord, that Mr Masterton had informed you of what had +taken place." + +"No; I have just come from a visit to my sisters in Westmoreland, and +have received no letters from him." + +"I have, my lord, at last succeeded in finding out the object of my mad +search, as you were truly pleased to call it, in the Honourable General +De Benyon, lately arrived from the East Indies." + +"Where his services are well known," added his lordship. "Mr De Benyon, +I congratulate you with all my heart. When you refused my offers of +assistance, and left us all in that mad way, I certainly despaired of +ever seeing you again. I am glad that you re-appear under such fortunate +auspices. Has your father any family?" + +"None, my lord, but myself; and my mother died in the East Indies." + +"Then I presume, from what I know at the Board of Control, that you +may _now_ safely be introduced as a young gentleman of large fortune; +allow me at least to assist your father in placing you in your proper +sphere in society. Where is your father?" + +"At present, my lord, he is staying at the Adelphi hotel, confined to +his room by an accident, but I trust that in a few days he will be able +to come out." + +"Will you offer my congratulations to him, and tell him, that if he will +allow me, I will have the honour of paying my respects to him. Will you +dine with me on Monday next?" + +I returned my thanks, accepted the invitation, and took my leave, his +lordship saying as he shook hands with me, "You don't know how happy +this intelligence has made me. I trust that your father and I shall be +good friends." + +When I returned to the carriage, as my father had desired me to take an +airing, I thought I might as well have a companion, so I directed them +to drive to Mr Cophagus's. The servant knocked, and I went in as soon +as the door was opened. Susannah and Mrs Cophagus were sitting in the +room. + +"Susannah," said I, "I know you do not like to walk out, so I thought, +perhaps, you would have no objection to take an airing in the carriage; +my father has lent it to me. Will you come?--it will do you good." + +"It is very kind of you, Japhet, to think of me; but--" + +"But what?" replied Mrs Cophagus. "Surely thou wilt not refuse, Susannah. +It would savour much of ingratitude on thy part." + +"I will not then be ungrateful," replied Susannah, leaving the room; +and in a short time she returned in a Leghorn bonnet and shawl like her +sister's. "Do not I prove that I am not ungrateful, Japhet, since to do +credit to thy carriage, I am content to depart from the rules of our +persuasion?" said Susannah, smiling. + +"I feel the kindness and the sacrifice you are making to please me, +Susannah," replied I; "but let us lose no time." + +I handed her down to the carriage, and we drove to the Park. It was a +beautiful day, and the Park was filled with pedestrians as well as +carriages. Susannah was much astonished, as well as pleased. "Now, +Susannah," said I, "if you were to call this Vanity Fair, you would +not be far wrong; but still, recollect that even all this is productive +of much good. Reflect how many industrious people find employment and +provision for their families by the building of these gay vehicles, +their painting and ornamenting. How many are employed at the loom, +and at the needle, in making these costly dresses. This vanity is the +cause of wealth not being hoarded, but finding its way through various +channels, so as to produce comfort and happiness to thousands." + +"Your observations are just, Japhet, but you have lived in the world, +and seen much of it. I am as one just burst from an egg-shell, all +amazement. I have been living in a little world of my own thoughts, +surrounded by a mist of ignorance, and not being able to penetrate +farther, have considered myself wise when I was not." + +"My dear Susannah, this is a chequered world, but not a very bad +one--there is in it much of good as well as evil. The sect to +which you belong avoid it--they know it not--and they are unjust +towards it. During the time that I lived at Reading, I will candidly +state to you that I met with many who called themselves of the +persuasion, who were wholly unworthy of it, but they made up in outward +appearance and hypocrisy, what they wanted in their conduct to their +fellow-creatures. Believe me, Susannah, there are pious and good, +charitable and humane, conscientious and strictly honourable people among +those who now pass before your view in such gay procession; but society +requires that the rich should spend their money in superfluities, that +the poor may be supported. Be not deceived, therefore, in future, by the +outward garments, which avail nothing." + +"You have induced me much to alter my opinions already, Japhet; so has +that pleasant friend of thine, Mr Masterton, who has twice called since +we have been in London, but is it not time that we should return?" + +"It is indeed later than I thought it was, Susannah," replied I, looking +at my watch, "and I am afraid that my father will be impatient for my +return. I will order them to drive home." + +As we drove along, leaning against the back of the carriage, my hand +happened to touch that of Susannah, which lay beside her on the cushion, +I could not resist taking it in mine, and it was not withdrawn. What my +thoughts were, the reader may imagine; Susannah's I cannot acquaint him +with; but in that position we remained in silence until the carriage +stopped at Cophagus's door. I handed Susannah out of the carriage, and +went up stairs for a few moments. Mrs Cophagus and her husband were out. + +"Susannah, this is very kind of you, and I return you my thanks. I never +felt more happy than when seated with you in that carriage." + +"I have received both amusement and instruction, Japhet, and ought to +thank you. Do you know what passed in my mind at one time?" + +"No--tell me." + +"When I first knew you, and you came among us, I was, as it were, the +guide, a presumptuous one perhaps to you, and you listened to me--now +it is reversed--now that we are removed and in the world, it is you that +are the guide, and it is I who listen and obey." + +"Because, Susannah, when we first met I was much in error, and had +thought too little of serious things, and you were fit to be my guide: +now we are mixing in the world, with which I am better acquainted than +yourself. You then corrected me, when I was wrong: I now point out to +you where you are not rightly informed: but, Susannah, what you have +learnt of me is as nought compared with the valuable precepts which I +gained from your lips--precepts which, I trust, no collision with the +world will ever make me forget." + +"Oh! I love to hear you say that; I was fearful that the world would +spoil you, Japhet; but it will not--will it?" + +"Not so long as I have you still with me, Susannah: but if I am obliged +to mix again with the world, tell me, Susannah, will you reject me?--will +you desert me?--will you return to your own people and leave me so +exposed? Susannah, dearest, you must know how long, how dearly I have +loved you:--you know that, if I had not been sent for and obliged to obey +the message, I would have lived and died content with you. Will you not +listen to me now, or do you reject me?" + +I put my arm round her waist, her head fell upon my shoulder, and she +burst into tears. "Speak, dearest, this suspense is torture to me," +continued I. + +"I do love you, Japhet," replied she at last, looking fondly at me +through her tears; "but I know not whether this earthly love may not +have weakened my affection towards Heaven. If so, may God pardon me, +for I cannot help it." After this avowal, for a few minutes, which +appeared seconds, we were in each other's arms, when Susannah disengaged +herself. + +"Dearest Japhet, thy father will be much displeased." "I cannot help +it," replied I, "I shall submit to his displeasure." + +"Nay, but, Japhet, why risk thy father's wrath?" + +"Well, then," replied I, attempting to reach her lips, "I will go." + +"Nay, nay--indeed, Japhet, you exact too much--it is not seemly." + +"Then I won't go." + +"Recollect about thy father." + +"It is you who detain me, Susannah." + +"I must not injure thee with thy father, Japhet, it were no proof of my +affection--but, indeed, you are self-willed." + +"God bless you, Susannah," said I, as I gained the contested point, and +hastened to the carriage. + +My father was a little out of humour when I returned, and questioned me +rather sharply as to where I had been. I half pacified him by delivering +Lord Windermear's polite message; but he continued his interrogations, +and although I had pointed out to him that a De Benyon would never be +guilty of an untruth, I am afraid I told some half dozen on this +occasion; but I consoled myself with the reflection, that, in the code +of honour of a fashionable man, he is bound, if necessary, to tell +falsehoods where a lady is concerned; so I said I had driven through +the streets looking at the houses, and had twice stopped and had gone +in to examine them. My father supposed that I had been looking out for +a house for him, and was satisfied. Fortunately they were job horses; +had they been his own I should have been in a severe scrape. Horses are +the only part of an establishment for which the gentlemen have any +consideration, and on which ladies have no mercy. + +I had promised the next day to dine with Mr Masterton. My father had +taken a great aversion to this old gentleman until I had narrated the +events of my life, in which he had played such a conspicuous and friendly +part. Then, to do my father justice, his heart warmed towards him. + +"My dear sir, I have promised to dine out to-day." + +"With whom, Japhet?" + +"Why, sir, to tell you the truth, with that 'old thief of a lawyer.'" + +"I am very much shocked at your using such an expression towards one who +has been such a sincere friend, Japhet; and you will oblige me, sir, by +not doing so again in my presence." + +"I really beg your pardon, general," replied I, "but I thought to +please you." + +"Please me! what do you think of me? please me, sir, by showing yourself +ungrateful?--I am ashamed of you, sir." + +"My dear father, I borrowed the expression from you. You called Mr +Masterton 'an old thief of a lawyer' to his face: he complained to me +of the language before I had the pleasure of meeting you. I feel, and +always shall feel, the highest respect, love, and gratitude towards him. +Have I your permission to go?" + +"Yes, Japhet," replied my father, looking very grave, "and do me the +favour to apologise for me to Mr Masterton for my having used such an +expression in my unfortunate warmth of temper--I am ashamed of myself." + +"My dearest father, no man need be ashamed who is so ready to make +honourable reparation:--we are all a little out of temper at times." + +"You have been a kind friend to me, Japhet, as well as a good son," +replied my father, with some emotion. "Don't forget the apology at all +events: I shall be unhappy until it be made." + + + + +Chapter LXXVII + + Treats of apologies, and love coming from church--We finesse with + the nabob to win me a wife--I am successful in my suit, yet the + lawyer is still to play the cards to enable me to win the game. + + + +I arrived at Mr Masterton's, and walked into his room, when whom should +I find in company with him but Harcourt. + +"Japhet, I'm glad to see you: allow me to introduce you to Mr +Harcourt--Mr De Benyon," and the old gentleman grinned maliciously, but +I was not to be taken aback. + +"Harcourt," said I, extending my hand, "I have to apologise to you for +a rude reception and for unjust suspicions, but I was vexed at the +time--if you will admit that as an excuse." + +"My dear Japhet," replied Harcourt, taking my hand and shaking it warmly, +"I have to apologise to you for much more unworthy behaviour, and it will +be a great relief to my mind if you will once more enrol me in the list +of your friends." + +"And now, Mr Masterton," said I, "as apologies appear to be the order of +the day, I bring you one from the general, who has requested me to make +one to you for having called you an old thief of a lawyer, of which he +was totally ignorant until I reminded him of it to-day." + +Harcourt burst into a laugh. + +"Well, Japhet, you may tell your old tiger, that I did not feel +particularly affronted, as I took his expression professionally and not +personally, and if he meant it in that sense, he was not far wrong. +Japhet, to-morrow is Sunday; do you go to meeting or to church?" + +"I believe, sir, that I shall go to church." + +"Well, then, come with me:--be here at half-past two--we will go to +evening service at St James's." + +"I have received many invitations, but I never yet received an +invitation to go to church," replied I. + +"You will hear an extra lesson of the day--a portion of Susannah and +the Elders." + +I took the equivoque, which was incomprehensible to Harcourt: I hardly +need say, that the latter and I were on the best terms. When we +separated, Harcourt requested leave to call upon me the next morning, +and Mr Masterton said that he should also pay his respects to the tiger, +as he invariably called my most honoured parent. + +Harcourt was with me very soon after breakfast, and after I had +introduced him to my "Governor," we retired to talk without interruption. + +"I have much to say to you, De Benyon," commenced Harcourt: "first let +me tell you, that after I rose from my bed, and discovered that you had +disappeared, I resolved, if possible, to find you out and induce you to +come back. Timothy, who looked very sly at me, would tell me nothing, but +that the last that was heard of you was at Lady de Clare's, at Richmond. +Having no other clue, I went down there, introduced myself, and, as they +will tell you, candidly acknowledged that I had treated you ill. I then +requested that they would give me any clue by which you might be found, +for I had an opportunity of offering to you a situation which was at my +father's disposal, and which any gentleman might have accepted, although +it was not very lucrative." + +"It was very kind of you, Harcourt." + +"Do not say that, I beg. It was thus that I formed an acquaintance with +Lady de Clare and her daughter, whose early history, as Fleta, I had +obtained from you, but who I little imagined to be the little girl that +you had so generously protected; for it was not until after I had +deserted you, that you had discovered her parentage. The extreme interest +relative to you evinced by both the mother and the daughter surprised me. +They had heard of my name from you, but not of our quarrel. They urged +me, and thanked me for proposing, to follow you and find you out: I did +make every attempt. I went to Brentford, inquired at all the +public-houses, and of all the coachmen who went down the road, but could +obtain no information, except that at one public-house, a gentleman +stopped with a portmanteau, and soon afterwards went away with it on his +shoulders. I returned to Richmond with the tidings of my ill-success +about a week after I had first called there. Cecilia was much affected +and cried very bitterly. I could not help asking Lady de Clare why she +took such a strong interest in your fortunes. 'Who ought,' replied +Cecilia, 'if his poor Fleta does not?' 'Good Heavens! Miss de Clare, are +you the little Fleta whom he found with the gipsies, and talked to me so +much about?' 'Did you not know it?' said Lady de Clare. I then explained +to her all that had latterly passed between us, and they in return +communicated your events and dangers in Ireland. Thus was an intimacy +formed, and ever since I have been constantly welcome at their house. I +did not, however, abandon my enquiries for many months, when I thought +it was useless, and I had to console poor Cecilia, who constantly mourned +for you. And now, Japhet, I must make my story short: I could not help +admiring a young person who showed so much attachment and gratitude +joined to such personal attractions, but she was an heiress and I was +a younger brother. Still Lady de Clare insisted upon my coming to the +house, and I was undecided how to act when the unfortunate death of my +elder brother put me in a situation to aspire to her hand. After that my +visits were more frequent, and I was tacitly received as a suitor by +Lady de Clare, and had no reason to complain of the treatment I received +from Cecilia. Such was the position of affairs until the day on which you +broke in upon us so unexpectedly, and at the very moment that you came +in, I had, with the sanction of her mother, made an offer to Cecilia, and +was anxiously awaiting an answer from her own dear lips. Can you therefore +be surprised, Japhet, at there being a degree of constraint on all sides +at the interruption occasioned by the presence of one who had long been +considered lost to us? Or that a young person just deciding upon the most +important step of her life should feel confused and agitated at the +entrance of a third party, however dear he might be to her as a brother +and benefactor?" + +"I am perfectly satisfied, Harcourt," replied I: "and I will go there, +and make my peace as soon as I can." + +"Indeed, Japhet, if you knew the distress of Cecilia you would pity and +love her more than ever. Her mother is also much annoyed. As soon as you +were gone, they desired me to hasten after you and bring you back. +Cecilia had not yet given her answer: I requested it before my departure, +but, I presume to stimulate me, she declared that she would give me no +answer, until I re-appeared with you. This is now three weeks ago, and +I have not dared to go there. I have been trying all I can to see you +again since you repulsed me at the Piazza, but without success, until I +went to Mr Masterton, and begged him to procure me an interview. I thank +God it has succeeded." + +"Well, Harcourt, you shall see Cecilia to-morrow morning, if you please." + +"Japhet, what obligations I am under to you! Had it not been for you I +never should have known Cecilia; and more, were it not for your kindness, +I might perhaps lose her for ever." + +"Not so, Harcourt; it was your own good feeling prompting you to find me +out, which introduced you to Cecilia, and I wish you joy with all my +heart. This is a strange world--who would have imagined that, in little +Fleta, I was picking up a wife for a man whose life I nearly took away? +I will ask my governor for his carriage to-morrow, and will call and take +you up at your lodgings at two o'clock, if that hour will suit you. I will +tell you all that has passed since I absconded, when we are at Lady de +Clare's; one story will do for all." + +Harcourt then took his leave, and I returned to my father, with whom I +found Lord Windermear. + +"De Benyon, I am happy to see you again," said his lordship. "I have just +been giving a very good character of you to the general; I hope you will +continue to deserve it." + +"I hope so too, my lord; I should be ungrateful indeed, if I did not, +after my father's kindness to me." + +Mr Masterton was then introduced: Lord Windermear shook hands with him, +and after a short conversation took his leave. + +"Japhet," said Mr Masterton aside, "I have a little business with your +father; get out of the room any way you think best." + +"There are but two ways, my dear sir," replied I, "the door or the +windows: with your permission, I will select the former, as most +agreeable;" so saying, I went to my own room. What passed between the +general and Mr Masterton I did not know until afterwards, but they were +closeted upwards of an hour, when I was sent for by Mr Masterton. + +"Japhet, you said you would go with me to hear the new preacher; we have +no time to lose: so, general, I shall take my leave and run away with +your son." + +I followed Mr Masterton into his carriage, and we drove to the lodging +of Mr Cophagus. Susannah was all ready, and Mr Masterton went up stairs +and brought her down. A blush and a sweet smile illumined her features +when she perceived me stowed away in the corner of the chariot. We drove +off, and somehow or another our hands again met and did not separate +until we arrived at the church door. Susannah had the same dress on as +when she had accompanied me in my father's carriage. I went through the +responses with her, reading out of the same book, and I never felt more +inclined to be devout, for I was happy, and grateful to Heaven for my +happiness. When the service was over, we were about to enter the +carriage, when who should accost us but Harcourt. + +"You are surprised to see me here," said he to Mr Masterton, "but I +thought there must be something very attractive, that you should make +an appointment with Japhet to go to this church, and as I am very fond +of a good sermon, I determined to come and hear it." + +Harcourt's ironical look told me all he would say. + +"Well," replied Mr Masterton, "I hope you have been edified--now get out +of the way, and let us go into the carriage." + +"To-morrow at two, De Benyon," said Harcourt, taking another peep at +Susannah. + +"Yes, punctually," replied I, as the carriage drove off. + +"And now, my dear child," said Mr Masterton to Susannah, as the carriage +rolled along, "Tell me, have you been disappointed, or do you agree with +me? You have attended a meeting of your own persuasion this morning--you +have now, for the first time, listened to the ritual of the Established +Church. To which do you give the preference?" + +"I will not deny, sir, that I think, in departing from the forms of +worship, those of my persuasion did not do wisely. I would not venture +thus much to say, but you support me in my judgment." + +"You have answered like a good, sensible girl, and have proved that you +can think for yourself; but observe, my child, I have persuaded you for +once, and once only, to enter our place of worship, that you might compare +and judge for yourself; it now remains for you to decide as you please." +"I would that some better qualified would decide for me," replied +Susannah, gravely. + +"Your husband, Susannah," whispered I, "must take that responsibility +upon himself. Is he not the proper person?" + +Susannah slightly pressed my hand, which held hers, and said nothing. As +soon as we had conveyed her home, Mr Masterton offered to do me the same +kindness, which I accepted. + +"Now, Japhet, I dare say that you would like to know what it was I had so +particular to say to the old general this morning." + +"Of course I would, sir, if it concerned me." + +"It did concern you, for we had not been two minutes in conversation, +before you were brought on the tapis; he spoke of you with tears in his +eyes--of what a comfort you had been to him, and how happy you had made +him; and that he could not bear you to be away from him for half an hour. +On that hint I spake, and observed, that he must not expect you to +continue in retirement long, neither must he blame you, that when he had +set up his establishment, you would be as great a favourite as you were +before, and be unable, without giving offence, to refuse the numerous +invitations which you would receive. In short, that it was nothing but +right you should resume your position in society, and it was his duty to +submit to it. The old governor did not appear to like my observations, +and said he expected otherwise from you. I replied 'that it was +impossible to change our natures, and the other sex would naturally +have attractions which you would not be able to resist, and that they +would occupy a large portion of your time. The only way to ensure his +company, my dear sir, is to marry him to a steady, amiable young woman, +who, not having been thrown into the vortex of fashion, will find +pleasure in domestic life. Then her husband will become equally domestic, +and you will be all very happy together.' Your father agreed with me, and +appeared very anxious that it should take place. I then very carefully +introduced Miss Temple, saying, that I knew you had a slight partiality +in that quarter, highly commending her beauty, prudence, &c. I stated, +that feeling an interest about you, I had gone down into the country +where she resided, and had made her acquaintance, and had been much +pleased with her; that since she had come up to town with her relations, +I had seen a great deal, and had formed so high an opinion of, and so +strong an attachment to her, and had felt so convinced that she was the +very person who would make you happy and domestic, that having no family +myself, I had some idea of adopting her. At all events, that if she +married you, I was determined to give her something very handsome on +the day of the wedding." + +"But, my dear sir, why should you not have said that Susannah Temple was +left an orphan at seven years old, and her fortune has accumulated ever +since? it is by no means despicable, I understand, from Mr Cophagus; and +moreover, Mr Cophagus intends to leave her all his property." + +"I am very glad to hear it, Japhet, and will not fail to communicate all +this to your father; but there is no reason why I may not do as I please +with my own money--and I love that girl dearly. By-the-bye, have you ever +said anything to her?" + +"O yes, sir, we are pledged to each other." + +"That's all right; I thought so, when I saw your fingers hooked together +in the carriage. But now, Japhet, I should recommend a little +indifference--not exactly opposition, when your father proposes the +subject to you. It will make him more anxious, and when you consent more +obliged to you. I have promised to call upon him to-morrow, on that and +other business, and you had better be out of the way." + +"I shall be out of the way, sir; I mean to go with Harcourt to Lady de +Clare's. I shall ask for the carriage." + +"He will certainly lend it to you, as he wishes to get rid of you; but +here we are. God bless you, my boy." + + + + +Chapter LXXVIII + + The Bengal tiger taken in the toils, which promise a speedy end + to mine--I kindly permit my father to insist upon the marriage + that I have set my heart upon. + + +I found my father, who had now completely recovered from his accident, +walking up and down the room in a brown study. He did not speak to me +until after dinner, when he commenced with asking some questions relative +to Cecilia de Clare. I replied, "that I intended, if he did not want the +carriage, to call there to-morrow with Mr Harcourt." + +"Is she very handsome?" inquired he. + +"Very much so, sir. I do not think I ever saw a handsomer young person. +Yes, I do recollect one." + +"Who was that?" + +"A young lady with whom I was slightly acquainted, when living in the +country." + +"I have been thinking, my dear boy, that with the competence which you +will have, it is right that you should marry early; in so doing you will +oblige your father, who is anxious to see his grandchildren before he +dies. My health is not very good." + +I could not help smiling at this pathetic touch of the old governor's, +who, if one could judge from appearances, was as strong as a lion, and +likely to last almost as long as his dutiful son. Moreover, his appetite +was enormous, and he invariably finished his bottle every day. I did not +therefore feel any serious alarm as to his health, but I nevertheless +replied, "Matrimony is a subject upon which I have never thought"--(ahem! +a De Benyon never tells an untruth!), "I am very young yet, and am too +happy to remain with you." + +"But, my dear boy, I propose that you shall remain with me--we will all +live together. I do not intend that we shall part. I really wish, Japhet, +you would think seriously of it." + +"My dear father, allow me to observe, that at present I am not in a +situation to support a wife, and I should be sorry to be a tax upon you, +at your age; you require many comforts and luxuries, and I presume that +you live up to your income." + +"Then, my dear fellow, you are under a great mistake. I can lay down one +hundred thousand pounds on the day of your marriage, with any lady whom I +approve of, and still not spend half my remaining income." + +"That, sir," replied I, "certainly removes one difficulty, at the same +time that it proves what a generous and indulgent father I am blessed +with; but, sir, with such a fortune, I have a right to expect that the +lady will also bring a handsome addition. Miss De Clare is engaged, I +believe, to Mr Harcourt, or I might have made strong interest in that +quarter." + +"Something, my dear boy; but a moderate fortune now-a-days is all that +we expect with wives, and the best wives are those who are not born to +too much wealth; still she should bring something; but tell me, Japhet, +who is that young lady whom you thought handsomer than Miss De Clare?" + +"A Miss Temple, sir." + +"Temple--it is a very good name. I think girls brought up in the country +make the best wives." + +"They do, sir, most certainly; they are more domestic, and make their +husbands more content and happy at home." + +"Well, my dear boy, I have mentioned the subject, and wish you would +think of it. You will please me much." + +"My dear father, I shall be most happy to obey in everything else, but +in so serious a point as uniting myself for life, I think you must allow +that a little discretionary power should be given to a son. All I can +say is this, show me a young person who is eligible, and if I find that +I can love her, I will not refuse to obey your wishes." + +"Well, sir, do as you please," replied my father, very angrily; "but I +think, sir, when I desire you to fall in love, it is your duty to obey." + +"Suppose I was to fall in love with a person you did not like, would you +allow me to marry her?" + +"Most certainly not, sir." + +"Then, sir, is it reasonable to expect me to marry without being in love?" + +"I did not marry for love, sir." + +"No," replied I, forgetting myself a little; "and a pretty mess you made +of it." + +"I did," rejoined my father in a rage, "by begetting an undutiful, +good-for-nothing, graceless, insolent, ungrateful son." + +"My dear father, I was not aware that I had a brother." + +"I mean you, sir." + +"To prove to you how unjust you are, sir, and how little I deserve what +you have called me, I now promise you to marry as soon as you wish." + +"Thank you, my boy, that's kind of you; but I will say that you are a +comfort and a treasure to me, and I bless the day that brought you to my +arms. Well, then, look about you." + +"No, sir, I leave it all to you; select the party, and I am willing to +obey you." + +"My dear boy! Well, then, I'll talk the matter over with Mr Masterton +to-morrow," and the general shook me warmly by the hand. + +The next day I picked up Harcourt, and proceeded to Park Street. A note +from him had informed them of our intended visit, and other visitors had +been denied. "All has been explained, Cecilia," said I, after the first +greeting: "I was very wrong, and very foolish." + +"And made me very miserable. I little thought that you, Japhet, would +have made me cry so much; but I forgive you for it, as I would a thousand +times as much more. Now sit down and tell us all that has happened +since you left us." + +"Not yet, my dear Cecilia. You, as well as I, owe a reparation to poor +Harcourt, whom, I think, you have treated cruelly. You were about to +answer a question of vital moment when I broke in upon you, and you have +since kept him in a state of cruel suspense for more than three weeks, +refusing him an answer until he brought me into your presence. An hour +of such suspense must be dreadful, and before we sit down, I wish +everyone should feel comfortable and happy." + +"It was not altogether to stimulate Mr Harcourt to bring you back, which +induced me to refuse to answer his question, Japhet. I considered that +your return had rendered it necessary that it should be deferred until I +saw you. I have not forgotten, Japhet, and never shall forget, what I was +when you rescued me; and when I think what I might have been had you not +saved me, I shudder at the bare idea. I have not forgotten how you risked, +and nearly lost your life in Ireland for my sake--neither has my mother. +We are beholden to you for all our present happiness, and I am eternally +indebted to you for rescuing me from ignorance, poverty, and, perhaps, +vice. You have been more, much more than a father to me--more, much more +than a brother. I am, as it were, a creature of your own fashioning, and +I owe to you that which I never can repay. When, then, you returned so +unexpectedly, Japhet, I felt that you had a paramount right in my +disposal, and I was glad that I had not replied to Mr Harcourt, as I +wished first for your sanction and approval. I know all that has passed +between you, but I know not your real feelings towards Mr Harcourt; he +acknowledges that he treated you very ill, and it was his sincere +repentance of having so done, and his praise of you, which first won my +favour. And now, Japhet, if you have still animosity against Mr +Harcourt--if you--" + +"Stop, my dear Fleta, I will answer all your questions at once." I took +Harcourt's hand, and placed it in her's. "May God bless you both, and +may you be happy!" + +Cecilia threw her arms round me and wept; so did everybody else, I +believe. It was lucky for Harcourt that I was in love with Susannah +Temple. As soon as Cecilia had recovered a little, I kissed her, and +passed her over to her right owner, who led her to the sofa. Lady de +Clare and I went out of the room on important business, and did not +return for a quarter of an hour. When we returned, Cecilia went to her +mother and embraced her, while Harcourt silently squeezed my hand. We +then all sat down, and I gave them an account of all that had passed +during my second excursion--how I had nearly been hanged--how I had gone +mad--how I had turned Quaker and apothecary--which they all agreed, with +what had happened to me before, made up a very eventful history. + +"And, Japhet, if it be a fair question about one so fair, was that Miss +Temple who was at church with you yesterday?" + +"It was." + +"Then, Cecilia, if ever she appears in the same circle, except in my +eyes, your beauty will stand in some danger of being eclipsed." + +"How can you say, except in your eyes, Mr Harcourt," replied Cecilia, +"the very observation proves that it is eclipsed in your eyes, whatever +it may be in those of others. Now, as a punishment, I have a great mind +to order you away again, until you bring her face to face, that I may +judge myself." + +"If I am again banished," replied Harcourt, "I shall have a second time +to appeal to De Benyon to be able to come back again. He can produce +her, I have no doubt." + +"And perhaps may, some of these days, Cecilia." + +"Oh! do, Japhet. I will love her so." + +"You must wait a little first. I am not quite so far advanced as you and +Harcourt. I have not received the consent of all parties, as you have +to-day. But I must now leave you. Harcourt, I presume you will dine here. +I must dine with my governor." + +On my return, I found that the table was laid for three, and that the +general had asked Mr Masterton, from which I augured well. Masterton +could not speak to me when he arrived, but he gave me a wink and a smile, +and I was satisfied. "Japhet," said my father, "you have no engagement +to-morrow, I hope, because I shall call at Mr Masterton's on business, +and wish you to accompany me." + +I replied, that "I should be most happy," and the conversation became +general. + +I accompanied my father the next day to Lincoln's Inn, and when we went +up, we found Mr Masterton at the table with Mr Cophagus, and Susannah +sitting apart near the window. "The plot thickens," thought I. The fact +was, as I was afterwards told by Mr Masterton, he had prevailed upon +Cophagus to pretend business, and to bring Susannah with him, and +appointed them a quarter of an hour before our time. This he had +arranged, that the general might see Miss Temple, as if by accident; +and also allow me, who, my father supposed, was not aware of Miss Temple +being in town, to meet with her. What a deal of humbug there is in this +world! Nothing but plot and counterplot! I shook hands with Cophagus, +who, I perceived, had, notwithstanding his wife's veto, put on his blue +cotton net pantaloons and Hessian boots, and he appeared to be so tight +in both, that he could hardly move. As far as I could judge, his legs +had not improved since I had last seen them in this his favourite dress. + +"Mr De Benyon, I believe that you have met Miss Temple before," said Mr +Masterton, winking at me. "In Berkshire, was it not? Miss Temple, allow +me to introduce General De Benyon." + +I went up to Susannah, who coloured and trembled at the sight of my +father, as I expressed my hope that she had been well since we last met. +She perceived that there was some planned scheme, and was so puzzled +that she said nothing. My father then spoke to her, and after a short +time took a chair, and seated himself close to her. I never knew her make +herself so agreeable. He asked her where she was staying, and when he +heard that it was with Mr Cophagus, he said that he should have the +pleasure of calling upon Mr Cophagus, and thank him for his kind +information relative to me. Shortly afterwards Cophagus took his leave, +and Susannah rose to accompany him, when my father, hearing that they +had walked, insisted upon putting Miss Temple down in his carriage. So +that Mr Cophagus had to walk home one way, and I the other. + + + + +Chapter LXXXI + + Poor Cophagus finds an end to his adventures by the means of a + mad bull; I, of mine, by matrimony--Father is prettily behaved, + and my Quaker wife the most fashionably dressed lady in + town--verily! hum! + + +Alas! little did Mr Cophagus know how fatal to him would be the light +cotton nets when he put them on that day. He had proceeded, as it +appears, about two-thirds of his way home (he lived in Welbeck Street), +when he perceived a rush from up a street leading into Oxford Street. He +looked to ascertain the cause, when to his horror he perceived--what to +him was the greatest of all horrors--a mad bull. If anything could make +Mr Cophagus run, it was a sight like that, and he did run; but he could +not run fast in his cotton nets and tight Hessians, which crippled him +altogether. As if out of pure spite, the bull singled him out from at +least one hundred, who exerted their agility and again was poor Mr +Cophagus tossed far behind the animal, fortunately breaking his fall by +tumbling on a large dog who was in full chase. The dog, who was unable to +crawl from beneath the unfortunate Cophagus, was still in a condition to +bite, which he did most furiously; and the butcher, who had an affection +for his dog, when he perceived its condition, also vented his fury upon +poor Cophagus, by saluting him with several blows on his head with his +cudgel. What between the bull, the dog, and the butcher, poor Mr Cophagus +was taken into a shop in a very deplorable condition. After some time he +recovered, and was able to name his residence, when he was taken home. + +It was late in the evening when I received a note from Susannah, +informing me of that unfortunate accident. My father had just finished +a long story about filial duty, country girls, good wives, &c, and had +wound up by saying, that he and Mr Masterton both considered that Miss +Temple would be a very eligible match, and that as I had requested him +to select, he had selected her accordingly. I had just proved how truly +dutiful I was, by promising to do all I could to love her, and to fulfil +his wishes, when the note was put in my hands. I read it, stated its +contents to my father, and, with his permission, immediately jumped +into a hackney-coach, and drove to Welbeck Street. + +On my arrival I found poor Mrs Cophagus in a state of syncope, and +Susannah attending her. I sent for the surgeon who had been called in, +and then went up to Mr Cophagus. He was much better than I expected--calm, +and quite sensible. His wounds had been dressed by the surgeon, but he +did not appear to be aware of the extent of the injury he had received. +When the surgeon came I questioned him. He informed me that although +much hurt, he did not consider that there was any danger to be +apprehended; there were no bones broken; the only fear that he had was, +that there might be some internal injury; but at present that could not +be ascertained. I thanked him, and consoled Mrs Cophagus with this +information. I then returned to her husband, who shook his head, and +muttered, as I put my ear down to hear him, "Thought so--come to +London--full of mad bulls--tossed--die--and so on." + +"O no!" replied I, "the surgeon says that there is no danger. You will +be up in a week--but now you must keep very quiet. I will send Mrs +Cophagus to you." + +I went out, and finding her composed, I desired her to go to her +husband, who wished to see her, and I was left alone with Susannah. +I told her all that had passed, and after two delightful hours had +escaped, I returned home to the hotel. My father had waited up for +some time, and finding that I did not return, had retired. When I met +him the next morning I mentioned what the surgeon had said, but stated +that, in my opinion, there was great cause for alarm in a man of Mr +Cophagus's advanced age. My father agreed with me, but could not help +pointing out what a good opportunity this would afford for my paying my +attentions to Miss Temple, as it was natural that I should be interested +about so old a friend as Mr Cophagus. My filial duty inclined me to +reply, that I should certainly avail myself of such a favourable +opportunity. + +My adventures are now drawing to a close. I must pass over three months, +during which my father had taken and furnished a house in Grosvenor +Square; and I, whenever I could spare time, had, under the auspices of +Lord Windermear, again been introduced into the world as Mr De Benyon. I +found that the new name was considered highly respectable, my father's +hall tables were loaded with cards, and I even received two dinner +invitations from Lady Maelstrom, who told me how her dear nieces had +wondered what had become of me, and that they were afraid that Louisa +would have fallen into a decline. And during these three months Cecilia +and Susannah had been introduced, and had become as inseparable as most +young ladies are, who have a lover a-piece, and no cause for jealousy. Mr +Cophagus had so far recovered as to be able to go down into the country, +vowing, much to the chagrin of his wife, that he never would put his foot +in London again. He asked me whether I knew any place where there were no +mad bulls, and I took some trouble to find out, but I could not; for even +if he went to the North Pole, although there were no bulls, yet there +were bull bisons and musk bulls, which were even more savage. Upon which +he declared that this was not a world to live in, and to prove that he +was sincere in his opinion, poor fellow, about three months after his +retirement into the country, he died from a general decay, arising from +the shock produced on his system. But before these three months had +passed, it had been finally arranged that Harcourt and I were to be +united on the same day; and having renewed my acquaintance with the good +bishop, whom I had taxed with being my father, he united us both to our +respective partners. My father made over to me the sum which he had +mentioned. Mr Masterton gave Susannah ten thousand pounds, and her own +fortune amounted to as much more, with the reversion of Mr Cophagus's +property at the decease of his widow. Timothy came up to the wedding, +and I formally put him in the possession of my shop and stock in trade, +and he has now a flourishing business. Although he has not yet found +his mother, he has found a very pretty wife, which he says does quite +as well, if not better. + +Let it not be supposed that I forgot the good services of Kathleen--who +was soon after married to Corny. A small farm on Fleta's estate was +appropriated to them, at so low a rent, that in a few years they were +able to purchase the property, and Corny, from a leveller, as soon as +he was comfortable, became one of the government's firmest supporters. + +I am now living in the same house with my father, who is very happy, +and behaves pretty well. He is seldom in a passion more than twice +a-week, which we consider as miraculous. Now that I am writing this, +he has his two grandchildren on his knees. Mrs Cophagus has married a +captain in the Life Guards, and as far as fashion and dress are +concerned, may be said to be "going the whole hog." And now, as I have +no doubt that my readers will be curious to know whether my lovely wife +adheres to her primitive style of dress, I shall only repeat a +conversation of yesterday night, as she came down arrayed for a splendid +ball given by Mrs Harcourt de Clare. + +"Tell me now, De Benyon," said she, "is not this a pretty dress?" + +"Yes, my dear," replied I, looking at her charming face and figure with +all the admiration usual in the honeymoon, "it is indeed; but do you not +think, my dear Susan," said I, putting the tip of my white glove upon her +snowy shoulder, "that it is cut down a little too low?" + +"Too low, De Benyon! why it's not half so low as Mrs Harcourt de Clare or +Lady C---- wear their dresses." + +"Well, my dear, I did not assert that it was. I only asked." + +"Well, then, if you only asked for information, De Benyon, I will tell +you that it is not too low, and I think you will acknowledge that on this +point my opinion ought to be decisive; for if I have no other merit, I +have at least the merit of being the best-dressed woman in London." + +"Verily thou persuadest me, Susannah," replied I. + +"Now, De Benyon, hold your tongue." + +Like a well-disciplined husband, I bowed, and said no more. And now, +having no more to say, I shall also make my bow to my readers, and bid +them farewell. + +THE END. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Japhet, In Search Of A Father, by Frederick Marryat + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JAPHET, IN SEARCH OF A FATHER *** + +***** This file should be named 15991-8.txt or 15991-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/5/9/9/15991/ + +Produced by Ted Garvin, Daniel Mahu, Charlene Taylor and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/15991-8.zip b/15991-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8d0f8d0 --- /dev/null +++ b/15991-8.zip diff --git a/15991-h.zip b/15991-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b9f1bf1 --- /dev/null +++ b/15991-h.zip diff --git a/15991-h/15991-h.htm b/15991-h/15991-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..45b59cf --- /dev/null +++ b/15991-h/15991-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,19220 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" + content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" /> +<meta content="pg2html (binary v0.18b)" name="generator" /> +<title> +The Project Gutenberg eBook of Japhet, in Search of a Father +by Captain Marryat +</title> +<style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[*/ + <!-- + body { margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%; } + p { text-indent: 1em; + margin-top: .75em; + font-size: 100%; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { text-align: center; } + hr { width: 50%; } + hr.full { width: 100%; } + .foot { margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 85%; } + .quote { margin-left: 6%; margin-right: 6%; text-indent: 0em; font-size: 90%; } + .toc { margin-left: 20%; line-height: 1.7em; font-size: 90%;} + .center { padding: 0.8em; text-align: center;} +/*]]>*/ + // --> +</style> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's Japhet, In Search Of A Father, by Frederick Marryat + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Japhet, In Search Of A Father + +Author: Frederick Marryat + +Release Date: June 5, 2005 [EBook #15991] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JAPHET, IN SEARCH OF A FATHER *** + + + + +Produced by Ted Garvin, Daniel Mahu, Charlene Taylor and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<h1> + JAPHET, IN SEARCH OF A FATHER +</h1> +<h2> +BY CAPTAIN MARRYAT +</h2> + +<h4><br /><br /> + LONDON +<br /><br /> + J.M. DENT AND CO. +<br /><br /> + BOSTON: LITTLE, BROWN AND CO. +</h4><h5>MDCCCXCVI</h5> + +<hr /> + +<h4>Contents</h4> + +<p> +<span class="toc"><a href="#h2H_4_0080">Prefatory Note</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0079">I</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0080">II</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0081">III</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0082">IV</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0083">V</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0084">VI</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0085">VII</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0086">VIII</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0087">IX</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0088">X</a> +</span><br /> +<span class="toc"><a href="#h2HCH0089">XI</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0090">XII</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0091">XIII</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0092">XIV</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0093">XV</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0094">XVI</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0095">XVII</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0096">XVIII</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0097">XIX</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0098">XX</a> +</span><br /> +<span class="toc"><a href="#h2HCH0099">XXI</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0100">XXII</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0101">XXIII</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0102">XXIV</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0103">XXV</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0104">XXVI</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0105">XXVII</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0106">XXVIII</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0107">XXIX</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0108">XXX</a> +</span><br /> +<span class="toc"><a href="#h2HCH0109">XXXI</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0110">XXXII</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0111">XXXIII</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0112">XXXIV</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0113">XXXV</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0114">XXXVI</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0115">XXXVII</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0116">XXXVIII</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0117">XXXIX</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0118">XL</a> +</span><br /> +<span class="toc"><a href="#h2HCH0119">XLI</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0120">XLII</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0121">XLIII</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0122">XLIV</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0123">XLV</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0124">XLVI</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0125">XLVII</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0126">XLVIII</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0127">XLIX</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0128">L</a> +</span><br /> +<span class="toc"><a href="#h2HCH0129">LI</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0130">LII</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0131">LIII</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0132">LIV</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0133">LV</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0134">LVI</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0135">LVII</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0136">LVIII</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0137">LIX</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0138">LX</a> +</span><br /> +<span class="toc"><a href="#h2HCH0139">LXI</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0140">LXII</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0141">LXIII</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0142">LXIV</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0143">LXV</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0144">LXVI</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0145">LXVII</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0146">LXVIII</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0147">LXIX</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0148">LXX</a> +</span><br /> +<span class="toc"><a href="#h2HCH0149">LXXI</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0150">LXXII</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0151">LXXIII</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0152">LXXIV</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0153">LXXV</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0154">LXXVI</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0155">LXXVII</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0156">LXXVIII</a> + <a href="#h2HCH0157">LXXIX</a> +</span></p> +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> + +<a name="h2H_4_0080" id="h2H_4_0080"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<h2> + Prefatory Note +</h2> +<p> +In the <i>Metropolitan Magazine</i>, where this novel originally appeared +(Sep. 1834-Jan. 1836), Marryat prepared his readers for its reception in +the following words:— +</p> +<p> +"And having now completed 'Jacob Faithful,' we trust to the satisfaction +of our readers, we will make a few remarks. We commenced writing on our +own profession, and having completed four tales, novels, or whatever you +may please to call them" (viz., Frank Mildmay, The King's Own, Newton +Forster, Peter Simple), "in 'Jacob Faithful' we quitted the <i>salt</i> water +for the <i>fresh</i>. From the wherry we shall now step on shore, and in our +next number we shall introduce to our readers 'The Adventures of +<i>Japhet</i>, in search of his Father.'" +</p> +<p> +The promise was faithfully kept, and Japhet, with all his varied +experience, never went to sea. There were indeed few companies on land +to which he did not penetrate. Reared in a foundling hospital, and +apprenticed to a Smithfield apothecary, his good looks, impulsive +self-confidence, and unbounded talent for lying, carried him with éclat +through the professions of quack doctor, juggler, and mountebank, +gentleman about town, tramp, and quaker: to emerge triumphantly at last +as the only son of a wealthy Anglo-Indian general, or "Bengal tiger," as +his friends preferred to call him. +</p> +<p> +Japhet's "adventures," of course, are shared by a faithful friend and +ally, Timothy Oldmixon, the Sancho to his Quixote, originally an orphan +pauper like himself, composed of two qualities—fun and affection. He +encounters villains, lawyers, kind-hearted peers, "rooks" and "pigeons," +gipsies, leaders of fashion, fair maidens—enough and to spare. In a +word, Marryat here makes use of well-worn material, and uses it well. He +has constructed a tale of private adventure on the old familiar lines, +in which the local colour—acquired from other books—is admirably laid +on, and the interest sustained to the end. The story is well told, +enlivened by humour, and very respectably constructed. +</p> +<p> +The reader will find <i>Japhet</i> thoroughly exciting, and will have no +difficulty in believing that, while it was running in the pages of the +<i>Metropolitan</i>, "an American vessel meeting an English one in the broad +Atlantic, instead of a demand for water or supplies, ran up the question +to her mast-head, 'Has Japhet found his father yet?'" +</p> +<p> +<i>Japhet, in search of a Father</i>, is here re-printed, with a few +corrections, from the first edition in 3 vols. Saunders & Otley, 1836. +On page 360 a few words, enclosed in square brackets, have been +inserted from the magazine version, as the abbreviated sentence, always +hitherto reproduced from the first edition, is unintelligible. +</p> +<p class="center"> +R.B.J. +</p> +<hr /> + +<a name="h2HCH0079" id="h2HCH0079"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter I +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + Like most other children, who should be my godfather is decided by + Mammon—So precocious as to make some noise in the world and be + hung a few days after I was born—Cut down in time and produce a + scene of bloodshed—My early propensities fully developed by the + choice of my profession +</p> +<p> +Those who may be pleased to honour these pages with a perusal, will not +be detained with a long introductory history of my birth, parentage, and +education. The very title implies that, at this period of my memoirs, I +was ignorant of the two first; and it will be necessary for the due +development of my narrative, that I allow them to remain in the same +state of bliss; for in the perusal of a tale, as well as in the +pilgrimage of life, ignorance of the future may truly be considered as +the greatest source of happiness. The little that was known of me at +this time I will however narrate as concisely, and as correctly, as I am +able. It was on the—I really forget the date, and must rise from my +chair, look for a key, open a closet, and then open an iron safe to hunt +over a pile of papers—it will detain you too long—it will be +sufficient to say that it was on <i>a</i> night—but whether the night was +dark or moonlit, or rainy or foggy, or cloudy or fine, or starlight, I +really cannot tell; but it is of no very great consequence. Well, it was +on a night about the hour—there again I'm puzzled, it might have been +ten, or eleven, or twelve, or between any of these hours; nay it might +have been past midnight, and far advancing to the morning, for what I +know to the contrary. The reader must excuse an infant of—there again +I am at a nonplus; but we will assume of some days old—if, when wrapped +up in flannel and in a covered basket, and, moreover, fast asleep at the +time, he does not exactly observe the state of the weather, and the time +by the church clock. I never before was aware of the great importance of +dates in telling a story; but it is now too late to recover these facts, +which have been swept away into oblivion by the broad wing of Time. I +must therefore just tell the little I do know, trusting to the reader's +good nature, and to blanks. It is as follows:—that, at the hour—of +the night—the state of the weather being also—I, an infant of a +certain age—was suspended by somebody or somebodies—at the knocker +of the Foundling Hospital. Having made me fast, the said somebody or +somebodies rang a peal upon the bell which made the old porter start up +in so great a hurry, that, with the back of his hand he hit his better +half a blow on the nose, occasioning a great suffusion of blood from +that organ, and a still greater pouring forth of invectives from the +organ immediately below it. +</p> +<p> +All this having been effected by the said peal on the bell, the said +somebody or somebodies did incontinently take to their heels, and +disappear long before the old porter could pull his legs through his +nether garments and obey the rude summons. At last the old man swung +open the gate, and the basket swung across his nose; he went in again +for a knife and cut me down, for it was cruel to hang a baby of a few +days old; carried me into the lodge, lighted a candle, and opened the +basket. Thus did I metaphorically first come to light. +</p> +<p> +When he opened the basket I opened my eyes, and although I did not +observe it, the old woman was standing at the table in very light +attire, sponging her nose over a basin. +</p> +<p> +"Verily, a pretty babe with black eyes!" exclaimed the old man in a +tremulous voice. +</p> +<p> +"Black eyes indeed," muttered the old woman. "I shall have two +to-morrow." +</p> +<p> +"Beautiful black eyes indeed!" continued the old man. +</p> +<p> +"Terrible black eyes, for sartain," continued the old woman, as she +sponged away. +</p> +<p> +"Poor thing, it must be cold," murmured the old porter. +</p> +<p> +"Warrant I catch my death a-cold," muttered the wife. +</p> +<p> +"But, dear me, here's a paper!" exclaimed the old man. +</p> +<p> +"Vinegar and brown paper," echoed the old woman. +</p> +<p> +"Addressed to the governors of the hospital," continued the porter. +</p> +<p> +"Apply to the dispenser of the hospital," continued his wife. +</p> +<p> +"And sealed," said he. +</p> +<p> +"Get it healed," said she. +</p> +<p> +"The linen is good; it must be the child of no poor people. Who +knows?"—soliloquised the old man. +</p> +<p> +"My poor nose!" exclaimed the old woman. +</p> +<p> +"I must take it to the nurses, and the letter I will give to-morrow," +said the old porter, winding up his portion of this double soliloquy, +and tottering away with the basket and your humble servant across the +courtyard. +</p> +<p> +"There, it will do now," said the old wife, wiping her face on a towel, +and regaining her bed, in which she was soon joined by her husband, and +they finished their nap without any further interruption during that +night. +</p> +<p> +The next morning I was reported and examined, and the letter addressed +to the governors was opened and read. It was laconic, but still, as most +things laconic are, very much to the point. +</p> +<p> +"This child was born in wedlock—he is to be named Japhet. When +circumstances permit, he will be reclaimed." +</p> +<p> +But there was a postscript by Abraham Newlands, Esq., promising to pay +the bearer, on demand, the sum of fifty pounds. In plainer terms, there +was a bank note to that amount inclosed in the letter. As in general, +the parties who suspend children in baskets, have long before suspended +cash payments, or, at all events, forget to suspend them with the +baskets, my arrival created no little noise, to which I added my share, +until I obtained a share of the breast of a young woman, who, like +Charity, suckled two or three babies at one time. +</p> +<p> +We have preparatory schools all over the kingdom; for young gentlemen, +from three to five years of age, under ladies, and from four to seven, +under either, or both sexes, as it may happen; but the most preparatory +of all preparatory schools, is certainly the Foundling Hospital, which +takes in its pupils, if they are sent, from one to three days old, or +even hours, if the parents are in such extreme anxiety about their +education. Here it commences with their weaning, when they are +instructed in the mystery of devouring pap; next, they are taught to +walk—and as soon as they can walk—to sit still; to talk—and as soon +as they can talk—to hold their tongues; thus are they instructed and +passed on from one part of the establishment to another, until they +finally are passed out of its gates, to get on in the world, with the +advantages of some education, and the still further advantage of having +no father or mother to provide for, or relatives to pester them with +their necessities. It was so with me: I arrived at the age of fourteen, +and notwithstanding the promise contained in the letter, it appeared +that circumstances did <i>not</i> permit of my being reclaimed. But I had a +great advantage over the other inmates of the hospital; the fifty pounds +sent with me were not added to the funds of the establishment, but +generously employed for my benefit by the governors, who were pleased +with my conduct, and thought highly of my abilities. Instead of being +bound 'prentice to a cordwainer or some other mechanic, by the influence +of the governors, added to the fifty pounds and interest, as a premium, +I was taken by an apothecary, who engaged to bring me up to the +profession. And now, that I am out of the Foundling, we must not travel +quite so fast. +</p> +<p> +The practitioner who thus took me by the hand was a Mr Phineas Cophagus, +whose house was most conveniently situated for business, one side of +the shop looking upon Smithfield Market, the other presenting a surface +of glass to the principal street leading out of the same market. It was +a <i>corner</i> house, but not in a <i>corner</i>. On each side of the shop were +two gin establishments, and next to them were two public-houses and then +two eating-houses, frequented by graziers, butchers, and drovers. Did +the men drink so much as to quarrel in their cups, who was so handy to +plaister up the broken heads as Mr Cophagus? Did a fat grazier eat +himself into an apoplexy, how very convenient was the ready lancet of Mr +Cophagus. Did a bull gore a man, Mr Cophagus appeared with his diachylon +and lint. Did an ox frighten a lady, it was in the back parlour of Mr +Cophagus that she was recovered from her syncope. Market days were a +sure market to my master; and if an overdriven beast knocked down +others, it only helped to set him on his legs. Our windows suffered +occasionally; but whether it were broken heads, or broken limbs, or +broken windows, they were well paid for. Every one suffered but Mr +Phineas Cophagus, who never suffered a patient to escape him. The shop +had the usual allowance of green, yellow, and blue bottles; and in hot +weather, from our vicinity, we were visited by no small proportion of +bluebottle flies. We had a white horse in one window, and a brown horse +in the other, to announce to the drovers that we supplied +horse-medicines. And we had all the patent medicines in the known world, +even to the "all-sufficient medicine for mankind" of Mr Enouy; having +which, I wondered, on my first arrival, why we troubled ourselves about +any others. The shop was large, and at the back part there was a most +capacious iron mortar, with a pestle to correspond. The first floor was +tenanted by Mr Cophagus, who was a bachelor; the second floor was let; +the others were appropriated to the housekeeper, and to those who formed +the establishment. In this well-situated tenement, Mr Cophagus got on +swimmingly. I will therefore, for the present, sink the shop, that my +master may rise in the estimation of the reader, when I describe his +person and his qualifications. +</p> +<p> +Mr Phineas Cophagus might have been about forty-five years of age when I +first had the honour of an introduction to him in the receiving room of +the Foundling Hospital. He was of the middle height, his face was thin, +his nose very much hooked, his eyes small and peering, with a +good-humoured twinkle in them, his mouth large, and drawn down at one +corner. He was stout in his body, and carried a considerable +protuberance before him, which he was in the habit of patting with his +left hand very complacently; but although stout in his body, his legs +were mere spindles, so that, in his appearance, he reminded you of some +bird of the crane genus. Indeed, I may say, that his whole figure gave +you just such an impression as an orange might do, had it taken to +itself a couple of pieces of tobacco pipes as vehicles of locomotion. He +was dressed in a black coat and waistcoat, white cravat and high collar +to his shirt, blue cotton net pantaloons and Hessian boots, both fitting +so tight, that it appeared as if he was proud of his spindle shanks. His +hat was broad-brimmed and low, and he carried a stout black cane with a +gold top in his right hand, almost always raising the gold top to his +nose when he spoke, just as we see doctors represented at a consultation +in the caricature prints. But if his figure was strange, his language +and manners were still more so. He spoke, as some birds fly, in jerks, +intermixing his words, for he never completed a whole sentence, with +<i>um—um—</i>and ending it with "<i>so on,</i>" leaving his hearers to supply +the context from the heads of his discourse. Almost always in motion, he +generally changed his position as soon as he had finished speaking, +walking to any other part of the room, with his cane to his nose, and +his head cocked on one side, with a self-sufficient tiptoe gait. When I +was ushered into his presence, he was standing with two of the +governors. "This is the lad," said one of them, "his name is <i>Japhet</i>." +</p> +<p> +"Japhet," replied Mr Cophagus; "um, scriptural—Shem, Ham, <i>um</i>—and so +on. Boy reads?" +</p> +<p> +"Very well, and writes a very good hand. He is a very good boy, Mr +Cophagus." +</p> +<p> +"Read—write—spell—good, and <i>so on</i>. Bring him +up—rudiments—spatula—write labels—um—M.D. one of these days—make a +man of him—and so on," said this strange personage, walking round and +round me with his cane to his nose, and scrutinising my person with his +twinkling eyes. I was dismissed after this examination and approval, and +the next day, dressed in a plain suit of clothes, was delivered by the +porter at the shop of Mr Phineas Cophagus, who was not at home when I +arrived. +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0080" id="h2HCH0080"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter II +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + Like all Tyros, I find the rudiments of learning extremely + difficult and laborious, but advance so rapidly than I can do + without my Master. +</p> +<p> +A tall, fresh-coloured, but hectic looking young man, stood behind the +counter, making up prescriptions, and a dirty lad, about thirteen years +old, was standing near with his basket to deliver the medicines to the +several addresses, as soon as they were ready. The young man behind the +counter, whose name was Brookes, was within eighteen months of serving +his time, when his friends intended to establish him on his own account, +and this was the reason which induced Mr Cophagus to take me, that I +might learn the business, and supply his place when he left. Mr Brookes +was a very quiet, amiable person, kind to me and the other boy who +carried out the medicines, and who had been taken by Mr Cophagus, for +his food and raiment. The porter told Mr Brookes who I was, and left me. +"Do you think that you will like to be an apothecary?" said Mr Brookes +to me, with a benevolent smile. +</p> +<p> +"Yes; I do not see why I should not," replied I. +</p> +<p> +"Stop a moment," said the lad who was waiting with the basket, lookly +archly at me, "you hav'n't got through your <i>rudimans</i> yet." +</p> +<p> +"Hold your tongue, Timothy," said Mr Brookes. "That you are not very +fond of the rudiments, as Mr Cophagus calls them, is very clear. Now +walk off as fast as you can with these medicines, sir—14, Spring +Street; 16, Cleaver Street, as before; and then to John Street, 55, Mrs +Smith's. Do you understand?" +</p> +<p> +"To be sure I do—can't I read? I reads all the directions, and all your +Latin stuff into the bargain—all your summen dusses, horez, dìez, +cockly hairy. I mean to set up for myself one of these days." +</p> +<p> +"I'll knock you down one of these days, Mr Timothy, if you stay so long +as you do, looking at the print shops; that you may depend upon." +</p> +<p> +"I keep up all my learning that way," replied Timothy, walking off with +his load, turning his head round and laughing at me, as he quitted the +shop. Mr Brookes smiled, but said nothing. +</p> +<p> +As Timothy went out, in came Mr Cophagus. "Heh! Japhet—I see," said he, +putting up his cane, "nothing to do—bad—must work—um—and so on. Mr +Brookes—boy learn rudiments—good—and so on." Hereupon Mr Cophagus +took his cane from his nose, pointed to the large iron mortar, and then +walked away into the back parlour. Mr Brookes understood his master, if +I did not. He wiped out the mortar, threw in some drugs, and, showing me +how to use the pestle, left me to my work. In half an hour I discovered +why it was that Timothy had such an objection to what Mr Cophagus +facetiously termed the <i>rudiments</i> of the profession. It was dreadful +hard work for a boy; the perspiration ran down me in streams, and I +could hardly lift my arms. When Mr Cophagus passed through the shop and +looked at me, as I continued to thump away with the heavy iron pestle. +"Good,"—said he, "by-and-bye—M.D.—and so on." I thought it was a very +rough road to such preferment, and I stopped to take a little breath. +"By-the-by—Japhet—Christian name—and so on—sirname—heh!" +</p> +<p> +"Mr Cophagus wishes to know your other name," said Mr Brookes, +interpreting. +</p> +<p> +I have omitted to acquaint the reader that sirnames as well as Christian +names, are always given to the children at the Foundling, and in +consequence of the bank note found in my basket, I had been named after +the celebrated personage whose signature it bore. "Newland is my other +name, sir," replied I. +</p> +<p> +"Newland—heh!—very good name—every body likes to see that name—and +have plenty of them in his pockets too—um—very comfortable—and so +on," replied Mr Cophagus, leaving the shop. +</p> +<p> +I resumed my thumping occupation, when Timothy returned with his empty +basket. He laughed when he saw me at work. "Well, how do you like the +rudimans?—and so on—heh?" said he, mimicking Mr Cophagus. +</p> +<p> +"Not overmuch," replied I, wiping my face. +</p> +<p> +"That was my job before you came. I have been more than a year, and +never have got out of those rudimans yet, and I suppose I never shall." +</p> +<p> +Mr Brookes, perceiving that I was tired, desired me to leave off, an +order which I gladly obeyed, and I took my seat in a corner of the shop. +</p> +<p> +"There," said Timothy, laying down his basket; "no more work for me +<i>hanty prandium,</i> is there, Mr Brookes?" +</p> +<p> +"No, Tim; but <i>post prandium,</i> you'll <i>post</i> off again." +</p> +<p> +Dinner being ready, and Mr Cophagus having returned, he and Mr Brookes +went into the back parlour, leaving Timothy and me in the shop to +announce customers. And I shall take this opportunity of introducing Mr +Timothy more particularly, as he will play a very conspicuous part in +this narrative. Timothy was short in stature for his age, but very +strongly built. He had an oval face, with a very dark complexion, grey +eyes flashing from under their long eyelashes, and eyebrows nearly +meeting each other. He was marked with the small-pox, not so much as to +disfigure him, but still it was very perceptible when near to him. His +countenance was always lighted up with merriment; there was such a +happy, devil-may-care expression in his face, that you liked him the +first minute that you were in his company, and I was intimate with him +immediately. +</p> +<p> +"I say, Japhet," said he, "where did you come from?" +</p> +<p> +"The Foundling," replied I. +</p> +<p> +"Then you have no friends or relations." +</p> +<p> +"If I have, I do not know where to find them," replied I, very gravely. +</p> +<p> +"Pooh! don't be grave upon it. I haven't any either. I was brought up by +the parish, in the workhouse. I was found at the door of a gentleman's +house, who sent me to the overseers—I was about a year old then. They +call me a foundling, but I don't care what they call me, so long as they +don't call me too late for dinner. Father and mother, whoever they were, +when they ran away from me, didn't run away with my appetite. I wonder +how long master means to play with his knife and fork. As for Mr +Brookes, what he eats wouldn't physic a snipe. What's your other name, +Japhet?" +</p> +<p> +"Newland." +</p> +<p> +"Newland—now you shall have mine in exchange: Timothy Oldmixon at your +service. They christened me after the workhouse pump, which had 'Timothy +Oldmixon fecit' on it; and the overseers thought it as good a name to +give me as any other; so I was christened after the pump-maker with some +of the pump water. As soon as I was big enough, they employed me to pump +all the water for the use of the workhouse. I worked at my <i>papa</i>, as I +called the pump, all day long. Few sons worked their father more, or +disliked him so much: and now, Japhet, you see, from habit, I'm pumping +you." +</p> +<p> +"You'll soon pump dry, then, for I've very little to tell you," replied +I; "but, tell me, what sort of a person is our master?" +</p> +<p> +"He's just what you see him, never alters, hardly ever out of humour, +and when he is, he is just as odd as ever. He very often threatens me, +but I have never had a blow yet, although Mr Brookes has complained once +or twice." +</p> +<p> +"But surely Mr Brookes is not cross?" +</p> +<p> +"No, he is a very good gentleman; but sometimes I carry on my rigs a +little too far, I must say that. For as Mr Brookes says, people may die +for want of the medicines, because I put down my basket to play. It's +very true; but I can't give up 'peg in the ring' on that account. But +then I only get a box of the ear from Mr Brookes, and that goes for +nothing. Mr Cophagus shakes his stick, and says, 'Bad boy—big +stick—<i>um</i>—won't forget—next time—and so on,'" continued Timothy, +laughing; "and it is <i>so on</i>, to the end of the chapter." +</p> +<p> +By this time Mr Cophagus and his assistant had finished their dinner, +and came into the shop. The former looked at me, put his stick to his +nose, "Little boys—always hungry—um—like good dinner—roast +beef—Yorkshire pudding—and so on," and he pointed with the stick to +the back parlour. Timothy and I understood him very well this time: we +went into the parlour, when the housekeeper sat down with us and helped +us. She was a terribly cross, little old woman, but as honest as she was +cross, which is all that I shall say in her favour. Timothy was no +favourite, because he had such a good appetite; and it appeared that I +was not very likely to stand well in her good opinion, for I also ate a +great deal, and every extra mouthful I took I sank in her estimation, +till I was nearly at the zero, where Timothy had long been for the same +offence; but Mr Cophagus would not allow her to stint him, saying, +"Little boys must eat—or won't grow—and so on." +</p> +<p> +I soon found out that we were not only well fed, but in every other +point well treated, and I was very comfortable and happy. Mr Brookes +instructed me in the art of labelling and tying up, and in a very short +time I was very expert; and as Timothy predicted, the rudiments were +once more handed over to him. Mr Cophagus supplied me with good clothes, +but never gave me any pocket-money, and Timothy and I often lamented +that we had not even a halfpenny to spend. +</p> +<p> +Before I had been many months in the shop Mr Brookes was able to leave +when any exigence required his immediate attendance. I made up the +pills, but he weighed out the quantities in the prescriptions; if, +therefore, any one came in for medicines, I desired them to wait the +return of Mr Brookes, who would be in very soon. One day, when Mr +Brookes was out, and I was sitting behind the counter, Timothy sitting +on it, and swinging his legs to and fro, both lamenting that we had no +pocket-money, Timothy said, "Japhet, I've been puzzling my brains how we +can get some money, and I've hit it at last; let you and I turn doctors; +we won't send all the people away who come when Mr Brookes is out, but +we'll physic them ourselves." +</p> +<p> +I jumped at the idea, and he had hardly proposed it, when an old woman +came in, and addressing Timothy, said, "That she wanted something for +her poor grandchild's sore throat." +</p> +<p> +"I don't mix up the medicines, ma'am," replied Timothy; "you must apply +to that gentleman, Mr Newland, who is behind the counter—he understands +what is good for every body's complaints." +</p> +<p> +"Bless his handsome face—and so young too! Why, be you a doctor, sir?" +</p> +<p> +"I should hope so," replied I; "what is it you require—a lotion, or an +embrocation?" +</p> +<p> +"I don't understand those hard words, but I want some doctor's stuff." +</p> +<p> +"Very well, my good woman; I know what is proper," replied I, assuming +an important air. "Here, Timothy, wash out this vial very clean." +</p> +<p> +"Yes, sir," replied Timothy, very respectfully. +</p> +<p> +I took one of the measures, and putting in a little green, a little +blue, and a little white liquid from the medicine bottles generally used +by Mr Brookes, filled it up with water, poured the mixture into the +vial, corked, and labelled it, <i>haustus statim sumendus</i>, and handed it +over the counter to the old woman. +</p> +<p> +"Is the poor child to take it, or is it to rub outside?" inquired the +old woman. +</p> +<p> +"The directions are on the label;—but you don't read Latin?" +</p> +<p> +"Deary me, no! Latin! and do you understand Latin? What a nice clever +boy!" +</p> +<p> +"I should not be a good doctor if I did not," replied I. On second +thoughts, I considered it advisable and safer, that the application +should be <i>external</i>, so I translated the label to her—<i>Haustus</i>, rub +it in—<i>statim</i>, on the throat—<i>sumendus</i>, with the palm of the hand. +</p> +<p> +"Deary me! and does it mean all that? How much have I to pay, sir?" +</p> +<p> +"Embrocation is a very dear medicine, my good woman; it ought to be +eighteen-pence, but as you are a poor woman, I shall only charge you +nine-pence." +</p> +<p> +"I'm sure I thank you kindly," replied the old woman, putting down the +money, and wishing me a good morning as she left the shop. +</p> +<p> +"Bravo!" cried Timothy, rubbing his hands; "it's halves, Japhet, is it +not?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes," I replied; "but first we must be honest, and not cheat Mr +Cophagus; the vial is sold, you know, for one penny, and I suppose the +stuff I have taken is not worth a penny more. Now, if we put aside +two-pence for Mr Cophagus, we don't cheat him, or steal his property; +the other seven-pence is of course our own—being the <i>profits of the +profession</i>." +</p> +<p> +"But how shall we account for receiving the two-pence?" said Timothy. +</p> +<p> +"Selling two vials instead of one: they are never reckoned, you know." +</p> +<p> +"That will do capitally," cried Timothy; "and now for halves." But this +could not be managed until Timothy had run out and changed the sixpence; +we then each had our three-pence halfpenny, and for once in our lives +could say that we had money in our pockets. +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0081" id="h2HCH0081"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter III +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + I perform a wonderful cure upon St John Long's principle, having + little or no principle of my own—I begin to puzzle my head with a + problem; of all others most difficult to solve. +</p> +<p> +The success of our first attempt encouraged us to proceed; but afraid +that I might do some mischief, I asked of Mr Brookes the nature and +qualities of the various medicines, as he was mixing the prescriptions, +that I might avoid taking any of those which were poisonous. Mr Brookes, +pleased with my continual inquiries, gave me all the information I could +desire, and thus I gained, not only a great deal of information, but +also a great deal of credit with Mr Cophagus, to whom Mr Brookes had +made known my diligence and thirst for knowledge. +</p> +<p> +"Good—very good," said Mr Cophagus; "fine boy—learns his +business—M.D. one of these days—ride in his coach—um, and so on." +Nevertheless, at my second attempt, I made an awkward mistake, which +very nearly led to detection. An Irish labourer, more than half tipsy, +came in one evening, and asked whether we had such a thing as was called +"<i>A poor man's plaister</i>. By the powers, it will be a poor man's +plaister when it belongs to me; but they tell me that it is a sure and +sartain cure for the thumbago, as they call it, which I've at the small +of my back, and which is a hinder to my mounting up the ladder; so as +it's Saturday night, and I've just got the money, I'll buy the plaister +first, and then try what a little whiskey inside will do, the devil's in +it if it won't be driven out of me between the two." +</p> +<p> +We had not that plaister in the shop, but we had blister plaister, and +Timothy, handing one to me, I proffered it to him. "And what may you be +after asking for this same?" inquired he. +</p> +<p> +The blister plaisters were sold at a shilling each, when spread on +paper, so I asked him eighteen-pence, that we might pocket the extra +sixpence. +</p> +<p> +"By the powers, one would think that you had made a mistake, and handed +me the rich man's plaister, instead of the poor one's. It's less whiskey +I'll have to drink, anyhow; but here's the money, and the top of the +morning to ye, seeing as how it's jist getting late." +</p> +<p> +Timothy and I laughed as we divided the sixpence. It appeared that after +taking his allowance of whiskey, the poor fellow fixed the plaister on +his back when he went to bed, and the next morning found himself in a +condition not be envied. It was a week before we saw him again, and much +to the horror of Timothy and myself, he walked into the shop when Mr +Brookes was employed behind the counter. Timothy perceived him before he +saw us, and pulling me behind the large mortar, we contrived to make our +escape into the back parlour, the door of which we held ajar to hear +what would take place. +</p> +<p> +"Murder and turf!" cried the man, "but that was the devil's own plaister +that you gave me here for my back, and it left me as raw as a turnip, +taking every bit of my skin off me entirely, foreby my lying in bed for +a whole week, and losing my day's work." +</p> +<p> +"I really do not recollect supplying you with a plaister, my good man," +replied Mr Brookes. +</p> +<p> +"Then by the piper that played before Moses, if you don't recollect it, +I've an idea that I shall never forget it. Sure enough, it cured me, but +wasn't I quite kilt before I was cured?" +</p> +<p> +"It must have been some other shop," observed Mr Brookes. "You have made +a mistake." +</p> +<p> +"Devil a bit of a mistake, except in selling me the plaister. Didn't I +get it of a lad in this same shop?" +</p> +<p> +"Nobody sells things out of this shop without my knowledge." +</p> +<p> +The Irishman was puzzled—he looked round the shop. "Well, then, if this +a'n't the shop, it was own sister to it." +</p> +<p> +"Timothy," called Mr Brookes. +</p> +<p> +"And sure enough there was a Timothy in the other shop, for I heard the +boy call the other by the name; however, it's no matter, if it took off +the skin, it also took away the thumbago, so the morning to you, Mr +Pottykarry." +</p> +<p> +When the Irishman departed, we made our appearance. "Japhet, did you +sell a plaister to an Irishman?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes—don't you recollect, last Saturday? and I gave you the shilling." +</p> +<p> +"Very true; but what did he ask for?" +</p> +<p> +"He asked for a plaister, but he was very tipsy. I showed him a blister, +and he took it;" and then I looked at Timothy and laughed. +</p> +<p> +"You must not play such tricks," said Mr Brookes. "I see what you have +been about—it was a joke to you, but not to him." +</p> +<p> +Mr Brookes, who imagined we had sold it to the Irishman out of fun, then +gave us a very severe lecture, and threatened to acquaint Mr Cophagus, +if ever we played such tricks again. Thus the affair blew over, and it +made me very careful; and, as every day I knew more about medicines, I +was soon able to mix them, so as to be of service to those who applied, +and before eighteen months had expired, I was trusted with the mixing up +all the prescriptions. At the end of that period Mr Brookes left us, and +I took the whole of his department upon myself, giving great +satisfaction to Mr Cophagus. +</p> +<p> +And now that I have announced my promotion, it will perhaps be as well +that I give the reader some idea of my personal appearance, upon which I +have hitherto been silent. I was thin, between fifteen and sixteen years +old, very tall for my age, and of my figure I had no reason to be +ashamed; a large beaming eye, with a slightly aquiline nose, a high +forehead, fair in complexion, but with very dark hair. I was always what +may be termed a remarkably clean-looking boy, from the peculiarity of my +skin and complexion; my teeth were small, but were transparent, and I +had a very deep dimple in my chin. Like all embryo apothecaries, I +carried in my appearance, if not the look of wisdom, most certainly that +of self-sufficiency, which does equally well with the world in general. +My forehead was smooth, and very white, and my dark locks were combed +back systematically, and with a regularity that said, as plainly as hair +could do, "The owner of this does everything by prescription, +measurement, and rule." With my long fingers I folded up the little +packets, with an air as thoughtful and imposing as that of a minister +who has just presented a protocol as interminable as unintelligible: and +the look of solemn sagacity with which I poured out the contents of one +vial into the other, would have well become the king's physician, when +he watched the "lord's anointed" in <i>articulo mortis</i>. +</p> +<p> +As I followed up my saturnine avocation, I generally had an open book on +the counter beside me; not a marble-covered dirty volume, from the +Minerva press, or a half-bound, half-guinea's worth of fashionable +trash, but a good, honest, heavy-looking, wisdom-implying book, horribly +stuffed with epithet of drug; a book in which Latin words were +redundant, and here and there were to be observed the crabbed characters +of Greek. Altogether, with my book and my look, I cut such a truly +medical appearance, that even the most guarded would not have hesitated +to allow me the sole conduct of a whitlow, from inflammation to +suppuration, and from suppuration to cure, or have refused to have +confided to me the entire suppression of a gumboil. Such were my +personal qualifications at the time that I was raised to the important +office of dispenser of, I may say, life and death. +</p> +<p> +It will not surprise the reader when I tell him that I was much noticed +by those who came to consult, or talk with, Mr Cophagus. "A very fine +looking lad that, Mr Cophagus," an acquaintance would say. "Where did +you get him—who is his father?" +</p> +<p> +"Father!" Mr Cophagus would reply, when they had gained the +back parlour, but I could overhear him, "father, um—can't +tell—love—concealment—child born—foundling hospital—put out—and so +on." +</p> +<p> +This was constantly occurring, and the constant occurrence made me +often reflect upon my condition, which otherwise I might, from the happy +and even tenor of my life, have forgotten. When I retired to my bed I +would revolve in my mind all that I had gained from the governors of the +hospital relative to myself.—The paper found in the basket had been +given to me. I was born in wedlock—at least, so said that paper. The +sum left with me also proved that my parents could not, at my birth, +have been paupers. The very peculiar circumstances attending my case, +only made me more anxious to know my parentage. I was now old enough to +be aware of the value of birth, and I was also just entering the age of +romance, and many were the strange and absurd reveries in which I +indulged. At one time I would cherish the idea that I was of a noble, if +not princely birth, and frame reasons for concealment. At others—but it +is useless to repeat the absurdities and castle buildings which were +generated in my brain from mystery. My airy fabrics would at last +disappear, and leave me in all the misery of doubt and abandoned hope. +Mr Cophagus, when the question was sometimes put to him, would say, +"Good boy—very good boy—don't want a father." But he was wrong, I did +want a father; and every day the want became more pressing, and I found +myself continually repeating the question, "<i>Who is my father?</i>" +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0082" id="h2HCH0082"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter IV +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + Very much puzzled with a new Patient, nevertheless take my degree + at fifteen as an M.D.; and what is still more acceptable, I pocket + the fees. +</p> +<p> +The departure of Mr Brookes, of course, rendered me more able to follow +up with Timothy my little professional attempts to procure pocket-money; +but independent of these pillages by the aid of pills, and making drafts +upon our master's legitimate profits, by the assistance of draughts from +his shop, accident shortly enabled me to raise the ways and means in a +more rapid manner. But of this directly. +</p> +<p> +In the meantime I was fast gaining knowledge; every evening I read +surgical and medical books, put into my hands by Mr Cophagus, who +explained whenever I applied to him, and I soon obtained a very fair +smattering of my profession. He also taught me how to bleed, by making +me, in the first instance, puncture very scientifically, all the larger +veins of a cabbage-leaf, until well satisfied with the delicacy of my +hand, and the precision of my eye, he wound up his instructions by +permitting me to breathe a vein in his own arm. +</p> +<p> +"Well," said Timothy, when he first saw me practising, "I have often +heard it said, there's no getting blood out of a turnip; but it seems +there is more chance with a cabbage. I tell you what, Japhet, you may +try your hand upon me as much as you please, for two-pence a go." +</p> +<p> +I consented to this arrangement, and by dint of practising on Timothy +over and over again, I became quite perfect. I should here observe, that +my anxiety relative to my birth increased every day, and that in one of +the books lent me by Mr Cophagus, there was a dissertation upon the +human frame, sympathies, antipathies, and also on those features and +peculiarities most likely to descend from one generation to another. It +was there asserted, that the <i>nose</i> was the facial feature most likely +to be transmitted from father to son. As I before have mentioned, my +nose was rather aquiline; and after I had read this book, it was +surprising with what eagerness I examined the faces of those whom I met; +and if I saw a nose upon any man's face, at all resembling my own, I +immediately would wonder and surmise whether that person could be my +father. The constant dwelling upon the subject at last created a species +of monomania, and a hundred times a day I would mutter to myself, <i>"Who +is my father?"</i> indeed, the very bells, when they rung a peal, seemed, +as in the case of Whittington, to chime the question, and at last I +talked so much on the subject to Timothy, who was my <i>Fidus Achates,</i> +and bosom friend, that I really believe, partial as he was to me, he +wished my father at the devil. +</p> +<p> +Our shop was well appointed with all that glare and glitter with which +we decorate the "<i>house of call</i>" of disease and death. Being situated +in such a thoroughfare, passengers would stop to look in, and +ragged-vested, and in other garments still more ragged, little boys +would stand to stare at the variety of colours, and the 'pottecary +gentleman, your humble servant, who presided over so many +labelled-in-gold phalanxes which decorated the sides of the shop. +</p> +<p> +Among those who always stopped and gazed as she passed by, which was +generally three or four times a day, was a well-dressed female, +apparently about forty years of age, straight as an arrow, with an +elasticity of step, and a decision in her manner of walking, which was +almost masculine, although her form, notwithstanding that it was tall +and thin, was extremely feminine and graceful. Sometimes she would fix +her eyes upon me, and there was a wildness in her looks, which certainly +gave a painful impression, and at the same time so fascinated me, that +when I met her gaze, the paper which contained the powder remained +unfolded, and the arm which was pouring out the liquid suspended. +</p> +<p> +She was often remarked by Timothy, as well as me; and we further +observed, that her step was not equal throughout the day. In her latter +peregrinations, towards the evening, her gait was more vigorous, but +unequal, at the same time that her gaze was more stedfast. She usually +passed the shop for the last time each day, about five o'clock in the +afternoon. +</p> +<p> +One evening, after we had watched her past, as we supposed, to return no +more till the ensuing morning, for this peeping in, on her part, had +become an expected occurrence, and afforded much amusement to Timothy, +who designated her as the "mad woman," to our great surprise, and to the +alarm of Timothy, who sprang over the counter, and took a position by my +side, she walked into the shop. Her eye appeared wild, as usual, but I +could not make out that it was insanity. I recovered my +self-possession, and desired Timothy to hand the lady a chair, begging +to know in what way I could be useful. Timothy walked round by the end +of the counter, pushed a chair near to her, and then made a hasty +retreat to his former position. She declined the chair with a motion of +her hand, in which there was much dignity, as well as grace, and placing +upon the counter her hands, which were small and beautifully white, she +bent forwards towards me, and said, in a sweet, low voice, which +actually startled me by its depth of melody, "I am very ill." +</p> +<p> +My astonishment increased. Why, I know not, because the exceptions are +certainly as many as the general rule, we always form an estimate of the +voice before we hear it, from the outward appearance of the speaker; and +when I looked up in her face, which was now exposed to the glare of the +argand lamp, and witnessed the cadaverous, pale, chalky expression on +it, and the crow's feet near the eyes, and wrinkles on her forehead, I +should have sooner expected to have heard a burst of heavenly symphony +from a thunder-cloud, than such music as issued from her parted lips. +</p> +<p> +"Good heavens, madam!" said I eagerly and respectfully, "allow me to +send for Mr Cophagus." +</p> +<p> +"By no means," replied she. "I come to you. I am aware," continued she +in an undertone, "that you dispense medicines, give advice, and receive +money yourself." +</p> +<p> +I felt very much agitated, and the blush of detection mounted up to my +forehead. Timothy, who heard what she said, showed his uneasiness in a +variety of grotesque ways. He drew up his legs alternately, as if he +were dancing on hot plates; he slapped his pockets, grinned, clenched +his fists, ground his teeth, and bit his lips till he made the blood +come. At last he sidled up to me, "She has been peeping and screwing +those eyes of her's into this shop for something. It's all up with both +of us, unless you can buy her off." +</p> +<p> +"I have, madam," said I, at last, "ventured to prescribe in some trivial +cases, and, as you say, received money when my master is not here; but I +am entrusted with the till." +</p> +<p> +"I know—I know—you need not fear me. You are too modest. What I would +request is, that you would prescribe for me, as I have no great opinion +of your master's talents." +</p> +<p> +"If you wish it, madam," said I, bowing respectfully. +</p> +<p> +"You have camphor julep ready made up, have you not?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, madam," replied I. +</p> +<p> +"Then do me the favour to send the boy with a bottle to my house +directly." I handed down the bottle, she paid for it, and putting it +into Timothy's hands, desired him to take it to the direction which she +gave him. Timothy put on his hat, cocked his eye at me, and left us +alone. +</p> +<p> +"What is your name?" said she, in the same melodious voice. +</p> +<p> +"Japhet Newland, madam," replied I. +</p> +<p> +"Japhet—it is a good, a scriptural name," said the lady, musirg in half +soliloquy. "Newland—that sounds of mammon." +</p> +<p> +"This mystery is unravelled," thought I, and I was right in my +conjectures. "She is some fanatical methodist;" but I looked at her +again, and her dress disclaimed the idea, for in it there was much taste +displayed. +</p> +<p> +"Who gave you that name?" said she, after a pause. +</p> +<p> +The question was simple enough, but it stirred up a host of annoying +recollections; but not wishing to make a confidant of her, I gently +replied, as I used to do in the Foundling Hospital on Sunday +morning—"My godfathers and godmothers in my baptism, ma'am." +</p> +<p> +"My dear sir, I am very ill," said she, after a pause, "will you feel my +pulse?" +</p> +<p> +I touched a wrist, and looked at a hand that was worthy of being +admired. What a pity, thought I, that she should be old, ugly, and half +crazy! +</p> +<p> +"Do you not think that this pulse of mine exhibits considerable nervous +excitement? I reckoned it this morning, it was at a hundred and twenty." +</p> +<p> +"It certainly beats quick," replied I, "but perhaps the camphor julep +may prove beneficial." +</p> +<p> +"I thank you for your advice, Mr Newland," said she, laying down a +guinea, "and if I am not better, I will call again, or send for you. +Good-night." +</p> +<p> +She walked out of the shop, leaving me in no small astonishment. What +could she mean? I was lost in reverie, when Timothy returned. The guinea +remained on the counter. +</p> +<p> +"I met her going home," said he. "Bless me—a guinea—why, Japhet!" I +recounted all that had passed. "Well, then, it has turned out well for +us instead of ill, as I expected." +</p> +<p> +The <i>us</i> reminded me that we shared profits on these occasions, and I +offered Timothy his half; but Tim, with all his <i>espièglerie</i> was not +selfish, and he stoutly refused to take his share. He dubbed me an M.D., +and said I had beat Mr Cophagus already, for he had never taken a +physician's fee. +</p> +<p> +"I cannot understand it, Timothy," said I, after a few minutes' thought. +</p> +<p> +"I can," replied Timothy. "She has looked in at the window until she has +fallen in love with your handsome face; that's it, depend upon it." As I +could find no other cause, and Tim's opinion was backed by my own +vanity, I imagined that such must be the case. "Yes, 'tis so," continued +Timothy, "as the saying is, there's money bid for you." +</p> +<p> +"I wish that it had not been by so ill-favoured a person, at all events, +Tim," replied I; "I cannot return her affection." +</p> +<p> +"Never mind that, so long as you don't return the money." +</p> +<p> +The next evening she made her appearance, bought, as before, a bottle of +camphor julep—sent Timothy home with it, and asking my advice, paid me +another guinea. +</p> +<p> +"Really, madam," said I, putting it back towards her, "I am not entitled +to it." +</p> +<p> +"Yes, you are," replied she. "I know you have no friends, and I also +know that you deserve them. You must purchase books, you must study, or +you never will be a great man." She then sat down, entered into +conversation, and I was struck with the fire and vigour of the remarks, +which were uttered in such a melodious tone. +</p> +<p> +Her visits, during a month, were frequent, and every time did she press +upon me a fee. Although not in love with her person, I certainly felt +very grateful, and moreover was charmed with the superiority of her +mind. We were now on the most friendly and confiding terms. One evening +she said to me, "Japhet, we have now been friends some time. Can I trust +you?" +</p> +<p> +"With your life, if it were necessary," replied I. +</p> +<p> +"I believe it," said she. "Then can you leave the shop and come to me +to-morrow evening?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, if you will send your maid for me, saying that you are not well." +</p> +<p> +"I will, at eight o'clock. Farewell, then, till to-morrow." +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0083" id="h2HCH0083"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter V +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + My vanity receives a desperate wound, but my heart remains + unscathed—An anomaly in woman, one who despises beauty. +</p> +<p> +The next evening I left Timothy in charge, and repaired to her house; it +was very respectable in outward appearance, as well as its furniture. I +was not, however, shown up into the first floor, but into the room +below. +</p> +<p> +"Miss Judd will come directly, sir," said a tall, meagre, +puritanical-looking maid, shutting the door upon me. In a few minutes, +during which my pulse beat quick (for I could not but expect some +disclosure; whether it was to be one of love or murder, I hardly knew +which), Miss Aramathea Judd, for such was her christian name, made her +appearance, and sitting down on the sofa, requested me to take a seat by +her. +</p> +<p> +"Mr Newland," said she, "I wish to—and I think I can entrust you with a +secret most important to me. Why I am obliged to do it, you will +perfectly comprehend when you have heard my story. Tell me, are you +attached to me?" +</p> +<p> +This was a home question to a forward lad of sixteen. I took her by the +hand, and when I looked down on it, I felt as if I was. I looked up into +her face, and felt that I was not. And, as I now was close to her, I +perceived that she must have some aromatic drug in her mouth, as it +smelt strongly—this gave me the supposition that the breath which drew +such melodious tones, was not equally sweet, and I felt a certain +increased degree of disgust. +</p> +<p> +"I am very grateful, Miss Judd," replied I; "I hope I shall prove that I +am attached when you confide in me." +</p> +<p> +"Swear then, by all that's sacred, you will not reveal what I do +confide." +</p> +<p> +"By all that's sacred I will not," replied I, kissing her hand with more +fervour than I expected from myself. +</p> +<p> +"Do me then the favour to excuse me one minute." +</p> +<p> +She left the room, and in a very short time, there returned, in the same +dress, and, in every other point the same person, but with a young and +lively face of not more, apparently, than twenty-two or twenty-three +years old. I started as if I had seen an apparation. "Yes," said she, +smiling, "you now see Aramathea Judd without disguise; and you are the +first who has seen that face for more than two years. Before I proceed +further, again I say, may I trust you—swear!" +</p> +<p> +"I do swear," replied I, and took her hand for the book, which this time +I kissed with pleasure, over and over again. Like a young jackass as I +was, I still retained her hand, throwing as much persuasion as I +possibly could in my eyes. In fact, I did enough to have softened the +hearts of three bonnet-makers. I began to feel most dreadfully in love, +and thought of marriage, and making my fortune, and I don't know what; +but all this was put an end to by one simple short sentence, delivered +in a very decided but soft voice, "Japhet, don't be silly." +</p> +<p> +I was crushed, and all my hopes crushed with me. I dropped her hand, and +sat like a fool. +</p> +<p> +"And now hear me. I am, as you must have already found out, an impostor; +that is, I am what is called a religious adventuress—a new term, I +grant, and perhaps only applicable to a very few. My aunt was +considered, by a certain sect, to be a great prophetess, which I hardly +need tell you, was all nonsense; nevertheless, there are hundreds who +believed in her, and do so now. Brought up with my aunt, I soon found +out what fools and dupes may be made of mankind by taking advantage of +their credulity. She had her religious inspirations, her trances, and +her convulsions, and I was always behind the scenes: she confided in me, +and I may say that I was her only confidant. You cannot, therefore, +wonder at my practising that deceit to which I have been brought up from +almost my infancy. In person I am the exact counterpart of what my aunt +was at my age, equally so in figure, although my figure is now disguised +to resemble that of a woman of her age. I often had dressed myself in my +aunt's clothes, put on her cap and front, and then the resemblance was +very striking. My aunt fell sick and died, but she promised the +disciples that she would re-appear to them, and they believed her. I did +not. She was buried, and by many her return was anxiously expected. It +occurred to me about a week afterwards that I might contrive to deceive +them. I dressed in my aunt's clothes, I painted and disguised my face as +you have seen, and the deception was complete, even to myself, as I +surveyed my countenance in the glass. I boldly set off in the evening to +the tabernacle, which I knew they still frequented—came into the midst +of them, and they fell down and worshipped me as a prophetess risen from +the dead; deceived, indeed, by my appearance, but still more deceived +by their own credulity. For two years I have been omnipotent with them; +but there is one difficulty which shakes the faith of the new converts, +and new converts I must have, Japhet, as the old ones die, or I should +not be able to fee my physician. It is this: by habit I can almost throw +myself into a stupor or a convulsion, but to do that effectually, to be +able to carry on the deception for so long a time, and to undergo the +severe fatigue attending such violent exertion, it is necessary that I +have recourse to stimulants—do you understand?" +</p> +<p> +"I do," replied I; "I have more than once thought you under the +influence of them towards the evening. I'm afraid that you take more +than is good for your health." +</p> +<p> +"Not more than I require for what I have to undergo to keep up the faith +of my disciples; but there are many who waver, some who doubt, and I +find that my movements are watched. I cannot trust the woman in this +house. I think she is a spy set upon me, but I cannot remove her, as +this house, and all which it contains, are not mine, but belong to the +disciples in general. There is another woman, not far off, who is my +rival; she calls me an impostor, and says that she is the true +prophetess, and that I am not one. This will be rather difficult for her +to prove," continued she, with a mocking smile. "Beset as I am, I +require your assistance, for you must be aware that it is rather +discreditable to a prophetess, who has risen from the dead, to be seen +all day at the gin-shop, yet without stimulants now, I could not exist." +</p> +<p> +"And how can I assist you?" +</p> +<p> +"By sending me, as medicine, that which I dare no longer procure in any +other way, and keeping the secret which I have imparted." +</p> +<p> +"I will do both with pleasure; but yet," said I, "is it not a pity, a +thousand pities, that one so young—and if you will allow me to add, so +lovely, should give herself up to ardent spirits? Why," continued I, +taking her small white hand, "why should you carry on the deception; +why sacrifice your health, and I may say your happiness—" What more I +might have said I know not, probably it might have been an offer of +marriage, but she cut me short. +</p> +<p> +"Why does everybody sacrifice their health, their happiness, their all, +but for ambition and the love of power? It is true, as long as this +little beauty lasts, I might be courted as a woman, but never should I +be worshipped as—I may say—a god.—No, no, there is something too +delightful in that adoration, something too pleasant in witnessing a +crowd of fools stare, and men of three times my age, falling down and +kissing the hem of my garment. This is, indeed, adoration! the delight +arising from it is so great, that all other passions are crushed by +it—it absorbs all other feelings, and has closed my heart even against +love, Japhet. I could not, I would not debase myself, sink so low in my +own estimation, as to allow so paltry a passion to have dominion over +me; and, indeed, now that I am so wedded to stimulants, even if I were +no longer a prophetess, it never could." +</p> +<p> +"But is not intoxication one of the most debasing of all habits?" +</p> +<p> +"I grant you, in itself, but with me and in my situation it is +different. I fall to rise again, and higher. I cannot be what I am +without I simulate—I cannot simulate without stimulants, therefore it +is but a means to a great and glorious ambition." +</p> +<p> +I had more conversation with her before I left, but nothing appeared to +move her resolution, and I left her lamenting, in the first place, that +she had abjured love, because, notwithstanding the orris root, which she +kept in her mouth to take away the smell of the spirits, I found myself +very much taken with such beauty of person, combined with so much vigour +of mind; and in the second, that one so young should carry on a system +of deceit and self-destruction. When I rose to go away she put five +guineas in my hand, to enable me to purchase what she required. "Add to +this one small favour," said I, "Aramathea—allow me a kiss." +</p> +<p> +"A kiss," replied she, with scorn; "no, Japhet, look upon me, for it is +the last time you will behold my youth; look upon me as a sepulchre, +fair without but unsavoury and rottenness within. Let me do you a +greater kindness, let me awaken your dormant energies, and plant that +ambition in your soul, which may lead to all that is great and good—a +better path and more worthy of a man than the one which I have partly +chosen, and partly destiny has decided for me. Look upon me as your +friend; although perhaps, you truly say, no friend unto myself. +Farewell—remember that to-morrow you will send the medicine which I +require." +</p> +<p> +I left her, and returned home: it was late. I went to bed, and having +disclosed as much to Timothy as I could safely venture to do, I fell +fast asleep, but her figure and her voice haunted me in my dreams. At +one time, she appeared before me in her painted, enamelled face, and +then the mask fell off, and I fell at her feet to worship her extreme +beauty; then her beauty would vanish, and she would appear an image of +loathsomeness and deformity, and I felt suffocated with the atmosphere +impregnated with the smell of liquor. I would wake and compose myself +again, glad to be rid of the horrid dream, but again would she appear, +with a hydra's tail, like Sin in Milton's Paradise Lost, wind herself +round me, her beautiful face gradually changing into that of a skeleton. +I cried out with terror, and awoke to sleep no more, and effectually +cured by my dream of the penchant which I felt towards Miss Aramathea +Judd. +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0084" id="h2HCH0084"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter VI +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + My prescriptions very effective and palatable, but I lose my + patient—The feud equal to that of the Montagues and the + Capulets—Results different—Mercutio comes off unhurt. +</p> +<p> +The next day I sent Timothy to purchase some highly rectified white +brandy, which I coloured with a blue tincture, and added to it a small +proportion of the essence of cinnamon, to disguise the smell; a dozen +large vials, carefully tied up and sealed, were despatched to her abode. +She now seldom called unless it was early in the morning; I made +repeated visits to her house to receive money, but no longer to make +love. One day I requested permission to be present at their meeting, and +to this she gave immediate consent; indeed we were on the most intimate +terms, and when she perceived that I no longer attempted to play the +fool, I was permitted to remain for hours with her in conversation. She +had, as she told me she intended, re-enamelled and painted her face, but +knowing what beauty was concealed underneath, I no longer felt any +disgust. +</p> +<p> +Timothy was very much pleased at his share of this arrangement, as he +seldom brought her the medicine without pocketing half-a-crown. +</p> +<p> +For two or three months every thing went on very satisfactorily; but one +evening, Timothy, who had been sent with the basket of vials for Miss +Judd's assistance, returned in great consternation, informing me that +the house was empty. He had inquired of the neighbours, and from the +accounts given, which were very contradictory, it appeared that the +rival prophetess had marched up at the head of her proselytes the +evening before, had obtained entrance, and that a desperate contention +had been the result. That the police had been called in, and all parties +had been lodged in the watch-house; that the whole affair was being +investigated by the magistrates, and that it was said that Miss Judd and +all her coadjutors would be sent to the Penitentiary. This was quite +enough to frighten two boys like us; for days afterwards we trembled +when people came into the shop, expecting to be summoned and imprisoned. +Gradually, however, our fears were dismissed, but I never from that time +heard any thing more of Miss Aramathea Judd. +</p> +<p> +After this affair, I adhered steadily to my business, and profiting by +the advice given me by that young person, improved rapidly in my +profession, as well as in general knowledge; but my thoughts, as usual, +were upon one subject—my parentage, and the mystery hanging over it. My +eternal reveries became at last so painful, that I had recourse to +reading to drive them away, and subscribing to a good circulating +library, I was seldom without a book in my hand. By this time I had been +nearly two years and a half with Mr Cophagus, when an adventure occurred +which I must attempt to describe with all the dignity with which it +ought to be invested. +</p> +<p> +This is a world of ambition, competition, and rivalry. Nation rivals +nation, and flies to arms, cutting the throats of a few thousands on +each side till one finds that it has the worst of it. Man rivals man, +and hence detraction, duels, and individual death. Woman rivals woman, +and hence loss of reputation and position in high, and loss of hair, and +fighting with pattens in low, life. Are we then to be surprised that +this universal passion, undeterred by the smell of drugs and poisonous +compounds, should enter into apothecaries' shops? But two streets—two +very short streets from our own—was situated the single-fronted shop of +Mr Ebenezer Pleggit. Thank heaven, it was only single-fronted; there, at +least, we had the ascendancy over them. Upon other points, our +advantages were more equally balanced. Mr Pleggit had two large coloured +bottles in his windows more than we had; but then we had two horses, and +he had only one. He tied over the corks of his bottles with red-coloured +paper; we covered up the lips of our vials with delicate blue. It +certainly was the case—for though an enemy, I'll do him justice—that, +after Mr Brookes had left us, Mr Pleggit had two shopmen, and Mr +Cophagus only one; but then that one was Mr Japhet Newland; besides, one +of his assistants had only one eye, and the other squinted horribly, so +if we measured by eyes, I think the advantage was actually on our side; +and, as far as ornament went, most decidedly; for who would not prefer +putting on his chimney-piece one handsome, elegant vase, than two +damaged, ill-looking pieces of crockery? Mr Pleggit had certainly a +gilt mortar and pestle over his door, which Mr Cophagus had omitted when +he furnished his shop; but then the mortar had a great crack down the +middle, and the pestle had lost its knob. And let me ask those who have +been accustomed to handle it, what is a pestle without a knob? On the +whole, I think, with the advantage of having two fronts, like Janus, we +certainly had the best of the comparison; but I shall leave the +impartial to decide. +</p> +<p> +All I can say is, that the feuds of the rival houses were most +bitter—the hate intense—the mutual scorn unmeasurable. Did Mr Ebenezer +Pleggit meet Mr Phineas Cophagus in the street, the former immediately +began to spit as if he had swallowed some of his own vile adulterated +drugs; and in rejoinder, Mr Cophagus immediately raised the cane from +his nose high above his forehead in so threatening an attitude as almost +to warrant the other swearing the peace against him, muttering, "Ugly +puppy—knows nothing—um—patients die—and so on." +</p> +<p> +It may be well supposed that this spirit of enmity extended through the +lower branches of the rival houses—the assistants and I were at deadly +feud; and this feud was even more deadly between the boys who carried +out the medicines, and whose baskets might, in some measure, have been +looked upon as the rival ensigns of the parties, they themselves +occupying the dangerous and honourable post of standard bearers. +</p> +<p> +Timothy, although the kindest-hearted fellow in the world, was as good a +hater as Dr Johnson himself could have wished to meet with; and when +sometimes his basket was not so well filled as usual, he would fill up +with empty bottles below, rather than that the credit of the house +should be suspected, and his deficiencies create a smile of scorn in the +mouth of his red-haired antagonist, when they happened to meet going +their rounds. As yet, no actual collision had taken place between either +the principals or the subordinates of the hostile factions; but it was +fated that this state of quiescence should no longer remain. +</p> +<p> +Homer has sung the battles of gods, demigods, and heroes; Milton the +strife of angels. Swift has been great in his Battle of the Books; but I +am not aware that the battle of the vials has as yet been sung; and it +requires a greater genius than was to be found in those who portrayed +the conflicts of heroes, demigods, gods, angels, or books, to do +adequate justice to the mortal strife which took place between the +lotions, potions, draughts, pills, and embrocations. I must tell the +story as well as I can, leaving it as an outline for a future epic. +</p> +<p> +Burning with all the hate which infuriated the breasts of the two houses +of Capulet and Montague, hate each day increasing from years of "biting +thumbs" at each other, and yet no excuse presenting itself for an +affray, Timothy Oldmixon—for on such an occasion it would be a sin to +omit his whole designation—Timothy Oldmixon, I say, burning with hate +and eager with haste, turning a corner of the street with his basket +well filled with medicines hanging on his left arm, encountered, equally +eager in his haste, and equally burning in his hate, the red-haired +Mercury of Mr Ebenezer Pleggit. Great was the concussion of the opposing +baskets, dire was the crash of many of the vials, and dreadful was the +mingled odour of the abominations which escaped, and poured through the +wicker interstices. Two ladies from Billingsgate, who were near, +indulging their rhetorical powers, stopped short. Two tom cats, who were +on an adjacent roof, just fixing their eyes of enmity, and about to fix +their claws, turned their eyes to the scene below. Two political +antagonists stopped their noisy arguments. Two dustmen ceased to ring +their bells; and two little urchins eating cherries from the crowns of +their hats, lost sight of their fruit, and stood aghast with fear. They +met, and met with such violence, that they each rebounded many paces; +but like stalwart knights, each kept his basket and his feet. A few +seconds to recover breath; one withering, fiery look from Timothy, +returned by his antagonist, one flash of the memory in each to tell them +that they each had the <i>la</i> on their side, and "Take that!" was roared +by Timothy, planting a well-directed blow with his dexter and dexterous +hand upon the sinister and sinisterous eye of his opponent. "Take that!" +continued he, as his adversary reeled back; "take that, and be d——d to +you, for running against a <i>gentleman</i>." +</p> +<p> +He of the rubicund hair had retreated, because so violent was the blow +he could not help so doing, and we all must yield to fate. But it was +not from fear. Seizing a vile potation that was labelled "to be taken +immediately," and hurling it with demoniacal force right on the chops of +the courageous Timothy, "Take that!" cried he, with a rancorous yell. +This missile, well directed as the spears of Homer's heroes, came full +upon the bridge of Timothy's nose, and the fragile glass shivering, +inflicted divers wounds upon his physiognomy, and at the same time +poured forth a dark burnt-sienna coloured balsam, to heal them, giving +pain unutterable. Timothy, disdaining to lament the agony of his wounds, +followed the example of his antagonist, and hastily seizing a similar +bottle of much larger dimensions, threw it with such force that it split +between the eyes of his opponent. Thus with these dreadful weapons did +they commence the mortal strife. +</p> +<p> +The lovers of <i>good order</i>, or at least of fair play, gathered round the +combatants, forming an almost impregnable ring, yet of sufficient +dimensions to avoid the missiles. <i>"Go it, red-head!" "Bravo! white +apron!"</i> resounded on every side. Draughts now met draughts in their +passage through the circumambient air, and exploded like shells over a +besieged town. Bolusses were fired with the precision of cannon shot, +pill-boxes were thrown with such force that they burst like grape and +canister, while acids and alkalies hissed, as they neutralised each +other's power, with all the venom of expiring snakes, "Bravo! white +apron!" "Red-head for ever!" resounded on every side as the conflict +continued with unabated vigour. The ammunition was fast expending on +both sides, when Mr Ebenezer Pleggit, hearing the noise, and perhaps +smelling his own drugs, was so unfortunately rash and so unwisely +foolhardy, as to break through the sacred ring, advancing from behind +with uplifted cane to fell the redoubtable Timothy, when a mixture of +his own, hurled by his own red-haired champion, caught him in his open +mouth, breaking against his only two remaining front teeth, extracting +them as the discharged liquid ran down his throat, and turning him as +sick as a dog. He fell, was taken away on a shutter, and it was some +days before he was again to be seen in his shop, dispensing those +medicines which, on this fatal occasion, he would but too gladly have +dispensed with. +</p> +<p> +Reader, have you not elsewhere read in the mortal fray between knights, +when the casque has been beaten off, the shield lost, and the sword +shivered, how they have resorted to closer and more deadly strife with +their daggers raised on high? Thus it was with Timothy: his means had +failed, and disdaining any longer to wage a distant combat, he closed +vigorously with his panting enemy, overthrew him in the first struggle, +seizing from his basket the only weapons which remained, one single +vial, and one single box of pills. As he sat upon his prostrate foe, +first he forced the box of pills into his gasping mouth, and then with +the lower end of the vial he drove it down his throat, as a gunner rams +home the wad and shot into a thirty-two pound carronade. Choked with the +box, the fallen knight held up his hands for quarter; but Timothy +continued until the end of the vial breaking out the top and bottom of +the pasteboard receptacle, forty-and-eight of antibilious pills rolled +in haste down Red-head's throat. Timothy then seized his basket, and +amid the shouts of triumph, walked away. His fallen-crested adversary +coughed up the remnants of the pasteboard, once more breathed, and was +led disconsolate to the neighbouring pump; while Timothy regained our +shop with his blushing honours thick upon him. +</p> +<p> +But I must drop the vein heroical. Mr Cophagus, who was at home when +Timothy returned, was at first very much inclined to be wroth at the +loss of so much medicine; but when he heard the story, and the finale, +he was so pleased at Tim's double victory over Mr Pleggit and his +messenger, that he actually put his hand in his pocket, and pulled out +half-a-crown. +</p> +<p> +Mr Pleggit, on the contrary, was any thing but pleased; he went to a +lawyer, and commenced an action for assault and battery, and all the +neighbourhood did nothing but talk about the affray which had taken +place, and the action at law which it was said would take place in the +ensuing term. +</p> +<p> +But with the exception of this fracas, which ended in the action not +holding good, whereby the animosity was increased, I have little to +recount during the remainder of the time I served under Mr Cophagus. I +had been more than three years with him when my confinement became +insupportable. I had but one idea, which performed an everlasting cycle +in my brain—Who was my father? And I should have abandoned the +profession to search the world in the hope of finding my progenitor, had +it not been that I was without the means. Latterly, I had hoarded up all +I could collect; but the sum was small, much too small for the proposed +expedition. I became melancholy, indifferent to the business, and +slovenly in my appearance, when a circumstance occurred which put an end +to my further dispensing medicines, and left me a free agent. +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0085" id="h2HCH0085"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter VII +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + Looking out for business not exactly minding your own business—The + loss of the scales occasions the loss of place to Timothy and me, + who when weighed in other scales were found wanting—We bundle off + with our bundles on. +</p> +<p> +It happened one market-day that there was an overdriven, infuriated +beast, which was making sad havoc. Crowds of people were running past +our shop in one direction, and the cries of "Mad bull!" were re-echoed +in every quarter. Mr Cophagus, who was in the shop, and to whom, as I +have before observed, a mad bull was a source of great profit, very +naturally looked out of the shop to ascertain whether the animal was +near to us. In most other countries, when people hear of any danger, +they generally avoid it by increasing their distance; but in England, it +is too often the case, that they are so fond of indulging their +curiosity, that they run to the danger. Mr Cophagus, who perceived the +people running one way, naturally supposed, not being aware of the +extreme proximity of the animal, that the people were running to see +what was the matter, and turned his eyes in that direction, walking out +on the pavement that he might have a fairer view. He was just observing, +"Can't say—fear—um—rascal Pleggit—close to him—get all the +custom—wounds—contusions—and"—when the animal came suddenly round +the corner upon Mr Cophagus, who had his eyes the other way, and before +he could escape, tossed him through his own shop windows, and landed him +on the counter. Not satisfied with this, the beast followed him into the +shop. Timothy and I pulled Mr Cophagus over towards us, and he dropped +inside the counter, where we also crouched, frightened out of our wits. +To our great horror the bull made one or two attempts to leap the +counter; but not succeeding, and being now attacked by the dogs and +butcher boys, he charged at them through the door, carrying away our +best scales on his horns as a trophy, as he galloped out of the shop in +pursuit of his persecutors. When the shouts and hallooes were at some +little distance, Timothy and I raised our heads and looked round us; and +perceiving that all was safe, we proceeded to help Mr Cophagus, who +remained on the floor bleeding, and in a state of insensibility. We +carried him into the back parlour and laid him on the sofa. I desired +Timothy to run for surgical aid as fast as he could, while I opened a +vein; and in a few minutes he returned with our opponent, Mr Ebenezer +Pleggit. We stripped Mr Cophagus, and proceeded to examine him. "Bad +case this—very bad case indeed, Mr Newland—dislocation of the os +humeri—severe contusion on the os frontis—and I'm very much afraid +there is some intercostal injury. Very sorry, very sorry, indeed, for my +brother Cophagus." But Mr Pleggit did not appear to be sorry; on the +contrary, he appeared to perform his surgical duties with the greatest +glee. +</p> +<p> +We reduced the dislocation, and then carried Mr Cophagus up to his bed. +In an hour he was sensible, and Mr Pleggit took his departure, shaking +hands with Mr Cophagus, and wishing him joy of his providential escape. +</p> +<p> +"Bad job, Japhet," said Mr Cophagus to me. +</p> +<p> +"Very bad indeed, sir; but it might have been worse." +</p> +<p> +"Worse—um—no, nothing worse—not possible." +</p> +<p> +"Why, sir, you might have been killed." +</p> +<p> +"Pooh!—didn't mean that—mean Pleggit—rascal—um—kill me if he +can—sha'n't though—soon get rid of him—and so on." +</p> +<p> +"You will not require his further attendance now that your shoulder is +reduced. I can very well attend upon you." +</p> +<p> +"Very true, Japhet;—but won't go—sure of that—damned rascal—quite +pleased—I saw it—um—eyes twinkled—smile checked—and so on." +</p> +<p> +That evening Mr Pleggit called in as Mr Cophagus said that he would, +and the latter showed a great deal of impatience; but Mr Pleggit +repeated his visits over and over again, and I observed that Mr Cophagus +no longer made any objection; on the contrary, seemed anxious for his +coming, and still more so, after he was convalescent, and able to sit at +his table. But the mystery was soon divulged. It appeared that Mr +Cophagus, although he was very glad that other people should suffer from +mad bulls, and come to be cured, viewed the case in a very different +light when the bull thought proper to toss him, and having now realised +a comfortable independence, he had resolved to retire from business, and +from a site attended with so much danger. A hint of this escaping him +when Mr Pleggit was attending him on the third day after his accident, +the latter, who knew the value of the <i>locale</i>, also hinted that if Mr +Cophagus was inclined so to do, that he would be most happy to enter +into an arrangement with him. Self-interest will not only change +friendship into enmity, in this rascally world, but also turn enmity +into friendship. All Mr Pleggit's enormities, and all Mr Cophagus' +shameful conduct, were mutually forgotten. In less than ten minutes it +was, "<i>My dear Mr Pleggit</i>, and so on," and "<i>My dear brother +Cophagus</i>." +</p> +<p> +In three weeks every thing had been arranged between them, and the shop, +fixtures, stock in trade, and good will, were all the property of our +ancient antagonist. But although Mr Pleggit could shake hands with Mr +Cophagus for his fixtures and <i>good will</i>, yet as Timothy and I were not +included in the <i>good will</i>, neither were we included among the +<i>fixtures</i>, and Mr Cophagus could not, of course, interfere with Mr +Pleggit's private arrangements. He did all he could do in the way of +recommendation, but Mr Pleggit had not forgotten my occasional +impertinences or the battle of the bottles. I really believe that his +<i>ill will</i> against Timothy was one reason for purchasing the <i>good will</i> +of Mr Cophagus, and we were very gently told by Mr Pleggit that he would +have no occasion for our services. +</p> +<p> +Mr Cophagus offered to procure me another situation as soon as he could, +and at the same time presented me with twenty guineas, as a proof of +his regard and appreciation of my conduct—but this sum put in my hand +decided me: I thanked him, and told him I had other views at present, +but hoped he would let me know where I might find him hereafter, as I +should be glad to see him again. He told me he would leave his address +for me at the Foundling Hospital, and shaking me heartily by the hand, +we parted. Timothy was then summoned. Mr Cophagus gave him five guineas, +and wished him good fortune. +</p> +<p> +"And now, Japhet, what are you about to do?" said Timothy, as he +descended into the shop. +</p> +<p> +"To do," replied I; "I am about to leave you, which is the only thing I +am sorry for. I am going, Timothy, in search of my father." +</p> +<p> +"Well," replied Timothy, "I feel as you do, Japhet, that it will be hard +to part; and there is another thing on my mind—which is, I am very +sorry that the bull did not break the rudimans (pointing to the iron +mortar and pestle); had he had but half the spite I have against it, he +would not have left a piece as big as a thimble. I've a great mind to +have a smack at it before I go." +</p> +<p> +"You will only injure Mr Cophagus, for the mortar will not then be paid +for." +</p> +<p> +"Very true; and as he has just given me five guineas, I will refrain +from my just indignation. But now, Japhet, let me speak to you. I don't +know how you feel, but I feel as if I could not part with you. I do not +want to go in search of my father particularly. They say it's a wise +child that knows its own father—but as there can be no doubt of my +other parent—if I can only hit upon her, I have a strong inclination to +go in search of my mother, and if you like my company, why I will go +with you—always, my dear Japhet," continued Tim, "keeping in my mind +the great difference between a person who has been feed as an M.D., and +a lad who only carries out his prescriptions." +</p> +<p> +"Do you really mean to say, Tim, that you will go with me?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, to the end of the world, Japhet, as your companion, your friend, +and your servant, if you require it. I love you, Japhet, and I will +serve you faithfully." +</p> +<p> +"My dear Tim, I am delighted; now I am really happy: we will have but +one purse, and but one interest; if I find good fortune, you shall share +it." +</p> +<p> +"And if you meet with ill luck, I will share that too—so the affair is +settled—and as here come Mr Pleggit's assistants with only one pair of +eyes between them, the sooner we pack up the better." +</p> +<p> +In half an hour all was ready; a bundle each, contained our wardrobes. +We descended from our attic, walked proudly through the shop without +making any observation, or taking any notice of our successors; all the +notice taken was by Timothy, who turned round and shook his fist at his +old enemies, the iron mortar and pestle; and there we were, standing on +the pavement, with the wide world before us, and quite undecided which +way we should go. +</p> +<p> +"Is it to be east, west, north, or south, Japhet?" said Timothy. +</p> +<p> +"The wise men came from the east," replied I. +</p> +<p> +"Then they must have travelled west," said Tim; "let us show our wisdom +by doing the same." +</p> +<p> +"Agreed." +</p> +<p> +Passing by a small shop, we purchased two good sticks, as defenders, as +well as to hang our bundles on—and off we set upon our pilgrimage. +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0086" id="h2HCH0086"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter VIII +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + We take a coach, but the driver does not like his fare and hits us + foul—We change our mode of travelling upon the principle of slow + and sure, and fall in with a very learned man. +</p> +<p> +I believe it to be a very general custom, when people set off upon a +journey, to reckon up their means—that is, to count the money which +they may have in their pockets. At all events, this was done by Timothy +and me, and I found that my stock amounted to twenty-two pounds +eighteen shillings, and Timothy's to the five guineas presented by Mr +Cophagus, and three halfpence which were in the corner of his waistcoat +pocket—sum total, twenty-eight pounds three shillings and three +halfpence; a very handsome sum, as we thought, with which to commence +our peregrinations, and, as I observed to Timothy, sufficient to last us +for a considerable time, if husbanded with care. +</p> +<p> +"Yes," replied he, "but we must husband our legs also, Japhet, or we +shall soon be tired, and very soon wear out our shoes. I vote we take a +hackney coach." +</p> +<p> +"Take a hackney coach, Tim! we mustn't think of it; we cannot afford +such a luxury; you can't be tired yet, we are now only just clear of +Hyde Park Corner." +</p> +<p> +"Still I think we had better take a coach, Japhet, and here is one +coming. I always do take one when I carry out medicines, to make up for +the time I lose looking at the shops, and playing peg in the ring." +</p> +<p> +I now understood what Timothy meant, which was, to get behind and have a +ride for nothing. I consented to this arrangement, and we got up behind +one which was already well filled inside. "The only difference between +an inside and outside passenger in a hackney coach, is that one pays, +and the other does not," said I, to Timothy, as we rolled along at the +act of parliament speed of four miles per hour. +</p> +<p> +"That depends upon circumstances: if we are found out, in all +probability we shall not only have our ride, but be <i>paid</i> into the +bargain." +</p> +<p> +"With the coachman's whip, I presume?" +</p> +<p> +"Exactly." And Timothy had hardly time to get the word out of his mouth, +when flac, flac, came the whip across our eyes—a little envious wretch, +with his shirt hanging out of his trousers, having called out, <i>Cut +behind!</i> Not wishing to have our faces, or our behinds cut any more, we +hastily descended, and reached the footpath, after having gained about +three miles on the road before we were discovered. +</p> +<p> +"That wasn't a bad lift, Japhet, and as for the whip I never mind that +with <i>corduroys</i>. And now, Japhet, I'll tell you something; we must get +into a wagon, if we can find one going down the road, as soon as it is +dark." +</p> +<p> +"But that will cost money, Tim." +</p> +<p> +"It's economy, I tell you; for a shilling, if you bargain, you may ride +the whole night, and if we stop at a public-house to sleep, we shall +have to pay for our beds, as well as be obliged to order something to +eat, and pay dearer for it than if we buy what we want at cooks' shops." +</p> +<p> +"There is sense in what you say, Timothy; we will look out for a wagon." +</p> +<p> +"Oh! it's no use now—wagons are like black beetles, not only in shape +but in habits, they only travel by night—at least most of them do. We +are now coming into long dirty Brentford, and I don't know how you feel, +Japhet, but I find that walking wonderfully increases the +appetite—that's another reason why you should not walk when you can +ride—for nothing." +</p> +<p> +"Well, I'm rather hungry myself; and dear me, how very good that piece +of roast pork looks in that window!" +</p> +<p> +"I agree with you—let's go in and make a bargain!" +</p> +<p> +We bought a good allowance for a shilling, and after sticking out for a +greater proportion of mustard than the woman said we were entitled to, +and some salt, we wrapped it up in a piece of paper, and continued our +course, till we arrived at a baker's, where we purchased our bread, and +then taking up a position on a bench outside a public-house, called for +a pot of beer, and putting our provisions down before us, made a hearty, +and, what made us more enjoy it, an independent meal. Having finished +our pork and our porter, and refreshed ourselves, we again started and +walked till it was quite dark, when we felt so tired that we agreed to +sit down on our bundles and wait for the first wagon which passed. We +soon heard the jingling of bells, and shortly afterwards its enormous +towering bulk appeared between us and the sky. We went up to the +wagoner, who was mounted on a little pony, and asked him if he could +give two poor lads a lift, and how much he would charge us for the ride. +</p> +<p> +"How much can you afford to give, measters? for there be others as poor +as ye." We replied that we could give a shilling. "Well, then, get up in +God's name, and ride as long as you will. Get in behind." +</p> +<p> +"Are there many people in there already?" said I, as I climbed up, and +Timothy handed me the bundles. +</p> +<p> +"Noa," replied the wagoner, "there be nobody but a mighty clever +poticary or doctor, I can't tell which; but he wear an uncommon queer +hat, and he talk all sort of doctor stuff—and there be his odd man and +his odd boy; that be all, and there be plenty of room, and plenty o' +clean <i>stra</i>'." +</p> +<p> +After this intimation we climbed up, and gained a situation in the rear +of the wagon under the cloth. As the wagoner said, there was plenty of +room, and we nestled into the straw without coming into contact with the +other travellers. Not feeling any inclination to sleep, Timothy and I +entered into conversation, <i>sotto voce</i>, and had continued for more than +half an hour, supposing by their silence that the other occupants of the +wagon were asleep, when we were interrupted by a voice clear and +sonorous as a bell. +</p> +<p> +"It would appear that you are wanderers, young men, and journey you know +not whither. Birds seek their nests when the night falls—beasts hasten +to their lairs—man bolts his door. '<i>Propria quæ maribus</i>,' as +Herodotus hath it; which, when translated, means, that 'such is the +nature of mankind.' '<i>Tribuuntur mascula dicas</i>' 'Tell me your +troubles,' as Homer says." +</p> +<p> +I was very much surprised at this address—my knowledge of the language +told me immediately that the quotations were out of the Latin grammar, +and that all his learning was pretence; still there was a novelty of +style which amused me, and at the same time gave me an idea that the +speaker was an uncommon personage. I gave Timothy a nudge, and then +replied, +</p> +<p> +"You have guessed right, most learned sir; we are, as you say, wanderers +seeking our fortunes, and trust yet to find them—still we have a weary +journey before us, '<i>Haustus horâ somni sumendum</i>,' as Aristotle hath +it; which I need not translate to so learned a person as yourself." +</p> +<p> +"Nay, indeed, there is no occasion; yet am I pleased to meet with one +who hath scholarship," replied the other. "Have you also a knowledge of +the Greek?" +</p> +<p> +"No, I pretend not to Greek." +</p> +<p> +"It is a pity that thou hast it not, for thou wouldst delight to +commune with the ancients. Esculapius hath these +words—'A<i>shol</i>der—offmotton—<i>acca</i>pon—pasti—venison,'—which I will +translate for thee—'We often find what we seek, when we least expect +it.' May it be so with you, my friend. Where have you been educated? and +what has been your profession?" +</p> +<p> +I thought I risked little in telling, so I replied, that I had been +brought up as a surgeon and apothecary, and had been educated at a +foundation school. +</p> +<p> +"'Tis well," replied he; "you have then commenced your studies in my +glorious profession; still, have you much to learn; years of toil, under +a great master, can only enable you to benefit mankind as I have done, +and years of hardship and of danger must be added thereunto, to afford +you the means. There are many hidden secrets. '<i>Ut sunt Divorum, Mars, +Bacchus, Apollo, Virorum</i>,'—many parts of the globe to traverse, '<i>Ut +Cato, Virgilius, fluviorum, ut Tibris, Orontes.</i>' All these have I +visited, and many more. Even now do I journey to obtain more of my +invaluable medicine, gathered on the highest Andes, when the moon is in +her perigee. There I shall remain for months among the clouds, looking +down upon the great plain of Mexico, which shall appear no larger than +the head of a pin, where the voice of man is heard not. '<i>Vocito, +vocitas vocitavi</i>,' bending for months towards the earth. '<i>As in +presenti</i>,' suffering with the cold—'<i>frico quod fricui dat</i>,' as +Eusebius hath it. Soon shall I be borne away by the howling winds +towards the new world, where I can obtain more of the wonderful +medicine, which I may say never yet hath failed me, and which nothing +but love towards my race induces me to gather at such pains and risk." +</p> +<p> +"Indeed, sir," replied I, amused with his imposition, "I should like to +accompany you—for, as Josephus says most truly, '<i>Capiat pillulæ duæ +post prandium</i>.' Travel is, indeed, a most delightful occupation, and I +would like to run over the whole world." +</p> +<p> +"And I would like to follow you," interrupted Timothy. "I suspect we +have commenced our <i>grand tour</i> already—three miles behind a +hackney-coach—ten on foot, and about two, I should think, in this +wagon. But as Cophagus says, <i>Cochlearija crash many summendush</i>,' which +means, 'there are ups and downs in this world.'" +</p> +<p> +"Hah!" exclaimed our companion. "He, also, has the rudiments." +</p> +<p> +"Nay, I hope I've done with the <i>Rudimans</i>," replied Timothy. +</p> +<p> +"Is he your follower?" inquired the man. +</p> +<p> +"That very much depends upon who walks first," replied Timothy, "but +whether or no—we hunt in couples." +</p> +<p> +"I understand—you are companions. '<i>Concordat cum nominativo numero et +persona</i>.' Tell me, can you roll pills, can you use the pestle and the +mortar, handle the scapula, and mix ingredients?" +</p> +<p> +I replied that of course I knew my profession. +</p> +<p> +"Well, then, as we have still some hours of night, let us now obtain +some rest. In the morning, when the sun hath introduced us to each +other, I may then judge from your countenances whether it is likely that +we may be better acquainted. Night is the time for repose, as Quintus +Curtius says, '<i>Custos, bos, fur atque sacerdos</i>. Sleep was made for +all—my friends, good-night." +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0087" id="h2HCH0087"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter IX +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + In which the adventures in the wagon are continued, and we become + more puzzled with our new companions—We leave off talking Latin, + and enter into an engagement. +</p> +<p> +Timothy and I took his advice, and were soon fast asleep. I was awakened +the next morning by feeling a hand in my trouser's pocket. I seized it, +and held it fast. +</p> +<p> +"Now just let go my hand, will you?" cried a lachrymal voice. +</p> +<p> +I jumped up—it was broad daylight, and looked at the human frame to +which the hand was an appendix. It was a very spare, awkwardly-built +form of a young man, apparently about twenty years old, but without the +least sign of manhood on his chin. His face was cadaverous, with large +goggling eyes, high cheek bones, hair long and ragged, reminding me of a +rat's nest, thin lips, and ears large almost as an elephant's. A more +woe-begone wretch in appearance I never beheld, and I continued to look +at him with surprise. He repeated his words with an idiotical +expression, "Just let go my hand, can't you?" +</p> +<p> +"What business had your hand in my pocket?" replied I, angrily. +</p> +<p> +"I was feeling for my pocket-handkerchief," replied the young man. "I +always keeps it in my breeches' pocket." +</p> +<p> +"But not in your neighbour's, I presume?" +</p> +<p> +"My neighbour's!" replied he, with a vacant stare. "Well, so it is, I +see now—I thought it was my own." +</p> +<p> +I released his hand; he immediately put it into his own pocket, and drew +out his handkerchief, if the rag deserved the appellation. "There," said +he, "I told you I put it in that pocket—I always do." +</p> +<p> +"And pray who are you?" said I, as I looked at his dress, which was a +pair of loose white Turkish trousers, and an old spangled jacket. +</p> +<p> +"Me! why, I'm the fool." +</p> +<p> +"More knave than fool, I expect," replied I, still much puzzled with his +strange appearance and dress. +</p> +<p> +"Nay, there you mistake," said the voice of last night. "He is not only +a fool by profession, but one by nature. It is a half-witted creature, +who serves me when I would attract the people. Strange in this world, +that wisdom may cry in the streets without being noticed, yet folly will +always command a crowd." +</p> +<p> +During this address I turned my eyes upon the speaker. He was an +elderly-looking person, with white hair, dressed in a suit of black, +ruffles and frill. His eyes were brilliant, but the remainder of his +face it was difficult to decipher, as it was evidently painted, and the +night's jumbling in the wagon had so smeared it, that it appeared of +almost every colour in the rainbow. On one side of him lay a large +three-cornered cocked hat, on the other, a little lump of a boy, rolled +up in the straw like a marmot, and still sound asleep. Timothy looked at +me, and when he caught my eye, burst out into a laugh. +</p> +<p> +"You laugh at my appearance, I presume," said the old man, mildly. +</p> +<p> +"I do in truth," replied Timothy. "I never saw one like you before, and +I dare say never shall again." +</p> +<p> +"That is possible; yet probably if you meet me again, you would not know +me." +</p> +<p> +"Among a hundred thousand," replied Timothy, with increased mirth. +</p> +<p> +"We shall see, perhaps," replied the quack doctor, for such the reader +must have already ascertained to be his profession; "but the wagon has +stopped, and the driver will bait his horses. If inclined to eat, now is +your time. Come, Jumbo, get up; Philotas, waken him, and follow me." +</p> +<p> +Philotas, for so was the fool styled by his master, twisted up some +straw, and stuffed the end of it into Jumbo's mouth. "Now, Jumbo will +think he has got something to eat. I always wake him that way," observed +the fool, grinning at us. +</p> +<p> +It certainly, as might be expected, did waken Jumbo, who uncoiled +himself, rubbed his eyes, stared at the tilt of the wagon, then at us, +and without saying a word, rolled himself out after the fool. Timothy +and I followed. We found the doctor bargaining for some bread and bacon, +his strange appearance exciting much amusement, and inducing the people +to let him have a better bargain than perhaps otherwise they would have +done. He gave a part of the refreshment to the boy and the fool, and +walked out of the tap-room with his own share. Timothy and I went to the +pump, and had a good refreshing wash, and then for a shilling were +permitted to make a very hearty breakfast. The wagon having remained +about an hour, the driver gave us notice of his departure; but the +doctor was no where to be found. After a little delay, the wagoner drove +off, cursing him for a <i>bilk</i>, and vowing that he'd never have any more +to do with a "lamed man." In the mean time, Timothy and I had taken our +seats in the wagon, in company with the fool, and Master Jumbo. We +commenced a conversation with the former, and soon found out, as the +doctor had asserted, that he really was an idiot, so much so, that it +was painful to converse with him. As for the latter, he had coiled +himself away to take a little more sleep. I forgot to mention, that the +boy was dressed much in the same way as the fool, in an old spangled +jacket, and dirty white trousers. For about an hour Timothy and I +conversed, remarking upon the strange disappearance of the doctor, +especially as he had given us hopes of employing us; in accepting which +offer, if ever it should be made, we had not made up our minds, when we +were interrupted with a voice crying out, "Hillo, my man, can you give a +chap a lift as far as Reading, for a shilling?" +</p> +<p> +"Ay, get up, and welcome," replied the wagoner. +</p> +<p> +The wagon did not stop, but in a moment or two the new passenger climbed +in. He was dressed in a clean smock frock, neatly worked up the front, +leather gaiters, and stout shoes; a bundle and a stick were in his hand. +He smiled as he looked round upon the company, and showed a beautiful +set of teeth. His face was dark, and sun-burnt, but very handsome, and +his eyes as black as coals, and as brilliant as gas. "Heh! player +folk—I've a notion," said he, as he sat down, looking at the doctor's +attendants, and laughing at us. "Have you come far, gentlemen?" +continued he. +</p> +<p> +"From London," was my reply. +</p> +<p> +"How do the crops look up above, for down here the turnips seem to have +failed altogether? Dry seasons won't do for turnips." +</p> +<p> +I replied that I really could not satisfy him on that point, as it was +dark when we passed. +</p> +<p> +"Very true—I had forgotten that," replied he. "However, the barleys +look well; but perhaps you don't understand farming?" +</p> +<p> +I replied in the negative, and the conversation was kept up for two or +three hours, in the course of which I mentioned the quack doctor, and +his strange departure. +</p> +<p> +"That is the fellow who cured so many people at ——," replied he; and +the conversation then turned upon his profession and mode of life, which +Timothy and I agreed must be very amusing. "We shall meet him again, I +dare say," replied the man. "Would you know him?" +</p> +<p> +"I think so, indeed," replied Timothy, laughing. +</p> +<p> +"Yes, and so you would think that you would know a guinea from a +halfpenny, if I put it into your hands," replied the man. "I do not wish +to lay a bet, and win your money; but I tell you, that I will put either +the one or the other into each of your hands, and if you hold it fast +for one minute, and shut your eyes during that time, you will not be +able to tell me which it is that you have in it." +</p> +<p> +"That I am sure I would," replied Tim; and I made the same assertion. +</p> +<p> +"Well, I was taken in that way at a fair, and lost ten shillings by the +wager; now, we'll try whether you can tell or not." He took out some +money from his pocket, which he selected without our seeing it, put a +coin into the hand of each of us, closing our fists over it, "and now," +said he, "keep your eyes shut for a minute." +</p> +<p> +We did so, and a second or two afterwards we heard a voice which we +instantly recognised. "Nay, but it was wrong to leave me on the way side +thus, having agreed to pay the sum demanded. At my age one walketh not +without fatigue, <i>Excipenda tamen quædam sunt urbium</i>, as Philostratus +says, meaning, 'that old limbs lose their activity, and seek the help of +a crutch.'" +</p> +<p> +"There's the doctor," cried Timothy, with his eyes still shut. +</p> +<p> +"Now open your eyes," said the man, "and tell me, before you open your +hand, what there is in it." +</p> +<p> +"A halfpenny in mine," said Tim. +</p> +<p> +"A guinea in mine," replied I. +</p> +<p> +We opened our hands, and they were <i>empty</i>. +</p> +<p> +"Where the devil is it?" exclaimed I, looking at Tim. +</p> +<p> +"And where the devil's the doctor?" replied he, looking round. +</p> +<p> +"The money is in the doctor's pocket," replied the man, smiling. +</p> +<p> +"Then where is the doctor's pocket?" +</p> +<p> +"Here," replied he, slapping his pocket, and looking significantly at +us. "I thought you were certain of knowing him again. About as certain +as you were of telling the money in your hand." +</p> +<p> +He then, to our astonishment, imitated the doctor's voice, and quoted +<i>prosody syntax, and Latin</i>. Timothy and I were still in astonishment, +when he continued, "If I had not found out that you were in want of +employ, and further, that your services would be useful to me, I should +not have made this discovery. Do you now think that you know enough to +enter into my service? It is light work, and not bad pay; and now you +may choose." +</p> +<p> +"I trust," said I, "that there is no dishonesty?" +</p> +<p> +"None that you need practise, if you are so scrupulous; perhaps your +scruples may some day be removed. I make the most of my wares—every +merchant does the same. I practise upon the folly of mankind—it is on +that, that wise men live." +</p> +<p> +Timothy gave me a push, and nodded his head for me to give my consent. I +reflected a few seconds, and at last I extended my hand. "I consent," +replied I, "with the reservation I have made." +</p> +<p> +"You will not repent," said he; "and I will take your companion, not +that I want him particularly, but I do want you. The fact is, I want a +lad of gentlemanly address, and handsome appearance—with the very +knowledge you possess—and now we will say no more for the present. +By-the-bye, was that real Latin of yours?" +</p> +<p> +"No," replied I, laughing; "you quoted the grammar, and I replied with +medical prescriptions. One was as good as the other." +</p> +<p> +"Quite—nay, better; for the school-boys may find me out, but not you. +But now observe, when we come to the next cross road, we must get +down—at least, I expect so; but we shall know in a minute." +</p> +<p> +In about the time he mentioned, a dark, gipsy-looking man looked into +the wagon, and spoke to our acquaintance in an unknown language. He +replied in the same, and the man disappeared. We continued our route for +about a quarter of an hour, when he got out, asked us to follow him, and +speaking a few words to the fool, which I did not hear, left him and the +boy in the wagon. We paid our fare, took possession of our bundles, and +followed our new companion for a few minutes on the cross road, when he +stopped, and said, "I must now leave you, to prepare for your reception +into our fraternity; continue straight on this road until you arrive at +a lime-kiln, and wait there till I come." +</p> +<p> +He sprang over a stile, and took a direction verging at an angle from +the road, forced his way through a hedge, and disappeared from our +sight. "Upon my word, Timothy," said I, "I hardly know what to say to +this. Have we done right in trusting to this man, who, I am afraid! is +a great rogue? I do not much like mixing with these gipsy people, for +such I am sure he belongs to." +</p> +<p> +"I really do not see how we can do better," replied Timothy. "The world +is all before us, and we must force our own way through it. As for his +being a quack doctor, I see no great harm in that. People put their +faith in nostrums more than they do in regular medicines; and it is well +known that quack medicines, as they call them, cure as often as others, +merely for that very reason." +</p> +<p> +"Very true, Timothy; the mind once at ease, the body soon recovers, and +faith, even in quack medicines, will often make people whole; but do you +think that he does no more than impose upon people in that way?" +</p> +<p> +"He may, or he may not; at all events, we need do no more, I suppose." +</p> +<p> +"I am not sure of that; however, we shall see. He says we may be useful +to him, and I suppose we shall be, or he would not have engaged us—we +shall soon find out." +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0088" id="h2HCH0088"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter X +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + In which the reader is introduced to several new acquaintances, and + all connected with them, except birth and parentage, which appears + to be the one thing wanting throughout the whole of this work. +</p> +<p> +By this time we had arrived at the lime-kiln to which we had been +directed, and we sat down on our bundles, chatting for about five +minutes, when our new acquaintance made his appearance, with something +in his hand, tied up in a handkerchief. +</p> +<p> +"You may as well put your coats into your bundles, and put on these +frocks," said he, "you will appear better among us, and be better +received, for there is a <i>gathering</i> now, and some of them are queer +customers. However, you have nothing to fear; when once you are with my +wife and me, you are quite safe; her little finger would protect you +from five hundred." +</p> +<p> +"Your wife! who, then, is she?" inquired I, as I put my head through the +smock frock. +</p> +<p> +"She is a great personage among the gipsies. She is, by descent, one of +the heads of the tribe, and none dare to disobey her." +</p> +<p> +"And you—are you a gipsy?" +</p> +<p> +"No, and yes. By birth I am not, but by choice, and marriage, I am +admitted; but I was not born under a hedge, I can assure you, although I +very often pass a night there now—that is, when I am domestic; but do +not think that you are to remain long here; we shall leave in a few +days, and may not meet the tribe again for months, although you may see +my own family occasionally. I did not ask you to join me to pass a +gipsy's life—no, no, we must be stirring and active. Come, we are now +close to them. Do not speak as you pass the huts, until you have entered +mine. Then you may do as you please." +</p> +<p> +We turned short round, passed through a gap in the hedge, and found +ourselves on a small retired piece of common, which was studded with +about twenty or thirty low gipsy huts. The fires were alight and +provisions apparently cooking. We passed by nine or ten, and obeyed our +guide's injunctions, to keep silence. At last we stopped, and perceived +ourselves to be standing by the fool, who was dressed like us, in a +smock frock, and Mr Jumbo, who was very busy making the pot boil, +blowing at the sticks underneath till he was black in the face. Several +of the men passed near us, and examined us with no very pleasant +expression of countenance; and we were not sorry to see our conductor, +who had gone into the hut, return, followed by a woman, to whom he was +speaking in the language of the tribe. "Nattée bids you welcome," said +he, as she approached. +</p> +<p> +Never in my life will the remembrance of the first appearance of Nattée, +and the effect it had upon me, be erased from my memory. She was tall, +too tall, had it not been for the perfect symmetry of her form. Her +face of a clear olive, and oval in shape; her eyes jetty black; nose +straight, and beautifully formed; mouth small, thin lips, with a slight +curl of disdain, and pearly teeth. I never beheld a woman of so +commanding a presence. Her feet were bare, but very small, as well as +her hands. On her fingers she wore many rings, of a curious old setting, +and a piece of gold hung on her forehead, where the hair was parted. She +looked at us, touched her high forehead with the ends of her fingers, +and waving her hand gracefully, said, in a soft voice, "You are +welcome," and then turned to her husband, speaking to him in her own +language, until by degrees they separated from us in earnest +conversation. +</p> +<p> +She returned to us after a short time, without her husband, and said, in +a voice, the notes of which were indeed soft, but the delivery of the +words was most determined; "I have said that you are welcome; sit down, +therefore, and share with us—fear nothing, you have no cause to fear. +Be faithful, then, while you serve him, and when you would quit us, say +so, and receive your leave to depart; but if you attempt to desert us +without permission, then we shall suspect that you are our enemies, and +treat you accordingly. There is your lodging while here," continued she, +pointing to another hut. "There is but one child with you, this boy +(pointing to Jumbo), who can lay at your feet. And now join us as +friends. Fleta, where are you?" +</p> +<p> +A soft voice answered from the tent of Nattée, and soon afterwards came +out a little girl, of about eleven years old. The appearance of this +child was a new source of interest. She was a little fairy figure, with +a skin as white as the driven snow—light auburn hair, and large blue +eyes; her dress was scanty, and showed a large portion of her taper +legs. She hastened to Nattée, and folding her arms across her breast, +stood still, saying meekly, "I am here." +</p> +<p> +"Know these as friends, Fleta. Send that lazy Num (this was Philotas, +the fool), for more wood, and see that Jumbo tends the fire." +</p> +<p> +Nattée smiled, and left us. I observed she went to where forty or fifty +of the tribe were assembled, in earnest discourse. She took her seat +with them, and marked deference was paid to her. In the meantime Jumbo +had blown up a brisk fire; we were employed by Fleta in shredding +vegetables, which she threw into the boiling kettle. Num appeared with +more fuel, and at last there was nothing more to do. Fleta sat down by +us, and parting her long hair, which had fallen over her eyes, looked us +both in the face. +</p> +<p> +"Who gave you that name, Fleta?" inquired I. +</p> +<p> +"They gave it me," replied she. +</p> +<p> +"And who are they?" +</p> +<p> +"Nattée, and Melchior, her husband." +</p> +<p> +"But you are not their daughter?" +</p> +<p> +"No, I am not—that is, I believe not." +</p> +<p> +The little girl stopped short, as if assured that she had said too much, +cast her eyes down on the ground, and folded her arms, so that her hands +rested on each opposite shoulder. +</p> +<p> +Timothy whispered to me, "She must have been stolen, depend upon it." +</p> +<p> +"Silence," said I. +</p> +<p> +The little girl overheard him, and looking at him, put her finger across +her mouth, looking to where Num and Jumbo were sitting. I felt an +interest for this child before I had been an hour in her company; she +was so graceful, so feminine, so mournful in the expression of her +countenance. That she was under restraint was evident; but still she did +not appear to be actuated by fear. Nattée was very kind to her, and the +child did not seem to be more reserved towards her than to others; her +mournful pensive look, was perhaps inherent to her nature. It was not +until long after our first acquaintance that I ever saw a smile upon her +features. Shortly after this little conversation Nattée returned, +walking with all the grace and dignity of a queen. Her husband, or +Melchior, as I shall in future call him, soon joined us, and we sat +down to our repast, which was excellent. It was composed of almost every +thing; sometimes I found myself busy with the wing of a fowl, at another +the leg of a rabbit—then a piece of mutton, or other flesh and fowl, +which I could hardly distinguish. To these were added every sort of +vegetable, among which potatoes predominated, forming a sort of stew, +which an epicure might have praised. I had a long conversation with +Melchior in the evening, and, not to weary the reader, I shall now +proceed to state all that I then and subsequently gathered from him and +others, relative to the parties with whom we were associating. +</p> +<p> +Melchior would not state who and what he was previous to his having +joined the fraternity of gipsies; that he was not of humble birth, and +that he had, when young, quitted his friends out of love for Nattée, or +from some other causes not to be revealed, he led me to surmise. He had +been many years in company with the tribe, and although, as one received +into it, he did not stand so high in rank and estimation as his wife, +still, from his marriage with Nattée, and his own peculiar +qualifications and dexterity, he was almost as absolute as she was. +</p> +<p> +Melchior and Nattée were supposed to be the most wealthy of all the +gipsies, and, at the same time, they were the most liberal of their +wealth. Melchior, it appeared, gained money in three different +characters; as a quack doctor, the character in which we first saw him; +secondly, as a juggler, in which art he was most expert; and thirdly, as +a fortune-teller, and <i>wise man</i>. +</p> +<p> +Nattée, as I before mentioned, was of very high rank, or caste, in her +tribe. At her first espousal of Melchior she lost much of her influence, +as it was considered a degradation; but she was then very young, and +must have been most beautiful. The talents of Melchior, and her own +spirit, however, soon enabled her to regain, and even add still more to, +her power and consideration among the tribe, and it was incredible to +what extent, with the means which she possessed, this power was +augmented. +</p> +<p> +Melchior had no children by his marriage, and, as far as I could judge +from the few words which would escape from the lips of Nattée, she did +not wish for any, as the race would not be considered pure. The +subdivision of the tribe which followed Nattée, consisted of about +forty, men, women, and children. These were ruled by her during the +absence of her husband, who alternately assumed different characters, as +suited his purpose; but in whatever town Melchior might happen to be, +Nattée and her tribe were never far off, and always encamped within +communication. +</p> +<p> +I ventured to question Melchior about the little Fleta; and he stated +that she was the child of a soldier's wife, who had been brought to bed, +and died a few hours afterwards; that, at the time, she was on her way +to join her husband, and had been taken ill on the road—had been +assisted by Nattée and her companions, as far as they were able—had +been buried by them, and that the child had been reared in the camp. +</p> +<p> +In time, the little girl became very intimate, and very partial to me. I +questioned her as to her birth, telling her what Melchior had stated; +for a long while she would not answer; the poor child had learned +caution even at that early age; but after we were more intimate, she +said, that which Melchior had stated was <i>not true</i>. She could recollect +very well living in a great house, with everything very fine about her; +but still it appeared as if it were a dream. She recollected two white +ponies—and a lady who was her mamma—and a mulberry-tree, where she +stained her frock; sometimes other things came to her memory, and then +she forgot them again. From this it was evident that she had been +stolen, and was probably of good parentage; certainly, if elegance and +symmetry of person and form, could prove blood, it never was more marked +than in this interesting child. Her abode with the gipsies, and their +peculiar mode of life and manners, had rendered her astonishingly +precocious in intellect; but of education she had none, except what was +instilled into her by Melchior, whom she always accompanied when he +assumed his character as a juggler. She then danced on the slack wire, +at the same time performing several feats in balancing, throwing of +oranges, &c. When Melchior was under other disguises, she remained in +the camp with Nattée. +</p> +<p> +Of Num, or Philotas, as Melchior thought proper to call him, I have +already spoken. He was a half-witted idiot, picked up in one of +Melchior's excursions, and as he stated to me, so did it prove to be the +fact, that when on the stage, and questioned as a fool, his natural +folly, and idiotical vacancy of countenance, were applauded by the +spectators as admirably assumed. Even at the alehouses and taverns where +we stopped, every one imagined that all his folly was pretence, and +looked upon him as a very clever fellow. There never was, perhaps, such +a lachrymose countenance as this poor lad's, and this added still more +to the mirth of others, being also considered as put on for the +occasion. Stephen Kemble played Falstaff without stuffing—Num played +the fool without any effort or preparation. Jumbo was also "picked up;" +this was not done by Melchior, who stated, that any body might have him +who claimed him; he tumbled with the fool upon the stage, and he also +ate pudding to amuse the spectators—the only part of the performance +which was suited to Jumbo's taste, for he was a terrible little glutton, +and never lost any opportunity of eating, as well as of sleeping. +</p> +<p> +And now, having described all our new companions, I must narrate what +passed between Melchior and me, the day after our joining the camp. He +first ran through his various professions, pointing out to me that as +juggler he required a confederate, in which capacity I might be very +useful, as he would soon instruct me in all his tricks. As a quack +doctor he wanted the services of both Tim and myself in mixing up, +making pills, &c., and also in assisting him in persuading the public of +his great skill. As a fortune-teller, I should also be of great service, +as he would explain to me hereafter. In short, he wanted a person of +good personal appearance and education, in whom he might confide in +every way. As to Tim, he might be made useful if he chose, in various +ways; amongst others, he wished him to learn tumbling and playing the +fool, when, at times, the fool was required to give a shrewd answer on +any point on which he would wish the public to be made acquainted. I +agreed to my own part of the performance, and then had some conversation +with Timothy, who immediately consented to do his best in what was +allotted as his share. Thus was the matter quickly arranged, Melchior +observing, that he had said nothing about remuneration, as I should find +that trusting to him was far preferable to stipulated wages. +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0089" id="h2HCH0089"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter XI +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + Whatever may be the opinion of the reader, he cannot assert that we + are <i>no conjurers</i>—We suit our wares to our customers, and our + profits are considerable. +</p> +<p> +We had been three days in the camp when the gathering was broken up, +each gang taking their own way. What the meeting was about I could not +exactly discover; one occasion of it was to make arrangements relative +to the different counties in which the subdivisions were to sojourn +during the next year, so that they might know where to communicate with +each other, and, at the same time, not interfere by being too near; but +there were many other points discussed, of which, as a stranger, I was +kept in ignorance. Melchior answered all my questions with apparent +candour, but his habitual deceit was such, that whether he told the +truth or not was impossible to be ascertained by his countenance. +</p> +<p> +When the gathering dispersed we packed up, and located ourselves about +two miles from the common, on the borders of a forest of oak and ash. +Our food was chiefly game, for we had some excellent poachers among us; +and as for fish, it appeared to be at their command; there was not a +pond nor a pit but they could tell in a moment if it were tenanted, and +if tenanted, in half an hour every fish would be floating on the top of +the water, by the throwing in of some intoxicating sort of berry; other +articles of food occasionally were found in the caldron; indeed, it was +impossible to fare better than we did, or at less expense. +</p> +<p> +Our tents were generally pitched not far from a pool of water, and to +avoid any unpleasant search, which sometimes would take place, +everything liable to detection was sunk under the water until it was +required for cooking; once in the pot, it was considered as safe. But +with the foraging, Timothy and I had nothing to do; we participated in +the eating, without asking any questions as to how it was procured. +</p> +<p> +My time was chiefly spent in company with Melchior, who initiated me +into all the mysteries of cups and balls—juggling of every +description—feats with cards, and made me acquainted with all his +apparatus for prepared tricks. For hours and hours was I employed by his +directions in what is called "making the pass" with a pack of cards, as +almost all tricks on cards depend upon your dexterity in this manoeuvre. +In about a month I was considered as a very fair adept; in the meantime, +Timothy had to undergo his career of gymnastics, and was to be seen all +day tumbling and retumbling, until he could tumble on his feet again. +Light and active, he soon became a very dexterous performer, and could +throw a somerset either backwards or forwards, walk on his hands, eat +fire, pull out ribbons, and do fifty other tricks to amuse a gaping +audience. Jumbo also was worked hard, to bring down his fat, and never +was allowed his dinner until he had given satisfaction to Melchior. Even +little Fleta had to practise occasionally, as we were preparing for an +expedition. Melchior, who appeared determined to create an effect, left +us for three days, and returned with not only dresses for Timothy and +me, but also new dresses for the rest of the company; and shortly +afterwards, bidding farewell to Nattée and the rest of the gipsies, we +all set out—that is, Melchior, I, Timothy, Fleta, Num, and Jumbo. Late +in the evening we arrived at the little town of ——, and took up our +quarters at a public-house, with the landlord of which Melchior had +already made arrangements. +</p> +<p> +"Well, Timothy," said I, as soon as we were in bed, "how do you like our +new life and prospects?" +</p> +<p> +"I like it better than Mr Cophagus's <i>rudimans</i>, and carrying out +physic, at all events. But how does your dignity like turning Merry +Andrew, Japhet?" +</p> +<p> +"To tell you the truth, I do not dislike it. There is a wildness and a +devil-may-care feeling connected with it which is grateful to me at +present. How long it may last I cannot tell; but for a year or two it +appears to me that we may be very happy. At all events, we shall see the +world, and have more than one profession to fall back upon." +</p> +<p> +"That is true; but there is one thing that annoys me, Japhet, which is, +we may have difficulty in leaving these people when we wish. Besides, +you forget that you are losing sight of the principal object you had in +view, that is, of 'finding out your father.'" +</p> +<p> +"I certainly never expect to find him among the gipsies," replied I, +"for children are at a premium with them. They steal from others, and +are not very likely therefore to leave them at the Foundling. But I do +not know whether I have not as good a chance in our present employment +as in any other. I have often been thinking that as fortune-tellers, we +may get hold of many strange secrets; however, we shall see. Melchior +says, that he intends to appear in that character as soon as he has made +a harvest in his present one." +</p> +<p> +"What do you think of Melchior, now that you have been so much with +him?" +</p> +<p> +"I think him an unprincipled man, but still with many good qualities. +He appears to have a pleasure in deceit, and to have waged war with the +world in general. Still he is generous, and, to a certain degree, +confiding; kind in his disposition, and apparently a very good husband. +There is something on his mind which weighs him down occasionally, and +checks him in the height of his mirth. It comes over him like a dark +cloud over a bright summer sun; and he is all gloom for a few minutes. I +do not think that he would now commit any great crime; but I have a +suspicion that he has done something which is a constant cause of +remorse." +</p> +<p> +"You are a very good judge of character, Japhet. But what a dear little +child is that Fleta! She may exclaim with you—'Who is my father?'" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, we are both in much the same predicament, and that it is which I +believe has so much increased my attachment to her. We are brother and +sister in misfortune, and a sister she ever shall be to me, if such is +the will of Heaven. But we must rise early to-morrow, Tim; so +good-night." +</p> +<p> +"Yes, to-morrow it will be juggle and tumble—eat fire—um—and so on, +as Mr Cophagus would have said; so good-night, Japhet." +</p> +<p> +The next morning we arrayed ourselves in our new habiliments; mine were +silk stockings, shoes, and white kerseymere kneed breeches, a blue silk +waistcoat loaded with tinsel, and a short jacket to correspond of blue +velvet, a sash round my waist, a hat and a plume of feathers. Timothy +declared I looked very handsome, and as the glass said the same as plain +as it could speak, I believed him. Timothy's dress was a pair of wide +Turkish trousers and red jacket, with spangles. The others were much the +same. Fleta was attired in small, white satin, Turkish trousers, blue +muslin and silver embroidered frock, worked sandals, and her hair +braided and plaited in long tails behind, and she looked like a little +sylph. Melchior's dress was precisely the same as mine, and a more +respectable company was seldom seen. Some musicians had been hired, and +handbills were now circulated all over the town, stating that Signor +Eugenio Velotti, with his company, would have the honour of performing +before the nobility and gentry. The bill contained the fare which was to +be provided, and intimated the hour of the performance, and the prices +to be paid for the seats. The performance was to take place in a very +large room attached to the inn, which, previous to the decadence of the +town, had been used as an assembly-room. A platform was erected on the +outside, on which were placed the musicians, and where we all +occasionally made our appearance in our splendid dresses to attract the +wonder of the people. There we strutted up and down, all but poor little +Fleta, who appeared to shrink at the display from intuitive modesty. +When the music ceased, a smart parley between Melchior and me, and +Philotas, and Timothy, as the two fools, would take place; and Melchior +declared, after the performance was over, that we conducted ourselves to +admiration. +</p> +<p> +"Pray, Mr Philotas, do me the favour to tell me how many people you +think are now present?" said Melchior to Num, in an imperative voice. +</p> +<p> +"I don't know," said Num, looking up with his idiotical, melancholy +face. +</p> +<p> +"Ha! ha! ha'" roared the crowd at Num's stupid answer. +</p> +<p> +"The fellow's a fool'" said Melchior, to the gaping audience. +</p> +<p> +"Well, then, if he can't tell, perhaps you may, Mr Dionysius," said I, +addressing Tim. +</p> +<p> +"How many, sir? Do you want to know exactly and directly?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, sir, immediately." +</p> +<p> +"Without counting, sir?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, sir, without counting." +</p> +<p> +"Well then, sir, I will tell, and make no mistake; there's <i>exactly as +many again as half</i>." +</p> +<p> +"Ha! ha! ha!" from the crowd. +</p> +<p> +"That won't do, sir. How many may be the half?" +</p> +<p> +"How many may be the half? Do you know yourself, sir?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, sir, to be sure I do." +</p> +<p> +"Then there's no occasion for me to tell you." +</p> +<p> +"Ha! ha! ha!" +</p> +<p> +"Well then, sir," continued Melchior to Philotas, "perhaps you'll tell +how many ladies and gentlemen we may expect to honour us with their +company to-night." +</p> +<p> +"How many, sir?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, sir, how many." +</p> +<p> +"I'm sure I don't know," said Num, after a pause. +</p> +<p> +"Positively you are the greatest fool I ever met with," said Melchior. +</p> +<p> +"Well, he does act the fool as natural as life," observed the crowd. +"What a stupid face he does put on!" +</p> +<p> +"Perhaps you will be able to answer that question, Mr Dionysius," said I +to Tim. +</p> +<p> +"Yes, sir, I know exactly." +</p> +<p> +"Well, sir, let's hear." +</p> +<p> +"In the first place, all the pretty women will come, and all the ugly +ones stay away; and as for the men, all those who have got any money +will be certain to come; those who haven't, poor devils, must stay +outside." +</p> +<p> +"Suppose, sir, you make a bow to the ladies." +</p> +<p> +"A very low one, sir?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, very low indeed." +</p> +<p> +Tim bent his body to the ground, and threw a somerset forward. "There, +sir; I bowed so low, that I came up on the other side." +</p> +<p> +"Ha! ha! capital!" from the crowd. +</p> +<p> +"I've got a round turn in my back, sir," continued Tim, rubbing himself. +"Hadn't I better take it out again?" +</p> +<p> +"By all means." +</p> +<p> +Tim threw a somerset backwards. "There, sir, all's right now. One good +turn deserves another. Now I'll be off." +</p> +<p> +"Where are you going to, sir?" +</p> +<p> +"Going, sir!! Why, I left my lollipop in the tinder-box, and I'm going +to fetch it." +</p> +<p> +"Ha! ha! ha!" +</p> +<p> +"Strike up, music!" and Master Jumbo commenced tumbling. +</p> +<p> +Such was the elegant wit with which we amused and attracted the +audience. Perhaps, had we been more refined, we should not have been so +successful. +</p> +<p> +That evening we had the room as full as it could hold. Signor Velotti +<i>alias</i> Melchior astonished them. The cards appeared to obey his +commands—rings were discovered in lady's shoes—watches were beat to a +powder and made whole—canary birds flew out of eggs. The audience were +delighted. The entertainment closed with Fleta's performance on the +slack wire; and certainly never was there anything more beautiful and +graceful. Balanced on the wire in a continual, waving motion, her eyes +fixed upon a point to enable her to maintain her position, she performed +several feats, such as the playing with five oranges, balancing swords, +&c. Her extreme beauty—her very picturesque and becoming dress—her +mournful expression and downcast eyes—her gentle manner, appeared to +win the hearts of the audience; and when she was assisted off from her +perilous situation by Melchior and me, and made her graceful courtesy, +the plaudits were unanimous. +</p> +<p> +When the company dispersed I went to her, intending to praise her, but I +found her in tears. "What is the matter, my dear Fleta?" +</p> +<p> +"O nothing! don't say I have been crying—but I cannot bear it—so many +people looking at me. Don't say a word to Melchior—I won't cry any +more." +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0090" id="h2HCH0090"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter XII +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + It is very easy to humbug those who are so eager to be humbugged as + people are in this world of humbug—We show ourselves excessively + disinterested, which astonishes everybody. +</p> +<p> +I kissed and consoled her; she threw her arm round my neck, and remained +there with her face hid for some time. We then joined the others at +supper. Melchior was much pleased with our success, and highly praised +the conduct of Timothy and myself, which he pronounced was, for the +first attempt, far beyond his expectations. +</p> +<p> +We continued to astonish all the good people of —— for five days, when +we discovered the indubitable fact, that there was no more money to be +extracted from their pockets, upon which we resumed our usual clothes +and smock frocks, and with our bundles in our hands, set off for another +market town, about fifteen miles distant. There we were equally +successful, and Melchior was delighted with our having proved such a +powerful acquisition to his troop: but not to dwell too long upon one +subject, I shall inform the reader that, after a trip of six weeks, +during which we were very well received, we once more returned to the +camp, which had located within five miles of our last scene of action. +Every one was content—we were all glad to get back and rest from our +labours. Melchior was pleased with his profits, poor little Fleta +overjoyed to be once more in the seclusion of her tent, and Nattée very +glad to hear of our good fortune, and to see her husband. Timothy and I +had already proved ourselves so useful, that Melchior treated us with +the greatest friendship and confidence—and he made us a present out of +the gains, for our exertions; to me he gave ten, and to Timothy five, +pounds. +</p> +<p> +"There, Japhet, had you hired yourself I should not have paid you more +than seven shillings per week, finding you in food; but you must +acknowledge that for six weeks that is not bad pay. However, your +earnings will depend upon our success, and I rather think that we shall +make a much better thing of it when next we start, which will be in +about a fortnight; but we have some arrangements to make. Has Timothy a +good memory?" +</p> +<p> +"I think he has." +</p> +<p> +"That is well. I told you before that we are to try the 'Wise Man,'—but +first we must have Nattée in play. To-morrow we will start for ——," +mentioning a small quiet town about four miles off. +</p> +<p> +We did so, early the next morning, and arrived about noon, pitching our +tents on the common, not far from the town; but in this instance we left +all the rest of our gang behind. Melchior's own party and his two tents +were all that were brought by the donkeys. +</p> +<p> +Melchior and I, dressed as countrymen, went into the town at dusk, and +entered a respectable sort of inn, taking our seats at one of the tables +in the tap-room, and, as we had already planned, after we had called for +beer, commenced a conversation in the hearing of the others who were +sitting drinking and smoking. +</p> +<p> +"Well, I never will believe it—it's all cheat and trickery," said +Melchior, "and they only do it to pick your pocket. Tell your fortune, +indeed! I suppose she promised you a rich wife and half-a-dozen +children." +</p> +<p> +"No, she did not," replied I, "for I am too young to marry; but she told +me what I know has happened." +</p> +<p> +"Well, what was that?" +</p> +<p> +"Why, she told me that my mother had married again, and turned me out of +doors to work for my bread." +</p> +<p> +"But she might have heard that." +</p> +<p> +"How could she? No, that's not possible; but she told me I had a mole on +my knee, which was a sign of luck. Now how could she know that?" +</p> +<p> +"Well, I grant that was odd—and pray what else did she promise you?" +</p> +<p> +"Why, she said, that I should meet with my dearest friend to-night. Now +that does puzzle me, for I have but one in the world, and he is a long +way off." +</p> +<p> +"Well, if you do meet your friend, then I'll believe her; but if not, +it has been all guess-work; and pray what did you pay for all this—was +it a shilling, or did she pick your pocket?" +</p> +<p> +"That's what puzzles me,—she refused to take anything. I offered it +again and again, and she said,'No; that she would have no money—that +her gift was not to be sold.'" +</p> +<p> +"Well, that is odd. Do you hear what this young man says," said +Melchior, addressing the others, who had swallowed every word. +</p> +<p> +"Yes," replied one; "but who is this person?" +</p> +<p> +"The queen of the gipsies, I am told. I never saw such a wonderful woman +in my life—her eye goes right through you. I met her on the common, +and, as she passed, she dropped a handkerchief. I ran back to give it +her, and then she thanked me, and said, 'Open your hand and let me see +the palm. Here are great lines, and you will be fortunate;' and then she +told me a great deal more, and bid God bless me." +</p> +<p> +"Then if she said that, she cannot have dealings with the <i>devil</i>," +observed Melchior. +</p> +<p> +"Very odd—very strange—take no money—queen of the gipsies," was +echoed from all sides. +</p> +<p> +The landlady and the barmaid listened with wonder, when who should come +in, as previously agreed, but Timothy. I pretended not to see him, but +he came up to me, seizing me by the hand, and shaking it with apparent +delight, and crying, "Wilson, have you forgot Smith?" +</p> +<p> +"Smith!" cried I, looking earnestly in his face. "Why, so it is. How +came you here?" +</p> +<p> +"I left Dublin three days ago," replied he, "but how I came here into +this house, is one of the strangest things that ever occurred. I was +walking over the common, when a tall handsome woman looked at me, and +said, 'Young man, if you will go into the third public-house you pass, +you will meet an old friend, who expects you.' I thought she was +laughing at me, but as it mattered very little in which house I passed +the night, I thought, for the fun of the thing I might as well take her +advice." +</p> +<p> +"How strange!" cried Melchior, "and she told him the same—that is, he +would meet a friend." +</p> +<p> +"Strange—very strange—wonderful—astonishing!" was echoed from all +quarters, and the fame of the gipsy was already established. +</p> +<p> +Timothy and I sat down together, conversing as old friends, and Melchior +went about from one to the other, narrating the wonderful occurrence +till past midnight, when we all three took beds at the inn, as if we +were travellers. +</p> +<p> +The report which we had circulated that evening induced many people to +go out to see Nattée, who appeared to take no notice of them; and when +asked to tell fortunes, waved them away with her hand. But, although +this plan of Melchior's was, for the first two or three days very +expedient, yet, as it was not intended to last, Timothy, who remained +with me at the inn, became very intimate with the barmaid, and obtained +from her most of the particulars of her life. I, also, from repeated +conversations with the landlady, received information very important, +relative to herself, and many of the families in the town, but as the +employment of Nattée was for an ulterior object, we contented ourselves +with gaining all the information we could before we proceeded further. +After we had been there a week, and the fame of the gipsy woman had been +marvellously increased—many things having been asserted of her which +were indeed truly improbable—Melchior agreed that Timothy should +persuade the barmaid to try if the gipsy woman would tell her fortune: +the girl, with some trepidation, agreed, but at the same time, expecting +to be refused, consented to walk with him over the common. Timothy +advised her to pretend to pick up a sixpence when near to Nattée, and +ask her if it did not belong to her, and the barmaid acted upon his +suggestions, having just before that quitted the arm of Timothy, who had +conducted her. +</p> +<p> +"Did you drop a sixpence? I have picked up one," said the girl, +trembling with fear as she addressed Nattée. +</p> +<p> +"Child," replied Nattée, who was prepared, "I have neither dropped a +sixpence nor have you found one—but never mind that, I know that which +you wish, and I know who you are. Now what would you with me? Is it to +inquire whether the landlord and landlady of the Golden Lion intend to +keep you in their service?" +</p> +<p> +"No," replied the girl, frightened at what she heard; "not to inquire +that, but to ask what my fortune will be?" +</p> +<p> +"Open your palm, pretty maid, and I will tell you. Hah! I see that you +were born in the West—your father is dead—your mother is in +service—and let me see,—you have a brother at sea—now in the West +Indies." +</p> +<p> +At this intelligence, all of which, as may be supposed, had been +gathered by us, the poor girl was so frightened that she fell down in a +swoon, and Timothy carried her off. When she was taken home to the inn, +she was so ill that she was put into bed, and what she did say was so +incoherent, that, added to Timothy's narrative, the astonishment of the +landlady and others was beyond all bounds. I tried very hard to bring +the landlady, but she would not consent; and now Nattée was pestered by +people of higher condition, who wished to hear what she would say. Here +Nattée's powers were brought into play. She would not refuse to see +them, but would not give answers till she had asked questions, and, as +from us she had gleaned much general information, so by making this +knowledge appear in her questions to them, she made them believe she +knew more. If a young person came to her, she would immediately ask the +name—of that name she had all the references acquired from us, as to +family and connections. Bearing upon them, she would ask a few more, and +then give them an abrupt dismissal. +</p> +<p> +This behaviour was put up with from one of her commanding presence, who +refused money, and treated those who accosted her, as if she was their +superior. Many came again and again, telling her all they knew, and +acquainting her with every transaction of their life, to induce her to +prophesy, for such, she informed them, was the surest way to call the +spirit upon her. By these means we obtained the secret history of the +major part, that is, the wealthier part of the town of ——; and although +the predictions of Nattée were seldom given, yet when given, they were +given with such perfect and apparent knowledge of the parties, that when +she left, which she did about six weeks after her first appearance, the +whole town rang with accounts of her wonderful powers. +</p> +<p> +It will appear strange that Melchior would not permit Nattée to reap a +harvest, which might have been great; but the fact was, that he only +allowed the seed to be sown that a greater harvest might be gathered +hereafter. Nattée disappeared, the gipsie's tent was no longer on the +common, and the grass, which had been beaten down into a road by the +feet of the frequent applicants to her, was again permitted to spring +up. We also took our departure, and rejoined the camp with Nattée, where +we remained for a fortnight, to permit the remembrance of her to subside +a little—knowing that the appetite was alive, and would not be +satisfied until it was appeased. +</p> +<p> +After that time, Melchior, Timothy, and I, again set off for the town +of ——, and stopping at a superior inn in another part of the town, +dressed as travellers, that is, people who go about the country for +orders from the manufacturers, ordered our beds and supper in the +coffee-room. The conversation was soon turned upon the wonderful powers +of Nattée, the gipsy. "Nonsense," said Melchior, "she knows nothing. I +have heard of her. But there is a man coming this way (should he happen +to pass through this town) who will surprise and frighten you. No one +knows who he is. He is named the Great Aristodemus. He knows the past, +the present, and the future. He never looks at people's hands—he only +looks you in the face, and <i>woe be to them who tell him a lie</i>. +Otherwise, he is good-tempered and obliging, and will tell what will +come to pass, and his predictions never have been known to fail. They +say that he is hundreds of years old, and his hair is white as silver." +At this information many expressed their doubts, and many others vaunted +the powers of the gipsy. Melchior replied, "that all he knew was, that +for the sum of two guineas paid down, he had told him of a legacy left +him of six hundred pounds, which otherwise he would never have known of +or received." All the town of —— being quite alive for fortune-telling, +this new report gained wind, and after a week's sojourn, Melchior +thought that the attempt should be made. +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0091" id="h2HCH0091"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter XIII +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + The seed having been carefully sown, we now reap a golden + harvest—We tell every body what they knew before, and we are + looked upon as most marvellous by most marvellous fools. +</p> +<p> +We accordingly packed up, and departed to another market town. Timothy, +dressed in a sombre suit of black, very much like an undertaker, was +provided with a horse, with the following directions: to proceed +leisurely until he was within half a mile of the town of ——, and then +to gallop in as fast as he could, stop at the best inn in the place, and +order apartments for the Great Aristodemus, who might be expected in +half an hour. Every thing in this world depends upon appearances, that +is, when you intend to gull it; and as every one in the town had heard +of the Great Aristodemus, so every one was anxious to know something +about him, and Timothy was pestered with all manner of questions; but he +declared that he was only his courier, and could only tell what other +people said; but then what other people said, by Timothy's account, was +very marvellous indeed. Timothy had hardly time to secure the best +rooms in the hotel, when Melchior, dressed in a long flowing silk gown, +with a wig of long white hair, a square cap, and two or three gold +chains hanging from his neck, certainly most admirably disguised, and +attended by me in the dress of a German student, a wig of long brown +locks hanging down my shoulders, made our appearance in a post-chaise +and four, and drove up to the door of the inn, at a pace which shook +every house in the street, and occasioned every window to be tenanted +with one or more heads to ascertain the cause of this unusual +occurrence, for it was not a very great town, although once of +importance; but the manufactures had been removed, and it was occupied +by those who had become independent by their own exertions, or by those +of their forefathers. +</p> +<p> +The door of the chaise was opened by the obsequious Timothy, who pushed +away the ostlers and waiters, as if unworthy to approach his master, and +the Great Aristodemus made his appearance. As he ascended the steps of +the door, his passage was for a moment barred by one whose profession +Melchior well knew. "Stand aside, exciseman!" said he, in a commanding +voice. "No one crosses my path with impunity." Astonished at hearing his +profession thus mentioned, the exciseman, who was the greatest bully in +the town, slipped on one side with consternation, and all those present +lifted up their eyes and hands with astonishment. The Great Aristodemus +gained his room, and shut his door; and I went out to pay for the chaise +and order supper, while Timothy and the porters were busy with our +luggage, which was very considerable. +</p> +<p> +"My master will not see any one," said I to the landlord; "he quits this +town to-morrow, if the letters arrive which he expects by the post; +therefore, pray get rid of this crowd, and let him be quiet, for he is +very tired, having travelled one hundred and fifty miles since the dawn +of day." +</p> +<p> +When Tim and I had performed this duty, we joined Melchior in his room, +leaving the news to be circulated. "This promises well," observed +Melchior; "up to the present we have expended much time and money; now +we must see if we cannot recover it tenfold. Japhet, you must take an +opportunity of going out again after supper, and make inquiries of the +landlord what poor people they have in the town, as I am very generous, +and like to relieve them; you may observe, that all the money offered to +me for practising my art, I give away to the poor, having no occasion +for it." This I did, and we then sat down to supper, and having unpacked +our baggage, went to bed, after locking the door of the room, and taking +out the key. +</p> +<p> +The next morning we had every thing in readiness, and as the letters, as +the reader may suppose, did not arrive by the post, we were obliged to +remain, and the landlord ventured to hint to me, that several people +were anxious to consult my master. I replied, that I would speak to him, +but it was necessary to caution those who came, that they must either +offer gold—or nothing at all. I brought his consent to see one or two, +but no more. Now, although we had various apparatus to use when +required, it was thought that the effect would be greater, if, in the +first instance, every thing was simple. Melchior, therefore, remained +sitting at the table, which was covered with a black cloth, worked with +curious devices, and a book of hieroglyphics before him, and an ivory +wand, tipped with gold, lying by the book. Timothy standing at the door, +with a short Roman sword buckled round his belt, and I, in a respectful +attitude, behind the Great Aristodemus. +</p> +<p> +The first person who was admitted was the lady of the mayor of the town; +nothing could be more fortunate, as we had every information relative to +her and her spouse, for people in high places are always talked of. +Aristodemus waved his hand, and I brought forward a chair in silence, +and motioned that she should be seated. Aristodemus looked her in her +face, and then turned over several leaves, until he fixed upon a page, +which he considered attentively. "Mayoress of ——, what wouldst thou +with me?" +</p> +<p> +She started, and turned pale. "I would ask—" +</p> +<p> +"I know; thou wouldst ask many things, perhaps, had I time to listen. +Amongst others thou wouldst ask if there is any chance of thy giving an +heir to thy husband. Is it not so?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, it is," replied the lady, fetching her breath. +</p> +<p> +"So do I perceive by this book; but let me put one question to thee. +Wouldst thou have blessings showered on thee, yet do no good? Thou art +wealthy—yet what dost thou and thy husband do with these riches? Are ye +liberal? No. Give, and it shall be given. I have said." +</p> +<p> +Aristodemus waved his hand, and the lady rose to withdraw. A guinea was +in her fingers, and her purse in her hand; she took out four more, and +added them to the other, and laid them on the table. +</p> +<p> +"'Tis well, lady; charity shall plead for thee. Artolphe, let that money +be distributed among the poor." +</p> +<p> +I bowed in silence, and the lady retired. +</p> +<p> +"Who will say that I do no good," observed Melchior, smiling, as soon as +she was gone, "Her avarice and that of her husband are as notorious as +their anxiety for children. Now, if I persuade them to be liberal, I do +service." +</p> +<p> +"But you have given her hopes." +</p> +<p> +"I have, and the very hope will do more to further their wishes than +anything else. It is despair which too often prevents those who have no +children, from having any. How often do you see a couple, who, after +years waiting for children, have at last given up their hope, and +resigned themselves to the dispensations of Providence, and then, when +their anxiety has subsided, have obtained a family? Japhet, I am a +shrewd observer of human nature." +</p> +<p> +"That I believe," replied I; "but I do not believe your last remark to +be correct—but Timothy raps at the door." +</p> +<p> +Another lady entered the room, and then started back, as if she would +retreat, so surprised was she at the appearance of the Great +Aristodemus; but as Timothy had turned the key, her escape was +impossible. She was unknown to us, which was rather awkward; but +Melchior raised his eyes from his book, and waved his hand as before, +that she should be seated. With some trepidation she stated, that she +was a widow, whose dependence was upon an only son now at sea; that she +had not heard of him for a long while, and was afraid that some accident +had happened; that she was in the greatest distress—"and," continued +she, "I have nothing to offer but this ring. Can you tell me if he is +yet alive?" cried she, bursting into tears; "but if you have not the art +you pretend to, O do not rob a poor, friendless creature, but let me +depart!" +</p> +<p> +"When did you receive your last letter from him?" said Melchior. +</p> +<p> +"It is now seven months—dated from Bahia," replied she, pulling it out +of her reticule, and covering her face with her handkerchief. +</p> +<p> +Melchior caught the address, and then turned the letter over on the +other side, as it lay on the table. "Mrs Watson," said he. +</p> +<p> +"Heavens! do you know my name?" cried the woman. +</p> +<p> +"Mrs Watson, I do not require to read your son's letter—I know its +contents." He then turned over his book, and studied for a few seconds. +"Your son is alive." +</p> +<p> +"Thank God!" cried she, clasping her hands, and dropping her reticule. +</p> +<p> +"But you must not expect his return too soon—he is well employed." +</p> +<p> +"Oh! I care not—he is alive—he is alive! God bless you—God bless +you!" +</p> +<p> +Melchior made a sign to me, pointing to the five guineas and the +reticule; and I contrived to slip them into her reticule, while she +sobbed in her handkerchief. +</p> +<p> +"Enough, madam; you must go, for others require my aid." +</p> +<p> +The poor woman rose, and offered the ring. +</p> +<p> +"Nay, nay, I want not thy money; I take from the rich, that I may +distribute to the poor—but not from the widow in affliction. Open thy +bag." The widow took up her bag, and opened it. Melchior dropped in the +ring, taking his wand from the table, waved it, and touched the bag. "As +thou art honest, so may thy present wants be relieved. Seek, and thou +shalt find." +</p> +<p> +The widow left the room with tears of gratitude; and I must say, that I +was affected with the same. When she had gone, I observed to Melchior, +that up to the present he had toiled for nothing. +</p> +<p> +"Very true, Japhet; but depend upon it, if I assisted that poor woman +from no other feelings than interested motives, I did well; but I tell +thee candidly, I did it from compassion. We are odd mixtures of good and +evil. I wage war with fools and knaves, but not with all the world. I +gave that money freely—she required it; and it may be put as a set-off +against my usual system of fraud, or it may not—at all events, I +pleased myself." +</p> +<p> +"But you told her that her son was alive." +</p> +<p> +"Very true, and he may be dead; but is it not well to comfort her—even +for a short time, to relieve that suspense which is worse than the +actual knowledge of his death? Sufficient for the day is the evil +thereof." +</p> +<p> +It would almost have appeared that this good action of Melchior met with +its reward, for the astonishment of the widow at finding the gold in her +reticule—her narrative of what passed, and her assertion (which she +firmly believed to be true), that she had never left her reticule out of +her hand, and that Melchior had only touched it with his wand, raised +his reputation to that degree, that nothing else was talked about +throughout the town, and, to crown all, the next day's post brought her +a letter and remittances from her son; and the grateful woman returned, +and laid ten guineas on the black cloth, showering a thousand blessings +upon Melchior, and almost worshipped him as a supernatural being. This +was a most fortunate occurrence, and as Melchior prophesied, the harvest +did now commence. In four days we had received upwards of £200, and we +then thought it time that we should depart. The letters arrived, which +were expected, and when we set off in a chaise and four, the crowd to +see us was so great, that it was with difficulty we could pass through +it. +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0092" id="h2HCH0092"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter XIV +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + In which Melchior talks very much like an astrologer, and Tim and I + return to our old trade of making up innocent prescriptions. +</p> +<p> +We had taken our horses for the next town; but as soon as we were fairly +on the road, I stopped the boys, and told them that the Great +Aristodemus intended to observe the planets and stars that night, and +that they were to proceed to a common which I mentioned. The post-boys, +who were well aware of his fame, and as fully persuaded of it as +everybody else, drove to the common; we descended, took off the luggage, +and received directions from Melchior in their presence about the +instruments, to which the boys listened with open mouths and wonderment. +I paid them well, and told them they might return, which they appeared +very glad to do. They reported what had occurred, and this simple method +of regaining our camp, added to the astonishment of the good town +of ——. When they were out of sight we resumed our usual clothes, packed +all up, carried away most of our effects, and hid the others in the +furze to be sent for the next night, not being more than two miles from +the camp. We soon arrived, and were joyfully received by Fleta and +Nattée. +</p> +<p> +As we walked across the common, I observed to Melchior, "I wonder if +these stars have any influence upon mortals, as it was formerly +supposed?" +</p> +<p> +"Most assuredly they have," rejoined Melchior. "I cannot read them, but +I firmly believe in them." +</p> +<p> +I made the above remark, as I had often thought that such was Melchior's +idea. +</p> +<p> +"Yes," continued he, "every man has his destiny—such must be the case. +It is known beforehand what is to happen to us by an Omniscient Being, +and being known, what is it but destiny which cannot be changed? It is +<i>fate</i>," continued he, surveying the stars with his hand raised up, "and +that fate is as surely written there as the sun shines upon us; but the +great book is sealed, because it would not add to our happiness." +</p> +<p> +"If, then, all is destiny, or fate, what inducement is there to do well +or ill?" replied I. "We may commit all acts of evil, and say, that as it +was predestined, we could not help it. Besides would it be just that the +Omniscient Being should punish us for those crimes which we cannot +prevent, and which are allotted to us by destiny?" +</p> +<p> +"Japhet, you argue well; but you are in error, because, like most of +those of the Christian Church, you understand not the sacred writings, +nor did I until I knew my wife. Her creed is, I believe, correct; and +what is more, adds weight to the truths of the Bible." +</p> +<p> +"I thought that gipsies had no religion." +</p> +<p> +"You are not the only one who supposes so. It is true that the majority +of the tribe are held by the higher castes as serfs, and are not +instructed; but with—if I may use the expression—the aristocracy of +them it is very different, and their creed I have adopted." +</p> +<p> +"I should wish to hear their creed," replied I. +</p> +<p> +"Hear it then. Original sin commenced in heaven—when the angels +rebelled against their God—not on earth." +</p> +<p> +"I will grant that sin originated first in heaven." +</p> +<p> +"Do you think that a great, a good God, ever created any being for its +destruction and eternal misery, much less an angel? Did he not foresee +their rebellion?" +</p> +<p> +"I grant it." +</p> +<p> +"This world was not peopled with the image of God until after the fall +of the angels: it had its living beings, its monsters perhaps, but not a +race of men with eternal souls. But it was peopled, as we see it now is, +to enable the legions of angels who fell to return to their former happy +state—as a pilgrimage by which they might obtain their pardons, and +resume their seats in heaven. Not a child is born, but the soul of some +fallen cherub enters into the body to work out its salvation. Many do, +many do not, and then they have their task to recommence anew; for the +spirit once created is immortal, and cannot be destroyed; and the +Almighty is all goodness, and would ever pardon." +</p> +<p> +"Then you suppose there is no such thing as eternal punishment?" +</p> +<p> +"Eternal!—no. Punishment there is, but not eternal. When the legions of +angels fell, some were not so perverse as others: they soon re-obtained +their seats, even when, as children, having passed through the slight +ordeal, they have been summoned back to heaven; but others who, from +their infancy, show how bad were their natures, have many pilgrimages to +perform before they can be purified. This is, in itself, a punishment. +What other punishment they incur between their pilgrimages we know not; +but this is certain, that no one was created to be punished eternally." +</p> +<p> +"But all this is but assertion," replied I; "where are your proofs?" +</p> +<p> +"In the Bible; some day or other I will show them to you; but now we are +at the camp, and I am anxious to embrace Nattée." +</p> +<p> +I thought for some time upon this singular creed; one, in itself, not +militating against religion, but at the same time I could not call to +mind any passages by which it could be supported. Still the idea was +beautiful, and I dwelt upon it with pleasure. I have before observed, +and indeed the reader must have gathered from my narative, that Melchior +was no common personage. Every day did I become more partial to him, and +more pleased with our erratic life. What scruples I had at first, +gradually wore away; the time passed quickly, and although I would +occasionally call to mind the original object of my setting forth, I +would satisfy myself by the reflection, that there was yet sufficient +time. Little Fleta was now my constant companion when in the camp, and I +amused myself with teaching her to write and read. +</p> +<p> +"Japhet," said Timothy to me one day as we were cutting hazel broach +wood in the forest, "I don't see that you get on very fast in your +search after your father." +</p> +<p> +"No, Tim, I do not; but I am gaining a knowledge of the world which will +be very useful to me when I recommence the search; and what is more, I +am saving a great deal of money to enable me to prosecute it." +</p> +<p> +"What did Melchior give you after we left?" +</p> +<p> +"Twenty guineas, which, with what I had before, make more than fifty." +</p> +<p> +"And he gave me ten, which makes twenty, with what I had before. Seventy +pounds is a large sum." +</p> +<p> +"Yes, but soon spent, Tim. We must work a little longer. Besides, I +cannot leave that little girl—she was never intended for a +rope-dancer." +</p> +<p> +"I am glad to hear you say that, Japhet, for I feel as you do—she shall +share our fortunes." +</p> +<p> +"A glorious prospect truly," replied I, laughing; "but never mind, it +would be better than her remaining here. But how are we to manage that?" +</p> +<p> +"Aye! that's the rub; but there is time enough to think about it when we +intend to quit our present occupation." +</p> +<p> +"Well, I understand from Melchior that we are to start in a few days." +</p> +<p> +"What is it to be, Japhet?" +</p> +<p> +"Oh! we shall be at home—we are to cure all diseases under the sun. +To-morrow we commence making pills, so we may think ourselves with Mr +Cophagus again." +</p> +<p> +"Well, I do think we shall have some fun; but I hope Melchior won't make +me take my own pills to prove their good qualities—that will be no +joke." +</p> +<p> +"O no, Num is kept on purpose for that. What else is the fool good for?" +</p> +<p> +The next week was employed as we anticipated. Boxes of pills of every +size, neatly labelled, bottles of various mixtures, chiefly stimulants, +were corked and packed up. Powders of <i>anything</i> were put in papers; +but, at all events, there was nothing hurtful in them. All was ready, +and accompanied by Num (Jumbo and Fleta being left at home) we set off, +Melchior assuming the dress in which we had first met him in the wagon, +and altering his appearance so completely, that he would have been taken +for at least sixty years old. We now travelled on foot with our dresses +in bundles, each carrying his own, except Num, who was loaded like a +pack-horse, and made sore lamentations: +</p> +<p> +"Can't you carry some of this?" +</p> +<p> +"No," replied I, "it is your own luggage; every one must carry his own." +</p> +<p> +"Well, I never felt my spangled dress so heavy before. Where are we +going?" +</p> +<p> +"Only a little way," replied Timothy, "and then you will have nothing +more to do." +</p> +<p> +"I don't know that. When master puts on that dress, I have to swallow +little things till I'm sick." +</p> +<p> +"It's all good for your health, Num." +</p> +<p> +"I'm very well, I thank'e," replied the poor fellow; "but I'm very hot +and very tired." +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0093" id="h2HCH0093"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter XV +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + In which Timothy makes a grand speech, quite as true as those + delivered from the hustings—Melchior, like the candidate, states + his pretentions for public favour, and the public, as usual, + swallow the bait. +</p> +<p> +Fortunately for poor Num, we were not far from the market town at which +we intended to open our campaign, which we did the next morning by Num +and Timothy sallying forth, the former with a large trumpet in his hand, +and the latter riding on a donkey. On their arrival at the market-place, +Num commenced blowing it with all his might, while Timothy, in his +spangled dress, as soon as they had collected a crowd, stood upon his +saddle, and harangued the people as follows:— +</p> +<p> +"Gentlemen and ladies—I have the honour to announce to you the arrival +in this town of the celebrated Doctor Appallacheosmocommetico, who has +travelled farther than the sun and faster than a comet. He hath visited +every part of the globe. He has smoked the calumet with the Indians of +North America—he has hunted with the Araucas in the South—galloped on +wild horses over the plains of Mexico, and rubbed noses with the +Esquimaux. He hath used the chopsticks with the Chinese, swung the +Cherok pooga with the Hindoos, and put a new nose on the Great Cham of +Tartary. He hath visited and been received in every court of Europe: +danced on the ice of the Neva with the Russians—led the mazurka with +the Poles—waltzed with the Germans—tarantulaed with the +Italians—fandangoed with the Spanish—and quadrilled with the French. +He hath explored every mine in the universe, walked through every town +on the continent, examined every mountain in the world, ascended Mont +Blanc, walked down the Andes, and run up the Pyrenees. He has been into +every volcano in the globe, and descending by Vesuvius has been thrown +up by Stromboli. He has lived more than a thousand years, and is still +in the flower of his youth. He has had one hundred and forty sets of +teeth one after another, and expects a new set next Christmas. His whole +life has been spent in the service of mankind, and in doing good to his +fellow-creatures; and having the experience of more than a thousand +years, he cures more than a thousand diseases. Gentlemen, the wonderful +doctor will present himself before you this evening, and will then tell +you what his remedies are good for, so that you may pick and choose +according to your several complaints. Ladies, the wonderful doctor can +greatly assist you: he has secrets by which you may have a family if you +should so wish—philters to make husbands constant, and salve to make +them blind—cosmetics to remove pimples and restore to youth and beauty, +and powders to keep children from squalling. Sound the trumpet, +Philotas; sound, and let every body know that the wonderful Doctor +Appallacheosmocommetico has vouchsafed to stop here and confer his +blessings upon the inhabitants of this town." Hereupon Num again blew +the trumpet till he was black in the face; and Timothy, dropping on his +donkey, rode away to other parts of the town, where he repeated his +grandiloquent announcement, followed, as may be supposed, by a numerous +cortege of little ragged boys. +</p> +<p> +About four o'clock in the afternoon, Melchior made his appearance in the +market-place, attended by me, dressed as a German student, Timothy and +Num in their costumes. A stage had been already prepared, and the +populace had crowded round it more with the intention of laughing than +of making purchases. The various packets were opened and arranged in +front of the platform, I standing on one side of Melchior, Timothy on +the other, and Num with his trumpet, holding on by one of the scaffold +poles at the corner. +</p> +<p> +"Sound the trumpet, Philotas," said Melchior, taking off his +three-cornered hat, and making a low bow to the audience, at every +blast. "Pray, Mr Fool, do you know why you sound the trumpet?" +</p> +<p> +"I'm sure I don't know," replied Num, opening his goggle eyes. +</p> +<p> +"Do you know, Mr Dionysius?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, sir, I can guess." +</p> +<p> +"Explain, then, to the gentlemen and ladies who have honoured us with +their presence." +</p> +<p> +"Because, sir, trumpets are always sounded before great conquerors." +</p> +<p> +"Very true, sir-, but how am I a great conqueror?" +</p> +<p> +"You have conquered death, sir; and he's a very rum customer to have to +deal with." +</p> +<p> +"Dionysius, you have answered well, and shall have some bullock's liver +for your supper—don't forget to remind me, in case I forget it." +</p> +<p> +"No, that I won't, sir," replied Timothy, rubbing his stomach, as if +delighted with the idea. +</p> +<p> +"Ladies and gentlemen," said Melchior to the audience, who were on the +broad grin, "I see your mouths are all open, and are waiting for the +pills; but be not too impatient—I cannot part with my medicines unless +you have diseases which require their aid; and I should, indeed, be a +sorry doctor, if I prescribed without knowing your complaints. <i>Est +neutrale genus signans rem non animatam</i>, says Herodotus, which in +English means, what is one man's meat is another man's poison; and +further, he adds, <i>Ut jecur, ut onus, put ut occiput</i>, which is as much +as to say, that what agrees with one temperament, will be injurious to +another. Caution, therefore, becomes very necessary in the use of +medicine; and my reputation depends upon my not permitting any one to +take what is not good for him. And now, my very dear friends, I will +first beg you to observe the peculiar qualities of the contents of this +little phial. You observe, that there is not more than sixty drops in +it, yet will these sixty drops add ten years to a man's life—for it +will cure him of almost as many diseases. In the first place, are any of +you troubled with the <i>ascites</i>, or dropsy, which, as the celebrated +Galen hath declared, may be divided into three parts, the <i>ascites</i>, the +<i>anasarca</i>, and the <i>tympanites</i>. The diagnostics of this disease are, +swelling of the abdomen or stomach, difficulty of breathing, want of +appetite, and a teasing cough. I say, have any of you this disease? +None. Then I thank Heaven that you are not so afflicted. +</p> +<p> +"The next disease it is good for, is the <i>peripneumonia</i>, or +inflammation on the lungs—the diagnostics or symptoms of which are, a +small pulse, swelling of the eyes, and redness of the face. Say, have +any of you these symptoms—if so, you have the disease. No one. I thank +Heaven that you are none of you so afflicted. +</p> +<p> +"It is also a sovereign remedy for the <i>diarrhoea</i>, the diagnostics of +which are, faintness, frequent gripings, rumbling in the bowels, cold +sweats, and spasm." +</p> +<p> +Here one man came forward and complained of frequent gripings—another +of rumbling in the bowels, and two or three more of cold sweats. +</p> +<p> +"It is well. O I thank Heaven that I am here to administer to you +myself! for what says Hippocrates? <i>Relativum cum antecedente +concordat</i>, which means, that remedies quickly applied, kill the disease +in its birth. Here, my friends, take it—take it—pay me only one +shilling and be thankful. When you go to rest, fail not to offer up your +prayers. It is also a sovereign remedy for the dreadful <i>chiragra</i> or +gout. I cured the whole corporation of city aldermen last week, by their +taking three bottles each, and they presented me with the freedom of the +city of London, in a gold box, which I am sorry that I have forgotten to +bring with me. Now the <i>chiragra</i> may be divided into several varieties. +<i>Gonagra</i>, when it attacks the knees—<i>chiragra</i>, if in the +hands—<i>onagra</i>, if in the elbow—<i>omagra</i>, if in the shoulder, and +<i>lumbago</i>, if in the back. All these are varieties of gout, and for all +these the contents of this little bottle is a sovereign remedy; and, +observe, it will keep for ever. Twenty years hence, when afflicted in +your old age—and the time will come, my good people—you may take down +this little phial from the shelf, and bless the hour in which you spent +your shilling; for as Eusebius declares, '<i>Verbum personale concordat +cum nominativo</i>, which is as much as to say, the active will grow old, +and suffer from pains in their limbs. Who, then, has pains in his limbs, +or lumbago? Who, indeed, can say that he will not have them?" +</p> +<p> +After this appeal, the number of those who had pains in their limbs, or +who wished to provide against such a disease, proved so great, that all +our phials were disposed of, and the doctor was obliged to promise that +in a few days he would have some more of this invaluable medicine ready. +</p> +<p> +"Ladies and gentlemen, I shall now offer to your notice a valuable +plaister, the effects of which are miraculous. Dionysius, come hither, +you have felt the benefit of this plaister; tell your case to those who +are present, and mind you tell the truth." +</p> +<p> +Hereupon Timothy stepped forward. "Ladies and gentlemen, <i>upon my +honour</i>, about three weeks back I fell off the scaffold, broke my back +bone into three pieces, and was carried off to a surgeon, who looked at +me, and told the people to take measure for my coffin. The great doctor +was not there at the time, having been sent for to consult with the +king's physicians upon the queen's case, of <i>Cophagus</i>, or intermitting +mortification of the great toe; but fortunately, just as they were +putting me into a shell, my master came back, and immediately applying +his sovereign plaister to my back, in five days I was able to sit up, +and in ten days I returned to my duty." +</p> +<p> +"Are you quite well now, Dionysius?" +</p> +<p> +"Quite well, sir, and my back is like whale-bone." +</p> +<p> +"Try it." +</p> +<p> +Hereupon Dionysius threw two somersets forward, two backward, walked +across the stage on his hands, and tumbled in every direction. +</p> +<p> +"You see, gentlemen, I'm quite well now, and what I have said, I assure +you, <i>on my honour</i>, to be a fact." +</p> +<p> +"I hope you'll allow that to be a very pretty cure," said the doctor, +appealing to the audience; "and I hardly need say, that for sprains, +bruises, contusions, wrenches, and dislocations, this plaister is +infallible; and I will surprise you more by telling you, that I can sell +it for eight-pence a sheet." +</p> +<p> +The plaister went off rapidly, and was soon expended. The doctor went on +describing his other valuable articles, and when he came to his +cosmetics, &c., for women, we could not hand them out fast enough. "And +now," said the doctor, "I must bid you farewell for this evening." +</p> +<p> +"I'm glad of that," said Timothy, "for now I mean to sell my own +medicine." +</p> +<p> +"Your medicine, Mr Dionysius! what do you mean by that?" +</p> +<p> +"Mean, sir; I mean to say that I've got a powder of my own contriving, +which is a sovereign remedy." +</p> +<p> +"Remedy, sir, for what?" +</p> +<p> +"Why, it's a powder to kill fleas, and what's more, it's just as +infallible as your own." +</p> +<p> +"Have you, indeed; and pray, sir, how did you hit upon the invention?" +</p> +<p> +"Sir, I discovered it in my sleep by accident; but I have proved it, and +I will say, if properly administered, it is quite as infallible as any +of yours. Ladies and gentlemen, I pledge you my honour that it will have +the effect desired, and all I ask is sixpence a powder." +</p> +<p> +"But how is it to be used, sir?" +</p> +<p> +"Used—why, like all other powders; but I won't give the directions till +I have sold some; promising, however, if my method does not succeed, to +return the money." +</p> +<p> +"Well, that is fair, Mr Dionysius; and I will take care that you keep +your bargain. Will anybody purchase the fool's powder for killing +fleas." +</p> +<p> +"Yes, I will," replied a man on the broad grin, "here's sixpence. Now, +then, fool, how am I to use it?" +</p> +<p> +"Use it," said Timothy, putting the sixpence in his pocket; "I'll +explain to you. You must first catch the flea, hold him so tight between +the forefinger and thumb as to force him to open his mouth; when his +mouth is open you must put a very little of this powder into it, and it +will kill him directly." +</p> +<p> +"Why, when I have the flea as tight as you state, I may as well kill him +myself." +</p> +<p> +"Very true, so you may, if you prefer it; but if you do not, you may use +this powder, which upon my honour is infallible." +</p> +<p> +This occasioned a great deal of mirth among the bystanders. Timothy kept +his sixpence, and our exhibition for this day ended, very much to the +satisfaction of Melchior, who declared he had taken more than ever he +had done before in a whole week. Indeed, the whole sum amounted to £17, +10s., all taken in shillings and sixpences, for articles hardly worth +the odd shillings in the account; so we sat down to supper with +anticipations of a good harvest, and so it proved. We stayed four days +at this town, and then proceeded onwards, when the like success attended +us, Timothy and I being obliged to sit up nearly the whole night to +label and roll up pills, and mix medicines, which we did in a very +scientific manner. Nor was it always that Melchior presided; he would +very often tell his audience that business required his attendance +elsewhere, to visit the sick, and that he left the explanation of his +medicines and their properties to his pupil, who was far advanced in +knowledge. With my prepossessing appearance, I made a great effect, more +especially among the ladies, and Timothy exerted himself so much when +with me, that we never failed to bring home to Melchior a great addition +to his earnings—so much so, that at last he only showed himself, +pretended that he was so importuned to visit sick persons, that he could +stay no longer, and then left us, after the first half hour, to carry on +the business for him. After six weeks of uninterrupted success, we +returned to the camp, which, as usual, was not very far off. +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0094" id="h2HCH0094"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter XVI +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + Important news, but not communicated—A dissolution of partnership + takes place. +</p> +<p> +Melchior's profits had been much more than he anticipated, and he was +very liberal to Timothy and myself; indeed, he looked upon me as his +right hand, and became more intimate and attached every day. We were, of +course, delighted to return to the camp, after our excursion. There was +so much continued bustle and excitement in our peculiar profession, that +a little quiet was delightful; and I never felt more happy than when +Fleta threw herself into my arms, and Nattée came forward with her usual +dignity and grace, but with more than usual condescendence and kindness, +bidding me welcome <i>home</i>. Home—alas! it was never meant for my home, +or poor Fleta's—and that I felt. It was our sojourn for a time, and no +more. +</p> +<p> +We had been more than a year exercising our talents in this lucrative +manner, when one day, as I was sitting at the entrance to the tent, with +a book in my hand, out of which Fleta was reading to me, a gipsy not +belonging to our gang made his appearance. He was covered with dust, and +the dew drops hanging on his dark forehead, proved that he had travelled +fast. He addressed Nattée, who was standing by, in their own language, +which I did not understand; but I perceived that he asked for Melchior. +After an exchange of a few sentences, Nattée expressed astonishment and +alarm, put her hands over her face, and removed them as quickly, as if +derogatory in her to show emotion, and then remained in deep thought. +Perceiving Melchior approaching, the gipsy hastened to him, and they +were soon in animated conversation. In ten minutes it was over: the +gipsy went to the running brook, washed his face, took a large draught +of water, and then hastened away and was soon out of sight. +</p> +<p> +Melchior, who had watched the departure of the gipsy, slowly approached +us. I observed him and Nattée, as they met, as I was certain that +something important had taken place. Melchior fixed his eyes upon +Nattée—she looked at him mournfully—folded her arms, and made a slight +bow as if in submission, and in a low voice, quoted from the Scriptures, +"Whither thou goest, I will go—thy people shall be my people, and thy +God my God." He then walked away with her: they sat down apart, and were +in earnest conversation for more than an hour. +</p> +<p> +"Japhet," said Melchior to me, after he had quitted his wife, "what I am +about to tell you will surprise you. I have trusted you with all I dare +trust any one, but there are some secrets in every man's life which had +better be reserved for himself and her who is bound to him by solemn +ties. We must now part. In a few days this camp will be broken up, and +these people will join some other division of the tribe. For me, you +will see me no more. Ask me not to explain, for I cannot." +</p> +<p> +"And Nattée," said I. +</p> +<p> +"Will follow my fortunes, whatever they may be—you will see her no +more." +</p> +<p> +"For myself I care not, Melchior; the world is before me, and remain +with the gipsies without you I will not; but answer me one +question—what is to become of little Fleta? Is she to remain with the +tribe, to which she does not belong, or does she go with you?" +</p> +<p> +Melchior hesitated. "I hardly can answer, but what consequence can the +welfare of a soldier's brat be to you?" +</p> +<p> +"Allowing her to be what you assert, Melchior, I am devotedly attached +to that child, and could not bear that she should remain here. I am sure +that you deceived me in what you stated, for the child remembers, and +has told me, anecdotes of her infancy, which proves that she is of no +mean family, and that she has been stolen from her friends." +</p> +<p> +"Indeed, is her memory so good?" replied Melchior, firmly closing his +teeth. "To Nattée or to me she has never hinted so much." +</p> +<p> +"That is very probable; but a stolen child she is, Melchior, and she +must not remain here." +</p> +<p> +"Must not." +</p> +<p> +"Yes; must not, Melchior; when you quit the tribe, you will no longer +have any power, nor can you have any interest about her. She shall then +choose—if she will come with me, I <i>will</i> take her, and nothing shall +prevent me; and in so doing I do you no injustice, nor do I swerve in my +fidelity." +</p> +<p> +"How do you know that? I may have my secret reasons against it." +</p> +<p> +"Surely you can have no interest in a soldier's brat, Melchior?" +</p> +<p> +Melchior appeared confused and annoyed. "She is no soldier's brat; I +acknowledge, Japhet, that the child was stolen; but you must not, +therefore, imply that the child was stolen by me or by my wife." +</p> +<p> +"I never accused you, or thought you capable of it; and that is the +reason why I am now surprised at the interest you take in her. If she +prefers to go with you, I have no more to say, but if not, I claim her; +and if she consents, will resist your interference." +</p> +<p> +"Japhet," replied Melchior, after a pause, "we must not quarrel now that +we are about to part. I will give you an answer in half an hour." +</p> +<p> +Melchior returned to Nattée, and re-commenced a conversation with her, +while I hastened to Fleta. +</p> +<p> +"Fleta, do you know that the camp is to be broken up, and Melchior and +Nattée leave it together?" +</p> +<p> +"Indeed!" replied she, with surprise. "Then what is to become of you and +Timothy?" +</p> +<p> +"We must of course seek our fortunes where we can." +</p> +<p> +"And of me?" continued she, looking me earnestly in the face with her +large blue eyes. "Am I to stay here?" continued she, with alarm in her +countenance. +</p> +<p> +"Not if you do not wish it, Fleta; as long as I can support you I +will—that is, if you would like to live with me in preference to +Melchior." +</p> +<p> +"If I would like, Japhet; you must know I would like—who has been so +kind to me as you? Don't leave me, Japhet." +</p> +<p> +"I will not, Fleta; but on condition that you promise to be guided by +me, and to do all I wish." +</p> +<p> +"To do what you wish is the greatest pleasure that I have, Japhet—so I +may safely promise that. What has happened?" +</p> +<p> +"That I do not know more than yourself; but Melchior tells me that he +and Nattée quit the gipsy tents for ever." +</p> +<p> +Fleta looked round to ascertain if any one was near us, and then in a +low tone said, "I understand their language, Japhet, that is, a great +deal of it, although they do not think so, and I overheard what the +gipsy said in part, although he was at some distance. He asked for +Melchior; and when Nattée wanted to know what he wanted, he answered +that, '<i>he</i> was dead;' then Nattée covered up her face. I could not hear +all the rest, but there was something about a <i>horse</i>." +</p> +<p> +<i>He</i> was <i>dead</i>. Had then Melchior committed murder, and was obliged to +fly the country? This appeared to me to be the most probable, when I +collected the facts in my possession; and yet I could not believe it, +for except that system of deceit necessary to carry on his various +professions, I never found anything in Melchior's conduct which could be +considered as criminal. On the contrary, he was kind, generous, and +upright in his private dealings, and in many points, proved that he had +a good heart. He was a riddle of inconsistency it was certain; +professionally he would cheat anybody, and disregard all truth and +honesty; but, in his private character, he was scrupulously honest, and, +with the exception of the assertion relative to Fleta's birth and +parentage, he had never told me a lie, that I could discover. I was +summing up all these reflections in my mind, when Melchior again came up +to me, and desiring the little girl to go away, he said, "Japhet, I have +resolved to grant your request with respect to Fleta, but it must be on +conditions." +</p> +<p> +"Let me hear them." +</p> +<p> +"First, then, Japhet, as you always have been honest and confiding with +me, tell me now what are your intentions. Do you mean to follow up the +profession which you learnt under me, or what do you intend to do?" +</p> +<p> +"Honestly, then, Melchior, I do not intend to follow up that profession, +unless driven to it by necessity. I intend to seek my father." +</p> +<p> +"And if driven to it by necessity, do you intend that Fleta shall aid +you by her acquirements? In short, do you mean to take her with you as a +speculation, to make the most of her, to let her sink, when she arrives +at the age of woman, into vice and misery?" +</p> +<p> +"I wonder at your asking me that question, Melchior; it is the first act +of injustice I have received at your hands. No; if obliged to follow up +the profession, I will not allow Fleta so to do. I would sooner that she +were in her grave. It is to rescue her from that very vice and misery, +to take her out of a society in which she never ought to have been +placed, that I take her with me." +</p> +<p> +"And this upon your honour?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, upon my honour. I love her as my sister, and cannot help indulging +in the hope that in seeking my father, I may chance to stumble upon +her's." +</p> +<p> +Melchior bit his lips. "There is another promise I must exact from you, +Japhet, which is, that to a direction which I will give you, every six +months you will inclose an address where you may be heard of, and also +intelligence as to Fleta's welfare and health." +</p> +<p> +"To that I gave my cheerful promise: but, Melchior, you appear to have +taken, all at once, a strange interest in this little girl." +</p> +<p> +"I wish you now to think that I do take an interest in her, provided you +seek not to inquire the why and the wherefore. Will you accept of funds +for her maintenance?" +</p> +<p> +"Not without necessity compels me; and then I should be glad to find, +when I can no longer help her, that you are still her friend." +</p> +<p> +"Recollect, that you will always find what is requisite by writing to +the address which I shall give you before we part. That point is now +settled, and on the whole I think the arrangement is good." +</p> +<p> +Timothy had been absent during the events of the morning—when he +returned, I communicated to him what had passed, and was about to take +place. +</p> +<p> +"Well, Japhet, I don't know—I do not dislike our present life, yet I am +not sorry to change it; but what are we to do?" +</p> +<p> +"That remains to be considered; we have a good stock of money, +fortunately, and we must husband it till we find what can be done." +</p> +<p> +We took our suppers all together for the last time, Melchior telling us +that he had determined to set off the next day. Nattée looked very +melancholy, but resigned; on the contrary, little Fleta was so +overjoyed, that her face, generally so mournful, was illuminated with +smiles whenever our eyes met. It was delightful to see her so happy. The +whole of the people in the camp had retired, and Melchior was busy +making his arrangements in the tent. I did not feel inclined to sleep; I +was thinking and revolving in my mind my prospects for the future; +sitting, or rather lying down, for I was leaning on my elbow, at a short +distance from the tents. The night was dark but clear, and the stars +were brilliant. I had been watching them, and I thought upon Melchior's +ideas of destiny, and dwelling on the futile wish that I could read +mine, when I perceived the approach of Nattée. +</p> +<p> +"Japhet," said she, "you are to take the little girl with you, I +find—will you be careful of her? for it would be on my conscience if +she were left to the mercy of the world. She departs rejoicing, let not +her joy end in tears. I depart sorrowing. I leave my people, my kin, my +habits, and customs, my influence, all—but it must be so, it is my +destiny. She is a good child, Japhet—promise me that you will be a +friend to her—and give her this to wear in remembrance of me, but—not +yet—not till we are gone—." She hesitated. "Japhet, do not let +Melchior see it in your possession; he may not like me having given it +away." I took the piece of paper containing the present, and having +promised all she required, "This is the last—yes—the very last time +that I may behold this scene," continued Nattée, surveying the common, +the tents, and the animals browsing. "Be it so; Japhet, good-night, may +you prosper!" She then turned away and entered her tent; and soon +afterwards I followed her example. +</p> +<p> +The next day, Melchior was all ready. What he had packed up was +contained in two small bundles. He addressed the people belonging to the +gang, in their own language. Nattée did the same, and the whole of them +kissed her hand. The tents, furniture, and the greatest part of his +other property, were distributed among them. Jumbo and Num were made +over to two of the principal men. Timothy, Fleta, and I, were also +ready, and intended to quit at the same time as Melchior and his wife. +</p> +<p> +"Japhet," said Melchior, "there is yet some money due to you for our +last excursion—(this was true,)—here it is —you and Timothy keep but +one purse, I am aware. Good-bye, and may you prosper!" +</p> +<p> +We shook hands with Nattée and Melchior. Fleta went up to the former, +and crossing her arms, bent her head. Nattée kissed the child, and led +her to Melchior. He stooped down, kissed her on the forehead, and I +perceived a sign of strongly suppressed emotion as he did so. Our +intended routes lay in a different direction, and when both parties had +arrived to either verge of the common, we waved our hands as a last +farewell, and resumed our paths again. Fleta burst into tears as she +turned away from her former guardians. +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0095" id="h2HCH0095"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter XVII +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + A Cabinet Council—I resolve to set up as a gentleman, having as + legitimate pretensions to the rank of one as many others. +</p> +<p> +I led the little sobbing girl by the hand, and we proceeded for some +time in silence. It was not until we gained the high road that Timothy +interrupted my reverie, by observing, "Japhet, have you at all made up +your mind what you shall do?" +</p> +<p> +"I have been reflecting, Timothy. We have lost a great deal of time. The +original intention with which I left London has been almost forgotten; +but it must be so no longer. I now have resolved that as soon as I have +placed this poor little girl in safety, that I will prosecute my search, +and never be diverted from it." +</p> +<p> +"I cannot agree with you that we have lost time, Japhet; we had very +little money when we started upon our expedition, and now we have +sufficient to enable you to prosecute your plans for a long time. The +question is, in what direction? We quitted London, and travelled west, +in imitation, as we thought, of the <i>wise men</i>. With all deference, in +my opinion, it was like <i>two fools</i>." +</p> +<p> +"I have been thinking upon that point also, Tim, and I agree with you. I +expect, from several causes, which you know as well as I do, to find my +father among the higher classes of society; and the path we took when we +started has led us into the very lowest. It appears to me that we cannot +do better than retrace our steps. We have the means now to appear as +gentlemen, and to mix in good company, and London is the very best place +for us to repair to." +</p> +<p> +"That is precisely my opinion, Japhet, with one single exception, which +I will mention to you; but first tell me, have you calculated what our +joint purses may amount to? It must be a very considerable sum." +</p> +<p> +I had not examined the packet in which was the money which Melchior had +given me at parting. I now opened it, and found, to my surprise, that +there were Bank notes to the amount of one hundred pounds. I felt that +he had given me this large sum that it might assist me in Fleta's +expenses. "With this sum," said I, "I cannot have much less than two +hundred and fifty pounds." +</p> +<p> +"And I have more than sixty," said Timothy. "Really, the profession was +not unprofitable." +</p> +<p> +"No," replied I, laughing; "but recollect, Tim, that we had no outlay. +The public provided us with food, our lodging cost us nothing. We have +had no taxes to pay; and at the same time have taxed folly and credulity +to a great extent." +</p> +<p> +"That's true, Japhet; and although I am glad to have the money, I am not +sorry that we have abandoned the profession." +</p> +<p> +"Nor am I, Tim; if you please, we will forget it altogether. But tell +me, what was the exception you were about to make?" +</p> +<p> +"Simply this. Although upwards of three hundred pounds may be a great +deal of money, yet, if we are to support the character and appearance of +gentlemen, it will not last for ever. For instance, we must have our +<i>valets</i>. What an expense that will be! Our clothes too—we shall soon +lose our rank and station in society, without we obtain a situation +under government." +</p> +<p> +"We must make it last as long as we can, Timothy; and trust to good +fortune to assist us." +</p> +<p> +"That's all very well, Japhet; but I had rather trust to our own +prudence. Now hear what I have to say. You will be as much assisted by a +<i>trusty</i> valet as by any other means. I shall, as a gentleman, be only +an expense and an incumbrance; but as a valet I shall be able to play +into your hands, at the same time more than one half the expense will be +avoided. With your leave, therefore, I will take my proper situation, +put on your livery, and thereby make myself of the greatest use." +</p> +<p> +I could not help acknowledging the advantages to be derived from this +proposal of Timothy's; but I did not like to accept it. +</p> +<p> +"It is very kind of you, Timothy," replied I; "but I can only look upon +you as a friend and an equal." +</p> +<p> +"There you are right and are wrong in the same breath. You are right in +looking upon me as a friend, Japhet; and you would be still more right +in allowing me to prove my friendship as I propose; but you are wrong in +looking upon me as an equal, for I am not so either in personal +appearance, education, or anything else. We are both foundlings, it is +true; but you were christened after Abraham Newland, and I after the +workhouse pump. You were a gentleman foundling, presenting yourself with +a fifty pound note, and good clothes. I made my appearance in rags and +misery. If you find your parents, you will rise in the world; if I find +mine, I shall, in all probability, have no reason to be proud of them. I +therefore must insist upon having my own choice in the part I am to play +in the drama, and I will prove to you that it is my right to choose. You +forget that, when we started, your object was to search after your +father, and I told you mine should be to look after my mother. You have +selected high life as the expected sphere in which he is to be found, +and I select low life as that in which I am most likely to discover the +object of my search. So you perceive," continued Tim, laughing, "that we +must arrange so as to suit the views of both without parting company. Do +you hunt among bag-wigs, amber-headed canes, silks and satins—I will +burrow among tags and tassels, dimity and mob caps; and probably we +shall both succeed in the object of our search. I leave you to hunt in +the drawing-rooms, while I ferret in the kitchen. You may throw yourself +on a sofa and exclaim—'Who is my father?' while I will sit in the +cook's lap, and ask her if she may happen to be my mother." +</p> +<p> +This sally of Timothy's made even Fleta laugh; and after a little more +remonstrance, I consented that he should perform the part of my valet. +Indeed, the more I reflected upon it, the greater appeared the +advantages which might accrue from the arrangement. By the time that +this point had been settled, we had arrived at the town to which we +directed our steps, and took up our quarters at an inn of moderate +pretensions, but of very great external cleanliness. My first object was +to find out some fitting asylum for little Fleta. The landlady was a +buxom, good-tempered young woman, and I gave the little girl into her +charge, while Timothy and I went out on a survey. I had made up my mind +to put her to some good, but not very expensive, school, if such were to +be found in the vicinity. I should have preferred taking her with me to +London, but I was aware how much more expensive it would be to provide +for her there; and as the distance from the metropolis was but twenty +miles, I could easily run down to see her occasionally. I desired the +little girl to call me her brother, as such I intended to be to her in +future, and not to answer every question they might put to her. There +was, however, little occasion for this caution; for Fleta was, as I +before observed, very unlike children in general. I then went out with +Timothy to look for a tailor, that I might order our clothes, as what we +had on were not either of the very best taste, or in the very best +condition. We walked up the main street, and soon fell in with a +tailor's shop, over which was written in large letters—"Feodor +Shneider, Tailor to his Royal Highness the Prince of Darmstadt." +</p> +<p> +"Will that do, Japhet?" said Timothy, pointing to the announcement. +</p> +<p> +"Why yes," replied I; "but how the deuce the Prince of Darmstadt should +have employed a man in a small country town as his tailor, is to me +rather a puzzle." +</p> +<p> +"Perhaps he made his clothes when he was in Germany," replied Tim. +</p> +<p> +"Perhaps he did; but, however, he shall have the honour of making mine." +</p> +<p> +We entered the shop, and I ordered a suit of the most fashionable +clothes, choosing my colours, and being very minute in my directions to +the foreman, who measured me; but as I was leaving the shop the master, +judging by my appearance, which was certainly not exactly that of a +gentleman, ventured to observe that it was customary with <i>gentlemen</i>, +whom they had not the honour of knowing, to leave a deposit. Although +the very proposal was an attack upon my gentility, I made no reply; but +pulling out a handful of guineas, laid down two on the counter, and +walked away, that I might find another shop at which we might order the +livery of Timothy; but this was only as a reconnoitre, as I did not +intend to order his liveries until I could appear in my own clothes, +which were promised on the afternoon of the next day. There were, +however, several other articles to be purchased, such as a trunk, +portmanteau, hat, gloves, &c., all which we procured, and then went back +to the inn. On my return I ordered dinner. Fleta was certainly clad in +her best frock, but bad was the best; and the landlady, who could +extract little from the child, could not imagine who we could be. I had, +however, allowed her to see more than sufficient money to warrant our +expenses; and so far her scruples were, although her curiosity was not, +removed. +</p> +<p> +That evening I had a long conversation with Fleta. I told her that we +were to part, that she must go to school, and that I would very often +come down to see her. At first, she was inconsolable at the idea; but I +reasoned with her, and the gentle, intelligent creature acknowledged +that it was right. The next day my clothes came home, and I dressed +myself. "Without flattery, Japhet," said Timothy, "you do look very much +like a gentleman." Fleta smiled, and said the same. I thought so too, +but said nothing. Putting on my hat and gloves, and accompanied by +Timothy, I descended to go out and order Tim's liveries, as well as a +fit-out for Fleta. +</p> +<p> +After I was out in the street I discovered that I had left my +handkerchief, and returned to fetch it. The landlady, seeing a gentleman +about to enter the inn, made a very low courtesy, and it was not until I +looked hard at her that she recognised me. Then I was satisfied; it was +an involuntary tribute to my appearance, worth all the flattering +assertions in the world. We now proceeded to the other tailor's in the +main street. I entered the shop with a flourishing, important air, and +was received with many bows. "I wish," said I, "to have a suit of livery +made for this young man, who is about to enter into my service. I cannot +take him up to town this figure." The livery was chosen, and as I +expressed my wish to be off the next evening, it was promised to be +ready by an hour appointed. +</p> +<p> +I then went to a milliner's, and desired that she would call at the inn +to fit out a little girl for school, whose wardrobe had been left behind +by mistake. On the fourth day all was ready. I had made inquiries, and +found out a very respectable school, kept by a widow lady. I asked for +references, which were given, and I was satisfied. The terms were +low—twenty pounds per annum. I paid the first half year in advance, and +lodged fifty guineas more in the hands of a banker, taking a receipt for +it, and giving directions that it was to be paid to the schoolmistress +as it became due. I took this precaution, that should I be in poverty +myself, at all events Fleta might be provided in clothes and schooling +for three years at least. The poor child wept bitterly at the +separation, and I could with difficulty detach her little arms from my +neck, and I felt when I left her as if I had parted with the only +valuable object to me on earth. +</p> +<p> +All was now ready; but Timothy did not, as yet, assume his new clothes. +It would have appeared strange that one who sat at my table should +afterwards put on my livery; and as, in a small town there is always +plenty of scandal, for Fleta's sake, if for no other reason, it was +deferred until our arrival in London. Wishing the landlady good-bye, who +I really believed would have given up her bill to have known who we +could possibly be, we got on the outside of the stage-coach, and in the +evening arrived in the metropolis. I have been particular in describing +all these little circumstances, as it proves how very awkward it is to +jump, without observation, from one station in society to another. +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0096" id="h2HCH0096"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter XVIII +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + I receive a letter from my uncle by which I naturally expect to + find out who is my father—Like other outcasts, I am warned by a + dream. +</p> +<p> +But I have omitted to mention a circumstance of great importance, which +occurred at the inn the night before I placed Fleta at the +boarding-school. In looking over my portmanteau, I perceived the present +of Nattée to Fleta, which I had quite forgotten. I took it to Fleta, and +told her from whom it came. On opening the paper, it proved to contain a +long chain of round coral and gold beads, strung alternately; the gold +beads were not so large as the coral, but still the number of them, and +the purity of the metal, made them of considerable value. Fleta passed +the beads through her fingers, and then threw it round her neck, and sat +in deep thought for some minutes. "Japhet," said she at last, "I have +seen this—I have worn this before—I recollect that I have; it rushes +into my memory as an old friend, and I think that before morning it will +bring to my mind something that I shall recollect about it." +</p> +<p> +"Try all you can, Fleta, and let me know to-morrow." +</p> +<p> +"It's no use trying; if I try, I never can recollect anything. I must +wear it to-night, and then I shall have something come into my mind all +of a sudden; or perhaps I may dream something. Good-night." +</p> +<p> +It immediately occurred to me that it was most probable that the chain +had been on Fleta's neck at the time that she was stolen from her +parents, and might prove the means of her being identified. It was no +common chain—apparently had been wrought by people in a state of +semi-refinement. There was too little show for its value—too much +sterling gold for the simple effect produced; and I very much doubted +whether another like it could be found. +</p> +<p> +The next morning Fleta was too much affected at parting with me, to +enter into much conversation. I asked whether she had recollected +anything, and she replied, "No; that she had cried all night at the +thoughts of our separation." I cautioned her to be very careful of the +chain, and I gave the same caution to the schoolmistress; and after I +had left the town, I regretted that I had not taken it away, and +deposited it in some place of security. I resolved to do so when I next +saw Fleta; in the meantime, she would be able, perhaps, by association, +to call up some passage of her infancy connected with it. +</p> +<p> +I had inquired of a gentleman who sat near me on the coach, which was +the best hotel for a young man of fashion. He recommended the Piazza, in +Covent Garden, and to that we accordingly repaired. I selected handsome +apartments, and ordered a light supper. When the table was laid, Timothy +made his appearance, in his livery, and cut a very smart, dashing +figure. I dismissed the waiter, and as soon as we were alone, I burst +into a fit of laughter. "Really, Timothy, this is a good farce; come, +sit down, and help me to finish this bottle of wine." +</p> +<p> +"No, sir," replied Timothy; "with your permission, I prefer doing as the +rest of my fraternity. You only leave the bottle on the sideboard, and I +will steal as much as I want; but as for sitting down, that will be +making too free, and if we were seen, would be, moreover, very +dangerous. We must both keep up our characters. They have been plying me +with all manner of questions below, as to who you were—your name, &c. I +resolved that I would give you a lift in the world, and I stated that +you had just arrived from making a grand tour—which is not a fib, after +all—and as for your name, I said that you were at present <i>incog</i>." +</p> +<p> +"But why did you make me <i>incog.</i>?" +</p> +<p> +"Because it may suit you so to be; and it certainly is the truth, for +you don't know your real name." +</p> +<p> +We were here interrupted by the waiter bringing in a letter upon a +salver. "Here is a letter addressed to 'I, or J.N., on his return from +his tour,' sir," said he; "I presume it is for you?" +</p> +<p> +"You may leave it," said I, with nonchalance. +</p> +<p> +The waiter laid the letter on the table, and retired. +</p> +<p> +"How very odd, Timothy—this letter cannot be for me; and yet they are +my initials. It is as much like a J as an I. Depend upon it, it is some +fellow who has just gained this intelligence below, and has written to +ask for a subscription to his charity list, imagining that I am flush of +money, and liberal." +</p> +<p> +"I suppose so," replied Tim; "however, you may just as well see what he +says." +</p> +<p> +"But if I open it he will expect something. I had better refuse it." +</p> +<p> +"O no, leave that to me; I know how to put people off." +</p> +<p> +"After all, it is a fine thing to be a gentleman, and be petitioned." +</p> +<p> +I broke open the seal, and found that the letter contained an inclosure +addressed to another person. The letter was as follows:— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "My dear Nephew,—['Bravo, sir,' said Timothy; 'you've found an + uncle already—you'll soon find a father.'] From the great + uncertainty of the post, I have not ventured to do more than hint + at what has come to light during this last year, but as it is + necessary that you should be acquainted with the whole transaction; + and as you had not decided when you last wrote, whether you would + prosecute your intended three months trip to Sicily, or return from + Milan, you may probably arrive when I am out of town; I therefore + enclose you a letter to Mr Masterton, directing him to surrender to + you a sealed packet, lodged in his hands, containing all the + particulars, the letters which bear upon them, and what has been + proposed to avoid exposure; which you may peruse at your leisure, + should you arrive before my return to town. There is no doubt but + that the affair may be hushed up, and we trust that you will see + the prudence of the measure; as, once known, it will be very + discreditable to the family escutcheon. ('I always had an idea you + were of good family,' interrupted Tim.) I wish you had followed my + advice, and had not returned; but as you were positive on that + point, I beg you will now consider the propriety of remaining + incognito, as reports are already abroad, and your sudden return + will cause a great deal of surmise. Your long absence at the + Gottingen University, and your subsequent completion of your grand + tour, will have effaced all remembrance of your person, and you can + easily be passed off as a particular friend of mine, and I can + introduce you everywhere as such. Take, then, any name you may + please, provided it be not Smith or Brown, or such vulgarisms; and + on the receipt of this letter, write a note, and send it to my + house in Portman Square, just saying, '<i>so and so</i> is arrived.' + This will prevent the servants from obtaining any information by + their prying curiosity; and as I have directed all my letters to be + forwarded to my seat in Worcestershire, I shall come up immediately + that I receive it, and by your putting the name which you mean to + assume, I shall know whom to ask for when I call at the hotel. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "Your affectionate Uncle, +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "Windermear." +</p> +<p> +"One thing is very clear, Timothy," said I, laying the letter on the +table, "that it cannot be intended for me." +</p> +<p> +"How do you know, sir, that this lord is not your uncle? At all events, +you must do as he bids you." +</p> +<p> +"What—go for the papers! most certainly I shall not." +</p> +<p> +"Then how in the name of fortune do you expect to find your father, when +you will not take advantage of such an opportunity of getting into +society? It is by getting possession of other people's secrets, that +you will worm out your own." +</p> +<p> +"But it is dishonest, Timothy." +</p> +<p> +"A letter is addressed to you, in which you have certain directions; you +break the seal with confidence, and you read what you find is possibly +not for you; but, depend upon it, Japhet, that a secret obtained is one +of the surest roads to promotion. Recollect your position; cut off from +the world, you have to re-unite yourself with it, to recover your +footing, and create an interest. You have not those who love you to help +you—you must not scruple to obtain your object by fear." +</p> +<p> +"That is a melancholy truth, Tim," replied I; "and I believe I must put +my strict morality in my pocket." +</p> +<p> +"Do, sir, pray, until you can afford to be moral; it's a very expensive +virtue that; a deficiency of it made you an outcast from the world, you +must not scruple at a slight deficiency on your own part, to regain your +position." +</p> +<p> +There was so much shrewdness, so much of the wisdom of the serpent in +the remarks of Timothy, that, added to my ardent desire to discover my +father, which since my quitting the gipsy camp had returned upon me with +two-fold force, my scruples were overcome, and I resolved that I would +not lose such an opportunity. Still I hesitated, and went up into my +room, that I might reflect upon what I should do. I went to bed, +revolving the matter in my mind, and turning over from one position to +the other, at one time deciding that I would not take advantage of the +mistake, at another quite as resolved that I would not throw away such +an opening for the prosecution of my search; at last I fell into an +uneasy slumber, and had a strange dream. I thought that I was standing +upon an isolated rock, with the waters raging around me; the tide was +rising, and at last the waves were roaring at my feet. I was in a state +of agony, and expected that, in a short time, I should be swallowed up. +The main land was not far off, and I perceived well-dressed people in +crowds, who were enjoying themselves, feasting, dancing, and laughing +in merry peals. I held out my hands—I shouted to them—they saw, and +heard me, but heeded me not. My horror at being swept away by the tide +was dreadful. I shrieked as the water rose. At last I perceived +something unroll itself from the main land, and gradually advancing to +the inland, form a bridge by which I could walk over and be saved. I was +about to hasten over, when "Private, and no thoroughfare," appeared at +the end nearest me, in large letters of fire. I started back with +amazement, and would not, dared not pass them. When all of a sudden, a +figure in white appeared by my side, and said to me, pointing to the +bridge, "Self-preservation is the first law of nature." +</p> +<p> +I looked at the person who addressed me; gradually the figure became +darker and darker, until it changed to Mr Cophagus, with his stick up to +his nose. "Japhet, all nonsense—very good bridge—um—walk over—find +father—and so on." I dashed over the bridge, which appeared to float on +the water, and to be composed of paper, gained the other side, and was +received with shouts of congratulation, and the embraces of the crowd. I +perceived an elderly gentleman come forward; I knew it was my father, +and I threw myself into his arms. I awoke, and found myself rolling on +the floor, embracing the bolster with all my might. Such was the vivid +impression of this dream, that I could not turn my thoughts away from +it, and at last I considered that it was a divine interposition. All my +scruples vanished, and before the day had dawned I determined that I +would follow the advice of Timothy. An enthusiast is easily led to +believe what he wishes, and he mistakes his own feelings for warnings; +the dreams arising from his daily contemplations for the interference of +Heaven. He thinks himself armed by supernatural assistance, and +warranted by the Almighty to pursue his course, even if that course +should be contrary to the Almighty's precepts. Thus was I led away by my +own imaginings, and thus was my <i>monomania</i> increased to an impetus +which forced before it all consideration of what was right or wrong. +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0097" id="h2HCH0097"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter XIX +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + <i>An important chapter—I make some important acquaintances, obtain + some important papers which I am importunate to read through.</i> +</p> +<p> +The next morning I told my dream to Timothy, who laughed very heartily +at my idea of the finger of Providence. At last, perceiving that I was +angry with him, he pretended to be convinced. When I had finished my +breakfast, I sent to inquire the number in the square of Lord +Windermear's town house, and wrote the following simple note to his +lordship, "<i>Japhet Newland</i> has arrived from his tour at the Piazza, +Covent Garden." This was confided to Timothy, and I then set off with +the other letter to Mr Masterton, which was addressed to Lincoln's Inn. +By reading the addresses of the several legal gentlemen, I found out +that Mr Masterton was located on the first floor. I rang the bell, which +had the effect of "Open, Sesame," as the door appeared to swing to admit +me without any assistance. I entered an ante-room, and from thence found +myself in the presence of Mr Masterton—a little old man, with +spectacles on his nose, sitting at a table covered with papers. He +offered me a chair, and I presented the letter. +</p> +<p> +"I see that I am addressing Mr Neville," said he, after he had perused +the letter. "I congratulate you on your return. You may not, perhaps, +remember me?" +</p> +<p> +"Indeed, sir, I cannot say that I do, exactly." +</p> +<p> +"I could not expect it, my dear sir, you have been so long away. You +have very much improved in person, I must say; yet still, I recollect +your features as a mere boy. Without compliment, I had no idea that you +would ever have made so handsome a man." I bowed to the compliment. +"Have you heard from your uncle?" +</p> +<p> +"I had a few lines from Lord Windermear, enclosing your letter." +</p> +<p> +"He is well, I hope?" +</p> +<p> +"Quite well, I believe." +</p> +<p> +Mr Masterton then rose, went to an iron safe, and brought out a packet +of papers, which he put into my hands. "You will read these with +interest, Mr Neville. I am a party to the whole transaction, and must +venture to advise you not to appear in England under your own name, +until all is settled. Your uncle, I perceive, has begged the same." +</p> +<p> +"And I have assented, sir. I have taken a name instead of my real one." +</p> +<p> +"May I ask what it is?" +</p> +<p> +"I call myself Mr Japhet Newland." +</p> +<p> +"Well, it is singular, but perhaps as good as any other. I will take it +down, in case I have to write to you. Your address is—" +</p> +<p> +"Piazza—Covent Garden." +</p> +<p> +Mr Masterton took my name and address, I took the papers, and then we +both took leave of one another, with many expressions of pleasure and +good-will. +</p> +<p> +I returned to the hotel, where I found Timothy waiting for me, with +impatience. "Japhet," said he, "Lord Windermear has not yet left town. I +have seen him, for I was called back after I left the house, by the +footman, who ran after me—he will be here immediately." +</p> +<p> +"Indeed," replied I. "Pray what sort of person is he, and what did he +say to you?" +</p> +<p> +"He sent for me in the dining-parlour, where he was at breakfast, asked +when you arrived, whether you were well, and how long I had been in your +service. I replied that I had not been more than two days, and had just +put on my liveries. He then desired me to tell Mr Newland that he would +call upon him in about two hours. Then, my lord," replied I, "I had +better go and tell him to get out of bed." +</p> +<p> +"The lazy dog!" said he, "nearly one o'clock, and not out of bed; well, +go then, and get him dressed as fast as you can." +</p> +<p> +Shortly afterwards a handsome carriage with greys drew up to the door. +His lordship sent in his footman to ask whether Mr Newland was at home. +The reply of the waiter was, that there was a young gentleman who had +been there two or three days, who had come from making a tour, and his +name did begin with an <i>N</i>. "That will do, James; let down the steps." +His lordship alighted, was ushered up stairs, and into my room. There we +stood, staring at each other. +</p> +<p> +"Lord Windermear, I believe," said I, extending my hand. +</p> +<p> +"You have recognised me first, John," said he, taking my hand, and +looking earnestly in my face. "Good heavens! is it possible that an +awkward boy should have grown up into so handsome a fellow? I shall be +proud of my nephew. Did you remember me when I entered the room?" +</p> +<p> +"To tell the truth, my lord, I did not; but expecting you, I took it for +granted that it must be you." +</p> +<p> +"Nine years make a great difference, John;—but I forget, I must now +call you Japhet. Have you been reading the Bible lately, that you fixed +upon that strange name?" +</p> +<p> +"No, my lord, but this hotel is such a Noah's ark, that it's no wonder I +thought of it." +</p> +<p> +"You're an undutiful dog, not to ask after your mother, sir." +</p> +<p> +"I was about—" +</p> +<p> +"I see—I see," interrupted his lordship; "but recollect, John, that she +still is <i>your mother</i>. By-the-by, have you read the papers yet?" +</p> +<p> +"No, sir," replied I, "there they are," pointing to them on the side +table. "I really do not like to break the seals." +</p> +<p> +"That they will not contain pleasant intelligence, I admit," replied his +lordship; "but until you have read them, I do not wish to converse with +you on the subject, therefore," said he, taking up the packet, and +breaking the seals, "I must now insist that you employ this forenoon in +reading them through. You will dine with me at seven, and then we will +talk the matter over." +</p> +<p> +"Certainly, sir, if you wish it, I will read them." +</p> +<p> +"I must <i>insist</i> upon it, John; and am rather surprised at your +objecting, when they concern you so particularly." +</p> +<p> +"I shall obey your orders, sir." +</p> +<p> +"Well, then, my boy, I shall wish you good morning, that you may +complete your task before you come to dinner. To-morrow, if you wish +it—but recollect, I never press young men on these points, as I am +aware that they sometimes feel it a restraint—if you wish it, I say, +you may bring your portmanteaus, and take up your quarters with me. +By-the-bye," continued his lordship, taking hold of my coat, "who made +this?" +</p> +<p> +"The tailor to his Serene Highness the Prince of Darmsradt had that +honour, my lord," replied I. +</p> +<p> +"Humph! I thought they fitted better in Germany; it's not quite the +thing—we must consult Stulz, for with that figure and face, the coat +ought to be quite correct. Adieu, my dear fellow, till seven." +</p> +<p> +His lordship shook hands with me, and I was left alone. Timothy came in +as soon as his lordship's carriage had driven off. "Well, sir," said he, +"was your uncle glad to see you?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes," replied I; "and look, he has broken open the seals, and has +insisted upon my reading the papers." +</p> +<p> +"It would be very undutiful in you to refuse, so I had better leave you +to your task," said Timothy, smiling, as he quitted the room. +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0098" id="h2HCH0098"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter XX +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + I open an account with my bankers, draw largely upon credulity, and + am prosperous without a <i>check</i>. +</p> +<p> +I sat down and took up the papers. I was immediately and strangely +interested in all that I read. A secret!—it was, indeed, a secret, +involving the honour and reputation of the most distinguished families. +One that, if known, the trumpet of scandal would have blazoned forth to +the disgrace of the aristocracy. It would have occasioned bitter tears +to some, gratified the petty malice of many, satisfied the revenge of +the vindictive, and bowed with shame the innocent as well as the guilty. +It is not necessary, nor, indeed, would I, on any account, state any +more. I finished the last paper, and then fell into a reverie. This is, +indeed, a secret, thought I; one that I would I never had possessed. In +a despotic country my life would be sacrificed to the fatal +knowledge—here, thank God, my life as well as my liberty are safe. +</p> +<p> +The contents of the papers told me all that was necessary to enable me +to support the character which I had assumed. The reason why the party, +whom I was supposed to be, was intrusted with it, was, that he was in a +direct line, eventually heir, and the question was whether he would +waive his claim with the others, and allow death to bury crime in +oblivion. I felt that were I in his position I should so do—and +therefore was prepared to give an answer to his lordship. I sealed up +the papers, dressed myself, and went to dinner; and after the cloth was +removed, Lord Windermear, first rising and turning the key in the door, +said to me, in a low voice, "You have read the papers, and what those, +nearly as much interested as you are in this lamentable business, have +decided upon. Tell me, what is your opinion?" +</p> +<p> +"My opinion, my lord, is, that I wish I had never known what has come to +light this day—that it will be most advisable never to recur to the +subject, and that the proposals made are, in my opinion, most judicious, +and should be acted upon." +</p> +<p> +"That is well," replied his lordship; "then all are agreed, and I am +proud to find you possessed of such honour and good feeling. We now drop +the subject for ever. Are you inclined to leave town with me, or what do +you intend to do?" +</p> +<p> +"I prefer remaining in town, if your lordship will introduce me to some +of the families of your acquaintance. Of course I know no one now." +</p> +<p> +"Very true; I will introduce you, as agreed, as Mr Newland. It may be as +well that you do not know any of our relations, whom I have made to +suppose, that you are still abroad—and it would be awkward, when you +take your right name by-and-bye. Do you mean to see your mother?" +</p> +<p> +"Impossible, my lord, at present; by-and-bye I hope to be able." +</p> +<p> +"Perhaps it's all for the best. I will now write one note to Major +Carbonnell, introducing you as my particular friend, and requesting that +he will make London agreeable. He knows everybody, and will take you +everywhere." +</p> +<p> +"When does your lordship start for the country?" +</p> +<p> +"To-morrow; so we may as well part to-night. By-the-by, you have credit +at Drummond's, in the name of Newland, for a thousand pounds; the longer +you make it last you the better." +</p> +<p> +His lordship gave me the letter of introduction. I returned to him the +sealed packet, shook hands with him, and took my departure. +</p> +<p> +"Well, sir," said Timothy, rubbing his hands, as he stood before me, +"what is the news; for I am dying to hear it—and what is this secret?" +</p> +<p> +"With regard to the secret, Tim, a secret it must remain. I dare not +tell it even to you." Timothy looked rather grave at this reply. "No, +Timothy, as a man of honour, I cannot." My conscience smote me when I +made use of the term; for, as a man of honour, I had no business to be +in possession of it. "My dear Timothy, I have done wrong already, do not +ask me to do worse." +</p> +<p> +"I will not, Japhet; but only tell me what has passed, and what you +intend to do?" +</p> +<p> +"That I will, Timothy, with pleasure;" and I then stated all that had +passed between his lordship and me. +</p> +<p> +"And now, you observe, Timothy, I have gained what I desired, an +introduction into the best society." +</p> +<p> +"And the means of keeping up your appearance," echoed Timothy, rubbing +his hands. "A thousand pounds will last a long while." +</p> +<p> +"It will last a very long while, Tim, for I never will touch it; it +would be swindling." +</p> +<p> +"So it would," replied Tim, his countenance falling; "well, I never +thought of that." +</p> +<p> +"I have thought of much more, Tim; recollect I must, in a very short +time, be exposed to Lord Windermear, for the real Mr Neville will soon +come home." +</p> +<p> +"Good heavens! what will become of us?" replied Timothy, with alarm in +his countenance. +</p> +<p> +"Nothing can hurt you, Tim, the anger will be all upon me; but I am +prepared to face it, and I would face twice as much for the distant hope +of finding my father. Whatever Lord Windermear may feel inclined to do, +he can do nothing; and my possession of the secret will ensure even more +than my safety; it will afford me his protection, if I demand it." +</p> +<p> +"I hope it may prove so," replied Timothy, "but I feel a little +frightened." +</p> +<p> +"I do not; to-morrow I shall give my letter of introduction, and then I +will prosecute my search. So now, my dear Tim, good-night." +</p> +<p> +The next morning, I lost no time in presenting my letter of introduction +to Major Carbonnell. He lived in apartments on the first floor in St +James's Street, and I found him at breakfast, in a silk dressing gown. I +had made up my mind that a little independence always carries with it an +air of fashion. When I entered, therefore, I looked at him with a +knowing air, and dropping the letter down on the table before him, said, +"There's something for you to read, Major; and, in the meantime, I'll +refresh myself on this chair;" suiting the action to the word, I threw +myself on a chair, amusing myself with tapping the sides of my boots +with a small cane which I carried in my hand. +</p> +<p> +Major Carbonnell, upon whom I cast a furtive eye more than once during +the time that he was reading the letter, was a person of about +thirty-five years of age, well-looking, but disfigured by the size of +his whiskers, which advanced to the corners of his mouth, and met under +his throat. He was tall and well made, and with an air of fashion about +him that was undeniable. His linen was beautifully, clean and carefully +arranged, and he had as many rings on his fingers, and, when he was +dressed, chains and trinkets, as ever were put on by a lady. +</p> +<p> +"My dear sir, allow me the honour of making at once your most intimate +acquaintance," said he, rising from his chair, and offering his hand, as +soon as he had perused the letter. "Any friend of Lord Windermear's +would be welcome, but when he brings such an extra recommendation in his +own appearance, he becomes doubly so." +</p> +<p> +"Major Carbonnell," replied I, "I have seen you but two minutes, and I +have taken a particular fancy to you, in which I, no doubt, have proved +my discrimination. Of course, you know that I have just returned from +making a tour?" +</p> +<p> +"So I understand from his lordship's letter. Mr Newland, my time is at +your service. Where are you staying?" +</p> +<p> +"At the Piazza." +</p> +<p> +"Very good; I will dine with you to-day; order some mulligatawny, they +are famous for it. After dinner we will go to the theatre." +</p> +<p> +I was rather surprised at his cool manner of asking himself to dine with +me and ordering my dinner, but a moment's reflection made me feel what +sort of person I had to deal with. +</p> +<p> +"Major, I take that as almost an affront. You will dine with me +<i>to-day!</i> I beg to state that you <i>must</i> dine with me every day that we +are not invited elsewhere; and what's more, sir, I shall be most +seriously displeased, if you do not order the dinner every time that you +do dine with me, and ask whoever you may think worthy of putting their +legs under our table, Let's have no doing things by halves, Major; I +know you now as well as if we had been intimate for ten years." +</p> +<p> +The Major seized me by the hand. "My dear Newland, I only wish we <i>had +known</i> one another ten years, as you say—the loss has been mine; but +now—you have breakfasted, I presume?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes; having nothing to do, and not knowing a soul after my long +absence, I advanced my breakfast about two hours, that I might find you +at home; and now I'm at your service." +</p> +<p> +"Say rather I am at yours. I presume you will walk. In ten minutes I +shall be ready. Either take up the paper, or whistle an air or two, or +anything else you like, just to kill ten minutes—and I shall be at your +command." +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0099" id="h2HCH0099"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter XXI +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + I come out under a first-rate chaperon, and at once am established + into the regions of fashion—Prove that I am deserving of my + promotion. +</p> +<p> +"I beg your pardon, Newland," said the Major, returning from his +dressing-room, resplendent with chains and bijouterie; "but I must have +your Christian name." +</p> +<p> +"It's rather a strange one," replied I; "it is Japhet." +</p> +<p> +"Japhet! by the immortal powers, I'd bring an action against my +godfathers and godmothers; you ought to recover <i>heavy damages</i>." +</p> +<p> +"Then I presume you would not have the name," replied I, with a knowing +look, "for a clear ten thousand a year." +</p> +<p> +"Whew! that alters the case—it's astonishing how well any name looks in +large <i>gold</i> letters. Well, as the old gentleman, whoever he might have +been, made you compensation, you must forgive and forget. Now where +shall we go?" +</p> +<p> +"With your permission, as I came to town in these clothes, made by a +German tailor—Darmstadt's tailor by-the-bye—but still if tailor to a +prince, not the prince of tailors—I would wish you to take me to your +own: your dress appears very correct." +</p> +<p> +"You show your judgment, Newland, it <i>is</i> correct; Stulz will be +delighted to have your name on his books, and to do justice to that +figure. <i>Allons donc</i>." +</p> +<p> +We sauntered up St James's Street, and before I had arrived at Stulz's, +I had been introduced to at least twenty of the young men about town. +The Major was most particular in his directions about the clothes, all +of which he ordered; and as I knew that he was well acquainted with the +fashion, I gave him carte blanche. When we left the shop, he said, "Now, +my dear Newland, I have given you a proof of friendship, which no other +man in England has had. Your dress will be the ne plus ultra. There are +little secrets only known to the initiated, and Stulz is aware that this +time I am in earnest. I am often asked to do the same for others, and I +pretend so to do; but a wink from me is sufficient, and Stulz dares not +dress them. Don't you want some bijouterie? or have you any at home?" +</p> +<p> +"I may as well have a few trifles," replied I. +</p> +<p> +We entered a celebrated jeweller's, and he selected for me to the amount +of about forty pounds. "That will do—never buy much; for it is +necessary to change every three months at least. What is the price of +this chain?" +</p> +<p> +"It is only fifteen guineas, Major." +</p> +<p> +"Well, I shall take it; but recollect," continued the Major; "I tell you +honestly, I never shall pay you." +</p> +<p> +The jeweller smiled, bowed, and laughed; the Major threw the chain round +his neck, and we quitted the shop. +</p> +<p> +"At all events, Major, they appear not to believe your word in that +shop." +</p> +<p> +"My dear fellow, that's their own fault, not mine. I tell them honestly +I never will pay them; and you may depend upon it, I intend most +sacredly to keep my word. I never do pay anybody, for the best of all +possible reasons, I have no money; but then I do them a service—I make +them fashionable, and they know it." +</p> +<p> +"What debts do you pay then, Major?" +</p> +<p> +"Let me think—that requires consideration. Oh! I pay my washer-woman." +</p> +<p> +"Don't you pay your debts of honour?" +</p> +<p> +"Debts of honour! why I'll tell <i>you</i> the truth; for I know that we +shall hunt in couples. If I win I take the money: but if I lose—why +then I forget to pay; and I always tell them so before I set down to the +table. If they won't believe me, it's not my fault. But what's the hour? +Come, I must make a few calls, and will introduce you." +</p> +<p> +We sauntered on to Grosvenor Square, knocked, and were admitted into a +large, elegantly-furnished mansion. The footman announced us—"My dear +Lady Maelstrom, allow me the honour of introducing to you my very +particular friend, Mr Newland, consigned to my charge by my Lord +Windermear during his absence. He has just arrived from the continent, +where he has been making the grand tour." +</p> +<p> +Her ladyship honoured me with a smile. "By-the-bye, Major, that reminds +me—do me the favour to come to the window. Excuse us one moment, Mr +Newland." +</p> +<p> +The Major and Lady Maelstrom walked to the window, and exchanged a few +sentences, and then returned. Her ladyship holding up her finger, and +saying to him as they came towards me, "Promise me now that you won't +forget." +</p> +<p> +"Your ladyship's slightest wishes are to me imperative commands," +replied the Major, with a graceful bow. +</p> +<p> +In a quarter of an hour, during which the conversation was animated, we +rose to take our leave, when her ladyship came up to me, and offering +her hand, said, "Mr Newland, the friendship of Lord Windermear, and the +introduction of Major Carbonnell, are more than sufficient to induce me +to put your name down on my visiting list. I trust I shall see a great +deal of you, and that we shall be great friends." +</p> +<p> +I bowed to this handsome announcement, and we retired. As soon as we +were out in the square, the Major observed, "You saw her take me on one +side—it was to <i>pump</i>. She has no daughters, but about fifty nieces, +and match-making is her delight. I told her that I would stake my honour +upon your possessing ten thousand a year; how much more I could not say. +I was not far wrong, was I?" +</p> +<p> +I laughed. "What I may be worth, Major, I really cannot say; but I trust +that the event will prove that you are not far wrong. Say no more, my +dear fellow." +</p> +<p> +"I understand—you are not yet of age—of course, have not yet come into +possession of your fortune." +</p> +<p> +"That is exactly the case, Major. I am now but little more than +nineteen." +</p> +<p> +"You look older; but there is no getting over baptismal registries with +the executors. Newland, you must content yourself for the two next years +in playing Moses, and only peep at the promised land." +</p> +<p> +We made two or three more calls, and then returned to St James's Street. +"Where shall we go now? By-the-bye, don't you want to go to your +banker's?" +</p> +<p> +"I will just stroll down with you, and see if they have paid any money +in," replied I, carelessly. +</p> +<p> +We called at Drummond's, and I asked them if there was any money paid in +to the credit of Mr Newland. +</p> +<p> +"Yes, sir," replied one of the clerks: "there is one thousand pounds +paid in yesterday." +</p> +<p> +"Very good," replied I. +</p> +<p> +"How much do you wish to draw for?" inquired the Major. +</p> +<p> +"I don't want any," replied I. "I have more money than I ought to have +in my desk at this moment." +</p> +<p> +"Well, then, let us go and order dinner; or perhaps you would like to +stroll about a little more; if so, I will go and order the dinner. +Here's Harcourt, that's lucky. Harcourt my dear fellow, know Mr Newland, +my very particular friend. I must leave you now; take his arm, +Harcourt, for half an hour, and then join us at dinner at the Piazza." +</p> +<p> +Mr Harcourt was an elegant young man of about five-and-twenty. Equally +pleased with each other's externals, we were soon familiar: he was +witty, sarcastic, and wellbred. After half an hour's conversation he +asked me what I thought of the Major. I looked him in the face and +smiled. "That look tells me that you will not be his dupe, otherwise I +had warned you: he is a strange character: but if you have money enough +to afford to <i>keep him</i>, you cannot do better, as he is acquainted with, +and received by, everybody. His connections are good; and he once had a +very handsome fortune, but it was soon run out, and he was obliged to +sell his commission in the Guards. Now he lives upon the world; which as +Shakespeare says, is his oyster; and he has wit and sharpness enough to +open it. Moreover, he has some chance of falling into a peerage; that +prospect, and his amusing qualities, added to his being the most +fashionable man about town, keeps his head above water. I believe Lord +Windermear, who is his cousin, very often helps him." +</p> +<p> +"It was Lord Windermear who introduced me to him," observed I. +</p> +<p> +"Then he will not venture to play any tricks upon you, further than +eating your dinners, borrowing your money, and forgetting to pay it." +</p> +<p> +"You must acknowledge," said I, "he always tells you beforehand that he +never will pay you." +</p> +<p> +"And that is the only point in which he adheres to his word," replied +Harcourt, laughing; "but, tell me, am I to be <i>your</i> guest to-day?" +</p> +<p> +"If you will do me that honour." +</p> +<p> +"I assure you I am delighted to come, as I shall have a further +opportunity of cultivating your acquaintance." +</p> +<p> +"Then we had better bend our steps towards the hotel, for it is late," +replied I; and we did so accordingly. +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0100" id="h2HCH0100"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter XXII +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + The real Simon Pure proves the worse of the two—I am found guilty, + but not condemned; convicted, yet convince; and after having + behaved the very contrary to, prove that I am, a gentleman. +</p> +<p> +On our arrival, we found the table spread, champagne in ice under the +sideboard, and apparently everything prepared for a sumptuous dinner, +the Major on the sofa giving directions to the waiter, and Timothy +looking all astonishment. +</p> +<p> +"Major," said I, "I cannot tell you how much I am obliged to you for +your kindness in taking all this trouble off my hands, that I might +follow up the agreeable introduction you have given me to Mr Harcourt." +</p> +<p> +"My dear Newland, say no more; you will, I dare say, do the same for me +if I require it, when I give a dinner. (Harcourt caught my eye, as if to +say, "You may safely promise that.") But, Newland, do you know that the +nephew of Lord Windermear has just arrived? Did you meet abroad?" +</p> +<p> +"No," replied I, somewhat confused; but I soon recovered myself. As for +Tim, he bolted out of the room. "What sort of a person is he?" +</p> +<p> +"That you may judge for yourself, my dear fellow, for I asked him to +join us, I must say, more out of compliment to Lord Windermear than +anything else; for I am afraid that, even I could never make a gentleman +of him. But take Harcourt with you to your room, and by the time you +have washed your hands, I will have dinner on the table. I took the +liberty of desiring your valet to show me in about ten minutes ago. He's +a shrewd fellow that of your's—where did you pick him up?" +</p> +<p> +"By mere accident," replied I; "come, Mr Harcourt." +</p> +<p> +On our return, we found the real Simon Pure, Mr Estcourt, sitting with +the major, who introduced us, and dinner being served, we sat down to +table. +</p> +<p> +Mr Estcourt was a young man, about my own age, but not so tall by two +or three inches. His features were prominent, but harsh; and when I saw +him, I was not at all surprised at Lord Windermear's expressions of +satisfaction, when he suppossd that I was his nephew. His countenance +was dogged and sullen, and he spoke little; he appeared to place an +immense value upon birth, and hardly deigned to listen, except the +aristocracy were the subject of discourse. I treated him with marked +deference, that I might form an acquaintance, and found before we parted +that night, that I had succeeded. Our dinner was excellent, and we were +all, except Mr Estcourt, in high good humour. We sat late—too late to +go to the theatre, and promising to meet the next day at noon, Harcourt +and the Major took their leave. +</p> +<p> +Mr Estcourt had indulged rather too much, and, after their departure, +became communicative. I plied the bottle and we sat up for more than an +hour; he talked of nothing but his family and his expectations. I took +this opportunity of discovering what his feelings were likely to be when +he was made acquainted with the important secret which was in my +possession. I put a case somewhat similar, and asked him whether in such +circumstances he would waive his right for a time, to save the honour of +his family. +</p> +<p> +"No, by G—d!" replied he, "I never would. What! give up even for a day +my right—conceal my true rank for the sake of relatives? never—nothing +would induce me." +</p> +<p> +I was satisfied, and then casually asked him if he had written to Lord +Windermear to inform him of his arrival. +</p> +<p> +"No," replied he; "I shall write to-morrow." He soon after retired to +his own apartment, and I rang for Timothy. +</p> +<p> +"Good heavens, sir!" cried Timothy, "what is all this—and what are you +about? I am frightened out of my wits. Why, sir, our money will not last +two months." +</p> +<p> +"I do not expect it will last much longer, Tim; but it cannot be +helped. Into society I must get—and to do so, must pay for it." +</p> +<p> +"But, sir, putting the expense aside, what are we to do about this Mr +Estcourt? All must be found out." +</p> +<p> +"I intend that it shall be found out, Tim," replied I; "but not yet. He +will write to his uncle to-morrow; you must obtain the letter, for it +must not go. I must first have time to establish myself, and then Lord +Windermear may find out his error as soon as he pleases." +</p> +<p> +"Upon my honour, Japhet, you appear to be afraid of nothing." +</p> +<p> +"I fear nothing, Tim, when I am following up the object of my wishes. I +will allow no obstacles to stand in my way, in my search after my +father." +</p> +<p> +"Really, you seem to be quite mad on that point, Japhet." +</p> +<p> +"Perhaps I may be, Tim," replied I, thoughtfully. "At all events, let us +go to bed now, and I will tell you to-morrow morning, all the events of +this day." +</p> +<p> +Mr Estcourt wrote his letter, which Tim very officiously offered to put +into the post, instead of which we put it between the bars of the grate. +</p> +<p> +I must now pass over about three weeks, during which I became very +intimate with the Major and Mr Harcourt, and was introduced by them to +the clubs, and almost every person of fashion. The idea of my wealth, +and my very handsome person and figure, ensured me a warm reception, and +I soon became one of the stars of the day. During this time, I also +gained the entire confidence of Mr Estcourt, who put letter after letter +into the hands of Timothy, who of course put them into the usual place. +I pacified him as long as I could, by expressing my opinion, that his +lordship was on a visit to some friends in the neighbourhood of his +seat; but at last, he would remain in town no longer. You may go now, +thought I, I feel quite safe. +</p> +<p> +It was about five days after his departure, as I was sauntering, arm in +arm with the Major, who generally dined with me about five days in the +week, that I perceived the carriage of Lord Windermear, with his +lordship in it. He saw us, and pulling his check-string, alighted, and +coming up to us, with the colour mounting to his forehead with emotion, +returned the salute of the Major and me. +</p> +<p> +"Major," said he, "you will excuse me, but I am anxious to have some +conversation with Mr Newland; perhaps," continued his lordship, +addressing me, "you will do me the favour to take a seat in my +carriage?" +</p> +<p> +Fully prepared, I lost none of my self-possession, but, thanking his +lordship, I bowed to him, and stepped in. +</p> +<p> +His lordship followed, and, saying to the footman, "Home—drive fast," +fell back in the carriage, and never uttered one word until we had +arrived, and had entered the dining-parlour. He then took a few steps up +and down, before he said, "Mr Newland, or whatever your name may be, I +perceive that you consider the possession of an important secret to be +your safeguard. To state my opinion of your conduct is needless; who you +are, and what you are, I know not; but," continued he, no longer +controlling his anger; "you certainly can have no pretensions to the +character of a gentleman." +</p> +<p> +"Perhaps your lordship," replied I, calmly, "will inform me upon what +you may ground your inference." +</p> +<p> +"Did you not, in the first place, open a letter addressed to another?" +</p> +<p> +"My lord, I opened a letter brought to me with the initials of my name, +and at the time I opened it I fully believed that it was intended for +me." +</p> +<p> +"We will grant that, sir; but after you had opened it you must have +known that it was for some other person." +</p> +<p> +"I will not deny that, my lord." +</p> +<p> +"Notwithstanding which, you apply to my lawyer, representing yourself as +another person, to obtain sealed papers." +</p> +<p> +"I did, my lord; but allow me to say, that I never should have done so, +had I not been warned by a dream." +</p> +<p> +"By a dream?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, my lord. I had determined not to go for them, when in a dream I +was ordered so to do." +</p> +<p> +"Paltry excuse! and then you break private seals." +</p> +<p> +"Nay, my lord, although I did go for the papers, I could not, even with +the idea of supernatural interposition, make up my mind to break the +seals. If your lordship will recollect, it was you who broke the seals, +and insisted upon my reading the papers." +</p> +<p> +"Yes, sir, under your false name." +</p> +<p> +"It is the name by which I go at present, although I acknowledge it is +false; but that is not my fault—I have no other at present." +</p> +<p> +"It is very true, sir, that in all I have now mentioned, the law will +not reach you; but recollect, that by assuming another person's name—" +</p> +<p> +"I never did, my lord," interrupted I. +</p> +<p> +"Well, I may say, by inducing me to believe that you were my nephew, you +have obtained money under false pretences; and for that I now have you +in my power." +</p> +<p> +"My lord, I never asked you for the money; you yourself paid it into the +banker's hands to my credit, and to my own name. I appeal to you now, +whether, if you so deceived yourself, the law can reach me?" +</p> +<p> +"Mr Newland, I will say, that much as I regret what has passed, I regret +more than all the rest, that one so young, so prepossessing, so candid +in appearance, should prove such an adept in deceit. Thinking you were +my nephew, my heart warmed towards you, and I must confess, that since I +have seen my real nephew, the mortification has been very great." +</p> +<p> +"My lord, I thank you; but allow me to observe, that I am no swindler. +Your thousand pounds you will find safe in the bank, for penury would +not have induced me to touch it. But now that your lordship appears more +cool, will you do me the favour to listen to me? When you have heard my +life up to the present, and my motives for what I have done, you will +then decide how far I am to blame." +</p> +<p> +His lordship took a chair, and motioned to me to take another. I +narrated what had occurred when I was left at the Foundling, and gave +him a succinct account of my adventures subsequently—my determination +to find my father—the dream which induced me to go for the papers—and +all that the reader has already been acquainted with. His lordship +evidently perceived the monomania which controlled me, and heard me with +great attention. +</p> +<p> +"You certainly, Mr Newland, do not stand so low in my opinion as you did +before this explanation, and I must make allowances for the excitement +under which I perceive you to labour on one subject; but now, sir, allow +me to put one question, and I beg that you will answer candidly. What +price do you demand for your secrecy on this important subject?" +</p> +<p> +"My lord!" replied I, rising with dignity; "this is the greatest affront +you have put upon me yet; still I will name the price by which I will +solemnly bind myself, by all my future hopes of finding my father in +this world, and of finding an eternal Father in the next, and that +price, my lord, is a return of your good opinion." +</p> +<p> +His lordship also rose, and walked up and down the room with much +agitation in his manner. "What am I to make of you, Mr Newland?" +</p> +<p> +"My lord, if I were a swindler, I should have taken your money; if I had +wished to avail myself of the secret, I might have escaped with all the +documents, and made my own terms. I am, my lord, nothing more than an +abandoned child, trying all he can to find his father" My feelings +overpowered me, and I burst into tears. As soon as I could recover +myself, I addressed his lordship, who had been watching me in silence, +and not without emotion. "I have one thing more to say to you, my lord." +I then mentioned the conversation between Mr Estcourt and myself, and +pointed out the propriety of not making him a party to the important +secret. +</p> +<p> +His lordship allowed me to proceed without interruption, and after a few +moments' thought said, "I believe that you are right, Mr Newland; and I +now begin to think that it was better that this secret should have been +entrusted to you than to him. You have now conferred an obligation on +me, and may command me. I believe you to be honest, but a little mad, +and I beg your pardon for the pain which I have occasioned you." +</p> +<p> +"My lord, I am more than satisfied." +</p> +<p> +"Can I be of any assistance to you, Mr Newland?" +</p> +<p> +"If, my lord, you could at all assist me, or direct me in my search—" +</p> +<p> +"There I am afraid I can be of little use; but I will give you the means +of prosecuting your search, and in so doing, I am doing but an act of +justice, for in introducing you to Major Carbonnell, I am aware that I +must have very much increased your expenses. It was an error which must +be repaired, and therefore, Mr Newland, I beg you will consider the +money at the bank as yours, and make use of it to enable you to obtain +your ardent wish." +</p> +<p> +"My lord—" +</p> +<p> +"I will not be denied, Mr Newland; and if you feel any delicacy on the +subject, you may take it as a loan, to be repaid when you find it +convenient. Do not, for a moment, consider that it is given to you +because you possess an important secret, for I will trust entirely to +your honour on that score." +</p> +<p> +"Indeed, my lord," replied I, "your kindness overwhelms me, and I feel +as if, in you, I had already <i>almost</i> found a father. Excuse me, my +lord, but did your lordship ever—ever—" +</p> +<p> +"I know what you would say, my poor fellow: no, I never did. I never was +blessed with children. Had I been, I should not have felt that I was +disgraced by having one resembling you. Allow me to entreat you, Mr +Newland, that you do not suffer the mystery of your birth to weigh so +heavily on your mind; and now I wish you good morning, and if you think +I can be useful to you, I beg that you will not fail to let me know." +</p> +<p> +"May Heaven pour down blessings on your head," replied I, kissing +respectfully his lordship's hand; "and may my father, when I find him, +be as like unto you as possible." I made my obeisance, and quitted the +house. +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0101" id="h2HCH0101"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter XXIII +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + The Major prevents the landlord from imposing on me, but I gain + nothing by his interference—For economical reasons I agree to live + with him that he may live on me. +</p> +<p> +I returned to the hotel, for my mind had been much agitated, and I +wished for quiet, and the friendship of Timothy. As soon as I arrived I +told him all that had passed. +</p> +<p> +"Indeed," replied Timothy, "things do now wear a pleasant aspect; for I +am afraid, that without that thousand, we could not have carried on for +a fortnight longer. The bill here is very heavy, and I'm sure the +landlord wishes to see the colour of his money." +</p> +<p> +"How much do you think we have left? It is high time, Timothy, that we +now make up our accounts, and arrange some plans for the future," +replied I. "I have paid the jeweller and the tailor, by the advice of +the Major, who says, that you should always pay your <i>first bills</i> as +soon as possible, and all your subsequent bills as late as possible; and +if put off <i>sine die</i>, so much the better. In fact, I owe very little +now, but the bill here, I will send for it to-night." +</p> +<p> +Here we were interrupted by the entrance of the landlord. "O Mr Wallace, +you are the very person I wished to see; let me have my bill, if you +please." +</p> +<p> +"It's not of the least consequence, sir," replied he; "but if you wish +it, I have posted down to yesterday," and the landlord left the room. +</p> +<p> +"You were both of one mind, at all events," said Timothy, laughing; "for +he had the bill in his hand, and concealed it the moment you asked for +it." +</p> +<p> +In about ten minutes the landlord re-appeared, and presenting the bill +upon a salver, made his bow and retired. I looked it over, it amounted +to £104, which, for little more than three weeks, was pretty well. +Timothy shrugged up his shoulders, while I ran over the items. "I do not +see that there is anything to complain of, Tim," observed I, when I came +to the bottom of it; "but I do see that living here, with the Major +keeping me an open house, will never do. Let us see how much money we +have left." +</p> +<p> +Tim brought the dressing-case in which our cash was deposited, and we +found, that after paying the waiters, and a few small bills not yet +liquidated, our whole stock was reduced to fifty shillings. +</p> +<p> +"Merciful Heaven! what an escape," cried Timothy; "if it had not been +for this new supply, what should we have done?" +</p> +<p> +"Very badly, Timothy; but the money is well spent, after all. I have now +entrance into the first circles. I can do without Major Carbonnell; at +all events, I shall quit this hotel, and take furnished apartments, and +live at the clubs. I know how to put him off." +</p> +<p> +I laid the money on the salver, and desired Timothy to ring for the +landlord, when who should come up but the Major and Harcourt. "Why, +Newland! what are you going to do with that money?" said the Major. +</p> +<p> +"I am paying my bill, Major." +</p> +<p> +"Paying your bill, indeed; let us see—£104. O this is a confounded +imposition. You mustn't pay this." At this moment the landlord entered. +"Mr Wallace," said the Major, "my friend Mr Newland was about, as you +may see, to pay you the whole of your demand; but allow me to observe, +that being my very particular friend, and the Piazza having been +particularly recommended by me, I do think that your charges are +somewhat exorbitant. I shall certainly advise Mr Newland to leave the +house to-morrow, if you are not more reasonable." +</p> +<p> +"Allow me to observe, Major, that my reason for sending for my bill, was +to pay it before I went into the country, which I must do to-morrow, for +a few days." +</p> +<p> +"Then I shall certainly recommend Mr Newland not to come here when he +returns, Mr Wallace, for I hold myself, to a certain degree, after the +many dinners we have ordered here, and of which I have partaken, as I +may say, <i>particeps criminis</i>, or in other words, as having been a party +to this extortion. Indeed, Mr Wallace, some reduction must be made, or +you will greatly hurt the credit of your house." +</p> +<p> +Mr Wallace declared, that really he had made nothing but the usual +charges; that he would look over the bill again, and see what he could +do. +</p> +<p> +"My dear Newland," said the Major, "I have ordered your dinners, allow +me to settle your bill. Now, Mr Wallace, suppose we take off +<i>one-third</i>?" +</p> +<p> +"One-<i>third</i>, Major Carbonnell! I should be a loser." +</p> +<p> +"I am not exactly of your opinion; but let me see—now take your choice. +Take off £20, or you lose my patronage, and that of all my friends. Yes +or no?" +</p> +<p> +The landlord, with some expostulation, at last consented, he receipted +the bill, and leaving £20 of the money on the salver, made his bow, and +retired. +</p> +<p> +"Rather fortunate that I supped in, my dear Newland; now there are £20 +saved. By-the-bye, I'm short of cash. You've no objection to let me have +this? I shall never pay you, you know." +</p> +<p> +"I do know you <i>never</i> will pay me, Major; nevertheless, as I should +have paid it to the landlord had you not interfered, I will lend it to +you." +</p> +<p> +"You are a good fellow, Newland," said the Major, pocketing the money. +"If I had borrowed it, and you had thought you would have had it repaid, +I should not have thanked you; but as you lend it me with your eyes +open, it is nothing more than a very delicate manner of obliging me, +and I tell you candidly, that I will not forget it. So you really are +off to-morrow?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes," replied I, "I must go, for I find that I am not to make ducks and +drakes of my money, until I come into possession of my property." +</p> +<p> +"I see, my dear fellow. Executors are the very devil; they have no +feeling. Never mind; there's a way of getting to windward of them. I +dine with Harcourt, and he has come to ask you to join us." +</p> +<p> +"With pleasure." +</p> +<p> +"I shall expect you at seven, Newland," said Harcourt, as he quitted the +room with the Major. +</p> +<p> +"Dear me, sir, how could you let that gentleman walk off with your +money?" cried Timothy. "I was just rubbing my hands with the idea that +we were £20 better off than we thought, and away it went, like smoke." +</p> +<p> +"And will never come back again, Tim; but never mind that, it is +important that I make a friend of him, and his friendship is only to be +bought. I shall have value received. And now, Tim, we must pack up, for +I leave this to-morrow morning. I shall go down to ——, and see little +Fleta." +</p> +<p> +I dined with Harcourt. The Major was rather curious to know what it was +which appeared to flurry Lord Windermear, and what had passed between +us. I told him that his lordship was displeased on money matters, but +that all was right, only that I must be more careful for the future. +"Indeed, Major, I think I shall take lodgings. I shall be more +comfortable, and better able to receive my friends." +</p> +<p> +Harcourt agreed with me, that it was a much better plan, when the Major +observed, "Why, Newland, I have a room quite at your service; suppose +you come and live with me?" +</p> +<p> +"I am afraid I shall not save by that," replied I, laughing, "for you +will not pay your share of the bills." +</p> +<p> +"No, upon my honour I will not; so I give you fair warning; but as I +always dine with you when I do not dine elsewhere, it will be a saving +to you—for you will <i>have your lodgings</i>, Newland; and you know the +house is my own, and I let off the rest of it; so as far as that bill is +concerned, you will be safe." +</p> +<p> +"Make the best bargain you can, Newland," said Harcourt; "accept his +offer, for depend upon it, it will be a saving in the end." +</p> +<p> +"It certainly deserves consideration," replied I; "and the Major's +company must be allowed to have its due weight in the scale; if +Carbonnell will promise to be a little more economical—" +</p> +<p> +"I will, my dear fellow—I will act as your steward, and make your money +last as long as I can, for my <i>own sake</i>, as well as yours. Is it a +bargain? I have plenty of room for your servant, and if he will assist +me a little, I will discharge my own." I then consented to the +arrangement. +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0102" id="h2HCH0102"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter XXIV +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + The Major teaches me how to play Whist, so as never to lose, which + is by playing against each other, and into each other's hands. +</p> +<p> +The next day I went to the banker's, drew out £150, and set off with +Timothy for ——. Fleta threw herself into my arms, and sobbed with joy. +When I told her Timothy was outside, and wished to see her, she asked +why he did not come in; and, to show how much she had been accustomed to +see, without making remarks, when he made his appearance in his livery, +she did not, by her countenance, express the least surprise, nor, +indeed, did she put any questions to me on the subject. The lady who +kept the school praised her very much for docility and attention, and +shortly after left the room. Fleta then took the chain from around her +neck into her hand, and told me that she did recollect something about +it, which was, that the lady whom she remembered, wore a long pair of +ear-rings, of the same make and materials. She could not, however, call +to mind anything else. I remained with the little girl for three hours, +and then returned to London—taking my luggage from the hotel, and +installed myself into the apartments of Major Carbonnell. +</p> +<p> +The Major adhered to his promise; we certainly lived well, for he could +not live otherwise; but in every other point, he was very careful not to +add to expense. The season was now over, and everybody of consequence +quitted the metropolis. To remain in town would be to lose caste, and we +had a conference where we should proceed. +</p> +<p> +"Newland," said the Major, "you have created a sensation this season, +which has done great honour to my patronage; but I trust, next spring, +that I shall see you form a good alliance; for, believe me, out of the +many heartless beings we have mingled with, there are still not only +daughters, but mothers, who are not influenced by base and sordid +views." +</p> +<p> +"Why, Carbonnell, I never heard you venture upon so long a moral speech +before." +</p> +<p> +"True, Newland, and it may be a long while before I do so again; the +world is my oyster, which I must open, that I may live; but recollect, I +am only trying to recover my own, which the world has swindled me out +of. There was a time when I was even more disinterested, more confiding, +and more innocent than you were when I first took you in hand. I +suffered, and was ruined by my good qualities; and I now live and do +well by having discarded them. We must fight the world with its own +weapons; but still, as I said before, there is some good in it, some +pure ore amongst the dross; and it is possible to find high rank and +large fortune, and at the same time an innocent mind. If you do marry, I +will try hard but you shall possess both; not that fortune can be of +much consequence to you." +</p> +<p> +"Depend upon it, Carbonnell, I never will marry without fortune." +</p> +<p> +"I did not know that I had schooled you so well; be it so—it is but +fair that you should expect it; and it shall be an item in the match, if +I have anything to do with it." +</p> +<p> +"But why are you so anxious that I should marry, Carbonnell?" +</p> +<p> +"Because I think you will, in all probability, avoid the gaming-table, +which I should have taken you to myself had you been in possession of +your fortune when I first knew you, and have had my share of your +plucking; but now I do know you, I have that affection for you that I +think it better you should not lose your all; for observe, Newland, my +share of your spoliation would not be more than what I have, and may +still receive, from you; and if you marry and settle down, there will +always be a good house and a good table for me, as long as I find favour +with your wife; and, at all events, a friend in need, that I feel +convinced of. So now you have my reasons; some smack of the +disinterestedness of former days, others of my present worldliness; you +may believe which you please." And the Major laughed as he finished his +speech. +</p> +<p> +"Carbonnell," replied I, "I will believe that the better feelings +predominate—that the world has made you what you are; and that had you +not been ruined by the world, you would have been disinterested and +generous; even now, your real nature often gains the ascendency, and I +am sure that in all that you have done, which is not defensible, your +poverty, and not your will, has consented. Now, blunted by habit and +time, the suggestion of conscience do not often give you any +uneasiness." +</p> +<p> +"You are very right, my dear fellow," replied the Major; "and in having +a better opinion of me than the world in general, you do me, I trust, no +more than justice. I will not squander your fortune, when you come to +it, if I can help it; and you'll allow that's a very handsome promise on +my part." +</p> +<p> +"I'll defy you to squander my fortune," replied I, laughing. +</p> +<p> +"Nay, don't defy me, Newland, for if you do, you'll put me on my +mettle. Above all, don't lay me a bet, for that will be still more +dangerous. We have only spent about four hundred of the thousand since +we have lived together, which I consider highly economical. What do you +say, shall we go to Cheltenham? You will find plenty of Irish girls, +looking out for husbands, who will give you a warm reception." +</p> +<p> +"I hate your fortune and establishment hunters," replied I. +</p> +<p> +"I grant that they are looking out for a good match, so are all the +world; but let me do them justice. Although, if you proposed, in three +days they would accept you; yet once married, they make the very best +wives in the world. But recollect we must go somewhere; and I think +Cheltenham is as good a place as any other. I do not mean for a wife, +but—it will suit my own views." +</p> +<p> +This last observation decided me, and in a few days we were at +Cheltenham; and having made our appearance at the rooms, were soon in +the vortex of society. "Newland," said Carbonnell, "I dare say you find +time hang rather heavy in this monotonous place." +</p> +<p> +"Not at all," replied I; "what with dining out, dancing, and +promenading, I do very well." +</p> +<p> +"But we must do better. Tell me, are you a good hand at whist?" +</p> +<p> +"Not by any means. Indeed, I hardly know the game." +</p> +<p> +"It is a fashionable and necessary accomplishment. I must make you +master of it, and our mornings shall be dedicated to the work." +</p> +<p> +"Agreed," replied I; and from that day, every morning after breakfast +till four o'clock, the Major and I were shut up, playing two dummies +under his instruction. Adept as he was, I very soon learnt all the +finesse and beauty of the game. +</p> +<p> +"You will do now, Newland," said the Major one morning, tossing the +cards away. "Recollect, if you are asked to play, and I have agreed, do +not refuse; but we must always play against each other." +</p> +<p> +"I don't see what we shall gain by that," replied I; "for if I win, +you'll lose." +</p> +<p> +"Never do you mind that; only follow my injunctions, and play as high as +they choose. We only stay here three weeks longer, and must make the +most of our time." +</p> +<p> +I confess I was quite puzzled at what might be the major's intentions; +but that night we sauntered into the club. Not having made our +appearance before, we were considered as new hands by those who did not +know the Major, and were immediately requested to make up a game. "Upon +my word, gentlemen, in the first place, I play very badly," replied the +Major; "and in the next," continued he, laughing, "if I lose, I never +shall pay you, for I'm cleaned out." +</p> +<p> +The way in which the Major said this only excited a smile; he was not +believed, and I was also requested to take a hand. "I'll not play with +the Major," observed I, "for he plays badly, and has bad luck into the +bargain; I might as well lay my money down on the table." +</p> +<p> +This was agreed to by the other parties, and we sat down. The first +rubber of short whist was won by the Major and his partner; with the +bets it amounted to eighteen pounds. I pulled out my purse to pay the +Major; but he refused, saying, "No, Newland, pay my partner; and with +you, sir," said he, addressing my partner, "I will allow the debt to +remain until we rise from the table. Newland, we are not going to let +you off yet, I can tell you." +</p> +<p> +I paid my eighteen pounds, and we recommenced. Although his partner did +not perhaps observe it, for he was but an indifferent player, or if he +did observe it, had the politeness not to say anything, the Major now +played very badly. He lost three rubbers one after another, and, with +bets and stakes, they amounted to one hundred and forty pounds. At the +end of the last rubber he threw up the cards, exclaiming against his +luck, and declaring that he would play no more. "How are we now, sir?" +said he to my partner. +</p> +<p> +"You owed me, I think, eighteen pounds." +</p> +<p> +"Eighteen from one hundred and forty, leaves one hundred and twenty-two +pounds, which I now owe you. You must, I'm afraid, allow me to be your +debtor," continued the Major, in a most insinuating manner. "I did not +come here with the intention of playing. I presume I shall find you here +to-morrow night." +</p> +<p> +The gentleman bowed, and appeared quite satisfied. Major Carbonnell's +partner paid me one hundred and forty pounds, which I put in my +pocket-book, and we quitted the club. +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0103" id="h2HCH0103"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter XXV +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + We fund our winnings, and consider to refund, a work of + supererogation—In looking after my father, I obey the old adage, + "Follow your nose." +</p> +<p> +As soon as we were in the street, I commenced an inquiry as to the +Major's motives. "Not one word, my dear fellow, until we are at home," +replied he. As soon as we arrived, he threw himself in a chair, and +crossing his legs, commenced: "You observe, Newland, that I am very +careful that you should do nothing to injure your character. As for my +own, all the honesty in the world will not redeem it; nothing but a +peerage will ever set me right again in this world, and a coronet will +cover a multitude of sins. I have thought it my duty to add something to +our finances, and intend to add very considerably to them before we +leave Cheltenham. You have won one hundred and twenty-eight pounds." +</p> +<p> +"Yes," replied I; "but you have lost it." +</p> +<p> +"Granted; but, as in most cases, I never mean <i>to pay</i> my losses, you +see that it must be a winning speculation as long as we play against +each other." +</p> +<p> +"I perceive," replied I; "but am not I a confederate?" +</p> +<p> +"No; you paid when you lost, and took your money when you won. Leave me +to settle my own debts of honour." +</p> +<p> +"But you will meet him again to-morrow night." +</p> +<p> +"Yes, and I will tell you why. I never thought it possible that we could +have met two such bad players at the club. We must now play against +them, and we must win in the long run: by which means I shall pay off +the debt I owe him, and you will win and pocket money." +</p> +<p> +"Ah," replied I, "if you mean to allow him a chance for his money, I +have no objection—that will be all fair." +</p> +<p> +"Depend upon it, Newland, when I know that people play as badly as they +do, I will not refuse them; but when we sit down with others, it must be +as it was before—we must play against each other, and I shall owe the +money. I told the fellow that I never would pay him." +</p> +<p> +"Yes; but he thought you were only joking." +</p> +<p> +"That is his fault—I was in earnest. I could not have managed this had +it not been that you are known to be a young man of ten thousand pounds +per annum, and supposed to be my dupe. I tell you so candidly; and now +good-night." +</p> +<p> +I turned the affair over in my mind as I undressed—it was not +honest—but I paid when I lost, and I only took the money when I +won,—still I did not like it; but the bank notes caught my eye as they +lay on the table, and—I was satisfied. Alas! how easy are scruples +removed when we want money! How many are there who, when in a state of +prosperity and affluence, when not tried by temptation, would have +blushed at the bare idea of a dishonest action, have raised and held up +their hands in abhorrence, when they have heard that others have been +found guilty; and yet, when in adversity, have themselves committed the +very acts which before they so loudly condemned! How many of the other +sex, who have expressed their indignation and contempt at those who have +fallen, when tempted, have fallen themselves! Let us therefore be +charitable; none of us can tell to what we may be reduced by +circumstances; and when we acknowledge that the error is great, let us +feel sorrow and pity rather than indignation, and pray that we also may +not be "<i>led into temptation</i>" +</p> +<p> +As agreed upon, the next evening we repaired to the club, and found the +two gentlemen ready to receive us. This time the Major refused to play +unless it was with me, as I had such good fortune, and no difficulty was +made by our opponents. We sat down and played till four o'clock in the +morning. At first, notwithstanding our good play, fortune favoured our +adversaries; but the luck soon changed, and the result of the evening +was, that the Major had a balance in his favour of forty pounds, and I +rose a winner of one hundred and seventy-one pounds, so that in two +nights we had won three hundred and forty-two pounds. For nearly three +weeks this continued, the Major not paying when not convenient, and we +quitted Cheltenham with about eight hundred pounds in our pockets; the +Major having paid about one hundred and twenty pounds to different +people who frequented the club; but they were Irishmen, who were not to +be trifled with. I proposed to the Major that we should pay those debts, +as there still would be a large surplus: he replied, "Give me the +money." I did so. "Now," continued he, "so far your scruples are +removed, as you will have been strictly honest; but, my dear fellow, if +you know how many debts of this sort are due to me, of which I never did +touch one farthing, you would feel as I do—that it is excessively +foolish to <i>part with money</i>. I have them all booked here, and may some +day pay—when convenient; but, at present, most decidedly it is not so." +The Major put the notes into his pocket, and the conversation was +dropped. +</p> +<p> +The next morning we had ordered our horses, when Timothy came up to me, +and made a sign, as we were at breakfast, for me to come out. I followed +him. +</p> +<p> +"Oh! sir, I could not help telling you, but there is a gentleman with—" +</p> +<p> +"With what?" replied I, hastily. +</p> +<p> +"With your nose, sir, exactly—and in other respects very like you—just +about the age your father should be." +</p> +<p> +"Where is he, Timothy?" replied I, all my feelings in 'search of my +father,' rushing into my mind. +</p> +<p> +"Down below, sir, about to set off in a post-chaise and four, now waiting +at the door." +</p> +<p> +I ran down with my breakfast napkin in my hand, and hastened to the +portico of the hotel—he was in his carriage, and the porter was then +shutting the door. I looked at him. He was, as Timothy said, <i>very like</i> +me indeed, the <i>nose</i> exact. I was breathless, and I continued to gaze. +</p> +<p> +"All right," cried the ostler. +</p> +<p> +"I beg your pardon, sir,—" said I, addressing the gentleman in the +carriage, who perceiving a napkin in my hand, probably took me for one +of the waiters, for he replied very abruptly, 'I have remembered you;' +and pulling up the glass, away whirled the chariot, the nave of the hind +wheel striking me a blow on the thigh which numbed it so, that it was +with difficulty I could limp up to our apartments, when I threw myself +on the sofa in a state of madness and despair. +</p> +<p> +"Good heavens, Newland, what is the matter?" cried the Major. +</p> +<p> +"Matter," replied I, faintly. "I have seen my father." +</p> +<p> +"Your father, Newland? you must be mad. He was dead before you could +recollect him—at least so you told me. How then, even if it were his +ghost, could you have recognised him?" +</p> +<p> +The Major's remarks reminded me of the imprudence I had been guilty of. +</p> +<p> +"Major," replied I, "I believe I am very absurd; but he was so like me, +and I have so often longed after my father, so long wished to see him +face to face—that—that—I'm a great fool, that's the fact." +</p> +<p> +"You must go to the next world, my good fellow, to meet him face to +face, that's clear; and I presume, upon a little consideration, you will +feel inclined to postpone your journey. Very often in your sleep I have +heard you talk about your father, and wondered why you should think so +much about him." +</p> +<p> +"I cannot help it," replied I. "From my earliest days my father has ever +been in my thoughts." +</p> +<p> +"I can only say, that very few sons are half so dutiful to their +fathers' memories—but finish your breakfast, and then we start for +London." +</p> +<p> +I complied with his request as well as I could, and we were soon on our +road. I fell into a reverie—my object was to again find out this +person, and I quietly directed Timothy to ascertain from the post-boys +the directions he gave at the last stage. The Major perceiving me not +inclined to talk, made but few observations; one, however struck me. +"Windermear," said he, "I recollect one day, when I was praising you, +said carelessly, 'that you were a fine young man, but a <i>little tête +montée</i> upon one point.' I see now it must have been upon this." I made +no reply, but it certainly was a strange circumstance that the Major +never had any suspicions on this point—yet he certainly never had. We +had once or twice talked over my affairs. I had led him to suppose that +my father and mother died in my infancy, and that I should have had a +large fortune when I came of age; but this had been entirely by indirect +replies, not by positive assertions; the fact was, that the Major, who +was an adept in all deceit, never had an idea that he could have been +deceived by one so young, so prepossessing, and apparently so ingenuous +as myself. He had, in fact, deceived himself. His ideas of my fortune +arose entirely from my asking him, whether he would have refused the +name of <i>Japhet</i> for ten thousand pounds per annum. Lord Windermear, +after having introduced me, did not consider it at all necessary to +acquaint the Major with my real history, as it was imparted to him in +confidence. He allowed matters to take their course, and me to work my +own way in the world. Thus do the most cunning overreach themselves, and +with their eyes open to any deceit on the part of others, prove quite +blind when they deceive themselves. +</p> +<p> +Timothy could not obtain any intelligence from the people of the inn at +the last stage, except that the chariot had proceeded to London. We +arrived late at night, and, much exhausted, I was glad to go to bed. +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0104" id="h2HCH0104"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter XXVI +</h2> +<p class="quote"> In following my nose, I narrowly escaped being <i>nosed</i> by a Beak. + </p> + +<p> +And as I lay in my bed, thinking that I was now nearly twenty years old, +and had not yet made any discovery, my heart sank within me. My +monomania returned with redoubled force, and I resolved to renew my +search with vigour. So I told Timothy the next morning, when he came +into my room, but from him I received little consolation; he advised me +to look out for a good match in a rich wife, and leave time to develop +the mystery of my birth; pointing out the little chance I ever had of +success. +</p> +<p> +Town was not full, the season had hardly commenced, and we had few +invitations or visits to distract my thoughts from their object. My leg +became so painful, that for a week I was on the sofa, Timothy every day +going out to ascertain if he could find the person whom we had seen +resembling me, and every evening returning without success, I became +melancholy and nervous. Carbonnell could not imagine what was the matter +with me. At last I was able to walk, and I sallied forth, perambulating, +or rather running through street after street, looking into every +carriage, so as to occasion surprise to the occupants, who believed me +mad; my dress and person were disordered, for I had become indifferent +to it, and Timothy himself believed that I was going out of my senses. +</p> +<p> +At last, after we had been in town about five weeks, I saw the very +object of my search, seated in a carriage, of a dark brown colour, arms +painted in shades, so as not to be distinguishable but at a near +approach; his hat was off, and he sat upright and formally. "That is +he!" ejaculated I, and away I ran after the carriage. "It is the nose," +cried I, as I ran down the street, knocking every one to the right and +left. I lost my hat, but fearful of losing sight of the carriage, I +hastened on, when I heard a cry of "Stop him, stop him!" "Stop him," +cried I, also, referring to the gentleman in black in the carriage. +</p> +<p> +"That won't do," cried a man, seizing me by the collar; "I know a trick +worth two of that." +</p> +<p> +"Let me go," roared I, struggling; but he only held me the faster. I +tussled with the man until my coat and shirt were torn, but in vain; the +crowd now assembled, and I was fast. The fact was, that a pickpocket had +been exercising his vocation at the time that I was running past, and +from my haste, and loss of my hat, I was supposed to be the criminal. +The police took charge of me—I pleaded innocence in vain, and I was +dragged before the magistrate, at Marlborough Street. My appearance, the +disorder of my dress, my coat and shirt in ribbons, with no hat, were +certainly not at all in my favour, when I made my appearance, led in by +two Bow Street officers. +</p> +<p> +"Whom have we here?" inquired the magistrate. +</p> +<p> +"A pickpocket, sir," replied they. +</p> +<p> +"Ah! one of the swell mob," replied he. "Are there any witnesses?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, sir," replied a young man, coming forward. "I was walking up Bond +Street, when I felt a tug at my pocket, and when I turned round, this +chap was running away." +</p> +<p> +"Can you swear to his person?" +</p> +<p> +There were plenty to swear that I was the person who ran away. +</p> +<p> +"Now, sir, have you anything to offer in your defence?" said the +magistrate. +</p> +<p> +"Yes, sir," replied I; "I certainly was running down the street; and it +may be, for all I know or care, that this person's pocket may have been +picked—but I did not pick it. I am a gentleman." +</p> +<p> +"All your fraternity lay claim to gentility," replied the magistrate; +"perhaps you will state why you were running down the street." +</p> +<p> +"I was running after a carriage, sir, that I might speak to the person +inside of it." +</p> +<p> +"Pray who was the person inside?" +</p> +<p> +"I do not know, sir." +</p> +<p> +"Why should you run after a person you do not know." +</p> +<p> +"It was because of his <i>nose</i>." +</p> +<p> +"His <i>nose</i>?" replied the magistrate, angrily. "Do you think to trifle +with me, sir? You shall now follow your own nose to prison. Make out his +committal." +</p> +<p> +"As you please, sir," replied I; "but still I have told you the truth; +if you will allow any one to take a note, I will soon prove my +respectability. I ask it in common justice." +</p> +<p> +"Be it so," replied the magistrate; "let him sit down within the bar +till the answer comes." +</p> +<p> +In less than an hour, my note to Major Carbonnell was answered by his +appearance in person, followed by Timothy. Carbonnell walked up to the +magistrate, while Timothy asked the officers in an angry tone, what they +had been doing to his <i>master</i>. This rather startled them, but both they +and the magistrate were much surprised when the Major asserted that I +was his most particular friend, Mr Newland, who possessed ten thousand +pounds per annum, and who was as well known in fashionable society, as +any young man of fortune about town. The magistrate explained what had +passed, and asked the Major if I was not a little deranged; but the +Major, who perceived what was the cause of my strange behaviour, told +him that somebody had insulted me, and that I was very anxious to lay +hold of the person, who had avoided me, and who must have been in that +carriage. +</p> +<p> +"I am afraid, that after your explanation, Major Carbonnell, I must, as +a magistrate, bind over your friend, Mr Newland, to keep the peace." +</p> +<p> +To this I consented, the Major and Timothy being taken as +recognisances, and then I was permitted to depart. The Major sent for a +hackney coach, and when we were going home he pointed out to me the +folly of my conduct, and received my promise to be more careful for the +future. Thus did this affair end, and for a short time I was more +careful in my appearance, and not so very anxious to look into +carriages; still, however, the idea haunted me, and I was often very +melancholy. It was about a month afterwards, that I was sauntering with +the Major, who now considered me to be insane upon that point, and who +would seldom allow me to go out without him, when I again perceived the +same carriage, with the gentleman inside as before. +</p> +<p> +"There he is, Major," cried I. +</p> +<p> +"There is who?" replied he. +</p> +<p> +"The man so like my father." +</p> +<p> +"What, in that carriage? that is the Bishop of E——, my good fellow. +What a strange idea you have in your head, Newland; it almost amounts to +madness. Do not be staring in that way—come along." +</p> +<p> +Still my head was turned quite round, looking at the carriage after it +had passed, till it was out of sight; but I knew who the party was, and +for the time I was satisfied, as I determined to find out his address, +and call upon him. I narrated to Timothy what had occurred, and +referring to the Red Book, I looked out the bishop's town address, and +the next day, after breakfast, having arranged my toilet with the utmost +precision, I made an excuse to the Major, and set off to Portland Place. +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0105" id="h2HCH0105"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter XXVII +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + A Chapter of Mistakes—No benefit of Clergy—I attack a Bishop, and + am beaten off—The Major hedges upon the filly stakes. +</p> +<p> +My hand trembled as I knocked at the door. It was opened. I sent in my +card, requesting the honour of an audience with his lordship. After +waiting a few minutes in an ante-room, I was ushered in. "My lord," said +I, in a flurried manner, "will you allow me to have a few minutes' +conversation with you alone?" +</p> +<p> +"This gentleman is my secretary, sir, but if you wish it, certainly, for +although he is my confidant, I have no right to insist that he shall be +yours. Mr Temple, will you oblige me by going up stairs for a little +while." +</p> +<p> +The secretary quitted the room, the bishop pointed to a chair, and I sat +down. I looked him earnestly in the face—the nose was exact, and I +imagined that even in the other features I could distinguish a +resemblance. I was satisfied that I had a last gained the object of my +search. "I believe, sir," observed I, "that you will acknowledge, that +in the heat and impetuosity of youth, we often rush into hasty and +improvident connections." +</p> +<p> +I paused, with my eyes fixed upon his. "Very true, my young sir; and +when we do we are ashamed, and repent of them afterwards," replied the +bishop, rather astonished. +</p> +<p> +"I grant that, sir," replied I, "but at the same time, we must feel that +we must abide by the results, however unpleasant." +</p> +<p> +"When we do wrong, Mr Newland," replied the bishop, first looking at my +card, and then upon me, "we find that we are not only to be punished in +the next world, but suffer for it also in this. I trust you have no +reason for such suffering?" +</p> +<p> +"Unfortunately, the sins of the fathers are visited upon the children, +and, in that view, I may say that I have suffered." +</p> +<p> +"My dear sir," replied the bishop, "I trust you will excuse me, when I +say, that my time is rather valuable; if you have anything of importance +to communicate—anything upon which you would ask my advice—for +assistance you do not appear to require, do me the favour to proceed at +once to the point." +</p> +<p> +"I will, sir, be as concise as the matter will admit of. Allow me, +then, to ask you a few questions, and I trust to your honour, and the +dignity of your profession, for a candid answer. Did you not marry a +young woman early in life? and were you not very much pressed in your +circumstances?" +</p> +<p> +The bishop stared. "Really, Mr Newland, it is a strange question, and I +cannot imagine to what it may lead, but still I will answer it. I did +marry early in life, and I was, at that time, not in very affluent +circumstances." +</p> +<p> +"You had a child by that marriage—your eldest born—a boy!" +</p> +<p> +"That is also true, Mr Newland," replied the bishop, gravely. +</p> +<p> +"How long is it since you have seen him?" +</p> +<p> +"It is many years," replied the bishop, putting his handkerchief up to +his eyes. +</p> +<p> +"Answer me, now, sir;—did you not desert him?" +</p> +<p> +"No, no!" replied the bishop. "It is strange that you should appear to +know so much about the matter, Mr Newland, as you could have hardly been +born. I was poor then—very poor; but although I could ill afford it, he +had fifty pounds from me." +</p> +<p> +"But, sir," replied I, much agitated; "why have you not reclaimed him?" +</p> +<p> +"I would have reclaimed him, Mr Newland—but what could I do—he was not +to be reclaimed; and now—he is lost for ever." +</p> +<p> +"Surely, sir, in your present affluence, you must wish to see him +again?" +</p> +<p> +"He died, and I trust he has gone to heaven," replied the bishop, +covering up his face. +</p> +<p> +"No, sir," replied I, throwing myself on my knees before him, "he did +not die, here he is at your feet, to ask your blessing." +</p> +<p> +The bishop sprang from his chair. "What does this mean, sir?" said he, +with astonishment. "You my son!" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, reverend father—your son; who, with fifty pounds you left—" +</p> +<p> +"On the top of the Portsmouth coach!" +</p> +<p> +"No, sir, in the <i>basket</i>." +</p> +<p> +"My son! sir,—impossible; he died in the hospital." +</p> +<p> +"No, sir, he has come out of the <i>hospital</i>," replied I; "and as you +perceive, safe and well." +</p> +<p> +"Either, sir, this must be some strange mistake, or you must be trifling +with me," replied his lordship; "for, sir, I was at his death-bed, and +followed him to his grave." +</p> +<p> +"Are you sure of that, sir?" replied I, starting up with amazement. +</p> +<p> +"I wish that I was not, sir—for I am now childless; but pray, sir, who, +and what are you, who know so much of my former life, and who would have +thus imposed upon me?" +</p> +<p> +"Imposed upon you, sir!" replied I, perceiving that I was in error. +"Alas! I would do no such thing. Who am I? I am a young man who is in +search of his father. Your face, and especially your nose, so resembled +mine, that I made sure that I had succeeded. Pity me, sir—pity me," +continued I, covering up my face with my hands. +</p> +<p> +The bishop, perceiving that there was little of the impostor in my +appearance, and that I was much affected, allowed a short time for me to +recover myself, and then entered into an explanation. When a curate, he +had had an only son, very wild, who would go to sea in spite of his +remonstrances. He saw him depart by the Portsmouth coach, and gave him +the sum mentioned. His son received a mortal wound in action, and was +sent to the Plymouth hospital, where he died. I then entered into my +explanation in a few concise sentences, and with a heart beating with +disappointment, took my leave. The bishop shook hands with me as I +quitted the room, and wished me better success at my next application. +</p> +<p> +I went home almost in despair. Timothy consoled me as well as he could, +and advised me to go as much as possible into society, as the most +likely chance of obtaining my wish, not that he considered there was any +chance, but he thought that amusement would restore me to my usual +spirits. "I will go and visit little Fleta," replied I, "for a few +days; the sight of her will do me more good than anything else." And the +next day I set off for the town of ——, where I found the dear little +girl, much grown, and much improved. I remained with her for a week, +walking with her in the country, amusing her, and amused myself with our +conversation. At the close of the week I bade her farewell, and returned +to the Major's lodgings. +</p> +<p> +I was astonished to find him in deep mourning. "My dear Carbonnell," +said I, inquiringly, "I hope no severe loss?" +</p> +<p> +"Nay, my dear Newland, I should be a hypocrite if I said so; for there +never was a more merry mourner, and that's the truth of it. Mr M——, +who, you know, stood between me and the peerage, has been drowned in the +Rhone; I now have a squeak for it. His wife has one daughter, and is +<i>enceinte</i>. Should the child prove a boy, I am done for, but if a girl, +I must then come in to the barony, and fifteen thousand pounds per +annum. However, I've hedged pretty handsomely." +</p> +<p> +"How do you mean?" +</p> +<p> +"Why they say that when a woman commences with girls, she generally goes +on, and the odds are two to one that Mrs M—— has a girl. I have taken +the odds at the clubs to the amount of fifteen thousand pounds; so if it +be a girl I shall have to pay that out of my fifteen thousand pounds per +annum, as soon as I fall into it; if it be a boy, and I am floored, I +shall pocket thirty thousand pounds by way of consolation for the +disappointment. They are all good men." +</p> +<p> +"Yes, but they know you never pay." +</p> +<p> +"They know I never do now, because I have no money; but they know I will +pay if I come into the estate; and so I will, most honourably, besides a +few more thousands that I have in my book." +</p> +<p> +"I congratulate you, with all my heart, Major. How old is the present +Lord B——?" +</p> +<p> +"I have just been examining the peerage—he is sixtytwo; but he is very +fresh and hearty, and may live a long while yet. By-the-bye, Newland, I +committed a great error last night at the club. I played pretty high, +and lost a great deal of money." +</p> +<p> +"That is unfortunate." +</p> +<p> +"That was not the error; I actually paid all my losings, Newland, and it +has reduced the stock amazingly. I lost seven hundred and fifty pounds. +I know I ought not to have paid away your money, but the fact was, as I +was hedging, it would not do not to have paid, as I could not have made +up my book as I wished. It is, however, only waiting a few weeks, till +Mrs M—— decides my fate, and then, either one way or the other, I +shall have money enough. If your people won't give you any more till you +are of age, why we must send to a little friend of mine, that's all, and +you shall borrow for both of us." +</p> +<p> +"Borrow!" replied I, not much liking the idea; "they will never lend me +money." +</p> +<p> +"Won't they?" replied the Major; "no fear of that. Your signature, and +my introduction, will be quite sufficient." +</p> +<p> +"We had better try to do without it, Major; I do not much like it." +</p> +<p> +"Well, if we can, we will; but I have not fifty pounds left in my desk; +how much have you?" +</p> +<p> +"About twenty," replied I, in despair at this intelligence; "but I think +there is a small sum left at the banker's; I will go and see." I took up +my hat and set off, to ascertain what funds we might have in store. +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0106" id="h2HCH0106"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter XXVIII +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + I am over head and ears in trouble about a lady's ear-rings; commit + myself sadly, and am very nearly committed. +</p> +<p> +I must say, that I was much annoyed at this intelligence. The +money-lenders would not be satisfied unless they knew where my estates +were, and had examined the will at Doctors' Commons; then all would be +exposed to the Major, and I should be considered by him as an impostor. +I walked down Pall Mall in a very unhappy mood, so deep in thought, that +I ran against a lady, who was stepping out of her carriage at a +fashionable shop. She turned round, and I was making my best apologies +to a very handsome woman when her ear-rings caught my attention. They +were of alternate coral and gold, and the fac-simile in make to the +chain given by Nattée to Fleta. During my last visit, I had often had +the chain in my hand, and particularly marked the workmanship. To make +more sure, I followed into the shop, and stood behind her, carefully +examining them, as she looked over a quantity of laces. There could be +no doubt. I waited till the lady rose to go away, and then addressed the +shopman, asking the lady's name. He did not know—she was a stranger; +but perhaps Mr H——, the master, did, and he went back to answer the +question. Mr H—— being at that moment busy, the man stayed so long, +that I heard the carriage drive off. Fearful of losing sight of the +lady, I took to my heels, and ran out of the shop. My sudden flight from +the counter, covered with lace, made them imagine that I had stolen +some, and they cried out, "Stop thief," as loud as they could, springing +over the counter, and pursuing me as I pursued the carriage, which was +driven at a rapid pace. +</p> +<p> +A man perceiving me running, and others, without their hats, following, +with the cries of "Stop thief," put out his leg, and I fell on the +pavement, the blood rushing in torrents from my nose. I was seized, +roughly handled, and again handed over to the police, who carried me +before the same magistrate in Marlborough Street. +</p> +<p> +"What is this?" demanded the magistrate. +</p> +<p> +"A shoplifter, your worship." +</p> +<p> +"I am not, sir," replied I; "you know me well enough, I am Mr Newland." +</p> +<p> +"Mr Newland!" replied the magistrate, suspiciously; "this is strange, a +second time to appear before me upon such a charge." +</p> +<p> +"And just as innocent as before, sir." +</p> +<p> +"You'll excuse me, sir, but I must have my suspicions this time. Where +is the evidence?" +</p> +<p> +The people of the shop then came forward, and stated what had occurred. +"Let him be searched," said the magistrate. +</p> +<p> +I was searched, but nothing was found upon me. "Are you satisfied now, +sir?" inquired I. +</p> +<p> +"By no means. Let the people go back and look over their laces, and see +if any are missing; in the meantime I shall detain you, for it is very +easy to get rid of a small article, such as lace, when you are caught." +</p> +<p> +The men went away, and I wrote a note to Major Carbonnell, requesting +his attendance. He arrived at the same time as the shopman, and I told +him what had happened. The shopman declared that the stock was not +correct; as far as they could judge, there were two pieces of lace +missing. +</p> +<p> +"If so, I did not take them," replied I. +</p> +<p> +"Upon my honour, Mr B——," said the Major, to the magistrate, "it is +very hard for a gentleman to be treated in this manner. This is the +second time that I have been sent for to vouch for his respectability." +</p> +<p> +"Very true, sir," replied the magistrate; "but allow me to ask Mr +Newland, as he calls himself, what induced him to follow a lady into the +shop?" +</p> +<p> +"Her ear-rings," replied I. +</p> +<p> +"Her ear-rings! why, sir, the last time you were brought before me, you +said it was after a gentleman's nose—now it appears you were attracted +by a lady's ears; and pray, sir, what induced you to run out of the +shop?" +</p> +<p> +"Because I wanted particularly to inquire about her ear-rings, sir." +</p> +<p> +"I cannot understand these paltry excuses; there are, it appears, two +pieces of lace missing. I must remand you for further examination, sir; +and you also, sir," said the magistrate, to Major Carbonnell; "for if he +is a swindler, you must be an accomplice." +</p> +<p> +"Sir," replied Major Carbonnell, sneeringly, "you are certainly a very +good judge of a gentleman, when you happen by accident to be in his +company. With your leave, I will send a note to another confederate." +</p> +<p> +The Major then wrote a note to Lord Windermear, which he despatched by +Timothy, who, hearing I was in trouble, had accompanied the Major. And +while he was away, the Major and I sat down, he giving himself all +manner of airs, much to the annoyance of the magistrate, who at last +threatened to commit him immediately. "You'll repent this," replied the +Major, who perceived Lord Windermear coming in. +</p> +<p> +"You shall repent it, sir, by God," cried the magistrate, in a great +passion. +</p> +<p> +"Put five shillings in the box for swearing, Mr B——. You fine other +people," said the Major. "Here is my other confederate, Lord +Windermear." +</p> +<p> +"Carbonnell," said Lord Windermear, "what is all this?" +</p> +<p> +"Nothing, my lord, except that our friend Newland is taken up for +shoplifting, because he thought proper to run after a pretty woman's +carriage; and I am accused by his worship of being his confederate. I +could forgive his suspicions of Mr Newland in that plight; but as for +his taking me for one of the swell mob, it proves a great deficiency of +judgment; perhaps he will commit your lordship also, as he may not be +aware that your lordship's person is above caption." +</p> +<p> +"I can assure you, sir," said Lord Windermear, proudly, "that this is my +relative, Major Carbonnell, and the other is my friend, Mr Newland. I +will bail them for any sum you please." +</p> +<p> +The magistrate felt astonished and annoyed, for, after all, he had only +done his duty. Before he could reply, a man came from the shop to say +that the laces had been found all right. Lord Windermear then took me +aside, and I narrated what had happened. He recollected the story of +Fleta in my narrative of my life, and felt that I was right in trying to +find out who the lady was. The magistrate now apologised for the +detention, but explained to his lordship how I had before made my +appearance upon another charge, and with a low bow we were dismissed. +</p> +<p> +"My dear Mr Newland," said his lordship, "I trust that this will be a +warning to you, not to run after other people's noses and ear-rings; at +the same time, I will certainly keep a look-out for those very ear-rings +myself. Major, I wish you a good morning." +</p> +<p> +His lordship then shook us both by the hand, and saying that he should +be glad to see more of me than he latterly had done, stepped into his +carriage and drove off. +</p> +<p> +"What the devil did his lordship mean about ear-rings, Newland?" +inquired the Major. +</p> +<p> +"I told him that I was examining the lady's ear-rings, as very +remarkable," replied I. +</p> +<p> +"You appear to be able to deceive everybody but me, my good fellow. I +know that you were examining the lady herself." I left the Major in his +error, by making no reply. +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0107" id="h2HCH0107"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter XXIX +</h2> +<p class="quote"> I borrow money upon my estate, and upon very favourable terms. + </p> + +<p> +When I came down to breakfast the next morning, the Major said, "My dear +Newland, I have taken the liberty of requesting a very old friend of +mine to come and meet you this morning. I will not disguise from you +that it is Emmanuel, the money-lender. Money you must have until my +affairs are decided, one way or the other; and, in this instance, I will +most faithfully repay the sum borrowed, as soon as I receive the amount +of my bets, or am certain of succeeding to the title, which is one and +the same thing." +</p> +<p> +I bit my lips, for I was not a little annoyed; but what could be done? I +must have either confessed my real situation to the Major, or have +appeared to raise scruples, which, as the supposed heir to a large +fortune, would have appeared to him to be very frivolous. I thought it +better to let the affair take its chance. "Well," replied I, "if it must +be, it must be: but it shall be on my own terms." +</p> +<p> +"Nay," observed the Major, "there is no fear but that he will consent, +and without any trouble." +</p> +<p> +After a moment's reflection I went up stairs and rang for Timothy. +"Tim," said I, "hear me; I now make you a solemn promise, on my honour +as a gentleman, that I will never borrow money upon interest, and until +you release me from it, I shall adhere to my word." +</p> +<p> +"Very well, sir," replied Timothy; "I guess your reason for so doing, +and I expect you will keep your word. Is that all?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes; now you may take up the urn." +</p> +<p> +We had finished our breakfast, when Timothy announced Mr Emmanuel, who +followed him into the room. +</p> +<p> +"Well, old cent per cent, how are you?" said the Major. "Allow me to +introduce my most particular friend, Mr Newland." +</p> +<p> +"Auh! Master Major," replied the descendant of Abraham, a little puny +creature, bent double with infirmity, and carrying one hand behind his +back, as if to counterbalance the projection of his head and shoulders. +"You vash please to call me shent per shent. I wish I vash able to make +de monies pay that. Mr Newland, can I be of any little shervice to you?" +</p> +<p> +"Sit down, sit down, Emmanuel. You have my warrant for Mr Newland's +respectability, and the sooner we get over the business the better." +</p> +<p> +"Auh, Mr Major, it ish true, you was recommend many good—no, not always +good—customers to me, and I was very much obliged. Vat can I do for +your handsome young friend? De young gentlemen always vant money; and +it is de youth which is de time for de pleasure and enjoyment." +</p> +<p> +"He wants a thousand pounds, Emmanuel." +</p> +<p> +"Dat is a large sum—one tousand pounds' he does not vant any more?" +</p> +<p> +"No," replied I, "that will be sufficient." +</p> +<p> +"Vel, den, I have de monish in my pocket. I will just beg de young +gentleman to sign a little memorandum, dat I may von day receive my +monish." +</p> +<p> +"But what is that to be?" interrupted I. +</p> +<p> +"It will be to promise to pay me my monish and only fifteen per shent, +when you come into your own." +</p> +<p> +"That will not do," replied I; "I have pledged my solemn word of honour, +that I will not borrow money on interest." +</p> +<p> +"And you have given de pledge, but you did not swear upon de book?" +</p> +<p> +"No, but my word has been given, and that is enough; if I would forfeit +my word with those to whom I have given it, I would also forfeit my word +with you. My keeping my promise, ought to be a pledge to you that I will +keep my promise to you." +</p> +<p> +"Dat is veil said—very veil said; but den we must manage some oder way. +Suppose—let me shee—how old are you, my young sir?" +</p> +<p> +"Past twenty." +</p> +<p> +"Auh, dat is a very pleasant age, dat twenty. Veil, den, you shall shign +a leetle bit of paper, that you pay me £2000 ven you come into your +properties, on condition dat I pay now one tousand. Dat is very +fair—ish it not, Mr Major?" +</p> +<p> +"Rather too hard, Emmanuel." +</p> +<p> +"But de rishque—de rishque, Mr Major." +</p> +<p> +"I will not agree to those terms," replied I; "you must take your money +away, Mr Emmanuel." +</p> +<p> +"Veil, den—vat vill you pay me?" +</p> +<p> +"I will sign an agreement to pay you £1500 for the thousand, if you +please; if that will not suit you, I will try elsewhere." +</p> +<p> +"Dat is very bad bargain. How old, you shay?" +</p> +<p> +"Twenty." +</p> +<p> +"Vell, I shuppose I must oblige you, and my very goot friend, de Major." +</p> +<p> +Mr Emmanuel drew out his spectacles, pen, and inkhorn, filled up a bond, +and handed it to me to sign. I read it carefully over, and signed it; he +then paid down the money, and took his leave. +</p> +<p> +It may appear strange to the reader that the money was obtained so +easily, but he must remember that the Major was considered a person who +universally attached himself to young men of large fortune; he had +already been the means of throwing many profitable speculations into the +hands of Emmanuel, and the latter put implicit confidence in him. The +money-lenders also are always on the look out for young men with large +fortunes, and have their names registered. Emmanuel had long expected me +to come to him, and although it was his intention to have examined more +particularly, and not to have had the money prepared, yet my refusal to +sign the bond, bearing interest, and my disputing the terms of the +second proposal, blinded him completely, and put him off his usual +guard. +</p> +<p> +"Upon my word, Newland, you obtained better terms than I could have +expected from the old Hunks." +</p> +<p> +"Much better than I expected also, Major," replied I; "but now, how much +of the money would you like to have?" +</p> +<p> +"My dear fellow, this is very handsome of you; but, I thank Heaven, I +shall be soon able to repay it: but what pleases me, Newland, is your +perfect confidence in one whom the rest of the world would not trust +with a shilling. I will accept your offer as freely as it is made, and +take £500, just to make a show for the few weeks that I am in suspense, +and then you will find, that with all my faults, I am rot deficient in +gratitude." I divided the money with the Major, and he shortly +afterwards went out. +</p> +<p> +"Well, sir," said Timothy, entering, full of curiosity, "what have you +done?" +</p> +<p> +"I have borrowed a thousand to pay fifteen hundred when I come into my +property." +</p> +<p> +"You are safe then. Excellent, and the Jew will be bit." +</p> +<p> +"No, Timothy, I intend to repay it as soon as I can." +</p> +<p> +"I should like to know when that will be." +</p> +<p> +"So should I, Tim, for it must depend upon my finding out my parentage." +Heigho, thought I, when shall I ever find out who is my father? +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0108" id="h2HCH0108"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter XXX +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + The Major is very fortunate and very unfortunate—He receives a + large sum in gold and one ounce of lead. +</p> +<p> +I dressed and went out, met Harcourt, dined with him, and on my return +the Major had not come home. It was then past midnight, and feeling +little inclination to sleep, I remained in the drawing-room, waiting for +his arrival. About three o'clock he came in, flushed in the face, and +apparently in high good humour. +</p> +<p> +"Newland," said he, throwing his pocket-book on the table, "just open +that, and then you will open your eyes." +</p> +<p> +I obeyed him, and to my surprise took out a bundle of bank-notes; I +counted up their value, and they amounted to £3500. +</p> +<p> +"You have been fortunate, indeed." +</p> +<p> +"Yes," replied the Major; "knowing that in a short time I shall be +certain of cash, one way or the other, I had resolved to try my luck +with the £500. I went to the hazard table, and threw in seventeen +times—hedged upon the deuce ace, and threw out with it—<i>voila</i>. They +won't catch me there again in a hurry—luck like that only comes once in +a man's life; but, Japhet, there is a little drawback to all this. I +shall require your kind attendance in two or three hours." +</p> +<p> +"Why, what's the matter?" +</p> +<p> +"Merely an affair of honour. I was insulted by a vagabond, and we meet +at six o'clock." +</p> +<p> +"A vagabond—but surely, Carbonnell, you will not condescend—" +</p> +<p> +"My dear fellow, although as great a vagabond as there is on the face of +the earth, yet he is a peer of the realm, and his title warrants the +meeting—but, after all, what is it?" +</p> +<p> +"I trust it will be nothing, Carbonnell, but still it may prove +otherwise." +</p> +<p> +"Granted; and what then, my dear Newland? we all owe Heaven a death, and +if I am floored, why then I shall no longer be anxious about title or +fortune." +</p> +<p> +"It's a bad way of settling a dispute," replied I, gravely. +</p> +<p> +"There is no other, Newland. How would society be held in check if it +were not for duelling? We should all be a set of bears living in a +bear-garden. I presume you have never been out?" +</p> +<p> +"Never," replied I, "and had hoped that I never should have." +</p> +<p> +"Then you must have better fortune, or better temper than most others, +if you pass through life without an affair of this kind on your hands. I +mean as principal, not as second. But, my dear fellow, I must give you a +little advice, relative to your behaviour as a second; for I'm very +particular on these occasions, and like that things should be done very +correctly. It will never do, my dear Newland, that you appear on the +ground with that melancholy face. I do not mean that you should laugh, +or even smile, that would be equally out of character, but you should +show yourself perfectly calm and indifferent. In your behaviour towards +the other second, you must be most scrupulously polite, but, at the same +time, never give up a point of dispute, in which my interest may be +concerned. Even in your walk be slow, and move, as much as the ground +will allow you, as if you were in a drawing-room. Never remain silent; +offer even trivial remarks, rather than appear distract. There is one +point of great importance—I refer to choosing the ground, in which, +perhaps, you will require my unperceived assistance. Any decided line +behind me would be very advantageous to my adversary, such as the trunk +of a tree, post, &c.; even an elevated light or dark ground behind me is +unadvisable. Choose, if you can, a broken light, as it affects the +correctness of the aim; but as you will not probably be able to manage +this satisfactorily, I will assist you. When on the ground, after having +divided the sun fairly between us, I will walk about unconcernedly, and +when I perceive a judicious spot, I will take a pinch of snuff and use +my handkerchief, turning at the same time in the direction in which I +wish my adversary to be placed. Take your cue from that, and with all +suavity of manner, insist as much as you can upon our being so placed. +That must be left to your own persuasive powers. I believe I have now +stated all that is necessary, and I must prepare my instruments." +</p> +<p> +The major then went into his own room, and I never felt more nervous or +more unhinged than after this conversation. I had a melancholy +foreboding—but that I believe every one has, when he, for the first +time, has to assist at a mortal rencontre. I was in a deep musing when +he returned with his pistols and all the necessary apparatus; and when +the Major pointed out to me, and made me once or twice practice the +setting of the hair triggers, which is the duty of the second, an +involuntary shudder came over me. +</p> +<p> +"Why, Newland, what is the matter with you? I thought that you had more +nerve." +</p> +<p> +"I probably should show more, Carbonnell, were I the principal instead +of the second, but I cannot bear the reflection that some accident +should happen to you. You are the only one with whom I have been on +terms of friendship, and the idea of losing you, is very, very painful." +</p> +<p> +"Newland, you really quite unman me, and you may now see a miracle," +continued Carbonnell, as he pressed his hand to his eye, "the moisture +of a tear on the cheek of a London <i>roué</i>, a man of the world, who has +long lived for himself and for this world only. It never would be +credited if asserted. Newland, there was a time when I was like +yourself—the world took advantage of my ingenuousness and inexperience; +my good feelings were the cause of my ruin, and then, by degrees, I +became as callous and as hardened as the world itself. My dear fellow, I +thought all affection, all sentiment, dried up within me, but it is not +the case. You have made me feel that I have still a heart, and that I +can love you. But this is all romance, and not fitted for the present +time. It is now five o'clock, let us be on the ground early—it will +give us an advantage." +</p> +<p> +"I do not much like speaking to you on the subject, Carbonnell; but is +there nothing that you might wish done in case of accident?" +</p> +<p> +"Nothing—why yes. I may as well. Give me a sheet of paper." The Major +sat down and wrote for a few minutes. "Now, send Timothy and another +here. Timothy, and you, sir, see me sign this paper, and put my seal to +it. I deliver this as my act and deed. Put your names as witnesses." +They complied with his request, and then the Major desired Timothy to +call a hackney-coach. "Newland," said the Major, putting the paper, +folded up, in my pocket, along with the bank notes, "take care of this +for me till we come back." +</p> +<p> +"The coach is at the door, sir," said Timothy, looking at me, as if to +say, "What can all this be about?" +</p> +<p> +"You may come with us and see," said the Major, observing Tim's +countenance, "and put that case into the coach." Tim, who knew that it +was the Major's case of pistols, appeared still more alarmed, and stood +still without obeying the order. "Never mind, Tim, your master is not +the one who is to use them," said the Major, patting him on the +shoulder. +</p> +<p> +Timothy, relieved by this intelligence, went down stairs with the +pistols; we followed him. Tim mounted on the box, and we drove to Chalk +Farm. "Shall the coach wait?" inquired Timothy. +</p> +<p> +"Yes, by all means," replied I, in a low voice. We arrived at the usual +ground, where disputes of this kind were generally settled; and the +Major took a survey of it with great composure. +</p> +<p> +"Now observe, Japhet," said he, "if you can contrive—; but here they +are. I will give you the notice agreed upon." The peer, whose title was +Lord Tineholme, now came up with his second, whom he introduced to me as +Mr Osborn. "Mr Newland," replied the Major, saluting Mr Osborn in +return. We both took off our hats, bowed, and then proceeded to our +duty. I must do my adversary's second the justice to say, that his +politeness was fully equal to mine. There was no mention, on either +side, of explanations and retractions—the insult was too gross, and the +character of his lordship, as well as that of Major Carbonnell, was too +well known. Twelve paces were proposed by Mr Osborn, and agreed to by +me—the pistols of Major Carbonnell were gained by drawing lots—we had +nothing more to do but to place our principals. The Major took out his +snuff-box, took a pinch, and blew his nose, turning towards a copse of +beech trees. +</p> +<p> +"With your permission, I will mark out the ground, Mr Osborn," said I, +walking up to the Major, and intending to pace twelve paces in the +direction towards which he faced. +</p> +<p> +"Allow me to observe that I think a little more in this direction, would +be more fair for both parties," said Mr Osborn. +</p> +<p> +"It would so, my dear sir," replied I, "but, submitting to your superior +judgment, perhaps it may not have struck you that my principal will have +rather too much of the sun. I am incapable of taking any advantage, but +I should not do my duty if I did not see every justice done to the +Major, who has confided to me in this unpleasant affair. I put it to +you, sir, as a gentleman and man of honour, whether I am claiming too +much?" A little amicable altercation took place on this point, but +finding that I would not yield, and that at every reply I was more and +more polite and bland in my deportment, Mr Osborn gave up the point. I +walked the twelve paces, and Mr Osborn placed his principal. I observed +that Lord Tineholme did not appear pleased; he expostulated with him, +but it was then too late. The pistols had been already loaded—the +choice was given to his lordship, and Major Carbonnell received the +other from my hand, which actually trembled, while his was firm. I +requested Mr Osborn to drop the handkerchief, as I could not make up my +mind to give a signal which might be fatal to the Major. They +fired—Lord Tineholme fell immediately—the Major remained on his feet +for a second or two, and then sank down on the ground. I hastened up to +him. "Where are you hurt?" +</p> +<p> +The Major put his hand to his hip—"I am hit hard, Newland, but not so +hard as he is. Run and see." +</p> +<p> +I left the Major, and went up to where Lord Tineholme lay, his head +raised on the knee of his second. +</p> +<p> +"It is all over with him, Mr Newland, the ball has passed through his +brain." +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0109" id="h2HCH0109"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter XXXI +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + The Major pays the only debt of consequence he ever did pay, and I + find myself a man of property. +</p> +<p> +I hastened back to the Major, to examine his wound, and, with the +assistance of Timothy, I stripped him sufficiently to ascertain that the +ball had entered his hip, and probing the wound with my finger, it +appeared that it had glanced off in the direction of the intestines; the +suffusion of blood was very trifling, which alarmed me still more. +</p> +<p> +"Could you bear removal, Major, in the coach?" +</p> +<p> +"I cannot tell, but we must try; the sooner I am home the better, +Japhet," replied he faintly. +</p> +<p> +With the assistance of Timothy, I put him into the hackney-coach, and we +drove off, after I had taken off my hat and made my obeisance to Mr +Osborn, an effort of politeness which I certainly should have neglected, +had I not been reminded of it by my principal. We set off, and the +Major bore his journey very well, making no complaint, but, on our +arrival he fainted as we lifted him out. As soon as he was on the bed, I +despatched Timothy for a surgeon. On his arrival he examined the wound, +and shook his head. Taking me into the next room, he declared his +opinion, that the ball had passed into the intestines, which were +severed, and that there was no hope. I sat down and covered up my +face—the tears rolled down and trickled through my fingers—it was the +first heavy blow I had yet received. Without kindred or connections, I +felt that I was about to lose one who was dear to me. To another, not in +my situation, it might have only produced a temporary grief at the near +loss of a friend; but to me, who was almost alone in the world, the loss +was heavy in the extreme. Whom had I to fly to for solace?—there were +Timothy and Fleta—one who performed the duty of a servant to me, and a +child. I felt that they were not sufficient, and my heart was chilled. +</p> +<p> +The surgeon had, in the meantime, returned to the Major, and dressed the +wound. The Major, who had recovered from his weakness, asked him his +candid opinion. "We must hope for the best, sir," replied the surgeon. +</p> +<p> +"That is to say, there is no hope," replied the Major; "and I feel that +you are right. How long do you think that I may live?" +</p> +<p> +"If the wound does not take a favourable turn, about forty-eight hours, +sir," replied the surgeon; "but we must hope for a more fortunate +issue." +</p> +<p> +"In a death-bed case you medical men are like lawyers," replied the +Major, "there is no getting a straightforward answer from you. Where is +Mr Newland?" +</p> +<p> +"Here I am, Carbonnell," said I, taking his hand. +</p> +<p> +"My dear fellow, I know it is all over with me, and you, of course, know +it as well as I do. Do not think that it is a source of much regret to +me to leave this rascally world—indeed it is not; but I do feel sorry, +very sorry, to leave you. The doctor tells me I shall live forty-eight +hours; but I have an idea that I shall not live so many minutes. I feel +my strength gradually failing me. Depend upon it, my dear Newland, there +is an internal hemorrhage. My dear fellow, I shall not be able to speak +soon. I have left you my executor and sole heir. I wish there was more +for you—it will last you, however, till you come of age. That was a +lucky hit last night, but a very unlucky one this morning. Bury me like +a gentleman." +</p> +<p> +"My dear Carbonnell," said I, "would you not like to see somebody—a +clergyman?" +</p> +<p> +"Newland, excuse me. I do not refuse it out of disrespect, or because I +do not believe in the tenets of Christianity; but I cannot believe that +my repentance at this late hour can be of any avail. If I have not been +sorry for the life I have lived—if I have not had my moments of +remorse—if I have not promised to amend, and intended to have so done, +and I trust I have—what avails my repentance now? No, no, Japhet, as I +have sown so must I reap, and trust to the mercy of Heaven. God only +knows all our hearts, and I would fain believe that I may find more +favour in the eyes of the Almighty, than I have in this world from those +who—but we must not judge. Give me to drink, Japhet—I am sinking fast. +God bless you, my dear fellow." +</p> +<p> +The Major sank on his pillow, after he had moistened his lips, and spoke +no more. With his hand clasped in mine he gradually sank, and in a +quarter of an hour his eyes were fixed, and all was over. He was right +in his conjectures—an artery had been divided, and he had bled to +death. The surgeon came again just before he was dead, for I had sent +for him. "It is better as it is," said he to me. "Had he not bled to +death, he would have suffered forty-eight hours of extreme agony from +the mortification which must have ensued." He closed the Major's eyes +and took his leave, and I hastened into the drawing-room and sent for +Timothy, with whom I sate in a long conversation on this unfortunate +occurrence, and my future prospects. +</p> +<p> +My grief for the death of the Major was sincere; much may indeed be +ascribed to habit, from our long residence and companionship; but more +to the knowledge that the Major, with all his faults, had redeeming +qualities, and that the world had driven him to become what he had been. +I had the further conviction, that he was attached to me, and, in my +situation, anything like affection was most precious. His funeral was +handsome, without being ostentatious, and I paid every demand upon him +which I knew to be just—many, indeed, that were not sent in, from a +supposition that any claim made would be useless. His debts were not +much above £200, and these debts had never been expected to be +liquidated by those who had given him credit. The paper he had written, +and had been witnessed by Timothy and another, was a short will, in +which he left me his sole heir and executor. The whole of his property +consisted of his house in St James's Street, the contents of his +pocket-book entrusted to my care, and his personal effects, which, +especially in bijouterie, were valuable. The house was worth about +£4000, as he had told me. In his pocket-book were notes to the amount of +£3500, and his other effects might be valued at £400. With all his debts +and funeral expenses liquidated, and with my own money, I found myself +in possession of about £8000,—a sum which never could have been +credited, for it was generally supposed that he died worth less than +nothing, having lived for a long while upon a capital of a similar +value. +</p> +<p> +"I cannot but say," observed Timothy, "but that this is very fortunate. +Had the Major not persuaded you to borrow money, he never would have won +so large a sum. Had he lived he would have squandered it away; but just +in the nick of time he is killed, and makes you his heir." +</p> +<p> +"There is truth in your observation, Timothy; but now you must go to Mr +Emmanuel, that I may pay him off. I will repay the £1000 lent me by Lord +Windermear into his banker's, and then I must execute one part of the +poor Major's will. He left his diamond solitaire as a memento to his +lordship. Bring it to me, and I will call and present it." +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0110" id="h2HCH0110"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter XXXII +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + A chapter full of morality, which ends in a Jew refusing upwards of + £1000, proving the Millenium to be nearly at hand. +</p> +<p> +This conversation took place the day after the funeral, and, attired in +deep mourning, I called upon his lordship, and was admitted. His +lordship had sent his carriage to attend the funeral, and was also in +mourning when he received me. I executed my commission, and after a long +conversation with his lordship, in which I confided to him the contents +of the will, and the amount of property of the deceased, I rose to take +my leave. +</p> +<p> +"Excuse me, Mr Newland," said he, "but what do you now propose to do? I +confess I feel a strong interest about you, and had wished that you had +come to me oftener without an invitation. I perceive that you never +will. Have you no intention of following up any pursuit?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, my lord, I intend to search after my father; and I trust that, by +husbanding my unexpected resources, I shall now be able." +</p> +<p> +"You have the credit, in the fashionable world, of possessing a large +fortune." +</p> +<p> +"That is not my fault, my lord: it is through Major Carbonnell's mistake +that the world is deceived. Still I must acknowledge myself so far +participator, that I have never contradicted the report." +</p> +<p> +"Meaning, I presume, by some good match, to reap the advantage of the +supposition." +</p> +<p> +"Not so, my lord, I assure you. People may deceive themselves, but I +will not deceive them." +</p> +<p> +"Nor undeceive them, Mr Newland?" +</p> +<p> +"Undeceive them I will not; nay, if I did make the attempt, I should +not be believed. They never would believe it possible that I could have +lived so long with your relative, without having had a large supply of +money. They might believe that I had run through my money, but not that +I never had any." +</p> +<p> +"There is a knowledge of the world in that remark," replied his +lordship; "but I interrupted you, so proceed." +</p> +<p> +"I mean to observe, my lord, and you, by your knowledge of my previous +history, can best judge how far I am warranted in saying so; that I have +as yet steered the middle course between that which is dishonest and +honest. If the world deceives itself, you would say that, in strict +honesty, I ought to undeceive it. So I would, my lord, if it were not +for my peculiar situation; but at the same time I never will, if +possible, be guilty of direct deceit; that is to say, I would not take +advantage of my supposed wealth, to marry a young person of large +fortune. I would state myself a beggar, and gain her affections as a +beggar. A woman can have little confidence in a man who deceives her +before marriage." +</p> +<p> +"Your secret will always be safe with me, Mr Newland; you have a right +to demand it. I am glad to hear the sentiments which you have expressed; +they are not founded, perhaps, upon the strictest code of morality; but +there are many who profess more who do not act up to so much. Still, I +wish you would think in what way I may be able to serve you, for your +life at present is useless and unprofitable, and may tend to warp still +more, ideas which are not quite so strict as they ought to be." +</p> +<p> +"My lord, I have but one object in allowing the world to continue in +their error relative to my means, which is, that it procures for me an +entrance into that society in which I have a moral conviction that I +shall find my father. I have but one pursuit, one end to attain, which +is, to succeed in that search. I return you a thousand thanks for your +kind expressions and good-will; but I cannot, at present, avail myself +of them. I beg your lordship's pardon, but did you ever meet the lady +with the ear-rings?" +</p> +<p> +Lord Windermear smiled. "Really, Mr Newland, you are a very strange +person; not content with finding out your own parents, you must also be +searching after other people's; not that I do not commend your conduct +in this instance; but I'm afraid, in running after shadows, you are too +indifferent to the substance." +</p> +<p> +"Ah, my lord! it is very well for you to argue who have had a father and +mother, and never felt the want of them; but if you knew how my heart +yearns after my parents, you would not be surprised at my perseverance." +</p> +<p> +"I am surprised at nothing in this world, Mr Newland; every one pursues +happiness in his own way; your happiness appears to be centred in one +feeling, and you are only acting as the world does in general; but +recollect that the search after happiness ends in disappointment." +</p> +<p> +"I grant it but too often does, my lord; but there is pleasure in the +chase," replied I. +</p> +<p> +"Well, go, and may you prosper. All I can say is this, Mr Newland, do +not have that false pride not to apply to me when you need assistance. +Recollect, it is much better to be under an obligation, if such you will +consider it, than to do that which is wrong; and that it is a very false +pride which would blush to accept a favour, and yet not blush to do what +it ought to be ashamed of. Promise me, Mr Newland, that upon any reverse +or exigence, you will apply to me." +</p> +<p> +"I candidly acknowledge to your lordship, that I would rather be under +an obligation to anyone but you; and I trust you will clearly appreciate +my feelings. I have taken the liberty of refunding the one thousand +pounds you were so kind as to place at my disposal as a loan. At the +same time I will promise, that, if at any time I should require your +assistance, I will again request leave to become your debtor." I rose +again to depart. +</p> +<p> +"Farewell, Newland; when I thought you had behaved ill, and I offered to +better you, you only demanded my good opinion; you have it, and have it +so firmly, that it will not easily be shaken." His lordship then shook +hands with me, and I took my leave. +</p> +<p> +On my return I found Emmanuel, the money-lender, who had accompanied +Timothy, fancying that I was in want of more assistance, and but too +willing to give it. His surprise was very great when I told him that I +wished to repay the money I had borrowed. +</p> +<p> +"Vell, dis is very strange! I have lent my monish a tousand times, and +never once they did offer it me back. Vell, I will take it, sar." +</p> +<p> +"But how much must I give you, Mr Emmanuel, for the ten days' loan?" +</p> +<p> +"How moch—vy you remember, you vill give de bond money—de fifteen +hundred." +</p> +<p> +"What! five hundred pounds interest for ten days, Mr Emmanuel; no, no, +that's rather too bad. I will, if you please, pay you back eleven +hundred pounds, and that I think is very handsome." +</p> +<p> +"I don't want my monish, my good sar. I lend you one tousand pounds, on +de condition that you pay me fifteen hundred when you come into your +properties, which will be in very short time. You send for me, and tell +me you vish to pay back de monish directly; I never refuse monish—if +you wish to pay, I will take, but I will not take von farding less dan +de monish on de bond." +</p> +<p> +"Very well, Mr Emmanuel, just as you please; I offer you your money +back, in presence of my servant, and one hundred pounds for the loan of +it for ten days. Refuse it if you choose, but I earnestly recommend you +to take it." +</p> +<p> +"I will not have de monish, sar; dis is de child's play," replied the +Jew. "I must have my fifteen hundred—all in goot time, sar—I am in no +hurry—I vish you a very good morning, Mr Newland. Ven you vish for more +monish to borrow, I shall be happy to pay my respects." So saying, the +Jew walked out of the room, with his arm behind his back as usual. +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0111" id="h2HCH0111"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter XXXIII +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + <i>I decide upon honesty as the best policy, and what is more + strange, receive legal advice upon this important point</i>. +</p> +<p> +Timothy and I burst into laughter. "Really, Timothy," observed I, "it +appears that very little art is necessary to deceive the world, for in +every instance they will deceive themselves. The Jew is off my +conscience, at all events, and now he never will be paid, until—" +</p> +<p> +"Until when, Japhet?" +</p> +<p> +"Until I find out my father," replied I. +</p> +<p> +"Everything is put off till that time arrives, I observe," said Timothy. +"Other people will soon be as interested in the search as yourself." +</p> +<p> +"I wish they were, unfortunately it is a secret, which cannot be +divulged." +</p> +<p> +A ring at the bell called Timothy down stairs; he returned with a +letter, it was from Lord Windermear, and ran as follows:— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "My dear Newland,—I have been thinking about you ever since you + left me this morning, and as you appear resolved to prosecute your + search, it has occurred to me that you should go about it in a more + systematic way. I do not mean to say that what I now propose will + prove of any advantage to you, but still it may, as you will have a + very old, and very clever head to advise with. I refer to Mr + Masterton, my legal adviser, from whom you had the papers which led + to our first acquaintance. He is aware that you were (I beg your + pardon) an impostor, as he has since seen Mr Estcourt. The letter + enclosed is for him, and with that in your hand you may face him + boldly, and I have no doubt but that he will assist you all in his + power, and put you to no expense. Narrate your whole history to + him, and then you will hear what he may propose. He has many + secrets, much more important than yours. Wishing you every success + that your perseverance deserves, +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "Believe me, +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "Yours very truly, +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "Windermear." +</p> +<p> +"I believe the advice to be good," said I, after reading the letter. "I +am myself at fault, and hardly know how to proceed. I think I will go at +once to the old gentleman, Timothy." +</p> +<p> +"It can do no harm, if it does no good. Two heads are better than one," +replied Timothy. "Some secrets are too well kept, and deserting a child +is one of those which is confided but to few." +</p> +<p> +"By-the-bye, Timothy, here have I been, more than so many years out of +the Foundling Hospital, and have never yet inquired if any one has ever +been to reclaim me." +</p> +<p> +"Very true; and I think I'll step myself to the workhouse, at St +Bridget's, and ask whether any one has asked about me," replied Timothy, +with a grin. +</p> +<p> +"There is another thing that I have neglected," observed I, "which is, +to inquire at the address in Coleman Street, if there is any letter from +Melchior." +</p> +<p> +"I have often thought of him," replied Timothy. "I wonder who he can +be—there is another mystery there. I wonder whether we shall ever fall +in with him again—and Nattée, too?" +</p> +<p> +"There's no saying, Timothy. I wonder where that poor fool, Philotas, +and our friend Jumbo, are now?" +</p> +<p> +The remembrance of the two last personages made us both burst out a +laughing. +</p> +<p> +"Timothy, I've been reflecting that my intimacy with poor Carbonnell has +rather hindered than assisted me in my search. He found me with a good +appearance, and he has moulded me into a gentleman, so far as manners +and appearance are concerned; but the constant vortex in which I have +been whirled in his company, has prevented me from doing anything. His +melancholy death has perhaps been fortunate for me. It has left me more +independent in circumstances, and more free. I must now really set to in +earnest." +</p> +<p> +"I beg your pardon, Japhet, but did not you say the same when we first +set off on our travels, and yet remain more than a year with the +gipsies? Did not you make the same resolution when we arrived in town, +with our pockets full of money, and yet, once into fashionable society, +think but little, and occasionally, of it? Now you make the same +resolution, and how long will you keep it?" +</p> +<p> +"Nay, Timothy, that remark is hardly fair; you know that the subject is +ever in my thoughts." +</p> +<p> +"In your thoughts, I grant, very frequently; but you have still been led +away from the search." +</p> +<p> +"I grant it, but I presume that arises from not knowing how to proceed. +I have a skein to unravel, and cannot find out an end to commence with." +</p> +<p> +"I always thought people commenced with the beginning," replied Tim, +laughing. +</p> +<p> +"At all events, I will now try back, and face the old lawyer. Do you +call at Coleman Street, Tim, and at St Bridget's also, if you please." +</p> +<p> +"As for St Bridget's, I'm in no particular hurry about my mother; if I +stumble upon her I may pick her up, but I never make diligent search +after what, in every probability, will not be worth the finding." +</p> +<p> +Leaving Timothy to go his way, I walked to the house at Lincoln's Inn, +which I had before entered upon the memorable occasion of the papers of +Estcourt. As before, I rang the bell, the door swang open, and I was +once more in the presence of Mr Masterton. +</p> +<p> +"I have a letter, sir," said I, bowing, and presenting the letter from +Lord Windermear. +</p> +<p> +The old gentleman peered at me through his spectacles. "Why! we have met +before—bless me—why you're the rogue that—" +</p> +<p> +"You are perfectly right, sir," interrupted I. "I am the rogue who +presented the letter from Lord Windermear, and who presents you with +another from the same person; do me the favour to read it, while I take +a chair." +</p> +<p> +"Upon my soul—you impudent—handsome dog, I must say—great pity—come +for money, I suppose. Well, it's a sad world," muttered the lawyer as he +broke open the letter of Lord Windermear. +</p> +<p> +I made no reply, but watched his countenance, which changed to that of +an expression of surprise. "Had his lordship sent me a request to have +you hanged if possible," said Mr Masterton, "I should have felt no +surprise, but in this letter he praises you, and desires me to render +you all the service in my power. I can't understand it." +</p> +<p> +"No, sir; but if you have leisure to listen to me, you will then find +that, in this world, we may be deceived by appearances." +</p> +<p> +"Well, and so I was, when I first saw you; I never could have believed +you to be—but never mind." +</p> +<p> +"Perhaps, sir, in an hour or two you will again alter your opinion. Are +you at leisure, or will you make an appointment for some future day?" +</p> +<p> +"Mr Newland, I am not at leisure—I never was more busy; and if you had +come on any legal business, I should have put you off for three or four +days, at least; but my curiosity is so raised, that I am determined that +I will indulge it at the expense of my interest. I will turn the key, +and then you will oblige me by unravelling, what, at present, is to me +as curious as it is wholly incomprehensible." +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0112" id="h2HCH0112"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter XXXIV +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + I attempt to profit by intelligence I receive, and throw a lady + into hysterics. +</p> +<p> +In about three hours I had narrated the history of my life, up to the +very day, almost as much detailed as it has been to the reader. "And +now, Mr Masterton," said I, as I wound up my narrative, "do you think +that I deserve the title of rogue, which you applied to me when I came +in?" +</p> +<p> +"Upon my word, Mr Newland, I hardly know what to say; but I like to tell +the truth. To say that you have been quite honest, would not be +correct—a rogue, to a certain degree, you have been, but you have been +the rogue of circumstances. I can only say this, that there are greater +rogues than you, whose characters are unblemished in the world—that +most people in your peculiar situation would have been much greater +rogues; and lastly, that rogue or not rogue, I have great pleasure in +taking you by the hand, and will do all I possibly can to serve you—and +that for your own sake. Your search after your parents I consider almost +tantamount to a wild-goose chase; but still, as your happiness depends +upon it, I suppose it must be carried on; but you must allow me time for +reflection. I will consider what may be the most judicious method of +proceeding. Can you dine <i>tête-à-tête</i> with me here on Friday, and we +then will talk over the matter?" +</p> +<p> +"On Friday, sir; I am afraid that I am engaged to Lady Maelstrom; but +that is of no consequence—I will write an excuse to her ladyship." +</p> +<p> +"Lady Maelstrom! how very odd that you should bring up her name after +our conversation." +</p> +<p> +"Why so, my dear sir?" +</p> +<p> +"Why!" replied Mr Masterton, chuckling; "because—recollect, it is a +secret, Mr Newland—I remember some twenty years ago, when she was a +girl of eighteen, before she married, she had a little <i>faux pas</i>, and I +was called in about a settlement, for the maintenance of the child." +</p> +<p> +"Is it possible, sir?" replied I, anxiously. +</p> +<p> +"Yes, she was violently attached to a young officer, without money, but +of good family; some say it was a private marriage, others, that he +was—a <i>rascal</i>. It was all hushed up, but he was obliged by the +friends, before he left for the West Indies, to sign a deed of +maintenance, and I was the party called in. I never heard any more +about it. The officer's name was Warrender; he died of the yellow +fever, I believe, and after his death she married Lord Maelstrom." +</p> +<p> +"He is dead, then?" replied I mournfully. +</p> +<p> +"Well, that cannot affect you, my good fellow. On Friday, then, at six +o'clock precisely. Good afternoon, Mr Newland." +</p> +<p> +I shook hands with the old gentleman, and returned home, but my brain +whirled with the fear of a confirmation, of that which Mr Masterton had +so carelessly conveyed. Anything like a possibility, immediately was +swelled to a certainty in my imagination, so ardent and heated on the +one subject; and as soon as I regained my room, I threw myself on the +sofa, and fell into a deep reverie. I tried to approximate the features +of Lady Maelstrom to mine, but all the ingenuity in the world could not +effect that; but still, I might be like my father—but my father was +dead, and that threw a chill over the whole glowing picture which I had, +as usual, conjured up; besides, it was asserted that I was born in +wedlock, and there was a doubt relative to the marriage of her ladyship. +</p> +<p> +After a long cogitation I jumped up, seized my hat, and set off for +Grosvenor Square, determining to ask a private interview with her +ladyship, and at once end my harassing doubts and surmises. I think +there could not be a greater proof of my madness than my venturing to +attack a lady of forty upon the irregularities of her youth, and to +question her upon a subject which had been confided but to two or three, +and she imagined had been long forgotten: but this never struck me; all +considerations were levelled in my ardent pursuit. I walked through the +streets at a rapid pace, the crowd passed by me as shadows, I neither +saw nor distinguished them; I was deep in reverie as to the best way of +breaking the subject to her ladyship, for, notwithstanding my monomania, +I perceived it to be a point of great delicacy. After having overturned +about twenty people in my mad career, I arrived at the door and +knocked. My heart beat almost as hard against my ribs with excitement. +</p> +<p> +"Is her ladyship at home?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, sir." +</p> +<p> +I was ushered into the drawing-room, and found her sitting with two of +her nieces, the Misses Fairfax. +</p> +<p> +"Mr Newland, you have been quite a stranger," said her ladyship, as I +walked up to her and made my obeisance. "I did intend to scold you well; +but I suppose that sad affair of poor Major Carbonnell's has been a +heavy blow to you—you were so intimate—lived together, I believe, did +you not? However, you have not so much cause to regret, for he was not a +very proper companion for young men like you: to tell you the truth, I +consider it as a fortunate circumstance that he was removed, for he +would, by degrees, have led you into all manner of mischief, and have +persuaded you to squander your fortune. I did at one time think of +giving you a hint, but it was a delicate point. Now that he is gone, I +tell you very candidly that you have had an escape. A young man like +you, Mr Newland, who could command an alliance into the highest, yes, +the very highest families—and let me tell you, Mr Newland, that there +is nothing like connection—money is of no consequence to you, but +connection, Mr Newland, is what you should look for—connection with +some high family, and then you will do well. I should like to see you +settled—well settled, I mean, Mr Newland. Now that you are rid of the +Major, who has ruined many young men in his time, I trust you will +seriously think of settling down into a married man. Cecilia, my dear, +show your tambour work to Mr Newland, and ask him his opinion. Is it not +beautiful, Mr Newland?" +</p> +<p> +"Extremely beautiful, indeed, ma'am," replied I, glad at last that her +ladyship allowed me to speak a word. +</p> +<p> +"Emma, my dear, you look pale, you must go out into the air. Go, +children, put your bonnets on and take a turn in the garden, when the +carriage comes round I will send for you." +</p> +<p> +The young ladies quitted the room. "Nice innocent girls, Mr Newland; +but you are not partial to blondes, I believe?" +</p> +<p> +"Indeed, Lady Maelstrom, I infinitely prefer the blonde to the +brunette." +</p> +<p> +"That proves your taste, Mr Newland. The Fairfaxes are of a very old +family—Saxon, Mr Newland. Fair-fax is Saxon for light hair. Is it not +remarkable that they should be blondes to this day? Pure blood, Mr +Newland. You, of course, have heard of General Fairfax, in the time of +Cromwell. He was their direct ancestor—an excellent family and highly +connected, Mr Newland. You are aware that they are my nieces. My sister +married Mr Fairfax." +</p> +<p> +I paid the Misses Fairfax the compliments which I thought they really +deserved, for they were very pretty amiable girls, and required no +puffing on the part of her ladyship; and then I commenced. "Your +ladyship has expressed such kind wishes towards me, that I cannot be +sufficiently grateful, but, perhaps, your ladyship may think me +romantic, I am resolved never to marry, except for love." +</p> +<p> +"A very excellent resolve, Mr Newland; there are few young men who care +about love now-a-days, but I consider that love is a great security for +happiness in the wedded state." +</p> +<p> +"True, madam, and what can be more delightful than a first attachment? I +appeal to your ladyship, was not your first attachment the most +delightful—are not the reminiscences most lasting—do you not, even +now, call to mind those halcyon days when love was all and every thing?" +</p> +<p> +"My days of romance are long past, Mr Newland," replied her ladyship; +"indeed I never had much romance in my composition. I married Lord +Maelstrom for the connection, and I loved him pretty well, that is, +soberly, Mr Newland. I mean, I loved him quite enough to marry him, and +to obey my parents, that is all." +</p> +<p> +"But, my dear Lady Maelstrom, I did not refer to your marriage with his +lordship; I referred to your first love." +</p> +<p> +"My first love, Mr Newland; pray what do you mean?" replied her +ladyship, looking very hard at me. +</p> +<p> +"Your ladyship need not be ashamed of it. Our hearts are not in our own +keeping, nor can we always control our passions. I have but to mention +the name of Warrender." +</p> +<p> +"Warrender!" shrieked her ladyship. "Pray, Mr Newland," continued her +ladyship, recovering herself, "who gave you that piece of information?" +</p> +<p> +"My dear Lady Maelstrom, pray do not be displeased with me, but I am +very particularly interested in this affair. Your love for Mr Warrender, +long before your marriage, is well known to me; and it is to that love, +to which I referred, when I asked you if it was not most delightful." +</p> +<p> +"Well, Mr Newland," replied her ladyship, "how you have obtained the +knowledge I know not, but there was, I acknowledge, a trifling +flirtation with Edward Warrender and me—but I was young, very young at +that time." +</p> +<p> +"I grant it, and do not, for a moment, imagine that I intend to blame +your ladyship; but, as I before said, madam, I am much interested in the +business." +</p> +<p> +"What interest you can have with a little flirtation of mine, which took +place before you were born, I cannot imagine, Mr Newland." +</p> +<p> +"It is because it took place before I was born, that I feel so much +interest." +</p> +<p> +"I cannnot understand you, Mr Newland, and I think we had better change +the subject." +</p> +<p> +"Excuse me, madam, but I must request to continue it a little longer. Is +Mr Warrender dead, or not? Did he die in the West Indies?" +</p> +<p> +"You appear to be very curious on this subject, Mr Newland; I hardly can +tell. Yes, now I recollect, he did die of the yellow fever, I think—but +I have quite forgotten all about it—and I shall answer no more +questions; if you were not a favourite of mine, Mr Newland, I should +say that you were very impertinent." +</p> +<p> +"Then, your ladyship, I will put but one more question, and that one I +must put, with your permission." +</p> +<p> +"I should think, after what I have said, Mr Newland, that you might drop +the subject." +</p> +<p> +"I will, your ladyship, immediately; but, pardon me, the question—" +</p> +<p> +"Well, Mr Newland—?" +</p> +<p> +"Do not be angry with me—" +</p> +<p> +"Well?" exclaimed her ladyship, who appeared alarmed. +</p> +<p> +"Nothing but the most important and imperative reasons could induce me +to ask the question" (her ladyship gasped for breath, and could not +speak), I stammered, but at last I brought it out. "What has become +of—of—of the sweet pledge of your love, Lady Maelstrom?" +</p> +<p> +Her ladyship coloured up with rage, raised up her clenched hand, and +then fell back in violent hysterics. +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0113" id="h2HCH0113"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter XXXV +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + I repair the damage, and make things worse—Plot and + counterplot—Tim gains a watch by setting watch upon his tongue. +</p> +<p> +I hardly knew how to act—if I called the servants, my interview would +be at an end, and I was resolved to find out the truth—for the same +reason, I did not like to ring for water. Some vases with flowers were +on the table; I took out the flowers, and threw the water in her face, +but they had been in the water some time, and had discoloured it green. +Her ladyship's dress was a high silk gown, of a bright slate colour, and +was immediately spoiled; but this was no time to stand upon trifles. I +seized hold of a glass bottle, fancying, in my hurry, it was <i>eau de +cologne</i>, or some essence, and poured a little into her mouth; +unfortunately, it was a bottle of marking ink, which her ladyship, who +was very economical, had on the table in disguise. I perceived my +error, and had recourse to another vase of flowers, pouring a large +quantity of the green water down her throat. Whether the unusual +remedies had an effect or not, I cannot tell, but her ladyship gradually +revived, and, as she leant back on the sofa, sobbing, every now and +then, convulsively, I poured into her ear a thousand apologies, until I +thought she was composed enough to listen to me. +</p> +<p> +"Your ladyship's maternal feelings," said I. +</p> +<p> +"It's all a calumny! a base lie, sir!" shrieked she. +</p> +<p> +"Nay, nay, why be ashamed of a youthful passion; why deny what was in +itself creditable to your unsophisticated mind. Does not your heart, +even now, yearn to embrace your son—will not you bless me, if I bring +him to your feet—will not you bless your son, and receive him with +delight?" +</p> +<p> +"It was a girl," screamed her ladyship, forgetting herself, and again +falling into hysterics. +</p> +<p> +"A girl!" replied I, "then I have lost my time, and it is no use my +remaining here." +</p> +<p> +Mortified at the intelligence which overthrew my hopes and castle +buildings, I seized my hat, descended the stairs, and quitted the house; +in my hurry and confusion quite forgetting to call the servants to her +ladyship's assistance. Fortunately, I perceived the Misses Fairfax close +to the iron railing of the garden. I crossed the road, wished them +good-bye, and told them that I thought Lady Maelstrom looked very ill, +and they had better go in to her. I then threw myself into the first +hackney-coach, and drove home. I found Timothy had arrived before me, +and I narrated all that had passed. +</p> +<p> +"You will never be able to go there again," observed Timothy, "and +depend upon it, she will be your enemy through life. I wish you had not +said anything to her. +</p> +<p> +"What is done cannot be undone; but recollect, that if she can talk, I +can talk also." +</p> +<p> +"Will she not be afraid?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, openly, she will; and open attacks can be parried." +</p> +<p> +"Very true." +</p> +<p> +"But it will be as well to pacify her, if I can. I will write to her." I +sat down and wrote as follows:— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "My dear Lady Maelstrom,—I am so astonished and alarmed at the + situation I put you in, by my impertinence and folly, that I hardly + know how to apologise. The fact is, that looking over some of my + father's old letters, I found many from Warrender, in which he + spoke of an affair with a young lady, and I read the name as your + maiden name, and also discovered where the offspring was to be + found. On re-examination, for your innocence was too evident at our + meeting to admit of a doubt, I find that the name, although + something like yours, is spelt very differently, and that I must + have been led into an unpardonable error. What can I say, except + that I throw myself on your mercy? I dare not appear before you + again. I leave town to-morrow, but if you can pardon my folly and + impertinence, and allow me to pay my respects when London is full + again, and time shall have softened down your just anger, write me + one line to that effect, and you will relieve the burdened + conscience of +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "Yours most truly, +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "J. Newland." +</p> +<p> +"There, Tim," said I, as I finished reading it over, "take that as a sop +to the old Cerberus. She may think it prudent, as I have talked of +letters, to believe me and make friends. I will not trust her, +nevertheless." +</p> +<p> +Tim went away, and very soon returned with an answer. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "You are a foolish mad-cap, and I ought to shut my doors against + you; you have half-killed me—spoilt my gown, and I am obliged to + keep my bed. Remember, in future, to be sure of the right name + before you make an assertion. As for forgiving you, I shall think + of it, and when you return to town, you may call and receive my + sentence. Cecilia was quite frightened, poor dear girl, what a dear + affectionate child she is—she is a treasure to me, and I don't + think I ever could part with her. She sends her regards. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "Yours, +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "C. Maelstrom." +</p> +<p> +"Come, Timothy, at all events this is better than I expected—but now +I'll tell you what I propose to do. Harcourt was with me yesterday, and +he wishes me to go down with him to ——. There will be the assizes, and +the county ball, and a great deal of gaiety, and I have an idea that it +is just as well to beat the country as the town. I dine with Mr +Masterton on Friday. On Saturday I will go down and see Fleta, and on +Tuesday or Wednesday I will start with Harcourt to his father's, where +he has promised me a hearty welcome. Was there anything at Coleman +Street?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, sir; Mr Iving said that he had just received a letter from your +correspondent, and that he wished to know if the little girl was well; I +told him that she was. Mr Iving laid the letter down on the desk, and I +read the postmark, Dublin." +</p> +<p> +"Dublin," replied I. "I should like to find out who Melchior is—and so +I will as soon as I can." +</p> +<p> +"Well, sir, I have not finished my story. Mr Iving said, 'My +correspondent wishes to know whether the education of the little girl is +attended to?' 'Yes,' replied I, 'it is.' 'Is she at school?' 'Yes, she +has been at school ever since we have been in London.' 'Where is she at +school?' inquired he. Now, sir, as I never was asked that question by +him before, I did not know whether I ought to give an answer, so I +replied, 'that I did not know.' 'You know whether she is in London or +not, do you not?' 'How should I?' replied I, 'master had put her to +school before I put on his liveries.' 'Does he never go to see her?' +inquired he. 'I suppose so,' said I. 'Then you really know nothing +about it?—then look you, my lad, I am anxious to find out where she is +at school, and the name of the people, and if you will find out the +direction for me, it will be money in your pocket, that's all.' 'Um,' +replied I, 'but how much?' 'Why, more than you think for, my man, it +will be a ten-pound note.' 'That alters the case,' replied I; 'now I +think again, I have an idea that I do remember seeing her address on a +letter my master wrote to her.' 'Ay,' replied Mr Iving, 'it's +astonishing how money sharpens the memory. I'll keep to my bargain; give +me the address, and here's the ten-pound note.' 'I'm afraid that my +master will be angry,' said I, as if I did not much like to tell him. +'Your master will never know anything about it, and you may serve a long +time before he gives you a ten-pound note above your wages.' 'That's +very true,' said I, 'sarvice is no inheritance. Well, then, give me the +money, and I'll write it down.'" +</p> +<p> +"And did you give it?" interrupted I. +</p> +<p> +"Stop a moment, sir, and you shall hear. I wrote down the address of +that large school at Kensington, which we pass when we go to Mr Aubrey +White's." +</p> +<p> +"What, that tremendous large board with yellow letters—Mrs Let—what is +it?" +</p> +<p> +"Mrs Lipscombe's seminary—I always read the board every time I go up +and down. I gave him the address, Miss Johnson, at Mrs Lipscombe's +seminary, Kensington. Well—and here's the ten-pound note, sir, which I +have fairly earned." +</p> +<p> +"Fairly earned, Tim?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, fairly earned; for it's all fair to cheat those who would cheat +you.' +</p> +<p> +"I cannot altogether agree with you on that point, Tim, but it certainly +is no more than they deserve; but this is matter for reflection. Why +should Melchior wish to find out her address without my +knowledge?—depend upon it, there is something wrong." +</p> +<p> +"That's what I said to myself coming home; and I made up my mind, that, +for some reason or another, he wishes to regain possession of her." +</p> +<p> +"I entertain the same idea, Timothy, and I am glad you have +disappointed him. I will take care that they shall not find her out, now +that I am upon my guard." +</p> +<p> +"But, sir, I wish to draw one good moral from this circumstance; which +is, that if you had been served by any common footman, your interest +would, in all probability, have been sacrificed to the ten-pound note; +and that not only in this instance, but in many others, I did a very +wise thing in taking my present situation." +</p> +<p> +"I am but too well aware of that, Tim, my dear fellow," said I, +extending my hand, "and depend upon it, that if I rise, you do. You know +me well enough by this time." +</p> +<p> +"Yes, I do, Japhet, and had rather serve you than the first nobleman in +the land. I'm going to purchase a watch with this ten-pound note, and I +never shall look at it without remembering the advantage of keeping a +watch over my tongue." +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0114" id="h2HCH0114"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter XXXVI +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + I fall very much in love with honesty because I find that it is + well received in the world—and to prove my honesty, inform the + whole world that honest I have never been. +</p> +<p> +I proved the will of Major Carbonnell, in which there was no difficulty; +and then I sat down to consider in what way I might best husband my +resources. The house was in good repair, and well furnished. At the time +that I lived with the Major, we had our drawing-room, and his bedroom, +and another room equally large, used as his dressing-room, on the first +floor. The second floor was appropriated to me, and the sitting-room was +used as a dining-room when we dined at home, which was but seldom. The +basement was let as a shop, at one hundred pounds per annum, but we had +a private door for entrance, and the kitchens and attics. I resolved to +retain only the first floor, and let the remainder of the house; and I +very soon got a tenant at sixty pounds per annum. The attics were +appropriated to Timothy and the servants belonging to the lodger. +</p> +<p> +After having disposed of what was of no service to me, I found that, +deducting the thousand pounds paid into the banker's, for Lord +Windermear, I had a little above three thousand pounds in ready money, +and what to do with this I could not well decide. I applied to Mr +Masterton, stating the exact amount of my finances, on the day that I +dined with him, and he replied, "You have two good tenants, bringing you +in one hundred and sixty pounds per annum—if this money is put out on +mortgage, I can procure you five per cent., which will be one hundred +and fifty pounds per annum. Now, the question is, do you think that you +can live upon three hundred and ten pounds per annum? You have no rent +to pay, and I should think that, as you are not at any great expense for +a servant, you might, with economy, do very well. Recollect, that if +your money is lent on mortgage, you will not be able to obtain it at a +moment's warning. So reflect well before you decide." +</p> +<p> +I consulted with Timothy, and agreed to lend the money, reserving about +two hundred pounds to go on with, until I should receive my rents and +interest. On the Friday I went to dine with Mr Masterton, and narrated +what had passed between me and Lady Maelstrom. He was very much +diverted, and laughed immoderately. "Upon my faith, Mr Newland, but you +have a singular species of madness; you first attack Lord Windermear, +then a bishop, and, to crown all, you attack a dowager peeress. I must +acknowledge, that if you do not find out your parents, it will not be +for want of inquiry. Altogether, you are a most singular character; your +history is most singular, and your good fortune is equally so. You have +made more friends before you have come to age, than most people do in +their whole lives. You commence the world with nothing, and here you +are, with almost a competence—have paid off a loan of one thousand +pounds, which was not required—and are moving in the best society. Now +the only drawback I perceive in all this is, that you are in society +under false colours, having made people suppose that you are possessed +of a large fortune." +</p> +<p> +"It was not exactly my assertion, sir." +</p> +<p> +"No, I grant, not exactly; but you have been a party to it, and I cannot +allow that there is any difference. Now, do you mean to allow this +supposition to remain uncontradicted?" +</p> +<p> +"I hardly know what to say, sir; if I were to state that I have nothing +but a bare competence, it will be only injurious to the memory of Major +Carbonnell. All the world will suppose that he has ruined me, and that I +had the fortune, whereas, on the contrary, it is to him that I am +indebted for my present favourable position." +</p> +<p> +"That may be very true, Mr Newland; but if I am to consider you as my +protege, and I may add the protege of Lord Windermear, I must make you +<i>quite honest</i>—I will be no party to fraud in any shape. Are you +prepared to resign your borrowed plumes, and appear before the world as +you really are?" +</p> +<p> +"There is but one inducement, sir, for me to wish that the world may +still deceive themselves. I may be thrown out of society, and lose the +opportunity of discovering my parents." +</p> +<p> +"And pray, Mr Newland, which do you think is more likely to tend to the +discovery, a general knowledge that you are a foundling in search of +your parents, or your present method, of taxing everybody upon +suspicion. If your parents wish to reclaim you, they will then have +their eyes directed towards you, from your position being known; and I +will add, there are few parents who will not be proud of you as a son. +You will have the patronage of Lord Windermear, which will always secure +you a position in society, and the good wishes of all, although, I +grant, that such worldly people as Lady Maelstrom may strike your name +off their porter's list. You will, moreover, have the satisfaction of +knowing that the friends which you make have not been made under false +colours and appearances, and a still further satisfaction, arising from +a good conscience." +</p> +<p> +"I am convinced, sir, and I thank you for your advice. I will now be +guided by you in everything." +</p> +<p> +"Give me your hand, my good lad, I now will be your friend to the utmost +of my power." +</p> +<p> +"I only wish, sir," replied I, much affected, "that you were also my +father." +</p> +<p> +"Thank you for the wish, as it implies that you have a good opinion of +me. What do you mean to do?" +</p> +<p> +"I have promised my friend Mr Harcourt to go down with him to his +father's." +</p> +<p> +"Well?" +</p> +<p> +"And before I go I will undeceive him." +</p> +<p> +"You are right; you will then find whether he is a friend to you or to +your supposed ten thousand pounds per annum. I have been reflecting, and +I am not aware that anything else can be done at present than +acknowledging to the world who you really are, which is more likely to +tend to the discovery of your parents than any other means, but at the +same time I shall not be idle. All we lawyers have among us strange +secrets, and among my fraternity, to whom I shall speak openly, I think +it possible that something may be found out which may serve as a clue. +Do not be annoyed at being cut by many, when your history is known; +those who cut you are those whose acquaintance and friendship are not +worth having; it will unmask your flatterers from your friends, and you +will not repent of your having been honest; in the end, it is the best +policy, even in a worldly point of view. Come to me as often as you +please; I am always at home to you, and always your friend." +</p> +<p> +Such was the result of my dinner with Mr Masterton, which I narrated to +Timothy as soon as I returned home. "Well, Japhet, I think you have +found a real friend in Mr Masterton, and I am glad that you have decided +upon following his advice. As for me, I am not under false colours, I am +in my right situation, and wish no more." +</p> +<p> +In pursuance of my promise to Mr Masterton, I called upon Harcourt the +next morning, and after stating my intention to go down for a day or two +into the country to see a little girl who was under my care, I said to +him, "Harcourt, as long as we were only town acquaintances, mixing in +society, and under no peculiar obligation to each other, I did not think +it worth while to undeceive you on a point in which Major Carbonnell was +deceived himself, and has deceived others; but now that you have offered +to introduce me into the bosom of your family, I cannot allow you to +remain in error. It is generally supposed that I am about to enter into +a large property when I come of age; now, so far from that being the +case, I have nothing in the world but a bare competence, and the +friendship of Lord Windermear. In fact, I am a deserted child, ignorant +of my parents, and most anxious to discover them, as I have every reason +to suppose that I am of no mean birth. I tell you this candidly, and +unless you renew the invitation, shall consider that it has not been +given." +</p> +<p> +Harcourt remained a short time without answering. "You really have +astonished me, Newland; but," continued he, extending his hand, "I +admire—I respect you, and I feel that I shall like you better. With ten +thousand pounds a-year, you were above me—now we are but equals. I, as +a younger brother, have but a bare competence, as well as you; and as +for parents—for the benefit I now derive from them, I might as well +have none. Not but my father is a worthy, fine old gentleman, but the +estates are entailed; he is obliged to keep up his position in society, +and he has a large family to provide for, and he can do no more. You +have indeed an uncommon moral courage to have made this confession. Do +you wish it to be kept a secret?" +</p> +<p> +"On the contrary, I wish the truth to be known." +</p> +<p> +"I am glad that you say so, as I have mentioned you as a young man of +large fortune to my father, but I feel convinced, when I tell him this +conversation, he will be much more pleased in taking you by the hand, +than if you were to come down and propose to one of my sisters. I repeat +the invitation with double the pleasure that I gave it at first." +</p> +<p> +"I thank you, Harcourt," replied I; "some day I will tell you more. I +must not expect, however, that everybody will prove themselves as noble +in ideas as yourself." +</p> +<p> +"Perhaps not, but never mind that. On Friday next then, we start." +</p> +<p> +"Agreed." I shook hands and left him. +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0115" id="h2HCH0115"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter XXXVII +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + I try back to recover the lost scent, and discover to my + astonishment, that I have been transported for forgery. +</p> +<p> +The behaviour of Harcourt was certainly a good encouragement, and had I +been wavering in my promise to Mr Masterton, would have encouraged me to +proceed. I returned home with a light heart and a pleasing satisfaction, +from the conviction that I had done right. The next morning I set off +for ——, and, as it was a long while since I had seen Fleta, our meeting +was a source of delight on both sides. I found her very much grown and +improved. She was approaching her fifteenth year, as nearly as we could +guess—of course her exact age was a mystery. Her mind was equally +expanded. Her mistress praised her docility and application, and wished +to know whether I intended that she should be taught music and drawing, +for both of which she had shown a decided taste. To this I immediately +consented, and Fleta hung on my shoulder and embraced me for the +indulgence. She was now fast approaching to womanhood, and my feelings +towards her were more intense than ever. I took the chain of coral and +gold beads from her neck, telling her that I must put it into a secure +place, as much depended upon them. She was curious to know why, but I +would not enter into the subject at that time. One caution I gave her, +in case, by any chance, her retreat should be discovered by the +companions of Melchior, which was, that without I myself came, she was, +on no account, to leave the school, even if a letter from me was +produced, requesting her to come, unless that letter was delivered by +Timothy. I gave the same directions to her mistress, paid up her +schooling and expenses, and then left her, promising not to be so long +before I saw her again. On my return to town I deposited the necklace +with Mr Masterton, who locked it up carefully in his iron safe. +</p> +<p> +On the Friday, as agreed, Harcourt and I, accompanied by Timothy and +Harcourt's servant, started on the outside of the coach, as younger +brothers usually convey themselves, for his father's seat in ——shire, +and arrived there in time for dinner. I was kindly received by old Mr +Harcourt and his family, consisting of his wife and three amiable and +beautiful girls. But on the second day, during which interval I presume +Harcourt had an opportunity of undeceiving his father, I was delighted +to perceive that the old gentleman's warmth of behaviour towards me was +increased. I remained there for a fortnight, and never was so happy. I +was soon on the most intimate terms with the whole family, and was +treated as if I belonged to it. Yet when I went to bed every night, I +became more and more melancholy. I felt what a delight it must be to +have parents, sisters, and friends—the bosom of a family to retire +into, to share with it your pleasures and your pains; and the tears +often ran down my cheeks, and moistened my pillow, when I had, not an +hour before, been the happiest of the happy, and the gayest of the gay. +In a family party, there is nothing so amusing as any little talent out +of the general way, and my performances and tricks on cards, &c., in +which Melchior had made me such an adept, were now brought forward as a +source of innocent gratification. When I quitted, I had a general and +hearty welcome to the house from the parents; and the eyes of the +amiable girls, as well as mine, were not exactly dry, as we bade each +other farewell. +</p> +<p> +"You told your father, Harcourt, did you not?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, and the whole of them, Japhet; and you must acknowledge, that in +their estimation you did not suffer. My father is pleased with our +intimacy, and advises me to cultivate it. To prove to you that I am +anxious so to do, I have a proposal to make. I know your house as well +as you do, and that you have reserved only the first floor for yourself; +but there are two good rooms on the first floor, and you can dispense +with a dressing-room. Suppose we club together. It will be a saving to +us both, as poor Carbonnell said, when he took you in." +</p> +<p> +"With all my heart: I am delighted with the proposal." +</p> +<p> +Harcourt then stated what it was his intention to offer for his share of +the apartment; the other expenses to be divided, and his servant +dismissed. I hardly need say, that we did not disagree, and before I had +been a week in town, we were living together. My interview with Mr +Masterton, and subsequent events, had made me forget to call on the +governors of the Foundling Hospital, to ascertain whether there had been +any inquiries after me. On my return to town I went there, and finding +that there was a meeting to be held on the next day, I presented myself. +I was introduced into the room where they were assembled. +</p> +<p> +"You wish to speak with the governors of the Hospital, I understand," +said the presiding governor. +</p> +<p> +"Yes, sir," replied I; "I have come to ask whether an inquiry has been +made after one of the inmates of this charity, of the name of Japhet +Newland." +</p> +<p> +"Japhet Newland!" +</p> +<p> +"If you recollect, sir, he was bound to an apothecary of the name of +Cophagus, in consequence of some money which was left with him as an +infant, enclosed in a letter, in which it was said that he would be +reclaimed if circumstances permitted." +</p> +<p> +"I recollect it perfectly well—it is now about six years back. I think +there was some inquiry, was there not, Mr G——?" +</p> +<p> +"I think that there was, about a year and a half ago; but we will send +for the secretary, and refer to the minutes." +</p> +<p> +My heart beat quick, and the perspiration bedewed my forehead, when I +heard this intelligence. At last, my emotion was so great, that I felt +faint. "You are ill, sir," said one of the gentlemen; "quick—a glass of +water." +</p> +<p> +The attendant brought a glass of water, which I drank, and recovered +myself. "You appear to be much interested in this young man's welfare." +</p> +<p> +"I am, sir," replied I; "no one can be more so." +</p> +<p> +The secretary now made his appearance with the register, and after +turning over the leaves, read as follows: "August the 16th—, a +gentleman came to inquire after an infant left here, of the name of +Japhet, with whom money had been deposited—Japhet, christened by order +of the governors, Japhet Newland—referred to the shop of Mr Cophagus, +Smithfield Market. He returned the next day, saying that Mr Cophagus had +retired from business—that the parties in the shop knew nothing for +certain, but believed that the said Japhet Newland had been transported +for life for forgery, about a year before." +</p> +<p> +"Good heavens! what an infamous assertion!" exclaimed I, clasping my +hands. +</p> +<p> +"On reference back to the calendar, we observed that one J. Newland was +transported for such an offence. Query?" +</p> +<p> +"It must have been some other person; but this has arisen from the +vindictive feeling of those two scoundrels who served under Pleggit," +cried I. +</p> +<p> +"How can you possibly tell, sir?" mildly observed one of the governors. +</p> +<p> +"How can I tell, sir?" replied I, starting from my chair. "Why, I am +<i>Japhet Newland</i> myself, sir." +</p> +<p> +"You, sir," replied the governor, surveying my fashionable exterior, my +chains, and bijouterie. +</p> +<p> +"Yes, sir, I am the Japhet Newland brought up in this asylum, and who +was apprenticed to Mr Cophagus." +</p> +<p> +"Probably, then, sir," replied the president, "you are the Mr Newland +whose name appears at all the fashionable parties in high life?" +</p> +<p> +"I believe that I am the same person, sir." +</p> +<p> +"I wish you joy upon your success in the world, sir. It would not appear +that it can be very important to you to discover your parents." +</p> +<p> +"Sir," replied I, "you have never known what it is to feel the want of +parents and friends. Fortunate as you may consider me to be—and I +acknowledge I have every reason to be grateful for my unexpected rise in +life—I would, at this moment, give up all that I am worth, resume my +Foundling dress, and be turned out a beggar, if I could but discover the +authors of my existence."—I then bowed low to the governors, and +quitted the room. +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0116" id="h2HCH0116"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter XXXVIII +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + Mischief brewing—Timothy and I set our wits to work, and he + resumes his old profession of a gipsy. +</p> +<p> +I hastened home with feelings too painful to be described. I had a +soreness at my heart, an oppression on my spirits, which weighed me +down. I had but one wish—that I was dead. I had already imparted to +Harcourt the history of my life, and when I came in, I threw myself upon +the sofa in despair, and relieved my agonised heart with a flood of +tears. As soon as I could compose myself, I stated what had occurred. +</p> +<p> +"My dear Newland, although it has been an unfortunate occurrence in +itself, I do not see that you have so much cause to grieve, for you have +this satisfaction, that it appears there has been a wish to reclaim +you." +</p> +<p> +"Yes," replied I, "I grant that, but have they not been told, and have +they not believed, that I have been ignominiously punished for a capital +crime? Will they ever seek me more?" +</p> +<p> +"Probably not; you must now seek them. What I should recommend is, that +you repair to-morrow to the apothecary's shop, and interrogate relative +to the person who called to make inquiries after you. If you will allow +me, I will go with you." +</p> +<p> +"And be insulted by those malignant scoundrels?" +</p> +<p> +"They dare not insult you. As an apothecary's apprentice they would, but +as a gentleman they will quail; and if they do not, their master will +most certainly be civil, and give you all the information which he can. +We may as well, however, not do things by halves; I will borrow my +aunt's carriage for the morning, and we will go in style." +</p> +<p> +"I think I will call this evening upon Mr Masterton, and ask his +advice." +</p> +<p> +"Ask him to accompany us, Newland, and he will frighten them with libel, +and defamation of character." +</p> +<p> +I called upon Mr Masterton, that evening, and told my story. "It is +indeed very provoking, Newland; but keep your courage up, I will go with +you to-morrow, and will see what we can make of it. At what time do you +propose to start?" +</p> +<p> +"Will it suit you, sir, if we call at one o'clock?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes; so good-night, my boy, for I have something here which I must +contrive to get through before that time." +</p> +<p> +Harcourt had procured the carriage, and we picked up Mr Masterton at the +hour agreed, and proceeded to Smithfield. When we drove up to the door +of Mr Pleggit's shop, the assistants at first imagined that it was a +mistake; few handsome carriages are to be seen stopping in this quarter +of the metropolis. We descended and entered the shop, Mr Masterton +inquiring if Mr Pleggit was at home. The shopmen, who had not recognised +me, bowed to the ground in their awkward way; and one ran to call Mr +Pleggit, who was up stairs. Mr Pleggit descended, and we walked into the +back parlour. Mr Masterton then told him the object of our calling, and +requested to know why the gentleman, who had inquired after me, had been +sent away with the infamous fabrication that I had been transported for +forgery. Mr Pleggit protested innocence—recollected, however, that a +person had called—would make every inquiry of his shopmen. The head man +was called in and interrogated—at first he appeared to make a joke of +it, but when threatened by Mr Masterton became humble—acknowledged that +they had said that I was transported, for they had read it in the +newspapers—was sorry for the mistake; said that the gentleman was a +very tall person, very well dressed, very much of a gentleman—could not +recollect his exact dress—was a large built man, with a stern face—but +seemed very much agitated when he heard that I had been transported. +Called twice, Mr Pleggit was not in at first—left his name—thinks the +name was put down on the day book—when he called a second time, Mr +Pleggit was at home, and referred him to them, not knowing what had +become of me. The other shopman was examined, and his evidence proved +similar to that of the first. The day-book was sent for, and the day in +August —— referred to; there was a name written down on the side of the +page, which the shopman said he had no doubt, indeed he could almost +swear, was the gentleman's name, as there was no other name put down on +that day. The name, as taken down, was <i>Derbennon</i>. This was all the +information we could obtain, and we then quitted the shop, and drove off +without there being any recognition of me on the part of Mr Pleggit and +his assistants. +</p> +<p> +"I never heard that name before," observed Harcourt to Mr Masterton. +</p> +<p> +"It is, in all probability, De Benyon," replied the lawyer; "we must +make allowances for their ignorance. At all events, this is a sort of +clue to follow up. The De Benyons are Irish." +</p> +<p> +"Then I will set off for Ireland to-morrow morning, sir," said I. +</p> +<p> +"You will do no such thing," replied the lawyer; "but you will call upon +me to-morrow evening, and perhaps I may have something to say to you." +</p> +<p> +I did not fail to attend Mr Masterton, who stated that he had made every +inquiry relative to the De Benyons; as he had said, they were an Irish +family of the highest rank, and holding the peerage of De Beauvoir, but +that he had written to his agent in Dublin, giving him directions to +obtain for him every possible information in his power relative to all +the individuals composing it. Till this had been received, all that I +could do was to remain quiet. I then narrated to him the behaviour of +the agent, Mr Iving, to Timothy. "There is some mystery there, most +assuredly," observed Mr Masterton; "When do you go again to ——?" +</p> +<p> +I replied, that it was not my intention to go there for some time, +unless he would wish to see the little girl. +</p> +<p> +"I do, Newland. I think I must take her under my protection as well as +you. We will go down to-morrow. Sunday is the only day I can spare; but +it must be put down as a work of charity." +</p> +<p> +The next day we went down to ——. Fleta was surprised to see me so soon, +and Mr Masterton was much struck with the elegance and classical +features of my little protégée. He asked her many questions, and with +his legal tact, contrived to draw from her many little points relative +to her infant days, which she had, till he put his probing questions, +quite forgotten. As we returned to town, he observed, "You are right, +Japhet, that is no child of humble origin. Her very appearance +contradicts it; but we have, I think, a chance of discovering who she +is—a better one, I'm afraid, than at present we have for your +identification. But never mind, let us trust to perseverance." +</p> +<p> +For three weeks I continued to live with Harcourt, but I did not go out +much. Such was the state of my affairs, when Timothy came to my room +one morning, and said, "I do not know whether you have observed it, sir; +but there is a man constantly lurking about here, watching the house, I +believe. I think, but still I'm not quite sure, that I have seen his +face before; but where I cannot recollect." +</p> +<p> +"Indeed, what sort of a person may he be?" +</p> +<p> +"He is a very dark man, stout, and well made; and is dressed in a sort +of half-sailor, half-gentleman's dress; such as you see put on by those +who belong to the Funny Clubs on the river; but he is not at all a +gentleman himself—quite the contrary. It is now about a week that I +have seen him, every day; and I have watched him, and perceive that he +generally follows you as soon as you go out." +</p> +<p> +"Well," replied I, "we must find out what he wants—if we can. Point him +out to me; I will soon see if he is tracing my steps." +</p> +<p> +Timothy pointed him out to me after breakfast; I could not recollect the +face, and yet it appeared that I had seen it before. I went out, and +after passing half a dozen streets, I turned round and perceived that +the man was dodging me. I took no notice, but being resolved to try him +again, I walked to the White Horse Cellar, and took a seat inside a +Brentford coach about to start. On my arrival at Brentford I got out, +and perceived that the man was on the roof. Of a sudden it flashed on my +memory—it was the gipsy who had come to the camp with the communication +to Melchior, which induced him to quit it. I recollected him—and his +kneeling down by the stream and washing his face. The mystery was +solved—Melchior had employed him to find out the residence of Fleta. In +all probability they had applied to the false address given by Timothy, +and in consequence were trying, by watching my motions, to find out the +true one. "You shall be deceived, at all events," thought I, as I walked +on through Brentford until I came to a ladies' seminary. I rang the +bell, and was admitted, stating my wish to know the terms of the school +for a young lady, and contrived to make as long a stay as I could, +promising to call again, if the relatives of the young lady were as +satisfied as I professed to be. On my quitting the house, I perceived +that my gipsy attendant was not far off. I took the first stage back, +and returned to my lodgings. When I had told all that had occurred to +Timothy, he replied, "I think, sir, that if you could replace me for a +week or two, I could now be of great service. He does not know me, and +if I were to darken my face, and put on a proper dress, I think I should +have no difficulty in passing myself off as one of the tribe, knowing +their slang, and having been so much with them." +</p> +<p> +"But what good do you anticipate, Timothy?" +</p> +<p> +"My object is to find out where he puts up, and to take the same +quarters—make his acquaintance, and find out who Melchior is, and where +he lives. My knowledge of him and Nattée may perhaps assist me." +</p> +<p> +"You must be careful then, Timothy; for he may know sufficient of our +history to suspect you." +</p> +<p> +"Let me alone, sir. Do you like my proposal?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, I do; you may commence your arrangements immediately." +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0117" id="h2HCH0117"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter XXXIX +</h2> +<p class="quote"> I set off on a wild goose chase—and fall in with an old friend. + </p> + +<p> +The next morning Timothy had procured me another valet, and throwing off +his liveries, made his appearance in the evening, sending up to say a +man wished to speak to me. He was dressed in highlow boots, worsted +stockings, greasy leather small clothes, a shag waistcoat, and a blue +frock overall. His face was stained of a dark olive, and when he was +ushered in, Harcourt, who was sitting at table with me, had not the +slightest recognition of him. As Harcourt knew all my secrets, I had +confided this; I had not told him what Timothy's intentions were, as I +wished to ascertain whether his disguise was complete. I had merely said +I had given Timothy leave for a few days. +</p> +<p> +"Perhaps you may wish me away for a short time," said Harcourt, looking +at Tim. +</p> +<p> +"Not at all, my dear Harcourt, why should I? There's nobody here but you +and Timothy." +</p> +<p> +"Timothy! excellent—upon my word, I never should have known him." +</p> +<p> +"He is going forth on his adventures." +</p> +<p> +"And if you please, sir, I will lose no time. It is now dark, and I know +where the gipsy hangs out." +</p> +<p> +"Success attend you then; but be careful, Tim. You had better write to +me, instead of calling." +</p> +<p> +"I had the same idea; and now I wish you a good evening." +</p> +<p> +When Timothy quitted the room, I explained our intentions to Harcourt. +"Yours is a strange adventurous sort of life, Newland; you are +constantly plotted against, and plotting in your turn—mines and +counter-mines. I have an idea that you will turn out some grand +personage after all; for if not, why should there be all this trouble +about you?" +</p> +<p> +"The trouble, in the present case, is all about Fleta; who must, by your +argument, turn out some grand personage." +</p> +<p> +"Well, perhaps she may. I should like to see that little girl, Newland." +</p> +<p> +"That cannot be just now, for reasons you well know; but some other time +it will give me great pleasure." +</p> +<p> +On the second day after Tim's departure, I received a letter from him by +the twopenny post. He had made the acquaintance of the gipsy, but had +not extracted any information, being as yet afraid to venture any +questions. He further stated that his new companion had no objection to +a glass or two, and that he had no doubt but that if he could contrive +to make him tipsy, in a few days he would have some important +intelligence to communicate. I was in a state of great mental agitation +during this time. I went to Mr Masterton, and narrated to him all that +had passed. He was surprised and amused, and desired me not to fail to +let him have the earliest intelligence of what came to light. He had not +received any answer as yet from his agent in Dublin. +</p> +<p> +It was not until eight days afterwards that I received further +communication from Timothy; and I was in a state of great impatience, +combined with anxiety, lest any accident should have happened. His +communication was important. He was on the most intimate footing with +the man, who had proposed that he should assist him to carry off a +little girl, who was at a school at Brentford. They had been consulting +how this should be done, and Timothy had proposed forging a letter, +desiring her to come up to town, and his carrying it as a livery +servant. The man had also other plans, one of which was to obtain an +entrance into the house by making acquaintance with the servants; +another, by calling to his aid some of the women of his fraternity to +tell fortunes: nothing was as yet decided, but that he was resolved to +obtain possession of the little girl, even if he were obliged to resort +to force. In either case Timothy was engaged to assist. +</p> +<p> +When I read this, I more than congratulated myself upon the man's being +on the wrong scent, and that Timothy had hit upon his scheme. Timothy +continued:—that they had indulged in very deep potations last night, +and that the man had not scrupled to say that he was employed by a +person of large fortune, who paid well, and whom it might not be +advisable to refuse, as he had great power. After some difficulty, he +asked Timothy if he had ever heard the name of Melchior in his tribe. +Timothy replied that he had, and that at the gathering he had seen him +and his wife. Timothy at one time thought that the man was about to +reveal everything, but of a sudden he stopped short, and gave evasive +answers. To a question put by Timothy, as to where they were to take the +child if they obtained possession of her, the man had replied, that she +would go over the water. Such were the contents of the letter, and I +eagerly awaited a further communication. +</p> +<p> +The next day I called at Long's Hotel upon a gentleman with whom I was +upon intimate terms. After remaining a short time with him, I was +leaving the hotel, when I was attracted by some trunks in the entrance +hall. I started when I read the address of—"A. De Benyon, Esq., to be +left at F——t Hotel, Dublin." I asked the waiter who was by, whether Mr +De Benyon had left the hotel. He replied that he had left it in his own +carriage that morning, and having more luggage than he could take with +him, had desired these trunks to be forwarded by the coach. I had by +that time resumed my serenity. I took out a memorandum-book, wrote down +the address on the trunks, saying that I was sorry not to have seen Mr +De Benyon, and that I would write to him. +</p> +<p> +But if I composed myself before the waiter, how did my heart throb as I +hastily passed through Bond Street to my home! I had made up my mind, +upon what very slight grounds the reader must be aware, that this Mr de +Benyon either must be my father, or, if not, was able to tell me who +was. Had not Mr Masterton said that there was a clue—had he not written +to Dublin? The case was to my excited imagination as clear as the +noon-day, and before I arrived at home, I had made up my mind in what +manner I should proceed. It was then about four o'clock. I hastily +packed up my portmanteau—took with me all my ready money, about sixty +pounds, and sent the servant to secure a place in the mail to Holyhead. +He returned, stating that there was a seat taken for me. I waited till +half-past five to see Harcourt, but he did not come home. I then wrote +him a short note, telling him where I was going, and promising to write +as soon as I arrived. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "Ireland is to be the ground of my future adventures, my dear + Harcourt. Call upon Mr Masterton, and tell him what I have done, + which he surely will approve. Open Timothy's letters, and let me + have their contents. I leave you to arrange and act for me in + every respect until I return. In the meantime believe me, +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "Ever yours, +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "J. Newland." +</p> +<p> +I gave the letter to the valet, and calling a coach drove to the office, +and in less than five minutes afterwards was rolling away to Holyhead, +felicitating myself upon my promptitude and decision, little imagining +to what the step I had taken was to lead. +</p> +<p> +It was a very dark night in November when I started on my expedition. +There were three other passengers in the mail, none of whom had yet +spoken a word, although we had made several miles of our journey. +Muffled up in my cloak, I indulged in my own reveries as usual, building +up castles which toppled over one after another as I built and rebuilt +again. At last one of the passengers blew his nose, as if to give +warning that he was about to speak; and then inquired of the gentleman +next him if he had seen the evening newspapers. The other replied in the +negative. "It would appear that Ireland is not in a very quiet state, +sir," observed the first. +</p> +<p> +"Did you ever read the history of Ireland?" inquired the other. +</p> +<p> +"Not very particularly." +</p> +<p> +"Then, sir, if you were to take that trouble, you will find that +Ireland, since it was first peopled, never has been in a quiet state, +nor perhaps ever will. It is a species of human volcano—always either +smoking, burning, or breaking out into eruptions and fire." +</p> +<p> +"Very true, sir," replied the other. "I am told the White Boys are +mustering in large numbers, and that some of the districts are quite +impassable." +</p> +<p> +"Sir, if you had travelled much in Ireland, you would have found out +that many of the districts are quite impassable, without the impediment +of the White Boys." +</p> +<p> +"You have been a great deal in Ireland then, sir," replied the other. +</p> +<p> +"Yes, sir," said the other with a consequential air, "I believe I may +venture to say that I am in charge of some of the most considerable +properties in Ireland." +</p> +<p> +"Lawyer—agent—five per cent.—and so on," muttered the third party, +who sate by me, and had not yet spoken. +</p> +<p> +There was no mistaking him—it was my former master, Mr Cophagus; and I +cannot say that I was very well pleased at this intimation of his +presence, as I took it for granted that he would recognise me as soon as +it was daylight. The conversation continued, without any remarks being +made upon this interruption on the part of Mr Cophagus. The agent, it +appeared, had been called to London on business, and was returning. The +other was a professor of music bound to Dublin on speculation. What +called Mr Cophagus in that direction I could not comprehend; but I +thought I would try and find out, I therefore, while the two others were +engaged in conversation, addressed him in a low tone of voice. "Can you +tell me, sir, if the College at Dublin is considered good for the +instruction of surgical pupils?" +</p> +<p> +"Country good, at all events plenty of practice—broken heads—and so +on." +</p> +<p> +"Have you ever been in Ireland, sir?" +</p> +<p> +"Ireland!—never—don't wish to go—must go—old women will +die—executor—botheration—and so on." +</p> +<p> +"I hope she has left you a good legacy, sir," replied I. +</p> +<p> +"Legacy—humph—can't tell—silver tea-pot—suit of black, and so on. +Long journey—won't pay—can't be helped—old women always troublesome +alive or dead—bury her, come back—and so on." +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0118" id="h2HCH0118"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter XL +</h2> +<p class="quote"> I deny my master. + </p> + +<p> +Although Mr Cophagus was very communicative in his own way, he had no +curiosity with regard to others, and the conversation dropped. The +other two had also asked all the questions which they wished, and we +all, as if by one agreement, fell back in our seats, and shut our eyes, +to court sleep. I was the only one who wooed it in vain. Day broke, my +companions were all in repose, and I discontinued my reveries, and +examined their physiognomies. Mr Cophagus was the first to whom I +directed my attention. He was much the same in face as when I had left +him, but considerably thinner in person. His head was covered with a +white night-cap, and he snored with emphasis. The professor of music was +a very small man, with mustachios; his mouth was wide open, and one +would have thought that he was in the full execution of a bravura. The +third person, who had stated himself to be an agent, was a heavy, +full-faced, coarse-looking personage, with his hat over his eyes, and +his head bent down on his chest, and I observed that he had a small +packet in one of his hands, with his forefinger twisted through the +string. I should not have taken further notice, had not the name of <i>T. +Iving</i>, in the corner of the side on which was the direction, attracted +my attention. It was the name of Melchior's London correspondent, who +had attempted to bribe Timothy. This induced me to look down and read +the direction of the packet, and I clearly deciphered, Sir Henry De +Clare, Bart., Mount Castle, Connemara. I took out my tablets, and wrote +down the address. I certainly had no reason for so doing, except that +nothing should he neglected, as there was no saying what might turn out. +I had hardly replaced my tablets when the party awoke, made a sort of +snatch at the packet, as if recollecting it, and wishing to ascertain if +it were safe, looked at it, took off his hat, let down the window, and +then looked round upon the other parties. +</p> +<p> +"Fine morning, sir," said he to me, perceiving that I was the only +person awake. +</p> +<p> +"Very," replied I, "very fine; but I had rather be walking over the +mountains of Connemara, than be shut up in this close and confined +conveyance." +</p> +<p> +"Hah! you know Connemara, then? I'm going there; perhaps you are also +bound to that part of the country? but you are not Irish." +</p> +<p> +"I was not born or bred in Ireland, certainly," replied I. +</p> +<p> +"So I should say. Irish blood in your veins, I presume." +</p> +<p> +"I believe such to be the case," replied I, with a smile, implying +certainty. +</p> +<p> +"Do you know Sir Henry de Clare?" +</p> +<p> +"Sir Henry de Clare—of Mount Castle—is he not?" +</p> +<p> +"The same; I am going over to him. I am agent for his estates, among +others. A very remarkable man. Have you ever seen his wife?" +</p> +<p> +"I really cannot tell," replied I; "let me call to mind." +</p> +<p> +I had somehow or another formed an idea, that Sir Henry de Clare and +Melchior might be one and the same person; nothing was too absurd or +improbable for my imagination, and I had now means of bringing home my +suspicions. "I think," continued I, "I recollect her—that is, she is a +very tall, handsome woman, dark eyes and complexion." +</p> +<p> +"The very same," replied he. +</p> +<p> +My heart bounded at the information; it certainly was not any clue to my +own parentage, but it was an object of my solicitude, and connected with +the welfare of Fleta. "If I recollect right," observed I, "there are +some curious passages in the life of Sir Henry?" +</p> +<p> +"Nothing very particular," observed the agent, looking out of the +window. +</p> +<p> +"I thought that he had disappeared for some time." +</p> +<p> +"Disappeared! he certainly did not live in Ireland, because he had +quarrelled with his brother. He lived in England until his brother's +death." +</p> +<p> +"How did his brother die, sir?" +</p> +<p> +"Killed by a fall when hunting," replied the agent. "He was attempting +to clear a stone wall, the horse fell back on him, and dislocated his +spine. I was on the spot when the accident happened." +</p> +<p> +I recollected the imperfect communication of Fleta, who had heard the +gipsy say that "he was dead;" and also the word <i>horse</i> made use of, and +I now felt convinced that I had found out Melchior. "Sir Henry, if I +recollect right, has no family," observed I. +</p> +<p> +"No; and I am afraid there is but little chance." +</p> +<p> +"Had the late baronet, his elder brother, any family?" +</p> +<p> +"What, Sir William? No; or Sir Henry would not have come into the +title." +</p> +<p> +"He might have had daughters," replied I. +</p> +<p> +"Very true; now I think of it, there was a girl, who died when young." +</p> +<p> +"Is the widow of Sir William alive?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes; and a very fine woman she is; but she has left Ireland since her +husband's death." +</p> +<p> +I did not venture to ask any more questions. Our conversation had roused +Mr Cophagus and the other passenger; and as I had reflected how I should +behave in case of recognition, I wished to be prepared for him. "You +have had a good nap, sir," said I, turning to him. +</p> +<p> +"Nap—yes—coach nap, bad—head sore—and so on. Why—bless +me—Japhet—Japhet New—yes—it is." +</p> +<p> +"Do you speak to me, sir?" inquired I, with a quiet air. +</p> +<p> +"Speak to you—yes—bad memory—hip! quite forgot—old master—shop in +Smithfield—mad bull—and so on." +</p> +<p> +"Really, sir," replied I, "I am afraid you mistake me for some other +person." +</p> +<p> +Mr Cophagus looked very hard at me, and perceiving that there was no +alteration in my countenance, exclaimed, "Very odd—same nose—same +face—same age too—very odd—like as two pills—beg pardon—made a +mistake—and so on." +</p> +<p> +Satisfied with the discomfiture of Mr Cophagus, I turned round, when I +perceived the Irish agent, with whom I had been in conversation, eyeing +me most attentively. As I said before, he was a hard-featured man, and +his small grey eye was now fixed upon me, as if it would have pierced +me through. I felt confused for a moment, as the scrutiny was unexpected +from that quarter; but a few moments' reflection told me, that if Sir +Henry de Clare and Melchior were the same person, and this man his +agent, in all probability he had not been sent to England for nothing; +that if he was in search of Fleta, he must have heard of my name, and +perhaps something of my history. "I appear to have a great likeness to +many people," observed I, to the agent, smiling. "It was but the other +day I was stopped in Bond Street as a Mr Rawlinson" +</p> +<p> +"Not a very common face either, sir," observed the agent; "if once seen +not easily forgotten, nor easily mistaken for another." +</p> +<p> +"Still such appears to be the case," replied I, carelessly. +</p> +<p> +We now stopped to take refreshment. I had risen from the table, and was +going into the passage, when I perceived the agent looking over the +way-bill with the guard. As soon as he perceived me, he walked out in +front of the inn. Before the guard had put up the bill, I requested to +look at it, wishing to ascertain if I had been booked in my own name. It +was so. The four names were, Newland, Cophagus, Baltzi, M'Dermott. I was +much annoyed at this circumstance. M'Dermott was, of course, the name of +the agent; and that was all the information I received in return for my +own exposure, which I now considered certain; I determined, however, to +put a good face on the matter, and when we returned to the coach, again +entered into conversation with Mr M'Dermott, but I found him +particularly guarded in his replies whenever I spoke about Sir Henry or +his family, and I could not obtain any further information. Mr Cophagus +could not keep his eyes off me—he peered into my face—then he would +fall back in the coach. "Odd—very odd—must be—no—says not—um." In +about another half hour, he would repeat his examination, and mutter to +himself. At last, as if tormented with his doubts, he exclaimed, "Beg +pardon—but—you have a name?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes," replied I, "I have a name." +</p> +<p> +"Well, then—not ashamed. What is it?" +</p> +<p> +"My name, sir," replied I, "is Newland;" for I had resolved to +acknowledge to my name, and fall back upon a new line of defence. +</p> +<p> +"Thought so—don't know me—don't recollect shop—Mr +Brookes's—Tim—rudiments—and so on." +</p> +<p> +"I have not the least objection to tell you my name; but I am afraid you +have the advantage in your recollection of me. Where may I have had the +honour of meeting you?" +</p> +<p> +"Meeting—what, quite forgot—Smithfield?" +</p> +<p> +"And pray, sir, where may Smithfield be?" +</p> +<p> +"Very odd—can't comprehend—same name, same face—don't recollect me, +don't recollect Smithfield?" +</p> +<p> +"It may be very odd, sir; but, as I am very well known in London, at the +west end, perhaps we have met there. Lord Windermear's perhaps—Lady +Maelstrom's?"—and I continued mentioning about a dozen of the most +fashionable names. "At all events, you appear to have the advantage of +me; but I trust you will excuse my want of memory, as my acquaintance is +very extensive." +</p> +<p> +"I see—quite a mistake—same name, not same person—beg pardon, +sir—apologies—and so on," replied the apothecary, drawing in a long +sigh. +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0119" id="h2HCH0119"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter XLI +</h2> +<p class="quote"> I turn lawyer. + </p> + +<p> +I watched the countenance of the agent, who appeared at last to be +satisfied that there had been some mistake; at least he became more +communicative, and as I no longer put any questions to him relative to +Sir Henry, we had a long conversation. I spoke to him about the De +Benyons, making every inquiry that I could think of. He informed me that +the deceased earl, the father of the present, had many sons, who were +some of them married, and that the family was extensive. He appeared to +know them all, the professions which they had been brought up to, and +their careers in life. I treasured up his information, and, as soon as I +had an opportunity, wrote down all which he had told me. On our arrival +at Holyhead, the weather was very boisterous, and the packet was to +depart immediately. Mr M'Dermott stated his intentions to go over, but +Mr Cophagus and the professor declined, and, anxious as I was to +proceed, I did not wish to be any longer in company with the agent, and, +therefore, also declined going on board. Mr M'Dermott called for a glass +of brandy and water, drank it off in haste, and then, followed by the +porter, with his luggage, went down to embark. +</p> +<p> +As soon as he was gone, I burst into a fit of laughter. "Well, Mr +Cophagus, acknowledge that it is possible to persuade a man out of his +senses. You knew me, and you were perfectly right in asserting that I +was Japhet, yet did I persuade you at last that you were mistaken. But I +will explain to you why I did so." +</p> +<p> +"All right," said the apothecary, taking my proffered hand, "thought +so—no mistake—handsome fellow—so you are—Japhet Newland—my +apprentice—and so on." +</p> +<p> +"Yes, sir," replied I, laughing, "I am Japhet Newland." (I turned round, +hearing a noise, the door had been opened, and Mr M'Dermott had just +stepped in; he had returned for an umbrella, which he had forgotten; he +looked at me, at Mr Cophagus, who still held my hand in his, turned +short round, said nothing, and walked out.) "This is unfortunate," +observed I, "my reason for not avowing myself, was to deceive that very +person, and now I have made the avowal to his face; however, it cannot +be helped." +</p> +<p> +I sat down with my old master, and as I knew that I could confide in +him, gave him an outline of my life, and stated my present intentions. +</p> +<p> +"I see, Japhet, I see—done mischief—sorry for it—can't be help'd—do +all I can—um—what's to be done?—be your friend—always like you—help +all I can—and so on." +</p> +<p> +"But what would you advise, sir?" +</p> +<p> +"Advice—bad as physic—nobody takes it—Ireland—wild place—no +law—better go back—leave all to me—find out—and so on." +</p> +<p> +This advice I certainly could not consent to follow. +</p> +<p> +We argued the matter over for some time, and then it was agreed that we +should proceed together. I was informed by Mr Cophagus that he had +retired with a very handsome fortune, and was living in the country, +about ten miles from the metropolis; that he had been summoned to attend +the funeral of a maiden aunt in Dublin, who had left him executor and +residuary legatee, but that he knew nothing of her circumstances. He was +still a bachelor, and amused himself in giving advice and medicines +gratis to the poor people of the village in which he resided, there +being no resident practitioner within some distance. He liked the +country very much, but there was one objection to it—the cattle. He had +not forgotten the <i>mad bull</i>. At a very late hour we retired to our +beds: the next morning the weather had moderated, and, on the arrival of +the mail we embarked, and had a very good passage over. On my arrival at +Dublin I directed my steps to the F——t Hotel, as the best place to make +inquiries relative to Mr De Benyon. Mr Cophagus also put up at the same +hotel, and we agreed to share a sitting-room. +</p> +<p> +"Waiter," said I, "do you know a Mr De Benyon?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, sir," replied he; "there is one of the De Benyons at the hotel at +this moment." +</p> +<p> +"Is he a married man?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes—with a large family." +</p> +<p> +"What is his Christian name?" +</p> +<p> +"I really cannot tell, sir; but I'll find out for you by to-morrow +morning." +</p> +<p> +"When does he leave?" +</p> +<p> +"To-morrow, I believe." +</p> +<p> +"Do you know where he goes?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, sir, to his own seat." +</p> +<p> +The waiter left the room. "Won't do, Japhet," said Cophagus. "Large +family—don't want more—hard times, and so on." +</p> +<p> +"No," replied I, "it does not exactly answer; but I may from him obtain +further intelligence." +</p> +<p> +"Won't do, Japhet—try another way—large family—want all uncle's +money—um—never tell—good night." +</p> +<p> +This remark of Mr Cophagus gave me an idea, upon which I proceeded the +next morning. I sent in my card, requesting the honour of speaking to Mr +De Benyon, stating that I had come over to Ireland on business of +importance, but that, as I must be back if possible by <i>term</i> time, it +would perhaps save much expense and trouble. The waiter took in the +message. "Back by term time—it must be some legal gentleman. Show him +up," said Mr De Benyon. +</p> +<p> +I walked in with a business-like air. "Mr De Benyon, I believe?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, sir; will you do me the favour to take a chair?" +</p> +<p> +I seated myself, and drew out my memorandum-book. +</p> +<p> +"My object, Mr De Benyon, in troubling you, is to ascertain a few +particulars relative to your family, which we cannot so easily find out +in England. There is a <i>property</i> which it is supposed may be claimed by +one of the De Benyons, but which we cannot ascertain until we have a +little search into the genealogical tree." +</p> +<p> +"Is the property large?" inquired Mr De Benyon. +</p> +<p> +"Not very large," replied I; "but still a very handsome property, I am +told." The reader may surmise that the property referred to was my own +pretty self. "May I ask you a few particulars relative to the present +earl and his brothers?" +</p> +<p> +"Most certainly, sir," replied Mr De Benyon; "any information I can give +you will be at your service. The Earl has four brothers. The eldest +Maurice." +</p> +<p> +"Is he married?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, and has two children. The next is William." +</p> +<p> +"Is he married?" +</p> +<p> +"No; nor has he ever been. He is a general in the army. The third is +myself, Henry." +</p> +<p> +"You are married, I believe, sir?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, with a large family." +</p> +<p> +"May I request you will proceed, sir?" +</p> +<p> +"Arthur is the fourth brother. He is lately married, and has two +children." +</p> +<p> +"Sir, I feel much obliged to you; it is a curious and intricate affair. +As I am here, I may as well ask one question, although not of great +consequence. The earl is married, I perceive, by the peerage, but I do +not find that he has any children." +</p> +<p> +"On the contrary, he has two—and prospects of more. May I now request +the particulars connected with this property?" +</p> +<p> +"The exact particulars, sir, I cannot well tell you, as I am not +acquainted with them myself; but the property in question, I rather +think, depends upon a <i>name</i>. May I venture to ask the names of all your +children?" +</p> +<p> +Mr De Benyon gave me a list <i>seriatim</i>, which I put down with great +gravity. +</p> +<p> +"Of course, there is no doubt of your second brother not being married. +I believe we ought to have a certificate. Do you know his address?" +</p> +<p> +"He has been in the East Indies for many years. He returned home on +furlough, and has now just sailed again for Calcutta." +</p> +<p> +"That is unfortunate; we must forward a letter through the India Board. +May I also be favoured with your address, as in all probability it may +be advisable?" +</p> +<p> +Mr De Benyon gave me his address. I rose, promised to give him all the +particulars as soon as they were known to me, bowed, and made my exit. +To one who was in his sober senses, there certainly was not any +important information gained; but to me, it was evident that the Mr De +Benyon who was a general in the army was to be interrogated, and I had +almost made up my mind to set off for Calcutta. +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0120" id="h2HCH0120"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter XLII +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + I affront an Irish gentleman, and make a handsome apology, which + is accepted. +</p> +<p> +Before I had gained my own room, I informed Mr Cophagus, who had just +returned from a visit to his maiden aunt's house, of what had passed. +</p> +<p> +"Can't see anything in it, Japhet—wild goose chase?—who told +you?—oh! Pleggit's men—sad liars—De Benyon not name, depend upon +it—all stuff, and so on." +</p> +<p> +And when I reflected, I could but acknowledge that the worthy +apothecary might be right, and, that I was running after shadows; +but this was only in my occasional fits of despondency. I soon +rallied, and was as sanguine as ever. Undecided how to proceed, and +annoyed by what Cophagus had said, I quitted the hotel, to walk out, +in no very good humour. As I went out, I perceived the agent M'Dermott +speaking to the people in the bar, and the sight of him reminded me of +what, for a moment, I had forgotten, which was, to ascertain whether +Melchior and Sir Henry de Clare were one and the same person. As I +passed a crossing, a man in tattered habiliments, who was sweeping +it, asked for alms, but being in no very charitable humour, I walked +on. He followed me, pestering me so much, that I gave him a tap +with the cane in my hand, saying to him, "Be off, you scoundrel." +</p> +<p> +"Oh! very well. Be off, is it you mane? By the blood of the +O'Rourkes but you'll answer for that same, anyhow." +</p> +<p> +I passed on, and having perambulated the city of Dublin for some +time, returned to the hotel. A few minutes afterwards, I was told +by the waiter that a Mr O'Donaghan wished to speak to me. "I have +not the honour of his acquaintance," replied I, "but you may show +him up." +</p> +<p> +Mr O'Donaghan entered, a tall, thick-whiskered personage, in a +shabby—genteel dress, evidently not made for him, a pair of +white cotton gloves, and a small stick. "I believe that I have the +honour of spaking to the gentleman who crossed over the street +about two hours ago?" +</p> +<p> +"Upon my word, sir," replied I, "that is so uncertain a definition, +that I can hardly pretend to say whether I am the person you mean; +indeed, from not having the pleasure of any one's acquaintance +in Dublin, I rather think there must be some mistake." +</p> +<p> +"The devil a bit of a mistake, at all at all; for there's the +little bit of cane with which you paid my friend, Mr O'Rourke, the +compliment over his shoulders." +</p> +<p> +"I really am quite mystified, sir, and do not understand you; will +you favour me with an explanation?" +</p> +<p> +"With all the pleasure in life, for then we shall come to a right +understanding. You were crossing the street, and a gentleman, a +particular friend of mine, with a broom which he carries for his own +amusement, did himself the honour to address you, whereupon of that +same little stick of yours, you did him the honour to give him a +slight taste." +</p> +<p> +"What do you mean? do you refer to the sweeper, who was so importunate +when I crossed over the road?" +</p> +<p> +"Then, by the powers, you've just hit it, as you did him. That's my +particular friend, Thaddeus O'Rourke, gentleman." +</p> +<p> +"Gentleman!" exclaimed I. +</p> +<p> +"And with as good and as true Milesian blood as any in Ireland. If you +think, sir, that because my friend, just for his own amusement, thinks +proper to put on the worst of his clothes and carry a broom, just by +way of exercise, to prevent his becoming too lusty, he is therefore to +be struck like a hound, it's a slight mistake, that's all; and here, sir, +is his card, and you will oblige me by mentioning any friend of yours +with whom I may settle all the little points necessary before the +meeting of two gentlemen." +</p> +<p> +I could hardly refrain from laughing at this Irish gentleman and his +friend, but I thought it advisable to retain my countenance. "My dear +sir," replied I, "it grieves me to the heart that I should have committed +such an error, in not perceiving the gentility of your friend; had I not +been so careless, I certainly should have requested him to do me the +honour to accept a shilling, instead of having offered him the insult. +I hope it is not now too late?" +</p> +<p> +"By the powers, I'm not one of those harum-scarum sort, who would make up +a fight when there's no occasion for it, and as your 'haviour is that of +a gentleman, I think it will perhaps be better to shake hands upon it, +and forget it altogether. Suppose, now, we'll consider that it was all +a mistake? You give the shilling, as you intended to do, I'll swear, +only you were in so great a hurry—and then, perhaps, you'll not object +to throw in another shilling for that same tap with the cane, just to +wipe off the insult as it were, as we do our sins, when we fork out the +money, and receive absolution from the padre; and then, perhaps, you will +not think it too much if I charge another shilling for my time and +trouble, for carrying a message between two gentlemen." +</p> +<p> +"On the contrary, Mr O'Donaghan, I think all your demands are reasonable. +Here is the money." +</p> +<p> +Mr O'Donaghan took the three shillings. "Then, sir, and many thanks to +you, I'll wish you a good evening, and Mr O'Rourke shall know from me +that you have absolution for the whole, and that you have offered every +satisfaction which one gentleman could expect from another." So saying, +Mr O'Donaghan put his hat on with a firm cock, pulled on his gloves, +manoeuvred his stick, and, with a flourishing bow, took his departure. +</p> +<p> +I had hardly dismissed this gentleman, and was laughing to myself at the +ridiculous occurrence, when Mr Cophagus returned, first putting his cane +up to his nose with an arch look, and then laying it down on the table +and rubbing his hands. "Good—warm old lady. No—dead and cold? but left +some thousands—only one legacy—old Tom cat—physic him to-morrow—soon +die, and so on." +</p> +<p> +On a more full explanation, I found that the old lady had left about nine +thousand pounds in the funds and bank securities, all of which, with the +exception of twenty pounds per annum to a favourite cat, was left to Mr +Cophagus. I congratulated him upon this accession of fortune. He stated +that the lease of the house and the furniture were still to be disposed +of, and that afterwards he should have nothing more to do; but he wished +me very much to assist him in rummaging over the various cabinets +belonging to the old lady, and which were full of secret drawers; that +in one cabinet alone he had found upwards of fifty pounds in various gold +coins, and that if not well examined, they would probably be sold with +many articles of consequence remaining in them. +</p> +<p> +As my only object in Ireland was to find out Sir Henry de Clare, and +identify him (but, really, why I could not have said, as it would have +proved nothing after all), I willingly consented to devote a day to +assist Mr Cophagus in his examination. The next morning after breakfast, +we went together to the house of the old lady, whose name had been +Maitland, as Mr Cophagus informed me. Her furniture was of the most +ancient description, and in every room in the house there was an ormolu, +or Japan cabinet; some of them were very handsome, decorated with +pillars, and silver ornaments. I can hardly recount the variety of +articles, which in all probability had been amassed during the whole of +the old lady's life, commencing with her years of childhood, and ending +with the day of her death. There were antique ornaments, some of +considerable value, miniatures, fans, etuis, notes, of which the ink, +from time, had turned to a light red, packages of letters of her various +correspondents in her days of hope and anticipation, down to those of +solitude and age. We looked over some of them, but they appeared to both +of us to be sacred, and they were, after a slight examination, committed +to the flames. +</p> +<p> +After we had examined all the apparent receptacles in these cabinets, we +took them up between us, and shook them, and in most cases found out that +there were secret drawers containing other treasures. There was one +packet of letters which caught my eye, it was from a Miss De Benyon. I +seized it immediately, and showed the inscription to Mr Cophagus. +"Pooh—nothing at all—her mother was a De Benyon." +</p> +<p> +"Have you any objection to my looking at these letters?" +</p> +<p> +"No—read—nothing in them." +</p> +<p> +I laid them on one side, and we proceeded in our search, when Mr Cophagus +took up a sealed packet. "Heh! what's this—De Benyon again? Japhet, look +here." +</p> +<p> +I took the packet; it was sealed, and tied with red tape. "Papers +belonging to Lieutenant William De Benyon, to be returned to him at my +decease." "Alice Maitland, <i>with great</i> care," was written at the bottom +of the envelope. +</p> +<p> +"This is it, my dear sir," cried I, jumping up and embracing Mr Cophagus +"these are the papers which I require. May I keep them?" +</p> +<p> +"Mad—quite mad—go to Bedlam—strait waistcoat—head shaved, and so on." +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0121" id="h2HCH0121"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter XLIII +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + I am not content with minding my own business, but must have a + hand in that of others, by which means I put my foot in it. +</p> +<p> +He then, after his own fashion, told me, that as executor, he must +retain those papers; pointed out to me the little probability there +was of their containing any information relative to my birth, even +allowing that a person of the name of De Benyon did call at the +Foundling to ask for me, which was only a supposition; and, finally, +overthrew all the hopes which had been, for so many days, buoying me +up. When he had finished, I threw myself upon the sofa in despair, and +wished, at the moment, that I had never been born. Still hope again +rose uppermost, and I would have given all I possessed to have been +able to break open the seals of that packet, and have read the contents. +At one moment I was so frantic, that I was debating whether I should not +take them from Mr Cophagus by force, and run off with them. At last I +rose, and commenced reading the letters which I had put aside, but there +was nothing in them but the trifling communications of two young women, +who mentioned what was amusing to them, but uninteresting to those who +were not acquainted with the parties. +</p> +<p> +When we had finished, Mr Cophagus collected all together, and putting +them into a box, we returned in a coach to the hotel. The next day Mr +Cophagus had completed all his arrangements, and the day following had +determined to return to England. I walked with him down to the vessel, +and watched it for an hour after it had sailed, for it bore away a packet +of papers, which I could not help imagining were to discover the secret +which I was so eager in pursuit of. A night's sleep made me more +rational, and I now resolved to ascertain where Sir Henry de Clare, or +Melchior, as I felt certain he must be, was to be found. I sent for the +waiter, and asked him if he could inform me. He immediately replied in +the affirmative, and gave his address, Mount Castle, Connemara, asking +me when I intended to set out. It did not strike me till afterwards, +that it was singular that he should be so well acquainted with the +address, and that he should have produced a card with it written upon +it; or, moreover, that he should know that it was my intention to go +there. I took the address, and desired that I might have horses ready +very early the next morning. I then sat down and wrote a letter to +Harcourt, informing him of my proceedings, also one to Mr Masterton +much more explicit, lastly to Timothy, to the care of Harcourt, +requesting him to let me know what had occurred between him and the +gipsies. After dinner, I packed up ready for my journey, and having +settled my bill, I was not sorry to retire to my bed. +</p> +<p> +At daylight I was, as I requested, called by the waiter, and taking with +me only a very small portmanteau, having left the rest of my effects in +the charge of the people who kept the hotel, I set off in a post-chaise +on my expedition. I was soon clear of the city, and on a fine smooth road, +and, as I threw myself back in the corner of the chaise, I could not help +asking myself the question—what was the purport of my journey? As the +reader will perceive, I was wholly governed by impulses, and never +allowed reason or common sense to stand in the way of my feelings. "What +have I to do?" replied I to myself; "to find out if Melchior and Sir +Henry de Clare be not one and the same person. And what then?" What +then?—why then I may find out something relative to Fleta's parentage. +Nay, but is that likely—if, as you suppose, Melchior is Sir Henry de +Clare—if, as you suppose, it is he who is now trying to find out and +carry off Fleta—is it probable that you will gain any information from +him? I have an idea that Fleta is the little girl said to have died, who +was the child of his elder brother. Why so? What interest could Melchior +have in stealing his own niece? That I cannot tell. Why did Nattée give +me the necklace? I cannot tell; she would hardly betray her husband. +At all events, there is a mystery, and it can only be unravelled by +being pulled at; and I may learn something by meeting Melchior, whereas, +I shall learn nothing by remaining quiet. This last idea satisfied me, +and for many hours I remained in a train of deep thought, only checked +by paying for the horses at the end of every stage. +</p> +<p> +It was now past twelve o'clock, when I found that it was necessary to +change the chaise at every post. The country also, as well as the roads, +had changed much for the worse. Cultivation was not so great, the roads +were mountainous, and civilisation generally disappeared. It was nearly +dark when I arrived at the last post, from whence I was to take horses +to Mount Castle. As usual, the chaise also was to be changed; and I +could not help observing that each change was from bad to worse. Rope +harness was used, and the vehicles themselves were of the most crazy +condition. Still I had travelled very fairly, for an Irish postillion +knows how to make an Irish horse go a very fair pace. I descended from +the chaise, and ordered another out immediately. To this there was no +reply, except, "Wait, your honour; step in a moment, and rest from your +fatigue a little." Presuming this was merely to give them time to get +ready, I walked into the room of the inn, which indeed was very little +better than a hovel, and sat down by the turf fire in company with some +others, whom I could hardly distinguish for smoke. I paid the chaise and +postillion, and soon afterwards heard it drive off, on its way back. +After a few minutes I inquired if the chaise was getting ready. +</p> +<p> +"Is it the chaise your honour means?" said the landlady. +</p> +<p> +"Yes," replied I, "a chaise on to Mount Castle." +</p> +<p> +"Then I am sorry that your honour must wait a little; for our chaise, and +the only one which we have, is gone to the castle, and won't be back till +long after the moon is up. What will your honour please to take?" +</p> +<p> +"Not back till moonlight," replied I; "why did you not say so? and I +would have gone on with the other." +</p> +<p> +"Is it with the other you mane, your honour? Then if Teddy Driscoll could +make his horses go one step farther than our door, may I never have a +soul to be saved. Will your honour please to sit in the little room +Kathleen shall light a fire." +</p> +<p> +Vexed as I was with the idea of passing the night in this horrid place, +there was no help for it: so I took up my portmanteau and followed the +landlady to a small room, if it deserved the appellation, which had been +built after the cottage, and a door broken through the wall into it. +Ceiling there was none, it had only lean-to rafters, with tiles over +head. I took a seat on the only stool that was in the room, and leant +my elbow on the table in no very pleasant humour, when I heard the girl +say, "And why don't you let him go on to the castle? Sure the chaise is +in the yard, and the horses are in the stable." +</p> +<p> +"There's orders 'gainst it, Kathleen," replied the landlady. "Mr +M'Dermott was here this blessed day, and who can deny him?" +</p> +<p> +"Who is he then?" replied the girl. +</p> +<p> +"An attorney with a warrant against Sir Henry; and, moreover, they say +that he's coming to'strain upon the cattle of Jerry O'Toole for the +tithes." +</p> +<p> +"He's a bould young chap, at all events," replied the girl, "to come +here all by himself." +</p> +<p> +"Oh! but it's not till to-morrow morning, and then we'll have the +troops here to assist him." +</p> +<p> +"And does Jerry O'Toole know of this?" +</p> +<p> +"Sure enough he does; and I hope there'll be no murder committed in my +house this blessed night. But what can a poor widow do when M'Dermott +holds up his finger? Now, go light the fire, Kathleen, and see if the +poor young man wants anything; it's a burning pity that he shouldn't +have something to comfort him before his misfortunes fall upon him." +</p> +<p> +Kathleen made no reply. The horror that I felt at this discourse may +easily be imagined. That it was intended that I should meet with foul +play was certain, and I knew very well that, in such a desolate part +of the country, the murder of an individual, totally unknown, would +hardly be noticed. That I had been held up to the resentment of the +inhabitants as a tithe collector and an attorney with a warrant, was +quite sufficient, I felt conscious, to induce them to make away with me. +How to undeceive them was the difficulty. +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0122" id="h2HCH0122"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter XLIV +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + No hopes of rising next morning alive, as a last chance—I get + into bed. +</p> +<p> +Kathleen came in with fuel to light the fire, and looking rather hard at +me, passed by, and was soon, busy blowing up the turf. She was a very +handsome dark-eyed girl, about nineteen years of age, stout and well +made. "What is your name?" said I. +</p> +<p> +"Kathleen, at your service, sir." +</p> +<p> +"Listen to me, Kathleen," said I, in a low voice. "You are a woman, +and all women are kind-hearted. I have overheard all that passed between +your mistress and you, and that M'Dermott has stated that I am a tithe +collector and an attorney, with a warrant. I am no such thing. I am a +gentleman who wishes to speak to Sir Henry de Clare on a business which +he does not like to be spoken to about; and to show you what I say is +the truth, it is about the daughter of his elder brother, who was +killed when hunting, and who is supposed to be dead. I am the only +evidence to the contrary; and, therefore, he and M'Dermott have spread +this report that I may come to harm." +</p> +<p> +"Is she alive, then?" replied Kathleen, looking up to me with wonder. +</p> +<p> +"Yes; and I will not tell Sir Henry where she is, and that is the +reason of their enmity." +</p> +<p> +"But I saw her body," replied the girl in a low voice, standing up, +and coming close to me. +</p> +<p> +"It was not hers, depend upon it," replied I, hardly knowing what to +answer to this assertion. +</p> +<p> +"At all events, it was dressed in her clothes; but it was so long before +it was discovered, that we could make nothing of the features. Well, +I knew the poor little thing, for my mother nursed her. I was myself +brought up at the castle, and lived there till after Sir William was +killed; then we were all sent away." +</p> +<p> +"Kathleen! Kathleen!" cried the landlady. +</p> +<p> +"Call for everything you can think of one after another," whispered +Kathleen, leaving the room. +</p> +<p> +"I cannot make the peat burn," said she to the landlady, after she had +quitted the little room; "and the gentleman wants some whisky." +</p> +<p> +"Go out then, and get some from the middle of the stack, Kathleen, and +be quick; we have others to attend besides the tithe proctor. There's +the O'Tooles all come in, and your own Corny is with them." +</p> +<p> +"My Corny, indeed!" replied Kathleen; "he's not quite so sure of that." +</p> +<p> +In a short time Kathleen returned, and brought some dry peat and a +measure of whisky. "If what you say is true," said Kathleen, "and sure +enough you're no Irish, and very young for a tithe proctor, who must +grow old before he can be such a villain, you are in no very pleasant +way. The O'Tooles are here, and I've an idea they mean no good; for +they sit with all their heads together, whispering to each other, and +all their shillelaghs by their sides." +</p> +<p> +"Tell me, Kathleen, was the daughter of Sir William a fair-haired, +blue-eyed girl?" +</p> +<p> +"To be sure she was," replied Kathleen, "and like a little mountain +fairy." +</p> +<p> +"Now, Kathleen, tell me if you recollect if the little girl or her +mother ever wore a necklace of red beads mixed with gold." +</p> +<p> +"Yes, that my lady did; and it was on the child's neck when it was lost, +and when the body was found, it was not with it. Well I recollect that, +for my mother said the child must have been drowned or murdered for +the sake of the gold beads." +</p> +<p> +"Then you have proved all I wished, Kathleen; and now I tell you that +this little girl is alive, and that I can produce the necklace which was +lost with her; and more, that she was taken away by Sir Henry himself." +</p> +<p> +"Merciful Jesus!" replied Kathleen; "the dear little child that we +cried over so much." +</p> +<p> +"But now, Kathleen, I have told you this, to prove to you that I am not +what M'Dermott has asserted, no doubt, with the intention that my brains +shall be knocked out this night." +</p> +<p> +"And so they will, sure enough," replied Kathleen, "if you do not +escape." +</p> +<p> +"But how am I to escape? and will you assist me?" And I laid down on the +table ten guineas from my purse, "Take that, Kathleen, and it will help +you and Corny. Now will you assist me?" +</p> +<p> +"It's Corny that will be the first to knock your brains out," replied +Kathleen, "unless I can stop him. I must go now, and I'll see what can +be done." +</p> +<p> +Kathleen would have departed without touching the gold; but I caught +her by the wrist, collected it, and put it into her hand. "That's not +like a tithe proctor, at all events," replied Kathleen; "but my heart +aches, and my head swims, and what's to be done I know not." So saying, +Kathleen quitted the room. +</p> +<p> +"Well," thought I, after she had left the room, "at all events, I have +not been on a wrong scent this time. Kathleen has proved to me that Fleta +is the daughter of the late Sir William; and if I escape this snare, +Melchior shall do her justice." Pleased with my having so identified +Melchior and Fleta, I fell into a train of thought, and for the first +time forgot my perilous situation; but I was roused from my meditations +by an exclamation from Kathleen. "No, no, Corny, nor any of ye—not +now—and mother and me to witness it—it shall not be. Corny, hear me, +as sure as blood's drawn, and we up to see it, so sure does Corny +O'Toole never touch this hand of mine." A pause, and whispering followed, +and again all appeared to be quiet. I unstrapped my portmanteau, took +out my pistols, which were loaded, re-primed them, and remained quiet, +determined to sell my life as dearly as possible. +</p> +<p> +It was more than half an hour before Kathleen returned; she looked pale +and agitated. "Keep quiet, and do not think of resistance," said she, +"it is useless. I have told my mother all, and she believes you, and +will risk her life to save him who has watched over the little girl whom +she nursed; but keep quiet, we shall soon have them all out of the house. +Corny dare not disobey me, and he will persuade the others." +</p> +<p> +She then went out again, and did not return for nearly an hour, when she +was accompanied by her mother. +</p> +<p> +"Kathleen has told me all, young sir," said she, "and do what we can, we +will; but we hardly know what to do. To go to the castle would be +madness." +</p> +<p> +"Yes," replied I; "but cannot you give me one of your horses to return +the way I came?" +</p> +<p> +"That was our intention; but I find that the O'Tooles have taken them all +out of the stable to prevent me; and the house is watched. They will come +at midnight and attack us, that I fully expect, and how to conceal you +puzzles my poor head." +</p> +<p> +"If they come, we can but persuade them that he has escaped," replied +Kathleen; "they will no longer watch the house, and he will then have +some chance." +</p> +<p> +"There is but one chance," replied the mother, who took Kathleen aside, +and whispered to her. Kathleen coloured to the forehead, and made no +reply. +</p> +<p> +"If your mother bids you, Kathleen, there can be no harm." +</p> +<p> +"Yes; but if Corny was—" +</p> +<p> +"He dare not," replied the mother; "and now put this light out, and do +you get into bed, sir, with your clothes on." They led me to a small +bedroom, a miserable affair; but in that part of the country considered +respectable. "Lie down there," said the mother, "and wait till we call +you." They took the light away, and left me to myself and my own +reflections, which were anything but pleasant. I lay awake, it might +be for two hours, when I heard the sound of feet, and then a whispering +under the window, and shortly afterwards a loud knocking at the door, +which they were attempting to burst open. Every moment I expected that +it would yield to the violence which was made use of, when the mother +came down half-dressed, with a light in her hand, hastened to me, and +desired me to follow her. I did so, and before she left my room, she +threw the window wide open. She led me up a sort of half-stairs, +half-ladder, to a small room, where I found Kathleen sitting up in her +bed, and half-dressed. "O mother! mother!" cried Kathleen. +</p> +<p> +"I bid ye do it, child," replied the mother, desiring me to creep into +her daughter's bed, and cover myself up on the side next the wall. +</p> +<p> +"Let me put on more clothes, mother." +</p> +<p> +"No, no, if you do, they will suspect, and will not hesitate to search. +Your mother bids you." +</p> +<p> +The poor girl was burning with shame and confusion. +</p> +<p> +"Nay," replied I, "if Kathleen does not wish it, I will not buy my safety +at the expense of her feelings." +</p> +<p> +"Yes, yes," replied Kathleen, "I don't mind now; those words of yours +are sufficient. Come in, quick." +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0123" id="h2HCH0123"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter XLV +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + Petticoat interest prevails, and I escape; but I put my head into + the lion's den. +</p> +<p> +There was no time for apology, and stepping over Kathleen, I buried +myself under the clothes by her side. The mother then hastened +downstairs, and arrived at the door just as they had succeeded in forcing +it open, when in pounced a dozen men armed, with their faces blackened. +"Holy Jesus! what is it that you want?" screamed the landlady. +</p> +<p> +"The blood of the tithe proctor, and that's what we'll have," replied +the O'Tooles. +</p> +<p> +"Not in my house—not in my house!" cried she. "Take him away, at all +events; promise me to take him away." +</p> +<p> +"So we will, honey darlint; we'll take him out of your sight, and out +of your hearing too, only show us where he may be." +</p> +<p> +"He's sleeping," replied the mother, pointing to the door of the bedroom, +where I had been lying down. +</p> +<p> +The party took the light from her hand, and went into the room, where +they perceived the bed empty and the window open. "Devil a bit of a +proctor here, anyhow," cried one of them, "and the window open. He's +off—hurrah! my lads, he can't be far." +</p> +<p> +"By the powers! it's just my opinion, Mrs M'Shane," replied the elder +O'Toole, "that he's not quite so far off; so with your lave, or by your +lave, or without your lave, we'll just have a look over the premises." +</p> +<p> +"O! and welcome, Mister Jerry O'Toole; if you think I'm the woman to hide +a proctor, look everywhere just as you please." +</p> +<p> +The party, headed by Jerry O'Toole, who had taken the light out of Mrs +M'Shane's hand, now ascended the ladder to the upper storey, and as I +lay by Kathleen, I felt that she trembled with fear. After examining +every nook and cranny they could think of, they came to Mrs M'Shane's +room, "O! go in—go in and look, Mr O'Toole; it's a very likely thing +to insinuate that I should have a tithe proctor in my bed. Search, pray," +and Mrs M'Shane led the way into her own room. +</p> +<p> +Every part had been examined, except the small sleeping-room of Kathleen; +and the party paused before the door. "We must search," observed O'Toole +doggedly. +</p> +<p> +"Search my daughter's! very well, search if you please; it's a fine story +you'll have to tell, how six great men pulled a poor girl out of her bed +to look for a tithe proctor. It will be a credit to you anyhow; and you, +Corny O'Toole, you'll stand well in her good graces, when you come to +talk about the wedding day; and your wife that is to be, pulled out of +her bed by a dozen men. What will ye say to Kathleen, when you affront +her by supposing that a maiden girl has a tithe proctor in bed with her? +D'ye think that ye'll ever have the mother's consent or blessing?" +</p> +<p> +"No one goes into Kathleen's room," cried Corny O'Toole, roused by the +sarcasms of Mrs M'Shane. +</p> +<p> +"Yes, Corny," replied Mrs M'Shane, "it's not for a woman like me to be +suspected, at all events; so you, and you only, shall go into the room, +if that will content ye, Mr Jerry O'Toole." +</p> +<p> +"Yes!" replied the party, and Mrs M'Shane opened the door. +</p> +<p> +Kathleen rose up on her elbow, holding the bed clothes up to her throat, +and looking at them, as they entered, said, "O Corny! Corny! this to me?" +</p> +<p> +Corny never thought of looking for anybody, his eyes were rivetted upon +his sweetheart. "Murder, Kathleen, is it my fault? Jerry will have it." +</p> +<p> +"Are you satisfied, Corny?" said Mrs M'Shane. +</p> +<p> +"Sure enough I was satisfied before I came in, that Kathleen would not +have any one in her bedroom," replied Corny. +</p> +<p> +"Then good-night, Corny, and it's to-morrow that I'll talk with ye," +replied Kathleen. +</p> +<p> +Mrs M'Shane then walked out of the room, expecting Corny to follow; but +he could not restrain himself, and he came to the bedside. Fearful that +if he put his arms round her, he would feel me, Kathleen raised herself, +and allowed him to embrace her. Fortunately the light was not in the +room, or I should have been discovered, as in so doing she threw the +clothes off my head and shoulders. She then pushed back Corny from her, +and he left the room, shutting the door after him. The party descended +the ladder, and as soon as Kathleen perceived that they were all down, +she sprang out of bed and ran into her mother's room. Soon after I heard +them depart. Mrs M'Shane made fast the door, and came up stairs. She +first went to her own room, where poor Kathleen was crying bitterly from +shame and excitement. I had got up when she came into Kathleen's room +for her clothes, and, in about five minutes, they returned together. I +was sitting on the side of the bed when they came in: the poor girl +coloured up when our eyes met. "Kathleen," said I, "you have, in all +probability, saved my life, and I cannot express my thanks. I am only +sorry that your modesty has been put to so severe a trial." +</p> +<p> +"If Corny was to find it out," replied Kathleen, sobbing again. "How +could I do such a thing!" +</p> +<p> +"Your mother bid you," replied Mrs M'Shane, "and that is sufficient." +</p> +<p> +"But what must you think of me, sir?" continued Kathleen. +</p> +<p> +"I think that you have behaved most nobly. You have saved an innocent man +at the risk of your reputation, and the loss of your lover. It is not now +that I can prove my gratitude." +</p> +<p> +"Yes, yes, promise me by all that's sacred, that you'll never mention it. +Surely you would not ruin one who has tried to serve you." +</p> +<p> +"I promise you that, and I hope to perform a great deal more," replied I. +"But now, Mrs M'Shane, what is to be done? Remain here I cannot." +</p> +<p> +"No; you must leave, and that very soon. Wait about ten minutes more, and +then they will give up their search and go home. The road to E——" (the +post I had lately come from) "is the best you can take; and you must +travel as fast as you can, for there is no safety for you here." +</p> +<p> +"I am convinced that rascal M'Dermott will not leave me till he has rid +himself of me." I then took out my purse, in which I still had nearly +twenty guineas. I took ten of them. "Mrs M'Shane, I must leave you in +charge of my portmanteau, which you may forward by-and-bye, when you +hear of my safety. If I should not be so fortunate, the money is better +in your hands than in the hands of those who will murder me. Kathleen, +God bless you! you are a good girl, and Corny O'Toole will be a happy +man if he knows your value." +</p> +<p> +I then wished Kathleen good-bye, and she allowed me to kiss her without +any resistance; but the tears were coursing down her cheeks as I left the +room with her mother. Mrs M'Shane looked carefully out of the windows, +holding the light to ascertain if there was anybody near, and, satisfied +with her scrutiny, she then opened the door, and calling down the saints +to protect me, shook hands with me, and I quitted the house. It was a +dark, cloudy night, and when I first went out, I was obliged to grope, +for I could distinguish nothing. I walked along with a pistol loaded in +each hand, and gained, as I thought, the high road to E——, but I made +a sad mistake; and puzzled by the utter darkness and turnings, I took, +on the contrary, the road to Mount Castle. As soon as I was clear of the +houses and the enclosure, there was more light, and I could distinguish +the road. I had proceeded about four or five miles, when I heard the +sound of horses' hoofs, and shortly afterwards two men rode by me. I +inquired if that was the way to E——. A pause ensued, and a whisper. +"All's right!" replied a deep voice. I continued my way, glad to find +that I had not mistaken it, and cogitating as to what must be the purpose +of two men being out at such an hour. About ten minutes afterwards I +thought I again heard the sound of horses' feet, and it then occurred +to me that they must be highwaymen, who had returned to rob me. I cocked +my pistols, determined to sell my life as dearly as I could, and awaited +their coming up with anxiety; but they appeared to keep at the same +distance, as the sound did not increase. After half an hour I came to +two roads, and was undecided which to take. I stopped and listened—the +steps of the horses were no longer to be heard. I looked round me to +ascertain if I could recognise any object so as to decide me, but I could +not. I took the road to the left, and proceeded, until I arrived at a +brook which crossed the road. There was no bridge, and it was too dark +to perceive the stepping stones. I had just waded about half way across, +when I received a blow on the head from behind, which staggered me. I +turned round, but before I could see my assailant, a second blow laid +me senseless in the water. +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0124" id="h2HCH0124"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter XLVI +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + Under ground but not yet dead and buried—The prospect anything + but pleasant. +</p> +<p> +When my recollection returned I found myself in the dark, but where, I +knew not. My head ached, and my brain reeled. I sat up for a moment to +collect my senses, but the effort was too painful, I fell back, and +remained in a state of half stupor. Gradually I recovered, and again sat +up. I perceived that I had been lying on a bed of straw, composed of two +or three trusses apparently. I felt with my extended arms on each side +of me, but touched nothing. I opened my eyes, which I had closed again, +and tried to pierce through the obscurity, but in vain—all was dark as +Erebus. I then rose on my feet, and extending my hands before me, walked +five or six steps on one side, till I was clear of the straw, and came +to a wall. I followed the wall about twenty feet, and then touched wood; +groping about, I found it was a door. I then made the circuit of the +walls, and discovered that the other side was built with bins for wine, +which were empty, and I then found myself again at the straw upon which +I had been laid. It was in a cellar no longer used—but where? Again I +lay down upon the straw, and, as it may be imagined, my reflections +were anything but pleasing. "Was I in the power of M'Dermott or +Melchior?" I felt convinced that I was; but my head was too painful for +long thought, and after half an hour's reflection, I gave way to a +sullen state of half-dreaming, half-stupor, in which the forms of +M'Dermott, Kathleen, Melchior, and Fleta, passed in succession before +me. How long I remained in this second species of trance I cannot say, +but I was roused by the light of a candle, which flashed in my eyes. +I started up, and beheld Melchior in his gipsy's dress, just as when I +had taken leave of him. +</p> +<p> +"It is to you, then, that I am indebted for this treatment?" replied I. +</p> +<p> +"No; not to me," replied Melchior. "I do not command here; but I knew +you when they brought you in insensible, and being employed in the +castle, I have taken upon myself the office of your gaoler, that I +might, if possible, serve you." +</p> +<p> +I felt, I knew this to be false, but a moment's reflection told me that +it was better at present to temporise. +</p> +<p> +"Who then does the castle belong to, Melchior?" +</p> +<p> +"To Sir Henry de Clare." +</p> +<p> +"And what can be his object in treating me thus?" +</p> +<p> +"That I can tell you, because I am a party concerned. You remember the +little girl, Fleta, who left the gipsy camp with you—she is now +somewhere under your care?" +</p> +<p> +"Well, I grant it; but I was answerable only to you about her." +</p> +<p> +"Very true, but I was answerable to Sir Henry; and when I could only say +that she was well, he was not satisfied, for family reasons now make him +very anxious that she should return to him; and, indeed, it will be for +her advantage, as she will in all probability be his heir, for he has +satisfactorily proved that she is a near relative." +</p> +<p> +"Grant all that, Melchior; but why did not Sir Henry de Clare write to +me on the subject, and state his wishes, and his right to demand his +relative? And why does he treat me in this way? Another question—how +is it that he has recognised me to be the party who has charge of the +little girl? Answer me those questions, Melchior, and then I may talk +over the matter." +</p> +<p> +"I will answer the last question first. He knew your name from me, and +it so happened, that a friend of his met you in the coach as you were +coming to Ireland: the same person also saw you at the post-house, and +gave information. Sir Henry, who is a violent man, and here has almost +regal sway, determined to detain you till you surrendered up the child. +You recollect, that you refused to tell his agent, the person whose +address I gave you, where she was to be found, and, vexed at this, he +has taken the law into his own hands." +</p> +<p> +"For which he shall smart, one of these days," replied I, "if there is +law in this country." +</p> +<p> +"There is a law in England, but very little, and none that will harm +Sir Henry in this part of the country. No officer would venture within +five miles of the castle, I can assure you; for he knows very well that +it would cost him his life; and Sir Henry never quits it from one year's +end to the other. You are in his power, and all that he requires is +information where the child may be found, and an order for her being +delivered to him. You cannot object to this, as he is her nearest +relative. If you comply, I do not doubt but Sir Henry will make you +full amends for this harsh treatment, and prove a sincere friend ever +afterwards." +</p> +<p> +"It requires consideration," replied I; "at present, I am too much +hurt to talk." +</p> +<p> +"I was afraid so," replied Melchior, "that was one reason why I obtained +leave to speak to you. Wait a moment." +</p> +<p> +Melchior then put the candle down on the ground, and went out, and +turned the key. I found, on looking round, that I was right in my +conjectures. I was in a cellar, which, apparently, had long been in +disuse. Melchior soon returned, followed by an old crone, who carried +a basket and a can of water. She washed the blood off my head, put some +alve upon the wounds, and bound them up. She then went away, leaving +the basket. +</p> +<p> +"There is something to eat and drink in that basket," observed Melchior; +"but I think, Japhet, you will agree with me, that it will be better to +yield to the wishes of Sir Henry, and not remain in this horrid hole." +</p> +<p> +"Very true, Melchior," replied I; "but allow me to ask you a question or +two. How came you here? where is Nattée, and how is it, that after +leaving the camp, I find you so reduced in circumstances, as to be +serving such a man as Sir Henry De Clare?" +</p> +<p> +"A few words will explain that," replied he. "In my early days I was +wild, and I am, to tell you the truth, in the power of this man; nay, +I will tell you honestly, my life is in his power; he ordered me to come, +and I dare not disobey him—and he retains me here." +</p> +<p> +"And Nattée?" +</p> +<p> +"Is quite well, and with me, but not very happy in her present situation; +but he is a dangerous, violent, implacable man, and I dare not disobey +him. I advise you as a friend, to consent to his wishes." +</p> +<p> +"That requires some deliberation," replied I, "and I am not one of those +who are to be driven. My feelings towards Sir Henry, after this treatment, +are not the most amicable; besides, how am I to know that Fleta is his +relative?" +</p> +<p> +"Well, I can say no more, Japhet. I wish you well out of his hands." +</p> +<p> +"You have the power to help me, if that is the case," said I. +</p> +<p> +"I dare not." +</p> +<p> +"Then you are not the Melchior that you used to be," replied I. +</p> +<p> +"We must submit to fate. I must not stay longer; you will find all that +you want in the basket, and more candles, if you do not like being in +the dark. I do not think I shall be permitted to come again, till +to-morrow." +</p> +<p> +Melchior then went out, locked the door after him, and I was left to +my meditations. +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0125" id="h2HCH0125"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter XLVII +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + A friend in need is a friend in deed—The tables are turned and + so is the key—The issue in deep tragedy. +</p> +<p> +Was it possible that which Melchior said was true? A little reflection +told me that it was all false, and that he was himself Sir Henry de Clare. +I was in his power, and what might be the result? He might detain me, but +he dare not murder me. Dare not! My heart sank when I considered where I +was, and how easy would it be for him to despatch me, if so inclined, +without any one ever being aware of my fate. I lighted a whole candle, +that I might not find myself in the dark when I rose, and exhausted in +body and mind, was soon fast asleep. I must have slept many hours, for +when I awoke I was in darkness—the candle had burnt out. I groped for +the basket, and examined the contents with my hands, and found a +tinder-box. I struck a light, and then feeling hungry and weak, refreshed +myself with the eatables it contained, which were excellent, as well as +the wine. I had replaced the remainder, when the key again turned in the +door, and Melchior made his appearance. +</p> +<p> +"How do you feel, Japhet, to-day?" +</p> +<p> +"To-day!" replied I; "day and night are the same to me." +</p> +<p> +"That is your own fault," replied he. "Have you considered what I +proposed to you yesterday?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes," replied I; "and I will agree to this. Let Sir Henry give me +my liberty, come over to England, prove his relationship to Fleta, +and I will give her up. What can he ask for more?" +</p> +<p> +"He will hardly consent to that," replied Melchior; "for, once in +England, you will take a warrant out against him." +</p> +<p> +"No; on my honour I will not, Melchior." +</p> +<p> +"He will not trust to that." +</p> +<p> +"Then he must judge of others by himself," replied I. +</p> +<p> +"Have you no other terms to propose," replied Melchior. +</p> +<p> +"None." +</p> +<p> +"Then I will carry your message, and give you his answer to-morrow." +</p> +<p> +Melchior then brought in another basket, and took away the former, and +did not make his appearance till the next day. I now had recovered my +strength, and determined to take some decided measures, but how to act +I knew not. I reflected all night, and the next morning (that is, +according to my supposition) I attacked the basket. Whether it was that +ennui or weakness occasioned it, I cannot tell, but either way, I drank +too much wine, and was ready for any daring deed, when Melchior again +the door. +</p> +<p> +"Sir Henry will not accept of your terms. I thought not," said Melchior, +"I am sorry—very sorry." +</p> +<p> +"Melchior," replied I, starting up; "let us have no more of this +duplicity. I am not quite so ignorant as you suppose. I know who Fleta +is, and who you are." +</p> +<p> +"Indeed," replied Melchior; "perhaps you will explain?" +</p> +<p> +"I will. You, Melchior, are Sir Henry de Clare; you succeeded to your +estates by the death of your elder brother, from a fall when hunting." +</p> +<p> +Melchior appeared astonished. +</p> +<p> +"Indeed!" replied he; "pray go on. You have made a gentleman of me." +</p> +<p> +"No; rather a scoundrel." +</p> +<p> +"As you please; now will you make a lady of Fleta?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, I will. She is your niece." Melchior started back. "Your agent, +M'Dermott, who was sent over to find out Fleta's abode, met me in the +coach, and he has tracked me here, and risked my life, by telling the +people that I was a tithe proctor." +</p> +<p> +"Your information is very important," replied Melchior, "You will find +some difficulty to prove all you say." +</p> +<p> +"Not the least," replied I, flushed with anger and with wine, "I have +proof positive. I have seen her mother, and I can identify the child by +the necklace which was on her neck when you stole her." +</p> +<p> +"Necklace!" cried Melchior. +</p> +<p> +"Yes, the necklace put into my hands by your own wife when we parted." +</p> +<p> +"Damn her!" replied Melchior. +</p> +<p> +"Do not damn her; damn yourself for your villany, and its being brought +to light. Have I said enough, or shall I tell you more?" +</p> +<p> +"Pray tell me more." +</p> +<p> +"No, I will not, for I must commit others, and that will not do," +replied I; for I felt I had already said too much. +</p> +<p> +"You have committed yourself, at all events," replied Melchior; "and now +I tell you, that until—never mind," and Melchior hastened away. +</p> +<p> +The door was again locked, and I was once more alone. +</p> +<p> +I had time to reflect upon my imprudence. The countenance of Melchior, +when he left me, was that of a demon. Something told me to prepare for +death; and I was not wrong. The next day Melchior came not, nor the next; +my provisions were all gone. I had nothing but a little wine and water +left. The idea struck me, that I was to die of starvation. Was there no +means of escape? None; I had no weapon, no tool, not even a knife. I +had expended all my candles. At last, it occurred to me, that, although +I was in a cellar, my voice might be heard, and I resolved, as a last +effort, to attempt it. I went to the door of the cellar, and shouted at +the top of my lungs, "Murder—murder!" I shouted again and again as loud +as I could, until I was exhausted. As it afterwards appeared, this plan +did prevent my being starved to death, for such was Melchior's villanous +intention. About an hour afterwards I repeated my cries of +"Murder—murder!" and they were heard by the household, who stated to +Melchior, that there was some one shouting murder in the vaults below. +That night, and all the next day, I repeated my cries occasionally. I +was now quite exhausted, I had been nearly two days without food, and my +wine and water had all been drunk. I sat down with a parched mouth and +heated brain, waiting till I could sufficiently recover my voice to +repeat my cries, when I heard footsteps approaching. The key was again +turned in the door, and a light appeared, carried by one of two men +armed with large sledge hammers. +</p> +<p> +"It is then all over with me," cried I; "and I never shall find out who +is my father. Come on, murderers, and do your work. Do it quickly." +</p> +<p> +The two men advanced without speaking a word; the foremost, who carried +the lantern, laid it down at his feet, and raised his hammer with both +hands, when the other behind him raised his weapon—and the foremost +fell dead at his feet. +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0126" id="h2HCH0126"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter XLVIII +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + Is full of perilous adventures, and in which, the reader may be + assured, there is much more than meets the eye. +</p> +<p> +"Silence," said a voice that I well knew, although his face was +completely disguised. It was <i>Timothy!</i> "Silence, Japhet," again +whispered Timothy; "there is yet much danger, but I will save you, +or die. Take the hammer. Melchior is waiting outside." Timothy put the +lantern in the bin, so as to render it more dark, and led me towards the +door, whispering, "when he comes in, we will secure him." +</p> +<p> +Melchior soon made his appearance, and as he entered the cellar, "Is it +all right?" said he, going up to Timothy, and passing me. +</p> +<p> +With one blow I felled him to the ground, and he lay insensible. "That +will do," replied Timothy; "now we must be off." +</p> +<p> +"Not till he takes my place," replied I, as I shut the door, and locked +it. "Now he may learn what it is to starve to death." +</p> +<p> +I then followed Timothy, by a passage which led outside of the castle, +through which he and his companion had been admitted. "Our horses are +close by," said Timothy; "for we stipulated upon leaving the country +after it was done." +</p> +<p> +It was just dark when we were safe out of the castle. We mounted our +horses, and set off with all speed. We followed the high road to the post +town to which I had been conveyed, and I determined to pull up at Mrs +M'Shane's, for I was so exhausted that I could go no further. This was +a measure which required precaution, and as there was moonlight, I turned +off the road before I entered the town, or village, as it ought to have +been called, so that we dismounted at the back of Mrs M'Shane's house. +I went to the window of the bedroom where I had lain down, and tapped +gently, again and again, and no answer. At last, Kathleen made her +appearance. +</p> +<p> +"Can I come in, Kathleen?" said I; "I am almost dead with fatigue and +exhaustion." +</p> +<p> +"Yes," replied she, "I will open the back-door; there is no one here +to-night—it is too early for them." +</p> +<p> +I entered, followed by Timothy, and, as I stepped over the threshold, +I fainted. As soon as I recovered, Mrs M'Shane led me up stairs into her +room for security, and I was soon able to take the refreshment I so much +required. I stated what had passed to Mrs M'Shane and Kathleen, who were +much shocked at the account. +</p> +<p> +"You had better wait till it is late, before you go on," said Mrs +M'Shane, "it will be more safe; it is now nine o'clock, and the people +will all be moving till eleven. I will give your horses some corn, and +when you are five miles from here, you may consider yourselves as safe. +Holy saints! what an escape!" +</p> +<p> +The advice was too good not to be followed, and I was so exhausted, that +I was glad that prudence was on the side of repose. I lay down on Mrs +M'Shane's bed, while Timothy watched over me. I had a short slumber, +and then was awakened by the good landlady, who told me that it was +time for us to quit. Kathleen then came up to me, and said, "I would +ask a favour of you, sir, and I hope you will not refuse it." +</p> +<p> +"Kathleen, you may ask anything of me, and depend upon it, I will not +refuse it, if I can grant it." +</p> +<p> +"Then, sir," replied the good girl, "you know how I overcame my feelings +to serve you, will you overcome yours for me? I cannot bear the idea +that anyone, bad as he may be, of the family who have reared me, should +perish in so miserable a manner; and I cannot bear that any man, bad as +he is, even if I did not feel obliged to him, should die so full of +guilt, and without absolution. Will you let me have the key, that Sir +Henry de Clare may be released after you are safe and away? I know he +does not deserve any kindness from you; but it is a horrid death, and +a horrid thing to die so loaded with crime." +</p> +<p> +"Kathleen," replied I, "I will keep my word with you. Here is the key; +take it up to-morrow morning, and give it to Lady de Clare; tell her +Japhet Newland sent it." +</p> +<p> +"I will, and God bless you, sir." +</p> +<p> +"Good-bye, sir," said Mrs M'Shane, "you have no time to lose." +</p> +<p> +"God bless you, sir," said Kathleen, who now put her arms round me and +kissed me. We mounted our horses and set off. +</p> +<p> +We pressed our horses, or rather ponies, for they were very small, till +we had gained about six miles, when we considered that we were, +comparatively speaking, safe, and then drew up, to allow them to recover +their wind. I was very much exhausted myself, and hardly spoke one word +until we arrived at the next post town, when we found everybody in bed. +We contrived, however, to knock them up, and Timothy having seen that +our horses were put into the stable, we lay down till the next morning +upon a bed which happened to be unoccupied. Sorry as were the +accommodations, I never slept so soundly, and woke quite refreshed. The +next morning I stated my intention of posting to Dublin, and asked Tim +what we should do with the horses. +</p> +<p> +"They belong to the castle," replied he. +</p> +<p> +"Then in God's name, let the castle have them, for I wish for nothing +from that horrid place." +</p> +<p> +We stated to the landlord that the horses were to be sent back, and that +the man who took them would be paid for his trouble; and then it occurred +to me, that it would be a good opportunity of writing to Melchior, +<i>alias</i> Sir Henry. I do not know why, but certainly my animosity against +him had subsided, and I did not think of taking legal measures against +him. I thought it, however, right to frighten him. I wrote, therefore, +as follows:— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Sir Henry,—I send you back your horses with thanks, as they have + enabled Timothy and me to escape from your clutches. Your + reputation and your life now are in my power, and I will have + ample revenge. The fact of your intending murder, will be fully + proved by my friend Timothy, who was employed by you in disguise, + and accompanied your gipsy. You cannot escape the sentence of the + law. Prepare yourself, then, for the worst, as it is not my + intention that you shall escape the disgraceful punishment due to + your crimes. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Yours, Japhet Newland. +</p> +<p> +Having sealed this, and given it to the lad who was to return with the +horses, we finished our breakfast, and took a post-chaise on for Dublin, +where we arrived late in the evening. During our journey I requested +Timothy to narrate what had passed, and by what fortunate chance he had +been able to come so opportunely to my rescue. +</p> +<p> +"If you recollect, Japhet," replied Timothy, "you had received one or +two letters from me, relative to the movements of the gipsy, and stating +his intention to carry off the little girl from the boarding-school. My +last letter, in which I had informed you that he had succeeded in gaining +an entrance into the ladies' school at Brentford, could not have reached +you, as I found by your note that you had set off the same evening. The +gipsy, whom I only knew by the name of <i>Will</i>, inquired of me the name +by which the little girl was known, and my answer was, Smith; as I took +it for granted that, in a large seminary, there must be one, if not more, +of that name. Acting upon this, he made inquiries of the maid-servant to +whom he paid his addresses, and made very handsome presents, if there was +a Miss Smith in the school; she replied, that there were two, one a young +lady of sixteen, and the other about twelve years old. Of course the one +selected was the younger. Will had seen me in my livery, and his plan was +to obtain a similar one, hire a chariot, and go down to Brentford, with a +request that Miss Smith might be sent up with him immediately, as you +were so ill that you were not expected to live; but previous to his +taking this step, he wrote to Melchior, requesting his orders as to how +he was to proceed when he had obtained the child. The answer from +Melchior arrived. By this time, he had discovered that you were in +Ireland, and intended to visit him; perhaps he had you in confinement, +for I do not know how long you were there, but the answer desired Will +to come over immediately, as there would be in all probability work for +him, that would be well paid for. He had now become so intimate with me, +that he disguised nothing; he showed me the letter, and I asked him what +it meant; he replied that there was somebody to put out of the way, that +was clear. It immediately struck me, that you must be the person if such +was the case, and I volunteered to go with him, to which, after some +difficulty, he consented. We travelled outside the mail, and in four +days we arrived at the castle. Will went up to Melchior, who told him +what it was that he required. Will consented, and then stated he had +another hand with him, which might be necessary, vouching for my doing +anything that was required. Melchior sent for me, and I certainly was +afraid that he would discover me, but my disguise was too good. I had +prepared for it still further, by wearing a wig of light hair, he asked +me some questions, and I replied in a surly, dogged tone, which satisfied +him. The reward was two hundred pounds, to be shared between us; and, as +it was considered advisable that we should not be seen after the affair +was over, by the people about the place, we had the horses provided for +us. The rest you well know. I was willing to make sure that it was you +before I struck the scoundrel, and the first glimpse from the lantern, +and your voice, convinced me." +</p> +<p> +"Thank God, Japhet, but I have been of some use to you, at all events." +</p> +<p> +"My dear Tim, you have indeed, and you know me too well to think I shall +ever forget it; but now I must first ascertain where the will of the late +Sir William is to be found. We can read it for a shilling, and then I may +discover what are the grounds of Melchior's conduct, for, to me, it is +still inexplicable." +</p> +<p> +"Are wills made in Ireland registered here, or at Doctor's Commons in +London?" +</p> +<p> +"In Dublin, I should imagine." +</p> +<p> +But on my arrival at Dublin I felt so ill, that I was obliged to retire +to bed, and before morning I was in a violent fever. Medical assistance +was sent for, and I was nursed by Timothy with the greatest care, but it +was ten days before I could quit my bed. For the first time, I was +sitting in an easy chair by the fire, when Timothy came in with the +little portmanteau I had left in the care of Mrs M'Shane. "Open it, +Timothy," said I, "and see if there be anything in the way of a note +from them." Timothy opened the portmanteau, and produced one, which was +lying on the top. It was from Kathleen, and as follows:— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Dear Sir,—They say there is terrible work at the castle, and + that Sir Henry has blown out his brains, or cut his throat, I + don't know which. Mr M'Dermott passed in a great hurry, but said + nothing to anybody here. I will send you word of what has taken + place as soon as I can. The morning after you went away, I walked + up to the castle and gave the key to the lady, who appeared in a + great fright at Sir Henry not having been seen for so long a + while. They wished to detain me after they had found him in the + cellar with the dead man, but after two hours I was desired to go + away, and hold my tongue. It was after the horses went back that + Sir Henry is said to have destroyed himself. I went up to the + castle, but M'Dermott had given orders for no one to be let in on + any account. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + Yours Kathleen M'Shane. +</p> +<p> +"This is news indeed," said I, handing the letter to Timothy. "It must +have been my threatening letter which has driven him to this mad act." +</p> +<p> +"Very likely," replied Timothy; "but it was the best thing the scoundrel +could do, after all." +</p> +<p> +"The letter was not, however, written, with that intention. I wished to +frighten him, and have justice done to little Fleta—poor child! how glad +I shall be to see her!" +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0127" id="h2HCH0127"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter XLIX +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + Another investigation relative to a child which in the same way + as the former one, ends by the Lady going off in a fit. +</p> +<p> +The next day the newspapers contained a paragraph, in which Sir Henry de +Clare was stated to have committed suicide. No reason could be assigned +for this rash act, was the winding up of the intelligence. I also +received another letter from Kathleen M'Shane, confirming the previous +accounts; her mother had been sent for to assist in laying out the body. +There was now no further doubt, and as soon as I could venture out, I +hastened to the proper office, where I read the will of the late Sir +William. It was very short, merely disposing of his personal property to +his wife, and a few legacies; for, as I discovered, only a small portion +of the estates were entailed with the title, and the remainder was not +only to the heirs male, but the eldest female, should there be no male +heir, with the proviso, that should she marry, the husband was to take +upon himself the name of De Clare. Here, then, was the mystery explained, +and why Melchior had stolen away his brother's child. Satisfied with my +discovery, I determined to leave for England immediately, find out the +dowager Lady de Clare, and put the whole case into the hands of Mr +Masterton. Fortunately, Timothy had money with him sufficient to pay all +expenses, and take us to London, or I should have been obliged to wait +for remittances, as mine was all expended before I arrived at Dublin. +We arrived safe, and I immediately proceeded to my house, where I found +Harcourt, who had been in great anxiety about me. The next morning I +went to my old legal friend, to whom I communicated all that had happened. +</p> +<p> +"Well done, Newland," replied he, after I had finished. "I'll bet ten +to one that you find out your father. Your life already would not make +a bad novel. If you continue your hair-breadth adventures in this way, +it will be quite interesting." +</p> +<p> +Although satisfied in my own mind that I had discovered Fleta's +parentage, and anxious to impart the joyful intelligence, I resolved not +to see her until everything should be satisfactorily arranged. The +residence of the dowager Lady de Clare was soon discovered by Mr +Masterton; it was at Richmond, and thither he and I proceeded. We were +ushered into the drawing-room, and, to my delight, upon her entrance, I +perceived that it was the same beautiful person in whose ears I had seen +the coral and gold ear-rings matching the necklace belonging to Fleta. I +considered it better to allow Mr Masterton to break the subject. +</p> +<p> +"You are, madam, the widow of the late Sir William de Clare." The lady +bowed. "You will excuse me, madam, but I have most important reasons for +asking you a few questions, which otherwise may appear to be intrusive. +Are you aware of the death of his brother, Sir Henry de Clare?" +</p> +<p> +"Indeed I was not," replied she. "I seldom look at a paper, and I have +long ceased to correspond with any one in Ireland. May I ask you what +occasioned his death?" +</p> +<p> +"He fell by his own hands, madam." +</p> +<p> +Lady de Clare covered up her face. "God forgive him!" said she, in a low +voice. +</p> +<p> +"Lady de Clare, upon what terms were your husband and the late Sir Henry? +It is important to know." +</p> +<p> +"Not on the very best, sir. Indeed, latterly, for years, they never met +or spoke: we did not know what had become of him." +</p> +<p> +"Were there any grounds for ill-will?" +</p> +<p> +"Many, sir, on the part of the elder brother; but none on that of Sir +Henry, who was treated with every kindness, until he—" Lady de Clare +stopped—"until he behaved very ill to him." +</p> +<p> +As we afterwards discovered, Henry de Clare had squandered away the small +portion left him by his father, and had ever after that been liberally +supplied by his eldest brother, until he had attempted to seduce Lady de +Clare, upon which he was dismissed for ever. +</p> +<p> +"And now, madam, I must revert to a painful subject. You had a daughter +by your marriage?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes," replied the lady, with a deep sigh. +</p> +<p> +"How did you lose her? Pray do not think I am creating this distress on +your part without strong reasons." +</p> +<p> +"She was playing in the garden, and the nurse, who thought it rather +cold, ran in for a minute to get a handkerchief to tie round her neck. +When the nurse returned, the child had disappeared." Lady de Clare put +her handkerchief up to her eyes. +</p> +<p> +"Where did you find her afterwards?" +</p> +<p> +"It was not until three weeks afterwards that her body was found in a +pond about a quarter of a mile off." +</p> +<p> +"Did the nurse not seek her when she discovered that she was not in +the garden?" +</p> +<p> +"She did, and immediately ran in that direction. It is quite strange +that the child could have got so far without the nurse perceiving her." +</p> +<p> +"How long is it ago?" +</p> +<p> +"It is now nine years." +</p> +<p> +"And the age of the child at the time?" +</p> +<p> +"About six years old." +</p> +<p> +"I think, Newland, you may now speak to Lady de Clare." +</p> +<p> +"Lady de Clare, have you not a pair of ear-rings of coral and gold of +very remarkable workmanship?" +</p> +<p> +"I have, sir," replied she, with surprise. +</p> +<p> +"Had you not a necklace of the same? and if so, will you do me the +favour to examine this?" I presented the necklace. +</p> +<p> +"Merciful heaven!" cried Lady de Clare, "it is the very necklace!—it +was on my poor Cecilia when she was drowned, and it was not found with +the body. How came it into your possession, sir? At one time," continued +Lady de Clare, weeping, "I thought that it was possible that the +temptation of the necklace, which has a great deal of gold in it, must, +as it was not found on her corpse, have been an inducement for the +gipsies, who were in the neighbourhood, to drown her; but Sir William +would not believe it, rather supposing that in her struggles in the +water she must have broken it, and that it had thus been detached from +her neck. Is it to return this unfortunate necklace that you have come +here?" +</p> +<p> +"No, madam, not altogether. Had you two white ponies at the time?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, sir." +</p> +<p> +"Was there a mulberry tree in the garden?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, sir," replied the astonished lady. +</p> +<p> +"Will you do me the favour to describe the appearance of your child as +she was, at the time that you lost her?" +</p> +<p> +"She was—but all mothers are partial, and perhaps I may also be so—a +very fair, lovely little girl." +</p> +<p> +"With light hair, I presume?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, sir. But why these questions? Surely you cannot ask them for +nothing," continued she hurriedly. "Tell me, sir, why all these +questions?" +</p> +<p> +Mr Masterton replied, "Because, madam, we have some hopes that you have +been deceived, and that it is possible that your daughter was not +drowned." +</p> +<p> +Lady de Clare, breathless, and her mouth open, fixed her eyes upon Mr +Masterton, and exclaimed, "Not drowned! O my God! my head!" and then +she fell back insensible. +</p> +<p> +"I have been too precipitate," said Mr Masterton, going to her +assistance; "but joy does not kill. Ring for some water, Japhet." +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0128" id="h2HCH0128"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter L +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + In which, if the reader does not sympathise with the parties, he + had better shut the book. +</p> +<p> +In a few minutes Lady de Clare was sufficiently recovered to hear the +outline of our history; and as soon as it was over, she insisted upon +immediately going with us to the school where Fleta was domiciled, as +she could ascertain, by several marks known but to a nurse or mother, +if more evidence was required, whether Fleta was her child or not. To +allow her to remain in such a state of anxiety was impossible, Mr +Masterton agreed, and we posted to ——, where we arrived in the evening. +"Now, gentlemen, leave me but one minute with the child, and when I +ring the bell, you may enter." Lady de Clare was in so nervous and +agitated a state, that she could not walk into the parlour without +assistance. We led her to a chair, and in a minute Fleta was called +down. Perceiving me in the passage, she ran to me. "Stop, my dear Fleta, +there is a lady in the parlour, who wishes to see you." +</p> +<p> +"A lady, Japhet?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, my dear, go in." +</p> +<p> +Fleta obeyed, and in a minute we heard a scream, and Fleta hastily opened +the door, "Quick! quick! the lady has fallen down." +</p> +<p> +We ran in and found Lady de Clare on the floor, and it was some time +before she returned to her senses. As soon as she did, she fell down +on her knees, holding up her hands as in prayer, and then stretched +her arms out to Fleta. "My child! my long-lost child! it is—it is +indeed!" A flood of tears poured forth on Fleta's neck relieved her, +and we then left them together; old Masterton observing, as we took our +seats in the back parlour, +</p> +<p> +"By G—, Japhet, you deserve to find your own father!" +</p> +<p> +In about an hour Lady de Clare requested to see us. Fleta rushed into my +arms and sobbed, while her mother apologised to Mr Masterton for the +delay and excusable neglect towards him. "Mr Newland, madam, is the +person to whom you are indebted for your present happiness. I will now, +if you please, take my leave, and will call upon you to-morrow." +</p> +<p> +"I will not detain you, Mr Masterton; but Mr Newland will, I trust, come +home with Cecilia and me; I have much to ask of him." I consented, and Mr +Masterton went back to town; I went to the principal hotel to order a +chaise and horses, while Fleta packed up her wardrobe. +</p> +<p> +In half an hour we set off, and it was midnight before we arrived at +Richmond. During my journey I narrated to Lady de Clare every particular +of our meeting with Fleta. We were all glad to go to bed, and the kind +manner in which Lady de Clare wished me good-night, with "God bless you, +Mr Newland!" brought the tears into my eyes. +</p> +<p> +I breakfasted alone the next morning, Lady de Clare and her daughter +remaining up stairs. It was nearly twelve o'clock when they made their +appearance, both so apparently happy, that I could not help thinking, +"When shall I have such pleasure—when shall I find out who is my +father?" My brow was clouded as the thought entered my mind, when Lady +de Clare requested that I would inform her who it was to whom she and +her daughter were under such eternal obligations. I had then to relate +my own eventful history, most of which was as new to Cecilia (as she now +must be called) as it was to her mother. I had just terminated the +escape from the castle, when Mr Masterton's carriage drove up to the +door. As soon as he had bowed to Lady de Clare, he said to me, "Japhet, +here is a letter directed to you, to my care, from Ireland, which I have +brought for you." +</p> +<p> +"It is from Kathleen M'Shane, sir," replied I, and requesting leave, I +broke the seal. It contained another. I read Kathleen's, and then hastily +opened the other. It was from Nattée, or Lady H. de Clare, and ran as +follows:— +</p> +<p class="quote">"Japhet Newland,—Fleta is the daughter of Sir William de Clare. +</p> +<p class="quote">Dearly has my husband paid for his act of folly and wickedness, +and to which you must know I never was a party. + </p> + +<p class="quote">Yours, </p> +<p class="quote"> Nattée." </p> + +<p> +The letter from Kathleen added more strange information. Lady de Clare, +after the funeral of her husband, had sent for the steward, made every +necessary arrangement, discharged the servants, and then had herself +disappeared, no one knew whither; but it was reported that somebody very +much resembling her had been seen travelling south in company with a +gang of gipsies. I handed both letters over to Lady de Clare and Mr +Masterton. +</p> +<p> +"Poor Lady de Clare!" observed the mother. +</p> +<p> +"Nattée will never leave her tribe," observed Cecilia quietly. +</p> +<p> +"You are right, my dear," replied I. "She will be happier with her tribe +where she commands as a queen, than ever she was at the castle." +</p> +<p> +Mr Masterton then entered into a detail with Lady de Clare as to what +steps ought immediately to be taken, as the heirs-at-law would otherwise +give some trouble; and having obtained her acquiescence, it was time to +withdraw. "Mr Newland, I trust you will consider us as your warmest +friends. I am so much in your debt, that I never can repay you; but I am +also in your debt in a pecuniary way—that, at least, you must permit me +to refund." +</p> +<p> +"When I require it, Lady de Clare, I will accept it. Do not, pray, vex +me by the proposition. I have not much happiness as it is, although I am +rejoiced at yours and that of your daughter." +</p> +<p> +"Come, Lady de Clare, I must not allow you to tease my protege, you do +not know how sensitive he is. We will now take our leave." +</p> +<p> +"You will come soon," said Cecilia, looking anxiously at me. +</p> +<p> +"You have your mother, Cecilia," replied I; "what can you wish for more? +I am a—nobody—without a parent." +</p> +<p> +Cecilia burst into tears; I embraced her, and Mr Masterton and I left +the room. +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0129" id="h2HCH0129"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter LI +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + I return to the gay world, but am not well received; I am quite + disgusted with it and honesty, and everything else. +</p> +<p> +How strange, now that I had succeeded in the next dearest object of my +wishes, after ascertaining my own parentage, that I should have felt so +miserable; but it was the fact, and I cannot deny it. I could hardly +answer Mr Masterton during our journey to town; and when I threw myself +on the sofa in my own room, I felt as if I was desolate and deserted. +I did not repine at Cecilia's happiness; so far from it, I would have +sacrificed my life for her; but she was a creature of my own—one of the +objects in this world to which I was endeared—one that had been +dependent on me and loved me. Now that she was restored to her parent, +she rose above me, and I was left still more desolate. I do not know +that I ever passed a week of such misery as the one which followed a +<i>denouement</i> productive of so much happiness to others, and which had +been sought with so much eagerness, and at so much risk, by myself. It +was no feeling of envy, God knows; but it appeared to me as if everyone +in the world was to be made happy except myself. But I had more to bear +up against. +</p> +<p> +When I had quitted for Ireland, it was still supposed that I was a young +man of large fortune—the truth had not been told. I had acceded to Mr +Masterton's suggestions, that I was no longer to appear under false +colours, and had requested Harcourt, to whom I made known my real +condition, that he would everywhere state the truth. News like this +flies like wildfire; there were too many whom, perhaps, when under the +patronage of Major Carbonnell, and the universal rapture from my +supposed wealth, I had treated with hauteur, glad to receive the +intelligence, and spread it far and wide. My <i>imposition</i>, as they +pleased to term it, was the theme of every party, and many were the +indignant remarks of the dowagers who had so often indirectly proposed +to me their daughters; and if there was anyone more virulent than the +rest, I hardly need say that it was Lady Maelstrom, who nearly killed +her job horses in driving about from one acquaintance to another, to +represent my unheard-of atrocity in presuming to deceive my betters. +Harcourt, who had agreed to live with me—Harcourt, who had praised my +magnanimity in making the disclosure—even Harcourt fell off; and about +a fortnight after I had arrived in town, told me that not finding the +lodgings so convenient as his former abode, he intended to return to it. +He took a friendly leave; but I perceived that if we happened to meet in +the streets, he often contrived to be looking another way; and at last, +a slight recognition was all that I received. Satisfied that it was +intended, I no longer noticed him; he followed but the example of others. +So great was the outcry raised by those who had hoped to have secured me +as a good match, that any young man of fashion who was seen with me, had, +by many, his name erased from their visiting lists. This decided my fate, +and I was alone. For some time I bore up proudly; I returned a glance +of defiance, but this could not last. The treatment of others received +a slight check from the kindness of Lord Windermear, who repeatedly asked +me to his table; but I perceived that even there, although suffered as a +proteg of his lordship, anything more than common civility was studiously +avoided, in order that no intimacy might result. Mr Masterton, upon whom +I occasionally called, saw that I was unwell and unhappy. He encouraged +me; but, alas! a man must be more than mortal, who, with fine feelings, +can endure the scorn of the world. Timothy, poor fellow, who witnessed +more of my unhappy state of mind than anybody else, offered in vain his +consolation. "And this," thought I, "is the reward of virtue and honesty. +Truly, virtue is its own reward, for it obtains no other. As long as I +was under false colours, allowing the world to deceive themselves, I was +courted and flattered. Now that I have thrown off the mask, and put on +the raiment of truth, I am a despised, miserable being. Yes; but is not +this my own fault? Did I not, by my own deception, bring all this upon +myself? Whether unmasked by others, or by myself, is it not equally true +that I have been playing false, and am now punished for it? What do the +world care for your having returned to truth? You have offended by +deceiving them, and that is an offence which your repentance will not +extenuate." It was but too true, I had brought it all on myself, and +this reflection increased my misery. For my dishonesty, I had been justly +and severely punished: whether I was ever to be rewarded for my +subsequent honesty still remained to be proved; but I knew very well +that most people would have written off such a reward as a bad debt. +</p> +<p> +Once I consulted with Mr Masterton as to the chance of there being any +information relative to my birth in the packet left in the charge of Mr +Cophagus. "I have been thinking over it, my dear Newland," said he, "and +I wish I could give you any hopes, but I cannot. Having succeeded with +regard to your little protege, you are now so sanguine with respect to +yourself, that a trifle light as air is magnified, as the poet says, +'into confirmation strong as holy writ.' Now, consider, somebody calls +at the Foundling to ask after you—which I acknowledge to be a +satisfactory point—his name is taken down by an illiterate brute, as +Derbennon; but how you can decide upon the real name, and assume it is +De Benyon, is really more than I can imagine, allowing every scope to +fancy. It is in the first instance, therefore, you are at fault, as +there are many other names which may have been given by the party who +called; nay, more, is it at all certain that the party, in a case like +this, would give his real name? Let us follow it up. Allowing the name +to have been De Benyon, you discover that one brother is not married, +and that there are some papers belonging to him in the possession of an +old woman who dies; and upon these slight grounds what would you attempt +to establish? that because that person was known not to have married, +therefore <i>he was married</i> (for you are stated to have been born in +wedlock): and because there is a packet of papers belonging to him in the +possession of another party, that this packet of papers <i>must refer</i> to +you. Do you not perceive how you are led away by your excited feelings +on the subject?" +</p> +<p> +I could not deny that Mr Masterton's arguments had demolished the whole +fabric which I had built up. "You are right, sir," replied I mournfully, +"I wish I were dead." +</p> +<p> +"Never speak in that way, Mr Newland, before me," replied the old lawyer +in an angry tone, "without you wish to forfeit my good opinion." +</p> +<p> +"I beg your pardon, sir; but I am most miserable. I am avoided by all +who know me—thrown out of all society—I have not a parent or a +relative. Isolated being as I am, what have I to live for?" +</p> +<p> +"My dear fellow, you are not twenty-three years of age," replied Mr +Masterton, "and you have made two sincere friends, both powerful in their +own way. I mean Lord Windermear and myself; and you have had the pleasure +of making others happy. Believe me, that is much to have accomplished at +so early an age. You have much to live for—live to gain more +friends—live to gain reputation—live to do good—to be grateful for +the benefits you have received, and to be humble when chastened by +Providence. You have yet to learn where, and only where, true happiness +is to be found. Since you are so much out of spirits, go down to Lady de +Clare's, see her happiness, and that of her little girl; and then, when +you reflect that it was your own work, you will hardly say that you have +lived in vain." I was too much overpowered to speak. After a pause, Mr +Masterton continued, "When did you see them last?" +</p> +<p> +"I have never seen them, sir, since I was with you at their meeting." +</p> +<p> +"What! have you not called—now nearly two months? Japhet, you are wrong; +they will be hurt at your neglect and want of kindness. Have you written +or heard from them?" +</p> +<p> +"I have received one or two pressing invitations, sir; but I have not been +in a state of mind to avail myself of their politeness." +</p> +<p> +"Politeness! you are wrong—all wrong, Japhet. Your mind is cankered, or +you never would have used that term. I thought you were composed of +better materials; but it appears, that although you can sail with a fair +wind, you cannot buffet against an adverse gale. Because you are no +longer fooled and flattered by the interested and the designing, like +many others, you have quarrelled with the world. Is it not so?" +</p> +<p> +"Perhaps you are right, sir." +</p> +<p> +"I know that I am right, and that you are wrong. Now I shall be seriously +displeased if you do not go down and see Lady de Clare and her daughter, +as soon as you can." +</p> +<p> +"I will obey your orders, sir." +</p> +<p> +"My wishes, Japhet, not my orders. Let me see you when you return. You +must no longer be idle. Consider, that you are about to recommence your +career in life; that hitherto you have pursued the wrong path, from +which you have nobly returned. You must prepare for exertions, and learn +to trust to God and a good conscience. Lord Windermear and I had a long +conversation relative to you yesterday evening; and when you come back, +I will detail to you what are our views respecting your future advantage." +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0130" id="h2HCH0130"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter LII +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + A new character appears, but not a very amiable one; but I attach + myself to him, as drowning men catch at straws. +</p> +<p> +I took my leave, more composed in mind, and the next day I went down to +Lady de Clare's. I was kindly received, more than kindly, I was +affectionately and parentally received by the mother, and by Cecilia as +a dear brother; but they perceived my melancholy, and when they had +upbraided me for my long neglect, they inquired the cause. As I had +already made Lady de Clare acquainted with my previous history, I had +no secrets; in fact, it was a consolation to confide my griefs to them. +Lord Windermear was too much above me—Mr Masterton was too +matter-of-fact—Timothy was too inferior—and they were all men; but the +kind soothing of a woman was peculiarly grateful, and after a sojourn of +three days, I took my leave, with my mind much less depressed than when +I arrived. +</p> +<p> +On my return, I called upon Mr Masterton, who stated to me that Lord +Windermear was anxious to serve me, and that he would exert his interest +in any way which might be most congenial to my feelings; that he would +procure me a commission in the army, or a writership to India; or, if I +preferred it, I might study the law under the auspices of Mr Masterton. +If none of these propositions suited me, I might state what would be +preferred, and that, as far as his interest and pecuniary assistance +could avail, I might depend upon it. "So now, Japhet, you may go home +and reflect seriously upon these offers; and when you have made up your +mind what course you will steer, you have only to let me know." +</p> +<p> +I returned my thanks to Mr Masterton, and begged that he would convey my +grateful acknowledgments to his lordship. As I walked home, I met a +Captain Atkinson, a man of very doubtful character, whom, by the advice +of Carbonnell, I had always kept at a distance. He had lost a large +fortune by gambling, and having been pigeoned, had, as is usual, ended +by becoming a <i>rook</i>. He was a fashionable, well-looking man, of good +family, suffered in society, for he had found out that it was necessary +to hold his position by main force. He was a noted duellist, had killed +his three or four men, and a cut direct from any person was, with him, +sufficient grounds for sending a friend. Everybody was civil to him, +because no one wished to quarrel with him. +</p> +<p> +"My dear Mr Newland," said he, offering his hand, "I am delighted to +see you; I have heard at the clubs of your misfortune, and there were +some free remarks made by some. I have great pleasure in saying that I +put an immediate stop to them, by telling them that, if they were +repeated in my presence, I should consider it as a personal quarrel." +</p> +<p> +Three months before, had I met Captain Atkinson, I should have returned +his bow with studied politeness, and have left him; but how changed were +my feelings! I took his hand, and shook it warmly. +</p> +<p> +"My dear sir," replied I, "I am very much obliged for your kind and +considerate conduct; there are more who are inclined to calumniate than +to defend." +</p> +<p> +"And always will be in this world, Mr Newland; but I have a fellow +feeling. I recollect how I was received and flattered when I was +introduced as a young man of fortune, and how I was deserted and +neglected when I was cleaned out. I know now <i>why</i> they are so civil +to me, and I value their civility at just as much as it is worth. Will +you accept my arm:—I am going your way" +</p> +<p> +I could not refuse; but I coloured when I took it, for I felt that I +was not adding to my reputation by being seen in his company; and still +I felt, that although not adding to my reputation, I was less likely to +receive insult, and that the same cause which induced them to be civil +to him, would perhaps operate when they found me allied with him. "Be +it so," thought I, "I will, if possible, <i>extort</i> politeness." +</p> +<p> +We were strolling down Bond Street, when we met a young man, well known +in the fashionable circles, who had dropped my acquaintance, after +having been formerly most pressing to obtain it. Atkinson faced him. +"Good morning, Mr Oxberry." +</p> +<p> +"Good morning, Captain Atkinson," replied Mr Oxberry. +</p> +<p> +"I thought you knew my friend Mr Newland?" observed Atkinson, rather +fiercely. +</p> +<p> +"Oh! really—I quite—I beg pardon. Good morning, Mr Newland; you have +been long absent. I did not see you at Lady Maelstrom's last night." +</p> +<p> +"No," replied I, carelessly, "nor will you ever. When you next see her +ladyship, ask her, with my compliments, whether she has had another +fainting fit." +</p> +<p> +"I shall certainly have great pleasure in carrying your message, Mr +Newland—good morning." +</p> +<p> +"That fool," observed Atkinson, "will now run all over town, and you will +see the consequence." +</p> +<p> +We met one or two others, and to them Atkinson put the same question, "I +thought you knew my friend Mr Newland?" At last, just as we arrived at +my own house in St James's Street, who should we meet but Harcourt. +Harcourt immediately perceived me, and bowed low as he passed on, so +that his bow would have served for both; but Atkinson stopped. "I must +beg your pardon, Harcourt, for detaining you a moment, but what are the +odds upon the Vestris colt for the Derby?" +</p> +<p> +"Upon my word, Captain Atkinson, I was told, but I have forgotten." +</p> +<p> +"Your memory appears bad, for you have also forgotten your old friend, +Mr Newland." +</p> +<p> +"I beg your pardon, Mr Newland." +</p> +<p> +"There is no occasion to beg my pardon, Mr Harcourt," interrupted I; +"for I tell you plainly, that I despise you too much to ever wish to be +acquainted with you. You will oblige me, sir, by never presuming to touch +your hat, or otherwise notice me." +</p> +<p> +Harcourt coloured, and started back. "Such language, Mr Newland—" +</p> +<p> +"Is what you deserve; ask your own conscience. Leave us, sir;" and I +walked on with Captain Atkinson. +</p> +<p> +"You have done well, Newland," observed Atkinson; "he cannot submit to +that language, for he knows that I have heard it. A meeting you will of +course have no objection to. It will be of immense advantage to you." +</p> +<p> +"None whatever," replied I; "for if there is any one man who deserves to +be punished for his conduct towards me, it is Harcourt. Will you come up, +Captain Atkinson; and, if not better engaged, take a quiet dinner and a +bottle of wine with me?" +</p> +<p> +Our conversation during dinner was desultory, but after the first bottle, +Atkinson became communicative, and his history not only made me feel +better inclined towards him, but afforded me another instance, as well +as Carbonnell's, how often it is that those who would have done well, +are first plundered, and then driven to desperation by the heartlessness +of the world. The cases, however, had this difference, that Carbonnell +had always contrived to keep his reputation above water, while that of +Atkinson was gone, and never to be re-established. We had just finished +our wine when a note was brought from Harcourt, informing me that he +should send a friend the next morning for an explanation of my conduct. +I handed it over to Atkinson. "My dear sir, I am at your service," +replied he, "without you have anybody among your acquaintances whom +you may prefer." +</p> +<p> +"Thank you," replied I, "Captain Atkinson; it cannot be in better hands." +</p> +<p> +"That is settled, then; and now where shall we go?" +</p> +<p> +"Wherever you please." +</p> +<p> +"Then I shall try if I can win a little money to-night; if you come you +need not play—you can look on. It will serve to divert your thoughts, +at all events." +</p> +<p> +I felt so anxious to avoid reflection, that I immediately accepted his +offer, and, in a few minutes, we were in the well-lighted room, and in +front of the <i>rouge et noir</i> table, covered with gold and bank notes. +Atkinson did not commence his play immediately, but pricked the chances +on a card as they ran. After half an hour he laid down his stakes, and +was fortunate. I could no longer withstand the temptation, and I backed +him; in less than an hour we both had won considerably. +</p> +<p> +"That is enough," said he to me, sweeping up his money; "we must not try +the slippery dame too long." +</p> +<p> +I followed his example, and shortly afterwards we quitted the house. "I +will walk home with you, Newland; never, if you can help it, especially +if you have been a winner, leave a gaming house alone." +</p> +<p> +Going home, I asked Atkinson if he would come up; he did so, and then we +examined our winnings. "I know mine," replied he, "within twenty pounds, +for I always leave off at a certain point. I have three hundred pounds, +and something more." +</p> +<p> +He had won three hundred and twenty-five pounds. I had won ninety pounds. +As we sat over a glass of brandy and water, I inquired whether he was +always fortunate. "No, of course I am not," replied Atkinson; "but on +the whole, in the course of the year I am a winner of sufficient to +support myself." +</p> +<p> +"Is there any rule by which people are guided who play? I observed many +of those who were seated, pricking the chances with great care, and then +staking their money at intervals." +</p> +<p> +"<i>Rouge et noir</i> I believe to be the fairest of all games," replied +Atkinson; "but where there is a per centage invariably in favour of the +bank, although one may win and another lose, still the profits must be +in favour of the bank. If a man were to play all the year round, he would +lose the national debt in the end. As for martingales, and all those +calculations, which you observed them so busy with, they are all useless. +I have tried everything, and there is only one chance of success, but +then you must not be a gambler?" +</p> +<p> +"Not a gambler?" +</p> +<p> +"No; you must not be carried away by the excitement of the game, or you +will infallibly lose. You must have a strength of mind which few have, or +you will be soon cleaned out." +</p> +<p> +"But you say that you win on the whole; have you no rule to guide you?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, I have; strange as the chances are, I have been so accustomed to +them, that I generally put down my stake right; when I am once in a run +of luck, I have a method of my own, but what it is I cannot tell; only +this I know, that if I depart from it, I always lose my money. But that +is what you may call good luck, or what you please—it is not a rule." +</p> +<p> +"Where, then, are your rules?" +</p> +<p> +"Simply these two. The first it is not difficult to adhere to: I make a +rule never to lose but a certain sum if I am unlucky when I +commence—say twenty stakes, whatever may be the amount of the stake +that you play. This rule is easily adhered to, by not taking more money +with you; and I am not one of those to whom the croupier or porters will +lend money. The second rule is the most difficult, and decides whether +you are a gambler or not. I make a rule always to leave off when I have +won a certain sum—or even before, if the chances of my game fluctuate. +There is the difficulty; it appears very foolish not to follow up luck, +but the fact is, fortune is so capricious, that if you trust her more +than an hour, she will desert you. This is my mode of play, and with me +it answers; but it does not follow that it would answer with another. +But it is very late, or rather, very early—I wish you a good-night." +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0131" id="h2HCH0131"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter LIII +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + I become principal instead of second in a duel, and risk my own + and another's life, my own and others' happiness and peace of + mind, because I have been punished as I deserved. +</p> +<p> +After Captain Atkinson had left me, I stated to Timothy what had passed. +"And do you think you will have to fight a duel, sir?" cried Timothy +with alarm. +</p> +<p> +"There is no doubt of it," replied I. +</p> +<p> +"You never will find your father, sir, if you go on this way," said +Timothy, as if to divert my attention from such a purpose. +</p> +<p> +"Not in this world, perhaps, Tim; perhaps I may be sent the right road +by a bullet, and find him in the next." +</p> +<p> +"Do you think your father, if dead, has gone to heaven?" +</p> +<p> +"I hope so, Timothy." +</p> +<p> +"Then what chance have you of meeting him, if you go out of the world +attempting the life of your old friend?" +</p> +<p> +"That is what you call a poser, my dear Timothy, but I cannot help +myself; this I can safely say, that I have no animosity against Mr +Harcourt—at least, not sufficient to have any wish to take away his +life." +</p> +<p> +"Well, that's something, to be sure; but do you know, Japhet, I'm not +quite sure you hit the right road when you set up for a gentleman." +</p> +<p> +"No, Timothy, no man can be in the right road who deceives; I have been +all wrong; and I am afraid I am going from worse to worse: but I cannot +moralise, I must go to sleep, and forget everything if I can." +</p> +<p> +The next morning, about eleven o'clock, a Mr Cotgrave called upon me on +the part of Harcourt. I referred him to Captain Atkinson, and he bowed +and quitted the room. Captain Atkinson soon called; he had remained at +home expecting the message, and had made every arrangement with the +second. He stayed with me the whole day; the Major's pistols were +examined and approved of; we dined, drank freely, and he afterwards +proposed that I should accompany him to one of the hells, as they are +called. This I refused, as I had some arrangements to make; and as soon +as he was gone I sent for Timothy. +</p> +<p> +"Tim," said I, "if I should be unlucky to-morrow, you are my executor +and residuary legatee. My will was made when in Dublin, and is in the +charge of Mr Cophagus." +</p> +<p> +"Japhet, I hope you will allow me one favour, which is, to go to the +ground with you. I had rather be there than remain here in suspense." +</p> +<p> +"Of course, my dear fellow, if you wish it," replied I; "but I must go to +bed, as I am to be called at four o'clock—so let's have no +sentimentalising or sermonising. Good-night, God bless you." +</p> +<p> +I was, at that time, in a state of mind which made me reckless of life or +of consequences; stung by the treatment which I received, mad with the +world's contumely, I was desperate. True it was, as Mr Masterton said, I +had not courage to buffet against an adverse gale. Timothy did not go +to bed, and at four o'clock was at my side. I rose, dressed myself with +the greatest care, and was soon joined by Captain Atkinson. We then set +off in a hackney-coach to the same spot to which I had, but a few months +before, driven with poor Carbonnell. His memory and his death came like +a cloud over my mind, but it was but for a moment. I cared little for +life. Harcourt and his second were on the ground a few minutes before +us. Each party saluted politely, and the seconds proceeded to business. +We fired, and Harcourt fell, with a bullet above his knee. I went up to +him, and he extended his hand. "Newland," said he, "I have deserved +this. I was a coward, in the first place, to desert you as I did—and a +coward, in the second, to fire at a man whom I had injured. Gentlemen," +continued he, appealing to the seconds, "recollect, I, before you, acquit +Mr Newland of all blame, and desire, if any further accident should +happen to me, that my relations will take no steps whatever against him." +</p> +<p> +Harcourt was very pale, and bleeding fast. Without any answer I examined +the wound, and found, by the colour of the blood, and its gushing, that +an artery had been divided. My professional knowledge saved his life. I +compressed the artery, while I gave directions to the others. A +handkerchief was tied tight round his thigh, above the wound—a round +stone selected, and placed under the handkerchief, in the femoral groove, +and the ramrod of one of the pistols then made use of as a winch, until +the whole acted as a tourniquet. I removed my thumbs, found that the +hemorrhage was stopped, and then directed that he should be taken home +on a door, and surgical assistance immediately sent for. +</p> +<p> +"You appear to understand these things, sir," said Mr Cotgrave. "Tell +me, is there any danger?" +</p> +<p> +"He must suffer amputation," replied I, in a low voice, so that Harcourt +could not hear me. "Pray watch the tourniquet carefully as he is taken +home, for should it slip it will be fatal." +</p> +<p> +I then bowed to Mr Cotgrave, and, followed by Captain Atkinson, stepped +into the hackney-coach and drove home. "I will leave you now, Newland," +said Captain Atkinson; "it is necessary that I talk this matter over, +so that it is properly explained." +</p> +<p> +I thanked Captain Atkinson for his services, and was left alone; for I +had sent Timothy to ascertain if Harcourt had arrived safe at his +lodgings. Never did I feel more miserable; my anxiety for Harcourt was +indescribable; true, he had not treated me well, but I thought of his +venerable father, who pressed my hand so warmly when I left his +hospitable roof—of his lovely sisters, and the kindness and affection +which they had shown towards me, and our extreme intimacy. I thought +of the pain which the intelligence would give them, and their +indignation towards me, when their brother first made his appearance +at his father's house, mutilated; and were he to die—good God! I was +maddened at the idea. I had now undone the little good I had been able +to do. If I had made Fleta and her mother happy, had I not plunged +another family into misery? +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0132" id="h2HCH0132"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter LIV +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + This is a strange world; I am cut by a man of no character, + because he is fearful that I should injure his character. +</p> +<p> +Timothy returned, and brought me consolation—the bleeding had not +re-commenced, and Harcourt was in tolerable spirits. An eminent surgeon +had been sent for. "Go again, my dear Timothy, and as you are intimate +with Harcourt's servant, you will be able to find out what they are +about." +</p> +<p> +Timothy departed, and was absent about an hour, during which I lay on +the sofa, and groaned with anguish. When he returned, I knew by his +face that his intelligence was favourable. "All's right," cried Timothy; +"no amputation after all. It was only one of the smaller arteries which +was severed, and they have taken it up." +</p> +<p> +I sprang up from the sofa and embraced Timothy, so happy was I with the +intelligence, and then I sat down again, and cried like a child. At last +I became more composed. I had asked Captain Atkinson to dine with me, +and was very glad when he came. He confirmed Timothy's report, and I was +so overjoyed, that I sat late at dinner, drinking very freely, and when +he again proposed that we should go to the <i>rouge et noir</i> table, I did +not refuse—on the contrary, flushed with wine, I was anxious to go, and +took all the money that I had with me. On our arrival Atkinson played, +but finding that he was not fortunate, he very soon left off. As I had +followed his game, I also had lost considerably, and he entreated me not +to play any more—but I was a gamester it appeared, and I would not pay +attention to him, and did not quit the table until I had lost every +shilling in my pocket. I left the house in no very good humour, and +Atkinson, who had waited for me, accompanied me home. +</p> +<p> +"Newland," said he, "I don't know what you may think of me—you may have +heard that I'm a <i>roué</i>, &c. &c. &c., but this I always do, which is, +caution those who are gamesters from their hearts. I have watched you +to-night, and I tell you, that you will be ruined if you continue to +frequent that table. You have no command over yourself. I do not know +what your means may be, but this I do know, that if you were a Croesus, +you would be a beggar. I cared nothing for you while you were the Mr +Newland, the admired, and leader of the fashion, but I felt for you when +I heard that you were scouted from society, merely because it was found +out that you were not so rich as you were supposed to be. I had a +fellow-feeling, as I told you. I did not make your acquaintance to win +your money—I can win as much as I wish from the scoundrels who keep the +tables, or from those who would not scruple to plunder others; and I now +entreat you not to return to that place—and am sorry, very sorry, that +ever I took you there. To me, the excitement is nothing—to you, it is +overpowering. You are a gamester, or rather, you have it in your +disposition. Take, therefore, the advice of a friend, if I may so call +myself, and do not go there again. I hope you are not seriously +inconvenienced by what you have lost to-night." +</p> +<p> +"Not the least," replied I. "It was ready money. I thank you for your +advice, and will follow it. I have been a fool to-night, and one folly +is sufficient." +</p> +<p class="quote"> +Atkinson then left me. I had lost about two hundred and fifty pounds, +which included my winnings of the night before. I was annoyed at it, +but I thought of Harcourt's safety, and felt indifferent. The reader +may recollect, that I had three thousand pounds, which Mr Masterton +had offered to put out at mortgage for me, but until he could find an +opportunity, by his advice I had bought stock in the three per cents. +Since that he had not succeeded, as mortgages in general are for larger +sums, and it had therefore remained. My rents were not yet due, and I +was obliged to have recourse to this money. I therefore went into the +city, ordered the broker to sell out two hundred pounds, intending to +replace it as soon as I could—for I would not have liked that Mr +Masterton should have known that I had lost money by gambling. When I +returned from the city, I found Captain Atkinson in my apartments + waiting for me. +</p> +<p> +"Harcourt is doing well, and you are not doing badly. I have let all +the world know that you intend to call out whoever presumes to treat +you with indifference." +</p> +<p> +"The devil you have! but that is a threat which may easier be made +than followed up by deeds." +</p> +<p> +"Shoot two or three more," replied Atkinson, coolly, "and then, depend +upon it, you'll have it all your own way. As it is, I acknowledge there +has been some show of resistance, and they talk of making a resolution +not to meet you, on the score of your being an impostor." +</p> +<p> +"And a very plausible reason, too," replied I; "nor do I think I have +any right—I am sure I have no intention of doing as you propose. Surely, +people have a right to choose their acquaintance, and to cut me, if they +think I have done wrong. I am afraid, Captain Atkinson, you have +mistaken me; I have punished Harcourt for his conduct towards +me—deserved punishment. I had claims on him; but I have not upon the +hundreds, whom, when in the zenith of my popularity, I myself, perhaps, +was not over courteous to. I cannot <i>run the muck</i> which you propose, +nor do I consider that I shall help my character by so doing. I may +become notorious, but certainly, I shall not obtain that species of +notoriety which will be of service to me. No, no; I have done too much, +I may say, already; and, although not so much to blame as the world +imagines, yet my own conscience tells me, that by allowing it to suppose +that I was what I was not, I have, to say the least, been a party to the +fraud, and must take the consequence. My situation now is very +unpleasant, and I ought to retire, and, if possible, re-appear with real +claims upon the public favour. I have still friends, thank God! and +influential friends. I am offered a writership in India—a commission in +the army—or to study the law. Will you favour me with your opinion?" +</p> +<p> +"You pay me a compliment by asking my advice. A writership in India is +fourteen years' transportation, returning with plenty to live on but no +health to enjoy it. In the army you might do well, and moreover, as an +officer in the army, none dare refuse to go out with you. At the same +time, under your peculiar circumstances, I think if you were in a crack +regiment you would, in all probability, have to fight one half the mess, +and be put in Coventry by the other. You must then exchange on half-pay, +and your commission would be a great help to you. As for the law—I'd +sooner see a brother of mine in his coffin. There, you have my opinion." +</p> +<p> +"Not a very encouraging one, at all events," replied I, laughing; "but +there is much truth in your observations. To India I will not go, as it +will interfere with the great object of my existence." +</p> +<p> +"And pray, if it be no secret, may I ask what that is?" +</p> +<p> +"To find out <i>who is my father.</i>" +</p> +<p> +Captain Atkinson looked very hard at me. "I more than once," said he, +"have thought you a little cracked, but now I perceive you are +<i>mad</i>—downright <i>mad</i>; don't be angry, I couldn't help saying so, and +if you wish me to give you satisfaction, I shall most unwillingly be +obliged." +</p> +<p> +"No, no, Atkinson, I believe you are not very far wrong, and I forgive +you—but to proceed. The army, as you say, will give me a position in +society, from my profession being that of a gentleman, but as I do not +wish to take the advantage which you have suggested from the position, +I shrink from putting myself into one which may lead to much +mortification. As for the law, although I do not exactly agree with you +in your abhorrence of the profession, yet I must say, that I do not like +the idea. I have been rendered unfit for it by my life up to the present. +But I am permitted to select any other." +</p> +<p> +"Without wishing to pry into your affairs, have you sufficient to live +upon?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, in a moderate way; about a younger brother's portion, which will +just keep me in gloves, cigars, and eau de cologne." +</p> +<p> +"Then take my advice and be <i>nothing.</i> The only difference I can see +between a gentleman and anybody else, is that one is idle and the other +works hard. One is a useless, and the other a useful, member of society. +Such is the absurdity of the opinions of the world." +</p> +<p> +"Yes, I agree with you, and would prefer being a gentleman in that +respect, and do nothing, if they would admit me in every other; but that +they will not do. I am in an unfortunate position." +</p> +<p> +"And will be until your feelings become blunted as mine have been," +replied Atkinson. "Had you acquiesced in my proposal, you would have done +better. As it is, I can be of no use to you; nay, without intending an +affront, I do not know if we ought to be seen together, for your decision +not to <i>fight</i> your way is rather awkward, as I cannot back one with +my <i>support</i> who will not do credit to it. Do not be angry at what I say; +you are your own master, and have a right to decide for yourself,—if +you think yourself not so wholly lost as to be able eventually to recover +yourself by other means, I do not blame you, as I know it is only from +an error in judgment, and not from want of courage." +</p> +<p> +"At present I am, I acknowledge, lost, Captain Atkinson; but if I succeed +in <i>finding my father</i>—" +</p> +<p> +"Good morning, Newland, good morning," replied he, hastily. "I see how it +is; of course we shall be civil to each other when we meet, for I wish +you well, but we must not be seen together, or you may injure my +character." +</p> +<p> +"Injure <i>your</i> character, Captain Atkinson?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, Mr Newland, injure my character. I do not mean to say but that +there are characters more respectable, but I have <i>a</i> character which +suits me, and it has the merit of consistency. As you are not prepared, +as the Americans say, <i>to go the whole hog</i>, we will part good friends, +and if I have said anything to annoy you, I beg your pardon." +</p> +<p> +"Good-bye, then, Captain Atkinson; for the kindness you have shown me I +am grateful." He shook my hand, and walked out of the room. "And for +having thus broken up our acquaintance, more grateful still," thought I, +as he went down stairs. +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0133" id="h2HCH0133"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter LV +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + I cut my new acquaintance, but his company, even in so short a + time, proves my ruin—notwithstanding I part with all my + property, I retain my honesty. +</p> +<p> +In the meantime, the particulars of the duel had found their way into the +papers, with various comments, but none of them very flattering to me, +and I received a note from Mr Masterton, who, deceived by the +representations of that class of people who cater for newspapers, and who +are but too glad to pull, if they possibly can, every one to their own +level, strongly animadverted upon my conduct, and pointed out the folly +of it; adding, that Lord Windermear wholly coincided with him in opinion, +and had desired him to express his displeasure. He concluded by +observing, "I consider this to be the most serious false step which you +have hitherto made. Because you have been a party to deceiving the +public, and because one individual, who had no objection to be intimate +with a young man of fashion, station, and affluence, does not wish to +continue the acquaintance with one of unknown birth and no fortune, you +consider yourself justified in taking his life. Upon this principle, all +society is at an end, all distinctions levelled, and the rule of the +gladiator will only be overthrown by the stiletto of the assassin." +</p> +<p> +I was but ill prepared to receive this letter. I had been deeply thinking +upon the kind offers of Lord Windermear, and had felt that they would +interfere with the <i>primum mobile</i> of my existence, and I was reflecting +by what means I could evade their kind intentions, and be at liberty to +follow my own inclinations, when this note arrived. To me it appeared to +be the height of injustice. I had been arraigned and found guilty upon +an <i>ex parte</i> statement. I forgot, at the time, that it was my duty to +have immediately proceeded to Mr Masterton, and have fully explained +the facts of the case; and that, by not having so done, I left the +natural impression that I had no defence to offer. I forgot all this, +still I was myself to blame—I only saw that the letter in itself was +unkind and unjust—and my feelings were those of resentment. What right +have Lord Windermear and Mr Masterton thus to school and to insult me? +The right of obligations conferred. But is not Lord Windermear under +obligations to me? Have I not preserved his secret? Yes; but how did I +obtain possession of it? By so doing, I was only making reparation for +an act of treachery. Well, then, at all events, I have a right to be +independent of them, if I please—any one has a right to assert his +independence if he chooses. Their offers of service only would shackle +me, if I accepted of their assistance. I will have none of them. Such +were my reflections; and the reader must perceive that I was influenced +by a state of morbid irritability—a sense of abandonment which +prostrated me. I felt that I was an isolated being without a tie in the +whole world. I determined to spurn the world as it had spurned me. To +Timothy I would hardly speak a word. I lay with an aching head, aching +from increased circulation. I was mad, or nearly so. I opened the case +of pistols, and thought of suicide—reflection alone restrained me. I +could not abandon the search after my father. +</p> +<p> +Feverish and impatient, I wished to walk out, but I dared not meet the +public eye. I waited till dark, and then I sallied forth, hardly knowing +where I went. I passed the gaming house—I did pass it, but I returned +and lost every shilling; not, however, till the fluctuations of the game +had persuaded me, that had I had more money to carry it on, I should have +won. +</p> +<p> +I went to bed, but not to sleep; I thought of how I had been caressed and +admired, when I was supposed to be rich. Of what use then was the money +I possessed? Little or none. I made up my mind that I would either gain +a fortune, or lose that which I had. The next morning I went into the +city, and sold out all the remaining stock. To Timothy I had not +communicated my intentions. I studiously avoided speaking to him; he felt +hurt at my conduct, I perceived, but I was afraid of his advice and +expostulation. +</p> +<p> +At night-fall I returned to the hell—played with various success; at +one time was a winner of three times my capital, and I ended at last +with my pockets being empty. I was indifferent when it was all gone, +although in the highest state of excitement while the chances were +turning up. +</p> +<p> +The next day I went to a house agent, and stated my wish to sell my +house, for I was resolved to try fortune to the last. The agent +undertook to find a ready purchaser, and I begged an advance, which he +made, and continued to make, until he had advanced nearly half the value. +He then found a purchaser (himself, as I believe) at two-thirds of its +value. I did not hesitate, I had lost every advance, one after another, +and was anxious to retrieve my fortune or be a beggar. I signed the +conveyance and received the balance, fifteen hundred and fifty pounds, +and returned to the apartments, no longer mine, about an hour before +dinner. I called Timothy, and ascertaining the amount of bills due, +gave him fifty pounds, which left him about fifteen pounds as a residue. +I then sat down to my solitary meal, but just as I commenced I heard a +dispute in the passage. +</p> +<p> +"What is that, Timothy?" cried I, for I was nervous to a degree. +</p> +<p> +"It's that fellow Emmanuel, sir, who says that he will come up." +</p> +<p> +"Yesh, I vill go up, sar." +</p> +<p> +"Let him come, Timothy," replied I. Accordingly Mr Emmanuel ascended. +"Well, Emmanuel, what do you want with me?" said I, looking with contempt +at the miserable creature who entered as before, with his body bent +double, and his hand lying over his back. +</p> +<p> +"I vash a little out of breath, Mr Newland—I vash come to say dat de +monish is very scarce—dat I vill accept your offer, and vill take de +hundred pounds, and my tousand which I have lent you. You too mush +gentleman not to help a poor old man, ven he ish in distress." +</p> +<p> +"Rather say, Mr Emmanuel, that you have heard that I have not ten +thousand pounds per annum, and that you are afraid that you have lost +your money." +</p> +<p> +"Loshe my monish!—no—loshe my tousand pound! Did you not say, dat you +would pay it back to me, and give me hundred pounds for my trouble; dat +vash de last arrangement." "Yes, but you refused to take it, so it is not +my fault. You must now stick to the first, which is to receive fifteen +hundred pounds when I come into my fortune." +</p> +<p> +"Your fortune, but you av no fortune." +</p> +<p> +"I am afraid not; and recollect, Mr Emmanuel, that I never told you that +I had." +</p> +<p> +"Vill you pay me my monish, Mr Newland, or vill you go to prison?" +</p> +<p> +"You can't put me in prison for an agreement," replied I. +</p> +<p> +"No; but I can prosecute you for a swindler." +</p> +<p> +"No, you confounded old rascal, you cannot; try, and do your worst," +cried I, enraged at the word swindler. +</p> +<p> +"Veil, Mr Newland, if you have not de ten tousand a year, you have de +house and de monish; you vill not cheat a poor man like me." +</p> +<p> +"I have sold my house." +</p> +<p> +"You have sold de house—den you have neither de house nor de monish. +Oh! my monish, my monish! Sare, Mr Newland, you are one d——d rascal;" +and the old wretch's frame quivered with emotion; his hand behind his +back shaking as much as the other which, in his rage, he shook in my face. +</p> +<p> +Enraged myself at being called such an opprobrious term, I opened the +door, twisted him round, and applying my foot to a nameless part, he +flew out and fell down the stairs, at the turning of which he lay, +groaning in pain. "Mine Got, mine Got, I am murdered!" cried he. "Fader +Abraham, receive me." My rage was appeased, and I turned pale at the +idea of having killed the poor wretch. With the assistance of Timothy, +whom I summoned, we dragged the old man upstairs, and placed him in a +chair, and found that he was not very much hurt. A glass of wine was +given to him, and then, as soon as he could speak, his ruling passion +broke out again. "Mishter Newland—ah, Mish-ter New-land, cannot you +give me my monish—cannot you give me de tousand pound, without de +interest? you are very welcome to de interest. I only lend it to oblige +you." +</p> +<p> +"How can you expect a d——d rascal to do any such thing?" replied I. +</p> +<p> +"D——d rascal! Ah! it vash I who vash a rascal, and vash a fool to say +the word. Mishter Newland, you vash a gentleman, you vill pay me my +monish. You vill pay me part of my monish. I have de agreement in my +pocket, all ready to give up." +</p> +<p> +"If I have not the money, how can I pay you?" +</p> +<p> +"Fader Abraham, if you have not de monish—you must have some monish; +den you will pay me a part. How much vill you pay me?" +</p> +<p> +"Will you take five hundred pounds, and return the agreement?" +</p> +<p> +"Five hundred pounds—lose half—oh! Mr Newland—it was all lent in +monish, not in goods; you will not make me lose so much as dat?" +</p> +<p> +"I'm not sure that I will give you five hundred pounds; your bond is not +worth two-pence, and you know it." +</p> +<p> +"Your honour, Mishter Newland, is worth more dan ten tousand pounds: but +if you have not de monish, den you shall pay me de five hundred pounds +which you offer, and I will give up de paper." +</p> +<p> +"I never offered five hundred pounds." +</p> +<p> +"Not offer; but you mention de sum, dat quite enough." +</p> +<p> +"Well then, for five hundred pounds, you will give up the paper?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes; I vash content to loshe all de rest, to please you." +</p> +<p> +I went to my desk, and took out five hundred pounds in notes. "Now, +there is the money, which you may put your hands on when you give up the +agreement." The old man pulled out the agreement and laid it on the +table, catching up the notes. I looked at the paper to see if it was all +right, and then tore it up. Emmanuel put the notes, with a heavy sigh, +into his inside coat pocket, and prepared to depart. "Now, Mr Emmanuel, +I will show that I have a little more honour than you think for. This +is all the money I have in the world," said I, taking out of my desk +the remaining thousand pounds, "and half of it I give to you, to pay you +the whole money which you lent me. Here is five hundred pounds more, and +now we are quits." +</p> +<p> +The eyes of the old man were fixed upon me in astonishment, and from my +face they glanced upon the notes; he could, to use a common expression, +neither believe his eyes nor his ears. At last he took the money, again +unbuttoned and pulled out his pocket-book, and with a trembling hand +stowed them away as before. +</p> +<p> +"You vash a very odd gentleman, Mishter Newland," said he; "you kick me +down stairs, and—but dat is noting." +</p> +<p> +"Good-bye, Mr Emmanuel," said I, "and let me eat my dinner." +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0134" id="h2HCH0134"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter LVI +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + I resolve to begin the world again, and to seek my fortune in the + next path—I take leave of all my old friends. +</p> +<p> +The Jew retired, and I commenced my meal, when the door again slowly +opened, and Mr Emmanuel crawled up to me. +</p> +<p> +"Mishter Newland, I vash beg your pardon, but vill you not pay me de +interest of de monish?" +</p> +<p> +I started up from my chair, with my rattan in my hand. "Begone, you old +thief," cried I; and hardly were the words out of my mouth, before Mr +Emmanuel travelled out of the room, and I never saw him afterwards. I +was pleased with myself for having done this act of honesty, and for the +first time for a long while, I ate my dinner with some zest. After I had +finished, I took a twenty pound note, and laid it in my desk, the +remainder of the five hundred pounds I put in my pocket, to try my last +chance. In an hour I quitted the hell penniless. When I returned home I +had composed myself a little after the dreadful excitement which I had +been under. I felt a calm, and a degree of negative happiness. I knew my +fate—there was no more suspense. I sat down to reflect upon what I +should do. I was to commence the world again—to sink down at once into +obscurity—into poverty—and I felt happy. I had severed the link +between myself and my former condition—I was again a beggar, but I was +independent—and I resolved so to be. I spoke kindly to Timothy, went to +bed, and having arranged in my own mind how I should act, I fell sound +asleep. +</p> +<p> +I never slept better, or awoke more refreshed. The next morning I packed +up my portmanteau, taking with me only the most necessary articles; all +the details of the toilet, further than cleanliness was concerned, I +abjured. When Timothy came in, I told him that I was going down to Lady +de Clare's, which I intended to do. Poor Timothy was overjoyed at the +change in my manner, little thinking that he was so soon to lose me—for, +reader, I had made up my mind that I would try my fortunes alone; and, +painful as I felt would be the parting with so valued a friend, I was +determined that I would no longer have even his assistance or company. +I was determined to forget all that had passed, and commence the world +anew. I sat down while Timothy went out to take a place in the Richmond +coach, and wrote to him the following letter:— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + My Dear Timothy,—Do not think that I undervalue your friendship, + or shall ever forget your regard for me, when I tell you that we + shall probably never meet again. Should fortune favour me, I + trust we shall—but of that there is little prospect. I have lost + almost everything: my money is all gone, my house is sold, and + all is gambled away. I leave you, with only my clothes in my + portmanteau and twenty pounds. For yourself, there is the + furniture, which you must sell, as well as every other article + left behind. It is all yours, and I hope you will find means to + establish yourself in some way. God bless you—and believe me + always and gratefully yours, +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "Japhet Newland." +</p> +<p> +This letter I reserved to put in the post when I quitted Richmond. My +next letter was to Mr Masterton. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "Sir,—Your note I received, and I am afraid that, unwittingly, + you have been the occasion of my present condition. That I did + not deserve the language addressed to me, you may satisfy + yourself by applying to Mr Harcourt. Driven to desperation, I + have lost all I had in the world, by adding gaming to my many + follies. I now am about to seek my fortune, and prosecute my + search after my father. You will, therefore, return my most + sincere acknowledgments to Lord Windermear, for his kind offers + and intentions, and assure him that my feelings towards him will + always be those of gratitude and respect. For yourself, accept my + warmest thanks for the friendly advice and kind interest which + you have shown in my welfare, and believe me, when I say, that my + earnest prayers shall be offered up for your happiness. If you + can, in any way, assist my poor friend, Timothy, who will, I have + no doubt, call upon you in his distress, you will confer an + additional favour on," +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "Yours, ever gratefully," +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "Japhet Newland." +</p> +<p> +I sealed this letter, and when Timothy returned, I told him that I +wished him, after my departure, to take it to Mr Masterton's, and not +wait for an answer. I then, as I had an hour to spare, before the coach +started, entered into a conversation with Timothy. I pointed out to him +the unfortunate condition in which I found myself, and my determination +to quit the metropolis. +</p> +<p> +Timothy agreed with me. "I have seen you so unhappy of late—I may say, +so miserable—that I have neither eaten nor slept. Indeed, Japhet, I have +laid in bed and wept, for my happiness depends upon yours. Go where you +will, I am ready to follow and to serve you, and as long as I see you +comfortable, I care for nothing else." +</p> +<p> +These words of Timothy almost shook my resolution, and I was near +telling him all; but when I recollected, I refrained. "My dear Timothy," +said I, "in this world we must expect to meet with a chequered +existence; we may laugh at one time, but we must cry at others. I owe +my life to you, and I never shall forget you, wherever I may be." +</p> +<p> +"No," replied Timothy, "you are not likely to forget one who is hardly +an hour out of your sight." +</p> +<p> +"Very true, Timothy; but circumstances may occur which may separate us." +</p> +<p> +"I cannot imagine such circumstances, nor do I believe, that bad as +things may turn out, that they will ever be so bad as that. You have +your money and your house; if you leave London, you will be able to add +to your income by letting your own apartments furnished, so we never +shall want; and we may be very happy running about the world, seeking +what we wish to find." +</p> +<p> +My heart smote me when Timothy said this, for I felt, by his devotion +and fidelity, he had almost the same claim to the property I possessed, +as myself. He had been my partner, playing the inferior game, for the +mutual benefit. "But the time may come, Timothy, when we may find +ourselves without money, as we were when we first commenced our career, +and shared three-pence halfpenny each, by selling the old woman the +embrocation." +</p> +<p> +"Well, sir, and let it come. I should be sorry for you, but not for +myself, for then Tim would be of more importance, and more useful, than +as valet with little or nothing to do." +</p> +<p> +I mentally exclaimed, 'I have, I think I have, been a fool, a great fool, +but the die is cast. I will sow in sorrow, and may I reap a harvest in +joy. I feel,' thought I (and I did feel), 'I feel a delightful +conviction, that we shall meet again, and all this misery of parting will +be but a subject of future garrulity.' "Yes, Tim," said I, in a loud +voice, "all is right." +</p> +<p> +"All's right, sir; I never thought anything was wrong, except your +annoyance at people not paying you the attention which they used to +do, when they supposed you a man of fortune." +</p> +<p> +"Very true; and Tim, recollect that if Mr Masterton speaks to you about +me, which he may after I am gone to Richmond, you tell him that before +I left, I paid that old scoundrel Emmanuel every farthing that I had +borrowed of him, and you know (and in fact so does Mr Masterton), how +it was borrowed." +</p> +<p> +"Well, sir, I will, if he does talk to me, but he seldom says much to +me." +</p> +<p> +"But he may, perhaps, Tim; and I wish him to know that I have paid every +debt I owe in the world." +</p> +<p> +"One would think that you were going to the East Indies, instead of to +Richmond, by the way you talk." +</p> +<p> +"No, Tim; I was offered a situation in the East Indies, and I refused +it; but Mr Masterton and I have not been on good terms lately, and I +wish him to know that I am out of debt. You know, for I told you all +that passed between Emmanuel and myself, how he accepted five hundred +pounds, and I paid him the thousand; and I wish Mr Masterton should +know it too, and he will then be better pleased with me." +</p> +<p> +"Never fear, sir," said Tim, "I can tell the whole story with +flourishes." +</p> +<p> +"No, Tim, nothing but the truth; but it is time I should go. Farewell, +my dear fellow. May God bless you and preserve you." And, overcome by +my feelings, I dropped my face on Timothy's shoulder, and wept. "What +is the matter? What do you mean, Japhet? Mr Newland—pray, sir, what +is the matter?" +</p> +<p> +"Timothy—it is nothing," replied I, recovering myself, "but I have +been ill; nervous lately, as you well know, and even leaving the last +and only friend I have, I may say for a few days, annoys and overcomes +me." +</p> +<p> +"Oh! sir—dear Japhet, do let us leave this house, and sell your +furniture, and be off." +</p> +<p> +"I mean that it shall be so, Tim. God bless you, and farewell." I went +downstairs, the hackney-coach was at the door. Timothy put in my +portmanteau, and mounted the box. I wept bitterly. My readers may despise +me, but they ought not; let them be in my situation, and feel that they +have one sincere faithful friend, and then they will know the bitterness +of parting. I recovered myself before I arrived at the coach, and shaking +hands with Timothy, I lost sight of him; for how long, the reader will +find out in the sequel of my adventures. +</p> +<p> +I arrived at Lady de Clare's, and hardly need say that I was well +received. They expressed their delight at my so soon coming again, and +made a hundred inquiries—but I was unhappy and melancholy, not at my +prospects, for in my infatuation I rejoiced at my anticipated +beggary—but I wished to communicate with Fleta, for so I still call +her. Fleta had known my history, for she had been present when I had +related it to her mother, up to the time that I arrived in London; +further than that she knew little. I was determined that before I +quitted she should know all. I dared not trust the last part to her when +I was present, but I resolved that I would do it in writing. +</p> +<p> +Lady de Clare made no difficulty whatever of leaving me with Fleta. She +was now a beautiful creature, of between fifteen, and sixteen, bursting +into womanhood, and lovely as the bud of the moss-rose; and she was +precocious beyond her years in <i>intellect</i>. I stayed there three days, +and had frequent opportunities of conversing with her; I told her that +I wished her to be acquainted with my whole life, and interrogated her +as to what she knew: I carefully filled up the chasms, until I brought +it down to the time at which I placed her in the arms of her mother. "And +now, Fleta," said I, "you have much more to learn—you will learn that +much at my departure. I have dedicated hours every night in writing it +out; and, as you will find, have analysed my feelings, and have pointed +out to you where I have been wrong. I have done it for my amusement, as +it may be of service even to a female." +</p> +<p> +On the third day I took my leave, and requesting the pony chaise of Lady +de Clare, to take me over to ——, that I might catch the first coach +that went westward, for I did not care which; I put into Fleta's hands +the packet which I had written, containing all that had passed, and I +bid her farewell. +</p> +<p> +"Lady de Clare, may you be happy," said I. "Fleta—Cecilia, I should +say, may God bless and preserve you, and sometimes think of your sincere +friend, Japhet Newland." +</p> +<p> +"Really, Mr Newland," said Lady de Clare, "one would think we were never +to see you again." +</p> +<p> +"I hope that will not be the case, Lady de Clare, for I know nobody to +whom I am more devoted." +</p> +<p> +"Then, sir, recollect we are to see you very soon." +</p> +<p> +I pressed her ladyship's hand, and left the house. Thus did I commence +my second pilgrimage. +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0135" id="h2HCH0135"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter LVII +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + My new career is not very prosperous at its commencement—I am + robbed, and accused of being a robber—I bind up wounds, and am + accused of having inflicted them—I get into a horse-pond, and + out of it into gaol. +</p> +<p> +I had proceeded half a mile from the house, when I desired the servant +to turn into a cross-road so as to gain Brentford; and, so soon as I +arrived, the distance being only four miles, I ordered him to stop at a +public-house, saying that I would wait till the coach should pass by. I +then gave him half-a-crown, and ordered him to go home. I went into the +inn with my portmanteau, and was shown into a small back parlour; there I +remained about half an hour reflecting upon the best plan that I could +adopt. +</p> +<p> +Leaving the ale that I had called for untasted, I paid for it, and, with +the portmanteau on my shoulder, I walked away until I arrived at an old +clothes' shop. I told the Jew who kept it, that I required some clothes, +and also wanted to dispose of my own portmanteau and all my effects. I +had a great rogue to deal with; but after much chaffering, for I now felt +the value of money, I purchased from him two pair of corduroy trousers, +two waistcoats, four common shirts, four pairs of stockings, a smock +frock, a pair of high-lows, and a common hat. For these I gave up all my +portmanteau, with the exception of six silk handkerchiefs, and received +fifty shillings, when I ought to have received, at least, ten pounds; but +I could not well help myself, and I submitted to the extortion. I +dressed myself in my more humble garments, securing my money in the +pocket of my trousers unobserved by the Jew, made up a bundle of the +rest, and procured a stick from the Jew to carry it on, however not +without paying him three-pence for it, he observing that the stick "wash +not in de bargain." Thus attired, I had the appearance of a countryman +well to do, and I set off through the long dirty main street of +Brentford, quite undecided and indifferent as to the direction I should +take. I walked about a mile, when I thought that it was better to come +to some decision previous to my going farther; and perceiving a bench in +front of a public-house, I went to it and sat down. I looked around, +and it immediately came to my recollection that I was sitting on the very +bench on which Timothy and I had stopped to eat our meal of pork, at our +first outset upon our travels. Yes, it was the very same! Here sat I, +and there sat Timothy, two heedless boys, with the paper containing the +meat, the loaf of bread, and the pot of beer between us. Poor Timothy! I +conjured up his unhappiness when he had received my note acquainting him +with our future separation. I remembered his fidelity, his courage in +defence, and his preservation of my life in Ireland, and a tear or two +coursed down my cheek. +</p> +<p> +I remained some time in a deep reverie, during which the various +circumstances and adventures of my life were passed in a rapid panorama +before me. I felt that I had little to plead in my own favour, much to +condemn—that I had passed a life of fraud and deceit. I also could not +forget that when I had returned to honesty, I had been scouted by the +world. "And here I am," thought I, "once more with the world before me; +and it is just that I should commence again, for I started in a wrong +path. At least, now I can satisfactorily assert that I am deceiving +nobody, and can deservedly receive no contumely. I am Japhet Newland, +and not in disguise." I felt happy with this reflection, and made a +determination, whatever my future lot might be, that, at least, I would +pursue the path of honesty. I then began to reflect upon another point, +which was, whither I should bend my steps, and what I should do to gain +my livelihood. +</p> +<p> +Alas! that was a subject of no little difficulty to me. A person who has +been brought up to a profession naturally reverts to that profession—but +to what had I been brought up? As an apothecary—true; but I well knew +the difficulty of obtaining employment in what is termed a liberal +profession, without interest or recommendation; neither did I wish for +close confinement, as the very idea was irksome. As a mountebank, a +juggler, a quack doctor—I spurned the very idea. It was a system of +fraud and deceit. What then could I do? I could not dig, to beg I was +ashamed. I must trust to the chapter of accidents, and considering how +helpless I was, such trust was but a broken reed. At all events, I had a +sufficient sum of money, upwards of twenty pounds, to exist upon with +economy for some time. I was interrupted by a voice calling out, "Hilloa! +my lad, come and hold this horse a moment." I looked up and perceived a +person on horseback looking at me. "Do you hear, or are you stupid?" +cried the man. My first feeling was to knock him down for his +impertinence, but my bundle lying beside, reminded me of my situation +and appearance, and I rose and walked towards the horse. The gentleman, +for such he was in appearance, dismounted, and throwing the rein on the +horse's neck, told me to stand by him for half a minute. He went into a +respectable-looking house opposite the inn, and remained nearly half an +hour, during which I was becoming very impatient, and kept an anxious eye +upon my bundle, which lay on the seat. At last he came out, and mounting +his horse looked in my face with some degree of surprise. "Why, what are +you?" said he, as he pulled out a sixpence, and tendered it to me. +</p> +<p> +I was again nearly forgetting myself, affronted at the idea of sixpence +being offered to me; but I recovered myself, saying, as I took it, "A +poor labouring man, sir." +</p> +<p> +"What, with those hands?" said he, looking at them as I took the money; +and then looking at my face, he continued, "I think we have met before, +my lad—I cannot be sure; you know best—I am a Bow Street magistrate." +</p> +<p> +In a moment, I remembered that he was the very magistrate before whom I +had twice made my appearance. I coloured deeply, and made no reply. +</p> +<p> +"Well, my lad, I'm not on my bench now, and this sixpence you have earned +honestly. I trust you will continue in the right path. Be careful—I have +sharp eyes." So saying, he rode off. +</p> +<p class="quote"> +I never felt more mortified. It was evident that he considered me as one +who was acting a part for unworthy purposes; perhaps one of the swell +mob or a flash pickpocket rusticating until some hue and cry was over. +"Well, well," thought I, as I took up a lump of dirt and rubbed over my +then white hands, "it is my fate to be believed when I deceive, and to +be mistrusted when I am acting honestly;" and I returned to the bench +for my bundle, which—was gone. I stared with astonishment. "Is it +possible?" thought I. "How dishonest people are! Well, I will not carry +another for the present. They might as well have left me my stick." So +thinking, and without any great degree of annoyance at the loss, I turned +from the bench and walked away, I knew not whither. It was now getting +dark, but I quite forgot that it was necessary to look out for a lodging; +the fact is, that I had been completely upset by the observations of the +magistrate, and the theft of my bundle; and, in a sort of brown study, +from which I was occasionally recalled for a moment by stumbling over +various obstructions, I continued my walk on the pathway until I was +two or three miles away from Brentford. I was within a mile of Hounslow, +when I was roused by the groans of some person, and it being now dark + I looked round, trying to catch by the ear the direction in which to +offer my assistance. They proceeded from the other side of a hedge, and +I crawled through, where I found a man lying on the ground, covered with +blood about the head, and breathing heavily. I untied his <i>neckcloth</i>, +and, as well as I could, examined his condition. I bound his handkerchief +round his head, and perceiving that the position in which he was lying +was very unfavourable, his head and shoulders being much lower than his +body, I was dragging the body round so as to raise those parts, when I +heard footsteps and voices. Shortly after, four people burst through the +hedge and surrounded me. +</p> +<p> +"That is him, I'll swear to it," cried an immense stout man, seizing me; +"that is the other fellow who attacked me, and ran away. He has come to +get off his accomplice, and now we've just nicked them both." +</p> +<p> +"You are very much mistaken," replied I, "and you have no need to hold +me so tight. I heard the man groan, and I came to his assistance." +</p> +<p> +"That gammon won't do," replied one of them, who was a constable; "you'll +come along with us, and we may as well put on the <i>darbies</i>," continued +he, producing a pair of handcuffs. +</p> +<p> +Indignant at the insult, I suddenly broke from him who held me, and +darting at the constable, knocked him down, and then took to my heels +across the ploughed field. The whole four pursued, but I rather gained +upon them, and was in hopes to make my escape. I ran for a gap I perceived +in the hedge, and sprang over it, without minding the old adage, of "look +before you leap;" for, when on the other side, I found myself in a deep +and stagnant pit of water and mud. I sank over head, and with difficulty +extricated myself from the mud at the bottom, and when at the surface I +was equally embarrassed with the weeds at the top, among which I +floundered. In the meantime my pursuers, warned by the loud splash, had +paused when they came to the hedge, and perceiving my situation, were at +the brink of the pit watching for my coming out. All resistance was +useless. I was numbed with cold and exhausted by my struggles, and when +I gained the bank I surrendered at discretion. +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0136" id="h2HCH0136"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter LVIII +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + Worse and worse—If out of gaol, it will be to go out of the + world—I am resolved to take my secret with me. +</p> +<p> +The handcuffs were now put on without resistance on my part, and I was +led away to Hounslow by the two constables, while the others returned +to secure the wounded man. On my arrival I was thrust into the clink, +or lock-up house, as the magistrates would not meet that evening, and +there I was left to my reflections. Previously, however, to this, I was +searched, and my money, amounting, as I before stated, to upwards of +twenty pounds, taken from me by the constables, and what I had quite +forgotten, a diamond solitaire ring, which I had intended to have left +with my other bijouterie for Timothy, but in my hurry, when I left +London, I had allowed to remain upon my finger. The gaol was a square +building, with two unglazed windows secured with thick iron bars, and +the rain having beat in, it was more like a pound for cattle, for it +was not even paved, and the ground was three or four inches deep in mud. +There was no seat in it, and there I was the whole of the night walking +up and down shivering in my wet clothes, in a state of mind almost +bordering upon insanity. Reflect upon what was likely to happen, I could +not. I only ran over the past. I remembered what I had been, and felt +cruelly the situation I then was in. Had I deserved it? I thought not. +"Oh! father—father!" exclaimed I, bitterly, "see to what your son is +brought—handcuffed as a felon! God have mercy on my brain, for I feel +that it is wandering. Father, father—alas, I have none!—had you left +me at the asylum, without any clue, or hopes of a clue, to my hereafter +being reclaimed, it would have been a kindness; I should then have been +happy and contented in some obscure situation; but you raised hopes +only to prostrate them—and imaginings which have led to my destruction. +Sacred is the duty of a parent, and heavy must be the account of those +who desert their children, and are required by Heaven to render up an +account of the important trust. Couldst thou, oh! father, but now behold +thy son! God Almighty!—but I will not curse you, father! No, no"—and I +burst into tears, as I leant against the damp walls of the prison. +</p> +<p> +The day at last broke, and the sun rose, and poured his beaming rays +through the barred windows. I looked at myself, and was shocked at my +appearance; my smock-frock was covered with black mud, my clothes were +equally disfigured. I had lost my hat when in the water, and I felt the +dry mud cracking on my cheeks. I put my hands up to my head, and I +pulled a quantity of duck-weed out of my matted and tangled hair. I +thought of the appearance I should make when summoned before the +magistrates, and how much it would go against me. "Good God!" thought I, +"who, of all the world of fashion—who, of all those who once caught my +salutation so eagerly—who, of all those worldly-minded girls, who smiled +upon me but one short twelve months since, would imagine, or believe, +that Japhet Newland could ever have sunk so low—and how has he so +fallen? Alas! because he would be honest, and had strength of mind +enough to adhere to his resolution. Well, well, God's will be done; I +care not for life; but still an ignominious death—to go out of the +world like a dog, and that too without finding out who is my father." +And I put my fettered hands up and pressed my burning brow, and remained +in a sort of apathetic sullen mood, until I was startled by the opening +of the door, and the appearance of the constables. They led me out +among a crowd, through which, with difficulty, they could force their +way, and followed by the majority of the population of Hounslow, who +made their complimentary remarks upon the <i>footpad</i>, I was brought +before the magistrates. The large stout man was then called up to give +his evidence, and deposed as follows:— +</p> +<p> +"That he was walking to Hounslow from Brentford, whither he had been +to purchase some clothes, when he was accosted by two fellows in +smock-frocks, one of whom carried a bundle in his left hand. They +asked him what o'clock it was; and he took out his watch to tell them, +when he received a blow from the one with the bundle (this one, sir, +said he, pointing to me), on the back of his head; at the same time +the other (the wounded man who was now in custody) snatched his +watch.—That at the time he had purchased his clothes at Brentford, +he had also bought a bag of shot, fourteen pounds weight, which he +had, for the convenience of carrying, tied up with the clothes in the +bundle, and perceiving that he was about to be robbed, he had swung his +bundle round his head, and with the weight of the shot, had knocked +down the man who had snatched at his watch. He then turned to the other +(me) who backed from him, and struck at him with his stick. (The stick +was here produced, and when I cast my eye on it, I was horrified to +perceive that it was the very stick which I had bought of the Jew, for +three-pence, to carry my bundle on.) He had closed in with me, and was +wresting the stick out of my hand, when the other man, who had recovered +his legs, again attacked him with another stick. In the scuffle he had +obtained my stick, and I had wrested from him his bundle, with which, +as soon as he had knocked down my partner, I ran off. That he beat my +partner until he was insensible, and then found that I had left my own +bundle, which in the affray I had thrown on one side." He then made the +best of his way to Hounslow to give the information. His return and +finding me with the other man is already known to the readers. +</p> +<p> +The next evidence who came forward was the Jew, from whom I had bought +the clothes and sold my own. He narrated all that had occurred, and +swore to the clothes in the bundle left by the footpad, and to the stick +which he had sold to me. The constable then produced the money found +about my person and the diamond solitaire ring, stating my attempt to +escape when I was seized. The magistrate then asked me whether I had +anything to say in my defence, cautioning me not to commit myself. +</p> +<p> +I replied, that I was innocent; that it was true that I had sold my own +clothes, and had purchased those of the Jew, as well as the stick: that +I had been asked to hold the horse of a gentleman when sitting on a +bench opposite a public-house, and that some one had stolen my bundle +and my stick. That I had walked on towards Hounslow, and, in assisting +a fellow-creature, whom I certainly had considered as having been +attacked by others, I had merely yielded to the common feelings of +humanity—that I was seized when performing that duty, and should +willingly have accompanied them to the magistrate's, had not they +attempted to put on handcuffs, at which my feelings were roused, and I +knocked the constable down, and made my attempt to escape. +</p> +<p> +"Certainly, a very ingenious defence," observed one of the magistrates; +"pray where—!" At this moment the door opened, and in came the very +gentleman, the magistrate at Bow Street, whose horse I had held. "Good +morning, Mr Norman, you have just come in time to render us your +assistance. We have a very deep hand to deal with here, or else a very +injured person, I cannot tell which. Do us the favour to look over these +informations and the defence of the prisoner, previous to our asking him +any more questions." +</p> +<p> +The Bow Street magistrate complied, and then turned to me, but I was so +disguised with mud, that he could not recognise me. "You are the +gentleman, sir, who asked me to hold your horse," said I. "I call you to +witness, that that part of my assertion is true." +</p> +<p> +"I do now recollect that you are the person," replied he, "and you may +recollect the observation I made, relative to your hands, when you stated +that you were a poor countryman." +</p> +<p> +"I do, sir, perfectly," replied I. +</p> +<p> +"Perhaps then you will inform us by what means a diamond ring and twenty +pounds in money came into your possession?" +</p> +<p> +"Honestly, sir," replied I. +</p> +<p> +"Will you state, as you are a poor countryman, with whom you worked +last—what parish you belong to—and whom you can bring forward in proof +of good character?" +</p> +<p> +"I certainly shall not answer those questions," replied I; "if I chose I +might so do, and satisfactorily." +</p> +<p> +"What is your name?" +</p> +<p> +"I cannot answer that question either, sir," replied I. +</p> +<p> +"I told you yesterday that we had met before; was it not at Bow Street?" +</p> +<p> +"I am surprised at your asking a question, sir, from the bench, to which, +if I answered, the reply might affect me considerably. I am here in a +false position, and cannot well help myself. I have no friends that I +choose to call, for I should blush that they should see me in such a +state, and under such imputations." +</p> +<p> +"Your relations, young man, would certainly not be backward. Who is +your father?" +</p> +<p> +"My father!" exclaimed I, raising up my hands and eyes. "My father! +Merciful God!—if he could only see me here—see to what he has reduced +his unhappy son," and I covered my face, and sobbed convulsively. +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0137" id="h2HCH0137"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter LIX +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + By the committing of magisterial mistakes I am personally and + penally committed—I prepare for my trial by calling in the + assistance of the tailor and the perfumer—I am resolved to die + like a gentleman. +</p> +<p> +"It is indeed a pity, a great pity," observed one of the magistrates, +"such a fine young man, and evidently, by his demeanour and language, +well brought up; but I believe," said he turning to the others, "we have +but one course; what say you, Mr Norman?" +</p> +<p> +"I am afraid that my opinion coincides with yours, and that the grand +jury will not hesitate to find a bill, as the case stands at present. +Let us, however, ask the witness Armstrong one question. Do you +positively swear to this young man being one of the persons who attacked +you?" +</p> +<p> +"It was not very light at the time, sir, and both the men had their +faces <i>smutted;</i> but it was a person just his size, and dressed in the +ame way, as near as I can recollect." +</p> +<p> +"You cannot, therefore, swear to his identity?" +</p> +<p> +"No, sir; but to the best of my knowledge and belief, he is the man." +</p> +<p> +"Take that evidence down as important," said Mr Norman, "it will assist +him at his trial." +</p> +<p> +The evidence was taken down, and then my commitment to the county gaol +was made out. I was placed in a cart, between two constables, and driven +off. On my arrival I was put into a cell, and my money returned to me, +but the ring was detained, that it might be advertised. At last, I was +freed from the manacles, and when the prison dress was brought to me to +put on, in lieu of my own clothes, I requested leave from the gaoler to +wash myself, which was granted; and, strange to say, so unaccustomed had +I been to such a state of filth, that I felt a degree of happiness, as I +returned from the pump in the prison-yard, and I put on the prison dress +almost with pleasure; for degrading as it was, at all events, it was +new and clean. I then returned to my cell and was left to my meditations. +</p> +<p> +Now that my examination and committal were over, I became much more +composed, and was able to reflect coolly. I perceived the great +danger of my situation—how strong the evidence was against me—and +how little chance I had of escape. As for sending to Lord Windermear, +Mr Masterton, or those who formerly were acquainted with me, my pride +forbade it—I would sooner have perished on the scaffold. Besides, +their evidence as to my former situation in life, although it would +perhaps satisfactorily account for my possession of the money and the +ring, and for my disposing of my portmanteau—all strong presumptive +evidence against me—would not destroy the evidence brought forward as +to the robbery, which appeared to be so very conclusive to the bench of +magistrates. My only chance appeared to be in the footpad, who had not +escaped, acknowledging that I was not his accomplice, and I felt how much +I was interested in his recovery, as well as in his candour. The assizes +I knew were near at hand, and I anxiously awaited the return of the +gaoler, to make a few inquiries. At night he looked through the small +square cut out of the top of the door of the cell, for it was his duty +to go his rounds and ascertain if all his prisoners were safe. I then +asked him if I might be allowed to make a few purchases, such as pens, +ink, and paper, &c. As I was not committed to prison in punishment, but +on suspicion, this was not denied, although it would have been to those +who were condemned to imprisonment and hard labour for their offences; +and he volunteered to procure them for me the next morning. I then +wished him a good-night, and threw myself on my mattress. Worn out with +fatigue and distress of mind, I slept soundly, without dreaming, until +daylight the next morning. As I awoke, and my scattered senses were +returning, I had a confused idea that there was something which weighed +heavily on my mind, which sleep had banished from my memory. "What is +it?" thought I; and as I opened my eyes, so did I remember that I, +Japhet Newland, who but two nights before was pressing the down of +luxury in the same habitation as Lady de Clare and her lovely child, +was now on a mattress in the cell of a prison, under a charge which +threatened me with an ignominious death. I rose, and sat on the bed, +for I had not thrown off my clothes. My first thoughts were directed +to Timothy. Should I write to him? No, no! why should I make him +miserable? +</p> +<p> +If I was to suffer, it should be under an assumed name. But what name? +Here I was interrupted by the gaoler, who opened the door, and desired +me to roll up my mattress and bed-clothes, that they might, as was the +custom, be taken out of the cell during the day. +</p> +<p> +My first inquiry was, if the man who had been so much hurt was in the +gaol. +</p> +<p> +"You mean your 'complice," replied the gaoler. "Yes, he is here, and +has recovered his senses. The doctor says he will do very well." +</p> +<p> +"Has he made any confession?" inquired I. +</p> +<p> +The gaoler made no reply. +</p> +<p> +"I ask that question," continued I, "because if he acknowledges who was +his accomplice, I shall be set at liberty." +</p> +<p> +"Very likely," replied the man, sarcastically; "the fact is, there is +no occasion for king's evidence in this case, or you might get off by +crossing the water; so you must trust to your luck. The grand jury +meet to-day, and I will let you know whether a true bill is found +against you or not." +</p> +<p> +"What is the name of the other man?" inquired I. +</p> +<p> +"Well, you are a good un to put a face upon a matter, I will say. You +would almost persuade me, with that innocent look of yours, that you +know nothing about the business." +</p> +<p> +"Nor do I," replied I. +</p> +<p> +"You will be fortunate if you can prove as much, that's all." +</p> +<p> +"Still, you have not answered my question; what is the other man's name?" +</p> +<p> +"Well," replied the gaoler, laughing, "since you are determined I shall +tell you, I will. It must be news to you, with a vengeance. His name is +Bill Ogle, <i>alias</i> Swamping Bill. I suppose you never heard that name +before?" +</p> +<p> +"I certainly never did," replied I. +</p> +<p> +"Perhaps you do not know your own name? Yet I can tell it you, for Bill +Ogle has blown upon you so far." +</p> +<p> +"Indeed," replied I; "and what name has he given to me?" +</p> +<p> +"Why, to do him justice, it wasn't until he saw a copy of the +depositions before the magistrates, and heard how you were nabbed in +trying to help him off, that he did tell it; and then he said, 'Well, +Phil Maddox always was a true un, and I'm mortal sorry that he's in +for't, by looking a'ter me.' Now do you know your own name?" +</p> +<p> +"I certainly do not," replied I. +</p> +<p> +"Well, did you ever hear of one who went by the name of Phil Maddox?" +</p> +<p> +"I never did," replied I; "and I am glad that Ogle has disclosed so much." +</p> +<p> +"Well, I never before met with a man who didn't know his own name, or had +the face to say so, and expect to be believed; but never mind, you are +right to be cautious, with the halter looking you in the face." +</p> +<p> +"O God! O God!" exclaimed I, throwing myself on the bedstead, and +covering up my face, "give me strength to bear even that, if so it +must be." +</p> +<p> +The gaoler looked at me for a time. "I don't know what to make of +him—he puzzles me quite, certainly. Yet it's no mistake." +</p> +<p> +"It is a mistake," replied I, rising; "but whether the mistake will be +found out until too late, is another point. However, it is of little +consequence. What have I to live for,—unless to find out who is my +father?" +</p> +<p> +"Find out your father! what's in the wind now? well, it beats my +comprehension altogether. But did not you say you wished me to get +you something?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes," replied I; and I gave him some money, with directions to +purchase me implements for writing, some scented wax, a tooth-brush, +and tooth-powder, eau de cologne, hair-brush and comb, razors, small +looking-glass, and various implements for my toilet. +</p> +<p> +"This is a rum world," said the man, repeating what I asked for, as I +put two guineas in his hand. "I've purchased many a article for a +prisoner, but never heard of such rattletraps afore; however, that be +all the same. You will have them, though what <i>ho de colum</i> is I can't +tell, nor dang me if I shall recollect—not poison, be it, for that is +not allowed in the prison?" +</p> +<p> +"No, no," replied I, indulging in momentary mirth at the idea; "you may +inquire, and you will find that it's only taken by ladies who are +troubled with the vapours." "Now I should ha' thought that you'd have +spent your money in the cookshop, which is so much more natural. However, +we all have our fancies;" so saying, he quitted the cell, and locked the +door. +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0138" id="h2HCH0138"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter LX +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + I am condemned to be hung by the neck until I am dead, and to go + out of the world without finding out who is my father—Afterwards + my innocence is made manifest and I am turned adrift a maniac in + the high road. +</p> +<p> +It may appear strange to the reader that I sent for the above-mentioned +articles, but habit is second nature, and although two days before, when +I set out on my pilgrimage, I had resolved to discard these +superfluities, yet now in my distress I felt as if they would comfort me. +That evening, after rectifying a few mistakes on the part of the +good-tempered gaoler, by writing down what I wanted on the paper which +he had procured me, I obtained all that I required. +</p> +<p> +The next morning, he informed me that the grand jury had found a true +bill against me, and that on the Saturday next, the assizes would be +held. He also brought me the list of trials, and I found that mine would +be one of the last, and would not probably come on until Monday or +Tuesday. I requested him to send for a good tailor, as I wished to be +dressed in a proper manner, previous to appearing in court. As a prisoner +is allowed to go into court in his own clothes instead of the gaol dress, +this was consented to, and when the man came, I was very particular in my +directions, so much so, that it surprised him. He also procured me the +other articles I required to complete my dress, and on Saturday night I +had them all ready, for I was resolved that I would at least die as a +gentleman. +</p> +<p> +Sunday passed away, not as it ought to have passed, certainly. I +attended prayers, but my thoughts were elsewhere—how, indeed, could it +be otherwise? Who can control his thoughts? He may attempt so to do, but +the attempt is all that can be made. He cannot command them. I heard +nothing, my mind was in a state of gyration, whirling round from one +thing to the other, until I was giddy from intensity of feeling. +</p> +<p> +On Monday morning the gaoler came and asked me whether I would have legal +advice. I replied in the negative. "You will be called about twelve +o'clock, I hear," continued he; "it is now ten, and there is only one +more trial before yours, about the stealing of four geese and half a +dozen fowls." +</p> +<p> +"Good God!" thought I, "and am I mixed up with such deeds as these?" I +dressed myself with the utmost care and precision, and never was more +successful. My clothes were black, and fitted well. About one o'clock I +was summoned by the gaoler, and led between him and another to the +court-house, and placed in the dock. At first my eyes swam, and I could +distinguish nothing, but gradually I recovered. I looked round, for I +had called up my courage. My eyes wandered from the judge to the row of +legal gentlemen below him; from them to the well-dressed ladies who sat +in the gallery above; behind me I did not look. I had seen enough, and +my cheeks burned with shame. At last I looked at my fellow-culprit, who +stood beside me, and his eyes at the same time met mine. He was dressed +in the gaol clothes, of pepper and salt coarse cloth. He was a rough, +vulgar, brutal looking man, but his eye was brilliant, his complexion +was dark, and his face was covered with whiskers. "Good heavens," +thought I, "who will ever imagine or credit that we have been +associates?" +</p> +<p> +The man stared at me, bit his lip, and smiled with contempt, but made no +further remark. The indictment having been read, the clerk of the court +cried out, "You, Benjamin Ogle, having heard the charge, say, guilty or +not guilty?" +</p> +<p> +"Not guilty," replied the man, to my astonishment. +</p> +<p> +"You, Philip Maddox, guilty or not guilty?" I did not answer. +</p> +<p> +"Prisoner," observed the judge in a mild voice, "you must answer, +guilty or not guilty. It is merely a form." +</p> +<p> +"My lord," replied I, "my name is not Philip Maddox." +</p> +<p> +"That is the name given in the indictment by the evidence of your +fellow-prisoner," observed the judge; "your real name we cannot pretend +to know. It is sufficient that you answer to the question of whether you, +the prisoner, are guilty or not guilty." +</p> +<p> +"Not guilty, my lord, most certainly," replied I, placing my hand to my +heart, and bowing to him. +</p> +<p> +The trial proceeded; Armstrong was the principal evidence. To my person +he would not swear. The Jew proved my selling my clothes, purchasing +those found in the bundle, and the stick, of which Armstrong possessed +himself. The clothes I had on at the time of my capture were produced in +court. As for Ogle, his case was decisive. We were then called upon for +our defence. Ogle's was very short. "He had been accustomed to fits all +his life—was walking to Hounslow, and had fallen down in a fit. It must +have been somebody else who had committed the robbery and had made off, +and he had been picked up in a mistake." This defence appeared to make +no other impression than ridicule, and indignation at the barefaced +assertion. I was then called on for mine. +</p> +<p> +"My lord," said I, "I have no defence to make except that which I +asserted before the magistrates, that I was performing an act of +charity towards a fellow-creature, and was, through that, supposed to +be an accomplice." +</p> +<p> +"Arraigned before so many upon a charge, at the bare accusation of which +my blood revolts, I cannot and will not allow those who might prove what +my life has been, and the circumstances which induced me to take up the +disguise in which I was taken, to appear in my behalf. I am unfortunate, +but not guilty. One only chance appears to be open to me, which is, in +the candour of the party who now stands by me. If he will say to the +court that he ever saw me before, I will submit without murmur to my +sentence." +</p> +<p> +"I'm sorry that you've put that question, my boy," replied the man, "for +I have seen you before;" and the wretch chuckled with repressed laughter. +</p> +<p> +I was so astonished, so thunderstruck with this assertion, that I held +own my head, and made no reply. The judge then summed up the evidence +to the jury, pointing out to them, that of Ogle's guilt there could be +no doubt, and of mine, he was sorry to say, but little. Still they must +bear in mind that the witness Armstrong could not swear to my person. +The jury, without leaving the box, consulted together a short time, and +brought in a verdict of guilty against Benjamin Ogle and Philip Maddox. +I heard no more—the judge sentenced us both to execution: he lamented +that so young and prepossessing a person as myself should be about to +suffer for such an offence: he pointed out the necessity of condign +punishment, and gave us no hopes of pardon or clemency. But I heard him +not—I did not fall, but I was in a state of stupor. At last, he wound up +his sentence by praying us to prepare ourselves for the awful change, by +an appeal to that heavenly Father—"Father!" exclaimed I, in a voice +which electrified the court, "did you say my father? O God! where is +he?" and I fell down in a fit. The handkerchiefs of the ladies were +applied to their faces, the whole court were moved, for I had, by my +appearance, excited considerable interest, and the judge, with a +faltering, subdued voice, desired that the prisoners might be removed. +</p> +<p> +"Stop one minute, my good fellow," said Ogle, to the gaoler, while +others were taking me out of court. "My lord, I've something rather +important to say. Why I did not say it before, you shall hear. You are +a judge, to condemn the guilty, and release the innocent. We are told +that there is no trial like an English jury, but this I say, that many +a man is hung for what he never has been guilty of. You have condemned +that poor young man to death. I could have prevented it if I had chosen +to speak before, but I would not, that I might prove how little there is +of justice. He had nothing to do with the robbery—Phil Maddox was the +man, and he is not Philip Maddox. He said that he never saw me before, +nor do I believe that he ever did. As sure as I shall hang, he is +innocent." +</p> +<p> +"It was but now, that when appealed to by him, you stated that you had +seen him before." +</p> +<p> +"So I did, and I told the truth—I had seen him before. I saw him go to +hold the gentleman's horse, but he did not see me. I stole his bundle +and his stick, which he left on the bench, and that's how they were found +in our possession. Now you have the truth, and you may either acknowledge +that there is little justice, by eating your own words, and letting him +free, or you may hang him, rather than acknowledge that you are wrong. +At all events, his blood will now be on your hands, and not mine. If +Phil Maddox had not turned tail, like a coward, I should not have been +here; so I tell the truth to save him who was doing me a kind act, and +to let him swing who left me in the lurch." +</p> +<p> +The judge desired that this statement might be taken down, that further +inquiry might be made, intimating to the jury, that I should be respited +for the present; but of all this I was ignorant. As there was no placing +confidence in the assertions of such a man as Ogle, it was considered +necessary that he should repeat his assertions at the last hour of his +existence, and the gaoler was ordered not to state what had passed to +me, as he might excite false hopes. +</p> +<p> +When I recovered from my fit, I found myself in the gaoler's parlour, +and as soon as I was able to walk, I was locked up in a condemned cell. +The execution had been ordered to take place on the Thursday, and I had +two days to prepare. In the meantime, the greatest interest had been +excited with regard to me. My whole appearance so evidently belied the +charge, that everyone was in my favour. Ogle was requestioned, and +immediately gave a clue for the apprehension of Maddox, who, he said, +he hoped would swing by his side. +</p> +<p> +The gaoler came to me the next day, saying, that some of the magistrates +wished to speak with me; but as I had made up my mind not to reveal my +former life, my only reply was, "That I begged they would allow me to +have my last moments to myself." I recollected Melchior's idea of +destiny, and imagined that he was right. "It was my destiny," thought +I: and I remained in a state of stupor. The fact was, that I was very +ill, my head was heavy, my brain was on fire, and the throbbing of my +heart could have been perceived without touching my breast. +</p> +<p> +I remained on the mattress all day, and all the next night, with my face +buried in the clothes! I was too ill to raise my head. On Wednesday +morning I felt myself gently pushed on the shoulder by some one; I +opened my eyes; it was a clergyman. I turned away my head, and remained +as before. I was then in a violent fever. He spoke for some time: +occasionally I heard a word, and then relapsed into a state of mental +imbecility. He sighed, and went away. +</p> +<p> +Thursday came, and the hour of death,—but time was by me unheeded, as +well as eternity. In the meantime Maddox had been taken, and the contents +of Armstrong's bundle found in his possession; and when he discovered +that Ogle had been evidence against him, he confessed to the robbery. +</p> +<p> +Whether it was on Thursday or Friday, I knew not then, but I was lifted +off the bed, and taken before somebody—something passed, but the fever +had mounted up to my head, and I was in a state of stupid delirium. +Strange to say, they did not perceive my condition, but ascribed it all +to abject fear of death. I was led away—I had made no answer—but I was +free. +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0139" id="h2HCH0139"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter LXI +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + When at the lowest spoke of Fortune's wheel, one is sure to rise + as it turns round—I recover my senses and find myself amongst + <i>Friends.</i> +</p> +<p> +I think some people shook me by the hand, and others shouted as I walked +in the open air, but I recollect no more. I afterwards was informed that +I had been reprieved, that I had been sent for, and a long exhortation +delivered to me, for it was considered that my life must have been one +of error, or I should have applied to my friends, and have given my +name. My not answering was attributed to shame and confusion—my +glassy eye had not been noticed—my tottering step when led in by the +gaolers attributed to other causes; and the magistrates shook their +heads as I was led out of their presence. The gaoler had asked me +several times where I intended to go. At last, I had told him, <i>to seek +my father,</i> and darting away from him, I had run like a madman down the +street. Of course he had no longer any power over me: but he muttered, +as I fled from him, "I've a notion he'll soon be locked up again, poor +fellow! it's turned his brain for certain." +</p> +<p> +As I tottered along, my unsteady step naturally attracted the attention +of the passers-by; but they attributed it to intoxication. Thus was I +allowed to wander away in a state of madness, and before night I was +far from the town. What passed, and whither I had bent my steps, I +cannot tell. All I know is, that after running like a maniac, seizing +everybody by the arm that I met, staring at them with wild and flashing +eyes; and sometimes in a solemn voice, at others in a loud, threatening +tone, startling them with the interrogatory, "Are you my father?" and +then darting away, or sobbing like a child, as the humour took me, I +had crossed the country, and three days afterwards I was picked up at +the door of a house in the town of Reading, exhausted with fatigue and +exposure, and nearly dead. When I recovered, I found myself in bed, my +head shaved, my arm bound up, after repeated bleedings, and a female +figure sitting by me. +</p> +<p> +"God in heaven! where am I?" exclaimed I, faintly. +</p> +<p> +"Thou hast called often upon thy earthly father during the time of thy +illness, friend," replied a soft voice. "It rejoiceth me much to hear +thee call upon thy Father which is in heaven. Be comforted, thou art in +the hands of those who will be mindful of thee. Offer up thy thanks in +one short prayer, for thy return to reason, and then sink again into +repose, for thou must need it much." +</p> +<p> +I opened my eyes wide, and perceived that a young person in a Quaker's +dress was sitting by the bed working with her needle; an open Bible was +on a little table before her. I perceived also a cup, and parched with +thirst, I merely said, "Give me to drink." She arose, and put a teaspoon +to my lips; but I raised my hand, took the cup from her, and emptied it. +O how delightful was that draught! I sank down on my pillow, for even +that slight exertion had overpowered me, and muttering, "God, I thank +thee!" I was immediately in a sound sleep, from which I did not awake +for many hours. When I did, it was not daylight. A lamp was on the table, +and an old man in a Quaker's dress was snoring very comfortably in the +arm-chair. I felt quite refreshed with my long sleep, and was now able +to recall what had passed. I remembered the condemned cell, and the +mattress upon which I lay, but all after was in a state of confusion. +Here and there a fact or supposition was strong in my memory; but the +intervals between were total blanks. I was, at all events, free, that I +felt convinced of, and that I was in the hands of the sect who denominate +themselves Quakers: but where was I? and how did I come here? I remained +thinking on the past, and wondering, until the day broke, and with the +daylight roused up my watchful attendant. He yawned, stretched his arms, +and rising from the chair, came to the side of my bed. I looked him in +the face. "Hast thou slept well, friend?" said he. +</p> +<p> +"I have slept as much as I wish, and would not disturb <i>you,"</i> replied +I, "for I wanted nothing." +</p> +<p> +"Peradventure I did sleep," replied the man; "watching long agreeth not +with the flesh, although the spirit is most willing. Requirest thou +anything?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes," replied I, "I wish to know where I am?" +</p> +<p> +"Verily, thou art in the town of Reading in Berkshire, and in the house +of Phineas Cophagus." +</p> +<p> +"Cophagus!" exclaimed I; "Mr Cophagus, the surgeon and apothecary?" +</p> +<p> +"Phineas Cophagus is his name; he hath been admitted into our sect, and +hath married a daughter of our persuasion. He hath attended thee in thy +fever and thy frenzy, without calling in the aid of the physician, +therefore do I believe that he must be the man of whom thou speakest; +yet doth he not follow up the healing art for the lucre of gain." +</p> +<p> +"And the young person who was at my bedside, is she his wife?" +</p> +<p> +"Nay, friend, she is half-sister to the wife of Phineas Cophagus by a +second marriage, and a maiden, who was named Susannah Temple at the +baptismal font; but I will go to Phineas Cophagus and acquaint him of +your waking, for such were his directions." +</p> +<p> +The man then quitted the room, leaving me quite astonished with the +information he had imparted. Cophagus turned Quaker! and attending me +in the town of Reading. In a short time Mr Cophagus himself entered in +his dressing-gown. "Japhet!" said he, seizing my hand with eagerness, +and then, as if recollecting, he checked himself, and commenced in a +slow tone, "Japhet Newland—truly glad am I—hum—verily do I +rejoice—you, Ephraim—get out of the room—and so on." +</p> +<p> +"Yea, I will depart, since it is thy bidding," replied the man, quitting +the room. +</p> +<p> +Mr Cophagus then greeted me in his usual way—told me that he had found +me insensible at the door of a house a little way off, and had +immediately recognised me. He had brought me to his own home, but without +much hope of my recovery. He then begged to know by what strange chance +I had been found in such a desolate condition. I replied, "that although +I was able to listen, I did not feel myself equal to the exertion of +telling so long a story, and that I should infinitely prefer that he +should narrate to me what had passed since we had parted at Dublin, +and how it was that I now found that he had joined the sect of Quakers." +</p> +<p> +"Peradventure—long word that—um—queer people—very good—and so on," +commenced Mr Cophagus; but as the reader will not understand his +phraseology quite so well as I did, I shall give Mr Cophagus's history +in my own version. +</p> +<p> +Mr Cophagus had returned to the small town at which he resided, and, +on his arrival, he had been called upon by a gentleman who was of the +Society of Friends, requesting that he would prescribe for a niece of his, +who was on a visit at his house, and had been taken dangerously ill. +Cophagus, with his usual kindness of heart, immediately consented, and +found that Mr Temple's report was true. For six weeks he attended the +young Quakeress, and recovered her from an imminent and painful disease, +in which she showed such fortitude and resignation, and such +unconquerable good temper, that when Mr Cophagus returned to his +bachelor's establishment, he could not help reflecting upon what an +invaluable wife she would make, and how much more cheerful his house +would be with such a domestic partner. +</p> +<p> +In short, Mr Cophagus fell in love, and like all elderly gentlemen who +have so long bottled up their affections, he became most desperately +enamoured; and if he loved Miss Judith Temple when he witnessed her +patience and resignation under suffering, how much more did he love her +when he found that she was playful, merry, and cheerful, without being +boisterous, when restored to her health. Mr Cophagus's attentions could +not be misunderstood. He told her uncle that he had thought seriously +of wedding cake—white favours—marriage—family—and so on; and to the +young lady he had put his cane up to his nose and prescribed, "A dose of +matrimony—to be taken immediately." To Mr Cophagus there was no +objection raised by the lady, who was not in her teens, or by the uncle, +who had always respected him as a worthy man, and a good Christian; but +to marry one who was not of her persuasion, was not to be thought of. +Her friends would not consent to it. Mr Cophagus was therefore dismissed, +with a full assurance that the only objection which offered was, that he +was not of their society. +</p> +<p> +Mr Cophagus walked home discomforted. He sat down on his easy chair, and +found it excessively uneasy—he sat down to his solitary meal, and found +that his own company was unbearable—he went to bed, but found that it +was impossible to go to sleep. The next morning, therefore, Mr Cophagus +returned to Mr Temple, and stated his wish to be made acquainted with +the difference between the tenets of the Quaker persuasion and those of +the Established Church. Mr Temple gave him an outline, which appeared to +Mr Cophagus to be very satisfactory, and then referred him to his niece +for fuller particulars. When a man enters into an argument with a full +desire to be convinced, and with his future happiness perhaps depending +upon that conviction; and when, further, those arguments are brought +forward by one of the prettiest voices, and backed by the sweetest of +smiles, it is not to be wondered at his soon becoming a proselyte. Thus +it was with Mr Cophagus, who in a week, discovered that the peace, +humility, and good-will, upon which the Quaker tenets are founded, were +much more congenial to the true spirit of the Christian revelation than +the Athanasian Creed, to be sung or said in our Established Churches; +and with this conviction, Mr Cophagus requested admission into the +fraternity, and shortly after his admission, it was thought advisable by +the Friends that his faith should be confirmed and strengthened by his +espousal of Miss Judith Temple, with whom, at her request—and he could +refuse her nothing—he had repaired to the town of Reading, in which her +relations all resided; and Phineas Cophagus, of the Society of Friends, +declared himself to be as happy as a man could be. "Good people, +Japhet—um—honest people, Japhet—don't fight—little stiff—spirit +moves—and so on," said Mr Cophagus, as he concluded his narrative, and +then shaking me by the hand, retired to shave and dress. +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0140" id="h2HCH0140"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter LXII +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + I fall in love with religion when preached by one who has the + form of an angel. +</p> +<p> +In half an hour afterwards Ephraim came in with a draught, which I was +desired to take by Mr Cophagus, and then to try and sleep. This was good +advice, and I followed it. I awoke after a long, refreshing sleep, and +found Mr and Mrs Cophagus sitting in the room, she at work and he +occupied with a book. When I opened my eyes, and perceived a female, I +looked to ascertain if it was the young person whom Ephraim had stated +to be Susannah Temple; not that I recollected her features exactly, but +I did the contour of her person. Mrs Cophagus was taller, and I had a +fair scrutiny of her before they perceived that I was awake. Her face +was very pleasing, features small and regular. She appeared to be about +thirty years of age, and was studiously neat and clean in her person. +Her Quaker's dress was not without some little departure from the strict +fashion and form, sufficient to assist, without deviating from, its +simplicity. If I might use the term, it was a little coquettish, and +evinced that the wearer, had she not belonged to that sect, would have +shown great taste in the adornment of her person. +</p> +<p> +Mr Cophagus, although he did not think so himself, as I afterwards found +out, was certainly much improved by his change of costume. His +spindle-shanks, which, as I have before observed, were peculiarly at +variance with his little orbicular, orange-shaped stomach, were now +concealed in loose trousers, which took off from the protuberance of the +latter, and added dignity to the former, blending the two together, so +that his roundness became fine by degrees, and beautifully less as it +descended. Altogether, the Quaker dress added very much to the +substantiability of his appearance, and was a manifest improvement, +especially when he wore his broad-brimmed hat. Having satisfied my +curiosity, I moved the curtain so as to attract their attention, and +Cophagus came to my bedside, and felt my pulse. "Good—very good—all +right—little broth—throw in bark—on his legs—well as ever—and so on." +</p> +<p> +"I am indeed much better this afternoon," replied I; "indeed, so well, +that I feel as if I could get up." +</p> +<p> +"Pooh:—tumble down—never do—lie a bed—get strong—wife—Mrs +Cophagus—Japhet—old friend." +</p> +<p> +Mrs Cophagus had risen from her chair, and come towards the bed, when +her husband introduced her in his own fashion. "I am afraid that I have +been a great trouble, madam," said I. +</p> +<p> +"Japhet Newland, we have done but our duty, even if thou wert not, as +it appears that thou art, a friend of my husband. Consider me, therefore, +as thy sister, and I will regard thee as a brother; and if thou wouldst +wish it, thou shalt sojourn with us, for so hath my husband communicated +his wishes unto me." +</p> +<p> +I thanked her for her kind expressions, and took the fair hand which was +offered in such amity. Cophagus then asked me if I was well enough to +inform him of what had passed since our last meeting, and telling me that +his wife knew my whole history, and that I might speak before her, he took +his seat by the side of the bed, his wife also drew her chair nearer, and +I commenced the narrative of what had passed since we parted in Ireland. +When I had finished, Mr Cophagus commenced as usual, "Um—very odd—lose +money—bad—grow honest—good—run away from friends—bad—not hung— +good—brain fever—bad—come here—good—stay with us—quite +comfortable—and so on." +</p> +<p> +"Thou hast suffered much, friend Japhet," said Mrs Cophagus, wiping her +eyes; "and I would almost venture to say, hast been chastised too +severely, were it not that those whom He loveth, He chastiseth. Still +thou art saved, and now out of danger; peradventure thou wilt now quit +a vain world, and be content to live with us; nay, as thou hast the +example of thy former master, it may perhaps please the Lord to advise +thee to become one of us, and to join us as a Friend. My husband was +persuaded to the right path by me," continued she, looking fondly at +him; "who knoweth but some of our maidens may also persuade thee to +eschew a vain, unrighteous world, and follow thy Redeemer in humility?" +</p> +<p> +"Very true—um—very true," observed Cophagus, putting more Quakerism +than usual in his style, and drawing out his ums to treble their usual +length; "Happy life—Japhet—um—all at peace—quiet amusements—think +about it—um—no hurry—never swear—by-and-bye heh!—spirit may +move—um—not now—talk about it—get well—set up shop—and so on." +</p> +<p> +I was tired with talking so much, and having taken some nourishment, +gain fell asleep. When I awoke in the evening, friend Cophagus and his +wife were not in the room; but Susannah Temple, whom I had first seen, +and of whom I had made inquiry of Ephraim, who was Cophagus's servant. +She was sitting close to the light and reading, and long did I continue +to gaze upon her, fearful of interrupting her. She was the most +beautiful specimen of clear and transparent white that I ever had +beheld—her complexion was unrivalled—her eyes were large, but I could +not ascertain their colour, as they were cast down upon her book, and +hid by her long fringed eyelashes—her eyebrows arched and regular, as +if drawn by a pair of compasses, and their soft hair in beautiful +contrast with her snowy forehead—her hair was auburn, but mostly +concealed within her cap—her nose was very straight but not very large, +and her mouth was perfection. She appeared to be between seventeen and +eighteen years old, as far as I could ascertain, her figure was +symmetrically perfect. Dressed as she was in the modest, simple garb +worn by the females of the Society of Friends, she gave an idea of +neatness, cleanliness, and propriety, upon which I could have gazed for +ever. She was, indeed, most beautiful. I felt her beauty, her purity, +and I could have worshipped her as an angel. While I still had my eyes +fixed upon her exquisite features, she closed her book, and rising from +her chair, came to the side of the bed. That she might not be startled +at the idea of my having been watching her, I closed my eyes, and +pretended to slumber. She resumed her seat, and then I changed my +position and spoke, "Is any one there?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, friend Newland, what is it that thou requirest?" said she, +advancing. "Wouldst thou see Cophagus or Ephraim? I will summon them." +</p> +<p> +"O no," replied I; "why should I disturb them from their amusements or +employments? I have slept a long while, and I would like to read a little +I think, if my eyes are not too weak." +</p> +<p> +"Thou must not read, but I may read unto thee," replied Susannah. "Tell +me, what is it that thou wouldest have me read? I have no vain books; +but surely thou thinkest not of them, after thy escape from death." +</p> +<p> +"I care not what is read, provided that you read to me," replied I. +</p> +<p> +"Nay, but thou shouldest care; and be not wroth if I say to thee, that +there is but one book to which thou shouldest now listen. Thou hast been +saved from deadly peril—thou hast been rescued from the jaws of death. +Art thou not thankful? And to whom is gratitude most due, but to thy +heavenly Father, who hath been pleased to spare thee?" +</p> +<p> +"You are right," replied I; "then I pray you to read to me from the +Bible." +</p> +<p> +Susannah made no reply, but resumed her seat, and selecting those +chapters most appropriate to my situation, read them in a beautiful +and impressive tone. +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0141" id="h2HCH0141"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter LXIII +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + Pride and love at issue—the latter is victorious—I turn Quaker + and recommence my old profession. +</p> +<p> +If the reader will recall my narrative to his recollection, he must +observe, that religion had had hitherto but little of my thoughts. I +had lived the life of most who live in this world; perhaps not quite +so correct in morals as many people, for my code of morality was suited +to circumstances; as to religion, I had none. I had lived in the world, +and for the world. I had certainly been well instructed in the tenets +of our faith when I was at the Asylum, but there, as in most other +schools, it is made irksome, as a task, and is looked upon with almost +a feeling of aversion. No proper religious sentiments are, or can be, +inculcated to a large number of scholars; it is the parent alone who +can instil, by precept and example, that true sense of religion, which +may serve as a guide through life. I had not read the Bible from the +time that I quitted the Foundling Hospital. It was new to me, and when +I now heard read, by that beautiful creature, passages equally beautiful, +and so applicable to my situation, weakened with disease, and humbled +in adversity, I was moved, even unto tears. +</p> +<p> +Susannah closed the book and came to the bedside. I thanked her: she +perceived my emotion, and when I held out my hand she did not refuse +hers. I kissed it, and it was immediately withdrawn, and she left the +room. Shortly afterwards Ephraim made his appearance. Cophagus and his +wife also came that evening, but I saw no more of Susannah Temple until +the following day, when I again requested her to read to me. +</p> +<p> +I will not detain the reader by an account of my recovery. In three +weeks I was able to leave the room; during that time, I had become very +intimate with the whole family, and was treated as if I belonged to it. +During my illness I had certainly shown more sense of religion than I +had ever done before, but I do not mean to say that I was really +religious. I liked to hear the Bible read by Susannah, and I liked to +talk with her upon religious subjects; but had Susannah been an ugly old +woman, I very much doubt if I should have been so attentive. It was her +extreme beauty—her modesty and fervour, which so became her, which +enchanted me. I felt the beauty of religion, but it was through an +earthly object; it was beautiful in her. She looked an angel, and I +listened to her precepts as delivered by one. Still, whatever may be +the cause by which a person's attention can be directed to so important +a subject, so generally neglected, whether by fear of death, or by love +towards an earthly object, the advantages are the same; and although very +far from what I ought to have been, I certainly was, through my +admiration of her, a better man. +</p> +<p> +As soon as I was on the sofa, wrapped up in one of the dressing-gowns of +Mr Cophagus, he told me that the clothes in which I had been picked up +were all in tatters, and asked me whether I would like to have others +made according to the usual fashion, or like those with whom I should, +he trusted, in future reside. I had already debated this matter in my +mind. Return to the world I had resolved not to do; to follow up the +object of my search appeared to me only to involve me in difficulties; +and what were the intentions of Cophagus with regard to me, I knew not. +I was hesitating, for I knew not what answer to give, when I perceived +the pensive, deep blue eye of Susannah fixed upon me, watching +attentively, if not eagerly, for my response. +</p> +<p> +It decided the point. "If," replied I, "you do not think that I should +disgrace you, I should wish to wear the dress of the Society of Friends, +although not yet one of your body." +</p> +<p> +"But soon to be, I trust," replied Mrs Cophagus. +</p> +<p> +"Alas!" replied I, "I am an outcast;" and I looked at Susannah Temple. +</p> +<p> +"Not so, Japhet Newland," replied she, mildly; "I am pleased that thou +hast of thy own accord rejected vain attire. I trust that thou wilt not +find that thou art without friends." +</p> +<p> +"While I am with you," replied I, addressing myself to them all, "I +consider it my duty to conform to your manners in every way, but +by-and-bye, when I resume my search—" +</p> +<p> +"And why shouldst thou resume a search which must prove unavailing, and +but leads thee into error and misfortune? I am but young, Japhet Newland, +and not perhaps so able to advise, yet doth it appear to me, that the +search can only be availing when made by those who left thee. When they +wish for you, they will seek thee, but thy seeking them is vain and +fruitless." +</p> +<p> +"But," replied I, "recollect that inquiries have already been made at the +Foundling, and those who inquired have been sent away disappointed—they +will enquire no more." +</p> +<p> +"And is a parent's love so trifling, that one disappointment will drive +him from seeking of his child? No, no, Japhet; if thou art yearned for, +thou wilt be found, and fresh inquiries will be made; but thy search is +unavailing, and already hast thou lost much time." +</p> +<p> +"True, Susannah, thy advice is good," replied Mrs Cophagus; "in following +a shadow Japhet hath much neglected the substance; it is time that thou +shouldst settle thyself, and earn thy livelihood." +</p> +<p> +"And do thy duty in that path of life to which it hath pleased God to +call thee," continued Susannah, who with Mrs Cophagus walked out of the +room. +</p> +<p> +Cophagus then took up the conversation, and pointing out the uselessness +of my roving about, and the propriety of my settling in life, proposed +that I should take an apothecary's shop, for which he would furnish the +means, and that he could ensure me the custom of the whole Society of +Friends in Reading, which was very large, as there was not one of the +sect in that line of business. "Become one of us, Japhet—good +business—marry by-and-bye—happy life—little children—and so on." I +thought of Susannah, and was silent. Cophagus then said, I had better +reflect upon his offer, and make up my determination. If that did not +suit me, he would still give me all the assistance in his power. I did +reflect long before I could make up my mind. I was still worldly +inclined; still my fancy would revel in the idea of finding out my +father in high life, and, as once more appearing as a star of fashion, +of returning with interest the contumely I had lately received, and +re-assuming as a right that position in society which I had held under +false colours. +</p> +<p> +I could not bear the idea of sinking at once into a tradesman, and +probably ending my days in obscurity. Pride was still my ruling passion. +Such were my first impulses, and then I looked upon the other side of +the picture. I was without the means necessary to support myself; I +could not return to high life without I discovered my parents in the +first place, and in the second, found them to be such as my warm +imagination had depicted. I had no chance of finding them. I had +already been long seeking in vain. I had been twice taken up to Bow +Street—nearly lost my life in Ireland—had been sentenced to death—had +been insane, and recovered by a miracle, and all in prosecuting this +useless search. All this had much contributed to cure me of the +monomania. I agreed with Susannah that the search must be made by the +other parties, and not by me. I recalled the treatment I had received +from the world—the contempt with which I had been treated—the +heartlessness of high life, and the little chance of my ever again being +admitted into fashionable society. +</p> +<p> +I placed all this in juxtaposition with the kindness of those with whom I +now resided—what they had done already for me, and what they now +offered, which was to make me independent by my own exertions. I weighed +all in my mind; was still undecided, for my pride still carried its +weight; when I thought of the pure, beautiful Susannah Temple, and—my +decision was made. I would not lose the substance by running after +shadows. +</p> +<p> +That evening, with many thanks, I accepted the kind offers of Mr +Cophagus, and expressed my determination of entering into the Society +of Friends. +</p> +<p> +"Thou hast chosen wisely," said Mrs Cophagus, extending her hand to me, +"and it is with pleasure that we shall receive thee." +</p> +<p> +"I welcome thee, Japhet Newland," said Susannah, also offering her hand, +"and I trust that thou wilt find more happiness among those with whom +thou art about to sojourn, than in the world of vanity and deceit, in +which thou hast hitherto played thy part. No longer seek an earthly +father, who hath deserted thee, but a heavenly Father, who will not +desert thee in thy afflictions." +</p> +<p> +"You shall direct me into the right path, Susannah," replied I. +</p> +<p> +"I am too young to be a guide, Japhet," replied she, smiling; "but +not too young, I hope, to be a friend." +</p> +<p> +The next day my clothes came home, and I put them on. I looked at myself +in the glass, and was anything but pleased; but as my head was shaved, +it was of little consequence what I wore; so I consoled myself. Mr +Cophagus sent for a barber and ordered me a wig, which was to be ready +in a few days; when it was ready I put it on, and altogether did not +dislike my appearance. I flattered myself that if I was a Quaker, at all +events I was a very good looking and a very smart one; and when, a day or +two afterwards, a reunion of friends took place at Mr Cophagus's house to +introduce me to them, I perceived, with much satisfaction, that there was +no young man who could compete with me. After this, I was much more +reconciled to my transformation. +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0142" id="h2HCH0142"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter LXIV +</h2> +<p class="quote"> I prosper in every way, and become reconciled to my situation. + </p> + +<p> +Mr Cophagus was not idle. In a few weeks he had rented a shop for me, and +furnished it much better than his own in Smithfield; the upper part of +the house was let off, as I was to reside with the family. When it was +ready, I went over it with him, and was satisfied; all I wished for was +Timothy as an assistant, but that wish was unavailing, as I knew not +where to find him. +</p> +<p> +That evening I observed to Mr Cophagus, that I did not much like putting +my name over the shop. The fact was, that my pride forbade it, and I +could not bear the idea, that Japhet Newland, at whose knock every +aristocratic door had flown open, should appear in gold letters above a +shop-window. "There are many reasons against it," observed I. "One is, +that it is not my real name—I should like to take the name of Cophagus; +another is, that the name, being so well known, may attract those who +formerly knew me, and I should not wish that they should come in and +mock me; another is—" +</p> +<p> +"Japhet Newland," interrupted Susannah, with more severity than I ever +had seen in her sweet countenance, "do not trouble thyself with giving +thy reasons, seeing thou hast given every reason but the right one, which +is, that thy pride revolts at it." +</p> +<p> +"I was about to observe," replied I, "that it was a name that sounded of +mammon, and not fitting for one of our persuasion. But, Susannah, you +have accused me of pride, and I will now raise no further objections. +Japhet Newland it shall be, and let us speak no more upon the subject." +</p> +<p> +"If I have wronged thee, Japhet, much do I crave thy forgiveness," +replied Susannah. "But it is God alone who knoweth the secrets of our +hearts. I was presumptuous, and you must pardon me." +</p> +<p> +"Susannah, it is I who ought to plead for pardon; you know me better than +I know myself. It was pride, and nothing but pride—but you have cured +me." +</p> +<p> +"Truly have I hopes of thee now, Japhet," replied Susannah, smiling. +"Those who confess their faults will soon amend them; yet I do think +there is some reason in thy observation, for who knoweth, but meeting +with thy former associates, thou mayst not be tempted into falling +away? Thou mayst spell thy name as thou listest; and, peradventure, it +would be better to disguise it." +</p> +<p> +So agreed Mr and Mrs Cophagus, and I therefore had it written +<i>Gnow</i>-land; and having engaged a person of the society, strongly +recommended to me, as an assistant, I took possession of my shop, and +was very soon busy in making up prescriptions, and dispensing my +medicines in all quarters of the good town of Reading. +</p> +<p> +And I was happy. I had enjoyment during the day; my profession was, at +all events, liberal. I was dressed and lived as a gentleman, or rather I +should say respectably. I was earning my own livelihood. I was a useful +member of society, and when I retired home to meals, and late at night, +I found, that if Cophagus and his wife had retired, Susannah Temple +always waited up, and remained with me a few minutes. I had never been +in love until I had fallen in with this perfect creature; but my love +for her was not the love of the world; I could not so depreciate her—I +loved her as a superior being—I loved her with fear and trembling. I +felt that she was too pure, too holy, too good for a vain worldly +creature like myself. I felt as if my destiny depended upon her and her +fiat; that if she favoured me, my happiness in this world and in the +next were secured; that if she rejected me, I was cast away for ever. +Such was my feeling for Susannah Temple, who, perfect as she was, was +still a woman, and perceived her power over me; but unlike the many of +her sex, exerted that power only to lead to what was right. Insensibly +almost, my pride was quelled, and I became humble and religiously +inclined. Even the peculiarities of the sect, their meeting at their +places of worship, their drawling, and their quaint manner of talking, +became no longer a subject of dislike. I found out causes and good +reasons for everything which before appeared strange—sermons in stones, +and good in everything. Months passed away—my business prospered—I +had nearly repaid the money advanced by Mr Cophagus. I was in heart and +soul a Quaker, and I entered into the fraternity with a feeling that I +could act up to what I had promised. I was happy, quite happy, and yet +I had never received from Susannah Temple any further than the proofs +of sincere friendship. But I had much of her society, and we were now +very, very intimate. I found out what warm, what devoted feelings were +concealed under her modest, quiet exterior—how well her mind was +stored, and how right was that mind. +</p> +<p> +Often when I talked over past events, did I listen to her remarks, all +tending to one point, morality and virtue; often did I receive from her +at first a severe, but latterly a kind rebuke, when my discourse was +light and frivolous; but when I talked of merry subjects which were +innocent, what could be more joyous or more exhilarating than her +laugh—what more intoxicating than her sweet smile, when she approved +of my sentiments! and when animated by the subject, what could be more +musical or more impassioned than her bursts of eloquence, which were +invariably followed by a deep blush, when she recollected how she had +been carried away by excitement? +</p> +<p> +There was one point upon which I congratulated myself, which was, that +she had received two or three unexceptionable offers of marriage during +the six months that I had been in her company, and refused them. At the +end of that period, thanks to the assistance I received from the Friends, +I had paid Mr Cophagus all the money which he had advanced, and found +myself in possession of a flourishing business, and independent. I then +requested that I might be allowed to pay an annual stipend for my board +and lodging, commencing from the time I first came to his house. Mr +Cophagus said I was right—the terms were easily arranged, and I was +independent. +</p> +<p> +Still my advances with Susannah were slow, but if slow, they were sure. +One day I observed to her, how happy Mr Cophagus appeared to be as a +married man; her reply was, "He is, Japhet; he has worked hard for his +independence, and he now is reaping the fruits of his industry." That is +as much as to say that I must do the same, thought I, and that I have no +business to propose for a wife, until I am certain that I am able to +provide for her. I have as yet laid up nothing, and an income is not a +capital. I felt that whether a party interested or not, she was right, +and I redoubled my diligence. +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0143" id="h2HCH0143"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter LXV +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + A variety of the Quaker tribe—who had a curious disintegration + of mind and body. +</p> +<p> +I was not yet weaned from the world, but I was fast advancing to that +state, when a very smart young Quaker came on a visit to Reading. He was +introduced to Mr and Mrs Cophagus, and was soon, as might be expected, an +admirer of Susannah, but he received no encouragement. He was an idle +person, and passed much of his time sitting in my shop, and talking with +me, and being much less reserved and guarded than the generality of the +young men of the sect, I gradually became intimate with him. One day when +my assistant was out he said to me, "Friend Gnow-land, tell me candidly, +hast thou ever seen my face before?" +</p> +<p> +"Not that I can recollect, friend Talbot." +</p> +<p> +"Then my recollection is better than yours, and now having obtained thy +friendship as one of the society, I will remind thee of our former +acquaintance. When thou wert Mr N-e-w-land, walking about town with +Major Carbonnell, I was Lieutenant Talbot, of the—Dragoon Guards." +</p> +<p> +I was dumb with astonishment, and I stared him in the face. +</p> +<p> +"Yes," continued he, bursting into laughter, "such is the fact. You +have thought, perhaps, that you were the only man of fashion who had +ever been transformed into a Quaker; now you behold another, so no +longer imagine yourself the Phoenix of your tribe." +</p> +<p> +"I do certainly recollect that name," replied I; "but although, as you +must be acquainted with my history, it is very easy to conceive why I +have joined the society, yet, upon what grounds you can have so done, +is to me inexplicable." +</p> +<p> +"Newland, it certainly does require explanation; it has been, I assert, +my misfortune, and not my fault. Not that I am not happy. On the +contrary, I feel that I am now in my proper situation. I ought to have +been born of Quaker parents—at all events, I was born a Quaker in +disposition; but I will come to-morrow early, and then, if you will +give your man something to do out of the way, I will tell you my history. +I know that you will keep my secret." +</p> +<p> +The next morning he came, and as soon as we were alone he imparted to me +what follows. +</p> +<p> +"I recollect well, Newland, when you were one of the leaders of fashion, +I was then in the Dragoon Guards, and although not very intimate with +you, had the honour of a recognition when we met at parties. I cannot +help laughing, upon my soul, when I look at us both now; but never mind. +I was of course a great deal with my regiment, and at the club. My +father, as you may not perhaps be aware, was highly connected, and all +the family have been brought up in the army; the question of profession +has never been mooted by us, and every Talbot has turned out a soldier +as naturally as a young duck takes to the water. Well, I entered the +army, admired my uniform, and was admired by the young ladies. Before I +received my lieutenant's commission, my father, the old gentleman, died, +and left me a younger brother's fortune of four hundred per annum; but, +as my uncle said, 'It was quite enough for a Talbot, who would push +himself forward in his profession, as the Talbots had ever done before +him.' I soon found out that my income was not sufficient to enable me +to continue in the Guards, and my uncle was very anxious that I should +exchange into a regiment on service. I therefore, by purchase, obtained +a company in the 23rd, ordered out to reduce the French colonies in the +West Indies, and I sailed with all the expectation of covering myself +with as much glory as the Talbots had done from time immemorial. We +landed, and in a short time the bullets and grape were flying in all +directions, and then I discovered, what I declare never for a moment +came into my head before, to wit—that I had mistaken my profession." +</p> +<p> +"How do you mean, Talbot?" +</p> +<p> +"Mean why, that I was deficient in a certain qualification, which never +was before denied to a Talbot—courage." +</p> +<p> +"And you never knew that before?" +</p> +<p> +"Never, upon my honour; my mind was always full of courage. In my mind's +eye I built castles of feats of bravery, which should eclipse all the +Talbots, from him who burnt Joan of Arc, down to the present day. I +assure you, that surprised as other people were, no one was more +surprised than myself. Our regiment was ordered to advance, and I led +on my company, the bullets flew like hail. I tried to go on, but I could +not; at last, notwithstanding all my endeavours to the contrary, I +fairly took to my heels. I was met by the commanding officer—in fact, +I ran right against him. He ordered me back, and I returned to my +regiment, not feeling at all afraid. Again I was in the fire, again I +resisted the impulse, but it was of no use, and at last, just before the +assault took place, I ran away as if the devil was after me. Wasn't it +odd?" +</p> +<p> +"Very odd, indeed," replied I, laughing. +</p> +<p> +"Yes, but you do not exactly understand why it was odd. You know what +philosophers tell you about volition; and that the body is governed by +the mind, consequently obeys it; now, you see, in my case, it was +exactly reversed. I tell you, that it is a fact, that in mind I am as +brave as any man in existence; but I had a cowardly carcass, and what +is still worse, it proved the master of my mind, and ran away with it. I +had no mind to run away; on the contrary, I wished to have been of the +forlorn hope, and had volunteered, but was refused. Surely, if I had not +courage I should have avoided such a post of danger. Is it not so?" +</p> +<p> +"It certainly appears strange, that you should volunteer for the forlorn +hope, and then run away." +</p> +<p> +"That's just what I say. I have the soul of the Talbots, but a body +which don't belong to the family, and too powerful for the soul." +</p> +<p> +"So it appears. Well, go on." +</p> +<p> +"It was go off, instead of going on. I tried again that day to mount +the breach, and as the fire was over, I succeeded; but there was a mark +against me, and it was intimated that I should have an opportunity of +redeeming my character." +</p> +<p> +"Well?" +</p> +<p> +"There was a fort to be stormed the next day, and I requested to lead +my company in advance. Surely that was no proof of want of courage? +Permission was granted. We were warmly received, and I felt that my legs +refused to advance; so what did I do—I tied my sash round my thigh, and +telling the men that I was wounded, requested they would carry me to the +attack. Surely that was courage?" +</p> +<p> +"Most undoubtedly so. It was like a Talbot." +</p> +<p> +"We were at the foot of the breach; when the shot flew about me, I +kicked and wrestled so, that the two men who carried me were obliged to +let me go, and my rascally body was at liberty. I say unfortunately, for +only conceive, if they had carried me wounded up the breach, what an +heroic act it would have been considered on my part; but fate decided it +otherwise. If I had lain still when they dropped me, I should have done +well, but I was anxious to get up the breach, that is, my mind was so +bent; but as soon as I got on my legs, confound them if they didn't run +away with me, and then I was found half a mile from the fort with a +pretended wound. That was enough; I had a hint that the sooner I went +home the better. On account of the family I was permitted to sell out, +and I then walked the streets as a private gentleman, but no one would +speak to me. I argued the point with several, but they were obstinate, +and would not be convinced; they said that it was no use talking about +being brave, if I ran away." +</p> +<p> +"They were not philosophers, Talbot." +</p> +<p> +"No; they could not comprehend how the mind and the body could be at +variance. It was no use arguing—they would have it that the movements +of the body depended upon the mind, and that I had made a mistake—and +that I was a coward in soul as well as body." +</p> +<p> +"Well, what did you do?" +</p> +<p> +"Oh, I did nothing! I had a great mind to knock them down, but as I knew +my body would not assist me, I thought it better to leave it alone. +However, they taunted me so, by calling me fighting Tom, that my uncle +shut his door upon me as a disgrace to the family, saying, he wished the +first bullet had laid me dead—very kind of him;—at last my patience +was worn out, and I looked about to find whether there were not some +people who did not consider courage as a <i>sine quæ non</i>. I found that +the Quakers' tenets were against fighting, and therefore courage could +not be necessary, so I have joined them, and I find that, if not a good +soldier, I am, at all events, a very respectable Quaker; and now you +have the whole of my story—and tell me if you are of my opinion." +</p> +<p> +"Why, really it's a very difficult point to decide. I never heard such +a case of disintegration before. I must think upon it." +</p> +<p> +"Of course, you will not say a word about it, Newland." +</p> +<p> +"Never fear, I will keep your secret, Talbot. How long have you worn +the dress?" +</p> +<p> +"Oh, more than a year. By-the-bye, what a nice young person that +Susannah Temple is. I've a great mind to propose for her." +</p> +<p> +"But you must first ascertain what your body says to it, Talbot," +replied I, sternly. "I allow no one to interfere with me, Quaker or not." +</p> +<p> +"My dear fellow, I beg your pardon, I shall think no more about her," +said Talbot, rising up, as he observed that I looked very fierce. "I +wish you a good morning. I leave Reading to-morrow. I will call on you, +and say good-bye, if I can;" and I saw no more of Friend Talbot, whose +mind was all courage, but whose body was so renegade. +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0144" id="h2HCH0144"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter LXVI +</h2> +<p class="quote"> I fall in with Timothy. + </p> + +<p> +About a month after this, I heard a sailor with one leg, and a handful +of ballads, singing in a most lachrymal tone, +</p> +<p> +"Why, what's that to you if my eyes I'm a wiping? A tear is a pleasure, +d'ye see, in its way"— +</p> +<p> +"Bless your honour, shy a copper to Poor Jack, who's lost his leg in the +sarvice. Thanky, your honour," and he continued, +</p> +<p> +"It's nonsense for trifles, I own, to be piping, But they who can't +pity—why I pities they. Says the captain, says he; I shall never forget +it, Of courage, you know, boys, the true from the sham," +</p> +<p> +"Back your maintopsail, your worship, for half a minute, and just assist +a poor dismantled craft, who has been riddled in the wars—"'Tis a furious +lion.' Long life to your honour—'In battle so let it—' +</p> +<p> +"'Tis a furious lion, in battle so let it; But duty appeased—but duty +appeased— +</p> +<p> +"Buy a song, young woman, to sing to your sweetheart, while you sit on +his knee in the dog-watch— +</p> +<p> +"But duty appeased'tis the heart of a lamb." +</p> +<p> +I believe there are few people who do not take a strong interest in the +English sailor, particularly in one who has been maimed in the defence +of his country. I always have, and as I heard the poor disabled fellow +bawling out his ditty, certainly not with a very remarkable voice or +execution, I pulled out the drawer behind the counter, and took out some +halfpence to give him. When I caught his eye I beckoned to him, and he +entered the shop. "Here, my good fellow," said I, "although a man of +peace myself, yet I feel for those who suffer in the wars;" and I put +the money to him. +</p> +<p> +"May your honour never know a banyan day," replied the sailor; "and a +sickly season for you, into the bargain." +</p> +<p> +"Nay, friend, that is not a kind wish to others," replied I. +</p> +<p> +The sailor fixed his eyes earnestly upon me, as if in astonishment, for, +until I had answered, he had not looked at me particularly. +</p> +<p> +"What are you looking at?" said I. +</p> +<p> +"Good heavens!" exclaimed he. "It is—yet it cannot be!" +</p> +<p> +"Cannot be! what, friend?" +</p> +<p> +He ran out of the door, and read the name over the shop, and then came +in, and sank upon a chair outside of the counter. "Japhet—I have found +you at last!" exclaimed he, faintly. +</p> +<p> +"Good Heaven! who are you?" +</p> +<p> +He threw off his hat, with false ringlets fastened to the inside of it, +and I beheld Timothy. In a moment I sprang over the counter, and was in +his arms. "Is it possible," exclaimed I, after a short silence on both +sides, "that I find you, Timothy, a disabled sailor?" +</p> +<p> +"Is it possible, Japhet," replied Timothy, "that I find you a +broad-brimmed Quaker?" +</p> +<p> +"Even so, Timothy. I am really and truly one." +</p> +<p> +"Then you are less disguised than I am," replied Timothy, kicking off +his wooden leg, and letting down his own, which had been tied up to his +thigh, and concealed in his wide blue trousers. "I am no more a sailor +than you are, Japhet, and since you left me have never yet seen the +salt water, which I talk and sing so much about." +</p> +<p> +"Then thou hast been deceiving, Timothy, which I regret much." +</p> +<p> +"Now I do perceive that you are a Quaker," replied Tim; "but do not +blame me until you have heard my story. Thank God, I have found you at +last. But tell me, Japhet, you will not send me away—will you? If your +dress is changed, your heart is not. Pray answer me, before I say +nything more. You know I can be useful here." +</p> +<p> +"Indeed, Timothy, I have often wished for you since I have been here, +and it will be your own fault if I part with you. You shall assist me +in the shop; but you must dress like me." +</p> +<p> +"Dress like you! have I not always dressed like you? When we started +from Cophagus's, were we not dressed much alike? did we not wear +spangled jackets together? did I not wear your livery, and belong to +you? I'll put on anything, Japhet—but we must not part again." +</p> +<p> +"My dear Timothy, I trust we shall not; but I expect my assistant here +soon, and do not wish that he should see you in that garb. Go to a small +public-house at the farther end of this street, and when you see me +pass, come out to me, and we will walk out into the country, and +consult together." +</p> +<p> +"I have put up at a small house not far off, and have some clothes +there; I will alter my dress and meet you. God bless you, Japhet." +</p> +<p> +Timothy then picked up his ballads, which were scattered on the floor, +put up his leg, and putting on his wooden stump, hastened away, after +once more silently pressing my hand. +</p> +<p> +In half an hour my assistant returned, and I desired him to remain in +the shop, as I was going out on business. I then walked to the appointed +rendezvous, and was soon joined by Tim, who had discarded his sailor's +disguise, and was in what is called a shabby genteel sort of dress. +After the first renewed greeting, I requested Tim to let me know what +had occurred to him since our separation. +</p> +<p> +"You cannot imagine, Japhet, what my feelings were when I found, by your +note, that you had left me. I had perceived how unhappy you had been for +a long while, and I was equally distressed, although I knew not the +cause. I had no idea until I got your letter, that you had lost all your +money; and I felt it more unkind of you to leave me then, than if you +had been comfortable and independent. As for looking after you, that I +knew would be useless; and I immediately went to Mr Masterton, to take +his advice as to how I should proceed. Mr Masterton had received your +letter, and appeared to be very much annoyed. 'Very foolish boy,' said +he, 'but there is nothing that can be done now. He is mad, and that is +all that can be said in his excuse. You must do as he tells you, I +suppose, and try the best for yourself. I will help you in any way that +I can, my poor fellow,' said he, 'so don't cry.' I went back to the +house and collected together your papers, which I sealed up. I knew that +the house was to be given up in a few days. I sold the furniture, and +made the best I could of the remainder of your wardrobe, and other +things of value that you had left; indeed, everything, with the +exception of the dressing-case and pistols, which had belonged to Major +Carbonnell, and I thought you might perhaps some day like to have them." +</p> +<p> +"How very kind of you, Timothy, to think of me in that way! I shall +indeed be glad; but no—what have I to do with pistols or silver +dressing-cases now? I must not have them, but still I thank you all +the same." +</p> +<p> +"The furniture and everything else fetched £430, after all expenses were +paid." +</p> +<p> +"I am glad of it, Timothy, for your sake; but I am sorry, judging by your +present plight, that it appears to have done you but little good." +</p> +<p> +"Because I did not make use of it, Japhet. What could I do with all that +money? I took it to Mr Masterton, with all your papers, and the +dressing-case and pistols;—he has it now ready for you when you ask for +it. He was very kind to me, and offered to do anything for me; but I +resolved to go in search of you. I had more money in my pocket when you +went away than I generally have, and with the surplus of what you left +for the bills, I had twelve or fourteen pounds. So I wished Mr Masterton +good-bye, and have ever since been on my adventures in search of my +master." +</p> +<p> +"Not master, Timothy, say rather of your friend." +</p> +<p> +"Well, of both if you please, Japhet; and very pretty adventures I have +had, I assure you, and some very hair-breadth escapes." +</p> +<p> +"I think, when we compare notes, mine will be found most eventful, +Timothy; but we can talk of them, and compare notes another time. +At present, whom do you think I am residing with?" +</p> +<p> +"A Quaker, I presume." +</p> +<p> +"You have guessed right so far: but who do you think that Quaker is?" +</p> +<p> +"There I'm at fault." +</p> +<p> +"Mr Cophagas." +</p> +<p> +At this intelligence Timothy gave a leap in the air, turned round on his +heel, and tumbled on the grass in a fit of immoderate laughter. +</p> +<p> +"Cophagus!—a Quaker!" cried he at last. "Oh! I long to see him. Snuffle, +snuffle—broad brims—wide skirts—and so on. Capital!" +</p> +<p> +"It is very true, Timothy, but you must not mock at the persuasion." +</p> +<p> +"I did not intend it, Japhet, but there is something to me so ridiculous +in the idea. But," continued Timothy, "is it not still stranger, that, +after having separated so many years, we should all meet again—and that +I should find Mr Cophagus—an apothecary's shop—you dispensing +medicines—and I—as I hope to be—carrying them about as I did before. +Well, I will row in the same boat, and I will be a Quaker as well as you +both." +</p> +<p> +"Well, we will now return, and I will take you to Mr Cophagus, who will, +I am sure, be glad to see you." +</p> +<p> +"First, Japhet, let me have some Quaker's clothes—I should prefer it." +</p> +<p> +"You shall have a suit of mine, Timothy, since you wish it; but recollect +it is not at all necessary, nor indeed will it be permitted that you +enter into the sect without preparatory examination as to your fitness +for admission." +</p> +<p> +I then went to the shop, and sending out the assistant, walked home and +took out a worn suit of clothes, with which I hastened to Timothy. He put +them on in the shop, and then walking behind the counter, said, "This is +my place, and here I shall remain as long as you do." +</p> +<p> +"I hope so, Timothy; as for the one who is with me at present, I can +easily procure him other employment, and he will not be sorry to go, for +he is a married man, and does not like the confinement." +</p> +<p> +"I have some money," said Timothy, taking out of his old clothes a dirty +rag, and producing nearly twenty pounds. "I am well off, you see." +</p> +<p> +"You are, indeed," replied I. +</p> +<p> +"Yes, there is nothing like being a sailor with one leg, singing ballads. +Do you know, Japhet, that sometimes I have taken more than a <i>pound</i> a +day since I have shammed the sailor?" +</p> +<p> +"Not very honestly, Tim." +</p> +<p> +"Perhaps not, Japhet; but it is very strange, +and yet very true, that when honest I could make nothing, and when I +deceived, I have done very well." +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0145" id="h2HCH0145"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter LXVII +</h2> +<p class="quote"> Timothy commences his narrative of his search after Japhet. + </p> + +<p> +I could not help calling to mind that the same consequences as Timothy +related in the last chapter had occurred to me during my eventful career; +but I had long considered that there was no excuse for dishonesty, and +that, in the end, it would only lead to exposure and disgrace. I went +home early in the evening to introduce Timothy to Mr Cophagus, who +received him with great kindness, and agreed immediately that he ought +to be with me in the shop. Timothy paid his respects to the ladies, and +then went down with Ephraim, who took him under his protection. In a few +days, he was as established with us as if he had been living with us for +months. I had some trouble, at first, in checking his vivacity and turn +for ridicule; but that was gradually effected, and I found him not only +a great acquisition, but, as he always was, a cheerful and affectionate +companion. I had, during the first days of our meeting, recounted my +adventures, and made many inquiries of Timothy relative to my few +friends. He told me that from Mr Masterton he had learnt that Lady de +Clare and Fleta had called upon him very much afflicted with the contents +of my letter—that Lord Windermear also had been very much vexed and +annoyed—that Mr Masterton had advised him to obtain another situation +as a valet, which he had refused, and, at the same time, told him his +intention of searching for me. He had promised Mr Masterton to let him +know if he found me, and then bade him farewell. +</p> +<p> +"I used to lie in bed, Japhet," continued Timothy, "and think upon the +best method of proceeding. At last, I agreed to myself, that to look for +you as you looked after your father, would be a wild-goose chase, and +that my money would soon be gone; so I reflected whether I might not +take up some roving trade which would support me, and, at the same time, +enable me to proceed from place to place. What do you think was my first +speculation? Why, I saw a man with a dog harnessed in a little cart, +crying dog's meat and cat's meat, and I said to myself, 'Now there's the +very thing—there's a profession—I can travel and earn my livelihood.' +I entered into conversation with him, as he stopped at a low +public-house, treating him to a pot of beer; and having gained all I +wanted as to the mysteries of the profession, I called for another pot, +and proposed that I should purchase his whole concern, down to his knife +and apron. The fellow agreed, and after a good deal of bargaining, I +paid him three guineas for the <i>set out</i> or <i>set up</i>, which you please. +He asked me whether I meant to hawk in London or not, and I told him no, +that I should travel the country. He advised the western road, as there +were more populous towns in it. Well, we had another pot to clench the +bargain, and I paid down the money and took possession, quite delighted +with my new occupation. Away I went to Brentford, selling a bit here and +there by the way, and at last arrived at the very bench where we had sat +down together and eaten our meal." +</p> +<p> +"It is strange that I did the same, and a very unlucky bench it proved +to me." +</p> +<p> +"So it did to me, as you shall hear. I had taken up my quarters at that +inn, and for three days had done very well in Brentford. On the third +evening I had just come back, it was nearly dusk, and I took my seat on +the bench, thinking of you. My dog, rather tired, was lying down before +the cart, when all of a sudden I heard a sharp whistle. The dog sprang +on his legs immediately, and ran off several yards before I could prevent +him. The whistle was repeated, and away went the dog and cart like +lightning. I ran as fast as I could, but could not overtake him; and I +perceived that his old master was running ahead of the dog as hard as he +could, and this was the reason why the dog was off. Still I should, I +think, have overtaken him, but an old woman coming out of a door with a +saucepan to pour the hot water into the gutter, I knocked her down and +tumbled right over her into a cellar without steps. There I was, and +before I could climb out again, man, dog, cart, cat's meat and dog's +meat, had all vanished, and I have never seen them since. The rascal +got clear off, and I was a bankrupt. So much for my first set up in +business." +</p> +<p> +"You forgot to purchase the <i>good-will</i> when you made your bargain, +Timothy, for the stock in trade." +</p> +<p> +"Very true, Japhet. However, after receiving a very fair share of abuse +from the old woman, and a plaister of hot greens in my face—for she +went supperless to bed, rather than not have her revenge—I walked +back to the inn, and sat down in the tap. The two men next to me were +hawkers; one carried a large pack of dimities and calicoes, and the +other a box full of combs, needles, tapes, scissors, knives, and +mock-gold trinkets. I entered into conversation with them, and, as I +again stood treat, I soon was very intimate. They told me what their +profits were, and how they contrived to get on, and I thought, for a +rambling life, it was by no means an unpleasant one; so having obtained +all the information I required, I went back to town, took out a hawker's +licence, for which I paid two guineas, and purchasing at a shop, to which +they gave me a direction, a pretty fair quantity of articles in the tape +and scissor line, off I set once more on my travels. I took the north +road this time, and picked up a very comfortable subsistence, selling +my goods for a few halfpence here and a few halfpence there, at the +cottages as I passed by; but I soon found out, that without a newspaper, +I was not a confirmed hawker, and the more radical the newspaper the +better. A newspaper will pay half the expenses of a hawker, if he can +read. At every house, particularly every small hedge ale-house, he is +received, and placed in the best corner of the chimney, and has his board +and lodging, with the exception of what he drinks, gratis, if he will +pull out the newspaper and read it to those around him who cannot read, +particularly if he can explain what is unintelligible. Now I became a +great politician, and, moreover, a great radical, for such were the +politics of all the lower classes. I lived well, slept well, and sold +my wares very fast. I did not take more than three shillings in the +day, yet, as two out of the three were clear profit, I did pretty well. +However, a little accident happened which obliged me to change my +profession, or at least, the nature of the articles which I dealt in." +</p> +<p> +"What was that?" +</p> +<p> +"A mere trifle. I had arrived late at a small ale-house, had put up my +pack, which was in a painted deal box, on the table in the tap-room, and +was very busy, after reading a paragraph in the newspaper, making a fine +speech, which I always found was received with great applause, and many +shakes of the hand, as a prime good fellow—a speech about community of +rights, agrarian division, and the propriety of an equal distribution of +property, proving that, as we were all born alike, no one had a right to +have more property than his neighbour. The people had all gathered round +me, applauding violently, when I thought I might as well look after my +pack, which had been for some time hidden from my sight by the crowd, +when, to my mortification, I found out that my earnest assertions on +the propriety of community of property had had such an influence upon +some of my listeners, that they had walked off with my pack and its +contents. Unfortunately, I had deposited in my boxes all my money, +considering it safer there than in my pockets, and had nothing left but +about seventeen shillings in silver, which I had received within the last +three days. Every one was very sorry, but no one knew anything about it; +and when I challenged the landlord as answerable, he called me a radical +blackguard, and turned me out of the door." +</p> +<p> +"If you had looked a little more after your own property, and interfered +less with that of other people, you would have done better, Tim," +observed I, laughing. +</p> +<p> +"Very true; but, at all events, I have never been a radical since," +replied Tim. "But to go on. I walked off to the nearest town, and I +commenced in a more humble way. I purchased a basket, and then, with +the remainder of my money, I bought the commonest crockery ware, such +as basins, jugs, mugs, and putting them on my head, off I went again +upon my new speculation. I wandered about with my crockery, but it was +hard work. I could not reap the profits which I did as a hawker and +pedlar. I averaged, however, from seven to nine shillings a week and +that was about sufficient for my support. I went down into as many +kitchens as would have sufficed to have found a dozen mothers, supposing +mine to be a cook; but I did not see anyone who was at all like me. +Sometimes a cook replaced a basin she had broken, by giving me as much +meat as had cost her mistress five shillings, and thus avoided a +scolding, for an article which was worth only two-pence. At other times, +a cottager would give me a lodging, and would consider himself rewarded +with a mug that only cost me one penny. I was more than three months +employed carrying crockery in every direction, and never, during the +whole time, broke one article, until one day, as I passed through +Eton, there was a regular smash of the whole concern." +</p> +<p> +"Indeed, how was that?" +</p> +<p> +"I met about a dozen of the Eton boys, and they proposed a cockshy, as +they called it; that is, I was to place my articles on the top of a post, +and they were to throw stones at them at a certain distance, paying me a +certain sum for each throw. Well, this I thought a very good bargain, so +I put up a mug (worth one penny) at one penny a throw. It was knocked +down at the second shot, so it was just as well to put the full price +upon them at once, they were such remarkably good aimers at anything. +Each boy had a stick, upon which I notched off their throws, and how +much they would have to pay when all was over. One article after another +was put on the post until my basket was empty, and then I wanted to +settle with them; but as soon as I talked about that, they all burst +out into a loud laugh, and took to their heels. I chased them, but one +might as well have chased eels. If I got hold of one, the others pulled +me behind until he escaped, and at last they were all off, and I had +nothing left." +</p> +<p> +"Not your basket?" +</p> +<p> +"No, not even that; for while I was busy after some that ran one way, +the others kicked my basket before them like a football, until it was +fairly out of sight. I had only eight-pence in my pocket, so you perceive, +Japhet, how I was going down in the world." +</p> +<p> +"You were indeed, Tim." +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0146" id="h2HCH0146"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter LXVIII +</h2> +<p class="quote"> Timothy finishes his narrative. + </p> + +<p> +"Well, I walked away, cursing all the Eton boys and all their tutors, +who did not teach them honesty as well as Latin and Greek, and put up at +a very humble sort of abode, where they sold small beer, and gave beds +at two-pence per night, and I may add, with plenty of fleas in the +bargain. There I fell in with some ballad singers and mumpers, who were +making very merry, and who asked me what was the matter. I told them how +I had been treated, and they laughed at me, but gave me some supper, so +I forgave them. An old man, who governed the party, then asked me +whether I had any money. I produced my enormous capital of eight-pence. +'Quite enough if you are clever,' said he; 'quite enough—many a man +with half that sum has ended in rolling in his carriage. A man with +thousands has only the advance of you a few years. You will pay for your +lodging and then spend this sixpence in matches, and hawk them about +the town. If you are lucky, it will be a shilling by to-morrow night. +Besides, you go down into areas, and sometimes enter a kitchen, when the +cook is above stairs. There are plenty of things to be picked up.' 'But I +am not dishonest,' said I. 'Well, then, every man to his liking; only if +you were, you would ride in your own coach the sooner.' 'And suppose I +should lose all this, or none would buy my matches, what then?' replied +I, 'I shall starve.' 'Starve—no, no—no one starves in this country; +all you have to do is to get into gaol—committed for a month—you will +live better perhaps than you ever did before. I have been in every gaol +in England, and I know the good ones, for even in gaols there is a great +difference. Now the one in this town is one of the best in all England, +and I patronises it during the winter.' I was much amused with the +discourse of this mumper, who appeared to be one of the merriest old +vagabonds in England. I took his advice, bought six pennyworth of matches, +and commenced my new vagrant speculation. +</p> +<p> +"The first day I picked up three-pence, for one quarter of my stock, and +returned to the same place where I had slept the night before, but the +fraternity had quitted on an expedition. I spent my two-pence in bread +and cheese, and paid one penny for my lodging, and again I started the +next morning, but I was very unsuccessful; nobody appeared to want +matches that day, and after walking from seven o'clock in the morning, +to past seven in the evening, without selling one farthing's worth, I +sat down at the porch of a chapel, quite tired and worn out. At last, +I fell asleep, and how do you think I was awoke? by a strong sense of +suffocation, and up I sprang, coughing, and nearly choked, surrounded +with smoke. Some mischievous boys perceiving that I was fast asleep, +had set fire to my matches, as I held them in my hand between my legs, +and I did not wake until my fingers were severely burnt. There was an +end of my speculation in matches, because there was an end of all my +capital." +</p> +<p> +"My poor Timothy, I really feel for you." +</p> +<p> +"Not at all, my dear Japhet; I never, in all my distress, was sentenced +to execution—my miseries were trifles, to be laughed at. However, I felt +very miserable at the time, and walked off, thinking about the propriety +of getting into gaol as soon as I could, for the beggar had strongly +recommended it. I was at the outskirts of the town, when I perceived +two men tussling with one another, and I walked towards them. 'I says,' +says one, who appeared to be a constable; 'you must come along with I. +Don't you see that ere board? All wagrants shall be taken up, and dealt +with according to <i>la</i>.' 'Now may the devil hold you in his claws, you +old psalm-singing thief—an't I a sailor—and an't I a wagrant by +profession, and all according to law?' 'That won't do,' says the other; +'I commands you in the king's name, to let me take you to prison, and I +commands you also, young man,' says he—for I had walked up to them—'I +commands you, as a lawful subject, to assist me.' 'What will you give +the poor fellow for his trouble?' said the sailor. 'It's his duty, as a +lawful subject, and I'll give him nothing; but I'll put him in prison if +he don't.' 'Then you old Rhinoceros, I'll give him five shillings if +he'll help me, and so now he may take his choice.' At all events, thought +I, this will turn out lucky one way or the other; but I will support the +man who is most generous; so I went up to the constable, who was a burly +sort of a fellow, and tripped up his heels, and down he came on the back +of his head. You know my old trick, Japhet?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes; I never knew you fail at that." +</p> +<p> +"'Well,' the sailor says to me, 'I've a notion you've damaged his upper +works, so let us start off, and clap on all sail for the next town. I +know where to drop an anchor. Come along with me, and as long as I've a +shot in the locker, d—n me if I won't share it with one who has proved +a friend in need.' The constable did not come to his senses; he was very +much stunned, but we loosened his neckcloth, and left him there, and +started off as fast as we could. My new companion, who had a wooden leg, +stopped by a gate, and clambered over it. 'We must lose no time,' said +he; 'and I may just as well have the benefit of both legs.' So saying, he +took off his wooden stump, and let down his real leg, which was fixed up +just as you saw mine. I made no comments, but off we set, and at a good +round pace gained a village about five miles distant. 'Here we will put +up for the night; but they will look for us to-morrow at daylight, or a +little after, therefore we must be starting early. I know the law-beggars +well, they won't turn out afore sunrise. He stopped at a paltry ale-house, +where we were admitted, and soon were busy with a much better supper than +I had ever imagined they could have produced; but my new friend ordered +right and left, with a tone of authority, and everybody in the house +appeared at his beck and command. After a couple of glasses of grog, +we retired to our beds. +</p> +<p> +"The next morning we started before break of day, on our road to another +town, where my companion said the constables would never take the trouble +to come after him. On our way he questioned me as to my mode of getting +my livelihood, and I narrated how unfortunate I had been. 'One good turn +deserves another,' replied the sailor; 'and now I'll set you up in +trade. Can you sing? Have you anything of a voice?' 'I can't say that I +have,' replied I. 'I don't mean whether you can sing in tune, or have a +good voice, that's no consequence; all I want to know is, have you a +good loud one?' +</p> +<p> +'Loud enough, if that's all.' 'That's all that's requisite; so long as +you can make yourself heard—you may then howl like a jackal, or bellow +like a mad buffalo, no matter which—as many pay us for to get rid of us, +as out of charity; and so long as the money comes, what's the odds? Why, +I once knew an old chap, who could only play one tune on the clarionet, +and that tune out of all tune, who made his fortune in six or seven +streets, for every one gave him money, and told him to go away. When +he found out that, he came every morning as regular as clock-work. Now +there was one of the streets which was chiefly occupied by music-sellers +and Italian singers—for them foreigners always herd together—and this +tune, 'which the old cow died of,' as the saying is, used to be their +horror, and out came the halfpence to send him away. There was a sort +of club also in that street, of larking sort of young men, and when +they perceived that the others gave the old man money to get rid of his +squeaking, they sent him out money, with orders to stay and play to them, +so then the others sent out more for him to go away, and between the two, +the old fellow brought home more money than all the cadgers and mumpers +in the district. Now if you have a loud voice, I can provide you with all +the rest.'—'Do you gain your livelihood by that?'—' To be sure I do; +and I can tell you, that of all the trades going, there is none equal to +it. You see, my hearty, I have been on board of a man-of-war—not that +I'm a sailor, or was ever bred to the sea—but I was shipped as a +landsman, and did duty in the waist and afterguard. I know little or +nothing of my duty as a seaman, nor was it required in the station I was +in, so I never learnt, although I was four years on board; all I learnt +was the lingo and slang—and that you must contrive to learn from me. I +bolted, and made my way good to Lunnun, but I should soon have been +picked up and put on board the Tender again, if I hadn't got this wooden +stump made, which I now carry in my hand. I had plenty of songs, and I +commenced my profession, and a real good un it is, I can tell you. Why, +do you know, that a'ter a good victory, I have sometimes picked up as +much as two pounds a-day, for weeks running; as it is, I averages from +fifteen shillings to a pound. Now, as you helped me away from that land +shark, who would soon have found out that I had two legs, and have put +me into limbo as an impostor, I will teach you to arn your livelihood +after my fashion. You shall work with me until you are fit to start +alone, and then there's plenty of room in England for both of us; but +mind, never tell any one what you pick up, or every mumper in the island +will put on a suit of sailor's clothes, and the thing will be blown +upon.' Of course, this was too good an offer to be rejected, and I +joyfully acceded. At first, I worked with him as having only one arm, +the other being tied down to my side, and my jacket sleeve hanging loose +and empty, and we roared away right and left, so as to bring down a shower +of coppers wherever we went. In about three weeks my friend thought I was +able to start by myself, and giving me half of the ballads, and five +shillings to start with, I shook hands and parted with, next to you, +the best friend that I certainly ever had. Ever since I have been +crossing the country in every direction, with plenty of money in my +pocket, and always with one eye looking sharp out for you. My beautiful +voice fortunately attracted your attention, and here I am, and at an end +of my history; but if ever I am away from you, and in distress again, +depend upon it I shall take to my wooden leg and ballads for my support." +</p> +<p> +Such were the adventures of Timothy, who was metamorphosed into a precise +Quaker. "I do not like the idea of your taking up a system of deceit, +Timothy. It may so happen—for who knows what may occur?—that you may +again be thrown upon your own resources. Now, would it not be better that +you should obtain a more intimate knowledge of the profession which we +are now in, which is liberal, and equally profitable? By attention and +study you will be able to dispense medicines and make up prescriptions +as well as myself, and who knows but that some day you may be the owner +of a shop like this?" +</p> +<p> +"Verily, verily, thy words do savour of much wisdom," replied Tim, in a +grave voice; "and I will even so follow thy advice." +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0147" id="h2HCH0147"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter LXIX +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + I am unsettled by unexpected intelligence, and again yearn after + the world of fashion. +</p> +<p class="quote"> +I knew that he was mocking me in this reply, but I paid no attention to +that; I was satisfied that he consented. I now made him assist me, and +under my directions he made up the prescriptions. I explained to him the +nature of every medicine; and I made him read many books of physic and +surgery. In short, after two or three months, I could trust to Timothy as +well as if I were in the shop myself; and having an errand boy, I had +much more leisure, and I left him in charge after dinner. The business +prospered, and I was laying up money. My leisure time, I hardly need say + was spent with Mr Cophagus and his family, and my attachment to Susannah +Temple increased every day. Indeed, both Mr and Mrs Cophagus considered +that it was to be a match, and often joked with me when Susannah was not +present. With respect to Susannah, I could not perceive that I was +farther advanced in her affections than after I had known her two months. +She was always kind and considerate, evidently interested in my welfare, +always checking in me anything like levity—frank and confiding in her +opinions—and charitable to all, as I thought, except to me. But I made +no advance that I could perceive. The fact was, that I dared not speak +to her as I might have done to another who was not so perfect. And yet +she smiled, as I thought, more kindly when I returned than at other +times, and never appeared to be tired of my company. If I did sometimes +mention the marriage of another, or attentions paid which would, in all +probability, end in marriage, it would create no confusion or blushing +on her part, she would talk over that subject as composedly as any other. +I was puzzled, and I had been a year and nine months constantly in her +company, and had never dared to tell her that I loved her. But one day Mr +Cophagus brought up the subject when we were alone. He commenced by +stating how happy he had been as a married man, that he had given up +all hopes of a family, and that he should like to see Susannah Temple, +his sister-in-law, well married, that he might leave his property to her +children; and then he put the very pertinent question—"Japhet— +verily—thou hast done well—good business—money coming in fast—settle, +Japhet—marry, have children—and so on. Susannah—nice girl—good +wife—pop question—all right—sly puss—won't say no—um—what d'ye +say?—and so on." I replied that I was very much attached to Susannah, +but that I was afraid that the attachment was not mutual, and therefore +hesitated to propose. Cophagus then said that he would make his wife +sound his sister, and let me know the result. +</p> +<p> +This was in the morning just before I was about to walk over to the shop, +and I left the house in a state of anxiety and suspense. When I arrived +at the shop, I found Tim there as usual; but the colour in his face was +heightened as he said to me, "Read this, Japhet," and handed to me the +"Reading Mercury." I read an advertisement as follows:— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "If Japhet Newland, who was left at the Foundling Asylum, and was + afterwards for some time in London, will call at No. 16, + Throgmorton Court, Minories, he will hear of something very much + to his advantage, and will discover that of which he has been so + long in search. Should this reach his eye, he is requested to + write immediately to the above address, with full particulars of + his situation. Should anyone who reads this be able to give any + information relative to the said J.N., he will be liberally + rewarded." +</p> +<p> +I sank down on the chair. "Merciful Heaven! this can be no mistake—'he +will discover the object of his search.' Timothy, my dear Timothy, I +have at last found out my father." +</p> +<p> +"So I should imagine, my dear Japhet," replied Timothy, "and I trust +it will not prove a disappointment." +</p> +<p> +"They never would be so cruel, Timothy," replied I. +</p> +<p> +"But still it is evident that Mr Masterton is concerned in it," +observed Timothy. +</p> +<p> +"Why so?" inquired I. +</p> +<p> +"How otherwise should it appear in the Reading newspaper? He must have +examined the postmark of my letter." +</p> +<p> +To explain this, I must remind the reader that Timothy had promised to +write to Mr Masterton when he found me; and he requested my permission +shortly after we had met again. I consented to his keeping his word, but +restricted him to saying any more than "that he had found me, and that +I was well and happy." There was no address in the letter as a clue to +Mr Masterton as to where I might be, and it could only have been from +the postmark that he could have formed any idea. Timothy's surmise was +therefore very probable; but I would not believe that Mr Masterton would +consent to the insertion of that portion of the advertisement, if there +was no foundation for it. +</p> +<p> +"What will you do, Japhet?" +</p> +<p> +"Do," replied I, recovering from my reverie, for the information had +again roused up all my dormant feelings—"Do," replied I, "why, I shall +set off for town this very morning." +</p> +<p> +"In that dress, Japhet?" +</p> +<p> +"I suppose I must," replied I, "for I have no time to procure another;" +and all my former ideas of fashion and appearance were roused, and in +full activity—my pride recovered its ascendency. +</p> +<p> +"Well," replied Timothy, "I hope you will find your father all that you +could wish." +</p> +<p> +"I'm sure of it, Tim—I'm sure of it," replied I; "you must run and take +a place in the first coach." +</p> +<p> +"But you are not going without seeing Mr and Mrs Cophagus, and—Miss +Temple," continued Tim, laying an emphasis upon the latter name. +</p> +<p> +"Of course not," replied I, colouring deeply. "I will go at once. Give +me the newspaper, Tim." +</p> +<p> +I took the newspaper, and hastened to the house of Mr Cophagus. I found +them all three sitting in the breakfast parlour, Mr Cophagus, as usual, +reading, with his spectacles on his nose, and the ladies at work. "What +is the matter, friend Japhet?" exclaimed Mr Cophagus, as I burst into +the room, my countenance lighted up with excitement. "Read that, sir!" +said I to Mr Cophagus. Mr Cophagus read it. "Hum—bad news—lose +Japhet—man of fashion—and so on," said Cophagus, pointing out the +paragraph to his wife, as he handed over the paper. +</p> +<p> +In the meantime I watched the countenance of Susannah—a slight emotion, +but instantly checked, was visible at Mr Cophagus's remark. She then +remained quiet until her sister, who had read the paragraph, handed the +paper to her. "I give thee joy, Japhet, at the prospect of finding out +thy parent," said Mrs Cophagus. "I trust thou wilt find in him one who +is to be esteemed as a man. When departest thou?" +</p> +<p> +"Immediately," replied I. +</p> +<p> +"I cannot blame thee—the ties of nature are ever powerful. I trust that +thou wilt write to us, and that we soon shall see thee return." +</p> +<p> +"Yes, yes," said Cophagus, "see father—shake hands—come back—heh!— +settle here—and so on." +</p> +<p> +"I shall not be altogether my own master, perhaps," observed I. "If my +father desires that I remain with him, must not I obey? But I know +nothing at present. You shall hear from me. Timothy can take my place +in the—" I could not bear the idea of the word shop, and I stopped. +Susannah, for the first time, looked me earnestly in the face, but she +said nothing. Mr and Mrs Cophagus, who probably had been talking over +the subject of our conversation, and thought this a good opportunity to +allow me to have an <i>eclaircissement</i> with Susannah, left the room, +saying they would look after my portmanteau and linen. "Susannah," said +I, "you do not appear to rejoice with me." +</p> +<p> +"Japhet Newland, I will rejoice at everything that may tend to thy +happiness, believe me; but I do not feel assured but that this trial may +prove too great, and that thou mayst fall away. Indeed, I perceive even +now that thou art excited with new ideas, and visions of pride." +</p> +<p> +"If I am wrong, forgive me. Susannah, you must know that the whole object +of my existence has been to find my father; and now that I have every +reason to suppose that my wish is obtained, can you be surprised, or +can you blame me, that I long to be pressed in his arms?" +</p> +<p> +"Nay, Japhet, for that filial feeling I do commend thee; but ask thy own +heart, is that the only feeling which now exciteth thee? Dost thou not +expect to find thy father one high in rank and power? Dost thou not +anticipate to join once more the world which thou hast quitted, yet still +hast sighed for? Dost thou not already feel contempt for thy honest +profession:—nay, more, dost thou not only long to cast off the plain +attire, and not only the attire, but the sect which in thy adversity +thou didst embrace the tenets of? Ask thy own heart, and reply if thou +wilt, but I press thee not so to do; for the truth would be painful, +and a lie, thou knowest, I do utterly abhor." +</p> +<p> +I felt that Susannah spoke the truth, and I would not deny it. I sat down +by her. "Susannah," said I, "it is not very easy to change at once. I +have mixed for years in the world, with you I have not yet lived two. I +will not deny but that the feelings you have expressed have risen in my +heart, but I will try to repress them; at least, for your sake, Susannah, +I would try to repress them, for I value your opinion more than that of +the whole world. You have the power to do with me as you please:—will +you exert that power?" +</p> +<p> +"Japhet," replied Susannah, "the faith which is not built upon a more +solid foundation than to win the favour of an erring being like myself +is but weak; that power over thee which thou expectest will fix thee in +the right path, may soon be lost, and what is then to direct thee? If no +purer motives than earthly affection are to be thy stay, most surely thou +wilt fall. But no more of this; thou hast a duty to perform, which is to +go to thy earthly father, and seek his blessing. Nay, more, I would that +thou shouldst once more enter into the world, there thou mayst decide. +Shouldst thou return to us, thy friends will rejoice, and not one of +them will be more joyful than Susannah Temple. Fare thee well, Japhet, +mayst thou prove superior to temptation. I will pray for thee—earnestly +I will pray for thee, Japhet," continued Susannah, with a quivering of +her lips and broken voice, and she left the room. +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0148" id="h2HCH0148"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter LXX +</h2> +<p class="quote"> I return to London, and meet with Mr Masterton. + </p> + +<p> +I went upstairs, and found that all was ready, and I took leave of Mr +and Mrs Cophagus, both of whom expressed their hopes that I would not +leave them for ever. "Oh, no," replied I, "I should indeed be base, if I +did." I left them, and with Ephraim following with my portmanteau, I +quitted the house. I had gone about twenty yards, when I recollected that +I had left on the table the newspaper with the advertisement containing +the direction whom to apply to, and desiring Ephraim to proceed, I +returned. When I entered the parlour, Susannah Temple was resting her +face in her hands and weeping. The opening of the door made her start +up; she perceived that it was I, and she turned away. "I beg your pardon, +I left the newspaper," said I, stammering. I was about to throw myself +at her feet, declare my sincere affection, and give up all idea of +finding my father until we were married, when she, without saying a +word, passed quickly by me and hastened out of the room. "She loves me +then," thought I; "thank God:—I will not go yet, I will speak to her +first." I sat down, quite overpowered with contending feelings. The +paper was in my hand, the paragraph was again read, I thought but +of my father, and I left the house. +</p> +<p> +In half an hour I had shaken hands with Timothy and quitted the town of +Reading. How I arrived in London, that is to say, what passed, or what we +passed, I know not; my mind was in such a state of excitement. I hardly +know how to express the state that I was in. It was a sort of mental +whirling which blinded me—round and round—from my father and the +expected meeting, then to Susannah, my departure, and her tears—castle +building of every description. After the coach stopped, there I remained +fixed on the top of it, not aware that we were in London until the +coachman asked me whether the spirit did not move me to get down. I +recollected myself, and calling a hackney-coach, gave orders to be +driven to the Piazza, Covent Garden. +</p> +<p> +"Piazza, Common Garden," said the waterman, "why that ban't an 'otel +for the like o' you, master. They'll torment you to death, them young +chaps." +</p> +<p> +I had forgotten that I was dressed as a Quaker. "Tell the coachman to +stop at the first cloth warehouse where they have ready-made cloaks," +said I. The man did so; I went out and purchased a roquelaure, which +enveloped my whole person. I then stopped at a hatter's, and purchased +a hat according to the mode. "Now drive to the Piazza," said I, entering +the coach. I know not why, but I was resolved to go to that hotel. It +was the one I had stayed at when I first arrived in London, and I wished +to see it again. When the hackney coach stopped, I asked the waiter who +came out whether he had apartments, and answering me in the affirmative, I +followed him, and was shown into the same rooms I had previously occupied. +</p> +<p> +"These will do," said I, "now let me have something to eat, and send for +a good tailor." The waiter offered to remove my cloak, but I refused, +saying that I was cold. He left the room, and I threw myself on the +sofa, running over all the scenes which had passed in that room with +Carbonnell, Harcourt, and others. My thoughts were broken in upon by the +arrival of the tailor. "Stop a moment," said I, "and let him come in +when I ring." So ashamed was I of my Quaker's dress, that I threw off my +coat and waistcoat, and put on my cloak again before I rang the bell for +the tailor to come up. "Mr—," said I, "I must have a suit of clothes +ready by to-morrow at ten o'clock." "Impossible, sir." +</p> +<p> +"Impossible!" said I, "and you pretend to be a fashionable tailor. Leave +the room." +</p> +<p> +At this peremptory behaviour the tailor imagined that I must be somebody. +</p> +<p> +"I will do my possible, sir, and if I can only get home in time to stop +the workmen, I think it may be managed. Of course, you are aware of the +expense of night work." +</p> +<p> +"I am only aware of this, that if I give an order I am accustomed to +have it obeyed; I learnt that from my poor friend, Major Carbonnell." +</p> +<p> +The tailor bowed low; there was magic in the name, although the man +was dead. +</p> +<p> +"Here have I been masquerading in a Quaker's dress, to please a +puritanical young lady, and I am obliged to be off without any other +clothes in my portmanteau; so take my measure, and I expect the clothes +at ten precisely." So saying, I threw off my roquelaure, and desired him +to proceed. This accomplished, the tradesman took his leave. Shortly +afterwards, the door opened, and as I lay wrapped up in my cloak on the +sofa, in came the landlord and two waiters, each bearing a dish of my +supper. I wished them at the devil; but I was still more surprised when +the landlord made a low bow, saying, "Happy to see you returned, Mr +Newland; you've been away some time—another grand tour, I presume." +</p> +<p> +"Yes, Mr ——, I have had a few adventures since I was last here," +replied I, carelessly, "but I am not very well. You may leave the supper, +and if I feel inclined, I will take a little by-and-bye,—no one need +wait." +</p> +<p> +The landlord and waiter bowed and went out of the room. I turned the key +of the door, put on my Quaker's coat, and made a hearty supper, for I +had had nothing since breakfast. When I had finished, I returned to the +sofa, and I could not help analysing my own conduct. "Alas," thought I, +"Susannah, how rightly did you judge me! I am not away from you more +than eighteen hours, and here I am ashamed of the dress which I have so +long worn, and been satisfied with, in your society. Truly did you say +that I was full of pride, and would joyfully re-enter the world of vanity +and vexation." And I thought of Susannah, and her tears after my supposed +departure, and I felt angry and annoyed at my want of strength of mind +and my worldly feelings. +</p> +<p> +I retired early to bed, and did not wake until late the next morning. +When I rang the bell, the chambermaid brought in my clothes from the +tailor's: I dressed, and I will not deny that I was pleased with the +alteration. After breakfast I ordered a coach, and drove to No. 16, +Throgmorton Court, Minories. The house was dirty outside, and the windows +had not been cleaned apparently for years, and it was with some +difficulty when I went in that I could decipher a tall, haggard-looking +man seated at the desk. +</p> +<p> +"Your pleasure, sir?" said he. +</p> +<p> +"Am I speaking to the principal?" replied I. +</p> +<p> +"Yes, sir, my name is Chatfield." +</p> +<p> +"I come to you, sir, relative to an advertisement which appeared in the +papers. I refer to this," continued I, putting the newspaper down on the +desk, and pointing to the advertisement. +</p> +<p> +"Oh, yes, very true: can you give us any information?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, sir, I can, and the most satisfactory." +</p> +<p> +"Then, sir, I am sorry that you have had so much trouble, but you must +call at Lincoln's Inn upon a lawyer of the name of Masterton: the whole +affair is now in his hands." +</p> +<p> +"Can you, sir, inform me who is the party that is inquiring after this +young man?" +</p> +<p> +"Why, yes; it is a General De Benyon, who has lately returned from the +East Indies." +</p> +<p> +"Good God! is it possible!" thought I; "how strange that my own wild +fancy should have settled upon him as my father!" +</p> +<p> +I hurried away, threw myself into the hackney-coach, and desired the man +to drive to Lincoln's Inn. I hastened up to Mr Masterton's rooms: he was +fortunately at home, although he stood at the table with his hat and his +great coat on, ready to go out. +</p> +<p> +"My dear sir, have you forgotten me?" said I, in a voice choked with +emotion, taking his hand and squeezing it with rapture. +</p> +<p> +"By heavens, you are determined that I shall not forget you for some +minutes, at least," exclaimed he, wringing his hand with pain. "Who +the devil are you?" +</p> +<p> +Mr Masterton could not see without his spectacles, and my subdued voice +he had not recognised. He pulled them out, as I made no reply, and fixing +them across his nose—"Hah! why yes—it is Japhet, is it not?" +</p> +<p> +"It is indeed, sir," said I, again offering my hand, which he shook +warmly. +</p> +<p> +"Not quite so hard, my dear fellow, this time," said the old lawyer; "I +acknowledge your vigour, and that is sufficient. I am very glad to see +you, Japhet, I am indeed—you—you scamp—you ungrateful fellow. Sit +down—sit down—first help me off with my great coat: I presume the +advertisement has brought you into existence again. Well, it's all true; +and you have at last found your father, or, rather, he has found you. +And what's more strange, you hit upon the right person; that is +strange—very strange indeed." +</p> +<p> +"Where is he, sir?" interrupted I, "where is he—take me to him." +</p> +<p> +"No, rather be excused," replied Mr Masterton, "for he is gone to +Ireland, so you must wait." +</p> +<p> +"Wait, sir, oh no—I must follow him." +</p> +<p> +"That will only do harm; for he is rather a queer sort of an old +gentleman, and although he acknowledges that he left you as <i>Japhet</i> and +has searched for you, yet he is so afraid of somebody else's brat being +put upon him, that he insists upon most undeniable proofs. Now, we +cannot trace you from the hospital unless we can find that fellow +Cophagus, and we have made every search after him, and no one can tell +where he is." +</p> +<p> +"But I left him but yesterday morning, sir," replied I. +</p> +<p> +"Good—very good; we must send for him or go to him; besides, he has +the packet intrusted to the care of Miss Maitland, to whom he was +executor, which proves the marriage of your father. Very strange—very +strange indeed, that you should have hit upon it as you did—almost +supernatural. However, all right now, my dear boy, and I congratulate +you. Your father is a very strange person: he has lived like a despot +among slaves all his life, and will not be thwarted, I can tell you. +If you say a word in contradiction he'll disinherit you:—terrible +old tiger, I must say. If it had not been for your sake, I should have +done with him long ago. He seems to think the world ought to be at his +feet. Depend upon it, Japhet, there is no hurry about seeing him;—and +see him you shall not, until we have every proof of your identity ready +to produce to him. I hope you have the bump of veneration strong, Japhet, +and plenty of filial duty, or you will be kicked out of the house in a +week. D—n me, if he didn't call me an old thief of a lawyer." +</p> +<p> +"Indeed, sir," replied I, laughing; "I must apologise to you for my +father's conduct." +</p> +<p> +"Never mind, Japhet; I don't care about a trifle; but why don't you ask +after your friends?" +</p> +<p> +"I have longed so to do, sir," replied I. "Lord Windermear—" +</p> +<p> +"Is quite well, and will be most happy to see you." +</p> +<p> +"Lady de Clare, and her daughter—" +</p> +<p> +"Lady de Clare has entered into society again, and her daughter, as you +call her—your Fleta, alias Cecilia de Clare—is the belle of the +metropolis. But now, sir, as I have answered all your interrogatories, +and satisfied you upon the most essential points, will you favour me +with a narrative of your adventures (for adventures I am sure you must +have had) since you ran away from us all in that ungrateful manner." +</p> +<p> +"Most certainly, sir, I will; and, as you say, I have had adventures. +But it really will be a long story." +</p> +<p> +"Then we'll dine here, and pass the evening together—so that's settled." +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0149" id="h2HCH0149"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter LXXI +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + In which I am let into more particulars relative to my father's + history. +</p> +<p> +I dismissed the coach, while Mr Masterton gave his orders for dinner, and +we then turned the key of the door to avoid intrusion, and I commenced. +It was nearly dinner-time before I had finished my story. +</p> +<p> +"Well, you really appear to be born for getting into scrapes, and getting +out of them again in a miraculous way," observed Mr Masterton. "Your +life would make a novel." +</p> +<p> +"It would indeed, sir," replied I. "I only hope, like all novels, it +will wind up well." +</p> +<p> +"So do I; but dinner's ready, Japhet, and after dinner we'll talk the +matter over again, for there are some points upon which I require some +explanation." +</p> +<p> +We sat down to dinner, and when we had finished, and the table had been +cleared, we drew to the fire, with our bottle of wine. Mr Masterton +tirred the fire, called for his slippers, and then crossing his legs +over the fender, resumed the subject. +</p> +<p> +"Japhet, I consider it most fortunate that we have met, previous to +our introduction to your father. You have so far to congratulate +yourself, that your family is undeniably good, there being, as you know, +an Irish peerage in it; of which, however, you have no chance, as the +present earl has a numerous offspring. You are also fortunate as far as +money is concerned, as I have every reason to believe that your father is +a very rich man, and, of course, you are his only child; but I must now +prepare you to meet with a very different person than perhaps the fond +anticipations of youth may have led you to expect. Your father has no +paternal feelings that I can discover; he has wealth, and he wishes to +leave it—he has therefore sought you out. But he is despotic, violent, +and absurd; the least opposition to his will makes him furious, and I am +sorry to add, that I am afraid that he is very mean. He suffered +severely when young from poverty, and his own father was almost as +authoritative and unforgiving as himself. And now I will state how it +was that you were left at the Asylum when an infant. Your grandfather +had procured for your father a commission in the army, and soon +afterwards procured him a lieutenancy. He ordered him to marry a young +lady of large fortune, whom he had never seen, and sent for him for that +purpose. I understand that she was very beautiful, and had your father +seen her, it is probable he would have made no objection, but he very +foolishly sent a peremptory refusal, for which he was dismissed for ever. +In a short time afterwards your father fell in love with a young lady of +great personal attractions, and supposed to possess a large fortune. To +deceive her, he pretended to be the heir to the earldom, and, after a +hasty courtship, they ran off, and were married. When they compared +notes, which they soon did, it was discovered that, on his side, he had +nothing but the pay of a subaltern, and on hers, that she had not one +shilling. Your father stormed, and called his wife an impostor; she +recriminated, and the second morning after the marriage was passed in +tears on her side, and oaths, curses, and revilings on his. The lady, +however, appeared the more sensible party of the two. Their marriage +was not known, she had run away on a pretence to visit a relative, and +it was actually supposed in the county town where she resided, that such +was the case. 'Why should we quarrel in this way?' observed she. 'You, +Edmund, wished to marry a fortune, and not me—I may plead guilty to the +same duplicity. We have made a mistake; but it is not too late. It is +supposed that I am on a visit to—, and that you are on furlough for a +few days. Did you confide your secret to any of your brother officers?' +'Not one,' muttered your father. 'Well, then, let us part as if nothing +had happened, and nobody will be the wiser. We are equally interested in +keeping the secret. Is it agreed?'—Your father immediately consented. He +accompanied your mother to the house at ——, where she was expected, and +she framed a story for her delay, by having met such a very polite young +man. Your father returned to his regiment, and thus did they, like two +privateers, who when they meet and engage, as soon as they find out their +mistake, hoist their colours, and sheer off by mutual consent." +</p> +<p> +"I can't say much for my mother's affection or delicacy," observed I. +</p> +<p> +"The less you say the better, Japhet—however, that is your father's +story. And now to proceed. It appears that, about two months afterwards, +your father received a letter from your mother, acquainting him that +their short intercourse had been productive of certain results, and +requesting that he would take the necessary steps to provide for the +child, and avoid exposure, or that she would be obliged to confess her +marriage. By what means they contrived to avoid exposure until the period +of her confinement, I know not, but your father states that the child was +born in a house in London, and by agreement, was instantly put into his +hands; that he, with the consent of his wife, left you at the door of +the Asylum, with the paper and the bank note, from which you received +the name of Newland. At the time, he had no idea of reclaiming you +himself, but the mother had, for heartless as she appears to have been, +yet a mother must feel for her child. Your father's regiment was then +ordered out to the East Indies, and he was rapidly promoted for his +gallantry and good conduct during the war in the Mysore territory. Once +only has he returned home on furlough, and then he did make inquiries +after you; not, it appears, with a view of finding you out on his own +account, but from a promise which he made your mother." +</p> +<p> +"My mother! what, have they met since?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes; your mother went out to India on speculation, passing off as a +single girl, and was very well married there, I was going to say; +however, she committed a very splendid bigamy." +</p> +<p> +"Good heavens! how totally destitute of principle!" +</p> +<p> +"Your father asserts that your mother was a freethinker, Japhet; her +father had made her one; without religion a woman has no stay. Your +father was in the up country during the time that your mother arrived, +and was married to one of the council of Calcutta. Your father says that +they met at a ball at Government House. She was still a very handsome +woman, and much admired. When your father recognised her, and was told +that she was lately married to the honourable Mr—, he was quite +electrified, and would have quitted the room; but she had perceived +him, and walking up to him with the greatest coolness, claimed him as an +old acquaintance in England, and afterwards they often met, but she never +adverted to what had passed between them, until the time for his +departure to England on leave, and she then sent for him, and begged that +he would make some enquiries after <i>you</i>, Japhet. He did so, and you know +the result. On his return to India he found that your mother had been +carried off by the prevailing pestilence. At that period, your father was +not rich, but he was then appointed to the chief command in the Carnatic, +and reaped a golden harvest in return for his success and bravery. It +appears, as far as I could obtain it from him, that as long as your +mother was alive, he felt no interest about you, but her death, and the +subsequent wealth which poured upon him, have now induced him to find out +an heir, to whom it may be bequeathed. +</p> +<p> +"Such, Japhet, are the outlines of your father's history; and I must +point out that he has no feelings of affection for you at present. The +conduct of your mother is ever before him, and if it were not that he +wishes an heir, I should almost say that his feelings are those of +dislike. You may create an interest in his heart, it is true: and he may +be gratified by your personal appearance; but you will have a very +difficult task, as you will have to submit to his caprices and fancies, +and I am afraid that, to a high spirit like yours, they will be almost +unbearable." +</p> +<p> +"Really, sir, I begin to feel that the fondest anticipations are seldom +realised, and almost to wish that I had not been sought for by my father. +I was happy and contented, and now I do not see any chance of having to +congratulate myself on the change." +</p> +<p> +"On one or two points I also wish to question you. It appears that you +have entered into the sect denominated Quakers. Tell me candidly, do you +subscribe heartily and sincerely to their doctrines? And I was going to +add, is it your intention to remain with them? I perceive much +difficulty in all this." +</p> +<p> +"The tenets of the sect I certainly do believe to be more in accordance +with the Christian religion than any other; and I have no hesitation in +asserting, from my knowledge of those who belong to that sect, that they, +generally speaking, lead better lives. There are some points connected +with their worship, which, at first, I considered ridiculous: the feeling +has, however, worn off. As to their quaint manner of speaking, that has +been grossly exaggerated. Their dress is a part of their religion." +</p> +<p> +"Why so, Japhet?" +</p> +<p> +"I can reply to you in the words of Susannah Temple, when I made the +same interrogatory. 'You think the peculiarity of our dress is an +outward form which is not required. It was put on to separate us from +others, and as a proof that we had discarded vanity. I am aware that it +is not a proof of our sincerity; but still, the discarding of the dress +is a proof of insincerity. We consider, that to admire the person is +vain, and our creed is humility. It is therefore an outward and visible +sign, that we would act up to those tenets which we profess. It is not +all who wear the dress who are Quakers in heart or conduct; but we know +that when it is put aside, the tenets of our persuasion are at the same +time renounced, therefore do we consider it essential. I do not mean to +say but that the heart may be as pure, and the faith continue as stedfast +without such signs outwardly, but it is a part of our creed, and we must +not choose, but either reject all or none.'" +</p> +<p> +"Very well argued by the little Quakeress; and now, Japhet, I should +like to put another question to you. Are you very much attached to this +young puritan?" +</p> +<p> +"I will not deny but that I am. I love her sincerely." +</p> +<p> +"Does your love carry you so far, that you would, for her sake, continue +a Quaker, and marry her?" +</p> +<p> +"I have asked myself that question at least a hundred times during the +last twenty-four hours, and I cannot decide. If she would dress as others +do, and allow me to do the same, I would marry her to-morrow; whether I +shall ever make up my mind to adhere to the persuasion, and live and die +a Quaker for her sake, is quite another matter—but I am afraid not—I +am too worldly-minded. The fact is, I am in a very awkward position with +respect to her. I have never acknowledged my affection, or asked for a +return, but she knows I love her, and I know that she loves me." +</p> +<p> +"Like all vain boys, you flatter yourself." +</p> +<p> +"I leave you to judge, sir," replied I, repeating to him our parting +<i>tête-à-tête</i>, and how I had returned, and found her in tears. +</p> +<p> +"All that certainly is very corroborative evidence; but tell me, Japhet, +do you think she loves you well enough to abandon all for your sake?" +</p> +<p> +"No, nor ever will, sir, she is too high principled, too high-minded. +She might suffer greatly, but she never would swerve from what she +thought was right." +</p> +<p> +"She must be a fine character, Japhet, but you will be in a dilemma: +indeed, it appears to me, that your troubles are now commencing instead +of ending, and that you would have been much happier where you were, than +you will be by being again brought out into the world. Your prospect is +not over cheerful. You have an awkward father to deal with: you will be +under a strong check, I've a notion, and I am afraid you will find that, +notwithstanding you will be once more received into society, all is +vanity and vexation of spirit." +</p> +<p> +"I am afraid you are right, sir," replied I, "but, at all events, it +will be something gained, to be acknowledged to the world by a father of +good family, whatever else I may have to submit to. I have been the sport +of fortune all my life, and probably she has not yet done playing with +me; but it is late, and I will now wish you good-night." +</p> +<p> +"Good-night, Japhet; if I have any intelligence I will let you know. Lady +de Clare's address is No. 13, Park Street. You will, of course, go there +as soon as you can." +</p> +<p> +"I will, sir, after I have written my letters to my friends at Reading." +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0150" id="h2HCH0150"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter LXXII +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + I am a little jealous, and, like the immortal William<sup>[A]</sup> Bottom, + inclined to enact more parts than one.—With a big effort my + hankering after bigamy is mastered by Mr Masterton—and by my own + good sense. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + [Footnote A: Or rather Nick—Ed.] +</p> +<p> +I returned home to reflect upon what Mr Masterton had told me, and I must +say that I was not very well pleased with his various information. His +account of my mother, although she was no more, distressed me, and, from +the character which he gave of my father, I felt convinced that my +happiness would not be at all increased by my having finally attained +the long-desired object of my wishes. Strange to say, I had no sooner +discovered my father, but I wished that he had never turned up; and when +I compared the peaceful and happy state of existence which I had lately +enjoyed, with the prospects of what I had in future to submit to, I +bitterly repented that the advertisement had been seen by Timothy; still, +on one point, I was peculiarly anxious, without hardly daring to +anatomise my feelings; it was relative to Cecilia de Clare, and what Mr +Masterton had mentioned in the course of our conversation. The next +morning I wrote to Timothy and to Mr Cophagus, giving them a shortdetail +of what I had been informed by Mr Masterton, and expressing a wish, which +I then really did feel, that I had never been summoned away from them. +</p> +<p> +Having finished my letters, I set off to Park Street, to call upon Lady +de Clare and Cecilia. It was rather early, but the footman who opened the +door recognised me, and I was admitted upon his own responsibility. It +was now more than eighteen months since I had quitted their house at +Richmond, and I was very anxious to know what reception I might have. I +followed the servant up stairs, and when he opened the door walked in, +as my name was announced. +</p> +<p> +Lady de Clare rose in haste, so did Cecilia, and so did a third person, +whom I had not expected to have met—Harcourt. "Mr Newland," exclaimed +Lady de Clare, "this is indeed unexpected." Cecilia also came forward, +blushing to the forehead. Harcourt held back, as if waiting for the +advances to be made on my side. On the whole, I never felt more +awkwardly, and I believe my feelings were reciprocated by the whole +party. I was evidently <i>de trop</i>. +</p> +<p> +"Do you know Mr Harcourt?" at last said Lady de Clare. +</p> +<p> +"If it is the Mr Harcourt I once knew," replied I, "I certainly do." +</p> +<p> +"Believe me it is the same, Newland," said Harcourt, coming to me and +offering his hand, which I took with pleasure. +</p> +<p> +"It is a long while since we met," observed Cecilia, who felt it +necessary to say something, but, at the same time, did not like to enter +upon my affairs before Harcourt. +</p> +<p> +"It is, Miss de Clare," replied I, for I was not exactly pleased at my +reception; "but I have been fortunate since I had the pleasure of seeing +you last." +</p> +<p> +Cecilia and her mother looked earnestly, as much as to say, "in +what?"—but did not like to ask the question. +</p> +<p> +"There is no one present who is not well acquainted with my history," +observed I, "that is, until the time that I left you and Lady de +Clare, and I have no wish to create mystery. I have at last discovered +my father." +</p> +<p> +"I hope we are to congratulate you, Mr Newland," said Lady de Clare. +</p> +<p> +"As far as respectability and family are concerned, I certainly have no +reason to be ashamed," replied I. "He is the brother of an earl, and a +general in the army. His name I will not mention until I have seen him, +and I am formally and openly acknowledged. I have also the advantage of +being an only son, and if I am not disinherited, heir to considerable +property," continued I, smiling sarcastically. "Perhaps I may now be +better <i>received</i> than I have been as Japhet Newland the Foundling: but, +Lady de Clare, I am afraid that I have intruded unseasonably, and will +now take my leave. Good morning;" and without waiting for a reply, I +made a hasty retreat, and gained the door. +</p> +<p> +Flushed with indignation, I had nearly gained the bottom of the stairs, +when I heard a light footstep behind me, and my arm was caught by +Cecilia de Clare. I turned round, and she looked me reproachfully in the +face, as the tear stood in her eye. +</p> +<p> +"What have we done, Japhet, that you should treat us in this manner?" +said she, with emotion. +</p> +<p> +"Miss de Clare," replied I, "I have no reproaches to make. I perceived +that my presence was not welcome, and I would no further intrude." +</p> +<p> +"Are you then so proud, now that you have found out that you are well +born, Japhet?" +</p> +<p> +"I am much too proud to intrude where I am not wished for, Miss de +Clare. As Japhet Newland, I came here to see the Fleta of former days. +When I assume my real name, I shall always be most happy of an +introduction to the daughter of Lady de Clare." +</p> +<p> +"Oh! how changed," exclaimed she, fixing her large blue eyes upon me. +</p> +<p> +"Prosperity changes us all, Miss de Clare. I wish you a very good +morning;" and I turned away, and crossed the hall to the door. +</p> +<p> +As I went out I could not help looking back, and I perceived that +Cecilia's handkerchief was held to her eyes, as she slowly mounted the +stairs. I walked home to the Piazza in no very pleasant humour. I was +angry and disgusted at the coolness of my reception. I thought myself ill +used, and treated with ingratitude. "So much for the world," said I, as +I sat down in my apartment, and spun my hat on the table. "She has been +out two seasons, and is no longer the same person. Yet how lovely she has +grown! But why this change—and why was Harcourt there? Could he have +prejudiced them against me? Very possibly." While these ideas were +running in my mind, and I was making comparisons between Cecilia de +Clare and Susannah Temple—not much in favour of the former—and looking +forward prospectively to the meeting with my father, the doubts as to my +reception in society colouring everything with the most sombre tints, the +door opened, and in walked Harcourt, announced by the waiter. +</p> +<p> +"A chair for Mr Harcourt," said I to the waiter, with formality. +</p> +<p> +"Newland," said Harcourt, "I come for two reasons: in the first place, +I am commissioned by the ladies, to assure you—" +</p> +<p> +"I beg your pardon, Mr Harcourt, for interrupting you, but I require no +ambassador from the ladies in question. They may make you their +confidant if they please, but I am not at all inclined to do the same. +Explanation, after what I witnessed and felt this morning, is quite +unnecessary. I surrender all claims upon either Lady de Clare or her +daughter, if I ever was so foolhardy as to imagine that I had any. The +first reason of your visit it is therefore useless to proceed with. May +I ask the other reason which has procured me this honour?" +</p> +<p> +"I hardly know, Mr Newland," replied Harcourt, colouring deeply, +"whether, after what you have now said, I ought to proceed with the +second—it related to myself." +</p> +<p> +"I am all attention, Mr Harcourt," replied I, bowing politely. +</p> +<p> +"It was to say, Mr Newland, that I should have taken the earliest +opportunity after my recovery, had you not disappeared so strangely, to +have expressed my sorrow for my conduct towards you, and to have +acknowledged that I had been deservedly punished: more perhaps by my own +feelings of remorse, than by the dangerous wound I had received by your +hand. I take even this opportunity, although not apparently a favourable +one, of expressing what I consider it my duty, as a gentleman who has +wronged another, to express. I certainly was going to add more, but there +is so little chance of its being well received, that I had better defer it +to some future opportunity. The time may come, and I certainly trust it +will come, when I may be allowed to prove to you that I am not deserving +of the coolness with which I am now received. Mr Newland, with every wish +for your happiness, I will now take my leave; but I must say, it is with +painful sentiments, as I feel that the result of this interview will be +the cause of great distress to those who are bound to you, not only by +gratitude, but sincere regard." +</p> +<p> +Harcourt then bowed, and quitted the room. "It's all very well," muttered +I, "but I know the world, and am not to be soothed down by a few fine +words. I trust that they will be sorry for their conduct, but see me +again inside their doors they will not," and I sat down, trying to feel +satisfied with myself—but I was not; I felt that I had acted harshly, to +say no more. I ought to have listened to an explanation sent by Cecilia +and her mother, after her coming down stairs to expostulate. They were +under great obligations to me, and by my quick resentment, I rendered the +obligations more onerous. It was unkind of me—and I wished that Harcourt +had not left the room. As for his conduct, I tried to find fault with it, +but could not. It was gentlemanly and feeling. The fact was, I was in a +very bad humour, and could not, at the time, discover the reason, which +was neither more nor less than that I was more jealous of finding +Harcourt so intimate at Lady de Clare's, than I was at the unpalatable +reception which I had met with. The waiter came in, and brought me a note +from Mr Masterton. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "I have this morning received a summons from your father, who + returned, it appears, two days ago, and is now at the Adelphi + Hotel. I am sorry to say, that stepping out of his carriage when + travelling, he missed his footing, and has snapped his tendon + Achilles. He is laid up on a couch, and, as you may suppose, his + amiability is not increased by the accident, and the pain + attending it. As he has requested me to bring forward immediate + evidence as to your identity, and the presence of Mr Cophagus is + necessary, I propose that we start for Reading to-morrow at nine + o'clock. I have a curiosity to go down there, and having a + leisure day or two, it will be a relaxation. I wish to see my old + acquaintance Timothy, and your shop. Answer by bearer. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + J. MASTERTON." +</p> +<p> +I wrote a few lines, informing Mr Masterton that I would be with him at +the appointed hour, and then sat down to my solitary meal. How different +from when I was last at this hotel! Now I knew nobody. I had to regain my +footing in society, and that could only be accomplished by being +acknowledged by my father; and, as soon as that was done, I would call +upon Lord Windermear, who would quickly effect what I desired. The next +morning I was ready at nine o'clock, and set off with post horses, with +Mr Masterton, in his own carriage. I told him what had occurred the day +before, and how disgusted I was at my reception. +</p> +<p> +"Upon my word, Japhet, I think you are wrong," replied the old gentleman; +"and if you had not told me of your affection for Miss Temple, to see +whom, by-the-bye, I confess to be one of the chief motives of my going +down with you, I should almost suppose that you were blinded by jealousy. +Does it not occur to you, that, if Mr Harcourt was admitted to the +ladies at such an early hour, there is preference shown him in that +quarter? And now I recollect that I heard something about it. Harcourt's +elder brother died, and he's come into the property, and I heard somebody +say that he would in all probability succeed in gaining the handsomest +girl in London, with a large fortune—that it was said to be a match. +Now, if such be the case, and you broke in upon a quiet reunion between +two young people about to be united, almost without announcement, and so +unexpectedly, after a lapse of so long a time, surely you cannot be +surprised at there being a degree of confusion and restraint—more +especially after what had passed between Harcourt and you. Depend upon +it, that was the cause of it. Had Lady de Clare and her daughter been +alone, your reception would have been very different; indeed, Cecilia's +following you down stairs, proves that it was not from coolness towards +you; and Harcourt calling upon you, and the conversation which took +place, is another proof that you have been mistaken." +</p> +<p> +"I never viewed it in that light, certainly, sir," observed I. "I merely +perceived that I was considered intrusive, and finding in the company one +who had treated me ill, and had been my antagonist in the field, I +naturally supposed that he had prejudiced them against me. I hope I may +be wrong; but I have seen so much of the world, young as I am, that I +have become very suspicious." +</p> +<p> +"Then discard suspicion as fast as you can, it will only make you +unhappy, and not prevent your being deceived. If you are suspicious, +you will have the constant fear of deception hanging over you, which +poisons existence." +</p> +<p> +After these remarks I remained silent for some time; I was analysing my +own feelings, and I felt that I had acted in a very absurd manner. The +fact was, that one of my castle buildings had been, that I was to marry +Fleta as soon as I had found my own father, and this it was which had +actuated me, almost without my knowing it. I felt jealous of Harcourt, +and that, without being in love with Miss de Clare, but actually +passionately fond of another person; I felt as if I could have married +her without loving her, and that I could give up Susannah Temple, whom +I did love, rather than that a being whom I considered as almost of my +own creation, should herself presume to fall in love, or that another +should dare to love her, until I had made up my mind whether I should +take her myself: and this after so long an absence, and their having +given up all hopes of ever seeing me again. The reader may smile at the +absurdity, still more at the selfishness of this feeling; so did I, when +I had reflected upon it, and I despised myself for my vanity and folly. +</p> +<p> +"What are you thinking of, Japhet?" observed Mr Masterton, tired with my +long abstraction. +</p> +<p> +"That I have been making a most egregious fool of myself, sir," replied +I, "with respect to the De Clares." +</p> +<p> +"I did not say so, Japhet; but, to tell you the truth, I thought +something very like it. Now tell me, were you not jealous at finding her +in company with Harcourt?" +</p> +<p> +"Exactly so, sir." +</p> +<p> +"I'll tell Susannah Temple when I see her, that she may form some idea +of your constancy," replied Mr Masterton, smiling. "Why, what a dog in +the manger you must be—you can't marry them both. Still, under the +circumstances, I can analyse the feeling—it is natural, but all that is +natural is not always creditable to human nature. Let us talk a little +about Susannah, and then all these vagaries will be dispersed. How old +is she?" +</p> +<p> +Mr Masterton plied me with so many questions relative to Susannah, that +her image alone soon filled my mind, and I recovered my spirits. "I +don't know what she will say, at my being in this dress, sir," observed +I. "Had I not better change it on my arrival?" +</p> +<p> +"By no means; I'll fight your battle—I know her character pretty well, +thanks to your raving about her." +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0151" id="h2HCH0151"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter LXXIII +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + Contains much learned argument upon broad-brims and garments of + grey—I get the best of it—The one great wish of my life is + granted—I meet my father, and a cold reception very indicative + of much after-heat. +</p> +<p> +We arrived in good time at Reading, and, as soon as we alighted at the +inn, we ordered dinner, and then walked down to the shop, where we found +Timothy very busy tying down and labelling. He was delighted to see Mr +Masterton, and perceiving that I had laid aside the Quaker's dress, made +no scruple of indulging in his humour, making a long face, and <i>thee</i>-ing +and <i>thou</i>-ing Mr Masterton in a very absurd manner. We desired him to go +to Mr Cophagus, and beg that he would allow me to bring Mr Masterton to +drink tea, and afterwards to call at the inn and give us the answer. We +then returned to our dinner. +</p> +<p> +"Whether they will ever make a Quaker of you, Japhet, I am very +doubtful," observed Mr Masterton, as we walked back; "but as for making +one of that fellow Timothy, I'll defy them." +</p> +<p> +"He laughs at everything," replied I: "and views everything in a +ridiculous light—at all events, they never will make him serious." +</p> +<p> +In the evening, we adjourned to the house of Mr Cophagus, having received +a message of welcome. I entered the room first. Susannah came forward to +welcome me, and then drew back, when she perceived the alteration in my +apparel, colouring deeply. I passed her, and took the hand of Mrs +Cophagus and her husband, and then introduced Mr Masterton. +</p> +<p> +"We hardly knew thee, Japhet," mildly observed Mrs Cophagus. +</p> +<p> +"I did not think that outward garments would disguise me from my +friends," replied I; "but so it appeareth, for your sister hath not even +greeted me in welcome." +</p> +<p> +"I greet thee in all kindness, and all sincerity, Japhet Newland," +replied Susannah, holding out her hand. "Yet did I not imagine that, in +so short a time, thou wouldst have dismissed the apparel of our +persuasion, neither do I find it seemly." +</p> +<p> +"Miss Temple," interposed Mr Masterton, "it is to oblige those who are +his sincere friends, that Mr Newland has laid aside his dress. I quarrel +with no creed—every one has a right to choose for himself, and Mr +Newland has perhaps not chosen badly, in embracing your tenets. Let him +continue steadfast in them. But, fair young lady, there is no creed +which is perfect, and, even in yours, we find imperfection. Our religion +preaches humility, and therefore we do object to his wearing the garb +of pride." +</p> +<p> +"Of pride, sayest thou? hath he not rather put off the garb of humility, +and now appeareth in the garb of pride?" +</p> +<p> +"Not so, young madam: when we dress as all the world dress, we wear not +the garb of pride; but when we put on a dress different from others, +that distinguishes us from others, then we show our pride, and the worst +of pride, for it is the hypocritical pride which apes humility. It is +the Pharisee of the Scriptures, who preaches in high places, and sounds +forth his charity to the poor; not the humility of the Publican, who +says, 'Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner.' Your apparel of pretended +humility is the garb of pride, and for that reason have we insisted that +he discards it, when with us. His tenets we interfere not with. There +can be no religion in dress; and that must indeed be weak in itself, +which requires dress for its support." +</p> +<p> +Susannah was astonished at this new feature of the case, so aptly put +by the old lawyer. Mrs Cophagus looked at her husband, and Cophagus +pinched my arm, evidently agreeing with him. When Mr Masterton had +finished speaking, Susannah waited a few seconds, and then replied, +"It becomes not one so young and weak as I am, to argue with thee, +who art so much my senior. I cannot cavil at opinions which, if not +correct, at least are founded on the holy writings; but I have been +otherwise instructed." +</p> +<p> +"Then let us drop the argument, Miss Susannah, and let me tell you, that +Japhet wished to resume his Quaker's dress, and I would not permit him. +If there is any blame, it is to be laid to me; and it's no use being angry +with an old man like myself." +</p> +<p> +"I have no right to be angry with anyone," replied Susannah. +</p> +<p> +"But you were angry with me, Susannah," interrupted I. +</p> +<p> +"I cannot say that it was anger, Japhet Newland: I hardly know what the +feeling might have been; but I was wrong, and I must request thy +forgiveness;" and Susannah held out her hand. +</p> +<p> +"Now you must forgive me too, Miss Temple," said old Masterton, and +Susannah laughed against her wishes. +</p> +<p> +The conversation then became general. Mr Masterton explained to Mr +Cophagus what he required of him, and Mr Cophagus immediately acceded. +It was arranged that he should go to town by the mail the next day. Mr +Masterton talked a great deal about my father, and gave his character in +its true light, as he considered it would be advantageous to me so to do. +He then entered into conversation upon a variety of topics, and was +certainly very amusing. Susannah laughed very heartily before the evening +was over, and Mr Masterton retired to the hotel, for I had resolved to +sleep in my own bed. +</p> +<p> +I walked home with Mr Masterton: I then returned to the house, and found +them all in the parlour. Mrs Cophagus was expressing her delight at the +amusement she had received, when I entered with a grave face. "I wish +that I had not left you," said I to Mrs Cophagus; "I am afraid to meet my +father; he will exact the most implicit obedience. What am I to do. Must +not I obey him?" +</p> +<p> +"In all things lawful," replied Susannah, "most certainly, Japhet." +</p> +<p> +"In all things lawful, Susannah! now tell me, in the very case of my +apparel; Mr Masterton says, that he never will permit me to wear the +dress. What am I to do?" +</p> +<p> +"Thou hast thy religion and thy Bible for thy guide, Japhet." +</p> +<p> +"I have; and in the Bible I find written on tablets of stone by the +prophet of God, 'Honour thy father and thy mother;' there is a positive +commandment; but I find no commandment to wear this or that dress. What +think you?" continued I, appealing to them all. +</p> +<p> +"I should bid thee honour thy father, Japhet," replied Mrs Cophagus, +"and you, Susannah—" +</p> +<p> +"I shall bid thee good-night, Japhet." +</p> +<p> +At this reply we all laughed, and I perceived there was a smile on +Susannah's face as she walked away. Mrs Cophagus followed her, laughing +as she went, and Cophagus and I were alone. +</p> +<p> +"Well, Japhet—see old gentleman—kiss—shake hands—and blessing—and +so on." +</p> +<p> +"Yes, sir," replied I, "but if he treats me ill, I shall probably come +down here again. I am afraid that Susannah is not very well pleased with +me." +</p> +<p> +"Pooh, nonsense—wife knows all—die for you—Japhet, do as you +please—dress yourself—dress her—any dress—no dress like Eve—sly +puss—won't lose you—all right—and so on." +</p> +<p> +I pressed Mr Cophagus to tell me all he knew, and I found from him that +his wife had questioned Susannah soon after my departure, had found her +weeping, and that she had gained from her the avowal of her ardent +affection for me. This was all I wanted, and I wished him good-night, and +went to bed happy. I had an interview with Susannah Temple before I left +the next morning, and, although I never mentioned love, had every reason +to be satisfied. She was kind and affectionate; spoke to me in her usual +serious manner, warned me against the world, acknowledged that I should +have great difficulties to surmount, and even made much allowance for my +peculiar situation. She dared not advise, but she would pray for me. +There was a greater show of interest and confidence towards me than I +had ever yet received from her. When I parted from her I said, "Dear +Susannah, whatever change may take place in my fortunes or in my dress, +believe me, my heart shall not be changed, and I shall ever adhere to +those principles which have been instilled into me since I have been in +your company." +</p> +<p> +This was a phrase which admitted of a double meaning, and she replied, +"I should wish to see thee perfect, Japhet; but there is no perfection +now on earth; be therefore as perfect as you can." +</p> +<p> +"God bless you, Susannah." +</p> +<p> +"May the blessing of the Lord be on you always, Japhet," replied she. +</p> +<p> +I put my arm round her waist, and slightly pressed her to my bosom. She +gently disengaged herself, and her large eyes glistened with tears as she +left the room. In a quarter of an hour I was with Mr Masterton on the road +to London. +</p> +<p> +"Japhet," said the old gentleman, "I will say that you have been very +wise in your choice, and that your little Quaker is a most lovely +creature: I am in love with her myself, and I think that she is far +superior in personal attractions to Cecilia de Clare." +</p> +<p> +"Indeed, sir!" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, indeed; her face is more classical, and her complexion is +unrivalled; as far as my present knowledge and experience go, she is an +emblem of purity." +</p> +<p> +"Her mind, sir, is as pure as her person." +</p> +<p> +"I believe it; she has a strong mind, and will think for herself." +</p> +<p> +"There, sir, is, I am afraid, the difficulty; she will not yield a point +in which she thinks she is right, not even for her love for me." +</p> +<p> +"I agree with you that she will not, and I admire her for it; but, +Japhet, she will yield to conviction, and, depend upon it, she will +abandon the outward observances of her persuasion. Did you observe what +a spoke I put in your wheel last night, when I stated that outward forms +were pride. Leave that to work, and I'll answer for the consequences: she +will not long wear that Quaker's dress. How beautiful she would be if she +dressed like other people! I think I see her now entering a ball-room." +</p> +<p> +"But what occasions you to think she will abandon her persuasion?" +</p> +<p> +"I do not say that she will abandon it, nor do I wish her to do it, nor +do I wish you to do it, Japhet. There is much beauty and much perfection +in the Quaker's creed. All that requires to be abandoned are the dress +and the ceremonies of the meetings, which are both absurdities. +Recollect, that Miss Temple has been brought up as a Quaker; she has, +from the exclusiveness of the sect, known no other form of worship, and +never heard any opposition to that which has been inculcated; but let +her once or twice enter the Established Church, hear its beautiful +ritual, and listen to a sound preacher. Let her be persuaded to do that, +which cannot be asking her to do wrong, and then let her think and act +for herself, and my word for it, when she draws the comparison between +what she has then heard and the nonsense occasionally uttered in the +Quakers' conventicle, by those who fancy themselves inspired, she will +herself feel that, although the tenets of her persuasion may be more in +accordance with true Christianity than those of other sects, the outward +forms and observances are imperfect. I trust to her own good sense." +</p> +<p> +"You make me very happy by saying so." "Well, that is my opinion of her, +and if she proves me to be correct, hang me if I don't think I shall +adopt her." +</p> +<p> +"What do you think of Mrs Cophagus, sir?" +</p> +<p> +"I think she is no more a Quaker in her heart than I am. She is a +lively, merry, kind-hearted creature, and would have no objection to +appear in feathers and diamonds to-morrow." +</p> +<p> +"Well, sir, I can tell you that Mr Cophagus still sighs after his blue +cotton-net pantaloons and Hessian boots." +</p> +<p> +"More fool he! but, however, I am glad of it, for it gives me an idea +which I shall work upon by-and-bye; at present we have this eventful +meeting between you and your father to occupy us." +</p> +<p> +We arrived in town in time for dinner, which Mr Masterton had ordered at +his chambers. As the old gentleman was rather tired with his two days' +travelling, I wished him good-night at an early hour. +</p> +<p> +"Recollect, Japhet, we are to be at the Adelphi hotel to-morrow at one +o'clock—come in time." +</p> +<p> +I called upon Mr Masterton at the time appointed on the ensuing day, and +we drove to the hotel in which my father had located himself. On our +arrival, we were ushered into a room on the ground floor, where we found +Mr Cophagus and two of the governors of the Foundling Hospital. +</p> +<p> +"Really, Mr Masterton," said one of the latter gentlemen, "one would +think that we were about to have an audience with a sovereign prince, +and, instead of conferring favours, were about to receive them. My time +is precious; I ought to have been in the city this half hour, and here +is this old nabob keeping us waiting as if we were petitioners." +</p> +<p> +Mr Masterton laughed and said, "Let us all go up stairs, and not wait to +be sent for." +</p> +<p> +He called one of the waiters, and desired him to announce them to +General De Benyon. They then followed the waiter, leaving me alone. I +must say, that I was a little agitated; I heard the door open above, +and then an angry growl like that of a wild beast; the door closed again, +and all was quiet. "And this," thought I, "is the result of all my fond +anticipations, of my ardent wishes, of my enthusiastic search. Instead +of expressing anxiety to receive his son, he litigiously requires proofs, +and more proofs, when he has received every satisfactory proof, already. +They say his temper is violent beyond control, and that submission +irritates instead of appeasing him; what then if I resent? I have heard +that people of that description are to be better met with their own +weapons;—suppose I try it;—but no, I have no right;—I will however be +firm and keep my temper under every circumstance; I will show him, at +least, that his son has the spirit and the feelings of a gentleman." +</p> +<p> +As these thoughts passed in my mind the door opened, and Mr Masterton +requested me to follow him. I obeyed with a palpitating heart, and when +I had gained the landing-place up stairs, Mr Masterton took my hand and +led me into the presence of my long-sought-for and much-dreaded <i>parent</i>. +I may as well describe him and the whole tableau. The room was long and +narrow, and, at the farther end, was a large sofa, on which was seated +my father with his injured leg reposing on it, his crutches propped +against the wall. On each side of him were two large poles and stands +each with a magnificent macaw. Next to the macaws were two native +servants, arrayed in their muslin dresses, with their arms folded. +A hooka was in advance of the table before the sofa; it was magnificently +wrought in silver, and the snake passed under the table, so that the +tube was within my honoured father's reach. On one side of the room sat +the two governors of the Foundling Hospital, on the other was seated Mr +Cophagus in his Quaker's dress; the empty chair next to him had been +occupied by Mr Masterton. I looked at my father: he was a man of great +size, apparently six feet three or four inches, and stout in proportion +without being burthened with fat: he was gaunt, broad shouldered, and +muscular, and I think, must have weighed seventeen or eighteen stone. +His head was in proportion to his body and very large; so were all his +features upon the same grand scale. His complexion was of a +brownish-yellow, and his hair of a snowy white. He wore his whiskers +very large and joined together under the throat, and these, which were +also white, from the circle which they formed round his face, and +contrasting with the colour of his skin, gave his <i>tout ensemble</i> much +more the appearance of a royal Bengal tiger than a gentleman. General +De Benyon saw Mr Masterton leading me forward to within a pace or two of +the table before the general.—"Allow me the pleasure of introducing +your son, Japhet." +</p> +<p> +There was no hand extended to welcome me. My father fixed his proud grey +eyes upon me for a moment, and then turned to the governors of the +hospital. +</p> +<p> +"Is this the person, gentlemen, whom you received as an infant and +brought up as Japhet Newland?" +</p> +<p> +The governors declared I was the same person; that they had bound me to +Mr Cophagus, and had seen me more than once since I quitted the Asylum. +</p> +<p> +"Is this the Japhet Newland whom you received from these gentlemen and +brought up to your business?" +</p> +<p> +"Yea, and verily—I do affirm the same—smart lad—good boy, and so on." +</p> +<p> +"I will not take a Quaker's affirmation—will you take your oath, sir?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes," replied Cophagus, forgetting his Quakership; "take oath—bring +Bible—kiss book, and so on." +</p> +<p> +"You then, as a Quaker, have no objection to swear to the identity of +this person?" +</p> +<p> +"Swear," cried Cophagus, "yes, swear—swear now—not Japhet!—I'm +damned—go to hell, and so on." +</p> +<p> +The other parties present could not help laughing at this explosion from +Cophagus, neither could I. Mr Masterton then asked the general if he +required any more proofs. +</p> +<p> +"No," replied the general discourteously; and speaking in Hindostanee +to his attendants, they walked to the door and opened it. The hint was +taken, Mr Masterton saying to the others in an ironical tone, "After so +long a separation, gentlemen, it must be natural that the general should +wish to be left alone, that he may give vent to his paternal feelings." +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0152" id="h2HCH0152"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter LXXIV +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + Father and I grow warm in our argument—Obliged to give him a + little schooling to show my affection—Takes it at last very + kindly, and very dutifully owns himself a fool. +</p> +<p> +In the meantime, I was left standing in the middle of the room; the +gentlemen departed, and the two native servants resumed their stations +on each side of the sofa. I felt humiliated and indignant, but waited in +silence; at last, my honoured parent, who had eyed me for some time, +commenced. +</p> +<p> +"If you think, young man, to win my favour by your good looks, you are +very much mistaken: you are too like your mother, whose memory is +anything but agreeable." +</p> +<p> +The blood mounted to my forehead at this cruel observation; I folded my +arms and looked my father steadfastly in the face, but made no reply. +The choler of the gentleman was raised. +</p> +<p> +"It appears that I have found a most dutiful son." +</p> +<p> +I was about to make an angry answer, when I recollected myself, and I +courteously replied, "My dear general, depend upon it that your son will +always be ready to pay duty to whom duty is due; but excuse me, in the +agitation of this meeting you have forgotten those little attentions +which courtesy demands; with your permission I will take a chair, and +then we may converse more at our ease. I hope your leg is better." +</p> +<p> +I said this with the blandest voice and the most studied politeness, and +drawing a chair towards the table, I took my seat; as I expected, it put +my honoured father in a tremendous rage. +</p> +<p> +"If this is a specimen, sir, of your duty and respect, sir, I hope to +see no more of them. To whom your duty is due, sir!—and pray to whom +is it due, sir, if not to the author of your existence?" cried the +general, striking the table before him with his enormous fist, so as to +make the ink fly out of the stand some inches high and bespatter the +papers near it. +</p> +<p> +"My dear father, you are perfectly correct: duty, as you say, is due to +the author of our existence. If I recollect right, the commandment says, +'Honour your father and your mother;' but at the same time, if I may +venture to offer an observation, are there not such things as reciprocal +duties—some which are even more paramount in a father than the mere +begetting of a son?" +</p> +<p> +"What do you mean, sir, by these insolent remarks?" interrupted my father. +</p> +<p> +"Excuse me, my dear father, I may be wrong, but if so, I will bow to your +superior judgment; but it does appear to me, that the mere hanging me in +a basket at the gate of the Foundling Hospital, and leaving me a +bank-note of fifty pounds to educate and maintain me until the age of +twenty-four, are not exactly all the duties incumbent upon a parent. If +you think that they are, I am afraid that the world, as well as myself, +will be of a different opinion. Not that I intend to make any complaint, +as I feel assured that now circumstances have put it in your power, it is +your intention to make me amends for leaving me so long in a state of +destitution, and wholly dependent upon my own resources." +</p> +<p> +"You do, do you, sir? well, now, I'll tell you my resolution, which +is—there is the door—go out, and never let me see your face again." +</p> +<p> +"My dear father, as I am convinced this is only a little pleasantry on +your part, or perhaps a mere trial whether I am possessed of the spirit +and determination of a De Benyon, I shall, of course, please you by not +complying with your humorous request." +</p> +<p> +"Won't you, by G—d!" roared my father; then turning to his two native +servants, he spoke to them in Hindostanee. They immediately walked to the +door, threw it wide open, and then coming back to me, were about to take +me by the arms. I certainly felt my blood boil, but I recollected how +necessary it was to keep my temper. I rose from my chair, and advancing +to the side of the sofa, I said. +</p> +<p> +"My dear father, as I perceive that you do not require your crutches at +this moment, you will not perhaps object to my taking one. These foreign +scoundrels must not be permitted to insult <i>you</i> through the person of +your only son." +</p> +<p> +"Turn him out," roared my father. +</p> +<p> +The natives advanced, but I whirled the crutch round my head, and in a +moment they were both prostrate. As soon as they gained their feet, I +attacked them again, until they made their escape out of the room; I +then shut the door and turned the key. +</p> +<p> +"Thank you, my dear sir," said I, returning the crutch to where it was +before. "Many thanks for thus permitting me to chastise the insolence +of these black scoundrels, whom I take it for granted, you will +immediately discharge;" and I again took my seat in the chair, bringing +it closer to him. +</p> +<p> +The rage of the general was now beyond all bounds; the white foam was +spluttered out of his mouth, as he in vain endeavoured to find words. +Once he actually rose from the sofa, to take the law in his own hands, +but the effort seriously injured his leg, and he threw himself down in +pain and disappointment. +</p> +<p> +"My dear father, I am afraid that, in your anxiety to help me, you have +hurt your leg again," said I, in a soothing voice. +</p> +<p> +"Sirrah, sirrah," exclaimed he at last; "if you think that this will do, +you are very much mistaken. You don't know me. You may turn out a couple +of cowardly blacks, but now I'll show you that I am not to be played +with. I discard you for ever—I disinherit—I disacknowledge you. You +may take your choice, either to quit this room, or be put into the hands +of the police." +</p> +<p> +"The police, my dear sir! What can the police do?" +</p> +<p> +"I may call in the police for the assault just committed by your +servants, and have them up to Bow Street, but you cannot charge me with +an assault." +</p> +<p> +"But I will, by G—d, sir, true or not true." +</p> +<p> +"Indeed you would not, my dear father. A De Benyon would never be guilty +of a lie. Besides, if you were to call in the police;—I wish to argue +this matter coolly, because I ascribe your present little burst of +ill-humour to your sufferings from your unfortunate accident. Allowing +then, my dear father, that you were to charge me with an assault, I +should immediately be under the necessity of charging you also, and then +we must both go to Bow Street together. Were you ever at Bow Street, +general?" The general made no reply, and I proceeded. "Besides, my dear +sir, only imagine how very awkward it would be when the magistrate put +you on your oath, and asked you to make your charge. What would you be +obliged to declare? That you had married when young, and finding that +your wife had no fortune, had deserted her the second day after your +marriage. That you, an officer in the army, and the Honourable Captain +De Benyon, had hung up your child at the gates of the Foundling +Hospital—that you had again met your wife, married to another, and had +been an accomplice in concealing her capital offence of bigamy, and had +had meetings with her, although she belonged to another. I say meetings, +for you did meet her, to receive her directions about me. I am +charitable and suspect nothing—others will not be so. Then, after her +death, you come home, and inquire about your son. His identity is +established,—and what then? not only you do not take him by the hand, +in common civility, I might say, but you first try to turn him out of +the house, and to give him in charge of the police: and then you will +have to state for what. Perhaps you will answer me that question, for +I really do not know." +</p> +<p> +By this time, my honoured father's wrath had, to a certain degree, +subsided; he heard all I had to say, and he felt how very ridiculous +would have been his intended proceedings, and, as his wrath subsided, +so did his pain increase; he had seriously injured his leg, and it was +swelling rapidly—the bandages tightened in consequence, and he was +suffering under the acutest pain, "Oh, oh!" groaned he. +</p> +<p> +"My dear father, can I assist you?" +</p> +<p> +"Ring the bell, sir." +</p> +<p> +"There is no occasion to summon assistance while I am here, my dear +general. I can attend you professionally, and if you will allow me, will +soon relieve your pain. Your leg has swollen from exertion, and the +bandages must be loosened." +</p> +<p> +He made no reply, but his features were distorted with extreme pain. I +went to him, and proceeded to unloose the bandages, which gave him +considerable relief. I then replaced them, <i>secundum artem</i>, and with +great tenderness, and going to the sideboard, took the lotion which was +standing there with the other bottles, and wetted the bandages. In a few +minutes he was quite relieved. "Perhaps, sir," said I, "you had better +try to sleep a little. I will take a book, and shall have great pleasure +in watching by your side." +</p> +<p> +Exhausted with pain and violence, the general made no reply; he fell back +on the sofa, and, in a short time, he snored most comfortably. "I have +conquered you," thought I, as I watched him as he lay asleep. "If I have +not yet, I will, that I am resolved." I walked gently to the door, +unlocked it, and opening it without waking him, ordered some broth to +be brought up immediately, saying that the general was asleep, and that +I would wait for it outside. I accomplished this little manoeuvre, and +re-closed the door without waking my father, and then I took my seat in +the chair, and resumed my book, having placed the broth on the side of +the fire-grate to keep it warm. In about an hour he awoke, and looked +around him. +</p> +<p> +"Do you want anything, my dearest father?" inquired I. +</p> +<p> +The general appeared undecided as to whether to recommence hostilities, +but at last he said, "I wish the attendance of my servants, sir." +</p> +<p> +"The attendance of a servant can never be equal to that of your own son, +general," replied I, going to the fire, and taking the basin of broth, +which I replaced upon the tray containing the <i>et ceteras</i> on a napkin. +"I expected you would require your broth, and I have had it ready for +you." +</p> +<p> +"It was what I did require, sir, I must acknowledge," replied my father, +and without further remark he finished the broth. +</p> +<p> +I removed the tray, and then went for the lotion, and again wetted the +bandages on his leg. "Is there anything else I can do for you, sir?" +said I. +</p> +<p> +"Nothing—I am very comfortable." +</p> +<p class="quote"> +"Then, sir," replied I, "I will now take my leave. You have desired me +to quit your presence for ever; and you attempted force. I resisted that, + because I would not allow you to have the painful remembrance that you +had injured one who had strong claims upon you, and had never injured +you. I resented it also, because I wished to prove to you that I was a +De Benyon, and had spirit to resist an insult. But, general, if you +imagine that I have come here with a determination of forcing myself upon +you, you are much mistaken. I am too proud, and happily am independent by +my own exertions, so as not to require your assistance. Had you received +me kindly, believe me, you would have found a grateful and affectionate +heart to have met that kindness. You would have found a son, whose sole +object through life has been to discover a father, after whom he has +yearned, who would have been delighted to have administered to his wants, +to have yielded to his wishes, to have soothed him in his pain, and to +have watched him in his sickness. Deserted as I have been for so many +years, I trust that I have not disgraced you, General De Benyon; and if +ever I have done wrong, it has been from a wish to discover you. I can +appeal to Lord Windermear for the truth of that assertion. Allow me to +say, that it is a very severe trial—an ordeal which few pass through +with safety—to be thrown as I have been upon the world, with no friend, +no parent to assist or to advise me, to have to bear up against the +contingency of being of unacknowledged and perhaps disgraceful birth. +It is harder still, when I expected to find my dearest wishes realised, +that without any other cause than that of my features resembling those +of my mother, I am to be again cast away. One thing, General De Benyon, +I request, and I trust it will not be denied, which is, that I may assume +the name which I am entitled to. I pledge you that I never will disgrace +it. And now, sir, asking and expecting no more, I take my leave, and you +may be assured, that neither poverty, privation, nor affliction of any +kind, will ever induce me to again intrude into your presence. General +De Benyon, farewell for ever." +</p> +<p> +I made my father a profound bow, and was quitting the room. +</p> +<p> +"Stop, sir," said the general. "Stop one moment, if you please." +</p> +<p> +I obeyed. +</p> +<p> +"Why did you put me out of temper? Answer me that." +</p> +<p> +"Allow me to observe, sir, that I did not put you out of temper; and +what is more, that I never lost my own temper during the insult and +injury which I so undeservedly and unexpectedly have received." +</p> +<p> +"But that very keeping your temper made me more angry, sir." +</p> +<p> +"That is very possible; but surely I was not to blame. The greatest proof +of a perfect gentleman is, that he is able to command his temper, and I +wished you to acknowledge that I was not without such pretensions." +</p> +<p> +"That is as much as to say that your father is no gentleman; and this, +I presume, is a specimen of your filial duty," replied the general, +warmly. +</p> +<p> +"Far from it, sir; there are many gentlemen who, unfortunately, cannot +command their tempers, and are more to be pitied than blamed for it; +but, sir, when such happens to be the case, they invariably redeem +their error, and amply so, by expressing their sorrow, and offering +an apology." +</p> +<p> +"That is as much as to say, that you expect me to apologise to you." +</p> +<p> +"Allow me, sir, to ask you, did you ever know a De Benyon submit to +an insult?" +</p> +<p> +"No, sir, I trust not." +</p> +<p> +"Then, sir, those whose feelings of pride will not allow them to submit +to an insult ought never to insult others. If, in the warmth of the +moment, they have done so, that pride should immediately induce them +to offer an apology, not only due to the party, but to their own +characters. There is no disgrace in making an apology when we are in +error, but there is a great disgrace in withholding such an act of +common justice and reparation." +</p> +<p> +"I presume I am to infer from all this, that you expect an apology +from me?" +</p> +<p> +"General De Benyon, as far as I am concerned, that is now of little +importance; we part, and shall probably never meet again; if you think +that it would make you feel more comfortable, I am willing to receive it." +</p> +<p> +"I must suppose by that observation, that you fully expect it, and +otherwise will not stay?" +</p> +<p> +"I never had a thought of staying, general; you have told me that you +have disinherited and discarded me for ever; no one with the feelings +of a man would ever think of remaining after such a declaration." +</p> +<p> +"Upon what terms, then, sir, am I to understand that you will consent to +remain with me, and forget all that has passed?" +</p> +<p> +"My terms are simple, general; you must say that you retract what you +have said, and are very sorry for having insulted me." +</p> +<p> +"And without I do that, you will never come here again?" +</p> +<p> +"Most decidedly not, sir. I shall always wish you well, pray for your +happiness, be sorry at your death, and attend your funeral as chief +mourner, although you disinherit me. That is my duty, in return for my +having taken your name, and your having acknowledged that I am your son; +but live with you, or even see you occasionally, I will not, after what +has passed this day, without you make me an apology." +</p> +<p> +"I was not aware that it was necessary for a father to apologise to +his son." +</p> +<p> +"If you wrong a stranger, you offer an apology; how much more is it due +to a near relation?" +</p> +<p> +"But a parent has claims upon his own son, sir, for which he is bound to +tender his duty." +</p> +<p> +"I grant it, in the ordinary course of things in this life; but, General +De Benyon, what claims have you as a parent upon me? A son in most cases +is indebted to his parents for their care and attention in infancy—his +education—his religious instruction—his choice of a profession, and +his advancement in life, by their exertions and interest; and when they +are called away, he has a reasonable expectation of their leaving him a +portion of their substance. They have a heavy debt of gratitude to pay +for what they have received, and they are further checked by the hopes +of what they may hereafter receive. Up to this time, sir, I have not +received the first, and this day I am told that I need not expect the +last. Allow me to ask you, General De Benyon, upon what grounds you +claim from me a filial duty? certainly not for benefits received, or +for benefits in expectation; but I feel that I am intruding, and +therefore, sir, once more, with every wish for your happiness, I take +my leave." +</p> +<p> +I went out, and had half closed the door after me, when the general +cried out, "Stop—don't go—Japhet—my son—I was in a passion—I beg +your pardon—don't mind what I said—I'm a passionate old fool." +</p> +<p> +As he uttered this in broken sentences, I returned to him. He held out +his hand. "Forgive me, boy—forgive your father." I knelt down and kissed +his hand; he drew me towards him, and I wept upon his bosom. +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0153" id="h2HCH0153"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter LXXV +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + Father still dutifully submissive at home—Abroad, I am splitting + a straw in arguments with Susannah about straw bonnets—The rest + of the Chapter contains coquetry, courting, and costumes. +</p> +<p> +It was some time before we were sufficiently composed to enter into +conversation, and then I tried my utmost to please him. Still, there was +naturally a restraint on both sides, but I was so particular and devoted +in my attentions, so careful of giving offence, that when he complained +of weariness, and a wish to retire, he stipulated that I should be with +him to breakfast on the next morning. +</p> +<p> +I hastened to Mr Masterton, although it was late, to communicate to him +all that had passed; he heard me with great interest. "Japhet," said he, +"you have done well—it is the proudest day of your life. You have +completely mastered him. The royal Bengal tiger is tamed. I wish you +joy, my dear fellow. Now I trust that all will be well. But keep your +own counsel, do not let this be known at Reading. Let them still imagine +that your father is as passionate as ever, which he will be, by-the-bye, +with everybody else. You have still to follow up your success, and leave +me to help you in other matters." +</p> +<p> +I returned home to the Piazza, and, thankful to Heaven for the events of +the day, I soon fell fast asleep, and dreamt of Susannah Temple. The next +morning I was early at the Adelphi hotel; my father had not yet risen, +but the native servants who passed in and out, attending upon him, and +who took care to give me a wide berth, had informed him that "Burra +Saib's" son was come, and he sent for me. His leg was very painful and +uncomfortable, and the surgeon had not yet made his appearance. I +arranged it as before, and he then dressed, and came out to breakfast. +I had said nothing before the servants, but as soon as he was comfortable +on the sofa I took his hand, and kissed it, saying, "Good morning, my +dear father; I hope you do not repent of your kindness to me yesterday." +</p> +<p> +"No, no; God bless you, boy. I've been thinking of you all night." +</p> +<p> +"All's right," thought I; "and I trust to be able to keep it so." +</p> +<p> +I shall pass over a fortnight, during which I was in constant attendance +upon my father. At times he would fly out in a most violent manner, but I +invariably kept my temper, and when it was all over, would laugh at him, +generally repeating and acting all which he had said and done during his +paroxysm. I found this rather dangerous ground at first, but by degrees +he became used to it, and it was wonderful how it acted as a check upon +him. He would not at first believe but that I exaggerated, when the +picture was held up to his view and he was again calm. My father was not +naturally a bad-tempered man, but having been living among a servile +race, and holding high command in the army, he had gradually acquired a +habit of authority and an impatience of contradiction which was +unbearable to all around. Those who were high-spirited and sensitive +shunned him; the servile and the base continued with him for their own +interests, but trembled at his wrath. I had during this time narrated to +my father the events of my life, and, I am happy to say, had, by +attention and kindness joined with firmness and good temper, acquired a +dominion over him. I had at his request removed to the hotel, and lived +with him altogether. His leg was rapidly arriving to a state of +convalescence, and he now talked of taking a house and setting up his +establishment in London. I had seen but little of Mr Masterton during +this time, as I had remained in-doors in attendance upon the general. I +had written once to Mr Cophagus, stating how I was occupied, but saying +nothing about our reconciliation. One morning, Mr Masterton called upon +us, and after a little conversation with the general, he told me that +he had persuaded Mr Cophagus and his wife to leave Reading and come to +London, and that Susannah Temple was to come with them. +</p> +<p> +"On a visit?" inquired I. "No, not on a visit. I have seen Cophagus, and +he is determined to cut the Quakers, and reside in London altogether." +</p> +<p> +"What! does he intend to return to the pomps and vanities of this wicked +world?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, I believe so, and his wife will join him. She has no objection to +decorate her pretty person." +</p> +<p> +"I never thought that she had—but Susannah Temple—" +</p> +<p> +"When Susannah is away from her friends, when she finds that her sister +and brother-in-law no longer wear the dress, and when she is constantly +in your company, to all which please to add the effect I trust of my +serious admonitions, she will soon do as others do, or she is no woman. +This is all my plan, and leave it to me—only play your part by seeing +as much of her as you can." +</p> +<p> +"You need not fear that," replied I. +</p> +<p> +"Does your father know of your attachment?" inquired Mr Masterton. +</p> +<p> +"No, I passed her over without mentioning her name," replied I. "It is +too soon yet to talk to him about my marrying; in fact, the proposal +must, if possible, come from him. Could not you manage that?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, I will if I can; but, as you say, wait awhile. Here is their +address—you must call to-morrow, if you can; and do you think you can +dine with me on Thursday?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, if the general continues improving; if not, I will send you word." +</p> +<p> +The next day I complained of a headache, and said, that I would walk out +until dinner-time. I hastened to the address given me by Mr Masterton, +and found that Mr Cophagus and his wife were out, but Susannah remained +at home. After our first questions, I inquired of her how she liked +London. +</p> +<p> +"I am almost afraid to say, Japhet, at least to you; you would only +laugh at me." +</p> +<p> +"Not so, Susannah; I never laugh when I know people are sincere." +</p> +<p> +"It appears to me, then, to be a vanity fair." +</p> +<p> +"That there is more vanity in London than in any other city, I grant," +replied I; "but recollect, that there are more people and more wealth. +I do not think that there is more in proportion than in other towns in +England, and if there is more vanity, Susannah, recollect also that +there is more industry, more talent, and I should hope a greater +proportion of good and honest people among its multitudes; there is also, +unfortunately, more misery and more crime." +</p> +<p> +"I believe you are right, Japhet. Are you aware that Mr Cophagus has put +off his plain attire?" +</p> +<p> +"If it grieves you, Susannah, it grieves me also; but I presume he finds +it necessary not to be so remarkable." +</p> +<p> +"For him, I could find some excuse; but what will you say, Japhet, when +I tell you that my own sister, born and bred up to our tenets, hath also +deviated much from the dress of the females of our sect?" +</p> +<p> +"In what hath she made an alteration?" +</p> +<p> +"She has a bonnet of plaited straw with ribbons." +</p> +<p> +"Of what colour are the ribbons?" +</p> +<p> +"Nay, of the same as her dress—of grey." +</p> +<p> +"Your bonnet, Susannah, is of grey silk; I do not see that there is +vanity in descending to straw, which is a more homely commodity. But +what reason has she given?" +</p> +<p> +"That her husband wills it, as he does not like to walk out with her +in her Quaker's dress." +</p> +<p> +"Is it not her duty to obey her husband, even as I obey my father, +Susannah?—but I am not ashamed to walk out with you in your dress; so +if you have no objection, let me show you a part of this great city." +</p> +<p> +Susannah consented; we had often walked together in the town of Reading: +she was evidently pleased at what I said. I soon escorted her to Oxford +Street, from thence down Bond Street, and through all the most frequented +parts of the metropolis. The dress naturally drew upon her the casual +glance of the passengers, but her extreme beauty turned the glance to an +ardent gaze, and long before we had finished our intended walk, Susannah +requested that I would go home. She was not only annoyed but almost +alarmed at the constant and reiterated scrutiny which she underwent, +ascribing it to her dress, and not to her lovely person. As soon as we +returned I sat down with her. +</p> +<p> +"So I understand that Mr Cophagus intends to reside altogether in London." +</p> +<p> +"I have not heard so; I understood that it was business which called him +hither for a few weeks. I trust not, for I shall be unhappy here." +</p> +<p> +"May I ask why?" +</p> +<p> +"The people are rude—it is not agreeable to walk out." +</p> +<p> +"Recollect, my dear Susannah, that those of your sect are not so plentiful +in London as elsewhere, and if you wear a dress so different from other +people, you must expect that curiosity will be excited. You cannot blame +them—it is you who make yourself conspicuous, almost saying to the people +by your garment, 'Come, and look at me.' I have been reflecting upon what +Mr Masterton said to you at Reading, and I do not know whether he was not +right in calling it a garb of pride instead of a garb of humility." +</p> +<p> +"If I thought so, Japhet, even I would throw it off," replied Susannah. +</p> +<p> +"It certainly is not pleasant that every one should think that you walk +out on purpose to be stared at, yet such is the ill-natured construction +of the world, and they will never believe otherwise. It is possible, I +should think, to dress with equal simplicity and neatness, to avoid gay +colours, and yet to dress so as not to excite observation." +</p> +<p> +"I hardly know what to say, but that you all appear against me, and that +sometimes I feel that I am too presumptuous in thus judging for myself." +</p> +<p> +"I am not against you, Susannah; I know you will do what you think is +right, and I shall respect you for that, even if I disagree with you; but +I must say, that if my wife were to dress in such a way as to attract the +public gaze, I should feel too jealous to approve of it. I do not, +therefore, blame Mr Cophagus for inducing his pretty wife to make some +alteration in her attire, neither do I blame but I commend her for +obeying the wishes of her husband. Her beauty is his, and not common +property." +</p> +<p> +Susannah did not reply; she appeared very thoughtful. +</p> +<p> +"You disagree with me, Susannah," said I, after a pause; "I am sorry for +it." +</p> +<p> +"I cannot say that I do, Japhet; I have learned a lesson this day, and, +in future, I must think more humbly of myself, and be more ruled by the +opinions and judgment of others." +</p> +<p> +Mr and Mrs Cophagus then came in. Cophagus had resumed his medical coat +and waistcoat, but not his pantaloons or Hessians: his wife, who had a +very good taste in dress, would not allow him. She was in her grey silk +gown, but wore a large handsome shawl, which covered all but the skirts; +on her head she had a Leghorn bonnet, and certainly looked very pretty. +As usual, she was all good-humour and smiles. I told them that we had +been walking out, and that Susannah had been much annoyed by the staring +of the people. +</p> +<p> +"Always so," said Cophagus, "never mind—girls like it—feel pleased—and +so on." +</p> +<p> +"You wrong me much, brother Cophagus," replied Susannah, "it pained me +exceedingly." +</p> +<p> +"All very well to say so—know better—sly puss—will wear dress—people +say, pretty Quaker—and so on." +</p> +<p> +Susannah hastily left the room after this attack, and I told them what +had passed. +</p> +<p> +"Mrs Cophagus," said I, "order a bonnet and shawl like yours for her, +without telling her, and perhaps you will persuade her to put them on." +</p> +<p> +Mrs Cophagus thought the idea excellent, and promised to procure them. +Susannah not making her re-appearance, I took leave and arrived at the +hotel in good time for dinner. +</p> +<p> +"Japhet," said the general to me as we were at table, "you have mentioned +Lord Windermear very often, have you called upon him lately?" +</p> +<p> +"No, sir, it is now two years and more since I have seen him. When I was +summoned to town to meet you, I was too much agitated to think of +anything else, and since that I have had too much pleasure in your +company." +</p> +<p> +"Say, rather, my good boy, that you have nursed me so carefully that you +have neglected your friends and your health. Take my carriage to-morrow, +and call upon him, and after that, you had better drive about a little, +for you have been looking pale these last few days. I hope to get out +myself in a short time, and then we will have plenty of amusement +together in setting up our establishment." +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0154" id="h2HCH0154"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter LXXVI +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + I renew old ties of friendship, and seek new ones of + love—Obliged to take my father to task once more—He receives + his lesson with proper obedience. +</p> +<p> +I took the carriage the next day, and drove to Lord Windermear's. He was +at home, and I gave my name to the servant as Mr De Benyon. It was the +first time that I had made use of my own name. His lordship was alone +when I entered. He bowed, as if not recognising me, and waved his hand +to a chair. +</p> +<p> +"My lord, I have given my true name, and you treat me as a perfect +stranger. I will mention my former name, and I trust you will honour +me with a recognition. I was Japhet Newland." +</p> +<p> +"My dear Mr Newland, you must accept my apology; but it is so long since +we met, and I did not expect to see you again." +</p> +<p> +"I thought, my lord, that Mr Masterton had informed you of what had +taken place." +</p> +<p> +"No; I have just come from a visit to my sisters in Westmoreland, and +have received no letters from him." +</p> +<p> +"I have, my lord, at last succeeded in finding out the object of my mad +search, as you were truly pleased to call it, in the Honourable General +De Benyon, lately arrived from the East Indies." +</p> +<p> +"Where his services are well known," added his lordship. "Mr De Benyon, +I congratulate you with all my heart. When you refused my offers of +assistance, and left us all in that mad way, I certainly despaired of +ever seeing you again. I am glad that you re-appear under such fortunate +auspices. Has your father any family?" +</p> +<p> +"None, my lord, but myself; and my mother died in the East Indies." +</p> +<p> +"Then I presume, from what I know at the Board of Control, that you +may <i>now</i> safely be introduced as a young gentleman of large fortune; +allow me at least to assist your father in placing you in your proper +sphere in society. Where is your father?" +</p> +<p> +"At present, my lord, he is staying at the Adelphi hotel, confined to +his room by an accident, but I trust that in a few days he will be able +to come out." +</p> +<p> +"Will you offer my congratulations to him, and tell him, that if he will +allow me, I will have the honour of paying my respects to him. Will you +dine with me on Monday next?" +</p> +<p> +I returned my thanks, accepted the invitation, and took my leave, his +lordship saying as he shook hands with me, "You don't know how happy +this intelligence has made me. I trust that your father and I shall be +good friends." +</p> +<p> +When I returned to the carriage, as my father had desired me to take an +airing, I thought I might as well have a companion, so I directed them +to drive to Mr Cophagus's. The servant knocked, and I went in as soon +as the door was opened. Susannah and Mrs Cophagus were sitting in the +room. +</p> +<p> +"Susannah," said I, "I know you do not like to walk out, so I thought, +perhaps, you would have no objection to take an airing in the carriage; +my father has lent it to me. Will you come?—it will do you good." +</p> +<p> +"It is very kind of you, Japhet, to think of me; but—" +</p> +<p> +"But what?" replied Mrs Cophagus. "Surely thou wilt not refuse, Susannah. +It would savour much of ingratitude on thy part." +</p> +<p> +"I will not then be ungrateful," replied Susannah, leaving the room; +and in a short time she returned in a Leghorn bonnet and shawl like her +sister's. "Do not I prove that I am not ungrateful, Japhet, since to do +credit to thy carriage, I am content to depart from the rules of our +persuasion?" said Susannah, smiling. +</p> +<p> +"I feel the kindness and the sacrifice you are making to please me, +Susannah," replied I; "but let us lose no time." +</p> +<p> +I handed her down to the carriage, and we drove to the Park. It was a +beautiful day, and the Park was filled with pedestrians as well as +carriages. Susannah was much astonished, as well as pleased. "Now, +Susannah," said I, "if you were to call this Vanity Fair, you would +not be far wrong; but still, recollect that even all this is productive +of much good. Reflect how many industrious people find employment and +provision for their families by the building of these gay vehicles, +their painting and ornamenting. How many are employed at the loom, +and at the needle, in making these costly dresses. This vanity is the +cause of wealth not being hoarded, but finding its way through various +channels, so as to produce comfort and happiness to thousands." +</p> +<p> +"Your observations are just, Japhet, but you have lived in the world, +and seen much of it. I am as one just burst from an egg-shell, all +amazement. I have been living in a little world of my own thoughts, +surrounded by a mist of ignorance, and not being able to penetrate +farther, have considered myself wise when I was not." +</p> +<p> +"My dear Susannah, this is a chequered world, but not a very bad +one—there is in it much of good as well as evil. The sect to +which you belong avoid it—they know it not—and they are unjust +towards it. During the time that I lived at Reading, I will candidly +state to you that I met with many who called themselves of the +persuasion, who were wholly unworthy of it, but they made up in outward +appearance and hypocrisy, what they wanted in their conduct to their +fellow-creatures. Believe me, Susannah, there are pious and good, +charitable and humane, conscientious and strictly honourable people among +those who now pass before your view in such gay procession; but society +requires that the rich should spend their money in superfluities, that +the poor may be supported. Be not deceived, therefore, in future, by the +outward garments, which avail nothing." +</p> +<p> +"You have induced me much to alter my opinions already, Japhet; so has +that pleasant friend of thine, Mr Masterton, who has twice called since +we have been in London, but is it not time that we should return?" +</p> +<p> +"It is indeed later than I thought it was, Susannah," replied I, looking +at my watch, "and I am afraid that my father will be impatient for my +return. I will order them to drive home." +</p> +<p> +As we drove along, leaning against the back of the carriage, my hand +happened to touch that of Susannah, which lay beside her on the cushion, +I could not resist taking it in mine, and it was not withdrawn. What my +thoughts were, the reader may imagine; Susannah's I cannot acquaint him +with; but in that position we remained in silence until the carriage +stopped at Cophagus's door. I handed Susannah out of the carriage, and +went up stairs for a few moments. Mrs Cophagus and her husband were out. +</p> +<p> +"Susannah, this is very kind of you, and I return you my thanks. I never +felt more happy than when seated with you in that carriage." +</p> +<p> +"I have received both amusement and instruction, Japhet, and ought to +thank you. Do you know what passed in my mind at one time?" +</p> +<p> +"No—tell me." +</p> +<p> +"When I first knew you, and you came among us, I was, as it were, the +guide, a presumptuous one perhaps to you, and you listened to me—now +it is reversed—now that we are removed and in the world, it is you that +are the guide, and it is I who listen and obey." +</p> +<p> +"Because, Susannah, when we first met I was much in error, and had +thought too little of serious things, and you were fit to be my guide: +now we are mixing in the world, with which I am better acquainted than +yourself. You then corrected me, when I was wrong: I now point out to +you where you are not rightly informed: but, Susannah, what you have +learnt of me is as nought compared with the valuable precepts which I +gained from your lips—precepts which, I trust, no collision with the +world will ever make me forget." +</p> +<p> +"Oh! I love to hear you say that; I was fearful that the world would +spoil you, Japhet; but it will not—will it?" +</p> +<p> +"Not so long as I have you still with me, Susannah: but if I am obliged +to mix again with the world, tell me, Susannah, will you reject me?—will +you desert me?—will you return to your own people and leave me so +exposed? Susannah, dearest, you must know how long, how dearly I have +loved you:—you know that, if I had not been sent for and obliged to obey +the message, I would have lived and died content with you. Will you not +listen to me now, or do you reject me?" +</p> +<p> +I put my arm round her waist, her head fell upon my shoulder, and she +burst into tears. "Speak, dearest, this suspense is torture to me," +continued I. +</p> +<p> +"I do love you, Japhet," replied she at last, looking fondly at me +through her tears; "but I know not whether this earthly love may not +have weakened my affection towards Heaven. If so, may God pardon me, +for I cannot help it." After this avowal, for a few minutes, which +appeared seconds, we were in each other's arms, when Susannah disengaged +herself. +</p> +<p> +"Dearest Japhet, thy father will be much displeased." "I cannot help +it," replied I, "I shall submit to his displeasure." +</p> +<p> +"Nay, but, Japhet, why risk thy father's wrath?" +</p> +<p> +"Well, then," replied I, attempting to reach her lips, "I will go." +</p> +<p> +"Nay, nay—indeed, Japhet, you exact too much—it is not seemly." +</p> +<p> +"Then I won't go." +</p> +<p> +"Recollect about thy father." +</p> +<p> +"It is you who detain me, Susannah." +</p> +<p> +"I must not injure thee with thy father, Japhet, it were no proof of my +affection—but, indeed, you are self-willed." +</p> +<p> +"God bless you, Susannah," said I, as I gained the contested point, and +hastened to the carriage. +</p> +<p> +My father was a little out of humour when I returned, and questioned me +rather sharply as to where I had been. I half pacified him by delivering +Lord Windermear's polite message; but he continued his interrogations, +and although I had pointed out to him that a De Benyon would never be +guilty of an untruth, I am afraid I told some half dozen on this +occasion; but I consoled myself with the reflection, that, in the code +of honour of a fashionable man, he is bound, if necessary, to tell +falsehoods where a lady is concerned; so I said I had driven through +the streets looking at the houses, and had twice stopped and had gone +in to examine them. My father supposed that I had been looking out for +a house for him, and was satisfied. Fortunately they were job horses; +had they been his own I should have been in a severe scrape. Horses are +the only part of an establishment for which the gentlemen have any +consideration, and on which ladies have no mercy. +</p> +<p> +I had promised the next day to dine with Mr Masterton. My father had +taken a great aversion to this old gentleman until I had narrated the +events of my life, in which he had played such a conspicuous and friendly +part. Then, to do my father justice, his heart warmed towards him. +</p> +<p> +"My dear sir, I have promised to dine out to-day." +</p> +<p> +"With whom, Japhet?" +</p> +<p> +"Why, sir, to tell you the truth, with that 'old thief of a lawyer.'" +</p> +<p> +"I am very much shocked at your using such an expression towards one who +has been such a sincere friend, Japhet; and you will oblige me, sir, by +not doing so again in my presence." +</p> +<p> +"I really beg your pardon, general," replied I, "but I thought to +please you." +</p> +<p> +"Please me! what do you think of me? please me, sir, by showing yourself +ungrateful?—I am ashamed of you, sir." +</p> +<p> +"My dear father, I borrowed the expression from you. You called Mr +Masterton 'an old thief of a lawyer' to his face: he complained to me +of the language before I had the pleasure of meeting you. I feel, and +always shall feel, the highest respect, love, and gratitude towards him. +Have I your permission to go?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, Japhet," replied my father, looking very grave, "and do me the +favour to apologise for me to Mr Masterton for my having used such an +expression in my unfortunate warmth of temper—I am ashamed of myself." +</p> +<p> +"My dearest father, no man need be ashamed who is so ready to make +honourable reparation:—we are all a little out of temper at times." +</p> +<p> +"You have been a kind friend to me, Japhet, as well as a good son," +replied my father, with some emotion. "Don't forget the apology at all +events: I shall be unhappy until it be made." +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0155" id="h2HCH0155"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter LXXVII +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + Treats of apologies, and love coming from church—We finesse with + the nabob to win me a wife—I am successful in my suit, yet the + lawyer is still to play the cards to enable me to win the game. +</p> +<p> +I arrived at Mr Masterton's, and walked into his room, when whom should +I find in company with him but Harcourt. +</p> +<p> +"Japhet, I'm glad to see you: allow me to introduce you to Mr +Harcourt—Mr De Benyon," and the old gentleman grinned maliciously, but +I was not to be taken aback. +</p> +<p> +"Harcourt," said I, extending my hand, "I have to apologise to you for +a rude reception and for unjust suspicions, but I was vexed at the +time—if you will admit that as an excuse." +</p> +<p> +"My dear Japhet," replied Harcourt, taking my hand and shaking it warmly, +"I have to apologise to you for much more unworthy behaviour, and it will +be a great relief to my mind if you will once more enrol me in the list +of your friends." +</p> +<p> +"And now, Mr Masterton," said I, "as apologies appear to be the order of +the day, I bring you one from the general, who has requested me to make +one to you for having called you an old thief of a lawyer, of which he +was totally ignorant until I reminded him of it to-day." +</p> +<p> +Harcourt burst into a laugh. +</p> +<p> +"Well, Japhet, you may tell your old tiger, that I did not feel +particularly affronted, as I took his expression professionally and not +personally, and if he meant it in that sense, he was not far wrong. +Japhet, to-morrow is Sunday; do you go to meeting or to church?" +</p> +<p> +"I believe, sir, that I shall go to church." +</p> +<p> +"Well, then, come with me:—be here at half-past two—we will go to +evening service at St James's." +</p> +<p> +"I have received many invitations, but I never yet received an +invitation to go to church," replied I. +</p> +<p> +"You will hear an extra lesson of the day—a portion of Susannah and +the Elders." +</p> +<p> +I took the equivoque, which was incomprehensible to Harcourt: I hardly +need say, that the latter and I were on the best terms. When we +separated, Harcourt requested leave to call upon me the next morning, +and Mr Masterton said that he should also pay his respects to the tiger, +as he invariably called my most honoured parent. +</p> +<p> +Harcourt was with me very soon after breakfast, and after I had +introduced him to my "Governor," we retired to talk without interruption. +</p> +<p> +"I have much to say to you, De Benyon," commenced Harcourt: "first let +me tell you, that after I rose from my bed, and discovered that you had +disappeared, I resolved, if possible, to find you out and induce you to +come back. Timothy, who looked very sly at me, would tell me nothing, but +that the last that was heard of you was at Lady de Clare's, at Richmond. +Having no other clue, I went down there, introduced myself, and, as they +will tell you, candidly acknowledged that I had treated you ill. I then +requested that they would give me any clue by which you might be found, +for I had an opportunity of offering to you a situation which was at my +father's disposal, and which any gentleman might have accepted, although +it was not very lucrative." +</p> +<p> +"It was very kind of you, Harcourt." +</p> +<p> +"Do not say that, I beg. It was thus that I formed an acquaintance with +Lady de Clare and her daughter, whose early history, as Fleta, I had +obtained from you, but who I little imagined to be the little girl that +you had so generously protected; for it was not until after I had +deserted you, that you had discovered her parentage. The extreme interest +relative to you evinced by both the mother and the daughter surprised me. +They had heard of my name from you, but not of our quarrel. They urged +me, and thanked me for proposing, to follow you and find you out: I did +make every attempt. I went to Brentford, inquired at all the +public-houses, and of all the coachmen who went down the road, but could +obtain no information, except that at one public-house, a gentleman +stopped with a portmanteau, and soon afterwards went away with it on his +shoulders. I returned to Richmond with the tidings of my ill-success +about a week after I had first called there. Cecilia was much affected +and cried very bitterly. I could not help asking Lady de Clare why she +took such a strong interest in your fortunes. 'Who ought,' replied +Cecilia, 'if his poor Fleta does not?' 'Good Heavens! Miss de Clare, are +you the little Fleta whom he found with the gipsies, and talked to me so +much about?' 'Did you not know it?' said Lady de Clare. I then explained +to her all that had latterly passed between us, and they in return +communicated your events and dangers in Ireland. Thus was an intimacy +formed, and ever since I have been constantly welcome at their house. I +did not, however, abandon my enquiries for many months, when I thought +it was useless, and I had to console poor Cecilia, who constantly mourned +for you. And now, Japhet, I must make my story short: I could not help +admiring a young person who showed so much attachment and gratitude +joined to such personal attractions, but she was an heiress and I was +a younger brother. Still Lady de Clare insisted upon my coming to the +house, and I was undecided how to act when the unfortunate death of my +elder brother put me in a situation to aspire to her hand. After that my +visits were more frequent, and I was tacitly received as a suitor by +Lady de Clare, and had no reason to complain of the treatment I received +from Cecilia. Such was the position of affairs until the day on which you +broke in upon us so unexpectedly, and at the very moment that you came +in, I had, with the sanction of her mother, made an offer to Cecilia, and +was anxiously awaiting an answer from her own dear lips. Can you therefore +be surprised, Japhet, at there being a degree of constraint on all sides +at the interruption occasioned by the presence of one who had long been +considered lost to us? Or that a young person just deciding upon the most +important step of her life should feel confused and agitated at the +entrance of a third party, however dear he might be to her as a brother +and benefactor?" +</p> +<p> +"I am perfectly satisfied, Harcourt," replied I: "and I will go there, +and make my peace as soon as I can." +</p> +<p> +"Indeed, Japhet, if you knew the distress of Cecilia you would pity and +love her more than ever. Her mother is also much annoyed. As soon as you +were gone, they desired me to hasten after you and bring you back. +Cecilia had not yet given her answer: I requested it before my departure, +but, I presume to stimulate me, she declared that she would give me no +answer, until I re-appeared with you. This is now three weeks ago, and +I have not dared to go there. I have been trying all I can to see you +again since you repulsed me at the Piazza, but without success, until I +went to Mr Masterton, and begged him to procure me an interview. I thank +God it has succeeded." +</p> +<p> +"Well, Harcourt, you shall see Cecilia to-morrow morning, if you please." +</p> +<p> +"Japhet, what obligations I am under to you! Had it not been for you I +never should have known Cecilia; and more, were it not for your kindness, +I might perhaps lose her for ever." +</p> +<p> +"Not so, Harcourt; it was your own good feeling prompting you to find me +out, which introduced you to Cecilia, and I wish you joy with all my +heart. This is a strange world—who would have imagined that, in little +Fleta, I was picking up a wife for a man whose life I nearly took away? +I will ask my governor for his carriage to-morrow, and will call and take +you up at your lodgings at two o'clock, if that hour will suit you. I will +tell you all that has passed since I absconded, when we are at Lady de +Clare's; one story will do for all." +</p> +<p> +Harcourt then took his leave, and I returned to my father, with whom I +found Lord Windermear. +</p> +<p> +"De Benyon, I am happy to see you again," said his lordship. "I have just +been giving a very good character of you to the general; I hope you will +continue to deserve it." +</p> +<p> +"I hope so too, my lord; I should be ungrateful indeed, if I did not, +after my father's kindness to me." +</p> +<p> +Mr Masterton was then introduced: Lord Windermear shook hands with him, +and after a short conversation took his leave. +</p> +<p> +"Japhet," said Mr Masterton aside, "I have a little business with your +father; get out of the room any way you think best." +</p> +<p> +"There are but two ways, my dear sir," replied I, "the door or the +windows: with your permission, I will select the former, as most +agreeable;" so saying, I went to my own room. What passed between the +general and Mr Masterton I did not know until afterwards, but they were +closeted upwards of an hour, when I was sent for by Mr Masterton. +</p> +<p> +"Japhet, you said you would go with me to hear the new preacher; we have +no time to lose: so, general, I shall take my leave and run away with +your son." +</p> +<p> +I followed Mr Masterton into his carriage, and we drove to the lodging +of Mr Cophagus. Susannah was all ready, and Mr Masterton went up stairs +and brought her down. A blush and a sweet smile illumined her features +when she perceived me stowed away in the corner of the chariot. We drove +off, and somehow or another our hands again met and did not separate +until we arrived at the church door. Susannah had the same dress on as +when she had accompanied me in my father's carriage. I went through the +responses with her, reading out of the same book, and I never felt more +inclined to be devout, for I was happy, and grateful to Heaven for my +happiness. When the service was over, we were about to enter the +carriage, when who should accost us but Harcourt. +</p> +<p> +"You are surprised to see me here," said he to Mr Masterton, "but I +thought there must be something very attractive, that you should make +an appointment with Japhet to go to this church, and as I am very fond +of a good sermon, I determined to come and hear it." +</p> +<p> +Harcourt's ironical look told me all he would say. +</p> +<p> +"Well," replied Mr Masterton, "I hope you have been edified—now get out +of the way, and let us go into the carriage." +</p> +<p> +"To-morrow at two, De Benyon," said Harcourt, taking another peep at +Susannah. +</p> +<p> +"Yes, punctually," replied I, as the carriage drove off. +</p> +<p> +"And now, my dear child," said Mr Masterton to Susannah, as the carriage +rolled along, "Tell me, have you been disappointed, or do you agree with +me? You have attended a meeting of your own persuasion this morning—you +have now, for the first time, listened to the ritual of the Established +Church. To which do you give the preference?" +</p> +<p> +"I will not deny, sir, that I think, in departing from the forms of +worship, those of my persuasion did not do wisely. I would not venture +thus much to say, but you support me in my judgment." +</p> +<p> +"You have answered like a good, sensible girl, and have proved that you +can think for yourself; but observe, my child, I have persuaded you for +once, and once only, to enter our place of worship, that you might compare +and judge for yourself; it now remains for you to decide as you please." +"I would that some better qualified would decide for me," replied +Susannah, gravely. +</p> +<p> +"Your husband, Susannah," whispered I, "must take that responsibility +upon himself. Is he not the proper person?" +</p> +<p> +Susannah slightly pressed my hand, which held hers, and said nothing. As +soon as we had conveyed her home, Mr Masterton offered to do me the same +kindness, which I accepted. +</p> +<p> +"Now, Japhet, I dare say that you would like to know what it was I had so +particular to say to the old general this morning." +</p> +<p> +"Of course I would, sir, if it concerned me." +</p> +<p> +"It did concern you, for we had not been two minutes in conversation, +before you were brought on the tapis; he spoke of you with tears in his +eyes—of what a comfort you had been to him, and how happy you had made +him; and that he could not bear you to be away from him for half an hour. +On that hint I spake, and observed, that he must not expect you to +continue in retirement long, neither must he blame you, that when he had +set up his establishment, you would be as great a favourite as you were +before, and be unable, without giving offence, to refuse the numerous +invitations which you would receive. In short, that it was nothing but +right you should resume your position in society, and it was his duty to +submit to it. The old governor did not appear to like my observations, +and said he expected otherwise from you. I replied 'that it was +impossible to change our natures, and the other sex would naturally +have attractions which you would not be able to resist, and that they +would occupy a large portion of your time. The only way to ensure his +company, my dear sir, is to marry him to a steady, amiable young woman, +who, not having been thrown into the vortex of fashion, will find +pleasure in domestic life. Then her husband will become equally domestic, +and you will be all very happy together.' Your father agreed with me, and +appeared very anxious that it should take place. I then very carefully +introduced Miss Temple, saying, that I knew you had a slight partiality +in that quarter, highly commending her beauty, prudence, &c. I stated, +that feeling an interest about you, I had gone down into the country +where she resided, and had made her acquaintance, and had been much +pleased with her; that since she had come up to town with her relations, +I had seen a great deal, and had formed so high an opinion of, and so +strong an attachment to her, and had felt so convinced that she was the +very person who would make you happy and domestic, that having no family +myself, I had some idea of adopting her. At all events, that if she +married you, I was determined to give her something very handsome on +the day of the wedding." +</p> +<p> +"But, my dear sir, why should you not have said that Susannah Temple was +left an orphan at seven years old, and her fortune has accumulated ever +since? it is by no means despicable, I understand, from Mr Cophagus; and +moreover, Mr Cophagus intends to leave her all his property." +</p> +<p> +"I am very glad to hear it, Japhet, and will not fail to communicate all +this to your father; but there is no reason why I may not do as I please +with my own money—and I love that girl dearly. By-the-bye, have you ever +said anything to her?" +</p> +<p> +"O yes, sir, we are pledged to each other." +</p> +<p> +"That's all right; I thought so, when I saw your fingers hooked together +in the carriage. But now, Japhet, I should recommend a little +indifference—not exactly opposition, when your father proposes the +subject to you. It will make him more anxious, and when you consent more +obliged to you. I have promised to call upon him to-morrow, on that and +other business, and you had better be out of the way." +</p> +<p> +"I shall be out of the way, sir; I mean to go with Harcourt to Lady de +Clare's. I shall ask for the carriage." +</p> +<p> +"He will certainly lend it to you, as he wishes to get rid of you; but +here we are. God bless you, my boy." +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0156" id="h2HCH0156"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter LXXVIII +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + The Bengal tiger taken in the toils, which promise a speedy end + to mine—I kindly permit my father to insist upon the marriage + that I have set my heart upon. +</p> +<p> +I found my father, who had now completely recovered from his accident, +walking up and down the room in a brown study. He did not speak to me +until after dinner, when he commenced with asking some questions relative +to Cecilia de Clare. I replied, "that I intended, if he did not want the +carriage, to call there to-morrow with Mr Harcourt." +</p> +<p> +"Is she very handsome?" inquired he. +</p> +<p> +"Very much so, sir. I do not think I ever saw a handsomer young person. +Yes, I do recollect one." +</p> +<p> +"Who was that?" +</p> +<p> +"A young lady with whom I was slightly acquainted, when living in the +country." +</p> +<p> +"I have been thinking, my dear boy, that with the competence which you +will have, it is right that you should marry early; in so doing you will +oblige your father, who is anxious to see his grandchildren before he +dies. My health is not very good." +</p> +<p> +I could not help smiling at this pathetic touch of the old governor's, +who, if one could judge from appearances, was as strong as a lion, and +likely to last almost as long as his dutiful son. Moreover, his appetite +was enormous, and he invariably finished his bottle every day. I did not +therefore feel any serious alarm as to his health, but I nevertheless +replied, "Matrimony is a subject upon which I have never thought"—(ahem! +a De Benyon never tells an untruth!), "I am very young yet, and am too +happy to remain with you." +</p> +<p> +"But, my dear boy, I propose that you shall remain with me—we will all +live together. I do not intend that we shall part. I really wish, Japhet, +you would think seriously of it." +</p> +<p> +"My dear father, allow me to observe, that at present I am not in a +situation to support a wife, and I should be sorry to be a tax upon you, +at your age; you require many comforts and luxuries, and I presume that +you live up to your income." +</p> +<p> +"Then, my dear fellow, you are under a great mistake. I can lay down one +hundred thousand pounds on the day of your marriage, with any lady whom I +approve of, and still not spend half my remaining income." +</p> +<p> +"That, sir," replied I, "certainly removes one difficulty, at the same +time that it proves what a generous and indulgent father I am blessed +with; but, sir, with such a fortune, I have a right to expect that the +lady will also bring a handsome addition. Miss De Clare is engaged, I +believe, to Mr Harcourt, or I might have made strong interest in that +quarter." +</p> +<p> +"Something, my dear boy; but a moderate fortune now-a-days is all that +we expect with wives, and the best wives are those who are not born to +too much wealth; still she should bring something; but tell me, Japhet, +who is that young lady whom you thought handsomer than Miss De Clare?" +</p> +<p> +"A Miss Temple, sir." +</p> +<p> +"Temple—it is a very good name. I think girls brought up in the country +make the best wives." +</p> +<p> +"They do, sir, most certainly; they are more domestic, and make their +husbands more content and happy at home." +</p> +<p> +"Well, my dear boy, I have mentioned the subject, and wish you would +think of it. You will please me much." +</p> +<p> +"My dear father, I shall be most happy to obey in everything else, but +in so serious a point as uniting myself for life, I think you must allow +that a little discretionary power should be given to a son. All I can +say is this, show me a young person who is eligible, and if I find that +I can love her, I will not refuse to obey your wishes." +</p> +<p> +"Well, sir, do as you please," replied my father, very angrily; "but I +think, sir, when I desire you to fall in love, it is your duty to obey." +</p> +<p> +"Suppose I was to fall in love with a person you did not like, would you +allow me to marry her?" +</p> +<p> +"Most certainly not, sir." +</p> +<p> +"Then, sir, is it reasonable to expect me to marry without being in love?" +</p> +<p> +"I did not marry for love, sir." +</p> +<p> +"No," replied I, forgetting myself a little; "and a pretty mess you made +of it." +</p> +<p> +"I did," rejoined my father in a rage, "by begetting an undutiful, +good-for-nothing, graceless, insolent, ungrateful son." +</p> +<p> +"My dear father, I was not aware that I had a brother." +</p> +<p> +"I mean you, sir." +</p> +<p> +"To prove to you how unjust you are, sir, and how little I deserve what +you have called me, I now promise you to marry as soon as you wish." +</p> +<p> +"Thank you, my boy, that's kind of you; but I will say that you are a +comfort and a treasure to me, and I bless the day that brought you to my +arms. Well, then, look about you." +</p> +<p> +"No, sir, I leave it all to you; select the party, and I am willing to +obey you." +</p> +<p> +"My dear boy! Well, then, I'll talk the matter over with Mr Masterton +to-morrow," and the general shook me warmly by the hand. +</p> +<p> +The next day I picked up Harcourt, and proceeded to Park Street. A note +from him had informed them of our intended visit, and other visitors had +been denied. "All has been explained, Cecilia," said I, after the first +greeting: "I was very wrong, and very foolish." +</p> +<p> +"And made me very miserable. I little thought that you, Japhet, would +have made me cry so much; but I forgive you for it, as I would a thousand +times as much more. Now sit down and tell us all that has happened +since you left us." +</p> +<p> +"Not yet, my dear Cecilia. You, as well as I, owe a reparation to poor +Harcourt, whom, I think, you have treated cruelly. You were about to +answer a question of vital moment when I broke in upon you, and you have +since kept him in a state of cruel suspense for more than three weeks, +refusing him an answer until he brought me into your presence. An hour +of such suspense must be dreadful, and before we sit down, I wish +everyone should feel comfortable and happy." +</p> +<p> +"It was not altogether to stimulate Mr Harcourt to bring you back, which +induced me to refuse to answer his question, Japhet. I considered that +your return had rendered it necessary that it should be deferred until I +saw you. I have not forgotten, Japhet, and never shall forget, what I was +when you rescued me; and when I think what I might have been had you not +saved me, I shudder at the bare idea. I have not forgotten how you risked, +and nearly lost your life in Ireland for my sake—neither has my mother. +We are beholden to you for all our present happiness, and I am eternally +indebted to you for rescuing me from ignorance, poverty, and, perhaps, +vice. You have been more, much more than a father to me—more, much more +than a brother. I am, as it were, a creature of your own fashioning, and +I owe to you that which I never can repay. When, then, you returned so +unexpectedly, Japhet, I felt that you had a paramount right in my +disposal, and I was glad that I had not replied to Mr Harcourt, as I +wished first for your sanction and approval. I know all that has passed +between you, but I know not your real feelings towards Mr Harcourt; he +acknowledges that he treated you very ill, and it was his sincere +repentance of having so done, and his praise of you, which first won my +favour. And now, Japhet, if you have still animosity against Mr +Harcourt—if you—" +</p> +<p> +"Stop, my dear Fleta, I will answer all your questions at once." I took +Harcourt's hand, and placed it in her's. "May God bless you both, and +may you be happy!" +</p> +<p> +Cecilia threw her arms round me and wept; so did everybody else, I +believe. It was lucky for Harcourt that I was in love with Susannah +Temple. As soon as Cecilia had recovered a little, I kissed her, and +passed her over to her right owner, who led her to the sofa. Lady de +Clare and I went out of the room on important business, and did not +return for a quarter of an hour. When we returned, Cecilia went to her +mother and embraced her, while Harcourt silently squeezed my hand. We +then all sat down, and I gave them an account of all that had passed +during my second excursion—how I had nearly been hanged—how I had gone +mad—how I had turned Quaker and apothecary—which they all agreed, with +what had happened to me before, made up a very eventful history. +</p> +<p> +"And, Japhet, if it be a fair question about one so fair, was that Miss +Temple who was at church with you yesterday?" +</p> +<p> +"It was." +</p> +<p> +"Then, Cecilia, if ever she appears in the same circle, except in my +eyes, your beauty will stand in some danger of being eclipsed." +</p> +<p> +"How can you say, except in your eyes, Mr Harcourt," replied Cecilia, +"the very observation proves that it is eclipsed in your eyes, whatever +it may be in those of others. Now, as a punishment, I have a great mind +to order you away again, until you bring her face to face, that I may +judge myself." +</p> +<p> +"If I am again banished," replied Harcourt, "I shall have a second time +to appeal to De Benyon to be able to come back again. He can produce +her, I have no doubt." +</p> +<p> +"And perhaps may, some of these days, Cecilia." +</p> +<p> +"Oh! do, Japhet. I will love her so." +</p> +<p> +"You must wait a little first. I am not quite so far advanced as you and +Harcourt. I have not received the consent of all parties, as you have +to-day. But I must now leave you. Harcourt, I presume you will dine here. +I must dine with my governor." +</p> +<p> +On my return, I found that the table was laid for three, and that the +general had asked Mr Masterton, from which I augured well. Masterton +could not speak to me when he arrived, but he gave me a wink and a smile, +and I was satisfied. "Japhet," said my father, "you have no engagement +to-morrow, I hope, because I shall call at Mr Masterton's on business, +and wish you to accompany me." +</p> +<p> +I replied, that "I should be most happy," and the conversation became +general. +</p> +<p> +I accompanied my father the next day to Lincoln's Inn, and when we went +up, we found Mr Masterton at the table with Mr Cophagus, and Susannah +sitting apart near the window. "The plot thickens," thought I. The fact +was, as I was afterwards told by Mr Masterton, he had prevailed upon +Cophagus to pretend business, and to bring Susannah with him, and +appointed them a quarter of an hour before our time. This he had +arranged, that the general might see Miss Temple, as if by accident; +and also allow me, who, my father supposed, was not aware of Miss Temple +being in town, to meet with her. What a deal of humbug there is in this +world! Nothing but plot and counterplot! I shook hands with Cophagus, +who, I perceived, had, notwithstanding his wife's veto, put on his blue +cotton net pantaloons and Hessian boots, and he appeared to be so tight +in both, that he could hardly move. As far as I could judge, his legs +had not improved since I had last seen them in this his favourite dress. +</p> +<p> +"Mr De Benyon, I believe that you have met Miss Temple before," said Mr +Masterton, winking at me. "In Berkshire, was it not? Miss Temple, allow +me to introduce General De Benyon." +</p> +<p> +I went up to Susannah, who coloured and trembled at the sight of my +father, as I expressed my hope that she had been well since we last met. +She perceived that there was some planned scheme, and was so puzzled +that she said nothing. My father then spoke to her, and after a short +time took a chair, and seated himself close to her. I never knew her make +herself so agreeable. He asked her where she was staying, and when he +heard that it was with Mr Cophagus, he said that he should have the +pleasure of calling upon Mr Cophagus, and thank him for his kind +information relative to me. Shortly afterwards Cophagus took his leave, +and Susannah rose to accompany him, when my father, hearing that they +had walked, insisted upon putting Miss Temple down in his carriage. So +that Mr Cophagus had to walk home one way, and I the other. +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0157" id="h2HCH0157"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Chapter LXXXI +</h2> +<p class="quote"> + Poor Cophagus finds an end to his adventures by the means of a + mad bull; I, of mine, by matrimony—Father is prettily behaved, + and my Quaker wife the most fashionably dressed lady in + town—verily! hum! +</p> +<p> +Alas! little did Mr Cophagus know how fatal to him would be the light +cotton nets when he put them on that day. He had proceeded, as it +appears, about two-thirds of his way home (he lived in Welbeck Street), +when he perceived a rush from up a street leading into Oxford Street. He +looked to ascertain the cause, when to his horror he perceived—what to +him was the greatest of all horrors—a mad bull. If anything could make +Mr Cophagus run, it was a sight like that, and he did run; but he could +not run fast in his cotton nets and tight Hessians, which crippled him +altogether. As if out of pure spite, the bull singled him out from at +least one hundred, who exerted their agility and again was poor Mr +Cophagus tossed far behind the animal, fortunately breaking his fall by +tumbling on a large dog who was in full chase. The dog, who was unable to +crawl from beneath the unfortunate Cophagus, was still in a condition to +bite, which he did most furiously; and the butcher, who had an affection +for his dog, when he perceived its condition, also vented his fury upon +poor Cophagus, by saluting him with several blows on his head with his +cudgel. What between the bull, the dog, and the butcher, poor Mr Cophagus +was taken into a shop in a very deplorable condition. After some time he +recovered, and was able to name his residence, when he was taken home. +</p> +<p> +It was late in the evening when I received a note from Susannah, +informing me of that unfortunate accident. My father had just finished +a long story about filial duty, country girls, good wives, &c, and had +wound up by saying, that he and Mr Masterton both considered that Miss +Temple would be a very eligible match, and that as I had requested him +to select, he had selected her accordingly. I had just proved how truly +dutiful I was, by promising to do all I could to love her, and to fulfil +his wishes, when the note was put in my hands. I read it, stated its +contents to my father, and, with his permission, immediately jumped +into a hackney-coach, and drove to Welbeck Street. +</p> +<p> +On my arrival I found poor Mrs Cophagus in a state of syncope, and +Susannah attending her. I sent for the surgeon who had been called in, +and then went up to Mr Cophagus. He was much better than I expected—calm, +and quite sensible. His wounds had been dressed by the surgeon, but he +did not appear to be aware of the extent of the injury he had received. +When the surgeon came I questioned him. He informed me that although +much hurt, he did not consider that there was any danger to be +apprehended; there were no bones broken; the only fear that he had was, +that there might be some internal injury; but at present that could not +be ascertained. I thanked him, and consoled Mrs Cophagus with this +information. I then returned to her husband, who shook his head, and +muttered, as I put my ear down to hear him, "Thought so—come to +London—full of mad bulls—tossed—die—and so on." +</p> +<p> +"O no!" replied I, "the surgeon says that there is no danger. You will +be up in a week—but now you must keep very quiet. I will send Mrs +Cophagus to you." +</p> +<p> +I went out, and finding her composed, I desired her to go to her +husband, who wished to see her, and I was left alone with Susannah. +I told her all that had passed, and after two delightful hours had +escaped, I returned home to the hotel. My father had waited up for +some time, and finding that I did not return, had retired. When I met +him the next morning I mentioned what the surgeon had said, but stated +that, in my opinion, there was great cause for alarm in a man of Mr +Cophagus's advanced age. My father agreed with me, but could not help +pointing out what a good opportunity this would afford for my paying my +attentions to Miss Temple, as it was natural that I should be interested +about so old a friend as Mr Cophagus. My filial duty inclined me to +reply, that I should certainly avail myself of such a favourable +opportunity. +</p> +<p> +My adventures are now drawing to a close. I must pass over three months, +during which my father had taken and furnished a house in Grosvenor +Square; and I, whenever I could spare time, had, under the auspices of +Lord Windermear, again been introduced into the world as Mr De Benyon. I +found that the new name was considered highly respectable, my father's +hall tables were loaded with cards, and I even received two dinner +invitations from Lady Maelstrom, who told me how her dear nieces had +wondered what had become of me, and that they were afraid that Louisa +would have fallen into a decline. And during these three months Cecilia +and Susannah had been introduced, and had become as inseparable as most +young ladies are, who have a lover a-piece, and no cause for jealousy. Mr +Cophagus had so far recovered as to be able to go down into the country, +vowing, much to the chagrin of his wife, that he never would put his foot +in London again. He asked me whether I knew any place where there were no +mad bulls, and I took some trouble to find out, but I could not; for even +if he went to the North Pole, although there were no bulls, yet there +were bull bisons and musk bulls, which were even more savage. Upon which +he declared that this was not a world to live in, and to prove that he +was sincere in his opinion, poor fellow, about three months after his +retirement into the country, he died from a general decay, arising from +the shock produced on his system. But before these three months had +passed, it had been finally arranged that Harcourt and I were to be +united on the same day; and having renewed my acquaintance with the good +bishop, whom I had taxed with being my father, he united us both to our +respective partners. My father made over to me the sum which he had +mentioned. Mr Masterton gave Susannah ten thousand pounds, and her own +fortune amounted to as much more, with the reversion of Mr Cophagus's +property at the decease of his widow. Timothy came up to the wedding, +and I formally put him in the possession of my shop and stock in trade, +and he has now a flourishing business. Although he has not yet found +his mother, he has found a very pretty wife, which he says does quite +as well, if not better. +</p> +<p> +Let it not be supposed that I forgot the good services of Kathleen—who +was soon after married to Corny. A small farm on Fleta's estate was +appropriated to them, at so low a rent, that in a few years they were +able to purchase the property, and Corny, from a leveller, as soon as +he was comfortable, became one of the government's firmest supporters. +</p> +<p> +I am now living in the same house with my father, who is very happy, +and behaves pretty well. He is seldom in a passion more than twice +a-week, which we consider as miraculous. Now that I am writing this, +he has his two grandchildren on his knees. Mrs Cophagus has married a +captain in the Life Guards, and as far as fashion and dress are +concerned, may be said to be "going the whole hog." And now, as I have +no doubt that my readers will be curious to know whether my lovely wife +adheres to her primitive style of dress, I shall only repeat a +conversation of yesterday night, as she came down arrayed for a splendid +ball given by Mrs Harcourt de Clare. +</p> +<p> +"Tell me now, De Benyon," said she, "is not this a pretty dress?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, my dear," replied I, looking at her charming face and figure with +all the admiration usual in the honeymoon, "it is indeed; but do you not +think, my dear Susan," said I, putting the tip of my white glove upon her +snowy shoulder, "that it is cut down a little too low?" +</p> +<p> +"Too low, De Benyon! why it's not half so low as Mrs Harcourt de Clare or +Lady C—— wear their dresses." +</p> +<p> +"Well, my dear, I did not assert that it was. I only asked." +</p> +<p> +"Well, then, if you only asked for information, De Benyon, I will tell +you that it is not too low, and I think you will acknowledge that on this +point my opinion ought to be decisive; for if I have no other merit, I +have at least the merit of being the best-dressed woman in London." +</p> +<p> +"Verily thou persuadest me, Susannah," replied I. +</p> +<p> +"Now, De Benyon, hold your tongue." +</p> +<p> +Like a well-disciplined husband, I bowed, and said no more. And now, +having no more to say, I shall also make my bow to my readers, and bid +them farewell. +</p> +<p> +THE END. +</p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Japhet, In Search Of A Father, by Frederick Marryat + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JAPHET, IN SEARCH OF A FATHER *** + +***** This file should be named 15991-h.htm or 15991-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/5/9/9/15991/ + +Produced by Ted Garvin, Daniel Mahu, Charlene Taylor and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Japhet, In Search Of A Father + +Author: Frederick Marryat + +Release Date: June 5, 2005 [EBook #15991] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JAPHET, IN SEARCH OF A FATHER *** + + + + +Produced by Ted Garvin, Daniel Mahu, Charlene Taylor and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + JAPHET, IN SEARCH OF A FATHER + + BY CAPTAIN MARRYAT + + + LONDON + J.M. DENT AND CO. + BOSTON: LITTLE, BROWN AND CO. + + MDCCCXCVI + + + + +Contents + + +CHAPTER I 1 + +CHAPTER II 7 + +CHAPTER III 14 + +CHAPTER IV 18 + +CHAPTER V 24 + +CHAPTER VI 29 + +CHAPTER VII 37 + +CHAPTER VIII 41 + +CHAPTER IX 47 + +CHAPTER X 53 + +CHAPTER XI 60 + +CHAPTER XII 67 + +CHAPTER XIII 73 + +CHAPTER XIV 79 + +CHAPTER XV 84 + +CHAPTER XVI 91 + +CHAPTER XVII 98 + +CHAPTER XVIII 104 + +CHAPTER XIX 110 + +CHAPTER XX 113 + +CHAPTER XXI 118 + +CHAPTER XXII 123 + +CHAPTER XXIII 130 + +CHAPTER XXIV 134 + +CHAPTER XXV 139 + +CHAPTER XXVI 144 + +CHAPTER XXVII 147 + +CHAPTER XXVIII 152 + +CHAPTER XXIX 156 + +CHAPTER XXX 160 + +CHAPTER XXXI 165 + +CHAPTER XXXII 169 + +CHAPTER XXXIII 173 + +CHAPTER XXXIV 176 + +CHAPTER XXXV 182 + +CHAPTER XXXVI 187 + +CHAPTER XXXVII 192 + +CHAPTER XXXVIII 196 + +CHAPTER XXXIX 201 + +CHAPTER XL 206 + +CHAPTER XLI 211 + +CHAPTER XLII 216 + +CHAPTER XLIII 220 + +CHAPTER XLIV 224 + +CHAPTER XLV 229 + +CHAPTER XLVI 234 + +CHAPTER XLVII 237 + +CHAPTER XLVIII 241 + +CHAPTER XLIX 247 + +CHAPTER L 251 + +CHAPTER LI 254 + +CHAPTER LII 259 + +CHAPTER LIII 265 + +CHAPTER LIV 268 + +CHAPTER LV 273 + +CHAPTER LVI 279 + +CHAPTER LVII 285 + +CHAPTER LVIII 290 + +CHAPTER LIX 294 + +CHAPTER LX 299 + +CHAPTER LXI 305 + +CHAPTER LXII 310 + +CHAPTER LXIII 314 + +CHAPTER LXIV 319 + +CHAPTER LXV 322 + +CHAPTER LXVI 327 + +CHAPTER LXVII 333 + +CHAPTER LXVIII 338 + +CHAPTER LXIX 344 + +CHAPTER LXX 349 + +CHAPTER LXXI 355 + +CHAPTER LXXII 362 + +CHAPTER LXXIII 259 + +CHAPTER LXXIV 378 + +CHAPTER LXXV 387 + +CHAPTER LXXVI 394 + +CHAPTER LXXVII 400 + +CHAPTER LXXVIII 408 + +CHAPTER LXXIX 414 + + + + +Prefatory Note + + +In the _Metropolitan Magazine_, where this novel originally appeared +(Sep. 1834-Jan. 1836), Marryat prepared his readers for its reception in +the following words:-- + +"And having now completed 'Jacob Faithful,' we trust to the satisfaction +of our readers, we will make a few remarks. We commenced writing on our +own profession, and having completed four tales, novels, or whatever you +may please to call them" (viz., Frank Mildmay, The King's Own, Newton +Forster, Peter Simple), "in 'Jacob Faithful' we quitted the _salt_ water +for the _fresh_. From the wherry we shall now step on shore, and in our +next number we shall introduce to our readers 'The Adventures of +_Japhet_, in search of his Father.'" + +The promise was faithfully kept, and Japhet, with all his varied +experience, never went to sea. There were indeed few companies on land +to which he did not penetrate. Reared in a foundling hospital, and +apprenticed to a Smithfield apothecary, his good looks, impulsive +self-confidence, and unbounded talent for lying, carried him with eclat +through the professions of quack doctor, juggler, and mountebank, +gentleman about town, tramp, and quaker: to emerge triumphantly at last +as the only son of a wealthy Anglo-Indian general, or "Bengal tiger," as +his friends preferred to call him. + +Japhet's "adventures," of course, are shared by a faithful friend and +ally, Timothy Oldmixon, the Sancho to his Quixote, originally an orphan +pauper like himself, composed of two qualities--fun and affection. He +encounters villains, lawyers, kind-hearted peers, "rooks" and "pigeons," +gipsies, leaders of fashion, fair maidens--enough and to spare. In a +word, Marryat here makes use of well-worn material, and uses it well. He +has constructed a tale of private adventure on the old familiar lines, +in which the local colour--acquired from other books--is admirably laid +on, and the interest sustained to the end. The story is well told, +enlivened by humour, and very respectably constructed. + +The reader will find _Japhet_ thoroughly exciting, and will have no +difficulty in believing that, while it was running in the pages of the +_Metropolitan_, "an American vessel meeting an English one in the broad +Atlantic, instead of a demand for water or supplies, ran up the question +to her mast-head, 'Has Japhet found his father yet?'" + +_Japhet, in search of a Father_, is here re-printed, with a few +corrections, from the first edition in 3 vols. Saunders & Otley, 1836. +On page 360 a few words, enclosed in square brackets, have been +inserted from the magazine version, as the abbreviated sentence, always +hitherto reproduced from the first edition, is unintelligible. + +R.B.J. + + + * * * * * + + + + + Japhet, in Search of a Father + + + + +Chapter I + + Like most other children, who should be my godfather is decided by + Mammon--So precocious as to make some noise in the world and be + hung a few days after I was born--Cut down in time and produce a + scene of bloodshed--My early propensities fully developed by the + choice of my profession + + +Those who may be pleased to honour these pages with a perusal, will not +be detained with a long introductory history of my birth, parentage, and +education. The very title implies that, at this period of my memoirs, I +was ignorant of the two first; and it will be necessary for the due +development of my narrative, that I allow them to remain in the same +state of bliss; for in the perusal of a tale, as well as in the +pilgrimage of life, ignorance of the future may truly be considered as +the greatest source of happiness. The little that was known of me at +this time I will however narrate as concisely, and as correctly, as I am +able. It was on the--I really forget the date, and must rise from my +chair, look for a key, open a closet, and then open an iron safe to hunt +over a pile of papers--it will detain you too long--it will be +sufficient to say that it was on _a_ night--but whether the night was +dark or moonlit, or rainy or foggy, or cloudy or fine, or starlight, I +really cannot tell; but it is of no very great consequence. Well, it was +on a night about the hour--there again I'm puzzled, it might have been +ten, or eleven, or twelve, or between any of these hours; nay it might +have been past midnight, and far advancing to the morning, for what I +know to the contrary. The reader must excuse an infant of--there again +I am at a nonplus; but we will assume of some days old--if, when wrapped +up in flannel and in a covered basket, and, moreover, fast asleep at the +time, he does not exactly observe the state of the weather, and the time +by the church clock. I never before was aware of the great importance of +dates in telling a story; but it is now too late to recover these facts, +which have been swept away into oblivion by the broad wing of Time. I +must therefore just tell the little I do know, trusting to the reader's +good nature, and to blanks. It is as follows:--that, at the hour--of +the night--the state of the weather being also--I, an infant of a +certain age--was suspended by somebody or somebodies--at the knocker +of the Foundling Hospital. Having made me fast, the said somebody or +somebodies rang a peal upon the bell which made the old porter start up +in so great a hurry, that, with the back of his hand he hit his better +half a blow on the nose, occasioning a great suffusion of blood from +that organ, and a still greater pouring forth of invectives from the +organ immediately below it. + +All this having been effected by the said peal on the bell, the said +somebody or somebodies did incontinently take to their heels, and +disappear long before the old porter could pull his legs through his +nether garments and obey the rude summons. At last the old man swung +open the gate, and the basket swung across his nose; he went in again +for a knife and cut me down, for it was cruel to hang a baby of a few +days old; carried me into the lodge, lighted a candle, and opened the +basket. Thus did I metaphorically first come to light. + +When he opened the basket I opened my eyes, and although I did not +observe it, the old woman was standing at the table in very light +attire, sponging her nose over a basin. + +"Verily, a pretty babe with black eyes!" exclaimed the old man in a +tremulous voice. + +"Black eyes indeed," muttered the old woman. "I shall have two +to-morrow." + +"Beautiful black eyes indeed!" continued the old man. + +"Terrible black eyes, for sartain," continued the old woman, as she +sponged away. + +"Poor thing, it must be cold," murmured the old porter. + +"Warrant I catch my death a-cold," muttered the wife. + +"But, dear me, here's a paper!" exclaimed the old man. + +"Vinegar and brown paper," echoed the old woman. + +"Addressed to the governors of the hospital," continued the porter. + +"Apply to the dispenser of the hospital," continued his wife. + +"And sealed," said he. + +"Get it healed," said she. + +"The linen is good; it must be the child of no poor people. Who +knows?"--soliloquised the old man. + +"My poor nose!" exclaimed the old woman. + +"I must take it to the nurses, and the letter I will give to-morrow," +said the old porter, winding up his portion of this double soliloquy, +and tottering away with the basket and your humble servant across the +courtyard. + +"There, it will do now," said the old wife, wiping her face on a towel, +and regaining her bed, in which she was soon joined by her husband, and +they finished their nap without any further interruption during that +night. + +The next morning I was reported and examined, and the letter addressed +to the governors was opened and read. It was laconic, but still, as most +things laconic are, very much to the point. + +"This child was born in wedlock--he is to be named Japhet. When +circumstances permit, he will be reclaimed." + +But there was a postscript by Abraham Newlands, Esq., promising to pay +the bearer, on demand, the sum of fifty pounds. In plainer terms, there +was a bank note to that amount inclosed in the letter. As in general, +the parties who suspend children in baskets, have long before suspended +cash payments, or, at all events, forget to suspend them with the +baskets, my arrival created no little noise, to which I added my share, +until I obtained a share of the breast of a young woman, who, like +Charity, suckled two or three babies at one time. + +We have preparatory schools all over the kingdom; for young gentlemen, +from three to five years of age, under ladies, and from four to seven, +under either, or both sexes, as it may happen; but the most preparatory +of all preparatory schools, is certainly the Foundling Hospital, which +takes in its pupils, if they are sent, from one to three days old, or +even hours, if the parents are in such extreme anxiety about their +education. Here it commences with their weaning, when they are +instructed in the mystery of devouring pap; next, they are taught to +walk--and as soon as they can walk--to sit still; to talk--and as soon +as they can talk--to hold their tongues; thus are they instructed and +passed on from one part of the establishment to another, until they +finally are passed out of its gates, to get on in the world, with the +advantages of some education, and the still further advantage of having +no father or mother to provide for, or relatives to pester them with +their necessities. It was so with me: I arrived at the age of fourteen, +and notwithstanding the promise contained in the letter, it appeared +that circumstances did _not_ permit of my being reclaimed. But I had a +great advantage over the other inmates of the hospital; the fifty pounds +sent with me were not added to the funds of the establishment, but +generously employed for my benefit by the governors, who were pleased +with my conduct, and thought highly of my abilities. Instead of being +bound 'prentice to a cordwainer or some other mechanic, by the influence +of the governors, added to the fifty pounds and interest, as a premium, +I was taken by an apothecary, who engaged to bring me up to the +profession. And now, that I am out of the Foundling, we must not travel +quite so fast. + +The practitioner who thus took me by the hand was a Mr Phineas Cophagus, +whose house was most conveniently situated for business, one side of +the shop looking upon Smithfield Market, the other presenting a surface +of glass to the principal street leading out of the same market. It was +a _corner_ house, but not in a _corner_. On each side of the shop were +two gin establishments, and next to them were two public-houses and then +two eating-houses, frequented by graziers, butchers, and drovers. Did +the men drink so much as to quarrel in their cups, who was so handy to +plaister up the broken heads as Mr Cophagus? Did a fat grazier eat +himself into an apoplexy, how very convenient was the ready lancet of Mr +Cophagus. Did a bull gore a man, Mr Cophagus appeared with his diachylon +and lint. Did an ox frighten a lady, it was in the back parlour of Mr +Cophagus that she was recovered from her syncope. Market days were a +sure market to my master; and if an overdriven beast knocked down +others, it only helped to set him on his legs. Our windows suffered +occasionally; but whether it were broken heads, or broken limbs, or +broken windows, they were well paid for. Every one suffered but Mr +Phineas Cophagus, who never suffered a patient to escape him. The shop +had the usual allowance of green, yellow, and blue bottles; and in hot +weather, from our vicinity, we were visited by no small proportion of +bluebottle flies. We had a white horse in one window, and a brown horse +in the other, to announce to the drovers that we supplied +horse-medicines. And we had all the patent medicines in the known world, +even to the "all-sufficient medicine for mankind" of Mr Enouy; having +which, I wondered, on my first arrival, why we troubled ourselves about +any others. The shop was large, and at the back part there was a most +capacious iron mortar, with a pestle to correspond. The first floor was +tenanted by Mr Cophagus, who was a bachelor; the second floor was let; +the others were appropriated to the housekeeper, and to those who formed +the establishment. In this well-situated tenement, Mr Cophagus got on +swimmingly. I will therefore, for the present, sink the shop, that my +master may rise in the estimation of the reader, when I describe his +person and his qualifications. + +Mr Phineas Cophagus might have been about forty-five years of age when I +first had the honour of an introduction to him in the receiving room of +the Foundling Hospital. He was of the middle height, his face was thin, +his nose very much hooked, his eyes small and peering, with a +good-humoured twinkle in them, his mouth large, and drawn down at one +corner. He was stout in his body, and carried a considerable +protuberance before him, which he was in the habit of patting with his +left hand very complacently; but although stout in his body, his legs +were mere spindles, so that, in his appearance, he reminded you of some +bird of the crane genus. Indeed, I may say, that his whole figure gave +you just such an impression as an orange might do, had it taken to +itself a couple of pieces of tobacco pipes as vehicles of locomotion. He +was dressed in a black coat and waistcoat, white cravat and high collar +to his shirt, blue cotton net pantaloons and Hessian boots, both fitting +so tight, that it appeared as if he was proud of his spindle shanks. His +hat was broad-brimmed and low, and he carried a stout black cane with a +gold top in his right hand, almost always raising the gold top to his +nose when he spoke, just as we see doctors represented at a consultation +in the caricature prints. But if his figure was strange, his language +and manners were still more so. He spoke, as some birds fly, in jerks, +intermixing his words, for he never completed a whole sentence, with +_um--um--_and ending it with "_so on,_" leaving his hearers to supply +the context from the heads of his discourse. Almost always in motion, he +generally changed his position as soon as he had finished speaking, +walking to any other part of the room, with his cane to his nose, and +his head cocked on one side, with a self-sufficient tiptoe gait. When I +was ushered into his presence, he was standing with two of the +governors. "This is the lad," said one of them, "his name is _Japhet_." + +"Japhet," replied Mr Cophagus; "um, scriptural--Shem, Ham, _um_--and so +on. Boy reads?" + +"Very well, and writes a very good hand. He is a very good boy, Mr +Cophagus." + +"Read--write--spell--good, and _so on_. Bring him +up--rudiments--spatula--write labels--um--M.D. one of these days--make a +man of him--and so on," said this strange personage, walking round and +round me with his cane to his nose, and scrutinising my person with his +twinkling eyes. I was dismissed after this examination and approval, and +the next day, dressed in a plain suit of clothes, was delivered by the +porter at the shop of Mr Phineas Cophagus, who was not at home when I +arrived. + + + + +Chapter II + + Like all Tyros, I find the rudiments of learning extremely + difficult and laborious, but advance so rapidly than I can do + without my Master. + + +A tall, fresh-coloured, but hectic looking young man, stood behind the +counter, making up prescriptions, and a dirty lad, about thirteen years +old, was standing near with his basket to deliver the medicines to the +several addresses, as soon as they were ready. The young man behind the +counter, whose name was Brookes, was within eighteen months of serving +his time, when his friends intended to establish him on his own account, +and this was the reason which induced Mr Cophagus to take me, that I +might learn the business, and supply his place when he left. Mr Brookes +was a very quiet, amiable person, kind to me and the other boy who +carried out the medicines, and who had been taken by Mr Cophagus, for +his food and raiment. The porter told Mr Brookes who I was, and left me. +"Do you think that you will like to be an apothecary?" said Mr Brookes +to me, with a benevolent smile. + +"Yes; I do not see why I should not," replied I. + +"Stop a moment," said the lad who was waiting with the basket, lookly +archly at me, "you hav'n't got through your _rudimans_ yet." + +"Hold your tongue, Timothy," said Mr Brookes. "That you are not very +fond of the rudiments, as Mr Cophagus calls them, is very clear. Now +walk off as fast as you can with these medicines, sir--14, Spring +Street; 16, Cleaver Street, as before; and then to John Street, 55, Mrs +Smith's. Do you understand?" + +"To be sure I do--can't I read? I reads all the directions, and all your +Latin stuff into the bargain--all your summen dusses, horez, diez, +cockly hairy. I mean to set up for myself one of these days." + +"I'll knock you down one of these days, Mr Timothy, if you stay so long +as you do, looking at the print shops; that you may depend upon." + +"I keep up all my learning that way," replied Timothy, walking off with +his load, turning his head round and laughing at me, as he quitted the +shop. Mr Brookes smiled, but said nothing. + +As Timothy went out, in came Mr Cophagus. "Heh! Japhet--I see," said he, +putting up his cane, "nothing to do--bad--must work--um--and so on. Mr +Brookes--boy learn rudiments--good--and so on." Hereupon Mr Cophagus +took his cane from his nose, pointed to the large iron mortar, and then +walked away into the back parlour. Mr Brookes understood his master, if +I did not. He wiped out the mortar, threw in some drugs, and, showing me +how to use the pestle, left me to my work. In half an hour I discovered +why it was that Timothy had such an objection to what Mr Cophagus +facetiously termed the _rudiments_ of the profession. It was dreadful +hard work for a boy; the perspiration ran down me in streams, and I +could hardly lift my arms. When Mr Cophagus passed through the shop and +looked at me, as I continued to thump away with the heavy iron pestle. +"Good,"--said he, "by-and-bye--M.D.--and so on." I thought it was a very +rough road to such preferment, and I stopped to take a little breath. +"By-the-by--Japhet--Christian name--and so on--sirname--heh!" + +"Mr Cophagus wishes to know your other name," said Mr Brookes, +interpreting. + +I have omitted to acquaint the reader that sirnames as well as Christian +names, are always given to the children at the Foundling, and in +consequence of the bank note found in my basket, I had been named after +the celebrated personage whose signature it bore. "Newland is my other +name, sir," replied I. + +"Newland--heh!--very good name--every body likes to see that name--and +have plenty of them in his pockets too--um--very comfortable--and so +on," replied Mr Cophagus, leaving the shop. + +I resumed my thumping occupation, when Timothy returned with his empty +basket. He laughed when he saw me at work. "Well, how do you like the +rudimans?--and so on--heh?" said he, mimicking Mr Cophagus. + +"Not overmuch," replied I, wiping my face. + +"That was my job before you came. I have been more than a year, and +never have got out of those rudimans yet, and I suppose I never shall." + +Mr Brookes, perceiving that I was tired, desired me to leave off, an +order which I gladly obeyed, and I took my seat in a corner of the shop. + +"There," said Timothy, laying down his basket; "no more work for me +_hanty prandium,_ is there, Mr Brookes?" + +"No, Tim; but _post prandium,_ you'll _post_ off again." + +Dinner being ready, and Mr Cophagus having returned, he and Mr Brookes +went into the back parlour, leaving Timothy and me in the shop to +announce customers. And I shall take this opportunity of introducing Mr +Timothy more particularly, as he will play a very conspicuous part in +this narrative. Timothy was short in stature for his age, but very +strongly built. He had an oval face, with a very dark complexion, grey +eyes flashing from under their long eyelashes, and eyebrows nearly +meeting each other. He was marked with the small-pox, not so much as to +disfigure him, but still it was very perceptible when near to him. His +countenance was always lighted up with merriment; there was such a +happy, devil-may-care expression in his face, that you liked him the +first minute that you were in his company, and I was intimate with him +immediately. + +"I say, Japhet," said he, "where did you come from?" + +"The Foundling," replied I. + +"Then you have no friends or relations." + +"If I have, I do not know where to find them," replied I, very gravely. + +"Pooh! don't be grave upon it. I haven't any either. I was brought up by +the parish, in the workhouse. I was found at the door of a gentleman's +house, who sent me to the overseers--I was about a year old then. They +call me a foundling, but I don't care what they call me, so long as they +don't call me too late for dinner. Father and mother, whoever they were, +when they ran away from me, didn't run away with my appetite. I wonder +how long master means to play with his knife and fork. As for Mr +Brookes, what he eats wouldn't physic a snipe. What's your other name, +Japhet?" + +"Newland." + +"Newland--now you shall have mine in exchange: Timothy Oldmixon at your +service. They christened me after the workhouse pump, which had 'Timothy +Oldmixon fecit' on it; and the overseers thought it as good a name to +give me as any other; so I was christened after the pump-maker with some +of the pump water. As soon as I was big enough, they employed me to pump +all the water for the use of the workhouse. I worked at my _papa_, as I +called the pump, all day long. Few sons worked their father more, or +disliked him so much: and now, Japhet, you see, from habit, I'm pumping +you." + +"You'll soon pump dry, then, for I've very little to tell you," replied +I; "but, tell me, what sort of a person is our master?" + +"He's just what you see him, never alters, hardly ever out of humour, +and when he is, he is just as odd as ever. He very often threatens me, +but I have never had a blow yet, although Mr Brookes has complained once +or twice." + +"But surely Mr Brookes is not cross?" + +"No, he is a very good gentleman; but sometimes I carry on my rigs a +little too far, I must say that. For as Mr Brookes says, people may die +for want of the medicines, because I put down my basket to play. It's +very true; but I can't give up 'peg in the ring' on that account. But +then I only get a box of the ear from Mr Brookes, and that goes for +nothing. Mr Cophagus shakes his stick, and says, 'Bad boy--big +stick--_um_--won't forget--next time--and so on,'" continued Timothy, +laughing; "and it is _so on_, to the end of the chapter." + +By this time Mr Cophagus and his assistant had finished their dinner, +and came into the shop. The former looked at me, put his stick to his +nose, "Little boys--always hungry--um--like good dinner--roast +beef--Yorkshire pudding--and so on," and he pointed with the stick to +the back parlour. Timothy and I understood him very well this time: we +went into the parlour, when the housekeeper sat down with us and helped +us. She was a terribly cross, little old woman, but as honest as she was +cross, which is all that I shall say in her favour. Timothy was no +favourite, because he had such a good appetite; and it appeared that I +was not very likely to stand well in her good opinion, for I also ate a +great deal, and every extra mouthful I took I sank in her estimation, +till I was nearly at the zero, where Timothy had long been for the same +offence; but Mr Cophagus would not allow her to stint him, saying, +"Little boys must eat--or won't grow--and so on." + +I soon found out that we were not only well fed, but in every other +point well treated, and I was very comfortable and happy. Mr Brookes +instructed me in the art of labelling and tying up, and in a very short +time I was very expert; and as Timothy predicted, the rudiments were +once more handed over to him. Mr Cophagus supplied me with good clothes, +but never gave me any pocket-money, and Timothy and I often lamented +that we had not even a halfpenny to spend. + +Before I had been many months in the shop Mr Brookes was able to leave +when any exigence required his immediate attendance. I made up the +pills, but he weighed out the quantities in the prescriptions; if, +therefore, any one came in for medicines, I desired them to wait the +return of Mr Brookes, who would be in very soon. One day, when Mr +Brookes was out, and I was sitting behind the counter, Timothy sitting +on it, and swinging his legs to and fro, both lamenting that we had no +pocket-money, Timothy said, "Japhet, I've been puzzling my brains how we +can get some money, and I've hit it at last; let you and I turn doctors; +we won't send all the people away who come when Mr Brookes is out, but +we'll physic them ourselves." + +I jumped at the idea, and he had hardly proposed it, when an old woman +came in, and addressing Timothy, said, "That she wanted something for +her poor grandchild's sore throat." + +"I don't mix up the medicines, ma'am," replied Timothy; "you must apply +to that gentleman, Mr Newland, who is behind the counter--he understands +what is good for every body's complaints." + +"Bless his handsome face--and so young too! Why, be you a doctor, sir?" + +"I should hope so," replied I; "what is it you require--a lotion, or an +embrocation?" + +"I don't understand those hard words, but I want some doctor's stuff." + +"Very well, my good woman; I know what is proper," replied I, assuming +an important air. "Here, Timothy, wash out this vial very clean." + +"Yes, sir," replied Timothy, very respectfully. + +I took one of the measures, and putting in a little green, a little +blue, and a little white liquid from the medicine bottles generally used +by Mr Brookes, filled it up with water, poured the mixture into the +vial, corked, and labelled it, _haustus statim sumendus_, and handed it +over the counter to the old woman. + +"Is the poor child to take it, or is it to rub outside?" inquired the +old woman. + +"The directions are on the label;--but you don't read Latin?" + +"Deary me, no! Latin! and do you understand Latin? What a nice clever +boy!" + +"I should not be a good doctor if I did not," replied I. On second +thoughts, I considered it advisable and safer, that the application +should be _external_, so I translated the label to her--_Haustus_, rub +it in--_statim_, on the throat--_sumendus_, with the palm of the hand. + +"Deary me! and does it mean all that? How much have I to pay, sir?" + +"Embrocation is a very dear medicine, my good woman; it ought to be +eighteen-pence, but as you are a poor woman, I shall only charge you +nine-pence." + +"I'm sure I thank you kindly," replied the old woman, putting down the +money, and wishing me a good morning as she left the shop. + +"Bravo!" cried Timothy, rubbing his hands; "it's halves, Japhet, is it +not?" + +"Yes," I replied; "but first we must be honest, and not cheat Mr +Cophagus; the vial is sold, you know, for one penny, and I suppose the +stuff I have taken is not worth a penny more. Now, if we put aside +two-pence for Mr Cophagus, we don't cheat him, or steal his property; +the other seven-pence is of course our own--being the _profits of the +profession_." + +"But how shall we account for receiving the two-pence?" said Timothy. + +"Selling two vials instead of one: they are never reckoned, you know." + +"That will do capitally," cried Timothy; "and now for halves." But this +could not be managed until Timothy had run out and changed the sixpence; +we then each had our three-pence halfpenny, and for once in our lives +could say that we had money in our pockets. + + + + +Chapter III + + I perform a wonderful cure upon St John Long's principle, having + little or no principle of my own--I begin to puzzle my head with a + problem; of all others most difficult to solve. + + +The success of our first attempt encouraged us to proceed; but afraid +that I might do some mischief, I asked of Mr Brookes the nature and +qualities of the various medicines, as he was mixing the prescriptions, +that I might avoid taking any of those which were poisonous. Mr Brookes, +pleased with my continual inquiries, gave me all the information I could +desire, and thus I gained, not only a great deal of information, but +also a great deal of credit with Mr Cophagus, to whom Mr Brookes had +made known my diligence and thirst for knowledge. + +"Good--very good," said Mr Cophagus; "fine boy--learns his +business--M.D. one of these days--ride in his coach--um, and so on." +Nevertheless, at my second attempt, I made an awkward mistake, which +very nearly led to detection. An Irish labourer, more than half tipsy, +came in one evening, and asked whether we had such a thing as was called +"_A poor man's plaister_. By the powers, it will be a poor man's +plaister when it belongs to me; but they tell me that it is a sure and +sartain cure for the thumbago, as they call it, which I've at the small +of my back, and which is a hinder to my mounting up the ladder; so as +it's Saturday night, and I've just got the money, I'll buy the plaister +first, and then try what a little whiskey inside will do, the devil's in +it if it won't be driven out of me between the two." + +We had not that plaister in the shop, but we had blister plaister, and +Timothy, handing one to me, I proffered it to him. "And what may you be +after asking for this same?" inquired he. + +The blister plaisters were sold at a shilling each, when spread on +paper, so I asked him eighteen-pence, that we might pocket the extra +sixpence. + +"By the powers, one would think that you had made a mistake, and handed +me the rich man's plaister, instead of the poor one's. It's less whiskey +I'll have to drink, anyhow; but here's the money, and the top of the +morning to ye, seeing as how it's jist getting late." + +Timothy and I laughed as we divided the sixpence. It appeared that after +taking his allowance of whiskey, the poor fellow fixed the plaister on +his back when he went to bed, and the next morning found himself in a +condition not be envied. It was a week before we saw him again, and much +to the horror of Timothy and myself, he walked into the shop when Mr +Brookes was employed behind the counter. Timothy perceived him before he +saw us, and pulling me behind the large mortar, we contrived to make our +escape into the back parlour, the door of which we held ajar to hear +what would take place. + +"Murder and turf!" cried the man, "but that was the devil's own plaister +that you gave me here for my back, and it left me as raw as a turnip, +taking every bit of my skin off me entirely, foreby my lying in bed for +a whole week, and losing my day's work." + +"I really do not recollect supplying you with a plaister, my good man," +replied Mr Brookes. + +"Then by the piper that played before Moses, if you don't recollect it, +I've an idea that I shall never forget it. Sure enough, it cured me, but +wasn't I quite kilt before I was cured?" + +"It must have been some other shop," observed Mr Brookes. "You have made +a mistake." + +"Devil a bit of a mistake, except in selling me the plaister. Didn't I +get it of a lad in this same shop?" + +"Nobody sells things out of this shop without my knowledge." + +The Irishman was puzzled--he looked round the shop. "Well, then, if this +a'n't the shop, it was own sister to it." + +"Timothy," called Mr Brookes. + +"And sure enough there was a Timothy in the other shop, for I heard the +boy call the other by the name; however, it's no matter, if it took off +the skin, it also took away the thumbago, so the morning to you, Mr +Pottykarry." + +When the Irishman departed, we made our appearance. "Japhet, did you +sell a plaister to an Irishman?" + +"Yes--don't you recollect, last Saturday? and I gave you the shilling." + +"Very true; but what did he ask for?" + +"He asked for a plaister, but he was very tipsy. I showed him a blister, +and he took it;" and then I looked at Timothy and laughed. + +"You must not play such tricks," said Mr Brookes. "I see what you have +been about--it was a joke to you, but not to him." + +Mr Brookes, who imagined we had sold it to the Irishman out of fun, then +gave us a very severe lecture, and threatened to acquaint Mr Cophagus, +if ever we played such tricks again. Thus the affair blew over, and it +made me very careful; and, as every day I knew more about medicines, I +was soon able to mix them, so as to be of service to those who applied, +and before eighteen months had expired, I was trusted with the mixing up +all the prescriptions. At the end of that period Mr Brookes left us, and +I took the whole of his department upon myself, giving great +satisfaction to Mr Cophagus. + +And now that I have announced my promotion, it will perhaps be as well +that I give the reader some idea of my personal appearance, upon which I +have hitherto been silent. I was thin, between fifteen and sixteen years +old, very tall for my age, and of my figure I had no reason to be +ashamed; a large beaming eye, with a slightly aquiline nose, a high +forehead, fair in complexion, but with very dark hair. I was always what +may be termed a remarkably clean-looking boy, from the peculiarity of my +skin and complexion; my teeth were small, but were transparent, and I +had a very deep dimple in my chin. Like all embryo apothecaries, I +carried in my appearance, if not the look of wisdom, most certainly that +of self-sufficiency, which does equally well with the world in general. +My forehead was smooth, and very white, and my dark locks were combed +back systematically, and with a regularity that said, as plainly as hair +could do, "The owner of this does everything by prescription, +measurement, and rule." With my long fingers I folded up the little +packets, with an air as thoughtful and imposing as that of a minister +who has just presented a protocol as interminable as unintelligible: and +the look of solemn sagacity with which I poured out the contents of one +vial into the other, would have well become the king's physician, when +he watched the "lord's anointed" in _articulo mortis_. + +As I followed up my saturnine avocation, I generally had an open book on +the counter beside me; not a marble-covered dirty volume, from the +Minerva press, or a half-bound, half-guinea's worth of fashionable +trash, but a good, honest, heavy-looking, wisdom-implying book, horribly +stuffed with epithet of drug; a book in which Latin words were +redundant, and here and there were to be observed the crabbed characters +of Greek. Altogether, with my book and my look, I cut such a truly +medical appearance, that even the most guarded would not have hesitated +to allow me the sole conduct of a whitlow, from inflammation to +suppuration, and from suppuration to cure, or have refused to have +confided to me the entire suppression of a gumboil. Such were my +personal qualifications at the time that I was raised to the important +office of dispenser of, I may say, life and death. + +It will not surprise the reader when I tell him that I was much noticed +by those who came to consult, or talk with, Mr Cophagus. "A very fine +looking lad that, Mr Cophagus," an acquaintance would say. "Where did +you get him--who is his father?" + +"Father!" Mr Cophagus would reply, when they had gained the +back parlour, but I could overhear him, "father, um--can't +tell--love--concealment--child born--foundling hospital--put out--and so +on." + +This was constantly occurring, and the constant occurrence made me +often reflect upon my condition, which otherwise I might, from the happy +and even tenor of my life, have forgotten. When I retired to my bed I +would revolve in my mind all that I had gained from the governors of the +hospital relative to myself.--The paper found in the basket had been +given to me. I was born in wedlock--at least, so said that paper. The +sum left with me also proved that my parents could not, at my birth, +have been paupers. The very peculiar circumstances attending my case, +only made me more anxious to know my parentage. I was now old enough to +be aware of the value of birth, and I was also just entering the age of +romance, and many were the strange and absurd reveries in which I +indulged. At one time I would cherish the idea that I was of a noble, if +not princely birth, and frame reasons for concealment. At others--but it +is useless to repeat the absurdities and castle buildings which were +generated in my brain from mystery. My airy fabrics would at last +disappear, and leave me in all the misery of doubt and abandoned hope. +Mr Cophagus, when the question was sometimes put to him, would say, +"Good boy--very good boy--don't want a father." But he was wrong, I did +want a father; and every day the want became more pressing, and I found +myself continually repeating the question, "_Who is my father?_" + + + + +Chapter IV + + Very much puzzled with a new Patient, nevertheless take my degree + at fifteen as an M.D.; and what is still more acceptable, I pocket + the fees. + + +The departure of Mr Brookes, of course, rendered me more able to follow +up with Timothy my little professional attempts to procure pocket-money; +but independent of these pillages by the aid of pills, and making drafts +upon our master's legitimate profits, by the assistance of draughts from +his shop, accident shortly enabled me to raise the ways and means in a +more rapid manner. But of this directly. + +In the meantime I was fast gaining knowledge; every evening I read +surgical and medical books, put into my hands by Mr Cophagus, who +explained whenever I applied to him, and I soon obtained a very fair +smattering of my profession. He also taught me how to bleed, by making +me, in the first instance, puncture very scientifically, all the larger +veins of a cabbage-leaf, until well satisfied with the delicacy of my +hand, and the precision of my eye, he wound up his instructions by +permitting me to breathe a vein in his own arm. + +"Well," said Timothy, when he first saw me practising, "I have often +heard it said, there's no getting blood out of a turnip; but it seems +there is more chance with a cabbage. I tell you what, Japhet, you may +try your hand upon me as much as you please, for two-pence a go." + +I consented to this arrangement, and by dint of practising on Timothy +over and over again, I became quite perfect. I should here observe, that +my anxiety relative to my birth increased every day, and that in one of +the books lent me by Mr Cophagus, there was a dissertation upon the +human frame, sympathies, antipathies, and also on those features and +peculiarities most likely to descend from one generation to another. It +was there asserted, that the _nose_ was the facial feature most likely +to be transmitted from father to son. As I before have mentioned, my +nose was rather aquiline; and after I had read this book, it was +surprising with what eagerness I examined the faces of those whom I met; +and if I saw a nose upon any man's face, at all resembling my own, I +immediately would wonder and surmise whether that person could be my +father. The constant dwelling upon the subject at last created a species +of monomania, and a hundred times a day I would mutter to myself, _"Who +is my father?"_ indeed, the very bells, when they rung a peal, seemed, +as in the case of Whittington, to chime the question, and at last I +talked so much on the subject to Timothy, who was my _Fidus Achates,_ +and bosom friend, that I really believe, partial as he was to me, he +wished my father at the devil. + +Our shop was well appointed with all that glare and glitter with which +we decorate the "_house of call_" of disease and death. Being situated +in such a thoroughfare, passengers would stop to look in, and +ragged-vested, and in other garments still more ragged, little boys +would stand to stare at the variety of colours, and the 'pottecary +gentleman, your humble servant, who presided over so many +labelled-in-gold phalanxes which decorated the sides of the shop. + +Among those who always stopped and gazed as she passed by, which was +generally three or four times a day, was a well-dressed female, +apparently about forty years of age, straight as an arrow, with an +elasticity of step, and a decision in her manner of walking, which was +almost masculine, although her form, notwithstanding that it was tall +and thin, was extremely feminine and graceful. Sometimes she would fix +her eyes upon me, and there was a wildness in her looks, which certainly +gave a painful impression, and at the same time so fascinated me, that +when I met her gaze, the paper which contained the powder remained +unfolded, and the arm which was pouring out the liquid suspended. + +She was often remarked by Timothy, as well as me; and we further +observed, that her step was not equal throughout the day. In her latter +peregrinations, towards the evening, her gait was more vigorous, but +unequal, at the same time that her gaze was more stedfast. She usually +passed the shop for the last time each day, about five o'clock in the +afternoon. + +One evening, after we had watched her past, as we supposed, to return no +more till the ensuing morning, for this peeping in, on her part, had +become an expected occurrence, and afforded much amusement to Timothy, +who designated her as the "mad woman," to our great surprise, and to the +alarm of Timothy, who sprang over the counter, and took a position by my +side, she walked into the shop. Her eye appeared wild, as usual, but I +could not make out that it was insanity. I recovered my +self-possession, and desired Timothy to hand the lady a chair, begging +to know in what way I could be useful. Timothy walked round by the end +of the counter, pushed a chair near to her, and then made a hasty +retreat to his former position. She declined the chair with a motion of +her hand, in which there was much dignity, as well as grace, and placing +upon the counter her hands, which were small and beautifully white, she +bent forwards towards me, and said, in a sweet, low voice, which +actually startled me by its depth of melody, "I am very ill." + +My astonishment increased. Why, I know not, because the exceptions are +certainly as many as the general rule, we always form an estimate of the +voice before we hear it, from the outward appearance of the speaker; and +when I looked up in her face, which was now exposed to the glare of the +argand lamp, and witnessed the cadaverous, pale, chalky expression on +it, and the crow's feet near the eyes, and wrinkles on her forehead, I +should have sooner expected to have heard a burst of heavenly symphony +from a thunder-cloud, than such music as issued from her parted lips. + +"Good heavens, madam!" said I eagerly and respectfully, "allow me to +send for Mr Cophagus." + +"By no means," replied she. "I come to you. I am aware," continued she +in an undertone, "that you dispense medicines, give advice, and receive +money yourself." + +I felt very much agitated, and the blush of detection mounted up to my +forehead. Timothy, who heard what she said, showed his uneasiness in a +variety of grotesque ways. He drew up his legs alternately, as if he +were dancing on hot plates; he slapped his pockets, grinned, clenched +his fists, ground his teeth, and bit his lips till he made the blood +come. At last he sidled up to me, "She has been peeping and screwing +those eyes of her's into this shop for something. It's all up with both +of us, unless you can buy her off." + +"I have, madam," said I, at last, "ventured to prescribe in some trivial +cases, and, as you say, received money when my master is not here; but I +am entrusted with the till." + +"I know--I know--you need not fear me. You are too modest. What I would +request is, that you would prescribe for me, as I have no great opinion +of your master's talents." + +"If you wish it, madam," said I, bowing respectfully. + +"You have camphor julep ready made up, have you not?" + +"Yes, madam," replied I. + +"Then do me the favour to send the boy with a bottle to my house +directly." I handed down the bottle, she paid for it, and putting it +into Timothy's hands, desired him to take it to the direction which she +gave him. Timothy put on his hat, cocked his eye at me, and left us +alone. + +"What is your name?" said she, in the same melodious voice. + +"Japhet Newland, madam," replied I. + +"Japhet--it is a good, a scriptural name," said the lady, musirg in half +soliloquy. "Newland--that sounds of mammon." + +"This mystery is unravelled," thought I, and I was right in my +conjectures. "She is some fanatical methodist;" but I looked at her +again, and her dress disclaimed the idea, for in it there was much taste +displayed. + +"Who gave you that name?" said she, after a pause. + +The question was simple enough, but it stirred up a host of annoying +recollections; but not wishing to make a confidant of her, I gently +replied, as I used to do in the Foundling Hospital on Sunday +morning--"My godfathers and godmothers in my baptism, ma'am." + +"My dear sir, I am very ill," said she, after a pause, "will you feel my +pulse?" + +I touched a wrist, and looked at a hand that was worthy of being +admired. What a pity, thought I, that she should be old, ugly, and half +crazy! + +"Do you not think that this pulse of mine exhibits considerable nervous +excitement? I reckoned it this morning, it was at a hundred and twenty." + +"It certainly beats quick," replied I, "but perhaps the camphor julep +may prove beneficial." + +"I thank you for your advice, Mr Newland," said she, laying down a +guinea, "and if I am not better, I will call again, or send for you. +Good-night." + +She walked out of the shop, leaving me in no small astonishment. What +could she mean? I was lost in reverie, when Timothy returned. The guinea +remained on the counter. + +"I met her going home," said he. "Bless me--a guinea--why, Japhet!" I +recounted all that had passed. "Well, then, it has turned out well for +us instead of ill, as I expected." + +The _us_ reminded me that we shared profits on these occasions, and I +offered Timothy his half; but Tim, with all his _espieglerie_ was not +selfish, and he stoutly refused to take his share. He dubbed me an M.D., +and said I had beat Mr Cophagus already, for he had never taken a +physician's fee. + +"I cannot understand it, Timothy," said I, after a few minutes' thought. + +"I can," replied Timothy. "She has looked in at the window until she has +fallen in love with your handsome face; that's it, depend upon it." As I +could find no other cause, and Tim's opinion was backed by my own +vanity, I imagined that such must be the case. "Yes, 'tis so," continued +Timothy, "as the saying is, there's money bid for you." + +"I wish that it had not been by so ill-favoured a person, at all events, +Tim," replied I; "I cannot return her affection." + +"Never mind that, so long as you don't return the money." + +The next evening she made her appearance, bought, as before, a bottle of +camphor julep--sent Timothy home with it, and asking my advice, paid me +another guinea. + +"Really, madam," said I, putting it back towards her, "I am not entitled +to it." + +"Yes, you are," replied she. "I know you have no friends, and I also +know that you deserve them. You must purchase books, you must study, or +you never will be a great man." She then sat down, entered into +conversation, and I was struck with the fire and vigour of the remarks, +which were uttered in such a melodious tone. + +Her visits, during a month, were frequent, and every time did she press +upon me a fee. Although not in love with her person, I certainly felt +very grateful, and moreover was charmed with the superiority of her +mind. We were now on the most friendly and confiding terms. One evening +she said to me, "Japhet, we have now been friends some time. Can I trust +you?" + +"With your life, if it were necessary," replied I. + +"I believe it," said she. "Then can you leave the shop and come to me +to-morrow evening?" + +"Yes, if you will send your maid for me, saying that you are not well." + +"I will, at eight o'clock. Farewell, then, till to-morrow." + + + + +Chapter V + + My vanity receives a desperate wound, but my heart remains + unscathed--An anomaly in woman, one who despises beauty. + + +The next evening I left Timothy in charge, and repaired to her house; it +was very respectable in outward appearance, as well as its furniture. I +was not, however, shown up into the first floor, but into the room +below. + +"Miss Judd will come directly, sir," said a tall, meagre, +puritanical-looking maid, shutting the door upon me. In a few minutes, +during which my pulse beat quick (for I could not but expect some +disclosure; whether it was to be one of love or murder, I hardly knew +which), Miss Aramathea Judd, for such was her christian name, made her +appearance, and sitting down on the sofa, requested me to take a seat by +her. + +"Mr Newland," said she, "I wish to--and I think I can entrust you with a +secret most important to me. Why I am obliged to do it, you will +perfectly comprehend when you have heard my story. Tell me, are you +attached to me?" + +This was a home question to a forward lad of sixteen. I took her by the +hand, and when I looked down on it, I felt as if I was. I looked up into +her face, and felt that I was not. And, as I now was close to her, I +perceived that she must have some aromatic drug in her mouth, as it +smelt strongly--this gave me the supposition that the breath which drew +such melodious tones, was not equally sweet, and I felt a certain +increased degree of disgust. + +"I am very grateful, Miss Judd," replied I; "I hope I shall prove that I +am attached when you confide in me." + +"Swear then, by all that's sacred, you will not reveal what I do +confide." + +"By all that's sacred I will not," replied I, kissing her hand with more +fervour than I expected from myself. + +"Do me then the favour to excuse me one minute." + +She left the room, and in a very short time, there returned, in the same +dress, and, in every other point the same person, but with a young and +lively face of not more, apparently, than twenty-two or twenty-three +years old. I started as if I had seen an apparation. "Yes," said she, +smiling, "you now see Aramathea Judd without disguise; and you are the +first who has seen that face for more than two years. Before I proceed +further, again I say, may I trust you--swear!" + +"I do swear," replied I, and took her hand for the book, which this time +I kissed with pleasure, over and over again. Like a young jackass as I +was, I still retained her hand, throwing as much persuasion as I +possibly could in my eyes. In fact, I did enough to have softened the +hearts of three bonnet-makers. I began to feel most dreadfully in love, +and thought of marriage, and making my fortune, and I don't know what; +but all this was put an end to by one simple short sentence, delivered +in a very decided but soft voice, "Japhet, don't be silly." + +I was crushed, and all my hopes crushed with me. I dropped her hand, and +sat like a fool. + +"And now hear me. I am, as you must have already found out, an impostor; +that is, I am what is called a religious adventuress--a new term, I +grant, and perhaps only applicable to a very few. My aunt was +considered, by a certain sect, to be a great prophetess, which I hardly +need tell you, was all nonsense; nevertheless, there are hundreds who +believed in her, and do so now. Brought up with my aunt, I soon found +out what fools and dupes may be made of mankind by taking advantage of +their credulity. She had her religious inspirations, her trances, and +her convulsions, and I was always behind the scenes: she confided in me, +and I may say that I was her only confidant. You cannot, therefore, +wonder at my practising that deceit to which I have been brought up from +almost my infancy. In person I am the exact counterpart of what my aunt +was at my age, equally so in figure, although my figure is now disguised +to resemble that of a woman of her age. I often had dressed myself in my +aunt's clothes, put on her cap and front, and then the resemblance was +very striking. My aunt fell sick and died, but she promised the +disciples that she would re-appear to them, and they believed her. I did +not. She was buried, and by many her return was anxiously expected. It +occurred to me about a week afterwards that I might contrive to deceive +them. I dressed in my aunt's clothes, I painted and disguised my face as +you have seen, and the deception was complete, even to myself, as I +surveyed my countenance in the glass. I boldly set off in the evening to +the tabernacle, which I knew they still frequented--came into the midst +of them, and they fell down and worshipped me as a prophetess risen from +the dead; deceived, indeed, by my appearance, but still more deceived +by their own credulity. For two years I have been omnipotent with them; +but there is one difficulty which shakes the faith of the new converts, +and new converts I must have, Japhet, as the old ones die, or I should +not be able to fee my physician. It is this: by habit I can almost throw +myself into a stupor or a convulsion, but to do that effectually, to be +able to carry on the deception for so long a time, and to undergo the +severe fatigue attending such violent exertion, it is necessary that I +have recourse to stimulants--do you understand?" + +"I do," replied I; "I have more than once thought you under the +influence of them towards the evening. I'm afraid that you take more +than is good for your health." + +"Not more than I require for what I have to undergo to keep up the faith +of my disciples; but there are many who waver, some who doubt, and I +find that my movements are watched. I cannot trust the woman in this +house. I think she is a spy set upon me, but I cannot remove her, as +this house, and all which it contains, are not mine, but belong to the +disciples in general. There is another woman, not far off, who is my +rival; she calls me an impostor, and says that she is the true +prophetess, and that I am not one. This will be rather difficult for her +to prove," continued she, with a mocking smile. "Beset as I am, I +require your assistance, for you must be aware that it is rather +discreditable to a prophetess, who has risen from the dead, to be seen +all day at the gin-shop, yet without stimulants now, I could not exist." + +"And how can I assist you?" + +"By sending me, as medicine, that which I dare no longer procure in any +other way, and keeping the secret which I have imparted." + +"I will do both with pleasure; but yet," said I, "is it not a pity, a +thousand pities, that one so young--and if you will allow me to add, so +lovely, should give herself up to ardent spirits? Why," continued I, +taking her small white hand, "why should you carry on the deception; +why sacrifice your health, and I may say your happiness--" What more I +might have said I know not, probably it might have been an offer of +marriage, but she cut me short. + +"Why does everybody sacrifice their health, their happiness, their all, +but for ambition and the love of power? It is true, as long as this +little beauty lasts, I might be courted as a woman, but never should I +be worshipped as--I may say--a god.--No, no, there is something too +delightful in that adoration, something too pleasant in witnessing a +crowd of fools stare, and men of three times my age, falling down and +kissing the hem of my garment. This is, indeed, adoration! the delight +arising from it is so great, that all other passions are crushed by +it--it absorbs all other feelings, and has closed my heart even against +love, Japhet. I could not, I would not debase myself, sink so low in my +own estimation, as to allow so paltry a passion to have dominion over +me; and, indeed, now that I am so wedded to stimulants, even if I were +no longer a prophetess, it never could." + +"But is not intoxication one of the most debasing of all habits?" + +"I grant you, in itself, but with me and in my situation it is +different. I fall to rise again, and higher. I cannot be what I am +without I simulate--I cannot simulate without stimulants, therefore it +is but a means to a great and glorious ambition." + +I had more conversation with her before I left, but nothing appeared to +move her resolution, and I left her lamenting, in the first place, that +she had abjured love, because, notwithstanding the orris root, which she +kept in her mouth to take away the smell of the spirits, I found myself +very much taken with such beauty of person, combined with so much vigour +of mind; and in the second, that one so young should carry on a system +of deceit and self-destruction. When I rose to go away she put five +guineas in my hand, to enable me to purchase what she required. "Add to +this one small favour," said I, "Aramathea--allow me a kiss." + +"A kiss," replied she, with scorn; "no, Japhet, look upon me, for it is +the last time you will behold my youth; look upon me as a sepulchre, +fair without but unsavoury and rottenness within. Let me do you a +greater kindness, let me awaken your dormant energies, and plant that +ambition in your soul, which may lead to all that is great and good--a +better path and more worthy of a man than the one which I have partly +chosen, and partly destiny has decided for me. Look upon me as your +friend; although perhaps, you truly say, no friend unto myself. +Farewell--remember that to-morrow you will send the medicine which I +require." + +I left her, and returned home: it was late. I went to bed, and having +disclosed as much to Timothy as I could safely venture to do, I fell +fast asleep, but her figure and her voice haunted me in my dreams. At +one time, she appeared before me in her painted, enamelled face, and +then the mask fell off, and I fell at her feet to worship her extreme +beauty; then her beauty would vanish, and she would appear an image of +loathsomeness and deformity, and I felt suffocated with the atmosphere +impregnated with the smell of liquor. I would wake and compose myself +again, glad to be rid of the horrid dream, but again would she appear, +with a hydra's tail, like Sin in Milton's Paradise Lost, wind herself +round me, her beautiful face gradually changing into that of a skeleton. +I cried out with terror, and awoke to sleep no more, and effectually +cured by my dream of the penchant which I felt towards Miss Aramathea +Judd. + + + + +Chapter VI + + My prescriptions very effective and palatable, but I lose my + patient--The feud equal to that of the Montagues and the + Capulets--Results different--Mercutio comes off unhurt. + + +The next day I sent Timothy to purchase some highly rectified white +brandy, which I coloured with a blue tincture, and added to it a small +proportion of the essence of cinnamon, to disguise the smell; a dozen +large vials, carefully tied up and sealed, were despatched to her abode. +She now seldom called unless it was early in the morning; I made +repeated visits to her house to receive money, but no longer to make +love. One day I requested permission to be present at their meeting, and +to this she gave immediate consent; indeed we were on the most intimate +terms, and when she perceived that I no longer attempted to play the +fool, I was permitted to remain for hours with her in conversation. She +had, as she told me she intended, re-enamelled and painted her face, but +knowing what beauty was concealed underneath, I no longer felt any +disgust. + +Timothy was very much pleased at his share of this arrangement, as he +seldom brought her the medicine without pocketing half-a-crown. + +For two or three months every thing went on very satisfactorily; but one +evening, Timothy, who had been sent with the basket of vials for Miss +Judd's assistance, returned in great consternation, informing me that +the house was empty. He had inquired of the neighbours, and from the +accounts given, which were very contradictory, it appeared that the +rival prophetess had marched up at the head of her proselytes the +evening before, had obtained entrance, and that a desperate contention +had been the result. That the police had been called in, and all parties +had been lodged in the watch-house; that the whole affair was being +investigated by the magistrates, and that it was said that Miss Judd and +all her coadjutors would be sent to the Penitentiary. This was quite +enough to frighten two boys like us; for days afterwards we trembled +when people came into the shop, expecting to be summoned and imprisoned. +Gradually, however, our fears were dismissed, but I never from that time +heard any thing more of Miss Aramathea Judd. + +After this affair, I adhered steadily to my business, and profiting by +the advice given me by that young person, improved rapidly in my +profession, as well as in general knowledge; but my thoughts, as usual, +were upon one subject--my parentage, and the mystery hanging over it. My +eternal reveries became at last so painful, that I had recourse to +reading to drive them away, and subscribing to a good circulating +library, I was seldom without a book in my hand. By this time I had been +nearly two years and a half with Mr Cophagus, when an adventure occurred +which I must attempt to describe with all the dignity with which it +ought to be invested. + +This is a world of ambition, competition, and rivalry. Nation rivals +nation, and flies to arms, cutting the throats of a few thousands on +each side till one finds that it has the worst of it. Man rivals man, +and hence detraction, duels, and individual death. Woman rivals woman, +and hence loss of reputation and position in high, and loss of hair, and +fighting with pattens in low, life. Are we then to be surprised that +this universal passion, undeterred by the smell of drugs and poisonous +compounds, should enter into apothecaries' shops? But two streets--two +very short streets from our own--was situated the single-fronted shop of +Mr Ebenezer Pleggit. Thank heaven, it was only single-fronted; there, at +least, we had the ascendancy over them. Upon other points, our +advantages were more equally balanced. Mr Pleggit had two large coloured +bottles in his windows more than we had; but then we had two horses, and +he had only one. He tied over the corks of his bottles with red-coloured +paper; we covered up the lips of our vials with delicate blue. It +certainly was the case--for though an enemy, I'll do him justice--that, +after Mr Brookes had left us, Mr Pleggit had two shopmen, and Mr +Cophagus only one; but then that one was Mr Japhet Newland; besides, one +of his assistants had only one eye, and the other squinted horribly, so +if we measured by eyes, I think the advantage was actually on our side; +and, as far as ornament went, most decidedly; for who would not prefer +putting on his chimney-piece one handsome, elegant vase, than two +damaged, ill-looking pieces of crockery? Mr Pleggit had certainly a +gilt mortar and pestle over his door, which Mr Cophagus had omitted when +he furnished his shop; but then the mortar had a great crack down the +middle, and the pestle had lost its knob. And let me ask those who have +been accustomed to handle it, what is a pestle without a knob? On the +whole, I think, with the advantage of having two fronts, like Janus, we +certainly had the best of the comparison; but I shall leave the +impartial to decide. + +All I can say is, that the feuds of the rival houses were most +bitter--the hate intense--the mutual scorn unmeasurable. Did Mr Ebenezer +Pleggit meet Mr Phineas Cophagus in the street, the former immediately +began to spit as if he had swallowed some of his own vile adulterated +drugs; and in rejoinder, Mr Cophagus immediately raised the cane from +his nose high above his forehead in so threatening an attitude as almost +to warrant the other swearing the peace against him, muttering, "Ugly +puppy--knows nothing--um--patients die--and so on." + +It may be well supposed that this spirit of enmity extended through the +lower branches of the rival houses--the assistants and I were at deadly +feud; and this feud was even more deadly between the boys who carried +out the medicines, and whose baskets might, in some measure, have been +looked upon as the rival ensigns of the parties, they themselves +occupying the dangerous and honourable post of standard bearers. + +Timothy, although the kindest-hearted fellow in the world, was as good a +hater as Dr Johnson himself could have wished to meet with; and when +sometimes his basket was not so well filled as usual, he would fill up +with empty bottles below, rather than that the credit of the house +should be suspected, and his deficiencies create a smile of scorn in the +mouth of his red-haired antagonist, when they happened to meet going +their rounds. As yet, no actual collision had taken place between either +the principals or the subordinates of the hostile factions; but it was +fated that this state of quiescence should no longer remain. + +Homer has sung the battles of gods, demigods, and heroes; Milton the +strife of angels. Swift has been great in his Battle of the Books; but I +am not aware that the battle of the vials has as yet been sung; and it +requires a greater genius than was to be found in those who portrayed +the conflicts of heroes, demigods, gods, angels, or books, to do +adequate justice to the mortal strife which took place between the +lotions, potions, draughts, pills, and embrocations. I must tell the +story as well as I can, leaving it as an outline for a future epic. + +Burning with all the hate which infuriated the breasts of the two houses +of Capulet and Montague, hate each day increasing from years of "biting +thumbs" at each other, and yet no excuse presenting itself for an +affray, Timothy Oldmixon--for on such an occasion it would be a sin to +omit his whole designation--Timothy Oldmixon, I say, burning with hate +and eager with haste, turning a corner of the street with his basket +well filled with medicines hanging on his left arm, encountered, equally +eager in his haste, and equally burning in his hate, the red-haired +Mercury of Mr Ebenezer Pleggit. Great was the concussion of the opposing +baskets, dire was the crash of many of the vials, and dreadful was the +mingled odour of the abominations which escaped, and poured through the +wicker interstices. Two ladies from Billingsgate, who were near, +indulging their rhetorical powers, stopped short. Two tom cats, who were +on an adjacent roof, just fixing their eyes of enmity, and about to fix +their claws, turned their eyes to the scene below. Two political +antagonists stopped their noisy arguments. Two dustmen ceased to ring +their bells; and two little urchins eating cherries from the crowns of +their hats, lost sight of their fruit, and stood aghast with fear. They +met, and met with such violence, that they each rebounded many paces; +but like stalwart knights, each kept his basket and his feet. A few +seconds to recover breath; one withering, fiery look from Timothy, +returned by his antagonist, one flash of the memory in each to tell them +that they each had the _la_ on their side, and "Take that!" was roared +by Timothy, planting a well-directed blow with his dexter and dexterous +hand upon the sinister and sinisterous eye of his opponent. "Take that!" +continued he, as his adversary reeled back; "take that, and be d----d to +you, for running against a _gentleman_." + +He of the rubicund hair had retreated, because so violent was the blow +he could not help so doing, and we all must yield to fate. But it was +not from fear. Seizing a vile potation that was labelled "to be taken +immediately," and hurling it with demoniacal force right on the chops of +the courageous Timothy, "Take that!" cried he, with a rancorous yell. +This missile, well directed as the spears of Homer's heroes, came full +upon the bridge of Timothy's nose, and the fragile glass shivering, +inflicted divers wounds upon his physiognomy, and at the same time +poured forth a dark burnt-sienna coloured balsam, to heal them, giving +pain unutterable. Timothy, disdaining to lament the agony of his wounds, +followed the example of his antagonist, and hastily seizing a similar +bottle of much larger dimensions, threw it with such force that it split +between the eyes of his opponent. Thus with these dreadful weapons did +they commence the mortal strife. + +The lovers of _good order_, or at least of fair play, gathered round the +combatants, forming an almost impregnable ring, yet of sufficient +dimensions to avoid the missiles. _"Go it, red-head!" "Bravo! white +apron!"_ resounded on every side. Draughts now met draughts in their +passage through the circumambient air, and exploded like shells over a +besieged town. Bolusses were fired with the precision of cannon shot, +pill-boxes were thrown with such force that they burst like grape and +canister, while acids and alkalies hissed, as they neutralised each +other's power, with all the venom of expiring snakes, "Bravo! white +apron!" "Red-head for ever!" resounded on every side as the conflict +continued with unabated vigour. The ammunition was fast expending on +both sides, when Mr Ebenezer Pleggit, hearing the noise, and perhaps +smelling his own drugs, was so unfortunately rash and so unwisely +foolhardy, as to break through the sacred ring, advancing from behind +with uplifted cane to fell the redoubtable Timothy, when a mixture of +his own, hurled by his own red-haired champion, caught him in his open +mouth, breaking against his only two remaining front teeth, extracting +them as the discharged liquid ran down his throat, and turning him as +sick as a dog. He fell, was taken away on a shutter, and it was some +days before he was again to be seen in his shop, dispensing those +medicines which, on this fatal occasion, he would but too gladly have +dispensed with. + +Reader, have you not elsewhere read in the mortal fray between knights, +when the casque has been beaten off, the shield lost, and the sword +shivered, how they have resorted to closer and more deadly strife with +their daggers raised on high? Thus it was with Timothy: his means had +failed, and disdaining any longer to wage a distant combat, he closed +vigorously with his panting enemy, overthrew him in the first struggle, +seizing from his basket the only weapons which remained, one single +vial, and one single box of pills. As he sat upon his prostrate foe, +first he forced the box of pills into his gasping mouth, and then with +the lower end of the vial he drove it down his throat, as a gunner rams +home the wad and shot into a thirty-two pound carronade. Choked with the +box, the fallen knight held up his hands for quarter; but Timothy +continued until the end of the vial breaking out the top and bottom of +the pasteboard receptacle, forty-and-eight of antibilious pills rolled +in haste down Red-head's throat. Timothy then seized his basket, and +amid the shouts of triumph, walked away. His fallen-crested adversary +coughed up the remnants of the pasteboard, once more breathed, and was +led disconsolate to the neighbouring pump; while Timothy regained our +shop with his blushing honours thick upon him. + +But I must drop the vein heroical. Mr Cophagus, who was at home when +Timothy returned, was at first very much inclined to be wroth at the +loss of so much medicine; but when he heard the story, and the finale, +he was so pleased at Tim's double victory over Mr Pleggit and his +messenger, that he actually put his hand in his pocket, and pulled out +half-a-crown. + +Mr Pleggit, on the contrary, was any thing but pleased; he went to a +lawyer, and commenced an action for assault and battery, and all the +neighbourhood did nothing but talk about the affray which had taken +place, and the action at law which it was said would take place in the +ensuing term. + +But with the exception of this fracas, which ended in the action not +holding good, whereby the animosity was increased, I have little to +recount during the remainder of the time I served under Mr Cophagus. I +had been more than three years with him when my confinement became +insupportable. I had but one idea, which performed an everlasting cycle +in my brain--Who was my father? And I should have abandoned the +profession to search the world in the hope of finding my progenitor, had +it not been that I was without the means. Latterly, I had hoarded up all +I could collect; but the sum was small, much too small for the proposed +expedition. I became melancholy, indifferent to the business, and +slovenly in my appearance, when a circumstance occurred which put an end +to my further dispensing medicines, and left me a free agent. + + + + +Chapter VII + + Looking out for business not exactly minding your own business--The + loss of the scales occasions the loss of place to Timothy and me, + who when weighed in other scales were found wanting--We bundle off + with our bundles on. + + +It happened one market-day that there was an overdriven, infuriated +beast, which was making sad havoc. Crowds of people were running past +our shop in one direction, and the cries of "Mad bull!" were re-echoed +in every quarter. Mr Cophagus, who was in the shop, and to whom, as I +have before observed, a mad bull was a source of great profit, very +naturally looked out of the shop to ascertain whether the animal was +near to us. In most other countries, when people hear of any danger, +they generally avoid it by increasing their distance; but in England, it +is too often the case, that they are so fond of indulging their +curiosity, that they run to the danger. Mr Cophagus, who perceived the +people running one way, naturally supposed, not being aware of the +extreme proximity of the animal, that the people were running to see +what was the matter, and turned his eyes in that direction, walking out +on the pavement that he might have a fairer view. He was just observing, +"Can't say--fear--um--rascal Pleggit--close to him--get all the +custom--wounds--contusions--and"--when the animal came suddenly round +the corner upon Mr Cophagus, who had his eyes the other way, and before +he could escape, tossed him through his own shop windows, and landed him +on the counter. Not satisfied with this, the beast followed him into the +shop. Timothy and I pulled Mr Cophagus over towards us, and he dropped +inside the counter, where we also crouched, frightened out of our wits. +To our great horror the bull made one or two attempts to leap the +counter; but not succeeding, and being now attacked by the dogs and +butcher boys, he charged at them through the door, carrying away our +best scales on his horns as a trophy, as he galloped out of the shop in +pursuit of his persecutors. When the shouts and hallooes were at some +little distance, Timothy and I raised our heads and looked round us; and +perceiving that all was safe, we proceeded to help Mr Cophagus, who +remained on the floor bleeding, and in a state of insensibility. We +carried him into the back parlour and laid him on the sofa. I desired +Timothy to run for surgical aid as fast as he could, while I opened a +vein; and in a few minutes he returned with our opponent, Mr Ebenezer +Pleggit. We stripped Mr Cophagus, and proceeded to examine him. "Bad +case this--very bad case indeed, Mr Newland--dislocation of the os +humeri--severe contusion on the os frontis--and I'm very much afraid +there is some intercostal injury. Very sorry, very sorry, indeed, for my +brother Cophagus." But Mr Pleggit did not appear to be sorry; on the +contrary, he appeared to perform his surgical duties with the greatest +glee. + +We reduced the dislocation, and then carried Mr Cophagus up to his bed. +In an hour he was sensible, and Mr Pleggit took his departure, shaking +hands with Mr Cophagus, and wishing him joy of his providential escape. + +"Bad job, Japhet," said Mr Cophagus to me. + +"Very bad indeed, sir; but it might have been worse." + +"Worse--um--no, nothing worse--not possible." + +"Why, sir, you might have been killed." + +"Pooh!--didn't mean that--mean Pleggit--rascal--um--kill me if he +can--sha'n't though--soon get rid of him--and so on." + +"You will not require his further attendance now that your shoulder is +reduced. I can very well attend upon you." + +"Very true, Japhet;--but won't go--sure of that--damned rascal--quite +pleased--I saw it--um--eyes twinkled--smile checked--and so on." + +That evening Mr Pleggit called in as Mr Cophagus said that he would, +and the latter showed a great deal of impatience; but Mr Pleggit +repeated his visits over and over again, and I observed that Mr Cophagus +no longer made any objection; on the contrary, seemed anxious for his +coming, and still more so, after he was convalescent, and able to sit at +his table. But the mystery was soon divulged. It appeared that Mr +Cophagus, although he was very glad that other people should suffer from +mad bulls, and come to be cured, viewed the case in a very different +light when the bull thought proper to toss him, and having now realised +a comfortable independence, he had resolved to retire from business, and +from a site attended with so much danger. A hint of this escaping him +when Mr Pleggit was attending him on the third day after his accident, +the latter, who knew the value of the _locale_, also hinted that if Mr +Cophagus was inclined so to do, that he would be most happy to enter +into an arrangement with him. Self-interest will not only change +friendship into enmity, in this rascally world, but also turn enmity +into friendship. All Mr Pleggit's enormities, and all Mr Cophagus' +shameful conduct, were mutually forgotten. In less than ten minutes it +was, "_My dear Mr Pleggit_, and so on," and "_My dear brother +Cophagus_." + +In three weeks every thing had been arranged between them, and the shop, +fixtures, stock in trade, and good will, were all the property of our +ancient antagonist. But although Mr Pleggit could shake hands with Mr +Cophagus for his fixtures and _good will_, yet as Timothy and I were not +included in the _good will_, neither were we included among the +_fixtures_, and Mr Cophagus could not, of course, interfere with Mr +Pleggit's private arrangements. He did all he could do in the way of +recommendation, but Mr Pleggit had not forgotten my occasional +impertinences or the battle of the bottles. I really believe that his +_ill will_ against Timothy was one reason for purchasing the _good will_ +of Mr Cophagus, and we were very gently told by Mr Pleggit that he would +have no occasion for our services. + +Mr Cophagus offered to procure me another situation as soon as he could, +and at the same time presented me with twenty guineas, as a proof of +his regard and appreciation of my conduct--but this sum put in my hand +decided me: I thanked him, and told him I had other views at present, +but hoped he would let me know where I might find him hereafter, as I +should be glad to see him again. He told me he would leave his address +for me at the Foundling Hospital, and shaking me heartily by the hand, +we parted. Timothy was then summoned. Mr Cophagus gave him five guineas, +and wished him good fortune. + +"And now, Japhet, what are you about to do?" said Timothy, as he +descended into the shop. + +"To do," replied I; "I am about to leave you, which is the only thing I +am sorry for. I am going, Timothy, in search of my father." + +"Well," replied Timothy, "I feel as you do, Japhet, that it will be hard +to part; and there is another thing on my mind--which is, I am very +sorry that the bull did not break the rudimans (pointing to the iron +mortar and pestle); had he had but half the spite I have against it, he +would not have left a piece as big as a thimble. I've a great mind to +have a smack at it before I go." + +"You will only injure Mr Cophagus, for the mortar will not then be paid +for." + +"Very true; and as he has just given me five guineas, I will refrain +from my just indignation. But now, Japhet, let me speak to you. I don't +know how you feel, but I feel as if I could not part with you. I do not +want to go in search of my father particularly. They say it's a wise +child that knows its own father--but as there can be no doubt of my +other parent--if I can only hit upon her, I have a strong inclination to +go in search of my mother, and if you like my company, why I will go +with you--always, my dear Japhet," continued Tim, "keeping in my mind +the great difference between a person who has been feed as an M.D., and +a lad who only carries out his prescriptions." + +"Do you really mean to say, Tim, that you will go with me?" + +"Yes, to the end of the world, Japhet, as your companion, your friend, +and your servant, if you require it. I love you, Japhet, and I will +serve you faithfully." + +"My dear Tim, I am delighted; now I am really happy: we will have but +one purse, and but one interest; if I find good fortune, you shall share +it." + +"And if you meet with ill luck, I will share that too--so the affair is +settled--and as here come Mr Pleggit's assistants with only one pair of +eyes between them, the sooner we pack up the better." + +In half an hour all was ready; a bundle each, contained our wardrobes. +We descended from our attic, walked proudly through the shop without +making any observation, or taking any notice of our successors; all the +notice taken was by Timothy, who turned round and shook his fist at his +old enemies, the iron mortar and pestle; and there we were, standing on +the pavement, with the wide world before us, and quite undecided which +way we should go. + +"Is it to be east, west, north, or south, Japhet?" said Timothy. + +"The wise men came from the east," replied I. + +"Then they must have travelled west," said Tim; "let us show our wisdom +by doing the same." + +"Agreed." + +Passing by a small shop, we purchased two good sticks, as defenders, as +well as to hang our bundles on--and off we set upon our pilgrimage. + + + + +Chapter VIII + + We take a coach, but the driver does not like his fare and hits us + foul--We change our mode of travelling upon the principle of slow + and sure, and fall in with a very learned man. + + +I believe it to be a very general custom, when people set off upon a +journey, to reckon up their means--that is, to count the money which +they may have in their pockets. At all events, this was done by Timothy +and me, and I found that my stock amounted to twenty-two pounds +eighteen shillings, and Timothy's to the five guineas presented by Mr +Cophagus, and three halfpence which were in the corner of his waistcoat +pocket--sum total, twenty-eight pounds three shillings and three +halfpence; a very handsome sum, as we thought, with which to commence +our peregrinations, and, as I observed to Timothy, sufficient to last us +for a considerable time, if husbanded with care. + +"Yes," replied he, "but we must husband our legs also, Japhet, or we +shall soon be tired, and very soon wear out our shoes. I vote we take a +hackney coach." + +"Take a hackney coach, Tim! we mustn't think of it; we cannot afford +such a luxury; you can't be tired yet, we are now only just clear of +Hyde Park Corner." + +"Still I think we had better take a coach, Japhet, and here is one +coming. I always do take one when I carry out medicines, to make up for +the time I lose looking at the shops, and playing peg in the ring." + +I now understood what Timothy meant, which was, to get behind and have a +ride for nothing. I consented to this arrangement, and we got up behind +one which was already well filled inside. "The only difference between +an inside and outside passenger in a hackney coach, is that one pays, +and the other does not," said I, to Timothy, as we rolled along at the +act of parliament speed of four miles per hour. + +"That depends upon circumstances: if we are found out, in all +probability we shall not only have our ride, but be _paid_ into the +bargain." + +"With the coachman's whip, I presume?" + +"Exactly." And Timothy had hardly time to get the word out of his mouth, +when flac, flac, came the whip across our eyes--a little envious wretch, +with his shirt hanging out of his trousers, having called out, _Cut +behind!_ Not wishing to have our faces, or our behinds cut any more, we +hastily descended, and reached the footpath, after having gained about +three miles on the road before we were discovered. + +"That wasn't a bad lift, Japhet, and as for the whip I never mind that +with _corduroys_. And now, Japhet, I'll tell you something; we must get +into a wagon, if we can find one going down the road, as soon as it is +dark." + +"But that will cost money, Tim." + +"It's economy, I tell you; for a shilling, if you bargain, you may ride +the whole night, and if we stop at a public-house to sleep, we shall +have to pay for our beds, as well as be obliged to order something to +eat, and pay dearer for it than if we buy what we want at cooks' shops." + +"There is sense in what you say, Timothy; we will look out for a wagon." + +"Oh! it's no use now--wagons are like black beetles, not only in shape +but in habits, they only travel by night--at least most of them do. We +are now coming into long dirty Brentford, and I don't know how you feel, +Japhet, but I find that walking wonderfully increases the +appetite--that's another reason why you should not walk when you can +ride--for nothing." + +"Well, I'm rather hungry myself; and dear me, how very good that piece +of roast pork looks in that window!" + +"I agree with you--let's go in and make a bargain!" + +We bought a good allowance for a shilling, and after sticking out for a +greater proportion of mustard than the woman said we were entitled to, +and some salt, we wrapped it up in a piece of paper, and continued our +course, till we arrived at a baker's, where we purchased our bread, and +then taking up a position on a bench outside a public-house, called for +a pot of beer, and putting our provisions down before us, made a hearty, +and, what made us more enjoy it, an independent meal. Having finished +our pork and our porter, and refreshed ourselves, we again started and +walked till it was quite dark, when we felt so tired that we agreed to +sit down on our bundles and wait for the first wagon which passed. We +soon heard the jingling of bells, and shortly afterwards its enormous +towering bulk appeared between us and the sky. We went up to the +wagoner, who was mounted on a little pony, and asked him if he could +give two poor lads a lift, and how much he would charge us for the ride. + +"How much can you afford to give, measters? for there be others as poor +as ye." We replied that we could give a shilling. "Well, then, get up in +God's name, and ride as long as you will. Get in behind." + +"Are there many people in there already?" said I, as I climbed up, and +Timothy handed me the bundles. + +"Noa," replied the wagoner, "there be nobody but a mighty clever +poticary or doctor, I can't tell which; but he wear an uncommon queer +hat, and he talk all sort of doctor stuff--and there be his odd man and +his odd boy; that be all, and there be plenty of room, and plenty o' +clean _stra_'." + +After this intimation we climbed up, and gained a situation in the rear +of the wagon under the cloth. As the wagoner said, there was plenty of +room, and we nestled into the straw without coming into contact with the +other travellers. Not feeling any inclination to sleep, Timothy and I +entered into conversation, _sotto voce_, and had continued for more than +half an hour, supposing by their silence that the other occupants of the +wagon were asleep, when we were interrupted by a voice clear and +sonorous as a bell. + +"It would appear that you are wanderers, young men, and journey you know +not whither. Birds seek their nests when the night falls--beasts hasten +to their lairs--man bolts his door. '_Propria quae maribus_,' as +Herodotus hath it; which, when translated, means, that 'such is the +nature of mankind.' '_Tribuuntur mascula dicas_' 'Tell me your +troubles,' as Homer says." + +I was very much surprised at this address--my knowledge of the language +told me immediately that the quotations were out of the Latin grammar, +and that all his learning was pretence; still there was a novelty of +style which amused me, and at the same time gave me an idea that the +speaker was an uncommon personage. I gave Timothy a nudge, and then +replied, + +"You have guessed right, most learned sir; we are, as you say, wanderers +seeking our fortunes, and trust yet to find them--still we have a weary +journey before us, '_Haustus hora somni sumendum_,' as Aristotle hath +it; which I need not translate to so learned a person as yourself." + +"Nay, indeed, there is no occasion; yet am I pleased to meet with one +who hath scholarship," replied the other. "Have you also a knowledge of +the Greek?" + +"No, I pretend not to Greek." + +"It is a pity that thou hast it not, for thou wouldst delight to +commune with the ancients. Esculapius hath these +words--'A_shol_der--offmotton--_acca_pon--pasti--venison,'--which I will +translate for thee--'We often find what we seek, when we least expect +it.' May it be so with you, my friend. Where have you been educated? and +what has been your profession?" + +I thought I risked little in telling, so I replied, that I had been +brought up as a surgeon and apothecary, and had been educated at a +foundation school. + +"'Tis well," replied he; "you have then commenced your studies in my +glorious profession; still, have you much to learn; years of toil, under +a great master, can only enable you to benefit mankind as I have done, +and years of hardship and of danger must be added thereunto, to afford +you the means. There are many hidden secrets. '_Ut sunt Divorum, Mars, +Bacchus, Apollo, Virorum_,'--many parts of the globe to traverse, '_Ut +Cato, Virgilius, fluviorum, ut Tibris, Orontes._' All these have I +visited, and many more. Even now do I journey to obtain more of my +invaluable medicine, gathered on the highest Andes, when the moon is in +her perigee. There I shall remain for months among the clouds, looking +down upon the great plain of Mexico, which shall appear no larger than +the head of a pin, where the voice of man is heard not. '_Vocito, +vocitas vocitavi_,' bending for months towards the earth. '_As in +presenti_,' suffering with the cold--'_frico quod fricui dat_,' as +Eusebius hath it. Soon shall I be borne away by the howling winds +towards the new world, where I can obtain more of the wonderful +medicine, which I may say never yet hath failed me, and which nothing +but love towards my race induces me to gather at such pains and risk." + +"Indeed, sir," replied I, amused with his imposition, "I should like to +accompany you--for, as Josephus says most truly, '_Capiat pillulae duae +post prandium_.' Travel is, indeed, a most delightful occupation, and I +would like to run over the whole world." + +"And I would like to follow you," interrupted Timothy. "I suspect we +have commenced our _grand tour_ already--three miles behind a +hackney-coach--ten on foot, and about two, I should think, in this +wagon. But as Cophagus says, _Cochlearija crash many summendush_,' which +means, 'there are ups and downs in this world.'" + +"Hah!" exclaimed our companion. "He, also, has the rudiments." + +"Nay, I hope I've done with the _Rudimans_," replied Timothy. + +"Is he your follower?" inquired the man. + +"That very much depends upon who walks first," replied Timothy, "but +whether or no--we hunt in couples." + +"I understand--you are companions. '_Concordat cum nominativo numero et +persona_.' Tell me, can you roll pills, can you use the pestle and the +mortar, handle the scapula, and mix ingredients?" + +I replied that of course I knew my profession. + +"Well, then, as we have still some hours of night, let us now obtain +some rest. In the morning, when the sun hath introduced us to each +other, I may then judge from your countenances whether it is likely that +we may be better acquainted. Night is the time for repose, as Quintus +Curtius says, '_Custos, bos, fur atque sacerdos_. Sleep was made for +all--my friends, good-night." + + + + +Chapter IX + + In which the adventures in the wagon are continued, and we become + more puzzled with our new companions--We leave off talking Latin, + and enter into an engagement. + + +Timothy and I took his advice, and were soon fast asleep. I was awakened +the next morning by feeling a hand in my trouser's pocket. I seized it, +and held it fast. + +"Now just let go my hand, will you?" cried a lachrymal voice. + +I jumped up--it was broad daylight, and looked at the human frame to +which the hand was an appendix. It was a very spare, awkwardly-built +form of a young man, apparently about twenty years old, but without the +least sign of manhood on his chin. His face was cadaverous, with large +goggling eyes, high cheek bones, hair long and ragged, reminding me of a +rat's nest, thin lips, and ears large almost as an elephant's. A more +woe-begone wretch in appearance I never beheld, and I continued to look +at him with surprise. He repeated his words with an idiotical +expression, "Just let go my hand, can't you?" + +"What business had your hand in my pocket?" replied I, angrily. + +"I was feeling for my pocket-handkerchief," replied the young man. "I +always keeps it in my breeches' pocket." + +"But not in your neighbour's, I presume?" + +"My neighbour's!" replied he, with a vacant stare. "Well, so it is, I +see now--I thought it was my own." + +I released his hand; he immediately put it into his own pocket, and drew +out his handkerchief, if the rag deserved the appellation. "There," said +he, "I told you I put it in that pocket--I always do." + +"And pray who are you?" said I, as I looked at his dress, which was a +pair of loose white Turkish trousers, and an old spangled jacket. + +"Me! why, I'm the fool." + +"More knave than fool, I expect," replied I, still much puzzled with his +strange appearance and dress. + +"Nay, there you mistake," said the voice of last night. "He is not only +a fool by profession, but one by nature. It is a half-witted creature, +who serves me when I would attract the people. Strange in this world, +that wisdom may cry in the streets without being noticed, yet folly will +always command a crowd." + +During this address I turned my eyes upon the speaker. He was an +elderly-looking person, with white hair, dressed in a suit of black, +ruffles and frill. His eyes were brilliant, but the remainder of his +face it was difficult to decipher, as it was evidently painted, and the +night's jumbling in the wagon had so smeared it, that it appeared of +almost every colour in the rainbow. On one side of him lay a large +three-cornered cocked hat, on the other, a little lump of a boy, rolled +up in the straw like a marmot, and still sound asleep. Timothy looked at +me, and when he caught my eye, burst out into a laugh. + +"You laugh at my appearance, I presume," said the old man, mildly. + +"I do in truth," replied Timothy. "I never saw one like you before, and +I dare say never shall again." + +"That is possible; yet probably if you meet me again, you would not know +me." + +"Among a hundred thousand," replied Timothy, with increased mirth. + +"We shall see, perhaps," replied the quack doctor, for such the reader +must have already ascertained to be his profession; "but the wagon has +stopped, and the driver will bait his horses. If inclined to eat, now is +your time. Come, Jumbo, get up; Philotas, waken him, and follow me." + +Philotas, for so was the fool styled by his master, twisted up some +straw, and stuffed the end of it into Jumbo's mouth. "Now, Jumbo will +think he has got something to eat. I always wake him that way," observed +the fool, grinning at us. + +It certainly, as might be expected, did waken Jumbo, who uncoiled +himself, rubbed his eyes, stared at the tilt of the wagon, then at us, +and without saying a word, rolled himself out after the fool. Timothy +and I followed. We found the doctor bargaining for some bread and bacon, +his strange appearance exciting much amusement, and inducing the people +to let him have a better bargain than perhaps otherwise they would have +done. He gave a part of the refreshment to the boy and the fool, and +walked out of the tap-room with his own share. Timothy and I went to the +pump, and had a good refreshing wash, and then for a shilling were +permitted to make a very hearty breakfast. The wagon having remained +about an hour, the driver gave us notice of his departure; but the +doctor was no where to be found. After a little delay, the wagoner drove +off, cursing him for a _bilk_, and vowing that he'd never have any more +to do with a "lamed man." In the mean time, Timothy and I had taken our +seats in the wagon, in company with the fool, and Master Jumbo. We +commenced a conversation with the former, and soon found out, as the +doctor had asserted, that he really was an idiot, so much so, that it +was painful to converse with him. As for the latter, he had coiled +himself away to take a little more sleep. I forgot to mention, that the +boy was dressed much in the same way as the fool, in an old spangled +jacket, and dirty white trousers. For about an hour Timothy and I +conversed, remarking upon the strange disappearance of the doctor, +especially as he had given us hopes of employing us; in accepting which +offer, if ever it should be made, we had not made up our minds, when we +were interrupted with a voice crying out, "Hillo, my man, can you give a +chap a lift as far as Reading, for a shilling?" + +"Ay, get up, and welcome," replied the wagoner. + +The wagon did not stop, but in a moment or two the new passenger climbed +in. He was dressed in a clean smock frock, neatly worked up the front, +leather gaiters, and stout shoes; a bundle and a stick were in his hand. +He smiled as he looked round upon the company, and showed a beautiful +set of teeth. His face was dark, and sun-burnt, but very handsome, and +his eyes as black as coals, and as brilliant as gas. "Heh! player +folk--I've a notion," said he, as he sat down, looking at the doctor's +attendants, and laughing at us. "Have you come far, gentlemen?" +continued he. + +"From London," was my reply. + +"How do the crops look up above, for down here the turnips seem to have +failed altogether? Dry seasons won't do for turnips." + +I replied that I really could not satisfy him on that point, as it was +dark when we passed. + +"Very true--I had forgotten that," replied he. "However, the barleys +look well; but perhaps you don't understand farming?" + +I replied in the negative, and the conversation was kept up for two or +three hours, in the course of which I mentioned the quack doctor, and +his strange departure. + +"That is the fellow who cured so many people at ----," replied he; and +the conversation then turned upon his profession and mode of life, which +Timothy and I agreed must be very amusing. "We shall meet him again, I +dare say," replied the man. "Would you know him?" + +"I think so, indeed," replied Timothy, laughing. + +"Yes, and so you would think that you would know a guinea from a +halfpenny, if I put it into your hands," replied the man. "I do not wish +to lay a bet, and win your money; but I tell you, that I will put either +the one or the other into each of your hands, and if you hold it fast +for one minute, and shut your eyes during that time, you will not be +able to tell me which it is that you have in it." + +"That I am sure I would," replied Tim; and I made the same assertion. + +"Well, I was taken in that way at a fair, and lost ten shillings by the +wager; now, we'll try whether you can tell or not." He took out some +money from his pocket, which he selected without our seeing it, put a +coin into the hand of each of us, closing our fists over it, "and now," +said he, "keep your eyes shut for a minute." + +We did so, and a second or two afterwards we heard a voice which we +instantly recognised. "Nay, but it was wrong to leave me on the way side +thus, having agreed to pay the sum demanded. At my age one walketh not +without fatigue, _Excipenda tamen quaedam sunt urbium_, as Philostratus +says, meaning, 'that old limbs lose their activity, and seek the help of +a crutch.'" + +"There's the doctor," cried Timothy, with his eyes still shut. + +"Now open your eyes," said the man, "and tell me, before you open your +hand, what there is in it." + +"A halfpenny in mine," said Tim. + +"A guinea in mine," replied I. + +We opened our hands, and they were _empty_. + +"Where the devil is it?" exclaimed I, looking at Tim. + +"And where the devil's the doctor?" replied he, looking round. + +"The money is in the doctor's pocket," replied the man, smiling. + +"Then where is the doctor's pocket?" + +"Here," replied he, slapping his pocket, and looking significantly at +us. "I thought you were certain of knowing him again. About as certain +as you were of telling the money in your hand." + +He then, to our astonishment, imitated the doctor's voice, and quoted +_prosody syntax, and Latin_. Timothy and I were still in astonishment, +when he continued, "If I had not found out that you were in want of +employ, and further, that your services would be useful to me, I should +not have made this discovery. Do you now think that you know enough to +enter into my service? It is light work, and not bad pay; and now you +may choose." + +"I trust," said I, "that there is no dishonesty?" + +"None that you need practise, if you are so scrupulous; perhaps your +scruples may some day be removed. I make the most of my wares--every +merchant does the same. I practise upon the folly of mankind--it is on +that, that wise men live." + +Timothy gave me a push, and nodded his head for me to give my consent. I +reflected a few seconds, and at last I extended my hand. "I consent," +replied I, "with the reservation I have made." + +"You will not repent," said he; "and I will take your companion, not +that I want him particularly, but I do want you. The fact is, I want a +lad of gentlemanly address, and handsome appearance--with the very +knowledge you possess--and now we will say no more for the present. +By-the-bye, was that real Latin of yours?" + +"No," replied I, laughing; "you quoted the grammar, and I replied with +medical prescriptions. One was as good as the other." + +"Quite--nay, better; for the school-boys may find me out, but not you. +But now observe, when we come to the next cross road, we must get +down--at least, I expect so; but we shall know in a minute." + +In about the time he mentioned, a dark, gipsy-looking man looked into +the wagon, and spoke to our acquaintance in an unknown language. He +replied in the same, and the man disappeared. We continued our route for +about a quarter of an hour, when he got out, asked us to follow him, and +speaking a few words to the fool, which I did not hear, left him and the +boy in the wagon. We paid our fare, took possession of our bundles, and +followed our new companion for a few minutes on the cross road, when he +stopped, and said, "I must now leave you, to prepare for your reception +into our fraternity; continue straight on this road until you arrive at +a lime-kiln, and wait there till I come." + +He sprang over a stile, and took a direction verging at an angle from +the road, forced his way through a hedge, and disappeared from our +sight. "Upon my word, Timothy," said I, "I hardly know what to say to +this. Have we done right in trusting to this man, who, I am afraid! is +a great rogue? I do not much like mixing with these gipsy people, for +such I am sure he belongs to." + +"I really do not see how we can do better," replied Timothy. "The world +is all before us, and we must force our own way through it. As for his +being a quack doctor, I see no great harm in that. People put their +faith in nostrums more than they do in regular medicines; and it is well +known that quack medicines, as they call them, cure as often as others, +merely for that very reason." + +"Very true, Timothy; the mind once at ease, the body soon recovers, and +faith, even in quack medicines, will often make people whole; but do you +think that he does no more than impose upon people in that way?" + +"He may, or he may not; at all events, we need do no more, I suppose." + +"I am not sure of that; however, we shall see. He says we may be useful +to him, and I suppose we shall be, or he would not have engaged us--we +shall soon find out." + + + + +Chapter X + + In which the reader is introduced to several new acquaintances, and + all connected with them, except birth and parentage, which appears + to be the one thing wanting throughout the whole of this work. + + +By this time we had arrived at the lime-kiln to which we had been +directed, and we sat down on our bundles, chatting for about five +minutes, when our new acquaintance made his appearance, with something +in his hand, tied up in a handkerchief. + +"You may as well put your coats into your bundles, and put on these +frocks," said he, "you will appear better among us, and be better +received, for there is a _gathering_ now, and some of them are queer +customers. However, you have nothing to fear; when once you are with my +wife and me, you are quite safe; her little finger would protect you +from five hundred." + +"Your wife! who, then, is she?" inquired I, as I put my head through the +smock frock. + +"She is a great personage among the gipsies. She is, by descent, one of +the heads of the tribe, and none dare to disobey her." + +"And you--are you a gipsy?" + +"No, and yes. By birth I am not, but by choice, and marriage, I am +admitted; but I was not born under a hedge, I can assure you, although I +very often pass a night there now--that is, when I am domestic; but do +not think that you are to remain long here; we shall leave in a few +days, and may not meet the tribe again for months, although you may see +my own family occasionally. I did not ask you to join me to pass a +gipsy's life--no, no, we must be stirring and active. Come, we are now +close to them. Do not speak as you pass the huts, until you have entered +mine. Then you may do as you please." + +We turned short round, passed through a gap in the hedge, and found +ourselves on a small retired piece of common, which was studded with +about twenty or thirty low gipsy huts. The fires were alight and +provisions apparently cooking. We passed by nine or ten, and obeyed our +guide's injunctions, to keep silence. At last we stopped, and perceived +ourselves to be standing by the fool, who was dressed like us, in a +smock frock, and Mr Jumbo, who was very busy making the pot boil, +blowing at the sticks underneath till he was black in the face. Several +of the men passed near us, and examined us with no very pleasant +expression of countenance; and we were not sorry to see our conductor, +who had gone into the hut, return, followed by a woman, to whom he was +speaking in the language of the tribe. "Nattee bids you welcome," said +he, as she approached. + +Never in my life will the remembrance of the first appearance of Nattee, +and the effect it had upon me, be erased from my memory. She was tall, +too tall, had it not been for the perfect symmetry of her form. Her +face of a clear olive, and oval in shape; her eyes jetty black; nose +straight, and beautifully formed; mouth small, thin lips, with a slight +curl of disdain, and pearly teeth. I never beheld a woman of so +commanding a presence. Her feet were bare, but very small, as well as +her hands. On her fingers she wore many rings, of a curious old setting, +and a piece of gold hung on her forehead, where the hair was parted. She +looked at us, touched her high forehead with the ends of her fingers, +and waving her hand gracefully, said, in a soft voice, "You are +welcome," and then turned to her husband, speaking to him in her own +language, until by degrees they separated from us in earnest +conversation. + +She returned to us after a short time, without her husband, and said, in +a voice, the notes of which were indeed soft, but the delivery of the +words was most determined; "I have said that you are welcome; sit down, +therefore, and share with us--fear nothing, you have no cause to fear. +Be faithful, then, while you serve him, and when you would quit us, say +so, and receive your leave to depart; but if you attempt to desert us +without permission, then we shall suspect that you are our enemies, and +treat you accordingly. There is your lodging while here," continued she, +pointing to another hut. "There is but one child with you, this boy +(pointing to Jumbo), who can lay at your feet. And now join us as +friends. Fleta, where are you?" + +A soft voice answered from the tent of Nattee, and soon afterwards came +out a little girl, of about eleven years old. The appearance of this +child was a new source of interest. She was a little fairy figure, with +a skin as white as the driven snow--light auburn hair, and large blue +eyes; her dress was scanty, and showed a large portion of her taper +legs. She hastened to Nattee, and folding her arms across her breast, +stood still, saying meekly, "I am here." + +"Know these as friends, Fleta. Send that lazy Num (this was Philotas, +the fool), for more wood, and see that Jumbo tends the fire." + +Nattee smiled, and left us. I observed she went to where forty or fifty +of the tribe were assembled, in earnest discourse. She took her seat +with them, and marked deference was paid to her. In the meantime Jumbo +had blown up a brisk fire; we were employed by Fleta in shredding +vegetables, which she threw into the boiling kettle. Num appeared with +more fuel, and at last there was nothing more to do. Fleta sat down by +us, and parting her long hair, which had fallen over her eyes, looked us +both in the face. + +"Who gave you that name, Fleta?" inquired I. + +"They gave it me," replied she. + +"And who are they?" + +"Nattee, and Melchior, her husband." + +"But you are not their daughter?" + +"No, I am not--that is, I believe not." + +The little girl stopped short, as if assured that she had said too much, +cast her eyes down on the ground, and folded her arms, so that her hands +rested on each opposite shoulder. + +Timothy whispered to me, "She must have been stolen, depend upon it." + +"Silence," said I. + +The little girl overheard him, and looking at him, put her finger across +her mouth, looking to where Num and Jumbo were sitting. I felt an +interest for this child before I had been an hour in her company; she +was so graceful, so feminine, so mournful in the expression of her +countenance. That she was under restraint was evident; but still she did +not appear to be actuated by fear. Nattee was very kind to her, and the +child did not seem to be more reserved towards her than to others; her +mournful pensive look, was perhaps inherent to her nature. It was not +until long after our first acquaintance that I ever saw a smile upon her +features. Shortly after this little conversation Nattee returned, +walking with all the grace and dignity of a queen. Her husband, or +Melchior, as I shall in future call him, soon joined us, and we sat +down to our repast, which was excellent. It was composed of almost every +thing; sometimes I found myself busy with the wing of a fowl, at another +the leg of a rabbit--then a piece of mutton, or other flesh and fowl, +which I could hardly distinguish. To these were added every sort of +vegetable, among which potatoes predominated, forming a sort of stew, +which an epicure might have praised. I had a long conversation with +Melchior in the evening, and, not to weary the reader, I shall now +proceed to state all that I then and subsequently gathered from him and +others, relative to the parties with whom we were associating. + +Melchior would not state who and what he was previous to his having +joined the fraternity of gipsies; that he was not of humble birth, and +that he had, when young, quitted his friends out of love for Nattee, or +from some other causes not to be revealed, he led me to surmise. He had +been many years in company with the tribe, and although, as one received +into it, he did not stand so high in rank and estimation as his wife, +still, from his marriage with Nattee, and his own peculiar +qualifications and dexterity, he was almost as absolute as she was. + +Melchior and Nattee were supposed to be the most wealthy of all the +gipsies, and, at the same time, they were the most liberal of their +wealth. Melchior, it appeared, gained money in three different +characters; as a quack doctor, the character in which we first saw him; +secondly, as a juggler, in which art he was most expert; and thirdly, as +a fortune-teller, and _wise man_. + +Nattee, as I before mentioned, was of very high rank, or caste, in her +tribe. At her first espousal of Melchior she lost much of her influence, +as it was considered a degradation; but she was then very young, and +must have been most beautiful. The talents of Melchior, and her own +spirit, however, soon enabled her to regain, and even add still more to, +her power and consideration among the tribe, and it was incredible to +what extent, with the means which she possessed, this power was +augmented. + +Melchior had no children by his marriage, and, as far as I could judge +from the few words which would escape from the lips of Nattee, she did +not wish for any, as the race would not be considered pure. The +subdivision of the tribe which followed Nattee, consisted of about +forty, men, women, and children. These were ruled by her during the +absence of her husband, who alternately assumed different characters, as +suited his purpose; but in whatever town Melchior might happen to be, +Nattee and her tribe were never far off, and always encamped within +communication. + +I ventured to question Melchior about the little Fleta; and he stated +that she was the child of a soldier's wife, who had been brought to bed, +and died a few hours afterwards; that, at the time, she was on her way +to join her husband, and had been taken ill on the road--had been +assisted by Nattee and her companions, as far as they were able--had +been buried by them, and that the child had been reared in the camp. + +In time, the little girl became very intimate, and very partial to me. I +questioned her as to her birth, telling her what Melchior had stated; +for a long while she would not answer; the poor child had learned +caution even at that early age; but after we were more intimate, she +said, that which Melchior had stated was _not true_. She could recollect +very well living in a great house, with everything very fine about her; +but still it appeared as if it were a dream. She recollected two white +ponies--and a lady who was her mamma--and a mulberry-tree, where she +stained her frock; sometimes other things came to her memory, and then +she forgot them again. From this it was evident that she had been +stolen, and was probably of good parentage; certainly, if elegance and +symmetry of person and form, could prove blood, it never was more marked +than in this interesting child. Her abode with the gipsies, and their +peculiar mode of life and manners, had rendered her astonishingly +precocious in intellect; but of education she had none, except what was +instilled into her by Melchior, whom she always accompanied when he +assumed his character as a juggler. She then danced on the slack wire, +at the same time performing several feats in balancing, throwing of +oranges, &c. When Melchior was under other disguises, she remained in +the camp with Nattee. + +Of Num, or Philotas, as Melchior thought proper to call him, I have +already spoken. He was a half-witted idiot, picked up in one of +Melchior's excursions, and as he stated to me, so did it prove to be the +fact, that when on the stage, and questioned as a fool, his natural +folly, and idiotical vacancy of countenance, were applauded by the +spectators as admirably assumed. Even at the alehouses and taverns where +we stopped, every one imagined that all his folly was pretence, and +looked upon him as a very clever fellow. There never was, perhaps, such +a lachrymose countenance as this poor lad's, and this added still more +to the mirth of others, being also considered as put on for the +occasion. Stephen Kemble played Falstaff without stuffing--Num played +the fool without any effort or preparation. Jumbo was also "picked up;" +this was not done by Melchior, who stated, that any body might have him +who claimed him; he tumbled with the fool upon the stage, and he also +ate pudding to amuse the spectators--the only part of the performance +which was suited to Jumbo's taste, for he was a terrible little glutton, +and never lost any opportunity of eating, as well as of sleeping. + +And now, having described all our new companions, I must narrate what +passed between Melchior and me, the day after our joining the camp. He +first ran through his various professions, pointing out to me that as +juggler he required a confederate, in which capacity I might be very +useful, as he would soon instruct me in all his tricks. As a quack +doctor he wanted the services of both Tim and myself in mixing up, +making pills, &c., and also in assisting him in persuading the public of +his great skill. As a fortune-teller, I should also be of great service, +as he would explain to me hereafter. In short, he wanted a person of +good personal appearance and education, in whom he might confide in +every way. As to Tim, he might be made useful if he chose, in various +ways; amongst others, he wished him to learn tumbling and playing the +fool, when, at times, the fool was required to give a shrewd answer on +any point on which he would wish the public to be made acquainted. I +agreed to my own part of the performance, and then had some conversation +with Timothy, who immediately consented to do his best in what was +allotted as his share. Thus was the matter quickly arranged, Melchior +observing, that he had said nothing about remuneration, as I should find +that trusting to him was far preferable to stipulated wages. + + + + +Chapter XI + + Whatever may be the opinion of the reader, he cannot assert that we + are _no conjurers_--We suit our wares to our customers, and our + profits are considerable. + + +We had been three days in the camp when the gathering was broken up, +each gang taking their own way. What the meeting was about I could not +exactly discover; one occasion of it was to make arrangements relative +to the different counties in which the subdivisions were to sojourn +during the next year, so that they might know where to communicate with +each other, and, at the same time, not interfere by being too near; but +there were many other points discussed, of which, as a stranger, I was +kept in ignorance. Melchior answered all my questions with apparent +candour, but his habitual deceit was such, that whether he told the +truth or not was impossible to be ascertained by his countenance. + +When the gathering dispersed we packed up, and located ourselves about +two miles from the common, on the borders of a forest of oak and ash. +Our food was chiefly game, for we had some excellent poachers among us; +and as for fish, it appeared to be at their command; there was not a +pond nor a pit but they could tell in a moment if it were tenanted, and +if tenanted, in half an hour every fish would be floating on the top of +the water, by the throwing in of some intoxicating sort of berry; other +articles of food occasionally were found in the caldron; indeed, it was +impossible to fare better than we did, or at less expense. + +Our tents were generally pitched not far from a pool of water, and to +avoid any unpleasant search, which sometimes would take place, +everything liable to detection was sunk under the water until it was +required for cooking; once in the pot, it was considered as safe. But +with the foraging, Timothy and I had nothing to do; we participated in +the eating, without asking any questions as to how it was procured. + +My time was chiefly spent in company with Melchior, who initiated me +into all the mysteries of cups and balls--juggling of every +description--feats with cards, and made me acquainted with all his +apparatus for prepared tricks. For hours and hours was I employed by his +directions in what is called "making the pass" with a pack of cards, as +almost all tricks on cards depend upon your dexterity in this manoeuvre. +In about a month I was considered as a very fair adept; in the meantime, +Timothy had to undergo his career of gymnastics, and was to be seen all +day tumbling and retumbling, until he could tumble on his feet again. +Light and active, he soon became a very dexterous performer, and could +throw a somerset either backwards or forwards, walk on his hands, eat +fire, pull out ribbons, and do fifty other tricks to amuse a gaping +audience. Jumbo also was worked hard, to bring down his fat, and never +was allowed his dinner until he had given satisfaction to Melchior. Even +little Fleta had to practise occasionally, as we were preparing for an +expedition. Melchior, who appeared determined to create an effect, left +us for three days, and returned with not only dresses for Timothy and +me, but also new dresses for the rest of the company; and shortly +afterwards, bidding farewell to Nattee and the rest of the gipsies, we +all set out--that is, Melchior, I, Timothy, Fleta, Num, and Jumbo. Late +in the evening we arrived at the little town of ----, and took up our +quarters at a public-house, with the landlord of which Melchior had +already made arrangements. + +"Well, Timothy," said I, as soon as we were in bed, "how do you like our +new life and prospects?" + +"I like it better than Mr Cophagus's _rudimans_, and carrying out +physic, at all events. But how does your dignity like turning Merry +Andrew, Japhet?" + +"To tell you the truth, I do not dislike it. There is a wildness and a +devil-may-care feeling connected with it which is grateful to me at +present. How long it may last I cannot tell; but for a year or two it +appears to me that we may be very happy. At all events, we shall see the +world, and have more than one profession to fall back upon." + +"That is true; but there is one thing that annoys me, Japhet, which is, +we may have difficulty in leaving these people when we wish. Besides, +you forget that you are losing sight of the principal object you had in +view, that is, of 'finding out your father.'" + +"I certainly never expect to find him among the gipsies," replied I, +"for children are at a premium with them. They steal from others, and +are not very likely therefore to leave them at the Foundling. But I do +not know whether I have not as good a chance in our present employment +as in any other. I have often been thinking that as fortune-tellers, we +may get hold of many strange secrets; however, we shall see. Melchior +says, that he intends to appear in that character as soon as he has made +a harvest in his present one." + +"What do you think of Melchior, now that you have been so much with +him?" + +"I think him an unprincipled man, but still with many good qualities. +He appears to have a pleasure in deceit, and to have waged war with the +world in general. Still he is generous, and, to a certain degree, +confiding; kind in his disposition, and apparently a very good husband. +There is something on his mind which weighs him down occasionally, and +checks him in the height of his mirth. It comes over him like a dark +cloud over a bright summer sun; and he is all gloom for a few minutes. I +do not think that he would now commit any great crime; but I have a +suspicion that he has done something which is a constant cause of +remorse." + +"You are a very good judge of character, Japhet. But what a dear little +child is that Fleta! She may exclaim with you--'Who is my father?'" + +"Yes, we are both in much the same predicament, and that it is which I +believe has so much increased my attachment to her. We are brother and +sister in misfortune, and a sister she ever shall be to me, if such is +the will of Heaven. But we must rise early to-morrow, Tim; so +good-night." + +"Yes, to-morrow it will be juggle and tumble--eat fire--um--and so on, +as Mr Cophagus would have said; so good-night, Japhet." + +The next morning we arrayed ourselves in our new habiliments; mine were +silk stockings, shoes, and white kerseymere kneed breeches, a blue silk +waistcoat loaded with tinsel, and a short jacket to correspond of blue +velvet, a sash round my waist, a hat and a plume of feathers. Timothy +declared I looked very handsome, and as the glass said the same as plain +as it could speak, I believed him. Timothy's dress was a pair of wide +Turkish trousers and red jacket, with spangles. The others were much the +same. Fleta was attired in small, white satin, Turkish trousers, blue +muslin and silver embroidered frock, worked sandals, and her hair +braided and plaited in long tails behind, and she looked like a little +sylph. Melchior's dress was precisely the same as mine, and a more +respectable company was seldom seen. Some musicians had been hired, and +handbills were now circulated all over the town, stating that Signor +Eugenio Velotti, with his company, would have the honour of performing +before the nobility and gentry. The bill contained the fare which was to +be provided, and intimated the hour of the performance, and the prices +to be paid for the seats. The performance was to take place in a very +large room attached to the inn, which, previous to the decadence of the +town, had been used as an assembly-room. A platform was erected on the +outside, on which were placed the musicians, and where we all +occasionally made our appearance in our splendid dresses to attract the +wonder of the people. There we strutted up and down, all but poor little +Fleta, who appeared to shrink at the display from intuitive modesty. +When the music ceased, a smart parley between Melchior and me, and +Philotas, and Timothy, as the two fools, would take place; and Melchior +declared, after the performance was over, that we conducted ourselves to +admiration. + +"Pray, Mr Philotas, do me the favour to tell me how many people you +think are now present?" said Melchior to Num, in an imperative voice. + +"I don't know," said Num, looking up with his idiotical, melancholy +face. + +"Ha! ha! ha'" roared the crowd at Num's stupid answer. + +"The fellow's a fool'" said Melchior, to the gaping audience. + +"Well, then, if he can't tell, perhaps you may, Mr Dionysius," said I, +addressing Tim. + +"How many, sir? Do you want to know exactly and directly?" + +"Yes, sir, immediately." + +"Without counting, sir?" + +"Yes, sir, without counting." + +"Well then, sir, I will tell, and make no mistake; there's _exactly as +many again as half_." + +"Ha! ha! ha!" from the crowd. + +"That won't do, sir. How many may be the half?" + +"How many may be the half? Do you know yourself, sir?" + +"Yes, sir, to be sure I do." + +"Then there's no occasion for me to tell you." + +"Ha! ha! ha!" + +"Well then, sir," continued Melchior to Philotas, "perhaps you'll tell +how many ladies and gentlemen we may expect to honour us with their +company to-night." + +"How many, sir?" + +"Yes, sir, how many." + +"I'm sure I don't know," said Num, after a pause. + +"Positively you are the greatest fool I ever met with," said Melchior. + +"Well, he does act the fool as natural as life," observed the crowd. +"What a stupid face he does put on!" + +"Perhaps you will be able to answer that question, Mr Dionysius," said I +to Tim. + +"Yes, sir, I know exactly." + +"Well, sir, let's hear." + +"In the first place, all the pretty women will come, and all the ugly +ones stay away; and as for the men, all those who have got any money +will be certain to come; those who haven't, poor devils, must stay +outside." + +"Suppose, sir, you make a bow to the ladies." + +"A very low one, sir?" + +"Yes, very low indeed." + +Tim bent his body to the ground, and threw a somerset forward. "There, +sir; I bowed so low, that I came up on the other side." + +"Ha! ha! capital!" from the crowd. + +"I've got a round turn in my back, sir," continued Tim, rubbing himself. +"Hadn't I better take it out again?" + +"By all means." + +Tim threw a somerset backwards. "There, sir, all's right now. One good +turn deserves another. Now I'll be off." + +"Where are you going to, sir?" + +"Going, sir!! Why, I left my lollipop in the tinder-box, and I'm going +to fetch it." + +"Ha! ha! ha!" + +"Strike up, music!" and Master Jumbo commenced tumbling. + +Such was the elegant wit with which we amused and attracted the +audience. Perhaps, had we been more refined, we should not have been so +successful. + +That evening we had the room as full as it could hold. Signor Velotti +_alias_ Melchior astonished them. The cards appeared to obey his +commands--rings were discovered in lady's shoes--watches were beat to a +powder and made whole--canary birds flew out of eggs. The audience were +delighted. The entertainment closed with Fleta's performance on the +slack wire; and certainly never was there anything more beautiful and +graceful. Balanced on the wire in a continual, waving motion, her eyes +fixed upon a point to enable her to maintain her position, she performed +several feats, such as the playing with five oranges, balancing swords, +&c. Her extreme beauty--her very picturesque and becoming dress--her +mournful expression and downcast eyes--her gentle manner, appeared to +win the hearts of the audience; and when she was assisted off from her +perilous situation by Melchior and me, and made her graceful courtesy, +the plaudits were unanimous. + +When the company dispersed I went to her, intending to praise her, but I +found her in tears. "What is the matter, my dear Fleta?" + +"O nothing! don't say I have been crying--but I cannot bear it--so many +people looking at me. Don't say a word to Melchior--I won't cry any +more." + + + + +Chapter XII + + It is very easy to humbug those who are so eager to be humbugged as + people are in this world of humbug--We show ourselves excessively + disinterested, which astonishes everybody. + + +I kissed and consoled her; she threw her arm round my neck, and remained +there with her face hid for some time. We then joined the others at +supper. Melchior was much pleased with our success, and highly praised +the conduct of Timothy and myself, which he pronounced was, for the +first attempt, far beyond his expectations. + +We continued to astonish all the good people of ---- for five days, when +we discovered the indubitable fact, that there was no more money to be +extracted from their pockets, upon which we resumed our usual clothes +and smock frocks, and with our bundles in our hands, set off for another +market town, about fifteen miles distant. There we were equally +successful, and Melchior was delighted with our having proved such a +powerful acquisition to his troop: but not to dwell too long upon one +subject, I shall inform the reader that, after a trip of six weeks, +during which we were very well received, we once more returned to the +camp, which had located within five miles of our last scene of action. +Every one was content--we were all glad to get back and rest from our +labours. Melchior was pleased with his profits, poor little Fleta +overjoyed to be once more in the seclusion of her tent, and Nattee very +glad to hear of our good fortune, and to see her husband. Timothy and I +had already proved ourselves so useful, that Melchior treated us with +the greatest friendship and confidence--and he made us a present out of +the gains, for our exertions; to me he gave ten, and to Timothy five, +pounds. + +"There, Japhet, had you hired yourself I should not have paid you more +than seven shillings per week, finding you in food; but you must +acknowledge that for six weeks that is not bad pay. However, your +earnings will depend upon our success, and I rather think that we shall +make a much better thing of it when next we start, which will be in +about a fortnight; but we have some arrangements to make. Has Timothy a +good memory?" + +"I think he has." + +"That is well. I told you before that we are to try the 'Wise Man,'--but +first we must have Nattee in play. To-morrow we will start for ----," +mentioning a small quiet town about four miles off. + +We did so, early the next morning, and arrived about noon, pitching our +tents on the common, not far from the town; but in this instance we left +all the rest of our gang behind. Melchior's own party and his two tents +were all that were brought by the donkeys. + +Melchior and I, dressed as countrymen, went into the town at dusk, and +entered a respectable sort of inn, taking our seats at one of the tables +in the tap-room, and, as we had already planned, after we had called for +beer, commenced a conversation in the hearing of the others who were +sitting drinking and smoking. + +"Well, I never will believe it--it's all cheat and trickery," said +Melchior, "and they only do it to pick your pocket. Tell your fortune, +indeed! I suppose she promised you a rich wife and half-a-dozen +children." + +"No, she did not," replied I, "for I am too young to marry; but she told +me what I know has happened." + +"Well, what was that?" + +"Why, she told me that my mother had married again, and turned me out of +doors to work for my bread." + +"But she might have heard that." + +"How could she? No, that's not possible; but she told me I had a mole on +my knee, which was a sign of luck. Now how could she know that?" + +"Well, I grant that was odd--and pray what else did she promise you?" + +"Why, she said, that I should meet with my dearest friend to-night. Now +that does puzzle me, for I have but one in the world, and he is a long +way off." + +"Well, if you do meet your friend, then I'll believe her; but if not, +it has been all guess-work; and pray what did you pay for all this--was +it a shilling, or did she pick your pocket?" + +"That's what puzzles me,--she refused to take anything. I offered it +again and again, and she said,'No; that she would have no money--that +her gift was not to be sold.'" + +"Well, that is odd. Do you hear what this young man says," said +Melchior, addressing the others, who had swallowed every word. + +"Yes," replied one; "but who is this person?" + +"The queen of the gipsies, I am told. I never saw such a wonderful woman +in my life--her eye goes right through you. I met her on the common, +and, as she passed, she dropped a handkerchief. I ran back to give it +her, and then she thanked me, and said, 'Open your hand and let me see +the palm. Here are great lines, and you will be fortunate;' and then she +told me a great deal more, and bid God bless me." + +"Then if she said that, she cannot have dealings with the _devil_," +observed Melchior. + +"Very odd--very strange--take no money--queen of the gipsies," was +echoed from all sides. + +The landlady and the barmaid listened with wonder, when who should come +in, as previously agreed, but Timothy. I pretended not to see him, but +he came up to me, seizing me by the hand, and shaking it with apparent +delight, and crying, "Wilson, have you forgot Smith?" + +"Smith!" cried I, looking earnestly in his face. "Why, so it is. How +came you here?" + +"I left Dublin three days ago," replied he, "but how I came here into +this house, is one of the strangest things that ever occurred. I was +walking over the common, when a tall handsome woman looked at me, and +said, 'Young man, if you will go into the third public-house you pass, +you will meet an old friend, who expects you.' I thought she was +laughing at me, but as it mattered very little in which house I passed +the night, I thought, for the fun of the thing I might as well take her +advice." + +"How strange!" cried Melchior, "and she told him the same--that is, he +would meet a friend." + +"Strange--very strange--wonderful--astonishing!" was echoed from all +quarters, and the fame of the gipsy was already established. + +Timothy and I sat down together, conversing as old friends, and Melchior +went about from one to the other, narrating the wonderful occurrence +till past midnight, when we all three took beds at the inn, as if we +were travellers. + +The report which we had circulated that evening induced many people to +go out to see Nattee, who appeared to take no notice of them; and when +asked to tell fortunes, waved them away with her hand. But, although +this plan of Melchior's was, for the first two or three days very +expedient, yet, as it was not intended to last, Timothy, who remained +with me at the inn, became very intimate with the barmaid, and obtained +from her most of the particulars of her life. I, also, from repeated +conversations with the landlady, received information very important, +relative to herself, and many of the families in the town, but as the +employment of Nattee was for an ulterior object, we contented ourselves +with gaining all the information we could before we proceeded further. +After we had been there a week, and the fame of the gipsy woman had been +marvellously increased--many things having been asserted of her which +were indeed truly improbable--Melchior agreed that Timothy should +persuade the barmaid to try if the gipsy woman would tell her fortune: +the girl, with some trepidation, agreed, but at the same time, expecting +to be refused, consented to walk with him over the common. Timothy +advised her to pretend to pick up a sixpence when near to Nattee, and +ask her if it did not belong to her, and the barmaid acted upon his +suggestions, having just before that quitted the arm of Timothy, who had +conducted her. + +"Did you drop a sixpence? I have picked up one," said the girl, +trembling with fear as she addressed Nattee. + +"Child," replied Nattee, who was prepared, "I have neither dropped a +sixpence nor have you found one--but never mind that, I know that which +you wish, and I know who you are. Now what would you with me? Is it to +inquire whether the landlord and landlady of the Golden Lion intend to +keep you in their service?" + +"No," replied the girl, frightened at what she heard; "not to inquire +that, but to ask what my fortune will be?" + +"Open your palm, pretty maid, and I will tell you. Hah! I see that you +were born in the West--your father is dead--your mother is in +service--and let me see,--you have a brother at sea--now in the West +Indies." + +At this intelligence, all of which, as may be supposed, had been +gathered by us, the poor girl was so frightened that she fell down in a +swoon, and Timothy carried her off. When she was taken home to the inn, +she was so ill that she was put into bed, and what she did say was so +incoherent, that, added to Timothy's narrative, the astonishment of the +landlady and others was beyond all bounds. I tried very hard to bring +the landlady, but she would not consent; and now Nattee was pestered by +people of higher condition, who wished to hear what she would say. Here +Nattee's powers were brought into play. She would not refuse to see +them, but would not give answers till she had asked questions, and, as +from us she had gleaned much general information, so by making this +knowledge appear in her questions to them, she made them believe she +knew more. If a young person came to her, she would immediately ask the +name--of that name she had all the references acquired from us, as to +family and connections. Bearing upon them, she would ask a few more, and +then give them an abrupt dismissal. + +This behaviour was put up with from one of her commanding presence, who +refused money, and treated those who accosted her, as if she was their +superior. Many came again and again, telling her all they knew, and +acquainting her with every transaction of their life, to induce her to +prophesy, for such, she informed them, was the surest way to call the +spirit upon her. By these means we obtained the secret history of the +major part, that is, the wealthier part of the town of ----; and although +the predictions of Nattee were seldom given, yet when given, they were +given with such perfect and apparent knowledge of the parties, that when +she left, which she did about six weeks after her first appearance, the +whole town rang with accounts of her wonderful powers. + +It will appear strange that Melchior would not permit Nattee to reap a +harvest, which might have been great; but the fact was, that he only +allowed the seed to be sown that a greater harvest might be gathered +hereafter. Nattee disappeared, the gipsie's tent was no longer on the +common, and the grass, which had been beaten down into a road by the +feet of the frequent applicants to her, was again permitted to spring +up. We also took our departure, and rejoined the camp with Nattee, where +we remained for a fortnight, to permit the remembrance of her to subside +a little--knowing that the appetite was alive, and would not be +satisfied until it was appeased. + +After that time, Melchior, Timothy, and I, again set off for the town +of ----, and stopping at a superior inn in another part of the town, +dressed as travellers, that is, people who go about the country for +orders from the manufacturers, ordered our beds and supper in the +coffee-room. The conversation was soon turned upon the wonderful powers +of Nattee, the gipsy. "Nonsense," said Melchior, "she knows nothing. I +have heard of her. But there is a man coming this way (should he happen +to pass through this town) who will surprise and frighten you. No one +knows who he is. He is named the Great Aristodemus. He knows the past, +the present, and the future. He never looks at people's hands--he only +looks you in the face, and _woe be to them who tell him a lie_. +Otherwise, he is good-tempered and obliging, and will tell what will +come to pass, and his predictions never have been known to fail. They +say that he is hundreds of years old, and his hair is white as silver." +At this information many expressed their doubts, and many others vaunted +the powers of the gipsy. Melchior replied, "that all he knew was, that +for the sum of two guineas paid down, he had told him of a legacy left +him of six hundred pounds, which otherwise he would never have known of +or received." All the town of ---- being quite alive for fortune-telling, +this new report gained wind, and after a week's sojourn, Melchior +thought that the attempt should be made. + + + + +Chapter XIII + + The seed having been carefully sown, we now reap a golden + harvest--We tell every body what they knew before, and we are + looked upon as most marvellous by most marvellous fools. + + +We accordingly packed up, and departed to another market town. Timothy, +dressed in a sombre suit of black, very much like an undertaker, was +provided with a horse, with the following directions: to proceed +leisurely until he was within half a mile of the town of ----, and then +to gallop in as fast as he could, stop at the best inn in the place, and +order apartments for the Great Aristodemus, who might be expected in +half an hour. Every thing in this world depends upon appearances, that +is, when you intend to gull it; and as every one in the town had heard +of the Great Aristodemus, so every one was anxious to know something +about him, and Timothy was pestered with all manner of questions; but he +declared that he was only his courier, and could only tell what other +people said; but then what other people said, by Timothy's account, was +very marvellous indeed. Timothy had hardly time to secure the best +rooms in the hotel, when Melchior, dressed in a long flowing silk gown, +with a wig of long white hair, a square cap, and two or three gold +chains hanging from his neck, certainly most admirably disguised, and +attended by me in the dress of a German student, a wig of long brown +locks hanging down my shoulders, made our appearance in a post-chaise +and four, and drove up to the door of the inn, at a pace which shook +every house in the street, and occasioned every window to be tenanted +with one or more heads to ascertain the cause of this unusual +occurrence, for it was not a very great town, although once of +importance; but the manufactures had been removed, and it was occupied +by those who had become independent by their own exertions, or by those +of their forefathers. + +The door of the chaise was opened by the obsequious Timothy, who pushed +away the ostlers and waiters, as if unworthy to approach his master, and +the Great Aristodemus made his appearance. As he ascended the steps of +the door, his passage was for a moment barred by one whose profession +Melchior well knew. "Stand aside, exciseman!" said he, in a commanding +voice. "No one crosses my path with impunity." Astonished at hearing his +profession thus mentioned, the exciseman, who was the greatest bully in +the town, slipped on one side with consternation, and all those present +lifted up their eyes and hands with astonishment. The Great Aristodemus +gained his room, and shut his door; and I went out to pay for the chaise +and order supper, while Timothy and the porters were busy with our +luggage, which was very considerable. + +"My master will not see any one," said I to the landlord; "he quits this +town to-morrow, if the letters arrive which he expects by the post; +therefore, pray get rid of this crowd, and let him be quiet, for he is +very tired, having travelled one hundred and fifty miles since the dawn +of day." + +When Tim and I had performed this duty, we joined Melchior in his room, +leaving the news to be circulated. "This promises well," observed +Melchior; "up to the present we have expended much time and money; now +we must see if we cannot recover it tenfold. Japhet, you must take an +opportunity of going out again after supper, and make inquiries of the +landlord what poor people they have in the town, as I am very generous, +and like to relieve them; you may observe, that all the money offered to +me for practising my art, I give away to the poor, having no occasion +for it." This I did, and we then sat down to supper, and having unpacked +our baggage, went to bed, after locking the door of the room, and taking +out the key. + +The next morning we had every thing in readiness, and as the letters, as +the reader may suppose, did not arrive by the post, we were obliged to +remain, and the landlord ventured to hint to me, that several people +were anxious to consult my master. I replied, that I would speak to him, +but it was necessary to caution those who came, that they must either +offer gold--or nothing at all. I brought his consent to see one or two, +but no more. Now, although we had various apparatus to use when +required, it was thought that the effect would be greater, if, in the +first instance, every thing was simple. Melchior, therefore, remained +sitting at the table, which was covered with a black cloth, worked with +curious devices, and a book of hieroglyphics before him, and an ivory +wand, tipped with gold, lying by the book. Timothy standing at the door, +with a short Roman sword buckled round his belt, and I, in a respectful +attitude, behind the Great Aristodemus. + +The first person who was admitted was the lady of the mayor of the town; +nothing could be more fortunate, as we had every information relative to +her and her spouse, for people in high places are always talked of. +Aristodemus waved his hand, and I brought forward a chair in silence, +and motioned that she should be seated. Aristodemus looked her in her +face, and then turned over several leaves, until he fixed upon a page, +which he considered attentively. "Mayoress of ----, what wouldst thou +with me?" + +She started, and turned pale. "I would ask--" + +"I know; thou wouldst ask many things, perhaps, had I time to listen. +Amongst others thou wouldst ask if there is any chance of thy giving an +heir to thy husband. Is it not so?" + +"Yes, it is," replied the lady, fetching her breath. + +"So do I perceive by this book; but let me put one question to thee. +Wouldst thou have blessings showered on thee, yet do no good? Thou art +wealthy--yet what dost thou and thy husband do with these riches? Are ye +liberal? No. Give, and it shall be given. I have said." + +Aristodemus waved his hand, and the lady rose to withdraw. A guinea was +in her fingers, and her purse in her hand; she took out four more, and +added them to the other, and laid them on the table. + +"'Tis well, lady; charity shall plead for thee. Artolphe, let that money +be distributed among the poor." + +I bowed in silence, and the lady retired. + +"Who will say that I do no good," observed Melchior, smiling, as soon as +she was gone, "Her avarice and that of her husband are as notorious as +their anxiety for children. Now, if I persuade them to be liberal, I do +service." + +"But you have given her hopes." + +"I have, and the very hope will do more to further their wishes than +anything else. It is despair which too often prevents those who have no +children, from having any. How often do you see a couple, who, after +years waiting for children, have at last given up their hope, and +resigned themselves to the dispensations of Providence, and then, when +their anxiety has subsided, have obtained a family? Japhet, I am a +shrewd observer of human nature." + +"That I believe," replied I; "but I do not believe your last remark to +be correct--but Timothy raps at the door." + +Another lady entered the room, and then started back, as if she would +retreat, so surprised was she at the appearance of the Great +Aristodemus; but as Timothy had turned the key, her escape was +impossible. She was unknown to us, which was rather awkward; but +Melchior raised his eyes from his book, and waved his hand as before, +that she should be seated. With some trepidation she stated, that she +was a widow, whose dependence was upon an only son now at sea; that she +had not heard of him for a long while, and was afraid that some accident +had happened; that she was in the greatest distress--"and," continued +she, "I have nothing to offer but this ring. Can you tell me if he is +yet alive?" cried she, bursting into tears; "but if you have not the art +you pretend to, O do not rob a poor, friendless creature, but let me +depart!" + +"When did you receive your last letter from him?" said Melchior. + +"It is now seven months--dated from Bahia," replied she, pulling it out +of her reticule, and covering her face with her handkerchief. + +Melchior caught the address, and then turned the letter over on the +other side, as it lay on the table. "Mrs Watson," said he. + +"Heavens! do you know my name?" cried the woman. + +"Mrs Watson, I do not require to read your son's letter--I know its +contents." He then turned over his book, and studied for a few seconds. +"Your son is alive." + +"Thank God!" cried she, clasping her hands, and dropping her reticule. + +"But you must not expect his return too soon--he is well employed." + +"Oh! I care not--he is alive--he is alive! God bless you--God bless +you!" + +Melchior made a sign to me, pointing to the five guineas and the +reticule; and I contrived to slip them into her reticule, while she +sobbed in her handkerchief. + +"Enough, madam; you must go, for others require my aid." + +The poor woman rose, and offered the ring. + +"Nay, nay, I want not thy money; I take from the rich, that I may +distribute to the poor--but not from the widow in affliction. Open thy +bag." The widow took up her bag, and opened it. Melchior dropped in the +ring, taking his wand from the table, waved it, and touched the bag. "As +thou art honest, so may thy present wants be relieved. Seek, and thou +shalt find." + +The widow left the room with tears of gratitude; and I must say, that I +was affected with the same. When she had gone, I observed to Melchior, +that up to the present he had toiled for nothing. + +"Very true, Japhet; but depend upon it, if I assisted that poor woman +from no other feelings than interested motives, I did well; but I tell +thee candidly, I did it from compassion. We are odd mixtures of good and +evil. I wage war with fools and knaves, but not with all the world. I +gave that money freely--she required it; and it may be put as a set-off +against my usual system of fraud, or it may not--at all events, I +pleased myself." + +"But you told her that her son was alive." + +"Very true, and he may be dead; but is it not well to comfort her--even +for a short time, to relieve that suspense which is worse than the +actual knowledge of his death? Sufficient for the day is the evil +thereof." + +It would almost have appeared that this good action of Melchior met with +its reward, for the astonishment of the widow at finding the gold in her +reticule--her narrative of what passed, and her assertion (which she +firmly believed to be true), that she had never left her reticule out of +her hand, and that Melchior had only touched it with his wand, raised +his reputation to that degree, that nothing else was talked about +throughout the town, and, to crown all, the next day's post brought her +a letter and remittances from her son; and the grateful woman returned, +and laid ten guineas on the black cloth, showering a thousand blessings +upon Melchior, and almost worshipped him as a supernatural being. This +was a most fortunate occurrence, and as Melchior prophesied, the harvest +did now commence. In four days we had received upwards of L200, and we +then thought it time that we should depart. The letters arrived, which +were expected, and when we set off in a chaise and four, the crowd to +see us was so great, that it was with difficulty we could pass through +it. + + + + +Chapter XIV + + In which Melchior talks very much like an astrologer, and Tim and I + return to our old trade of making up innocent prescriptions. + + +We had taken our horses for the next town; but as soon as we were fairly +on the road, I stopped the boys, and told them that the Great +Aristodemus intended to observe the planets and stars that night, and +that they were to proceed to a common which I mentioned. The post-boys, +who were well aware of his fame, and as fully persuaded of it as +everybody else, drove to the common; we descended, took off the luggage, +and received directions from Melchior in their presence about the +instruments, to which the boys listened with open mouths and wonderment. +I paid them well, and told them they might return, which they appeared +very glad to do. They reported what had occurred, and this simple method +of regaining our camp, added to the astonishment of the good town +of ----. When they were out of sight we resumed our usual clothes, packed +all up, carried away most of our effects, and hid the others in the +furze to be sent for the next night, not being more than two miles from +the camp. We soon arrived, and were joyfully received by Fleta and +Nattee. + +As we walked across the common, I observed to Melchior, "I wonder if +these stars have any influence upon mortals, as it was formerly +supposed?" + +"Most assuredly they have," rejoined Melchior. "I cannot read them, but +I firmly believe in them." + +I made the above remark, as I had often thought that such was Melchior's +idea. + +"Yes," continued he, "every man has his destiny--such must be the case. +It is known beforehand what is to happen to us by an Omniscient Being, +and being known, what is it but destiny which cannot be changed? It is +_fate_," continued he, surveying the stars with his hand raised up, "and +that fate is as surely written there as the sun shines upon us; but the +great book is sealed, because it would not add to our happiness." + +"If, then, all is destiny, or fate, what inducement is there to do well +or ill?" replied I. "We may commit all acts of evil, and say, that as it +was predestined, we could not help it. Besides would it be just that the +Omniscient Being should punish us for those crimes which we cannot +prevent, and which are allotted to us by destiny?" + +"Japhet, you argue well; but you are in error, because, like most of +those of the Christian Church, you understand not the sacred writings, +nor did I until I knew my wife. Her creed is, I believe, correct; and +what is more, adds weight to the truths of the Bible." + +"I thought that gipsies had no religion." + +"You are not the only one who supposes so. It is true that the majority +of the tribe are held by the higher castes as serfs, and are not +instructed; but with--if I may use the expression--the aristocracy of +them it is very different, and their creed I have adopted." + +"I should wish to hear their creed," replied I. + +"Hear it then. Original sin commenced in heaven--when the angels +rebelled against their God--not on earth." + +"I will grant that sin originated first in heaven." + +"Do you think that a great, a good God, ever created any being for its +destruction and eternal misery, much less an angel? Did he not foresee +their rebellion?" + +"I grant it." + +"This world was not peopled with the image of God until after the fall +of the angels: it had its living beings, its monsters perhaps, but not a +race of men with eternal souls. But it was peopled, as we see it now is, +to enable the legions of angels who fell to return to their former happy +state--as a pilgrimage by which they might obtain their pardons, and +resume their seats in heaven. Not a child is born, but the soul of some +fallen cherub enters into the body to work out its salvation. Many do, +many do not, and then they have their task to recommence anew; for the +spirit once created is immortal, and cannot be destroyed; and the +Almighty is all goodness, and would ever pardon." + +"Then you suppose there is no such thing as eternal punishment?" + +"Eternal!--no. Punishment there is, but not eternal. When the legions of +angels fell, some were not so perverse as others: they soon re-obtained +their seats, even when, as children, having passed through the slight +ordeal, they have been summoned back to heaven; but others who, from +their infancy, show how bad were their natures, have many pilgrimages to +perform before they can be purified. This is, in itself, a punishment. +What other punishment they incur between their pilgrimages we know not; +but this is certain, that no one was created to be punished eternally." + +"But all this is but assertion," replied I; "where are your proofs?" + +"In the Bible; some day or other I will show them to you; but now we are +at the camp, and I am anxious to embrace Nattee." + +I thought for some time upon this singular creed; one, in itself, not +militating against religion, but at the same time I could not call to +mind any passages by which it could be supported. Still the idea was +beautiful, and I dwelt upon it with pleasure. I have before observed, +and indeed the reader must have gathered from my narative, that Melchior +was no common personage. Every day did I become more partial to him, and +more pleased with our erratic life. What scruples I had at first, +gradually wore away; the time passed quickly, and although I would +occasionally call to mind the original object of my setting forth, I +would satisfy myself by the reflection, that there was yet sufficient +time. Little Fleta was now my constant companion when in the camp, and I +amused myself with teaching her to write and read. + +"Japhet," said Timothy to me one day as we were cutting hazel broach +wood in the forest, "I don't see that you get on very fast in your +search after your father." + +"No, Tim, I do not; but I am gaining a knowledge of the world which will +be very useful to me when I recommence the search; and what is more, I +am saving a great deal of money to enable me to prosecute it." + +"What did Melchior give you after we left?" + +"Twenty guineas, which, with what I had before, make more than fifty." + +"And he gave me ten, which makes twenty, with what I had before. Seventy +pounds is a large sum." + +"Yes, but soon spent, Tim. We must work a little longer. Besides, I +cannot leave that little girl--she was never intended for a +rope-dancer." + +"I am glad to hear you say that, Japhet, for I feel as you do--she shall +share our fortunes." + +"A glorious prospect truly," replied I, laughing; "but never mind, it +would be better than her remaining here. But how are we to manage that?" + +"Aye! that's the rub; but there is time enough to think about it when we +intend to quit our present occupation." + +"Well, I understand from Melchior that we are to start in a few days." + +"What is it to be, Japhet?" + +"Oh! we shall be at home--we are to cure all diseases under the sun. +To-morrow we commence making pills, so we may think ourselves with Mr +Cophagus again." + +"Well, I do think we shall have some fun; but I hope Melchior won't make +me take my own pills to prove their good qualities--that will be no +joke." + +"O no, Num is kept on purpose for that. What else is the fool good for?" + +The next week was employed as we anticipated. Boxes of pills of every +size, neatly labelled, bottles of various mixtures, chiefly stimulants, +were corked and packed up. Powders of _anything_ were put in papers; +but, at all events, there was nothing hurtful in them. All was ready, +and accompanied by Num (Jumbo and Fleta being left at home) we set off, +Melchior assuming the dress in which we had first met him in the wagon, +and altering his appearance so completely, that he would have been taken +for at least sixty years old. We now travelled on foot with our dresses +in bundles, each carrying his own, except Num, who was loaded like a +pack-horse, and made sore lamentations: + +"Can't you carry some of this?" + +"No," replied I, "it is your own luggage; every one must carry his own." + +"Well, I never felt my spangled dress so heavy before. Where are we +going?" + +"Only a little way," replied Timothy, "and then you will have nothing +more to do." + +"I don't know that. When master puts on that dress, I have to swallow +little things till I'm sick." + +"It's all good for your health, Num." + +"I'm very well, I thank'e," replied the poor fellow; "but I'm very hot +and very tired." + + + + +Chapter XV + + In which Timothy makes a grand speech, quite as true as those + delivered from the hustings--Melchior, like the candidate, states + his pretentions for public favour, and the public, as usual, + swallow the bait. + + +Fortunately for poor Num, we were not far from the market town at which +we intended to open our campaign, which we did the next morning by Num +and Timothy sallying forth, the former with a large trumpet in his hand, +and the latter riding on a donkey. On their arrival at the market-place, +Num commenced blowing it with all his might, while Timothy, in his +spangled dress, as soon as they had collected a crowd, stood upon his +saddle, and harangued the people as follows:-- + +"Gentlemen and ladies--I have the honour to announce to you the arrival +in this town of the celebrated Doctor Appallacheosmocommetico, who has +travelled farther than the sun and faster than a comet. He hath visited +every part of the globe. He has smoked the calumet with the Indians of +North America--he has hunted with the Araucas in the South--galloped on +wild horses over the plains of Mexico, and rubbed noses with the +Esquimaux. He hath used the chopsticks with the Chinese, swung the +Cherok pooga with the Hindoos, and put a new nose on the Great Cham of +Tartary. He hath visited and been received in every court of Europe: +danced on the ice of the Neva with the Russians--led the mazurka with +the Poles--waltzed with the Germans--tarantulaed with the +Italians--fandangoed with the Spanish--and quadrilled with the French. +He hath explored every mine in the universe, walked through every town +on the continent, examined every mountain in the world, ascended Mont +Blanc, walked down the Andes, and run up the Pyrenees. He has been into +every volcano in the globe, and descending by Vesuvius has been thrown +up by Stromboli. He has lived more than a thousand years, and is still +in the flower of his youth. He has had one hundred and forty sets of +teeth one after another, and expects a new set next Christmas. His whole +life has been spent in the service of mankind, and in doing good to his +fellow-creatures; and having the experience of more than a thousand +years, he cures more than a thousand diseases. Gentlemen, the wonderful +doctor will present himself before you this evening, and will then tell +you what his remedies are good for, so that you may pick and choose +according to your several complaints. Ladies, the wonderful doctor can +greatly assist you: he has secrets by which you may have a family if you +should so wish--philters to make husbands constant, and salve to make +them blind--cosmetics to remove pimples and restore to youth and beauty, +and powders to keep children from squalling. Sound the trumpet, +Philotas; sound, and let every body know that the wonderful Doctor +Appallacheosmocommetico has vouchsafed to stop here and confer his +blessings upon the inhabitants of this town." Hereupon Num again blew +the trumpet till he was black in the face; and Timothy, dropping on his +donkey, rode away to other parts of the town, where he repeated his +grandiloquent announcement, followed, as may be supposed, by a numerous +cortege of little ragged boys. + +About four o'clock in the afternoon, Melchior made his appearance in the +market-place, attended by me, dressed as a German student, Timothy and +Num in their costumes. A stage had been already prepared, and the +populace had crowded round it more with the intention of laughing than +of making purchases. The various packets were opened and arranged in +front of the platform, I standing on one side of Melchior, Timothy on +the other, and Num with his trumpet, holding on by one of the scaffold +poles at the corner. + +"Sound the trumpet, Philotas," said Melchior, taking off his +three-cornered hat, and making a low bow to the audience, at every +blast. "Pray, Mr Fool, do you know why you sound the trumpet?" + +"I'm sure I don't know," replied Num, opening his goggle eyes. + +"Do you know, Mr Dionysius?" + +"Yes, sir, I can guess." + +"Explain, then, to the gentlemen and ladies who have honoured us with +their presence." + +"Because, sir, trumpets are always sounded before great conquerors." + +"Very true, sir-, but how am I a great conqueror?" + +"You have conquered death, sir; and he's a very rum customer to have to +deal with." + +"Dionysius, you have answered well, and shall have some bullock's liver +for your supper--don't forget to remind me, in case I forget it." + +"No, that I won't, sir," replied Timothy, rubbing his stomach, as if +delighted with the idea. + +"Ladies and gentlemen," said Melchior to the audience, who were on the +broad grin, "I see your mouths are all open, and are waiting for the +pills; but be not too impatient--I cannot part with my medicines unless +you have diseases which require their aid; and I should, indeed, be a +sorry doctor, if I prescribed without knowing your complaints. _Est +neutrale genus signans rem non animatam_, says Herodotus, which in +English means, what is one man's meat is another man's poison; and +further, he adds, _Ut jecur, ut onus, put ut occiput_, which is as much +as to say, that what agrees with one temperament, will be injurious to +another. Caution, therefore, becomes very necessary in the use of +medicine; and my reputation depends upon my not permitting any one to +take what is not good for him. And now, my very dear friends, I will +first beg you to observe the peculiar qualities of the contents of this +little phial. You observe, that there is not more than sixty drops in +it, yet will these sixty drops add ten years to a man's life--for it +will cure him of almost as many diseases. In the first place, are any of +you troubled with the _ascites_, or dropsy, which, as the celebrated +Galen hath declared, may be divided into three parts, the _ascites_, the +_anasarca_, and the _tympanites_. The diagnostics of this disease are, +swelling of the abdomen or stomach, difficulty of breathing, want of +appetite, and a teasing cough. I say, have any of you this disease? +None. Then I thank Heaven that you are not so afflicted. + +"The next disease it is good for, is the _peripneumonia_, or +inflammation on the lungs--the diagnostics or symptoms of which are, a +small pulse, swelling of the eyes, and redness of the face. Say, have +any of you these symptoms--if so, you have the disease. No one. I thank +Heaven that you are none of you so afflicted. + +"It is also a sovereign remedy for the _diarrhoea_, the diagnostics of +which are, faintness, frequent gripings, rumbling in the bowels, cold +sweats, and spasm." + +Here one man came forward and complained of frequent gripings--another +of rumbling in the bowels, and two or three more of cold sweats. + +"It is well. O I thank Heaven that I am here to administer to you +myself! for what says Hippocrates? _Relativum cum antecedente +concordat_, which means, that remedies quickly applied, kill the disease +in its birth. Here, my friends, take it--take it--pay me only one +shilling and be thankful. When you go to rest, fail not to offer up your +prayers. It is also a sovereign remedy for the dreadful _chiragra_ or +gout. I cured the whole corporation of city aldermen last week, by their +taking three bottles each, and they presented me with the freedom of the +city of London, in a gold box, which I am sorry that I have forgotten to +bring with me. Now the _chiragra_ may be divided into several varieties. +_Gonagra_, when it attacks the knees--_chiragra_, if in the +hands--_onagra_, if in the elbow--_omagra_, if in the shoulder, and +_lumbago_, if in the back. All these are varieties of gout, and for all +these the contents of this little bottle is a sovereign remedy; and, +observe, it will keep for ever. Twenty years hence, when afflicted in +your old age--and the time will come, my good people--you may take down +this little phial from the shelf, and bless the hour in which you spent +your shilling; for as Eusebius declares, '_Verbum personale concordat +cum nominativo_, which is as much as to say, the active will grow old, +and suffer from pains in their limbs. Who, then, has pains in his limbs, +or lumbago? Who, indeed, can say that he will not have them?" + +After this appeal, the number of those who had pains in their limbs, or +who wished to provide against such a disease, proved so great, that all +our phials were disposed of, and the doctor was obliged to promise that +in a few days he would have some more of this invaluable medicine ready. + +"Ladies and gentlemen, I shall now offer to your notice a valuable +plaister, the effects of which are miraculous. Dionysius, come hither, +you have felt the benefit of this plaister; tell your case to those who +are present, and mind you tell the truth." + +Hereupon Timothy stepped forward. "Ladies and gentlemen, _upon my +honour_, about three weeks back I fell off the scaffold, broke my back +bone into three pieces, and was carried off to a surgeon, who looked at +me, and told the people to take measure for my coffin. The great doctor +was not there at the time, having been sent for to consult with the +king's physicians upon the queen's case, of _Cophagus_, or intermitting +mortification of the great toe; but fortunately, just as they were +putting me into a shell, my master came back, and immediately applying +his sovereign plaister to my back, in five days I was able to sit up, +and in ten days I returned to my duty." + +"Are you quite well now, Dionysius?" + +"Quite well, sir, and my back is like whale-bone." + +"Try it." + +Hereupon Dionysius threw two somersets forward, two backward, walked +across the stage on his hands, and tumbled in every direction. + +"You see, gentlemen, I'm quite well now, and what I have said, I assure +you, _on my honour_, to be a fact." + +"I hope you'll allow that to be a very pretty cure," said the doctor, +appealing to the audience; "and I hardly need say, that for sprains, +bruises, contusions, wrenches, and dislocations, this plaister is +infallible; and I will surprise you more by telling you, that I can sell +it for eight-pence a sheet." + +The plaister went off rapidly, and was soon expended. The doctor went on +describing his other valuable articles, and when he came to his +cosmetics, &c., for women, we could not hand them out fast enough. "And +now," said the doctor, "I must bid you farewell for this evening." + +"I'm glad of that," said Timothy, "for now I mean to sell my own +medicine." + +"Your medicine, Mr Dionysius! what do you mean by that?" + +"Mean, sir; I mean to say that I've got a powder of my own contriving, +which is a sovereign remedy." + +"Remedy, sir, for what?" + +"Why, it's a powder to kill fleas, and what's more, it's just as +infallible as your own." + +"Have you, indeed; and pray, sir, how did you hit upon the invention?" + +"Sir, I discovered it in my sleep by accident; but I have proved it, and +I will say, if properly administered, it is quite as infallible as any +of yours. Ladies and gentlemen, I pledge you my honour that it will have +the effect desired, and all I ask is sixpence a powder." + +"But how is it to be used, sir?" + +"Used--why, like all other powders; but I won't give the directions till +I have sold some; promising, however, if my method does not succeed, to +return the money." + +"Well, that is fair, Mr Dionysius; and I will take care that you keep +your bargain. Will anybody purchase the fool's powder for killing +fleas." + +"Yes, I will," replied a man on the broad grin, "here's sixpence. Now, +then, fool, how am I to use it?" + +"Use it," said Timothy, putting the sixpence in his pocket; "I'll +explain to you. You must first catch the flea, hold him so tight between +the forefinger and thumb as to force him to open his mouth; when his +mouth is open you must put a very little of this powder into it, and it +will kill him directly." + +"Why, when I have the flea as tight as you state, I may as well kill him +myself." + +"Very true, so you may, if you prefer it; but if you do not, you may use +this powder, which upon my honour is infallible." + +This occasioned a great deal of mirth among the bystanders. Timothy kept +his sixpence, and our exhibition for this day ended, very much to the +satisfaction of Melchior, who declared he had taken more than ever he +had done before in a whole week. Indeed, the whole sum amounted to L17, +10s., all taken in shillings and sixpences, for articles hardly worth +the odd shillings in the account; so we sat down to supper with +anticipations of a good harvest, and so it proved. We stayed four days +at this town, and then proceeded onwards, when the like success attended +us, Timothy and I being obliged to sit up nearly the whole night to +label and roll up pills, and mix medicines, which we did in a very +scientific manner. Nor was it always that Melchior presided; he would +very often tell his audience that business required his attendance +elsewhere, to visit the sick, and that he left the explanation of his +medicines and their properties to his pupil, who was far advanced in +knowledge. With my prepossessing appearance, I made a great effect, more +especially among the ladies, and Timothy exerted himself so much when +with me, that we never failed to bring home to Melchior a great addition +to his earnings--so much so, that at last he only showed himself, +pretended that he was so importuned to visit sick persons, that he could +stay no longer, and then left us, after the first half hour, to carry on +the business for him. After six weeks of uninterrupted success, we +returned to the camp, which, as usual, was not very far off. + + + + +Chapter XVI + + Important news, but not communicated--A dissolution of partnership + takes place. + + +Melchior's profits had been much more than he anticipated, and he was +very liberal to Timothy and myself; indeed, he looked upon me as his +right hand, and became more intimate and attached every day. We were, of +course, delighted to return to the camp, after our excursion. There was +so much continued bustle and excitement in our peculiar profession, that +a little quiet was delightful; and I never felt more happy than when +Fleta threw herself into my arms, and Nattee came forward with her usual +dignity and grace, but with more than usual condescendence and kindness, +bidding me welcome _home_. Home--alas! it was never meant for my home, +or poor Fleta's--and that I felt. It was our sojourn for a time, and no +more. + +We had been more than a year exercising our talents in this lucrative +manner, when one day, as I was sitting at the entrance to the tent, with +a book in my hand, out of which Fleta was reading to me, a gipsy not +belonging to our gang made his appearance. He was covered with dust, and +the dew drops hanging on his dark forehead, proved that he had travelled +fast. He addressed Nattee, who was standing by, in their own language, +which I did not understand; but I perceived that he asked for Melchior. +After an exchange of a few sentences, Nattee expressed astonishment and +alarm, put her hands over her face, and removed them as quickly, as if +derogatory in her to show emotion, and then remained in deep thought. +Perceiving Melchior approaching, the gipsy hastened to him, and they +were soon in animated conversation. In ten minutes it was over: the +gipsy went to the running brook, washed his face, took a large draught +of water, and then hastened away and was soon out of sight. + +Melchior, who had watched the departure of the gipsy, slowly approached +us. I observed him and Nattee, as they met, as I was certain that +something important had taken place. Melchior fixed his eyes upon +Nattee--she looked at him mournfully--folded her arms, and made a slight +bow as if in submission, and in a low voice, quoted from the Scriptures, +"Whither thou goest, I will go--thy people shall be my people, and thy +God my God." He then walked away with her: they sat down apart, and were +in earnest conversation for more than an hour. + +"Japhet," said Melchior to me, after he had quitted his wife, "what I am +about to tell you will surprise you. I have trusted you with all I dare +trust any one, but there are some secrets in every man's life which had +better be reserved for himself and her who is bound to him by solemn +ties. We must now part. In a few days this camp will be broken up, and +these people will join some other division of the tribe. For me, you +will see me no more. Ask me not to explain, for I cannot." + +"And Nattee," said I. + +"Will follow my fortunes, whatever they may be--you will see her no +more." + +"For myself I care not, Melchior; the world is before me, and remain +with the gipsies without you I will not; but answer me one +question--what is to become of little Fleta? Is she to remain with the +tribe, to which she does not belong, or does she go with you?" + +Melchior hesitated. "I hardly can answer, but what consequence can the +welfare of a soldier's brat be to you?" + +"Allowing her to be what you assert, Melchior, I am devotedly attached +to that child, and could not bear that she should remain here. I am sure +that you deceived me in what you stated, for the child remembers, and +has told me, anecdotes of her infancy, which proves that she is of no +mean family, and that she has been stolen from her friends." + +"Indeed, is her memory so good?" replied Melchior, firmly closing his +teeth. "To Nattee or to me she has never hinted so much." + +"That is very probable; but a stolen child she is, Melchior, and she +must not remain here." + +"Must not." + +"Yes; must not, Melchior; when you quit the tribe, you will no longer +have any power, nor can you have any interest about her. She shall then +choose--if she will come with me, I _will_ take her, and nothing shall +prevent me; and in so doing I do you no injustice, nor do I swerve in my +fidelity." + +"How do you know that? I may have my secret reasons against it." + +"Surely you can have no interest in a soldier's brat, Melchior?" + +Melchior appeared confused and annoyed. "She is no soldier's brat; I +acknowledge, Japhet, that the child was stolen; but you must not, +therefore, imply that the child was stolen by me or by my wife." + +"I never accused you, or thought you capable of it; and that is the +reason why I am now surprised at the interest you take in her. If she +prefers to go with you, I have no more to say, but if not, I claim her; +and if she consents, will resist your interference." + +"Japhet," replied Melchior, after a pause, "we must not quarrel now that +we are about to part. I will give you an answer in half an hour." + +Melchior returned to Nattee, and re-commenced a conversation with her, +while I hastened to Fleta. + +"Fleta, do you know that the camp is to be broken up, and Melchior and +Nattee leave it together?" + +"Indeed!" replied she, with surprise. "Then what is to become of you and +Timothy?" + +"We must of course seek our fortunes where we can." + +"And of me?" continued she, looking me earnestly in the face with her +large blue eyes. "Am I to stay here?" continued she, with alarm in her +countenance. + +"Not if you do not wish it, Fleta; as long as I can support you I +will--that is, if you would like to live with me in preference to +Melchior." + +"If I would like, Japhet; you must know I would like--who has been so +kind to me as you? Don't leave me, Japhet." + +"I will not, Fleta; but on condition that you promise to be guided by +me, and to do all I wish." + +"To do what you wish is the greatest pleasure that I have, Japhet--so I +may safely promise that. What has happened?" + +"That I do not know more than yourself; but Melchior tells me that he +and Nattee quit the gipsy tents for ever." + +Fleta looked round to ascertain if any one was near us, and then in a +low tone said, "I understand their language, Japhet, that is, a great +deal of it, although they do not think so, and I overheard what the +gipsy said in part, although he was at some distance. He asked for +Melchior; and when Nattee wanted to know what he wanted, he answered +that, '_he_ was dead;' then Nattee covered up her face. I could not hear +all the rest, but there was something about a _horse_." + +_He_ was _dead_. Had then Melchior committed murder, and was obliged to +fly the country? This appeared to me to be the most probable, when I +collected the facts in my possession; and yet I could not believe it, +for except that system of deceit necessary to carry on his various +professions, I never found anything in Melchior's conduct which could be +considered as criminal. On the contrary, he was kind, generous, and +upright in his private dealings, and in many points, proved that he had +a good heart. He was a riddle of inconsistency it was certain; +professionally he would cheat anybody, and disregard all truth and +honesty; but, in his private character, he was scrupulously honest, and, +with the exception of the assertion relative to Fleta's birth and +parentage, he had never told me a lie, that I could discover. I was +summing up all these reflections in my mind, when Melchior again came up +to me, and desiring the little girl to go away, he said, "Japhet, I have +resolved to grant your request with respect to Fleta, but it must be on +conditions." + +"Let me hear them." + +"First, then, Japhet, as you always have been honest and confiding with +me, tell me now what are your intentions. Do you mean to follow up the +profession which you learnt under me, or what do you intend to do?" + +"Honestly, then, Melchior, I do not intend to follow up that profession, +unless driven to it by necessity. I intend to seek my father." + +"And if driven to it by necessity, do you intend that Fleta shall aid +you by her acquirements? In short, do you mean to take her with you as a +speculation, to make the most of her, to let her sink, when she arrives +at the age of woman, into vice and misery?" + +"I wonder at your asking me that question, Melchior; it is the first act +of injustice I have received at your hands. No; if obliged to follow up +the profession, I will not allow Fleta so to do. I would sooner that she +were in her grave. It is to rescue her from that very vice and misery, +to take her out of a society in which she never ought to have been +placed, that I take her with me." + +"And this upon your honour?" + +"Yes, upon my honour. I love her as my sister, and cannot help indulging +in the hope that in seeking my father, I may chance to stumble upon +her's." + +Melchior bit his lips. "There is another promise I must exact from you, +Japhet, which is, that to a direction which I will give you, every six +months you will inclose an address where you may be heard of, and also +intelligence as to Fleta's welfare and health." + +"To that I gave my cheerful promise: but, Melchior, you appear to have +taken, all at once, a strange interest in this little girl." + +"I wish you now to think that I do take an interest in her, provided you +seek not to inquire the why and the wherefore. Will you accept of funds +for her maintenance?" + +"Not without necessity compels me; and then I should be glad to find, +when I can no longer help her, that you are still her friend." + +"Recollect, that you will always find what is requisite by writing to +the address which I shall give you before we part. That point is now +settled, and on the whole I think the arrangement is good." + +Timothy had been absent during the events of the morning--when he +returned, I communicated to him what had passed, and was about to take +place. + +"Well, Japhet, I don't know--I do not dislike our present life, yet I am +not sorry to change it; but what are we to do?" + +"That remains to be considered; we have a good stock of money, +fortunately, and we must husband it till we find what can be done." + +We took our suppers all together for the last time, Melchior telling us +that he had determined to set off the next day. Nattee looked very +melancholy, but resigned; on the contrary, little Fleta was so +overjoyed, that her face, generally so mournful, was illuminated with +smiles whenever our eyes met. It was delightful to see her so happy. The +whole of the people in the camp had retired, and Melchior was busy +making his arrangements in the tent. I did not feel inclined to sleep; I +was thinking and revolving in my mind my prospects for the future; +sitting, or rather lying down, for I was leaning on my elbow, at a short +distance from the tents. The night was dark but clear, and the stars +were brilliant. I had been watching them, and I thought upon Melchior's +ideas of destiny, and dwelling on the futile wish that I could read +mine, when I perceived the approach of Nattee. + +"Japhet," said she, "you are to take the little girl with you, I +find--will you be careful of her? for it would be on my conscience if +she were left to the mercy of the world. She departs rejoicing, let not +her joy end in tears. I depart sorrowing. I leave my people, my kin, my +habits, and customs, my influence, all--but it must be so, it is my +destiny. She is a good child, Japhet--promise me that you will be a +friend to her--and give her this to wear in remembrance of me, but--not +yet--not till we are gone--." She hesitated. "Japhet, do not let +Melchior see it in your possession; he may not like me having given it +away." I took the piece of paper containing the present, and having +promised all she required, "This is the last--yes--the very last time +that I may behold this scene," continued Nattee, surveying the common, +the tents, and the animals browsing. "Be it so; Japhet, good-night, may +you prosper!" She then turned away and entered her tent; and soon +afterwards I followed her example. + +The next day, Melchior was all ready. What he had packed up was +contained in two small bundles. He addressed the people belonging to the +gang, in their own language. Nattee did the same, and the whole of them +kissed her hand. The tents, furniture, and the greatest part of his +other property, were distributed among them. Jumbo and Num were made +over to two of the principal men. Timothy, Fleta, and I, were also +ready, and intended to quit at the same time as Melchior and his wife. + +"Japhet," said Melchior, "there is yet some money due to you for our +last excursion--(this was true,)--here it is --you and Timothy keep but +one purse, I am aware. Good-bye, and may you prosper!" + +We shook hands with Nattee and Melchior. Fleta went up to the former, +and crossing her arms, bent her head. Nattee kissed the child, and led +her to Melchior. He stooped down, kissed her on the forehead, and I +perceived a sign of strongly suppressed emotion as he did so. Our +intended routes lay in a different direction, and when both parties had +arrived to either verge of the common, we waved our hands as a last +farewell, and resumed our paths again. Fleta burst into tears as she +turned away from her former guardians. + + + + +Chapter XVII + + A Cabinet Council--I resolve to set up as a gentleman, having as + legitimate pretensions to the rank of one as many others. + + +I led the little sobbing girl by the hand, and we proceeded for some +time in silence. It was not until we gained the high road that Timothy +interrupted my reverie, by observing, "Japhet, have you at all made up +your mind what you shall do?" + +"I have been reflecting, Timothy. We have lost a great deal of time. The +original intention with which I left London has been almost forgotten; +but it must be so no longer. I now have resolved that as soon as I have +placed this poor little girl in safety, that I will prosecute my search, +and never be diverted from it." + +"I cannot agree with you that we have lost time, Japhet; we had very +little money when we started upon our expedition, and now we have +sufficient to enable you to prosecute your plans for a long time. The +question is, in what direction? We quitted London, and travelled west, +in imitation, as we thought, of the _wise men_. With all deference, in +my opinion, it was like _two fools_." + +"I have been thinking upon that point also, Tim, and I agree with you. I +expect, from several causes, which you know as well as I do, to find my +father among the higher classes of society; and the path we took when we +started has led us into the very lowest. It appears to me that we cannot +do better than retrace our steps. We have the means now to appear as +gentlemen, and to mix in good company, and London is the very best place +for us to repair to." + +"That is precisely my opinion, Japhet, with one single exception, which +I will mention to you; but first tell me, have you calculated what our +joint purses may amount to? It must be a very considerable sum." + +I had not examined the packet in which was the money which Melchior had +given me at parting. I now opened it, and found, to my surprise, that +there were Bank notes to the amount of one hundred pounds. I felt that +he had given me this large sum that it might assist me in Fleta's +expenses. "With this sum," said I, "I cannot have much less than two +hundred and fifty pounds." + +"And I have more than sixty," said Timothy. "Really, the profession was +not unprofitable." + +"No," replied I, laughing; "but recollect, Tim, that we had no outlay. +The public provided us with food, our lodging cost us nothing. We have +had no taxes to pay; and at the same time have taxed folly and credulity +to a great extent." + +"That's true, Japhet; and although I am glad to have the money, I am not +sorry that we have abandoned the profession." + +"Nor am I, Tim; if you please, we will forget it altogether. But tell +me, what was the exception you were about to make?" + +"Simply this. Although upwards of three hundred pounds may be a great +deal of money, yet, if we are to support the character and appearance of +gentlemen, it will not last for ever. For instance, we must have our +_valets_. What an expense that will be! Our clothes too--we shall soon +lose our rank and station in society, without we obtain a situation +under government." + +"We must make it last as long as we can, Timothy; and trust to good +fortune to assist us." + +"That's all very well, Japhet; but I had rather trust to our own +prudence. Now hear what I have to say. You will be as much assisted by a +_trusty_ valet as by any other means. I shall, as a gentleman, be only +an expense and an incumbrance; but as a valet I shall be able to play +into your hands, at the same time more than one half the expense will be +avoided. With your leave, therefore, I will take my proper situation, +put on your livery, and thereby make myself of the greatest use." + +I could not help acknowledging the advantages to be derived from this +proposal of Timothy's; but I did not like to accept it. + +"It is very kind of you, Timothy," replied I; "but I can only look upon +you as a friend and an equal." + +"There you are right and are wrong in the same breath. You are right in +looking upon me as a friend, Japhet; and you would be still more right +in allowing me to prove my friendship as I propose; but you are wrong in +looking upon me as an equal, for I am not so either in personal +appearance, education, or anything else. We are both foundlings, it is +true; but you were christened after Abraham Newland, and I after the +workhouse pump. You were a gentleman foundling, presenting yourself with +a fifty pound note, and good clothes. I made my appearance in rags and +misery. If you find your parents, you will rise in the world; if I find +mine, I shall, in all probability, have no reason to be proud of them. I +therefore must insist upon having my own choice in the part I am to play +in the drama, and I will prove to you that it is my right to choose. You +forget that, when we started, your object was to search after your +father, and I told you mine should be to look after my mother. You have +selected high life as the expected sphere in which he is to be found, +and I select low life as that in which I am most likely to discover the +object of my search. So you perceive," continued Tim, laughing, "that we +must arrange so as to suit the views of both without parting company. Do +you hunt among bag-wigs, amber-headed canes, silks and satins--I will +burrow among tags and tassels, dimity and mob caps; and probably we +shall both succeed in the object of our search. I leave you to hunt in +the drawing-rooms, while I ferret in the kitchen. You may throw yourself +on a sofa and exclaim--'Who is my father?' while I will sit in the +cook's lap, and ask her if she may happen to be my mother." + +This sally of Timothy's made even Fleta laugh; and after a little more +remonstrance, I consented that he should perform the part of my valet. +Indeed, the more I reflected upon it, the greater appeared the +advantages which might accrue from the arrangement. By the time that +this point had been settled, we had arrived at the town to which we +directed our steps, and took up our quarters at an inn of moderate +pretensions, but of very great external cleanliness. My first object was +to find out some fitting asylum for little Fleta. The landlady was a +buxom, good-tempered young woman, and I gave the little girl into her +charge, while Timothy and I went out on a survey. I had made up my mind +to put her to some good, but not very expensive, school, if such were to +be found in the vicinity. I should have preferred taking her with me to +London, but I was aware how much more expensive it would be to provide +for her there; and as the distance from the metropolis was but twenty +miles, I could easily run down to see her occasionally. I desired the +little girl to call me her brother, as such I intended to be to her in +future, and not to answer every question they might put to her. There +was, however, little occasion for this caution; for Fleta was, as I +before observed, very unlike children in general. I then went out with +Timothy to look for a tailor, that I might order our clothes, as what we +had on were not either of the very best taste, or in the very best +condition. We walked up the main street, and soon fell in with a +tailor's shop, over which was written in large letters--"Feodor +Shneider, Tailor to his Royal Highness the Prince of Darmstadt." + +"Will that do, Japhet?" said Timothy, pointing to the announcement. + +"Why yes," replied I; "but how the deuce the Prince of Darmstadt should +have employed a man in a small country town as his tailor, is to me +rather a puzzle." + +"Perhaps he made his clothes when he was in Germany," replied Tim. + +"Perhaps he did; but, however, he shall have the honour of making mine." + +We entered the shop, and I ordered a suit of the most fashionable +clothes, choosing my colours, and being very minute in my directions to +the foreman, who measured me; but as I was leaving the shop the master, +judging by my appearance, which was certainly not exactly that of a +gentleman, ventured to observe that it was customary with _gentlemen_, +whom they had not the honour of knowing, to leave a deposit. Although +the very proposal was an attack upon my gentility, I made no reply; but +pulling out a handful of guineas, laid down two on the counter, and +walked away, that I might find another shop at which we might order the +livery of Timothy; but this was only as a reconnoitre, as I did not +intend to order his liveries until I could appear in my own clothes, +which were promised on the afternoon of the next day. There were, +however, several other articles to be purchased, such as a trunk, +portmanteau, hat, gloves, &c., all which we procured, and then went back +to the inn. On my return I ordered dinner. Fleta was certainly clad in +her best frock, but bad was the best; and the landlady, who could +extract little from the child, could not imagine who we could be. I had, +however, allowed her to see more than sufficient money to warrant our +expenses; and so far her scruples were, although her curiosity was not, +removed. + +That evening I had a long conversation with Fleta. I told her that we +were to part, that she must go to school, and that I would very often +come down to see her. At first, she was inconsolable at the idea; but I +reasoned with her, and the gentle, intelligent creature acknowledged +that it was right. The next day my clothes came home, and I dressed +myself. "Without flattery, Japhet," said Timothy, "you do look very much +like a gentleman." Fleta smiled, and said the same. I thought so too, +but said nothing. Putting on my hat and gloves, and accompanied by +Timothy, I descended to go out and order Tim's liveries, as well as a +fit-out for Fleta. + +After I was out in the street I discovered that I had left my +handkerchief, and returned to fetch it. The landlady, seeing a gentleman +about to enter the inn, made a very low courtesy, and it was not until I +looked hard at her that she recognised me. Then I was satisfied; it was +an involuntary tribute to my appearance, worth all the flattering +assertions in the world. We now proceeded to the other tailor's in the +main street. I entered the shop with a flourishing, important air, and +was received with many bows. "I wish," said I, "to have a suit of livery +made for this young man, who is about to enter into my service. I cannot +take him up to town this figure." The livery was chosen, and as I +expressed my wish to be off the next evening, it was promised to be +ready by an hour appointed. + +I then went to a milliner's, and desired that she would call at the inn +to fit out a little girl for school, whose wardrobe had been left behind +by mistake. On the fourth day all was ready. I had made inquiries, and +found out a very respectable school, kept by a widow lady. I asked for +references, which were given, and I was satisfied. The terms were +low--twenty pounds per annum. I paid the first half year in advance, and +lodged fifty guineas more in the hands of a banker, taking a receipt for +it, and giving directions that it was to be paid to the schoolmistress +as it became due. I took this precaution, that should I be in poverty +myself, at all events Fleta might be provided in clothes and schooling +for three years at least. The poor child wept bitterly at the +separation, and I could with difficulty detach her little arms from my +neck, and I felt when I left her as if I had parted with the only +valuable object to me on earth. + +All was now ready; but Timothy did not, as yet, assume his new clothes. +It would have appeared strange that one who sat at my table should +afterwards put on my livery; and as, in a small town there is always +plenty of scandal, for Fleta's sake, if for no other reason, it was +deferred until our arrival in London. Wishing the landlady good-bye, who +I really believed would have given up her bill to have known who we +could possibly be, we got on the outside of the stage-coach, and in the +evening arrived in the metropolis. I have been particular in describing +all these little circumstances, as it proves how very awkward it is to +jump, without observation, from one station in society to another. + + + + +Chapter XVIII + + I receive a letter from my uncle by which I naturally expect to + find out who is my father--Like other outcasts, I am warned by a + dream. + + +But I have omitted to mention a circumstance of great importance, which +occurred at the inn the night before I placed Fleta at the +boarding-school. In looking over my portmanteau, I perceived the present +of Nattee to Fleta, which I had quite forgotten. I took it to Fleta, and +told her from whom it came. On opening the paper, it proved to contain a +long chain of round coral and gold beads, strung alternately; the gold +beads were not so large as the coral, but still the number of them, and +the purity of the metal, made them of considerable value. Fleta passed +the beads through her fingers, and then threw it round her neck, and sat +in deep thought for some minutes. "Japhet," said she at last, "I have +seen this--I have worn this before--I recollect that I have; it rushes +into my memory as an old friend, and I think that before morning it will +bring to my mind something that I shall recollect about it." + +"Try all you can, Fleta, and let me know to-morrow." + +"It's no use trying; if I try, I never can recollect anything. I must +wear it to-night, and then I shall have something come into my mind all +of a sudden; or perhaps I may dream something. Good-night." + +It immediately occurred to me that it was most probable that the chain +had been on Fleta's neck at the time that she was stolen from her +parents, and might prove the means of her being identified. It was no +common chain--apparently had been wrought by people in a state of +semi-refinement. There was too little show for its value--too much +sterling gold for the simple effect produced; and I very much doubted +whether another like it could be found. + +The next morning Fleta was too much affected at parting with me, to +enter into much conversation. I asked whether she had recollected +anything, and she replied, "No; that she had cried all night at the +thoughts of our separation." I cautioned her to be very careful of the +chain, and I gave the same caution to the schoolmistress; and after I +had left the town, I regretted that I had not taken it away, and +deposited it in some place of security. I resolved to do so when I next +saw Fleta; in the meantime, she would be able, perhaps, by association, +to call up some passage of her infancy connected with it. + +I had inquired of a gentleman who sat near me on the coach, which was +the best hotel for a young man of fashion. He recommended the Piazza, in +Covent Garden, and to that we accordingly repaired. I selected handsome +apartments, and ordered a light supper. When the table was laid, Timothy +made his appearance, in his livery, and cut a very smart, dashing +figure. I dismissed the waiter, and as soon as we were alone, I burst +into a fit of laughter. "Really, Timothy, this is a good farce; come, +sit down, and help me to finish this bottle of wine." + +"No, sir," replied Timothy; "with your permission, I prefer doing as the +rest of my fraternity. You only leave the bottle on the sideboard, and I +will steal as much as I want; but as for sitting down, that will be +making too free, and if we were seen, would be, moreover, very +dangerous. We must both keep up our characters. They have been plying me +with all manner of questions below, as to who you were--your name, &c. I +resolved that I would give you a lift in the world, and I stated that +you had just arrived from making a grand tour--which is not a fib, after +all--and as for your name, I said that you were at present _incog_." + +"But why did you make me _incog._?" + +"Because it may suit you so to be; and it certainly is the truth, for +you don't know your real name." + +We were here interrupted by the waiter bringing in a letter upon a +salver. "Here is a letter addressed to 'I, or J.N., on his return from +his tour,' sir," said he; "I presume it is for you?" + +"You may leave it," said I, with nonchalance. + +The waiter laid the letter on the table, and retired. + +"How very odd, Timothy--this letter cannot be for me; and yet they are +my initials. It is as much like a J as an I. Depend upon it, it is some +fellow who has just gained this intelligence below, and has written to +ask for a subscription to his charity list, imagining that I am flush of +money, and liberal." + +"I suppose so," replied Tim; "however, you may just as well see what he +says." + +"But if I open it he will expect something. I had better refuse it." + +"O no, leave that to me; I know how to put people off." + +"After all, it is a fine thing to be a gentleman, and be petitioned." + +I broke open the seal, and found that the letter contained an inclosure +addressed to another person. The letter was as follows:-- + + "My dear Nephew,--['Bravo, sir,' said Timothy; 'you've found an + uncle already--you'll soon find a father.'] From the great + uncertainty of the post, I have not ventured to do more than hint + at what has come to light during this last year, but as it is + necessary that you should be acquainted with the whole transaction; + and as you had not decided when you last wrote, whether you would + prosecute your intended three months trip to Sicily, or return from + Milan, you may probably arrive when I am out of town; I therefore + enclose you a letter to Mr Masterton, directing him to surrender to + you a sealed packet, lodged in his hands, containing all the + particulars, the letters which bear upon them, and what has been + proposed to avoid exposure; which you may peruse at your leisure, + should you arrive before my return to town. There is no doubt but + that the affair may be hushed up, and we trust that you will see + the prudence of the measure; as, once known, it will be very + discreditable to the family escutcheon. ('I always had an idea you + were of good family,' interrupted Tim.) I wish you had followed my + advice, and had not returned; but as you were positive on that + point, I beg you will now consider the propriety of remaining + incognito, as reports are already abroad, and your sudden return + will cause a great deal of surmise. Your long absence at the + Gottingen University, and your subsequent completion of your grand + tour, will have effaced all remembrance of your person, and you can + easily be passed off as a particular friend of mine, and I can + introduce you everywhere as such. Take, then, any name you may + please, provided it be not Smith or Brown, or such vulgarisms; and + on the receipt of this letter, write a note, and send it to my + house in Portman Square, just saying, '_so and so_ is arrived.' + This will prevent the servants from obtaining any information by + their prying curiosity; and as I have directed all my letters to be + forwarded to my seat in Worcestershire, I shall come up immediately + that I receive it, and by your putting the name which you mean to + assume, I shall know whom to ask for when I call at the hotel. + + "Your affectionate Uncle, + + "Windermear." + +"One thing is very clear, Timothy," said I, laying the letter on the +table, "that it cannot be intended for me." + +"How do you know, sir, that this lord is not your uncle? At all events, +you must do as he bids you." + +"What--go for the papers! most certainly I shall not." + +"Then how in the name of fortune do you expect to find your father, when +you will not take advantage of such an opportunity of getting into +society? It is by getting possession of other people's secrets, that +you will worm out your own." + +"But it is dishonest, Timothy." + +"A letter is addressed to you, in which you have certain directions; you +break the seal with confidence, and you read what you find is possibly +not for you; but, depend upon it, Japhet, that a secret obtained is one +of the surest roads to promotion. Recollect your position; cut off from +the world, you have to re-unite yourself with it, to recover your +footing, and create an interest. You have not those who love you to help +you--you must not scruple to obtain your object by fear." + +"That is a melancholy truth, Tim," replied I; "and I believe I must put +my strict morality in my pocket." + +"Do, sir, pray, until you can afford to be moral; it's a very expensive +virtue that; a deficiency of it made you an outcast from the world, you +must not scruple at a slight deficiency on your own part, to regain your +position." + +There was so much shrewdness, so much of the wisdom of the serpent in +the remarks of Timothy, that, added to my ardent desire to discover my +father, which since my quitting the gipsy camp had returned upon me with +two-fold force, my scruples were overcome, and I resolved that I would +not lose such an opportunity. Still I hesitated, and went up into my +room, that I might reflect upon what I should do. I went to bed, +revolving the matter in my mind, and turning over from one position to +the other, at one time deciding that I would not take advantage of the +mistake, at another quite as resolved that I would not throw away such +an opening for the prosecution of my search; at last I fell into an +uneasy slumber, and had a strange dream. I thought that I was standing +upon an isolated rock, with the waters raging around me; the tide was +rising, and at last the waves were roaring at my feet. I was in a state +of agony, and expected that, in a short time, I should be swallowed up. +The main land was not far off, and I perceived well-dressed people in +crowds, who were enjoying themselves, feasting, dancing, and laughing +in merry peals. I held out my hands--I shouted to them--they saw, and +heard me, but heeded me not. My horror at being swept away by the tide +was dreadful. I shrieked as the water rose. At last I perceived +something unroll itself from the main land, and gradually advancing to +the inland, form a bridge by which I could walk over and be saved. I was +about to hasten over, when "Private, and no thoroughfare," appeared at +the end nearest me, in large letters of fire. I started back with +amazement, and would not, dared not pass them. When all of a sudden, a +figure in white appeared by my side, and said to me, pointing to the +bridge, "Self-preservation is the first law of nature." + +I looked at the person who addressed me; gradually the figure became +darker and darker, until it changed to Mr Cophagus, with his stick up to +his nose. "Japhet, all nonsense--very good bridge--um--walk over--find +father--and so on." I dashed over the bridge, which appeared to float on +the water, and to be composed of paper, gained the other side, and was +received with shouts of congratulation, and the embraces of the crowd. I +perceived an elderly gentleman come forward; I knew it was my father, +and I threw myself into his arms. I awoke, and found myself rolling on +the floor, embracing the bolster with all my might. Such was the vivid +impression of this dream, that I could not turn my thoughts away from +it, and at last I considered that it was a divine interposition. All my +scruples vanished, and before the day had dawned I determined that I +would follow the advice of Timothy. An enthusiast is easily led to +believe what he wishes, and he mistakes his own feelings for warnings; +the dreams arising from his daily contemplations for the interference of +Heaven. He thinks himself armed by supernatural assistance, and +warranted by the Almighty to pursue his course, even if that course +should be contrary to the Almighty's precepts. Thus was I led away by my +own imaginings, and thus was my _monomania_ increased to an impetus +which forced before it all consideration of what was right or wrong. + + + + +Chapter XIX + + _An important chapter--I make some important acquaintances, obtain + some important papers which I am importunate to read through._ + + +The next morning I told my dream to Timothy, who laughed very heartily +at my idea of the finger of Providence. At last, perceiving that I was +angry with him, he pretended to be convinced. When I had finished my +breakfast, I sent to inquire the number in the square of Lord +Windermear's town house, and wrote the following simple note to his +lordship, "_Japhet Newland_ has arrived from his tour at the Piazza, +Covent Garden." This was confided to Timothy, and I then set off with +the other letter to Mr Masterton, which was addressed to Lincoln's Inn. +By reading the addresses of the several legal gentlemen, I found out +that Mr Masterton was located on the first floor. I rang the bell, which +had the effect of "Open, Sesame," as the door appeared to swing to admit +me without any assistance. I entered an ante-room, and from thence found +myself in the presence of Mr Masterton--a little old man, with +spectacles on his nose, sitting at a table covered with papers. He +offered me a chair, and I presented the letter. + +"I see that I am addressing Mr Neville," said he, after he had perused +the letter. "I congratulate you on your return. You may not, perhaps, +remember me?" + +"Indeed, sir, I cannot say that I do, exactly." + +"I could not expect it, my dear sir, you have been so long away. You +have very much improved in person, I must say; yet still, I recollect +your features as a mere boy. Without compliment, I had no idea that you +would ever have made so handsome a man." I bowed to the compliment. +"Have you heard from your uncle?" + +"I had a few lines from Lord Windermear, enclosing your letter." + +"He is well, I hope?" + +"Quite well, I believe." + +Mr Masterton then rose, went to an iron safe, and brought out a packet +of papers, which he put into my hands. "You will read these with +interest, Mr Neville. I am a party to the whole transaction, and must +venture to advise you not to appear in England under your own name, +until all is settled. Your uncle, I perceive, has begged the same." + +"And I have assented, sir. I have taken a name instead of my real one." + +"May I ask what it is?" + +"I call myself Mr Japhet Newland." + +"Well, it is singular, but perhaps as good as any other. I will take it +down, in case I have to write to you. Your address is--" + +"Piazza--Covent Garden." + +Mr Masterton took my name and address, I took the papers, and then we +both took leave of one another, with many expressions of pleasure and +good-will. + +I returned to the hotel, where I found Timothy waiting for me, with +impatience. "Japhet," said he, "Lord Windermear has not yet left town. I +have seen him, for I was called back after I left the house, by the +footman, who ran after me--he will be here immediately." + +"Indeed," replied I. "Pray what sort of person is he, and what did he +say to you?" + +"He sent for me in the dining-parlour, where he was at breakfast, asked +when you arrived, whether you were well, and how long I had been in your +service. I replied that I had not been more than two days, and had just +put on my liveries. He then desired me to tell Mr Newland that he would +call upon him in about two hours. Then, my lord," replied I, "I had +better go and tell him to get out of bed." + +"The lazy dog!" said he, "nearly one o'clock, and not out of bed; well, +go then, and get him dressed as fast as you can." + +Shortly afterwards a handsome carriage with greys drew up to the door. +His lordship sent in his footman to ask whether Mr Newland was at home. +The reply of the waiter was, that there was a young gentleman who had +been there two or three days, who had come from making a tour, and his +name did begin with an _N_. "That will do, James; let down the steps." +His lordship alighted, was ushered up stairs, and into my room. There we +stood, staring at each other. + +"Lord Windermear, I believe," said I, extending my hand. + +"You have recognised me first, John," said he, taking my hand, and +looking earnestly in my face. "Good heavens! is it possible that an +awkward boy should have grown up into so handsome a fellow? I shall be +proud of my nephew. Did you remember me when I entered the room?" + +"To tell the truth, my lord, I did not; but expecting you, I took it for +granted that it must be you." + +"Nine years make a great difference, John;--but I forget, I must now +call you Japhet. Have you been reading the Bible lately, that you fixed +upon that strange name?" + +"No, my lord, but this hotel is such a Noah's ark, that it's no wonder I +thought of it." + +"You're an undutiful dog, not to ask after your mother, sir." + +"I was about--" + +"I see--I see," interrupted his lordship; "but recollect, John, that she +still is _your mother_. By-the-by, have you read the papers yet?" + +"No, sir," replied I, "there they are," pointing to them on the side +table. "I really do not like to break the seals." + +"That they will not contain pleasant intelligence, I admit," replied his +lordship; "but until you have read them, I do not wish to converse with +you on the subject, therefore," said he, taking up the packet, and +breaking the seals, "I must now insist that you employ this forenoon in +reading them through. You will dine with me at seven, and then we will +talk the matter over." + +"Certainly, sir, if you wish it, I will read them." + +"I must _insist_ upon it, John; and am rather surprised at your +objecting, when they concern you so particularly." + +"I shall obey your orders, sir." + +"Well, then, my boy, I shall wish you good morning, that you may +complete your task before you come to dinner. To-morrow, if you wish +it--but recollect, I never press young men on these points, as I am +aware that they sometimes feel it a restraint--if you wish it, I say, +you may bring your portmanteaus, and take up your quarters with me. +By-the-bye," continued his lordship, taking hold of my coat, "who made +this?" + +"The tailor to his Serene Highness the Prince of Darmsradt had that +honour, my lord," replied I. + +"Humph! I thought they fitted better in Germany; it's not quite the +thing--we must consult Stulz, for with that figure and face, the coat +ought to be quite correct. Adieu, my dear fellow, till seven." + +His lordship shook hands with me, and I was left alone. Timothy came in +as soon as his lordship's carriage had driven off. "Well, sir," said he, +"was your uncle glad to see you?" + +"Yes," replied I; "and look, he has broken open the seals, and has +insisted upon my reading the papers." + +"It would be very undutiful in you to refuse, so I had better leave you +to your task," said Timothy, smiling, as he quitted the room. + + + + +Chapter XX + + I open an account with my bankers, draw largely upon credulity, and + am prosperous without a _check_. + + +I sat down and took up the papers. I was immediately and strangely +interested in all that I read. A secret!--it was, indeed, a secret, +involving the honour and reputation of the most distinguished families. +One that, if known, the trumpet of scandal would have blazoned forth to +the disgrace of the aristocracy. It would have occasioned bitter tears +to some, gratified the petty malice of many, satisfied the revenge of +the vindictive, and bowed with shame the innocent as well as the guilty. +It is not necessary, nor, indeed, would I, on any account, state any +more. I finished the last paper, and then fell into a reverie. This is, +indeed, a secret, thought I; one that I would I never had possessed. In +a despotic country my life would be sacrificed to the fatal +knowledge--here, thank God, my life as well as my liberty are safe. + +The contents of the papers told me all that was necessary to enable me +to support the character which I had assumed. The reason why the party, +whom I was supposed to be, was intrusted with it, was, that he was in a +direct line, eventually heir, and the question was whether he would +waive his claim with the others, and allow death to bury crime in +oblivion. I felt that were I in his position I should so do--and +therefore was prepared to give an answer to his lordship. I sealed up +the papers, dressed myself, and went to dinner; and after the cloth was +removed, Lord Windermear, first rising and turning the key in the door, +said to me, in a low voice, "You have read the papers, and what those, +nearly as much interested as you are in this lamentable business, have +decided upon. Tell me, what is your opinion?" + +"My opinion, my lord, is, that I wish I had never known what has come to +light this day--that it will be most advisable never to recur to the +subject, and that the proposals made are, in my opinion, most judicious, +and should be acted upon." + +"That is well," replied his lordship; "then all are agreed, and I am +proud to find you possessed of such honour and good feeling. We now drop +the subject for ever. Are you inclined to leave town with me, or what do +you intend to do?" + +"I prefer remaining in town, if your lordship will introduce me to some +of the families of your acquaintance. Of course I know no one now." + +"Very true; I will introduce you, as agreed, as Mr Newland. It may be as +well that you do not know any of our relations, whom I have made to +suppose, that you are still abroad--and it would be awkward, when you +take your right name by-and-bye. Do you mean to see your mother?" + +"Impossible, my lord, at present; by-and-bye I hope to be able." + +"Perhaps it's all for the best. I will now write one note to Major +Carbonnell, introducing you as my particular friend, and requesting that +he will make London agreeable. He knows everybody, and will take you +everywhere." + +"When does your lordship start for the country?" + +"To-morrow; so we may as well part to-night. By-the-by, you have credit +at Drummond's, in the name of Newland, for a thousand pounds; the longer +you make it last you the better." + +His lordship gave me the letter of introduction. I returned to him the +sealed packet, shook hands with him, and took my departure. + +"Well, sir," said Timothy, rubbing his hands, as he stood before me, +"what is the news; for I am dying to hear it--and what is this secret?" + +"With regard to the secret, Tim, a secret it must remain. I dare not +tell it even to you." Timothy looked rather grave at this reply. "No, +Timothy, as a man of honour, I cannot." My conscience smote me when I +made use of the term; for, as a man of honour, I had no business to be +in possession of it. "My dear Timothy, I have done wrong already, do not +ask me to do worse." + +"I will not, Japhet; but only tell me what has passed, and what you +intend to do?" + +"That I will, Timothy, with pleasure;" and I then stated all that had +passed between his lordship and me. + +"And now, you observe, Timothy, I have gained what I desired, an +introduction into the best society." + +"And the means of keeping up your appearance," echoed Timothy, rubbing +his hands. "A thousand pounds will last a long while." + +"It will last a very long while, Tim, for I never will touch it; it +would be swindling." + +"So it would," replied Tim, his countenance falling; "well, I never +thought of that." + +"I have thought of much more, Tim; recollect I must, in a very short +time, be exposed to Lord Windermear, for the real Mr Neville will soon +come home." + +"Good heavens! what will become of us?" replied Timothy, with alarm in +his countenance. + +"Nothing can hurt you, Tim, the anger will be all upon me; but I am +prepared to face it, and I would face twice as much for the distant hope +of finding my father. Whatever Lord Windermear may feel inclined to do, +he can do nothing; and my possession of the secret will ensure even more +than my safety; it will afford me his protection, if I demand it." + +"I hope it may prove so," replied Timothy, "but I feel a little +frightened." + +"I do not; to-morrow I shall give my letter of introduction, and then I +will prosecute my search. So now, my dear Tim, good-night." + +The next morning, I lost no time in presenting my letter of introduction +to Major Carbonnell. He lived in apartments on the first floor in St +James's Street, and I found him at breakfast, in a silk dressing gown. I +had made up my mind that a little independence always carries with it an +air of fashion. When I entered, therefore, I looked at him with a +knowing air, and dropping the letter down on the table before him, said, +"There's something for you to read, Major; and, in the meantime, I'll +refresh myself on this chair;" suiting the action to the word, I threw +myself on a chair, amusing myself with tapping the sides of my boots +with a small cane which I carried in my hand. + +Major Carbonnell, upon whom I cast a furtive eye more than once during +the time that he was reading the letter, was a person of about +thirty-five years of age, well-looking, but disfigured by the size of +his whiskers, which advanced to the corners of his mouth, and met under +his throat. He was tall and well made, and with an air of fashion about +him that was undeniable. His linen was beautifully, clean and carefully +arranged, and he had as many rings on his fingers, and, when he was +dressed, chains and trinkets, as ever were put on by a lady. + +"My dear sir, allow me the honour of making at once your most intimate +acquaintance," said he, rising from his chair, and offering his hand, as +soon as he had perused the letter. "Any friend of Lord Windermear's +would be welcome, but when he brings such an extra recommendation in his +own appearance, he becomes doubly so." + +"Major Carbonnell," replied I, "I have seen you but two minutes, and I +have taken a particular fancy to you, in which I, no doubt, have proved +my discrimination. Of course, you know that I have just returned from +making a tour?" + +"So I understand from his lordship's letter. Mr Newland, my time is at +your service. Where are you staying?" + +"At the Piazza." + +"Very good; I will dine with you to-day; order some mulligatawny, they +are famous for it. After dinner we will go to the theatre." + +I was rather surprised at his cool manner of asking himself to dine with +me and ordering my dinner, but a moment's reflection made me feel what +sort of person I had to deal with. + +"Major, I take that as almost an affront. You will dine with me +_to-day!_ I beg to state that you _must_ dine with me every day that we +are not invited elsewhere; and what's more, sir, I shall be most +seriously displeased, if you do not order the dinner every time that you +do dine with me, and ask whoever you may think worthy of putting their +legs under our table, Let's have no doing things by halves, Major; I +know you now as well as if we had been intimate for ten years." + +The Major seized me by the hand. "My dear Newland, I only wish we _had +known_ one another ten years, as you say--the loss has been mine; but +now--you have breakfasted, I presume?" + +"Yes; having nothing to do, and not knowing a soul after my long +absence, I advanced my breakfast about two hours, that I might find you +at home; and now I'm at your service." + +"Say rather I am at yours. I presume you will walk. In ten minutes I +shall be ready. Either take up the paper, or whistle an air or two, or +anything else you like, just to kill ten minutes--and I shall be at your +command." + + + + +Chapter XXI + + I come out under a first-rate chaperon, and at once am established + into the regions of fashion--Prove that I am deserving of my + promotion. + + +"I beg your pardon, Newland," said the Major, returning from his +dressing-room, resplendent with chains and bijouterie; "but I must have +your Christian name." + +"It's rather a strange one," replied I; "it is Japhet." + +"Japhet! by the immortal powers, I'd bring an action against my +godfathers and godmothers; you ought to recover _heavy damages_." + +"Then I presume you would not have the name," replied I, with a knowing +look, "for a clear ten thousand a year." + +"Whew! that alters the case--it's astonishing how well any name looks in +large _gold_ letters. Well, as the old gentleman, whoever he might have +been, made you compensation, you must forgive and forget. Now where +shall we go?" + +"With your permission, as I came to town in these clothes, made by a +German tailor--Darmstadt's tailor by-the-bye--but still if tailor to a +prince, not the prince of tailors--I would wish you to take me to your +own: your dress appears very correct." + +"You show your judgment, Newland, it _is_ correct; Stulz will be +delighted to have your name on his books, and to do justice to that +figure. _Allons donc_." + +We sauntered up St James's Street, and before I had arrived at Stulz's, +I had been introduced to at least twenty of the young men about town. +The Major was most particular in his directions about the clothes, all +of which he ordered; and as I knew that he was well acquainted with the +fashion, I gave him carte blanche. When we left the shop, he said, "Now, +my dear Newland, I have given you a proof of friendship, which no other +man in England has had. Your dress will be the ne plus ultra. There are +little secrets only known to the initiated, and Stulz is aware that this +time I am in earnest. I am often asked to do the same for others, and I +pretend so to do; but a wink from me is sufficient, and Stulz dares not +dress them. Don't you want some bijouterie? or have you any at home?" + +"I may as well have a few trifles," replied I. + +We entered a celebrated jeweller's, and he selected for me to the amount +of about forty pounds. "That will do--never buy much; for it is +necessary to change every three months at least. What is the price of +this chain?" + +"It is only fifteen guineas, Major." + +"Well, I shall take it; but recollect," continued the Major; "I tell you +honestly, I never shall pay you." + +The jeweller smiled, bowed, and laughed; the Major threw the chain round +his neck, and we quitted the shop. + +"At all events, Major, they appear not to believe your word in that +shop." + +"My dear fellow, that's their own fault, not mine. I tell them honestly +I never will pay them; and you may depend upon it, I intend most +sacredly to keep my word. I never do pay anybody, for the best of all +possible reasons, I have no money; but then I do them a service--I make +them fashionable, and they know it." + +"What debts do you pay then, Major?" + +"Let me think--that requires consideration. Oh! I pay my washer-woman." + +"Don't you pay your debts of honour?" + +"Debts of honour! why I'll tell _you_ the truth; for I know that we +shall hunt in couples. If I win I take the money: but if I lose--why +then I forget to pay; and I always tell them so before I set down to the +table. If they won't believe me, it's not my fault. But what's the hour? +Come, I must make a few calls, and will introduce you." + +We sauntered on to Grosvenor Square, knocked, and were admitted into a +large, elegantly-furnished mansion. The footman announced us--"My dear +Lady Maelstrom, allow me the honour of introducing to you my very +particular friend, Mr Newland, consigned to my charge by my Lord +Windermear during his absence. He has just arrived from the continent, +where he has been making the grand tour." + +Her ladyship honoured me with a smile. "By-the-bye, Major, that reminds +me--do me the favour to come to the window. Excuse us one moment, Mr +Newland." + +The Major and Lady Maelstrom walked to the window, and exchanged a few +sentences, and then returned. Her ladyship holding up her finger, and +saying to him as they came towards me, "Promise me now that you won't +forget." + +"Your ladyship's slightest wishes are to me imperative commands," +replied the Major, with a graceful bow. + +In a quarter of an hour, during which the conversation was animated, we +rose to take our leave, when her ladyship came up to me, and offering +her hand, said, "Mr Newland, the friendship of Lord Windermear, and the +introduction of Major Carbonnell, are more than sufficient to induce me +to put your name down on my visiting list. I trust I shall see a great +deal of you, and that we shall be great friends." + +I bowed to this handsome announcement, and we retired. As soon as we +were out in the square, the Major observed, "You saw her take me on one +side--it was to _pump_. She has no daughters, but about fifty nieces, +and match-making is her delight. I told her that I would stake my honour +upon your possessing ten thousand a year; how much more I could not say. +I was not far wrong, was I?" + +I laughed. "What I may be worth, Major, I really cannot say; but I trust +that the event will prove that you are not far wrong. Say no more, my +dear fellow." + +"I understand--you are not yet of age--of course, have not yet come into +possession of your fortune." + +"That is exactly the case, Major. I am now but little more than +nineteen." + +"You look older; but there is no getting over baptismal registries with +the executors. Newland, you must content yourself for the two next years +in playing Moses, and only peep at the promised land." + +We made two or three more calls, and then returned to St James's Street. +"Where shall we go now? By-the-bye, don't you want to go to your +banker's?" + +"I will just stroll down with you, and see if they have paid any money +in," replied I, carelessly. + +We called at Drummond's, and I asked them if there was any money paid in +to the credit of Mr Newland. + +"Yes, sir," replied one of the clerks: "there is one thousand pounds +paid in yesterday." + +"Very good," replied I. + +"How much do you wish to draw for?" inquired the Major. + +"I don't want any," replied I. "I have more money than I ought to have +in my desk at this moment." + +"Well, then, let us go and order dinner; or perhaps you would like to +stroll about a little more; if so, I will go and order the dinner. +Here's Harcourt, that's lucky. Harcourt my dear fellow, know Mr Newland, +my very particular friend. I must leave you now; take his arm, +Harcourt, for half an hour, and then join us at dinner at the Piazza." + +Mr Harcourt was an elegant young man of about five-and-twenty. Equally +pleased with each other's externals, we were soon familiar: he was +witty, sarcastic, and wellbred. After half an hour's conversation he +asked me what I thought of the Major. I looked him in the face and +smiled. "That look tells me that you will not be his dupe, otherwise I +had warned you: he is a strange character: but if you have money enough +to afford to _keep him_, you cannot do better, as he is acquainted with, +and received by, everybody. His connections are good; and he once had a +very handsome fortune, but it was soon run out, and he was obliged to +sell his commission in the Guards. Now he lives upon the world; which as +Shakespeare says, is his oyster; and he has wit and sharpness enough to +open it. Moreover, he has some chance of falling into a peerage; that +prospect, and his amusing qualities, added to his being the most +fashionable man about town, keeps his head above water. I believe Lord +Windermear, who is his cousin, very often helps him." + +"It was Lord Windermear who introduced me to him," observed I. + +"Then he will not venture to play any tricks upon you, further than +eating your dinners, borrowing your money, and forgetting to pay it." + +"You must acknowledge," said I, "he always tells you beforehand that he +never will pay you." + +"And that is the only point in which he adheres to his word," replied +Harcourt, laughing; "but, tell me, am I to be _your_ guest to-day?" + +"If you will do me that honour." + +"I assure you I am delighted to come, as I shall have a further +opportunity of cultivating your acquaintance." + +"Then we had better bend our steps towards the hotel, for it is late," +replied I; and we did so accordingly. + + + + +Chapter XXII + + The real Simon Pure proves the worse of the two--I am found guilty, + but not condemned; convicted, yet convince; and after having + behaved the very contrary to, prove that I am, a gentleman. + + +On our arrival, we found the table spread, champagne in ice under the +sideboard, and apparently everything prepared for a sumptuous dinner, +the Major on the sofa giving directions to the waiter, and Timothy +looking all astonishment. + +"Major," said I, "I cannot tell you how much I am obliged to you for +your kindness in taking all this trouble off my hands, that I might +follow up the agreeable introduction you have given me to Mr Harcourt." + +"My dear Newland, say no more; you will, I dare say, do the same for me +if I require it, when I give a dinner. (Harcourt caught my eye, as if to +say, "You may safely promise that.") But, Newland, do you know that the +nephew of Lord Windermear has just arrived? Did you meet abroad?" + +"No," replied I, somewhat confused; but I soon recovered myself. As for +Tim, he bolted out of the room. "What sort of a person is he?" + +"That you may judge for yourself, my dear fellow, for I asked him to +join us, I must say, more out of compliment to Lord Windermear than +anything else; for I am afraid that, even I could never make a gentleman +of him. But take Harcourt with you to your room, and by the time you +have washed your hands, I will have dinner on the table. I took the +liberty of desiring your valet to show me in about ten minutes ago. He's +a shrewd fellow that of your's--where did you pick him up?" + +"By mere accident," replied I; "come, Mr Harcourt." + +On our return, we found the real Simon Pure, Mr Estcourt, sitting with +the major, who introduced us, and dinner being served, we sat down to +table. + +Mr Estcourt was a young man, about my own age, but not so tall by two +or three inches. His features were prominent, but harsh; and when I saw +him, I was not at all surprised at Lord Windermear's expressions of +satisfaction, when he suppossd that I was his nephew. His countenance +was dogged and sullen, and he spoke little; he appeared to place an +immense value upon birth, and hardly deigned to listen, except the +aristocracy were the subject of discourse. I treated him with marked +deference, that I might form an acquaintance, and found before we parted +that night, that I had succeeded. Our dinner was excellent, and we were +all, except Mr Estcourt, in high good humour. We sat late--too late to +go to the theatre, and promising to meet the next day at noon, Harcourt +and the Major took their leave. + +Mr Estcourt had indulged rather too much, and, after their departure, +became communicative. I plied the bottle and we sat up for more than an +hour; he talked of nothing but his family and his expectations. I took +this opportunity of discovering what his feelings were likely to be when +he was made acquainted with the important secret which was in my +possession. I put a case somewhat similar, and asked him whether in such +circumstances he would waive his right for a time, to save the honour of +his family. + +"No, by G--d!" replied he, "I never would. What! give up even for a day +my right--conceal my true rank for the sake of relatives? never--nothing +would induce me." + +I was satisfied, and then casually asked him if he had written to Lord +Windermear to inform him of his arrival. + +"No," replied he; "I shall write to-morrow." He soon after retired to +his own apartment, and I rang for Timothy. + +"Good heavens, sir!" cried Timothy, "what is all this--and what are you +about? I am frightened out of my wits. Why, sir, our money will not last +two months." + +"I do not expect it will last much longer, Tim; but it cannot be +helped. Into society I must get--and to do so, must pay for it." + +"But, sir, putting the expense aside, what are we to do about this Mr +Estcourt? All must be found out." + +"I intend that it shall be found out, Tim," replied I; "but not yet. He +will write to his uncle to-morrow; you must obtain the letter, for it +must not go. I must first have time to establish myself, and then Lord +Windermear may find out his error as soon as he pleases." + +"Upon my honour, Japhet, you appear to be afraid of nothing." + +"I fear nothing, Tim, when I am following up the object of my wishes. I +will allow no obstacles to stand in my way, in my search after my +father." + +"Really, you seem to be quite mad on that point, Japhet." + +"Perhaps I may be, Tim," replied I, thoughtfully. "At all events, let us +go to bed now, and I will tell you to-morrow morning, all the events of +this day." + +Mr Estcourt wrote his letter, which Tim very officiously offered to put +into the post, instead of which we put it between the bars of the grate. + +I must now pass over about three weeks, during which I became very +intimate with the Major and Mr Harcourt, and was introduced by them to +the clubs, and almost every person of fashion. The idea of my wealth, +and my very handsome person and figure, ensured me a warm reception, and +I soon became one of the stars of the day. During this time, I also +gained the entire confidence of Mr Estcourt, who put letter after letter +into the hands of Timothy, who of course put them into the usual place. +I pacified him as long as I could, by expressing my opinion, that his +lordship was on a visit to some friends in the neighbourhood of his +seat; but at last, he would remain in town no longer. You may go now, +thought I, I feel quite safe. + +It was about five days after his departure, as I was sauntering, arm in +arm with the Major, who generally dined with me about five days in the +week, that I perceived the carriage of Lord Windermear, with his +lordship in it. He saw us, and pulling his check-string, alighted, and +coming up to us, with the colour mounting to his forehead with emotion, +returned the salute of the Major and me. + +"Major," said he, "you will excuse me, but I am anxious to have some +conversation with Mr Newland; perhaps," continued his lordship, +addressing me, "you will do me the favour to take a seat in my +carriage?" + +Fully prepared, I lost none of my self-possession, but, thanking his +lordship, I bowed to him, and stepped in. + +His lordship followed, and, saying to the footman, "Home--drive fast," +fell back in the carriage, and never uttered one word until we had +arrived, and had entered the dining-parlour. He then took a few steps up +and down, before he said, "Mr Newland, or whatever your name may be, I +perceive that you consider the possession of an important secret to be +your safeguard. To state my opinion of your conduct is needless; who you +are, and what you are, I know not; but," continued he, no longer +controlling his anger; "you certainly can have no pretensions to the +character of a gentleman." + +"Perhaps your lordship," replied I, calmly, "will inform me upon what +you may ground your inference." + +"Did you not, in the first place, open a letter addressed to another?" + +"My lord, I opened a letter brought to me with the initials of my name, +and at the time I opened it I fully believed that it was intended for +me." + +"We will grant that, sir; but after you had opened it you must have +known that it was for some other person." + +"I will not deny that, my lord." + +"Notwithstanding which, you apply to my lawyer, representing yourself as +another person, to obtain sealed papers." + +"I did, my lord; but allow me to say, that I never should have done so, +had I not been warned by a dream." + +"By a dream?" + +"Yes, my lord. I had determined not to go for them, when in a dream I +was ordered so to do." + +"Paltry excuse! and then you break private seals." + +"Nay, my lord, although I did go for the papers, I could not, even with +the idea of supernatural interposition, make up my mind to break the +seals. If your lordship will recollect, it was you who broke the seals, +and insisted upon my reading the papers." + +"Yes, sir, under your false name." + +"It is the name by which I go at present, although I acknowledge it is +false; but that is not my fault--I have no other at present." + +"It is very true, sir, that in all I have now mentioned, the law will +not reach you; but recollect, that by assuming another person's name--" + +"I never did, my lord," interrupted I. + +"Well, I may say, by inducing me to believe that you were my nephew, you +have obtained money under false pretences; and for that I now have you +in my power." + +"My lord, I never asked you for the money; you yourself paid it into the +banker's hands to my credit, and to my own name. I appeal to you now, +whether, if you so deceived yourself, the law can reach me?" + +"Mr Newland, I will say, that much as I regret what has passed, I regret +more than all the rest, that one so young, so prepossessing, so candid +in appearance, should prove such an adept in deceit. Thinking you were +my nephew, my heart warmed towards you, and I must confess, that since I +have seen my real nephew, the mortification has been very great." + +"My lord, I thank you; but allow me to observe, that I am no swindler. +Your thousand pounds you will find safe in the bank, for penury would +not have induced me to touch it. But now that your lordship appears more +cool, will you do me the favour to listen to me? When you have heard my +life up to the present, and my motives for what I have done, you will +then decide how far I am to blame." + +His lordship took a chair, and motioned to me to take another. I +narrated what had occurred when I was left at the Foundling, and gave +him a succinct account of my adventures subsequently--my determination +to find my father--the dream which induced me to go for the papers--and +all that the reader has already been acquainted with. His lordship +evidently perceived the monomania which controlled me, and heard me with +great attention. + +"You certainly, Mr Newland, do not stand so low in my opinion as you did +before this explanation, and I must make allowances for the excitement +under which I perceive you to labour on one subject; but now, sir, allow +me to put one question, and I beg that you will answer candidly. What +price do you demand for your secrecy on this important subject?" + +"My lord!" replied I, rising with dignity; "this is the greatest affront +you have put upon me yet; still I will name the price by which I will +solemnly bind myself, by all my future hopes of finding my father in +this world, and of finding an eternal Father in the next, and that +price, my lord, is a return of your good opinion." + +His lordship also rose, and walked up and down the room with much +agitation in his manner. "What am I to make of you, Mr Newland?" + +"My lord, if I were a swindler, I should have taken your money; if I had +wished to avail myself of the secret, I might have escaped with all the +documents, and made my own terms. I am, my lord, nothing more than an +abandoned child, trying all he can to find his father" My feelings +overpowered me, and I burst into tears. As soon as I could recover +myself, I addressed his lordship, who had been watching me in silence, +and not without emotion. "I have one thing more to say to you, my lord." +I then mentioned the conversation between Mr Estcourt and myself, and +pointed out the propriety of not making him a party to the important +secret. + +His lordship allowed me to proceed without interruption, and after a few +moments' thought said, "I believe that you are right, Mr Newland; and I +now begin to think that it was better that this secret should have been +entrusted to you than to him. You have now conferred an obligation on +me, and may command me. I believe you to be honest, but a little mad, +and I beg your pardon for the pain which I have occasioned you." + +"My lord, I am more than satisfied." + +"Can I be of any assistance to you, Mr Newland?" + +"If, my lord, you could at all assist me, or direct me in my search--" + +"There I am afraid I can be of little use; but I will give you the means +of prosecuting your search, and in so doing, I am doing but an act of +justice, for in introducing you to Major Carbonnell, I am aware that I +must have very much increased your expenses. It was an error which must +be repaired, and therefore, Mr Newland, I beg you will consider the +money at the bank as yours, and make use of it to enable you to obtain +your ardent wish." + +"My lord--" + +"I will not be denied, Mr Newland; and if you feel any delicacy on the +subject, you may take it as a loan, to be repaid when you find it +convenient. Do not, for a moment, consider that it is given to you +because you possess an important secret, for I will trust entirely to +your honour on that score." + +"Indeed, my lord," replied I, "your kindness overwhelms me, and I feel +as if, in you, I had already _almost_ found a father. Excuse me, my +lord, but did your lordship ever--ever--" + +"I know what you would say, my poor fellow: no, I never did. I never was +blessed with children. Had I been, I should not have felt that I was +disgraced by having one resembling you. Allow me to entreat you, Mr +Newland, that you do not suffer the mystery of your birth to weigh so +heavily on your mind; and now I wish you good morning, and if you think +I can be useful to you, I beg that you will not fail to let me know." + +"May Heaven pour down blessings on your head," replied I, kissing +respectfully his lordship's hand; "and may my father, when I find him, +be as like unto you as possible." I made my obeisance, and quitted the +house. + + + + +Chapter XXIII + + The Major prevents the landlord from imposing on me, but I gain + nothing by his interference--For economical reasons I agree to live + with him that he may live on me. + + +I returned to the hotel, for my mind had been much agitated, and I +wished for quiet, and the friendship of Timothy. As soon as I arrived I +told him all that had passed. + +"Indeed," replied Timothy, "things do now wear a pleasant aspect; for I +am afraid, that without that thousand, we could not have carried on for +a fortnight longer. The bill here is very heavy, and I'm sure the +landlord wishes to see the colour of his money." + +"How much do you think we have left? It is high time, Timothy, that we +now make up our accounts, and arrange some plans for the future," +replied I. "I have paid the jeweller and the tailor, by the advice of +the Major, who says, that you should always pay your _first bills_ as +soon as possible, and all your subsequent bills as late as possible; and +if put off _sine die_, so much the better. In fact, I owe very little +now, but the bill here, I will send for it to-night." + +Here we were interrupted by the entrance of the landlord. "O Mr Wallace, +you are the very person I wished to see; let me have my bill, if you +please." + +"It's not of the least consequence, sir," replied he; "but if you wish +it, I have posted down to yesterday," and the landlord left the room. + +"You were both of one mind, at all events," said Timothy, laughing; "for +he had the bill in his hand, and concealed it the moment you asked for +it." + +In about ten minutes the landlord re-appeared, and presenting the bill +upon a salver, made his bow and retired. I looked it over, it amounted +to L104, which, for little more than three weeks, was pretty well. +Timothy shrugged up his shoulders, while I ran over the items. "I do not +see that there is anything to complain of, Tim," observed I, when I came +to the bottom of it; "but I do see that living here, with the Major +keeping me an open house, will never do. Let us see how much money we +have left." + +Tim brought the dressing-case in which our cash was deposited, and we +found, that after paying the waiters, and a few small bills not yet +liquidated, our whole stock was reduced to fifty shillings. + +"Merciful Heaven! what an escape," cried Timothy; "if it had not been +for this new supply, what should we have done?" + +"Very badly, Timothy; but the money is well spent, after all. I have now +entrance into the first circles. I can do without Major Carbonnell; at +all events, I shall quit this hotel, and take furnished apartments, and +live at the clubs. I know how to put him off." + +I laid the money on the salver, and desired Timothy to ring for the +landlord, when who should come up but the Major and Harcourt. "Why, +Newland! what are you going to do with that money?" said the Major. + +"I am paying my bill, Major." + +"Paying your bill, indeed; let us see--L104. O this is a confounded +imposition. You mustn't pay this." At this moment the landlord entered. +"Mr Wallace," said the Major, "my friend Mr Newland was about, as you +may see, to pay you the whole of your demand; but allow me to observe, +that being my very particular friend, and the Piazza having been +particularly recommended by me, I do think that your charges are +somewhat exorbitant. I shall certainly advise Mr Newland to leave the +house to-morrow, if you are not more reasonable." + +"Allow me to observe, Major, that my reason for sending for my bill, was +to pay it before I went into the country, which I must do to-morrow, for +a few days." + +"Then I shall certainly recommend Mr Newland not to come here when he +returns, Mr Wallace, for I hold myself, to a certain degree, after the +many dinners we have ordered here, and of which I have partaken, as I +may say, _particeps criminis_, or in other words, as having been a party +to this extortion. Indeed, Mr Wallace, some reduction must be made, or +you will greatly hurt the credit of your house." + +Mr Wallace declared, that really he had made nothing but the usual +charges; that he would look over the bill again, and see what he could +do. + +"My dear Newland," said the Major, "I have ordered your dinners, allow +me to settle your bill. Now, Mr Wallace, suppose we take off +_one-third_?" + +"One-_third_, Major Carbonnell! I should be a loser." + +"I am not exactly of your opinion; but let me see--now take your choice. +Take off L20, or you lose my patronage, and that of all my friends. Yes +or no?" + +The landlord, with some expostulation, at last consented, he receipted +the bill, and leaving L20 of the money on the salver, made his bow, and +retired. + +"Rather fortunate that I supped in, my dear Newland; now there are L20 +saved. By-the-bye, I'm short of cash. You've no objection to let me have +this? I shall never pay you, you know." + +"I do know you _never_ will pay me, Major; nevertheless, as I should +have paid it to the landlord had you not interfered, I will lend it to +you." + +"You are a good fellow, Newland," said the Major, pocketing the money. +"If I had borrowed it, and you had thought you would have had it repaid, +I should not have thanked you; but as you lend it me with your eyes +open, it is nothing more than a very delicate manner of obliging me, +and I tell you candidly, that I will not forget it. So you really are +off to-morrow?" + +"Yes," replied I, "I must go, for I find that I am not to make ducks and +drakes of my money, until I come into possession of my property." + +"I see, my dear fellow. Executors are the very devil; they have no +feeling. Never mind; there's a way of getting to windward of them. I +dine with Harcourt, and he has come to ask you to join us." + +"With pleasure." + +"I shall expect you at seven, Newland," said Harcourt, as he quitted the +room with the Major. + +"Dear me, sir, how could you let that gentleman walk off with your +money?" cried Timothy. "I was just rubbing my hands with the idea that +we were L20 better off than we thought, and away it went, like smoke." + +"And will never come back again, Tim; but never mind that, it is +important that I make a friend of him, and his friendship is only to be +bought. I shall have value received. And now, Tim, we must pack up, for +I leave this to-morrow morning. I shall go down to ----, and see little +Fleta." + +I dined with Harcourt. The Major was rather curious to know what it was +which appeared to flurry Lord Windermear, and what had passed between +us. I told him that his lordship was displeased on money matters, but +that all was right, only that I must be more careful for the future. +"Indeed, Major, I think I shall take lodgings. I shall be more +comfortable, and better able to receive my friends." + +Harcourt agreed with me, that it was a much better plan, when the Major +observed, "Why, Newland, I have a room quite at your service; suppose +you come and live with me?" + +"I am afraid I shall not save by that," replied I, laughing, "for you +will not pay your share of the bills." + +"No, upon my honour I will not; so I give you fair warning; but as I +always dine with you when I do not dine elsewhere, it will be a saving +to you--for you will _have your lodgings_, Newland; and you know the +house is my own, and I let off the rest of it; so as far as that bill is +concerned, you will be safe." + +"Make the best bargain you can, Newland," said Harcourt; "accept his +offer, for depend upon it, it will be a saving in the end." + +"It certainly deserves consideration," replied I; "and the Major's +company must be allowed to have its due weight in the scale; if +Carbonnell will promise to be a little more economical--" + +"I will, my dear fellow--I will act as your steward, and make your money +last as long as I can, for my _own sake_, as well as yours. Is it a +bargain? I have plenty of room for your servant, and if he will assist +me a little, I will discharge my own." I then consented to the +arrangement. + + + + +Chapter XXIV + + The Major teaches me how to play Whist, so as never to lose, which + is by playing against each other, and into each other's hands. + + +The next day I went to the banker's, drew out L150, and set off with +Timothy for ----. Fleta threw herself into my arms, and sobbed with joy. +When I told her Timothy was outside, and wished to see her, she asked +why he did not come in; and, to show how much she had been accustomed to +see, without making remarks, when he made his appearance in his livery, +she did not, by her countenance, express the least surprise, nor, +indeed, did she put any questions to me on the subject. The lady who +kept the school praised her very much for docility and attention, and +shortly after left the room. Fleta then took the chain from around her +neck into her hand, and told me that she did recollect something about +it, which was, that the lady whom she remembered, wore a long pair of +ear-rings, of the same make and materials. She could not, however, call +to mind anything else. I remained with the little girl for three hours, +and then returned to London--taking my luggage from the hotel, and +installed myself into the apartments of Major Carbonnell. + +The Major adhered to his promise; we certainly lived well, for he could +not live otherwise; but in every other point, he was very careful not to +add to expense. The season was now over, and everybody of consequence +quitted the metropolis. To remain in town would be to lose caste, and we +had a conference where we should proceed. + +"Newland," said the Major, "you have created a sensation this season, +which has done great honour to my patronage; but I trust, next spring, +that I shall see you form a good alliance; for, believe me, out of the +many heartless beings we have mingled with, there are still not only +daughters, but mothers, who are not influenced by base and sordid +views." + +"Why, Carbonnell, I never heard you venture upon so long a moral speech +before." + +"True, Newland, and it may be a long while before I do so again; the +world is my oyster, which I must open, that I may live; but recollect, I +am only trying to recover my own, which the world has swindled me out +of. There was a time when I was even more disinterested, more confiding, +and more innocent than you were when I first took you in hand. I +suffered, and was ruined by my good qualities; and I now live and do +well by having discarded them. We must fight the world with its own +weapons; but still, as I said before, there is some good in it, some +pure ore amongst the dross; and it is possible to find high rank and +large fortune, and at the same time an innocent mind. If you do marry, I +will try hard but you shall possess both; not that fortune can be of +much consequence to you." + +"Depend upon it, Carbonnell, I never will marry without fortune." + +"I did not know that I had schooled you so well; be it so--it is but +fair that you should expect it; and it shall be an item in the match, if +I have anything to do with it." + +"But why are you so anxious that I should marry, Carbonnell?" + +"Because I think you will, in all probability, avoid the gaming-table, +which I should have taken you to myself had you been in possession of +your fortune when I first knew you, and have had my share of your +plucking; but now I do know you, I have that affection for you that I +think it better you should not lose your all; for observe, Newland, my +share of your spoliation would not be more than what I have, and may +still receive, from you; and if you marry and settle down, there will +always be a good house and a good table for me, as long as I find favour +with your wife; and, at all events, a friend in need, that I feel +convinced of. So now you have my reasons; some smack of the +disinterestedness of former days, others of my present worldliness; you +may believe which you please." And the Major laughed as he finished his +speech. + +"Carbonnell," replied I, "I will believe that the better feelings +predominate--that the world has made you what you are; and that had you +not been ruined by the world, you would have been disinterested and +generous; even now, your real nature often gains the ascendency, and I +am sure that in all that you have done, which is not defensible, your +poverty, and not your will, has consented. Now, blunted by habit and +time, the suggestion of conscience do not often give you any +uneasiness." + +"You are very right, my dear fellow," replied the Major; "and in having +a better opinion of me than the world in general, you do me, I trust, no +more than justice. I will not squander your fortune, when you come to +it, if I can help it; and you'll allow that's a very handsome promise on +my part." + +"I'll defy you to squander my fortune," replied I, laughing. + +"Nay, don't defy me, Newland, for if you do, you'll put me on my +mettle. Above all, don't lay me a bet, for that will be still more +dangerous. We have only spent about four hundred of the thousand since +we have lived together, which I consider highly economical. What do you +say, shall we go to Cheltenham? You will find plenty of Irish girls, +looking out for husbands, who will give you a warm reception." + +"I hate your fortune and establishment hunters," replied I. + +"I grant that they are looking out for a good match, so are all the +world; but let me do them justice. Although, if you proposed, in three +days they would accept you; yet once married, they make the very best +wives in the world. But recollect we must go somewhere; and I think +Cheltenham is as good a place as any other. I do not mean for a wife, +but--it will suit my own views." + +This last observation decided me, and in a few days we were at +Cheltenham; and having made our appearance at the rooms, were soon in +the vortex of society. "Newland," said Carbonnell, "I dare say you find +time hang rather heavy in this monotonous place." + +"Not at all," replied I; "what with dining out, dancing, and +promenading, I do very well." + +"But we must do better. Tell me, are you a good hand at whist?" + +"Not by any means. Indeed, I hardly know the game." + +"It is a fashionable and necessary accomplishment. I must make you +master of it, and our mornings shall be dedicated to the work." + +"Agreed," replied I; and from that day, every morning after breakfast +till four o'clock, the Major and I were shut up, playing two dummies +under his instruction. Adept as he was, I very soon learnt all the +finesse and beauty of the game. + +"You will do now, Newland," said the Major one morning, tossing the +cards away. "Recollect, if you are asked to play, and I have agreed, do +not refuse; but we must always play against each other." + +"I don't see what we shall gain by that," replied I; "for if I win, +you'll lose." + +"Never do you mind that; only follow my injunctions, and play as high as +they choose. We only stay here three weeks longer, and must make the +most of our time." + +I confess I was quite puzzled at what might be the major's intentions; +but that night we sauntered into the club. Not having made our +appearance before, we were considered as new hands by those who did not +know the Major, and were immediately requested to make up a game. "Upon +my word, gentlemen, in the first place, I play very badly," replied the +Major; "and in the next," continued he, laughing, "if I lose, I never +shall pay you, for I'm cleaned out." + +The way in which the Major said this only excited a smile; he was not +believed, and I was also requested to take a hand. "I'll not play with +the Major," observed I, "for he plays badly, and has bad luck into the +bargain; I might as well lay my money down on the table." + +This was agreed to by the other parties, and we sat down. The first +rubber of short whist was won by the Major and his partner; with the +bets it amounted to eighteen pounds. I pulled out my purse to pay the +Major; but he refused, saying, "No, Newland, pay my partner; and with +you, sir," said he, addressing my partner, "I will allow the debt to +remain until we rise from the table. Newland, we are not going to let +you off yet, I can tell you." + +I paid my eighteen pounds, and we recommenced. Although his partner did +not perhaps observe it, for he was but an indifferent player, or if he +did observe it, had the politeness not to say anything, the Major now +played very badly. He lost three rubbers one after another, and, with +bets and stakes, they amounted to one hundred and forty pounds. At the +end of the last rubber he threw up the cards, exclaiming against his +luck, and declaring that he would play no more. "How are we now, sir?" +said he to my partner. + +"You owed me, I think, eighteen pounds." + +"Eighteen from one hundred and forty, leaves one hundred and twenty-two +pounds, which I now owe you. You must, I'm afraid, allow me to be your +debtor," continued the Major, in a most insinuating manner. "I did not +come here with the intention of playing. I presume I shall find you here +to-morrow night." + +The gentleman bowed, and appeared quite satisfied. Major Carbonnell's +partner paid me one hundred and forty pounds, which I put in my +pocket-book, and we quitted the club. + + + + +Chapter XXV + + We fund our winnings, and consider to refund, a work of + supererogation--In looking after my father, I obey the old adage, + "Follow your nose." + + +As soon as we were in the street, I commenced an inquiry as to the +Major's motives. "Not one word, my dear fellow, until we are at home," +replied he. As soon as we arrived, he threw himself in a chair, and +crossing his legs, commenced: "You observe, Newland, that I am very +careful that you should do nothing to injure your character. As for my +own, all the honesty in the world will not redeem it; nothing but a +peerage will ever set me right again in this world, and a coronet will +cover a multitude of sins. I have thought it my duty to add something to +our finances, and intend to add very considerably to them before we +leave Cheltenham. You have won one hundred and twenty-eight pounds." + +"Yes," replied I; "but you have lost it." + +"Granted; but, as in most cases, I never mean _to pay_ my losses, you +see that it must be a winning speculation as long as we play against +each other." + +"I perceive," replied I; "but am not I a confederate?" + +"No; you paid when you lost, and took your money when you won. Leave me +to settle my own debts of honour." + +"But you will meet him again to-morrow night." + +"Yes, and I will tell you why. I never thought it possible that we could +have met two such bad players at the club. We must now play against +them, and we must win in the long run: by which means I shall pay off +the debt I owe him, and you will win and pocket money." + +"Ah," replied I, "if you mean to allow him a chance for his money, I +have no objection--that will be all fair." + +"Depend upon it, Newland, when I know that people play as badly as they +do, I will not refuse them; but when we sit down with others, it must be +as it was before--we must play against each other, and I shall owe the +money. I told the fellow that I never would pay him." + +"Yes; but he thought you were only joking." + +"That is his fault--I was in earnest. I could not have managed this had +it not been that you are known to be a young man of ten thousand pounds +per annum, and supposed to be my dupe. I tell you so candidly; and now +good-night." + +I turned the affair over in my mind as I undressed--it was not +honest--but I paid when I lost, and I only took the money when I +won,--still I did not like it; but the bank notes caught my eye as they +lay on the table, and--I was satisfied. Alas! how easy are scruples +removed when we want money! How many are there who, when in a state of +prosperity and affluence, when not tried by temptation, would have +blushed at the bare idea of a dishonest action, have raised and held up +their hands in abhorrence, when they have heard that others have been +found guilty; and yet, when in adversity, have themselves committed the +very acts which before they so loudly condemned! How many of the other +sex, who have expressed their indignation and contempt at those who have +fallen, when tempted, have fallen themselves! Let us therefore be +charitable; none of us can tell to what we may be reduced by +circumstances; and when we acknowledge that the error is great, let us +feel sorrow and pity rather than indignation, and pray that we also may +not be "_led into temptation_" + +As agreed upon, the next evening we repaired to the club, and found the +two gentlemen ready to receive us. This time the Major refused to play +unless it was with me, as I had such good fortune, and no difficulty was +made by our opponents. We sat down and played till four o'clock in the +morning. At first, notwithstanding our good play, fortune favoured our +adversaries; but the luck soon changed, and the result of the evening +was, that the Major had a balance in his favour of forty pounds, and I +rose a winner of one hundred and seventy-one pounds, so that in two +nights we had won three hundred and forty-two pounds. For nearly three +weeks this continued, the Major not paying when not convenient, and we +quitted Cheltenham with about eight hundred pounds in our pockets; the +Major having paid about one hundred and twenty pounds to different +people who frequented the club; but they were Irishmen, who were not to +be trifled with. I proposed to the Major that we should pay those debts, +as there still would be a large surplus: he replied, "Give me the +money." I did so. "Now," continued he, "so far your scruples are +removed, as you will have been strictly honest; but, my dear fellow, if +you know how many debts of this sort are due to me, of which I never did +touch one farthing, you would feel as I do--that it is excessively +foolish to _part with money_. I have them all booked here, and may some +day pay--when convenient; but, at present, most decidedly it is not so." +The Major put the notes into his pocket, and the conversation was +dropped. + +The next morning we had ordered our horses, when Timothy came up to me, +and made a sign, as we were at breakfast, for me to come out. I followed +him. + +"Oh! sir, I could not help telling you, but there is a gentleman with--" + +"With what?" replied I, hastily. + +"With your nose, sir, exactly--and in other respects very like you--just +about the age your father should be." + +"Where is he, Timothy?" replied I, all my feelings in 'search of my +father,' rushing into my mind. + +"Down below, sir, about to set off in a post-chaise and four, now waiting +at the door." + +I ran down with my breakfast napkin in my hand, and hastened to the +portico of the hotel--he was in his carriage, and the porter was then +shutting the door. I looked at him. He was, as Timothy said, _very like_ +me indeed, the _nose_ exact. I was breathless, and I continued to gaze. + +"All right," cried the ostler. + +"I beg your pardon, sir,--" said I, addressing the gentleman in the +carriage, who perceiving a napkin in my hand, probably took me for one +of the waiters, for he replied very abruptly, 'I have remembered you;' +and pulling up the glass, away whirled the chariot, the nave of the hind +wheel striking me a blow on the thigh which numbed it so, that it was +with difficulty I could limp up to our apartments, when I threw myself +on the sofa in a state of madness and despair. + +"Good heavens, Newland, what is the matter?" cried the Major. + +"Matter," replied I, faintly. "I have seen my father." + +"Your father, Newland? you must be mad. He was dead before you could +recollect him--at least so you told me. How then, even if it were his +ghost, could you have recognised him?" + +The Major's remarks reminded me of the imprudence I had been guilty of. + +"Major," replied I, "I believe I am very absurd; but he was so like me, +and I have so often longed after my father, so long wished to see him +face to face--that--that--I'm a great fool, that's the fact." + +"You must go to the next world, my good fellow, to meet him face to +face, that's clear; and I presume, upon a little consideration, you will +feel inclined to postpone your journey. Very often in your sleep I have +heard you talk about your father, and wondered why you should think so +much about him." + +"I cannot help it," replied I. "From my earliest days my father has ever +been in my thoughts." + +"I can only say, that very few sons are half so dutiful to their +fathers' memories--but finish your breakfast, and then we start for +London." + +I complied with his request as well as I could, and we were soon on our +road. I fell into a reverie--my object was to again find out this +person, and I quietly directed Timothy to ascertain from the post-boys +the directions he gave at the last stage. The Major perceiving me not +inclined to talk, made but few observations; one, however struck me. +"Windermear," said he, "I recollect one day, when I was praising you, +said carelessly, 'that you were a fine young man, but a _little tete +montee_ upon one point.' I see now it must have been upon this." I made +no reply, but it certainly was a strange circumstance that the Major +never had any suspicions on this point--yet he certainly never had. We +had once or twice talked over my affairs. I had led him to suppose that +my father and mother died in my infancy, and that I should have had a +large fortune when I came of age; but this had been entirely by indirect +replies, not by positive assertions; the fact was, that the Major, who +was an adept in all deceit, never had an idea that he could have been +deceived by one so young, so prepossessing, and apparently so ingenuous +as myself. He had, in fact, deceived himself. His ideas of my fortune +arose entirely from my asking him, whether he would have refused the +name of _Japhet_ for ten thousand pounds per annum. Lord Windermear, +after having introduced me, did not consider it at all necessary to +acquaint the Major with my real history, as it was imparted to him in +confidence. He allowed matters to take their course, and me to work my +own way in the world. Thus do the most cunning overreach themselves, and +with their eyes open to any deceit on the part of others, prove quite +blind when they deceive themselves. + +Timothy could not obtain any intelligence from the people of the inn at +the last stage, except that the chariot had proceeded to London. We +arrived late at night, and, much exhausted, I was glad to go to bed. + + + + +Chapter XXVI + + In following my nose, I narrowly escaped being _nosed_ by a Beak. + + +And as I lay in my bed, thinking that I was now nearly twenty years old, +and had not yet made any discovery, my heart sank within me. My +monomania returned with redoubled force, and I resolved to renew my +search with vigour. So I told Timothy the next morning, when he came +into my room, but from him I received little consolation; he advised me +to look out for a good match in a rich wife, and leave time to develop +the mystery of my birth; pointing out the little chance I ever had of +success. + +Town was not full, the season had hardly commenced, and we had few +invitations or visits to distract my thoughts from their object. My leg +became so painful, that for a week I was on the sofa, Timothy every day +going out to ascertain if he could find the person whom we had seen +resembling me, and every evening returning without success, I became +melancholy and nervous. Carbonnell could not imagine what was the matter +with me. At last I was able to walk, and I sallied forth, perambulating, +or rather running through street after street, looking into every +carriage, so as to occasion surprise to the occupants, who believed me +mad; my dress and person were disordered, for I had become indifferent +to it, and Timothy himself believed that I was going out of my senses. + +At last, after we had been in town about five weeks, I saw the very +object of my search, seated in a carriage, of a dark brown colour, arms +painted in shades, so as not to be distinguishable but at a near +approach; his hat was off, and he sat upright and formally. "That is +he!" ejaculated I, and away I ran after the carriage. "It is the nose," +cried I, as I ran down the street, knocking every one to the right and +left. I lost my hat, but fearful of losing sight of the carriage, I +hastened on, when I heard a cry of "Stop him, stop him!" "Stop him," +cried I, also, referring to the gentleman in black in the carriage. + +"That won't do," cried a man, seizing me by the collar; "I know a trick +worth two of that." + +"Let me go," roared I, struggling; but he only held me the faster. I +tussled with the man until my coat and shirt were torn, but in vain; the +crowd now assembled, and I was fast. The fact was, that a pickpocket had +been exercising his vocation at the time that I was running past, and +from my haste, and loss of my hat, I was supposed to be the criminal. +The police took charge of me--I pleaded innocence in vain, and I was +dragged before the magistrate, at Marlborough Street. My appearance, the +disorder of my dress, my coat and shirt in ribbons, with no hat, were +certainly not at all in my favour, when I made my appearance, led in by +two Bow Street officers. + +"Whom have we here?" inquired the magistrate. + +"A pickpocket, sir," replied they. + +"Ah! one of the swell mob," replied he. "Are there any witnesses?" + +"Yes, sir," replied a young man, coming forward. "I was walking up Bond +Street, when I felt a tug at my pocket, and when I turned round, this +chap was running away." + +"Can you swear to his person?" + +There were plenty to swear that I was the person who ran away. + +"Now, sir, have you anything to offer in your defence?" said the +magistrate. + +"Yes, sir," replied I; "I certainly was running down the street; and it +may be, for all I know or care, that this person's pocket may have been +picked--but I did not pick it. I am a gentleman." + +"All your fraternity lay claim to gentility," replied the magistrate; +"perhaps you will state why you were running down the street." + +"I was running after a carriage, sir, that I might speak to the person +inside of it." + +"Pray who was the person inside?" + +"I do not know, sir." + +"Why should you run after a person you do not know." + +"It was because of his _nose_." + +"His _nose_?" replied the magistrate, angrily. "Do you think to trifle +with me, sir? You shall now follow your own nose to prison. Make out his +committal." + +"As you please, sir," replied I; "but still I have told you the truth; +if you will allow any one to take a note, I will soon prove my +respectability. I ask it in common justice." + +"Be it so," replied the magistrate; "let him sit down within the bar +till the answer comes." + +In less than an hour, my note to Major Carbonnell was answered by his +appearance in person, followed by Timothy. Carbonnell walked up to the +magistrate, while Timothy asked the officers in an angry tone, what they +had been doing to his _master_. This rather startled them, but both they +and the magistrate were much surprised when the Major asserted that I +was his most particular friend, Mr Newland, who possessed ten thousand +pounds per annum, and who was as well known in fashionable society, as +any young man of fortune about town. The magistrate explained what had +passed, and asked the Major if I was not a little deranged; but the +Major, who perceived what was the cause of my strange behaviour, told +him that somebody had insulted me, and that I was very anxious to lay +hold of the person, who had avoided me, and who must have been in that +carriage. + +"I am afraid, that after your explanation, Major Carbonnell, I must, as +a magistrate, bind over your friend, Mr Newland, to keep the peace." + +To this I consented, the Major and Timothy being taken as +recognisances, and then I was permitted to depart. The Major sent for a +hackney coach, and when we were going home he pointed out to me the +folly of my conduct, and received my promise to be more careful for the +future. Thus did this affair end, and for a short time I was more +careful in my appearance, and not so very anxious to look into +carriages; still, however, the idea haunted me, and I was often very +melancholy. It was about a month afterwards, that I was sauntering with +the Major, who now considered me to be insane upon that point, and who +would seldom allow me to go out without him, when I again perceived the +same carriage, with the gentleman inside as before. + +"There he is, Major," cried I. + +"There is who?" replied he. + +"The man so like my father." + +"What, in that carriage? that is the Bishop of E----, my good fellow. +What a strange idea you have in your head, Newland; it almost amounts to +madness. Do not be staring in that way--come along." + +Still my head was turned quite round, looking at the carriage after it +had passed, till it was out of sight; but I knew who the party was, and +for the time I was satisfied, as I determined to find out his address, +and call upon him. I narrated to Timothy what had occurred, and +referring to the Red Book, I looked out the bishop's town address, and +the next day, after breakfast, having arranged my toilet with the utmost +precision, I made an excuse to the Major, and set off to Portland Place. + + + + +Chapter XXVII + + A Chapter of Mistakes--No benefit of Clergy--I attack a Bishop, and + am beaten off--The Major hedges upon the filly stakes. + + +My hand trembled as I knocked at the door. It was opened. I sent in my +card, requesting the honour of an audience with his lordship. After +waiting a few minutes in an ante-room, I was ushered in. "My lord," said +I, in a flurried manner, "will you allow me to have a few minutes' +conversation with you alone?" + +"This gentleman is my secretary, sir, but if you wish it, certainly, for +although he is my confidant, I have no right to insist that he shall be +yours. Mr Temple, will you oblige me by going up stairs for a little +while." + +The secretary quitted the room, the bishop pointed to a chair, and I sat +down. I looked him earnestly in the face--the nose was exact, and I +imagined that even in the other features I could distinguish a +resemblance. I was satisfied that I had a last gained the object of my +search. "I believe, sir," observed I, "that you will acknowledge, that +in the heat and impetuosity of youth, we often rush into hasty and +improvident connections." + +I paused, with my eyes fixed upon his. "Very true, my young sir; and +when we do we are ashamed, and repent of them afterwards," replied the +bishop, rather astonished. + +"I grant that, sir," replied I, "but at the same time, we must feel that +we must abide by the results, however unpleasant." + +"When we do wrong, Mr Newland," replied the bishop, first looking at my +card, and then upon me, "we find that we are not only to be punished in +the next world, but suffer for it also in this. I trust you have no +reason for such suffering?" + +"Unfortunately, the sins of the fathers are visited upon the children, +and, in that view, I may say that I have suffered." + +"My dear sir," replied the bishop, "I trust you will excuse me, when I +say, that my time is rather valuable; if you have anything of importance +to communicate--anything upon which you would ask my advice--for +assistance you do not appear to require, do me the favour to proceed at +once to the point." + +"I will, sir, be as concise as the matter will admit of. Allow me, +then, to ask you a few questions, and I trust to your honour, and the +dignity of your profession, for a candid answer. Did you not marry a +young woman early in life? and were you not very much pressed in your +circumstances?" + +The bishop stared. "Really, Mr Newland, it is a strange question, and I +cannot imagine to what it may lead, but still I will answer it. I did +marry early in life, and I was, at that time, not in very affluent +circumstances." + +"You had a child by that marriage--your eldest born--a boy!" + +"That is also true, Mr Newland," replied the bishop, gravely. + +"How long is it since you have seen him?" + +"It is many years," replied the bishop, putting his handkerchief up to +his eyes. + +"Answer me, now, sir;--did you not desert him?" + +"No, no!" replied the bishop. "It is strange that you should appear to +know so much about the matter, Mr Newland, as you could have hardly been +born. I was poor then--very poor; but although I could ill afford it, he +had fifty pounds from me." + +"But, sir," replied I, much agitated; "why have you not reclaimed him?" + +"I would have reclaimed him, Mr Newland--but what could I do--he was not +to be reclaimed; and now--he is lost for ever." + +"Surely, sir, in your present affluence, you must wish to see him +again?" + +"He died, and I trust he has gone to heaven," replied the bishop, +covering up his face. + +"No, sir," replied I, throwing myself on my knees before him, "he did +not die, here he is at your feet, to ask your blessing." + +The bishop sprang from his chair. "What does this mean, sir?" said he, +with astonishment. "You my son!" + +"Yes, reverend father--your son; who, with fifty pounds you left--" + +"On the top of the Portsmouth coach!" + +"No, sir, in the _basket_." + +"My son! sir,--impossible; he died in the hospital." + +"No, sir, he has come out of the _hospital_," replied I; "and as you +perceive, safe and well." + +"Either, sir, this must be some strange mistake, or you must be trifling +with me," replied his lordship; "for, sir, I was at his death-bed, and +followed him to his grave." + +"Are you sure of that, sir?" replied I, starting up with amazement. + +"I wish that I was not, sir--for I am now childless; but pray, sir, who, +and what are you, who know so much of my former life, and who would have +thus imposed upon me?" + +"Imposed upon you, sir!" replied I, perceiving that I was in error. +"Alas! I would do no such thing. Who am I? I am a young man who is in +search of his father. Your face, and especially your nose, so resembled +mine, that I made sure that I had succeeded. Pity me, sir--pity me," +continued I, covering up my face with my hands. + +The bishop, perceiving that there was little of the impostor in my +appearance, and that I was much affected, allowed a short time for me to +recover myself, and then entered into an explanation. When a curate, he +had had an only son, very wild, who would go to sea in spite of his +remonstrances. He saw him depart by the Portsmouth coach, and gave him +the sum mentioned. His son received a mortal wound in action, and was +sent to the Plymouth hospital, where he died. I then entered into my +explanation in a few concise sentences, and with a heart beating with +disappointment, took my leave. The bishop shook hands with me as I +quitted the room, and wished me better success at my next application. + +I went home almost in despair. Timothy consoled me as well as he could, +and advised me to go as much as possible into society, as the most +likely chance of obtaining my wish, not that he considered there was any +chance, but he thought that amusement would restore me to my usual +spirits. "I will go and visit little Fleta," replied I, "for a few +days; the sight of her will do me more good than anything else." And the +next day I set off for the town of ----, where I found the dear little +girl, much grown, and much improved. I remained with her for a week, +walking with her in the country, amusing her, and amused myself with our +conversation. At the close of the week I bade her farewell, and returned +to the Major's lodgings. + +I was astonished to find him in deep mourning. "My dear Carbonnell," +said I, inquiringly, "I hope no severe loss?" + +"Nay, my dear Newland, I should be a hypocrite if I said so; for there +never was a more merry mourner, and that's the truth of it. Mr M----, +who, you know, stood between me and the peerage, has been drowned in the +Rhone; I now have a squeak for it. His wife has one daughter, and is +_enceinte_. Should the child prove a boy, I am done for, but if a girl, +I must then come in to the barony, and fifteen thousand pounds per +annum. However, I've hedged pretty handsomely." + +"How do you mean?" + +"Why they say that when a woman commences with girls, she generally goes +on, and the odds are two to one that Mrs M---- has a girl. I have taken +the odds at the clubs to the amount of fifteen thousand pounds; so if it +be a girl I shall have to pay that out of my fifteen thousand pounds per +annum, as soon as I fall into it; if it be a boy, and I am floored, I +shall pocket thirty thousand pounds by way of consolation for the +disappointment. They are all good men." + +"Yes, but they know you never pay." + +"They know I never do now, because I have no money; but they know I will +pay if I come into the estate; and so I will, most honourably, besides a +few more thousands that I have in my book." + +"I congratulate you, with all my heart, Major. How old is the present +Lord B----?" + +"I have just been examining the peerage--he is sixtytwo; but he is very +fresh and hearty, and may live a long while yet. By-the-bye, Newland, I +committed a great error last night at the club. I played pretty high, +and lost a great deal of money." + +"That is unfortunate." + +"That was not the error; I actually paid all my losings, Newland, and it +has reduced the stock amazingly. I lost seven hundred and fifty pounds. +I know I ought not to have paid away your money, but the fact was, as I +was hedging, it would not do not to have paid, as I could not have made +up my book as I wished. It is, however, only waiting a few weeks, till +Mrs M---- decides my fate, and then, either one way or the other, I +shall have money enough. If your people won't give you any more till you +are of age, why we must send to a little friend of mine, that's all, and +you shall borrow for both of us." + +"Borrow!" replied I, not much liking the idea; "they will never lend me +money." + +"Won't they?" replied the Major; "no fear of that. Your signature, and +my introduction, will be quite sufficient." + +"We had better try to do without it, Major; I do not much like it." + +"Well, if we can, we will; but I have not fifty pounds left in my desk; +how much have you?" + +"About twenty," replied I, in despair at this intelligence; "but I think +there is a small sum left at the banker's; I will go and see." I took up +my hat and set off, to ascertain what funds we might have in store. + + + + +Chapter XXVIII + + I am over head and ears in trouble about a lady's ear-rings; commit + myself sadly, and am very nearly committed. + + +I must say, that I was much annoyed at this intelligence. The +money-lenders would not be satisfied unless they knew where my estates +were, and had examined the will at Doctors' Commons; then all would be +exposed to the Major, and I should be considered by him as an impostor. +I walked down Pall Mall in a very unhappy mood, so deep in thought, that +I ran against a lady, who was stepping out of her carriage at a +fashionable shop. She turned round, and I was making my best apologies +to a very handsome woman when her ear-rings caught my attention. They +were of alternate coral and gold, and the fac-simile in make to the +chain given by Nattee to Fleta. During my last visit, I had often had +the chain in my hand, and particularly marked the workmanship. To make +more sure, I followed into the shop, and stood behind her, carefully +examining them, as she looked over a quantity of laces. There could be +no doubt. I waited till the lady rose to go away, and then addressed the +shopman, asking the lady's name. He did not know--she was a stranger; +but perhaps Mr H----, the master, did, and he went back to answer the +question. Mr H---- being at that moment busy, the man stayed so long, +that I heard the carriage drive off. Fearful of losing sight of the +lady, I took to my heels, and ran out of the shop. My sudden flight from +the counter, covered with lace, made them imagine that I had stolen +some, and they cried out, "Stop thief," as loud as they could, springing +over the counter, and pursuing me as I pursued the carriage, which was +driven at a rapid pace. + +A man perceiving me running, and others, without their hats, following, +with the cries of "Stop thief," put out his leg, and I fell on the +pavement, the blood rushing in torrents from my nose. I was seized, +roughly handled, and again handed over to the police, who carried me +before the same magistrate in Marlborough Street. + +"What is this?" demanded the magistrate. + +"A shoplifter, your worship." + +"I am not, sir," replied I; "you know me well enough, I am Mr Newland." + +"Mr Newland!" replied the magistrate, suspiciously; "this is strange, a +second time to appear before me upon such a charge." + +"And just as innocent as before, sir." + +"You'll excuse me, sir, but I must have my suspicions this time. Where +is the evidence?" + +The people of the shop then came forward, and stated what had occurred. +"Let him be searched," said the magistrate. + +I was searched, but nothing was found upon me. "Are you satisfied now, +sir?" inquired I. + +"By no means. Let the people go back and look over their laces, and see +if any are missing; in the meantime I shall detain you, for it is very +easy to get rid of a small article, such as lace, when you are caught." + +The men went away, and I wrote a note to Major Carbonnell, requesting +his attendance. He arrived at the same time as the shopman, and I told +him what had happened. The shopman declared that the stock was not +correct; as far as they could judge, there were two pieces of lace +missing. + +"If so, I did not take them," replied I. + +"Upon my honour, Mr B----," said the Major, to the magistrate, "it is +very hard for a gentleman to be treated in this manner. This is the +second time that I have been sent for to vouch for his respectability." + +"Very true, sir," replied the magistrate; "but allow me to ask Mr +Newland, as he calls himself, what induced him to follow a lady into the +shop?" + +"Her ear-rings," replied I. + +"Her ear-rings! why, sir, the last time you were brought before me, you +said it was after a gentleman's nose--now it appears you were attracted +by a lady's ears; and pray, sir, what induced you to run out of the +shop?" + +"Because I wanted particularly to inquire about her ear-rings, sir." + +"I cannot understand these paltry excuses; there are, it appears, two +pieces of lace missing. I must remand you for further examination, sir; +and you also, sir," said the magistrate, to Major Carbonnell; "for if he +is a swindler, you must be an accomplice." + +"Sir," replied Major Carbonnell, sneeringly, "you are certainly a very +good judge of a gentleman, when you happen by accident to be in his +company. With your leave, I will send a note to another confederate." + +The Major then wrote a note to Lord Windermear, which he despatched by +Timothy, who, hearing I was in trouble, had accompanied the Major. And +while he was away, the Major and I sat down, he giving himself all +manner of airs, much to the annoyance of the magistrate, who at last +threatened to commit him immediately. "You'll repent this," replied the +Major, who perceived Lord Windermear coming in. + +"You shall repent it, sir, by God," cried the magistrate, in a great +passion. + +"Put five shillings in the box for swearing, Mr B----. You fine other +people," said the Major. "Here is my other confederate, Lord +Windermear." + +"Carbonnell," said Lord Windermear, "what is all this?" + +"Nothing, my lord, except that our friend Newland is taken up for +shoplifting, because he thought proper to run after a pretty woman's +carriage; and I am accused by his worship of being his confederate. I +could forgive his suspicions of Mr Newland in that plight; but as for +his taking me for one of the swell mob, it proves a great deficiency of +judgment; perhaps he will commit your lordship also, as he may not be +aware that your lordship's person is above caption." + +"I can assure you, sir," said Lord Windermear, proudly, "that this is my +relative, Major Carbonnell, and the other is my friend, Mr Newland. I +will bail them for any sum you please." + +The magistrate felt astonished and annoyed, for, after all, he had only +done his duty. Before he could reply, a man came from the shop to say +that the laces had been found all right. Lord Windermear then took me +aside, and I narrated what had happened. He recollected the story of +Fleta in my narrative of my life, and felt that I was right in trying to +find out who the lady was. The magistrate now apologised for the +detention, but explained to his lordship how I had before made my +appearance upon another charge, and with a low bow we were dismissed. + +"My dear Mr Newland," said his lordship, "I trust that this will be a +warning to you, not to run after other people's noses and ear-rings; at +the same time, I will certainly keep a look-out for those very ear-rings +myself. Major, I wish you a good morning." + +His lordship then shook us both by the hand, and saying that he should +be glad to see more of me than he latterly had done, stepped into his +carriage and drove off. + +"What the devil did his lordship mean about ear-rings, Newland?" +inquired the Major. + +"I told him that I was examining the lady's ear-rings, as very +remarkable," replied I. + +"You appear to be able to deceive everybody but me, my good fellow. I +know that you were examining the lady herself." I left the Major in his +error, by making no reply. + + + + +Chapter XXIX + + I borrow money upon my estate, and upon very favourable terms. + + +When I came down to breakfast the next morning, the Major said, "My dear +Newland, I have taken the liberty of requesting a very old friend of +mine to come and meet you this morning. I will not disguise from you +that it is Emmanuel, the money-lender. Money you must have until my +affairs are decided, one way or the other; and, in this instance, I will +most faithfully repay the sum borrowed, as soon as I receive the amount +of my bets, or am certain of succeeding to the title, which is one and +the same thing." + +I bit my lips, for I was not a little annoyed; but what could be done? I +must have either confessed my real situation to the Major, or have +appeared to raise scruples, which, as the supposed heir to a large +fortune, would have appeared to him to be very frivolous. I thought it +better to let the affair take its chance. "Well," replied I, "if it must +be, it must be: but it shall be on my own terms." + +"Nay," observed the Major, "there is no fear but that he will consent, +and without any trouble." + +After a moment's reflection I went up stairs and rang for Timothy. +"Tim," said I, "hear me; I now make you a solemn promise, on my honour +as a gentleman, that I will never borrow money upon interest, and until +you release me from it, I shall adhere to my word." + +"Very well, sir," replied Timothy; "I guess your reason for so doing, +and I expect you will keep your word. Is that all?" + +"Yes; now you may take up the urn." + +We had finished our breakfast, when Timothy announced Mr Emmanuel, who +followed him into the room. + +"Well, old cent per cent, how are you?" said the Major. "Allow me to +introduce my most particular friend, Mr Newland." + +"Auh! Master Major," replied the descendant of Abraham, a little puny +creature, bent double with infirmity, and carrying one hand behind his +back, as if to counterbalance the projection of his head and shoulders. +"You vash please to call me shent per shent. I wish I vash able to make +de monies pay that. Mr Newland, can I be of any little shervice to you?" + +"Sit down, sit down, Emmanuel. You have my warrant for Mr Newland's +respectability, and the sooner we get over the business the better." + +"Auh, Mr Major, it ish true, you was recommend many good--no, not always +good--customers to me, and I was very much obliged. Vat can I do for +your handsome young friend? De young gentlemen always vant money; and +it is de youth which is de time for de pleasure and enjoyment." + +"He wants a thousand pounds, Emmanuel." + +"Dat is a large sum--one tousand pounds' he does not vant any more?" + +"No," replied I, "that will be sufficient." + +"Vel, den, I have de monish in my pocket. I will just beg de young +gentleman to sign a little memorandum, dat I may von day receive my +monish." + +"But what is that to be?" interrupted I. + +"It will be to promise to pay me my monish and only fifteen per shent, +when you come into your own." + +"That will not do," replied I; "I have pledged my solemn word of honour, +that I will not borrow money on interest." + +"And you have given de pledge, but you did not swear upon de book?" + +"No, but my word has been given, and that is enough; if I would forfeit +my word with those to whom I have given it, I would also forfeit my word +with you. My keeping my promise, ought to be a pledge to you that I will +keep my promise to you." + +"Dat is veil said--very veil said; but den we must manage some oder way. +Suppose--let me shee--how old are you, my young sir?" + +"Past twenty." + +"Auh, dat is a very pleasant age, dat twenty. Veil, den, you shall shign +a leetle bit of paper, that you pay me L2000 ven you come into your +properties, on condition dat I pay now one tousand. Dat is very +fair--ish it not, Mr Major?" + +"Rather too hard, Emmanuel." + +"But de rishque--de rishque, Mr Major." + +"I will not agree to those terms," replied I; "you must take your money +away, Mr Emmanuel." + +"Veil, den--vat vill you pay me?" + +"I will sign an agreement to pay you L1500 for the thousand, if you +please; if that will not suit you, I will try elsewhere." + +"Dat is very bad bargain. How old, you shay?" + +"Twenty." + +"Vell, I shuppose I must oblige you, and my very goot friend, de Major." + +Mr Emmanuel drew out his spectacles, pen, and inkhorn, filled up a bond, +and handed it to me to sign. I read it carefully over, and signed it; he +then paid down the money, and took his leave. + +It may appear strange to the reader that the money was obtained so +easily, but he must remember that the Major was considered a person who +universally attached himself to young men of large fortune; he had +already been the means of throwing many profitable speculations into the +hands of Emmanuel, and the latter put implicit confidence in him. The +money-lenders also are always on the look out for young men with large +fortunes, and have their names registered. Emmanuel had long expected me +to come to him, and although it was his intention to have examined more +particularly, and not to have had the money prepared, yet my refusal to +sign the bond, bearing interest, and my disputing the terms of the +second proposal, blinded him completely, and put him off his usual +guard. + +"Upon my word, Newland, you obtained better terms than I could have +expected from the old Hunks." + +"Much better than I expected also, Major," replied I; "but now, how much +of the money would you like to have?" + +"My dear fellow, this is very handsome of you; but, I thank Heaven, I +shall be soon able to repay it: but what pleases me, Newland, is your +perfect confidence in one whom the rest of the world would not trust +with a shilling. I will accept your offer as freely as it is made, and +take L500, just to make a show for the few weeks that I am in suspense, +and then you will find, that with all my faults, I am rot deficient in +gratitude." I divided the money with the Major, and he shortly +afterwards went out. + +"Well, sir," said Timothy, entering, full of curiosity, "what have you +done?" + +"I have borrowed a thousand to pay fifteen hundred when I come into my +property." + +"You are safe then. Excellent, and the Jew will be bit." + +"No, Timothy, I intend to repay it as soon as I can." + +"I should like to know when that will be." + +"So should I, Tim, for it must depend upon my finding out my parentage." +Heigho, thought I, when shall I ever find out who is my father? + + + + +Chapter XXX + + The Major is very fortunate and very unfortunate--He receives a + large sum in gold and one ounce of lead. + + +I dressed and went out, met Harcourt, dined with him, and on my return +the Major had not come home. It was then past midnight, and feeling +little inclination to sleep, I remained in the drawing-room, waiting for +his arrival. About three o'clock he came in, flushed in the face, and +apparently in high good humour. + +"Newland," said he, throwing his pocket-book on the table, "just open +that, and then you will open your eyes." + +I obeyed him, and to my surprise took out a bundle of bank-notes; I +counted up their value, and they amounted to L3500. + +"You have been fortunate, indeed." + +"Yes," replied the Major; "knowing that in a short time I shall be +certain of cash, one way or the other, I had resolved to try my luck +with the L500. I went to the hazard table, and threw in seventeen +times--hedged upon the deuce ace, and threw out with it--_voila_. They +won't catch me there again in a hurry--luck like that only comes once in +a man's life; but, Japhet, there is a little drawback to all this. I +shall require your kind attendance in two or three hours." + +"Why, what's the matter?" + +"Merely an affair of honour. I was insulted by a vagabond, and we meet +at six o'clock." + +"A vagabond--but surely, Carbonnell, you will not condescend--" + +"My dear fellow, although as great a vagabond as there is on the face of +the earth, yet he is a peer of the realm, and his title warrants the +meeting--but, after all, what is it?" + +"I trust it will be nothing, Carbonnell, but still it may prove +otherwise." + +"Granted; and what then, my dear Newland? we all owe Heaven a death, and +if I am floored, why then I shall no longer be anxious about title or +fortune." + +"It's a bad way of settling a dispute," replied I, gravely. + +"There is no other, Newland. How would society be held in check if it +were not for duelling? We should all be a set of bears living in a +bear-garden. I presume you have never been out?" + +"Never," replied I, "and had hoped that I never should have." + +"Then you must have better fortune, or better temper than most others, +if you pass through life without an affair of this kind on your hands. I +mean as principal, not as second. But, my dear fellow, I must give you a +little advice, relative to your behaviour as a second; for I'm very +particular on these occasions, and like that things should be done very +correctly. It will never do, my dear Newland, that you appear on the +ground with that melancholy face. I do not mean that you should laugh, +or even smile, that would be equally out of character, but you should +show yourself perfectly calm and indifferent. In your behaviour towards +the other second, you must be most scrupulously polite, but, at the same +time, never give up a point of dispute, in which my interest may be +concerned. Even in your walk be slow, and move, as much as the ground +will allow you, as if you were in a drawing-room. Never remain silent; +offer even trivial remarks, rather than appear distract. There is one +point of great importance--I refer to choosing the ground, in which, +perhaps, you will require my unperceived assistance. Any decided line +behind me would be very advantageous to my adversary, such as the trunk +of a tree, post, &c.; even an elevated light or dark ground behind me is +unadvisable. Choose, if you can, a broken light, as it affects the +correctness of the aim; but as you will not probably be able to manage +this satisfactorily, I will assist you. When on the ground, after having +divided the sun fairly between us, I will walk about unconcernedly, and +when I perceive a judicious spot, I will take a pinch of snuff and use +my handkerchief, turning at the same time in the direction in which I +wish my adversary to be placed. Take your cue from that, and with all +suavity of manner, insist as much as you can upon our being so placed. +That must be left to your own persuasive powers. I believe I have now +stated all that is necessary, and I must prepare my instruments." + +The major then went into his own room, and I never felt more nervous or +more unhinged than after this conversation. I had a melancholy +foreboding--but that I believe every one has, when he, for the first +time, has to assist at a mortal rencontre. I was in a deep musing when +he returned with his pistols and all the necessary apparatus; and when +the Major pointed out to me, and made me once or twice practice the +setting of the hair triggers, which is the duty of the second, an +involuntary shudder came over me. + +"Why, Newland, what is the matter with you? I thought that you had more +nerve." + +"I probably should show more, Carbonnell, were I the principal instead +of the second, but I cannot bear the reflection that some accident +should happen to you. You are the only one with whom I have been on +terms of friendship, and the idea of losing you, is very, very painful." + +"Newland, you really quite unman me, and you may now see a miracle," +continued Carbonnell, as he pressed his hand to his eye, "the moisture +of a tear on the cheek of a London _roue_, a man of the world, who has +long lived for himself and for this world only. It never would be +credited if asserted. Newland, there was a time when I was like +yourself--the world took advantage of my ingenuousness and inexperience; +my good feelings were the cause of my ruin, and then, by degrees, I +became as callous and as hardened as the world itself. My dear fellow, I +thought all affection, all sentiment, dried up within me, but it is not +the case. You have made me feel that I have still a heart, and that I +can love you. But this is all romance, and not fitted for the present +time. It is now five o'clock, let us be on the ground early--it will +give us an advantage." + +"I do not much like speaking to you on the subject, Carbonnell; but is +there nothing that you might wish done in case of accident?" + +"Nothing--why yes. I may as well. Give me a sheet of paper." The Major +sat down and wrote for a few minutes. "Now, send Timothy and another +here. Timothy, and you, sir, see me sign this paper, and put my seal to +it. I deliver this as my act and deed. Put your names as witnesses." +They complied with his request, and then the Major desired Timothy to +call a hackney-coach. "Newland," said the Major, putting the paper, +folded up, in my pocket, along with the bank notes, "take care of this +for me till we come back." + +"The coach is at the door, sir," said Timothy, looking at me, as if to +say, "What can all this be about?" + +"You may come with us and see," said the Major, observing Tim's +countenance, "and put that case into the coach." Tim, who knew that it +was the Major's case of pistols, appeared still more alarmed, and stood +still without obeying the order. "Never mind, Tim, your master is not +the one who is to use them," said the Major, patting him on the +shoulder. + +Timothy, relieved by this intelligence, went down stairs with the +pistols; we followed him. Tim mounted on the box, and we drove to Chalk +Farm. "Shall the coach wait?" inquired Timothy. + +"Yes, by all means," replied I, in a low voice. We arrived at the usual +ground, where disputes of this kind were generally settled; and the +Major took a survey of it with great composure. + +"Now observe, Japhet," said he, "if you can contrive--; but here they +are. I will give you the notice agreed upon." The peer, whose title was +Lord Tineholme, now came up with his second, whom he introduced to me as +Mr Osborn. "Mr Newland," replied the Major, saluting Mr Osborn in +return. We both took off our hats, bowed, and then proceeded to our +duty. I must do my adversary's second the justice to say, that his +politeness was fully equal to mine. There was no mention, on either +side, of explanations and retractions--the insult was too gross, and the +character of his lordship, as well as that of Major Carbonnell, was too +well known. Twelve paces were proposed by Mr Osborn, and agreed to by +me--the pistols of Major Carbonnell were gained by drawing lots--we had +nothing more to do but to place our principals. The Major took out his +snuff-box, took a pinch, and blew his nose, turning towards a copse of +beech trees. + +"With your permission, I will mark out the ground, Mr Osborn," said I, +walking up to the Major, and intending to pace twelve paces in the +direction towards which he faced. + +"Allow me to observe that I think a little more in this direction, would +be more fair for both parties," said Mr Osborn. + +"It would so, my dear sir," replied I, "but, submitting to your superior +judgment, perhaps it may not have struck you that my principal will have +rather too much of the sun. I am incapable of taking any advantage, but +I should not do my duty if I did not see every justice done to the +Major, who has confided to me in this unpleasant affair. I put it to +you, sir, as a gentleman and man of honour, whether I am claiming too +much?" A little amicable altercation took place on this point, but +finding that I would not yield, and that at every reply I was more and +more polite and bland in my deportment, Mr Osborn gave up the point. I +walked the twelve paces, and Mr Osborn placed his principal. I observed +that Lord Tineholme did not appear pleased; he expostulated with him, +but it was then too late. The pistols had been already loaded--the +choice was given to his lordship, and Major Carbonnell received the +other from my hand, which actually trembled, while his was firm. I +requested Mr Osborn to drop the handkerchief, as I could not make up my +mind to give a signal which might be fatal to the Major. They +fired--Lord Tineholme fell immediately--the Major remained on his feet +for a second or two, and then sank down on the ground. I hastened up to +him. "Where are you hurt?" + +The Major put his hand to his hip--"I am hit hard, Newland, but not so +hard as he is. Run and see." + +I left the Major, and went up to where Lord Tineholme lay, his head +raised on the knee of his second. + +"It is all over with him, Mr Newland, the ball has passed through his +brain." + + + + +Chapter XXXI + + The Major pays the only debt of consequence he ever did pay, and I + find myself a man of property. + + +I hastened back to the Major, to examine his wound, and, with the +assistance of Timothy, I stripped him sufficiently to ascertain that the +ball had entered his hip, and probing the wound with my finger, it +appeared that it had glanced off in the direction of the intestines; the +suffusion of blood was very trifling, which alarmed me still more. + +"Could you bear removal, Major, in the coach?" + +"I cannot tell, but we must try; the sooner I am home the better, +Japhet," replied he faintly. + +With the assistance of Timothy, I put him into the hackney-coach, and we +drove off, after I had taken off my hat and made my obeisance to Mr +Osborn, an effort of politeness which I certainly should have neglected, +had I not been reminded of it by my principal. We set off, and the +Major bore his journey very well, making no complaint, but, on our +arrival he fainted as we lifted him out. As soon as he was on the bed, I +despatched Timothy for a surgeon. On his arrival he examined the wound, +and shook his head. Taking me into the next room, he declared his +opinion, that the ball had passed into the intestines, which were +severed, and that there was no hope. I sat down and covered up my +face--the tears rolled down and trickled through my fingers--it was the +first heavy blow I had yet received. Without kindred or connections, I +felt that I was about to lose one who was dear to me. To another, not in +my situation, it might have only produced a temporary grief at the near +loss of a friend; but to me, who was almost alone in the world, the loss +was heavy in the extreme. Whom had I to fly to for solace?--there were +Timothy and Fleta--one who performed the duty of a servant to me, and a +child. I felt that they were not sufficient, and my heart was chilled. + +The surgeon had, in the meantime, returned to the Major, and dressed the +wound. The Major, who had recovered from his weakness, asked him his +candid opinion. "We must hope for the best, sir," replied the surgeon. + +"That is to say, there is no hope," replied the Major; "and I feel that +you are right. How long do you think that I may live?" + +"If the wound does not take a favourable turn, about forty-eight hours, +sir," replied the surgeon; "but we must hope for a more fortunate +issue." + +"In a death-bed case you medical men are like lawyers," replied the +Major, "there is no getting a straightforward answer from you. Where is +Mr Newland?" + +"Here I am, Carbonnell," said I, taking his hand. + +"My dear fellow, I know it is all over with me, and you, of course, know +it as well as I do. Do not think that it is a source of much regret to +me to leave this rascally world--indeed it is not; but I do feel sorry, +very sorry, to leave you. The doctor tells me I shall live forty-eight +hours; but I have an idea that I shall not live so many minutes. I feel +my strength gradually failing me. Depend upon it, my dear Newland, there +is an internal hemorrhage. My dear fellow, I shall not be able to speak +soon. I have left you my executor and sole heir. I wish there was more +for you--it will last you, however, till you come of age. That was a +lucky hit last night, but a very unlucky one this morning. Bury me like +a gentleman." + +"My dear Carbonnell," said I, "would you not like to see somebody--a +clergyman?" + +"Newland, excuse me. I do not refuse it out of disrespect, or because I +do not believe in the tenets of Christianity; but I cannot believe that +my repentance at this late hour can be of any avail. If I have not been +sorry for the life I have lived--if I have not had my moments of +remorse--if I have not promised to amend, and intended to have so done, +and I trust I have--what avails my repentance now? No, no, Japhet, as I +have sown so must I reap, and trust to the mercy of Heaven. God only +knows all our hearts, and I would fain believe that I may find more +favour in the eyes of the Almighty, than I have in this world from those +who--but we must not judge. Give me to drink, Japhet--I am sinking fast. +God bless you, my dear fellow." + +The Major sank on his pillow, after he had moistened his lips, and spoke +no more. With his hand clasped in mine he gradually sank, and in a +quarter of an hour his eyes were fixed, and all was over. He was right +in his conjectures--an artery had been divided, and he had bled to +death. The surgeon came again just before he was dead, for I had sent +for him. "It is better as it is," said he to me. "Had he not bled to +death, he would have suffered forty-eight hours of extreme agony from +the mortification which must have ensued." He closed the Major's eyes +and took his leave, and I hastened into the drawing-room and sent for +Timothy, with whom I sate in a long conversation on this unfortunate +occurrence, and my future prospects. + +My grief for the death of the Major was sincere; much may indeed be +ascribed to habit, from our long residence and companionship; but more +to the knowledge that the Major, with all his faults, had redeeming +qualities, and that the world had driven him to become what he had been. +I had the further conviction, that he was attached to me, and, in my +situation, anything like affection was most precious. His funeral was +handsome, without being ostentatious, and I paid every demand upon him +which I knew to be just--many, indeed, that were not sent in, from a +supposition that any claim made would be useless. His debts were not +much above L200, and these debts had never been expected to be +liquidated by those who had given him credit. The paper he had written, +and had been witnessed by Timothy and another, was a short will, in +which he left me his sole heir and executor. The whole of his property +consisted of his house in St James's Street, the contents of his +pocket-book entrusted to my care, and his personal effects, which, +especially in bijouterie, were valuable. The house was worth about +L4000, as he had told me. In his pocket-book were notes to the amount of +L3500, and his other effects might be valued at L400. With all his debts +and funeral expenses liquidated, and with my own money, I found myself +in possession of about L8000,--a sum which never could have been +credited, for it was generally supposed that he died worth less than +nothing, having lived for a long while upon a capital of a similar +value. + +"I cannot but say," observed Timothy, "but that this is very fortunate. +Had the Major not persuaded you to borrow money, he never would have won +so large a sum. Had he lived he would have squandered it away; but just +in the nick of time he is killed, and makes you his heir." + +"There is truth in your observation, Timothy; but now you must go to Mr +Emmanuel, that I may pay him off. I will repay the L1000 lent me by Lord +Windermear into his banker's, and then I must execute one part of the +poor Major's will. He left his diamond solitaire as a memento to his +lordship. Bring it to me, and I will call and present it." + + + + +Chapter XXXII + + A chapter full of morality, which ends in a Jew refusing upwards of + L1000, proving the Millenium to be nearly at hand. + + +This conversation took place the day after the funeral, and, attired in +deep mourning, I called upon his lordship, and was admitted. His +lordship had sent his carriage to attend the funeral, and was also in +mourning when he received me. I executed my commission, and after a long +conversation with his lordship, in which I confided to him the contents +of the will, and the amount of property of the deceased, I rose to take +my leave. + +"Excuse me, Mr Newland," said he, "but what do you now propose to do? I +confess I feel a strong interest about you, and had wished that you had +come to me oftener without an invitation. I perceive that you never +will. Have you no intention of following up any pursuit?" + +"Yes, my lord, I intend to search after my father; and I trust that, by +husbanding my unexpected resources, I shall now be able." + +"You have the credit, in the fashionable world, of possessing a large +fortune." + +"That is not my fault, my lord: it is through Major Carbonnell's mistake +that the world is deceived. Still I must acknowledge myself so far +participator, that I have never contradicted the report." + +"Meaning, I presume, by some good match, to reap the advantage of the +supposition." + +"Not so, my lord, I assure you. People may deceive themselves, but I +will not deceive them." + +"Nor undeceive them, Mr Newland?" + +"Undeceive them I will not; nay, if I did make the attempt, I should +not be believed. They never would believe it possible that I could have +lived so long with your relative, without having had a large supply of +money. They might believe that I had run through my money, but not that +I never had any." + +"There is a knowledge of the world in that remark," replied his +lordship; "but I interrupted you, so proceed." + +"I mean to observe, my lord, and you, by your knowledge of my previous +history, can best judge how far I am warranted in saying so; that I have +as yet steered the middle course between that which is dishonest and +honest. If the world deceives itself, you would say that, in strict +honesty, I ought to undeceive it. So I would, my lord, if it were not +for my peculiar situation; but at the same time I never will, if +possible, be guilty of direct deceit; that is to say, I would not take +advantage of my supposed wealth, to marry a young person of large +fortune. I would state myself a beggar, and gain her affections as a +beggar. A woman can have little confidence in a man who deceives her +before marriage." + +"Your secret will always be safe with me, Mr Newland; you have a right +to demand it. I am glad to hear the sentiments which you have expressed; +they are not founded, perhaps, upon the strictest code of morality; but +there are many who profess more who do not act up to so much. Still, I +wish you would think in what way I may be able to serve you, for your +life at present is useless and unprofitable, and may tend to warp still +more, ideas which are not quite so strict as they ought to be." + +"My lord, I have but one object in allowing the world to continue in +their error relative to my means, which is, that it procures for me an +entrance into that society in which I have a moral conviction that I +shall find my father. I have but one pursuit, one end to attain, which +is, to succeed in that search. I return you a thousand thanks for your +kind expressions and good-will; but I cannot, at present, avail myself +of them. I beg your lordship's pardon, but did you ever meet the lady +with the ear-rings?" + +Lord Windermear smiled. "Really, Mr Newland, you are a very strange +person; not content with finding out your own parents, you must also be +searching after other people's; not that I do not commend your conduct +in this instance; but I'm afraid, in running after shadows, you are too +indifferent to the substance." + +"Ah, my lord! it is very well for you to argue who have had a father and +mother, and never felt the want of them; but if you knew how my heart +yearns after my parents, you would not be surprised at my perseverance." + +"I am surprised at nothing in this world, Mr Newland; every one pursues +happiness in his own way; your happiness appears to be centred in one +feeling, and you are only acting as the world does in general; but +recollect that the search after happiness ends in disappointment." + +"I grant it but too often does, my lord; but there is pleasure in the +chase," replied I. + +"Well, go, and may you prosper. All I can say is this, Mr Newland, do +not have that false pride not to apply to me when you need assistance. +Recollect, it is much better to be under an obligation, if such you will +consider it, than to do that which is wrong; and that it is a very false +pride which would blush to accept a favour, and yet not blush to do what +it ought to be ashamed of. Promise me, Mr Newland, that upon any reverse +or exigence, you will apply to me." + +"I candidly acknowledge to your lordship, that I would rather be under +an obligation to anyone but you; and I trust you will clearly appreciate +my feelings. I have taken the liberty of refunding the one thousand +pounds you were so kind as to place at my disposal as a loan. At the +same time I will promise, that, if at any time I should require your +assistance, I will again request leave to become your debtor." I rose +again to depart. + +"Farewell, Newland; when I thought you had behaved ill, and I offered to +better you, you only demanded my good opinion; you have it, and have it +so firmly, that it will not easily be shaken." His lordship then shook +hands with me, and I took my leave. + +On my return I found Emmanuel, the money-lender, who had accompanied +Timothy, fancying that I was in want of more assistance, and but too +willing to give it. His surprise was very great when I told him that I +wished to repay the money I had borrowed. + +"Vell, dis is very strange! I have lent my monish a tousand times, and +never once they did offer it me back. Vell, I will take it, sar." + +"But how much must I give you, Mr Emmanuel, for the ten days' loan?" + +"How moch--vy you remember, you vill give de bond money--de fifteen +hundred." + +"What! five hundred pounds interest for ten days, Mr Emmanuel; no, no, +that's rather too bad. I will, if you please, pay you back eleven +hundred pounds, and that I think is very handsome." + +"I don't want my monish, my good sar. I lend you one tousand pounds, on +de condition that you pay me fifteen hundred when you come into your +properties, which will be in very short time. You send for me, and tell +me you vish to pay back de monish directly; I never refuse monish--if +you wish to pay, I will take, but I will not take von farding less dan +de monish on de bond." + +"Very well, Mr Emmanuel, just as you please; I offer you your money +back, in presence of my servant, and one hundred pounds for the loan of +it for ten days. Refuse it if you choose, but I earnestly recommend you +to take it." + +"I will not have de monish, sar; dis is de child's play," replied the +Jew. "I must have my fifteen hundred--all in goot time, sar--I am in no +hurry--I vish you a very good morning, Mr Newland. Ven you vish for more +monish to borrow, I shall be happy to pay my respects." So saying, the +Jew walked out of the room, with his arm behind his back as usual. + + + + +Chapter XXXIII + + _I decide upon honesty as the best policy, and what is more + strange, receive legal advice upon this important point_. + + +Timothy and I burst into laughter. "Really, Timothy," observed I, "it +appears that very little art is necessary to deceive the world, for in +every instance they will deceive themselves. The Jew is off my +conscience, at all events, and now he never will be paid, until--" + +"Until when, Japhet?" + +"Until I find out my father," replied I. + +"Everything is put off till that time arrives, I observe," said Timothy. +"Other people will soon be as interested in the search as yourself." + +"I wish they were, unfortunately it is a secret, which cannot be +divulged." + +A ring at the bell called Timothy down stairs; he returned with a +letter, it was from Lord Windermear, and ran as follows:-- + + "My dear Newland,--I have been thinking about you ever since you + left me this morning, and as you appear resolved to prosecute your + search, it has occurred to me that you should go about it in a more + systematic way. I do not mean to say that what I now propose will + prove of any advantage to you, but still it may, as you will have a + very old, and very clever head to advise with. I refer to Mr + Masterton, my legal adviser, from whom you had the papers which led + to our first acquaintance. He is aware that you were (I beg your + pardon) an impostor, as he has since seen Mr Estcourt. The letter + enclosed is for him, and with that in your hand you may face him + boldly, and I have no doubt but that he will assist you all in his + power, and put you to no expense. Narrate your whole history to + him, and then you will hear what he may propose. He has many + secrets, much more important than yours. Wishing you every success + that your perseverance deserves, + + "Believe me, + + "Yours very truly, + + "Windermear." + +"I believe the advice to be good," said I, after reading the letter. "I +am myself at fault, and hardly know how to proceed. I think I will go at +once to the old gentleman, Timothy." + +"It can do no harm, if it does no good. Two heads are better than one," +replied Timothy. "Some secrets are too well kept, and deserting a child +is one of those which is confided but to few." + +"By-the-bye, Timothy, here have I been, more than so many years out of +the Foundling Hospital, and have never yet inquired if any one has ever +been to reclaim me." + +"Very true; and I think I'll step myself to the workhouse, at St +Bridget's, and ask whether any one has asked about me," replied Timothy, +with a grin. + +"There is another thing that I have neglected," observed I, "which is, +to inquire at the address in Coleman Street, if there is any letter from +Melchior." + +"I have often thought of him," replied Timothy. "I wonder who he can +be--there is another mystery there. I wonder whether we shall ever fall +in with him again--and Nattee, too?" + +"There's no saying, Timothy. I wonder where that poor fool, Philotas, +and our friend Jumbo, are now?" + +The remembrance of the two last personages made us both burst out a +laughing. + +"Timothy, I've been reflecting that my intimacy with poor Carbonnell has +rather hindered than assisted me in my search. He found me with a good +appearance, and he has moulded me into a gentleman, so far as manners +and appearance are concerned; but the constant vortex in which I have +been whirled in his company, has prevented me from doing anything. His +melancholy death has perhaps been fortunate for me. It has left me more +independent in circumstances, and more free. I must now really set to in +earnest." + +"I beg your pardon, Japhet, but did not you say the same when we first +set off on our travels, and yet remain more than a year with the +gipsies? Did not you make the same resolution when we arrived in town, +with our pockets full of money, and yet, once into fashionable society, +think but little, and occasionally, of it? Now you make the same +resolution, and how long will you keep it?" + +"Nay, Timothy, that remark is hardly fair; you know that the subject is +ever in my thoughts." + +"In your thoughts, I grant, very frequently; but you have still been led +away from the search." + +"I grant it, but I presume that arises from not knowing how to proceed. +I have a skein to unravel, and cannot find out an end to commence with." + +"I always thought people commenced with the beginning," replied Tim, +laughing. + +"At all events, I will now try back, and face the old lawyer. Do you +call at Coleman Street, Tim, and at St Bridget's also, if you please." + +"As for St Bridget's, I'm in no particular hurry about my mother; if I +stumble upon her I may pick her up, but I never make diligent search +after what, in every probability, will not be worth the finding." + +Leaving Timothy to go his way, I walked to the house at Lincoln's Inn, +which I had before entered upon the memorable occasion of the papers of +Estcourt. As before, I rang the bell, the door swang open, and I was +once more in the presence of Mr Masterton. + +"I have a letter, sir," said I, bowing, and presenting the letter from +Lord Windermear. + +The old gentleman peered at me through his spectacles. "Why! we have met +before--bless me--why you're the rogue that--" + +"You are perfectly right, sir," interrupted I. "I am the rogue who +presented the letter from Lord Windermear, and who presents you with +another from the same person; do me the favour to read it, while I take +a chair." + +"Upon my soul--you impudent--handsome dog, I must say--great pity--come +for money, I suppose. Well, it's a sad world," muttered the lawyer as he +broke open the letter of Lord Windermear. + +I made no reply, but watched his countenance, which changed to that of +an expression of surprise. "Had his lordship sent me a request to have +you hanged if possible," said Mr Masterton, "I should have felt no +surprise, but in this letter he praises you, and desires me to render +you all the service in my power. I can't understand it." + +"No, sir; but if you have leisure to listen to me, you will then find +that, in this world, we may be deceived by appearances." + +"Well, and so I was, when I first saw you; I never could have believed +you to be--but never mind." + +"Perhaps, sir, in an hour or two you will again alter your opinion. Are +you at leisure, or will you make an appointment for some future day?" + +"Mr Newland, I am not at leisure--I never was more busy; and if you had +come on any legal business, I should have put you off for three or four +days, at least; but my curiosity is so raised, that I am determined that +I will indulge it at the expense of my interest. I will turn the key, +and then you will oblige me by unravelling, what, at present, is to me +as curious as it is wholly incomprehensible." + + + + +Chapter XXXIV + + I attempt to profit by intelligence I receive, and throw a lady + into hysterics. + + +In about three hours I had narrated the history of my life, up to the +very day, almost as much detailed as it has been to the reader. "And +now, Mr Masterton," said I, as I wound up my narrative, "do you think +that I deserve the title of rogue, which you applied to me when I came +in?" + +"Upon my word, Mr Newland, I hardly know what to say; but I like to tell +the truth. To say that you have been quite honest, would not be +correct--a rogue, to a certain degree, you have been, but you have been +the rogue of circumstances. I can only say this, that there are greater +rogues than you, whose characters are unblemished in the world--that +most people in your peculiar situation would have been much greater +rogues; and lastly, that rogue or not rogue, I have great pleasure in +taking you by the hand, and will do all I possibly can to serve you--and +that for your own sake. Your search after your parents I consider almost +tantamount to a wild-goose chase; but still, as your happiness depends +upon it, I suppose it must be carried on; but you must allow me time for +reflection. I will consider what may be the most judicious method of +proceeding. Can you dine _tete-a-tete_ with me here on Friday, and we +then will talk over the matter?" + +"On Friday, sir; I am afraid that I am engaged to Lady Maelstrom; but +that is of no consequence--I will write an excuse to her ladyship." + +"Lady Maelstrom! how very odd that you should bring up her name after +our conversation." + +"Why so, my dear sir?" + +"Why!" replied Mr Masterton, chuckling; "because--recollect, it is a +secret, Mr Newland--I remember some twenty years ago, when she was a +girl of eighteen, before she married, she had a little _faux pas_, and I +was called in about a settlement, for the maintenance of the child." + +"Is it possible, sir?" replied I, anxiously. + +"Yes, she was violently attached to a young officer, without money, but +of good family; some say it was a private marriage, others, that he +was--a _rascal_. It was all hushed up, but he was obliged by the +friends, before he left for the West Indies, to sign a deed of +maintenance, and I was the party called in. I never heard any more +about it. The officer's name was Warrender; he died of the yellow +fever, I believe, and after his death she married Lord Maelstrom." + +"He is dead, then?" replied I mournfully. + +"Well, that cannot affect you, my good fellow. On Friday, then, at six +o'clock precisely. Good afternoon, Mr Newland." + +I shook hands with the old gentleman, and returned home, but my brain +whirled with the fear of a confirmation, of that which Mr Masterton had +so carelessly conveyed. Anything like a possibility, immediately was +swelled to a certainty in my imagination, so ardent and heated on the +one subject; and as soon as I regained my room, I threw myself on the +sofa, and fell into a deep reverie. I tried to approximate the features +of Lady Maelstrom to mine, but all the ingenuity in the world could not +effect that; but still, I might be like my father--but my father was +dead, and that threw a chill over the whole glowing picture which I had, +as usual, conjured up; besides, it was asserted that I was born in +wedlock, and there was a doubt relative to the marriage of her ladyship. + +After a long cogitation I jumped up, seized my hat, and set off for +Grosvenor Square, determining to ask a private interview with her +ladyship, and at once end my harassing doubts and surmises. I think +there could not be a greater proof of my madness than my venturing to +attack a lady of forty upon the irregularities of her youth, and to +question her upon a subject which had been confided but to two or three, +and she imagined had been long forgotten: but this never struck me; all +considerations were levelled in my ardent pursuit. I walked through the +streets at a rapid pace, the crowd passed by me as shadows, I neither +saw nor distinguished them; I was deep in reverie as to the best way of +breaking the subject to her ladyship, for, notwithstanding my monomania, +I perceived it to be a point of great delicacy. After having overturned +about twenty people in my mad career, I arrived at the door and +knocked. My heart beat almost as hard against my ribs with excitement. + +"Is her ladyship at home?" + +"Yes, sir." + +I was ushered into the drawing-room, and found her sitting with two of +her nieces, the Misses Fairfax. + +"Mr Newland, you have been quite a stranger," said her ladyship, as I +walked up to her and made my obeisance. "I did intend to scold you well; +but I suppose that sad affair of poor Major Carbonnell's has been a +heavy blow to you--you were so intimate--lived together, I believe, did +you not? However, you have not so much cause to regret, for he was not a +very proper companion for young men like you: to tell you the truth, I +consider it as a fortunate circumstance that he was removed, for he +would, by degrees, have led you into all manner of mischief, and have +persuaded you to squander your fortune. I did at one time think of +giving you a hint, but it was a delicate point. Now that he is gone, I +tell you very candidly that you have had an escape. A young man like +you, Mr Newland, who could command an alliance into the highest, yes, +the very highest families--and let me tell you, Mr Newland, that there +is nothing like connection--money is of no consequence to you, but +connection, Mr Newland, is what you should look for--connection with +some high family, and then you will do well. I should like to see you +settled--well settled, I mean, Mr Newland. Now that you are rid of the +Major, who has ruined many young men in his time, I trust you will +seriously think of settling down into a married man. Cecilia, my dear, +show your tambour work to Mr Newland, and ask him his opinion. Is it not +beautiful, Mr Newland?" + +"Extremely beautiful, indeed, ma'am," replied I, glad at last that her +ladyship allowed me to speak a word. + +"Emma, my dear, you look pale, you must go out into the air. Go, +children, put your bonnets on and take a turn in the garden, when the +carriage comes round I will send for you." + +The young ladies quitted the room. "Nice innocent girls, Mr Newland; +but you are not partial to blondes, I believe?" + +"Indeed, Lady Maelstrom, I infinitely prefer the blonde to the +brunette." + +"That proves your taste, Mr Newland. The Fairfaxes are of a very old +family--Saxon, Mr Newland. Fair-fax is Saxon for light hair. Is it not +remarkable that they should be blondes to this day? Pure blood, Mr +Newland. You, of course, have heard of General Fairfax, in the time of +Cromwell. He was their direct ancestor--an excellent family and highly +connected, Mr Newland. You are aware that they are my nieces. My sister +married Mr Fairfax." + +I paid the Misses Fairfax the compliments which I thought they really +deserved, for they were very pretty amiable girls, and required no +puffing on the part of her ladyship; and then I commenced. "Your +ladyship has expressed such kind wishes towards me, that I cannot be +sufficiently grateful, but, perhaps, your ladyship may think me +romantic, I am resolved never to marry, except for love." + +"A very excellent resolve, Mr Newland; there are few young men who care +about love now-a-days, but I consider that love is a great security for +happiness in the wedded state." + +"True, madam, and what can be more delightful than a first attachment? I +appeal to your ladyship, was not your first attachment the most +delightful--are not the reminiscences most lasting--do you not, even +now, call to mind those halcyon days when love was all and every thing?" + +"My days of romance are long past, Mr Newland," replied her ladyship; +"indeed I never had much romance in my composition. I married Lord +Maelstrom for the connection, and I loved him pretty well, that is, +soberly, Mr Newland. I mean, I loved him quite enough to marry him, and +to obey my parents, that is all." + +"But, my dear Lady Maelstrom, I did not refer to your marriage with his +lordship; I referred to your first love." + +"My first love, Mr Newland; pray what do you mean?" replied her +ladyship, looking very hard at me. + +"Your ladyship need not be ashamed of it. Our hearts are not in our own +keeping, nor can we always control our passions. I have but to mention +the name of Warrender." + +"Warrender!" shrieked her ladyship. "Pray, Mr Newland," continued her +ladyship, recovering herself, "who gave you that piece of information?" + +"My dear Lady Maelstrom, pray do not be displeased with me, but I am +very particularly interested in this affair. Your love for Mr Warrender, +long before your marriage, is well known to me; and it is to that love, +to which I referred, when I asked you if it was not most delightful." + +"Well, Mr Newland," replied her ladyship, "how you have obtained the +knowledge I know not, but there was, I acknowledge, a trifling +flirtation with Edward Warrender and me--but I was young, very young at +that time." + +"I grant it, and do not, for a moment, imagine that I intend to blame +your ladyship; but, as I before said, madam, I am much interested in the +business." + +"What interest you can have with a little flirtation of mine, which took +place before you were born, I cannot imagine, Mr Newland." + +"It is because it took place before I was born, that I feel so much +interest." + +"I cannnot understand you, Mr Newland, and I think we had better change +the subject." + +"Excuse me, madam, but I must request to continue it a little longer. Is +Mr Warrender dead, or not? Did he die in the West Indies?" + +"You appear to be very curious on this subject, Mr Newland; I hardly can +tell. Yes, now I recollect, he did die of the yellow fever, I think--but +I have quite forgotten all about it--and I shall answer no more +questions; if you were not a favourite of mine, Mr Newland, I should +say that you were very impertinent." + +"Then, your ladyship, I will put but one more question, and that one I +must put, with your permission." + +"I should think, after what I have said, Mr Newland, that you might drop +the subject." + +"I will, your ladyship, immediately; but, pardon me, the question--" + +"Well, Mr Newland--?" + +"Do not be angry with me--" + +"Well?" exclaimed her ladyship, who appeared alarmed. + +"Nothing but the most important and imperative reasons could induce me +to ask the question" (her ladyship gasped for breath, and could not +speak), I stammered, but at last I brought it out. "What has become +of--of--of the sweet pledge of your love, Lady Maelstrom?" + +Her ladyship coloured up with rage, raised up her clenched hand, and +then fell back in violent hysterics. + + + + +Chapter XXXV + + I repair the damage, and make things worse--Plot and + counterplot--Tim gains a watch by setting watch upon his tongue. + + +I hardly knew how to act--if I called the servants, my interview would +be at an end, and I was resolved to find out the truth--for the same +reason, I did not like to ring for water. Some vases with flowers were +on the table; I took out the flowers, and threw the water in her face, +but they had been in the water some time, and had discoloured it green. +Her ladyship's dress was a high silk gown, of a bright slate colour, and +was immediately spoiled; but this was no time to stand upon trifles. I +seized hold of a glass bottle, fancying, in my hurry, it was _eau de +cologne_, or some essence, and poured a little into her mouth; +unfortunately, it was a bottle of marking ink, which her ladyship, who +was very economical, had on the table in disguise. I perceived my +error, and had recourse to another vase of flowers, pouring a large +quantity of the green water down her throat. Whether the unusual +remedies had an effect or not, I cannot tell, but her ladyship gradually +revived, and, as she leant back on the sofa, sobbing, every now and +then, convulsively, I poured into her ear a thousand apologies, until I +thought she was composed enough to listen to me. + +"Your ladyship's maternal feelings," said I. + +"It's all a calumny! a base lie, sir!" shrieked she. + +"Nay, nay, why be ashamed of a youthful passion; why deny what was in +itself creditable to your unsophisticated mind. Does not your heart, +even now, yearn to embrace your son--will not you bless me, if I bring +him to your feet--will not you bless your son, and receive him with +delight?" + +"It was a girl," screamed her ladyship, forgetting herself, and again +falling into hysterics. + +"A girl!" replied I, "then I have lost my time, and it is no use my +remaining here." + +Mortified at the intelligence which overthrew my hopes and castle +buildings, I seized my hat, descended the stairs, and quitted the house; +in my hurry and confusion quite forgetting to call the servants to her +ladyship's assistance. Fortunately, I perceived the Misses Fairfax close +to the iron railing of the garden. I crossed the road, wished them +good-bye, and told them that I thought Lady Maelstrom looked very ill, +and they had better go in to her. I then threw myself into the first +hackney-coach, and drove home. I found Timothy had arrived before me, +and I narrated all that had passed. + +"You will never be able to go there again," observed Timothy, "and +depend upon it, she will be your enemy through life. I wish you had not +said anything to her. + +"What is done cannot be undone; but recollect, that if she can talk, I +can talk also." + +"Will she not be afraid?" + +"Yes, openly, she will; and open attacks can be parried." + +"Very true." + +"But it will be as well to pacify her, if I can. I will write to her." I +sat down and wrote as follows:-- + + "My dear Lady Maelstrom,--I am so astonished and alarmed at the + situation I put you in, by my impertinence and folly, that I hardly + know how to apologise. The fact is, that looking over some of my + father's old letters, I found many from Warrender, in which he + spoke of an affair with a young lady, and I read the name as your + maiden name, and also discovered where the offspring was to be + found. On re-examination, for your innocence was too evident at our + meeting to admit of a doubt, I find that the name, although + something like yours, is spelt very differently, and that I must + have been led into an unpardonable error. What can I say, except + that I throw myself on your mercy? I dare not appear before you + again. I leave town to-morrow, but if you can pardon my folly and + impertinence, and allow me to pay my respects when London is full + again, and time shall have softened down your just anger, write me + one line to that effect, and you will relieve the burdened + conscience of + + "Yours most truly, + + "J. Newland." + +"There, Tim," said I, as I finished reading it over, "take that as a sop +to the old Cerberus. She may think it prudent, as I have talked of +letters, to believe me and make friends. I will not trust her, +nevertheless." + +Tim went away, and very soon returned with an answer. + + "You are a foolish mad-cap, and I ought to shut my doors against + you; you have half-killed me--spoilt my gown, and I am obliged to + keep my bed. Remember, in future, to be sure of the right name + before you make an assertion. As for forgiving you, I shall think + of it, and when you return to town, you may call and receive my + sentence. Cecilia was quite frightened, poor dear girl, what a dear + affectionate child she is--she is a treasure to me, and I don't + think I ever could part with her. She sends her regards. + + "Yours, + + "C. Maelstrom." + +"Come, Timothy, at all events this is better than I expected--but now +I'll tell you what I propose to do. Harcourt was with me yesterday, and +he wishes me to go down with him to ----. There will be the assizes, and +the county ball, and a great deal of gaiety, and I have an idea that it +is just as well to beat the country as the town. I dine with Mr +Masterton on Friday. On Saturday I will go down and see Fleta, and on +Tuesday or Wednesday I will start with Harcourt to his father's, where +he has promised me a hearty welcome. Was there anything at Coleman +Street?" + +"Yes, sir; Mr Iving said that he had just received a letter from your +correspondent, and that he wished to know if the little girl was well; I +told him that she was. Mr Iving laid the letter down on the desk, and I +read the postmark, Dublin." + +"Dublin," replied I. "I should like to find out who Melchior is--and so +I will as soon as I can." + +"Well, sir, I have not finished my story. Mr Iving said, 'My +correspondent wishes to know whether the education of the little girl is +attended to?' 'Yes,' replied I, 'it is.' 'Is she at school?' 'Yes, she +has been at school ever since we have been in London.' 'Where is she at +school?' inquired he. Now, sir, as I never was asked that question by +him before, I did not know whether I ought to give an answer, so I +replied, 'that I did not know.' 'You know whether she is in London or +not, do you not?' 'How should I?' replied I, 'master had put her to +school before I put on his liveries.' 'Does he never go to see her?' +inquired he. 'I suppose so,' said I. 'Then you really know nothing +about it?--then look you, my lad, I am anxious to find out where she is +at school, and the name of the people, and if you will find out the +direction for me, it will be money in your pocket, that's all.' 'Um,' +replied I, 'but how much?' 'Why, more than you think for, my man, it +will be a ten-pound note.' 'That alters the case,' replied I; 'now I +think again, I have an idea that I do remember seeing her address on a +letter my master wrote to her.' 'Ay,' replied Mr Iving, 'it's +astonishing how money sharpens the memory. I'll keep to my bargain; give +me the address, and here's the ten-pound note.' 'I'm afraid that my +master will be angry,' said I, as if I did not much like to tell him. +'Your master will never know anything about it, and you may serve a long +time before he gives you a ten-pound note above your wages.' 'That's +very true,' said I, 'sarvice is no inheritance. Well, then, give me the +money, and I'll write it down.'" + +"And did you give it?" interrupted I. + +"Stop a moment, sir, and you shall hear. I wrote down the address of +that large school at Kensington, which we pass when we go to Mr Aubrey +White's." + +"What, that tremendous large board with yellow letters--Mrs Let--what is +it?" + +"Mrs Lipscombe's seminary--I always read the board every time I go up +and down. I gave him the address, Miss Johnson, at Mrs Lipscombe's +seminary, Kensington. Well--and here's the ten-pound note, sir, which I +have fairly earned." + +"Fairly earned, Tim?" + +"Yes, fairly earned; for it's all fair to cheat those who would cheat +you.' + +"I cannot altogether agree with you on that point, Tim, but it certainly +is no more than they deserve; but this is matter for reflection. Why +should Melchior wish to find out her address without my +knowledge?--depend upon it, there is something wrong." + +"That's what I said to myself coming home; and I made up my mind, that, +for some reason or another, he wishes to regain possession of her." + +"I entertain the same idea, Timothy, and I am glad you have +disappointed him. I will take care that they shall not find her out, now +that I am upon my guard." + +"But, sir, I wish to draw one good moral from this circumstance; which +is, that if you had been served by any common footman, your interest +would, in all probability, have been sacrificed to the ten-pound note; +and that not only in this instance, but in many others, I did a very +wise thing in taking my present situation." + +"I am but too well aware of that, Tim, my dear fellow," said I, +extending my hand, "and depend upon it, that if I rise, you do. You know +me well enough by this time." + +"Yes, I do, Japhet, and had rather serve you than the first nobleman in +the land. I'm going to purchase a watch with this ten-pound note, and I +never shall look at it without remembering the advantage of keeping a +watch over my tongue." + + + + +Chapter XXXVI + + I fall very much in love with honesty because I find that it is + well received in the world--and to prove my honesty, inform the + whole world that honest I have never been. + + +I proved the will of Major Carbonnell, in which there was no difficulty; +and then I sat down to consider in what way I might best husband my +resources. The house was in good repair, and well furnished. At the time +that I lived with the Major, we had our drawing-room, and his bedroom, +and another room equally large, used as his dressing-room, on the first +floor. The second floor was appropriated to me, and the sitting-room was +used as a dining-room when we dined at home, which was but seldom. The +basement was let as a shop, at one hundred pounds per annum, but we had +a private door for entrance, and the kitchens and attics. I resolved to +retain only the first floor, and let the remainder of the house; and I +very soon got a tenant at sixty pounds per annum. The attics were +appropriated to Timothy and the servants belonging to the lodger. + +After having disposed of what was of no service to me, I found that, +deducting the thousand pounds paid into the banker's, for Lord +Windermear, I had a little above three thousand pounds in ready money, +and what to do with this I could not well decide. I applied to Mr +Masterton, stating the exact amount of my finances, on the day that I +dined with him, and he replied, "You have two good tenants, bringing you +in one hundred and sixty pounds per annum--if this money is put out on +mortgage, I can procure you five per cent., which will be one hundred +and fifty pounds per annum. Now, the question is, do you think that you +can live upon three hundred and ten pounds per annum? You have no rent +to pay, and I should think that, as you are not at any great expense for +a servant, you might, with economy, do very well. Recollect, that if +your money is lent on mortgage, you will not be able to obtain it at a +moment's warning. So reflect well before you decide." + +I consulted with Timothy, and agreed to lend the money, reserving about +two hundred pounds to go on with, until I should receive my rents and +interest. On the Friday I went to dine with Mr Masterton, and narrated +what had passed between me and Lady Maelstrom. He was very much +diverted, and laughed immoderately. "Upon my faith, Mr Newland, but you +have a singular species of madness; you first attack Lord Windermear, +then a bishop, and, to crown all, you attack a dowager peeress. I must +acknowledge, that if you do not find out your parents, it will not be +for want of inquiry. Altogether, you are a most singular character; your +history is most singular, and your good fortune is equally so. You have +made more friends before you have come to age, than most people do in +their whole lives. You commence the world with nothing, and here you +are, with almost a competence--have paid off a loan of one thousand +pounds, which was not required--and are moving in the best society. Now +the only drawback I perceive in all this is, that you are in society +under false colours, having made people suppose that you are possessed +of a large fortune." + +"It was not exactly my assertion, sir." + +"No, I grant, not exactly; but you have been a party to it, and I cannot +allow that there is any difference. Now, do you mean to allow this +supposition to remain uncontradicted?" + +"I hardly know what to say, sir; if I were to state that I have nothing +but a bare competence, it will be only injurious to the memory of Major +Carbonnell. All the world will suppose that he has ruined me, and that I +had the fortune, whereas, on the contrary, it is to him that I am +indebted for my present favourable position." + +"That may be very true, Mr Newland; but if I am to consider you as my +protege, and I may add the protege of Lord Windermear, I must make you +_quite honest_--I will be no party to fraud in any shape. Are you +prepared to resign your borrowed plumes, and appear before the world as +you really are?" + +"There is but one inducement, sir, for me to wish that the world may +still deceive themselves. I may be thrown out of society, and lose the +opportunity of discovering my parents." + +"And pray, Mr Newland, which do you think is more likely to tend to the +discovery, a general knowledge that you are a foundling in search of +your parents, or your present method, of taxing everybody upon +suspicion. If your parents wish to reclaim you, they will then have +their eyes directed towards you, from your position being known; and I +will add, there are few parents who will not be proud of you as a son. +You will have the patronage of Lord Windermear, which will always secure +you a position in society, and the good wishes of all, although, I +grant, that such worldly people as Lady Maelstrom may strike your name +off their porter's list. You will, moreover, have the satisfaction of +knowing that the friends which you make have not been made under false +colours and appearances, and a still further satisfaction, arising from +a good conscience." + +"I am convinced, sir, and I thank you for your advice. I will now be +guided by you in everything." + +"Give me your hand, my good lad, I now will be your friend to the utmost +of my power." + +"I only wish, sir," replied I, much affected, "that you were also my +father." + +"Thank you for the wish, as it implies that you have a good opinion of +me. What do you mean to do?" + +"I have promised my friend Mr Harcourt to go down with him to his +father's." + +"Well?" + +"And before I go I will undeceive him." + +"You are right; you will then find whether he is a friend to you or to +your supposed ten thousand pounds per annum. I have been reflecting, and +I am not aware that anything else can be done at present than +acknowledging to the world who you really are, which is more likely to +tend to the discovery of your parents than any other means, but at the +same time I shall not be idle. All we lawyers have among us strange +secrets, and among my fraternity, to whom I shall speak openly, I think +it possible that something may be found out which may serve as a clue. +Do not be annoyed at being cut by many, when your history is known; +those who cut you are those whose acquaintance and friendship are not +worth having; it will unmask your flatterers from your friends, and you +will not repent of your having been honest; in the end, it is the best +policy, even in a worldly point of view. Come to me as often as you +please; I am always at home to you, and always your friend." + +Such was the result of my dinner with Mr Masterton, which I narrated to +Timothy as soon as I returned home. "Well, Japhet, I think you have +found a real friend in Mr Masterton, and I am glad that you have decided +upon following his advice. As for me, I am not under false colours, I am +in my right situation, and wish no more." + +In pursuance of my promise to Mr Masterton, I called upon Harcourt the +next morning, and after stating my intention to go down for a day or two +into the country to see a little girl who was under my care, I said to +him, "Harcourt, as long as we were only town acquaintances, mixing in +society, and under no peculiar obligation to each other, I did not think +it worth while to undeceive you on a point in which Major Carbonnell was +deceived himself, and has deceived others; but now that you have offered +to introduce me into the bosom of your family, I cannot allow you to +remain in error. It is generally supposed that I am about to enter into +a large property when I come of age; now, so far from that being the +case, I have nothing in the world but a bare competence, and the +friendship of Lord Windermear. In fact, I am a deserted child, ignorant +of my parents, and most anxious to discover them, as I have every reason +to suppose that I am of no mean birth. I tell you this candidly, and +unless you renew the invitation, shall consider that it has not been +given." + +Harcourt remained a short time without answering. "You really have +astonished me, Newland; but," continued he, extending his hand, "I +admire--I respect you, and I feel that I shall like you better. With ten +thousand pounds a-year, you were above me--now we are but equals. I, as +a younger brother, have but a bare competence, as well as you; and as +for parents--for the benefit I now derive from them, I might as well +have none. Not but my father is a worthy, fine old gentleman, but the +estates are entailed; he is obliged to keep up his position in society, +and he has a large family to provide for, and he can do no more. You +have indeed an uncommon moral courage to have made this confession. Do +you wish it to be kept a secret?" + +"On the contrary, I wish the truth to be known." + +"I am glad that you say so, as I have mentioned you as a young man of +large fortune to my father, but I feel convinced, when I tell him this +conversation, he will be much more pleased in taking you by the hand, +than if you were to come down and propose to one of my sisters. I repeat +the invitation with double the pleasure that I gave it at first." + +"I thank you, Harcourt," replied I; "some day I will tell you more. I +must not expect, however, that everybody will prove themselves as noble +in ideas as yourself." + +"Perhaps not, but never mind that. On Friday next then, we start." + +"Agreed." I shook hands and left him. + + + + +Chapter XXXVII + + I try back to recover the lost scent, and discover to my + astonishment, that I have been transported for forgery. + + +The behaviour of Harcourt was certainly a good encouragement, and had I +been wavering in my promise to Mr Masterton, would have encouraged me to +proceed. I returned home with a light heart and a pleasing satisfaction, +from the conviction that I had done right. The next morning I set off +for ----, and, as it was a long while since I had seen Fleta, our meeting +was a source of delight on both sides. I found her very much grown and +improved. She was approaching her fifteenth year, as nearly as we could +guess--of course her exact age was a mystery. Her mind was equally +expanded. Her mistress praised her docility and application, and wished +to know whether I intended that she should be taught music and drawing, +for both of which she had shown a decided taste. To this I immediately +consented, and Fleta hung on my shoulder and embraced me for the +indulgence. She was now fast approaching to womanhood, and my feelings +towards her were more intense than ever. I took the chain of coral and +gold beads from her neck, telling her that I must put it into a secure +place, as much depended upon them. She was curious to know why, but I +would not enter into the subject at that time. One caution I gave her, +in case, by any chance, her retreat should be discovered by the +companions of Melchior, which was, that without I myself came, she was, +on no account, to leave the school, even if a letter from me was +produced, requesting her to come, unless that letter was delivered by +Timothy. I gave the same directions to her mistress, paid up her +schooling and expenses, and then left her, promising not to be so long +before I saw her again. On my return to town I deposited the necklace +with Mr Masterton, who locked it up carefully in his iron safe. + +On the Friday, as agreed, Harcourt and I, accompanied by Timothy and +Harcourt's servant, started on the outside of the coach, as younger +brothers usually convey themselves, for his father's seat in ----shire, +and arrived there in time for dinner. I was kindly received by old Mr +Harcourt and his family, consisting of his wife and three amiable and +beautiful girls. But on the second day, during which interval I presume +Harcourt had an opportunity of undeceiving his father, I was delighted +to perceive that the old gentleman's warmth of behaviour towards me was +increased. I remained there for a fortnight, and never was so happy. I +was soon on the most intimate terms with the whole family, and was +treated as if I belonged to it. Yet when I went to bed every night, I +became more and more melancholy. I felt what a delight it must be to +have parents, sisters, and friends--the bosom of a family to retire +into, to share with it your pleasures and your pains; and the tears +often ran down my cheeks, and moistened my pillow, when I had, not an +hour before, been the happiest of the happy, and the gayest of the gay. +In a family party, there is nothing so amusing as any little talent out +of the general way, and my performances and tricks on cards, &c., in +which Melchior had made me such an adept, were now brought forward as a +source of innocent gratification. When I quitted, I had a general and +hearty welcome to the house from the parents; and the eyes of the +amiable girls, as well as mine, were not exactly dry, as we bade each +other farewell. + +"You told your father, Harcourt, did you not?" + +"Yes, and the whole of them, Japhet; and you must acknowledge, that in +their estimation you did not suffer. My father is pleased with our +intimacy, and advises me to cultivate it. To prove to you that I am +anxious so to do, I have a proposal to make. I know your house as well +as you do, and that you have reserved only the first floor for yourself; +but there are two good rooms on the first floor, and you can dispense +with a dressing-room. Suppose we club together. It will be a saving to +us both, as poor Carbonnell said, when he took you in." + +"With all my heart: I am delighted with the proposal." + +Harcourt then stated what it was his intention to offer for his share of +the apartment; the other expenses to be divided, and his servant +dismissed. I hardly need say, that we did not disagree, and before I had +been a week in town, we were living together. My interview with Mr +Masterton, and subsequent events, had made me forget to call on the +governors of the Foundling Hospital, to ascertain whether there had been +any inquiries after me. On my return to town I went there, and finding +that there was a meeting to be held on the next day, I presented myself. +I was introduced into the room where they were assembled. + +"You wish to speak with the governors of the Hospital, I understand," +said the presiding governor. + +"Yes, sir," replied I; "I have come to ask whether an inquiry has been +made after one of the inmates of this charity, of the name of Japhet +Newland." + +"Japhet Newland!" + +"If you recollect, sir, he was bound to an apothecary of the name of +Cophagus, in consequence of some money which was left with him as an +infant, enclosed in a letter, in which it was said that he would be +reclaimed if circumstances permitted." + +"I recollect it perfectly well--it is now about six years back. I think +there was some inquiry, was there not, Mr G----?" + +"I think that there was, about a year and a half ago; but we will send +for the secretary, and refer to the minutes." + +My heart beat quick, and the perspiration bedewed my forehead, when I +heard this intelligence. At last, my emotion was so great, that I felt +faint. "You are ill, sir," said one of the gentlemen; "quick--a glass of +water." + +The attendant brought a glass of water, which I drank, and recovered +myself. "You appear to be much interested in this young man's welfare." + +"I am, sir," replied I; "no one can be more so." + +The secretary now made his appearance with the register, and after +turning over the leaves, read as follows: "August the 16th--, a +gentleman came to inquire after an infant left here, of the name of +Japhet, with whom money had been deposited--Japhet, christened by order +of the governors, Japhet Newland--referred to the shop of Mr Cophagus, +Smithfield Market. He returned the next day, saying that Mr Cophagus had +retired from business--that the parties in the shop knew nothing for +certain, but believed that the said Japhet Newland had been transported +for life for forgery, about a year before." + +"Good heavens! what an infamous assertion!" exclaimed I, clasping my +hands. + +"On reference back to the calendar, we observed that one J. Newland was +transported for such an offence. Query?" + +"It must have been some other person; but this has arisen from the +vindictive feeling of those two scoundrels who served under Pleggit," +cried I. + +"How can you possibly tell, sir?" mildly observed one of the governors. + +"How can I tell, sir?" replied I, starting from my chair. "Why, I am +_Japhet Newland_ myself, sir." + +"You, sir," replied the governor, surveying my fashionable exterior, my +chains, and bijouterie. + +"Yes, sir, I am the Japhet Newland brought up in this asylum, and who +was apprenticed to Mr Cophagus." + +"Probably, then, sir," replied the president, "you are the Mr Newland +whose name appears at all the fashionable parties in high life?" + +"I believe that I am the same person, sir." + +"I wish you joy upon your success in the world, sir. It would not appear +that it can be very important to you to discover your parents." + +"Sir," replied I, "you have never known what it is to feel the want of +parents and friends. Fortunate as you may consider me to be--and I +acknowledge I have every reason to be grateful for my unexpected rise in +life--I would, at this moment, give up all that I am worth, resume my +Foundling dress, and be turned out a beggar, if I could but discover the +authors of my existence."--I then bowed low to the governors, and +quitted the room. + + + + +Chapter XXXVIII + + Mischief brewing--Timothy and I set our wits to work, and he + resumes his old profession of a gipsy. + + +I hastened home with feelings too painful to be described. I had a +soreness at my heart, an oppression on my spirits, which weighed me +down. I had but one wish--that I was dead. I had already imparted to +Harcourt the history of my life, and when I came in, I threw myself upon +the sofa in despair, and relieved my agonised heart with a flood of +tears. As soon as I could compose myself, I stated what had occurred. + +"My dear Newland, although it has been an unfortunate occurrence in +itself, I do not see that you have so much cause to grieve, for you have +this satisfaction, that it appears there has been a wish to reclaim +you." + +"Yes," replied I, "I grant that, but have they not been told, and have +they not believed, that I have been ignominiously punished for a capital +crime? Will they ever seek me more?" + +"Probably not; you must now seek them. What I should recommend is, that +you repair to-morrow to the apothecary's shop, and interrogate relative +to the person who called to make inquiries after you. If you will allow +me, I will go with you." + +"And be insulted by those malignant scoundrels?" + +"They dare not insult you. As an apothecary's apprentice they would, but +as a gentleman they will quail; and if they do not, their master will +most certainly be civil, and give you all the information which he can. +We may as well, however, not do things by halves; I will borrow my +aunt's carriage for the morning, and we will go in style." + +"I think I will call this evening upon Mr Masterton, and ask his +advice." + +"Ask him to accompany us, Newland, and he will frighten them with libel, +and defamation of character." + +I called upon Mr Masterton, that evening, and told my story. "It is +indeed very provoking, Newland; but keep your courage up, I will go with +you to-morrow, and will see what we can make of it. At what time do you +propose to start?" + +"Will it suit you, sir, if we call at one o'clock?" + +"Yes; so good-night, my boy, for I have something here which I must +contrive to get through before that time." + +Harcourt had procured the carriage, and we picked up Mr Masterton at the +hour agreed, and proceeded to Smithfield. When we drove up to the door +of Mr Pleggit's shop, the assistants at first imagined that it was a +mistake; few handsome carriages are to be seen stopping in this quarter +of the metropolis. We descended and entered the shop, Mr Masterton +inquiring if Mr Pleggit was at home. The shopmen, who had not recognised +me, bowed to the ground in their awkward way; and one ran to call Mr +Pleggit, who was up stairs. Mr Pleggit descended, and we walked into the +back parlour. Mr Masterton then told him the object of our calling, and +requested to know why the gentleman, who had inquired after me, had been +sent away with the infamous fabrication that I had been transported for +forgery. Mr Pleggit protested innocence--recollected, however, that a +person had called--would make every inquiry of his shopmen. The head man +was called in and interrogated--at first he appeared to make a joke of +it, but when threatened by Mr Masterton became humble--acknowledged that +they had said that I was transported, for they had read it in the +newspapers--was sorry for the mistake; said that the gentleman was a +very tall person, very well dressed, very much of a gentleman--could not +recollect his exact dress--was a large built man, with a stern face--but +seemed very much agitated when he heard that I had been transported. +Called twice, Mr Pleggit was not in at first--left his name--thinks the +name was put down on the day book--when he called a second time, Mr +Pleggit was at home, and referred him to them, not knowing what had +become of me. The other shopman was examined, and his evidence proved +similar to that of the first. The day-book was sent for, and the day in +August ---- referred to; there was a name written down on the side of the +page, which the shopman said he had no doubt, indeed he could almost +swear, was the gentleman's name, as there was no other name put down on +that day. The name, as taken down, was _Derbennon_. This was all the +information we could obtain, and we then quitted the shop, and drove off +without there being any recognition of me on the part of Mr Pleggit and +his assistants. + +"I never heard that name before," observed Harcourt to Mr Masterton. + +"It is, in all probability, De Benyon," replied the lawyer; "we must +make allowances for their ignorance. At all events, this is a sort of +clue to follow up. The De Benyons are Irish." + +"Then I will set off for Ireland to-morrow morning, sir," said I. + +"You will do no such thing," replied the lawyer; "but you will call upon +me to-morrow evening, and perhaps I may have something to say to you." + +I did not fail to attend Mr Masterton, who stated that he had made every +inquiry relative to the De Benyons; as he had said, they were an Irish +family of the highest rank, and holding the peerage of De Beauvoir, but +that he had written to his agent in Dublin, giving him directions to +obtain for him every possible information in his power relative to all +the individuals composing it. Till this had been received, all that I +could do was to remain quiet. I then narrated to him the behaviour of +the agent, Mr Iving, to Timothy. "There is some mystery there, most +assuredly," observed Mr Masterton; "When do you go again to ----?" + +I replied, that it was not my intention to go there for some time, +unless he would wish to see the little girl. + +"I do, Newland. I think I must take her under my protection as well as +you. We will go down to-morrow. Sunday is the only day I can spare; but +it must be put down as a work of charity." + +The next day we went down to ----. Fleta was surprised to see me so soon, +and Mr Masterton was much struck with the elegance and classical +features of my little protegee. He asked her many questions, and with +his legal tact, contrived to draw from her many little points relative +to her infant days, which she had, till he put his probing questions, +quite forgotten. As we returned to town, he observed, "You are right, +Japhet, that is no child of humble origin. Her very appearance +contradicts it; but we have, I think, a chance of discovering who she +is--a better one, I'm afraid, than at present we have for your +identification. But never mind, let us trust to perseverance." + +For three weeks I continued to live with Harcourt, but I did not go out +much. Such was the state of my affairs, when Timothy came to my room +one morning, and said, "I do not know whether you have observed it, sir; +but there is a man constantly lurking about here, watching the house, I +believe. I think, but still I'm not quite sure, that I have seen his +face before; but where I cannot recollect." + +"Indeed, what sort of a person may he be?" + +"He is a very dark man, stout, and well made; and is dressed in a sort +of half-sailor, half-gentleman's dress; such as you see put on by those +who belong to the Funny Clubs on the river; but he is not at all a +gentleman himself--quite the contrary. It is now about a week that I +have seen him, every day; and I have watched him, and perceive that he +generally follows you as soon as you go out." + +"Well," replied I, "we must find out what he wants--if we can. Point him +out to me; I will soon see if he is tracing my steps." + +Timothy pointed him out to me after breakfast; I could not recollect the +face, and yet it appeared that I had seen it before. I went out, and +after passing half a dozen streets, I turned round and perceived that +the man was dodging me. I took no notice, but being resolved to try him +again, I walked to the White Horse Cellar, and took a seat inside a +Brentford coach about to start. On my arrival at Brentford I got out, +and perceived that the man was on the roof. Of a sudden it flashed on my +memory--it was the gipsy who had come to the camp with the communication +to Melchior, which induced him to quit it. I recollected him--and his +kneeling down by the stream and washing his face. The mystery was +solved--Melchior had employed him to find out the residence of Fleta. In +all probability they had applied to the false address given by Timothy, +and in consequence were trying, by watching my motions, to find out the +true one. "You shall be deceived, at all events," thought I, as I walked +on through Brentford until I came to a ladies' seminary. I rang the +bell, and was admitted, stating my wish to know the terms of the school +for a young lady, and contrived to make as long a stay as I could, +promising to call again, if the relatives of the young lady were as +satisfied as I professed to be. On my quitting the house, I perceived +that my gipsy attendant was not far off. I took the first stage back, +and returned to my lodgings. When I had told all that had occurred to +Timothy, he replied, "I think, sir, that if you could replace me for a +week or two, I could now be of great service. He does not know me, and +if I were to darken my face, and put on a proper dress, I think I should +have no difficulty in passing myself off as one of the tribe, knowing +their slang, and having been so much with them." + +"But what good do you anticipate, Timothy?" + +"My object is to find out where he puts up, and to take the same +quarters--make his acquaintance, and find out who Melchior is, and where +he lives. My knowledge of him and Nattee may perhaps assist me." + +"You must be careful then, Timothy; for he may know sufficient of our +history to suspect you." + +"Let me alone, sir. Do you like my proposal?" + +"Yes, I do; you may commence your arrangements immediately." + + + + +Chapter XXXIX + + I set off on a wild goose chase--and fall in with an old friend. + + +The next morning Timothy had procured me another valet, and throwing off +his liveries, made his appearance in the evening, sending up to say a +man wished to speak to me. He was dressed in highlow boots, worsted +stockings, greasy leather small clothes, a shag waistcoat, and a blue +frock overall. His face was stained of a dark olive, and when he was +ushered in, Harcourt, who was sitting at table with me, had not the +slightest recognition of him. As Harcourt knew all my secrets, I had +confided this; I had not told him what Timothy's intentions were, as I +wished to ascertain whether his disguise was complete. I had merely said +I had given Timothy leave for a few days. + +"Perhaps you may wish me away for a short time," said Harcourt, looking +at Tim. + +"Not at all, my dear Harcourt, why should I? There's nobody here but you +and Timothy." + +"Timothy! excellent--upon my word, I never should have known him." + +"He is going forth on his adventures." + +"And if you please, sir, I will lose no time. It is now dark, and I know +where the gipsy hangs out." + +"Success attend you then; but be careful, Tim. You had better write to +me, instead of calling." + +"I had the same idea; and now I wish you a good evening." + +When Timothy quitted the room, I explained our intentions to Harcourt. +"Yours is a strange adventurous sort of life, Newland; you are +constantly plotted against, and plotting in your turn--mines and +counter-mines. I have an idea that you will turn out some grand +personage after all; for if not, why should there be all this trouble +about you?" + +"The trouble, in the present case, is all about Fleta; who must, by your +argument, turn out some grand personage." + +"Well, perhaps she may. I should like to see that little girl, Newland." + +"That cannot be just now, for reasons you well know; but some other time +it will give me great pleasure." + +On the second day after Tim's departure, I received a letter from him by +the twopenny post. He had made the acquaintance of the gipsy, but had +not extracted any information, being as yet afraid to venture any +questions. He further stated that his new companion had no objection to +a glass or two, and that he had no doubt but that if he could contrive +to make him tipsy, in a few days he would have some important +intelligence to communicate. I was in a state of great mental agitation +during this time. I went to Mr Masterton, and narrated to him all that +had passed. He was surprised and amused, and desired me not to fail to +let him have the earliest intelligence of what came to light. He had not +received any answer as yet from his agent in Dublin. + +It was not until eight days afterwards that I received further +communication from Timothy; and I was in a state of great impatience, +combined with anxiety, lest any accident should have happened. His +communication was important. He was on the most intimate footing with +the man, who had proposed that he should assist him to carry off a +little girl, who was at a school at Brentford. They had been consulting +how this should be done, and Timothy had proposed forging a letter, +desiring her to come up to town, and his carrying it as a livery +servant. The man had also other plans, one of which was to obtain an +entrance into the house by making acquaintance with the servants; +another, by calling to his aid some of the women of his fraternity to +tell fortunes: nothing was as yet decided, but that he was resolved to +obtain possession of the little girl, even if he were obliged to resort +to force. In either case Timothy was engaged to assist. + +When I read this, I more than congratulated myself upon the man's being +on the wrong scent, and that Timothy had hit upon his scheme. Timothy +continued:--that they had indulged in very deep potations last night, +and that the man had not scrupled to say that he was employed by a +person of large fortune, who paid well, and whom it might not be +advisable to refuse, as he had great power. After some difficulty, he +asked Timothy if he had ever heard the name of Melchior in his tribe. +Timothy replied that he had, and that at the gathering he had seen him +and his wife. Timothy at one time thought that the man was about to +reveal everything, but of a sudden he stopped short, and gave evasive +answers. To a question put by Timothy, as to where they were to take the +child if they obtained possession of her, the man had replied, that she +would go over the water. Such were the contents of the letter, and I +eagerly awaited a further communication. + +The next day I called at Long's Hotel upon a gentleman with whom I was +upon intimate terms. After remaining a short time with him, I was +leaving the hotel, when I was attracted by some trunks in the entrance +hall. I started when I read the address of--"A. De Benyon, Esq., to be +left at F----t Hotel, Dublin." I asked the waiter who was by, whether Mr +De Benyon had left the hotel. He replied that he had left it in his own +carriage that morning, and having more luggage than he could take with +him, had desired these trunks to be forwarded by the coach. I had by +that time resumed my serenity. I took out a memorandum-book, wrote down +the address on the trunks, saying that I was sorry not to have seen Mr +De Benyon, and that I would write to him. + +But if I composed myself before the waiter, how did my heart throb as I +hastily passed through Bond Street to my home! I had made up my mind, +upon what very slight grounds the reader must be aware, that this Mr de +Benyon either must be my father, or, if not, was able to tell me who +was. Had not Mr Masterton said that there was a clue--had he not written +to Dublin? The case was to my excited imagination as clear as the +noon-day, and before I arrived at home, I had made up my mind in what +manner I should proceed. It was then about four o'clock. I hastily +packed up my portmanteau--took with me all my ready money, about sixty +pounds, and sent the servant to secure a place in the mail to Holyhead. +He returned, stating that there was a seat taken for me. I waited till +half-past five to see Harcourt, but he did not come home. I then wrote +him a short note, telling him where I was going, and promising to write +as soon as I arrived. + + "Ireland is to be the ground of my future adventures, my dear + Harcourt. Call upon Mr Masterton, and tell him what I have done, + which he surely will approve. Open Timothy's letters, and let me + have their contents. I leave you to arrange and act for me in + every respect until I return. In the meantime believe me, + + "Ever yours, + + "J. Newland." + +I gave the letter to the valet, and calling a coach drove to the office, +and in less than five minutes afterwards was rolling away to Holyhead, +felicitating myself upon my promptitude and decision, little imagining +to what the step I had taken was to lead. + +It was a very dark night in November when I started on my expedition. +There were three other passengers in the mail, none of whom had yet +spoken a word, although we had made several miles of our journey. +Muffled up in my cloak, I indulged in my own reveries as usual, building +up castles which toppled over one after another as I built and rebuilt +again. At last one of the passengers blew his nose, as if to give +warning that he was about to speak; and then inquired of the gentleman +next him if he had seen the evening newspapers. The other replied in the +negative. "It would appear that Ireland is not in a very quiet state, +sir," observed the first. + +"Did you ever read the history of Ireland?" inquired the other. + +"Not very particularly." + +"Then, sir, if you were to take that trouble, you will find that +Ireland, since it was first peopled, never has been in a quiet state, +nor perhaps ever will. It is a species of human volcano--always either +smoking, burning, or breaking out into eruptions and fire." + +"Very true, sir," replied the other. "I am told the White Boys are +mustering in large numbers, and that some of the districts are quite +impassable." + +"Sir, if you had travelled much in Ireland, you would have found out +that many of the districts are quite impassable, without the impediment +of the White Boys." + +"You have been a great deal in Ireland then, sir," replied the other. + +"Yes, sir," said the other with a consequential air, "I believe I may +venture to say that I am in charge of some of the most considerable +properties in Ireland." + +"Lawyer--agent--five per cent.--and so on," muttered the third party, +who sate by me, and had not yet spoken. + +There was no mistaking him--it was my former master, Mr Cophagus; and I +cannot say that I was very well pleased at this intimation of his +presence, as I took it for granted that he would recognise me as soon as +it was daylight. The conversation continued, without any remarks being +made upon this interruption on the part of Mr Cophagus. The agent, it +appeared, had been called to London on business, and was returning. The +other was a professor of music bound to Dublin on speculation. What +called Mr Cophagus in that direction I could not comprehend; but I +thought I would try and find out, I therefore, while the two others were +engaged in conversation, addressed him in a low tone of voice. "Can you +tell me, sir, if the College at Dublin is considered good for the +instruction of surgical pupils?" + +"Country good, at all events plenty of practice--broken heads--and so +on." + +"Have you ever been in Ireland, sir?" + +"Ireland!--never--don't wish to go--must go--old women will +die--executor--botheration--and so on." + +"I hope she has left you a good legacy, sir," replied I. + +"Legacy--humph--can't tell--silver tea-pot--suit of black, and so on. +Long journey--won't pay--can't be helped--old women always troublesome +alive or dead--bury her, come back--and so on." + + + + +Chapter XL + + I deny my master. + + +Although Mr Cophagus was very communicative in his own way, he had no +curiosity with regard to others, and the conversation dropped. The +other two had also asked all the questions which they wished, and we +all, as if by one agreement, fell back in our seats, and shut our eyes, +to court sleep. I was the only one who wooed it in vain. Day broke, my +companions were all in repose, and I discontinued my reveries, and +examined their physiognomies. Mr Cophagus was the first to whom I +directed my attention. He was much the same in face as when I had left +him, but considerably thinner in person. His head was covered with a +white night-cap, and he snored with emphasis. The professor of music was +a very small man, with mustachios; his mouth was wide open, and one +would have thought that he was in the full execution of a bravura. The +third person, who had stated himself to be an agent, was a heavy, +full-faced, coarse-looking personage, with his hat over his eyes, and +his head bent down on his chest, and I observed that he had a small +packet in one of his hands, with his forefinger twisted through the +string. I should not have taken further notice, had not the name of _T. +Iving_, in the corner of the side on which was the direction, attracted +my attention. It was the name of Melchior's London correspondent, who +had attempted to bribe Timothy. This induced me to look down and read +the direction of the packet, and I clearly deciphered, Sir Henry De +Clare, Bart., Mount Castle, Connemara. I took out my tablets, and wrote +down the address. I certainly had no reason for so doing, except that +nothing should he neglected, as there was no saying what might turn out. +I had hardly replaced my tablets when the party awoke, made a sort of +snatch at the packet, as if recollecting it, and wishing to ascertain if +it were safe, looked at it, took off his hat, let down the window, and +then looked round upon the other parties. + +"Fine morning, sir," said he to me, perceiving that I was the only +person awake. + +"Very," replied I, "very fine; but I had rather be walking over the +mountains of Connemara, than be shut up in this close and confined +conveyance." + +"Hah! you know Connemara, then? I'm going there; perhaps you are also +bound to that part of the country? but you are not Irish." + +"I was not born or bred in Ireland, certainly," replied I. + +"So I should say. Irish blood in your veins, I presume." + +"I believe such to be the case," replied I, with a smile, implying +certainty. + +"Do you know Sir Henry de Clare?" + +"Sir Henry de Clare--of Mount Castle--is he not?" + +"The same; I am going over to him. I am agent for his estates, among +others. A very remarkable man. Have you ever seen his wife?" + +"I really cannot tell," replied I; "let me call to mind." + +I had somehow or another formed an idea, that Sir Henry de Clare and +Melchior might be one and the same person; nothing was too absurd or +improbable for my imagination, and I had now means of bringing home my +suspicions. "I think," continued I, "I recollect her--that is, she is a +very tall, handsome woman, dark eyes and complexion." + +"The very same," replied he. + +My heart bounded at the information; it certainly was not any clue to my +own parentage, but it was an object of my solicitude, and connected with +the welfare of Fleta. "If I recollect right," observed I, "there are +some curious passages in the life of Sir Henry?" + +"Nothing very particular," observed the agent, looking out of the +window. + +"I thought that he had disappeared for some time." + +"Disappeared! he certainly did not live in Ireland, because he had +quarrelled with his brother. He lived in England until his brother's +death." + +"How did his brother die, sir?" + +"Killed by a fall when hunting," replied the agent. "He was attempting +to clear a stone wall, the horse fell back on him, and dislocated his +spine. I was on the spot when the accident happened." + +I recollected the imperfect communication of Fleta, who had heard the +gipsy say that "he was dead;" and also the word _horse_ made use of, and +I now felt convinced that I had found out Melchior. "Sir Henry, if I +recollect right, has no family," observed I. + +"No; and I am afraid there is but little chance." + +"Had the late baronet, his elder brother, any family?" + +"What, Sir William? No; or Sir Henry would not have come into the +title." + +"He might have had daughters," replied I. + +"Very true; now I think of it, there was a girl, who died when young." + +"Is the widow of Sir William alive?" + +"Yes; and a very fine woman she is; but she has left Ireland since her +husband's death." + +I did not venture to ask any more questions. Our conversation had roused +Mr Cophagus and the other passenger; and as I had reflected how I should +behave in case of recognition, I wished to be prepared for him. "You +have had a good nap, sir," said I, turning to him. + +"Nap--yes--coach nap, bad--head sore--and so on. Why--bless +me--Japhet--Japhet New--yes--it is." + +"Do you speak to me, sir?" inquired I, with a quiet air. + +"Speak to you--yes--bad memory--hip! quite forgot--old master--shop in +Smithfield--mad bull--and so on." + +"Really, sir," replied I, "I am afraid you mistake me for some other +person." + +Mr Cophagus looked very hard at me, and perceiving that there was no +alteration in my countenance, exclaimed, "Very odd--same nose--same +face--same age too--very odd--like as two pills--beg pardon--made a +mistake--and so on." + +Satisfied with the discomfiture of Mr Cophagus, I turned round, when I +perceived the Irish agent, with whom I had been in conversation, eyeing +me most attentively. As I said before, he was a hard-featured man, and +his small grey eye was now fixed upon me, as if it would have pierced +me through. I felt confused for a moment, as the scrutiny was unexpected +from that quarter; but a few moments' reflection told me, that if Sir +Henry de Clare and Melchior were the same person, and this man his +agent, in all probability he had not been sent to England for nothing; +that if he was in search of Fleta, he must have heard of my name, and +perhaps something of my history. "I appear to have a great likeness to +many people," observed I, to the agent, smiling. "It was but the other +day I was stopped in Bond Street as a Mr Rawlinson" + +"Not a very common face either, sir," observed the agent; "if once seen +not easily forgotten, nor easily mistaken for another." + +"Still such appears to be the case," replied I, carelessly. + +We now stopped to take refreshment. I had risen from the table, and was +going into the passage, when I perceived the agent looking over the +way-bill with the guard. As soon as he perceived me, he walked out in +front of the inn. Before the guard had put up the bill, I requested to +look at it, wishing to ascertain if I had been booked in my own name. It +was so. The four names were, Newland, Cophagus, Baltzi, M'Dermott. I was +much annoyed at this circumstance. M'Dermott was, of course, the name of +the agent; and that was all the information I received in return for my +own exposure, which I now considered certain; I determined, however, to +put a good face on the matter, and when we returned to the coach, again +entered into conversation with Mr M'Dermott, but I found him +particularly guarded in his replies whenever I spoke about Sir Henry or +his family, and I could not obtain any further information. Mr Cophagus +could not keep his eyes off me--he peered into my face--then he would +fall back in the coach. "Odd--very odd--must be--no--says not--um." In +about another half hour, he would repeat his examination, and mutter to +himself. At last, as if tormented with his doubts, he exclaimed, "Beg +pardon--but--you have a name?" + +"Yes," replied I, "I have a name." + +"Well, then--not ashamed. What is it?" + +"My name, sir," replied I, "is Newland;" for I had resolved to +acknowledge to my name, and fall back upon a new line of defence. + +"Thought so--don't know me--don't recollect shop--Mr +Brookes's--Tim--rudiments--and so on." + +"I have not the least objection to tell you my name; but I am afraid you +have the advantage in your recollection of me. Where may I have had the +honour of meeting you?" + +"Meeting--what, quite forgot--Smithfield?" + +"And pray, sir, where may Smithfield be?" + +"Very odd--can't comprehend--same name, same face--don't recollect me, +don't recollect Smithfield?" + +"It may be very odd, sir; but, as I am very well known in London, at the +west end, perhaps we have met there. Lord Windermear's perhaps--Lady +Maelstrom's?"--and I continued mentioning about a dozen of the most +fashionable names. "At all events, you appear to have the advantage of +me; but I trust you will excuse my want of memory, as my acquaintance is +very extensive." + +"I see--quite a mistake--same name, not same person--beg pardon, +sir--apologies--and so on," replied the apothecary, drawing in a long +sigh. + + + + +Chapter XLI + + I turn lawyer. + + +I watched the countenance of the agent, who appeared at last to be +satisfied that there had been some mistake; at least he became more +communicative, and as I no longer put any questions to him relative to +Sir Henry, we had a long conversation. I spoke to him about the De +Benyons, making every inquiry that I could think of. He informed me that +the deceased earl, the father of the present, had many sons, who were +some of them married, and that the family was extensive. He appeared to +know them all, the professions which they had been brought up to, and +their careers in life. I treasured up his information, and, as soon as I +had an opportunity, wrote down all which he had told me. On our arrival +at Holyhead, the weather was very boisterous, and the packet was to +depart immediately. Mr M'Dermott stated his intentions to go over, but +Mr Cophagus and the professor declined, and, anxious as I was to +proceed, I did not wish to be any longer in company with the agent, and, +therefore, also declined going on board. Mr M'Dermott called for a glass +of brandy and water, drank it off in haste, and then, followed by the +porter, with his luggage, went down to embark. + +As soon as he was gone, I burst into a fit of laughter. "Well, Mr +Cophagus, acknowledge that it is possible to persuade a man out of his +senses. You knew me, and you were perfectly right in asserting that I +was Japhet, yet did I persuade you at last that you were mistaken. But I +will explain to you why I did so." + +"All right," said the apothecary, taking my proffered hand, "thought +so--no mistake--handsome fellow--so you are--Japhet Newland--my +apprentice--and so on." + +"Yes, sir," replied I, laughing, "I am Japhet Newland." (I turned round, +hearing a noise, the door had been opened, and Mr M'Dermott had just +stepped in; he had returned for an umbrella, which he had forgotten; he +looked at me, at Mr Cophagus, who still held my hand in his, turned +short round, said nothing, and walked out.) "This is unfortunate," +observed I, "my reason for not avowing myself, was to deceive that very +person, and now I have made the avowal to his face; however, it cannot +be helped." + +I sat down with my old master, and as I knew that I could confide in +him, gave him an outline of my life, and stated my present intentions. + +"I see, Japhet, I see--done mischief--sorry for it--can't be help'd--do +all I can--um--what's to be done?--be your friend--always like you--help +all I can--and so on." + +"But what would you advise, sir?" + +"Advice--bad as physic--nobody takes it--Ireland--wild place--no +law--better go back--leave all to me--find out--and so on." + +This advice I certainly could not consent to follow. + +We argued the matter over for some time, and then it was agreed that we +should proceed together. I was informed by Mr Cophagus that he had +retired with a very handsome fortune, and was living in the country, +about ten miles from the metropolis; that he had been summoned to attend +the funeral of a maiden aunt in Dublin, who had left him executor and +residuary legatee, but that he knew nothing of her circumstances. He was +still a bachelor, and amused himself in giving advice and medicines +gratis to the poor people of the village in which he resided, there +being no resident practitioner within some distance. He liked the +country very much, but there was one objection to it--the cattle. He had +not forgotten the _mad bull_. At a very late hour we retired to our +beds: the next morning the weather had moderated, and, on the arrival of +the mail we embarked, and had a very good passage over. On my arrival at +Dublin I directed my steps to the F----t Hotel, as the best place to make +inquiries relative to Mr De Benyon. Mr Cophagus also put up at the same +hotel, and we agreed to share a sitting-room. + +"Waiter," said I, "do you know a Mr De Benyon?" + +"Yes, sir," replied he; "there is one of the De Benyons at the hotel at +this moment." + +"Is he a married man?" + +"Yes--with a large family." + +"What is his Christian name?" + +"I really cannot tell, sir; but I'll find out for you by to-morrow +morning." + +"When does he leave?" + +"To-morrow, I believe." + +"Do you know where he goes?" + +"Yes, sir, to his own seat." + +The waiter left the room. "Won't do, Japhet," said Cophagus. "Large +family--don't want more--hard times, and so on." + +"No," replied I, "it does not exactly answer; but I may from him obtain +further intelligence." + +"Won't do, Japhet--try another way--large family--want all uncle's +money--um--never tell--good night." + +This remark of Mr Cophagus gave me an idea, upon which I proceeded the +next morning. I sent in my card, requesting the honour of speaking to Mr +De Benyon, stating that I had come over to Ireland on business of +importance, but that, as I must be back if possible by _term_ time, it +would perhaps save much expense and trouble. The waiter took in the +message. "Back by term time--it must be some legal gentleman. Show him +up," said Mr De Benyon. + +I walked in with a business-like air. "Mr De Benyon, I believe?" + +"Yes, sir; will you do me the favour to take a chair?" + +I seated myself, and drew out my memorandum-book. + +"My object, Mr De Benyon, in troubling you, is to ascertain a few +particulars relative to your family, which we cannot so easily find out +in England. There is a _property_ which it is supposed may be claimed by +one of the De Benyons, but which we cannot ascertain until we have a +little search into the genealogical tree." + +"Is the property large?" inquired Mr De Benyon. + +"Not very large," replied I; "but still a very handsome property, I am +told." The reader may surmise that the property referred to was my own +pretty self. "May I ask you a few particulars relative to the present +earl and his brothers?" + +"Most certainly, sir," replied Mr De Benyon; "any information I can give +you will be at your service. The Earl has four brothers. The eldest +Maurice." + +"Is he married?" + +"Yes, and has two children. The next is William." + +"Is he married?" + +"No; nor has he ever been. He is a general in the army. The third is +myself, Henry." + +"You are married, I believe, sir?" + +"Yes, with a large family." + +"May I request you will proceed, sir?" + +"Arthur is the fourth brother. He is lately married, and has two +children." + +"Sir, I feel much obliged to you; it is a curious and intricate affair. +As I am here, I may as well ask one question, although not of great +consequence. The earl is married, I perceive, by the peerage, but I do +not find that he has any children." + +"On the contrary, he has two--and prospects of more. May I now request +the particulars connected with this property?" + +"The exact particulars, sir, I cannot well tell you, as I am not +acquainted with them myself; but the property in question, I rather +think, depends upon a _name_. May I venture to ask the names of all your +children?" + +Mr De Benyon gave me a list _seriatim_, which I put down with great +gravity. + +"Of course, there is no doubt of your second brother not being married. +I believe we ought to have a certificate. Do you know his address?" + +"He has been in the East Indies for many years. He returned home on +furlough, and has now just sailed again for Calcutta." + +"That is unfortunate; we must forward a letter through the India Board. +May I also be favoured with your address, as in all probability it may +be advisable?" + +Mr De Benyon gave me his address. I rose, promised to give him all the +particulars as soon as they were known to me, bowed, and made my exit. +To one who was in his sober senses, there certainly was not any +important information gained; but to me, it was evident that the Mr De +Benyon who was a general in the army was to be interrogated, and I had +almost made up my mind to set off for Calcutta. + + + + +Chapter XLII + + I affront an Irish gentleman, and make a handsome apology, which + is accepted. + + +Before I had gained my own room, I informed Mr Cophagus, who had just +returned from a visit to his maiden aunt's house, of what had passed. + +"Can't see anything in it, Japhet--wild goose chase?--who told +you?--oh! Pleggit's men--sad liars--De Benyon not name, depend upon +it--all stuff, and so on." + +And when I reflected, I could but acknowledge that the worthy +apothecary might be right, and, that I was running after shadows; +but this was only in my occasional fits of despondency. I soon +rallied, and was as sanguine as ever. Undecided how to proceed, and +annoyed by what Cophagus had said, I quitted the hotel, to walk out, +in no very good humour. As I went out, I perceived the agent M'Dermott +speaking to the people in the bar, and the sight of him reminded me of +what, for a moment, I had forgotten, which was, to ascertain whether +Melchior and Sir Henry de Clare were one and the same person. As I +passed a crossing, a man in tattered habiliments, who was sweeping +it, asked for alms, but being in no very charitable humour, I walked +on. He followed me, pestering me so much, that I gave him a tap +with the cane in my hand, saying to him, "Be off, you scoundrel." + +"Oh! very well. Be off, is it you mane? By the blood of the +O'Rourkes but you'll answer for that same, anyhow." + +I passed on, and having perambulated the city of Dublin for some +time, returned to the hotel. A few minutes afterwards, I was told +by the waiter that a Mr O'Donaghan wished to speak to me. "I have +not the honour of his acquaintance," replied I, "but you may show +him up." + +Mr O'Donaghan entered, a tall, thick-whiskered personage, in a +shabby--genteel dress, evidently not made for him, a pair of +white cotton gloves, and a small stick. "I believe that I have the +honour of spaking to the gentleman who crossed over the street +about two hours ago?" + +"Upon my word, sir," replied I, "that is so uncertain a definition, +that I can hardly pretend to say whether I am the person you mean; +indeed, from not having the pleasure of any one's acquaintance +in Dublin, I rather think there must be some mistake." + +"The devil a bit of a mistake, at all at all; for there's the +little bit of cane with which you paid my friend, Mr O'Rourke, the +compliment over his shoulders." + +"I really am quite mystified, sir, and do not understand you; will +you favour me with an explanation?" + +"With all the pleasure in life, for then we shall come to a right +understanding. You were crossing the street, and a gentleman, a +particular friend of mine, with a broom which he carries for his own +amusement, did himself the honour to address you, whereupon of that +same little stick of yours, you did him the honour to give him a +slight taste." + +"What do you mean? do you refer to the sweeper, who was so importunate +when I crossed over the road?" + +"Then, by the powers, you've just hit it, as you did him. That's my +particular friend, Thaddeus O'Rourke, gentleman." + +"Gentleman!" exclaimed I. + +"And with as good and as true Milesian blood as any in Ireland. If you +think, sir, that because my friend, just for his own amusement, thinks +proper to put on the worst of his clothes and carry a broom, just by +way of exercise, to prevent his becoming too lusty, he is therefore to +be struck like a hound, it's a slight mistake, that's all; and here, sir, +is his card, and you will oblige me by mentioning any friend of yours +with whom I may settle all the little points necessary before the +meeting of two gentlemen." + +I could hardly refrain from laughing at this Irish gentleman and his +friend, but I thought it advisable to retain my countenance. "My dear +sir," replied I, "it grieves me to the heart that I should have committed +such an error, in not perceiving the gentility of your friend; had I not +been so careless, I certainly should have requested him to do me the +honour to accept a shilling, instead of having offered him the insult. +I hope it is not now too late?" + +"By the powers, I'm not one of those harum-scarum sort, who would make up +a fight when there's no occasion for it, and as your 'haviour is that of +a gentleman, I think it will perhaps be better to shake hands upon it, +and forget it altogether. Suppose, now, we'll consider that it was all +a mistake? You give the shilling, as you intended to do, I'll swear, +only you were in so great a hurry--and then, perhaps, you'll not object +to throw in another shilling for that same tap with the cane, just to +wipe off the insult as it were, as we do our sins, when we fork out the +money, and receive absolution from the padre; and then, perhaps, you will +not think it too much if I charge another shilling for my time and +trouble, for carrying a message between two gentlemen." + +"On the contrary, Mr O'Donaghan, I think all your demands are reasonable. +Here is the money." + +Mr O'Donaghan took the three shillings. "Then, sir, and many thanks to +you, I'll wish you a good evening, and Mr O'Rourke shall know from me +that you have absolution for the whole, and that you have offered every +satisfaction which one gentleman could expect from another." So saying, +Mr O'Donaghan put his hat on with a firm cock, pulled on his gloves, +manoeuvred his stick, and, with a flourishing bow, took his departure. + +I had hardly dismissed this gentleman, and was laughing to myself at the +ridiculous occurrence, when Mr Cophagus returned, first putting his cane +up to his nose with an arch look, and then laying it down on the table +and rubbing his hands. "Good--warm old lady. No--dead and cold? but left +some thousands--only one legacy--old Tom cat--physic him to-morrow--soon +die, and so on." + +On a more full explanation, I found that the old lady had left about nine +thousand pounds in the funds and bank securities, all of which, with the +exception of twenty pounds per annum to a favourite cat, was left to Mr +Cophagus. I congratulated him upon this accession of fortune. He stated +that the lease of the house and the furniture were still to be disposed +of, and that afterwards he should have nothing more to do; but he wished +me very much to assist him in rummaging over the various cabinets +belonging to the old lady, and which were full of secret drawers; that +in one cabinet alone he had found upwards of fifty pounds in various gold +coins, and that if not well examined, they would probably be sold with +many articles of consequence remaining in them. + +As my only object in Ireland was to find out Sir Henry de Clare, and +identify him (but, really, why I could not have said, as it would have +proved nothing after all), I willingly consented to devote a day to +assist Mr Cophagus in his examination. The next morning after breakfast, +we went together to the house of the old lady, whose name had been +Maitland, as Mr Cophagus informed me. Her furniture was of the most +ancient description, and in every room in the house there was an ormolu, +or Japan cabinet; some of them were very handsome, decorated with +pillars, and silver ornaments. I can hardly recount the variety of +articles, which in all probability had been amassed during the whole of +the old lady's life, commencing with her years of childhood, and ending +with the day of her death. There were antique ornaments, some of +considerable value, miniatures, fans, etuis, notes, of which the ink, +from time, had turned to a light red, packages of letters of her various +correspondents in her days of hope and anticipation, down to those of +solitude and age. We looked over some of them, but they appeared to both +of us to be sacred, and they were, after a slight examination, committed +to the flames. + +After we had examined all the apparent receptacles in these cabinets, we +took them up between us, and shook them, and in most cases found out that +there were secret drawers containing other treasures. There was one +packet of letters which caught my eye, it was from a Miss De Benyon. I +seized it immediately, and showed the inscription to Mr Cophagus. +"Pooh--nothing at all--her mother was a De Benyon." + +"Have you any objection to my looking at these letters?" + +"No--read--nothing in them." + +I laid them on one side, and we proceeded in our search, when Mr Cophagus +took up a sealed packet. "Heh! what's this--De Benyon again? Japhet, look +here." + +I took the packet; it was sealed, and tied with red tape. "Papers +belonging to Lieutenant William De Benyon, to be returned to him at my +decease." "Alice Maitland, _with great_ care," was written at the bottom +of the envelope. + +"This is it, my dear sir," cried I, jumping up and embracing Mr Cophagus +"these are the papers which I require. May I keep them?" + +"Mad--quite mad--go to Bedlam--strait waistcoat--head shaved, and so on." + + + + +Chapter XLIII + + I am not content with minding my own business, but must have a + hand in that of others, by which means I put my foot in it. + + +He then, after his own fashion, told me, that as executor, he must +retain those papers; pointed out to me the little probability there +was of their containing any information relative to my birth, even +allowing that a person of the name of De Benyon did call at the +Foundling to ask for me, which was only a supposition; and, finally, +overthrew all the hopes which had been, for so many days, buoying me +up. When he had finished, I threw myself upon the sofa in despair, and +wished, at the moment, that I had never been born. Still hope again +rose uppermost, and I would have given all I possessed to have been +able to break open the seals of that packet, and have read the contents. +At one moment I was so frantic, that I was debating whether I should not +take them from Mr Cophagus by force, and run off with them. At last I +rose, and commenced reading the letters which I had put aside, but there +was nothing in them but the trifling communications of two young women, +who mentioned what was amusing to them, but uninteresting to those who +were not acquainted with the parties. + +When we had finished, Mr Cophagus collected all together, and putting +them into a box, we returned in a coach to the hotel. The next day Mr +Cophagus had completed all his arrangements, and the day following had +determined to return to England. I walked with him down to the vessel, +and watched it for an hour after it had sailed, for it bore away a packet +of papers, which I could not help imagining were to discover the secret +which I was so eager in pursuit of. A night's sleep made me more +rational, and I now resolved to ascertain where Sir Henry de Clare, or +Melchior, as I felt certain he must be, was to be found. I sent for the +waiter, and asked him if he could inform me. He immediately replied in +the affirmative, and gave his address, Mount Castle, Connemara, asking +me when I intended to set out. It did not strike me till afterwards, +that it was singular that he should be so well acquainted with the +address, and that he should have produced a card with it written upon +it; or, moreover, that he should know that it was my intention to go +there. I took the address, and desired that I might have horses ready +very early the next morning. I then sat down and wrote a letter to +Harcourt, informing him of my proceedings, also one to Mr Masterton +much more explicit, lastly to Timothy, to the care of Harcourt, +requesting him to let me know what had occurred between him and the +gipsies. After dinner, I packed up ready for my journey, and having +settled my bill, I was not sorry to retire to my bed. + +At daylight I was, as I requested, called by the waiter, and taking with +me only a very small portmanteau, having left the rest of my effects in +the charge of the people who kept the hotel, I set off in a post-chaise +on my expedition. I was soon clear of the city, and on a fine smooth road, +and, as I threw myself back in the corner of the chaise, I could not help +asking myself the question--what was the purport of my journey? As the +reader will perceive, I was wholly governed by impulses, and never +allowed reason or common sense to stand in the way of my feelings. "What +have I to do?" replied I to myself; "to find out if Melchior and Sir +Henry de Clare be not one and the same person. And what then?" What +then?--why then I may find out something relative to Fleta's parentage. +Nay, but is that likely--if, as you suppose, Melchior is Sir Henry de +Clare--if, as you suppose, it is he who is now trying to find out and +carry off Fleta--is it probable that you will gain any information from +him? I have an idea that Fleta is the little girl said to have died, who +was the child of his elder brother. Why so? What interest could Melchior +have in stealing his own niece? That I cannot tell. Why did Nattee give +me the necklace? I cannot tell; she would hardly betray her husband. +At all events, there is a mystery, and it can only be unravelled by +being pulled at; and I may learn something by meeting Melchior, whereas, +I shall learn nothing by remaining quiet. This last idea satisfied me, +and for many hours I remained in a train of deep thought, only checked +by paying for the horses at the end of every stage. + +It was now past twelve o'clock, when I found that it was necessary to +change the chaise at every post. The country also, as well as the roads, +had changed much for the worse. Cultivation was not so great, the roads +were mountainous, and civilisation generally disappeared. It was nearly +dark when I arrived at the last post, from whence I was to take horses +to Mount Castle. As usual, the chaise also was to be changed; and I +could not help observing that each change was from bad to worse. Rope +harness was used, and the vehicles themselves were of the most crazy +condition. Still I had travelled very fairly, for an Irish postillion +knows how to make an Irish horse go a very fair pace. I descended from +the chaise, and ordered another out immediately. To this there was no +reply, except, "Wait, your honour; step in a moment, and rest from your +fatigue a little." Presuming this was merely to give them time to get +ready, I walked into the room of the inn, which indeed was very little +better than a hovel, and sat down by the turf fire in company with some +others, whom I could hardly distinguish for smoke. I paid the chaise and +postillion, and soon afterwards heard it drive off, on its way back. +After a few minutes I inquired if the chaise was getting ready. + +"Is it the chaise your honour means?" said the landlady. + +"Yes," replied I, "a chaise on to Mount Castle." + +"Then I am sorry that your honour must wait a little; for our chaise, and +the only one which we have, is gone to the castle, and won't be back till +long after the moon is up. What will your honour please to take?" + +"Not back till moonlight," replied I; "why did you not say so? and I +would have gone on with the other." + +"Is it with the other you mane, your honour? Then if Teddy Driscoll could +make his horses go one step farther than our door, may I never have a +soul to be saved. Will your honour please to sit in the little room +Kathleen shall light a fire." + +Vexed as I was with the idea of passing the night in this horrid place, +there was no help for it: so I took up my portmanteau and followed the +landlady to a small room, if it deserved the appellation, which had been +built after the cottage, and a door broken through the wall into it. +Ceiling there was none, it had only lean-to rafters, with tiles over +head. I took a seat on the only stool that was in the room, and leant +my elbow on the table in no very pleasant humour, when I heard the girl +say, "And why don't you let him go on to the castle? Sure the chaise is +in the yard, and the horses are in the stable." + +"There's orders 'gainst it, Kathleen," replied the landlady. "Mr +M'Dermott was here this blessed day, and who can deny him?" + +"Who is he then?" replied the girl. + +"An attorney with a warrant against Sir Henry; and, moreover, they say +that he's coming to'strain upon the cattle of Jerry O'Toole for the +tithes." + +"He's a bould young chap, at all events," replied the girl, "to come +here all by himself." + +"Oh! but it's not till to-morrow morning, and then we'll have the +troops here to assist him." + +"And does Jerry O'Toole know of this?" + +"Sure enough he does; and I hope there'll be no murder committed in my +house this blessed night. But what can a poor widow do when M'Dermott +holds up his finger? Now, go light the fire, Kathleen, and see if the +poor young man wants anything; it's a burning pity that he shouldn't +have something to comfort him before his misfortunes fall upon him." + +Kathleen made no reply. The horror that I felt at this discourse may +easily be imagined. That it was intended that I should meet with foul +play was certain, and I knew very well that, in such a desolate part +of the country, the murder of an individual, totally unknown, would +hardly be noticed. That I had been held up to the resentment of the +inhabitants as a tithe collector and an attorney with a warrant, was +quite sufficient, I felt conscious, to induce them to make away with me. +How to undeceive them was the difficulty. + + + + +Chapter XLIV + + No hopes of rising next morning alive, as a last chance--I get + into bed. + + +Kathleen came in with fuel to light the fire, and looking rather hard at +me, passed by, and was soon, busy blowing up the turf. She was a very +handsome dark-eyed girl, about nineteen years of age, stout and well +made. "What is your name?" said I. + +"Kathleen, at your service, sir." + +"Listen to me, Kathleen," said I, in a low voice. "You are a woman, +and all women are kind-hearted. I have overheard all that passed between +your mistress and you, and that M'Dermott has stated that I am a tithe +collector and an attorney, with a warrant. I am no such thing. I am a +gentleman who wishes to speak to Sir Henry de Clare on a business which +he does not like to be spoken to about; and to show you what I say is +the truth, it is about the daughter of his elder brother, who was +killed when hunting, and who is supposed to be dead. I am the only +evidence to the contrary; and, therefore, he and M'Dermott have spread +this report that I may come to harm." + +"Is she alive, then?" replied Kathleen, looking up to me with wonder. + +"Yes; and I will not tell Sir Henry where she is, and that is the +reason of their enmity." + +"But I saw her body," replied the girl in a low voice, standing up, +and coming close to me. + +"It was not hers, depend upon it," replied I, hardly knowing what to +answer to this assertion. + +"At all events, it was dressed in her clothes; but it was so long before +it was discovered, that we could make nothing of the features. Well, +I knew the poor little thing, for my mother nursed her. I was myself +brought up at the castle, and lived there till after Sir William was +killed; then we were all sent away." + +"Kathleen! Kathleen!" cried the landlady. + +"Call for everything you can think of one after another," whispered +Kathleen, leaving the room. + +"I cannot make the peat burn," said she to the landlady, after she had +quitted the little room; "and the gentleman wants some whisky." + +"Go out then, and get some from the middle of the stack, Kathleen, and +be quick; we have others to attend besides the tithe proctor. There's +the O'Tooles all come in, and your own Corny is with them." + +"My Corny, indeed!" replied Kathleen; "he's not quite so sure of that." + +In a short time Kathleen returned, and brought some dry peat and a +measure of whisky. "If what you say is true," said Kathleen, "and sure +enough you're no Irish, and very young for a tithe proctor, who must +grow old before he can be such a villain, you are in no very pleasant +way. The O'Tooles are here, and I've an idea they mean no good; for +they sit with all their heads together, whispering to each other, and +all their shillelaghs by their sides." + +"Tell me, Kathleen, was the daughter of Sir William a fair-haired, +blue-eyed girl?" + +"To be sure she was," replied Kathleen, "and like a little mountain +fairy." + +"Now, Kathleen, tell me if you recollect if the little girl or her +mother ever wore a necklace of red beads mixed with gold." + +"Yes, that my lady did; and it was on the child's neck when it was lost, +and when the body was found, it was not with it. Well I recollect that, +for my mother said the child must have been drowned or murdered for +the sake of the gold beads." + +"Then you have proved all I wished, Kathleen; and now I tell you that +this little girl is alive, and that I can produce the necklace which was +lost with her; and more, that she was taken away by Sir Henry himself." + +"Merciful Jesus!" replied Kathleen; "the dear little child that we +cried over so much." + +"But now, Kathleen, I have told you this, to prove to you that I am not +what M'Dermott has asserted, no doubt, with the intention that my brains +shall be knocked out this night." + +"And so they will, sure enough," replied Kathleen, "if you do not +escape." + +"But how am I to escape? and will you assist me?" And I laid down on the +table ten guineas from my purse, "Take that, Kathleen, and it will help +you and Corny. Now will you assist me?" + +"It's Corny that will be the first to knock your brains out," replied +Kathleen, "unless I can stop him. I must go now, and I'll see what can +be done." + +Kathleen would have departed without touching the gold; but I caught +her by the wrist, collected it, and put it into her hand. "That's not +like a tithe proctor, at all events," replied Kathleen; "but my heart +aches, and my head swims, and what's to be done I know not." So saying, +Kathleen quitted the room. + +"Well," thought I, after she had left the room, "at all events, I have +not been on a wrong scent this time. Kathleen has proved to me that Fleta +is the daughter of the late Sir William; and if I escape this snare, +Melchior shall do her justice." Pleased with my having so identified +Melchior and Fleta, I fell into a train of thought, and for the first +time forgot my perilous situation; but I was roused from my meditations +by an exclamation from Kathleen. "No, no, Corny, nor any of ye--not +now--and mother and me to witness it--it shall not be. Corny, hear me, +as sure as blood's drawn, and we up to see it, so sure does Corny +O'Toole never touch this hand of mine." A pause, and whispering followed, +and again all appeared to be quiet. I unstrapped my portmanteau, took +out my pistols, which were loaded, re-primed them, and remained quiet, +determined to sell my life as dearly as possible. + +It was more than half an hour before Kathleen returned; she looked pale +and agitated. "Keep quiet, and do not think of resistance," said she, +"it is useless. I have told my mother all, and she believes you, and +will risk her life to save him who has watched over the little girl whom +she nursed; but keep quiet, we shall soon have them all out of the house. +Corny dare not disobey me, and he will persuade the others." + +She then went out again, and did not return for nearly an hour, when she +was accompanied by her mother. + +"Kathleen has told me all, young sir," said she, "and do what we can, we +will; but we hardly know what to do. To go to the castle would be +madness." + +"Yes," replied I; "but cannot you give me one of your horses to return +the way I came?" + +"That was our intention; but I find that the O'Tooles have taken them all +out of the stable to prevent me; and the house is watched. They will come +at midnight and attack us, that I fully expect, and how to conceal you +puzzles my poor head." + +"If they come, we can but persuade them that he has escaped," replied +Kathleen; "they will no longer watch the house, and he will then have +some chance." + +"There is but one chance," replied the mother, who took Kathleen aside, +and whispered to her. Kathleen coloured to the forehead, and made no +reply. + +"If your mother bids you, Kathleen, there can be no harm." + +"Yes; but if Corny was--" + +"He dare not," replied the mother; "and now put this light out, and do +you get into bed, sir, with your clothes on." They led me to a small +bedroom, a miserable affair; but in that part of the country considered +respectable. "Lie down there," said the mother, "and wait till we call +you." They took the light away, and left me to myself and my own +reflections, which were anything but pleasant. I lay awake, it might +be for two hours, when I heard the sound of feet, and then a whispering +under the window, and shortly afterwards a loud knocking at the door, +which they were attempting to burst open. Every moment I expected that +it would yield to the violence which was made use of, when the mother +came down half-dressed, with a light in her hand, hastened to me, and +desired me to follow her. I did so, and before she left my room, she +threw the window wide open. She led me up a sort of half-stairs, +half-ladder, to a small room, where I found Kathleen sitting up in her +bed, and half-dressed. "O mother! mother!" cried Kathleen. + +"I bid ye do it, child," replied the mother, desiring me to creep into +her daughter's bed, and cover myself up on the side next the wall. + +"Let me put on more clothes, mother." + +"No, no, if you do, they will suspect, and will not hesitate to search. +Your mother bids you." + +The poor girl was burning with shame and confusion. + +"Nay," replied I, "if Kathleen does not wish it, I will not buy my safety +at the expense of her feelings." + +"Yes, yes," replied Kathleen, "I don't mind now; those words of yours +are sufficient. Come in, quick." + + + + +Chapter XLV + + Petticoat interest prevails, and I escape; but I put my head into + the lion's den. + + +There was no time for apology, and stepping over Kathleen, I buried +myself under the clothes by her side. The mother then hastened +downstairs, and arrived at the door just as they had succeeded in forcing +it open, when in pounced a dozen men armed, with their faces blackened. +"Holy Jesus! what is it that you want?" screamed the landlady. + +"The blood of the tithe proctor, and that's what we'll have," replied +the O'Tooles. + +"Not in my house--not in my house!" cried she. "Take him away, at all +events; promise me to take him away." + +"So we will, honey darlint; we'll take him out of your sight, and out +of your hearing too, only show us where he may be." + +"He's sleeping," replied the mother, pointing to the door of the bedroom, +where I had been lying down. + +The party took the light from her hand, and went into the room, where +they perceived the bed empty and the window open. "Devil a bit of a +proctor here, anyhow," cried one of them, "and the window open. He's +off--hurrah! my lads, he can't be far." + +"By the powers! it's just my opinion, Mrs M'Shane," replied the elder +O'Toole, "that he's not quite so far off; so with your lave, or by your +lave, or without your lave, we'll just have a look over the premises." + +"O! and welcome, Mister Jerry O'Toole; if you think I'm the woman to hide +a proctor, look everywhere just as you please." + +The party, headed by Jerry O'Toole, who had taken the light out of Mrs +M'Shane's hand, now ascended the ladder to the upper storey, and as I +lay by Kathleen, I felt that she trembled with fear. After examining +every nook and cranny they could think of, they came to Mrs M'Shane's +room, "O! go in--go in and look, Mr O'Toole; it's a very likely thing +to insinuate that I should have a tithe proctor in my bed. Search, pray," +and Mrs M'Shane led the way into her own room. + +Every part had been examined, except the small sleeping-room of Kathleen; +and the party paused before the door. "We must search," observed O'Toole +doggedly. + +"Search my daughter's! very well, search if you please; it's a fine story +you'll have to tell, how six great men pulled a poor girl out of her bed +to look for a tithe proctor. It will be a credit to you anyhow; and you, +Corny O'Toole, you'll stand well in her good graces, when you come to +talk about the wedding day; and your wife that is to be, pulled out of +her bed by a dozen men. What will ye say to Kathleen, when you affront +her by supposing that a maiden girl has a tithe proctor in bed with her? +D'ye think that ye'll ever have the mother's consent or blessing?" + +"No one goes into Kathleen's room," cried Corny O'Toole, roused by the +sarcasms of Mrs M'Shane. + +"Yes, Corny," replied Mrs M'Shane, "it's not for a woman like me to be +suspected, at all events; so you, and you only, shall go into the room, +if that will content ye, Mr Jerry O'Toole." + +"Yes!" replied the party, and Mrs M'Shane opened the door. + +Kathleen rose up on her elbow, holding the bed clothes up to her throat, +and looking at them, as they entered, said, "O Corny! Corny! this to me?" + +Corny never thought of looking for anybody, his eyes were rivetted upon +his sweetheart. "Murder, Kathleen, is it my fault? Jerry will have it." + +"Are you satisfied, Corny?" said Mrs M'Shane. + +"Sure enough I was satisfied before I came in, that Kathleen would not +have any one in her bedroom," replied Corny. + +"Then good-night, Corny, and it's to-morrow that I'll talk with ye," +replied Kathleen. + +Mrs M'Shane then walked out of the room, expecting Corny to follow; but +he could not restrain himself, and he came to the bedside. Fearful that +if he put his arms round her, he would feel me, Kathleen raised herself, +and allowed him to embrace her. Fortunately the light was not in the +room, or I should have been discovered, as in so doing she threw the +clothes off my head and shoulders. She then pushed back Corny from her, +and he left the room, shutting the door after him. The party descended +the ladder, and as soon as Kathleen perceived that they were all down, +she sprang out of bed and ran into her mother's room. Soon after I heard +them depart. Mrs M'Shane made fast the door, and came up stairs. She +first went to her own room, where poor Kathleen was crying bitterly from +shame and excitement. I had got up when she came into Kathleen's room +for her clothes, and, in about five minutes, they returned together. I +was sitting on the side of the bed when they came in: the poor girl +coloured up when our eyes met. "Kathleen," said I, "you have, in all +probability, saved my life, and I cannot express my thanks. I am only +sorry that your modesty has been put to so severe a trial." + +"If Corny was to find it out," replied Kathleen, sobbing again. "How +could I do such a thing!" + +"Your mother bid you," replied Mrs M'Shane, "and that is sufficient." + +"But what must you think of me, sir?" continued Kathleen. + +"I think that you have behaved most nobly. You have saved an innocent man +at the risk of your reputation, and the loss of your lover. It is not now +that I can prove my gratitude." + +"Yes, yes, promise me by all that's sacred, that you'll never mention it. +Surely you would not ruin one who has tried to serve you." + +"I promise you that, and I hope to perform a great deal more," replied I. +"But now, Mrs M'Shane, what is to be done? Remain here I cannot." + +"No; you must leave, and that very soon. Wait about ten minutes more, and +then they will give up their search and go home. The road to E----" (the +post I had lately come from) "is the best you can take; and you must +travel as fast as you can, for there is no safety for you here." + +"I am convinced that rascal M'Dermott will not leave me till he has rid +himself of me." I then took out my purse, in which I still had nearly +twenty guineas. I took ten of them. "Mrs M'Shane, I must leave you in +charge of my portmanteau, which you may forward by-and-bye, when you +hear of my safety. If I should not be so fortunate, the money is better +in your hands than in the hands of those who will murder me. Kathleen, +God bless you! you are a good girl, and Corny O'Toole will be a happy +man if he knows your value." + +I then wished Kathleen good-bye, and she allowed me to kiss her without +any resistance; but the tears were coursing down her cheeks as I left the +room with her mother. Mrs M'Shane looked carefully out of the windows, +holding the light to ascertain if there was anybody near, and, satisfied +with her scrutiny, she then opened the door, and calling down the saints +to protect me, shook hands with me, and I quitted the house. It was a +dark, cloudy night, and when I first went out, I was obliged to grope, +for I could distinguish nothing. I walked along with a pistol loaded in +each hand, and gained, as I thought, the high road to E----, but I made +a sad mistake; and puzzled by the utter darkness and turnings, I took, +on the contrary, the road to Mount Castle. As soon as I was clear of the +houses and the enclosure, there was more light, and I could distinguish +the road. I had proceeded about four or five miles, when I heard the +sound of horses' hoofs, and shortly afterwards two men rode by me. I +inquired if that was the way to E----. A pause ensued, and a whisper. +"All's right!" replied a deep voice. I continued my way, glad to find +that I had not mistaken it, and cogitating as to what must be the purpose +of two men being out at such an hour. About ten minutes afterwards I +thought I again heard the sound of horses' feet, and it then occurred +to me that they must be highwaymen, who had returned to rob me. I cocked +my pistols, determined to sell my life as dearly as I could, and awaited +their coming up with anxiety; but they appeared to keep at the same +distance, as the sound did not increase. After half an hour I came to +two roads, and was undecided which to take. I stopped and listened--the +steps of the horses were no longer to be heard. I looked round me to +ascertain if I could recognise any object so as to decide me, but I could +not. I took the road to the left, and proceeded, until I arrived at a +brook which crossed the road. There was no bridge, and it was too dark +to perceive the stepping stones. I had just waded about half way across, +when I received a blow on the head from behind, which staggered me. I +turned round, but before I could see my assailant, a second blow laid +me senseless in the water. + + + + +Chapter XLVI + + Under ground but not yet dead and buried--The prospect anything + but pleasant. + + +When my recollection returned I found myself in the dark, but where, I +knew not. My head ached, and my brain reeled. I sat up for a moment to +collect my senses, but the effort was too painful, I fell back, and +remained in a state of half stupor. Gradually I recovered, and again sat +up. I perceived that I had been lying on a bed of straw, composed of two +or three trusses apparently. I felt with my extended arms on each side +of me, but touched nothing. I opened my eyes, which I had closed again, +and tried to pierce through the obscurity, but in vain--all was dark as +Erebus. I then rose on my feet, and extending my hands before me, walked +five or six steps on one side, till I was clear of the straw, and came +to a wall. I followed the wall about twenty feet, and then touched wood; +groping about, I found it was a door. I then made the circuit of the +walls, and discovered that the other side was built with bins for wine, +which were empty, and I then found myself again at the straw upon which +I had been laid. It was in a cellar no longer used--but where? Again I +lay down upon the straw, and, as it may be imagined, my reflections +were anything but pleasing. "Was I in the power of M'Dermott or +Melchior?" I felt convinced that I was; but my head was too painful for +long thought, and after half an hour's reflection, I gave way to a +sullen state of half-dreaming, half-stupor, in which the forms of +M'Dermott, Kathleen, Melchior, and Fleta, passed in succession before +me. How long I remained in this second species of trance I cannot say, +but I was roused by the light of a candle, which flashed in my eyes. +I started up, and beheld Melchior in his gipsy's dress, just as when I +had taken leave of him. + +"It is to you, then, that I am indebted for this treatment?" replied I. + +"No; not to me," replied Melchior. "I do not command here; but I knew +you when they brought you in insensible, and being employed in the +castle, I have taken upon myself the office of your gaoler, that I +might, if possible, serve you." + +I felt, I knew this to be false, but a moment's reflection told me that +it was better at present to temporise. + +"Who then does the castle belong to, Melchior?" + +"To Sir Henry de Clare." + +"And what can be his object in treating me thus?" + +"That I can tell you, because I am a party concerned. You remember the +little girl, Fleta, who left the gipsy camp with you--she is now +somewhere under your care?" + +"Well, I grant it; but I was answerable only to you about her." + +"Very true, but I was answerable to Sir Henry; and when I could only say +that she was well, he was not satisfied, for family reasons now make him +very anxious that she should return to him; and, indeed, it will be for +her advantage, as she will in all probability be his heir, for he has +satisfactorily proved that she is a near relative." + +"Grant all that, Melchior; but why did not Sir Henry de Clare write to +me on the subject, and state his wishes, and his right to demand his +relative? And why does he treat me in this way? Another question--how +is it that he has recognised me to be the party who has charge of the +little girl? Answer me those questions, Melchior, and then I may talk +over the matter." + +"I will answer the last question first. He knew your name from me, and +it so happened, that a friend of his met you in the coach as you were +coming to Ireland: the same person also saw you at the post-house, and +gave information. Sir Henry, who is a violent man, and here has almost +regal sway, determined to detain you till you surrendered up the child. +You recollect, that you refused to tell his agent, the person whose +address I gave you, where she was to be found, and, vexed at this, he +has taken the law into his own hands." + +"For which he shall smart, one of these days," replied I, "if there is +law in this country." + +"There is a law in England, but very little, and none that will harm +Sir Henry in this part of the country. No officer would venture within +five miles of the castle, I can assure you; for he knows very well that +it would cost him his life; and Sir Henry never quits it from one year's +end to the other. You are in his power, and all that he requires is +information where the child may be found, and an order for her being +delivered to him. You cannot object to this, as he is her nearest +relative. If you comply, I do not doubt but Sir Henry will make you +full amends for this harsh treatment, and prove a sincere friend ever +afterwards." + +"It requires consideration," replied I; "at present, I am too much +hurt to talk." + +"I was afraid so," replied Melchior, "that was one reason why I obtained +leave to speak to you. Wait a moment." + +Melchior then put the candle down on the ground, and went out, and +turned the key. I found, on looking round, that I was right in my +conjectures. I was in a cellar, which, apparently, had long been in +disuse. Melchior soon returned, followed by an old crone, who carried +a basket and a can of water. She washed the blood off my head, put some +alve upon the wounds, and bound them up. She then went away, leaving +the basket. + +"There is something to eat and drink in that basket," observed Melchior; +"but I think, Japhet, you will agree with me, that it will be better to +yield to the wishes of Sir Henry, and not remain in this horrid hole." + +"Very true, Melchior," replied I; "but allow me to ask you a question or +two. How came you here? where is Nattee, and how is it, that after +leaving the camp, I find you so reduced in circumstances, as to be +serving such a man as Sir Henry De Clare?" + +"A few words will explain that," replied he. "In my early days I was +wild, and I am, to tell you the truth, in the power of this man; nay, +I will tell you honestly, my life is in his power; he ordered me to come, +and I dare not disobey him--and he retains me here." + +"And Nattee?" + +"Is quite well, and with me, but not very happy in her present situation; +but he is a dangerous, violent, implacable man, and I dare not disobey +him. I advise you as a friend, to consent to his wishes." + +"That requires some deliberation," replied I, "and I am not one of those +who are to be driven. My feelings towards Sir Henry, after this treatment, +are not the most amicable; besides, how am I to know that Fleta is his +relative?" + +"Well, I can say no more, Japhet. I wish you well out of his hands." + +"You have the power to help me, if that is the case," said I. + +"I dare not." + +"Then you are not the Melchior that you used to be," replied I. + +"We must submit to fate. I must not stay longer; you will find all that +you want in the basket, and more candles, if you do not like being in +the dark. I do not think I shall be permitted to come again, till +to-morrow." + +Melchior then went out, locked the door after him, and I was left to +my meditations. + + + + +Chapter XLVII + + A friend in need is a friend in deed--The tables are turned and + so is the key--The issue in deep tragedy. + + +Was it possible that which Melchior said was true? A little reflection +told me that it was all false, and that he was himself Sir Henry de Clare. +I was in his power, and what might be the result? He might detain me, but +he dare not murder me. Dare not! My heart sank when I considered where I +was, and how easy would it be for him to despatch me, if so inclined, +without any one ever being aware of my fate. I lighted a whole candle, +that I might not find myself in the dark when I rose, and exhausted in +body and mind, was soon fast asleep. I must have slept many hours, for +when I awoke I was in darkness--the candle had burnt out. I groped for +the basket, and examined the contents with my hands, and found a +tinder-box. I struck a light, and then feeling hungry and weak, refreshed +myself with the eatables it contained, which were excellent, as well as +the wine. I had replaced the remainder, when the key again turned in the +door, and Melchior made his appearance. + +"How do you feel, Japhet, to-day?" + +"To-day!" replied I; "day and night are the same to me." + +"That is your own fault," replied he. "Have you considered what I +proposed to you yesterday?" + +"Yes," replied I; "and I will agree to this. Let Sir Henry give me +my liberty, come over to England, prove his relationship to Fleta, +and I will give her up. What can he ask for more?" + +"He will hardly consent to that," replied Melchior; "for, once in +England, you will take a warrant out against him." + +"No; on my honour I will not, Melchior." + +"He will not trust to that." + +"Then he must judge of others by himself," replied I. + +"Have you no other terms to propose," replied Melchior. + +"None." + +"Then I will carry your message, and give you his answer to-morrow." + +Melchior then brought in another basket, and took away the former, and +did not make his appearance till the next day. I now had recovered my +strength, and determined to take some decided measures, but how to act +I knew not. I reflected all night, and the next morning (that is, +according to my supposition) I attacked the basket. Whether it was that +ennui or weakness occasioned it, I cannot tell, but either way, I drank +too much wine, and was ready for any daring deed, when Melchior again +the door. + +"Sir Henry will not accept of your terms. I thought not," said Melchior, +"I am sorry--very sorry." + +"Melchior," replied I, starting up; "let us have no more of this +duplicity. I am not quite so ignorant as you suppose. I know who Fleta +is, and who you are." + +"Indeed," replied Melchior; "perhaps you will explain?" + +"I will. You, Melchior, are Sir Henry de Clare; you succeeded to your +estates by the death of your elder brother, from a fall when hunting." + +Melchior appeared astonished. + +"Indeed!" replied he; "pray go on. You have made a gentleman of me." + +"No; rather a scoundrel." + +"As you please; now will you make a lady of Fleta?" + +"Yes, I will. She is your niece." Melchior started back. "Your agent, +M'Dermott, who was sent over to find out Fleta's abode, met me in the +coach, and he has tracked me here, and risked my life, by telling the +people that I was a tithe proctor." + +"Your information is very important," replied Melchior, "You will find +some difficulty to prove all you say." + +"Not the least," replied I, flushed with anger and with wine, "I have +proof positive. I have seen her mother, and I can identify the child by +the necklace which was on her neck when you stole her." + +"Necklace!" cried Melchior. + +"Yes, the necklace put into my hands by your own wife when we parted." + +"Damn her!" replied Melchior. + +"Do not damn her; damn yourself for your villany, and its being brought +to light. Have I said enough, or shall I tell you more?" + +"Pray tell me more." + +"No, I will not, for I must commit others, and that will not do," +replied I; for I felt I had already said too much. + +"You have committed yourself, at all events," replied Melchior; "and now +I tell you, that until--never mind," and Melchior hastened away. + +The door was again locked, and I was once more alone. + +I had time to reflect upon my imprudence. The countenance of Melchior, +when he left me, was that of a demon. Something told me to prepare for +death; and I was not wrong. The next day Melchior came not, nor the next; +my provisions were all gone. I had nothing but a little wine and water +left. The idea struck me, that I was to die of starvation. Was there no +means of escape? None; I had no weapon, no tool, not even a knife. I +had expended all my candles. At last, it occurred to me, that, although +I was in a cellar, my voice might be heard, and I resolved, as a last +effort, to attempt it. I went to the door of the cellar, and shouted at +the top of my lungs, "Murder--murder!" I shouted again and again as loud +as I could, until I was exhausted. As it afterwards appeared, this plan +did prevent my being starved to death, for such was Melchior's villanous +intention. About an hour afterwards I repeated my cries of +"Murder--murder!" and they were heard by the household, who stated to +Melchior, that there was some one shouting murder in the vaults below. +That night, and all the next day, I repeated my cries occasionally. I +was now quite exhausted, I had been nearly two days without food, and my +wine and water had all been drunk. I sat down with a parched mouth and +heated brain, waiting till I could sufficiently recover my voice to +repeat my cries, when I heard footsteps approaching. The key was again +turned in the door, and a light appeared, carried by one of two men +armed with large sledge hammers. + +"It is then all over with me," cried I; "and I never shall find out who +is my father. Come on, murderers, and do your work. Do it quickly." + +The two men advanced without speaking a word; the foremost, who carried +the lantern, laid it down at his feet, and raised his hammer with both +hands, when the other behind him raised his weapon--and the foremost +fell dead at his feet. + + + + +Chapter XLVIII + + Is full of perilous adventures, and in which, the reader may be + assured, there is much more than meets the eye. + + +"Silence," said a voice that I well knew, although his face was +completely disguised. It was _Timothy!_ "Silence, Japhet," again +whispered Timothy; "there is yet much danger, but I will save you, +or die. Take the hammer. Melchior is waiting outside." Timothy put the +lantern in the bin, so as to render it more dark, and led me towards the +door, whispering, "when he comes in, we will secure him." + +Melchior soon made his appearance, and as he entered the cellar, "Is it +all right?" said he, going up to Timothy, and passing me. + +With one blow I felled him to the ground, and he lay insensible. "That +will do," replied Timothy; "now we must be off." + +"Not till he takes my place," replied I, as I shut the door, and locked +it. "Now he may learn what it is to starve to death." + +I then followed Timothy, by a passage which led outside of the castle, +through which he and his companion had been admitted. "Our horses are +close by," said Timothy; "for we stipulated upon leaving the country +after it was done." + +It was just dark when we were safe out of the castle. We mounted our +horses, and set off with all speed. We followed the high road to the post +town to which I had been conveyed, and I determined to pull up at Mrs +M'Shane's, for I was so exhausted that I could go no further. This was +a measure which required precaution, and as there was moonlight, I turned +off the road before I entered the town, or village, as it ought to have +been called, so that we dismounted at the back of Mrs M'Shane's house. +I went to the window of the bedroom where I had lain down, and tapped +gently, again and again, and no answer. At last, Kathleen made her +appearance. + +"Can I come in, Kathleen?" said I; "I am almost dead with fatigue and +exhaustion." + +"Yes," replied she, "I will open the back-door; there is no one here +to-night--it is too early for them." + +I entered, followed by Timothy, and, as I stepped over the threshold, +I fainted. As soon as I recovered, Mrs M'Shane led me up stairs into her +room for security, and I was soon able to take the refreshment I so much +required. I stated what had passed to Mrs M'Shane and Kathleen, who were +much shocked at the account. + +"You had better wait till it is late, before you go on," said Mrs +M'Shane, "it will be more safe; it is now nine o'clock, and the people +will all be moving till eleven. I will give your horses some corn, and +when you are five miles from here, you may consider yourselves as safe. +Holy saints! what an escape!" + +The advice was too good not to be followed, and I was so exhausted, that +I was glad that prudence was on the side of repose. I lay down on Mrs +M'Shane's bed, while Timothy watched over me. I had a short slumber, +and then was awakened by the good landlady, who told me that it was +time for us to quit. Kathleen then came up to me, and said, "I would +ask a favour of you, sir, and I hope you will not refuse it." + +"Kathleen, you may ask anything of me, and depend upon it, I will not +refuse it, if I can grant it." + +"Then, sir," replied the good girl, "you know how I overcame my feelings +to serve you, will you overcome yours for me? I cannot bear the idea +that anyone, bad as he may be, of the family who have reared me, should +perish in so miserable a manner; and I cannot bear that any man, bad as +he is, even if I did not feel obliged to him, should die so full of +guilt, and without absolution. Will you let me have the key, that Sir +Henry de Clare may be released after you are safe and away? I know he +does not deserve any kindness from you; but it is a horrid death, and +a horrid thing to die so loaded with crime." + +"Kathleen," replied I, "I will keep my word with you. Here is the key; +take it up to-morrow morning, and give it to Lady de Clare; tell her +Japhet Newland sent it." + +"I will, and God bless you, sir." + +"Good-bye, sir," said Mrs M'Shane, "you have no time to lose." + +"God bless you, sir," said Kathleen, who now put her arms round me and +kissed me. We mounted our horses and set off. + +We pressed our horses, or rather ponies, for they were very small, till +we had gained about six miles, when we considered that we were, +comparatively speaking, safe, and then drew up, to allow them to recover +their wind. I was very much exhausted myself, and hardly spoke one word +until we arrived at the next post town, when we found everybody in bed. +We contrived, however, to knock them up, and Timothy having seen that +our horses were put into the stable, we lay down till the next morning +upon a bed which happened to be unoccupied. Sorry as were the +accommodations, I never slept so soundly, and woke quite refreshed. The +next morning I stated my intention of posting to Dublin, and asked Tim +what we should do with the horses. + +"They belong to the castle," replied he. + +"Then in God's name, let the castle have them, for I wish for nothing +from that horrid place." + +We stated to the landlord that the horses were to be sent back, and that +the man who took them would be paid for his trouble; and then it occurred +to me, that it would be a good opportunity of writing to Melchior, +_alias_ Sir Henry. I do not know why, but certainly my animosity against +him had subsided, and I did not think of taking legal measures against +him. I thought it, however, right to frighten him. I wrote, therefore, +as follows:-- + + SIR HENRY,--I send you back your horses with thanks, as they have + enabled Timothy and me to escape from your clutches. Your + reputation and your life now are in my power, and I will have + ample revenge. The fact of your intending murder, will be fully + proved by my friend Timothy, who was employed by you in disguise, + and accompanied your gipsy. You cannot escape the sentence of the + law. Prepare yourself, then, for the worst, as it is not my + intention that you shall escape the disgraceful punishment due to + your crimes. + + Yours, JAPHET NEWLAND. + +Having sealed this, and given it to the lad who was to return with the +horses, we finished our breakfast, and took a post-chaise on for Dublin, +where we arrived late in the evening. During our journey I requested +Timothy to narrate what had passed, and by what fortunate chance he had +been able to come so opportunely to my rescue. + +"If you recollect, Japhet," replied Timothy, "you had received one or +two letters from me, relative to the movements of the gipsy, and stating +his intention to carry off the little girl from the boarding-school. My +last letter, in which I had informed you that he had succeeded in gaining +an entrance into the ladies' school at Brentford, could not have reached +you, as I found by your note that you had set off the same evening. The +gipsy, whom I only knew by the name of _Will_, inquired of me the name +by which the little girl was known, and my answer was, Smith; as I took +it for granted that, in a large seminary, there must be one, if not more, +of that name. Acting upon this, he made inquiries of the maid-servant to +whom he paid his addresses, and made very handsome presents, if there was +a Miss Smith in the school; she replied, that there were two, one a young +lady of sixteen, and the other about twelve years old. Of course the one +selected was the younger. Will had seen me in my livery, and his plan was +to obtain a similar one, hire a chariot, and go down to Brentford, with a +request that Miss Smith might be sent up with him immediately, as you +were so ill that you were not expected to live; but previous to his +taking this step, he wrote to Melchior, requesting his orders as to how +he was to proceed when he had obtained the child. The answer from +Melchior arrived. By this time, he had discovered that you were in +Ireland, and intended to visit him; perhaps he had you in confinement, +for I do not know how long you were there, but the answer desired Will +to come over immediately, as there would be in all probability work for +him, that would be well paid for. He had now become so intimate with me, +that he disguised nothing; he showed me the letter, and I asked him what +it meant; he replied that there was somebody to put out of the way, that +was clear. It immediately struck me, that you must be the person if such +was the case, and I volunteered to go with him, to which, after some +difficulty, he consented. We travelled outside the mail, and in four +days we arrived at the castle. Will went up to Melchior, who told him +what it was that he required. Will consented, and then stated he had +another hand with him, which might be necessary, vouching for my doing +anything that was required. Melchior sent for me, and I certainly was +afraid that he would discover me, but my disguise was too good. I had +prepared for it still further, by wearing a wig of light hair, he asked +me some questions, and I replied in a surly, dogged tone, which satisfied +him. The reward was two hundred pounds, to be shared between us; and, as +it was considered advisable that we should not be seen after the affair +was over, by the people about the place, we had the horses provided for +us. The rest you well know. I was willing to make sure that it was you +before I struck the scoundrel, and the first glimpse from the lantern, +and your voice, convinced me." + +"Thank God, Japhet, but I have been of some use to you, at all events." + +"My dear Tim, you have indeed, and you know me too well to think I shall +ever forget it; but now I must first ascertain where the will of the late +Sir William is to be found. We can read it for a shilling, and then I may +discover what are the grounds of Melchior's conduct, for, to me, it is +still inexplicable." + +"Are wills made in Ireland registered here, or at Doctor's Commons in +London?" + +"In Dublin, I should imagine." + +But on my arrival at Dublin I felt so ill, that I was obliged to retire +to bed, and before morning I was in a violent fever. Medical assistance +was sent for, and I was nursed by Timothy with the greatest care, but it +was ten days before I could quit my bed. For the first time, I was +sitting in an easy chair by the fire, when Timothy came in with the +little portmanteau I had left in the care of Mrs M'Shane. "Open it, +Timothy," said I, "and see if there be anything in the way of a note +from them." Timothy opened the portmanteau, and produced one, which was +lying on the top. It was from Kathleen, and as follows:-- + + Dear Sir,--They say there is terrible work at the castle, and + that Sir Henry has blown out his brains, or cut his throat, I + don't know which. Mr M'Dermott passed in a great hurry, but said + nothing to anybody here. I will send you word of what has taken + place as soon as I can. The morning after you went away, I walked + up to the castle and gave the key to the lady, who appeared in a + great fright at Sir Henry not having been seen for so long a + while. They wished to detain me after they had found him in the + cellar with the dead man, but after two hours I was desired to go + away, and hold my tongue. It was after the horses went back that + Sir Henry is said to have destroyed himself. I went up to the + castle, but M'Dermott had given orders for no one to be let in on + any account. + + Yours Kathleen M'Shane. + +"This is news indeed," said I, handing the letter to Timothy. "It must +have been my threatening letter which has driven him to this mad act." + +"Very likely," replied Timothy; "but it was the best thing the scoundrel +could do, after all." + +"The letter was not, however, written, with that intention. I wished to +frighten him, and have justice done to little Fleta--poor child! how glad +I shall be to see her!" + + + + +Chapter XLIX + + Another investigation relative to a child which in the same way + as the former one, ends by the Lady going off in a fit. + + +The next day the newspapers contained a paragraph, in which Sir Henry de +Clare was stated to have committed suicide. No reason could be assigned +for this rash act, was the winding up of the intelligence. I also +received another letter from Kathleen M'Shane, confirming the previous +accounts; her mother had been sent for to assist in laying out the body. +There was now no further doubt, and as soon as I could venture out, I +hastened to the proper office, where I read the will of the late Sir +William. It was very short, merely disposing of his personal property to +his wife, and a few legacies; for, as I discovered, only a small portion +of the estates were entailed with the title, and the remainder was not +only to the heirs male, but the eldest female, should there be no male +heir, with the proviso, that should she marry, the husband was to take +upon himself the name of De Clare. Here, then, was the mystery explained, +and why Melchior had stolen away his brother's child. Satisfied with my +discovery, I determined to leave for England immediately, find out the +dowager Lady de Clare, and put the whole case into the hands of Mr +Masterton. Fortunately, Timothy had money with him sufficient to pay all +expenses, and take us to London, or I should have been obliged to wait +for remittances, as mine was all expended before I arrived at Dublin. +We arrived safe, and I immediately proceeded to my house, where I found +Harcourt, who had been in great anxiety about me. The next morning I +went to my old legal friend, to whom I communicated all that had happened. + +"Well done, Newland," replied he, after I had finished. "I'll bet ten +to one that you find out your father. Your life already would not make +a bad novel. If you continue your hair-breadth adventures in this way, +it will be quite interesting." + +Although satisfied in my own mind that I had discovered Fleta's +parentage, and anxious to impart the joyful intelligence, I resolved not +to see her until everything should be satisfactorily arranged. The +residence of the dowager Lady de Clare was soon discovered by Mr +Masterton; it was at Richmond, and thither he and I proceeded. We were +ushered into the drawing-room, and, to my delight, upon her entrance, I +perceived that it was the same beautiful person in whose ears I had seen +the coral and gold ear-rings matching the necklace belonging to Fleta. I +considered it better to allow Mr Masterton to break the subject. + +"You are, madam, the widow of the late Sir William de Clare." The lady +bowed. "You will excuse me, madam, but I have most important reasons for +asking you a few questions, which otherwise may appear to be intrusive. +Are you aware of the death of his brother, Sir Henry de Clare?" + +"Indeed I was not," replied she. "I seldom look at a paper, and I have +long ceased to correspond with any one in Ireland. May I ask you what +occasioned his death?" + +"He fell by his own hands, madam." + +Lady de Clare covered up her face. "God forgive him!" said she, in a low +voice. + +"Lady de Clare, upon what terms were your husband and the late Sir Henry? +It is important to know." + +"Not on the very best, sir. Indeed, latterly, for years, they never met +or spoke: we did not know what had become of him." + +"Were there any grounds for ill-will?" + +"Many, sir, on the part of the elder brother; but none on that of Sir +Henry, who was treated with every kindness, until he--" Lady de Clare +stopped--"until he behaved very ill to him." + +As we afterwards discovered, Henry de Clare had squandered away the small +portion left him by his father, and had ever after that been liberally +supplied by his eldest brother, until he had attempted to seduce Lady de +Clare, upon which he was dismissed for ever. + +"And now, madam, I must revert to a painful subject. You had a daughter +by your marriage?" + +"Yes," replied the lady, with a deep sigh. + +"How did you lose her? Pray do not think I am creating this distress on +your part without strong reasons." + +"She was playing in the garden, and the nurse, who thought it rather +cold, ran in for a minute to get a handkerchief to tie round her neck. +When the nurse returned, the child had disappeared." Lady de Clare put +her handkerchief up to her eyes. + +"Where did you find her afterwards?" + +"It was not until three weeks afterwards that her body was found in a +pond about a quarter of a mile off." + +"Did the nurse not seek her when she discovered that she was not in +the garden?" + +"She did, and immediately ran in that direction. It is quite strange +that the child could have got so far without the nurse perceiving her." + +"How long is it ago?" + +"It is now nine years." + +"And the age of the child at the time?" + +"About six years old." + +"I think, Newland, you may now speak to Lady de Clare." + +"Lady de Clare, have you not a pair of ear-rings of coral and gold of +very remarkable workmanship?" + +"I have, sir," replied she, with surprise. + +"Had you not a necklace of the same? and if so, will you do me the +favour to examine this?" I presented the necklace. + +"Merciful heaven!" cried Lady de Clare, "it is the very necklace!--it +was on my poor Cecilia when she was drowned, and it was not found with +the body. How came it into your possession, sir? At one time," continued +Lady de Clare, weeping, "I thought that it was possible that the +temptation of the necklace, which has a great deal of gold in it, must, +as it was not found on her corpse, have been an inducement for the +gipsies, who were in the neighbourhood, to drown her; but Sir William +would not believe it, rather supposing that in her struggles in the +water she must have broken it, and that it had thus been detached from +her neck. Is it to return this unfortunate necklace that you have come +here?" + +"No, madam, not altogether. Had you two white ponies at the time?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Was there a mulberry tree in the garden?" + +"Yes, sir," replied the astonished lady. + +"Will you do me the favour to describe the appearance of your child as +she was, at the time that you lost her?" + +"She was--but all mothers are partial, and perhaps I may also be so--a +very fair, lovely little girl." + +"With light hair, I presume?" + +"Yes, sir. But why these questions? Surely you cannot ask them for +nothing," continued she hurriedly. "Tell me, sir, why all these +questions?" + +Mr Masterton replied, "Because, madam, we have some hopes that you have +been deceived, and that it is possible that your daughter was not +drowned." + +Lady de Clare, breathless, and her mouth open, fixed her eyes upon Mr +Masterton, and exclaimed, "Not drowned! O my God! my head!" and then +she fell back insensible. + +"I have been too precipitate," said Mr Masterton, going to her +assistance; "but joy does not kill. Ring for some water, Japhet." + + + + +Chapter L + + In which, if the reader does not sympathise with the parties, he + had better shut the book. + + +In a few minutes Lady de Clare was sufficiently recovered to hear the +outline of our history; and as soon as it was over, she insisted upon +immediately going with us to the school where Fleta was domiciled, as +she could ascertain, by several marks known but to a nurse or mother, +if more evidence was required, whether Fleta was her child or not. To +allow her to remain in such a state of anxiety was impossible, Mr +Masterton agreed, and we posted to ----, where we arrived in the evening. +"Now, gentlemen, leave me but one minute with the child, and when I +ring the bell, you may enter." Lady de Clare was in so nervous and +agitated a state, that she could not walk into the parlour without +assistance. We led her to a chair, and in a minute Fleta was called +down. Perceiving me in the passage, she ran to me. "Stop, my dear Fleta, +there is a lady in the parlour, who wishes to see you." + +"A lady, Japhet?" + +"Yes, my dear, go in." + +Fleta obeyed, and in a minute we heard a scream, and Fleta hastily opened +the door, "Quick! quick! the lady has fallen down." + +We ran in and found Lady de Clare on the floor, and it was some time +before she returned to her senses. As soon as she did, she fell down +on her knees, holding up her hands as in prayer, and then stretched +her arms out to Fleta. "My child! my long-lost child! it is--it is +indeed!" A flood of tears poured forth on Fleta's neck relieved her, +and we then left them together; old Masterton observing, as we took our +seats in the back parlour, + +"By G--, Japhet, you deserve to find your own father!" + +In about an hour Lady de Clare requested to see us. Fleta rushed into my +arms and sobbed, while her mother apologised to Mr Masterton for the +delay and excusable neglect towards him. "Mr Newland, madam, is the +person to whom you are indebted for your present happiness. I will now, +if you please, take my leave, and will call upon you to-morrow." + +"I will not detain you, Mr Masterton; but Mr Newland will, I trust, come +home with Cecilia and me; I have much to ask of him." I consented, and Mr +Masterton went back to town; I went to the principal hotel to order a +chaise and horses, while Fleta packed up her wardrobe. + +In half an hour we set off, and it was midnight before we arrived at +Richmond. During my journey I narrated to Lady de Clare every particular +of our meeting with Fleta. We were all glad to go to bed, and the kind +manner in which Lady de Clare wished me good-night, with "God bless you, +Mr Newland!" brought the tears into my eyes. + +I breakfasted alone the next morning, Lady de Clare and her daughter +remaining up stairs. It was nearly twelve o'clock when they made their +appearance, both so apparently happy, that I could not help thinking, +"When shall I have such pleasure--when shall I find out who is my +father?" My brow was clouded as the thought entered my mind, when Lady +de Clare requested that I would inform her who it was to whom she and +her daughter were under such eternal obligations. I had then to relate +my own eventful history, most of which was as new to Cecilia (as she now +must be called) as it was to her mother. I had just terminated the +escape from the castle, when Mr Masterton's carriage drove up to the +door. As soon as he had bowed to Lady de Clare, he said to me, "Japhet, +here is a letter directed to you, to my care, from Ireland, which I have +brought for you." + +"It is from Kathleen M'Shane, sir," replied I, and requesting leave, I +broke the seal. It contained another. I read Kathleen's, and then hastily +opened the other. It was from Nattee, or Lady H. de Clare, and ran as +follows:-- + + "Japhet Newland,--Fleta is the daughter of Sir William de Clare. + Dearly has my husband paid for his act of folly and wickedness, + and to which you must know I never was a party. + + Yours, + + Nattee." + +The letter from Kathleen added more strange information. Lady de Clare, +after the funeral of her husband, had sent for the steward, made every +necessary arrangement, discharged the servants, and then had herself +disappeared, no one knew whither; but it was reported that somebody very +much resembling her had been seen travelling south in company with a +gang of gipsies. I handed both letters over to Lady de Clare and Mr +Masterton. + +"Poor Lady de Clare!" observed the mother. + +"Nattee will never leave her tribe," observed Cecilia quietly. + +"You are right, my dear," replied I. "She will be happier with her tribe +where she commands as a queen, than ever she was at the castle." + +Mr Masterton then entered into a detail with Lady de Clare as to what +steps ought immediately to be taken, as the heirs-at-law would otherwise +give some trouble; and having obtained her acquiescence, it was time to +withdraw. "Mr Newland, I trust you will consider us as your warmest +friends. I am so much in your debt, that I never can repay you; but I am +also in your debt in a pecuniary way--that, at least, you must permit me +to refund." + +"When I require it, Lady de Clare, I will accept it. Do not, pray, vex +me by the proposition. I have not much happiness as it is, although I am +rejoiced at yours and that of your daughter." + +"Come, Lady de Clare, I must not allow you to tease my protege, you do +not know how sensitive he is. We will now take our leave." + +"You will come soon," said Cecilia, looking anxiously at me. + +"You have your mother, Cecilia," replied I; "what can you wish for more? +I am a--nobody--without a parent." + +Cecilia burst into tears; I embraced her, and Mr Masterton and I left +the room. + + + + +Chapter LI + + I return to the gay world, but am not well received; I am quite + disgusted with it and honesty, and everything else. + + +How strange, now that I had succeeded in the next dearest object of my +wishes, after ascertaining my own parentage, that I should have felt so +miserable; but it was the fact, and I cannot deny it. I could hardly +answer Mr Masterton during our journey to town; and when I threw myself +on the sofa in my own room, I felt as if I was desolate and deserted. +I did not repine at Cecilia's happiness; so far from it, I would have +sacrificed my life for her; but she was a creature of my own--one of the +objects in this world to which I was endeared--one that had been +dependent on me and loved me. Now that she was restored to her parent, +she rose above me, and I was left still more desolate. I do not know +that I ever passed a week of such misery as the one which followed a +_denouement_ productive of so much happiness to others, and which had +been sought with so much eagerness, and at so much risk, by myself. It +was no feeling of envy, God knows; but it appeared to me as if everyone +in the world was to be made happy except myself. But I had more to bear +up against. + +When I had quitted for Ireland, it was still supposed that I was a young +man of large fortune--the truth had not been told. I had acceded to Mr +Masterton's suggestions, that I was no longer to appear under false +colours, and had requested Harcourt, to whom I made known my real +condition, that he would everywhere state the truth. News like this +flies like wildfire; there were too many whom, perhaps, when under the +patronage of Major Carbonnell, and the universal rapture from my +supposed wealth, I had treated with hauteur, glad to receive the +intelligence, and spread it far and wide. My _imposition_, as they +pleased to term it, was the theme of every party, and many were the +indignant remarks of the dowagers who had so often indirectly proposed +to me their daughters; and if there was anyone more virulent than the +rest, I hardly need say that it was Lady Maelstrom, who nearly killed +her job horses in driving about from one acquaintance to another, to +represent my unheard-of atrocity in presuming to deceive my betters. +Harcourt, who had agreed to live with me--Harcourt, who had praised my +magnanimity in making the disclosure--even Harcourt fell off; and about +a fortnight after I had arrived in town, told me that not finding the +lodgings so convenient as his former abode, he intended to return to it. +He took a friendly leave; but I perceived that if we happened to meet in +the streets, he often contrived to be looking another way; and at last, +a slight recognition was all that I received. Satisfied that it was +intended, I no longer noticed him; he followed but the example of others. +So great was the outcry raised by those who had hoped to have secured me +as a good match, that any young man of fashion who was seen with me, had, +by many, his name erased from their visiting lists. This decided my fate, +and I was alone. For some time I bore up proudly; I returned a glance +of defiance, but this could not last. The treatment of others received +a slight check from the kindness of Lord Windermear, who repeatedly asked +me to his table; but I perceived that even there, although suffered as a +proteg of his lordship, anything more than common civility was studiously +avoided, in order that no intimacy might result. Mr Masterton, upon whom +I occasionally called, saw that I was unwell and unhappy. He encouraged +me; but, alas! a man must be more than mortal, who, with fine feelings, +can endure the scorn of the world. Timothy, poor fellow, who witnessed +more of my unhappy state of mind than anybody else, offered in vain his +consolation. "And this," thought I, "is the reward of virtue and honesty. +Truly, virtue is its own reward, for it obtains no other. As long as I +was under false colours, allowing the world to deceive themselves, I was +courted and flattered. Now that I have thrown off the mask, and put on +the raiment of truth, I am a despised, miserable being. Yes; but is not +this my own fault? Did I not, by my own deception, bring all this upon +myself? Whether unmasked by others, or by myself, is it not equally true +that I have been playing false, and am now punished for it? What do the +world care for your having returned to truth? You have offended by +deceiving them, and that is an offence which your repentance will not +extenuate." It was but too true, I had brought it all on myself, and +this reflection increased my misery. For my dishonesty, I had been justly +and severely punished: whether I was ever to be rewarded for my +subsequent honesty still remained to be proved; but I knew very well +that most people would have written off such a reward as a bad debt. + +Once I consulted with Mr Masterton as to the chance of there being any +information relative to my birth in the packet left in the charge of Mr +Cophagus. "I have been thinking over it, my dear Newland," said he, "and +I wish I could give you any hopes, but I cannot. Having succeeded with +regard to your little protege, you are now so sanguine with respect to +yourself, that a trifle light as air is magnified, as the poet says, +'into confirmation strong as holy writ.' Now, consider, somebody calls +at the Foundling to ask after you--which I acknowledge to be a +satisfactory point--his name is taken down by an illiterate brute, as +Derbennon; but how you can decide upon the real name, and assume it is +De Benyon, is really more than I can imagine, allowing every scope to +fancy. It is in the first instance, therefore, you are at fault, as +there are many other names which may have been given by the party who +called; nay, more, is it at all certain that the party, in a case like +this, would give his real name? Let us follow it up. Allowing the name +to have been De Benyon, you discover that one brother is not married, +and that there are some papers belonging to him in the possession of an +old woman who dies; and upon these slight grounds what would you attempt +to establish? that because that person was known not to have married, +therefore _he was married_ (for you are stated to have been born in +wedlock): and because there is a packet of papers belonging to him in the +possession of another party, that this packet of papers _must refer_ to +you. Do you not perceive how you are led away by your excited feelings +on the subject?" + +I could not deny that Mr Masterton's arguments had demolished the whole +fabric which I had built up. "You are right, sir," replied I mournfully, +"I wish I were dead." + +"Never speak in that way, Mr Newland, before me," replied the old lawyer +in an angry tone, "without you wish to forfeit my good opinion." + +"I beg your pardon, sir; but I am most miserable. I am avoided by all +who know me--thrown out of all society--I have not a parent or a +relative. Isolated being as I am, what have I to live for?" + +"My dear fellow, you are not twenty-three years of age," replied Mr +Masterton, "and you have made two sincere friends, both powerful in their +own way. I mean Lord Windermear and myself; and you have had the pleasure +of making others happy. Believe me, that is much to have accomplished at +so early an age. You have much to live for--live to gain more +friends--live to gain reputation--live to do good--to be grateful for +the benefits you have received, and to be humble when chastened by +Providence. You have yet to learn where, and only where, true happiness +is to be found. Since you are so much out of spirits, go down to Lady de +Clare's, see her happiness, and that of her little girl; and then, when +you reflect that it was your own work, you will hardly say that you have +lived in vain." I was too much overpowered to speak. After a pause, Mr +Masterton continued, "When did you see them last?" + +"I have never seen them, sir, since I was with you at their meeting." + +"What! have you not called--now nearly two months? Japhet, you are wrong; +they will be hurt at your neglect and want of kindness. Have you written +or heard from them?" + +"I have received one or two pressing invitations, sir; but I have not been +in a state of mind to avail myself of their politeness." + +"Politeness! you are wrong--all wrong, Japhet. Your mind is cankered, or +you never would have used that term. I thought you were composed of +better materials; but it appears, that although you can sail with a fair +wind, you cannot buffet against an adverse gale. Because you are no +longer fooled and flattered by the interested and the designing, like +many others, you have quarrelled with the world. Is it not so?" + +"Perhaps you are right, sir." + +"I know that I am right, and that you are wrong. Now I shall be seriously +displeased if you do not go down and see Lady de Clare and her daughter, +as soon as you can." + +"I will obey your orders, sir." + +"My wishes, Japhet, not my orders. Let me see you when you return. You +must no longer be idle. Consider, that you are about to recommence your +career in life; that hitherto you have pursued the wrong path, from +which you have nobly returned. You must prepare for exertions, and learn +to trust to God and a good conscience. Lord Windermear and I had a long +conversation relative to you yesterday evening; and when you come back, +I will detail to you what are our views respecting your future advantage." + + + + +Chapter LII + + A new character appears, but not a very amiable one; but I attach + myself to him, as drowning men catch at straws. + + +I took my leave, more composed in mind, and the next day I went down to +Lady de Clare's. I was kindly received, more than kindly, I was +affectionately and parentally received by the mother, and by Cecilia as +a dear brother; but they perceived my melancholy, and when they had +upbraided me for my long neglect, they inquired the cause. As I had +already made Lady de Clare acquainted with my previous history, I had +no secrets; in fact, it was a consolation to confide my griefs to them. +Lord Windermear was too much above me--Mr Masterton was too +matter-of-fact--Timothy was too inferior--and they were all men; but the +kind soothing of a woman was peculiarly grateful, and after a sojourn of +three days, I took my leave, with my mind much less depressed than when +I arrived. + +On my return, I called upon Mr Masterton, who stated to me that Lord +Windermear was anxious to serve me, and that he would exert his interest +in any way which might be most congenial to my feelings; that he would +procure me a commission in the army, or a writership to India; or, if I +preferred it, I might study the law under the auspices of Mr Masterton. +If none of these propositions suited me, I might state what would be +preferred, and that, as far as his interest and pecuniary assistance +could avail, I might depend upon it. "So now, Japhet, you may go home +and reflect seriously upon these offers; and when you have made up your +mind what course you will steer, you have only to let me know." + +I returned my thanks to Mr Masterton, and begged that he would convey my +grateful acknowledgments to his lordship. As I walked home, I met a +Captain Atkinson, a man of very doubtful character, whom, by the advice +of Carbonnell, I had always kept at a distance. He had lost a large +fortune by gambling, and having been pigeoned, had, as is usual, ended +by becoming a _rook_. He was a fashionable, well-looking man, of good +family, suffered in society, for he had found out that it was necessary +to hold his position by main force. He was a noted duellist, had killed +his three or four men, and a cut direct from any person was, with him, +sufficient grounds for sending a friend. Everybody was civil to him, +because no one wished to quarrel with him. + +"My dear Mr Newland," said he, offering his hand, "I am delighted to +see you; I have heard at the clubs of your misfortune, and there were +some free remarks made by some. I have great pleasure in saying that I +put an immediate stop to them, by telling them that, if they were +repeated in my presence, I should consider it as a personal quarrel." + +Three months before, had I met Captain Atkinson, I should have returned +his bow with studied politeness, and have left him; but how changed were +my feelings! I took his hand, and shook it warmly. + +"My dear sir," replied I, "I am very much obliged for your kind and +considerate conduct; there are more who are inclined to calumniate than +to defend." + +"And always will be in this world, Mr Newland; but I have a fellow +feeling. I recollect how I was received and flattered when I was +introduced as a young man of fortune, and how I was deserted and +neglected when I was cleaned out. I know now _why_ they are so civil +to me, and I value their civility at just as much as it is worth. Will +you accept my arm:--I am going your way" + +I could not refuse; but I coloured when I took it, for I felt that I +was not adding to my reputation by being seen in his company; and still +I felt, that although not adding to my reputation, I was less likely to +receive insult, and that the same cause which induced them to be civil +to him, would perhaps operate when they found me allied with him. "Be +it so," thought I, "I will, if possible, _extort_ politeness." + +We were strolling down Bond Street, when we met a young man, well known +in the fashionable circles, who had dropped my acquaintance, after +having been formerly most pressing to obtain it. Atkinson faced him. +"Good morning, Mr Oxberry." + +"Good morning, Captain Atkinson," replied Mr Oxberry. + +"I thought you knew my friend Mr Newland?" observed Atkinson, rather +fiercely. + +"Oh! really--I quite--I beg pardon. Good morning, Mr Newland; you have +been long absent. I did not see you at Lady Maelstrom's last night." + +"No," replied I, carelessly, "nor will you ever. When you next see her +ladyship, ask her, with my compliments, whether she has had another +fainting fit." + +"I shall certainly have great pleasure in carrying your message, Mr +Newland--good morning." + +"That fool," observed Atkinson, "will now run all over town, and you will +see the consequence." + +We met one or two others, and to them Atkinson put the same question, "I +thought you knew my friend Mr Newland?" At last, just as we arrived at +my own house in St James's Street, who should we meet but Harcourt. +Harcourt immediately perceived me, and bowed low as he passed on, so +that his bow would have served for both; but Atkinson stopped. "I must +beg your pardon, Harcourt, for detaining you a moment, but what are the +odds upon the Vestris colt for the Derby?" + +"Upon my word, Captain Atkinson, I was told, but I have forgotten." + +"Your memory appears bad, for you have also forgotten your old friend, +Mr Newland." + +"I beg your pardon, Mr Newland." + +"There is no occasion to beg my pardon, Mr Harcourt," interrupted I; +"for I tell you plainly, that I despise you too much to ever wish to be +acquainted with you. You will oblige me, sir, by never presuming to touch +your hat, or otherwise notice me." + +Harcourt coloured, and started back. "Such language, Mr Newland--" + +"Is what you deserve; ask your own conscience. Leave us, sir;" and I +walked on with Captain Atkinson. + +"You have done well, Newland," observed Atkinson; "he cannot submit to +that language, for he knows that I have heard it. A meeting you will of +course have no objection to. It will be of immense advantage to you." + +"None whatever," replied I; "for if there is any one man who deserves to +be punished for his conduct towards me, it is Harcourt. Will you come up, +Captain Atkinson; and, if not better engaged, take a quiet dinner and a +bottle of wine with me?" + +Our conversation during dinner was desultory, but after the first bottle, +Atkinson became communicative, and his history not only made me feel +better inclined towards him, but afforded me another instance, as well +as Carbonnell's, how often it is that those who would have done well, +are first plundered, and then driven to desperation by the heartlessness +of the world. The cases, however, had this difference, that Carbonnell +had always contrived to keep his reputation above water, while that of +Atkinson was gone, and never to be re-established. We had just finished +our wine when a note was brought from Harcourt, informing me that he +should send a friend the next morning for an explanation of my conduct. +I handed it over to Atkinson. "My dear sir, I am at your service," +replied he, "without you have anybody among your acquaintances whom +you may prefer." + +"Thank you," replied I, "Captain Atkinson; it cannot be in better hands." + +"That is settled, then; and now where shall we go?" + +"Wherever you please." + +"Then I shall try if I can win a little money to-night; if you come you +need not play--you can look on. It will serve to divert your thoughts, +at all events." + +I felt so anxious to avoid reflection, that I immediately accepted his +offer, and, in a few minutes, we were in the well-lighted room, and in +front of the _rouge et noir_ table, covered with gold and bank notes. +Atkinson did not commence his play immediately, but pricked the chances +on a card as they ran. After half an hour he laid down his stakes, and +was fortunate. I could no longer withstand the temptation, and I backed +him; in less than an hour we both had won considerably. + +"That is enough," said he to me, sweeping up his money; "we must not try +the slippery dame too long." + +I followed his example, and shortly afterwards we quitted the house. "I +will walk home with you, Newland; never, if you can help it, especially +if you have been a winner, leave a gaming house alone." + +Going home, I asked Atkinson if he would come up; he did so, and then we +examined our winnings. "I know mine," replied he, "within twenty pounds, +for I always leave off at a certain point. I have three hundred pounds, +and something more." + +He had won three hundred and twenty-five pounds. I had won ninety pounds. +As we sat over a glass of brandy and water, I inquired whether he was +always fortunate. "No, of course I am not," replied Atkinson; "but on +the whole, in the course of the year I am a winner of sufficient to +support myself." + +"Is there any rule by which people are guided who play? I observed many +of those who were seated, pricking the chances with great care, and then +staking their money at intervals." + +"_Rouge et noir_ I believe to be the fairest of all games," replied +Atkinson; "but where there is a per centage invariably in favour of the +bank, although one may win and another lose, still the profits must be +in favour of the bank. If a man were to play all the year round, he would +lose the national debt in the end. As for martingales, and all those +calculations, which you observed them so busy with, they are all useless. +I have tried everything, and there is only one chance of success, but +then you must not be a gambler?" + +"Not a gambler?" + +"No; you must not be carried away by the excitement of the game, or you +will infallibly lose. You must have a strength of mind which few have, or +you will be soon cleaned out." + +"But you say that you win on the whole; have you no rule to guide you?" + +"Yes, I have; strange as the chances are, I have been so accustomed to +them, that I generally put down my stake right; when I am once in a run +of luck, I have a method of my own, but what it is I cannot tell; only +this I know, that if I depart from it, I always lose my money. But that +is what you may call good luck, or what you please--it is not a rule." + +"Where, then, are your rules?" + +"Simply these two. The first it is not difficult to adhere to: I make a +rule never to lose but a certain sum if I am unlucky when I +commence--say twenty stakes, whatever may be the amount of the stake +that you play. This rule is easily adhered to, by not taking more money +with you; and I am not one of those to whom the croupier or porters will +lend money. The second rule is the most difficult, and decides whether +you are a gambler or not. I make a rule always to leave off when I have +won a certain sum--or even before, if the chances of my game fluctuate. +There is the difficulty; it appears very foolish not to follow up luck, +but the fact is, fortune is so capricious, that if you trust her more +than an hour, she will desert you. This is my mode of play, and with me +it answers; but it does not follow that it would answer with another. +But it is very late, or rather, very early--I wish you a good-night." + + + + +Chapter LIII + + I become principal instead of second in a duel, and risk my own + and another's life, my own and others' happiness and peace of + mind, because I have been punished as I deserved. + + +After Captain Atkinson had left me, I stated to Timothy what had passed. +"And do you think you will have to fight a duel, sir?" cried Timothy +with alarm. + +"There is no doubt of it," replied I. + +"You never will find your father, sir, if you go on this way," said +Timothy, as if to divert my attention from such a purpose. + +"Not in this world, perhaps, Tim; perhaps I may be sent the right road +by a bullet, and find him in the next." + +"Do you think your father, if dead, has gone to heaven?" + +"I hope so, Timothy." + +"Then what chance have you of meeting him, if you go out of the world +attempting the life of your old friend?" + +"That is what you call a poser, my dear Timothy, but I cannot help +myself; this I can safely say, that I have no animosity against Mr +Harcourt--at least, not sufficient to have any wish to take away his +life." + +"Well, that's something, to be sure; but do you know, Japhet, I'm not +quite sure you hit the right road when you set up for a gentleman." + +"No, Timothy, no man can be in the right road who deceives; I have been +all wrong; and I am afraid I am going from worse to worse: but I cannot +moralise, I must go to sleep, and forget everything if I can." + +The next morning, about eleven o'clock, a Mr Cotgrave called upon me on +the part of Harcourt. I referred him to Captain Atkinson, and he bowed +and quitted the room. Captain Atkinson soon called; he had remained at +home expecting the message, and had made every arrangement with the +second. He stayed with me the whole day; the Major's pistols were +examined and approved of; we dined, drank freely, and he afterwards +proposed that I should accompany him to one of the hells, as they are +called. This I refused, as I had some arrangements to make; and as soon +as he was gone I sent for Timothy. + +"Tim," said I, "if I should be unlucky to-morrow, you are my executor +and residuary legatee. My will was made when in Dublin, and is in the +charge of Mr Cophagus." + +"Japhet, I hope you will allow me one favour, which is, to go to the +ground with you. I had rather be there than remain here in suspense." + +"Of course, my dear fellow, if you wish it," replied I; "but I must go to +bed, as I am to be called at four o'clock--so let's have no +sentimentalising or sermonising. Good-night, God bless you." + +I was, at that time, in a state of mind which made me reckless of life or +of consequences; stung by the treatment which I received, mad with the +world's contumely, I was desperate. True it was, as Mr Masterton said, I +had not courage to buffet against an adverse gale. Timothy did not go +to bed, and at four o'clock was at my side. I rose, dressed myself with +the greatest care, and was soon joined by Captain Atkinson. We then set +off in a hackney-coach to the same spot to which I had, but a few months +before, driven with poor Carbonnell. His memory and his death came like +a cloud over my mind, but it was but for a moment. I cared little for +life. Harcourt and his second were on the ground a few minutes before +us. Each party saluted politely, and the seconds proceeded to business. +We fired, and Harcourt fell, with a bullet above his knee. I went up to +him, and he extended his hand. "Newland," said he, "I have deserved +this. I was a coward, in the first place, to desert you as I did--and a +coward, in the second, to fire at a man whom I had injured. Gentlemen," +continued he, appealing to the seconds, "recollect, I, before you, acquit +Mr Newland of all blame, and desire, if any further accident should +happen to me, that my relations will take no steps whatever against him." + +Harcourt was very pale, and bleeding fast. Without any answer I examined +the wound, and found, by the colour of the blood, and its gushing, that +an artery had been divided. My professional knowledge saved his life. I +compressed the artery, while I gave directions to the others. A +handkerchief was tied tight round his thigh, above the wound--a round +stone selected, and placed under the handkerchief, in the femoral groove, +and the ramrod of one of the pistols then made use of as a winch, until +the whole acted as a tourniquet. I removed my thumbs, found that the +hemorrhage was stopped, and then directed that he should be taken home +on a door, and surgical assistance immediately sent for. + +"You appear to understand these things, sir," said Mr Cotgrave. "Tell +me, is there any danger?" + +"He must suffer amputation," replied I, in a low voice, so that Harcourt +could not hear me. "Pray watch the tourniquet carefully as he is taken +home, for should it slip it will be fatal." + +I then bowed to Mr Cotgrave, and, followed by Captain Atkinson, stepped +into the hackney-coach and drove home. "I will leave you now, Newland," +said Captain Atkinson; "it is necessary that I talk this matter over, +so that it is properly explained." + +I thanked Captain Atkinson for his services, and was left alone; for I +had sent Timothy to ascertain if Harcourt had arrived safe at his +lodgings. Never did I feel more miserable; my anxiety for Harcourt was +indescribable; true, he had not treated me well, but I thought of his +venerable father, who pressed my hand so warmly when I left his +hospitable roof--of his lovely sisters, and the kindness and affection +which they had shown towards me, and our extreme intimacy. I thought +of the pain which the intelligence would give them, and their +indignation towards me, when their brother first made his appearance +at his father's house, mutilated; and were he to die--good God! I was +maddened at the idea. I had now undone the little good I had been able +to do. If I had made Fleta and her mother happy, had I not plunged +another family into misery? + + + + +Chapter LIV + + This is a strange world; I am cut by a man of no character, + because he is fearful that I should injure his character. + + +Timothy returned, and brought me consolation--the bleeding had not +re-commenced, and Harcourt was in tolerable spirits. An eminent surgeon +had been sent for. "Go again, my dear Timothy, and as you are intimate +with Harcourt's servant, you will be able to find out what they are +about." + +Timothy departed, and was absent about an hour, during which I lay on +the sofa, and groaned with anguish. When he returned, I knew by his +face that his intelligence was favourable. "All's right," cried Timothy; +"no amputation after all. It was only one of the smaller arteries which +was severed, and they have taken it up." + +I sprang up from the sofa and embraced Timothy, so happy was I with the +intelligence, and then I sat down again, and cried like a child. At last +I became more composed. I had asked Captain Atkinson to dine with me, +and was very glad when he came. He confirmed Timothy's report, and I was +so overjoyed, that I sat late at dinner, drinking very freely, and when +he again proposed that we should go to the _rouge et noir_ table, I did +not refuse--on the contrary, flushed with wine, I was anxious to go, and +took all the money that I had with me. On our arrival Atkinson played, +but finding that he was not fortunate, he very soon left off. As I had +followed his game, I also had lost considerably, and he entreated me not +to play any more--but I was a gamester it appeared, and I would not pay +attention to him, and did not quit the table until I had lost every +shilling in my pocket. I left the house in no very good humour, and +Atkinson, who had waited for me, accompanied me home. + +"Newland," said he, "I don't know what you may think of me--you may have +heard that I'm a _roue_, &c. &c. &c., but this I always do, which is, +caution those who are gamesters from their hearts. I have watched you +to-night, and I tell you, that you will be ruined if you continue to +frequent that table. You have no command over yourself. I do not know +what your means may be, but this I do know, that if you were a Croesus, +you would be a beggar. I cared nothing for you while you were the Mr +Newland, the admired, and leader of the fashion, but I felt for you when +I heard that you were scouted from society, merely because it was found +out that you were not so rich as you were supposed to be. I had a +fellow-feeling, as I told you. I did not make your acquaintance to win +your money--I can win as much as I wish from the scoundrels who keep the +tables, or from those who would not scruple to plunder others; and I now +entreat you not to return to that place--and am sorry, very sorry, that +ever I took you there. To me, the excitement is nothing--to you, it is +overpowering. You are a gamester, or rather, you have it in your +disposition. Take, therefore, the advice of a friend, if I may so call +myself, and do not go there again. I hope you are not seriously +inconvenienced by what you have lost to-night." + +"Not the least," replied I. "It was ready money. I thank you for your +advice, and will follow it. I have been a fool to-night, and one folly +is sufficient." + +Atkinson then left me. I had lost about two hundred and fifty pounds, +which included my winnings of the night before. I was annoyed at it, +but I thought of Harcourt's safety, and felt indifferent. The reader +may recollect, that I had three thousand pounds, which Mr Masterton +had offered to put out at mortgage for me, but until he could find an +opportunity, by his advice I had bought stock in the three per cents. +Since that he had not succeeded, as mortgages in general are for larger +sums, and it had therefore remained. My rents were not yet due, and I +was obliged to have recourse to this money. I therefore went into the +city, ordered the broker to sell out two hundred pounds, intending to +replace it as soon as I could--for I would not have liked that Mr +Masterton should have known that I had lost money by gambling. When I +returned from the city, I found Captain Atkinson in my apartments + waiting for me. + +"Harcourt is doing well, and you are not doing badly. I have let all +the world know that you intend to call out whoever presumes to treat +you with indifference." + +"The devil you have! but that is a threat which may easier be made +than followed up by deeds." + +"Shoot two or three more," replied Atkinson, coolly, "and then, depend +upon it, you'll have it all your own way. As it is, I acknowledge there +has been some show of resistance, and they talk of making a resolution +not to meet you, on the score of your being an impostor." + +"And a very plausible reason, too," replied I; "nor do I think I have +any right--I am sure I have no intention of doing as you propose. Surely, +people have a right to choose their acquaintance, and to cut me, if they +think I have done wrong. I am afraid, Captain Atkinson, you have +mistaken me; I have punished Harcourt for his conduct towards +me--deserved punishment. I had claims on him; but I have not upon the +hundreds, whom, when in the zenith of my popularity, I myself, perhaps, +was not over courteous to. I cannot _run the muck_ which you propose, +nor do I consider that I shall help my character by so doing. I may +become notorious, but certainly, I shall not obtain that species of +notoriety which will be of service to me. No, no; I have done too much, +I may say, already; and, although not so much to blame as the world +imagines, yet my own conscience tells me, that by allowing it to suppose +that I was what I was not, I have, to say the least, been a party to the +fraud, and must take the consequence. My situation now is very +unpleasant, and I ought to retire, and, if possible, re-appear with real +claims upon the public favour. I have still friends, thank God! and +influential friends. I am offered a writership in India--a commission in +the army--or to study the law. Will you favour me with your opinion?" + +"You pay me a compliment by asking my advice. A writership in India is +fourteen years' transportation, returning with plenty to live on but no +health to enjoy it. In the army you might do well, and moreover, as an +officer in the army, none dare refuse to go out with you. At the same +time, under your peculiar circumstances, I think if you were in a crack +regiment you would, in all probability, have to fight one half the mess, +and be put in Coventry by the other. You must then exchange on half-pay, +and your commission would be a great help to you. As for the law--I'd +sooner see a brother of mine in his coffin. There, you have my opinion." + +"Not a very encouraging one, at all events," replied I, laughing; "but +there is much truth in your observations. To India I will not go, as it +will interfere with the great object of my existence." + +"And pray, if it be no secret, may I ask what that is?" + +"To find out _who is my father._" + +Captain Atkinson looked very hard at me. "I more than once," said he, +"have thought you a little cracked, but now I perceive you are +_mad_--downright _mad_; don't be angry, I couldn't help saying so, and +if you wish me to give you satisfaction, I shall most unwillingly be +obliged." + +"No, no, Atkinson, I believe you are not very far wrong, and I forgive +you--but to proceed. The army, as you say, will give me a position in +society, from my profession being that of a gentleman, but as I do not +wish to take the advantage which you have suggested from the position, +I shrink from putting myself into one which may lead to much +mortification. As for the law, although I do not exactly agree with you +in your abhorrence of the profession, yet I must say, that I do not like +the idea. I have been rendered unfit for it by my life up to the present. +But I am permitted to select any other." + +"Without wishing to pry into your affairs, have you sufficient to live +upon?" + +"Yes, in a moderate way; about a younger brother's portion, which will +just keep me in gloves, cigars, and eau de cologne." + +"Then take my advice and be _nothing._ The only difference I can see +between a gentleman and anybody else, is that one is idle and the other +works hard. One is a useless, and the other a useful, member of society. +Such is the absurdity of the opinions of the world." + +"Yes, I agree with you, and would prefer being a gentleman in that +respect, and do nothing, if they would admit me in every other; but that +they will not do. I am in an unfortunate position." + +"And will be until your feelings become blunted as mine have been," +replied Atkinson. "Had you acquiesced in my proposal, you would have done +better. As it is, I can be of no use to you; nay, without intending an +affront, I do not know if we ought to be seen together, for your decision +not to _fight_ your way is rather awkward, as I cannot back one with +my _support_ who will not do credit to it. Do not be angry at what I say; +you are your own master, and have a right to decide for yourself,--if +you think yourself not so wholly lost as to be able eventually to recover +yourself by other means, I do not blame you, as I know it is only from +an error in judgment, and not from want of courage." + +"At present I am, I acknowledge, lost, Captain Atkinson; but if I succeed +in _finding my father_--" + +"Good morning, Newland, good morning," replied he, hastily. "I see how it +is; of course we shall be civil to each other when we meet, for I wish +you well, but we must not be seen together, or you may injure my +character." + +"Injure _your_ character, Captain Atkinson?" + +"Yes, Mr Newland, injure my character. I do not mean to say but that +there are characters more respectable, but I have _a_ character which +suits me, and it has the merit of consistency. As you are not prepared, +as the Americans say, _to go the whole hog_, we will part good friends, +and if I have said anything to annoy you, I beg your pardon." + +"Good-bye, then, Captain Atkinson; for the kindness you have shown me I +am grateful." He shook my hand, and walked out of the room. "And for +having thus broken up our acquaintance, more grateful still," thought I, +as he went down stairs. + + + + +Chapter LV + + I cut my new acquaintance, but his company, even in so short a + time, proves my ruin--notwithstanding I part with all my + property, I retain my honesty. + + +In the meantime, the particulars of the duel had found their way into the +papers, with various comments, but none of them very flattering to me, +and I received a note from Mr Masterton, who, deceived by the +representations of that class of people who cater for newspapers, and who +are but too glad to pull, if they possibly can, every one to their own +level, strongly animadverted upon my conduct, and pointed out the folly +of it; adding, that Lord Windermear wholly coincided with him in opinion, +and had desired him to express his displeasure. He concluded by +observing, "I consider this to be the most serious false step which you +have hitherto made. Because you have been a party to deceiving the +public, and because one individual, who had no objection to be intimate +with a young man of fashion, station, and affluence, does not wish to +continue the acquaintance with one of unknown birth and no fortune, you +consider yourself justified in taking his life. Upon this principle, all +society is at an end, all distinctions levelled, and the rule of the +gladiator will only be overthrown by the stiletto of the assassin." + +I was but ill prepared to receive this letter. I had been deeply thinking +upon the kind offers of Lord Windermear, and had felt that they would +interfere with the _primum mobile_ of my existence, and I was reflecting +by what means I could evade their kind intentions, and be at liberty to +follow my own inclinations, when this note arrived. To me it appeared to +be the height of injustice. I had been arraigned and found guilty upon +an _ex parte_ statement. I forgot, at the time, that it was my duty to +have immediately proceeded to Mr Masterton, and have fully explained +the facts of the case; and that, by not having so done, I left the +natural impression that I had no defence to offer. I forgot all this, +still I was myself to blame--I only saw that the letter in itself was +unkind and unjust--and my feelings were those of resentment. What right +have Lord Windermear and Mr Masterton thus to school and to insult me? +The right of obligations conferred. But is not Lord Windermear under +obligations to me? Have I not preserved his secret? Yes; but how did I +obtain possession of it? By so doing, I was only making reparation for +an act of treachery. Well, then, at all events, I have a right to be +independent of them, if I please--any one has a right to assert his +independence if he chooses. Their offers of service only would shackle +me, if I accepted of their assistance. I will have none of them. Such +were my reflections; and the reader must perceive that I was influenced +by a state of morbid irritability--a sense of abandonment which +prostrated me. I felt that I was an isolated being without a tie in the +whole world. I determined to spurn the world as it had spurned me. To +Timothy I would hardly speak a word. I lay with an aching head, aching +from increased circulation. I was mad, or nearly so. I opened the case +of pistols, and thought of suicide--reflection alone restrained me. I +could not abandon the search after my father. + +Feverish and impatient, I wished to walk out, but I dared not meet the +public eye. I waited till dark, and then I sallied forth, hardly knowing +where I went. I passed the gaming house--I did pass it, but I returned +and lost every shilling; not, however, till the fluctuations of the game +had persuaded me, that had I had more money to carry it on, I should have +won. + +I went to bed, but not to sleep; I thought of how I had been caressed and +admired, when I was supposed to be rich. Of what use then was the money +I possessed? Little or none. I made up my mind that I would either gain +a fortune, or lose that which I had. The next morning I went into the +city, and sold out all the remaining stock. To Timothy I had not +communicated my intentions. I studiously avoided speaking to him; he felt +hurt at my conduct, I perceived, but I was afraid of his advice and +expostulation. + +At night-fall I returned to the hell--played with various success; at +one time was a winner of three times my capital, and I ended at last +with my pockets being empty. I was indifferent when it was all gone, +although in the highest state of excitement while the chances were +turning up. + +The next day I went to a house agent, and stated my wish to sell my +house, for I was resolved to try fortune to the last. The agent +undertook to find a ready purchaser, and I begged an advance, which he +made, and continued to make, until he had advanced nearly half the value. +He then found a purchaser (himself, as I believe) at two-thirds of its +value. I did not hesitate, I had lost every advance, one after another, +and was anxious to retrieve my fortune or be a beggar. I signed the +conveyance and received the balance, fifteen hundred and fifty pounds, +and returned to the apartments, no longer mine, about an hour before +dinner. I called Timothy, and ascertaining the amount of bills due, +gave him fifty pounds, which left him about fifteen pounds as a residue. +I then sat down to my solitary meal, but just as I commenced I heard a +dispute in the passage. + +"What is that, Timothy?" cried I, for I was nervous to a degree. + +"It's that fellow Emmanuel, sir, who says that he will come up." + +"Yesh, I vill go up, sar." + +"Let him come, Timothy," replied I. Accordingly Mr Emmanuel ascended. +"Well, Emmanuel, what do you want with me?" said I, looking with contempt +at the miserable creature who entered as before, with his body bent +double, and his hand lying over his back. + +"I vash a little out of breath, Mr Newland--I vash come to say dat de +monish is very scarce--dat I vill accept your offer, and vill take de +hundred pounds, and my tousand which I have lent you. You too mush +gentleman not to help a poor old man, ven he ish in distress." + +"Rather say, Mr Emmanuel, that you have heard that I have not ten +thousand pounds per annum, and that you are afraid that you have lost +your money." + +"Loshe my monish!--no--loshe my tousand pound! Did you not say, dat you +would pay it back to me, and give me hundred pounds for my trouble; dat +vash de last arrangement." "Yes, but you refused to take it, so it is not +my fault. You must now stick to the first, which is to receive fifteen +hundred pounds when I come into my fortune." + +"Your fortune, but you av no fortune." + +"I am afraid not; and recollect, Mr Emmanuel, that I never told you that +I had." + +"Vill you pay me my monish, Mr Newland, or vill you go to prison?" + +"You can't put me in prison for an agreement," replied I. + +"No; but I can prosecute you for a swindler." + +"No, you confounded old rascal, you cannot; try, and do your worst," +cried I, enraged at the word swindler. + +"Veil, Mr Newland, if you have not de ten tousand a year, you have de +house and de monish; you vill not cheat a poor man like me." + +"I have sold my house." + +"You have sold de house--den you have neither de house nor de monish. +Oh! my monish, my monish! Sare, Mr Newland, you are one d----d rascal;" +and the old wretch's frame quivered with emotion; his hand behind his +back shaking as much as the other which, in his rage, he shook in my face. + +Enraged myself at being called such an opprobrious term, I opened the +door, twisted him round, and applying my foot to a nameless part, he +flew out and fell down the stairs, at the turning of which he lay, +groaning in pain. "Mine Got, mine Got, I am murdered!" cried he. "Fader +Abraham, receive me." My rage was appeased, and I turned pale at the +idea of having killed the poor wretch. With the assistance of Timothy, +whom I summoned, we dragged the old man upstairs, and placed him in a +chair, and found that he was not very much hurt. A glass of wine was +given to him, and then, as soon as he could speak, his ruling passion +broke out again. "Mishter Newland--ah, Mish-ter New-land, cannot you +give me my monish--cannot you give me de tousand pound, without de +interest? you are very welcome to de interest. I only lend it to oblige +you." + +"How can you expect a d----d rascal to do any such thing?" replied I. + +"D----d rascal! Ah! it vash I who vash a rascal, and vash a fool to say +the word. Mishter Newland, you vash a gentleman, you vill pay me my +monish. You vill pay me part of my monish. I have de agreement in my +pocket, all ready to give up." + +"If I have not the money, how can I pay you?" + +"Fader Abraham, if you have not de monish--you must have some monish; +den you will pay me a part. How much vill you pay me?" + +"Will you take five hundred pounds, and return the agreement?" + +"Five hundred pounds--lose half--oh! Mr Newland--it was all lent in +monish, not in goods; you will not make me lose so much as dat?" + +"I'm not sure that I will give you five hundred pounds; your bond is not +worth two-pence, and you know it." + +"Your honour, Mishter Newland, is worth more dan ten tousand pounds: but +if you have not de monish, den you shall pay me de five hundred pounds +which you offer, and I will give up de paper." + +"I never offered five hundred pounds." + +"Not offer; but you mention de sum, dat quite enough." + +"Well then, for five hundred pounds, you will give up the paper?" + +"Yes; I vash content to loshe all de rest, to please you." + +I went to my desk, and took out five hundred pounds in notes. "Now, +there is the money, which you may put your hands on when you give up the +agreement." The old man pulled out the agreement and laid it on the +table, catching up the notes. I looked at the paper to see if it was all +right, and then tore it up. Emmanuel put the notes, with a heavy sigh, +into his inside coat pocket, and prepared to depart. "Now, Mr Emmanuel, +I will show that I have a little more honour than you think for. This +is all the money I have in the world," said I, taking out of my desk +the remaining thousand pounds, "and half of it I give to you, to pay you +the whole money which you lent me. Here is five hundred pounds more, and +now we are quits." + +The eyes of the old man were fixed upon me in astonishment, and from my +face they glanced upon the notes; he could, to use a common expression, +neither believe his eyes nor his ears. At last he took the money, again +unbuttoned and pulled out his pocket-book, and with a trembling hand +stowed them away as before. + +"You vash a very odd gentleman, Mishter Newland," said he; "you kick me +down stairs, and--but dat is noting." + +"Good-bye, Mr Emmanuel," said I, "and let me eat my dinner." + + + + +Chapter LVI + + I resolve to begin the world again, and to seek my fortune in the + next path--I take leave of all my old friends. + + +The Jew retired, and I commenced my meal, when the door again slowly +opened, and Mr Emmanuel crawled up to me. + +"Mishter Newland, I vash beg your pardon, but vill you not pay me de +interest of de monish?" + +I started up from my chair, with my rattan in my hand. "Begone, you old +thief," cried I; and hardly were the words out of my mouth, before Mr +Emmanuel travelled out of the room, and I never saw him afterwards. I +was pleased with myself for having done this act of honesty, and for the +first time for a long while, I ate my dinner with some zest. After I had +finished, I took a twenty pound note, and laid it in my desk, the +remainder of the five hundred pounds I put in my pocket, to try my last +chance. In an hour I quitted the hell penniless. When I returned home I +had composed myself a little after the dreadful excitement which I had +been under. I felt a calm, and a degree of negative happiness. I knew my +fate--there was no more suspense. I sat down to reflect upon what I +should do. I was to commence the world again--to sink down at once into +obscurity--into poverty--and I felt happy. I had severed the link +between myself and my former condition--I was again a beggar, but I was +independent--and I resolved so to be. I spoke kindly to Timothy, went to +bed, and having arranged in my own mind how I should act, I fell sound +asleep. + +I never slept better, or awoke more refreshed. The next morning I packed +up my portmanteau, taking with me only the most necessary articles; all +the details of the toilet, further than cleanliness was concerned, I +abjured. When Timothy came in, I told him that I was going down to Lady +de Clare's, which I intended to do. Poor Timothy was overjoyed at the +change in my manner, little thinking that he was so soon to lose me--for, +reader, I had made up my mind that I would try my fortunes alone; and, +painful as I felt would be the parting with so valued a friend, I was +determined that I would no longer have even his assistance or company. +I was determined to forget all that had passed, and commence the world +anew. I sat down while Timothy went out to take a place in the Richmond +coach, and wrote to him the following letter:-- + + My Dear Timothy,--Do not think that I undervalue your friendship, + or shall ever forget your regard for me, when I tell you that we + shall probably never meet again. Should fortune favour me, I + trust we shall--but of that there is little prospect. I have lost + almost everything: my money is all gone, my house is sold, and + all is gambled away. I leave you, with only my clothes in my + portmanteau and twenty pounds. For yourself, there is the + furniture, which you must sell, as well as every other article + left behind. It is all yours, and I hope you will find means to + establish yourself in some way. God bless you--and believe me + always and gratefully yours, + + "Japhet Newland." + +This letter I reserved to put in the post when I quitted Richmond. My +next letter was to Mr Masterton. + + "Sir,--Your note I received, and I am afraid that, unwittingly, + you have been the occasion of my present condition. That I did + not deserve the language addressed to me, you may satisfy + yourself by applying to Mr Harcourt. Driven to desperation, I + have lost all I had in the world, by adding gaming to my many + follies. I now am about to seek my fortune, and prosecute my + search after my father. You will, therefore, return my most + sincere acknowledgments to Lord Windermear, for his kind offers + and intentions, and assure him that my feelings towards him will + always be those of gratitude and respect. For yourself, accept my + warmest thanks for the friendly advice and kind interest which + you have shown in my welfare, and believe me, when I say, that my + earnest prayers shall be offered up for your happiness. If you + can, in any way, assist my poor friend, Timothy, who will, I have + no doubt, call upon you in his distress, you will confer an + additional favour on," + + "Yours, ever gratefully," + + "Japhet Newland." + +I sealed this letter, and when Timothy returned, I told him that I +wished him, after my departure, to take it to Mr Masterton's, and not +wait for an answer. I then, as I had an hour to spare, before the coach +started, entered into a conversation with Timothy. I pointed out to him +the unfortunate condition in which I found myself, and my determination +to quit the metropolis. + +Timothy agreed with me. "I have seen you so unhappy of late--I may say, +so miserable--that I have neither eaten nor slept. Indeed, Japhet, I have +laid in bed and wept, for my happiness depends upon yours. Go where you +will, I am ready to follow and to serve you, and as long as I see you +comfortable, I care for nothing else." + +These words of Timothy almost shook my resolution, and I was near +telling him all; but when I recollected, I refrained. "My dear Timothy," +said I, "in this world we must expect to meet with a chequered +existence; we may laugh at one time, but we must cry at others. I owe +my life to you, and I never shall forget you, wherever I may be." + +"No," replied Timothy, "you are not likely to forget one who is hardly +an hour out of your sight." + +"Very true, Timothy; but circumstances may occur which may separate us." + +"I cannot imagine such circumstances, nor do I believe, that bad as +things may turn out, that they will ever be so bad as that. You have +your money and your house; if you leave London, you will be able to add +to your income by letting your own apartments furnished, so we never +shall want; and we may be very happy running about the world, seeking +what we wish to find." + +My heart smote me when Timothy said this, for I felt, by his devotion +and fidelity, he had almost the same claim to the property I possessed, +as myself. He had been my partner, playing the inferior game, for the +mutual benefit. "But the time may come, Timothy, when we may find +ourselves without money, as we were when we first commenced our career, +and shared three-pence halfpenny each, by selling the old woman the +embrocation." + +"Well, sir, and let it come. I should be sorry for you, but not for +myself, for then Tim would be of more importance, and more useful, than +as valet with little or nothing to do." + +I mentally exclaimed, 'I have, I think I have, been a fool, a great fool, +but the die is cast. I will sow in sorrow, and may I reap a harvest in +joy. I feel,' thought I (and I did feel), 'I feel a delightful +conviction, that we shall meet again, and all this misery of parting will +be but a subject of future garrulity.' "Yes, Tim," said I, in a loud +voice, "all is right." + +"All's right, sir; I never thought anything was wrong, except your +annoyance at people not paying you the attention which they used to +do, when they supposed you a man of fortune." + +"Very true; and Tim, recollect that if Mr Masterton speaks to you about +me, which he may after I am gone to Richmond, you tell him that before +I left, I paid that old scoundrel Emmanuel every farthing that I had +borrowed of him, and you know (and in fact so does Mr Masterton), how +it was borrowed." + +"Well, sir, I will, if he does talk to me, but he seldom says much to +me." + +"But he may, perhaps, Tim; and I wish him to know that I have paid every +debt I owe in the world." + +"One would think that you were going to the East Indies, instead of to +Richmond, by the way you talk." + +"No, Tim; I was offered a situation in the East Indies, and I refused +it; but Mr Masterton and I have not been on good terms lately, and I +wish him to know that I am out of debt. You know, for I told you all +that passed between Emmanuel and myself, how he accepted five hundred +pounds, and I paid him the thousand; and I wish Mr Masterton should +know it too, and he will then be better pleased with me." + +"Never fear, sir," said Tim, "I can tell the whole story with +flourishes." + +"No, Tim, nothing but the truth; but it is time I should go. Farewell, +my dear fellow. May God bless you and preserve you." And, overcome by +my feelings, I dropped my face on Timothy's shoulder, and wept. "What +is the matter? What do you mean, Japhet? Mr Newland--pray, sir, what +is the matter?" + +"Timothy--it is nothing," replied I, recovering myself, "but I have +been ill; nervous lately, as you well know, and even leaving the last +and only friend I have, I may say for a few days, annoys and overcomes +me." + +"Oh! sir--dear Japhet, do let us leave this house, and sell your +furniture, and be off." + +"I mean that it shall be so, Tim. God bless you, and farewell." I went +downstairs, the hackney-coach was at the door. Timothy put in my +portmanteau, and mounted the box. I wept bitterly. My readers may despise +me, but they ought not; let them be in my situation, and feel that they +have one sincere faithful friend, and then they will know the bitterness +of parting. I recovered myself before I arrived at the coach, and shaking +hands with Timothy, I lost sight of him; for how long, the reader will +find out in the sequel of my adventures. + +I arrived at Lady de Clare's, and hardly need say that I was well +received. They expressed their delight at my so soon coming again, and +made a hundred inquiries--but I was unhappy and melancholy, not at my +prospects, for in my infatuation I rejoiced at my anticipated +beggary--but I wished to communicate with Fleta, for so I still call +her. Fleta had known my history, for she had been present when I had +related it to her mother, up to the time that I arrived in London; +further than that she knew little. I was determined that before I +quitted she should know all. I dared not trust the last part to her when +I was present, but I resolved that I would do it in writing. + +Lady de Clare made no difficulty whatever of leaving me with Fleta. She +was now a beautiful creature, of between fifteen, and sixteen, bursting +into womanhood, and lovely as the bud of the moss-rose; and she was +precocious beyond her years in _intellect_. I stayed there three days, +and had frequent opportunities of conversing with her; I told her that +I wished her to be acquainted with my whole life, and interrogated her +as to what she knew: I carefully filled up the chasms, until I brought +it down to the time at which I placed her in the arms of her mother. "And +now, Fleta," said I, "you have much more to learn--you will learn that +much at my departure. I have dedicated hours every night in writing it +out; and, as you will find, have analysed my feelings, and have pointed +out to you where I have been wrong. I have done it for my amusement, as +it may be of service even to a female." + +On the third day I took my leave, and requesting the pony chaise of Lady +de Clare, to take me over to ----, that I might catch the first coach +that went westward, for I did not care which; I put into Fleta's hands +the packet which I had written, containing all that had passed, and I +bid her farewell. + +"Lady de Clare, may you be happy," said I. "Fleta--Cecilia, I should +say, may God bless and preserve you, and sometimes think of your sincere +friend, Japhet Newland." + +"Really, Mr Newland," said Lady de Clare, "one would think we were never +to see you again." + +"I hope that will not be the case, Lady de Clare, for I know nobody to +whom I am more devoted." + +"Then, sir, recollect we are to see you very soon." + +I pressed her ladyship's hand, and left the house. Thus did I commence +my second pilgrimage. + + + + +Chapter LVII + + My new career is not very prosperous at its commencement--I am + robbed, and accused of being a robber--I bind up wounds, and am + accused of having inflicted them--I get into a horse-pond, and + out of it into gaol. + + +I had proceeded half a mile from the house, when I desired the servant +to turn into a cross-road so as to gain Brentford; and, so soon as I +arrived, the distance being only four miles, I ordered him to stop at a +public-house, saying that I would wait till the coach should pass by. I +then gave him half-a-crown, and ordered him to go home. I went into the +inn with my portmanteau, and was shown into a small back parlour; there I +remained about half an hour reflecting upon the best plan that I could +adopt. + +Leaving the ale that I had called for untasted, I paid for it, and, with +the portmanteau on my shoulder, I walked away until I arrived at an old +clothes' shop. I told the Jew who kept it, that I required some clothes, +and also wanted to dispose of my own portmanteau and all my effects. I +had a great rogue to deal with; but after much chaffering, for I now felt +the value of money, I purchased from him two pair of corduroy trousers, +two waistcoats, four common shirts, four pairs of stockings, a smock +frock, a pair of high-lows, and a common hat. For these I gave up all my +portmanteau, with the exception of six silk handkerchiefs, and received +fifty shillings, when I ought to have received, at least, ten pounds; but +I could not well help myself, and I submitted to the extortion. I +dressed myself in my more humble garments, securing my money in the +pocket of my trousers unobserved by the Jew, made up a bundle of the +rest, and procured a stick from the Jew to carry it on, however not +without paying him three-pence for it, he observing that the stick "wash +not in de bargain." Thus attired, I had the appearance of a countryman +well to do, and I set off through the long dirty main street of +Brentford, quite undecided and indifferent as to the direction I should +take. I walked about a mile, when I thought that it was better to come +to some decision previous to my going farther; and perceiving a bench in +front of a public-house, I went to it and sat down. I looked around, +and it immediately came to my recollection that I was sitting on the very +bench on which Timothy and I had stopped to eat our meal of pork, at our +first outset upon our travels. Yes, it was the very same! Here sat I, +and there sat Timothy, two heedless boys, with the paper containing the +meat, the loaf of bread, and the pot of beer between us. Poor Timothy! I +conjured up his unhappiness when he had received my note acquainting him +with our future separation. I remembered his fidelity, his courage in +defence, and his preservation of my life in Ireland, and a tear or two +coursed down my cheek. + +I remained some time in a deep reverie, during which the various +circumstances and adventures of my life were passed in a rapid panorama +before me. I felt that I had little to plead in my own favour, much to +condemn--that I had passed a life of fraud and deceit. I also could not +forget that when I had returned to honesty, I had been scouted by the +world. "And here I am," thought I, "once more with the world before me; +and it is just that I should commence again, for I started in a wrong +path. At least, now I can satisfactorily assert that I am deceiving +nobody, and can deservedly receive no contumely. I am Japhet Newland, +and not in disguise." I felt happy with this reflection, and made a +determination, whatever my future lot might be, that, at least, I would +pursue the path of honesty. I then began to reflect upon another point, +which was, whither I should bend my steps, and what I should do to gain +my livelihood. + +Alas! that was a subject of no little difficulty to me. A person who has +been brought up to a profession naturally reverts to that profession--but +to what had I been brought up? As an apothecary--true; but I well knew +the difficulty of obtaining employment in what is termed a liberal +profession, without interest or recommendation; neither did I wish for +close confinement, as the very idea was irksome. As a mountebank, a +juggler, a quack doctor--I spurned the very idea. It was a system of +fraud and deceit. What then could I do? I could not dig, to beg I was +ashamed. I must trust to the chapter of accidents, and considering how +helpless I was, such trust was but a broken reed. At all events, I had a +sufficient sum of money, upwards of twenty pounds, to exist upon with +economy for some time. I was interrupted by a voice calling out, "Hilloa! +my lad, come and hold this horse a moment." I looked up and perceived a +person on horseback looking at me. "Do you hear, or are you stupid?" +cried the man. My first feeling was to knock him down for his +impertinence, but my bundle lying beside, reminded me of my situation +and appearance, and I rose and walked towards the horse. The gentleman, +for such he was in appearance, dismounted, and throwing the rein on the +horse's neck, told me to stand by him for half a minute. He went into a +respectable-looking house opposite the inn, and remained nearly half an +hour, during which I was becoming very impatient, and kept an anxious eye +upon my bundle, which lay on the seat. At last he came out, and mounting +his horse looked in my face with some degree of surprise. "Why, what are +you?" said he, as he pulled out a sixpence, and tendered it to me. + +I was again nearly forgetting myself, affronted at the idea of sixpence +being offered to me; but I recovered myself, saying, as I took it, "A +poor labouring man, sir." + +"What, with those hands?" said he, looking at them as I took the money; +and then looking at my face, he continued, "I think we have met before, +my lad--I cannot be sure; you know best--I am a Bow Street magistrate." + +In a moment, I remembered that he was the very magistrate before whom I +had twice made my appearance. I coloured deeply, and made no reply. + +"Well, my lad, I'm not on my bench now, and this sixpence you have earned +honestly. I trust you will continue in the right path. Be careful--I have +sharp eyes." So saying, he rode off. + +I never felt more mortified. It was evident that he considered me as one +who was acting a part for unworthy purposes; perhaps one of the swell +mob or a flash pickpocket rusticating until some hue and cry was over. +"Well, well," thought I, as I took up a lump of dirt and rubbed over my +then white hands, "it is my fate to be believed when I deceive, and to +be mistrusted when I am acting honestly;" and I returned to the bench +for my bundle, which--was gone. I stared with astonishment. "Is it +possible?" thought I. "How dishonest people are! Well, I will not carry +another for the present. They might as well have left me my stick." So +thinking, and without any great degree of annoyance at the loss, I turned +from the bench and walked away, I knew not whither. It was now getting +dark, but I quite forgot that it was necessary to look out for a lodging; +the fact is, that I had been completely upset by the observations of the +magistrate, and the theft of my bundle; and, in a sort of brown study, +from which I was occasionally recalled for a moment by stumbling over +various obstructions, I continued my walk on the pathway until I was +two or three miles away from Brentford. I was within a mile of Hounslow, +when I was roused by the groans of some person, and it being now dark + I looked round, trying to catch by the ear the direction in which to +offer my assistance. They proceeded from the other side of a hedge, and +I crawled through, where I found a man lying on the ground, covered with +blood about the head, and breathing heavily. I untied his _neckcloth_, +and, as well as I could, examined his condition. I bound his handkerchief +round his head, and perceiving that the position in which he was lying +was very unfavourable, his head and shoulders being much lower than his +body, I was dragging the body round so as to raise those parts, when I +heard footsteps and voices. Shortly after, four people burst through the +hedge and surrounded me. + +"That is him, I'll swear to it," cried an immense stout man, seizing me; +"that is the other fellow who attacked me, and ran away. He has come to +get off his accomplice, and now we've just nicked them both." + +"You are very much mistaken," replied I, "and you have no need to hold +me so tight. I heard the man groan, and I came to his assistance." + +"That gammon won't do," replied one of them, who was a constable; "you'll +come along with us, and we may as well put on the _darbies_," continued +he, producing a pair of handcuffs. + +Indignant at the insult, I suddenly broke from him who held me, and +darting at the constable, knocked him down, and then took to my heels +across the ploughed field. The whole four pursued, but I rather gained +upon them, and was in hopes to make my escape. I ran for a gap I perceived +in the hedge, and sprang over it, without minding the old adage, of "look +before you leap;" for, when on the other side, I found myself in a deep +and stagnant pit of water and mud. I sank over head, and with difficulty +extricated myself from the mud at the bottom, and when at the surface I +was equally embarrassed with the weeds at the top, among which I +floundered. In the meantime my pursuers, warned by the loud splash, had +paused when they came to the hedge, and perceiving my situation, were at +the brink of the pit watching for my coming out. All resistance was +useless. I was numbed with cold and exhausted by my struggles, and when +I gained the bank I surrendered at discretion. + + + + +Chapter LVIII + + Worse and worse--If out of gaol, it will be to go out of the + world--I am resolved to take my secret with me. + + +The handcuffs were now put on without resistance on my part, and I was +led away to Hounslow by the two constables, while the others returned +to secure the wounded man. On my arrival I was thrust into the clink, +or lock-up house, as the magistrates would not meet that evening, and +there I was left to my reflections. Previously, however, to this, I was +searched, and my money, amounting, as I before stated, to upwards of +twenty pounds, taken from me by the constables, and what I had quite +forgotten, a diamond solitaire ring, which I had intended to have left +with my other bijouterie for Timothy, but in my hurry, when I left +London, I had allowed to remain upon my finger. The gaol was a square +building, with two unglazed windows secured with thick iron bars, and +the rain having beat in, it was more like a pound for cattle, for it +was not even paved, and the ground was three or four inches deep in mud. +There was no seat in it, and there I was the whole of the night walking +up and down shivering in my wet clothes, in a state of mind almost +bordering upon insanity. Reflect upon what was likely to happen, I could +not. I only ran over the past. I remembered what I had been, and felt +cruelly the situation I then was in. Had I deserved it? I thought not. +"Oh! father--father!" exclaimed I, bitterly, "see to what your son is +brought--handcuffed as a felon! God have mercy on my brain, for I feel +that it is wandering. Father, father--alas, I have none!--had you left +me at the asylum, without any clue, or hopes of a clue, to my hereafter +being reclaimed, it would have been a kindness; I should then have been +happy and contented in some obscure situation; but you raised hopes +only to prostrate them--and imaginings which have led to my destruction. +Sacred is the duty of a parent, and heavy must be the account of those +who desert their children, and are required by Heaven to render up an +account of the important trust. Couldst thou, oh! father, but now behold +thy son! God Almighty!--but I will not curse you, father! No, no"--and I +burst into tears, as I leant against the damp walls of the prison. + +The day at last broke, and the sun rose, and poured his beaming rays +through the barred windows. I looked at myself, and was shocked at my +appearance; my smock-frock was covered with black mud, my clothes were +equally disfigured. I had lost my hat when in the water, and I felt the +dry mud cracking on my cheeks. I put my hands up to my head, and I +pulled a quantity of duck-weed out of my matted and tangled hair. I +thought of the appearance I should make when summoned before the +magistrates, and how much it would go against me. "Good God!" thought I, +"who, of all the world of fashion--who, of all those who once caught my +salutation so eagerly--who, of all those worldly-minded girls, who smiled +upon me but one short twelve months since, would imagine, or believe, +that Japhet Newland could ever have sunk so low--and how has he so +fallen? Alas! because he would be honest, and had strength of mind +enough to adhere to his resolution. Well, well, God's will be done; I +care not for life; but still an ignominious death--to go out of the +world like a dog, and that too without finding out who is my father." +And I put my fettered hands up and pressed my burning brow, and remained +in a sort of apathetic sullen mood, until I was startled by the opening +of the door, and the appearance of the constables. They led me out +among a crowd, through which, with difficulty, they could force their +way, and followed by the majority of the population of Hounslow, who +made their complimentary remarks upon the _footpad_, I was brought +before the magistrates. The large stout man was then called up to give +his evidence, and deposed as follows:-- + +"That he was walking to Hounslow from Brentford, whither he had been +to purchase some clothes, when he was accosted by two fellows in +smock-frocks, one of whom carried a bundle in his left hand. They +asked him what o'clock it was; and he took out his watch to tell them, +when he received a blow from the one with the bundle (this one, sir, +said he, pointing to me), on the back of his head; at the same time +the other (the wounded man who was now in custody) snatched his +watch.--That at the time he had purchased his clothes at Brentford, +he had also bought a bag of shot, fourteen pounds weight, which he +had, for the convenience of carrying, tied up with the clothes in the +bundle, and perceiving that he was about to be robbed, he had swung his +bundle round his head, and with the weight of the shot, had knocked +down the man who had snatched at his watch. He then turned to the other +(me) who backed from him, and struck at him with his stick. (The stick +was here produced, and when I cast my eye on it, I was horrified to +perceive that it was the very stick which I had bought of the Jew, for +three-pence, to carry my bundle on.) He had closed in with me, and was +wresting the stick out of my hand, when the other man, who had recovered +his legs, again attacked him with another stick. In the scuffle he had +obtained my stick, and I had wrested from him his bundle, with which, +as soon as he had knocked down my partner, I ran off. That he beat my +partner until he was insensible, and then found that I had left my own +bundle, which in the affray I had thrown on one side." He then made the +best of his way to Hounslow to give the information. His return and +finding me with the other man is already known to the readers. + +The next evidence who came forward was the Jew, from whom I had bought +the clothes and sold my own. He narrated all that had occurred, and +swore to the clothes in the bundle left by the footpad, and to the stick +which he had sold to me. The constable then produced the money found +about my person and the diamond solitaire ring, stating my attempt to +escape when I was seized. The magistrate then asked me whether I had +anything to say in my defence, cautioning me not to commit myself. + +I replied, that I was innocent; that it was true that I had sold my own +clothes, and had purchased those of the Jew, as well as the stick: that +I had been asked to hold the horse of a gentleman when sitting on a +bench opposite a public-house, and that some one had stolen my bundle +and my stick. That I had walked on towards Hounslow, and, in assisting +a fellow-creature, whom I certainly had considered as having been +attacked by others, I had merely yielded to the common feelings of +humanity--that I was seized when performing that duty, and should +willingly have accompanied them to the magistrate's, had not they +attempted to put on handcuffs, at which my feelings were roused, and I +knocked the constable down, and made my attempt to escape. + +"Certainly, a very ingenious defence," observed one of the magistrates; +"pray where--!" At this moment the door opened, and in came the very +gentleman, the magistrate at Bow Street, whose horse I had held. "Good +morning, Mr Norman, you have just come in time to render us your +assistance. We have a very deep hand to deal with here, or else a very +injured person, I cannot tell which. Do us the favour to look over these +informations and the defence of the prisoner, previous to our asking him +any more questions." + +The Bow Street magistrate complied, and then turned to me, but I was so +disguised with mud, that he could not recognise me. "You are the +gentleman, sir, who asked me to hold your horse," said I. "I call you to +witness, that that part of my assertion is true." + +"I do now recollect that you are the person," replied he, "and you may +recollect the observation I made, relative to your hands, when you stated +that you were a poor countryman." + +"I do, sir, perfectly," replied I. + +"Perhaps then you will inform us by what means a diamond ring and twenty +pounds in money came into your possession?" + +"Honestly, sir," replied I. + +"Will you state, as you are a poor countryman, with whom you worked +last--what parish you belong to--and whom you can bring forward in proof +of good character?" + +"I certainly shall not answer those questions," replied I; "if I chose I +might so do, and satisfactorily." + +"What is your name?" + +"I cannot answer that question either, sir," replied I. + +"I told you yesterday that we had met before; was it not at Bow Street?" + +"I am surprised at your asking a question, sir, from the bench, to which, +if I answered, the reply might affect me considerably. I am here in a +false position, and cannot well help myself. I have no friends that I +choose to call, for I should blush that they should see me in such a +state, and under such imputations." + +"Your relations, young man, would certainly not be backward. Who is +your father?" + +"My father!" exclaimed I, raising up my hands and eyes. "My father! +Merciful God!--if he could only see me here--see to what he has reduced +his unhappy son," and I covered my face, and sobbed convulsively. + + + + +Chapter LIX + + By the committing of magisterial mistakes I am personally and + penally committed--I prepare for my trial by calling in the + assistance of the tailor and the perfumer--I am resolved to die + like a gentleman. + + +"It is indeed a pity, a great pity," observed one of the magistrates, +"such a fine young man, and evidently, by his demeanour and language, +well brought up; but I believe," said he turning to the others, "we have +but one course; what say you, Mr Norman?" + +"I am afraid that my opinion coincides with yours, and that the grand +jury will not hesitate to find a bill, as the case stands at present. +Let us, however, ask the witness Armstrong one question. Do you +positively swear to this young man being one of the persons who attacked +you?" + +"It was not very light at the time, sir, and both the men had their +faces _smutted;_ but it was a person just his size, and dressed in the +ame way, as near as I can recollect." + +"You cannot, therefore, swear to his identity?" + +"No, sir; but to the best of my knowledge and belief, he is the man." + +"Take that evidence down as important," said Mr Norman, "it will assist +him at his trial." + +The evidence was taken down, and then my commitment to the county gaol +was made out. I was placed in a cart, between two constables, and driven +off. On my arrival I was put into a cell, and my money returned to me, +but the ring was detained, that it might be advertised. At last, I was +freed from the manacles, and when the prison dress was brought to me to +put on, in lieu of my own clothes, I requested leave from the gaoler to +wash myself, which was granted; and, strange to say, so unaccustomed had +I been to such a state of filth, that I felt a degree of happiness, as I +returned from the pump in the prison-yard, and I put on the prison dress +almost with pleasure; for degrading as it was, at all events, it was +new and clean. I then returned to my cell and was left to my meditations. + +Now that my examination and committal were over, I became much more +composed, and was able to reflect coolly. I perceived the great +danger of my situation--how strong the evidence was against me--and +how little chance I had of escape. As for sending to Lord Windermear, +Mr Masterton, or those who formerly were acquainted with me, my pride +forbade it--I would sooner have perished on the scaffold. Besides, +their evidence as to my former situation in life, although it would +perhaps satisfactorily account for my possession of the money and the +ring, and for my disposing of my portmanteau--all strong presumptive +evidence against me--would not destroy the evidence brought forward as +to the robbery, which appeared to be so very conclusive to the bench of +magistrates. My only chance appeared to be in the footpad, who had not +escaped, acknowledging that I was not his accomplice, and I felt how much +I was interested in his recovery, as well as in his candour. The assizes +I knew were near at hand, and I anxiously awaited the return of the +gaoler, to make a few inquiries. At night he looked through the small +square cut out of the top of the door of the cell, for it was his duty +to go his rounds and ascertain if all his prisoners were safe. I then +asked him if I might be allowed to make a few purchases, such as pens, +ink, and paper, &c. As I was not committed to prison in punishment, but +on suspicion, this was not denied, although it would have been to those +who were condemned to imprisonment and hard labour for their offences; +and he volunteered to procure them for me the next morning. I then +wished him a good-night, and threw myself on my mattress. Worn out with +fatigue and distress of mind, I slept soundly, without dreaming, until +daylight the next morning. As I awoke, and my scattered senses were +returning, I had a confused idea that there was something which weighed +heavily on my mind, which sleep had banished from my memory. "What is +it?" thought I; and as I opened my eyes, so did I remember that I, +Japhet Newland, who but two nights before was pressing the down of +luxury in the same habitation as Lady de Clare and her lovely child, +was now on a mattress in the cell of a prison, under a charge which +threatened me with an ignominious death. I rose, and sat on the bed, +for I had not thrown off my clothes. My first thoughts were directed +to Timothy. Should I write to him? No, no! why should I make him +miserable? + +If I was to suffer, it should be under an assumed name. But what name? +Here I was interrupted by the gaoler, who opened the door, and desired +me to roll up my mattress and bed-clothes, that they might, as was the +custom, be taken out of the cell during the day. + +My first inquiry was, if the man who had been so much hurt was in the +gaol. + +"You mean your 'complice," replied the gaoler. "Yes, he is here, and +has recovered his senses. The doctor says he will do very well." + +"Has he made any confession?" inquired I. + +The gaoler made no reply. + +"I ask that question," continued I, "because if he acknowledges who was +his accomplice, I shall be set at liberty." + +"Very likely," replied the man, sarcastically; "the fact is, there is +no occasion for king's evidence in this case, or you might get off by +crossing the water; so you must trust to your luck. The grand jury +meet to-day, and I will let you know whether a true bill is found +against you or not." + +"What is the name of the other man?" inquired I. + +"Well, you are a good un to put a face upon a matter, I will say. You +would almost persuade me, with that innocent look of yours, that you +know nothing about the business." + +"Nor do I," replied I. + +"You will be fortunate if you can prove as much, that's all." + +"Still, you have not answered my question; what is the other man's name?" + +"Well," replied the gaoler, laughing, "since you are determined I shall +tell you, I will. It must be news to you, with a vengeance. His name is +Bill Ogle, _alias_ Swamping Bill. I suppose you never heard that name +before?" + +"I certainly never did," replied I. + +"Perhaps you do not know your own name? Yet I can tell it you, for Bill +Ogle has blown upon you so far." + +"Indeed," replied I; "and what name has he given to me?" + +"Why, to do him justice, it wasn't until he saw a copy of the +depositions before the magistrates, and heard how you were nabbed in +trying to help him off, that he did tell it; and then he said, 'Well, +Phil Maddox always was a true un, and I'm mortal sorry that he's in +for't, by looking a'ter me.' Now do you know your own name?" + +"I certainly do not," replied I. + +"Well, did you ever hear of one who went by the name of Phil Maddox?" + +"I never did," replied I; "and I am glad that Ogle has disclosed so much." + +"Well, I never before met with a man who didn't know his own name, or had +the face to say so, and expect to be believed; but never mind, you are +right to be cautious, with the halter looking you in the face." + +"O God! O God!" exclaimed I, throwing myself on the bedstead, and +covering up my face, "give me strength to bear even that, if so it +must be." + +The gaoler looked at me for a time. "I don't know what to make of +him--he puzzles me quite, certainly. Yet it's no mistake." + +"It is a mistake," replied I, rising; "but whether the mistake will be +found out until too late, is another point. However, it is of little +consequence. What have I to live for,--unless to find out who is my +father?" + +"Find out your father! what's in the wind now? well, it beats my +comprehension altogether. But did not you say you wished me to get +you something?" + +"Yes," replied I; and I gave him some money, with directions to +purchase me implements for writing, some scented wax, a tooth-brush, +and tooth-powder, eau de cologne, hair-brush and comb, razors, small +looking-glass, and various implements for my toilet. + +"This is a rum world," said the man, repeating what I asked for, as I +put two guineas in his hand. "I've purchased many a article for a +prisoner, but never heard of such rattletraps afore; however, that be +all the same. You will have them, though what _ho de colum_ is I can't +tell, nor dang me if I shall recollect--not poison, be it, for that is +not allowed in the prison?" + +"No, no," replied I, indulging in momentary mirth at the idea; "you may +inquire, and you will find that it's only taken by ladies who are +troubled with the vapours." "Now I should ha' thought that you'd have +spent your money in the cookshop, which is so much more natural. However, +we all have our fancies;" so saying, he quitted the cell, and locked the +door. + + + + +Chapter LX + + I am condemned to be hung by the neck until I am dead, and to go + out of the world without finding out who is my father--Afterwards + my innocence is made manifest and I am turned adrift a maniac in + the high road. + + +It may appear strange to the reader that I sent for the above-mentioned +articles, but habit is second nature, and although two days before, when +I set out on my pilgrimage, I had resolved to discard these +superfluities, yet now in my distress I felt as if they would comfort me. +That evening, after rectifying a few mistakes on the part of the +good-tempered gaoler, by writing down what I wanted on the paper which +he had procured me, I obtained all that I required. + +The next morning, he informed me that the grand jury had found a true +bill against me, and that on the Saturday next, the assizes would be +held. He also brought me the list of trials, and I found that mine would +be one of the last, and would not probably come on until Monday or +Tuesday. I requested him to send for a good tailor, as I wished to be +dressed in a proper manner, previous to appearing in court. As a prisoner +is allowed to go into court in his own clothes instead of the gaol dress, +this was consented to, and when the man came, I was very particular in my +directions, so much so, that it surprised him. He also procured me the +other articles I required to complete my dress, and on Saturday night I +had them all ready, for I was resolved that I would at least die as a +gentleman. + +Sunday passed away, not as it ought to have passed, certainly. I +attended prayers, but my thoughts were elsewhere--how, indeed, could it +be otherwise? Who can control his thoughts? He may attempt so to do, but +the attempt is all that can be made. He cannot command them. I heard +nothing, my mind was in a state of gyration, whirling round from one +thing to the other, until I was giddy from intensity of feeling. + +On Monday morning the gaoler came and asked me whether I would have legal +advice. I replied in the negative. "You will be called about twelve +o'clock, I hear," continued he; "it is now ten, and there is only one +more trial before yours, about the stealing of four geese and half a +dozen fowls." + +"Good God!" thought I, "and am I mixed up with such deeds as these?" I +dressed myself with the utmost care and precision, and never was more +successful. My clothes were black, and fitted well. About one o'clock I +was summoned by the gaoler, and led between him and another to the +court-house, and placed in the dock. At first my eyes swam, and I could +distinguish nothing, but gradually I recovered. I looked round, for I +had called up my courage. My eyes wandered from the judge to the row of +legal gentlemen below him; from them to the well-dressed ladies who sat +in the gallery above; behind me I did not look. I had seen enough, and +my cheeks burned with shame. At last I looked at my fellow-culprit, who +stood beside me, and his eyes at the same time met mine. He was dressed +in the gaol clothes, of pepper and salt coarse cloth. He was a rough, +vulgar, brutal looking man, but his eye was brilliant, his complexion +was dark, and his face was covered with whiskers. "Good heavens," +thought I, "who will ever imagine or credit that we have been +associates?" + +The man stared at me, bit his lip, and smiled with contempt, but made no +further remark. The indictment having been read, the clerk of the court +cried out, "You, Benjamin Ogle, having heard the charge, say, guilty or +not guilty?" + +"Not guilty," replied the man, to my astonishment. + +"You, Philip Maddox, guilty or not guilty?" I did not answer. + +"Prisoner," observed the judge in a mild voice, "you must answer, +guilty or not guilty. It is merely a form." + +"My lord," replied I, "my name is not Philip Maddox." + +"That is the name given in the indictment by the evidence of your +fellow-prisoner," observed the judge; "your real name we cannot pretend +to know. It is sufficient that you answer to the question of whether you, +the prisoner, are guilty or not guilty." + +"Not guilty, my lord, most certainly," replied I, placing my hand to my +heart, and bowing to him. + +The trial proceeded; Armstrong was the principal evidence. To my person +he would not swear. The Jew proved my selling my clothes, purchasing +those found in the bundle, and the stick, of which Armstrong possessed +himself. The clothes I had on at the time of my capture were produced in +court. As for Ogle, his case was decisive. We were then called upon for +our defence. Ogle's was very short. "He had been accustomed to fits all +his life--was walking to Hounslow, and had fallen down in a fit. It must +have been somebody else who had committed the robbery and had made off, +and he had been picked up in a mistake." This defence appeared to make +no other impression than ridicule, and indignation at the barefaced +assertion. I was then called on for mine. + +"My lord," said I, "I have no defence to make except that which I +asserted before the magistrates, that I was performing an act of +charity towards a fellow-creature, and was, through that, supposed to +be an accomplice." + +"Arraigned before so many upon a charge, at the bare accusation of which +my blood revolts, I cannot and will not allow those who might prove what +my life has been, and the circumstances which induced me to take up the +disguise in which I was taken, to appear in my behalf. I am unfortunate, +but not guilty. One only chance appears to be open to me, which is, in +the candour of the party who now stands by me. If he will say to the +court that he ever saw me before, I will submit without murmur to my +sentence." + +"I'm sorry that you've put that question, my boy," replied the man, "for +I have seen you before;" and the wretch chuckled with repressed laughter. + +I was so astonished, so thunderstruck with this assertion, that I held +own my head, and made no reply. The judge then summed up the evidence +to the jury, pointing out to them, that of Ogle's guilt there could be +no doubt, and of mine, he was sorry to say, but little. Still they must +bear in mind that the witness Armstrong could not swear to my person. +The jury, without leaving the box, consulted together a short time, and +brought in a verdict of guilty against Benjamin Ogle and Philip Maddox. +I heard no more--the judge sentenced us both to execution: he lamented +that so young and prepossessing a person as myself should be about to +suffer for such an offence: he pointed out the necessity of condign +punishment, and gave us no hopes of pardon or clemency. But I heard him +not--I did not fall, but I was in a state of stupor. At last, he wound up +his sentence by praying us to prepare ourselves for the awful change, by +an appeal to that heavenly Father--"Father!" exclaimed I, in a voice +which electrified the court, "did you say my father? O God! where is +he?" and I fell down in a fit. The handkerchiefs of the ladies were +applied to their faces, the whole court were moved, for I had, by my +appearance, excited considerable interest, and the judge, with a +faltering, subdued voice, desired that the prisoners might be removed. + +"Stop one minute, my good fellow," said Ogle, to the gaoler, while +others were taking me out of court. "My lord, I've something rather +important to say. Why I did not say it before, you shall hear. You are +a judge, to condemn the guilty, and release the innocent. We are told +that there is no trial like an English jury, but this I say, that many +a man is hung for what he never has been guilty of. You have condemned +that poor young man to death. I could have prevented it if I had chosen +to speak before, but I would not, that I might prove how little there is +of justice. He had nothing to do with the robbery--Phil Maddox was the +man, and he is not Philip Maddox. He said that he never saw me before, +nor do I believe that he ever did. As sure as I shall hang, he is +innocent." + +"It was but now, that when appealed to by him, you stated that you had +seen him before." + +"So I did, and I told the truth--I had seen him before. I saw him go to +hold the gentleman's horse, but he did not see me. I stole his bundle +and his stick, which he left on the bench, and that's how they were found +in our possession. Now you have the truth, and you may either acknowledge +that there is little justice, by eating your own words, and letting him +free, or you may hang him, rather than acknowledge that you are wrong. +At all events, his blood will now be on your hands, and not mine. If +Phil Maddox had not turned tail, like a coward, I should not have been +here; so I tell the truth to save him who was doing me a kind act, and +to let him swing who left me in the lurch." + +The judge desired that this statement might be taken down, that further +inquiry might be made, intimating to the jury, that I should be respited +for the present; but of all this I was ignorant. As there was no placing +confidence in the assertions of such a man as Ogle, it was considered +necessary that he should repeat his assertions at the last hour of his +existence, and the gaoler was ordered not to state what had passed to +me, as he might excite false hopes. + +When I recovered from my fit, I found myself in the gaoler's parlour, +and as soon as I was able to walk, I was locked up in a condemned cell. +The execution had been ordered to take place on the Thursday, and I had +two days to prepare. In the meantime, the greatest interest had been +excited with regard to me. My whole appearance so evidently belied the +charge, that everyone was in my favour. Ogle was requestioned, and +immediately gave a clue for the apprehension of Maddox, who, he said, +he hoped would swing by his side. + +The gaoler came to me the next day, saying, that some of the magistrates +wished to speak with me; but as I had made up my mind not to reveal my +former life, my only reply was, "That I begged they would allow me to +have my last moments to myself." I recollected Melchior's idea of +destiny, and imagined that he was right. "It was my destiny," thought +I: and I remained in a state of stupor. The fact was, that I was very +ill, my head was heavy, my brain was on fire, and the throbbing of my +heart could have been perceived without touching my breast. + +I remained on the mattress all day, and all the next night, with my face +buried in the clothes! I was too ill to raise my head. On Wednesday +morning I felt myself gently pushed on the shoulder by some one; I +opened my eyes; it was a clergyman. I turned away my head, and remained +as before. I was then in a violent fever. He spoke for some time: +occasionally I heard a word, and then relapsed into a state of mental +imbecility. He sighed, and went away. + +Thursday came, and the hour of death,--but time was by me unheeded, as +well as eternity. In the meantime Maddox had been taken, and the contents +of Armstrong's bundle found in his possession; and when he discovered +that Ogle had been evidence against him, he confessed to the robbery. + +Whether it was on Thursday or Friday, I knew not then, but I was lifted +off the bed, and taken before somebody--something passed, but the fever +had mounted up to my head, and I was in a state of stupid delirium. +Strange to say, they did not perceive my condition, but ascribed it all +to abject fear of death. I was led away--I had made no answer--but I was +free. + + + + +Chapter LXI + + When at the lowest spoke of Fortune's wheel, one is sure to rise + as it turns round--I recover my senses and find myself amongst + _Friends._ + + +I think some people shook me by the hand, and others shouted as I walked +in the open air, but I recollect no more. I afterwards was informed that +I had been reprieved, that I had been sent for, and a long exhortation +delivered to me, for it was considered that my life must have been one +of error, or I should have applied to my friends, and have given my +name. My not answering was attributed to shame and confusion--my +glassy eye had not been noticed--my tottering step when led in by the +gaolers attributed to other causes; and the magistrates shook their +heads as I was led out of their presence. The gaoler had asked me +several times where I intended to go. At last, I had told him, _to seek +my father,_ and darting away from him, I had run like a madman down the +street. Of course he had no longer any power over me: but he muttered, +as I fled from him, "I've a notion he'll soon be locked up again, poor +fellow! it's turned his brain for certain." + +As I tottered along, my unsteady step naturally attracted the attention +of the passers-by; but they attributed it to intoxication. Thus was I +allowed to wander away in a state of madness, and before night I was +far from the town. What passed, and whither I had bent my steps, I +cannot tell. All I know is, that after running like a maniac, seizing +everybody by the arm that I met, staring at them with wild and flashing +eyes; and sometimes in a solemn voice, at others in a loud, threatening +tone, startling them with the interrogatory, "Are you my father?" and +then darting away, or sobbing like a child, as the humour took me, I +had crossed the country, and three days afterwards I was picked up at +the door of a house in the town of Reading, exhausted with fatigue and +exposure, and nearly dead. When I recovered, I found myself in bed, my +head shaved, my arm bound up, after repeated bleedings, and a female +figure sitting by me. + +"God in heaven! where am I?" exclaimed I, faintly. + +"Thou hast called often upon thy earthly father during the time of thy +illness, friend," replied a soft voice. "It rejoiceth me much to hear +thee call upon thy Father which is in heaven. Be comforted, thou art in +the hands of those who will be mindful of thee. Offer up thy thanks in +one short prayer, for thy return to reason, and then sink again into +repose, for thou must need it much." + +I opened my eyes wide, and perceived that a young person in a Quaker's +dress was sitting by the bed working with her needle; an open Bible was +on a little table before her. I perceived also a cup, and parched with +thirst, I merely said, "Give me to drink." She arose, and put a teaspoon +to my lips; but I raised my hand, took the cup from her, and emptied it. +O how delightful was that draught! I sank down on my pillow, for even +that slight exertion had overpowered me, and muttering, "God, I thank +thee!" I was immediately in a sound sleep, from which I did not awake +for many hours. When I did, it was not daylight. A lamp was on the table, +and an old man in a Quaker's dress was snoring very comfortably in the +arm-chair. I felt quite refreshed with my long sleep, and was now able +to recall what had passed. I remembered the condemned cell, and the +mattress upon which I lay, but all after was in a state of confusion. +Here and there a fact or supposition was strong in my memory; but the +intervals between were total blanks. I was, at all events, free, that I +felt convinced of, and that I was in the hands of the sect who denominate +themselves Quakers: but where was I? and how did I come here? I remained +thinking on the past, and wondering, until the day broke, and with the +daylight roused up my watchful attendant. He yawned, stretched his arms, +and rising from the chair, came to the side of my bed. I looked him in +the face. "Hast thou slept well, friend?" said he. + +"I have slept as much as I wish, and would not disturb _you,"_ replied +I, "for I wanted nothing." + +"Peradventure I did sleep," replied the man; "watching long agreeth not +with the flesh, although the spirit is most willing. Requirest thou +anything?" + +"Yes," replied I, "I wish to know where I am?" + +"Verily, thou art in the town of Reading in Berkshire, and in the house +of Phineas Cophagus." + +"Cophagus!" exclaimed I; "Mr Cophagus, the surgeon and apothecary?" + +"Phineas Cophagus is his name; he hath been admitted into our sect, and +hath married a daughter of our persuasion. He hath attended thee in thy +fever and thy frenzy, without calling in the aid of the physician, +therefore do I believe that he must be the man of whom thou speakest; +yet doth he not follow up the healing art for the lucre of gain." + +"And the young person who was at my bedside, is she his wife?" + +"Nay, friend, she is half-sister to the wife of Phineas Cophagus by a +second marriage, and a maiden, who was named Susannah Temple at the +baptismal font; but I will go to Phineas Cophagus and acquaint him of +your waking, for such were his directions." + +The man then quitted the room, leaving me quite astonished with the +information he had imparted. Cophagus turned Quaker! and attending me +in the town of Reading. In a short time Mr Cophagus himself entered in +his dressing-gown. "Japhet!" said he, seizing my hand with eagerness, +and then, as if recollecting, he checked himself, and commenced in a +slow tone, "Japhet Newland--truly glad am I--hum--verily do I +rejoice--you, Ephraim--get out of the room--and so on." + +"Yea, I will depart, since it is thy bidding," replied the man, quitting +the room. + +Mr Cophagus then greeted me in his usual way--told me that he had found +me insensible at the door of a house a little way off, and had +immediately recognised me. He had brought me to his own home, but without +much hope of my recovery. He then begged to know by what strange chance +I had been found in such a desolate condition. I replied, "that although +I was able to listen, I did not feel myself equal to the exertion of +telling so long a story, and that I should infinitely prefer that he +should narrate to me what had passed since we had parted at Dublin, +and how it was that I now found that he had joined the sect of Quakers." + +"Peradventure--long word that--um--queer people--very good--and so on," +commenced Mr Cophagus; but as the reader will not understand his +phraseology quite so well as I did, I shall give Mr Cophagus's history +in my own version. + +Mr Cophagus had returned to the small town at which he resided, and, +on his arrival, he had been called upon by a gentleman who was of the +Society of Friends, requesting that he would prescribe for a niece of his, +who was on a visit at his house, and had been taken dangerously ill. +Cophagus, with his usual kindness of heart, immediately consented, and +found that Mr Temple's report was true. For six weeks he attended the +young Quakeress, and recovered her from an imminent and painful disease, +in which she showed such fortitude and resignation, and such +unconquerable good temper, that when Mr Cophagus returned to his +bachelor's establishment, he could not help reflecting upon what an +invaluable wife she would make, and how much more cheerful his house +would be with such a domestic partner. + +In short, Mr Cophagus fell in love, and like all elderly gentlemen who +have so long bottled up their affections, he became most desperately +enamoured; and if he loved Miss Judith Temple when he witnessed her +patience and resignation under suffering, how much more did he love her +when he found that she was playful, merry, and cheerful, without being +boisterous, when restored to her health. Mr Cophagus's attentions could +not be misunderstood. He told her uncle that he had thought seriously +of wedding cake--white favours--marriage--family--and so on; and to the +young lady he had put his cane up to his nose and prescribed, "A dose of +matrimony--to be taken immediately." To Mr Cophagus there was no +objection raised by the lady, who was not in her teens, or by the uncle, +who had always respected him as a worthy man, and a good Christian; but +to marry one who was not of her persuasion, was not to be thought of. +Her friends would not consent to it. Mr Cophagus was therefore dismissed, +with a full assurance that the only objection which offered was, that he +was not of their society. + +Mr Cophagus walked home discomforted. He sat down on his easy chair, and +found it excessively uneasy--he sat down to his solitary meal, and found +that his own company was unbearable--he went to bed, but found that it +was impossible to go to sleep. The next morning, therefore, Mr Cophagus +returned to Mr Temple, and stated his wish to be made acquainted with +the difference between the tenets of the Quaker persuasion and those of +the Established Church. Mr Temple gave him an outline, which appeared to +Mr Cophagus to be very satisfactory, and then referred him to his niece +for fuller particulars. When a man enters into an argument with a full +desire to be convinced, and with his future happiness perhaps depending +upon that conviction; and when, further, those arguments are brought +forward by one of the prettiest voices, and backed by the sweetest of +smiles, it is not to be wondered at his soon becoming a proselyte. Thus +it was with Mr Cophagus, who in a week, discovered that the peace, +humility, and good-will, upon which the Quaker tenets are founded, were +much more congenial to the true spirit of the Christian revelation than +the Athanasian Creed, to be sung or said in our Established Churches; +and with this conviction, Mr Cophagus requested admission into the +fraternity, and shortly after his admission, it was thought advisable by +the Friends that his faith should be confirmed and strengthened by his +espousal of Miss Judith Temple, with whom, at her request--and he could +refuse her nothing--he had repaired to the town of Reading, in which her +relations all resided; and Phineas Cophagus, of the Society of Friends, +declared himself to be as happy as a man could be. "Good people, +Japhet--um--honest people, Japhet--don't fight--little stiff--spirit +moves--and so on," said Mr Cophagus, as he concluded his narrative, and +then shaking me by the hand, retired to shave and dress. + + + + +Chapter LXII + + I fall in love with religion when preached by one who has the + form of an angel. + + +In half an hour afterwards Ephraim came in with a draught, which I was +desired to take by Mr Cophagus, and then to try and sleep. This was good +advice, and I followed it. I awoke after a long, refreshing sleep, and +found Mr and Mrs Cophagus sitting in the room, she at work and he +occupied with a book. When I opened my eyes, and perceived a female, I +looked to ascertain if it was the young person whom Ephraim had stated +to be Susannah Temple; not that I recollected her features exactly, but +I did the contour of her person. Mrs Cophagus was taller, and I had a +fair scrutiny of her before they perceived that I was awake. Her face +was very pleasing, features small and regular. She appeared to be about +thirty years of age, and was studiously neat and clean in her person. +Her Quaker's dress was not without some little departure from the strict +fashion and form, sufficient to assist, without deviating from, its +simplicity. If I might use the term, it was a little coquettish, and +evinced that the wearer, had she not belonged to that sect, would have +shown great taste in the adornment of her person. + +Mr Cophagus, although he did not think so himself, as I afterwards found +out, was certainly much improved by his change of costume. His +spindle-shanks, which, as I have before observed, were peculiarly at +variance with his little orbicular, orange-shaped stomach, were now +concealed in loose trousers, which took off from the protuberance of the +latter, and added dignity to the former, blending the two together, so +that his roundness became fine by degrees, and beautifully less as it +descended. Altogether, the Quaker dress added very much to the +substantiability of his appearance, and was a manifest improvement, +especially when he wore his broad-brimmed hat. Having satisfied my +curiosity, I moved the curtain so as to attract their attention, and +Cophagus came to my bedside, and felt my pulse. "Good--very good--all +right--little broth--throw in bark--on his legs--well as ever--and so on." + +"I am indeed much better this afternoon," replied I; "indeed, so well, +that I feel as if I could get up." + +"Pooh:--tumble down--never do--lie a bed--get strong--wife--Mrs +Cophagus--Japhet--old friend." + +Mrs Cophagus had risen from her chair, and come towards the bed, when +her husband introduced her in his own fashion. "I am afraid that I have +been a great trouble, madam," said I. + +"Japhet Newland, we have done but our duty, even if thou wert not, as +it appears that thou art, a friend of my husband. Consider me, therefore, +as thy sister, and I will regard thee as a brother; and if thou wouldst +wish it, thou shalt sojourn with us, for so hath my husband communicated +his wishes unto me." + +I thanked her for her kind expressions, and took the fair hand which was +offered in such amity. Cophagus then asked me if I was well enough to +inform him of what had passed since our last meeting, and telling me that +his wife knew my whole history, and that I might speak before her, he took +his seat by the side of the bed, his wife also drew her chair nearer, and +I commenced the narrative of what had passed since we parted in Ireland. +When I had finished, Mr Cophagus commenced as usual, "Um--very odd--lose +money--bad--grow honest--good--run away from friends--bad--not hung-- +good--brain fever--bad--come here--good--stay with us--quite +comfortable--and so on." + +"Thou hast suffered much, friend Japhet," said Mrs Cophagus, wiping her +eyes; "and I would almost venture to say, hast been chastised too +severely, were it not that those whom He loveth, He chastiseth. Still +thou art saved, and now out of danger; peradventure thou wilt now quit +a vain world, and be content to live with us; nay, as thou hast the +example of thy former master, it may perhaps please the Lord to advise +thee to become one of us, and to join us as a Friend. My husband was +persuaded to the right path by me," continued she, looking fondly at +him; "who knoweth but some of our maidens may also persuade thee to +eschew a vain, unrighteous world, and follow thy Redeemer in humility?" + +"Very true--um--very true," observed Cophagus, putting more Quakerism +than usual in his style, and drawing out his ums to treble their usual +length; "Happy life--Japhet--um--all at peace--quiet amusements--think +about it--um--no hurry--never swear--by-and-bye heh!--spirit may +move--um--not now--talk about it--get well--set up shop--and so on." + +I was tired with talking so much, and having taken some nourishment, +gain fell asleep. When I awoke in the evening, friend Cophagus and his +wife were not in the room; but Susannah Temple, whom I had first seen, +and of whom I had made inquiry of Ephraim, who was Cophagus's servant. +She was sitting close to the light and reading, and long did I continue +to gaze upon her, fearful of interrupting her. She was the most +beautiful specimen of clear and transparent white that I ever had +beheld--her complexion was unrivalled--her eyes were large, but I could +not ascertain their colour, as they were cast down upon her book, and +hid by her long fringed eyelashes--her eyebrows arched and regular, as +if drawn by a pair of compasses, and their soft hair in beautiful +contrast with her snowy forehead--her hair was auburn, but mostly +concealed within her cap--her nose was very straight but not very large, +and her mouth was perfection. She appeared to be between seventeen and +eighteen years old, as far as I could ascertain, her figure was +symmetrically perfect. Dressed as she was in the modest, simple garb +worn by the females of the Society of Friends, she gave an idea of +neatness, cleanliness, and propriety, upon which I could have gazed for +ever. She was, indeed, most beautiful. I felt her beauty, her purity, +and I could have worshipped her as an angel. While I still had my eyes +fixed upon her exquisite features, she closed her book, and rising from +her chair, came to the side of the bed. That she might not be startled +at the idea of my having been watching her, I closed my eyes, and +pretended to slumber. She resumed her seat, and then I changed my +position and spoke, "Is any one there?" + +"Yes, friend Newland, what is it that thou requirest?" said she, +advancing. "Wouldst thou see Cophagus or Ephraim? I will summon them." + +"O no," replied I; "why should I disturb them from their amusements or +employments? I have slept a long while, and I would like to read a little +I think, if my eyes are not too weak." + +"Thou must not read, but I may read unto thee," replied Susannah. "Tell +me, what is it that thou wouldest have me read? I have no vain books; +but surely thou thinkest not of them, after thy escape from death." + +"I care not what is read, provided that you read to me," replied I. + +"Nay, but thou shouldest care; and be not wroth if I say to thee, that +there is but one book to which thou shouldest now listen. Thou hast been +saved from deadly peril--thou hast been rescued from the jaws of death. +Art thou not thankful? And to whom is gratitude most due, but to thy +heavenly Father, who hath been pleased to spare thee?" + +"You are right," replied I; "then I pray you to read to me from the +Bible." + +Susannah made no reply, but resumed her seat, and selecting those +chapters most appropriate to my situation, read them in a beautiful +and impressive tone. + + + + +Chapter LXIII + + Pride and love at issue--the latter is victorious--I turn Quaker + and recommence my old profession. + + +If the reader will recall my narrative to his recollection, he must +observe, that religion had had hitherto but little of my thoughts. I +had lived the life of most who live in this world; perhaps not quite +so correct in morals as many people, for my code of morality was suited +to circumstances; as to religion, I had none. I had lived in the world, +and for the world. I had certainly been well instructed in the tenets +of our faith when I was at the Asylum, but there, as in most other +schools, it is made irksome, as a task, and is looked upon with almost +a feeling of aversion. No proper religious sentiments are, or can be, +inculcated to a large number of scholars; it is the parent alone who +can instil, by precept and example, that true sense of religion, which +may serve as a guide through life. I had not read the Bible from the +time that I quitted the Foundling Hospital. It was new to me, and when +I now heard read, by that beautiful creature, passages equally beautiful, +and so applicable to my situation, weakened with disease, and humbled +in adversity, I was moved, even unto tears. + +Susannah closed the book and came to the bedside. I thanked her: she +perceived my emotion, and when I held out my hand she did not refuse +hers. I kissed it, and it was immediately withdrawn, and she left the +room. Shortly afterwards Ephraim made his appearance. Cophagus and his +wife also came that evening, but I saw no more of Susannah Temple until +the following day, when I again requested her to read to me. + +I will not detain the reader by an account of my recovery. In three +weeks I was able to leave the room; during that time, I had become very +intimate with the whole family, and was treated as if I belonged to it. +During my illness I had certainly shown more sense of religion than I +had ever done before, but I do not mean to say that I was really +religious. I liked to hear the Bible read by Susannah, and I liked to +talk with her upon religious subjects; but had Susannah been an ugly old +woman, I very much doubt if I should have been so attentive. It was her +extreme beauty--her modesty and fervour, which so became her, which +enchanted me. I felt the beauty of religion, but it was through an +earthly object; it was beautiful in her. She looked an angel, and I +listened to her precepts as delivered by one. Still, whatever may be +the cause by which a person's attention can be directed to so important +a subject, so generally neglected, whether by fear of death, or by love +towards an earthly object, the advantages are the same; and although very +far from what I ought to have been, I certainly was, through my +admiration of her, a better man. + +As soon as I was on the sofa, wrapped up in one of the dressing-gowns of +Mr Cophagus, he told me that the clothes in which I had been picked up +were all in tatters, and asked me whether I would like to have others +made according to the usual fashion, or like those with whom I should, +he trusted, in future reside. I had already debated this matter in my +mind. Return to the world I had resolved not to do; to follow up the +object of my search appeared to me only to involve me in difficulties; +and what were the intentions of Cophagus with regard to me, I knew not. +I was hesitating, for I knew not what answer to give, when I perceived +the pensive, deep blue eye of Susannah fixed upon me, watching +attentively, if not eagerly, for my response. + +It decided the point. "If," replied I, "you do not think that I should +disgrace you, I should wish to wear the dress of the Society of Friends, +although not yet one of your body." + +"But soon to be, I trust," replied Mrs Cophagus. + +"Alas!" replied I, "I am an outcast;" and I looked at Susannah Temple. + +"Not so, Japhet Newland," replied she, mildly; "I am pleased that thou +hast of thy own accord rejected vain attire. I trust that thou wilt not +find that thou art without friends." + +"While I am with you," replied I, addressing myself to them all, "I +consider it my duty to conform to your manners in every way, but +by-and-bye, when I resume my search--" + +"And why shouldst thou resume a search which must prove unavailing, and +but leads thee into error and misfortune? I am but young, Japhet Newland, +and not perhaps so able to advise, yet doth it appear to me, that the +search can only be availing when made by those who left thee. When they +wish for you, they will seek thee, but thy seeking them is vain and +fruitless." + +"But," replied I, "recollect that inquiries have already been made at the +Foundling, and those who inquired have been sent away disappointed--they +will enquire no more." + +"And is a parent's love so trifling, that one disappointment will drive +him from seeking of his child? No, no, Japhet; if thou art yearned for, +thou wilt be found, and fresh inquiries will be made; but thy search is +unavailing, and already hast thou lost much time." + +"True, Susannah, thy advice is good," replied Mrs Cophagus; "in following +a shadow Japhet hath much neglected the substance; it is time that thou +shouldst settle thyself, and earn thy livelihood." + +"And do thy duty in that path of life to which it hath pleased God to +call thee," continued Susannah, who with Mrs Cophagus walked out of the +room. + +Cophagus then took up the conversation, and pointing out the uselessness +of my roving about, and the propriety of my settling in life, proposed +that I should take an apothecary's shop, for which he would furnish the +means, and that he could ensure me the custom of the whole Society of +Friends in Reading, which was very large, as there was not one of the +sect in that line of business. "Become one of us, Japhet--good +business--marry by-and-bye--happy life--little children--and so on." I +thought of Susannah, and was silent. Cophagus then said, I had better +reflect upon his offer, and make up my determination. If that did not +suit me, he would still give me all the assistance in his power. I did +reflect long before I could make up my mind. I was still worldly +inclined; still my fancy would revel in the idea of finding out my +father in high life, and, as once more appearing as a star of fashion, +of returning with interest the contumely I had lately received, and +re-assuming as a right that position in society which I had held under +false colours. + +I could not bear the idea of sinking at once into a tradesman, and +probably ending my days in obscurity. Pride was still my ruling passion. +Such were my first impulses, and then I looked upon the other side of +the picture. I was without the means necessary to support myself; I +could not return to high life without I discovered my parents in the +first place, and in the second, found them to be such as my warm +imagination had depicted. I had no chance of finding them. I had +already been long seeking in vain. I had been twice taken up to Bow +Street--nearly lost my life in Ireland--had been sentenced to death--had +been insane, and recovered by a miracle, and all in prosecuting this +useless search. All this had much contributed to cure me of the +monomania. I agreed with Susannah that the search must be made by the +other parties, and not by me. I recalled the treatment I had received +from the world--the contempt with which I had been treated--the +heartlessness of high life, and the little chance of my ever again being +admitted into fashionable society. + +I placed all this in juxtaposition with the kindness of those with whom I +now resided--what they had done already for me, and what they now +offered, which was to make me independent by my own exertions. I weighed +all in my mind; was still undecided, for my pride still carried its +weight; when I thought of the pure, beautiful Susannah Temple, and--my +decision was made. I would not lose the substance by running after +shadows. + +That evening, with many thanks, I accepted the kind offers of Mr +Cophagus, and expressed my determination of entering into the Society +of Friends. + +"Thou hast chosen wisely," said Mrs Cophagus, extending her hand to me, +"and it is with pleasure that we shall receive thee." + +"I welcome thee, Japhet Newland," said Susannah, also offering her hand, +"and I trust that thou wilt find more happiness among those with whom +thou art about to sojourn, than in the world of vanity and deceit, in +which thou hast hitherto played thy part. No longer seek an earthly +father, who hath deserted thee, but a heavenly Father, who will not +desert thee in thy afflictions." + +"You shall direct me into the right path, Susannah," replied I. + +"I am too young to be a guide, Japhet," replied she, smiling; "but +not too young, I hope, to be a friend." + +The next day my clothes came home, and I put them on. I looked at myself +in the glass, and was anything but pleased; but as my head was shaved, +it was of little consequence what I wore; so I consoled myself. Mr +Cophagus sent for a barber and ordered me a wig, which was to be ready +in a few days; when it was ready I put it on, and altogether did not +dislike my appearance. I flattered myself that if I was a Quaker, at all +events I was a very good looking and a very smart one; and when, a day or +two afterwards, a reunion of friends took place at Mr Cophagus's house to +introduce me to them, I perceived, with much satisfaction, that there was +no young man who could compete with me. After this, I was much more +reconciled to my transformation. + + + + +Chapter LXIV + + I prosper in every way, and become reconciled to my situation. + + +Mr Cophagus was not idle. In a few weeks he had rented a shop for me, and +furnished it much better than his own in Smithfield; the upper part of +the house was let off, as I was to reside with the family. When it was +ready, I went over it with him, and was satisfied; all I wished for was +Timothy as an assistant, but that wish was unavailing, as I knew not +where to find him. + +That evening I observed to Mr Cophagus, that I did not much like putting +my name over the shop. The fact was, that my pride forbade it, and I +could not bear the idea, that Japhet Newland, at whose knock every +aristocratic door had flown open, should appear in gold letters above a +shop-window. "There are many reasons against it," observed I. "One is, +that it is not my real name--I should like to take the name of Cophagus; +another is, that the name, being so well known, may attract those who +formerly knew me, and I should not wish that they should come in and +mock me; another is--" + +"Japhet Newland," interrupted Susannah, with more severity than I ever +had seen in her sweet countenance, "do not trouble thyself with giving +thy reasons, seeing thou hast given every reason but the right one, which +is, that thy pride revolts at it." + +"I was about to observe," replied I, "that it was a name that sounded of +mammon, and not fitting for one of our persuasion. But, Susannah, you +have accused me of pride, and I will now raise no further objections. +Japhet Newland it shall be, and let us speak no more upon the subject." + +"If I have wronged thee, Japhet, much do I crave thy forgiveness," +replied Susannah. "But it is God alone who knoweth the secrets of our +hearts. I was presumptuous, and you must pardon me." + +"Susannah, it is I who ought to plead for pardon; you know me better than +I know myself. It was pride, and nothing but pride--but you have cured +me." + +"Truly have I hopes of thee now, Japhet," replied Susannah, smiling. +"Those who confess their faults will soon amend them; yet I do think +there is some reason in thy observation, for who knoweth, but meeting +with thy former associates, thou mayst not be tempted into falling +away? Thou mayst spell thy name as thou listest; and, peradventure, it +would be better to disguise it." + +So agreed Mr and Mrs Cophagus, and I therefore had it written +_Gnow_-land; and having engaged a person of the society, strongly +recommended to me, as an assistant, I took possession of my shop, and +was very soon busy in making up prescriptions, and dispensing my +medicines in all quarters of the good town of Reading. + +And I was happy. I had enjoyment during the day; my profession was, at +all events, liberal. I was dressed and lived as a gentleman, or rather I +should say respectably. I was earning my own livelihood. I was a useful +member of society, and when I retired home to meals, and late at night, +I found, that if Cophagus and his wife had retired, Susannah Temple +always waited up, and remained with me a few minutes. I had never been +in love until I had fallen in with this perfect creature; but my love +for her was not the love of the world; I could not so depreciate her--I +loved her as a superior being--I loved her with fear and trembling. I +felt that she was too pure, too holy, too good for a vain worldly +creature like myself. I felt as if my destiny depended upon her and her +fiat; that if she favoured me, my happiness in this world and in the +next were secured; that if she rejected me, I was cast away for ever. +Such was my feeling for Susannah Temple, who, perfect as she was, was +still a woman, and perceived her power over me; but unlike the many of +her sex, exerted that power only to lead to what was right. Insensibly +almost, my pride was quelled, and I became humble and religiously +inclined. Even the peculiarities of the sect, their meeting at their +places of worship, their drawling, and their quaint manner of talking, +became no longer a subject of dislike. I found out causes and good +reasons for everything which before appeared strange--sermons in stones, +and good in everything. Months passed away--my business prospered--I +had nearly repaid the money advanced by Mr Cophagus. I was in heart and +soul a Quaker, and I entered into the fraternity with a feeling that I +could act up to what I had promised. I was happy, quite happy, and yet +I had never received from Susannah Temple any further than the proofs +of sincere friendship. But I had much of her society, and we were now +very, very intimate. I found out what warm, what devoted feelings were +concealed under her modest, quiet exterior--how well her mind was +stored, and how right was that mind. + +Often when I talked over past events, did I listen to her remarks, all +tending to one point, morality and virtue; often did I receive from her +at first a severe, but latterly a kind rebuke, when my discourse was +light and frivolous; but when I talked of merry subjects which were +innocent, what could be more joyous or more exhilarating than her +laugh--what more intoxicating than her sweet smile, when she approved +of my sentiments! and when animated by the subject, what could be more +musical or more impassioned than her bursts of eloquence, which were +invariably followed by a deep blush, when she recollected how she had +been carried away by excitement? + +There was one point upon which I congratulated myself, which was, that +she had received two or three unexceptionable offers of marriage during +the six months that I had been in her company, and refused them. At the +end of that period, thanks to the assistance I received from the Friends, +I had paid Mr Cophagus all the money which he had advanced, and found +myself in possession of a flourishing business, and independent. I then +requested that I might be allowed to pay an annual stipend for my board +and lodging, commencing from the time I first came to his house. Mr +Cophagus said I was right--the terms were easily arranged, and I was +independent. + +Still my advances with Susannah were slow, but if slow, they were sure. +One day I observed to her, how happy Mr Cophagus appeared to be as a +married man; her reply was, "He is, Japhet; he has worked hard for his +independence, and he now is reaping the fruits of his industry." That is +as much as to say that I must do the same, thought I, and that I have no +business to propose for a wife, until I am certain that I am able to +provide for her. I have as yet laid up nothing, and an income is not a +capital. I felt that whether a party interested or not, she was right, +and I redoubled my diligence. + + + + +Chapter LXV + + A variety of the Quaker tribe--who had a curious disintegration + of mind and body. + + +I was not yet weaned from the world, but I was fast advancing to that +state, when a very smart young Quaker came on a visit to Reading. He was +introduced to Mr and Mrs Cophagus, and was soon, as might be expected, an +admirer of Susannah, but he received no encouragement. He was an idle +person, and passed much of his time sitting in my shop, and talking with +me, and being much less reserved and guarded than the generality of the +young men of the sect, I gradually became intimate with him. One day when +my assistant was out he said to me, "Friend Gnow-land, tell me candidly, +hast thou ever seen my face before?" + +"Not that I can recollect, friend Talbot." + +"Then my recollection is better than yours, and now having obtained thy +friendship as one of the society, I will remind thee of our former +acquaintance. When thou wert Mr N-e-w-land, walking about town with +Major Carbonnell, I was Lieutenant Talbot, of the--Dragoon Guards." + +I was dumb with astonishment, and I stared him in the face. + +"Yes," continued he, bursting into laughter, "such is the fact. You +have thought, perhaps, that you were the only man of fashion who had +ever been transformed into a Quaker; now you behold another, so no +longer imagine yourself the Phoenix of your tribe." + +"I do certainly recollect that name," replied I; "but although, as you +must be acquainted with my history, it is very easy to conceive why I +have joined the society, yet, upon what grounds you can have so done, +is to me inexplicable." + +"Newland, it certainly does require explanation; it has been, I assert, +my misfortune, and not my fault. Not that I am not happy. On the +contrary, I feel that I am now in my proper situation. I ought to have +been born of Quaker parents--at all events, I was born a Quaker in +disposition; but I will come to-morrow early, and then, if you will +give your man something to do out of the way, I will tell you my history. +I know that you will keep my secret." + +The next morning he came, and as soon as we were alone he imparted to me +what follows. + +"I recollect well, Newland, when you were one of the leaders of fashion, +I was then in the Dragoon Guards, and although not very intimate with +you, had the honour of a recognition when we met at parties. I cannot +help laughing, upon my soul, when I look at us both now; but never mind. +I was of course a great deal with my regiment, and at the club. My +father, as you may not perhaps be aware, was highly connected, and all +the family have been brought up in the army; the question of profession +has never been mooted by us, and every Talbot has turned out a soldier +as naturally as a young duck takes to the water. Well, I entered the +army, admired my uniform, and was admired by the young ladies. Before I +received my lieutenant's commission, my father, the old gentleman, died, +and left me a younger brother's fortune of four hundred per annum; but, +as my uncle said, 'It was quite enough for a Talbot, who would push +himself forward in his profession, as the Talbots had ever done before +him.' I soon found out that my income was not sufficient to enable me +to continue in the Guards, and my uncle was very anxious that I should +exchange into a regiment on service. I therefore, by purchase, obtained +a company in the 23rd, ordered out to reduce the French colonies in the +West Indies, and I sailed with all the expectation of covering myself +with as much glory as the Talbots had done from time immemorial. We +landed, and in a short time the bullets and grape were flying in all +directions, and then I discovered, what I declare never for a moment +came into my head before, to wit--that I had mistaken my profession." + +"How do you mean, Talbot?" + +"Mean why, that I was deficient in a certain qualification, which never +was before denied to a Talbot--courage." + +"And you never knew that before?" + +"Never, upon my honour; my mind was always full of courage. In my mind's +eye I built castles of feats of bravery, which should eclipse all the +Talbots, from him who burnt Joan of Arc, down to the present day. I +assure you, that surprised as other people were, no one was more +surprised than myself. Our regiment was ordered to advance, and I led +on my company, the bullets flew like hail. I tried to go on, but I could +not; at last, notwithstanding all my endeavours to the contrary, I +fairly took to my heels. I was met by the commanding officer--in fact, +I ran right against him. He ordered me back, and I returned to my +regiment, not feeling at all afraid. Again I was in the fire, again I +resisted the impulse, but it was of no use, and at last, just before the +assault took place, I ran away as if the devil was after me. Wasn't it +odd?" + +"Very odd, indeed," replied I, laughing. + +"Yes, but you do not exactly understand why it was odd. You know what +philosophers tell you about volition; and that the body is governed by +the mind, consequently obeys it; now, you see, in my case, it was +exactly reversed. I tell you, that it is a fact, that in mind I am as +brave as any man in existence; but I had a cowardly carcass, and what +is still worse, it proved the master of my mind, and ran away with it. I +had no mind to run away; on the contrary, I wished to have been of the +forlorn hope, and had volunteered, but was refused. Surely, if I had not +courage I should have avoided such a post of danger. Is it not so?" + +"It certainly appears strange, that you should volunteer for the forlorn +hope, and then run away." + +"That's just what I say. I have the soul of the Talbots, but a body +which don't belong to the family, and too powerful for the soul." + +"So it appears. Well, go on." + +"It was go off, instead of going on. I tried again that day to mount +the breach, and as the fire was over, I succeeded; but there was a mark +against me, and it was intimated that I should have an opportunity of +redeeming my character." + +"Well?" + +"There was a fort to be stormed the next day, and I requested to lead +my company in advance. Surely that was no proof of want of courage? +Permission was granted. We were warmly received, and I felt that my legs +refused to advance; so what did I do--I tied my sash round my thigh, and +telling the men that I was wounded, requested they would carry me to the +attack. Surely that was courage?" + +"Most undoubtedly so. It was like a Talbot." + +"We were at the foot of the breach; when the shot flew about me, I +kicked and wrestled so, that the two men who carried me were obliged to +let me go, and my rascally body was at liberty. I say unfortunately, for +only conceive, if they had carried me wounded up the breach, what an +heroic act it would have been considered on my part; but fate decided it +otherwise. If I had lain still when they dropped me, I should have done +well, but I was anxious to get up the breach, that is, my mind was so +bent; but as soon as I got on my legs, confound them if they didn't run +away with me, and then I was found half a mile from the fort with a +pretended wound. That was enough; I had a hint that the sooner I went +home the better. On account of the family I was permitted to sell out, +and I then walked the streets as a private gentleman, but no one would +speak to me. I argued the point with several, but they were obstinate, +and would not be convinced; they said that it was no use talking about +being brave, if I ran away." + +"They were not philosophers, Talbot." + +"No; they could not comprehend how the mind and the body could be at +variance. It was no use arguing--they would have it that the movements +of the body depended upon the mind, and that I had made a mistake--and +that I was a coward in soul as well as body." + +"Well, what did you do?" + +"Oh, I did nothing! I had a great mind to knock them down, but as I knew +my body would not assist me, I thought it better to leave it alone. +However, they taunted me so, by calling me fighting Tom, that my uncle +shut his door upon me as a disgrace to the family, saying, he wished the +first bullet had laid me dead--very kind of him;--at last my patience +was worn out, and I looked about to find whether there were not some +people who did not consider courage as a _sine quae non_. I found that +the Quakers' tenets were against fighting, and therefore courage could +not be necessary, so I have joined them, and I find that, if not a good +soldier, I am, at all events, a very respectable Quaker; and now you +have the whole of my story--and tell me if you are of my opinion." + +"Why, really it's a very difficult point to decide. I never heard such +a case of disintegration before. I must think upon it." + +"Of course, you will not say a word about it, Newland." + +"Never fear, I will keep your secret, Talbot. How long have you worn +the dress?" + +"Oh, more than a year. By-the-bye, what a nice young person that +Susannah Temple is. I've a great mind to propose for her." + +"But you must first ascertain what your body says to it, Talbot," +replied I, sternly. "I allow no one to interfere with me, Quaker or not." + +"My dear fellow, I beg your pardon, I shall think no more about her," +said Talbot, rising up, as he observed that I looked very fierce. "I +wish you a good morning. I leave Reading to-morrow. I will call on you, +and say good-bye, if I can;" and I saw no more of Friend Talbot, whose +mind was all courage, but whose body was so renegade. + + + + +Chapter LXVI + + I fall in with Timothy. + + +About a month after this, I heard a sailor with one leg, and a handful +of ballads, singing in a most lachrymal tone, + +"Why, what's that to you if my eyes I'm a wiping? A tear is a pleasure, +d'ye see, in its way"-- + +"Bless your honour, shy a copper to Poor Jack, who's lost his leg in the +sarvice. Thanky, your honour," and he continued, + +"It's nonsense for trifles, I own, to be piping, But they who can't +pity--why I pities they. Says the captain, says he; I shall never forget +it, Of courage, you know, boys, the true from the sham," + +"Back your maintopsail, your worship, for half a minute, and just assist +a poor dismantled craft, who has been riddled in the wars--"'Tis a furious +lion.' Long life to your honour--'In battle so let it--' + +"'Tis a furious lion, in battle so let it; But duty appeased--but duty +appeased-- + +"Buy a song, young woman, to sing to your sweetheart, while you sit on +his knee in the dog-watch-- + +"But duty appeased'tis the heart of a lamb." + +I believe there are few people who do not take a strong interest in the +English sailor, particularly in one who has been maimed in the defence +of his country. I always have, and as I heard the poor disabled fellow +bawling out his ditty, certainly not with a very remarkable voice or +execution, I pulled out the drawer behind the counter, and took out some +halfpence to give him. When I caught his eye I beckoned to him, and he +entered the shop. "Here, my good fellow," said I, "although a man of +peace myself, yet I feel for those who suffer in the wars;" and I put +the money to him. + +"May your honour never know a banyan day," replied the sailor; "and a +sickly season for you, into the bargain." + +"Nay, friend, that is not a kind wish to others," replied I. + +The sailor fixed his eyes earnestly upon me, as if in astonishment, for, +until I had answered, he had not looked at me particularly. + +"What are you looking at?" said I. + +"Good heavens!" exclaimed he. "It is--yet it cannot be!" + +"Cannot be! what, friend?" + +He ran out of the door, and read the name over the shop, and then came +in, and sank upon a chair outside of the counter. "Japhet--I have found +you at last!" exclaimed he, faintly. + +"Good Heaven! who are you?" + +He threw off his hat, with false ringlets fastened to the inside of it, +and I beheld Timothy. In a moment I sprang over the counter, and was in +his arms. "Is it possible," exclaimed I, after a short silence on both +sides, "that I find you, Timothy, a disabled sailor?" + +"Is it possible, Japhet," replied Timothy, "that I find you a +broad-brimmed Quaker?" + +"Even so, Timothy. I am really and truly one." + +"Then you are less disguised than I am," replied Timothy, kicking off +his wooden leg, and letting down his own, which had been tied up to his +thigh, and concealed in his wide blue trousers. "I am no more a sailor +than you are, Japhet, and since you left me have never yet seen the +salt water, which I talk and sing so much about." + +"Then thou hast been deceiving, Timothy, which I regret much." + +"Now I do perceive that you are a Quaker," replied Tim; "but do not +blame me until you have heard my story. Thank God, I have found you at +last. But tell me, Japhet, you will not send me away--will you? If your +dress is changed, your heart is not. Pray answer me, before I say +nything more. You know I can be useful here." + +"Indeed, Timothy, I have often wished for you since I have been here, +and it will be your own fault if I part with you. You shall assist me +in the shop; but you must dress like me." + +"Dress like you! have I not always dressed like you? When we started +from Cophagus's, were we not dressed much alike? did we not wear +spangled jackets together? did I not wear your livery, and belong to +you? I'll put on anything, Japhet--but we must not part again." + +"My dear Timothy, I trust we shall not; but I expect my assistant here +soon, and do not wish that he should see you in that garb. Go to a small +public-house at the farther end of this street, and when you see me +pass, come out to me, and we will walk out into the country, and +consult together." + +"I have put up at a small house not far off, and have some clothes +there; I will alter my dress and meet you. God bless you, Japhet." + +Timothy then picked up his ballads, which were scattered on the floor, +put up his leg, and putting on his wooden stump, hastened away, after +once more silently pressing my hand. + +In half an hour my assistant returned, and I desired him to remain in +the shop, as I was going out on business. I then walked to the appointed +rendezvous, and was soon joined by Tim, who had discarded his sailor's +disguise, and was in what is called a shabby genteel sort of dress. +After the first renewed greeting, I requested Tim to let me know what +had occurred to him since our separation. + +"You cannot imagine, Japhet, what my feelings were when I found, by your +note, that you had left me. I had perceived how unhappy you had been for +a long while, and I was equally distressed, although I knew not the +cause. I had no idea until I got your letter, that you had lost all your +money; and I felt it more unkind of you to leave me then, than if you +had been comfortable and independent. As for looking after you, that I +knew would be useless; and I immediately went to Mr Masterton, to take +his advice as to how I should proceed. Mr Masterton had received your +letter, and appeared to be very much annoyed. 'Very foolish boy,' said +he, 'but there is nothing that can be done now. He is mad, and that is +all that can be said in his excuse. You must do as he tells you, I +suppose, and try the best for yourself. I will help you in any way that +I can, my poor fellow,' said he, 'so don't cry.' I went back to the +house and collected together your papers, which I sealed up. I knew that +the house was to be given up in a few days. I sold the furniture, and +made the best I could of the remainder of your wardrobe, and other +things of value that you had left; indeed, everything, with the +exception of the dressing-case and pistols, which had belonged to Major +Carbonnell, and I thought you might perhaps some day like to have them." + +"How very kind of you, Timothy, to think of me in that way! I shall +indeed be glad; but no--what have I to do with pistols or silver +dressing-cases now? I must not have them, but still I thank you all +the same." + +"The furniture and everything else fetched L430, after all expenses were +paid." + +"I am glad of it, Timothy, for your sake; but I am sorry, judging by your +present plight, that it appears to have done you but little good." + +"Because I did not make use of it, Japhet. What could I do with all that +money? I took it to Mr Masterton, with all your papers, and the +dressing-case and pistols;--he has it now ready for you when you ask for +it. He was very kind to me, and offered to do anything for me; but I +resolved to go in search of you. I had more money in my pocket when you +went away than I generally have, and with the surplus of what you left +for the bills, I had twelve or fourteen pounds. So I wished Mr Masterton +good-bye, and have ever since been on my adventures in search of my +master." + +"Not master, Timothy, say rather of your friend." + +"Well, of both if you please, Japhet; and very pretty adventures I have +had, I assure you, and some very hair-breadth escapes." + +"I think, when we compare notes, mine will be found most eventful, +Timothy; but we can talk of them, and compare notes another time. +At present, whom do you think I am residing with?" + +"A Quaker, I presume." + +"You have guessed right so far: but who do you think that Quaker is?" + +"There I'm at fault." + +"Mr Cophagas." + +At this intelligence Timothy gave a leap in the air, turned round on his +heel, and tumbled on the grass in a fit of immoderate laughter. + +"Cophagus!--a Quaker!" cried he at last. "Oh! I long to see him. Snuffle, +snuffle--broad brims--wide skirts--and so on. Capital!" + +"It is very true, Timothy, but you must not mock at the persuasion." + +"I did not intend it, Japhet, but there is something to me so ridiculous +in the idea. But," continued Timothy, "is it not still stranger, that, +after having separated so many years, we should all meet again--and that +I should find Mr Cophagus--an apothecary's shop--you dispensing +medicines--and I--as I hope to be--carrying them about as I did before. +Well, I will row in the same boat, and I will be a Quaker as well as you +both." + +"Well, we will now return, and I will take you to Mr Cophagus, who will, +I am sure, be glad to see you." + +"First, Japhet, let me have some Quaker's clothes--I should prefer it." + +"You shall have a suit of mine, Timothy, since you wish it; but recollect +it is not at all necessary, nor indeed will it be permitted that you +enter into the sect without preparatory examination as to your fitness +for admission." + +I then went to the shop, and sending out the assistant, walked home and +took out a worn suit of clothes, with which I hastened to Timothy. He put +them on in the shop, and then walking behind the counter, said, "This is +my place, and here I shall remain as long as you do." + +"I hope so, Timothy; as for the one who is with me at present, I can +easily procure him other employment, and he will not be sorry to go, for +he is a married man, and does not like the confinement." + +"I have some money," said Timothy, taking out of his old clothes a dirty +rag, and producing nearly twenty pounds. "I am well off, you see." + +"You are, indeed," replied I. + +"Yes, there is nothing like being a sailor with one leg, singing ballads. +Do you know, Japhet, that sometimes I have taken more than a _pound_ a +day since I have shammed the sailor?" + +"Not very honestly, Tim." + +"Perhaps not, Japhet; but it is very strange, +and yet very true, that when honest I could make nothing, and when I +deceived, I have done very well." + + + + +Chapter LXVII + + Timothy commences his narrative of his search after Japhet. + + +I could not help calling to mind that the same consequences as Timothy +related in the last chapter had occurred to me during my eventful career; +but I had long considered that there was no excuse for dishonesty, and +that, in the end, it would only lead to exposure and disgrace. I went +home early in the evening to introduce Timothy to Mr Cophagus, who +received him with great kindness, and agreed immediately that he ought +to be with me in the shop. Timothy paid his respects to the ladies, and +then went down with Ephraim, who took him under his protection. In a few +days, he was as established with us as if he had been living with us for +months. I had some trouble, at first, in checking his vivacity and turn +for ridicule; but that was gradually effected, and I found him not only +a great acquisition, but, as he always was, a cheerful and affectionate +companion. I had, during the first days of our meeting, recounted my +adventures, and made many inquiries of Timothy relative to my few +friends. He told me that from Mr Masterton he had learnt that Lady de +Clare and Fleta had called upon him very much afflicted with the contents +of my letter--that Lord Windermear also had been very much vexed and +annoyed--that Mr Masterton had advised him to obtain another situation +as a valet, which he had refused, and, at the same time, told him his +intention of searching for me. He had promised Mr Masterton to let him +know if he found me, and then bade him farewell. + +"I used to lie in bed, Japhet," continued Timothy, "and think upon the +best method of proceeding. At last, I agreed to myself, that to look for +you as you looked after your father, would be a wild-goose chase, and +that my money would soon be gone; so I reflected whether I might not +take up some roving trade which would support me, and, at the same time, +enable me to proceed from place to place. What do you think was my first +speculation? Why, I saw a man with a dog harnessed in a little cart, +crying dog's meat and cat's meat, and I said to myself, 'Now there's the +very thing--there's a profession--I can travel and earn my livelihood.' +I entered into conversation with him, as he stopped at a low +public-house, treating him to a pot of beer; and having gained all I +wanted as to the mysteries of the profession, I called for another pot, +and proposed that I should purchase his whole concern, down to his knife +and apron. The fellow agreed, and after a good deal of bargaining, I +paid him three guineas for the _set out_ or _set up_, which you please. +He asked me whether I meant to hawk in London or not, and I told him no, +that I should travel the country. He advised the western road, as there +were more populous towns in it. Well, we had another pot to clench the +bargain, and I paid down the money and took possession, quite delighted +with my new occupation. Away I went to Brentford, selling a bit here and +there by the way, and at last arrived at the very bench where we had sat +down together and eaten our meal." + +"It is strange that I did the same, and a very unlucky bench it proved +to me." + +"So it did to me, as you shall hear. I had taken up my quarters at that +inn, and for three days had done very well in Brentford. On the third +evening I had just come back, it was nearly dusk, and I took my seat on +the bench, thinking of you. My dog, rather tired, was lying down before +the cart, when all of a sudden I heard a sharp whistle. The dog sprang +on his legs immediately, and ran off several yards before I could prevent +him. The whistle was repeated, and away went the dog and cart like +lightning. I ran as fast as I could, but could not overtake him; and I +perceived that his old master was running ahead of the dog as hard as he +could, and this was the reason why the dog was off. Still I should, I +think, have overtaken him, but an old woman coming out of a door with a +saucepan to pour the hot water into the gutter, I knocked her down and +tumbled right over her into a cellar without steps. There I was, and +before I could climb out again, man, dog, cart, cat's meat and dog's +meat, had all vanished, and I have never seen them since. The rascal +got clear off, and I was a bankrupt. So much for my first set up in +business." + +"You forgot to purchase the _good-will_ when you made your bargain, +Timothy, for the stock in trade." + +"Very true, Japhet. However, after receiving a very fair share of abuse +from the old woman, and a plaister of hot greens in my face--for she +went supperless to bed, rather than not have her revenge--I walked +back to the inn, and sat down in the tap. The two men next to me were +hawkers; one carried a large pack of dimities and calicoes, and the +other a box full of combs, needles, tapes, scissors, knives, and +mock-gold trinkets. I entered into conversation with them, and, as I +again stood treat, I soon was very intimate. They told me what their +profits were, and how they contrived to get on, and I thought, for a +rambling life, it was by no means an unpleasant one; so having obtained +all the information I required, I went back to town, took out a hawker's +licence, for which I paid two guineas, and purchasing at a shop, to which +they gave me a direction, a pretty fair quantity of articles in the tape +and scissor line, off I set once more on my travels. I took the north +road this time, and picked up a very comfortable subsistence, selling +my goods for a few halfpence here and a few halfpence there, at the +cottages as I passed by; but I soon found out, that without a newspaper, +I was not a confirmed hawker, and the more radical the newspaper the +better. A newspaper will pay half the expenses of a hawker, if he can +read. At every house, particularly every small hedge ale-house, he is +received, and placed in the best corner of the chimney, and has his board +and lodging, with the exception of what he drinks, gratis, if he will +pull out the newspaper and read it to those around him who cannot read, +particularly if he can explain what is unintelligible. Now I became a +great politician, and, moreover, a great radical, for such were the +politics of all the lower classes. I lived well, slept well, and sold +my wares very fast. I did not take more than three shillings in the +day, yet, as two out of the three were clear profit, I did pretty well. +However, a little accident happened which obliged me to change my +profession, or at least, the nature of the articles which I dealt in." + +"What was that?" + +"A mere trifle. I had arrived late at a small ale-house, had put up my +pack, which was in a painted deal box, on the table in the tap-room, and +was very busy, after reading a paragraph in the newspaper, making a fine +speech, which I always found was received with great applause, and many +shakes of the hand, as a prime good fellow--a speech about community of +rights, agrarian division, and the propriety of an equal distribution of +property, proving that, as we were all born alike, no one had a right to +have more property than his neighbour. The people had all gathered round +me, applauding violently, when I thought I might as well look after my +pack, which had been for some time hidden from my sight by the crowd, +when, to my mortification, I found out that my earnest assertions on +the propriety of community of property had had such an influence upon +some of my listeners, that they had walked off with my pack and its +contents. Unfortunately, I had deposited in my boxes all my money, +considering it safer there than in my pockets, and had nothing left but +about seventeen shillings in silver, which I had received within the last +three days. Every one was very sorry, but no one knew anything about it; +and when I challenged the landlord as answerable, he called me a radical +blackguard, and turned me out of the door." + +"If you had looked a little more after your own property, and interfered +less with that of other people, you would have done better, Tim," +observed I, laughing. + +"Very true; but, at all events, I have never been a radical since," +replied Tim. "But to go on. I walked off to the nearest town, and I +commenced in a more humble way. I purchased a basket, and then, with +the remainder of my money, I bought the commonest crockery ware, such +as basins, jugs, mugs, and putting them on my head, off I went again +upon my new speculation. I wandered about with my crockery, but it was +hard work. I could not reap the profits which I did as a hawker and +pedlar. I averaged, however, from seven to nine shillings a week and +that was about sufficient for my support. I went down into as many +kitchens as would have sufficed to have found a dozen mothers, supposing +mine to be a cook; but I did not see anyone who was at all like me. +Sometimes a cook replaced a basin she had broken, by giving me as much +meat as had cost her mistress five shillings, and thus avoided a +scolding, for an article which was worth only two-pence. At other times, +a cottager would give me a lodging, and would consider himself rewarded +with a mug that only cost me one penny. I was more than three months +employed carrying crockery in every direction, and never, during the +whole time, broke one article, until one day, as I passed through +Eton, there was a regular smash of the whole concern." + +"Indeed, how was that?" + +"I met about a dozen of the Eton boys, and they proposed a cockshy, as +they called it; that is, I was to place my articles on the top of a post, +and they were to throw stones at them at a certain distance, paying me a +certain sum for each throw. Well, this I thought a very good bargain, so +I put up a mug (worth one penny) at one penny a throw. It was knocked +down at the second shot, so it was just as well to put the full price +upon them at once, they were such remarkably good aimers at anything. +Each boy had a stick, upon which I notched off their throws, and how +much they would have to pay when all was over. One article after another +was put on the post until my basket was empty, and then I wanted to +settle with them; but as soon as I talked about that, they all burst +out into a loud laugh, and took to their heels. I chased them, but one +might as well have chased eels. If I got hold of one, the others pulled +me behind until he escaped, and at last they were all off, and I had +nothing left." + +"Not your basket?" + +"No, not even that; for while I was busy after some that ran one way, +the others kicked my basket before them like a football, until it was +fairly out of sight. I had only eight-pence in my pocket, so you perceive, +Japhet, how I was going down in the world." + +"You were indeed, Tim." + + + + +Chapter LXVIII + + Timothy finishes his narrative. + + +"Well, I walked away, cursing all the Eton boys and all their tutors, +who did not teach them honesty as well as Latin and Greek, and put up at +a very humble sort of abode, where they sold small beer, and gave beds +at two-pence per night, and I may add, with plenty of fleas in the +bargain. There I fell in with some ballad singers and mumpers, who were +making very merry, and who asked me what was the matter. I told them how +I had been treated, and they laughed at me, but gave me some supper, so +I forgave them. An old man, who governed the party, then asked me +whether I had any money. I produced my enormous capital of eight-pence. +'Quite enough if you are clever,' said he; 'quite enough--many a man +with half that sum has ended in rolling in his carriage. A man with +thousands has only the advance of you a few years. You will pay for your +lodging and then spend this sixpence in matches, and hawk them about +the town. If you are lucky, it will be a shilling by to-morrow night. +Besides, you go down into areas, and sometimes enter a kitchen, when the +cook is above stairs. There are plenty of things to be picked up.' 'But I +am not dishonest,' said I. 'Well, then, every man to his liking; only if +you were, you would ride in your own coach the sooner.' 'And suppose I +should lose all this, or none would buy my matches, what then?' replied +I, 'I shall starve.' 'Starve--no, no--no one starves in this country; +all you have to do is to get into gaol--committed for a month--you will +live better perhaps than you ever did before. I have been in every gaol +in England, and I know the good ones, for even in gaols there is a great +difference. Now the one in this town is one of the best in all England, +and I patronises it during the winter.' I was much amused with the +discourse of this mumper, who appeared to be one of the merriest old +vagabonds in England. I took his advice, bought six pennyworth of matches, +and commenced my new vagrant speculation. + +"The first day I picked up three-pence, for one quarter of my stock, and +returned to the same place where I had slept the night before, but the +fraternity had quitted on an expedition. I spent my two-pence in bread +and cheese, and paid one penny for my lodging, and again I started the +next morning, but I was very unsuccessful; nobody appeared to want +matches that day, and after walking from seven o'clock in the morning, +to past seven in the evening, without selling one farthing's worth, I +sat down at the porch of a chapel, quite tired and worn out. At last, +I fell asleep, and how do you think I was awoke? by a strong sense of +suffocation, and up I sprang, coughing, and nearly choked, surrounded +with smoke. Some mischievous boys perceiving that I was fast asleep, +had set fire to my matches, as I held them in my hand between my legs, +and I did not wake until my fingers were severely burnt. There was an +end of my speculation in matches, because there was an end of all my +capital." + +"My poor Timothy, I really feel for you." + +"Not at all, my dear Japhet; I never, in all my distress, was sentenced +to execution--my miseries were trifles, to be laughed at. However, I felt +very miserable at the time, and walked off, thinking about the propriety +of getting into gaol as soon as I could, for the beggar had strongly +recommended it. I was at the outskirts of the town, when I perceived +two men tussling with one another, and I walked towards them. 'I says,' +says one, who appeared to be a constable; 'you must come along with I. +Don't you see that ere board? All wagrants shall be taken up, and dealt +with according to _la_.' 'Now may the devil hold you in his claws, you +old psalm-singing thief--an't I a sailor--and an't I a wagrant by +profession, and all according to law?' 'That won't do,' says the other; +'I commands you in the king's name, to let me take you to prison, and I +commands you also, young man,' says he--for I had walked up to them--'I +commands you, as a lawful subject, to assist me.' 'What will you give +the poor fellow for his trouble?' said the sailor. 'It's his duty, as a +lawful subject, and I'll give him nothing; but I'll put him in prison if +he don't.' 'Then you old Rhinoceros, I'll give him five shillings if +he'll help me, and so now he may take his choice.' At all events, thought +I, this will turn out lucky one way or the other; but I will support the +man who is most generous; so I went up to the constable, who was a burly +sort of a fellow, and tripped up his heels, and down he came on the back +of his head. You know my old trick, Japhet?" + +"Yes; I never knew you fail at that." + +"'Well,' the sailor says to me, 'I've a notion you've damaged his upper +works, so let us start off, and clap on all sail for the next town. I +know where to drop an anchor. Come along with me, and as long as I've a +shot in the locker, d--n me if I won't share it with one who has proved +a friend in need.' The constable did not come to his senses; he was very +much stunned, but we loosened his neckcloth, and left him there, and +started off as fast as we could. My new companion, who had a wooden leg, +stopped by a gate, and clambered over it. 'We must lose no time,' said +he; 'and I may just as well have the benefit of both legs.' So saying, he +took off his wooden stump, and let down his real leg, which was fixed up +just as you saw mine. I made no comments, but off we set, and at a good +round pace gained a village about five miles distant. 'Here we will put +up for the night; but they will look for us to-morrow at daylight, or a +little after, therefore we must be starting early. I know the law-beggars +well, they won't turn out afore sunrise. He stopped at a paltry ale-house, +where we were admitted, and soon were busy with a much better supper than +I had ever imagined they could have produced; but my new friend ordered +right and left, with a tone of authority, and everybody in the house +appeared at his beck and command. After a couple of glasses of grog, +we retired to our beds. + +"The next morning we started before break of day, on our road to another +town, where my companion said the constables would never take the trouble +to come after him. On our way he questioned me as to my mode of getting +my livelihood, and I narrated how unfortunate I had been. 'One good turn +deserves another,' replied the sailor; 'and now I'll set you up in +trade. Can you sing? Have you anything of a voice?' 'I can't say that I +have,' replied I. 'I don't mean whether you can sing in tune, or have a +good voice, that's no consequence; all I want to know is, have you a +good loud one?' + +'Loud enough, if that's all.' 'That's all that's requisite; so long as +you can make yourself heard--you may then howl like a jackal, or bellow +like a mad buffalo, no matter which--as many pay us for to get rid of us, +as out of charity; and so long as the money comes, what's the odds? Why, +I once knew an old chap, who could only play one tune on the clarionet, +and that tune out of all tune, who made his fortune in six or seven +streets, for every one gave him money, and told him to go away. When +he found out that, he came every morning as regular as clock-work. Now +there was one of the streets which was chiefly occupied by music-sellers +and Italian singers--for them foreigners always herd together--and this +tune, 'which the old cow died of,' as the saying is, used to be their +horror, and out came the halfpence to send him away. There was a sort +of club also in that street, of larking sort of young men, and when +they perceived that the others gave the old man money to get rid of his +squeaking, they sent him out money, with orders to stay and play to them, +so then the others sent out more for him to go away, and between the two, +the old fellow brought home more money than all the cadgers and mumpers +in the district. Now if you have a loud voice, I can provide you with all +the rest.'--'Do you gain your livelihood by that?'--' To be sure I do; +and I can tell you, that of all the trades going, there is none equal to +it. You see, my hearty, I have been on board of a man-of-war--not that +I'm a sailor, or was ever bred to the sea--but I was shipped as a +landsman, and did duty in the waist and afterguard. I know little or +nothing of my duty as a seaman, nor was it required in the station I was +in, so I never learnt, although I was four years on board; all I learnt +was the lingo and slang--and that you must contrive to learn from me. I +bolted, and made my way good to Lunnun, but I should soon have been +picked up and put on board the Tender again, if I hadn't got this wooden +stump made, which I now carry in my hand. I had plenty of songs, and I +commenced my profession, and a real good un it is, I can tell you. Why, +do you know, that a'ter a good victory, I have sometimes picked up as +much as two pounds a-day, for weeks running; as it is, I averages from +fifteen shillings to a pound. Now, as you helped me away from that land +shark, who would soon have found out that I had two legs, and have put +me into limbo as an impostor, I will teach you to arn your livelihood +after my fashion. You shall work with me until you are fit to start +alone, and then there's plenty of room in England for both of us; but +mind, never tell any one what you pick up, or every mumper in the island +will put on a suit of sailor's clothes, and the thing will be blown +upon.' Of course, this was too good an offer to be rejected, and I +joyfully acceded. At first, I worked with him as having only one arm, +the other being tied down to my side, and my jacket sleeve hanging loose +and empty, and we roared away right and left, so as to bring down a shower +of coppers wherever we went. In about three weeks my friend thought I was +able to start by myself, and giving me half of the ballads, and five +shillings to start with, I shook hands and parted with, next to you, +the best friend that I certainly ever had. Ever since I have been +crossing the country in every direction, with plenty of money in my +pocket, and always with one eye looking sharp out for you. My beautiful +voice fortunately attracted your attention, and here I am, and at an end +of my history; but if ever I am away from you, and in distress again, +depend upon it I shall take to my wooden leg and ballads for my support." + +Such were the adventures of Timothy, who was metamorphosed into a precise +Quaker. "I do not like the idea of your taking up a system of deceit, +Timothy. It may so happen--for who knows what may occur?--that you may +again be thrown upon your own resources. Now, would it not be better that +you should obtain a more intimate knowledge of the profession which we +are now in, which is liberal, and equally profitable? By attention and +study you will be able to dispense medicines and make up prescriptions +as well as myself, and who knows but that some day you may be the owner +of a shop like this?" + +"Verily, verily, thy words do savour of much wisdom," replied Tim, in a +grave voice; "and I will even so follow thy advice." + + + + +Chapter LXIX + + I am unsettled by unexpected intelligence, and again yearn after + the world of fashion. + + +I knew that he was mocking me in this reply, but I paid no attention to +that; I was satisfied that he consented. I now made him assist me, and +under my directions he made up the prescriptions. I explained to him the +nature of every medicine; and I made him read many books of physic and +surgery. In short, after two or three months, I could trust to Timothy as +well as if I were in the shop myself; and having an errand boy, I had +much more leisure, and I left him in charge after dinner. The business +prospered, and I was laying up money. My leisure time, I hardly need say + was spent with Mr Cophagus and his family, and my attachment to Susannah +Temple increased every day. Indeed, both Mr and Mrs Cophagus considered +that it was to be a match, and often joked with me when Susannah was not +present. With respect to Susannah, I could not perceive that I was +farther advanced in her affections than after I had known her two months. +She was always kind and considerate, evidently interested in my welfare, +always checking in me anything like levity--frank and confiding in her +opinions--and charitable to all, as I thought, except to me. But I made +no advance that I could perceive. The fact was, that I dared not speak +to her as I might have done to another who was not so perfect. And yet +she smiled, as I thought, more kindly when I returned than at other +times, and never appeared to be tired of my company. If I did sometimes +mention the marriage of another, or attentions paid which would, in all +probability, end in marriage, it would create no confusion or blushing +on her part, she would talk over that subject as composedly as any other. +I was puzzled, and I had been a year and nine months constantly in her +company, and had never dared to tell her that I loved her. But one day Mr +Cophagus brought up the subject when we were alone. He commenced by +stating how happy he had been as a married man, that he had given up +all hopes of a family, and that he should like to see Susannah Temple, +his sister-in-law, well married, that he might leave his property to her +children; and then he put the very pertinent question--"Japhet-- +verily--thou hast done well--good business--money coming in fast--settle, +Japhet--marry, have children--and so on. Susannah--nice girl--good +wife--pop question--all right--sly puss--won't say no--um--what d'ye +say?--and so on." I replied that I was very much attached to Susannah, +but that I was afraid that the attachment was not mutual, and therefore +hesitated to propose. Cophagus then said that he would make his wife +sound his sister, and let me know the result. + +This was in the morning just before I was about to walk over to the shop, +and I left the house in a state of anxiety and suspense. When I arrived +at the shop, I found Tim there as usual; but the colour in his face was +heightened as he said to me, "Read this, Japhet," and handed to me the +"Reading Mercury." I read an advertisement as follows:-- + + "If Japhet Newland, who was left at the Foundling Asylum, and was + afterwards for some time in London, will call at No. 16, + Throgmorton Court, Minories, he will hear of something very much + to his advantage, and will discover that of which he has been so + long in search. Should this reach his eye, he is requested to + write immediately to the above address, with full particulars of + his situation. Should anyone who reads this be able to give any + information relative to the said J.N., he will be liberally + rewarded." + +I sank down on the chair. "Merciful Heaven! this can be no mistake--'he +will discover the object of his search.' Timothy, my dear Timothy, I +have at last found out my father." + +"So I should imagine, my dear Japhet," replied Timothy, "and I trust +it will not prove a disappointment." + +"They never would be so cruel, Timothy," replied I. + +"But still it is evident that Mr Masterton is concerned in it," +observed Timothy. + +"Why so?" inquired I. + +"How otherwise should it appear in the Reading newspaper? He must have +examined the postmark of my letter." + +To explain this, I must remind the reader that Timothy had promised to +write to Mr Masterton when he found me; and he requested my permission +shortly after we had met again. I consented to his keeping his word, but +restricted him to saying any more than "that he had found me, and that +I was well and happy." There was no address in the letter as a clue to +Mr Masterton as to where I might be, and it could only have been from +the postmark that he could have formed any idea. Timothy's surmise was +therefore very probable; but I would not believe that Mr Masterton would +consent to the insertion of that portion of the advertisement, if there +was no foundation for it. + +"What will you do, Japhet?" + +"Do," replied I, recovering from my reverie, for the information had +again roused up all my dormant feelings--"Do," replied I, "why, I shall +set off for town this very morning." + +"In that dress, Japhet?" + +"I suppose I must," replied I, "for I have no time to procure another;" +and all my former ideas of fashion and appearance were roused, and in +full activity--my pride recovered its ascendency. + +"Well," replied Timothy, "I hope you will find your father all that you +could wish." + +"I'm sure of it, Tim--I'm sure of it," replied I; "you must run and take +a place in the first coach." + +"But you are not going without seeing Mr and Mrs Cophagus, and--Miss +Temple," continued Tim, laying an emphasis upon the latter name. + +"Of course not," replied I, colouring deeply. "I will go at once. Give +me the newspaper, Tim." + +I took the newspaper, and hastened to the house of Mr Cophagus. I found +them all three sitting in the breakfast parlour, Mr Cophagus, as usual, +reading, with his spectacles on his nose, and the ladies at work. "What +is the matter, friend Japhet?" exclaimed Mr Cophagus, as I burst into +the room, my countenance lighted up with excitement. "Read that, sir!" +said I to Mr Cophagus. Mr Cophagus read it. "Hum--bad news--lose +Japhet--man of fashion--and so on," said Cophagus, pointing out the +paragraph to his wife, as he handed over the paper. + +In the meantime I watched the countenance of Susannah--a slight emotion, +but instantly checked, was visible at Mr Cophagus's remark. She then +remained quiet until her sister, who had read the paragraph, handed the +paper to her. "I give thee joy, Japhet, at the prospect of finding out +thy parent," said Mrs Cophagus. "I trust thou wilt find in him one who +is to be esteemed as a man. When departest thou?" + +"Immediately," replied I. + +"I cannot blame thee--the ties of nature are ever powerful. I trust that +thou wilt write to us, and that we soon shall see thee return." + +"Yes, yes," said Cophagus, "see father--shake hands--come back--heh!-- +settle here--and so on." + +"I shall not be altogether my own master, perhaps," observed I. "If my +father desires that I remain with him, must not I obey? But I know +nothing at present. You shall hear from me. Timothy can take my place +in the--" I could not bear the idea of the word shop, and I stopped. +Susannah, for the first time, looked me earnestly in the face, but she +said nothing. Mr and Mrs Cophagus, who probably had been talking over +the subject of our conversation, and thought this a good opportunity to +allow me to have an _eclaircissement_ with Susannah, left the room, +saying they would look after my portmanteau and linen. "Susannah," said +I, "you do not appear to rejoice with me." + +"Japhet Newland, I will rejoice at everything that may tend to thy +happiness, believe me; but I do not feel assured but that this trial may +prove too great, and that thou mayst fall away. Indeed, I perceive even +now that thou art excited with new ideas, and visions of pride." + +"If I am wrong, forgive me. Susannah, you must know that the whole object +of my existence has been to find my father; and now that I have every +reason to suppose that my wish is obtained, can you be surprised, or +can you blame me, that I long to be pressed in his arms?" + +"Nay, Japhet, for that filial feeling I do commend thee; but ask thy own +heart, is that the only feeling which now exciteth thee? Dost thou not +expect to find thy father one high in rank and power? Dost thou not +anticipate to join once more the world which thou hast quitted, yet still +hast sighed for? Dost thou not already feel contempt for thy honest +profession:--nay, more, dost thou not only long to cast off the plain +attire, and not only the attire, but the sect which in thy adversity +thou didst embrace the tenets of? Ask thy own heart, and reply if thou +wilt, but I press thee not so to do; for the truth would be painful, +and a lie, thou knowest, I do utterly abhor." + +I felt that Susannah spoke the truth, and I would not deny it. I sat down +by her. "Susannah," said I, "it is not very easy to change at once. I +have mixed for years in the world, with you I have not yet lived two. I +will not deny but that the feelings you have expressed have risen in my +heart, but I will try to repress them; at least, for your sake, Susannah, +I would try to repress them, for I value your opinion more than that of +the whole world. You have the power to do with me as you please:--will +you exert that power?" + +"Japhet," replied Susannah, "the faith which is not built upon a more +solid foundation than to win the favour of an erring being like myself +is but weak; that power over thee which thou expectest will fix thee in +the right path, may soon be lost, and what is then to direct thee? If no +purer motives than earthly affection are to be thy stay, most surely thou +wilt fall. But no more of this; thou hast a duty to perform, which is to +go to thy earthly father, and seek his blessing. Nay, more, I would that +thou shouldst once more enter into the world, there thou mayst decide. +Shouldst thou return to us, thy friends will rejoice, and not one of +them will be more joyful than Susannah Temple. Fare thee well, Japhet, +mayst thou prove superior to temptation. I will pray for thee--earnestly +I will pray for thee, Japhet," continued Susannah, with a quivering of +her lips and broken voice, and she left the room. + + + + +Chapter LXX + + I return to London, and meet with Mr Masterton. + + +I went upstairs, and found that all was ready, and I took leave of Mr +and Mrs Cophagus, both of whom expressed their hopes that I would not +leave them for ever. "Oh, no," replied I, "I should indeed be base, if I +did." I left them, and with Ephraim following with my portmanteau, I +quitted the house. I had gone about twenty yards, when I recollected that +I had left on the table the newspaper with the advertisement containing +the direction whom to apply to, and desiring Ephraim to proceed, I +returned. When I entered the parlour, Susannah Temple was resting her +face in her hands and weeping. The opening of the door made her start +up; she perceived that it was I, and she turned away. "I beg your pardon, +I left the newspaper," said I, stammering. I was about to throw myself +at her feet, declare my sincere affection, and give up all idea of +finding my father until we were married, when she, without saying a +word, passed quickly by me and hastened out of the room. "She loves me +then," thought I; "thank God:--I will not go yet, I will speak to her +first." I sat down, quite overpowered with contending feelings. The +paper was in my hand, the paragraph was again read, I thought but +of my father, and I left the house. + +In half an hour I had shaken hands with Timothy and quitted the town of +Reading. How I arrived in London, that is to say, what passed, or what we +passed, I know not; my mind was in such a state of excitement. I hardly +know how to express the state that I was in. It was a sort of mental +whirling which blinded me--round and round--from my father and the +expected meeting, then to Susannah, my departure, and her tears--castle +building of every description. After the coach stopped, there I remained +fixed on the top of it, not aware that we were in London until the +coachman asked me whether the spirit did not move me to get down. I +recollected myself, and calling a hackney-coach, gave orders to be +driven to the Piazza, Covent Garden. + +"Piazza, Common Garden," said the waterman, "why that ban't an 'otel +for the like o' you, master. They'll torment you to death, them young +chaps." + +I had forgotten that I was dressed as a Quaker. "Tell the coachman to +stop at the first cloth warehouse where they have ready-made cloaks," +said I. The man did so; I went out and purchased a roquelaure, which +enveloped my whole person. I then stopped at a hatter's, and purchased +a hat according to the mode. "Now drive to the Piazza," said I, entering +the coach. I know not why, but I was resolved to go to that hotel. It +was the one I had stayed at when I first arrived in London, and I wished +to see it again. When the hackney coach stopped, I asked the waiter who +came out whether he had apartments, and answering me in the affirmative, I +followed him, and was shown into the same rooms I had previously occupied. + +"These will do," said I, "now let me have something to eat, and send for +a good tailor." The waiter offered to remove my cloak, but I refused, +saying that I was cold. He left the room, and I threw myself on the +sofa, running over all the scenes which had passed in that room with +Carbonnell, Harcourt, and others. My thoughts were broken in upon by the +arrival of the tailor. "Stop a moment," said I, "and let him come in +when I ring." So ashamed was I of my Quaker's dress, that I threw off my +coat and waistcoat, and put on my cloak again before I rang the bell for +the tailor to come up. "Mr--," said I, "I must have a suit of clothes +ready by to-morrow at ten o'clock." "Impossible, sir." + +"Impossible!" said I, "and you pretend to be a fashionable tailor. Leave +the room." + +At this peremptory behaviour the tailor imagined that I must be somebody. + +"I will do my possible, sir, and if I can only get home in time to stop +the workmen, I think it may be managed. Of course, you are aware of the +expense of night work." + +"I am only aware of this, that if I give an order I am accustomed to +have it obeyed; I learnt that from my poor friend, Major Carbonnell." + +The tailor bowed low; there was magic in the name, although the man +was dead. + +"Here have I been masquerading in a Quaker's dress, to please a +puritanical young lady, and I am obliged to be off without any other +clothes in my portmanteau; so take my measure, and I expect the clothes +at ten precisely." So saying, I threw off my roquelaure, and desired him +to proceed. This accomplished, the tradesman took his leave. Shortly +afterwards, the door opened, and as I lay wrapped up in my cloak on the +sofa, in came the landlord and two waiters, each bearing a dish of my +supper. I wished them at the devil; but I was still more surprised when +the landlord made a low bow, saying, "Happy to see you returned, Mr +Newland; you've been away some time--another grand tour, I presume." + +"Yes, Mr ----, I have had a few adventures since I was last here," +replied I, carelessly, "but I am not very well. You may leave the supper, +and if I feel inclined, I will take a little by-and-bye,--no one need +wait." + +The landlord and waiter bowed and went out of the room. I turned the key +of the door, put on my Quaker's coat, and made a hearty supper, for I +had had nothing since breakfast. When I had finished, I returned to the +sofa, and I could not help analysing my own conduct. "Alas," thought I, +"Susannah, how rightly did you judge me! I am not away from you more +than eighteen hours, and here I am ashamed of the dress which I have so +long worn, and been satisfied with, in your society. Truly did you say +that I was full of pride, and would joyfully re-enter the world of vanity +and vexation." And I thought of Susannah, and her tears after my supposed +departure, and I felt angry and annoyed at my want of strength of mind +and my worldly feelings. + +I retired early to bed, and did not wake until late the next morning. +When I rang the bell, the chambermaid brought in my clothes from the +tailor's: I dressed, and I will not deny that I was pleased with the +alteration. After breakfast I ordered a coach, and drove to No. 16, +Throgmorton Court, Minories. The house was dirty outside, and the windows +had not been cleaned apparently for years, and it was with some +difficulty when I went in that I could decipher a tall, haggard-looking +man seated at the desk. + +"Your pleasure, sir?" said he. + +"Am I speaking to the principal?" replied I. + +"Yes, sir, my name is Chatfield." + +"I come to you, sir, relative to an advertisement which appeared in the +papers. I refer to this," continued I, putting the newspaper down on the +desk, and pointing to the advertisement. + +"Oh, yes, very true: can you give us any information?" + +"Yes, sir, I can, and the most satisfactory." + +"Then, sir, I am sorry that you have had so much trouble, but you must +call at Lincoln's Inn upon a lawyer of the name of Masterton: the whole +affair is now in his hands." + +"Can you, sir, inform me who is the party that is inquiring after this +young man?" + +"Why, yes; it is a General De Benyon, who has lately returned from the +East Indies." + +"Good God! is it possible!" thought I; "how strange that my own wild +fancy should have settled upon him as my father!" + +I hurried away, threw myself into the hackney-coach, and desired the man +to drive to Lincoln's Inn. I hastened up to Mr Masterton's rooms: he was +fortunately at home, although he stood at the table with his hat and his +great coat on, ready to go out. + +"My dear sir, have you forgotten me?" said I, in a voice choked with +emotion, taking his hand and squeezing it with rapture. + +"By heavens, you are determined that I shall not forget you for some +minutes, at least," exclaimed he, wringing his hand with pain. "Who +the devil are you?" + +Mr Masterton could not see without his spectacles, and my subdued voice +he had not recognised. He pulled them out, as I made no reply, and fixing +them across his nose--"Hah! why yes--it is Japhet, is it not?" + +"It is indeed, sir," said I, again offering my hand, which he shook +warmly. + +"Not quite so hard, my dear fellow, this time," said the old lawyer; "I +acknowledge your vigour, and that is sufficient. I am very glad to see +you, Japhet, I am indeed--you--you scamp--you ungrateful fellow. Sit +down--sit down--first help me off with my great coat: I presume the +advertisement has brought you into existence again. Well, it's all true; +and you have at last found your father, or, rather, he has found you. +And what's more strange, you hit upon the right person; that is +strange--very strange indeed." + +"Where is he, sir?" interrupted I, "where is he--take me to him." + +"No, rather be excused," replied Mr Masterton, "for he is gone to +Ireland, so you must wait." + +"Wait, sir, oh no--I must follow him." + +"That will only do harm; for he is rather a queer sort of an old +gentleman, and although he acknowledges that he left you as _Japhet_ and +has searched for you, yet he is so afraid of somebody else's brat being +put upon him, that he insists upon most undeniable proofs. Now, we +cannot trace you from the hospital unless we can find that fellow +Cophagus, and we have made every search after him, and no one can tell +where he is." + +"But I left him but yesterday morning, sir," replied I. + +"Good--very good; we must send for him or go to him; besides, he has +the packet intrusted to the care of Miss Maitland, to whom he was +executor, which proves the marriage of your father. Very strange--very +strange indeed, that you should have hit upon it as you did--almost +supernatural. However, all right now, my dear boy, and I congratulate +you. Your father is a very strange person: he has lived like a despot +among slaves all his life, and will not be thwarted, I can tell you. +If you say a word in contradiction he'll disinherit you:--terrible +old tiger, I must say. If it had not been for your sake, I should have +done with him long ago. He seems to think the world ought to be at his +feet. Depend upon it, Japhet, there is no hurry about seeing him;--and +see him you shall not, until we have every proof of your identity ready +to produce to him. I hope you have the bump of veneration strong, Japhet, +and plenty of filial duty, or you will be kicked out of the house in a +week. D--n me, if he didn't call me an old thief of a lawyer." + +"Indeed, sir," replied I, laughing; "I must apologise to you for my +father's conduct." + +"Never mind, Japhet; I don't care about a trifle; but why don't you ask +after your friends?" + +"I have longed so to do, sir," replied I. "Lord Windermear--" + +"Is quite well, and will be most happy to see you." + +"Lady de Clare, and her daughter--" + +"Lady de Clare has entered into society again, and her daughter, as you +call her--your Fleta, alias Cecilia de Clare--is the belle of the +metropolis. But now, sir, as I have answered all your interrogatories, +and satisfied you upon the most essential points, will you favour me +with a narrative of your adventures (for adventures I am sure you must +have had) since you ran away from us all in that ungrateful manner." + +"Most certainly, sir, I will; and, as you say, I have had adventures. +But it really will be a long story." + +"Then we'll dine here, and pass the evening together--so that's settled." + + + + +Chapter LXXI + + In which I am let into more particulars relative to my father's + history. + + +I dismissed the coach, while Mr Masterton gave his orders for dinner, and +we then turned the key of the door to avoid intrusion, and I commenced. +It was nearly dinner-time before I had finished my story. + +"Well, you really appear to be born for getting into scrapes, and getting +out of them again in a miraculous way," observed Mr Masterton. "Your +life would make a novel." + +"It would indeed, sir," replied I. "I only hope, like all novels, it +will wind up well." + +"So do I; but dinner's ready, Japhet, and after dinner we'll talk the +matter over again, for there are some points upon which I require some +explanation." + +We sat down to dinner, and when we had finished, and the table had been +cleared, we drew to the fire, with our bottle of wine. Mr Masterton +tirred the fire, called for his slippers, and then crossing his legs +over the fender, resumed the subject. + +"Japhet, I consider it most fortunate that we have met, previous to +our introduction to your father. You have so far to congratulate +yourself, that your family is undeniably good, there being, as you know, +an Irish peerage in it; of which, however, you have no chance, as the +present earl has a numerous offspring. You are also fortunate as far as +money is concerned, as I have every reason to believe that your father is +a very rich man, and, of course, you are his only child; but I must now +prepare you to meet with a very different person than perhaps the fond +anticipations of youth may have led you to expect. Your father has no +paternal feelings that I can discover; he has wealth, and he wishes to +leave it--he has therefore sought you out. But he is despotic, violent, +and absurd; the least opposition to his will makes him furious, and I am +sorry to add, that I am afraid that he is very mean. He suffered +severely when young from poverty, and his own father was almost as +authoritative and unforgiving as himself. And now I will state how it +was that you were left at the Asylum when an infant. Your grandfather +had procured for your father a commission in the army, and soon +afterwards procured him a lieutenancy. He ordered him to marry a young +lady of large fortune, whom he had never seen, and sent for him for that +purpose. I understand that she was very beautiful, and had your father +seen her, it is probable he would have made no objection, but he very +foolishly sent a peremptory refusal, for which he was dismissed for ever. +In a short time afterwards your father fell in love with a young lady of +great personal attractions, and supposed to possess a large fortune. To +deceive her, he pretended to be the heir to the earldom, and, after a +hasty courtship, they ran off, and were married. When they compared +notes, which they soon did, it was discovered that, on his side, he had +nothing but the pay of a subaltern, and on hers, that she had not one +shilling. Your father stormed, and called his wife an impostor; she +recriminated, and the second morning after the marriage was passed in +tears on her side, and oaths, curses, and revilings on his. The lady, +however, appeared the more sensible party of the two. Their marriage +was not known, she had run away on a pretence to visit a relative, and +it was actually supposed in the county town where she resided, that such +was the case. 'Why should we quarrel in this way?' observed she. 'You, +Edmund, wished to marry a fortune, and not me--I may plead guilty to the +same duplicity. We have made a mistake; but it is not too late. It is +supposed that I am on a visit to--, and that you are on furlough for a +few days. Did you confide your secret to any of your brother officers?' +'Not one,' muttered your father. 'Well, then, let us part as if nothing +had happened, and nobody will be the wiser. We are equally interested in +keeping the secret. Is it agreed?'--Your father immediately consented. He +accompanied your mother to the house at ----, where she was expected, and +she framed a story for her delay, by having met such a very polite young +man. Your father returned to his regiment, and thus did they, like two +privateers, who when they meet and engage, as soon as they find out their +mistake, hoist their colours, and sheer off by mutual consent." + +"I can't say much for my mother's affection or delicacy," observed I. + +"The less you say the better, Japhet--however, that is your father's +story. And now to proceed. It appears that, about two months afterwards, +your father received a letter from your mother, acquainting him that +their short intercourse had been productive of certain results, and +requesting that he would take the necessary steps to provide for the +child, and avoid exposure, or that she would be obliged to confess her +marriage. By what means they contrived to avoid exposure until the period +of her confinement, I know not, but your father states that the child was +born in a house in London, and by agreement, was instantly put into his +hands; that he, with the consent of his wife, left you at the door of +the Asylum, with the paper and the bank note, from which you received +the name of Newland. At the time, he had no idea of reclaiming you +himself, but the mother had, for heartless as she appears to have been, +yet a mother must feel for her child. Your father's regiment was then +ordered out to the East Indies, and he was rapidly promoted for his +gallantry and good conduct during the war in the Mysore territory. Once +only has he returned home on furlough, and then he did make inquiries +after you; not, it appears, with a view of finding you out on his own +account, but from a promise which he made your mother." + +"My mother! what, have they met since?" + +"Yes; your mother went out to India on speculation, passing off as a +single girl, and was very well married there, I was going to say; +however, she committed a very splendid bigamy." + +"Good heavens! how totally destitute of principle!" + +"Your father asserts that your mother was a freethinker, Japhet; her +father had made her one; without religion a woman has no stay. Your +father was in the up country during the time that your mother arrived, +and was married to one of the council of Calcutta. Your father says that +they met at a ball at Government House. She was still a very handsome +woman, and much admired. When your father recognised her, and was told +that she was lately married to the honourable Mr--, he was quite +electrified, and would have quitted the room; but she had perceived +him, and walking up to him with the greatest coolness, claimed him as an +old acquaintance in England, and afterwards they often met, but she never +adverted to what had passed between them, until the time for his +departure to England on leave, and she then sent for him, and begged that +he would make some enquiries after _you_, Japhet. He did so, and you know +the result. On his return to India he found that your mother had been +carried off by the prevailing pestilence. At that period, your father was +not rich, but he was then appointed to the chief command in the Carnatic, +and reaped a golden harvest in return for his success and bravery. It +appears, as far as I could obtain it from him, that as long as your +mother was alive, he felt no interest about you, but her death, and the +subsequent wealth which poured upon him, have now induced him to find out +an heir, to whom it may be bequeathed. + +"Such, Japhet, are the outlines of your father's history; and I must +point out that he has no feelings of affection for you at present. The +conduct of your mother is ever before him, and if it were not that he +wishes an heir, I should almost say that his feelings are those of +dislike. You may create an interest in his heart, it is true: and he may +be gratified by your personal appearance; but you will have a very +difficult task, as you will have to submit to his caprices and fancies, +and I am afraid that, to a high spirit like yours, they will be almost +unbearable." + +"Really, sir, I begin to feel that the fondest anticipations are seldom +realised, and almost to wish that I had not been sought for by my father. +I was happy and contented, and now I do not see any chance of having to +congratulate myself on the change." + +"On one or two points I also wish to question you. It appears that you +have entered into the sect denominated Quakers. Tell me candidly, do you +subscribe heartily and sincerely to their doctrines? And I was going to +add, is it your intention to remain with them? I perceive much +difficulty in all this." + +"The tenets of the sect I certainly do believe to be more in accordance +with the Christian religion than any other; and I have no hesitation in +asserting, from my knowledge of those who belong to that sect, that they, +generally speaking, lead better lives. There are some points connected +with their worship, which, at first, I considered ridiculous: the feeling +has, however, worn off. As to their quaint manner of speaking, that has +been grossly exaggerated. Their dress is a part of their religion." + +"Why so, Japhet?" + +"I can reply to you in the words of Susannah Temple, when I made the +same interrogatory. 'You think the peculiarity of our dress is an +outward form which is not required. It was put on to separate us from +others, and as a proof that we had discarded vanity. I am aware that it +is not a proof of our sincerity; but still, the discarding of the dress +is a proof of insincerity. We consider, that to admire the person is +vain, and our creed is humility. It is therefore an outward and visible +sign, that we would act up to those tenets which we profess. It is not +all who wear the dress who are Quakers in heart or conduct; but we know +that when it is put aside, the tenets of our persuasion are at the same +time renounced, therefore do we consider it essential. I do not mean to +say but that the heart may be as pure, and the faith continue as stedfast +without such signs outwardly, but it is a part of our creed, and we must +not choose, but either reject all or none.'" + +"Very well argued by the little Quakeress; and now, Japhet, I should +like to put another question to you. Are you very much attached to this +young puritan?" + +"I will not deny but that I am. I love her sincerely." + +"Does your love carry you so far, that you would, for her sake, continue +a Quaker, and marry her?" + +"I have asked myself that question at least a hundred times during the +last twenty-four hours, and I cannot decide. If she would dress as others +do, and allow me to do the same, I would marry her to-morrow; whether I +shall ever make up my mind to adhere to the persuasion, and live and die +a Quaker for her sake, is quite another matter--but I am afraid not--I +am too worldly-minded. The fact is, I am in a very awkward position with +respect to her. I have never acknowledged my affection, or asked for a +return, but she knows I love her, and I know that she loves me." + +"Like all vain boys, you flatter yourself." + +"I leave you to judge, sir," replied I, repeating to him our parting +_tete-a-tete_, and how I had returned, and found her in tears. + +"All that certainly is very corroborative evidence; but tell me, Japhet, +do you think she loves you well enough to abandon all for your sake?" + +"No, nor ever will, sir, she is too high principled, too high-minded. +She might suffer greatly, but she never would swerve from what she +thought was right." + +"She must be a fine character, Japhet, but you will be in a dilemma: +indeed, it appears to me, that your troubles are now commencing instead +of ending, and that you would have been much happier where you were, than +you will be by being again brought out into the world. Your prospect is +not over cheerful. You have an awkward father to deal with: you will be +under a strong check, I've a notion, and I am afraid you will find that, +notwithstanding you will be once more received into society, all is +vanity and vexation of spirit." + +"I am afraid you are right, sir," replied I, "but, at all events, it +will be something gained, to be acknowledged to the world by a father of +good family, whatever else I may have to submit to. I have been the sport +of fortune all my life, and probably she has not yet done playing with +me; but it is late, and I will now wish you good-night." + +"Good-night, Japhet; if I have any intelligence I will let you know. Lady +de Clare's address is No. 13, Park Street. You will, of course, go there +as soon as you can." + +"I will, sir, after I have written my letters to my friends at Reading." + + + + +Chapter LXXII + + I am a little jealous, and, like the immortal William[A] Bottom, + inclined to enact more parts than one.--With a big effort my + hankering after bigamy is mastered by Mr Masterton--and by my own + good sense. + + [Footnote A: Or rather Nick--Ed.] + + +I returned home to reflect upon what Mr Masterton had told me, and I must +say that I was not very well pleased with his various information. His +account of my mother, although she was no more, distressed me, and, from +the character which he gave of my father, I felt convinced that my +happiness would not be at all increased by my having finally attained +the long-desired object of my wishes. Strange to say, I had no sooner +discovered my father, but I wished that he had never turned up; and when +I compared the peaceful and happy state of existence which I had lately +enjoyed, with the prospects of what I had in future to submit to, I +bitterly repented that the advertisement had been seen by Timothy; still, +on one point, I was peculiarly anxious, without hardly daring to +anatomise my feelings; it was relative to Cecilia de Clare, and what Mr +Masterton had mentioned in the course of our conversation. The next +morning I wrote to Timothy and to Mr Cophagus, giving them a shortdetail +of what I had been informed by Mr Masterton, and expressing a wish, which +I then really did feel, that I had never been summoned away from them. + +Having finished my letters, I set off to Park Street, to call upon Lady +de Clare and Cecilia. It was rather early, but the footman who opened the +door recognised me, and I was admitted upon his own responsibility. It +was now more than eighteen months since I had quitted their house at +Richmond, and I was very anxious to know what reception I might have. I +followed the servant up stairs, and when he opened the door walked in, +as my name was announced. + +Lady de Clare rose in haste, so did Cecilia, and so did a third person, +whom I had not expected to have met--Harcourt. "Mr Newland," exclaimed +Lady de Clare, "this is indeed unexpected." Cecilia also came forward, +blushing to the forehead. Harcourt held back, as if waiting for the +advances to be made on my side. On the whole, I never felt more +awkwardly, and I believe my feelings were reciprocated by the whole +party. I was evidently _de trop_. + +"Do you know Mr Harcourt?" at last said Lady de Clare. + +"If it is the Mr Harcourt I once knew," replied I, "I certainly do." + +"Believe me it is the same, Newland," said Harcourt, coming to me and +offering his hand, which I took with pleasure. + +"It is a long while since we met," observed Cecilia, who felt it +necessary to say something, but, at the same time, did not like to enter +upon my affairs before Harcourt. + +"It is, Miss de Clare," replied I, for I was not exactly pleased at my +reception; "but I have been fortunate since I had the pleasure of seeing +you last." + +Cecilia and her mother looked earnestly, as much as to say, "in +what?"--but did not like to ask the question. + +"There is no one present who is not well acquainted with my history," +observed I, "that is, until the time that I left you and Lady de +Clare, and I have no wish to create mystery. I have at last discovered +my father." + +"I hope we are to congratulate you, Mr Newland," said Lady de Clare. + +"As far as respectability and family are concerned, I certainly have no +reason to be ashamed," replied I. "He is the brother of an earl, and a +general in the army. His name I will not mention until I have seen him, +and I am formally and openly acknowledged. I have also the advantage of +being an only son, and if I am not disinherited, heir to considerable +property," continued I, smiling sarcastically. "Perhaps I may now be +better _received_ than I have been as Japhet Newland the Foundling: but, +Lady de Clare, I am afraid that I have intruded unseasonably, and will +now take my leave. Good morning;" and without waiting for a reply, I +made a hasty retreat, and gained the door. + +Flushed with indignation, I had nearly gained the bottom of the stairs, +when I heard a light footstep behind me, and my arm was caught by +Cecilia de Clare. I turned round, and she looked me reproachfully in the +face, as the tear stood in her eye. + +"What have we done, Japhet, that you should treat us in this manner?" +said she, with emotion. + +"Miss de Clare," replied I, "I have no reproaches to make. I perceived +that my presence was not welcome, and I would no further intrude." + +"Are you then so proud, now that you have found out that you are well +born, Japhet?" + +"I am much too proud to intrude where I am not wished for, Miss de +Clare. As Japhet Newland, I came here to see the Fleta of former days. +When I assume my real name, I shall always be most happy of an +introduction to the daughter of Lady de Clare." + +"Oh! how changed," exclaimed she, fixing her large blue eyes upon me. + +"Prosperity changes us all, Miss de Clare. I wish you a very good +morning;" and I turned away, and crossed the hall to the door. + +As I went out I could not help looking back, and I perceived that +Cecilia's handkerchief was held to her eyes, as she slowly mounted the +stairs. I walked home to the Piazza in no very pleasant humour. I was +angry and disgusted at the coolness of my reception. I thought myself ill +used, and treated with ingratitude. "So much for the world," said I, as +I sat down in my apartment, and spun my hat on the table. "She has been +out two seasons, and is no longer the same person. Yet how lovely she has +grown! But why this change--and why was Harcourt there? Could he have +prejudiced them against me? Very possibly." While these ideas were +running in my mind, and I was making comparisons between Cecilia de +Clare and Susannah Temple--not much in favour of the former--and looking +forward prospectively to the meeting with my father, the doubts as to my +reception in society colouring everything with the most sombre tints, the +door opened, and in walked Harcourt, announced by the waiter. + +"A chair for Mr Harcourt," said I to the waiter, with formality. + +"Newland," said Harcourt, "I come for two reasons: in the first place, +I am commissioned by the ladies, to assure you--" + +"I beg your pardon, Mr Harcourt, for interrupting you, but I require no +ambassador from the ladies in question. They may make you their +confidant if they please, but I am not at all inclined to do the same. +Explanation, after what I witnessed and felt this morning, is quite +unnecessary. I surrender all claims upon either Lady de Clare or her +daughter, if I ever was so foolhardy as to imagine that I had any. The +first reason of your visit it is therefore useless to proceed with. May +I ask the other reason which has procured me this honour?" + +"I hardly know, Mr Newland," replied Harcourt, colouring deeply, +"whether, after what you have now said, I ought to proceed with the +second--it related to myself." + +"I am all attention, Mr Harcourt," replied I, bowing politely. + +"It was to say, Mr Newland, that I should have taken the earliest +opportunity after my recovery, had you not disappeared so strangely, to +have expressed my sorrow for my conduct towards you, and to have +acknowledged that I had been deservedly punished: more perhaps by my own +feelings of remorse, than by the dangerous wound I had received by your +hand. I take even this opportunity, although not apparently a favourable +one, of expressing what I consider it my duty, as a gentleman who has +wronged another, to express. I certainly was going to add more, but there +is so little chance of its being well received, that I had better defer it +to some future opportunity. The time may come, and I certainly trust it +will come, when I may be allowed to prove to you that I am not deserving +of the coolness with which I am now received. Mr Newland, with every wish +for your happiness, I will now take my leave; but I must say, it is with +painful sentiments, as I feel that the result of this interview will be +the cause of great distress to those who are bound to you, not only by +gratitude, but sincere regard." + +Harcourt then bowed, and quitted the room. "It's all very well," muttered +I, "but I know the world, and am not to be soothed down by a few fine +words. I trust that they will be sorry for their conduct, but see me +again inside their doors they will not," and I sat down, trying to feel +satisfied with myself--but I was not; I felt that I had acted harshly, to +say no more. I ought to have listened to an explanation sent by Cecilia +and her mother, after her coming down stairs to expostulate. They were +under great obligations to me, and by my quick resentment, I rendered the +obligations more onerous. It was unkind of me--and I wished that Harcourt +had not left the room. As for his conduct, I tried to find fault with it, +but could not. It was gentlemanly and feeling. The fact was, I was in a +very bad humour, and could not, at the time, discover the reason, which +was neither more nor less than that I was more jealous of finding +Harcourt so intimate at Lady de Clare's, than I was at the unpalatable +reception which I had met with. The waiter came in, and brought me a note +from Mr Masterton. + + "I have this morning received a summons from your father, who + returned, it appears, two days ago, and is now at the Adelphi + Hotel. I am sorry to say, that stepping out of his carriage when + travelling, he missed his footing, and has snapped his tendon + Achilles. He is laid up on a couch, and, as you may suppose, his + amiability is not increased by the accident, and the pain + attending it. As he has requested me to bring forward immediate + evidence as to your identity, and the presence of Mr Cophagus is + necessary, I propose that we start for Reading to-morrow at nine + o'clock. I have a curiosity to go down there, and having a + leisure day or two, it will be a relaxation. I wish to see my old + acquaintance Timothy, and your shop. Answer by bearer. + + J. MASTERTON." + +I wrote a few lines, informing Mr Masterton that I would be with him at +the appointed hour, and then sat down to my solitary meal. How different +from when I was last at this hotel! Now I knew nobody. I had to regain my +footing in society, and that could only be accomplished by being +acknowledged by my father; and, as soon as that was done, I would call +upon Lord Windermear, who would quickly effect what I desired. The next +morning I was ready at nine o'clock, and set off with post horses, with +Mr Masterton, in his own carriage. I told him what had occurred the day +before, and how disgusted I was at my reception. + +"Upon my word, Japhet, I think you are wrong," replied the old gentleman; +"and if you had not told me of your affection for Miss Temple, to see +whom, by-the-bye, I confess to be one of the chief motives of my going +down with you, I should almost suppose that you were blinded by jealousy. +Does it not occur to you, that, if Mr Harcourt was admitted to the +ladies at such an early hour, there is preference shown him in that +quarter? And now I recollect that I heard something about it. Harcourt's +elder brother died, and he's come into the property, and I heard somebody +say that he would in all probability succeed in gaining the handsomest +girl in London, with a large fortune--that it was said to be a match. +Now, if such be the case, and you broke in upon a quiet reunion between +two young people about to be united, almost without announcement, and so +unexpectedly, after a lapse of so long a time, surely you cannot be +surprised at there being a degree of confusion and restraint--more +especially after what had passed between Harcourt and you. Depend upon +it, that was the cause of it. Had Lady de Clare and her daughter been +alone, your reception would have been very different; indeed, Cecilia's +following you down stairs, proves that it was not from coolness towards +you; and Harcourt calling upon you, and the conversation which took +place, is another proof that you have been mistaken." + +"I never viewed it in that light, certainly, sir," observed I. "I merely +perceived that I was considered intrusive, and finding in the company one +who had treated me ill, and had been my antagonist in the field, I +naturally supposed that he had prejudiced them against me. I hope I may +be wrong; but I have seen so much of the world, young as I am, that I +have become very suspicious." + +"Then discard suspicion as fast as you can, it will only make you +unhappy, and not prevent your being deceived. If you are suspicious, +you will have the constant fear of deception hanging over you, which +poisons existence." + +After these remarks I remained silent for some time; I was analysing my +own feelings, and I felt that I had acted in a very absurd manner. The +fact was, that one of my castle buildings had been, that I was to marry +Fleta as soon as I had found my own father, and this it was which had +actuated me, almost without my knowing it. I felt jealous of Harcourt, +and that, without being in love with Miss de Clare, but actually +passionately fond of another person; I felt as if I could have married +her without loving her, and that I could give up Susannah Temple, whom +I did love, rather than that a being whom I considered as almost of my +own creation, should herself presume to fall in love, or that another +should dare to love her, until I had made up my mind whether I should +take her myself: and this after so long an absence, and their having +given up all hopes of ever seeing me again. The reader may smile at the +absurdity, still more at the selfishness of this feeling; so did I, when +I had reflected upon it, and I despised myself for my vanity and folly. + +"What are you thinking of, Japhet?" observed Mr Masterton, tired with my +long abstraction. + +"That I have been making a most egregious fool of myself, sir," replied +I, "with respect to the De Clares." + +"I did not say so, Japhet; but, to tell you the truth, I thought +something very like it. Now tell me, were you not jealous at finding her +in company with Harcourt?" + +"Exactly so, sir." + +"I'll tell Susannah Temple when I see her, that she may form some idea +of your constancy," replied Mr Masterton, smiling. "Why, what a dog in +the manger you must be--you can't marry them both. Still, under the +circumstances, I can analyse the feeling--it is natural, but all that is +natural is not always creditable to human nature. Let us talk a little +about Susannah, and then all these vagaries will be dispersed. How old +is she?" + +Mr Masterton plied me with so many questions relative to Susannah, that +her image alone soon filled my mind, and I recovered my spirits. "I +don't know what she will say, at my being in this dress, sir," observed +I. "Had I not better change it on my arrival?" + +"By no means; I'll fight your battle--I know her character pretty well, +thanks to your raving about her." + + + + +Chapter LXXIII + + Contains much learned argument upon broad-brims and garments of + grey--I get the best of it--The one great wish of my life is + granted--I meet my father, and a cold reception very indicative + of much after-heat. + + +We arrived in good time at Reading, and, as soon as we alighted at the +inn, we ordered dinner, and then walked down to the shop, where we found +Timothy very busy tying down and labelling. He was delighted to see Mr +Masterton, and perceiving that I had laid aside the Quaker's dress, made +no scruple of indulging in his humour, making a long face, and _thee_-ing +and _thou_-ing Mr Masterton in a very absurd manner. We desired him to go +to Mr Cophagus, and beg that he would allow me to bring Mr Masterton to +drink tea, and afterwards to call at the inn and give us the answer. We +then returned to our dinner. + +"Whether they will ever make a Quaker of you, Japhet, I am very +doubtful," observed Mr Masterton, as we walked back; "but as for making +one of that fellow Timothy, I'll defy them." + +"He laughs at everything," replied I: "and views everything in a +ridiculous light--at all events, they never will make him serious." + +In the evening, we adjourned to the house of Mr Cophagus, having received +a message of welcome. I entered the room first. Susannah came forward to +welcome me, and then drew back, when she perceived the alteration in my +apparel, colouring deeply. I passed her, and took the hand of Mrs +Cophagus and her husband, and then introduced Mr Masterton. + +"We hardly knew thee, Japhet," mildly observed Mrs Cophagus. + +"I did not think that outward garments would disguise me from my +friends," replied I; "but so it appeareth, for your sister hath not even +greeted me in welcome." + +"I greet thee in all kindness, and all sincerity, Japhet Newland," +replied Susannah, holding out her hand. "Yet did I not imagine that, in +so short a time, thou wouldst have dismissed the apparel of our +persuasion, neither do I find it seemly." + +"Miss Temple," interposed Mr Masterton, "it is to oblige those who are +his sincere friends, that Mr Newland has laid aside his dress. I quarrel +with no creed--every one has a right to choose for himself, and Mr +Newland has perhaps not chosen badly, in embracing your tenets. Let him +continue steadfast in them. But, fair young lady, there is no creed +which is perfect, and, even in yours, we find imperfection. Our religion +preaches humility, and therefore we do object to his wearing the garb +of pride." + +"Of pride, sayest thou? hath he not rather put off the garb of humility, +and now appeareth in the garb of pride?" + +"Not so, young madam: when we dress as all the world dress, we wear not +the garb of pride; but when we put on a dress different from others, +that distinguishes us from others, then we show our pride, and the worst +of pride, for it is the hypocritical pride which apes humility. It is +the Pharisee of the Scriptures, who preaches in high places, and sounds +forth his charity to the poor; not the humility of the Publican, who +says, 'Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner.' Your apparel of pretended +humility is the garb of pride, and for that reason have we insisted that +he discards it, when with us. His tenets we interfere not with. There +can be no religion in dress; and that must indeed be weak in itself, +which requires dress for its support." + +Susannah was astonished at this new feature of the case, so aptly put +by the old lawyer. Mrs Cophagus looked at her husband, and Cophagus +pinched my arm, evidently agreeing with him. When Mr Masterton had +finished speaking, Susannah waited a few seconds, and then replied, +"It becomes not one so young and weak as I am, to argue with thee, +who art so much my senior. I cannot cavil at opinions which, if not +correct, at least are founded on the holy writings; but I have been +otherwise instructed." + +"Then let us drop the argument, Miss Susannah, and let me tell you, that +Japhet wished to resume his Quaker's dress, and I would not permit him. +If there is any blame, it is to be laid to me; and it's no use being angry +with an old man like myself." + +"I have no right to be angry with anyone," replied Susannah. + +"But you were angry with me, Susannah," interrupted I. + +"I cannot say that it was anger, Japhet Newland: I hardly know what the +feeling might have been; but I was wrong, and I must request thy +forgiveness;" and Susannah held out her hand. + +"Now you must forgive me too, Miss Temple," said old Masterton, and +Susannah laughed against her wishes. + +The conversation then became general. Mr Masterton explained to Mr +Cophagus what he required of him, and Mr Cophagus immediately acceded. +It was arranged that he should go to town by the mail the next day. Mr +Masterton talked a great deal about my father, and gave his character in +its true light, as he considered it would be advantageous to me so to do. +He then entered into conversation upon a variety of topics, and was +certainly very amusing. Susannah laughed very heartily before the evening +was over, and Mr Masterton retired to the hotel, for I had resolved to +sleep in my own bed. + +I walked home with Mr Masterton: I then returned to the house, and found +them all in the parlour. Mrs Cophagus was expressing her delight at the +amusement she had received, when I entered with a grave face. "I wish +that I had not left you," said I to Mrs Cophagus; "I am afraid to meet my +father; he will exact the most implicit obedience. What am I to do. Must +not I obey him?" + +"In all things lawful," replied Susannah, "most certainly, Japhet." + +"In all things lawful, Susannah! now tell me, in the very case of my +apparel; Mr Masterton says, that he never will permit me to wear the +dress. What am I to do?" + +"Thou hast thy religion and thy Bible for thy guide, Japhet." + +"I have; and in the Bible I find written on tablets of stone by the +prophet of God, 'Honour thy father and thy mother;' there is a positive +commandment; but I find no commandment to wear this or that dress. What +think you?" continued I, appealing to them all. + +"I should bid thee honour thy father, Japhet," replied Mrs Cophagus, +"and you, Susannah--" + +"I shall bid thee good-night, Japhet." + +At this reply we all laughed, and I perceived there was a smile on +Susannah's face as she walked away. Mrs Cophagus followed her, laughing +as she went, and Cophagus and I were alone. + +"Well, Japhet--see old gentleman--kiss--shake hands--and blessing--and +so on." + +"Yes, sir," replied I, "but if he treats me ill, I shall probably come +down here again. I am afraid that Susannah is not very well pleased with +me." + +"Pooh, nonsense--wife knows all--die for you--Japhet, do as you +please--dress yourself--dress her--any dress--no dress like Eve--sly +puss--won't lose you--all right--and so on." + +I pressed Mr Cophagus to tell me all he knew, and I found from him that +his wife had questioned Susannah soon after my departure, had found her +weeping, and that she had gained from her the avowal of her ardent +affection for me. This was all I wanted, and I wished him good-night, and +went to bed happy. I had an interview with Susannah Temple before I left +the next morning, and, although I never mentioned love, had every reason +to be satisfied. She was kind and affectionate; spoke to me in her usual +serious manner, warned me against the world, acknowledged that I should +have great difficulties to surmount, and even made much allowance for my +peculiar situation. She dared not advise, but she would pray for me. +There was a greater show of interest and confidence towards me than I +had ever yet received from her. When I parted from her I said, "Dear +Susannah, whatever change may take place in my fortunes or in my dress, +believe me, my heart shall not be changed, and I shall ever adhere to +those principles which have been instilled into me since I have been in +your company." + +This was a phrase which admitted of a double meaning, and she replied, +"I should wish to see thee perfect, Japhet; but there is no perfection +now on earth; be therefore as perfect as you can." + +"God bless you, Susannah." + +"May the blessing of the Lord be on you always, Japhet," replied she. + +I put my arm round her waist, and slightly pressed her to my bosom. She +gently disengaged herself, and her large eyes glistened with tears as she +left the room. In a quarter of an hour I was with Mr Masterton on the road +to London. + +"Japhet," said the old gentleman, "I will say that you have been very +wise in your choice, and that your little Quaker is a most lovely +creature: I am in love with her myself, and I think that she is far +superior in personal attractions to Cecilia de Clare." + +"Indeed, sir!" + +"Yes, indeed; her face is more classical, and her complexion is +unrivalled; as far as my present knowledge and experience go, she is an +emblem of purity." + +"Her mind, sir, is as pure as her person." + +"I believe it; she has a strong mind, and will think for herself." + +"There, sir, is, I am afraid, the difficulty; she will not yield a point +in which she thinks she is right, not even for her love for me." + +"I agree with you that she will not, and I admire her for it; but, +Japhet, she will yield to conviction, and, depend upon it, she will +abandon the outward observances of her persuasion. Did you observe what +a spoke I put in your wheel last night, when I stated that outward forms +were pride. Leave that to work, and I'll answer for the consequences: she +will not long wear that Quaker's dress. How beautiful she would be if she +dressed like other people! I think I see her now entering a ball-room." + +"But what occasions you to think she will abandon her persuasion?" + +"I do not say that she will abandon it, nor do I wish her to do it, nor +do I wish you to do it, Japhet. There is much beauty and much perfection +in the Quaker's creed. All that requires to be abandoned are the dress +and the ceremonies of the meetings, which are both absurdities. +Recollect, that Miss Temple has been brought up as a Quaker; she has, +from the exclusiveness of the sect, known no other form of worship, and +never heard any opposition to that which has been inculcated; but let +her once or twice enter the Established Church, hear its beautiful +ritual, and listen to a sound preacher. Let her be persuaded to do that, +which cannot be asking her to do wrong, and then let her think and act +for herself, and my word for it, when she draws the comparison between +what she has then heard and the nonsense occasionally uttered in the +Quakers' conventicle, by those who fancy themselves inspired, she will +herself feel that, although the tenets of her persuasion may be more in +accordance with true Christianity than those of other sects, the outward +forms and observances are imperfect. I trust to her own good sense." + +"You make me very happy by saying so." "Well, that is my opinion of her, +and if she proves me to be correct, hang me if I don't think I shall +adopt her." + +"What do you think of Mrs Cophagus, sir?" + +"I think she is no more a Quaker in her heart than I am. She is a +lively, merry, kind-hearted creature, and would have no objection to +appear in feathers and diamonds to-morrow." + +"Well, sir, I can tell you that Mr Cophagus still sighs after his blue +cotton-net pantaloons and Hessian boots." + +"More fool he! but, however, I am glad of it, for it gives me an idea +which I shall work upon by-and-bye; at present we have this eventful +meeting between you and your father to occupy us." + +We arrived in town in time for dinner, which Mr Masterton had ordered at +his chambers. As the old gentleman was rather tired with his two days' +travelling, I wished him good-night at an early hour. + +"Recollect, Japhet, we are to be at the Adelphi hotel to-morrow at one +o'clock--come in time." + +I called upon Mr Masterton at the time appointed on the ensuing day, and +we drove to the hotel in which my father had located himself. On our +arrival, we were ushered into a room on the ground floor, where we found +Mr Cophagus and two of the governors of the Foundling Hospital. + +"Really, Mr Masterton," said one of the latter gentlemen, "one would +think that we were about to have an audience with a sovereign prince, +and, instead of conferring favours, were about to receive them. My time +is precious; I ought to have been in the city this half hour, and here +is this old nabob keeping us waiting as if we were petitioners." + +Mr Masterton laughed and said, "Let us all go up stairs, and not wait to +be sent for." + +He called one of the waiters, and desired him to announce them to +General De Benyon. They then followed the waiter, leaving me alone. I +must say, that I was a little agitated; I heard the door open above, +and then an angry growl like that of a wild beast; the door closed again, +and all was quiet. "And this," thought I, "is the result of all my fond +anticipations, of my ardent wishes, of my enthusiastic search. Instead +of expressing anxiety to receive his son, he litigiously requires proofs, +and more proofs, when he has received every satisfactory proof, already. +They say his temper is violent beyond control, and that submission +irritates instead of appeasing him; what then if I resent? I have heard +that people of that description are to be better met with their own +weapons;--suppose I try it;--but no, I have no right;--I will however be +firm and keep my temper under every circumstance; I will show him, at +least, that his son has the spirit and the feelings of a gentleman." + +As these thoughts passed in my mind the door opened, and Mr Masterton +requested me to follow him. I obeyed with a palpitating heart, and when +I had gained the landing-place up stairs, Mr Masterton took my hand and +led me into the presence of my long-sought-for and much-dreaded _parent_. +I may as well describe him and the whole tableau. The room was long and +narrow, and, at the farther end, was a large sofa, on which was seated +my father with his injured leg reposing on it, his crutches propped +against the wall. On each side of him were two large poles and stands +each with a magnificent macaw. Next to the macaws were two native +servants, arrayed in their muslin dresses, with their arms folded. +A hooka was in advance of the table before the sofa; it was magnificently +wrought in silver, and the snake passed under the table, so that the +tube was within my honoured father's reach. On one side of the room sat +the two governors of the Foundling Hospital, on the other was seated Mr +Cophagus in his Quaker's dress; the empty chair next to him had been +occupied by Mr Masterton. I looked at my father: he was a man of great +size, apparently six feet three or four inches, and stout in proportion +without being burthened with fat: he was gaunt, broad shouldered, and +muscular, and I think, must have weighed seventeen or eighteen stone. +His head was in proportion to his body and very large; so were all his +features upon the same grand scale. His complexion was of a +brownish-yellow, and his hair of a snowy white. He wore his whiskers +very large and joined together under the throat, and these, which were +also white, from the circle which they formed round his face, and +contrasting with the colour of his skin, gave his _tout ensemble_ much +more the appearance of a royal Bengal tiger than a gentleman. General +De Benyon saw Mr Masterton leading me forward to within a pace or two of +the table before the general.--"Allow me the pleasure of introducing +your son, Japhet." + +There was no hand extended to welcome me. My father fixed his proud grey +eyes upon me for a moment, and then turned to the governors of the +hospital. + +"Is this the person, gentlemen, whom you received as an infant and +brought up as Japhet Newland?" + +The governors declared I was the same person; that they had bound me to +Mr Cophagus, and had seen me more than once since I quitted the Asylum. + +"Is this the Japhet Newland whom you received from these gentlemen and +brought up to your business?" + +"Yea, and verily--I do affirm the same--smart lad--good boy, and so on." + +"I will not take a Quaker's affirmation--will you take your oath, sir?" + +"Yes," replied Cophagus, forgetting his Quakership; "take oath--bring +Bible--kiss book, and so on." + +"You then, as a Quaker, have no objection to swear to the identity of +this person?" + +"Swear," cried Cophagus, "yes, swear--swear now--not Japhet!--I'm +damned--go to hell, and so on." + +The other parties present could not help laughing at this explosion from +Cophagus, neither could I. Mr Masterton then asked the general if he +required any more proofs. + +"No," replied the general discourteously; and speaking in Hindostanee +to his attendants, they walked to the door and opened it. The hint was +taken, Mr Masterton saying to the others in an ironical tone, "After so +long a separation, gentlemen, it must be natural that the general should +wish to be left alone, that he may give vent to his paternal feelings." + + + + +Chapter LXXIV + + Father and I grow warm in our argument--Obliged to give him a + little schooling to show my affection--Takes it at last very + kindly, and very dutifully owns himself a fool. + + +In the meantime, I was left standing in the middle of the room; the +gentlemen departed, and the two native servants resumed their stations +on each side of the sofa. I felt humiliated and indignant, but waited in +silence; at last, my honoured parent, who had eyed me for some time, +commenced. + +"If you think, young man, to win my favour by your good looks, you are +very much mistaken: you are too like your mother, whose memory is +anything but agreeable." + +The blood mounted to my forehead at this cruel observation; I folded my +arms and looked my father steadfastly in the face, but made no reply. +The choler of the gentleman was raised. + +"It appears that I have found a most dutiful son." + +I was about to make an angry answer, when I recollected myself, and I +courteously replied, "My dear general, depend upon it that your son will +always be ready to pay duty to whom duty is due; but excuse me, in the +agitation of this meeting you have forgotten those little attentions +which courtesy demands; with your permission I will take a chair, and +then we may converse more at our ease. I hope your leg is better." + +I said this with the blandest voice and the most studied politeness, and +drawing a chair towards the table, I took my seat; as I expected, it put +my honoured father in a tremendous rage. + +"If this is a specimen, sir, of your duty and respect, sir, I hope to +see no more of them. To whom your duty is due, sir!--and pray to whom +is it due, sir, if not to the author of your existence?" cried the +general, striking the table before him with his enormous fist, so as to +make the ink fly out of the stand some inches high and bespatter the +papers near it. + +"My dear father, you are perfectly correct: duty, as you say, is due to +the author of our existence. If I recollect right, the commandment says, +'Honour your father and your mother;' but at the same time, if I may +venture to offer an observation, are there not such things as reciprocal +duties--some which are even more paramount in a father than the mere +begetting of a son?" + +"What do you mean, sir, by these insolent remarks?" interrupted my father. + +"Excuse me, my dear father, I may be wrong, but if so, I will bow to your +superior judgment; but it does appear to me, that the mere hanging me in +a basket at the gate of the Foundling Hospital, and leaving me a +bank-note of fifty pounds to educate and maintain me until the age of +twenty-four, are not exactly all the duties incumbent upon a parent. If +you think that they are, I am afraid that the world, as well as myself, +will be of a different opinion. Not that I intend to make any complaint, +as I feel assured that now circumstances have put it in your power, it is +your intention to make me amends for leaving me so long in a state of +destitution, and wholly dependent upon my own resources." + +"You do, do you, sir? well, now, I'll tell you my resolution, which +is--there is the door--go out, and never let me see your face again." + +"My dear father, as I am convinced this is only a little pleasantry on +your part, or perhaps a mere trial whether I am possessed of the spirit +and determination of a De Benyon, I shall, of course, please you by not +complying with your humorous request." + +"Won't you, by G--d!" roared my father; then turning to his two native +servants, he spoke to them in Hindostanee. They immediately walked to the +door, threw it wide open, and then coming back to me, were about to take +me by the arms. I certainly felt my blood boil, but I recollected how +necessary it was to keep my temper. I rose from my chair, and advancing +to the side of the sofa, I said. + +"My dear father, as I perceive that you do not require your crutches at +this moment, you will not perhaps object to my taking one. These foreign +scoundrels must not be permitted to insult _you_ through the person of +your only son." + +"Turn him out," roared my father. + +The natives advanced, but I whirled the crutch round my head, and in a +moment they were both prostrate. As soon as they gained their feet, I +attacked them again, until they made their escape out of the room; I +then shut the door and turned the key. + +"Thank you, my dear sir," said I, returning the crutch to where it was +before. "Many thanks for thus permitting me to chastise the insolence +of these black scoundrels, whom I take it for granted, you will +immediately discharge;" and I again took my seat in the chair, bringing +it closer to him. + +The rage of the general was now beyond all bounds; the white foam was +spluttered out of his mouth, as he in vain endeavoured to find words. +Once he actually rose from the sofa, to take the law in his own hands, +but the effort seriously injured his leg, and he threw himself down in +pain and disappointment. + +"My dear father, I am afraid that, in your anxiety to help me, you have +hurt your leg again," said I, in a soothing voice. + +"Sirrah, sirrah," exclaimed he at last; "if you think that this will do, +you are very much mistaken. You don't know me. You may turn out a couple +of cowardly blacks, but now I'll show you that I am not to be played +with. I discard you for ever--I disinherit--I disacknowledge you. You +may take your choice, either to quit this room, or be put into the hands +of the police." + +"The police, my dear sir! What can the police do?" + +"I may call in the police for the assault just committed by your +servants, and have them up to Bow Street, but you cannot charge me with +an assault." + +"But I will, by G--d, sir, true or not true." + +"Indeed you would not, my dear father. A De Benyon would never be guilty +of a lie. Besides, if you were to call in the police;--I wish to argue +this matter coolly, because I ascribe your present little burst of +ill-humour to your sufferings from your unfortunate accident. Allowing +then, my dear father, that you were to charge me with an assault, I +should immediately be under the necessity of charging you also, and then +we must both go to Bow Street together. Were you ever at Bow Street, +general?" The general made no reply, and I proceeded. "Besides, my dear +sir, only imagine how very awkward it would be when the magistrate put +you on your oath, and asked you to make your charge. What would you be +obliged to declare? That you had married when young, and finding that +your wife had no fortune, had deserted her the second day after your +marriage. That you, an officer in the army, and the Honourable Captain +De Benyon, had hung up your child at the gates of the Foundling +Hospital--that you had again met your wife, married to another, and had +been an accomplice in concealing her capital offence of bigamy, and had +had meetings with her, although she belonged to another. I say meetings, +for you did meet her, to receive her directions about me. I am +charitable and suspect nothing--others will not be so. Then, after her +death, you come home, and inquire about your son. His identity is +established,--and what then? not only you do not take him by the hand, +in common civility, I might say, but you first try to turn him out of +the house, and to give him in charge of the police: and then you will +have to state for what. Perhaps you will answer me that question, for +I really do not know." + +By this time, my honoured father's wrath had, to a certain degree, +subsided; he heard all I had to say, and he felt how very ridiculous +would have been his intended proceedings, and, as his wrath subsided, +so did his pain increase; he had seriously injured his leg, and it was +swelling rapidly--the bandages tightened in consequence, and he was +suffering under the acutest pain, "Oh, oh!" groaned he. + +"My dear father, can I assist you?" + +"Ring the bell, sir." + +"There is no occasion to summon assistance while I am here, my dear +general. I can attend you professionally, and if you will allow me, will +soon relieve your pain. Your leg has swollen from exertion, and the +bandages must be loosened." + +He made no reply, but his features were distorted with extreme pain. I +went to him, and proceeded to unloose the bandages, which gave him +considerable relief. I then replaced them, _secundum artem_, and with +great tenderness, and going to the sideboard, took the lotion which was +standing there with the other bottles, and wetted the bandages. In a few +minutes he was quite relieved. "Perhaps, sir," said I, "you had better +try to sleep a little. I will take a book, and shall have great pleasure +in watching by your side." + +Exhausted with pain and violence, the general made no reply; he fell back +on the sofa, and, in a short time, he snored most comfortably. "I have +conquered you," thought I, as I watched him as he lay asleep. "If I have +not yet, I will, that I am resolved." I walked gently to the door, +unlocked it, and opening it without waking him, ordered some broth to +be brought up immediately, saying that the general was asleep, and that +I would wait for it outside. I accomplished this little manoeuvre, and +re-closed the door without waking my father, and then I took my seat in +the chair, and resumed my book, having placed the broth on the side of +the fire-grate to keep it warm. In about an hour he awoke, and looked +around him. + +"Do you want anything, my dearest father?" inquired I. + +The general appeared undecided as to whether to recommence hostilities, +but at last he said, "I wish the attendance of my servants, sir." + +"The attendance of a servant can never be equal to that of your own son, +general," replied I, going to the fire, and taking the basin of broth, +which I replaced upon the tray containing the _et ceteras_ on a napkin. +"I expected you would require your broth, and I have had it ready for +you." + +"It was what I did require, sir, I must acknowledge," replied my father, +and without further remark he finished the broth. + +I removed the tray, and then went for the lotion, and again wetted the +bandages on his leg. "Is there anything else I can do for you, sir?" +said I. + +"Nothing--I am very comfortable." + +"Then, sir," replied I, "I will now take my leave. You have desired me +to quit your presence for ever; and you attempted force. I resisted that, + because I would not allow you to have the painful remembrance that you +had injured one who had strong claims upon you, and had never injured +you. I resented it also, because I wished to prove to you that I was a +De Benyon, and had spirit to resist an insult. But, general, if you +imagine that I have come here with a determination of forcing myself upon +you, you are much mistaken. I am too proud, and happily am independent by +my own exertions, so as not to require your assistance. Had you received +me kindly, believe me, you would have found a grateful and affectionate +heart to have met that kindness. You would have found a son, whose sole +object through life has been to discover a father, after whom he has +yearned, who would have been delighted to have administered to his wants, +to have yielded to his wishes, to have soothed him in his pain, and to +have watched him in his sickness. Deserted as I have been for so many +years, I trust that I have not disgraced you, General De Benyon; and if +ever I have done wrong, it has been from a wish to discover you. I can +appeal to Lord Windermear for the truth of that assertion. Allow me to +say, that it is a very severe trial--an ordeal which few pass through +with safety--to be thrown as I have been upon the world, with no friend, +no parent to assist or to advise me, to have to bear up against the +contingency of being of unacknowledged and perhaps disgraceful birth. +It is harder still, when I expected to find my dearest wishes realised, +that without any other cause than that of my features resembling those +of my mother, I am to be again cast away. One thing, General De Benyon, +I request, and I trust it will not be denied, which is, that I may assume +the name which I am entitled to. I pledge you that I never will disgrace +it. And now, sir, asking and expecting no more, I take my leave, and you +may be assured, that neither poverty, privation, nor affliction of any +kind, will ever induce me to again intrude into your presence. General +De Benyon, farewell for ever." + +I made my father a profound bow, and was quitting the room. + +"Stop, sir," said the general. "Stop one moment, if you please." + +I obeyed. + +"Why did you put me out of temper? Answer me that." + +"Allow me to observe, sir, that I did not put you out of temper; and +what is more, that I never lost my own temper during the insult and +injury which I so undeservedly and unexpectedly have received." + +"But that very keeping your temper made me more angry, sir." + +"That is very possible; but surely I was not to blame. The greatest proof +of a perfect gentleman is, that he is able to command his temper, and I +wished you to acknowledge that I was not without such pretensions." + +"That is as much as to say that your father is no gentleman; and this, +I presume, is a specimen of your filial duty," replied the general, +warmly. + +"Far from it, sir; there are many gentlemen who, unfortunately, cannot +command their tempers, and are more to be pitied than blamed for it; +but, sir, when such happens to be the case, they invariably redeem +their error, and amply so, by expressing their sorrow, and offering +an apology." + +"That is as much as to say, that you expect me to apologise to you." + +"Allow me, sir, to ask you, did you ever know a De Benyon submit to +an insult?" + +"No, sir, I trust not." + +"Then, sir, those whose feelings of pride will not allow them to submit +to an insult ought never to insult others. If, in the warmth of the +moment, they have done so, that pride should immediately induce them +to offer an apology, not only due to the party, but to their own +characters. There is no disgrace in making an apology when we are in +error, but there is a great disgrace in withholding such an act of +common justice and reparation." + +"I presume I am to infer from all this, that you expect an apology +from me?" + +"General De Benyon, as far as I am concerned, that is now of little +importance; we part, and shall probably never meet again; if you think +that it would make you feel more comfortable, I am willing to receive it." + +"I must suppose by that observation, that you fully expect it, and +otherwise will not stay?" + +"I never had a thought of staying, general; you have told me that you +have disinherited and discarded me for ever; no one with the feelings +of a man would ever think of remaining after such a declaration." + +"Upon what terms, then, sir, am I to understand that you will consent to +remain with me, and forget all that has passed?" + +"My terms are simple, general; you must say that you retract what you +have said, and are very sorry for having insulted me." + +"And without I do that, you will never come here again?" + +"Most decidedly not, sir. I shall always wish you well, pray for your +happiness, be sorry at your death, and attend your funeral as chief +mourner, although you disinherit me. That is my duty, in return for my +having taken your name, and your having acknowledged that I am your son; +but live with you, or even see you occasionally, I will not, after what +has passed this day, without you make me an apology." + +"I was not aware that it was necessary for a father to apologise to +his son." + +"If you wrong a stranger, you offer an apology; how much more is it due +to a near relation?" + +"But a parent has claims upon his own son, sir, for which he is bound to +tender his duty." + +"I grant it, in the ordinary course of things in this life; but, General +De Benyon, what claims have you as a parent upon me? A son in most cases +is indebted to his parents for their care and attention in infancy--his +education--his religious instruction--his choice of a profession, and +his advancement in life, by their exertions and interest; and when they +are called away, he has a reasonable expectation of their leaving him a +portion of their substance. They have a heavy debt of gratitude to pay +for what they have received, and they are further checked by the hopes +of what they may hereafter receive. Up to this time, sir, I have not +received the first, and this day I am told that I need not expect the +last. Allow me to ask you, General De Benyon, upon what grounds you +claim from me a filial duty? certainly not for benefits received, or +for benefits in expectation; but I feel that I am intruding, and +therefore, sir, once more, with every wish for your happiness, I take +my leave." + +I went out, and had half closed the door after me, when the general +cried out, "Stop--don't go--Japhet--my son--I was in a passion--I beg +your pardon--don't mind what I said--I'm a passionate old fool." + +As he uttered this in broken sentences, I returned to him. He held out +his hand. "Forgive me, boy--forgive your father." I knelt down and kissed +his hand; he drew me towards him, and I wept upon his bosom. + + + + +Chapter LXXV + + Father still dutifully submissive at home--Abroad, I am splitting + a straw in arguments with Susannah about straw bonnets--The rest + of the Chapter contains coquetry, courting, and costumes. + + +It was some time before we were sufficiently composed to enter into +conversation, and then I tried my utmost to please him. Still, there was +naturally a restraint on both sides, but I was so particular and devoted +in my attentions, so careful of giving offence, that when he complained +of weariness, and a wish to retire, he stipulated that I should be with +him to breakfast on the next morning. + +I hastened to Mr Masterton, although it was late, to communicate to him +all that had passed; he heard me with great interest. "Japhet," said he, +"you have done well--it is the proudest day of your life. You have +completely mastered him. The royal Bengal tiger is tamed. I wish you +joy, my dear fellow. Now I trust that all will be well. But keep your +own counsel, do not let this be known at Reading. Let them still imagine +that your father is as passionate as ever, which he will be, by-the-bye, +with everybody else. You have still to follow up your success, and leave +me to help you in other matters." + +I returned home to the Piazza, and, thankful to Heaven for the events of +the day, I soon fell fast asleep, and dreamt of Susannah Temple. The next +morning I was early at the Adelphi hotel; my father had not yet risen, +but the native servants who passed in and out, attending upon him, and +who took care to give me a wide berth, had informed him that "Burra +Saib's" son was come, and he sent for me. His leg was very painful and +uncomfortable, and the surgeon had not yet made his appearance. I +arranged it as before, and he then dressed, and came out to breakfast. +I had said nothing before the servants, but as soon as he was comfortable +on the sofa I took his hand, and kissed it, saying, "Good morning, my +dear father; I hope you do not repent of your kindness to me yesterday." + +"No, no; God bless you, boy. I've been thinking of you all night." + +"All's right," thought I; "and I trust to be able to keep it so." + +I shall pass over a fortnight, during which I was in constant attendance +upon my father. At times he would fly out in a most violent manner, but I +invariably kept my temper, and when it was all over, would laugh at him, +generally repeating and acting all which he had said and done during his +paroxysm. I found this rather dangerous ground at first, but by degrees +he became used to it, and it was wonderful how it acted as a check upon +him. He would not at first believe but that I exaggerated, when the +picture was held up to his view and he was again calm. My father was not +naturally a bad-tempered man, but having been living among a servile +race, and holding high command in the army, he had gradually acquired a +habit of authority and an impatience of contradiction which was +unbearable to all around. Those who were high-spirited and sensitive +shunned him; the servile and the base continued with him for their own +interests, but trembled at his wrath. I had during this time narrated to +my father the events of my life, and, I am happy to say, had, by +attention and kindness joined with firmness and good temper, acquired a +dominion over him. I had at his request removed to the hotel, and lived +with him altogether. His leg was rapidly arriving to a state of +convalescence, and he now talked of taking a house and setting up his +establishment in London. I had seen but little of Mr Masterton during +this time, as I had remained in-doors in attendance upon the general. I +had written once to Mr Cophagus, stating how I was occupied, but saying +nothing about our reconciliation. One morning, Mr Masterton called upon +us, and after a little conversation with the general, he told me that +he had persuaded Mr Cophagus and his wife to leave Reading and come to +London, and that Susannah Temple was to come with them. + +"On a visit?" inquired I. "No, not on a visit. I have seen Cophagus, and +he is determined to cut the Quakers, and reside in London altogether." + +"What! does he intend to return to the pomps and vanities of this wicked +world?" + +"Yes, I believe so, and his wife will join him. She has no objection to +decorate her pretty person." + +"I never thought that she had--but Susannah Temple--" + +"When Susannah is away from her friends, when she finds that her sister +and brother-in-law no longer wear the dress, and when she is constantly +in your company, to all which please to add the effect I trust of my +serious admonitions, she will soon do as others do, or she is no woman. +This is all my plan, and leave it to me--only play your part by seeing +as much of her as you can." + +"You need not fear that," replied I. + +"Does your father know of your attachment?" inquired Mr Masterton. + +"No, I passed her over without mentioning her name," replied I. "It is +too soon yet to talk to him about my marrying; in fact, the proposal +must, if possible, come from him. Could not you manage that?" + +"Yes, I will if I can; but, as you say, wait awhile. Here is their +address--you must call to-morrow, if you can; and do you think you can +dine with me on Thursday?" + +"Yes, if the general continues improving; if not, I will send you word." + +The next day I complained of a headache, and said, that I would walk out +until dinner-time. I hastened to the address given me by Mr Masterton, +and found that Mr Cophagus and his wife were out, but Susannah remained +at home. After our first questions, I inquired of her how she liked +London. + +"I am almost afraid to say, Japhet, at least to you; you would only +laugh at me." + +"Not so, Susannah; I never laugh when I know people are sincere." + +"It appears to me, then, to be a vanity fair." + +"That there is more vanity in London than in any other city, I grant," +replied I; "but recollect, that there are more people and more wealth. +I do not think that there is more in proportion than in other towns in +England, and if there is more vanity, Susannah, recollect also that +there is more industry, more talent, and I should hope a greater +proportion of good and honest people among its multitudes; there is also, +unfortunately, more misery and more crime." + +"I believe you are right, Japhet. Are you aware that Mr Cophagus has put +off his plain attire?" + +"If it grieves you, Susannah, it grieves me also; but I presume he finds +it necessary not to be so remarkable." + +"For him, I could find some excuse; but what will you say, Japhet, when +I tell you that my own sister, born and bred up to our tenets, hath also +deviated much from the dress of the females of our sect?" + +"In what hath she made an alteration?" + +"She has a bonnet of plaited straw with ribbons." + +"Of what colour are the ribbons?" + +"Nay, of the same as her dress--of grey." + +"Your bonnet, Susannah, is of grey silk; I do not see that there is +vanity in descending to straw, which is a more homely commodity. But +what reason has she given?" + +"That her husband wills it, as he does not like to walk out with her +in her Quaker's dress." + +"Is it not her duty to obey her husband, even as I obey my father, +Susannah?--but I am not ashamed to walk out with you in your dress; so +if you have no objection, let me show you a part of this great city." + +Susannah consented; we had often walked together in the town of Reading: +she was evidently pleased at what I said. I soon escorted her to Oxford +Street, from thence down Bond Street, and through all the most frequented +parts of the metropolis. The dress naturally drew upon her the casual +glance of the passengers, but her extreme beauty turned the glance to an +ardent gaze, and long before we had finished our intended walk, Susannah +requested that I would go home. She was not only annoyed but almost +alarmed at the constant and reiterated scrutiny which she underwent, +ascribing it to her dress, and not to her lovely person. As soon as we +returned I sat down with her. + +"So I understand that Mr Cophagus intends to reside altogether in London." + +"I have not heard so; I understood that it was business which called him +hither for a few weeks. I trust not, for I shall be unhappy here." + +"May I ask why?" + +"The people are rude--it is not agreeable to walk out." + +"Recollect, my dear Susannah, that those of your sect are not so plentiful +in London as elsewhere, and if you wear a dress so different from other +people, you must expect that curiosity will be excited. You cannot blame +them--it is you who make yourself conspicuous, almost saying to the people +by your garment, 'Come, and look at me.' I have been reflecting upon what +Mr Masterton said to you at Reading, and I do not know whether he was not +right in calling it a garb of pride instead of a garb of humility." + +"If I thought so, Japhet, even I would throw it off," replied Susannah. + +"It certainly is not pleasant that every one should think that you walk +out on purpose to be stared at, yet such is the ill-natured construction +of the world, and they will never believe otherwise. It is possible, I +should think, to dress with equal simplicity and neatness, to avoid gay +colours, and yet to dress so as not to excite observation." + +"I hardly know what to say, but that you all appear against me, and that +sometimes I feel that I am too presumptuous in thus judging for myself." + +"I am not against you, Susannah; I know you will do what you think is +right, and I shall respect you for that, even if I disagree with you; but +I must say, that if my wife were to dress in such a way as to attract the +public gaze, I should feel too jealous to approve of it. I do not, +therefore, blame Mr Cophagus for inducing his pretty wife to make some +alteration in her attire, neither do I blame but I commend her for +obeying the wishes of her husband. Her beauty is his, and not common +property." + +Susannah did not reply; she appeared very thoughtful. + +"You disagree with me, Susannah," said I, after a pause; "I am sorry for +it." + +"I cannot say that I do, Japhet; I have learned a lesson this day, and, +in future, I must think more humbly of myself, and be more ruled by the +opinions and judgment of others." + +Mr and Mrs Cophagus then came in. Cophagus had resumed his medical coat +and waistcoat, but not his pantaloons or Hessians: his wife, who had a +very good taste in dress, would not allow him. She was in her grey silk +gown, but wore a large handsome shawl, which covered all but the skirts; +on her head she had a Leghorn bonnet, and certainly looked very pretty. +As usual, she was all good-humour and smiles. I told them that we had +been walking out, and that Susannah had been much annoyed by the staring +of the people. + +"Always so," said Cophagus, "never mind--girls like it--feel pleased--and +so on." + +"You wrong me much, brother Cophagus," replied Susannah, "it pained me +exceedingly." + +"All very well to say so--know better--sly puss--will wear dress--people +say, pretty Quaker--and so on." + +Susannah hastily left the room after this attack, and I told them what +had passed. + +"Mrs Cophagus," said I, "order a bonnet and shawl like yours for her, +without telling her, and perhaps you will persuade her to put them on." + +Mrs Cophagus thought the idea excellent, and promised to procure them. +Susannah not making her re-appearance, I took leave and arrived at the +hotel in good time for dinner. + +"Japhet," said the general to me as we were at table, "you have mentioned +Lord Windermear very often, have you called upon him lately?" + +"No, sir, it is now two years and more since I have seen him. When I was +summoned to town to meet you, I was too much agitated to think of +anything else, and since that I have had too much pleasure in your +company." + +"Say, rather, my good boy, that you have nursed me so carefully that you +have neglected your friends and your health. Take my carriage to-morrow, +and call upon him, and after that, you had better drive about a little, +for you have been looking pale these last few days. I hope to get out +myself in a short time, and then we will have plenty of amusement +together in setting up our establishment." + + + + +Chapter LXXVI + + I renew old ties of friendship, and seek new ones of + love--Obliged to take my father to task once more--He receives + his lesson with proper obedience. + + +I took the carriage the next day, and drove to Lord Windermear's. He was +at home, and I gave my name to the servant as Mr De Benyon. It was the +first time that I had made use of my own name. His lordship was alone +when I entered. He bowed, as if not recognising me, and waved his hand +to a chair. + +"My lord, I have given my true name, and you treat me as a perfect +stranger. I will mention my former name, and I trust you will honour +me with a recognition. I was Japhet Newland." + +"My dear Mr Newland, you must accept my apology; but it is so long since +we met, and I did not expect to see you again." + +"I thought, my lord, that Mr Masterton had informed you of what had +taken place." + +"No; I have just come from a visit to my sisters in Westmoreland, and +have received no letters from him." + +"I have, my lord, at last succeeded in finding out the object of my mad +search, as you were truly pleased to call it, in the Honourable General +De Benyon, lately arrived from the East Indies." + +"Where his services are well known," added his lordship. "Mr De Benyon, +I congratulate you with all my heart. When you refused my offers of +assistance, and left us all in that mad way, I certainly despaired of +ever seeing you again. I am glad that you re-appear under such fortunate +auspices. Has your father any family?" + +"None, my lord, but myself; and my mother died in the East Indies." + +"Then I presume, from what I know at the Board of Control, that you +may _now_ safely be introduced as a young gentleman of large fortune; +allow me at least to assist your father in placing you in your proper +sphere in society. Where is your father?" + +"At present, my lord, he is staying at the Adelphi hotel, confined to +his room by an accident, but I trust that in a few days he will be able +to come out." + +"Will you offer my congratulations to him, and tell him, that if he will +allow me, I will have the honour of paying my respects to him. Will you +dine with me on Monday next?" + +I returned my thanks, accepted the invitation, and took my leave, his +lordship saying as he shook hands with me, "You don't know how happy +this intelligence has made me. I trust that your father and I shall be +good friends." + +When I returned to the carriage, as my father had desired me to take an +airing, I thought I might as well have a companion, so I directed them +to drive to Mr Cophagus's. The servant knocked, and I went in as soon +as the door was opened. Susannah and Mrs Cophagus were sitting in the +room. + +"Susannah," said I, "I know you do not like to walk out, so I thought, +perhaps, you would have no objection to take an airing in the carriage; +my father has lent it to me. Will you come?--it will do you good." + +"It is very kind of you, Japhet, to think of me; but--" + +"But what?" replied Mrs Cophagus. "Surely thou wilt not refuse, Susannah. +It would savour much of ingratitude on thy part." + +"I will not then be ungrateful," replied Susannah, leaving the room; +and in a short time she returned in a Leghorn bonnet and shawl like her +sister's. "Do not I prove that I am not ungrateful, Japhet, since to do +credit to thy carriage, I am content to depart from the rules of our +persuasion?" said Susannah, smiling. + +"I feel the kindness and the sacrifice you are making to please me, +Susannah," replied I; "but let us lose no time." + +I handed her down to the carriage, and we drove to the Park. It was a +beautiful day, and the Park was filled with pedestrians as well as +carriages. Susannah was much astonished, as well as pleased. "Now, +Susannah," said I, "if you were to call this Vanity Fair, you would +not be far wrong; but still, recollect that even all this is productive +of much good. Reflect how many industrious people find employment and +provision for their families by the building of these gay vehicles, +their painting and ornamenting. How many are employed at the loom, +and at the needle, in making these costly dresses. This vanity is the +cause of wealth not being hoarded, but finding its way through various +channels, so as to produce comfort and happiness to thousands." + +"Your observations are just, Japhet, but you have lived in the world, +and seen much of it. I am as one just burst from an egg-shell, all +amazement. I have been living in a little world of my own thoughts, +surrounded by a mist of ignorance, and not being able to penetrate +farther, have considered myself wise when I was not." + +"My dear Susannah, this is a chequered world, but not a very bad +one--there is in it much of good as well as evil. The sect to +which you belong avoid it--they know it not--and they are unjust +towards it. During the time that I lived at Reading, I will candidly +state to you that I met with many who called themselves of the +persuasion, who were wholly unworthy of it, but they made up in outward +appearance and hypocrisy, what they wanted in their conduct to their +fellow-creatures. Believe me, Susannah, there are pious and good, +charitable and humane, conscientious and strictly honourable people among +those who now pass before your view in such gay procession; but society +requires that the rich should spend their money in superfluities, that +the poor may be supported. Be not deceived, therefore, in future, by the +outward garments, which avail nothing." + +"You have induced me much to alter my opinions already, Japhet; so has +that pleasant friend of thine, Mr Masterton, who has twice called since +we have been in London, but is it not time that we should return?" + +"It is indeed later than I thought it was, Susannah," replied I, looking +at my watch, "and I am afraid that my father will be impatient for my +return. I will order them to drive home." + +As we drove along, leaning against the back of the carriage, my hand +happened to touch that of Susannah, which lay beside her on the cushion, +I could not resist taking it in mine, and it was not withdrawn. What my +thoughts were, the reader may imagine; Susannah's I cannot acquaint him +with; but in that position we remained in silence until the carriage +stopped at Cophagus's door. I handed Susannah out of the carriage, and +went up stairs for a few moments. Mrs Cophagus and her husband were out. + +"Susannah, this is very kind of you, and I return you my thanks. I never +felt more happy than when seated with you in that carriage." + +"I have received both amusement and instruction, Japhet, and ought to +thank you. Do you know what passed in my mind at one time?" + +"No--tell me." + +"When I first knew you, and you came among us, I was, as it were, the +guide, a presumptuous one perhaps to you, and you listened to me--now +it is reversed--now that we are removed and in the world, it is you that +are the guide, and it is I who listen and obey." + +"Because, Susannah, when we first met I was much in error, and had +thought too little of serious things, and you were fit to be my guide: +now we are mixing in the world, with which I am better acquainted than +yourself. You then corrected me, when I was wrong: I now point out to +you where you are not rightly informed: but, Susannah, what you have +learnt of me is as nought compared with the valuable precepts which I +gained from your lips--precepts which, I trust, no collision with the +world will ever make me forget." + +"Oh! I love to hear you say that; I was fearful that the world would +spoil you, Japhet; but it will not--will it?" + +"Not so long as I have you still with me, Susannah: but if I am obliged +to mix again with the world, tell me, Susannah, will you reject me?--will +you desert me?--will you return to your own people and leave me so +exposed? Susannah, dearest, you must know how long, how dearly I have +loved you:--you know that, if I had not been sent for and obliged to obey +the message, I would have lived and died content with you. Will you not +listen to me now, or do you reject me?" + +I put my arm round her waist, her head fell upon my shoulder, and she +burst into tears. "Speak, dearest, this suspense is torture to me," +continued I. + +"I do love you, Japhet," replied she at last, looking fondly at me +through her tears; "but I know not whether this earthly love may not +have weakened my affection towards Heaven. If so, may God pardon me, +for I cannot help it." After this avowal, for a few minutes, which +appeared seconds, we were in each other's arms, when Susannah disengaged +herself. + +"Dearest Japhet, thy father will be much displeased." "I cannot help +it," replied I, "I shall submit to his displeasure." + +"Nay, but, Japhet, why risk thy father's wrath?" + +"Well, then," replied I, attempting to reach her lips, "I will go." + +"Nay, nay--indeed, Japhet, you exact too much--it is not seemly." + +"Then I won't go." + +"Recollect about thy father." + +"It is you who detain me, Susannah." + +"I must not injure thee with thy father, Japhet, it were no proof of my +affection--but, indeed, you are self-willed." + +"God bless you, Susannah," said I, as I gained the contested point, and +hastened to the carriage. + +My father was a little out of humour when I returned, and questioned me +rather sharply as to where I had been. I half pacified him by delivering +Lord Windermear's polite message; but he continued his interrogations, +and although I had pointed out to him that a De Benyon would never be +guilty of an untruth, I am afraid I told some half dozen on this +occasion; but I consoled myself with the reflection, that, in the code +of honour of a fashionable man, he is bound, if necessary, to tell +falsehoods where a lady is concerned; so I said I had driven through +the streets looking at the houses, and had twice stopped and had gone +in to examine them. My father supposed that I had been looking out for +a house for him, and was satisfied. Fortunately they were job horses; +had they been his own I should have been in a severe scrape. Horses are +the only part of an establishment for which the gentlemen have any +consideration, and on which ladies have no mercy. + +I had promised the next day to dine with Mr Masterton. My father had +taken a great aversion to this old gentleman until I had narrated the +events of my life, in which he had played such a conspicuous and friendly +part. Then, to do my father justice, his heart warmed towards him. + +"My dear sir, I have promised to dine out to-day." + +"With whom, Japhet?" + +"Why, sir, to tell you the truth, with that 'old thief of a lawyer.'" + +"I am very much shocked at your using such an expression towards one who +has been such a sincere friend, Japhet; and you will oblige me, sir, by +not doing so again in my presence." + +"I really beg your pardon, general," replied I, "but I thought to +please you." + +"Please me! what do you think of me? please me, sir, by showing yourself +ungrateful?--I am ashamed of you, sir." + +"My dear father, I borrowed the expression from you. You called Mr +Masterton 'an old thief of a lawyer' to his face: he complained to me +of the language before I had the pleasure of meeting you. I feel, and +always shall feel, the highest respect, love, and gratitude towards him. +Have I your permission to go?" + +"Yes, Japhet," replied my father, looking very grave, "and do me the +favour to apologise for me to Mr Masterton for my having used such an +expression in my unfortunate warmth of temper--I am ashamed of myself." + +"My dearest father, no man need be ashamed who is so ready to make +honourable reparation:--we are all a little out of temper at times." + +"You have been a kind friend to me, Japhet, as well as a good son," +replied my father, with some emotion. "Don't forget the apology at all +events: I shall be unhappy until it be made." + + + + +Chapter LXXVII + + Treats of apologies, and love coming from church--We finesse with + the nabob to win me a wife--I am successful in my suit, yet the + lawyer is still to play the cards to enable me to win the game. + + + +I arrived at Mr Masterton's, and walked into his room, when whom should +I find in company with him but Harcourt. + +"Japhet, I'm glad to see you: allow me to introduce you to Mr +Harcourt--Mr De Benyon," and the old gentleman grinned maliciously, but +I was not to be taken aback. + +"Harcourt," said I, extending my hand, "I have to apologise to you for +a rude reception and for unjust suspicions, but I was vexed at the +time--if you will admit that as an excuse." + +"My dear Japhet," replied Harcourt, taking my hand and shaking it warmly, +"I have to apologise to you for much more unworthy behaviour, and it will +be a great relief to my mind if you will once more enrol me in the list +of your friends." + +"And now, Mr Masterton," said I, "as apologies appear to be the order of +the day, I bring you one from the general, who has requested me to make +one to you for having called you an old thief of a lawyer, of which he +was totally ignorant until I reminded him of it to-day." + +Harcourt burst into a laugh. + +"Well, Japhet, you may tell your old tiger, that I did not feel +particularly affronted, as I took his expression professionally and not +personally, and if he meant it in that sense, he was not far wrong. +Japhet, to-morrow is Sunday; do you go to meeting or to church?" + +"I believe, sir, that I shall go to church." + +"Well, then, come with me:--be here at half-past two--we will go to +evening service at St James's." + +"I have received many invitations, but I never yet received an +invitation to go to church," replied I. + +"You will hear an extra lesson of the day--a portion of Susannah and +the Elders." + +I took the equivoque, which was incomprehensible to Harcourt: I hardly +need say, that the latter and I were on the best terms. When we +separated, Harcourt requested leave to call upon me the next morning, +and Mr Masterton said that he should also pay his respects to the tiger, +as he invariably called my most honoured parent. + +Harcourt was with me very soon after breakfast, and after I had +introduced him to my "Governor," we retired to talk without interruption. + +"I have much to say to you, De Benyon," commenced Harcourt: "first let +me tell you, that after I rose from my bed, and discovered that you had +disappeared, I resolved, if possible, to find you out and induce you to +come back. Timothy, who looked very sly at me, would tell me nothing, but +that the last that was heard of you was at Lady de Clare's, at Richmond. +Having no other clue, I went down there, introduced myself, and, as they +will tell you, candidly acknowledged that I had treated you ill. I then +requested that they would give me any clue by which you might be found, +for I had an opportunity of offering to you a situation which was at my +father's disposal, and which any gentleman might have accepted, although +it was not very lucrative." + +"It was very kind of you, Harcourt." + +"Do not say that, I beg. It was thus that I formed an acquaintance with +Lady de Clare and her daughter, whose early history, as Fleta, I had +obtained from you, but who I little imagined to be the little girl that +you had so generously protected; for it was not until after I had +deserted you, that you had discovered her parentage. The extreme interest +relative to you evinced by both the mother and the daughter surprised me. +They had heard of my name from you, but not of our quarrel. They urged +me, and thanked me for proposing, to follow you and find you out: I did +make every attempt. I went to Brentford, inquired at all the +public-houses, and of all the coachmen who went down the road, but could +obtain no information, except that at one public-house, a gentleman +stopped with a portmanteau, and soon afterwards went away with it on his +shoulders. I returned to Richmond with the tidings of my ill-success +about a week after I had first called there. Cecilia was much affected +and cried very bitterly. I could not help asking Lady de Clare why she +took such a strong interest in your fortunes. 'Who ought,' replied +Cecilia, 'if his poor Fleta does not?' 'Good Heavens! Miss de Clare, are +you the little Fleta whom he found with the gipsies, and talked to me so +much about?' 'Did you not know it?' said Lady de Clare. I then explained +to her all that had latterly passed between us, and they in return +communicated your events and dangers in Ireland. Thus was an intimacy +formed, and ever since I have been constantly welcome at their house. I +did not, however, abandon my enquiries for many months, when I thought +it was useless, and I had to console poor Cecilia, who constantly mourned +for you. And now, Japhet, I must make my story short: I could not help +admiring a young person who showed so much attachment and gratitude +joined to such personal attractions, but she was an heiress and I was +a younger brother. Still Lady de Clare insisted upon my coming to the +house, and I was undecided how to act when the unfortunate death of my +elder brother put me in a situation to aspire to her hand. After that my +visits were more frequent, and I was tacitly received as a suitor by +Lady de Clare, and had no reason to complain of the treatment I received +from Cecilia. Such was the position of affairs until the day on which you +broke in upon us so unexpectedly, and at the very moment that you came +in, I had, with the sanction of her mother, made an offer to Cecilia, and +was anxiously awaiting an answer from her own dear lips. Can you therefore +be surprised, Japhet, at there being a degree of constraint on all sides +at the interruption occasioned by the presence of one who had long been +considered lost to us? Or that a young person just deciding upon the most +important step of her life should feel confused and agitated at the +entrance of a third party, however dear he might be to her as a brother +and benefactor?" + +"I am perfectly satisfied, Harcourt," replied I: "and I will go there, +and make my peace as soon as I can." + +"Indeed, Japhet, if you knew the distress of Cecilia you would pity and +love her more than ever. Her mother is also much annoyed. As soon as you +were gone, they desired me to hasten after you and bring you back. +Cecilia had not yet given her answer: I requested it before my departure, +but, I presume to stimulate me, she declared that she would give me no +answer, until I re-appeared with you. This is now three weeks ago, and +I have not dared to go there. I have been trying all I can to see you +again since you repulsed me at the Piazza, but without success, until I +went to Mr Masterton, and begged him to procure me an interview. I thank +God it has succeeded." + +"Well, Harcourt, you shall see Cecilia to-morrow morning, if you please." + +"Japhet, what obligations I am under to you! Had it not been for you I +never should have known Cecilia; and more, were it not for your kindness, +I might perhaps lose her for ever." + +"Not so, Harcourt; it was your own good feeling prompting you to find me +out, which introduced you to Cecilia, and I wish you joy with all my +heart. This is a strange world--who would have imagined that, in little +Fleta, I was picking up a wife for a man whose life I nearly took away? +I will ask my governor for his carriage to-morrow, and will call and take +you up at your lodgings at two o'clock, if that hour will suit you. I will +tell you all that has passed since I absconded, when we are at Lady de +Clare's; one story will do for all." + +Harcourt then took his leave, and I returned to my father, with whom I +found Lord Windermear. + +"De Benyon, I am happy to see you again," said his lordship. "I have just +been giving a very good character of you to the general; I hope you will +continue to deserve it." + +"I hope so too, my lord; I should be ungrateful indeed, if I did not, +after my father's kindness to me." + +Mr Masterton was then introduced: Lord Windermear shook hands with him, +and after a short conversation took his leave. + +"Japhet," said Mr Masterton aside, "I have a little business with your +father; get out of the room any way you think best." + +"There are but two ways, my dear sir," replied I, "the door or the +windows: with your permission, I will select the former, as most +agreeable;" so saying, I went to my own room. What passed between the +general and Mr Masterton I did not know until afterwards, but they were +closeted upwards of an hour, when I was sent for by Mr Masterton. + +"Japhet, you said you would go with me to hear the new preacher; we have +no time to lose: so, general, I shall take my leave and run away with +your son." + +I followed Mr Masterton into his carriage, and we drove to the lodging +of Mr Cophagus. Susannah was all ready, and Mr Masterton went up stairs +and brought her down. A blush and a sweet smile illumined her features +when she perceived me stowed away in the corner of the chariot. We drove +off, and somehow or another our hands again met and did not separate +until we arrived at the church door. Susannah had the same dress on as +when she had accompanied me in my father's carriage. I went through the +responses with her, reading out of the same book, and I never felt more +inclined to be devout, for I was happy, and grateful to Heaven for my +happiness. When the service was over, we were about to enter the +carriage, when who should accost us but Harcourt. + +"You are surprised to see me here," said he to Mr Masterton, "but I +thought there must be something very attractive, that you should make +an appointment with Japhet to go to this church, and as I am very fond +of a good sermon, I determined to come and hear it." + +Harcourt's ironical look told me all he would say. + +"Well," replied Mr Masterton, "I hope you have been edified--now get out +of the way, and let us go into the carriage." + +"To-morrow at two, De Benyon," said Harcourt, taking another peep at +Susannah. + +"Yes, punctually," replied I, as the carriage drove off. + +"And now, my dear child," said Mr Masterton to Susannah, as the carriage +rolled along, "Tell me, have you been disappointed, or do you agree with +me? You have attended a meeting of your own persuasion this morning--you +have now, for the first time, listened to the ritual of the Established +Church. To which do you give the preference?" + +"I will not deny, sir, that I think, in departing from the forms of +worship, those of my persuasion did not do wisely. I would not venture +thus much to say, but you support me in my judgment." + +"You have answered like a good, sensible girl, and have proved that you +can think for yourself; but observe, my child, I have persuaded you for +once, and once only, to enter our place of worship, that you might compare +and judge for yourself; it now remains for you to decide as you please." +"I would that some better qualified would decide for me," replied +Susannah, gravely. + +"Your husband, Susannah," whispered I, "must take that responsibility +upon himself. Is he not the proper person?" + +Susannah slightly pressed my hand, which held hers, and said nothing. As +soon as we had conveyed her home, Mr Masterton offered to do me the same +kindness, which I accepted. + +"Now, Japhet, I dare say that you would like to know what it was I had so +particular to say to the old general this morning." + +"Of course I would, sir, if it concerned me." + +"It did concern you, for we had not been two minutes in conversation, +before you were brought on the tapis; he spoke of you with tears in his +eyes--of what a comfort you had been to him, and how happy you had made +him; and that he could not bear you to be away from him for half an hour. +On that hint I spake, and observed, that he must not expect you to +continue in retirement long, neither must he blame you, that when he had +set up his establishment, you would be as great a favourite as you were +before, and be unable, without giving offence, to refuse the numerous +invitations which you would receive. In short, that it was nothing but +right you should resume your position in society, and it was his duty to +submit to it. The old governor did not appear to like my observations, +and said he expected otherwise from you. I replied 'that it was +impossible to change our natures, and the other sex would naturally +have attractions which you would not be able to resist, and that they +would occupy a large portion of your time. The only way to ensure his +company, my dear sir, is to marry him to a steady, amiable young woman, +who, not having been thrown into the vortex of fashion, will find +pleasure in domestic life. Then her husband will become equally domestic, +and you will be all very happy together.' Your father agreed with me, and +appeared very anxious that it should take place. I then very carefully +introduced Miss Temple, saying, that I knew you had a slight partiality +in that quarter, highly commending her beauty, prudence, &c. I stated, +that feeling an interest about you, I had gone down into the country +where she resided, and had made her acquaintance, and had been much +pleased with her; that since she had come up to town with her relations, +I had seen a great deal, and had formed so high an opinion of, and so +strong an attachment to her, and had felt so convinced that she was the +very person who would make you happy and domestic, that having no family +myself, I had some idea of adopting her. At all events, that if she +married you, I was determined to give her something very handsome on +the day of the wedding." + +"But, my dear sir, why should you not have said that Susannah Temple was +left an orphan at seven years old, and her fortune has accumulated ever +since? it is by no means despicable, I understand, from Mr Cophagus; and +moreover, Mr Cophagus intends to leave her all his property." + +"I am very glad to hear it, Japhet, and will not fail to communicate all +this to your father; but there is no reason why I may not do as I please +with my own money--and I love that girl dearly. By-the-bye, have you ever +said anything to her?" + +"O yes, sir, we are pledged to each other." + +"That's all right; I thought so, when I saw your fingers hooked together +in the carriage. But now, Japhet, I should recommend a little +indifference--not exactly opposition, when your father proposes the +subject to you. It will make him more anxious, and when you consent more +obliged to you. I have promised to call upon him to-morrow, on that and +other business, and you had better be out of the way." + +"I shall be out of the way, sir; I mean to go with Harcourt to Lady de +Clare's. I shall ask for the carriage." + +"He will certainly lend it to you, as he wishes to get rid of you; but +here we are. God bless you, my boy." + + + + +Chapter LXXVIII + + The Bengal tiger taken in the toils, which promise a speedy end + to mine--I kindly permit my father to insist upon the marriage + that I have set my heart upon. + + +I found my father, who had now completely recovered from his accident, +walking up and down the room in a brown study. He did not speak to me +until after dinner, when he commenced with asking some questions relative +to Cecilia de Clare. I replied, "that I intended, if he did not want the +carriage, to call there to-morrow with Mr Harcourt." + +"Is she very handsome?" inquired he. + +"Very much so, sir. I do not think I ever saw a handsomer young person. +Yes, I do recollect one." + +"Who was that?" + +"A young lady with whom I was slightly acquainted, when living in the +country." + +"I have been thinking, my dear boy, that with the competence which you +will have, it is right that you should marry early; in so doing you will +oblige your father, who is anxious to see his grandchildren before he +dies. My health is not very good." + +I could not help smiling at this pathetic touch of the old governor's, +who, if one could judge from appearances, was as strong as a lion, and +likely to last almost as long as his dutiful son. Moreover, his appetite +was enormous, and he invariably finished his bottle every day. I did not +therefore feel any serious alarm as to his health, but I nevertheless +replied, "Matrimony is a subject upon which I have never thought"--(ahem! +a De Benyon never tells an untruth!), "I am very young yet, and am too +happy to remain with you." + +"But, my dear boy, I propose that you shall remain with me--we will all +live together. I do not intend that we shall part. I really wish, Japhet, +you would think seriously of it." + +"My dear father, allow me to observe, that at present I am not in a +situation to support a wife, and I should be sorry to be a tax upon you, +at your age; you require many comforts and luxuries, and I presume that +you live up to your income." + +"Then, my dear fellow, you are under a great mistake. I can lay down one +hundred thousand pounds on the day of your marriage, with any lady whom I +approve of, and still not spend half my remaining income." + +"That, sir," replied I, "certainly removes one difficulty, at the same +time that it proves what a generous and indulgent father I am blessed +with; but, sir, with such a fortune, I have a right to expect that the +lady will also bring a handsome addition. Miss De Clare is engaged, I +believe, to Mr Harcourt, or I might have made strong interest in that +quarter." + +"Something, my dear boy; but a moderate fortune now-a-days is all that +we expect with wives, and the best wives are those who are not born to +too much wealth; still she should bring something; but tell me, Japhet, +who is that young lady whom you thought handsomer than Miss De Clare?" + +"A Miss Temple, sir." + +"Temple--it is a very good name. I think girls brought up in the country +make the best wives." + +"They do, sir, most certainly; they are more domestic, and make their +husbands more content and happy at home." + +"Well, my dear boy, I have mentioned the subject, and wish you would +think of it. You will please me much." + +"My dear father, I shall be most happy to obey in everything else, but +in so serious a point as uniting myself for life, I think you must allow +that a little discretionary power should be given to a son. All I can +say is this, show me a young person who is eligible, and if I find that +I can love her, I will not refuse to obey your wishes." + +"Well, sir, do as you please," replied my father, very angrily; "but I +think, sir, when I desire you to fall in love, it is your duty to obey." + +"Suppose I was to fall in love with a person you did not like, would you +allow me to marry her?" + +"Most certainly not, sir." + +"Then, sir, is it reasonable to expect me to marry without being in love?" + +"I did not marry for love, sir." + +"No," replied I, forgetting myself a little; "and a pretty mess you made +of it." + +"I did," rejoined my father in a rage, "by begetting an undutiful, +good-for-nothing, graceless, insolent, ungrateful son." + +"My dear father, I was not aware that I had a brother." + +"I mean you, sir." + +"To prove to you how unjust you are, sir, and how little I deserve what +you have called me, I now promise you to marry as soon as you wish." + +"Thank you, my boy, that's kind of you; but I will say that you are a +comfort and a treasure to me, and I bless the day that brought you to my +arms. Well, then, look about you." + +"No, sir, I leave it all to you; select the party, and I am willing to +obey you." + +"My dear boy! Well, then, I'll talk the matter over with Mr Masterton +to-morrow," and the general shook me warmly by the hand. + +The next day I picked up Harcourt, and proceeded to Park Street. A note +from him had informed them of our intended visit, and other visitors had +been denied. "All has been explained, Cecilia," said I, after the first +greeting: "I was very wrong, and very foolish." + +"And made me very miserable. I little thought that you, Japhet, would +have made me cry so much; but I forgive you for it, as I would a thousand +times as much more. Now sit down and tell us all that has happened +since you left us." + +"Not yet, my dear Cecilia. You, as well as I, owe a reparation to poor +Harcourt, whom, I think, you have treated cruelly. You were about to +answer a question of vital moment when I broke in upon you, and you have +since kept him in a state of cruel suspense for more than three weeks, +refusing him an answer until he brought me into your presence. An hour +of such suspense must be dreadful, and before we sit down, I wish +everyone should feel comfortable and happy." + +"It was not altogether to stimulate Mr Harcourt to bring you back, which +induced me to refuse to answer his question, Japhet. I considered that +your return had rendered it necessary that it should be deferred until I +saw you. I have not forgotten, Japhet, and never shall forget, what I was +when you rescued me; and when I think what I might have been had you not +saved me, I shudder at the bare idea. I have not forgotten how you risked, +and nearly lost your life in Ireland for my sake--neither has my mother. +We are beholden to you for all our present happiness, and I am eternally +indebted to you for rescuing me from ignorance, poverty, and, perhaps, +vice. You have been more, much more than a father to me--more, much more +than a brother. I am, as it were, a creature of your own fashioning, and +I owe to you that which I never can repay. When, then, you returned so +unexpectedly, Japhet, I felt that you had a paramount right in my +disposal, and I was glad that I had not replied to Mr Harcourt, as I +wished first for your sanction and approval. I know all that has passed +between you, but I know not your real feelings towards Mr Harcourt; he +acknowledges that he treated you very ill, and it was his sincere +repentance of having so done, and his praise of you, which first won my +favour. And now, Japhet, if you have still animosity against Mr +Harcourt--if you--" + +"Stop, my dear Fleta, I will answer all your questions at once." I took +Harcourt's hand, and placed it in her's. "May God bless you both, and +may you be happy!" + +Cecilia threw her arms round me and wept; so did everybody else, I +believe. It was lucky for Harcourt that I was in love with Susannah +Temple. As soon as Cecilia had recovered a little, I kissed her, and +passed her over to her right owner, who led her to the sofa. Lady de +Clare and I went out of the room on important business, and did not +return for a quarter of an hour. When we returned, Cecilia went to her +mother and embraced her, while Harcourt silently squeezed my hand. We +then all sat down, and I gave them an account of all that had passed +during my second excursion--how I had nearly been hanged--how I had gone +mad--how I had turned Quaker and apothecary--which they all agreed, with +what had happened to me before, made up a very eventful history. + +"And, Japhet, if it be a fair question about one so fair, was that Miss +Temple who was at church with you yesterday?" + +"It was." + +"Then, Cecilia, if ever she appears in the same circle, except in my +eyes, your beauty will stand in some danger of being eclipsed." + +"How can you say, except in your eyes, Mr Harcourt," replied Cecilia, +"the very observation proves that it is eclipsed in your eyes, whatever +it may be in those of others. Now, as a punishment, I have a great mind +to order you away again, until you bring her face to face, that I may +judge myself." + +"If I am again banished," replied Harcourt, "I shall have a second time +to appeal to De Benyon to be able to come back again. He can produce +her, I have no doubt." + +"And perhaps may, some of these days, Cecilia." + +"Oh! do, Japhet. I will love her so." + +"You must wait a little first. I am not quite so far advanced as you and +Harcourt. I have not received the consent of all parties, as you have +to-day. But I must now leave you. Harcourt, I presume you will dine here. +I must dine with my governor." + +On my return, I found that the table was laid for three, and that the +general had asked Mr Masterton, from which I augured well. Masterton +could not speak to me when he arrived, but he gave me a wink and a smile, +and I was satisfied. "Japhet," said my father, "you have no engagement +to-morrow, I hope, because I shall call at Mr Masterton's on business, +and wish you to accompany me." + +I replied, that "I should be most happy," and the conversation became +general. + +I accompanied my father the next day to Lincoln's Inn, and when we went +up, we found Mr Masterton at the table with Mr Cophagus, and Susannah +sitting apart near the window. "The plot thickens," thought I. The fact +was, as I was afterwards told by Mr Masterton, he had prevailed upon +Cophagus to pretend business, and to bring Susannah with him, and +appointed them a quarter of an hour before our time. This he had +arranged, that the general might see Miss Temple, as if by accident; +and also allow me, who, my father supposed, was not aware of Miss Temple +being in town, to meet with her. What a deal of humbug there is in this +world! Nothing but plot and counterplot! I shook hands with Cophagus, +who, I perceived, had, notwithstanding his wife's veto, put on his blue +cotton net pantaloons and Hessian boots, and he appeared to be so tight +in both, that he could hardly move. As far as I could judge, his legs +had not improved since I had last seen them in this his favourite dress. + +"Mr De Benyon, I believe that you have met Miss Temple before," said Mr +Masterton, winking at me. "In Berkshire, was it not? Miss Temple, allow +me to introduce General De Benyon." + +I went up to Susannah, who coloured and trembled at the sight of my +father, as I expressed my hope that she had been well since we last met. +She perceived that there was some planned scheme, and was so puzzled +that she said nothing. My father then spoke to her, and after a short +time took a chair, and seated himself close to her. I never knew her make +herself so agreeable. He asked her where she was staying, and when he +heard that it was with Mr Cophagus, he said that he should have the +pleasure of calling upon Mr Cophagus, and thank him for his kind +information relative to me. Shortly afterwards Cophagus took his leave, +and Susannah rose to accompany him, when my father, hearing that they +had walked, insisted upon putting Miss Temple down in his carriage. So +that Mr Cophagus had to walk home one way, and I the other. + + + + +Chapter LXXXI + + Poor Cophagus finds an end to his adventures by the means of a + mad bull; I, of mine, by matrimony--Father is prettily behaved, + and my Quaker wife the most fashionably dressed lady in + town--verily! hum! + + +Alas! little did Mr Cophagus know how fatal to him would be the light +cotton nets when he put them on that day. He had proceeded, as it +appears, about two-thirds of his way home (he lived in Welbeck Street), +when he perceived a rush from up a street leading into Oxford Street. He +looked to ascertain the cause, when to his horror he perceived--what to +him was the greatest of all horrors--a mad bull. If anything could make +Mr Cophagus run, it was a sight like that, and he did run; but he could +not run fast in his cotton nets and tight Hessians, which crippled him +altogether. As if out of pure spite, the bull singled him out from at +least one hundred, who exerted their agility and again was poor Mr +Cophagus tossed far behind the animal, fortunately breaking his fall by +tumbling on a large dog who was in full chase. The dog, who was unable to +crawl from beneath the unfortunate Cophagus, was still in a condition to +bite, which he did most furiously; and the butcher, who had an affection +for his dog, when he perceived its condition, also vented his fury upon +poor Cophagus, by saluting him with several blows on his head with his +cudgel. What between the bull, the dog, and the butcher, poor Mr Cophagus +was taken into a shop in a very deplorable condition. After some time he +recovered, and was able to name his residence, when he was taken home. + +It was late in the evening when I received a note from Susannah, +informing me of that unfortunate accident. My father had just finished +a long story about filial duty, country girls, good wives, &c, and had +wound up by saying, that he and Mr Masterton both considered that Miss +Temple would be a very eligible match, and that as I had requested him +to select, he had selected her accordingly. I had just proved how truly +dutiful I was, by promising to do all I could to love her, and to fulfil +his wishes, when the note was put in my hands. I read it, stated its +contents to my father, and, with his permission, immediately jumped +into a hackney-coach, and drove to Welbeck Street. + +On my arrival I found poor Mrs Cophagus in a state of syncope, and +Susannah attending her. I sent for the surgeon who had been called in, +and then went up to Mr Cophagus. He was much better than I expected--calm, +and quite sensible. His wounds had been dressed by the surgeon, but he +did not appear to be aware of the extent of the injury he had received. +When the surgeon came I questioned him. He informed me that although +much hurt, he did not consider that there was any danger to be +apprehended; there were no bones broken; the only fear that he had was, +that there might be some internal injury; but at present that could not +be ascertained. I thanked him, and consoled Mrs Cophagus with this +information. I then returned to her husband, who shook his head, and +muttered, as I put my ear down to hear him, "Thought so--come to +London--full of mad bulls--tossed--die--and so on." + +"O no!" replied I, "the surgeon says that there is no danger. You will +be up in a week--but now you must keep very quiet. I will send Mrs +Cophagus to you." + +I went out, and finding her composed, I desired her to go to her +husband, who wished to see her, and I was left alone with Susannah. +I told her all that had passed, and after two delightful hours had +escaped, I returned home to the hotel. My father had waited up for +some time, and finding that I did not return, had retired. When I met +him the next morning I mentioned what the surgeon had said, but stated +that, in my opinion, there was great cause for alarm in a man of Mr +Cophagus's advanced age. My father agreed with me, but could not help +pointing out what a good opportunity this would afford for my paying my +attentions to Miss Temple, as it was natural that I should be interested +about so old a friend as Mr Cophagus. My filial duty inclined me to +reply, that I should certainly avail myself of such a favourable +opportunity. + +My adventures are now drawing to a close. I must pass over three months, +during which my father had taken and furnished a house in Grosvenor +Square; and I, whenever I could spare time, had, under the auspices of +Lord Windermear, again been introduced into the world as Mr De Benyon. I +found that the new name was considered highly respectable, my father's +hall tables were loaded with cards, and I even received two dinner +invitations from Lady Maelstrom, who told me how her dear nieces had +wondered what had become of me, and that they were afraid that Louisa +would have fallen into a decline. And during these three months Cecilia +and Susannah had been introduced, and had become as inseparable as most +young ladies are, who have a lover a-piece, and no cause for jealousy. Mr +Cophagus had so far recovered as to be able to go down into the country, +vowing, much to the chagrin of his wife, that he never would put his foot +in London again. He asked me whether I knew any place where there were no +mad bulls, and I took some trouble to find out, but I could not; for even +if he went to the North Pole, although there were no bulls, yet there +were bull bisons and musk bulls, which were even more savage. Upon which +he declared that this was not a world to live in, and to prove that he +was sincere in his opinion, poor fellow, about three months after his +retirement into the country, he died from a general decay, arising from +the shock produced on his system. But before these three months had +passed, it had been finally arranged that Harcourt and I were to be +united on the same day; and having renewed my acquaintance with the good +bishop, whom I had taxed with being my father, he united us both to our +respective partners. My father made over to me the sum which he had +mentioned. Mr Masterton gave Susannah ten thousand pounds, and her own +fortune amounted to as much more, with the reversion of Mr Cophagus's +property at the decease of his widow. Timothy came up to the wedding, +and I formally put him in the possession of my shop and stock in trade, +and he has now a flourishing business. Although he has not yet found +his mother, he has found a very pretty wife, which he says does quite +as well, if not better. + +Let it not be supposed that I forgot the good services of Kathleen--who +was soon after married to Corny. A small farm on Fleta's estate was +appropriated to them, at so low a rent, that in a few years they were +able to purchase the property, and Corny, from a leveller, as soon as +he was comfortable, became one of the government's firmest supporters. + +I am now living in the same house with my father, who is very happy, +and behaves pretty well. He is seldom in a passion more than twice +a-week, which we consider as miraculous. Now that I am writing this, +he has his two grandchildren on his knees. Mrs Cophagus has married a +captain in the Life Guards, and as far as fashion and dress are +concerned, may be said to be "going the whole hog." And now, as I have +no doubt that my readers will be curious to know whether my lovely wife +adheres to her primitive style of dress, I shall only repeat a +conversation of yesterday night, as she came down arrayed for a splendid +ball given by Mrs Harcourt de Clare. + +"Tell me now, De Benyon," said she, "is not this a pretty dress?" + +"Yes, my dear," replied I, looking at her charming face and figure with +all the admiration usual in the honeymoon, "it is indeed; but do you not +think, my dear Susan," said I, putting the tip of my white glove upon her +snowy shoulder, "that it is cut down a little too low?" + +"Too low, De Benyon! why it's not half so low as Mrs Harcourt de Clare or +Lady C---- wear their dresses." + +"Well, my dear, I did not assert that it was. I only asked." + +"Well, then, if you only asked for information, De Benyon, I will tell +you that it is not too low, and I think you will acknowledge that on this +point my opinion ought to be decisive; for if I have no other merit, I +have at least the merit of being the best-dressed woman in London." + +"Verily thou persuadest me, Susannah," replied I. + +"Now, De Benyon, hold your tongue." + +Like a well-disciplined husband, I bowed, and said no more. And now, +having no more to say, I shall also make my bow to my readers, and bid +them farewell. + +THE END. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Japhet, In Search Of A Father, by Frederick Marryat + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JAPHET, IN SEARCH OF A FATHER *** + +***** This file should be named 15991.txt or 15991.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/5/9/9/15991/ + +Produced by Ted Garvin, Daniel Mahu, Charlene Taylor and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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