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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Amelia Volume II, by Henry Fielding
+#5 in our series by Henry Fielding
+
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+**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971**
+
+*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!*****
+
+
+Title: Amelia Volume II
+
+Author: Henry Fielding
+
+Release Date: July, 2004 [EBook #6096]
+[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule]
+[This file was first posted on November 5, 2002]
+
+Edition: 10
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AMELIA VOLUME II ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks
+and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team.
+
+
+
+
+
+THE WORKS OF HENRY FIELDING
+
+EDITED BY
+
+GEORGE SAINTSBURY
+
+IN TWELVE VOLUMES
+
+VOL. VIII.
+
+
+
+
+AMELIA BY
+HENRY FIELDING ESQ
+
+VOL. II.
+
+EDITED BY GEORGE
+SAINTSBURY WITH
+ILLUSTRATIONS BY
+HERBERT RAILTON
+& E. J. WHEELER.
+
+
+
+CONTENTS OF VOL. II.
+
+
+
+BOOK V.
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+In which the reader will meet with an old acquaintance
+
+CHAPTER I.
+Containing a brace of doctors and much physical matter
+
+CHAPTER II.
+In which Booth pays a visit to the noble lord
+
+CHAPTER III.
+Relating principally to the affairs of serjeant Atkinson
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+Containing matters that require no preface
+
+CHAPTER V.
+Containing much heroic matter
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+In which the reader will find matter worthy his consideration
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+Containing various matters
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+The heroic behaviour of Colonel Bath
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+Being the last chapter of the fifth book
+
+
+
+BOOK VI.
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+Panegyrics on beauty, with other grave matters
+
+CHAPTER II.
+Which will not appear, we presume, unnatural to all married readers
+
+CHAPTER III.
+In which the history looks a little backwards
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+Containing a very extraordinary incident
+
+CHAPTER V.
+Containing some matters not very unnatural
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+A scene in which some ladies will possibly think Amelia's conduct
+exceptionable
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+A chapter in which there is much learning
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+Containing some unaccountable behaviour in Mrs.. Ellison
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+Containing a very strange incident
+
+
+
+BOOK VII.
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+A very short chapter, and consequently requiring no preface
+
+CHAPTER II.
+The beginning of Mrs. Bennet's history
+
+CHAPTER III.
+Continuation of Mrs. Bennet's story
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+Farther continuation
+
+CHAPTER V.
+The story of Mrs. Bennet continued
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+Farther continued
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+The story farther continued
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+Farther continuation
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+The conclusion of Mrs. Bennet's history
+
+CHAPTER X.
+Being the last chapter of the seventh book
+
+
+
+BOOK VIII.
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+Being the first chapter of the eighth book
+
+CHAPTER II.
+Containing an account of Mr. Booth's fellow-sufferers
+
+CHAPTER III.
+Containing some extraordinary behaviour in Mrs. Ellison
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+Containing, among many matters, the exemplary behaviour of Colonel
+James
+
+CHAPTER V.
+Comments upon authors
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+Which inclines rather to satire than panegyric
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+Worthy a very serious perusal
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+Consisting of grave matters
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+A curious chapter, from which a curious reader may draw sundry
+observations
+
+CHAPTER X.
+In which are many profound secrets of philosophy
+
+
+
+
+LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
+
+AMELIA AND HER CHILDREN  .   .   . Frontispiece
+
+COLONEL BATH
+
+LAWYER MURPHY
+
+
+
+
+BOOK V.
+
+Chapter i.
+
+_In which the reader will meet with an old acquaintance._
+
+
+Booth's affairs were put on a better aspect than they had ever worn
+before, and he was willing to make use of the opportunity of one day
+in seven to taste the fresh air.
+
+At nine in the morning he went to pay a visit to his old friend
+Colonel James, resolving, if possible, to have a full explanation of
+that behaviour which appeared to him so mysterious: but the colonel
+was as inaccessible as the best defended fortress; and it was as
+impossible for Booth to pass beyond his entry as the Spaniards found
+it to take Gibraltar. He received the usual answers; first, that the
+colonel was not stirring, and an hour after that he was gone out. All
+that he got by asking further questions was only to receive still
+ruder answers, by which, if he had been very sagacious, he might have
+been satisfied how little worth his while it was to desire to go in;
+for the porter at a great man's door is a kind of thermometer, by
+which you may discover the warmth or coldness of his master's
+friendship. Nay, in the highest stations of all, as the great man
+himself hath his different kinds of salutation, from an hearty embrace
+with a kiss, and my dear lord or dear Sir Charles, down to, well Mr.
+----, what would you have me do? so the porter to some bows with
+respect, to others with a smile, to some he bows more, to others less
+low, to others not at all. Some he just lets in, and others he just
+shuts out. And in all this they so well correspond, that one would be
+inclined to think that the great man and his porter had compared their
+lists together, and, like two actors concerned to act different parts
+in the same scene, had rehearsed their parts privately together before
+they ventured to perform in public.
+
+Though Booth did not, perhaps, see the whole matter in this just
+light, for that in reality it is, yet he was discerning enough to
+conclude, from the behaviour of the servant, especially when he
+considered that of the master likewise, that he had entirely lost the
+friendship of James; and this conviction gave him a concern that not
+only the flattering prospect of his lordship's favour was not able to
+compensate, but which even obliterated, and made him for a while
+forget the situation in which he had left his Amelia: and he wandered
+about almost two hours, scarce knowing where he went, till at last he
+dropt into a coffee-house near St James's, where he sat himself down.
+
+He had scarce drank his dish of coffee before he heard a young officer
+of the guards cry to another, "Od, d--n me, Jack, here he comes--
+here's old honour and dignity, faith." Upon which he saw a chair open,
+and out issued a most erect and stately figure indeed, with a vast
+periwig on his head, and a vast hat under his arm. This august
+personage, having entered the room, walked directly up to the upper
+end, where having paid his respects to all present of any note, to
+each according to seniority, he at last cast his eyes on Booth, and
+very civilly, though somewhat coldly, asked him how he did.
+
+Booth, who had long recognized the features of his old acquaintance
+Major Bath, returned the compliment with a very low bow; but did not
+venture to make the first advance to familiarity, as he was truly
+possessed of that quality which the Greeks considered in the highest
+light of honour, and which we term modesty; though indeed, neither
+ours nor the Latin language hath any word adequate to the idea of the
+original.
+
+The colonel, after having discharged himself of two or three articles
+of news, and made his comments upon them, when the next chair to him
+became vacant, called upon Booth to fill it. He then asked him several
+questions relating to his affairs; and, when he heard he was out of
+the army, advised him earnestly to use all means to get in again,
+saying that he was a pretty lad, and they must not lose him.
+
+Booth told him in a whisper that he had a great deal to say to him on
+that subject if they were in a more private place; upon this the
+colonel proposed a walk in the Park, which the other readily accepted.
+
+During their walk Booth opened his heart, and, among other matters,
+acquainted Colonel Bath that he feared he had lost the friendship of
+Colonel James; "though I am not," said he, "conscious of having done
+the least thing to deserve it."
+
+Bath answered, "You are certainly mistaken, Mr. Booth. I have indeed
+scarce seen my brother since my coming to town; for I have been here
+but two days; however, I am convinced he is a man of too nice honour
+to do anything inconsistent with the true dignity of a gentleman."
+Booth answered, "He was far from accusing him of anything
+dishonourable."--"D--n me," said Bath, "if there is a man alive can or
+dare accuse him: if you have the least reason to take anything ill,
+why don't you go to him? you are a gentleman, and his rank doth not
+protect him from giving you satisfaction." "The affair is not of any
+such kind," says Booth; "I have great obligations to the colonel, and
+have more reason to lament than complain; and, if I could but see him,
+I am convinced I should have no cause for either; but I cannot get
+within his house; it was but an hour ago a servant of his turned me
+rudely from the door." "Did a servant of my brother use you rudely?"
+said the colonel, with the utmost gravity. "I do not know, sir, in
+what light you see such things; but, to me, the affront of a servant
+is the affront of the master; and if he doth not immediately punish
+it, by all the dignity of a man, I would see the master's nose between
+my fingers." Booth offered to explain, but to no purpose; the colonel
+was got into his stilts; and it was impossible to take him down, nay,
+it was as much as Booth could possibly do to part with him without an
+actual quarrel; nor would he, perhaps, have been able to have
+accomplished it, had not the colonel by accident turned at last to
+take Booth's side of the question; and before they separated he swore
+many oaths that James should give him proper satisfaction.
+
+Such was the end of this present interview, so little to the content
+of Booth, that he was heartily concerned he had ever mentioned a
+syllable of the matter to his honourable friend.
+
+
+
+[This chapter occurs in the original edition of _Amelia,_ between 1
+and 2. It is omitted later, and would have been omitted here but for
+an accident. As it had been printed it may as well appear: for though
+it has no great value it may interest some readers as an additional
+illustration of Fielding's dislike to doctors.--ED.
+
+_Containing a brace of doctors and much physical matter._
+
+
+He now returned with all his uneasiness to Amelia, whom he found in a
+condition very little adapted to relieve or comfort him. That poor
+woman was now indeed under very great apprehensions for her child,
+whose fever now began to rage very violently: and what was worse, an
+apothecary had been with her, and frightened her almost out of her
+wits. He had indeed represented the case of the child to be very
+desperate, and had prevailed on the mother to call in the assistance
+of a doctor.
+
+Booth had been a very little time in the room before this doctor
+arrived, with the apothecary close at his heels, and both approached
+the bed, where the former felt the pulse of the sick, and performed
+several other physical ceremonies.
+
+He then began to enquire of the apothecary what he had already done
+for the patient; all which, as soon as informed, he greatly approved.
+The doctor then sat down, called for a pen and ink, filled a whole
+side of a sheet of paper with physic, then took a guinea, and took his
+leave; the apothecary waiting upon him downstairs, as he had attended
+him up.
+
+All that night both Amelia and Booth sat up with their child, who
+rather grew worse than better. In the morning Mrs. Ellison found the
+infant in a raging fever, burning hot, and very light-headed, and the
+mother under the highest dejection; for the distemper had not given
+the least ground to all the efforts of the apothecary and doctor, but
+seemed to defy their utmost power, with all that tremendous apparatus
+of phials and gallypots, which were arranged in battle-array all over
+the room.
+
+Mrs. Ellison, seeing the distrest, and indeed distracted, condition of
+Amelia's mind, attempted to comfort her by giving her hopes of the
+child's recovery. "Upon my word, madam," says she, "I saw a child of
+much the same age with miss, who, in my opinion, was much worse,
+restored to health in a few days by a physician of my acquaintance.
+Nay, I have known him cure several others of very bad fevers; and, if
+miss was under his care, I dare swear she would do very well." "Good
+heavens! madam," answered Amelia, "why should you not mention him to
+me? For my part I have no acquaintance with any London physicians, nor
+do I know whom the apothecary hath brought me." "Nay, madam," cries
+Mrs. Ellison, "it is a tender thing, you know, to recommend a
+physician; and as for my doctor, there are abundance of people who
+give him an ill name. Indeed, it is true, he hath cured me twice of
+fevers, and so he hath several others to my knowledge; nay, I never
+heard of any more than one of his patients that died; and yet, as the
+doctors and apothecaries all give him an ill character, one is
+fearful, you know, dear madam." Booth enquired the doctor's name,
+which he no sooner heard than he begged his wife to send for him
+immediately, declaring he had heard the highest character imaginable
+of him at the Tavern from an officer of very good understanding.
+Amelia presently complied, and a messenger was despatched accordingly.
+
+But before the second doctor could be brought, the first returned with
+the apothecary attending him as before. He again surveyed and handled
+the sick; and when Amelia begged him to tell her if there was any
+hopes, he shook his head, and said, "To be sure, madam, miss is in a
+very dangerous condition, and there is no time to lose. If the
+blisters which I shall now order her, should not relieve her, I fear
+we can do no more."--"Would not you please, sir," says the apothecary,
+"to have the powders and the draught repeated?" "How often were they
+ordered?" cries the doctor. "Only _tertia_ quaq. hora," says the
+apothecary. "Let them be taken every hour by all means," cries the
+doctor; "and--let me see, pray get me a pen and ink."--"If you think
+the child in such imminent danger," said Booth, "would you give us
+leave to call in another physician to your assistance--indeed my
+wife"--"Oh, by all means," said the doctor, "it is what I very much
+wish. Let me see, Mr. Arsenic, whom shall we call?" "What do you think
+of Dr Dosewell?" said the apothecary.--"Nobody better," cries the
+physician.--"I should have no objection to the gentleman," answered
+Booth, "but another hath been recommended to my wife." He then
+mentioned the physician for whom they had just before sent. "Who,
+sir?" cries the doctor, dropping his pen; and when Booth repeated the
+name of Thompson, "Excuse me, sir," cries the doctor hastily, "I shall
+not meet him."--"Why so, sir?" answered Booth. "I will not meet him,"
+replied the doctor. "Shall I meet a man who pretends to know more than
+the whole College, and would overturn the whole method of practice,
+which is so well established, and from which no one person hath
+pretended to deviate?" "Indeed, sir," cries the apothecary, "you do
+not know what you are about, asking your pardon; why, he kills
+everybody he comes near." "That is not true," said Mrs. Ellison. "I
+have been his patient twice, and I am alive yet." "You have had good
+luck, then, madam," answered the apothecary, "for he kills everybody
+he comes near." "Nay, I know above a dozen others of my own
+acquaintance," replied Mrs. Ellison, "who have all been cured by him."
+"That may be, madam," cries Arsenic; "but he kills everybody for all
+that--why, madam, did you never hear of Mr. ----? I can't think of the
+gentleman's name, though he was a man of great fashion; but everybody
+knows whom I mean." "Everybody, indeed, must know whom you mean,"
+answered Mrs. Ellison; "for I never heard but of one, and that many
+years ago."
+
+Before the dispute was ended, the doctor himself entered the room. As
+he was a very well-bred and very good-natured man, he addressed
+himself with much civility to his brother physician, who was not quite
+so courteous on his side. However, he suffered the new comer to be
+conducted to the sick-bed, and at Booth's earnest request to deliver
+his opinion.
+
+The dispute which ensued between the two physicians would, perhaps, be
+unintelligible to any but those of the faculty, and not very
+entertaining to them. The character which the officer and Mrs. Ellison
+had given of the second doctor had greatly prepossessed Booth in his
+favour, and indeed his reasoning seemed to be the juster. Booth
+therefore declared that he would abide by his advice, upon which the
+former operator, with his zany, the apothecary, quitted the field, and
+left the other in full possession of the sick.
+
+The first thing the new doctor did was (to use his own phrase) to blow
+up the physical magazine. All the powders and potions instantly
+disappeared at his command; for he said there was a much readier and
+nearer way to convey such stuff to the vault, than by first sending it
+through the human body. He then ordered the child to be blooded, gave
+it a clyster and some cooling physic, and, in short (that I may not
+dwell too long on so unpleasing a part of history), within three days
+cured the little patient of her distemper, to the great satisfaction
+of Mrs. Ellison, and to the vast joy of Amelia.
+
+Some readers will, perhaps, think this whole chapter might have been
+omitted; but though it contains no great matter of amusement, it may
+at least serve to inform posterity concerning the present state of
+physic.]
+
+
+
+
+Chapter ii.
+
+_In which Booth pays a visit to the noble lord._
+
+
+When that day of the week returned in which Mr. Booth chose to walk
+abroad, he went to wait on the noble peer, according to his kind
+invitation.
+
+Booth now found a very different reception with this great man's
+porter from what he had met with at his friend the colonel's. He no
+sooner told his name than the porter with a bow told him his lordship
+was at home: the door immediately flew wide open, and he was conducted
+to an ante-chamber, where a servant told him he would acquaint his
+lordship with his arrival. Nor did he wait many minutes before the
+same servant returned and ushered him to his lordship's apartment.
+
+He found my lord alone, and was received by him in the most courteous
+manner imaginable. After the first ceremonials were over, his lordship
+began in the following words: "Mr. Booth, I do assure you, you are
+very much obliged to my cousin Ellison. She hath given you such a
+character, that I shall have a pleasure in doing anything in my power
+to serve you.--But it will be very difficult, I am afraid, to get you
+a rank at home. In the West Indies, perhaps, or in some regiment
+abroad, it may be more easy; and, when I consider your reputation as a
+soldier, I make no doubt of your readiness to go to any place where
+the service of your country shall call you." Booth answered, "That he
+was highly obliged to his lordship, and assured him he would with
+great chearfulness attend his duty in any part of the world. The only
+thing grievous in the exchange of countries," said he, "in my opinion,
+is to leave those I love behind me, and I am sure I shall never have a
+second trial equal to my first. It was very hard, my lord, to leave a
+young wife big with her first child, and so affected with my absence,
+that I had the utmost reason to despair of ever seeing her more. After
+such a demonstration of my resolution to sacrifice every other
+consideration to my duty, I hope your lordship will honour me with
+some confidence that I shall make no objection to serve in any
+country."--"My dear Mr. Booth," answered the lord, "you speak like a
+soldier, and I greatly honour your sentiments. Indeed, I own the
+justice of your inference from the example you have given; for to quit
+a wife, as you say, in the very infancy of marriage, is, I
+acknowledge, some trial of resolution." Booth answered with a low bow;
+and then, after some immaterial conversation, his lordship promised to
+speak immediately to the minister, and appointed Mr. Booth to come to
+him again on the Wednesday morning, that he might be acquainted with
+his patron's success. The poor man now blushed and looked silly, till,
+after some time, he summoned up all his courage to his assistance, and
+relying on the other's friendship, he opened the whole affair of his
+circumstances, and confessed that he did not dare stir from his
+lodgings above one day in seven. His lordship expressed great concern
+at this account, and very kindly promised to take some opportunity of
+calling on him at his cousin Ellison's, when he hoped, he said, to
+bring him comfortable tidings.
+
+Booth soon afterwards took his leave with the most profuse
+acknowledgments for so much goodness, and hastened home to acquaint
+his Amelia with what had so greatly overjoyed him. She highly
+congratulated him on his having found so generous and powerful a
+friend, towards whom both their bosoms burnt with the warmest
+sentiments of gratitude. She was not, however, contented till she had
+made Booth renew his promise, in the most solemn manner, of taking her
+with him. After which they sat down with their little children to a
+scrag of mutton and broth, with the highest satisfaction, and very
+heartily drank his lordship's health in a pot of porter.
+
+In the afternoon this happy couple, if the reader will allow me to
+call poor people happy, drank tea with Mrs. Ellison, where his
+lordship's praises, being again repeated by both the husband and wife,
+were very loudly echoed by Mrs. Ellison. While they were here, the
+young lady whom we have mentioned at the end of the last book to have
+made a fourth at whist, and with whom Amelia seemed so much pleased,
+came in; she was just returned to town from a short visit in the
+country, and her present visit was unexpected. It was, however, very
+agreeable to Amelia, who liked her still better upon a second
+interview, and was resolved to solicit her further acquaintance.
+
+Mrs. Bennet still maintained some little reserve, but was much more
+familiar and communicative than before. She appeared, moreover, to be
+as little ceremonious as Mrs. Ellison had reported her, and very
+readily accepted Amelia's apology for not paying her the first visit,
+and agreed to drink tea with her the very next afternoon.
+
+Whilst the above-mentioned company were sitting in Mrs. Ellison's
+parlour, serjeant Atkinson passed by the window and knocked at the
+door. Mrs. Ellison no sooner saw him than she said, "Pray, Mr. Booth,
+who is that genteel young serjeant? he was here every day last week to
+enquire after you." This was indeed a fact; the serjeant was
+apprehensive of the design of Murphy; but, as the poor fellow had
+received all his answers from the maid of Mrs. Ellison, Booth had
+never heard a word of the matter. He was, however, greatly pleased
+with what he was now told, and burst forth into great praises of the
+serjeant, which were seconded by Amelia, who added that he was her
+foster-brother, and, she believed, one of the honestest fellows in the
+world.
+
+"And I'll swear," cries Mrs. Ellison, "he is one of the prettiest. Do,
+Mr. Booth, desire him to walk in. A serjeant of the guards is a
+gentleman; and I had rather give such a man as you describe a dish of
+tea than any Beau Fribble of them all."
+
+Booth wanted no great solicitation to shew any kind of regard to
+Atkinson; and, accordingly, the serjeant was ushered in, though not
+without some reluctance on his side. There is, perhaps, nothing more
+uneasy than those sensations which the French call the _mauvaise
+honte,_ nor any more difficult to conquer; and poor Atkinson would,
+I am persuaded, have mounted a breach with less concern than he shewed
+in walking across a room before three ladies, two of whom were his
+avowed well-wishers.
+
+Though I do not entirely agree with the late learned Mr. Essex, the
+celebrated dancing-master's opinion, that dancing is the rudiment of
+polite education, as he would, I apprehend, exclude every other art
+and science, yet it is certain that persons whose feet have never been
+under the hands of the professors of that art are apt to discover this
+want in their education in every motion, nay, even when they stand or
+sit still. They seem, indeed, to be overburthened with limbs which
+they know not how to use, as if, when Nature hath finished her work,
+the dancing-master still is necessary to put it in motion.
+
+Atkinson was, at present, an example of this observation which doth so
+much honour to a profession for which I have a very high regard. He
+was handsome, and exquisitely well made; and yet, as he had never
+learnt to dance, he made so awkward an appearance in Mrs. Ellison's
+parlour, that the good lady herself, who had invited him in, could at
+first scarce refrain from laughter at his behaviour. He had not,
+however, been long in the room before admiration of his person got the
+better of such risible ideas. So great is the advantage of beauty in
+men as well as women, and so sure is this quality in either sex of
+procuring some regard from the beholder.
+
+The exceeding courteous behaviour of Mrs. Ellison, joined to that of
+Amelia and Booth, at length dissipated the uneasiness of Atkinson; and
+he gained sufficient confidence to tell the company some entertaining
+stories of accidents that had happened in the army within his
+knowledge, which, though they greatly pleased all present, are not,
+however, of consequence enough to have a place in this history.
+
+Mrs. Ellison was so very importunate with her company to stay supper
+that they all consented. As for the serjeant, he seemed to be none of
+the least welcome guests. She was, indeed, so pleased with what she
+had heard of him, and what she saw of him, that, when a little warmed
+with wine, for she was no flincher at the bottle, she began to indulge
+some freedoms in her discourse towards him that a little offended
+Amelia's delicacy, nay, they did not seem to be highly relished by the
+other lady; though I am far from insinuating that these exceeded the
+bounds of decorum, or were, indeed, greater liberties than ladies of
+the middle age, and especially widows, do frequently allow to
+themselves.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter iii.
+
+_Relating principally to the affairs of serjeant Atkinson._
+
+
+The next day, when all the same company, Atkinson only excepted,
+assembled in Amelia's apartment, Mrs. Ellison presently began to
+discourse of him, and that in terms not only of approbation but even
+of affection. She called him her clever serjeant, and her dear
+serjeant, repeated often that he was the prettiest fellow in the army,
+and said it was a thousand pities he had not a commission; for that,
+if he had, she was sure he would become a general.
+
+"I am of your opinion, madam," answered Booth; "and he hath got one
+hundred pounds of his own already, if he could find a wife now to help
+him to two or three hundred more, I think he might easily get a
+commission in a marching regiment; for I am convinced there is no
+colonel in the army would refuse him."
+
+"Refuse him, indeed!" said Mrs. Ellison; "no; he would be a very
+pretty colonel that did. And, upon my honour, I believe there are very
+few ladies who would refuse him, if he had but a proper opportunity of
+soliciting them. The colonel and the lady both would be better off
+than with one of those pretty masters that I see walking about, and
+dragging their long swords after them, when they should rather drag
+their leading-strings."
+
+"Well said," cries Booth, "and spoken like a woman of spirit.--Indeed,
+I believe they would be both better served."
+
+"True, captain," answered Mrs. Ellison; "I would rather leave the two
+first syllables out of the word gentleman than the last."
+
+"Nay, I assure you," replied Booth, "there is not a quieter creature
+in the world. Though the fellow hath the bravery of a lion, he hath
+the meekness of a lamb. I can tell you stories enow of that kind, and
+so can my dear Amelia, when he was a boy."
+
+"O! if the match sticks there," cries Amelia, "I positively will not
+spoil his fortune by my silence. I can answer for him from his
+infancy, that he was one of the best-natured lads in the world. I will
+tell you a story or two of him, the truth of which I can testify from
+my own knowledge. When he was but six years old he was at play with me
+at my mother's house, and a great pointer-dog bit him through the leg.
+The poor lad, in the midst of the anguish of his wound, declared he
+was overjoyed it had not happened to miss (for the same dog had just
+before snapt at me, and my petticoats had been my defence).--Another
+instance of his goodness, which greatly recommended him to my father,
+and which I have loved him for ever since, was this: my father was a
+great lover of birds, and strictly forbad the spoiling of their nests.
+Poor Joe was one day caught upon a tree, and, being concluded guilty,
+was severely lashed for it; but it was afterwards discovered that
+another boy, a friend of Joe's, had robbed the nest of its young ones,
+and poor Joe had climbed the tree in order to restore them,
+notwithstanding which, he submitted to the punishment rather than he
+would impeach his companion. But, if these stories appear childish and
+trifling, the duty and kindness he hath shewn to his mother must
+recommend him to every one. Ever since he hath been fifteen years old
+he hath more than half supported her: and when my brother died, I
+remember particularly, Joe, at his desire, for he was much his
+favourite, had one of his suits given him; but, instead of his
+becoming finer on that occasion, another young fellow came to church
+in my brother's cloaths, and my old nurse appeared the same Sunday in
+a new gown, which her son had purchased for her with the sale of his
+legacy."
+
+"Well, I protest, he is a very worthy creature," said Mrs. Bennet.
+
+"He is a charming fellow," cries Mrs. Ellison--"but then the name of
+serjeant, Captain Booth; there, as the play says, my pride brings me
+off again."
+
+          And whatsoever the sages charge on pride,
+     The angels' fall, and twenty other good faults beside;
+     On earth I'm sure--I'm sure--something--calling
+     Pride saves man, and our sex too, from falling.--
+
+Here a footman's rap at the door shook the room. Upon which Mrs.
+Ellison, running to the window, cried out, "Let me die if it is not my
+lord! what shall I do? I must be at home to him; but suppose he should
+enquire for you, captain, what shall I say? or will you go down with
+me?"
+
+The company were in some confusion at this instant, and before they
+had agreed on anything, Booth's little girl came running into the
+room, and said, "There was a prodigious great gentleman coming up-
+stairs." She was immediately followed by his lordship, who, as he knew
+Booth must be at home, made very little or no enquiry at the door.
+
+Amelia was taken somewhat at a surprize, but she was too polite to
+shew much confusion; for, though she knew nothing of the town, she had
+had a genteel education, and kept the best company the country
+afforded. The ceremonies therefore past as usual, and they all sat
+down.
+
+His lordship soon addressed himself to Booth, saying, "As I have what
+I think good news for you, sir, I could not delay giving myself the
+pleasure of communicating it to you. I have mentioned your affair
+where I promised you, and I have no doubt of my success. One may
+easily perceive, you know, from the manner of people's behaving upon
+such occasions; and, indeed, when I related your case, I found there
+was much inclination to serve you. Great men, Mr. Booth, must do
+things in their own time; but I think you may depend on having
+something done very soon."
+
+Booth made many acknowledgments for his lordship's goodness, and now a
+second time paid all the thanks which would have been due, even had
+the favour been obtained. This art of promising is the economy of a
+great man's pride, a sort of good husbandry in conferring favours, by
+which they receive tenfold in acknowledgments for every obligation, I
+mean among those who really intend the service; for there are others
+who cheat poor men of their thanks, without ever designing to deserve
+them at all.
+
+This matter being sufficiently discussed, the conversation took a
+gayer turn; and my lord began to entertain the ladies with some of
+that elegant discourse which, though most delightful to hear, it is
+impossible should ever be read.
+
+His lordship was so highly pleased with Amelia, that he could not help
+being somewhat particular to her; but this particularity distinguished
+itself only in a higher degree of respect, and was so very polite, and
+so very distant, that she herself was pleased, and at his departure,
+which was not till he had far exceeded the length of a common visit,
+declared he was the finest gentleman she had ever seen; with which
+sentiment her husband and Mrs. Ellison both entirely concurred.
+
+Mrs. Bennet, on the contrary, exprest some little dislike to my lord's
+complaisance, which she called excessive. "For my own part," said she,
+"I have not the least relish for those very fine gentlemen; what the
+world generally calls politeness, I term insincerity; and I am more
+charmed with the stories which Mrs. Booth told us of the honest
+serjeant than with all that the finest gentlemen in the world ever
+said in their lives!"
+
+"O! to be sure," cries Mrs. Ellison; "_All for Love, or the World
+well Lost,_ is a motto very proper for some folks to wear in their
+coat of arms; but the generality of the world will, I believe, agree
+with that lady's opinion of my cousin, rather than with Mrs. Bennet."
+
+Mrs. Bennet, seeing Mrs. Ellison took offence at what she said,
+thought proper to make some apology, which was very readily accepted,
+and so ended the visit.
+
+We cannot however put an end to the chapter without observing that
+such is the ambitious temper of beauty, that it may always apply to
+itself that celebrated passage in Lucan,
+
+_Nec quenquam jam ferre potest Caesarve priorem, Pompeiusve
+parem._
+
+Indeed, I believe, it may be laid down as a general rule, that no
+woman who hath any great pretensions to admiration is ever well
+pleased in a company where she perceives herself to fill only the
+second place. This observation, however, I humbly submit to the
+judgment of the ladies, and hope it will be considered as retracted by
+me if they shall dissent from my opinion.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter iv.
+
+_Containing matters that require no preface._
+
+
+When Booth and his wife were left alone together they both extremely
+exulted in their good fortune in having found so good a friend as his
+lordship; nor were they wanting in very warm expressions of gratitude
+towards Mrs. Ellison. After which they began to lay down schemes of
+living when Booth should have his commission of captain; and, after
+the exactest computation, concluded that, with economy, they should be
+able to save at least fifty pounds a-year out of their income in order
+to pay their debts.
+
+These matters being well settled, Amelia asked Booth what he thought
+of Mrs. Bennet? "I think, my dear," answered Booth, "that she hath
+been formerly a very pretty woman." "I am mistaken," replied she, "if
+she be not a very good creature. I don't know I ever took such a
+liking to any one on so short an acquaintance. I fancy she hath been a
+very spritely woman; for, if you observe, she discovers by starts a
+great vivacity in her countenance." "I made the same observation,"
+cries Booth: "sure some strange misfortune hath befallen her." "A
+misfortune, indeed!" answered Amelia; "sure, child, you forget what
+Mrs. Ellison told us, that she had lost a beloved husband. A
+misfortune which I have often wondered at any woman's surviving." At
+which words she cast a tender look at Booth, and presently afterwards,
+throwing herself upon his neck, cried, "O, Heavens! what a happy
+creature am I! when I consider the dangers you have gone through, how
+I exult in my bliss!" The good-natured reader will suppose that Booth
+was not deficient in returning such tenderness, after which the
+conversation became too fond to be here related.
+
+The next morning Mrs. Ellison addressed herself to Booth as follows:
+"I shall make no apology, sir, for what I am going to say, as it
+proceeds from my friendship to yourself and your dear lady. I am
+convinced then, sir, there is a something more than accident in your
+going abroad only one day in the week. Now, sir, if, as I am afraid,
+matters are not altogether as well as I wish them, I beg, since I do
+not believe you are provided with a lawyer, that you will suffer me to
+recommend one to you. The person I shall mention is, I assure you, of
+much ability in his profession, and I have known him do great services
+to gentlemen under a cloud. Do not be ashamed of your circumstances,
+my dear friend: they are a much greater scandal to those who have left
+so much merit unprovided for."
+
+Booth gave Mrs. Ellison abundance of thanks for her kindness, and
+explicitly confessed to her that her conjectures were right, and,
+without hesitation, accepted the offer of her friend's assistance.
+
+Mrs. Ellison then acquainted him with her apprehensions on his
+account. She said she had both yesterday and this morning seen two or
+three very ugly suspicious fellows pass several times by her window.
+"Upon all accounts," said she, "my dear sir, I advise you to keep
+yourself close confined till the lawyer hath been with you. I am sure
+he will get you your liberty, at least of walking about within the
+verge. There's something to be done with the board of green-cloth; I
+don't know what; but this I know, that several gentlemen have lived
+here a long time very comfortably, and have defied all the vengeance
+of their creditors. However, in the mean time, you must be a close
+prisoner with your lady; and I believe there is no man in England but
+would exchange his liberty for the same gaol."
+
+She then departed in order to send for the attorney, and presently
+afterwards the serjeant arrived with news of the like kind. He said he
+had scraped an acquaintance with Murphy. "I hope your honour will
+pardon me," cries Atkinson, "but I pretended to have a small demand
+upon your honour myself, and offered to employ him in the business.
+Upon which he told me that, if I would go with him to the Marshal's
+court, and make affidavit of my debt, he should be able very shortly
+to get it me; for I shall have the captain in hold," cries he,
+"within a day or two." "I wish," said the serjeant, "I could do your
+honour any service. Shall I walk about all day before the door? or
+shall I be porter, and watch it in the inside till your honour can
+find some means of securing yourself? I hope you will not be offended
+at me, but I beg you would take care of falling into Murphy's hands;
+for he hath the character of the greatest villain upon earth. I am
+afraid you will think me too bold, sir; but I have a little money; if
+it can be of any service, do, pray your honour, command it. It can
+never do me so much good any other way. Consider, sir, I owe all I
+have to yourself and my dear mistress."
+
+Booth stood a moment, as if he had been thunderstruck, and then, the
+tears bursting from his eyes, he said, "Upon my soul, Atkinson, you
+overcome me. I scarce ever heard of so--much goodness, nor do I know
+how to express my sentiments of it. But, be assured, as for your
+money, I will not accept it; and let it satisfy you, that in my
+present circumstances it would do me no essential service; but this be
+assured of likewise, that whilst I live I shall never forget the
+kindness of the offer. However, as I apprehend I may be in some danger
+of fellows getting into the house, for a day or two, as I have no
+guard but a poor little girl, I will not refuse the goodness you offer
+to shew in my protection. And I make no doubt but Mrs. Ellison will
+let you sit in her parlour for that purpose."
+
+Atkinson, with the utmost readiness, undertook the office of porter;
+and Mrs. Ellison as readily allotted him a place in her back-parlour,
+where he continued three days together, from eight in the morning till
+twelve at night; during which time, he had sometimes the company of
+Mrs. Ellison, and sometimes of Booth, Amelia, and Mrs. Bennet too; for
+this last had taken as great a fancy to Amelia as Amelia had to her,
+and, therefore, as Mr. Booth's affairs were now no secret in the
+neighbourhood, made her frequent visits during the confinement of her
+husband, and consequently her own.
+
+Nothing, as I remember, happened in this interval of time, more worthy
+notice than the following card which Amelia received from her old
+acquaintance Mrs. James:--"Mrs. James sends her compliments to Mrs.
+Booth, and desires to know how she does; for, as she hath not had the
+favour of seeing her at her own house, or of meeting her in any public
+place, in so long time, fears it may be owing to ill health."
+
+Amelia had long given over all thoughts of her friend, and doubted not
+but that she was as entirely given over by her; she was very much
+surprized at this message, and under some doubt whether it was not
+meant as an insult, especially from the mention of public places,
+which she thought so inconsistent with her present circumstances, of
+which she supposed Mrs. James was well apprized. However, at the
+entreaty of her husband, who languished for nothing more than to be
+again reconciled to his friend James, Amelia undertook to pay the lady
+a visit, and to examine into the mystery of this conduct, which
+appeared to her so unaccountable.
+
+Mrs. James received her with a degree of civility that amazed Amelia
+no less than her coldness had done before. She resolved to come to an
+eclaircissement, and, having sat out some company that came in, when
+they were alone together Amelia, after some silence and many offers to
+speak, at last said, "My dear Jenny (if you will now suffer me to call
+you by so familiar a name), have you entirely forgot a certain young
+lady who had the pleasure of being your intimate acquaintance at
+Montpelier?" "Whom do you mean, dear madam?" cries Mrs. James with
+great concern. "I mean myself," answered Amelia. "You surprize me,
+madam," replied Mrs. James: "how can you ask me that question?" "Nay,
+my dear, I do not intend to offend you," cries Amelia, "but I am
+really desirous to solve to myself the reason of that coldness which
+you shewed me when you did me the favour of a visit. Can you think, my
+dear, I was not disappointed, when I expected to meet an intimate
+friend, to receive a cold formal visitant? I desire you to examine
+your own heart and answer me honestly if you do not think I had some
+little reason to be dissatisfied with your behaviour?" "Indeed, Mrs.
+Booth," answered the other lady, "you surprize me very much; if there
+was anything displeasing to you in my behaviour I am extremely
+concerned at it. I did not know I had been defective in any of the
+rules of civility, but if I was, madam, I ask your pardon." "Is
+civility, then, my dear," replied Amelia, "a synonymous term with
+friendship? Could I have expected, when I parted the last time with
+Miss Jenny Bath, to have met her the next time in the shape of a fine
+lady, complaining of the hardship of climbing up two pair of stairs to
+visit me, and then approaching me with the distant air of a new or a
+slight acquaintance? Do you think, my dear Mrs. James, if the tables
+had been turned, if my fortune had been as high in the world as yours,
+and you in my distress and abject condition, that I would not have
+climbed as high as the monument to visit you?" "Sure, madam," cried
+Mrs. James, "I mistake you, or you have greatly mistaken me. Can you
+complain of my not visiting you, who have owed me a visit almost these
+three weeks? Nay, did I not even then send you a card, which sure was
+doing more than all the friendship and good-breeding in the world
+required; but, indeed, as I had met you in no public place, I really
+thought you was ill."
+
+"How can you mention public places to me," said Amelia, "when you can
+hardly be a stranger to my present situation? Did you not know, madam,
+that I was ruined?" "No, indeed, madam, did I not," replied Mrs.
+James; "I am sure I should have been highly concerned if! had." "Why,
+sure, my dear," cries Amelia, "you could not imagine that we were in
+affluent circumstances, when you found us in such a place, and in such
+a condition." "Nay, my dear," answered Mrs. James, "since you are
+pleased to mention it first yourself, I own I was a little surprized
+to see you in no better lodgings; but I concluded you had your own
+reasons for liking them; and, for my own part, I have laid it down as
+a positive rule never to enquire into the private affairs of any one,
+especially of my friends. I am not of the humour of some ladies, who
+confine the circle of their acquaintance to one part of the town, and
+would not be known to visit in the city for the world. For my part, I
+never dropt an acquaintance with any one while it was reputable to
+keep it up; and I can solemnly declare I have not a friend in the
+world for whom I have a greater esteem than I have for Mrs. Booth."
+
+At this instant the arrival of a new visitant put an end to the
+discourse; and Amelia soon after took her leave without the least
+anger, but with some little unavoidable contempt for a lady, in whose
+opinion, as we have hinted before, outward form and ceremony
+constituted the whole essence of friendship; who valued all her
+acquaintance alike, as each individual served equally to fill up a
+place in her visiting roll; and who, in reality, had not the least
+concern for the good qualities or well-being of any of them.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter v.
+
+_Containing much heroic matter._
+
+
+At the end of three days Mrs. Ellison's friend had so far purchased
+Mr. Booth's liberty that he could walk again abroad within the verge
+without any danger of having a warrant backed against him by the board
+before he had notice. As for the ill-looked persons that had given the
+alarm, it was now discovered that another unhappy gentleman, and not
+Booth, was the object of their pursuit.
+
+Mr. Booth, now being delivered from his fears, went, as he had
+formerly done, to take his morning walk in the Park. Here he met
+Colonel Bath in company with some other officers, and very civilly
+paid his respects to him. But, instead of returning the salute, the
+colonel looked him full in the face with a very stern countenance;
+and, if he could be said to take any notice of him, it was in such a
+manner as to inform him he would take no notice of him.
+
+Booth was not more hurt than surprized at this behaviour, and resolved
+to know the reason of it. He therefore watched an opportunity till the
+colonel was alone, and then walked boldly up to him, and desired to
+know if he had given him any offence? The colonel answered hastily,
+"Sir, I am above being offended with you, nor do I think it consistent
+with my dignity to make you any answer." Booth replied, "I don't know,
+sir, that I have done anything to deserve this treatment." "Look'ee,
+sir," cries the colonel, "if I had not formerly had some respect for
+you, I should not think you worth my resentment. However, as you are a
+gentleman born, and an officer, and as I have had an esteem for you, I
+will give you some marks of it by putting it in your power to do
+yourself justice. I will tell you therefore, sir, that you have acted
+like a scoundrel." "If we were not in the Park," answered Booth
+warmly, "I would thank you very properly for that compliment." "O,
+sir," cries the colonel, "we can be soon in a convenient place." Upon
+which Booth answered, he would attend him wherever he pleased. The
+colonel then bid him come along, and strutted forward directly up
+Constitution-hill to Hyde-park, Booth following him at first, and
+afterwards walking before him, till they came to that place which may
+be properly called the field of blood, being that part, a little to
+the left of the ring, which heroes have chosen for the scene of their
+exit out of this world.
+
+Booth reached the ring some time before the colonel; for he mended not
+his pace any more than a Spaniard. To say truth, I believe it was not
+in his power: for he had so long accustomed himself to one and the
+same strut, that as a horse, used always to trotting, can scarce be
+forced into a gallop, so could no passion force the colonel to alter
+his pace.
+
+[Illustration with caption: _Colonel Bath._]
+
+At length, however, both parties arrived at the lists, where the
+colonel very deliberately took off his wig and coat, and laid them on
+the grass, and then, drawing his sword, advanced to Booth, who had
+likewise his drawn weapon in his hand, but had made no other
+preparation for the combat.
+
+The combatants now engaged with great fury, and, after two or three
+passes, Booth run the colonel through the body and threw him on the
+ground, at the same time possessing himself of the colonel's sword.
+
+As soon as the colonel was become master of his speech, he called out
+to Booth in a very kind voice, and said, "You have done my business,
+and satisfied me that you are a man of honour, and that my brother
+James must have been mistaken; for I am convinced that no man who will
+draw his sword in so gallant a manner is capable of being a rascal.
+D--n me, give me a buss, my dear boy; I ask your pardon for that
+infamous appellation I dishonoured your dignity with; but d--n me if
+it was not purely out of love, and to give you an opportunity of doing
+yourself justice, which I own you have done like a man of honour. What
+may be the consequence I know not, but I hope, at least, I shall live
+to reconcile you with my brother."
+
+Booth shewed great concern, and even horror in his countenance. "Why,
+my dear colonel," said he, "would you force me to this? for Heaven's
+sake tell me what I have ever done to offend you."
+
+"Me!" cried the colonel. "Indeed, my dear child, you never did
+anything to offend me.--Nay, I have acted the part of a friend to you
+in the whole affair. I maintained your cause with my brother as long
+as decency would permit; I could not flatly contradict him, though,
+indeed, I scarce believed him. But what could I do? If I had not
+fought with you, I must have been obliged to have fought with him;
+however, I hope what is done will be sufficient, and that matters may
+be discomodated without your being put to the necessity of fighting
+any more on this occasion."
+
+"Never regard me," cried Booth eagerly; "for Heaven's sake, think of
+your own preservation. Let me put you into a chair, and get you a
+surgeon."
+
+"Thou art a noble lad," cries the colonel, who was now got on his
+legs, "and I am glad the business is so well over; for, though your
+sword went quite through, it slanted so that I apprehend there is
+little danger of life: however, I think there is enough done to put an
+honourable end to the affair, especially as you was so hasty to disarm
+me. I bleed a little, but I can walk to the house by the water; and,
+if you will send me a chair thither, I shall be obliged to you."
+
+As the colonel refused any assistance (indeed he was very able to walk
+without it, though with somewhat less dignity than usual), Booth set
+forward to Grosvenor-gate, in order to procure the chair, and soon
+after returned with one to his friend; whom having conveyed into it,
+he attended himself on foot into Bond-street, where then lived a very
+eminent surgeon.
+
+The surgeon having probed the wound, turned towards Booth, who was
+apparently the guilty person, and said, with a smile, "Upon my word,
+sir, you have performed the business with great dexterity."
+
+"Sir," cries the colonel to the surgeon, "I would not have you imagine
+I am afraid to die. I think I know more what belongs to the dignity of
+a man; and, I believe, I have shewn it at the head of a line of
+battle. Do not impute my concern to that fear, when I ask you whether
+there is or is not any danger?"
+
+"Really, colonel," answered the surgeon, who well knew the complexion
+of the gentleman then under his hands, "it would appear like
+presumption to say that a man who hath been just run through the body
+is in no manner of danger. But this I think I may assure you, that I
+yet perceive no very bad symptoms, and, unless something worse should
+appear, or a fever be the consequence, I hope you may live to be
+again, with all your dignity, at the head of a line of battle."
+
+"I am glad to hear that is your opinion," quoth the colonel, "for I am
+not desirous of dying, though I am not afraid of it. But, if anything
+worse than you apprehend should happen, I desire you will be a witness
+of my declaration that this young gentleman is entirely innocent. I
+forced him to do what he did. My dear Booth, I am pleased matters are
+as they are. You are the first man that ever gained an advantage over
+me; but it was very lucky for you that you disarmed me, and I doubt
+not but you have the equananimity to think so. If the business,
+therefore, hath ended without doing anything to the purpose, it was
+Fortune's pleasure, and neither of our faults."
+
+Booth heartily embraced the colonel, and assured him of the great
+satisfaction he had received from the surgeon's opinion; and soon
+after the two combatants took their leave of each other. The colonel,
+after he was drest, went in a chair to his lodgings, and Booth walked
+on foot to his; where he luckily arrived without meeting any of Mr.
+Murphy's gang; a danger which never once occurred to his imagination
+till he was out of it.
+
+The affair he had been about had indeed so entirely occupied his mind,
+that it had obliterated every other idea; among the rest, it caused
+him so absolutely to forget the time of the day, that, though he had
+exceeded the time of dining above two hours, he had not the least
+suspicion of being at home later than usual.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter vi.
+
+_In which the reader will find matter worthy his consideration._
+
+
+Amelia, having waited above an hour for her husband, concluded, as he
+was the most punctual man alive, that he had met with some engagement
+abroad, and sat down to her meal with her children; which, as it was
+always uncomfortable in the absence of her husband, was very short; so
+that, before his return, all the apparatus of dining was entirely
+removed.
+
+Booth sat some time with his wife, expecting every minute when the
+little maid would make her appearance; at last, curiosity, I believe,
+rather than appetite, made him ask how long it was to dinner? "To
+dinner, my dear!" answered Amelia; "sure you have dined, I hope?"
+Booth replied in the negative; upon which his wife started from her
+chair, and bestirred herself as nimbly to provide him a repast as the
+most industrious hostess in the kingdom doth when some unexpected
+guest of extraordinary quality arrives at her house.
+
+The reader hath not, I think, from any passages hitherto recorded in
+this history, had much reason to accuse Amelia of a blameable
+curiosity; he will not, I hope, conclude that she gave an instance of
+any such fault when, upon Booth's having so long overstayed his time,
+and so greatly mistaken the hour of the day, and upon some other
+circumstances of his behaviour (for he was too honest to be good at
+concealing any of his thoughts), she said to him after he had done
+eating, "My dear, I am sure something more than ordinary hath happened
+to-day, and I beg you will tell me what is."
+
+Booth answered that nothing of any consequence had happened; that he
+had been detained by a friend, whom he met accidently, longer than he
+expected. In short, he made many shuffling and evasive answers, not
+boldly lying out, which, perhaps, would have succeeded, but poorly and
+vainly endeavouring to reconcile falsehood with truth; an attempt
+which seldom fails to betray the most practised deceiver.
+
+How impossible was it therefore for poor Booth to succeed in an art
+for which nature had so entirely disqualified him. His countenance,
+indeed, confessed faster than his tongue denied, and the whole of his
+behaviour gave Amelia an alarm, and made her suspect something very
+bad had happened; and, as her thoughts turned presently on the badness
+of their circumstances, she feared some mischief from his creditors
+had befallen him; for she was too ignorant of such matters to know
+that, if he had fallen into the hands of the Philistines (which is the
+name given by the faithful to bailiffs), he would hardly have been
+able so soon to recover his liberty. Booth at last perceived her to be
+so uneasy, that, as he saw no hopes of contriving any fiction to
+satisfy her, he thought himself obliged to tell her the truth, or at
+least part of the truth, and confessed that he had had a little
+skirmish with Colonel Bath, in which, he said, the colonel had
+received a slight wound, not at all dangerous; "and this," says he,
+"is all the whole matter." "If it be so," cries Amelia, "I thank
+Heaven no worse hath happened; but why, my dear, will you ever
+converse with that madman, who can embrace a friend one moment, and
+fight with him the next?" "Nay, my dear," answered Booth, "you
+yourself must confess, though he be a little too much on the _qui
+vive,_ he is a man of great honour and good-nature." "Tell me not,"
+replied she, "of such good-nature and honour as would sacrifice a
+friend and a whole family to a ridiculous whim. Oh, Heavens!" cried
+she, falling upon her knees, "from what misery have I escaped, from
+what have these poor babes escaped, through your gracious providence
+this day!" Then turning to her husband, she cried, "But are you sure
+the monster's wound is no more dangerous than you say? a monster
+surely I may call him, who can quarrel with a man that could not, that
+I am convinced would not, offend him."
+
+Upon this question, Booth repeated the assurances which the surgeon
+had given them, perhaps with a little enlargement, which pretty well
+satisfied Amelia; and instead of blaming her husband for what he had
+done, she tenderly embraced him, and again returned thanks to Heaven
+for his safety.
+
+In the evening Booth insisted on paying a short visit to the colonel,
+highly against the inclination of Amelia, who, by many arguments and
+entreaties, endeavoured to dissuade her husband from continuing an
+acquaintance in which, she said, she should always foresee much danger
+for the future. However, she was at last prevailed upon to acquiesce;
+and Booth went to the colonel, whose lodgings happened to be in the
+verge as well as his own.
+
+He found the colonel in his night-gown, and his great chair, engaged
+with another officer at a game of chess. He rose immediately, and,
+having heartily embraced Booth, presented him to his friend, saying,
+he had the honour to introduce to him as brave and as _fortitudinous_
+a man as any in the king's dominions. He then took Booth with him into
+the next room, and desired him not to mention a word of what had
+happened in the morning; saying, "I am very well satisfied that no
+more hath happened; however, as it ended in nothing, I could wish it
+might remain a secret." Booth told him he was heartily glad to find
+him so well, and promised never to mention it more to any one.
+
+The game at chess being but just begun, and neither of the parties
+having gained any considerable advantage, they neither of them
+insisted on continuing it; and now the colonel's antagonist took his
+leave and left the colonel and Booth together.
+
+As soon as they were alone, the latter earnestly entreated the former
+to acquaint him with the real cause of his anger; "for may I perish,"
+cries Booth, "if I can even guess what I have ever done to offend
+either you, or your brother. Colonel James."
+
+"Look'ee, child," cries the colonel; "I tell you I am for my own part
+satisfied; for I am convinced that a man who will fight can never be a
+rascal; and, therefore, why should you enquire any more of me at
+present? when I see my brother James, I hope to reconcile all matters,
+and perhaps no more swords need be drawn on this occasion." But Booth
+still persisting in his desire, the colonel, after some hesitation,
+with a tremendous oath, cried out, "I do not think myself at liberty
+to refuse you after the indignity I offered you; so, since you demand
+it of me, I will inform you. My brother told me you had used him
+dishonourably, and had divellicated his character behind his back. He
+gave me his word, too, that he was well assured of what he said. What
+could I have done? though I own to you I did not believe him, and your
+behaviour since hath convinced me I was in the right; I must either
+have given him the lye, and fought with him, or else I was obliged to
+behave as I did, and fight with you. And now, my lad, I leave it to
+you to do as you please; but, if you are laid under any necessity to
+do yourself further justice, it is your own fault."
+
+"Alas! colonel," answered Booth, "besides the obligations I have to
+the colonel, I have really so much love for him, that I think of
+nothing less than resentment. All I wish is to have this affair
+brought to an eclaircissement, and to satisfy him that he is in an
+error; for, though his assertions are cruelly injurious, and I have
+never deserved them, yet I am convinced he would not say what he did
+not himself think. Some rascal, envious of his friendship for me, hath
+belyed me to him; and the only resentment I desire is, to convince him
+of his mistake."
+
+At these words the colonel grinned horribly a ghastly smile, or rather
+sneer, and answered, "Young gentleman, you may do as you please; but,
+by the eternal dignity of man, if any man breathing had taken a
+liberty with my character--Here, here--Mr. Booth (shewing his
+fingers), here d--n me, should be his nostrils; he should breathe
+through my hands, and breathe his last, d--n me."
+
+Booth answered, "I think, colonel, I may appeal to your testimony that
+I dare do myself justice; since he who dare draw his sword against you
+can hardly be supposed to fear any other person; but I repeat to you
+again that I love Colonel James so well, and am so greatly obliged to
+him, that it would be almost indifferent to me whether I directed my
+sword against his breast or my own."
+
+The colonel's muscles were considerably softened by Booth's last
+speech; but he again contracted them into a vast degree of fierceness
+before he cried out--"Boy, thou hast reason enough to be vain; for
+thou art the first person that ever could proudly say he gained an
+advantage over me in combat. I believe, indeed, thou art not afraid of
+any man breathing, and, as I know thou hast some obligations to my
+brother, I do not discommend thee; for nothing more becomes the
+dignity of a man than gratitude. Besides, as I am satisfied my brother
+can produce the author of the slander--I say, I am satisfied of that--
+d--n me, if any man alive dares assert the contrary; for that would be
+to make my brother himself a liar--I will make him produce his author;
+and then, my dear boy, your doing yourself proper justice there will
+bring you finely out of the whole affair. As soon as my surgeon gives
+me leave to go abroad, which, I hope, will be in a few days, I will
+bring my brother James to a tavern where you shall meet us; and I will
+engage my honour, my whole dignity to you, to make you friends."
+
+The assurance of the colonel gave Booth great pleasure; for few
+persons ever loved a friend better than he did James; and as for doing
+military justice on the author of that scandalous report which had
+incensed his friend against him, not Bath himself was ever more ready,
+on such an occasion, than Booth to execute it. He soon after took his
+leave, and returned home in high spirits to his Amelia, whom he found
+in Mrs. Ellison's apartment, engaged in a party at ombre with that
+lady and her right honourable cousin.
+
+His lordship had, it seems, had a second interview with the great man,
+and, having obtained further hopes (for I think there was not yet an
+absolute promise) of success in Mr. Booth's affairs, his usual good-
+nature brought him immediately to acquaint Mr. Booth with it. As he
+did not therefore find him at home, and as he met with the two ladies
+together, he resolved to stay till his friend's return, which he was
+assured would not be long, especially as he was so lucky, he said, to
+have no particular engagement that whole evening.
+
+We remarked before that his lordship, at the first interview with
+Amelia, had distinguished her by a more particular address from the
+other ladies; but that now appeared to be rather owing to his perfect
+good-breeding, as she was then to be considered as the mistress of the
+house, than from any other preference. His present behaviour made this
+still more manifest; for, as he was now in Mrs. Ellison's apartment,
+though she was his relation and an old acquaintance, he applied his
+conversation rather more to her than to Amelia. His eyes, indeed, were
+now and then guilty of the contrary distinction, but this was only by
+stealth; for they constantly withdrew the moment they were discovered.
+In short, he treated Amelia with the greatest distance, and at the
+same time with the most profound and awful respect; his conversation
+was so general, so lively, and so obliging, that Amelia, when she
+added to his agreeableness the obligations she had to him for his
+friendship to Booth, was certainly as much pleased with his lordship
+as any virtuous woman can possibly be with any man, besides her own
+husband.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter VII.
+
+_Containing various matters._
+
+
+We have already mentioned the good-humour in which Booth returned
+home; and the reader will easily believe it was not a little encreased
+by the good-humour in which he found his company. My lord received him
+with the utmost marks of friendship and affection, and told him that
+his affairs went on as well almost as he himself could desire, and
+that he doubted not very soon to wish him joy of a company.
+
+When Booth had made a proper return to all his lordship's unparalleled
+goodness, he whispered Amelia that the colonel was entirely out of
+danger, and almost as well as himself. This made her satisfaction
+complete, threw her into such spirits, and gave such a lustre to her
+eyes, that her face, as Horace says, was too dazzling to be looked at;
+it was certainly too handsome to be looked at without the highest
+admiration.
+
+His lordship departed about ten o'clock, and left the company in
+raptures with him, especially the two ladies, of whom it is difficult
+to say which exceeded the other in his commendations. Mrs. Ellison
+swore she believed he was the best of all humankind; and Amelia,
+without making any exception, declared he was the finest gentleman and
+most agreeable man she had ever seen in her life; adding, it was great
+pity he should remain single. "That's true, indeed," cries Mrs.
+Ellison, "and I have often lamented it; nay, I am astonished at it,
+considering the great liking he always shews for our sex, and he may
+certainly have the choice of all. The real reason, I believe, is, his
+fondness for his sister's children. I declare, madam, if you was to
+see his behaviour to them, you would think they were his own. Indeed
+he is vastly fond of all manner of children." "Good creature!" cries
+Amelia; "if ever he doth me the honour of another visit I am resolved
+I will shew him my little things. I think, Mrs. Ellison, as you say my
+lord loves children, I may say, without vanity, he will not see many
+such." "No, indeed, will he not," answered Mrs. Ellison: "and now I
+think on't, madam, I wonder at my own stupidity in never making the
+offer before; but since you put it into my head, if you will give me
+leave, I'll take master and miss to wait on my lord's nephew and
+niece. They are very pretty behaved children; and little master and
+miss will be, I dare swear, very happy in their acquaintance; besides,
+if my lord himself should see them, I know what will happen; for he is
+the most generous of all human beings."
+
+Amelia very readily accepted the favour which Mrs. Ellison offered
+her; but Booth exprest some reluctance. "Upon my word, my dear," said
+he, with a smile, "this behaviour of ours puts me in mind of the
+common conduct of beggars; who, whenever they receive a favour, are
+sure to send other objects to the same fountain of charity. Don't we,
+my dear, repay our obligations to my lord in the same manner, by
+sending our children a begging to him?"
+
+"O beastly!" cries Mrs. Ellison; "how could such a thought enter your
+brains? I protest, madam, I begin to grow ashamed of this husband of
+yours. How can you have so vulgar a way of thinking? Begging, indeed!
+the poor little dear things a begging! If my lord was capable of such
+a thought, though he was my own brother instead of my cousin, I should
+scorn him too much ever to enter his doors." "O dear madam!" answered
+Amelia, "you take Mr. Booth too seriously, when he was only in jest;
+and the children shall wait upon you whenever you please."
+
+Though Booth had been a little more in earnest than Amelia had
+represented him, and was not, perhaps, quite so much in the wrong as
+he was considered by Mrs. Ellison, yet, seeing there were two to one
+against him, he wisely thought proper to recede, and let his simile go
+off with that air of a jest which his wife had given it.
+
+Mrs. Ellison, however, could not let it pass without paying some
+compliments to Amelia's understanding, nor without some obscure
+reflexions upon Booth, with whom she was more offended than the matter
+required. She was indeed a woman of most profuse generosity, and could
+not bear a thought which she deemed vulgar or sneaking. She afterwards
+launched forth the most profuse encomiums of his lordship's
+liberality, and concluded the evening with some instances which he had
+given of that virtue which, if not the noblest, is, perhaps, one of
+the most useful to society with which great and rich men can be
+endowed.
+
+The next morning early, serjeant Atkinson came to wait on lieutenant
+Booth, and desired to speak with his honour in private. Upon which the
+lieutenant and serjeant took a walk together in the Park. Booth
+expected every minute when the serjeant would open his mouth; under
+which expectation he continued till he came to the end of the mall,
+and so he might have continued till he came to the end of the world;
+for, though several words stood at the end of the serjeant's lips,
+there they were likely to remain for ever. He was, indeed, in the
+condition of a miser, whom a charitable impulse hath impelled to draw
+a few pence to the edge of his pocket, where they are altogether as
+secure as if they were in the bottom; for, as the one hath not the
+heart to part with a farthing, so neither had the other the heart to
+speak a word.
+
+Booth at length, wondering that the serjeant did not speak, asked him,
+What his business was? when the latter with a stammering voice began
+the following apology: "I hope, sir, your honour will not be angry,
+nor take anything amiss of me. I do assure you, it was not of my
+seeking, nay, I dare not proceed in the matter without first asking
+your leave. Indeed, if I had taken any liberties from the goodness you
+have been pleased to shew me, I should look upon myself as one of the
+most worthless and despicable of wretches; but nothing is farther from
+my thoughts. I know the distance which is between us; and, because
+your honour hath been so kind and good as to treat me with more
+familiarity than any other officer ever did, if I had been base enough
+to take any freedoms, or to encroach upon your honour's goodness, I
+should deserve to be whipt through the regiment. I hope, therefore,
+sir, you will not suspect me of any such attempt."
+
+"What can all this mean, Atkinson?" cries Booth; "what mighty matter
+would you introduce with all this previous apology?"
+
+"I am almost ashamed and afraid to mention it," answered the serjeant;
+"and yet I am sure your honour will believe what I have said, and not
+think anything owing to my own presumption; and, at the same time, I
+have no reason to think you would do anything to spoil my fortune in
+an honest way, when it is dropt into my lap without my own seeking.
+For may I perish if it is not all the lady's own goodness, and I hope
+in Heaven, with your honour's leave, I shall live to make her amends
+for it." In a word, that we may not detain the reader's curiosity
+quite so long as he did Booth's, he acquainted that gentleman that he
+had had an offer of marriage from a lady of his acquaintance, to whose
+company he had introduced him, and desired his permission to accept of
+it.
+
+Booth must have been very dull indeed if, after what the serjeant had
+said, and after what he had heard Mrs. Ellison say, he had wanted any
+information concerning the lady. He answered him briskly and
+chearfully, that he had his free consent to marry any woman whatever;
+"and the greater and richer she is," added he, "the more I shall be
+pleased with the match. I don't enquire who the lady is," said he,
+smiling, "but I hope she will make as good a wife as, I am convinced,
+her husband will deserve."
+
+"Your honour hath been always too good to me," cries Atkinson; "but
+this I promise you, I will do all in my power to merit the kindness
+she is pleased to shew me. I will be bold to say she will marry an
+honest man, though he is but a poor one; and she shall never want
+anything which I can give her or do for her, while my name is Joseph
+Atkinson."
+
+"And so her name is a secret, Joe, is it?" cries Booth.
+
+"Why, sir," answered the serjeant, "I hope your honour will not insist
+upon knowing that, as I think it would be dishonourable in me to
+mention it."
+
+"Not at all," replied Booth; "I am the farthest in the world from any
+such desire. I know thee better than to imagine thou wouldst disclose
+the name of a fair lady." Booth then shook Atkinson heartily by the
+hand, and assured him earnestly of the joy he had in his good fortune;
+for which the good serjeant failed not of making all proper
+acknowledgments. After which they parted, and Booth returned home.
+
+As Mrs. Ellison opened the door, Booth hastily rushed by; for he had
+the utmost difficulty to prevent laughing in her face. He ran directly
+up-stairs, and, throwing himself into a chair, discharged such a fit
+of laughter as greatly surprized, and at first almost frightened, his
+wife.
+
+Amelia, it will be supposed, presently enquired into the cause of this
+phenomenon, with which Booth, as soon as he was able (for that was not
+within a few minutes), acquainted her. The news did not affect her in
+the same manner it had affected her husband. On the contrary, she
+cried, "I protest I cannot guess what makes you see it in so
+ridiculous a light. I really think Mrs. Ellison hath chosen very well.
+I am convinced Joe will make her one of the best of husbands; and, in
+my opinion, that is the greatest blessing a woman can be possessed
+of."
+
+However, when Mrs. Ellison came into her room a little while
+afterwards to fetch the children, Amelia became of a more risible
+disposition, especially when the former, turning to Booth, who was
+then present, said, "So, captain, my jantee-serjeant was very early
+here this morning. I scolded my maid heartily for letting him wait so
+long in the entry like a lacquais, when she might have shewn him into
+my inner apartment." At which words Booth burst out into a very loud
+laugh; and Amelia herself could no more prevent laughing than she
+could blushing.
+
+"Heyday!" cries Mrs. Ellison; "what have I said to cause all this
+mirth?" and at the same time blushed, and looked very silly, as is
+always the case with persons who suspect themselves to be the objects
+of laughter, without absolutely taking what it is which makes them
+ridiculous.
+
+Booth still continued laughing; but Amelia, composing her muscles,
+said, "I ask your pardon, dear Mrs. Ellison; but Mr. Booth hath been
+in a strange giggling humour all this morning; and I really think it
+is infectious."
+
+"I ask your pardon, too, madam," cries Booth, "but one is sometimes
+unaccountably foolish."
+
+"Nay, but seriously," said she, "what is the matter?--something I said
+about the serjeant, I believe; but you may laugh as much as you
+please; I am not ashamed of owning I think him one of the prettiest
+fellows I ever saw in my life; and, I own, I scolded my maid at
+suffering him to wait in my entry; and where is the mighty ridiculous
+matter, pray?"
+
+"None at all," answered Booth; "and I hope the next time he will be
+ushered into your inner apartment."
+
+"Why should he not, sir?" replied she, "for, wherever he is ushered, I
+am convinced he will behave himself as a gentleman should."
+
+Here Amelia put an end to the discourse, or it might have proceeded to
+very great lengths; for Booth was of a waggish inclination, and Mrs.
+Ellison was not a lady of the nicest delicacy.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter VIII.
+
+_The heroic behaviour of Colonel Bath._
+
+
+Booth went this morning to pay a second visit to the colonel, where he
+found Colonel James. Both the colonel and the lieutenant appeared a
+little shocked at their first meeting, but matters were soon cleared
+up; for the former presently advanced to the latter, shook him
+heartily by the hand, and said, "Mr. Booth, I am ashamed to see you;
+for I have injured you, and I heartily ask your pardon. I am now
+perfectly convinced that what I hinted to my brother, and which I find
+had like to have produced such fatal consequences, was entirely
+groundless. If you will be contented with my asking your pardon, and
+spare me the disagreeable remembrance of what led me into my error, I
+shall esteem it as the highest obligation."
+
+Booth answered, "As to what regards yourself, my dear colonel, I am
+abundantly satisfied; but, as I am convinced some rascal hath been my
+enemy with you in the cruellest manner, I hope you will not deny me
+the opportunity of kicking him through the world."
+
+"By all the dignity of man," cries Colonel Bath, "the boy speaks with
+spirit, and his request is reasonable."
+
+Colonel James hesitated a moment, and then whispered Booth that he
+would give him all the satisfaction imaginable concerning the whole
+affair when they were alone together; upon which, Booth addressing
+himself to Colonel Bath, the discourse turned on other matters during
+the remainder of the visit, which was but short, and then both went
+away together, leaving Colonel Bath as well as it was possible to
+expect, more to the satisfaction of Booth than of Colonel James, who
+would not have been displeased if his wound had been more dangerous;
+for he was grown somewhat weary of a disposition that he rather called
+captious than heroic, and which, as he every day more and more hated
+his wife, he apprehended might some time or other give him some
+trouble; for Bath was the most affectionate of brothers, and had often
+swore, in the presence of James, that he would eat any man alive who
+should use his sister ill.
+
+Colonel Bath was well satisfied that his brother and the lieutenant
+were gone out with a design of tilting, from which he offered not a
+syllable to dissuade them, as he was convinced it was right, and that
+Booth could not in honour take, nor the colonel give, any less
+satisfaction. When they had been gone therefore about half an hour, he
+rang his bell to enquire if there was any news of his brother; a
+question which he repeated every ten minutes for the space of two
+hours, when, having heard nothing of him, he began to conclude that
+both were killed on the spot.
+
+While he was in this state of anxiety his sister came to see him; for,
+notwithstanding his desire of keeping it a secret, the duel had blazed
+all over the town. After receiving some kind congratulations on his
+safety, and some unkind hints concerning the warmth of his temper, the
+colonel asked her when she had seen her husband? she answered not that
+morning. He then communicated to her his suspicion, told her he was
+convinced his brother had drawn his sword that day, and that, as
+neither of them had heard anything from him, he began to apprehend the
+worst that could happen.
+
+Neither Miss Bellamy nor Mrs. Gibber were ever in a greater
+consternation on the stage than now appeared in the countenance of
+Mrs. James. "Good Heavens! brother," cries she; "what do you tell me?
+you have frightened me to death. Let your man get me a glass of water
+immediately, if you have not a mind to see me die before your face.
+When, where, how was this quarrel? why did you not prevent it if you
+knew of it? is it not enough to be every day tormenting me with
+hazarding your own life, but must you bring the life of one who you
+know must be, and ought to be, so much the dearest of all to me, into
+danger? take your sword, brother, take your sword, and plunge it into
+my bosom; it would be kinder of you than to fill it with such dreads
+and terrors." Here she swallowed the glass of water, and then threw
+herself back in her chair, as if she had intended to faint away.
+
+Perhaps, if she had so, the colonel would have lent her no assistance,
+for she had hurt him more than by ten thousand stabs. He sat erect in
+his chair, with his eyebrows knit, his forehead wrinkled, his eyes
+flashing fire, his teeth grating against each other, and breathing
+horrour all round him. In this posture he sat for some time silent,
+casting disdainful looks at his sister. At last his voice found its
+way through a passion which had almost choaked him, and he cried out,
+"Sister, what have I done to deserve the opinion you express of me?
+which of my actions hath made you conclude that I am a rascal and a
+coward? look at that poor sword, which never woman yet saw but in its
+sheath; what hath that done to merit your desire that it should be
+contaminated with the blood of a woman?"
+
+"Alas! brother," cried she, "I know not what you say; you are
+desirous, I believe, to terrify me out of the little senses I have
+left. What can I have said, in the agonies of grief into which you
+threw me, to deserve this passion?"
+
+"What have you said?" answered the colonel: "you have said that which,
+if a man had spoken, nay, d--n me, if he had but hinted that he durst
+even think, I would have made him eat my sword; by all the dignity of
+man, I would have crumbled his soul into powder. But I consider that
+the words were spoken by a woman, and I am calm again. Consider, my
+dear, that you are my sister, and behave yourself with more spirit. I
+have only mentioned to you my surmise. It may not have happened as I
+suspect; but, let what will have happened, you will have the comfort
+that your husband hath behaved himself with becoming dignity, and lies
+in the bed of honour."
+
+"Talk not to me of such comfort," replied the lady; "it is a loss I
+cannot survive. But why do I sit here lamenting myself? I will go this
+instant and know the worst of my fate, if my trembling limbs will
+carry me to my coach. Good morrow, dear brother; whatever becomes of
+me, I am glad to find you out of danger." The colonel paid her his
+proper compliments, and she then left the room, but returned instantly
+back, saying, "Brother, I must beg the favour of you to let your
+footman step to my mantua-maker; I am sure it is a miracle, in my
+present distracted condition, how it came into my head." The footman
+was presently summoned, and Mrs. James delivered him his message,
+which was to countermand the orders which she had given that very
+morning to make her up a new suit of brocade. "Heaven knows," says
+she, "now when I can wear brocade, or whether ever I shall wear it."
+And now, having repeated her message with great exactness, lest there
+should be any mistake, she again lamented her wretched situation, and
+then departed, leaving the colonel in full expectation of hearing
+speedy news of the fatal issue of the battle.
+
+But, though the reader should entertain the same curiosity, we must be
+excused from satisfying it till we have first accounted for an
+incident which we have related in this very chapter, and which, we
+think, deserves some solution. The critic, I am convinced, already is
+apprized that I mean the friendly behaviour of James to Booth, which,
+from what we had before recorded, seemed so little to be expected.
+
+It must be remembered that the anger which the former of these
+gentlemen had conceived against the latter arose entirely from the
+false account given by Miss Matthews of Booth, whom that lady had
+accused to Colonel James of having as basely as wickedly traduced his
+character.
+
+Now, of all the ministers of vengeance, there are none with whom the
+devil deals so treacherously as with those whom he employs in
+executing the mischievous purposes of an angry mistress; for no sooner
+is revenge executed on an offending lover that it is sure to be
+repented; and all the anger which before raged against the beloved
+object, returns with double fury on the head of his assassin.
+
+Miss Matthews, therefore, no, sooner heard that Booth was killed (for
+so was the report at first, and by a colonel of the army) than she
+immediately concluded it to be James. She was extremely shocked with
+the news, and her heart instantly began to relent. All the reasons on
+which she had founded her love recurred, in the strongest and
+liveliest colours, to her mind, and all the causes of her hatred sunk
+down and disappeared; or, if the least remembrance of anything which
+had disobliged her remained, her heart became his zealous advocate,
+and soon satisfied her that her own fates were more to be blamed than
+he, and that, without being a villain, he could have acted no
+otherwise than he had done.
+
+In this temper of mind she looked on herself as the murderer of an
+innocent man, and, what to her was much worse, of the man she had
+loved, and still did love, with all the violence imaginable. She
+looked on James as the tool with which she had done this murder; and,
+as it is usual for people who have rashly or inadvertently made any
+animate or inanimate thing the instrument of mischief to hate the
+innocent means by which the mischief was effected (for this is a
+subtle method which the mind invents to excuse ourselves, the last
+objects on whom we would willingly wreak our vengeance), so Miss
+Matthews now hated and cursed James as the efficient cause of that act
+which she herself had contrived and laboured to carry into execution.
+
+She sat down therefore in a furious agitation, little short of
+madness, and wrote the following letter:
+
+"I Hope this will find you in the hands of justice, for the murder of
+one of the best friends that ever man was blest with. In one sense,
+indeed, he may seem to have deserved his fate, by chusing a fool for a
+friend; for who but a fool would have believed what the anger and rage
+of an injured woman suggested; a story so improbable, that I could
+scarce be thought in earnest when I mentioned it?
+
+"Know, then, cruel wretch, that poor Booth loved you of all men
+breathing, and was, I believe, in your commendation guilty of as much
+falsehood as I was in what I told you concerning him.
+
+"If this knowledge makes you miserable, it is no more than you have
+made the unhappy
+                                            F. MATTHEWS."
+
+
+
+
+Chapter ix.
+
+_Being the last chapter of the fifth book._
+
+
+We shall now return to Colonel James and Mr. Booth, who walked
+together from Colonel Bath's lodging with much more peaceable
+intention than that gentleman had conjectured, who dreamt of nothing
+but swords and guns and implements of wars.
+
+The Birdcage-walk in the Park was the scene appointed by James for
+unburthening his mind.--Thither they came, and there James acquainted
+Booth with all that which the reader knows already, and gave him the
+letter which we have inserted at the end of the last chapter.
+
+Booth exprest great astonishment at this relation, not without venting
+some detestation of the wickedness of Miss Matthews; upon which James
+took him up, saying, he ought not to speak with such abhorrence of
+faults which love for him had occasioned.
+
+"Can you mention love, my dear colonel," cried Booth, "and such a
+woman in the same breath?"
+
+"Yes, faith! can I," says James; "for the devil take me if I know a
+more lovely woman in the world." Here he began to describe her whole
+person; but, as we cannot insert all the description, so we shall omit
+it all; and concluded with saying, "Curse me if I don't think her the
+finest creature in the universe. I would give half my estate, Booth,
+she loved me as well as she doth you. Though, on second consideration,
+I believe I should repent that bargain; for then, very possibly, I
+should not care a farthing for her."
+
+"You will pardon me, dear colonel," answered Booth; "but to me there
+appears somewhat very singular in your way of thinking. Beauty is
+indeed the object of liking, great qualities of admiration, good ones
+of esteem; but the devil take me if I think anything but love to be
+the object of love."
+
+"Is there not something too selfish," replied James, "in that opinion?
+but, without considering it in that light, is it not of all things the
+most insipid? all oil! all sugar! zounds! it is enough to cloy the
+sharp-set appetite of a parson. Acids surely are the most likely to
+quicken."
+
+"I do not love reasoning in allegories," cries Booth; "but with regard
+to love, I declare I never found anything cloying in it. I have lived
+almost alone with my wife near three years together, was never tired
+with her company, nor ever wished for any other; and I am sure I never
+tasted any of the acid you mention to quicken my appetite."
+
+"This is all very extraordinary and romantic to me," answered the
+colonel. "If I was to be shut up three years with the same woman,
+which Heaven forbid! nothing, I think, could keep me alive but a
+temper as violent as that of Miss Matthews. As to love, it would make
+me sick to death in the twentieth part of that time. If I was so
+condemned, let me see, what would I wish the woman to be? I think no
+one virtue would be sufficient. With the spirit of a tigress I would
+have her be a prude, a scold, a scholar, a critic, a wit, a
+politician, and a Jacobite; and then, perhaps, eternal opposition
+would keep up our spirits; and, wishing one another daily at the
+devil, we should make a shift to drag on a damnable state of life,
+without much spleen or vapours."
+
+"And so you do not intend," cries Booth, "to break with this woman?"
+
+"Not more than I have already, if I can help it," answered the
+colonel.
+
+"And you will be reconciled to her?" said Booth.
+
+"Yes, faith! will I, if I can," answered the colonel; "I hope you have
+no objection."
+
+"None, my dear friend," said Booth, "unless on your account."
+
+"I do believe you," said the colonel: "and yet, let me tell you, you
+are a very extraordinary man, not to desire me to quit her on your own
+account. Upon my soul, I begin to pity the woman, who hath placed her
+affection, perhaps, on the only man in England of your age who would
+not return it. But for my part, I promise you, I like her beyond all
+other women; and, whilst that is the case, my boy, if her mind was as
+full of iniquity as Pandora's box was of diseases, I'd hug her close
+in my arms, and only take as much care as possible to keep the lid
+down for fear of mischief. But come, dear Booth," said he, "let us
+consider your affairs; for I am ashamed of having neglected them so
+long; and the only anger I have against this wench is, that she was
+the occasion of it."
+
+Booth then acquainted the colonel with the promises he had received
+from the noble lord, upon which James shook him by the hand, and
+heartily wished him joy, crying, "I do assure you, if you have his
+interest, you will need no other; I did not know you was acquainted
+with him."
+
+To which Mr. Booth answered, "That he was but a new acquaintance, and
+that he was recommended to him by a lady."
+
+"A lady!" cries the colonel; "well, I don't ask her name. You are a
+happy man, Booth, amongst the women; and, I assure you, you could have
+no stronger recommendation. The peer loves the ladies, I believe, as
+well as ever Mark Antony did; and it is not his fault if he hath not
+spent as much upon them. If he once fixes his eye upon a woman, he
+will stick at nothing to get her."
+
+"Ay, indeed!" cries Booth. "Is that his character?"
+
+"Ay, faith," answered the colonel, "and the character of most men
+besides him. Few of them, I mean, will stick at anything beside their
+money. Jusque a la Bourse is sometimes the boundary of love as well as
+friendship. And, indeed, I never knew any other man part with his
+money so very freely on these occasions. You see, dear Booth, the
+confidence I have in your honour."
+
+"I hope, indeed, you have," cries Booth, "but I don't see what
+instance you now give me of that confidence."
+
+"Have not I shewn you," answered James, "where you may carry your
+goods to market? I can assure you, my friend, that is a secret I would
+not impart to every man in your situation, and all circumstances
+considered."
+
+"I am very sorry, sir," cries Booth very gravely, and turning as pale
+as death, "you should entertain a thought of this kind; a thought
+which hath almost frozen up my blood. I am unwilling to believe there
+are such villains in the world; but there is none of them whom I
+should detest half so much as myself, if my own mind had ever
+suggested to me a hint of that kind. I have tasted of some distresses
+of life, and I know not to what greater I may be driven, but my
+honour, I thank Heaven, is in my own power, and I can boldly say to
+Fortune she shall not rob me of it."
+
+"Have I not exprest that confidence, my dear Booth?" answered the
+colonel. "And what you say now well justifies my opinion; for I do
+agree with you that, considering all things, it would be the highest
+instance of dishonour."
+
+"Dishonour, indeed!" returned Booth. "What! to prostitute my wife! Can
+I think there is such a wretch breathing?"
+
+"I don't know that," said the colonel, "but I am sure it was very far
+from my intention to insinuate the least hint of any such matter to
+you. Nor can I imagine how you yourself could conceive such a thought.
+The goods I meant were no other than the charming person of Miss
+Matthews, for whom I am convinced my lord would bid a swinging price
+against me."
+
+Booth's countenance greatly cleared up at this declaration, and he
+answered with a smile, that he hoped he need not give the colonel any
+assurances on that head. However, though he was satisfied with regard
+to the colonel's suspicions, yet some chimeras now arose in his brain
+which gave him no very agreeable sensations. What these were, the
+sagacious reader may probably suspect; but, if he should not, we may
+perhaps have occasion to open them in the sequel. Here we will put an
+end to this dialogue, and to the fifth book of this history.
+
+
+
+
+BOOK VI.
+
+Chapter i.
+
+_Panegyrics on beauty, with other grave matters._
+
+
+The colonel and Booth walked together to the latter's lodging, for as
+it was not that day in the week in which all parts of the town are
+indifferent, Booth could not wait on the colonel.
+
+When they arrived in Spring-garden, Booth, to his great surprize,
+found no one at home but the maid. In truth, Amelia had accompanied
+Mrs. Ellison and her children to his lordship's; for, as her little
+girl showed a great unwillingness to go without her, the fond mother
+was easily persuaded to make one of the company.
+
+Booth had scarce ushered the colonel up to his apartment when a
+servant from Mrs. James knocked hastily at the door. The lady, not
+meeting with her husband at her return home, began to despair of him,
+and performed everything which was decent on the occasion. An
+apothecary was presently called with hartshorn and sal volatile, a
+doctor was sent for, and messengers were despatched every way; amongst
+the rest, one was sent to enquire at the lodgings of his supposed
+antagonist.
+
+The servant hearing that his master was alive and well above-stairs,
+ran up eagerly to acquaint him with the dreadful situation in which he
+left his miserable lady at home, and likewise with the occasion of all
+her distress, saying, that his lady had been at her brother's, and had
+there heard that his honour was killed in a duel by Captain Booth.
+
+The colonel smiled at this account, and bid the servant make haste
+back to contradict it. And then turning to Booth, he said, "Was there
+ever such another fellow as this brother of mine? I thought indeed,
+his behaviour was somewhat odd at the time. I suppose he overheard me
+whisper that I would give you satisfaction, and thence concluded we
+went together with a design of tilting. D--n the fellow, I begin to
+grow heartily sick of him, and wish I could get well rid of him
+without cutting his throat, which I sometimes apprehend he will insist
+on my doing, as a return for my getting him made a lieutenant-
+colonel."
+
+Whilst these two gentlemen were commenting on the character of the
+third, Amelia and her company returned, and all presently came up-
+stairs, not only the children, but the two ladies, laden with trinkets
+as if they had been come from a fair. Amelia, who had been highly
+delighted all the morning with the excessive pleasure which her
+children enjoyed, when she saw Colonel James with her husband, and
+perceived the most manifest marks of that reconciliation which she
+knew had been so long and so earnestly wished by Booth, became so
+transported with joy, that her happiness was scarce capable of
+addition. Exercise had painted her face with vermilion; and the
+highest good-humour had so sweetened every feature, and a vast flow of
+spirits had so lightened up her bright eyes, that she was all a blaze
+of beauty. She seemed, indeed, as Milton sublimely describes Eve,
+
+                                         --Adorn'd
+     With what all Earth or Heaven could bestow
+     To make her amiable.
+
+Again:--
+
+     Grace was in all her steps, Heaven in her eye,
+     In every gesture, dignity and love.
+
+Or, as Waller sweetly, though less sublimely sings:--
+
+     Sweetness, truth, and every grace
+     Which time and use are wont to teach,
+     The eye may in a moment reach,
+     And read distinctly in her face.
+
+Or, to mention one poet more, and him of all the sweetest, she seemed
+to be the very person of whom Suckling wrote the following lines,
+where, speaking of Cupid, he says,
+
+     All his lovely looks, his pleasing fires,
+       All his sweet motions, all his taking smiles;
+     All that awakes, all that inflames desires,
+       All that sweetly commands, all that beguiles,
+     He does into one pair of eyes convey,
+       And there begs leave that he himself may stay.
+
+Such was Amelia at this time when she entered the room; and, having
+paid her respects to the colonel, she went up to her husband, and
+cried, "O, my dear! never were any creatures so happy as your little
+things have been this whole morning; and all owing to my lord's
+goodness; sure never was anything so good-natured and so generous!"
+She then made the children produce their presents, the value of which
+amounted to a pretty large sum; for there was a gold watch, amongst
+the trinkets, that cost above twenty guineas.
+
+Instead of discovering so much satisfaction on this occasion as Amelia
+expected, Booth very gravely answered, "And pray, my dear, how are we
+to repay all these obligations to his lordship?" "How can you ask so
+strange a question?" cries Mrs. Ellison: "how little do you know of
+the soul of generosity (for sure my cousin deserves that name) when
+you call a few little trinkets given to children an obligation!"
+"Indeed, my dear," cries Amelia, "I would have stopped his hand if it
+had been possible; nay, I was forced at last absolutely to refuse, or
+I believe he would have laid a hundred pound out on the children; for
+I never saw any one so fond of children, which convinces me he is one
+of the best of men; but I ask your pardon, colonel, "said she, turning
+to him; "I should not entertain you with these subjects; yet I know
+you have goodness enough to excuse the folly of a mother."
+
+The colonel made a very low assenting bow, and soon after they all sat
+down to a small repast; for the colonel had promised Booth to dine
+with him when they first came home together, and what he had since
+heard from his own house gave him still less inclination than ever to
+repair thither.
+
+But, besides both these, there was a third and stronger inducement to
+him to pass the day with his friend, and this was the desire of
+passing it with his friend's wife. When the colonel had first seen
+Amelia in France, she was but just recovered from a consumptive habit,
+and looked pale and thin; besides, his engagements with Miss Bath at
+that time took total possession of him, and guarded his heart from the
+impressions of another woman; and, when he had dined with her in town,
+the vexations through which she had lately passed had somewhat
+deadened her beauty; besides, he was then engaged, as we have seen, in
+a very warm pursuit of a new mistress, but now he had no such
+impediment; for, though the reader hath just before seen his warm
+declarations of a passion for Miss Matthews, yet it may be remembered
+that he had been in possession of her for above a fortnight; and one
+of the happy properties of this kind of passion is, that it can with
+equal violence love half a dozen or half a score different objects at
+one and the same time.
+
+But indeed such were the charms now displayed by Amelia, of which we
+endeavoured above to draw some faint resemblance, that perhaps no
+other beauty could have secured him from their influence; and here, to
+confess a truth in his favour, however the grave or rather the
+hypocritical part of mankind may censure it, I am firmly persuaded
+that to withdraw admiration from exquisite beauty, or to feel no
+delight in gazing at it, is as impossible as to feel no warmth from
+the most scorching rays of the sun. To run away is all that is in our
+power; and in the former case, if it must be allowed we have the power
+of running away, it must be allowed also that it requires the
+strongest resolution to execute it; for when, as Dryden says,
+
+              All paradise is open'd in a face,
+
+how natural is the desire of going thither! and how difficult to quit
+the lovely prospect!
+
+And yet, however difficult this may be, my young readers, it is
+absolutely necessary, and that immediately too: flatter not yourselves
+that fire will not scorch as well as warm, and the longer we stay
+within its reach the more we shall burn. The admiration of a beautiful
+woman, though the wife of our dearest friend, may at first perhaps be
+innocent, but let us not flatter ourselves it will always remain so;
+desire is sure to succeed; and wishes, hopes, designs, with a long
+train of mischiefs, tread close at our heels. In affairs of this kind
+we may most properly apply the well-known remark of _nemo repente
+fuit turpissimus._ It fares, indeed, with us on this occasion as
+with the unwary traveller in some parts of Arabia the desert, whom the
+treacherous sands imperceptibly betray till he is overwhelmed and
+lost. In both cases the only safety is by withdrawing our feet the
+very first moment we perceive them sliding.
+
+This digression may appear impertinent to some readers; we could not,
+however, avoid the opportunity of offering the above hints; since of
+all passions there is none against which we should so strongly fortify
+ourselves as this, which is generally called love; for no other lays
+before us, especially in the tumultuous days of youth, such sweet,
+such strong and almost irresistible temptations; none hath produced in
+private life such fatal and lamentable tragedies; and what is worst of
+all, there is none to whose poison and infatuation the best of minds
+are so liable. Ambition scarce ever produces any evil but when it
+reigns in cruel and savage bosoms; and avarice seldom flourishes at
+all but in the basest and poorest soil. Love, on the contrary, sprouts
+usually up in the richest and noblest minds; but there, unless nicely
+watched, pruned, and cultivated, and carefully kept clear of those
+vicious weeds which are too apt to surround it, it branches forth into
+wildness and disorder, produces nothing desirable, but choaks up and
+kills whatever is good and noble in the mind where it so abounds. In
+short, to drop the allegory, not only tenderness and good nature, but
+bravery, generosity, and every virtue are often made the instruments
+of effecting the most atrocious purposes of this all-subduing tyrant.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter ii.
+
+_Which will not appear, we presume, unnatural to all married
+readers._
+
+
+If the table of poor Booth afforded but an indifferent repast to the
+colonel's hunger, here was most excellent entertainment of a much
+higher kind. The colonel began now to wonder within himself at his not
+having before discovered such incomparable beauty and excellence. This
+wonder was indeed so natural that, lest it should arise likewise in
+the reader, we thought proper to give the solution of it in the
+preceding chapter.
+
+During the first two hours the colonel scarce ever had his eyes off
+from Amelia; for he was taken by surprize, and his heart was gone
+before he suspected himself to be in any danger. His mind, however, no
+sooner suggested a certain secret to him than it suggested some degree
+of prudence to him at the same time; and the knowledge that he had
+thoughts to conceal, and the care of concealing them, had birth at one
+and the same instant. During the residue of the day, therefore, he
+grew more circumspect, and contented himself with now and then
+stealing a look by chance, especially as the more than ordinary
+gravity of Booth made him fear that his former behaviour had betrayed
+to Booth's observation the great and sudden liking he had conceived
+for his wife, even before he had observed it in himself.
+
+Amelia continued the whole day in the highest spirits and highest good
+humour imaginable, never once remarking that appearance of discontent
+in her husband of which the colonel had taken notice; so much more
+quick-sighted, as we have somewhere else hinted, is guilt than
+innocence. Whether Booth had in reality made any such observations on
+the colonel's behaviour as he had suspected, we will not undertake to
+determine; yet so far may be material to say, as we can with
+sufficient certainty, that the change in Booth's behaviour that day,
+from what was usual with him, was remarkable enough. None of his
+former vivacity appeared in his conversation; and his countenance was
+altered from being the picture of sweetness and good humour, not
+indeed to sourness or moroseness, but to gravity and melancholy.
+
+Though the colonel's suspicion had the effect which we have mentioned
+on his behaviour, yet it could not persuade him to depart. In short,
+he sat in his chair as if confined to it by enchantment, stealing
+looks now and then, and humouring his growing passion, without having
+command enough over his limbs to carry him out of the room, till
+decency at last forced him to put an end to his preposterous visit.
+When the husband and wife were left alone together, the latter resumed
+the subject of her children, and gave Booth a particular narrative of
+all that had passed at his lordship's, which he, though something had
+certainly disconcerted him, affected to receive with all the pleasure
+he could; and this affectation, however aukwardly he acted his part,
+passed very well on Amelia; for she could not well conceive a
+displeasure of which she had not the least hint of any cause, and
+indeed at a time when, from his reconciliation with James, she
+imagined her husband to be entirely and perfectly happy.
+
+The greatest part of that night Booth past awake; and, if during the
+residue he might be said to sleep, he could scarce be said to enjoy
+repose; his eyes were no sooner closed, that he was pursued and
+haunted by the most frightful and terrifying dreams, which threw him
+into so restless a condition, that he soon disturbed his Amelia, and
+greatly alarmed her with apprehensions that he had been seized by some
+dreadful disease, though he had not the least symptoms of a fever by
+any extraordinary heat, or any other indication, but was rather colder
+than usual.
+
+As Booth assured his wife that he was very well, but found no
+inclination to sleep, she likewise bid adieu to her slumbers, and
+attempted to entertain him with her conversation. Upon which his
+lordship occurred as the first topic; and she repeated to him all the
+stories which she had heard from Mrs. Ellison, of the peer's goodness
+to his sister and his nephew and niece. "It is impossible, my dear,"
+says she, "to describe their fondness for their uncle, which is to me
+an incontestible sign of a parent's goodness." In this manner she ran
+on for several minutes, concluding at last, that it was pity so very
+few had such generous minds joined to immense fortunes.
+
+Booth, instead of making a direct answer to what Amelia had said,
+cried coldly, "But do you think, my dear, it was right to accept all
+those expensive toys which the children brought home? And I ask you
+again, what return we are to make for these obligations?"
+
+"Indeed, my dear," cries Amelia, "you see this matter in too serious a
+light. Though I am the last person in the world who would lessen his
+lordship's goodness (indeed I shall always think we are both
+infinitely obliged to him), yet sure you must allow the expense to be
+a mere trifle to such a vast fortune. As for return, his own
+benevolence, in the satisfaction it receives, more than repays itself,
+and I am convinced he expects no other."
+
+"Very well, my dear," cries Booth, "you shall have it your way; I must
+confess I never yet found any reason to blame your discernment; and
+perhaps I have been in the wrong to give myself so much uneasiness on
+this account."
+
+"Uneasiness, child!" said Amelia eagerly; "Good Heavens! hath this
+made you uneasy?"
+
+"I do own it hath," answered Booth, "and it hath been the only cause
+of breaking my repose."
+
+"Why then I wish," cries Amelia, "all the things had been at the devil
+before ever the children had seen them; and, whatever I may think
+myself, I promise you they shall never more accept the value of a
+farthing:--if upon this occasion I have been the cause of your
+uneasiness, you will do me the justice to believe that I was totally
+innocent."
+
+At those words Booth caught her in his arms, and with the tenderest
+embrace, emphatically repeating the word innocent, cried, "Heaven
+forbid I should think otherwise! Oh, thou art the best of creatures
+that ever blessed a man!"
+
+"Well, but," said she, smiling, "do confess, my dear, the truth; I
+promise you I won't blame you nor disesteem you for it; but is not
+pride really at the bottom of this fear of an obligation?"
+
+"Perhaps it may," answered he; "or, if you will, you may call it fear.
+I own I am afraid of obligations, as the worst kind of debts; for I
+have generally observed those who confer them expect to be repaid ten
+thousand-fold."
+
+Here ended all that is material of their discourse; and a little time
+afterwards, they both fell fast asleep in one another's arms; from
+which time Booth had no more restlessness, nor any further
+perturbation in his dreams.
+
+Their repose, however, had been so much disturbed in the former part
+of the night, that, as it was very late before they enjoyed that sweet
+sleep I have just mentioned, they lay abed the next day till noon,
+when they both rose with the utmost chearfulness; and, while Amelia
+bestirred herself in the affairs of her family, Booth went to visit
+the wounded colonel.
+
+He found that gentleman still proceeding very fast in his recovery,
+with which he was more pleased than he had reason to be with his
+reception; for the colonel received him very coldly indeed, and, when
+Booth told him he had received perfect satisfaction from his brother,
+Bath erected his head and answered with a sneer, "Very well, sir, if
+you think these matters can be so made up, d--n me if it is any
+business of mine. My dignity hath not been injured."
+
+"No one, I believe," cries Booth, "dare injure it."
+
+"You believe so!" said the colonel: "I think, sir, you might be
+assured of it; but this, at least, you may be assured of, that if any
+man did, I would tumble him down the precipice of hell, d--n me, that
+you may be assured of."
+
+As Booth found the colonel in this disposition, he had no great
+inclination to lengthen out his visit, nor did the colonel himself
+seem to desire it: so he soon returned back to his Amelia, whom he
+found performing the office of a cook, with as much pleasure as a fine
+lady generally enjoys in dressing herself out for a ball.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter iii.
+
+_In which the history looks a little backwards._
+
+
+Before we proceed farther in our history we shall recount a short
+scene to our reader which passed between Amelia and Mrs. Ellison
+whilst Booth was on his visit to Colonel Bath. We have already
+observed that Amelia had conceived an extraordinary affection for Mrs.
+Bennet, which had still encreased every time she saw her; she thought
+she discovered something wonderfully good and gentle in her
+countenance and disposition, and was very desirous of knowing her
+whole history.
+
+She had a very short interview with that lady this morning in Mrs.
+Ellison's apartment. As soon, therefore, as Mrs. Bennet was gone,
+Amelia acquainted Mrs. Ellison with the good opinion she had conceived
+of her friend, and likewise with her curiosity to know her story: "For
+there must be something uncommonly good," said she, "in one who can so
+truly mourn for a husband above three years after his death."
+
+"O!" cries Mrs. Ellison, "to be sure the world must allow her to have
+been one of the best of wives. And, indeed, upon the whole, she is a
+good sort of woman; and what I like her the best for is a strong
+resemblance that she bears to yourself in the form of her person, and
+still more in her voice. But for my own part, I know nothing
+remarkable in her fortune, unless what I have told you, that she was
+the daughter of a clergyman, had little or no fortune, and married a
+poor parson for love, who left her in the utmost distress. If you
+please, I will shew you a letter which she writ to me at that time,
+though I insist upon your promise never to mention it to her; indeed,
+you will be the first person I ever shewed it to." She then opened her
+scrutore, and, taking out the letter, delivered it to Amelia, saying,
+"There, madam, is, I believe, as fine a picture of distress as can
+well be drawn."
+
+"DEAR MADAM,
+
+"As I have no other friend on earth but yourself, I hope you will
+pardon my writing to you at this season; though I do not know that you
+can relieve my distresses, or, if you can, have I any pretence to
+expect that you should. My poor dear, O Heavens--my---lies dead in the
+house; and, after I had procured sufficient to bury him, a set of
+ruffians have entered my house, seized all I have, have seized his
+dear, dear corpse, and threaten to deny it burial. For Heaven's sake,
+send me, at least, some advice; little Tommy stands now by me crying
+for bread, which I have not to give him. I can say no more than that I
+am
+           Your most distressed humble servant,
+                             M. BENNET."
+
+Amelia read the letter over twice, and then returning it with tears in
+her eyes, asked how the poor creature could possibly get through such
+distress.
+
+"You may depend upon it, madam," said Mrs. Ellison, "the moment I read
+this account I posted away immediately to the lady. As to the seizing
+the body, that I found was a mere bugbear; but all the rest was
+literally true. I sent immediately for the same gentleman that I
+recommended to Mr. Booth, left the care of burying the corpse to him,
+and brought my friend and her little boy immediately away to my own
+house, where she remained some months in the most miserable condition.
+I then prevailed with her to retire into the country, and procured her
+a lodging with a friend at St Edmundsbury, the air and gaiety of which
+place by degrees recovered her; and she returned in about a twelve-
+month to town, as well, I think, as she is at present."
+
+"I am almost afraid to ask," cries Amelia, "and yet I long methinks to
+know what is become of the poor little boy."
+
+"He hath been dead," said Mrs. Ellison, "a little more than half a
+year; and the mother lamented him at first almost as much as she did
+her husband, but I found it indeed rather an easier matter to comfort
+her, though I sat up with her near a fortnight upon the latter
+occasion."
+
+"You are a good creature," said Amelia, "and I love you dearly."
+
+"Alas! madam," cries she, "what could I have done if it had not been
+for the goodness of that best of men, my noble cousin! His lordship no
+sooner heard of the widow's distress from me than he immediately
+settled one hundred and fifty pounds a year upon her during her life."
+
+"Well! how noble, how generous was that!" said Amelia. "I declare I
+begin to love your cousin, Mrs. Ellison."
+
+"And I declare if you do," answered she, "there is no love lost, I
+verily believe; if you had heard what I heard him say yesterday behind
+your back---"
+
+"Why, what did he say, Mrs. Ellison?" cries Amelia.
+
+"He said," answered the other, "that you was the finest woman his eyes
+ever beheld.--Ah! it is in vain to wish, and yet I cannot help wishing
+too.--O, Mrs. Booth! if you had been a single woman, I firmly believe
+I could have made you the happiest in the world. And I sincerely think
+I never saw a woman who deserved it more."
+
+"I am obliged to you, madam," cries Amelia, "for your good opinion;
+but I really look on myself already as the happiest woman in the
+world. Our circumstances, it is true, might have been a little more
+fortunate; but O, my dear Mrs. Ellison! what fortune can be put in the
+balance with such a husband as mine?"
+
+"I am afraid, dear madam," answered Mrs. Ellison, "you would not hold
+the scale fairly.--I acknowledge, indeed, Mr. Booth is a very pretty
+gentleman; Heaven forbid I should endeavour to lessen him in your
+opinion; yet, if I was to be brought to confession, I could not help
+saying I see where the superiority lies, and that the men have more
+reason to envy Mr. Booth than the women have to envy his lady."
+
+"Nay, I will not bear this," replied Amelia. "You will forfeit all my
+love if you have the least disrespectful opinion of my husband. You do
+not know him, Mrs. Ellison; he is the best, the kindest, the worthiest
+of all his sex. I have observed, indeed, once or twice before, that
+you have taken some dislike to him. I cannot conceive for what reason.
+If he hath said or done anything to disoblige you, I am sure I can
+justly acquit him of design. His extreme vivacity makes him sometimes
+a little too heedless; but, I am convinced, a more innocent heart, or
+one more void of offence, was never in a human bosom."
+
+"Nay, if you grow serious," cries Mrs. Ellison, "I have done. How is
+it possible you should suspect I had taken any dislike to a man to
+whom I have always shewn so perfect a regard; but to say I think him,
+or almost any other man in the world, worthy of yourself, is not
+within my power with truth. And since you force the confession from
+me, I declare, I think such beauty, such sense, and such goodness
+united, might aspire without vanity to the arms of any monarch in
+Europe."
+
+"Alas! my dear Mrs. Ellison," answered Amelia, "do you think happiness
+and a crown so closely united? how many miserable women have lain in
+the arms of kings?--Indeed, Mrs. Ellison, if I had all the merit you
+compliment me with, I should think it all fully rewarded with such a
+man as, I thank Heaven, hath fallen to my lot; nor would I, upon my
+soul, exchange that lot with any queen in the universe."
+
+"Well, there are enow of our sex," said Mrs. Ellison, "to keep you in
+countenance; but I shall never forget the beginning of a song of Mr.
+Congreve's, that my husband was so fond of that he was always singing
+it:--
+
+     Love's but a frailty of the mind,
+     When 'tis not with ambition join'd.
+
+Love without interest makes but an unsavoury dish, in my opinion."
+
+"And pray how long hath this been your opinion?" said Amelia, smiling.
+
+"Ever since I was born," answered Mrs. Ellison; "at least, ever since
+I can remember."
+
+"And have you never," said Amelia, "deviated from this generous way of
+thinking?"
+
+"Never once," answered the other, "in the whole course of my life."
+
+"O, Mrs. Ellison! Mrs. Ellison!" cries Amelia; "why do we ever blame
+those who are disingenuous in confessing their faults, when we are so
+often ashamed to own ourselves in the right? Some women now, in my
+situation, would be angry that you had not made confidantes of them;
+but I never desire to know more of the secrets of others than they are
+pleased to intrust me with. You must believe, however, that I should
+not have given you these hints of my knowing all if I had disapproved
+your choice. On the contrary, I assure you I highly approve it. The
+gentility he wants, it will be easily in your power to procure for
+him; and as for his good qualities, I will myself be bound for them;
+and I make not the least doubt, as you have owned to me yourself that
+you have placed your affections on him, you will be one of the
+happiest women in the world."
+
+"Upon my honour," cries Mrs. Ellison very gravely, "I do not
+understand one word of what you mean."
+
+"Upon my honour, you astonish me," said Amelia; "but I have done."
+
+"Nay then," said the other, "I insist upon knowing what you mean."
+
+"Why, what can I mean," answered Amelia, "but your marriage with
+serjeant Atkinson?"
+
+"With serjeant Atkinson!" cries Mrs. Ellison eagerly, "my marriage
+with a serjeant!"
+
+"Well, with Mr. Atkinson, then, Captain Atkinson, if you please; for
+so I hope to see him."
+
+"And have you really no better opinion of me," said Mrs. Ellison,
+"than to imagine me capable of such condescension? What have I done,
+dear Mrs. Booth, to deserve so low a place in your esteem? I find
+indeed, as Solomon says, _Women ought to watch the door of their
+lips._ How little did I imagine that a little harmless freedom in
+discourse could persuade any one that I could entertain a serious
+intention of disgracing my family! for of a very good family am I
+come, I assure you, madam, though I now let lodgings. Few of my
+lodgers, I believe, ever came of a better."
+
+"If I have offended you, madam," said Amelia, "I am very sorry, and
+ask your pardon; but, besides what I heard from yourself, Mr. Booth
+told me--"
+
+"O yes!" answered Mrs. Ellison, "Mr. Booth, I know, is a very good
+friend of mine. Indeed, I know you better than to think it could be
+your own suspicion. I am very much obliged to Mr. Booth truly."
+
+"Nay," cries Amelia, "the serjeant himself is in fault; for Mr. Booth,
+I am positive, only repeated what he had from him."
+
+"Impudent coxcomb!" cries Mrs. Ellison. "I shall know how to keep such
+fellows at a proper distance for the future--I will tell you, dear
+madam, all that happened. When I rose in the morning I found the
+fellow waiting in the entry; and, as you had exprest some regard for
+him as your foster-brother--nay, he is a very genteel fellow, that I
+must own--I scolded my maid for not shewing him into my little back-
+room; and I then asked him to walk into the parlour. Could I have
+imagined he would have construed such little civility into an
+encouragement?"
+
+"Nay, I will have justice done to my poor brother too," said Amelia.
+"I myself have seen you give him much greater encouragement than
+that."
+
+"Well, perhaps I have," said Mrs. Ellison. "I have been always too
+unguarded in my speech, and can't answer for all I have said." She
+then began to change her note, and, with an affected laugh, turned all
+into ridicule; and soon afterwards the two ladies separated, both in
+apparent good humour; and Amelia went about those domestic offices in
+which Mr. Booth found her engaged at the end of the preceding chapter.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter iv.
+
+_Containing a very extraordinary incident._
+
+
+In the afternoon Mr. Booth, with Amelia and her children, went to
+refresh themselves in the Park. The conversation now turned on what
+past in the morning with Mrs. Ellison, the latter part of the
+dialogue, I mean, recorded in the last chapter. Amelia told her
+husband that Mrs. Ellison so strongly denied all intentions to marry
+the serjeant, that she had convinced her the poor fellow was under an
+error, and had mistaken a little too much levity for serious
+encouragement; and concluded by desiring Booth not to jest with her
+any more on that subject.
+
+Booth burst into a laugh at what his wife said. "My dear creature,"
+said he, "how easily is thy honesty and simplicity to be imposed on!
+how little dost thou guess at the art and falsehood of women! I knew a
+young lady who, against her father's consent, was married to a brother
+officer of mine; and, as I often used to walk with her (for I knew her
+father intimately well), she would of her own accord take frequent
+occasions to ridicule and vilify her husband (for so he was at the
+time), and exprest great wonder and indignation at the report which
+she allowed to prevail that she should condescend ever to look at such
+a fellow with any other design than of laughing at and despising him.
+The marriage afterwards became publicly owned, and the lady was
+reputably brought to bed. Since which I have often seen her; nor hath
+she ever appeared to be in the least ashamed of what she had formerly
+said, though, indeed, I believe she hates me heartily for having heard
+it."
+
+"But for what reason," cries Amelia, "should she deny a fact, when she
+must be so certain of our discovering it, and that immediately?"
+
+"I can't answer what end she may propose," said Booth. "Sometimes one
+would be almost persuaded that there was a pleasure in lying itself.
+But this I am certain, that I would believe the honest serjeant on his
+bare word sooner than I would fifty Mrs. Ellisons on oath. I am
+convinced he would not have said what he did to me without the
+strongest encouragement; and, I think, after what we have been both
+witnesses to, it requires no great confidence in his veracity to give
+him an unlimited credit with regard to the lady's behaviour."
+
+To this Amelia made no reply; and they discoursed of other matters
+during the remainder of a very pleasant walk.
+
+When they returned home Amelia was surprized to find an appearance of
+disorder in her apartment. Several of the trinkets which his lordship
+had given the children lay about the room; and a suit of her own
+cloaths, which she had left in her drawers, was now displayed upon the
+bed.
+
+She immediately summoned her little girl up-stairs, who, as she
+plainly perceived the moment she came up with a candle, had half cried
+her eyes out; for, though the girl had opened the door to them, as it
+was almost dark, she had not taken any notice of this phenomenon in
+her countenance.
+
+The girl now fell down upon her knees and cried, "For Heaven's sake,
+madam, do not be angry with me. Indeed, I was left alone in the house;
+and, hearing somebody knock at the door, I opened it--I am sure
+thinking no harm. I did not know but it might have been you, or my
+master, or Madam Ellison; and immediately as I did, the rogue burst in
+and ran directly up-stairs, and what he hath robbed you of I cannot
+tell; but I am sure I could not help it, for he was a great swinging
+man with a pistol in each hand; and, if I had dared to call out, to be
+sure he would have killed me. I am sure I was never in such a fright
+in my born days, whereof I am hardly come to myself yet. I believe he
+is somewhere about the house yet, for I never saw him go out."
+
+Amelia discovered some little alarm at this narrative, but much less
+than many other ladies would have shewn, for a fright is, I believe,
+sometimes laid hold of as an opportunity of disclosing several charms
+peculiar to that occasion. And which, as Mr. Addison says of certain
+virtues,
+
+     Shun the day, and lie conceal'd
+     In the smooth seasons and the calms of life.
+
+Booth, having opened the window, and summoned in two chairmen to his
+assistance, proceeded to search the house; but all to no purpose; the
+thief was flown, though the poor girl, in her state of terror, had not
+seen him escape.
+
+But now a circumstance appeared which greatly surprized both Booth and
+Amelia; indeed, I believe it will have the same effect on the reader;
+and this was, that the thief had taken nothing with him. He had,
+indeed, tumbled over all Booth's and Amelia's cloaths and the
+children's toys, but had left all behind him.
+
+Amelia was scarce more pleased than astonished at this discovery, and
+re-examined the girl, assuring her of an absolute pardon if she
+confessed the truth, but grievously threatening her if she was found
+guilty of the least falsehood. "As for a thief, child," says she,
+"that is certainly not true; you have had somebody with you to whom
+you have been shewing the things; therefore tell me plainly who it
+was."
+
+The girl protested in the solemnest manner that she knew not the
+person; but as to some circumstances she began to vary a little from
+her first account, particularly as to the pistols, concerning which,
+being strictly examined by Booth, she at last cried--"To be sure, sir,
+he must have had pistols about him." And instead of persisting in his
+having rushed in upon her, she now confessed that he had asked at the
+door for her master and mistress; and that at his desire she had shewn
+him up-stairs, where he at first said he would stay till their return
+home; "but, indeed," cried she, "I thought no harm, for he looked like
+a gentleman-like sort of man. And, indeed, so I thought he was for a
+good while, whereof he sat down and behaved himself very civilly, till
+he saw some of master's and miss's things upon the chest of drawers;
+whereof he cried, 'Hey-day! what's here?' and then he fell to tumbling
+about the things like any mad. Then I thinks, thinks I to myself, to
+be sure he is a highwayman, whereof I did not dare speak to him; for I
+knew Madam Ellison and her maid was gone out, and what could such a
+poor girl as I do against a great strong man? and besides, thinks I,
+to be sure he hath got pistols about him, though I can't indeed, (that
+I will not do for the world) take my Bible-oath that I saw any; yet to
+be sure he would have soon pulled them out and shot me dead if I had
+ventured to have said anything to offend him."
+
+"I know not what to make of this," cries Booth. "The poor girl, I
+verily believe, speaks to the best of her knowledge. A thief it could
+not be, for he hath not taken the least thing; and it is plain he had
+the girl's watch in his hand. If it had been a bailiff, surely he
+would have staid till our return. I can conceive no other from the
+girl's account than that it must have been some madman."
+
+"O good sir!" said the girl, "now you mention it, if he was not a
+thief, to be sure he must have been a madman: for indeed he looked,
+and behaved himself too, very much like a madman; for, now I remember
+it, he talked to himself and said many strange kind of words that I
+did not understand. Indeed, he looked altogether as I have seen people
+in Bedlam; besides, if he was not a madman, what good could it do him
+to throw the things all about the room in such a manner? and he said
+something too about my master just before he went down-stairs. I was
+in such a fright I cannot remember particularly, but I am sure they
+were very ill words; he said he would do for him--I am sure he said
+that, and other wicked bad words too, if I could but think of them."
+
+"Upon my word," said Booth, "this is the most probable conjecture; but
+still I am puzzled to conceive who it should be, for I have no madman
+to my knowledge of my acquaintance, and it seems, as the girl says, he
+asked for me." He then turned to the child, and asked her if she was
+certain of that circumstance.
+
+The poor maid, after a little hesitation, answered, "Indeed, sir, I
+cannot be very positive; for the fright he threw me into afterwards
+drove everything almost out of my mind."
+
+"Well, whatever he was," cries Amelia, "I am glad the consequence is
+no worse; but let this be a warning to you, little Betty, and teach
+you to take more care for the future. If ever you should be left alone
+in the house again, be sure to let no persons in without first looking
+out at the window and seeing who they are. I promised not to chide you
+any more on this occasion, and I will keep my word; but it is very
+plain you desired this person to walk up into our apartment, which was
+very wrong in our absence."
+
+Betty was going to answer, but Amelia would not let her, saying,
+"Don't attempt to excuse yourself; for I mortally hate a liar, and can
+forgive any fault sooner than falsehood."
+
+The poor girl then submitted; and now Amelia, with her assistance,
+began to replace all things in their order; and little Emily hugging
+her watch with great fondness, declared she would never part with it
+any more.
+
+Thus ended this odd adventure, not entirely to the satisfaction of
+Booth; for, besides his curiosity, which, when thoroughly roused, is a
+very troublesome passion, he had, as is I believe usual with all
+persons in his circumstances, several doubts and apprehensions of he
+knew not what. Indeed, fear is never more uneasy than when it doth not
+certainly know its object; for on such occasions the mind is ever
+employed in raising a thousand bugbears and fantoms, much more
+dreadful than any realities, and, like children when they tell tales
+of hobgoblins, seems industrious in terrifying itself.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter v.
+
+_Containing some matters not very unnatural._
+
+
+Matters were scarce sooner reduced into order and decency than a
+violent knocking was heard at the door, such indeed as would have
+persuaded any one not accustomed to the sound that the madman was
+returned in the highest spring-tide of his fury.
+
+Instead, however, of so disagreeable an appearance, a very fine lady
+presently came into the room, no other, indeed, than Mrs. James
+herself; for she was resolved to shew Amelia, by the speedy return of
+her visit, how unjust all her accusation had been of any failure in
+the duties of friendship; she had, moreover, another reason to
+accelerate this visit, and that was, to congratulate her friend on the
+event of the duel between Colonel Bath and Mr. Booth.
+
+The lady had so well profited by Mrs. Booth's remonstrance, that she
+had now no more of that stiffness and formality which she had worn on
+a former occasion. On the contrary, she now behaved with the utmost
+freedom and good-humour, and made herself so very agreeable, that
+Amelia was highly pleased and delighted with her company.
+
+An incident happened during this visit, that may appear to some too
+inconsiderable in itself to be recorded; and yet, as it certainly
+produced a very strong consequence in the mind of Mr. Booth, we cannot
+prevail on ourselves to pass it by.
+
+Little Emily, who was present in the room while Mrs. James was there,
+as she stood near that lady happened to be playing with her watch,
+which she was so greatly overjoyed had escaped safe from the madman.
+Mrs. James, who exprest great fondness for the child, desired to see
+the watch, which she commended as the prettiest of the kind she had
+ever seen.
+
+Amelia caught eager hold of this opportunity to spread the praises of
+her benefactor. She presently acquainted Mrs. James with the donor's
+name, and ran on with great encomiums on his lordship's goodness, and
+particularly on his generosity. To which Mrs. James answered, "O!
+certainly, madam, his lordship hath universally the character of being
+extremely generous-where he likes."
+
+In uttering these words she laid a very strong emphasis on the three
+last monosyllables, accompanying them at the same time with a very
+sagacious look, a very significant leer, and a great flirt with her
+fan.
+
+The greatest genius the world hath ever produced observes, in one of
+his most excellent plays, that
+
+     Trifles, light as air,
+     Are to the jealous confirmations strong
+     As proofs of holy writ.
+
+That Mr. Booth began to be possessed by this worst of fiends, admits,
+I think, no longer doubt; for at this speech of Mrs. James he
+immediately turned pale, and, from a high degree of chearfulness, was
+all on a sudden struck dumb, so that he spoke not another word till
+Mrs. James left the room.
+
+The moment that lady drove from the door Mrs. Ellison came up-stairs.
+She entered the room with a laugh, and very plentifully rallied both
+Booth and Amelia concerning the madman, of which she had received a
+full account below-stairs; and at last asked Amelia if she could not
+guess who it was; but, without receiving an answer, went on, saying,
+"For my own part, I fancy it must be some lover of yours! some person
+that hath seen you, and so is run mad with love. Indeed, I should not
+wonder if all mankind were to do the same. La! Mr. Booth, what makes
+you grave? why, you are as melancholy as if you had been robbed in
+earnest. Upon my word, though, to be serious, it is a strange story,
+and, as the girl tells it, I know not what to make of it. Perhaps it
+might be some rogue that intended to rob the house, and his heart
+failed him; yet even that would be very extraordinary. What, did you
+lose nothing, madam?"
+
+"Nothing at all," answered Amelia. "He did not even take the child's
+watch."
+
+"Well, captain," cries Mrs. Ellison, "I hope you will take more care
+of the house to-morrow; for your lady and I shall leave you alone to
+the care of it. Here, madam," said she, "here is a present from my
+lord to us; here are two tickets for the masquerade at Ranelagh. You
+will be so charmed with it! It is the sweetest of all diversions."
+
+"May I be damned, madam," cries Booth, "if my wife shall go thither."
+
+Mrs. Ellison stared at these words, and, indeed, so did Amelia; for
+they were spoke with great vehemence. At length the former cried out
+with an air of astonishment, "Not let your lady go to Ranelagh, sir?"
+
+"No, madam," cries Booth, "I will not let my wife go to Ranelagh."
+
+"You surprize me!" cries Mrs. Ellison. "Sure, you are not in earnest?"
+
+"Indeed, madam," returned he, "I am seriously in earnest. And, what is
+more, I am convinced she would of her own accord refuse to go."
+
+"Now, madam," said Mrs. Ellison, "you are to answer for yourself: and
+I will for your husband, that, if you have a desire to go, he will not
+refuse you."
+
+"I hope, madam," answered Amelia with great gravity, "I shall never
+desire to go to any place contrary to Mr. Booth's inclinations."
+
+"Did ever mortal hear the like?" said Mrs. Ellison; "you are enough to
+spoil the best husband in the universe. Inclinations! what, is a woman
+to be governed then by her husband's inclinations, though they are
+never so unreasonable?"
+
+"Pardon me, madam," said Amelia; "I will not suppose Mr. Booth's
+inclinations ever can be unreasonable. I am very much obliged to you
+for the offer you have made me; but I beg you will not mention it any
+more; for, after what Mr. Booth hath declared, if Ranelagh was a
+heaven upon earth, I would refuse to go to it."
+
+"I thank you, my dear," cries Booth; "I do assure you, you oblige me
+beyond my power of expression by what you say; but I will endeavour to
+shew you, both my sensibility of such goodness, and my lasting
+gratitude to it."
+
+"And pray, sir," cries Mrs. Ellison, "what can be your objection to
+your lady's going to a place which, I will venture to say, is as
+reputable as any about town, and which is frequented by the best
+company?"
+
+"Pardon me, good Mrs. Ellison," said Booth: "as my wife is so good to
+acquiesce without knowing my reasons, I am not, I think, obliged to
+assign them to any other person."
+
+"Well," cries Mrs. Ellison, "if I had been told this, I would not have
+believed it. What, refuse your lady an innocent diversion, and that
+too when you have not the pretence to say it would cost you a
+farthing?"
+
+"Why will you say any more on this subject, dear madam?" cries Amelia.
+"All diversions are to me matters of such indifference, that the bare
+inclinations of any one for whom I have the least value would at all
+times turn the balance of mine. I am sure then, after what Mr. Booth
+hath said--"
+
+"My dear," cries he, taking her up hastily, "I sincerely ask your
+pardon; I spoke inadvertently, and in a passion. I never once thought
+of controuling you, nor ever would. Nay, I said in the same breath you
+would not go; and, upon my honour, I meant nothing more."
+
+"My dear," said she, "you have no need of making any apology. I am not
+in the least offended, and am convinced you will never deny me what I
+shall desire."
+
+"Try him, try him, madam," cries Mrs. Ellison; "I will be judged by
+all the women in town if it is possible for a wife to ask her husband
+anything more reasonable. You can't conceive what a sweet, charming,
+elegant, delicious place it is. Paradise itself can hardly be equal to
+it."
+
+"I beg you will excuse me, madam," said Amelia; "nay, I entreat you
+will ask me no more; for be assured I must and will refuse. Do let me
+desire you to give the ticket to poor Mrs. Bennet. I believe it would
+greatly oblige her."
+
+"Pardon me, madam," said Mrs. Ellison; "if you will not accept of it,
+I am not so distressed for want of company as to go to such a public
+place with all sort of people neither. I am always very glad to see
+Mrs. Bennet at my own house, because I look upon her as a very good
+sort of woman; but I don't chuse to be seen with such people in public
+places."
+
+Amelia exprest some little indignation at this last speech, which she
+declared to be entirely beyond her comprehension; and soon after, Mrs.
+Ellison, finding all her efforts to prevail on Amelia were
+ineffectual, took her leave, giving Mr. Booth two or three sarcastical
+words, and a much more sarcastical look, at her departure.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter vi.
+
+_A scene in which some ladies will possibly think Amelia's conduct
+exceptionable._
+
+
+Booth and his wife being left alone, a solemn silence prevailed during
+a few minutes. At last Amelia, who, though a good, was yet a human
+creatures said to her husband, "Pray, my dear, do inform me what could
+put you into so great a passion when Mrs. Ellison first offered me the
+tickets for this masquerade?"
+
+"I had rather you would not ask me," said Booth. "You have obliged me
+greatly in your ready acquiescence with my desire, and you will add
+greatly to the obligation by not enquiring the reason of it. This you
+may depend upon, Amelia, that your good and happiness are the great
+objects of all my wishes, and the end I propose in all my actions.
+This view alone could tempt me to refuse you anything, or to conceal
+anything from you."
+
+"I will appeal to yourself," answered she, "whether this be not using
+me too much like a child, and whether I can possibly help being a
+little offended at it?"
+
+"Not in the least," replied he; "I use you only with the tenderness of
+a friend. I would only endeavour to conceal that from you which I
+think would give you uneasiness if you knew. These are called the
+pious frauds of friendship."
+
+"I detest all fraud," says she; "and pious is too good an epithet to
+be joined to so odious a word. You have often, you know, tried these
+frauds with no better effect than to teize and torment me. You cannot
+imagine, my dear, but that I must have a violent desire to know the
+reason of words which I own I never expected to have heard. And the
+more you have shown a reluctance to tell me, the more eagerly I have
+longed to know. Nor can this be called a vain curiosity, since I seem
+so much interested in this affair. If after all this, you still insist
+on keeping the secret, I will convince you I am not ignorant of the
+duty of a wife by my obedience; but I cannot help telling you at the
+same time you will make me one of the most miserable of women."
+
+"That is," cries he, "in other words, my dear Emily, to say, I will be
+contented without the secret, but I am resolved to know it,
+nevertheless."
+
+"Nay, if you say so," cries she, "I am convinced you will tell me.
+Positively, dear Billy, I must and will know."
+
+"Why, then, positively," says Booth, "I will tell you. And I think I
+shall then shew you that, however well you may know the duty of a
+wife, I am not always able to behave like a husband. In a word then,
+my dear, the secret is no more than this; I am unwilling you should
+receive any more presents from my lord."
+
+"Mercy upon me!" cries she, with all the marks of astonishment; "what!
+a masquerade ticket!"--
+
+"Yes, my dear," cries he; "that is, perhaps, the very worst and most
+dangerous of all. Few men make presents of those tickets to ladies
+without intending to meet them at the place. And what do we know of
+your companion? To be sincere with you, I have not liked her behaviour
+for some time. What might be the consequence of going with such a
+woman to such a place, to meet such a person, I tremble to think. And
+now, my dear, I have told you my reason of refusing her offer with
+some little vehemence, and I think I need explain myself no farther."
+
+"You need not, indeed, sir," answered she. "Good Heavens! did I ever
+expect to hear this? I can appeal to heaven, nay, I will appeal to
+yourself, Mr. Booth, if I have ever done anything to deserve such a
+suspicion. If ever any action of mine, nay, if ever any thought, had
+stained the innocence of my soul, I could be contented."
+
+"How cruelly do you mistake me!" said Booth. "What suspicion have I
+ever shewn?"
+
+"Can you ask it," answered she, "after what you have just now
+declared?"
+
+"If I have declared any suspicion of you," replied he, "or if ever I
+entertained a thought leading that way, may the worst of evils that
+ever afflicted human nature attend me! I know the pure innocence of
+that tender bosom, I do know it, my lovely angel, and adore it. The
+snares which might be laid for that innocence were alone the cause of
+my apprehension. I feared what a wicked and voluptuous man, resolved
+to sacrifice everything to the gratification of a sensual appetite
+with the most delicious repast, might attempt. If ever I injured the
+unspotted whiteness of thy virtue in my imagination, may hell---"
+
+"Do not terrify me," cries she, interrupting him, "with such
+imprecations. O, Mr. Booth! Mr. Booth! you must well know that a
+woman's virtue is always her sufficient guard. No husband, without
+suspecting that, can suspect any danger from those snares you mention;
+and why, if you are liable to take such things into your head, may not
+your suspicions fall on me as well as on any other? for sure nothing
+was ever more unjust, I will not say ungrateful, than the suspicions
+which you have bestowed on his lordship. I do solemnly declare, in all
+the times I have seen the poor man, he hath never once offered the
+least forwardness. His behaviour hath been polite indeed, but rather
+remarkably distant than otherwise. Particularly when we played at
+cards together. I don't remember he spoke ten words to me all the
+evening; and when I was at his house, though he shewed the greatest
+fondness imaginable to the children, he took so little notice of me,
+that a vain woman would have been very little pleased with him. And if
+he gave them many presents, he never offered me one. The first,
+indeed, which he ever offered me was that which you in that kind
+manner forced me to refuse."
+
+"All this may be only the effect of art," said Booth. "I am convinced
+he doth, nay, I am convinced he must like you; and my good friend
+James, who perfectly well knows the world, told me, that his
+lordship's character was that of the most profuse in his pleasures
+with women; nay, what said Mrs. James this very evening? 'His lordship
+is extremely generous--where he likes.' I shall never forget the sneer
+with which she spoke those last words."
+
+"I am convinced they injure him," cries Amelia. "As for Mrs. James,
+she was always given to be censorious; I remarked it in her long ago,
+as her greatest fault. And for the colonel, I believe he may find
+faults enow of this kind in his own bosom, without searching after
+them among his neighbours. I am sure he hath the most impudent look of
+all the men I know; and I solemnly declare, the very last time he was
+here he put me out of countenance more than once."
+
+"Colonel James," answered Booth, "may have his faults very probably. I
+do not look upon him as a saint, nor do I believe he desires I should;
+but what interest could he have in abusing this lord's character to
+me? or why should I question his truth, when he assured me that my
+lord had never done an act of beneficence in his life but for the sake
+of some woman whom he lusted after?"
+
+"Then I myself can confute him," replied Amelia: "for, besides his
+services to you, which, for the future, I shall wish to forget, and
+his kindness to my little babes, how inconsistent is the character
+which James gives of him with his lordship's behaviour to his own
+nephew and niece, whose extreme fondness of their uncle sufficiently
+proclaims his goodness to them? I need not mention all that I have
+heard from Mrs. Ellison, every word of which I believe; for I have
+great reason to think, notwithstanding some little levity, which, to
+give her her due, she sees and condemns in herself, she is a very good
+sort of woman."
+
+"Well, my dear," cries Booth, "I may have been deceived, and I
+heartily hope I am so; but in cases of this nature it is always good
+to be on the surest side; for, as Congreve says,
+
+              'The wise too jealous are: fools too secure.'"
+
+Here Amelia burst into tears, upon which Booth immediately caught her
+in his arms, and endeavoured to comfort her. Passion, however, for a
+while obstructed her speech, and at last she cried, "O, Mr. Booth! can
+I bear to hear the word jealousy from your mouth?"
+
+"Why, my love," said Booth, "will you so fatally misunderstand my
+meaning? how often shall I protest that it is not of you, but of him,
+that I was jealous? If you could look into my breast, and there read
+all the most secret thoughts of my heart, you would not see one faint
+idea to your dishonour."
+
+"I don't misunderstand you, my dear," said she, "so much as I am
+afraid you misunderstand yourself. What is it you fear?--you mention
+not force, but snares. Is not this to confess, at least, that you have
+some doubt of my understanding? do you then really imagine me so weak
+as to be cheated of my virtue?--am I to be deceived into an affection
+for a man before I perceive the least inward hint of my danger? No,
+Mr. Booth, believe me, a woman must be a fool indeed who can have in
+earnest such an excuse for her actions. I have not, I think, any very
+high opinion of my judgment, but so far I shall rely upon it, that no
+man breathing could have any such designs as you have apprehended
+without my immediately seeing them; and how I should then act I hope
+my whole conduct to you hath sufficiently declared."
+
+"Well, my dear," cries Booth, "I beg you will mention it no more; if
+possible, forget it. I hope, nay, I believe, I have been in the wrong;
+pray forgive me."
+
+"I will, I do forgive you, my dear," said she, "if forgiveness be a
+proper word for one whom you have rather made miserable than angry;
+but let me entreat you to banish for ever all such suspicions from
+your mind. I hope Mrs. Ellison hath not discovered the real cause of
+your passion; but, poor woman, if she had, I am convinced it would go
+no farther. Oh, Heavens! I would not for the world it should reach his
+lordship's ears. You would lose the best friend that ever man had.
+Nay, I would not for his own sake, poor man; for I really believe it
+would affect him greatly, and I must, I cannot help having an esteem
+for so much goodness. An esteem which, by this dear hand," said she,
+taking Booth's hand and kissing it, "no man alive shall ever obtain by
+making love to me."
+
+Booth caught her in his arms and tenderly embraced her. After which
+the reconciliation soon became complete; and Booth, in the
+contemplation of his happiness, entirely buried all his jealous
+thoughts.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter vii.
+
+_A chapter in which there is much learning._
+
+
+The next morning, whilst Booth was gone to take his morning walk,
+Amelia went down into Mrs. Ellison's apartment, where, though she was
+received with great civility, yet she found that lady was not at all
+pleased with Mr. Booth; and, by some hints which dropt from her in
+conversation, Amelia very greatly apprehended that Mrs. Ellison had
+too much suspicion of her husband's real uneasiness; for that lady
+declared very openly she could not help perceiving what sort of man
+Mr. Booth was: "And though I have the greatest regard for you, madam,
+in the world," said she, "yet I think myself in honour obliged not to
+impose on his lordship, who, I know very well, hath conceived his
+greatest liking to the captain on my telling him that he was the best
+husband in the world."
+
+Amelia's fears gave her much disturbance, and when her husband
+returned she acquainted him with them; upon which occasion, as it was
+natural, she resumed a little the topic of their former discourse, nor
+could she help casting, though in very gentle terms, some slight blame
+on Booth for having entertained a suspicion which, she said, might in
+its consequence very possibly prove their ruin, and occasion the loss
+of his lordship's friendship.
+
+Booth became highly affected with what his wife said, and the more, as
+he had just received a note from Colonel James, informing him that the
+colonel had heard of a vacant company in the regiment which Booth had
+mentioned to him, and that he had been with his lordship about it, who
+had promised to use his utmost interest to obtain him the command.
+
+The poor man now exprest the utmost concern for his yesterday's
+behaviour, said "he believed the devil had taken possession of him,"
+and concluded with crying out, "Sure I was born, my dearest creature,
+to be your torment."
+
+Amelia no sooner saw her husband's distress than she instantly forbore
+whatever might seem likely to aggravate it, and applied herself, with
+all her power, to comfort him. "If you will give me leave to offer my
+advice, my dearest soul," said she, "I think all might yet be
+remedied. I think you know me too well to suspect that the desire of
+diversion should induce me to mention what I am now going to propose;
+and in that confidence I will ask you to let me accept my lord's and
+Mrs. Ellison's offer, and go to the masquerade. No matter how little
+while I stay there; if you desire it I will not be an hour from you. I
+can make an hundred excuses to come home, or tell a real truth, and
+say I am tired with the place. The bare going will cure everything."
+
+Amelia had no sooner done speaking than Booth immediately approved her
+advice, and readily gave his consent. He could not, however, help
+saying, that the shorter her stay was there, the more agreeable it
+would be to him; "for you know, my dear," said he, "I would never
+willingly be a moment out of your sight."
+
+In the afternoon Amelia sent to invite Mrs. Ellison to a dish of tea;
+and Booth undertook to laugh off all that had passed yesterday, in
+which attempt the abundant good humour of that lady gave him great
+hopes of success.
+
+Mrs. Bennet came that afternoon to make a visit, and was almost an
+hour with Booth and Amelia before the entry of Mrs. Ellison.
+
+Mr. Booth had hitherto rather disliked this young lady, and had
+wondered at the pleasure which Amelia declared she took in her
+company. This afternoon, however, he changed his opinion, and liked
+her almost as much as his wife had done. She did indeed behave at this
+time with more than ordinary gaiety; and good humour gave a glow to
+her countenance that set off her features, which were very pretty, to
+the best advantage, and lessened the deadness that had usually
+appeared in her complexion.
+
+But if Booth was now pleased with Mrs. Bennet, Amelia was still more
+pleased with her than ever. For, when their discourse turned on love,
+Amelia discovered that her new friend had all the same sentiments on
+that subject with herself. In the course of their conversation Booth
+gave Mrs. Bennet a hint of wishing her a good husband, upon which both
+the ladies declaimed against second marriages with equal vehemence.
+
+Upon this occasion Booth and his wife discovered a talent in their
+visitant to which they had been before entirely strangers, and for
+which they both greatly admired her, and this was, that the lady was a
+good scholar, in which, indeed, she had the advantage of poor Amelia,
+whose reading was confined to English plays and poetry; besides which,
+I think she had conversed only with the divinity of the great and
+learned Dr Barrow, and with the histories of the excellent Bishop
+Burnet.
+
+Amelia delivered herself on the subject of second marriages with much
+eloquence and great good sense; but when Mrs. Bennet came to give her
+opinion she spoke in the following manner: "I shall not enter into the
+question concerning the legality of bigamy. Our laws certainly allow
+it, and so, I think, doth our religion. We are now debating only on
+the decency of it, and in this light I own myself as strenuous an
+advocate against it as any Roman matron would have been in those ages
+of the commonwealth when it was held to be infamous. For my own part,
+how great a paradox soever my opinion may seem, I solemnly declare, I
+see but little difference between having two husbands at one time and
+at several times; and of this I am very confident, that the same
+degree of love for a first husband which preserves a woman in the one
+case will preserve her in the other. There is one argument which I
+scarce know how to deliver before you, sir; but--if a woman hath lived
+with her first husband without having children, I think it
+unpardonable in her to carry barrenness into a second family. On the
+contrary, if she hath children by her first husband, to give them a
+second father is still more unpardonable."
+
+"But suppose, madam," cries Booth, interrupting her with a smile, "she
+should have had children by her first husband, and have lost them?"
+
+"That is a case," answered she, with a sigh, "which I did not desire
+to think of, and I must own it the most favourable light in which a
+second marriage can be seen. But the Scriptures, as Petrarch observes,
+rather suffer them than commend them; and St Jerom speaks against them
+with the utmost bitterness."--"I remember," cries Booth (who was
+willing either to shew his learning, or to draw out the lady's), "a
+very wise law of Charondas, the famous lawgiver of Thurium, by which
+men who married a second time were removed from all public councils;
+for it was scarce reasonable to suppose that he who was so great a
+fool in his own family should be wise in public affairs. And though
+second marriages were permitted among the Romans, yet they were at the
+same time discouraged, and those Roman widows who refused them were
+held in high esteem, and honoured with what Valerius Maximus calls the
+Corona Pudicitiae. In the noble family of Camilli there was not, in
+many ages, a single instance of this, which Martial calls adultery:
+
+    _Quae toties nubit, non nubit; adultera lege est."_
+
+"True, sir," says Mrs. Bennet, "and Virgil calls this a violation of
+chastity, and makes Dido speak of it with the utmost detestation:
+
+     _Sed mihi vel Tellus optem prius ima dehiscat
+     Vel Pater omnipotens adigat me fulmine ad umbras,
+     Pallentes umbras Erebi, noctemque profundam,
+     Ante, fudor, quam te violo, aut tua jura resolvo.
+     Ille meos, primum qui me sibi junxit, amores,
+     Ille habeat semper secum, servetque Sepulchro."_
+
+She repeated these lines with so strong an emphasis, that she almost
+frightened Amelia out of her wits, and not a little staggered Booth,
+who was himself no contemptible scholar. He expressed great admiration
+of the lady's learning; upon which she said it was all the fortune
+given her by her father, and all the dower left her by her husband;
+"and sometimes," said she, "I am inclined to think I enjoy more
+pleasure from it than if they had bestowed on me what the world would
+in general call more valuable."--She then took occasion, from the
+surprize which Booth had affected to conceive at her repeating Latin
+with so good a grace, to comment on that great absurdity (for so she
+termed it) of excluding women from learning; for which they were
+equally qualified with the men, and in which so many had made so
+notable a proficiency; for a proof of which she mentioned Madam
+Dacier, and many others.
+
+Though both Booth and Amelia outwardly concurred with her sentiments,
+it may be a question whether they did not assent rather out of
+complaisance than from their real judgment.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter viii.
+
+_Containing some unaccountable behaviour in Mrs. Ellison._
+
+
+Mrs. Ellison made her entrance at the end of the preceding discourse.
+At her first appearance she put on an unusual degree of formality and
+reserve; but when Amelia had acquainted her that she designed to
+accept the favour intended her, she soon began to alter the gravity of
+her muscles, and presently fell in with that ridicule which Booth
+thought proper to throw on his yesterday's behaviour.
+
+The conversation now became very lively and pleasant, in which Booth
+having mentioned the discourse that passed in the last chapter, and
+having greatly complimented Mrs. Bennet's speech on that occasion,
+Mrs. Ellison, who was as strenuous an advocate on the other side,
+began to rally that lady extremely, declaring it was a certain sign
+she intended to marry again soon. "Married ladies," cries she, "I
+believe, sometimes think themselves in earnest in such declarations,
+though they are oftener perhaps meant as compliments to their
+husbands; but, when widows exclaim loudly against second marriages, I
+would always lay a wager that the man, if not the wedding-day, is
+absolutely fixed on."
+
+Mrs. Bennet made very little answer to this sarcasm. Indeed, she had
+scarce opened her lips from the time of Mrs. Ellison's coming into the
+room, and had grown particularly grave at the mention of the
+masquerade. Amelia imputed this to her being left out of the party, a
+matter which is often no small mortification to human pride, and in a
+whisper asked Mrs. Ellison if she could not procure a third ticket, to
+which she received an absolute negative.
+
+During the whole time of Mrs. Bennet's stay, which was above an hour
+afterwards, she remained perfectly silent, and looked extremely
+melancholy. This made Amelia very uneasy, as she concluded she had
+guessed the cause of her vexation. In which opinion she was the more
+confirmed from certain looks of no very pleasant kind which Mrs.
+Bennet now and then cast on Mrs. Ellison, and the more than ordinary
+concern that appeared in the former lady's countenance whenever the
+masquerade was mentioned, and which; unfortunately, was the principal
+topic of their discourse; for Mrs. Ellison gave a very elaborate
+description of the extreme beauty of the place and elegance of the
+diversion.
+
+When Mrs. Bennet was departed, Amelia could not help again soliciting
+Mrs. Ellison for another ticket, declaring she was certain Mrs. Bennet
+had a great inclination to go with them; but Mrs. Ellison again
+excused herself from asking it of his lordship. "Besides, madam," says
+she, "if I would go thither with Mrs. Bennet, which, I own to you, I
+don't chuse, as she is a person whom _nobody knows_, I very much
+doubt whether she herself would like it; for she is a woman of a very
+unaccountable turn. All her delight lies in books; and as for public
+diversions, I have heard her often declare her abhorrence of them."
+
+"What then," said Amelia, "could occasion all that gravity from the
+moment the masquerade was mentioned?"
+
+"As to that," answered the other, "there is no guessing. You have seen
+her altogether as grave before now. She hath had these fits of gravity
+at times ever since the death of her husband."
+
+"Poor creature!" cries Amelia; "I heartily pity her, for she must
+certainly suffer a great deal on these occasions. I declare I have
+taken a strange fancy to her."
+
+"Perhaps you would not like her so well if you knew her thoroughly,"
+answered Mrs. Ellison.--"She is, upon the whole, but of a whimsical
+temper; and, if you will take my opinion, you should not cultivate too
+much intimacy with her. I know you will never mention what I say; but
+she is like some pictures, which please best at a distance."
+
+Amelia did not seem to agree with these sentiments, and she greatly
+importuned Mrs. Ellison to be more explicit, but to no purpose; she
+continued to give only dark hints to Mrs. Bennet's disadvantage; and,
+if ever she let drop something a little too harsh, she failed not
+immediately to contradict herself by throwing some gentle
+commendations into the other scale; so that her conduct appeared
+utterly unaccountable to Amelia, and, upon the whole, she knew not
+whether to conclude Mrs. Ellison to be a friend or enemy to Mrs.
+Bennet.
+
+During this latter conversation Booth was not in the room, for he had
+been summoned down-stairs by the serjeant, who came to him with news
+from Murphy, whom he had met that evening, and who assured the
+serjeant that, if he was desirous of recovering the debt which he had
+before pretended to have on Booth, he might shortly have an
+opportunity, for that there was to be a very strong petition to the
+board the next time they sat. Murphy said further that he need not
+fear having his money, for that, to his certain knowledge, the captain
+had several things of great value, and even his children had gold
+watches.
+
+This greatly alarmed Booth, and still more when the serjeant reported
+to him, from Murphy, that all these things had been seen in his
+possession within a day last past. He now plainly perceived, as he
+thought, that Murphy himself, or one of his emissaries, had been the
+supposed madman; and he now very well accounted to himself, in his own
+mind, for all that had happened, conceiving that the design was to
+examine into the state of his effects, and to try whether it was worth
+his creditors' while to plunder him by law.
+
+At his return to his apartment he communicated what he had heard to
+Amelia and Mrs. Ellison, not disguising his apprehensions of the
+enemy's intentions; but Mrs. Ellison endeavoured to laugh him out of
+his fears, calling him faint-hearted, and assuring him he might depend
+on her lawyer. "Till you hear from him," said she, "you may rest
+entirely contented: for, take my word for it, no danger can happen to
+you of which you will not be timely apprized by him. And as for the
+fellow that had the impudence to come into your room, if he was sent
+on such an errand as you mention, I heartily wish I had been at home;
+I would have secured him safe with a constable, and have carried him
+directly before justice Thresher. I know the justice is an enemy to
+bailiffs on his own account."
+
+This heartening speech a little roused the courage of Booth, and
+somewhat comforted Amelia, though the spirits of both had been too
+much hurried to suffer them either to give or receive much
+entertainment that evening; which Mrs. Ellison perceiving soon took
+her leave, and left this unhappy couple to seek relief from sleep,
+that powerful friend to the distrest, though, like other powerful
+friends, he is not always ready to give his assistance to those who
+want it most.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter ix.
+
+_Containing a very strange incident._
+
+
+When the husband and wife were alone they again talked over the news
+which the serjeant had brought; on which occasion Amelia did all she
+could to conceal her own fears, and to quiet those of her husband. At
+last she turned the conversation to another subject, and poor Mrs.
+Bennet was brought on the carpet. "I should be sorry," cries Amelia,
+"to find I had conceived an affection for a bad woman; and yet I begin
+to fear Mrs. Ellison knows something of her more than she cares to
+discover; why else should she be unwilling to be seen with her in
+public? Besides, I have observed that Mrs. Ellison hath been always
+backward to introduce her to me, nor would ever bring her to my
+apartment, though I have often desired her. Nay, she hath given me
+frequent hints not to cultivate the acquaintance. What do you think,
+my dear? I should be very sorry to contract an intimacy with a wicked
+person."
+
+"Nay, my dear," cries Booth. "I know no more of her, nor indeed hardly
+so much as yourself. But this I think, that if Mrs. Ellison knows any
+reason why she should not have introduced Mrs. Bennet into your
+company, she was very much in the wrong in introducing her into it."
+
+In discourses of this kind they past the remainder of the evening. In
+the morning Booth rose early, and, going down-stairs, received from
+little Betty a sealed note, which contained the following words:
+
+     Beware, beware, beware;
+     For I apprehend a dreadful snare
+     Is laid for virtuous innocence,
+     Under a friend's false pretence.
+
+Booth immediately enquired of the girl who brought this note? and was
+told it came by a chair-man, who, having delivered it, departed
+without saying a word.
+
+He was extremely staggered at what he read, and presently referred the
+advice to the same affair on which he had received those hints from
+Atkinson the preceding evening; but when he came to consider the words
+more maturely he could not so well reconcile the two last lines of
+this poetical epistle, if it may be so called, with any danger which
+the law gave him reason to apprehend. Mr. Murphy and his gang could
+not well be said to attack either his innocence or virtue; nor did
+they attack him under any colour or pretence of friendship.
+
+After much deliberation on this matter a very strange suspicion came
+into his head; and this was, that he was betrayed by Mrs. Ellison. He
+had, for some time, conceived no very high opinion of that good
+gentlewoman, and he now began to suspect that she was bribed to betray
+him. By this means he thought he could best account for the strange
+appearance of the supposed madman. And when this conceit once had
+birth in his mind, several circumstances nourished and improved it.
+Among these were her jocose behaviour and raillery on that occasion,
+and her attempt to ridicule his fears from the message which the
+serjeant had brought him.
+
+This suspicion was indeed preposterous, and not at all warranted by,
+or even consistent with, the character and whole behaviour of Mrs.
+Ellison, but it was the only one which at that time suggested itself
+to his mind; and, however blameable it might be, it was certainly not
+unnatural in him to entertain it; for so great a torment is anxiety to
+the human mind, that we always endeavour to relieve ourselves from it
+by guesses, however doubtful or uncertain; on all which occasions,
+dislike and hatred are the surest guides to lead our suspicion to its
+object.
+
+When Amelia rose to breakfast, Booth produced the note which he had
+received, saying, "My dear, you have so often blamed me for keeping
+secrets from you, and I have so often, indeed, endeavoured to conceal
+secrets of this kind from you with such ill success, that I think I
+shall never more attempt it." Amelia read the letter hastily, and
+seemed not a little discomposed; then, turning to Booth with a very
+disconsolate countenance, she said, "Sure fortune takes a delight in
+terrifying us! what can be the meaning of this?" Then, fixing her eyes
+attentively on the paper, she perused it for some time, till Booth
+cried, "How is it possible, my Emily, you can read such stuff
+patiently? the verses are certainly as bad as ever were written."--"I
+was trying, my dear," answered she, "to recollect the hand; for I will
+take my oath I have seen it before, and that very lately;" and
+suddenly she cried out, with great emotion, "I remember it perfectly
+now; it is Mrs. Bennet's hand. Mrs. Ellison shewed me a letter from
+her but a day or two ago. It is a very remarkable hand, and I am
+positive it is hers."
+
+"If it be hers," cries Booth, "what can she possibly mean by the
+latter part of her caution? sure Mrs. Ellison hath no intention to
+betray us."
+
+"I know not what she means," answered Amelia, "but I am resolved to
+know immediately, for I am certain of the hand. By the greatest luck
+in the world, she told me yesterday where her lodgings were, when she
+pressed me exceedingly to come and see her. She lives but a very few
+doors from us, and I will go to her this moment."
+
+Booth made not the least objection to his wife's design. His curiosity
+was, indeed, as great as hers, and so was his impatience to satisfy
+it, though he mentioned not this his impatience to Amelia; and perhaps
+it had been well for him if he had.
+
+Amelia, therefore, presently equipped herself in her walking dress,
+and, leaving her children to the care of her husband, made all
+possible haste to Mrs. Bennet's lodgings.
+
+Amelia waited near five minutes at Mrs. Bennet's door before any one
+came to open it; at length a maid servant appeared, who, being asked
+if Mrs. Bennet was at home, answered, with some confusion in her
+countenance, that she did not know; "but, madam," said she, "if you
+will send up your name, I will go and see." Amelia then told her name,
+and the wench, after staying a considerable time, returned and
+acquainted her that Mrs. Bennet was at home. She was then ushered into
+a parlour and told that the lady would wait on her presently.
+
+In this parlour Amelia cooled her heels, as the phrase is, near a
+quarter of an hour. She seemed, indeed, at this time, in the miserable
+situation of one of those poor wretches who make their morning visits
+to the great to solicit favours, or perhaps to solicit the payment of
+a debt, for both are alike treated as beggars, and the latter
+sometimes considered as the more troublesome beggars of the two.
+
+During her stay here, Amelia observed the house to be in great
+confusion; a great bustle was heard above-stairs, and the maid ran up
+and down several times in a great hurry.
+
+At length Mrs. Bennet herself came in. She was greatly disordered in
+her looks, and had, as the women call it, huddled on her cloaths in
+much haste; for, in truth, she was in bed when Amelia first came. Of
+this fact she informed her, as the only apology she could make for
+having caused her to wait so long for her company.
+
+Amelia very readily accepted her apology, but asked her with a smile,
+if these early hours were usual with her? Mrs. Bennet turned as red as
+scarlet at the question, and answered, "No, indeed, dear madam. I am
+for the most part a very early riser; but I happened accidentally to
+sit up very late last night. I am sure I had little expectation of
+your intending me such a favour this morning."
+
+Amelia, looking very steadfastly at her, said, "Is it possible, madam,
+you should think such a note as this would raise no curiosity in me?"
+She then gave her the note, asking her if she did not know the hand.
+
+Mrs. Bennet appeared in the utmost surprize and confusion at this
+instant. Indeed, if Amelia had conceived but the slightest suspicion
+before, the behaviour of the lady would have been a sufficient
+confirmation to her of the truth. She waited not, therefore, for an
+answer, which, indeed, the other seemed in no haste to give, but
+conjured her in the most earnest manner to explain to her the meaning
+of so extraordinary an act of friendship; "for so," said she, "I
+esteem it, being convinced you must have sufficient reason for the
+warning you have given me."
+
+Mrs. Bennet, after some hesitation, answered, "I need not, I believe,
+tell you how much I am surprized at what you have shewn me; and the
+chief reason of my surprize is, how you came to discover my hand.
+Sure, madam, you have not shewn it to Mrs. Ellison?"
+
+Amelia declared she had not, but desired she would question her no
+farther. "What signifies how I discovered it, since your hand it
+certainly is?"
+
+"I own it is," cries Mrs. Bennet, recovering her spirits, "and since
+you have not shewn it to that woman I am satisfied. I begin to guess
+now whence you might have your information; but no matter; I wish I
+had never done anything of which I ought to be more ashamed. No one
+can, I think, justly accuse me of a crime on that account; and I thank
+Heaven my shame will never be directed by the false opinion of the
+world. Perhaps it was wrong to shew my letter, but when I consider all
+circumstances I can forgive it."
+
+"Since you have guessed the truth," said Amelia, "I am not obliged to
+deny it. She, indeed, shewed me your letter, but I am sure you have
+not the least reason to be ashamed of it. On the contrary, your
+behaviour on so melancholy an occasion was highly praiseworthy; and
+your bearing up under such afflictions as the loss of a husband in so
+dreadful a situation was truly great and heroical."
+
+"So Mrs. Ellison then hath shewn you my letter?" cries Mrs. Bennet
+eagerly.
+
+"Why, did not you guess it yourself?" answered Amelia; "otherwise I am
+sure I have betrayed my honour in mentioning it. I hope you have not
+drawn me inadvertently into any breach of my promise. Did you not
+assert, and that with an absolute certainty, that you knew she had
+shewn me your letter, and that you was not angry with her for so
+doing?"
+
+"I am so confused," replied Mrs. Bennet, "that I scarce know what I
+say; yes, yes, I remember I did say so--I wish I had no greater reason
+to be angry with her than that."
+
+"For Heaven's sake," cries Amelia, "do not delay my request any
+longer; what you say now greatly increases my curiosity, and my mind
+will be on the rack till you discover your whole meaning; for I am
+more and more convinced that something of the utmost importance was
+the purport of your message."
+
+"Of the utmost importance, indeed," cries Mrs. Bennet; "at least you
+will own my apprehensions were sufficiently well founded. O gracious
+Heaven! how happy shall I think myself if I should have proved your
+preservation! I will, indeed, explain my meaning; but, in order to
+disclose all my fears in their just colours, I must unfold my whole
+history to you. Can you have patience, madam, to listen to the story
+of the most unfortunate of women?"
+
+Amelia assured her of the highest attention, and Mrs. Bennet soon
+after began to relate what is written in the seventh book of this
+history.
+
+
+
+
+BOOK VII.
+
+Chapter i.
+
+_A very short chapter, and consequently requiring no preface._
+
+
+Mrs. Bennet having fastened the door, and both the ladies having taken
+their places, she once or twice offered to speak, when passion stopt
+her utterance; and, after a minute's silence, she burst into a flood
+of tears. Upon which Amelia, expressing the utmost tenderness for her,
+as well by her look as by her accent, cried, "What can be the reason,
+dear madam, of all this emotion?" "O, Mrs. Booth!" answered she, "I
+find I have undertaken what I am not able to perform. You would not
+wonder at my emotion if you knew you had an adulteress and a murderer
+now standing before you."
+
+Amelia turned pale as death at these words, which Mrs. Bennet
+observing, collected all the force she was able, and, a little
+composing her countenance, cried, "I see, madam, I have terrified you
+with such dreadful words; but I hope you will not think me guilty of
+these crimes in the blackest degree." "Guilty!" cries Amelia. "O
+Heavens!" "I believe, indeed, your candour," continued Mrs. Bennet,
+"will be readier to acquit me than I am to acquit myself.
+Indiscretion, at least, the highest, most unpardonable indiscretion, I
+shall always lay to ray own charge: and, when I reflect on the fatal
+consequences, I can never, never forgive myself. "Here she again began
+to lament in so bitter a manner, that Amelia endeavoured, as much as
+she could (for she was herself greatly shocked), to soothe and comfort
+her; telling her that, if indiscretion was her highest crime, the
+unhappy consequences made her rather an unfortunate than a guilty
+person; and concluded by saying--"Indeed, madam, you have raised my
+curiosity to the highest pitch, and I beg you will proceed with your
+story."
+
+Mrs. Bennet then seemed a second time going to begin her relation,
+when she cried out, "I would, if possible, tire you with no more of my
+unfortunate life than just with that part which leads to a catastrophe
+in which I think you may yourself be interested; but I protest I am at
+a loss where to begin."
+
+"Begin wherever you please, dear madam," cries Amelia; "but I beg you
+will consider my impatience." "I do consider it," answered Mrs.
+Bennet; "and therefore would begin with that part of my story which
+leads directly to what concerns yourself; for how, indeed, should my
+life produce anything worthy your notice?" "Do not say so, madam,"
+cries Amelia; "I assure you I have long suspected there were some very
+remarkable incidents in your life, and have only wanted an opportunity
+to impart to you my desire of hearing them: I beg, therefore, you
+would make no more apologies." "I will not, madam," cries Mrs. Bennet,
+"and yet I would avoid anything trivial; though, indeed, in stories of
+distress, especially where love is concerned, many little incidents
+may appear trivial to those who have never felt the passion, which, to
+delicate minds, are the most interesting part of the whole." "Nay,
+but, dear madam," cries Amelia, "this is all preface."
+
+"Well, madam," answered Mrs. Bennet, "I will consider your
+impatience." She then rallied all her spirits in the best manner she
+could, and began as is written in the next chapter.
+
+And here possibly the reader will blame Mrs. Bennet for taking her
+story so far back, and relating so much of her life in which Amelia
+had no concern; but, in truth, she was desirous of inculcating a good
+opinion of herself, from recounting those transactions where her
+conduct was unexceptionable, before she came to the more dangerous and
+suspicious part of her character. This I really suppose to have been
+her intention; for to sacrifice the time and patience of Amelia at
+such a season to the mere love of talking of herself would have been
+as unpardonable in her as the bearing it was in Amelia a proof of the
+most perfect good breeding.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter ii.
+
+_The beginning of Mrs. Bennet's history._
+
+
+"I was the younger of two daughters of a clergyman in Essex; of one in
+whose praise if I should indulge my fond heart in speaking, I think my
+invention could not outgo the reality. He was indeed well worthy of
+the cloth he wore; and that, I think, is the highest character a man
+can obtain.
+
+"During the first part of my life, even till I reached my sixteenth
+year, I can recollect nothing to relate to you. All was one long
+serene day, in looking back upon which, as when we cast our eyes on a
+calm sea, no object arises to my view. All appears one scene of
+happiness and tranquillity.
+
+"On the day, then, when I became sixteen years old, must I begin my
+history; for on that day I first tasted the bitterness of sorrow.
+
+"My father, besides those prescribed by our religion, kept five
+festivals every year. These were on his wedding-day, and on the
+birthday of each of his little family; on these occasions he used to
+invite two or three neighbours to his house, and to indulge himself,
+as he said, in great excess; for so he called drinking a pint of very
+small punch; and, indeed, it might appear excess to one who on other
+days rarely tasted any liquor stronger than small beer.
+
+"Upon my unfortunate birthday, then, when we were all in a high degree
+of mirth, my mother having left the room after dinner, and staying
+away pretty long, my father sent me to see for her. I went according
+to his orders; but, though I searched the whole house and called after
+her without doors, I could neither see nor hear her. I was a little
+alarmed at this (though far from suspecting any great mischief had
+befallen her), and ran back to acquaint my father, who answered coolly
+(for he was a man of the calmest temper), 'Very well, my dear, I
+suppose she is not gone far, and will be here immediately.' Half an
+hour or more past after this, when, she not returning, my father
+himself expressed some surprize at her stay; declaring it must be some
+matter of importance which could detain her at that time from her
+company. His surprize now encreased every minute, and he began to grow
+uneasy, and to shew sufficient symptoms in his countenance of what he
+felt within. He then despatched the servant-maid to enquire after her
+mistress in the parish, but waited not her return; for she was scarce
+gone out of doors before he begged leave of his guests to go himself
+on the same errand. The company now all broke up, and attended my
+father, all endeavouring to give him hopes that no mischief had
+happened. They searched the whole parish, but in vain; they could
+neither see my mother, nor hear any news of her. My father returned
+home in a state little short of distraction. His friends in vain
+attempted to administer either advice or comfort; he threw himself on
+the floor in the most bitter agonies of despair.
+
+"Whilst he lay in this condition, my sister and myself lying by him,
+all equally, I believe, and completely miserable, our old servant-maid
+came into the room and cried out, her mind misgave her that she knew
+where her mistress was. Upon these words, my father sprung from the
+floor, and asked her eagerly, where? But oh! Mrs. Booth, how can I
+describe the particulars of a scene to you, the remembrance of which
+chills my blood with horror, and which the agonies of my mind, when it
+past, made all a scene of confusion! The fact then in short was this:
+my mother, who was a most indulgent mistress to one servant, which was
+all we kept, was unwilling, I suppose, to disturb her at her dinner,
+and therefore went herself to fill her tea-kettle at a well, into
+which, stretching herself too far, as we imagine, the water then being
+very low, she fell with the tea-kettle in her hand. The missing this
+gave the poor old wretch the first hint of her suspicion, which, upon
+examination, was found to be too well grounded.
+
+"What we all suffered on this occasion may more easily be felt than
+described."---"It may indeed," answered Amelia, "and I am so sensible
+of it, that, unless you have a mind to see me faint before your face,
+I beg you will order me something; a glass of water, if you please.
+"Mrs. Bennet immediately complied with her friend's request; a glass
+of water was brought, and some hartshorn drops infused into it; which
+Amelia having drank off, declared she found herself much better; and
+then Mrs. Bennet proceeded thus:--"I will not dwell on a scene which I
+see hath already so much affected your tender heart, and which is as
+disagreeable to me to relate as it can be to you to hear. I will
+therefore only mention to you the behaviour of my father on this
+occasion, which was indeed becoming a philosopher and a Christian
+divine. On the day after my mother's funeral he sent for my sister and
+myself into his room, where, after many caresses and every
+demonstration of fatherly tenderness as well in silence as in words,
+he began to exhort us to bear with patience the great calamity that
+had befallen us; saying, 'That as every human accident, how terrible
+soever, must happen to us by divine permission at least, a due sense
+of our duty to our great Creator must teach us an absolute submission
+to his will. Not only religion, but common sense, must teach us this;
+for oh! my dear children,' cries he, 'how vain is all resistance, all
+repining! could tears wash back again my angel from the grave, I
+should drain all the juices of my body through my eyes; but oh, could
+we fill up that cursed well with our tears, how fruitless would be all
+our sorrow!'--I think I repeat you his very words; for the impression
+they made on me is never to be obliterated. He then proceeded to
+comfort us with the chearful thought that the loss was entirely our
+own, and that my mother was greatly a gainer by the accident which we
+lamented. 'I have a wife,' cries he, 'my children, and you have a
+mother, now amongst the heavenly choir; how selfish therefore is all
+our grief! how cruel to her are all our wishes!' In this manner he
+talked to us near half an hour, though I must frankly own to you his
+arguments had not the immediate good effect on us which they deserved,
+for we retired from him very little the better for his exhortations;
+however, they became every day more and more forcible upon our
+recollection; indeed, they were greatly strengthened by his example;
+for in this, as in all other instances, he practised the doctrines
+which he taught. From this day he never mentioned my mother more, and
+soon after recovered his usual chearfulness in public; though I have
+reason to think he paid many a bitter sigh in private to that
+remembrance which neither philosophy nor Christianity could expunge.
+
+"My father's advice, enforced by his example, together with the
+kindness of some of our friends, assisted by that ablest of all the
+mental physicians, Time, in a few months pretty well restored my
+tranquillity, when fortune made a second attack on my quiet. My
+sister, whom I dearly loved, and who as warmly returned my affection,
+had fallen into an ill state of health some time before the fatal
+accident which I have related. She was indeed at that time so much
+better, that we had great hopes of her perfect recovery; but the
+disorders of her mind on that dreadful occasion so affected her body,
+that she presently relapsed to her former declining state, and thence
+grew continually worse and worse, till, after a decay of near seven
+months, she followed my poor mother to the grave.
+
+"I will not tire you, dear madam, with repetitions of grief; I will
+only mention two observations which have occurred to me from
+reflections on the two losses I have mentioned. The first is, that a
+mind once violently hurt grows, as it were, callous to any future
+impressions of grief, and is never capable of feeling the same pangs a
+second time. The other observation is, that the arrows of fortune, as
+well as all others, derive their force from the velocity with which
+they are discharged; for, when they approach you by slow and
+perceptible degrees, they have but very little power to do you
+mischief.
+
+"The truth of these observations I experienced, not only in my own
+heart, but in the behaviour of my father, whose philosophy seemed to
+gain a complete triumph over this latter calamity.
+
+"Our family was now reduced to two, and my father grew extremely fond
+of me, as if he had now conferred an entire stock of affection on me,
+that had before been divided. His words, indeed, testified no less,
+for he daily called me his only darling, his whole comfort, his all.
+He committed the whole charge of his house to my care, and gave me the
+name of his little housekeeper, an appellation of which I was then as
+proud as any minister of state can be of his titles. But, though I was
+very industrious in the discharge of my occupation, I did not,
+however, neglect my studies, in which I had made so great a
+proficiency, that I was become a pretty good mistress of the Latin
+language, and had made some progress in the Greek. I believe, madam, I
+have formerly acquainted you, that learning was the chief estate I
+inherited of my father, in which he had instructed me from my earliest
+youth.
+
+"The kindness of this good man had at length wiped off the remembrance
+of all losses; and I during two years led a life of great
+tranquillity, I think I might almost say of perfect happiness.
+
+"I was now. in the nineteenth year of my age, when my father's good
+fortune removed us from the county of Essex into Hampshire, where a
+living was conferred on him by one of his old school-fellows, of twice
+the value of what he was before possessed of.
+
+"His predecessor in this new living had died in very indifferent
+circumstances, and had left behind him a widow with two small
+children. My father, therefore, who, with great economy, had a most
+generous soul, bought the whole furniture of the parsonage-house at a
+very high price; some of it, indeed, he would have wanted; for, though
+our little habitation in Essex was most completely furnished, yet it
+bore no proportion to the largeness of that house in which he was now
+to dwell.
+
+"His motive, however, to the purchase was, I am convinced, solely
+generosity; which appeared sufficiently by the price he gave, and may
+be farther inforced by the kindness he shewed the widow in another
+instance; for he assigned her an apartment for the use of herself and
+her little family, which, he told her, she was welcome to enjoy as
+long as it suited her conveniency.
+
+"As this widow was very young, and generally thought to be tolerably
+pretty, though I own she had a cast with her eyes which I never liked,
+my father, you may suppose, acted from a less noble principle than I
+have hinted; but I must in justice acquit him, for these kind offers
+were made her before ever he had seen her face; and I have the
+greatest reason to think that, for a long time after he had seen her,
+he beheld her with much indifference.
+
+"This act of my father's gave me, when I first heard it, great
+satisfaction; for I may at least, with the modesty of the ancient
+philosophers, call myself a lover of generosity, but when I became
+acquainted with the widow I was still more delighted with what my
+father had done; for though I could not agree with those who thought
+her a consummate beauty, I must allow that she was very fully
+possessed of the power of making herself agreeable; and this power she
+exerted with so much success, with such indefatigable industry to
+oblige, that within three months I became in the highest manner
+pleased with my new acquaintance, and had contracted the most sincere
+friendship for her.
+
+"But, if I was so pleased with the widow, my father was by this time
+enamoured of her. She had, indeed, by the most artful conduct in the
+world, so insinuated herself into his favour, so entirely infatuated
+him, that he never shewed the least marks of chearfulness in her
+absence, and could, in truth, scarce bear that she should be out of
+his sight.
+
+"She had managed this matter so well (O, she is the most artful of
+women!) that my father's heart was gone before I ever suspected it was
+in danger. The discovery you may easily believe, madam, was not
+pleasing. The name of a mother-in-law sounded dreadful in my ears; nor
+could I bear the thought of parting again with a share in those dear
+affections, of which I had purchased the whole by the loss of a
+beloved mother and sister.
+
+"In the first hurry and disorder of my mind on this occasion I
+committed a crime of the highest kind against all the laws of prudence
+and discretion. I took the young lady herself very roundly to task,
+treated her designs on my father as little better than a design to
+commit a theft, and in my passion, I believe, said she might be
+ashamed to think of marrying a man old enough to be her grandfather;
+for so in reality he almost was.
+
+"The lady on this occasion acted finely the part of a hypocrite. She
+affected to be highly affronted at my unjust suspicions, as she called
+them; and proceeded to such asseverations of her innocence, that she
+almost brought me to discredit the evidence of my own eyes and ears.
+
+"My father, however, acted much more honestly, for he fell the next
+day into a more violent passion with me than I had ever seen him in
+before, and asked me whether I intended to return his paternal
+fondness by assuming the right of controlling his inclinations? with
+more of the like kind, which fully convinced me what had passed
+between him and the lady, and how little I had injured her in my
+suspicions.
+
+"Hitherto, I frankly own, my aversion to this match had been
+principally on my own account; for I had no ill opinion of the woman,
+though I thought neither her circumstances nor my father's age
+promised any kind of felicity from such an union; but now I learnt
+some particulars, which, had not our quarrel become public in the
+parish, I should perhaps have never known. In short, I was Informed
+that this gentle obliging creature, as she had at first appeared to
+me, had the spirit of a tigress, and was by many believed to have
+broken the heart of her first husband.
+
+"The truth of this matter being confirmed to me upon examination, I
+resolved not to suppress it. On this occasion fortune seemed to favour
+me, by giving me a speedy opportunity of seeing my father alone and in
+good humour. He now first began to open his intended marriage, telling
+me that he had formerly had some religious objections to bigamy, but
+he had very fully considered the matter, and had satisfied himself of
+its legality. He then faithfully promised me that no second marriage
+should in the least impair his affection for me; and concluded with
+the highest eulogiums on the goodness of the widow, protesting that it
+was her virtues and not her person with which he was enamoured.
+
+"I now fell upon my knees before him, and bathing his hand in my
+tears, which flowed very plentifully from my eyes, acquainted him with
+all I had heard, and was so very imprudent, I might almost say so
+cruel, to disclose the author of my information.
+
+"My father heard me without any indication of passion, and answered
+coldly, that if there was any proof of such facts he should decline
+any further thoughts of this match: 'But, child,' said he, 'though I
+am far from suspecting the truth of what you tell me, as far as
+regards your knowledge, yet you know the inclination of the world to
+slander.' However, before we parted he promised to make a proper
+enquiry into what I had told him.--But I ask your pardon, dear madam,
+I am running minutely into those particulars of my life in which you
+have not the least concern."
+
+Amelia stopt her friend short in her apology; and though, perhaps, she
+thought her impertinent enough, yet (such was her good breeding) she
+gave her many assurances of a curiosity to know every incident of her
+life which she could remember; after which Mrs. Bennet proceeded as in
+the next chapter.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter iii.
+
+_Continuation of Mrs. Bennet's story._
+
+
+"I think, madam," said Mrs. Bennet, "I told you my father promised me
+to enquire farther into the affair, but he had hardly time to keep his
+word; for we separated pretty late in the evening and early the next
+morning he was married to the widow.
+
+"But, though he gave no credit to my information, I had sufficient
+reason to think he did not forget it, by the resentment which he soon
+discovered to both the persons whom I had named as my informers.
+
+"Nor was it long before I had good cause to believe that my father's
+new wife was perfectly well acquainted with the good opinion I had of
+her, not only from her usage of me, but from certain hints which she
+threw forth with an air of triumph. One day, particularly, I remember
+she said to my father, upon his mentioning his age, 'O, my dear! I
+hope you have many years yet to live! unless, indeed, I should be so
+cruel as to break your heart' She spoke these words looking me full in
+the face, and accompanied them with a sneer in which the highest
+malice was visible, under a thin covering of affected pleasantry.
+
+"I will not entertain you, madam, with anything so common as the cruel
+usage of a step-mother; nor of what affected me much more, the unkind
+behaviour of a father under such an influence. It shall suffice only
+to tell you that I had the mortification to perceive the gradual and
+daily decrease of my father's affection. His smiles were converted
+into frowns; the tender appellations of child and dear were exchanged
+for plain Molly, that girl, that creature, and sometimes much harder
+names. I was at first turned all at once into a cypher, and at last
+seemed to be considered as a nuisance in the family.
+
+"Thus altered was the man of whom I gave you such a character at the
+entrance on my story; but, alas! he no longer acted from his own
+excellent disposition, but was in everything governed and directed by
+my mother-in-law. In fact, whenever there is great disparity of years
+between husband and wife, the younger is, I believe, always possessed
+of absolute power over the elder; for superstition itself is a less
+firm support of absolute power than dotage.
+
+"But, though his wife was so entirely mistress of my father's will
+that she could make him use me ill, she could not so perfectly subdue
+his understanding as to prevent him from being conscious of such ill-
+usage; and from this consciousness, he began inveterately to hate me.
+Of this hatred he gave me numberless instances, and I protest to you I
+know not any other reason for it than what I have assigned; and the
+cause, as experience hath convinced me, is adequate to the effect.
+
+"While I was in this wretched situation, my father's unkindness having
+almost broken ray heart, he came one day into my room with more anger
+in his countenance than I had ever seen, and, after bitterly
+upbraiding me with my undutiful behaviour both to himself and his
+worthy consort, he bid me pack up my alls, and immediately prepare to
+quit his house; at the same time gave me a letter, and told me that
+would acquaint me where I might find a home; adding that he doubted
+not but I expected, and had indeed solicited, the invitation; and left
+me with a declaration that he would have no spies in his family.
+
+"The letter, I found on opening it, was from my father's own sister;
+but before I mention the contents I will give you a short sketch of
+her character, as it was somewhat particular. Her personal charms were
+not great; for she was very tall, very thin, and very homely. Of the
+defect of her beauty she was, perhaps, sensible; her vanity,
+therefore, retreated into her mind, where there is no looking-glass,
+and consequently where we can flatter ourselves with discovering
+almost whatever beauties we please. This is an encouraging
+circumstance; and yet I have observed, dear Mrs. Booth, that few women
+ever seek these comforts from within till they are driven to it by
+despair of finding any food for their vanity from without. Indeed, I
+believe the first wish of our whole sex is to be handsome."
+
+Here both the ladies fixed their eyes on the glass, and both smiled.
+
+"My aunt, however," continued Mrs. Bennet, "from despair of gaining
+any applause this way, had applied herself entirely to the
+contemplation of her understanding, and had improved this to such a
+pitch, that at the age of fifty, at which she was now arrived, she had
+contracted a hearty contempt for much the greater part of both sexes;
+for the women, as being idiots, and for the men, as the admirers of
+idiots. That word, and fool, were almost constantly in her mouth, and
+were bestowed with great liberality among all her acquaintance.
+
+"This lady had spent one day only at my father's house in near two
+years; it was about a month before his second marriage. At her
+departure she took occasion to whisper me her opinion of the widow,
+whom she called a pretty idiot, and wondered how her brother could
+bear such company under his roof; for neither she nor I had at that
+time any suspicion of what afterwards happened.
+
+"The letter which my father had just received, and which was the first
+she had sent him since his marriage, was of such a nature that I
+should be unjust if I blamed him for being offended; fool and idiot
+were both plentifully bestowed in it as well on himself as on his
+wife. But what, perhaps, had principally offended him was that part
+which related to me; for, after much panegyric on my understanding,
+and saying he was unworthy of such a daughter, she considered his
+match not only as the highest indiscretion as it related to himself,
+but as a downright act of injustice to me. One expression in it I
+shall never forget. 'You have placed,' said she, 'a woman above your
+daughter, who, in understanding, the only valuable gift of nature, is
+the lowest in the whole class of pretty idiots.' After much more of
+this kind, it concluded with inviting me to her house.
+
+"I can truly say that when I had read the letter I entirely forgave my
+father's suspicion that I had made some complaints to my aunt of his
+behaviour; for, though I was indeed innocent, there was surely colour
+enough to suspect the contrary.
+
+"Though I had never been greatly attached to my aunt, nor indeed had
+she formerly given me any reason for such an attachment, yet I was
+well enough pleased with her present invitation. To say the truth, I
+led so wretched a life where I then was, that it was impossible not to
+be a gainer by any exchange.
+
+"I could not, however, bear the thoughts of leaving my father with an
+impression on his mind against me which I did not deserve. I
+endeavoured, therefore, to remove all his suspicion of my having
+complained to my aunt by the most earnest asseverations of my
+innocence; but they were all to no purpose. All my tears, all my vows,
+and all my entreaties were fruitless. My new mother, indeed, appeared
+to be my advocate; but she acted her part very poorly, and, far from
+counterfeiting any desire of succeeding in my suit, she could not
+conceal the excessive joy which she felt on the occasion.
+
+"Well, madam, the next day I departed for my aunt's, where, after a
+long journey of forty miles, I arrived, without having once broke my
+fast on the road; for grief is as capable as food of filling the
+stomach, and I had too much of the former to admit any of the latter.
+The fatigue of my journey, and the agitation of my mind, joined to my
+fasting, so overpowered my spirits, that when I was taken from my
+horse I immediately fainted away in the arms of the man who helped me
+from my saddle. My aunt expressed great astonishment at seeing me in
+this condition, with my eyes almost swollen out of my head with tears;
+but my father's letter, which I delivered her soon after I came to
+myself, pretty well, I believe, cured her surprize. She often smiled
+with a mixture of contempt and anger while she was reading it; and,
+having pronounced her brother to be a fool, she turned to me, and,
+with as much affability as possible (for she is no great mistress of
+affability), said, 'Don't be uneasy, dear Molly, for you are come to
+the house of a friend--of one who hath sense enough to discern the
+author of all the mischief: depend upon it, child, I will, ere long,
+make some people ashamed of their folly.' This kind reception gave me
+some comfort, my aunt assuring me that she would convince him how
+unjustly he had accused me of having made any complaints to her. A
+paper war was now begun between these two, which not only fixed an
+irreconcileable hatred between them, but confirmed my father's
+displeasure against me; and, in the end, I believe, did me no service
+with my aunt; for I was considered by both as the cause of their
+dissension, though, in fact, my stepmother, who very well knew the
+affection my aunt had for her, had long since done her business with
+my father; and as for my aunt's affection towards him, it had been
+abating several years, from an apprehension that he did not pay
+sufficient deference to her understanding.
+
+"I had lived about half a year with my aunt when I heard of my
+stepmother's being delivered of a boy, and the great joy my father
+expressed on that occasion; but, poor man, he lived not long to enjoy
+his happiness; for within a month afterwards I had the melancholy news
+of his death.
+
+"Notwithstanding all the disobligations I had lately received from
+him, I was sincerely afflicted at my loss of him. All his kindness to
+me in my infancy, all his kindness to me while I was growing up,
+recurred to my memory, raised a thousand tender, melancholy ideas, and
+totally obliterated all thoughts of his latter behaviour, for which I
+made also every allowance and every excuse in my power.
+
+"But what may perhaps appear more extraordinary, my aunt began soon to
+speak of him with concern. She said he had some understanding
+formerly, though his passion for that vile woman had, in a great
+measure, obscured it; and one day, when she was in an ill-humour with
+me, she had the cruelty to throw out a hint that she had never
+quarrelled with her brother if it had not been on my account. "My
+father, during his life, had allowed my aunt very handsomely for my
+board; for generosity was too deeply riveted in his nature to be
+plucked out by all the power of his wife. So far, however, she
+prevailed, that, though he died possessed of upwards of L2000, he left
+me no more than L100, which, as he expressed in his will, was to set
+me up in some business, if I had the grace to take to any.
+
+"Hitherto my aunt had in general treated me with some degree of
+affection; but her behaviour began now to be changed. She soon took an
+opportunity of giving me to understand that her fortune was
+insufficient to keep me; and, as I could not live on the interest of
+my own, it was high time for me to consider about going into the
+world. She added, that her brother having mentioned my setting up in
+some business in his will was very foolish; that I had been bred to
+nothing; and, besides, that the sum was too trifling to set me up in
+any way of reputation; she desired me therefore to think of
+immediately going into service.
+
+"This advice was perhaps right enough; and I told her I was very ready
+to do as she directed me, but I was at that time in an ill state of
+health; I desired her therefore to let me stay with her till my
+legacy, which was not to be paid till a year after my father's death,
+was due; and I then promised to satisfy her for my board, to which she
+readily consented.
+
+"And now, madam," said Mrs. Bennet, sighing, "I am going to open to
+you those matters which lead directly to that great catastrophe of my
+life which hath occasioned my giving you this trouble, and of trying
+your patience in this manner."
+
+Amelia, notwithstanding her impatience, made a very civil answer to
+this; and then Mrs. Bennet proceeded to relate what is written in the
+next chapter.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter iv.
+
+_Further continuation._
+
+
+"The curate of the parish where my aunt dwelt was a young fellow of
+about four-and-twenty. He had been left an orphan in his infancy, and
+entirely unprovided for, when an uncle had the goodness to take care
+of his education, both at school and at the university. As the young
+gentleman was intended for the church, his uncle, though he had two
+daughters of his own, and no very large fortune, purchased for him the
+next presentation of a living of near L200 a-year. The incumbent, at
+the time of the purchase, was under the age of sixty, and in apparent
+good health; notwithstanding which, he died soon after the bargain,
+and long before the nephew was capable of orders; so that the uncle
+was obliged to give the living to a clergyman, to hold it till the
+young man came of proper age.
+
+"The young gentleman had not attained his proper age of taking orders
+when he had the misfortune to lose his uncle and only friend, who,
+thinking he had sufficiently provided for his nephew by the purchase
+of the living, considered him no farther in his will, but divided all
+the fortune of which he died possessed between his two daughters;
+recommending it to them, however, on his deathbed, to assist their
+cousin with money sufficient to keep him at the university till he
+should be capable of ordination.
+
+"But, as no appointment of this kind was in the will, the young
+ladies, who received about each, thought proper to disregard the last
+words of their father; for, besides that both of them were extremely
+tenacious of their money, they were great enemies to their cousin, on
+account of their father's kindness to him; and thought proper to let
+him know that they thought he had robbed them of too much already.
+
+"The poor young fellow was now greatly distrest; for he had yet above
+a year to stay at the university, without any visible means of
+sustaining himself there.
+
+"In this distress, however, he met with a friend, who had the good
+nature to lend him the sum of twenty pounds, for which he only
+accepted his bond for forty, and which was to be paid within a year
+after his being possessed of his living; that is, within a year after
+his becoming qualified to hold it.
+
+"With this small sum thus hardly obtained the poor gentleman made a
+shift to struggle with all difficulties till he became of due age to
+take upon himself the character of a deacon. He then repaired to that
+clergyman to whom his uncle had given the living upon the conditions
+above mentioned, to procure a title to ordination; but this, to his
+great surprize and mortification, was absolutely refused him.
+
+"The immediate disappointment did not hurt him so much as the
+conclusion he drew from it; for he could have but little hopes that
+the man who could have the cruelty to refuse him a title would
+vouchsafe afterwards to deliver up to him a living of so considerable
+a value; nor was it long before this worthy incumbent told him plainly
+that he valued his uncle's favours at too high a rate to part with
+them to any one; nay, he pretended scruples of conscience, and said
+that, if he had made any slight promises, which he did not now well
+remember, they were wicked and void; that he looked upon himself as
+married to his parish, and he could no more give it up than he could
+give up his wife without sin.
+
+"The poor young fellow was now obliged to seek farther for a title,
+which, at length, he obtained from the rector of the parish where my
+aunt lived.
+
+"He had not long been settled in the curacy before an intimate
+acquaintance grew between him and my aunt; for she was a great admirer
+of the clergy, and used frequently to say they were the only
+conversible creatures in the country.
+
+"The first time she was in this gentleman's company was at a
+neighbour's christening, where she stood godmother. Here she displayed
+her whole little stock of knowledge, in order to captivate Mr. Bennet
+(I suppose, madam, you already guess that to have been his name), and
+before they parted gave him a very strong invitation to her house.
+
+"Not a word passed at this christening between Mr. Bennet and myself,
+but our eyes were not unemployed. Here, madam, I first felt a pleasing
+kind of confusion, which I know not how to describe. I felt a kind of
+uneasiness, yet did not wish to be without it. I longed to be alone,
+yet dreaded the hour of parting. I could not keep my eyes off from the
+object which caused my confusion, and which I was at once afraid of
+and enamoured with. But why do I attempt to describe my situation to
+one who must, I am sure, have felt the same?"
+
+Amelia smiled, and Mrs. Bennet went on thus: "O, Mrs. Booth! had you
+seen the person of whom I am now speaking, you would not condemn the
+suddenness of my love. Nay, indeed, I had seen him there before,
+though this was the first time I had ever heard the music of his
+voice. Oh! it was the sweetest that was ever heard.
+
+"Mr. Bennet came to visit my aunt the very next day. She imputed this
+respectful haste to the powerful charms of her understanding, and
+resolved to lose no opportunity in improving the opinion which she
+imagined he had conceived of her. She became by this desire quite
+ridiculous, and ran into absurdities and a gallimatia scarce credible.
+
+"Mr. Bennet, as I afterwards found, saw her in the same light with
+myself; but, as he was a very sensible and well-bred man, he so well
+concealed his opinion from us both, that I was almost angry, and she
+was pleased even to raptures, declaring herself charmed with his
+understanding, though, indeed, he had said very little; but I believe
+he heard himself into her good opinion, while he gazed himself into
+love.
+
+"The two first visits which Mr. Bennet made to my aunt, though I was
+in the room all the time, I never spoke a word; but on the third, on
+some argument which arose between them, Mr. Bennet referred himself to
+me. I took his side of the question, as indeed I must to have done
+justice, and repeated two or three words of Latin. My aunt reddened at
+this, and exprest great disdain of my opinion, declaring she was
+astonished that a man of Mr. Bennet's understanding could appeal to
+the judgment of a silly girl; 'Is she,' said my aunt, bridling
+herself, 'fit to decide between us?' Mr. Bennet spoke very favourably
+of what I had said; upon which my aunt burst almost into a rage,
+treated me with downright scurrility, called me conceited fool, abused
+my poor father for having taught me Latin, which, she said, had made
+me a downright coxcomb, and made me prefer myself to those who were a
+hundred times my superiors in knowledge. She then fell foul on the
+learned languages, declared they were totally useless, and concluded
+that she had read all that was worth reading, though, she thanked
+heaven, she understood no language but her own.
+
+"Before the end of this visit Mr. Bennet reconciled himself very well
+to my aunt, which, indeed, was no difficult task for him to
+accomplish; but from that hour she conceived a hatred and rancour
+towards me which I could never appease.
+
+"My aunt had, from my first coming into her house, expressed great
+dislike to my learning. In plain truth, she envied me that advantage.
+This envy I had long ago discovered, and had taken great pains to
+smother it, carefully avoiding ever to mention a Latin word in her
+presence, and always submitting to her authority; for indeed I
+despised her ignorance too much to dispute with her. By these means I
+had pretty well succeeded, and we lived tolerably together; but the
+affront paid to her understanding by Mr. Bennet in my favour was an
+injury never to be forgiven to me. She took me severely to task that
+very evening, and reminded me of going to service in such earnest
+terms as almost amounted to literally turning me out of doors;
+advising me, in the most insulting manner, to keep my Latin to myself,
+which she said was useless to any one, but ridiculous when pretended
+to by a servant.
+
+"The next visit Mr. Bennet made at our house I was not suffered to be
+present. This was much the shortest of all his visits; and when he
+went away he left my aunt in a worse humour than ever I had seen her.
+The whole was discharged on me in the usual manner, by upbraiding me
+with my learning, conceit, and poverty; reminding me of obligations,
+and insisting on my going immediately to service. With all this I was
+greatly pleased, as it assured me that Mr. Bennet had said something
+to her in my favour; and I would have purchased a kind expression of
+his at almost any price.
+
+"I should scarce, however, have been so sanguine as to draw this
+conclusion, had I not received some hints that I had not unhappily
+placed my affections on a man who made me no return; for, though he
+had scarce addressed a dozen sentences to me (for, indeed, he had no
+opportunity), yet his eyes had revealed certain secrets to mine with
+which I was not displeased.
+
+"I remained, however, in a state of anxiety near a month; sometimes
+pleasing myself with thinking Mr. Bennet's heart was in the same
+situation with my own; sometimes doubting that my wishes had flattered
+and deceived me, and not in the least questioning that my aunt was my
+rival; for I thought no woman could be proof against the charms that
+had subdued me. Indeed, Mrs. Booth, he was a charming young fellow; I
+must--I must pay this tribute to his memory. O, gracious Heaven! why,
+why did I ever see him? why was I doomed to such misery?" Here she
+burst into a flood of tears, and remained incapable of speech for some
+time; during which the gentle Amelia endeavoured all she could to
+soothe her, and gave sufficient marks of sympathizing in the tender
+affliction of her friend.
+
+Mrs. Bennet, at length, recovered her spirits, and proceeded, as in
+the next chapter.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter v.
+
+_The story of Mrs. Bennet continued._
+
+
+I scarce know where I left off--Oh! I was, I think, telling you that I
+esteemed my aunt as my rival; and it is not easy to conceive a greater
+degree of detestation than I had for her; and what may, perhaps,
+appear strange, as she daily grew more and more civil to me, my hatred
+encreased with her civility; for I imputed it all to her triumph over
+me, and to her having secured, beyond all apprehension, the heart I
+longed for.
+
+"How was I surprized when, one day, with as much good-humour as she
+was mistress of (for her countenance was not very pleasing), she asked
+me how I liked Mr. Bennet? The question, you will believe, madam,
+threw me into great confusion, which she plainly perceived, and,
+without waiting for my answer, told me she was very well satisfied,
+for that it did not require her discernment to read my thoughts in my
+countenance. 'Well, child,' she said, 'I have suspected this a great
+while, and I believe it will please you to know that I yesterday made
+the same discovery in your lover.' This, I confess to you, was more
+than I could well bear, and I begged her to say no more to me at that
+time on that subject. 'Nay, child,' answered she, 'I must tell you
+all, or I should not act a friendly part. Mr. Bennet, I am convinced,
+hath a passion for you; but it is a passion which, I think, you should
+not encourage. For, to be plain with you, I fear he is in love with
+your person only. Now this is a love, child, which cannot produce that
+rational happiness which a woman of sense ought to expect.' In short,
+she ran on with a great deal of stuff about rational happiness, and
+women of sense, and concluded with assuring me that, after the
+strictest scrutiny, she could not find that Mr. Bennet had an adequate
+opinion of my understanding; upon which she vouchsafed to make me many
+compliments, but mixed with several sarcasms concerning my learning.
+
+"I hope, madam, however," said she to Amelia, "you have not so bad an
+opinion of my capacity as to imagine me dull enough to be offended
+with Mr. Bennet's sentiments, for which I presently knew so well to
+account. I was, indeed, charmed with his ingenuity, who had
+discovered, perhaps, the only way of reconciling my aunt to those
+inclinations which I now assured myself he had for me.
+
+"I was not long left to support my hopes by my sagacity. He soon found
+an opportunity of declaring his passion. He did this in so forcible
+though gentle a manner, with such a profusion of fervency and
+tenderness at once, that his love, like a torrent, bore everything
+before it; and I am almost ashamed to own to you how very soon he
+prevailed upon me to--to--in short, to be an honest woman, and to
+confess to him the plain truth.
+
+"When we were upon a good footing together he gave me a long relation
+of what had past at several interviews with my aunt, at which I had
+not been present. He said he had discovered that, as she valued
+herself chiefly on her understanding, so she was extremely jealous of
+mine, and hated me on account of my learning. That, as he had loved me
+passionately from his first seeing me, and had thought of nothing from
+that time but of throwing himself at my feet, he saw no way so open to
+propitiate my aunt as that which he had taken by commending my beauty,
+a perfection to which she had long resigned all claim, at the expense
+of my understanding, in which he lamented my deficiency to a degree
+almost of ridicule. This he imputed chiefly to my learning; on this
+occasion he advanced a sentiment which so pleased my aunt that she
+thought proper to make it her own; for I heard it afterwards more than
+once from her own mouth. Learning, he said, had the same effect on the
+mind that strong liquors have on the constitution; both tending to
+eradicate all our natural fire and energy. His flattery had made such
+a dupe of my aunt that she assented, without the least suspicion of
+his sincerity, to all he said; so sure is vanity to weaken every
+fortress of the understanding, and to betray us to every attack of the
+enemy.
+
+"You will believe, madam, that I readily forgave him all he had said,
+not only from that motive which I have mentioned, but as I was assured
+he had spoke the reverse of his real sentiments. I was not, however,
+quite so well pleased with my aunt, who began to treat me as if I was
+really an idiot. Her contempt, I own, a little piqued me; and I could
+not help often expressing my resentment, when we were alone together,
+to Mr. Bennet, who never failed to gratify me by making her conceit
+the subject of his wit; a talent which he possessed in the most
+extraordinary degree.
+
+"This proved of very fatal consequence; for one day, while we were
+enjoying my aunt in a very thick arbour in the garden, she stole upon
+us unobserved, and overheard our whole conversation. I wish, my dear,
+you understood Latin, that I might repeat you a sentence in which the
+rage of a tigress that hath lost her young is described. No English
+poet, as I remember, hath come up to it; nor am I myself equal to the
+undertaking. She burst in upon us, open-mouthed, and after discharging
+every abusive word almost, in the only language she understood, on
+poor Mr. Bennet, turned us both out of doors, declaring she would send
+my rags after me, but would never more permit me to set my foot within
+her threshold.
+
+"Consider, dear madam, to what a wretched condition we were now
+reduced. I had not yet received the small legacy left me by my father;
+nor was Mr. Bennet master of five pounds in the whole world.
+
+"In this situation, the man I doated on to distraction had but little
+difficulty to persuade me to a proposal which, indeed, I thought
+generous in him to make, as it seemed to proceed from that tenderness
+for my reputation to which he ascribed it; indeed, it could proceed
+from no motive with which I should have been displeased. In a word,
+within two days we were man and wife.
+
+"Mr. Bennet now declared himself the happiest of men; and, for my
+part, I sincerely declared I envied no woman upon earth. How little,
+alas! did I then know or suspect the price I was to pay for all my
+joys! A match of real love is, indeed, truly paradise; and such
+perfect happiness seems to be the forbidden fruit to mortals, which we
+are to lament having tasted during the rest of our lives.
+
+"The first uneasiness which attacked us after our marriage was on my
+aunt's account. It was very disagreeable to live under the nose of so
+near a relation, who did not acknowledge us, but on the contrary, was
+ever doing us all the ill turns in her power, and making a party
+against us in the parish, which is always easy enough to do amongst
+the vulgar against persons who are their superiors in rank, and, at
+the same time, their inferiors in fortune. This made Mr. Bennet think
+of procuring an exchange, in which intention he was soon after
+confirmed by the arrival of the rector. It was the rector's custom to
+spend three months every year at his living, for which purpose he
+reserved an apartment in his parsonage-house, which was full large
+enough for two such little families as then occupied it. We at first
+promised ourselves some little convenience from his boarding with us;
+and Mr. Bennet began to lay aside his thoughts of leaving his curacy,
+at least for some time. But these golden ideas presently vanished;
+for, though we both used our utmost endeavours to please him, we soon
+found the impossibility of succeeding. He was, indeed, to give you his
+character in a word, the most peevish of mortals. This temper,
+notwithstanding that he was both a good and a pious man, made his
+company so insufferable that nothing could compensate it. If his
+breakfast was not ready to a moment--if a dish of meat was too much or
+too little done--in short, if anything failed of exactly hitting his
+taste, he was sure to be out of humour all that day, so that, indeed,
+he was scarce ever in a good temper a whole day together; for fortune
+seems to take a delight in thwarting this kind of disposition, to
+which human life, with its many crosses and accidents, is, in truth,
+by no means fitted.
+
+"Mr. Bennet was now, by my desire as well as his own, determined to
+quit the parish; but when he attempted to get an exchange, he found it
+a matter of more difficulty than he had apprehended; for the rector's
+temper was so well known among the neighbouring clergy, that none of
+them could be brought to think of spending three months in a year with
+him.
+
+"After many fruitless enquiries, Mr. Bennet thought best to remove to
+London, the great mart of all affairs, ecclesiastical and civil. This
+project greatly pleased him, and he resolved, without more delay, to
+take his leave of the rector, which he did in the most friendly manner
+possible, and preached his farewell sermon; nor was there a dry eye in
+the church, except among the few, whom my aunt, who remained still
+inexorable, had prevailed upon to hate us without any cause.
+
+"To London we came, and took up our lodging the first night at the inn
+where the stage-coach set us down: the next morning my husband went
+out early on his business, and returned with the good news of having
+heard of a curacy, and of having equipped himself with a lodging in
+the neighbourhood of a worthy peer, 'who,' said he, 'was my fellow-
+collegiate; and, what is more, I have a direction to a person who will
+advance your legacy at a very reasonable rate.'
+
+"This last particular was extremely agreeable to me, for our last
+guinea was now broached; and the rector had lent my husband ten pounds
+to pay his debts in the country, for, with all his peevishness, he was
+a good and a generous man, and had, indeed, so many valuable
+qualities, that I lamented his temper, after I knew him thoroughly, as
+much on his account as on my own.
+
+"We now quitted the inn and went to our lodgings, where my husband
+having placed me in safety, as he said, he went about the business of
+the legacy with good assurance of success.
+
+"My husband returned elated with his success, the person to whom he
+applied having undertaken to advance the legacy, which he fulfilled as
+soon as the proper enquiries could be made, and proper instruments
+prepared for that purpose.
+
+"This, however, took up so much time, that, as our fund was so very
+low, we were reduced to some distress, and obliged to live extremely
+penurious; nor would all do without my taking a most disagreeable way
+of procuring money by pawning one of my gowns.
+
+"Mr. Bennet was now settled in a curacy in town, greatly to his
+satisfaction, and our affairs seemed to have a prosperous aspect, when
+he came home to me one morning in much apparent disorder, looking as
+pale as death, and begged me by some means or other to get him a dram,
+for that he was taken with a sudden faintness and lowness of spirits.
+
+"Frighted as I was, I immediately ran downstairs, and procured some
+rum of the mistress of the house; the first time, indeed, I ever knew
+him drink any. When he came to himself he begged me not to be alarmed,
+for it was no distemper, but something that had vexed him, which had
+caused his disorder, which he had now perfectly recovered.
+
+"He then told me the whole affair. He had hitherto deferred paying a
+visit to the lord whom I mentioned to have been formerly his fellow-
+collegiate, and was now his neighbour, till he could put himself in
+decent rigging. He had now purchased a new cassock, hat, and wig, and
+went to pay his respects to his old acquaintance, who had received
+from him many civilities and assistances in his learning at the
+university, and had promised to return them fourfold hereafter.
+
+"It was not without some difficulty that Mr. Bennet got into the
+antechamber. Here he waited, or as the phrase is, cooled his heels,
+for above an hour before he saw his lordship; nor had he seen him then
+but by an accident; for my lord was going out when he casually
+intercepted him in his passage to his chariot. He approached to salute
+him with some familiarity, though with respect, depending on his
+former intimacy, when my lord, stepping short, very gravely told him
+he had not the pleasure of knowing him. How! my lord, said he, can you
+have so soon forgot your old acquaintance Tom Bennet? O, Mr. Bennet!
+cries his lordship, with much reserve, is it you? you will pardon my
+memory. I am glad to see you, Mr. Bennet, but you must excuse me at
+present, for I am in very great haste. He then broke from him, and
+without more ceremony, or any further invitation, went directly into
+his chariot.
+
+"This cold reception from a person for whom my husband had a real
+friendship, and from whom he had great reason to expect a very warm
+return of affection, so affected the poor man, that it caused all
+those symptoms which I have mentioned before.
+
+"Though this incident produced no material consequence, I could not
+pass it over in silence, as, of all the misfortunes which ever befel
+him, it affected my husband the most. I need not, however, to a woman
+of your delicacy, make any comments on a behaviour which, though I
+believe it is very common, is, nevertheless, cruel and base beyond
+description, and is diametrically opposite to true honour as well as
+to goodness.
+
+"To relieve the uneasiness which my husband felt on account of his
+false friend, I prevailed with him to go every night, almost for a
+fortnight together, to the play; a diversion of which he was greatly
+fond, and from which he did not think his being a clergyman excluded
+him; indeed, it is very well if those austere persons who would be
+inclined to censure him on this head have themselves no greater sins
+to answer for.
+
+"From this time, during three months, we past our time very agreeably,
+a little too agreeably perhaps for our circumstances; for, however
+innocent diversions may be in other respects, they must be owned to be
+expensive. When you consider then, madam, that our income from the
+curacy was less than forty pounds a year, and that, after payment of
+the debt to the rector, and another to my aunt, with the costs in law
+which she had occasioned by suing for it, my legacy was reduced to
+less than seventy pounds, you will not wonder that, in diversions,
+cloaths, and the common expenses of life, we had almost consumed our
+whole stock.
+
+"The inconsiderate manner in which we had lived for some time will, I
+doubt not, appear to you to want some excuse; but I have none to make
+for it. Two things, however, now happened, which occasioned much
+serious reflexion to Mr. Bennet; the one was, that I grew near my
+time; the other, that he now received a letter from Oxford, demanding
+the debt of forty pounds which I mentioned to you before. The former
+of these he made a pretence of obtaining a delay for the payment of
+the latter, promising, in two months, to pay off half the debt, by
+which means he obtained a forbearance during that time.
+
+"I was now delivered of a son, a matter which should in reality have
+encreased our concern, but, on the contrary, it gave us great
+pleasure; greater indeed could not have been conceived at the birth of
+an heir to the most plentiful estate: so entirely thoughtless were we,
+and so little forecast had we of those many evils and distresses to
+which we had rendered a human creature, and one so dear to us, liable.
+The day of a christening is, in all families, I believe, a day of
+jubilee and rejoicing; and yet, if we consider the interest of that
+little wretch who is the occasion, how very little reason would the
+most sanguine persons have for their joy!
+
+"But, though our eyes were too weak to look forward, for the sake of
+our child, we could not be blinded to those dangers that immediately
+threatened ourselves. Mr. Bennet, at the expiration of the two months,
+received a second letter from Oxford, in a very peremptory stile, and
+threatening a suit without any farther delay. This alarmed us in the
+strongest manner; and my husband, to secure his liberty, was advised
+for a while to shelter himself in the verge of the court.
+
+"And, now, madam, I am entering on that scene which directly leads to
+all my misery."--Here she stopped, and wiped her eyes; and then,
+begging Amelia to excuse her for a few minutes, ran hastily out of the
+room, leaving Amelia by herself, while she refreshed her spirits with
+a cordial to enable her to relate what follows in the next chapter.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter vi.
+
+_Farther continued._
+
+
+Mrs. Bennet, returning into the room, made a short apology for her
+absence, and then proceeded in these words:
+
+"We now left our lodging, and took a second floor in that very house
+where you now are, to which we were recommended by the woman where we
+had before lodged, for the mistresses of both houses were acquainted;
+and, indeed, we had been all at the play together. To this new lodging
+then (such was our wretched destiny) we immediately repaired, and were
+received by Mrs. Ellison (how can I bear the sound of that detested
+name?) with much civility; she took care, however, during the first
+fortnight of our residence, to wait upon us every Monday morning for
+her rent; such being, it seems, the custom of this place, which, as it
+was inhabited chiefly by persons in debt, is not the region of credit.
+
+"My husband, by the singular goodness of the rector, who greatly
+compassionated his case, was enabled to continue in his curacy, though
+he could only do the duty on Sundays. He was, however, sometimes
+obliged to furnish a person to officiate at his expence; so that our
+income was very scanty, and the poor little remainder of the legacy
+being almost spent, we were reduced to some difficulties, and, what
+was worse, saw still a prospect of greater before our eyes.
+
+"Under these circumstances, how agreeable to poor Mr. Bennet must have
+been the behaviour of Mrs. Ellison, who, when he carried her her rent
+on the usual day, told him, with a benevolent smile, that he needed
+not to give himself the trouble of such exact punctuality. She added
+that, if it was at any time inconvenient to him, he might pay her when
+he pleased. 'To say the truth,' says she, 'I never was so much pleased
+with any lodgers in my life; I am convinced, Mr. Bennet, you are a
+very worthy man, and you are a very happy one too; for you have the
+prettiest wife and the prettiest child I ever saw' These, dear madam,
+were the words she was pleased to make use of: and I am sure she
+behaved to me with such an appearance of friendship and affection,
+that, as I could not perceive any possible views of interest which she
+could have in her professions, I easily believed them real.
+
+"There lodged in the same house--O, Mrs. Booth! the blood runs cold to
+my heart, and should run cold to yours, when I name him--there lodged
+in the same house a lord--the lord, indeed, whom I have since seen in
+your company. This lord, Mrs. Ellison told me, had taken a great fancy
+to my little Charley. Fool that I was, and blinded by my own passion,
+which made me conceive that an infant, not three months old, could be
+really the object of affection to any besides a parent, and more
+especially to a gay young fellow! But, if I was silly in being
+deceived, how wicked was the wretch who deceived me--who used such
+art, and employed such pains, such incredible pains, to deceive me! He
+acted the part of a nurse to my little infant; he danced it, he lulled
+it, he kissed it; declared it was the very picture of a nephew of his
+--his favourite sister's child; and said so many kind and fond things
+of its beauty, that I myself, though, I believe, one of the tenderest
+and fondest of mothers, scarce carried my own ideas of my little
+darling's perfection beyond the compliments which he paid it.
+
+"My lord, however, perhaps from modesty, before my face, fell far
+short of what Mrs. Ellison reported from him. And now, when she found
+the impression which was made on me by these means, she took every
+opportunity of insinuating to me his lordship's many virtues, his
+great goodness to his sister's children in particular; nor did she
+fail to drop some hints which gave me the most simple and groundless
+hopes of strange consequences from his fondness to my Charley.
+
+"When, by these means, which, simple as they may appear, were,
+perhaps, the most artful, my lord had gained something more, I think,
+than my esteem, he took the surest method to confirm himself in my
+affection. This was, by professing the highest friendship for my
+husband; for, as to myself, I do assure you he never shewed me more
+than common respect; and I hope you will believe I should have
+immediately startled and flown off if he had. Poor I accounted for all
+the friendship which he expressed for my husband, and all the fondness
+which he shewed to my boy, from the great prettiness of the one and
+the great merit of the other; foolishly conceiving that others saw
+with my eyes and felt with my heart. Little did I dream that my own
+unfortunate person was the fountain of all this lord's goodness, and
+was the intended price of it.
+
+"One evening, as I was drinking tea with Mrs. Ellison by my lord's
+fire (a liberty which she never scrupled taking when he was gone out),
+my little Charley, now about half a year old, sitting in her lap, my
+lord--accidentally, no doubt, indeed I then thought it so--came in. I
+was confounded, and offered to go; but my lord declared, if he
+disturbed Mrs. Ellison's company, as he phrased it, he would himself
+leave the room. When I was thus prevailed on to keep my seat, my lord
+immediately took my little baby into his lap, and gave it some tea
+there, not a little at the expense of his embroidery; for he was very
+richly drest; indeed, he was as fine a figure as perhaps ever was
+seen. His behaviour on this occasion gave me many ideas in his favour.
+I thought he discovered good sense, good nature, condescension, and
+other good qualities, by the fondness he shewed to my child, and the
+contempt he seemed to express for his finery, which so greatly became
+him; for I cannot deny but that he was the handsomest and genteelest
+person in the world, though such considerations advanced him not a
+step in my favour.
+
+"My husband now returned from church (for this happened on a Sunday),
+and was, by my lord's particular desire, ushered into the room. My
+lord received him with the utmost politeness, and with many
+professions of esteem, which, he said, he had conceived from Mrs.
+Ellison's representations of his merit. He then proceeded to mention
+the living which was detained from my husband, of which Mrs. Ellison
+had likewise informed him; and said, he thought it would be no
+difficult matter to obtain a restoration of it by the authority of the
+bishop, who was his particular friend, and to whom he would take an
+immediate opportunity of mentioning it. This, at last, he determined
+to do the very next day, when he invited us both to dinner, where we
+were to be acquainted with his lordship's success.
+
+"My lord now insisted on my husband's staying supper with him, without
+taking any notice of me; but Mrs. Ellison declared he should not part
+man and wife, and that she herself would stay with me. The motion was
+too agreeable to me to be rejected; and, except the little time I
+retired to put my child to bed, we spent together the most agreeable
+evening imaginable; nor was it, I believe, easy to decide whether Mr.
+Bennet or myself were most delighted with his lordship and Mrs.
+Ellison; but this, I assure you, the generosity of the one, and the
+extreme civility and kindness of the other, were the subjects of our
+conversation all the ensuing night, during which we neither of us
+closed our eyes.
+
+"The next day at dinner my lord acquainted us that he had prevailed
+with the bishop to write to the clergyman in the country; indeed, he
+told us that he had engaged the bishop to be very warm in our
+interest, and had not the least doubt of success. This threw us both
+into a flow of spirits; and in the afternoon Mr. Bennet, at Mrs.
+Ellison's request, which was seconded by his lordship, related the
+history of our lives from our first acquaintance. My lord seemed much
+affected with some tender scenes, which, as no man could better feel,
+so none could better describe, than my husband. When he had finished,
+my lord begged pardon for mentioning an occurrence which gave him such
+a particular concern, as it had disturbed that delicious state of
+happiness in which we had lived at our former lodging. 'It would be
+ungenerous,' said he, 'to rejoice at an accident which, though it
+brought me fortunately acquainted with two of the most agreeable
+people in the world, was yet at the expense of your mutual felicity.
+The circumstance, I mean, is your debt at Oxford; pray, how doth that
+stand? I am resolved it shall never disturb your happiness hereafter.'
+At these words the tears burst from my poor husband's eyes; and, in an
+ecstasy of gratitude, he cried out, 'Your lordship overcomes me with
+generosity. If you go on in this manner, both my wife's gratitude and
+mine must be bankrupt' He then acquainted my lord with the exact state
+of the case, and received assurances from him that the debt should
+never trouble him. My husband was again breaking out into the warmest
+expressions of gratitude, but my lord stopt him short, saying, 'If you
+have any obligation, it is to my little Charley here, from whose
+little innocent smiles I have received more than the value of this
+trifling debt in pleasure.' I forgot to tell you that, when I offered
+to leave the room after dinner upon my child's account, my lord would
+not suffer me, but ordered the child to be brought to me. He now took
+it out of my arms, placed it upon his own knee, and fed it with some
+fruit from the dessert. In short, it would be more tedious to you than
+to myself to relate the thousand little tendernesses he shewed to the
+child. He gave it many baubles; amongst the rest was a coral worth at
+least three pounds; and, when my husband was confined near a fortnight
+to his chamber with a cold, he visited the child every day (for to
+this infant's account were all the visits placed), and seldom failed
+of accompanying his visit with a present to the little thing.
+
+"Here, Mrs. Booth, I cannot help mentioning a doubt which hath often
+arisen in my mind since I have been enough mistress of myself to
+reflect on this horrid train which was laid to blow up my innocence.
+Wicked and barbarous it was to the highest degree without any
+question; but my doubt is, whether the art or folly of it be the more
+conspicuous; for, however delicate and refined the art must be allowed
+to have been, the folly, I think, must upon a fair examination appear
+no less astonishing: for to lay all considerations of cruelty and
+crime out of the case, what a foolish bargain doth the man make for
+himself who purchases so poor a pleasure at so high a price!
+
+"We had lived near three weeks with as much freedom as if we had been
+all of the same family, when, one afternoon, my lord proposed to my
+husband to ride down himself to solicit the surrender; for he said the
+bishop had received an unsatisfactory answer from the parson, and had
+writ a second letter more pressing, which his lordship now promised us
+to strengthen by one of his own that my husband was to carry with him.
+Mr. Bennet agreed to this proposal with great thankfulness, and the
+next day was appointed for his journey. The distance was near seventy
+miles.
+
+"My husband set out on his journey, and he had scarce left me before
+Mrs. Ellison came into my room, and endeavoured to comfort me in his
+absence; to say the truth, though he was to be from me but a few days,
+and the purpose of his going was to fix our happiness on a sound
+foundation for all our future days, I could scarce support my spirits
+under this first separation. But though I then thought Mrs. Ellison's
+intentions to be most kind and friendly, yet the means she used were
+utterly ineffectual, and appeared to me injudicious. Instead of
+soothing my uneasiness, which is always the first physic to be given
+to grief, she rallied me upon it, and began to talk in a very unusual
+stile of gaiety, in which she treated conjugal love with much
+ridicule.
+
+"I gave her to understand that she displeased me by this discourse;
+but she soon found means to give such a turn to it as made a merit of
+all she had said. And now, when she had worked me into a good humour,
+she made a proposal to me which I at first rejected--but at last
+fatally, too fatally, suffered myself to be over-persuaded. This was
+to go to a masquerade at Ranelagh, for which my lord had furnished her
+with tickets."
+
+At these words Amelia turned pale as death, and hastily begged her
+friend to give her a glass of water, some air, or anything. Mrs.
+Bennet, having thrown open the window, and procured the water, which
+prevented Amelia from fainting, looked at her with much tenderness,
+and cried, "I do not wonder, my dear madam, that you are affected with
+my mentioning that fatal masquerade; since I firmly believe the same
+ruin was intended for you at the same place; the apprehension of which
+occasioned the letter I sent you this morning, and all the trial of
+your patience which I have made since."
+
+Amelia gave her a tender embrace, with many expressions of the warmest
+gratitude; assured her she had pretty well recovered her spirits, and
+begged her to continue her story, which Mrs. Bennet then did. However,
+as our readers may likewise be glad to recover their spirits also, we
+shall here put an end to this chapter.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter vii.
+
+_The story farther continued._
+
+
+Mrs. Bennet proceeded thus:
+
+"I was at length prevailed on to accompany Mrs. Ellison to the
+masquerade. Here, I must confess, the pleasantness of the place, the
+variety of the dresses, and the novelty of the thing, gave me much
+delight, and raised my fancy to the highest pitch. As I was entirely
+void of all suspicion, my mind threw off all reserve, and pleasure
+only filled my thoughts. Innocence, it is true, possessed my heart;
+but it was innocence unguarded, intoxicated with foolish desires, and
+liable to every temptation. During the first two hours we had many
+trifling adventures not worth remembering. At length my lord joined
+us, and continued with me all the evening; and we danced several
+dances together.
+
+"I need not, I believe, tell you, madam, how engaging his conversation
+is. I wish I could with truth say I was not pleased with it; or, at
+least, that I had a right to be pleased with it. But I will disguise
+nothing from you. I now began to discover that he had some affection
+for me, but he had already too firm a footing in my esteem to make the
+discovery shocking. I will--I will own the truth; I was delighted with
+perceiving a passion in him, which I was not unwilling to think he had
+had from the beginning, and to derive his having concealed it so long
+from his awe of my virtue, and his respect to my understanding. I
+assure you, madam, at the same time, my intentions were never to
+exceed the bounds of innocence. I was charmed with the delicacy of his
+passion; and, in the foolish thoughtless turn of mind in which I then
+was, I fancied I might give some very distant encouragement to such a
+passion in such a man with the utmost safety--that I might indulge my
+vanity and interest at once, without being guilty of the least injury.
+
+"I know Mrs. Booth will condemn all these thoughts, and I condemn them
+no less myself; for it is now my stedfast opinion that the woman who
+gives up the least outwork of her virtue doth, in that very moment,
+betray the citadel.
+
+"About two o'clock we returned home, and found a very handsome
+collation provided for us. I was asked to partake of it, and I did
+not, I could not refuse. I was not, however, entirely void of all
+suspicion, and I made many resolutions; one of which was, not to drink
+a drop more than my usual stint. This was, at the utmost, little more
+than half a pint of small punch.
+
+"I adhered strictly to my quantity; but in the quality I am convinced
+I was deceived; for before I left the room I found my head giddy. What
+the villain gave me I know not; but, besides being intoxicated, I
+perceived effects from it which are not to be described.
+
+"Here, madam, I must draw a curtain over the residue of that fatal
+night. Let it suffice that it involved me in the most dreadful ruin; a
+ruin to which I can truly say I never consented, and of which I was
+scarce conscious when the villanous man avowed it to my face in the
+morning.
+
+"Thus I have deduced my story to the most horrid period; happy had I
+been had this been the period of my life, but I was reserved for
+greater miseries; but before I enter on them I will mention something
+very remarkable, with which I was now acquainted, and that will shew
+there was nothing of accident which had befallen me, but that all was
+the effect of a long, regular, premeditated design.
+
+"You may remember, madam, I told you that we were recommended to Mrs.
+Ellison by the woman at whose house we had before lodged. This woman,
+it seems, was one of my lord's pimps, and had before introduced me to
+his lordship's notice.
+
+"You are to know then, madam, that this villain, this lord, now
+confest to me that he had first seen me in the gallery at the
+oratorio, whither I had gone with tickets with which the woman where I
+first lodged had presented me, and which were, it seems, purchased by
+my lord. Here I first met the vile betrayer, who was disguised in a
+rug coat and a patch upon his face."
+
+At these words Amelia cried, "O, gracious heavens!" and fell back in
+her chair. Mrs. Bennet, with proper applications, brought her back to
+life; and then Amelia acquainted her that she herself had first seen
+the same person in the same place, and in the same disguise. "O, Mrs.
+Bennet!" cried she, "how am I indebted to you! what words, what
+thanks, what actions can demonstrate the gratitude of my sentiments! I
+look upon you, and always shall look upon you, as my preserver from
+the brink of a precipice, from which I was falling into the same ruin
+which you have so generously, so kindly, and so nobly disclosed for my
+sake."
+
+Here the two ladies compared notes; and it appeared that his
+lordship's behaviour at the oratorio had been alike to both; that he
+had made use of the very same words, the very same actions to Amelia,
+which he had practised over before on poor unfortunate Mrs. Bennet. It
+may, perhaps, be thought strange that neither of them could afterwards
+recollect him; but so it was. And, indeed, if we consider the force of
+disguise, the very short time that either of them was with him at this
+first interview, and the very little curiosity that must have been
+supposed in the minds of the ladies, together with the amusement in
+which they were then engaged, all wonder will, I apprehend, cease.
+Amelia, however, now declared she remembered his voice and features
+perfectly well, and was thoroughly satisfied he was the same person.
+She then accounted for his not having visited in the afternoon,
+according to his promise, from her declared resolutions to Mrs.
+Ellison not to see him. She now burst forth into some very satirical
+invectives against that lady, and declared she had the art, as well as
+the wickedness, of the devil himself.
+
+Many congratulations now past from Mrs. Bennet to Amelia, which were
+returned with the most hearty acknowledgments from that lady. But,
+instead of filling our paper with these, we shall pursue Mrs. Bennet's
+story, which she resumed as we shall find in the next chapter.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter viii.
+
+_Further continuation._
+
+
+"No sooner," said Mrs. Bennet, continuing her story, "was my lord
+departed, than Mrs. Ellison came to me. She behaved in such a manner,
+when she became acquainted with what had past, that, though I was at
+first satisfied of her guilt, she began to stagger my opinion, and at
+length prevailed upon me entirely to acquit her. She raved like a mad
+woman against my lord, swore he should not stay a moment in her house,
+and that she would never speak to him more. In short, had she been the
+most innocent woman in the world, she could not have spoke nor acted
+any otherwise, nor could she have vented more wrath and indignation
+against the betrayer.
+
+"That part of her denunciation of vengeance which concerned my lord's
+leaving the house she vowed should be executed immediately; but then,
+seeming to recollect herself, she said, 'Consider, my dear child, it
+is for your sake alone I speak; will not such a proceeding give some
+suspicion to your husband?' I answered, that I valued not that; that I
+was resolved to inform my husband of all the moment I saw him; with
+many expressions of detestation of myself and an indifference for life
+and for everything else.
+
+"Mrs. Ellison, however, found means to soothe me, and to satisfy me
+with my own innocence, a point in which, I believe, we are all easily
+convinced. In short, I was persuaded to acquit both myself and her, to
+lay the whole guilt upon my lord, and to resolve to conceal it from my
+husband.
+
+"That whole day I confined myself to my chamber and saw no person but
+Mrs. Ellison. I was, indeed, ashamed to look any one in the face.
+Happily for me, my lord went into the country without attempting to
+come near me, for I believe his sight would have driven me to madness.
+
+"The next day I told Mrs. Ellison that I was resolved to leave her
+lodgings the moment my lord came to town; not on her account (for I
+really inclined to think her innocent), but on my lord's, whose face I
+was resolved, if possible, never more to behold. She told me I had no
+reason to quit her house on that score, for that my lord himself had
+left her lodgings that morning in resentment, she believed, of the
+abuses Which she had cast on him the day before.
+
+"This confirmed me in the opinion of her innocence; nor hath she from
+that day to this, till my acquaintance with you, madam, done anything
+to forfeit my opinion. On the contrary, I owe her many good offices;
+amongst the rest, I have an annuity of one hundred and fifty pounds a-
+year from my lord, which I know was owing to her solicitations, for
+she is not void of generosity or good-nature; though by what I have
+lately seen, I am convinced she was the cause of my ruin, and hath
+endeavoured to lay the same snares for you.
+
+"But to return to my melancholy story. My husband returned at the
+appointed time; and I met him with an agitation of mind not to be
+described. Perhaps the fatigue which he had undergone in his journey,
+and his dissatisfaction at his ill success, prevented his taking
+notice of what I feared was too visible. All his hopes were entirely
+frustrated; the clergyman had not received the bishop's letter, and as
+to my lord's he treated it with derision and contempt. Tired as he
+was, Mr. Bennet would not sit down till he had enquired for my lord,
+intending to go and pay his compliments. Poor man! he little suspected
+that he had deceived him, as I have since known, concerning the
+bishop; much less did he suspect any other injury. But the lord--the
+villain was gone out of town, so that he was forced to postpone all
+his gratitude.
+
+"Mr. Bennet returned to town late on the Saturday night, nevertheless
+he performed his duty at church the next day, but I refused to go with
+him. This, I think, was the first refusal I was guilty of since our
+marriage; but I was become so miserable, that his presence, which had
+been the source of all my happiness, was become my bane. I will not
+say I hated to see him, but I can say I was ashamed, indeed afraid, to
+look him in the face. I was conscious of I knew not what--guilt I hope
+it cannot be called."
+
+"I hope not, nay, I think not," cries Amelia.
+
+"My husband," continued Mrs. Bennet, "perceived my dissatisfaction,
+and imputed it to his ill-success in the country. I was pleased with
+this self-delusion, and yet, when I fairly compute the agonies I
+suffered at his endeavours to comfort me on that head, I paid most
+severely for it. O, my dear Mrs. Booth! happy is the deceived party
+between true lovers, and wretched indeed is the author of the deceit!
+
+"In this wretched condition I passed a whole week, the most miserable
+I think of my whole life, endeavouring to humour my husband's delusion
+and to conceal my own tortures; but I had reason to fear I could not
+succeed long, for on the Saturday night I perceived a visible
+alteration in his behaviour to me. He went to bed in an apparent ill-
+humour, turned sullenly from me, and if I offered at any endearments
+he gave me only peevish answers.
+
+"After a restless turbulent night, he rose early on Sunday morning and
+walked down-stairs. I expected his return to breakfast, but was soon
+informed by the maid that he was gone forth, and that it was no more
+than seven o'clock. All this you may believe, madam, alarmed me. I saw
+plainly he had discovered the fatal secret, though by what means I
+could not divine. The state of my mind was very little short of
+madness. Sometimes I thought of running away from my injured husband,
+and sometimes of putting an end to my life.
+
+"In the midst of such perturbations I spent the day. My husband
+returned in the evening. O, Heavens! can I describe what followed?--It
+is impossible! I shall sink under the relation. He entered the room
+with a face as white as a sheet, his lips trembling and his eyes red
+as coals of fire starting as it were from his head.--'Molly,' cries
+he, throwing himself into his chair, 'are you well?' 'Good Heavens!'
+says I, 'what's the matter?--Indeed I can't say I am well.' 'No!' says
+he, starting from his chair, 'false monster, you have betrayed me,
+destroyed me, you have ruined your husband!' Then looking like a fury,
+he snatched off a large book from the table, and, with the malice of a
+madman, threw it at my head and knocked me down backwards. He then
+caught me up in his arms and kissed me with most extravagant
+tenderness; then, looking me stedfastly in the face for several
+moments, the tears gushed in a torrent from his eyes, and with his
+utmost violence he threw me again on the floor, kicked me, stamped
+upon me. I believe, indeed, his intent was to kill me, and I believe
+he thought he had accomplished it.
+
+"I lay on the ground for some minutes, I believe, deprived of my
+senses. When I recovered myself I found my husband lying by my side on
+his face, and the blood running from him. It seems, when he thought he
+had despatched me, he ran his head with all his force against a chest
+of drawers which stood in the room, and gave himself a dreadful wound
+in his head.
+
+"I can truly say I felt not the least resentment for the usage I had
+received; I thought I deserved it all; though, indeed, I little
+guessed what he had suffered from me. I now used the most earnest
+entreaties to him to compose himself; and endeavoured, with my feeble
+arms, to raise him from the ground. At length he broke from me, and,
+springing from the ground, flung himself into a chair, when, looking
+wildly at me, he cried--'Go from me, Molly. I beseech you, leave me. I
+would not kill you.'--He then discovered to me--O Mrs. Booth! can you
+not guess it?--I was indeed polluted by the villain--I had infected my
+husband.--O heavens! why do I live to relate anything so horrid--I
+will not, I cannot yet survive it. I cannot forgive myself. Heaven
+cannot forgive me!"
+
+Here she became inarticulate with the violence of her grief, and fell
+presently into such agonies, that the frighted Amelia began to call
+aloud for some assistance. Upon this a maid-servant came up, who,
+seeing her mistress in a violent convulsion fit, presently screamed
+out she was dead. Upon which one of the other sex made his appearance:
+and who should this be but the honest serjeant? whose countenance soon
+made it evident that, though a soldier, and a brave one too, he was
+not the least concerned of all the company on this occasion.
+
+The reader, if he hath been acquainted with scenes of this kind, very
+well knows that Mrs. Bennet, in the usual time, returned again to the
+possession of her voice: the first use of which she made was to
+express her astonishment at the presence of the serjeant, and, with a
+frantic air, to enquire who he was.
+
+The maid, concluding that her mistress was not yet returned to her
+senses, answered, "Why, 'tis my master, madam. Heaven preserve your
+senses, madam!--Lord, sir, my mistress must be very bad not to know
+you!"
+
+What Atkinson thought at this instant, I will not say; but certain it
+is he looked not over-wise. He attempted twice to take hold of Mrs.
+Bennet's hand, but she withdrew it hastily, and presently after,
+rising up from her chair, she declared herself pretty well again, and
+desired Atkinson and the maid to withdraw. Both of whom presently
+obeyed: the serjeant appearing by his countenance to want comfort
+almost as much as the lady did to whose assistance he had been
+summoned,
+
+It is a good maxim to trust a person entirely or not at all; for a
+secret is often innocently blabbed out by those who know but half of
+it. Certain it is that the maid's speech communicated a suspicion to
+the mind of Amelia which the behaviour of the serjeant did not tend to
+remove: what that is, the sagacious readers may likewise probably
+suggest to themselves; if not, they must wait our time for disclosing
+it. We shall now resume the history of Mrs. Bennet, who, after many
+apologies, proceeded to the matters in the next chapter.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter ix.
+
+_The conclusion of Mrs. Bennet's history._
+
+
+"When I became sensible," cries Mrs. Bennet, "of the injury I had done
+my husband, I threw myself at his feet, and embracing his knees, while
+I bathed them with my tears, I begged a patient hearing, declaring, if
+he was not satisfied with what I should say, I would become a willing
+victim of his resentment, I said, and I said truly, that, if I owed my
+death that instant to his hands, I should have no other terrour but of
+the fatal consequence which it might produce to himself.
+
+"He seemed a little pacified, and bid me say whatever I pleased.
+
+"I then gave him a faithful relation of all that had happened. He
+heard me with great attention, and at the conclusion cried, with a
+deep sigh--'O Molly! I believe it all.--You must have been betrayed as
+you tell me; you could not be guilty of such baseness, such cruelty,
+such ingratitude.' He then--O! it is impossible to describe his
+behaviour--he exprest such kindness, such tenderness, such concern for
+the manner in which he had used me--I cannot dwell on this scene--I
+shall relapse--you must excuse me."
+
+Amelia begged her to omit anything which so affected her; and she
+proceeded thus: "My husband, who was more convinced than I was of Mrs.
+Ellison's guilt, declared he would not sleep that night in her house.
+He then went out to see for a lodging; he gave me all the money he
+had, and left me to pay her bill, and put up the cloaths, telling me,
+if I had not money enough, I might leave the cloaths as a pledge; but
+he vowed he could not answer for himself if he saw the face of Mrs.
+Ellison.
+
+"Words cannot scarce express the behaviour of that artful woman, it
+was so kind and so generous. She said, she did not blame my husband's
+resentment, nor could she expect any other, but that he and all the
+world should censure her--that she hated her house almost as much as
+we did, and detested her cousin, if possible, more. In fine, she said
+I might leave my cloaths there that evening, but that she would send
+them to us the next morning; that she scorned the thought of detaining
+them; and as for the paultry debt, we might pay her whenever we
+pleased; for, to do her justice, with all her vices, she hath some
+good in her."
+
+"Some good in her, indeed!" cried Amelia, with great indignation.
+
+"We were scarce settled in our new lodgings," continued Mrs. Bennet,
+"when my husband began to complain of a pain in his inside. He told me
+he feared he had done himself some injury in his rage, and burst
+something within him. As to the odious--I cannot bear the thought, the
+great skill of his surgeon soon entirely cured him; but his other
+complaint, instead of yielding to any application, grew still worse
+and worse, nor ever ended till it brought him to his grave.
+
+"O Mrs. Booth! could I have been certain that I had occasioned this,
+however innocently I had occasioned it, I could never have survived
+it; but the surgeon who opened him after his death assured me that he
+died of what they called a polypus in his heart, and that nothing
+which had happened on account of me was in the least the occasion of
+it.
+
+"I have, however, related the affair truly to you. The first complaint
+I ever heard of the kind was within a day or two after we left Mrs.
+Ellison's; and this complaint remained till his death, which might
+induce him perhaps to attribute his death to another cause; but the
+surgeon, who is a man of the highest eminence, hath always declared
+the contrary to me, with the most positive certainty; and this opinion
+hath been my only comfort.
+
+"When my husband died, which was about ten weeks after we quitted Mrs.
+Ellison's, of whom I had then a different opinion from what I have
+now, I was left in the most wretched condition imaginable. I believe,
+madam, she shewed you my letter. Indeed, she did everything for me at
+that time which I could have expected from the best of friends, She
+supplied me with money from her own pocket, by which means I was
+preserved from a distress in which I must have otherwise inevitably
+perished.
+
+"Her kindness to me in this season of distress prevailed on me to
+return again to her house. Why, indeed, should I have refused an offer
+so very convenient for me to accept, and which seemed so generous in
+her to make? Here I lived a very retired life with my little babe,
+seeing no company but Mrs. Ellison herself for a full quarter of a
+year. At last Mrs. Ellison brought me a parchment from my lord, in
+which he had settled upon me, at her instance, as she told me, and as
+I believe it was, an annuity of one hundred and fifty pounds a-year.
+This was, I think, the very first time she had mentioned his hateful
+name to me since my return to her house. And she now prevailed upon
+me, though I assure you not without some difficulty, to suffer him to
+execute the deed in my presence.
+
+"I will not describe our interview--I am not able to describe it, and
+I have often wondered how I found spirits to support it. This I will
+say for him, that, if he was not a real penitent, no man alive could
+act the part better.
+
+"Beside resentment, I had another motive of my backwardness to agree
+to such a meeting; and this was--fear. I apprehended, and surely not
+without reason, that the annuity was rather meant as a bribe than a
+recompence, and that further designs were laid against my innocence;
+but in this I found myself happily deceived; for neither then, nor at
+any time since, have I ever had the least solicitation of that kind.
+Nor, indeed, have I seen the least occasion to think my lord had any
+such desires.
+
+"Good heavens! what are these men? what is this appetite which must
+have novelty and resistance for its provocatives, and which is
+delighted with us no longer than while we may be considered in the
+light of enemies?"
+
+"I thank you, madam," cries Amelia, "for relieving me from my fears on
+your account; I trembled at the consequence of this second
+acquaintance with such a man, and in such a situation."
+
+"I assure you, madam, I was in no danger," returned Mrs. Bennet; "for,
+besides that I think I could have pretty well relied on my own
+resolution, I have heard since, at St Edmundsbury, from an intimate
+acquaintance of my lord's, who was an entire stranger to my affairs,
+that the highest degree of inconstancy is his character; and that few
+of his numberless mistresses have ever received a second visit from
+him.
+
+"Well, madam," continued she, "I think I have little more to trouble
+you with; unless I should relate to you my long ill state of health,
+from which I am lately, I thank Heaven, recovered; or unless I should
+mention to you the most grievous accident that ever befel me, the loss
+of my poor dear Charley." Here she made a full stop, and the tears ran
+down into her bosom.
+
+Amelia was silent a few minutes, while she gave the lady time to vent
+her passion; after which she began to pour forth a vast profusion of
+acknowledgments for the trouble she had taken in relating her history,
+but chiefly for the motive which had induced her to it, and for the
+kind warning which she had given her by the little note which Mrs.
+Bennet had sent her that morning.
+
+"Yes, madam," cries Mrs. Bennet, "I am convinced, by what I have
+lately seen, that you are the destined sacrifice to this wicked lord;
+and that Mrs. Ellison, whom I no longer doubt to have been the
+instrument of my ruin, intended to betray you in the same manner. The
+day I met my lord in your apartment I began to entertain some
+suspicions, and I took Mrs. Ellison very roundly to task upon them;
+her behaviour, notwithstanding many asseverations to the contrary,
+convinced me I was right; and I intended, more than once, to speak to
+you, but could not; till last night the mention of the masquerade
+determined me to delay it no longer. I therefore sent you that note
+this morning, and am glad you so luckily discovered the writer, as it
+hath given me this opportunity of easing my mind, and of honestly
+shewing you how unworthy I am of your friendship, at the same time
+that I so earnestly desire it."
+
+
+
+
+Chapter x.
+
+_Being the last chapter of the seventh book._
+
+
+Amelia did not fail to make proper compliments to Mrs. Bennet on the
+conclusion of her speech in the last chapter. She told her that, from
+the first moment of her acquaintance, she had the strongest
+inclination to her friendship, and that her desires of that kind were
+much increased by hearing her story. "Indeed, madam," says she, "you
+are much too severe a judge on yourself; for they must have very
+little candour, in my opinion, who look upon your case with any severe
+eye. To me, I assure you, you appear highly the object of compassion;
+and I shall always esteem you as an innocent and an unfortunate
+woman."
+
+Amelia would then have taken her leave, but Mrs. Bennet so strongly
+pressed her to stay to breakfast, that at length she complied; indeed,
+she had fasted so long, and her gentle spirits had been so agitated
+with variety of passions, that nature very strongly seconded Mrs.
+Bennet's motion.
+
+Whilst the maid was preparing the tea-equipage, Amelia, with a little
+slyness in her countenance, asked Mrs. Bennet if serjeant Atkinson did
+not lodge in the same house with her? The other reddened so extremely
+at the question, repeated the serjeant's name with such hesitation,
+and behaved so aukwardly, that Amelia wanted no further confirmation
+of her suspicions. She would not, however, declare them abruptly to
+the other, but began a dissertation on the serjeant's virtues; and,
+after observing the great concern which he had manifested when Mrs.
+Bennet was in her fit, concluded with saying she believed the serjeant
+would make the best husband in the world, for that he had great
+tenderness of heart and a gentleness of manners not often to be found
+in any man, and much seldomer in persons of his rank.
+
+"And why not in his rank?" said Mrs. Bennet. "Indeed, Mrs. Booth, we
+rob the lower order of mankind of their due. I do not deny the force
+and power of education; but, when we consider how very injudicious is
+the education of the better sort in general, how little they are
+instructed in the practice of virtue, we shall not expect to find the
+heart much improved by it. And even as to the head, how very slightly
+do we commonly find it improved by what is called a genteel education!
+I have myself, I think, seen instances of as great goodness, and as
+great understanding too, among the lower sort of people as among the
+higher. Let us compare your serjeant, now, with the lord who hath been
+the subject of conversation; on which side would an impartial judge
+decide the balance to incline?"
+
+"How monstrous then," cries Amelia, "is the opinion of those who
+consider our matching ourselves the least below us in degree as a kind
+of contamination!"
+
+"A most absurd and preposterous sentiment," answered Mrs. Bennet
+warmly; "how abhorrent from justice, from common sense, and from
+humanity--but how extremely incongruous with a religion which
+professes to know no difference of degree, but ranks all mankind on
+the footing of brethren! Of all kinds of pride, there is none so
+unchristian as that of station; in reality, there is none so
+contemptible. Contempt, indeed, may be said to be its own object; for
+my own part, I know none so despicable as those who despise others."
+
+"I do assure you," said Amelia, "you speak my own sentiments. I give
+you my word, I should not be ashamed of being the wife of an honest
+man in any station.--Nor if I had been much higher than I was, should
+I have thought myself degraded by calling our honest serjeant my
+husband."
+
+"Since you have made this declaration," cries Mrs. Bennet, "I am sure
+you will not be offended at a secret I am going to mention to you."
+
+"Indeed, my dear," answered Amelia, smiling, "I wonder rather you have
+concealed it so long; especially after the many hints I have given
+you."
+
+"Nay, pardon me, madam," replied the other; "I do not remember any
+such hints; and, perhaps, you do not even guess what I am going to
+say. My secret is this; that no woman ever had so sincere, so
+passionate a lover, as you have had in the serjeant."
+
+"I a lover in the serjeant!--I!" cries Amelia, a little surprized.
+
+"Have patience," answered the other;--"I say, you, my dear. As much
+surprized as you appear, I tell you no more than the truth; and yet it
+is a truth you could hardly expect to hear from me, especially with so
+much good-humour; since I will honestly confess to you.--But what need
+have I to confess what I know you guess already?--Tell me now
+sincerely, don't you guess?"
+
+"I guess, indeed, and hope," said she, "that he is your husband."
+
+"He is, indeed, my husband," cries the other; "and I am most happy in
+your approbation. In honest truth, you ought to approve my choice;
+since you was every way the occasion of my making it. What you said of
+him very greatly recommended him to my opinion; but he endeared
+himself to me most by what he said of you. In short, I have discovered
+that he hath always loved you with such a faithful, honest, noble,
+generous passion, that I was consequently convinced his mind must
+possess all the ingredients of such a passion; and what are these but
+true honour, goodness, modesty, bravery, tenderness, and, in a word,
+every human virtue?--Forgive me, my dear; but I was uneasy till I
+became myself the object of such a passion."
+
+"And do you really think," said Amelia, smiling, "that I shall forgive
+you robbing me of such a lover? or, supposing what you banter me with
+was true, do you really imagine you could change such a passion?"
+
+"No, my dear," answered the other; "I only hope I have changed the
+object; for be assured, there is no greater vulgar error than that it
+is impossible for a man who loves one woman ever to love another. On
+the contrary, it is certain that a man who can love one woman so well
+at a distance will love another better that is nearer to him. Indeed,
+I have heard one of the best husbands in the world declare, in the
+presence of his wife, that he had always loved a princess with
+adoration. These passions, which reside only in very amorous and very
+delicate minds, feed only on the delicacies there growing; and leave
+all the substantial food, and enough of the delicacy too, for the
+wife."
+
+The tea being now ready, Mrs. Bennet, or, if you please, for the
+future, Mrs. Atkinson, proposed to call in her husband; but Amelia
+objected. She said she should be glad to see him any other time, but
+was then in the utmost hurry, as she had been three hours absent from
+all she most loved. However, she had scarce drank a dish of tea before
+she changed her mind; and, saying she would not part man and wife,
+desired Mr. Atkinson might appear.
+
+The maid answered that her master was not at home; which words she had
+scarce spoken, when he knocked hastily at the door, and immediately
+came running into the room, all pale and breathless, and, addressing
+himself to Amelia, cried out, "I am sorry, my dear lady, to bring you
+ill news; but Captain Booth"--"What! what!" cries Amelia, dropping the
+tea-cup from her hand, "is anything the matter with him?"--"Don't be
+frightened, my dear lady," said the serjeant: "he is in very good
+health; but a misfortune hath happened."--" Are my children well?"
+said Amelia.--"O, very well," answered the serjeant. "Pray, madam,
+don't be frightened; I hope it will signify nothing--he is arrested,
+but I hope to get him out of their damned hands immediately." "Where
+is he?" cries Amelia; "I will go to him this instant!" "He begs you
+will not," answered the serjeant. "I have sent his lawyer to him, and
+am going back with Mrs. Ellison this moment; but I beg your ladyship,
+for his sake, and for your own sake, not to go." "Mrs. Ellison! what
+is Mrs. Ellison to do?" cries Amelia: "I must and will go." Mrs.
+Atkinson then interposed, and begged that she would not hurry her
+spirits, but compose herself, and go home to her children, whither she
+would attend her. She comforted her with the thoughts that the captain
+was in no immediate danger; that she could go to him when she would;
+and desired her to let the serjeant return with Mrs. Ellison, saying
+she might be of service, and that there was much wisdom, and no kind
+of shame, in making use of bad people on certain occasions.
+
+"And who," cries Amelia, a little come to herself, "hath done this
+barbarous action?"
+
+"One I am ashamed to name," cries the serjeant; "indeed I had always a
+very different opinion of him: I could not have believed anything but
+my own ears and eyes; but Dr Harrison is the man who hath done the
+deed."
+
+"Dr Harrison!" cries Amelia. "Well, then, there is an end of all
+goodness in the world. I will never have a good opinion of any human
+being more."
+
+The serjeant begged that he might not be detained from the captain;
+and that, if Amelia pleased to go home, he would wait upon her. But
+she did not chuse to see Mrs. Ellison at this time; and, after a
+little consideration, she resolved to stay where she was; and Mrs.
+Atkinson agreed to go and fetch her children to her, it being not many
+doors distant.
+
+The serjeant then departed; Amelia, in her confusion, never having
+once thought of wishing him joy on his marriage.
+
+
+
+
+BOOK VIII.
+
+Chapter i.
+
+_Being the first chapter of the eighth book._
+
+
+The history must now look a little backwards to those circumstances
+which led to the catastrophe mentioned at the end of the last book.
+
+When Amelia went out in the morning she left her children to the care
+of her husband. In this amiable office he had been engaged near an
+hour, and was at that very time lying along on the floor, and his
+little things crawling and playing about him, when a most violent
+knock was heard at the door; and immediately a footman, running
+upstairs, acquainted him that his lady was taken violently ill, and
+carried into Mrs. Chenevix's toy-shop.
+
+Booth no sooner heard this account, which was delivered with great
+appearance of haste and earnestness, than he leapt suddenly from the
+floor, and, leaving his children, roaring at the news of their
+mother's illness, in strict charge with his maid, he ran as fast as
+his legs could carry him to the place; or towards the place rather:
+for, before he arrived at the shop, a gentleman stopt him full butt,
+crying, "Captain, whither so fast?"--Booth answered eagerly, "Whoever
+you are, friend, don't ask me any questions now."--"You must pardon
+me, captain," answered the gentleman; "but I have a little business
+with your honour--In short, captain, I have a small warrant here in my
+pocket against your honour, at the suit of one Dr Harrison." "You are
+a bailiff then?" says Booth. "I am an officer, sir," answered the
+other. "Well, sir, it is in vain to contend," cries Booth; "but let me
+beg you will permit me only to step to Mrs. Chenevix's--I will attend
+you, upon my honour, wherever you please; but my wife lies violently
+ill there." "Oh, for that matter," answered the bailiff, "you may set
+your heart at ease. Your lady, I hope, is very well; I assure you she
+is not there. You will excuse me, captain, these are only stratagems
+of war. _Bolus and virtus, quis in a hostess equirit?_" "Sir, I
+honour your learning," cries Booth, "and could almost kiss you for
+what you tell me. I assure you I would forgive you five hundred
+arrests for such a piece of news. Well, sir, and whither am I to go
+with you?" "O, anywhere: where your honour pleases," cries the
+bailiff. "Then suppose we go to Brown's coffee-house," said the
+prisoner. "No," answered the bailiff, "that will not do; that's in the
+verge of the court." "Why then, to the nearest tavern," said Booth.
+"No, not to a tavern," cries the other, "that is not a place of
+security; and you know, captain, your honour is a shy cock; I have
+been after your honour these three months. Come, sir, you must go to
+my house, if you please." "With all my heart," answered Booth, "if it
+be anywhere hereabouts." "Oh, it is but a little ways off," replied
+the bailiff; "it is only in Gray's-inn-lane, just by almost." He then
+called a coach, and desired his prisoner to walk in.
+
+Booth entered the coach without any resistance, which, had he been
+inclined to make, he must have plainly perceived would have been
+ineffectual, as the bailiff appeared to have several followers at
+hand, two of whom, beside the commander in chief, mounted with him
+into the coach. As Booth was a sweet-tempered man, as well as somewhat
+of a philosopher, he behaved with all the good-humour imaginable, and
+indeed, with more than his companions; who, however, shewed him what
+they call civility, that is, they neither struck him nor spit in his
+face.
+
+Notwithstanding the pleasantry which Booth endeavoured to preserve, he
+in reality envied every labourer whom he saw pass by him in his way.
+The charms of liberty, against his will, rushed on his mind; and he
+could not avoid suggesting to himself how much more happy was the
+poorest wretch who, without controul, could repair to his homely
+habitation and to his family, compared to him, who was thus violently,
+and yet lawfully, torn away from the company of his wife and children.
+And their condition, especially that of his Amelia, gave his heart
+many a severe and bitter pang.
+
+At length he arrived at the bailiff's mansion, and was ushered into a
+room in which were several persons. Booth desired to be alone; upon
+which the bailiff waited on him up-stairs into an apartment, the
+windows of which were well fortified with iron bars, but the walls had
+not the least outwork raised before them; they were, indeed, what is
+generally called naked; the bricks having been only covered with a
+thin plaster, which in many places was mouldered away.
+
+The first demand made upon Booth was for coach-hire, which amounted to
+two shillings, according to the bailiff's account; that being just
+double the legal fare. He was then asked if he did not chuse a bowl of
+punch? to which he having answered in the negative, the bailiff
+replied, "Nay, sir, just as you please. I don't ask you to drink, if
+you don't chuse it; but certainly you know the custom; the house is
+full of prisoners, and I can't afford gentlemen a room to themselves
+for nothing."
+
+Booth presently took this hint--indeed it was a pretty broad one--and
+told the bailiff he should not scruple to pay him his price; but in
+fact he never drank unless at his meals. "As to that, sir," cries the
+bailiff, "it is just as your honour pleases. I scorn to impose upon
+any gentleman in misfortunes: I wish you well out of them, for my
+part. Your honour can take nothing amiss of me; I only does my duty,
+what I am bound to do; and, as you says you don't care to drink
+anything, what will you be pleased to have for dinner?"
+
+Booth then complied in bespeaking a dish of meat, and told the bailiff
+he would drink a bottle with him after dinner. He then desired the
+favour of pen, ink, and paper, and a messenger; all which were
+immediately procured him, the bailiff telling him he might send
+wherever he pleased, and repeating his concern for Booth's
+misfortunes, and a hearty desire to see the end of them.
+
+The messenger was just dispatched with the letter, when who should
+arrive but honest Atkinson? A soldier of the guards, belonging to the
+same company with the serjeant, and who had known Booth at Gibraltar,
+had seen the arrest, and heard the orders given to the coachman. This
+fellow, accidentally meeting Atkinson, had acquainted him with the
+whole affair.
+
+At the appearance of Atkinson, joy immediately overspread the
+countenance of Booth. The ceremonials which past between them are
+unnecessary to be repeated. Atkinson was soon dispatched to the
+attorney and to Mrs. Ellison, as the reader hath before heard from his
+own mouth.
+
+Booth now greatly lamented that he had writ to his wife. He thought
+she might have been acquainted with the affair better by the serjeant.
+Booth begged him, however, to do everything in his power to comfort
+her; to assure her that he was in perfect health and good spirits; and
+to lessen as much as possible the concern which he knew she would have
+at the reading his letter.
+
+The serjeant, however, as the reader hath seen, brought himself the
+first account of the arrest. Indeed, the other messenger did not
+arrive till a full hour afterwards. This was not owing to any slowness
+of his, but to many previous errands which he was to execute before
+the delivery of the letter; for, notwithstanding the earnest desire
+which the bailiff had declared to see Booth out of his troubles, he
+had ordered the porter, who was his follower, to call upon two or
+three other bailiffs, and as many attorneys, to try to load his
+prisoner with as many actions as possible.
+
+Here the reader may be apt to conclude that the bailiff, instead of
+being a friend, was really an enemy to poor Booth; but, in fact, he
+was not so. His desire was no more than to accumulate bail-bonds; for
+the bailiff was reckoned an honest and good sort of man in his way,
+and had no more malice against the bodies in his custody than a
+butcher hath to those in his: and as the latter, when he takes his
+knife in hand, hath no idea but of the joints into which he is to cut
+the carcase; so the former, when he handles his writ, hath no other
+design but to cut out the body into as many bail-bonds as possible. As
+to the life of the animal, or the liberty of the man, they are
+thoughts which never obtrude themselves on either.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter ii.
+
+_Containing an account of Mr. Booth's fellow-sufferers._
+
+
+Before we return to Amelia we must detain our reader a little longer
+with Mr. Booth, in the custody of Mr. Bondum the bailiff, who now
+informed his prisoner that he was welcome to the liberty of the house
+with the other gentlemen.
+
+Booth asked who those gentlemen were. "One of them, sir," says Mr.
+Bondum, "is a very great writer or author, as they call him; he hath
+been here these five weeks at the suit of a bookseller for eleven
+pound odd money; but he expects to be discharged in a day or two, for
+he hath writ out the debt. He is now writing for five or six
+booksellers, and he will get you sometimes, when he sits to it, a
+matter of fifteen shillings a-day. For he is a very good pen, they
+say, but is apt to be idle. Some days he won't write above five hours;
+but at other times I have know him at it above sixteen." "Ay!" cries
+Booth; "pray, what are his productions? What does he write?" "Why,
+sometimes," answered Bondum, "he writes your history books for your
+numbers, and sometimes your verses, your poems, what do you call them?
+and then again he writes news for your newspapers." "Ay, indeed! he is
+a most extraordinary man, truly!--How doth he get his news here?" "Why
+he makes it, as he doth your parliament speeches for your magazines.
+He reads them to us sometimes over a bowl of punch. To be sure it is
+all one as if one was in the parliament-house--it is about liberty and
+freedom, and about the constitution of England. I say nothing for my
+part, for I will keep my neck out of a halter; but, faith, he makes it
+out plainly to me that all matters are not as they should be. I am all
+for liberty, for my part." "Is that so consistent with your calling?"
+cries Booth. "I thought, my friend, you had lived by depriving men of
+their liberty." "That's another matter," cries the bailiff; "that's
+all according to law, and in the way of business. To be sure, men must
+be obliged to pay their debts, or else there would be an end of
+everything." Booth desired the bailiff to give him his opinion on
+liberty. Upon which, he hesitated a moment, and then cried out, "O
+'tis a fine thing, 'tis a very fine thing, and the constitution of
+England." Booth told him, that by the old constitution of England he
+had heard that men could not be arrested for debt; to which the
+bailiff answered, that must have been in very bad times; "because as
+why," says he, "would it not be the hardest thing in the world if a
+man could not arrest another for a just and lawful debt? besides, sir,
+you must be mistaken; for how could that ever be? is not liberty the
+constitution of England? well, and is not the constitution, as a man
+may say--whereby the constitution, that is the law and liberty, and
+all that--"
+
+Booth had a little mercy upon the poor bailiff, when he found him
+rounding in this manner, and told him he had made the matter very
+clear. Booth then proceeded to enquire after the other gentlemen, his
+fellows in affliction; upon which Bondum acquainted him that one of
+the prisoners was a poor fellow. "He calls himself a gentleman," said
+Bondum; "but I am sure I never saw anything genteel by him. In a week
+that he hath been in my house he hath drank only part of one bottle of
+wine. I intend to carry him to Newgate within a day or two, if he
+can't find bail, which, I suppose, he will not be able to do; for
+everybody says he is an undone man. He hath run out all he hath by
+losses in business, and one way or other; and he hath a wife and seven
+children. Here was the whole family here the other day, all howling
+together. I never saw such a beggarly crew; I was almost ashamed to
+see them in my house. I thought they seemed fitter for Bridewell than
+any other place. To be sure, I do not reckon him as proper company for
+such as you, sir; but there is another prisoner in the house that I
+dare say you will like very much. He is, indeed, very much of a
+gentleman, and spends his money like one. I have had him only three
+days, and I am afraid he won't stay much longer. They say, indeed, he
+is a gamester; but what is that to me or any one, as long as a man
+appears as a gentleman? I always love to speak by people as I find;
+and, in my opinion, he is fit company for the greatest lord in the
+land; for he hath very good cloaths, and money enough. He is not here
+for debt, but upon a judge's warrant for an assault and battery; for
+the tipstaff locks up here."
+
+The bailiff was thus haranguing when he was interrupted by the arrival
+of the attorney whom the trusty serjeant had, with the utmost
+expedition, found out and dispatched to the relief of his distressed
+friend. But before we proceed any further with the captain we will
+return to poor Amelia, for whom, considering the situation in which we
+left her, the good-natured reader may be, perhaps, in no small degree
+solicitous.
+
+[Illustration: no caption]
+
+
+
+
+Chapter iii.
+
+_Containing some extraordinary behaviour in Mrs. Ellison._
+
+
+The serjeant being departed to convey Mrs. Ellison to the captain, his
+wife went to fetch Amelia's children to their mother.
+
+Amelia's concern for the distresses of her husband was aggravated at
+the sight of her children. "Good Heavens!" she cried, "what will--what
+can become of these poor little wretches? why have I produced these
+little creatures only to give them a share of poverty and misery?" At
+which words she embraced them eagerly in her arms, and bedewed them
+both with her tears.
+
+The children's eyes soon overflowed as fast as their mother's, though
+neither of them knew the cause of her affliction. The little boy, who
+was the elder and much the sharper of the two, imputed the agonies of
+his mother to her illness, according to the account brought to his
+father in his presence.
+
+When Amelia became acquainted with the child's apprehensions, she soon
+satisfied him that she was in a perfect state of health; at which the
+little thing expressed great satisfaction, and said he was glad she
+was well again. Amelia told him she had not been in the least
+disordered. Upon which the innocent cried out, "La! how can people
+tell such fibs? a great tall man told my papa you was taken very ill
+at Mrs. Somebody's shop, and my poor papa presently ran down-stairs: I
+was afraid he would have broke his neck, to come to you."
+
+"O, the villains!" cries Mrs. Atkinson, "what a stratagem was here to
+take away your husband!"
+
+"Take away!" answered the child--"What! hath anybody taken away papa?
+--Sure that naughty fibbing man hath not taken away papa?"
+
+Amelia begged Mrs. Atkinson to say something to her children, for that
+her spirits were overpowered. She then threw herself into a chair, and
+gave a full vent to a passion almost too strong for her delicate
+constitution.
+
+The scene that followed, during some minutes, is beyond my power of
+description; I must beg the readers' hearts to suggest it to
+themselves. The children hung on their mother, whom they endeavoured
+in vain to comfort, as Mrs. Atkinson did in vain attempt to pacify
+them, telling them all would be well, and they would soon see their
+papa again.
+
+At length, partly by the persuasions of Mrs. Atkinson, partly from
+consideration of her little ones, and more, perhaps, from the relief
+which she had acquired by her tears, Amelia became a little composed.
+
+Nothing worth notice past in this miserable company from this time
+till the return of Mrs. Ellison from the bailiff's house; and to draw
+out scenes of wretchedness to too great a length, is a task very
+uneasy to the writer, and for which none but readers of a most gloomy
+complexion will think themselves ever obliged to his labours.
+
+At length Mrs. Ellison arrived, and entered the room with an air of
+gaiety rather misbecoming the occasion. When she had seated herself in
+a chair she told Amelia that the captain was very well and in good
+spirits, and that he earnestly desired her to keep up hers. "Come,
+madam," said she, "don't be disconsolate; I hope we shall soon be able
+to get him out of his troubles. The debts, indeed, amount to more than
+I expected; however, ways may be found to redeem him. He must own
+himself guilty of some rashness in going out of the verge, when he
+knew to what he was liable; but that is now not to be remedied. If he
+had followed my advice this had not happened; but men will be
+headstrong."
+
+"I cannot bear this," cries Amelia; "shall I hear that best of
+creatures blamed for his tenderness to me?"
+
+"Well, I will not blame him," answered Mrs. Ellison; "I am sure I
+propose nothing but to serve him; and if you will do as much to serve
+him yourself, he will not be long a prisoner."
+
+"I do!" cries Amelia: "O Heavens! is there a thing upon earth--"
+
+"Yes, there is a thing upon earth," said Mrs. Ellison, "and a very
+easy thing too; and yet I will venture my life you start when I
+propose it. And yet, when I consider that you are a woman of
+understanding, I know not why I should think so; for sure you must
+have too much good sense to imagine that you can cry your husband out
+of prison. If this would have done, I see you have almost cried your
+eyes out already. And yet you may do the business by a much pleasanter
+way than by crying and bawling."
+
+"What do you mean, madam?" cries Amelia.--"For my part, I cannot guess
+your meaning."
+
+"Before I tell you then, madam," answered Mrs. Ellison, "I must inform
+you, if you do not already know it, that the captain is charged with
+actions to the amount of near five hundred pounds. I am sure I would
+willingly be his bail; but I know my bail would not be taken for that
+sum. You must consider, therefore, madam, what chance you have of
+redeeming him; unless you chuse, as perhaps some wives would, that he
+should lie all his life in prison."
+
+At these words Amelia discharged a shower of tears, and gave every
+mark of the most frantic grief.
+
+"Why, there now," cries Mrs. Ellison, "while you will indulge these
+extravagant passions, how can you be capable of listening to the voice
+of reason? I know I am a fool in concerning myself thus with the
+affairs of others. I know the thankless office I undertake; and yet I
+love you so, my dear Mrs. Booth, that I cannot bear to see you
+afflicted, and I would comfort you if you would suffer me. Let me beg
+you to make your mind easy; and within these two days I will engage to
+set your husband at liberty.
+
+"Harkee, child; only behave like a woman of spirit this evening, and
+keep your appointment, notwithstanding what hath happened; and I am
+convinced there is one who hath the power and the will to serve you."
+
+Mrs. Ellison spoke the latter part of her speech in a whisper, so that
+Mrs. Atkinson, who was then engaged with the children, might not hear
+her; but Amelia answered aloud, and said, "What appointment would you
+have me keep this evening?"
+
+"Nay, nay, if you have forgot," cries Mrs. Ellison, "I will tell you
+more another time; but come, will you go home? my dinner is ready by
+this time, and you shall dine with me."
+
+"Talk not to me of dinners," cries Amelia; "my stomach is too full
+already."
+
+"Nay, but, dear madam," answered Mrs. Ellison, "let me beseech you to
+go home with me. I do not care," says she, whispering, "to speak
+before some folks." "I have no secret, madam, in the world," replied
+Amelia aloud, "which I would not communicate to this lady; for I shall
+always acknowledge the highest obligations to her for the secrets she
+hath imparted to me."
+
+"Madam," said Mrs. Ellison, "I do not interfere with obligations. I am
+glad the lady hath obliged you so much; and I wish all people were
+equally mindful of obligations. I hope I have omitted no opportunity
+of endeavouring to oblige Mrs. Booth, as well as I have some other
+folks."
+
+"If by other folks, madam, you mean me," cries Mrs. Atkinson, "I
+confess I sincerely believe you intended the same obligation to us
+both; and I have the pleasure to think it is owing to me that this
+lady is not as much obliged to you as I am."
+
+"I protest, madam, I can hardly guess your meaning," said Mrs.
+Ellison.--"Do you really intend to affront me, madam?"
+
+"I intend to preserve innocence and virtue, if it be in my power,
+madam," answered the other. "And sure nothing but the most eager
+resolution to destroy it could induce you to mention such an
+appointment at such a time."
+
+"I did not expect this treatment from you, madam," cries Mrs. Ellison;
+"such ingratitude I could not have believed had it been reported to me
+by any other."
+
+"Such impudence," answered Mrs. Atkinson, "must exceed, I think, all
+belief; but, when women once abandon that modesty which is the
+characteristic of their sex, they seldom set any bounds to their
+assurance."
+
+"I could not have believed this to have been in human nature," cries
+Mrs. Ellison. "Is this the woman whom I have fed, have cloathed, have
+supported; who owes to my charity and my intercessions that she is not
+at this day destitute of all the necessaries of life?"
+
+"I own it all," answered Mrs. Atkinson; "and I add the favour of a
+masquerade ticket to the number. Could I have thought, madam, that you
+would before my face have asked another lady to go to the same place
+with the same man?--but I ask your pardon; I impute rather more
+assurance to you than you are mistress of.--You have endeavoured to
+keep the assignation a secret from me; and it was by mere accident
+only that I discovered it; unless there are some guardian angels that
+in general protect innocence and virtue; though, I may say, I have not
+always found them so watchful."
+
+"Indeed, madam," said Mrs. Ellison, "you are not worth my answer; nor
+will I stay a moment longer with such a person.--So, Mrs. Booth, you
+have your choice, madam, whether you will go with me, or remain in the
+company of this lady."
+
+"If so, madam," answered Mrs. Booth, "I shall not be long in
+determining to stay where I am."
+
+Mrs. Ellison then, casting a look of great indignation at both the
+ladies, made a short speech full of invectives against Mrs. Atkinson,
+and not without oblique hints of ingratitude against poor Amelia;
+after which she burst out of the room, and out of the house, and made
+haste to her own home, in a condition of mind to which fortune without
+guilt cannot, I believe, reduce any one.
+
+Indeed, how much the superiority of misery is on the side of
+wickedness may appear to every reader who will compare the present
+situation of Amelia with that of Mrs. Ellison. Fortune had attacked
+the former with almost the highest degree of her malice. She was
+involved in a scene of most exquisite distress, and her husband, her
+principal comfort, torn violently from her arms; yet her sorrow,
+however exquisite, was all soft and tender, nor was she without many
+consolations. Her case, however hard, was not absolutely desperate;
+for scarce any condition of fortune can be so. Art and industry,
+chance and friends, have often relieved the most distrest
+circumstances, and converted them into opulence. In all these she had
+hopes on this side the grave, and perfect virtue and innocence gave
+her the strongest assurances on the other. Whereas, in the bosom of
+Mrs. Ellison, all was storm and tempest; anger, revenge, fear, and
+pride, like so many raging furies, possessed her mind, and tortured
+her with disappointment and shame. Loss of reputation, which is
+generally irreparable, was to be her lot; loss of friends is of this
+the certain consequence; all on this side the grave appeared dreary
+and comfortless; and endless misery on the other, closed the gloomy
+prospect.
+
+Hence, my worthy reader, console thyself, that however few of the
+other good things of life are thy lot, the best of all things, which
+is innocence, is always within thy own power; and, though Fortune may
+make thee often unhappy, she can never make thee completely and
+irreparably miserable without thy own consent.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter iv.
+
+_Containing, among many matters, the exemplary behaviour of Colonel
+James._
+
+
+When Mrs. Ellison was departed, Mrs. Atkinson began to apply all her
+art to soothe and comfort Amelia, but was presently prevented by her.
+"I am ashamed, dear madam," said Amelia, "of having indulged my
+affliction so much at your expense. The suddenness of the occasion is
+my only excuse; for, had I had time to summon my resolution to my
+assistance, I hope I am mistress of more patience than you have
+hitherto seen me exert. I know, madam, in my unwarrantable excesses, I
+have been guilty of many transgressions. First, against that Divine
+will and pleasure without whose permission, at least, no human
+accident can happen; in the next place, madam, if anything can
+aggravate such a fault, I have transgressed the laws of friendship as
+well as decency, in throwing upon you some part of the load of my
+grief; and again, I have sinned against common sense, which should
+teach me, instead of weakly and heavily lamenting my misfortunes, to
+rouse all my spirits to remove them. In this light I am shocked at my
+own folly, and am resolved to leave my children under your care, and
+go directly to my husband. I may comfort him. I may assist him. I may
+relieve him. There is nothing now too difficult for me to undertake."
+
+Mrs. Atkinson greatly approved and complimented her friend on all the
+former part of her speech, except what related to herself, on which
+she spoke very civilly, and I believe with great truth; but as to her
+determination of going to her husband she endeavoured to dissuade her,
+at least she begged her to defer it for the present, and till the
+serjeant returned home. She then reminded Amelia that it was now past
+five in the afternoon, and that she had not taken any refreshment but
+a dish of tea the whole day, and desired she would give her leave to
+procure her a chick, or anything she liked better, for her dinner.
+
+Amelia thanked her friend, and said she would sit down with her to
+whatever she pleased; "but if I do not eat," said she, "I would not
+have you impute it to anything but want of appetite; for I assure you
+all things are equally indifferent to me. I am more solicitous about
+these poor little things, who have not been used to fast so long.
+Heaven knows what may hereafter be their fate!"
+
+Mrs. Atkinson bid her hope the best, and then recommended the children
+to the care of her maid.
+
+And now arrived a servant from Mrs. James, with an invitation to
+Captain Booth and to his lady to dine with the colonel the day after
+the next. This a little perplexed Amelia; but after a short
+consideration she despatched an answer to Mrs. James, in which she
+concisely informed her of what had happened.
+
+The honest serjeant, who had been on his legs almost the whole day,
+now returned, and brought Amelia a short letter from her husband, in
+which he gave her the most solemn assurances of his health and
+spirits, and begged her with great earnestness to take care to
+preserve her own, which if she did, he said, he had no doubt but that
+they should shortly be happy. He added something of hopes from my
+lord, with which Mrs. Ellison had amused him, and which served only to
+destroy the comfort that Amelia received from the rest of his letter.
+
+Whilst Amelia, the serjeant, and his lady, were engaged in a cold
+collation, for which purpose a cold chicken was procured from the
+tavern for the ladies, and two pound of cold beef for the serjeant, a
+violent knocking was heard at the door, and presently afterwards
+Colonel James entered the room. After proper compliments had past, the
+colonel told Amelia that her letter was brought to Mrs. James while
+they were at table, and that on her shewing it him he had immediately
+rose up, made an apology to his company, and took a chair to her. He
+spoke to her with great tenderness on the occasion, and desired her to
+make herself easy; assuring her that he would leave nothing in his
+power undone to serve her husband. He then gave her an invitation, in
+his wife's name, to his own house, in the most pressing manner.
+
+Amelia returned him very hearty thanks for all his kind offers, but
+begged to decline that of an apartment in his house. She said, as she
+could not leave her children, so neither could she think of bringing
+such a trouble with her into his family; and, though the colonel gave
+her many assurances that her children, as well as herself, would be
+very welcome to Mrs. James, and even betook himself to entreaties, she
+still persisted obstinately in her refusal.
+
+In real truth, Amelia had taken a vast affection for Mrs. Atkinson, of
+the comfort of whose company she could not bear to be deprived in her
+distress, nor to exchange it for that of Mrs. James, to whom she had
+lately conceived no little dislike.
+
+The colonel, when he found he could not prevail with Amelia to accept
+his invitation, desisted from any farther solicitations. He then took
+a bank-bill of fifty pounds from his pocket-book, and said, "You will
+pardon me, dear madam, if I chuse to impute your refusal of my house
+rather to a dislike of my wife, who I will not pretend to be the most
+agreeable of women (all men," said he, sighing, "have not Captain
+Booth's fortune), than to any aversion or anger to me. I must insist
+upon it, therefore, to make your present habitation as easy to you as
+possible--I hope, madam, you will not deny me this happiness; I beg
+you will honour me with the acceptance of this trifle." He then put
+the note into her hand, and declared that the honour of touching it
+was worth a hundred times that sum.
+
+"I protest, Colonel James," cried Amelia, blushing, "I know not what
+to do or say, your goodness so greatly confounds me. Can I, who am so
+well acquainted with the many great obligations Mr. Booth already hath
+to your generosity, consent that you should add more to a debt we
+never can pay?"
+
+The colonel stopt her short, protesting that she misplaced the
+obligation; for, that if to confer the highest happiness was to
+oblige, he was obliged to her acceptance. "And I do assure you,
+madam," said he, "if this trifling sum or a much larger can contribute
+to your ease, I shall consider myself as the happiest man upon earth
+in being able to supply it, and you, madam, my greatest benefactor in
+receiving it."
+
+Amelia then put the note in her pocket, and they entered into a
+conversation in which many civil things were said on both sides; but
+what was chiefly worth remark was, that Amelia had almost her husband
+constantly in her mouth, and the colonel never mentioned him: the
+former seemed desirous to lay all obligations, as much as possible, to
+the account of her husband; and the latter endeavoured, with the
+utmost delicacy, to insinuate that her happiness was the main and
+indeed only point which he had in view.
+
+Amelia had made no doubt, at the colonel's first appearance, but that
+he intended to go directly to her husband. When he dropt therefore a
+hint of his intention to visit him next morning she appeared visibly
+shocked at the delay. The colonel, perceiving this, said, "However
+inconvenient it may be, yet, madam, if it will oblige you, or if you
+desire it, I will even go to-night." Amelia answered, "My husband will
+be far from desiring to derive any good from your inconvenience; but,
+if you put it to me, I must be excused for saying I desire nothing
+more in the world than to send him so great a comfort as I know he
+will receive from the presence of such a friend." "Then, to show you,
+madam," cries the colonel, "that I desire nothing more in the world
+than to give you pleasure, I will go to him immediately."
+
+Amelia then bethought herself of the serjeant, and told the colonel
+his old acquaintance Atkinson, whom he had known at Gibraltar, was
+then in the house, and would conduct him to the place. The serjeant
+was immediately called in, paid his respects to the colonel, and was
+acknowledged by him. They both immediately set forward, Amelia to the
+utmost of her power pressing their departure.
+
+Mrs. Atkinson now returned to Amelia, and was by her acquainted with
+the colonel's late generosity; for her heart so boiled over with
+gratitude that she could not conceal the ebullition. Amelia likewise
+gave her friend a full narrative of the colonel's former behaviour and
+friendship to her husband, as well abroad as in England; and ended
+with declaring that she believed him to be the most generous man upon
+earth.
+
+Mrs. Atkinson agreed with Amelia's conclusion, and said she was glad
+to hear there was any such man. They then proceeded with the children
+to the tea-table, where panegyric, and not scandal, was the topic of
+their conversation; and of this panegyric the colonel was the subject;
+both the ladies seeming to vie with each other in celebrating the
+praises of his goodness.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter v.
+
+_Comments upon authors._
+
+
+Having left Amelia in as comfortable a situation as could possibly be
+expected, her immediate distresses relieved, and her heart filled with
+great hopes from the friendship of the colonel, we will now return to
+Booth, who, when the attorney and serjeant had left him, received a
+visit from that great author of whom honourable mention is made in our
+second chapter.
+
+Booth, as the reader may be pleased to remember, was a pretty good
+master of the classics; for his father, though he designed his son for
+the army, did not think it necessary to breed him up a blockhead. He
+did not, perhaps, imagine that a competent share of Latin and Greek
+would make his son either a pedant or a coward. He considered
+likewise, probably, that the life of a soldier is in general a life of
+idleness; and might think that the spare hours of an officer in
+country quarters would be as well employed with a book as in
+sauntering about the streets, loitering in a coffee-house, sotting in
+a tavern, or in laying schemes to debauch and ruin a set of harmless
+ignorant country girls.
+
+As Booth was therefore what might well be called, in this age at
+least, a man of learning, he began to discourse our author on subjects
+of literature. "I think, sir," says he, "that Dr Swift hath been
+generally allowed, by the critics in this kingdom, to be the greatest
+master of humour that ever wrote. Indeed, I allow him to have
+possessed most admirable talents of this kind; and, if Rabelais was
+his master, I think he proves the truth of the common Greek proverb--
+that the scholar is often superior to the master. As to Cervantes, I
+do not think we can make any just comparison; for, though Mr. Pope
+compliments him with sometimes taking Cervantes' serious air--" "I
+remember the passage," cries the author;
+
+"O thou, whatever title please thine ear, Dean, Drapier, Bickerstaff,
+or Gulliver; Whether you take Cervantes' serious air, Or laugh and
+shake in Rabelais' easy chair--"
+
+"You are right, sir," said Booth; "but though I should agree that the
+doctor hath sometimes condescended to imitate Rabelais, I do not
+remember to have seen in his works the least attempt in the manner of
+Cervantes. But there is one in his own way, and whom I am convinced he
+studied above all others--you guess, I believe, I am going to name
+Lucian. This author, I say, I am convinced, he followed; but I think
+he followed him at a distance: as, to say the truth, every other
+writer of this kind hath done in my opinion; for none, I think, hath
+yet equalled him. I agree, indeed, entirely with Mr. Moyle, in his
+Discourse on the age of the Philopatris, when he gives him the epithet
+of the incomparable Lucian; and incomparable, I believe, he will
+remain as long as the language in which he wrote shall endure. What an
+inimitable piece of humour is his Cock!" "I remember it very well,"
+cries the author; "his story of a Cock and a Bull is excellent." Booth
+stared at this, and asked the author what he meant by the Bull? "Nay,"
+answered he, "I don't know very well, upon my soul. It is a long time
+since I read him. I learnt him all over at school; I have not read him
+much since. And pray, sir," said he, "how do you like his Pharsalia?
+don't you think Mr. Rowe's translation a very fine one?" Booth
+replied, "I believe we are talking of different authors. The
+Pharsalia, which Mr. Rowe translated, was written by Lucan; but I have
+been speaking of Lucian, a Greek writer, and, in my opinion, the
+greatest in the humorous way that ever the world produced." "Ay!"
+cries the author, "he was indeed so, a very excellent writer indeed! I
+fancy a translation of him would sell very well!" "I do not know,
+indeed," cries Booth. "A good translation of him would be a valuable
+book. I have seen a wretched one published by Mr. Dryden, but
+translated by others, who in many places have misunderstood Lucian's
+meaning, and have nowhere preserved the spirit of the original." "That
+is great pity," says the author. "Pray, sir, is he well translated in
+the French?" Booth answered, he could not tell; but that he doubted it
+very much, having never seen a good version into that language out of
+the Greek." To confess the truth, I believe," said he, "the French
+translators have generally consulted the Latin only; which, in some of
+the few Greek writers I have read, is intolerably bad. And as the
+English translators, for the most part, pursue the French, we may
+easily guess what spirit those copies of bad copies must preserve of
+the original."
+
+"Egad, you are a shrewd guesser," cries the author. "I am glad the
+booksellers have not your sagacity. But how should it be otherwise,
+considering the price they pay by the sheet? The Greek, you will
+allow, is a hard language; and there are few gentlemen that write who
+can read it without a good lexicon. Now, sir, if we were to afford
+time to find out the true meaning of words, a gentleman would not get
+bread and cheese by his work. If one was to be paid, indeed, as Mr.
+Pope was for his Homer--Pray, sir, don't you think that the best
+translation in the world?"
+
+"Indeed, sir," cries Booth, "I think, though it is certainly a noble
+paraphrase, and of itself a fine poem, yet in some places it is no
+translation at all. In the very beginning, for instance, he hath not
+rendered the true force of the author. Homer invokes his muse in the
+five first lines of the Iliad; and, at the end of the fifth, he gives
+his reason:
+
+   [Greek]
+
+For all these things," says he, "were brought about by the decree of
+Jupiter; and, therefore, he supposes their true sources are known only
+to the deities. Now, the translation takes no more notice of the [Greek]
+than if no such word had been there."
+
+"Very possibly," answered the author; "it is a long time since I read
+the original. Perhaps, then, he followed the French translations. I
+observe, indeed, he talks much in the notes of Madam Dacier and
+Monsieur Eustathius."
+
+Booth had now received conviction enough of his friend's knowledge of
+the Greek language; without attempting, therefore, to set him right,
+he made a sudden transition to the Latin. "Pray, sir," said he, "as
+you have mentioned Rowe's translation of the Pharsalia, do you
+remember how he hath rendered that passage in the character of Cato?--
+
+    _----Venerisque huic maximus usus
+        Progenies; urbi Pater est, urbique Maritus._
+
+For I apprehend that passage is generally misunderstood."
+
+"I really do not remember," answered the author. "Pray, sir, what do
+you take to be the meaning?"
+
+"I apprehend, sir," replied Booth, "that by these words, _Urbi Pater
+est, urbique Maritus_, Cato is represented as the father and husband
+to the city of Rome."
+
+"Very true, sir," cries the author; "very fine, indeed.--Not only the
+father of his country, but the husband too; very noble, truly!"
+
+"Pardon me, sir," cries Booth; "I do not conceive that to have been
+Lucan's meaning. If you please to observe the context; Lucan, having
+commended the temperance of Cato in the instances of diet and cloaths,
+proceeds to venereal pleasures; of which, says the poet, his principal
+use was procreation: then he adds, _Urbi Pater est, urbique Maritus;_
+that he became a father and a husband for the sake only of the city."
+
+"Upon my word that's true," cries the author; "I did not think of it.
+It is much finer than the other.--_Urbis Pater est_--what is the
+other?--ay--_Urbis Maritus._--It is certainly as you say, sir."
+
+Booth was by this pretty well satisfied of the author's profound
+learning; however, he was willing to try him a little farther. He
+asked him, therefore, what was his opinion of Lucan in general, and in
+what class of writers he ranked him?
+
+The author stared a little at this question; and, after some
+hesitation, answered, "Certainly, sir, I think he is a fine writer and
+a very great poet."
+
+"I am very much of the same opinion," cries Booth; "but where do you
+class him--next to what poet do you place him?"
+
+"Let me see," cries the author; "where do I class him? next to whom do
+I place him?--Ay!--why--why, pray, where do you yourself place him?"
+
+"Why, surely," cries Booth, "if he is not to be placed in the first
+rank with Homer, and Virgil, and Milton, I think clearly he is at the
+head of the second, before either Statius or Silius Italicus--though I
+allow to each of these their merits; but, perhaps, an epic poem was
+beyond the genius of either. I own, I have often thought, if Statius
+had ventured no farther than Ovid or Claudian, he would have succeeded
+better; for his Sylvae are, in my opinion, much better than his
+Thebais."
+
+"I believe I was of the same opinion formerly," said the author.
+
+"And for what reason have you altered it?" cries Booth.
+
+"I have not altered it," answered the author; "but, to tell you the
+truth, I have not any opinion at all about these matters at present. I
+do not trouble my head much with poetry; for there is no encouragement
+to such studies in this age. It is true, indeed, I have now and then
+wrote a poem or two for the magazines, but I never intend to write any
+more; for a gentleman is not paid for his time. A sheet is a sheet
+with the booksellers; and, whether it be in prose or verse, they make
+no difference; though certainly there is as much difference to a
+gentleman in the work as there is to a taylor between making a plain
+and a laced suit. Rhimes are difficult things; they are stubborn
+things, sir. I have been sometimes longer in tagging a couplet than I
+have been in writing a speech on the side of the opposition which hath
+been read with great applause all over the kingdom."
+
+"I am glad you are pleased to confirm that," cries Booth; "for I
+protest it was an entire secret to me till this day. I was so
+perfectly ignorant, that I thought the speeches published in the
+magazines were really made by the members themselves."
+
+"Some of them, and I believe I may, without vanity, say the best,"
+cries the author, "are all the productions of my own pen! but I
+believe I shall leave it off soon, unless a sheet of speech will fetch
+more than it does at present. In truth, the romance-writing is the
+only branch of our business now that is worth following. Goods of that
+sort have had so much success lately in the market, that a bookseller
+scarce cares what he bids for them. And it is certainly the easiest
+work in the world; you may write it almost as fast as you can set pen
+to paper; and if you interlard it with a little scandal, a little
+abuse on some living characters of note, you cannot fail of success."
+
+"Upon my word, sir," cries Booth, "you have greatly instructed me. I
+could not have imagined there had been so much regularity in the trade
+of writing as you are pleased to mention; by what I can perceive, the
+pen and ink is likely to become the staple commodity of the kingdom."
+
+"Alas! sir," answered the author, "it is overstocked. The market is
+overstocked. There is no encouragement to merit, no patrons. I have
+been these five years soliciting a subscription for my new translation
+of Ovid's Metamorphoses, with notes explanatory, historical, and
+critical; and I have scarce collected five hundred names yet."
+
+The mention of this translation a little surprized Booth; not only as
+the author had just declared his intentions to forsake the tuneful
+muses; but, for some other reasons which he had collected from his
+conversation with our author, he little expected to hear of a proposal
+to translate any of the Latin poets. He proceeded, therefore, to
+catechise him a little farther; and by his answers was fully satisfied
+that he had the very same acquaintance with Ovid that he had appeared
+to have with Lucan.
+
+The author then pulled out a bundle of papers containing proposals for
+his subscription, and receipts; and, addressing himself to Booth,
+said, "Though the place in which we meet, sir, is an improper place to
+solicit favours of this kind, yet, perhaps, it may be in your power to
+serve me if you will charge your pockets with some of these." Booth
+was just offering at an excuse, when the bailiff introduced Colonel
+James and the serjeant.
+
+The unexpected visit of a beloved friend to a man in affliction,
+especially in Mr. Booth's situation, is a comfort which can scarce be
+equalled; not barely from the hopes of relief or redress by his
+assistance, but as it is an evidence of sincere friendship which
+scarce admits of any doubt or suspicion. Such an instance doth indeed
+make a man amends for all ordinary troubles and distresses; and we
+ought to think ourselves gainers by having had such an opportunity of
+discovering that we are possessed of one of the most valuable of all
+human possessions.
+
+Booth was so transported at the sight of the colonel, that he dropt
+the proposals which the author had put into his hands, and burst forth
+into the highest professions of gratitude to his friend; who behaved
+very properly on his side, and said everything which became the mouth
+of a friend on the occasion.
+
+It is true, indeed, he seemed not moved equally either with Booth or
+the serjeant, both whose eyes watered at the scene. In truth, the
+colonel, though a very generous man, had not the least grain of
+tenderness in his disposition. His mind was formed of those firm
+materials of which nature formerly hammered out the Stoic, and upon
+which the sorrows of no man living could make an impression. A man of
+this temper, who doth not much value danger, will fight for the person
+he calls his friend, and the man that hath but little value for his
+money will give it him; but such friendship is never to be absolutely
+depended on; for, whenever the favourite passion interposes with it,
+it is sure to subside and vanish into air. Whereas the man whose
+tender disposition really feels the miseries of another will endeavour
+to relieve them for his own sake; and, in such a mind, friendship will
+often get the superiority over every other passion.
+
+But, from whatever motive it sprung, the colonel's behaviour to Booth
+seemed truly amiable; and so it appeared to the author, who took the
+first occasion to applaud it in a very florid oration; which the
+reader, when he recollects that he was a speech-maker by profession,
+will not be surprized at; nor, perhaps, will be much more surprized
+that he soon after took an occasion of clapping a proposal into the
+colonel's hands, holding at the same time a receipt very visible in
+his own.
+
+The colonel received both, and gave the author a guinea in exchange,
+which was double the sum mentioned in the receipt; for which the
+author made a low bow, and very politely took his leave, saying, "I
+suppose, gentlemen, you may have some private business together; I
+heartily wish a speedy end to your confinement, and I congratulate you
+on the possessing so great, so noble, and so generous a friend."
+
+
+
+
+Chapter vi.
+
+_Which inclines rather to satire than panegyric._
+
+
+The colonel had the curiosity to ask Booth the name of the gentleman
+who, in the vulgar language, had struck, or taken him in for a guinea
+with so much ease and dexterity. Booth answered, he did not know his
+name; all that he knew of him was, that he was the most impudent and
+illiterate fellow he had ever seen, and that, by his own account, he
+was the author of most of the wonderful productions of the age.
+"Perhaps," said he, "it may look uncharitable in me to blame you for
+your generosity; but I am convinced the fellow hath not the least
+merit or capacity, and you have subscribed to the most horrid trash
+that ever was published."
+
+"I care not a farthing what he publishes," cries the colonel. "Heaven
+forbid I should be obliged to read half the nonsense I have subscribed
+to."
+
+"But don't you think," said Booth, "that by such indiscriminate
+encouragement of authors you do a real mischief to the society? By
+propagating the subscriptions of such fellows, people are tired out
+and withhold their contributions to men of real merit; and, at the
+same time, you are contributing to fill the world, not only with
+nonsense, but with all the scurrility, indecency, and profaneness with
+which the age abounds, and with which all bad writers supply the
+defect of genius."
+
+"Pugh!" cries the colonel, "I never consider these matters. Good or
+bad, it is all one to me; but there's an acquaintance of mine, and a
+man of great wit too, that thinks the worst the best, as they are the
+surest to make him laugh."
+
+"I ask pardon, sir," says the serjeant; "but I wish your honour would
+consider your own affairs a little, for it grows late in the evening."
+
+"The serjeant says true," answered the colonel. "What is it you intend
+to do?"
+
+"Faith, colonel, I know not what I shall do. My affairs seem so
+irreparable, that I have been driving them as much as possibly I could
+from my mind. If I was to suffer alone, I think I could bear them with
+some philosophy; but when I consider who are to be the sharers in my
+fortune--the dearest of children, and the best, the worthiest, and the
+noblest of women---Pardon me, my dear friend, these sensations are
+above me; they convert me into a woman; they drive me to despair, to
+madness."
+
+The colonel advised him to command himself, and told him this was not
+the way to retrieve his fortune. "As to me, my dear Booth," said he,
+"you know you may command me as far as is really within my power."
+
+Booth answered eagerly, that he was so far from expecting any more
+favours from the colonel, that he had resolved not to let him know
+anything of his misfortune. "No, my dear friend," cries he, "I am too
+much obliged to you already;" and then burst into many fervent
+expressions of gratitude, till the colonel himself stopt him, and
+begged him to give an account of the debt or debts for which he was
+detained in that horrid place.
+
+Booth answered, he could not be very exact, but he feared it was
+upwards of four hundred pounds.
+
+"It is but three hundred pounds, indeed, sir," cries the serjeant; "if
+you can raise three hundred pounds, you are a free man this moment."
+
+Booth, who did not apprehend the generous meaning of the serjeant as
+well as, I believe, the reader will, answered he was mistaken; that he
+had computed his debts, and they amounted to upwards of four hundred
+pounds; nay, that the bailiff had shewn him writs for above that sum.
+
+"Whether your debts are three or four hundred," cries the colonel,
+"the present business is to give bail only, and then you will have
+some time to try your friends: I think you might get a company abroad,
+and then I would advance the money on the security of half your pay;
+and, in the mean time, I will be one of your bail with all my heart."
+
+Whilst Booth poured forth his gratitude for all this kindness, the
+serjeant ran down-stairs for the bailiff, and shortly after returned
+with him into the room.
+
+The bailiff, being informed that the colonel offered to be bail for
+his prisoner, answered a little surlily, "Well, sir, and who will be
+the other? you know, I suppose, there must be two; and I must have
+time to enquire after them."
+
+The colonel replied, "I believe, sir, I am well known to be
+responsible for a much larger sum than your demand on this gentleman;
+but, if your forms require two, I suppose the serjeant here will do
+for the other."
+
+"I don't know the serjeant nor you either, sir," cries Bondum; "and,
+if you propose yourselves bail for the gentleman, I must have time to
+enquire after you."
+
+"You need very little time to enquire after me," says the colonel,
+"for I can send for several of the law, whom I suppose you know, to
+satisfy you; but consider, it is very late."
+
+"Yes, sir," answered Bondum, "I do consider it is too late for the
+captain to be bailed to-night."
+
+"What do you mean by too late?" cries the colonel.
+
+"I mean, sir, that I must search the office, and that is now shut up;
+for, if my lord mayor and the court of aldermen would be bound for
+him, I would not discharge him till I had searched the office."
+
+"How, sir!" cries the colonel, "hath the law of England no more regard
+for the liberty of the subject than to suffer such fellows as you to
+detain a man in custody for debt, when he can give undeniable
+security?"
+
+"Don't fellow me," said the bailiff; "I am as good a fellow as
+yourself, I believe, though you have that riband in your hat there."
+
+"Do you know whom you are speaking to?" said the serjeant. "Do you
+know you are talking to a colonel of the army?"
+
+"What's a colonel of the army to me?" cries the bailiff. "I have had
+as good as he in my custody before now."
+
+"And a member of parliament?" cries the serjeant.
+
+"Is the gentleman a member of parliament?--Well, and what harm have I
+said? I am sure I meant no harm; and, if his honour is offended, I ask
+his pardon; to be sure his honour must know that the sheriff is
+answerable for all the writs in the office, though they were never so
+many, and I am answerable to the sheriff. I am sure the captain can't
+say that I have shewn him any manner of incivility since he hath been
+here.--And I hope, honourable sir," cries he, turning to the colonel,
+"you don't take anything amiss that I said, or meant by way of
+disrespect, or any such matter. I did not, indeed, as the gentleman
+here says, know who I was speaking to; but I did not say anything
+uncivil as I know of, and I hope no offence."
+
+The colonel was more easily pacified than might have been expected,
+and told the bailiff that, if it was against the rules of law to
+discharge Mr. Booth that evening, he must be contented. He then
+addressed himself to his friend, and began to prescribe comfort and
+patience to him; saying, he must rest satisfied with his confinement
+that night; and the next morning he promised to visit him again.
+
+Booth answered, that as for himself, the lying one night in any place
+was very little worth his regard. "You and I, my dear friend, have
+both spent our evening in a worse situation than I shall in this
+house. All my concern is for my poor Amelia, whose sufferings on
+account of my absence I know, and I feel with unspeakable tenderness.
+Could I be assured she was tolerably easy, I could be contented in
+chains or in a dungeon."
+
+"Give yourself no concern on her account," said the colonel; "I will
+wait on her myself, though I break an engagement for that purpose, and
+will give her such assurances as I am convinced will make her
+perfectly easy."
+
+Booth embraced his friend, and, weeping over him, paid his
+acknowledgment with tears for all his goodness. In words, indeed, he
+was not able to thank him; for gratitude, joining with his other
+passions, almost choaked him, and stopt his utterance.
+
+After a short scene in which nothing past worth recounting, the
+colonel bid his friend good night, and leaving the serjeant with him,
+made the best of his way back to Amelia.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter vii.
+
+_Worthy a very serious perusal._
+
+
+The colonel found Amelia sitting very disconsolate with Mrs. Atkinson.
+He entered the room with an air of great gaiety, assured Amelia that
+her husband was perfectly well, and that he hoped the next day he
+would again be with her.
+
+Amelia was a little comforted at this account, and vented many
+grateful expressions to the colonel for his unparalleled friendship,
+as she was pleased to call it. She could not, however, help giving way
+soon after to a sigh at the thoughts of her husband's bondage, and
+declared that night would be the longest she had ever known.
+
+"This lady, madam," cries the colonel, "must endeavour to make it
+shorter. And, if you will give me leave, I will join in the same
+endeavour." Then, after some more consolatory speeches, the colonel
+attempted to give a gay turn to the discourse, and said, "I was
+engaged to have spent this evening disagreeably at Ranelagh, with a
+set of company I did not like. How vastly am I obliged to you, dear
+Mrs. Booth, that I pass it so infinitely more to my satisfaction!"
+
+"Indeed, colonel," said Amelia, "I am convinced that to a mind so
+rightly turned as yours there must be a much sweeter relish in the
+highest offices of friendship than in any pleasures which the gayest
+public places can afford."
+
+"Upon my word, madam," said the colonel, "you now do me more than
+justice. I have, and always had, the utmost indifference for such
+pleasures. Indeed, I hardly allow them worthy of that name, or, if
+they are so at all, it is in a very low degree. In my opinion the
+highest friendship must always lead us to the highest pleasure."
+
+Here Amelia entered into a long dissertation on friendship, in which
+she pointed several times directly at the colonel as the hero of her
+tale.
+
+The colonel highly applauded all her sentiments; and when he could not
+avoid taking the compliment to himself, he received it with a most
+respectful bow. He then tried his hand likewise at description, in
+which he found means to repay all Amelia's panegyric in kind. This,
+though he did with all possible delicacy, yet a curious observer might
+have been apt to suspect that it was chiefly on her account that the
+colonel had avoided the masquerade.
+
+In discourses of this kind they passed the evening, till it was very
+late, the colonel never offering to stir from his chair before the
+clock had struck one; when he thought, perhaps, that decency obliged
+him to take his leave.
+
+As soon as he was gone Mrs. Atkinson said to Mrs. Booth, "I think,
+madam, you told me this afternoon that the colonel was married?"
+
+Amelia answered, she did so.
+
+"I think likewise, madam," said Mrs. Atkinson, "you was acquainted
+with the colonel's lady?"
+
+Amelia answered that she had been extremely intimate with her abroad.
+
+"Is she young and handsome?" said Mrs. Atkinson. "In short, pray, was
+it a match of love or convenience?"
+
+Amelia answered, entirely of love, she believed, on his side; for that
+the lady had little or no fortune.
+
+"I am very glad to hear it," said Mrs. Atkinson; "for I am sure the
+colonel is in love with somebody. I think I never saw a more luscious
+picture of love drawn than that which he was pleased to give us as the
+portraiture of friendship. I have read, indeed, of Pylades and
+Orestes, Damon and Pythias, and other great friends of old; nay, I
+sometimes flatter myself that I am capable of being a friend myself;
+but as for that fine, soft, tender, delicate passion, which he was
+pleased to describe, I am convinced there must go a he and a she to
+the composition."
+
+"Upon my word, my dear, you are mistaken," cries Amelia. "If you had
+known the friendship which hath always subsisted between the colonel
+and my husband, you would not imagine it possible for any description
+to exceed it. Nay, I think his behaviour this very day is sufficient
+to convince you."
+
+"I own what he hath done to-day hath great merit," said Mrs. Atkinson;
+"and yet, from what he hath said to-night--You will pardon me, dear
+madam; perhaps I am too quick-sighted in my observations; nay, I am
+afraid I am even impertinent."
+
+"Fie upon it!" cries Amelia; "how can you talk in that strain? Do you
+imagine I expect ceremony? Pray speak what you think with the utmost
+freedom."
+
+"Did he not then," said Mrs. Atkinson, "repeat the words, _the finest
+woman in the world_, more than once? did he not make use of an
+expression which might have become the mouth of Oroondates himself?
+If I remember, the words were these--that, had he been Alexander the
+Great, he should have thought it more glory to have wiped off a tear
+from the bright eyes of Statira than to have conquered fifty worlds."
+
+"Did he say so?" cries Amelia--"I think he did say something like it;
+but my thoughts were so full of my husband that I took little notice.
+But what would you infer from what he said? I hope you don't think he
+is in love with me?"
+
+"I hope he doth not think so himself," answered Mrs. Atkinson;
+"though, when he mentioned the bright eyes of Statira, he fixed his
+own eyes on yours with the most languishing air I ever beheld."
+
+Amelia was going to answer, when the serjeant arrived, and then she
+immediately fell to enquiring after her husband, and received such
+satisfactory answers to all her many questions concerning him, that
+she expressed great pleasure. These ideas so possessed her mind, that,
+without once casting her thoughts on any other matters, she took her
+leave of the serjeant and his lady, and repaired to bed to her
+children, in a room which Mrs. Atkinson had provided her in the same
+house; where we will at present wish her a good night.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter viii.
+
+_Consisting of grave matters._
+
+
+While innocence and chearful hope, in spite of the malice of fortune,
+closed the eyes of the gentle Amelia on her homely bed, and she
+enjoyed a sweet and profound sleep, the colonel lay restless all night
+on his down; his mind was affected with a kind of ague fit; sometimes
+scorched up with flaming desires, and again chilled with the coldest
+despair.
+
+There is a time, I think, according to one of our poets, _when lust
+and envy sleep_. This, I suppose, is when they are well gorged with
+the food they most delight in; but, while either of these are hungry,
+
+      Nor poppy, nor mandragora,
+      Nor all the drousy syrups of the East,
+      Will ever medicine them to slumber.
+
+The colonel was at present unhappily tormented by both these fiends.
+His last evening's conversation with Amelia had done his business
+effectually. The many kind words she had spoken to him, the many kind
+looks she had given him, as being, she conceived, the friend and
+preserver of her husband, had made an entire conquest of his heart.
+Thus the very love which she bore him, as the person to whom her
+little family were to owe their preservation and happiness, inspired
+him with thoughts of sinking them all in the lowest abyss of ruin and
+misery; and, while she smiled with all her sweetness on the supposed
+friend of her husband, she was converting that friend into his most
+bitter enemy.
+
+      Friendship, take heed; if woman interfere,
+      Be sure the hour of thy destruction's near.
+
+These are the lines of Vanbrugh; and the sentiment is better than the
+poetry. To say the truth, as a handsome wife is the cause and cement
+of many false friendships, she is often too liable to destroy the real
+ones.
+
+Thus the object of the colonel's lust very plainly appears, but the
+object of his envy may be more difficult to discover. Nature and
+Fortune had seemed to strive with a kind of rivalship which should
+bestow most on the colonel. The former had given him person, parts,
+and constitution, in all which he was superior to almost every other
+man. The latter had given him rank in life, and riches, both in a very
+eminent degree. Whom then should this happy man envy? Here, lest
+ambition should mislead the reader to search the palaces of the great,
+we will direct him at once to Gray's-inn-lane; where, in a miserable
+bed, in a miserable room, he will see a miserable broken lieutenant,
+in a miserable condition, with several heavy debts on his back, and
+without a penny in his pocket. This, and no other, was the object of
+the colonel's envy. And why? because this wretch was possessed of the
+affections of a poor little lamb, which all the vast flocks that were
+within the power and reach of the colonel could not prevent that
+glutton's longing for. And sure this image of the lamb is not
+improperly adduced on this occasion; for what was the colonel's desire
+but to lead this poor lamb, as it were, to the slaughter, in order to
+purchase a feast of a few days by her final destruction, and to tear
+her away from the arms of one where she was sure of being fondled and
+caressed all the days of her life.
+
+While the colonel was agitated with these thoughts, his greatest
+comfort was, that Amelia and Booth were now separated; and his
+greatest terror was of their coming again together. From wishes,
+therefore, he began to meditate designs; and so far was he from any
+intention of procuring the liberty of his friend, that he began to
+form schemes of prolonging his confinement, till he could procure some
+means of sending him away far from her; in which case he doubted not
+but of succeeding in all he desired.
+
+He was forming this plan in his mind when a servant informed him that
+one serjeant Atkinson desired to speak with his honour. The serjeant
+was immediately admitted, and acquainted the colonel that, if he
+pleased to go and become bail for Mr. Booth, another unexceptionable
+housekeeper would be there to join with him. This person the serjeant
+had procured that morning, and had, by leave of his wife, given him a
+bond of indemnification for the purpose.
+
+The colonel did not seem so elated with this news as Atkinson
+expected. On the contrary, instead of making a direct answer to what
+Atkinson said, the colonel began thus: "I think, serjeant, Mr. Booth
+hath told me that you was foster-brother to his lady. She is really a
+charming woman, and it is a thousand pities she should ever have been
+placed in the dreadful situation she is now in. There is nothing so
+silly as for subaltern officers of the army to marry, unless where
+they meet with women of very great fortunes indeed. What can be the
+event of their marrying otherwise, but entailing misery and beggary on
+their wives and their posterity?"
+
+"Ah! sir," cries the serjeant, "it is too late to think of those
+matters now. To be sure, my lady might have married one of the top
+gentlemen in the country; for she is certainly one of the best as well
+as one of the handsomest women in the kingdom; and, if she had been
+fairly dealt by, would have had a very great fortune into the bargain.
+Indeed, she is worthy of the greatest prince in the world; and, if I
+had been the greatest prince in the world, I should have thought
+myself happy with such a wife; but she was pleased to like the
+lieutenant, and certainly there can be no happiness in marriage
+without liking."
+
+"Lookee, serjeant," said the colonel; "you know very well that I am
+the lieutenant's friend. I think I have shewn myself so."
+
+"Indeed your honour hath," quoth the serjeant, "more than once to my
+knowledge."
+
+"But I am angry with him for his imprudence, greatly angry with him
+for his imprudence; and the more so, as it affects a lady of so much
+worth."
+
+"She is, indeed, a lady of the highest worth," cries the serjeant.
+"Poor dear lady! I knew her, an 't please your honour, from her
+infancy; and the sweetest-tempered, best-natured lady she is that ever
+trod on English ground. I have always loved her as if she was my own
+sister. Nay, she hath very often called me brother; and I have taken
+it to be a greater honour than if I was to be called a general
+officer."
+
+"What pity it is," said the colonel, "that this worthy creature should
+be exposed to so much misery by the thoughtless behaviour of a man
+who, though I am his friend, I cannot help saying, hath been guilty of
+imprudence at least! Why could he not live upon his half-pay? What had
+he to do to run himself into debt in this outrageous manner?"
+
+"I wish, indeed," cries the serjeant, "he had been a little more
+considerative; but I hope this will be a warning to him."
+
+"How am I sure of that," answered the colonel; "or what reason is
+there to expect it? extravagance is a vice of which men are not so
+easily cured. I have thought a great deal of this matter, Mr.
+serjeant; and, upon the most mature deliberation, I am of opinion that
+it will be better, both for him and his poor lady, that he should
+smart a little more."
+
+"Your honour, sir, to be sure is in the right," replied the serjeant;
+"but yet, sir, if you will pardon me for speaking, I hope you will be
+pleased to consider my poor lady's case. She suffers, all this while,
+as much or more than the lieutenant; for I know her so well, that I am
+certain she will never have a moment's ease till her husband is out of
+confinement."
+
+"I know women better than you, serjeant," cries the colonel; "they
+sometimes place their affections on a husband as children do on their
+nurse; but they are both to be weaned. I know you, serjeant, to be a
+fellow of sense as well as spirit, or I should not speak so freely to
+you; but I took a fancy to you a long time ago, and I intend to serve
+you; but first, I ask you this question--Is your attachment to Mr.
+Booth or his lady?"
+
+"Certainly, sir," said the serjeant, "I must love my lady best. Not
+but I have a great affection for the lieutenant too, because I know my
+lady hath the same; and, indeed, he hath been always very good to me
+as far as was in his power. A lieutenant, your honour knows, can't do
+a great deal; but I have always found him my friend upon all
+occasions."
+
+"You say true," cries the colonel; "a lieutenant can do but little;
+but I can do much to serve you, and will too. But let me ask you one
+question: Who was the lady whom I saw last night with Mrs. Booth at
+her lodgings?"
+
+Here the serjeant blushed, and repeated, "The lady, sir?"
+
+"Ay, a lady, a woman," cries the colonel, "who supped with us last
+night. She looked rather too much like a gentlewoman for the mistress
+of a lodging-house."
+
+The serjeant's cheeks glowed at this compliment to his wife; and he
+was just going to own her when the colonel proceeded: "I think I never
+saw in my life so ill-looking, sly, demure a b---; I would give
+something, methinks, to know who she was."
+
+"I don't know, indeed," cries the serjeant, in great confusion; "I
+know nothing about her."
+
+"I wish you would enquire," said the colonel, "and let me know her
+name, and likewise what she is: I have a strange curiosity to know,
+and let me see you again this evening exactly at seven."
+
+"And will not your honour then go to the lieutenant this morning?"
+said Atkinson.
+
+"It is not in my power," answered the colonel; "I am engaged another
+way. Besides, there is no haste in this affair. If men will be
+imprudent they must suffer the consequences. Come to me at seven, and
+bring me all the particulars you can concerning that ill-looking jade
+I mentioned to you, for I am resolved to know who she is. And so good-
+morrow to you, serjeant; be assured I will take an opportunity to do
+something for you."
+
+Though some readers may, perhaps, think the serjeant not unworthy of
+the freedom with which the colonel treated him; yet that haughty
+officer would have been very backward to have condescended to such
+familiarity with one of his rank had he not proposed some design from
+it. In truth, he began to conceive hopes of making the serjeant
+instrumental to his design on Amelia; in other words, to convert him
+into a pimp; an office in which the colonel had been served by
+Atkinson's betters, and which, as he knew it was in his power very
+well to reward him, he had no apprehension that the serjeant would
+decline--an opinion which the serjeant might have pardoned, though he
+had never given the least grounds for it, since the colonel borrowed
+it from the knowledge of his own heart. This dictated to him that he,
+from a bad motive, was capable of desiring to debauch his friend's
+wife; and the same heart inspired him to hope that another, from
+another bad motive, might be guilty of the same breach of friendship
+in assisting him. Few men, I believe, think better of others than of
+themselves; nor do they easily allow the existence of any virtue of
+which they perceive no traces in their own minds; for which reason I
+have observed, that it is extremely difficult to persuade a rogue that
+you are an honest man; nor would you ever succeed in the attempt by
+the strongest evidence, was it not for the comfortable conclusion
+which the rogue draws, that he who proves himself to be honest proves
+himself to be a fool at the same time.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter ix.
+
+_A curious chapter, from which a curious reader may draw sundry
+observations._
+
+
+The serjeant retired from the colonel in a very dejected state of
+mind: in which, however, we must leave him awhile and return to
+Amelia; who, as soon as she was up, had despatched Mrs. Atkinson to
+pay off her former lodgings, and to bring off all cloaths and other
+moveables.
+
+The trusty messenger returned without performing her errand, for Mrs.
+Ellison had locked up all her rooms, and was gone out very early that
+morning, and the servant knew not whither she was gone.
+
+The two ladies now sat down to breakfast, together with Amelia's two
+children; after which, Amelia declared she would take a coach and
+visit her husband. To this motion Mrs. Atkinson soon agreed, and
+offered to be her companion. To say truth, I think it was reasonable
+enough; and the great abhorrence which Booth had of seeing his wife in
+a bailiff's house was, perhaps, rather too nice and delicate.
+
+When the ladies were both drest, and just going to send for their
+vehicle, a great knocking was heard at the door, and presently Mrs.
+James was ushered into the room.
+
+This visit was disagreeable enough to Amelia, as it detained her from
+the sight of her husband, for which she so eagerly longed. However, as
+she had no doubt but that the visit would be reasonably short, she
+resolved to receive the lady with all the complaisance in her power.
+
+Mrs. James now behaved herself so very unlike the person that she
+lately appeared, that it might have surprized any one who doth not
+know that besides that of a fine lady, which is all mere art and
+mummery, every such woman hath some real character at the bottom, in
+which, whenever nature gets the better of her, she acts. Thus the
+finest ladies in the world will sometimes love, and sometimes scratch,
+according to their different natural dispositions, with great fury and
+violence, though both of these are equally inconsistent with a fine
+lady's artificial character.
+
+Mrs. James then was at the bottom a very good-natured woman, and the
+moment she heard of Amelia's misfortune was sincerely grieved at it.
+She had acquiesced on the very first motion with the colonel's design
+of inviting her to her house; and this morning at breakfast, when he
+had acquainted her that Amelia made some difficulty in accepting the
+offer, very readily undertook to go herself and persuade her friend to
+accept the invitation.
+
+She now pressed this matter with such earnestness, that Amelia, who
+was not extremely versed in the art of denying, was hardly able to
+refuse her importunity; nothing, indeed, but her affection to Mrs.
+Atkinson could have prevailed on her to refuse; that point, however,
+she would not give up, and Mrs. James, at last, was contented with a
+promise that, as soon as their affairs were settled, Amelia, with her
+husband and family, would make her a visit, and stay some time with
+her in the country, whither she was soon to retire.
+
+Having obtained this promise, Mrs. James, after many very friendly
+professions, took her leave, and, stepping into her coach, reassumed
+the fine lady, and drove away to join her company at an auction.
+
+The moment she was gone Mrs. Atkinson, who had left the room upon the
+approach of Mrs. James, returned into it, and was informed by Amelia
+of all that had past.
+
+"Pray, madam," said Mrs. Atkinson, "do this colonel and his lady live,
+as it is called, well together?"
+
+"If you mean to ask," cries Amelia, "whether they are a very fond
+couple, I must answer that I believe they are not."
+
+"I have been told," says Mrs. Atkinson, "that there have been
+instances of women who have become bawds to their own husbands, and
+the husbands pimps for them."
+
+"Fie upon it!" cries Amelia. "I hope there are no such people. Indeed,
+my dear, this is being a little too censorious."
+
+"Call it what you please," answered Mrs. Atkinson; "it arises from my
+love to you and my fears for your danger. You know the proverb of a
+burnt child; and, if such a one hath any good-nature, it will dread
+the fire on the account of others as well as on its own. And, if I may
+speak my sentiments freely, I cannot think you will be in safety at
+this colonel's house."
+
+"I cannot but believe your apprehensions to be sincere," replied
+Amelia; "and I must think myself obliged to you for them; but I am
+convinced you are entirely in an error. I look on Colonel James as the
+most generous and best of men. He was a friend, and an excellent
+friend too, to my husband, long before I was acquainted with him, and
+he hath done him a thousand good offices. What do you say of his
+behaviour yesterday?"
+
+"I wish," cries Mrs. Atkinson, "that this behaviour to-day had been
+equal. What I am now going to undertake is the most disagreeable
+office of friendship, but it is a necessary one. I must tell you,
+therefore, what past this morning between the colonel and Mr.
+Atkinson; for, though it will hurt you, you ought, on many accounts,
+to know it." Here she related the whole, which we have recorded in the
+preceding chapter, and with which the serjeant had acquainted her
+while Mrs. James was paying her visit to Amelia. And, as the serjeant
+had painted the matter rather in stronger colours than the colonel, so
+Mrs. Atkinson again a little improved on the serjeant. Neither of
+these good people, perhaps, intended to aggravate any circumstance;
+but such is, I believe, the unavoidable consequence of all reports.
+Mrs. Atkinson, indeed, may be supposed not to see what related to
+James in the most favourable light, as the serjeant, with more honesty
+than prudence, had suggested to his wife that the colonel had not the
+kindest opinion of her, and had called her a sly and demure---: it is
+true he omitted ill-looking b---; two words which are, perhaps,
+superior to the patience of any Job in petticoats that ever lived. He
+made amends, however, by substituting some other phrases in their
+stead, not extremely agreeable to a female ear.
+
+It appeared to Amelia, from Mrs. Atkinson's relation, that the colonel
+had grossly abused Booth to the serjeant, and had absolutely refused
+to become his bail. Poor Amelia became a pale and motionless statue at
+this account. At length she cried, "If this be true, I and mine are
+all, indeed, undone. We have no comfort, no hope, no friend left. I
+cannot disbelieve you. I know you would not deceive me. Why should
+you, indeed, deceive me? But what can have caused this alteration
+since last night? Did I say or do anything to offend him?"
+
+"You said and did rather, I believe, a great deal too much to please
+him," answered Mrs. Atkinson. "Besides, he is not in the least
+offended with you. On the contrary, he said many kind things."
+
+"What can my poor love have done?" said Amelia. "He hath not seen the
+colonel since last night. Some villain hath set him against my
+husband; he was once before suspicious of such a person. Some cruel
+monster hath belied his innocence!"
+
+"Pardon me, dear madam," said Mrs. Atkinson; "I believe the person who
+hath injured the captain with this friend of his is one of the
+worthiest and best of creatures--nay, do not be surprized; the person
+I mean is even your fair self: sure you would not be so dull in any
+other case; but in this, gratitude, humility, modesty, every virtue,
+shuts your eyes.
+
+    _Mortales hebetant visus,_
+
+as Virgil says. What in the world can be more consistent than his
+desire to have you at his own house and to keep your husband confined
+in another? All that he said and all that he did yesterday, and, what
+is more convincing to me than both, all that he looked last night, are
+very consistent with both these designs."
+
+"O Heavens!" cries Amelia, "you chill my blood with horror! the idea
+freezes me to death; I cannot, must not, will not think it. Nothing
+but conviction! Heaven forbid I should ever have more conviction! And
+did he abuse my husband? what? did he abuse a poor, unhappy, distrest
+creature, opprest, ruined, torn from his children, torn away from his
+wretched wife; the honestest, worthiest, noblest, tenderest, fondest,
+best--" Here she burst into an agony of grief, which exceeds the power
+of description.
+
+In this situation Mrs. Atkinson was doing her utmost to support her
+when a most violent knocking was heard at the door, and immediately
+the serjeant ran hastily into the room, bringing with him a cordial
+which presently relieved Amelia. What this cordial was, we shall
+inform the reader in due time. In the mean while he must suspend his
+curiosity; and the gentlemen at White's may lay wagers whether it was
+Ward's pill or Dr James's powder.
+
+But before we close this chapter, and return back to the bailiff's
+house, we must do our best to rescue the character of our heroine from
+the dulness of apprehension, which several of our quick-sighted
+readers may lay more heavily to her charge than was done by her friend
+Mrs. Atkinson.
+
+I must inform, therefore, all such readers, that it is not because
+innocence is more blind than guilt that the former often overlooks and
+tumbles into the pit which the latter foresees and avoids. The truth
+is, that it is almost impossible guilt should miss the discovering of
+all the snares in its way, as it is constantly prying closely into
+every corner in order to lay snares for others. Whereas innocence,
+having no such purpose, walks fearlessly and carelessly through life,
+and is consequently liable to tread on the gins which cunning hath
+laid to entrap it. To speak plainly and without allegory or figure, it
+is not want of sense, but want of suspicion, by which innocence is
+often betrayed. Again, we often admire at the folly of the dupe, when
+we should transfer our whole surprize to the astonishing guilt of the
+betrayer. In a word, many an innocent person hath owed his ruin to
+this circumstance alone, that the degree of villany was such as must
+have exceeded the faith of every man who was not himself a villain.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter x.
+
+_In which are many profound secrets of philosophy._
+
+
+Booth, having had enough of the author's company the preceding day,
+chose now another companion. Indeed the author was not very solicitous
+of a second interview; for, as he could have no hope from Booth's
+pocket, so he was not likely to receive much increase to his vanity
+from Booth's conversation; for, low as this wretch was in virtue,
+sense, learning, birth, and fortune, he was by no means low in his
+vanity. This passion, indeed, was so high in him, and at the same time
+so blinded him to his own demerits, that he hated every man who did
+not either flatter him or give him money. In short, he claimed a
+strange kind of right, either to cheat all his acquaintance of their
+praise or to pick their pockets of their pence, in which latter case
+he himself repaid very liberally with panegyric.
+
+A very little specimen of such a fellow must have satisfied a man of
+Mr. Booth's temper. He chose, therefore, now to associate himself with
+that gentleman of whom Bondum had given so shabby a character. In
+short, Mr. Booth's opinion of the bailiff was such, that he
+recommended a man most where he least intended it. Nay, the bailiff in
+the present instance, though he had drawn a malicious conclusion,
+honestly avowed that this was drawn only from the poverty of the
+person, which is never, I believe, any forcible disrecommendation to a
+good mind: but he must have had a very bad mind indeed, who, in Mr.
+Booth's circumstances, could have disliked or despised another man
+because that other man was poor.
+
+Some previous conversation having past between this gentleman and
+Booth, in which they had both opened their several situations to each
+other, the former, casting an affectionate look on the latter, exprest
+great compassion for his circumstances, for which Booth, thanking him,
+said, "You must have a great deal of compassion, and be a very good
+man, in such a terrible situation as you describe yourself, to have
+any pity to spare for other people."
+
+"My affairs, sir," answered the gentleman, "are very bad, it is true,
+and yet there is one circumstance which makes you appear to me more
+the object of pity than I am to myself; and it is this--that you must
+from your years be a novice in affliction, whereas I have served a
+long apprenticeship to misery, and ought, by this time, to be a pretty
+good master of my trade. To say the truth, I believe habit teaches men
+to bear the burthens of the mind, as it inures them to bear heavy
+burthens on their shoulders. Without use and experience, the strongest
+minds and bodies both will stagger under a weight which habit might
+render easy and even contemptible."
+
+"There is great justice," cries Booth, "in the comparison; and I think
+I have myself experienced the truth of it; for I am not that tyro in
+affliction which you seem to apprehend me. And perhaps it is from the
+very habit you mention that I am able to support my present
+misfortunes a little like a man."
+
+The gentleman smiled at this, and cried, "Indeed, captain, you are a
+young philosopher."
+
+"I think," cries Booth, "I have some pretensions to that philosophy
+which is taught by misfortunes, and you seem to be of opinion, sir,
+that is one of the best schools of philosophy."
+
+"I mean no more, sir," said the gentleman, "than that in the days of
+our affliction we are inclined to think more seriously than in those
+seasons of life when we are engaged in the hurrying pursuits of
+business or pleasure, when we have neither leisure nor inclination to
+sift and examine things to the bottom. Now there are two
+considerations which, from my having long fixed my thoughts upon them,
+have greatly supported me under all my afflictions. The one is the
+brevity of life even at its longest duration, which the wisest of men
+hath compared to the short dimension of a span. One of the Roman poets
+compares it to the duration of a race; and another, to the much
+shorter transition of a wave.
+
+"The second consideration is the uncertainty of it. Short as its
+utmost limits are, it is far from being assured of reaching those
+limits. The next day, the next hour, the next moment, may be the end
+of our course. Now of what value is so uncertain, so precarious a
+station? This consideration, indeed, however lightly it is passed over
+in our conception, doth, in a great measure, level all fortunes and
+conditions, and gives no man a right to triumph in the happiest state,
+or any reason to repine in the most miserable. Would the most worldly
+men see this in the light in which they examine all other matters,
+they would soon feel and acknowledge the force of this way of
+reasoning; for which of them would give any price for an estate from
+which they were liable to be immediately ejected? or, would they not
+laugh at him as a madman who accounted himself rich from such an
+uncertain possession? This is the fountain, sir, from which I have
+drawn my philosophy. Hence it is that I have learnt to look on all
+those things which are esteemed the blessings of life, and those which
+are dreaded as its evils, with such a degree of indifference that, as
+I should not be elated with possessing the former, so neither am I
+greatly dejected and depressed by suffering the latter. Is the actor
+esteemed happier to whose lot it falls to play the principal part than
+he who plays the lowest? and yet the drama may run twenty nights
+together, and by consequence may outlast our lives; but, at the best,
+life is only a little longer drama, and the business of the great
+stage is consequently a little more serious than that which is
+performed at the Theatre-royal. But even here, the catastrophes and
+calamities which are represented are capable of affecting us. The
+wisest men can deceive themselves into feeling the distresses of a
+tragedy, though they know them to be merely imaginary; and the
+children will often lament them as realities: what wonder then, if
+these tragical scenes which I allow to be a little more serious,
+should a little more affect us? where then is the remedy but in the
+philosophy I have mentioned, which, when once by a long course of
+meditation it is reduced to a habit, teaches us to set a just value on
+everything, and cures at once all eager wishes and abject fears, all
+violent joy and grief concerning objects which cannot endure long, and
+may not exist a moment."
+
+"You have exprest yourself extremely well," cries Booth; "and I
+entirely agree with the justice of your sentiments; but, however true
+all this may be in theory, I still doubt its efficacy in practice. And
+the cause of the difference between these two is this; that we reason
+from our heads, but act from our hearts:
+
+      _---Video meliora, proboque;
+         Deteriora sequor._
+
+Nothing can differ more widely than wise men and fools in their
+estimation of things; but, as both act from their uppermost passion,
+they both often act like. What comfort then can your philosophy give
+to an avaricious man who is deprived of his riches or to an ambitious
+man who is stript of his power? to the fond lover who is torn from his
+mistress or to the tender husband who is dragged from his wife? Do you
+really think that any meditations on the shortness of life will soothe
+them in their afflictions? Is not this very shortness itself one of
+their afflictions? and if the evil they suffer be a temporary
+deprivation of what they love, will they not think their fate the
+harder, and lament the more, that they are to lose any part of an
+enjoyment to which there is so short and so uncertain a period?"
+
+"I beg leave, sir," said the gentleman, "to distinguish here. By
+philosophy, I do not mean the bare knowledge of right and wrong, but
+an energy, a habit, as Aristotle calls it; and this I do firmly
+believe, with him and with the Stoics, is superior to all the attacks
+of fortune."
+
+He was proceeding when the bailiff came in, and in a surly tone bad
+them both good-morrow; after which he asked the philosopher if he was
+prepared to go to Newgate; for that he must carry him thither that
+afternoon.
+
+The poor man seemed very much shocked with this news. "I hope," cries
+he, "you will give a little longer time, if not till the return of the
+writ. But I beg you particularly not to carry me thither to-day, for I
+expect my wife and children here in the evening."
+
+"I have nothing to do with wives and children," cried the bailiff; "I
+never desire to see any wives and children here. I like no such
+company."
+
+"I intreat you," said the prisoner, "give me another day. I shall take
+it as a great obligation; and you will disappoint me in the cruellest
+manner in the world if you refuse me."
+
+"I can't help people's disappointments," cries the bailiff; "I must
+consider myself and my own family. I know not where I shall be paid
+the money that's due already. I can't afford to keep prisoners at my
+own expense."
+
+"I don't intend it shall be at your expense" cries the philosopher;
+"my wife is gone to raise money this morning; and I hope to pay you
+all I owe you at her arrival. But we intend to sup together to-night
+at your house; and, if you should remove me now, it would be the most
+barbarous disappointment to us both, and will make me the most
+miserable man alive."
+
+"Nay, for my part," said the bailiff, "I don't desire to do anything
+barbarous. I know how to treat gentlemen with civility as well as
+another. And when people pay as they go, and spend their money like
+gentlemen, I am sure nobody can accuse me of any incivility since I
+have been in the office. And if you intend to be merry to-night I am
+not the man that will prevent it. Though I say it, you may have as
+good a supper drest here as at any tavern in town."
+
+"Since Mr. Bondum is so kind, captain," said the philosopher, "I hope
+for the favour of your company. I assure you, if it ever be my fortune
+to go abroad into the world, I shall be proud of the honour of your
+acquaintance."
+
+"Indeed, sir," cries Booth, "it is an honour I shall be very ready to
+accept; but as for this evening, I cannot help saying I hope to be
+engaged in another place."
+
+"I promise you, sir," answered the other, "I shall rejoice at your
+liberty, though I am a loser by it."
+
+"Why, as to that matter," cries Bondum with a sneer, "I fancy,
+captain, you may engage yourself to the gentleman without any fear of
+breaking your word; for I am very much mistaken if we part to-day."
+
+"Pardon me, my good friend," said Booth, "but I expect my bail every
+minute."
+
+"Lookee, sir," cries Bondum, "I don't love to see gentlemen in an
+error. I shall not take the serjeant's bail; and as for the colonel, I
+have been with him myself this morning (for to be sure I love to do
+all I can for gentlemen), and he told me he could not possibly be here
+to-day; besides, why should I mince the matter? there is more stuff in
+the office."
+
+"What do you mean by stuff?" cries Booth.
+
+"I mean that there is another writ," answered the bailiff, "at the
+suit of Mrs. Ellison, the gentlewoman that was here yesterday; and the
+attorney that was with her is concerned against you. Some officers
+would not tell you all this; but I loves to shew civility to gentlemen
+while they behave themselves as such. And I loves the gentlemen of the
+army in particular. I had like to have been in the army myself once;
+but I liked the commission I have better. Come, captain, let not your
+noble courage be cast down; what say you to a glass of white wine, or
+a tiff of punch, by way of whet?"
+
+"I have told you, sir, I never drink in the morning," cries Booth a
+little peevishly.
+
+"No offence I hope, sir," said the bailiff; "I hope I have not treated
+you with any incivility. I don't ask any gentleman to call for liquor
+in my house if he doth not chuse it; nor I don't desire anybody to
+stay here longer than they have a mind to. Newgate, to be sure, is the
+place for all debtors that can't find bail. I knows what civility is,
+and I scorn to behave myself unbecoming a gentleman: but I'd have you
+consider that the twenty-four hours appointed by act of parliament are
+almost out; and so it is time to think of removing. As to bail, I
+would not have you flatter yourself; for I knows very well there are
+other things coming against you. Besides, the sum you are already
+charged with is very large, and I must see you in a place of safety.
+My house is no prison, though I lock up for a little time in it.
+Indeed, when gentlemen are gentlemen, and likely to find bail, I don't
+stand for a day or two; but I have a good nose at a bit of carrion,
+captain; I have not carried so much carrion to Newgate, without
+knowing the smell of it."
+
+"I understand not your cant," cries Booth; "but I did not think to
+have offended you so much by refusing to drink in a morning."
+
+"Offended me, sir!" cries the bailiff. "Who told you so? Do you think,
+sir, if I want a glass of wine I am under any necessity of asking my
+prisoners for it? Damn it, sir, I'll shew you I scorn your words. I
+can afford to treat you with a glass of the best wine in England, if
+you comes to that." He then pulled out a handful of guineas, saying,
+"There, sir, they are all my own; I owe nobody a shilling. I am no
+beggar, nor no debtor. I am the king's officer as well as you, and I
+will spend guinea for guinea as long as you please."
+
+"Harkee, rascal," cries Booth, laying hold of the bailiff's collar.
+"How dare you treat me with this insolence? doth the law give you any
+authority to insult me in my misfortunes?" At which words he gave the
+bailiff a good shove, and threw him from him.
+
+"Very well, sir," cries the bailiff; "I will swear both an assault and
+an attempt to a rescue. If officers are to be used in this manner,
+there is an end of all law and justice. But, though I am not a match
+for you myself, I have those below that are." He then ran to the door
+and called up two ill-looking fellows, his followers, whom, as soon as
+they entered the room, he ordered to seize on Booth, declaring he
+would immediately carry him to Newgate; at the same time pouring out a
+vast quantity of abuse, below the dignity of history to record.
+
+Booth desired the two dirty fellows to stand off, and declared he
+would make no resistance; at the same time bidding the bailiff carry
+him wherever he durst.
+
+"I'll shew you what I dare," cries the bailiff; and again ordered the
+followers to lay hold of their prisoner, saying, "He has assaulted me
+already, and endeavoured a rescue. I shan't trust such a fellow to
+walk at liberty. A gentleman, indeed! ay, ay, Newgate is the properest
+place for such gentry; as arrant carrion as ever was carried thither."
+
+The fellows then both laid violent hands on Booth, and the bailiff
+stept to the door to order a coach; when, on a sudden, the whole scene
+was changed in an instant; for now the serjeant came running out of
+breath into the room; and, seeing his friend the captain roughly
+handled by two ill-looking fellows, without asking any questions stept
+briskly up to his assistance, and instantly gave one of the assailants
+so violent a salute with his fist, that he directly measured his
+length on the floor.
+
+Booth, having by this means his right arm at liberty, was unwilling to
+be idle, or entirely to owe his rescue from both the ruffians to the
+serjeant; he therefore imitated the example which his friend had set
+him, and with a lusty blow levelled the other follower with his
+companion on the ground.
+
+The bailiff roared out, "A rescue, a rescue!" to which the serjeant
+answered there was no rescue intended. "The captain," said he, "wants
+no rescue. Here are some friends coming who will deliver him in a
+better manner."
+
+The bailiff swore heartily he would carry him to Newgate in spite of
+all the friends in the world.
+
+"You carry him to Newgate!" cried the serjeant, with the highest
+indignation. "Offer but to lay your hands on him, and I will knock
+your teeth down your ugly jaws." Then, turning to Booth, he cried,
+"They will be all here within a minute, sir; we had much ado to keep
+my lady from coming herself; but she is at home in good health,
+longing to see your honour; and I hope you will be with her within
+this half-hour."
+
+And now three gentlemen entered the room; these were an attorney, the
+person whom the serjeant had procured in the morning to be his bail
+with Colonel James, and lastly Doctor Harrison himself.
+
+The bailiff no sooner saw the attorney, with whom he was well
+acquainted (for the others he knew not), than he began, as the phrase
+is, to pull in his horns, and ordered the two followers, who were now
+got again on their legs, to walk down-stairs.
+
+"So, captain," says the doctor, "when last we parted, I believe we
+neither of us expected to meet in such a place as this."
+
+"Indeed, doctor," cries Booth, "I did not expect to have been sent
+hither by the gentleman who did me that favour."
+
+"How so, sir?" said the doctor; "you was sent hither by some person, I
+suppose, to whom you was indebted. This is the usual place, I
+apprehend, for creditors to send their debtors to. But you ought to be
+more surprized that the gentleman who sent you hither is come to
+release you. Mr. Murphy, you will perform all the necessary
+ceremonials."
+
+The attorney then asked the bailiff with how many actions Booth was
+charged, and was informed there were five besides the doctor's, which
+was much the heaviest of all. Proper bonds were presently provided,
+and the doctor and the serjeant's friend signed them; the bailiff, at
+the instance of the attorney, making no objection to the bail.
+
+[Illustration: _Lawyer Murphy_]
+
+Booth, we may be assured, made a handsome speech to the doctor for
+such extraordinary friendship, with which, however, we do not think
+proper to trouble the reader; and now everything being ended, and the
+company ready to depart, the bailiff stepped up to Booth, and told him
+he hoped he would remember civility-money.
+
+"I believe" cries Booth, "you mean incivility-money; if there are any
+fees due for rudeness, I must own you have a very just claim."
+
+"I am sure, sir," cries the bailiff, "I have treated your honour with
+all the respect in the world; no man, I am sure, can charge me with
+using a gentleman rudely. I knows what belongs to a gentleman better;
+but you can't deny that two of my men have been knocked down; and I
+doubt not but, as you are a gentleman, you will give them something to
+drink."
+
+Booth was about to answer with some passion, when the attorney
+interfered, and whispered in his ear that it was usual to make a
+compliment to the officer, and that he had better comply with the
+custom.
+
+"If the fellow had treated me civilly," answered Booth, "I should have
+had no objection to comply with a bad custom in his favour; but I am
+resolved I will never reward a man for using me ill; and I will not
+agree to give him a single farthing."
+
+"'Tis very well, sir," said the bailiff; "I am rightly served for my
+good-nature; but, if it had been to do again, I would have taken care
+you should not have been bailed this day."
+
+Doctor Harrison, to whom Booth referred the cause, after giving him a
+succinct account of what had passed, declared the captain to be in the
+right. He said it was a most horrid imposition that such fellows were
+ever suffered to prey on the necessitous; but that the example would
+be much worse to reward them where they had behaved themselves ill.
+"And I think," says he, "the bailiff is worthy of great rebuke for
+what he hath just now said; in which I hope he hath boasted of more
+power than is in him. We do, indeed, with great justice and propriety
+value ourselves on our freedom if the liberty of the subject depends
+on the pleasure of such fellows as these!"
+
+"It is not so neither altogether," cries the lawyer; "but custom hath
+established a present or fee to them at the delivery of a prisoner,
+which they call civility-money, and expect as in a manner their due,
+though in reality they have no right."
+
+"But will any man," cries Doctor Harrison, "after what the captain
+hath told us, say that the bailiff hath behaved himself as he ought;
+and, if he had, is he to be rewarded for not acting in an unchristian
+and inhuman manner? it is pity that, instead of a custom of feeing
+them out of the pockets of the poor and wretched, when they do not
+behave themselves ill, there was not both a law and a practice to
+punish them severely when they do. In the present case, I am so far
+from agreeing to give the bailiff a shilling, that, if there be any
+method of punishing him for his rudeness, I shall be heartily glad to
+see it put in execution; for there are none whose conduct should be so
+strictly watched as that of these necessary evils in the society, as
+their office concerns for the most part those poor creatures who
+cannot do themselves justice, and as they are generally the worst of
+men who undertake it."
+
+The bailiff then quitted the room, muttering that he should know
+better what to do another time; and shortly after, Booth and his
+friends left the house; but, as they were going out, the author took
+Doctor Harrison aside, and slipt a receipt into his hand, which the
+doctor returned, saying, he never subscribed when he neither knew the
+work nor the author; but that, if he would call at his lodgings, he
+would be very willing to give all the encouragement to merit which was
+in his power.
+
+The author took down the doctor's name and direction, and made him as
+many bows as he would have done had he carried off the half-guinea for
+which he had been fishing.
+
+Mr. Booth then took his leave of the philosopher, and departed with
+the rest of his friends.
+
+END OF VOL. II.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Amelia Volume II, by Henry Fielding
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