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diff --git a/6098.txt b/6098.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..70179d3 --- /dev/null +++ b/6098.txt @@ -0,0 +1,22592 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Amelia, by Henry Fielding + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Amelia + Complete + +Author: Henry Fielding + +Editor: George Saintsbury + + +Release Date: July, 2004 [EBook #6098] +This file was first posted on November 5, 2002 +Last Updated: June 17, 2013 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AMELIA *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + + + + + + +AMELIA + +Complete + +By Henry Fielding + + +Edited By George Saintsbury + +With Illustrations By Herbert Railton & E. J. Wheeler. + +MDCCCXCIII + + +INTRODUCTION + +DEDICATION TO RALPH ALLEN, ESQ + + +BOOK I. + + +CHAPTER I. Containing the exordium, &c. + +CHAPTER II. The history sets out. Observations on the excellency of the +English constitution and curious examinations before a justice of peace + +CHAPTER III. Containing the inside of a prison + +CHAPTER IV. Disclosing further secrets of the prison-house + +CHAPTER V. Containing certain adventures which befel Mr. Booth in the +prison + +CHAPTER VI. Containing the extraordinary behaviour of Miss Matthews +on her meeting with Booth, and some endeavours to prove, by reason and +authority, that it is possible for a woman to appear to be what she +really is not + +CHAPTER VII. In which Miss Matthews begins her history + +CHAPTER VIII. The history of Miss Matthews continued + +CHAPTER IX. In which Miss Matthews concludes her relation + +CHAPTER X. Table-talk, consisting of a facetious discourse that passed +in the prison + + + +BOOK II. + + +CHAPTER I. In which Captain Booth begins to relate his history + +CHAPTER II. Mr. Booth continues his story. In this chapter there are +some passages that may serve as a kind of touchstone by which a young +lady may examine the heart of her lover. I would advise, therefore, that +every lover be obliged to read it over in the presence of his mistress, +and that she carefully watch his emotions while he is reading + +CHAPTER III. The narrative continued. More of the touchstone + +CHAPTER IV. The story of Mr. Booth continued. In this chapter the reader +will perceive a glimpse of the character of a very good divine, with +some matters of a very tender kind + +CHAPTER V. Containing strange revolutions of fortune + +CHAPTER VI. Containing many surprising adventures + +CHAPTER VII. The story of Booth continued--More surprising adventures + +CHAPTER VIII. In which our readers will probably be divided in their +opinion of Mr. Booth's conduct + +CHAPTER IX. Containing a scene of a different kind from any of the +preceding + + + +BOOK III. + + +CHAPTER I. In which Mr. Booth resumes his story + +CHAPTER II. Containing a scene of the tender kind + +CHAPTER III. In which Mr. Booth sets forward on his journey + +CHAPTER IV A sea piece + +CHAPTER V. The arrival of Booth at Gibraltar, with what there befel him + +CHAPTER VI. Containing matters which will please some readers + +CHAPTER VII. The captain, continuing his story, recounts some +particulars which, we doubt not, to many good people, will appear +unnatural + +CHAPTER VIII. The story of Booth continued + +CHAPTER IX. Containing very extraordinary matters + +CHAPTER X. Containing a letter of a very curious kind + +CHAPTER XI. In which Mr. Booth relates his return to England + +CHAPTER XII. In which Mr. Booth concludes his story + + + +BOOK IV. + + +CHAPTER I. Containing very mysterious matter + +CHAPTER II. The latter part of which we expect will please our reader +better than the former + +CHAPTER III. Containing wise observations of the author, and other +matters + +CHAPTER IV. In which Amelia appears in no unamiable light + +CHAPTER V. Containing an eulogium upon innocence, and other grave +matters + +CHAPTER VI. In which may appear that violence is sometimes done to the +name of love + +CHAPTER VII. Containing a very extraordinary and pleasant incident + +CHAPTER VIII. Containing various matters + +CHAPTER IX. In which Amelia, with her friend, goes to the oratorio + + + +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 + + + +BOOK IX. + + +CHAPTER I In which the history looks backwards + +CHAPTER II. In which the history goes forward + +CHAPTER III. A conversation between Dr Harrison and others + +CHAPTER IV. A dialogue between Booth and Amelia + +CHAPTER V. A conversation between Amelia and Dr Harrison, with the +result + +CHAPTER VI. Containing as surprising an accident as is perhaps recorded +in history + +CHAPTER VII. In which the author appears to be master of that profound +learning called the knowledge of the town + +CHAPTER VIII. In which two strangers make their appearance + +CHAPTER IX. A scene of modern wit and humour + +CHAPTER X. A curious conversation between the doctor, the young +clergyman, and the young clergyman's father + + + +BOOK X. + + +CHAPTER I. To which we will prefix no preface + +CHAPTER II. What happened at the masquerade + +CHAPTER III. Consequences of the masqtierade, not uncommon nor +surprizing + +CHAPTER IV. Consequences of the masquerade + +CHAPTER V. In which Colonel Bath appears in great glory + +CHAPTER VI. Read, gamester, and observe + +CHAPTER VII. In which Booth receives a visit from Captain Trent + +CHAPTER VIII. Contains a letter and other matters + +CHAPTER IX. Containing some things worthy observation + + + +BOOK XI + + +CHAPTER I. Containing a very polite scene + +CHAPTER II. Matters political + +CHAPTER III. The history of Mr. Trent + +CHAPTER IV. Containing some distress + +CHAPTER V. Containing more wormwood and other ingredients + +CHAPTER VI. A scene of the tragic kind + +CHAPTER VII. In which Mr. Booth meets with more than one adventure + +CHAPTER VIII. In which Amelia appears in a light more amiable than gay + +CHAPTER IX. A very tragic scene + + + +BOOK XII. + + +CHAPTER I. The book begins with polite history + +CHAPTER II. In which Amelia visits her husband + +CHAPTER III. Containing matter pertinent to the history + +CHAPTER IV. In which Dr Harrison visits Colonel James + +CHAPTER V. What passed at the bailiff's house + +CHAPTER VI. What passed between the doctor and the sick man + +CHAPTER VII. In which the history draws towards a conclusion + +CHAPTER VIII. Thus this history draws nearer to a conclusion + +CHAPTER IX. In which the history is concluded + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. + + +FIELDING'S BIRTHPLACE, SHARPHAM PARK + +SHE THEN GAVE A LOOSE TO HER PASSION + +THEY OPENED THE HAMPER + +HE SEIZED HIM BY THE COLLAR + +AMELIA AND HER CHILDREN + +COLONEL BATH + +LAWYER MURPHY + +LEANING BOTH HIS ELBOWS ON THE TABLE, FIXED HIS EYES ON HER + +BOOTH BETWEEN A BLUE DOMINO AND A SHEPHERDESS + +DR HARRISON + + + + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + + +Fielding's third great novel has been the subject of much more +discordant judgments than either of its forerunners. If we take the +period since its appearance as covering four generations, we find +the greatest authority in the earliest, Johnson, speaking of it with +something more nearly approaching to enthusiasm than he allowed himself +in reference to any other work of an author, to whom he was on the whole +so unjust. The greatest man of letters of the next generation, Scott +(whose attitude to Fielding was rather undecided, and seems to speak +a mixture of intellectual admiration and moral dislike, or at least +failure in sympathy), pronounces it "on the whole unpleasing," and +regards it chiefly as a sequel to _Tom Jones_, showing what is to +be expected of a libertine and thoughtless husband. But he too +is enthusiastic over the heroine. Thackeray (whom in this special +connection at any rate it is scarcely too much to call the greatest +man of the third generation) overflows with predilection for it, but +chiefly, as it would seem, because of his affection for Amelia herself, +in which he practically agrees with Scott and Johnson. It would be +invidious, and is noways needful, to single out any critic of our own +time to place beside these great men. But it cannot be denied that the +book, now as always, has incurred a considerable amount of hinted +fault and hesitated dislike. Even Mr. Dobson notes some things in it +as "unsatisfactory;" Mr. Gosse, with evident consciousness of temerity, +ventures to ask whether it is not "a little dull." The very absence +of episodes (on the ground that Miss Matthews's story is too closely +connected with the main action to be fairly called an episode) and of +introductory dissertations has been brought against it, as the presence +of these things was brought against its forerunners. + +I have sometimes wondered whether _Amelia_ pays the penalty of an +audacity which, _a priori_, its most unfavourable critics would +indignantly deny to be a fault. It begins instead of ending with the +marriage-bells; and though critic after critic of novels has exhausted +his indignation and his satire over the folly of insisting on these as +a finale, I doubt whether the demand is not too deeply rooted in the +English, nay, in the human mind, to be safely neglected. The essence +of all romance is a quest; the quest most perennially and universally +interesting to man is the quest of a wife or a mistress; and the +chapters dealing with what comes later have an inevitable flavour of +tameness, and of the day after the feast. It is not common now-a-days to +meet anybody who thinks Tommy Moore a great poet; one has to encounter +either a suspicion of Philistinism or a suspicion of paradox if one +tries to vindicate for him even his due place in the poetical hierarchy. +Yet I suspect that no poet ever put into words a more universal +criticism of life than he did when he wrote "I saw from the beach," with +its moral of-- + +"Give me back, give me back, the wild freshness of morning--Her smiles +and her tears are worth evening's best light." + +If we discard this fallacy boldly, and ask ourselves whether _Amelia_ is +or is not as good as _Joseph Andrews_ or _Tom Jones_, we shall I think +be inclined to answer rather in the affirmative than in the negative. +It is perhaps a little more easy to find fault with its characters +than with theirs; or rather, though no one of these characters has the +defects of Blifil or of Allworthy, it is easy to say that no one of them +has the charm of the best personages of the earlier books. The idolaters +of Amelia would of course exclaim at this sentence as it regards that +amiable lady; and I am myself by no means disposed to rank amiability +low in the scale of things excellent in woman. But though she is by no +means what her namesake and spiritual grand-daughter. Miss Sedley, must, +I fear, be pronounced to be, an amiable fool, there is really too +much of the milk of human kindness, unrefreshed and unrelieved of its +mawkishness by the rum or whisky of human frailty, in her. One could +have better pardoned her forgiveness of her husband if she had in the +first place been a little more conscious of what there was to forgive; +and in the second, a little more romantic in her attachment to him. As +it is, he was _son homme_; he was handsome; he had broad shoulders; +he had a sweet temper; he was the father of her children, and that was +enough. At least we are allowed to see in Mr. Booth no qualities other +than these, and in her no imagination even of any other qualities. To +put what I mean out of reach of cavil, compare Imogen and Amelia, and +the difference will be felt. + +But Fielding was a prose writer, writing in London in the eighteenth +century, while Shakespeare was a poet writing in all time and all space, +so that the comparison is luminous in more ways than one. I do not think +that in the special scheme which the novelist set himself here he can be +accused of any failure. The life is as vivid as ever; the minor sketches +may be even called a little more vivid. Dr Harrison is not perfect. I do +not mean that he has ethical faults, for that is a merit, not a defect; +but he is not quite perfect in art. His alternate persecution and +patronage of Booth, though useful to the story, repeat the earlier fault +of Allworthy, and are something of a blot. But he is individually +much more natural than Allworthy, and indeed is something like what +Dr Johnson would have been if he had been rather better bred, less +crotchety, and blessed with more health. Miss Matthews in her earlier +scenes has touches of greatness which a thousand French novelists +lavishing "candour" and reckless of exaggeration have not equalled; and +I believe that Fielding kept her at a distance during the later scenes +of the story, because he could not trust himself not to make her more +interesting than Amelia. Of the peers, more wicked and less +wicked, there is indeed not much good to be said. The peer of the +eighteenth-century writers (even when, as in Fielding's case, there was +no reason why they should "mention him with _Kor_," as Policeman X. has +it) is almost always a faint type of goodness or wickedness dressed out +with stars and ribbons and coaches-and-six. Only Swift, by combination +of experience and genius, has given us live lords in Lord Sparkish and +Lord Smart. But Mrs. Ellison and Mrs. Atkinson are very women, and the +serjeant, though the touch of "sensibility" is on him, is excellent; +and Dr Harrison's country friend and his prig of a son are capital; and +Bondum, and "the author," and Robinson, and all the minor characters, +are as good as they can be. + +It is, however, usual to detect a lack of vivacity in the book, an +evidence of declining health and years. It may be so; it is at least +certain that Fielding, during the composition of _Amelia,_ had much less +time to bestow upon elaborating his work than he had previously had, +and that his health was breaking. But are we perfectly sure that if the +chronological order had been different we should have pronounced the +same verdict? Had _Amelia_ come between _Joseph_ and _Tom,_ how many +of us might have committed ourselves to some such sentence as this: "In +_Amelia_ we see the youthful exuberances of _Joseph Andrews_ corrected +by a higher art; the adjustment of plot and character arranged with +a fuller craftsmanship; the genius which was to find its fullest +exemplification in _Tom Jones_ already displaying maturity"? And do +we not too often forget that a very short time--in fact, barely three +years--passed between the appearance of _Tom Jones_ and the appearance +of _Amelia?_ that although we do not know how long the earlier work had +been in preparation, it is extremely improbable that a man of Fielding's +temperament, of his wants, of his known habits and history, would have +kept it when once finished long in his desk? and that consequently +between some scenes of _Tom Jones_ and some scenes of _Amelia_ it is not +improbable that there was no more than a few months' interval? I do not +urge these things in mitigation of any unfavourable judgment against the +later novel. I only ask--How much of that unfavourable judgment ought +in justice to be set down to the fallacies connected with an imperfect +appreciation of facts? + +To me it is not so much a question of deciding whether I like _Amelia_ +less, and if so, how much less, than the others, as a question what part +of the general conception of this great writer it supplies? I do not +think that we could fully understand Fielding without it; I do not think +that we could derive the full quantity of pleasure from him without +it. The exuberant romantic faculty of Joseph Andrews and its pleasant +satire; the mighty craftsmanship and the vast science of life of _Tom +Jones;_ the ineffable irony and logical grasp of _Jonathan Wild_, +might have left us with a slight sense of hardness, a vague desire +for unction, if it had not been for this completion of the picture. +We should not have known (for in the other books, with the possible +exception of Mrs. Fitzpatrick, the characters are a little too +determinately goats and sheep) how Fielding could draw _nuances_, how +he could project a mixed personage on the screen, if we had not had Miss +Matthews and Mrs. Atkinson--the last especially a figure full of the +finest strokes, and, as a rule, insufficiently done justice to by +critics. + +And I have purposely left to the last a group of personages about whom +indeed there has been little question, but who are among the triumphs of +Fielding's art--the two Colonels and their connecting-link, the wife of +the one and the sister of the other. Colonel Bath has necessarily united +all suffrages. He is of course a very little stagey; he reminds us that +his author had had a long theatrical apprenticeship: he is something too +much _d'une piece_. But as a study of the brave man who is almost more +braggart than brave, of the generous man who will sacrifice not only +generosity but bare justice to "a hogo of honour," he is admirable, and +up to his time almost unique. Ordinary writers and ordinary readers have +never been quite content to admit that bravery and braggadocio can go +together, that the man of honour may be a selfish pedant. People have +been unwilling to tell and to hear the whole truth even about Wolfe and +Nelson, who were both favourable specimens of the type; but Fielding the +infallible saw that type in its quiddity, and knew it, and registered it +for ever. + +Less amusing but more delicately faithful and true are Colonel James and +his wife. They are both very good sort of people in a way, who live in +a lax and frivolous age, who have plenty of money, no particular +principle, no strong affection for each other, and little individual +character. They might have been--Mrs. James to some extent is--quite +estimable and harmless; but even as it is, they are not to be wholly +ill spoken of. Being what they are, Fielding has taken them, and, with a +relentlessness which Swift could hardly have exceeded, and a good-nature +which Swift rarely or never attained, has held them up to us as +dissected preparations of half-innocent meanness, scoundrelism, and +vanity, such as are hardly anywhere else to be found. I have used the +word "preparations," and it in part indicates Fielding's virtue, a +virtue shown, I think, in this book as much as anywhere. But it does not +fully indicate it; for the preparation, wet or dry, is a dead thing, and +a museum is but a mortuary. Fielding's men and women, once more let +it be said, are all alive. The palace of his work is the hall, not of +Eblis, but of a quite beneficent enchanter, who puts burning hearts into +his subjects, not to torture them, but only that they may light up for +us their whole organisation and being. They are not in the least the +worse for it, and we are infinitely the better. + +[Illustration.] + +[Illustration.] + + + + +DEDICATION. + +To RALPH ALLEN, ESQ. + +SIR,--The following book is sincerely designed to promote the cause of +virtue, and to expose some of the most glaring evils, as well public as +private, which at present infest the country; though there is scarce, as +I remember, a single stroke of satire aimed at any one person throughout +the whole. + +The best man is the properest patron of such an attempt. This, I +believe, will be readily granted; nor will the public voice, I think, be +more divided to whom they shall give that appellation. Should a letter, +indeed, be thus inscribed, DETUR OPTIMO, there are few persons who would +think it wanted any other direction. + +I will not trouble you with a preface concerning the work, nor endeavour +to obviate any criticisms which can be made on it. The good-natured +reader, if his heart should be here affected, will be inclined to pardon +many faults for the pleasure he will receive from a tender sensation: +and for readers of a different stamp, the more faults they can discover, +the more, I am convinced, they will be pleased. + +Nor will I assume the fulsome stile of common dedicators. I have not +their usual design in this epistle, nor will I borrow their language. +Long, very long may it be before a most dreadful circumstance shall make +it possible for any pen to draw a just and true character of yourself +without incurring a suspicion of flattery in the bosoms of the +malignant. This task, therefore, I shall defer till that day (if I +should be so unfortunate as ever to see it) when every good man shall +pay a tear for the satisfaction of his curiosity; a day which, at +present, I believe, there is but one good man in the world who can think +of it with unconcern. + +Accept then, sir, this small token of that love, that gratitude, and +that respect, with which I shall always esteem it my GREATEST HONOUR to +be, + + Sir, +Your most obliged, and most obedient humble servant, + HENRY FIELDING. + +_Bow Street, Dec. 2, 1751._ + + +[Illustration.] + + + + + +AMELIA. + + + + +VOL. I + + + + +BOOK I. + + + +Chapter i. + +_Containing the exordium, &c._ + + +The various accidents which befel a very worthy couple after their +uniting in the state of matrimony will be the subject of the following +history. The distresses which they waded through were some of them so +exquisite, and the incidents which produced these so extraordinary, +that they seemed to require not only the utmost malice, but the utmost +invention, which superstition hath ever attributed to Fortune: though +whether any such being interfered in the case, or, indeed, whether +there be any such being in the universe, is a matter which I by no means +presume to determine in the affirmative. To speak a bold truth, I am, +after much mature deliberation, inclined to suspect that the public +voice hath, in all ages, done much injustice to Fortune, and hath +convicted her of many facts in which she had not the least concern. +I question much whether we may not, by natural means, account for the +success of knaves, the calamities of fools, with all the miseries +in which men of sense sometimes involve themselves, by quitting +the directions of Prudence, and following the blind guidance of a +predominant passion; in short, for all the ordinary phenomena which are +imputed to Fortune; whom, perhaps, men accuse with no less absurdity in +life, than a bad player complains of ill luck at the game of chess. + +But if men are sometimes guilty of laying improper blame on this +imaginary being, they are altogether as apt to make her amends by +ascribing to her honours which she as little deserves. To retrieve the +ill consequences of a foolish conduct, and by struggling manfully with +distress to subdue it, is one of the noblest efforts of wisdom and +virtue. Whoever, therefore, calls such a man fortunate, is guilty of no +less impropriety in speech than he would be who should call the statuary +or the poet fortunate who carved a Venus or who writ an Iliad. + +Life may as properly be called an art as any other; and the great +incidents in it are no more to be considered as mere accidents than the +several members of a fine statue or a noble poem. The critics in all +these are not content with seeing anything to be great without knowing +why and how it came to be so. By examining carefully the several +gradations which conduce to bring every model to perfection, we learn +truly to know that science in which the model is formed: as histories of +this kind, therefore, may properly be called models of _human life_, +so, by observing minutely the several incidents which tend to the +catastrophe or completion of the whole, and the minute causes whence +those incidents are produced, we shall best be instructed in this most +useful of all arts, which I call the _art_ of _life_. + + + + +Chapter ii + +_The history sets out. Observations on the excellency of the English +constitution and curious examinations before a justice of peace._ + + +On the first of April, in the year ----, the watchmen of a certain +parish (I know not particularly which) within the liberty of Westminster +brought several persons whom they had apprehended the preceding night +before Jonathan Thrasher, Esq., one of the justices of the peace for +that liberty. + +But here, reader, before we proceed to the trials of these offenders, +we shall, after our usual manner, premise some things which it may be +necessary for thee to know. + +It hath been observed, I think, by many, as well as the celebrated +writer of three letters, that no human institution is capable of +consummate perfection. An observation which, perhaps, that writer at +least gathered from discovering some defects in the polity even of this +well-regulated nation. And, indeed, if there should be any such defect +in a constitution which my Lord Coke long ago told us "the wisdom of +all the wise men in the world, if they had all met together at one time, +could not have equalled," which some of our wisest men who were met +together long before said was too good to be altered in any particular, +and which, nevertheless, hath been mending ever since, by a very great +number of the said wise men: if, I say, this constitution should +be imperfect, we may be allowed, I think, to doubt whether any such +faultless model can be found among the institutions of men. + +It will probably be objected, that the small imperfections which I +am about to produce do not lie in the laws themselves, but in the ill +execution of them; but, with submission, this appears to me to be no +less an absurdity than to say of any machine that it is excellently +made, though incapable of performing its functions. Good laws should +execute themselves in a well-regulated state; at least, if the same +legislature which provides the laws doth not provide for the execution +of them, they act as Graham would do, if he should form all the parts of +a clock in the most exquisite manner, yet put them so together that the +clock could not go. In this case, surely, we might say that there was a +small defect in the constitution of the clock. + +To say the truth, Graham would soon see the fault, and would easily +remedy it. The fault, indeed, could be no other than that the parts were +improperly disposed. + +Perhaps, reader, I have another illustration which will set my intention +in still a clearer light before you. Figure to yourself then a family, +the master of which should dispose of the several economical offices in +the following manner; viz. should put his butler in the coach-box, his +steward behind his coach, his coachman in the butlery, and his footman +in the stewardship, and in the same ridiculous manner should misemploy +the talents of every other servant; it is easy to see what a figure such +a family must make in the world. + +As ridiculous as this may seem, I have often considered some of the +lower officers in our civil government to be disposed in this very +manner. To begin, I think, as low as I well can, with the watchmen in +our metropolis, who, being to guard our streets by night from thieves +and robbers, an office which at least requires strength of body, are +chosen out of those poor old decrepit people who are, from their want +of bodily strength, rendered incapable of getting a livelihood by work. +These men, armed only with a pole, which some of them are scarce able +to lift, are to secure the persons and houses of his majesty's subjects +from the attacks of gangs of young, bold, stout, desperate, and +well-armed villains. + + Quae non viribus istis + Munera conveniunt. + +If the poor old fellows should run away from such enemies, no one I +think can wonder, unless it be that they were able to make their escape. + +The higher we proceed among our public officers and magistrates, the +less defects of this kind will, perhaps, be observable. Mr. Thrasher, +however, the justice before whom the prisoners above mentioned were now +brought, had some few imperfections in his magistratical capacity. +I own, I have been sometimes inclined to think that this office of a +justice of peace requires some knowledge of the law: for this simple +reason; because, in every case which comes before him, he is to judge +and act according to law. Again, as these laws are contained in a great +variety of books, the statutes which relate to the office of a justice +of peace making of themselves at least two large volumes in folio; and +that part of his jurisdiction which is founded on the common law +being dispersed in above a hundred volumes, I cannot conceive how this +knowledge should by acquired without reading; and yet certain it is, Mr. +Thrasher never read one syllable of the matter. + +This, perhaps, was a defect; but this was not all: for where mere +ignorance is to decide a point between two litigants, it will always be +an even chance whether it decides right or wrong: but sorry am I to +say, right was often in a much worse situation than this, and wrong hath +often had five hundred to one on his side before that magistrate; who, +if he was ignorant of the law of England, was yet well versed in the +laws of nature. He perfectly well understood that fundamental principle +so strongly laid down in the institutes of the learned Rochefoucault, +by which the duty of self-love is so strongly enforced, and every man is +taught to consider himself as the centre of gravity, and to attract +all things thither. To speak the truth plainly, the justice was never +indifferent in a cause but when he could get nothing on either side. + +Such was the justice to whose tremendous bar Mr. Gotobed the constable, +on the day above mentioned, brought several delinquents, who, as we have +said, had been apprehended by the watch for diverse outrages. + +The first who came upon his trial was as bloody a spectre as ever the +imagination of a murderer or a tragic poet conceived. This poor wretch +was charged with a battery by a much stouter man than himself; indeed +the accused person bore about him some evidence that he had been in an +affray, his cloaths being very bloody, but certain open sluices on his +own head sufficiently shewed whence all the scarlet stream had issued: +whereas the accuser had not the least mark or appearance of any wound. +The justice asked the defendant, What he meant by breaking the king's +peace?----To which he answered----"Upon my shoul I do love the king very +well, and I have not been after breaking anything of his that I do know; +but upon my shoul this man hath brake my head, and my head did brake his +stick; that is all, gra." He then offered to produce several witnesses +against this improbable accusation; but the justice presently +interrupted him, saying, "Sirrah, your tongue betrays your guilt. You +are an Irishman, and that is always sufficient evidence with me." + +The second criminal was a poor woman, who was taken up by the watch as a +street-walker. It was alleged against her that she was found walking the +streets after twelve o'clock, and the watchman declared he believed her +to be a common strumpet. She pleaded in her defence (as was really the +truth) that she was a servant, and was sent by her mistress, who was a +little shopkeeper and upon the point of delivery, to fetch a midwife; +which she offered to prove by several of the neighbours, if she was +allowed to send for them. The justice asked her why she had not done +it before? to which she answered, she had no money, and could get no +messenger. The justice then called her several scurrilous names, and, +declaring she was guilty within the statute of street-walking, ordered +her to Bridewell for a month. + +A genteel young man and woman were then set forward, and a very +grave-looking person swore he caught them in a situation which we cannot +as particularly describe here as he did before the magistrate; who, +having received a wink from his clerk, declared with much warmth that +the fact was incredible and impossible. He presently discharged the +accused parties, and was going, without any evidence, to commit the +accuser for perjury; but this the clerk dissuaded him from, saying he +doubted whether a justice of peace had any such power. The justice at +first differed in opinion, and said, "He had seen a man stand in the +pillory about perjury; nay, he had known a man in gaol for it too; and +how came he there if he was not committed thither?" "Why, that is true, +sir," answered the clerk; "and yet I have been told by a very great +lawyer that a man cannot be committed for perjury before he is indicted; +and the reason is, I believe, because it is not against the peace before +the indictment makes it so." "Why, that may be," cries the justice, "and +indeed perjury is but scandalous words, and I know a man cannot have +no warrant for those, unless you put for rioting [Footnote: _Opus est +interprete._ By the laws of England abusive words are not punishable +by the magistrate; some commissioners of the peace, therefore, when one +scold hath applied to them for a warrant against another, from a too +eager desire of doing justice, have construed a little harmless scolding +into a riot, which is in law an outrageous breach of the peace committed +by several persons, by three at the least, nor can a less number be +convicted of it. Under this word rioting, or riotting (for I have seen +it spelt both ways), many thousands of old women have been arrested and +put to expense, sometimes in prison, for a little intemperate use of +their tongues. This practice began to decrease in the year 1749.] them +into the warrant." + +The witness was now about to be discharged, when the lady whom he had +accused declared she would swear the peace against him, for that he had +called her a whore several times. "Oho! you will swear the peace, madam, +will you?" cries the justice: "Give her the peace, presently; and pray, +Mr. Constable, secure the prisoner, now we have him, while a warrant is +made to take him up." All which was immediately performed, and the poor +witness, for want of securities, was sent to prison. + +A young fellow, whose name was Booth, was now charged with beating the +watchman in the execution of his office and breaking his lanthorn. This +was deposed by two witnesses; and the shattered remains of a broken +lanthorn, which had been long preserved for the sake of its testimony, +were produced to corroborate the evidence. The justice, perceiving +the criminal to be but shabbily drest, was going to commit him without +asking any further questions. At length, however, at the earnest request +of the accused, the worthy magistrate submitted to hear his defence. +The young man then alledged, as was in reality the case, "That as he was +walking home to his lodging he saw two men in the street cruelly beating +a third, upon which he had stopt and endeavoured to assist the person +who was so unequally attacked; that the watch came up during the affray, +and took them all four into custody; that they were immediately carried +to the round-house, where the two original assailants, who appeared +to be men of fortune, found means to make up the matter, and were +discharged by the constable, a favour which he himself, having no money +in his pocket, was unable to obtain. He utterly denied having assaulted +any of the watchmen, and solemnly declared that he was offered his +liberty at the price of half a crown." + +Though the bare word of an offender can never be taken against the oath +of his accuser, yet the matter of this defence was so pertinent, +and delivered with such an air of truth and sincerity, that, had +the magistrate been endued with much sagacity, or had he been very +moderately gifted with another quality very necessary to all who are +to administer justice, he would have employed some labour in +cross-examining the watchmen; at least he would have given the defendant +the time he desired to send for the other persons who were present at +the affray; neither of which he did. In short, the magistrate had too +great an honour for truth to suspect that she ever appeared in sordid +apparel; nor did he ever sully his sublime notions of that virtue by +uniting them with the mean ideas of poverty and distress. + +There remained now only one prisoner, and that was the poor man himself +in whose defence the last-mentioned culprit was engaged. His trial +took but a very short time. A cause of battery and broken lanthorn was +instituted against him, and proved in the same manner; nor would +the justice hear one word in defence; but, though his patience was +exhausted, his breath was not; for against this last wretch he poured +forth a great many volleys of menaces and abuse. + +The delinquents were then all dispatched to prison under a guard of +watchmen, and the justice and the constable adjourned to a neighbouring +alehouse to take their morning repast. + + + + +Chapter iii. + +_Containing the inside of a prison._ + + +Mr. Booth (for we shall not trouble you with the rest) was no sooner +arrived in the prison than a number of persons gathered round him, all +demanding garnish; to which Mr. Booth not making a ready answer, as +indeed he did not understand the word, some were going to lay hold of +him, when a person of apparent dignity came up and insisted that no one +should affront the gentleman. This person then, who was no less than the +master or keeper of the prison, turning towards Mr. Booth, acquainted +him that it was the custom of the place for every prisoner upon his +first arrival there to give something to the former prisoners to make +them drink. This, he said, was what they call garnish, and concluded +with advising his new customer to draw his purse upon the present +occasion. Mr. Booth answered that he would very readily comply with this +laudable custom, was it in his power; but that in reality he had not a +shilling in his pocket, and, what was worse, he had not a shilling in +the world.--"Oho! if that be the case," cries the keeper, "it is another +matter, and I have nothing to say." Upon which he immediately departed, +and left poor Booth to the mercy of his companions, who without loss of +time applied themselves to uncasing, as they termed it, and with such +dexterity, that his coat was not only stript off, but out of sight in a +minute. + +Mr. Booth was too weak to resist and too wise to complain of this usage. +As soon, therefore, as he was at liberty, and declared free of the +place, he summoned his philosophy, of which he had no inconsiderable +share, to his assistance, and resolved to make himself as easy as +possible under his present circumstances. + +Could his own thoughts indeed have suffered him a moment to forget where +he was, the dispositions of the other prisoners might have induced him +to believe that he had been in a happier place: for much the greater +part of his fellow-sufferers, instead of wailing and repining at their +condition, were laughing, singing, and diverting themselves with various +kinds of sports and gambols. + +The first person who accosted him was called Blear-eyed Moll, a woman +of no very comely appearance. Her eye (for she had but one), whence she +derived her nickname, was such as that nickname bespoke; besides which, +it had two remarkable qualities; for first, as if Nature had been +careful to provide for her own defect, it constantly looked towards her +blind side; and secondly, the ball consisted almost entirely of white, +or rather yellow, with a little grey spot in the corner, so small that +it was scarce discernible. Nose she had none; for Venus, envious perhaps +at her former charms, had carried off the gristly part; and some earthly +damsel, perhaps, from the same envy, had levelled the bone with the rest +of her face: indeed it was far beneath the bones of her cheeks, which +rose proportionally higher than is usual. About half a dozen ebony teeth +fortified that large and long canal which nature had cut from ear to +ear, at the bottom of which was a chin preposterously short, nature +having turned up the bottom, instead of suffering it to grow to its due +length. + +Her body was well adapted to her face; she measured full as much round +the middle as from head to foot; for, besides the extreme breadth of her +back, her vast breasts had long since forsaken their native home, and +had settled themselves a little below the girdle. + +I wish certain actresses on the stage, when they are to perform +characters of no amiable cast, would study to dress themselves with the +propriety with which Blear-eyed Moll was now arrayed. For the sake +of our squeamish reader, we shall not descend to particulars; let it +suffice to say, nothing more ragged or more dirty was ever emptied out +of the round-house at St Giles's. + +We have taken the more pains to describe this person, for two remarkable +reasons; the one is, that this unlovely creature was taken in the fact +with a very pretty young fellow; the other, which is more productive of +moral lesson, is, that however wretched her fortune may appear to the +reader, she was one of the merriest persons in the whole prison. + +Blear-eyed Moll then came up to Mr. Booth with a smile, or rather grin, +on her countenance, and asked him for a dram of gin; and when Booth +assured her that he had not a penny of money, she replied--"D--n your +eyes, I thought by your look you had been a clever fellow, and upon +the snaffling lay [Footnote: A cant term for robbery on the highway] at +least; but, d--n your body and eyes, I find you are some sneaking budge +[Footnote: Another cant term for pilfering] rascal." She then launched +forth a volley of dreadful oaths, interlarded with some language not +proper to be repeated here, and was going to lay hold on poor Booth, +when a tall prisoner, who had been very earnestly eying Booth for some +time, came up, and, taking her by the shoulder, flung her off at some +distance, cursing her for a b--h, and bidding her let the gentleman +alone. + +This person was not himself of the most inviting aspect. He was +long-visaged, and pale, with a red beard of above a fortnight's growth. +He was attired in a brownish-black coat, which would have shewed more +holes than it did, had not the linen, which appeared through it, been +entirely of the same colour with the cloth. + +This gentleman, whose name was Robinson, addressed himself very civilly +to Mr. Booth, and told him he was sorry to see one of his appearance in +that place: "For as to your being without your coat, sir," says he, "I +can easily account for that; and, indeed, dress is the least part which +distinguishes a gentleman." At which words he cast a significant look +on his own coat, as if he desired they should be applied to himself. He +then proceeded in the following manner: + +"I perceive, sir, you are but just arrived in this dismal place, which +is, indeed, rendered more detestable by the wretches who inhabit it than +by any other circumstance; but even these a wise man will soon bring +himself to bear with indifference; for what is, is; and what must be, +must be. The knowledge of this, which, simple as it appears, is in truth +the heighth of all philosophy, renders a wise man superior to every +evil which can befall him. I hope, sir, no very dreadful accident is the +cause of your coming hither; but, whatever it was, you may be assured it +could not be otherwise; for all things happen by an inevitable fatality; +and a man can no more resist the impulse of fate than a wheelbarrow can +the force of its driver." + +Besides the obligation which Mr. Robinson had conferred on Mr. Booth in +delivering him from the insults of Blear-eyed Moll, there was something +in the manner of Robinson which, notwithstanding the meanness of his +dress, seemed to distinguish him from the crowd of wretches who swarmed +in those regions; and, above all, the sentiments which he had just +declared very nearly coincided with those of Mr. Booth: this gentleman +was what they call a freethinker; that is to say, a deist, or, perhaps, +an atheist; for, though he did not absolutely deny the existence of a +God, yet he entirely denied his providence. A doctrine which, if it is +not downright atheism, hath a direct tendency towards it; and, as Dr +Clarke observes, may soon be driven into it. And as to Mr. Booth, though +he was in his heart an extreme well-wisher to religion (for he was an +honest man), yet his notions of it were very slight and uncertain. +To say truth, he was in the wavering condition so finely described by +Claudian: + + labefacta cadelat + Religio, causaeque--viam non sponte sequebar + Alterius; vacua quae currere semina motu + Affirmat; magnumque novas fer inane figures + Fortuna, non arte, regi; quae numina sensu + Ambiguo, vel nulla futat, vel nescia nostri. + +This way of thinking, or rather of doubting, he had contracted from the +same reasons which Claudian assigns, and which had induced Brutus in his +latter days to doubt the existence of that virtue which he had all his +life cultivated. In short, poor Booth imagined that a larger share of +misfortunes had fallen to his lot than he had merited; and this led +him, who (though a good classical scholar) was not deeply learned in +religious matters, into a disadvantageous opinion of Providence. A +dangerous way of reasoning, in which our conclusions are not only too +hasty, from an imperfect view of things, but we are likewise liable to +much error from partiality to ourselves; viewing our virtues and vices +as through a perspective, in which we turn the glass always to our own +advantage, so as to diminish the one, and as greatly to magnify the +other. + +From the above reasons, it can be no wonder that Mr. Booth did not +decline the acquaintance of this person, in a place which could not +promise to afford him any better. He answered him, therefore, with great +courtesy, as indeed he was of a very good and gentle disposition, and, +after expressing a civil surprize at meeting him there, declared himself +to be of the same opinion with regard to the necessity of human actions; +adding, however, that he did not believe men were under any blind +impulse or direction of fate, but that every man acted merely from the +force of that passion which was uppermost in his mind, and could do no +otherwise. + +A discourse now ensued between the two gentlemen on the necessity +arising from the impulse of fate, and the necessity arising from the +impulse of passion, which, as it will make a pretty pamphlet of itself, +we shall reserve for some future opportunity. When this was ended they +set forward to survey the gaol and the prisoners, with the several +cases of whom Mr. Robinson, who had been some time under confinement, +undertook to make Mr. Booth acquainted. + + + + +Chapter iv. + +_Disclosing further secrets of the prison-house._ + + +The first persons whom they passed by were three men in fetters, who +were enjoying themselves very merrily over a bottle of wine and a +pipe of tobacco. These, Mr. Robinson informed his friend, were three +street-robbers, and were all certain of being hanged the ensuing +sessions. So inconsiderable an object, said he, is misery to light +minds, when it is at any distance. + +A little farther they beheld a man prostrate on the ground, whose heavy +groans and frantic actions plainly indicated the highest disorder of +mind. This person was, it seems, committed for a small felony; and his +wife, who then lay-in, upon hearing the news, had thrown herself from +a window two pair of stairs high, by which means he had, in all +probability, lost both her and his child. + +A very pretty girl then advanced towards them, whose beauty Mr. Booth +could not help admiring the moment he saw her; declaring, at the same +time, he thought she had great innocence in her countenance. Robinson +said she was committed thither as an idle and disorderly person, and a +common street-walker. As she past by Mr. Booth, she damned his eyes, and +discharged a volley of words, every one of which was too indecent to be +repeated. + +They now beheld a little creature sitting by herself in a corner, and +crying bitterly. This girl, Mr. Robinson said, was committed because her +father-in-law, who was in the grenadier guards, had sworn that he was +afraid of his life, or of some bodily harm which she would do him, +and she could get no sureties for keeping the peace; for which reason +justice Thrasher had committed her to prison. + +A great noise now arose, occasioned by the prisoners all flocking to see +a fellow whipt for petty larceny, to which he was condemned by the court +of quarter-sessions; but this soon ended in the disappointment of the +spectators; for the fellow, after being stript, having advanced another +sixpence, was discharged untouched. + +This was immediately followed by another bustle; Blear-eyed Moll, +and several of her companions, having got possession of a man who was +committed for certain odious unmanlike practices, not fit to be named, +were giving him various kinds of discipline, and would probably have put +an end to him, had he not been rescued out of their hands by authority. + +When this bustle was a little allayed, Mr. Booth took notice of a young +woman in rags sitting on the ground, and supporting the head of an +old man in her lap, who appeared to be giving up the ghost. These, Mr. +Robinson informed him, were father and daughter; that the latter was +committed for stealing a loaf, in order to support the former, and the +former for receiving it, knowing it to be stolen. + +A well-drest man then walked surlily by them, whom Mr. Robinson reported +to have been committed on an indictment found against him for a most +horrid perjury; but, says he, we expect him to be bailed today. "Good +Heaven!" cries Booth, "can such villains find bail, and is no person +charitable enough to bail that poor father and daughter?" "Oh! sir," +answered Robinson, "the offence of the daughter, being felony, is held +not to be bailable in law; whereas perjury is a misdemeanor only; +and therefore persons who are even indicted for it are, nevertheless, +capable of being bailed. Nay, of all perjuries, that of which this man +is indicted is the worst; for it was with an intention of taking away +the life of an innocent person by form of law. As to perjuries in civil +matters, they are not so very criminal." "They are not," said Booth; +"and yet even these are a most flagitious offence, and worthy the +highest punishment." "Surely they ought to be distinguished," answered +Robinson, "from the others: for what is taking away a little property +from a man, compared to taking away his life and his reputation, and +ruining his family into the bargain?--I hope there can be no comparison +in the crimes, and I think there ought to be none in the punishment. +However, at present, the punishment of all perjury is only pillory and +transportation for seven years; and, as it is a traversable and bailable +offence, methods are found to escape any punishment at all."[Footnote: +By removing the indictment by _certiorari_ into the King's Bench, the +trial is so long postponed, and the costs are so highly encreased, that +prosecutors are often tired out, and some incapacitated from pursuing. +_Verbum sapienti._] + +Booth exprest great astonishment at this, when his attention was +suddenly diverted by the most miserable object that he had yet seen. +This was a wretch almost naked, and who bore in his countenance, joined +to an appearance of honesty, the marks of poverty, hunger, and disease. +He had, moreover, a wooden leg, and two or three scars on his forehead. +"The case of this poor man is, indeed, unhappy enough," said Robinson. +"He hath served his country, lost his limb, and received several wounds +at the siege of Gibraltar. When he was discharged from the hospital +abroad he came over to get into that of Chelsea, but could not +immediately, as none of his officers were then in England. In the mean +time, he was one day apprehended and committed hither on suspicion of +stealing three herrings from a fishmonger. He was tried several months +ago for this offence, and acquitted; indeed, his innocence manifestly +appeared at the trial; but he was brought back again for his fees, and +here he hath lain ever since." + +Booth exprest great horror at this account, and declared, if he had only +so much money in his pocket, he would pay his fees for him; but added +that he was not possessed of a single farthing in the world. + +Robinson hesitated a moment, and then said, with a smile, "I am going to +make you, sir, a very odd proposal after your last declaration; but what +say you to a game at cards? it will serve to pass a tedious hour, and +may divert your thoughts from more unpleasant speculations." + +I do not imagine Booth would have agreed to this; for, though some +love of gaming had been formerly amongst his faults, yet he was not so +egregiously addicted to that vice as to be tempted by the shabby plight +of Robinson, who had, if I may so express myself, no charms for +a gamester. If he had, however, any such inclinations, he had no +opportunity to follow them, for, before he could make any answer to +Robinson's proposal, a strapping wench came up to Booth, and, taking +hold of his arm, asked him to walk aside with her; saying, "What a pox, +are you such a fresh cull that you do not know this fellow? why, he is +a gambler, and committed for cheating at play. There is not such a +pickpocket in the whole quad."[Footnote: A cant word for a prison.] + +A scene of altercation now ensued between Robinson and the lady, which +ended in a bout at fisticuffs, in which the lady was greatly superior to +the philosopher. + +While the two combatants were engaged, a grave-looking man, rather +better drest than the majority of the company, came up to Mr. Booth, +and, taking him aside, said, "I am sorry, sir, to see a gentleman, +as you appear to be, in such intimacy with that rascal, who makes no +scruple of disowning all revealed religion. As for crimes, they are +human errors, and signify but little; nay, perhaps the worse a man is +by nature, the more room there is for grace. The spirit is active, and +loves best to inhabit those minds where it may meet with the most work. +Whatever your crime be, therefore I would not have you despair, but +rather rejoice at it; for perhaps it may be the means of your being +called." He ran on for a considerable time with this cant, without +waiting for an answer, and ended in declaring himself a methodist. + +Just as the methodist had finished his discourse, a beautiful young +woman was ushered into the gaol. She was genteel and well drest, and +did not in the least resemble those females whom Mr. Booth had hitherto +seen. The constable had no sooner delivered her at the gate than she +asked with a commanding voice for the keeper; and, when he arrived, she +said to him, "Well, sir, whither am I to be conducted? I hope I am not +to take up my lodging with these creatures." The keeper answered, with a +kind of surly respect, "Madam, we have rooms for those who can afford +to pay for them." At these words she pulled a handsome purse from +her pocket, in which many guineas chinked, saying, with an air of +indignation, "That she was not come thither on account of poverty." The +keeper no sooner viewed the purse than his features became all softened +in an instant; and, with all the courtesy of which he was master, he +desired the lady to walk with him, assuring her that she should have the +best apartment in his house. + +Mr. Booth was now left alone; for the methodist had forsaken him, +having, as the phrase of the sect is, searched him to the bottom. In +fact, he had thoroughly examined every one of Mr. Booth's pockets; from +which he had conveyed away a penknife and an iron snuff-box, these being +all the moveables which were to be found. + +Booth was standing near the gate of the prison when the young lady above +mentioned was introduced into the yard. He viewed her features very +attentively, and was persuaded that he knew her. She was indeed so +remarkably handsome, that it was hardly possible for any who had ever +seen her to forget her. He enquired of one of the underkeepers if the +name of the prisoner lately arrived was not Matthews; to which he was +answered that her name was not Matthews but Vincent, and that she was +committed for murder. + +The latter part of this information made Mr. Booth suspect his memory +more than the former; for it was very possible that she might have +changed her name; but he hardly thought she could so far have changed +her nature as to be guilty of a crime so very incongruous with her +former gentle manners: for Miss Matthews had both the birth and +education of a gentlewoman. He concluded, therefore, that he was +certainly mistaken, and rested satisfied without any further enquiry. + + + + +Chapter v. + +_Containing certain adventures which befel Mr. Booth in the prison._ + + +The remainder of the day Mr. Booth spent in melancholy contemplation +on his present condition. He was destitute of the common necessaries of +life, and consequently unable to subsist where he was; nor was there a +single person in town to whom he could, with any reasonable hope, apply +for his delivery. Grief for some time banished the thoughts of food from +his mind; but in the morning nature began to grow uneasy for want of +her usual nourishment: for he had not eat a morsel during the last forty +hours. A penny loaf, which is, it seems, the ordinary allowance to the +prisoners in Bridewell, was now delivered him; and while he was eating +this a man brought him a little packet sealed up, informing him that it +came by a messenger, who said it required no answer. + +Mr. Booth now opened his packet, and, after unfolding several pieces of +blank paper successively, at last discovered a guinea, wrapt with great +care in the inmost paper. He was vastly surprized at this sight, as he +had few if any friends from whom he could expect such a favour, slight +as it was; and not one of his friends, as he was apprized, knew of his +confinement. As there was no direction to the packet, nor a word of +writing contained in it, he began to suspect that it was delivered to +the wrong person; and being one of the most untainted honesty, he found +out the man who gave it him, and again examined him concerning the +person who brought it, and the message delivered with it. The man +assured Booth that he had made no mistake; saying, "If your name is +Booth, sir, I am positive you are the gentleman to whom the parcel I +gave you belongs." + +The most scrupulous honesty would, perhaps, in such a situation, +have been well enough satisfied in finding no owner for the guinea; +especially when proclamation had been made in the prison that Mr. Booth +had received a packet without any direction, to which, if any person had +any claim, and would discover the contents, he was ready to deliver it +to such claimant. No such claimant being found (I mean none who knew +the contents; for many swore that they expected just such a packet, and +believed it to be their property), Mr. Booth very calmly resolved to +apply the money to his own use. + +The first thing after redemption of the coat, which Mr. Booth, hungry as +he was, thought of, was to supply himself with snuff, which he had long, +to his great sorrow, been without. On this occasion he presently missed +that iron box which the methodist had so dexterously conveyed out of his +pocket, as we mentioned in the last chapter. + +He no sooner missed this box than he immediately suspected that the +gambler was the person who had stolen it; nay, so well was he assured +of this man's guilt, that it may, perhaps, be improper to say he barely +suspected it. Though Mr. Booth was, as we have hinted, a man of a very +sweet disposition, yet was he rather overwarm. Having, therefore, no +doubt concerning the person of the thief, he eagerly sought him out, and +very bluntly charged him with the fact. + +The gambler, whom I think we should now call the philosopher, received +this charge without the least visible emotion either of mind or muscle. +After a short pause of a few moments, he answered, with great solemnity, +as follows: "Young man, I am entirely unconcerned at your groundless +suspicion. He that censures a stranger, as I am to you, without any +cause, makes a worse compliment to himself than to the stranger. You +know yourself, friend; you know not me. It is true, indeed, you heard me +accused of being a cheat and a gamester; but who is my accuser? Look at +my apparel, friend; do thieves and gamesters wear such cloaths as these? +play is my folly, not my vice; it is my impulse, and I have been a +martyr to it. Would a gamester have asked another to play when he +could have lost eighteen-pence and won nothing? However, if you are not +satisfied, you may search my pockets; the outside of all but one will +serve your turn, and in that one there is the eighteen-pence I told you +of." He then turned up his cloaths; and his pockets entirely resembled +the pitchers of the Belides. + +Booth was a little staggered at this defence. He said the real value +of the iron box was too inconsiderable to mention; but that he had a +capricious value for it, for the sake of the person who gave it him; +"for, though it is not," said he, "worth sixpence, I would willingly +give a crown to any one who would bring it me again." + +Robinson answered, "If that be the case, you have nothing more to do +but to signify your intention in the prison, and I am well convinced you +will not be long without regaining the possession of your snuff-box." + +This advice was immediately followed, and with success, the methodist +presently producing the box, which, he said, he had found, and should +have returned it before, had he known the person to whom it belonged; +adding, with uplifted eyes, that the spirit would not suffer him +knowingly to detain the goods of another, however inconsiderable the +value was. "Why so, friend?" said Robinson. "Have I not heard you often +say, the wickeder any man was the better, provided he was what you call +a believer?" "You mistake me," cries Cooper (for that was the name +of the methodist): "no man can be wicked after he is possessed by the +spirit. There is a wide difference between the days of sin and the +days of grace. I have been a sinner myself." "I believe thee," cries +Robinson, with a sneer. "I care not," answered the other, "what an +atheist believes. I suppose you would insinuate that I stole the +snuff-box; but I value not your malice; the Lord knows my innocence." +He then walked off with the reward; and Booth, turning to Robinson, very +earnestly asked pardon for his groundless suspicion; which the other, +without any hesitation, accorded him, saying, "You never accused me, +sir; you suspected some gambler, with whose character I have no concern. +I should be angry with a friend or acquaintance who should give a hasty +credit to any allegation against me; but I have no reason to be offended +with you for believing what the woman, and the rascal who is just gone, +and who is committed here for a pickpocket, which you did not perhaps +know, told you to my disadvantage. And if you thought me to be a gambler +you had just reason to suspect any ill of me; for I myself am confined +here by the perjury of one of those villains, who, having cheated me of +my money at play, and hearing that I intended to apply to a magistrate +against him, himself began the attack, and obtained a warrant against +me of Justice Thrasher, who, without hearing one speech in my defence, +committed me to this place." + +Booth testified great compassion at this account; and, he having invited +Robinson to dinner, they spent that day together. In the afternoon Booth +indulged his friend with a game at cards; at first for halfpence and +afterwards for shillings, when fortune so favoured Robinson that he did +not leave the other a single shilling in his pocket. + +A surprizing run of luck in a gamester is often mistaken for somewhat +else by persons who are not over-zealous believers in the divinity of +fortune. I have known a stranger at Bath, who hath happened fortunately +(I might almost say unfortunately) to have four by honours in his hand +almost every time he dealt for a whole evening, shunned universally +by the whole company the next day. And certain it is, that Mr. Booth, +though of a temper very little inclined to suspicion, began to waver in +his opinion whether the character given by Mr. Robinson of himself, or +that which the others gave of him, was the truer. + +In the morning hunger paid him a second visit, and found him again in +the same situation as before. After some deliberation, therefore, he +resolved to ask Robinson to lend him a shilling or two of that money +which was lately his own. And this experiments he thought, would confirm +him either in a good or evil opinion of that gentleman. + +To this demand Robinson answered, with great alacrity, that he should +very gladly have complied, had not fortune played one of her jade tricks +with him: "for since my winning of you," said he, "I have been stript +not only of your money but my own." He was going to harangue farther; +but Booth, with great indignation, turned from him. + +This poor gentleman had very little time to reflect on his own misery, +or the rascality, as it appeared to him, of the other, when the same +person who had the day before delivered him the guinea from the unknown +hand, again accosted him, and told him a lady in the house (so he +expressed himself) desired the favour of his company. + +Mr. Booth immediately obeyed the message, and was conducted into a room +in the prison, where he was presently convinced that Mrs. Vincent was no +other than his old acquaintance Miss Matthews. + + + + +Chapter vi + +_Containing the extraordinary behaviour of Miss Matthews on her meeting +with Booth, and some endeavours to prove, by reason and authority, that +it is possible for a woman to appear to be what she really is not._ + + +Eight or nine years had past since any interview between Mr. Booth +and Miss Matthews; and their meeting now in so extraordinary a place +affected both of them with an equal surprize. + +After some immaterial ceremonies, the lady acquainted Mr. Booth that, +having heard there was a person in the prison who knew her by the name +of Matthews, she had great curiosity to inquire who he was, whereupon he +had been shewn to her from the window of the house; that she immediately +recollected him, and, being informed of his distressful situation, for +which she expressed great concern, she had sent him that guinea which +he had received the day before; and then proceeded to excuse herself +for not having desired to see him at that time, when she was under the +greatest disorder and hurry of spirits. + +Booth made many handsome acknowledgments of her favour; and added that +he very little wondered at the disorder of her spirits, concluding that +he was heartily concerned at seeing her there; "but I hope, madam," said +he-- + +Here he hesitated; upon which, bursting into an agony of tears, she +cried out, "O captain! captain! many extraordinary things have passed +since last I saw you. O gracious heaven! did I ever expect that this +would be the next place of our meeting?" + +She then flung herself into her chair, where she gave a loose to +her passion, whilst he, in the most affectionate and tender manner, +endeavoured to soothe and comfort her; but passion itself did probably +more for its own relief than all his friendly consolations. Having +vented this in a large flood of tears, she became pretty well composed; +but Booth unhappily mentioning her father, she again relapsed into an +agony, and cried out, "Why? why will you repeat the name of that dear +man? I have disgraced him, Mr. Booth, I am unworthy the name of his +daughter."--Here passion again stopped her words, and discharged itself +in tears. + +After this second vent of sorrow or shame, or, if the reader pleases, of +rage, she once more recovered from her agonies. To say the truth, these +are, I believe, as critical discharges of nature as any of those which +are so called by the physicians, and do more effectually relieve the +mind than any remedies with which the whole materia medica of philosophy +can supply it. + +When Mrs. Vincent had recovered her faculties, she perceived Booth +standing silent, with a mixture of concern and astonishment in his +countenance; then addressing herself to him with an air of most +bewitching softness, of which she was a perfect mistress, she said, +"I do not wonder at your amazement, Captain Booth, nor indeed at the +concern which you so plainly discover for me; for I well know the +goodness of your nature: but, O, Mr. Booth! believe me, when you know +what hath happened since our last meeting, your concern will be raised, +however your astonishment may cease. O, sir! you are a stranger to the +cause of my sorrows." + +"I hope I am, madam," answered he; "for I cannot believe what I have +heard in the prison--surely murder"--at which words she started from her +chair, repeating, "Murder! oh! it is music in my ears!--You have heard +then the cause of my commitment, my glory, my delight, my reparation! +Yes, my old friend, this is the hand, this is the arm that drove the +penknife to his heart. Unkind fortune, that not one drop of his blood +reached my hand.--Indeed, sir, I would never have washed it from +it.--But, though I have not the happiness to see it on my hand, I have +the glorious satisfaction of remembering I saw it run in rivers on +the floor; I saw it forsake his cheeks, I saw him fall a martyr to my +revenge. And is the killing a villain to be called murder? perhaps +the law calls it so.--Let it call it what it will, or punish me as it +pleases.---Punish me!--no, no---that is not in the power of man--not of +that monster man, Mr. Booth. I am undone, am revenged, and have now no +more business for life; let them take it from me when they will." + +Our poor gentleman turned pale with horror at this speech, and the +ejaculation of "Good heavens! what do I hear?" burst spontaneously from +his lips; nor can we wonder at this, though he was the bravest of men; +for her voice, her looks, her gestures, were properly adapted to the +sentiments she exprest. Such indeed was her image, that neither could +Shakspear describe, nor Hogarth paint, nor Clive act, a fury in higher +perfection. + +[Illustration: She then gave a loose to her passions] + +"What do you hear?" reiterated she. "You hear the resentment of the most +injured of women. You have heard, you say, of the murder; but do you +know the cause, Mr. Booth? Have you since your return to England visited +that country where we formerly knew one another? tell me, do you know my +wretched story? tell me that, my friend." + +Booth hesitated for an answer; indeed, he had heard some imperfect +stories, not much to her advantage. She waited not till he had formed +a speech; but cried, "Whatever you may have heard, you cannot be +acquainted with all the strange accidents which have occasioned your +seeing me in a place which at our last parting was so unlikely that I +should ever have been found in; nor can you know the cause of all that +I have uttered, and which, I am convinced, you never expected to have +heard from my mouth. If these circumstances raise your curiosity, I will +satisfy it." + +He answered, that curiosity was too mean a word to express his ardent +desire of knowing her story. Upon which, with very little previous +ceremony, she began to relate what is written in the following chapter. + +But before we put an end to this it may be necessary to whisper a word +or two to the critics, who have, perhaps, begun to express no less +astonishment than Mr. Booth, that a lady in whom we had remarked a most +extraordinary power of displaying softness should, the very next moment +after the words were out of her mouth, express sentiments becoming +the lips of a Dalila, Jezebel, Medea, Semiramis, Parysatis, Tanaquil, +Livilla, Messalina, Agrippina, Brunichilde, Elfrida, Lady Macbeth, +Joan of Naples, Christina of Sweden, Katharine Hays, Sarah Malcolm, Con +Philips,[Footnote: Though last not least.] or any other heroine of the +tender sex, which history, sacred or profane, ancient or modern, false +or true, hath recorded. + +We desire such critics to remember that it is the same English climate, +in which, on the lovely 10th of June, under a serene sky, the amorous +Jacobite, kissing the odoriferous zephyr's breath, gathers a nosegay +of white roses to deck the whiter breast of Celia; and in which, on the +11th of June, the very next day, the boisterous Boreas, roused by the +hollow thunder, rushes horrible through the air, and, driving the wet +tempest before him, levels the hope of the husbandman with the earth, +dreadful remembrance of the consequences of the Revolution. + +Again, let it be remembered that this is the selfsame Celia, all tender, +soft, and delicate, who with a voice, the sweetness of which the +Syrens might envy, warbles the harmonious song in praise of the young +adventurer; and again, the next day, or, perhaps the next hour, with +fiery eyes, wrinkled brows, and foaming lips, roars forth treason and +nonsense in a political argument with some fair one of a different +principle. + +Or, if the critic be a Whig, and consequently dislikes such kind of +similes, as being too favourable to Jacobitism, let him be contented +with the following story: + +I happened in my youth to sit behind two ladies in a side-box at a play, +where, in the balcony on the opposite side, was placed the inimitable +B---y C---s, in company with a young fellow of no very formal, or +indeed sober, appearance. One of the ladies, I remember, said to the +other--"Did you ever see anything look so modest and so innocent as that +girl over the way? what pity it is such a creature should be in the +way of ruin, as I am afraid she is, by her being alone with that young +fellow!" Now this lady was no bad physiognomist, for it was impossible +to conceive a greater appearance of modesty, innocence, and simplicity, +than what nature had displayed in the countenance of that girl; and yet, +all appearances notwithstanding, I myself (remember, critic, it was in +my youth) had a few mornings before seen that very identical picture of +all those engaging qualities in bed with a rake at a bagnio, smoaking +tobacco, drinking punch, talking obscenity, and swearing and cursing +with all the impudence and impiety of the lowest and most abandoned +trull of a soldier. + + + + +Chapter vii. + +_In which Miss Matthews begins her history._ + + +Miss Matthews, having barred the door on the inside as securely as it +was before barred on the outside, proceeded as follows: + +"You may imagine I am going to begin my history at the time when you +left the country; but I cannot help reminding you of something which +happened before. You will soon recollect the incident; but I believe you +little know the consequence either at that time or since. Alas! I could +keep a secret then! now I have no secrets; the world knows all; and it +is not worth my while to conceal anything. Well!--You will not wonder, +I believe.--I protest I can hardly tell it you, even now.---But I am +convinced you have too good an opinion of yourself to be surprized at +any conquest you may have made.---Few men want that good opinion--and +perhaps very few had ever more reason for it. Indeed, Will, you was a +charming fellow in those days; nay, you are not much altered for the +worse now, at least in the opinion of some women; for your complexion +and features are grown much more masculine than they were." Here Booth +made her a low bow, most probably with a compliment; and after a little +hesitation she again proceeded.---"Do you remember a contest which +happened at an assembly, betwixt myself and Miss Johnson, about standing +uppermost? you was then my partner; and young Williams danced with +the other lady. The particulars are not now worth mentioning, though +I suppose you have long since forgot them. Let it suffice that you +supported my claim, and Williams very sneakingly gave up that of his +partner, who was, with much difficulty, afterwards prevailed to dance +with him. You said--I am sure I repeat the words exactly--that you +would not for the world affront any lady there; but that you thought you +might, without any such danger declare, that there was no assembly in +which that lady, meaning your humble servant, was not worthy of the +uppermost place; 'nor will I,' said you, 'suffer, the first duke in +England, when she is at the uppermost end of the room, and hath called +her dance, to lead his partner above her.' + +"What made this the more pleasing to me was, that I secretly hated Miss +Johnson. Will you have the reason? why, then, I will tell you honestly, +she was my rival. That word perhaps astonishes you, as you never, I +believe, heard of any one who made his addresses to me; and indeed my +heart was, till that night, entirely indifferent to all mankind: I +mean, then, that she was my rival for praise, for beauty, for dress, for +fortune, and consequently for admiration. My triumph on this conquest +is not to be expressed any more than my delight in the person to whom I +chiefly owed it. The former, I fancy, was visible to the whole company; +and I desired it should be so; but the latter was so well concealed, +that no one, I am confident, took any notice of it. And yet you +appeared to me that night to be an angel. You looked, you danced, you +spoke-everything charmed me." + +"Good Heavens!" cries Booth, "is it possible you should do me so much +unmerited honour, and I should be dunce enough not to perceive the least +symptom?" + +"I assure you," answered she, "I did all I could to prevent you; and yet +I almost hated you for not seeing through what I strove to hide. Why, +Mr. Booth, was you not more quick-sighted?--I will answer for you--your +affections were more happily disposed of to a much better woman than +myself, whom you married soon afterwards. I should ask you for her, +Mr. Booth; I should have asked you for her before; but I am unworthy of +asking for her, or of calling her my acquaintance." + +Booth stopt her short, as she was running into another fit of passion, +and begged her to omit all former matters, and acquaint him with that +part of her history to which he was an entire stranger. + +She then renewed her discourse as follows: "You know, Mr. Booth, I +soon afterwards left that town, upon the death of my grandmother, and +returned home to my father's house; where I had not been long arrived +before some troops of dragoons came to quarter in our neighbourhood. +Among the officers there was a cornet whose detested name was Hebbers, +a name I could scarce repeat, had I not at the same time the pleasure +to reflect that he is now no more. My father, you know, who is a +hearty well-wisher to the present government, used always to invite +the officers to his house; so did he these. Nor was it long before this +cornet in so particular a manner recommended himself to the poor old +gentleman (I cannot think of him without tears), that our house became +his principal habitation, and he was rarely at his quarters, unless when +his superior officers obliged him to be there. I shall say nothing of +his person, nor could that be any recommendation to a man; it was +such, however, as no woman could have made an objection to. Nature had +certainly wrapt up her odious work in a most beautiful covering. To +say the truth, he was the handsomest man, except one only, that I +ever saw--I assure you, I have seen a handsomer---but--well.--He +had, besides, all the qualifications of a gentleman; was genteel and +extremely polite; spoke French well, and danced to a miracle; but what +chiefly recommended him to my father was his skill in music, of which +you know that dear man was the most violent lover. I wish he was not +too susceptible of flattery on that head; for I have heard Hebbers often +greatly commend my father's performance, and have observed that the good +man was wonderfully pleased with such commendations. To say the truth, +it is the only way I can account for the extraordinary friendship which +my father conceived for this person; such a friendship, that he at last +became a part of our family. + +"This very circumstance, which, as I am convinced, strongly recommended +him to my father, had the very contrary effect with me: I had never any +delight in music, and it was not without much difficulty I was prevailed +on to learn to play on the harpsichord, in which I had made a very +slender progress. As this man, therefore, was frequently the occasion of +my being importuned to play against my will, I began to entertain some +dislike for him on that account; and as to his person, I assure you, I +long continued to look on it with great indifference. + +"How strange will the art of this man appear to you presently, who had +sufficient address to convert that very circumstance which had at first +occasioned my dislike into the first seeds of affection for him! + +"You have often, I believe, heard my sister Betty play on the +harpsichord; she was, indeed, reputed the best performer in the whole +country. + +"I was the farthest in the world from regarding this perfection of hers +with envy. In reality, perhaps, I despised all perfection of this kind: +at least, as I had neither skill nor ambition to excel this way, I +looked upon it as a matter of mere indifference. + +"Hebbers first put this emulation in my head. He took great pains to +persuade me that I had much greater abilities of the musical kind than +my sister, and that I might with the greatest ease, if I pleased, excel +her; offering me, at the same time, his assistance if I would resolve to +undertake it. + +"When he had sufficiently inflamed my ambition, in which, perhaps, he +found too little difficulty, the continual praises of my sister, which +before I had disregarded, became more and more nauseous in my ears; and +the rather, as, music being the favourite passion of my father, I became +apprehensive (not without frequent hints from Hebbers of that nature) +that she might gain too great a preference in his favour. + +"To my harpsichord then I applied myself night and day, with such +industry and attention, that I soon began to perform in a tolerable +manner. I do not absolutely say I excelled my sister, for many were of +a different opinion; but, indeed, there might be some partiality in all +that. + +"Hebbers, at least, declared himself on my side, and nobody could doubt +his judgment. He asserted openly that I played in the better manner of +the two; and one day, when I was playing to him alone, he affected to +burst into a rapture of admiration, and, squeezing me gently by the +hand, said, There, madam, I now declare you excel your sister as much in +music as, added he in a whispering sigh, you do her, and all the world, +in every other charm. + +"No woman can bear any superiority in whatever thing she desires to +excel in. I now began to hate all the admirers of my sister, to be +uneasy at every commendation bestowed on her skill in music, and +consequently to love Hebbers for the preference which he gave to mine. + +"It was now that I began to survey the handsome person of Hebbers with +pleasure. And here, Mr. Booth, I will betray to you the grand secret +of our sex.---Many women, I believe, do, with great innocence, and even +with great indifference, converse with men of the finest persons; but +this I am confident may be affirmed with truth, that, when once a woman +comes to ask this question of herself, Is the man whom I like for some +other reason, handsome? her fate and his too, very strongly depend on +her answering in the affirmative. + +"Hebbers no sooner perceived that he had made an impression on my +heart, of which I am satisfied I gave him too undeniable tokens, than he +affected on a sudden to shun me in the most apparent manner. He wore +the most melancholy air in my presence, and, by his dejected looks and +sighs, firmly persuaded me that there was some secret sorrow labouring +in his bosom; nor will it be difficult for you to imagine to what cause +I imputed it. + +"Whilst I was wishing for his declaration of a passion in which I +thought I could not be mistaken, and at the same time trembling whenever +we met with the apprehension of this very declaration, the widow Carey +came from London to make us a visit, intending to stay the whole summer +at our house. + +"Those who know Mrs. Carey will scarce think I do her an injury in +saying she is far from being handsome; and yet she is as finished a +coquette as if she had the highest beauty to support that character. +But perhaps you have seen her; and if you have I am convinced you will +readily subscribe to my opinion." + +Booth answered he had not; and then she proceeded as in the following +chapter. + + + + +Chapter viii + +_The history of Miss Matthews continued_. + + +"This young lady had not been three days with us before Hebbers grew so +particular with her, that it was generally observed; and my poor father, +who, I believe, loved the cornet as if he had been his son, began to +jest on the occasion, as one who would not be displeased at throwing a +good jointure into the arms of his friend. + +"You will easily guess, sir, the disposition of my mind on this +occasion; but I was not permitted to suffer long under it; for one day, +when Hebbers was alone with me, he took an opportunity of expressing +his abhorrence at the thoughts of marrying for interest, contrary to his +inclinations. I was warm on the subject, and, I believe, went so far as +to say that none but fools and villains did so. He replied, with a sigh, +Yes, madam, but what would you think of a man whose heart is all the +while bleeding for another woman, to whom he would willingly sacrifice +the world; but, because he must sacrifice her interest as well as his +own, never durst even give her a hint of that passion which was preying +on his very vitals? 'Do you believe, Miss Fanny, there is such a wretch +on earth?' I answered, with an assumed coldness, I did not believe there +was. He then took me gently by the hand, and, with a look so tender that +I cannot describe it, vowed he was himself that wretch. Then starting, +as if conscious of an error committed, he cried with a faltering voice, +'What am I saying? Pardon me, Miss Fanny; since I beg only your pity, I +never will ask for more.--' At these words, hearing my father coming +up, I betrayed myself entirely, if, indeed, I had not done it before. I +hastily withdrew my hand, crying, Hush! for heaven's sake, my father +is just coming in; my blushes, my look, and my accent, telling him, I +suppose, all which he wished to know. + +"A few days now brought matters to an eclaircissement between us; the +being undeceived in what had given me so much uneasiness gave me a +pleasure too sweet to be resisted. To triumph over the widow, for whom +I had in a very short time contracted a most inveterate hatred, was a +pride not to be described. Hebbers appeared to me to be the cause of +all this happiness. I doubted not but that he had the most disinterested +passion for me, and thought him every way worthy of its return. I did +return it, and accepted him as my lover. + +"He declared the greatest apprehensions of my father's suspicion, though +I am convinced these were causeless had his designs been honourable. To +blind these, I consented that he should carry on sham addresses to the +widow, who was now a constant jest between us; and he pretended from +time to time to acquaint me faithfully with everything that past at his +interviews with her; nor was this faithless woman wanting in her part +of the deceit. She carried herself to me all the while with a shew of +affection, and pretended to have the utmost friendship for me But such +are the friendships of women!" + +At this remark, Booth, though enough affected at some parts of the +story, had great difficulty to refrain from laughter; but, by good luck, +he escaped being perceived; and the lady went on without interruption. + +"I am come now to a part of my narrative in which it is impossible to +be particular without being tedious; for, as to the commerce between +lovers, it is, I believe, much the same in all cases; and there is, +perhaps, scarce a single phrase that hath not been repeated ten millions +of times. + +"One thing, however, as I strongly remarked it then, so I will repeat it +to you now. In all our conversations, in moments when he fell into the +warmest raptures, and exprest the greatest uneasiness at the delay +of his joys, he seldom mentioned the word marriage; and never once +solicited a day for that purpose. Indeed, women cannot be cautioned too +much against such lovers; for though I have heard, and perhaps truly, of +some of our sex, of a virtue so exalted, that it is proof against every +temptation; yet the generality, I am afraid, are too much in the power +of a man to whom they have owned an affection. What is called being upon +a good footing is, perhaps, being upon a very dangerous one; and a woman +who hath given her consent to marry can hardly be said to be safe till +she is married. + +"And now, sir, I hasten to the period of my ruin. We had a wedding in +our family; my musical sister was married to a young fellow as musical +as herself. Such a match, you may be sure, amongst other festivities, +must have a ball. Oh! Mr. Booth, shall modesty forbid me to remark to +you what past on that occasion? But why do I mention modesty, who +have no pretensions to it? Everything was said and practised on that +occasion, as if the purpose had been to inflame the mind of every +woman present. That effect, I freely own to you, it had with me. Music, +dancing, wine, and the most luscious conversation, in which my poor dear +father innocently joined, raised ideas in me of which I shall for ever +repent; and I wished (why should I deny it?) that it had been my wedding +instead of my sister's. + +"The villain Hebbers danced with me that night, and he lost no +opportunity of improving the occasion. In short, the dreadful evening +came. My father, though it was a very unusual thing with him, grew +intoxicated with liquor; most of the men were in the same condition; +nay, I myself drank more than I was accustomed to, enough to inflame, +though not to disorder. I lost my former bed-fellow, my sister, and--you +may, I think, guess the rest--the villain found means to steal to my +chamber, and I was undone. + +"Two months I passed in this detested commerce, buying, even then, my +guilty, half-tasted pleasures at too dear a rate, with continual horror +and apprehension; but what have I paid since--what do I pay now, Mr. +Booth? O may my fate be a warning to every woman to keep her innocence, +to resist every temptation, since she is certain to repent of the +foolish bargain. May it be a warning to her to deal with mankind with +care and caution; to shun the least approaches of dishonour, and never +to confide too much in the honesty of a man, nor in her own strength, +where she has so much at stake; let her remember she walks on a +precipice, and the bottomless pit is to receive her if she slips; nay, +if she makes but one false step. + +"I ask your pardon, Mr. Booth; I might have spared these exhortations, +since no woman hears me; but you will not wonder at seeing me affected +on this occasion." + +Booth declared he was much more surprised at her being able so well to +preserve her temper in recounting her story. + +"O sir," answered she, "I am at length reconciled to my fate; and I can +now die with pleasure, since I die revenged. I am not one of those mean +wretches who can sit down and lament their misfortunes. If I ever shed +tears, they are the tears of indignation.--But I will proceed. + +"It was my fate now to solicit marriage; and I failed not to do it in +the most earnest manner. He answered me at first with procrastinations, +declaring, from time to time, he would mention it to my father; and +still excusing himself for not doing it. At last he thought on an +expedient to obtain a longer reprieve. This was by pretending that he +should, in a very few weeks, be preferred to the command of a troop; and +then, he said, he could with some confidence propose the match. + +"In this delay I was persuaded to acquiesce, and was indeed pretty easy, +for I had not yet the least mistrust of his honour; but what words can +paint my sensations, when one morning he came into my room, with all the +marks of dejection in his countenance, and, throwing an open letter on +the table, said, 'There is news, madam, in that letter which I am unable +to tell you; nor can it give you more concern than it hath given me.' + +"This letter was from his captain, to acquaint him that the rout, as +they call it, was arrived, and that they were to march within two days. +And this, I am since convinced, was what he expected, instead of the +preferment which had been made the pretence of delaying our marriage. + +"The shock which I felt at reading this was inexpressible, occasioned +indeed principally by the departure of a villain whom I loved. However, +I soon acquired sufficient presence of mind to remember the main point; +and I now insisted peremptorily on his making me immediately his wife, +whatever might be the consequence. + +"He seemed thunderstruck at this proposal, being, I suppose, destitute +of any excuse: but I was too impatient to wait for an answer, and cried +out with much eagerness, Sure you cannot hesitate a moment upon this +matter--'Hesitate! madam!' replied he--'what you ask is impossible. Is +this a time for me to mention a thing of this kind to your father?'--My +eyes were now opened all at once--I fell into a rage little short of +madness. Tell not me, I cried, of impossibilities, nor times, nor of my +father---my honour, my reputation, my all are at stake.--I will have no +excuse, no delay--make me your wife this instant, or I will proclaim +you over the face of the whole earth for the greatest of villains. He +answered, with a kind of sneer, 'What will you proclaim, madam?--whose +honour will you injure?' My tongue faltered when I offered to reply, +and I fell into a violent agony, which ended in a fit; nor do I remember +anything more that past till I found myself in the arms of my poor +affrighted father. + +"O, Mr. Booth, what was then my situation! I tremble even now from the +reflection.--I must stop a moment. I can go no farther." Booth attempted +all in his power to soothe her; and she soon recovered her powers, and +proceeded in her story. + + + + +Chapter ix + +_In which Miss Matthews concludes her relation_. + + +Before I had recovered my senses I had sufficiently betrayed myself to +the best of men, who, instead of upbraiding me, or exerting any anger, +endeavoured to comfort me all he could with assurances that all should +yet be well. This goodness of his affected me with inexpressible +sensations; I prostrated myself before him, embraced and kissed his +knees, and almost dissolved in tears, and a degree of tenderness hardly +to be conceived---But I am running into too minute descriptions. + +"Hebbers, seeing me in a fit, had left me, and sent one of the servants +to take care of me. He then ran away like a thief from the house, +without taking his leave of my father, or once thanking him for all +his civilities. He did not stop at his quarters, but made directly +to London, apprehensive, I believe, either of my father or brother's +resentment; for I am convinced he is a coward. Indeed his fear of my +brother was utterly groundless; for I believe he would rather have +thanked any man who had destroyed me; and I am sure I am not in the +least behindhand with him in good wishes. + +"All his inveteracy to me had, however, no effect on my father, at least +at that time; for, though the good man took sufficient occasions to +reprimand me for my past offence, he could not be brought to abandon +me. A treaty of marriage was now set on foot, in which my father himself +offered me to Hebbers, with a fortune superior to that which had been +given with my sister; nor could all my brother's remonstrances against +it, as an act of the highest injustice, avail. + +"Hebbers entered into the treaty, though not with much warmth. He had +even the assurance to make additional demands on my father, which being +complied with, everything was concluded, and the villain once more +received into the house. He soon found means to obtain my forgiveness +of his former behaviour; indeed, he convinced me, so foolishly blind is +female love, that he had never been to blame. + +"When everything was ready for our nuptials, and the day of the ceremony +was to be appointed, in the midst of my happiness I received a letter +from an unknown hand, acquainting me (guess, Mr. Booth, how I was +shocked at receiving it) that Mr. Hebbers was already married to a woman +in a distant part of the kingdom. + +"I will not tire you with all that past at our next interview. I +communicated the letter to Hebbers, who, after some little hesitation, +owned the fact, and not only owned it, but had the address to improve it +to his own advantage, to make it the means of satisfying me concerning +all his former delays; which, to say the truth, I was not so much +displeased at imputing to any degree of villany, as I should have been +to impute it to the want of a sufficient warmth of affection, and +though the disappointment of all my hopes, at the very instant of their +expected fruition, threw me into the most violent disorders; yet, when I +came a little to myself, he had no great difficulty to persuade me that +in every instance, with regard to me, Hebbers had acted from no other +motive than from the most ardent and ungovernable love. And there is, I +believe, no crime which a woman will not forgive, when she can derive +it from that fountain. In short, I forgave him all, and am willing to +persuade myself I am not weaker than the rest of my sex. Indeed, Mr. +Booth, he hath a bewitching tongue, and is master of an address that +no woman could resist. I do assure you the charms of his person are his +least perfection, at least in my eye." + +Here Booth smiled, but happily without her perceiving it. + +"A fresh difficulty (continued she) now arose. This was to excuse the +delay of the ceremony to my father, who every day very earnestly urged +it. This made me so very uneasy, that I at last listened to a proposal, +which, if any one in the days of my innocence, or even a few days +before, had assured me I could have submitted to have thought of, +I should have treated the supposition with the highest contempt and +indignation; nay, I scarce reflect on it now with more horror than +astonishment. In short, I agreed to run away with him--to leave my +father, my reputation, everything which was or ought to have been dear +to me, and to live with this villain as a mistress, since I could not be +his wife. + +"Was not this an obligation of the highest and tenderest kind, and had +I not reason to expect every return in the man's power on whom I had +conferred it? I will make short of the remainder of my story, for what +is there of a woman worth relating, after what I have told you? + +"Above a year I lived with this man in an obscure court in London, +during which time I had a child by him, whom Heaven, I thank it, hath +been pleased to take to itself. + +"During many months he behaved to me with all the apparent tenderness +and even fondness imaginable; but, alas! how poor was my enjoyment of +this compared to what it would have been in another situation? When he +was present, life was barely tolerable: but, when he was absent, nothing +could equal the misery I endured. I past my hours almost entirely alone; +for no company but what I despised, would consort with me. Abroad I +scarce ever went, lest I should meet any of my former acquaintance; for +their sight would have plunged a thousand daggers in my soul. My only +diversion was going very seldom to a play, where I hid myself in the +gallery, with a daughter of the woman of the house. A girl, indeed, of +good sense and many good qualities; but how much beneath me was it to +be the companion of a creature so low! O heavens! when I have seen my +equals glittering in a side-box, how have the thoughts of my lost honour +torn my soul!" + +"Pardon me, dear madam," cries Booth, "for interrupting you; but I am +under the utmost anxiety to know what became of your poor father, +for whom I have so great a respect, and who, I am convinced, must so +bitterly feel your loss." + +"O Mr. Booth," answered she, "he was scarce ever out of my thoughts. His +dear image still obtruded itself in my mind, and I believe would have +broken my heart, had I not taken a very preposterous way to ease myself. +I am, indeed, almost ashamed to tell you; but necessity put it in my +head.--You will think the matter too trifling to have been remembered, +and so it surely was; nor should I have remembered it on any other +occasion. You must know then, sir, that my brother was always my +inveterate enemy and altogether as fond of my sister.--He once prevailed +with my father to let him take my sister with him in the chariot, and +by that means I was disappointed of going to a ball which I had set my +heart on. The disappointment, I assure you, was great at the time; but I +had long since forgotten it. I must have been a very bad woman if I had +not, for it was the only thing in which I can remember that my father +ever disobliged me. However, I now revived this in my mind, which I +artificially worked up into so high an injury, that I assure you it +afforded me no little comfort. When any tender idea intruded into my +bosom, I immediately raised this fantom of an injury in my imagination, +and it considerably lessened the fury of that sorrow which I should have +otherwise felt for the loss of so good a father, who died within a few +months of my departure from him. + +"And now, sir, to draw to a conclusion. One night, as I was in the +gallery at Drury-lane playhouse, I saw below me in a side-box (she +was once below me in every place), that widow whom I mentioned to you +before. I had scarce cast my eyes on this woman before I was so shocked +with the sight that it almost deprived me of my senses; for the villain +Hebbers came presently in and seated himself behind her. + +"He had been almost a month from me, and I believed him to be at his +quarters in Yorkshire. Guess what were my sensations when I beheld +him sitting by that base woman, and talking to her with the utmost +familiarity. I could not long endure this sight, and having acquainted +my companion that I was taken suddenly ill, I forced her to go home with +me at the end of the second act. + +"After a restless and sleepless night, when I rose the next morning I +had the comfort to receive a visit from the woman of the house, who, +after a very short introduction, asked me when I had heard from the +captain, and when I expected to see him? I had not strength or spirits +to make her any answer, and she proceeded thus:--'Indeed I did not think +the captain would have used me so. My husband was an officer of the army +as well as himself; and if a body is a little low in the world, I am +sure that is no reason for folks to trample on a body. I defy the world +to say as I ever was guilty of an ill thing.' For heaven's sake, madam, +says I, what do you mean? 'Mean?' cries she; 'I am sure, if I had not +thought you had been Captain Hebbers' lady, his lawful lady too, you +should never have set footing in my house. I would have Captain Hebbers +know, that though I am reduced to let lodgings, I never have entertained +any but persons of character.'--In this manner, sir, she ran on, saying +many shocking things not worth repeating, till my anger at last got the +better of my patience as well as my sorrow, and I pushed her out of the +room. + +"She had not been long gone before her daughter came to me, and, after +many expressions of tenderness and pity, acquainted me that her mother +had just found out, by means of the captain's servant, that the captain +was married to another lady; 'which, if you did not know before, madam,' +said she, 'I am sorry to be the messenger of such ill news.' + +"Think, Mr. Booth, what I must have endured to see myself humbled before +such a creature as this, the daughter of a woman who lets lodgings! +However, having recollected myself a little, I thought it would be in +vain to deny anything; so, knowing this to be one of the best-natured +and most sensible girls in the world, I resolved to tell her my whole +story, and for the future to make her my confidante. I answered her, +therefore, with a good deal of assurance, that she need not regret +telling me this piece of ill news, for I had known it before I came to +her house. + +"'Pardon me, madam,' replied the girl, 'you cannot possibly have known +it so long, for he hath not been married above a week; last night was +the first time of his appearing in public with his wife at the play. +Indeed, I knew very well the cause of your uneasiness there; but would +not mention---' + +"His wife at the play? answered I eagerly. What wife? whom do you mean? + +"'I mean the widow Carey, madam,' replied she, 'to whom the captain was +married a few days since. His servant was here last night to pay for +your lodging, and he told it my mother.' + +"I know not what answer I made, or whether I made any. I presently fell +dead on the floor, and it was with great difficulty I was brought back +to life by the poor girl, for neither the mother nor the maid of the +house would lend me any assistance, both seeming to regard me rather as +a monster than a woman. + +"Scarce had I recovered the use of my senses when I received a letter +from the villain, declaring he had not assurance to see my face, and +very kindly advising me to endeavour to reconcile myself to my family, +concluding with an offer, in case I did not succeed, to allow me twenty +pounds a-year to support me in some remote part of the kingdom. + +"I need not mention my indignation at these proposals. In the highest +agony of rage, I went in a chair to the detested house, where I easily +got access to the wretch I had devoted to destruction, whom I no sooner +found within my reach than I plunged a drawn penknife, which I had +prepared in my pocket for the purpose, into his accursed heart. For this +fact I was immediately seized and soon after committed hither; and +for this fact I am ready to die, and shall with pleasure receive the +sentence of the law. + +"Thus, sir," said she, "I have related to you my unhappy story, and if +I have tired your patience, by dwelling too long on those parts which +affected me the most, I ask your pardon." + +Booth made a proper speech on this occasion, and, having exprest much +concern at her present situation, concluded that he hoped her sentence +would be milder than she seemed to expect. + +Her reply to this was full of so much bitterness and indignation, that +we do not think proper to record the speech at length, in which having +vented her passion, she all at once put on a serene countenance, and +with an air of great complacency said, "Well, Mr. Booth, I think I have +now a right to satisfy my curiosity at the expense of your breath. I +may say it is not altogether a vain curiosity, for perhaps I have had +inclination enough to interest myself in whatever concerns you; but no +matter for that: those days (added she with a sigh) are now over." + +Booth, who was extremely good-natured and well-bred, told her that she +should not command him twice whatever was in his power; and then, after +the usual apology, was going to begin his history, when the keeper +arrived, and acquainted the lady that dinner was ready, at the same time +saying, "I suppose, madam, as the gentleman is an acquaintance of yours, +he must dine with us too." + +Miss Matthews told the keeper that she had only one word to mention in +private to the gentleman, and that then they would both attend him. She +then pulled her purse from her pocket, in which were upwards of twenty +guineas, being the remainder of the money for which she had sold a gold +repeating watch, her father's present, with some other trinkets, and +desired Mr. Booth to take what he should have occasion for, saying, "You +know, I believe, dear Will, I never valued money; and now I am sure +I shall have very little use for it." Booth, with much difficulty, +accepted of two guineas, and then they both together attended the +keeper. + + + + +Chapter x + +_Table-talk, consisting of a facetious discourse that passed in the +prison_. + + +There were assembled at the table the governor of these (not improperly +called infernal) regions; the lieutenant-governor, vulgarly named the +first turnkey; Miss Matthews, Mr. Booth, Mr. Robinson the gambler, +several other prisoners of both sexes, and one Murphy, an attorney. + +The governor took the first opportunity to bring the affair of Miss +Matthews upon the carpet, and then, turning to Murphy, he said, "It is +very lucky this gentleman happens to be present; I do assure you, madam, +your cause cannot be in abler hands. He is, I believe, the best man in +England at a defence; I have known him often succeed against the most +positive evidence." + +"Fy, sir," answered Murphy; "you know I hate all this; but, if the lady +will trust me with her cause, I will do the best in my power. Come, +madam, do not be discouraged; a bit of manslaughter and cold iron, I +hope, will be the worst: or perhaps we may come off better with a slice +of chance-medley, or _se defendendo_" + +"I am very ignorant of the law, sir," cries the lady. + +"Yes, madam," answered Murphy; "it can't be expected you should +understand it. There are very few of us who profess it that understand +the whole, nor is it necessary we should. There is a great deal of +rubbish of little use, about indictments, and abatements, and bars, and +ejectments, and trovers, and such stuff, with which people cram their +heads to little purpose. The chapter of evidence is the main business; +that is the sheet-anchor; that is the rudder, which brings the vessel +safe _in portum_. Evidence is, indeed, the whole, the _summa totidis_, +for _de non apparentibus et non insistentibus eandem est ratio_." + +"If you address yourself to me, sir," said the lady, "you are much too +learned, I assure you, for my understanding." + +"_Tace_, madam," answered Murphy, "is Latin for a candle: I commend your +prudence. I shall know the particulars of your case when we are alone." + +"I hope the lady," said Robinson, "hath no suspicion of any person here. +I hope we are all persons of honour at this table." + +"D--n my eyes!" answered a well-dressed woman, "I can answer for myself +and the other ladies; though I never saw the lady in my life, she need +not be shy of us, d--n my eyes! I scorn to rap [Footnote: A cant word, +meaning to swear, or rather to perjure yourself] against any lady." + +"D--n me, madam!" cried another female, "I honour what you have done. I +once put a knife into a cull myself--so my service to you, madam, and I +wish you may come off with _se diffidendo_ with all my heart." + +"I beg, good woman," said Miss Matthews, "you would talk on some other +subject, and give yourself no concern about my affairs." + +"You see, ladies," cried Murphy, "the gentle-woman doth not care to talk +on this matter before company; so pray do not press her." + +"Nay, I value the lady's acquaintance no more than she values mine," +cries the first woman who spoke. "I have kept as good company as the +lady, I believe, every day in the week. Good woman! I don't use to be +so treated. If the lady says such another word to me, d--n me, I will +darken her daylights. Marry, come up! Good woman!--the lady's a whore as +well as myself! and, though I am sent hither to mill doll, d--n my eyes, +I have money enough to buy it off as well as the lady herself." + +Action might perhaps soon have ensued this speech, had not the keeper +interposed his authority, and put an end to any further dispute. Soon +after which, the company broke up, and none but himself, Mr. Murphy, +Captain Booth, and Miss Matthews, remained together. + +Miss Matthews then, at the entreaty of the keeper, began to open her +case to Mr. Murphy, whom she admitted to be her solicitor, though she +still declared she was indifferent as to the event of the trial. + +Mr. Murphy, having heard all the particulars with which the reader is +already acquainted (as far as related to the murder), shook his head and +said, "There is but one circumstance, madam, which I wish was out of the +case; and that we must put out of it; I mean the carrying the penknife +drawn into the room with you; for that seems to imply malice prepensive, +as we call it in the law: this circumstance, therefore, must not appear +against you; and, if the servant who was in the room observed this, +he must be bought off at all hazards. All here you say are friends; +therefore I tell you openly, you must furnish me with money sufficient +for this purpose. Malice is all we have to guard against." + +"I would not presume, sir," cries Booth, "to inform you in the law; +but I have heard, in case of stabbing, a man may be indicted upon the +statute; and it is capital, though no malice appears." + +"You say true, sir," answered Murphy; "a man may be indicted _contra +formam statutis;_ and that method, I allow you, requires no malice. I +presume you are a lawyer, sir?" + +"No, indeed, sir," answered Booth, "I know nothing of the law." + +"Then, sir, I will tell you--If a man be indicted _contra formam +tatutis_, as we say, no malice is necessary, because the form of the +statute makes malice; and then what we have to guard against is having +struck the first blow. Pox on't, it is unlucky this was done in a room: +if it had been in the street we could have had five or six witnesses to +have proved the first blow, cheaper than, I am afraid, we shall get this +one; for when a man knows, from the unhappy circumstances of the case, +that you can procure no other witness but himself, he is always dear. It +is so in all other ways of business. I am very implicit, you see; but we +are all among friends. The safest way is to furnish me with money enough +to offer him a good round sum at once; and I think (it is for your good +I speak) fifty pounds is the least than can be offered him. I do assure +you I would offer him no less was it my own case." + +"And do you think, sir," said she, "that I would save my life at the +expense of hiring another to perjure himself?" + +"Ay, surely do I," cries Murphy; "for where is the fault, admitting +there is some fault in perjury, as you call it? and, to be sure, it is +such a matter as every man would rather wish to avoid than not: and yet, +as it may be managed, there is not so much as some people are apt to +imagine in it; for he need not kiss the book, and then pray where's +the perjury? but if the crier is sharper than ordinary, what is it he +kisses? is it anything but a bit of calf's-skin? I am sure a man must +be a very bad Christian himself who would not do so much as that to +save the life of any Christian whatever, much more of so pretty a lady. +Indeed, madam, if we can make out but a tolerable case, so much beauty +will go a great way with the judge and the jury too." + +The latter part of this speech, notwithstanding the mouth it came from, +caused Miss Matthews to suppress much of the indignation which began +to arise at the former; and she answered with a smile, "Sir, you are a +great casuist in these matters; but we need argue no longer concerning +them; for, if fifty pounds would save my life, I assure you I could not +command that sum. The little money I have in my pocket is all I can call +my own; and I apprehend, in the situation I am in, I shall have very +little of that to spare." + +"Come, come, madam," cries Murphy, "life is sweet, let me tell you, and +never sweeter than when we are near losing it. I have known many a man +very brave and undaunted at his first commitment, who, when business +began to thicken a little upon him, hath changed his note. It is no time +to be saving in your condition." + +The keeper, who, after the liberality of Miss Matthews, and on seeing +a purse of guineas in her hand, had conceived a great opinion of her +wealth, no sooner heard that the sum which he had in intention intirely +confiscated for his own use was attempted to be broke in upon, thought +it high time to be upon his guard. "To be sure," cries he, "Mr. Murphy, +life is sweet, as you say, that must be acknowledged; to be sure, life +is sweet; but, sweet as it is, no persons can advance more than they are +worth to save it. And indeed, if the lady can command no more money than +that little she mentions, she is to be commended for her unwillingness +to part with any of it; for, to be sure, as she says, she will want +every farthing of that to live like a gentlewoman till she comes to her +trial. And, to be sure, as sweet as life is, people ought to take care +to be able to live sweetly while they do live; besides, I cannot help +saying the lady shews herself to be what she is, by her abhorrence of +perjury, which is certainly a very dreadful crime. And, though the not +kissing the book doth, as you say, make a great deal of difference; and, +if a man had a great while to live and repent, perhaps he might swallow +it well enough; yet, when people comes to be near their end (as who can +venture to foretel what will be the lady's case?) they ought to take +care not to overburthen their conscience. I hope the lady's case +will not be found murder; for I am sure I always wish well to all my +prisoners who shew themselves to be gentlemen or gentlewomen; yet one +should always fear the worst." + +"Indeed, sir, you speak like an oracle," answered the lady; "and one +subornation of perjury would sit heavier on my conscience than twenty +such murders as I am guilty of." + +"Nay, to be sure, madam," answered the keeper, "nobody can pretend to +tell what provocation you must have had; and certainly it can never be +imagined that a lady who behaves herself so handsomely as you have done +ever since you have been under my keys should be guilty of killing a man +without being very highly provoked to do it." + +Mr. Murphy was, I believe, going to answer when he was called out of +the room; after which nothing passed between the remaining persons worth +relating, till Booth and the lady retired back again into the lady's +apartment. + +Here they fell immediately to commenting on the foregoing discourse; +but, as their comments were, I believe, the same with what most readers +have made on the same occasion, we shall omit them. At last, Miss +Matthews reminding her companion of his promise of relating to her what +had befallen him since the interruption of their former acquaintance, he +began as is written in the next book of this history. + + + + +BOOK II. + + + +Chapter i. + +_In which Captain Booth begins to relate his history._ + + +The tea-table being removed, and Mr. Booth and the lady left alone, he +proceeded as follows: + +"Since you desire, madam, to know the particulars of my courtship +to that best and dearest of women whom I afterwards married, I will +endeavour to recollect them as well as I can, at least all those +incidents which are most worth relating to you. + +"If the vulgar opinion of the fatality in marriage had ever any +foundation, it surely appeared in my marriage with my Amelia. I knew her +in the first dawn of her beauty; and, I believe, madam, she had as much +as ever fell to the share of a woman; but, though I always admired her, +it was long without any spark of love. Perhaps the general admiration +which at that time pursued her, the respect paid her by persons of the +highest rank, and the numberless addresses which were made her by men of +great fortune, prevented my aspiring at the possession of those charms +which seemed so absolutely out of my reach. However it was, I assure +you the accident which deprived her of the admiration of others made the +first great impression on my heart in her favour. The injury done to +her beauty by the overturning of a chaise, by which, as you may well +remember, her lovely nose was beat all to pieces, gave me an assurance +that the woman who had been so much adored for the charms of her person +deserved a much higher adoration to be paid to her mind; for that she +was in the latter respect infinitely more superior to the rest of her +sex than she had ever been in the former." + +"I admire your taste extremely," cried the lady; "I remember perfectly +well the great heroism with which your Amelia bore that misfortune." + +"Good heavens! madam," answered he; "what a magnanimity of mind did her +behaviour demonstrate! If the world have extolled the firmness of soul +in a man who can support the loss of fortune; of a general who can be +composed after the loss of a victory; or of a king who can be contented +with the loss of a crown; with what astonishment ought we to behold, +with what praises to honour, a young lady, who can with patience and +resignation submit to the loss of exquisite beauty, in other words to +the loss of fortune, power, glory, everything which human nature is +apt to court and rejoice in! what must be the mind which can bear to +be deprived of all these in a moment, and by an unfortunate trifling +accident; which could support all this, together with the most +exquisite torments of body, and with dignity, with resignation, without +complaining, almost without a tear, undergo the most painful and +dreadful operations of surgery in such a situation!" Here he stopt, and +a torrent of tears gushed from his eyes; such tears are apt to flow from +a truly noble heart at the hearing of anything surprisingly great and +glorious. As soon as he was able he again proceeded thus: + +"Would you think, Miss Matthews, that the misfortune of my Amelia was +capable of any aggravation? I assure you, she hath often told me it +was aggravated with a circumstance which outweighed all the other +ingredients. This was the cruel insults she received from some of her +most intimate acquaintance, several of whom, after many distortions and +grimaces, have turned their heads aside, unable to support their secret +triumph, and burst into a loud laugh in her hearing." + +"Good heavens!" cried Miss Matthews; "what detestable actions will this +contemptible passion of envy prevail on our sex to commit!" + +"An occasion of this kind, as she hath since told me, made the first +impression on her gentle heart in my favour. I was one day in company +with several young ladies, or rather young devils, where poor Amelia's +accident was the subject of much mirth and pleasantry. One of these said +she hoped miss would not hold her head so high for the future. Another +answered, 'I do not know, madam, what she may do with her head, but I am +convinced she will never more turn up her nose at her betters.' Another +cried, 'What a very proper match might now be made between Amelia and a +certain captain,' who had unfortunately received an injury in the same +part, though from no shameful cause. Many other sarcasms were thrown +out, very unworthy to be repeated. I was hurt with perceiving so much +malice in human shape, and cried out very bluntly, Indeed, ladies, you +need not express such satisfaction at poor Miss Emily's accident; for +she will still be the handsomest woman in England. This speech of mine +was afterwards variously repeated, by some to my honour, and by others +represented in a contrary light; indeed, it was often reported to be +much ruder than it was. However, it at length reached Amelia's ears. +She said she was very much obliged to me, since I could have so much +compassion for her as to be rude to a lady on her account. + +"About a month after the accident, when Amelia began to see company in +a mask, I had the honour to drink tea with her. We were alone together, +and I begged her to indulge my curiosity by showing me her face. She +answered in a most obliging manner, 'Perhaps, Mr. Booth, you will as +little know me when my mask is off as when it is on;' and at the same +instant unmasked.--The surgeon's skill was the least I considered. A +thousand tender ideas rushed all at once on my mind. I was unable to +contain myself, and, eagerly kissing her hand, I cried--Upon my soul, +madam, you never appeared to me so lovely as at this instant. Nothing +more remarkable passed at this visit; but I sincerely believe we were +neither of us hereafter indifferent to each other. + +"Many months, however, passed after this, before I ever thought +seriously of making her my wife. Not that I wanted sufficient love for +Amelia. Indeed it arose from the vast affection I bore her. I considered +my own as a desperate fortune, hers as entirely dependent on her mother, +who was a woman, you know, of violent passions, and very unlikely to +consent to a match so highly contrary to the interest of her daughter. +The more I loved Amelia, the more firmly I resolved within myself never +to propose love to her seriously. Such a dupe was my understanding to +my heart, and so foolishly did I imagine I could be master of a flame to +which I was every day adding fuel. + +"O, Miss Matthews! we have heard of men entirely masters of their +passions, and of hearts which can carry this fire in them, and conceal +it at their pleasure. Perhaps there may be such: but, if there are, +those hearts may be compared, I believe, to damps, in which it is more +difficult to keep fire alive than to prevent its blazing: in mine it was +placed in the midst of combustible matter. + +"After several visits, in which looks and sighs had been interchanged on +both sides, but without the least mention of passion in private, one +day the discourse between us when alone happened to turn on love; I +say happened, for I protest it was not designed on my side, and I am as +firmly convinced not on hers. I was now no longer master of myself; I +declared myself the most wretched of all martyrs to this tender +passion; that I had long concealed it from its object. At length, after +mentioning many particulars, suppressing, however, those which must have +necessarily brought it home to Amelia, I concluded with begging her +to be the confidante of my amour, and to give me her advice on that +occasion. + +"Amelia (O, I shall never forget the dear perturbation!) appeared all +confusion at this instant. She trembled, turned pale, and discovered how +well she understood me, by a thousand more symptoms than I could take +notice of, in a state of mind so very little different from her own. At +last, with faltering accents, she said I had made a very ill choice of +a counsellor in a matter in which she was so ignorant.--Adding, at last, +'I believe, Mr. Booth, you gentlemen want very little advice in these +affairs, which you all understand better than we do.' + +"I will relate no more of our conversation at present; indeed I am +afraid I tire you with too many particulars." + +"O, no!" answered she; "I should be glad to hear every step of an amour +which had so tender a beginning. Tell me everything you said or did, if +you can remember it." + +He then proceeded, and so will we in the next chapter. + + + + +Chapter ii. + +_Mr. Booth continues his story. In this chapter there are some passages +that may serve as a kind of touchstone by which a young lady may examine +the heart of her lover. I would advise, therefore, that every lover be +obliged to read it over in the presence of his mistress, and that she +carefully watch his emotions while he is reading._ + + +"I was under the utmost concern," cries Booth, "when I retired from my +visit, and had reflected coolly on what I had said. I now saw plainly +that I had made downright love to Amelia; and I feared, such was my +vanity, that I had already gone too far, and been too successful. +Feared! do I say? could I fear what I hoped? how shall I describe the +anxiety of my mind?" + +"You need give yourself no great pain," cried Miss Matthews, "to +describe what I can so easily guess. To be honest with you, Mr. Booth, +I do not agree with your lady's opinion that the men have a superior +understanding in the matters of love. Men are often blind to the +passions of women: but every woman is as quick-sighted as a hawk on +these occasions; nor is there one article in the whole science which is +not understood by all our sex." + +"However, madam," said Mr. Booth, "I now undertook to deceive Amelia. I +abstained three days from seeing her; to say the truth, I endeavoured to +work myself up to a resolution of leaving her for ever: but when I could +not so far subdue my passion---But why do I talk nonsense of subduing +passion?--I should say, when no other passion could surmount my love, I +returned to visit her; and now I attempted the strangest project which +ever entered into the silly head of a lover. This was to persuade Amelia +that I was really in love in another place, and had literally expressed +my meaning when I asked her advice and desired her to be my confidante. + +"I therefore forged a meeting to have been between me and my imaginary +mistress since I had last seen Amelia, and related the particulars, as +well as I could invent them, which had passed at our conversation. + +"Poor Amelia presently swallowed this bait; and, as she hath told me +since, absolutely believed me to be in earnest. Poor dear love! how +should the sincerest of hearts have any idea of deceit? for, with all +her simplicity, I assure you she is the most sensible woman in the +world." + +"It is highly generous and good in you," said Miss Matthews, with a +sly sneer, "to impute to honesty what others would, perhaps, call +credulity." + +"I protest, madam," answered he, "I do her no more than justice. A +good heart will at all times betray the best head in the world.---Well, +madam, my angel was now, if possible, more confused than before. She +looked so silly, you can hardly believe it." + +"Yes, yes, I can," answered the lady, with a laugh, "I can believe +it.--Well, well, go on."--"After some hesitation," cried he, "my Amelia +said faintly to me, 'Mr. Booth, you use me very ill; you desire me to be +your confidante, and conceal from me the name of your mistress.' + +"Is it possible then, madam," answered I, "that you cannot guess her, +when I tell you she is one of your acquaintance, and lives in this +town?" + +"'My acquaintance!' said she: 'La! Mr. Booth--In this town! I--I--I +thought I could have guessed for once; but I have an ill talent that +way--I will never attempt to guess anything again.' Indeed I do her an +injury when I pretend to represent her manner. Her manner, look, +voice, everything was inimitable; such sweetness, softness, innocence, +modesty!--Upon my soul, if ever man could boast of his resolution, I +think I might now, that I abstained from falling prostrate at her feet, +and adoring her. However, I triumphed; pride, I believe, triumphed, +or perhaps love got the better of love. We once more parted, and I +promised, the next time I saw her, to reveal the name of my mistress. + +"I now had, I thought, gained a complete victory over myself; and no +small compliments did I pay to my own resolution. In short, I triumphed +as cowards and niggards do when they flatter themselves with having +given some supposed instance of courage or generosity; and my triumph +lasted as long; that is to say, till my ascendant passion had a proper +opportunity of displaying itself in its true and natural colours. + +"Having hitherto succeeded so well in my own opinion, and obtained this +mighty self-conquest, I now entertained a design of exerting the +most romantic generosity, and of curing that unhappy passion which I +perceived I had raised in Amelia. + +"Among the ladies who had expressed the greatest satisfaction at my +Amelia's misfortune, Miss Osborne had distinguished herself in a very +eminent degree; she was, indeed, the next in beauty to my angel, nay, +she had disputed the preference, and had some among her admirers who +were blind enough to give it in her favour." + +"Well," cries the lady, "I will allow you to call them blind; but Miss +Osborne was a charming girl." + +"She certainly was handsome," answered he, "and a very considerable +fortune; so I thought my Amelia would have little difficulty in +believing me when I fixed on her as my mistress. And I concluded that my +thus placing my affections on her known enemy would be the surest method +of eradicating every tender idea with which I had been ever honoured by +Amelia. + +"Well, then, to Amelia I went; she received me with more than usual +coldness and reserve; in which, to confess the truth, there appeared +to me more of anger than indifference, and more of dejection than of +either. After some short introduction, I revived the discourse of my +amour, and presently mentioned Miss Osborne as the lady whose name I had +concealed; adding, that the true reason why I did not mention her before +was, that I apprehended there was some little distance between them, +which I hoped to have the happiness of accommodating. + +"Amelia answered with much gravity, 'If you know, sir, that there is any +distance between us, I suppose you know the reason of that distance; and +then, I think, I could not have expected to be affronted by her name. +I would not have you think, Mr. Booth, that I hate Miss Osborne. No! +Heaven is my witness, I despise her too much.--Indeed, when I reflect +how much I loved the woman who hath treated me so cruelly, I own it +gives me pain--when I lay, as I then imagined, and as all about me +believed, on my deathbed, in all the agonies of pain and misery, to +become the object of laughter to my dearest friend.--O, Mr. Booth, it is +a cruel reflection! and could I after this have expected from you--but +why not from you, to whom I am a person entirely indifferent, if such a +friend could treat me so barbarously?' + +"During the greatest part of this speech the tears streamed from +her bright eyes. I could endure it no longer. I caught up the word +indifferent, and repeated it, saying, Do you think then, madam, that +Miss Emily is indifferent to me? + +"'Yes, surely, I do,' answered she: 'I know I am; indeed, why should I +not be indifferent to you?' + +"Have my eyes," said I, "then declared nothing?" + +"'O! there is no need of your eyes' answered she; 'your tongue hath +declared that you have singled out of all womankind my greatest, I will +say, my basest enemy. I own I once thought that character would have +been no recommendation to you;--but why did I think so? I was born to +deceive myself.' + +"I then fell on my knees before her; and, forcing her hand, cried out, +O, my Amelia! I can bear no longer. You are the only mistress of my +affections; you are the deity I adore. In this stile I ran on for above +two or three minutes, what it is impossible to repeat, till a torrent of +contending passions, together with the surprize, overpowered her gentle +spirits, and she fainted away in my arms. + +"To describe my sensation till she returned to herself is not in my +power."--"You need not," cried Miss Matthews.--"Oh, happy Amelia! why +had I not been blest with such a passion?"--"I am convinced, madam," +continued he, "you cannot expect all the particulars of the tender scene +which ensued. I was not enough in my senses to remember it all. Let it +suffice to say, that that behaviour with which Amelia, while ignorant +of its motive, had been so much displeased, when she became sensible of +that motive, proved the strongest recommendation to her favour, and she +was pleased to call it generous." + +"Generous!" repeated the lady, "and so it was, almost beyond the reach +of humanity. I question whether you ever had an equal." + +Perhaps the critical reader may have the same doubt with Miss Matthews; +and lest he should, we will here make a gap in our history, to give him +an opportunity of accurately considering whether this conduct of Mr. +Booth was natural or no; and consequently, whether we have, in this +place, maintained or deviated from that strict adherence to universal +truth which we profess above all other historians. + + + + +Chapter iii. + +_The narrative continued. More of the touchstone._ + + +Booth made a proper acknowledgment of Miss Matthew's civility, and then +renewed his story. "We were upon the footing of lovers; and Amelia threw +off her reserve more and more, till at length I found all that return of +my affection which the tenderest lover can require. + +"My situation would now have been a paradise, had not my happiness been +interrupted with the same reflections I have already mentioned; had I +not, in short, concluded, that I must derive all my joys from the almost +certain ruin of that dear creature to whom I should owe them. + +"This thought haunted me night and day, till I at last grew unable to +support it: I therefore resolved in the strongest manner, to lay it +before Amelia. + +"One evening then, after the highest professions of the most +disinterested love, in which Heaven knows my sincerity, I took an +occasion to speak to Amelia in the following manner:-- + +"Too true it is, I am afraid, my dearest creature, that the highest +human happiness is imperfect. How rich would be my cup, was it not for +one poisonous drop which embitters the whole! O, Amelia! what must be +the consequence of my ever having the honour to call you mine!--You know +my situation in life, and you know your own: I have nothing more than +the poor provision of an ensign's commission to depend on; your sole +dependence is on your mother; should any act of disobedience defeat +your expectations, how wretched must your lot be with me! O, Amelia! how +ghastly an object to my mind is the apprehension of your distress! Can +I bear to reflect a moment on the certainty of your foregoing all the +conveniences of life? on the possibility of your suffering all its most +dreadful inconveniencies? what must be my misery, then, to see you in +such a situation, and to upbraid myself with being the accursed cause +of bringing you to it? Suppose too in such a season I should be summoned +from you. Could I submit to see you encounter all the hazards, the +fatigues of war, with me? you could not yourself, however willing, +support them a single campaign. What then; must I leave you to starve +alone, deprived of the tenderness of a husband, deprived too of the +tenderness of the best of mothers, through my means? a woman most +dear to me, for being the parent, the nurse, and the friend of my +Amelia.---But oh! my sweet creature, carry your thoughts a little +further. Think of the tenderest consequences, the dearest pledges of our +love. Can I bear to think of entailing beggary on the posterity of my +Amelia? on our---Oh, Heavens!--on our children!--On the other side, +is it possible even to mention the word--I will not, must not, cannot, +cannot part with you.---What must we do, Amelia? It is now I sincerely +ask your advice." + +"'What advice can I give you,' said she, 'in such an alternative? Would +to Heaven we had never met!' + +"These words were accompanied with a sigh, and a look inexpressibly +tender, the tears at the same time overflowing all her lovely cheeks. I +was endeavouring to reply when I was interrupted by what soon put an end +to the scene. + +"Our amour had already been buzzed all over the town; and it came at +last to the ears of Mrs. Harris: I had, indeed, observed of late a great +alteration in that lady's behaviour towards me whenever I visited at the +house; nor could I, for a long time before this evening, ever obtain +a private interview with Amelia; and now, it seems, I owed it to her +mother's intention of overhearing all that passed between us. + +"At the period then above mentioned, Mrs. Harris burst from the closet +where she had hid herself, and surprised her daughter, reclining on +my bosom in all that tender sorrow I have just described. I will not +attempt to paint the rage of the mother, or the daughter's confusion, +or my own. 'Here are very fine doings, indeed,' cries Mrs. Harris: 'you +have made a noble use, Amelia, of my indulgence, and the trust I reposed +in you.--As for you, Mr. Booth, I will not accuse you; you have used +my child as I ought to have expected; I may thank myself for what hath +happened;' with much more of the same kind, before she would suffer me +to speak; but at last I obtained a hearing, and offered to excuse my +poor Amelia, who was ready to sink into the earth under the oppression +of grief, by taking as much blame as I could on myself. Mrs. Harris +answered, 'No, sir, I must say you are innocent in comparison of her; +nay, I can say I have heard you use dissuasive arguments; and I promise +you they are of weight. I have, I thank Heaven, one dutiful child, and +I shall henceforth think her my only one.'--She then forced the poor, +trembling, fainting Amelia out of the room; which when she had done, she +began very coolly to reason with me on the folly, as well as iniquity, +which I had been guilty of; and repeated to me almost every word I had +before urged to her daughter. In fine, she at last obtained of me a +promise that I would soon go to my regiment, and submit to any misery +rather than that of being the ruin of Amelia. + +"I now, for many days, endured the greatest torments which the human +mind is, I believe, capable of feeling; and I can honestly say I tried +all the means, and applied every argument which I could raise, to cure +me of my love. And to make these the more effectual, I spent every night +in walking backwards and forwards in the sight of Mrs. Harris's house, +where I never failed to find some object or other which raised some +tender idea of my lovely Amelia, and almost drove me to distraction." + +"And don't you think, sir," said Miss Matthews, "you took a most +preposterous method to cure yourself?" + +"Alas, madam," answered he, "you cannot see it in a more absurd light +than I do; but those know little of real love or grief who do not know +how much we deceive ourselves when we pretend to aim at the cure of +either. It is with these, as it is with some distempers of the body, +nothing is in the least agreeable to us but what serves to heighten the +disease. + +"At the end of a fortnight, when I was driven almost to the highest +degree of despair, and could contrive no method of conveying a letter +to Amelia, how was I surprised when Mrs. Harris's servant brought me +a card, with an invitation from the mother herself to drink tea that +evening at her house! + +"You will easily believe, madam, that I did not fail so agreeable an +appointment: on my arrival I was introduced into a large company of men +and women, Mrs. Harris and my Amelia being part of the company. + +"Amelia seemed in my eyes to look more beautiful than ever, and behaved +with all the gaiety imaginable. The old lady treated me with much +civility, but the young lady took little notice of me, and addressed +most of her discourse to another gentleman present. Indeed, she now and +then gave me a look of no discouraging kind, and I observed her colour +change more than once when her eyes met mine; circumstances, which, +perhaps, ought to have afforded me sufficient comfort, but they could +not allay the thousand doubts and fears with which I was alarmed, for my +anxious thoughts suggested no less to me than that Amelia had made her +peace with her mother at the price of abandoning me forever, and of +giving her ear to some other lover. All my prudence now vanished at +once; and I would that instant have gladly run away with Amelia, and +have married her without the least consideration of any consequences. + +"With such thoughts I had tormented myself for near two hours, till most +of the company had taken their leave. This I was myself incapable of +doing, nor do I know when I should have put an end to my visit, had not +Dr Harrison taken me away almost by force, telling me in a whisper +that he had something to say to me of great consequence.--You know the +doctor, madam--" + +"Very well, sir," answered Miss Matthews, "and one of the best men in +the world he is, and an honour to the sacred order to which he belongs." + +"You will judge," replied Booth, "by the sequel, whether I have reason +to think him so."--He then proceeded as in the next chapter. + + + + +Chapter iv + +_The story of Mr. Booth continued. In this chapter the reader will +perceive a glimpse of the character of a very good divine, with some +matters of a very tender kind._ + + +"The doctor conducted me into his study, and I then, desiring me to sit +down, began, as near as I can remember, in these words, or at least to +this purpose: + +"'You cannot imagine, young gentleman, that your love for Miss Emily is +any secret in this place; I have known it some time, and have been, I +assure you, very much your enemy in this affair.' + +"I answered, that I was very much obliged to him. + +"'Why, so you are,' replied he; 'and so, perhaps, you will think +yourself when you know all.--I went about a fortnight ago to Mrs. +Harris, to acquaint her with my apprehensions on her daughter's account; +for, though the matter was much talked of, I thought it might possibly +not have reached her ears. I will be very plain with you. I advised her +to take all possible care of the young lady, and even to send her to +some place, where she might be effectually kept out of your reach while +you remained in the town.' + +"And do you think, sir, said I, that this was acting a kind part by me? +or do you expect that I should thank you on this occasion? + +"'Young man,' answered he, 'I did not intend you any kindness, nor do +I desire any of your thanks. My intention was to preserve a worthy lady +from a young fellow of whom I had heard no good character, and whom I +imagined to have a design of stealing a human creature for the sake of +her fortune.' + +"It was very kind of you, indeed, answered I, to entertain such an +opinion of me. + +"'Why, sir,' replied the doctor, 'it is the opinion which, I believe, +most of you young gentlemen of the order of the rag deserve. I have +known some instances, and have heard of more, where such young fellows +have committed robbery under the name of marriage.' + +"I was going to interrupt him with some anger when he desired me to have +a little patience, and then informed me that he had visited Mrs. Harris +with the above-mentioned design the evening after the discovery I have +related; that Mrs. Harris, without waiting for his information, had +recounted to him all which had happened the evening before; and, indeed, +she must have an excellent memory, for I think she repeated every word +I said, and added, that she had confined her daughter to her chamber, +where she kept her a close prisoner, and had not seen her since. + +"I cannot express, nor would modesty suffer me if I could, all that now +past. The doctor took me by the hand and burst forth into the warmest +commendations of the sense and generosity which he was pleased to say +discovered themselves in my speech. You know, madam, his strong and +singular way of expressing himself on all occasions, especially when he +is affected with anything. 'Sir,' said he, 'if I knew half a dozen such +instances in the army, the painter should put red liveries upon all the +saints in my closet.' + +"From this instant, the doctor told me, he had become my friend and +zealous advocate with Mrs. Harris, on whom he had at last prevailed, +though not without the greatest difficulty, to consent to my marrying +Amelia, upon condition that I settled every penny which the mother +should lay down, and that she would retain a certain sum in her hands +which she would at any time deposit for my advancement in the army. + +"You will, I hope, madam, conceive that I made no hesitation at these +conditions, nor need I mention the joy which I felt on this occasion, or +the acknowledgment I paid the doctor, who is, indeed, as you say, one of +the best of men. + +"The next morning I had permission to visit Amelia, who received me in +such a manner, that I now concluded my happiness to be complete. + +"Everything was now agreed on all sides, and lawyers employed to prepare +the writings, when an unexpected cloud arose suddenly in our serene sky, +and all our joys were obscured in a moment. + +"When matters were, as I apprehended, drawing near a conclusion, I +received an express, that a sister whom I tenderly loved was seized with +a violent fever, and earnestly desired me to come to her. I immediately +obeyed the summons, and, as it was then about two in the morning, +without staying even to take leave of Amelia, for whom I left a short +billet, acquainting her with the reason of my absence. + +"The gentleman's house where my sister then was stood at fifty miles' +distance, and, though I used the utmost expedition, the unmerciful +distemper had, before my arrival, entirely deprived the poor girl of her +senses, as it soon after did of her life. + +"Not all the love I bore Amelia, nor the tumultuous delight with which +the approaching hour of possessing her filled my heart, could, for a +while, allay my grief at the loss of my beloved Nancy. Upon my soul, I +cannot yet mention her name without tears. Never brother and sister had, +I believe, a higher friendship for each other. Poor dear girl! whilst +I sat by her in her light-head fits, she repeated scarce any other +name but mine; and it plainly appeared that, when her dear reason was +ravished away from her, it had left my image on her fancy, and that +the last use she made of it was to think on me. 'Send for my dear Billy +immediately,' she cried; 'I know he will come to me in a moment. Will +nobody fetch him to me? pray don't kill me before I see him once more. +You durst not use me so if he was here.'--Every accent still rings in +my ears. Oh, heavens! to hear this, and at the same time to see the +poor delirious creature deriving the greatest horrors from my sight, and +mistaking me for a highwayman who had a little before robbed her. But +I ask your pardon; the sensations I felt are to be known only from +experience, and to you must appear dull and insipid. At last, she seemed +for a moment to know me, and cried, 'O heavens! my dearest brother!' +upon which she fell into immediate convulsions, and died away in my +arms." + +Here Mr. Booth stopped a moment, and wiped his eyes; and Miss Matthews, +perhaps out of complaisance, wiped hers. + + + + +Chapter v. + +_Containing strange revolutions of fortune_ + + +Booth proceeded thus: + +"This loss, perhaps, madam, you will think had made me miserable enough; +but Fortune did not think so; for, on the day when my Nancy was to be +buried, a courier arrived from Dr Harrison, with a letter, in which +the doctor acquainted me that he was just come from Mrs. Harris when +he despatched the express, and earnestly desired me to return the very +instant I received his letter, as I valued my Amelia. 'Though if the +daughter,' added he, 'should take after her mother (as most of them do) +it will be, perhaps, wiser in you to stay away.' + +"I presently sent for the messenger into my room, and with much +difficulty extorted from him that a great squire in his coach and six +was come to Mrs. Harris's, and that the whole town said he was shortly +to be married to Amelia. + +"I now soon perceived how much superior my love for Amelia was to every +other passion; poor Nancy's idea disappeared in a moment; I quitted the +dear lifeless corpse, over which I had shed a thousand tears, left the +care of her funeral to others, and posted, I may almost say flew, back +to Amelia, and alighted at the doctor's house, as he had desired me in +his letter. + +"The good man presently acquainted me with what had happened in my +absence. Mr. Winckworth had, it seems, arrived the very day of my +departure, with a grand equipage, and, without delay, had made formal +proposals to Mrs. Harris, offering to settle any part of his vast +estate, in whatever manner she pleased, on Amelia. These proposals the +old lady had, without any deliberation, accepted, and had insisted, in +the most violent manner, on her daughter's compliance, which Amelia had +as peremptorily refused to give; insisting, on her part, on the consent +which her mother had before given to our marriage, in which she was +heartily seconded by the doctor, who declared to her, as he now did +to me, 'that we ought as much to be esteemed man and wife as if the +ceremony had already past between us.' + +"These remonstrances, the doctor told me, had worked no effect on Mrs. +Harris, who still persisted in her avowed resolution of marrying her +daughter to Winckworth, whom the doctor had likewise attacked, telling +him that he was paying his addresses to another man's wife; but all to +no purpose; the young gentleman was too much in love to hearken to any +dissuasives. + +"We now entered into a consultation what means to employ. The doctor +earnestly protested against any violence to be offered to the person of +Winckworth, which, I believe, I had rashly threatened; declaring that, +if I made any attempt of that kind, he would for ever abandon my cause. +I made him a solemn promise of forbearance. At last he determined to pay +another visit to Mrs. Harris, and, if he found her obdurate, he said +he thought himself at liberty to join us together without any further +consent of the mother, which every parent, he said, had a right to +refuse, but not retract when given, unless the party himself, by some +conduct of his, gave a reason. + +"The doctor having made his visit with no better success than before, +the matter now debated was, how to get possession of Amelia by +stratagem, for she was now a closer prisoner than ever; was her mother's +bedfellow by night, and never out of her sight by day. + +"While we were deliberating on this point a wine-merchant of the town +came to visit the doctor, to inform him that he had just bottled off +a hogshead of excellent old port, of which he offered to spare him a +hamper, saying that he was that day to send in twelve dozen to Mrs. +Harris. + +"The doctor now smiled at a conceit which came into his head; and, +taking me aside, asked me if I had love enough for the young lady to +venture into the house in a hamper. I joyfully leapt at the proposal, +to which the merchant, at the doctor's intercession, consented; for I +believe, madam, you know the great authority which that worthy mart +had over the whole town. The doctor, moreover, promised to procure a +license, and to perform the office for us at his house, if I could find +any means of conveying Amelia thither. + +"In this hamper, then, I was carried to the house, and deposited in the +entry, where I had not lain long before I was again removed and packed +up in a cart in order to be sent five miles into the country; for I +heard the orders given as I lay in the entry; and there I likewise heard +that Amelia and her mother were to follow me the next morning. + +"I was unloaded from my cart, and set down with the rest of the lumber +in a great hall. Here I remained above three hours, impatiently waiting +for the evening, when I determined to quit a posture which was become +very uneasy, and break my prison; but Fortune contrived to release me +sooner, by the following means: The house where I now was had been left +in the care of one maid-servant. This faithful creature came into the +hall with the footman who had driven the cart. A scene of the highest +fondness having past between them, the fellow proposed, and the maid +consented, to open the hamper and drink a bottle together, which, +they agreed, their mistress would hardly miss in such a quantity. They +presently began to execute their purpose. They opened the hamper, and, +to their great surprise, discovered the contents. + +"I took an immediate advantage of the consternation which appeared in +the countenances of both the servants, and had sufficient presence of +mind to improve the knowledge of those secrets to which I was privy. +I told them that it entirely depended on their behaviour to me whether +their mistress should ever be acquainted, either with what they had done +or with what they had intended to do; for that if they would keep my +secret I would reciprocally keep theirs. I then acquainted them with +my purpose of lying concealed in the house, in order to watch an +opportunity of obtaining a private interview with Amelia. + +[Illustration: They opened The Hamper] + +"In the situation in which these two delinquents stood, you may be +assured it was not difficult for me to seal up their lips. In short, +they agreed to whatever I proposed. I lay that evening in my dear +Amelia's bedchamber, and was in the morning conveyed into an old +lumber-garret, where I was to wait till Amelia (whom the maid promised, +on her arrival, to inform of my place of concealment) could find some +opportunity of seeing me." + +"I ask pardon for interrupting you," cries Miss Matthews, "but you bring +to my remembrance a foolish story which I heard at that time, though at +a great distance from you: That an officer had, in confederacy with Miss +Harris, broke open her mother's cellar and stole away a great quantity +of her wine. I mention it only to shew you what sort of foundations most +stories have." + +Booth told her he had heard some such thing himself, and then continued +his story as in the next chapter. + + + + +Chapter vi. + +_Containing many surprising adventures._ + + +"There," continued he, "I remained the whole day in hopes of a +happiness, the expected approach of which gave me such a delight that I +would not have exchanged my poor lodgings for the finest palace in the +universe. + +"A little after it was dark Mrs. Harris arrived, together with Amelia +and her sister. I cannot express how much my heart now began to flutter; +for, as my hopes every moment encreased, strange fears, which I had not +felt before, began now to intermingle with them. + +"When I had continued full two hours in these circumstances, I heard a +woman's step tripping upstairs, which I fondly hoped was my Amelia; but +all on a sudden the door flew open, and Mrs. Harris herself appeared +at it, with a countenance pale as death, her whole body trembling, I +suppose with anger; she fell upon me in the most bitter language. It +is not necessary to repeat what she said, nor indeed can I, I was so +shocked and confounded on this occasion. In a word, the scene ended with +my departure without seeing Amelia." + +"And pray," cries Miss Matthews, "how happened this unfortunate +discovery?" + +Booth answered, That the lady at supper ordered a bottle of wine, "which +neither myself," says he, "nor the servants had presence of mind to +provide. Being told there was none in the house, though she had been +before informed that the things came all safe, she had sent for the +maid, who, being unable to devise any excuse, had fallen on her knees, +and, after confessing her design of opening a bottle, which she imputed +to the fellow, betrayed poor me to her mistress. + +"Well, madam, after a lecture of about a quarter of an hour's duration +from Mrs. Harris, I suffered her to conduct me to the outward gate of +her court-yard, whence I set forward in a disconsolate condition of mind +towards my lodgings. I had five miles to walkin a dark and rainy night: +but how can I mention these trifling circumstances as any aggravation of +my disappointment!" + +"How was it possible," cried Miss Matthews, "that you could be got out +of the house without seeing Miss Harris?" + +"I assure you, madam," answered Booth, "I have often wondered at it +myself; but my spirits were so much sunk at the sight of her mother, +that no man was ever a greater coward than I was at that instant. +Indeed, I believe my tender concern for the terrors of Amelia were the +principal cause of my submission. However it was, I left the house, and +walked about a hundred yards, when, at the corner of the garden-wall, +a female voice, in a whisper, cried out, 'Mr. Booth.' The person was +extremely near me, but it was so dark I could scarce see her; nor did I, +in the confusion I was in, immediately recognize the voice. I answered +in a line of Congreve's, which burst from my lips spontaneously; for I +am sure I had no intention to quote plays at that time. + +"'Who calls the wretched thing that was Alphonso?' + +"Upon which a woman leapt into my arms, crying out--'O! it is indeed my +Alphonso, my only Alphonso!'--O Miss Matthews! guess what I felt when I +found I had my Amelia in my arms. I embraced her with an ecstasy not to +be described, at the same instant pouring a thousand tendernesses into +her ears; at least, if I could express so many to her in a minute, for +in that time the alarm began at the house; Mrs. Harris had mist her +daughter, and the court was presently full of lights and noises of all +kinds. + +"I now lifted Amelia over a gate, and, jumping after, we crept along +together by the side of a hedge, a different way from what led to the +town, as I imagined that would be the road through which they would +pursue us. In this opinion I was right; for we heard them pass along +that road, and the voice of Mrs. Harris herself, who ran with the rest, +notwithstanding the darkness and the rain. By these means we luckily +made our escape, and clambring over hedge and ditch, my Amelia +performing the part of a heroine all the way, we at length arrived at +a little green lane, where stood a vast spreading oak, under which we +sheltered ourselves from a violent storm. + +"When this was over and the moon began to appear, Amelia declared +she knew very well where she was; and, a little farther striking into +another lane to the right, she said that would lead us to a house where +we should be both safe and unsuspected. I followed her directions, and +we at length came to a little cottage about three miles distant from +Mrs. Harris's house. + +"As it now rained very violently, we entered this cottage, in which we +espied a light, without any ceremony. Here we found an elderly woman +sitting by herself at a little fire, who had no sooner viewed us than +she instantly sprung from her seat, and starting back gave the strongest +tokens of amazement; upon which Amelia said, 'Be not surprised, nurse, +though you see me in a strange pickle, I own.' The old woman, after +having several times blessed herself, and expressed the most tender +concern for the lady who stood dripping before her, began to bestir +herself in making up the fire; at the same time entreating Amelia that +she might be permitted to furnish her with some cloaths, which, she +said, though not fine, were clean and wholesome and much dryer than +her own. I seconded this motion so vehemently, that Amelia, though she +declared herself under no apprehension of catching cold (she hath indeed +the best constitution in the world), at last consented, and I retired +without doors under a shed, to give my angel an opportunity of dressing +herself in the only room which the cottage afforded belowstairs. + +"At my return into the room, Amelia insisted on my exchanging my coat +for one which belonged to the old woman's son." "I am very glad," cried +Miss Matthews, "to find she did not forget you. I own I thought it +somewhat cruel to turn you out into the rain."--"O, Miss Matthews!" +continued he, taking no notice of her observation, "I had now an +opportunity of contemplating the vast power of exquisite beauty, which +nothing almost can add to or diminish. Amelia, in the poor rags of her +old nurse, looked scarce less beautiful than I have seen her appear at a +ball or an assembly." "Well, well," cries Miss Matthews, "to be sure she +did; but pray go on with your story." + +"The old woman," continued he, "after having equipped us as well as +she could, and placed our wet cloaths before the fire, began to grow +inquisitive; and, after some ejaculations, she cried--'O, my dear young +madam! my mind misgives me hugeously; and pray who is this fine young +gentleman? Oh! Miss Emmy, Miss Emmy, I am afraid madam knows nothing +of all this matter.' 'Suppose he should be my husband, nurse,' answered +Amelia. 'Oh! good! and if he be,' replies the nurse, 'I hope he is some +great gentleman or other, with a vast estate and a coach and six: for to +be sure, if an he was the greatest lord in the land, you would deserve +it all.' But why do I attempt to mimic the honest creature? In short, +she discovered the greatest affection for my Amelia; with which I was +much more delighted than I was offended at the suspicions she shewed of +me, or the many bitter curses which she denounced against me, if I ever +proved a bad husband to so sweet a young lady. + +"I so well improved the hint given me by Amelia, that the old woman had +no doubt of our being really married; and, comforting herself that, if +it was not as well as it might have been, yet madam had enough for us +both, and that happiness did not always depend on great riches, she +began to rail at the old lady for having turned us out of doors, which +I scarce told an untruth in asserting. And when Amelia said, 'She hoped +her nurse would not betray her,' the good woman answered with much +warmth--'Betray you, my dear young madam! no, that I would not, if the +king would give me all that he is worth: no, not if madam herself would +give me the great house, and the whole farm belonging to it.' + +"The good woman then went out and fetched a chicken from the roost, +which she killed, and began to pick, without asking any questions. +Then, summoning her son, who was in bed, to her assistance, she began to +prepare this chicken for our supper. This she afterwards set before us +in so neat, I may almost say elegant, a manner, that whoever would have +disdained it either doth not know the sensation of hunger, or doth not +deserve to have it gratified. Our food was attended with some ale, which +our kind hostess said she intended not to have tapped till Christmas; +'but,' added she, 'I little thought ever to have the honour of seeing my +dear honoured lady in this poor place.' + +"For my own part, no human being was then an object of envy to me, and +even Amelia seemed to be in pretty good spirits; she softly whispered to +me that she perceived there might be happiness in a cottage." + +"A cottage!" cries Miss Matthews, sighing, "a cottage, with the man one +loves, is a palace." + +"When supper was ended," continued Booth, "the good woman began to think +of our further wants, and very earnestly recommended her bed to us, +saying, it was a very neat, though homely one, and that she could +furnish us with a pair of clean sheets. She added some persuasives which +painted my angel all over with vermilion. As for myself, I behaved so +awkwardly and foolishly, and so readily agreed to Amelia's resolution of +sitting up all night, that, if it did not give the nurse any suspicion +of our marriage, it ought to have inspired her with the utmost contempt +for me. + +"We both endeavoured to prevail with nurse to retire to her own bed, +but found it utterly impossible to succeed; she thanked Heaven she +understood breeding better than that. And so well bred was the good +woman, that we could scarce get her out of the room the whole night. +Luckily for us, we both understood French, by means of which we +consulted together, even in her presence, upon the measures we were to +take in our present exigency. At length it was resolved that I should +send a letter by this young lad, whom I have just before mentioned, to +our worthy friend the doctor, desiring his company at our hut, since we +thought it utterly unsafe to venture to the town, which we knew would be +in an uproar on our account before the morning." + +Here Booth made a full stop, smiled, and then said he was going to +mention so ridiculous a distress, that he could scarce think of it +without laughing. What this was the reader shall know in the next +chapter. + + + + +Chapter vii. + +_The story of Booth continued.--More surprising adventures._ + + +"From what trifles, dear Miss Matthews," cried Booth, "may some of our +greatest distresses arise!" Do you not perceive I am going to tell you we +had neither pen, ink, nor paper, in our present exigency? + +A verbal message was now our only resource; however, we contrived to +deliver it in such terms, that neither nurse nor her son could possibly +conceive any suspicion from it of the present situation of our affairs. +Indeed, Amelia whispered me, I might safely place any degree of +confidence in the lad; for he had been her foster-brother, and she had +a great opinion of his integrity. He was in truth a boy of very good +natural parts; and Dr Harrison, who had received him into his family, +at Amelia's recommendation, had bred him up to write and read very well, +and had taken some pains to infuse into him the principles of honesty +and religion. He was not, indeed, even now discharged from the doctor's +service, but had been at home with his mother for some time, on account +of the small-pox, from which he was lately recovered. + +"I have said so much," continued Booth, "of the boy's character, that +you may not be surprised at some stories which I shall tell you of him +hereafter. + +"I am going now, madam, to relate to you one of those strange accidents +which are produced by such a train of circumstances, that mere chance +hath been thought incapable of bringing them together; and which have +therefore given birth, in superstitious minds, to Fortune, and to +several other imaginary beings. + +"We were now impatiently expecting the arrival of the doctor; our +messenger had been gone much more than a sufficient time, which to us, +you may be assured, appeared not at all shorter than it was, when nurse, +who had gone out of doors on some errand, came running hastily to us, +crying out, 'O my dear young madam, her ladyship's coach is just at the +door!' Amelia turned pale as death at these words; indeed, I feared she +would have fainted, if I could be said to fear, who had scarce any of my +senses left, and was in a condition little better than my angel's. + +"While we were both in this dreadful situation, Amelia fallen back in +her chair with the countenance in which ghosts are painted, myself +at her feet, with a complexion of no very different colour, and nurse +screaming out and throwing water in Amelia's face, Mrs. Harris entered +the room. At the sight of this scene she threw herself likewise into a +chair, and called immediately for a glass of water, which Miss Betty +her daughter supplied her with; for, as to nurse, nothing was capable of +making any impression on her whilst she apprehended her young mistress +to be in danger. + +"The doctor had now entered the room, and, coming immediately up to +Amelia, after some expressions of surprize, he took her by the hand, +called her his little sugar-plum, and assured her there were none but +friends present. He then led her tottering across the room to Mrs. +Harris. Amelia then fell upon her knees before her mother; but the +doctor caught her up, saying, 'Use that posture, child, only to the +Almighty!' but I need not mention this singularity of his to you +who know him so well, and must have heard him often dispute against +addressing ourselves to man in the humblest posture which we use towards +the Supreme Being. + +"I will tire you with no more particulars: we were soon satisfied that +the doctor had reconciled us and our affairs to Mrs. Harris; and we +now proceeded directly to church, the doctor having before provided a +licence for us." + +"But where is the strange accident?" cries Miss Matthews; "sure you have +raised more curiosity than you have satisfied." + +"Indeed, madam," answered he, "your reproof is just; I had like to +have forgotten it; but you cannot wonder at me when you reflect on that +interesting part of my story which I am now relating.--But before I +mention this accident I must tell you what happened after Amelia's +escape from her mother's house. Mrs. Harris at first ran out into the +lane among her servants, and pursued us (so she imagined) along the road +leading to the town; but that being very dirty, and a violent storm of +rain coming, she took shelter in an alehouse about half a mile from her +own house, whither she sent for her coach; she then drove, together with +her daughter, to town, where, soon after her arrival, she sent for the +doctor, her usual privy counsellor in all her affairs. They sat up all +night together, the doctor endeavouring, by arguments and persuasions, +to bring Mrs. Harris to reason; but all to no purpose, though, as he +hath informed me, Miss Betty seconded him with the warmest entreaties." + +Here Miss Matthews laughed; of which Booth begged to know the reason: +she, at last, after many apologies, said, "It was the first good thing +she ever heard of Miss Betty; nay," said she, "and asking your pardon +for my opinion of your sister, since you will have it, I always +conceived her to be the deepest of hypocrites." + +Booth fetched a sigh, and said he was afraid she had not always acted so +kindly;--and then, after a little hesitation, proceeded: + +"You will be pleased, madam, to remember the lad was sent with a verbal +message to the doctor: which message was no more than to acquaint him +where we were, and to desire the favour of his company, or that he would +send a coach to bring us to whatever place he would please to meet us +at. This message was to be delivered to the doctor himself, and the +messenger was ordered, if he found him not at home, to go to him +wherever he was. He fulfilled his orders and told it to the doctor in +the presence of Mrs. Harris." + +"Oh, the idiot!" cries Miss Matthews. "Not at all," answered Booth: "he +is a very sensible fellow, as you will, perhaps, say hereafter. He had +not the least reason to suspect that any secrecy was necessary; for +we took the utmost care he should not suspect it.--Well, madam, this +accident, which appeared so unfortunate, turned in the highest degree +to our advantage. Mrs. Harris no sooner heard the message delivered +than she fell into the most violent passion imaginable, and accused the +doctor of being in the plot, and of having confederated with me in the +design of carrying off her daughter. + +"The doctor, who had hitherto used only soothing methods, now talked +in a different strain. He confessed the accusation and justified his +conduct. He said he was no meddler in the family affairs of others, nor +should he have concerned himself with hers, but at her own request; but +that, since Mrs. Harris herself had made him an agent in this matter, he +would take care to acquit himself with honour, and above all things to +preserve a young lady for whom he had the highest esteem; 'for she is,' +cries he, and, by heavens, he said true, 'the most worthy, generous, +and noble of all human beings. You have yourself, madam,' said he, +'consented to the match. I have, at your request, made the match;' and +then he added some particulars relating to his opinion of me, which +my modesty forbids me to repeat."--"Nay, but," cries Miss Matthews, "I +insist on your conquest of that modesty for once. We women do not love +to hear one another's praises, and I will be made amends by hearing the +praises of a man, and of a man whom, perhaps," added she with a leer, "I +shall not think much the better of upon that account."--"In obedience +to your commands, then, madam," continued he, "the doctor was so kind +to say he had enquired into my character and found that I had been a +dutiful son and an affectionate brother. Relations, said he, in which +whoever discharges his duty well, gives us a well-grounded hope that he +will behave as properly in all the rest. He concluded with saying +that Amelia's happiness, her heart, nay, her very reputation, were all +concerned in this matter, to which, as he had been made instrumental, he +was resolved to carry her through it; and then, taking the licence from +his pocket, declared to Mrs. Harris that he would go that instant and +marry her daughter wherever he found her. This speech, the doctor's +voice, his look, and his behaviour, all which are sufficiently +calculated to inspire awe, and even terror, when he pleases, frightened +poor Mrs. Harris, and wrought a more sensible effect than it was in his +power to produce by all his arguments and entreaties; and I have already +related what followed. + +"Thus the strange accident of our wanting pen, ink, and paper, and our +not trusting the boy with our secret, occasioned the discovery to Mrs. +Harris; that discovery put the doctor upon his metal, and produced that +blessed event which I have recounted to you, and which, as my mother +hath since confessed, nothing but the spirit which he had exerted after +the discovery could have brought about. + +"Well, madam, you now see me married to Amelia; in which situation you +will, perhaps, think my happiness incapable of addition. Perhaps it was +so; and yet I can with truth say that the love which I then bore Amelia +was not comparable to what I bear her now." "Happy Amelia!" cried Miss +Matthews. "If all men were like you, all women would be blessed; nay, +the whole world would be so in a great measure; for, upon my soul, I +believe that from the damned inconstancy of your sex to ours proceeds +half the miseries of mankind." + +That we may give the reader leisure to consider well the foregoing +sentiment, we will here put an end to this chapter. + + + + +Chapter viii. + +_In which our readers will probably be divided in their opinion of Mr. +Booth's conduct._ + + +Booth proceeded as follows:-- + +"The first months of our marriage produced nothing remarkable enough +to mention. I am sure I need not tell Miss Matthews that I found in my +Amelia every perfection of human nature. Mrs. Harris at first gave us +some little uneasiness. She had rather yielded to the doctor than given +a willing consent to the match; however, by degrees, she became more +and more satisfied, and at last seemed perfectly reconciled. This we +ascribed a good deal to the kind offices of Miss Betty, who had always +appeared to be my friend. She had been greatly assisting to Amelia +in making her escape, which I had no opportunity of mentioning to you +before, and in all things behaved so well, outwardly at least, to myself +as well as her sister, that we regarded her as our sincerest friend. + +"About half a year after our marriage two additional companies were +added to our regiment, in one of which I was preferred to the command of +a lieutenant. Upon this occasion Miss Betty gave the first intimation of +a disposition which we have since too severely experienced." + +"Your servant, sir," says Miss Matthews; "then I find I was not mistaken +in my opinion of the lady.--No, no, shew me any goodness in a censorious +prude, and--" + +As Miss Matthews hesitated for a simile or an execration, Booth +proceeded: "You will please to remember, madam, there was formerly an +agreement between myself and Mrs. Harris that I should settle all my +Amelia's fortune on her, except a certain sum, which was to be laid out +in my advancement in the army; but, as our marriage was carried on in +the manner you have heard, no such agreement was ever executed. And +since I was become Amelia's husband not a word of this matter was ever +mentioned by the old lady; and as for myself, I declare I had not yet +awakened from that delicious dream of bliss in which the possession of +Amelia had lulled me." + +Here Miss Matthews sighed, and cast the tenderest of looks on Booth, who +thus continued his story:-- + +"Soon after my promotion Mrs. Harris one morning took an occasion to +speak to me on this affair. She said, that, as I had been promoted +gratis to a lieutenancy, she would assist me with money to carry me yet +a step higher; and, if more was required than was formerly mentioned, +it should not be wanting, since she was so perfectly satisfied with my +behaviour to her daughter. Adding that she hoped I had still the same +inclination to settle on my wife the remainder of her fortune. + +"I answered with very warm acknowledgments of my mother's goodness, +and declared, if I had the world, I was ready to lay it at my Amelia's +feet.--And so, Heaven knows, I would ten thousand worlds. + +"Mrs. Harris seemed pleased with the warmth of my sentiments, and said +she would immediately send to her lawyer and give him the necessary +orders; and thus ended our conversation on this subject. + +"From this time there was a very visible alteration in Miss Betty's +behaviour. She grew reserved to her sister as well as to me. She was +fretful and captious on the slightest occasion; nay, she affected much +to talk on the ill consequences of an imprudent marriage, especially +before her mother; and if ever any little tenderness or endearments +escaped me in public towards Amelia, she never failed to make some +malicious remark on the short duration of violent passions; and, when +I have expressed a fond sentiment for my wife, her sister would kindly +wish she might hear as much seven years hence. + +"All these matters have been since suggested to us by reflection; for, +while they actually past, both Amelia and myself had our thoughts too +happily engaged to take notice of what discovered itself in the mind of +any other person. + +"Unfortunately for us, Mrs. Harris's lawyer happened at this time to be +at London, where business detained him upwards of a month, and, as Mrs. +Harris would on no occasion employ any other, our affair was under an +entire suspension till his return. + +"Amelia, who was now big with child, had often expressed the deepest +concern at her apprehensions of my being some time commanded abroad; a +circumstance, which she declared if it should ever happen to her, even +though she should not then be in the same situation as at present, would +infallibly break her heart. These remonstrances were made with such +tenderness, and so much affected me, that, to avoid any probability of +such an event, I endeavoured to get an exchange into the horse-guards, +a body of troops which very rarely goes abroad, unless where the king +himself commands in person. I soon found an officer for my purpose, the +terms were agreed on, and Mrs. Harris had ordered the money which I was +to pay to be ready, notwithstanding the opposition made by Miss Betty, +who openly dissuaded her mother from it; alledging that the exchange was +highly to my disadvantage; that I could never hope to rise in the army +after it; not forgetting, at the same time, some insinuations very +prejudicial to my reputation as a soldier. + +"When everything was agreed on, and the two commissions were actually +made out, but not signed by the king, one day, at my return from +hunting, Amelia flew to me, and eagerly embracing me, cried out, 'O +Billy, I have news for you which delights my soul. Nothing sure was +ever so fortunate as the exchange you have made. The regiment you was +formerly in is ordered for Gibraltar.' + +"I received this news with far less transport than it was delivered. I +answered coldly, since the case was so, I heartily hoped the commissions +might be both signed. 'What do you say?' replied Amelia eagerly; +'sure you told me everything was entirely settled. That look of yours +frightens me to death.'--But I am running into too minute particulars. +In short, I received a letter by that very post from the officer with +whom I had exchanged, insisting that, though his majesty had not signed +the commissions, that still the bargain was valid, partly urging it as a +right, and partly desiring it as a favour, that he might go to Gibraltar +in my room. + +"This letter convinced me in every point. I was now informed that the +commissions were not signed, and consequently that the exchange was not +compleated; of consequence the other could have no right to insist on +going; and, as for granting him such a favour, I too clearly saw I must +do it at the expense of my honour. I was now reduced to a dilemma, the +most dreadful which I think any man can experience; in which, I am not +ashamed to own, I found love was not so overmatched by honour as he +ought to have been. The thoughts of leaving Amelia in her present +condition to misery, perhaps to death or madness, were insupportable; +nor could any other consideration but that which now tormented me on the +other side have combated them a moment." + +"No woman upon earth," cries Miss Matthews, "can despise want of spirit +in a man more than myself; and yet I cannot help thinking you was rather +too nice on this occasion." + +"You will allow, madam," answered Booth, "that whoever offends against +the laws of honour in the least instance is treated as the highest +delinquent. Here is no excuse, no pardon; and he doth nothing who leaves +anything undone. But if the conflict was so terrible with myself alone, +what was my situation in the presence of Amelia? how could I support her +sighs, her tears, her agonies, her despair? could I bear to think myself +the cruel cause of her sufferings? for so I was: could I endure the +thought of having it in my power to give her instant relief, for so it +was, and refuse it her? + +"Miss Betty was now again become my friend. She had scarce been civil to +me for a fortnight last past, yet now she commended me to the skies, +and as severely blamed her sister, whom she arraigned of the most +contemptible weakness in preferring my safety to my honour: she said +many ill-natured things on the occasion, which I shall not now repeat. + +"In the midst of this hurricane the good doctor came to dine with Mrs. +Harris, and at my desire delivered his opinion on the matter." + +Here Mr. Booth was interrupted in his narrative by the arrival of a +person whom we shall introduce in the next chapter. + + + + +Chapter ix. + +_Containing a scene of a different kind from any of the preceding._ + + +The gentleman who now arrived was the keeper; or, if you please (for so +he pleased to call himself), the governor of the prison. + +He used so little ceremony at his approach, that the bolt, which was +very slight on the inside, gave way, and the door immediately flew open. +He had no sooner entered the room than he acquainted Miss Matthews that +he had brought her very good news, for which he demanded a bottle of +wine as his due. + +This demand being complied with, he acquainted Miss Matthews that the +wounded gentleman was not dead, nor was his wound thought to be mortal: +that loss of blood, and perhaps his fright, had occasioned his fainting +away; "but I believe, madam," said he, "if you take the proper measures +you may be bailed to-morrow. I expect the lawyer here this evening, and +if you put the business into his hands I warrant it will be done. Money +to be sure must be parted with, that's to be sure. People to be sure +will expect to touch a little in such cases. For my own part, I never +desire to keep a prisoner longer than the law allows, not I; I always +inform them they can be bailed as soon as I know it; I never make any +bargain, not I; I always love to leave those things to the gentlemen +and ladies themselves. I never suspect gentlemen and ladies of wanting +generosity." + +Miss Matthews made a very slight answer to all these friendly +professions. She said she had done nothing she repented of, and was +indifferent as to the event. "All I can say," cries she, "is, that if +the wretch is alive there is no greater villain in life than himself;" +and, instead of mentioning anything of the bail, she begged the keeper +to leave her again alone with Mr. Booth. The keeper replied, "Nay, +madam, perhaps it may be better to stay a little longer here, if you +have not bail ready, than to buy them too dear. Besides, a day or two +hence, when the gentleman is past all danger of recovery, to be sure +some folks that would expect an extraordinary fee now cannot expect to +touch anything. And to be sure you shall want nothing here. The best +of all things are to be had here for money, both eatable and drinkable: +though I say it, I shan't turn my back to any of the taverns for either +eatables or wind. The captain there need not have been so shy of owning +himself when he first came in; we have had captains and other great +gentlemen here before now; and no shame to them, though I say it. Many a +great gentleman is sometimes found in places that don't become them half +so well, let me tell them that, Captain Booth, let me tell them that." + +"I see, sir," answered Booth, a little discomposed, "that you are +acquainted with my title as well as my name." + +"Ay, sir," cries the keeper, "and I honour you the more for it. I love +the gentlemen of the army. I was in the army myself formerly; in the +Lord of Oxford's horse. It is true I rode private; but I had money +enough to have bought in quarter-master, when I took it into my head to +marry, and my wife she did not like that I should continue a soldier, +she was all for a private life; and so I came to this business." + +"Upon my word, sir," answered Booth, "you consulted your wife's +inclinations very notably; but pray will you satisfy my curiosity in +telling me how you became acquainted that I was in the army? for my +dress I think could not betray me." + +"Betray!" replied the keeper; "there is no betraying here, I hope--I am +not a person to betray people.--But you are so shy and peery, you would +almost make one suspect there was more in the matter. And if there be, I +promise you, you need not be afraid of telling it me. You will excuse me +giving you a hint; but the sooner the better, that's all. Others may +be beforehand with you, and first come first served on these occasions, +that's all. Informers are odious, there's no doubt of that, and no +one would care to be an informer if he could help it, because of the +ill-usage they always receive from the mob: yet it is dangerous to trust +too much; and when safety and a good part of the reward too are on one +side and the gallows on the other--I know which a wise man would chuse." + +"What the devil do you mean by all this?" cries Booth. + +"No offence, I hope," answered the keeper: "I speak for your good; and +if you have been upon the snaffling lay--you understand me, I am sure." + +"Not I," answered Booth, "upon my honour." + +"Nay, nay," replied the keeper, with a contemptuous sneer, "if you are +so peery as that comes to, you must take the consequence.--But for my +part, I know I would not trust Robinson with twopence untold." + +"What do you mean?" cries Booth; "who is Robinson?" + +"And you don't know Robinson?" answered the keeper with great emotion. +To which Booth replying in the negative, the keeper, after some tokens +of amazement, cried out, "Well, captain, I must say you are the best at +it of all the gentlemen I ever saw. However, I will tell you this: the +lawyer and Mr. Robinson have been laying their heads together about +you above half an hour this afternoon. I overheard them mention Captain +Booth several times, and, for my part, I would not answer that Mr. +Murphy is not now gone about the business; but if you will impeach any +to me of the road, or anything else, I will step away to his worship +Thrasher this instant, and I am sure I have interest enough with him to +get you admitted an evidence." + +"And so," cries Booth, "you really take me for a highwayman?" + +"No offence, captain, I hope," said the keeper; "as times go, there +are many worse men in the world than those. Gentlemen may be driven to +distress, and when they are, I know no more genteeler way than the road. +It hath been many a brave man's case, to my knowledge, and men of as +much honour too as any in the world." + +"Well, sir," said Booth, "I assure you I am not that gentleman of honour +you imagine me." + +Miss Matthews, who had long understood the keeper no better than Mr. +Booth, no sooner heard his meaning explained than she was fired with +greater indignation than the gentleman had expressed. "How dare you, +sir," said she to the keeper, "insult a man of fashion, and who hath had +the honour to bear his majesty's commission in the army? as you yourself +own you know. If his misfortunes have sent him hither, sure we have no +laws that will protect such a fellow as you in insulting him." "Fellow!" +muttered the keeper--"I would not advise you, madam, to use such +language to me."--"Do you dare threaten me?" replied Miss Matthews in +a rage. "Venture in the least instance to exceed your authority with +regard to me, and I will prosecute you with the utmost vengeance." + +A scene of very high altercation now ensued, till Booth interposed +and quieted the keeper, who was, perhaps, enough inclined to an +accommodation; for, in truth, he waged unequal war. He was besides +unwilling to incense Miss Matthews, whom he expected to be bailed out +the next day, and who had more money left than he intended she +should carry out of the prison with her; and as for any violent or +unjustifiable methods, the lady had discovered much too great a spirit +to be in danger of them. The governor, therefore, in a very gentle tone, +declared that, if he had given any offence to the gentleman, he heartily +asked his pardon; that, if he had known him to be really a captain, he +should not have entertained any such suspicions; but the captain was a +very common title in that place, and belonged to several gentlemen that +had never been in the army, or, at most, had rid private like himself. +"To be sure, captain," said he, "as you yourself own, your dress is not +very military" (for he had on a plain fustian suit); "and besides, as +the lawyer says, _noscitur a sosir_, is a very good rule. And I don't +believe there is a greater rascal upon earth than that same Robinson +that I was talking of. Nay, I assure you, I wish there may be no +mischief hatching against you. But if there is I will do all I can with +the lawyer to prevent it. To be sure, Mr. Murphy is one of the cleverest +men in the world at the law; that even his enemies must own, and as I +recommend him to all the business I can (and it is not a little to be +sure that arises in this place), why one good turn deserves another. +And I may expect that he will not be concerned in any plot to ruin any +friend of mine, at least when I desire him not. I am sure he could not +be an honest man if he would." + +Booth was then satisfied that Mr. Robinson, whom he did not yet know +by name, was the gamester who had won his money at play. And now +Miss Matthews, who had very impatiently borne this long interruption, +prevailed on the keeper to withdraw. As soon as he was gone Mr. Booth +began to felicitate her upon the news of the wounded gentleman being +in a fair likelihood of recovery. To which, after a short silence, she +answered, "There is something, perhaps, which you will not easily guess, +that makes your congratulations more agreeable to me than the first +account I heard of the villain's having escaped the fate he deserves; +for I do assure you, at first, it did not make me amends for the +interruption of my curiosity. Now I hope we shall be disturbed no +more till you have finished your whole story.--You left off, I think, +somewhere in the struggle about leaving Amelia--the happy Amelia." +"And can you call her happy at such a period?" cries Booth. "Happy, ay, +happy, in any situation," answered Miss Matthews, "with such a husband. +I, at least, may well think so, who have experienced the very reverse of +her fortune; but I was not born to be happy. I may say with the poet, + + "The blackest ink of fate was sure my lot, + And when fate writ my name, it made a blot." + +"Nay, nay, dear Miss Matthews," answered Booth, "you must and shall +banish such gloomy thoughts. Fate hath, I hope, many happy days in store +for you."--"Do you believe it, Mr. Booth?" replied she; "indeed you know +the contrary--you must know--for you can't have forgot. No Amelia in the +world can have quite obliterated--forgetfulness is not in our own power. +If it was, indeed, I have reason to think--but I know not what I am +saying.--Pray do proceed in that story." + +Booth so immediately complied with this request that it is possible he +was pleased with it. To say the truth, if all which unwittingly dropt +from Miss Matthews was put together, some conclusions might, it seems, +be drawn from the whole, which could not convey a very agreeable idea +to a constant husband. Booth, therefore, proceeded to relate what is +written in the third book of this history. + + + + +BOOK III. + +Chapter i. + +_In which Mr. Booth resumes his story._ + + +"If I am not mistaken, madam," continued Booth, "I was just going to +acquaint you with the doctor's opinion when we were interrupted by the +keeper. + +"The doctor, having heard counsel on both sides, that is to say, Mrs. +Harris for my staying, and Miss Betty for my going, at last delivered +his own sentiments. As for Amelia, she sat silent, drowned in her tears; +nor was I myself in a much better situation. + +"'As the commissions are not signed,' said the doctor, 'I think you may +be said to remain in your former regiment; and therefore I think you +ought to go on this expedition; your duty to your king and country, +whose bread you have eaten, requires it; and this is a duty of too +high a nature to admit the least deficiency. Regard to your character, +likewise, requires you to go; for the world, which might justly blame +your staying at home if the case was even fairly stated, will not deal +so honestly by you: you must expect to have every circumstance against +you heightened, and most of what makes for your defence omitted; and +thus you will be stigmatized as a coward without any palliation. As +the malicious disposition of mankind is too well known, and the cruel +pleasure which they take in destroying the reputations of others, the +use we are to make of this knowledge is to afford no handle to reproach; +for, bad as the world is, it seldom falls on any man who hath not given +some slight cause for censure, though this, perhaps, is often aggravated +ten thousand-fold; and, when we blame the malice of the aggravation we +ought not to forget our own imprudence in giving the occasion. Remember, +my boy, your honour is at stake; and you know how nice the honour of +a soldier is in these cases. This is a treasure which he must be your +enemy, indeed, who would attempt to rob you of. Therefore, you ought to +consider every one as your enemy who, by desiring you to stay, would rob +you of your honour.' + +"'Do you hear that, sister?' cries Miss Betty.--'Yes, I do hear it' +answered Amelia, with more spirit than I ever saw her exert before, and +would preserve his honour at the expense of my life. 'I will preserve it +if it should be at that expense; and since it is Dr Harrison's opinion +that he ought to go, I give my consent. Go, my dear husband,' cried she, +falling upon her knees: 'may every angel of heaven guard and preserve +you!'--I cannot repeat her words without being affected," said he, +wiping his eyes, "the excellence of that woman no words can paint: Miss +Matthews, she hath every perfection in human nature. + +"I will not tire you with the repetition of any more that past on that +occasion, nor with the quarrel that ensued between Mrs. Harris and the +doctor; for the old lady could not submit to my leaving her daughter in +her present condition. She fell severely on the army, and cursed the day +in which her daughter was married to a soldier, not sparing the doctor +for having had some share in the match. I will omit, likewise, the +tender scene which past between Amelia and myself previous to my +departure." "Indeed, I beg you would not," cries Miss Matthews; "nothing +delights me more than scenes of tenderness. I should be glad to know, if +possible, every syllable which was uttered on both sides." + +"I will indulge you then," cries Booth, "as far as is in my power. +Indeed, I believe I am able to recollect much the greatest part; for the +impression is never to be effaced from my memory." + +He then proceeded as Miss Matthews desired; but, lest all our readers +should not be of her opinion, we will, according to our usual custom, +endeavour to accommodate ourselves to every taste, and shall, therefore, +place this scene in a chapter by itself, which we desire all our +readers who do not love, or who, perhaps, do not know the pleasure of +tenderness, to pass over; since they may do this without any prejudice +to the thread of the narrative. + + + + +Chapter ii. + +_Containing a scene of the tender kind._ + + +"The doctor, madam," continued Booth, "spent his evening at Mrs. +Harris's house, where I sat with him whilst he smoaked his pillow pipe, +as his phrase is. Amelia was retired about half an hour to her chamber +before I went to her. At my entrance I found her on her knees, a posture +in which I never disturbed her. In a few minutes she arose, came to me, +and embracing me, said she had been praying for resolution to support +the cruellest moment she had ever undergone or could possibly undergo. +I reminded her how much more bitter a farewel would be on a death-bed, +when we never could meet, in this world at least, again. I then +endeavoured to lessen all those objects which alarmed her most, and +particularly the danger I was to encounter, upon which head I seemed +a little to comfort her; but the probable length of my absence and the +certain length of my voyage were circumstances which no oratory of mine +could even palliate. 'O heavens!' said she, bursting into tears, 'can +I bear to think that hundreds, thousands for aught I know, of miles or +leagues, that lands and seas are between us? What is the prospect from +that mount in our garden where I have sat so many happy hours with my +Billy? what is the distance between that and the farthest hill which we +see from thence compared to the distance which will be between us? You +cannot wonder at this idea; you must remember, my Billy, at this place, +this very thought came formerly into my foreboding mind. I then begged +you to leave the army. Why would you not comply?--did I not tell you +then that the smallest cottage we could survey from the mount would be, +with you, a paradise to me? it would be so still--why can't my Billy +think so? am I so much his superior in love? where is the dishonour, +Billy? or, if there be any, will it reach our ears in our little hut? +are glory and fame, and not his Amelia, the happiness of my husband? go +then, purchase them at my expence. You will pay a few sighs, perhaps a +few tears, at parting, and then new scenes will drive away the thoughts +of poor Amelia from your bosom; but what assistance shall I have in my +affliction? not that any change of scene could drive you one moment from +my remembrance; yet here every object I behold will place your loved +idea in the liveliest manner before my eyes. This is the bed in which +you have reposed; that is the chair on which you sat. Upon these boards +you have stood. These books you have read to me. Can I walk among our +beds of flowers without viewing your favourites, nay, those which you +have planted with your own hands? can I see one beauty from our beloved +mount which you have not pointed out to me?'--Thus she went on, the +woman, madam, you see, still prevailing."--"Since you mention it," says +Miss Matthews, with a smile, "I own the same observation occurred to me. +It is too natural to us to consider ourselves only, Mr. Booth."--"You +shall hear," he cried. "At last the thoughts of her present condition +suggested themselves.--' But if,' said she, 'my situation, even in +health, will be so intolerable, how shall I, in the danger and agonies +of childbirth, support your absence?'--Here she stopt, and, looking on +me with all the tenderness imaginable, cried out, 'And am I then such +a wretch to wish for your presence at such a season? ought I not to +rejoice that you are out of the hearing of my cries or the knowledge of +my pains? if I die, will you not have escaped the horrors of a parting +ten thousand times more dreadful than this? Go, go, my Billy; the very +circumstance which made me most dread your departure hath perfectly +reconciled me to it. I perceive clearly now that I was only wishing to +support my own weakness with your strength, and to relieve my own pains +at the price of yours. Believe me, my love, I am ashamed of myself.'--I +caught her in my arms with raptures not to be exprest in words, called +her my heroine; sure none ever better deserved that name; after which +we remained for some time speechless, and locked in each other's +embraces."-- + +"I am convinced," said Miss Matthews, with a sigh, "there are moments in +life worth purchasing with worlds." + +"At length the fatal morning came. I endeavoured to hide every pang of +my heart, and to wear the utmost gaiety in my countenance. Amelia +acted the same part. In these assumed characters we met the family at +breakfast; at their breakfast, I mean, for we were both full already. +The doctor had spent above an hour that morning in discourse with Mrs. +Harris, and had, in some measure, reconciled her to my departure. He +now made use of every art to relieve the poor distressed Amelia; not by +inveighing against the folly of grief, or by seriously advising her not +to grieve; both of which were sufficiently performed by Miss Betty. The +doctor, on the contrary, had recourse to every means which might cast a +veil over the idea of grief, and raise comfortable images in my angel's +mind. He endeavoured to lessen the supposed length of my absence by +discoursing on matters which were more distant in time. He said he +intended next year to rebuild a part of his parsonage-house. 'And you, +captain,' says he, 'shall lay the corner-stone, I promise you:' with +many other instances of the like nature, which produced, I believe, some +good effect on us both. + +"Amelia spoke but little; indeed, more tears than words dropt from her; +however, she seemed resolved to bear her affliction with resignation. +But when the dreadful news arrived that the horses were ready, and I, +having taken my leave of all the rest, at last approached her, she was +unable to support the conflict with nature any longer, and, clinging +round my neck, she cried, 'Farewel, farewel for ever; for I shall never, +never see you more.' At which words the blood entirely forsook her +lovely cheeks, and she became a lifeless corpse in my arms. + +"Amelia continued so long motionless, that the doctor, as well as Mrs. +Harris, began to be under the most terrible apprehensions; so they +informed me afterwards, for at that time I was incapable of making any +observation. I had indeed very little more use of my senses than +the dear creature whom I supported. At length, however, we were all +delivered from our fears; and life again visited the loveliest mansion +that human nature ever afforded it. + +"I had been, and yet was, so terrified with what had happened, and +Amelia continued yet so weak and ill, that I determined, whatever might +be the consequence, not to leave her that day; which resolution she +was no sooner acquainted with than she fell on her knees, crying, 'Good +Heaven! I thank thee for this reprieve at least. Oh! that every hour of +my future life could be crammed into this dear day!' + +"Our good friend the doctor remained with us. He said he had intended to +visit a family in some affliction; 'but I don't know,' says he, 'why I +should ride a dozen miles after affliction, when we have enough here.'" +Of all mankind the doctor is the best of comforters. As his excessive +good-nature makes him take vast delight in the office, so his great +penetration into the human mind, joined to his great experience, renders +him the most wonderful proficient in it; and he so well knows when to +soothe, when to reason, and when to ridicule, that he never applies any +of those arts improperly, which is almost universally the case with the +physicians of the mind, and which it requires very great judgment and +dexterity to avoid. + +"The doctor principally applied himself to ridiculing the dangers of the +siege, in which he succeeded so well, that he sometimes forced a smile +even into the face of Amelia. But what most comforted her were the +arguments he used to convince her of the probability of my speedy if not +immediate return. He said the general opinion was that the place would +be taken before our arrival there; in which case we should have nothing +more to do than to make the best of our way home again. + +"Amelia was so lulled by these arts that she passed the day much better +than I expected. Though the doctor could not make pride strong enough to +conquer love, yet he exalted the former to make some stand against +the latter; insomuch that my poor Amelia, I believe, more than once +flattered herself, to speak the language of the world, that her reason +had gained an entire victory over her passion; till love brought up a +reinforcement, if I may use that term, of tender ideas, and bore down +all before him. + +"In the evening the doctor and I passed another half-hour together, when +he proposed to me to endeavour to leave Amelia asleep in the morning, +and promised me to be at hand when she awaked, and to support her with +all the assistance in his power. He added that nothing was more foolish +than for friends to take leave of each other. 'It is true, indeed,' says +he, 'in the common acquaintance and friendship of the world, this is +a very harmless ceremony; but between two persons who really love each +other the church of Rome never invented a penance half so severe as this +which we absurdly impose on ourselves. + +"I greatly approved the doctor's proposal; thanked him, and promised, +if possible, to put it in execution. He then shook me by the hand, and +heartily wished me well, saying, in his blunt way, 'Well, boy, I hope +to see thee crowned with laurels at thy return; one comfort I have at +least, that stone walls and a sea will prevent thee from running away.' + +"When I had left the doctor I repaired to my Amelia, whom I found in her +chamber, employed in a very different manner from what she had been the +preceding night; she was busy in packing up some trinkets in a casket, +which she desired me to carry with me. This casket was her own work, and +she had just fastened it as I came to her. + +"Her eyes very plainly discovered what had passed while she was engaged +in her work: however, her countenance was now serene, and she spoke, at +least, with some chearfulness. But after some time, 'You must take care +of this casket, Billy,' said she. 'You must, indeed, Billy--for--' here +passion almost choaked her, till a flood of tears gave her relief, and +then she proceeded--'For I shall be the happiest woman that ever was +born when I see it again.' I told her, with the blessing of God, that +day would soon come. 'Soon!' answered she. 'No, Billy, not soon: a week +is an age;--but yet the happy day may come. It shall, it must, it will! +Yes, Billy, we shall meet never to part again, even in this world, I +hope.' Pardon my weakness, Miss Matthews, but upon my soul I cannot help +it," cried he, wiping his eyes. "Well, I wonder at your patience, and I +will try it no longer. Amelia, tired out with so long a struggle +between variety of passions, and having not closed her eyes during three +successive nights, towards the morning fell into a profound sleep. In +which sleep I left her, and, having drest myself with all the expedition +imaginable, singing, whistling, hurrying, attempting by every method to +banish thought, I mounted my horse, which I had over-night ordered to +be ready, and galloped away from that house where all my treasure was +deposited. + +"Thus, madam, I have, in obedience to your commands, run through a scene +which, if it hath been tiresome to you, you must yet acquit me of having +obtruded upon you. This I am convinced of, that no one is capable +of tasting such a scene who hath not a heart full of tenderness, and +perhaps not even then, unless he hath been in the same situation." + + + + +Chapter iii. + +_In which Mr. Booth sets forward on his journey._ + + +"Well, madam, we have now taken our leave of Amelia. I rode a full mile +before I once suffered myself to look back; but now being come to +the top of a little hill, the last spot I knew which could give me a +prospect of Mrs. Harris's house, my resolution failed: I stopped and +cast my eyes backward. Shall I tell you what I felt at that instant? I +do assure you I am not able. So many tender ideas crowded at once into +my mind, that, if I may use the expression, they almost dissolved my +heart. And now, madam, the most unfortunate accident came first into +my head. This was, that I had in the hurry and confusion left the dear +casket behind me. The thought of going back at first suggested itself; +but the consequences of that were too apparent. I therefore resolved +to send my man, and in the meantime to ride on softly on my road. He +immediately executed my orders, and after some time, feeding my eyes +with that delicious and yet heartfelt prospect, I at last turned my +horse to descend the hill, and proceeded about a hundred yards, +when, considering with myself that I should lose no time by a second +indulgence, I again turned back, and once more feasted my sight with the +same painful pleasure till my man returned, bringing me the casket, and +an account that Amelia still continued in the sweet sleep I left her. +I now suddenly turned my horse for the last time, and with the utmost +resolution pursued my journey. + +"I perceived my man at his return--But before I mention anything of +him it may be proper, madam, to acquaint you who he was. He was the +foster-brother of my Amelia. This young fellow had taken it into his +head to go into the army; and he was desirous to serve under my command. +The doctor consented to discharge him; his mother at last yielded to +his importunities, and I was very easily prevailed on to list one of the +handsomest young fellows in England. + +"You will easily believe I had some little partiality to one whose milk +Amelia had sucked; but, as he had never seen the regiment, I had no +opportunity to shew him any great mark of favour. Indeed he waited on +me as my servant; and I treated him with all the tenderness which can be +used to one in that station. + +"When I was about to change into the horse-guards the poor fellow began +to droop, fearing that he should no longer be in the same corps with +me, though certainly that would not have been the case. However, he had +never mentioned one word of his dissatisfaction. He is indeed a fellow +of a noble spirit; but when he heard that I was to remain where I was, +and that we were to go to Gibraltar together, he fell into transports +of joy little short of madness. In short, the poor fellow had imbibed +a very strong affection for me; though this was what I knew nothing of +till long after. + +"When he returned to me then, as I was saying, with the casket, I +observed his eyes all over blubbered with tears. I rebuked him a little +too rashly on this occasion. 'Heyday!' says I, 'what is the meaning of +this? I hope I have not a milk-sop with me. If I thought you would shew +such a face to the enemy I would leave you behind.'--'Your honour need +not fear that,' answered he; 'I shall find nobody there that I shall +love well enough to make me cry.' I was highly pleased with this answer, +in which I thought I could discover both sense and spirit. I then asked +him what had occasioned those tears since he had left me (for he had no +sign of any at that time), and whether he had seen his mother at Mrs. +Harris's? He answered in the negative, and begged that I would ask him +no more questions; adding that he was not very apt to cry, and he hoped +he should never give me such another opportunity of blaming him. I +mention this only as an instance of his affection towards me; for I +never could account for those tears any otherwise than by placing them +to the account of that distress in which he left me at that time. We +travelled full forty miles that day without baiting, when, arriving at +the inn where I intended to rest that night, I retired immediately to +my chamber, with my dear Amelia's casket, the opening of which was the +nicest repast, and to which every other hunger gave way. + +"It is impossible to mention to you all the little matters with which +Amelia had furnished this casket. It contained medicines of all kinds, +which her mother, who was the Lady Bountiful of that country, had +supplied her with. The most valuable of all to me was a lock of her dear +hair, which I have from that time to this worn in my bosom. What would +I have then given for a little picture of my dear angel, which she had +lost from her chamber about a month before! and which we had the highest +reason in the world to imagine her sister had taken away; for the +suspicion lay only between her and Amelia's maid, who was of all +creatures the honestest, and whom her mistress had often trusted with +things of much greater value; for the picture, which was set in gold, +and had two or three little diamonds round it, was worth about twelve +guineas only; whereas Amelia left jewels in her care of much greater +value." + +"Sure," cries Miss Matthews, "she could not be such a paultry pilferer." + +"Not on account of the gold or the jewels," cries Booth. "We imputed it +to mere spite, with which, I assure you, she abounds; and she knew that, +next to Amelia herself, there was nothing which I valued so much as this +little picture; for such a resemblance did it bear of the original, that +Hogarth himself did never, I believe, draw a stronger likeness. Spite, +therefore, was the only motive to this cruel depredation; and indeed her +behaviour on the occasion sufficiently convinced us both of the justice +of our suspicion, though we neither of us durst accuse her; and she +herself had the assurance to insist very strongly (though she could not +prevail) with Amelia to turn away her innocent maid, saying, she would +not live in the house with a thief." + +Miss Matthews now discharged some curses on Miss Betty, not much worth +repeating, and then Mr. Booth proceeded in his relation. + + + + +Chapter iv. + +_A sea piece._ + + +"The next day we joined the regiment, which was soon after to embark. +Nothing but mirth and jollity were in the countenance of every officer +and soldier; and as I now met several friends whom I had not seen +for above a year before, I passed several happy hours, in which poor +Amelia's image seldom obtruded itself to interrupt my pleasure. To +confess the truth, dear Miss Matthews, the tenderest of passions +is capable of subsiding; nor is absence from our dearest friends so +unsupportable as it may at first appear. Distance of time and place do +really cure what they seem to aggravate; and taking leave of our friends +resembles taking leave of the world; concerning which it hath been often +said that it is not death, but dying, which is terrible."--Here Miss +Matthews burst into a fit of laughter, and cried, "I sincerely ask your +pardon; but I cannot help laughing at the gravity of your philosophy." +Booth answered, That the doctrine of the passions had been always his +favourite study; that he was convinced every man acted entirely from +that passion which was uppermost. "Can I then think," said he, "without +entertaining the utmost contempt for myself, that any pleasure upon +earth could drive the thoughts of Amelia one instant from my mind? + +"At length we embarked aboard a transport, and sailed for Gibraltar; but +the wind, which was at first fair, soon chopped about; so that we were +obliged, for several days, to beat to windward, as the sea phrase is. +During this time the taste which I had of a seafaring life did not +appear extremely agreeable. We rolled up and down in a little narrow +cabbin, in which were three officers, all of us extremely sea-sick; our +sickness being much aggravated by the motion of the ship, by the view +of each other, and by the stench of the men. But this was but a little +taste indeed of the misery which was to follow; for we were got about +six leagues to the westward of Scilly, when a violent storm arose at +north-east, which soon raised the waves to the height of mountains. The +horror of this is not to be adequately described to those who have +never seen the like. The storm began in the evening, and, as the clouds +brought on the night apace, it was soon entirely dark; nor had we, +during many hours, any other light than what was caused by the jarring +elements, which frequently sent forth flashes, or rather streams of +fire; and whilst these presented the most dreadful objects to our eyes, +the roaring of the winds, the dashing of the waves against the ship and +each other, formed a sound altogether as horrible for our ears; while +our ship, sometimes lifted up, as it were, to the skies, and sometimes +swept away at once as into the lowest abyss, seemed to be the sport of +the winds and seas. The captain himself almost gave up all for lost, +and exprest his apprehension of being inevitably cast on the rocks of +Scilly, and beat to pieces. And now, while some on board were addressing +themselves to the Supreme Being, and others applying for comfort to +strong liquors, my whole thoughts were entirely engaged by my Amelia. A +thousand tender ideas crouded into my mind. I can truly say that I had +not a single consideration about myself in which she was not concerned. +Dying to me was leaving her; and the fear of never seeing her more was a +dagger stuck in my heart. Again, all the terrors with which this storm, +if it reached her ears, must fill her gentle mind on my account, and the +agonies which she must undergo when she heard of my fate, gave me such +intolerable pangs, that I now repented my resolution, and wished, I own +I wished, that I had taken her advice, and preferred love and a cottage +to all the dazzling charms of honour. + +"While I was tormenting myself with those meditations, and had concluded +myself as certainly lost, the master came into the cabbin, and with a +chearful voice assured us that we had escaped the danger, and that we +had certainly past to westward of the rock. This was comfortable news to +all present; and my captain, who had been some time on his knees, leapt +suddenly up, and testified his joy with a great oath. + +"A person unused to the sea would have been astonished at the +satisfaction which now discovered itself in the master or in any on +board; for the storm still raged with great violence, and the daylight, +which now appeared, presented us with sights of horror sufficient to +terrify minds which were not absolute slaves to the passion of fear; but +so great is the force of habit, that what inspires a landsman with the +highest apprehension of danger gives not the least concern to a sailor, +to whom rocks and quicksands are almost the only objects of terror. + +"The master, however, was a little mistaken in the present instance; for +he had not left the cabbin above an hour before my man came running to +me, and acquainted me that the ship was half full of water; that the +sailors were going to hoist out the boat and save themselves, and begged +me to come that moment along with him, as I tendered my preservation. +With this account, which was conveyed to me in a whisper, I acquainted +both the captain and ensign; and we all together immediately mounted +the deck, where we found the master making use of all his oratory to +persuade the sailors that the ship was in no danger; and at the same +time employing all his authority to set the pumps a-going, which he +assured them would keep the water under, and save his dear Lovely Peggy +(for that was the name of the ship), which he swore he loved as dearly +as his own soul. + +"Indeed this sufficiently appeared; for the leak was so great, and the +water flowed in so plentifully, that his Lovely Peggy was half filled +before he could be brought to think of quitting her; but now the boat +was brought alongside the ship, and the master himself, notwithstanding +all his love for her, quitted his ship, and leapt into the boat. Every +man present attempted to follow his example, when I heard the voice of +my servant roaring forth my name in a kind of agony. I made directly to +the ship-side, but was too late; for the boat, being already overladen, +put directly off. And now, madam, I am going to relate to you an +instance of heroic affection in a poor fellow towards his master, to +which love itself, even among persons of superior education, can produce +but few similar instances. My poor man, being unable to get me with him +into the boat, leapt suddenly into the sea, and swam back to the ship; +and, when I gently rebuked him for his rashness, he answered, he chose +rather to die with me than to live to carry the account of my death to +my Amelia: at the same time bursting into a flood of tears, he cried, +'Good Heavens! what will that poor lady feel when she hears of this!' +This tender concern for my dear love endeared the poor fellow more to +me than the gallant instance which he had just before given of his +affection towards myself. + +"And now, madam, my eyes were shocked with a sight, the horror of which +can scarce be imagined; for the boat had scarce got four hundred yards +from the ship when it was swallowed up by the merciless waves, which now +ran so high, that out of the number of persons which were in the boat +none recovered the ship, though many of them we saw miserably perish +before our eyes, some of them very near us, without any possibility of +giving them the least assistance. + +"But, whatever we felt for them, we felt, I believe, more for ourselves, +expecting every minute when we should share the same fate. Amongst the +rest, one of our officers appeared quite stupified with fear. I never, +indeed, saw a more miserable example of the great power of that passion: +I must not, however, omit doing him justice, by saying that I afterwards +saw the same man behave well in an engagement, in which he was wounded; +though there likewise he was said to have betrayed the same passion of +fear in his countenance. + +"The other of our officers was no less stupified (if I may so express +myself) with fool-hardiness, and seemed almost insensible of his danger. +To say the truth, I have, from this and some other instances which I +have seen, been almost inclined to think that the courage as well as +cowardice of fools proceeds from not knowing what is or what is not the +proper object of fear; indeed, we may account for the extreme hardiness +of some men in the same manner as for the terrors of children at a +bugbear. The child knows not but that the bugbear is the proper object +of fear, the blockhead knows not that a cannon-ball is so. + +"As to the remaining part of the ship's crew and the soldiery, most of +them were dead drunk, and the rest were endeavouring, as fast as they +could, to prepare for death in the same manner. + +"In this dreadful situation we were taught that no human condition +should inspire men with absolute despair; for, as the storm had ceased +for some time, the swelling of the sea began considerably to abate; and +we now perceived the man of war which convoyed us, at no great distance +astern. Those aboard her easily perceived our distress, and made +towards us. When they came pretty near they hoisted out two boats to +our assistance. These no sooner approached the ship than they were +instantaneously filled, and I myself got a place in one of them, +chiefly by the aid of my honest servant, of whose fidelity to me on all +occasions I cannot speak or think too highly. Indeed, I got into the +boat so much the more easily, as a great number on board the ship were +rendered, by drink, incapable of taking any care for themselves. There +was time, however, for the boat to pass and repass; so that, when we +came to call over names, three only, of all that remained in the ship +after the loss of her own boat, were missing. + +"The captain, ensign, and myself, were received with many +congratulations by our officers on board the man of war.--The +sea-officers too, all except the captain, paid us their compliments, +though these were of the rougher kind, and not without several jokes on +our escape. As for the captain himself, we scarce saw him during many +hours; and, when he appeared, he presented a view of majesty beyond any +that I had ever seen. The dignity which he preserved did indeed give +me rather the idea of a Mogul, or a Turkish emperor, than of any of the +monarchs of Christendom. To say the truth, I could resemble his walk on +the deck to nothing but the image of Captain Gulliver strutting among +the Lilliputians; he seemed to think himself a being of an order +superior to all around him, and more especially to us of the land +service. Nay, such was the behaviour of all the sea-officers and sailors +to us and our soldiers, that, instead of appearing to be subjects of the +same prince, engaged in one quarrel, and joined to support one cause, we +land-men rather seemed to be captives on board an enemy's vessel. This +is a grievous misfortune, and often proves so fatal to the service, that +it is great pity some means could not be found of curing it." + +Here Mr. Booth stopt a while to take breath. We will therefore give the +same refreshment to the reader. + + + + +Chapter v. + +_The arrival of Booth at Gibraltar, with what there befel him._ + + +"The adventures," continued Booth, "which I happened to me from this day +till my arrival at Gibraltar are not worth recounting to you. After a +voyage the remainder of which was tolerably prosperous, we arrived in +that garrison, the natural strength of which is so well known to the +whole world. + +"About a week after my arrival it was my fortune to be ordered on a +sally party, in which my left leg was broke with a musket-ball; and I +should most certainly have either perished miserably, or must have +owed my preservation to some of the enemy, had not my faithful servant +carried me off on his shoulders, and afterwards, with the assistance of +one of his comrades, brought me back into the garrison. + +"The agony of my wound was so great, that it threw me into a fever, from +whence my surgeon apprehended much danger. I now began again to feel for +my Amelia, and for myself on her account; and the disorder of my mind, +occasioned by such melancholy contemplations, very highly aggravated the +distemper of my body; insomuch that it would probably have proved fatal, +had it not been for the friendship of one Captain James, an officer of +our regiment, and an old acquaintance, who is undoubtedly one of the +pleasantest companions and one of the best-natured men in the world. +This worthy man, who had a head and a heart perfectly adequate to every +office of friendship, stayed with me almost day and night during my +illness; and by strengthening my hopes, raising my spirits, and cheering +my thoughts, preserved me from destruction. + +"The behaviour of this man alone is a sufficient proof of the truth +of my doctrine, that all men act entirely from their passions; for +Bob James can never be supposed to act from any motives of virtue +or religion, since he constantly laughs at both; and yet his conduct +towards me alone demonstrates a degree of goodness which, perhaps, few +of the votaries of either virtue or religion can equal." "You need not +take much pains," answered Miss Matthews, with a smile, "to convince me +of your doctrine. I have been always an advocate for the same. I look +upon the two words you mention to serve only as cloaks, under which +hypocrisy may be the better enabled to cheat the world. I have been of +that opinion ever since I read that charming fellow Mandevil." + +"Pardon me, madam," answered Booth; "I hope you do not agree with +Mandevil neither, who hath represented human nature in a picture of the +highest deformity. He hath left out of his system the best passion which +the mind can possess, and attempts to derive the effects or energies of +that passion from the base impulses of pride or fear. Whereas it is as +certain that love exists in the mind of man as that its opposite hatred +doth; and the same reasons will equally prove the existence of the one +as the existence of the other." + +"I don't know, indeed," replied the lady, "I never thought much about +the matter. This I know, that when I read Mandevil I thought all he said +was true; and I have been often told that he proves religion and virtue +to be only mere names. However, if he denies there is any such thing as +love, that is most certainly wrong.--I am afraid I can give him the lye +myself." + +"I will join with you, madam, in that," answered Booth, "at any time." + +"Will you join with me?" answered she, looking eagerly at him--"O, Mr. +Booth! I know not what I was going to say--What--Where did you leave +off?--I would not interrupt you--but I am impatient to know something." + +"What, madam?" cries Booth; "if I can give you any satisfaction--" + +"No, no," said she, "I must hear all; I would not for the world break +the thread of your story. Besides, I am afraid to ask--Pray, pray, sir, +go on." + +"Well, madam," cries Booth, "I think I was mentioning the extraordinary +acts of friendship done me by Captain James; nor can I help taking +notice of the almost unparalleled fidelity of poor Atkinson (for that +was my man's name), who was not only constant in the assiduity of his +attendance, but during the time of my danger demonstrated a concern for +me which I can hardly account for, as my prevailing on his captain to +make him a sergeant was the first favour he ever received at my hands, +and this did not happen till I was almost perfectly recovered of my +broken leg. Poor fellow! I shall never forget the extravagant joy his +halbert gave him; I remember it the more because it was one of the +happiest days of my own life; for it was upon this day that I received +a letter from my dear Amelia, after a long silence, acquainting me that +she was out of all danger from her lying-in. + +"I was now once more able to perform my duty; when (so unkind was the +fortune of war), the second time I mounted the guard, I received a +violent contusion from the bursting of a bomb. I was felled to the +ground, where I lay breathless by the blow, till honest Atkinson came to +my assistance, and conveyed me to my room, where a surgeon immediately +attended me. + +"The injury I had now received was much more dangerous in my surgeon's +opinion than the former; it caused me to spit blood, and was attended +with a fever, and other bad symptoms; so that very fatal consequences +were apprehended. + +"In this situation, the image of my Amelia haunted me day and night; and +the apprehensions of never seeing her more were so intolerable, that I +had thoughts of resigning my commission, and returning home, weak as I +was, that I might have, at least, the satisfaction of dying in the arms +of my love. Captain James, however, persisted in dissuading me from any +such resolution. He told me my honour was too much concerned, attempted +to raise my hopes of recovery to the utmost of his power; but chiefly +he prevailed on me by suggesting that, if the worst which I apprehended +should happen, it was much better for Amelia that she should be absent +than present in so melancholy an hour. 'I know' cried he, 'the extreme +joy which must arise in you from meeting again with Amelia, and the +comfort of expiring in her arms; but consider what she herself must +endure upon the dreadful occasion, and you would not wish to purchase +any happiness at the price of so much pain to her.' This argument at +length prevailed on me; and it was after many long debates resolved, +that she should not even know my present condition, till my doom either +for life or death was absolutely fixed." + +"Oh! Heavens! how great! how generous!" cried Miss Matthews. "Booth, +thou art a noble fellow; and I scarce think there is a woman upon earth +worthy so exalted a passion." + +Booth made a modest answer to the compliment which Miss Matthews had +paid him. This drew more civilities from the lady, and these again +more acknowledgments; all which we shall pass by, and proceed with our +history. + + + + +Chapter vi. + +_Containing matters which will please some readers._ + + +"Two months and more had I continued in a state of incertainty, +sometimes with more flattering, and sometimes with more alarming +symptoms; when one afternoon poor Atkinson came running into my room, +all pale and out of breath, and begged me not to be surprized at his +news. I asked him eagerly what was the matter, and if it was anything +concerning Amelia? I had scarce uttered the dear name when she herself +rushed into the room, and ran hastily to me, crying, 'Yes, it is, it is +your Amelia herself.' + +"There is nothing so difficult to describe, and generally so dull when +described, as scenes of excessive tenderness." + +"Can you think so?" says Miss Matthews; "surely there is nothing so +charming!--Oh! Mr. Booth, our sex is d--ned by the want of tenderness in +yours. O, were they all like you--certainly no man was ever your equal." + +"Indeed, madam," cries Booth, "you honour me too much. But--well--when +the first transports of our meeting were over, Amelia began gently to +chide me for having concealed my illness from her; for, in three letters +which I had writ her since the accident had happened, there was not +the least mention of it, or any hint given by which she could possibly +conclude I was otherwise than in perfect health. And when I had excused +myself, by assigning the true reason, she cried--'O Mr. Booth! and do +you know so little of your Amelia as to think I could or would survive +you? Would it not be better for one dreadful sight to break my heart all +at once than to break it by degrees?--O Billy! can anything pay me for +the loss of this embrace?'---But I ask your pardon--how ridiculous doth +my fondness appear in your eyes!" + +"How often," answered she, "shall I assert the contrary? What would you +have me say, Mr. Booth? Shall I tell you I envy Mrs. Booth of all the +women in the world? would you believe me if I did? I hope you--what am I +saying? Pray make no farther apology, but go on." + +"After a scene," continued he, "too tender to be conceived by many, +Amelia informed me that she had received a letter from an unknown +hand, acquainting her with my misfortune, and advising her, if she ever +desired to see me more, to come directly to Gibraltar. She said she +should not have delayed a moment after receiving this letter, had not +the same ship brought her one from me written with rather more than +usual gaiety, and in which there was not the least mention of my +indisposition. This, she said, greatly puzzled her and her mother, +and the worthy divine endeavoured to persuade her to give credit to my +letter, and to impute the other to a species of wit with which the +world greatly abounds. This consists entirely in doing various kinds +of mischief to our fellow-creatures, by belying one, deceiving another, +exposing a third, and drawing in a fourth, to expose himself; in short, +by making some the objects of laughter, others of contempt; and indeed +not seldom by subjecting them to very great inconveniences, perhaps to +ruin, for the sake of a jest. + +"Mrs. Harris and the doctor derived the letter from this species of wit. +Miss Betty, however, was of a different opinion, and advised poor Amelia +to apply to an officer whom the governor had sent over in the same ship, +by whom the report of my illness was so strongly confirmed, that Amelia +immediately resolved on her voyage. + +"I had a great curiosity to know the author of this letter, but not the +least trace of it could be discovered. The only person with whom I lived +in any great intimacy was Captain James, and he, madam, from what I have +already told you, you will think to be the last person I could suspect; +besides, he declared upon his honour that he knew nothing of the matter, +and no man's honour is, I believe, more sacred. There was indeed an +ensign of another regiment who knew my wife, and who had sometimes +visited me in my illness; but he was a very unlikely man to interest +himself much in any affairs which did not concern him; and he too +declared he knew nothing of it." + +"And did you never discover this secret?" cried Miss Matthews. + +"Never to this day," answered Booth. + +"I fancy," said she, "I could give a shrewd guess. What so likely as +that Mrs. Booth, when you left her, should have given her foster-brother +orders to send her word of whatever befel you? Yet stay--that could not +be neither; for then she would not have doubted whether she should leave +dear England on the receipt of the letter. No, it must have been by some +other means;--yet that I own appeared extremely natural to me; for if I +had been left by such a husband I think I should have pursued the same +method." + +"No, madam," cried Booth, "it must have been conveyed by some other +channel; for my Amelia, I am certain, was entirely ignorant of the +manner; and as for poor Atkinson, I am convinced he would not have +ventured to take such a step without acquainting me. Besides, the poor +fellow had, I believe, such a regard for my wife, out of gratitude for +the favours she hath done his mother, that I make no doubt he was highly +rejoiced at her absence from my melancholy scene. Well, whoever writ it +is a matter very immaterial; yet, as it seemed so odd and unaccountable +an incident, I could not help mentioning it. + +"From the time of Amelia's arrival nothing remarkable happened till my +perfect recovery, unless I should observe her remarkable behaviour, so +full of care and tenderness, that it was perhaps without a parallel." + +"O no, Mr. Booth," cries the lady; "it is fully equalled, I am sure, +by your gratitude. There is nothing, I believe, so rare as gratitude in +your sex, especially in husbands. So kind a remembrance is, indeed, more +than a return to such an obligation; for where is the mighty obligation +which a woman confers, who being possessed of an inestimable jewel, is +so kind to herself as to be careful and tender of it? I do not say this +to lessen your opinion of Mrs. Booth. I have no doubt but that she loves +you as well as she is capable. But I would not have you think so meanly +of our sex as to imagine there are not a thousand women susceptible of +true tenderness towards a meritorious man. Believe me, Mr. Booth, if I +had received such an account of an accident having happened to such a +husband, a mother and a parson would not have held me a moment. I should +have leapt into the first fishing-boat I could have found, and bid +defiance to the winds and waves.--Oh! there is no true tenderness but in +a woman of spirit. I would not be understood all this while to reflect +on Mrs. Booth. I am only defending the cause of my sex; for, upon +my soul, such compliments to a wife are a satire on all the rest of +womankind." + +"Sure you jest, Miss Matthews," answered Booth with a smile; "however, +if you please, I will proceed in my story." + + + + +Chapter vii. + +_The captain, continuing his story, recounts some particulars which, we +doubt not, to many good people, will appear unnatural._ + + +I was scarce sooner recovered from my indisposition than Amelia herself +fell ill. This, I am afraid, was occasioned by the fatigues which I +could not prevent her from undergoing on my account; for, as my disease +went off with violent sweats, during which the surgeon strictly ordered +that I should lie by myself, my Amelia could not be prevailed upon +to spend many hours in her own bed. During my restless fits she would +sometimes read to me several hours together; indeed it was not without +difficulty that she ever quitted my bedside. These fatigues, added to +the uneasiness of her mind, overpowered her weak spirits, and threw +her into one of the worst disorders that can possibly attend a woman; +a disorder very common among the ladies, and our physicians have not +agreed upon its name. Some call it fever on the spirits, some a nervous +fever, some the vapours, and some the hysterics. + +"O say no more," cries Miss Matthews; "I pity you, I pity you from my +soul. A man had better be plagued with all the curses of Egypt than with +a vapourish wife." + +"Pity me! madam," answered Booth; "pity rather that dear creature who, +from her love and care of my unworthy self, contracted a distemper, the +horrors of which are scarce to be imagined. It is, indeed, a sort of +complication of all diseases together, with almost madness added to +them. In this situation, the siege being at an end, the governor gave me +leave to attend my wife to Montpelier, the air of which was judged to +be most likely to restore her to health. Upon this occasion she wrote +to her mother to desire a remittance, and set forth the melancholy +condition of her health, and her necessity for money, in such terms as +would have touched any bosom not void of humanity, though a stranger +to the unhappy sufferer. Her sister answered it, and I believe I have a +copy of the answer in my pocket. I keep it by me as a curiosity, and +you would think it more so could I shew you my Amelia's letter." He then +searched his pocket-book, and finding the letter among many others, he +read it in the following words: + +"'DEAR SISTER,--My mamma being much disordered, hath commanded me +to tell you she is both shocked and surprized at your extraordinary +request, or, as she chuses to call it, order for money. You know, my +dear, she says that your marriage with this red-coat man was entirely +against her consent and the opinion of all your family (I am sure I may +here include myself in that number); and yet, after this fatal act of +disobedience, she was prevailed on to receive you as her child; not, +however, nor are you so to understand it, as the favourite which you was +before. She forgave you; but this was as a Christian and a parent; still +preserving in her own mind a just sense of your disobedience, and a just +resentment on that account. And yet, notwithstanding this resentment, +she desires you to remember that, when you a second time ventured to +oppose her authority, and nothing would serve you but taking a ramble +(an indecent one, I can't help saying) after your fellow, she thought +fit to shew the excess of a mother's tenderness, and furnished you with +no less than fifty pounds for your foolish voyage. How can she, then, be +otherwise than surprized at your present demand? which, should she be +so weak to comply with, she must expect to be every month repeated, in +order to supply the extravagance of a young rakish officer. You say +she will compassionate your sufferings; yes, surely she doth greatly +compassionate them, and so do I too, though you was neither so kind nor +so civil as to suppose I should. But I forgive all your slights to me, +as well now as formerly. Nay, I not only forgive, but I pray daily +for you. But, dear sister, what could you expect less than what hath +happened? you should have believed your friends, who were wiser and +older than you. I do not here mean myself, though I own I am eleven +months and some odd weeks your superior; though, had I been younger, I +might, perhaps, have been able to advise you; for wisdom and what some +may call beauty do not always go together. You will not be offended at +this; for I know in your heart, you have always held your head above +some people, whom, perhaps, other people have thought better of; but why +do I mention what I scorn so much? No, my dear sister, Heaven forbid it +should ever be said of me that I value myself upon my face--not but if I +could believe men perhaps--but I hate and despise men--you know I do, my +dear, and I wish you had despised them as much; but _jacta est jalea_, +as the doctor says. You are to make the best of your fortune--what +fortune, I mean, my mamma may please to give you, for you know all is +in her power. Let me advise you, then, to bring your mind to your +circumstances, and remember (for I can't help writing it, as it is +for your own good) the vapours are a distemper which very ill become a +knapsack. Remember, my dear, what you have done; remember what my mamma +hath done; remember we have something of yours to keep, and do not +consider yourself as an only child; no, nor as a favourite child; but be +pleased to remember, Dear sister, Your most affectionate sister, + +"'and most obedient humble servant, + +"'E. HARRIS.'" + +"O brave Miss Betty!" cried Miss Matthews; "I always held her in high +esteem; but I protest she exceeds even what I could have expected from +her." + +"This letter, madam," cries Booth, "you will believe, was an excellent +cordial for my poor wife's spirits. So dreadful indeed was the effect it +had upon her, that, as she had read it in my absence, I found her, at +my return home, in the most violent fits; and so long was it before +she recovered her senses, that I despaired of that blest event ever +happening; and my own senses very narrowly escaped from being sacrificed +to my despair. However, she came at last to herself, and I began to +consider of every means of carrying her immediately to Montpelier, which +was now become much more necessary than before. + +"Though I was greatly shocked at the barbarity of the letter, yet I +apprehended no very ill consequence from it; for, as it was believed all +over the army that I had married a great fortune, I had received offers +of money, if I wanted it, from more than one. Indeed, I might have +easily carried my wife to Montpelier at any time; but she was extremely +averse to the voyage, being desirous of our returning to England, as +I had leave to do; and she grew daily so much better, that, had it not +been for the receipt of that cursed--which I have just read to you, I +am persuaded she might have been able to return to England in the next +ship. + +"Among others there was a colonel in the garrison who had not only +offered but importuned me to receive money of him; I now, therefore, +repaired to him; and, as a reason for altering my resolution, I produced +the letter, and, at the same time, acquainted him with the true state of +my affairs. The colonel read the letter, shook his head, and, after some +silence, said he was sorry I had refused to accept his offer before; but +that he had now so ordered matters, and disposed of his money, that he +had not a shilling left to spare from his own occasions. + +"Answers of the same kind I had from several others, but not one penny +could I borrow of any; for I have been since firmly persuaded that +the honest colonel was not content with denying me himself, but took +effectual means, by spreading the secret I had so foolishly trusted him +with, to prevent me from succeeding elsewhere; for such is the nature of +men, that whoever denies himself to do you a favour is unwilling that it +should be done to you by any other. + +"This was the first time I had ever felt that distress which arises from +the want of money; a distress very dreadful indeed in a married state; +for what can be more miserable than to see anything necessary to the +preservation of a beloved creature, and not be able to supply it? + +"Perhaps you may wonder, madam, that I have not mentioned Captain James +on this occasion; but he was at that time laid up at Algiers (whither +he had been sent by the governor) in a fever. However, he returned time +enough to supply me, which he did with the utmost readiness on the very +first mention of my distress; and the good colonel, notwithstanding his +having disposed of his money, discounted the captain's draft. You see, +madam, an instance in the generous behaviour of my friend James, how +false are all universal satires against humankind. He is indeed one of +the worthiest men the world ever produced. + +"But, perhaps, you will be more pleased still with the extravagant +generosity of my sergeant. The day before the return of Mr. James, the +poor fellow came to me with tears in his eyes, and begged I would not +be offended at what he was going to mention. He then pulled a purse +from his pocket, which contained, he said, the sum of twelve pounds, +and which he begged me to accept, crying, he was sorry it was not in his +power to lend me whatever I wanted. I was so struck with this instance +of generosity and friendship in such a person, that I gave him an +opportunity of pressing me a second time before I made him an answer. +Indeed, I was greatly surprised how he came to be worth that little sum, +and no less at his being acquainted with my own wants. In both which +points he presently satisfied me. As to the first, it seems he had +plundered a Spanish officer of fifteen pistoles; and as to the second, +he confessed he had it from my wife's maid, who had overheard some +discourse between her mistress and me. Indeed people, I believe, always +deceive themselves, who imagine they can conceal distrest circumstances +from their servants; for these are always extremely quicksighted on such +occasions." + +"Good heavens!" cries Miss Matthews, "how astonishing is such behaviour +in so low a fellow!" + +"I thought so myself," answered Booth; "and yet I know not, on a more +strict examination into the matter, why we should be more surprised to +see greatness of mind discover itself in one degree or rank of life than +in another. Love, benevolence, or what you will please to call it, may +be the reigning passion in a beggar as well as in a prince; and wherever +it is, its energies will be the same. + +"To confess the truth, I am afraid we often compliment what we call +upper life, with too much injustice, at the expense of the lower. As it +is no rare thing to see instances which degrade human nature in persons +of the highest birth and education, so I apprehend that examples of +whatever is really great and good have been sometimes found amongst +those who have wanted all such advantages. In reality, palaces, I make +no doubt, do sometimes contain nothing but dreariness and darkness, +and the sun of righteousness hath shone forth with all its glory in a +cottage." + + + + +Chapter viii. + +_The story of Booth continued._ + + +"Mr. Booth thus went on: + +"We now took leave of the garrison, and, having landed at Marseilles, +arrived at Montpelier, without anything happening to us worth +remembrance, except the extreme sea-sickness of poor Amelia; but I was +afterwards well repaid for the terrors which it occasioned me by the +good consequences which attended it; for I believe it contributed, even +more than the air of Montpelier, to the perfect re-establishment of her +health." + +"I ask your pardon for interrupting you," cries Miss Matthews, "but you +never satisfied me whether you took the sergeant's money. You have made +me half in love with that charming fellow." + +"How can you imagine, madam," answered Booth, "I should have taken from +a poor fellow what was of so little consequence to me, and at the same +time of so much to him? Perhaps, now, you will derive this from the +passion of pride." + +"Indeed," says she, "I neither derive it from the passion of pride nor +from the passion of folly: but methinks you should have accepted the +offer, and I am convinced you hurt him very much when you refused it. +But pray proceed in your story." Then Booth went on as follows: + +"As Amelia recovered her health and spirits daily, we began to pass our +time very pleasantly at Montpelier; for the greatest enemy to the French +will acknowledge that they are the best people in the world to live +amongst for a little while. In some countries it is almost as easy to +get a good estate as a good acquaintance. In England, particularly, +acquaintance is of almost as slow growth as an oak; so that the age of +man scarce suffices to bring it to any perfection, and families seldom +contract any great intimacy till the third, or at least the second +generation. So shy indeed are we English of letting a stranger into our +houses, that one would imagine we regarded all such as thieves. Now the +French are the very reverse. Being a stranger among them entitles you to +the better place, and to the greater degree of civility; and if you wear +but the appearance of a gentleman, they never suspect you are not one. +Their friendship indeed seldom extends as far as their purse; nor is +such friendship usual in other countries. To say the truth, politeness +carries friendship far enough in the ordinary occasions of life, and +those who want this accomplishment rarely make amends for it by their +sincerity; for bluntness, or rather rudeness, as it commonly deserves to +be called, is not always so much a mark of honesty as it is taken to be. + +"The day after our arrival we became acquainted with Mons. Bagillard. +He was a Frenchman of great wit and vivacity, with a greater share of +learning than gentlemen are usually possessed of. As he lodged in the +same house with us, we were immediately acquainted, and I liked his +conversation so well that I never thought I had too much of his company. +Indeed, I spent so much of my time with him, that Amelia (I know not +whether I ought to mention it) grew uneasy at our familiarity, and +complained of my being too little with her, from my violent fondness for +my new acquaintance; for, our conversation turning chiefly upon +books, and principally Latin ones (for we read several of the classics +together), she could have but little entertainment by being with us. +When my wife had once taken it into her head that she was deprived of my +company by M. Bagillard, it was impossible to change her opinion; and, +though I now spent more of my time with her than I had ever done +before, she still grew more and more dissatisfied, till at last she very +earnestly desired me to quit my lodgings, and insisted upon it with more +vehemence than I had ever known her express before. To say the truth, if +that excellent woman could ever be thought unreasonable, I thought she +was so on this occasion. + +"But in what light soever her desires appeared to me, as they manifestly +arose from an affection of which I had daily the most endearing proofs, +I resolved to comply with her, and accordingly removed to a distant part +of the town; for it is my opinion that we can have but little love for +the person whom we will never indulge in an unreasonable demand. Indeed, +I was under a difficulty with regard to Mons. Bagillard; for, as I +could not possibly communicate to him the true reason for quitting my +lodgings, so I found it as difficult to deceive him by a counterfeit +one; besides, I was apprehensive I should have little less of his +company than before. I could, indeed, have avoided this dilemma by +leaving Montpelier, for Amelia had perfectly recovered her health; but +I had faithfully promised Captain James to wait his return from Italy, +whither he was gone some time before from Gibraltar; nor was it proper +for Amelia to take any long journey, she being now near six months gone +with child. + +"This difficulty, however, proved to be less than I had imagined it; +for my French friend, whether he suspected anything from my wife's +behaviour, though she never, as I observed, shewed him the least +incivility, became suddenly as cold on his side. After our leaving the +lodgings he never made above two or three formal visits; indeed his time +was soon after entirely taken up by an intrigue with a certain countess, +which blazed all over Montpelier. + +"We had not been long in our new apartments before an English officer +arrived at Montpelier, and came to lodge in the same house with us. This +gentleman, whose name was Bath, was of the rank of a major, and had so +much singularity in his character, that, perhaps, you never heard of +any like him. He was far from having any of those bookish qualifications +which had before caused my Amelia's disquiet. It is true, his discourse +generally turned on matters of no feminine kind; war and martial +exploits being the ordinary topics of his conversation: however, as he +had a sister with whom Amelia was greatly pleased, an intimacy presently +grew between us, and we four lived in one family. + +"The major was a great dealer in the marvellous, and was constantly the +little hero of his own tale. This made him very entertaining to +Amelia, who, of all the persons in the world, hath the truest taste and +enjoyment of the ridiculous; for, whilst no one sooner discovers it in +the character of another, no one so well conceals her knowledge of it +from the ridiculous person. I cannot help mentioning a sentiment of hers +on this head, as I think it doth her great honour. 'If I had the same +neglect,' said she, 'for ridiculous people with the generality of the +world, I should rather think them the objects of tears than laughter; +but, in reality, I have known several who, in some parts of their +characters, have been extremely ridiculous, in others have been +altogether as amiable. For instance,' said she, 'here is the major, who +tells us of many things which he has never seen, and of others which he +hath never done, and both in the most extravagant excess; and yet how +amiable is his behaviour to his poor sister, whom he hath not only +brought over hither for her health, at his own expence, but is come to +bear her company.' I believe, madam, I repeat her very words; for I am +very apt to remember what she says. + +"You will easily believe, from a circumstance I have just mentioned in +the major's favour, especially when I have told you that his sister was +one of the best of girls, that it was entirely necessary to hide from +her all kind of laughter at any part of her brother's behaviour. To say +the truth, this was easy enough to do; for the poor girl was so blinded +with love and gratitude, and so highly honoured and reverenced her +brother, that she had not the least suspicion that there was a person in +the world capable of laughing at him. + +"Indeed, I am certain she never made the least discovery of our +ridicule; for I am well convinced she would have resented it: for, +besides the love she bore her brother, she had a little family pride, +which would sometimes appear. To say the truth, if she had any fault, +it was that of vanity, but she was a very good girl upon the whole; and +none of us are entirely free from faults." + +"You are a good-natured fellow, Will," answered Miss Matthews; "but +vanity is a fault of the first magnitude in a woman, and often the +occasion of many others." + +To this Booth made no answer, but continued his story. + +"In this company we passed two or three months very agreeably, till +the major and I both betook ourselves to our several nurseries; my wife +being brought to bed of a girl, and Miss Bath confined to her chamber by +a surfeit, which had like to have occasioned her death." + +Here Miss Matthews burst into a loud laugh, of which when Booth asked +the reason, she said she could not forbear at the thoughts of two such +nurses. + +"And did you really," says she, "make your wife's caudle yourself?" + +"Indeed, madam," said he, "I did; and do you think that so +extraordinary?" + +"Indeed I do," answered she; "I thought the best husbands had looked on +their wives' lying-in as a time of festival and jollity. What! did you +not even get drunk in the time of your wife's delivery? tell me honestly +how you employed yourself at this time." + +"Why, then, honestly," replied he, "and in defiance of your laughter, I +lay behind her bolster, and supported her in my arms; and, upon my soul, +I believe I felt more pain in my mind than she underwent in her body. +And now answer me as honestly: Do you really think it a proper time of +mirth, when the creature one loves to distraction is undergoing the most +racking torments, as well as in the most imminent danger? and--but I +need not express any more tender circumstances." + +"I am to answer honestly," cried she. "Yes, and sincerely," cries Booth. +"Why, then, honestly and sincerely," says she, "may I never see heaven +if I don't think you an angel of a man!" + +"Nay, madam," answered Booth--"but, indeed, you do me too much honour; +there are many such husbands. Nay, have we not an example of the like +tenderness in the major? though as to him, I believe, I shall make you +laugh. While my wife lay-in, Miss Bath being extremely ill, I went one +day to the door of her apartment, to enquire after her health, as well +as for the major, whom I had not seen during a whole week. I knocked +softly at the door, and being bid to open it, I found the major in +his sister's ante-chamber warming her posset. His dress was certainly +whimsical enough, having on a woman's bedgown and a very dirty flannel +nightcap, which, being added to a very odd person (for he is a very +awkward thin man, near seven feet high), might have formed, in the +opinion of most men, a very proper object of laughter. The major started +from his seat at my entering into the room, and, with much emotion, and +a great oath, cried out, 'Is it you, sir?' I then enquired after his and +his sister's health. He answered, that his sister was better, and he was +very well, 'though I did not expect, sir,' cried he, with not a little +confusion, 'to be seen by you in this situation.' I told him I +thought it impossible he could appear in a situation more becoming his +character. 'You do not?' answered he. 'By G---- I am very much obliged +to you for that opinion; but, I believe, sir, however my weakness may +prevail on me to descend from it, no man can be more conscious of his +own dignity than myself.' His sister then called to him from the inner +room; upon which he rang the bell for her servant, and then, after a +stride or two across the room, he said, with an elated aspect, 'I +would not have you think, Mr. Booth, because you have caught me in +this deshabille, by coming upon me a little too abruptly--I cannot help +saying a little too abruptly--that I am my sister's nurse. I know better +what is due to the dignity of a man, and I have shewn it in a line of +battle. I think I have made a figure there, Mr. Booth, and becoming my +character; by G---- I ought not to be despised too much if my nature is +not totally without its weaknesses.' He uttered this, and some more of +the same kind, with great majesty, or, as he called it, dignity. Indeed, +he used some hard words that I did not understand; for all his words +are not to be found in a dictionary. Upon the whole, I could not easily +refrain from laughter; however, I conquered myself, and soon after +retired from him, astonished that it was possible for a man to possess +true goodness, and be at the same time ashamed of it. + +"But, if I was surprized at what had past at this visit, how much more +was I surprized the next morning, when he came very early to my chamber, +and told me he had not been able to sleep one wink at what had past +between us! 'There were some words of yours,' says he, 'which must be +further explained before we part. You told me, sir, when you found me +in that situation, which I cannot bear to recollect, that you thought +I could not appear in one more becoming my character; these were the +words--I shall never forget them. Do you imagine that there is any of +the dignity of a man wanting in my character? do you think that I have, +during my sister's illness, behaved with a weakness that savours too +much of effeminacy? I know how much it is beneath a man to whine and +whimper about a trifling girl as well as you or any man; and, if my +sister had died, I should have behaved like a man on the occasion. I +would not have you think I confined myself from company merely upon her +account. I was very much disordered myself. And when you surprized me +in that situation--I repeat again, in that situation--her nurse had +not left the room three minutes, and I was blowing the fire for fear it +should have gone out.'--In this manner he ran on almost a quarter of an +hour before he would suffer me to speak. At last, looking steadfastly +in his face, I asked him if I must conclude that he was in earnest? 'In +earnest!' says he, repeating my words, 'do you then take my character +for a jest?'--Lookee, sir, said I, very gravely, I think we know one +another very well; and I have no reason to suspect you should impute it +to fear when I tell you I was so far from intending to affront you, that +I meant you one of the highest compliments. Tenderness for women is so +far from lessening, that it proves a true manly character. The manly +Brutus shewed the utmost tenderness to his Portia; and the great king +of Sweden, the bravest, and even fiercest of men, shut himself up three +whole days in the midst of a campaign, and would see no company, on the +death of a favourite sister. At these words I saw his features soften; +and he cried out, 'D--n me, I admire the king of Sweden of all the men +in the world; and he is a rascal that is ashamed of doing anything which +the king of Sweden did.--And yet, if any king of Sweden in France was to +tell me that his sister had more merit than mine, by G---- I'd knock +his brains about his ears. Poor little Betsy! she is the honestest, +worthiest girl that ever was born. Heaven be praised, she is recovered; +for, if I had lost her, I never should have enjoyed another happy +moment.' In this manner he ran on some time, till the tears began to +overflow; which when he perceived, he stopt; perhaps he was unable to go +on; for he seemed almost choaked: after a short silence, however, having +wiped his eyes with his handkerchief, he fetched a deep sigh, and cried, +'I am ashamed you should see this, Mr. Booth; but d--n me, nature will +get the better of dignity.' I now comforted him with the example of +Xerxes, as I had before done with that of the king of Sweden; and soon +after we sat down to breakfast together with much cordial friendship; +for I assure you, with all his oddity, there is not a better-natured man +in the world than the major." + +"Good-natured, indeed!" cries Miss Matthews, with great scorn. "A fool! +how can you mention such a fellow with commendation?" + +Booth spoke as much as he could in defence of his friend; indeed, he +had represented him in as favourable a light as possible, and had +particularly left out those hard words with which, as he hath observed a +little before, the major interlarded his discourse. Booth then proceeded +as in the next chapter. + + + + +Chapter ix. + +_Containing very extraordinary matters._ + + +"Miss Bath," continued Booth, "now recovered so fast, that she was +abroad as soon as my wife. Our little partie quarree began to grow +agreeable again; and we mixed with the company of the place more than we +had done before. Mons. Bagillard now again renewed his intimacy, for the +countess, his mistress, was gone to Paris; at which my wife, at first, +shewed no dissatisfaction; and I imagined that, as she had a friend +and companion of her own sex (for Miss Bath and she had contracted +the highest fondness for each other), that she would the less miss my +company. However, I was disappointed in this expectation; for she soon +began to express her former uneasiness, and her impatience for the +arrival of Captain James, that we might entirely quit Montpelier. + +"I could not avoid conceiving some little displeasure at this humour of +my wife, which I was forced to think a little unreasonable."--"A little, +do you call it?" says Miss Matthews: "Good Heavens! what a husband are +you!"--"How little worthy," answered he, "as you will say hereafter, of +such a wife as my Amelia. One day, as we were sitting together, I heard +a violent scream; upon which my wife, starting up, cried out, 'Sure +that's Miss Bath's voice;' and immediately ran towards the chamber +whence it proceeded. I followed her; and when we arrived, we there +beheld the most shocking sight imaginable; Miss Bath lying dead on the +floor, and the major all bloody kneeling by her, and roaring out for +assistance. Amelia, though she was herself in little better condition +than her friend, ran hastily to her, bared her neck, and attempted to +loosen her stays, while I ran up and down, scarce knowing what I did, +calling for water and cordials, and despatching several servants one +after another for doctors and surgeons. + +"Water, cordials, and all necessary implements being brought, Miss Bath +was at length recovered, and placed in her chair, when the major seated +himself by her. And now, the young lady being restored to life, the +major, who, till then, had engaged as little of his own as of any +other person's attention, became the object of all our considerations, +especially his poor sister's, who had no sooner recovered sufficient +strength than she began to lament her brother, crying out that he was +killed; and bitterly bewailing her fate, in having revived from her +swoon to behold so dreadful a spectacle. While Amelia applied herself to +soothe the agonies of her friend, I began to enquire into the condition +of the major, in which I was assisted by a surgeon, who now arrived. The +major declared, with great chearfulness, that he did not apprehend his +wound to be in the least dangerous, and therefore begged his sister to +be comforted, saying he was convinced the surgeon would soon give her +the same assurance; but that good man was not so liberal of assurances +as the major had expected; for as soon as he had probed the wound he +afforded no more than hopes, declaring that it was a very ugly wound; +but added, by way of consolation, that he had cured many much worse. + +"When the major was drest his sister seemed to possess his whole +thoughts, and all his care was to relieve her grief. He solemnly +protested that it was no more than a flesh wound, and not very deep, nor +could, as he apprehended, be in the least dangerous; and as for the +cold expressions of the surgeon, he very well accounted for them from +a motive too obvious to be mentioned. From these declarations of +her brother, and the interposition of her friends, and, above all, I +believe, from that vast vent which she had given to her fright, Miss +Bath seemed a little pacified: Amelia, therefore, at last prevailed; +and, as terror abated, curiosity became the superior passion. I +therefore now began to enquire what had occasioned that accident whence +all the uproar arose. + +"The major took me by the hand, and, looking very kindly at me, said, +'My dear Mr. Booth, I must begin by asking your pardon; for I have done +you an injury for which nothing but the height of friendship in me can +be an excuse; and therefore nothing but the height of friendship in you +can forgive.' This preamble, madam, you will easily believe, greatly +alarmed all the company, but especially me. I answered, Dear major, I +forgive you, let it be what it will; but what is it possible you can +have done to injure me? 'That,' replied he, 'which I am convinced a man +of your honour and dignity of nature, by G--, must conclude to be one +of the highest injuries. I have taken out of your own hands the doing +yourself justice. I am afraid I have killed the man who hath injured +your honour. I mean that villain Bagillard--but I cannot proceed; for +you, madam,' said he to my wife, 'are concerned, and I know what is due +to the dignity of your sex.' Amelia, I observed, turned pale at these +words, but eagerly begged him to proceed. 'Nay, madam,' answered he, 'if +I am commanded by a lady, it is a part of my dignity to obey.' He then +proceeded to tell us that Bagillard had rallied him upon a supposition +that he was pursuing my wife with a view of gallantry; telling him that +he could never succeed; giving hints that, if it had been possible, he +should have succeeded himself; and ending with calling my poor Amelia +an accomplished prude; upon which the major gave Bagillard a box in the +ear, and both immediately drew their swords. + +"The major had scarce ended his speech when a servant came into the +room, and told me there was a fryar below who desired to speak with me +in great haste. I shook the major by the hand, and told him I not only +forgave him, but was extremely obliged to his friendship; and then, +going to the fryar, I found that he was Bagillard's confessor, from whom +he came to me, with an earnest desire of seeing me, that he might ask my +pardon and receive my forgiveness before he died for the injury he had +intended me. My wife at first opposed my going, from some sudden fears +on my account; but when she was convinced they were groundless she +consented. + +"I found Bagillard in his bed; for the major's sword had passed up to +the very hilt through his body. After having very earnestly asked my +pardon, he made me many compliments on the possession of a woman +who, joined to the most exquisite beauty, was mistress of the most +impregnable virtue; as a proof of which he acknowledged the vehemence as +well as ill success of his attempts: and, to make Amelia's virtue appear +the brighter, his vanity was so predominant he could not forbear running +over the names of several women of fashion who had yielded to his +passion, which, he said, had never raged so violently for any other as +for my poor Amelia; and that this violence, which he had found wholly +unconquerable, he hoped would procure his pardon at my hands. It is +unnecessary to mention what I said on the occasion. I assured him of +my entire forgiveness; and so we parted. To say the truth, I afterwards +thought myself almost obliged to him for a meeting with Amelia the most +luxuriously delicate that can be imagined. + +"I now ran to my wife, whom I embraced with raptures of love and +tenderness. When the first torrent of these was a little abated, +'Confess to me, my dear,' said she, 'could your goodness prevent you +from thinking me a little unreasonable in expressing so much uneasiness +at the loss of your company, while I ought to have rejoiced in the +thoughts of your being so well entertained; I know you must; and then +consider what I must have felt, while I knew I was daily lessening +myself in your esteem, and forced into a conduct which I was sensible +must appear to you, who was ignorant of my motive, to be mean, vulgar, +and selfish. And yet, what other course had I to take with a man whom +no denial, no scorn could abash? But, if this was a cruel task, how +much more wretched still was the constraint I was obliged to wear in his +presence before you, to shew outward civility to the man whom my soul +detested, for fear of any fatal consequence from your suspicion; and +this too while I was afraid he would construe it to be an encouragement? +Do you not pity your poor Amelia when you reflect on her situation?' +Pity! cried I; my love! is pity an adequate expression for esteem, for +adoration? But how, my love, could he carry this on so secretly?--by +letters? 'O no, he offered me many; but I never would receive but one, +and that I returned him. Good G--! I would not have such a letter in my +possession for the universe; I thought my eyes contaminated with reading +it.'" "O brave!" cried Miss Matthews; "heroic, I protest. + + "'Had I a wish that did not bear + The stamp and image of my dear, + I'd pierce my heart through ev'ry vein, + And die to let it out again.'" + +"And you can really," cried he, "laugh at so much tenderness?" "I laugh +at tenderness! O, Mr. Booth!" answered she, "thou knowest but little +of Calista." "I thought formerly," cried he, "I knew a great deal, and +thought you, of all women in the world, to have the greatest---of all +women!" "Take care, Mr. Booth," said she. "By heaven! if you thought +so, you thought truly. But what is the object of my tenderness--such +an object as--" "Well, madam," says he, "I hope you will find one." "I +thank you for that hope, however," says she, "cold as it is. But pray go +on with your story;" which command he immediately obeyed. + + + + +Chapter x. + +_Containing a letter of a very curious kind._ + + +"The major's wound," continued Booth, "was really as slight as he +believed it; so that in a very few days he was perfectly well; nor was +Bagillard, though run through the body, long apprehending to be in +any danger of his life. The major then took me aside, and, wishing me +heartily joy of Bagillard's recovery, told me I should now, by the gift +(as it were) of Heaven, have an opportunity of doing myself justice. I +answered I could not think of any such thing; for that when I imagined +he was on his death-bed I had heartily and sincerely forgiven him. 'Very +right,' replied the major, 'and consistent with your honour, when he +was on his death-bed; but that forgiveness was only conditional, and is +revoked by his recovery.' I told him I could not possibly revoke it; for +that my anger was really gone.--'What hath anger,' cried he, 'to do +with the matter? the dignity of my nature hath been always my reason for +drawing my sword; and when that is concerned I can as readily fight with +the man I love as with the man I hate.'--I will not tire you with the +repetition of the whole argument, in which the major did not prevail; +and I really believe I sunk a little in his esteem upon that account, +till Captain James, who arrived soon after, again perfectly reinstated +me in his favour. + +"When the captain was come there remained no cause of our longer stay at +Montpelier; for, as to my wife, she was in a better state of health than +I had ever known her; and Miss Bath had not only recovered her health +but her bloom, and from a pale skeleton was become a plump, handsome +young woman. James was again my cashier; for, far from receiving any +remittance, it was now a long time since I had received any letter from +England, though both myself and my dear Amelia had written several, both +to my mother and sister; and now, at our departure from Montpelier, I +bethought myself of writing to my good friend the doctor, acquainting +him with our journey to Paris, whither I desired he would direct his +answer. + +"At Paris we all arrived without encountering any adventure on the road +worth relating; nor did anything of consequence happen here during the +first fortnight; for, as you know neither Captain James nor Miss Bath, +it is scarce worth telling you that an affection, which afterwards ended +in a marriage, began now to appear between them, in which it may appear +odd to you that I made the first discovery of the lady's flame, and my +wife of the captain's. + +"The seventeenth day after our arrival at Paris I received a letter from +the doctor, which I have in my pocket-book; and, if you please, I will +read it you; for I would not willingly do any injury to his words." + +The lady, you may easily believe, desired to hear the letter, and Booth +read it as follows: + +"MY DEAR CHILDREN--For I will now call you so, as you have neither of +you now any other parent in this world. Of this melancholy news I should +have sent you earlier notice if I had thought you ignorant of it, or +indeed if I had known whither to have written. If your sister hath +received any letters from you she hath kept them a secret, and perhaps +out of affection to you hath reposited them in the same place where she +keeps her goodness, and, what I am afraid is much dearer to her, her +money. The reports concerning you have been various; so is always the +case in matters where men are ignorant; for, when no man knows what the +truth is, every man thinks himself at liberty to report what he pleases. +Those who wish you well, son Booth, say simply that you are dead: +others, that you ran away from the siege, and was cashiered. As for my +daughter, all agree that she is a saint above; and there are not wanting +those who hint that her husband sent her thither. From this beginning +you will expect, I suppose, better news than I am going to tell you; but +pray, my dear children, why may not I, who have always laughed at my own +afflictions, laugh at yours, without the censure of much malevolence? +I wish you could learn this temper from me; for, take my word for it, +nothing truer ever came from the mouth of a heathen than that sentence: + +'---_Leve fit quod bene fertur onus_.' [Footnote: The burthen becomes +light by being well borne.] + +"And though I must confess I never thought Aristotle (whom I do not take +for so great a blockhead as some who have never read him) doth not very +well resolve the doubt which he hath raised in his Ethics, viz., How a +man in the midst of King Priam's misfortunes can be called happy? yet +I have long thought that there is no calamity so great that a Christian +philosopher may not reasonably laugh at it; if the heathen Cicero, +doubting of immortality (for so wise a man must have doubted of that +which had such slender arguments to support it), could assert it as +the office of wisdom, _Humanas res despicere atque infra se positas +arbitrari._[Footnote: To look down on all human affairs as matters below +his consideration.] + +"Which passage, with much more to the same purpose, you will find in the +third book of his Tusculan Questions. + +"With how much greater confidence may a good Christian despise, and even +deride, all temporary and short transitory evils! If the poor wretch, +who is trudging on to his miserable cottage, can laugh at the storms and +tempests, the rain and whirlwinds, which surround him, while his richest +hope is only that of rest; how much more chearfully must a man pass +through such transient evils, whose spirits are buoyed up with the +certain expectation of finding a noble palace and the most sumptuous +entertainment ready to receive him! I do not much like the simile; but I +cannot think of a better. And yet, inadequate as the simile is, we may, +I think, from the actions of mankind, conclude that they will consider +it as much too strong; for, in the case I have put of the entertainment, +is there any man so tender or poor-spirited as not to despise, and often +to deride, the fiercest of these inclemencies which I have mentioned? +but in our journey to the glorious mansions of everlasting bliss, how +severely is every little rub, every trifling accident, lamented! and if +Fortune showers down any of her heavier storms upon us, how wretched do +we presently appear to ourselves and to others! The reason of this can +be no other than that we are not in earnest in our faith; at the best, +we think with too little attention on this our great concern. While the +most paultry matters of this world, even those pitiful trifles, those +childish gewgaws, riches and honours, are transacted with the utmost +earnestness and most serious application, the grand and weighty affair +of immortality is postponed and disregarded, nor ever brought into the +least competition with our affairs here. If one of my cloth should begin +a discourse of heaven in the scenes of business or pleasure; in the +court of requests, at Garraway's, or at White's; would he gain a +hearing, unless, perhaps, of some sorry jester who would desire to +ridicule him? would he not presently acquire the name of the mad parson, +and be thought by all men worthy of Bedlam? or would he not be treated +as the Romans treated their Aretalogi,[Footnote: A set of beggarly +philosophers who diverted great men at their table with burlesque +discourses on virtue.] and considered in the light of a buffoon? But +why should I mention those places of hurry and worldly pursuit? +What attention do we engage even in the pulpit? Here, if a sermon be +prolonged a little beyond the usual hour, doth it not set half the +audience asleep? as I question not I have by this time both my children. +Well, then, like a good-natured surgeon, who prepares his patient for +a painful operation by endeavouring as much as he can to deaden his +sensation, I will now communicate to you, in your slumbering condition, +the news with which I threatened you. Your good mother, you are to +know, is dead at last, and hath left her whole fortune to her elder +daughter.--This is all the ill news I have to tell you. Confess now, +if you are awake, did you not expect it was much worse; did not you +apprehend that your charming child was dead? Far from it, he is in +perfect health, and the admiration of everybody: what is more, he will +be taken care of, with the tenderness of a parent, till your return. +What pleasure must this give you! if indeed anything can add to the +happiness of a married couple who are extremely and deservedly fond of +each other, and, as you write me, in perfect health. A superstitious +heathen would have dreaded the malice of Nemesis in your situation; but +as I am a Christian, I shall venture to add another circumstance to your +felicity, by assuring you that you have, besides your wife, a faithful +and zealous friend. Do not, therefore, my dear children, fall into that +fault which the excellent Thucydides observes is too common in human +nature, to bear heavily the being deprived of the smaller good, without +conceiving, at the same time, any gratitude for the much greater +blessings which we are suffered to enjoy. I have only farther to tell +you, my son, that, when you call at Mr. Morand's, Rue Dauphine, you will +find yourself worth a hundred pounds. Good Heaven! how much richer are +you than millions of people who are in want of nothing! farewel, and +know me for your sincere and affectionate friend." + +"There, madam," cries Booth, "how do you like the letter?" + +"Oh! extremely," answered she: "the doctor is a charming man; I always +loved dearly to hear him preach. I remember to have heard of Mrs. +Harris's death above a year before I left the country, but never knew +the particulars of her will before. I am extremely sorry for it, upon my +honour." + +"Oh, fy! madam," cries Booth; "have you so soon forgot the chief purport +of the doctor's letter?" + +"Ay, ay," cried she; "these are very pretty things to read, I +acknowledge; but the loss of fortune is a serious matter; and I am sure +a man of Mr. Booth's understanding must think so." "One consideration, +I must own, madam," answered he, "a good deal baffled all the doctor's +arguments. This was the concern for my little growing family, who must +one day feel the loss; nor was I so easy upon Amelia's account as upon +my own, though she herself put on the utmost chearfulness, and stretched +her invention to the utmost to comfort me. But sure, madam, there is +something in the doctor's letter to admire beyond the philosophy of it; +what think you of that easy, generous, friendly manner, in which he sent +me the hundred pounds?" + +"Very noble and great indeed," replied she. "But pray go on with your +story; for I long to hear the whole." + + + + +Chapter xi. + +_In which Mr. Booth relates his return to England._ + + +"Nothing remarkable, as I remember, happened during our stay at Paris, +which we left soon after and came to London. Here we rested only two +days, and then, taking leave of our fellow-travellers, we set out for +Wiltshire, my wife being so impatient to see the child which she had +left behind her, that the child she carried with her was almost killed +with the fatigue of the journey. + +"We arrived at our inn late in the evening. Amelia, though she had no +great reason to be pleased with any part of her sister's behaviour, +resolved to behave to her as if nothing wrong had ever happened. She +therefore sent a kind note to her the moment of our arrival, giving +her her option, whether she would come to us at the inn, or whether we +should that evening wait on her. The servant, after waiting an hour, +brought us an answer, excusing her from coming to us so late, as she +was disordered with a cold, and desiring my wife by no means to think +of venturing out after the fatigue of her journey; saying, she would, on +that account, defer the great pleasure of seeing her till the morning, +without taking any more notice of your humble servant than if no +such person had been in the world, though I had very civilly sent my +compliments to her. I should not mention this trifle, if it was not to +shew you the nature of the woman, and that it will be a kind of key to +her future conduct. + +"When the servant returned, the good doctor, who had been with us almost +all the time of his absence, hurried us away to his house, where we +presently found a supper and a bed prepared for us. My wife was eagerly +desirous to see her child that night; but the doctor would not suffer +it; and, as he was at nurse at a distant part of the town, and the +doctor assured her he had seen him in perfect health that evening, she +suffered herself at last to be dissuaded. + +"We spent that evening in the most agreeable manner; for the doctor's +wit and humour, joined to the highest chearfulness and good nature, made +him the most agreeable companion in the world: and he was now in the +highest spirits, which he was pleased to place to our account. We +sat together to a very late hour; for so excellent is my wife's +constitution, that she declared she was scarce sensible of any fatigue +from her late journeys. + +"Amelia slept not a wink all night, and in the morning early the doctor +accompanied us to the little infant. The transports we felt on this +occasion were really enchanting, nor can any but a fond parent conceive, +I am certain, the least idea of them. Our imaginations suggested +a hundred agreeable circumstances, none of which had, perhaps, any +foundation. We made words and meaning out of every sound, and in every +feature found out some resemblance to my Amelia, as she did to me. + +"But I ask your pardon for dwelling on such incidents, and will proceed +to scenes which, to most persons, will be more entertaining. + +"We went hence to pay a visit to Miss Harris, whose reception of us was, +I think, truly ridiculous; and, as you know the lady, I will endeavour +to describe it particularly. At our first arrival we were ushered into +a parlour, where we were suffered to wait almost an hour. At length the +lady of the house appeared in deep mourning, with a face, if possible, +more dismal than her dress, in which, however, there was every +appearance of art. Her features were indeed skrewed up to the very +height of grief. With this face, and in the most solemn gait, she +approached Amelia, and coldly saluted her. After which she made me a +very distant formal courtesy, and we all sat down. A short silence now +ensued, which Miss Harris at length broke with a deep sigh, and said, +'Sister, here is a great alteration in this place since you saw it last; +Heaven hath been pleased to take my poor mother to itself.'--(Here she +wiped her eyes, and then continued.)--'I hope I know my duty, and have +learned a proper resignation to the divine will; but something is to be +allowed to grief for the best of mothers; for so she was to us both; and +if at last she made any distinction, she must have had her reasons for +so doing. I am sure I can truly say I never wished, much less desired +it.' The tears now stood in poor Amelia's eyes; indeed, she had paid too +many already for the memory of so unnatural a parent. She answered, with +the sweetness of an angel, that she was far from blaming her sister's +emotions on so tender an occasion; that she heartily joined with her in +her grief; for that nothing which her mother had done in the latter part +of her life could efface the remembrance of that tenderness which she +had formerly shewn her. Her sister caught hold of the word efface, and +rung the changes upon it.--'Efface!' cried she, 'O Miss Emily (for you +must not expect me to repeat names that will be for ever odious), I wish +indeed everything could be effaced.--Effaced! O that that was possible! +we might then have still enjoyed my poor mother; for I am convinced she +never recovered her grief on a certain occasion.'--Thus she ran on, and, +after many bitter strokes upon her sister, at last directly charged her +mother's death on my marriage with Amelia. I could be silent then no +longer. I reminded her of the perfect reconciliation between us before +my departure, and the great fondness which she expressed for me; nor +could I help saying, in very plain terms, that if she had ever changed +her opinion of me, as I was not conscious of having deserved such a +change by my own behaviour, I was well convinced to whose good offices +I owed it. Guilt hath very quick ears to an accusation. Miss Harris +immediately answered to the charge. She said, such suspicions were no +more than she expected; that they were of a piece with every other part +of my conduct, and gave her one consolation, that they served to account +for her sister Emily's unkindness, as well to herself as to her poor +deceased mother, and in some measure lessened the guilt of it with +regard to her, since it was not easy to know how far a woman is in the +power of her husband. My dear Amelia reddened at this reflection on +me, and begged her sister to name any single instance of unkindness or +disrespect in which she had ever offended. To this the other answered +(I am sure I repeat her words, though I cannot mimic either the voice or +air with which they were spoken)--'Pray, Miss Emily, which is to be the +judge, yourself or that gentleman? I remember the time when I could +have trusted to your judgment in any affair; but you are now no longer +mistress of yourself, and are not answerable for your actions. Indeed, +it is my constant prayer that your actions may not be imputed to you. +It was the constant prayer of that blessed woman, my dear mother, who +is now a saint above; a saint whose name I can never mention without a +tear, though I find you can hear it without one. I cannot help observing +some concern on so melancholy an occasion; it seems due to decency; but, +perhaps (for I always wish to excuse you) you are forbid to cry.' The +idea of being bid or forbid to cry struck so strongly on my fancy, +that indignation only could have prevented me from laughing. But my +narrative, I am afraid, begins to grow tedious. In short, after hearing, +for near an hour, every malicious insinuation which a fertile genius +could invent, we took our leave, and separated as persons who would +never willingly meet again. + +"The next morning after this interview Amelia received a long letter +from Miss Harris; in which, after many bitter invectives against me, she +excused her mother, alledging that she had been driven to do as she did +in order to prevent Amelia's ruin, if her fortune had fallen into +my hands. She likewise very remotely hinted that she would be only a +trustee for her sister's children, and told her that on one condition +only she would consent to live with her as a sister. This was, if she +could by any means be separated from that man, as she was pleased to +call me, who had caused so much mischief in the family. + +"I was so enraged at this usage, that, had not Amelia intervened, I +believe I should have applied to a magistrate for a search-warrant for +that picture, which there was so much reason to suspect she had stolen; +and which I am convinced, upon a search, we should have found in her +possession." + +"Nay, it is possible enough," cries Miss Matthews; "for I believe there +is no wickedness of which the lady is not capable." + +"This agreeable letter was succeeded by another of the like comfortable +kind, which informed me that the company in which I was, being an +additional one raised in the beginning of the war, was reduced; so that +I was now a lieutenant on half-pay. + +"Whilst we were meditating on our present situation the good doctor came +to us. When we related to him the manner in which my sister had treated +us, he cried out, 'Poor soul! I pity her heartily;' for this is the +severest resentment he ever expresses; indeed, I have often heard him +say that a wicked soul is the greatest object of compassion in the +world."--A sentiment which we shall leave the reader a little time to +digest. + + + + +Chapter xii. + +_In which Mr. Booth concludes his story._ + + +"The next day the doctor set out for his parsonage, which was about +thirty miles distant, whither Amelia and myself accompanied him, and +where we stayed with him all the time of his residence there, being +almost three months. + +"The situation of the parish under my good friend's care is very +pleasant. It is placed among meadows, washed by a clear trout-stream, +and flanked on both sides with downs. His house, indeed, would not much +attract the admiration of the virtuoso. He built it himself, and it +is remarkable only for its plainness; with which the furniture so well +agrees, that there is no one thing in it that may not be absolutely +necessary, except books, and the prints of Mr. Hogarth, whom he calls a +moral satirist. + +"Nothing, however, can be imagined more agreeable than the life that the +doctor leads in this homely house, which he calls his earthly paradise. +All his parishioners, whom he treats as his children, regard him as +their common father. Once in a week he constantly visits every house in +the parish, examines, commends, and rebukes, as he finds occasion. +This is practised likewise by his curate in his absence; and so good +an effect is produced by this their care, that no quarrels ever proceed +either to blows or law-suits; no beggar is to be found in the whole +parish; nor did I ever hear a very profane oath all the time I lived in +it. + +"But to return from so agreeable a digression, to my own affairs, +that are much less worth your attention. In the midst of all the +pleasures I tasted in this sweet place and in the most delightful +company, the woman and man whom I loved above all things, melancholy +reflexions concerning my unhappy circumstances would often steal into my +thoughts. My fortune was now reduced to less than forty pounds a-year; I +had already two children, and my dear Amelia was again with child. + +"One day the doctor found me sitting by myself, and employed in +melancholy contemplations on this subject. He told me he had observed +me growing of late very serious; that he knew the occasion, and neither +wondered at nor blamed me. He then asked me if I had any prospect of +going again into the army; if not, what scheme of life I proposed to +myself? + +"I told him that, as I had no powerful friends, I could have but little +expectations in a military way; that I was as incapable of thinking of +any other scheme, as all business required some knowledge or experience, +and likewise money to set up with; of all which I was destitute. + +"'You must know then, child,' said the doctor, 'that I have been +thinking on this subject as well as you; for I can think, I promise you, +with a pleasant countenance.' These were his words. 'As to the army, +perhaps means might be found of getting you another commission; but my +daughter seems to have a violent objection to it; and to be plain, I +fancy you yourself will find no glory make you amends for your absence +from her. And for my part,' said he, 'I never think those men wise who, +for any worldly interest, forego the greatest happiness of their lives. +If I mistake not,' says he, 'a country life, where you could be always +together, would make you both much happier people.' + +"I answered, that of all things I preferred it most; and I believed +Amelia was of the same opinion. + +"The doctor, after a little hesitation, proposed to me to turn farmer, +and offered to let me his parsonage, which was then become vacant. He +said it was a farm which required but little stock, and that little +should not be wanting. + +"I embraced this offer very eagerly, and with great thankfulness, and +immediately repaired to Amelia to communicate it to her, and to know her +sentiments. + +"Amelia received the news with the highest transports of joy; she said +that her greatest fear had always been of my entring again into the +army. She was so kind as to say that all stations of life were equal to +her, unless as one afforded her more of my company than another. 'And as +to our children,' said she, 'let us breed them up to an humble fortune, +and they will be contented with it; for none,' added my angel, 'deserve +happiness, or, indeed, are capable of it, who make any particular +station a necessary ingredient.'" + +"Thus, madam, you see me degraded from my former rank in life; no longer +Captain Booth, but farmer Booth at your service. + +"During my first year's continuance in this new scene of life, nothing, +I think, remarkable happened; the history of one day would, indeed, be +the history of the whole year." + +"Well, pray then," said Miss Matthews, "do let us hear the history of +that day; I have a strange curiosity to know how you could kill your +time; and do, if possible, find out the very best day you can." + +"If you command me, madam," answered Booth, "you must yourself be +accountable for the dulness of the narrative. Nay, I believe, you have +imposed a very difficult task on me; for the greatest happiness is +incapable of description. + +"I rose then, madam--" + +"O, the moment you waked, undoubtedly," said Miss Matthews. + +"Usually," said he, "between five and six." + +"I will have no usually," cried Miss Matthews, "you are confined to a +day, and it is to be the best and happiest in the year." + +"Nay, madam," cries Booth, "then I must tell you the day in which Amelia +was brought to bed, after a painful and dangerous labour; for that I +think was the happiest day of my life." + +"I protest," said she, "you are become farmer Booth, indeed. What a +happiness have you painted to my imagination! you put me in mind of a +newspaper, where my lady such-a-one is delivered of a son, to the great +joy of some illustrious family." + +"Why then, I do assure you, Miss Matthews," cries Booth, "I scarce know +a circumstance that distinguished one day from another. The whole +was one continued series of love, health, and tranquillity. Our lives +resembled a calm sea."-- + +"The dullest of all ideas," cries the lady. + +"I know," said he, "it must appear dull in description, for who can +describe the pleasures which the morning air gives to one in perfect +health; the flow of spirits which springs up from exercise; the delights +which parents feel from the prattle and innocent follies of their +children; the joy with which the tender smile of a wife inspires a +husband; or lastly, the chearful, solid comfort which a fond couple +enjoy in each other's conversation?--All these pleasures and every other +of which our situation was capable we tasted in the highest degree. Our +happiness was, perhaps, too great; for fortune seemed to grow envious +of it, and interposed one of the most cruel accidents that could have +befallen us by robbing us of our dear friend the doctor." + +"I am sorry for it," said Miss Matthews. "He was indeed a valuable man, +and I never heard of his death before." + +"Long may it be before any one hears of it!" cries Booth. "He is, +indeed, dead to us; but will, I hope, enjoy many happy years of life. +You know, madam, the obligations he had to his patron the earl; indeed, +it was impossible to be once in his company without hearing of them. I +am sure you will neither wonder that he was chosen to attend the +young lord in his travels as his tutor, nor that the good man, however +disagreeable it might be (as in fact it was) to his inclination, should +comply with the earnest request of his friend and patron. + +"By this means I was bereft not only of the best companion in the world, +but of the best counsellor; a loss of which I have since felt the bitter +consequence; for no greater advantage, I am convinced, can arrive to +a young man, who hath any degree of understanding, than an intimate +converse with one of riper years, who is not only able to advise, but +who knows the manner of advising. By this means alone, youth can enjoy +the benefit of the experience of age, and that at a time of life when +such experience will be of more service to a man than when he hath lived +long enough to acquire it of himself. + +"From want of my sage counsellor, I now fell into many errors. The first +of these was in enlarging my business, by adding a farm of one hundred +a year to the parsonage, in renting which I had also as bad a bargain as +the doctor had before given me a good one. The consequence of which +was, that whereas, at the end of the first year, I was worth upwards +of fourscore pounds; at the end of the second I was near half that sum +worse (as the phrase is) than nothing. + +"A second folly I was guilty of in uniting families with the curate of +the parish, who had just married, as my wife and I thought, a very good +sort of a woman. We had not, however, lived one month together before I +plainly perceived this good sort of a woman had taken a great prejudice +against my Amelia, for which, if I had not known something of the human +passions, and that high place which envy holds among them, I should not +have been able to account, for, so far was my angel from having given +her any cause of dislike, that she had treated her not only with +civility, but kindness. + +"Besides superiority in beauty, which, I believe, all the world would +have allowed to Amelia, there was another cause of this envy, which I am +almost ashamed to mention, as it may well be called my greatest folly. +You are to know then, madam, that from a boy I had been always fond of +driving a coach, in which I valued myself on having some skill. This, +perhaps, was an innocent, but I allow it to have been a childish vanity. +As I had an opportunity, therefore, of buying an old coach and harness +very cheap (indeed they cost me but twelve pounds), and as I considered +that the same horses which drew my waggons would likewise draw my coach, +I resolved on indulging myself in the purchase. + +"The consequence of setting up this poor old coach is inconceivable. +Before this, as my wife and myself had very little distinguished +ourselves from the other farmers and their wives, either in our dress or +our way of living, they treated us as their equals; but now they began +to consider us as elevating ourselves into a state of superiority, +and immediately began to envy, hate, and declare war against us. The +neighbouring little squires, too, were uneasy to see a poor renter +become their equal in a matter in which they placed so much dignity; +and, not doubting but it arose in me from the same ostentation, they +began to hate me likewise, and to turn my equipage into ridicule, +asserting that my horses, which were as well matched as any in the +kingdom, were of different colours and sizes, with much more of that +kind of wit, the only basis of which is lying. + +"But what will appear most surprizing to you, madam, was, that the +curate's wife, who, being lame, had more use of the coach than my Amelia +(indeed she seldom went to church in any other manner), was one of my +bitterest enemies on the occasion. If she had ever any dispute with +Amelia, which all the sweetness of my poor girl could not sometimes +avoid, she was sure to introduce with a malicious sneer, 'Though my +husband doth not keep a coach, madam.' Nay, she took this opportunity to +upbraid my wife with the loss of her fortune, alledging that some folks +might have had as good pretensions to a coach as other folks, and a +better too, as they brought a better fortune to their husbands, but that +all people had not the art of making brick without straw. + +"You will wonder, perhaps, madam, how I can remember such stuff, which, +indeed, was a long time only matter of amusement to both Amelia and +myself; but we at last experienced the mischievous nature of envy, +and that it tends rather to produce tragical than comical events. +My neighbours now began to conspire against me. They nicknamed me +in derision, the Squire Farmer. Whatever I bought, I was sure to buy +dearer, and when I sold I was obliged to sell cheaper, than any other. +In fact, they were all united, and, while they every day committed +trespasses on my lands with impunity, if any of my cattle escaped into +their fields, I was either forced to enter into a law-suit or to make +amends fourfold for the damage sustained. + +"The consequences of all this could be no other than that ruin which +ensued. Without tiring you with particulars, before the end of four +years I became involved in debt near three hundred pounds more than the +value of all my effects. My landlord seized my stock for rent, and, to +avoid immediate confinement in prison, I was forced to leave the country +with all that I hold dear in the world, my wife and my poor little +family. + +"In this condition I arrived in town five or six days ago. I had just +taken a lodging in the verge of the court, and had writ my dear Amelia +word where she might find me, when she had settled her affairs in the +best manner she could. That very evening, as I was returning home from +a coffee-house, a fray happening in the street, I endeavoured to assist +the injured party, when I was seized by the watch, and, after being +confined all night in the round-house, was conveyed in the morning +before a justice of peace, who committed me hither; where I should +probably have starved, had I not from your hands found a most +unaccountable preservation.--And here, give me leave to assure you, my +dear Miss Matthews, that, whatever advantage I may have reaped from your +misfortune, I sincerely lament it; nor would I have purchased any relief +to myself at the price of seeing you in this dreadful place." + +He spake these last words with great tenderness; for he was a man of +consummate good nature, and had formerly had much affection for this +young lady; indeed, more than the generality of people are capable of +entertaining for any person whatsoever. + + + + +BOOK IV. + + + +Chapter i. + +_Containing very mysterious matter_. + + +Miss Matthews did not in the least fall short of Mr. Booth in +expressions of tenderness. Her eyes, the most eloquent orators on such +occasions, exerted their utmost force; and at the conclusion of his +speech she cast a look as languishingly sweet as ever Cleopatra gave to +Antony. In real fact, this Mr. Booth had been her first love, and had +made those impressions on her young heart, which the learned in +this branch of philosophy affirm, and perhaps truly, are never to be +eradicated. + +When Booth had finished his story a silence ensued of some minutes; an +interval which the painter would describe much better than the writer. +Some readers may, however, be able to make pretty pertinent conjectures +by what I have said above, especially when they are told that Miss +Matthews broke the silence by a sigh, and cried, "Why is Mr. Booth +unwilling to allow me the happiness of thinking my misfortunes have been +of some little advantage to him? sure the happy Amelia would not be so +selfish to envy me that pleasure. No; not if she was as much the fondest +as she is the happiest of women." "Good heavens! madam," said he, "do +you call my poor Amelia the happiest of women?" "Indeed I do," answered +she briskly. "O Mr. Booth! there is a speck of white in her fortune, +which, when it falls to the lot of a sensible woman, makes her full +amends for all the crosses which can attend her. Perhaps she may not be +sensible of it; but if it had been my blest fate--O Mr. Booth! could I +have thought, when we were first acquainted, that the most agreeable +man in the world had been capable of making the kind, the tender, the +affectionate husband--happy Amelia, in those days, was unknown; Heaven +had not then given her a prospect of the happiness it intended her; but +yet it did intend it her; for sure there is a fatality in the affairs of +love; and the more I reflect on my own life, the more I am convinced of +it.--O heavens! how a thousand little circumstances crowd into my mind! +When you first marched into our town, you had then the colours in +your hand; as you passed under the window where I stood, my glove, by +accident, dropt into the street; you stoopt, took up my glove, and, +putting it upon the spike belonging to your colours, lifted it up to the +window. Upon this a young lady who stood by said, 'So, miss, the young +officer hath accepted your challenge.' I blushed then, and I blush now, +when I confess to you I thought you the prettiest young fellow I had +ever seen; and, upon my soul, I believe you was then the prettiest +fellow in the world." Booth here made a low bow, and cried, "O dear +madam, how ignorant was I of my own happiness!" "Would you really have +thought so?" answered she. "However, there is some politeness if there +be no sincerity in what you say."--Here the governor of the enchanted +castle interrupted them, and, entering the room without any ceremony, +acquainted the lady and gentleman that it was locking-up time; and, +addressing Booth by the name of captain, asked him if he would not +please to have a bed; adding, that he might have one in the next room +to the lady, but that it would come dear; for that he never let a bed in +that room under a guinea, nor could he afford it cheaper to his father. + +No answer was made to this proposal; but Miss Matthews, who had already +learnt some of the ways of the house, said she believed Mr. Booth would +like to drink a glass of something; upon which the governor immediately +trumpeted forth the praises of his rack-punch, and, without waiting for +any farther commands, presently produced a large bowl of that liquor. + +The governor, having recommended the goodness of his punch by a hearty +draught, began to revive the other matter, saying that he was just going +to bed, and must first lock up.--"But suppose," said Miss Matthews, +with a smile, "the captain and I should have a mind to sit up all +night."--"With all my heart," said the governor; "but I expect a +consideration for those matters. For my part, I don't enquire into what +doth not concern me; but single and double are two things. If I lock +up double I expect half a guinea, and I'm sure the captain cannot think +that's out of the way; it is but the price of a bagnio." + +Miss Matthews's face became the colour of scarlet at those words. +However, she mustered up her spirits, and, turning to Booth, said, +"What say you, captain? for my own part, I had never less inclination +to sleep; which hath the greater charms for you, the punch or the +pillow?"--"I hope, madam," answered Booth, "you have a better opinion +of me than to doubt my preferring Miss Matthews's conversation to +either."--"I assure you," replied she, "it is no compliment to you to +say I prefer yours to sleep at this time." + +The governor, then, having received his fee, departed; and, turning the +key, left the gentleman and the lady to themselves. + +In imitation of him we will lock up likewise a scene which we do not +think proper to expose to the eyes of the public. If any over-curious +readers should be disappointed on this occasion, we will recommend such +readers to the apologies with which certain gay ladies have lately been +pleased to oblige the world, where they will possibly find everything +recorded that past at this interval. + +But, though we decline painting the scene, it is not our intention to +conceal from the world the frailty of Mr. Booth, or of his fair partner, +who certainly past that evening in a manner inconsistent with the strict +rules of virtue and chastity. + +To say the truth, we are much more concerned for the behaviour of the +gentleman than of the lady, not only for his sake, but for the sake +of the best woman in the world, whom we should be sorry to consider +as yoked to a man of no worth nor honour. We desire, therefore, the +good-natured and candid reader will be pleased to weigh attentively +the several unlucky circumstances which concurred so critically, that +Fortune seemed to have used her utmost endeavours to ensnare poor +Booth's constancy. Let the reader set before his eyes a fine young +woman, in a manner, a first love, conferring obligations and using every +art to soften, to allure, to win, and to enflame; let him consider the +time and place; let him remember that Mr. Booth was a young fellow +in the highest vigour of life; and, lastly, let him add one single +circumstance, that the parties were alone together; and then, if he will +not acquit the defendant, he must be convicted, for I have nothing more +to say in his defence. + + + + +Chapter ii. + +_The latter part of which we expect will please our reader better than +the former._ + + +A whole week did our lady and gentleman live in this criminal +conversation, in which the happiness of the former was much more perfect +than that of the latter; for, though the charms of Miss Matthews, and +her excessive endearments, sometimes lulled every thought in the sweet +lethargy of pleasure, yet in the intervals of his fits his virtue +alarmed and roused him, and brought the image of poor injured Amelia to +haunt and torment him. In fact, if we regard this world only, it is the +interest of every man to be either perfectly good or completely bad. He +had better destroy his conscience than gently wound it. The many bitter +reflections which every bad action costs a mind in which there are any +remains of goodness are not to be compensated by the highest pleasures +which such an action can produce. + +So it happened to Mr. Booth. Repentance never failed to follow his +transgressions; and yet so perverse is our judgment, and so slippery +is the descent of vice when once we are entered into it, the same crime +which he now repented of became a reason for doing that which was to +cause his future repentance; and he continued to sin on because he had +begun. His repentance, however, returned still heavier and heavier, +till, at last, it flung him into a melancholy, which Miss Matthews +plainly perceived, and at which she could not avoid expressing some +resentment in obscure hints and ironical compliments on Amelia's +superiority to her whole sex, who could not cloy a gay young fellow +by many years' possession. She would then repeat the compliments which +others had made to her own beauty, and could not forbear once crying +out, "Upon my soul, my dear Billy, I believe the chief disadvantage on +my side is my superior fondness; for love, in the minds of men, hath +one quality, at least, of a fever, which is to prefer coldness in the +object. Confess, dear Will, is there not something vastly refreshing +in the cool air of a prude?" Booth fetched a deep sigh, and begged her +never more to mention Amelia's name. "O Will," cries she, "did that +request proceed from the motive I could wish, I should be the happiest +of womankind."--"You would not, sure, madam," said Booth, "desire a +sacrifice which I must be a villain to make to any?"--"Desire!" answered +she, "are there any bounds to the desires of love? have not I been +sacrificed? hath not my first love been torn from my bleeding heart? I +claim a prior right. As for sacrifices, I can make them too, and would +sacrifice the whole world at the least call of my love." + +Here she delivered a letter to Booth, which she had received within an +hour, the contents of which were these:-- + +"DEAREST MADAM,--Those only who truly know what love is, can have any +conception of the horrors I felt at hearing of your confinement at my +arrival in town, which was this morning. I immediately sent my lawyer to +enquire into the particulars, who brought me the agreeable news that the +man, whose heart's blood ought not to be valued at the rate of a single +hair of yours, is entirely out of all danger, and that you might +be admitted to bail. I presently ordered him to go with two of my +tradesmen, who are to be bound in any sum for your appearance, if +he should be mean enough to prosecute you. Though you may expect my +attorney with you soon, I would not delay sending this, as I hope the +news will be agreeable to you. My chariot will attend at the same time +to carry you wherever you please. You may easily guess what a violence +I have done to myself in not waiting on you in person; but I, who know +your delicacy, feared it might offend, and that you might think me +ungenerous enough to hope from your distresses that happiness which I +am resolved to owe to your free gift alone, when your good nature shall +induce you to bestow on me what no man living can merit. I beg you will +pardon all the contents of this hasty letter, and do me the honour of +believing me, Dearest madam, + +Your most passionate admirer, + +and most obedient humble servant, + +DAMON." + +Booth thought he had somewhere before seen the same hand, but in his +present hurry of spirits could not recollect whose it was, nor did the +lady give him any time for reflection; for he had scarce read the letter +when she produced a little bit of paper and cried out, "Here, sir, +here are the contents which he fears will offend me." She then put a +bank-bill of a hundred pounds into Mr. Booth's hands, and asked him with +a smile if he did not think she had reason to be offended with so much +insolence? + +Before Booth could return any answer the governor arrived, and +introduced Mr. Rogers the attorney, who acquainted the lady that he had +brought her discharge from her confinement, and that a chariot waited at +the door to attend her wherever she pleased. + +She received the discharge from Mr. Rogers, and said she was very much +obliged to the gentleman who employed him, but that she would not make +use of the chariot, as she had no notion of leaving that wretched place +in a triumphant manner; in which resolution, when the attorney found her +obstinate, he withdrew, as did the governor, with many bows and as many +ladyships. + +They were no sooner gone than Booth asked the lady why she would refuse +the chariot of a gentleman who had behaved with such excessive respect? +She looked earnestly upon him, and cried, "How unkind is that question! +do you imagine I would go and leave you in such a situation? thou +knowest but little of Calista. Why, do you think I would accept this +hundred pounds from a man I dislike, unless it was to be serviceable +to the man I love? I insist on your taking it as your own and using +whatever you want of it." + +Booth protested in the solemnest manner that he would not touch a +shilling of it, saying, he had already received too many obligations at +her hands, and more than ever he should be able, he feared, to repay. +"How unkind," answered she, "is every word you say, why will you mention +obligations? love never confers any. It doth everything for its own +sake. I am not therefore obliged to the man whose passion makes him +generous; for I feel how inconsiderable the whole world would appear to +me if I could throw it after my heart." + +Much more of this kind past, she still pressing the bank-note upon +him, and he as absolutely refusing, till Booth left the lady to dress +herself, and went to walk in the area of the prison. + +Miss Matthews now applied to the governor to know by what means she +might procure the captain his liberty. The governor answered, "As he +cannot get bail, it will be a difficult matter; and money to be sure +there must be; for people no doubt expect to touch on these occasions. +When prisoners have not wherewithal as the law requires to entitle +themselves to justice, why they must be beholden to other people to give +them their liberty; and people will not, to be sure, suffer others to +be beholden to them for nothing, whereof there is good reason; for how +should we all live if it was not for these things?" "Well, well," +said she, "and how much will it cost?" "How much!" answered he,--"How +much!--why, let me see."--Here he hesitated some time, and then answered +"That for five guineas he would undertake to procure the captain his +discharge. "That being the sum which he computed to remain in the lady's +pocket; for, as to the gentleman's, he had long been acquainted with the +emptiness of it. + +Miss Matthews, to whom money was as dirt (indeed she may be thought not +to have known the value of it), delivered him the bank-bill, and bid +him get it changed; for if the whole, says she, will procure him his +liberty, he shall have it this evening. + +"The whole, madam!" answered the governor, as soon as he had recovered +his breath, for it almost forsook him at the sight of the black word +hundred--"No, no; there might be people indeed--but I am not one of +those. A hundred! no, nor nothing like it.--As for myself, as I said, I +will be content with five guineas, and I am sure that's little enough. +What other people will expect I cannot exactly say. To be sure his +worship's clerk will expect to touch pretty handsomely; as for his +worship himself, he never touches anything, that is, not to speak of; +but then the constable will expect something, and the watchman must have +something, and the lawyers on both sides, they must have their fees +for finishing."--"Well," said she, "I leave all to you. If it costs me +twenty pounds I will have him discharged this afternoon.--But you +must give his discharge into my hands without letting the captain know +anything of the matter." + +The governor promised to obey her commands in every particular; nay, he +was so very industrious, that, though dinner was just then coming upon +the table, at her earnest request he set out immediately on the purpose, +and went as he said in pursuit of the lawyer. + +All the other company assembled at table as usual, where poor Booth was +the only person out of spirits. This was imputed by all present to a +wrong cause; nay, Miss Matthews herself either could not or would +not suspect that there was anything deeper than the despair of being +speedily discharged that lay heavy on his mind. + +However, the mirth of the rest, and a pretty liberal quantity of punch, +which he swallowed after dinner (for Miss Matthews had ordered a very +large bowl at her own expense to entertain the good company at her +farewell), so far exhilarated his spirits, that when the young lady +and he retired to their tea he had all the marks of gayety in his +countenance, and his eyes sparkled with good humour. + +The gentleman and lady had spent about two hours in tea and +conversation, when the governor returned, and privately delivered to the +lady the discharge for her friend, and the sum of eighty-two pounds five +shillings; the rest having been, he said, disbursed in the business, of +which he was ready at any time to render an exact account. + +Miss Matthews being again alone with Mr. Booth, she put the discharge +into his hands, desiring him to ask her no questions; and adding, +"I think, sir, we have neither of us now anything more to do at this +place." She then summoned the governor, and ordered a bill of that day's +expense, for long scores were not usual there; and at the same time +ordered a hackney coach, without having yet determined whither she would +go, but fully determined she was, wherever she went, to take Mr. Booth +with her. + +The governor was now approaching with a long roll of paper, when a faint +voice was heard to cry out hastily, "Where is he?"--and presently a +female spectre, all pale and breathless, rushed into the room, and fell +into Mr. Booth's arms, where she immediately fainted away. + +Booth made a shift to support his lovely burden; though he was himself +in a condition very little different from hers. Miss Matthews likewise, +who presently recollected the face of Amelia, was struck motionless +with the surprize, nay, the governor himself, though not easily moved at +sights of horror, stood aghast, and neither offered to speak nor stir. + +Happily for Amelia, the governess of the mansions had, out of curiosity, +followed her into the room, and was the only useful person present on +this occasion: she immediately called for water, and ran to the lady's +assistance, fell to loosening her stays, and performed all the offices +proper at such a season; which had so good an effect, that Amelia soon +recovered the disorder which the violent agitation of her spirits had +caused, and found herself alive and awake in her husband's arms. + +Some tender caresses and a soft whisper or two passed privately between +Booth and his lady; nor was it without great difficulty that poor Amelia +put some restraint on her fondness in a place so improper for a tender +interview. She now cast her eyes round the room, and, fixing them on +Miss Matthews, who stood like a statue, she soon recollected her, and, +addressing her by her name, said, "Sure, madam, I cannot be mistaken in +those features; though meeting you here might almost make me suspect my +memory." + +Miss Matthews's face was now all covered with scarlet. The reader may +easily believe she was on no account pleased with Amelia's presence; +indeed, she expected from her some of those insults of which virtuous +women are generally so liberal to a frail sister: but she was mistaken; +Amelia was not one + + Who thought the nation ne'er would thrive, + Till all the whores were burnt alive. + +Her virtue could support itself with its own intrinsic worth, without +borrowing any assistance from the vices of other women; and she +considered their natural infirmities as the objects of pity, not of +contempt or abhorrence. + +When Amelia therefore perceived the visible confusion in Miss Matthews +she presently called to remembrance some stories which she had +imperfectly heard; for, as she was not naturally attentive to scandal, +and had kept very little company since her return to England, she was +far from being a mistress of the lady's whole history. However, she had +heard enough to impute her confusion to the right cause; she advanced to +her, and told her, she was extremely sorry to meet her in such a place, +but hoped that no very great misfortune was the occasion of it. + +Miss Matthews began, by degrees, to recover her spirits. She answered, +with a reserved air, "I am much obliged to you, madam, for your concern; +we are all liable to misfortunes in this world. Indeed, I know not why +I should be much ashamed of being in any place where I am in such good +company." + +Here Booth interposed. He had before acquainted Amelia in a whisper that +his confinement was at an end. "The unfortunate accident, my dear," said +he, "which brought this young lady to this melancholy place is entirely +determined; and she is now as absolutely at her liberty as myself." + +Amelia, imputing the extreme coldness and reserve of the lady to the +cause already mentioned, advanced still more and more in proportion as +she drew back; till the governor, who had withdrawn some time, returned, +and acquainted Miss Matthews that her coach was at the door; upon which +the company soon separated. Amelia and Booth went together in Amelia's +coach, and poor Miss Matthews was obliged to retire alone, after +having satisfied the demands of the governor, which in one day only had +amounted to a pretty considerable sum; for he, with great dexterity, +proportioned the bills to the abilities of his guests. + +It may seem, perhaps, wonderful to some readers, that Miss Matthews +should have maintained that cold reserve towards Amelia, so as barely to +keep within the rules of civility, instead of embracing an opportunity +which seemed to offer of gaining some degree of intimacy with a wife +whose husband she was so fond of; but, besides that her spirits were +entirely disconcerted by so sudden and unexpected a disappointment; and +besides the extreme horrors which she conceived at the presence of her +rival, there is, I believe, something so outrageously suspicious in +the nature of all vice, especially when joined with any great degree of +pride, that the eyes of those whom we imagine privy to our failings are +intolerable to us, and we are apt to aggravate their opinions to our +disadvantage far beyond the reality. + + + + +Chapter iii. + +_Containing wise observations of the author, and other matters._ + + +There is nothing more difficult than to lay down any fixed and certain +rules for happiness; or indeed to judge with any precision of the +happiness of others from the knowledge of external circumstances. There +is sometimes a little speck of black in the brightest and gayest colours +of fortune, which contaminates and deadens the whole. On the contrary, +when all without looks dark and dismal, there is often a secret ray of +light within the mind, which turns everything to real joy and gladness. + +I have in the course of my life seen many occasions to make this +observation, and Mr. Booth was at present a very pregnant instance of +its truth. He was just delivered from a prison, and in the possession of +his beloved wife and children; and (which might be imagined greatly +to augment his joy) fortune had done all this for him within an hour, +without giving him the least warning or reasonable expectation of the +strange reverse in his circumstances; and yet it is certain that there +were very few men in the world more seriously miserable than he was at +this instant. A deep melancholy seized his mind, and cold damp sweats +overspread his person, so that he was scarce animated; and poor Amelia, +instead of a fond warm husband, bestowed her caresses on a dull lifeless +lump of clay. He endeavoured, however, at first, as much as possible, to +conceal what he felt, and attempted what is the hardest of all tasks, to +act the part of a happy man; but he found no supply of spirits to carry +on this deceit, and would have probably sunk under his attempt, had not +poor Amelia's simplicity helped him to another fallacy, in which he had +much better success. + +This worthy woman very plainly perceived the disorder in her husband's +mind; and, having no doubt of the cause of it, especially when she saw +the tears stand in his eyes at the sight of his children, threw her arms +round his neck, and, embracing him with rapturous fondness, cried out, +"My dear Billy, let nothing make you uneasy. Heaven will, I doubt not, +provide for us and these poor babes. Great fortunes are not necessary to +happiness. For my own part, I can level my mind with any state; and for +those poor little things, whatever condition of life we breed them to, +that will be sufficient to maintain them in. How many thousands abound +in affluence whose fortunes are much lower than ours! for it is not +from nature, but from education and habit, that our wants are chiefly +derived. Make yourself easy, therefore, my dear love; for you have a +wife who will think herself happy with you, and endeavour to make you +so, in any situation. Fear nothing, Billy, industry will always provide +us a wholesome meal; and I will take care that neatness and chearfulness +shall make it a pleasant one." + +Booth presently took the cue which she had given him. He fixed his eyes +on her for a minute with great earnestness and inexpressible tenderness; +and then cried, "O my Amelia, how much are you my superior in every +perfection! how wise, how great, how noble are your sentiments! why +can I not imitate what I so much admire? why can I not look with your +constancy on those dear little pledges of our loves? All my philosophy +is baffled with the thought that my Amelia's children are to struggle +with a cruel, hard, unfeeling world, and to buffet those waves of +fortune which have overwhelmed their father.--Here, I own I want your +firmness, and am not without an excuse for wanting it; for am I not the +cruel cause of all your wretchedness? have I not stept between you +and fortune, and been the cursed obstacle to all your greatness and +happiness?" + +"Say not so, my love," answered she. "Great I might have been, but never +happy with any other man. Indeed, dear Billy, I laugh at the fears you +formerly raised in me; what seemed so terrible at a distance, now it +approaches nearer, appears to have been a mere bugbear--and let this +comfort you, that I look on myself at this day as the happiest of women; +nor have I done anything which I do not rejoice in, and would, if I had +the gift of prescience, do again." + +Booth was so overcome with this behaviour, that he had no words to +answer. To say the truth, it was difficult to find any worthy of the +occasion. He threw himself prostrate at her feet, whence poor Amelia was +forced to use all her strength as well as entreaties to raise and place +him in his chair. + +Such is ever the fortitude of perfect innocence, and such the depression +of guilt in minds not utterly abandoned. Booth was naturally of a +sanguine temper; nor would any such apprehensions as he mentioned have +been sufficient to have restrained his joy at meeting with his Amelia. +In fact, a reflection on the injury he had done her was the sole cause +of his grief. This it was that enervated his heart, and threw him into +agonies, which all that profusion of heroic tenderness that the most +excellent of women intended for his comfort served only to heighten +and aggravate; as the more she rose in his admiration, the more she +quickened his sense of his own unworthiness. After a disagreeable +evening, the first of that kind that he had ever passed with his Amelia, +in which he had the utmost difficulty to force a little chearfulness, +and in which her spirits were at length overpowered by discerning the +oppression on his, they retired to rest, or rather to misery, which need +not be described. + +The next morning at breakfast, Booth began to recover a little from +his melancholy, and to taste the company of his children. He now first +thought of enquiring of Amelia by what means she had discovered the +place of his confinement. Amelia, after gently rebuking him for not +having himself acquainted her with it, informed him that it was known +all over the country, and that she had traced the original of it to +her sister; who had spread the news with a malicious joy, and added +a circumstance which would have frightened her to death, had not her +knowledge of him made her give little credit to it, which was, that he +was committed for murder. But, though she had discredited this part, she +said the not hearing from him during several successive posts made her +too apprehensive of the rest; that she got a conveyance therefore for +herself and children to Salisbury, from whence the stage coach had +brought them to town; and, having deposited the children at his lodging, +of which he had sent her an account on his first arrival in town, she +took a hack, and came directly to the prison where she heard he was, and +where she found him. + +Booth excused himself, and with truth, as to his not having writ; for, +in fact, he had writ twice from the prison, though he had mentioned +nothing of his confinement; but, as he sent away his letters after nine +at night, the fellow to whom they were entrusted had burnt them both +for the sake of putting the twopence in his own pocket, or rather in +the pocket of the keeper of the next gin-shop. As to the account +which Amelia gave him, it served rather to raise than to satisfy his +curiosity. He began to suspect that some person had seen both him and +Miss Matthews together in the prison, and had confounded her case with +his; and this the circumstance of murder made the more probable. But +who this person should be he could not guess. After giving himself, +therefore, some pains in forming conjectures to no purpose, he was +forced to rest contented with his ignorance of the real truth. + +Two or three days now passed without producing anything remarkable; +unless it were that Booth more and more recovered his spirits, and +had now almost regained his former degree of chearfulness, when the +following letter arrived, again to torment him: + + +"DEAR BILLY, + +"To convince you I am the most reasonable of women, I have given you up +three whole days to the unmolested possession of my fortunate rival; I +can refrain no longer from letting you know that I lodge in Dean Street, +not far from the church, at the sign of the Pelican and Trumpet, where I +expect this evening to see you. + +"Believe me I am, with more affection than any other woman in the world +can be, my dear Billy, Your affectionate, fond, doating + +"F. MATTHEWS." + +Booth tore the letter with rage, and threw it into the fire, resolving +never to visit the lady more, unless it was to pay her the money she had +lent him, which he was determined to do the very first opportunity, for +it was not at present in his power. + +This letter threw him back into his fit of dejection, in which he +had not continued long when a packet from the country brought him the +following from his friend Dr Harrison: + +"Sir, _Lyons, January 21, N. S._ + +"Though I am now on my return home, I have taken up my pen to +communicate to you some news I have heard from England, which gives me +much uneasiness, and concerning which I can indeed deliver my sentiments +with much more ease this way than any other. In my answer to your last, +I very freely gave you my opinion, in which it was my misfortune to +disapprove of every step you had taken; but those were all pardonable +errors. Can you be so partial to yourself, upon cool and sober +reflexion, to think what I am going to mention is so? I promise you, it +appears to me a folly of so monstrous a kind, that, had I heard it from +any but a person of the highest honour, I should have rejected it as +utterly incredible. I hope you already guess what I am about to name; +since, Heaven forbid, your conduct should afford you any choice of such +gross instances of weakness. In a word, then, you have set up an +equipage. What shall I invent in your excuse, either to others or to +myself? In truth, I can find no excuse for you, and, what is more, I am +certain you can find none for yourself. I must deal therefore very +plainly and sincerely with you. Vanity is always contemptible; but when +joined with dishonesty, it becomes odious and detestable. At whose +expence are you to support this equipage? is it not entirely at the +expence of others? and will it not finally end in that of your poor wife +and children? you know you are two years in arrears to me. If I could +impute this to any extraordinary or common accident I think I should +never have mentioned it; but I will not suffer my money to support the +ridiculous, and, I must say, criminal vanity of any one. I expect, +therefore, to find, at my return, that you have either discharged my +whole debt, or your equipage. Let me beg you seriously to consider your +circumstances and condition in life, and to remember that your situation +will not justify any the least unnecessary expence. _Simply to be poor,_ +says my favourite Greek historian, _was not held scandalous by the wise +Athenians, but highly so to owe that poverty to our own indiscretion._ + +"Present my affections to Mrs. Booth, and be assured that I shall not, +without great reason, and great pain too, ever cease to be, Your most +faithful friend, + +"R. HARRISON." + +Had this letter come at any other time, it would have given Booth the +most sensible affliction; but so totally had the affair of Miss Matthews +possessed his mind, that, like a man in the most raging fit of the gout, +he was scarce capable of any additional torture; nay, he even made an +use of this latter epistle, as it served to account to Amelia for that +concern which he really felt on another account. The poor deceived lady, +therefore, applied herself to give him comfort where he least wanted +it. She said he might easily perceive that the matter had been +misrepresented to the doctor, who would not, she was sure, retain the +least anger against him when he knew the real truth. + +After a short conversation on this subject, in which Booth appeared to +be greatly consoled by the arguments of his wife, they parted. He went +to take a walk in the Park, and she remained at home to prepare him his +dinner. + +He was no sooner departed than his little boy, not quite six years old, +said to Amelia, "La! mamma, what is the matter with poor papa, what +makes him look so as if he was going to cry? he is not half so merry as +he used to be in the country." Amelia answered, "Oh! my dear, your papa +is only a little thoughtful, he will be merry again soon."--Then looking +fondly on her children, she burst into an agony of tears, and cried, +"Oh Heavens; what have these poor little infants done? why will the +barbarous world endeavour to starve them, by depriving us of our only +friend?--O my dear, your father is ruined, and we are undone!"--The +children presently accompanied their mother's tears, and the daughter +cried--"Why, will anybody hurt poor papa? hath he done any harm to +anybody?"--"No, my dear child," said the mother; "he is the best man +in the world, and therefore they hate him." Upon which the boy, who was +extremely sensible at his years, answered, "Nay, mamma, how can that be? +have not you often told me that if I was good everybody would love me?" +"All good people will," answered she. "Why don't they love papa then?" +replied the child, "for I am sure he is very good." "So they do, my +dear," said the mother, "but there are more bad people in the world, and +they will hate you for your goodness." "Why then, bad people," cries +the child, "are loved by more than the good."--"No matter for that, my +dear," said she; "the love of one good person is more worth having than +that of a thousand wicked ones; nay, if there was no such person in the +world, still you must be a good boy; for there is one in Heaven who will +love you, and his love is better for you than that of all mankind." + +This little dialogue, we are apprehensive, will be read with contempt by +many; indeed, we should not have thought it worth recording, was it not +for the excellent example which Amelia here gives to all mothers. This +admirable woman never let a day pass without instructing her children in +some lesson of religion and morality. By which means she had, in their +tender minds, so strongly annexed the ideas of fear and shame to every +idea of evil of which they were susceptible, that it must require great +pains and length of habit to separate them. Though she was the tenderest +of mothers, she never suffered any symptom of malevolence to shew itself +in their most trifling actions without discouragement, without rebuke, +and, if it broke forth with any rancour, without punishment. In which +she had such success, that not the least mark of pride, envy, malice, or +spite discovered itself in any of their little words or deeds. + + + + +Chapter iv. + +_In which Amelia appears in no unamiable light._ + + +Amelia, with the assistance of a little girl, who was their only +servant, had drest her dinner, and she had likewise drest herself as +neat as any lady who had a regular sett of servants could have done, +when Booth returned, and brought with him his friend James, whom he had +met with in the Park; and who, as Booth absolutely refused to dine away +from his wife, to whom he had promised to return, had invited himself to +dine with him. Amelia had none of that paultry pride which possesses so +many of her sex, and which disconcerts their tempers, and gives them the +air and looks of furies, if their husbands bring in an unexpected guest, +without giving them timely warning to provide a sacrifice to their +own vanity. Amelia received her husband's friend with the utmost +complaisance and good humour: she made indeed some apology for the +homeliness of her dinner; but it was politely turned as a compliment to +Mr. James's friendship, which could carry him where he was sure of being +so ill entertained; and gave not the least hint how magnificently +she would have provided _had she expected the favour of so much good +company._ A phrase which is generally meant to contain not only an +apology for the lady of the house, but a tacit satire on her guests for +their intrusion, and is at least a strong insinuation that they are not +welcome. + +Amelia failed not to enquire very earnestly after her old friend Mrs. +James, formerly Miss Bath, and was very sorry to find that she was not +in town. The truth was, as James had married out of a violent liking of, +or appetite to, her person, possession had surfeited him, and he was +now grown so heartily tired of his wife, that she had very little of +his company; she was forced therefore to content herself with being the +mistress of a large house and equipage in the country ten months in the +year by herself. The other two he indulged her with the diversions of +the town; but then, though they lodged under the same roof, she had +little more of her husband's society than if they had been one hundred +miles apart. With all this, as she was a woman of calm passions, she +made herself contented; for she had never had any violent affection for +James: the match was of the prudent kind, and to her advantage; for his +fortune, by the death of an uncle, was become very considerable; and +she had gained everything by the bargain but a husband, which her +constitution suffered her to be very well satisfied without. + +When Amelia, after dinner, retired to her children, James began to talk +to his friend concerning his affairs. He advised Booth very earnestly to +think of getting again into the army, in which he himself had met with +such success, that he had obtained the command of a regiment to which +his brother-in-law was lieutenant-colonel. These preferments they both +owed to the favour of fortune only; for, though there was no objection +to either of their military characters, yet neither of them had any +extraordinary desert; and, if merit in the service was a sufficient +recommendation, Booth, who had been twice wounded in the siege, seemed +to have the fairest pretensions; but he remained a poor half-pay +lieutenant, and the others were, as we have said, one of them a +lieutenant-colonel, and the other had a regiment. Such rises we often +see in life, without being able to give any satisfactory account of the +means, and therefore ascribe them to the good fortune of the person. + +Both Colonel James and his brother-in-law were members of parliament; +for, as the uncle of the former had left him, together with his estate, +an almost certain interest in a borough, so he chose to confer this +favour on Colonel Bath; a circumstance which would have been highly +immaterial to mention here, but as it serves to set forth the goodness +of James, who endeavoured to make up in kindness to the family what he +wanted in fondness for his wife. + +Colonel James then endeavoured all in his power to persuade Booth to +think again of a military life, and very kindly offered him his interest +towards obtaining him a company in the regiment under his command. Booth +must have been a madman, in his present circumstances, to have hesitated +one moment at accepting such an offer, and he well knew Amelia, +notwithstanding her aversion to the army, was much too wise to make +the least scruple of giving her consent. Nor was he, as it appeared +afterwards, mistaken in his opinion of his wife's understanding; for +she made not the least objection when it was communicated to her, but +contented herself with an express stipulation, that wherever he was +commanded to go (for the regiment was now abroad) she would accompany +him. + +Booth, therefore, accepted his friend's proposal with a profusion of +acknowledgments; and it was agreed that Booth should draw up a memorial +of his pretensions, which Colonel James undertook to present to some man +of power, and to back it with all the force he had. + +Nor did the friendship of the colonel stop here. "You will excuse me, +dear Booth," said he, "if, after what you have told me" (for he had been +very explicit in revealing his affairs to him), "I suspect you must want +money at this time. If that be the case, as I am certain it must be, I +have fifty pieces at your service." This generosity brought the tears +into Booth's eyes; and he at length confest that he had not five guineas +in the house; upon which James gave him a bank-bill for twenty pounds, +and said he would give him thirty more the next time he saw him. + +Thus did this generous colonel (for generous he really was to the +highest degree) restore peace and comfort to this little family; and +by this act of beneficence make two of the worthiest people two of the +happiest that evening. + +Here, reader, give me leave to stop a minute, to lament that so few are +to be found of this benign disposition; that, while wantonness, vanity, +avarice, and ambition are every day rioting and triumphing in the +follies and weakness, the ruin and desolation of mankind, scarce one man +in a thousand is capable of tasting the happiness of others. Nay, give +me leave to wonder that pride, which is constantly struggling, and often +imposing on itself, to gain some little pre-eminence, should so seldom +hint to us the only certain as well as laudable way of setting ourselves +above another man, and that is, by becoming his benefactor. + + + + +Chapter v. + +_Containing an eulogium upon innocence, and other grave matters._ + + +Booth past that evening, and all the succeeding day, with his Amelia, +without the interruption of almost a single thought concerning Miss +Matthews, after having determined to go on the Sunday, the only day he +could venture without the verge in the present state of his affairs, and +pay her what she had advanced for him in the prison. But she had not so +long patience; for the third day, while he was sitting with Amelia, a +letter was brought to him. As he knew the hand, he immediately put +it into his pocket unopened, not without such an alteration in his +countenance, that had Amelia, who was then playing with one of the +children, cast her eyes towards him, she must have remarked it. This +accident, however, luckily gave him time to recover himself; for Amelia +was so deeply engaged with the little one, that she did not even remark +the delivery of the letter. The maid soon after returned into the room, +saying, the chairman desired to know if there was any answer to the +letter.--"What letter?" cries Booth.--"The letter I gave you just now," +answered the girl.--"Sure," cries Booth, "the child is mad, you gave me +no letter."--"Yes, indeed, I did, sir," said the poor girl. "Why then +as sure as fate," cries Booth, "I threw it into the fire in my reverie; +why, child, why did you not tell me it was a letter? bid the chairman +come up, stay, I will go down myself; for he will otherwise dirt the +stairs with his feet." + +Amelia was gently chiding the girl for her carelessness when Booth +returned, saying it was very true that she had delivered him a letter +from Colonel James, and that perhaps it might be of consequence. +"However," says he, "I will step to the coffee-house, and send him an +account of this strange accident, which I know he will pardon in my +present situation." + +Booth was overjoyed at this escape, which poor Amelia's total want of +all jealousy and suspicion made it very easy for him to accomplish; but +his pleasure was considerably abated when, upon opening the letter, he +found it to contain, mixed with several very strong expressions of love, +some pretty warm ones of the upbraiding kind; but what most alarmed him +was a hint that it was in her (Miss Matthews's) power to make Amelia as +miserable as herself. Besides the general knowledge of + +_----Furens quid faemina possit,_ + +he had more particular reasons to apprehend the rage of a lady who had +given so strong an instance how far she could carry her revenge. She had +already sent a chairman to his lodgings with a positive command not +to return without an answer to her letter. This might of itself have +possibly occasioned a discovery; and he thought he had great reason to +fear that, if she did not carry matters so far as purposely and avowedly +to reveal the secret to Amelia, her indiscretion would at least effect +the discovery of that which he would at any price have concealed. Under +these terrors he might, I believe, be considered as the most wretched of +human beings. + +O innocence, how glorious and happy a portion art thou to the breast +that possesses thee! thou fearest neither the eyes nor the tongues of +men. Truth, the most powerful of all things, is thy strongest friend; +and the brighter the light is in which thou art displayed, the more it +discovers thy transcendent beauties. Guilt, on the contrary, like a +base thief, suspects every eye that beholds him to be privy to +his transgressions, and every tongue that mentions his name to be +proclaiming them. Fraud and falsehood are his weak and treacherous +allies; and he lurks trembling in the dark, dreading every ray of light, +lest it should discover him, and give him up to shame and punishment. + +While Booth was walking in the Park with all these horrors in his mind +he again met his friend Colonel James, who soon took notice of that +deep concern which the other was incapable of hiding. After some little +conversation, Booth said, "My dear colonel, I am sure I must be the most +insensible of men if I did not look on you as the best and the truest +friend; I will, therefore, without scruple, repose a confidence in you +of the highest kind. I have often made you privy to my necessities, I +will now acquaint you with my shame, provided you have leisure enough to +give me a hearing: for I must open to you a long history, since I will +not reveal my fault without informing you, at the same time, of those +circumstances which, I hope, will in some measure excuse it." + +The colonel very readily agreed to give his friend a patient hearing. So +they walked directly to a coffee-house at the corner of Spring-Garden, +where, being in a room by themselves, Booth opened his whole heart, and +acquainted the colonel with his amour with Miss Matthews, from the very +beginning to his receiving that letter which had caused all his present +uneasiness, and which he now delivered into his friend's hand. + +The colonel read the letter very attentively twice over (he was silent +indeed long enough to have read it oftener); and then, turning to Booth, +said, "Well, sir, and is it so grievous a calamity to be the object of +a young lady's affection; especially of one whom you allow to be so +extremely handsome?" "Nay, but, my dear friend," cries Booth, "do not +jest with me; you who know my Amelia." "Well, my dear friend," answered +James, "and you know Amelia and this lady too. But what would you have +me do for you?" "I would have you give me your advice," says Booth, +"by what method I shall get rid of this dreadful woman without a +discovery."--"And do you really," cries the other, "desire to get rid of +her?" "Can you doubt it," said Booth, "after what I have communicated +to you, and after what you yourself have seen in my family? for I hope, +notwithstanding this fatal slip, I do not appear to you in the light of +a profligate." "Well," answered James, "and, whatever light I may appear +to you in, if you are really tired of the lady, and if she be really +what you have represented her, I'll endeavour to take her off +your hands; but I insist upon it that you do not deceive me in any +particular." Booth protested in the most solemn manner that every word +which he had spoken was strictly true; and being asked whether he would +give his honour never more to visit the lady, he assured James that +he never would. He then, at his friend's request, delivered him Miss +Matthews's letter, in which was a second direction to her lodgings, and +declared to him that, if he could bring him safely out of this terrible +affair, he should think himself to have a still higher obligation to his +friendship than any which he had already received from it. + +Booth pressed the colonel to go home with him to dinner; but he excused +himself, being, as he said, already engaged. However, he undertook in +the afternoon to do all in his power that Booth should receive no more +alarms from the quarter of Miss Matthews, whom the colonel undertook +to pay all the demands she had on his friend. They then separated. The +colonel went to dinner at the King's Arms, and Booth returned in high +spirits to meet his Amelia. + +The next day, early in the morning, the colonel came to the coffee-house +and sent for his friend, who lodged but at a little distance. The +colonel told him he had a little exaggerated the lady's beauty; however, +he said, he excused that, "for you might think, perhaps," cries he, +"that your inconstancy to the finest woman in the world might want some +excuse. Be that as it will," said he, "you may make yourself easy, as +it will be, I am convinced, your own fault, if you have ever any further +molestation from Miss Matthews." + +Booth poured forth very warmly a great profusion of gratitude on this +occasion; and nothing more anywise material passed at this interview, +which was very short, the colonel being in a great hurry, as he had, he +said, some business of very great importance to transact that morning. + +The colonel had now seen Booth twice without remembering to give him the +thirty pounds. This the latter imputed intirely to forgetfulness; for +he had always found the promises of the former to be equal in value +with the notes or bonds of other people. He was more surprized at what +happened the next day, when, meeting his friend in the Park, he received +only a cold salute from him; and though he past him five or six times, +and the colonel was walking with a single officer of no great rank, and +with whom he seemed in no earnest conversation, yet could not Booth, who +was alone, obtain any further notice from him. + +This gave the poor man some alarm; though he could scarce persuade +himself that there was any design in all this coldness or forgetfulness. +Once he imagined that he had lessened himself in the colonel's opinion +by having discovered his inconstancy to Amelia; but the known character +of the other presently cured him of his suspicion, for he was a perfect +libertine with regard to women; that being indeed the principal blemish +in his character, which otherwise might have deserved much commendation +for good-nature, generosity, and friendship. But he carried this one +to a most unpardonable height; and made no scruple of openly declaring +that, if he ever liked a woman well enough to be uneasy on her account, +he would cure himself, if he could, by enjoying her, whatever might be +the consequence. + +Booth could not therefore be persuaded that the colonel would so highly +resent in another a fault of which he was himself most notoriously +guilty. After much consideration he could derive this behaviour from +nothing better than a capriciousness in his friend's temper, from a kind +of inconstancy of mind, which makes men grow weary of their friends +with no more reason than they often are of their mistresses. To say the +truth, there are jilts in friendship as well as in love; and, by the +behaviour of some men in both, one would almost imagine that they +industriously sought to gain the affections of others with a view only +of making the parties miserable. + +This was the consequence of the colonel's behaviour to Booth. Former +calamities had afflicted him, but this almost distracted him; and the +more so as he was not able well to account for such conduct, nor to +conceive the reason of it. + +Amelia, at his return, presently perceived the disturbance in his mind, +though he endeavoured with his utmost power to hide it; and he was at +length prevailed upon by her entreaties to discover to her the cause of +it, which she no sooner heard than she applied as judicious a remedy to +his disordered spirits as either of those great mental physicians, Tully +or Aristotle, could have thought of. She used many arguments to +persuade him that he was in an error, and had mistaken forgetfulness and +carelessness for a designed neglect. + +But, as this physic was only eventually good, and as its efficacy +depended on her being in the right, a point in which she was not apt +to be too positive, she thought fit to add some consolation of a more +certain and positive kind. "Admit," said she, "my dear, that Mr. James +should prove the unaccountable person you have suspected, and should, +without being able to alledge any cause, withdraw his friendship from +you (for surely the accident of burning his letter is too trifling and +ridiculous to mention), why should this grieve you? the obligations he +hath conferred on you, I allow, ought to make his misfortunes almost +your own; but they should not, I think, make you see his faults so very +sensibly, especially when, by one of the greatest faults in the +world committed against yourself, he hath considerably lessened all +obligations; for sure, if the same person who hath contributed to my +happiness at one time doth everything in his power maliciously and +wantonly to make me miserable at another, I am very little obliged to +such a person. And let it be a comfort to my dear Billy, that, however +other friends may prove false and fickle to him, he hath one friend, +whom no inconstancy of her own, nor any change of his fortune, nor time, +nor age, nor sickness, nor any accident, can ever alter; but who will +esteem, will love, and doat on him for ever." So saying, she flung her +snowy arms about his neck, and gave him a caress so tender, that it +seemed almost to balance all the malice of his fate. + +And, indeed, the behaviour of Amelia would have made him completely +happy, in defiance of all adverse circumstances, had it not been for +those bitter ingredients which he himself had thrown into his cup, and +which prevented him from truly relishing his Amelia's sweetness, by +cruelly reminding him how unworthy he was of this excellent creature. + +Booth did not long remain in the dark as to the conduct of James, +which, at first, appeared to him to be so great a mystery; for this very +afternoon he received a letter from Miss Matthews which unravelled +the whole affair. By this letter, which was full of bitterness and +upbraiding, he discovered that James was his rival with that lady, and +was, indeed, the identical person who had sent the hundred-pound note to +Miss Matthews, when in the prison. He had reason to believe, likewise, +as well by the letter as by other circumstances, that James had hitherto +been an unsuccessful lover; for the lady, though she had forfeited +all title to virtue, had not yet so far forfeited all pretensions to +delicacy as to be, like the dirt in the street, indifferently common +to all. She distributed her favours only to those she liked, in which +number that gentleman had not the happiness of being included. + +When Booth had made this discovery, he was not so little versed in human +nature, as any longer to hesitate at the true motive to the colonel's +conduct; for he well knew how odious a sight a happy rival is to an +unfortunate lover. I believe he was, in reality, glad to assign the +cold treatment he had received from his friend to a cause which, however +injustifiable, is at the same time highly natural; and to acquit him of +a levity, fickleness, and caprice, which he must have been unwillingly +obliged to have seen in a much worse light. + +He now resolved to take the first opportunity of accosting the colonel, +and of coming to a perfect explanation upon the whole matter. He debated +likewise with himself whether he should not throw himself at Amelia's +feet, and confess a crime to her which he found so little hopes of +concealing, and which he foresaw would occasion him so many difficulties +and terrors to endeavour to conceal. Happy had it been for him, had +he wisely pursued this step; since, in all probability, he would have +received immediate forgiveness from the best of women; but he had not +sufficient resolution, or, to speak perhaps more truly, he had too much +pride, to confess his guilt, and preferred the danger of the highest +inconveniences to the certainty of being put to the blush. + + + + +Chapter vi. + +_In which may appear that violence is sometimes done to the name of +love._ + + +When that happy day came, in which unhallowed hands are forbidden to +contaminate the shoulders of the unfortunate, Booth went early to the +colonel's house, and, being admitted to his presence, began with great +freedom, though with great gentleness, to complain of his not having +dealt with him with more openness. "Why, my dear colonel," said he, +"would you not acquaint me with that secret which this letter hath +disclosed?" James read the letter, at which his countenance changed more +than once; and then, after a short silence, said, "Mr. Booth, I have +been to blame, I own it; and you upbraid me with justice. The true +reason was, that I was ashamed of my own folly. D--n me, Booth, if I +have not been a most consummate fool, a very dupe to this woman; and she +hath a particular pleasure in making me so. I know what the impertinence +of virtue is, and I can submit to it; but to be treated thus by a +whore--You must forgive me, dear Booth, but your success was a kind of +triumph over me, which I could not bear. I own, I have not the least +reason to conceive any anger against you; and yet, curse me if I should +not have been less displeased at your lying with my own wife; nay, I +could almost have parted with half my fortune to you more willingly than +have suffered you to receive that trifle of my money which you received +at her hands. However, I ask your pardon, and I promise you I will never +more think of you with the least ill-will on the account of this woman; +but as for her, d--n me if I do not enjoy her by some means or other, +whatever it costs me; for I am already above two hundred pounds out of +pocket, without having scarce had a smile in return." + +Booth exprest much astonishment at this declaration; he said he could +not conceive how it was possible to have such an affection for a woman +who did not shew the least inclination to return it. James gave her +a hearty curse, and said, "Pox of her inclination; I want only the +possession of her person, and that, you will allow, is a very fine one. +But, besides my passion for her, she hath now piqued my pride; for how +can a man of my fortune brook being refused by a whore?"--"Since you are +so set on the business," cries Booth, "you will excuse my saying so, I +fancy you had better change your method of applying to her; for, as she +is, perhaps, the vainest woman upon earth, your bounty may probably do +you little service, nay, may rather actually disoblige her. Vanity is +plainly her predominant passion, and, if you will administer to that, +it will infallibly throw her into your arms. To this I attribute my own +unfortunate success. While she relieved my wants and distresses she was +daily feeding her own vanity; whereas, as every gift of yours asserted +your superiority, it rather offended than pleased her. Indeed, women +generally love to be of the obliging side; and, if we examine their +favourites, we shall find them to be much oftener such as they have +conferred obligations on than such as they have received them from." + +There was something in this speech which pleased the colonel; and he +said, with a smile, "I don't know how it is, Will, but you know women +better than I."--"Perhaps, colonel," answered Booth, "I have studied +their minds more."--"I don't, however, much envy your knowledge," +replied the other, "for I never think their minds worth considering. +However, I hope I shall profit a little by your experience with Miss +Matthews. Damnation seize the proud insolent harlot! the devil take me +if I don't love her more than I ever loved a woman!" + +The rest of their conversation turned on Booth's affairs. The colonel +again reassumed the part of a friend, gave him the remainder of the +money, and promised to take the first opportunity of laying his memorial +before a great man. + +Booth was greatly overjoyed at this success. Nothing now lay on his +mind but to conceal his frailty from Amelia, to whom he was afraid Miss +Matthews, in the rage of her resentment, would communicate it. This +apprehension made him stay almost constantly at home; and he trembled +at every knock at the door. His fear, moreover, betrayed him into a +meanness which he would have heartily despised on any other occasion. +This was to order the maid to deliver him any letter directed to Amelia; +at the same time strictly charging her not to acquaint her mistress with +her having received any such orders. + +A servant of any acuteness would have formed strange conjectures from +such an injunction; but this poor girl was of perfect simplicity; so +great, indeed, was her simplicity, that, had not Amelia been void of all +suspicion of her husband, the maid would have soon after betrayed her +master. + +One afternoon, while they were drinking tea, little Betty, so was +the maid called, came into the room, and, calling her master forth, +delivered him a card which was directed to Amelia. Booth, having read +the card, on his return into the room chid the girl for calling him, +saying "If you can read, child, you must see it was directed to your +mistress." To this the girl answered, pertly enough, "I am sure, sir, +you ordered me to bring every letter first to you." This hint, with many +women, would have been sufficient to have blown up the whole affair; +but Amelia, who heard what the girl said, through the medium of love and +confidence, saw the matter in a much better light than it deserved, and, +looking tenderly on her husband, said, "Indeed, my love, I must blame +you for a conduct which, perhaps, I ought rather to praise, as it +proceeds only from the extreme tenderness of your affection. But why +will you endeavour to keep any secrets from me? believe me, for my own +sake, you ought not; for, as you cannot hide the consequences, you make +me always suspect ten times worse than the reality. While I have you and +my children well before my eyes, I am capable of facing any news which +can arrive; for what ill news can come (unless, indeed, it concerns my +little babe in the country) which doth not relate to the badness of our +circumstances? and those, I thank Heaven, we have now a fair prospect +of retrieving. Besides, dear Billy, though my understanding be much +inferior to yours, I have sometimes had the happiness of luckily hitting +on some argument which hath afforded you comfort. This, you know, my +dear, was the case with regard to Colonel James, whom I persuaded you to +think you had mistaken, and you see the event proved me in the right." +So happily, both for herself and Mr. Booth, did the excellence of this +good woman's disposition deceive her, and force her to see everything in +the most advantageous light to her husband. + +The card, being now inspected, was found to contain the compliments of +Mrs. James to Mrs. Booth, with an account of her being arrived in town, +and having brought with her a very great cold. Amelia was overjoyed at +the news of her arrival, and having drest herself in the utmost hurry, +left her children to the care of her husband, and ran away to pay her +respects to her friend, whom she loved with a most sincere affection. +But how was she disappointed when, eager with the utmost impatience, and +exulting with the thoughts of presently seeing her beloved friend, she +was answered at the door that the lady was not at home! nor could she, +upon telling her name, obtain any admission. This, considering the +account she had received of the lady's cold, greatly surprized her; and +she returned home very much vexed at her disappointment. + +Amelia, who had no suspicion that Mrs. James was really at home, and, +as the phrase is, was denied, would have made a second visit the next +morning, had she not been prevented by a cold which she herself now got, +and which was attended with a slight fever. This confined her several +days to her house, during which Booth officiated as her nurse, and never +stirred from her. + +In all this time she heard not a word from Mrs. James, which gave her +some uneasiness, but more astonishment. The tenth day, when she was +perfectly recovered, about nine in the evening, when she and her husband +were just going to supper, she heard a most violent thundering at the +door, and presently after a rustling of silk upon her staircase; at the +same time a female voice cried out pretty loud, "Bless me! what, am I to +climb up another pair of stairs?" upon which Amelia, who well knew +the voice, presently ran to the door, and ushered in Mrs. James, most +splendidly drest, who put on as formal a countenance, and made as formal +a courtesie to her old friend, as if she had been her very distant +acquaintance. + +Poor Amelia, who was going to rush into her friend's arms, was struck +motionless by this behaviour; but re-collecting her spirits, as she had +an excellent presence of mind, she presently understood what the lady +meant, and resolved to treat her in her own way. Down therefore the +company sat, and silence prevailed for some time, during which Mrs. +James surveyed the room with more attention than she would have bestowed +on one much finer. At length the conversation began, in which the +weather and the diversions of the town were well canvassed. Amelia, who +was a woman of great humour, performed her part to admiration; so that a +by-stander would have doubted, in every other article than dress, which +of the two was the most accomplished fine lady. + +After a visit of twenty minutes, during which not a word of any former +occurrences was mentioned, nor indeed any subject of discourse started, +except only those two above mentioned, Mrs. James rose from her chair +and retired in the same formal manner in which she had approached. We +will pursue her for the sake of the contrast during the rest of the +evening. She went from Amelia directly to a rout, where she spent two +hours in a croud of company, talked again and again over the diversions +and news of the town, played two rubbers at whist, and then retired +to her own apartment, where, having past another hour in undressing +herself, she went to her own bed. + +Booth and his wife, the moment their companion was gone, sat down to +supper on a piece of cold meat, the remains of their dinner. After +which, over a pint of wine, they entertained themselves for a while with +the ridiculous behaviour of their visitant. But Amelia, declaring she +rather saw her as the object of pity than anger, turned the discourse +to pleasanter topics. The little actions of their children, the former +scenes and future prospects of their life, furnished them with many +pleasant ideas; and the contemplation of Amelia's recovery threw Booth +into raptures. At length they retired, happy in each other. + +It is possible some readers may be no less surprized at the behaviour of +Mrs. James than was Amelia herself, since they may have perhaps received +so favourable an impression of that lady from the account given of +her by Mr. Booth, that her present demeanour may seem unnatural and +inconsistent with her former character. But they will be pleased to +consider the great alteration in her circumstances, from a state of +dependency on a brother, who was himself no better than a soldier of +fortune, to that of being wife to a man of a very large estate and +considerable rank in life. And what was her present behaviour more +than that of a fine lady who considered form and show as essential +ingredients of human happiness, and imagined all friendship to consist +in ceremony, courtesies, messages, and visits? in which opinion, she +hath the honour to think with much the larger part of one sex, and no +small number of the other. + + + + +Chapter vii. + +_Containing a very extraordinary and pleasant incident._ + + +The next evening Booth and Amelia went to walk in the park with their +children. They were now on the verge of the parade, and Booth was +describing to his wife the several buildings round it, when, on a +sudden, Amelia, missing her little boy, cried out, "Where's little +Billy?" Upon which, Booth, casting his eyes over the grass, saw a +foot-soldier shaking the boy at a little distance. At this sight, +without making any answer to his wife, he leapt over the rails, and, +running directly up to the fellow, who had a firelock with a bayonet +fixed in his hand, he seized him by the collar and tript up his heels, +and, at the same time, wrested his arms from him. A serjeant upon duty, +seeing the affray at some distance, ran presently up, and, being told +what had happened, gave the centinel a hearty curse, and told him he +deserved to be hanged. A by-stander gave this information; for Booth was +returned with his little boy to meet Amelia, who staggered towards +him as fast as she could, all pale and breathless, and scarce able to +support her tottering limbs. The serjeant now came up to Booth, to +make an apology for the behaviour of the soldier, when, of a sudden, he +turned almost as pale as Amelia herself. He stood silent whilst Booth +was employed in comforting and recovering his wife; and then, addressing +himself to him, said, "Bless me! lieutenant, could I imagine it had been +your honour; and was it my little master that the rascal used so?--I am +glad I did not know it, for I should certainly have run my halbert into +him." + +Booth presently recognised his old faithful servant Atkinson, and gave +him a hearty greeting, saying he was very glad to see him in his present +situation. "Whatever I am," answered the serjeant, "I shall always think +I owe it to your honour." Then, taking the little boy by the hand he +cried, "What a vast fine young gentleman master is grown!" and, cursing +the soldier's inhumanity, swore heartily he would make him pay for it. + +As Amelia was much disordered with her fright, she did not recollect her +foster-brother till he was introduced to her by Booth; but she no sooner +knew him than she bestowed a most obliging smile on him; and, calling +him by the name of honest Joe, said she was heartily glad to see him in +England. "See, my dear," cries Booth, "what preferment your old friend +is come to. You would scarce know him, I believe, in his present state +of finery." "I am very well pleased to see it," answered Amelia, "and I +wish him joy of being made an officer with all my heart." In fact, from +what Mr. Booth said, joined to the serjeant's laced coat, she believed +that he had obtained a commission. So weak and absurd is human vanity, +that this mistake of Amelia's possibly put poor Atkinson out of +countenance, for he looked at this instant more silly than he had +ever done in his life; and, making her a most respectful bow, muttered +something about obligations, in a scarce articulate or intelligible +manner. + +The serjeant had, indeed, among many other qualities, that modesty which +a Latin author honours by the name of ingenuous: nature had given +him this, notwithstanding the meanness of his birth; and six years' +conversation in the army had not taken it away. To say the truth, he +was a noble fellow; and Amelia, by supposing he had a commission in the +guards, had been guilty of no affront to that honourable body. + +Booth had a real affection for Atkinson, though, in fact, he knew not +half his merit. He acquainted him with his lodgings, where he earnestly +desired to see him. + +[Illustration: _He seized him by the collar._] + +Amelia, who was far from being recovered from the terrors into which the +seeing her husband engaged with the soldier had thrown her, desired to +go home: nor was she well able to walk without some assistance. While +she supported herself, therefore, on her husband's arm, she told +Atkinson she should be obliged to him if he would take care of the +children. He readily accepted the office; but, upon offering his hand +to miss, she refused, and burst into tears. Upon which the tender mother +resigned Booth to her children, and put herself under the serjeant's +protection; who conducted her safe home, though she often declared she +feared she should drop down by the way; the fear of which so affected +the serjeant (for, besides the honour which he himself had for the lady, +he knew how tenderly his friend loved her) that he was unable to speak; +and, had not his nerves been so strongly braced that nothing could shake +them, he had enough in his mind to have set him a trembling equally with +the lady. + +When they arrived at the lodgings the mistress of the house opened the +door, who, seeing Amelia's condition, threw open the parlour and begged +her to walk in, upon which she immediately flung herself into a chair, +and all present thought she would have fainted away. However, she +escaped that misery, and, having drank a glass of water with a little +white wine mixed in it, she began in a little time to regain her +complexion, and at length assured Booth that she was perfectly +recovered, but declared she had never undergone so much, and earnestly +begged him never to be so rash for the future. She then called her +little boy and gently chid him, saying, "You must never do so more, +Billy; you see what mischief you might have brought upon your father, +and what you have made me suffer." "La! mamma," said the child, "what +harm did I do? I did not know that people might not walk in the green +fields in London. I am sure if I did a fault, the man punished me enough +for it, for he pinched me almost through my slender arm." He then bared +his little arm, which was greatly discoloured by the injury it had +received. Booth uttered a most dreadful execration at this sight, and +the serjeant, who was now present, did the like. + +Atkinson now returned to his guard and went directly to the officer +to acquaint him with the soldier's inhumanity, but he, who was about +fifteen years of age, gave the serjeant a great curse and said the +soldier had done very well, for that idle boys ought to be corrected. +This, however, did not satisfy poor Atkinson, who, the next day, as soon +as the guard was relieved, beat the fellow most unmercifully, and told +him he would remember him as long as he stayed in the regiment. + +Thus ended this trifling adventure, which some readers will, perhaps, +be pleased at seeing related at full length. None, I think, can +fail drawing one observation from it, namely, how capable the most +insignificant accident is of disturbing human happiness, and of +producing the most unexpected and dreadful events. A reflexion which may +serve to many moral and religious uses. + +This accident produced the first acquaintance between the mistress of +the house and her lodgers; for hitherto they had scarce exchanged a +word together. But the great concern which the good woman had shewn +on Amelia's account at this time, was not likely to pass unobserved or +unthanked either by the husband or wife. Amelia, therefore, as soon as +she was able to go up-stairs, invited Mrs. Ellison (for that was her +name) to her apartment, and desired the favour of her to stay to supper. +She readily complied, and they past a very agreeable evening together, +in which the two women seemed to have conceived a most extraordinary +liking to each other. + +Though beauty in general doth not greatly recommend one woman to +another, as it is too apt to create envy, yet, in cases where this +passion doth not interfere, a fine woman is often a pleasing object even +to some of her own sex, especially when her beauty is attended with a +certain air of affability, as was that of Amelia in the highest degree. +She was, indeed, a most charming woman; and I know not whether the +little scar on her nose did not rather add to than diminish her beauty. + +Mrs. Ellison, therefore, was as much charmed with the loveliness of her +fair lodger as with all her other engaging qualities. She was, indeed, +so taken with Amelia's beauty, that she could not refrain from crying +out in a kind of transport of admiration, "Upon my word, Captain +Booth, you are the happiest man in the world! Your lady is so extremely +handsome that one cannot look at her without pleasure." + +This good woman had herself none of these attractive charms to the eye. +Her person was short and immoderately fat; her features were none of the +most regular; and her complexion (if indeed she ever had a good one) had +considerably suffered by time. + +Her good humour and complaisance, however, were highly pleasing to +Amelia. Nay, why should we conceal the secret satisfaction which that +lady felt from the compliments paid to her person? since such of my +readers as like her best will not be sorry to find that she was a woman. + + + + +Chapter viii. + +_Containing various matters._ + + +A fortnight had now passed since Booth had seen or heard from the +colonel, which did not a little surprize him, as they had parted so good +friends, and as he had so cordially undertaken his cause concerning the +memorial on which all his hopes depended. + +The uneasiness which this gave him farther encreased on finding that his +friend refused to see him; for he had paid the colonel a visit at nine +in the morning, and was told he was not stirring; and at his return back +an hour afterwards the servant said his master was gone out, of which +Booth was certain of the falsehood; for he had, during that whole hour, +walked backwards and forwards within sight of the colonel's door, and +must have seen him if he had gone out within that time. + +The good colonel, however, did not long suffer his friend to continue +in the deplorable state of anxiety; for, the very next morning, Booth +received his memorial enclosed in a letter, acquainting him that Mr. +James had mentioned his affair to the person he proposed, but that the +great man had so many engagements on his hands that it was impossible +for him to make any further promises at this time. + +The cold and distant stile of this letter, and, indeed, the whole +behaviour of James, so different from what it had been formerly, had +something so mysterious in it, that it greatly puzzled and perplexed +poor Booth; and it was so long before he was able to solve it, that the +reader's curiosity will, perhaps, be obliged to us for not leaving him +so long in the dark as to this matter. The true reason, then, of the +colonel's conduct was this: his unbounded generosity, together with +the unbounded extravagance and consequently the great necessity of Miss +Matthews, had at length overcome the cruelty of that lady, with whom he +likewise had luckily no rival. Above all, the desire of being revenged +on Booth, with whom she was to the highest degree enraged, had, +perhaps, contributed not a little to his success; for she had no sooner +condescended to a familiarity with her new lover, and discovered that +Captain James, of whom she had heard so much from Booth, was no other +than the identical colonel, than she employed every art of which she was +mistress to make an utter breach of friendship between these two. For +this purpose she did not scruple to insinuate that the colonel was not +at all obliged to the character given of him by his friend, and to the +account of this latter she placed most of the cruelty which she had +shewn to the former. + +Had the colonel made a proper use of his reason, and fairly examined +the probability of the fact, he could scarce have been imposed upon to +believe a matter so inconsistent with all he knew of Booth, and in which +that gentleman must have sinned against all the laws of honour without +any visible temptation. But, in solemn fact, the colonel was so +intoxicated with his love, that it was in the power of his mistress to +have persuaded him of anything; besides, he had an interest in giving +her credit, for he was not a little pleased with finding a reason for +hating the man whom he could not help hating without any reason, +at least, without any which he durst fairly assign even to himself. +Henceforth, therefore, he abandoned all friendship for Booth, and was +more inclined to put him out of the world than to endeavour any longer +at supporting him in it. + +Booth communicated this letter to his wife, who endeavoured, as usual, +to the utmost of her power, to console him under one of the greatest +afflictions which, I think, can befal a man, namely, the unkindness of a +friend; but he had luckily at the same time the greatest blessing in +his possession, the kindness of a faithful and beloved wife. A blessing, +however, which, though it compensates most of the evils of life, rather +serves to aggravate the misfortune of distressed circumstances, from the +consideration of the share which she is to bear in them. + +This afternoon Amelia received a second visit from Mrs. Ellison, who +acquainted her that she had a present of a ticket for the oratorio, +which would carry two persons into the gallery; and therefore begged the +favour of her company thither. + +Amelia, with many thanks, acknowledged the civility of Mrs. Ellison, but +declined accepting her offer; upon which Booth very strenuously insisted +on her going, and said to her, "My dear, if you knew the satisfaction I +have in any of your pleasures, I am convinced you would not refuse the +favour Mrs. Ellison is so kind to offer you; for, as you are a lover of +music, you, who have never been at an oratorio, cannot conceive how +you will be delighted." "I well know your goodness, my dear," answered +Amelia, "but I cannot think of leaving my children without some person +more proper to take care of them than this poor girl." Mrs. Ellison +removed this objection by offering her own servant, a very discreet +matron, to attend them; but notwithstanding this, and all she could say, +with the assistance of Booth, and of the children themselves, Amelia +still persisted in her refusal; and the mistress of the house, who knew +how far good breeding allows persons to be pressing on these occasions, +took her leave. + +She was no sooner departed than Amelia, looking tenderly on her husband, +said, "How can you, my dear creature, think that music hath any charms +for me at this time? or, indeed, do you believe that I am capable of any +sensation worthy the name of pleasure when neither you nor my children +are present or bear any part of it?" + +An officer of the regiment to which Booth had formerly belonged, hearing +from Atkinson where he lodged, now came to pay him a visit. He told him +that several of their old acquaintance were to meet the next Wednesday +at a tavern, and very strongly pressed him to be one of the company. +Booth was, in truth, what is called a hearty fellow, and loved now and +then to take a chearful glass with his friends; but he excused himself +at this time. His friend declared he would take no denial, and he +growing very importunate, Amelia at length seconded him. Upon this Booth +answered, "Well, my dear, since you desire me, I will comply, but on one +condition, that you go at the same time to the oratorio." Amelia thought +this request reasonable enough, and gave her consent; of which Mrs. +Ellison presently received the news, and with great satisfaction. + +It may perhaps be asked why Booth could go to the tavern, and not to the +oratorio with his wife? In truth, then, the tavern was within hallowed +ground, that is to say, in the verge of the court; for, of five officers +that were to meet there, three, besides Booth, were confined to that air +which hath been always found extremely wholesome to a broken military +constitution. And here, if the good reader will pardon the pun, he will +scarce be offended at the observation; since, how is it possible that, +without running in debt, any person should maintain the dress and +appearance of a gentleman whose income is not half so good as that of +a porter? It is true that this allowance, small as it is, is a great +expense to the public; but, if several more unnecessary charges were +spared, the public might, perhaps, bear a little encrease of this +without much feeling it. They would not, I am sure, have equal reason to +complain at contributing to the maintenance of a sett of brave fellows, +who, at the hazard of their health, their limbs, and their lives, have +maintained the safety and honour of their country, as when they find +themselves taxed to the support of a sett of drones, who have not the +least merit or claim to their favour, and who, without contributing in +any manner to the good of the hive, live luxuriously on the labours of +the industrious bee. + + + + +Chapter ix. + +_In which Amelia, with her friend, goes to the oratorio._ + + +Nothing happened between the Monday and the Wednesday worthy a place in +this history. Upon the evening of the latter the two ladies went to the +oratorio, and were there time enough to get a first row in the gallery. +Indeed, there was only one person in the house when they came; for +Amelia's inclinations, when she gave a loose to them, were pretty eager +for this diversion, she being a great lover of music, and particularly +of Mr. Handel's compositions. Mrs. Ellison was, I suppose, a great lover +likewise of music, for she was the more impatient of the two; which was +rather the more extraordinary; as these entertainments were not such +novelties to her as they were to poor Amelia. + +Though our ladies arrived full two hours before they saw the back of +Mr. Handel, yet this time of expectation did not hang extremely heavy +on their hands; for, besides their own chat, they had the company of +the gentleman whom they found at their first arrival in the gallery, +and who, though plainly, or rather roughly dressed, very luckily for the +women, happened to be not only well-bred, but a person of very lively +conversation. The gentleman, on his part, seemed highly charmed with +Amelia, and in fact was so, for, though he restrained himself entirely +within the rules of good breeding, yet was he in the highest degree +officious to catch at every opportunity of shewing his respect, and +doing her little services. He procured her a book and wax-candle, and +held the candle for her himself during the whole entertainment. + +At the end of the oratorio he declared he would not leave the ladies +till he had seen them safe into their chairs or coach; and at the same +time very earnestly entreated that he might have the honour of waiting +on them. Upon which Mrs. Ellison, who was a very good-humoured woman, +answered, "Ay, sure, sir, if you please; you have been very obliging to +us; and a dish of tea shall be at your service at any time;" and then +told him where she lived. + +The ladies were no sooner seated in their hackney coach than Mrs. +Ellison burst into a loud laughter, and cried, "I'll be hanged, madam, +if you have not made a conquest to-night; and what is very pleasant, I +believe the poor gentleman takes you for a single lady." "Nay," answered +Amelia very gravely, "I protest I began to think at last he was rather +too particular, though he did not venture at a word that I could be +offended at; but, if you fancy any such thing, I am sorry you invited +him to drink tea," "Why so?" replied Mrs. Ellison. "Are you angry with a +man for liking you? if you are, you will be angry with almost every +man that sees you. If I was a man myself, I declare I should be in the +number of your admirers. Poor gentleman, I pity him heartily; he little +knows that you have not a heart to dispose of. For my own part, I should +not be surprized at seeing a serious proposal of marriage: for I am +convinced he is a man of fortune, not only by the politeness of his +address, but by the fineness of his linen, and that valuable diamond +ring on his finger. But you will see more of him when he comes to tea." +"Indeed I shall not," answered Amelia, "though I believe you only rally +me; I hope you have a better opinion of me than to think I would go +willingly into the company of a man who had an improper liking for me." +Mrs. Ellison, who was one of the gayest women in the world, repeated the +words, improper liking, with a laugh; and cried, "My dear Mrs. Booth, +believe me, you are too handsome and too good-humoured for a prude. How +can you affect being offended at what I am convinced is the greatest +pleasure of womankind, and chiefly, I believe, of us virtuous women? +for, I assure you, notwithstanding my gaiety, I am as virtuous as any +prude in Europe." "Far be it from me, madam," said Amelia, "to suspect +the contrary of abundance of women who indulge themselves in much +greater freedoms than I should take, or have any pleasure in taking; for +I solemnly protest, if I know my own heart, the liking of all men, but +of one, is a matter quite indifferent to me, or rather would be highly +disagreeable." + +This discourse brought them home, where Amelia, finding her children +asleep, and her husband not returned, invited her companion to partake +of her homely fare, and down they sat to supper together. The clock +struck twelve; and, no news being arrived of Booth, Mrs. Ellison began +to express some astonishment at his stay, whence she launched into +a general reflexion on husbands, and soon passed to some particular +invectives on her own. "Ah, my dear madam," says she, "I know the +present state of your mind, by what I have myself often felt formerly. +I am no stranger to the melancholy tone of a midnight clock. It was my +misfortune to drag on a heavy chain above fifteen years with a sottish +yoke-fellow. But how can I wonder at my fate, since I see even your +superior charms cannot confine a husband from the bewitching pleasures +of a bottle?" "Indeed, madam," says Amelia, "I have no reason to +complain; Mr. Booth is one of the soberest of men; but now and then to +spend a late hour with his friend is, I think, highly excusable." "O, +no doubt! "cries Mrs. Ellison, "if he can excuse himself; but if I was +a man--" Here Booth came in and interrupted the discourse. Amelia's +eyes flashed with joy the moment he appeared; and he discovered no less +pleasure in seeing her. His spirits were indeed a little elevated +with wine, so as to heighten his good humour, without in the least +disordering his understanding, and made him such delightful company, +that, though it was past one in the morning, neither his wife nor Mrs. +Ellison thought of their beds during a whole hour. + +Early the next morning the serjeant came to Mr. Booth's lodgings, and +with a melancholy countenance acquainted him that he had been the night +before at an alehouse, where he heard one Mr. Murphy, an attorney, +declare that he would get a warrant backed against one Captain Booth at +the next board of greencloth. "I hope, sir," said he, "your honour will +pardon me, but, by what he said, I was afraid he meant your honour; and +therefore I thought it my duty to tell you; for I knew the same thing +happen to a gentleman here the other day." + +Booth gave Mr. Atkinson many thanks for his information. "I doubt not," +said he, "but I am the person meant; for it would be foolish in me to +deny that I am liable to apprehensions of that sort." "I hope, sir," +said the serjeant, "your honour will soon have reason to fear no man +living; but in the mean time, if any accident should happen, my bail is +at your service as far as it will go; and I am a housekeeper, and +can swear myself worth one hundred pounds." Which hearty and friendly +declaration received all those acknowledgments from Booth which it +really deserved. + +The poor gentleman was greatly alarmed at the news; but he was +altogether as much surprized at Murphy's being the attorney employed +against him, as all his debts, except only to Captain James, arose in +the country, where he did not know that Mr. Murphy had any acquaintance. +However, he made no doubt that he was the person intended, and resolved +to remain a close prisoner in his own lodgings, till he saw the event +of a proposal which had been made him the evening before at the tavern, +where an honest gentleman, who had a post under the government, and who +was one of the company, had promised to serve him with the secretary at +war, telling him that he made no doubt of procuring him whole pay in +a regiment abroad, which in his present circumstances was very highly +worth his acceptance, when, indeed, that and a gaol seemed to be the +only alternatives that offered themselves to his choice. + +Mr. Booth and his lady spent that afternoon with Mrs. Ellison--an +incident which we should scarce have mentioned, had it not been that +Amelia gave, on this occasion, an instance of that prudence which should +never be off its guard in married women of delicacy; for, before she +would consent to drink tea with Mrs. Ellison, she made conditions that +the gentleman who had met them at the oratorio should not be let in. +Indeed, this circumspection proved unnecessary in the present instance, +for no such visitor ever came; a circumstance which gave great content +to Amelia; for that lady had been a little uneasy at the raillery of +Mrs. Ellison, and had upon reflexion magnified every little compliment +made her, and every little civility shewn her by the unknown gentleman, +far beyond the truth. These imaginations now all subsided again; and she +imputed all that Mrs. Ellison had said either to raillery or mistake. + +A young lady made a fourth with them at whist, and likewise stayed +the whole evening. Her name was Bennet. She was about the age of +five-and-twenty; but sickness had given her an older look, and had a +good deal diminished her beauty; of which, young as she was, she plainly +appeared to have only the remains in her present possession. She was +in one particular the very reverse of Mrs. Ellison, being altogether as +remarkably grave as the other was gay. This gravity was not, however, +attended with any sourness of temper; on the contrary, she had much +sweetness in her countenance, and was perfectly well bred. In short, +Amelia imputed her grave deportment to her ill health, and began to +entertain a compassion for her, which in good minds, that is to say, in +minds capable of compassion, is certain to introduce some little degree +of love or friendship. + +Amelia was in short so pleased with the conversation of this lady, that, +though a woman of no impertinent curiosity, she could not help taking +the first opportunity of enquiring who she was. Mrs. Ellison said that +she was an unhappy lady, who had married a young clergyman for love, +who, dying of a consumption, had left her a widow in very indifferent +circumstances. This account made Amelia still pity her more, and +consequently added to the liking which she had already conceived for +her. Amelia, therefore, desired Mrs. Ellison to bring her acquainted +with Mrs. Bennet, and said she would go any day with her to make that +lady a visit. "There need be no ceremony," cried Mrs. Ellison; "she is +a woman of no form; and, as I saw plainly she was extremely pleased with +Mrs. Booth, I am convinced I can bring her to drink tea with you any +afternoon you please." + +The two next days Booth continued at home, highly to the satisfaction of +his Amelia, who really knew no happiness out of his company, nor scarce +any misery in it. She had, indeed, at all times so much of his company, +when in his power, that she had no occasion to assign any particular +reason for his staying with her, and consequently it could give her +no cause of suspicion. The Saturday, one of her children was a little +disordered with a feverish complaint which confined her to her room, +and prevented her drinking tea in the afternoon with her husband in Mrs. +Ellison's apartment, where a noble lord, a cousin of Mrs. Ellison's, +happened to be present; for, though that lady was reduced in her +circumstances and obliged to let out part of her house in lodgings, she +was born of a good family and had some considerable relations. + +His lordship was not himself in any office of state, but his fortune +gave him great authority with those who were. Mrs. Ellison, therefore, +very bluntly took an opportunity of recommending Booth to his +consideration. She took the first hint from my lord's calling the +gentleman captain; to which she answered, "Ay, I wish your lordship +would make him so. It would be an act of justice, and I know it is +in your power to do much greater things." She then mentioned Booth's +services, and the wounds he had received at the siege, of which she had +heard a faithful account from Amelia. Booth blushed, and was as silent +as a young virgin at the hearing her own praises. His lordship answered, +"Cousin Ellison, you know you may command my interest; nay, I shall have +a pleasure in serving one of Mr. Booth's character: for my part, I think +merit in all capacities ought to be encouraged, but I know the ministry +are greatly pestered with solicitations at this time. However, Mr. Booth +may be assured I will take the first opportunity; and in the mean time, +I shall be glad of seeing him any morning he pleases." For all these +declarations Booth was not wanting in acknowledgments to the generous +peer any more than he was in secret gratitude to the lady who had shewn +so friendly and uncommon a zeal in his favour. + +The reader, when he knows the character of this nobleman, may, perhaps, +conclude that his seeing Booth alone was a lucky circumstance, for he +was so passionate an admirer of women, that he could scarce have escaped +the attraction of Amelia's beauty. And few men, as I have observed, have +such disinterested generosity as to serve a husband the better because +they are in love with his wife, unless she will condescend to pay a +price beyond the reach of a virtuous woman. + +END OF VOL. I. + + + + + +VOL. II. + + + + +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. + + + + + +VOL. III. + + + + +BOOK IX. + + + +Chapter i. + +_In which the history looks backwards._ + + +Before we proceed farther with our history it may be proper to look back +a little, in order to account for the late conduct of Doctor Harrison; +which, however inconsistent it may have hitherto appeared, when examined +to the bottom will be found, I apprehend, to be truly congruous with +all the rules of the most perfect prudence as well as with the most +consummate goodness. + +We have already partly seen in what light Booth had been represented to +the doctor abroad. Indeed, the accounts which were sent of the captain, +as well by the curate as by a gentleman of the neighbourhood, were much +grosser and more to his disadvantage than the doctor was pleased to set +them forth in his letter to the person accused. What sense he had of +Booth's conduct was, however, manifest by that letter. Nevertheless, he +resolved to suspend his final judgment till his return; and, though +he censured him, would not absolutely condemn him without ocular +demonstration. + +The doctor, on his return to his parish, found all the accusations which +had been transmitted to him confirmed by many witnesses, of which the +curate's wife, who had been formerly a friend to Amelia, and still +preserved the outward appearance of friendship, was the strongest. She +introduced all with--"I am sorry to say it; and it is friendship which +bids me speak; and it is for their good it should be told you." After +which beginnings she never concluded a single speech without some horrid +slander and bitter invective. + +Besides the malicious turn which was given to these affairs in the +country, which were owing a good deal to misfortune, and some little +perhaps to imprudence, the whole neighbourhood rung with several gross +and scandalous lies, which were merely the inventions of his enemies, +and of which the scene was laid in London since his absence. + +Poisoned with all this malice, the doctor came to town; and, learning +where Booth lodged, went to make him a visit. Indeed, it was the doctor, +and no other, who had been at his lodgings that evening when Booth and +Amelia were walking in the Park, and concerning which the reader may be +pleased to remember so many strange and odd conjectures. + +Here the doctor saw the little gold watch and all those fine trinkets +with which the noble lord had presented the children, and which, from +the answers given him by the poor ignorant, innocent girl, he could have +no doubt had been purchased within a few days by Amelia. + +This account tallied so well with the ideas he had imbibed of Booth's +extravagance in the country, that he firmly believed both the husband +and wife to be the vainest, silliest, and most unjust people alive. It +was, indeed, almost incredible that two rational beings should be +guilty of such absurdity; but, monstrous and absurd as it was, ocular +demonstration appeared to be the evidence against them. + +The doctor departed from their lodgings enraged at this supposed +discovery, and, unhappily for Booth, was engaged to supper that very +evening with the country gentleman of whom Booth had rented a farm. +As the poor captain happened to be the subject of conversation, and +occasioned their comparing notes, the account which the doctor gave of +what he had seen that evening so incensed the gentleman, to whom Booth +was likewise a debtor, that he vowed he would take a writ out against +him the next morning, and have his body alive or dead; and the +doctor was at last persuaded to do the same. Mr. Murphy was thereupon +immediately sent for; and the doctor in his presence repeated again what +he had seen at his lodgings as the foundation of his suing him, which +the attorney, as we have before seen, had blabbed to Atkinson. + +But no sooner did the doctor hear that Booth was arrested than the +wretched condition of his wife and family began to affect his mind. The +children, who were to be utterly undone with their father, were intirely +innocent; and as for Amelia herself, though he thought he had most +convincing proofs of very blameable levity, yet his former friendship +and affection to her were busy to invent every excuse, till, by very +heavily loading the husband, they lightened the suspicion against the +wife. + +In this temper of mind he resolved to pay Amelia a second visit, and was +on his way to Mrs. Ellison when the serjeant met him and made himself +known to him. The doctor took his old servant into a coffee-house, where +he received from him such an account of Booth and his family, that he +desired the serjeant to shew him presently to Amelia; and this was +the cordial which we mentioned at the end of the ninth chapter of the +preceding book. + +The doctor became soon satisfied concerning the trinkets which had given +him so much uneasiness, and which had brought so much mischief on the +head of poor Booth. Amelia likewise gave the doctor some satisfaction +as to what he had heard of her husband's behaviour in the country; and +assured him, upon her honour, that Booth could so well answer every +complaint against his conduct, that she had no doubt but that a man of +the doctor's justice and candour would entirely acquit him, and would +consider him as an innocent unfortunate man, who was the object of a +good man's compassion, not of his anger or resentment. + +This worthy clergyman, who was not desirous of finding proofs to condemn +the captain or to justify his own vindictive proceedings, but, on the +contrary, rejoiced heartily in every piece of evidence which tended +to clear up the character of his friend, gave a ready ear to all which +Amelia said. To this, indeed, he was induced by the love he always had +for that lady, by the good opinion he entertained of her, as well as +by pity for her present condition, than which nothing appeared more +miserable; for he found her in the highest agonies of grief and despair, +with her two little children crying over their wretched mother. These +are, indeed, to a well-disposed mind, the most tragical sights that +human nature can furnish, and afford a juster motive to grief and tears +in the beholder than it would be to see all the heroes who have ever +infested the earth hanged all together in a string. + +The doctor felt this sight as he ought. He immediately endeavoured to +comfort the afflicted; in which he so well succeeded, that he restored +to Amelia sufficient spirits to give him the satisfaction we have +mentioned: after which he declared he would go and release her husband, +which he accordingly did in the manner we have above related. + + + + +Chapter ii + +_In which the history goes forward._ + + +We now return to that period of our history to which we had brought it +at the end of our last book. + +Booth and his friends arrived from the bailiff's, at the serjeant's +lodgings, where Booth immediately ran up-stairs to his Amelia; between +whom I shall not attempt to describe the meeting. Nothing certainly was +ever more tender or more joyful. This, however, I will observe, that a +very few of these exquisite moments, of which the best minds only are +capable, do in reality over-balance the longest enjoyments which can +ever fall to the lot of the worst. + +Whilst Booth and his wife were feasting their souls with the most +delicious mutual endearments, the doctor was fallen to play with the two +little children below-stairs. While he was thus engaged the little boy +did somewhat amiss; upon which the doctor said, "If you do so any more I +will take your papa away from you again."--"Again! sir," said the child; +"why, was it you then that took away my papa before?" "Suppose it was," +said the doctor; "would not you forgive me?" "Yes," cries the child, +"I would forgive you; because a Christian must forgive everybody; but I +should hate you as long as I live." + +The doctor was so pleased with the boy's answer, that he caught him in +his arms and kissed him; at which time Booth and his wife returned. The +doctor asked which of them was their son's instructor in his religion; +Booth answered that he must confess Amelia had all the merit of that +kind. "I should have rather thought he had learnt of his father," cries +the doctor; "for he seems a good soldier-like Christian, and professes +to hate his enemies with a very good grace." + +"How, Billy!" cries Amelia. "I am sure I did not teach you so." + +"I did not say I would hate my enemies, madam," cries the boy; "I only +said I would hate papa's enemies. Sure, mamma, there is no harm in that; +nay, I am sure there is no harm in it, for I have heard you say the same +thing a thousand times." + +The doctor smiled on the child, and, chucking him under the chin, told +him he must hate nobody 5 and now Mrs. Atkinson, who had provided a +dinner for them all, desired them to walk up and partake of it. + +And now it was that Booth was first made acquainted with the serjeant's +marriage, as was Dr Harrison; both of whom greatly felicitated him upon +it. + +Mrs. Atkinson, who was, perhaps, a little more confounded than she would +have been had she married a colonel, said, "If I have done wrong, Mrs. +Booth is to answer for it, for she made the match; indeed, Mr. Atkinson, +you are greatly obliged to the character which this lady gives of you." +"I hope he will deserve it," said the doctor; "and, if the army hath not +corrupted a good boy, I believe I may answer for him." + +While our little company were enjoying that happiness which never fails +to attend conversation where all present are pleased with each other, a +visitant arrived who was, perhaps, not very welcome to any of them. +This was no other than Colonel James, who, entering the room with much +gaiety, went directly up to Booth, embraced him, and expressed great +satisfaction at finding him there; he then made an apology for not +attending him in the morning, which he said had been impossible; and +that he had, with the utmost difficulty, put off some business of great +consequence in order to serve him this afternoon; "but I am glad on your +account," cried he to Booth, "that my presence was not necessary." + +Booth himself was extremely satisfied with this declaration, and failed +not to return him as many thanks as he would have deserved had he +performed his promise; but the two ladies were not quite so well +satisfied. As for the serjeant, he had slipt out of the room when the +colonel entered, not entirely out of that bashfulness which we have +remarked him to be tainted with, but indeed, from what had past in the +morning, he hated the sight of the colonel as well on the account of his +wife as on that of his friend. + +The doctor, on the contrary, on what he had formerly heard from both +Amelia and her husband of the colonel's generosity and friendship, had +built so good an opinion of him, that he was very much pleased with +seeing him, and took the first opportunity of telling him so. "Colonel," +said the doctor, "I have not the happiness of being known to you; but +I have long been desirous of an acquaintance with a gentleman in whose +commendation I have heard so much from some present." The colonel made a +proper answer to this compliment, and they soon entered into a familiar +conversation together; for the doctor was not difficult of access; +indeed, he held the strange reserve which is usually practised in this +nation between people who are in any degree strangers to each other to +be very unbecoming the Christian character. + +The two ladies soon left the room; and the remainder of the visit, which +was not very long, past in discourse on various common subjects, not +worth recording. In the conclusion, the colonel invited Booth and his +lady, and the doctor, to dine with him the next day. + +To give Colonel James his due commendation, he had shewn a great command +of himself and great presence of mind on this occasion; for, to speak +the plain truth, the visit was intended to Amelia alone; nor did he +expect, or perhaps desire, anything less than to find the captain at +home. The great joy which he suddenly conveyed into his countenance at +the unexpected sight of his friend is to be attributed to that noble art +which is taught in those excellent schools called the several courts of +Europe. By this, men are enabled to dress out their countenances as much +at their own pleasure as they do their bodies, and to put on friendship +with as much ease as they can a laced coat. + +When the colonel and doctor were gone, Booth acquainted Amelia with +the invitation he had received. She was so struck with the news, and +betrayed such visible marks of confusion and uneasiness, that they could +not have escaped Booth's observation had suspicion given him the least +hint to remark; but this, indeed, is the great optic-glass helping us to +discern plainly almost all that passes in the minds of others, without +some use of which nothing is more purblind than human nature. + +Amelia, having recovered from her first perturbation, answered, "My +dear, I will dine with you wherever you please to lay your commands on +me." "I am obliged to you, my dear soul," cries Booth; "your obedience +shall be very easy, for my command will be that you shall always follow +your own inclinations." "My inclinations," answered she, "would, I am +afraid, be too unreasonable a confinement to you; for they would always +lead me to be with you and your children, with at most a single friend +or two now and then." "O my dear!" replied he, "large companies give us +a greater relish for our own society when we return to it; and we shall +be extremely merry, for Doctor Harrison dines with us." "I hope you +will, my dear," cries she; "but I own I should have been better pleased +to have enjoyed a few days with yourself and the children, with no other +person but Mrs. Atkinson, for whom I have conceived a violent affection, +and who would have given us but little interruption. However, if you +have promised, I must undergo the penance." "Nay, child," cried he, "I +am sure I would have refused, could I have guessed it had been in the +least disagreeable to you though I know your objection." "Objection!" +cries Amelia eagerly "I have no objection." "Nay, nay," said he, "come, +be honest, I know your objection, though you are unwilling to own +it." "Good Heavens!" cryed Amelia, frightened, "what do you mean? what +objection?" "Why," answered he, "to the company of Mrs. James; and +I must confess she hath not behaved to you lately as you might have +expected; but you ought to pass all that by for the sake of her +husband, to whom we have both so many obligations, who is the worthiest, +honestest, and most generous fellow in the universe, and the best friend +to me that ever man had." + +Amelia, who had far other suspicions, and began to fear that her husband +had discovered them, was highly pleased when she saw him taking a wrong +scent. She gave, therefore, a little in to the deceit, and acknowledged +the truth of what he had mentioned; but said that the pleasure she +should have in complying with his desires would highly recompense any +dissatisfaction which might arise on any other account; and shortly +after ended the conversation on this subject with her chearfully +promising to fulfil his promise. + +In reality, poor Amelia had now a most unpleasant task to undertake; +for she thought it absolutely necessary to conceal from her husband +the opinion she had conceived of the colonel. For, as she knew the +characters, as well of her husband as of his friend, or rather enemy +(both being often synonymous in the language of the world), she had +the utmost reason to apprehend something very fatal might attend her +husband's entertaining the same thought of James which filled and +tormented her own breast. + +And, as she knew that nothing but these thoughts could justify the least +unkind, or, indeed, the least reserved behaviour to James, who had, +in all appearance, conferred the greatest obligations upon Booth and +herself, she was reduced to a dilemma the most dreadful that can attend +a virtuous woman, as it often gives the highest triumph, and sometimes +no little advantage, to the men of professed gallantry. + +In short, to avoid giving any umbrage to her husband, Amelia was forced +to act in a manner which she was conscious must give encouragement to +the colonel; a situation which perhaps requires as great prudence and +delicacy as any in which the heroic part of the female character can be +exerted. + + + + +Chapter iii. + +_A conversation between Dr Harrison and others_. + + +The next day Booth and his lady, with the doctor, met at Colonel +James's, where Colonel Bath likewise made one of the company. + +Nothing very remarkable passed at dinner, or till the ladies withdrew. +During this time, however, the behaviour of Colonel James was such as +gave some uneasiness to Amelia, who well understood his meaning, though +the particulars were too refined and subtle to be observed by any other +present. + +When the ladies were gone, which was as soon as Amelia could prevail +on Mrs. James to depart, Colonel Bath, who had been pretty brisk with +champagne at dinner, soon began to display his magnanimity. "My brother +tells me, young gentleman," said he to Booth, "that you have been used +very ill lately by some rascals, and I have no doubt but you will do +yourself justice." + +Booth answered that he did not know what he meant. "Since I must mention +it then," cries the colonel, "I hear you have been arrested; and I think +you know what satisfaction is to be required by a man of honour." + +"I beg, sir," says the doctor, "no more may be mentioned of that matter. +I am convinced no satisfaction will be required of the captain till he +is able to give it." + +"I do not understand what you mean by able," cries the colonel. To which +the doctor answered, "That it was of too tender a nature to speak more +of." + +"Give me your hand, doctor," cries the colonel; "I see you are a man of +honour, though you wear a gown. It is, as you say, a matter of a tender +nature. Nothing, indeed, is so tender as a man's honour. Curse my liver, +if any man--I mean, that is, if any gentleman, was to arrest me, I would +as surely cut his throat as--" + +"How, sir!" said the doctor, "would you compensate one breach of the law +by a much greater, and pay your debts by committing murder?" + +"Why do you mention law between gentlemen?" says the colonel. "A man of +honour wears his law by his side; and can the resentment of an affront +make a gentleman guilty of murder? and what greater affront can one +man cast upon another than by arresting him? I am convinced that he who +would put up an arrest would put up a slap in the face." + +Here the colonel looked extremely fierce, and the divine stared +with astonishment at this doctrine; when Booth, who well knew the +impossibility of opposing the colonel's humour with success, began to +play with it; and, having first conveyed a private wink to the doctor, +he said there might be cases undoubtedly where such an affront ought +to be resented; but that there were others where any resentment was +impracticable: "As, for instance," said he, "where the man is arrested +by a woman." + +"I could not be supposed to mean that case," cries the colonel; "and you +are convinced I did not mean it." + +"To put an end to this discourse at once, sir," said the doctor, "I was +the plaintiff at whose suit this gentleman was arrested." + +"Was you so, sir?" cries the colonel; "then I have no more to say. Women +and the clergy are upon the same footing. The long-robed gentry are +exempted from the laws of honour." + +"I do not thank you for that exemption, sir," cries the doctor; "and, if +honour and fighting are, as they seem to be, synonymous words with you, +I believe there are some clergymen, who in defence of their religion, or +their country, or their friend, the only justifiable causes of fighting, +except bare self-defence, would fight as bravely as yourself, colonel! +and that without being paid for it." + +"Sir, you are privileged," says the colonel, with great dignity; "and +you have my leave to say what you please. I respect your order, and you +cannot offend me." + +"I will not offend you, colonel," cries the doctor; "and our order is +very much obliged to you, since you profess so much respect to us, and +pay none to our Master." + +"What Master, sir?" said the colonel. + +"That Master," answered the doctor, "who hath expressly forbidden all +that cutting of throats to which you discover so much inclination." + +"O! your servant, sir," said the colonel; "I see what you are driving +at; but you shall not persuade me to think that religion forces me to be +a coward." + +"I detest and despise the name as much as you can," cries the doctor; +"but you have a wrong idea of the word, colonel. What were all the +Greeks and Romans? were these cowards? and yet, did you ever hear of +this butchery, which we call duelling, among them?" + +"Yes, indeed, have I," cries the colonel. "What else is all Mr. Pope's +Homer full of but duels? Did not what's his name, one of the Agamemnons, +fight with that paultry rascal Paris? and Diomede with what d'ye call +him there? and Hector with I forget his name, he that was Achilles's +bosom-friend; and afterwards with Achilles himself? Nay, and in Dryden's +Virgil, is there anything almost besides fighting?" + +"You are a man of learning, colonel," cries the doctor; "but--" + +"I thank you for that compliment," said the colonel.--"No, sir, I do +not pretend to learning; but I have some little reading, and I am not +ashamed to own it." + +"But are you sure, colonel," cries the doctor, "that you have not made +a small mistake? for I am apt to believe both Mr. Pope and Mr. Dryden +(though I cannot say I ever read a word of either of them) speak of wars +between nations, and not of private duels; for of the latter I do not +remember one single instance in all the Greek and Roman story. In short, +it is a modern custom, introduced by barbarous nations since the times +of Christianity; though it is a direct and audacious defiance of the +Christian law, and is consequently much more sinful in us than it would +have been in the heathens." + +"Drink about, doctor," cries the colonel; "and let us call a new cause; +for I perceive we shall never agree on this. You are a Churchman, and I +don't expect you to speak your mind." + +"We are both of the same Church, I hope," cries the doctor. + +"I am of the Church of England, sir," answered the colonel, "and will +fight for it to the last drop of my blood." + +"It is very generous in you, colonel," cries the doctor, "to fight so +zealously for a religion by which you are to be damned." + +"It is well for you, doctor," cries the colonel, "that you wear a gown; +for, by all the dignity of a man, if any other person had said the words +you have just uttered, I would have made him eat them; ay, d--n me, and +my sword into the bargain." + +Booth began to be apprehensive that this dispute might grow too warm; +in which case he feared that the colonel's honour, together with the +champagne, might hurry him so far as to forget the respect due, and +which he professed to pay, to the sacerdotal robe. Booth therefore +interposed between the disputants, and said that the colonel had very +rightly proposed to call a new subject; for that it was impossible to +reconcile accepting a challenge with the Christian religion, or refusing +it with the modern notion of honour. "And you must allow it, doctor," +said he, "to be a very hard injunction for a man to become infamous; +and more especially for a soldier, who is to lose his bread into the +bargain." + +"Ay, sir," says the colonel, with an air of triumph, "what say you to +that?" + +"Why, I say," cries the doctor, "that it is much harder to be damned on +the other side." + +"That may be," said the colonel; "but damn me, if I would take an +affront of any man breathing, for all that. And yet I believe myself to +be as good a Christian as wears a head. My maxim is, never to give an +affront, nor ever to take one; and I say that it is the maxim of a good +Christian, and no man shall ever persuade me to the contrary." + +"Well, sir," said the doctor, "since that is your resolution, I hope no +man will ever give you an affront." + +"I am obliged to you for your hope, doctor," cries the colonel, with +a sneer; "and he that doth will be obliged to you for lending him +your gown; for, by the dignity of a man, nothing out of petticoats, I +believe, dares affront me." + +Colonel James had not hitherto joined in the discourse. In truth, his +thoughts had been otherwise employed; nor is it very difficult for the +reader to guess what had been the subject of them. Being waked, however, +from his reverie, and having heard the two or three last speeches, he +turned to his brother, and asked him, why he would introduce such a +topic of conversation before a gentleman of Doctor Harrison's character? + +"Brother," cried Bath, "I own it was wrong, and I ask the doctor's +pardon: I know not how it happened to arise; for you know, brother, I am +not used to talk of these matters. They are generally poltroons that do. +I think I need not be beholden to my tongue to declare I am none. I have +shown myself in a line of battle. I believe there is no man will deny +that; I believe I may say no man dares deny that I have done my duty." + +The colonel was thus proceeding to prove that his prowess was neither +the subject of his discourse nor the object of his vanity, when a +servant entered and summoned the company to tea with the ladies; a +summons which Colonel James instantly obeyed, and was followed by all +the rest. + +But as the tea-table conversation, though extremely delightful to those +who are engaged in it, may probably appear somewhat dull to the reader, +we will here put an end to the chapter. + + + + +Chapter iv. + +_A dialogue between Booth and Amelia_. + + +The next morning early, Booth went by appointment and waited on Colonel +James; whence he returned to Amelia in that kind of disposition which +the great master of human passion would describe in Andromache, when he +tells us she cried and smiled at the same instant. + +Amelia plainly perceived the discomposure of his mind, in which +the opposite affections of joy and grief were struggling for the +superiority, and begged to know the occasion; upon which Booth spoke as +follows:-- + +"My dear," said he, "I had no intention to conceal from you what hath +past this morning between me and the colonel, who hath oppressed me, if +I may use that expression, with obligations. Sure never man had such a +friend; for never was there so noble, so generous a heart--I cannot help +this ebullition of gratitude, I really cannot." Here he paused a moment, +and wiped his eyes, and then proceeded: "You know, my dear, how gloomy +the prospect was yesterday before our eyes, how inevitable ruin stared +me in the face; and the dreadful idea of having entailed beggary on my +Amelia and her posterity racked my mind; for though, by the goodness of +the doctor, I had regained my liberty, the debt yet remained; and, if +that worthy man had a design of forgiving me his share, this must have +been my utmost hope, and the condition in which I must still have found +myself need not to be expatiated on. In what light, then, shall I see, +in what words shall I relate, the colonel's kindness? O my dear Amelia! +he hath removed the whole gloom at once, hath driven all despair out +of my mind, and hath filled it with the most sanguine, and, at the same +time, the most reasonable hopes of making a comfortable provision for +yourself and my dear children. In the first place, then, he will advance +me a sum of money to pay off all my debts; and this on a bond to be +repaid only when I shall become colonel of a regiment, and not before. +In the next place, he is gone this very morning to ask a company for me, +which is now vacant in the West Indies; and, as he intends to push this +with all his interest, neither he nor I have any doubt of his success. +Now, my dear, comes the third, which, though perhaps it ought to give me +the greatest joy, such is, I own, the weakness of my nature, it rends my +very heartstrings asunder. I cannot mention it, for I know it will give +you equal pain; though I know, on all proper occasions, you can exert a +manly resolution. You will not, I am convinced, oppose it, whatever you +must suffer in complying. O my dear Amelia! I must suffer likewise; +yet I have resolved to bear it. You know not what my poor heart hath +suffered since he made the proposal. It is love for you alone which +could persuade me to submit to it. Consider our situation; consider that +of our children; reflect but on those poor babes, whose future happiness +is at stake, and it must arm your resolution. It is your interest and +theirs that reconciled me to a proposal which, when the colonel first +made it, struck me with the utmost horror; he hath, indeed, from these +motives, persuaded me into a resolution which I thought impossible for +any one to have persuaded me into. O my dear Amelia! let me entreat +you to give me up to the good of your children, as I have promised the +colonel to give you up to their interest and your own. If you refuse +these terms we are still undone, for he insists absolutely upon them. +Think, then, my love, however hard they may be, necessity compels us to +submit to them. I know in what light a woman, who loves like you, must +consider such a proposal; and yet how many instances have you of women +who, from the same motives, have submitted to the same!" + +"What can you mean, Mr. Booth?" cries Amelia, trembling. + +"Need I explain my meaning to you more?" answered Booth.--"Did I not say +I must give up my Amelia?" + +"Give me up!" said she. + +"For a time only, I mean," answered he: "for a short time perhaps. The +colonel himself will take care it shall not be long--for I know his +heart; I shall scarce have more joy in receiving you back than he will +have in restoring you to my arms. In the mean time, he will not only be +a father to my children, but a husband to you." + +"A husband to me!" said Amelia. + +"Yes, my dear; a kind, a fond, a tender, an affectionate husband. If +I had not the most certain assurances of this, doth my Amelia think I +could be prevailed on to leave her? No, my Amelia, he is the only man on +earth who could have prevailed on me; but I know his house, his purse, +his protection, will be all at your command. And as for any dislike +you have conceived to his wife, let not that be any objection; for I +am convinced he will not suffer her to insult you; besides, she is +extremely well bred, and, how much soever she may hate you in her heart, +she will at least treat you with civility. + +"Nay, the invitation is not his, but hers; and I am convinced they will +both behave to you with the greatest friendship; his I am sure will +be sincere, as to the wife of a friend entrusted to his care; and hers +will, from good-breeding, have not only the appearances but the effects +of the truest friendship." + +"I understand you, my dear, at last," said she (indeed she had rambled +into very strange conceits from some parts of his discourse); "and I +will give you my resolution in a word--I will do the duty of a wife, and +that is, to attend her husband wherever he goes." + +Booth attempted to reason with her, but all to no purpose. She gave, +indeed, a quiet hearing to all he said, and even to those parts which +most displeased her ears; I mean those in which he exaggerated the great +goodness and disinterested generosity of his friend; but her resolution +remained inflexible, and resisted the force of all his arguments with a +steadiness of opposition, which it would have been almost excusable in +him to have construed into stubbornness. + +The doctor arrived in the midst of the dispute; and, having heard +the merits of the cause on both sides, delivered his opinion in the +following words. + +"I have always thought it, my dear children, a matter of the utmost +nicety to interfere in any differences between husband and wife; but, +since you both desire me with such earnestness to give you my sentiments +on the present contest between you, I will give you my thoughts as well +as I am able. In the first place then, can anything be more reasonable +than for a wife to desire to attend her husband? It is, as my favourite +child observes, no more than a desire to do her duty; and I make no +doubt but that is one great reason of her insisting on it. And how can +you yourself oppose it? Can love be its own enemy? or can a husband who +is fond of his wife, content himself almost on any account with a long +absence from her?" + +"You speak like an angel, my dear Doctor Harrison," answered Amelia: "I +am sure, if he loved as tenderly as I do, he could on no account submit +to it." + +"Pardon me, child," cries the doctor; "there are some reasons which +would not only justify his leaving you, but which must force him, if +he hath any real love for you, joined with common sense, to make that +election. If it was necessary, for instance, either to your good or to +the good of your children, he would not deserve the name of a man, I am +sure not that of a husband, if he hesitated a moment. Nay, in that +case, I am convinced you yourself would be an advocate for what you now +oppose. I fancy therefore I mistook him when I apprehended he said that +the colonel made his leaving you behind as the condition of getting him +the commission; for I know my dear child hath too much goodness, and too +much sense, and too much resolution, to prefer any temporary indulgence +of her own passions to the solid advantages of her whole family." + +"There, my dear!" cries Booth; "I knew what opinion the doctor would be +of. Nay, I am certain there is not a wise man in the kingdom who would +say otherwise." + +"Don't abuse me, young gentleman," said the doctor, "with appellations I +don't deserve." + +"I abuse you, my dear doctor!" cries Booth. + +"Yes, my dear sir," answered the doctor; "you insinuated slily that +I was wise, which, as the world understands the phrase, I should be +ashamed of; and my comfort is that no one can accuse me justly of it. I +have just given an instance of the contrary by throwing away my advice." + +"I hope, sir," cries Booth, "that will not be the case." + +"Yes, sir," answered the doctor. "I know it will be the case in the +present instance, for either you will not go at all, or my little turtle +here will go with you." + +"You are in the right, doctor," cries Amelia. + +"I am sorry for it," said the doctor, "for then I assure you you are in +the wrong." + +"Indeed," cries Amelia, "if you knew all my reasons you would say they +were very strong ones." + +"Very probably," cries the doctor. "The knowledge that they are in the +wrong is a very strong reason to some women to continue so." + +"Nay, doctor," cries Amelia, "you shall never persuade me of that. I +will not believe that any human being ever did an action merely because +they knew it to be wrong." + +"I am obliged to you, my dear child," said the doctor, "for declaring +your resolution of not being persuaded. Your husband would never call +me a wise man again if, after that declaration, I should attempt to +persuade you." + +"Well, I must be content," cries Amelia, "to let you think as you +please." + +"That is very gracious, indeed," said the doctor. "Surely, in a country +where the church suffers others to think as they please, it would be +very hard if they had not themselves the same liberty. And yet, as +unreasonable as the power of controuling men's thoughts is represented, +I will shew you how you shall controul mine whenever you desire it." + +"How, pray?" cries Amelia. "I should greatly esteem that power." + +"Why, whenever you act like a wise woman," cries the doctor, "you will +force me to think you so: and, whenever you are pleased to act as you do +now, I shall be obliged, whether I will or no, to think as I do now." + +"Nay, dear doctor," cries Booth, "I am convinced my Amelia will never do +anything to forfeit your good opinion. Consider but the cruel hardship +of what she is to undergo, and you will make allowances for the +difficulty she makes in complying. To say the truth, when I examine my +own heart, I have more obligations to her than appear at first sight; +for, by obliging me to find arguments to persuade her, she hath assisted +me in conquering myself. Indeed, if she had shewn more resolution, I +should have shewn less." + +"So you think it necessary, then," said the doctor, "that there should +be one fool at least in every married couple. A mighty resolution, +truly! and well worth your valuing yourself upon, to part with your wife +for a few months in order to make the fortune of her and your children; +when you are to leave her, too, in the care and protection of a friend +that gives credit to the old stories of friendship, and doth an honour +to human nature. What, in the name of goodness! do either of you think +that you have made an union to endure for ever? How will either of you +bear that separation which must, some time or other, and perhaps very +soon, be the lot of one of you? Have you forgot that you are both +mortal? As for Christianity, I see you have resigned all pretensions +to it; for I make no doubt but that you have so set your hearts on the +happiness you enjoy here together, that neither of you ever think a word +of hereafter." + +Amelia now burst into tears; upon which Booth begged the doctor to +proceed no farther. Indeed, he would not have wanted the caution; for, +however blunt he appeared in his discourse, he had a tenderness of heart +which is rarely found among men; for which I know no other reason than +that true goodness is rarely found among them; for I am firmly persuaded +that the latter never possessed any human mind in any degree, without +being attended by as large a portion of the former. + +Thus ended the conversation on this subject; what followed is not worth +relating, till the doctor carried off Booth with him to take a walk in +the Park. + + + + +Chapter v. + +_A conversation between Amelia and Dr Harrison, with the result_. + + +Amelia, being left alone, began to consider seriously of her condition; +she saw it would be very difficult to resist the importunities of her +husband, backed by the authority of the doctor, especially as she well +knew how unreasonable her declarations must appear to every one who was +ignorant of her real motives to persevere in it. On the other hand, +she was fully determined, whatever might be the consequence, to adhere +firmly to her resolution of not accepting the colonel's invitation. + +When she had turned the matter every way in her mind, and vexed and +tormented herself with much uneasy reflexion upon it, a thought at last +occurred to her which immediately brought her some comfort. This was, +to make a confidant of the doctor, and to impart to him the whole truth. +This method, indeed, appeared to her now to be so adviseable, that she +wondered she had not hit upon it sooner; but it is the nature of despair +to blind us to all the means of safety, however easy and apparent they +may be. + +Having fixed her purpose in her mind, she wrote a short note to the +doctor, in which she acquainted him that she had something of great +moment to impart to him, which must be an entire secret from her +husband, and begged that she might have an opportunity of communicating +it as soon as possible. + +Doctor Harrison received the letter that afternoon, and immediately +complied with Amelia's request in visiting her. He found her drinking +tea with her husband and Mrs. Atkinson, and sat down and joined the +company. + +Soon after the removal of the tea-table Mrs. Atkinson left the room. + +The doctor then, turning to Booth, said, "I hope, captain, you have a +true sense of the obedience due to the church, though our clergy do not +often exact it. However, it is proper to exercise our power sometimes, +in order to remind the laity of their duty. I must tell you, therefore, +that I have some private business with your wife; and I expect your +immediate absence." + +"Upon my word, doctor," answered Booth, "no Popish confessor, I firmly +believe, ever pronounced his will and pleasure with more gravity and +dignity; none therefore was ever more immediately obeyed than you shall +be." Booth then quitted the room, and desired the doctor to recall him +when his business with the lady was over. + +Doctor Harrison promised he would; and then turning to Amelia he said, +"Thus far, madam, I have obeyed your commands, and am now ready to +receive the important secret which you mention in your note." Amelia now +informed her friend of all she knew, all she had seen and heard, and all +that she suspected, of the colonel. The good man seemed greatly shocked +at the relation, and remained in a silent astonishment. Upon which +Amelia said, "Is villany so rare a thing, sir, that it should so much +surprize you?" "No, child," cries he; "but I am shocked at seeing it +so artfully disguised under the appearance of so much virtue; and, to +confess the truth, I believe my own vanity is a little hurt in having +been so grossly imposed upon. Indeed, I had a very high regard for this +man; for, besides the great character given him by your husband, and the +many facts I have heard so much redounding to his honour, he hath the +fairest and most promising appearance I have ever yet beheld. A good +face, they say, is a letter of recommendation. O Nature, Nature, why art +thou so dishonest as ever to send men with these false recommendations +into the world?" + +"Indeed, my dear sir, I begin to grow entirely sick of it," cries +Amelia, "for sure all mankind almost are villains in their hearts." + +"Fie, child!" cries the doctor. "Do not make a conclusion so much to the +dishonour of the great Creator. The nature of man is far from being in +itself evil: it abounds with benevolence, charity, and pity, coveting +praise and honour, and shunning shame and disgrace. Bad education, bad +habits, and bad customs, debauch our nature, and drive it headlong as +it were into vice. The governors of the world, and I am afraid +the priesthood, are answerable for the badness of it. Instead of +discouraging wickedness to the utmost of their power, both are too apt +to connive at it. In the great sin of adultery, for instance; hath the +government provided any law to punish it? or doth the priest take any +care to correct it? on the contrary, is the most notorious practice of +it any detriment to a man's fortune or to his reputation in the world? +doth it exclude him from any preferment in the state, I had almost said +in the church? is it any blot in his escutcheon? any bar to his honour? +is he not to be found every day in the assemblies of women of the +highest quality? in the closets of the greatest men, and even at the +tables of bishops? What wonder then if the community in general treat +this monstrous crime as a matter of jest, and that men give way to +the temptations of a violent appetite, when the indulgence of it is +protected by law and countenanced by custom? I am convinced there are +good stamina in the nature of this very man; for he hath done acts of +friendship and generosity to your husband before he could have any evil +design on your chastity; and in a Christian society, which I no more +esteem this nation to be than I do any part of Turkey, I doubt not but +this very colonel would have made a worthy and valuable member." + +"Indeed, my dear sir," cries Amelia, "you are the wisest as well as best +man in the world--" + +"Not a word of my wisdom," cries the doctor. "I have not a grain--I am +not the least versed in the Chrematistic [Footnote: The art of getting +wealth is so called by Aristotle in his Politics.] art, as an old friend +of mine calls it. I know not how to get a shilling, nor how to keep it +in my pocket if I had it." + +"But you understand human nature to the bottom," answered Amelia; "and +your mind is the treasury of all ancient and modern learning." + +"You are a little flatterer," cries the doctor; "but I dislike you not +for it. And, to shew you I don't, I will return your flattery, and tell +you you have acted with great prudence in concealing this affair from +your husband; but you have drawn me into a scrape; for I have promised +to dine with this fellow again to-morrow, and you have made it +impossible for me to keep my word." + +"Nay, but, dear sir," cries Amelia, "for Heaven's sake take care! If you +shew any kind of disrespect to the colonel, my husband may be led into +some suspicion--especially after our conference." + +"Fear nothing, child. I will give him no hint; and, that I may be +certain of not doing it, I will stay away. You do not think, I hope, +that I will join in a chearful conversation with such a man; that I will +so far betray my character as to give any countenance to such flagitious +proceedings. Besides, my promise was only conditional; and I do not know +whether I could otherwise have kept it; for I expect an old friend every +day who comes to town twenty miles on foot to see me, whom I shall not +part with on any account; for, as he is very poor, he may imagine I +treat him with disrespect." + +"Well, sir," cries Amelia, "I must admire you and love you for your +goodness." + +"Must you love me?" cries the doctor. "I could cure you now in a minute +if I pleased." + +"Indeed, I defy you, sir," said Amelia. + +"If I could but persuade you," answered he, "that I thought you not +handsome, away would vanish all ideas of goodness in an instant. Confess +honestly, would they not?" + +"Perhaps I might blame the goodness of your eyes," replied Amelia; "and +that is perhaps an honester confession than you expected. But do, +pray, sir, be serious, and give me your advice what to do. Consider the +difficult game I have to play; for I am sure, after what I have told +you, you would not even suffer me to remain under the roof of this +colonel." + +"No, indeed, would I not," said the doctor, "whilst I have a house of my +own to entertain you." + +"But how to dissuade my husband," continued she, "without giving him any +suspicion of the real cause, the consequences of his guessing at which I +tremble to think upon." + +"I will consult my pillow upon it," said the doctor; "and in the morning +you shall see me again. In the mean time be comforted, and compose the +perturbations of your mind." + +"Well, sir," said she, "I put my whole trust in you." + +"I am sorry to hear it," cries the doctor. "Your innocence may give you +a very confident trust in a much more powerful assistance. However, I +will do all I can to serve you: and now, if you please, we will call +back your husband; for, upon my word, he hath shewn a good catholic +patience. And where is the honest serjeant and his wife? I am pleased +with the behaviour of you both to that worthy fellow, in opposition to +the custom of the world; which, instead of being formed on the precepts +of our religion to consider each other as brethren, teaches us to regard +those who are a degree below us, either in rank or fortune, as a species +of beings of an inferior order in the creation." + +The captain now returned into the room, as did the serjeant and Mrs. +Atkinson; and the two couple, with the doctor, spent the evening +together in great mirth and festivity; for the doctor was one of the +best companions in the world, and a vein of chearfulness, good humour, +and pleasantry, ran through his conversation, with which it was +impossible to resist being pleased. + + + + +Chapter vi. + +_Containing as surprizing an accident as is perhaps recorded in +history_. + + +Booth had acquainted the serjeant with the great goodness of Colonel +James, and with the chearful prospects which he entertained from +it. This Atkinson, behind the curtain, communicated to his wife. The +conclusion which she drew from it need scarce be hinted to the reader. +She made, indeed, no scruple of plainly and bluntly telling her husband +that the colonel had a most manifest intention to attack the chastity of +Amelia. + +This thought gave the poor serjeant great uneasiness, and, after having +kept him long awake, tormented him in his sleep with a most horrid +dream, in which he imagined that he saw the colonel standing by the +bedside of Amelia, with a naked sword in his hand, and threatening to +stab her instantly unless she complied with his desires. Upon this the +serjeant started up in his bed, and, catching his wife by the throat, +cried out, "D--n you, put up your sword this instant, and leave the +room, or by Heaven I'll drive mine to your heart's blood!" + +This rough treatment immediately roused Mrs. Atkinson from her sleep, +who no sooner perceived the position of her husband, and felt his hand +grasping her throat, than she gave a violent shriek and presently fell +into a fit. + +Atkinson now waked likewise, and soon became sensible of the violent +agitations of his wife. He immediately leapt out of bed, and running for +a bottle of water, began to sprinkle her very plentifully; but all to +no purpose: she neither spoke nor gave any symptoms of recovery Atkinson +then began to roar aloud; upon which Booth, who lay under him, jumped +from his bed, and ran up with the lighted candle in his hand. The +serjeant had no sooner taken the candle than he ran with it to the +bed-side. Here he beheld a sight which almost deprived him of his +senses. The bed appeared to be all over blood, and his wife weltering in +the midst of it. Upon this the serjeant, almost in a frenzy, cried out, +"O Heavens! I have killed my wife. I have stabbed her! I have stabbed +her!" "What can be the meaning of all this?" said Booth. "O, sir!" +cries the serjeant, "I dreamt I was rescuing your lady from the hands of +Colonel James, and I have killed my poor wife."--Here he threw himself +upon the bed by her, caught her in his arms, and behaved like one +frantic with despair. + +By this time Amelia had thrown on a wrapping-gown, and was come up into +the room, where the serjeant and his wife were lying on the bed and +Booth standing like a motionless statue by the bed-side. Amelia had some +difficulty to conquer the effects of her own surprize on this occasion; +for a more ghastly and horrible sight than the bed presented could not +be conceived. + +Amelia sent Booth to call up the maid of the house, in order to lend +her assistance; but before his return Mrs. Atkinson began to come to +herself; and soon after, to the inexpressible joy of the serjeant, it +was discovered she had no wound. Indeed, the delicate nose of Amelia +soon made that discovery, which the grosser smell of the serjeant, and +perhaps his fright, had prevented him from making; for now it appeared +that the red liquor with which the bed was stained, though it may, +perhaps, sometimes run through the veins of a fine lady, was not what is +properly called blood, but was, indeed, no other than cherry-brandy, a +bottle of which Mrs. Atkinson always kept in her room to be ready for +immediate use, and to which she used to apply for comfort in all her +afflictions. This the poor serjeant, in his extreme hurry, had mistaken +for a bottle of water. Matters were now soon accommodated, and no other +mischief appeared to be done, unless to the bed-cloaths. Amelia and +Booth returned back to their room, and Mrs. Atkinson rose from her bed +in order to equip it with a pair of clean sheets. + +And thus this adventure would have ended without producing any kind of +consequence, had not the words which the serjeant uttered in his frenzy +made some slight impression on Booth; so much, at least, as to awaken +his curiosity; so that in the morning when he arose he sent for the +serjeant, and desired to hear the particulars of this dream, since +Amelia was concerned in it. + +The serjeant at first seemed unwilling to comply, and endeavoured to +make excuses. This, perhaps, encreased Booth's curiosity, and he said, +"Nay, I am resolved to hear it. Why, you simpleton, do you imagine me +weak enough to be affected by a dream, however terrible it may be?" + +"Nay, sir," cries the serjeant, "as for that matter, dreams have +sometimes fallen out to be true. One of my own, I know, did so, +concerning your honour; for, when you courted my young lady, I dreamt +you was married to her; and yet it was at a time when neither I myself, +nor any of the country, thought you would ever obtain her. But Heaven +forbid this dream should ever come to pass!" "Why, what was this dream?" +cries Booth. "I insist on knowing." + +"To be sure, sir," cries the serjeant, "I must not refuse you; but I +hope you will never think any more of it. Why then, sir, I dreamt that +your honour was gone to the West Indies, and had left my lady in the +care of Colonel James; and last night I dreamt the colonel came to my +lady's bed-side, offering to ravish her, and with a drawn sword in his +hand, threatening to stab her that moment unless she would comply with +his desires. How I came to be by I know not; but I dreamt I rushed upon +him, caught him by the throat, and swore I would put him to death unless +he instantly left the room. Here I waked, and this was my dream. I +never paid any regard to a dream in my life--but, indeed, I never dreamt +anything so very plain as this. It appeared downright reality. I am sure +I have left the marks of my fingers in my wife's throat. I would riot +have taken a hundred pound to have used her so." + +"Faith," cries Booth, "it was an odd dream, and not so easily to +be accounted for as that you had formerly of my marriage; for, as +Shakespear says, dreams denote a foregone conclusion. Now it is +impossible you should ever have thought of any such matter as this." + +"However, sir," cries the serjeant, "it is in your honour's power to +prevent any possibility of this dream's coming to pass, by not leaving +my lady to the care of the colonel; if you must go from her, certainly +there are other places where she may be with great safety; and, since +my wife tells me that my lady is so very unwilling, whatever reasons she +may have, I hope your honour will oblige her." + +"Now I recollect it," cries Booth, "Mrs. Atkinson hath once or twice +dropt some disrespectful words of the colonel. He hath done something to +disoblige her." + +"He hath indeed, sir," replied the serjeant: "he hath said that of +her which she doth not deserve, and for which, if he had not been my +superior officer, I would have cut both his ears off. Nay, for that +matter, he can speak ill of other people besides her." + +"Do you know, Atkinson," cries Booth, very gravely, "that you are +talking of the dearest friend I have?" + +"To be honest then," answered the serjeant, "I do not think so. If I +did, I should love him much better than I do." + +"I must and will have this explained," cries Booth. "I have too good +an opinion of you, Atkinson, to think you would drop such things as you +have without some reason--and I will know it." + +"I am sorry I have dropt a word," cries Atkinson. "I am sure I did not +intend it; and your honour hath drawn it from me unawares." + +"Indeed, Atkinson," cries Booth, "you have made me very uneasy, and I +must be satisfied." + +"Then, sir," said the serjeant, "you shall give me your word of honour, +or I will be cut into ten thousand pieces before I will mention another +syllable." + +"What shall I promise?" said Booth. + +"That you will not resent anything I shall lay to the colonel," answered +Atkinson. + +"Resent!--Well, I give you my honour," said Booth. + +The serjeant made him bind himself over and over again, and then related +to him the scene which formerly past between the colonel and himself, as +far as concerned Booth himself; but concealed all that more immediately +related to Amelia. + +"Atkinson," cries Booth, "I cannot be angry with you, for I know you +love me, and I have many obligations to you; but you have done wrong +in censuring the colonel for what he said of me. I deserve all that he +said, and his censures proceeded from his friendship." + +"But it was not so kind, sir," said Atkinson, "to say such things to me +who am but a serjeant, and at such a time too." + +"I will hear no more," cries Booth. "Be assured you are the only man I +would forgive on this occasion; and I forgive you only on condition +you never speak a word more of this nature. This silly dream hath +intoxicated you." + +"I have done, sir," cries the serjeant. "I know my distance, and whom +I am to obey; but I have one favour to beg of your honour, never to +mention a word of what I have said to my lady; for I know she never +would forgive me; I know she never would, by what my wife hath told me. +Besides, you need not mention it, sir, to my lady, for she knows it all +already, and a great deal more." + +Booth presently parted from the serjeant, having desired him to close +his lips on this occasion, and repaired to his wife, to whom he related +the serjeant's dream. + +Amelia turned as white as snow, and fell into so violent a trembling +that Booth plainly perceived her emotion, and immediately partook of +it himself. "Sure, my dear," said he, staring wildly, "there is more in +this than I know. A silly dream could not so discompose you. I beg you, +I intreat you to tell me--hath ever Colonel James--" + +At the very mention of the colonel's name Amelia fell on her knees, and +begged her husband not to frighten her. + +"What do I say, my dear love," cried Booth, "that can frighten you?" + +"Nothing, my dear," said she; "but my spirits are so discomposed with +the dreadful scene I saw last night, that a dream, which at another time +I should have laughed at, hath shocked me. Do but promise me that you +will not leave me behind you, and I am easy." + +"You may be so," cries Booth, "for I will never deny you anything. But +make me easy too. I must know if you have seen anything in Colonel James +to displease you." + +"Why should you suspect it?" cries Amelia. + +"You torment me to death," cries Booth. "By Heavens! I will know the +truth. Hath he ever said or done anything which you dislike?" + +"How, my dear," said Amelia, "can you imagine I should dislike a man who +is so much your friend? Think of all the obligations you have to him, +and then you may easily resolve yourself. Do you think, because I refuse +to stay behind you in his house, that I have any objection to him? No, +my dear, had he done a thousand times more than he hath--was he an +angel instead of a man, I would not quit my Billy. There's the sore, my +dear--there's the misery, to be left by you." + +Booth embraced her with the most passionate raptures, and, looking on +her with inexpressible tenderness, cried, "Upon my soul, I am not worthy +of you: I am a fool, and yet you cannot blame me. If the stupid miser +hoards, with such care, his worthless treasure--if he watches it with +such anxiety--if every apprehension of another's sharing the least part +fills his soul with such agonies--O Amelia! what must be my condition, +what terrors must I feel, while I am watching over a jewel of such real, +such inestimable worth!" + +"I can, with great truth, return the compliment," cries Amelia. "I have +my treasure too; and am so much a miser, that no force shall ever tear +me from it." + +"I am ashamed of my folly," cries Booth; "and yet it is all from extreme +tenderness. Nay, you yourself are the occasion. Why will you ever +attempt to keep a secret from me? Do you think I should have resented to +my friend his just censure of my conduct?" + +"What censure, my dear love?" cries Amelia. + +"Nay, the serjeant hath told me all," cries Booth--"nay, and that he +hath told it to you. Poor soul! thou couldst not endure to hear me +accused, though never so justly, and by so good a friend. Indeed, my +dear, I have discovered the cause of that resentment to the colonel +which you could not hide from me. I love you, I adore you for it; +indeed, I could not forgive a slighting word on you. But, why do I +compare things so unlike?--what the colonel said of me was just and +true; every reflexion on my Amelia must be false and villanous." + +The discernment of Amelia was extremely quick, and she now perceived +what had happened, and how much her husband knew of the truth. She +resolved therefore to humour him, and fell severely on Colonel James for +what he had said to the serjeant, which Booth endeavoured all he could +to soften; and thus ended this affair, which had brought Booth to the +very brink of a discovery which must have given him the highest torment, +if it had not produced any of those tragical effects which Amelia +apprehended. + + + + +Chapter vii. + +_In which the author appears to be master of that profound learning +called the knowledge of the town._ + + +Mrs. James now came to pay a morning's visit to Amelia. She entered +the room with her usual gaiety, and after a slight preface, addressing +herself to Booth, said she had been quarrelling with her husband on his +account. "I know not," said she, "what he means by thinking of sending +you the Lord knows whither. I have insisted on his asking something for +you nearer home; and it would be the hardest thing in the world if he +should not obtain it. Are we resolved never to encourage merit; but to +throw away all our preferments on those who do not deserve them? What +a set of contemptible wretches do we see strutting about the town in +scarlet!" + +Booth made a very low bow, and modestly spoke in disparagement of +himself. To which she answered, "Indeed, Mr. Booth, you have merit; I +have heard it from my brother, who is a judge of those matters, and I +am sure cannot be suspected of flattery. He is your friend as well as +myself, and we will never let Mr. James rest till he hath got you a +commission in England." + +Booth bowed again, and was offering to speak, but she interrupted him, +saying, "I will have no thanks, nor no fine speeches; if I can do you +any service I shall think I am only paying the debt of friendship to my +dear Mrs. Booth." + +Amelia, who had long since forgot the dislike she had taken to Mrs. +James at her first seeing her in town, had attributed it to the right +cause, and had begun to resume her former friendship for her, expressed +very warm sentiments of gratitude on this occasion. She told Mrs. James +she should be eternally obliged to her if she could succeed in her kind +endeavours; for that the thoughts of parting again with her husband had +given her the utmost concern. "Indeed," added she, "I cannot help saying +he hath some merit in the service, for he hath received two dreadful +wounds in it, one of which very greatly endangered his life; and I am +convinced, if his pretensions were backed with any interest, he would +not fail of success." + +"They shall be backed with interest," cries Mrs. James, "if my husband +hath any. He hath no favour to ask for himself, nor for any other friend +that I know of; and, indeed, to grant a man his just due, ought hardly +to be thought a favour. Resume your old gaiety, therefore, my dear +Emily. Lord! I remember the time when you was much the gayer creature of +the two. But you make an arrant mope of yourself by confining yourself +at home--one never meets you anywhere. Come, you shall go with me to the +Lady Betty Castleton's." + +"Indeed, you must excuse me, my dear," answered Amelia, "I do not know +Lady Betty." + +"Not know Lady Betty! how, is that possible?--but no matter, I will +introduce you. She keeps a morning rout; hardly a rout, indeed; a little +bit of a drum--only four or five tables. Come, take your capuchine; you +positively shall go. Booth, you shall go with us too. Though you are +with your wife, another woman will keep you in countenance." + +"La! child," cries Amelia, "how you rattle!" + +"I am in spirits," answered Mrs. James, "this morning; for I won four +rubbers together last night; and betted the things, and won almost every +bet. I am in luck, and we will contrive to be partners--Come." + +"Nay, child, you shall not refuse Mrs. James," said Booth. + +"I have scarce seen my children to-day," answered Amelia. "Besides, I +mortally detest cards." + +"Detest cards!" cries Mrs. James. "How can you be so stupid? I would not +live a day without them--nay, indeed, I do not believe I should be +able to exist. Is there so delightful a sight in the world as the +four honours in one's own hand, unless it be three natural aces at +bragg?--And you really hate cards?" + +"Upon reflexion," cries Amelia, "I have sometimes had great pleasure in +them--in seeing my children build houses with them. My little boy is so +dexterous that he will sometimes build up the whole pack." + +"Indeed, Booth," cries Mrs. James, "this good woman of yours is +strangely altered since I knew her first; but she will always be a good +creature." + +"Upon my word, my dear," cries Amelia, "you are altered too very +greatly; but I doubt not to live to see you alter again, when you come +to have as many children as I have." + +"Children!" cries Mrs. James; "you make me shudder. How can you envy me +the only circumstance which makes matrimony comfortable?" + +"Indeed, my dear," said Amelia, "you injure me; for I envy no woman's +happiness in marriage." At these words such looks past between Booth and +his wife as, to a sensible by-stander, would have made all the airs of +Mrs. James appear in the highest degree contemptible, and would have +rendered herself the object of compassion. Nor could that lady avoid +looking a little silly on the occasion. + +Amelia now, at the earnest desire of her husband, accoutred herself to +attend her friend; but first she insisted on visiting her children, to +whom she gave several hearty kisses, and then, recommending them to the +care of Mrs. Atkinson, she and her husband accompanied Mrs. James to the +rout; where few of my fine readers will be displeased to make part of +the company. + +The two ladies and Booth then entered an apartment beset with +card-tables, like the rooms at Bath and Tunbridge. Mrs. James +immediately introduced her friends to Lady Betty, who received them very +civily, and presently engaged Booth and Mrs. James in a party at whist; +for, as to Amelia, she so much declined playing, that as the party could +be filled without her, she was permitted to sit by. + +And now, who should make his appearance but the noble peer of whom +so much honourable mention hath already been made in this history? +He walked directly up to Amelia, and addressed her with as perfect a +confidence as if he had not been in the least conscious of having in any +manner displeased her; though the reader will hardly suppose that Mrs. +Ellison had kept anything a secret from him. + +Amelia was not, however, so forgetful. She made him a very distant +courtesy, would scarce vouchsafe an answer to anything he said, and took +the first opportunity of shifting her chair and retiring from him. + +Her behaviour, indeed, was such that the peer plainly perceived that he +should get no advantage by pursuing her any farther at present. Instead, +therefore, of attempting to follow her, he turned on his heel and +addressed his discourse to another lady, though he could not avoid often +casting his eyes towards Amelia as long as she remained in the room. + +Fortune, which seems to have been generally no great friend to Mr. +Booth, gave him no extraordinary marks of her favour at play. He lost +two full rubbers, which cost him five guineas; after which, Amelia, who +was uneasy at his lordship's presence, begged him in a whisper to return +home; with which request he directly complied. + +Nothing, I think, remarkable happened to Booth, unless the renewal of +his acquaintance with an officer whom he had known abroad, and who made +one of his party at the whist-table. + +The name of this gentleman, with whom the reader will hereafter be +better acquainted, was Trent. He had formerly been in the same regiment +with Booth, and there was some intimacy between them. Captain Trent +exprest great delight in meeting his brother officer, and both mutually +promised to visit each other. + +The scenes which had past the preceding night and that morning had so +confused Amelia's thoughts, that, in the hurry in which she was carried +off by Mrs. James, she had entirely forgot her appointment with Dr +Harrison. When she was informed at her return home that the doctor had +been to wait upon her, and had expressed some anger at her being gone +out, she became greatly uneasy, and begged of her husband to go to the +doctor's lodgings and make her apology. + +But lest the reader should be as angry with the doctor as he had +declared himself with Amelia, we think proper to explain the matter. +Nothing then was farther from the doctor's mind than the conception of +any anger towards Amelia. On the contrary, when the girl answered him +that her mistress was not at home, the doctor said with great good +humour, "How! not at home! then tell your mistress she is a giddy +vagabond, and I will come to see her no more till she sends for me." +This the poor girl, from misunderstanding one word, and half forgetting +the rest, had construed into great passion, several very bad words, and +a declaration that he would never see Amelia any more. + + + + +Chapter viii. + +_In which two strangers make their appearance._ + + +Booth went to the doctor's lodgings, and found him engaged with his +country friend and his son, a young gentleman who was lately in orders; +both whom the doctor had left, to keep his appointment with Amelia. + +After what we mentioned at the end of the last chapter, we need take +little notice of the apology made by Booth, or the doctor's reception of +it, which was in his peculiar manner. "Your wife," said he, "is a vain +hussy to think herself worth my anger; but tell her I have the vanity +myself to think I cannot be angry without a better cause. And yet tell +her I intend to punish her for her levity; for, if you go abroad, I have +determined to take her down with me into the country, and make her do +penance there till you return." + +"Dear sir," said Booth, "I know not how to thank you if you are in +earnest." + +"I assure you then I am in earnest," cries the doctor; "but you need not +thank me, however, since you know not how." + +"But would not that, sir," said Booth, "be shewing a slight to the +colonel's invitation? and you know I have so many obligations to him." + +"Don't tell me of the colonel," cries the doctor; "the church is to +be first served. Besides, sir, I have priority of right, even to you +yourself. You stole my little lamb from me; for I was her first love." + +"Well, sir," cries Booth, "if I should be so unhappy to leave her to +any one, she must herself determine; and, I believe, it will not be +difficult to guess where her choice will fall; for of all men, next +to her husband, I believe, none can contend with Dr Harrison in her +favour." + +"Since you say so," cries the doctor, "fetch her hither to dinner with +us; for I am at least so good a Christian to love those that love me--I +will shew you my daughter, my old friend, for I am really proud of +her--and you may bring my grand-children with you if you please." + +Booth made some compliments, and then went on his errand. As soon as he +was gone the old gentleman said to the doctor, "Pray, my good friend, +what daughter is this of yours? I never so much as heard that you was +married." + +"And what then," cries the doctor; "did you ever hear that a pope was +married? and yet some of them have had sons and daughters, I believe; +but, however, this young gentleman will absolve me without obliging me +to penance." + +"I have not yet that power," answered the young clergyman; "for I am +only in deacon's orders." + +"Are you not?" cries the doctor; "why then I will absolve myself. You +are to know then, my good friend, that this young lady was the daughter +of a neighbour of mine, who is since dead, and whose sins I hope are +forgiven; for she had too much to answer for on her child's account. Her +father was my intimate acquaintance and friend; a worthier man, indeed, +I believe never lived. He died suddenly when his children were infants; +and, perhaps, to the suddenness of his death it was owing that he did +not recommend any care of them to me. However, I, in some measure, took +that charge upon me; and particularly of her whom I call my daughter. +Indeed, as she grew up she discovered so many good qualities that she +wanted not the remembrance of her father's merit to recommend her. I do +her no more than justice when I say she is one of the best creatures I +ever knew. She hath a sweetness of temper, a generosity of spirit, an +openness of heart--in a word, she hath a true Christian disposition. I +may call her an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile." + +"I wish you joy of your daughter," cries the old gentleman; "for to +a man of your disposition, to find out an adequate object of your +benevolence, is, I acknowledge, to find a treasure." + +"It is, indeed, a happiness," cries the doctor. + +"The greatest difficulty," added the gentleman, "which persons of your +turn of mind meet with, is in finding proper objects of their goodness; +for nothing sure can be more irksome to a generous mind, than to +discover that it hath thrown away all its good offices on a soil that +bears no other fruit than ingratitude." + +"I remember," cries the doctor, "Phocylides saith, + + Mn kakov ev epens opens dpelpelv ioov eot evi povtw +[Footnote: To do a kindness to a bad man is like sowing your seed in the +sea.] + +But he speaks more like a philosopher than a Christian. I am more +pleased with a French writer, one of the best, indeed, that I ever read, +who blames men for lamenting the ill return which is so often made to +the best offices. [Footnote: D'Esprit.] A true Christian can never +be disappointed if he doth not receive his reward in this world; the +labourer might as well complain that he is not paid his hire in the +middle of the day." + +"I own, indeed," said the gentleman, "if we see it in that light--" + +"And in what light should we see it?" answered the doctor. "Are we like +Agrippa, only almost Christians? or, is Christianity a matter of bare +theory, and not a rule for our practice?" + +"Practical, undoubtedly; undoubtedly practical," cries the gentleman. +"Your example might indeed have convinced me long ago that we ought to +do good to every one." + +"Pardon me, father," cries the young divine, "that is rather a +heathenish than a Christian doctrine. Homer, I remember, introduces in +his Iliad one Axylus, of whom he says-- + + --Hidvos o'nv avopwpoloi + pavras yap tyeeokev +[Footnote: He was a friend to mankind, for he loved them all.] + +But Plato, who, of all the heathens, came nearest to the Christian +philosophy, condemned this as impious doctrine; so Eustathius tells us, +folio 474." + +"I know he doth," cries the doctor, "and so Barnes tells us, in his note +upon the place; but if you remember the rest of the quotation as well as +you do that from Eustathius, you might have added the observation which +Mr. Dryden makes in favour of this passage, that he found not in all the +Latin authors, so admirable an instance of extensive humanity. You might +have likewise remembered the noble sentiment with which Mr. Barnes +ends his note, the sense of which is taken from the fifth chapter of +Matthew:-- + + [Greek verse] + +"It seems, therefore, as if this character rather became a Christian +than a heathen, for Homer could not have transcribed it from any of +his deities. Whom is it, therefore, we imitate by such extensive +benevolence?" + +"What a prodigious memory you have!" cries the old gentleman: "indeed, +son, you must not contend with the doctor in these matters." + +"I shall not give my opinion hastily," cries the son. "I know, +again, what Mr. Poole, in his annotations, says on that verse of St +Matthew--That it is only to _heap coals of fire upon their heads_. How +are we to understand, pray, the text immediately preceding?--_Love your +enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you_." + +"You know, I suppose, young gentleman," said the doctor, "how these +words are generally understood. The commentator you mention, I think, +tells us that love is not here to be taken in the strict sense, so as to +signify the complacency of the heart; you may hate your enemies as God's +enemies, and seek due revenge of them for his honour; and, for your own +sakes too, you may seek moderate satisfaction of them; but then you are +to love them with a love consistent with these things; that is to say, +in plainer words, you are to love them and hate them, and bless and +curse, and do them good and mischief." + +"Excellent! admirable!" said the old gentleman; "you have a most +inimitable turn to ridicule." + +"I do not approve ridicule," said the son, "on such subjects." + +"Nor I neither," cries the doctor; "I will give you my opinion, +therefore, very seriously. The two verses taken together, contain a very +positive precept, delivered in the plainest words, and yet illustrated +by the clearest instance in the conduct of the Supreme Being; and +lastly, the practice of this precept is most nobly enforced by the +reward annexed--_that ye may be the children_, and so forth. No man +who understands what it is to love, and to bless, and to do good, can +mistake the meaning. But if they required any comment, the Scripture +itself affords enow. _If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, +give him drink; not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing, but +contrariwise, blessing._ They do not, indeed, want the comments of men, +who, when they cannot bend their mind to the obedience of Scripture, +are desirous to wrest Scripture to a compliance with their own +inclinations." + +"Most nobly and justly observed," cries the old gentleman. "Indeed, my +good friend, you have explained the text with the utmost perspicuity." + +"But if this be the meaning," cries the son, "there must be an end of +all law and justice, for I do not see how any man can prosecute his +enemy in a court of justice." + +"Pardon me, sir," cries the doctor. "Indeed, as an enemy merely, and +from a spirit of revenge, he cannot, and he ought not to prosecute him; +but as an offender against the laws of his country he may, and it is +his duty so to do. Is there any spirit of revenge in the magistrates or +officers of justice when they punish criminals? Why do such, ordinarily +I mean, concern themselves in inflicting punishments, but because it is +their duty? and why may not a private man deliver an offender into the +hands of justice, from the same laudable motive? Revenge, indeed, of +all kinds is strictly prohibited; wherefore, as we are not to execute +it with our own hands, so neither are we to make use of the law as the +instrument of private malice, and to worry each other with inveteracy +and rancour. And where is the great difficulty in obeying this wise, +this generous, this noble precept? If revenge be, as a certain divine, +not greatly to his honour, calls it, the most luscious morsel the devil +ever dropt into the mouth of a sinner, it must be allowed at least to +cost us often extremely dear. It is a dainty, if indeed it be one, which +we come at with great inquietude, with great difficulty, and with great +danger. However pleasant it may be to the palate while we are feeding on +it, it is sure to leave a bitter relish behind it; and so far, indeed, +it may be called a luscious morsel, that the most greedy appetites are +soon glutted, and the most eager longing for it is soon turned into +loathing and repentance. I allow there is something tempting in its +outward appearance, but it is like the beautiful colour of some poisons, +from which, however they may attract our eyes, a regard to our own +welfare commands us to abstain. And this is an abstinence to which +wisdom alone, without any Divine command, hath been often found +adequate, with instances of which the Greek and Latin authors everywhere +abound. May not a Christian, therefore, be well ashamed of making a +stumbling-block of a precept, which is not only consistent with his +worldly interest, but to which so noble an incentive is proposed?" + +The old gentleman fell into raptures at this speech, and, after making +many compliments to the doctor upon it, he turned to his son, and told +him he had an opportunity now of learning more in one day than he had +learnt at the university in a twelvemonth. + +The son replied, that he allowed the doctrine to be extremely good in +general, and that he agreed with the greater part; "but I must make a +distinction," said he. However, he was interrupted from his distinction +at present, for now Booth returned with Amelia and the children. + + + + +Chapter ix. + +_A scene of modern wit and humour._ + + +In the afternoon the old gentleman proposed a walk to Vauxhall, a place +of which, he said, he had heard much, but had never seen it. + +The doctor readily agreed to his friend's proposal, and soon after +ordered two coaches to be sent for to carry the whole company. But when +the servant was gone for them Booth acquainted the doctor that it was +yet too early. "Is it so?" said the doctor; "why, then, I will carry you +first to one of the greatest and highest entertainments in the world." + +The children pricked up their ears at this, nor did any of the company +guess what he meant; and Amelia asked what entertainment he could carry +them to at that time of day? + +"Suppose," says the doctor, "I should carry you to court." + +"At five o'clock in the afternoon!" cries Booth. + +"Ay, suppose I should have interest enough to introduce you into the +presence." + +"You are jesting, dear sir," cries Amelia. + +"Indeed, I am serious," answered the doctor. "I will introduce you into +that presence, compared to whom the greatest emperor on the earth is +many millions of degrees meaner than the most contemptible reptile is to +him. What entertainment can there be to a rational being equal to this? +Was not the taste of mankind most wretchedly depraved, where would the +vain man find an honour, or where would the love of pleasure propose +so adequate an object as divine worship? with what ecstasy must the +contemplation of being admitted to such a presence fill the mind! +The pitiful courts of princes are open to few, and to those only at +particular seasons; but from this glorious and gracious presence we are +none of us, and at no time excluded." + +The doctor was proceeding thus when the servant returned, saying the +coaches were ready; and the whole company with the greatest alacrity +attended the doctor to St James's church. + +When the service was ended, and they were again got into their coaches, +Amelia returned the doctor many thanks for the light in which he had +placed divine worship, assuring him that she had never before had so +much transport in her devotion as at this time, and saying she believed +she should be the better for this notion he had given her as long as she +lived. + +The coaches being come to the water-side, they all alighted, and, +getting into one boat, proceeded to Vauxhall. + +The extreme beauty and elegance of this place is well known to almost +every one of my readers; and happy is it for me that it is so, since +to give an adequate idea of it would exceed my power of description. +To delineate the particular beauties of these gardens would, indeed, +require as much pains, and as much paper too, as to rehearse all +the good actions of their master, whose life proves the truth of an +observation which I have read in some ethic writer, that a truly elegant +taste is generally accompanied with an excellency of heart; or, in other +words, that true virtue is, indeed, nothing else but true taste. + +Here our company diverted themselves with walking an hour or two before +the music began. Of all the seven, Booth alone had ever been here +before; so that, to all the rest, the place, with its other charms, had +that of novelty. When the music played, Amelia, who stood next to +the doctor, said to him in a whisper, "I hope I am not guilty of +profaneness; but, in pursuance of that chearful chain of thoughts with +which you have inspired me this afternoon, I was just now lost in a +reverie, and fancied myself in those blissful mansions which we hope to +enjoy hereafter. The delicious sweetness of the place, the enchanting +charms of the music, and the satisfaction which appears in every one's +countenance, carried my soul almost to heaven in its ideas. I could not +have, indeed, imagined there had been anything like this in this world." + +The doctor smiled, and said, "You see, dear madam, there may be +pleasures of which you could conceive no idea till you actually enjoyed +them." + +And now the little boy, who had long withstood the attractions of +several cheesecakes that passed to and fro, could contain no longer, but +asked his mother to give him one, saying, "I am sure my sister would be +glad of another, though she is ashamed to ask." The doctor, overhearing +the child, proposed that they should all retire to some place where +they might sit down and refresh themselves; which they accordingly did. +Amelia now missed her husband; but, as she had three men in her company, +and one of them was the doctor, she concluded herself and her children +to be safe, and doubted not but that Booth would soon find her out. + +They now sat down, and the doctor very gallantly desired Amelia to call +for what she liked. Upon which the children were supplied with cakes, +and some ham and chicken were provided for the rest of the company; with +which while they were regaling themselves with the highest satisfaction, +two young fellows walking arm-in-arm, came up, and when they came +opposite to Amelia they stood still, staring Amelia full in the face, +and one of them cried aloud to the other, "D--n me, my lord, if she is +not an angel!"--My lord stood still, staring likewise at her, without +speaking a word; when two others of the same gang came up, and one of +them cried, "Come along, Jack, I have seen her before; but she is too +well manned already. Three----are enough for one woman, or the devil is +in it!" + +"D--n me," says he that spoke first, and whom they called Jack, "I will +have a brush at her if she belonged to the whole convocation." And so +saying, he went up to the young clergyman, and cried, "Doctor, sit up a +little, if you please, and don't take up more room in a bed than belongs +to you." At which words he gave the young man a push, and seated himself +down directly over against Amelia, and, leaning both his elbows on +the table, he fixed his eyes on her in a manner with which modesty can +neither look nor bear to be looked at. + +Amelia seemed greatly shocked at this treatment; upon which the doctor +removed her within him, and then, facing the gentleman, asked him what +he meant by this rude behaviour?--Upon which my lord stept up and said, +"Don't be impertinent, old gentleman. Do you think such fellows as you +are to keep, d--n me, such fine wenches, d--n me, to yourselves, d--n +me?" + +"No, no," cries Jack, "the old gentleman is more reasonable. Here's the +fellow that eats up the tithe-pig. Don't you see how his mouth waters at +her? Where's your slabbering bib?" For, though the gentleman had rightly +guessed he was a clergyman, yet he had not any of those insignia on with +which it would have been improper to have appeared there. + +"Such boys as you," cries the young clergyman, "ought to be well whipped +at school, instead of being suffered to become nuisances in society." + +"Boys, sir!" says Jack; "I believe I am as good a man as yourself, +Mr.----, and as good a scholar too. _Bos fur sus quotque sacerdos_. Tell +me what's next. D--n me, I'll hold you fifty pounds you don't tell me +what's next." + +"You have him, Jack," cries my lord. "It is over with him, d--n me! he +can't strike another blow." + +"If I had you in a proper place," cries the clergyman, "you should find +I would strike a blow, and a pretty hard one too." + +"There," cries my lord, "there is the meekness of the clergyman--there +spoke the wolf in sheep's clothing. D--n me, how big he looks! You must +be civil to him, faith! or else he will burst with pride." + +"Ay, ay," cries Jack, "let the clergy alone for pride; there's not a +lord in the kingdom now hath half the pride of that fellow." + +"Pray, sir," cries the doctor, turning to the other, "are you a lord?" + +"Yes, Mr. ----," cries he, "I have that honour, indeed." + +"And I suppose you have pride too," said the doctor. + +"I hope I have, sir," answered he, "at your service." + +"If such a one as you, sir," cries the doctor, "who are not only a +scandal to the title you bear as a lord, but even as a man, can pretend +to pride, why will you not allow it to a clergyman? I suppose, sir, by +your dress, you are in the army? and, by the ribbon in your hat, you +seem to be proud of that too. How much greater and more honourable is +the service in which that gentleman is enlisted than yours! Why then +should you object to the pride of the clergy, since the lowest of the +function is in reality every way so much your superior?" + +"Tida Tidu Tidum," cries my lord. + +"However, gentlemen," cries the doctor, "if you have the least +pretension to that name, I beg you will put an end to your frolic; since +you see it gives so much uneasiness to the lady. Nay, I entreat you for +your own sakes, for here is one coming who will talk to you in a very +different stile from ours." + +"One coming!" cries my lord; "what care I who is coming?" + +"I suppose it is the devil," cries Jack; "for here are two of his livery +servants already." + +"Let the devil come as soon as he will," cries my lord; "d--n me if I +have not a kiss!" + +Amelia now fell a trembling; and her children, perceiving her fright, +both hung on her, and began to cry; when Booth and Captain Trent both +came up. + +Booth, seeing his wife disordered, asked eagerly what was the matter? +At the same time the lord and his companion, seeing Captain Trent, whom +they well knew, said both together, "What, doth this company belong +to you?" When the doctor, with great presence of mind, as he was +apprehensive of some fatal consequence if Booth should know what had +past, said, "So, Mr. Booth, I am glad you are returned; your poor lady +here began to be frighted out of her wits. But now you have him again," +said he to Amelia, "I hope you will be easy." + +Amelia, frighted as she was, presently took the hint, and greatly +chid her husband for leaving her. But the little boy was not so +quick-sighted, and cried, "Indeed, papa, those naughty men there have +frighted my mamma out of her wits." + +"How!" cries Booth, a little moved; "frightened! Hath any one frightened +you, my dear?" + +"No, my love," answered she, "nothing. I know not what the child means. +Everything is well now I see you safe." + +Trent had been all the while talking aside with the young sparks; and +now, addressing himself to Booth, said, "Here hath been some little +mistake; I believe my lord mistook Mrs. Booth for some other lady." + +"It is impossible," cries my lord, "to know every one. I am sure, if +I had known the lady to be a woman of fashion, and an acquaintance of +Captain Trent, I should have said nothing disagreeable to her; but, if I +have, I ask her pardon, and the company's." + +"I am in the dark," cries Booth. "Pray what is all this matter?" + +"Nothing of any consequence," cries the doctor, "nor worth your +enquiring into. You hear it was a mistake of the person, and I really +believe his lordship that all proceeded from his not knowing to whom the +lady belonged." + +"Come, come," says Trent, "there is nothing in the matter, I assure you. +I will tell you the whole another time." + +"Very well; since you say so," cries Booth, "I am contented." So ended +the affair, and the two sparks made their congee, and sneaked off. + +"Now they are gone," said the young gentleman, "I must say I never saw +two worse-bred jackanapes, nor fellows that deserved to be kicked more. +If I had had them in another place I would have taught them a little +more respect to the church." + +"You took rather a better way," answered the doctor, "to teach them that +respect." + +Booth now desired his friend Trent to sit down with them, and proposed +to call for a fresh bottle of wine; but Amelia's spirits were too much +disconcerted to give her any prospect of pleasure that evening. She +therefore laid hold of the pretence of her children, for whom she said +the hour was already too late; with which the doctor agreed. So they +paid their reckoning and departed, leaving to the two rakes the triumph +of having totally dissipated the mirth of this little innocent company, +who were before enjoying complete satisfaction. + + + + +Chapter x. + +_A curious conversation between the doctor, the young clergyman, and the +young clergyman's father_. + + +The next morning, when the doctor and his two friends were at breakfast, +the young clergyman, in whose mind the injurious treatment he had +received the evening before was very deeply impressed, renewed the +conversation on that subject. + +"It is a scandal," said he, "to the government, that they do not +preserve more respect to the clergy, by punishing all rudeness to them +with the utmost severity. It was very justly observed of you, sir," +said he to the doctor, "that the lowest clergyman in England is in real +dignity superior to the highest nobleman. What then can be so shocking +as to see that gown, which ought to entitle us to the veneration of +all we meet, treated with contempt and ridicule? Are we not, in fact, +ambassadors from heaven to the world? and do they not, therefore, in +denying us our due respect, deny it in reality to Him that sent us?" + +"If that be the case," says the doctor, "it behoves them to look to +themselves; for He who sent us is able to exact most severe vengeance +for the ill treatment of His ministers." + +"Very true, sir," cries the young one; "and I heartily hope He will; +but those punishments are at too great a distance to infuse terror +into wicked minds. The government ought to interfere with its immediate +censures. Fines and imprisonments and corporal punishments operate more +forcibly on the human mind than all the fears of damnation." + +"Do you think so?" cries the doctor; "then I am afraid men are very +little in earnest in those fears." + +"Most justly observed," says the old gentleman. "Indeed, I am afraid +that is too much the case." + +"In that," said the son, "the government is to blame. Are not books +of infidelity, treating our holy religion as a mere imposture, nay, +sometimes as a mere jest, published daily, and spread abroad amongst the +people with perfect impunity?" + +"You are certainly in the right," says the doctor; "there is a most +blameable remissness with regard to these matters; but the whole blame +doth not lie there; some little share of the fault is, I am afraid, to +be imputed to the clergy themselves." + +"Indeed, sir," cries the young one, "I did not expect that charge from +a gentleman of your cloth. Do the clergy give any encouragement to +such books? Do they not, on the contrary, cry loudly out against the +suffering them? This is the invidious aspersion of the laity; and I did +not expect to hear it confirmed by one of our own cloth." + +"Be not too impatient, young gentleman," said the doctor. "I do not +absolutely confirm the charge of the laity; it is much too general and +too severe; but even the laity themselves do not attack them in that +part to which you have applied your defence. They are not supposed +such fools as to attack that religion to which they owe their temporal +welfare. They are not taxed with giving any other support to infidelity +than what it draws from the ill examples of their lives; I mean of the +lives of some of them. Here too the laity carry their censures too far; +for there are very few or none of the clergy whose lives, if compared +with those of the laity, can be called profligate; but such, indeed, +is the perfect purity of our religion, such is the innocence and virtue +which it exacts to entitle us to its glorious rewards and to screen us +from its dreadful punishments, that he must be a very good man indeed +who lives up to it. Thus then these persons argue. This man is educated +in a perfect knowledge of religion, is learned in its laws, and is by +his profession obliged, in a manner, to have them always before his +eyes. The rewards which it promises to the obedience of these laws are +so great, and the punishments threatened on disobedience so dreadful, +that it is impossible but all men must fearfully fly from the one, +and as eagerly pursue the other. If, therefore, such a person lives +in direct opposition to, and in a constant breach of, these laws, the +inference is obvious. There is a pleasant story in Matthew Paris, which +I will tell you as well as I can remember it. Two young gentlemen, +I think they were priests, agreed together that whosoever died first +should return and acquaint his friend with the secrets of the other +world. One of them died soon after, and fulfilled his promise. The +whole relation he gave is not very material; but, among other things, he +produced one of his hands, which Satan had made use of to write upon, +as the moderns do on a card, and had sent his compliments to the priests +for the number of souls which the wicked examples of their lives daily +sent to hell. This story is the more remarkable as it was written by a +priest, and a great favourer of his order." + +"Excellent!" cried the old gentleman; "what a memory you have." + +"But, sir," cries the young one, "a clergyman is a man as well as +another; and, if such perfect purity be expected--" + +"I do not expect it," cries the doctor; "and I hope it will not be +expected of us. The Scripture itself gives us this hope, where the best +of us are said to fall twenty times a-day. But sure we may not allow +the practice of any of those grosser crimes which contaminate the +whole mind. We may expect an obedience to the ten commandments, and an +abstinence from such notorious vices as, in the first place, +Avarice, which, indeed, can hardly subsist without the breach of more +commandments than one. Indeed, it would be excessive candour to imagine +that a man who so visibly sets his whole heart, not only on this world, +but on one of the most worthless things in it (for so is money, without +regard to its uses), should be, at the same time, laying up his treasure +in heaven. Ambition is a second vice of this sort: we are told we cannot +serve God and Mammon. I might have applied this to avarice; but I chose +rather to mention it here. When we see a man sneaking about in courts +and levees, and doing the dirty work of great men, from the hopes of +preferment, can we believe that a fellow whom we see to have so many +hard task-masters upon earth ever thinks of his Master which is in +heaven? Must he not himself think, if ever he reflects at all, that so +glorious a Master will disdain and disown a servant who is the dutiful +tool of a court-favourite, and employed either as the pimp of his +pleasure, or sometimes, perhaps, made a dirty channel to assist in the +conveyance of that corruption which is clogging up and destroying the +very vitals of his country? + +"The last vice which I shall mention is Pride. There is not in the +universe a more ridiculous nor a more contemptible animal than a proud +clergyman; a turkey-cock or a jackdaw are objects of veneration when +compared with him. I don't mean, by Pride, that noble dignity of mind to +which goodness can only administer an adequate object, which delights in +the testimony of its own conscience, and could not, without the highest +agonies, bear its condemnation. By Pride I mean that saucy passion which +exults in every little eventual pre-eminence over other men: such are +the ordinary gifts of nature, and the paultry presents of fortune, +wit, knowledge, birth, strength, beauty, riches, titles, and rank. That +passion which is ever aspiring, like a silly child, to look over the +heads of all about them; which, while it servilely adheres to the great, +flies from the poor, as if afraid of contamination; devouring greedily +every murmur of applause and every look of admiration; pleased and +elated with all kind of respect; and hurt and enflamed with the contempt +of the lowest and most despicable of fools, even with such as treated +you last night disrespectfully at Vauxhall. Can such a mind as this be +fixed on things above? Can such a man reflect that he hath the ineffable +honour to be employed in the immediate service of his great Creator? +or can he please himself with the heart-warming hope that his ways are +acceptable in the sight of that glorious, that incomprehensible Being?" + +"Hear, child, hear," cries the old gentleman; "hear, and improve your +understanding. Indeed, my good friend, no one retires from you without +carrying away some good instructions with him. Learn of the doctor, Tom, +and you will be the better man as long as you live." + +"Undoubtedly, sir," answered Tom, "the doctor hath spoken a great deal +of excellent truth; and, without a compliment to him, I was always a +great admirer of his sermons, particularly of their oratory. But, + + _Nee tamen hoc tribuens dederim quoque caetera_. + +I cannot agree that a clergyman is obliged to put up with an affront +any more than another man, and more especially when it is paid to the +order." + +"I am very sorry, young gentleman," cries the doctor, "that you should +be ever liable to be affronted as a clergyman; and I do assure you, if +I had known your disposition formerly, the order should never have been +affronted through you." + +The old gentleman now began to check his son for his opposition to the +doctor, when a servant delivered the latter a note from Amelia, which he +read immediately to himself, and it contained the following words: + +"MY DEAR SIR,--Something hath happened since I saw you which gives me +great uneasiness, and I beg the favour of seeing you as soon as possible +to advise with you upon it. I am + +"Your most obliged and dutiful daughter, + +"AMELIA BOOTH." + +The doctor's answer was, that he would wait on the lady directly; and +then, turning to his friend, he asked him if he would not take a walk in +the Park before dinner. "I must go," says he, "to the lady who was with +us last night; for I am afraid, by her letter, some bad accident hath +happened to her. Come, young gentleman, I spoke a little too hastily to +you just now; but I ask your pardon. Some allowance must be made to the +warmth of your blood. I hope we shall, in time, both think alike." + +The old gentleman made his friend another compliment; and the young one +declared he hoped he should always think, and act too, with the dignity +becoming his cloth. After which the doctor took his leave for a while, +and went to Amelia's lodgings. + +As soon as he was gone the old gentleman fell very severely on his +son. "Tom," says he, "how can you be such a fool to undo, by your +perverseness, all that I have been doing? Why will you not learn to +study mankind with the attention which I have employed to that purpose? +Do you think, if I had affronted this obstinate old fellow as you do, I +should ever have engaged his friendship?" + +"I cannot help it, sir," said Tom: "I have not studied six years at the +university to give up my sentiments to every one. It is true, indeed, +he put together a set of sounding words; but, in the main, I never heard +any one talk more foolishly." + +"What of that?" cries the father; "I never told you he was a wise man, +nor did I ever think him so. If he had any understanding, he would have +been a bishop long ago, to my certain knowledge. But, indeed, he hath +been always a fool in private life; for I question whether he is worth +L100 in the world, more than his annual income. He hath given away above +half his fortune to the Lord knows who. I believe I have had above L200 +of him, first and last; and would you lose such a milch-cow as this for +want of a few compliments? Indeed, Tom, thou art as great a simpleton as +himself. How do you expect to rise in the church if you cannot temporise +and give in to the opinions of your superiors?" + +"I don't know, sir," cries Tom, "what you mean by my superiors. In one +sense, I own, a doctor of divinity is superior to a bachelor of arts, +and so far I am ready to allow his superiority; but I understand Greek +and Hebrew as well as he, and will maintain my opinion against him, or +any other in the schools." + +"Tom," cries the old gentleman, "till thou gettest the better of thy +conceit I shall never have any hopes of thee. If thou art wise, thou +wilt think every man thy superior of whom thou canst get anything; +at least thou wilt persuade him that thou thinkest so, and that is +sufficient. Tom, Tom, thou hast no policy in thee." + +"What have I been learning these seven years," answered he, "in the +university? However, father, I can account for your opinion. It is the +common failing of old men to attribute all wisdom to themselves. Nestor +did it long ago: but, if you will inquire my character at college, I +fancy you will not think I want to go to school again." + +The father and son then went to take their walk, during which the former +repeated many good lessons of policy to his son, not greatly perhaps to +his edification. In truth, if the old gentleman's fondness had not in a +great measure blinded him to the imperfections of his son, he would +have soon perceived that he was sowing all his instructions in a soil +so choaked with self-conceit that it was utterly impossible they should +ever bear any fruit. + + + + +BOOK X. + + + +Chapter i. + +_To which we will prefix no preface_. + + +The doctor found Amelia alone, for Booth was gone to walk with his +new-revived acquaintance, Captain Trent, who seemed so pleased with the +renewal of his intercourse with his old brother-officer, that he had +been almost continually with him from the time of their meeting at the +drum. + +Amelia acquainted the doctor with the purport of her message, as +follows: "I ask your pardon, my dear sir, for troubling you so often +with my affairs; but I know your extreme readiness, as well as ability, +to assist any one with your advice. The fact is, that my husband hath +been presented by Colonel James with two tickets for a masquerade, which +is to be in a day or two, and he insists so strongly on my going with +him, that I really do not know how to refuse without giving him some +reason; and I am not able to invent any other than the true one, which +you would not, I am sure, advise me to communicate to him. Indeed I +had a most narrow escape the other day; for I was almost drawn in +inadvertently by a very strange accident, to acquaint him with the +whole matter." She then related the serjeant's dream, with all the +consequences that attended it. + +The doctor considered a little with himself, and then said, "I am +really, child, puzzled as well as you about this matter. I would by no +means have you go to the masquerade; I do not indeed like the diversion +itself, as I have heard it described to me; not that I am such a prude +to suspect every woman who goes there of any evil intentions; but it is +a pleasure of too loose and disorderly a kind for the recreation of +a sober mind. Indeed, you have still a stronger and more particular +objection. I will try myself to reason him out of it." + +"Indeed it is impossible," answered she; "and therefore I would not set +you about it. I never saw him more set on anything. There is a party, +as they call it, made on the occasion; and he tells me my refusal will +disappoint all." + +"I really do not know what to advise you," cries the doctor; "I have +told you I do not approve of these diversions; but yet, as your husband +is so very desirous, I cannot think there will be any harm in going with +him. However, I will consider of it, and do all in my power for you." + +Here Mrs. Atkinson came in, and the discourse on this subject ceased; +but soon after Amelia renewed it, saying there was no occasion to keep +anything a secret from her friend. They then fell to debating on the +subject, but could not come to any resolution. But Mrs. Atkinson, who +was in an unusual flow of spirits, cried out, "Fear nothing, my dear +Amelia, two women surely will be too hard for one man. I think, doctor, +it exceeds Virgil: + + _Una dolo divum si faemina victa duorum est_." + +"Very well repeated, indeed!" cries the doctor. "Do you understand all +Virgil as well as you seem to do that line?" + +"I hope I do, sir," said she, "and Horace too; or else my father threw +away his time to very little purpose in teaching me." + +"I ask your pardon, madam," cries the doctor. "I own it was an +impertinent question." + +"Not at all, sir," says she; "and if you are one of those who imagine +women incapable of learning, I shall not be offended at it. I know the +common opinion; but + + _Interdum vulgus rectum videt, est ubi peccat_." + +"If I was to profess such an opinion, madam," said the doctor, "Madam +Dacier and yourself would bear testimony against me. The utmost indeed +that I should venture would be to question the utility of learning in a +young lady's education." + +"I own," said Mrs. Atkinson, "as the world is constituted, it cannot be +as serviceable to her fortune as it will be to that of a man; but +you will allow, doctor, that learning may afford a woman, at least, a +reasonable and an innocent entertainment." + +"But I will suppose," cried the doctor, "it may have its inconveniences. +As, for instance, if a learned lady should meet with an unlearned +husband, might she not be apt to despise him?" + +"I think not," cries Mrs. Atkinson--"and, if I may be allowed the +instance, I think I have shewn, myself, that women who have learning +themselves can be contented without that qualification in a man." + +"To be sure," cries the doctor, "there may be other qualifications which +may have their weight in the balance. But let us take the other side +of the question, and suppose the learned of both sexes to meet in +the matrimonial union, may it not afford one excellent subject of +disputation, which is the most learned?" + +"Not at all," cries Mrs. Atkinson; "for, if they had both learning and +good sense, they would soon see on which side the superiority lay." + +"But if the learned man," said the doctor, "should be a little +unreasonable in his opinion, are you sure that the learned woman would +preserve her duty to her husband, and submit?" + +"But why," cries Mrs. Atkinson, "must we necessarily suppose that a +learned man would be unreasonable?" + +"Nay, madam," said the doctor, "I am not your husband; and you shall not +hinder me from supposing what I please. Surely it is not such a paradox +to conceive that a man of learning should be unreasonable. Are there no +unreasonable opinions in very learned authors, even among the critics +themselves? For instance, what can be a more strange, and indeed +unreasonable opinion, than to prefer the Metamorphoses of Ovid to the +AEneid of Virgil?" + +"It would be indeed so strange," cries the lady, "that you shall not +persuade me it was ever the opinion of any man." + +"Perhaps not," cries the doctor; "and I believe you and I should +not differ in our judgments of any person who maintained such an +opinion--What a taste must he have!" + +"A most contemptible one indeed," cries Mrs. Atkinson. + +"I am satisfied," cries the doctor. "And in the words of your own +Horace, _Verbum non amplius addam_." + +"But how provoking is this," cries Mrs. Atkinson, "to draw one in such +a manner! I protest I was so warm in the defence of my favourite Virgil, +that I was not aware of your design; but all your triumph depends on +a supposition that one should be so unfortunate as to meet with the +silliest fellow in the world." + +"Not in the least," cries the doctor. "Doctor Bentley was not such a +person; and yet he would have quarrelled, I am convinced, with any wife +in the world, in behalf of one of his corrections. I don't suppose he +would have given up his _Ingentia Fata_ to an angel." + +"But do you think," said she, "if I had loved him, I would have +contended with him?" + +"Perhaps you might sometimes," said the doctor, "be of these sentiments; +but you remember your own Virgil--_Varium et mutabile semper faemina_." + +"Nay, Amelia," said Mrs. Atkinson, "you are now concerned as well as I +am; for he hath now abused the whole sex, and quoted the severest thing +that ever was said against us, though I allow it is one of the finest." + +"With all my heart, my dear," cries Amelia. "I have the advantage of +you, however, for I don't understand him." + +"Nor doth she understand much better than yourself," cries the doctor; +"or she would not admire nonsense, even though in Virgil." + +"Pardon me, sir," said she. + +"And pardon me, madam," cries the doctor, with a feigned seriousness; "I +say, a boy in the fourth form at Eton would be whipt, or would deserve +to be whipt at least, who made the neuter gender agree with the +feminine. You have heard, however, that Virgil left his AEneid +incorrect; and, perhaps, had he lived to correct it, we should not have +seen the faults we now see in it." + +"Why, it is very true as you say, doctor," cries Mrs. Atkinson; "there +seems to be a false concord. I protest I never thought of it before." + +"And yet this is the Virgil," answered the doctor, "that you are so +fond of, who hath made you all of the neuter gender; or, as we say in +English, he hath made mere animals of you; for, if we translate it thus, + + "Woman is a various and changeable animal, + +"there will be no fault, I believe, unless in point of civility to the +ladies." + +Mrs. Atkinson had just time to tell the doctor he was a provoking +creature, before the arrival of Booth and his friend put an end to +that learned discourse, in which neither of the parties had greatly +recommended themselves to each other; the doctor's opinion of the lady +being not at all heightened by her progress in the classics, and she, +on the other hand, having conceived a great dislike in her heart towards +the doctor, which would have raged, perhaps, with no less fury from the +consideration that he had been her husband. + + + + +Chapter ii. + +_What happened at the masquerade_. + + +From this time to the day of the masquerade nothing happened of +consequence enough to have a place in this history. + +On that day Colonel James came to Booth's about nine in the evening, +where he stayed for Mrs. James, who did not come till near eleven. The +four masques then set out together in several chairs, and all proceeded +to the Haymarket. + +When they arrived at the Opera-house the colonel and Mrs. James +presently left them; nor did Booth and his lady remain long together, +but were soon divided from each other by different masques. + +A domino soon accosted the lady, and had her away to the upper end of +the farthest room on the right hand, where both the masques sat down; +nor was it long before the he domino began to make very fervent love to +the she. It would, perhaps, be tedious to the reader to run through the +whole process, which was not indeed in the most romantick stile. The +lover seemed to consider his mistress as a mere woman of this world, and +seemed rather to apply to her avarice and ambition than to her softer +passions. + +As he was not so careful to conceal his true voice as the lady was, +she soon discovered that this lover of her's was no other than her old +friend the peer, and presently a thought suggested itself to her +of making an advantage of this accident. She gave him therefore an +intimation that she knew him, and expressed some astonishment at his +having found her out. "I suspect," says she, "my lord, that you have +a friend in the woman where I now lodge, as well as you had in Mrs. +Ellison." My lord protested the contrary. To which she answered, "Nay, +my lord, do not defend her so earnestly till you are sure I should have +been angry with her." + +At these words, which were accompanied with a very bewitching softness, +my lord flew into raptures rather too strong for the place he was in. +These the lady gently checked, and begged him to take care they were +not observed; for that her husband, for aught she knew, was then in the +room. + +Colonel James came now up, and said, "So, madam, I have the good fortune +to find you again; I have been extremely miserable since I lost you." +The lady answered in her masquerade voice that she did not know him. "I +am Colonel James," said he, in a whisper. "Indeed, sir," answered she, +"you are mistaken; I have no acquaintance with any Colonel James." +"Madam," answered he, in a whisper likewise, "I am positive I am not +mistaken, you are certainly Mrs. Booth." "Indeed, sir," said she, +"you are very impertinent, and I beg you will leave me." My lord then +interposed, and, speaking in his own voice, assured the colonel that +the lady was a woman of quality, and that they were engaged in a +conversation together; upon which the colonel asked the lady's pardon; +for, as there was nothing remarkable in her dress, he really believed he +had been mistaken. + +He then went again a hunting through the rooms, and soon after found +Booth walking without his mask between two ladies, one of whom was in a +blue domino, and the other in the dress of a shepherdess. "Will," cries +the colonel, "do you know what is become of our wives; for I have seen +neither of them since we have been in the room?" Booth answered, "That +he supposed they were both together, and they should find them by and +by." "What!" cries the lady in the blue domino, "are you both come upon +duty then with your wives? as for yours, Mr. Alderman," said she to the +colonel, "I make no question but she is got into much better company +than her husband's." "How can you be so cruel, madam?" said the +shepherdess; "you will make him beat his wife by and by, for he is a +military man I assure you." "In the trained bands, I presume," cries the +domino, "for he is plainly dated from the city." "I own, indeed," cries +the other, "the gentleman smells strongly of Thames-street, and, if I +may venture to guess, of the honourable calling of a taylor." + +"Why, what the devil hast thou picked up here?" cries James. + +"Upon my soul, I don't know," answered Booth; "I wish you would take one +of them at least." + +"What say you, madam?" cries the domino, "will you go with the colonel? +I assure you, you have mistaken your man, for he is no less a person +than the great Colonel James himself." + +[Illustration: Booth between the blue domino and a Shepherdess.] + +"No wonder, then, that Mr. Booth gives him his choice of us; it is the +proper office of a caterer, in which capacity Mr. Booth hath, I am told, +the honour to serve the noble colonel." + +"Much good may it do you with your ladies!" said James; "I will go in +pursuit of better game." At which words he walked off. + +"You are a true sportsman," cries the shepherdess; "for your only +pleasure, I believe, lies in the pursuit." + +"Do you know the gentleman, madam?" cries the domino. + +"Who doth not know him?" answered the shepherdess. + +"What is his character?" cries the domino; "for, though I have jested +with him, I only know him by sight." + +"I know nothing very particular in his character," cries the +shepherdess. "He gets every handsome woman he can, and so they do all." + +"I suppose then he is not married?" said the domino. + +"O yes! and married for love too," answered the other; "but he hath +loved away all his love for her long ago, and now, he says, she makes +as fine an object of hatred. I think, if the fellow ever appears to have +any wit, it is when he abuses his wife; and, luckily for him, that is +his favourite topic. I don't know the poor wretch, but, as he describes +her, it is a miserable animal." + +"I know her very well," cries the other; "and I am much mistaken if she +is not even with him; but hang him! what is become of Booth?" + +At this instant a great noise arose near that part where the two ladies +were. This was occasioned by a large assembly of young fellows whom they +call bucks, who were got together, and were enjoying, as the phrase is, +a letter, which one of them had found in the room. + +Curiosity hath its votaries among all ranks of people; whenever +therefore an object of this appears it is as sure of attracting a croud +in the assemblies of the polite as in those of their inferiors. + +When this croud was gathered together, one of the bucks, at the desire +of his companions, as well as of all present, performed the part of a +public orator, and read out the following letter, which we shall give +the reader, together with the comments of the orator himself, and of all +his audience. + +The orator then, being mounted on a bench, began as follows: + +"Here beginneth the first chapter of--saint--Pox on't, Jack, what is the +saint's name? I have forgot." + +"Timothy, you blockhead," answered another; "--Timothy." + +"Well, then," cries the orator, "of Saint Timothy. + +"'SIR,--I am very sorry to have any occasion of writing on the following +subject in a country that is honoured with the name of Christian; much +more am I concerned to address myself to a man whose many advantages, +derived both from nature and fortune, should demand the highest return +of gratitude to the great Giver of all those good things. Is not such a +man guilty of the highest ingratitude to that most beneficent Being, by +a direct and avowed disobedience of his most positive laws and commands? + +"'I need not tell you that adultery is forbid in the laws of the +decalogue; nor need I, I hope, mention that it is expressly forbid in +the New Testament.' + +"You see, therefore," said the orator, "what the law is, and therefore +none of you will be able to plead ignorance when you come to the Old +Bailey in the other world. But here goes again:-- + +"'If it had not been so expressly forbidden in Scripture, still the law +of Nature would have yielded light enough for us to have discovered the +great horror and atrociousness of this crime. + +"'And accordingly we find that nations, where the Sun of righteousness +hath yet never shined, have punished the adulterer with the most +exemplary pains and penalties; not only the polite heathens, but the +most barbarous nations, have concurred in these; in many places the most +severe and shameful corporal punishments, and in some, and those not a +few, death itself hath been inflicted on this crime. + +"'And sure in a human sense there is scarce any guilt which deserves +to be more severely punished. It includes in it almost every injury and +every mischief which one man can do to, or can bring on, another. It is +robbing him of his property--' + +"Mind that, ladies," said the orator; "you are all the property of your +husbands.--'And of that property which, if he is a good man, he values +above all others. It is poisoning that fountain whence he hath a right +to derive the sweetest and most innocent pleasure, the most cordial +comfort, the most solid friendship, and most faithful assistance in all +his affairs, wants, and distresses. It is the destruction of his peace +of mind, and even of his reputation. The ruin of both wife and husband, +and sometimes of the whole family, are the probable consequence of this +fatal injury. Domestic happiness is the end of almost all our pursuits, +and the common reward of all our pains. When men find themselves +for ever barred from this delightful fruition, they are lost to all +industry, and grow careless of all their worldly affairs. Thus they +become bad subjects, bad relations, bad friends, and bad men. Hatred and +revenge are the wretched passions which boil in their minds. Despair +and madness very commonly ensue, and murder and suicide often close the +dreadful scene.' + +"Thus, gentlemen and ladies, you see the scene is closed. So here ends +the first act--and thus begins the second:-- + +"'I have here attempted to lay before you a picture of this vice, the +horror of which no colours of mine can exaggerate. But what pencil can +delineate the horrors of that punishment which the Scripture denounces +against it? + +"'And for what will you subject yourself to this punishment? or for what +reward will you inflict all this misery on another? I will add, on your +friend? for the possession of a woman; for the pleasure of a moment? +But, if neither virtue nor religion can restrain your inordinate +appetites, are there not many women as handsome as your friend's wife, +whom, though not with innocence, you may possess with a much less degree +of guilt? What motive then can thus hurry you on to the destruction of +yourself and your friend? doth the peculiar rankness of the guilt add +any zest to the sin? doth it enhance the pleasure as much as we may be +assured it will the punishment? + +"'But if you can be so lost to all sense of fear, and of shame, and of +goodness, as not to be debarred by the evil which you are to bring on +yourself, by the extreme baseness of the action, nor by the ruin in +which you are to involve others, let me still urge the difficulty, I may +say, the impossibility of the success. You are attacking a fortress on +a rock; a chastity so strongly defended, as well by a happy natural +disposition of mind as by the strongest principles of religion and +virtue, implanted by education and nourished and improved by habit, +that the woman must be invincible even without that firm and +constant affection of her husband which would guard a much looser and +worse-disposed heart. What therefore are you attempting but to introduce +distrust, and perhaps disunion, between an innocent and a happy couple, +in which too you cannot succeed without bringing, I am convinced, +certain destruction on your own head? + +"'Desist, therefore, let me advise you, from this enormous crime; +retreat from the vain attempt of climbing a precipice which it is +impossible you should ever ascend, where you must probably soon fall +into utter perdition, and can have no other hope but of dragging down +your best friend into perdition with you. + +"'I can think of but one argument more, and that, indeed, a very bad +one; you throw away that time in an impossible attempt, which might, in +other places, crown your sinful endeavours with success.' + +"And so ends the dismal ditty." + +"D--n me," cries one, "did ever mortal hear such d--ned stuff?" + +"Upon my soul," said another, "I like the last argument well enough. +There is some sense in that; for d--n me if I had not rather go to +D--g--ss at any time than follow a virtuous b---- for a fortnight." + +"Tom," says one of them, "let us set the ditty to music; let us +subscribe to have it set by Handel; it will make an excellent oratorio." + +"D--n me, Jack," says another, "we'll have it set to a psalm-tune, and +we'll sing it next Sunday at St James's church, and I'll bear a bob, +d--n me." + +"Fie upon it! gentlemen, fie upon it!" said a frier, who came up; "do +you think there is any wit and humour in this ribaldry; or, if there +were, would it make any atonement for abusing religion and virtue?" + +"Heyday!" cries one, "this is a frier in good earnest." + +"Whatever I am," said the frier, "I hope at least you are what you +appear to be. Heaven forbid, for the sake of our posterity, that you +should be gentlemen." + +"Jack," cries one, "let us toss the frier in a blanket." + +"Me in a blanket?" said the frier: "by the dignity of man, I will twist +the neck of every one of you as sure as ever the neck of a dunghill-cock +was twisted." At which words he pulled off his mask, and the tremendous +majesty of Colonel Bath appeared, from which the bucks fled away as fast +as the Trojans heretofore from the face of Achilles. The colonel did not +think it worth while to pursue any other of them except him who had +the letter in his hand, which the colonel desired to see, and the other +delivered, saying it was very much at his service. + +The colonel being possessed of the letter, retired as privately as he +could, in order to give it a careful perusal; for, badly as it had been +read by the orator, there were some passages in it which had pleased +the colonel. He had just gone through it when Booth passed by him; upon +which the colonel called to him, and, delivering him the letter, bid him +put it in his pocket and read it at his leisure. He made many encomiums +upon it, and told Booth it would be of service to him, and was proper +for all young men to read. + +Booth had not yet seen his wife; but, as he concluded she was safe with +Mrs. James, he was not uneasy. He had been prevented searching farther +after her by the lady in the blue domino, who had joined him again. +Booth had now made these discoveries: that the lady was pretty well +acquainted with him, that she was a woman of fashion, and that she had +a particular regard for him. But, though he was a gay man, he was +in reality so fond of his Amelia, that he thought of no other woman; +wherefore, though not absolutely a Joseph, as we have already seen, yet +could he not be guilty of premeditated inconstancy. He was indeed so +very cold and insensible to the hints which were given him, that the +lady began to complain of his dullness. When the shepherdess again came +up and heard this accusation against him, she confirmed it, saying, "I +do assure you, madam, he is the dullest fellow in the world. Indeed, I +should almost take you for his wife, by finding you a second time with +him; for I do assure you the gentleman very seldom keeps any other +company." "Are you so well acquainted with him, madam?" said the domino. +"I have had that honour longer than your ladyship, I believe," answered +the shepherdess. "Possibly you may, madam," cries the domino; "but I +wish you would not interrupt us at present, for we have some business +together." "I believe, madam," answered the shepherdess, "my business +with the gentleman is altogether as important as yours; and therefore +your ladyship may withdraw if you please." "My dear ladies," cries +Booth, "I beg you will not quarrel about me." "Not at all," answered the +domino; "since you are so indifferent, I resign my pretensions with +all my heart. If you had not been the dullest fellow upon earth, I am +convinced you must have discovered me." She then went off, muttering +to herself that she was satisfied the shepherdess was some wretched +creature whom nobody knew. + +The shepherdess overheard the sarcasm, and answered it by asking Booth +what contemptible wretch he had picked up? "Indeed, madam," said he, +"you know as much of her as I do; she is a masquerade acquaintance like +yourself." "Like me!" repeated she. "Do you think if this had been our +first acquaintance I should have wasted so much time with you as I have? +for your part, indeed, I believe a woman will get very little advantage +by her having been formerly intimate with you." "I do not know, madam," +said Booth, "that I deserve that character any more than I know the +person that now gives it me." "And you have the assurance then," said +she, in her own voice, "to affect not to remember me?" "I think," cries +Booth, "I have heard that voice before; but, upon my soul, I do not +recollect it." "Do you recollect," said she, "no woman that you have +used with the highest barbarity--I will not say ingratitude?" "No, +upon my honour," answered Booth. "Mention not honour," said she, "thou +wretch! for, hardened as thou art, I could shew thee a face that, in +spite of thy consummate impudence, would confound thee with shame and +horrour. Dost thou not yet know me?" "I do, madam, indeed," answered +Booth, "and I confess that of all women in the world you have the most +reason for what you said." + +Here a long dialogue ensued between the gentleman and the lady, whom, +I suppose, I need not mention to have been Miss Matthews; but, as it +consisted chiefly of violent upbraidings on her side, and excuses +on his, I despair of making it entertaining to the reader, and shall +therefore return to the colonel, who, having searched all the rooms with +the utmost diligence, without finding the woman he looked for, began to +suspect that he had before fixed on the right person, and that Amelia +had denied herself to him, being pleased with her paramour, whom he had +discovered to be the noble peer. + +He resolved, therefore, as he could have no sport himself, to spoil that +of others; accordingly he found out Booth, and asked him again what was +become of both their wives; for that he had searched all over the rooms, +and could find neither of them. + +Booth was now a little alarmed at this account, and, parting with Miss +Matthews, went along with the colonel in search of his wife. As for Miss +Matthews, he had at length pacified her with a promise to make her a +visit; which promise she extorted from him, swearing bitterly, in the +most solemn manner, unless he made it to her, she would expose both him +and herself at the masquerade. + +As he knew the violence of the lady's passions, and to what heights they +were capable of rising, he was obliged to come in to these terms: for +he had, I am convinced, no fear upon earth equal to that of Amelia's +knowing what it was in the power of Miss Matthews to communicate to +her, and which to conceal from her, he had already undergone so much +uneasiness. + +The colonel led Booth directly to the place where he had seen the peer +and Amelia (such he was now well convinced she was) sitting together. +Booth no sooner saw her than he said to the colonel, "Sure that is +my wife in conversation with that masque?" "I took her for your lady +myself," said the colonel; "but I found I was mistaken. Hark ye, that is +my Lord----, and I have seen that very lady with him all this night." + +This conversation past at a little distance, and out of the hearing +of the supposed Amelia; when Booth, looking stedfastly at the lady, +declared with an oath that he was positive the colonel was in the right. +She then beckoned to him with her fan; upon which he went directly to +her, and she asked him to go home, which he very readily consented to. +The peer then walked off: the colonel went in pursuit of his wife, or of +some other woman; and Booth and his lady returned in two chairs to their +lodgings. + + + + +Chapter iii. + +_Consequences of the masquerade, not uncommon nor surprizing_. + + +The lady, getting first out of her chair, ran hastily up into the +nursery to the children; for such was Amelia's constant method at her +return home, at whatever hour. Booth then walked into the dining-room, +where he had not been long before Amelia came down to him, and, with a +most chearful countenance, said, "My dear, I fancy we have neither of +us supped; shall I go down and see whether there is any cold meat in the +house?" + +"For yourself, if you please," answered Booth; "but I shall eat +nothing." + +"How, my dear!" said Amelia; "I hope you have not lost your appetite at +the masquerade!" for supper was a meal at which he generally eat very +heartily. + +"I know not well what I have lost," said Booth; "I find myself +disordered.--My head aches. I know not what is the matter with me." + +"Indeed, my dear, you frighten me," said Amelia; "you look, indeed, +disordered. I wish the masquerade had been far enough before you had +gone thither." + +"Would to Heaven it had!" cries Booth; "but that is over now. But pray, +Amelia, answer me one question--Who was that gentleman with you when I +came up to you?" + +"The gentleman! my dear," said Amelia; "what gentleman?" + +"The gentleman--the nobleman--when I came up; sure I speak plain." + +"Upon my word, my dear, I don't understand you," answered she; "I did +not know one person at the masquerade." + +"How!" said he; "what! spend the whole evening with a masque without +knowing him?" + +"Why, my dear," said she, "you know we were not together." + +"I know we were not," said he, "but what is that to the purpose? Sure +you answer me strangely. I know we were not together; and therefore I +ask you whom you were with?" + +"Nay, but, my dear," said she, "can I tell people in masques?" + +"I say again, madam," said he, "would you converse two hours or more +with a masque whom you did not know?" + +"Indeed, child," says she, "I know nothing of the methods of a +masquerade; for I never was at one in my life." + +"I wish to Heaven you had not been at this!" cries Booth. "Nay, you will +wish so yourself if you tell me truth.--What have I said? do I--can I +suspect you of not speaking truth? Since you are ignorant then I will +inform you: the man you have conversed with was no other than Lord----." + +"And is that the reason," said she, "you wish I had not been there?" + +"And is not that reason," answered he, "sufficient? Is he not the last +man upon earth with whom I would have you converse?" + +"So you really wish then that I had not been at the masquerade?" + +"I do," cried he, "from my soul." + +"So may I ever be able," cried she, "to indulge you in every wish as in +this.--I was not there." + +"Do not trifle, Amelia," cried he; "you would not jest with me if you +knew the situation of my mind." + +"Indeed I do not jest with you," said she. "Upon my honour I was not +there. Forgive me this first deceit I ever practised, and indeed it +shall be the last; for I have paid severely for this by the uneasiness +it hath given me." She then revealed to him the whole secret, which was +thus: + +I think it hath been already mentioned in some part of this history that +Amelia and Mrs. Atkinson were exactly of the same make and stature, and +that there was likewise a very near resemblance between their voices. +When Mrs. Atkinson, therefore, found that Amelia was so extremely averse +to the masquerade, she proposed to go thither in her stead, and to pass +upon Booth for his own wife. + +This was afterwards very easily executed; for, when they left Booth's +lodgings, Amelia, who went last to her chair, ran back to fetch her +masque, as she pretended, which she had purposely left behind. She then +whipt off her domino, and threw it over Mrs. Atkinson, who stood ready +to receive it, and ran immediately downstairs, and, stepping into +Amelia's chair, proceeded with the rest to the masquerade. + +As her stature exactly suited that of Amelia, she had very little +difficulty to carry on the imposition; for, besides the natural +resemblance of their voices, and the opportunity of speaking in a +feigned one, she had scarce an intercourse of six words with Booth +during the whole time; for the moment they got into the croud she took +the first opportunity of slipping from him. And he, as the reader may +remember, being seized by other women, and concluding his wife to be +safe with Mrs. James, was very well satisfied, till the colonel set him +upon the search, as we have seen before. + +Mrs. Atkinson, the moment she came home, ran upstairs to the nursery, +where she found Amelia, and told her in haste that she might very easily +carry on the deceit with her husband; for that she might tell him what +she pleased to invent, as they had not been a minute together during the +whole evening. + +Booth was no sooner satisfied that his wife had not been from home that +evening than he fell into raptures with her, gave her a thousand tender +caresses, blamed his own judgment, acknowledged the goodness of hers, +and vowed never to oppose her will more in any one instance during his +life. + +Mrs. Atkinson, who was still in the nursery with her masquerade dress, +was then summoned down-stairs, and, when Booth saw her and heard her +speak in her mimic tone, he declared he was not surprized at his having +been imposed upon, for that, if they were both in the same disguise, he +should scarce be able to discover the difference between them. + +They then sat down to half an hour's chearful conversation, after which +they retired all in the most perfect good humour. + + + + +Chapter iv. + +_Consequences of the masquerade_. + + +When Booth rose in the morning he found in his pocket that letter which +had been delivered to him by Colonel Bath, which, had not chance brought +to his remembrance, he might possibly have never recollected. + +He had now, however, the curiosity to open the letter, and beginning to +read it, the matter of it drew him on till he perused the whole; for, +notwithstanding the contempt cast upon it by those learned critics the +bucks, neither the subject nor the manner in which it was treated was +altogether contemptible. + +But there was still another motive which induced Booth to read the whole +letter, and this was, that he presently thought he knew the hand. He +did, indeed, immediately conclude it was Dr Harrison; for the doctor +wrote a very remarkable one, and this letter contained all the +particularities of the doctor's character. + +He had just finished a second reading of this letter when the doctor +himself entered the room. The good man was impatient to know the success +of Amelia's stratagem, for he bore towards her all that love which +esteem can create in a good mind, without the assistance of those +selfish considerations from which the love of wives and children may +be ordinarily deduced. The latter of which, Nature, by very subtle and +refined reasoning, suggests to us to be part of our dear selves; and +the former, as long as they remain the objects of our liking, that same +Nature is furnished with very plain and fertile arguments to recommend +to our affections. But to raise that affection in the human breast which +the doctor had for Amelia, Nature is forced to use a kind of logic which +is no more understood by a bad man than Sir Isaac Newton's doctrine of +colours is by one born blind. And yet in reality it contains nothing +more abstruse than this, that an injury is the object of anger, danger +of fear, and praise of vanity; for in the same simple manner it may be +asserted that goodness is the object of love. + +The doctor enquired immediately for his child (for so he often called +Amelia); Booth answered that he had left her asleep, for that she +had had but a restless night. "I hope she is not disordered by the +masquerade," cries the doctor. Booth answered he believed she would be +very well when she waked. "I fancy," said he, "her gentle spirits were a +little too much fluttered last night; that is all." + +"I hope, then," said the doctor, "you will never more insist on her +going to such places, but know your own happiness in having a wife that +hath the discretion to avoid those places; which, though perhaps they +may not be as some represent them, such brothels of vice and debauchery +as would impeach the character of every virtuous woman who was seen +at them, are certainly, however, scenes of riot, disorder, and +intemperance, very improper to be frequented by a chaste and sober +Christian matron." + +Booth declared that he was very sensible of his error, and that, so far +from soliciting his wife to go to another masquerade, he did not intend +ever to go thither any more himself. + +The doctor highly approved the resolution; and then Booth said, "And I +thank you, my dear friend, as well as my wife's discretion, that she +was not at the masquerade last night." He then related to the doctor +the discovery of the plot; and the good man was greatly pleased with the +success of the stratagem, and that Booth took it in such good part. + +"But, sir," says Booth, "I had a letter given me by a noble colonel +there, which is written in a hand so very like yours, that I could +almost swear to it. Nor is the stile, as far as I can guess, unlike your +own. Here it is, sir. Do you own the letter, doctor, or do you not?" + +The doctor took the letter, and, having looked at it a moment, said, +"And did the colonel himself give you this letter?" + +"The colonel himself," answered Booth. + +"Why then," cries the doctor, "he is surely the most impudent fellow +that the world ever produced. What! did he deliver it with an air of +triumph?" + +"He delivered it me with air enough," cries Booth, "after his own +manner, and bid me read it for my edification. To say the truth, I am a +little surprized that he should single me out of all mankind to deliver +the letter to; I do not think I deserve the character of such a husband. +It is well I am not so very forward to take an affront as some folks." + +"I am glad to see you are not," said the doctor; "and your behaviour +in this affair becomes both the man of sense and the Christian; for it +would be surely the greatest folly, as well as the most daring impiety, +to risque your own life for the impertinence of a fool. As long as +you are assured of the virtue of your own wife, it is wisdom in you +to despise the efforts of such a wretch. Not, indeed, that your wife +accuses him of any downright attack, though she hath observed enough in +his behaviour to give offence to her delicacy." + +"You astonish me, doctor," said Booth. "What can you mean? my wife +dislike his behaviour! hath the colonel ever offended her?" + +"I do not say he hath ever offended her by any open declarations; nor +hath he done anything which, according to the most romantic notion of +honour, you can or ought to resent; but there is something extremely +nice in the chastity of a truly virtuous woman." + +"And hath my wife really complained of anything of that kind in the +colonel?" + +"Look ye, young gentleman," cries the doctor; "I will have no +quarrelling or challenging; I find I have made some mistake, and +therefore I insist upon it by all the rights of friendship, that you +give me your word of honour you will not quarrel with the colonel on +this account." + +"I do, with all my heart," said Booth; "for, if I did not know your +character, I should absolutely think you was jesting with me. I do not +think you have mistaken my wife, but I am sure she hath mistaken the +colonel, and hath misconstrued some over-strained point of gallantry, +something of the Quixote kind, into a design against her chastity; but +I have that opinion of the colonel, that I hope you will not be offended +when I declare I know not which of you two I should be the sooner +jealous of." + +"I would by no means have you jealous of any one," cries the doctor; +"for I think my child's virtue may be firmly relied on; but I am +convinced she would not have said what she did to me without a cause; +nor should I, without such a conviction, have written that letter to +the colonel, as I own to you I did. However, nothing I say hath yet +past which, even in the opinion of false honour, you are at liberty +to resent! but as to declining any great intimacy, if you will take my +advice, I think that would be prudent." + +"You will pardon me, my dearest friend," said Booth, "but I have really +such an opinion of the colonel that I would pawn my life upon his +honour; and as for women, I do not believe he ever had an attachment to +any." + +"Be it so," said the doctor: "I have only two things to insist on. The +first is, that, if ever you change your opinion, this letter may not be +the subject of any quarrelling or fighting: the other is, that you never +mention a word of this to your wife. By the latter I shall see whether +you can keep a secret; and, if it is no otherwise material, it will be +a wholesome exercise to your mind; for the practice of any virtue is a +kind of mental exercise, and serves to maintain the health and vigour of +the soul." + +"I faithfully promise both," cries Booth. And now the breakfast entered +the room, as did soon after Amelia and Mrs. Atkinson. + +The conversation ran chiefly on the masquerade; and Mrs. Atkinson gave +an account of several adventures there; but whether she told the whole +truth with regard to herself I will not determine, for, certain it is, +she never once mentioned the name of the noble peer. Amongst the rest, +she said there was a young fellow that had preached a sermon there upon +a stool, in praise of adultery, she believed; for she could not get near +enough to hear the particulars. + +During that transaction Booth had been engaged with the blue domino in +another room, so that he knew nothing of it; so that what Mrs. Atkinson +had now said only brought to his mind the doctor's letter to Colonel +Bath, for to him he supposed it was written; and the idea of the colonel +being a lover to Amelia struck him in so ridiculous a light, that it +threw him into a violent fit of laughter. + +The doctor, who, from the natural jealousy of an author, imputed +the agitation of Booth's muscles to his own sermon or letter on that +subject, was a little offended, and said gravely, "I should be glad to +know the reason of this immoderate mirth. Is adultery a matter of jest +in your opinion?" + +"Far otherwise," answered Booth. "But how is it possible to refrain from +laughter at the idea of a fellow preaching a sermon in favour of it at +such a place?" + +"I am very sorry," cries the doctor, "to find the age is grown to so +scandalous a degree of licentiousness, that we have thrown off not only +virtue, but decency. How abandoned must be the manners of any nation +where such insults upon religion and morality can be committed with +impunity! No man is fonder of true wit and humour than myself; but to +profane sacred things with jest and scoffing is a sure sign of a weak +and a wicked mind. It is the very vice which Homer attacks in the odious +character of Thersites. The ladies must excuse my repeating the passage +to you, as I know you have Greek enough to understand it:-- + + Os rh' epea phresin esin akosma te, polla te ede + Maps, atar ou kata kosmon epizemenai basileusin, + All'o, ti oi eisaito geloiton Argeiosin + Emmenai + +[Footnote: Thus paraphrased by Mr. Pope: + + "Awed by no shame, by no respect controll'd, + In scandal busy, in reproaches bold, + With witty malice, studious to defame, + Scorn all his joy, and laughter all his aim."] + +And immediately adds, + + ----aiskistos de aner ypo Ilion elthe + +[Footnote: "He was the greatest scoundrel in the whole army."] + +"Horace, again, describes such a rascal: + + ----Solutos + Qui captat risus hominum famamque dicacis, + +[Footnote: "Who trivial bursts of laughter strives to raise, And courts +of prating petulance the praise."--FRANCIS.] + + and says of him, + + Hic niger est, hunc tu, Romane, caveto." + +[Footnote: "This man is black; do thou, O Roman! shun this man."] + +"O charming Homer!" said Mrs. Atkinson, "how much above all other +writers!" + +"I ask your pardon, madam," said the doctor; "I forgot you was a +scholar; but, indeed, I did not know you understood Greek as well as +Latin." + +"I do not pretend," said she, "to be a critic in the Greek; but I think +I am able to read a little of Homer, at least with the help of looking +now and then into the Latin." + +"Pray, madam," said the doctor, "how do you like this passage in the +speech of Hector to Andromache: + + ----Eis oikon iousa ta sautes erga komize, + Iston t elakaten te, kai amphipoloisi keleue + Ergon epoichesthai? + +[Footnote: "Go home and mind your own business. Follow your spinning, +and keep your maids to their work."] + +"Or how do you like the character of Hippodamia, who, by being the +prettiest girl and best workwoman of her age, got one of the best +husbands in all Troy?--I think, indeed, Homer enumerates her discretion +with her other qualifications; but I do not remember he gives us one +character of a woman of learning.--Don't you conceive this to be a great +omission in that who, by being the prettiest girl and best workwoman of +her age, got one of the best husbands in all Troy?---I think, indeed, +Homer enumerates her discretion with her other qualifications; but I +do not remember Don't you conceive this to be a great omission in that +charming poet? However, Juvenal makes you amends, for he talks very +abundantly of the learning of the Roman ladies in his time." + +"You are a provoking man, doctor," said Mrs. Atkinson; "where is the +harm in a woman's having learning as well as a man?" + +"Let me ask you another question," said the doctor. "Where is the harm +in a man's being a fine performer with a needle as well as a woman? And +yet, answer me honestly; would you greatly chuse to marry a man with a +thimble upon his finger? Would you in earnest think a needle became the +hand of your husband as well as a halberd?" + +"As to war, I am with you," said she. "Homer himself, I well remember, +makes Hector tell his wife that warlike works--what is the Greek +word--Pollemy--something--belonged to men only; and I readily agree to +it. I hate a masculine woman, an Amazon, as much as you can do; but what +is there masculine in learning?" + +"Nothing so masculine, take my word for it. As for your Pollemy, I look +upon it to be the true characteristic of a devil. So Homer everywhere +characterizes Mars." + +"Indeed, my dear," cries the serjeant, "you had better not dispute with +the doctor; for, upon my word, he will be too hard for you." + +"Nay, I beg _you_ will not interfere," cries Mrs. Atkinson; "I am sure +_you_ can be no judge in these matters." + +At which the doctor and Booth burst into a loud laugh; and Amelia, +though fearful of giving her friend offence, could not forbear a gentle +smile. + +"You may laugh, gentlemen, if you please," said Mrs. Atkinson; "but +I thank Heaven I have married a man who is not jealous of my +understanding. I should have been the most miserable woman upon earth +with a starched pedant who was possessed of that nonsensical opinion +that the difference of sexes causes any difference in the mind. Why +don't you honestly avow the Turkish notion that women have no souls? for +you say the same thing in effect." + +"Indeed, my dear," cries the serjeant, greatly concerned to see his wife +so angry, "you have mistaken the doctor." + +"I beg, my dear," cried she, "_you_ will say nothing upon these +subjects--I hope _you_ at least do not despise my understanding." + +"I assure you, I do not," said the serjeant; "and I hope you will never +despise mine; for a man may have some understanding, I hope, without +learning." + +Mrs. Atkinson reddened extremely at these words; and the doctor, fearing +he had gone too far, began to soften matters, in which Amelia assisted +him. By these means, the storm rising in Mrs. Atkinson before was in +some measure laid, at least suspended from bursting at present; but +it fell afterwards upon the poor serjeant's head in a torrent, who had +learned perhaps one maxim from his trade, that a cannon-ball always doth +mischief in proportion to the resistance it meets with, and that nothing +so effectually deadens its force as a woolpack. The serjeant therefore +bore all with patience; and the idea of a woolpack, perhaps, bringing +that of a feather-bed into his head, he at last not only quieted his +wife, but she cried out with great sincerity, "Well, my dear, I will +say one thing for you, that I believe from my soul, though you have no +learning, you have the best understanding of any man upon earth; and I +must own I think the latter far the more profitable of the two." + +Far different was the idea she entertained of the doctor, whom, from +this day, she considered as a conceited pedant; nor could all Amelia's +endeavours ever alter her sentiments. + +The doctor now took his leave of Booth and his wife for a week, he +intending to set out within an hour or two with his old friend, with +whom our readers were a little acquainted at the latter end of the +ninth book, and of whom, perhaps, they did not then conceive the most +favourable opinion. + +Nay, I am aware that the esteem which some readers before had for the +doctor may be here lessened; since he may appear to have been too easy +a dupe to the gross flattery of the old gentleman. If there be any such +critics, we are heartily sorry, as well for them as for the doctor; but +it is our business to discharge the part of a faithful historian, and to +describe human nature as it is, not as we would wish it to be. + + + + +Chapter v. + +_In which Colonel Bath appears in great glory_. + + +That afternoon, as Booth was walking in the Park, he met with Colonel +Bath, who presently asked him for the letter which he had given him the +night before; upon which Booth immediately returned it. + +"Don't you think," cries Bath, "it is writ with great dignity of +expression and emphasis of--of--of judgment?" + +"I am surprized, though," cries Booth, "that any one should write such a +letter to you, colonel." + +"To me!" said Bath. "What do you mean, sir? I hope you don't imagine +any man durst write such a letter to me? d--n me, if I knew a man who +thought me capable of debauching my friend's wife, I would--d--n me." + +"I believe, indeed, sir," cries Booth, "that no man living dares put his +name to such a letter; but you see it is anonymous." + +"I don't know what you mean by ominous," cries the colonel; "but, blast +my reputation, if I had received such a letter, if I would not have +searched the world to have found the writer. D--n me, I would have gone +to the East Indies to have pulled off his nose." + +"He would, indeed, have deserved it," cries Booth. "But pray, sir, how +came you by it?" + +"I took it," said the colonel, "from a sett of idle young rascals, +one of whom was reading it out aloud upon a stool, while the rest were +attempting to make a jest, not only of the letter, but of all decency, +virtue, and religion. A sett of fellows that you must have seen or +heard of about the town, that are, d--n me, a disgrace to the dignity +of manhood; puppies that mistake noise and impudence, rudeness and +profaneness, for wit. If the drummers of my company had not more +understanding than twenty such fellows, I'd have them both whipt out of +the regiment." + +"So, then, you do not know the person to whom it was writ?" said Booth. + +"Lieutenant," cries the colonel, "your question deserves no answer. +I ought to take time to consider whether I ought not to resent the +supposition. Do you think, sir, I am acquainted with a rascal?" + +"I do not suppose, colonel," cries Booth, "that you would willingly +cultivate an intimacy with such a person; but a man must have good luck +who hath any acquaintance if there are not some rascals among them." + +"I am not offended with you, child," says the colonel. "I know you did +not intend to offend me." + +"No man, I believe, dares intend it," said Booth. + +"I believe so too," said the colonel; "d--n me, I know it. But you +know, child, how tender I am on this subject. If I had been ever married +myself, I should have cleft the man's skull who had dared look wantonly +at my wife." + +"It is certainly the most cruel of all injuries," said Booth. "How +finely doth Shakespeare express it in his Othello! + + 'But there, where I had treasured up my soul.'" + +"That Shakespeare," cries the colonel, "was a fine fellow. He was a very +pretty poet indeed. Was it not Shakespeare that wrote the play about +Hotspur? You must remember these lines. I got them almost by heart at +the playhouse; for I never missed that play whenever it was acted, if I +was in town:-- + + By Heav'n it was an easy leap, + To pluck bright honour into the full moon, + Or drive into the bottomless deep. + +And--and--faith, I have almost forgot them; but I know it is something +about saving your honour from drowning--O! it is very fine! I say, d--n +me, the man that writ those lines was the greatest poet the world ever +produced. There is dignity of expression and emphasis of thinking, d--n +me." + +Booth assented to the colonel's criticism, and then cried, "I wish, +colonel, you would be so kind to give me that letter." The colonel +answered, if he had any particular use for it he would give it him with +all his heart, and presently delivered it; and soon afterwards they +parted. + +Several passages now struck all at once upon Booth's mind, which gave +him great uneasiness. He became confident now that he had mistaken one +colonel for another; and, though he could not account for the letter's +getting into those hands from whom Bath had taken it (indeed James had +dropt it out of his pocket), yet a thousand circumstances left him no +room to doubt the identity of the person, who was a man much more liable +to raise the suspicion of a husband than honest Bath, who would at any +time have rather fought with a man than lain with a woman. + +The whole behaviour of Amelia now rushed upon his memory. Her resolution +not to take up her residence at the colonel's house, her backwardness +even to dine there, her unwillingness to go to the masquerade, many of +her unguarded expressions, and some where she had been more guarded, all +joined together to raise such an idea in Mr. Booth, that he had almost +taken a resolution to go and cut the colonel to pieces in his own +house. Cooler thoughts, however, suggested themselves to him in time. +He recollected the promise he had so solemnly made to the doctor. He +considered, moreover, that he was yet in the dark as to the extent of +the colonel's guilt. Having nothing, therefore, to fear from it, +he contented himself to postpone a resentment which he nevertheless +resolved to take of the colonel hereafter, if he found he was in any +degree a delinquent. + +The first step he determined to take was, on the first opportunity, to +relate to Colonel James the means by which he became possessed of the +letter, and to read it to him; on which occasion, he thought he should +easily discern by the behaviour of the colonel whether he had been +suspected either by Amelia or the doctor without a cause; but as for +his wife, he fully resolved not to reveal the secret to her till the +doctor's return. + +While Booth was deeply engaged by himself in these meditations, Captain +Trent came up to him, and familiarly slapped him on the shoulder. + +They were soon joined by a third gentleman, and presently afterwards by +a fourth, both acquaintances of Mr. Trent; and all having walked twice +the length of the Mall together, it being now past nine in the evening, +Trent proposed going to the tavern, to which the strangers immediately +consented; and Booth himself, after some resistance, was at length +persuaded to comply. + +To the King's Arms then they went, where the bottle went very briskly +round till after eleven; at which time Trent proposed a game at cards, +to which proposal likewise Booth's consent was obtained, though not +without much difficulty; for, though he had naturally some inclination +to gaming, and had formerly a little indulged it, yet he had entirely +left it off for many years. + +Booth and his friend were partners, and had at first some success; +but Fortune, according to her usual conduct, soon shifted about, and +persecuted Booth with such malice, that in about two hours he was +stripped of all the gold in his pocket, which amounted to twelve +guineas, being more than half the cash which he was at that time worth. + +How easy it is for a man who is at all tainted with the itch of gaming +to leave off play in such a situation, especially when he is likewise +heated with liquor, I leave to the gamester to determine. Certain it is +that Booth had no inclination to desist; but, on the contrary, was so +eagerly bent on playing on, that he called his friend out of the room, +and asked him for ten pieces, which he promised punctually to pay the +next morning. + +Trent chid him for using so much formality on the occasion. "You know," +said he, "dear Booth, you may have what money you please of me. Here +is a twenty-pound note at your service; and, if you want five times the +sum, it is at your service. We will never let these fellows go away with +our money in this manner; for we have so much the advantage, that if the +knowing ones were here they would lay odds of our side." + +But if this was really Mr. Rent's opinion, he was very much mistaken; +for the other two honourable gentlemen were not only greater masters of +the game, and somewhat soberer than poor Booth, having, with all the art +in their power, evaded the bottle, but they had, moreover, another small +advantage over their adversaries, both of them, by means of some +certain private signs, previously agreed upon between them, being always +acquainted with the principal cards in each other's hands. It cannot be +wondered, therefore, that Fortune was on their side; for, however she +may be reported to favour fools, she never, I believe, shews them any +countenance when they engage in play with knaves. + +The more Booth lost, the deeper he made his bets; the consequence of +which was, that about two in the morning, besides the loss of his own +money, he was fifty pounds indebted to Trent: a sum, indeed, which he +would not have borrowed, had not the other, like a very generous friend, +pushed it upon him. + +Trent's pockets became at last dry by means of these loans. His own +loss, indeed, was trifling; for the stakes of the games were no higher +than crowns, and betting (as it is called) was that to which Booth +owed his ruin. The gentlemen, therefore, pretty well knowing Booth's +circumstances, and being kindly unwilling to win more of a man than he +was worth, declined playing any longer, nor did Booth once ask them to +persist, for he was ashamed of the debt which he had already contracted +to Trent, and very far from desiring to encrease it. + +The company then separated. The two victors and Trent went off in their +chairs to their several houses near Grosvenor-square, and poor Booth, in +a melancholy mood, walked home to his lodgings. He was, indeed, in such +a fit of despair, that it more than once came into his head to put an +end to his miserable being. + +But before we introduce him to Amelia we must do her the justice to +relate the manner in which she spent this unhappy evening. It was about +seven when Booth left her to walk in the park; from this time till +past eight she was employed with her children, in playing with them, in +giving them their supper, and in putting them to bed. + +When these offices were performed she employed herself another hour +in cooking up a little supper for her husband, this being, as we have +already observed, his favourite meal, as indeed it was her's; and, in a +most pleasant and delightful manner, they generally passed their time at +this season, though their fare was very seldom of the sumptuous kind. + +It now grew dark, and her hashed mutton was ready for the table, but no +Booth appeared. Having waited therefore for him a full hour, she gave +him over for that evening; nor was she much alarmed at his absence, +as she knew he was in a night or two to be at the tavern with some +brother-officers; she concluded therefore that they had met in the park, +and had agreed to spend this evening together. + +At ten then she sat down to supper by herself, for Mrs. Atkinson was +then abroad. And here we cannot help relating a little incident, however +trivial it may appear to some. Having sat some time alone, reflecting on +their distressed situation, her spirits grew very low; and she was once +or twice going to ring the bell to send her maid for half-a-pint of +white wine, but checked her inclination in order to save the little sum +of sixpence, which she did the more resolutely as she had before refused +to gratify her children with tarts for their supper from the same +motive. And this self-denial she was very probably practising to +save sixpence, while her husband was paying a debt of several guineas +incurred by the ace of trumps being in the hands of his adversary. + +Instead therefore of this cordial she took up one of the excellent +Farquhar's comedies, and read it half through; when, the clock striking +twelve, she retired to bed, leaving the maid to sit up for her master. +She would, indeed, have much more willingly sat up herself, but the +delicacy of her own mind assured her that Booth would not thank her +for the compliment. This is, indeed, a method which some wives take of +upbraiding their husbands for staying abroad till too late an hour, and +of engaging them, through tenderness and good nature, never to enjoy the +company of their friends too long when they must do this at the expence +of their wives' rest. + +To bed then she went, but not to sleep. Thrice indeed she told the +dismal clock, and as often heard the more dismal watchman, till her +miserable husband found his way home, and stole silently like a thief to +bed to her; at which time, pretending then first to awake, she threw her +snowy arms around him; though, perhaps, the more witty property of snow, +according to Addison, that is to say its coldness, rather belonged to +the poor captain. + + + + +Chapter vi. + +_Read, gamester, and observe_. + + +Booth could not so well disguise the agitations of his mind from Amelia, +but that she perceived sufficient symptoms to assure her that some +misfortune had befallen him. This made her in her turn so uneasy that +Booth took notice of it, and after breakfast said, "Sure, my dear Emily, +something hath fallen out to vex you." + +Amelia, looking tenderly at him, answered, "Indeed, my dear, you are in +the right; I am indeed extremely vexed." "For Heaven's sake," said he, +"what is it?" "Nay, my love," cried she, "that you must answer yourself. +Whatever it is which hath given you all that disturbance that you +in vain endeavour to conceal from me, this it is which causes all my +affliction." + +"You guess truly, my sweet," replied Booth; "I am indeed afflicted, +and I will not, nay I cannot, conceal the truth from you. I have undone +myself, Amelia." + +"What have you done, child?" said she, in some consternation; "pray, +tell me." + +"I have lost my money at play," answered he. + +"Pugh!" said she, recovering herself--"what signifies the trifle you +had in your pocket? Resolve never to play again, and let it give you no +further vexation; I warrant you, we will contrive some method to repair +such a loss." + +"Thou heavenly angel! thou comfort of my soul!" cried Booth, tenderly +embracing her; then starting a little from her arms, and looking with +eager fondness in her eyes, he said, "Let me survey thee; art thou +really human, or art thou not rather an angel in a human form? O, no," +cried he, flying again into her arms, "thou art my dearest woman, my +best, my beloved wife!" + +Amelia, having returned all his caresses with equal kindness, told him +she had near eleven guineas in her purse, and asked how much she should +fetch him. "I would not advise you, Billy, to carry too much in your +pocket, for fear it should be a temptation to you to return to gaming, +in order to retrieve your past losses. Let me beg you, on all accounts, +never to think more, if possible, on the trifle you have lost, anymore +than if you had never possessed it." + +Booth promised her faithfully he never would, and refused to take any of +the money. He then hesitated a moment, and cried--"You say, my dear, you +have eleven guineas; you have a diamond ring, likewise, which was your +grandmother's--I believe that is worth twenty pounds; and your own and +the child's watch are worth as much more." + +"I believe they would sell for as much," cried Amelia; "for a pawnbroker +of Mrs. Atkinson's acquaintance offered to lend me thirty-five pounds +upon them when you was in your last distress. But why are you computing +their value now?" + +"I was only considering," answered he, "how much we could raise in any +case of exigency." + +"I have computed it myself," said she; "and I believe all we have in +the world, besides our bare necessary apparel, would produce about sixty +pounds: and suppose, my dear," said she, "while we have that little sum, +we should think of employing it some way or other, to procure some small +subsistence for ourselves and our family. As for your dependence on the +colonel's friendship, it is all vain, I am afraid, and fallacious. Nor +do I see any hopes you have from any other quarter, of providing for +yourself again in the army. And though the sum which is now in our power +is very small, yet we may possibly contrive with it to put ourselves +into some mean way of livelihood. I have a heart, my Billy, which is +capable of undergoing anything for your sake; and I hope my hands are as +able to work as those which have been more inured to it. But think, my +dear, think what must be our wretched condition, when the very little we +now have is all mouldered away, as it will soon be in this town." + +When poor Booth heard this, and reflected that the time which Amelia +foresaw was already arrived (for that he had already lost every farthing +they were worth), it touched him to the quick; he turned pale, gnashed +his teeth, and cried out, "Damnation! this is too much to bear." + +Amelia was thrown into the utmost consternation by this behaviour; and, +with great terror in her countenance, cried out, "Good Heavens! my dear +love, what is the reason of this agony?" + +"Ask me no questions," cried he, "unless you would drive me to madness." + +"My Billy! my love!" said she, "what can be the meaning of this?--I beg +you will deal openly with me, and tell me all your griefs." + +"Have you dealt fairly with me, Amelia?" said he. + +"Yes, surely," said she; "Heaven is my witness how fairly." + +"Nay, do not call Heaven," cried he, "to witness a falsehood. You have +not dealt openly with me, Amelia. You have concealed secrets from me; +secrets which I ought to have known, and which, if I had known, it had +been better for us both." + +"You astonish me as much as you shock me," cried she. "What falsehood, +what treachery have I been guilty of?" + +"You tell me," said he, "that I can have no reliance on James; why did +not you tell me so before?" + +"I call Heaven again," said she, "to witness; nay, I appeal to yourself +for the truth of it; I have often told you so. I have told you I +disliked the man, notwithstanding the many favours he had done you. I +desired you not to have too absolute a reliance upon him. I own I had +once an extreme good opinion of him, but I changed it, and I acquainted +you that I had so--" + +"But not," cries he, "with the reasons why you had changed it." + +"I was really afraid, my dear," said she, "of going too far. I knew the +obligations you had to him; and if I suspected that he acted rather from +vanity than true friendship--" + +"Vanity!" cries he; "take care, Amelia: you know his motive to be much +worse than vanity--a motive which, if he had piled obligations on me +till they had reached the skies, would tumble all down to hell. It is +vain to conceal it longer--I know all--your confidant hath told me all." + +"Nay, then," cries she, "on my knees I entreat you to be pacified, and +hear me out. It was, my dear, for you, my dread of your jealous honour, +and the fatal consequences." + +"Is not Amelia, then," cried he, "equally jealous of my honour? Would +she, from a weak tenderness for my person, go privately about to betray, +to undermine the most invaluable treasure of my soul? Would she have +me pointed at as the credulous dupe, the easy fool, the tame, the kind +cuckold, of a rascal with whom I conversed as a friend?" + +"Indeed you injure me," said Amelia. "Heaven forbid I should have the +trial! but I think I could sacrifice all I hold most dear to preserve +your honour. I think I have shewn I can. But I will--when you are cool, +I will--satisfy you I have done nothing you ought to blame." + +"I am cool then," cries he; "I will with the greatest coolness hear +you.--But do not think, Amelia, I have the least jealousy, the least +suspicion, the least doubt of your honour. It is your want of confidence +in me alone which I blame." + +"When you are calm," cried she, "I will speak, and not before." + +He assured her he was calm; and then she said, "You have justified my +conduct by your present passion, in concealing from you my suspicions; +for they were no more, nay, it is possible they were unjust; for since +the doctor, in betraying the secret to you, hath so far falsified my +opinion of him, why may I not be as well deceived in my opinion of the +colonel, since it was only formed on some particulars in his behaviour +which I disliked? for, upon my honour, he never spoke a word to me, nor +hath been ever guilty of any direct action, which I could blame." +She then went on, and related most of the circumstances which she had +mentioned to the doctor, omitting one or two of the strongest, and +giving such a turn to the rest, that, if Booth had not had some of +Othello's blood in him, his wife would have almost appeared a prude in +his eyes. Even he, however, was pretty well pacified by this narrative, +and said he was glad to find a possibility of the colonel's innocence; +but that he greatly commended the prudence of his wife, and only wished +she would for the future make him her only confidant. + +Amelia, upon that, expressed some bitterness against the doctor +for breaking his trust; when Booth, in his excuse, related all the +circumstances of the letter, and plainly convinced her that the secret +had dropt by mere accident from the mouth of the doctor. + +Thus the husband and wife became again reconciled, and poor Amelia +generously forgave a passion of which the sagacious reader is better +acquainted with the real cause than was that unhappy lady. + + + + +Chapter vii. + +_In which Booth receives a visit from Captain Trent_. + + +When Booth grew perfectly cool, and began to reflect that he had broken +his word to the doctor, in having made the discovery to his wife +which we have seen in the last chapter, that thought gave him great +uneasiness; and now, to comfort him, Captain Trent came to make him a +visit. + +This was, indeed, almost the last man in the world whose company he +wished for; for he was the only man he was ashamed to see, for a reason +well known to gamesters; among whom, the most dishonourable of all +things is not to pay a debt, contracted at the gaming-table, the next +day, or the next time at least that you see the party. + +Booth made no doubt but that Trent was come on purpose to receive this +debt; the latter had been therefore scarce a minute in the room before +Booth began, in an aukward manner, to apologise; but Trent immediately +stopt his mouth, and said, "I do not want the money, Mr. Booth, and +you may pay it me whenever you are able; and, if you are never able, I +assure you I will never ask you for it." + +This generosity raised such a tempest of gratitude in Booth (if I may be +allowed the expression), that the tears burst from his eyes, and it was +some time before he could find any utterance for those sentiments +with which his mind overflowed; but, when he began to express his +thankfulness, Trent immediately stopt him, and gave a sudden turn to +their discourse. + +Mrs. Trent had been to visit Mrs. Booth on the masquerade evening, which +visit Mrs. Booth had not yet returned. Indeed, this was only the second +day since she had received it. Trent therefore now told his friend that +he should take it extremely kind if he and his lady would waive all +ceremony, and sup at their house the next evening. Booth hesitated a +moment, but presently said, "I am pretty certain my wife is not engaged, +and I will undertake for her. I am sure she will not refuse anything Mr. +Trent can ask." And soon after Trent took Booth with him to walk in the +Park. + +There were few greater lovers of a bottle than Trent; he soon proposed +therefore to adjourn to the King's Arms tavern, where Booth, though +much against his inclination, accompanied him. But Trent was very +importunate, and Booth did not think himself at liberty to refuse such a +request to a man from whom he had so lately received such obligations. + +When they came to the tavern, however, Booth recollected the omission he +had been guilty of the night before. He wrote a short note therefore to +his wife, acquainting her that he should not come home to supper; but +comforted her with a faithful promise that he would on no account engage +himself in gaming. + +The first bottle passed in ordinary conversation; but, when they had +tapped the second, Booth, on some hints which Trent gave him, very +fairly laid open to him his whole circumstances, and declared he almost +despaired of mending them. "My chief relief," said he, "was in the +interest of Colonel James; but I have given up those hopes." + +"And very wisely too," said Trent "I say nothing of the colonel's good +will. Very likely he may be your sincere friend; but I do not believe +he hath the interest he pretends to. He hath had too many favours in his +own family to ask any more yet a while. But I am mistaken if you have +not a much more powerful friend than the colonel; one who is both able +and willing to serve you. I dined at his table within these two days, +and I never heard kinder nor warmer expressions from the mouth of man +than he made use of towards you. I make no doubt you know whom I mean." + +"Upon my honour I do not," answered Booth; "nor did I guess that I had +such a friend in the world as you mention." + +"I am glad then," cries Trent, "that I have the pleasure of informing +you of it." He then named the noble peer who hath been already so often +mentioned in this history. + +Booth turned pale and started at his name. "I forgive you, my dear +Trent," cries Booth, "for mentioning his name to me, as you are a +stranger to what hath passed between us." + +"Nay, I know nothing that hath passed between you," answered Trent. "I +am sure, if there is any quarrel between you of two days' standing, all +is forgiven on his part." + +"D--n his forgiveness!" said Booth. "Perhaps I ought to blush at what I +have forgiven." + +"You surprize me!" cries Trent. "Pray what can be the matter?" + +"Indeed, my dear Trent," cries Booth, very gravely, "he would have +injured me in the tenderest part. I know not how to tell it you; but he +would have dishonoured me with my wife." + +"Sure, you are not in earnest!" answered Trent; "but, if you are, you +will pardon me for thinking that impossible." + +"Indeed," cries Booth, "I have so good an opinion of my wife as to +believe it impossible for him to succeed; but that he should intend me +the favour you will not, I believe, think an impossibility." + +"Faith! not in the least," said Trent. "Mrs. Booth is a very fine woman; +and, if I had the honour to be her husband, I should not be angry with +any man for liking her." + +"But you would be angry," said Booth, "with a man, who should make use +of stratagems and contrivances to seduce her virtue; especially if he +did this under the colour of entertaining the highest friendship for +yourself." + +"Not at all," cries Trent. "It is human nature." + +"Perhaps it is," cries Booth; "but it is human nature depraved, stript +of all its worth, and loveliness, and dignity, and degraded down to a +level with the vilest brutes." + +"Look ye, Booth," cries Trent, "I would not be misunderstood. I think, +when I am talking to you, I talk to a man of sense and to an inhabitant +of this country, not to one who dwells in a land of saints. If you have +really such an opinion as you express of this noble lord, you have the +finest opportunity of making a complete fool and bubble of him that any +man can desire, and of making your own fortune at the same time. I do +not say that your suspicions are groundless; for, of all men upon earth +I know, my lord is the greatest bubble to women, though I believe he +hath had very few. And this I am confident of, that he hath not the +least jealousy of these suspicions. Now, therefore, if you will act the +part of a wise man, I will undertake that you shall make your fortune +without the least injury to the chastity of Mrs. Booth." + +"I do not understand you, sir," said Booth. + +"Nay," cries Trent, "if you will not understand me, I have done. I meant +only your service; and I thought I had known you better." + +Booth begged him to explain himself. "If you can," said he, "shew me +any way to improve such circumstances as I have opened to you, you may +depend on it I shall readily embrace it, and own my obligations to you." + +"That is spoken like a man," cries Trent. "Why, what is it more than +this? Carry your suspicions in your own bosom. Let Mrs. Booth, in whose +virtue I am sure you may be justly confident, go to the public places; +there let her treat my lord with common civility only; I am sure he will +bite. And thus, without suffering him to gain his purpose, you will gain +yours. I know several who have succeeded with him in this manner." + +"I am very sorry, sir," cries Booth, "that you are acquainted with any +such rascals. I do assure you, rather than I would act such a part, +I would submit to the hardest sentence that fortune could pronounce +against me." + +"Do as you please, sir," said Trent; "I have only ventured to advise +you as a friend. But do you not think your nicety is a little +over-scrupulous?" + +"You will excuse me, sir," said Booth; "but I think no man can be too +scrupulous in points which concern his honour." + +"I know many men of very nice honour," answered Trent, "who have gone +much farther; and no man, I am sure, had ever a better excuse for it +than yourself. You will forgive me, Booth, since what I speak proceeds +from my love to you; nay, indeed, by mentioning your affairs to me, +which I am heartily sorry for, you have given me a right to speak. You +know best what friends you have to depend upon; but, if you have no +other pretensions than your merit, I can assure you you would fail, if +it was possible you could have ten times more merit than you have. +And, if you love your wife, as I am convinced you do, what must be your +condition in seeing her want the necessaries of life?" + +"I know my condition is very hard," cries Booth; "but I have one comfort +in it, which I will never part with, and that is innocence. As to the +mere necessaries of life, however, it is pretty difficult to deprive us +of them; this I am sure of, no one can want them long." + +"Upon my word, sir," cries Trent, "I did not know you had been so great +a philosopher. But, believe me, these matters look much less terrible at +a distance than when they are actually present. You will then find, I am +afraid, that honour hath no more skill in cookery than Shakspear tells +us it hath in surgery. D--n me if I don't wish his lordship loved my +wife as well as he doth yours, I promise you I would trust her virtue; +and, if he should get the better of it, I should have people of fashion +enough to keep me in countenance." + +Their second bottle being now almost out, Booth, without making any +answer, called for a bill. Trent pressed very much the drinking another +bottle, but Booth absolutely refused, and presently afterwards they +parted, not extremely well satisfied with each other. They appeared, +indeed, one to the other, in disadvantageous lights of a very different +kind. Trent concluded Booth to be a very silly fellow, and Booth began +to suspect that Trent was very little better than a scoundrel. + + + + +Chapter viii. + +_Contains a letter and other matters_. + + +We will now return to Amelia; to whom, immediately upon her husband's +departure to walk with Mr. Trent, a porter brought the following letter, +which she immediately opened and read: + +"MADAM,--The quick despatch which I have given to your first commands +will I hope assure you of the diligence with which I shall always obey +every command that you are pleased to honour me with. I have, indeed, in +this trifling affair, acted as if my life itself had been at stake; +nay, I know not but it may be so; for this insignificant matter, you was +pleased to tell me, would oblige the charming person in whose power is +not only my happiness, but, as I am well persuaded, my life too. Let me +reap therefore some little advantage in your eyes, as you have in mine, +from this trifling occasion; for, if anything could add to the charms of +which you are mistress, it would be perhaps that amiable zeal with which +you maintain the cause of your friend. I hope, indeed, she will be my +friend and advocate with the most lovely of her sex, as I think she hath +reason, and as you was pleased to insinuate she had been. Let me beseech +you, madam, let not that dear heart, whose tenderness is so inclined +to compassionate the miseries of others, be hardened only against the +sufferings which itself occasions. Let not that man alone have reason to +think you cruel, who, of all others, would do the most to procure your +kindness. How often have I lived over in my reflections, in my dreams, +those two short minutes we were together! But, alas! how faint are these +mimicries of the imagination! What would I not give to purchase the +reality of such another blessing! This, madam, is in your power to +bestow on the man who hath no wish, no will, no fortune, no heart, no +life, but what are at your disposal. Grant me only the favour to be at +Lady----'s assembly. You can have nothing to fear from indulging me with +a moment's sight, a moment's conversation; I will ask no more. I know +your delicacy, and had rather die than offend it. Could I have seen you +sometimes, I believe the fear of offending you would have kept my love +for ever buried in my own bosom; but, to be totally excluded even from +the sight of what my soul doats on is what I cannot bear. It is that +alone which hath extorted the fatal secret from me. Let that obtain your +forgiveness for me. I need not sign this letter otherwise than with that +impression of my heart which I hope it bears; and, to conclude it in any +form, no language hath words of devotion strong enough to tell you with +what truth, what anguish, what zeal, what adoration I love you." + +Amelia had just strength to hold out to the end, when her trembling grew +so violent that she dropt the letter, and had probably dropt herself, +had not Mrs. Atkinson come timely in to support her. + +"Good Heavens!" cries Mrs. Atkinson, "what is the matter with you, +madam?" + +"I know not what is the matter," cries Amelia; "but I have received a +letter at last from that infamous colonel." + +"You will take my opinion again then, I hope, madam," cries Mrs. +Atkinson. "But don't be so affected; the letter cannot eat you or run +away with you. Here it lies, I see; will you give me leave to read it?" + +"Read it with all my heart," cries Amelia; "and give me your advice how +to act, for I am almost distracted." + +"Heydey!" says Mrs. Atkinson, "here is a piece of parchment too--what +is that?" In truth, this parchment had dropt from the letter when Amelia +first opened it; but her attention was so fixed by the contents of the +letter itself that she had never read the other. Mrs. Atkinson had now +opened the parchment first; and, after a moment's perusal, the fire +flashed from her eyes, and the blood flushed into her cheeks, and she +cried out, in a rapture, "It is a commission for my husband! upon my +soul, it is a commission for my husband:" and, at the same time, began +to jump about the room in a kind of frantic fit of joy. + +"What can be the meaning of all this?" cries Amelia, under the highest +degree of astonishment. + +"Do not I tell you, my dear madam," cries she, "that it is a commission +for my husband? and can you wonder at my being overjoyed at what I know +will make him so happy? And now it is all out. The letter is not from +the colonel, but from that noble lord of whom I have told you so much. +But, indeed, madam, I have some pardons to ask of you. However, I know +your goodness, and I will tell you all. + +"You are to know then, madam, that I had not been in the Opera-house +six minutes before a masque came up, and, taking me by the hand, led me +aside. I gave the masque my hand; and, seeing a lady at that time lay +hold on Captain Booth, I took that opportunity of slipping away from +him; for though, by the help of the squeaking voice, and by attempting +to mimic yours, I had pretty well disguised my own, I was still afraid, +if I had much conversation with your husband, he would discover me. I +walked therefore away with this masque to the upper end of the farthest +room, where we sat down in a corner together. He presently discovered +to me that he took me for you, and I soon after found out who he was; +indeed, so far from attempting to disguise himself, he spoke in his own +voice and in his own person. He now began to make very violent love to +me, but it was rather in the stile of a great man of the present age +than of an Arcadian swain. In short, he laid his whole fortune at my +feet, and bade me make whatever terms I pleased, either for myself or +for others. By others, I suppose he meant your husband. This, however, +put a thought into my head of turning the present occasion to advantage. +I told him there were two kinds of persons, the fallaciousness of whose +promises had become proverbial in the world. These were lovers, and +great men. What reliance, then, could I have on the promise of one who +united in himself both those characters? That I had seen a melancholy +instance, in a very worthy woman of my acquaintance (meaning myself, +madam), of his want of generosity. I said I knew the obligations that +he had to this woman, and the injuries he had done her, all which I was +convinced she forgave, for that she had said the handsomest things in +the world of him to me. He answered that he thought he had not been +deficient in generosity to this lady (for I explained to him whom I +meant); but that indeed, if she had spoke well of him to me (meaning +yourself, madam), he would not fail to reward her for such an +obligation. I then told him she had married a very deserving man, who +had served long in the army abroad as a private man, and who was a +serjeant in the guards; that I knew it was so very easy for him to get +him a commission, that I should not think he had any honour or goodness +in the world if he neglected it. I declared this step must be a +preliminary to any good opinion he must ever hope for of mine. I then +professed the greatest friendship to that lady (in which I am convinced +you will think me serious), and assured him he would give me one of the +highest pleasures in letting me be the instrument of doing her such a +service. He promised me in a moment to do what you see, madam, he hath +since done. And to you I shall always think myself indebted for it." + +"I know not how you are indebted to me," cries Amelia. "Indeed, I am +very glad of any good fortune that can attend poor Atkinson, but I wish +it had been obtained some other way. Good Heavens! what must be the +consequence of this? What must this lord think of me for listening to +his mention of love? nay, for making any terms with him? for what must +he suppose those terms mean? Indeed, Mrs. Atkinson, you carried it a +great deal too far. No wonder he had the assurance to write to me in the +manner he hath done. It is too plain what he conceives of me, and who +knows what he may say to others? You may have blown up my reputation by +your behaviour." + +"How is that possible?" answered Mrs. Atkinson. "Is it not in my power +to clear up all matters? If you will but give me leave to make an +appointment in your name I will meet him myself, and declare the whole +secret to him." + +"I will consent to no such appointment," cries Amelia. "I am heartily +sorry I ever consented to practise any deceit. I plainly see the truth +of what Dr Harrison hath often told me, that, if one steps ever so +little out of the ways of virtue and innocence, we know not how we may +slide, for all the ways of vice are a slippery descent." + +"That sentiment," cries Mrs. Atkinson, "is much older than Dr Harrison. +_Omne vitium in proclivi est._" + +"However new or old it is, I find it is true," cries Amelia--"But, pray, +tell me all, though I tremble to hear it." + +"Indeed, my dear friend," said Mrs. Atkinson, "you are terrified at +nothing--indeed, indeed, you are too great a prude." + +"I do not know what you mean by prudery," answered Amelia. "I shall +never be ashamed of the strictest regard to decency, to reputation, +and to that honour in which the dearest of all human creatures hath his +share. But, pray, give me the letter, there is an expression in it which +alarmed me when I read it. Pray, what doth he mean by his two short +minutes, and by purchasing the reality of such another blessing?" + +"Indeed, I know not what he means by two minutes," cries Mrs. Atkinson, +"unless he calls two hours so; for we were not together much less. And +as for any blessing he had, I am a stranger to it. Sure, I hope you have +a better opinion of me than to think I granted him the last favour." + +"I don't know what favours you granted him, madam," answered Amelia +peevishly, "but I am sorry you granted him any in my name." + +"Upon my word," cries Mrs. Atkinson, "you use me unkindly, and it is an +usage I did not expect at your hands, nor do I know that I have deserved +it. I am sure I went to the masquerade with no other view than to oblige +you, nor did I say or do anything there which any woman who is not the +most confounded prude upon earth would have started at on a much less +occasion than what induced me. Well, I declare upon my soul then, that, +if I was a man, rather than be married to a woman who makes such a fuss +with her virtue, I would wish my wife was without such a troublesome +companion." + +"Very possibly, madam, these may be your sentiments," cries Amelia, "and +I hope they are the sentiments of your husband." + +"I desire, madam," cries Mrs. Atkinson, "you would not reflect on my +husband. He is a worthy man and as brave a man as yours; yes, madam, and +he is now as much a captain." + +She spoke those words with so loud a voice, that Atkinson, who was +accidentally going up-stairs, heard them; and, being surprized at the +angry tone of his wife's voice, he entered the room, and, with a look of +much astonishment, begged to know what was the matter. + +"The matter, my dear," cries Mrs. Atkinson, "is that I have got a +commission for you, and your good old friend here is angry with me for +getting it." + +"I have not spirits enow," cries Amelia, "to answer you as you deserve; +and, if I had, you are below my anger." + +"I do not know, Mrs. Booth," answered the other, "whence this great +superiority over me is derived; but, if your virtue gives it you, I +would have you to know, madam, that I despise a prude as much as you can +do a----." + +"Though you have several times," cries Amelia, "insulted me with that +word, I scorn to give you any ill language in return. If you deserve any +bad appellation, you know it, without my telling it you." + +Poor Atkinson, who was more frightened than he had ever been in his +life, did all he could to procure peace. He fell upon his knees to his +wife, and begged her to compose herself; for indeed she seemed to be in +a most furious rage. + +While he was in this posture Booth, who had knocked so gently at the +door, for fear of disturbing his wife, that he had not been heard in the +tempest, came into the room. The moment Amelia saw him, the tears which +had been gathering for some time, burst in a torrent from her eyes, +which, however, she endeavoured to conceal with her handkerchief. The +entry of Booth turned all in an instant into a silent picture, in which +the first figure which struck the eyes of the captain was the serjeant +on his knees to his wife. + +Booth immediately cried, "What's the meaning of this?" but received no +answer. He then cast his eyes towards Amelia, and, plainly discerning +her condition, he ran to her, and in a very tender phrase begged to know +what was the matter. To which she answered, "Nothing, my dear, nothing +of any consequence." He replied that he would know, and then turned to +Atkinson, and asked the same question. + +Atkinson answered, "Upon my honour, sir, I know nothing of it. Something +hath passed between madam and my wife; but what it is I know no more +than your honour." + +"Your wife," said Mrs. Atkinson, "hath used me cruelly ill, Mr. Booth. +If you must be satisfied, that is the whole matter." + +Booth rapt out a great oath, and cried, "It is impossible; my wife is +not capable of using any one ill." + +Amelia then cast herself upon her knees to her husband, and cried, "For +Heaven's sake do not throw yourself into a passion--some few words have +past--perhaps I may be in the wrong." + +"Damnation seize me if I think so!" cries Booth. "And I wish whoever +hath drawn these tears from your eyes may pay it with as many drops of +their heart's blood." + +"You see, madam," cries Mrs. Atkinson, "you have your bully to take your +part; so I suppose you will use your triumph." + +Amelia made no answer, but still kept hold of Booth, who, in a violent +rage, cried out, "My Amelia triumph over such a wretch as thee!--What +can lead thy insolence to such presumption! Serjeant, I desire you'll +take that monster out of the room, or I cannot answer for myself." + +The serjeant was beginning to beg his wife to retire (for he perceived +very plainly that she had, as the phrase is, taken a sip too much that +evening) when, with a rage little short of madness, she cried out, +"And do you tamely see me insulted in such a manner, now that you are a +gentleman, and upon a footing with him?" + +"It is lucky for us all, perhaps," answered Booth, "that he is not my +equal." + +"You lie, sirrah," said Mrs. Atkinson; "he is every way your equal; +he is as good a gentleman as yourself, and as much an officer. No, I +retract what I say; he hath not the spirit of a gentleman, nor of a man +neither, or he would not bear to see his wife insulted." + +"Let me beg of you, my dear," cries the serjeant, "to go with me and +compose yourself." + +"Go with thee, thou wretch!" cries she, looking with the utmost disdain +upon him; "no, nor ever speak to thee more." At which words she burst +out of the room, and the serjeant, without saying a word, followed her. + +A very tender and pathetic scene now passed between Booth and his wife, +in which, when she was a little composed, she related to him the whole +story. For, besides that it was not possible for her otherwise to +account for the quarrel which he had seen, Booth was now possessed of +the letter that lay on the floor. + +Amelia, having emptied her mind to her husband, and obtained his +faithful promise that he would not resent the affair to my lord, +was pretty well composed, and began to relent a little towards Mrs. +Atkinson; but Booth was so highly incensed with her, that he declared he +would leave her house the next morning; which they both accordingly +did, and immediately accommodated themselves with convenient apartments +within a few doors of their friend the doctor. + + + + +Chapter ix. + +_Containing some things worthy observation._ + + +Notwithstanding the exchange of his lodgings, Booth did not forget to +send an excuse to Mr. Trent, of whose conversation he had taken a full +surfeit the preceding evening. + +That day in his walks Booth met with an old brother-officer, who had +served with him at Gibraltar, and was on half-pay as well as himself. +He had not, indeed, had the fortune of being broke with his regiment, +as was Booth, but had gone out, as they call it, on half-pay as a +lieutenant, a rank to which he had risen in five-and-thirty years. + +This honest gentleman, after some discourse with Booth, desired him to +lend him half-a-crown, which he assured him he would faithfully pay the +next day, when he was to receive some money for his sister. The sister +was the widow of an officer that had been killed in the sea-service; and +she and her brother lived together, on their joint stock, out of which +they maintained likewise an old mother and two of the sister's children, +the eldest of which was about nine years old. "You must know," said +the old lieutenant, "I have been disappointed this morning by an old +scoundrel, who wanted fifteen per cent, for advancing my sister's +pension; but I have now got an honest fellow who hath promised it me +to-morrow at ten per cent." + +"And enough too, of all conscience," cries Booth. + +"Why, indeed, I think so too," answered the other; "considering it is +sure to be paid one time or other. To say the truth, it is a little hard +the government doth not pay those pensions better; for my sister's hath +been due almost these two years; that is my way of thinking." + +Booth answered he was ashamed to refuse him such a sum; but, "Upon my +soul," said he, "I have not a single halfpenny in my pocket; for I am +in a worse condition, if possible, than yourself; for I have lost all +my money, and, what is worse, I owe Mr. Trent, whom you remember at +Gibraltar, fifty pounds." + +"Remember him! yes, d--n him! I remember him very well," cries the old +gentleman, "though he will not remember me. He is grown so great now +that he will not speak to his old acquaintance; and yet I should be +ashamed of myself to be great in such a manner." + +"What manner do you mean?" cries Booth, a little eagerly. + +"Why, by pimping," answered the other; "he is pimp in ordinary to my +Lord----, who keeps his family; or how the devil he lives else I don't +know, for his place is not worth three hundred pounds a year, and he and +his wife spend a thousand at least. But she keeps an assembly, which, I +believe, if you was to call a bawdy-house, you would not misname it. +But d--n me if I had not rather be an honest man, and walk on foot, with +holes in my shoes, as I do now, or go without a dinner, as I and all my +family will today, than ride in a chariot and feast by such means. I +am honest Bob Bound, and always will be; that's my way of thinking; and +there's no man shall call me otherwise; for if he doth, I will knock him +down for a lying rascal; that is my way of thinking." + +"And a very good way of thinking too," cries Booth. "However, you shall +not want a dinner to-day; for if you will go home with me, I will lend +you a crown with all my heart." + +"Lookee," said the old man, "if it be anywise inconvenient to you I +will not have it; for I will never rob another man of his dinner to eat +myself--that is my way of thinking." + +"Pooh!" said Booth; "never mention such a trifle twice between you and +me. Besides, you say you can pay it me to-morrow; and I promise you that +will be the same thing." + +They then walked together to Booth's lodgings, where Booth, from +Amelia's pocket, gave his friend double the little sum he had asked. +Upon which the old gentleman shook him heartily by the hand, and, +repeating his intention of paying him the next day, made the best of his +way to a butcher's, whence he carried off a leg of mutton to a family +that had lately kept Lent without any religious merit. + +When he was gone Amelia asked her husband who that old gentleman was? +Booth answered he was one of the scandals of his country; that the Duke +of Marlborough had about thirty years before made him an ensign from a +private man for very particular merit; and that he had not long since +gone out of the army with a broken heart, upon having several boys put +over his head. He then gave her an account of his family, which he had +heard from the old gentleman in their way to his house, and with which +we have already in a concise manner acquainted the reader. + +"Good Heavens!" cries Amelia; "what are our great men made of? are they +in reality a distinct species from the rest of mankind? are they born +without hearts?" + +"One would, indeed, sometimes," cries Booth, "be inclined to think +so. In truth, they have no perfect idea of those common distresses of +mankind which are far removed from their own sphere. Compassion, if +thoroughly examined, will, I believe, appear to be the fellow-feeling +only of men of the same rank and degree of life for one another, on +account of the evils to which they themselves are liable. Our sensations +are, I am afraid, very cold towards those who are at a great distance +from us, and whose calamities can consequently never reach us." + +"I remember," cries Amelia, "a sentiment of Dr Harrison's, which he +told me was in some Latin book; _I am a man myself, and my heart is +interested in whatever can befal the rest of mankind_. That is the +sentiment of a good man, and whoever thinks otherwise is a bad one." + +"I have often told you, my dear Emily," cries Booth, "that all men, as +well the best as the worst, act alike from the principle of self-love. +Where benevolence therefore is the uppermost passion, self-love directs +you to gratify it by doing good, and by relieving the distresses of +others; for they are then in reality your own. But where ambition, +avarice, pride, or any other passion, governs the man and keeps his +benevolence down, the miseries of all other men affect him no more than +they would a stock or a stone. And thus the man and his statue have +often the same degree of feeling or compassion." + +"I have often wished, my dear," cries Amelia, "to hear you converse with +Dr Harrison on this subject; for I am sure he would convince you, though +I can't, that there are really such things as religion and virtue." + +This was not the first hint of this kind which Amelia had given; for she +sometimes apprehended from his discourse that he was little better than +an atheist: a consideration which did not diminish her affection +for him, but gave her great uneasiness. On all such occasions Booth +immediately turned the discourse to some other subject; for, though he +had in other points a great opinion of his wife's capacity, yet as a +divine or a philosopher he did not hold her in a very respectable light, +nor did he lay any great stress on her sentiments in such matters. He +now, therefore, gave a speedy turn to the conversation, and began to +talk of affairs below the dignity of this history. + + + + +BOOK XI. + + + +Chapter i. + +_Containing a very polite scene._ + + +We will now look back to some personages who, though not the principal +characters in this history, have yet made too considerable a figure in +it to be abruptly dropt: and these are Colonel James and his lady. + +This fond couple never met till dinner the day after the masquerade, +when they happened to be alone together in an antechamber before the +arrival of the rest of the company. + +The conversation began with the colonel's saying, "I hope, madam, you +got no cold last night at the masquerade." To which the lady answered by +much the same kind of question. + +They then sat together near five minutes without opening their mouths +to each other. At last Mrs. James said, "Pray, sir, who was that masque +with you in the dress of a shepherdess? How could you expose yourself +by walking with such a trollop in public; for certainly no woman of any +figure would appear there in such a dress? You know, Mr. James, I never +interfere with your affairs; but I would, methinks, for my own sake, if +I was you, preserve a little decency in the face of the world." + +"Upon my word," said James, "I do not know whom you mean. A woman in +such a dress might speak to me for aught I know. A thousand people +speak to me at a masquerade. But, I promise you, I spoke to no woman +acquaintance there that I know of. Indeed, I now recollect there was a +woman in a dress of a shepherdess; and there was another aukward thing +in a blue domino that plagued me a little, but I soon got rid of them." + +"And I suppose you do not know the lady in the blue domino neither?" + +"Not I, I assure you," said James. "But pray, why do you ask me these +questions? it looks so like jealousy." + +"Jealousy!" cries she; "I jealous! no, Mr. James, I shall never be +jealous, I promise you, especially of the lady in the blue domino; for, +to my knowledge, she despises you of all human race." + +"I am heartily glad of it," said James; "for I never saw such a tall +aukward monster in my life." + +"That is a very cruel way of telling me you knew me." + +"You, madam!" said James; "you was in a black domino." + +"It is not so unusual a thing, I believe, you yourself know, to change +dresses. I own I did it to discover some of your tricks. I did not think +you could have distinguished the tall aukward monster so well." + +"Upon my soul," said James, "if it was you I did not even suspect it; so +you ought not to be offended at what I have said ignorantly." + +"Indeed, sir," cries she, "you cannot offend me by anything you can +say to my face; no, by my soul, I despise you too much. But I wish, Mr. +James, you would not make me the subject of your conversation amongst +your wenches. I desire I may not be afraid of meeting them for fear of +their insults; that I may not be told by a dirty trollop you make me the +subject of your wit amongst them, of which, it seems, I am the favourite +topic. Though you have married a tall aukward monster, Mr. James, I +think she hath a right to be treated, as your wife, with respect at +least: indeed, I shall never require any more; indeed, Mr. James, I +never shall. I think a wife hath a title to that." + +"Who told you this, madam?" said James. + +"Your slut," said she; "your wench, your shepherdess." + +"By all that's sacred!" cries James, "I do not know who the shepherdess +was." + +"By all that's sacred then," says she, "she told me so, and I am +convinced she told me truth. But I do not wonder at you denying it; for +that is equally consistent with honour as to behave in such a manner to +a wife who is a gentlewoman. I hope you will allow me that, sir. Because +I had not quite so great a fortune I hope you do not think me beneath +you, or that you did me any honour in marrying me. I am come of as good +a family as yourself, Mr. James; and if my brother knew how you treated +me he would not bear it." + +"Do you threaten me with your brother, madam?" said James. + +"I will not be ill-treated, sir," answered she. + +"Nor I neither, madam," cries he; "and therefore I desire you will +prepare to go into the country to-morrow morning." + +"Indeed, sir," said she, "I shall not." + +"By heavens! madam, but you shall," answered he: "I will have my coach +at the door to-morrow morning by seven; and you shall either go into it +or be carried." + +"I hope, sir, you are not in earnest," said she. + +"Indeed, madam," answered he, "but I am in earnest, and resolved; and +into the country you go to-morrow." + +"But why into the country," said she, "Mr. James? Why will you be so +barbarous to deny me the pleasures of the town?" + +"Because you interfere with my pleasures," cried James, "which I have +told you long ago I would not submit to. It is enough for fond couples +to have these scenes together. I thought we had been upon a better +footing, and had cared too little for each other to become mutual +plagues. I thought you had been satisfied with the full liberty of doing +what you pleased." + +"So I am; I defy you to say I have ever given you any uneasiness." + +"How!" cries he; "have you not just now upbraided me with what you heard +at the masquerade?" + +"I own," said she, "to be insulted by such a creature to my face stung +me to the soul. I must have had no spirit to bear the insults of such +an animal. Nay, she spoke of you with equal contempt. Whoever she is, I +promise you Mr. Booth is her favourite. But, indeed, she is unworthy any +one's regard, for she behaved like an arrant dragoon." + +"Hang her!" cries the colonel, "I know nothing of her." + +"Well, but, Mr. James, I am sure you will not send me into the country. +Indeed I will not go into the country." + +"If you was a reasonable woman," cries James, "perhaps I should not +desire it. And on one consideration--" + +"Come, name your consideration," said she. + +"Let me first experience your discernment," said he. "Come, Molly, let +me try your judgment. Can you guess at any woman of your acquaintance +that I like?" + +"Sure," said she, "it cannot be Mrs. Booth!" + +"And why not Mrs. Booth?" answered he. "Is she not the finest woman in +the world?" + +"Very far from it," replied she, "in my opinion." + +"Pray what faults," said he, "can you find in her?" + +"In the first place," cries Mrs. James, "her eyes are too large; and she +hath a look with them that I don't know how to describe; but I know I +don't like it. Then her eyebrows are too large; therefore, indeed, she +doth all in her power to remedy this with her pincers; for if it was +not for those her eyebrows would be preposterous. Then her nose, as +well proportioned as it is, has a visible scar on one side. Her neck, +likewise, is too protuberant for the genteel size, especially as she +laces herself; for no woman, in my opinion, can be genteel who is not +entirely flat before. And, lastly, she is both too short and too tall. +Well, you may laugh, Mr. James, I know what I mean, though I cannot well +express it: I mean that she is too tall for a pretty woman and too short +for a fine woman. There is such a thing as a kind of insipid medium--a +kind of something that is neither one thing nor another. I know not how +to express it more clearly; but when I say such a one is a pretty woman, +a pretty thing, a pretty creature, you know very well I mean a little +woman; and when I say such a one is a very fine woman, a very fine +person of a woman, to be sure I must mean a tall woman. Now a woman that +is between both is certainly neither the one nor the other." + +"Well, I own," said he, "you have explained yourself with great +dexterity; but, with all these imperfections, I cannot help liking her." + +"That you need not tell me, Mr. James," answered the lady, "for that +I knew before you desired me to invite her to your house. And +nevertheless, did not I, like an obedient wife, comply with your +desires? did I make any objection to the party you proposed for the +masquerade, though I knew very well your motive? what can the best of +wives do more? to procure you success is not in my power; and, if I may +give you my opinion, I believe you will never succeed with her." + +"Is her virtue so very impregnable?" said he, with a sneer. + +"Her virtue," answered Mrs. James, "hath the best guard in the world, +which is a most violent love for her husband." + +"All pretence and affectation," cries the colonel. "It is impossible she +should have so little taste, or indeed so little delicacy, as to like +such a fellow." + +"Nay, I do not much like him myself," said she. "He is not indeed at all +such a sort of man as I should like; but I thought he had been generally +allowed to be handsome." + +"He handsome!" cries James. "What, with a nose like the proboscis of an +elephant, with the shoulders of a porter, and the legs of a chairman? +The fellow hath not in the least the look of a gentleman, and one would +rather think he had followed the plough than the camp all his life." + +"Nay, now I protest," said she, "I think you do him injustice. He is +genteel enough in my opinion. It is true, indeed, he is not quite of the +most delicate make; but, whatever he is, I am convinced she thinks him +the finest man in the world." + +"I cannot believe it," answered he peevishly; "but will you invite her +to dinner here to-morrow?" + +"With all my heart, and as often as you please," answered she. "But I +have some favours to ask of you. First, I must hear no more of going out +of town till I please." + +"Very well," cries he. + +"In the next place," said she, "I must have two hundred guineas within +these two or three days." + +"Well, I agree to that too," answered he. + +"And when I do go out of town, I go to Tunbridge--I insist upon that; +and from Tunbridge I go to Bath--positively to Bath. And I promise you +faithfully I will do all in my power to carry Mrs. Booth with me." + +"On that condition," answered he, "I promise you you shall go wherever +you please. And, to shew you, I will even prevent your wishes by my +generosity; as soon as I receive the five thousand pounds which I am +going to take up on one of my estates, you shall have two hundred more." + +She thanked him with a low curtesie; and he was in such good humour that +he offered to kiss her. To this kiss she coldly turned her cheek, and +then, flirting her fan, said, "Mr. James, there is one thing I forgot +to mention to you--I think you intended to get a commission in some +regiment abroad for this young man. Now if you would take my advice, +I know this will not oblige his wife; and, besides, I am positive +she resolves to go with him. But, if you can provide for him in some +regiment at home, I know she will dearly love you for it, and when he is +ordered to quarters she will be left behind; and Yorkshire or Scotland, +I think, is as good a distance as either of the Indies." + +"Well, I will do what I can," answered James; "but I cannot ask anything +yet; for I got two places of a hundred a year each for two of my +footmen, within this fortnight." + +At this instant a violent knock at the door signified the arrival of +their company, upon which both husband and wife put on their best looks +to receive their guests; and, from their behaviour to each other during +the rest of the day, a stranger might have concluded he had been in +company with the fondest couple in the universe. + + + + +Chapter ii. + +_Matters political._ + + +Before we return to Booth we will relate a scene in which Dr Harrison +was concerned. + +This good man, whilst in the country, happened to be in the +neighbourhood of a nobleman of his acquaintance, and whom he knew to +have very considerable interest with the ministers at that time. + +The doctor, who was very well known to this nobleman, took this +opportunity of paying him a visit in order to recommend poor Booth to +his favour. Nor did he much doubt of his success, the favour he was to +ask being a very small one, and to which he thought the service of Booth +gave him so just a title. + +The doctor's name soon gained him an admission to the presence of this +great man, who, indeed, received him with much courtesy and politeness; +not so much, perhaps, from any particular regard to the sacred function, +nor from any respect to the doctor's personal merit, as from some +considerations which the reader will perhaps guess anon. After many +ceremonials, and some previous discourse on different subjects, the +doctor opened the business, and told the great man that he was come to +him to solicit a favour for a young gentleman who had been an officer in +the army and was now on half-pay. "All the favour I ask, my lord," said +he, "is, that this gentleman may be again admitted _ad_ _eundem_. I am +convinced your lordship will do me the justice to think I would not +ask for a worthless person; but, indeed, the young man I mean hath +very extraordinary merit. He was at the siege of Gibraltar, in which he +behaved with distinguished bravery, and was dangerously wounded at two +several times in the service of his country. I will add that he is at +present in great necessity, and hath a wife and several children, for +whom he hath no other means of providing; and, if it will recommend him +farther to your lordship's favour, his wife, I believe, is one of the +best and worthiest of all her sex." + +"As to that, my dear doctor," cries the nobleman, "I shall make no +doubt. Indeed any service I shall do the gentleman will be upon +your account. As to necessity, it is the plea of so many that it is +impossible to serve them all. And with regard to the personal merit of +these inferior officers, I believe I need not tell you that it is very +little regarded. But if you recommend him, let the person be what he +will, I am convinced it will be done; for I know it is in your power at +present to ask for a greater matter than this." + +"I depend entirely upon your lordship," answered the doctor. + +"Indeed, my worthy friend," replied the lord, "I will not take a merit +to myself which will so little belong to me. You are to depend on +yourself. It falls out very luckily too at this time, when you have it +in your power so greatly to oblige us." + +"What, my lord, is in my power?" cries the doctor. + +"You certainly know," answered his lordship, "how hard Colonel +Trompington is run at your town in the election of a mayor; they tell +me it will be a very near thing unless you join us. But we know it is +in your power to do the business, and turn the scale. I heard your +name mentioned the other day on that account, and I know you may have +anything in reason if you will give us your interest." + +"Sure, my lord," cries the doctor, "you are not in earnest in asking my +interest for the colonel?" + +"Indeed I am," answered the peer; "why should you doubt it?" + +"For many reasons," answered the doctor. "First, I am an old friend and +acquaintance of Mr. Fairfield, as your lordship, I believe, very well +knows. The little interest, therefore, that I have, you may be assured, +will go in his favour. Indeed, I do not concern myself deeply in these +affairs, for I do not think it becomes my cloth so to do. But, as far as +I think it decent to interest myself, it will certainly be on the side +of Mr. Fairfield. Indeed, I should do so if I was acquainted with both +the gentlemen only by reputation; the one being a neighbouring gentleman +of a very large estate, a very sober and sensible man, of known probity +and attachment to the true interest of his country; the other is a mere +stranger, a boy, a soldier of fortune, and, as far as I can discern from +the little conversation I have had with him, of a very shallow capacity, +and no education." + +"No education, my dear friend!" cries the nobleman. "Why, he hath been +educated in half the courts of Europe." + +"Perhaps so, my lord," answered the doctor; "but I shall always be so +great a pedant as to call a man of no learning a man of no education. +And, from my own knowledge, I can aver that I am persuaded there is +scarce a foot-soldier in the army who is more illiterate than the +colonel." + +"Why, as to Latin and Greek, you know," replied the lord, "they are not +much required in the army." + +"It may be so," said the doctor. "Then let such persons keep to their +own profession. It is a very low civil capacity indeed for which an +illiterate man can be qualified. And, to speak a plain truth, if your +lordship is a friend to the colonel, you would do well to advise him +to decline an attempt in which I am certain he hath no probability of +success." + +"Well, sir," said the lord, "if you are resolved against us, I must +deal as freely with you, and tell you plainly I cannot serve you in your +affair. Nay, it will be the best thing I can do to hold my tongue; for, +if I should mention his name with your recommendation after what you +have said, he would perhaps never get provided for as long as he lives." + +"Is his own merit, then, my lord, no recommendation?" cries the doctor. + +"My dear, dear sir," cries the other, "what is the merit of a subaltern +officer?" + +"Surely, my lord," cries the doctor, "it is the merit which should +recommend him to the post of a subaltern officer. And it is a merit +which will hereafter qualify him to serve his country in a higher +capacity. And I do assure of this young man, that he hath not only a +good heart but a good head too. And I have been told by those who are +judges that he is, for his age, an excellent officer." + +"Very probably!" cries my lord. "And there are abundance with the +same merit and the same qualifications who want a morsel of bread for +themselves and their families." + +"It is an infamous scandal on the nation," cries the doctor; "and I am +heartily sorry it can be said even with a colour of truth." + +"How can it be otherwise?" says the peer. "Do you think it is possible +to provide for all men of merit?" + +"Yes, surely do I," said the doctor; "and very easily too." + +"How, pray?" cries the lord. "Upon my word, I shall be glad to know." + +"Only by not providing for those who have none. The men of merit in any +capacity are not, I am afraid, so extremely numerous that we need starve +any of them, unless we wickedly suffer a set of worthless fellows to eat +their bread." + +"This is all mere Utopia," cries his lordship; "the chimerical system of +Plato's commonwealth, with which we amused ourselves at the university; +politics which are inconsistent with the state of human affairs." + +"Sure, my lord," cries the doctor, "we have read of states where such +doctrines have been put in practice. What is your lordship's opinion +of Rome in the earlier ages of the commonwealth, of Sparta, and even of +Athens itself in some periods of its history?" + +"Indeed, doctor," cries the lord, "all these notions are obsolete and +long since exploded. To apply maxims of government drawn from the Greek +and Roman histories to this nation is absurd and impossible. But, if you +will have Roman examples, fetch them from those times of the republic +that were most like our own. Do you not know, doctor, that this is as +corrupt a nation as ever existed under the sun? And would you think +of governing such a people by the strict principles of honesty and +morality?" + +"If it be so corrupt," said the doctor, "I think it is high time to +amend it: or else it is easy to foresee that Roman and British liberty +will have the same fate; for corruption in the body politic as naturally +tends to dissolution as in the natural body." + +"I thank you for your simile," cries my lord; "for, in the natural body, +I believe, you will allow there is the season of youth, the season of +manhood, and the season of old age; and that, when the last of these +arrives, it will be an impossible attempt by all the means of art to +restore the body again to its youth, or to the vigour of its middle age. +The same periods happen to every great kingdom. In its youth it rises +by arts and arms to power and prosperity. This it enjoys and flourishes +with a while; and then it may be said to be in the vigour of its age, +enriched at home with all the emoluments and blessings of peace, and +formidable abroad with all the terrors of war. At length this very +prosperity introduces corruption, and then comes on its old age. Virtue +and learning, art and industry, decay by degrees. The people sink into +sloth and luxury and prostitution. It is enervated at home--becomes +contemptible abroad; and such indeed is its misery and wretchedness, +that it resembles a man in the last decrepit stage of life, who looks +with unconcern at his approaching dissolution." + +"This is a melancholy picture indeed," cries the doctor; "and, if +the latter part of it can be applied to our case, I see nothing +but religion, which would have prevented this decrepit state of the +constitution, should prevent a man of spirit from hanging himself out of +the way of so wretched a contemplation." + +"Why so?" said the peer; "why hang myself, doctor? Would it not be +wiser, think you, to make the best of your time, and the most you can, +in such a nation?" + +"And is religion, then, to be really laid out of the question?" cries +the doctor. + +"If I am to speak my own opinion, sir," answered the peer, "you know I +shall answer in the negative. But you are too well acquainted with the +world to be told that the conduct of politicians is not formed upon the +principles of religion." + +"I am very sorry for it," cries the doctor; "but I will talk to them +then of honour and honesty; this is a language which I hope they will at +least pretend to understand. Now to deny a man the preferment which +he merits, and to give it to another man who doth not merit it, is a +manifest act of injustice, and is consequently inconsistent with both +honour and honesty. Nor is it only an act of injustice to the man +himself, but to the public, for whose good principally all public +offices are, or ought to be, instituted. Now this good can never be +completed nor obtained but by employing all persons according to their +capacities. Wherever true merit is liable to be superseded by favour +and partiality, and men are intrusted with offices without any regard +to capacity or integrity, the affairs of that state will always be in a +deplorable situation. Such, as Livy tells us, was the state of Capua a +little before its final destruction, and the consequence your lordship +well knows. But, my lord, there is another mischief which attends this +kind of injustice, and that is, it hath a manifest tendency to destroy +all virtue and all ability among the people, by taking away all that +encouragement and incentive which should promote emulation and raise +men to aim at excelling in any art, science, or profession. Nor can +anything, my lord, contribute more to render a nation contemptible +among its neighbours; for what opinion can other countries have of +the councils, or what terror can they conceive of the arms, of such a +people? and it was chiefly owing to the avoiding this error that Oliver +Cromwell carried the reputation of England higher than it ever was at +any other time. I will add only one argument more, and that is founded +on the most narrow and selfish system of politics; and this is, that +such a conduct is sure to create universal discontent and grumbling at +home; for nothing can bring men to rest satisfied, when they see others +preferred to them, but an opinion that they deserved that elevation; +for, as one of the greatest men this country ever produced observes, + + One worthless man that gains what he pretends + Disgusts a thousand unpretending friends. + +With what heart-burnings then must any nation see themselves obliged to +contribute to the support of a set of men of whose incapacity to +serve them they are well apprized, and who do their country a double +diskindness, by being themselves employed in posts to which they are +unequal, and by keeping others out of those employments for which they +are qualified!" + +"And do you really think, doctor," cries the nobleman, "that any +minister could support himself in this country upon such principles as +you recommend? Do you think he would be able to baffle an opposition +unless he should oblige his friends by conferring places often contrary +to his own inclinations and his own opinion?" + +"Yes, really do I," cries the doctor. "Indeed, if a minister is resolved +to make good his confession in the liturgy, _by leaving undone all those +things which he ought to have done, and by doing all those things which +he ought not to have done,_ such a minister, I grant, will be obliged to +baffle opposition, as you are pleased to term it, by these arts; for, as +Shakespeare somewhere says, + + Things ill begun strengthen themselves by ill. + +But if, on the contrary, he will please to consider the true interest +of his country, and that only in great and national points; if he will +engage his country in neither alliances nor quarrels but where it is +really interested; if he will raise no money but what is wanted, nor +employ any civil or military officers but what are useful, and place +in these employments men of the highest integrity, and of the greatest +abilities; if he will employ some few of his hours to advance our trade, +and some few more to regulate our domestic government; if he would do +this, my lord, I will answer for it, he shall either have no opposition +to baffle, or he shall baffle it by a fair appeal to his conduct. Such +a minister may, in the language of the law, put himself on his country +when he pleases, and he shall come off with honour and applause." + +"And do you really believe, doctor," cries the peer, "there ever was +such a minister, or ever will be?" + +"Why not, my lord?" answered the doctor. "It requires no very +extraordinary parts, nor any extraordinary degree of virtue. He need +practise no great instances of self-denial. He shall have power, and +honour, and riches, and, perhaps, all in a much greater degree than he +can ever acquire by pursuing a contrary system. He shall have more of +each and much more of safety." + +"Pray, doctor," said my lord, "let me ask you one simple question. Do +you really believe any man upon earth was ever a rogue out of choice?" + +"Really, my lord," says the doctor, "I am ashamed to answer in the +affirmative; and yet I am afraid experience would almost justify me if +I should. Perhaps the opinion of the world may sometimes mislead men to +think those measures necessary which in reality are not so. Or the truth +may be, that a man of good inclinations finds his office filled with +such corruption by the iniquity of his predecessors, that he may despair +of being capable of purging it; and so sits down contented, as Augeas +did with the filth of his stables, not because he thought them the +better, or that such filth was really necessary to a stable, but that he +despaired of sufficient force to cleanse them." + +"I will ask you one question more, and I have done," said the nobleman. +"Do you imagine that if any minister was really as good as you would +have him, that the people in general would believe that he was so?" + +"Truly, my lord," said the doctor, "I think they may be justified in +not believing too hastily. But I beg leave to answer your lordship's +question by another. Doth your lordship believe that the people of +Greenland, when they see the light of the sun and feel his warmth, after +so long a season of cold and darkness, will really be persuaded that he +shines upon them?" + +My lord smiled at the conceit; and then the doctor took an opportunity +to renew his suit, to which his lordship answered, "He would promise +nothing, and could give him no hopes of success; but you may be +assured," said he, with a leering countenance, "I shall do him all the +service in my power." A language which the doctor well understood; and +soon after took a civil, but not a very ceremonious leave. + + + + +Chapter iii. + +_The history of Mr. Trent._ + + +We will now return to Mr. Booth and his wife. The former had spent his +time very uneasily ever since he had discovered what sort of man he was +indebted to; but, lest he should forget it, Mr. Trent thought now proper +to remind him in the following letter, which he read the next morning +after he had put off the appointment. + +"SIR,--I am sorry the necessity of my affairs obliges me to mention that +small sum which I had the honour to lend you the other night at play; +and which I shall be much obliged to you if you will let me have some +time either to-day or to-morrow. I am, sir, Your most obedient, most +humble servant, GEORGE TRENT." + +This letter a little surprized Booth, after the genteel, and, indeed, +as it appeared, generous behaviour of Trent. But lest it should have the +same effect upon the reader, we will now proceed to account for this, as +well as for some other phenomena that have appeared in this history, and +which, perhaps, we shall be forgiven for not having opened more largely +before. + +Mr. Trent then was a gentleman possibly of a good family, for it was not +certain whence he sprung on the father's side. His mother, who was the +only parent he ever knew or heard of, was a single gentlewoman, and for +some time carried on the trade of a milliner in Covent-garden. She sent +her son, at the age of eight years old, to a charity-school, where he +remained till he was of the age of fourteen, without making any great +proficiency in learning. Indeed it is not very probable he should; for +the master, who, in preference to a very learned and proper man, was +chosen by a party into this school, the salary of which was upwards of +a hundred pounds a-year, had himself never travelled through the Latin +Grammar, and was, in truth, a most consummate blockhead. + +At the age of fifteen Mr. Trent was put clerk to an attorney, where he +remained a very short time before he took leave of his master; rather, +indeed, departed without taking leave; and, having broke open his +mother's escritore, and carried off with him all the valuable effects he +there found, to the amount of about fifty pounds, he marched off to sea, +and went on board a merchantman, whence he was afterwards pressed into a +man of war. + +In this service he continued above three years; during which time he +behaved so ill in his moral character that he twice underwent a very +severe discipline for thefts in which he was detected; but at the same +time, he behaved so well as a sailor in an engagement with some pirates, +that he wiped off all former scores, and greatly recommended himself to +his captain. + +At his return home, he being then about twenty years of age, he found +that the attorney had in his absence married his mother, had buried her, +and secured all her effects, to the amount, as he was informed, of +about fifteen hundred pound. Trent applied to his stepfather, but to no +purpose; the attorney utterly disowned him, nor would he suffer him to +come a second time within his doors. + +It happened that the attorney had, by a former wife, an only daughter, a +great favourite, who was about the same age with Trent himself, and had, +during his residence at her father's house, taken a very great liking to +this young fellow, who was extremely handsome and perfectly well made. +This her liking was not, during his absence, so far extinguished but +that it immediately revived on his return. Of this she took care to give +Mr. Trent proper intimation; for she was not one of those backward and +delicate ladies who can die rather than make the first overture. Trent +was overjoyed at this, and with reason, for she was a very lovely girl +in her person, the only child of a rich father; and the prospect of so +complete a revenge on the attorney charmed him above all the rest. To be +as short in the matter as the parties, a marriage was soon consummated +between them. + +The attorney at first raged and was implacable; but at last fondness for +his daughter so far overcame resentment that he advanced a sum of money +to buy his son-in-law (for now he acknowledged him as such) an ensign's +commission in a marching regiment then ordered to Gibraltar; at which +place the attorney heartily hoped that Trent might be knocked on the +head; for in that case he thought he might marry his daughter more +agreeably to his own ambition and to her advantage. + +The regiment into which Trent purchased was the same with that in +which Booth likewise served; the one being an ensign, and the other a +lieutenant, in the two additional companies. + +Trent had no blemish in his military capacity. Though he had had but +an indifferent education, he was naturally sensible and genteel, and +Nature, as we have said, had given him a very agreeable person. He was +likewise a very bold fellow, and, as he really behaved himself every way +well enough while he was at Gibraltar, there was some degree of intimacy +between him and Booth. + +When the siege was over, and the additional companies were again +reduced, Trent returned to his wife, who received him with great joy and +affection. Soon after this an accident happened which proved the utter +ruin of his father-in-law, and ended in breaking his heart. This was +nothing but making a mistake pretty common at this day, of writing +another man's name to a deed instead of his own. In truth this matter +was no less than what the law calls forgery, and was just then made +capital by an act of parliament. From this offence, indeed, the attorney +was acquitted, by not admitting the proof of the party, who was to avoid +his own deed by his evidence, and therefore no witness, according to +those excellent rules called the law of evidence; a law very excellently +calculated for the preservation of the lives of his majesty's roguish +subjects, and most notably used for that purpose. + +But though by common law the attorney was honourably acquitted, yet, as +common sense manifested to every one that he was guilty, he unhappily +lost his reputation, and of consequence his business; the chagrin of +which latter soon put an end to his life. + +This prosecution had been attended with a very great expence; for, +besides the ordinary costs of avoiding the gallows by the help of the +law, there was a very high article, of no less than a thousand pounds, +paid down to remove out of the way a witness against whom there was no +legal exception. The poor gentleman had besides suffered some losses +in business; so that, to the surprize of all his acquaintance, when his +debts were paid there remained no more than a small estate of fourscore +pounds a-year, which he settled upon his daughter, far out of the reach +of her husband, and about two hundred pounds in money. + +The old gentleman had not long been in his grave before Trent set +himself to consider seriously of the state of his affairs. He had lately +begun to look on his wife with a much less degree of liking and desire +than formerly; for he was one of those who think too much of one thing +is good for nothing. Indeed, he had indulged these speculations so far, +that I believe his wife, though one of the prettiest women in town, was +the last subject that he would have chose for any amorous dalliance. + +Many other persons, however, greatly differed from him in his opinion. +Amongst the rest was the illustrious peer of amorous memory. This noble +peer, having therefore got a view of Mrs. Trent one day in the street, +did, by means of an emissary then with him, make himself acquainted with +her lodging, to which he immediately laid siege in form, setting himself +down in a lodging directly opposite to her, from whence the battery of +ogles began to play the very next morning. + +This siege had not continued long before the governor of the garrison +became sufficiently apprized of all the works which were carrying on, +and, having well reconnoitered the enemy, and discovered who he was, +notwithstanding a false name and some disguise of his person, he called +a council of war within his own breast. In fact, to drop all allegory, +he began to consider whether his wife was not really a more valuable +possession than he had lately thought her. In short, as he had been +disappointed in her fortune, he now conceived some hopes of turning her +beauty itself into a fortune. + +Without communicating these views to her, he soon scraped an +acquaintance with his opposite neighbour by the name which he there +usurped, and counterfeited an entire ignorance of his real name and +title. On this occasion Trent had his disguise likewise, for he affected +the utmost simplicity; of which affectation, as he was a very artful +fellow, he was extremely capable. + +The peer fell plumb into this snare; and when, by the simplicity, as he +imagined, of the husband, he became acquainted with the wife, he was so +extravagantly charmed with her person, that he resolved, whatever was +the cost or the consequence, he would possess her. + +His lordship, however, preserved some caution in his management of this +affair; more, perhaps, than was necessary. As for the husband, none +was requisite, for he knew all he could; and, with regard to the +wife herself, as she had for some time perceived the decrease of her +husband's affection (for few women are, I believe, to be imposed upon +in that matter), she was not displeased to find the return of all that +complaisance and endearment, of those looks and languishments, from +another agreeable person, which she had formerly received from Trent, +and which she now found she should receive from him no longer. + +My lord, therefore, having been indulged with as much opportunity as +he could wish from Trent, and having received rather more encouragement +than he could well have hoped from the lady, began to prepare all +matters for a storm, when luckily, Mr. Trent declaring he must go out +of town for two days, he fixed on the first day of his departure as the +time of carrying his design into execution. + +And now, after some debate with himself in what manner he should +approach his love, he at last determined to do it in his own person; for +he conceived, and perhaps very rightly, that the lady, like Semele, was +not void of ambition, and would have preferred Jupiter in all his glory +to the same deity in the disguise of an humble shepherd. He dressed +himself, therefore, in the richest embroidery of which he was master, +and appeared before his mistress arrayed in all the brightness of +peerage; a sight whose charms she had not the power to resist, and the +consequences are only to be imagined. In short, the same scene which +Jupiter acted with his above-mentioned mistress of old was more than +beginning, when Trent burst from the closet into which he had conveyed +himself, and unkindly interrupted the action. + +His lordship presently run to his sword; but Trent, with great calmness, +answered, "That, as it was very well known he durst fight, he should not +draw his sword on this occasion; for sure," says he, "my lord, it would +be the highest imprudence in me to kill a man who is now become so +considerably my debtor." At which words he fetched a person from the +closet, who had been confined with him, telling him he had done his +business, and might now, if he pleased, retire. + +It would be tedious here to amuse the reader with all that passed on the +present occasion; the rage and confusion of the wife, or the perplexity +in which my lord was involved. We will omit therefore all such matters, +and proceed directly to business, as Trent and his lordship did soon +after. And in the conclusion my lord stipulated to pay a good round sum, +and to provide Mr. Trent with a good place on the first opportunity. + +On the side of Mr. Trent were stipulated absolute remission of all past, +and full indulgence for the time to come. + +Trent now immediately took a house at the polite end of the town, +furnished it elegantly, and set up his equipage, rigged out both himself +and his wife with very handsome cloaths, frequented all public places +where he could get admission, pushed himself into acquaintance, and his +wife soon afterwards began to keep an assembly, or, in the fashionable +phrase, to be at home once a-week; when, by my lord's assistance, she +was presently visited by most men of the first rank, and by all such +women of fashion as are not very nice in their company. + +My lord's amour with this lady lasted not long; for, as we have before +observed, he was the most inconstant of all human race. Mrs. Trent's +passion was not however of that kind which leads to any very deep +resentment of such fickleness. Her passion, indeed, was principally +founded upon interest; so that foundation served to support another +superstructure; and she was easily prevailed upon, as well as her +husband, to be useful to my lord in a capacity which, though very often +exerted in the polite world, hath not as yet, to my great surprize, +acquired any polite name, or, indeed, any which is not too coarse to be +admitted in this history. + +After this preface, which we thought necessary to account for a +character of which some of my country and collegiate readers might +possibly doubt the existence, I shall proceed to what more immediately +regards Mrs. Booth. The reader may be pleased to remember that Mr. Trent +was present at the assembly to which Booth and his wife were carried by +Mrs. James, and where Amelia was met by the noble peer. + +His lordship, seeing there that Booth and Trent were old acquaintance, +failed not, to use the language of sportsmen, to put Trent upon the +scent of Amelia. For this purpose that gentleman visited Booth the very +next day, and had pursued him close ever since. By his means, therefore, +my lord learned that Amelia was to be at the masquerade, to which place +she was dogged by Trent in a sailor's jacket, who, meeting my lord, +according to agreement, at the entrance of the opera-house, like the +four-legged gentleman of the same vocation, made a dead point, as it is +called, at the game. + +My lord was so satisfied and delighted with his conversation at the +masquerade with the supposed Amelia, and the encouragement which in +reality she had given him, that, when he saw Trent the next morning, +he embraced him with great fondness, gave him a bank note of a hundred +pound, and promised him both the Indies on his success, of which he +began now to have no manner of doubt. + +The affair that happened at the gaming-table was likewise a scheme of +Trent's, on a hint given by my lord to him to endeavour to lead Booth +into some scrape or distress; his lordship promising to pay whatever +expense Trent might be led into by such means. Upon his lordship's +credit, therefore, the money lent to Booth was really advanced. And +hence arose all that seeming generosity and indifference as to the +payment; Trent being satisfied with the obligation conferred on Booth, +by means of which he hoped to effect his purpose. + +But now the scene was totally changed; for Mrs. Atkinson, the morning +after the quarrel, beginning seriously to recollect that she had carried +the matter rather too far, and might really injure Amelia's reputation, +a thought to which the warm pursuit of her own interest had a good deal +blinded her at the time, resolved to visit my lord himself, and to +let him into the whole story; for, as she had succeeded already in her +favourite point, she thought she had no reason to fear any consequence +of the discovery. This resolution she immediately executed. + +Trent came to attend his lordship, just after Mrs. Atkinson had left +him. He found the peer in a very ill humour, and brought no news to +comfort or recruit his spirits; for he had himself just received +a billet from Booth, with an excuse for himself and his wife from +accepting the invitation at Trent's house that evening, where matters +had been previously concerted for their entertainment, and when his +lordship was by accident to drop into the room where Amelia was, while +Booth was to be engaged at play in another. + +And now after much debate, and after Trent had acquainted my lord with +the wretched situation of Booth's circumstances, it was resolved that +Trent should immediately demand his money of Booth, and upon his not +paying it, for they both concluded it impossible he should pay it, to +put the note which Trent had for the money in suit against him by the +genteel means of paying it away to a nominal third person; and this +they both conceived must end immediately in the ruin of Booth, and, +consequently, in the conquest of Amelia. + +In this project, and with this hope, both my lord and his setter, or (if +the sportsmen please) setting-dog, both greatly exulted; and it was next +morning executed, as we have already seen. + + + + +Chapter iv. + +_Containing some distress._ + + +Trent's letter drove Booth almost to madness. To be indebted to such a +fellow at any rate had stuck much in his stomach, and had given him very +great uneasiness; but to answer this demand in any other manner than by +paying the money was absolutely what he could not bear. Again, to pay +this money, he very plainly saw there was but one way, and this was, by +stripping his wife, not only of every farthing, but almost of every rag +she had in the world; a thought so dreadful that it chilled his very +soul with horror: and yet pride, at last, seemed to represent this as +the lesser evil of the two. + +But how to do this was still a question. It was not sure, at least he +feared it was not, that Amelia herself would readily consent to this; +and so far from persuading her to such a measure, he could not bear even +to propose it. At length his determination was to acquaint his wife with +the whole affair, and to ask her consent, by way of asking her advice; +for he was well assured she could find no other means of extricating him +out of his dilemma. This he accordingly did, representing the affair as +bad as he could; though, indeed, it was impossible for him to aggravate +the real truth. + +Amelia heard him patiently, without once interrupting him. When he had +finished, she remained silent some time: indeed, the shock she received +from this story almost deprived her of the power of speaking. At last +she answered, "Well, my dear, you ask my advice; I certainly can give +you no other than that the money must be paid." + +"But how must it be paid?" cries he. "O, heavens! thou sweetest +creature! what, not once upbraid me for bringing this ruin on thee?" + +"Upbraid you, my dear!" says she; "would to heaven I could prevent your +upbraiding yourself. But do not despair. I will endeavour by some means +or other to get you the money." + +"Alas! my dear love," cries Booth, "I know the only way by which you +can raise it. How can I consent to that? do you forget the fears you so +lately expressed of what would be our wretched condition when our little +all was mouldered away? O my Amelia! they cut my very heart-strings when +you spoke then; for I had then lost this little all. Indeed, I assure +you, I have not played since, nor ever will more." + +"Keep that resolution," said she, "my dear, and I hope we shall yet +recover the past."--At which words, casting her eyes on the children, +the tears burst from her eyes, and she cried--"Heaven will, I hope, +provide for us." + +A pathetic scene now ensued between the husband and wife, which would +not, perhaps, please many readers to see drawn at too full a length. It +is sufficient to say that this excellent woman not only used her utmost +endeavours to stifle and conceal her own concern, but said and did +everything in her power to allay that of her husband. + +Booth was, at this time, to meet a person whom we have formerly +mentioned in the course of our history. This gentleman had a place +in the War-office, and pretended to be a man of great interest and +consequence; by which means he did not only receive great respect and +court from the inferiour officers, but actually bubbled several of their +money, by undertaking to do them services which, in reality, were not +within his power. In truth, I have known few great men who have not been +beset with one or more such fellows as these, through whom the inferior +part of mankind are obliged to make their court to the great men +themselves; by which means, I believe, principally, persons of real +merit have often been deterred from the attempt; for these subaltern +coxcombs ever assume an equal state with their masters, and look for an +equal degree of respect to be paid to them; to which men of spirit, +who are in every light their betters, are not easily brought to submit. +These fellows, indeed, themselves have a jealous eye towards all great +abilities, and are sure, to the utmost of their power, to keep all +who are so endowed from the presence of their masters. They use their +masters as bad ministers have sometimes used a prince--they keep all men +of merit from his ears, and daily sacrifice his true honour and interest +to their own profit and their own vanity. + +As soon as Booth was gone to his appointment with this man, Amelia +immediately betook herself to her business with the highest resolution. +She packed up, not only her own little trinkets, and those of the +children, but the greatest part of her own poor cloathes (for she was +but barely provided), and then drove in a hackney-coach to the same +pawnbroker's who had before been recommended to her by Mrs. Atkinson, +who advanced her the money she desired. + +Being now provided with her sum, she returned well pleased home, and her +husband coming in soon after, she with much chearfulness delivered him +all the money. + +Booth was so overjoyed with the prospect of discharging his debt to +Trent, that he did not perfectly reflect on the distress to which +his family was now reduced. The good-humour which appeared in the +countenance of Amelia was, perhaps, another help to stifle those +reflexions; but above all, were the assurances he had received from the +great man, whom he had met at a coffee-house, and who had promised to +do him all the service in his power; which several half-pay subaltern +officers assured him was very considerable. + +With this comfortable news he acquainted his wife, who either was, or +seemed to be, extremely well pleased with it. And now he set out with +the money in his pocket to pay his friend Trent, who unluckily for him +happened not to be at home. + +On his return home he met his old friend the lieutenant, who thankfully +paid him his crown, and insisted on his going with him and taking part +of a bottle. This invitation was so eager and pressing, that poor Booth, +who could not resist much importunity, complied. + +While they were over this bottle Booth acquainted his friend with the +promises he had received that afternoon at the coffee-house, with which +the old gentleman was very well pleased: "For I have heard," says +he, "that gentleman hath very powerful interest;" but he informed him +likewise that he had heard that the great man must be touched, for that +he never did anything without touching. Of this, indeed, the great man +himself had given some oblique hints, by saying, with great sagacity +and slyness, that he knew where fifty pound might be deposited to much +advantage. + +Booth answered that he would very readily advance a small sum if he had +it in his power, but that at present it was not so, for that he had no +more in the world than the sum of fifty pounds, which he owed Trent, and +which he intended to pay him the next morning. + +"It is very right, undoubtedly, to pay your debts," says the old +gentleman; "but sure, on such an occasion, any man but the rankest +usurer would be contented to stay a little while for his money; and it +will be only a little while I am convinced; for, if you deposit this +sum in the great man's hands, I make no doubt but you will succeed +immediately in getting your commission; and then I will help you to a +method of taking up such a sum as this." The old gentleman persisted +in this advice, and backed it with every argument he could invent, +declaring, as was indeed true, that he gave the same advice which he +would pursue was the case his own. + +Booth long rejected the opinion of his friend, till, as they had not +argued with dry lips, he became heated with wine, and then at last the +old gentleman succeeded. Indeed, such was his love, either for Booth or +for his own opinion, and perhaps for both, that he omitted nothing in +his power. He even endeavoured to palliate the character of Trent, and +unsaid half what he had before said of that gentleman. In the end, he +undertook to make Trent easy, and to go to him the very next morning for +that purpose. + +Poor Booth at last yielded, though with the utmost difficulty. Indeed, +had he known quite as much of Trent as the reader doth, no motive +whatsoever would have prevailed on him to have taken the old gentleman's +advice. + + + + +Chapter v. + +_Containing more wormwood and other ingredients._ + + +In the morning Booth communicated the matter to Amelia, who told him she +would not presume to advise him in an affair of which he was so much the +better judge. + +While Booth remained in a doubtful state what conduct to pursue Bound +came to make him a visit, and informed him that he had been at Trent's +house, but found him not at home, adding that he would pay him a second +visit that very day, and would not rest till he found him. + +Booth was ashamed to confess his wavering resolution in an affair in +which he had been so troublesome to his friend; he therefore dressed +himself immediately, and together they both went to wait on the +little great man, to whom Booth now hoped to pay his court in the most +effectual manner. + +Bound had been longer acquainted with the modern methods of business +than Booth; he advised his friend, therefore, to begin with tipping (as +it is called) the great man's servant. He did so, and by that means got +speedy access to the master. + +The great man received the money, not as a gudgeon doth a bait, but as +a pike receives a poor gudgeon into his maw. To say the truth, such +fellows as these may well be likened to that voracious fish, who fattens +himself by devouring all the little inhabitants of the river. As soon +as the great man had pocketed the cash, he shook Booth by the hand, and +told him he would be sure to slip no opportunity of serving him, and +would send him word as soon as any offered. + +Here I shall stop one moment, and so, perhaps, will my good-natured +reader; for surely it must be a hard heart which is not affected with +reflecting on the manner in which this poor little sum was raised, and +on the manner in which it was bestowed. A worthy family, the wife and +children of a man who had lost his blood abroad in the service of his +country, parting with their little all, and exposed to cold and hunger, +to pamper such a fellow as this! + +And if any such reader as I mention should happen to be in reality a +great man, and in power, perhaps the horrour of this picture may induce +him to put a final end to this abominable practice of touching, as it +is called; by which, indeed, a set of leeches are permitted to suck the +blood of the brave and the indigent, of the widow and the orphan. + +Booth now returned home, where he found his wife with Mrs. James. Amelia +had, before the arrival of her husband, absolutely refused Mrs. James's +invitation to dinner the next day; but when Booth came in the lady +renewed her application, and that in so pressing a manner, that Booth +seconded her; for, though he had enough of jealousy in his temper, yet +such was his friendship to the colonel, and such his gratitude to the +obligations which he had received from him, that his own unwillingness +to believe anything of him, co-operating with Amelia's endeavours to put +everything in the fairest light, had brought him to acquit his friend of +any ill design. To this, perhaps, the late affair concerning my lord had +moreover contributed; for it seems to me that the same passion cannot +much energize on two different objects at one and the same time: an +observation which, I believe, will hold as true with regard to the cruel +passions of jealousy and anger as to the gentle passion of love, in +which one great and mighty object is sure to engage the whole passion. + +When Booth grew importunate, Amelia answered, "My dear, I should not +refuse you whatever was in my power; but this is absolutely out of my +power; for since I must declare the truth, I cannot dress myself." + +"Why so?" said Mrs. James." I am sure you are in good health." + +"Is there no other impediment to dressing but want of health, madam?" +answered Amelia. + +"Upon my word, none that I know of," replied Mrs. James. + +"What do you think of want of cloathes, madam?" said Amelia. + +"Ridiculous!" cries Mrs. James. "What need have you to dress yourself +out? You will see nobody but our own family, and I promise you I don't +expect it. A plain night-gown will do very well." + +"But if I must be plain with you, madam," said Amelia, "I have no other +cloathes but what I have now on my back. I have not even a clean shift +in the world; for you must know, my dear," said she to Booth, "that +little Betty is walked off this morning, and hath carried all my linen +with her." + +"How, my dear?" cries Booth; "little Betty robbed you?" + +"It is even so," answered Amelia. Indeed, she spoke truth; for little +Betty, having perceived the evening before that her mistress was moving +her goods, was willing to lend all the assistance in her power, and had +accordingly moved off early that morning, taking with her whatever she +could lay her hands on. + +Booth expressed himself with some passion on the occasion, and swore he +would make an example of the girl. "If the little slut be above ground," +cried he, "I will find her out, and bring her to justice." + +"I am really sorry for this accident," said Mrs. James, "and (though I +know not how to mention it) I beg you'll give me leave to offer you any +linen of mine till you can make new of your own." + +Amelia thanked Mrs. James, but declined the favour, saying, she should +do well enough at home; and that, as she had no servant now to take +care of her children, she could not, nor would not, leave them on any +account. + +"Then bring master and miss with you," said Mrs. James. "You shall +positively dine with us tomorrow." + +"I beg, madam, you will mention it no more," said Amelia; "for, besides +the substantial reasons I have already given, I have some things on +my mind at present which make me unfit for company; and I am resolved +nothing shall prevail on me to stir from home." Mrs. James had carried +her invitation already to the very utmost limits of good breeding, if +not beyond them. She desisted therefore from going any further, and, +after some short stay longer, took her leave, with many expressions of +concern, which, however, great as it was, left her heart and her mouth +together before she was out of the house. + +Booth now declared that he would go in pursuit of little Betty, against +whom he vowed so much vengeance, that Amelia endeavoured to moderate +his anger by representing to him the girl's youth, and that this was the +first fault she had ever been guilty of. "Indeed," says she, "I should +be very glad to have my things again, and I would have the girl too +punished in some degree, which might possibly be for her own good; but +I tremble to think of taking away her life;" for Booth in his rage had +sworn he would hang her. + +"I know the tenderness of your heart, my dear," said Booth, "and I love +you for it; but I must beg leave to dissent from your opinion. I do not +think the girl in any light an object of mercy. She is not only guilty +of dishonesty but of cruelty; for she must know our situation and the +very little we had left. She is besides guilty of ingratitude to you, +who have treated her with so much kindness, that you have rather acted +the part of a mother than of a mistress. And, so far from thinking her +youth an excuse, I think it rather an aggravation. It is true, indeed, +there are faults which the youth of the party very strongly recommends +to our pardon. Such are all those which proceed from carelessness and +want of thought; but crimes of this black dye, which are committed with +deliberation, and imply a bad mind, deserve a more severe punishment in +a young person than in one of riper years; for what must the mind be in +old age which hath acquired such a degree of perfection in villany so +very early? Such persons as these it is really a charity to the public +to put out of the society; and, indeed, a religious man would put them +out of the world for the sake of themselves; for whoever understands +anything of human nature must know that such people, the longer they +live, the more they will accumulate vice and wickedness." + +"Well, my dear," cries Amelia, "I cannot argue with you on these +subjects. I shall always submit to your superior judgment, and I know +you too well to think that you will ever do anything cruel." + +Booth then left Amelia to take care of her children, and went in pursuit +of the thief. + + + + +Chapter vi. + +_A scene of the tragic kind._ + + +He had not been long gone before a thundering knock was heard at the +door of the house where Amelia lodged, and presently after a figure all +pale, ghastly, and almost breathless, rushed into the room where she +then was with her children. + +This figure Amelia soon recognised to be Mrs. Atkinson, though indeed +she was so disguised that at her first entrance Amelia scarce knew her. +Her eyes were sunk in her head, her hair dishevelled, and not only her +dress but every feature in her face was in the utmost disorder. + +Amelia was greatly shocked at this sight, and the little girl was much +frightened; as for the boy, he immediately knew her, and, running +to Amelia, he cried, "La! mamma, what is the matter with poor Mrs. +Atkinson?" + +As soon as Mrs. Atkinson recovered her breath she cried out, "O, +Mrs. Booth! I am the most miserable of women--I have lost the best of +husbands." + +Amelia, looking at her with all the tenderness imaginable, forgetting, I +believe, that there had ever been any quarrel between them, said--"Good +Heavens, madam, what's the matter?" + +"O, Mrs. Booth!" answered she, "I fear I have lost my husband: the +doctor says there is but little hope of his life. O, madam! however I +have been in the wrong, I am sure you will forgive me and pity me. I +am sure I am severely punished; for to that cursed affair I owe all my +misery." + +"Indeed, madam," cries Amelia, "I am extremely concerned for your +misfortune. But pray tell me, hath anything happened to the serjeant?" + +"O, madam!" cries she, "I have the greatest reason to fear I shall lose +him. The doctor hath almost given him over--he says he hath scarce any +hopes. O, madam! that evening that the fatal quarrel happened between us +my dear captain took it so to heart that he sat up all night and drank +a whole bottle of brandy. Indeed, he said he wished to kill himself; for +nothing could have hurt him so much in the world, he said, as to have +any quarrel between you and me. His concern, and what he drank +together, threw him into a high fever. So that, when I came home from +my lord's--(for indeed, madam, I have been, and set all to rights--your +reputation is now in no danger)--when I came home, I say, I found the +poor man in a raving delirious fit, and in that he hath continued ever +since till about an hour ago, when he came perfectly to his senses; but +now he says he is sure he shall die, and begs for Heaven's sake to see +you first. Would you, madam, would you have the goodness to grant my +poor captain's desire? consider he is a dying man, and neither he nor I +shall ever ask you a second favour. He says he hath something to say to +you that he can mention to no other person, and that he cannot die in +peace unless he sees you." + +"Upon my word, madam," cries Amelia, "I am extremely concerned at what +you tell me. I knew the poor serjeant from his infancy, and always had +an affection for him, as I think him to be one of the best-natured +and honestest creatures upon earth. I am sure if I could do him any +service--but of what use can my going be?" + +"Of the highest in the world," answered Mrs. Atkinson. "If you knew how +earnestly he entreated it, how his poor breaking heart begged to see +you, you would not refuse." + +"Nay, I do not absolutely refuse," cries Amelia. "Something to say to +me of consequence, and that he could not die in peace unless he said it! +did he say that, Mrs. Atkinson?" + +"Upon my honour he did," answered she, "and much more than I have +related." + +"Well, I will go with you," cries Amelia. "I cannot guess what this +should be; but I will go." + +Mrs. Atkinson then poured out a thousand blessings and thanksgivings; +and, taking hold of Amelia's hand, and eagerly kissing it, cried out, +"How could that fury passion drive me to quarrel with such a creature?" + +Amelia told her she had forgiven and forgot it; and then, calling up the +mistress of the house, and committing to her the care of the children, +she cloaked herself up as well as she could and set out with Mrs. +Atkinson. + +When they arrived at the house, Mrs. Atkinson said she would go first +and give the captain some notice; for that, if Amelia entered the room +unexpectedly, the surprize might have an ill effect. She left therefore +Amelia in the parlour, and proceeded directly upstairs. + +Poor Atkinson, weak and bad as was his condition, no sooner heard that +Amelia was come than he discovered great joy in his countenance, and +presently afterwards she was introduced to him. + +Atkinson exerted his utmost strength to thank her for this goodness to +a dying man (for so he called himself). He said he should not have +presumed to give her this trouble, had he not had something which he +thought of consequence to say to her, and which he could not mention to +any other person. He then desired his wife to give him a little box, of +which he always kept the key himself, and afterwards begged her to leave +the room for a few minutes; at which neither she nor Amelia expressed +any dissatisfaction. + +When he was alone with Amelia, he spoke as follows: "This, madam, is +the last time my eyes will ever behold what--do pardon me, madam, I +will never offend you more." Here he sunk down in his bed, and the tears +gushed from his eyes. + +"Why should you fear to offend me, Joe?" said Amelia. "I am sure you +never did anything willingly to offend me." + +"No, madam," answered he, "I would die a thousand times before I would +have ventured it in the smallest matter. But--I cannot speak--and yet I +must. You cannot pardon me, and yet, perhaps, as I am a dying man, and +never shall see you more--indeed, if I was to live after this discovery, +I should never dare to look you in the face again; and yet, madam, to +think I shall never see you more is worse than ten thousand deaths." + +"Indeed, Mr. Atkinson," cries Amelia, blushing, and looking down on the +floor, "I must not hear you talk in this manner. If you have anything +to say, tell it me, and do not be afraid of my anger; for I think I may +promise to forgive whatever it was possible you should do." + +"Here then, madam," said he, "is your picture; I stole it when I was +eighteen years of age, and have kept it ever since. It is set in gold, +with three little diamonds; and yet I can truly say it was not the gold +nor the diamonds which I stole--it was the face, which, if I had been +the emperor of the world--" + +"I must not hear any more of this," said she. "Comfort yourself, Joe, +and think no more of this matter. Be assured, I freely and heartily +forgive you--But pray compose yourself; come, let me call in your wife." + +"First, madam, let me beg one favour," cried he: "consider it is the +last, and then I shall die in peace--let me kiss that hand before I +die." + +"Well, nay," says she, "I don't know what I am doing--well--there." She +then carelessly gave him her hand, which he put gently to his lips, and +then presently let it drop, and fell back in the bed. + +Amelia now summoned Mrs. Atkinson, who was indeed no further off than +just without the door. She then hastened down-stairs, and called for a +great glass of water, which having drank off, she threw herself into a +chair, and the tears ran plentifully from her eyes with compassion for +the poor wretch she had just left in his bed. + +To say the truth, without any injury to her chastity, that heart, which +had stood firm as a rock to all the attacks of title and equipage, of +finery and flattery, and which all the treasures of the universe could +not have purchased, was yet a little softened by the plain, honest, +modest, involuntary, delicate, heroic passion of this poor and humble +swain; for whom, in spite of herself, she felt a momentary tenderness +and complacence, at which Booth, if he had known it, would perhaps have +been displeased. + +Having staid some time in the parlour, and not finding Mrs. Atkinson +come down (for indeed her husband was then so bad she could not quit +him), Amelia left a message with the maid of the house for her mistress, +purporting that she should be ready to do anything in her power to serve +her, and then left the house with a confusion on her mind that she had +never felt before, and which any chastity that is not hewn out of marble +must feel on so tender and delicate an occasion. + + + + +Chapter vii. + +_In which Mr. Booth meets with more than one adventure._ + + +Booth, having hunted for about two hours, at last saw a young lady in +a tattered silk gown stepping out of a shop in Monmouth--street into a +hackney-coach. This lady, notwithstanding the disguise of her dress, he +presently discovered to be no other than little Betty. + +He instantly gave the alarm of stop thief, stop coach! upon which Mrs. +Betty was immediately stopt in her vehicle, and Booth and his myrmidons +laid hold of her. + +The girl no sooner found that she was seised by her master than the +consciousness of her guilt overpowered her; for she was not yet an +experienced offender, and she immediately confessed her crime. + +She was then carried before a justice of peace, where she was searched, +and there was found in her possession four shillings and sixpence in +money, besides the silk gown, which was indeed proper furniture +for rag-fair, and scarce worth a single farthing, though the honest +shopkeeper in Monmouth-street had sold it for a crown to the simple +girl. + +The girl, being examined by the magistrate, spoke as follows:--"Indeed, +sir, an't please your worship, I am very sorry for what I have done; +and to be sure, an't please your honour, my lord, it must have been the +devil that put me upon it; for to be sure, please your majesty, I never +thought upon such a thing in my whole life before, any more than I did +of my dying-day; but, indeed, sir, an't please your worship--" + +She was running on in this manner when the justice interrupted her, and +desired her to give an account of what she had taken from her master, +and what she had done with it. + +"Indeed, an't please your majesty," said she, "I took no more than two +shifts of madam's, and I pawned them for five shillings, which I gave +for the gown that's upon my back; and as for the money in my pocket, it +is every farthing of it my own. I am sure I intended to carry back the +shifts too as soon as ever I could get money to take them out." + +The girl having told them where the pawnbroker lived, the justice sent +to him, to produce the shifts, which he presently did; for he expected +that a warrant to search his house would be the consequence of his +refusal. + +The shifts being produced, on which the honest pawnbroker had lent five +shillings, appeared plainly to be worth above thirty; indeed, when new +they had cost much more: so that, by their goodness as well as by their +size, it was certain they could not have belonged to the girl. Booth +grew very warm against the pawnbroker. "I hope, sir," said he to the +justice, "there is some punishment for this fellow likewise, who so +plainly appears to have known that these goods were stolen. The shops of +these fellows may indeed be called the fountains of theft; for it is in +reality the encouragement which they meet with from these receivers of +their goods that induces men very often to become thieves, so that these +deserve equal if not severer punishment than the thieves themselves." + +The pawnbroker protested his innocence, and denied the taking in the +shifts. Indeed, in this he spoke truth, for he had slipt into an inner +room, as was always his custom on these occasions, and left a little +boy to do the business; by which means he had carried on the trade of +receiving stolen goods for many years with impunity, and had been twice +acquitted at the Old Bailey, though the juggle appeared upon the most +manifest evidence. + +As the justice was going to speak he was interrupted by the girl, who, +falling upon her knees to Booth, with many tears begged his forgiveness. + +"Indeed, Betty," cries Booth, "you do not deserve forgiveness; for you +know very good reasons why you should not have thought of robbing your +mistress, particularly at this time. And what further aggravates your +crime is, that you robbed the best and kindest mistress in the world. +Nay, you are not only guilty of felony, but of a felonious breach of +trust, for you know very well everything your mistress had was intrusted +to your care." + +Now it happened, by very great accident, that the justice before whom +the girl was brought understood the law. Turning therefore to Booth, he +said, "Do you say, sir, that this girl was intrusted with the shifts?" + +"Yes, sir," said Booth, "she was intrusted with everything." + +"And will you swear that the goods stolen," said the justice, "are worth +forty shillings?" + +"No, indeed, sir," answered Booth, "nor that they are worthy thirty +either." + +"Then, sir," cries the justice, "the girl cannot be guilty of felony." + +"How, sir," said Booth, "is it not a breach of trust? and is not a +breach of trust felony, and the worst felony too?" + +"No, sir," answered the justice; "a breach of trust is no crime in our +law, unless it be in a servant; and then the act of parliament requires +the goods taken to be of the value of forty shillings." + +"So then a servant," cries Booth, "may rob his master of thirty-nine +shillings whenever he pleases, and he can't be punished." + +"If the goods are under his care, he can't," cries the justice. + +"I ask your pardon, sir," says Booth. "I do not doubt what you say; but +sure this is a very extraordinary law." + +"Perhaps I think so too," said the justice; "but it belongs not to my +office to make or to mend laws. My business is only to execute them. If +therefore the case be as you say, I must discharge the girl." + +"I hope, however, you will punish the pawnbroker," cries Booth. + +"If the girl is discharged," cries the justice, "so must be the +pawnbroker; for, if the goods are not stolen, he cannot be guilty +of receiving them knowing them to be stolen. And, besides, as to his +offence, to say the truth, I am almost weary of prosecuting it; for such +are the difficulties laid in the way of this prosecution, that it is +almost impossible to convict any one on it. And, to speak my opinion +plainly, such are the laws, and such the method of proceeding, that +one would almost think our laws were rather made for the protection of +rogues than for the punishment of them." + +Thus ended this examination: the thief and the receiver went about their +business, and Booth departed in order to go home to his wife. + +In his way home Booth was met by a lady in a chair, who, immediately +upon seeing him, stopt her chair, bolted out of it, and, going directly +up to him, said, "So, Mr. Booth, you have kept your word with me." + +The lady was no other than Miss Matthews, and the speech she meant was +of a promise made to her at the masquerade of visiting her within a day +or two; which, whether he ever intended to keep I cannot say, but, +in truth, the several accidents that had since happened to him had so +discomposed his mind that he had absolutely forgot it. + +Booth, however, was too sensible and too well-bred to make the excuse of +forgetfulness to a lady; nor could he readily find any other. While he +stood therefore hesitating, and looking not over-wise, Miss Matthews +said, "Well, sir, since by your confusion I see you have some grace +left, I will pardon you on one condition, and that is that you will sup +with me this night. But, if you fail me now, expect all the revenge of +an injured woman." She then bound herself by a most outrageous oath that +she would complain to his wife--"And I am sure," says she, "she is so +much a woman of honour as to do me justice. And, though I miscarried in +my first attempt, be assured I will take care of my second." + +Booth asked what she meant by her first attempt; to which she answered +that she had already writ his wife an account of his ill-usage of +her, but that she was pleased it had miscarried. She then repeated her +asseveration that she would now do it effectually if he disappointed +her. + +This threat she reckoned would most certainly terrify poor Booth; +and, indeed, she was not mistaken; for I believe it would have been +impossible, by any other menace or by any other means, to have brought +him once even to balance in his mind on this question. But by this +threat she prevailed; and Booth promised, upon his word and honour, to +come to her at the hour she appointed. After which she took leave of him +with a squeeze by the hand, and a smiling countenance, and walked back +to her chair. + +But, however she might be pleased with having obtained this promise, +Booth was far from being delighted with the thoughts of having given it. +He looked, indeed, upon the consequences of this meeting with horrour; +but as to the consequence which was so apparently intended by the lady, +he resolved against it. At length he came to this determination, to go +according to his appointment, to argue the matter with the lady, and to +convince her, if possible, that, from a regard to his honour only, he +must discontinue her acquaintance. If this failed to satisfy her, and +she still persisted in her threats to acquaint his wife with the affair, +he then resolved, whatever pains it cost him, to communicate the whole +truth himself to Amelia, from whose goodness he doubted not but to +obtain an absolute remission. + + + + +Chapter viii. + +_In which Amelia appears in a light more amiable than gay._ + + +We will now return to Amelia, whom we left in some perturbation of mind +departing from Mrs. Atkinson. + +Though she had before walked through the streets in a very improper +dress with Mrs. Atkinson, she was unwilling, especially as she was +alone, to return in the same manner. Indeed, she was scarce able to +walk in her present condition; for the case of poor Atkinson had much +affected her tender heart, and her eyes had overflown with many tears. + +It occurred likewise to her at present that she had not a single +shilling in her pocket or at home to provide food for herself and +her family. In this situation she resolved to go immediately to the +pawnbroker whither she had gone before, and to deposit her picture for +what she could raise upon it. She then immediately took a chair and put +her design in execution. + +The intrinsic value of the gold in which this picture was set, and of +the little diamonds which surrounded it, amounted to nine guineas. This +therefore was advanced to her, and the prettiest face in the world (such +is often the fate of beauty) was deposited, as of no value, into the +bargain. + +When she came home she found the following letter from Mrs. Atkinson:-- + +"MY DEAREST MADAM,--As I know your goodness, I could not delay a moment +acquainting you with the happy turn of my affairs since you went. The +doctor, on his return to visit my husband, has assured me that the +captain was on the recovery, and in very little danger; and I really +think he is since mended. I hope to wait on you soon with better news. +Heaven bless you, dear madam! and believe me to be, with the utmost +sincerity, Your most obliged, obedient, humble servant, + +"ATKINSON." + +Amelia was really pleased with this letter; and now, it being past +four o'clock, she despaired of seeing her husband till the evening. She +therefore provided some tarts for her children, and then, eating nothing +but a slice of bread and butter herself, she began to prepare for the +captain's supper. + +There were two things of which her husband was particularly fond, which, +though it may bring the simplicity of his taste into great contempt with +some of my readers, I will venture to name. These were a fowl and egg +sauce and mutton broth; both which Amelia immediately purchased. + +As soon as the clock struck seven the good creature went down into the +kitchen, and began to exercise her talents of cookery, of which she was +a great mistress, as she was of every economical office from the highest +to the lowest: and, as no woman could outshine her in a drawing-room, so +none could make the drawing-room itself shine brighter than Amelia. And, +if I may speak a bold truth, I question whether it be possible to view +this fine creature in a more amiable light than while she was dressing +her husband's supper, with her little children playing round her. + +It was now half an hour past eight, and the meat almost ready, the table +likewise neatly spread with materials borrowed from her landlady, and +she began to grow a little uneasy at Booth's not returning when a sudden +knock at the door roused her spirits, and she cried, "There, my dear, +there is your good papa;" at which words she darted swiftly upstairs and +opened the door to her husband. + +She desired her husband to walk up into the dining-room, and she would +come to him in an instant; for she was desirous to encrease his pleasure +by surprising him with his two favourite dishes. She then went down +again to the kitchen, where the maid of the house undertook to send up +the supper, and she with her children returned to Booth. + +He then told her concisely what had happened with relation to the +girl--to which she scarce made any answer, but asked him if he had not +dined? He assured her he had not eat a morsel the whole day. + +"Well," says she, "my dear, I am a fellow-sufferer; but we shall both +enjoy our supper the more; for I have made a little provision for you, +as I guessed what might be the case. I have got you a bottle of wine +too. And here is a clean cloth and a smiling countenance, my dear Will. +Indeed, I am in unusual good spirits to-night, and I have made a promise +to the children, which you must confirm; I have promised to let them sit +up this one night to supper with us.--Nay, don't look so serious: cast +off all uneasy thoughts, I have a present for you here--no matter how +I came by it."--At which words she put eight guineas into his hand, +crying, "Come, my dear Bill, be gay--Fortune will yet be kind to us--at +least let us be happy this night. Indeed, the pleasures of many women +during their whole lives will not amount to my happiness this night if +you will be in good humour." + +Booth fetched a deep sigh, and cried, "How unhappy am I, my dear, that I +can't sup with you to-night!" + +As in the delightful month of June, when the sky is all serene, and the +whole face of nature looks with a pleasing and smiling aspect, suddenly +a dark cloud spreads itself over the hemisphere, the sun vanishes from +our sight, and every object is obscured by a dark and horrid gloom; +so happened it to Amelia: the joy that had enlightened every feature +disappeared in a moment; the lustre forsook her shining eyes, and all +the little loves that played and wantoned in her cheeks hung their +drooping heads, and with a faint trembling voice she repeated her +husband's words, "Not sup with me to-night, my dear!" + +"Indeed, my dear," answered he, "I cannot. I need not tell you how +uneasy it makes me, or that I am as much disappointed as yourself; but +I am engaged to sup abroad. I have absolutely given my honour; and +besides, it is on business of importance." + +"My dear," said she, "I say no more. I am convinced you would not +willingly sup from me. I own it is a very particular disappointment to +me to-night, when I had proposed unusual pleasure; but the same reason +which is sufficient to you ought to be so to me." + +Booth made his wife a compliment on her ready compliance, and then asked +her what she intended by giving him that money, or how she came by it? + +"I intend, my dear," said she, "to give it you; that is all. As to +the manner in which I came by it, you know, Billy, that is not very +material. You are well assured I got it by no means which would +displease you; and, perhaps, another time I may tell you." + +Booth asked no farther questions; but he returned her, and insisted on +her taking, all but one guinea, saying she was the safest treasurer. He +then promised her to make all the haste home in his power, and he hoped, +he said, to be with her in an hour and half at farthest, and then took +his leave. + +When he was gone the poor disappointed Amelia sat down to supper with +her children, with whose company she was forced to console herself for +the absence of her husband. + + + + +Chapter ix. + +_A very tragic scene._ + + +The clock had struck eleven, and Amelia was just proceeding to put her +children to bed, when she heard a knock at the street-door; upon which +the boy cried out, "There's papa, mamma; pray let me stay and see him +before I go to bed." This was a favour very easily obtained; for Amelia +instantly ran down-stairs, exulting in the goodness of her husband for +returning so soon, though half an hour was already elapsed beyond the +time in which he promised to return. + +Poor Amelia was now again disappointed; for it was not her husband at +the door, but a servant with a letter for him, which he delivered into +her hands. She immediately returned up-stairs, and said--"It was not +your papa, my dear; but I hope it is one who hath brought us some good +news." For Booth had told her that he hourly expected to receive such +from the great man, and had desired her to open any letter which came to +him in his absence. + +Amelia therefore broke open the letter, and read as follows: + +"SIR,--After what hath passed between us, I need only tell you that I +know you supped this very night alone with Miss Matthews: a fact which +will upbraid you sufficiently, without putting me to that trouble, +and will very well account for my desiring the favour of seeing you +to-morrow in Hyde-park at six in the morning. You will forgive me +reminding you once more how inexcusable this behaviour is in you, who +are possessed in your own wife of the most inestimable jewel. + +"Yours, &c. + +"T. JAMES. + +"I shall bring pistols with me." + + +It is not easy to describe the agitation of Amelia's mind when she read +this letter. She threw herself into her chair, turned as pale as death, +began to tremble all over, and had just power enough left to tap the +bottle of wine, which she had hitherto preserved entire for her husband, +and to drink off a large bumper. + +The little boy perceived the strange symptoms which appeared in his +mother; and running to her, he cried, "What's the matter, my dear mamma? +you don't look well!--No harm hath happened to poor papa, I hope--Sure +that bad man hath not carried him away again?" + +Amelia answered, "No, child, nothing--nothing at all." And then a large +shower of tears came to her assistance, which presently after produced +the same in the eyes of both the children. + +Amelia, after a short silence, looking tenderly at her children, cried +out, "It is too much, too much to bear. Why did I bring these little +wretches into the world? why were these innocents born to such a fate?" +She then threw her arms round them both (for they were before embracing +her knees), and cried, "O my children! my children! forgive me, my +babes! Forgive me that I have brought you into such a world as this! You +are undone--my children are undone!" + +The little boy answered with great spirit, "How undone, mamma? my sister +and I don't care a farthing for being undone. Don't cry so upon our +accounts--we are both very well; indeed we are. But do pray tell us. I +am sure some accident hath happened to poor papa." + +"Mention him no more," cries Amelia; "your papa is--indeed he is a +wicked man--he cares not for any of us. O Heavens! is this the happiness +I promised myself this evening?" At which words she fell into an agony, +holding both her children in her arms. + +The maid of the house now entered the room, with a letter in her hand +which she had received from a porter, whose arrival the reader will not +wonder to have been unheard by Amelia in her present condition. + +The maid, upon her entrance into the room, perceiving the situation of +Amelia, cried out, "Good Heavens! madam, what's the matter?" Upon which +Amelia, who had a little recovered herself after the last violent vent +of her passion, started up and cried, "Nothing, Mrs. Susan--nothing +extraordinary. I am subject to these fits sometimes; but I am very well +now. Come, my dear children, I am very well again; indeed I am. You must +now go to bed; Mrs. Susan will be so good as to put you to bed." + +"But why doth not papa love us?" cries the little boy. "I am sure we +have none of us done anything to disoblige him." + +This innocent question of the child so stung Amelia that she had the +utmost difficulty to prevent a relapse. However, she took another dram +of wine; for so it might be called to her, who was the most temperate of +women, and never exceeded three glasses on any occasion. In this glass +she drank her children's health, and soon after so well soothed and +composed them that they went quietly away with Mrs. Susan. + +The maid, in the shock she had conceived at the melancholy, indeed +frightful scene, which had presented itself to her at her first coming +into the room, had quite forgot the letter which she held in her hand. +However, just at her departure she recollected it, and delivered it to +Amelia, who was no sooner alone than she opened it, and read as follows: + +"MY DEAREST, SWEETEST LOVE,--I write this from the bailiff's house where +I was formerly, and to which I am again brought at the suit of that +villain Trent. I have the misfortune to think I owe this accident (I +mean that it happened to-night) to my own folly in endeavouring to keep +a secret from you. O my dear! had I had resolution to confess my crime +to you, your forgiveness would, I am convinced, have cost me only a +few blushes, and I had now been happy in your arms. Fool that I was, to +leave you on such an account, and to add to a former transgression a new +one!--Yet, by Heavens! I mean not a transgression of the like kind; for +of that I am not nor ever will be guilty; and when you know the true +reason of my leaving you to-night I think you will pity rather than +upbraid me. I am sure you would if you knew the compunction with which +I left you to go to the most worthless, the most infamous. Do guess the +rest--guess that crime with which I cannot stain my paper--but still +believe me no more guilty than I am, or, if it will lessen your vexation +at what hath befallen me, believe me as guilty as you please, and think +me, for a while at least, as undeserving of you as I think myself. This +paper and pen are so bad, I question whether you can read what I write: +I almost doubt whether I wish you should. Yet this I will endeavour to +make as legible as I can. Be comforted, my dear love, and still keep up +your spirits with the hopes of better days. The doctor will be in town +to-morrow, and I trust on his goodness for my delivery once more from +this place, and that I shall soon be able to repay him. That Heaven +may bless and preserve you is the prayer of, my dearest love, Your ever +fond, affectionate, and hereafter, faithful husband, + W. BOOTH." + +Amelia pretty well guessed the obscure meaning of this letter, which, +though at another time it might have given her unspeakable torment, +was at present rather of the medicinal kind, and served to allay +her anguish. Her anger to Booth too began a little to abate, and was +softened by her concern for his misfortune. Upon the whole, however, +she passed a miserable and sleepless night, her gentle mind torn and +distracted with various and contending passions, distressed with doubts, +and wandering in a kind of twilight which presented her only objects of +different degrees of horror, and where black despair closed at a small +distance the gloomy prospect. + + + + +BOOK XII. + + + +Chapter i. + +_The book begins with polite history._ + + +Before we return to the miserable couple, whom we left at the end of the +last book, we will give our reader the more chearful view of the gay and +happy family of Colonel James. + +Mrs. James, when she could not, as we have seen, prevail with Amelia to +accept that invitation which, at the desire of the colonel, she had +so kindly and obediently carried her, returned to her husband and +acquainted him with the ill success of her embassy; at which, to say the +truth, she was almost as much disappointed as the colonel himself; for +he had not taken a much stronger liking to Amelia than she herself had +conceived for Booth. This will account for some passages which may have +a little surprized the reader in the former chapters of this history, as +we were not then at leisure to communicate to them a hint of this kind; +it was, indeed, on Mr. Booth's account that she had been at the trouble +of changing her dress at the masquerade. + +But her passions of this sort, happily for her, were not extremely +strong; she was therefore easily baulked; and, as she met with no +encouragement from Booth, she soon gave way to the impetuosity of Miss +Matthews, and from that time scarce thought more of the affair till her +husband's design against the wife revived her's likewise; insomuch +that her passion was at this time certainly strong enough for Booth, +to produce a good hearty hatred for Amelia, whom she now abused to the +colonel in very gross terms, both on the account of her poverty and her +insolence, for so she termed the refusal of all her offers. + +The colonel, seeing no hopes of soon possessing his new mistress, began, +like a prudent and wise man, to turn his thoughts towards the securing +his old one. From what his wife had mentioned concerning the behaviour +of the shepherdess, and particularly her preference of Booth, he had +little doubt but that this was the identical Miss Matthews. He resolved +therefore to watch her closely, in hopes of discovering Booth's intrigue +with her. In this, besides the remainder of affection which he yet +preserved for that lady, he had another view, as it would give him a +fair pretence to quarrel with Booth; who, by carrying on this intrigue, +would have broke his word and honour given to him. And he began now to +hate poor Booth heartily, from the same reason from which Mrs. James had +contracted her aversion to Amelia. + +The colonel therefore employed an inferior kind of pimp to watch the +lodgings of Miss Matthews, and to acquaint him if Booth, whose person +was known to the pimp, made any visit there. + +The pimp faithfully performed his office, and, having last night made +the wished-for discovery, immediately acquainted his master with it. + +Upon this news the colonel presently despatched to Booth the short note +which we have before seen. He sent it to his own house instead of Miss +Matthews's, with hopes of that very accident which actually did happen. +Not that he had any ingredient of the bully in him, and desired to be +prevented from fighting, but with a prospect of injuring Booth in the +affection and esteem of Amelia, and of recommending himself somewhat +to her by appearing in the light of her champion; for which purpose he +added that compliment to Amelia in his letter. He concluded upon the +whole that, if Booth himself opened the letter, he would certainly meet +him the next morning; but if his wife should open it before he came +home it might have the effects before mentioned; and, for his future +expostulation with Booth, it would not be in Amelia's power to prevent +it. + +Now it happened that this pimp had more masters than one. Amongst these +was the worthy Mr. Trent, for whom he had often done business of the +pimping vocation. He had been employed indeed in the service of the +great peer himself, under the direction of the said Trent, and was the +very person who had assisted the said Trent in dogging Booth and his +wife to the opera-house on the masquerade night. + +This subaltern pimp was with his superior Trent yesterday morning, when +he found a bailiff with him in order to receive his instructions for +the arresting Booth, when the bailiff said it would be a very difficult +matter to take him, for that to his knowledge he was as shy a cock as +any in England. The subaltern immediately acquainted Trent with the +business in which he was employed by the colonel; upon which Trent +enjoined him the moment he had set him to give immediate notice to the +bailiff, which he agreed to, and performed accordingly. + +The bailiff, on receiving the notice, immediately set out for his stand +at an alehouse within three doors of Miss Matthews's lodgings; at which, +unfortunately for poor Booth, he arrived a very few minutes before Booth +left that lady in order to return to Amelia. + +These were several matters of which we thought necessary our reader +should be informed; for, besides that it conduces greatly to a perfect +understanding of all history, there is no exercise of the mind of a +sensible reader more pleasant than the tracing the several small and +almost imperceptible links in every chain of events by which all the +great actions of the world are produced. We will now in the next chapter +proceed with our history. + + + + +Chapter ii. + +_In which Amelia visits her husband._ + + +Amelia, after much anxious thinking, in which she sometimes flattered +herself that her husband was less guilty than she had at first imagined +him, and that he had some good excuse to make for himself (for, indeed, +she was not so able as willing to make one for him), at length +resolved to set out for the bailiff's castle. Having therefore strictly +recommended the care of her children to her good landlady, she sent for +a hackney coach, and ordered the coachman to drive to Gray's-inn-lane. + +When she came to the house, and asked for the captain, the bailiff's +wife, who came to the door, guessing, by the greatness of her beauty +and the disorder of her dress, that she was a young lady of pleasure, +answered surlily, "Captain! I do not know of any captain that is here, +not I!" For this good woman was, as well as dame Purgante in Prior, a +bitter enemy to all whores, especially to those of the handsome kind; +for some such she suspected to go shares with her in a certain property +to which the law gave her the sole right. + +Amelia replied she was certain that Captain Booth was there. "Well, if +he is so," cries the bailiff's wife, "you may come into the kitchen if +you will, and he shall be called down to you if you have any business +with him." At the same time she muttered something to herself, and +concluded a little more intelligibly, though still in a muttering voice, +that she kept no such house. + +Amelia, whose innocence gave her no suspicion of the true cause of this +good woman's sullenness, was frightened, and began to fear she knew +not what. At last she made a shift to totter into the kitchen, when +the mistress of the house asked her, "Well, madam, who shall I tell the +captain wants to speak with him?" + +"I ask your pardon, madam," cries Amelia; "in my confusion I really +forgot you did not know me--tell him, if you please, that I am his +wife." + +"And you are indeed his wife, madam?" cries Mrs. Bailiff, a little +softened. + +"Yes, indeed, and upon my honour," answers Amelia. + +"If this be the case," cries the other, "you may walk up-stairs if you +please. Heaven forbid I should part man and wife! Indeed, I think they +can never be too much together. But I never will suffer any bad doings +in my house, nor any of the town ladies to come to gentlemen here." + +Amelia answered that she liked her the better: for, indeed, in her +present disposition, Amelia was as much exasperated against wicked women +as the virtuous mistress of the house, or any other virtuous woman could +be. + +The bailiff's wife then ushered Amelia up-stairs, and, having unlocked +the prisoner's doors, cried, "Captain, here is your lady, sir, come to +see you." At which words Booth started up from his chair, and caught +Amelia in his arms, embracing her for a considerable time with so much +rapture, that the bailiff's wife, who was an eyewitness of this violent +fondness, began to suspect whether Amelia had really told her truth. +However, she had some little awe of the captain; and for fear of being +in the wrong did not interfere, but shut the door and turned the key. + +When Booth found himself alone with his wife, and had vented the first +violence of his rapture in kisses and embraces, he looked tenderly at +her and cried, "Is it possible, Amelia, is it possible you can have this +goodness to follow such a wretch as me to such a place as this--or +do you come to upbraid me with my guilt, and to sink me down to that +perdition I so justly deserve?" + +"Am I so given to upbraiding then?" says she, in a gentle voice; "have I +ever given you occasion to think I would sink you to perdition?" + +"Far be it from me, my love, to think so," answered he. "And yet you +may forgive the utmost fears of an offending, penitent sinner. I know, +indeed, the extent of your goodness, and yet I know my guilt so great--" + +"Alas! Mr. Booth," said she, "what guilt is this which you mention, and +which you writ to me of last night?--Sure, by your mentioning to me so +much, you intend to tell me more--nay, indeed, to tell me all; and +not leave my mind open to suspicions perhaps ten times worse than the +truth." + +"Will you give me a patient hearing?" said he. + +"I will indeed," answered she, "nay, I am prepared to hear the worst you +can unfold; nay, perhaps, the worst is short of my apprehensions." + +Booth then, after a little further apology, began and related to her the +whole that had passed between him and Miss Matthews, from their first +meeting in the prison to their separation the preceding evening. +All which, as the reader knows it already, it would be tedious and +unpardonable to transcribe from his mouth. He told her likewise all +that he had done and suffered to conceal his transgression from her +knowledge. This he assured her was the business of his visit last night, +the consequence of which was, he declared in the most solemn manner, no +other than an absolute quarrel with Miss Matthews, of whom he had taken +a final leave. + +When he had ended his narration, Amelia, after a short silence, +answered, "Indeed, I firmly believe every word you have said, but I +cannot now forgive you the fault you have confessed; and my reason +is--because I have forgiven it long ago. Here, my dear," said she, "is +an instance that I am likewise capable of keeping a secret."--She then +delivered her husband a letter which she had some time ago received from +Miss Matthews, and which was the same which that lady had mentioned, and +supposed, as Booth had never heard of it, that it had miscarried; for +she sent it by the penny post. In this letter, which was signed by +a feigned name, she had acquainted Amelia with the infidelity of her +husband, and had besides very greatly abused him; taxing him with many +falsehoods, and, among the rest, with having spoken very slightingly and +disrespectfully of his wife. + +Amelia never shined forth to Booth in so amiable and great a light; nor +did his own unworthiness ever appear to him so mean and contemptible as +at this instant. However, when he had read the letter, he uttered many +violent protestations to her, that all which related to herself was +absolutely false. + +"I am convinced it is," said she. "I would not have a suspicion of the +contrary for the world. I assure you I had, till last night revived it +in my memory, almost forgot the letter; for, as I well knew from whom it +came, by her mentioning obligations which she had conferred on you, and +which you had more than once spoken to me of, I made large allowances +for the situation you was then in; and I was the more satisfied, as the +letter itself, as well as many other circumstances, convinced me the +affair was at an end." + +Booth now uttered the most extravagant expressions of admiration and +fondness that his heart could dictate, and accompanied them with the +warmest embraces. All which warmth and tenderness she returned; and +tears of love and joy gushed from both their eyes. So ravished indeed +were their hearts, that for some time they both forgot the dreadful +situation of their affairs. + +This, however, was but a short reverie. It soon recurred to Amelia, +that, though she had the liberty of leaving that house when she pleased, +she could not take her beloved husband with her. This thought stung her +tender bosom to the quick, and she could not so far command herself +as to refrain from many sorrowful exclamations against the hardship +of their destiny; but when she saw the effect they had upon Booth +she stifled her rising grief, forced a little chearfulness into her +countenance, and, exerting all the spirits she could raise within +herself, expressed her hopes of seeing a speedy end to their sufferings. +She then asked her husband what she should do for him, and to whom she +should apply for his deliverance? + +"You know, my dear," cries Booth, "that the doctor is to be in town some +time to-day. My hopes of immediate redemption are only in him; and, if +that can be obtained, I make no doubt but of the success of that affair +which is in the hands of a gentleman who hath faithfully promised, and +in whose power I am so well assured it is to serve me." + +Thus did this poor man support his hopes by a dependence on that ticket +which he had so dearly purchased of one who pretended to manage the +wheels in the great state lottery of preferment. A lottery, indeed, +which hath this to recommend it--that many poor wretches feed their +imaginations with the prospect of a prize during their whole lives, and +never discover they have drawn a blank. + +Amelia, who was of a pretty sanguine temper, and was entirely ignorant +of these matters, was full as easy to be deceived into hopes as her +husband; but in reality at present she turned her eyes to no distant +prospect, the desire of regaining her husband's liberty having engrossed +her whole mind. + +While they were discoursing on these matters they heard a violent noise +in the house, and immediately after several persons passed by their door +up-stairs to the apartment over their head. This greatly terrified the +gentle spirit of Amelia, and she cried--"Good Heavens, my dear, must +I leave you in this horrid place? I am terrified with a thousand fears +concerning you." + +Booth endeavoured to comfort her, saying that he was in no manner of +danger, and that he doubted not but that the doctor would soon be with +him--"And stay, my dear," cries he; "now I recollect, suppose you +should apply to my old friend James; for I believe you are pretty well +satisfied that your apprehensions of him were groundless. I have no +reason to think but that he would be as ready to serve me as formerly." + +Amelia turned pale as ashes at the name of James, and, instead of making +a direct answer to her husband, she laid hold of him, and cried, "My +dear, I have one favour to beg of you, and I insist on your granting it +me." + +Booth readily swore he would deny her nothing. + +"It is only this, my dear," said she, "that, if that detested colonel +comes, you will not see him. Let the people of the house tell him you +are not here." + +"He knows nothing of my being here," answered Booth; "but why should +I refuse to see him if he should be kind enough to come hither to +me? Indeed, my Amelia, you have taken a dislike to that man without +sufficient reason." + +"I speak not upon that account," cries Amelia; "but I have had dreams +last night about you two. Perhaps you will laugh at my folly, but pray +indulge it. Nay, I insist on your promise of not denying me." + +"Dreams! my dear creature," answered he. "What dream can you have had of +us?" + +"One too horrible to be mentioned," replied she.--"I cannot think of it +without horrour; and, unless you will promise me not to see the colonel +till I return, I positively will never leave you." + +"Indeed, my Amelia," said Booth, "I never knew you unreasonable before. +How can a woman of your sense talk of dreams?" + +"Suffer me to be once at least unreasonable," said Amelia, "as you are +so good-natured to say I am not often so. Consider what I have lately +suffered, and how weak my spirits must be at this time." + +As Booth was going to speak, the bailiff, without any ceremony, entered +the room, and cried, "No offence, I hope, madam; my wife, it seems, did +not know you. She thought the captain had a mind for a bit of flesh by +the bye. But I have quieted all matters; for I know you very well: I +have seen that handsome face many a time when I have been waiting upon +the captain formerly. No offence, I hope, madam; but if my wife was as +handsome as you are I should not look for worse goods abroad." + +Booth conceived some displeasure at this speech, but he did not think +proper to express more than a pish; and then asked the bailiff what was +the meaning of the noise they heard just now? + +"I know of no noise," answered the bailiff. "Some of my men have been +carrying a piece of bad luggage up-stairs; a poor rascal that resisted +the law and justice; so I gave him a cut or two with a hanger. If they +should prove mortal, he must thank himself for it. If a man will not +behave like a gentleman to an officer, he must take the consequence; but +I must say that for you, captain, you behave yourself like a gentleman, +and therefore I shall always use you as such; and I hope you will find +bail soon with all my heart. This is but a paultry sum to what the +last was; and I do assure you there is nothing else against you in the +office." + +The latter part of the bailiff's speech somewhat comforted Amelia, who +had been a little frightened by the former; and she soon after took +leave of her husband to go in quest of the doctor, who, as Amelia +had heard that morning, was expected in town that very day, which was +somewhat sooner than he had intended at his departure. + +Before she went, however, she left a strict charge with the bailiff, +who ushered her very civilly downstairs, that if one Colonel James came +there to enquire for her husband he should deny that he was there. + +She then departed; and the bailiff immediately gave a very strict charge +to his wife, his maid, and his followers, that if one Colonel James, or +any one from him, should enquire after the captain, that they should let +him know he had the captain above-stairs; for he doubted not but that +the colonel was one of Booth's creditors, and he hoped for a second +bail-bond by his means. + + + + +Chapter iii. + +_Containing matter pertinent to the history._ + + +Amelia, in her way to the doctor's, determined just to stop at her own +lodgings, which lay a little out of the road, and to pay a momentary +visit to her children. + +This was fortunate enough; for, had she called at the doctor's house, +she would have heard nothing of him, which would have caused in her +some alarm and disappointment; for the doctor was set down at Mrs. +Atkinson's, where he was directed to Amelia's lodgings, to which he went +before he called at his own; and here Amelia now found him playing with +her two children. + +The doctor had been a little surprized at not finding Amelia at home, or +any one that could give an account of her. He was now more surprized to +see her come in such a dress, and at the disorder which he very plainly +perceived in her pale and melancholy countenance. He addressed her first +(for indeed she was in no great haste to speak), and cried, "My dear +child, what is the matter? where is your husband? some mischief I am +afraid hath happened to him in my absence." + +"O my dear doctor!" answered Amelia, "sure some good angel hath sent you +hither. My poor Will is arrested again. I left him in the most miserable +condition in the very house whence your goodness formerly redeemed him." + +"Arrested!" cries the doctor. "Then it must be for some very +inconsiderable trifle." + +"I wish it was," said Amelia; "but it is for no less than fifty pound." + +"Then," cries the doctor, "he hath been disingenuous with me. He told +me he did not owe ten pounds in the world for which he was liable to be +sued." + +"I know not what to say," cries Amelia. "Indeed, I am afraid to tell you +the truth." + +"How, child?" said the doctor--"I hope you will never disguise it to any +one, especially to me. Any prevarication, I promise you, will forfeit my +friendship for ever." + +"I will tell you the whole," cries Amelia, "and rely entirely on your +goodness." She then related the gaming story, not forgetting to set in +the fullest light, and to lay the strongest emphasis on, his promise +never to play again. + +The doctor fetched a deep sigh when he had heard Amelia's relation, +and cried, "I am sorry, child, for the share you are to partake in your +husband's sufferings; but as for him, I really think he deserves no +compassion. You say he hath promised never to play again, but I must +tell you he hath broke his promise to me already; for I had heard he +was formerly addicted to this vice, and had given him sufficient caution +against it. You will consider, child, I am already pretty largely +engaged for him, every farthing of which I am sensible I must pay. You +know I would go to the utmost verge of prudence to serve you; but I +must not exceed my ability, which is not very great; and I have several +families on my hands who are by misfortune alone brought to want. I do +assure you I cannot at present answer for such a sum as this without +distressing my own circumstances." + +"Then Heaven have mercy upon us all!" cries Amelia, "for we have no +other friend on earth: my husband is undone, and these poor little +wretches must be starved." + +The doctor cast his eyes on the children, and then cried, "I hope not +so. I told you I must distress my circumstances, and I will distress +them this once on your account, and on the account of these poor little +babes. But things must not go on any longer in this way. You must take +an heroic resolution. I will hire a coach for you to-morrow morning +which shall carry you all down to my parsonage-house. There you shall +have my protection till something can be done for your husband; of +which, to be plain with you, I at present see no likelihood." + +Amelia fell upon her knees in an ecstasy of thanksgiving to the doctor, +who immediately raised her up, and placed her in her chair. She then +recollected herself, and said, "O my worthy friend, I have still another +matter to mention to you, in which I must have both your advice and +assistance. My soul blushes to give you all this trouble; but what other +friend have I?--indeed, what other friend could I apply to so properly +on such an occasion?" + +The doctor, with a very kind voice and countenance, desired her to +speak. She then said, "O sir! that wicked colonel whom I have mentioned +to you formerly hath picked some quarrel with my husband (for she did +not think proper to mention the cause), and hath sent him a challenge. +It came to my hand last night after he was arrested: I opened and read +it." + +"Give it me, child," said the doctor. + +She answered she had burnt it, as was indeed true. "But I remember +it was an appointment to meet with sword and pistol this morning at +Hyde-park." + +"Make yourself easy, my dear child," cries the doctor; "I will take care +to prevent any mischief." + +"But consider, my dear sir," said she, "this is a tender matter. My +husband's honour is to be preserved as well as his life." + +"And so is his soul, which ought to be the dearest of all things," cries +the doctor. "Honour! nonsense! Can honour dictate to him to disobey the +express commands of his Maker, in compliance with a custom established +by a set of blockheads, founded on false principles of virtue, in direct +opposition to the plain and positive precepts of religion, and tending +manifestly to give a sanction to ruffians, and to protect them in all +the ways of impudence and villany?" + +"All this, I believe, is very true," cries Amelia; "but yet you know, +doctor, the opinion of the world." + +"You talk simply, child," cries the doctor. "What is the opinion of the +world opposed to religion and virtue? but you are in the wrong. It is +not the opinion of the world; it is the opinion of the idle, ignorant, +and profligate. It is impossible it should be the opinion of one man of +sense, who is in earnest in his belief of our religion. Chiefly, indeed, +it hath been upheld by the nonsense of women, who, either from their +extreme cowardice and desire of protection, or, as Mr. Bayle thinks, +from their excessive vanity, have been always forward to countenance +a set of hectors and bravoes, and to despise all men of modesty and +sobriety; though these are often, at the bottom, not only the better but +the braver men." + +"You know, doctor," cries Amelia, "I have never presumed to argue with +you; your opinion is to me always instruction, and your word a law." + +"Indeed, child," cries the doctor, "I know you are a good woman; and yet +I must observe to you, that this very desire of feeding the passion of +female vanity with the heroism of her man, old Homer seems to make the +characteristic of a bad and loose woman. He introduces Helen upbraiding +her gallant with having quitted the fight, and left the victory to +Menelaus, and seeming to be sorry that she had left her husband only +because he was the better duellist of the two: but in how different a +light doth he represent the tender and chaste love of Andromache to her +worthy Hector! she dissuades him from exposing himself to danger, even +in a just cause. This is indeed a weakness, but it is an amiable one, +and becoming the true feminine character; but a woman who, out of heroic +vanity (for so it is), would hazard not only the life but the soul too +of her husband in a duel, is a monster, and ought to be painted in no +other character but that of a Fury." + +"I assure you, doctor," cries Amelia, "I never saw this matter in +the odious light in which you have truly represented it, before. I am +ashamed to recollect what I have formerly said on this subject. And yet, +whilst the opinion of the world is as it is, one would wish to comply as +far as possible, especially as my husband is an officer of the army. If +it can be done, therefore, with safety to his honour--" + +"Again honour!" cries the doctor; "indeed I will not suffer that noble +word to be so basely and barbarously prostituted. I have known some +of these men of honour, as they call themselves, to be the most arrant +rascals in the universe." + +"Well, I ask your pardon," said she; "reputation then, if you please, or +any other word you like better; you know my meaning very well." + +"I do know your meaning," cries the doctor, "and Virgil knew it a great +while ago. The next time you see your friend Mrs. Atkinson, ask her what +it was made Dido fall in love with AEneas?" + +"Nay, dear sir," said Amelia, "do not rally me so unmercifully; think +where my poor husband is now." + +"He is," answered the doctor, "where I will presently be with him. +In the mean time, do you pack up everything in order for your journey +to-morrow; for if you are wise, you will not trust your husband a day +longer in this town--therefore to packing." + +Amelia promised she would, though indeed she wanted not any warning +for her journey on this account; for when she packed up herself in +the coach, she packed up her all. However, she did not think proper to +mention this to the doctor; for, as he was now in pretty good humour, +she did not care to venture again discomposing his temper. + +The doctor then set out for Gray's-inn-lane, and, as soon as he was +gone, Amelia began to consider of her incapacity to take a journey in +her present situation without even a clean shift. At last she resolved, +as she was possessed of seven guineas and a half, to go to her friend +and redeem some of her own and her husband's linen out of captivity; +indeed just so much as would render it barely possible for them to +go out of town with any kind of decency. And this resolution she +immediately executed. + +As soon as she had finished her business with the pawnbroker (if a man +who lends under thirty _per cent._ deserves that name), he said to her, +"Pray, madam, did you know that man who was here yesterday when you +brought the picture?" Amelia answered in the negative. "Indeed, madam," +said the broker, "he knows you, though he did not recollect you while +you was here, as your hood was drawn over your face; but the moment you +was gone he begged to look at the picture, which I, thinking no harm, +permitted. He had scarce looked upon it when he cried out, 'By heaven +and earth it is her picture!' He then asked me if I knew you." "Indeed," +says I, "I never saw the lady before." + +In this last particular, however, the pawnbroker a little savoured of +his profession, and made a small deviation from the truth, for, when +the man had asked him if he knew the lady, he answered she was some poor +undone woman who had pawned all her cloathes to him the day before; and +I suppose, says he, this picture is the last of her goods and chattels. +This hint we thought proper to give the reader, as it may chance to be +material. + +Amelia answered coldly that she had taken so very little notice of the +man that she scarce remembered he was there. + +"I assure you, madam," says the pawnbroker, "he hath taken very great +notice of you; for the man changed countenance upon what I said, and +presently after begged me to give him a dram. Oho! thinks I to myself, +are you thereabouts? I would not be so much in love with some folks as +some people are for more interest than I shall ever make of a thousand +pound." + +Amelia blushed, and said, with some peevishness, "That she knew nothing +of the man, but supposed he was some impertinent fellow or other." + +"Nay, madam," answered the pawnbroker, "I assure you he is not worthy +your regard. He is a poor wretch, and I believe I am possessed of most +of his moveables. However, I hope you are not offended, for indeed he +said no harm; but he was very strangely disordered, that is the truth of +it." + +Amelia was very desirous of putting an end to this conversation, and +altogether as eager to return to her children; she therefore bundled +up her things as fast as she could, and, calling for a hackney-coach, +directed the coachman to her lodgings, and bid him drive her home with +all the haste he could. + + + + +Chapter iv. + +_In which Dr Harrison visits Colonel James._ + + +The doctor, when he left Amelia, intended to go directly to Booth, +but he presently changed his mind, and determined first to call on the +colonel, as he thought it was proper to put an end to that matter before +he gave Booth his liberty. + +The doctor found the two colonels, James and Bath, together. They both +received him very civilly, for James was a very well-bred man, and Bath +always shewed a particular respect to the clergy, he being indeed a +perfect good Christian, except in the articles of fighting and swearing. + +Our divine sat some time without mentioning the subject of his errand, +in hopes that Bath would go away, but when he found no likelihood of +that (for indeed Bath was of the two much the most pleased with his +company), he told James that he had something to say to him relating to +Mr. Booth, which he believed he might speak before his brother. + +"Undoubtedly, sir," said James; "for there can be no secrets between us +which my brother may not hear." + +"I come then to you, sir," said the doctor, "from the most unhappy +woman in the world, to whose afflictions you have very greatly and very +cruelly added by sending a challenge to her husband, which hath very +luckily fallen into her hands; for, had the man for whom you designed it +received it, I am afraid you would not have seen me upon this occasion." + +"If I writ such a letter to Mr. Booth, sir," said James, "you may be +assured I did not expect this visit in answer to it." + +[Illustration: Dr. Harrison.] + +"I do not think you did," cries the doctor; "but you have great reason +to thank Heaven for ordering this matter contrary to your expectations. +I know not what trifle may have drawn this challenge from you, but, +after what I have some reason to know of you, sir, I must plainly tell +you that, if you had added to your guilt already committed against this +man, that of having his blood upon your hands, your soul would have +become as black as hell itself." + +"Give me leave to say," cries the colonel, "this is a language which +I am not used to hear; and if your cloth was not your protection you +should not give it me with impunity. After what you know of me, sir! +What do you presume to know of me to my disadvantage?" + +"You say my cloth is my protection, colonel," answered the doctor; +"therefore pray lay aside your anger: I do not come with any design of +affronting or offending you." + +"Very well," cries Bath; "that declaration is sufficient from a +clergyman, let him say what he pleases." + +"Indeed, sir," says the doctor very mildly, "I consult equally the good +of you both, and, in a spiritual sense, more especially yours; for you +know you have injured this poor man." + +"So far on the contrary," cries James, "that I have been his greatest +benefactor. I scorn to upbraid him, but you force me to it. Nor have I +ever done him the least injury." + +"Perhaps not," said the doctor; "I will alter what I have said. But for +this I apply to your honour--Have you not intended him an injury, the +very intention of which cancels every obligation?" + +"How, sir?" answered the colonel; "what do you mean?" + +"My meaning," replied the doctor, "is almost too tender to mention. +Come, colonel, examine your own heart, and then answer me, on your +honour, if you have not intended to do him the highest wrong which one +man can do another?" + +"I do not know what you mean by the question," answered the colonel. + +"D--n me, the question is very transparent!" cries Bath. "From any other +man it would be an affront with the strongest emphasis, but from one of +the doctor's cloth it demands a categorical answer." + +"I am not a papist, sir," answered Colonel James, "nor am I obliged to +confess to my priest. But if you have anything to say speak openly, for +I do not understand your meaning." + +"I have explained my meaning to you already," said the doctor, "in +a letter I wrote to you on the subject--a subject which I am sorry I +should have any occasion to write upon to a Christian." + +"I do remember now," cries the colonel, "that I received a very +impertinent letter, something like a sermon, against adultery; but I did +not expect to hear the author own it to my face." + +"That brave man then, sir," answered the doctor, "stands before you who +dares own he wrote that letter, and dares affirm too that it was writ +on a just and strong foundation. But if the hardness of your heart could +prevail on you to treat my good intention with contempt and scorn, +what, pray, could induce you to shew it, nay, to give it Mr. Booth? +What motive could you have for that, unless you meant to insult him, and +provoke your rival to give you that opportunity of putting him out of +the world, which you have since wickedly sought by your challenge?" + +"I give him the letter!" said the colonel. + +"Yes, sir," answered the doctor, "he shewed me the letter, and affirmed +that you gave it him at the masquerade." + +"He is a lying rascal, then!" said the colonel very passionately. "I +scarce took the trouble of reading the letter, and lost it out of my +pocket." + +Here Bath interfered, and explained this affair in the manner in +which it happened, and with which the reader is already acquainted. He +concluded by great eulogiums on the performance, and declared it was one +of the most enthusiastic (meaning, perhaps, ecclesiastic) letters that +ever was written. "And d--n me," says he, "if I do not respect the +author with the utmost emphasis of thinking." + +The doctor now recollected what had passed with Booth, and perceived +he had made a mistake of one colonel for another. This he presently +acknowledged to Colonel James, and said that the mistake had been his, +and not Booth's. + +Bath now collected all his gravity and dignity, as he called it, into +his countenance, and, addressing himself to James, said, "And was that +letter writ to you, brother?--I hope you never deserved any suspicion of +this kind." + +"Brother," cries James, "I am accountable to myself for my actions, and +shall not render an account either to you or to that gentleman." + +"As to me, brother," answered Bath, "you say right; but I think this +gentleman may call you to an account; nay, I think it is his duty so to +do. And let me tell you, brother, there is one much greater than he to +whom you must give an account. Mrs. Booth is really a fine woman, a lady +of most imperious and majestic presence. I have heard you often say that +you liked her; and, if you have quarrelled with her husband upon this +account, by all the dignity of man I think you ought to ask his pardon." + +"Indeed, brother," cries James, "I can bear this no longer--you will +make me angry presently." + +"Angry! brother James," cries Bath; "angry!--I love you, brother, and +have obligations to you. I will say no more, but I hope you know I do +not fear making any man angry." + +James answered he knew it well; and then the doctor, apprehending that +while he was stopping up one breach he should make another, presently +interfered, and turned the discourse back to Booth. "You tell me, sir," +said he to James, "that my gown is my protection; let it then at +least protect me where I have had no design in offending--where I +have consulted your highest welfare, as in truth I did in writing this +letter. And if you did not in the least deserve any such suspicion, +still you have no cause for resentment. Caution against sin, even to +the innocent, can never be unwholesome. But this I assure you, whatever +anger you have to me, you can have none to poor Booth, who was entirely +ignorant of my writing to you, and who, I am certain, never entertained +the least suspicion of you; on the contrary, reveres you with the +highest esteem, and love, and gratitude. Let me therefore reconcile all +matters between you, and bring you together before he hath even heard of +this challenge." + +"Brother," cries Bath, "I hope I shall not make you angry--I lie when I +say so; for I am indifferent to any man's anger. Let me be an accessory +to what the doctor hath said. I think I may be trusted with matters of +this nature, and it is a little unkind that, if you intended to send +a challenge, you did not make me the bearer. But, indeed, as to what +appears to me, this matter may be very well made up; and, as Mr. Booth +doth not know of the challenge, I don't see why he ever should, any more +than your giving him the lie just now; but that he shall never have from +me, nor, I believe, from this gentleman; for, indeed, if he should, it +would be incumbent upon him to cut your throat." + +"Lookee, doctor," said James, "I do not deserve the unkind suspicion you +just now threw out against me. I never thirsted after any man's blood; +and, as for what hath passed, since this discovery hath happened, I may, +perhaps, not think it worth my while to trouble myself any more about +it." + +The doctor was not contented with perhaps, he insisted on a firm +promise, to be bound with the colonel's honour. This at length he +obtained, and then departed well satisfied. + +In fact, the colonel was ashamed to avow the real cause of the quarrel +to this good man, or, indeed, to his brother Bath, who would not only +have condemned him equally with the doctor, but would possibly have +quarrelled with him on his sister's account, whom, as the reader must +have observed, he loved above all things; and, in plain truth, though +the colonel was a brave man, and dared to fight, yet he was altogether +as willing to let it alone; and this made him now and then give a little +way to the wrongheadedness of Colonel Bath, who, with all the other +principles of honour and humanity, made no more of cutting the throat of +a man upon any of his punctilios than a butcher doth of killing sheep. + + + + +Chapter v. + +_What passed at the bailiff's house._ + + +The doctor now set forwards to his friend Booth, and, as he past by the +door of his attorney in the way, he called upon him and took him with +him. + +The meeting between him and Booth need not be expatiated on. The doctor +was really angry, and, though he deferred his lecture to a more proper +opportunity, yet, as he was no dissembler (indeed, he was incapable of +any disguise), he could not put on a show of that heartiness with which +he had formerly used to receive his friend. + +Booth at last began himself in the following manner: "Doctor, I am +really ashamed to see you; and, if you knew the confusion of my soul on +this occasion, I am sure you would pity rather than upbraid me; and yet +I can say with great sincerity I rejoice in this last instance of my +shame, since I am like to reap the most solid advantage from it." The +doctor stared at this, and Booth thus proceeded: "Since I have been in +this wretched place I have employed my time almost entirely in reading +over a series of sermons which are contained in that book (meaning Dr +Barrow's works, which then lay on the table before him) in proof of the +Christian religion; and so good an effect have they had upon me, that I +shall, I believe, be the better man for them as long as I live. I have +not a doubt (for I own I have had such) which remains now unsatisfied. +If ever an angel might be thought to guide the pen of a writer, surely +the pen of that great and good man had such an assistant." The doctor +readily concurred in the praises of Dr Barrow, and added, "You say you +have had your doubts, young gentleman; indeed, I did not know that--and, +pray, what were your doubts?" "Whatever they were, sir," said Booth, +"they are now satisfied, as I believe those of every impartial and +sensible reader will be if he will, with due attention, read over these +excellent sermons." "Very well," answered the doctor, "though I have +conversed, I find, with a false brother hitherto, I am glad you are +reconciled to truth at last, and I hope your future faith will have +some influence on your future life." "I need not tell you, sir," replied +Booth, "that will always be the case where faith is sincere, as I assure +you mine is. Indeed, I never was a rash disbeliever; my chief doubt was +founded on this--that, as men appeared to me to act entirely from their +passions, their actions could have neither merit nor demerit." "A +very worthy conclusion truly!" cries the doctor; "but if men act, as I +believe they do, from their passions, it would be fair to conclude that +religion to be true which applies immediately to the strongest of these +passions, hope and fear; chusing rather to rely on its rewards and +punishments than on that native beauty of virtue which some of the +antient philosophers thought proper to recommend to their disciples. But +we will defer this discourse till another opportunity; at present, +as the devil hath thought proper to set you free, I will try if I can +prevail on the bailiff to do the same." + +The doctor had really not so much money in town as Booth's debt amounted +to, and therefore, though he would otherwise very willingly have paid +it, he was forced to give bail to the action. For which purpose, as the +bailiff was a man of great form, he was obliged to get another person +to be bound with him. This person, however, the attorney undertook to +procure, and immediately set out in quest of him. + +During his absence the bailiff came into the room, and, addressing +himself to the doctor, said, "I think, sir, your name is Doctor +Harrison?" The doctor immediately acknowledged his name. Indeed, the +bailiff had seen it to a bail-bond before. "Why then, sir," said the +bailiff, "there is a man above in a dying condition that desires the +favour of speaking to you; I believe he wants you to pray by him." + +The bailiff himself was not more ready to execute his office on all +occasions for his fee than the doctor was to execute his for nothing. +Without making any further enquiry therefore into the condition of the +man, he immediately went up-stairs. + +As soon as the bailiff returned down-stairs, which was immediately after +he had lodged the doctor in the room, Booth had the curiosity to ask him +who this man was. "Why, I don't know much of him," said the bailiff; "I +had him once in custody before now: I remember it was when your honour +was here last; and now I remember, too, he said that he knew your honour +very well. Indeed, I had some opinion of him at that time, for he spent +his money very much like a gentleman; but I have discovered since that +he is a poor fellow, and worth nothing. He is a mere shy cock; I have +had the stuff about me this week, and could never get at him till this +morning; nay, I don't believe we should ever have found out his lodgings +had it not been for the attorney that was here just now, who gave us +information. And so we took him this morning by a comical way enough; +for we dressed up one of my men in women's cloathes, who told the people +of the house that he was his sister, just come to town--for we were +told by the attorney that he had such a sister, upon which he was let +up-stairs--and so kept the door ajar till I and another rushed in. Let +me tell you, captain, there are as good stratagems made use of in our +business as any in the army." + +"But pray, sir," said Booth, "did not you tell me this morning that the +poor fellow was desperately wounded; nay, I think you told the doctor +that he was a dying man?" "I had like to have forgot that," cries +the bailiff. "Nothing would serve the gentleman but that he must make +resistance, and he gave my man a blow with a stick; but I soon quieted +him by giving him a wipe or two with a hanger. Not that, I believe, I +have done his business neither; but the fellow is faint-hearted, and the +surgeon, I fancy, frightens him more than he need. But, however, let the +worst come to the worst, the law is all on my side, and it is only _se +fendendo_. The attorney that was here just now told me so, and bid +me fear nothing; for that he would stand my friend, and undertake the +cause; and he is a devilish good one at a defence at the Old Bailey, I +promise you. I have known him bring off several that everybody thought +would have been hanged." + +"But suppose you should be acquitted," said Booth, "would not the blood +of this poor wretch lie a little heavy at your heart?" + +"Why should it, captain?" said the bailiff. "Is not all done in a lawful +way? Why will people resist the law when they know the consequence? To +be sure, if a man was to kill another in an unlawful manner as it were, +and what the law calls murder, that is quite and clear another thing. I +should not care to be convicted of murder any more than another man. Why +now, captain, you have been abroad in the wars they tell me, and to +be sure must have killed men in your time. Pray, was you ever afraid +afterwards of seeing their ghosts?" + +"That is a different affair," cries Booth; "but I would not kill a man +in cold blood for all the world." + +"There is no difference at all, as I can see," cries the bailiff. "One +is as much in the way of business as the other. When gentlemen behave +themselves like unto gentlemen I know how to treat them as such as well +as any officer the king hath; and when they do not, why they must take +what follows, and the law doth not call it murder." + +Booth very plainly saw that the bailiff had squared his conscience +exactly according to law, and that he could not easily subvert his way +of thinking. He therefore gave up the cause, and desired the bailiff +to expedite the bonds, which he promised to do; saying, he hoped he had +used him with proper civility this time, if he had not the last, and +that he should be remembered for it. + +But before we close this chapter we shall endeavour to satisfy an +enquiry, which may arise in our most favourite readers (for so are the +most curious), how it came to pass that such a person as was Doctor +Harrison should employ such a fellow as this Murphy? + +The case then was thus: this Murphy had been clerk to an attorney in the +very same town in which the doctor lived, and, when he was out of +his time, had set up with a character fair enough, and had married a +maid-servant of Mrs. Harris, by which means he had all the business to +which that lady and her friends, in which number was the doctor, could +recommend him. + +Murphy went on with his business, and thrived very well, till he +happened to make an unfortunate slip, in which he was detected by a +brother of the same calling. But, though we call this by the gentle name +of a slip, in respect to its being so extremely common, it was a matter +in which the law, if it had ever come to its ears, would have passed a +very severe censure, being, indeed, no less than perjury and subornation +of perjury. + +This brother attorney, being a very good-natured man, and unwilling +to bespatter his own profession, and considering, perhaps, that the +consequence did in no wise affect the public, who had no manner of +interest in the alternative whether A., in whom the right was, or B., to +whom Mr. Murphy, by the means aforesaid, had transferred it, succeeded +in an action; we mention this particular, because, as this brother +attorney was a very violent party man, and a professed stickler for the +public, to suffer any injury to have been done to that, would have been +highly inconsistent with his principles. + +This gentleman, therefore, came to Mr. Murphy, and, after shewing him +that he had it in his power to convict him of the aforesaid crime, very +generously told him that he had not the least delight in bringing any +man to destruction, nor the least animosity against him. All that he +insisted upon was, that he would not live in the same town or county +with one who had been guilty of such an action. He then told Mr. Murphy +that he would keep the secret on two conditions; the one was, that he +immediately quitted that country; the other was, that he should convince +him he deserved this kindness by his gratitude, and that Murphy should +transfer to the other all the business which he then had in those parts, +and to which he could possibly recommend him. + +It is the observation of a very wise man, that it is a very common +exercise of wisdom in this world, of two evils to chuse the least. The +reader, therefore, cannot doubt but that Mr. Murphy complied with the +alternative proposed by his kind brother, and accepted the terms on +which secrecy was to be obtained. + +This happened while the doctor was abroad, and with all this, except the +departure of Murphy, not only the doctor, but the whole town (save his +aforesaid brother alone), were to this day unacquainted. + +The doctor, at his return, hearing that Mr. Murphy was gone, applied to +the other attorney in his affairs, who still employed this Murphy as his +agent in town, partly, perhaps, out of good will to him, and partly from +the recommendation of Miss Harris; for, as he had married a servant of +the family, and a particular favourite of hers, there can be no wonder +that she, who was entirely ignorant of the affair above related, as well +as of his conduct in town, should continue her favour to him. It will +appear, therefore, I apprehend, no longer strange that the doctor, who +had seen this man but three times since his removal to town, and then +conversed with him only on business, should remain as ignorant of +his life and character, as a man generally is of the character of the +hackney-coachman who drives him. Nor doth it reflect more on the honour +or understanding of the doctor, under these circumstances, to employ +Murphy, than it would if he had been driven about the town by a thief or +a murderer. + + + + +Chapter vi. + +_What passed between the doctor and the sick man._ + + +We left the doctor in the last chapter with the wounded man, to whom the +doctor, in a very gentle voice, spoke as follows:-- + +"I am sorry, friend, to see you in this situation, and am very ready to +give you any comfort or assistance within my power." + +"I thank you kindly, doctor," said the man. "Indeed I should not have +presumed to have sent to you had I not known your character; for, though +I believe I am not at all known to you, I have lived many years in that +town where you yourself had a house; my name is Robinson. I used to +write for the attorneys in those parts, and I have been employed on your +business in my time." + +"I do not recollect you nor your name," said the doctor; "but consider, +friend, your moments are precious, and your business, as I am informed, +is to offer up your prayers to that great Being before whom you are +shortly to appear. But first let me exhort you earnestly to a most +serious repentance of all your sins." + +"O doctor!" said the man; "pray; what is your opinion of a death-bed +repentance?" + +"If repentance is sincere," cries the doctor, "I hope, through the +mercies and merits of our most powerful and benign Intercessor, it will +never come too late." + +"But do not you think, sir," cries the man, "that, in order to obtain +forgiveness of any great sin we have committed, by an injury done to +our neighbours, it is necessary, as far as in us lies, to make all the +amends we can to the party injured, and to undo, if possible, the injury +we have done?" + +"Most undoubtedly," cries the doctor; "our pretence to repentance would +otherwise be gross hypocrisy, and an impudent attempt to deceive and +impose upon our Creator himself." + +"Indeed, I am of the same opinion," cries the penitent; "and I think +further, that this is thrown in my way, and hinted to me by that great +Being; for an accident happened to me yesterday, by which, as things +have fallen out since, I think I plainly discern the hand of Providence. +I went yesterday, sir, you must know, to a pawnbroker's, to pawn the +last moveable, which, except the poor cloathes you see on my back, I am +worth in the world. While I was there a young lady came in to pawn her +picture. She had disguised herself so much, and pulled her hood so over +her face, that I did not know her while she stayed, which was scarce +three minutes. As soon as she was gone the pawnbroker, taking the +picture in his hand, cried out, _Upon my word, this is the handsomest +face I ever saw in my life!_ I desired him to let me look on the +picture, which he readily did--and I no sooner cast my eyes upon it, +than the strong resemblance struck me, and I knew it to be Mrs. Booth." + +"Mrs. Booth! what Mrs. Booth?" cries the doctor. + +"Captain Booth's lady, the captain who is now below," said the other. + +"How?" cries the doctor with great impetuosity. + +"Have patience," said the man, "and you shall hear all. I expressed some +surprize to the pawnbroker, and asked the lady's name. He answered, that +he knew not her name; but that she was some undone wretch, who had the +day before left all her cloathes with him in pawn. My guilt immediately +flew in my face, and told me I had been accessory to this lady's +undoing. The sudden shock so affected me, that, had it not been for a +dram which the pawnbroker gave me, I believe I should have sunk on the +spot." + +"Accessary to her undoing! how accessary?" said the doctor. "Pray tell +me, for I am impatient to hear." + +"I will tell you all as fast as I can," cries the sick man. "You know, +good doctor, that Mrs. Harris of our town had two daughters, this Mrs. +Booth and another. Now, sir, it seems the other daughter had, some +way or other, disobliged her mother a little before the old lady died; +therefore she made a will, and left all her fortune, except one thousand +pound, to Mrs. Booth; to which will Mr. Murphy, myself, and another who +is now dead, were the witnesses. Mrs. Harris afterwards died suddenly; +upon which it was contrived by her other daughter and Mr. Murphy to make +a new will, in which Mrs. Booth had a legacy of ten pound, and all the +rest was given to the other. To this will, Murphy, myself, and the same +third person, again set our hands." + +"Good Heaven! how wonderful is thy providence!" cries the +doctor--"Murphy, say you?" + +"He himself, sir," answered Robinson; "Murphy, who is the greatest +rogue, I believe, now in the world." + +"Pray, sir, proceed," cries the doctor. + +"For this service, sir," said Robinson, "myself and the third person, +one Carter, received two hundred pound each. What reward Murphy himself +had I know not. Carter died soon afterwards; and from that time, at +several payments, I have by threats extorted above a hundred pound more. +And this, sir, is the whole truth, which I am ready to testify if it +would please Heaven to prolong my life." + +"I hope it will," cries the doctor; "but something must be done for fear +of accidents. I will send to counsel immediately to know how to secure +your testimony.--Whom can I get to send?--Stay, ay--he will do--but I +know not where his house or his chambers are. I will go myself--but I +may be wanted here." + +While the doctor was in this violent agitation the surgeon made his +appearance. The doctor stood still in a meditating posture, while the +surgeon examined his patient. After which the doctor begged him to +declare his opinion, and whether he thought the wounded man in any +immediate danger of death. "I do not know," answered the surgeon, "what +you call immediate. He may live several days--nay, he may recover. It is +impossible to give any certain opinion in these cases." He then launched +forth into a set of terms which the doctor, with all his scholarship, +could not understand. To say the truth, many of them were not to be +found in any dictionary or lexicon. + +One discovery, however, the doctor made, and that was, that the +surgeon was a very ignorant, conceited fellow, and knew nothing of his +profession. He resolved, therefore, to get better advice for the sick; +but this he postponed at present, and, applying himself to the surgeon, +said, "He should be very much obliged to him if he knew where to find +such a counsellor, and would fetch him thither. I should not ask such a +favour of you, sir," says the doctor, "if it was not on business of the +last importance, or if I could find any other messenger." + +"I fetch, sir!" said the surgeon very angrily. "Do you take me for a +footman or a porter? I don't know who you are; but I believe you are +full as proper to go on such an errand as I am." (For as the doctor, +who was just come off his journey, was very roughly dressed, the surgeon +held him in no great respect.) The surgeon then called aloud from the +top of the stairs, "Let my coachman draw up," and strutted off without +any ceremony, telling his patient he would call again the next day. + +At this very instant arrived Murphy with the other bail, and, finding +Booth alone, he asked the bailiff at the door what was become of the +doctor? "Why, the doctor," answered he, "is above-stairs, praying +with-----." "How!" cries Murphy. "How came you not to carry him directly +to Newgate, as you promised me?" "Why, because he was wounded," cries +the bailiff. "I thought it was charity to take care of him; and, +besides, why should one make more noise about the matter than is +necessary?" "And Doctor Harrison with him?" said Murphy. "Yes, he is," +said the bailiff; "he desired to speak with the doctor very much, +and they have been praying together almost this hour." "All is up and +undone!" cries Murphy. "Let me come by, I have thought of something +which I must do immediately." + +Now, as by means of the surgeon's leaving the door open the doctor heard +Murphy's voice naming Robinson peevishly, he drew softly to the top of +the stairs, where he heard the foregoing dialogue; and as soon as +Murphy had uttered his last words, and was moving downwards, the doctor +immediately sallied from his post, running as fast as he could, and +crying, Stop the villain! stop the thief! + +The attorney wanted no better hint to accelerate his pace; and, having +the start of the doctor, got downstairs, and out into the street; but +the doctor was so close at his heels, and being in foot the nimbler of +the two, he soon overtook him, and laid hold of him, as he would have +done on either Broughton or Slack in the same cause. + +This action in the street, accompanied with the frequent cry of Stop +thief by the doctor during the chase, presently drew together a large +mob, who began, as is usual, to enter immediately upon business, and to +make strict enquiry into the matter, in order to proceed to do justice +in their summary way. + +Murphy, who knew well the temper of the mob, cried out, "If you are a +bailiff, shew me your writ. Gentlemen, he pretends to arrest me here +without a writ." + +Upon this, one of the sturdiest and forwardest of the mob, and who by +a superior strength of body and of lungs presided in this assembly, +declared he would suffer no such thing. "D--n me," says he, "away to +the pump with the catchpole directly--shew me your writ, or let the +gentleman go--you shall not arrest a man contrary to law." + +He then laid his hands on the doctor, who, still fast griping the +attorney, cried out, "He is a villain--I am no bailiff, but a clergyman, +and this lawyer is guilty of forgery, and hath ruined a poor family." + +"How!" cries the spokesman--"a lawyer!--that alters the case." + +"Yes, faith," cries another of the mob, "it is lawyer Murphy. I know him +very well." + +"And hath he ruined a poor family?--like enough, faith, if he's a +lawyer. Away with him to the justice immediately." + +The bailiff now came up, desiring to know what was the matter; to +whom Doctor Harrison answered that he had arrested that villain for +a forgery. "How can you arrest him?" cries the bailiff; "you are no +officer, nor have any warrant. Mr. Murphy is a gentleman, and he shall +be used as such." + +"Nay, to be sure," cries the spokesman, "there ought to be a warrant; +that's the truth on't." + +"There needs no warrant," cries the doctor. "I accuse him of felony; and +I know so much of the law of England, that any man may arrest a felon +without any warrant whatever. This villain hath undone a poor family; +and I will die on the spot before I part with him." + +"If the law be so," cries the orator, "that is another matter. And to be +sure, to ruin a poor man is the greatest of sins. And being a lawyer too +makes it so much the worse. He shall go before the justice, d--n me if +he shan't go before the justice! I says the word, he shall." + +"I say he is a gentleman, and shall be used according to law," cries the +bailiff; "and, though you are a clergyman," said he to Harrison, "you +don't shew yourself as one by your actions." + +"That's a bailiff," cries one of the mob: "one lawyer will always stand +by another; but I think the clergyman is a very good man, and acts +becoming a clergyman, to stand by the poor." + +At which words the mob all gave a great shout, and several cried out, +"Bring him along, away with him to the justice!" + +And now a constable appeared, and with an authoritative voice declared +what he was, produced his staff, and demanded the peace. + +The doctor then delivered his prisoner over to the officer, and charged +him with felony; the constable received him, the attorney submitted, the +bailiff was hushed, and the waves of the mob immediately subsided. + +The doctor now balanced with himself how he should proceed: at last he +determined to leave Booth a little longer in captivity, and not to quit +sight of Murphy before he had lodged him safe with a magistrate. They +then all moved forwards to the justice; the constable and his prisoner +marching first, the doctor and the bailiff following next, and about +five thousand mob (for no less number were assembled in a very few +minutes) following in the procession. + +They found the magistrate just sitting down to his dinner; however, when +he was acquainted with the doctor's profession, he immediately admitted +him, and heard his business; which he no sooner perfectly understood, +with all its circumstances, than he resolved, though it was then very +late, and he had been fatigued all the morning with public business, to +postpone all refreshment till he had discharged his duty. He accordingly +adjourned the prisoner and his cause to the bailiff's house, whither he +himself, with the doctor, immediately repaired, and whither the attorney +was followed by a much larger number of attendants than he had been +honoured with before. + + + + +Chapter vii. + +_In which the history draws towards a conclusion._ + + +Nothing could exceed the astonishment of Booth at the behaviour of the +doctor at the time when he sallied forth in pursuit of the attorney; for +which it was so impossible for him to account in any manner whatever. +He remained a long time in the utmost torture of mind, till at last the +bailif's wife came to him, and asked him if the doctor was not a madman? +and, in truth, he could hardly defend him from that imputation. + +While he was in this perplexity the maid of the house brought him a +message from Robinson, desiring the favour of seeing him above-stairs. +With this he immediately complied. + +When these two were alone together, and the key turned on them (for +the bailiff's wife was a most careful person, and never omitted that +ceremony in the absence of her husband, having always at her tongue's +end that excellent proverb of "Safe bind, safe find"), Robinson, looking +stedfastly upon Booth, said, "I believe, sir, you scarce remember me." + +Booth answered that he thought he had seen his face somewhere before, +but could not then recollect when or where. + +"Indeed, sir," answered the man, "it was a place which no man can +remember with pleasure. But do you not remember, a few weeks ago, that +you had the misfortune to be in a certain prison in this town, where you +lost a trifling sum at cards to a fellow-prisoner?" + +This hint sufficiently awakened Booth's memory, and he now recollected +the features of his old friend Robinson. He answered him a little +surlily, "I know you now very well, but I did not imagine you would ever +have reminded me of that transaction." + +"Alas, sir!" answered Robinson, "whatever happened then was very +trifling compared to the injuries I have done you; but if my life be +spared long enough I will now undo it all: and, as I have been one of +your worst enemies, I will now be one of your best friends." + +He was just entering upon his story when a noise was heard below which +might be almost compared to what have been heard in Holland when the +dykes have given way, and the ocean in an inundation breaks in upon the +land. It seemed, indeed, as if the whole world was bursting into the +house at once. + +Booth was a man of great firmness of mind, and he had need of it all +at this instant. As for poor Robinson, the usual concomitants of guilt +attended him, and he began to tremble in a violent manner. + +The first person who ascended the stairs was the doctor, who no sooner +saw Booth than he ran to him and embraced him, crying, "My child, I +wish you joy with all my heart. Your sufferings are all at an end, and +Providence hath done you the justice at last which it will, one day or +other, render to all men. You will hear all presently; but I can now +only tell you that your sister is discovered and the estate is your +own." + +Booth was in such confusion that he scarce made any answer, and now +appeared the justice and his clerk, and immediately afterwards the +constable with his prisoner, the bailiff, and as many more as could +possibly crowd up-stairs. + +The doctor now addressed himself to the sick man, and desired him +to repeat the same information before the justice which he had made +already; to which Robinson readily consented. + +While the clerk was taking down the information, the attorney expressed +a very impatient desire to send instantly for his clerk, and expressed +so much uneasiness at the confusion in which he had left his papers at +home, that a thought suggested itself to the doctor that, if his house +was searched, some lights and evidence relating to this affair would +certainly be found; he therefore desired the justice to grant a +search-warrant immediately to search his house. + +The justice answered that he had no such power; that, if there was any +suspicion of stolen goods, he could grant a warrant to search for them. + +"How, sir!" said the doctor, "can you grant a warrant to search a man's +house for a silver tea-spoon, and not in a case like this, where a man +is robbed of his whole estate?" + +"Hold, sir," says the sick man; "I believe I can answer that point; +for I can swear he hath several title-deeds of the estate now in his +possession, which I am sure were stolen from the right owner." + +The justice still hesitated. He said title-deeds savoured of the Realty, +and it was not felony to steal them. If, indeed, they were taken away in +a box, then it would be felony to steal the box. + +"Savour of the Realty! Savour of the f--talty," said the doctor. "I +never heard such incomprehensible nonsense. This is impudent, as well as +childish trifling with the lives and properties of men." + +"Well, sir," said Robinson, "I now am sure I can do his business; for +I know he hath a silver cup in his possession which is the property of +this gentleman (meaning Booth), and how he got it but by stealth let him +account if he can." + +"That will do," cries the justice with great pleasure. "That will do; +and if you will charge him on oath with that, I will instantly grant +my warrant to search his house for it." "And I will go and see it +executed," cries the doctor; for it was a maxim of his, that no man +could descend below himself in doing any act which may contribute to +protect an innocent person, or to bring a rogue to the gallows. + +The oath was instantly taken, the warrant signed, and the doctor +attended the constable in the execution of it. + +The clerk then proceeded in taking the information of Robinson, and had +just finished it, when the doctor returned with the utmost joy in his +countenance, and declared that he had sufficient evidence of the fact in +his possession. He had, indeed, two or three letters from Miss Harris +in answer to the attorney's frequent demands of money for secrecy, that +fully explained the whole villany. + +The justice now asked the prisoner what he had to say for himself, or +whether he chose to say anything in his own defence. + +"Sir," said the attorney, with great confidence, "I am not to defend +myself here. It will be of no service to me; for I know you neither can +nor will discharge me. But I am extremely innocent of all this matter, +as I doubt not but to make appear to the satisfaction of a court of +justice." + +The legal previous ceremonies were then gone through of binding over the +prosecutor, &c., and then the attorney was committed to Newgate, whither +he was escorted amidst the acclamations of the populace. + +When Murphy was departed, and a little calm restored in the house, the +justice made his compliments of congratulation to Booth, who, as well as +he could in his present tumult of joy, returned his thanks to both the +magistrate and the doctor. They were now all preparing to depart, when +Mr. Bondum stept up to Booth, and said, "Hold, sir, you have forgot one +thing--you have not given bail yet." + +This occasioned some distress at this time, for the attorney's friend +was departed; but when the justice heard this, he immediately offered +himself as the other bondsman, and thus ended the affair. + +It was now past six o'clock, and none of the gentlemen had yet dined. +They very readily, therefore, accepted the magistrate's invitation, and +went all together to his house. + +And now the very first thing that was done, even before they sat down to +dinner, was to dispatch a messenger to one of the best surgeons in town +to take care of Robinson, and another messenger to Booth's lodgings to +prevent Amelia's concern at their staying so long. + +The latter, however, was to little purpose; for Amelia's patience had +been worn out before, and she had taken a hackney-coach and driven to +the bailiff's, where she arrived a little after the departure of her +husband, and was thence directed to the justice's. + +Though there was no kind of reason for Amelia's fright at hearing that +her husband and Doctor Harrison were gone before the justice, and though +she indeed imagined that they were there in the light of complainants, +not of offenders, yet so tender were her fears for her husband, and +so much had her gentle spirits been lately agitated, that she had +a thousand apprehensions of she knew not what. When she arrived, +therefore, at the house, she ran directly into the room where all the +company were at dinner, scarce knowing what she did or whither she was +going. + +She found her husband in such a situation, and discovered such +chearfulness in his countenance, that so violent a turn was given to her +spirits that she was just able, with the assistance of a glass of water, +to support herself. She soon, however, recovered her calmness, and in +a little time began to eat what might indeed be almost called her +breakfast. + +The justice now wished her joy of what had happened that day, for +which she kindly thanked him, apprehending he meant the liberty of her +husband. His worship might perhaps have explained himself more largely +had not the doctor given him a timely wink; for this wise and good man +was fearful of making such a discovery all at once to Amelia, lest it +should overpower her, and luckily the justice's wife was not well enough +acquainted with the matter to say anything more on it than barely to +assure the lady that she joined in her husband's congratulation. + +Amelia was then in a clean white gown, which she had that day redeemed, +and was, indeed, dressed all over with great neatness and exactness; +with the glow therefore which arose in her features from finding her +husband released from his captivity, she made so charming a figure, that +she attracted the eyes of the magistrate and of his wife, and they +both agreed when they were alone that they had never seen so charming +a creature; nay, Booth himself afterwards told her that he scarce ever +remembered her to look so extremely beautiful as she did that evening. + +Whether Amelia's beauty, or the reflexion on the remarkable act of +justice he had performed, or whatever motive filled the magistrate with +extraordinary good humour, and opened his heart and cellars, I will not +determine; but he gave them so hearty a welcome, and they were all so +pleased with each other, that Amelia, for that one night, trusted the +care of her children to the woman where they lodged, nor did the company +rise from table till the clock struck eleven. + +They then separated. Amelia and Booth, having been set down at their +lodgings, retired into each other's arms; nor did Booth that evening, by +the doctor's advice, mention one word of the grand affair to his wife. + + + + +Chapter viii. + +_Thus this history draws nearer to a conclusion._ + + +In the morning early Amelia received the following letter from Mrs. +Atkinson: + +"The surgeon of the regiment, to which the captain my husband lately +belonged, and who came this evening to see the captain, hath almost +frightened me out of my wits by a strange story of your husband being +committed to prison by a justice of peace for forgery. For Heaven's sake +send me the truth. If my husband can be of any service, weak as he is, +he will be carried in a chair to serve a brother officer for whom he +hath a regard, which I need not mention. Or if the sum of twenty pound +will be of any service to you, I will wait upon you with it the moment I +can get my cloaths on, the morning you receive this; for it is too late +to send to-night. The captain begs his hearty service and respects, and +believe me, + + "Dear Madam, + Your ever affectionate friend, + and humble servant, + F. ATKINSON." + +When Amelia read this letter to Booth they were both equally surprized, +she at the commitment for forgery, and he at seeing such a letter from +Mrs. Atkinson; for he was a stranger yet to the reconciliation that had +happened. + +Booth's doubts were first satisfied by Amelia, from which he received +great pleasure; for he really had a very great affection and fondness +for Mr. Atkinson, who, indeed, so well deserved it. "Well, my dear," +said he to Amelia, smiling, "shall we accept this generous offer?" + +"O fy! no, certainly," answered she. + +"Why not?" cries Booth; "it is but a trifle; and yet it will be of great +service to us." + +"But consider, my dear," said she, "how ill these poor people can spare +it." + +"They can spare it for a little while," said Booth, "and we shall soon +pay it them again." + +"When, my dear?" said Amelia. "Do, my dear Will, consider our wretched +circumstances. I beg you let us go into the country immediately, and +live upon bread and water till Fortune pleases to smile upon us." + +"I am convinced that day is not far off," said Booth. "However, give me +leave to send an answer to Mrs. Atkinson, that we shall be glad of her +company immediately to breakfast." + +"You know I never contradict you," said she, "but I assure you it is +contrary to my inclinations to take this money." + +"Well, suffer me," cries he, "to act this once contrary to your +inclinations." He then writ a short note to Mrs. Atkinson, and +dispatched it away immediately; which when he had done, Amelia said, "I +shall be glad of Mrs. Atkinson's company to breakfast; but yet I wish +you would oblige me in refusing this money. Take five guineas only. That +is indeed such a sum as, if we never should pay it, would sit light on +my mind. The last persons in the world from whom I would receive favours +of that sort are the poor and generous." + +"You can receive favours only from the generous," cries Booth; "and, +to be plain with you, there are very few who are generous that are not +poor." + +"What think you," said she, "of Dr Harrison?" + +"I do assure you," said Booth, "he is far from being rich. The doctor +hath an income of little more than six hundred pound a-year, and I +am convinced he gives away four of it. Indeed, he is one of the best +economists in the world: but yet I am positive he never was at any time +possessed of five hundred pound, since he hath been a man. Consider, +dear Emily, the late obligations we have to this gentleman; it would +be unreasonable to expect more, at least at present; my half-pay is +mortgaged for a year to come. How then shall we live?" + +"By our labour," answered she; "I am able to labour, and I am sure I am +not ashamed of it." + +"And do you really think you can support such a life?" + +"I am sure I could be happy in it," answered Amelia. "And why not I as +well as a thousand others, who have not the happiness of such a husband +to make life delicious? why should I complain of my hard fate while so +many who are much poorer than I enjoy theirs? Am I of a superior rank +of being to the wife of the honest labourer? am I not partaker of one +common nature with her?" + +"My angel," cries Booth, "it delights me to hear you talk thus, and +for a reason you little guess; for I am assured that one who can so +heroically endure adversity, will bear prosperity with equal greatness +of soul; for the mind that cannot be dejected by the former, is not +likely to be transported with the latter." + +"If it had pleased Heaven," cried she, "to have tried me, I think, at +least I hope, I should have preserved my humility." + +"Then, my dear," said he, "I will relate you a dream I had last night. +You know you lately mentioned a dream of yours." + +"Do so," said she; "I am attentive." + +"I dreamt," said he, "this night, that we were in the most miserable +situation imaginable; indeed, in the situation we were yesterday +morning, or rather worse; that I was laid in a prison for debt, and that +you wanted a morsel of bread to feed the mouths of your hungry children. +At length (for nothing you know is quicker than the transition in +dreams) Dr Harrison methought came to me, with chearfulness and joy in +his countenance. The prison-doors immediately flew open, and Dr Harrison +introduced you, gayly though not richly dressed. That you gently chid me +for staying so long. All on a sudden appeared a coach with four horses +to it, in which was a maid-servant with our two children. We both +immediately went into the coach, and, taking our leave of the doctor, +set out towards your country-house; for yours I dreamt it was. I only +ask you now, if this was real, and the transition almost as sudden, +could you support it?" + +Amelia was going to answer, when Mrs. Atkinson came into the room, and +after very little previous ceremony, presented Booth with a bank-note, +which he received of her, saying he would very soon repay it; a promise +that a little offended Amelia, as she thought he had no chance of +keeping it. + +The doctor presently arrived, and the company sat down to breakfast, +during which Mrs. Atkinson entertained them with the history of the +doctors that had attended her husband, by whose advice Atkinson was +recovered from everything but the weakness which his distemper had +occasioned. + +When the tea-table was removed Booth told the doctor that he had +acquainted his wife with a dream he had last night. "I dreamt, doctor," +said he, "that she was restored to her estate." + +"Very well," said the doctor; "and if I am to be the Oneiropolus, I +believe the dream will come to pass. To say the truth, I have rather a +better opinion of dreams than Horace had. Old Homer says they come +from Jupiter; and as to your dream, I have often had it in my waking +thoughts, that some time or other that roguery (for so I was always +convinced it was) would be brought to light; for the same Homer says, as +you, madam (meaning Mrs. Atkinson), very well know, + +[Greek verses] + +[Footnote: "If Jupiter doth not immediately execute his vengeance, he +will however execute it at last; and their transgressions shall fall +heavily on their own heads, and on their wives and children."] + +"I have no Greek ears, sir," said Mrs. Atkinson. "I believe I could +understand it in the Delphin Homer." + +"I wish," cries he, "my dear child (to Amelia), you would read a little +in the Delphin Aristotle, or else in some Christian divine, to learn +a doctrine which you will one day have a use for. I mean to bear the +hardest of all human conflicts, and support with an even temper, and +without any violent transports of mind, a sudden gust of prosperity." + +"Indeed," cries Amelia, "I should almost think my husband and you, +doctor, had some very good news to tell me, by your using, both of you, +the same introduction. As far as I know myself, I think I can answer I +can support any degree of prosperity, and I think I yesterday shewed I +could: for I do assure you, it is not in the power of fortune to try +me with such another transition from grief to joy, as I conceived from +seeing my husband in prison and at liberty." + +"Well, you are a good girl," cries the doctor, "and after I have put on +my spectacles I will try you." + +The doctor then took out a newspaper, and read as follows: + +"'Yesterday one Murphy, an eminent attorney-at-law, was committed to +Newgate for the forgery of a will under which an estate hath been for +many years detained from the right owner.' + +"Now in this paragraph there is something very remarkable, and that +is--that it is true: but _opus est explanatu_. In the Delphin edition +of this newspaper there is the following note upon the words right +owner:--'The right owner of this estate is a young lady of the highest +merit, whose maiden name was Harris, and who some time since was married +to an idle fellow, one Lieutenant Booth. And the best historians assure +us that letters from the elder sister of this lady, which manifestly +prove the forgery and clear up the whole affair, are in the hands of an +old Parson called Doctor Harrison.'" + +"And is this really true?" cries Amelia. + +"Yes, really and sincerely," cries the doctor. "The whole estate; +for your mother left it you all, and is as surely yours as if you was +already in possession." + +"Gracious Heaven!" cries she, falling on her knees, "I thank you!" And +then starting up, she ran to her husband, and, embracing him, cried, "My +dear love, I wish you joy; and I ought in gratitude to wish it you; for +you are the cause of mine. It is upon yours and my children's account +that I principally rejoice." + +Mrs. Atkinson rose from her chair, and jumped about the room for joy, +repeating, + + _Turne, quod oplanti divum promittere nemo + Auderet, volvenda dies, en, attulit ultro._ + +[Footnote: "What none of all the Gods could grant thy vows, That, +Turnus, this auspicious day bestows."] + +Amelia now threw herself into a chair, complained she was a little +faint, and begged a glass of water. The doctor advised her to be +blooded; but she refused, saying she required a vent of another kind. +She then desired her children to be brought to her, whom she immediately +caught in her arms, and, having profusely cried over them for several +minutes, declared she was easy. After which she soon regained her usual +temper and complexion. + +That day they dined together, and in the afternoon they all, except the +doctor, visited Captain Atkinson; he repaired to the bailiff's house +to visit the sick man, whom he found very chearful, the surgeon having +assured him that he was in no danger. + +The doctor had a long spiritual discourse with Robinson, who assured +him that he sincerely repented of his past life, that he was resolved to +lead his future days in a different manner, and to make what amends +he could for his sins to the society, by bringing one of the greatest +rogues in it to justice. There was a circumstance which much pleased the +doctor, and made him conclude that, however Robinson had been corrupted +by his old master, he had naturally a good disposition. This was, that +Robinson declared he was chiefly induced to the discovery by what +had happened at the pawnbroker's, and by the miseries which he there +perceived he had been instrumental in bringing on Booth and his family. + +The next day Booth and his wife, at the doctor's instance, dined +with Colonel James and his lady, where they were received with great +civility, and all matters were accommodated without Booth ever knowing a +syllable of the challenge even to this day. + +The doctor insisted very strongly on having Miss Harris taken into +custody, and said, if she was his sister, he would deliver her to +justice. He added besides, that it was impossible to skreen her and +carry on the prosecution, or, indeed, recover the estate. Amelia at last +begged the delay of one day only, in which time she wrote a letter to +her sister, informing her of the discovery, and the danger in which she +stood, and begged her earnestly to make her escape, with many assurances +that she would never suffer her to know any distress. This letter she +sent away express, and it had the desired effect; for Miss Harris, +having received sufficient information from the attorney to the same +purpose, immediately set out for Poole, and from thence to France, +carrying with her all her money, most of her cloaths, and some few +jewels. She had, indeed, packed up plate and jewels to the value of two +thousand pound and upwards. But Booth, to whom Amelia communicated the +letter, prevented her by ordering the man that went with the express +(who had been a serjeant of the foot-guards recommended to him by +Atkinson) to suffer the lady to go whither she pleased, but not to take +anything with her except her cloaths, which he was carefully to search. +These orders were obeyed punctually, and with these she was obliged to +comply. + +Two days after the bird was flown a warrant from the lord chief justice +arrived to take her up, the messenger of which returned with the news +of her flight, highly to the satisfaction of Amelia, and consequently of +Booth, and, indeed, not greatly to the grief of the doctor. + +About a week afterwards Booth and Amelia, with their children, and +Captain Atkinson and his lady, all set forward together for Amelia's +house, where they arrived amidst the acclamations of all the neighbours, +and every public demonstration of joy. + +They found the house ready prepared to receive them by Atkinson's friend +the old serjeant, and a good dinner prepared for them by Amelia's old +nurse, who was addressed with the utmost duty by her son and daughter, +most affectionately caressed by Booth and his wife, and by Amelia's +absolute command seated next to herself at the table. At which, perhaps, +were assembled some of the best and happiest people then in the world. + + + + +Chapter ix. + +_In which the history is concluded._ + + +Having brought our history to a conclusion, as to those points in which +we presume our reader was chiefly interested, in the foregoing chapter, +we shall in this, by way of epilogue, endeavour to satisfy his curiosity +as to what hath since happened to the principal personages of whom we +have treated in the foregoing pages. + +Colonel James and his lady, after living in a polite manner for many +years together, at last agreed to live in as polite a manner asunder. +The colonel hath kept Miss Matthews ever since, and is at length +grown to doat on her (though now very disagreeable in her person, and +immensely fat) to such a degree, that he submits to be treated by her in +the most tyrannical manner. + +He allows his lady eight hundred pound a-year, with which she divides +her time between Tunbridge, Bath, and London, and passes about nine +hours in the twenty-four at cards. Her income is lately increased by +three thousand pound left her by her brother Colonel Bath, who was +killed in a duel about six years ago by a gentleman who told the colonel +he differed from him in opinion. + +The noble peer and Mrs. Ellison have been both dead several years, and +both of the consequences of their favourite vices; Mrs. Ellison having +fallen a martyr to her liquor, and the other to his amours, by which he +was at last become so rotten that he stunk above-ground. + +The attorney, Murphy, was brought to his trial at the Old Bailey, +where, after much quibbling about the meaning of a very plain act +of parliament, he was at length convicted of forgery, and was soon +afterwards hanged at Tyburn. + +The witness for some time seemed to reform his life, and received a +small pension from Booth; after which he returned to vicious courses, +took a purse on the highway, was detected and taken, and followed the +last steps of his old master. So apt are men whose manners have been +once thoroughly corrupted, to return, from any dawn of an amendment, +into the dark paths of vice. + +As to Miss Harris, she lived three years with a broken heart at +Boulogne, where she received annually fifty pound from her sister, who +was hardly prevailed on by Dr Harrison not to send her a hundred, and +then died in a most miserable manner. + +Mr. Atkinson upon the whole hath led a very happy life with his wife, +though he hath been sometimes obliged to pay proper homage to her +superior understanding and knowledge. This, however, he chearfully +submits to, and she makes him proper returns of fondness. They have two +fine boys, of whom they are equally fond. He is lately advanced to the +rank of captain, and last summer both he and his wife paid a visit of +three months to Booth and his wife. + +Dr Harrison is grown old in years and in honour, beloved and respected +by all his parishioners and by all his neighbours. He divides his time +between his parish, his old town, and Booth's--at which last place he +had, two years ago, a gentle fit of the gout, being the first attack of +that distemper. During this fit Amelia was his nurse, and her two oldest +daughters sat up alternately with him for a whole week. The eldest of +those girls, whose name is Amelia, is his favourite; she is the picture +of her mother, and it is thought the doctor hath distinguished her in +his will, for he hath declared that he will leave his whole fortune, +except some few charities, among Amelia's children. + +As to Booth and Amelia, Fortune seems to have made them large amends +for the tricks she played them in their youth. They have, ever since the +above period of this history, enjoyed an uninterrupted course of health +and happiness. In about six weeks after Booth's first coming into the +country he went to London and paid all his debts of honour; after which, +and a stay of two days only, he returned into the country, and hath +never since been thirty miles from home. He hath two boys and four +girls; the eldest of the boys, he who hath made his appearance in this +history, is just come from the university, and is one of the finest +gentlemen and best scholars of his age. The second is just going from +school, and is intended for the church, that being his own choice. His +eldest daughter is a woman grown, but we must not mention her age. A +marriage was proposed to her the other day with a young fellow of a +good estate, but she never would see him more than once: "For Doctor +Harrison," says she, "told me he was illiterate, and I am sure he is +ill-natured." The second girl is three years younger than her sister, +and the others are yet children. + +Amelia is still the finest woman in England of her age. Booth himself +often avers she is as handsome as ever. Nothing can equal the serenity +of their lives. Amelia declared to me the other day, that she did not +remember to have seen her husband out of humour these ten years; and, +upon my insinuating to her that he had the best of wives, she answered +with a smile that she ought to be so, for that he had made her the +happiest of women. + + +THE END. + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Amelia, by Henry Fielding + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AMELIA *** + +***** This file should be named 6098.txt or 6098.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/6/0/9/6098/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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