Part 7 (1/2)
”You speak like a man of sense and moderation,” answered Morgan. ”Why should hatred and animosity prevail between us? Why should we not imitate the liberality of Sir William Waverly? General Waverly has just been to see him. The worthy Baronet at first rated him a little, telling him he had made a most unhappy choice; but they were friends in a few minutes, and he asked Master Davies and me to dine with them; wished the King better advisers; drank prosperity to the Parliament; and paid his weekly a.s.sessment cheerfully. I think it is the best plan for all parties to hold neighbourly intercourse with each other, and even to form alliances which may some time turn to account; and this leads me to my other proposition. I believe I may persuade the honourable sequestrators that you are not a dangerous delinquent, nor wholly unprofitable in the ministry; but this must be on condition that you suffer justice to take its course with your nephew, and ally yourself to some person of staunch principles by marriage.”
Dr. Beaumont answered, he was very willing that the charge against Eustace should be investigated, but as to intermarriage with any family, he had long since devoted the remainder of his life to widowhood.
”But you have ladies in your house,” said Morgan, drawing his chair closer to the Doctor, and pursing his features into an enamoured grin.
The idea of a quondam scrivener making love to Mrs. Mellicent (for on this occasion he thought only of her), and the contrast between her dignity and Morgan's square figure and vulgar coa.r.s.eness, provoked a smile, notwithstanding the seriousness of his own situation: Morgan thought this a good omen, and went on.
”You see me here, Master Doctor, a hale man, under fifty, pretty warm and comfortable in circ.u.mstances; I once said I never would enc.u.mber myself with a wife and family, but things are now going on so well, that all will be settled before my children are grown up; and I do not see why I should not try to make my old age comfortable, now I have done so much for the public.--That's a very pretty, modest, well-behaved daughter of yours, and I think would make me a good wife; a little too young, perhaps, but she will mend of that fault every day.”
Dr. Beaumont was struck dumb with surprise. Morgan continued--”And if the young maid is willing, I shall not mind shewing favour to that hot-headed cousin of hers, for her sake. He wants to be a soldier I find; I could get him a commission under Lord Ess.e.x, who is a fine spirited commander, and will give him fighting enough. You know it will be doing just as the Waverly family do. Come, I see you hesitate--suppose we call in the young people, and hear what they say?”
”Eustace shall immediately answer to the charge laid against him,” said the Doctor, rising to summon him. ”And let Mrs. Constantia come too; I wish that business decided first,” continued Morgan.
”That business is already determined,” answered the Doctor. ”Eustace, I have called you to answer to a charge laid against you, of a.s.saulting a peaceable pa.s.senger whom you met in your return from the mountains, and taking from him a box which was his property. Did you or did you not commit this outrage?”
”Aye!--answer without fear or evasion, young man,” said Morgan.
”I know neither fear nor evasion,” replied Eustace, darting on the Justice a look which could not have been more contemptuous had he heard of his offer to Constantia;--”I certainly did beat a saucy knave who insulted me.”
”And stole his goods!” said Morgan.
”I took from him something;--let him name what.”
”A box or case, his property, are the words of his affidavit.”
”Again,” said Eustace, ”I require him to state what was in that box?”
Morgan coloured--”The forms of law,” said he, ”must be adhered to. He only swears to a box or case, as his property. Did you or did you not take it from him?”
”I did.”
Dr. Beaumont turned on his nephew a look of angry expostulation, which stung him to the soul. He threw himself on the ground, and clasped his knees in anguish. ”My dearest uncle,” said he, ”I can bear any thing but your displeasure. I took a box containing stolen goods from a thief, who was carrying it to an accomplice.”
Morgan was thunder-struck; for, in describing the a.s.sault, Priggins had omitted mentioning that he had been cuffed into a full discovery of his theft, and had owned that Morgan had agreed to accept a part of Dr.
Beaumont's spoil as a reward for giving indemnity to the rioters. He tried to recollect himself, and told Eustace, better language to a magistrate would become his situation.
”Who touches the hem of your magisterial robe?” said the fiery boy.
”Have I said that the villain who stole my cousin's lute, was carrying it to you when I took it from him, and restored it to the right owner.
My dear and worthy protector, the only fault I have committed, was in saying I found it, when you asked me how it was recovered. Let him who accuses me of the theft be brought face to face, and I will soon make him own who are the knaves in this business.”
Morgan's confusion at being drawn into an implied self-accusation prevented him from pressing the business further. He endeavoured to be civil, said that Priggins must have mistaken the person of Eustace, or have given him a false account. He believed him to be a worthless liar, and holding out his hand to Eustace, hoped it would cause no ill blood between them.
”No,” said the latter, holding up his arm in a posture of defiance; ”there may be a concert between thieves and the receivers of stolen goods; but we know too much of each other to shake hands, and so remember Master Morgan I hate dissimulation, and now think of you just as I used to do.”
When they were alone the Doctor reproved Eustace for his peremptory behaviour, and required an impartial statement of the whole affair. The interview ended with full pardon for his past precipitation, and an earnest admonition, as he tendered the preservation of them all, to be guarded in future. Eustace could not but perceive that he had increased his uncle's difficulties, and promised great prudence, with a full intention of keeping his word.
Dr. Beaumont then proceeded to consult the faithful partner of all his former trials on his present situation. It was to Mrs. Mellicent only that he disclosed all that had pa.s.sed in his interview with Morgan, who, making the same misapplication of Morgan's amorous tender, drew up her stiff figure into full stateliness. ”Leave the knave to me, brother,”
said she; ”I desire no better jest than to hear him make me a proposal; I that have had a serjeant at law in his coif, and the sheriff of the county in his coach and six, come to make love to me, to be at last thought of by the son of a shoe-maker!”
Her brother here interposing, relieved her mind from the terrifying idea of having the laurels of her early days blasted by this degrading conquest, but he only changed indignation into distress. ”What! our lovely, dutiful, modest, ingenuous Constantia, to marry that lump of sedition; that bag of cozening vulgarity; that rolling tumbril, laden with all the off-scourings of his own detestable party!--Brother, take my advice, and send the dear creature instantly to the King's quarters; there is no safety for her within Morgan's reach.--These republicans stop at nothing; I question whether my years and prudence will protect me, but I will run all risks, and remain with you at Ribblesdale. But let the young people be immediately removed, under the care of Williams.--Morgan will never pardon the affront he received from Eustace. The hint he gave about Ess.e.x, makes me apprehend that a project will be laid to entrap the boy. I know he would sooner die than accept any terms from traitors; let me therefore intreat you to send them all to York, and place them under the Earl of Bellingham's protection.”