Part 29 (1/2)
”Mrs Lips...o...b..'s seminary--I always read the board every time I go up and down. I gave him the address, Miss Johnson, at Mrs Lips...o...b..'s seminary, Kensington. Well--and here's the ten-pound note, sir, which I have fairly earned.”
”Fairly earned, Tim?”
”Yes, fairly earned; for it's all fair to cheat those who would cheat you.”
”I cannot altogether agree with you on that point, Tim, but it certainly is no more than they deserve; but this is matter for reflection. Why should Melchior wish to find out her address without my knowledge?-- depend upon it, there is something wrong.”
”That's what I said to myself coming home; and I made up my mind, that, for some reason or another, he wishes to regain possession of her.”
”I entertain the same idea, Timothy, and I am glad you have disappointed him. I will take care that they shall not find her out, now that I am upon my guard.”
”But, sir, I wish to draw one good moral from this circ.u.mstance; which is, that if you had been served by any common footman, your interest would, in all probability, have been sacrificed to the ten-pound note; and that not only in this instance, but in many others, I did a very wise thing in taking my present situation.”
”I am but too well aware of that, Tim, my dear fellow,” said I, extending my hand, ”and depend upon it, that if I rise, you do. You know me well enough by this time.”
”Yes, I do, j.a.phet, and had rather serve you than the first n.o.bleman in the land. I'm going to purchase a watch with this ten-pound note, and I never shall look at it without remembering the advantage of keeping a watch over my tongue.”
PART TWO, CHAPTER TWELVE.
I FALL VERY MUCH IN LOVE WITH HONESTY, BECAUSE I FIND THAT IT IS WELL RECEIVED IN THE WORLD--AND TO PROVE MY HONESTY, INFORM THE WHOLE WORLD THAT HONEST I HAVE NEVER BEEN.
I proved the will of Major Carbonnell, in which there was no difficulty; and then I sat down to consider in what way I might best husband my resources. The house was in good repair, and well furnished. At the time that I lived with the major, we had our drawing-room, and his bed-room and another room equally large, used as his dressing-room, on the first floor. The second floor was appropriated to me, and the sitting-room was used as a dining-room when we dined at home, which was but seldom. The bas.e.m.e.nt was let as a shop, at one hundred pounds per annum, but we had a private door, for entrance, and the kitchens and attics. I resolved to retain only the first floor, and let the remainder of the house; and I very soon got a tenant at sixty pounds per annum. The attics were appropriated to Timothy and the servants belonging to the lodger.
After having disposed of what was of no service to me, I found that, deducting the thousand pounds paid into the banker's, for Lord Windermear, I had a little above three thousand pounds in ready money, and what to do with this I could not well decide. I applied to Mr Masterton, stating the exact amount of my finances, on the day that I dined with him, and he replied, ”You have two good tenants, bringing you in one hundred and sixty pounds per annum--if this money is put out on mortgage, I can procure you five per cent, which will be one hundred and fifty pounds per annum. Now, the question is, do you think that you can live upon three hundred and ten pounds per annum? You have no rent to pay; and I should think that, as you are not at any great expense for a servant, you might, with economy, do very well. Recollect, that if your money is lent on mortgage you will not be able to obtain it at a moment's warning. So reflect well before you decide.”
I consulted with Timothy, and agreed to lend the money reserving about two hundred pounds to go on with, until I should receive my rents and interest. On the Friday I went to dine with Mr Masterton, and narrated what had pa.s.sed between me and Lady Maelstrom. He was very much diverted, and laughed immoderately. ”Upon my faith, Mr Newland, but you have a singular species of madness; you first attack Lord Windermear, then a bishop, and, to crown all, you attack a dowager peeress. I must acknowledge, that if you do not find out your parents, it will not be for want of inquiry. Altogether, you are a most singular character; your history is most singular, and your good fortune is equally so. You have made more friends before you have come to age, than most people do in their whole lives. You commence the world with nothing, and here you are, with almost a competence--have paid off a loan of one thousand pounds, which was not required--and are moving in the best society. Now the only drawback I perceive in all this is, that you are in society under false colours, having made people suppose that you are possessed of a large fortune.”
”It was not exactly my a.s.sertion, sir.”
”No, I grant, not exactly; but you have been a party to it, and I cannot allow that there is any difference. Now, do you mean to allow this supposition to remain uncontradicted?”
”I hardly know what to say, sir; if I were to state that I have nothing but a bare competence, it will be only injurious to the _memory_ of Major Carbonnell. All the world will suppose that he has ruined me, and that I had the fortune, whereas, on the contrary, it is to him that I am indebted for my present favourable position.”
”That may be very true, Mr Newland; but if I am to consider you as my protege, and I may add, the protege of Lord Windermear, I must make you _quite honest_--I will be no party to fraud in any shape. Are you prepared to resign your borrowed plumes, and appear before the world as you really are?”
”There is but one inducement, sir, for me to wish that the world may still deceive themselves. I may be thrown out of society, and lose the opportunity of discovering my parents.”
”And pray, Mr Newland, which do you think is more likely to tend to the discovery, a general knowledge that you are a foundling in search of your parents, or your present method, of taxing everybody upon suspicion. If your parents wish to reclaim you, they will then have their eyes directed towards you, from your position being known; and I will add, there are few parents who will not be proud of you as a son.
You will have the patronage of Lord Windermear, which will always secure you a position in society, and the good wishes of all, although, I grant, that such worldly people as Lady Maelstrom may strike your name off their porter's list. You will, moreover, have the satisfaction of knowing that the friends which you make have not been made under false colours and appearances, and a still further satisfaction, arising from a good conscience.”
”I am convinced, sir, and I thank you for your advice. I will now be guided by you in everything.”
”Give me your hand, my good lad, I now will be your friend to the utmost of my power.”
”I only wish, sir,” replied I, much affected, ”that you were also my father.”
”Thank you for the wish, as it implies that you have a good opinion of me. What do you mean to do?”
”I have promised my friend Mr Harcourt to go down with him to his father's.”