Volume II Part 6 (1/2)
_Containing justice business; curious precedents of depositions, and other matters necessary to be perused by all justices of the peace and their clerks._
The young squire and his lady were no sooner alighted from their coach than the servants began to inquire after Mr Joseph, from whom they said their lady had not heard a word, to her great surprize, since he had left Lady b.o.o.by's. Upon this they were instantly informed of what had lately happened, with which they hastily acquainted their master, who took an immediate resolution to go himself, and endeavour to restore his Pamela her brother, before she even knew she had lost him.
The justice before whom the criminals were carried, and who lived within a short mile of the lady's house, was luckily Mr b.o.o.by's acquaintance, by his having an estate in his neighbourhood. Ordering therefore his horses to his coach, he set out for the judgment-seat, and arrived when the justice had almost finished his business. He was conducted into a hall, where he was acquainted that his wors.h.i.+p would wait on him in a moment; for he had only a man and a woman to commit to Bridewell first.
As he was now convinced he had not a minute to lose, he insisted on the servant's introducing him directly into the room where the justice was then executing his office, as he called it. Being brought thither, and the first compliments being pa.s.sed between the squire and his wors.h.i.+p, the former asked the latter what crime those two young people had been guilty of? ”No great crime,” answered the justice; ”I have only ordered them to Bridewell for a month.” ”But what is their crime?” repeated the squire. ”Larceny, an't please your honour,” said Scout. ”Ay,” says the justice, ”a kind of felonious larcenous thing. I believe I must order them a little correction too, a little stripping and whipping.” (Poor f.a.n.n.y, who had hitherto supported all with the thoughts of Joseph's company, trembled at that sound; but, indeed, without reason, for none but the devil himself would have executed such a sentence on her.) ”Still,” said the squire, ”I am ignorant of the crime--the fact I mean.”
”Why, there it is in peaper,” answered the justice, showing him a deposition which, in the absence of his clerk, he had writ himself, of which we have with great difficulty procured an authentic copy; and here it follows _verbatim et literatim:_--
_The depusition of James Scout, layer, and Thomas Trotter, yeoman, taken before mee, one of his magesty's justa.s.ses of the piece for Zumersets.h.i.+re._
”These deponants saith, and first Thomas Trotter for himself saith, that on the -- of this instant October, being Sabbath-day, betwin the ours of 2 and 4 in the afternoon, he zeed Joseph Andrews and Francis Goodwill walk akross a certane felde belunging to layer Scout, and out of the path which ledes thru the said felde, and there he zede Joseph Andrews with a nife cut one ha.s.sel twig, of the value, as he believes, of three half-pence, or thereabouts; and he saith that the said Francis Goodwill was likewise walking on the gra.s.s out of the said path in the said felde, and did receive and karry in her hand the said twig, and so was c.u.mfarting, eading, and abatting to the said Joseph therein. And the said James Scout for himself says that he verily believes the said twig to be his own proper twig,” &c.
”Jesu!” said the squire, ”would you commit two persons to Bridewell for a twig?” ”Yes,” said the lawyer, ”and with great lenity too; for if we had called it a young tree, they would have been both hanged.” ”Harkee,”
says the justice, taking aside the squire; ”I should not have been so severe on this occasion, but Lady b.o.o.by desires to get them out of the parish; so lawyer Scout will give the constable orders to let them run away, if they please: but it seems they intend to marry together, and the lady hath no other means, as they are legally settled there, to prevent their bringing an inc.u.mbrance on her own parish.” ”Well,” said the squire, ”I will take care my aunt shall be satisfied in this point; and likewise I promise you, Joseph here shall never be any inc.u.mbrance on her. I shall be obliged to you, therefore, if, instead of Bridewell, you will commit them to my custody.” ”O! to be sure, sir, if you desire it,” answered the justice; and without more ado Joseph and f.a.n.n.y were delivered over to Squire b.o.o.by, whom Joseph very well knew, but little guessed how nearly he was related to him. The justice burnt his mittimus, the constable was sent about his business, the lawyer made no complaint for want of justice; and the prisoners, with exulting hearts, gave a thousand thanks to his honour Mr b.o.o.by; who did not intend their obligations to him should cease here; for, ordering his man to produce a cloak-bag, which he had caused to be brought from Lady b.o.o.by's on purpose, he desired the justice that he might have Joseph with him into a room; where, ordering his servant to take out a suit of his own clothes, with linnen and other necessaries, he left Joseph to dress himself, who, not yet knowing the cause of all this civility, excused his accepting such a favour as long as decently he could. Whilst Joseph was dressing, the squire repaired to the justice, whom he found talking with f.a.n.n.y; for, during the examination, she had flopped her hat over her eyes, which were also bathed in tears, and had by that means concealed from his wors.h.i.+p what might perhaps have rendered the arrival of Mr b.o.o.by unnecessary, at least for herself. The justice no sooner saw her countenance cleared up, and her bright eyes s.h.i.+ning through her tears, than he secretly cursed himself for having once thought of Bridewell for her. He would willingly have sent his own wife thither, to have had f.a.n.n.y in her place. And, conceiving almost at the same instant desires and schemes to accomplish them, he employed the minutes whilst the squire was absent with Joseph in a.s.suring her how sorry he was for having treated her so roughly before he knew her merit; and told her, that since Lady b.o.o.by was unwilling that she should settle in her parish, she was heartily welcome to his, where he promised her his protection, adding that he would take Joseph and her into his own family, if she liked it; which a.s.surance he confirmed with a squeeze by the hand. She thanked him very kindly, and said, ”She would acquaint Joseph with the offer, which he would certainly be glad to accept; for that Lady b.o.o.by was angry with them both; though she did not know either had done anything to offend her, but imputed it to Madam Slipslop, who had always been her enemy.”
The squire now returned, and prevented any farther continuance of this conversation; and the justice, out of a pretended respect to his guest, but in reality from an apprehension of a rival (for he knew nothing of his marriage), ordered f.a.n.n.y into the kitchen, whither she gladly retired; nor did the squire, who declined the trouble of explaining the whole matter, oppose it.
It would be unnecessary, if I was able, which indeed I am not, to relate the conversation between these two gentlemen, which rolled, as I have been informed, entirely on the subject of horse-racing. Joseph was soon drest in the plainest dress he could find, which was a blue coat and breeches, with a gold edging, and a red waistcoat with the same: and as this suit, which was rather too large for the squire, exactly fitted him, so he became it so well, and looked so genteel, that no person would have doubted its being as well adapted to his quality as his shape; nor have suspected, as one might, when my Lord ----, or Sir ----, or Mr ----, appear in lace or embroidery, that the taylor's man wore those clothes home on his back which he should have carried under his arm.
The squire now took leave of the justice; and, calling for f.a.n.n.y, made her and Joseph, against their wills, get into the coach with him, which he then ordered to drive to Lady b.o.o.by's. It had moved a few yards only, when the squire asked Joseph if he knew who that man was crossing the field; for, added he, I never saw one take such strides before. Joseph answered eagerly, ”O, sir, it is parson Adams!” ”O la, indeed, and so it is,” said f.a.n.n.y; ”poor man, he is coming to do what he could for us.
Well, he is the worthiest, best-natured creature.”--”Ay,” said Joseph; ”G.o.d bless him! for there is not such another in the universe.” ”The best creature living sure,” cries f.a.n.n.y. ”Is he?” says the squire; ”then I am resolved to have the best creature living in my coach;” and so saying, he ordered it to stop, whilst Joseph, at his request, hallowed to the parson, who, well knowing his voice, made all the haste imaginable, and soon came up with them. He was desired by the master, who could scarce refrain from laughter at his figure, to mount into the coach, which he with many thanks refused, saying he could walk by its side, and he'd warrant he kept up with it; but he was at length over-prevailed on. The squire now acquainted Joseph with his marriage; but he might have spared himself that labour; for his servant, whilst Joseph was dressing, had performed that office before. He continued to express the vast happiness he enjoyed in his sister, and the value he had for all who belonged to her. Joseph made many bows, and exprest as many acknowledgments: and parson Adams, who now first perceived Joseph's new apparel, burst into tears with joy, and fell to rubbing his hands and snapping his fingers as if he had been mad.
They were now arrived at the Lady b.o.o.by's, and the squire, desiring them to wait a moment in the court, walked in to his aunt, and calling her out from his wife, acquainted her with Joseph's arrival; saying, ”Madam, as I have married a virtuous and worthy woman, I am resolved to own her relations, and show them all a proper respect; I shall think myself therefore infinitely obliged to all mine who will do the same. It is true, her brother hath been your servant, but he is now become my brother; and I have one happiness, that neither his character, his behaviour, or appearance, give me any reason to be ashamed of calling him so. In short, he is now below, dressed like a gentleman, in which light I intend he shall hereafter be seen; and you will oblige me beyond expression if you will admit him to be of our party; for I know it will give great pleasure to my wife, though she will not mention it.”
This was a stroke of fortune beyond the Lady b.o.o.by's hopes or expectation; she answered him eagerly, ”Nephew, you know how easily I am prevailed on to do anything which Joseph Andrews desires--Phoo, I mean which you desire me; and, as he is now your relation, I cannot refuse to entertain him as such.” The squire told her he knew his obligation to her for her compliance; and going three steps, returned and told her--he had one more favour, which he believed she would easily grant, as she had accorded him the former. ”There is a young woman--”--”Nephew,” says she, ”don't let my good-nature make you desire, as is too commonly the case, to impose on me. Nor think, because I have with so much condescension agreed to suffer your brother-in-law to come to my table, that I will submit to the company of all my own servants, and all the dirty trollops in the country.” ”Madam,” answered the squire, ”I believe you never saw this young creature. I never beheld such sweetness and innocence joined with such beauty, and withal so genteel.” ”Upon my soul I won't admit her,” replied the lady in a pa.s.sion; ”the whole world shan't prevail on me; I resent even the desire as an affront, and--” The squire, who knew her inflexibility, interrupted her, by asking pardon, and promising not to mention it more. He then returned to Joseph, and she to Pamela. He took Joseph aside, and told him he would carry him to his sister, but could not prevail as yet for f.a.n.n.y. Joseph begged that he might see his sister alone, and then be with his f.a.n.n.y; but the squire, knowing the pleasure his wife would have in her brother's company, would not admit it, telling Joseph there would be nothing in so short an absence from f.a.n.n.y, whilst he was a.s.sured of her safety; adding, he hoped he could not so easily quit a sister whom he had not seen so long, and who so tenderly loved him. Joseph immediately complied; for indeed no brother could love a sister more; and, recommending f.a.n.n.y, who rejoiced that she was not to go before Lady b.o.o.by, to the care of Mr Adams, he attended the squire upstairs, whilst f.a.n.n.y repaired with the parson to his house, where she thought herself secure of a kind reception.
CHAPTER VI.
_Of which you are desired to read no more than you like._
The meeting between Joseph and Pamela was not without tears of joy on both sides; and their embraces were full of tenderness and affection.
They were, however, regarded with much more pleasure by the nephew than by the aunt, to whose flame they were fuel only; and this was increased by the addition of dress, which was indeed not wanted to set off the lively colours in which Nature had drawn health, strength, comeliness, and youth. In the afternoon Joseph, at their request, entertained them with an account of his adventures: nor could Lady b.o.o.by conceal her dissatisfaction at those parts in which f.a.n.n.y was concerned, especially when Mr b.o.o.by launched forth into such rapturous praises of her beauty.
She said, applying to her niece, that she wondered her nephew, who had pretended to marry for love, should think such a subject proper to amuse his wife with; adding, that, for her part, she should be jealous of a husband who spoke so warmly in praise of another woman. Pamela answered, indeed, she thought she had cause; but it was an instance of Mr b.o.o.by's aptness to see more beauty in women than they were mistresses of. At which words both the women fixed their eyes on two looking-gla.s.ses; and Lady b.o.o.by replied, that men were, in the general, very ill judges of beauty; and then, whilst both contemplated only their own faces, they paid a cross compliment to each other's charms.
When the hour of rest approached, which the lady of the house deferred as long as decently she could, she informed Joseph (whom for the future we shall call Mr Joseph, he having as good a t.i.tle to that appellation as many others--I mean that incontested one of good clothes) that she had ordered a bed to be provided for him. He declined this favour to his utmost; for his heart had long been with his f.a.n.n.y; but she insisted on his accepting it, alledging that the parish had no proper accommodation for such a person as he was now to esteem himself. The squire and his lady both joining with her, Mr Joseph was at last forced to give over his design of visiting f.a.n.n.y that evening; who, on her side, as impatiently expected him till midnight, when, in complacence to Mr Adams's family, who had sat up two hours out of respect to her, she retired to bed, but not to sleep; the thoughts of her love kept her waking, and his not returning according to his promise filled her with uneasiness; of which, however, she could not a.s.sign any other cause than merely that of being absent from him.
Mr Joseph rose early in the morning, and visited her in whom his soul delighted. She no sooner heard his voice in the parson's parlour than she leapt from her bed, and, dressing herself in a few minutes, went down to him. They pa.s.sed two hours with inexpressible happiness together; and then, having appointed Monday, by Mr Adams's permission, for their marriage, Mr Joseph returned, according to his promise, to breakfast at the Lady b.o.o.by's, with whose behaviour, since the evening, we shall now acquaint the reader.
She was no sooner retired to her chamber than she asked Slipslop ”What she thought of this wonderful creature her nephew had married?”-- ”Madam?” said Slipslop, not yet sufficiently understanding what answer she was to make. ”I ask you,” answered the lady, ”what you think of the dowdy, my niece, I think I am to call her?” Slipslop, wanting no further hint, began to pull her to pieces, and so miserably defaced her, that it would have been impossible for any one to have known the person. The lady gave her all the a.s.sistance she could, and ended with saying, ”I think, Slipslop, you have done her justice; but yet, bad as she is, she is an angel compared to this f.a.n.n.y.” Slipslop then fell on f.a.n.n.y, whom she hacked and hewed in the like barbarous manner, concluding with an observation that there was always something in those low-life creatures which must eternally extinguish them from their betters. ”Really,” said the lady, ”I think there is one exception to your rule; I am certain you may guess who I mean.”--”Not I, upon my word, madam,” said Slipslop. ”I mean a young fellow; sure you are the dullest wretch,” said the lady. ”O la! I am indeed. Yes, truly, madam, he is an accession,” answered Slipslop. ”Ay, is he not, Slipslop?” returned the lady. ”Is he not so genteel that a prince might, without a blush, acknowledge him for his son? His behaviour is such that would not shame the best education. He borrows from his station a condescension in everything to his superiors, yet unattended by that mean servility which is called good behaviour in such persons. Everything he doth hath no mark of the base motive of fear, but visibly shows some respect and grat.i.tude, and carries with it the persuasion of love. And then for his virtues: such piety to his parents, such tender affection to his sister, such integrity in his friends.h.i.+p, such bravery, such goodness, that, if he had been born a gentleman, his wife would have possessed the most invaluable blessing.”--”To be sure, ma'am,” says Slipslop. ”But as he is,” answered the lady, ”if he had a thousand more good qualities, it must render a woman of fas.h.i.+on contemptible even to be suspected of thinking of him; yes, I should despise myself for such a thought.”--”To be sure, ma'am,”
said Slipslop. ”And why to be sure?” replied the lady; ”thou art always one's echo. Is he not more worthy of affection than a dirty country clown, though born of a family as old as the flood? or an idle worthless rake, or little puisny beau of quality? And yet these we must condemn ourselves to, in order to avoid the censure of the world; to shun the contempt of others, we must ally ourselves to those we despise; we must prefer birth, t.i.tle, and fortune, to real merit. It is a tyranny of custom, a tyranny we must comply with; for we people of fas.h.i.+on are the slaves of custom.”--”Marry come up!” said Slipslop, who now knew well which party to take. ”If I was a woman of your ladys.h.i.+p's fortune and quality, I would be a slave to n.o.body.”--”Me,” said the lady; ”I am speaking if a young woman of fas.h.i.+on, who had seen nothing of the world, should happen to like such a fellow.--Me, indeed! I hope thou dost not imagine--”--”No, ma'am, to be sure,” cries Slipslop. ”No! what no?”
cried the lady. ”Thou art always ready to answer before thou hast heard one. So far I must allow he is a charming fellow. Me, indeed! No, Slipslop, all thoughts of men are over with me. I have lost a husband who--but if I should reflect I should run mad. My future ease must depend upon forgetfulness. Slipslop, let me hear some of thy nonsense, to turn my thoughts another way. What dost thou think of Mr Andrews?”--”Why, I think,” says Slipslop, ”he is the handsomest, most properest man I ever saw; and if I was a lady of the greatest degree it would be well for some folks. Your ladys.h.i.+p may talk of custom, if you please: but I am confidous there is no more comparison between young Mr Andrews and most of the young gentlemen who come to your ladys.h.i.+p's house in London; a parcel of whipper-snapper sparks: I would sooner marry our old parson Adams. Never tell me what people say, whilst I am happy in the arms of him I love. Some folks rail against other folks because other folks have what some folks would be glad of.”--”And so,”
answered the lady, ”if you was a woman of condition, you would really marry Mr Andrews?”--”Yes, I a.s.sure your ladys.h.i.+p,” replied Slipslop, ”if he would have me.”--”Fool, idiot!” cries the lady; ”if he would have a woman of fas.h.i.+on! is that a question?”--”No, truly, madam,” said Slipslop, ”I believe it would be none if f.a.n.n.y was out of the way; and I am confidous, if I was in your ladys.h.i.+p's place, and liked Mr Joseph Andrews, she should not stay in the parish a moment. I am sure lawyer Scout would send her packing if your ladys.h.i.+p would but say the word.”
This last speech of Slipslop raised a tempest in the mind of her mistress. She feared Scout had betrayed her, or rather that she had betrayed herself. After some silence, and a double change of her complexion, first to pale and then to red, she thus spoke: ”I am astonished at the liberty you give your tongue. Would you insinuate that I employed Scout against this wench on account of the fellow?”--”La, ma'am,” said Slipslop, frighted out of her wits, ”I a.s.sa.s.sinate such a thing!”--”I think you dare not,” answered the lady; ”I believe my conduct may defy malice itself to a.s.sert so cursed a slander. If I had ever discovered any wantonness, any lightness in my behaviour; if I had followed the example of some whom thou hast, I believe, seen, in allowing myself indecent liberties, even with a husband; but the dear man who is gone” (here she began to sob), ”was he alive again” (then she produced tears), ”could not upbraid me with any one act of tenderness or pa.s.sion. No, Slipslop, all the time I cohabited with him he never obtained even a kiss from me without my expressing reluctance in the granting it. I am sure he himself never suspected how much I loved him.