Part 19 (1/2)
Moni around, and observing hat hu her recovery, ”Is this,” said she, ”a flattering illusion of the brain? or a, whoenerosity to rescue an hapless stranger from the most forlorn state of ly sweet; and this exclamation was pronounced with such pathetic fervour, that Mada her with all the eagerness of maternal affection, ”Yes,” cried she, ”fair creature, Heaven hath bestowed upon hten the burden of your sorrows”
She then prevailed upon her to take some nourishment, and afterwards to recount the particulars of her fate; a task she performed with such accuracy and candour, that Mada her sincerity, saw truth and conviction in every circu condoled her et them, or at least look upon herself as one sheltered under the care and tuition of a person whose study it would be to supply her want of natural parents
This would have been an happy vicissitude of fortune, had it not arrived too late; but such a sudden and unlooked-for transition not only disordered the faculties of poor Monians of her body, already fatigued and enfeebled by the distresses she had undergone; so that she was taken ill of a fever that sa, when a physician was called to her assistance
While this gentleman was in the house, Mada coed his wife to abandon her duty, told her a plausible story of his first acquaintance with Monie at the Fleet, which, he said, he was ready to prove by the evidence of the clergyman who joined them, and that of Mrs la Mer, as present at the cereenteel appearance and engaging address of this stranger, could not prevail upon herself to believe that she had been iiven too convincing a proof of her sincerity; nevertheless, in order to prevent any dispute that ht be prejudicial to the health or recovery of Moniave him to understand, that she would not at present enter upon thelady was actually bereft of her senses, and in ier of her life; for the truth of which assertions she would appeal to his own observation, and the opinion of the physician, as then e a prescription for the cure of her disease
So saying, she conducted hiin stretched upon a sick-bed, panting under the violence of a distehty for her weakly frame, her hair dishevelled, and discomposure in her looks; all the roses of her youth were faded, yet all the graces of her beauty were not fled She retained that sweetness and syh her discourse was incoherent, her voice was still sters arble their native wood-notes wild
Fathom, as upon all other occasions, so on this, did behave like an inimitable actor; he ran to the bedside, with all the trepidation of a distracted lover; he fell upon his knees, and, while the tears rolled down his cheeks, imprinted a thousand kisses on the soft hand of Moniuishi+ng eye, ”Alas!
Renaldo,” said she, ”ere born to be unhappy” ”Would to Heaven,”
cried Ferdinand, in a transport of grief, ”the wretch Renaldo had never been born! that is the villain who seduced the affection of this unfortunate woman I admitted the traitor into my friendshi+p and confidence, relieved hirateful viper, he hath stung the very bosom that cherished him in his distress”
Then he proceeded to inform Madam Clement how he had delivered that sareat expense, and at length furnished him with a sum of money and proper credentials to support his interest at the Court of Vienna
Having finished this detail, he asked the physician's senti told that her life was in extreed he would use his utmost endeavours in her behalf, and even made him a tender of an extraordinary fee, which was refused He also thanked Madaer, and took his leave with ratitude and esteem He had no sooner quitted the house, than the physician, as a huainst his insinuations, observing, that so Renaldo were, to his particular knowledge, contrary to truth; for that he himself had been applied to for letters of recommendation in behalf of Count Melvil, by a Jew entleman with money sufficient for his occasions, in consequence of a minute inquiry he had made into the character of Renaldo, as, by all reports, a youth of strict honour and untainted morals
Madam Clement, thus cautioned, entered into deliberation with her own thoughts, and, co the particulars of this account with those of Monimia's own story, she concluded that Fathom was the very traitor he hi the confidence of both, effected a fatal breach between two innocent and deserving lovers
She accordingly looked upon him with horror and detestation; but nevertheless resolved to treat hiht not be disturbed in her last moments; for she had now lost all hopes of her recovery Yet the fever abated, and in two days she retrieved the use of her reason; though the distes, and she was in all appearance dooer in a consuh never admitted into her presence after the deliriu her conveyed in a chariot to Kensington Gravel Pits, a place which rination He now implicitly believed that death would in a few days baffle all his designs upon the unfortunate Moni that, as he had owned hied to defray the expenses incurred by her sickness and burial, he very prudently interence of his auxiliary
As for Monination, but with rapture She enjoyed in tranquillity the conversation of her kind benefactress, who never stirred from her apartment; she was blessed with the spiritual consolation of a worthy clergyratulated herself on the near prospect of that land of peace where sorrow is not known
At length Mrs la Mer gave notice to our adventurer of this a lady's decease, and the time fixed for the interment Upon which these two virtuous associates took possession of a place from whence they could, unperceived, behold the funeral He must have a hard heart, ithout an e creature cut off in the flower of youth and beauty, even though he knows not her naer to her virtues How callous then must the soul of that wretch have been, ithout a symptom of remorse or concern, saw the sable hearse adorned hite plumes, as emblems of Monimia's purity, pass before him, while her incomparable merit stood full in his remembrance, and he knew himself the wicked cause of her untimely fate!
Perfidious wretch! thy cri undertaken to record thy ht to be exhibited to public view, that ainst imposture; that the world may see how fraud is apt to overshoot itself; and that, as virtue, though it may suffer for a while, will triuh it may prosper for a season, will at last be overtaken by that punishrace which are its due
CHAPTER FIFTY
FATHOM shi+FTS THE SCENE, AND APPEARS IN A NEW CHARACTER
Fatho thus proved abortive, he lost no tie, but had i his small fortune, which, at this period, amounted to near two hundred pounds Whatever inclination he had to resume the character he had formerly borne in the polite world, he durst not venture to launch out again into the expense necessary to maintain that station, because his former resources were now stopped, and all the people of fashi+on by this ti a needy adventurer Nevertheless, he resolved to sound the sentie, froht presuhtly supposed, that if he could in any shape contribute to their interest or aive his forant as they were, and still entertain hi of a necessary acquaintance