Volume V Part 22 (2/2)

_Miles_ began then to suspect something of his Father's Death, which had like to have made him betray his Grief at his Eyes; which his Friend perceiving, took him by the Hand, and said, Here, my dear Friend! To the Memory of my departed Friend! You are so very like what he was, considering your Difference in Years, that I can't choose but love you next to my Wife and my own Sister. Ah! Sir! (said he, and lapping his Handkerchief to his Eyes) How can I deserve this of you? I have told you (reply'd t'other.) But--Come! Take your Gla.s.s, and about with it! He did so; and they were indifferently pleasant, the Subject of Discourse being chang'd, 'till about a quarter after Five; when the Gentleman call'd to pay, and took Coach with _Miles_ only, for the _Gun-Tavern_; where he order'd a very n.o.ble Supper to be got ready with all Expedition; mean while they entertain'd one another, in a Room as distant from the Officers as the House would permit: _Miles_ relating to his new Friend all his Misfortunes Abroad, but still disguising the true Occasion of his leaving _England_. Something more than an Hour after, one of the Drawers came to let 'em know, that Supper was just going to be serv'd up. They went then directly to the Officers, whom they found all together, with two or three Gentlemen more of their Acquaintance: They all saluted the Gentleman who had invited 'em first, and then complimented _Miles_, whom they mistook for another Friend of the Gentleman's that gave 'em the Invitation; not in the least imagining that it was _Tom Lostall_. When they were all sat, the Captain ask'd, Where is our trusty and well-beloved Friend Mr. _Thomas Lostall_? Most honoured Captain! (reply'd _Miles_) I am here, most humbly at your Honour's Service, and all my other n.o.ble Officers. Ha! _Tom_! (cry'd the Lieutenant) I thought indeed when thou first cam'st in, that I should have seen that hardy Face of thine before. Face, Hands, Body, and Heart and all, are at your, all your Honours Service, as long as I live. We doubt it not, dear _Tom_! (return'd his Officers, unanimously.) Come, n.o.ble Gentlemen! (interrupted _Miles's_ Friend) Supper is here, let us fall to: I doubt not that after Supper I shall surprise you farther.

They then fell to eating heartily; and after the Table was clear'd they drank merrily: At last, after the King's, Queen's, Duke's, and all the Royal Family's, and the Officers Healths, his Friend begg'd that he might begin a Health to _Tom Lostall_; which was carry'd about very heartily; every one had a good Word for him, one commending his Bravery, another, his ready Obedience; and a third, his Knowledge in material Discipline, _&c._ 'till at length it grew late, their Stomachs grew heavy, and their Heads light; when the Gentleman, _Miles's_ Friend, calling for a Bill, he found it amounted to seven Pounds ten s.h.i.+llings, odd Pence, which he whisper'd _Tom Lostall_ to pay; who was in a Manner Thunder-struck at so strange a Sound; but, recollecting himself, he return'd, That if his Friend pleas'd, he would leave his Cloak, and any Thing else, 'till the House were farther satisfy'd: T'other said, He was sure _Miles_ had Money enough about him to discharge two such Bills: To which _Miles_ reply'd, That if he had any Money about him, 'twas none of his own, and that 'twas certainly conjur'd into his Pockets. No Matter how it came there (said t'other;) but you have above twenty Pounds about you of your own Money: Pray feel. _Miles_ then felt, and pull'd out as much Silver as he could grasp, and laid it down on the Table. Hang this white Pelf; (cry'd his Friend) pay it in Gold, like your self, Come, apply your Hand to another Pocket: He did so, and brought out as many Broad-Pieces as Hand could hold. Now (continu'd his Friend) give the Waiter eight of 'em, and let him take the Overplus for his Attendance.

_Miles_ readily obey'd, and they were _Very Welcome, Gentlemen_.

Now, honoured Captain, (said his Friend) and you, Gentlemen, his other worthy Officers, be pleas'd to receive your Soldier, as Sir _Miles Hardyman_, Bar., Son to the late Sir _Henry Hardyman_ of _Somersets.h.i.+re_, my dear and honoured Brother-in-Law: Who is certainly--the most unhappy Wretch crawling on Earth! (interrupted _Miles_) O just Heaven! (persu'd he) How have I been rack'd in my Soul ever since the Impious Vow I made, that I never would see my dearest Father more! This is neither a Time nor Place to vent your Sorrows, my dearest Brother! (said his Friend, tenderly embracing him.) I have something now more material than your Expressions of Grief can be here, since your honoured Father has been dead these five Years almost:--Which is to let you know, that you are now Master of four thousand Pounds a Year; and if you will forgive me two Years Revenue, I will refund the rest, and put you into immediate and quiet Possession; which I promise before all this worthy and honourable Company. To which _Miles_ return'd, That he did not deserve to inherit one Foot of his Father's Lands, tho' they were entail'd on him, since he had been so strangely undutiful; and that he rather thought his Friend ought to enjoy it all in Right of his Sister, who never offended his Father in the whole Course of her Life:--But, I beseech you, Sir, (continu'd he to his Friend) how long is it since I have been so happy in so good and generous a Brother-in-Law? Some Months before Sir _Henry_ our Father dy'd, who gave us his latest Blessing, except that which his last Breath bequeath'd and sigh'd after you. O undutiful and ungrateful Villain that I am, to so kind, and so indulgent, and so merciful a Father: (cry'd _Miles_) But Heaven, I fear, has farther Punishments in Store for so profligate a Wretch and so disobedient a Son.--But your Name, Sir, if you please? (persu'd he to his Brother) I am _Lewis Constance_, whom once you unhappily mistook for your Rival. Unhappily, indeed: (return'd _Miles_) I thought I had seen you before. Ay, Sir, (return'd _Constance_) but you could never think to have seen me again, when you wounded and left me for dead, within a Mile of my House. O! thou art brave, (cry'd his Brother, embracing him affectionately) 'tis too much Happiness, for such a Reprobate to find so true a Friend and so just a Brother. This, this does in some Measure compensate for the Loss of so dear a Father.--Take, take all, my Brother! (persu'd he, kissing _Lewis's_ Cheek) Take all thou hast receiv'd of what is call'd mine, and share my whole Estate with me: But pardon me, I beseech you my most honour'd Officers, and all you Gentlemen here present, (continu'd he to the whole Company, who sate silent and gazing at one another, on the Occasion of so unusual an Adventure) pardon the Effects of Grief and Joy in a distracted Creature! O, Sir _Miles_, (cry'd his Captain) we grieve for your Misfortune, and rejoice at your Happiness in so n.o.ble a Friend and so just a Brother. _Miles_ then went on, and gave the Company a full but short Account of the Occasion of all his Troubles, and of all his Accidents he met with both Abroad and at Home, to the first Day that _Constance_ saw him digging in the _Tower_-Ditch. About one that Morning, which preceded that Afternoon (persu'd he) whereon I saw my dear Brother here, then a Stranger to me, I dream'd I saw my Father at a Distance, and heard him calling to me to quit my honourable Employment in his Majesty's Service: This (my Thought) he repeated seven or nine Times, I know not which; but I was so disturb'd at it, that I began to wake, and with my Eyes but half open was preparing to rise; when I fancy'd I felt a cold Hand take me by the Hand, and force me on my hard Bolster again, with these Words, take thy Rest, _Miles_! This I confess did somewhat surprize me; but I concluded, 'twas the Effect of my Melancholy, which, indeed, has held me ever since I last left _England_: I therefore resolutely started up, and jump'd out of Bed, designing to leave you, and sit up with my Fellow-Soldiers on the Guard; but just then I heard the Watchman cry, _Past one a Clock and a Star-light Morning_; when, considering that I was to be at Work in the Ditch by four a Clock, I went to Bed again, and slumber'd, doz'd, and dream'd, 'til Four; ever when I turn'd me, still hearing, as I foolishly imagin'd, my Father crying to me, _Miles_! Sleep, my _Miles_! Go not to that nasty Place, nor do such servile Offices! tho' thou dost, I'll have thee out this Day, nay, I will pull thee out: And then I foolishly imagin'd, that the same cold Hand pull'd me out of the Ditch; and being in less than a Minute's Time perfectly awake, I found my self on my Feet in the Middle of the Room; I soon put on my Cloaths then, and went to my Labour. Were you thus disturb'd when you were Abroad? (the Captain ask'd) O worse, Sir, (answer'd _Miles_) especially on a Tuesday Night, a little after One, being the Twelth of _November_, New Style, I was wak'd by a Voice, which (methought) cry'd, _Miles_, _Miles_, _Miles!_ Get hence, go Home, go to _England_! I was startled at it, but regarded it only as proceeding from my going to Sleep with a full Stomach, and so endeavour'd to sleep again, which I did, till a second Time it rouz'd me, with _Miles_ twice repeated,--hazard not thy Life here in a foreign Service! Home! to _England_! to _England_! to _England_! This disturb'd me much more than at first; but, after I had lay'n awake near half an Hour, and heard nothing of it all that Time, I a.s.sur'd my self 'twas nothing but a Dream, and so once more address'd my self to Sleep, which I enjoy'd without Interruption for above two Hours; when I was the third Time alarm'd, and that with a louder Voice, which cry'd, as twice before, _Miles!_ _Miles!_ _Miles!_ _Miles!_ Go Home! Go to _England_!

Hazard not thy Soul here! At which I started up, and with a faultering Speech, and Eyes half sear'd together, I cry'd, In the Name of Heaven, who calls? Thy Father, _Miles_: Go Home! Go Home! Go Home! (it said.) O then I knew, I mean, I thought I knew it was my Father's Voice; and turning to the Bed-Side, from whence the Sound proceeded, I saw, these Eyes then open, these very Eyes, at least, my Soul saw my Father, my own dear Father, lifting up his joined Hands, as if he begg'd me to return to _England_. I saw him beg it of me.--O Heaven! The Father begs it of the Son! O obstinate, rebellious, cruel, unnatural, barbarous, inhuman Son! Why did not I go Home then! Why did I not from that Moment begin my Journey to _England_? But I hope, e'er long, I shall begin a better.

Here his o'ercharg'd Heart found some little Relief at his Eyes, and they confess'd his Mother: But he soon resum'd the Man, and then _Constance_ said, Did you ne'er dream of your Sister, Sir? Yes, often, Brother, (return'd _Miles_) but then most particularly, before e'er I heard the first Call of the Voice; when (my Thought) I saw her in Tears by my Bed Side, kneeling with a Gentleman, whom I thought I had once seen; but knew him not then, tho', now I recal my Dream, the Face was exactly yours. 'Twas I, indeed, Sir, (return'd _Lewis_) who bore her Company, with Tears, at your Father's Bed-Side; and at twelve a Clock at Night your Father dy'd. But come, Sir, (persu'd he) 'tis now near twelve a Clock, and there is Company waits for you at Home, at my House here in Town; I humbly beg the Captain's Leave, that I may rob 'em of so dutiful a Soldier for a Week or two. Sir, (return'd the Captain) Sir _Miles_ knows how to command himself, and may command us when he pleases.

Captain, Lieutenant, and Ensign, (reply'd Sir _Miles_) I am, and ever will continue, during Life, your most dutiful Soldier, and your most obedient and humble Servant. Thus they parted.

As soon as _Constance_ was got within Doors, his Lady and Sir _Miles's_ Sister, who both did expect him that Night, came running into the Hall to welcome him? his Sister embrac'd and kiss'd him twenty and twenty Times again, dropping Tears of Joy and Grief, whilst his Mistress stood a little Distance, weeping sincerely for Joy to see her Love return'd: But long he did not suffer her in that Posture; for, breaking from his Sister's tender Embraces, with a seasonable Compliment he ran to his Mistress, and kneeling, kiss'd her Hand, when she was going to kneel to him; which he perceiving, started up and took her in his Arms, and there, it may be presum'd, they kiss'd and talk'd prettily; 'till her Brother perswaded 'em to retire into the Parlour, where he propos'd to 'em that they should marry on the very next morning; and accordingly they were, after _Lewis_ had deliver'd all Sir _Henry's_ Estate to Sir _Miles_, and given him Bills on his Banker for the Payment of ten thousand Pounds, being the Moiety of Sir _Miles's_ Revenue for five Years. Before they went to Church, Sir _Miles_, who then had on a rich bridal Suit, borrow'd his Brother's best Coach, and both he and _Lewis_ went and fetch'd the Captain, Lieutenant, and Ensign, to be Witnesses of their Marriage. The Captain gave the Bride, and afterwards they feasted and laugh'd heartily, 'till Twelve at Night, when the Bride was put to Bed; and there was not a Officer of 'em all, who would not have been glad to have gone to Bed to her; but Sir _Miles_ better supply'd their Places.

NOTES: The Unhappy Mistake.

p. 477 _the Jack_. The small bowl placed as a mark for the players to aim at. cf. _Cymbeline_ II, i: 'Was there ever man had such luck! when I kissed the jack upon an up-cast to be hit away!'

p. 477 _the Block_. cf. Florio (1598). '_b.u.t.tino_, a maister or mistres of boules or coites whereat the plaiers cast or playe; some call it the blocke.'

p. 495 _vor Mainly be our Country Word, zure_. Wright, _English Dialect Dictionary_, gives apposite quotations for 'mainly' from Gloucester, Wilts and Devon. He also has two quotations, Somerset and West Somerset for 'main' used adverbially. But 'mainly' is also quite common in that county.

p. 495 _the Gun_. A well-known house of call. 2 June, 1668, Pepys 'stopped and drank at the Gun'.

p. 496 _a Broad piece_. This very common name was 'applied after the introduction of the guinea in 1663 to the ”Unite” or 20 s.h.i.+lling pieces (Jacobus and Carolus) of the preceeding reigns, which were much broader and thinner than the new milled coinage.'

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