Part 21 (1/2)
My wife, Miss Warley, with a leer that made him look dreadful, wants your charming sprightliness:--it is a curs'd thing to be connected with a gloomy woman:--
_Gloomy_, Sir! casting at him a look of disdain; do you call mildness, complacency, and evenness of temper, _gloomy?_
She is much altered, Madam;--is grown old and peevish;--her health is bad;--she cannot live long.
Mrs. Smith can never be _peevish_, Sir;--and as to her _age_, I thought it pretty near your _own_.
No, no, Madam, you are quite mistaken; I am at least five years younger.
Five years, Sir! what are five years at _your_ time of life!
Come, come, Miss Warley, laying his huge paw on my hand, and in a tone of voice that shew'd him heartily nettled;--even at _my_ time of life I can admire a beautiful young Lady.--If my wife should die,--_old as I am_--men _older_ than myself, with half my estate, have married some of the finest women in the kingdom.
Very likely, Sir;--but then it is to be suppos'd the characters of _such_ men have been particularly amiable,--No man or woman of honour can esteem another whose principles are doubtful.
This was a pretty home-thrust; it put him more on his guard for the present; but had he behav'd like an angel, I must have hated him. He was _very_ respectful, _very_ ceremonious, and _very_ thoughtful, 'till we arrived at the inn where we were to stop the night; and had so much art not to seem displeas'd, that I refus'd giving him my company at supper, under pretence of indisposition.--Indeed, I was far from well: a child which I had seen a few hours before fresh in the small-pox, a good deal disconcerted me.--After fixing on my room, not to appear suspicious, I went down at his request, to eat a bit of cake and drink a gla.s.s of wine, before I retired for the night.--I had scarce swallow'd it when he left me, as he said, to speak to the drivers. I wished him a good night as he went out, and took an opportunity a few moments after to go to my chamber.--When there I lock'd the door, and sat myself down to undress; but I began to be greatly alarm'd by something that mov'd under the bed.--Judge my surprize,--judge my horror,--on taking the candle and examining, to see there a man!--But how was that surprize,--that horror increased, on discovering, him to be the vile Smith!--I gave a loud scream, and ran towards the door; but had not power to turn the key, before he caught me in his arms.--
Be calm, Miss Warley, cried the monster;--hear what I have to say.--Suffer me to tell you, that I love you to distraction;--that I adore you.
_Adore_ me, vile man! said I, breaking from him:--leave me this instant--begone:--leave me, I say, instantly.--Again I scream'd.
No, by heaven! he reply'd, I will not go 'till you have heard and pardon'd me.--Here I stand _determin'd_ to be heard:--_hear_ me, or this moment is my last.--With that he drew out a pistol, and held it to his breast.
And _dare_ you, said I, collecting all my resolution,--_dare_ you rush into eternity, without one virtue to offer up with your polluted soul?--I p.r.o.nounc'd these words with steadiness.--_He_ trembled, he look'd like a criminal at the hour of execution.--Letting the pistol drop from his hand, the base dissembler fell on his knees before me.--n.o.body hearing my cries,--n.o.body coming to my a.s.sistance, I was oblig'd to hear, and pretend to credit his penitential protestations.
G.o.d knows how my ears might have been farther shock'd with his odious pa.s.sion;--what indignities I might have suffer'd,--had I not heard some person pa.s.sing by the door of my apartment:--on which I ventur'd to give another scream.--The door was instantly burst open; and whilst an elderly Gentleman advanc'd towards me, full of surprize, the detested brute slipp'd away.--This Gentleman, my good deliverer, was no other than your Ladys.h.i.+p's banker, who when he was acquainted with my name, insisted on taking me to Town in his own coach, where he was returning from a visit he had made at Salisbury--I did not ask, neither do I know what became of Smith; but I suppose he will set out with his wife immediately for Dover.--Thank G.o.d! I am not of the party--How I pity poor Miss Frances Walsh, a young Lady who, he told me, was waiting at his house in Town to go over with them.--I am but just arriv'd at Mr.
Delves's house.--Mr. and Mrs. Delves think with me, that the character of the _unworthy_ Smith should not be expos'd for the sake of his _worthy_ wife.--The family here are all amiable.--I could say a great deal more; but my head aches dreadfully.--This I must add, I have consented, at the tender intreaties of Mr. and Mrs. Delves, to remain with them 'till a proper opportunity offers to throw myself at your Ladys.h.i.+p's feet.--My head grows worse;--I must lay down my pen.--This bad man has certainly frighten'd me into a fever.
[The following lines were added after Miss Powis's recovery]
I hope, my dear Lady, before this you have Mr. Delves's letter;--if so, you know I have had the small-pox.--You know too I am out of danger.--How can I be thankful enough for so many escapes!--This is the first day I have been able to hold a pen.--I am permitted to write no more than the name of your honour'd and affectionate
F. WARLEY.
LETTER x.x.xIX
Captain RISBY to the Honourable GEORGE
_Barford Abbey_.
Will all the thanks,--all the grat.i.tude,--the parents blessings,--their infinity of joy, be contain'd in one poor sheet?--No:--Was I to repeat half,--only half of what they send, you, I might write on for ever.--One says you shall be their son;--another, their brother;--a third, that you are a man most favour'd of heaven--but all agree, as a reward for your virtues you are impower'd to heal afflictions--in short, they want to make me think you can make black white--But enough for the vanity of one man.
I dread your coming to the Abbey.--We that are here already, shall only, then, appear like pismires:--but let me caution my friend not to think his head will touch the clouds.
What man can bear to be twice disinherited?--Mr. Morgan's estate, which the other day I was solely to possess, is now to devolve on the Honourable George Molesworth.--_But mark me_:--As I have been disinherited for you,--_you_ as certainly will be disinherited for Lord Darcey.
See what a man of consequence I am.--Does Captain Risby say _this?_--Does Captain Risby say _that?_--Does Captain Risby think well of it?
Expect, George, to behold me push'd into perferment against my will;--all great people _say_ so, you know;--expect to behold me preside as governor of this castle.--Let me enjoy it then,--let me plume myself beneath the sun-beam.