Part 10 (1/2)

My son seeardless of what I said, and still continued fixed at respectful distance--'My dear brother,' cried his sister, 'why don't you thank ood deliverer; the brave should ever love each other'

He still continued his silence and astonishuest at last perceived hinity, desiredso truly reatest object in the universe, says a certain philosopher, is a good reater, which is the good arded ain find,' said he, 'unthinking boy, that the saaoler's servants, who came to inform us that a person of distinction, who had driven into toith a chariot and several attendants, sent his respects to the gentleed to knohen he should think proper to be waited upon--'Bid the felloait,' cried our guest, 'till I shall have leisure to receive hiain find, Sir,' proceeded he, 'that you are guilty of the same offence for which you once hadits justest punishine, perhaps, that a conteht to take that of another: but where, Sir, is the difference between a duelist who hazards a life of no value, and the reater security? Is it any dies that he has staked a counter?'

'Alas, Sir,' cried I, 'whoever you are, pity the poor uided creature; for what he has done was in obedience to a deluded mother, who in the bitterness of her resente her quarrel Here, Sir, is the letter, which will serve to convince you of her iuilt'

He took the letter, and hastily read it over 'This,' says he, 'though not a perfect excuse, is such a palliation of his fault, as inducesme here; but I have often visited prisons upon occasions less interesting I am now come to see justice done a worthybeen a disguised spectator of thy father's benevolence I have at his little dwelling enjoyed respect uncontaminated by flattery, and have received that happiness that courts could not give, fro simplicity around his fire-side My nephew has been apprized ofhere, and I find is arrived; it would be wronging him and you to condemn him without examination: if there be injury, there shall be redress; and this I , that none have ever taxed the injustice of Sir Williae e had so long entertained as an har companion was no other than the celebrated Sir Williaularities scarce any were strangers

The poor Mr Burchell was in reality a reat interest, to whom senates listened with applause, and whom party heard with conviction; as the friend of his country, but loyal to his king My poor wife recollecting her former familiarity, seemed to shrink with apprehension; but Sophia, who a fewthe immense distance to which he was removed by fortune, was unable to conceal her tears

'Ah, Sir,' cried my wife, with a piteous aspect, 'how is it possible that I can ever have your forgiveness; the slights you received fro you at our house, and the jokes which I audaciously threw out, these jokes, Sir, I fear can never be forgiven'

'My dear good lady,' returned he with a smile, 'if you had your joke, I had my answer: I'll leave it to all the coood as yours To say the truth, I know no body whory with at present but the felloho so frighted irl here I had not even time to examine the rascal's person so as to describe him in an advertisement Can you tell ain?'

'Indeed, Sir,' replied she, 'I can't be positive; yet now I recollect he had a large mark over one of his eye-brows' 'I ask pardon, ood as to inform me if the felloore his own red hair?'--'Yes, I think so,' cried Sophia--'And did your honour,' continued he, turning to Sir Willias?'--'I can't be sure of their length,'

cried the Baronet, 'but I am convinced of their swiftness; for he out-ran dom could have done'--'Please your honour,' cried Jenkinson, 'I know the land; he has beaten Pinwire of Newcastle, Timothy Baxter is his name, I know him perfectly, and the very place of his retreat this o with e to produce hiaoler was called, who instantly appearing, Sir William demanded if he knew hiaoler, 'I know Sir Willia of him, will desire to know more of him'--'Well then,' said the Baronet, 'my request is, that you will pere by my authority, and as I am in the commission of the peace, I undertake to secure you'--'Your promise is sufficient,' replied the other, 'and you land whenever your honour thinks fit'

In pursuance of the gaoler's compliance, Jenkinson was dispatched in search of Timothy Baxter, while ere aest boy Bill, who had just come in and climbed up to Sir Williaoing to chastise his fa the child, all ragged as he was, upon his knee, 'What, Bill, you chubby rogue,'

cried he, 'do you remember your old friend Burchell; and dick too, my honest veteran, are you here, you shall find I have not forgot you'

So saying, he gave each a large piece of gingerbread, which the poor fellows eat very heartily, as they had got thatbut a very scanty breakfast

We now sate down to dinner, which was al painful, Sir William wrote a prescription, for he had made the study of physic his amusement, and wassent to an apothecary who lived in the place, my arm was dressed, and I found almost instantaneous relief

We aited upon at dinner by the gaoler hiuest all the honour in his power But before we had well dined, anotherpermission to appear, in order to vindicate his innocence and honour, hich request the Baronet complied, and desired Mr Thornhill to be introduced

CHAPTER 31

Former benevolence now repaid with unexpected interest

Mr Thornhill made his entrance with a s to embrace his uncle, which the other repulsed with an air of disdain 'No fawning, Sir, at present,' cried the Baronet, with a look of severity, 'the only way to my heart is by the road of honour; but here I only see complicated instances of falsehood, cowardice, and oppression How is it, Sir, that this poor man, for whom I know you professed a friendshi+p, is used thus hardly? His daughter vilely seduced, as a recompence for his hospitality, and he hi the insult? His son too, whom you feared to face as a man--'

'Is it possible, Sir,' interrupted his nephew, 'that my uncle could object that as a crime which his repeated instructions alone have persuaded me to avoid'

'Your rebuke,' cried Sir William, 'is just; you have acted in this instance prudently and well, though not quite as your father would have done: my brother indeed was the soul of honour; but thou--yes you have acted in this instance perfectly right, and it has my warmest approbation'

'And I hope,' said his nephew, 'that the rest of my conduct will not be found to deserve censure I appeared, Sir, with this gentlehter at some places of public amusement; thus as levity, scandal called by a harsher name, and it was reported that I had debauched her I waited on her father in person, willing to clear the thing to his satisfaction, and he received ard to his being here, my attorney and steward can best inforement of business entirely to the or even unable to pay them, it is their business to proceed in thisthe al means of redress'

'If this,' cried Sir Willia unpardonable in your offence, and though your conduct entleman to be oppressed by subordinate tyranny, yet it has been at least equitable'

'He cannot contradict a single particular,' replied the 'Squire, 'I defy him to do so, and several of my servants are ready to attest what I say

Thus, Sir,' continued he, finding that I was silent, for in fact I could not contradict hih at your entreaty I aentleman every other offence, yet his attempts to lessen overn And this too at a ti to take away uilt, that I am detere that was sent me and titnesses to prove it; one of h my uncle himself should dissuade me, which I knoill not, yet I will see public justice done, and he shall suffer for it'

'Thou h already, but ood Sir William will protect us, for my son is as innocent as a child; I am sure he is, and never did harood reater than uilt too plain; and if my nephew persists--' But the appearance of Jenkinson and the gaoler's two servants now called off our attention, who entered, haling in a tallthe description already given of the ruffian who had carried offhim in, 'here we have him, and if ever there was a candidate for Tyburn, this is one'

The moment Mr Thornhill perceived the prisoner, and Jenkinson, who had him in custody, he seemed to shrink back with terror His face becauilt, and he would have withdrawn; but Jenkinson, who perceived his design, stopt him--'What, 'Squire,' cried he, 'are you ashamed of your two old acquaintances, Jenkinson and Baxter: but this is the way that all great h I aet you Our prisoner, please your honour,' continued he, turning to Sir Williaentleerously wounded: He declares that it was Mr Thornhill who first put hiave hientleman, and furnished him with the post-chaise The plan was laid between the lady to a place of safety, and that there he should threaten and terrify her; but Mr Thornhill was to come in in the mean tiht awhile and then he was to run off, by which Mr Thornhill would have the better opportunity of gaining her affections himself under the character of her defender'