Part 10 (2/2)

Sir William remembered the coat to have been frequently worn by his nephew, and all the rest the prisoner hi, that Mr Thornhill had often declared to him that he was in love with both sisters at the same time

'Heavens,' cried Sir Willia in my bosom! And so fond of public justice too as he seemed to be But he shall have it; secure hial evidence to detain him'

Upon this, Mr Thornhill, with the utht not be adainst him, but that his servants should be examined--'Your servants' replied Sir Williaer: but come let us hear what those fellows have to say, let his butler be called'

When the butler was introduced, he soon perceived by his former master's looks that all his poas now over 'Tell me,' cried Sir William sternly, 'have you ever seen your ether?' 'Yes, please your honour,' cried the butler, 'a thousand tiht hi Mr Thornhill, 'this to my face!'--'Yes,' replied the butler, 'or to any man's face To tell you a truth, Master Thornhill, I never either loved you or liked you, and I don't care if I tell you now a piece of my mind'--'Now then,' cried Jenkinson, 'tell his honour whether you know any thing of ood of you The night that gentlehter was deluded to our house, you were one of theht a very fine witness to prove your innocence: thou stain to hu his examination) 'You tell ht hihter'--'No, please your honour,' replied the butler, 'he did not bring her, for the 'Squire hiht the priest that pretended to marry them'--'It is but too true,' cried Jenkinson, 'I cannot deny it, that was the ened me, and I confess it to my confusion'

'Good heavens!' exclaimed the Baronet, 'how every new discovery of his villainy alaruilt is now too plain, and I find his present prosecution was dictated by tyranny, cowardice and revenge; atofficer, now your prisoner, free, and trust to me for the consequences I'll ht to istrate who has co lady herself: let her appear to confront this wretch, I long to knohat arts he has seduced her Entreat her to come in Where is she?'

'Ah, Sir,' said I, 'that question stings hter, but her miseries--' Another interruption here prevented me; for who should make her appearance but Miss Arabella Wilmot, as next day to have beencould equal her surprize at seeing Sir William and his nephew here before her; for her arrival was quite accidental It happened that she and the old gentleh the town, on their way to her aunt's, who had insisted that her nuptials with Mr Thornhill should be consu for refreshment, they put up at an inn at the other end of the town It was there fro lady happened to observe one ofa foot the child to her, she learnt fronorant of young Mr Thornhill's being the cause Though her fatherto a prison to visit us, yet they were ineffectual; she desired the child to conduct her, which he did, and it was thus she surprised us at a juncture so unexpected

Nor can I go on, without a reflection on those accidental h they happen every day, seldom excite our surprize but upon some extraordinary occasion To what a fortuitous concurrence do we not owe every pleasure and convenience of our lives Howaccidents must unite before we can be cloathed or fed The peasant must be disposed to labour, the shower must fall, the wind fill the merchant's sail, or numbers must want the usual supply

We all continued silent for soenerally gave this young lady, united in her looks cos to her beauty

'Indeed, my dear Mr Thornhill,' cried she to the 'Squire, who she supposed was come here to succour and not to oppress us, 'I take it a little unkindly that you should come here without me, or never inform me of the situation of a family so dear to us both: you know I should take asto the relief of my reverend old master here, whom I shall ever esteem, as you can But I find that, like your uncle, you take a pleasure in doing good in secret'

'He find pleasure in doing good!' cried Sir Willia her

'No, my dear, his pleasures are as base as he is You see in hiraced hu deluded this poor ainst the innocence of her sister, has thrown the father into prison, and the eldest son into fetters, because he had courage to face his betrayer

And give ratulate you upon an escape frooodness,' cried the lovely girl, 'how have I been deceived! Mr Thornhill inforentleone off to America with his new married lady'

'My sweetestbut falsehoods My son George never left the kingdom, nor was married Tho'

you have forsaken him, he has always loved you too well to think of any body else; and I have heard him say he would die a batchellor for your sake' She then proceeded to expatiate upon the sincerity of her son's passion, she set his duel with Mr Thornhill in a proper light, froression to the 'Squire's debaucheries, his pretendedpicture of his cowardice

'Good heavens!' cried Miss Wilmot, 'how very near have I been to the brink of ruin! But how great is my pleasure to have escaped it! Ten thousand falsehoods has this gentleh to persuade er binding, since he had been unfaithful By his falsehoods I was taught to detest one equally brave and generous!'

But by this time my son was freed from the encumbrances of justice as the person supposed to be wounded was detected to be an impostor Mr Jenkinson also, who had acted as his valet de chambre, had dressed up his hair, and furnished hienteel appearance He now therefore entered, handsoimentals, and, without vanity, (for I am above it) he appeared as handsome a fellow as ever wore a military dress As he entered, he made Miss Wilmot a modest and distant bow, for he was not as yet acquainted with the change which the eloquence of his ht in his favour But no decoru iven Her tears, her looks, all contributed to discover the real sensations of her heart for having forgotten her for suffered herself to be deluded by an impostor

My son appeared amazed at her condescension, and could scarce believe it real--'Sure, madam,' cried he, 'this is but delusion! I can never have merited this! To be, blest thus is to be too happy'--'No, Sir,' replied she, 'I have been deceived, basely deceived, else nothing could have ever made me unjust toknown it; but forget what I have done, and as you once had my warmest vows of constancy, you shall now have them repeated; and be assured that if your Arabella cannot be yours, she shall never be another's'--'And no other's you shall be,' cried Sir William, 'if I have any influence with your father'

This hint was sufficient for entleman was, to inform him of every circumstance that had happened But in thethat he was on every side undone, now finding that no hopes were left from flattery or dissimulation, concluded that his wisest ould be to turn and face his pursuers Thus laying aside all shame, he appeared the open hardy villain 'I find then,' cried he, 'that I am to expect no justice here; but I a to Sir Williaer a poor dependent upon your favours I scorn the can keep Miss Wilmot's fortune froe The articles, and a bond for her fortune, are signed, and safe in my possession It was her fortune, not her person, that induced me to wish for this match, and possessed of the one, let ill take the other'

This was an alar blow, Sir William was sensible of the justice of his claie articles hi that her fortune was irretrievably lost, turning to my son, she asked if the loss of fortune could lessen her value to hih fortune,' said she, 'is out of ive'

'And that, madam,' cried her real lover, 'was indeed all that you ever had to give; at least all that I ever thought worth the acceptance And now I protest, my Arabella, by all that's happy, your want of fortune this moment encreases irl of , he seehter had just escaped, and readily consented to a dissolution of thethat her fortune, which was secured to Mr Thornhill by bond, would not be given up, nothing could exceed his disappointo to enrich one who had no fortune of his own He could bear his being a rascal; but to want an equivalent to his daughter's fortune ood He sate therefore for so speculations, till Sir William attempted to lessen his anxiety--'I must confess, Sir' cried he, 'that your present disappointment does not entirely displease me Your immoderate passion for wealth is now justly punished But tho' the young lady cannot be rich, she has still a coive content Here you see an honest young soldier, who is willing to take her without fortune; they have long loved each other, and for the friendshi+p I bear his father,in his promotion Leave then that ambition which disappoints you, and for once admit that happiness which courts your acceptance'

'Sir Williaentleman, 'be assured I never yet forced her inclinations, nor will I now If she still continues to love this young gentleman, let her have him with all my heart There is still, thank heaven, so ive irl, if ever he should coht to be the first to join theether'

As it now reave a pro the settlement he required, which, to one who had such little expectations as I, was no great favour We had now therefore the satisfaction of seeing them fly into each other's arms in a transport 'After all e, 'to be thus rewarded! Sure this is more than I could ever have presuood, and after such an interval of pain! My ware,'

returned his lovely bride, 'now let the wretch take my fortune; since you are happy without it so ae have I made from the basest of men to the dearest best!--Let hience'--'And I prorin, 'that I shall be very happy hat you despise'--'Hold, hold, Sir,' cried Jenkinson, 'there are tords to that bargain As for that lady's fortune, Sir, you shall never touch a single stiver of it Pray your honour,' continued he to Sir William, 'can the 'Squire have this lady's fortune if he be married to another?'--'How can you make such a simple demand,' replied the Baronet, 'undoubtedly he cannot'--'I aentleman and I have been old fellow spotters, I have a friendshi+p for him But I must declare, well as I love him, that his contract is not worth a tobacco stopper, for he is married already'--'You lie, like a rascal,' returned the 'Squire, who seeallyyour honour's pardon,' replied the other, 'you were; and I hope you will shew a proper return of friendshi+p to your own honest Jenkinson, who brings you a wife, and if the company restrains their curiosity a fewhe went off with his usual celerity, and left us all unable to foro,' cried the 'Squire, 'whatever else I htened with squibs'

'I am surprised,' said the Baronet, 'what the fellow can intend by this

Some low piece of humour I suppose!'--'Perhaps, Sir,' replied I, 'heFor e reflect on the various scheentleman has laid to seduce innocence, perhaps some one more artful than the rest has been found able to deceive him When we consider what nuuish the infaht into their families, it would not surprise hter! Do I hold her! It is, it is my life, my happiness