Part 33 (1/2)

The doubts that pervadedof that appearance to my countenance which is occasioned by fear; for my adversary approached me with looks of contempt; and, as I retreated, bade me stand forward and face hi it should be a run-away victory, was rather willing to press upon and push ive me any play Hector and Andreere all the while very active, as instigators

My indecision occasionedone; till, at length, I was again extended on the ground, by a very desperate blow near the ear; which, for a few seconds, deprived er to be endured As soon as I recovered, I sprang on my feet, condescended to strip, and became in turn the assailant The joy and vociferation of the ht it had been all over; and to see ht, as I did, with so much determination and effect, was, to them, rapture They had discovered a hero Their education had taught them, for such is education, that the man who has the power to endure and to inflict the most misery is the most admirable

For six successive rounds, I had co which my brave foe had received five knock-down blows: for that is the phrase His coilists were vociferating their bets; five pounds to a crown in eous He collected himself; I had becoerous blow near ain felled me insensible to the earth

I now recovered more slowly, and less effectually I had been severely breathed, by the violence of exertion The laws of pugilistic ill not suffer aknocked down, more than a certain number of seconds Hector had his stop-watch in his hand; and tall Andrews joined hiour I was lifted on my feet before I had perfectly recovered h with less injury While down, I received a kick in the side; of whichto dothat took place gave ht in face of my opponent, I onceoutwas too bitterly reround'

For avanity, and false shame, spurned at the proposal, therefore, since he was so desperate, I had no resource but in being equally savage Accordingly, I bent ht hiave him a blow that verified his own prediction; for he fell dead at ony to agony! Vice to vice! Such was my fate! Where, when, hoas it to have an end? Were not s sufficient?

Accuse an innocent man of theft; deliver him over to the fury of a ht, beat, murder him! And without malice; without evil intention! Nay, with the very reverse: abhorring thethe intrepidity and fortitude he had displayed!

Nor did it end here: the intelligence that was instantly sent round was horror indeed He had left a wife and seven children!

CHAPTER III

_The kind behaviour of old friends: A joyful recovery: More misfortunes: Patience per force_

Never were sensations ical than mine: yet, as is frequent, they had a dash of the ridiculous; which resulted froood friends, Hector and Andrews To inspire others with the contempt in which they held, or rather endeavoured to hold, e the insults which they supposed themselves to have received from me, were their incentives They knew I had been stripped of led with the partisans of the carpenter; and, inforentleistrate; for that the laould at least makeme: as I deserved They farther proposed a subscription, to begin with ly they came up to me, as by deputation, with the murdered man's hat

The mortification they intended me had its full effect I was pennyless; and the epithets which generous souls like these appropriate, to such upstart intruders upon their rights and privileges as myself, were e to assu I hated, almost abhorred, Andrews He dared to pretend love to Olivia: he had brought race with her; nay was soon to robthe kick he had bestowed upon me when down, I called him a scoundrel; and accompanied the coarse expression with a blow

In a itation, expected another battle, ad Andrews knew better: he saved theh scouted even by Hector himself, for his cowardice Mowbray remembered the battle of the rats; and, by comparison, found himself a very hero

The moment I was permitted, I enquired to what place the poor carpenter had been taken; and folloith infinite terror, but with a faint degree of hope; so that he was dead, others that he was not I was attended by several of my admirers

It would be vain to atte into his dwelling, I found hi surrounded by his wife, children, and companions! I fell on my knees to him I owned all the mischief I had done hiive me I was half frantic; and the worthy fellow, in the saht, stretched out his hand, in token of his forgiveness and friendshi+p

His unaffected n which I had before forood friends,'

said I, to the people that stood round him 'I will be back in a few minutes The little reparation that I can make I will make: to shew you that it was from error, and not ill intention, that I have done this brave , I ran out of the house, directed s, and hastened to my trunk; to take out the ten-pound note, which I had reserved to pay my Bath debts My passions were too much in a hurry to admit of any enquiry how these debts were to be paid, when I should have given the bank-note to the carpenter I was deters, rescue my character, and bestow it on hi malice of fortune was intolerable Philip, the footman whom I had hired, but scarcely ever e previously broken open my trunk, and taken, with the ten pounds, such of my linen and effects as he could carry under his cloaths, and in his pockets, without being seen

This was a stroke little less painful than the worst of the accidents that had befallen rieving, that I did not feel it with half the poignancy

Act however I must But how? I had left the carpenter and his family in suspense Must I talk of favours which I could not confer? or mention remuneration that would but seem like mockery? This was painful: but not so painful as falsehood