Page images
PDF
EPUB

the employment assigned to me, and I confess it to my confusion."

,,Good Heavens!" exclaimed the baronet,,,how every new discovery of his villainy alarms me! all his guilt is now too plain, and I find his present prosecution was dictated by tyranny, cowardice, and revenge; at my request, Mr. Gaoler, set this young officer, now your prisoner, free, and trust to me for the consequences. I'll make it my business to set the affair in a proper light to my friend the magistrate who has committed him. But where is the unfortunate young lady herself? let her appear to confront this wretch; I long to know by what arts he has seduced her. Intreat her to come in. Where is she?«

,,Ah, Sir," said I,,,that question stings me to the heart; I was once indeed happy in a daughter, but her miseries" Another interruption here prevented me; for who should make her appearance but Miss Arabella Wilmot, who was the next day to have been married to Mr. Thornhill. Nothing could 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 gen tleman her father were passing through the town, on the way to her aunt's, who had insisted that her nuptials with Mr. Thornhill should be consummated at her house; but stopping for refreshment, they put up at an inn at the other end of the town. It was there from the window that the young lady happened to observe one of my little boys playing in the street, and instantly sending a footman to bring the child to her, she learnt from him some account of our misfortunes; but was still kept ignorant of young Mr. Thornhill's being the cause. Though her father made several remonstrances on the impropriety of her

[ocr errors]

going to a prison to visit us, yet they were ineffectual: she desired the child to conduct her, which he did, and it was thus she surprized us at a juncture so unexpected.

Nor can I go on, without a reflection on those accidental meetings, which, though they happen every day, seldom excite our surprize but upon some extraordinary occasion. To what a fortuitous con. currence do we not owe every pleasure and convenience of our lives! How many seeming accidents must unite before we can be clothed 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 some moments, while my charming pupil, which was the name I generally gåve this young lady, united in her looks compassion and astonishment, which gave new finishing 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 as much pleasure in contributing to 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."

[ocr errors]

,,He find pleasure in doing good!" cried Sir Wil liam, interrupting her;,,no, my dear, his pleasures are as base as he is. You see in him, Madam, complete a villain as ever disgraced humanity. wretch, who, after having deluded this poor man's daughter, after plotting against the innocence of her sister, has thrown the father into prison, and the eldest son into fetters, because he had the courage

4

1

1

[ocr errors]

to face his betrayer. And, give me leave, Madam, now to congratulate you upon an escape from the embraces of such a monster.

„O goodness! cried the lovely girl,,,bow have I been deceived! Mr. Thornhill informed me for certain that this gentleman's eldest son, Captain Primrose, was gone off to America with his new married lady."

c

,,My sweetest Miss," cried my wife,,,he has told you nothing but falsehoods. My son George never Jeft the kingdom, nor never was married. Though 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 batchelor 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; from thence she made a rapid digression to the 'squire's debaucheries, his pretended marriages, and ended with a most insulting picture 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 gentleman told me! He had at last art enough to persuade me that my promise to the only man I esteemed was no longer 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 incumbrances 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 him with whatever was necessary to make a genteel appearance. He now, therefore, entered handsomely dressed in his regimentals, 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 yet acquainted with the change which the eloquence of his -mother had wrought in his favour. But no decorums could restrain the impatience of his blushing mistress to be forgiven. Her tears, her looks, all contributed to discover the real sensations of her heart, for having forgotten her former promise, and having suffered herself to be deluded by an impostor. My son appeared amazed at her condescension, and could scarce believe it real. Sure, Madam, (6 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 to my promise. You know my friendship, you have long known it; but forget what I have done, you shall now have them repeated; and be assured, shat if your Arabella cannot be your's, she shall never be another's.". ,,And no other's you shall be,“ cried Sir William,,,if I have any influence with your father."

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

This hint was sufficient for my son Moses, who immediately flew to the inn where the old gentleman was, to inform him of every circumstance that had happened. But in the mean time the squire, perceiving that he was on every side undone, now finding that no hopes were left from flattery or dissimulation, concluded that his wisest way would be to turn and face his pursuers. Thus laying aside all shame he appeared the open and hardy villain. I find then," cried he,,,that I am to expect no justice here; but I am resolved it shall be done me. shall know, Sir," turning to Sir William,,,I am no longer a poor dependant upon your favours: I scorn them. Nothing can keep Miss Wilmot's fortune

You

from me, which, I thank her father's assiduity, is pretty large. The articles, and a bond for her for tune, 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 whọ will take the other."

This was an alarming blow; Sir William was sensible of the justness of his claims, for he had been instrumental in drawing up the marriage articles himself. Miss Wilmot, therefore perceiving that her fortune was irretrievably lost, turning to my son, she asked if the loss of fortune could lessen her value to

him? ,,Though fortune," said she,,,is out of my power, at least I have my hand to give."

,,And that, Madam," cried her real lover,,,was, indeed, all that you ever had to give: at least all lever thought worth the acceptance. And I now protest, my Arabella, by all that's happy, your want of fortune' this moment increases my pleasure, as it serves to convince my sweet girl of my sincerity."

"Mr. Wilmot how entering, he seemed not a little pleased at the danger his daughter had just escaped, and readily consented to a dissolution of the match. But, finding that her fortune, which was secured to Mr. Thornhill by bond, would not be given up, nothing could exceed his disappointment. He now saw that his money must all go to enrich one whe had no fortune of his own. He could bear his being a rascal, but to want an equivalent to his daughter's fortune was wormwood. He sat therefore, for some minutes, employed in the most mortifying specula tion, till Sir William attempted to lessen his anxiety. ,,I must confess, Sir, cried he,,,that your present I

« PreviousContinue »