"That'sas good-looking a young Man," says myFather, "as ever I saw—quite a Mate forGatty."
"Hush,Father, he'll hear you," saysPruesoftly.
"He can't," saysFather, lowering his Voice, however.
"How provoking it must be toGatty," saysPrue, "to know he is here, and yet be kept in attendance on my Lady!"
"Tush, Child, she'd rather know he was here than not.... Well, Mr.Heavitree," (when our Visitor returned,)"have you considered where you are to get a Bed to-night?"
"Why, no, Sir, really I have not."
"Then I'll tell you! You may take your Choice of all the Beds in this House except LadyBetty's; for we are all going to sit up!"
"Why, then, Sir, with your Leave, I'll sit up too!"
"Do so, young Gentleman, and welcome. You see, we have quality Lodgers in the House, who keep late Hours; and as they require a good Deal of waiting on, we think it best to sit up—'Tis but for one Night."
"Besides which," put in myMother, "though we are not ourselves apprehensive of an Earthquake this Night any more than any other, yet having such a fresh Recollection of the Terror we experienced during the last Shock, and knowing that so many Thousands of People are in distressing Apprehension of a similar and more terrible Occurrence, itseems unfeeling to think of sleeping and taking one's natural Rest, instead of watching with others, and sympathising with them."
"I think precisely as you do, Madam," said Mr.Heavitree; "I assure you that though I am not of those who expect the Earthquake, I am disposed for Anything but Levity, and feel this to be an impressive Occasion."
So, this being his acknowledged Feeling, we sate about the Fire and fell into a somewhat graver Strain of Conversation than usual; and I was glad to find that the young Man could talk seriously as well as pleasantly. Though he had not let fall a Word about want of Refreshment, I knew he must have been fasting for some Time, and therefore helped him plentifully to cold Beef with his Tea and Bread and Butter, which he pronounced very acceptable. While he was eating,Gattyreturned, all Smiles, and said, "I am glad to see you doing so well, Mr.Heavitree!"but just as he had made Room for her beside him, tinkle went the Bell, and away she was obliged to run again.
"Can't we muffle that Bell?" says he, somewhat impatiently.
"Then myLadywould hammer on the Floor," said I, "and would keep her up-Stairs altogether."
"Yes," saysFather, "that would answer as ill as the two Housemaids inÆsop'sFables, that killed the Cock for waking their Mistress."
"Well," says Mr.Heavitree, "it won't be for long, that's one Blessing. Her Time's up on Monday, and I shall stay in Town till then, and take her down with me in the old Coach."
"I hope you won't have so many overturns this Time," said myMother.
"Why, no," said he smiling, "we can dispense with them now; but I protest that Snow-Journey was the pleasantest I ever had in my Life."
"You are going to possess a Treasure, Sir," said myFatherenergetically.
"Indeed I think so, Sir! I was not aware you so well knew her Value."
"Always took to her, Mr.Heavitree, from the very first; Didn't I, Girls?"
"Indeed you did,Father."
"And when is it to be?" says myFathersignificantly.
"Nay, Sir," said Mr.Heavitreewith a little Embarrassment, "I've not gotGattyto name the Day yet, but I hope it will be before long; and as my SisterClarissais shortly to be married, which will depriveRoaring Houseof its present Mistress, perhaps we may arrange to have two Weddings on the same Day."
"Was that poor Wayfarer found under the Snow?" said myMother.
"Oh no, Ma'am, we conclude she accomplished her Journey in Safety."
By-and-by,Gattyjoined us again; and we all sate chatting till Twelve o'Clock. Then myLady'sSupper went up, andthen we had our own; a pretty substantial one, as watching makes People hungry.
After Supper, we, according to Custom, had Prayers; and I thought it not amiss to select for our Evening Portion the twenty-fourth Chapter of St.Matthew, which speaks of Famines, Pestilences, and Earthquakes. After this, we again drew round the Fire; for Watching makes people chilly: and Mr.Heavitreebegan to repeat some Reports he had gathered, of the wretched State our Gaols were in, at that Time, overflowing with the Refuse of our Army and Navy, who, for Want of honest Employment, were perishing miserably amidst the Stench and Horrors of noisome Dungeons.
"That they are," says myFather; "and as forNewgate, it is now in so pestilential a State of Infection from the overcrowding together of dirty, starving Felons, that the Effluvium they have brought into Court on their Trials hath cost us the Lives of a Lord Mayor, anAlderman, two Judges, divers Lawyers, the greater Part of the Jury, and I know not how many of the Bystanders. This Spread of the Gaol Fever among the upper Classes will do more to get the Abuse remedied than the Deaths of Hundreds of Criminals in their Cells; but yet I can't for the Life of me help regretting that so many able-bodied Men, whose Labour might be serviceable to the Community, should be idling at the public Expense in Prison."
Mr.Heavitreewas silent, andGattypresently asked him what he was musing about. He said, "Those Rogues who pulled me into the dark Cellar said I was not the right Man. I was wondering if they have found him yet, and what they have done to him."
This led to sundry dismal Stories, of Footpads and Street-Assassins; and of LordHarborough'sbeing beset by Robbers inPiccadillyin broad Daylight, and one of the Chairmen pulling a Pole out of hisLordship'sChair and knocking down one of the Villains, while the Earl, leaping out, and drawing his Sword, put the Rest to flight. Then we wondered whether Times could get worse, and whether they would ever mend, and whether the next Generation would listen to such Facts as idle Tales, or whether Abuses would increase to that Degree as to bring down a Providential Judgment on the City, like that which overtookGomorrah, or like that which we were now expecting.
Soon after this, myFatherfell fast asleep, and myMotherbegan to nod.Prudencewas knitting with all her Might, and I took up myMother'sKnotting, and on Pretence of getting nearer the Light, edged my Chair further off fromGatty, who continued conversing with Mr.Heavitreein an under Tone, which became lower and lower. I am persuaded neither of them felt in the least sleepy, nor had the smallest Apprehensions of the Earthquake; butPrueyawned awfully from Time toTime, and I was profoundly silent and very serious.
All at once, LadyBetty'sBell rang violently, andGattyran up Stairs. The Wax Lights had burned out, and at first it seemed that there were no others, which put myLadyinto a sad Taking. The Idea of her beingleft in the Dark with an Earthquake! Happily, another Pacquet of Wax Candles was found, and, after Ratafia had been served round, they fell to their Card-playing again; butGattyaffirmed that myLadychanged Colour, and laid down her Hand on Mr.Sandys'sroguishly shaking the Table.
At Length, all the Clocks struck Five; at which Hour everybody conceived themselves safe, as witlessly as they had previously held themselves to be in Danger. The Card-Party now broke up;Gattywent to undress myLady, and I went to lock out the Gentlemen, who departed in a Body, looking fagged and haggard enough. Just as Mr.Carylwas goingforth, he paused for a Moment and said, "By-the-bye, this is where Mr.—Mr. what's his Name? Mr.Fenwicklodged—Can you tell me where he is at present, Mrs.Patty?"
I coolly answered, "With his poor People inShoreditch, Sir."
"Shoreditch? Shoreditch?Ha, I'll try to remember that," says he carelessly; and turned on his Heel. I thought to myself, I don't believe you will; your Cue is to forget.
Then I went to get myFatherandMotherto Bed, and send offPrue, and lastly, to go to Bed myself. As for Mr.Heavitree, he was content with a couple of Chairs by the Fire.Gattyslept with myLady, who did not feel brave enough to be alone.
The Watch made us all latish, and arise yawnish.Petertold me the Roads were all astir before Light, with People returning to their Homes; and that the Preachers were trying to enforce on theirPenitents that they had had an Answer to Prayer. LadyBettydid not rise till Noon; what with her Vapours, her Whims, and her Breakfast, she did not depart till two o'Clock. We had scarcely a Word ofGatty, but she ran in to us just at last, and kissed us all round, taking Leave of us once for all, and receiving our good Wishes for her future Happiness with many Blushes and Smiles. Mr.Heavitreehad already gone off; and as soon as we had tidied myLady'sRooms, we all subsided into our usual Quiet.
The following Day, about Noon, I was behind the Counter, when I received a great Shock by hearing a Customer say casually, "Dr.Elwesis dead—he went off quite suddenly at six this Morning."
I could hardly go on weighing some Comfits, the Tears crowded so fast into my Eyes at the unexpected Loss of our old Friend. I remained but to have the ill News confirmed and gather the Particulars,and then went up to break them to myMother, who was sitting with myFatherin their own Chamber. She was a good deal affected, and myFatherundertook the Office of Consoler with great Kindliness. After a While I went down and askedPrue, who felt less Concern than I did for theDoctor, to take my Place a little While in the Shop. Then I went and sate down in the Parlour, and thought over his various Acts of Kindness to me, and shed some Tears of unaffected Regret. He had never been a decidedly religious Character, but was much liked by his Patients, deservedly loved by the Poor, and to us had been a tried and valued Friend.
While I was in this sorrowful Mood, in comes Mr.Fenwick, so flushed with Exercise and good Spirits as to look quite handsome. Feeling so low as I did just then, I did not reciprocate his Salutation quite so cheerfully as he seemed to expect; and he, on his Part, on finding that myFatherandMotherwere well, paid less Attention to my Depression than he might have done; and, for the first Time in my Life, I thought him a little selfish.
"I have some good News," said he.
"I am glad to hear it," said I, "for I have some bad News."
"What's that?" said he.
"Our dear Friend Dr.Elwesis dead;" and I put the Corner of my Apron to my Eyes.
"Well,—I am sorry to hear it," resumes he, after a Pause; "he was not, I fear, a very thoughtful Man."
"A verygoodMan," said I, warming.
"A very kindly, attentive Man in a Sick-room," says he, "and a pleasant Companion, which is all I know about him."
"Weknew a good Deal more," said I, "and know that his Loss won't be soon supplied. We shall miss him very much. He was truly benevolent, whatever you may think."
"I don't deny it, I assure you," said he, looking surprised at my Heat, "I only wished there had been a more Christian Basis for his many good Qualities."
"It is not very Christian, I think, to depreciate them, especially at a Time like this."
"My dearPatty, I stand reproved. I did not sufficiently consider, nor, indeed, sufficiently know the Wound your Feelings had just experienced."
This touched me, and I said, "We will speak of it no more, Sir. I am glad to see you looking so well. You told me, I think, you had heard some good News."
"Yes, from Mr.Caryl."
"Quack!" said I hastily; losing my Temper and good Manners in my revived Impression of that Gentleman's Duplicity and Hollowness.
"Patty!" said Mr.Fenwick, in a Tone of mild Surprise.
"I beg your Pardon, Sir," said I, ashamed of myself, "but you know Inever can hear that Gentleman's Name with Patience."
"I do know it," said he, smiling very pleasantly, "and should retort on you the Accusation of Uncharitableness, or else endeavour to laugh you out of your singular Prejudice against him, but that I feel Something in it so flattering to myself, that I am disarmed. However, I have that to tell you of him now, which will, I fancy, alter your Opinion."
"Nothing will alter my Opinion of him," persisted I, "no Good will ever come to you from that Quarter."
"Why not?"
"Because I know him better than you do." He laughed.
"You may laugh, Sir," said I, "but you'll see in Time that I am right. Have you seen him lately?"
"Not since I was in this House."
"Ah, well, I have seen him more than once—I've seen him and heard him among his own Set, when he didn'tknow I was by, and he said Things that ... convinced me he was a false Friend to you."
"What were those Things?"
"I'm not clear that I have a Right to repeat them."
"An accused Party has always a Right to have the Charge against him substantiated. You are silent?—Well, Mrs.Patty, since you are so inveterate against this poor Gentleman, I shall only irritate you, I am afraid, by acquainting you with Anything in his Favour, and therefore I'll keep my News to myself—"
"Just tell me one Thing—Has he sent you back your Poem?"
"My Poem! No—you know he accidently burnt that, Months ago."
"Pshaw!"
"You never will believe it," continued he laughing, "nor forgive him for it. Why,Ihave forgiven him, this long While; and if I have, can'tyou?"
"No."
"Well,Patty, this Interest in the Fate of my unlucky Manuscript is, as I have before told you, very gratifying to me; but still, I should be more gratified if you would do Justice to an innocent Man."
"Why, he was here, the Night before last, Sir! and from the careless Way in which he inquired for you, I could see he did not value you a Straw! I really wonder at you, Mr.Fenwick."
"Nay, I must say I wonder atyou, Mrs.Patty; but since we are getting rather too warm upon it, I'll wish you Good-bye for the Present, and converse with you some other Time on what is in my Mind, but which I fear would just now meet with an unfavourable Hearing." Saying which, he took up his Hat, and was going away quite formally, when, turning short about, he looked full into my Face for a Minute, and said with an inexpressible Sweetness of Reproach:
"Why,Patty! I didn't think you could be so cross!"
I havehis Face before me this Minute! MyMotherwas wont to say, "Mr.Fenwickhad smiling Eyes," but I protest I found they could cut me to the Heart. I ran up-Stairs as soon as ever he was gone, and had a good Cry by my own Bed-side; and wondered what on Earth could have made me so knaggy and upsettish.
When I went down,Pruewas still in the Shop; and seeing me with red Eyes, I dare say she thought I had been crying about Dr.Elwes. I hadn't, however! There were Customers buying Buns, soI left her to attend to them, and returned to the Parlour; and there, who should there be, sitting at the Window and smelling to some Primroses, but Mr.Fenwick! I declare I started as if it had been his Ghost.
"Well," says he smiling, "I've soon come back again.... Why,Patty!—I do believe you've been shedding Tears!"
"What of that, Sir?" said I, ready to begin again.
"Only this," said he, "that I am very glad of it, because it seems as if you were sorry for the littleTiffwe had just now—And I'm sorry too, and came back expressly to say so. But perhaps I'm mistaken, and these Tears were not about the Tiff, but about Dr.Elwes... hey,Patty?"
I shook my Head.
"Well then, all's right," said he, taking my Hand, and drawing me towards the Window. "I'm sure I regret the old Gentleman as much as any one can beexpected to do who cared very little about him; but the Fact is, I was selfishly preoccupied with a Piece of good Fortune that had happened to myself, and which, you see, I could not be easy till I had made you a Party to. How is it I care about telling you,Patty? How is it you were the first Person whose Sympathy I wanted to secure? hey?"
"I'm sure I can't tell, Sir."
"Well, I think Icantell—If I can't, I've made a tremendous Blunder, after a great Deal of Self-Examination. What do you think of my having been presented to the Living of St.Margery-under-the-Wall?"
"You don't say so?" exclaimed I, clasping my Hands with delight—"Oh, thatisjoyful!"
"Four Hundred a Year, clear," said he, "that's a good Income, is not it?"
"It'sWealth!" said I. "And no more than you deserve, Mr.Fenwick!"
"I knew this was how you would feel," said he, kissing my Hand. "What makes you cloud over,Patty?"
"I was only thinking, Sir—"
"What? Come, say it out...."
"That this would remove you from us farther than ever—"
"Oh no! A Quarter of a Mile nearer!"
"I don't meanthatSort of Distance, Sir. But no Matter—I rejoice in it with all my Heart, Mr.Fenwick!"
He looked at me earnestly, was going to say Something, and stopped.
"Don't you think," said he, after a Minute's Silence, "that I might marry on this?"
"Surely, Sir!"
"And could you,Patty, whom I know so thoroughly and love so heartily, consent to be the Wife of a City Parson?"
—Oh! there could be only one Moment in Life like that!—And yet, have not I had many happy Moments, Hours, and Years since? I can't, to this Day,make out how he ever came to think of me; when there werePrue, andGatty, and doubtless many young Gentlewomen of his Congregation, to say Nothing of remote Country Cousins, (for he had no near Relations,) to whom I could be but a mere Foil! I could not make it out then, and I can't make it out now; but I am quite content to leave the Mystery unsolved, and decide that Affection settles all Distinctions, and Marriages are made in Heaven. I must say I was very thankful to dear, good Dr.Elwes, when his Will came to be opened, (which had been made some Months before his sudden Death,) to find he had leftPrueand me Five Hundred Pounds each, in the handsomest Manner, with more Terms of Praise of our "laudable Conduct in difficult Circumstances," than I need to repeat. I say, I was glad of this Legacy, and of the handsome Way in which it was left, because it seemed to make me a little less unworthy of Mr.Fenwick'sRegard;not that it had a Bit of Influence with him, however, his Offer having been made and accepted before the Will was opened: so that Nothing could be more disinterested than his Behaviour from first to last.
And the Presentation to this Living came through the Recommendation of Mr.Caryl!—accompanied by a very flattering Letter, saying it was a Piece of Justice, and that he knew of no Man on whom his Uncle could have better bestowed it. A Piece ofJustice, I privately consider it; and a Salve to his own Conscience for pitifully burning the Poem of a Man that writ better than himself. Nothing can destroy that Conviction. But I keep it quite secret; the only Secret I have ever kept or will keep from my Husband, and this only because I would not lower his Patron's Nephew in his Estimation.
Certainly the Gift of a good Living was far more than an Equivalent for the best Poem that ever was writ; but yet,Poets have naturally such an overweening Opinion of the Importance of their Productions to the World, and of their own Mission as Regenerators of Society, that to them it is an exceeding hard Thing to lose the Fame and Influence they believe they deserve; and I question whether those of 'em that take the highest Flights (from practical Affairs and common Sense, that is,) would consider themselves at all compensated for the Loss of a heavy Poem by the Gain of a fat Living.
But my Husband hath since appeared in Print, in a Way that's highly honourable to himself and gratifying to his Connexions, without being beholden to any Patron whatsoever. He has printed a Funeral Sermon on Mrs.Eusebia Crate, a highly estimable Member of his Congregation, which was brought out by Messrs.A.andB. Thompson, at the Sign of theBible and Star, Fleet Street, handsomely bound in shiny black Leather, with a black Margin to the Title. This Sermon, which waspublished by Subscription, brought my Husband enough to buy a very handsome Mahogany Bookcase for his Study, and a Pair of Pulpit Sconces, besides its being named in theGentleman's Magazine. And though Money was not my Husband's Object, yet, as the Work, it is thought, may attain to a second Edition, who knows but hereafter he may be as successful as Dr.Hugh Blair, who for his last Volume of Sermons received Six Hundred Pounds! Though amazing, it must be true, for they say it inPater Noster Row!
As for dearPrue, her Legacy was as acceptable to her as mine to me, for thoughTomconscientiously brings her all his Earnings and is now Captain of a fine Merchantman, Sailors are never over-rich; I think her queer Engagement to him steadied her a good Deal: it put an End to the least Approach to Trifling or Flirting, which she might have indulged in, had they been less seriously bound to one another; and myMother'sContempt forthe Contract and "the Bit of red Glass," went so to poorPrudence'sHeart as to engender a Degree of Humility and Submissiveness quite contrary to her previous Character. With all this, she was deeply in Love withTom, and silently, seriously happy; nor would she, I am convinced, have been released from her Engagement for the World. But it took away all Desire to be otherways placed than where she was, in the Bosom of her own Family, in the quiet, steady Performance of domestic Duties. So that, when I left Home, it was with the comfortable Conviction, which I have never seen the least Reason to alter, that she would supply my Place to my dearFatherandMother, as well as in the Business. Indeed, since my Husband married her toTom, the necessary Absences of the latter from his Wife have rendered it very agreeable to all Parties thatPrue'sHome should still be in theOld Chelsea Bun-House. There's an Opposition House set up now, which has alittle injured the old Business; but, happily, none of us are so dependent on it as we once were; and their Buns are accounted heavy, so that the ancient, steady-going Customers still resort to
The Old Original Chelsea Bun-House.
FINIS.
London: Printed by Richard Clay.
FOOTNOTES:[1]No. 95.
FOOTNOTES:
[1]No. 95.
[1]No. 95.
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TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE:Obvious printer errors have been corrected. Otherwise, the author's original spelling, punctuation and hyphenation have been left intact.
TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE:
Obvious printer errors have been corrected. Otherwise, the author's original spelling, punctuation and hyphenation have been left intact.