Treats of apologies, and love coming from church--We finesse with
the nabob to win me a wife--I am successful in my suit, yet the
lawyer is still to play the cards to enable me to win the game.
I arrived at Mr Masterton's, and walked into his room, when whom should
I find in company with him but Harcourt.
"Japhet, I'm glad to see you: allow me to introduce you to Mr
Harcourt--Mr De Benyon," and the old gentleman grinned maliciously, but
I was not to be taken aback.
"Harcourt," said I, extending my hand, "I have to apologise to you for
a rude reception and for unjust suspicions, but I was vexed at the
time--if you will admit that as an excuse."
"My dear Japhet," replied Harcourt, taking my hand and shaking it warmly,
"I have to apologise to you for much more unworthy behaviour, and it will
be a great relief to my mind if you will once more enrol me in the list
of your friends."
"And now, Mr Masterton," said I, "as apologies appear to be the order of
the day, I bring you one from the general, who has requested me to make
one to you for having called you an old thief of a lawyer, of which he
was totally ignorant until I reminded him of it to-day."
Harcourt burst into a laugh.
"Well, Japhet, you may tell your old tiger, that I did not feel
particularly affronted, as I took his expression professionally and not
personally, and if he meant it in that sense, he was not far wrong.
Japhet, to-morrow is Sunday; do you go to meeting or to church?"
"I believe, sir, that I shall go to church."
"Well, then, come with me:--be here at half-past two--we will go to
evening service at St James's."
"I have received many invitations, but I never yet received an
invitation to go to church," replied I.
"You will hear an extra lesson of the day--a portion of Susannah and
the Elders."
I took the equivoque, which was incomprehensible to Harcourt: I hardly
need say, that the latter and I were on the best terms. When we
separated, Harcourt requested leave to call upon me the next morning,
and Mr Masterton said that he should also pay his respects to the tiger,
as he invariably called my most honoured parent.
Harcourt was with me very soon after breakfast, and after I had
introduced him to my "Governor," we retired to talk without interruption.
"I have much to say to you, De Benyon," commenced Harcourt: "first let
me tell you, that after I rose from my bed, and discovered that you had
disappeared, I resolved, if possible, to find you out and induce you to
come back. Timothy, who looked very sly at me, would tell me nothing, but
that the last that was heard of you was at Lady de Clare's, at Richmond.
Having no other clue, I went down there, introduced myself, and, as they
will tell you, candidly acknowledged that I had treated you ill. I then
requested that they would give me any clue by which you might be found,
for I had an opportunity of offering to you a situation which was at my
father's disposal, and which any gentleman might have accepted, although
it was not very lucrative."
"It was very kind of you, Harcourt."
"Do not say that, I beg. It was thus that I formed an acquaintance with
Lady de Clare and her daughter, whose early history, as Fleta, I had
obtained from you, but who I little imagined to be the little girl that
you had so generously protected; for it was not until after I had
deserted you, that you had discovered her parentage. The extreme interest
relative to you evinced by both the mother and the daughter surprised me.
They had heard of my name from you, but not of our quarrel. They urged
me, and thanked me for proposing, to follow you and find you out: I did
make every attempt. I went to Brentford, inquired at all the
public-houses, and of all the coachmen who went down the road, but could
obtain no information, except that at one public-house, a gentleman
stopped with a portmanteau, and soon afterwards went away with it on his
shoulders. I returned to Richmond with the tidings of my ill-success
about a week after I had first called there. Cecilia was much affected
and cried very bitterly. I could not help asking Lady de Clare why she
took such a strong interest in your fortunes. 'Who ought,' replied
Cecilia, 'if his poor Fleta does not?' 'Good Heavens! Miss de Clare, are
you the little Fleta whom he found with the gipsies, and talked to me so
much about?' 'Did you not know it?' said Lady de Clare. I then explained
to her all that had latterly passed between us, and they in return
communicated your events and dangers in Ireland. Thus was an intimacy
formed, and ever since I have been constantly welcome at their house. I
did not, however, abandon my enquiries for many months, when I thought
it was useless, and I had to console poor Cecilia, who constantly mourned
for you. And now, Japhet, I must make my story short: I could not help
admiring a young person who showed so much attachment and gratitude
joined to such personal attractions, but she was an heiress and I was
a younger brother. Still Lady de Clare insisted upon my coming to the
house, and I was undecided how to act when the unfortunate death of my
elder brother put me in a situation to aspire to her hand. After that my
visits were more frequent, and I was tacitly received as a suitor by
Lady de Clare, and had no reason to complain of the treatment I received
from Cecilia. Such was the position of affairs until the day on which you
broke in upon us so unexpectedly, and at the very moment that you came
in, I had, with the sanction of her mother, made an offer to Cecilia, and
was anxiously awaiting an answer from her own dear lips. Can you therefore
be surprised, Japhet, at there being a degree of constraint on all sides
at the interruption occasioned by the presence of one who had long been
considered lost to us? Or that a young person just deciding upon the most
important step of her life should feel confused and agitated at the
entrance of a third party, however dear he might be to her as a brother
and benefactor?"
"I am perfectly satisfied, Harcourt," replied I: "and I will go there,
and make my peace as soon as I can."
"Indeed, Japhet, if you knew the distress of Cecilia you would pity and
love her more than ever. Her mother is also much annoyed. As soon as you
were gone, they desired me to hasten after you and bring you back.
Cecilia had not yet given her answer: I requested it before my departure,
but, I presume to stimulate me, she declared that she would give me no
answer, until I re-appeared with you. This is now three weeks ago, and
I have not dared to go there. I have been trying all I can to see you
again since you repulsed me at the Piazza, but without success, until I
went to Mr Masterton, and begged him to procure me an interview. I thank
God it has succeeded."
"Well, Harcourt, you shall see Cecilia to-morrow morning, if you please."
"Japhet, what obligations I am under to you! Had it not been for you I
never should have known Cecilia; and more, were it not for your kindness,
I might perhaps lose her for ever."
"Not so, Harcourt; it was your own good feeling prompting you to find me
out, which introduced you to Cecilia, and I wish you joy with all my
heart. This is a strange world--who would have imagined that, in little
Fleta, I was picking up a wife for a man whose life I nearly took away?
I will ask my governor for his carriage to-morrow, and will call and take
you up at your lodgings at two o'clock, if that hour will suit you. I will
tell you all that has passed since I absconded, when we are at Lady de
Clare's; one story will do for all."
Harcourt then took his leave, and I returned to my father, with whom I
found Lord Windermear.
"De Benyon, I am happy to see you again," said his lordship. "I have just
been giving a very good character of you to the general; I hope you will
continue to deserve it."
"I hope so too, my lord; I should be ungrateful indeed, if I did not,
after my father's kindness to me."
Mr Masterton was then introduced: Lord Windermear shook hands with him,
and after a short conversation took his leave.
"Japhet," said Mr Masterton aside, "I have a little business with your
father; get out of the room any way you think best."
"There are but two ways, my dear sir," replied I, "the door or the
windows: with your permission, I will select the former, as most
agreeable;" so saying, I went to my own room. What passed between the
general and Mr Masterton I did not know until afterwards, but they were
closeted upwards of an hour, when I was sent for by Mr Masterton.
"Japhet, you said you would go with me to hear the new preacher; we have
no time to lose: so, general, I shall take my leave and run away with
your son."
I followed Mr Masterton into his carriage, and we drove to the lodging
of Mr Cophagus. Susannah was all ready, and Mr Masterton went up stairs
and brought her down. A blush and a sweet smile illumined her features
when she perceived me stowed away in the corner of the chariot. We drove
off, and somehow or another our hands again met and did not separate
until we arrived at the church door. Susannah had the same dress on as
when she had accompanied me in my father's carriage. I went through the
responses with her, reading out of the same book, and I never felt more
inclined to be devout, for I was happy, and grateful to Heaven for my
happiness. When the service was over, we were about to enter the
carriage, when who should accost us but Harcourt.
"You are surprised to see me here," said he to Mr Masterton, "but I
thought there must be something very attractive, that you should make
an appointment with Japhet to go to this church, and as I am very fond
of a good sermon, I determined to come and hear it."
Harcourt's ironical look told me all he would say.
"Well," replied Mr Masterton, "I hope you have been edified--now get out
of the way, and let us go into the carriage."
"To-morrow at two, De Benyon," said Harcourt, taking another peep at
Susannah.
"Yes, punctually," replied I, as the carriage drove off.
"And now, my dear child," said Mr Masterton to Susannah, as the carriage
rolled along, "Tell me, have you been disappointed, or do you agree with
me? You have attended a meeting of your own persuasion this morning--you
have now, for the first time, listened to the ritual of the Established
Church. To which do you give the preference?"
"I will not deny, sir, that I think, in departing from the forms of
worship, those of my persuasion did not do wisely. I would not venture
thus much to say, but you support me in my judgment."
"You have answered like a good, sensible girl, and have proved that you
can think for yourself; but observe, my child, I have persuaded you for
once, and once only, to enter our place of worship, that you might compare
and judge for yourself; it now remains for you to decide as you please."
"I would that some better qualified would decide for me," replied
Susannah, gravely.
"Your husband, Susannah," whispered I, "must take that responsibility
upon himself. Is he not the proper person?"
Susannah slightly pressed my hand, which held hers, and said nothing. As
soon as we had conveyed her home, Mr Masterton offered to do me the same
kindness, which I accepted.
"Now, Japhet, I dare say that you would like to know what it was I had so
particular to say to the old general this morning."
"Of course I would, sir, if it concerned me."
"It did concern you, for we had not been two minutes in conversation,
before you were brought on the tapis; he spoke of you with tears in his
eyes--of what a comfort you had been to him, and how happy you had made
him; and that he could not bear you to be away from him for half an hour.
On that hint I spake, and observed, that he must not expect you to
continue in retirement long, neither must he blame you, that when he had
set up his establishment, you would be as great a favourite as you were
before, and be unable, without giving offence, to refuse the numerous
invitations which you would receive. In short, that it was nothing but
right you should resume your position in society, and it was his duty to
submit to it. The old governor did not appear to like my observations,
and said he expected otherwise from you. I replied 'that it was
impossible to change our natures, and the other sex would naturally
have attractions which you would not be able to resist, and that they
would occupy a large portion of your time. The only way to ensure his
company, my dear sir, is to marry him to a steady, amiable young woman,
who, not having been thrown into the vortex of fashion, will find
pleasure in domestic life. Then her husband will become equally domestic,
and you will be all very happy together.' Your father agreed with me, and
appeared very anxious that it should take place. I then very carefully
introduced Miss Temple, saying, that I knew you had a slight partiality
in that quarter, highly commending her beauty, prudence, &c. I stated,
that feeling an interest about you, I had gone down into the country
where she resided, and had made her acquaintance, and had been much
pleased with her; that since she had come up to town with her relations,
I had seen a great deal, and had formed so high an opinion of, and so
strong an attachment to her, and had felt so convinced that she was the
very person who would make you happy and domestic, that having no family
myself, I had some idea of adopting her. At all events, that if she
married you, I was determined to give her something very handsome on
the day of the wedding."
"But, my dear sir, why should you not have said that Susannah Temple was
left an orphan at seven years old, and her fortune has accumulated ever
since? it is by no means despicable, I understand, from Mr Cophagus; and
moreover, Mr Cophagus intends to leave her all his property."
"I am very glad to hear it, Japhet, and will not fail to communicate all
this to your father; but there is no reason why I may not do as I please
with my own money--and I love that girl dearly. By-the-bye, have you ever
said anything to her?"
"O yes, sir, we are pledged to each other."
"That's all right; I thought so, when I saw your fingers hooked together
in the carriage. But now, Japhet, I should recommend a little
indifference--not exactly opposition, when your father proposes the
subject to you. It will make him more anxious, and when you consent more
obliged to you. I have promised to call upon him to-morrow, on that and
other business, and you had better be out of the way."
"I shall be out of the way, sir; I mean to go with Harcourt to Lady de
Clare's. I shall ask for the carriage."
"He will certainly lend it to you, as he wishes to get rid of you; but
here we are. God bless you, my boy."