I RENEW OLD TIES OF FRIENDSHIP, AND SEEK NEW ONES OF LOVE--OBLIGED TO
TAKE MY FATHER TO TASK ONCE MORE--HE RECEIVES HIS LESSON WITH PROPER
OBEDIENCE.
I took the carriage the next day, and drove to Lord Windermear's. He
was at home, and I gave my name to the servant as Mr De Benyon. It was
the first time that I had made use of my own name. His lordship was
alone when I entered. He bowed, as if not recognising me, and waved his
hand to a chair.
"My lord, I have given my true name, and you treat me as a perfect
stranger. I will mention my _former_ name, and I trust you will honour
me with a recognition. I was Japhet Newland."
"My dear Mr Newland, you must accept my apology; but it is so long
since we met, and I did not expect to see you again."
"I thought, my lord, that Mr Masterton had informed you of what had
taken place."
"No; I have just come from a visit to my sisters in Westmoreland, and
have received no letters from him."
"I have, my lord, at last succeeded in finding out the object of my mad
search, as you were truly pleased to call it, in the Honourable General
De Benyon, lately arrived from the East Indies."
"Where his services are well known," added his lordship, "Mr De Benyon,
I congratulate you with all my heart. When you refused my offers of
assistance, and left us all in that mad way, I certainly despaired of
ever seeing you again. I am glad that you re-appear under such
fortunate auspices. Has your father any family?"
"None, my lord, but myself; and my mother died in the East Indies."
"Then, I presume, from what I know at the board of control, that you may
_now_ safely be introduced as a young gentleman of large fortune; allow
me, at least, to assist your father in placing you in your proper sphere
in society. Where is your father?"
"At present, my lord, he is staying at the Adelphi Hotel, confined to
his room by an accident; but I trust that in a few days he will be able
to come out."
"Will you offer my congratulations to him, and tell him, that if he will
allow me, I will have the honour of paying my respects to him. Will you
dine with me on Monday next?"
I returned my thanks, accepted the invitation, and took my leave, his
lordship saying, as he shook hands with me, "You don't know, how happy
this intelligence has made me. I trust that your father and I shall be
good friends."
When I returned to the carriage, as my father had desired me to take an
airing, I thought I might as well have a companion, so I directed them
to drive to Mr Cophagus's. The servant knocked, and I went in as soon
as the door was opened. Susannah and Mrs Cophagus were sitting in the
room.
"Susannah," said I, "I know you do not like to walk out, so I thought,
perhaps, you would have no objection to take an airing in the carriage:
my father has lent it to me. Will you come?--it will do you good."
"It is very kind of you, Japhet, to think of me; but--"
"But what?" replied Mrs Cophagus. "Surely thou wilt not refuse,
Susannah. It would savour much of ingratitude on thy part."
"I will not then be ungrateful," replied Susannah, leaving the room; and
in a short time she returned in a Leghorn bonnet and shawl like her
sister's. "Do not I prove that I am not ungrateful, Japhet, since to do
credit to thy carriage, I am content to depart from the rules of our
persuasion?" said Susannah, smiling.
"I feel the kindness and the sacrifice you are making to please me,
Susannah," replied I; "but let us lose no time."
I handed her down to the carriage, and we drove to the Park. It was a
beautiful day, and the Park was filled with pedestrians as well as
carriages. Susannah was much astonished, as well as pleased. "Now,
Susannah," said I, "if you were to call this Vanity Fair, you would not
be far wrong; but still, recollect that even all this is productive of
much good. Reflect how many industrious people find employment and
provision for their families by the building of these gay vehicles,
their painting and ornamenting. How many are employed at the loom, and
at the needle, in making these costly dresses. This vanity is the cause
of wealth not being hoarded, but finding its way through various
channels, so as to produce comfort and happiness to thousands."
"Your observations are just, Japhet, but you have lived in the world and
seen much of it. I am as one just burst from an egg-shell, all
amazement. I have been living in a little world of my own thoughts,
surrounded by a mist of ignorance, and not being able to penetrate
farther, have considered myself wise when I was not."
"My dear Susannah, this is a checkered world, but not a very bad one--
there is in it much of good as well as evil. The sect to which you
belong, avoid it--they know it not--and they are unjust towards it.
During the time that I lived at Reading, I will candidly state to you
that I met with many who called themselves of the persuasion, who were
wholly unworthy of it, but they made up in outward appearance and
hypocrisy what they wanted in their conduct to their fellow creatures.
Believe me, Susannah, there are pious and good, charitable and humane,
conscientious and strictly honourable people among those who now pass
before your view in such gay procession; but society requires that the
rich should spend their money in superfluities, that the poor may be
supported. Be not deceived, therefore, in future, by the outward
garments, which avail nothing."
"You have induced me much to alter my opinions already, Japhet; so has
that pleasant friend of thine, Mr Masterton, who has twice called since
we have been in London; but is it not time that we should return?"
"It is indeed later than I thought it was, Susannah," lied I, looking at
my watch, "and I am afraid that my father will be impatient for my
return. I will order them to drive home."
As we drove along, leaning against the back of the carriage, my hand
happened to touch that of Susannah, which lay beside her on the cushion,
I could not resist taking it in mine, and it was not withdrawn. What my
thoughts were, the reader may imagine: Susannah's I cannot acquaint him
with; but in that position we remained in silence until the carriage
stopped at Cophagus's door. I handed Susannah out of the carriage, and
went up stairs for a few moments. Mrs Cophagus and her husband were
out.
"Susannah, this is very kind of you, and I return you my thanks. I
never felt more happy than when seated with you in that carriage."
"I have received both amusement and instruction, Japhet, and ought to
thank you. Do you know what passed in my mind at one time?"
"No--tell me."
"When I first knew you, and you came among us, I was, as it were, the
guide, a presumptuous one perhaps to you, and you listened to me--now it
is reversed--now that we are removed and in the world, it is you that
are the guide, and it is I who listen and obey."
"Because, Susannah, when we first met I was much in error, and had
thought too little of serious things, and you were fit to be my guide:
now we are mixing in the world, with which I am better acquainted than
yourself. You then corrected me, when I was wrong: I now point out to
you where you are not rightly informed: but, Susannah, what you have
learnt of me is as nought compared with the valuable precepts which I
gained from your lips--precepts which, I trust, no collision with the
world will ever make me forget."
"Oh! I love to hear you say that; I was fearful that the world would
spoil you, Japhet; but it will not--will it?"
"Not so long as I have you still with me, Susannah: but if I am obliged
to mix again with the world, tell me, Susannah, will you reject me?--
will you desert me?--will you return to your own people and leave me so
exposed? Susannah, dearest, you must know how long, how dearly I have
loved you:--you know that, if I had not been sent for and obliged to
obey the message, I would have lived and died content with you. Will
you not listen to me now, or do you reject me?"
I put my arm round her waist, her head fell upon my shoulder, and she
burst into tears. "Speak, dearest, this suspense is torture to me,"
continued I.
"I do love you, Japhet," replied she at last, looking fondly at me
through her tears; "but I know not whether this earthly love may not
have weakened my affection towards Heaven. If so, may God pardon me,
for I cannot help it."
After this avowal, for a few minutes, which appeared seconds, we were in
each other's arms, when Susannah disengaged herself.
"Dearest Japhet, thy father will be much displeased."
"I cannot help it," replied I--"I shall submit to his displeasure."
"Nay, but, Japhet, why risk thy father's wrath?"
"Well, then," replied I, attempting to reach her lips, "I will go."
"Nay, nay--indeed, Japhet, you exact too much--it is not seemly."
"Then I won't go."
"Recollect about thy father."
"It is you who detain me, Susannah."
"I must not injure thee with thy father, Japhet, it were no proof of my
affection--but, indeed, you are self-willed."
"God bless you, Susannah," said I, as I gained the contested point, and
hastened to the carriage.
My father was a little out of humour when I returned, and questioned me
rather sharply as to where I had been. I half pacified him by
delivering lord Windermear's polite message; but he continued his
interrogations: and although I had pointed out to him that a De Benyon
would never be guilty of an untruth, I am afraid I told some half dozen,
on this occasion; but I consoled myself with the reflection that, in the
code of honour of a fashionable man, he is bound, if necessary, to tell
falsehoods where a lady is concerned; so I said I had driven through the
streets looking at the houses, and had twice stopped and had gone in to
examine them. My father supposed that I had been looking out for a
house for him, and was satisfied. Fortunately they were job horses; had
they been his own I should have been in a severe scrape. Horses are the
only part of an establishment for which the gentlemen have any
consideration, and on which ladies have no mercy.
I had promised the next day to dine with Mr Masterton. My father had
taken a great aversion to this old gentleman until I had narrated the
events of my life, in which he had played such a conspicuous and
friendly part. Then, to do my father justice, his heart warmed towards
him.
"My dear sir, I have promised to dine out to-day."
"With whom, Japhet?"
"Why, sir, to tell you the truth, with that `old thief of a lawyer.'"
"I am very much shocked at your using such an expression towards one who
has been such a sincere friend, Japhet; and you will oblige me, sir, by
not doing so again in my presence."
"I really beg your pardon, general," replied I, "but I thought to please
you."
"Please me! what do you think of me? please me, sir, by showing yourself
ungrateful!--I am ashamed of you, sir."
"My dear father, I borrowed the expression from you. You called Mr
Masterton `an old thief of a lawyer' to his face: he complained to me of
the language before I had the pleasure of meeting you. I feel, and
always shall feel, the highest respect, love, and gratitude towards him.
Have I your permission to go?"
"Yes, Japhet," replied my father, looking very grave, "and do me the
favour to apologise for me to Mr Masterton for my having used such an
expression in my unfortunate warmth of temper--I am ashamed of myself."
"My dearest father, no man need be ashamed who is so ready to make
honourable reparation:--we are all a little out of temper at times."
"You have been a kind friend to me, Japhet, as well as a good son,"
replied my father, with some emotion. "Don't forget the apology at all
events: I shall be unhappy until it be made."