THE SERIOUS FANCY FAIR.
There were but few families within an ordinary visiting distance of the
Park who had not called on Mrs. Cartwright upon her marriage. Some went
from simple curiosity,--some expressly to quiz her,--a few from feelings
of real kindness towards the young people, whom it would be, they said,
a shame to give up merely because their mother had played the fool and
ruined all their prospects:--not a few, for the fun of seeing Mowbray
Park turned into a conventicle, and the inhabitants into its
congregation; and the rest came principally because Mr. Cartwright was
such a pious man, and likely to do so much good in the neighbourhood.
Among all these, the Fancy Fair announced to be held there on the 12th
of July, created a lively interest. All the world determined to attend;
and half the world gave themselves up to the making of pincushions and
pen-wipers with as much zeal as if the entire remnant of the Jewish
people, as well as the whole population of Fababo, were to be converted
thereby.
The mansion and grounds of Mr. Cartwright's residence began to give note
of very great and splendid preparation for this serious fete. Never had
the reverend vicar been seen in such spirits on any former occasion;
"His bosom's lord sat lightly on his throne;"
and (due allowance being made for the nature of the proceedings) it
might safely be averred, that no entertainment ever given in the
neighbourhood had caused more sensation, or been prepared for with a
more lavish expenditure.
The whole of the 9th, 10th, and 11th days of the month were entirely
employed by the majority of the Cartwright household in receiving and
arranging the different works of fancy contributed by the neighbouring
ladies for the sale. By far the greater half of these articles were
pincushions, and for the most part they packed and unpacked well and
safely; but amidst the vast variety of forms into which this favourite
vehicle of charity was turned, some among them were equally ingenious in
design, delicate in execution, and difficult of carriage.
There were harps, of which the strings were actually musical, and the
foot a pincushion. Old women of pasteboard, washing their feet in a
pasteboard tub, but with knees stuffed for pincushions. Pasteboard
hunch-backs, the hunches being pincushions. Babies dressed with the
nicest taste and care, their plump little necks and shoulders forming
pincushions. Pretty silken volumes, lettered "pointed satires," and
their yellow edges stuffed for pincushions. Ladies very fashionably
dressed, with the crowns of their bonnets, and their graceful backs,
prepared as pincushions. These, and ten thousand more, of which a
prolonged description might probably prove tedious, formed the staple
commodity of the elegant booths, which stretched themselves in two long
rows from one extremity of the beautiful lawn to the other. Tracts, so
numerous that it would be impossible to give their measure or their
value by any other calculation than that of their weight, were made by
the ingenuity of the fair and pious contributors to assume a very
tempting aspect, bound by their own delicate hands in silks and velvets
of every hue to be found between earth and heaven, green and blue
inclusive.
It would be quite impossible to give any thing deserving the name of a
catalogue of the articles contributed to this charming exhibition; and
it will therefore be better not to attempt it. It will be sufficient to
observe, that, by a sentiment of elegant refinement which seemed to have
pervaded all the contributors, every article to which the idea of
utility could attach was scrupulously banished; it not being fair, as
some of the ladies very judiciously observed, to injure the poor
shopkeepers by permitting the sale of any thing that any body in the
world could really wish to buy. One instance of very delicate attention
on the part of Mrs. Cartwright towards the hero of the fete deserves to
be recorded, as showing both the natural kindness of her temper, and the
respect in which every feeling of this celebrated character was held.
Among the almost incredible number of devices for winding silks, or for
converting them into bobbins, or for some other of the ingenious little
contrivances invented for--one hardly knows what, was a very pretty
thing, more in the shape of a Jew's harp than any thing else. The
instant Mrs. Cartwright cast her eyes on this, she ordered it to be
withdrawn, observing that, as the Reverend Isaac Isaacs himself was
expected to honour the entertainment with his presence, she could by no
means permit any thing bearing such a name to appear.
It may be feared that it was with a far different spirit Mr. Jacob
Cartwright, on hearing his stepmother mention this exclusion, and the
motive for it, proposed that all the cold chickens and turkies to be
eaten at the banquet should appear without their usual accompaniment of
cold hams,--a pleasantry which, though it won a smile from his indulgent
father, was by no means well received by Mrs. Cartwright.
The twelfth day of July itself arrived at last, and fortunately was as
fine a day as ever shone. Helen asked Rosalind if she remembered the day
on which Charles came of age, and the question brought tears to the eyes
of both: this, however, was but a trifling exception to the general
cheerfulness; all the world really looked as gay as if the Fancy Fair
were not a serious one. In one of the long and elegantly decorated
booths, indeed, one silly young girl was heard to exclaim, "Oh! what a
beautiful place this would be for dancing!"--but the levity was checked
by Mr. Cartwright, who, happening to overhear her, replied, "My dear
young lady, there is no dancing in heaven!"
It had been settled among the ladies of the neighbourhood, on the first
announcement of this pious and charitable undertaking, that no _young_
ladies, either married or single, should be invited to sell the
articles; and for some time after the circulation of this decision, it
appeared to be very doubtful whether there would be any ladies found
(not actually too decrepit to endure the fatigue) who would be willing
to undertake it. This circumstance threw poor Mrs. Cartwright into great
embarrassment. The idea of having advertised a Fancy Fair, and then to
be unable to procure ladies to preside at it, was a vexation almost
beyond what even a professing Christian's patience could bear.
When at length it appeared evident that every middle-aged lady for ten
miles round had, for some excellent good reason or other, declined the
office, Mr. Cartwright proposed that gentlemen, instead of ladies,
should perform it. But to this Miss Charlotte Richards, who happened to
be present when the difficulty was discussed, entered a violent protest,
declaring that she was quite sure, if such a measure were resorted to,
not one hundredth part of the goods would be sold. Neither Jew nor
Gentile, she assured them, would ever make any thing by it, if such a
project were resorted to; and in short she pleaded the cause of the
ladies so well, that after some time it was agreed that the original
principle should be altogether changed, and that the youngest and
prettiest ladies should be selected, only with this condition
annexed--that they should all be dressed in uniform, the form and
material of which were to be specified by Mrs. Cartwright.
The circular letter announcing this alteration was composed by Mr.
Cartwright himself, and proved perfectly successful, although it
contained but few words.
"It having been decided at a meeting of some of the senior supporters of
the South Central African Bible Association, that the cause of the poor
inhabitants of Fababo was one which ought to be peculiarly interesting
to the young and lovely, inasmuch as it is beyond all others the cause
of piety; it was therefore strongly recommended that they should be
especially chosen and elected to serve the office of vendors or sellers
at the Fancy Fair instituted by the Reverend William Jacob Cartwright,
and by him appointed to be held on his own premises."--After which
followed a request that such ladies as were kindly willing to undertake
the fatigues of the office, would forthwith forward their names to Mrs.
Cartwright, that they might receive from her instructions respecting the
uniform to be worn on the occasion.
The number of applications for permission to sell, which followed the
circulation of this letter, was quite extraordinary, and so greatly
exceeded the number required, that the task of selection became
difficult, if not impossible; so it was finally decided that a
description of the uniform should be sent to them all, and that those
who arrived first, should be installed in their office under condition
of permitting a relay to succeed them after the enjoyment of two hours
of duty.
The consequence of this was, that at a very early hour, not only all the
young and handsome part of the company expected, but all who considered
themselves as belonging to that class, were seen arriving in their very
becoming sad-coloured suits, with their smooth braided tresses, and
Quakerish bonnets and caps.
"Let all the ladies in the serious uniform stand up together behind the
stalls if they like it," said the accommodating Mrs. Cartwright: "it
would be so very difficult to select; and they will all look so very
well!"
As the stalls were all ready, having been walked round, through, and
about, by Mr. and Mrs. Cartwright, Mr. Hetherington the curate, Chivers
the butler, Curtis the lady's maid, as well as all the other serious
servants, and all agreeing in the opinion that it was impossible any
thing could be more beautiful, the uniform ladies were ushered into
them, and begged to decide among themselves the order in which they
should stand.
The manner in which this self-regulating system worked was amusing, and
Rosalind Torrington stood by, and enjoyed it greatly. As soon as it was
notified to the young and pretty ladies that the booths were all ready,
the prices of every article marked, and all things prepared so that they
might take their places behind the stands in such order as they should
agree among themselves, any one who had witnessed and watched the sweet
universal smile with which each one regarded the other, and the charming
accents in which all exclaimed as with one voice, "Oh! it is exactly the
same to me where I stand," would have been ready to declare that even
their youth and beauty were less attractive than the sweet temper which
seemed to be so universal among them.
The fair bevy, amounting to above fifty, poured themselves by various
entrances into the booths, which were in fact a succession of very
handsome tents, against the sides of which were ranged the elegantly
decorated stands; while through the whole extent, a space of nearly
thirty feet was left for promenading. In the centre of the range, the
gaily painted canvass rose into a lofty point, from which, to the
extremity of the circle round it, depended graceful draperies, festooned
with large bunches of flowers. In the middle of this noble circular tent
stood a lofty frame, supporting the finest greenhouse plants, and the
stalls which here skirted the sides of the enclosure were decidedly more
distinguished by their elegant decorations than the rest.
"Oh dear! how lovely!" was the universal exclamation uttered by the
ladies on entering this beautiful circle.
"Well! I think I will stand here," said one of the most lively and
enterprising among them, placing herself at the same time behind a world
of many-tinted paper and silk commodities, close to which was a side
entrance arched with evergreen boughs, and gay with a thousand blossoms.
"And I will take this stand!" cried a stout and long-limbed demoiselle,
stepping out with great activity to secure the one opposite.
"This will just suit me!" said a third, popping into another of the
enviable stations which flanked the garlanded entrances, and immediately
taking possession of its lofty seat and comfortable footstool.
Up to this point the universal smile continued, with an almost unabated
display of charming teeth; but to the fourth place, promising equal
affluence of passers-by to the three already taken, no less than four
ladies rushed at once. And then began the civil war which in a greater
or less degree, as circumstances may excite or assuage it, rages at all
fancy fairs, bazaars, and charity sales of every class and denomination
whatever.
Some folks, uninitiated in such matters, may suppose that there is less
of this at a serious fancy fair than at one professing to be gay. But a
little experience will rapidly undeceive them. Whether the benevolent
sale-ladies be beautiful saints or beautiful sinners, the inclination to
show off Nature's gifts to the best advantage is pretty nearly the same;
and whether the sweet graceful thanks, so softly uttered, be constructed
after one form or another, the pleasure of speaking them is the same
likewise. What matters it, whether a bright eye laugh from beneath a
drapery of pendent curls, or is raised to heaven with no twisted meshes
to obscure its upward ray? What matters it whether ruby lips open to
say, "Heaven reward you, sir! Our poor missionaries shall pray for you!"
or, "Thank you!" (with a familiar nod) "some dear Spanish whiskerandos
shall buy a sword with this!" In both cases the speaker would
indisputably prefer having a well-frequented stand to speak from; and if
it chance to be placed beside some avenue through which the crowd must
pass and repass incessantly, why so much the better.
The four ladies that met together with more of haste than inclination at
the last of the door-way stands, as above described, were really,
considering all things, exceedingly civil to each other. At the early
part of a busy day, the temper can bear much more without wincing, than
after it has been battered and bruised by all the little _contretems_
that are almost sure to beset it before the close of it.
"I beg your pardon, ma'am, but I believe I was here first:"
"Oh, dear! I hope I did not hurt you, but this is my place:"
"You must let me stand here, dear ladies, for I have set my heart upon
it:"--comprised very nearly all the spoken part of the contest. A few
sidelong glances there might have been, and one or two almost invisible
_nudges_; but after all, the person who finally got possession of the
desired post, was a tall, thin, pale, and remarkably pious maiden, who
having laid her hand upon the board, and her foot upon the stool, moved
them no more, but who from first to last did not pronounce a single
word.
Though these four favourite seats were thus rapidly taken possession of,
there was still a good deal to be struggled for. It appeared indeed for
some time that all the fifty young and handsome ladies had firmly made
up their minds to station themselves in the circular tent, and nowhere
else.
Greatly did the peaceable Mrs. Cartwright rejoice that she had from the
first desired the ladies to please themselves; for it soon became
evident that it would have been no easy task for her to please them.
Very continuous buzzings made themselves heard around the canvass walls;
and lady-like remonstrances were occasionally audible.
"Really, ladies, I think we are very close here:"
"Would it not be better for some of the ladies to move on?"
"I believe, ma'am, that you will find no room just here:" and,
"Upon my word I must beg you not to press upon me so!"--were sentences
distinctly repeated in more places than one.
At length things, or rather ladies, began to arrange themselves in
tolerable order, the difficulty being got over at last, as always
happens upon such occasions, by the best tempers taking the worst
places.
It was an almost simultaneous rush of carriages through the Park Gates,
and the approach of many persons on foot by various entrances, which at
last produced this desirable effect. Mr. Cartwright now came forth in
all his glory from beneath the shelter of a sort of canvass portico that
formed the entrance to the principal line of tents. Almost innumerable
were the hands he shook, the bows he made, and the smiles he smiled. It
is perfectly impossible that he could have sustained so radiant and
benevolent a graciousness to all sorts and conditions of men, had not
his animal spirits been sustained by the ever-present recollection that
the little key which dangled from his watch-chain, and with which he
constantly dallied when any of his ten fingers were disengaged from
hand-shaking, kept watch and ward over his lady's will.
Mrs. Cartwright, meanwhile, not being in a situation to endure the
fatigue of standing, sat with some dozen chairs around her, waiting for
the most distinguished guests, within the flowery shelter of this same
pretty portico, round which were ranged orange-trees, and various other
fragrant plants, reaching from the ground almost to the roof.
Whenever any person arrived of sufficient importance to be so
distinguished, the Vicar of Wrexhill himself ushered them to the
presence of his lady, and those so honoured at length filled all the
chairs around her. To all the rest Mrs. Cartwright bowed and smiled as
they passed onward; as they all most obediently did, in compliance with
the mandate of their host, who continued to utter with little
intermission, "Straight on if you please--straight on,--and you will
reach the centre pavilion."
Between the spot at which the carriages set down the company, and the
entrance to this portico, four servants in rich liveries were stationed
to pass their names to Chivers, who stood within it. At length a party
who had walked across the Park and entered on the lawn by the little
hand gate, (to pass through which, the present master of the domain had
once considered as his dearest privilege,) approached the entrance at a
point by which they escaped three out of the four reverberations of
their names, and were very quietly stepping under the draperied
entrance, when the fourth now stopped them short to demand their style
and title.
"Mrs. and the Miss Richards,--Lord Hilton," screamed the trumpet-mouthed
London-bred domestic, who, it may be observed in passing, had, like most
of his fellows, answered one of Mr. Cartwright's advertisements headed
thus,
"Wanted
to live in the country
A SERIOUS FOOTMAN."
No sooner did the title reach the vicar's ears, than he dropped pious
Mr. Somebody's hand which he was affectionately pressing, and turning
short round met the cold glance of the honest-hearted Major Dalrymple,
who advanced with Mrs. Richards upon one arm, and his affianced Mary on
the other. A moment of rather awkward deliberation ensued, as to whether
the man, or the man's title, should modify the manner of his reception;
but before the question could be decided, the party had quietly passed
on, without appearing to perceive him. The two elder Miss Richards
followed, both of them having been obliged to relinquish their hopes of
presiding at a stand, in consequence of the expensive nature of the
uniform. These two young ladies, who from the first hour of their
conversion had really been among the most faithful followers of the
Vicar of Wrexhill in all ways--ready to be in love with him--ready to
pray with him--and now ready to bow before him as almost the greatest
man in the county, were not perhaps greeted with all the distinguished
kindness they deserved. Unfortunately for their feelings, Mr. Cartwright
was more awake to the fact that they were sisters to little Mary, than
to their very excellent chance of becoming sisters-in-law to a
nobleman:--and so they too passed on, without pausing, as they had
intended to do, for the expression of their unbounded admiration for him
and his Fancy Fair.
Nearly the whole of the invited society were already assembled, and the
Park was beginning to fill with the multitude which was to be admitted
to the tents after the collation, when, at length, the Reverend Isaac
Isaacs was announced.
The arrival of the hero of the day produced, as may be supposed, a very
powerful sensation; his name was no sooner pronounced by the servants
than it was caught up by the company, and borne along from mouth to
mouth till every individual of the crowd which filled the tents was made
acquainted with the interesting fact, that the Reverend Isaac Isaacs was
approaching. The effect of this was for some moments really alarming;
every Christian soul turned back to welcome the converted Jew, and
something nearly resembling suffocation ensued. Indeed when the throng
which pressed back to meet him, met that which had turned to follow him
as he laboured to make his way between the stands, the crush was really
terrible; and had there not fortunately been many lateral exits through
which those escaped who loved their lives better than the gratification
of their curiosity, the consequences might have been very serious.
Not all, however, whose strength and whose zeal induced them to remain,
could get a sight of this desired of all eyes: for, as Mr. Isaacs was a
very short man, those only who were very close could distinguish him.
The effect of this procession, however, through the double row of
stands, still thickly studded with pincushions, every one of which had
been made for his sake, was very impressive, and rendered greatly more
so by every fair sales-woman mounting upon the high seat with which she
was furnished for occasional rest, and thus looking down upon him as he
passed in attitudes that displayed both courage and enthusiasm.
The weather was intensely hot, and more than once he appeared nearly
overcome by his emotions. He expressed the greatest concern for having
arrived so late, and especially for having missed the opening prayer,
which, as he imagined, had been pronounced by Mr. Cartwright himself;
but when it was explained to him that this was not the case, and,
moreover, that he was not too late to share the blessing to be given by
that gentleman, he became more reconciled to the accident which had
detained him, and gave himself wholly up to the enjoyment of the
striking spectacle that surrounded him.
After he had remained for some time in the central pavilion, gazing, and
gazed at, in a manner which it was extremely interesting to watch, some
one well acquainted with the best method of carrying on the business of
such a meeting as the present, suggested that it would be advisable that
the acolyte should retire till the sale of the goods was pretty well
completed; for if the feeling among the charitable crowd were permitted
to exhaust itself in affectionate glances towards Mr. Isaacs, no more
money would be collected: and it was also judiciously remarked, that it
might be as well to circulate through the company the assurance, that as
soon as the stalls were about two-thirds cleared, the banquet would be
announced.
The effect of these suggestions was speedily visible; Mr. Isaacs stood
in the enjoyment of space and fresh air before the entrance to the
portico, engrossing the almost undivided attention of his great patron,
while ladies peeped at him from a respectful distance; and Chivers
himself, with a look as reverential as if he were waiting upon an
apostle, approached him with Madeira and soda water.
The sale, meanwhile, benefited equally by his near presence and his
actual absence. Enthusiasm was raised without being disturbed in that
great object of all English Christian enthusiasm--the disbursing of
money; and by four o'clock such a report was made of the general
receipts, that the selling ladies were waited upon by as many clergymen
as could be collected to hand them from their stands to the banquet,
and, when these were all furnished with a fair partner, the most serious
gentlemen among the company were requested to take charge of the rest.
Mrs. Cartwright herself was led to the great dining-room by Mr. Isaacs,
and for this reason, or else because it was the great dining-room, the
crowd which followed her became so oppressive that the doors of the room
were ordered to be closed and strictly guarded. This measure was equally
serviceable to those within and without; for no sooner was it fully
understood that this decisive mode had been resorted to, than the other
tables were instantly filled, and nothing could be more satisfactory
than the activity with which eating and drinking proceeded in all
directions.
The champagne flowed freely; and whether it were that the sacred cause
for which the meeting was assembled appeared to justify, or at least
excuse, some little excess,--or that nothing furnished at Mr.
Cartwright's board but must bring a blessing to him who swallowed
it,--or that the fervent season led to thirst, and thirst to copious
libations:--whatever the cause, it is certain that a very large quantity
of wine was swallowed that day, and that even the most serious of the
party felt their spirits considerably elevated thereby.
But, in recording this fact, it should be mentioned likewise, that,
excepting in some few instances in which thirst, good wine, and
indiscretion united to overpower some unfortunate individuals, the
serious gentlemen of the party, though elevated, were far from drunk;
and the tone of their conversation only became more animated, without
losing any portion of the peculiar jargon which distinguished it when
they were perfectly sober.
The discourse especially, which was carried on round Mr. Cartwright
after the ladies retired, was, for the most part, of the most purely
Calvinistical cast: though some of the anecdotes related might, perhaps,
in their details, have partaken more of the nature of miracles than they
would have done if fewer champagne corks had saluted the ceiling.
One clerical gentleman, for instance, a Mr. Thompson, who was much
distinguished for his piety, stated as a fact which had happened to
himself, that, in his early days, before the gift of extempore preaching
was fully come upon him, he was one Sabbath-day at the house of a
reverend friend, who, being taken suddenly ill, desired Mr. Thompson to
preach for him, at the same time furnishing him with the written
discourse which he had been himself about to deliver. "I mounted the
pulpit," said Mr. Thompson, "with this written sermon in my pocket; but
the moment I drew it forth and opened it, I perceived, to my
inexpressible dismay, that the handwriting was totally illegible to me.
For a few moments I was visited with heavy doubts and discomfiture of
spirit, but I had immediate recourse to prayer. I closed the book, and
implored that its characters might be made legible to me;--and when I
opened it again, the pages seemed to my eyes to be as a manuscript of my
own."
This statement, however, was not only received with every evidence of
the most undoubting belief, but an elderly clergyman, who sat near the
narrator, exclaimed with great warmth, "I thank you, sir,--I thank you
greatly, Mr. Thompson, for this shining example of the effect of ready
piety and ready wit. Though the cloth is removed, sir, I must ask to
drink a glass of wine with you,--and may Heaven continue to you its
especial grace!"
There were some phrases too, which, though undoubtedly sanctioned by
serious usage, sounded strangely when used in a scene apparently of such
gay festivity.
One gentleman confessed very frankly his inability to resist taking more
of such wine as that now set before them than was altogether consistent
with his own strict ideas of ministerial propriety. "But," added he,
"though in so yielding, I am conscious of being in some sort wrong, I
feel intimately persuaded at the same time, that by thus freely
demonstrating the strength and power of original sin within me, I am
doing a service to the cause of religion, by establishing one of its
most important truths."
This apology was received with universal applause; it manifested, as one
of the company remarked, equal soundness of faith, and delicacy of
conscience.
One of the most celebrated of the regular London speakers, known at all
meetings throughout the whole evangelical season, having silently
emptied a bottle of claret, which he kept close to him, began, just as
he had finished the last glass, to recover the use of his tongue. His
first words were, "My king has been paying me a visit."
"Indeed!" said Mr. Cartwright, whose attention was instantly roused by
this very interesting statement; "where was the visit made, Mr. White?"
"Even here, sir," replied Mr. White solemnly: "here, since I have been
sitting silently at your hospitable board."
"As how, sir?" inquired a certain Sir William Crompton, who was placed
near him. "Do you mean that you have been sleeping, and that his Majesty
has visited you in your dreams?"
"The Majesty that I speak of, sir," replied Mr. White, "is the King of
Heaven."
"What other could it be!" exclaimed Mr. Cartwright, showing the whites
of his eyes, and appearing scandalized at the blunder.
"I wonder, Mr. Cartwright," said a young man of decidedly pious
propensities, but not as yet considering himself quite assured of his
election,--"I wonder, Mr. Cartwright, whether I shall be saved or not?"
"It is a most interesting question, my young friend," replied the vicar
mildly; "and you really cannot pay too much attention to it. I am happy
to see that it leaves you not, even at the festive board; and I
sincerely hope it will finally be settled to your satisfaction. But as
yet it is impossible to decide."
"I shall not fail to ride over to hear you preach, excellent Mr.
Cartwright!" said a gentleman of the neighbourhood, who, though not
hitherto enrolled in the evangelical calendar, was so struck on the
present occasion with the hospitable entertainment he received, that he
determined to cultivate the acquaintance.
"You do me great honour, sir!" replied the vicar. "If you do, I hope it
will be on a day when you can stay supper with us."
"You are excessively kind, my dear sir!" answered the guest; "but as my
place is at least ten miles distant from yours, I fear, if you sup in
the same style that you dine, it would be somewhat late before I got
home."
Mr. Cartwright bowed, dropped his eyes, and said nothing.
"Oh, sir!" said Mr. Hetherington, who, though he had drunk more than any
man at table, excepting the cousin Corbold, had as yet in no degree lost
his apprehension,--"Oh, sir! you quite mistake. The supper that the
excellent Mr. Cartwright means, is to be taken at the table of the
Lord!"
"Dear me!" exclaimed the squire, who really meant to be both civil and
serious, "I beg pardon, I made a sad blunder indeed!"
"There is nothing sad but sin, Mr. Wilkins!" replied the vicar meekly.
"A mistake is no sin. Even I myself have sometimes been mistaken."
"What heavenly-minded humility there is in Mr. Cartwright!" said Mr.
Hetherington in a loud whisper to his neighbour: "every day he lives
seems to elevate my idea of his character. Is not this claret admirable,
Mr. Dickson?"
Just at this moment Chivers the butler entered the room and whispered
something in his master's ear.
"Indeed!" exclaimed Mr. Cartwright, "a very disagreeable accident, upon
my word."
"What is it, sir?" inquired several voices at once.
"The head cook, gentlemen," replied Chivers, "has fallen off the
larder-ladder, and has put out his shoulder."
"A very disagreeable accident indeed," echoed the guests.
The butler whispered again.
"Certainly, Chivers, certainly. I am very glad Mr. Bird the surgeon
happens to be on the premises. Let him immediately set the joint, and
when this is done, and the poor fellow laid comfortably in bed, come for
Mr. Hetherington, whom I will immediately order to awaken him."
"Bless my soul, sir!" exclaimed the good-natured Sir William Crompton;
"won't that be rather injudicious? If the poor fellow should get a nap,
I should think it would be the worst thing in the world to awaken him."
"Pardon me, Sir William," replied the vicar with great respect, "but
persons of the world do not well understand the language of those who
are not of the world. No accident, no illness ever occurs in my house,
Sir William, but my first effort is to awaken the soul of the sufferer
to a proper sense of his sins. I always take care they shall be told
that the jaws of the tomb are opening before them, and that, as death
comes like a thief in the night, they should be watching for him. This,
in the language of a pious and professing Christian, is called an
awakening; and needful as it is at all times, it is of course more
needful still in sickness, or danger of any kind."
Sir William Crompton filled his glass with the wealthy vicar's admirable
wine, and said no more.
The time was now approaching at which the populace were to be admitted
to the tents on the lawn; and Mr. Cartwright having looked at his watch,
rose and said, "Gentlemen,--It is distressing to me to be forced to
disturb you, but the business of the meeting requires that we should all
repair to the lawn. The populace are about to be admitted, and it is
expected that our estimable Mr. Isaacs will benefit very considerably by
the eagerness with which the farmers' wives and daughters will purchase
the articles which remain of our Christian ladies' elegant handiworks.
One bumper to the success of the Reverend Isaac Isaacs! and to the
conversion of the people of Fababo!--And now we will return to our duty
in the tents."
"To your tents, O Israel!" shouted a young man, with more of wine than
wit, as he turned towards the converted Jew; "for myself," he added,
"I'll be d--d if I stir an inch till I have finished this bottle."
Mr. Cartwright stopped short in his progress towards the door. He turned
a glance, more inquiring perhaps than stern, on the face of the
intoxicated speaker, and perceived that he was the nephew of an earl;
the sole reason indeed which had procured him the honour of a seat in
that distinguished circle.
The vicar balanced for a moment whether he should reprimand him or not.
Had he been the son, instead of the nephew of the noble lord, he would
certainly have passed on in holy meditation, but, as it was, he stopped.
There were many serious eyes upon him, notwithstanding the claret. He
remembered that the earl had a "goodly progeny," and that consequently
his nephew would never be likely to succeed to his title; and therefore
with great dignity, and much pious solemnity, he thus addressed his
curate, who, in his capacity of domestic chaplain, was ever near him.
"Mr. Hetherington! you have heard the awful words spoken by Mr. Augustus
Mappleton. Remember, sir, that his repentance and conversion be prayed
for at our concluding service this evening, and also in your extempore
prayer before sermon on next Sabbath morning."
These words had a very sobering effect on the company, and the whole
party made, all things considered, a very orderly exit from the
dining-room, not however without Mr. Cartwright finding an opportunity
of whispering in the ear of his cousin--
"Now is your time, Stephen, to go into the dressing-room."