"I thought you were not a waterman, Mr Faithful, although you said that
you were," said Mrs Wharncliffe. "Why did you deceive us in that way?"
"Indeed, at that time I was, from my own choice and my own folly a
waterman; now I am so no longer."
We were soon on the most intimate terms, and I narrated part of my
adventures. They expressed their obligations to me, and requested that
I would accept their friendship.
"Would you like to have a row on the water? It is a beautiful day, and
if Mrs Wharncliffe will trust herself--"
"Oh, I should like it above all things. Will you go. William? I will
run for a shawl."
In a few minutes we were all three embarked, and I rowed them to _my
villa_. They had been admiring the beauty of the various residences on
the banks of the Thames.
"How do you like that one?" inquired I of Mrs Wharncliffe.
"It is very handsome, and I think one of the very best."
"That is mine," replied I. "Will you allow me to show it to you?"
"Yours!"
"Yes, mine; but I have a very small establishment, for I am a bachelor."
We landed, and after walking about the grounds went into the house.
"Do you recollect this room?" said I to Mr Wharncliffe.
"Yes, indeed I do; it was here that the box was opened, and my uncle's--
But we must not say anything about that: he is dead!"
"Dead!"
"Yes; he never held his head up after his dishonesty was discovered. He
pined and died within three months, sincerely repenting what he had
attempted."
I accepted their invitation to dinner, as I rowed them back to their own
residence; and afterwards had the pleasure of enrolling them among my
sincerest friends. Through them I was introduced to Lady Auburn and
many others; and I shall not forget the old housekeeper recognising me
one day, when I was invited to Lady Auburn's villa.
"Bless me! what tricks you young gentlemen do play. Only to think how
you asked me for water, and how I pushed the door in your face, and
wouldn't let you rest yourself. But if you young gentlemen will
disguise yourselves, it's your own faults, and you must take the
consequences."
My acquaintances now increased rapidly, and I had the advantage of the
best society. I hardly need observe that it was a great advantage; for,
although I was not considered awkward, still I wanted that polish which
can only be obtained by an admixture with good company. The reports
concerning me were various; but it was generally believed that I was a
young man who had received an excellent education, and might have been
brought forward, but that I had taken a passion for the river, and had
chosen to be a waterman in preference to any other employment; that I
had since come into a large fortune, and had resumed my station in
society. How far the false was blended with the true, those who have
read my adventures will readily perceive. For my part, I cared little
what they said, and I gave myself no trouble to refute the various
assertions. I was not ashamed of my birth, because it had no effect
upon the Drummonds; still I knew the world too well to think it
necessary to blazon it. On the whole, the balance was in my favour;
there was a degree of romance in my history, with all its variations,
which interested, and, joined to the knowledge of my actual wealth, made
me to be well received, and gained me attention wherever I went. One
thing was much to my advantage--my extensive reading, added to the good
classical education which I had received. It is not often in society
that an opportunity occurs when any one can prove his acquisitions; and
thus did education turn the scale in my favour, and every one was much
more inclined to believe the false rather than the true versions of my
history.