_A table of various accidents._
As your guide, showing you an exhibition of paintings, will linger over
the first room, and then pass the second in hurried review to come the
quicker to a third of greater interest, so I, having dwelt, may be, at
undue length upon some secondary passages in this history, must
economise my space by touching lightly on the events that came
immediately before Moll's marriage, and so get to those more moving
accidents which followed. Here, therefore, will I transcribe certain
notes (forming a brief chronicle) from that secret journal which, for
the clearer understanding of my position, I began to keep the day I took
possession of Simon's lodge and entered upon my new office.
_December 8._ Very busy all this forenoon setting my new house in order,
conveying, with the help of the gardener, all those domestic and
personal goods that belong to Simon into the attick; but Lord! so few
these things, and they so patched and worn, that altogether they are not
worth ten shillings of anybody's money. I find the house wondrous neat
and clean in every part, but so comfortless and prison-like, that I look
forward with little relish to living here when the time comes for me to
leave the Court. After this to examining books, papers, etc., and the
more closely I look into these, the more assured I am that never was any
servant more scrupulous, exact, and honest in his master's service than
this old steward, which puts me to the hope that I may be only half as
faithful to my trust as he, but I do fear I shall not.
Conversing privily with Don Sanchez after dinner, he gave me his opinion
that we had done a very unwise thing in turning out old Simon, showing
how by a little skill I might have persuaded Moll to leave this business
to Mr. Godwin as the proper ruler of her estate; how by such delay Mr.
Godwin's resentment would have abated and he willing to listen to good
argument in the steward's favour; how then we should have made Simon
more eager than ever to serve us in order to condone his late offence,
and how by abusing our opportunities we had changed this useful servant
to a dangerous enemy whose sole endeavour must be to undo us and recover
his former position, etc.... "Why, what have we to fear of this
miserable old man?" says I. "Unless he fetch Mrs. Godwin from Barbary,
he cannot disprove Moll's right to the estate, and what else can he do?"
"There's the mischief of it," answers he. "'Tis because you know not how
he may attack you that you have no means of defending yourself. 'Tis
ever the unseen trifle in our path which trips us up." And dismissing
this part of the subject with a hunch of his shoulders, he advises me
seriously to sell as many more farms as I may for ready money, and keep
it in some secret convenient corner where I may lay hands on it at a
moment's warning.
This discourse coming atop of a night's ill rest, depressed my mind to
such a degree that I could take no interest in my work, but sat there in
my naked room with my accounts before me, and no spirit to cast 'em up,
Nor was I much happier when I gave up work and returned to the Court.
For, besides having to wait an hour later than usual for dinner, Moll's
treatment of me was none of the best,--she being particularly perverse
and contrary, for having dressed herself in her best in expectation of
her lover's return, and he not coming when at last she permitted supper
to be dished. We were scarcely seated, however, when she springs up with
a cry of joy and runs from the room, crying she hears her Richard's
step, which was indeed true, though we had heard nothing more pleasant
than the rattle of our plates. Presently they come in, all radiant with
happiness, hand in hand, and thenceforth nought but sweetness and mirth
on the part of Mistress Moll, who before had been all frown and pout. At
supper Mr. Godwin tells us how his sweetheart hath certainly dispelled
the clouds that have hung so long over him, he having heard in London
that Sir Peter Lely, on seeing one of his pieces, desires to see him at
Hatfield (where he is painting) on good business, and to Hatfield he
will go to discharge this matter before his marriage; which joyeth Moll
less than me, I being pleased to see he is still of the same, stout
disposition to live an active life. In the evening he gives Moll a very
beautiful ring for a troth token, which transports her with joy, so that
she cannot enough caress her lover or this toy, but falls first to
kissing one and then t'other in a rapture. In return, she gives him a
ring from her finger. "'Tis too small for my finger, love," says he;
"but I will wear it against my heart as long as it beats." After that he
finds another case and puts it in Moll's hand, and she, opening it,
fetches her breath quickly and can say nothing for amazement; then,
turning it in the light, she regards it with winking eyes, as if dazzled
by some fierce brilliancy. And so closing the case as if it were too
much for her, she lays her face upon Mr. Godwin's breast, he having his
arm about her, murmuring some inarticulate words of passionate love.
Recovering her energies presently, she starts up, and putting the case
in her lover's hand, she bids him put on his gift, therewith pulling
down her kerchief to expose her beautiful bare neck, whereupon he draws
from the box a diamond collar and clasps it about her throat with a
pretty speech. And truly this was a gift worthy of a princess, the most
beautiful bauble I have ever seen, and must have cost him all he had of
me to the last shilling.
_December 10._ Finding amongst Simon's quittances a bill for law
expenses of one John Pearson, attorney, at Maidstone, I concluded this
must be the most trustworthy man of his kind in the country; and so set
forth early this morning to seek him,--a tedious, long journey, and the
roads exceedingly foul. By good luck I found Mr. Pearson at home,--a
very civil, shrewd man, as I think. Having laid my business before him,
he tells me there will be no difficulty in dividing the estate according
to the wish of Mr. Godwin and Moll, which may be done by a simple deed
of agreement; and this he promises to draw up, and send to us for
signature in a couple of days. But to get the seal to Moll's succession
will not be such an easy matter, and, unless we are willing to give
seven or eight hundred pounds in fees, we may be kept waiting a year,
with the chance of being put to greater expense to prove our right; for
he tells me the court and all about it are so corrupt that no minister
is valued if he do not, by straight or crooked ways, draw money into the
treasury, and that they will rather impede than aid the course of
justice if it be to the king's interest, and that none will stir a hand
to the advantage of any one but the king, unless it be secretly to his
own, etc. And, though he will say nothing against Simon, save (by way of
hint) that all men must be counted honest till they are proved guilty,
yet he do apprehend he will do all in his power to obstruct the granting
of this seal, which it is only reasonable to suppose he will. So, to
close this discussion, I agree he shall spend as much as one thousand
pounds in bribery, and he thinks we may certainly look to have it in a
month at that price. Home late, and very sore.
_December 11._ Much astonished this morning on going to my house to find
all changed within as if by inchantment--fine hangings to my windows,
handsome furniture in every room, all arranged in due order (with a pair
of pictures in my parlour), the linen press stocked with all that is
needful and more, and even the cellar well garnished with wines, etc.
And truly thus embellished my house looks no longer like a prison, but
as cheerful and pleasant a dwelling-place as the heart of man could
desire (in moderation), and better than any I have yet dreamt of
possessing. And 'twas easy to guess whose hands had worked this
transformation, even had I not recognised certain pieces of furniture as
coming from the Court, for 'twas of a piece with Moll's loving and
playful spirit to prepare this surprise for me while I was gone
yesterday to Maidstone. I am resolved I will sleep here
henceforth,--there being two bedrooms all properly furnished,--as being
more in keeping with my new position.
_December 13._ This day a little before dinner time came Dawson to the
Court, quite sober and looking as like a rough honest seaman as anything
could be, but evidently with his best shore-going manners on. And when
Moll very graciously offers him her hand, he whips out a red handkercher
and lays it over her hand before kissing it, which was a piece of
ceremony he must have observed at Greenwich, as also many odd phrases
and sea expressions with which he garnished his conversation.
"Captain Evans," says Moll, taking her lover's hand, "this is Mr.
Godwin, my cousin, and soon to be my husband."
Mr. Godwin holds forth his hand, but ere he would take it, Dawson looks
him full in the face a good minute; then, taking it in his great grimy
hand, and grasping it firmly, "Master," says Jack, "I see thou art an
honest man, and none lives who hath ever sold me tar for pitch, be he
never so double-faced, and so I wish you joy of your sweet wife. As for
you, Mistress" (turning to Moll) "who have ever been kind to me beyond
my deserts, I do wish you all the happiness in the world, and I count
all my hardships well paid in bringing you safely to this anchorage. For
sure I would sooner you were still Lala Mollah and a slave in Barbary
than the Queen of Chiney and ill-mated; and so Lord love the both of
you!"
After staying a couple of hours with us, he was for going (but not
before he had given us the instructive history of the torment he had
endured, by telling his wife, in an unguarded moment, of his gallantries
with Sukey Taylor), nor would he be persuaded to sleep at the Court and
leave next day, maintaining that whilst he had never a penny in the
world he could very honestly accept Moll's hospitality, but that now
being well-to-do, thanks to her bounty, he blessed Heaven he had
sufficient good breeding, and valued himself well enough not to take
advantage of her beneficence. However, hearing I had a house of my own,
and could offer him a bed, he willingly agreed to be my guest for the
night, regarding me as one of his own quality. We stayed to sup at the
Court, where he entertained us with a lengthy account of his late
voyage, and how being taken in a tempest, his masts had all been swept
by the board, and his craft so damaged that 'twas as much as she would
hold together till he brought her into Falmouth, where she must lie
a-repairing a good two months ere he could again venture to sea in her.
And this story he told with such an abundance of detail and so many
nautical particulars, that no one in the world could have dreamt he was
lying.
He explained to me later on that he had refused to lie at the Court, for
fear a glass or two after supper might lead his tongue astray, telling
me that he had touched nothing but penny ale all his long journey from
London, for fear of losing his head; and on my asking why he had
fabricated that long history of shipwreck he vowed I had put him to it
by saying I had a house of my own where he could lie; "For," says he,
"my ship being laid up will furnish me with a very good excuse for
coming to spend a day or two with you now and then. So may I get another
glimpse of my own dear Moll, and see her in the fulness of her joy."
He could not sufficiently cry up the excellence of Mr. Godwin, his noble
bearing, his frank, honest countenance, his tenderness for Moll, etc.,
and he did truly shed tears of gratitude to think that now, whatever
befell him, her welfare and happiness were assured; but this was when he
had emptied his bottle and had got to that stage of emotion which
usually preceded boisterous hilarity when he was in his cups.
And whilst I am speaking of bottles, it will not be amiss to note here,
for my future warning, a grave imprudence of mine, which I discovered on
leaving the room to seek more wine. On the flame of my candle blowing
aside, I perceived that I had left my door unfastened, so that it now
stood ajar. And, truly, this was as culpable a piece of oversight as I
could well have committed; for here, had an enemy, or even an idle
busybody, been passing, he might very well have entered the little
passage and overheard that which had been our undoing to have made
known.