_Anna Wenbourne St. Ives to Louisa Clifton_
_London, Grosvenor Street_
Oh, Louisa! I have such a narrative! Such accidents! Such--! But you
shall hear.
We are arrived; and, thank God and good fortune, are all alive; which,
every thing considered, is no small consolation. The chaise was at the
door punctually at five on Thursday morning. Abimelech Henley had been
very busy with Sir Arthur over night; and was in close conference with
him again previous to our departure.
Frank too was there, as disconsolate and as attentive as ever; active
and watchful that every thing was as it should be. How the difference
between soul and soul discovers itself in such scenes! I very much fear
his father treats him unkindly, and that he grieves more than he ought;
nay more than a person of his youth, strong form, and still stronger
mind, could be supposed to grieve. I understand he very much laments
the loss of a college education, which the miser his father could very
well have bestowed upon him, had not his heart been as contracted as
the mouth of his purse.
Mr. Trenchard, luckily for Frank, early discovered his genius, and
gratuitously aided him in his studies. Frank reveres him as a more than
father, and loves his son Oliver like a brother. He is but too sensible
that a true father feeds the mind, and that he who only provides for
the body is no better than a step-father. I have some fear that there
is another cause for his dissatisfaction, and that he has cherished
some silly thoughts of an impossible nature. If so, an effort must be
made which I hope will restore him to reason. And yet what right have I
to conclude that he reasons erroneously? Have I sufficiently examined?
This is a question which has several times lately forced itself upon my
mind. I am not insensible of his high worth: it opens upon me daily.
What I am going to relate will picture that worth better than any
praise of mine. I will therefore continue my narrative.
Every thing being adjusted, off we went; I, Laura, and Sir Arthur, in
the chaise, and one footman only with us, who was to ride before as our
courier, and prepare horses.
I told you of my intention to take King Pepin with me; but the morning
of our departure was all hurry, and it seldom happens that something is
not forgotten, amid the tumult into which the passions seem to plunge
as it were with delight, gratified with the confusion which themselves
create. I must own I was vexed and offended with myself, when I found
that the something overlooked on this occasion was the gift of my
Louisa. Ingratitude with all its reproaches rose up to sting me; and I
immediately resolved to punish myself, by informing my Louisa how
unworthy I am of the gifts of such a friend. It was at the first stage
where we changed horses that I made this discovery. One moment I was
inclined to petition Sir Arthur to stay, while a messenger should be
sent; but the next I determined that my fault should incur its due
pains and penalties.
Every thing was ready; but just as we had seated ourselves in the
chaise, and were again proceeding on our journey, one of the servants
of the inn called to Sir Arthur to stop, for young Mr. Henley was
coming up full speed on the bay mare. Frank and the bay mare are both
famous through the whole country. My father immediately prognosticated
some bad accident, and I began to be alarmed. Our fears however were
soon dissipated, his only errand being to bring my charming favourite.
I confess I was not a little moved by this mark of attention, which
indeed is but one among many, as well as by the peculiarity of the
youth's manner in delivering the bird. He was fearful, visibly fearful,
that his desire to oblige should be thought officious. He attempted to
apologize, but knew not what to say. I thanked him very sincerely, and
in the kindest manner I could; and, seeing him booted, the thought
instantly struck me to request Sir Arthur's permission for him to
accompany us to London, which I imagined might give him pleasure.
The request happened to coincide with some new project of alteration
which Sir Arthur had conceived, and which, he said, after having
further digested, he could better communicate to Frank than describe on
paper. The mare is said to be one of the best travellers in the
kingdom; and, as she was very capable of performing the journey, and
the carriage being rather heavily loaded, he accordingly kept pace with
us.
During the day we passed many delightful scenes, and enjoyed the
charming prospects which the rich cultivation of England, and the road
we travelled, afford. Frank Henley was scarcely ever out of sight,
though he was rather watchfully assiduous than communicative.
Sir Arthur, for his part, did not forget to point out to us what a
charming park such and such grounds might be turned into; how
picturesque a temple, or a church steeple, would look in this place;
what a fine effect a sheet of water would have in that bottom; and how
nobly a clump of trees would embellish the hill by which it was
overlooked.
I believe I am a sad wicked girl, Louisa! I was once strangely tempted
to tell him I was much afraid his father had mistaken the trade to
which his genius was best adapted, when he made him a baronet instead
of a gardener. However I had the grace to bite my tongue and be silent.
He might have had the retort courteous upon me, and have replied that
gardening was much the most honourable trade of the two. But he would
never have thought of that answer.
Thus the day, as I tell you, passed pleasantly and whimsically enough.
But the night! Oh!--The night!--You shall hear.
It was the dusk of evening when we were at Maidenhead. We had then
three stages to go, and Sir Arthur began to be alarmed by the rumours
of depredations which had lately been committed on the road. I really
do not know what to say to it; but there appears to be something deeper
in the doctrine of sympathies than such silly girls as I can either
account for or comprehend. I endeavoured with all my might to oppose
the sensation, and yet I found my father's fears were catching. Frank
Henley indeed begged of me, with great energy, not to be alarmed; for
that he would die sooner than I should be insulted. Upon my honour,
Louisa, he is a gallant youth!--You shall hear--But he is a brave, a
gallant youth.
I cannot say but I wished I were a man; though I am convinced it was
a foolish wish, and that it is a great mistake to suppose courage has
any connexion with sex; if we except, as we ought, the influence of
education and habit. My dear mother had not the bodily strength of Sir
Arthur; but, with respect to cool courage and active presence of mind,
I must say, Louisa, there was no comparison.
We set off, however, Frank having first provided himself with a hanger
and a pair of pistols; and he now kept close to the chaise-door,
without once quitting his station. I believe Sir Arthur was heartily
glad at being thus provided with a guard, as it were unexpectedly, and
without any foresight of his own. For, not to mention gold watches and
trinkets, he had more money with him than he would have chosen to have
lost, fright out of the question.
We proceeded thus without molestation as far as Brentford; but not
without receiving fresh hints that it was very possible we might be
visited; and then, though it began to be drawing toward midnight, Sir
Arthur thought the danger chiefly over. As it happened he was mistaken.
He was indeed, my dear! I assure you I could tremble now with the
thoughts of it, but that my woman-hood forbids. I remember how valiant
I have been in laughing at the pretty fears of pretty ladies, with
their salts, hartshorn, fits, and burnt feathers. Beside, I would not
have my Louisa think too meanly of me. Yet I assure you it was a
terrible night.
We had just passed the broad part of Turnham Green, as Frank has since
told me, and were near the end of a lane which strikes into the
Uxbridge road, when the postillion was stopped by one highwayman, while
almost at the same instant another dashed his pistol through the
side-glass into the chaise, full in Sir Arthur's face.
Frank was on my side--Notwithstanding the length of the journey, he
seemed to infuse his own ardour into the spirited animal on which he
rode, and was round instantaneously--It was really dreadful!--The
highwayman saw, or rather heard him coming, for it was prodigiously
dark, and fired. Poor Frank was shot!--In the shoulder--But he says he
did not feel it at first--He returned the fire; and the highwayman
exclaimed, with a shocking oath, 'I am a dead man!' He rode away
however full speed; and his associate, who stood to guard the post-boy,
rode after him. Frank imagines that, owing to the darkness of the
night, and his being so close under the chaise, they had not perceived
him when they came to the attack.
But here let me tell you, for I am sure I ought, our protector, our
hero is not dangerously wounded. He indeed makes very light of it; but
I am persuaded he would do that if he had lost an arm. The moment the
highwaymen were gone, he rode round to me to intreat me not to be
alarmed, for that all was safe.
Imagine whether I did not thank him, and bless him; at least in
ejaculation. Imagine what I felt, after what I _had_ heard, at hearing
him talk to me, and at being convinced that he was actually alive. I
had not the least suspicion of his being wounded, he spoke so
cheerfully; yet I naturally enquired if he were hurt. His answer
was--'No no--Not _hurt_'--But he spoke with an emphasis that
immediately raised my apprehensions. I repeated my question--'Are you
sure you are not hurt; not wounded?' He could not say no to that, and
therefore answered 'He believed he felt a slight contusion in the
shoulder; but that he was convinced it was trifling.'
I was now seized with a fit of terror much greater, in effect, than my
former panic. I fervently intreated Sir Arthur to let the servant take
the bay mare, and ride for help! I begged, urgently, violently, for
God's sake, that he would take my place in the chaise! I would mount
the mare myself! I would do any thing! All the replies I could get were
still more vehement intercessions from Frank Henley, that I would not
be alarmed, assurances that there was not the least danger, the most
obstinate determination not to quit his post, and, notwithstanding the
pain which he could not but feel, a persisting to reload the discharged
pistol, and then to proceed.
I know not myself how my fears were so far pacified as to yield to
this, except that his energy seemed to overpower mine. Indeed I
suffered dreadfully the rest of the way. I knew the youth's generous
spirit, and my imagination was haunted with the idea, that the blood
was flowing every foot of the road, and that he would rather drop from
the horse than be subdued. It is impossible, indeed it is, to tell you
what I felt.
At last we arrived in Grosvenor Street; and sure enough the poor fellow
was faint with the loss of blood. 'My God!'--said I to Sir Arthur, when
the light was brought, and I saw him--'Send for a surgeon! Good
Heavens! Run! Somebody run for help!'--He still insisted he was but
slightly hurt, and began to resume all his earnestness to quiet me. Sir
Arthur did it more effectually by sending as I desired, and by telling
me that, if I continued to agitate by contending with him so much, I
might very possibly throw him into a fever, and make a wound, which
most probably was not in itself dangerous, mortal.
I said not another word, except seriously and solemnly requesting him
to calm his mind, for his own sake, if not for mine; for that, after
being wounded in defence of me and my father, to die by my fault were
dreadful indeed. He retired with more apparent satisfaction in his
countenance than I think I ever saw before.
I was resolved however not to go to bed, till I had received some
account from the surgeon. He came, the wound was examined, and word was
immediately sent me, by the express command of Frank, who had been told
I was sitting up for that purpose, that there was, as he had assured
me, no danger. The surgeon indeed thought proper to qualify it with no
_great_ danger. It is an old remark that surgeons are not prone to
speak too lightly of the miracles they perform. This short syllable,
great, did not fail however to disturb me very considerably. I waited
till the ball was extracted, and [Would you believe it?] brought us;
for I insisted upon seeing it. Sir Arthur called me a mad girl, adding
there was no ruling me. I persisted in questioning and cross-examining
the surgeon, till I was convinced that, as he said, there was no
_great_ danger; and I then retired to rest: that is, I retired to the
same swimming motion which the chaise had communicated to my nerves, or
my brain, or I know not what, and to dreaming of swords, pistols,
murdered men, and all the horrid ramblings of the fancy under such
impressions.
To convince me how trifling the hurt was, the gallant Frank insisted
the next day on coming down to dinner; though he was allowed to eat
nothing but chicken broth, and a light pudding. I never saw him so
lively. His only present danger of death, he said, was by famine; and
complained jocularly of the hardship of fasting after a long journey. I
could almost have persuaded him to eat, for indeed he is a brave, a
noble youth.
I know I never need apologize to my Louisa for the length of my
letters. How can we enjoy equal pleasure to that of thus conversing in
despite of distance, and though separated by seas and mountains? Indeed
it is a kind of privation to end; but end I must--therefore--Adieu.