RETURNS TO MRS. BARNABY, AND RELATES SOME OF THE MOST INTERESTING AND
INSTRUCTIVE SCENES OF HER LIFE, TOGETHER WITH SEVERAL CIRCUMSTANCES
RELATIVE TO ONE DEARER TO HER THAN HERSELF.
The real heroine of this love story has been left too long, and it is
necessary we should return to see in what way her generous friendship
for Mr. O'Donagough was likely to end. Having kept her promise, and paid
the debt for which he had been detained, as well as comforted him by the
farther loan of 2_l._ 10_s._ 4_d._, she stated to him her intention of
remaining for a month longer at her lodgings in Half Moon-street,
adding, with a degree of _naivete_ that O'Donagough felt to be extremely
touching--
"Let this be a month of probation, my dear friend, for us both. We met
under circumstances too much calculated to soften the heart for either
of us, perhaps, to be able fairly to judge how we may feel when those
circumstances are past. Let me see as much of you as your occupations
will permit.... I shall dine at five o'clock, because the evenings are
drawing in, and I don't love candle-light before dinner.... You will
always find a steak or a chop, and a little brandy and water, or
something of that sort.... And now adieu!... This is a disagreeable
place to pay or receive visits in, and I flatter myself that I now leave
it for ever."
Let the most glowing gratitude that heart can feel be set forth in words
of fluent eloquence such as befit the class to which Mr. O'Donagough
belonged, and the answer which he gave to this speech will be the
product.
Nevertheless, Mr. O'Donagough knew what it meant perfectly well. It
meant that the Widow Barnaby, although she had made up her mind to give
herself and whatever she might happen to possess to a husband, and
although she was exceedingly well inclined to let that husband be Mr.
Patrick O'Donagough, she did not intend to go thus far in manifesting
her favour towards him, without knowing a little more than she did at
present respecting the state of his affairs. In a word, he perceived, as
he repeated to himself, with an approving smile--
That though on _marriage_ she was bent,
She had a prudent mind.
Nor was he, notwithstanding the little irregularities into which he had
heretofore fallen, unworthy of becoming an object of tender attention to
Mrs. Barnaby. Much as he admired her, he had steeled his soul to the
virtuous resolution of putting a sudden stop to all farther intercourse
between them, should he find upon inquiry that prudence did not justify
its continuance.
Whatever deficiency of wisdom, therefore, the conduct of either had
before shown, it was evident that both were now actuated by a
praiseworthy spirit of forethought that ought to have ensured the
felicity of their future years.
It will be evident to all who study the state of the widow's mind at
this period, that she had considerably lowered the tone of her hopes and
expectations from the moment she became aware of the defection of Lord
Mucklebury. The shock which her hopes had received by the disagreeable
_denouement_ of her engagement with Major Allen had been perfectly
cured, at least for a time, by the devotion of the noble Viscount; and
so well satisfied was she herself at an escape which had left her free
to aim at a quarry so infinitely higher, that what had been a
mortification turned to a triumph, and she enjoyed the idea, that when
"she seemed to slip," she had so gloriously recovered herself as to
leave Mrs. Peters, and other envious wonderers, cause to exclaim, "She
rises higher half her length!"... But from the time this coroneted
bubble burst, her courage fell. Her arrest was another blow.... Mr.
Morrison's desertion one heavier still; and, little as she cared for
Agnes, or, in truth, for anybody living but herself, the manner of her
departure vexed and humbled her.
"That crooked hag," thinks she, "has made me truckle to her!" she
exclaimed, as her aunt and her niece drove off, on the night that Agnes
first took up her abode with Miss Compton.... "She thinks that because
she spent some of her beggar's money to hire a carriage in order to
bully me, I shall count myself despised and forsaken. But the spiteful
old maid shall hear of my being married again, and that will be
wormwood, I'll answer for it."
It was in this spirit that she set about inquiring into the private
character and prospects of young Mr. O'Donagough, and her first step in
the business showed at once her judgment and her zeal.
In the history he had given of himself, he had spoken of a certain most
respectable book-seller, who, (as he modestly hinted,) knowing his
worth, and the exemplary manner in which he had turned from horse-racing
to preaching, had exerted himself in the kindest manner to obtain some
situation for him that should atone for the severity of his father. It
was to him he had owed the engagement as domestic chaplain in the family
of the nobleman formerly mentioned, and it was to him Mrs. Barnaby
addressed herself for information that might lead to an engagement of
still greater importance.
It was not, however, her purpose that her real object should be known,
and she, therefore, framed her inquiries in such a manner as to lead Mr.
Newbirth to suppose that her object was to obtain either a teacher or a
preacher for her family circle.
Having made it known that she wished a few minutes private conversation
with the principal, she was shown into a parlour by one of the clerks,
and civilly requested to sit down for a few minutes till Mr. Newbirth
could wait upon her. It must be the fault of every individual so placed,
if such few minutes have not turned to good account; for the table of
this exemplary publisher was covered elbow-deep in tracts, sermons,
missionary reports, mystical magazines, and the like; but as Mrs.
Barnaby was not habitually a reader, she did not profit so much as she
might have done by her situation, and, before Mr. Newbirth's arrival,
had begun to think the "few minutes" mentioned by his clerk were
unusually long ones.
At length, however, he appeared, and then it was impossible to think
she had waited too long for him, for the gentle suavity of his demeanour
made even a moment of his presence invaluable.
"You have business with me, madam?" he said, with his heels gracefully
fixed together, and his person bent forward in humble salutation, as far
as was consistent with the safety of his nose.... "Pray do not rise. I
have now five minutes that I can spare, without neglecting any serious
duty;" and so saying, he placed himself opposite to the lady in act to
listen.
"I have taken the liberty of waiting upon you, sir," replied Mrs.
Barnaby, a little alarmed at the hint that her business must be
completed in the space of five minutes, "in order to make some inquiries
respecting a Mr. O'Donagough, who is, I believe, known to you."
"Mr. O'Donagough? The Reverend Mr. O'Donagough, madam?"
The widow, though well disposed to enlarge her knowledge, and extend the
limits of her principles, was not yet fully initiated into the mysteries
of regenerated ordinations, and therefore replied, as the daughter of an
English clergyman might well be excused for doing--"No, sir ... the
gentleman I mean is Mr. Patrick O'Donagough; he was not brought up to
the church."
But there was something in the phrase, "_brought up_ to the church,"
that grated against the feelings of Mr. Newbirth, and his brow
contracted, and his voice became exceedingly solemn, as he said, "I know
Mr. Patrick O'Donagough, who, like many other shining lights, was not
_brought up to the church_; but has, nevertheless, received the title of
reverend from the congregation which has the best right to bestow it,
even that to which he has been called to preach."
Mrs. Barnaby was not slow in perceiving her mistake, and proceeded with
her inquiries in such a manner as to prove that she was not unworthy to
intercommune either with Mr. Newbirth himself, or any of those to whom
he extended his patronage. The result of the interview was highly
satisfactory; for though it seemed clear that Mr. Newbirth was aware of
the vexatious accident which had for some months checked the young
preacher's career, it was equally evident, that the circumstance made
no unfavourable impression, and Mrs. Barnaby returned to her lodgings
with the pleasing conviction that now, at least, there could be no
danger in giving way to the tender feeling which had so repeatedly
beguiled her. "The reverend Mr. O'Donagough" would look very well in the
paragraph which she was determined should record her marriage in the
Exeter paper; and being quite determined that the three hundred and
twenty-seven pounds per annum, which still remained of her income,
should be firmly settled on herself, she received her handsome friend,
when he arrived at the hour of dinner, in a manner which showed he had
lost nothing in her esteem since they parted.
It had so happened, that within half an hour of the widow's quitting the
shop of Mr. Newbirth, Mr. O'Donagough entered it. His patron received
him very graciously, and failed not to mention the visit he had
received, which, though not elucidated by the lady's leaving any name,
was perfectly well understood by the person principally concerned.
There are some men who might have felt offended by learning that such a
means of improving acquaintance had been resorted to; but its effect on
Mr. O'Donagough was exactly the reverse. His respect and estimation for
the widow were infinitely increased thereby; for though still a young
man, he had considerable experience, and he felt assured, that if Mrs.
Barnaby had not something to bestow besides her fair fat hand, she would
have been less cautious in letting it follow where it was so certain her
heart had gone before.
The conviction thus logically obtained, assisted the progress of the
affair very essentially. Having learnt from Mr. Newbirth that the place
he had lost by the ill-timed arrest was filled by another who was not
likely to give it up again, he once more contrived to make his way to
the presence of his father, and gave him very clearly to understand,
that the very best thing he could do would be once more to furnish the
means for his departure from Europe.
"That you may spend it again at the gaming-table, you audacious scamp!"
responded his noble but incensed progenitor.
"Not so, sir," replied the soft-voiced young preacher; "you are not yet
aware of the change in my principles, or you would have no such
injurious suspicion."
"As to your principles, Pat," replied his lordship, beguiled into a
smile by the sanctified solemnity of his versatile son, "I do not
comprehend how you could change them, seeing that you never had any."
"Then, instead of principles, sir, let me speak of practice: it is now
several months since I exchanged the race-course, the billiard-table,
and the dice-box, for the course of an extemporary preacher. I am
afraid, my lord, that your taste rather leads you to performances of a
different kind, or I would ask you to attend the meeting at which I am
to expound next Wednesday evening, after which you could hardly doubt, I
imagine, the sincerity of my conversion."
"It would be putting your eloquence to rather a severe test, Master
Patrick. But if you have really got a church to preach in at home, why,
in the devil's name, should you bother me again about going abroad?"
"Because, my lord, I have no fixed stipend, or any other honest and
safe means of getting my bread, and also because there are many other
reasons which make it desirable that I should leave this country."
"That at least is likely enough, to be sure, Mr. O'Donagough. But have
the kindness to tell me what security you would give me for taking
yourself off, if I were again to furnish the means for it."
This was exactly the point to which the reformed son wished to bring the
yielding father; for it was not difficult to show many reasons for
believing that he was in earnest in his intention to depart with as
little delay as possible. It was with great caution, however, that he
hinted at the possibility of his taking a lady with him as his wife,
whose fortune was sufficient to prevent the necessity of his returning
again to beg for bread, even at the risk of liberty or life; for he
feared that if he confessed the prosperous state of his matrimonial
hopes, they might be held sufficient for his necessities. But here he
was mistaken; for no sooner did his father discover that his case was
not quite desperate, than he manifested a considerable softening, and
before a fortnight had expired, Mr. O'Donagough was able to convince
the enamoured widow that, in uniting her destiny to his, she would be
yielding to no sinful weakness, but securing both her temporal and
eternal felicity on the firmest footing possible. And now every thing
went on in so prosperous a manner, as almost to disprove the truth of
the oft-quoted assertion of the poet,
"The course of true love never did run smooth;"
for the loves of Mr. O'Donagough and Mrs. Barnaby met with not even a
pebble of opposition as they ran evenly on towards matrimony.
This peaceful and pleasant progress was not a little assisted by a visit
which the prudent peer deemed it advisable to make to the intended
bride. Nothing could be more agreeable to the feelings of the lady than
this attention, nothing more advantageous to the interests of both
parties than the result. His lordship ascertained to a certainty that
the widow had wherewithal to feed his son, and most obligingly took care
that it should be so secured as to place her fortune beyond the reach
of any relapse on his part, while the fair lady herself, amidst all the
gentle sweetness with which she seemed to let his lordship manage every
thing, took excellent care of herself.
One thing only now remained to be settled before the marriage took
place, and this was the obtaining an appointment as missionary to a
congregation newly established in a beautiful part of Australia, where
there was every reason to suppose that a large and brilliant society
would soon give as much _eclat_ to the successful efforts of an
eloquent preacher as could be hoped for in the most fashionable
_reunion_ of saints in the mother country. The appointment was, in
effect, left in the hands of one or two, whose constant exertions, and
never-let-any-thing-escape-them habits, made them of personal importance
in every decision of the kind. This little committee agreed to meet at
Mr. Newbirth's on a certain evening, for the purpose of being introduced
to Mrs. Barnaby, and it was understood among them, that if they found
reason to be satisfied with her principles, and probable usefulness in a
new congregation, the appointment should be given to Mr. O'Donagough,
whose approaching marriage with her was well known to them all.
Mrs. Newbirth, who was quite a model of a wife, and who, therefore,
shared all her husband's peculiar notions respecting things in heaven
and earth, very obligingly lent her assistance at this important
session, both to prevent Mrs. Barnaby's feeling herself awkward, as
being the only lady present, and because it was reasonably supposed that
she might be useful in giving the conversation such a turn as should
elicit some of the more hidden, but not, therefore, the least important
traits of female character.
It was not intended that either Mr. O'Donogough or his intended bride
should be aware of the importance attached to this tea-drinking in Mr.
Newbirth's drawing-room; but the expectant missionary had not lived
thirty years in this wicked world for nothing; and though the invitation
was given in the most impromptu style possible, he instantly suspected
that the leaders of the congregation, who were about to send out the
mission, intended to make this an opportunity for discovering what
manner of woman the future Mrs. O'Donagough might be. Considerable
anxiety was the consequence of this idea in the mind of Mr. O'Donagough.
He liked the thoughts of preaching and lecturing to the ladies and
gentlemen of Modeltown, and therefore determined to spare no pains in
preparing the widow for the trial that awaited her. He found her by no
means unapt at receiving the hints he gave respecting several important
articles of faith, which, although new to her, she seemed willing enough
to adopt without much inquiry, but he had a hard struggle before he
could obtain the straightening of a single ringlet, or the paling, in
the slightest degree, the tint of her glowing rouge. At length, however,
the contest ended by his declaring that, without her compliance on this
point, he should feel it his duty, passionately as he adored her, to
delay their marriage till she could be induced, for his sake, to conform
herself a little more to the customs and manners of the sect to which he
belonged. Mrs. Barnaby's heart was not proof against such a remonstrance
as this; her resolution melted into tears, and she promised that if he
never would utter such cruel words again, he should dress her hair
himself in any manner he would choose. "As to my rouge," she added, "I
have only worn it, my dear O'Donagough, because I consider it as the
appendage of a woman of fashion ... but I will wear much less, that is
to say, almost none at all, for the fashion, if such shall be your
wish."
"Thank you my dear, ... that's all right, and I'll never plague you
about it, after I once get the appointment; only do what I bid you
to-night, and we'll snap our fingers at them afterwards."
The party assembled at Mr. Newbirth's consisted of himself and his lady,
and four gentlemen belonging to "the congregation" which was to be
propitiated. After the tea and coffee had disappeared, Mr. Newbirth, who
was the only gentleman in the company (except her own O'Donagough) with
whom Mrs. Barnaby was personally acquainted, opened the conversation, by
asking if the change of residence which she contemplated, from one side
of the world to the other, was an agreeable prospect to her.
"Very much so indeed!" was the reply.
"I suppose you are aware, ma'am," observed Mr. Littleton, who was senior
clerk in a banking house, and the principal lay orator of the
congregation--"I suppose you are aware that you are going among a set of
people who, though decidedly the most interesting portion of the human
race in the eyes of all true Christians, are nevertheless persons
accustomed heretofore to habits of irregular, not to say licentious
living.... How do you think, ma'am, that you shall like to fall into
habits of friendship and intimacy with such?"
Mr. O'Donagough listened with a good deal of anxiety for the answer: but
it was a point on which he had given his affianced bride very ample
instructions, and she did not disgrace her teacher.
"My notions upon that point, sir," she replied, "are rather particular,
I believe; for so far from thinking the worse of my fellow creatures
because they have done wrong, I always think that is the very reason why
I should seek their company, and exert myself in all ways to do them
good, and to make them take their place among the first and greatest in
the kingdom of heaven."
A murmur of applause ran round the little circle as Mrs. Barnaby
concluded her speech, and Mr. Littleton, in particular, expressed his
approbation of her sentiments in a manner that inspired the happy
O'Donagough with the most sanguine hopes of success.
"I never heard better sense, or sounder principles, or more christian
feelings, in the whole course of my life, than what this lady has now
expressed; and I will take upon me to say, gentlemen, without making any
new difficulty about the matter, that any minister going out to Sydney
in the holy and reverend character of a missionary, sent by an
independent congregation of devotional men, with such a wife in his hand
as this good lady will be sure to make, will do more good in his
generation, than all the bishops and archbishops that ever were
consecrated after the manner of the worn-out superstitions of by-gone
ages. Gentlemen!..." he continued, rising from his chair, "I do,
therefore, forthwith propose the immediate election of the reverend
Patrick O'Donagough to the office of missionary from the independent
congregation of Anti-work Christians of London, to the independent
congregation of Anti-work Christians at Sydney, with the privilege and
undivided monopoly of tract and hymn selling to the said congregation,
together with a patent right (not royal patent, my brethren, but holy
patent,) to all fees, donations, contributions, and payments of
whatsoever kind, made by the said independent congregation of Anti-work
Christians at Sydney, for and on account of the salvation of their
souls.... This, gentlemen, is the resolution I would propose, and I
trust that some among you will readily be found to second it."
"That, sir, will I, and most joyfully," said Mr. Dellant, rising; "for I
neither do nor can feel the shadow of a doubt, that our beneficent
objects in despatching this mission will be more forwarded by this
appointment than by any other, it is probable--gentlemen, I might say
POSSIBLE--we could make--for where, I would ask, shall we find another
Mrs Barnaby? May we not say, in the language of scripture, that she is a
help meet for him, even for the Reverend Patrick O'Donagough, whom we
have chosen."
Mr. Newbirth followed on the same side, giving many unanswerable reasons
for believing that nothing which the stiff-necked, unconverted, obsolete
ministers of the Church of England could do for the predestined army of
saints at present located at Sidney, could approach in utility and
saving efficacy of absolving grace, to what might be hoped from the
ministry of Mr. O'Donagough, assisted by the lady he was so happy as to
have engaged to be his wife.
"It gives me the most heart-felt pleasure, gentlemen," he continued,
"that my little humble drawing-room should have been made the scene of
this happy election. How many souls, now most probably grovelling in the
lowest depths of vice, will have places secured them upon the highest
seats of heaven, by your work, gentlemen; begun, continued, and ended
within this one propitious hour!... I would now propose that we do all
stand up and sing a hymn to the glory of sinners made perfect.... Next,
that we do all kneel down to hear and join in an awakening prayer from
our new missionary; and, finally, that we walk into Mrs. Newbirth's back
drawing-room, there to partake of such creature comforts as she in her
care shall have provided."
This speech was also received with great applause. Some few pleasant and
holy remarks and observations were made by the other gentlemen present,
and all things proceeded to the happy finale suggested by their host, in
the most amicable and satisfactory manner, so that before Mr.
O'Donagough rose to escort Mrs. Barnaby to the coach which was to convey
her to Half Moon Street, he was given to understand, on the indefeasible
authority of Mr. Littleton, that he might consider himself already as
the anti-work missionary elect, and might set about the preparations for
his marriage and subsequent departure without farther uncertainty or
delay.
* * * * *
Mrs. Barnaby's troubles now seemed really at an end; nothing could move
onward with a smoother, surer pace, than did the business which she and
her chosen companion had before them. The bridegroom's noble father
became liberal and kind, under the certainty of his clever son's certain
departure.... The lawyers behaved exceedingly well about the
settlements; influenced, perhaps, in some degree, by the wishes of the
peer, who, as it seemed, was almost nervously anxious for the departure
of the happy pair.... The dressmakers worked briskly, and a very
respectable subscription was raised among the ladies of the independent
congregation for the purchase of several elegant little presents for the
bride, which they thought might prove useful during her voyage.
In this happy state we will leave our heroine, in order to see how
matters were proceeding at Clifton.