CHAPTER xii. -- A MAN OF BUSINESS.
When they entered Vauxhall, Mr Harrel endeavoured to dismiss hismoroseness, and affecting his usual gaiety, struggled to recover hisspirits; but the effort was vain, he could neither talk nor look likehimself, and though from time to time he resumed his air of wontedlevity, he could not support it, but drooped and hung his head inevident despondency.
He made them take several turns in the midst of the company, and walkedso fast that they could hardly keep pace with him, as if he hoped byexercise to restore his vivacity; but every attempt failed, he sunk andgrew sadder, and muttering between his teeth "this is not to be borne!"he hastily called to a waiter to bring him a bottle of champagne.
Of this he drank glass after glass, notwithstanding Cecilia, as MrsHarrel had not courage to speak, entreated him to forbear. He seemed,however, not to hear her; but when he had drunk what he thoughtnecessary to revive him, he conveyed them into an unfrequented partof the garden, and as soon as they were out of sight of all but a fewstragglers, he suddenly stopt, and, in great agitation, said, "my chaisewill soon be ready, and I shall take of you a long farewell!--all myaffairs are unpropitious to my speedy return;--the wine is now mountinginto my head, and perhaps I may not be able to say much by and by. Ifear I have been cruel to you, Priscilla, and I begin to wish Ihad spared you this parting scene; yet let it not be banished yourremembrance, but think of it when you are tempted to such mad folly ashas ruined us."
Mrs Harrel wept too much to make any answer; and turning from her toCecilia, "Oh Madam," he cried, "to you, indeed, I dare not speak! I haveused you most unworthily, but I pay for it all! I ask you not to pity orforgive me, I know it is impossible you should do either."
"No," cried the softened Cecilia, "it is not impossible, I do both atthis moment, and I hope--"
"Do not hope," interrupted he, "be not so angelic, for I cannot bear it!benevolence like yours should have fallen into worthier hands. But come,let us return to the company. My head grows giddy, but my heart is stillheavy; I must make them more fit companions for each other."
He would then have hurried them back; but Cecilia, endeavouring to stophim, said "You do not mean, I hope, to call for more wine?"
"Why not?" cried he, with affected spirit, "what, shall we not be merrybefore we part? Yes, we will all be merry, for if we are not, how shallwe part at all?--Oh not without a struggle!--" Then, stopping, he pauseda moment, and casting off the mask of levity, said in accents the mostsolemn "I commit this packet to you," giving a sealed parcel to Cecilia;"had I written it later, its contents had been kinder to my wife, fornow the hour of separation approaches, ill will and resentment subside.Poor Priscilla!--I am sorry--but you will succour her, I am sure youwill,--Oh had I known you myself before this infatuation--bright patternof all goodness!--but I was devoted,--a ruined wretch before ever youentered my house; unworthy to be saved, unworthy that virtues such asyours should dwell under the same roof with me! But come,--come now, ormy resolution will waver, and I shall not go at last."
"But what is this packet?" cried Cecilia, "and why do you give it tome?"
"No matter, no matter, you will know by and by;--the chaise waits, and Imust gather courage to be gone."
He then pressed forward, answering neither to remonstrance nor intreatyfrom his frightened companions.
The moment they returned to the covered walk, they were met by MrMarriot; Mr Harrel, starting, endeavoured to pass him; but when heapproached, and said "you have sent, Sir, no answer to my letter!" hestopt, and in a tone of forced politeness, said, "No, Sir, but I shallanswer it to-morrow, and to-night I hope you will do me the honour ofsupping with me."
Mr Marriot, looking openly at Cecilia as his inducement, thoughevidently regarding himself as an injured man, hesitated a moment, yetaccepted the invitation.
"To supper?" cried Mrs Harrel, "what here?"
"To supper?" repeated Cecilia, "and how are we to get home?"
"Think not of that these two hours," answered he; "come, let us look fora box."
Cecilia then grew quite urgent with him to give up a scheme which mustkeep them so late, and Mrs Harrel repeatedly exclaimed "Indeed peoplewill think it very odd to see us here without any party;" but he heededthem not, and perceiving at some distance Mr Morrice, he called outto him to find them a box; for the evening was very pleasant, and thegardens were so much crowded that no accommodation was unseized.
"Sir," cried Morrice, with his usual readiness, "I'll get you one if Iturn out ten old Aldermen sucking custards."
Just after he was gone, a fat, sleek, vulgar-looking man, dressed ina bright purple coat, with a deep red waistcoat, and a wig bulging farfrom his head with small round curls, while his plump face and personannounced plenty and good living, and an air of defiance spoke thefullness of his purse, strutted boldly up to Mr Harrel, and accostinghim in a manner that shewed some diffidence of his reception, but noneof his right, said "Sir your humble servant." And made a bow first tohim, and then to the ladies.
"Sir yours," replied Mr Harrel scornfully, and without touching his hathe walked quickly on.
His fat acquaintance, who seemed but little disposed to be offended withimpunity, instantly replaced his hat on his head, and with a look thatimplied I'll fit you for this! put his hands to his sides, and followinghim, said "Sir, I must make bold to beg the favour of exchanging a fewwords with you."
"Ay, Sir," answered Mr Harrel, "come to me to-morrow, and you shallexchange as many as you please."
"Nothing like the time present, Sir," answered the man; "as forto-morrow, I believe it intends to come no more; for I have heard of itany time these three years. I mean no reflections, Sir, but let everyman have his right. That's what I say, and that's my notion of things."
Mr Harrel, with a violent execration, asked what he meant by dunning himat such a place as Vauxhall?
"One place, Sir," he replied, "is as good as another place; for so aswhat one does is good, 'tis no matter for where it may be. A man ofbusiness never wants a counter if he can meet with a joint-stool. For mypart, I'm all for a clear conscience, and no bills without receipts tothem."
"And if you were all for broken bones," cried Mr Harrel, angrily, "Iwould oblige you with them without delay."
"Sir," cried the man, equally provoked, "this is talking quite outof character, for as to broken bones, there's ne'er a person in allEngland, gentle nor simple, can say he's a right to break mine, for I'mnot a person of that sort, but a man of as good property as another man;and there's ne'er a customer I have in the world that's more his own manthan myself."
"Lord bless me, Mr Hobson," cried Mrs Harrel, "don't follow us in thismanner! If we meet any of our acquaintance they'll think us half crazy."
"Ma'am," answered Mr Hobson, again taking off his hat, "if I'm treatedwith proper respect, no man will behave more generous than myself; butif I'm affronted, all I can say is, it may go harder with some folksthan they think for."
Here a little mean-looking man, very thin, and almost bent double withperpetual cringing, came up to Mr Hobson, and pulling him by the sleeve,whispered, yet loud enough to be heard, "It's surprizeable to me, MrHobson, you can behave so out of the way! For my part, perhaps I've asmuch my due as another person, but I dares to say I shall have it whenit's convenient, and I'd scorn for to mislest a gentleman when he'staking his pleasure."
"Lord bless me," cried Mrs Harrel, "what shall we do now? here's all MrHarrel's creditors coming upon us!"
"Do?" cried Mr Harrel, re-assuming an air of gaiety, "why give themall a supper, to be sure. Come, gentlemen, will you favour me with yourcompany to supper?"
"Sir," answered Mr Hobson, somewhat softened by this unexpectedinvitation, "I've supped this hour and more, and had my glass too, forI'm as willing to spend my money as another man; only what I say isthis, I don't chuse to be cheated, for that's losing one's substance,and getting no credit; however, as to drinking another glass, or such amatter as that, I'll do it with all the pleasure in
life."
"And as to me," said the other man, whose name was Simkins, and whosehead almost touched the ground by the profoundness of his reverence,"I can't upon no account think of taking the liberty; but if I mayjust stand without, I'll make bold to go so far as just for to drink myhumble duty to the ladies in a cup of cyder."
"Are you mad, Mr Harrel, are you mad!" cried his wife, "to think ofasking such people as these to supper? what will every body say? supposeany of our acquaintance should see us? I am sure I shall die withshame."
"Mad!" repeated he, "no, not mad but merry. O ho, Mr Morrice, why haveyou been so long? what have you done for us?"
"Why Sir," answered Morrice, returning with a look somewhat less elatedthan he had set out, "the gardens are so full, there is not a box to behad; but I hope we shall get one for all that; for I observed one of thebest boxes in the garden, just to the right there, with nobody in it butthat gentleman who made me spill the tea-pot at the Pantheon. So I madean apology, and told him the case; but he only said humph? and hay? sothen I told it all over again, but he served me just the same, for henever seems to hear what one says till one's just done, and then hebegins to recollect one's speaking to him; however, though I repeatedit all over and over again, I could get nothing from him but just thathumph? and hay? but he is so remarkably absent, that I dare say if weall go and sit down round him, he won't know a word of the matter."
"Won't he?" cried Mr Harrel, "have at him, then!"
And he followed Mr Morrice, though Cecilia, who now half suspected thatall was to end in a mere idle frolic, warmly joined her remonstrances tothose of Mrs Harrel, which were made with the utmost, but with fruitlessearnestness.
Mr Meadows, who was seated in the middle of the box, was lolloping uponthe table with his customary ease, and picking his teeth with his usualinattention to all about him. The intrusion, however, of so largea party, seemed to threaten his insensibility with unavoidabledisturbance; though imagining they meant but to look in at the box,and pass on, he made not at their first approach any alteration in hisattitude or employment.
"See, ladies," cried the officious Morrice, "I told you there was room;and I am sure this gentleman will be very happy to make way for you, ifit's only out of good-nature to the waiters, as he is neither eating nordrinking, nor doing any thing at all. So if you two ladies will go in atthat side, Mr Harrel and that other gentleman," pointing to Mr Marriot,"may go to the other, and then I'll sit by the ladies here, and thoseother two gentlemen--"
Here Mr Meadows, raising himself from his reclining posture, and staringMorrice in the face, gravely said, "What's all this, Sir!"
Morrice, who expected to have arranged the whole party without aquestion, and who understood so little of modish airs as to suspectneither affectation nor trick in the absence of mind and indolence ofmanners which he observed in Mr Meadows, was utterly amazed by thisinterrogatory, and staring himself in return, said, "Sir, you seemed sothoughtful--I did not think--I did not suppose you would have taken anynotice of just a person or two coming into the box."
"Did not you, Sir?" said Mr Meadows very coldly, "why then now you do,perhaps you'll be so obliging as to let me have my own box to myself."
And then again he returned to his favourite position.
"Certainly, Sir," said Morrice, bowing; "I am sure I did not mean todisturb you; for you seemed so lost in thought, that I'm sure I did notmuch believe you would have seen us."
"Why Sir," said Mr Hobson, strutting forward, "if I may speak myopinion, I should think, as you happen to be quite alone, a littleagreeable company would be no such bad thing. At least that's mynotion."
"And if I might take the liberty," said the smooth tongued Mr Simkins,"for to put in a word, I should think the best way would be, if thegentleman has no peticklar objection, for me just to stand somewherehereabouts, and so, when he's had what he's a mind to, be ready for topop in at one side, as he comes out at the t'other; for if one does notlook pretty 'cute such a full night as this, a box is whipt away beforeone knows where one is."
"No, no, no," cried Mrs Harrel impatiently, "let us neither sup in thisbox nor in any other; let us go away entirely."
"Indeed we must! indeed we ought!" cried Cecilia; "it is utterlyimproper we should stay; pray let us be gone immediately."
Mr Harrel paid not the least regard to these requests; but Mr Meadows,who could no longer seem unconscious of what passed, did himself so muchviolence as to arise, and ask if the ladies would be seated.
"I said so!" cried Morrice triumphantly, "I was sure there was nogentleman but would be happy to accommodate two such ladies!"
The ladies, however, far from happy in being so accommodated, againtried their utmost influence in persuading Mr Harrel to give up thisscheme; but he would not hear them, he insisted upon their going intothe box, and, extending the privilege which Mr Meadows had given, heinvited without ceremony the whole party to follow.
Mr Meadows, though he seemed to think this a very extraordinaryencroachment, had already made such an effort from his general languorin the repulse he had given to Morrice, that he could exert himself nofurther; but after looking around him with mingled vacancy and contempt,he again seated himself, and suffered Morrice to do the honours withoutmore opposition. Morrice, but too happy in the office, placed Cecilianext to Mr Meadows, and would have made Mr Marriot her other neighbour,but she insisted upon not being parted from Mrs Harrel, and therefore,as he chose to sit also by that lady himself, Mr Marriot was obligedto follow Mr Harrel to the other side of the box; Mr Hobson, withoutfurther invitation, placed himself comfortably in one of the corners,and Mr Simkins, who stood modestly for some time in another, findingthe further encouragement for which he waited was not likely to arrive,dropt quietly into his seat without it.
Supper was now ordered, and while it was preparing Mr Harrel sat totallysilent; but Mr Meadows thought proper to force himself to talk withCecilia, though she could well have dispensed with such an exertion ofhis politeness.
"Do you like this place, ma'am?"
"Indeed I hardly know,--I never was here before."
"No wonder! the only surprise is that any body can come to it at all. Tosee a set of people walking after nothing! strolling about without viewor object! 'tis strange! don't you think so, ma'am?"
"Yes,--I believe so," said Cecilia, scarce hearing him.
"O it gives me the vapours, the horrors," cried he, "to see what poorcreatures we all are! taking pleasure even from the privation of it!forcing ourselves into exercise and toil, when we might at least havethe indulgence of sitting still and reposing!"
"Lord, Sir," cried Morrice, "don't you like walking?"
"Walking?" cried he, "I know nothing so humiliating; to see a rationalbeing in such mechanical motion! with no knowledge upon what principleshe proceeds, but plodding on, one foot before another, without even anyconsciousness which is first, or how either--"
"Sir," interrupted Mr Hobson, "I hope you won't take it amiss if I makebold to tell my opinion, for my way is this, let every man speak hismaxim! But what I say as to this matter, is this, if a man must alwaysbe stopping to consider what foot he is standing upon, he had need havelittle to do, being the right does as well as the left, and the left aswell as the right. And that, Sir, I think is a fair argument."
Mr Meadows deigned no other answer to this speech than a look ofcontempt.
"I fancy, Sir," said Morrice, "you are fond of riding, for all your goodhorsemen like nothing else."
"Riding!" exclaimed Mr Meadows, "Oh barbarous! Wrestling and boxingare polite arts to it! trusting to the discretion of an animal lessintellectual than ourselves! a sudden spring may break all our limbs,a stumble may fracture our sculls! And what is the inducement? to getmelted with heat, killed with fatigue, and covered with dust! miserableinfatuation!--Do you love riding, ma'am?"
"Yes, very well, Sir."
"I am glad to hear it," cried he, with a vacant smile; "you are quiteright; I am entirely of your opinion."
r /> Mr Simkins now, with a look of much perplexity, yet rising and bowing,said "I don't mean, Sir, to be so rude as to put in my oar, but if I didnot take you wrong, I'm sure just now I thought you seemed for to makeno great 'count of riding, and yet now, all of the sudden, one wouldthink you was a speaking up for it!"
"Why, Sir," cried Morrice, "if you neither like riding nor walking, youcan have no pleasure at all but only in sitting."
"Sitting!" repeated Mr Meadows, with a yawn, "O worse and worse! itdispirits me to death! it robs me of all fire and life! it weakenscirculation, and destroys elasticity."
"Pray then, Sir," said Morrice, "do you like any better to stand?"
"To stand? O intolerable! the most unmeaning thing in the world! one hadbetter be made a mummy!"
"Why then, pray Sir," said Mr Hobson, "let me ask the favour of you totell us what it is you do like?"
Mr Meadows, though he stared him full in the face, began picking histeeth without making any answer.
"You see, Mr Hobson," said Mr Simkins, "the gentleman has no mind forto tell you; but if I may take the liberty just to put in, I think if heneither likes walking, nor riding, nor sitting, nor standing, I take ithe likes nothing."
"Well, Sir," said Morrice, "but here comes supper, and I hope you willlike that. Pray Sir, may I help you to a bit of this ham?"
Mr Meadows, not seeming to hear him, suddenly, and with an air ofextreme weariness, arose, and without speaking to anybody, abruptlymade his way out of the box. -- Mr Harrel now, starting from the gloomyreverie into which he had sunk, undertook to do the honours of thetable, insisting with much violence upon helping every body, callingfor more provisions, and struggling to appear in high spirits and goodhumour.
In a few minutes Captain Aresby, who was passing by the box, stopt tomake his compliments to Mrs Harrel and Cecilia.
"What a concourse!" he cried, casting up his eyes with an expression ofhalf-dying fatigue, "are you not accable? for my part, I hardly respire.I have really hardly ever had the honour of being so obsede before."
"We can make very good room, Sir," said Morrice, "if you chuse to comein."
"Yes," said Mr Simkins, obsequiously standing up, "I am sure thegentleman will be very welcome to take my place, for I did not mean forto sit down, only just to look agreeable."
"By no means, Sir," answered the Captain; "I shall be quite au desespoirif I derange any body."
"Sir," said Mr Hobson, "I don't offer you my place, because I takeit for granted if you had a mind to come in, you would not stand uponceremony; for what I say is, let every man speak his mind, and then weshall all know how to conduct ourselves. That's my way, and let any mantell me a better!"
The Captain, after looking at him with a surprise not wholly unmixt withhorror, turned from him without making any answer, and said to Cecilia,"And how long, ma'am, have you tried this petrifying place?"
"An hour,--two hours, I believe," she answered.
"Really? and nobody here! assez de monde, but nobody here! a blankpartout!"
"Sir," said Mr Simkins, getting out of the box that he might bowwith more facility, "I humbly crave pardon for the liberty, but if Iunderstood right, you said something of a blank? pray, Sir, if I maybe so free, has there been any thing of the nature of a lottery, or araffle, in the garden? or the like of that?"
"Sir!" said the Captain, regarding him from head to foot, "I am quiteassomme that I cannot comprehend your allusion."
"Sir, I ask pardon," said the man, bowing still lower, "I only thoughtif in case it should not be above half a crown, or such a matter asthat, I might perhaps stretch a point once in a way."
The Captain, more and more amazed, stared at him again, but not thinkingit necessary to take any further notice of him, he enquired of Ceciliaif she meant to stay late.
"I hope not," she replied, "I have already stayed later than I wished todo."
"Really!" said he, with an unmeaning smile, "Well, that is as horrid athing as I have the malheur to know. For my part, I make it a principlenot to stay long in these semi-barbarous places, for after a certaintime, they bore me to that degree I am quite abime. I shall, however, domon possible to have the honour of seeing you again."
And then, with a smile of yet greater insipidity, he protested he wasreduced to despair in leaving her, and walked on.
"Pray, ma'am, if I may be so bold," said Mr Hobson, "what countryman maythat gentleman be?"
"An Englishman, I suppose, Sir," said Cecilia.
"An Englishman, ma'am!" said Mr Hobson, "why I could not understand oneword in ten that came out of his mouth."
"Why indeed," said Mr Simkins, "he has a mighty peticklar way ofspeaking, for I'm sure I thought I could have sworn he said something ofa blank, or to that amount, but I could make nothing of it when I cometo ask him about it."
"Let every man speak to be understood," cried Mr Hobson, "that's mynotion of things; for as to all those fine words that nobody can makeout, I hold them to be of no use. Suppose a man was to talk in thatmanner when he's doing business, what would be the upshot? who'dunderstand what he meant? Well, that's the proof; what i'n't fit forbusiness, i'n't of no value; that's my way of judging, and that's what Igo upon."
"He said some other things," rejoined Mr Simkins, "that I could not makeout very clear, only I had no mind to ask any more questions, for fearof his answering me something I should not understand; but as well as Icould make it out, I thought I heard him say there was nobody here! whathe could mean by that, I can't pretend for to guess, for I'm sure thegarden is so stock full, that if there was to come many more, I don'tknow where they could cram 'em."
"I took notice of it at the time," said Mr Hobson, "for it i'n't manythings are lost upon me; and, to tell you the truth, I thought he hadbeen making pretty free with his bottle, by his seeing no better."
"Bottle!" cried Mr Harrel, "a most excellent hint, Mr Hobson! come! letus all make free with the bottle!"
He then called for more wine, and insisted that every body should pledgehim. Mr Marriot and Mr Morrice made not any objection, and Mr Hobson andMr Simkins consented with much delight.
Mr Harrel now grew extremely unruly, the wine he had already drunk beingthus powerfully aided; and his next project was to make his wife andCecilia follow his example. Cecilia, more incensed than ever to seeno preparation made for his departure, and all possible pains takento unfit him for setting out, refused him with equal firmness anddispleasure, and lamented, with the bitterest self-reproaches, theconsent which had been forced from her to be present at a scene of suchdisorder; but Mrs Harrel would have opposed him in vain, had not hisattention been called off to another object. This was Sir Robert Floyer,who perceiving the party at some distance, no sooner observed Mr Marriotin such company, than advancing to the box with an air of rage anddefiance, he told Mr Harrel he had something to say to him.
"Ay," cried Harrel, "say to me? and so have I to say to you! Comeamongst us and be merry! Here, make room, make way! Sit close, myfriends!"
Sir Robert, who now saw he was in no situation to be reasoned with,stood for a moment silent; and then, looking round the box, andobserving Messrs Hobson and Simkins, he exclaimed aloud "Why what queerparty have you got into? who the d---l have you picked up here?"
Mr Hobson, who, to the importance of lately acquired wealth, now addedthe courage of newly drunk Champagne, stoutly kept his ground, withoutseeming at all conscious he was included in this interrogation; but MrSimkins, who had still his way to make in the world, and whose habitualservility would have resisted a larger draught, was easily intimidated;he again, therefore stood up, and with the most cringing respect offeredthe Baronet his place; who, taking neither of the offer nor offerer thesmallest notice, still stood opposite to Mr Harrel, waiting for someexplanation.
Mr Harrel, however, who now grew really incapable of giving any, onlyrepeated his invitation that he would make one among them.
"One among you?" cried he, angrily, and pointing to Mr Hobson, "why youdon't fan
cy I'll sit down with a bricklayer?"
"A bricklayer?" said Mr Harrel, "ay, sure, and a hosier too; sit down,Mr Simkins, keep your place, man!"
Mr Simkins most thankfully bowed; but Mr Hobson, who could no longeravoid feeling the personality of this reflection, boldly answered,"Sir, you may sit down with a worse man any day in the week! I have donenothing I'm ashamed of, and no man can say to me why did you so? I don'ttell you, Sir, what I'm worth; no one has a right to ask; I only saythree times five is fifteen! that's all."
"Why what the d----l, you impudent fellow," cried the haughty Baronet,"you don't presume to mutter, do you?"
"Sir," answered Mr Hobson, very hotly, "I sha'n't put up with abuse fromno man! I've got a fair character in the world, and wherewithal to liveby my own liking. And what I have is my own, and all I say is, letevery one say the same, for that's the way to fear no man, and face thed----l."
"What do you mean by that, fellow?" cried Sir Robert.
"Fellow, Sir! this is talking no how. Do you think a man of substance,that's got above the world, is to be treated like a little scrubbyapprentice? Let every man have his own, that's always my way ofthinking; and this I can say for myself, I have as good a right to shewmy head where I please as ever a member of parliament in all England;and I wish every body here could say as much."
Sir Robert, fury starting into his eyes, was beginning an answer; butMrs Harrel with terror, and Cecilia with dignity, calling upon them bothto forbear, the Baronet desired Morrice to relinquish his place to him,and seating himself next to Mrs Harrel, gave over the contest.
Meanwhile Mr Simkins, hoping to ingratiate himself with the company,advanced to Mr Hobson, already cooled by finding himself unanswered, andreproachfully said "Mr Hobson, if I may make so free, I must needs bebold to say I am quite ashamed of you! a person of your standing andcredit for to talk so disrespectful! as if a gentleman had not a rightto take a little pleasure, because he just happens to owe you a littlematters of money; fie, fie, Mr Hobson! I did not expect you to behave sodespiseable!"
"Despiseable!" answered Mr Hobson, "I'd scorn as much to do anythingdespiseable as yourself, or any thing misbecoming of a gentleman; and asto coming to such a place as this may be, why I have no objection to it.All I stand to is this, let every man have his due; for as to taking alittle pleasure, here I am, as one may say, doing the same myself; butwhere's the harm of that? who's a right to call a man to account that'sclear of the world? Not that I mean to boast, nor nothing like it, but,as I said before; five times five is fifteen; [Footnote; I hardlyknow whether the authoress has here forgotten her arithmetic, orintentionally suffered Mr Hobson to forget his, from the effects ofchampagne.--Ed.]--that's my calculation."
Mr Harrel, who, during this debate, had still continued drinking,regardless of all opposition from his wife and Cecilia, now grew moreand more turbulent; he insisted that Mr Simkins should return to hisseat, ordered him another bumper of champagne, and saying he had nothalf company enough to raise his spirits, desired Morrice to go andinvite more.
Morrice, always ready to promote a frolic, most chearfully consented;but when Cecilia, in a low voice, supplicated him to bring no one back,with still more readiness he made signs that he understood and wouldobey her.
Mr Harrel then began to sing, and in so noisy and riotous a manner, thatnobody approached the box without stopping to stare at him; and thosewho were new to such scenes, not contented with merely looking in,stationed themselves at some distance before it, to observe what waspassing, and to contemplate with envy and admiration an appearance ofmirth and enjoyment which they attributed to happiness and pleasure!Mrs Harrel, shocked to be seen in such mixed company, grew every instantmore restless and miserable; and Cecilia, half distracted to think howthey were to get home, had passed all her time in making secret vowsthat if once again she was delivered from Mr Harrel she would never seehim more.
Sir Robert Floyer perceiving their mutual uneasiness, proposed to escortthem home himself; and Cecilia, notwithstanding her aversion to him,was listening to the scheme, when Mr Marriot, who had been evidentlyprovoked and disconcerted since the junction of the Baronet, suspectingwhat was passing, offered his services also, and in a tone of voice thatdid not promise a very quiet acquiescence in a refusal.
Cecilia, who, too easily, in their looks, saw all the eagerness ofrivalry, now dreaded the consequence of her decision, and thereforedeclined the assistance of either; but her distress was unspeakable,as there was not one person in the party to whose care she could commitherself, though the behaviour of Mr Harrel, which every moment grewmore disorderly, rendered the necessity of quitting him urgent anduncontroulable.
When Morrice returned, stopping in the midst of his loud and violentsinging, he vehemently demanded what company he had brought him?
"None at all, sir," answered Morrice, looking significantly at Cecilia;"I have really been so unlucky as not to meet with any body who had amind to come."
"Why then," answered he, starting up, "I will seek some for myself.""O no, pray, Mr Harrel, bring nobody else," cried his wife. "Hear us inpity," cried Cecilia, "and distress us no further."
"Distress you?" cried he, with quickness, "what shall I not bring youthose pretty girls? Yes, one more glass, and I will teach you to welcomethem."
And he poured out another bumper.
"This is so insupportable!" cried Cecilia, rising, "[that] I can remainhere no longer."
"This is cruel indeed," cried Mrs. Harrel, bursting into tears; "did youonly bring me here to insult me?"
"No!" cried he, suddenly embracing her, "by this parting kiss!" thenwildly jumping upon his seat, he leapt over the table, and was out ofsight in an instant.
Amazement seized all who remained; Mrs Harrel and Cecilia, indeed,doubted not but he was actually gone to the chaise he had ordered; butthe manner of his departure affrighted them, and his preceding behaviourhad made them cease to expect it; Mrs Harrel, leaning upon Cecilia,continued to weep, while she, confounded and alarmed, scarce knewwhether she should stay and console her, or fly after Mr Harrel, whomshe feared had incapacitated himself from finding his chaise, by thevery method he had taken to gather courage for seeking it.
This, however, was but the apprehension of a moment; another and a farmore horrible one drove it from her imagination; for scarcely had MrHarrel quitted the box and their sight, before their ears were suddenlystruck with the report of a pistol.
Mrs Harrel gave a loud scream, which was involuntarily echoed by,Cecilia; everybody arose, some with officious zeal to serve the ladies,and others to hasten to the spot whence the dreadful sound proceeded.
Sir Robert Floyer again offered his services in conducting them home;but they could listen to no such proposal; Cecilia, with difficultyrefrained from rushing out herself to discover what was passing; buther dread of being followed by Mrs Harrel prevented her; they both,therefore, waited, expecting every instant some intelligence, as all butthe Baronet and Mr Marriot were now gone to seek it.
Nobody, however, returned; and their terrors encreased every moment;Mrs Harrel wanted to run out herself, but Cecilia, conjuring her to keepstill, begged Mr Marriot to bring them some account. Mr Marriot, likethe messengers who had preceded him, came not back; an instant seemed anage, and Sir Robert Floyer was also entreated to procure information.
Mrs Harrel and Cecilia were now left to themselves, and their horrorwas too great for speech or motion; they stood close to each other,listening to every sound and receiving every possible addition to theiralarm, by the general confusion which they observed in the gardens, inwhich, though both gentlemen and waiters were running to and fro, not acreature was walking, and all amusement seemed forgotten.
From this dreadful state they were at length removed, though notrelieved, by the sight of a waiter, who, as he was passing shewedhimself almost covered with blood! Mrs Harrel vehemently called afterhim, demanding whence it came? "From the gentleman, ma'am," answered hein haste, "that has shot himself," and then ran on.
Mrs Harrel uttered a piercing scream, and sunk on the ground; forCecilia, shuddering with horror, lost all her own strength, and could nolonger lend her any support.
So great at this time was the general confusion of the place, that forsome minutes their particular distress was unknown, and their situationunnoticed; till at length an elderly gentleman came up to the box, andhumanely offered his assistance.
Cecilia, pointing to her unfortunate friend, who had not fallen into afainting fit, but merely from weakness and terror, accepted his help inraising her. She was lifted up, however, without the smallest effort onher own part, and was only kept upon her seat by being held there by thestranger, for Cecilia, whose whole frame was shaking, tried in vain tosustain her.
This gentleman, from the violence of their distress, began now tosuspect its motive, and addressing himself to Cecilia, said, "I amafraid, madam, this unfortunate gentleman was some Relation to you?"
Neither of them spoke, but their silence was sufficiently expressive.
"It is pity, madam," he continued, "that some friend can't order him outof the crowd, and have him kept quiet till a surgeon can be brought."
"A surgeon!" exclaimed Cecilia, recovering from one surprize by theeffect of another; "is it then possible he may be saved?"
And without waiting to have her question answered, she ran out of thebox herself, flying wildly about the garden, and calling for help as sheflew, till she found the house by the entrance; and then, going upto the bar, "Is a surgeon sent for?" she exclaimed, "let a surgeon befetched instantly!" "A surgeon, ma'am," she was answered, "is not thegentleman dead?" "No, no, no!" she cried; "he must be brought in; letsome careful people go and bring him in." Nor would she quit the bar,till two or three waiters were called, and received her orders. Andthen, eager to see them executed herself, she ran, fearless of beingalone, and without thought of being lost, towards the fatal spot whitherthe crowd guided her. She could not, indeed, have been more secure frominsult or molestation if surrounded by twenty guards; for the scene ofdesperation and horror which many had witnessed, and of which all hadheard the signal, engrossed the universal attention, and took, even fromthe most idle and licentious, all spirit for gallantry and amusement.
Here, while making vain attempts to penetrate through the multitude,that she might see and herself judge the actual situation of Mr Harrel,and give, if yet there was room for hope, such orders as would bestconduce to his safety and recovery, she was met by Mr Marriot, whoentreated her not to press forward to a sight which he had found tooshocking for himself, and insisted upon protecting her through thecrowd.
"If he is alive," cried she, refusing his aid, "and if there is anychance he may be saved, no sight shall be too shocking to deter me fromseeing him properly attended."
"All attendance," answered he, "will be in vain; he is not indeed,yet dead, but his recovery is impossible. There is a surgeon with himalready; one who happened to be in the gardens, and he told me himselfthat the wound was inevitably mortal."
Cecilia, though greatly disappointed, still determined to make way tohim, that she might herself enquire if, in his last moments, there wasany thing he wished to communicate, or desired to have done; but, as shestruggled to proceed, she was next met and stopt by Sir Robert Floyer,who, forcing her back, acquainted her that all was over!
The shock with which she received this account, though unmixed with anytenderness of regret, and resulting merely from general humanity,was yet so violent as almost to overpower her. Mr Harrel, indeed, hadforfeited all right to her esteem, and the unfeeling selfishness ofhis whole behaviour had long provoked her resentment and excited herdisgust; yet a catastrophe so dreadful, and from which she had herselfmade such efforts to rescue him, filled her with so much horror, that,turning extremely sick, she was obliged to be supported to the nearestbox, and stop there for hartshorn and water.
A few minutes, however, sufficed to divest her of all care for herself,in the concern with which she recollected the situation of Mrs Harrel;she hastened, therefore, back to her, attended by the Baronet and MrMarriot, and found her still leaning upon the stranger, and weepingaloud.
The fatal news had already reached her; and though all affection betweenMr Harrel and herself had mutually subsided from the first two or threemonths of their marriage, a conclusion so horrible to all connectionbetween them could not be heard without sorrow and distress. Hertemper, too, naturally soft, retained not resentment, and Mr Harrel, nowseparated from her for ever, was only remembered as the Mr Harrel whofirst won her heart.
Neither pains nor tenderness were spared on the part of Cecilia toconsole her; who finding her utterly incapable either of acting ordirecting for herself, and knowing her at all times to be extremelyhelpless, now summoned to her own aid all the strength of mind shepossessed, and determined upon this melancholy occasion, both to thinkand act for her widowed friend to the utmost stretch of her abilitiesand power.
As soon, therefore, as the first effusions of her grief were over, sheprevailed with her to go to the house, where she was humanely offeredthe use of a quiet room till she should be better able to set off fortown. Cecilia, having seen her thus safely lodged, begged Mr Marriot tostay with her, and then, accompanied by the Baronet, returned herselfto the bar, and desiring the footman who had attended them to be called,sent him instantly to his late master, and proceeded next with greatpresence of mind, to inquire further into the particulars of what hadpassed, and to consult upon what was immediately to be done with thedeceased; for she thought it neither decent nor right to leave to chanceor to strangers the last duties which could be paid him.
He had lingered, she found, about a quarter of an hour, but in acondition too dreadful for description, quite speechless, and, by allthat could be judged, out of his senses; yet so distorted with pain, andwounded so desperately beyond any power of relief, that the surgeon, whoevery instant expected his death, said it would not be merely uselessbut inhuman, to remove him till he had breathed his last. He died,therefore, in the arms of this gentleman and a waiter.
"A waiter!" cried Cecilia, reproachfully looking at Sir Robert, "and wasthere no friend who for the few poor moments that remained had patienceto support him?"
"Where would be the good," said Sir Robert, "of supporting a man in hislast agonies?"
This unfeeling speech she attempted not to answer, but, sufferingneither her dislike to him, nor her scruples for herself, to interferewith the present occasion, she desired to have his advice what was nowbest to be done.
Undertaker's men must immediately, he said, be sent for, to remove thebody.
She then gave orders for that purpose, which were instantly executed.
Whither the body was to go was the next question; Cecilia wished theremoval to be directly to the townhouse, but Sir Robert told her it mustbe carried to the nearest undertaker's, and kept there till it could beconveyed to town in a coffin.
For this, also, in the name of Mrs Harrel, she gave directions. And thenaddressing herself to Sir Robert, "You will now Sir, I hope," she said,"return to the fatal spot, and watch by your late unfortunate friendtill the proper people arrive to take charge of him?"
"And what good will that do?" cried he; "had I not better watch by you?"
"It will do good," answered she, with some severity, "to decency and tohumanity; and surely you cannot refuse to see who is with him, and inwhat situation he lies, and whether he has met, from the strangers withwhom he was left, the tenderness and care which his friends ought tohave paid him."
"Will you promise, then," he answered, "not to go away till I come back?for I have no great ambition to sacrifice the living for the dead."
"I will promise nothing, Sir," said she, shocked at his callousinsensibility; "but if you refuse this last poor office, I must applyelsewhere; and firmly I believe there is no other I can ask who will amoment hesitate in complying."
She then went back to Mrs Harrel, leaving, however, an impressionupon the mind of Sir Robert, tha
t made him no longer dare dispute hercommands.
Her next solicitude was how they should return to town; they had noequipage of their own, and the only servant who came with them wasemployed in performing the last duties for his deceased master. Herfirst intention was to order a hackney coach, but the deplorable stateof Mrs Harrel made it almost impossible she could take the sole care ofher, and the lateness of the night, and their distance from home, gaveher a dread invincible to going so far without some guard or assistant.Mr Marriot earnestly desired to have the honour of conveying them toPortman-square in his own carriage, and notwithstanding there were manyobjections to such a proposal, the humanity of his behaviour upon thepresent occasion, and the evident veneration which accompanied hispassion, joined to her encreasing aversion to the Baronet, from whomshe could not endure to receive the smallest obligation, determined her,after much perplexity and hesitation, to accept his offer.
She begged him, therefore, to immediately order his coach, and, happy toobey her, he went out with that design; but, instantly coming back,told her, in a low voice, that they must wait some time longer, as theUndertaker's people were then entering the garden, and if they stayednot till the removal had taken place, Mrs Harrel might be shocked withthe sight of some of the men, or perhaps even meet the dead body.
Cecilia, thanking him for this considerate precaution, readily agreed todefer setting out; devoting, mean time, all her attention to Mrs Harrel,whose sorrow, though violent, forbad not consolation. But before thegarden was cleared, and the carriage ordered, Sir Robert returned;saying to Cecilia, with an air of parading obedience which seemed toclaim some applause, "Miss Beverley, your commands have been executed."
Cecilia made not any answer, and he presently added, "Whenever you chuseto go I will order up my coach."
"My coach, Sir," said Mr Marriot, "will be ordered when the ladies areready, and I hope to have the honour myself of conducting them to town."
"No, Sir," cried the Baronet, "that can never be; my long acquaintancewith Mrs Harrel gives me a prior right to attend her, and I can by nomeans suffer any other person to rob me of it."
"I have nothing," said Mr Marriot, "to say to that, Sir, but MissBeverley herself has done me the honour to consent to make use of mycarriage."
"Miss Beverley, I think," said Sir Robert, extremely piqued, "can neverhave sent me out of the way in order to execute her own commands, merelyto deprive me of the pleasure of attending her and Mrs Harrel home."
Cecilia, somewhat alarmed, now sought to lessen the favour of herdecision, though she adhered to it without wavering.
"My intention," said she, "was not to confer, but to receive anobligation; and I had hoped, while Mr. Marriot assisted us, Sir Robertwould be far more humanely employed in taking charge of what wecannot superintend, and yet are infinitely more anxious should not beneglected."
"That," said Sir Robert, "is all done; and I hope, therefore, aftersending me upon such an errand, you don't mean to refuse me the pleasureof seeing you to town?"
"Sir Robert," said Cecilia, greatly displeased, "I cannot argue withyou now; I have already settled my plan, and I am not at leisure tore-consider it."
Sir Robert bit his lips for a moment in angry silence; but not enduringto lose the victory to a young rival he despised, he presently said, "IfI must talk no more about it to you, madam, I must at least beg leaveto talk of it to this gentleman, and take the liberty to represent tohim--"
Cecilia now, dreading how his speech might be answered, prevented itsbeing finished, and with an air of the most spirited dignity, said, "Isit possible, sir, that at a time such as this, you should not be whollyindifferent to a matter so frivolous? little indeed will be the pleasurewhich our society can afford! your dispute however, has given it someimportance, and therefore Mr Marriot must accept my thanks for hiscivility, and excuse me for retracting my consent."
Supplications and remonstrances were, however, still poured upon herfrom both, and the danger, the impossibility that two ladies could go totown alone, in a hackney coach, and without even a servant, at near fouro'clock in the morning, they mutually urged, vehemently entreating thatshe would run no such hazard.
Cecilia was far other than insensible to these representations; thedanger, indeed, appeared to her so formidable, that her inclination thewhole time opposed her refusal; yet her repugnance to giving way to theoverbearing Baronet, and her fear of his resentment if she listened toMr Marriot, forced her to be steady, since she saw that her preferencewould prove the signal of a quarrel.
Inattentive, therefore, to their joint persecution, she againdeliberated by what possible method she could get home in safety; butunable to devise any, she at last resolved to make enquiries of thepeople in the bar, who had been extremely humane and civil, whether theycould assist or counsel her. She therefore desired the two gentlemen totake care of Mrs Harrel, to which neither dared dissent, as both couldnot refuse, and hastily arising, went out of the room; but greatindeed was her surprize when, as she was walking up to the bar, she wasaddressed by young Delvile!
Approaching her with that air of gravity and distance which of latehe had assumed in her presence, he was beginning some speech about hismother; but the instant the sound of his voice reached Cecilia, shejoyfully clasped her hands, and eagerly exclaimed, "Mr Delvile!--O nowwe are safe!--this is fortunate indeed!"
"Safe, Madam," cried he astonished, "yes I hope so!--has any thingendangered your safety?"
"O no matter for danger," cried she, "we will now trust ourselves withyou, and I am sure you will protect us."
"Protect you!" repeated he again, and with warmth, "yes, while Ilive!--but what is the matter?--why are you so pale?--are you ill?--areyou frightened?--what is the matter?"
And losing all coldness and reserve, with the utmost earnestness hebegged her to explain herself.
"Do you not know," cried she, "what has happened? Can you be here andnot have heard it?"
"Heard what?" cried he, "I am but this moment arrived; my mother grewuneasy that she did not see you, she sent to your house, and was toldthat you were not returned from Vauxhall; some other circumstances alsoalarmed her, and therefore, late as it was, I came hither myself. Theinstant I entered this place, I saw you here. This is all myhistory; tell me now yours. Where is your party? where are Mr and MrsHarrel?--Why are you alone?"
"O ask not!" cried she, "I cannot tell you!--take us but under yourcare, and you will soon know all."
She then hurried from him, and returning to Mrs Harrel, said she had nowa conveyance at once safe and proper, and begged her to rise and comeaway.
The gentlemen, however, rose first, each of them declaring he wouldhimself attend them.
"No," said Cecilia, steadily, "that trouble will now be superfluous; MrsDelvile herself has sent for me, and her son is now waiting till we joinhim."
Amazement and disappointment at this intelligence were visible in thefaces of them both; Cecilia waited not a single question, but findingshe was unable to support Mrs Harrel, who rather suffered herself tobe carried than led, she entrusted her between them, and ran forward toenquire of Delvile if his carriage was ready.
She found him with a look of horror that told the tale he had beenhearing, listening to one of the waiters; the moment she appeared,he flew to her, and with the utmost emotion exclaimed, "Amiable MissBeverley! what a dreadful scene have you witnessed! what a cruel taskhave you nobly performed! such spirit with such softness! so muchpresence of mind with such feeling!--but you are all excellence! humannature can rise no higher! I believe indeed you are its most perfectornament!"
Praise such as this, so unexpected, and delivered with such energy,Cecilia heard not without pleasure, even at a moment when her whole mindwas occupied by matters foreign to its peculiar interests. She made,however, her enquiry about the carriage, and he told her that he hadcome in a hackney coach, which was waiting for him at the door.
Mrs Harrel was now brought in, and little was the recompense herassistants receive
d for their aid, when they saw Cecilia so contentedlyengaged with young Delvile, whose eyes were rivetted on her face, withan expression of the most lively admiration; each, however, then quittedthe other, and hastened to the fair mourner; no time was now lost, MrsHarrel was supported to the coach, Cecilia followed her, and Delvile,jumping in after them, ordered the man to drive to Portman-square.
Sir Robert and Mr Marriot, confounded though enraged, saw theirdeparture in passive silence; the right of attendance they had sotenaciously denied to each other, here admitted not of dispute; Delvileupon this occasion, appeared as the representative of his father, andhis authority seemed the authority of a guardian. Their only consolationwas that neither had yielded to the other, and all spirit of altercationor revenge was sunk in their mutual mortification. At the petition ofthe waiters, from sullen but proud emulation, they paid the expences ofthe night, and then throwing themselves into their carriages, returnedto their respective houses.