LETTER IV
MR. LOVELACE, TO JOHN BELFORD, ESQ.SAT. EVENING.
I had a charming airing. No return of my malady. My heart was perfectlyeasy, how could my stomach be otherwise?
But when I came home, I found that my sweet soul had been alarmed by anew incident--The inquiry after us both, in a very suspicious manner, andthat by description of our persons, and not by names, by a servant in ablue livery turn'd up and trimm'd with yellow.
Dorcas was called to him, as the upper servant; and she refusing toanswer any of the fellow's questions, unless he told his business, andfrom whom he came, the fellow (as short as she) said, that if she wouldnot answer him, perhaps she might answer somebody else; and went away outof humour.
Dorcas hurried up to her Lady, and alarmed her, not only with the fact,but with her own conjectures; adding, that he was an ill-looking fellow,and she was sure could come for no good.
The livery and the features of the servant were particularly inquiredafter, and as particularly described--Lord bless her! no end of heralarms, she thought! And then did her apprehensions anticipate everyevil that could happen.
She wished Mr. Lovelace would come in.
Mr. Lovelace came in soon after; all lively, grateful, full of hopes, ofduty, of love, to thank his charmer, and to congratulate with her uponthe cure she had performed. And then she told the story, with all itscircumstances; and Dorcas, to point her lady's fears, told us, that theservant was a sun-burnt fellow, and looked as if he had been at sea.
He was then, no doubt, Captain Singleton's servant, and the next news sheshould hear, was, that the house was surrounded by a whole ship's crew;the vessel lying no farther off, as she understood, than Rotherhithe.
Impossible, I said. Such an attempt would not be ushered in by such amanner of inquiry. And why may it not rather be a servant of your cousinMorden, with notice of his arrival, and of his design to attend you?
This surmise delighted her. Her apprehensions went off, and she was atleisure to congratulate me upon my sudden recovery; which she did in themost obliging manner.
But we had not sat long together, when Dorcas again came fluttering up totell us, that the footman, the very footman, was again at the door, andinquired, whether Mr. Lovelace and his lady, by name, had not lodgings inthis house? He asked, he told Dorcas, for no harm. But his disavowingof harm, was a demonstration with my apprehensive fair-one, that harm wasintended. And as the fellow had not been answered by Dorcas, I proposedto go down to the street-parlour, and hear what he had to say.
I see your causeless terror, my dearest life, said I, and your impatience--Will you be pleased to walk down--and, without being observed, (for heshall come no farther than the parlour-door,) you may hear all thatpasses?
She consented. We went down. Dorcas bid the man come forward. Well,friend, what is your business with Mr. and Mrs. Lovelace?
Bowing, scraping, I am sure you are the gentleman, Sir. Why, Sir, mybusiness is only to know if your honour be here, and to be spoken with;or if you shall be here for any time?
Whom came you from?
From a gentleman who ordered me to say, if I was made to tell, but notelse, it was from a friend of Mr. John Harlowe, Mrs. Lovelace's eldestuncle.
The dear creature was ready to sink upon this. It was but of late thatshe had provided herself with salts. She pulled them out.
Do you know anything of Colonel Morden, friend? said I.
No; I never heard of his name.
Of Captain Singleton?
No, Sir. But the gentleman, my master, is a Captain too.
What is his name?
I don't know if I should tell.
There can be no harm in telling the gentleman's name, if you come upona good account.
That I do; for my master told me so; and there is not an honestergentleman on the face of God's yearth.--His name is Captain Tomlinson,Sir.
I don't know such a one.
I believe not, Sir. He was pleased to say, he don't know your honor,Sir; but I heard him say as how he should not be an unwelcome visiter toyou for all that.
Do you know such a man as Captain Tomlinson, my dearest life, [aside,]your uncle's friend?
No; but my uncle may have acquaintance, no doubt, that I don't know.--But I hope [trembling] this is not a trick.
Well, friend, if your master has anything to say to Mr. Lovelace, you maytell him, that Mr. Lovelace is here; and will see him whenever hepleases.
The dear creature looked as if afraid that my engagement was too promptfor my own safety; and away went the fellow--I wondering, that she mightnot wonder, that this Captain Tomlinson, whoever he were, came nothimself, or sent not a letter the second time, when he had reason tosuppose that I might be here.
Mean time, for fear that this should be a contrivance of James Harlowe,who, I said, love plotting, though he had not a head turned for it, Igave some precautionary directions to the servants, and the women, whom,for the greater parade, I assembled before us, and my beloved wasresolved not to stir abroad till she saw the issue of this odd affair.
And here must I close, though in so great a puzzle.
Only let me add, that poor Belton wants thee; for I dare not stir for mylife.
Mowbray and Tourville skulk about like vagabonds, without heads, withouthands, without souls; having neither you nor me to conduct them. Theytell me, they shall rust beyond the power of oil or action to brightenthem up, or give them motion.
How goes it with thy uncle?