LETTER V
MR. LOVELACE, TO JOHN BELFORD, ESQ.SUNDAY, MAY 28.
This story of Captain Tomlinson employed us not only for the time we weretogether last night, but all the while we sat at breakfast this morning.She would still have it that it was the prelude to some mischief fromSingleton. I insisted (according to my former hint) that it might muchmore probably be a method taken by Colonel Morden to alarm her, previousto a personal visit. Travelled gentlemen affected to surprise in thismanner. And why, dearest creature, said I, must every thing thathappens, which we cannot immediately account for, be what we least wish?
She had had so many disagreeable things befall her of late, that herfears were too often stronger than her hopes.
And this, Madam, makes me apprehensive, that you will get into so low-spirited a way, that you will not be able to enjoy the happiness thatseems to await us.
Her duty and her gratitude, she gravely said, to the Dispenser of allgood, would secure her, she hoped, against unthankfulness. And athankful spirit was the same as a joyful one.
So, Belford, for all her future joys she depends entirely upon theinvisible Good. She is certainly right; since those who fix least uponsecond causes are the least likely to be disappointed--And is not thisgravity for her gravity?
She had hardly done speaking, when Dorcas came running up in a hurry--she set even my heart into a palpitation--thump, thump, thump, like aprecipitated pendulum in a clock-case--flutter, flutter, flutter, mycharmer's, as by her sweet bosom rising to her chin I saw.
This lower class of people, my beloved herself observed, were for everaiming at the stupid wonderful, and for making even common incidentsmatter of surprise.
Why the devil, said I to the wench, this alarming hurry?--And with yourspread fingers, and your O Madams, and O Sirs!--and be cursed to you!Would there have been a second of time difference, had you come upslowly?
Captain Tomlinson, Sir!
Captain Devilson, what care I?--Do you see how you have disordered yourlady?
Good Mr. Lovelace, said my charmer, trembling [see, Jack, when she has anend to serve, I am good Mr. Lovelace,] if--if my brother,--if CaptainSingleton should appear--pray now--I beseech you--let me beg of you--togovern your temper--My brother is my brother--Captain Singleton is but anagent.
My dearest life, folding my arms about her, [when she asks favours,thought I, the devil's in it, if she will not allow such an innocentfreedom as this, from good Mr. Lovelace too,] you shall be witness of allpasses between us.--Dorcas, desire the gentleman to walk up.
Let me retire to my chamber first!--Let me not be known to be in thehouse!
Charming dear!--Thou seest, Belford, she is afraid of leaving me!--O thelittle witchcrafts! Were it not for surprises now-and-then, how would anhonest man know where to have them?
She withdrew to listen.--And though this incident has not turned out toanswer all I wished from it, yet is it not necessary, if I would acquaintthee with my whole circulation, to be very particular in what passedbetween Captain Tomlinson and me.
Enter Captain Tomlinson, in a riding-dress, whip in hand.
Your servant, Sir,--Mr. Lovelace, I presume?
My name is Lovelace, Sir.
Excuse the day, Sir.--Be pleased to excuse my garb. I am obliged to goout of town directly, that I may return at night.
The day is a good day. Your garb needs no apology.
When I sent my servant, I did not know that I should find time to domyself this honour. All that I thought I could do to oblige my friendthis journey, was only to assure myself of your abode; and whether therewas a probability of being admitted to the speech of either you, or yourlady.
Sir, you best know your own motives. What your time will permit you to do,you also best know. And here I am, attending your pleasure.
My charmer owned afterwards her concern on my being so short. WhateverI shall mingle of her emotions, thou wilt easily guess I had afterwards.
Sir, I hope no offence. I intend none.
None--None at all, Sir.
Sir, I have no interest in the affair I come about. I may appearofficious; and if I thought I should, I would decline any concern in it,after I have just hinted what it is.
And pray, Sir, what is it?
May I ask you, Sir, without offence, whether you wish to be reconciled,and to co-operate upon honourable terms, with one gentleman of the nameof Harlowe; preparative, as it may be hoped, to a general reconciliation?
O how my heart fluttered! cried my charmer.
I can't tell, Sir--[and then it fluttered still more, no doubt:] Thewhole family have used me extremely ill. They have taken greaterliberties with my character than are justifiable; and with my family too;which I can less forgive.
Sir, Sir, I have done. I beg pardon for this intrusion.
My beloved was then ready to sink, and thought very hardly of me.
But, pray, Sir, to the immediate purpose of your present commission;since a commission it seems to be?
It is a commission, Sir; and such a one, as I thought would be agreeableto all parties, or I should not have given myself concern about it.
Perhaps it may, Sir, when known. But let me ask you one previousquestion--Do you know Colonel Morden, Sir?
No, Sir. If you mean personally, I do not. But I have heard my goodfriend Mr. John Harlowe talk of him with great respect; and such aco-trustee with him in a certain trust.
Lovel. I thought it probable, Sir, that the Colonel might be arrived;that you might be a gentleman of his acquaintance; and that something ofan agreeable surprise might be intended.
Capt. Had Colonel Morden been in England, Mr. John Harlowe would haveknown it; and then I should not have been a stranger to it.
Lovel. Well but, Sir, have you then any commission to me from Mr. JohnHarlowe?
Capt. Sir, I will tell you, as briefly as I can, the whole of what Ihave to say; but you'll excuse me also in a previous question, for whatcuriosity is not my motive; but it is necessary to be answered before Ican proceed; as you will judge when you hear it.
Lovel. What, pray, Sir, is your question?
Capt. Briefly, whether you are actually, and bona fide, married to MissClarissa Harlowe?
I started, and, in a haughty tone, is this, Sir, a question that must beanswered before you can proceed in the business you have undertaken?
I mean no offence, Mr. Lovelace. Mr. Harlowe sought to me to undertakethis office. I have daughters and nieces of my own. I thought it a goodoffice, or I, who have many considerable affairs upon my hands, had notaccepted of it. I know the world; and will take the liberty to say, thatif the young lady--
Captain Tomlinson, I think you are called?
My name is Tomlinson.
Why then, Tomlinson, no liberty, as you call it, will be taken well, thatis not extremely delicate, when that lady is mentioned.
When you had heard me out, Mr. Lovelace, and had found I had so behaved,as to make the caution necessary, it would have been just to have givenit.--Allow me to say, I know what is due to the character of a woman ofvirtue, as well as any man alive.
Why, Sir! Why, Captain Tomlinson, you seem warm. If you intend anything by this, [O how I trembled! said the lady, when she took notice ofthis part of our conversation afterwards,] I will only say, that this isa privileged place. It is at present my home, and an asylum for anygentleman who thinks it worth his while to inquire after me, be themanner or end of his inquiry what it will.
I know not, Sir, that I have given occasion for this. I make no scrupleto attend you elsewhere, if I am troublesome here. I was told, I had awarm young gentleman to deal with: but as I knew my intention, and thatmy commission was an amicable one, I was the less concerned about that.I am twice your age, Mr. Lovelace, I dare say: but I do assure you, thatif either my message or my manner gives you offence, I can suspend theone or the other for a day, or for ever, as you like. And so, Sir, anytime before eight tomorrow morning, you will let me
know your furthercommands.--And was going to tell me where he might be found.
Captain Tomlinson, said I, you answer well. I love a man of spirit.Have you not been in the army?
I have, Sir; but have turned my sword into a ploughshare, as thescripture has it,--[there was a clever fellow, Jack!--he was a good manwith somebody, I warrant! O what a fine coat and cloke for an hypocritewill a text of scripture, properly applied, make at any time in the eyesof the pious!--how easily are the good folks taken in!]--and all mydelight, added he, for some years past, has been in cultivating mypaternal estate. I love a brave man, Mr. Lovelace, as well as ever I didin my life. But let me tell you, Sir, that when you come to my time oflife, you will be of opinion, that there is not so much true bravery inyouthful choler, as you may now think there is.
A clever fellow again, Belford!--Ear and heart, both at once, he took inmy charmer!--'Tis well, she says, there are some men who have wisdom intheir anger.
Well, Captain, that is reproof for reproof. So we are upon a footing.And now give me the pleasure of hearing the import of your commission.
Sir, you must first allow me to repeat my question: Are you really, andbona fide, married to Miss Clarissa Harlowe? or are you not yet married?
Bluntly put, Captain. But if I answer that I am, what then?
Why then, Sir, I shall say, that you are a man of honour.
That I hope I am, whether you say it or not, Captain Tomlinson.
Sir, I will be very frank in all I have to say on this subject--Mr. JohnHarlowe has lately found out, that you and his niece are both in the samelodgings; that you have been long so; and that the lady was at the playwith you yesterday was se'nnight; and he hopes that you are actuallymarried. He has indeed heard that you are; but as he knows yourenterprising temper, and that you have declared, that you disdain arelation to their family, he is willing by me to have your marriageconfirmed from your own mouth, before he take the steps he is inclined totake in his niece's favour. You will allow me to say, Mr. Lovelace, thathe will not be satisfied with an answer that admits of the least doubt.
Let me tell you, Captain Tomlinson, that it is a high degree of vilenessfor any man to suppose--
Sir--Mr. Lovelace--don't put yourself into a passion. The lady'srelations are jealous of the honour of their family. They haveprejudices to overcome as well as you--advantage may have been taken--andthe lady, at the time, not to blame.
This lady, Sir, could give no such advantages: and if she had, what mustthe man be, Captain Tomlinson, who could have taken them?--Do you knowthe lady, Sir?
I never had the honour to see her but once; and that was at a church; andshould not know her again.
Not know her again, Sir!--I thought there was not a man living who hadonce seen her, and would not know her among a thousand.
I remember, Sir, that I thought I never saw a finer woman in my life.But, Mr. Lovelace, I believe, you will allow, that it is better that herrelations should have wronged you, than you the lady, I hope, Sir, youwill permit me to repeat my question.
Enter Dorcas, in a hurry.
A gentleman, this minute, Sir, desires to speak with your honour--[Mylady, Sir!--Aside.]
Could the dear creature put Dorcas upon telling this fib, yet want tosave me one?
Desire the gentleman to walk into one of the parlours. I will wait uponhim presently.
[Exit Dorcas.
The dear creature, I doubted not, wanted to instruct me how to answerthe Captain's home put. I knew how I intended to answer it--plumb, thoumay'st be sure--but Dorcas's message staggered me. And yet I was uponone of my master-strokes--which was, to take advantage of the captain'sinquiries, and to make her own her marriage before him, as she had doneto the people below; and if she had been brought to that, to induce her,for her uncle's satisfaction, to write him a letter of gratitude; whichof course must have been signed Clarissa Lovelace. I was loth,therefore, thou may'st believe, to attend her sudden commands: and yet,afraid of pushing matters beyond recovery with her, I thought proper tolead him from the question, to account for himself and for Mr. Harlowe'scoming to the knowledge of where we are; and for other particulars whichI knew would engage her attention; and which might possibly convince herof the necessity there was for her to acquiesce in the affirmative I wasdisposed to give. And this for her own sake; For what, as I asked herafterwards, is it to me, whether I am ever reconciled to her family?--Afamily, Jack, which I must for ever despise.
You think, Captain, that I have answered doubtfully to the question youput. You may think so. And you must know, that I have a good deal ofpride; and, only that you are a gentleman, and seem in this affair to begoverned by generous motives, or I should ill brook being interrogated asto my honour to a lady so dear to me.--But before I answer more directlyto the point, pray satisfy me in a question or two that I shall put toyou.
With all my heart, Sir. Ask me what questions you please, I will answerthem with sincerity and candour.
You say, Mr. Harlowe has found out that we were at a play together: andthat we were both in the same lodgings--How, pray, came he at hisknowledge?--for, let me tell you, that I have, for certainconsiderations, (not respecting myself, I will assure you,) condescendedthat our abode should be kept secret. And this has been so strictlyobserved, that even Miss Howe, though she and my beloved correspond, knowsnot directly where to send to us.
Why, Sir, the person who saw you at the play, was a tenant of Mr. JohnHarlowe. He watched all your motions. When the play was done, hefollowed your coach to your lodgings. And early the next day, Sunday,he took horse, and acquainted his landlord with what he had observed.
Lovel. How oddly things come about!--But does any other of the Harlowesknow where we are?
Capt. It is an absolute secret to every other person of the family; andso it is intended to be kept: as also that Mr. John Harlowe is willing toenter into treaty with you, by me, if his niece be actually married; forperhaps he is aware, that he shall have difficulty enough with somepeople to bring about the desirable reconciliation, although he couldgive them this assurance.
I doubt it not, Captain--to James Harlowe is all the family folly owing.Fine fools! [heroically stalking about] to be governed by one to whommalice and not genius, gives the busy liveliness that distinguishes himfrom a natural!--But how long, pray, Sir, has Mr. John Harlowe been inthis pacific disposition?
I will tell you, Mr. Lovelace, and the occasion; and be very explicitupon it, and upon all that concerns you to know of me, and of thecommission I have undertaken to execute; and this the rather, as whenyou have heard me out, you will be satisfied, that I am not an officiousman in this my present address to you.
I am all attention, Captain Tomlinson.
And so I doubt not was my beloved.
Capt. 'You must know, Sir, that I have not been many months in Mr. JohnHarlowe's neighbourhood. I removed from Northamptonshire, partly for thesake of better managing one of two executorship, which I could not avoidengaging in, (the affairs of which frequently call me to town, and arepart of my present business;) and partly for the sake of occupying aneglected farm, which has lately fallen into my hands. But though anacquaintance of no longer standing, and that commencing on the bowling-green, [uncle John is a great bowler, Belford,] (upon my decision of apoint to every one's satisfaction, which was appealed to me by all thegentlemen, and which might have been attended with bad consequences,) notwo brothers have a more cordial esteem for each other. You know, Mr.Lovelace, that there is a consent, as I may call it, in some minds, whichwill unite them stronger together in a few hours, than years can do withothers, whom yet we see not with disgust.'
Lovel. Very true, Captain.
Capt. 'It was on the foot of this avowed friendship on both sides, thaton Monday the 15th, as I very well remember, Mr. Harlowe invited himselfhome with me. And when there, he acquainted me with the whole of theunhappy affair that had made them all so uneasy. Till then I knew itonly by report; for, intimate as we
were, I forbore to speak of what wasso near his heart, till he began first. And then he told me, that he hadhad an application made to him, two or three days before, by a gentlemanwhom he named,* to induce him not only to be reconciled himself to hisniece, but to forward for her a general reconciliation.
* See Vol. IV. Letters XXIII and XXIX.
'A like application, he told me, had been made to his sister Harlowe, bya good woman, whom every body respected; who had intimated, that hisniece, if encouraged, would again put herself into the protection of herfriends, and leave you: but if not, that she must unavoidably be your's.'
I hope, Mr. Lovelace, I make no mischief.--You look concerned--you sigh,Sir.
Proceed, Captain Tomlinson. Pray proceed.--And I sighed still moreprofoundly.
Capt. 'They all thought it extremely particular, that a lady shoulddecline marriage with a man she had so lately gone away with.'
Pray, Captain--pray, Mr. Tomlinson--no more of this subject. My belovedis an angel. In every thing unblamable. Whatever faults there havebeen, have been theirs and mine. What you would further say, is, thatthe unforgiving family rejected her application. They did. She and Ihad a misunderstanding. The falling out of lovers--you know, Captain.--We have been happier ever since.
Capt. 'Well, Sir; but Mr. John Harlowe could not but better considerthe matter afterwards. And he desired my advice how to act in it. Hetold me that no father ever loved a daughter as he loved this niece ofhis; whom, indeed, he used to call his daughter-niece. He said, she hadreally been unkindly treated by her brother and sister: and as youralliance, Sir, was far from being a discredit to their family, he woulddo his endeavour to reconcile all parties, if he could be sure that yewere actually man and wife.'
Lovel. And what, pray, Captain, was your advice?
Capt. 'I gave it as my opinion, that if his niece were unworthilytreated, and in distress, (as he apprehended from the application tohim,) he would soon hear of her again: but that it was likely, that thisapplication was made without expecting it would succeed; and as a salvoonly, to herself, for marrying without their consent. And the ratherthought I so, as he had told me, that it came from a young lady herfriend, and not in a direct way from herself; which young lady was nofavourite of the family; and therefore would hardly have been employed,had success been expected.'
Lovel. Very well, Captain Tomlinson--pray proceed.
Capt. 'Here the matter rested till last Sunday evening, when Mr. JohnHarlowe came to me with the man who had seen you and your lady (as Ipresume she is) at the play; and who had assured him, that you bothlodged in the same house.--And then the application having been so latelymade, which implied that you were not then married, he was so uneasy forhis niece's honour, that I advised him to dispatch to town some one inwhom he could confide, to make proper inquiries.'
Lovel. Very well, Captain--And was such a person employed on such anerrand by her uncle?
Capt. 'A trusty and discreet person was accordingly sent; and lastTuesday, I think it was, (for he returned to us on the Wednesday,) hemade the inquiries among the neighbours first.' [The very inquiry, Jack,that gave us all so much uneasiness.*] 'But finding that none of themcould give any satisfactory account, the lady's woman was come at, whodeclared, that you were actually married. But the inquirist keepinghimself on the reserve as to his employers, the girl refused to tell theday, or to give him other particulars.'
* See Vol. IV. Letter L.
Lovel. You give a very clear account of every thing, Captain Tomlinson.Pray proceed.
Capt. 'The gentleman returned; and, on his report, Mr. Harlowe, havingstill doubts, and being willing to proceed on some grounds in soimportant a point, besought me (as my affairs called me frequently totown) to undertake this matter. "You, Mr. Tomlinson, he was pleased tosay, have children of your own: you know the world: you know what I driveat: you will proceed, I am sure, with understanding and spirit: andwhatever you are satisfied with shall satisfy me."'
Enter Dorcas again in a hurry.
Sir, the gentleman is impatient.
I will attend him presently.
The Captain then accounted for his not calling in person, when he hadreason to think us here.
He said he had business of consequence a few miles out of town, whitherhe thought he must have gone yesterday, and having been obliged to putoff his little journey till this day, and understanding that we werewithin, not knowing whether he should have such another opportunity, hewas willing to try his good fortune before he set out; and this made himcome booted and spurred, as I saw him.
He dropped a hint in commendation of the people of the house; but it wasin such a way, as to give no room to suspect that he thought it necessaryto inquire after the character of persons, who make so genteel anappearance, as he observed they do.
And here let me remark, that my beloved might collect anothercircumstance in favour of the people below, had she doubted theircharacters, from the silence of her uncle's inquirist on Tuesday amongthe neighbours.
Capt. 'And now, Sir, that I believe I have satisfied you in every thingrelating to my commission, I hope you will permit me to repeat myquestion--which is--'
Enter Dorcas again, out of breath.
Sir, the gentleman will step up to you. [My lady is impatient. Shewonders at your honour's delay. Aside.]
Excuse me, Captain, for one moment.
I have staid my full time, Mr. Lovelace. What may result from myquestion and your answer, whatever it shall be, may take us up time.--And you are engaged. Will you permit me to attend you in the morning,before I set out on my return?
You will then breakfast with me, Captain?
It must be early if I do. I must reach my own house to-morrow night, orI shall make the best of wives unhappy. And I have two or three placesto call at in my way.
It shall be by seven o'clock, if you please, Captain. We are earlyfolks. And this I will tell you, that if ever I am reconciled to afamily so implacable as I have always found the Harlowes to be, it mustbe by the mediation of so cool and so moderate a gentleman as yourself.
And so, with the highest civilities on both sides, we parted. But forthe private satisfaction of so good a man, I left him out of doubt thatwe were man and wife, though I did not directly aver it.