LETTER XXII
MR. BELFORD, TO ROBERT LOVELACE, ESQ.WEDNESDAY, JULY 19.
This morning I took a chair to Smith's; and, being told that the lady hada very bad night, but was up, I sent for her worthy apothecary; who, onhis coming to me, approving of my proposal of calling in Dr. H., I bidthe woman acquaint her with the designed visit.
It seems she was at first displeased; yet withdrew her objection: but,after a pause, asked them, What she should do? She had effects of value,some of which she intended, as soon as she could, to turn into money,but, till then, had not a single guinea to give the doctor for his fee.
Mrs. Lovick said, she had five guineas by her; they were at her service.
She would accept of three, she said, if she would take that (pulling adiamond ring from her finger) till she repaid her; but on no other terms.
Having been told I was below with Mr. Goddard, she desired to speak oneword with me, before she saw the Doctor.
She was sitting in an elbow-chair, leaning her head on a pillow; Mrs.Smith and the widow on each side her chair; her nurse, with a phial ofhartshorn, behind her; in her own hand her salts.
Raising her head at my entrance, she inquired if the Doctor knew Mr.Lovelace.
I told her no; and that I believed you never saw him in your life.
Was the Doctor my friend?
He was; and a very worthy and skilful man. I named him for his eminencein his profession: and Mr. Goddard said he knew not a better physician.
I have but one condition to make before I see the gentleman; that herefuse not his fees from me. If I am poor, Sir, I am proud. I will notbe under obligation, you may believe, Sir, I will not. I suffer thisvisit, because I would not appear ungrateful to the few friends I haveleft, nor obstinate to such of my relations, as may some time hence, fortheir private satisfaction, inquire after my behaviour in my sick hours.So, Sir, you know the condition. And don't let me be vexed. 'I am veryill! and cannot debate the matter.'
Seeing her so determined, I told her, if it must be so, it should.
Then, Sir, the gentleman may come. But I shall not be able to answermany questions. Nurse, you can tell him at the window there what a nightI have had, and how I have been for two days past. And Mr. Goddard, ifhe be here, can let him know what I have taken. Pray let me be as littlequestioned as possible.
The Doctor paid his respects to her with the gentlemanly address forwhich he is noted: and she cast up her sweet eyes to him with thatbenignity which accompanies her every graceful look.
I would have retired: but she forbid it.
He took her hand, the lily not of so beautiful a white: Indeed, Madam,you are very low, said he: but give me leave to say, that you can do morefor yourself than all the faculty can do for you.
He then withdrew to the window. And, after a short conference with thewomen, he turned to me, and to Mr. Goddard, at the other window: We cando nothing here, (speaking low,) but by cordials and nourishment. Whatfriends has the lady? She seems to be a person of condition; and, ill asshe is, a very fine woman.----A single lady, I presume?
I whisperingly told him she was. That there were extraordinarycircumstances in her case; as I would have apprized him, had I met withhim yesterday: that her friends were very cruel to her; but that shecould not hear them named without reproaching herself; though they weremuch more to blame than she.
I knew I was right, said the Doctor. A love-case, Mr. Goddard! alove-case, Mr. Belford! there is one person in the world who can do hermore service than all the faculty.
Mr. Goddard said he had apprehended her disorder was in her mind; and hadtreated her accordingly: and then told the Doctor what he had done: whichhe approving of, again taking her charming hand, said, My good younglady, you will require very little of our assistance. You must, in agreat measure, be your own assistance. You must, in a great measure, beyour own doctress. Come, dear Madam, [forgive me the familiartenderness; your aspect commands love as well as reverence; and a fatherof children, some of them older than yourself, may be excused for hisfamiliar address,] cheer up your spirits. Resolve to do all in yourpower to be well; and you'll soon grow better.
You are very kind, Sir, said she. I will take whatever you direct. Myspirits have been hurried. I shall be better, I believe, before I amworse. The care of my good friends here, looking at the women, shall notmeet with an ungrateful return.
The Doctor wrote. He would fain have declined his fee. As her malady,he said, was rather to be relieved by the soothings of a friend, than bythe prescriptions of a physician, he should think himself greatlyhonoured to be admitted rather to advise her in the one character, thanto prescribe to her in the other.
She answered, That she should be always glad to see so humane a man: thathis visits would keep her in charity with his sex: but that, where [sic]she able to forget that he was her physician, she might be apt to abateof the confidence in his skill, which might be necessary to effect theamendment that was the end of his visits.
And when he urged her still further, which he did in a very politemanner, and as passing by the door two or three times a day, she said sheshould always have pleasure in considering him in the kind light heoffered himself to her: that that might be very generous in one person tooffer, which would be as ungenerous in another to accept: that indeed shewas not at present high in circumstance; and he saw by the tender, (whichhe must accept of,) that she had greater respect to her own conveniencethan to his merit, or than to the pleasure she should take in his visits.
We all withdrew together; and the Doctor and Mr. Goddard having a greatcuriosity to know something more of her story, at the motion of thelatter we went into a neighbouring coffee-house, and I gave them, inconfidence, a brief relation of it; making all as light for you as Icould; and yet you'll suppose, that, in order to do but common justiceto the lady's character, heavy must be that light.
THREE O'CLOCK, AFTERNOON.
I just now called again at Smith's; and am told she is somewhat better;which she attributed to the soothings of her Doctor. She expressedherself highly pleased with both gentlemen; and said that their behaviourto her was perfectly paternal.----
Paternal, poor lady!----never having been, till very lately, from underher parents' wings, and now abandoned by all her friends, she is forfinding out something paternal and maternal in every one, (the latterqualities in Mrs. Lovick and Mrs. Smith,) to supply to herself the fatherand mother her dutiful heart pants after.
Mrs. Smith told me, that, after we were gone, she gave the keys of hertrunk and drawers to her and the widow Lovick, and desired them to takean inventory of them; which they did in her presence.
They also informed me, that she had requested them to find her apurchaser for two rich dressed suits; one never worn, the other not aboveonce or twice.
This shocked me exceedingly--perhaps it may thee a little!!!--Her reasonfor so doing, she told them, was, that she should never live to wearthem: that her sister, and other relations, were above wearing them: thather mother would not endure in her sight any thing that was her's: thatshe wanted the money: that she would not be obliged to any body, when shehad effects by her for which she had no occasion: and yet, said she, Iexpect not that they will fetch a price answerable to their value.
They were both very much concerned, as they owned; and asked my adviceupon it: and the richness of her apparel having given them a still highernotion of her rank than they had before, they supposed she must be ofquality; and again wanted to know her story.
I told them, that she was indeed a woman of family and fortune: I stillgave them room to suppose her married: but left it to her to tell themall in her own time and manner: all I would say was, that she had beenvery vilely treated; deserved it not; and was all innocence and purity.
You may suppose that they both expressed their astonishment, that therecould be a man in the world who could ill treat so fine a creature.
As to the disposing of the two suits of apparel, I told Mrs. Smit
h thatshe should pretend that, upon inquiry, she had found a friend who wouldpurchase the richest of them; but (that she might not mistrust) wouldstand upon a good bargain. And having twenty guineas about me, I leftthem with her, in part of payment; and bid her pretend to get her to partwith it for as little more as she could induce her to take.
I am setting out for Edgeware with poor Belton--more of whom in my next.I shall return to-morrow; and leave this in readiness for your messenger,if he call in my absence.
ADIEU.