Chapter IX
"Who by repentance is not satisfied, Is not of heaven or earth; for these are pleased: By penitence the Eternal's wrath's appeased." SHAKESPEARE.
Mr Ramsden's servant returned to Overton, stating that the doctor wasnot at home, but that he had left Mrs Forster and the letter. The timethat Dr Beddington was to be absent had not been mentioned by thekeepers; and Mr Ramsden, imagining that the doctor had probably gone outfor the evening, made no further inquiries, as he intended, in a day ortwo, to call and bring Mrs Forster back to her own house. On the thirdday of her removal he set off for the asylum; and when he discovered thesituation of Mrs Forster, he bitterly repented that he had beenpersuaded to a step which threatened such serious results. To remove herwas impossible; to assert to the keepers that she was in sound mind,would have been to commit himself; he therefore withdrew his letter toDr Beddington, who was not expected home for a fortnight, and with aheavy heart returned to Overton. Miss Dragwell was as much shocked whenshe was informed of the unfortunate issue of her plot; and made aresolution, to which she adhered, never to be guilty of anotherpractical joke.
In the meantime Newton Forster had made every despatch, and returned toOverton with the cargo of shingle a few days after his mother'sincarceration. He had not been ten minutes on shore before he was madeacquainted with the melancholy history of her (supposed) madness andremoval to the asylum. He hastened home, where he found his father in aprofound melancholy; he received Newton with a flood of tears, andappeared to be quite lost in his state of widowhood. The next morningNewton set off for the asylum, to ascertain the condition of his mother.He was admitted; found her stretched on a bed, in a state of delirium,raving in her fever, and unconscious of his presence. The frenzy of hismother being substantiated by what he had witnessed, and by theassurances of the keepers, to whom he made a present of half his smallfinances, to induce them to treat her with kindness, Newton returned toOverton, where he remained at home, shut up with his father. In a fewdays notice was given by the town-crier, that the remaining stock of MrNicholas Forster, optician, was to be disposed of by public auction.
The fact was, that Nicholas Forster, like many other husbands, althoughhis wife had been a source of constant annoyance, had become sohabituated to her, that he was miserable now that she was gone. Habit ismore powerful than even love; and many a married couple continue to livecomfortably together long after love has departed, from this mostbinding of all human sensations. Nicholas determined to quit Overton;and Newton, who perceived that his father's happiness was at stake,immediately acquiesced in his wish. When Nicholas Forster resolved toleave the town where he had so long resided, he had no settled plans forthe future; the present idea to remove from the scene connected withsuch painful associations was all which occupied his thoughts. Newton,who presumed that his father had some arranged plan, did not attempt toawaken him from his profound melancholy, to inquire into his intentions;and Nicholas had never given the subject one moment of his thought. Whenall was ready, Newton inquired of his father, in what manner he intendedthey should travel?--"Why, outside the coach will be the cheapest,Newton; and we have no money to spare. You had better take our placesto-night."
"To what place, father?" inquired Newton.
"I'm sure I don't know, Newton," replied Nicholas, as if just awoke.
This answer produced a consultation; and after many _pros_ and _cons_,it was resolved that Nicholas should proceed to Liverpool, and settle inthat town. The sloop commanded by Newton was found defective in thestern port; and, as it would take some little time to repair her, Newtonhad obtained leave for a few days to accompany his father on hisjourney. The trunk picked up at sea, being too cumbrous, was depositedwith the articles of least value, in the charge of Mr Dragwell; theremainder was taken away by Newton, until he could find a more secureplace for their deposit. On their arrival at Liverpool, with littlemoney and no friends, Nicholas rented a small shop; and Newton havingextended his leave of absence to the furthest, that he might contributeto his father's comfort, returned to Overton, to resume the command ofthe sloop. The first object was to call at the asylum, where he wasinformed that his mother was much less violent, but in so weak a statethat he could not be admitted. Doctor Beddington had not returned; but amedical gentleman, who had been called in during his absence, stated toNewton, that he had no doubt if his mother should recover from herpresent state of exhaustion, that her reason would be restored. Newtonreturned to Overton with a lightened heart, and the next day sailed inthe sloop for Bristol. Contrary winds detained him more than a fortnighton his passage. On his arrival, his cargo was not ready, and Newtonamused himself by walking about the town and its environs. At last hiscargo was on board; and Newton, who was most anxious to ascertain thefate of his mother, made all haste to obtain his clearance and otherpapers from the Custom-house. It was late in the evening beforehe had settled with the house to which the sloop had been consigned;but, as the wind and tide served, and there was a bright moon, heresolved to weigh that night. With his papers carefully buttoned in hiscoat, he was proceeding to the boat at the jetty, when he was seized bytwo men, who rushed upon him from behind. He hardly had time to lookround to ascertain the cause, when a blow on the head stretched himsenseless on the ground.
Now, my readers may probably feel some little distress at the misfortuneof Newton, and have some slight degree of curiosity to know the groundsof this severe treatment. I, on the contrary, am never more pleased thanwhen I find my principal character in a state of abeyance, and leave himso with the greatest indifference, because it suits my convenience. Ihave now an opportunity of returning to Mrs Forster, or any other of theparties who act a subordinate part in-my narrative; and, as Newton isdown on the ground, and _hors de combat_, why, there let him lie--untilI want him again.
Doctor Beddington returned home long before the recovery of Mrs Forsterfrom her severe attack. As it may be presumed, he found her perfectlyrational; but still he had no doubt of the assertions of his keepers,that she was insane at the time that she was sent to the asylum by MrRamsden. The latter gentleman kept aloof until the issue of MrsForster's malady should be ascertained: if she recovered, it was hisintention to call upon Doctor Beddington and explain the circumstances;if she died, he had determined to say nothing about it. Mrs Forster'srecovery was tedious; her mind was loaded with anxiety, and, what wasinfinitely more important, with deep remorse. The supposed death of MrSpinney had been occasioned by her violence, and she looked forward withalarm, as great as the regret with which she looked back upon her formerbehaviour. When she called to mind her unfeeling conduct towards herhusband,--the many years of bitterness she had created for him,--herinfraction of the marriage vow--the solemn promise before God to love,honour, and obey, daily and hourly violated,--her unjust hatred of heronly son,--her want of charity towards others,--all her dutiesneglected,--swayed only by selfish and malignant passions,--with bittertears of contrition and self-abasement, she acknowledged that herpunishment was just. With streaming eyes, with supplicating hands andbended knees, she implored mercy and forgiveness of Him to whom appealis never made in vain. Passion's infuriate reign was over--her heart waschanged!
To Doctor Beddington she made neither complaint nor explanation. All shewished was to quit the asylum as soon as she was restored to health, andprove to her husband, by her future conduct, the sincerity of herreformation. When she became convalescent, by the advice of DoctorBeddington, she walked in a garden appropriated for the exercise of themore harmless inmates of the asylum. The first day that she went out shesat down upon a bench near to the keepers who were watching those whowere permitted to take the air and exercise, and overheard theirdiscourse, which referred to herself.
"Why, what was it as made her mad--d'ye know, Tom?"
"They say she's been no better all her life," replied the other; "a ratwould not live in the house with her: at last, in one of her tantrums,she nearly murdered old Spinney, the clerk at Overton. The report wentout
that he was dead; and conscience, I suppose, or summut of that kind,run away with her senses."
"Oh, he warn't killed then?"
"No, no: I seed him and heard him too, Sunday 'fore last, when I went tocall upon old father; I was obligated to go to church, the old gemman'sso remarkable particular."
"And what's become of her husband, and that handsome young chap, herson?"
"I don't know, nor nobody else either. The old man, who was as worthy anold soul as ever breathed (more shame to the old faggot, for the lifeshe led him!) grew very unhappy and melancholy, and would not stay inthe place: they disposed of everything, and both went away together; butnobody knows where the old man is gone to."
"And the young 'un?"
"Oh, he came back and took command of the sloop. He was here twice, tosee how his mother was. Poor lad! it was quite pitiful to see howunhappy he was about the old catamaran. He give me and Bill a guineaapiece to be kind to her; but, about three days back, the sloop cameinto the harbour without him: they suppose that he fell off the jetty atBristol and was drowned, for he was seen coming down to the boat; and,a'ter that, they never heard no more about him."
"Well, but Tom, the old woman's all right now?"
"Yes, she's right enough; but where be her husband, and where be herson? she'll never plague them any more, that's pretty sartain."
The feelings of Mrs Forster at the _finale_ of this discourse are noteasy to be portrayed. One heavy load was off her mind--Mr Spinney wasnot dead; but how much had she also to lament? She perceived that shehad been treacherously kidnapped by those who detested her conduct, buthad no right to inflict the punishment. The kind and feeling conduct ofher husband and of her son,--the departure of the one, and supposeddeath of the other, were blows which nearly overwhelmed her. Shetottered back to her cell in a state of such extreme agitation, as tooccasion a return of fever, and for many days she was unable to quit herbed.