CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
HE PERFORMS ANOTHER EXPLOIT, THAT CONVEYS A TRUE IDEA OF HIS GRATITUDEAND HONOUR.
It was not long after this celebrated victory, that he was invited tospend part of the summer at the house of a country gentleman, who livedabout one hundred miles from London, possessed of a very opulent fortune,the greatest part of which was expended in acts of old Englishhospitality. He had met with our hero by accident at the table of acertain great man, and was so struck with his manner and conversation, asto desire his acquaintance, and cultivate his friendship; and he thoughthimself extremely happy in having prevailed upon him to pass a few weeksin his family.
Fathom, among his other observations, perceived that there was a domesticuneasiness, occasioned by a very beautiful young creature about the ageof fifteen, who resided in the house under the title of the gentleman'sniece, though she was in reality his natural daughter, born before hismarriage. This circumstance was not unknown to his lady, by whoseexpress approbation he had bestowed particular attention upon theeducation of the child, whom we shall distinguish by the name of Celinda.Their liberality in this particular had not been misapplied; for she notonly gave marks of uncommon capacity, but, as she grew up, became moreand more amiable in her person, and was now returned from the boardingschool, possessed of every accomplishment that could be acquired by oneof her age and opportunities. These qualifications, which endeared herto every other person, excited the jealousy and displeasure of hersupposed aunt, who could not bear to see her own children eclipsed bythis illegitimate daughter, whom she therefore discountenanced upon alloccasions, and exposed to such mortifications as would in all appearancedrive her from her father's house. This persecuting spirit was verydisagreeable to the husband, who loved Celinda with a truly paternalaffection, and produced abundance of family disquiet; but being a man ofa peaceable and yielding disposition, he could not long maintain theresolution he had taken in her favour, and therefore he ceased opposingthe malevolence of his wife.
In this unfortunate predicament stood the fair bastard, at the arrival ofour adventurer, who, being allured by her charms, apprised of hersituation at the same time, took the generous resolution to undermine herinnocence, that he might banquet his vicious appetite with the spoils ofher beauty. Perhaps such a brutal design might not have entered hisimagination, if he had not observed, in the disposition of this haplessmaiden, certain peculiarities from which he derived the most confidentpresages of success. Besides a total want of experience, that left heropen and unguarded against the attacks of the other sex, she discovered aremarkable spirit of credulity and superstitious fear, which had beencherished by the conversation of her school-fellows. She wasparticularly fond of music, in which she had made some progress; but sodelicate was the texture of her nerves, that one day, while Fathomentertained the company with a favourite air, she actually swooned withpleasure.
Such sensibility, our projector well knew, must be diffused through allthe passions of her heart; he congratulated himself upon the sureascendency he had gained over her in this particular; and forthwith beganto execute the plan he had erected for her destruction. That he mightthe more effectually deceive the vigilance of her father's wife, he threwsuch a dash of affectation in his complaisance towards Celinda, as couldnot escape the notice of that prying matron, though it was not palpableenough to disoblige the young lady herself, who could not so welldistinguish between overstrained courtesy and real good breeding. Thisbehaviour screened him from the suspicion of the family, who consideredit as an effort of politeness, to cover his indifference and disgust forthe daughter of his friend, who had by this time given some reason tobelieve she looked upon him with the eyes of affection; so that theopportunities he enjoyed of conversing with her in private, were lessliable to intrusion or inquiry. Indeed, from what I have alreadyobserved, touching the sentiments of her stepdame, that lady, far fromtaking measures for thwarting our hero's design, would have rejoiced atthe execution of it, and, had she been informed of his intent, might havefallen upon some method to facilitate the enterprise; but, as he solelydepended upon his own talents, he never dreamed of soliciting such anauxiliary.
Under cover of instructing and accomplishing her in the exercise ofmusic, he could not want occasions for promoting his aim; when, afterhaving soothed her sense of hearing, even to a degree of ravishment, soas to extort from her an exclamation, importing, that he was surelysomething supernatural! he never failed to whisper some insidiouscompliment or tale of love, exquisitely suited to the emotions of hersoul. Thus was her heart insensibly subdued; though more than half hiswork was still undone; for, at all times, she disclosed such purity ofsentiment, such inviolable attachment to religion and virtue, and seemedso averse to all sorts of inflammatory discourse, that he durst notpresume upon the footing he had gained in her affection, to explain thebaseness of his desire; he therefore applied to another of her passions,that proved the bane of her virtue. This was her timidity, which atfirst being constitutional, was afterwards increased by the circumstancesof her education, and now aggravated by the artful conversation ofFathom, which he chequered with dismal stories of omens, portents,prophecies, and apparitions, delivered upon such unquestionabletestimony, and with such marks of conviction, as captivated the belief ofthe devoted Celinda, and filled her imagination with unceasing terrors.
In vain she strove to dispel those frightful ideas, and avoid such topicsof discourse for the future. The more she endeavoured to banish them,the more troublesome they became; and such was her infatuation, that asher terrors increased, her thirst after that sort of knowledge wasaugmented. Many sleepless nights did she pass amidst those horrors offancy, starting at every noise, and sweating with dreary apprehension,yet ashamed to own her fears, or solicit the comfort of a bedfellow, lestshe should incur the ridicule and censure of her father's wife; and whatrendered this disposition the more irksome, was the solitary situation ofher chamber, that stood at the end of a long gallery scarce withinhearing of any other inhabited part of the house.
All these circumstances had been duly weighed by our projector, who,having prepared Celinda for his purpose, stole at midnight from hisapartment, which was in another storey, and approaching her door, thereuttered a piteous groan; then softly retired to his bed, in fullconfidence of seeing next day the effect of this operation. Nor did hisarrow miss the mark. Poor Celinda's countenance gave such indications ofmelancholy and dismay, that he could not omit asking the cause of herdisquiet, and she, at his earnest request, was prevailed upon tocommunicate the dreadful salutation of the preceding night, which sheconsidered as an omen of death to some person of the family, in allprobability to herself, as the groan seemed to issue from one corner ofher own apartment. Our adventurer argued against this supposition, ascontradictory to the common observation of those supernatural warningswhich are not usually imparted to the person who is doomed to die, but tosome faithful friend, or trusty servant, particularly interested in theevent. He therefore supposed, that the groans foreboded the death of mylady, who seemed to be in a drooping state of health, and were, by hergenius, conveyed to the organs of Celinda, who was the chief sufferer byher jealous and barbarous disposition; he likewise expressed an earnestdesire to be an ear-witness of such solemn communication, and, allegingthat it was highly improper for a young lady of her delicate feelings toexpose herself alone to such another dismal visitation, begged he mightbe allowed to watch all night in her chamber, in order to defend her fromthe shocking impressions of fear.
Though no person ever stood more in need of a companion or guard, and herheart throbbed with transports of dismay at the prospect of night, sherejected his proposal with due acknowledgment, and resolved to trustsolely to the protection of Heaven. Not that she thought her innocenceor reputation could suffer by her compliance with his request; for,hitherto, her heart was a stranger to those young desires which haunt thefancy, and warm the breast of youth; so that, being ignorant of herdanger, she saw not the necessity of avoid
ing temptation; but she refusedto admit a man into her bedchamber, merely because it was a stepaltogether opposite to the forms and decorum of life. Nevertheless, farfrom being discouraged by this repulse, he knew her fears would multiplyand reduce that reluctance, which, in order to weaken, he had recourse toanother piece of machinery, that operated powerfully in behalf of hisdesign.
Some years ago, a twelve-stringed instrument was contrived by a veryingenious musician, by whom it was aptly entitled the "Harp of Aeolus,"because, being properly applied to a stream of air, it produces a wildirregular variety of harmonious sounds, that seem to be the effect ofenchantment, and wonderfully dispose the mind for the most romanticsituations. Fathom, who was really a virtuoso in music, had brought oneof those new-fashioned guitars into the country, and as the effect of itwas still unknown in the family, he that night converted it to thepurposes of his amour, by fixing it in the casement of a window belongingto the gallery, exposed to the west wind, which then blew in a gentlebreeze. The strings no sooner felt the impression of the balmy zephyr,than they began to pour forth a stream of melody more ravishinglydelightful than the song of Philomel, the warbling brook, and all theconcert of the wood. The soft and tender notes of peace and love wereswelled up with the most delicate and insensible transition into a loudhymn of triumph and exultation, joined by the deep-toned organ, and afull choir of voices, which gradually decayed upon the ear, until it diedaway in distant sound, as if a flight of angels had raised the song intheir ascent to heaven. Yet the chords hardly ceased to vibrate afterthe expiration of this overture, which ushered in a composition in thesame pathetic style; and this again was succeeded by a third, almostwithout pause or intermission, as if the artist's hand had beenindefatigable, and the theme never to be exhausted.
His heart must be quite callous, and his ear lost to all distinction, whocould hear such harmony without emotion; how deeply, then, must it haveaffected the delicate Celinda, whose sensations, naturally acute, werewhetted to a most painful keenness by her apprehension; who could have noprevious idea of such entertainment, and was credulous enough to believethe most improbable tale of superstition! She was overwhelmed with awfulterror, and, never doubting that the sounds were more than mortal,recommended herself to the care of Providence in a succession of piousejaculations.
Our adventurer, having allowed some time for the effect of thiscontrivance, repaired to her chamber door, and, in a whisper, conveyedthrough the keyhole, asked if she was awake, begged pardon for such anunseasonable visit, and desired to know her opinion of the strange musicwhich he then heard. In spite of her notions of decency, she was glad ofhis intrusion, and, being in no condition to observe punctilios, slippedon a wrapper, opened the door, and, with a faltering voice, owned herselffrightened almost to distraction. He pretended to console her withreflections, importing, that she was in the hands of a benevolent Being,who would not impose upon his creatures any task which they could notbear; he insisted upon her returning to bed, and assured her he would notstir from her chamber till day. Thus comforted, she betook herself againto rest, while he sat down in an elbow-chair at some distance from thebedside, and, in a soft voice, began the conversation with her on thesubject of those visitations from above, which, though undertaken onpretence of dissipating her fear and anxiety, was, in reality, calculatedfor the purpose of augmenting both.
"That sweet air," said he, "seems designed for soothing the bodilyanguish of some saint in his last moments. Hark! how it rises into amore sprightly and elevated strain, as if it were an inspiritinginvitation to the realms of bliss! Sure, he is now absolved from all themisery of this life! That full and glorious concert of voices andcelestial harps betoken his reception among the heavenly choir, who nowwaft his soul to paradisian joys! This is altogether great, solemn, andamazing! The clock strikes one, the symphony hath ceased!"
This was actually the case; for he had ordered Maurice to remove theinstrument at that hour, lest the sound of it should become too familiar,and excite the curiosity of some undaunted domestic, who might frustratehis scheme by discovering the apparatus. As for poor Celinda, her fancywas, by his music and discourse, worked up to the highest pitch ofenthusiastic terrors; the whole bed shook with her trepidation, the awfulsilence that succeeded the supernatural music threw an additional dampupon her spirits, and the artful Fathom affecting to snore at the sametime, she could no longer contain her horror, but called upon his namewith a fearful accent, and, having owned her present situationinsupportable, entreated him to draw near her bedside, that he might bewithin touch on any emergency.
This was a welcome request to our adventurer, who, asking pardon for hisdrowsiness, and taking his station on the side of her bed, exhorted herto compose herself; then locking her hand fast in his own, was againseized with such an inclination to sleep, that he gradually sunk down byher side, and seemed to enjoy his repose in that attitude. Meanwhile,his tender-hearted mistress, that he might not suffer in his health byhis humanity and complaisance, covered him with the counterpane as heslept, and suffered him to take his rest without interruption, till hethought proper to start up suddenly with an exclamation of, "Heaven watchover us!" and then asked, with symptoms of astonishment, if she had heardnothing. Such an abrupt address upon such an occasion, did not fail toamaze and affright the gentle Celinda, who, unable to speak, sprungtowards her treacherous protector; and he, catching her in his arms, badeher fear nothing, for he would, at the expense of his life, defend herfrom all danger.
Having thus, by tampering with her weakness, conquered the first andchief obstacles to his design, he, with great art and perseverance,improved the intercourse to such a degree of intimacy, as could not butbe productive of all the consequences which he had foreseen. The groansand music were occasionally repeated, so as to alarm the whole family,and inspire a thousand various conjectures. He failed not to continuehis nocturnal visits and ghastly discourse, until his attendance becameso necessary to this unhappy maiden, that she durst not stay in her ownchamber without his company, nor even sleep, except in contact with herbetrayer.
Such a commerce between two such persons of a different sex could notpossibly be long carried on, without degenerating from the Platonicsystem of sentimental love. In her paroxysms of dismay, he did notforget to breathe the soft inspirations of his passion, to which shelistened with more pleasure, as they diverted the gloomy ideas of herfear; and by this time his extraordinary accomplishments had made aconquest of her heart. What therefore could be a more interestingtransition than that from the most uneasy to the most agreeable sensationof the human breast?
This being the case, the reader will not wonder that a consummatetraitor, like Fathom, should triumph over the virtue of an artless,innocent young creature, whose passions he had entirely under hiscommand. The gradations towards vice are almost imperceptible, and anexperienced seducer can strew them with such enticing and agreeableflowers, as will lead the young sinner on insensibly, even to the mostprofligate stages of guilt. All therefore that can be done by virtue,unassisted with experience, is to avoid every trial with such aformidable foe, by declining and discouraging the first advances towardsa particular correspondence with perfidious man, howsoever agreeable itmay seem to be. For here is no security but in conscious weakness.
Fathom, though possessed of the spoils of poor Celinda's honour, did notenjoy his success with tranquillity. Reflection and remorse ofteninvaded her in the midst of their guilty pleasures, and embittered allthose moments they had dedicated to mutual bliss. For the seeds ofvirtue are seldom destroyed at once. Even amidst the rank productions ofvice, they regerminate to a sort of imperfect vegetation, like somescattered hyacinths shooting up among the weeds of a ruined garden, thattestify the former culture and amenity of the soil. She sighed at thesad remembrance of that virgin dignity which she had lost; she wept atthe prospect of that disgrace, mortification, and misery she shouldundergo, when abandoned by this transient lover, and severely reproachedhim for the arts he had used to
shipwreck her innocence and peace.
Such expostulations are extremely unseasonable, when addressed to a manwell-nigh sated with the effects of his conquest. They act like strongblasts of wind applied to embers almost extinguished, which, instead ofreviving the flame, scatter and destroy every remaining particle of fire.Our adventurer, in the midst of his peculiarities, had inconstancy incommon with the rest of his sex. More than half cloyed with thepossession of Celinda, he could not fail to be disgusted with herupbraidings; and had she not been the daughter of a gentleman whosefriendship he did not think it his interest to forfeit, he would havedropped this correspondence, without reluctance or hesitation. But, ashe had measures to keep with a family of such consequence, he constrainedhis inclinations, so far as to counterfeit those raptures he no longerfelt, and found means to appease those intervening tumults of her grief.
Foreseeing, however, that it would not be always in his power to consoleher on these terms, he resolved, if possible, to divide her affection,which now glowed upon him too intensely; and, with that view, whenevershe complained of the vapours or dejection, he prescribed, and eveninsisted upon her swallowing certain cordials of the most palatablecomposition, without which he never travelled; and these produced suchagreeable reveries and flow of spirits, that she gradually becameenamoured of intoxication; while he encouraged the pernicious passion, byexpressing the most extravagant applause and admiration at the wildirregular sallies it produced. Without having first made this diversion,he would have found it impracticable to leave the house withtranquillity; but, when this bewitching philtre grew into an habit, herattachment to Ferdinand was insensibly dissolved; she began to bear hisneglect with indifference, and, sequestering herself from the rest of thefamily, used to solicit this new ally for consolation.
Having thus put the finishing stroke to the daughter's ruin, he tookleave of the father, with many acknowledgments and expressions ofgratitude for his hospitality and friendship, and, riding across thecountry to Bristol, took up his habitation near the hot well, where hestayed during the remaining part of the season. As for the miserableCelinda, she became more and more addicted to the vices in which she hadbeen initiated by his superlative perfidy and craft, until she was quiteabandoned by decency and caution. Her father's heart was torn withanguish, while his wife rejoiced in her fall; at length her ideas werequite debased by her infirmity; she grew every day more and more sensualand degenerate, and contracted an intimacy with one of the footmen, whowas kind enough to take her to wife, in hope of obtaining a goodsettlement from his master; but, being disappointed in his aim, heconducted her to London, where he made shift to insinuate himself intoanother service, leaving her to the use, and partly the advantage, of herown person, which was still uncommonly attractive.