William demanded if he knew him. Yes, please your honour,' replied the. gaoler, I know Sir William Thornhill well, and every body that knows any thing of him, will defire to know more of him. Well then,' faid the baronet, my request is, that you will permit this man and two of your fervants to go upon a meffage by my authority, and as I un in the commiffion of the peace, I undertake to fecure you.'-Your promife is fuf'ficient,' replied the other, and you * may at a minute's warning send them over England whenever your honour 'thinks fit.' In purfuance of the gaoler's compliance, Jenkinson was difpatched in fearch of Timothy Baxter, while we were amufed with the affiduity of our youngest boy Bill, who had just come in and climbed up to Sir William's neck in order to kifs him. His mother was immediately going to chaftife his familiarity, but the worthy man prevented her; and taking the child, all ragged as he was, upon his knee, What, Bill, you chubby rogue,' cried he, do you remember your old friend Burchell?-and Dick too, my honest ⚫ veteran, are you here! you fhall find I have not forgot you.' So faying, he gave each a large piece of gingerbread, which the poor fellows eat very heartily, as they had got that morning but a very fcanty breakfast. We now fate down to dinner, which was almoft cold; but previouily, my arm ftill continuing painful, Sir William wrote a prefcription, for he had made the study of physic his amusement, and was more than moderately fkilled in the profeffion: this being fent to an apothecary who lived in the place, my arm was dreffed, and I found almost instantaneous relief. We were waited upon at dinner by the gaoler himself, who was willing to do our gueft all the honour in his power. But before we had well dined, another eflage was brought from his nephew, defiring permiffion to appear, in order to vindicate his innocence and honour; with which requeft the Baronet com plied, and defired Mr. Thornhill to be introduced. CHA P. XII. FORMER BENEVOLENCE NOW RE PAID WITH UNEXPECTED INTEREST. TR Thornhill made his entrance Mwith a mile, which he feldom wanted, and was going to embrace his uncle, which the other repulsed with an air of difdain. No fawning, Sir, at prefent,' cried the baronet, with a look of feverity, the only way to my heart is by the road of honour; but here I only fee complicated initances of falsehood, cowardice, and 'oppreffion. How is it, Sir, that this. poor man, for whom I know you profeffed a friendship, is ufed thus 'hardly? His daughter vilely feduced, as a recompence for his hofpitality, and he himself thrown into prifon 'perhaps but for refenting the infult? His fon too, whom you feared to face as a man Is it poffible, Sir,' interrupted his nephew, that my uncle could object that as a crime, which his repeated inftructions alone have perfuaded ma 'to avoid.' "Your rebuke,' cried Sir William, is juft; you have acted in this inftance prudently and well, though not quite as your father would have done: my brother indeed was the foul of honour; but thou-yes you have acted in this inftance perfectly • right, and it has my warmeft appro'bation.' And I hope,' faid his nephew, that the rest of my conduct will not be found to deferve cenfure. I ap'peared, Sir, with this gentleman's daughter at fome places of public amufement; thus what was levity, fcandal called by a harfher name, and it was reported that I had debauched her. I waited on her father in perfon, willing to clear the thing to his fatisfaction, and he received me only with infult and abufe. As for the reft, with regard to his being here, my attorney and steward can beft inform you, as I commit the manage⚫ment of business entirely to them. If he has contracted debts and is unwilling or even unable to pay them, it is their business to proceed in this ' manner, and I fee no hardship or injuftice in pursuing the most legal means of redrefs. ४ If this,' cried Sir William, be as you have stated it, there is nothing unpardonable unpardonable in your offence; and though your conduct might have been more generous, in not suffering this gentleman to be oppreffed by fubordinate tyranny, yet it has been at leaft equitable.' own He cannot contradict a fingle particular, replied the fquire, I defy him to do fo, and feveral of my fervants are ready to attest what I say. • Thus, Sir,' continued he, finding that I was filent, for in fact I could not contradict him; thus, Sir, my. innocence is vindicated: but though at your intreaty I am ready to forgive this gentleman every other offence, yet his attempts to leffen me in your efteem, excite a refent< ment that I cannot govern; and this too at a time when his fon was actually preparing to take away my life; this, I fay, was fuch guilt, that I am determined to let the law take it's courfe. I have here the challenge that was fent me, and two ⚫ witneffes to prove it; one of my fervants has been wounded dangerously, and even though my uncle himself fhould diffuade me, which I know he will not, yet I will fee public juftice done, and he fhall fuffer for it.' Thou monster,' cried my wife, haft thou not had vengeance enough already, but muft my poor boy feel. thy cruelty? I hope that good Sir William will protect us, for my fon is as innocent as a child; I am fure he is, and never did harm to man.' Madam,' replied the good man, your wishes for his fafety are not greater than mine; but I am forry to find his guilt too plain; and if my nephew perfifts But the appearance of Jenkinfon and the gaoler's two fervants now called off our attention, who entered hauling in a tall man, very genteely dreft, and answering the defcription already given of that ruffian who had carried off my daughter• Here,' cried Jenkinson, pulling him in, here we have him; and if ever there was a candidate for Tyburn, this is one.' The moment Mr. Thornhill perceived the prifoner, and Jenkinson, who had him in cuftody, he feemed to fhrink backward with terror. His face became pale with confcious guilt, and he would have withdrawn; but Jenkin. fon, who perceived his defign, ftopt. him. What, fquire, cried he, are 'you afhamed of your two old acquaintances, Jenkinfon and Baxter? But this is the way that all great men forget their friends, though I am refolved we will not forget you. Our prifoner, please your honour,' continued he, turning to Sir William, has already confeffed all. This is the gentleman reported to be dange roufly wounded: he declares that it was Mr. Thornhill who first put him upon this affair, that he gave him the clothes he now, wears to appear like a gentleman, and furnished him with the poft-chaife. The plan was. laid between them, that he should carry off the young lady to a place . of fafety, and that there he fhould threaten and terrify her; but Mr. Thornhill was to come in, in the mean time, as if by accident, to her rescue, and that they fhould fight a while, and then he was to have run off, by which Mr. Thornhill would have the better opportunity of gaining her affections himfelf under the character of her defender." Sir William remembered the coat to have been frequently worn by his nephew, and all the reft the prifoner himfelf confirmed by a more circumftantial account; concluding, that Mr. Thornhill had often declared to him that he was in love with both fisters at the fame time. 'Heavens,' cried Sir William, 'what a viper have I been foftering in my bofom! And fo fond of public juftice too as he feemed to be. But he fhall have it; fecure him, Mr. Gaoler-→ yet hold, I fear there is not legal ⚫ evidence to detain him.' Upon this Mr. Thornhill, with the utmoft humility, intreated that two fuch abandoned wretches might not be admitted as evidences against him, but that his fervants fhould be examined. Your fervants!' replied Sir William; wretch, call them yours no longer: but come, let us hear what thofe fellows have to fay; let his butler be called.' When the butler was introduced, he foon perceived by his former master's looks that all his power was now over. Tell me,' cried Sir William fternly, have you ever feen your matter, and that fellow dreft up in his clothes, in company together? Yes, please your 3 you Arabella Wilmot, who was next day to have been married to Mr. Thornhill. Nothing could equal her furprize at feeing Sir William and his nephew here before her; for her arrival was quite accidental. It happened that flie and the old gentleman her father were paffing through the town, on the way to her aunt's, who had in your honour,' cried the butler, thoufand times: he was the man that always brought him his ladies.'How, interrupted young Mr. Thornhill,this to my face! Yes,' replied the butler, " or to any man's face. To tell you a truth, Mafter • Thornhill, I never either loved C or liked you, and I don't care if I tell you now a piece of my mind.'-fifted that her nuptials with Mr. ThornNow then,' cried Jenkinfon, tell his honour whether you know any thing of me. I can't fay,' replied the butler, that I know much good of you. The night that gentleman's daughter was deluded to our houfe, you were one of them.'So then,' cried Sir William, 'I find you have brought a very fine witnefs to prove your innocence: thou ftain to humanity! to affociate with fuch wretches! But,' (continuing his examination) you tell me, Mr. Butler, that this was the perfon who brought him this old gentleman's daughter. No, pleafe your honour,' replied the butler, he did not bring her, for the fquire himself undertook that bufinefs; but he brought the pricft that pretended to marry them." It is but too true,' cried Jenkinson, I cannot deny it, that was the employment affigned me, and I confess it to my confufion." • Good heavens exclaimed the Baronet, how every new difcovery of his villainy alarins me! All his guilt is now too plain, and I find his prefent profecution was dictated by tyranny, cowardice, and revenge; at my request, Mr. Gaoler, fet this young officer, now your prifoner, free, and truft to me for the confequences. I'll make it my bufinefs to fet the affair in a proper light to my friend the magiftrate who has committed him. But where is the unfortunate young lady herfelf? let her appear to confront this wretch; I long to know by what arts he has feduced her. Intreat her to come in. Where is the ?' Ah, Sir,' faid I, that queftion ftings me to the heart; I was once indeed happy in a daughter, but her miferies- Another interruption here prevented me; for who hould make her appearance but Mifs hill fhould be confummated at her houfe; but stopping for refreshment, they put up at an inn at the other end of the town. It was there from the window that the young lady happened to obferve one of my little boys playing in the street, and inftantly fending a footman to bring the child to her, the learnt from him fome account of our misfortunes; but was ftill kept ignorant of young Mr. Thornhill's being the caufe. Though her father made feveral remonftrances on the impropriety of going to a prifon to visit us, yet they were ineffectual: fhe defired the child to conduct her, which he did, and it was thus fhe furprized us at a juncture fo unexpected. Nor can I go on, without a reflection on thofe accidental meetings, which, though they happen every day, seldom ́ excite our furprize but upon fome extraordinary occafion. To what a fortuitous concurrence do we not owe every pleasure and covenience of our lives! How many feeming accidents muft unite, before we can be cloathed or fed! The peasant must be difpofed to labour, the fhower muft fall, the wind fill the merchant's fail, or numbers muft want the ufual fupply. We all continued filent for fome moments, while my charming pupil, which was the name I generally gave this young lady, united in her looks compaffion and astonishment, which gave new finifhings to her beauty. Indeed, my dear Mr. Thornhill,' cried the to the fquire, who the fuppofed was come here to fuccour, and not to opprefs us, I take it a little unkindly that you fhould come here without me, or never inform me of the fituation of a family fo dear to us both : : you know I thould take as much pleature in contributing to the relief of my reverend old master, here, whom I fhall ever esteem, as you can. But I find that, like your uncle, • uncle, you take a pleasure in doing good in fecret.' He find pleafure in doing good!" cried Sir William, interrupting her; · no, my dear, his pleafures are as bafe as he is. You fee in him, Madam, as compleat a villain as ever difgraced humanity. A wretch, who, after having deluded this poor man's daughter, after plotting against the innocence of her fifter, has thrown the father into prifon, and the eldest fon into fetters, because he had courage to face his betrayer. And give me leave, Madam, now to congratulate you upon an escape from the • embraces of fuch a monster.' O goodnefs, cried the lovely girl, how have I been deceived! Mr. Thornhill informed me for certain, that this gentleman's eldeft for, Captain Primrose, was gone off to America with his new-married lady.' mar My fweetest mifs,' cried my wife, he has told you nothing but falfehoods. My fon George never left the kingdom, nor never was ried. Though you have forfaken him, he has always loved you too well to think of any body else; and I have heard him fay he would die a bachelor for your fake.' She then proceeded to expatiate upon the fincerity of her fon's paffion, fhe fet his duel with Mr. Thornhill in a proper light, from thence the made a rapid digreffion to the fquire's debaucheries, his pretended marriages, and ended with a most infulting picture of his cowardice. appearance. He now therefore entered, handfomely dreffed in his regimentals, and, without vanity (for I am above it) he appeared as handfome a fellow as ever wore a military drefs. As he entered, he made Mifs Wilmot a modeft and diftant bow, for he was not as yet acquainted with the change which the eloquence of his mother had wrought in his favour. But no decorums could reftrain the impatience of his blushing miftrefs to be forgiven. Her tears, her looks, all contributed to difcover the real fenfations of her heart, for having forgotten her former promife, and having fuffered herfelf to be deluded by an impoftor. My fon appeared amazed at her condefcenfion, and could fcarce believe it real.-' Sure, Madam,' cried he, this is but delufion! I can never have' merited this! To be bleft thus, is to be too happy.No, Sir,' replied the, ‹ I have been deceived, hafely deceived, elfe nothing could have ever made me unjust to my promife. You know my friendship, you have long known it; but forget what I have done, and as you once had my warmeft vows of conftancy, you shall now ' have them repeated; and be assured that if your Arabella cannot be yours, the fhall never be another's.'-And no other's you 'fhall be,' cried Sir William, if I have any influence with your father. This hint was fufficient for my fon Mofes, who immediately flew to the inn where the old gentleman was, to inform him of every circumftance that had happened. But in the mean time the fquire, perceiving that he was on every fide undone, now finding that no hopes were left from flattery or diffimulation, concluded that his wifest way would be to turn and face his purfuers. Thus, laying afide all shame, he appeared the open hardy villain. I find then,' cried he, that I am to expect no juftice here; but I am refolved it fhall be done me. You 'fhall know, Sir,' turning to Sir William, I am no longer a poor de'pendant upon your favours. I fcorn them. Nothing can keep Mife Wilmot's fortune from me, which, I thank her father's affiduity, is pretty large. The articles, and a bond for her fortune, are figned, and fafe, in my poffeffion. It was her fortune, not not her perfon, that induced me to wifh for this match; and poffeffed of the one, let who will take the • other.' .. This was an alarming blow; Sir William was fenfible of the juftnefs of his claims, for he had been inftrumental in drawing up the marriage-articles himfelf. Mifs Wilmot therefore perceiving that her fortune was irrea trievably loft, turning to my fon, fhe afked if the lofs of fortune could leffen her value to him: Though, fortune,' faid fhe, is out of my power, at least I have my hand to give.' And that, Madam,' cried her real lover, ' was indeed all that you ever had to give at least, all that I ever thought worth the acceptance. And I now proteft, my Arabella, by all that's happy, your want of fortune this moment increases my pleasure, as it ferves to convince my fweet girl of my fincerity." Mr. Wilmot now entering, he seemed not a little pleafed at the danger his daughter had juft efcaped, and readily confented to a diffolution of the match. But finding that her fortune, which was fecured to Mr. Thornhill by bond, would not be given up, nothing could exceed his difappointment. He now faw that his money muft all go to enrich one who had no fortune of his own. He could bear his being a rafcal, but to want an equivalent to his daugh ter's fortune was wormwood. He fat therefore, for fome minutes, employed in the most mortifying fpeculation, till Sir William attempted to leffen his anxiety. I must confess, Sir,' cried he, that your prefent difappointment does not entirely difpleate me. Your immoderate paffion for wealth is now justly punished. But though the young lady cannot be rich, fhe has till a fufficient competence to give <content. Here you fee an honeft < young foldier, who is willing to take her without fortune; they have long ⚫ loved each other, and for the friend fhip I bear his father, my intereft fhall not be wanting in his promotion. Leave, then, that ambition which difappoints you, and for once admit that happiness which courts your acceptance.' < Sir William,' replied the old gentjeman, be affured I never yet forced her inclinations, nor will I now. IĘ • she still continues to love this young gentleman, let her have him with all my heart. There is ftill, thank Heaven, fome fortune left, and your promife will make it fomething more. Only let my old friend here' (meaning me) give me a promife of fettling fix thoufand pounds upon my girl, if ever he fhould come to his fortune, and I am ready this night to be the first to join them together.' As it now remained with me to make the young couple happy, I readily gave a promife of making the fettlement he required; which, to one who had such little expectations as I, was no great favour.. We had now therefore the fatisfaction of feeing them fly into each other's arms in a transport. 'After all my misfortunes,' cried my fonGeorge, to be thus rewarded! Sure this is more than I could ever have prefumed to hope for. To be poffeffed of all. that's good, and after such an interval of pain! My warmeft wifhes could never rife fo high!'- Yes, my "George,' returned his lovely bride, now let the wretch take my fortune ; fince you are happy without it, foam I. O what an exchange have I made from the bafeft of men to the dearest, <beft! Let him enjoy our fortune, I now can be happy even in indigence.' - And I promise you,' cried the fquire, with a malicious grin, that I fhall be very happy with what you defpife.- -Hold, hold, Sir,' cried Jenkinfon, there are two words to that bargain. As for that lady's for tune, Sir,you shall never touch a fingle ftiverofit.-Pray, your honour,' continued he to Sir William, can the fquire have this lady's fortune if he be married to another? How can you make fuch a fimple demand? replied the Baronet; undoubtedly he cannot.Iain forry for that,' cried Jenkinson; for as this gentleman and I have been old fellow-fporters, I have a friendship for him. But I muft declare, well as I love him, that his contract is not worth a tobacco-stopper, for he is married already. You lye like a rafcal,' returned the fquire, who teemed rouzed by this infult; I never was legally married to any woman.'- Indeed, begging your honour's pardon,' replied the other, 'you were; and I hope you will fhew a proper return of friendship |