The miscellaneous works of Henry Mackenzie

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for you; nor are you without excuse even to the world/—«Oh! Sindall/

said he, 'I am without excuse to myself! when I look hack to that peace of mind, to that happiness I have squandered!—I will not curse, but—Oh ! Fool, fool, fool P—* I would not/ said Sir Thomas, '

increase that anguish which you feel, were I not obliged to mention the name of your father/ —' My father P cried Annesly; «O hide me from my father P—' Alas P replied Sindall, « he must hear of your

disaster from other hands; and it were cruel not to acquaint him of it in a way that should wound him the least/—Annesly gazed with a look of en tr an cement on his picture; ' Great God P said he, ' for what hast thou reserved me ? Sindall, do what thou wilt —think not of such a wretch as I am ; but mitigate, if thou canst, the sorrows of a father, the purity of whose bosom must bleed for the ▼ices of mine/

—* Fear not/ returned Sir Thomas; ' I hope all will be better than you imagine. It grows late, and I must leave you now; but promise me to be more composed for the future. I will see you again early to-morrow ; nor will I let a moment escape that can be improved to your service/—' I must think/ said Annesly, * and therefore I must feel; but I will often remember your friendship, and my gratitude shall be some little merit left in me to lock upon without blushing/

Sindall bade him farewell, and retired; and at that instant he was less a villain than he used to be. The state of horror to which he saw y Google

this young man reduced, was beyond the limits of his scheme; and he began to look upon the victim of his designs with that pity which depravity can feel, and that remorse which it cannot overcome.

CHAP. XVII.

HIS FATHER IS ACQUAINTED WITH AN

NESLY'S SITUATION HIS BEHAVIOUR IN

CONSEQUENCE OF IT.

JLhat letter to old Annesly, which Sindall had undertaken to write, he found a more difficult task than at first he imagined. The solicitude of his friendship might have been easily expressed on more common occasions, and hypocrisy to him was usually no un pleasing garb ; but at this crisis of Annesly's fate, there were feelings he could not suppress ; and he blushed to himself, amidst the protestations of

concern and regard, with which this account of his misfortune (as he termed it) was accompanied.

Palliated, as it was, with all the art of Sir Thomas, it may be easily conceived what effect it must have on the mind of a father; a father at this time labouring under the pressure of disease, and confined to a sick bed, whose intervals of thought were now to be pointed to the misery, the. disgrace, perhaps the disgraceful death, of a darling child. His Harriet, $fter

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the first shock which the dreadful tidings had given her, sat by him, stifling the terrors of her gentle soul, and speaking comfort when her tears would let her.

His grief was aggravated, from the considers* tion of being at present unable to attend a son, whose calamities, though of his own procuring, called so loudly for support and assistance.

* Unworthy as your brother is, my Harriet,* said he, ' he is my son and your brother still; and must he languish amid the horrors of a prison, without a parent or a sister to lessen them ? The prayers which I can put up from this sick-bed are all the aid I can minister to him; but your presence might soothe his an* guish, and alleviate his sufferings. With re gard to this life, perhaps—Do not weep my love

—But you might lead him to a reconciliation with that Being whose sentence governs eter* nity! Would it frighten my Harriet to visit a dungeon ?'*—' Could I leave my dearest father/ said she, ' no place could frighten me where my poor Billy is , * * Then you shall go, my child, and I shall be the better for thinking thai you are with him. Tell him, though he has wrung my heart, it has not forgotten him. That he should have forgotten me, is little; let him but now remember, that there is another Father whose pardon is more momentous.'

Harriet having therefore intrusted her father to the friendship of Mrs Wistanly, set out, accompanied by a niece of that gentlewoman's, who had been on a visit to her aunt, for the

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metropolis, where she arrived a few days before that which was appointed for the trial of her unhappy brother.

Though it was late in the evening when they reached London, yet Harriet's impatience would not suffer her to sleep till she had seen the poor prisoner; and notwithstanding the re* monstrances of h€r companion, to whom her aunt had recommended the tenderest concern about her young friend, she called a hackneycoach immediately, to convey her to the place in which Annesly was confined; and her fellow-traveller, when her dissuasions to going had failed, very obligingly offered to accompany her.

They were conducted, by the turnkey through a gloomy passage, to the wretched apartment which Annesly occupied; they found him sitting at a little table on which he leaned, with his hands covering his face. When they entered, he did not change his posture; but on the turnkey's speaking, for his sister was unable to speak, he started up, and exhibited a countenance pale and haggard, his eyes bloodshot, and his hair dishevelled. On discovering his sister, a blush crossed his cheek, and the horror of his aspect was lost in something milder and more piteous—' Oh! my Billy !' she cried, and sprung forward to embrace him: ' This is too much,' said he; ' leave and forget a wretch unworthy the name of thy brother.'—< Would my Billy kill me quite ?

this frightful place has almost killed me already! Alas! Billy my dear y Google

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est father !'—' Oh! Harriet, that name, that name! speak not of my fatherf—' Ah!' said she, ' if youjknewhis goodness; he sent me to comfort and support my brother; he sent me from himself, stretched on a sick-bed where his Harriet should have tended him.'—*Oh!

cursed, cursed V—' Nay, do not curse, my Billy, he sends you none;

his prayers, his blessings, rise for you to heaven; his forgiveness he bade me convey you, and tell you to seek that of the Father of all goodness f—His sister's hands were clasped in his; he lifted both together: «If thou canst hear me/ said he, ' I dare not pray for myself; but spare a father whom my crimes have made miserable; let me abide the wrath I have deserved, but weigh not down his age for my offences; punish it not with the remembrance of me!' He fell on his sister's neck, and they mingled their tears; nor could the young lady who attended Harriet, or the jailor himself, forbear accompanying them; this last, however, recovered himself rather sooner than the other, and reminded them it was late, and that he must lock up for the night « Good night then, my Harriet,'

said Annesly. * And must we separate ?' answered his sister; ' could I not sit and support that distracted head, and close those haggard eyes ?'—* Let me intreat you,' returned her brother, 'to leave me, and compose yourself after the fatigues of your journey, and the perturbation of your mind; I feel myself comforted and refreshed by the sight of my Harriet, I 12

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will try to sleep myself, which I have not done those four gloomy nights, unless perhaps, for ft few moments, when the torture of ray dreams made waking a deliverance. Good night, my dearest Harriet/

She could not say, good night, but she wept it.

CHAP. XVIII.

HIS SISTER PAYS HIM ANOTHER VISIT.—A DESCRIPTION OF

WHAT PASSED IN THE PRISON.

It was late before Harriet could think even of going to bed, and later before her mind could be quieted enough to allow her any sleep. But nature was at last worn out; and the fatigue of her journey, together

with the conflict of her soul in the visit she had just made, had so exhausted her, that it was towards noon next day before she awaked. After having chide herself for her neglect, she hurried away to her muchloved brother, whom she found attended by that baronet, to whose good offices I have had so' frequent occasion to show him indebted in the course of my story.

At sight of him, her cheek was flushed with the mingled glow of shame for her brother, and gratitude towards his benefactor. He advanced to salute her; when, with the tears starting into her eyes, she fell on her knees

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before him, and poured forth a prayer of blessings on his head.

There could not, perhaps, be a figure more lovely or more striking than that which she then exhibited. The lustre of her eyes, heightened by those tears with which the overflowing of her heart supplied them; the glow of her complexion, animated with the suffusion of tenderness and gratitude; these, joined to the easy negligence of her dark brown locks, that waved in ringlets on her panting bosom made altogether such an assemblage as beauty is a word too weak for. So forcibly, indeed, was Sindall struck with it, that some little time passed before he thought of lifting her from the ground; he looked his very soul at every glance; but it was a soul unworthy of the object on which he gazed, brutal, unfeeling, and inhuman ; he considered her, at that moment, as already within the reach of his machinations, and feasted the grossness of his fancy with the anticipation of her undoing.

And here let me pause a little, to consider that account of pleasure which the votaries of voluptuousness have frequently stated. I allow for all the delight which Sindall could experience for the present, or hope to experience in the future. I consider it abstracted from its consequences, and 1 will venture to affirm, that there is a truer, a more exquisite voluptuary than he—Had virtue been now looking on

the figure of beauty and of innocence I have attempted to draw—I see the purpose of 1 3

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benevolence beaming in his eye!—Tts throb Is swelling in his heart I

—He clasps her to his bosom ;—he kisses the falling drops from her cheek;—he weeps with her;—and the luxury of his tears baffles description.

But whatever were Sir Thomas's sensations at the sight of Harriet, they were interrupted by the jailor, who now entered the room, and informed him that a gentleman without was earnest to speak with him. * Who can it be ?# said Sir Thomas somewhat peevishly. * If I am not mistaken/ replied the jailor, ' it is a gentleman of the name of Camplin, a lawyer, whom I have seen here with some of the prisoners before.'—* This is he of whom I talked to you, my dear Annesly/ said the baronet $ * let me introduce him to you.'—' I have taken my resolution,' returned Annesly, ' and shall have no need of lawyers for my defence.*—' It must not be/ rejoined the other; and going out of the room, he presently returned with Mr Camplin. AH

this while, Harriet's looks betrayed the strongest symptoms of terror and perplexity; and when the stranger appeared) she drew nearer and nearer to her brother, with an involuntary sort of motion, till she had twined his arm into her's, and placed herself between him and Camplin. This last observed her fears, for indeed she bent her eyes most fixedly upon him; and making her a bow, 4 Be Dot afraid, Miss/

said he, ' here are none but friends. I learn, Sir, that your day is now very near, and that it is time to be thinking of y Google

the business of it/ * Good Heavens!' cried Harriet, * what day ?' *

Make yourself easy; Madam/ continued Campiin ; * being th< > first trip, I hope he may fall soft for this time; I believe no body doubts my abilities; 1 have saved many a brave man from the gallows, whose

case was more desperate than I take this young gentleman's to be/

—The colour, which had been varying on her cheek during this speech, now left it for a dead pale ; and turning her languid eyes upon her brother, she fell motionless into his arms. He supported her to a chair that stood near him, and darting an indignant look at the lawyer, begged of the jailor to procure her some immediate assistance. Sindall, who was kneeling on the other side of her, ordered Campiin, who was advancing to make offer of his services too, to be gone, and send them the first surgeon he could find. A surgeon, indeed, had been already procured, who officiated in the prison, for the best of all reasons, because he was not at liberty to leave it. The jailor now made his appearance, with a bottle of wine in one hand, and some water in the other; followed by a tall, meagre, ragged figure, who, striding up to Harriet, applied a small vial of volatile salt to her nose, and chafing her temples, soon brought her to sense and life again. Annesly pressing her to his bosom, begged her to recollect herself, and forget her fears. ' Pardon this weakness, my dear Billy,' said she, * I will try to overcome It; is that horrid roan gone ? wh* is this gen

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tleman ?' * I have the honour to be a doctor of physic, madam/ said he, clapping at the same time his greasy fingers to her pulse; 'here is a fulness that calls for venesection/ So without loss of time he pulled out a case of lancets covered with rust, and spotted with the blood of former patients. ' Oh ! for Heaven's sake, no bleeding/ cried Harriet, *

indeed there is no occasion for it/ ' How, no occasion !' exclaimed the other; 'I have heard, indeed, some ignorants condemn phlebotomy in such cases; but it is my practice, and I am very well able to defend it.

—It will be allowed, that in plethoric habits'—* Spare your demonstration/ interrupted Annesly, ' and think of your patient/ * You shall not blood me/ said she ; ' you shall not indeed, Sir f « Nay, madam/ said he, ' as you please; you are to know that the operation itself is no part of my profession'; it is only propter necessitatem, for

want of chirurgical practitioners, that I sometimes condescend to it in this place/ Sir Thomas gave him a hint to leave them, and at the same time slipped a guinea into his hand. He immediately retired, looking at the unusual appearance of the gold with a joy that made him forget the obstinacy of his patient, and her rejection of his assistance.

Annesly, assisted by his friend, used every possible argument to comfort and support his sister. His concern for her had indeed banished for a while the consideration of his own state; and when he came to think of that so*

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lemii day, on which the trial for his life was appointed, his concern was more interested for its effect on his Harriet, than for that it should have on himself.

After they had passed great part of the day together. Sir Thomas observed, that Miss Annesly *s present lodgings (in the house of her fellow-traveller's father) were so distant, as to occasion much inconvenience to her in her visits to her brother; and very kindly made offer of endeavouring to procure her others but a few streets off; under the roof of a gentlewoman, he said, an officer's widow of his acquaintance, who, if she had any apartment unoccupied at the time, he knew would be as attentive to Miss Annesly as if she were a daughter of her own.

This proposal was readily accepted; and Sir Thomas having gone upon the inquiry, returned in the evening with an account of his having succeeded in procuring the lodgings; that he had taken the liberty to call and fetch Miss Annesly's baggage from those she had formerly occupied, and that every thing was ready at Mrs Eldridge's (that was the widow's name) for her reception. After supper he conducted her thither accordingly.

As he was going out, Annesly whispered him to return for a few minutes after he had set down his sister, as he had something particular to communicate to him. When he came back, (You have heard, I fancy, Sir Thomas/ said he,«that the next day but one is the day of my trial. As to myself, I watt it with resignation, y Google

106 THE MAN, OF THE WORLD.

and shall not give any trouble to my eountry by a false defence; but I tremble for my sister's knowing it. Could we not contrive some method of keeping her in ignorance of its appointment till it be over, and then prepare her for the event, without subjecting her to the tortures of anxiety and suspence V Sindall agreed in the propriety of the latter part of his scheme, and they resolved to keep his sister that day at home, on pretence of a meeting in the prison between the lawyers of Annesly, and those of his prosecutor. But he warmly insisted, that Annesly should accept the services of Camplin towards conducting the cause on his part. ' Endeavour not to persuade me, my friend/ said Annesly; ' for I now rest satisfied with my determination. I thank Heaven, which has enabled me to rely on its goodness,, and meet my fate with the full possession of myself. I will not disdain the mercy which my country may think I merit; but I will not entangle myself in chicane and insincerity to avoid her justice.'

CHAP. XIX.

THE FATE OP ANNESLY DETERMINED SIN

DALL'S FRIENDSHIP, AND THE GRATITUDE OF HARRIET.

JN othing remarkable happened till that day when the fate of Annesly was to be determined by the laws of his country. The project form y Google

THE MAN OP THE WORLD. 107

ed by Sindall and himself, for keeping his sister ignorant of its importance, succeeded to their wish ; she spent it at home, comforting herself with the hope, that the meeting she understood to be held on it, might turn out advantageously for her brother, and soothed by the kindness of her landlady, who had indeed fully answered Sir Thomas's expectations in the attention she had shown her.

Meanwhile her unfortunate brother was brought to the bar, indicted for the robbery commited on the gamester. When he was asked, in the customary manner, to plead, he stood up, and, addressing himself to the judged—

* I am now, my lord,* said he, ' in a situation of all others the most solemn. I stand in the presence of God and my country, and I am called to confess or deny that crime for which I have incurred the judgment of both. If I have offended, my lord, 1 am not yet an obdurate offender; I fly not to the subterfuge of villainy, though I have fallen from the dignity of innocence; and I will not screen a life which my crimes have disgraced, by a coward*lie to prevent their detection.

I plead guilty, my lord, and await the judgment of that law, which, though I have violated, I have not forgotten to revere/

When he ended, a confused murmur ran through the court, and for some time stopped the judge in his reply. Silence obtained, that upright magistrate, worthy. the tribunal of England; spoke to this effect;

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108 THE MAN Q¥ THE WORLD.

'I aril sincerely sorry, young gentleman to see one of your figure at this bar, charged with a crime for which the public safety has been Obliged to award an exemplary, punishment* Much as I admire the heroism of your confession, I will not suffer advantage to be taken of it to your prejudice; reflect on the conse* quences of a plea of guilt, which takes from you all opportunity of a legal, defence, and speak

again, as your own discretion, or your friends, may best advise you.'

* I humbfy thank your lordship,' said Aonesly, ' for the candour and indulgence which you show me; but I have spoken the truth, and will not allow myself to think of retracting it.' * I am here,' returned his lordship, * as the dispenser of justice, and I have nothing but justice to give; the province of mercy is in other hands; if, upon inquiry, the case is circumstanced as I wish it to be, my recommendation shall not be wanting to enforce an application there.' Annesly was then convicted of the robbery, and the sentence of the law passed upon him

But the judge before whom he was tried was not unmindful of his promise; and having satisfied himself, that though guilty in this instance, he was not habitually flagitious, he assisted so warmly the applications which through the interest of Sindall, (for Sindall vras in this sincere), were made in his behalf, that a pardon was obtained for him, on the condition of his suffering transportation for the term of fourteen years.

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THE MAN OF THE WtfRLB. 109

This aBevialion of fcrs punishment was pro* toured, before his sister was suffered to kno\r lhat bis trtetf had ever come on, or what had!

been its event. When his fete was by this means determined, Sindall undertook to in* struct the lady in whose house he had plaeed 4er, that Mrss Annesly should be acquainted With the circumstances of it in such a manner as might least discompose t^at delicacy and!

tenderness of which her mind was so suscepw tible. The event answered his expectation; 1 hat good woman seemed possessed of as much address as humanity; and Harriet, by the in* tervention of berth, was led* to the knowledge of her brother's situation with so much prudence, that she bore it at first with resignation, and'afterwards looked upon it with thankfulness.

After that acknowledgment to Providence, which she had been early instructed never to forget, there was an inferior agent in this-nfc fair,

"to whom1 her warmest gratitude was dievoted. Besides that herself had the highest opinion of Sindall's good offices, her obliging landlady had taken every opportunity, since their acquaintance began, to sound forth his praises in the most extravagant strain; and, on the present occasionr her encomiums were loud, in proportion as Harriet's happiness was concerned in the event.

Sir Thomas, therefore, began to He considered by the young lady as the worthiest of friends; his own language bore the strongest Vol. II. K

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110 'THE MAN OF THE WORLD.

expressions of friendship—of friendship, and bo more ; but the widow would often insinuate that he felt more than he expressed; and when Harriet's spirits could bear a little raillery, her landlady did not want for jokes on the subject*

These suggestions of another have a greater effect than is often imagined; they are heard with an ease which does not alarm, and the mind habituates itself to take up such a credit on their truth as it would be sorry to lose, though it is not at the trouble of examining.

Harriet did not seriously think of Sindall as of one that was her lover; but she began to make such arrangements, as not to be surprised if he should.

One morning, when Sir Thomas had called to conduct her on a visit to her brother, Mrs Eldridge rallied him at breakfast on his being still a bachelor. * What is your opinion, Miss .Annesly,' said she; ' is it not a shame for one of Sir Thomas's fortune not to make some worthy woman happy in the participation of it ?' Sindall submitted to be judged by so fair an arbitress; he said, ' the manners of the courtladies, whose example had stretched unhappily too far, were such as made it a sort of venture to be married £ he then paused for a moment, sighed, and, fixing his eyes upon Harriet, drew such a

picture of the woman whom he would chuse for a wife, that she must have had some sillier qualities than mere modesty about her, not to have made some guess at his meaning.

In short, though she was as little wanting in y Google

THE MAN OF THE WORLD. Ill

delicacy as most women, she began to feel a certain interest in the good opinion of Sindall, and to draw some conclusions from his deportment, which, for the sake of my fair readers, I would have them remember, are better to be slowly understood than hastily indulged.

CHAP. XX.

AN ACCIDENT, WHICH MAY POSSIBLY BE IMAGINED

SOMEWHAT MORE THAN ACCIDENTAL.

J. hough the thoughts of Annesly's future situation could not but be distressful to his sister and him, yet the deliverance from greater evils, which they had experienced, served to enlighten the prospect of those they feared. His father, whose consolation always attended the cala? mily he could neither prevent nor cure, exhorted his son (in an answer to the account his sister and he had transmitted him of the events contained in the preceding chapter) to have $ proper sense of the mercy of his God and his king, and to bear what was a mitigation of his punishment with a fortitude and resignation becoming the subject of both. The same letter informed his children, that though he was not well enough recovered to be able to travel, yet he was gaining ground on his distemper* and hoped, as the season advanced, to get the K2

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110 THS MA$T OP Til* WOHtp*

Jbetter of it altogether. He sent that Messing to his 6<ia, which he was prevented from bestowing personally, with a credit for any sum which he might have occasion for against his approaching departure.

His children received additional comfort from the good accounts of their father which this letter contained; and even in Annesly's prison, there were some intervals in which they forgot the fears of parting, and indulged themselves in temporary happiness.

It was during one of these, that Sindall observed to Harriet how little she possessed the curiosity her sex was charged with, who had never once thought of seeing any thing in JLondon that strangers were most solicitous to see; and proposed that very night to conduct her to the playhoue, where the royal family were to be present, at the representation of a new comedy.

Harriet turned a melancholy look towards her brother, and made answer, that she could not think of any amusement that should subject him to hours of $o)itude*in a prison.

Upon this, AnoesJy was earnest in pressing her to accept Sir Thomas's invitation ; he sai$ she knew how often he chose to he alone, at times when he could most command society; and that be should find an additional pleasure in theirs, when they returned to him, fraught with the intelligence of the play.

' But there is something unbecoming in it/ said Harriet, ' in the eyes of others*1

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* That objection/ replied Sindall, ' will be easily removed; we shall go, accompanied by Mrs Eld ridge, to the gallery, where even those who have many acquaintance in town are dressed so much in the incognito way, as never to be discovered.'

Annesly repeated his intreaties, Mrs Eldridge seconded, Sindall enforced them; and all three urged so many arguments, that Harriet was at last overcome; and to the. play they accordingly went.

Though this was the first entertainment of the sort at which Harriet had ever been present, yet the thoughts of her absent brother, in whose company all her former amusements had been enjoyed, s£

much damped the.pleasure she should have felt from this, that as soon as the play was over, she begged of her conductor to return, much against the desire of Mrs Eldridge, who intreated them to indulge her by staying the farce. But Harriet ^eemed so uneasy at the thoughts of a longer absence from her brother, that the other's solicitations were at last over-ruled; and making shift to get through the crowd, they left the house, and set out in a hackney-coach in their return.

They had got the length of two or three streets on their way, when the coachman, who indeed had the appearance of being exceedingly drunk, drove them against a post, by which accident one of the wheels was broken to pieces, and the carriage itself immediately overturned. gindaU had luckily put down the glass on that K 3

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114 THE MAN OF THE WORLJ>.

side but a moment before, to look at something, so that they escaped any mischief which might have ensued from the breaking of it; and, except the ladies being extremely frightened, np bad consequences followed. This disaster hap* pened just at the door of a tavern; the mistress of which, seeing the discomposure of the ladies, very politely begged them to step into her owi* room, till they could re-adjust themselves, an*} procure another coach from a neighbouring stand, for which she promised immediately to dispatch one of her servants. All this while Sir Thomas was venting his wrath against the coachman, continuing to cane him most unmercifully, till stopped by the intercession of Harriet and Mrs Eldridge, and prevailed jpon to accompany them into'the house at Ine obliging

request of its mistress. He asked pardon for giving way to his passion, which apprehension for their safety, he said, had occasioned; and taking Harriet's hand with a look of the utmost tenderness, inquired if she felt no hurt from the fall ? Upon her answering, that, except the fright, she was perfectly well; * then all is well/ said he, pressing her hand to his bosom, which rose to meet it with a sigh.

He then called for a bottle of Madeira, of which his companions drank each a glass; but upon his presenting another, Mrs Eldridge declared she neyer tasted any thing between meals, and Harriet said that her head was al« ready affected by the glass she had taken*

This, however, he attributed to the effects of y Google

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the overturn, for which another bumper was an

% infallible remedy; and, on Mrs Eldridge's set*

ting the example, though with the utmost reluo tance, Harriet was prevailed upon to follow it, She was seated on a setee at the upper end o£ the room, Sindali sat on a chair by her, and Mrs Eldridge, from choice, was walking about die room; it somehow happened that, in a few minutes, the last mentioned lady left her companions by themselves.

Sindali, whose eyes had not been idle before, cast them now to the ground with a look of the most feeling discomposure; and gently liftingthem again, < I know not,' said he, • most4ovely of women, whether I should venture to express the sensations of my heart at this moment s that respect which ever attends a love so sincere as mine, has hitherto kept me silent; but the late accident, in which all that I hold dear was endangered, has opened every sluice of

tenderness in ray soul, and 1 were more or less than man, did I resist the impulse of declaring it.' < This is no place, Sir/—said Harriet, trembling, and covered with blushes—' Every place,' cried Sindali, ' is sacred to love, where my Harriet is.' At the same time he threw himself on his knees before her, and imprinted a thousand burning kisses on her hand. ' Letga my hand, Sir Thomas,' she cried, her voice faultering, and her cheek overspread with a still higher glow: * Never, thou cruel one,* said he, (raising himself gently till he had gained a place on the setee by her side).

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* never* till you listen to the dictates of a passion too violent to be longer resisted.' At that instant some bustle was heard at the door, and presently after, a voice, in a country accent) vociferating, ' It is my neighbour's own daughter, and I must see her immediately.—The door burst open, and discovered Jack Ryland, Mrs Eldridge following him, with a countenance not the most expressive of good-humour.

4 Ryland f exclaimed the baronet, * what is the meaning of this ?'

advancing towards him with an air of fierceness and indignation, which the other returned with a hearty shake by the hand, saying, he was rejoiced to n;nd Miss Harriet in so good company.—* Dear Mr Ryland,' said she, * a little confusedly, 1 am happy to see you ; but it is odd—I cannot conceive—tell us, as Sir Thomas, was just now asking, how you came to find us out here ?'

4 Why, you must understand, Miss,* returned Jack, * that I have got a little bit of a legacy left me by a relation here in London; as I was coming up on that business, I thought I could do no less than ask your worthy father's commands for you and Mr William: So we settled matters, that, as our times, I believe, will agree well enough, I should have the pleasure, if you are not otherwise engaged, of

conducting you home again. 1 came to town only this day, and after having eat a mutton-chop at the inn where I lighted, and got myself into a little decent trim, I set out from a place they call Piccadilly, I think, asking every body I met which

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THE KAN OF THE WORLD, Itf

was the shortest road to.Newgate, inhere I understood your brother was to be found. But I was like to make a marvellous long journey on't; for besides that it is a huge long way, as I was told, I hardly met with one person that would give a mannerly answer to my questions: to be sure they are the most humoursome people here in London, that I ever saw in my life; when I asked the road to Newgate, one told me, I was not likely to be long in finding it; another bade me cut the first throat I met, and it would shew me; and a deal of such outof-the-way jokes. At last, while I was looking round for some civil-like body to inquire o£ who should I see whip past me in a coach, but yourself with that lady, as I take it; upon which I hallooed out to the coachman to stop, but he did not hepr me, as I suppose, and drove on as hard as ever. 1 followed him close at the heels for some time, till the street he turned into being much darker than where j saw you first, by reason there were none of your torches blazing there, I tell headlong into a rut in the middle of it, and lost sight of the carriage before I could recover myself. How* ever, I ran down a right-hand road, which I guesse4 you had taken, asking any body J thought would give me an answer, if they had seen a coach with a handsome young woman jn't, drawn by a pair of dark b*ys , but I was only laughed at for ray pains, till I fell in, by /chance, with a simple countryman like myself; who informed me, that he had s.een such a onft

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overturned just before this here large house; and the door being open. I stept in without more ado, till I happened to hear this lady whispering something to another about Sir Thomas Sindall, when I

guessed that you might be with him, as acquaintances will find one another out, you know ; and so here I am, at your service and Sir Thomas's.'

This history afforded as little entertainment to its hearers as it may have done to the greatest part of my readers; but it gave Sir Thomas and Harriet time enough to recover from that confusion into which the appearance of Ryland had thrown both of them; though with this difference, that; Harriet's was free from the guilt of SindaU's, and did not even proceed from the least suspicion of any thing criminal in the intentions of that gentleman.

Sir Thomas pretended great satisfaction in having met with his acquaintance, Mr Ryland; and, having obtained another hackneycoach, they drove together to Newgate, where Jack received a much sincerer welcome from Annesly, and they passed the evening 'with the greatest satisfaction.

Not but that there was something unusual in the bosom of Harriet, from the declaration of her lover, and in his, from the attempt which Providence had interposed to disappoint. He consoled himself, however, with the reflection, that he had not gone such a length as

'to alarm her simplicity, and took from the mortification of the past, by the hope of more successful villainy.

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THB MAN OF THE WORLD. 119

CHAP. XXt.

AN ACCOUNT OF ANNESLY'S DEPARTURE*

It was not long before the time arrived, in which Annesiy was to bid adieu to his native country, for the term which the mercy of his sovereign had allotted for his punishment. He behaved, at this juncture, with a determined sort of coolness, not easily expected from one of his warmth of feelings, at a time of life when these are in

their fullest vigour. His sister, whose gentle heart began to droop under the thoughts of their separation, he employed every argument to comfort He bade her remember, that it had been determined he should be absent for some years before this necessity of his absence had arisen. * Suppose me on my travels/ said he, ' my Harriet, but for a longer term, and the sum of this calamity is exhausted; if there are hardships awaiting me, think how 1 should otherwise expiate my follies and my crimes. The punishments of Heaven, our father has often told us, are mercies to its children ; mine, 1 hope, will have a double effect ; to wipe away my former offences, and prevent my offending for the future.'

He was actuated by the same steadiness of spirit in the disposal of what money his father's credit enabled him to command. He called in an exact account of his debts, those to Sindall not excepted) and discharged them in full,

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13(J T«E MAN OF t&R wont».

much against the inclination of Sir Thomas* who insisted, as Hraeh as m decency fee could, on cancelling every obligation of that* sort to himself. Bat Annesly was positive in his resolution ; and after having cleared these in cum*hrances, he embarked, With onrj a few shiHings m his pocket, saying, that he would never pinch his father**

age to mitigate the punishment which his son had more than deserved:

There was-another account to settle, which? he found a more difficult task. The parting with his sister he knew not how to accomplish, without such a pang as her tender frame could very ill support. At length he resolved to take at least from its solemnity, if he could not alleviate its anguish. Having sat, therefore, with Harriet till past midnight, on the eve of his departure, which he employed' in renewing his arguments of consolation, and earnestly recommending to her to keep up those spirits which should support her father and herself, he pretended a desire to sleep, appointed an hour fof

breakfasting with her in tie morning; and so soon as he could prevail on her to- leave him, he went on board the boat, which waited to carry him, and some unfortunate companions ef hi* voyage, to the ship destined to transport them.

Sir Thomas accompanied nfm a little way down the river, till, at the earnest desire of hi* friend, he was carried ashore in a sculler, which they happened to meet on their way* When they parted, Annesly wrung his hand,

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TBS If AIT OF TOI WOHI*». 121 •

and dropping a tear on it, which hitherto he had never allowed himself to shed, ' To my faithful Sindall,' said he, ' 1 leave a trust more precious to this bosom than everj other earthly good. Be the friend of my father, as yws have been that of bis undeserving sob, and protect my Harriet's youth, who has lest that protection a brother should have afforded her. if the prayers of a wretched exile in a foreign land can be heard of Heaven, the name of his friend shall rise with those of a parent and a sister in bis hourly benedictions; and if at any tins* yoa shall bestow a thought upon him, remember the only comfort of which adversity has not deprived him, the confidence of his Sindali'a kindness to those whom he has left weping behind him/

Such was the charge which Annesly gave and Sindall received; he received it with a tear; a tear, which the better part of his nature had yet reserved from the ruins of principle, of justice, of humanity. It fell involuntarily at the time, and he thought of it afterwards with a blush

—Such was the system4 of self-applause which the refinements of vice had taught him, and such is the honour she has reared for the worship of her votaries 1

Annesly kept his eyes fixed on the lights of London, till the increasing distance deprived them of their object. Nor did his imagination fail

ham in the picture, after that help was taken from her. The form of the weeping Harriet, lovely in hor griei^ still swam before y Google

his sight; on the back-ground stood a venerable figure, turning his eyes to heaven, while a tear that swelled in each dropped for the sacrifice of his sorrow, and a bending angel accepted it as incense.

Thus, by a series of dissipation, so easy in its progress, that, if my tale were fiction, it would be thought too simple, was this unfortunate young man lost to himself* his friends, and his country. Take but a few incidents away, and it is the history of thousands. Let not those, who have escaped the punishment of Annesly, look with, indifference on the participation of his guilt, nor suffer the present undisturbed enjoyment of their criminal pleasures, to blot from their minds the idea of future retribution.

CHAP. XXII.

HARRIET IS INFORMED OF HER BROTHER'S

DEPARTURE SHE LEAVES LONDON ON

HER RETURN HOME*

oindall took upon himself the charge of communicating the intelligence of Annesly's departure to his sister. She received it with an enhancement of sorrow, which deprived her of its expression; and when at last her tears found their way to utter it, * Is he gone ?' said she, ' and shall I never see him more? cruel Billy ! Qh! Sir Thomas, I had a thousand things to

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THE MAN OP THE WORLD. 125

say ! and has he left me without a single adieu ?' :—' It was in kindness to you, Miss Annesly,' answered the baronet, * that he did

so.'—* I believe you,' said she, 4 I know it was; and yet, methinks, he should have bid me farewell —I could have stood it, indeed I could—

I am not so weak as you think me; yet Heaven knows I have need of strength'—and she burst into tears again.

Sir Thomas did not want for expressions of comfort or of kindness, nor did he fail, amidst the assurances of his friendship, to suggest those tender sensations which his bosom felt on account of Miss Annesly* She gave him a warmth of gratitude in return, which, though vice may sometimes take advantage of it, vir* tue can never blame.

His protestations were interrupted by the arrival of Ryland, who had accidentally heard of Annesly's embarkment. Jack had but few words to communicate his feelings by; but his eyes helped them out with an honest tear. * Your brother, I hear, is gone, Miss Harriet,' said he; * well, Heaven bless him wherever he goes!'

Harriet begged to know when it would suit his convenience to leave London, saying, that every day she stayed there now, would reproach her absence from her father. Jack made an* swer, that he could he ready to attend her at an hour's warning; for that his business in London was finished, and as for pleasure, he could find none in it. It was, agreed, therefore, L2

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(24 THE MAS 0* TUB WOM.D,

contrary to the sealoue advice of Sir Thomas and Mrs Eldridge, that Harriet should set off, accompanied by Mr It y land, the very next morning.

Their resolution was accomplished, and they set out by the break' of day. Sindall accompanied them on horseback several stages, and they dined together about forty miles from London. Here having settled their route according to a plan of Sir Thomas's, who seemed to be perfectly versant in the geography of the country through which

they were to pass, he was prevailed on, by the earnest entreaty of Harriet, to return to London, and leave her to perform the rest of the journey under the pro* tection of Mr Ryland.

On their leaving the inn at which they dined, there occurred an incident, of which, though the reader may have observed me not apt to dwell on trifling circumstances, I cannot help taking notice. While they were at dinner, they were frequently disturbed by the boisterous mirth o( a company in the room immediately adjoining, This one of the waiters informed them, proceeded from a gentleman, who, he believed, was travelling from London down into the country, and, having no companion, had associated with the landlord over a bottle of claret, which, according to the waiter's account, his honour had made so free with, as to be in a merrier, or, as that word may generally be translated, a more noise-making mood than usual. As Sindall was hatfding

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THE MAN OF THE WOSLBu 125

Harriet into the post-chaise, they observed a gentleman, whom they concluded to be the same whose voice they had so often heard at dinner, standing in the passage that led to the door. When the lady passed him, he trod, either accidentally or on purpose, on the skirt of her gown behind i and as she turned about to get rid of the stop, having now got sight of her fade, he exclaimed, with an oath, that she was an angel; and, seizing the hand with which she was disengaging her gown, pressed it to his lips in so rude a manner, that even his drunkenness could not excuse it; at least it could not to Sindall; who, stepping between him and Miss Annesly, laid hold of his collar, and shaking him violently, demanded how he dared to affront the lady; and insisted on his immediately asking her pardon.