""No: G.o.d be thanked, once again! It was not quite so bad as that.
Though the hot-headed fools and rabble, that got hold of me, did use me ill enough, I must say: for which I was so angry with Mr. Trevor; and it was therefore that Old Nick put it into my head that I would beat him. For I cannot deny but the ducking did dwell upon my memory."
""Were you then the same person that was so ill treated at Lansdown races?"
""Yes, madam: for which, though I used to be angry enough before time at pick-pockets, I will take special care never to have a hand in ducking any body, as long as I live."
""And is there no truth whatever in the story that two men were killed, by the ungovernable pa.s.sion and malice of Mr. Trevor?"
""Killed by Mr. Trevor, madam! No, no! He is not that sort of man.
He would rather be killed himself than be the death of any Christian soul: "specially if he was a poor body. I can say that for him. Why he fought like a mad man, to save me from the mob; when they were hustling me, and dragging me along. But, while one part of them gathered round him, the other had got far enough off with me. It being all a mistake about a handkerchief: which he told them. And, though I heard him and saw him beat about just as if he had been a lion to save me, I could not forget how I had been used, when I met him the next day. But I hope G.o.d will forgive me! which I do believe he will, for Mr. Trevor has shewn him the example. I beg pardon! G.o.d forgive me!
I only mean that, though Mr. Trevor is a good gentleman, the Lord of heaven must be a better; and even more charitable and melting in his heart. Which, to be sure, is very strange: because I do not altogether understand how it can be."
""Then it seems your brother is still living?"
""Brother, madam? I never had any brother! nor any thing of that kind: except my wife"s sisters, _which_ I love because I love _she_."
""What strange tales I have been told!"
""That I dare be sworn you have, madam, from what I have heard.
Because there was the sham-Abraham friends of Mr. Trevor: one of _which_ kicked him, when he was down!"
""Is it possible?"
""It is as true as G.o.d is in heaven, madam!"
""Do you know his name?"
""He was as tall as a Maypole. And then after he had done this cowardly trick, why he durst not stand up to Mr. Trevor, like a man.
And so, madam, finding as you have been told a parcel of trumpery tales, I hope in G.o.d you will be kind enough not to believe one of them; now that you see they are all false. For if there be a gentleman on the face of the earth that loves a lady to desperation, why, Mr.
Trevor is he; as you would have been satisfied, if you had _set_ by his bedside when as he was down in the fever; like as I and my Sally did; and had heard him rave of n.o.body but you. And then if you had seen him too the night after he took you out of the coach! and then went on to Hounslow. Which, as he said, seeing it was parting with you, was worse than tearing his heart out of his body! But he was so afraid of doing you harm! and of setting that cross old lady to scold you! For he would suffer death rather than anger you. So that, while I have breath to draw, I shall never forget, when we came to the inn, how he looked! and stood quite lost and changing colour! and while his face was as set as stone, the tears kept trickling down his cheeks!
At which I was put into a panic: for I did not at that time know what it was about, nor who we had been in company with. Which was the more surprising, when I came to hear! For which, as he knows you to be so good a lady, I am sure you must see all these particulars just in the same light."
"Miss Mowbray had heard sufficient. Her heart was bursting. It was with difficulty she could check her feelings, and she made no reply.
Your una.s.suming but intelligent friend understood her silence as an intimation to him to withdraw. Zealous as you hear he was in your behalf, this thought put an end to his loquacity. But, as he was retiring, Miss Mowbray drew out her purse, and said to him--"Let me beg you, sir, to accept this; as a recompense, for--for having aided in saving the lives of me and my aunt."
"As she stretched out her hand, he looked up at her, as long as he durst; and then, turning his eyes away, said--"Why, as for money, madam, I thank you as much as if I had it: but, if I was to take it, what would that seem? but as if I had been telling a tale only to please you: when I declare, in the face of my Maker, it is every word truth! And a great deal more! And as for saving your lives, I was as willing I own as another: but I was not half so quick in thought as Mr. Trevor. Because, as the coachman said, if he had not catched hold of the horses in that very instant nick of the moment, it would have been all over! So I hope, madam, you will not take it amiss that I am not one of the sort _which_ tell tales to gain their own ends."
"Here he instantly left the room: by which he intended to shew that he was determined.
"Clarke was no sooner gone than Miss Mowbray burst into the most pa.s.sionate, and I really believe the most rapturous, flood of tears that the heart of woman ever shed! And how melting, how overflowing with affection, the heart of woman is, Mr. Trevor, I think you know.
"Good G.o.d! How pure, how expressive, how beaming, was the pleasure in her eyes! though she sobbed so violently that she had lost all utterance. How did she press my hand, gaze at me, then bury her face in my bosom, and struggle with the pleasure that was becoming dangerous in its excess!
"After some time, her thoughts took another turn. She instantly recovered the use of speech and exclaimed--"Oh, my friend! I almost hate myself, for the injustice which I, as well as others, have done Mr. Trevor--I, who had heard from his lips a thousand sentiments that ought to have a.s.sured me of the generous and elevated virtues by which his actions were directed! He has twice saved my life; and yet, because on some occasions he has happened to act differently from what I have supposed he ought to have acted, I have taken upon me to treat him with coldness that was affected, with reproof when I owed him thanks, and with rudeness such as I supposed became my s.e.x.
""For me he has risked his life again and again, without hesitation: while I have sat in timid silence, and countenanced calumnies which it was impossible I could believe; though I seem as if I had endeavoured to believe them, from the disgrace which I knew would justly light on me, should these calumnies prove false. False I could not but think them, false they have proved, and I am unworthy of him. I have presumed upon the prejudices which I knew would protect me, in the opinions of the foolish, and gain me their applause, and have treated him with a haughtiness which he ought to despise. Has he deserved it?
Has he been guilty of one mean or seductive art, that might induce me to betray a duty, and gratify him at the expence of myself and others?
Has he entered into that base warfare of the s.e.xes by which each in turn endeavours to deceive?"
"The thought suddenly struck her, and interrupting herself she hastily asked--"Where is the letter you mentioned? I will read it. I know I shall read my own condemnation: but I will read it."
"I presented the letter, and replied, "Mr. Trevor instructed me to tell you, when I delivered it, that it contains nothing which he wishes you to conceal, should you think fit to shew it; that it does not invite you to any improper correspondence; and that it is the only one which, under his present circ.u.mstances, he means to obtrude upon you."
"Evidently overcome by the generous rect.i.tude of your conduct, and more dissatisfied with her own, she broke the seal and began to read.
"She hurried it once over with great eagerness, and trepidation.
She then paused; debating whether she should unburthen her mind immediately of a crowd of thoughts: but, finding they crossed and disturbed each other, she began again and read aloud; interrupting herself by remarks, as she proceeded.
""_My reproof and anger_"--Yes, yes, I have taught him to treat me like a Sultana. He punishes me justly without intending it.
""_You have supposed me dead_"--Here, addressing herself to me, she added--"It was his servant, Philip, who being hired by a gentleman that came to Scarborough brought us this false intelligence. His story was that he saw Mr. Trevor"s distraction, on the morning after he had lost his money at a gaming-table; to which rashness as it should seem he was driven by despair; that Mr. Trevor ran into the fields, in a fit of frenzy, and threw himself into the Avon: that he, Philip, who had followed as fast as he could, hastened to the place but never saw him more; and that consequently and beyond all doubt he was there drowned.
""Philip, according to his own account, hurried into the water, and used every means in his power to find the body: but, not being successful, he returned to his master"s lodgings, took some trifles that had been given him, and left Bath by the morning coach for London; having n.o.body in Bath to give him a character, and being less likely there to meet with another place."
"I informed Miss Mowbray that this was part of it true, and part false: for that Philip had taken a ten-pound note, which more than paid him his wages; and that the other things, which he carried away, had not been given him.
""Indeed!" exclaimed Miss Mowbray, "I am exceedingly sorry to hear it: for, after his second master left Scarborough and he was hired by my aunt to wait on me, he behaved with great diligence and honesty.
""Yet this accounts in part for his running away: which he did that very night after I suppose he had discovered it was Mr. Trevor, at Cranford-bridge; and I have never seen or heard of him since.
""I am persuaded he thought Mr. Trevor dead: for, after I had heard my brother"s account of the battle, I thought the time and the circ.u.mstances contradictory, and repeatedly questioned Philip; who persisted in declaring he saw Mr. Trevor jump into the river and drown himself.
""Philip"s account was that he had himself been out on errands early in the morning, at which time he supposed the battle must have been fought; and, though there were many contradictory circ.u.mstances, the positiveness with which the two tales were told led me to believe that the chief incidents of both were true. And, as I say, the flight of Philip from Cranford-bridge persuades me that he actually had believed Mr. Trevor dead.
""I am sorry the poor fellow has done this wrong thing, and been frightened away: for I never before heard a servant speak with so much warmth and affection of a master, as he did of Mr. Trevor."
"She then continued to read; and made many observations, which expressed dissatisfaction with herself and were favourable to you, till she came to where you inform her that you had begun to study the law.
""By this I find," said she, "the story I have just heard is false."
"I asked, "What story is that, pray?"
"She replied, "I was last night at the opera; where I saw Mr. Trevor, with Lady Bray. Having so lately met with him under circ.u.mstances so different, and apparently disadvantageous, you may imagine that the joy I felt and the hope I conceived were not trifling.
""My aunt saw him, likewise: but, as she was not so familiar with his person as to have no doubt, she first watched and then questioned me: though, as she upbraidingly told me, she needed only to have enquired of my looks.
""I ought perhaps first to have informed you that I had thought it my duty to use the utmost sincerity, undeceive her, and declare all that I knew of what had pa.s.sed at Cranford-bridge.
""I performed this task on that very night, while her heart was alive to the danger she had escaped, and when she expressed a lively regret that the person from whom she had received such signal aid had disappeared. Except his silence in the coach, she said every thing bespoke him to be a gentleman: well bred, well educated, courageous, and as active as he was bold.
""When she was told that the gentleman, of whom she had been speaking with so much warmth, had a peculiar motive for being silent, and that this gentleman was no other than Mr. Trevor, she was very much moved.
The recollection of the manner in which she had been treating his character, and of the alacrity with which he had afterward saved her life, was exceedingly strong; and far from unmixed with pain. Before she was aware of herself, she exclaimed, "This Mr. Trevor is a very extraordinary young man!"
""Unfortunately for Mr. Trevor, our servant, Philip, had absconded; and a train of suspicions immediately arose in her mind. It might be a conspiracy among them; a desperate and unprincipled contrivance, to effect a desperate and unprincipled purpose.
""In this supposition she confirmed herself by every possible surmise: each and all resting upon the a.s.sumed league between Philip and Mr.
Trevor.