4. CHAPTER IV.
Which consists of visiting
Mr. Jones had walked within sight of a certain door during the whole
day, which, though one of the shortest, appeared to him to be one of
the longest in the whole year. At length, the clock having struck
five, he returned to Mrs. Fitzpatrick, who, though it was a full
hour earlier than the decent time of visiting, received him very
civilly; but still persisted in her ignorance concerning Sophia.
Jones, in asking for his angel, had dropped the word cousin, upon
which Mrs. Fitzpatrick said, "Then, sir, you know we are related: and,
as we are, you will permit me the right of inquiring into the
particulars of your business with my cousin." Here Jones hesitated a
good while, and at last answered, "He had a considerable sum of
money of hers in his hands, which he desired to deliver to her." He
then produced the pocket-book, and acquainted Mrs. Fitzpatrick with
the contents, and with the method in which they came into his hands.
He had scarce finished his story, when a most violent noise shook
the whole house. To attempt to describe this noise to those who have
heard it would be in vain; and to aim at giving any idea of it to
those who have never heard the like, would be still more vain: for
it may be truly said-
--------Non acuta
Sic geminant Corybantes aera.
The priests of Cybele do not so rattle their sounding brass.
In short, a footman knocked, or rather thundered, at the door. Jones
was a little surprized at the sound, having never heard it before; but
Mrs. Fitzpatrick very calmly said, that, as some company were
coming, she could not make him any answer now; but if he pleased to
stay till they were gone, she intimated she had something to say to
him.
The door of the room now flew open, and, after pushing in her hoop
sideways before her; entered Lady Bellaston, who having first made a
very low courtesy to Mrs. Fitzpatrick, and as low a one to Mr.
Jones, was ushered to the upper end of the room.
We mention these minute matters for the sake of some country
ladies of our acquaintance, who think it contrary to the rules of
modesty to bend their knees to a man.
The company were hardly well settled, before the arrival of the peer
lately mentioned, caused a fresh disturbance, and a repetition of
ceremonials.
These being over, the conversation began to be (as the phrase is)
extremely brilliant. However, as nothing past in it which can be
thought material to this history, or, indeed, very material in itself,
I shall omit the relation; the rather, as I have known some very
fine polite conversation grow extremely dull, when transcribed into
books, or repeated on the stage. Indeed, this mental repast is a
dainty, of which those who are excluded from polite assemblies must be
contented to remain as ignorant as they must of the several dainties
of French cookery, which are served only at the tables of the great.
To say the truth, as neither of these are adapted to every taste, they
might both be often thrown away on the vulgar.
Poor Jones was rather a spectator of this elegant scene, than an
actor in it; for though, in the short interval before the peer's
arrival, Lady Bellaston first, and afterwards Mrs. Fitzpatrick, had
addressed some of their discourse to him; yet no sooner was the
noble lord entered, than he engrossed the whole attention of the two
ladies to himself; and as he took no more notice of Jones than if no
such person had been present, unless by now and then staring at him,
the ladies followed his example.
The company had now staid so long, that Mrs. Fitzpatrick plainly
perceived they all designed to stay out each other. She therefore
resolved to rid herself of Jones, he being the visitant to whom she
thought the least ceremony was due. Taking therefore an opportunity of
a cessation of chat, she addressed herself gravely to him, and said,
"Sir, I shall not possibly be able to give you an answer to-night as
to that business; but if you please to leave word where I may send
to you to-morrow--"
Jones had natural, but not artificial good-breeding. Instead,
therefore, of communicating the secret of his lodgings to a servant,
he acquainted the lady herself with it particularly, and soon after
very ceremoniously withdrew.
He was no sooner gone, than the great personages, who had taken no
notice of him present, began to take much notice of him in his
absence; but if the reader hath already excused us from relating the
more brilliant part of this conversation, he will surely be ready to
excuse the repetition of what may be called vulgar abuse; though,
perhaps, it may be material to our history to mention an observation
of Lady Bellaston, who took her leave in a few minutes after him,
and then said to Mrs. Fitzpatrick, at her departure, "I am satisfied
on the account of my cousin; she can be in no danger from this
fellow."
Our history shall follow the example of Lady Bellaston, and take
leave of the present company, which was now reduced to two persons;
between whom, as nothing passed, which in the least concerns us or our
reader, we shall not suffer ourselves to be diverted by it from
matters which must seem of more consequence to all those who are at
all interested in the affairs of our heroe.