10. CHAPTER X.
A chapter which, though short, may draw tears from some eyes
Mr. Jones was just dressed to wait on Lady Bellaston, when Mrs.
Miller rapped at his door; and, being admitted, very earnestly desired
his company below-stairs, to drink tea in the parlour.
Upon his entrance into the room, she presently introduced a person
to him, saying, "This, sir, is my cousin, who hath been so greatly
beholden to your goodness, for which he begs to return you his
sincerest thanks."
The man had scarce entered upon that speech, which Mrs. Miller had
so kindly prefaced, when both Jones and he, looking stedfastly at each
other, showed at once the utmost tokens of surprize. The voice of
the latter began instantly to faulter; and, instead of finishing his
speech, he sunk down into a chair, crying, "It is so, I am convinced
it is so!"
"Bless me! what's the meaning of this?" cries Mrs. Miller; "you
are not ill, I hope, cousin? Some water, a dram this instant."
"Be not frighted, madam," cries Jones, "I have almost as much need
of a dram as your cousin. We are equally surprized at this
unexpected meeting. Your cousin is an acquaintance of mine, Mrs.
Miller."
"An acquaintance!" cries the man.-- "Oh, heaven!"
"Ay, an acquaintance," repeated Jones, "and an honoured acquaintance
too. When I do not love and honour the man who dares venture
everything to preserve his wife and children from instant destruction,
may I have a friend capable of disowning me in adversity!"
"Oh, you are an excellent young man," cries Mrs. Miller:- "Yes,
indeed, poor creature! he hath ventured everything.- If he had not
had one of the best of constitutions, it must have killed him."
"Cousin," cries the man, who had now pretty well recovered
himself, "this is the angel from heaven whom I meant. This is he to
whom, before I saw you, I owed the preservation of my Peggy. He it was
to whose generosity every comfort, every support which I have procured
for her, was owing. He is, indeed, the worthiest, bravest, noblest, of
all human beings. O cousin, I have obligations to this gentleman of
such a nature!"
"Mention nothing of obligations," cries Jones eagerly; "not a
word, I insist upon it, not a word" (meaning, I suppose, that he would
not have him betray the affair of the robbery to any person). "If,
by the trifle you have received from me, I have preserved a whole
family, sure pleasure was never bought so cheap."
"Oh, sir!" cries the man, "I wish you could this instant see my
house. If any person had ever a right to the pleasure you mention, I
am convinced it is yourself. My cousin tells me she acquainted you
with the distress in which she found us. That, sir, is all greatly
removed, and chiefly by your goodness.-- My children have now a bed to
lie on-- and they have-- they have-- eternal blessings reward you for
it!-- they have bread to eat. My little boy is recovered; my wife is
out of danger, and I am happy. All, all owing to you, sir, and to my
cousin here, one of the best of women. Indeed, sir, I must see you
at my house.- Indeed my wife must see you, and thank you.- My children
too must express their gratitude.-- Indeed, sir, they are not without
a sense of their obligation; but what is my feeling, when I reflect to
whom I owe that they are now capable of expressing their
gratitude.-- Oh, sir, the little hearts which you have warmed had now
been cold as ice without your assistance."
Here Jones attempted to prevent the poor man from proceeding; but
indeed the overflowing of his own heart would of itself have stopped
his words. And now Mrs. Miller likewise began to pour forth
thanksgivings, as well in her own name, as in that of her cousin,
and concluded with saying, "She doubted not but such goodness would
meet a glorious reward."
Jones answered, "He had been sufficiently rewarded already. Your
cousin's account, madam," said he, "hath given me a sensation more
pleasing than I have ever known. He must be a wretch who is unmoved at
hearing such a story; how transporting then must be the thought of
having happily acted a part in this scene! If there are men who cannot
feel the delight of giving happiness to others, I sincerely pity them,
as they are incapable of tasting what is, in my opinion, a greater
honour, a higher interest, and a sweeter pleasure, than the ambitious,
the avaricious, or the voluptuous man can ever obtain."
The hour of appointment being now come, Jones was forced to take a
hasty leave, but not before he had heartily shaken his friend by the
hand, and desired to see him again as soon as possible; promising that
he would himself take the first opportunity of visiting him at his own
house. He then stept into his chair, and proceeded to Lady
Bellaston's, greatly exulting in the happiness which he had procured
to this poor family; nor could he forbear reflecting, without
horror, on the dreadful consequences which must have attended them,
had he listened rather to the voice of strict justice, than to that of
mercy, when he was attacked on the high road.
Mrs. Miller sung forth the praise of Jones during the whole evening,
in which Mr. Anderson, while he stayed, so passionately accompanied
her, that he was often on the very point of mentioning the
circumstance of the robbery. However, he luckily recollected
himself, and avoided an indiscretion which would have been so much the
greater, as he knew Mrs. Miller to be extremely strict and nice in her
principles. He was likewise well apprized of the loquacity of this
lady; and yet such was his gratitude, that it had almost got the
better both of discretion and shame, and made him publish that which
would have defamed his own character, rather than omit any
circumstances which might do the fullest honour to his benefactor.