5. A New and Great Acquaintance Introduced-What we Place
Most Hopes upon Generally Proves Most Fatal.
AT a small distance from the house my predecessor had made a
seat overshaded by a hedge of hawthorn and honeysuckle. Here, when
the weather was fine and our labor soon finished, we usually sat
together, to enjoy an extensive landscape in the calm of the evening.
Here, too, we drank tea, which now was become an occasional banquet,
and as we had it but seldom, it diffused a new joy, the preparations for it
being made with no small share of bustle and ceremony. On these
occasions our two little ones always read to us, and they were regularly
served after we had done. Sometimes, to give a variety to our
amusements, the girls sang to the guitar, and while they thus formed a
little concert, my wife and I would stroll down the sloping field, that was
embellished with bluebells and centaury, talk of our children with
rapture, and enjoy the breeze that wafted both health and
harmony.
In this manner we began to find that every situation in life might
bring its own peculiar pleasures: every
morning waked us to a repetition of toil; but the eve
ning repaid it with vacant hilarity.
It was about the beginning of autumn, on a holiday, for I kept such
as intervals of relaxation from labor, that I had drawn out my family to
our usual place of amusement, and our young musicians began their
usual concert. As we were thus engaged we saw a stag bound nimbly
by, within about twenty paces of where we were sitting, and by its
panting it seemed pressed by the hunters. We had not much time to
reflect upon the poor animal's distress, when we perceived the dogs
and horsemen come sweeping along at some distance behind, and making
the very path it had taken. I was instantly for returning in with my
family; but either curiosity or surprise, or some more hidden motive,
held my wife and daughters to their seats. The huntsman who rode
foremost passed us with great swiftness, followed by four or five persons
more, who seemed in great haste. At last a young gentleman of a
more genteel appearance than the rest came forward, and for a while
regarding us, instead of pursuing the chase, stopped short, and giving
his horse to a servant who attended, approached us with a careless,
superior air. He seemed to want no introduction, but was going to salute
my daughters as one certain of a kind reception; but they had early
learned the lesson of looking presumption out of countenance. Upon
which he let us know his name was Thornhill, and that
he was owner of the estate that lay f or some extent
around us. He again, therefore, offered to salute the female part of the
family; and such was the power of fortune and fine clothes that he found
no second repulse. As his address, though confident, was easy,
we soon became more familiar, and perceiving musical
instruments lying near, he begged to be favored with a song. As I did
not approve of such disproportioned acquaintances, I winked upon my
daughters, in order to prevent their compliance; but my hint was
counteracted by one from their mother, so that with a cheerful
air they gave us a favorite song of Dryden's. Mr.
Thornhill seemed highly delighted with their performance and choice,
and then took up the guitar himself. He played but very indifferently;
however, my eldest daughter repaid his former applause with interest and
assured him that those tones were louder than even those of her master.
At this compliment he bowed, which she returned with a courtesy. He
praised her taste, and she commended his understanding: an age could
not have made them better acquainted; while the fond mother, too,
equally happy, insisted upon her landlord's stepping in and tasting a
glass of her gooseberry. The whole family seemed earnest to please
him; my girls attempted to entertain him with topics they thought most
modern, while Moses, on the contrary, gave him a question or two from
the ancients, for which he had the satisfaction of being laughed at. My
little ones were no less busy, and fondly stuck close to the stranger. All
my endeavors could scarcely keep their dirty fingers from handling and
tarnishing the lace on his clothes, and lifting up the flaps of his pocket
holes to see what was there. At the approach of evening he took leave;
but not until he had requested permission to renew his visit, which, as he
was our landlord, we most readily agreed to.
As soon as he was gone, my wife called a council on the conduct
of the day. She was of opinion, that it was a most fortunate hit; for she
had known even
stranger things at last brought to bear. She hoped
again to see the day in which we might hold up our heads with the best
of them; and concluded, she protested she could see no reason why the
two Miss Wrinkles should marry great fortunes and her children get
none. As this last argument was directed to me, I protested I could see
no reason for it either, nor why Mr. Simkins got the ten thousand pound
prize in the lottery, and we sat down with a blank. "I protest Charles,"
cried my wife, "this is the way you always damp my girls and me when
we are in spirits. Tell me, Sophy, my dear, what do you think of our
new visitor? Don't you think he seemed to be good-natured?"
"Immensely so, indeed, mamma," replied she. "I think he has a great
deal to say upon every thing, and is never at a loss; and the more trifling
the subject, the more he has to say,"-"Yes," cried Olivia, "he is well
enough for a man; but for my part, I don't much like him, he is so
extremely impudent and familiar; but on the guitar he is shocking."
These two last speeches I interpreted by contraries. I found by this that
Sophia internally despised as much as Olivia secretly admired him.
"Whatever may be your opinion of him, my children," cried I, "to
confess the truth, he has not prepossessed me in his favor.
Disproportioned friendships ever terminate in disgust, and I thought,
notwithstanding all his ease, that he seemed perfectly sensible of the
distance between us. Let us keep to companions of our
own rank. There is no character more contemptible than
a man that is a fortune-hunter; and I can see no reason why
fortune-hunting women should not be contemptible too. Thus, at best,
we shall be contemptible if his views be honorable; but if they be
otherwise! I should shudder but to think of that! It is true I have no
apprehensions f rom the conduct of my children; but I think there are
some from his character." I would have proceeded, but f or the
interruption of a servant f rom the 'Squire, who, with his compliments,
sent a side of venison, and a promise to dine with us some days after.
This well-timed present pleaded more powerfully in his favor than any
thing I had to say could obviate. I therefore continued silent, satisfied
with just having pointed out danger, and leaving it to their own
discretion to avoid it. That virtue which requires to be ever guarded, is
scarcely worth the sentinel.