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 praises 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.