CHAPTER LXIX

My father intends to revisit the Place of his Nativity—we propose to

accompany him—my Uncle renews his will in my favour, determining to go

to sea again—we set out for Scotland—arrive at Edinburgh—purchase our

paternal Estate—proceed to it—halt at the Town where I was

educated—take up my bond to Crab—the Behaviour of Potion and his Wife,

and one of our Female Cousins—our Reception at the Estate—Strap marries

Miss Williams, and is settled by my Father to his own satisfaction—I am

more and more happy.

My father intending to revisit his native country, and pay the tribute

of a few tears at my mother’s grave, Narcissa and I resolved to

accompany him in the execution of his pious office, and accordingly

prepared for the journey, in which, however, my uncle would not engage,

being resolved to try his fortune once more at sea. In the meantime he

renewed his will in favour of my wife and me, and deposited it in the

hands of his brother-in-law: while I (that I might not be wanting to my

own interest) summoned the squire to produce his father’s will at

Doctors’ Commons, and employed a proctor to manage the affair in my

absence.

Everything being thus settled, we took leave of all our friends in

London, and set out for Scotland, Don Rodrigo, Narcissa, Miss Williams,

and I, in the coach, and Strap, with two men in livery, on horseback;

as we made easy stages, my charmer held it out very well, till we

arrived at Edinburgh, where we proposed to rest ourselves some weeks.

Here Don Rodrigo having intelligence that the foxhunter had spoilt his

estate, which was to be exposed to sale by public auction, he

determined to make a purchase of the spot where he was born, and

actually bought all the land that belonged to his father.

In a few days after this bargain was made, we left Edinburgh, in order

to go and take possession; and by the way halted one night in that town

where I was educated. Upon inquiry, I found that Mr. Crab was dead;

whereupon I sent for his executor, paid the sum I owed with interest,

and took up my bond. Mr. Potion and his wife, hearing of my arrival,

had the assurance to come to the inn where we lodged, and send up their

names, with the desire of being permitted to pay their respects to my

father and me: but their sordid behaviour towards me, when I was an

orphan, had made too deep an impression on my mind to be effaced by

this mean mercenary piece of condescension: I therefore rejected their

message with disdain, and bade Strap tell them, that my father and I

desired to have no communication with such low-minded wretches as they

were.

They had not been gone half-an-hour, when a woman, without any

ceremony, opened the door of the room where we sat, and, making towards

my father, accosted him with, “Uncle, your servant—I am glad to see

you.” This was no other than one of my female cousins, mentioned in the

first part of my memoirs, to whom Don Rodrigo replied, “Pray, who are

you, madam?” “Oh!” cried she, “my cousin Rory there knows me very well.

Don’t you remember me, Rory?” “Yes, madam,” said I; “for my own part, I

shall never forget you. Sir, this is one of the young ladies, who (as I

have formerly told you) treated me so humanely in my childhood!” When I

pronounced these words, my father’s resentment glowed in his visage,

and he ordered her to be gone, with such a commanding aspect, that she

retired in a fright, muttering curses as she went downstairs. We

afterwards learned that she was married to an ensign, who had already

spent all her fortune; and that her sister had borne a child to her

mother’s footman, who is now her husband, and keeps a petty alehouse in

the country.

The fame of our flourishing condition having arrived at this place

before us, we got notice that the magistrates intended next day to

compliment us with the freedom of their town; upon which my father,

considering their complaisance in the right point of view, ordered the

horses to the coach early in the morning.

We proceeded to our estate, which lay about twenty miles from this

place; and, when we came within half-a-league of the house, were met by

a prodigious number of poor tenants, men, women, and children, who

testified their joy by loud acclamations, and accompanied our coach to

the gate. As there is no part of the world in which the peasants are

more attached to their lords than in Scotland, we were almost devoured

by their affections. My father had always been their favourite, and now

that he appeared their master, after having been thought dead so long,

their joy broke out into a thousand extravagances. When we entered the

court yard, we were surrounded by a vast number, who crowded together

so closely to see us that several were in danger of being squeezed to

death; those who were near Don Rodrigo fell upon their knees, and

kissed his hand, or the hem of his garment, praying aloud for long life

and prosperity to him; others approached Narcissa and me in the same

manner; while the rest clapped their hands at a distance, and invoked

heaven to shower its choicest blessings on our heads! In short, the

whole scene, though rude, was so affecting, that the gentle partner of

my heart wept over it, and my father himself could not refrain from

dropping a tear.

Having welcomed his daughter and me to his house, he ordered some

bullocks to be killed, and some hogsheads of ale to be brought from the

neighbouring village, to regale these honest people, who had not

enjoyed such a holiday for many years before.

Next day we were visited by the gentlemen in the neighbourhood, most of

them our relations, one of whom brought along my cousin, the foxhunter,

who had stayed at his house since he was obliged to leave his own! My

father was generous enough to receive him kindly, and even promised to

purchase for him a commission in the army, for which he expressed great

thankfulness and joy.

My charming Narcissa was universally admired and loved for her beauty,

affability, and good sense; and so well pleased with the situation of

the place, and the company round, that she has not as yet discovered

the least desire of changing her habitation.

We had not been many days settled, when I prevailed upon my father to

pay a visit to the village where I had been at school. Here we were

received by the principal inhabitants, who entertained us in the

church, where Mr. Syntax the schoolmaster (my tyrant being dead)

pronounced a Latin oration in honour of our family. And none exerted

themselves more than Strap’s father and relations, who looked upon the

honest valet as the first gentleman of their race, and honoured his

benefactors accordingly. Having received the homage of this place, we

retired, leaving forty pounds for the benefit of the poor of the

parish; and that very night, Strap being a little elevated with the

regard that had been shown to him, and to me on his account, ventured

to tell me, that he had a sneaking kindness for Miss Williams, and

that, if his lady and I would use our interest in his behalf, he did

not doubt that she would listen to his addresses. Surprised at this

proposal, I asked if he knew the story of that unfortunate young

gentlewoman; upon which he replied, “Yes, yes, I know what you mean—she

has been unhappy, I grant you—but what of that? I am convinced of her

reformation; or else you and my good lady would not treat her with such

respect. As for the censure of the world, I value it not a fig’s

end—besides, the world knows nothing of the matter.” I commended his

philosophy, and interested Narcissa in his cause; who interceded so

effectually, that in a little time Miss Williams yielded her consent,

and they were married at the approbation of Don Rodrigo, who gave him

five hundred pounds to stock a farm, and made him overseer of his

estate. My generous bedfellow gave her maid the same sum; so that they

live in great peace and plenty within half-a-mile of us, and daily put

up prayers for our preservation.

If there be such a thing as true happiness on earth, I enjoy it. The

impetuous transports of my passion are now settled and mellowed into

endearing fondness and tranquillity of love, rooted by that intimate

connection and interchange of hearts which nought but virtuous wedlock

can produce. Fortune seems determined to make ample amends for her

former cruelty, for my proctor writes that, notwithstanding the clause

in my father-in-law’s will, on which the squire founds his claim, I

shall certainly recover my wife’s fortune, in consequence of a codicil

annexed, which explains that clause, and limits her restriction to the

age of nineteen, after which she was at her own disposal. I would have

set out for London immediately after receiving this piece of

intelligence, but my dear angel has been qualmish of late, and begins

to grow remarkably round in the waist; so that I cannot leave her in

such an interesting situation, which I hope will produce something to

crown my felicity.