Sunday, May 28
This story of Captain Tomlinson employed us not only for the
time we were
together last night, but all the while we sat at breakfast this morning. She
would still have it that it was the prelude to some
mischief from Singleton. I insisted that it might much more probably be a
method taken by Colonel Morden to alarm her, previous to a personal visit.
Travelled gentlemen affected to surprise in this manner. And why, dearest
creature, said I, must everything that happens, which immediately account for,
be what we least wish?
She had had so many disagreeable things befall her of late, that her fears were
too often stronger than her hopes.
And this, madam, makes me apprehensive that you will get into so low-spirited a
way, that you will not be able to enjoy the happiness that seems to await us.
Her duty and her gratitude, she gravely said, to the Dispenser of all good,
would
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686)
Why, sir, the person who saw you at the play was a tenant of Mr John Harlowe. He watched all your motions.
When the play was done, he followed your coach to your lodgings. And early the
next day, Sunday, he took horse, and acquainted his landlord with what he had
observed.
How oddly things come about, Captain Tomlinson!--But does any other of the Harlowes know where we are?
It is an absolute secret to every other person of the family; and so it is intend, to be kept: as also that Mr John Harlowe is willing to enter into treaty with you, by me, if his niece be actually married; for perhaps he is aware that he shall have difficulty enough with some people to bring about the desirable reconciliation although he could give them this assurance.
I doubt it not, captain--To James Harlowe is all the family folly owing - Fine fools! (heroically stalking about) to be governed by one to whom malice, and no genius, gives the busy liveliness that distinguishes him from a natural!--But how long, pray, sir, has Mr John Harlowe been in this pacific disposition?
I will tell you, Mr Lovelace, and the occasion; and be very explicit upon it, and upon all that concerns you to know of me, and of the commission I have undertaken; and this the rather, as when you have heard me out, you will be satisfied that I am not an officious man in this my present address to you.
I am all attention, Captain
Tomlinson.
And so I doubt
not was my beloved.
`You must know, sir, said the captain, that I have not been many months in Mr John Harlowe's neighbourhood. I removed from Northamptonshire, partly for the sake of better managing one of two executorships, which I could not avoid engaging in (the affairs of which frequently call me to town, and are part of my present business), and partly for the sake of occupying a neglected farm which has lately fallen into my hands. But though an acquaintance of no longer standing, and that commencing on the bowling-green (uncle John is a great bowler, Belford), upon my decision of a point to everyone's satisfaction, which was appealed to me by all the gentlemen, and which might have been attended with bad consequences, no two brothers have a more cordial esteem for each other. You know, Mr Lovelace, that there is a consent, as I may call it, in some minds, which will unite them stronger in a few hours, than years will do with others, whom yet we see not with disgust.'
Very true, captain.
`It was on the foot of this avowed friendship on both sides, that on Monday the 15th, as I very well remember, Mr Harlowe invited himself home with me. And when there, he acquainted me with the whole of the unhappy affair that had made them all so uneasy. Till then I knew it only by report; for, intimate as we were, I forbore to speak of what was so near his heart, till he began first. And then he told me that he had had an application made to him two or three days before by a gentleman whom he named,* to induce him not only to be reconciled to his niece himself, but to forward for her a general reconciliation.
'A like application, he told me, had been made to
his sister Harlowe, by a good woman whom
everybody respected; who had intimated that his niece, if encour-
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aged would again put herself into the protection of her friends, and leave you: but if not, that she must unavoidably be your.
I hope Mr Lovelace, I make no
mischief--You look concerned--you sigh, sir.
Proceed, Captain Tomlinson. Pray proceed. And I sighed still more profoundly.
'They all thought it extremely particular that a lady should decline marriage with a man she had so lately gone away with.'
Pray, captain--pray, Mr Tomlinson--no more of this subject. My beloved is an angel. In every thing unblamable. Whatever faults there have been, have been theirs and mine. What you would further say, is, that the unforgiving family rejected her application. They did. She and I had had a misunderstanding. The falling out of lovers'--you know, captain--We have been happier ever since.
' Well, sir; Mr John Harlowe could not but better consider the matter afterwards. And he desired my advice how to act in it. He told me that no father ever loved a daughter as he loved this niece of his; whom, indeed, he used to call his daughterniece. He said she had really been unkindly treated by her brother and sister: and as your alliance, sir, was far from being a discredit to their family, he would do his endeavour to reconcile all parties, if he could be sure that ye were actually man and wife.'
And what, pray, captain, was your
advice?
'I gave it as my opinion, that if his niece were unworthily treated, and in distress, as he apprehended from the application to him, he would soon hear of her again. But that it was likely that this application was made without expecting it would succeed; and as a salvo only, to herself, for marrying without their consent. And the rather, as he had told me, that it came from a young lady her friend, and not in a direct way from herself; which young lady was no favourite of the family, and therefore would hardly have been employed had success been expected.'
Very well, Captain
Tomlinson--Pray
proceed.
'Here the matter rested till last Sunday evening, when Mr John Harlowe came to me with the man who had seen you and your lady (as I hope she is) at the play; and who had assured him that you both lodged in the same house-And then the application having been so lately made, which implied that you were not then married, he was so uneasy for his niece's honour, that I advised him to dispatch to town some one in whom he could confide, to make proper inquiries.'
Very well, captain.--And was such a person employed on such an errand by her uncle?
'A trusty and discreet person was accordingly sent; and last Tuesday, I think it was (for he returned to us on the Wednesday), he made the inquiries among the neighbours first (The very inquiry, Jack, that gave us all so much uneasiness**); but finding that none of them could give any satisfactory account, the lady's woman was come at, who declared that you were actually married. But the inquirist keeping himself on the reserve as to his employers, the girl refused to tell the day, or to give him other particulars.'
You give a very clear account of
everything, Captain Tomlinson. Pray go on.
`The gentleman returned; and on his report, Mr Harlowe having still doubts, and
being willing to proceed on some grounds in so important a point, besought me,
as my affairs called me frequently to town, to undertake this
matter. You, Mr
(page 688)
Tomlinson,
he was pleased to say, have children of your own: you know the world: you know
what I drive at: you will proceed, I know, with understanding and spirit: and
whatever you are satisfied with shall satisfy me.'
Enter Dorcas again, in a hurry.
Sir, the gentleman is impatient.
I will attend him presently.
The captain then accounted for his not calling in person, when he had reason to think us here.
He said he had business of consequence a few miles out of town, whither he thought he must have gone yesterday; and having been obliged to put off his little journey till this day, and understanding that we were within, not knowing whether he should have such another opportunity, he was willing to try his good fortune before he set out; and this made him come booted and spurred, as I saw him.
He dropped a hint in commendation of the people of the house; but it was in such a way, as to give no room for suspicion that he thought it necessary to make any inquiries after the character of persons who make so genteel an appearance as he observed they do.
And here let me remark, to the same purpose, that my beloved might collect another circumstance in their favour, had she doubted them, from the silence of her uncle's inquirist on Tuesday among the neighbours.
And now, sir, said he, that I believe I have satisfied you in everything relating to my commission, I hope you will permit me to repeat my question--which is--
Enter Dorcas again, out of
breath.
Sir, the gentleman will step up to you--My lady is impatient. She wonders at your honour's delay (aside).
Excuse me, captain, for one
moment.
I have stayed my full time, Mr Lovelace--What may result from my question and your answer, whatever it shall be, may take us up time--and you are engaged--Will you permit me to attend you in the morning before I set out on my return?
You will then breakfast with me,
captain?
It must be early if I do. I must reach my own house tomorrow night, or I shall make the best of wives unhappy. And I have two or three places to call at in my way.
It shall be by seven o'clock, if
you please, captain. We are early folks. And this I will tell you, that if ever
I am reconciled to a family so implacable as I have always found the Harlowes to
be, it must be by the mediation of so cool and so moderate a gentleman as
yourself.
And so, with the highest civilities on both sides we parted. But for the private satisfaction of so good a man, I left him out of doubt that we were man and wife, though I did not directly aver it.
* See Miss Howe's
letters, 177 and 183.
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