Chapter iii.
A project of Mrs Fitzpatrick, and her visit to Lady Bellaston.
When Mrs Fitzpatrick retired to rest, her thoughts were entirely takenup by her cousin Sophia and Mr Jones. She was, indeed, a littleoffended with the former, for the disingenuity which she nowdiscovered. In which meditation she had not long exercised herimagination before the following conceit suggested itself; that couldshe possibly become the means of preserving Sophia from this man, andof restoring her to her father, she should, in all human probability,by so great a service to the family, reconcile to herself both heruncle and her aunt Western.
As this was one of her most favourite wishes, so the hope of successseemed so reasonable, that nothing remained but to consider of propermethods to accomplish her scheme. To attempt to reason the case withSophia did not appear to her one of those methods: for as Betty hadreported from Mrs Honour, that Sophia had a violent inclination toJones, she conceived that to dissuade her from the match was anendeavour of the same kind, as it would be very heartily and earnestlyto entreat a moth not to fly into a candle.
If the reader will please to remember that the acquaintance whichSophia had with Lady Bellaston was contracted at the house of MrsWestern, and must have grown at the very time when Mrs Fitzpatricklived with this latter lady, he will want no information, that MrsFitzpatrick must have been acquainted with her likewise. They were,besides, both equally her distant relations.
After much consideration, therefore, she resolved to go early in themorning to that lady, and endeavour to see her, unknown to Sophia, andto acquaint her with the whole affair. For she did not in the leastdoubt, but that the prudent lady, who had often ridiculed romanticlove, and indiscreet marriages, in her conversation, would veryreadily concur in her sentiments concerning this match, and would lendher utmost assistance to prevent it.
This resolution she accordingly executed; and the next morning beforethe sun, she huddled on her cloaths, and at a very unfashionable,unseasonable, unvisitable hour, went to Lady Bellaston, to whom shegot access, without the least knowledge or suspicion of Sophia, who,though not asleep, lay at that time awake in her bed, with Honoursnoring by her side.
Mrs Fitzpatrick made many apologies for an early, abrupt visit, at anhour when, she said, "she should not have thought of disturbing herladyship, but upon business of the utmost consequence." She thenopened the whole affair, told all she had heard from Betty; and didnot forget the visit which Jones had paid to herself the precedingevening.
Lady Bellaston answered with a smile, "Then you have seen thisterrible man, madam; pray, is he so very fine a figure as he isrepresented? for Etoff entertained me last night almost two hours withhim. The wench I believe is in love with him by reputation." Here thereader will be apt to wonder; but the truth is, that Mrs Etoff, whohad the honour to pin and unpin the Lady Bellaston, had receivedcompleat information concerning the said Mr Jones, and had faithfullyconveyed the same to her lady last night (or rather that morning)while she was undressing; on which accounts she had been detained inher office above the space of an hour and a half.
The lady indeed, though generally well enough pleased with thenarratives of Mrs Etoff at those seasons, gave an extraordinaryattention to her account of Jones; for Honour had described him as avery handsome fellow, and Mrs Etoff, in her hurry, added so much tothe beauty of his person to her report, that Lady Bellaston began toconceive him to be a kind of miracle in nature.
The curiosity which her woman had inspired was now greatly increasedby Mrs Fitzpatrick, who spoke as much in favour of the person of Jonesas she had before spoken in dispraise of his birth, character, andfortune.
When Lady Bellaston had heard the whole, she answered gravely,"Indeed, madam, this is a matter of great consequence. Nothing cancertainly be more commendable than the part you act; and I shall bevery glad to have my share in the preservation of a young lady of somuch merit, and for whom I have so much esteem."
"Doth not your ladyship think," says Mrs Fitzpatrick eagerly, "that itwould be the best way to write immediately to my uncle, and acquainthim where my cousin is?"
The lady pondered a little upon this, and thus answered--"Why, no,madam, I think not. Di Western hath described her brother to me to besuch a brute, that I cannot consent to put any woman under his powerwho hath escaped from it. I have heard he behaved like a monster tohis own wife, for he is one of those wretches who think they have aright to tyrannise over us, and from such I shall ever esteem it thecause of my sex to rescue any woman who is so unfortunate to be undertheir power.--The business, dear cousin, will be only to keep MissWestern from seeing this young fellow, till the good company, whichshe will have an opportunity of meeting here, give her a propererturn."
"If he should find her out, madam," answered the other, "your ladyshipmay be assured he will leave nothing unattempted to come at her."
"But, madam," replied the lady, "it is impossible he should comehere--though indeed it is possible he may get some intelligence whereshe is, and then may lurk about the house--I wish therefore I knew hisperson.
"Is there no way, madam, by which I could have a sight of him? for,otherwise, you know, cousin, she may contrive to see him here withoutmy knowledge." Mrs Fitzpatrick answered, "That he had threatened herwith another visit that afternoon, and that, if her ladyship pleasedto do her the honour of calling upon her then, she would hardly failof seeing him between six and seven; and if he came earlier she would,by some means or other, detain him till her ladyship's arrival."--LadyBellaston replied, "She would come the moment she could get fromdinner, which she supposed would be by seven at farthest; for that itwas absolutely necessary she should be acquainted with his person.Upon my word, madam," says she, "it was very good to take this care ofMiss Western; but common humanity, as well as regard to our family,requires it of us both; for it would be a dreadful match indeed."
Mrs Fitzpatrick failed not to make a proper return to the complimentwhich Lady Bellaston had bestowed on her cousin, and, after somelittle immaterial conversation, withdrew; and, getting as fast as shecould into her chair, unseen by Sophia or Honour, returned home.