Chapter v.
Mrs Miller and Mr Nightingale visit Jones in the prison.
When Mr Allworthy and his nephew went to meet Mr Western, Mrs Millerset forwards to her son-in-law's lodgings, in order to acquaint himwith the accident which had befallen his friend Jones; but he hadknown it long before from Partridge (for Jones, when he left MrsMiller, had been furnished with a room in the same house with MrNightingale). The good woman found her daughter under great afflictionon account of Mr Jones, whom having comforted as well as she could,she set forwards to the Gatehouse, where she heard he was, and whereMr Nightingale was arrived before her.
The firmness and constancy of a true friend is a circumstance soextremely delightful to persons in any kind of distress, that thedistress itself, if it be only temporary, and admits of relief, ismore than compensated by bringing this comfort with it. Nor areinstances of this kind so rare as some superficial and inaccurateobservers have reported. To say the truth, want of compassion is notto be numbered among our general faults. The black ingredient whichfouls our disposition is envy. Hence our eye is seldom, I am afraid,turned upward to those who are manifestly greater, better, wiser, orhappier than ourselves, without some degree of malignity; while wecommonly look downwards on the mean and miserable with sufficientbenevolence and pity. In fact, I have remarked, that most of thedefects which have discovered themselves in the friendships within myobservation have arisen from envy only: a hellish vice; and yet onefrom which I have known very few absolutely exempt. But enough of asubject which, if pursued, would lead me too far.
Whether it was that Fortune was apprehensive lest Jones should sinkunder the weight of his adversity, and that she might thus lose anyfuture opportunity of tormenting him, or whether she really abatedsomewhat of her severity towards him, she seemed a little to relax herpersecution, by sending him the company of two such faithful friends,and what is perhaps more rare, a faithful servant. For Partridge,though he had many imperfections, wanted not fidelity; and though fearwould not suffer him to be hanged for his master, yet the world, Ibelieve, could not have bribed him to desert his cause.
While Jones was expressing great satisfaction in the presence of hisfriends, Partridge brought an account that Mr Fitzpatrick was stillalive, though the surgeon declared that he had very little hopes. Uponwhich, Jones fetching a deep sigh, Nightingale said to him, "My dearTom, why should you afflict yourself so upon an accident, which,whatever be the consequence, can be attended with no danger to you,and in which your conscience cannot accuse you of having been theleast to blame? If the fellow should die, what have you done more thantaken away the life of a ruffian in your own defence? So will thecoroner's inquest certainly find it; and then you will be easilyadmitted to bail; and, though you must undergo the form of a trial,yet it is a trial which many men would stand for you for a shilling.""Come, come, Mr Jones," says Mrs Miller, "chear yourself up. I knewyou could not be the aggressor, and so I told Mr Allworthy, and so heshall acknowledge too, before I have done with him."
Jones gravely answered, "That whatever might be his fate, heshould always lament the having shed the blood of one of hisfellow-creatures, as one of the highest misfortunes which couldhave befallen him. But I have another misfortune of the tenderestkind----O! Mrs Miller, I have lost what I held most dear upon earth.""That must be a mistress," said Mrs Miller; "but come, come; I knowmore than you imagine" (for indeed Partridge had blabbed all); "and Ihave heard more than you know. Matters go better, I promise you, thanyou think; and I would not give Blifil sixpence for all the chancewhich he hath of the lady."
"Indeed, my dear friend, indeed," answered Jones, "you are an entirestranger to the cause of my grief. If you was acquainted with thestory, you would allow my case admitted of no comfort. I apprehend nodanger from Blifil. I have undone myself." "Don't despair," repliedMrs Miller; "you know not what a woman can do; and if anything be inmy power, I promise you I will do it to serve you. It is my duty. Myson, my dear Mr Nightingale, who is so kind to tell me he hathobligations to you on the same account, knows it is my duty. Shall Igo to the lady myself? I will say anything to her you would have mesay."
"Thou best of women," cries Jones, taking her by the hand, "talk notof obligations to me;--but as you have been so kind to mention it,there is a favour which, perhaps, may be in your power. I see you areacquainted with the lady (how you came by your information I knownot), who sits, indeed, very near my heart. If you could contrive todeliver this (giving her a paper from his pocket), I shall for everacknowledge your goodness."
"Give it me," said Mrs Miller. "If I see it not in her own possessionbefore I sleep, may my next sleep be my last! Comfort yourself, mygood young man! be wise enough to take warning from past follies, andI warrant all shall be well, and I shall yet see you happy with themost charming young lady in the world; for I so hear from every oneshe is."
"Believe me, madam," said he, "I do not speak the common cant of onein my unhappy situation. Before this dreadful accident happened, I hadresolved to quit a life of which I was become sensible of thewickedness as well as folly. I do assure you, notwithstanding thedisturbances I have unfortunately occasioned in your house, for whichI heartily ask your pardon, I am not an abandoned profligate. Though Ihave been hurried into vices, I do not approve a vicious character,nor will I ever, from this moment, deserve it."
Mrs Miller expressed great satisfaction in these declarations, in thesincerity of which she averred she had an entire faith; and now theremainder of the conversation past in the joint attempts of that goodwoman and Mr Nightingale to cheer the dejected spirits of Mr Jones, inwhich they so far succeeded as to leave him much better comforted andsatisfied than they found him; to which happy alteration nothing somuch contributed as the kind undertaking of Mrs Miller to deliver hisletter to Sophia, which he despaired of finding any means toaccomplish; for when Black George produced the last from Sophia, heinformed Partridge that she had strictly charged him, on pain ofhaving it communicated to her father, not to bring her any answer. Hewas, moreover, not a little pleased to find he had so warm an advocateto Mr Allworthy himself in this good woman, who was, in reality, oneof the worthiest creatures in the world.
After about an hour's visit from the lady (for Nightingale had beenwith him much longer), they both took their leave, promising to returnto him soon; during which Mrs Miller said she hoped to bring him somegood news from his mistress, and Mr Nightingale promised to enquireinto the state of Mr Fitzpatrick's wound, and likewise to find outsome of the persons who were present at the rencounter.
The former of these went directly in quest of Sophia, whither welikewise shall now attend her.