Chapter vii.
A pathetic scene between Mr Allworthy and Mrs Miller.
Mrs Miller had a long discourse with Mr Allworthy, at his return fromdinner, in which she acquainted him with Jones's having unfortunatelylost all which he was pleased to bestow on him at their separation;and with the distresses to which that loss had subjected him; of allwhich she had received a full account from the faithful retailerPartridge. She then explained the obligations she had to Jones; notthat she was entirely explicit with regard to her daughter; for thoughshe had the utmost confidence in Mr Allworthy, and though there couldbe no hopes of keeping an affair secret which was unhappily known tomore than half a dozen, yet she could not prevail with herself tomention those circumstances which reflected most on the chastity ofpoor Nancy, but smothered that part of her evidence as cautiously asif she had been before a judge, and the girl was now on her trial forthe murder of a bastard.
Allworthy said, there were few characters so absolutely vicious as notto have the least mixture of good in them. "However," says he, "Icannot deny but that you have some obligations to the fellow, bad ashe is, and I shall therefore excuse what hath past already, but mustinsist you never mention his name to me more; for, I promise you, itwas upon the fullest and plainest evidence that I resolved to take themeasures I have taken." "Well, sir," says she, "I make not the leastdoubt but time will shew all matters in their true and naturalcolours, and that you will be convinced this poor young man deservesbetter of you than some other folks that shall be nameless."
"Madam," cries Allworthy, a little ruffled, "I will not hear anyreflections on my nephew; and if ever you say a word more of thatkind, I will depart from your house that instant. He is the worthiestand best of men; and I once more repeat it to you, he hath carried hisfriendship to this man to a blameable length, by too long concealingfacts of the blackest die. The ingratitude of the wretch to this goodyoung man is what I most resent; for, madam, I have the greatestreason to imagine he had laid a plot to supplant my nephew in myfavour, and to have disinherited him."
"I am sure, sir," answered Mrs Miller, a little frightened (for,though Mr Allworthy had the utmost sweetness and benevolence in hissmiles, he had great terror in his frowns), "I shall never speakagainst any gentleman you are pleased to think well of. I am sure,sir, such behaviour would very little become me, especially when thegentleman is your nearest relation; but, sir, you must not be angrywith me, you must not indeed, for my good wishes to this poor wretch.Sure I may call him so now, though once you would have been angry withme if I had spoke of him with the least disrespect. How often have Iheard you call him your son? How often have you prattled to me of himwith all the fondness of a parent? Nay, sir, I cannot forget the manytender expressions, the many good things you have told me of hisbeauty, and his parts, and his virtues; of his good-nature andgenerosity. I am sure, sir, I cannot forget them, for I find them alltrue. I have experienced them in my own cause. They have preserved myfamily. You must pardon my tears, sir, indeed you must. When Iconsider the cruel reverse of fortune which this poor youth, to whom Iam so much obliged, hath suffered; when I consider the loss of yourfavour, which I know he valued more than his life, I must, I mustlament him. If you had a dagger in your hand, ready to plunge into myheart, I must lament the misery of one whom you have loved, and Ishall ever love."
Allworthy was pretty much moved with this speech, but it seemed not tobe with anger; for, after a short silence, taking Mrs Miller by thehand, he said very affectionately to her, "Come, madam, let usconsider a little about your daughter. I cannot blame you forrejoicing in a match which promises to be advantageous to her, but youknow this advantage, in a great measure, depends on the father'sreconciliation. I know Mr Nightingale very well, and have formerly hadconcerns with him; I will make him a visit, and endeavour to serve youin this matter. I believe he is a worldly man; but as this is an onlyson, and the thing is now irretrievable, perhaps he may in time bebrought to reason. I promise you I will do all I can for you."
Many were the acknowledgments which the poor woman made to Allworthyfor this kind and generous offer, nor could she refrain from takingthis occasion again to express her gratitude towards Jones, "to whom,"said she, "I owe the opportunity of giving you, sir, this presenttrouble." Allworthy gently stopped her; but he was too good a man tobe really offended with the effects of so noble a principle as nowactuated Mrs Miller; and indeed, had not this new affair inflamed hisformer anger against Jones, it is possible he might have been a littlesoftened towards him, by the report of an action which malice itselfcould not have derived from an evil motive.
Mr Allworthy and Mrs Miller had been above an hour together, whentheir conversation was put an end to by the arrival of Blifil andanother person, which other person was no less than Mr Dowling, theattorney, who was now become a great favourite with Mr Blifil, andwhom Mr Allworthy, at the desire of his nephew, had made his steward;and had likewise recommended him to Mr Western, from whom the attorneyreceived a promise of being promoted to the same office upon the firstvacancy; and, in the meantime, was employed in transacting someaffairs which the squire then had in London in relation to a mortgage.
This was the principal affair which then brought Mr Dowling to town;therefore he took the same opportunity to charge himself with somemoney for Mr Allworthy, and to make a report to him of some otherbusiness; in all which, as it was of much too dull a nature to findany place in this history, we will leave the uncle, nephew, and theirlawyer concerned, and resort to other matters.