I

more than (from the violent impulses of my passion) to forbear manifesting myself. I unbuttoned therefore my cape, I pulled off my

started up in my own form divine, More potent than Ithuriel's spear. — Touch'd by the beam of her celestial eye,

Now Belford, for a similitude

the world, young lady! cried I. My wife, well as I love her, should lie in a garret, rather than put such a considerate lady as you seem to be, to the least incon- flapped slouched hat; I threw venience. open my great coat, and, like the She opened not the door yet; Devil in Milton [an odd comparison and I said, But since you have though!] so much goodness, madam, if I could but just look into the closet as I stand, I could tell my wife whether it is large enough to hold a cabinet she much values, and I will have with her wherever she now for a likeness to illustrate goes. the susprising scene, and the effect Then my charmer opened the it had upon my charmer, and the door, and blazed upon me, as it gentlewoman! But nothing was were in a flood of light, like what like it, or equal to it. The plain one might imagine would strike a fact can only describe it, and set man, who, born blind, had by some it off- thus then take it. propitious power been blessed She no sooner saw who it was, with his sight, all at once, in a than she gave three violent meridian sun. screams; and, before I could catch Upon my soul, I never was so her in my arms, (as I was about to strangely affected before. I had do the moment I discovered mymuch ado to forbear discovering self) down she sunk at my feet, in myself that instant: but, hesita- a fit; which made me curse my intingly, and in great disorder, I discretion for so suddenly, and said, looking into the closet, and with so much emotion, revealing around it, There is room, I see, myself.

for my wife's cabinet; and it has The gentlewoman, seeing so many jewels in it of high price; strange an alteration in my perbut, upon my soul [for I could not son, and features, and voice, and forbear swearing, like a puppy: - habit is a cursed thing, Jack nothing so valuable as the lady I see can be brought into it.

She started, and looked at me with terror. The truth of the compliment, as far as I know, had taken dissimulation from my accent.

I saw it was impossible to conceal myself longer from her, any

dress, cried out, Murder, help! Murder, help! by turns, for a half a dozen times running. This alarmed the house, and up ran two servant maids, and my servant after them. I cried out for water and hartshorn, and every one flew a different way, one of the maids as fast down as she came up; while the gentlewoman ran out of one room into another,

and by turns up and down the of the young gentlewoman, the apartment we were in, without same notable Miss Rawlins whom meaning or end, wringing her I had heard of at the Flask; and foolish hands, and not knowing to that of Mrs. Moore, who by what she did. this time had recovered herself; Up then came running a gentle- and then retiring to one corner of man and his sister, fetched and the room, I made my servant pull brought in by the maid, who had off my gouty stockings, brush my run down, and having let in a hat, and loop it up into the usual cursed crabbed old wretch, hob- smart cock. bling with his gout, and mumbling I then stepped to the closet to with his hoarse broken-toothed Mr. Rawlins, whom, in the genevoice, who was metamorphosed ral confusion, I had not much all at once into a lively gay young minded before. Sir, said I, you fellow, with a clear accent, and have an uncommon scene before all his teeth, she would have it, you. The lady is my wife, and that I was neither more or less no gentleman's presence is necesthan the Devil, and could not sary here but my own. keep her eye from my foot; ex- I beg pardon, sir; if the lady pecting, no doubt, every minute to see it discover itself to be be your wife, I have no business here. But, sir, by her concern cloven. For my part, I was so intent at seeing you — upon restoring my angel, that I Pray, sir, none of your ifs and regarded nobody else. And at last, buts, I beseech you: nor your conshe slowly recovering motion, cern about the lady's concern. with bitter sighs and sobs (only You are a very unqualified judge the whites of her eyes however in this cause; and I beg of you, appearing for some moments) I sir, to oblige me with your abcalled upon her in the tenderest sence. The women only are proaccent, as I kneeled by her, my per to be present on this occasion, arm supporting her head; My added I; and I think myself angel! my charmer! my Clarissa; obliged to them for their care and look upon me, my dearest life! kind assistance.

I am not angry with you; I will forgive you, my best beloved!

and

'Tis well he made not another word: for I found my choler begin The gentleman and his sister to rise. I could not bear, that knew not what to make of all this; the finest neck, and arms, and the less, when my fair one, foot in the world, should be exrecovering her sight, snatched posed to the eyes of any man living another look at me; and then but mine. again groaned, and fainted away.

I withdrew once more from the I threw up the closet-sash for closet, finding her beginning to air, and then left her to the care recover, lest the sight of me too

soon, should throw her back| You speak like a gentleman; again.

The first words she said, looking round her with great emotion, were, O hide me, hide me! is he gone! O hide me! is he gone!

you look like a gentleman, said Miss Rawlins but sir, this is a strange case; the lady seems to dread the sight of you."

previously concerted (as I have from time to time acquainted thee), in apprehension Sir, said Miss Rawlins, coming of such an event as has fallen out. For to me with an air both peremptory had not the dear creature already passed and assured, this is some surpri-worthy gentlemen of family and forfor my wife, before no less than four sing case. The lady cannot bear tunet? and before Mrs. Sinclair, and her the sight of you. What you have household, and Miss Partington? And done is best known to yourself. pedient, that she should pass for such, But another such fit will probably be her last. It would be but kind therefore for you to retire.

It behoved me to have so notable a person of my party; and the rather as I had disobliged her impertinent brother.

The dear creature, said I, may well be concerned to see me. If you, madam, had a husband who loved you as I love her, you would not, I am confident, fly from him, and expose yourself to hazards, as she does whenever she has not all her way—and yet with a mind not capable of intentional evil but mother-spoilt! This is her fault, and all her fault: and the more inexcusable it is, as I am the man of her choice, and have reason to think she loves me above all the men in the world.

Here, Jack, was a story to support to the lady; face to face too *!

* And here, Belford, lest thou through inattention shouldst be surprised at my assurance, let me remind thee (and that, thus, by way of marginal observation, that I may not break in upon my narrative), that this my intrepidity was but a consequence of the measures I had

had she not agreed to her uncle's ex

from the time of Mr. Hickman's application to that uncle ++; and that the worthy Capt. Tomlinson should be allowed to propagate that belief; as he had actually reported to two families (they possibly to more); purposely that it might come to the ears of James Har

lowe; and serve for a foundation for uncle John to build his reconciliation

scheme upon +++? And canst thou think, that nothing was meant by all this contrivance? And that I am not still further

prepared to support my story?

Indeed, I little thought, at the time that I formed these precautionary schemes,

that she would ever have been able, if willing, to get out of my hands. All that I hoped I should have occasion to have recourse to them for, was only, in case

I should have the courage to make the grand attempt, and should succeed in it, to bring the dear creature [and this out of tenderness to her, for what attention did I ever yet pay to the grief, the execrations, the tears of a woman, I had triumphed over?] to bear me in her sight; to expostulate with me, to be pacified by my pleas, and by her own future hopes, founded upon the reconciliatory project, upon my reiterated vows, and upon the captain's assurances.

Since in

that case, to forgive me, to have gone on with me, for a week, would have been to forgive me, to have gone on with me, for ever. And then had my eligible life of honour taken place; her trials would

+ See Vol. II. Letter lxii. towards the conclusion.

++ See Vol. II. Letter lxxiv.
+++ Ibid.

No wonder, madam; taking her should otherwise be made to a little on one side nearer to Mrs. suffer.

Moore. I have three times already They preached patience and forgiven the dear creature - but quietness to her; and would have this jealousy! — There is a spice had her to lie down: but she reof that in it and of phrensy too fused; sinking, however, into an [whispered I, that it might have easy chair; for she trembled so, the face of a secret, and of con- she could not stand. sequence the more engage their By this time, I hoped, that she attention] but our story is too was enough recovered to bear a presence that it behoved me to

long

I then made a motion to go to make her bear; and fearing she my beloved. But they desired would throw out something in her that I would walk into the next exclamations, that would still room: and they would endeavour more disconcert me, I went into to prevail upon her to lie down. the room again. I begged that they would not O there he is! said she, and suffer her to talk; for that she threw her apron over her facewas accustomed to fits, and when I cannot see him! I cannot look in this way, would talk of any upon him! Begone, begone! thing that came uppermost; and touch me not! the more she was suffered to run For I took her struggling hand, on, the worse she was; and if not beseeching her to be pacified; and kept quiet, would fall into ra- assuring her, that I would make vings; which might possibly hold all up with her upon her own terms her a week. and wishes.

They promised to keep her Base man! said the violent lady, quiet; and I withdrew into the I have no wishes, but never to benext room, ordering every one hold you more! Why must I be down but Mrs. Moore and Miss thus pursued and haunted? Have Rawlins. you not made me miserable enough She was full of exclamations. already? Despoiled of all sucUnhappy creature! miserable! cour and help, and of every friend, ruined! and undone! she called I am contented to be poor, low, herself; wrung her hands, and and miserable, so I may be free begged they would assist her to from your persecutions. escape from the terrible evils she Miss Rawlins stared at me [a all have been then over; and she would confident slut this Miss Rawlins, have known nothing but gratitude, love, thought I]: so did Mrs. Moore. and joy, to the end of one of our lives: I told you so! whispering, said I, abandoned such an admirable creature turning to the women; shaking as this. Thou knowest, I never was a my head with a face of great consordid villain to any of her inferior -- her

for never would I, never could I, have

inferiors, I may say - for who is nct her cern and pity; and then to my charmer. My dear creature, how

inferior?

you rave! You will not easily purpose to set her in such a pasrecover from the effects of this sion before the women, as might violence. Have patience, my confirm the intimation I had given love. Be pacified; and we will of a phrensical disorder.

coolly talk this matter over: for What a turn is here! - Lately you expose yourself, as well as so happy nothing wanting but me: these ladies will certainly a reconciliation between you and think you have fallen among rob- your friends! That reconciliabers, and that I am the chief of tion in such a happy train — shall them. so slight, so accidental an occasion So you are! so you are! stamp-be suffered to overturn all our ing, her face still covered [she happiness.

thought of Wednesday night, no She started up with a trembling doubt]; and sighing as if her heart impatience, her apron falling from were breaking, she put her hand her indignant face Now, said to her forehead I shall be quite she, that thou darest to call the distracted! I will not, my dearest love, uncover your face. You shall not look upon me, since I am so odious to you. But this is a violence I never thought you capable of.

And I would have pressed her hand as I held it, with my lips; but she drew it from me with indignation.

occasion slight and accidental, and that I am happily out of thy vile hands, and out of an house I have reason to believe as vile, traitor and wretch that thou art, I will venture to cast an eye upon thee

and O that it were in my power, in mercy to my sex, to look thee first into shame and remorse, and then into death!

herself.

This violent tragedy-speech, Unhand me, sir, said she. I and the high manner in which she will not be touched by you. Leave uttered it, had its desired effect. me to my fate. What right, what I looked upon the women, and title, have you to persecute me upon her in turns, with a pitying thus? eye; and they shook their wise What right, what title, my dear! heads, and besought me to retire, But this is not a time I have and her to lie down to compose a letter from Captain Tomlinson - here it is — offering it to her This hurricane, like other hurI will receive nothing from your ricanes, was presently allayed by hands tell me not of Captain a shower. She threw herself once Tomlinson - tell me not of any more into her armed chair, and body you have no right to in- begged pardon of the women for vade me thus Once more leave her passionate excess; but not of me to my fate have you not me: yet I was in hopes, that when made me miserable enough? compliments were stirring I should have come in for a share.

-

I touched a delicate string, on