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Page 31
Wild now retired to a night-cellar, where he found several of his
acquaintance, with whom he spent the remaining part of the night
in revelling; nor did the least compassion for Heartfree's
misfortunes disturb the pleasure of his cups. So truly great was
his soul that it was absolutely composed, save that an
apprehension of Miss Tishy's making some discovery (as she was
then in no good temper towards him) a little ruffled and
disquieted the perfect serenity he would otherwise have enjoyed.
As he had, therefore, no opportunity of seeing her that evening,
he wrote her a letter full of ten thousand protestations of
honourable love, and (which he more depended on) containing as
many promises, in order to bring the young lady into good humour,
without acquainting her in the least with his suspicion, or giving
her any caution; for it was his constant maxim never to put it
into any one's head to do you a mischief by acquainting him that
it is in his power.
We must now return to Mrs. Heartfree, who past a sleepless night
in as great agonies and horror for the absence of her husband as a
fine well-bred woman would feel at the return of hers from a long
voyage or journey. In the morning the children being brought to
her, the eldest asked where dear papa was? At which she could not
refrain from bursting into tears. The child, perceiving it, said,
"Don't cry, mamma; I am sure papa would not stay abroad if he
could help it." At these words she caught the child in her arms,
and, throwing herself into the chair in an agony of passion, cried
out,
"No, my child; nor shall all the malice of hell keep us long
asunder."
These are circumstances which we should not, for the amusement of
six or seven readers only, have inserted, had they not served to
shew that there are weaknesses in vulgar life to which great minds
are so entirely strangers that they have not even an idea of them;
and, secondly, by exposing the folly of this low creature, to set
off and elevate that greatness of which we endeavour to draw a
true portrait in this history.
Wild, entering the room, found the mother with one child in her
arms, and the other at her knee. After paying her his compliments,
he desired her to dismiss the children and servant, for that he
had something of the greatest moment to impart to her.
She immediately complied with his request, and, the door being
shut, asked him with great eagerness if he had succeeded in his
intentions of procuring the bail. He answered he had not
endeavoured at it yet, for a scheme had entered into his head by
which she might certainly preserve her husband, herself, and her
family. In order to which he advised her instantly to remove with
the most valuable jewels she had to Holland, before any statute of
bankruptcy issued to prevent her; that he would himself attend her
thither and place her in safety, and then return to deliver her
husband, who would be thus easily able to satisfy his creditors.
He added that he was that instant come from Snap's, where he had
communicated the scheme to Heartfree, who had greatly approved of
it, and desired her to put it in execution without delay,
concluding that a moment was not to be lost.
The mention of her husband's approbation left no doubt in this
poor woman's breast; she only desired a moment's time to pay him a
visit in order to take her leave. But Wild peremptorily refused;
he said by every moment's delay she risqued the ruin of her
family; that she would be absent only a few days from him, for
that the moment he had lodged her safe in Holland, he would
return, procure her husband his liberty, and bring him to her. I
have been the unfortunate, the innocent cause of all my dear Tom's
calamity, madam, said he, and I will perish with him or see him
out of it. Mrs. Heartfree overflowed with acknowledgments of his
goodness, but still begged for the shortest interview with her
husband. Wild declared that a minute's delay might be fatal; and
added, though with the voice of sorrow rather than of anger, that
if she had not resolution enough to execute the commands he
brought her from her husband, his ruin would lie at her door; and,
for his own part, he must give up any farther meddling in his
affairs.
She then proposed to take her children with her; but Wild would
not permit it, saying they would only retard their flight, and
that it would be properer for her husband to bring them. He at
length absolutely prevailed on this poor woman, who immediately
packed up the most valuable effects she could find, and, after
taking a tender leave of her infants, earnestly recommended them
to the care of a very faithful servant. Then they called a
hackney-coach, which conveyed them to an inn, where they were
furnished with a chariot and six, in which they set forward for
Harwich.
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