CHAPTER XXXIII.
Though I had consented to this scheme, I was conscious that some hazardsattended it. I was afraid of calumny, which might trouble the peace ordestroy the reputation of my friend. I was afraid of my own weakness,which might be seduced into an indiscreet marriage by the charms orsufferings of this bewitching creature. I felt that there was no pricetoo dear to save her from slander. A fair fame is of the highestimportance to a young female, and the loss of it but poorly supplied bythe testimony of her own conscience. I had reason for tenfold solicitudeon this account, since I was her only protector and friend. Hence, Icherished some hopes that time might change her views, and suggest lessdangerous schemes. Meanwhile, I was to lose no time in visitingMalverton and Philip Hadwin.
About ten days had elapsed since we had deserted Malverton. These weredays of successive storms, and travelling had been renderedinconvenient. The weather was now calm and clear, and, early in themorning that ensued the dialogue which I have just related, I set out onhorseback.
Honest Caleb was found eating his breakfast nearly in the spot where hehad been first discovered. He answered my inquiries by saying, that, twodays after our departure, several men had come to the house, one of whomwas Philip Hadwin. They had interrogated him as to the condition of thefarm, and the purpose of his remaining on it. William Hadwin they knewto have been some time dead; but where were the girls, his daughters?
Caleb answered that Susy, the eldest, was likewise dead.
These tidings excited astonishment. When died she, and how, and wherewas she buried?
It happened two days before, and she was buried, he believed, but couldnot tell where.
Not tell where? By whom, then, was she buried?
Really, he could not tell. Some strange man came there just as she wasdying. He went to the room, and, when she was dead, took her away, butwhat he did with the body was more than he could say, but he had anotion that he buried it. The man stayed till the morning, and then wentoff with Lizzy, leaving him to keep house by himself. He had not seeneither of them, nor, indeed, a single soul since.
This was all the information that Caleb could afford the visitants. Itwas so lame and incredible that they began to charge the man withfalsehood, and to threaten him with legal animadversion. Just then Mr.Ellis entered the house, and, being made acquainted with the subject ofdiscourse, told all that he himself knew. He related the midnight visitwhich I had paid him, explained my former situation in the family, andmy disappearance in September. He stated the advice he had given me tocarry Eliza to her uncle's, and my promise to comply with his counsel.The uncle declared he had seen nothing of his niece, and Caleb added,that, when she set out, she took the road that led to town.
These hints afforded grounds for much conjecture and suspicion. Ellisnow mentioned some intelligence that he had gathered respecting me in alate journey to ----. It seems I was the son of an honest farmer in thatquarter, who married a tidy girl of a milkmaid that lived with him. Myfather had detected me in making some atrocious advances to mymother-in-law, and had turned me out of doors. I did not go off,however, without rifling his drawer of some hundreds of dollars, whichhe had laid up against a rainy day. I was noted for such pranks, and washated by all the neighbours for my pride and laziness. It was easy, bycomparison of circumstances, for Ellis to ascertain that Hadwin'sservant Mervyn was the same against whom such heavy charges were laid.
Previously to this journey, he had heard of me from Hadwin, who was loudin praise of my diligence, sobriety, and modesty. For his part, he hadalways been cautious of giving countenance to vagrants that came fromnobody knew where, and worked their way with a plausible tongue. He wasnot surprised to hear it whispered that Betsy Hadwin had fallen in lovewith the youth, and now, no doubt, he had persuaded her to run away withhim. The heiress of a fine farm was a prize not to be met with everyday.
Philip broke into rage at this news; swore that if it turned out so, hisniece should starve upon the town, and that he would take good care tobalk the lad. His brother he well knew had left a will, to which he wasexecutor, and that this will would in good time be forthcoming. Aftermuch talk and ransacking the house, and swearing at his truant niece, heand his company departed, charging Caleb to keep the house and itscontents for his use. This was all that Caleb's memory had retained ofthat day's proceedings.
Curling had lately commented on the character of Philip Hadwin. This manwas totally unlike his brother, was a noted brawler and bully, a tyrantto his children, a plague to his neighbours, and kept a rendezvous fordrunkards and idlers, at the sign of the Bull's Head, at ----. He wasnot destitute of parts, and was no less dreaded for cunning thanmalignity. He was covetous, and never missed an opportunity ofoverreaching his neighbour. There was no doubt that his niece's propertywould be embezzled should it ever come into his hands, and any powerwhich he might obtain over her person would be exercised to herdestruction. His children were tainted with the dissoluteness of theirfather, and marriage had not repaired the reputation of his daughters,or cured them of depravity: this was the man whom I now proposed tovisit.
I scarcely need to say that the calumny of Betty Lawrence gave me nouneasiness. My father had no doubt been deceived, as well as my father'sneighbours, by the artifices of this woman. I passed among them for athief and a profligate, but their error had hitherto been harmless tome. The time might come which should confute the tale without myefforts. Betty, sooner or later, would drop her mask, and afford theantidote to her own poisons, unless some new incident should occur tomake me hasten the catastrophe.
I arrived at Hadwin's house. I was received with some attention as aguest. I looked, among the pimpled visages that filled the piazza, forthat of the landlord, but found him in an inner apartment with two orthree more seated round a table. On intimating my wish to speak with himalone, the others withdrew.
Hadwin's visage had some traces of resemblance to his brother; but themeek, placid air, pale cheeks, and slender form of the latter werepowerfully contrasted with the bloated arrogance, imperious brow, androbust limbs of the former. This man's rage was awakened by a straw; itimpelled him in an instant to oaths and buffetings, and made his life aneternal brawl. The sooner my interview with such a personage should beat an end, the better. I therefore explained the purpose of my coming asfully and in as few words as possible.
"Your name, sir, is Philip Hadwin. Your brother William, of Malverton,died lately and left two daughters. The youngest only is now alive, andI come, commissioned from her, to inform you that, as no will of herfather's is extant, she is preparing to administer to his estate. As herfather's brother, she thought you entitled to this information."
The change which took place in the countenance of this man, during thisaddress, was remarkable, but not easily described. His cheeks contracteda deeper crimson, his eyes sparkled, and his face assumed an expressionin which curiosity was mingled with rage. He bent forward, and said, ina hoarse and contemptuous tone, "Pray, is your name Mervyn?"
I answered, without hesitation, and as if the question were whollyunimportant, "Yes; my name is Mervyn."
"God damn it! You then are the damned rascal"--(but permit me to repeathis speech without the oaths with which it was plentifully interlarded.Not three words were uttered without being garnished with a--"God damnit!" "damnation!" "I'll be damned to hell if"--and the like energeticexpletives.) "You then are the rascal that robbed Billy's house; thatran away with the fool his daughter; persuaded her to burn her father'swill, and have the hellish impudence to come into this house! But Ithank you for it. I was going to look for you; you've saved me trouble.I'll settle all accounts with you here. Fair and softly, my good lad! IfI don't bring you to the gallows--If I let you escape without such adressing! Damned impudence! Fellow! I've been at Malverton. I've heardof your tricks. So! finding the will not quite to your mind, knowingthat the executor would balk your schemes, you threw the will into thefire; you robbed the house of all the cash, and made off with thegirl!--The old fellow saw
it all, and will swear to the truth."
These words created some surprise. I meant not to conceal from this manthe tenor and destruction of the will, nor even the measures which hisniece had taken or intended to take. What I supposed to be unknown tohim appeared to have been communicated by the talkative Caleb, whosemind was more inquisitive and less sluggish than first appearances hadled me to imagine. Instead of moping by the kitchen-fire when Eliza andI were conversing in an upper room, it now appeared that he hadreconnoitred our proceedings through some keyhole or crevice, and hadrelated what he had seen to Hadwin.
Hadwin proceeded to exhaust his rage in oaths and menaces. He frequentlyclenched his fist and thrust it in my face, drew it back as if to renderhis blow more deadly; ran over the same series of exclamations on myimpudence and villany, and talked of the gallows and the whipping-post;enforced each word by the epithets _damnable_ and _hellish_; closed eachsentence with--"and be curst to you!"
There was but one mode for me to pursue; all forcible opposition to aman of his strength was absurd. It was my province to make his angerconfine itself to words, and patiently to wait till the paroxysm shouldend or subside of itself. To effect this purpose, I kept my seat, andcarefully excluded from my countenance every indication of timidity andpanic on the one hand, and of scorn and defiance on the other. My lookand attitude were those of a man who expected harsh words, but whoentertained no suspicion that blows would be inflicted.
I was indebted for my safety to an inflexible adherence to this medium.To have strayed, for a moment, to either side, would have brought uponme his blows. That he did not instantly resort to violence inspired mewith courage, since it depended on myself whether food should besupplied to his passion. Rage must either progress or decline; and,since it was in total want of provocation, it could not fail ofgradually subsiding.
My demeanour was calculated to damp the flame, not only by its directinfluence, but by diverting his attention from the wrongs which he hadreceived, to the novelty of my behaviour. The disparity in size andstrength between us was too evident to make him believe that I confidedin my sinews for my defence; and, since I betrayed neither contempt norfear, he could not but conclude that I trusted to my own integrity or tohis moderation. I seized the first pause in his rhetoric to enforce thissentiment.
"You are angry, Mr. Hadwin, and are loud in your threats; but they donot frighten me. They excite no apprehension or alarm, because I knowmyself able to convince you that I have not injured you. This is an inn,and I am your guest. I am sure I shall find better entertainment thanblows. Come," continued I, smiling, "it is possible that I am not somischievous a wretch as your fancy paints me. I have no claims upon yourniece but that of friendship, and she is now in the house of an honestman, Mr. Curling, where she proposes to continue as long as isconvenient.
"It is true that your brother left a will, which his daughter burnt inmy presence, because she dreaded the authority which that will gave you,not only over her property, but person. It is true that on leaving thehouse she took away the money which was now her own, and which wasnecessary to subsistence. It is true that I bore her company, and haveleft her in an honest man's keeping. I am answerable for nothing more.As to you, I meant not to injure you; I advised not the burning of thewill. I was a stranger, till after that event, to your character. I knewneither good nor ill of you. I came to tell you all this, because, asEliza's uncle, you had a right to the information."
"So! you come to tell me that she burnt the will, and is going toadminister--to what, I beseech you? To her father's property? Ay, Iwarrant you. But take this along with you:--that property is mine; land,house, stock, every thing. All is safe and snug under cover of amortgage, to which Billy was kind enough to add a bond. One was sued,and the other _entered up_, a week ago. So that all is safe under mythumb, and the girl may whistle or starve for me. I shall give myself noconcern about the strumpet. You thought to get a prize; but, damn me,you've met with your match in me. Phil Haddin's not so easily choused, Ipromise you. I intended to give you this news, and a drubbing into thebargain; but you may go, and make haste. She burnt the will, did she,because I was named in it,--and sent you to tell me so? Good souls! Itwas kind of you, and I am bound to be thankful. Take her back news ofthe mortgage; and, as for you, leave my house. You may go scot-free thistime; but I pledge my word for a sound beating when you next enter thesedoors. I'll pay it to you with interest. Leave my house, I say!"
"A mortgage," said I, in a low voice, and affecting not to hear hiscommands; "that will be sad news for my friend. Why, sir, you are afortunate man. Malverton is an excellent spot; well watered and manured;newly and completely fenced; not a larger barn in the county; oxen andhorses and cows in the best order; I never set eyes on a finer orchard.By my faith, sir, you are a fortunate man. But, pray, what have you fordinner? I am hungry as a wolf. Order me a beef-steak, and some potationor other. The bottle there,--it is cider, I take it; pray, push it tothis side." Saying this, I stretched out my hand towards the bottlewhich stood before him.
I confided in the power of a fearless and sedate manner. Methoughtthat, as anger was the food of anger, it must unavoidably subside in acontest with equability. This opinion was intuitive, rather than theproduct of experience, and perhaps I gave no proof of my sagacity inhazarding my safety on its truth. Hadwin's character made him dreadedand obeyed by all. He had been accustomed to ready and tremuloussubmission from men far more brawny and robust than I was, and to findhis most vehement menaces and gestures totally ineffectual on a being soslender and diminutive at once wound up his rage and excited hisastonishment. One motion counteracted and suspended the other. He liftedhis hand, but delayed to strike. One blow, applied with his usualdexterity, was sufficient to destroy me. Though seemingly careless, Iwas watchful of his motions, and prepared to elude the stroke byshrinking or stooping. Meanwhile, I stretched my hand far enough toseize the bottle, and, pouring its contents into a tumbler, put it to mylips:--
"Come, sir, I drink your health, and wish you speedy possession ofMalverton. I have some interest with Eliza, and will prevail on her toforbear all opposition and complaint. Why should she complain? While Ilive, she shall not be a beggar. No doubt your claim is legal, andtherefore ought to be admitted. What the law gave, the law has takenaway. Blessed be the dispensers of law! Excellent cider! open anotherbottle, will you, and, I beseech, hasten dinner, if you would not see medevour the table."
It was just, perhaps, to conjure up the demon avarice to fight with thedemon anger. Reason alone would, in such a contest, be powerless, but,in truth, I spoke without artifice or disguise. If his claim were legal,opposition would be absurd and pernicious. I meant not to rely upon hisown assertions, and would not acknowledge the validity of his claim tillI had inspected the deed. Having instituted suits, this was now in apublic office, and there the inspection should be made. Meanwhile, noreason could be urged why I should part from him in anger, while hiskindred to Eliza, and his title to her property, made it useful tosecure his favour. It was possible to obtain a remission of his claims,even when the law enforced them; it would be imprudent at least todiminish the chances of remission by fostering his wrath and provokinghis enmity.
"What!" he exclaimed, in a transport of fury, "a'n't I master of my ownhouse? Out, I say!"
These were harsh terms, but they were not accompanied by gestures andtones so menacing as those which had before been used. It was plain thatthe tide, which so lately threatened my destruction, had begun torecede. This encouraged me to persist.
"Be not alarmed, my good friend," said I, placidly and smiling. "A manof your bone need not fear a pigmy like me. I shall scarcely be able todethrone you in your own castle, with an army of hostlers, tapsters, andcooks at your beck. You shall still be master here, provided you useyour influence to procure me a dinner."
His acquiescence in a pacific system was extremely reluctant andgradual. He laid aside one sullen tone and wrathful look after theother; and, at length, consented not only to supp
ly me with a dinner,but to partake of it with me. Nothing was more a topic of surprise tohimself than his forbearance. He knew not how it was. He had never beentreated so before. He was not proof against entreaty and submission; butI had neither supplicated nor submitted. The stuff that I was made ofwas at once damnably tough and devilishly pliant. When he thought of myimpudence, in staying in his house after he had bade me leave it, he wastempted to resume his passion. When he reflected on my courage, inmaking light of his anger, notwithstanding his known impetuosity and mypersonal inferiority, he could not withhold his esteem. But my patienceunder his rebukes, my unalterable equanimity, and my ready consent tothe validity of his claims, soothed and propitiated him.
An exemption from blows and abuse was all that I could gain from thisman. I told him the truth, with regard to my own history, so far as itwas connected with the Hadwins. I exhibited, in affecting colours, thehelpless condition of Eliza; but could extort from him nothing but hisconsent that, if she chose, she might come and live with him. He wouldgive her victuals and clothes for so much house-work as she was able todo. If she chose to live elsewhere, he promised not to molest her, orintermeddle in her concerns. The house and land were his by law, and hewould have them.
It was not my province to revile or expostulate with him. I stated whatmeasures would be adopted by a man who regarded the interest of othersmore than his own; who was anxious for the welfare of an innocent girl,connected with him so closely by the ties of kindred, and who wasdestitute of what is called natural friends. If he did not cancel, forher sake, his bond and mortgage, he would, at least, afford her a frugalmaintenance. He would extend to her, in all emergencies, his counsel andprotection.
All that, he said, was sheer nonsense. He could not sufficiently wonderat my folly, in proposing to him to make a free gift of a hundred richacres, to a girl too who scarcely knew her right hand from her left;whom the first cunning young rogue like myself would _chouse_ out of thewhole, and take herself into the bargain. But my folly was evensurpassed by my impudence, since, as the _friend_ of this girl, I wasmerely petitioning on my own account. I had come to him, whom I neversaw before, on whom I had no claim, and who, as I well knew, had reasonto think me a sharper, and modestly said, "Here's a girl who has nofortune. I am greatly in want of one. Pray, give her such an estate thatyou have in your possession. If you do, I'll marry her, and take it intomy own hands." I might be thankful that he did not answer such apetition with a horse-whipping. But if he did not give her his estate,he might extend to her, forsooth, his counsel and protection. "That I'veoffered to do," continued he. "She may come and live in my house, if shewill. She may do some of the family work. I'll discharge the chambermaidto make room for her. Lizzy, if I remember right, has a pretty face. Shecan't have a better market for it than as chambermaid to an inn. If sheminds her p's and q's she may make up a handsome sum at the year's end."
I thought it time to break off the conference; and, my dinner beingfinished, took my leave, leaving behind me the character of _a queersort of chap_. I speeded to the prothonotary's office, which was kept inthe village, and quickly ascertained the truth of Hadwin's pretensions.There existed a mortgage, with bond and warrant of attorney, to so greatan amount as would swallow up every thing at Malverton. Furnished withthese tidings, I prepared, with a drooping heart, to return to Mr.Curling's.
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