Arthur Mervyn; Or, Memoirs of the Year 1793

by Charles Brockden Brown

  CHAPTER XLI.

  Next morning I arose betimes, and equipped myself without delay. I hadeight or ten miles to walk, so far from the town being the residence ofthese people; and I forthwith repaired to their dwelling. The personswhom I desired to see were known to me only by name, and by their placeof abode. It was a mother and her three daughters to whom I now carriedthe means not only of competence but riches; means which they, no doubt,had long ago despaired of regaining, and which, among all possiblemessengers, one of my age and guise would be the least suspected ofbeing able to restore.

  I arrived, through intricate ways, at eleven o'clock, at the house ofMrs. Maurice. It was a neat dwelling, in a very fanciful and rusticstyle, in the bosom of a valley, which, when decorated by the verdureand blossoms of the coming season, must possess many charms. At presentit was naked and dreary.

  As I approached it, through a long avenue, I observed two femalefigures, walking arm-in-arm and slowly to and fro, in the path in whichI now was. "These," said I, "are daughters of the family. Graceful,well-dressed, fashionable girls they seem at this distance. May they bedeserving of the good tidings which I bring!" Seeing them turn towardsthe house, I mended my pace, that I might overtake them and requesttheir introduction of me to their mother.

  As I more nearly approached, they again turned; and, perceiving me, theystood as if in expectation of my message. I went up to them.

  A single glance, cast at each, made me suspect that they were notsisters; but, somewhat to my disappointment, there was nothing highlyprepossessing in the countenance of either. They were what is every daymet with, though less embellished by brilliant drapery and turban, inmarkets and streets. An air somewhat haughty, somewhat supercilious,lessened still more their attractions. These defects, however, werenothing to me.

  I inquired, of her that seemed to be the elder of the two, for Mrs.Maurice.

  "She is indisposed," was the cold reply.

  "That is unfortunate. Is it not possible to see her?"

  "No;" with still more gravity.

  I was somewhat at a loss how to proceed. A pause ensued. At length thesame lady resumed, "What's your business? You can leave your messagewith me."

  "With nobody but her. If she be not _very_ indisposed----"

  "She is very indisposed," interrupted she, peevishly. "If you cannotleave your message, you may take it back again, for she must not bedisturbed."

  This was a singular reception. I was disconcerted and silent. I knew notwhat to say. "Perhaps," I at last observed, "some other time----"

  "No," (with increasing heat,) "no other time. She is more likely to beworse than better. Come, Betsy," said she, taking hold of hercompanion's arm; and, hieing into the house, shut the door after her,and disappeared. I stood, at the bottom of the steps, confounded at suchstrange and unexpected treatment. I could not withdraw till my purposewas accomplished. After a moment's pause, I stepped to the door, andpulled the bell. A negro came, of a very unpropitious aspect, and,opening the door, looked at me in silence. To my question, Was Mrs.Maurice to be seen? he made some answer, in a jargon which I could notunderstand; but his words were immediately followed by an unseen personwithin the house:--"Mrs. Maurice can't be seen by anybody. Come in,Cato, and shut the door." This injunction was obeyed by Cato withoutceremony.

  Here was a dilemma! I came with ten thousand pounds in my hands, tobestow freely on these people, and such was the treatment I received. "Imust adopt," said I, "a new mode."

  I lifted the latch, without a second warning, and, Cato havingdisappeared, went into a room, the door of which chanced to be open, onmy right hand. I found within the two females whom I had accosted in theportico. I now addressed myself to the younger:--"This intrusion, when Ihave explained the reason of it, will, I hope, be forgiven. I come,madam----"

  "Yes," interrupted the other, with a countenance suffused byindignation, "I know very well whom you come from, and what it is thatprompts this insolence; but your employer shall see that we have notsunk so low as he imagines. Cato! Bob! I say."

  "My employer, madam! I see you labour under some great mistake. I haveno employer. I come from a great distance. I come to bring intelligenceof the utmost importance to your family. I come to benefit and not toinjure you."

  By this time, Bob and Cato, two sturdy blacks, entered the room. "Turnthis person," said the imperious lady, regardless of my explanations,"out of the house. Don't you hear me?" she continued, observing thatthey looked one upon the other and hesitated.

  "Surely, madam," said I, "you are precipitate. You are treating like anenemy one who will prove himself your mother's best friend."

  "Will you leave the house?" she exclaimed, quite beside herself withanger. "Villains! why don't you do as I bid you?"

  The blacks looked upon each other, as if waiting for an example. Theirhabitual deference for every thing _white_, no doubt, held their handsfrom what they regarded as a profanation. At last Bob said, in awhining, beseeching tone, "Why, missee, massa buckra wanna go for doo,dan he winna go fo' wee."

  The lady now burst into tears of rage. She held out her hand,menacingly. "Will you leave the house?"

  "Not willingly," said I, in a mild tone. "I came too far to return withthe business that brought me unperformed. I am persuaded, madam, youmistake my character and my views. I have a message to deliver yourmother which deeply concerns her and your happiness, if you are herdaughter. I merely wished to see her, and leave with her a piece ofimportant news; news in which her fortune is deeply interested."

  These words had a wonderful effect upon the young lady. Her anger waschecked. "Good God!" she exclaimed, "are you Watson?"

  "No; I am only Watson's representative, and come to do all that Watsoncould do if he were present."

  She was now importunate to know my business.

  "My business lies with Mrs. Maurice. Advertisements, which I have seen,direct me to her, and to this house; and to her only shall I deliver mymessage."

  "Perhaps," said she, with a face of apology, "I have mistaken you. Mrs.Maurice is my mother. She is really indisposed, but I can stand in herplace on this occasion."

  "You cannot represent her in this instance. If I cannot have access toher now, I must go; and shall return when you are willing to grant it."

  "Nay," replied she, "she is not, perhaps, so very sick but that I willgo, and see if she will admit you." So saying, she left me for threeminutes; and, returning, said her mother wished to see me.

  I followed up-stairs, at her request; and, entering an ill-furnishedchamber, found, seated in an arm-chair, a lady seemingly in years, pale,and visibly infirm. The lines of her countenance were far from layingclaim to my reverence. It was too much like the daughter's.

  She looked at me, at my entrance, with great eagerness, and said, in asharp tone, "Pray, friend, what is it you want with me? Make haste; tellyour story, and begone."

  "My story is a short one, and easily told. Amos Watson was your agent inJamaica. He sold an estate belonging to you, and received the money."

  "He did," said she, attempting ineffectually to rise from her seat, andher eyes beaming with a significance that shocked me; "he did, thevillain, and purloined the money, to the ruin of me and my daughters.But if there be justice on earth it will overtake him. I trust I shallhave the pleasure one day--I hope to hear he's hanged. Well, but go on,friend. He _did_ sell it, I tell you."

  "He sold it for ten thousand pounds," I resumed, "and invested this sumin bills of exchange. Watson is dead. These bills came into my hands. Iwas lately informed, by the public papers, who were the real owners, andhave come from Philadelphia with no other view than to restore them toyou. There they are," continued I, placing them in her lap, entire anduntouched.

  She seized the papers, and looked at me and at her daughter, by turns,with an air of one suddenly bewildered. She seemed speechless, and,growing suddenly more ghastly pale, leaned her head back upon the chair.The daughter screamed, and hastened to support the languid parent, whodifficultly
articulated, "Oh, I am sick; sick to death. Put me on thebed."

  I was astonished and affrighted at this scene. Some of the domestics, ofboth colours, entered, and gazed at me with surprise. Involuntarily Iwithdrew, and returned to the room below, into which I had firstentered, and which I now found deserted.

  I was for some time at a loss to guess at the cause of theseappearances. At length it occurred to me, that joy was the source of thesickness that had seized Mrs. Maurice. The abrupt recovery of what hadprobably been deemed irretrievable would naturally produce this effectupon a mind of a certain texture.

  I was deliberating whether to stay or go, when the daughter entered theroom, and, after expressing some surprise at seeing me, whom shesupposed to have retired, told me that her mother wished to see me againbefore my departure. In this request there was no kindness. All wascold, supercilious, and sullen. I obeyed the summons without speaking.

  I found Mrs. Maurice seated in her arm-chair, much in her former guise.Without desiring me to be seated, or relaxing aught in her asperity oflooks and tones,--"Pray, friend, how did you _come by_ these papers?"

  "I assure you, madam, they were honestly _come by_," answered I,sedately and with half a smile; "but, if the whole is there that wasmissing, the mode and time in which they came to me is matter ofconcern only to myself. Is there any deficiency?"

  "I am not sure. I don't know much of these matters. There may be less. Idare say there is. I shall know that soon. I expect a friend of mineevery minute who will look them over. I don't doubt you can give a goodaccount of yourself."

  "I doubt not but I can--to those who have a right to demand it. In thiscase, curiosity must be very urgent indeed before I shall consent togratify it."

  "You must know this is a suspicious case. Watson, to-be-sure, embezzledthe money; to-be-sure, you are his accomplice."

  "Certainly," said I, "my conduct, on this occasion, proves that. What Ihave brought to you, of my own accord; what I have restored to you,fully and unconditionally, it is plain Watson embezzled, and that I wasaiding in the fraud. To restore what was never stolen always betrays thethief. To give what might be kept without suspicion is, without doubt,arrant knavery. To be serious, madam, in coming thus far, for thispurpose, I have done enough; and must now bid you farewell."

  "Nay, don't go yet. I have something more to say to you. My friend, I'msure, will be here presently. There he is;" (noticing a peal upon thebell.) "Polly, go down, and see if that's Mr. Somers. If it is, bringhim up." The daughter went.

  I walked to the window absorbed in my own reflections. I wasdisappointed and dejected. The scene before me was the unpleasingreverse of all that my fancy, while coming hither, had foreboded. Iexpected to find virtuous indigence and sorrow lifted, by my means, toaffluence and exultation. I expected to witness the tears of gratitudeand the caresses of affection. What had I found? Nothing but sordidness,stupidity, and illiberal suspicion.

  The daughter stayed much longer than the mother's patience could endure.She knocked against the floor with her heel. A servant came up. "Where'sPolly, you slut? It was not you, hussy, that I wanted. It was her."

  "She is talking in the parlour with a gentleman."

  "Mr. Somers, I suppose; hey, fool? Run with my compliments to him,wench. Tell him, please walk up."

  "It is not Mr. Somers, ma'am."

  "No? Who then, saucebox? What gentleman can have any thing to do withPolly?"

  "I don't know, ma'am."

  "Who said you did, impertinence? Run, and tell her I want her thisinstant."

  The summons was not delivered, or Polly did not think proper to obey it.Full ten minutes of thoughtful silence on my part, and of mutteredvexation and impatience on that of the old lady, elapsed before Polly'sentrance. As soon as she appeared, the mother began to complain bitterlyof her inattention and neglect; but Polly, taking no notice of her,addressed herself to me, and told me that a gentleman below wished tosee me. I hastened down, and found a stranger, of a plain appearance, inthe parlour. His aspect was liberal and ingenuous; and I quicklycollected, from his discourse, that this was the brother-in-law ofWatson, and the companion of his last voyage.