'He is, indeed, my husband,' cries the other; 'and I am most happy in your approbation. In honest truth, you ought to approve my choice; since you was every way the occasion of my making it. What you said of him very greatly recommended him to my opinion; but he endeared himself to me most by what he said of you. In short, I have discovered that he hath always loved you with such a faithful, honest, noble, generous passion, that I was consequently convinced his mind must possess all the ingredients of such a passion; and what are these but true honour, goodness, modesty, bravery, tenderness, and, in a word, every human virtue?--Forgive me, my dear; but I was uneasy till I became myself the object of such a passion.'
'And do you really think,' said Amelia, smiling, 'that I shall forgive you robbing me of such a lover? or, supposing what you banter me with was true, do you really imagine you could change such a passion?'
'No, my dear,' answered the other; 'I only hope I have changed the object; for be assured, there is no greater vulgar error than that it is impossible for a man who loves one woman ever to love another. On the contrary, it is certain that a man who can love one woman so well at a distance will love another better that is nearer to him. Indeed, I have heard one of the best husbands in the world declare, in the presence of his wife, that he had always loved a princess with adoration. These passions, which reside only in very amorous and very delicate minds, feed only on the delicacies there growing; and leave all the substantial food, and enough of the delicacy too, for the wife.'
The tea being now ready, Mrs. Bennet, or, if you please, for the future, Mrs. Atkinson, proposed to call in her husband; but Amelia objected. She said she should be glad to see him any other time, but was then in the utmost hurry, as she had been three hours absent from all she most loved. However, she had scarce drank a dish of tea before she changed her mind; and, saying she would not part man and wife, desired Mr. Atkinson might appear.
The maid answered that her master was not at home; which words she had scarce spoken, when he knocked hastily at the door, and immediately came running into the room, all pale and breathless, and, addressing himself to Amelia, cried out, 'I am sorry, my dear lady, to bring you ill news; but Captain Booth'--'What! what!' cries Amelia, dropping the tea-cup from her hand, 'is anything the matter with him?'--'Don't be frightened, my dear lady,' said the serjeant: 'he is in very good health; but a misfortune hath happened.'--' Are my children well?' said Amelia.--'O, very well,' answered the serjeant. 'Pray, madam, don't be frightened; I hope it will signify nothing--he is arrested, but I hope to get him out of their damned hands immediately.' 'Where is he?' cries Amelia; 'I will go to him this instant!' 'He begs you will not,' answered the serjeant. 'I have sent his lawyer to him, and am going back with Mrs. Ellison this moment; but I beg your ladyship, for his sake, and for your own sake, not to go.' 'Mrs. Ellison! what is Mrs. Ellison to do?' cries Amelia: 'I must and will go.' Mrs. Atkinson then interposed, and begged that she would not hurry her spirits, but compose herself, and go home to her children, whither she would attend her. She comforted her with the thoughts that the captain was in no immediate danger; that she could go to him when she would; and desired her to let the serjeant return with Mrs. Ellison, saying she might be of service, and that there was much wisdom, and no kind of shame, in making use of bad people on certain occasions.
'And who,' cries Amelia, a little come to herself, 'hath done this barbarous action?'
'One I am ashamed to name,' cries the serjeant; 'indeed I had always a very different opinion of him: I could not have believed anything but my own ears and eyes; but Dr Harrison is the man who hath done the deed.'
'Dr Harrison!' cries Amelia. 'Well, then, there is an end of all goodness in the world. I will never have a good opinion of any human being more.'
The serjeant begged that he might not be detained from the captain; and that, if Amelia pleased to go home, he would wait upon her. But she did not chuse to see Mrs. Ellison at this time; and, after a little consideration, she resolved to stay where she was; and Mrs. Atkinson agreed to go and fetch her children to her, it being not many doors distant.
The serjeant then departed; Amelia, in her confusion, never having once thought of wishing him joy on his marriage.
BOOK VIII
