The Adventures of Roderick Random
and found Miss a good deal indisposed with the fatigue of their
journey. As they foresaw they should have occasion for a male
acquaintance to squire them at all public places, I was received with
great cordiality, and had the mother’s permission to conduct them next
day to the Long Room, which we no sooner entered, than the eyes of
everybody present were turned upon us, and, when we had suffered the
martyrdom of their looks for some time, a whisper circulated at our
expense, which was accompanied with many contemptuous smiles and
tittering observations, to my utter shame and confusion. I did not so
much conduct as follow my charge to a place where she seated her mother
and herself with astonishing composure notwithstanding the unmannerly
behaviour of the whole company, which seemed to be assumed merely to
put her out of countenance. The celebrated Mr. Nash, who commonly
attends in this place, as master of the ceremonies, perceiving the
disposition of the assembly, took upon himself the task of gratifying
their ill-nature further, by exposing my mistress to the edge of his
wit. With this view he approached us, with many bows and grimaces, and,
after having welcomed Miss Snapper to the place, asked her in the
hearing of all present, if she could inform him of the name of Tobit’s
dog. Miss was so much incensed at his insolence, that I should
certainly have kicked him where he stood without ceremony, had not the
young lady prevented the effects of my indignation, by replying with
the utmost vivacity, “His name was Nash, and an impudent dog he was.”
This repartee so unexpected and just, raised such a universal laugh at
the aggressor, that all his assurance was insufficient to support him
under their derision; so that, after he had endeavoured to compose
himself by taking snuff and forcing a smile, he was obliged to sneak
off in a ludicrous attitude, while my Dulcinea was applauded to the
skies for the brilliancy of her wit, and her acquaintance immediately
courted by the best people of both sexes in the room.
This event, with which I was indefinitely pleased at first, did not
fail of alarming me, upon further reflection, when I considered, that
the more she was caressed by persons of distinction, the more her pride
would be inflamed, and consequently, the obstacles to my success
multiplied and enlarged. Nor were my presaging fears untrue. That very
night I perceived her a little intoxicated with the incense she had
received, and, though, she still behaved with a particular civility to
me, I foresaw, that, as soon as her fortune should be known, she would
be surrounded with a swarm of admirers, some of whom might possibly, by
excelling me on point of wealth, or in the arts of flattery and
scandal, supplant me in her esteem, and find means to make the mother
of his party. I resolved therefore to lose no time, and, being invited
to spend the evening with them, found an opportunity, in spite of the
old gentlewoman’s vigilance, to explain the meaning of my glances in
the coach, by paying homage to her wit, and professing myself enamoured
of her person. She blushed at my declaration and in a favourable manner
disapproved of the liberty I had taken, putting me in mind of our being
strangers to each other, and desiring I would not be the means of
interrupting our acquaintance, by any such unseasonable strokes of
gallantry for the future. My ardour was effectually checked by this
reprimand, which was, however, delivered in a gentle manner, that I had
no cause to be disobliged; and the arrival of her mother relieved me
from a dilemma in which I should not have known how to demean myself a
minute longer. Neither could I resume the easiness of carriage with
which I came in; my mistress acted on the reserve, and the conversation
beginning to flag, the old lady introduced her kinswoman of the house,
and proposed a hand at whist.
While we amused ourselves at this diversion, I understood from the
gentlewoman, that there was to be an assembly next night at which I
begged to have the honour of dancing with Miss. She thanked me for the
favour I intended her, assured me she never did dance, but signified a
desire of seeing the company, when I offered my service, which was
accepted, not a little proud of being exempted from appearing with her
in a situation, that, notwithstanding my profession to the contrary,
was not at all agreeable to my inclination.
Having supped, and continued the game, till such time as the successive
yawns of the mother warned me to be gone, I took my leave, and went
home, where I made Strap very happy with an account of my progress.
Next day I put on my gayest apparel, and went to drink tea at Mrs.
Snapper’s, according to appointment, when I found, to my inexpressible
satisfaction, that she was laid up with the toothache, and that Miss
was to be intrusted to my care. Accordingly, we set out for the
ball-room pretty early in the evening, and took possession of a
commodious place, where we had not sat longer than a quarter of an
hour, when a gentleman, dressed in a green frock, came in, leading a
young lady, whom I immediately discovered to be the adorable Narcissa!
Good heaven! what were the thrillings of my soul at that instant! my
reflection was overwhelmed with a torrent of agitation! my heart
throbbed with surprising violence! a sudden mist overspread my eyes, my
ears were invaded with a dreadful sound! I panted for want of breath,
and, in short, was for some moments entranced! This first tumult
subsiding, a crowd of flattering ideas rushed upon my imagination.
Everything, that was soft, sensible, and engaging, in the character of
that dear creature recurred to my remembrance, and every favourable
circumstance of my own qualifications appeared in all the aggravation
of self-conceit, to heighten my expectation! Neither was this transport
of long duration. The dread of her being already disposed of
intervened, and overcast my enchanting reverie! My presaging
apprehension represented her encircled in the arms of some happy rival,
and in consequence for ever lost to me. I was stung with this
suggestion, and, believing the person who conducted her to be the
husband of this amiable young lady, already devoted him to my fury, and
stood up to mark him for my vengeance, when I recollected, to my
unspeakable joy, her brother the fox-hunter, in the person of her
gallant.
Undeceived so much to my satisfaction in this particular, I gazed in a
frenzy of delight on the irresistible charms of his sister, who no
sooner distinguished me in the crowd, than her evident confusion
afforded a happy omen to my flame. At sight of me she started, the
roses instantly vanished from her polished cheeks, and returned in a
moment with a double glow, that overspread her lovely neck, while her
enchanting bosom heaved with strong emotion. I hailed these favourable
symptoms, and, lying in wait for her looks, did homage with my eyes.
She seemed to approve my declaration, by the complacency of her aspect;
and I was so transported with the discovery, that more than once I was
on the point of making up to her, to disclose the throbbings of my
heart in person, had not that profound veneration, which her presence
always inspired, restrained the unseasonable impulse. All my powers
being engrossed in this manner, it may easily be imagined how ill I
entertained Miss Snapper on whom I could not now turn my eyes, without
making comparisons very little to her advantage. It was not even in my
power to return distinct answers to the questions she asked from time
to time, so that she could not help observing my absence of mind; and
having a turn for observation, watched my glances, and, tracing them to
the divine object, discovered the cause of my disorder. That she might,
however, be convinced of the truth of her conjecture, she began to
interrogate me with regard to Narcissa, and, notwithstanding all my
endeavours to disguise my sentiments, perceived my attachment by my
confusion: upon which, she assumed a stateliness of behaviour, and sat
silent during the remaining part of the entertainment. At any other
time, her suspicion would have alarmed me: but now I was elevated by my
passion above every other consideration. The mistress of my soul having
retired with her brother, I discovered so much uneasiness at my
situation, that Miss Snapper proposed to go home; and, while I
conducted her to a chair, told me she had too great a regard for me to
keep me any longer in torment. I feigned ignorance of her meaning, and
having seen her safely at her lodgings, took my leave, and went home in
an ecstasy, where I disclosed everything that had happened to my
confidant and humble servant, Strap, who did not relish the accident so
well as I expected; and observed, that a bird in the hand is worth two
in the bush. “But, however,” said he, “you know best—you know best.”
Next day, as, I went to the Pump Room, in hopes of seeing or hearing
some tidings of my fair enslaver, I was met by a gentlewoman, who,
having looked hard at me, cried, “O Christ, Mr. Random!” Surprised at
this exclamation, I examined the countenance of the person who spoke,
and immediately recognised my old sweetheart and fellow sufferer, Miss
Williams.
I was mightily pleased to find this unfortunate woman under such a
decent appearance, professed my joy at seeing her so well, and desired
to know where I should have the pleasure of her conversation. She was
as heartily rejoiced at the apparent easiness of my fortune, and gave
me to know that she, as yet, had no habitation that she could properly
call her own; but would wait on me at any place I should please to
appoint. Understanding that she was unengaged for the present, I showed
her the way to my lodgings, where, after a very affectionate
salutation, she informed me of her being very happy in the service of a
young lady to whom she was recommended by a former mistress deceased,
into whose family she had recommended herself by the honest deceit she
had concerted, while she lived with me in the garret at London. She
then expressed a vehement desire to be acquainted with the vicissitudes
of my life since we parted, and excused her curiosity on account of the
concern she had for my interest. I forthwith gratified her request,
and, when I described my situation in Sussex, perceived her to attend
to my story with particular eagerness. She interrupted me, when I had
finished that period, with, “Good God! is it possible?” and then begged
I would be so good as to continue my relation; which I did as briefly
as I could, burning with impatience to know the cause of her surprise,
about which I had already formed a very interesting conjecture.
When I had brought my adventures down to the present day, who seemed
very much affected with the different circumstances of my fortune; and
saying, with a smile, she believed my distresses were now at a period,
proceeded to inform me that the lady whom she served was no other than
the charming Narcissa, who had honoured her with her confidence for
some time; in consequence of which trust, she had often repeated the
story of John Brown with great admiration and regard; that she loved to
dwell upon the particulars of his character, and did not scruple to own
a tender approbation of his flame. I became delirious at this piece of
intelligence, strained Miss Williams in my embrace, called her the
angel of my happiness, and acted such extravagances, that she might
have been convinced of my sincerity, had she not been satisfied of my
honour before. As soon as was in condition to yield attention, she
described the present situation of her mistress, who had no sooner
reached her lodgings the night before, than she closeted her, and in a
rapture of joy gave her to know that she had seen me at the ball, where