The Adventures of Roderick Random
timid accent answered, “Sir?” Confounded at this note of interrogation,
I pronounced with the most sheepish bashfulness, “Madam!” To which she
replied, “I beg pardon—I thought you had spoken to me.” Another pause
ensued—I made another effort, and, though my voice faltered very much
at the beginning, made shift to express myself in this manner: “I say,
madam, it is very surprising that love should act so inconsistently
with itself, as to deprive its votaries of the use of their faculties,
when they have most need of them. Since the happy occasion of being
alone with you presented itself, I have made many unsuccessful attempts
to declare a passion for the loveliest of her sex—a passion which took
possession of my soul, while my cruel fate compelled me to wear a
servile disguise so unsuitable to my birth, sentiments, and let me add,
my deserts; yet favourable in one respect, as it furnished me with
opportunities of seeing and adoring your perfections. Yes, madam, it
was then your dear idea entered my bosom, where it has lived unimpaired
in the midst of numberless cares, and animated me against a thousand
dangers and calamities!”
While I spoke thus, she concealed her face with her fan, and when I
ceased speaking, recovering herself from the most beautiful confusion,
told me she thought herself very much obliged by my favourable opinion
of her, and that she was very sorry to hear I had been unfortunate.
Encouraged by this gentle reply, I proceeded, owned myself sufficiently
recompensed by her kind compassion for what I had undergone, and
declared the future happiness of my life depended solely upon her.
“Sir,” said she, “I should be very ungrateful, if after the signal
protection you once afforded me, I should refuse to contribute towards
your happiness in any reasonable condescension.” Transported at this
acknowledgment I threw myself at her feet, and begged she would regard
my passion with a favourable eye. She was alarmed at my behaviour,
entreated me to rise lest her brother should discover me in that
posture, and to spare her for the present upon a subject for which she
was altogether unprepared. In consequence of this remonstrance, I rose,
assuring her I would rather die than disobey her: but in the meantime
begged her to consider how precious the minutes of this opportunity
were, and what restraint I put upon my inclinations, in sacrificing
them to her desire. She smiled with unspeakable sweetness, and said
there would be no want of opportunities, provided I could maintain the
good opinion her brother had conceived of me, and I, enchanted by her
charms, seized her hand, which I well nigh devoured with kisses. But
she checked my boldness with a severity of countenance, and desired I
would not so far forget myself to her, as to endanger the esteem she
had for me; she reminded me of our being almost strangers to each
other, and of the necessity there was for her knowing me better, before
she could take any resolution in my favour; and, in short, mingled so
much good sense and complacency in her reproof, that I became as much
enamoured of her understanding as I had been before of her beauty, and
asked pardon for my presumption with the utmost reverence of
conviction. She forgave my offence with her usual affability, and
sealed my pardon with a look so full of bewitching tenderness, that,
for some minutes, my senses were lost in ecstacy! I afterwards
endeavoured to regulate my behaviour according to her desire, and turn
the conversation upon a more indifferent subject; but her presence was
an insurmountable obstacle to my design; while I beheld so much
excellence, I found it impossible to call my attention from the
contemplation of it! I gazed with unutterable fondness! I grew mad with
admiration! “My condition is insupportable!” cried I: “I am distracted
with passion! Why are you so exquisitely fair?—why are you so
enchantingly good?—why has nature dignified you with charms so much
above the standard of woman? and, wretch that I am, how dare my
unworthiness aspire to the enjoyment of such perfection!”
She was startled at my ravings, reasoned down my transport, and by her
irresistible eloquence, soothed my soul into a state of tranquil
felicity; but, lest I might suffer a relapse, industriously promoted
other subjects to entertain my imagination. She chid me for having
omitted to inquire about her aunt who (she assured me), in the midst of
all her absence of temper, and detachment from common affairs, often
talked of me with uncommon warmth. I professed my veneration for the
good lady, excused my omission, by imputing it to the violence of my
love, which engrossed my whole soul, and desired to know the situation
of her health. Upon which, the amiable Narcissa repeated what I had
heard before of her marriage, with all the tenderness for her
reputation that the subject would admit of; told me she lived with her
husband hard by, and was so much afflicted with the dropsy, and wasted
by a consumption, that she had small hopes of her recovery. Having
expressed my sorrow for her distemper, I questioned her about my good
friend, Mrs. Sagely, who, I learned to my great satisfaction, was in
good health, and who had by the encomiums she bestowed upon me after I
was gone, confirmed the favourable impression my behaviour at parting
had made on Narcissa’s heart. This circumstance introduced an inquiry
into the conduct of Sir Timothy Thicket, who (she informed me) had
found means to incense her brother so much against me that she found it
impossible to undeceive him: but, on the contrary, suffered very much
in her own character by his scandalous insinuations; that the whole
parish was alarmed, and actually in pursuit of me; so that she had been
in the utmost consternation on my account, well knowing how little my
own innocence and her testimony would have weighed with the ignorance,
prejudice, and brutality of those who must have judged me, had I been
apprehended; that Sir Timothy, having been seized with a fit of
apoplexy, from which with great difficulty he was recovered, began to
be apprehensive of death, and to prepare himself accordingly for that
great event; as a step to which he sent for her brother, owned with
great contrition the brutal design he had upon her, and in consequence
acquitted me of the assault, robbery, and correspondence with her,
which he had laid to my charge; after which confession he lived about a
month in a languishing condition, and was carried off by a second
assault.
Every word that this dear creature spoke, riveted the chains with which
she held me enslaved! My mischievous fancy began to work, and the
tempest of my passion to wake again, when the return of Freeman
destroyed the tempting opportunity, and enabled me to quell the rising
tumult. A little while after, the squire staggered into the room,
rubbing his eyes, and called for his tea, which he drank out of a small
bowl, qualified with brandy; while we took it in the usual way,
Narcissa left us in order to visit her aunt; and when Freeman and I
proposed to take our leave, the foxhunter insisted on our spending the
evening at his house with such obstinacy of affection, that we were
obliged to comply. For my own part, I should have been glad of the
invitation, by which, in all likelihood, I should be blessed with more
of his sister’s company, had I not been afraid of risking her esteem,
by entering into a debauch of drinking with him, which, from the
knowledge of his character, I foresaw would happen: but there was no
remedy. I was forced to rely upon the strength of my constitution,
which I hoped would resist intoxication longer than the squire’s, and
to trust to the good nature and discretion of my mistress for the rest.
Our entertainer, resolving to begin by times, ordered the table to be
furnished with liquor and glasses immediately after tea, but we
absolutely refused to set in for drinking so soon; and prevailed upon
him to pass away an hour or two at whist, in which we engaged as soon
as Narcissa returned. The savage and I happened to be partners at
first, and, as my thoughts were wholly employed in a more interesting
game, I played so ill that he lost all patience, swore bitterly, and
threatened to call for wine, if they would not grant him another
associate. This desire was gratified, and Narcissa and I were of a
side; he won for the same reason that made him lose before; I was
satisfied, my lovely partner did not repine, and the time slipped away
very agreeably, until we were told that supper was served in another
room.
The squire was enraged to find the evening so unprofitably spent, and
wreaked his vengeance on the cards, which he tore, and committed to the
flames with many execrations; threatening to make us redeem our loss
with a large glass and quick circulation; and indeed we had no sooner
supped, and my charmer withdrawn, than he began to put his threat in
execution. Three bottles of port (for he drank no other sort of wine)
were placed before us, with as many water glasses, which were
immediately filled to the brim, after his example, by each out of his
respective allowance, and emptied in a trice to the best in
Christendom. Though I swallowed this, and the next, as fast as the
glass could be replenished, without hesitation or show of reluctance, I
perceived that my brain would not be able to bear many bumpers of this
sort, and dreading the perseverance of a champion who began with such
vigour, I determined to make up for the deficiency of my strength by a
stratagem, which I actually put in practice when the second course of
bottles was called for. The wine being strong and heady, I was already
a good deal discomposed by the dispatch we had made. Freeman’s eyes
began to reel, and Bruin himself was elevated into a song, which he
uttered with great vociferation. When I therefore saw the second round
brought in, I assumed a gay air, entertained him with a French catch on
the subject of drinking, which, though he did rot understand it,
delighted him highly; and, telling him your choice spirits at Paris
never troubled themselves with glasses, asked if he had not a bowl or
cup in the house that would contain a whole quart of wine. “Odds
niggers!” cried he, “I have a silver candle cup that holds just the
quantity, for all the world; fetch it hither, Numps.” The vessel being
produced, I bade him decant his bottle into it, which he having done, I
nodded in a very deliberate manner, and said, “Pledge you.” He stared
at me for some time, and crying, “What! all at one pull, Measter
Randan?” I answered, “At one pull, Sir, you are no milk-sop—we shall do
you justice.” “Shall you?” said he, shaking me by the hand; “odds then,
I’ll see it out, an’t were a mile to the bottom: here’s to our better
acquaintance, measter Randan,” So saying, he applied it to his lips,
and emptied it in a breath. I knew the effect of it would be almost
instantaneous; therefore taking the cup, began to discharge my bottle
into it, telling him he was now qualified to drink with the Cham of
Tartary. I had no sooner pronounced these words than he took umbrage at
them, and after several attempts to spit, made shift to stutter, “A f—t
for your Chams of T—Tartary! I am a f—f—freeborn Englishman, worth
th—three thousand a-year, and v—value no man, d—me.” Then, dropping his
jaw, and fixing his eyes, he hiccuped aloud, and fell upon the floor as
mute as a flounder. Mr. Freeman, heartily glad at his defeat, assisted
me in carrying him to bed, where we left him to the care of his
servants, and went home to our respective habitations, congratulating
each other on our good fortune.
CHAPTER LVII
Miss Williams informs me of Narcissa’s Approbation of my Flame—I
appease the Squire—write to my Mistress—am blessed with an Answer—beg