Didactic fiction; Domestic fiction; England -- Fiction; Married women -- Fiction
“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.
Chapter i.
_Being the first chapter of the eighth book._
The history must now look a little backwards to those circumstances
which led to the catastrophe mentioned at the end of the last book.
When Amelia went out in the morning she left her children to the care
of her husband. In this amiable office he had been engaged near an
hour, and was at that very time lying along on the floor, and his little
things crawling and playing about him, when a most violent knock
was heard at the door; and immediately a footman, running upstairs,
acquainted him that his lady was taken violently ill, and carried into
Mrs. Chenevix’s toy-shop.
Booth no sooner heard this account, which was delivered with great
appearance of haste and earnestness, than he leapt suddenly from the
floor, and, leaving his children, roaring at the news of their mother’s
illness, in strict charge with his maid, he ran as fast as his legs
could carry him to the place; or towards the place rather: for, before
he arrived at the shop, a gentleman stopt him full butt, crying,
“Captain, whither so fast?”--Booth answered eagerly, “Whoever you are,
friend, don’t ask me any questions now.”--“You must pardon me, captain,”
answered the gentleman; “but I have a little business with your
honour--In short, captain, I have a small warrant here in my pocket
against your honour, at the suit of one Dr Harrison.” “You are a bailiff
then?” says Booth. “I am an officer, sir,” answered the other. “Well,
sir, it is in vain to contend,” cries Booth; “but let me beg you will
permit me only to step to Mrs. Chenevix’s--I will attend you, upon my
honour, wherever you please; but my wife lies violently ill there.” “Oh,
for that matter,” answered the bailiff, “you may set your heart at ease.
Your lady, I hope, is very well; I assure you she is not there. You will
excuse me, captain, these are only stratagems of war. _Bolus and virtus,
quis in a hostess equirit?_” “Sir, I honour your learning,” cries Booth,
“and could almost kiss you for what you tell me. I assure you I would
forgive you five hundred arrests for such a piece of news. Well, sir,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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