\"Thataccountsforyournotknowingthemeaningoftawse,\"
saidI;\"hadyoureceivedtherudimentsofaclassicaleducationattheHighSchool,youwouldhaveknownthemeaningoftawsefullwell。Itisaleathernthong,withwhichrefractoryurchinsarerecalledtoasenseoftheirdutybythedominie。Tau—tawse—howsingular!\"
\"Icannotseewhatthetwowordshaveincommon,exceptaslightagreementinsound。\"
\"Youwillseetheconnection,\"saidI,\"whenIinformyouthatthethong,fromthemiddletothebottom,iscutorslitintotwoorthreeparts,fromwhichslitsorcuts,unlessI
amverymuchmistaken,itderivesitsname—tawse,athongwithslitsorcuts,usedforchastisingdisorderlyurchinsattheHighSchool,fromtheFrenchtailler,tocut;evidentlyconnectedwiththeChinesetau,aknife—howveryextraordinary!\"
CHAPTERXXXIII
Convalescence—TheSurgeon’sBill—LetterofRecommendation—CommencementoftheOldMan’sHistory。
TWOdays—threedayspassedaway—andIstillremainedatthehouseofmyhospitableentertainer;mybruisedlimbrapidlyrecoveringthepowerofperformingitsfunctions。I
passedmytimeagreeablyenough,sometimesinmychamber,communingwithmyownthoughts;sometimesinthestable,attendingto,andnotunfrequentlyconversingwith,myhorse;
andatmeal—time—forIseldomsawhimatanyother—
discoursingwiththeoldgentleman,sometimesontheChinesevocabulary,sometimesonChinesesyntax,andonceortwiceonEnglishhorseflesh;thoughonthislattersubject,notwithstandinghisdescentfromaraceofhorse—traders,hedidnotenterintowithmuchalacrity。Asasmallrequitalforhiskindness,Igavehimoneday,afterdinner,unasked,abriefaccountofmyhistoryandpursuits。Helistenedwithattention;andwhenitwasconcluded,thankedmefortheconfidencewhichIhadreposedinhim。\"Suchconduct,\"saidhe,\"deservesareturn。Iwilltellyoumyownhistory;itisbrief,butmayperhapsnotproveuninterestingtoyou—
thoughtherelationofitwillgivemesomepain。\"\"Pray,then,donotreciteit,\"saidI。\"Yes,\"saidtheoldman,\"I
willtellyou,forIwishyoutoknowit。\"Hewasabouttobegin,whenhewasinterruptedbythearrivalofthesurgeon。
Thesurgeonexaminedintothestateofmybruisedlimb,andtoldme,whatindeedIalreadywellknew,thatitwasrapidlyimproving。\"Youwillnotevenrequireasling,\"saidhe,\"toridetoHorncastle。Whendoyouproposegoing?\"hedemanded。
\"WhendoyouthinkImayventure?\"Ireplied。\"Ithink,ifyouareatolerablygoodhorseman,youmaymountthedayafterto—morrow,\"answeredthemedicalman。\"By—the—bye,areyouacquaintedwithanybodyatHorncastle?\"\"Withnolivingsoul,\"Ianswered。\"Thenyouwouldscarcelyfindstable—roomforyourhorse。ButIamhappytobeabletoassistyou。I
haveafriendtherewhokeepsasmallinn,andwho,duringthetimeofthefair,keepsastallvacantforanyquadrupedImaybring,untilheknowswhetherIamcomingornot。I
willgiveyoualettertohim,andhewillseeaftertheaccommodationofyourhorse。To—morrowIwillpayyouafarewellvisit,andbringyoutheletter。\"\"Thankyou,\"saidI;\"anddonotforgettobringyourbill。\"Thesurgeonlookedattheoldman,whogavehimapeculiarnod。\"Oh!\"
saidhe,inreplytome,\"forthelittleserviceIhaverenderedyou,Irequirenoremuneration。Youareinmyfriend’shouse,andheandIunderstandeachother。\"\"I
neverreceivesuchfavours,\"saidI,\"asyouhaverenderedme,withoutremuneratingthem;thereforeIshallexpectyourbill。\"\"Oh!justasyouplease,\"saidthesurgeon;andshakingmebythehandmorewarmlythanhehadhithertodone,hetookhisleave。
Ontheeveningofthenextday,thelastwhichIspentwithmykindentertainer,Isatatteawithhiminalittlesummer—houseinhisgarden,partiallyshadedbytheboughsofalargefig—tree。Thesurgeonhadshortlybeforepaidmehisfarewellvisit,andhadbroughtmetheletterofintroductiontohisfriendatHorncastle,andalsohisbill,whichIfoundanythingbutextravagant。Afterwehadeachrespectivelydrankthecontentsoftwocups—anditmaynotbeamissheretoinformthereaderthatthoughItookcreamwithmytea,asIalwaysdowhenIcanprocurethataddition,theoldman,likemostpeoplebredupinthecountry,drankhiswithoutit—hethusaddressedme:—\"Iam,asItoldyouonthenightofyouraccident,thesonofabreederofhorses,arespectableandhonestman。WhenIwasabouttwentyhedied,leavingme,hisonlychild,acomfortableproperty,consistingofabouttwohundredacresoflandandsomefifteenhundredpoundsinmoney。Mymotherhaddiedaboutthreeyearspreviously。I
feltthedeathofmymotherkeenly,butthatofmyfatherlessthanwasmyduty;indeed,truthcompelsmetoacknowledgethatIscarcelyregrettedhisdeath。ThecauseofthiswantofproperfilialfeelingwastheoppositionwhichIhadexperiencedfromhiminanaffairwhichdeeplyconcernedme。Ihadformedanattachmentforayoungfemaleintheneighbourhood,who,thoughpoor,wasofhighlyrespectablebirth,herfatherhavingbeenacurateoftheEstablishedChurch。Shewas,atthetimeofwhichIamspeaking,anorphan,havinglostbothherparents,andsupportedherselfbykeepingasmallschool。Myattachmentwasreturned,andwehadpledgedourvows,butmyfather,whocouldnotreconcilehimselftoherlackoffortune,forbadeourmarriageinthemostpositiveterms。Hewaswrong,forshewasafortuneinherself—amiableandaccomplished。Oh!
Icannottellyouallshewas—\"andheretheoldmandrewhishandacrosshiseyes。\"Bythedeathofmyfather,theonlyobstacletoourhappinessappearedtoberemoved。Weagreed,therefore,thatourmarriageshouldtakeplacewithinthecourseofayear;andIforthwithcommencedenlargingmyhouseandgettingmyaffairsinorder。HavingbeenleftintheeasycircumstanceswhichIhavedescribed,Ideterminedtofollownobusiness,buttopassmylifeinastrictlydomesticmanner,andtobevery,veryhappy。Amongstotherpropertyderivedfrommyfatherwereseveralhorses,whichI
disposedofinthisneighbourhood,withtheexceptionoftworemarkablyfineones,whichIdeterminedtotaketothenextfairatHorncastle,theonlyplacewhereIexpectedtobeabletoobtainwhatIconsideredtobetheirfullvalue。Atlengththetimearrivedforthecommencementofthefair,whichwaswithinthreemonthsoftheperiodwhichmybelovedandmyselfhadfixeduponforthecelebrationofournuptials。TothefairIwent,acoupleoftrustymenfollowingmewiththehorses。Isoonfoundapurchaserfortheanimals,aportly,plausibleperson,ofaboutforty,dressedinablueridingcoat,browntopboots,andleatherbreeches。Therewasastrange—lookingurchinwithhim,attiredinnearlysimilarfashion,withabeaminoneofhiseyes,whocalledhimfather。Themanpaidmeforthepurchaseinbank—notes—threefifty—poundnotesforthetwohorses。Aswewereabouttotakeleaveofeachother,hesuddenlyproducedanotherfifty—poundnote,inquiringwhetherIcouldchangeit,complaining,atthesametime,ofthedifficultyofprocuringchangeinthefair。AsIhappenedtohaveplentyofsmallmoneyinmypossession,andasIfeltobligedtohimforhavingpurchasedmyhorsesatwhatI
consideredtobeagoodprice,IinformedhimthatIshouldbeveryhappytoaccommodatehim;soIchangedhimthenote,andhe,havingtakenpossessionofthehorses,wenthisway,andImyselfreturnedhome。
\"Amonthpassed;duringthistimeIpaidawaytwoofthenoteswhichIhadreceivedatHorncastlefromthedealer—
oneoftheminmyimmediateneighbourhood,andtheotheratatownaboutfifteenmilesdistant,towhichIhadrepairedforthepurposeofpurchasingsomefurniture。Allthingsseemedtobegoingonmostprosperously,andIfeltquitehappy,whenonemorning,asIwasoverlookingsomeworkmenwhowereemployedaboutmyhouse,Iwasaccostedbyaconstable,whoinformedmethathewassenttorequestmyimmediateappearancebeforeaneighbouringbenchofmagistrates。
ConcludingthatIwasmerelysummonedonsomeunimportantbusinessconnectedwiththeneighbourhood,Ifeltnosurprise,andforthwithdepartedincompanywiththeofficer。
Thedemeanourofthemanuponthewaystruckmeassomewhatsingular。Ihadfrequentlyspokentohimbefore,andhadalwaysfoundhimcivilandrespectful,buthewasnowreservedandsullen,andrepliedtotwoorthreequestionswhichIputtohiminanythingbutacourteousmanner。Onarrivingattheplacewherethemagistratesweresitting—aninnatasmalltownabouttwomilesdistant—Ifoundamorethanusualnumberofpeopleassembled,whoappearedtobeconversingwithconsiderableeagerness。Atsightofmetheybecamesilent,butcrowdedaftermeasIfollowedthemanintothemagistrates’room。ThereIfoundthetradesmantowhomIhadpaidthenoteforthefurnitureatthetownfifteenmilesoffinattendance,accompaniedbyanagentoftheBankofEngland;theformer,itseems,hadpaidthenoteintoaprovincialbank,theproprietorsofwhich,discoveringittobeaforgery,hadforthwithwrittenuptotheBankofEngland,whohadsentdowntheiragenttoinvestigatethematter。Athirdindividualstoodbesidethem—thepersoninmyownimmediateneighbourhoodtowhomIhadpaidthesecondnote;this,bysomemeansorother,beforethecomingdownoftheagent,hadfounditswaytothesameprovincialbank,andalsobeingpronouncedaforgery,ithadspeedilybeentracedtothepersontowhomIhadpaidit。Itwasowingtotheapparitionofthissecondnotethattheagenthaddetermined,withoutfurtherinquiry,tocausemetobesummonedbeforetheruraltribunal。
\"Inafewwordsthemagistrates’clerkgavemetounderstandthestateofthecase。Iwasfilledwithsurpriseandconsternation。Iknewmyselftobeperfectlyinnocentofanyfraudulentintention,butatthetimeofwhichIamspeakingitwasamatterfraughtwiththegreatestdangertobemixedup,howeverinnocently,withthepassingoffalsemoney。Thelawwithrespecttoforgerywasterriblysevere,andtheinnocentaswellastheguiltyoccasionallysuffered。OfthisIwasnotaltogetherignorant;unfortunately,however,inmytransactionswiththestranger,theideaoffalsenotesbeingofferedtome,andmybeingbroughtintotroublebymeansofthem,neverenteredmymind。Recoveringmyselfalittle,IstatedthatthenotesinquestionweretwoofthreenoteswhichIhadreceivedatHorncastle,forapairofhorses,whichitwaswellknownIhadcarriedthither。
\"Thereupon,Iproducedfrommypocket—bookthethirdnote,whichwasforthwithpronouncedaforgery。Ihadscarcelyproducedthethirdnote,whenIrememberedtheonewhichI
hadchangedfortheHorncastledealer,andwiththeremembrancecamethealmostcertainconvictionthatitwasalsoaforgery;Iwastemptedforamomenttoproduceit,andtoexplainthecircumstance—wouldtoGodIhaddoneso!—
butshameattheideaofhavingbeensowretchedlydupedpreventedme,andtheopportunitywaslost。Imustconfessthattheagentofthebankbehaved,uponthewhole,inaveryhandsomemanner;hesaidthatasitwasquiteevidentthatI
haddisposedofcertainhorsesatthefair,itwasveryprobablethatImighthavereceivedthenotesinquestioninexchangeforthem,andthathewaswilling,ashehadreceivedaveryexcellentaccountofmygeneralconduct,topressthematternofarther,thatis,provided—\"Andherehestopped。Thereupon,oneofthethreemagistrates,whowerepresent,askedmewhetherIchancedtohaveanymoreofthesespuriousnotesinmypossession。Hecertainlyhadarighttoaskthequestion;buttherewassomethingpeculiarinhistone—insinuatingsuspicion。Itiscertainlydifficulttojudgeofthemotiveswhichruleaperson’sconduct,butI
cannothelpimaginingthathewassomewhatinfluencedinhisbehaviouronthatoccasion,whichwasanythingbutfriendly,bymyhavingrefusedtosellhimthehorsesatapricelessthanthatwhichIexpectedtogetatthefair;bethisasitmay,thequestionfilledmewithembarrassment,andI
bitterlyrepentednothavingatfirstbeenmoreexplicit。
Thereuponthemagistrateinthesamekindoftone,demandedtoseemypocket—book。Iknewthattodemurwouldbeuseless,andproducedit,andtherewith,amongsttwoorthreesmallcountrynotes,appearedthefourthwhichIhadreceivedfromtheHorncastledealer。Theagenttookitupandexamineditwithattention。’Well,isitagenuinenote?’
askedthemagistrate。’Iamsorrytosaythatitisnot,’
saidtheagent;’itisaforgery,liketheotherthree。’Themagistrateshruggedhisshoulders,asindeeddidseveralpeopleintheroom。’Aregulardealerinforgednotes,’saidapersonclosebehindme;’whowouldhavethoughtit?’
\"Seeingmattersbegintolooksoserious,Iarousedmyself,andendeavouredtospeakinmyownbehalf,givingacandidaccountofthemannerinwhichIbecamepossessedofthenotes;butmyexplanationdidnotappeartomeetmuchcredit;
themagistrate,towhomIhaveinparticularalluded,asked,whyIhadnotatoncestatedthefactofmyhavingreceivedafourthnote;andtheagent,thoughinaveryquiettone,observedthathecouldnothelpthinkingitsomewhatstrangethatIshouldhavechangedanoteofsomuchvalueforaperfectstranger,evensupposingthathehadpurchasedmyhorses,andhadpaidmetheirvalueinhardcash;andI
noticedthathelaidparticularemphasisonthelastwords。
ImighthaveobservedthatIwasaninexperiencedyoungman,who,meaningnoharmmyself,suspectednoneinothers,butI
wasconfused,stunned,andmytongueseemedtocleavetotheroofofmymouth。ThemenwhohadtakenmyhorsestoHorncastle,andforwhomIhadsent,astheylivedcloseathand,nowarrived,buttheevidencewhichtheycouldgivewasanythingbutconclusiveinmyfavour;theyhadseenmeincompanywithanindividualatHorncastle,towhom,bymyorders,theyhaddeliveredcertainhorses,buttheyhadseennopartofthemoneytransaction;thefellow,whetherfromdesignornot,havingtakenmeasideintoaretiredplace,wherehehadpaidmethethreespuriousnotes,andinducedmetochangethefourth,whichthroughouttheaffairwaswhatboremostmateriallyagainstme。HowmattersmighthaveterminatedIdonotknow,Imighthavegonetoprison,andI
mighthavebeen—justthen,whenImostneededafriend,andleastexpectedtofindone,forthoughamongstthosepresenttherewereseveralwhoweremyneighbours,andwhohadprofessedfriendshipforme,noneofthemwhentheysawthatIneededsupportandencouragement,cameforwardtoyieldmeany,but,onthecontrary,appearedbytheirlookstoenjoymyterrorandconfusion—justthenafriendenteredtheroominthepersonofthesurgeonoftheneighbourhood,thefatherofhimwhohasattendedyou;hewasnotonveryintimatetermswithme,buthehadoccasionallyspokentome,andhadattendedmyfatherinhisdyingillness,andchancingtohearthatIwasintrouble,henowhastenedtoassistme。Afterashortpreamble,inwhichheapologizedtothebenchforinterfering,hebeggedtobeinformedofthestateofthecase,whereuponthematterwaslaidbeforehiminallitsdetails。Hewasnotslowintakingafairviewofit,andspokewellandeloquentlyinmybehalf—insistingontheimprobabilitythatapersonofmyhabitsandpositionwouldbewilfullymixedupwithatransactionlikethatofwhichitappearedIwassuspected—adding,thatashewasfullyconvincedofmyinnocence,hewasreadytoenterintoanysuretywithrespecttomyappearanceatanytimetoansweranythingwhichmightbelaidtomycharge。Thislastobservationhadparticulareffect,andashewasapersonuniversallyrespected,bothforhisskillinhisprofessionandhisgeneraldemeanour,peoplebegantothinkthatapersoninwhomhetookaninterestcouldscarcelybeconcernedinanythingcriminal,andthoughmyfriendthemagistrate—Icallhimsoironically—madetwoorthreedemurs,itwasatlastagreedbetweenhimandhisbrethrenofthebench,that,forthepresent,Ishouldbemerelycalledupontoenterintomyownrecognizanceforthesumoftwohundredpounds,toappearwheneveritshouldbedeemedrequisitetoenterintoanyfurtherinvestigationofthematter。
\"SoIwaspermittedtodepartfromthetribunalofpettyjusticewithouthandcuffs,anduncollaredbyaconstable;butpeoplelookedcoldlyandsuspiciouslyuponme。ThefirstthingIdidwastohastentothehouseofmybeloved,inordertoinformherofeverycircumstanceattendingthetransaction。Ifoundher,buthow?Amaliciousfemaleindividualhadhurriedtoherwithadistortedtale,totheeffectthatIhadbeentakenupasanuttererofforgednotes;thatanimmensenumberhadbeenfoundinmypossession;thatIwasalreadycommitted,andthatprobablyI
shouldbeexecuted。Myaffiancedonetenderlylovedme,andherconstitutionwasdelicate;fitsucceededfit;shebrokeablood—vessel,andIfoundherdelugedinblood;thesurgeonhadbeensentfor;hecameandaffordedhereverypossiblerelief。Iwasdistracted;hebademehavehope,butI
observedhelookedverygrave。
\"Bytheskillofthesurgeon,thepoorgirlwassavedinthefirstinstancefromthearmsofdeath,andforafewweekssheappearedtoberapidlyrecovering;bydegrees,however,shebecamemelancholy;awormpreyeduponherspirit;aslowfevertookpossessionofherframe。Isubsequentlylearnedthatthesamemaliciousfemalewhohadfirstcarriedtoheranexaggeratedaccountoftheaffair,andwhowasadistantrelativeofherown,frequentlyvisitedher,anddidallinherpowertoexciteherfearswithrespecttoitseventualtermination。Timepassedoninaverywretchedmanner。Ourfriendthesurgeonshowingtousbotheverymarkofkindnessandattention。
\"Itwasowingtothisexcellentmanthatmyinnocencewaseventuallyestablished。HavingbeencalledtoatownonthebordersofYorkshiretoamedicalconsultation,hechancedtobetakingaglassofwinewiththelandlordoftheinnatwhichhestopped,whenthewaiterbroughtinanotetobechanged,saying’ThattheQuakergentleman,whohadbeenforsomedaysinthehouse,andwasabouttodepart,hadsentittobechanged,inorderthathemightpayhisbill。’Thelandlordtookthenote,andlookedatit。’Afifty—poundbill,’saidhe;’Idon’tlikechangingbillsofthatamount,lesttheyshouldprovebadones;however,asitcomesfromaQuakergentleman,Isupposeitisallright。’Thementionofafifty—poundnotearousedtheattentionofmyfriend,andherequestedtobepermittedtolookatit;hehadscarcelyseenit,whenhewasconvincedthatitwasoneofthesamedescriptionasthosewhichhadbroughtmeintotrouble,asitcorrespondedwiththemintwoparticularfeatures,whichtheagentofthebankhadpointedouttohimandothersasevidenceoftheirspuriousness。Myfriend,withoutamoment’shesitation,informedthelandlordthatthenotewasabadone,expressingatthesametimeagreatwishtoseetheQuakergentlemanwhowantedtohaveitchanged。’Thatyoucaneasilydo,’saidthelandlord,andforthwithconductedhimintothecommonroom,wherehesawarespectable—lookingman,dressedlikeaQuaker,andseeminglyaboutsixtyyearsofage。
\"Myfriend,afterashortapology,showedhimthenotewhichheheldinhishand,statingthathehadnodoubtitwasaspuriousone,andbeggedtobeinformedwherehehadtakenit,adding,thataparticularfriendofhiswasatpresentintrouble,owingtohishavingtakensimilarnotesfromastrangeratHorncastle;butthathehopedthathe,theQuaker,couldgiveinformation,bymeansofwhichtheguiltyparty,orparties,couldbearrested。AtthementionofHorncastle,itappearedtomyfriendthattheQuakergaveaslightstart。Attheconclusionofthisspeech,however,heanswered,withgreattranquillity,thathehadreceiveditinthewayofbusinessat—,namingoneoftheprincipaltownsinYorkshire,fromaveryrespectableperson,whosenamehewasperfectlywillingtocommunicate,andlikewisehisown,whichhesaidwasJames,andthathewasamerchantresidingatLiverpool;thathewouldwritetohisfriendat—,requestinghimtomakeinquiriesonthesubject;thatjustatthatmomenthewasinahurrytodepart,havingsomeparticularbusinessatatownabouttenmilesoff,togotowhichhehadbespokenapost—chaiseofthelandlord;thatwithrespecttothenote,itwasdoubtlessaverydisagreeablethingtohaveasuspiciousoneinhispossession,butthatitwouldmakelittledifferencetohim,ashehadplentyofothermoney,andthereuponhepulledoutapurse,containingvariousothernotes,andsomegold,observing,’thathisonlymotiveforwishingtochangetheothernotewasadesiretobewellprovidedwithchange;’andfinally,thatiftheyhadanysuspicionwithrespecttohim,hewasperfectlywillingtoleavethenoteintheirpossessiontillheshouldreturn,whichheintendedtodoinaboutafortnight。TherewassomuchplausibilityinthespeechoftheQuaker,andhisappearanceandbehaviourweresoperfectlyrespectable,thatmyfriendfeltalmostashamedofthesuspicionwhichatfirsthehadentertainedofhim,though,atthesametime,hefeltanunaccountableunwillingnesstoletthemandepartwithoutsomefurtherinterrogation。Thelandlord,however,whodidnotwishtodisobligeonewhohadbeen,andmightprobablybeagain,aprofitablecustomer,declaredthathewasperfectlysatisfied;andthathehadnowishtodetainthenote,whichhemadenodoubtthegentlemanhadreceivedinthewayofbusiness,andthatasthematterconcernedhimalone,hewouldleaveittohimtomakethenecessaryinquiries。’Justasyouplease,friend,’saidtheQuaker,pocketingthesuspiciousnote,’Iwillnowpaymybill。’Thereuponhedischargedthebillwithafive—poundnote,whichhebeggedthelandlordtoinspectcarefully,andwithtwopiecesofgold。
\"Thelandlordhadjusttakenthemoney,receiptedthebill,andwasbowingtohiscustomer,whenthedooropened,andalad,dressedinakindofgreylivery,appeared,andinformedtheQuakerthatthechaisewasready。’Isthatboyyourservant?’saidthesurgeon。’Heis,friend,’saidtheQuaker。’Hastthouanyreasonforaskingmethatquestion?’
’Andhashebeenlonginyourservice?’’Severalyears,’
repliedtheQuaker,’Itookhimintomyhouseoutofcompassion,hebeinganorphan,butasthechaiseiswaiting,Iwillbidtheefarewell。’’IamafraidImuststopyourjourneyforthepresent,’saidthesurgeon;’thatboyhasexactlythesameblemishintheeyewhichaboyhadwhowasincompanywiththemanatHorncastle,fromwhommyfriendreceivedtheforgednotes,andwhotherepassedforhisson。’
’Iknownothingaboutthat,’saidtheQuaker,’butIamdeterminedtobedetainedherenolonger,afterthesatisfactoryaccountwhichIhavegivenastothenote’scomingintomypossession。’Hethenattemptedtoleavetheroom,butmyfrienddetainedhim,astruggleensued,duringwhichawigwhichtheQuakerworefelloff,whereuponheinstantlyappearedtolosesometwentyyearsofhisage。
’Knockthefellowdown,father,’saidtheboy,’I’llhelpyou。’
\"And,forsooth,thepretendedQuakertooktheboy’sadvice,andknockedmyfrienddowninatwinkling。Thelandlord,however,andwaiter,seeinghowmattersstood,instantlylaidholdofhim;buttherecanbenodoubtthathewouldhaveescapedfromthewholethree,hadnotcertainguestswhowereinthehouse,hearingthenoise,rushedin,andhelpedtosecurehim。Theboywastruetohisword,assistinghimtothebestofhisability,flinginghimselfbetweenthelegsofhisfather’sassailants,causingseveralofthemtostumbleandfall。Atlength,thefellowwassecured,andledbeforeamagistrate;theboy,towhomhewasheardtosaysomethingwhichnobodyunderstood,andtowhom,aftertheman’scapture,noonepaidmuchattention,wasnomoreseen。
\"Therest,asfarasthismanwasconcerned,maybetoldinafewwords;nothingtocriminatehimwasfoundonhisperson,butonhisbaggagebeingexamined,aquantityofspuriousnoteswerediscovered。Muchofhishardihoodnowforsookhim,andinthehopeofsavinghislifehemadesomeveryimportantdisclosures;amongstotherthings,heconfessedthatitwashewhohadgivenmethenotesinexchangeforthehorses,andalsothenotetobechanged。Hewassubsequentlytriedontwoindictments,inthesecondofwhichIappearedagainsthim。Hewascondemnedtodie;but,inconsiderationofthedisclosureshehadmade,hissentencewascommutedtoperpetualtransportation。
\"Myinnocencewasthusperfectlyestablishedbeforetheeyesoftheworld,andallmyfriendshastenedtocongratulateme。
Therewasonewhocongratulatedmemorethanalltherest—
itwasmybelovedone,but—but—shewasdying—\"
Heretheoldmandrewhishandbeforehiseyes,andremainedforsometimewithoutspeaking;atlengthheremovedhishand,andcommencedagainwithabrokenvoice:\"YouwillpardonmeifIhurryoverthispartofmystory,Iamunabletodwelluponit。HowdwelluponaperiodwhenIsawmyonlyearthlytreasurepineawaygraduallydaybyday,andknewthatnothingcouldsaveher!Shesawmyagony,anddidallshecouldtoconsoleme,sayingthatshewasherselfquiteresigned。Alittletimebeforeherdeathsheexpressedawishthatweshouldbeunited。Iwastoohappytocomplywithherrequest。Wewereunited,Ibroughthertothishouse,where,inlessthanaweek,sheexpiredinmyarms。\"