Why did
you not inform me by letter of your arrival at Malverton, and of what
occurred during your absence? What is the fate of Mr. Hadwin and of
Wallace?" "Alas!" said he, "I perceive that, though I have written, you have never
received my letters. The tale of what has occurred since we parted is
long and various. I am not only willing but eager to communicate the
story; but this is no suitable place. Have patience till we reach your
house. I have involved myself in perils and embarrassments from which I
depend upon your counsel and aid to release me." I had scarcely reached my own door, when I was overtaken by a servant,
whom I knew to belong to the family in which Carlton and his sisters
resided. Her message, therefore, was readily guessed. She came, as I
expected, to inquire for my friend, who had left his home in the morning
with a stranger, and had not yet returned. His absence had occasioned
some inquietude, and his sister had sent this message to me, to procure
what information respecting the cause of his detention I was able to
give. My perplexity hindered me, for some time, from answering. I was willing
to communicate the painful truth with my own mouth. I saw the necessity
of putting an end to her suspense, and of preventing the news from
reaching her with fallacious aggravations or at an unseasonable time. I told the messenger that I had just parted with Mr. Carlton, that he
was well, and that I would speedily come and acquaint his sister with
the cause of his absence. Though burning with curiosity respecting Mervyn and Welbeck, I readily
postponed its gratification till my visit to Miss Carlton was performed. I had rarely seen this lady; my friendship for her brother, though
ardent, having been lately formed, and chiefly matured by interviews at
my house. I had designed to introduce her to my wife, but various
accidents had hindered the execution of my purpose. Now consolation and
counsel were more needed than ever, and delay or reluctance in bestowing
it would have been, in a high degree, unpardonable. I therefore parted with Mervyn, requesting him to await my return, and
promising to perform the engagement which compelled me to leave him,
with the utmost despatch. On entering Miss Carlton's apartment, I
assumed an air of as much tranquillity as possible. I found the lady
seated at a desk, with pen in hand and parchment before her. She greeted
me with affectionate dignity, and caught from my countenance that
cheerfulness of which on my entrance she was destitute. "You come," said she, "to inform me what has made my brother a truant
to-day. Till your message was received I was somewhat anxious. This day
he usually spends in rambling through the fields; but so bleak and
stormy an atmosphere, I suppose, would prevent his excursion. I pray,
sir, what is it detains him?" To conquer my embarrassment, and introduce the subject by indirect and
cautious means, I eluded her question, and, casting an eye at the
parchment,--"How now?" said I; "this is strange employment for a lady. I
knew that my friend pursued this trade, and lived by binding fast the
bargains which others made; but I knew not that the pen was ever usurped
by his sister." "The usurpation was prompted by necessity. My brother's impatient temper
and delicate frame unfitted him for the trade. He pursued it with no
less reluctance than diligence, devoting to the task three nights in the
week, and the whole of each day. It would long ago have killed him, had
I not bethought myself of sharing his tasks. The pen was irksome and
toilsome at first, but use has made it easy, and far more eligible than
the needle, which was formerly my only tool. "This arrangement affords my brother opportunities of exercise and
recreation, without diminishing our profits; and my time, though not
less constantly, is more agreeably, as well as more lucratively,
employed than formerly." "I admire your reasoning. By this means provision is made against
untoward accidents. If sickness should disable him, you are qualified to
pursue the same means of support." At these words the lady's countenance changed. She put her hand on my
arm, and said, in a fluttering and hurried accent, "Is my brother sick?" "No. He is in perfect health. My observation was a harmless one. I am
sorry to observe your readiness to draw alarming inferences. If I were
to say that your scheme is useful to supply deficiencies, not only when
your brother is disabled by sickness, but when thrown, by some inhuman
creditor, into jail, no doubt you would perversely and hastily infer
that he is now in prison." I had scarcely ended the sentence, when the piercing eyes of the lady
were anxiously fixed upon mine. After a moment's pause, she exclaimed,
"The inference, indeed, is too plain. I know his fate. It has long been
foreseen and expected, and I have summoned up my equanimity to meet it. Would to Heaven he may find the calamity as light as I should find it! but I fear his too irritable spirit." When her fears were confirmed, she started out into no vehemence of
exclamation. She quickly suppressed a few tears which would not be
withheld, and listened to my narrative of what had lately occurred, with
tokens of gratitude. Formal consolation was superfluous. Her mind was indeed more fertile
than my own in those topics which take away its keenest edge from
affliction. She observed that it was far from being the heaviest
calamity which might have happened. The creditor was perhaps vincible by
arguments and supplications. If these should succeed, the disaster would
not only be removed, but that security from future molestation be
gained, to which they had for a long time been strangers. Should he be obdurate, their state was far from being hopeless. Carlton's situation allowed him to pursue his profession. His gains
would be equal, and his expenses would not be augmented. By their mutual
industry they might hope to amass sufficient to discharge the debt at no
very remote period. What she chiefly dreaded was the pernicious influence of dejection and
sedentary labour on her brother's health. Yet this was not to be
considered as inevitable. Fortitude might be inspired by exhortation and
example, and no condition precluded us from every species of bodily
exertion. The less inclined he should prove to cultivate the means of
deliverance and happiness within his reach, the more necessary it became
for her to stimulate and fortify his resolution. If I were captivated by the charms of this lady's person and carriage,
my reverence was excited by these proofs of wisdom and energy. I
zealously promised to concur with her in every scheme she should adopt
for her own or her brother's advantage; and, after spending some hours
with her, took my leave. I now regretted the ignorance in which I had hitherto remained
respecting this lady. That she was, in an eminent degree, feminine and
lovely, was easily discovered; but intellectual weakness had been rashly
inferred from external frailty.