Life And Adventures Of Peter Wilkins, Vol. I. (of II.) Page 6

  CHAPTER II.

  How he spent his time at the academy--An intrigue with a servant-maid there--She declares herself with child by him-- Her expostulations to him--He is put to it for money-- Refused it from home by his friend, who had married his mother--Is drawn in to marry the maid--She lies-in at her aunts--Returns to her service--He has another child by her

  I had now been passing my time for about three months in this melancholyway, and, you may imagine, under that disadvantage, had made but littleprogress in my learning, when one of our maids, taking notice one dayof my uneasiness, as I sat musing in my chamber, according to my custom,began to rally me that I was certainly in love, I was so sad. Indeed Inever had a thought of love before, but the good-natured girl seeming topity me, and seriously asking me the cause, I fairly opened my heart toher; and for fear my master should know it, gave her half-a-crown to besilent. This last engagement fixed her my devotee, and from that timewe had frequent conferences in confidence together, till at lengthinclination, framed by opportunity, produced the date of a world ofconcern to me; for about six months after my arrival at the academy,instead of proving my parts by my scholarship, I had proved my manhoodby being the destined father of an infant which my female correspondentthen assured me would soon be my own.

  We nevertheless held on our frequent intercourse; nor was I so alarmedat the news as I ought to have been, till about two months after, whenPatty (for that was the only name I then knew her by) explained herselfto me in the following terms:--"You know, Mr. Peter, how matters arewith me: I should be very sorry, for your sake, and my own too, toreveal my shame, but in spite of us both nature will show itself; andtruly I think some care should be taken, and some method proposed, topreserve the infant, and avoid, as far as may be, the inconveniencesthat may attend us, for here is now no room for delay." This speech, Iown, gave me the first reflection I ever had in my life, and locked upall my faculties for a long time; nor was I able, for the variety ofideas that crowded my brain, to make a word of answer, but stood like animage of stone, till Patty, seeing my confusion, desired me to recollectmy reason; for as it was too late to undo what had been done, itremained now only to act with that prudence and caution which the natureof the case required; and that, for her part, she would concur in everyreasonable measure I should approve of; but I must remember she was onlya servant, and had very little due to her for wages, and not a pennybesides that; and that there must necessarily be a preparation made forthe reception of the infant when time should produce it. I now began tosee the absolute necessity of all she said, but how to accomplish it wasnot in me to comprehend. My own small matter of money was gone, and hadbeen so a long time; we therefore agreed I should write to my mother fora fresh supply. I did so; and to my great confusion was answered by myformer friend in the following words:--

  "Son Peter,--Your mother and I are much surprised you should write for money, having so amply provided for you; but as it is not many months to Christmas, when possibly we may send for you home, you must make yourself easy till then; as a school-boy, with all necessaries found him, cannot have much occasion for money.--Your loving father, J. G."

  Imagine, if it is possible, my consternation at the receipt of thisletter. I began to think I should be tricked out of what my father andgrandfather had with so much pains and industry for many years been,heaping up for me, and had a thousand thoughts all together jostling outeach other, so could resolve on nothing. I then showed Patty the letter,and we both condoled my hard fortune, but saw no remedy. Time wore away,and nothing done, or like to be, as I could see. For my part, I was likeone distracted, and no more able to assist or counsel what should bedone than a child in arms. At length poor Patty, who had sat thinkingsome time, began with telling me she had formed a scheme which in somemeasure might help us; but fearing it might be disagreeable to me, shedurst not mention it till I should assure her, whatever I thought ofthat, I would think no worse of her for proposing it. This preparatoryintroduction startled me a great deal; for it darted into my head shewaited for my concurrence to destroy the child, to which I could neverhave consented. But upon my assuring her I would not think the worse ofher for whatever she should propose, but freely give her my opinion uponit, she told me, as she could see no other way before us but what tendedto our disgrace and ruin, if I would marry her she would immediatelyquit her place and return to her aunt, who had brought her up from achild, and had enough prettily to live upon, who, she did not doubt,would entertain her as my wife; but she was assured, upon any otherscore, or under any other name, would prove her most inveterateenemy. When Patty had made an end, I was glad to find it no worse; andrevolving matters a little in my mind, both as to affairs at home andthe requested marriage, I concluded upon this latter, and had a greatinclination to acquaint my mother of it, but was diverted from that, bysuspecting it might prove a good handle for my new father to work withmy mother some mischief against me; so determined to marry forthwith,send Patty to her aunt's, and remain still at the academy myself tillI should see what turn things would take at home. Accordingly, the nextday good part of Patty's wages went to tie the connubial knot, and tothe honest parson for a bribe to antedate the certificate; and she verysoon after took up the rest to defray her journey to her aunt's.

  Though Patty was within two months of her time, she had so managed thatno one perceived it; and getting safe to her aunt's, was delivered ofa daughter, of which she wrote me word, and said she hoped to see me atthe end of her month. How, thought I, can she expect to see me; money Ihave none! and then I despaired of leave for a journey if I had it;and to go without leave would only arm J. G. against me, as I perceivedplainly his interest and mine were very remote things; so I resolved toquit all thoughts of a journey, and wait till opportunity better servedfor seeing my wife and child, and our good aunt to whom we were somuch obliged. While these and such-like cogitations engrossed my wholeattention, I was most pleasingly surprised one day, upon my return-froma musing walk by the river-side at the end of our garden, where Ifrequently got my tasks, to find Patty sitting in the kitchen with myold mistress, my master's mother, who managed his house, he having beena widower many years. The sight of her almost overcame me, as I hadbolted into the kitchen, and was seen by my old mistress before Ihad seen Patty was with her. The old lady, perceiving me discomposed,inquired into the cause, which I directly imputed to the symptoms of anague that I told her I had felt upon me best part of the morning. She,a good motherly woman, feeling my pulse, and satisfying herself of itsdisorder, immediately ran to her closet to bring me a cordial, which sheassured me had done wonders in the like cases; so that I had but justtime to embrace Patty and inquire after our aunt and daughter beforemadam returned with the cordial. Having drank it, and given thanks, Iwas going to withdraw, but she would not part with me so; for nothingless than my knowledge that this cordial was of her own making, fromwhence she had the receipt, and an exact catalogue of the several curesit had done, would serve her turn; which, taking up full three-quartersof an hour, gave room to Patty and me to enjoy each other's glances forthat time, to our mutual satisfaction. At last the old prattleboxhaving made a short pause to recover breath from the narrative of thecordial, "Mr. Peter," says she, "you look as if you did not know poorPatty; she has not left me so long that you should forget her; she isa good tight wench, and I was sorry to part with her; but she is out ofplace, she says, and as that dirty creature Nan is gone, I think to takeher again." I told her I well knew she was judge of a good servant, andI did not doubt Patty was such, if she thought so; and then I made myexit, lighter in heart by a pound than I came.

  I shall not tire you any farther with the amours between self and Patty;but to let you know she quitted her place again seven months after, uponthe same score.