CHAPTER IV.

In which Dr. Harrison visits colonel James.

THE doctor, when he left Amelia, intended to go directly to Booth; but he presently changed his mind, and determined first to call on the colonel, as he thought it was proper to put an end to that matter before he gave Booth his liberty.

The doctor found the two colonels, James and Bath, together. They both received him very civilly; for James was a very well-bred man; and Bath always shewed a particular respect to the clergy, he being indeed a perfect good Christian, except in the articles of fighting and swearing.

Our divine sat some time without mentioning the subject of his errand, in hopes that Bath would go away; but when he found no likelihood of that (for indeed Bath was of the two much the most pleased with his company) he told James that he had something to say to him relating to Booth, which he believed he might speak before his brother.

'Undoubtedly, Sir,' said James; for there can be no secrets between us which my brother may not hear.'

'I come then to you, Sir,' said the doctor, 'from the 'most unhappy woman in the world, to whose afflictions you have very greatly and very cruelly added, by sending a challenge to her husband, which hath very luckily 'fallen into her hands; for had the man, for whom you เ designed it, received it, I am afraid you would not have seen me upon this occasion.'

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'If I writ such a letter to Mr. Booth, Sir,' said James, you may be assured I did not expect this visit in answer 'to it.'

'I do not think you did,' cries the doctor; 'but you 'have great reason to thank heaven for ordering this ' matter contrary to your expectations. I know not 'what trifle may have drawn this challenge from you; but, after what I have some reason to know of you, Sir, I must plainly tell you, that, if you had added to your guilt already committed against this man that of 'having his blood upon your hands, your soul would 'have become as black as hell itself.'

'Give me leave to say,' cries the colonel, 'this is a 'language which I am not used to hear; and, if your 'cloth was not your protection, you should not give it

me with impunity. After what you know of me, Sir! 'What do you presume to know of me to my dis' advantage?'

'You say my cloth is my protection, colonel,' answered the doctor, therefore pray lay aside your anger; 'I do not come with any design of affronting or offend'ing you.'

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'Very well,' cries Bath, 'that declaration is sufficient from a clergyman, let him say what he pleases.'

'Indeed, Sir,' says the doctor very mildly, 'I consult 'equally the good of you both, and, in a spiritual sense, more especially yours; for you know you have injured 'this poor man.'

'So far on the contrary,' cries James, 'that I have been his greatest benefactor. I scorn to upbraid him; 'but you force me to it. Nor have I ever done him the ' least injury.'

'Perhaps not,' said the doctor; 'I will alter what I 'have said. But for this I apply to your honour.-Have you not intended him an injury, the very intention of which cancels every obligation?'

เ How, Sir?' answered the colonel-' What do you

mean?'

My meaning,' replied the doctor, 'is almost too tender to mention-Come, colonel, examine your own heart; ' and then answer me, on your honour, if you have not intended to do him the highest wrong which one man can do another?'

'I do not know what you mean by the question,' answered the colonel.

'D-n me, the question is very transparent,' cries Bath. From any other man it would be an affront 'with the strongest emphasis, but from one of the 'doctor's cloth it demands a categorical answer.'

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'I am not a Papist, Sir,' answered colonel James, ‘nor ' am I obliged to confess to my priest. But, if you have any thing to say, speak openly-for I do not understand เ your meaning.'

'I have explained my meaning to you already,' said the doctor, 'in a letter I wrote to you on the subject—a subject which I am sorry I should have any occasion to 'write upon to a Christian.'

'I do remember now,' cries the colonel, 'that I re'ceived a very impertinent letter, something like a sermon, against adultery; but I did not expect to 'hear the author own it to my face.'

'That brave man, then, Sir,' answered the doctor, stands before you who dares own he wrote that letter, ‘and dares affirm, too, that it was writ on a just and strong foundation. But, if the hardness of your heart 'could prevail on you to treat my good intention with contempt and scorn, what, pray, could induce you to shew it, nay, to give it Mr. Booth? What motive could you have for that, unless you meant to insult 'him, and to provoke your rival to give you that oppor'tunity of putting him out of the world, which you have 'since wickedly sought by your challenge?'

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'I give him the letter!' said the colonel.

'Yes, Sir,' answered the doctor, 'he shewed me the letter, and affirmed that you gave it him at the masquerade.'

He is a lying rascal then,' said the colonel, very passionately. 'I scarce took the trouble of reading the

' letter, and lost it out of my pocket.'

Here Bath interfered, and explained this affair in the manner in which it happened, and with which the reader is already acquainted. He concluded by great eulogiums on the performance, and declared it was one of the most enthusiastic (meaning perhaps ecclesiastic) letters that ever was written. And d-n me,' says he, 'if I do not respect the author with the utmost emphasis ' of thinking.'

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The doctor now recollected what had passed with Booth, and perceived he had made a mistake of one colonel for another. This he presently acknowledged to colonel James, and said that the mistake had been his and not Booth's.

Bath now collected all his gravity and dignity, as he called it, into his countenance, and addressing himself to James, said—' And was that letter writ to you, brother? -I hope you never deserved any suspicion of this 'kind.'

'Brother,' cries James, 'I am accountable to myself 'for my actions, and shall not render an account either to 'you or to that gentleman.'

As to me, brother,' answered Bath, 'you say right; 'but I think this gentleman may call you to an account; nay, I think it is his duty to do so. And let me tell เ you, brother, there is one much greater than he to 'whom you must give an account. Mrs. Booth is really a fine woman, a lady of most imperious and majestic เ presence. I have heard you often say that you liked her; and, if you have quarrelled with her husband upon

I have heard

this account, by all the dignity of man, I think you 'ought to ask his pardon.'

'Indeed, brother,' cries James, 'I can bear this no longer-you will make me angry presently.'

6 Angry! brother James,' cries Bath-'angry!—I love you, brother, and have obligations to you. I will say no more-but I hope you know I do not fear making any man angry.'

James answered, he knew it well; and then the doctor apprehending that while he was stopping up one breach, he should make another, presently interfered, and turned the discourse back to Booth. You tell me, Sir,' said he to James, 'that my gown is my protection; let it then at 'least protect me where I have had no design in offend'ing; where I have consulted your highest welfare, as in “truth I did in writing this letter. And if you did not in the least deserve any such suspicion, still you have no 'cause for resentment. Caution against sin, even to the 'innocent, can never be unwholesome. But this I assure you, whatever anger you have to me, you can have none to poor Booth, who was entirely ignorant of my writing to you, and who, I am certain, never entertained 'the least suspicion of you; on the contrary, reveres you 'with the highest esteem, and love and gratitude. Let 'me therefore reconcile all matters between you, and เ bring you together before he hath even heard of this 'challenge.'

'Brother,' cries Bath, I hope I shall not make you angry-I lie when I say so; for I am indifferent to any 'man's anger-Let me be an accessary to what the 'doctor hath said. I think I may be trusted with matters of this nature, and it is a little unkind that, if you intended to send a challenge, you did not make me the bearer. But, indeed, as to what appears to me, 'this matter may be very well. made up; and as Mr.