CHAPTER XVI.
_Being the last in which this true history is brought to a happyconclusion._
Fanny was very little behind her Joseph in the duty she exprest towardsher parents, and the joy she evidenced in discovering them. GammarAndrews kissed her, and said, She was heartily glad to see her; but forher part, she could never love any one better than Joseph. GaffarAndrews testified no remarkable emotion: he blessed and kissed her, butcomplained bitterly that he wanted his pipe, not having had a whiffthat morning.
Mr Booby, who knew nothing of his aunt's fondness, imputed her abruptdeparture to her pride, and disdain of the family into which he wasmarried; he was therefore desirous to be gone with the utmost celerity;and now, having congratulated Mr Wilson and Joseph on the discovery, hesaluted Fanny, called her sister, and introduced her as such to Pamela,who behaved with great decency on the occasion.
He now sent a message to his aunt, who returned that she wished him agood journey, but was too disordered to see any company: he thereforeprepared to set out, having invited Mr Wilson to his house; and Pamelaand Joseph both so insisted on his complying, that he at lastconsented, having first obtained a messenger from Mr Booby to acquainthis wife with the news; which, as he knew it would render hercompletely happy, he could not prevail on himself to delay a moment inacquainting her with.
The company were ranged in this manner: the two old people, with theirtwo daughters, rode in the coach; the squire, Mr Wilson, Joseph, parsonAdams, and the pedlar, proceeded on horseback.
In their way, Joseph informed his father of his intended match withFanny; to which, though he expressed some reluctance at first, on theeagerness of his son's instances he consented; saying, if she was sogood a creature as she appeared, and he described her, he thought thedisadvantages of birth and fortune might be compensated. He howeverinsisted on the match being deferred till he had seen his mother; inwhich, Joseph perceiving him positive, with great duty obeyed him, tothe great delight of parson Adams, who by these means saw anopportunity of fulfilling the Church forms, and marrying hisparishioners without a licence.
Mr Adams, greatly exulting on this occasion (for such ceremonies werematters of no small moment with him), accidentally gave spurs to hishorse, which the generous beast disdaining--for he was of high mettle,and had been used to more expert riders than the gentleman who atpresent bestrode him, for whose horsemanship he had perhaps somecontempt--immediately ran away full speed, and played so many antictricks that he tumbled the parson from his back; which Josephperceiving, came to his relief.
This accident afforded infinite merriment to the servants, and no lessfrighted poor Fanny, who beheld him as he passed by the coach; but themirth of the one and terror of the other were soon determined, when theparson declared he had received no damage.
The horse having freed himself from his unworthy rider, as he probablythought him, proceeded to make the best of his way; but was stopped by agentleman and his servants, who were travelling the opposite way, andwere now at a little distance from the coach. They soon met; and as oneof the servants delivered Adams his horse, his master hailed him, andAdams, looking up, presently recollected he was the justice of peacebefore whom he and Fanny had made their appearance. The parson presentlysaluted him very kindly; and the justice informed him that he had foundthe fellow who attempted to swear against him and the young woman thevery next day, and had committed him to Salisbury gaol, where he wascharged with many robberies.
Many compliments having passed between the parson and the justice, thelatter proceeded on his journey; and the former, having with somedisdain refused Joseph's offer of changing horses, and declared he wasas able a horseman as any in the kingdom, remounted his beast; and nowthe company again proceeded, and happily arrived at their journey'send, Mr Adams, by good luck, rather than by good riding, escaping asecond fall.
The company, arriving at Mr Booby's house, were all received by him inthe most courteous and entertained in the most splendid manner, afterthe custom of the old English hospitality, which is still preserved insome very few families in the remote parts of England. They all passedthat day with the utmost satisfaction; it being perhaps impossible tofind any set of people more solidly and sincerely happy. Joseph andFanny found means to be alone upwards of two hours, which were theshortest but the sweetest imaginable.
In the morning Mr Wilson proposed to his son to make a visit with him tohis mother; which, notwithstanding his dutiful inclinations, and alonging desire he had to see her, a little concerned him, as he must beobliged to leave his Fanny; but the goodness of Mr Booby relieved him;for he proposed to send his own coach and six for Mrs Wilson, whomPamela so very earnestly invited, that Mr Wilson at length agreed withthe entreaties of Mr Booby and Joseph, and suffered the coach to goempty for his wife.
On Saturday night the coach returned with Mrs Wilson, who added one moreto this happy assembly. The reader may imagine much better and quickertoo than I can describe the many embraces and tears of joy whichsucceeded her arrival. It is sufficient to say she was easily prevailedwith to follow her husband's example in consenting to the match.
On Sunday Mr Adams performed the service at the squire's parish church,the curate of which very kindly exchanged duty, and rode twenty miles tothe Lady Booby's parish so to do; being particularly charged not to omitpublishing the banns, being the third and last time.
At length the happy day arrived which was to put Joseph in thepossession of all his wishes. He arose, and drest himself in a neat butplain suit of Mr Booby's, which exactly fitted him; for he refused allfinery; as did Fanny likewise, who could be prevailed on by Pamela toattire herself in nothing richer than a white dimity nightgown. Hershift indeed, which Pamela presented her, was of the finest kind, andhad an edging of lace round the bosom. She likewise equipped her with apair of fine white thread stockings, which were all she would accept;for she wore one of her own short round-eared caps, and over it alittle straw hat, lined with cherry-coloured silk, and tied with acherry-coloured ribbon. In this dress she came forth from her chamber,blushing and breathing sweets; and was by Joseph, whose eyes sparkledfire, led to church, the whole family attending, where Mr Adamsperformed the ceremony; at which nothing was so remarkable as theextraordinary and unaffected modesty of Fanny, unless the trueChristian piety of Adams, who publickly rebuked Mr Booby and Pamela forlaughing in so sacred a place, and on so solemn an occasion. Our parsonwould have done no less to the highest prince on earth; for, though hepaid all submission and deference to his superiors in other matters,where the least spice of religion intervened he immediately lost allrespect of persons. It was his maxim, that he was a servant of theHighest, and could not, without departing from his duty, give up theleast article of his honour or of his cause to the greatest earthlypotentate. Indeed, he always asserted that Mr Adams at church with hissurplice on, and Mr Adams without that ornament in any other place,were two very different persons.
When the church rites were over Joseph led his blooming bride back to MrBooby's (for the distance was so very little they did not think properto use a coach); the whole company attended them likewise on foot; andnow a most magnificent entertainment was provided, at which parson Adamsdemonstrated an appetite surprizing as well as surpassing every onepresent. Indeed the only persons who betrayed any deficiency on thisoccasion were those on whose account the feast was provided. Theypampered their imaginations with the much more exquisite repast whichthe approach of night promised them; the thoughts of which filled boththeir minds, though with different sensations; the one all desire, whilethe other had her wishes tempered with fears.
At length, after a day passed with the utmost merriment, corrected bythe strictest decency, in which, however, parson Adams, being wellfilled with ale and pudding, had given a loose to more facetiousnessthan was usual to him, the happy, the blest moment arrived when Fannyretired with her mother, her mother-in-law, and her sister.
She was soon undrest; for she had no jewels to deposit in their caskets,nor fine laces
to fold with the nicest exactness. Undressing to her wasproperly discovering, not putting off, ornaments; for, as all her charmswere the gifts of nature, she could divest herself of none. How, reader,shall I give thee an adequate idea of this lovely young creature? thebloom of roses and lilies might a little illustrate her complexion, ortheir smell her sweetness; but to comprehend her entirely, conceiveyouth, health, bloom, neatness, and innocence, in her bridal bed;conceive all these in their utmost perfection, and you may place thecharming Fanny's picture before your eyes.
Joseph no sooner heard she was in bed than he fled with the utmosteagerness to her. A minute carried him into her arms, where we shallleave this happy couple to enjoy the private rewards of their constancy;rewards so great and sweet, that I apprehend Joseph neither envied thenoblest duke, nor Fanny the finest duchess, that night.
The third day Mr Wilson and his wife, with their son and daughter,returned home; where they now live together in a state of bliss scarceever equalled. Mr Booby hath, with unprecedented generosity, given Fannya fortune of two thousand pounds, which Joseph hath laid out in a littleestate in the same parish with his father, which he now occupies (hisfather having stocked it for him); and Fanny presides with mostexcellent management in his dairy; where, however, she is not at presentvery able to bustle much, being, as Mr Wilson informs me in his lastletter, extremely big with her first child.
Mr Booby hath presented Mr Adams with a living of one hundred andthirty pounds a year. He at first refused it, resolving not to quithis parishioners, with whom he had lived so long; but, onrecollecting he might keep a curate at this living, he hath beenlately inducted into it.
The pedlar, besides several handsome presents, both from Mr Wilson andMr Booby, is, by the latter's interest, made an exciseman; a trust whichhe discharges with such justice, that he is greatly beloved in hisneighbourhood.
As for the Lady Booby, she returned to London in a few days, where ayoung captain of dragoons, together with eternal parties at cards, soonobliterated the memory of Joseph.
Joseph remains blest with his Fanny, whom he doats on with the utmosttenderness, which is all returned on her side. The happiness of thiscouple is a perpetual fountain of pleasure to their fond parents; and,what is particularly remarkable, he declares he will imitate them intheir retirement, nor will be prevailed on by any booksellers, or theirauthors, to make his appearance in high life.
THE END.
Joseph Andrews, Vol. 2 Page 34
