Arthur Mervyn; Or, Memoirs of the Year 1793

by Charles Brockden Brown

  CHAPTER XVII.

  It was now incumbent on me to seek the habitation of Thetford. To leavethis house accessible to every passenger appeared to be imprudent. I hadno key by which I might lock the principal door. I therefore bolted iton the inside, and passed through a window, the shutters of which Iclosed, though I could not fasten after me. This led me into a spaciouscourt, at the end of which was a brick wall, over which I leaped intothe street. This was the means by which I had formerly escaped from thesame precincts.

  The streets, as I passed, were desolate and silent. The largestcomputation made the number of fugitives two-thirds of the whole people;yet, judging by the universal desolation, it seemed as if the solitudewere nearly absolute. That so many of the houses were closed, I wasobliged to ascribe to the cessation of traffic, which made the openingof their windows useless, and the terror of infection, which made theinhabitants seclude themselves from the observation of each other.

  I proceeded to search out the house to which Estwick had directed me asthe abode of Thetford. What was my consternation when I found it to bethe same at the door of which the conversation took place of which I hadbeen an auditor on the last evening!

  I recalled the scene of which a rude sketch had been given by the_hearse-men_. If such were the fate of the master of the family,abounding with money and friends, what could be hoped for the moneylessand friendless Wallace? The house appeared to be vacant and silent; butthese tokens might deceive. There was little room for hope; butcertainty was wanting, and might, perhaps, be obtained by entering thehouse. In some of the upper rooms a wretched being might be immured; bywhom the information, so earnestly desired, might be imparted, and towhom my presence might bring relief, not only from pestilence, butfamine. For a moment, I forgot my own necessitous condition, andreflected not that abstinence had already undermined my strength.

  I proceeded to knock at the door. That my signal was unnoticed producedno surprise. The door was unlocked, and I opened. At this moment myattention was attracted by the opening of another door near me. Ilooked, and perceived a man issuing forth from a house at a smalldistance.

  It now occurred to me, that the information which I sought mightpossibly be gained from one of Thetford's neighbours. This person wasaged, but seemed to have lost neither cheerfulness nor vigour. He had anair of intrepidity and calmness. It soon appeared that I was the objectof his curiosity. He had, probably, marked my deportment through somewindow of his dwelling, and had come forth to make inquiries into themotives of my conduct.

  He courteously saluted me. "You seem," said he, "to be in search of someone. If I can afford you the information you want, you will be welcometo it."

  Encouraged by this address, I mentioned the name of Thetford; and addedmy fears that he had not escaped the general calamity.

  "It is true," said he. "Yesterday himself, his wife, and his child, werein a hopeless condition. I saw them in the evening, and expected not tofind them alive this morning. As soon as it was light, however, Ivisited the house again; but found it empty. I suppose they must havedied, and been removed in the night."

  Though anxious to ascertain the destiny of Wallace, I was unwilling toput direct questions. I shuddered, while I longed to know the truth.

  "Why," said I, falteringly, "did he not seasonably withdraw from thecity? Surely he had the means of purchasing an asylum in the country."

  "I can scarcely tell you," he answered. "Some infatuation appeared tohave seized him. No one was more timorous; but he seemed to thinkhimself safe as long as he avoided contact with infected persons. He waslikewise, I believe, detained by a regard to his interest. His flightwould not have been more injurious to his affairs than it was to thoseof others; but gain was, in his eyes, the supreme good. He intendedultimately to withdraw; but his escape to-day, gave him new courage toencounter the perils of to-morrow. He deferred his departure from day today, till it ceased to be practicable."

  "His family," said I, "was numerous. It consisted of more than his wifeand children. Perhaps these retired in sufficient season."

  "Yes," said he; "his father left the house at an early period. One ortwo of the servants likewise forsook him. One girl, more faithful andheroic than the rest, resisted the remonstrances of her parents andfriends, and resolved to adhere to him in every fortune. She was anxiousthat the family should fly from danger, and would willingly have fled intheir company; but while they stayed, it was her immovable resolutionnot to abandon them.

  "Alas, poor girl! She knew not of what stuff the heart of Thetford wasmade. Unhappily, she was the first to become sick. I question muchwhether her disease was pestilential. It was, probably, a slightindisposition, which, in a few days, would have vanished of itself, orhave readily yielded to suitable treatment.

  "Thetford was transfixed with terror. Instead of summoning a physician,to ascertain the nature of her symptoms, he called a negro and his cartfrom Bush Hill. In vain the neighbours interceded for this unhappyvictim. In vain she implored his clemency, and asserted the lightness ofher indisposition. She besought him to allow her to send to her mother,who resided a few miles in the country, who would hasten to her succour,and relieve him and his family from the danger and trouble of nursingher.

  "The man was lunatic with apprehension. He rejected her entreaties,though urged in a manner that would have subdued a heart of flint. Thegirl was innocent, and amiable, and courageous, but entertained anunconquerable dread of the hospital. Finding entreaties ineffectual, sheexerted all her strength in opposition to the man who lifted her intothe cart.

  "Finding that her struggles availed nothing, she resigned herself todespair. In going to the hospital, she believed herself led to certaindeath, and to the sufferance of every evil which the known inhumanity ofits attendants could inflict. This state of mind, added to exposure to anoonday sun, in an open vehicle, moving, for a mile, over a ruggedpavement, was sufficient to destroy her. I was not surprised to hearthat she died the next day.

  "This proceeding was sufficiently iniquitous; yet it was not the worstact of this man. The rank and education of the young woman might be someapology for negligence; but his clerk, a youth who seemed to enjoy hisconfidence, and to be treated by his family on the footing of a brotheror son, fell sick on the next night, and was treated in the samemanner."

  These tidings struck me to the heart. A burst of indignation and sorrowfilled my eyes. I could scarcely stifle my emotions sufficiently to ask,"Of whom, sir, do you speak? Was the name of the youth--hisname--was----"

  "His name was Wallace. I see that you have some interest in his fate. Hewas one whom I loved. I would have given half my fortune to procure himaccommodation under some hospitable roof. His attack was violent; but,still, his recovery, if he had been suitably attended, was possible.That he should survive removal to the hospital, and the treatment hemust receive when there, was not to be hoped.

  "The conduct of Thetford was as absurd as it was wicked. To imagine thedisease to be contagious was the height of folly; to suppose himselfsecure, merely by not permitting a sick man to remain under his roof,was no less stupid; but Thetford's fears had subverted hisunderstanding. He did not listen to arguments or supplications. Hisattention was incapable of straying from one object. To influence him bywords was equivalent to reasoning with the deaf.

  "Perhaps the wretch was more to be pitied than hated. The victims of hisimplacable caution could scarcely have endured agonies greater thanthose which his pusillanimity inflicted on himself. Whatever be theamount of his guilt, the retribution has been adequate. He witnessed thedeath of his wife and child, and last night was the close of his ownexistence. Their sole attendant was a black woman; whom, by frequentvisits, I endeavoured, with little success, to make diligent in theperformance of her duty."

  Such, then, was the catastrophe of Wallace. The end for which Ijourneyed hither was accomplished. His destiny was ascertained; and allthat remained was to fulfil the gloomy predictions of the lovely butunhappy Susan. To tell them all the truth would
be needlessly toexasperate her sorrow. Time, aided by the tenderness and sympathy offriendship, may banish her despair, and relieve her from all but thewitcheries of melancholy.

  Having disengaged my mind from these reflections, I explained to mycompanion, in general terms, my reasons for visiting the city, and mycuriosity respecting. Thetford. He inquired into the particulars of myjourney, and the time of my arrival. When informed that I had come inthe preceding evening, and had passed the subsequent hours without sleepor food, he expressed astonishment and compassion.

  "Your undertaking," said he, "has certainly been hazardous. There ispoison in every breath which you draw, but this hazard has been greatlyincreased by abstaining from food and sleep. My advice is to hasten backinto the country; but you must first take some repose and some victuals.If you pass Schuylkill before nightfall, it will be sufficient."

  I mentioned the difficulty of procuring accommodation on the road. Itwould be most prudent to set out upon my journey so as to reach_Malverton_ at night. As to food and sleep, they were not to bepurchased in this city.

  "True," answered my companion, with quickness, "they are not to bebought; but I will furnish you with as much as you desire of both, fornothing. That is my abode," continued he, pointing to the house which hehad lately left. "I reside with a widow lady and her daughter, who tookmy counsel, and fled in due season. I remain to moralize upon the scene,with only a faithful black, who makes my bed, prepares my coffee, andbakes my loaf. If I am sick, all that a physician can do, I will do formyself, and all that a nurse can perform, I expect to be performed by_Austin_.

  "Come with me, drink some coffee, rest a while on my mattress, and thenfly, with my benedictions on your head."

  These words were accompanied by features disembarrassed and benevolent.My temper is alive to social impulses, and I accepted his invitation,not so much because I wished to eat or to sleep, but because I feltreluctance to part so soon with a being who possessed so much fortitudeand virtue.

  He was surrounded by neatness and plenty. Austin added dexterity tosubmissiveness. My companion, whose name I now found to be Medlicote,was prone to converse, and commented on the state of the city like onewhose reading had been extensive and experience large. He combated anopinion which I had casually formed respecting the origin of thisepidemic, and imputed it, not to infected substances imported from theEast or West, but to a morbid constitution of the atmosphere, owingwholly or in part to filthy streets, airless habitations, and squalidpersons.

  As I talked with this man, the sense of danger was obliterated, I feltconfidence revive in my heart, and energy revisit my stomach. Though farfrom my wonted health, my sensation grew less comfortless, and I foundmyself to stand in no need of repose.

  Breakfast being finished, my friend pleaded his daily engagements asreasons for leaving me. He counselled me to strive for some repose, butI was conscious of incapacity to sleep. I was desirous of escaping, assoon as possible, from this tainted atmosphere, and reflected whetherany thing remained to be done respecting Wallace.

  It now occurred to me that this youth must have left some clothes andpapers, and, perhaps, books. The property of these was now vested in theHadwins. I might deem myself, without presumption, their representativeor agent. Might I not take some measures for obtaining possession, or atleast for the security, of these articles?

  The house and its furniture were tenantless and unprotected. It wasliable to be ransacked and pillaged by those desperate ruffians of whommany were said to be hunting for spoil even at a time like this. Ifthese should overlook this dwelling, Thetford's unknown successor orheir might appropriate the whole. Numberless accidents might happen tooccasion the destruction or embezzlement of what belonged to Wallace,which might be prevented by the conduct which I should now pursue.

  Immersed in these perplexities, I remained bewildered and motionless. Iwas at length roused by some one knocking at the door. Austin obeyed thesignal, and instantly returned, leading in--Mr. Hadwin!

  I know not whether this unlooked-for interview excited on my part mostgrief or surprise. The motive of his coming was easily divined. Hisjourney was on two accounts superfluous. He whom he sought was dead. Theduty of ascertaining his condition I had assigned to myself.

  I now perceived and deplored the error of which I had been guilty, inconcealing my intended journey from my patron. Ignorant of the part Ihad acted, he had rushed into the jaws of this pest, and endangered alife unspeakably valuable to his children and friends. I shoulddoubtless have obtained his grateful consent to the project which I hadconceived; but my wretched policy had led me into this clandestine path.Secrecy may seldom be a crime. A virtuous intention may produce it; butsurely it is always erroneous and pernicious.

  My friend's astonishment at the sight of me was not inferior to my own.The causes which led to this unexpected interview were mutuallyexplained. To soothe the agonies of his child, he consented to approachthe city, and endeavour to procure intelligence of Wallace. When heleft his house, he intended to stop in the environs, and hire someemissary, whom an ample reward might tempt to enter the city, andprocure the information which was needed.

  No one could be prevailed upon to execute so dangerous a service. Averseto return without performing his commission, he concluded to examine forhimself. Thetford's removal to this street was known to him; but, beingignorant of my purpose, he had not mentioned this circumstance to me,during our last conversation.

  I was sensible of the danger which Hadwin had incurred by entering thecity. Perhaps my knowledge of the inexpressible importance of his lifeto the happiness of his daughters made me aggravate his danger. I knewthat the longer he lingered in this tainted air, the hazard wasincreased. A moment's delay was unnecessary. Neither Wallace nor myselfwere capable of being benefited by his presence.

  I mentioned the death of his nephew as a reason for hastening hisdeparture. I urged him in the most vehement terms to remount his horseand to fly; I endeavoured to preclude all inquiries respecting myself orWallace; promising to follow him immediately, and answer all hisquestions at _Malverton_. My importunities were enforced by his ownfears, and, after a moment's hesitation, he rode away.

  The emotions produced by this incident were, in the present criticalstate of my frame, eminently hurtful. My morbid indications suddenlyreturned. I had reason to ascribe my condition to my visit to thechamber of Maravegli; but this and its consequences to myself, as wellas the journey of Hadwin, were the fruits of my unhappy secrecy.

  I had always been accustomed to perform my journeys on foot. This, onordinary occasions, was the preferable method, but now I ought to haveadopted the easiest and swiftest means. If Hadwin had been acquaintedwith my purpose he would not only have approved, but would have allowedme, the use of a horse. These reflections were rendered less pungent bythe recollection that my motives were benevolent, and that I hadendeavoured the benefit of others by means which appeared to me mostsuitable.

  Meanwhile, how was I to proceed? What hindered me from pursuing thefootsteps of Hadwin with all the expedition which my uneasiness, ofbrain and stomach, would allow? I conceived that to leave any thingundone, with regard to Wallace, would be absurd. His property might beput under the care of my new friend. But how was it to be distinguishedfrom the property of others? It was, probably, contained in trunks,which were designated by some label or mark. I was unacquainted with hischamber, but, by passing from one to the other, I might finally discoverit. Some token, directing my footsteps, might occur, though at presentunforeseen.

  Actuated by these considerations, I once more entered Thetford'shabitation. I regretted that I had not procured the counsel orattendance of my new friend; but some engagements, the nature of whichhe did not explain, occasioned him to leave me as soon as breakfast wasfinished.