murad the unlucky and other tales-第11部分

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clothes；　which　she　had　made　for　the　poor　woman's　children；　and　gave
them　to　the　little　girl。　　It　happened　that　the　Limerick　gloves　had
been　thrown　into　this　drawer；　and　Phoebe's　favourable　sentiments　of
the　giver　of　those　gloves　were　revived　by　what　she　had　just　heard；
and　by　the　confession　Mrs。　Hill　had　made；　that　she　had　no　reasons；
and　but　vague　suspicious；　for　thinking　ill　of　him。　　She　laid　the
gloves　perfectly　smooth；　and　strewed　over　them；　whilst　the　little
girl　went　on　talking　of　Mr。　O'Neill；　the　leaves　of　a　rose　which　she
had　worn　on　Sunday。

Mr。　Hill　was　all　this　time　in　deep　conference　with　those　prudent
men　of　Hereford　who　were　of　his　own　opinion；　about　the　perilous
hole　under　the　cathedral。　　The　ominous　circumstance　of　this　ball
was　also　considered；　the　great　expense　at　which　the　Irish　glover
lived；　and　his　giving　away　gloves；　which　was　a　sure　sign　he　was　not
under　any　necessity　to　sell　them；　and　consequently　a　proof　that；
though　he　pretended　to　be　a　glover；　he　was　something　wrong　in
disguise。　　Upon　putting　all　these　things　together；　it　was　resolved
by　these　over…wise　politicians　that　the　best　thing　that　could　be
done　for　Hereford；　and　the　only　possible　means　of　preventing　the
immediate　destruction　of　its　cathedral；　would　be　to　take　Mr。
O'Neill　into　custody。　　Upon　recollection；　however；　it　was　perceived
that　there　was　no　legal　ground　on　which　he　could　be　attacked。　　At
length；　after　consulting　an　attorney；　they　devised　what　they
thought　an　admirable　mode　of　proceeding。

Our　Irish　hero　had　not　that　punctuality　which　English　tradesmen
usually　observe　in　the　payment　of　bills；　he　had；　the　preceding
year；　run　up　a　long　bill　with　a　grocer　in　Hereford；　and；　as　he　had
not　at　Christmas　cash　in　hand　to　pay　it；　he　had　given　a　note；
payable　six　months　after　date。　　The　grocer；　at　Mr。　Hill's　request；
made　over　the　note　to　him；　and　it　was　determined　that　the　money
should　be　demanded；　as　it　was　now　due；　and　that；　if　it　was　not　paid
directly；　O'Neill　should　be　that　night　arrested。　　How　Mr。　Hill　made
the　discovery　of　this　debt　to　the　grocer　agree　with　his　former
notion　that　the　Irish　glover　had　always　money　at　command　we　cannot
well　conceive；　but　anger　and　prejudice　will　swallow　down　the
grossest　contradictions　without　difficulty。

When　Mr。　Hill's　clerk　went　to　demand　payment　of　the　note；　O'Neill's
head　was　full　of　the　ball　which　he　was　to　give　that　evening。　　He
was　much　surprised　at　the　unexpected　appearance　of　the　note：　　he
had　not　ready　money　by　him　to　pay　it；　and　after　swearing　a　good
deal　at　the　clerk；　and　complaining　of　this　ungenerous　and
ungentleman…like　behaviour　in　the　grocer　and　the　tanner；　he　told
the　clerk　to　be　gone；　and　not　to　be　bothering　him　at　such　an
unseasonable　time：　　that　he　could　not　have　the　money　then；　and　did
not　deserve　to　have　it　at　all。

This　language　and　conduct　were　rather　new　to　the　English　clerk's
mercantile　ears：　　we　cannot　wonder　that　it　should　seem　to　him；　as
he　said　to　his　master；　more　the　language　of　a　madman　than　a　man　of
business。　　This　want　of　punctuality　in　money　transactions；　and　this
mode　of　treating　contracts　as　matters　of　favour　and　affection；
might　not　have　damned　the　fame　of　our　hero　in　his　own　country；
where　such　conduct　is；　alas！　too　common；　but　he　was　now　in　a
kingdom　where　the　manners　and　customs　are　so　directly　opposite；
that　he　could　meet　with　no　allowance　for　his　national　faults。　　It
would　be　well　for　his　countrymen　if　they　were　made；　even　by　a　few
mortifications；　somewhat　sensible　of　this　important　difference　in
the　habits　of　Irish　and　English　traders　before　they　come　to　settle
in　England。

But　to　proceed　with　our　story。　　On　the　night　of　Mr。　O'Neill's　grand
ball；　as　he　was　seeing　his　fair　partner；　the　perfumer's　daughter；
safe　home；　he　felt　himself　tapped　on　the　shoulder　by　no　friendly
hand。　　When　he　was　told　that　he　was　the　king's　prisoner；　he
vociferated　with　sundry　strange　oaths；　which　we　forbear　to　repeat。
〃No；　I　am　not　the　king's　prisoner！　　I　am　the　prisoner　of　that
shabby；　rascally　tanner；　Jonathan　Hill。　　None　but　he　would　arrest　a
gentleman　in　this　way；　for　a　trifle　not　worth　mentioning。〃

Miss　Jenny　Brown　screamed　when　she　found　herself　under　the
protection　of　a　man　who　was　arrested；　and；　what　between　her　screams
and　his　oaths；　there　was　such　a　disturbance　that　a　mob　gathered。

Among　this　mob　there　was　a　party　of　Irish　hay…makers；　who；　after
returning　late　from　a　hard　day's　work；　had　been　drinking　in　a
neighbouring　ale…house。　　With　one　accord　they　took　part　with　their
countryman；　and　would　have　rescued　him　from　the　civil　officers　with
all　the　pleasure　in　life　if　he　had　not　fortunately　possessed　just
sufficient　sense　and　command　of　himself　to　restrain　their　party
spirit；　and　to　forbid　them；　as　they　valued　his　life　and　reputation；
to　interfere；　by　word　or　deed；　in　his　defence。

He　then　despatched　one　of　the　haymakers　home　to　his　mother；　to
inform　her　of　what　had　happened；　and　to　request　that　she　would　get
somebody　to　be　bail　for　him　as　soon　as　possible；　as　the　officers
said　they　could　not　let　him　out　of　their　sight　till　he　was　bailed
by　substantial　people；　or　till　the　debt　was　discharged。

The　widow　O'Neill　was　just　putting　out　the　candles　in　the　ball…room
when　this　news　of　her　son's　arrest　was　brought　to　her。　　We　pass
over　Hibernian　exclamations：　　she　consoled　her　pride　by　reflecting
that　it　would　certainly　be　the　most　easy　thing　imaginable　to
procure　bail　for　Mr。　O'Neill　in　Hereford；　where　he　had　so　many
friends　who　had　just　been　dancing　at　his　house；　but　to　dance　at　his
house　she　found　was　one　thing　and　to　be　bail　for　him　quite　another。
Each　guest　sent　excuses；　and　the　widow　O'Neill　was　astonished　at
what　never　fails　to　astonish　everybody　when　it　happens　to
themselves。　　〃Rather　than　let　my　son　be　detained　in　this　manner　for
a　paltry　debt；〃　cried　she；　〃I'd　sell　all　I　have　within　half　an　hour
to　a　pawnbroker。〃　　It　was　well　no　pawnbroker　heard　this
declaration：　　she　was　too　warm　to　consider　economy。　　She　sent　for　a
pawnbroker；　who　lived　in　the　same　street；　and；　after　pledging　goods
to　treble　the　amount　of　the　debt；　she　obtained　ready　money　for　her
son's　release。

O'Neill；　after　being　in　custody　for　about　an　hour　and　a　half；　was
set　at　liberty　upon　the　payment　of　his　debt。　　As　he　passed　by　the
cathedral　in　his　way　home；　he　heard　the　clock　strike；　and　he　called
to　a　man；　who　was　walking　backwards　and　forwards　in　the　churchyard；
to　ask　whether　it　was　two　or　three　that　the　clock　struck。　　〃Three；〃
answered　the　man；　〃and；　as　yet；　all　is　safe。〃

O'Neill；　whose　head　was　full　of　other　things；　did　not　stop　to
inquire　the　meaning　of　these　last　words。　　He　little　suspected　that
this　man　was　a　watchman　whom　the　over…vigilant　verger　had　stationed
there　to　guard　the　Hereford　Cathedral　from　his　attacks。　　O'Neill
little　guessed　that　he　had　been　arrested　merely　to　keep　him　from
blowing　up　the　cathedral　this　night。　　The　arrest　had　an　excellent
effect　upon　his　mind；　for　he　was　a　young　man　of　good　sense：　　it
made　him　resolve　to　retrench　his　expenses　in　time；　to　live　more
like　a　glover　and　less　like　a　gentleman；　and　to　aim　more　at
establishing　credit；　and　less　at　gaining　popularity。　　He　found；
from　experience；　that　good　friends　will　not　pay　bad　debts。



CHAPTER　II



On　Thursday　morning　our　verger　rose　in　unusually　good　spirits；
congratulating　himself　upon　the　eminent　service　he　had　done　to　the
city　of　Hereford　by　his　sagacity　in　discovering　the　foreign　plot　to
blow　up　the　Cathedral；　and　by　his　dexterity　in　having　the　enemy
held　in　custody；　at　the　very　hour　when　the　dreadful　deed　was　to
have　been　perpetrated。　　Mr。　Hill's　knowing　friends　farther　agreed
it　would　be　necessary　to　have　a　guard　that　should　sit　up　every
night　in　the　churchyard；　and　that　as　soon　as　they　could；　by
constantly　watching　the　enemy's　motions；　procure　any　information
which　the　attorney　should　deem　sufficient　grounds　for　a　legal
proceeding；　they　should　lay　the　whole　business　before　the　mayor。

After　arranging　all　this　most　judiciously　and　mysteriously　with
friends　who　were　exactly　of　his　own　opinion；　Mr。　Hill　laid　aside
his　dignity　of　verger；　and　assuming　his　other　character　of　a
tanner；　proceeded　to　his　tan…yard。　　What　was　his　surprise　and
consternation；　when　he　beheld　his　great　rick　of　oak　bark　levelled
to　the　ground；　the　pieces　of　bark　were　scattered　far　and　wide；　some
over　the　close；　some　over　the　fields；　and　some　were　seen　swimming
upon　the　water！　　No　tongue；　no　pen；　no　muse　can　describe　the
feelings　of　our　tanner　at　this　spectaclefeelings　which　became　the
more　violent　from　the　absolute　silence　which　he　imposed　on　himself
upon　this　occasion。　　He　instantly　decided　in　his　own　mind　that　this
injury　was　perpetrated　by　O'Neill；　in　revenge　for　his　arrest；　and
went　privately　to　the　attorney　to　inquire　what　was　to　be　done；　on
his　part；　to　secure　legal　vengeance。

The　attorney　unluckilyor　at　least；　as　Mr。　Hill　thought；
unluckilyhad　been　sent　for；　half　an　hour　before；　by　a　gentleman
at　some　distance　from　Hereford；　to　draw　up　a　will：　　so　that　our
tanner　was　obliged　to　postpone　his　legal　operations。

We　forbear　to　recount　his　return；　and　how　many　times　he　walked　up
and　down　the　close　to　view　his　scattered　bark；　and　to　estimate　the
damage　that　had　been　done　to　him。　　At　length　that　hour　came　which
usually　suspends　all　passions　by　the　more　imperious　power　of
appetitethe　hour　of　dinner：　　an　hour　of　which　it　was　never
needful　to　remind　Mr。　Hill　by　watch；　clock；　or　dial；　for　he　was
blessed　with　a　punctual　appetite；　and　powerful　as　punctual：　　so
powerful；　indeed；　that　it　often　excited　the　spleen　of　his　more
genteel　or　less　hungry　wife。　　〃Bless　my　stars！　　Mr。　Hill；〃　she
would　oftentimes　say；　〃I　am　really　downright　ashamed　to　see　you　eat
so　much；　and　when　company　is　to　dine　with　us；　I　do　wish　you　would
take　a　snack　by　way　of　a　damper　before　dinner；　that　you　may　not
look　so　prodigious　famishing　and　ungenteel。〃

Upon　this　hint；　Mr。　Hill　commenced　a　practice；　to　which　he　ever
afterwards　religiously　adhered；　of　going；　whether　there　was　to　be
company　or　no　company；　into　the　kitchen　regularly　every　day；　half
an　hour　before　dinner；　to　take　a　slice　from　the　roast　or　the　boiled
before　it