Allworthy here betook himself to those pleasing slumbers
which a heart that hungers after goodness is apt to
enjoy when thoroughly satisfied. As these are
possibly sweeter than what are occasioned by any other
hearty meal, I should take more pains to display them
to the reader, if I knew any air to recommend him
to for the procuring such an appetite.
The reader’s neck brought into danger by a description;
his escape; and the great condescension of Miss Bridget
Allworthy.
The Gothic stile of building could produce nothing
nobler than Mr Allworthy’s house. There
was an air of grandeur in it that struck you with
awe, and rivalled the beauties of the best Grecian
architecture; and it was as commodious within as venerable
without.
It stood on the south-east side of a hill, but nearer
the bottom than the top of it, so as to be sheltered
from the north-east by a grove of old oaks which rose
above it in a gradual ascent of near half a mile,
and yet high enough to enjoy a most charming prospect
of the valley beneath.
In the midst of the grove was a fine lawn, sloping
down towards the house, near the summit of which rose
a plentiful spring, gushing out of a rock covered
with firs, and forming a constant cascade of about
thirty feet, not carried down a regular flight of steps,
but tumbling in a natural fall over the broken and
mossy stones till it came to the bottom of the rock,
then running off in a pebly channel, that with many
lesser falls winded along, till it fell into a lake
at the foot of the hill, about a quarter of a mile
below the house on the south side, and which was seen
from every room in the front. Out of this lake,
which filled the center of a beautiful plain, embellished
with groups of beeches and elms, and fed with sheep,
issued a river, that for several miles was seen to
meander through an amazing variety of meadows and
woods till it emptied itself into the sea, with a large
arm of which, and an island beyond it, the prospect
was closed.
On the right of this valley opened another of less
extent, adorned with several villages, and terminated
by one of the towers of an old ruined abby, grown
over with ivy, and part of the front, which remained
still entire.
The left-hand scene presented the view of a very fine
park, composed of very unequal ground, and agreeably
varied with all the diversity that hills, lawns, wood,
and water, laid out with admirable taste, but owing
less to art than to nature, could give. Beyond
this, the country gradually rose into a ridge of wild
mountains, the tops of which were above the clouds.
It was now the middle of May, and the morning was
remarkably serene, when Mr Allworthy walked forth
on the terrace, where the dawn opened every minute
that lovely prospect we have before described to his
eye; and now having sent forth streams of light, which
ascended the blue firmament before him, as harbingers
preceding his pomp, in the full blaze of his majesty
rose the sun, than which one object alone in this
lower creation could be more glorious, and that Mr
Allworthy himself presented—a human being
replete with benevolence, meditating in what manner
he might render himself most acceptable to his Creator,
by doing most good to his creatures.
