The next step was to examine among the inhabitants
of the parish; and this was referred to Mrs Wilkins,
who was to enquire with all imaginable diligence,
and to make her report in the afternoon.
Matters being thus settled, Mr Allworthy withdrew
to his study, as was his custom, and left the child
to his sister, who, at his desire, had undertaken
the care of it.
Containing a few common matters, with a very uncommon
observation upon them.
When her master was departed, Mrs Deborah stood silent,
expecting her cue from Miss Bridget; for as to what
had past before her master, the prudent housekeeper
by no means relied upon it, as she had often known
the sentiments of the lady in her brother’s absence
to differ greatly from those which she had expressed
in his presence. Miss Bridget did not, however,
suffer her to continue long in this doubtful situation;
for having looked some time earnestly at the child,
as it lay asleep in the lap of Mrs Deborah, the good
lady could not forbear giving it a hearty kiss, at
the same time declaring herself wonderfully pleased
with its beauty and innocence. Mrs Deborah no
sooner observed this than she fell to squeezing and
kissing, with as great raptures as sometimes inspire
the sage dame of forty and five towards a youthful
and vigorous bridegroom, crying out, in a shrill voice,
“O, the dear little creature!—The
dear, sweet, pretty creature! Well, I vow it is
as fine a boy as ever was seen!”
These exclamations continued till they were interrupted
by the lady, who now proceeded to execute the commission
given her by her brother, and gave orders for providing
all necessaries for the child, appointing a very good
room in the house for his nursery. Her orders
were indeed so liberal, that, had it been a child of
her own, she could not have exceeded them; but, lest
the virtuous reader may condemn her for showing too
great regard to a base-born infant, to which all charity
is condemned by law as irreligious, we think proper
to observe that she concluded the whole with saying,
“Since it was her brother’s whim to adopt
the little brat, she supposed little master must be
treated with great tenderness. For her part, she
could not help thinking it was an encouragement to
vice; but that she knew too much of the obstinacy
of mankind to oppose any of their ridiculous humours.”
With reflections of this nature she usually, as has
been hinted, accompanied every act of compliance with
her brother’s inclinations; and surely nothing
could more contribute to heighten the merit of this
compliance than a declaration that she knew, at the
same time, the folly and unreasonableness of those
inclinations to which she submitted. Tacit obedience
implies no force upon the will, and consequently may
be easily, and without any pains, preserved; but when
a wife, a child, a relation, or a friend, performs
what we desire, with grumbling and reluctance, with
expressions of dislike and dissatisfaction, the manifest
difficulty which they undergo must greatly enhance
the obligation.
