Precaution, by the author of the 'Spy'.

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Preface

TO THE

PRESENT EDITION IN " THE STANDARD NOVELS.

It

This book originally owed its existence to an accident, and it was printed under circumstances that prevented the usual supervision of the press by the author. The consequences were many defects in plot, style, and arrangement, that were entirely owing to precipitation and inexperience, and quite as many faults, of another nature, that are jto be traced solely to a bad manuscript and worse proof-reading. Perhaps no novel of our times was worse printed than the first edition of this work. More than a hundred periods were placed in the middle of sentences, and perhaps ^ve times that number were omitted^ in places where they ought to have been inserted. It is scarcely necessary to add, that passages were rendered obscure, and that entire paragraphs were unintelligible.

Most of the faults just mentioned have now been corrected, though it would require more labour than would produce an entirely new work to repair all the inherent defects that are attributable to haste and to

the nwkwardness of a novice in the art of composip

a yi PREFACE.

In this respect the work and its blemishes are probably inseparable. Still, the reader will now be better re- • warded for his time ; and, on the whole, the book is much more worthy of his attention.

It has been said, that Precaution owes its existence to fortuitous circumstances : the same causes induced its English plot^ and, in a measure, the medley of characters that no doubt will appear a mistake in the conception* It can scarcely be said that the work was commenced with any view to publication ; and when it was finally put i6to a publisher's hands, with " all its imperfections on its head," the last thought of the writer was any expectation that it would be followed by a series of similar tales from the same pen.

More than this, the public will feel no interest in knowing, and less than ^is the author could net consent to say, on presenting to the world a reprint of a book with so few claims to notice.

Philadelphia, Dec. 18S8.

PRECAUTIOll

CHAPTER L

^ I woRDEB if we are Id hsie m npighlwiiir in Ae aoon," inqaixed dm MomAej, iddi e Miag bcnelf to m smaU party aaaembled in her fiidicf^s dim w if^ luu iii j vldfe standing at a window whidi mmmanded a dirtaBt view «f thehooaein qneation.

''Oh yes," replied her bnChav " die a^ni hai lei it to a Mr. Jarris for a oonple of jeara^ and he la to take seaion diia wedL"

*' And who is die Mr. Jarna diat ia about to near a neighbour ?" asked Sir Edward Moadej.

'' Why, ar, I leam he has been a capitd menhaat, that has retired from boainesB widi a laige fanmae ; Aat he hasy like yoarael^ sir, an only hope for hia ^i^liniiig yean in a aon^ an officer in die annj ; and, moROTCTy dnt he has a oonple of fine dangjhtefs ; ao^ air, he is a man of family in one sense, at least, yoa see. Bot," drapping his ▼oioe, '' whedier he is a man of fnnily in your aenae^ Jane,** looking at his second sister, ** is more than I eonld discoTer."

" I hope yoa did not take die troofale, sir, to inqnire on my account," retorted Jane, coiouring sli^idy w^ tcxation at his q;ieedi.

" Indeed I did, my dear wn, and aoldy on yovr accoont," replied the langhing brother, " lor yoa wdl loom, that DO gentility, no hnrtwmd ; and it'a didl woik to yon

% PBEOAUTION.

young hdies without at least a possibilitj of matrimony : as for Clara^ she is "

Here he was stopped by his yomigest sister Emily placing her hand on his mouthy as she whispered in his ear, '^ John, you forget the anxiety of a certain gendeman, about a fair incognita at Bath^ and a list of inquiries concerning her lineage^ and a few other indi^nsables.'' John^ in his turn, colouied, and affectionately kissing the hand which kept him silent, addressed himself to Jane, and by his vivacity and good humour soon restored her to complacency.

'' I rejoice/' said Lady Moseley, '' that Sir William has found a tenant, however ; for next to occupying it himself, it is a most desirable thing to have a good tenant in it, on account of the circle in which we live."

'** And Mr. Jarvis has the great goodness of money, by John's account, " caustily observed Mrs. Wilson, who was a sister of Sir Edward's.

<* Let me tell you, madam," cried the rector of the paF> rish, looking around him pleasantly, and who was pretty constant, and always a welcome visiter in the family, '^ that a great deal of money is a very good thing in itself, and that a great many vei:y good things may be done with it."

" Such as paying tithes, ha ! doctor," cried Mr. Haughton, a gentleman of landed property in the neighbourhood, of plain exterior, but great goodness of heart, and between whom and the rector subsisted the most cordial good wilL

" Ay, tithes, or halves, as the baronet did here, when he forgave old Gregson one half his rent, and his diildren the other."

Well, but, my dear," said Sir Edward to his wife,

you must not starve our friends because we are to have a neighbour. William has stood with the dining-room door open these five minutes."

Lady Moseley gave her hand to the rector, and tl. company followed them, without any order, to the dinner table.

The party assembled around the hospitable board of the baronet, was composed, besides the before-mentioned per. sons, of the wife of Mr. Haughton, a woman of much good sense and modesty of deportment ; their daughter^ a young lady conspicuous for nothing but good nature ; and the wife and son of the rector — the latter but lately admitted to holy orders himself.

The remainder of the day passed in an uninterrupted flow of pleasant conversation, the natural consequence of a unison of opinions on all leading questions, the parties iMiying long known and esteemed each other for those qualities which soonest reconcile us to the common frailties of our nature. On parting at the usual hour^ it was agreed to meet that day week at the rectory, and the doctor^ on making l^g bow to Lady Mosdey, observed, that he in« tended, in virtue of his office^ to make an early call on the Jarvis family, and that, if possible, he would persuade them to be of the party.

Sir Edward Moseky was descended from one of the most respectable of the creations of his order by James, and had inherited, with many of the virtues of his ancestor, an estate which placed him amongst the greatest landed proprietors of the county. But, as it had been an invariable rule never to deduct a single acre from the inheritance of the eldest son, and the extravaganice of his mother, who was the daughter of a nobleman, had much embarrassed the affairs of his father. Sir £dward, ou coming into possession of his estate, had wisely determined to withdraw from the gay world, by renting his house in town, and retiring altogether to his respectable mansion, about a hundred miles from the metropolis. Here he hoped, by a course of systematic, but liberal, economy, to release himself from all embarrassments, and to make such a provision for his younger children, the three daughters already mentioned, as he conceived their birth entitled them to expect. Seventeen years enabled him to accomplish this plan ; and for more than eighteen months. Sir Edward had resumed the hospitality and appearance usual in his family, and had even promised his delighted girls to take possession, the ensuing winter, of the house in St. James's Square. Nature had not qualified Sir Edward for gtesA or continued exertions, and the prudetat decision he had taken to retrieve his fortunes was perhaps an act of as

B 2 much forecast and Tigour as his talents or energy would afford ; it was the step most ohvioosly for his interests, and the one that was safest both in its execution and consequences^ and as such it had been adopted : but had it required a single particle more of enterprise or calculation, it would have been beyond his powers, and the heir might have yet laboured imder the difficulties which distressed his more brilliant, but less prudent, parent

The baronet was warmly attached to his wife ; and as she was a woman of many valuable and no obnoxious qualities, civil and attentive by habit to aU around her, and perfectly disinterested in her attachments to her own family, nothing in nature could partake more of perfection in the eyes of her husband and children than the conduct of this beloved relative. Yet Lady Moseley had her fail, ings, however, although few were disposed to view her errors with that severity which truth and a just discrimination of character render necessary. Her union had been one of love, and for a time it had been objected to by the friends of her husband, on the score of fortune ; but constancy and perseverance prevailed, and the protracted and inconsequent opposition of his parents had left no other effects than an aversion in the children to the exercise of parental authority in marrying their own descendants ; an aversion which, diough common to both the worthy baronet and his wife, was somewhat different in its two subjects. In the husband it was quiescent; but in the wife, it was slightly shaded with the female esprit de carps of having her daughters comfortably established, and that in due season. Lady Moseley was religious, but hardly pious ; she was charitable in deeds, but not always in opinions ; her intentions were pure, but neither her prejudices nor her reasoning powers suffered her to be at all times consistent Still few knew her that did not love her, and none were ever heard to say aught against her breeding, her morals, or her disponition.

The sister of Sir Edward had been married, early in life, to an officer in the army, who, spending much of his time abroad on service, had left her a prey to that solicitude to which she was necessarily a prey by her attachment

PRECAUTION. O

to her husband. To find relief from this perpetual and life-wearing anxiety, an invaluable friend had pointed out the only true remedy of which her case admitted^ a research into her own heart, and the employments of active benevolence. The death of her husband, who lost his life in batde, caused her to withdraw in a great measure from the world, and gave time and inducement for reflections, which led to impressions on religion, that were sufficiently correct in themselves, and indispensable as the basis of future happiness, but which became slightly tinctured with the sternness of her vigorous mind, and possibly, at times^ were more unbending than was compatible with the comforts of this world — a fault, however, of manner, more than of matter. Warmly attached to her brother and his children, Mrs. Wilson, who had never been a mother herself^ yielded to their earnest entreaties to become one of the family ; and although left by the late General Wilson with a large income, ever since his death she had given up her own establishment, and devoted most of her time to the formation of the character of her youngest niece. Lady Moseley had submitted this child entirely to the control of the aunt ; and it was commonly thought Emily would inherit the very handsome sum left at the disposal of the general's widow.

Both Sir Edward and Lady Moseley possessed a large share of personal beauty when young, and it had descended in conunon to all their children^ but more particularly to the two youngest daughters. Although a strong family resemblance^ both in person and character, existed between these closely connected relatives, yet it existed with shades of distinction, that had very different effects on their conduct, and led to results which stamped their lives with widdy difibring degrees of happiness.

Between the famiUes at Moseley Hall and the rectory there had existed for many years an intimacy founded on esteem and on long intercourse. Doctor Ives was a clergyman of deep piety, and of very considerable talents : he possessed, in addition to a moderate benefice, an independent fortune in right of his wife, who was the only child of a distinguished naval officer. Both were well connected,

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well bred^ and well disposed to their fellow-creatiires. They were blessed with but one child^ the young divine we have mentioned, who promised to equal his father in all those qualities which had made the doctor the dddght of his friends, and almost the idol of his parishioners.

Between Francis Ives and Clara Moseley thore had been an attachment, which had grown with their years, from childhood. He had been her companion in their youthful recreations, had espoused her little quarrels, and participated in her innocent pleasures, for so many years, and with such an evident preference for each other in the youthful pair, that, on leaving college to enter on the studies of his sacred calling with his father, Francis rightly judged that none other would make his future life as happy, as the mild, the tender, the unassuming Clara. Their passion, if so gentle a feeling deserve the term, received the sanction of their parents, and the two families waited only for the establishment of the young divine, to perfect the union.

The retirement of Sir Edward's family had been uniform^ with the exception of an occasional visit to an aged uncle of his wife's, and who, in return, spent much of his time with them at the Hall, and who had openly declared his intention of making tiie children of Lady Moseley his heirs. The visits of Mr. Benfield were always hailed with joy, and as an event that called for more than ordinary gaiety ; for, although rough in manner, and somewhat infirm from years, the old bachelor, who was rather addicted to the customs in which he had indulged in his youth, and was fond of dwelling on the scenes of former days, was universally beloved where he was intimately known, for an unbounded, though eccentric, philanthropy.

The illness of the mother>-in-law of Mrs. Wilson had called her to Bath the winter preceding the spring when our history commences, and she had been accompanied thither by her nephew and favourite niece. John and Emily, during the month of their residence in that city^ were in the practice of making daily excursions in its environs. It was in one of these littie drives that they were of accidental service to a very young and very beautiful

PBBOAUTIOK. 7

woman, apparently in low health. They had taken her up in their carriage, and conveyed her to a farm-hoofle where she resided, during a faintness which had come over her in a walk ; and her heauty, air, and manner, altogether 80 different &om those around her, had interested them both to a painful degree. They had ventured to call the following day to inquire after her welfare, and this visit led to a slight intercourse, which continued for the fortnight they remained there.

John had given himself some trouble to ascertain who she was, but in vain. They coidd merely learn that her life was blameless, that she saw no one bat themselves, and her dialect raised a suspicion that she was not English. It was to this unknown fair Emily alluded in her playful attempt to atop the heedless rattle of her brother, who was not always restrained from uttering what he thought by a proper regard for the feelings of others.

Chapter II

The morning succeeding the day of the dinner at ihe Hall Mrs. Wilson, with all her nieces and her nephew, availed herself of the fineness of the weather to walk to the rec« tory, where they were aB in the habit of making informal and friendly visits^ They had just got out of the litde

village of B , which lay in their route, when a rather

handsome travelling carriage and four passed them, and took the road which led to the deanery.

" As I live," cried John, " there go our new neighbours the Jarvis's ; yes, yes, that must be the M merchant muffled up in the comer ; I mistook him at first for a pile of band-boxes; then the rosy-cheeked lady> with so many feathers, must be the old kdy — Heaven forgive me, Mrs. Jarvis I mean — ay, and the two others the belles.'*

^^ You are in a hurry to pronounce them belles, John/' said Jane, pettishly : '^ it would be well to see more of them, before you speak so decidedly."

" Oh !'* replied John, '* 1 have seen enou^^ of ilaem,

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8 PBEGAimOK.

and * * he was interrupted by the whirling of a tilbury and tandem, followed by a couple of servants on horseback. All about this vehicle and its masters bore the stamp of decided fashion, and our party had followed it with their eyes for a short distance, when, having reached a fork in the roads, it stopped, and evidently waited the coming up of the pedestrians, as if to make an inquiry. A single glance of the eye was sufficient to apprise the gentleman on the cushion (who held the reins) of the kind of people he had to deal with, and stepping from his carriage, he met them with a graceful bow, and after handsomely apologising for the trouble he was giving, he desired to know which road led to the deanery. " The right," replied John, returning his salutation.

" Ask them, colonel," cried the charioteer, *' whether the old gentleman went right or not."

The colonel, in the manner of a perfect gentleman, but with a look of compassion for his companion's want of tact, made the desired inquiry ; which being satisfactorily answered, he again bowed and was retiring, as one of several pointers who followed the cavalcade sprang upon Jane, and soiled her walking dress with his dirty feet.

'^Come hither. Dido," cried the colonel, hastening to beat the dog back from the young lady ; and again he apologised in the same collected and handsome manner, then turning to one of the servants, he said, '^ Call in the dog, sir," and rejoined his companion. The air of this gentleman was peculiarly pleasant : it would not have been difficult to pronounce him a soldier, had he not been addressed as such by his younger and certainly less polished companion. The colonel was apparently about thirty, and of extremely handsome face and figure, while his driving friend appeared several years younger, and of altogether different materials.

'^I wonder," said Jane, as they turned a comer which hid them from view, " who they are } "

'^ Who they are ?" cried the brother — '^ why the Jarvis's to be sure : didn't you hear them ask the road to the deanery ? "

'* Oh ! the one that drove, he may be a Jarvis, but not

U

PREGAUTIOK. Q

ibe gentleman who spoke to us — surely not^ John ; besides^ he was called Ccdonel, you know."

" Yes, yes," said John^ with one of bis quizzing expressions^ '* Colonel Jarvis^ that must be the alderman : they are commonly colonels of city volmiteers : yes^ that must have been the old gem*mun who spoke to us, and I was right after all about the band-boxes."

'' You forget," said Clara, smiling, *' the polite inquiry concerning the old gem'mun."

*' Ah ! true ; who the deuce can this colonel be then^ for young Jarvis is only a captain, I know : who do you think he is, Jane?"

" How do you think I can tell you, John ; but whoever he is, he owns the tilbury, although he did not drive it ; and he is a gentleman both by birth and manners."

" Why, Jane, if you know so much of him, you should know more ; but it is all guess with you."

" No ; it is not guess — I am certain of what I say."

The aunt and sisters, who had taken little interest in the dialogue, looked at her with some surprise, which John observing, he exclaimed, " Poh : she knows no more than we all know."

'' Indeed I do."

*' Poh, poh, if you know, teU."

" Why, the arms were difierent."

John liuighed as he said, " That is a good reason, sure enough, for the tilbury's being the colonel's property ; but now for his blood ; how did you discover that, sis ; by his gait and actions, as we say of horses ? "

Jane coloured a little, and laughed faintly;* " The arms on the tilbury had six quarterings."

Emily now laughed, and Mrs. Wilson and Clara smiled, while John continued his teasing until they reached the rectory.

While chatting with the doctor and his wife, Francis returned from his morning ride, and told them die Jarvis family had arrived : he had witnessed an unpleasant accident to a gig, in which were Captain Jarvis, and a friend, a Colonel Egerton : it had been awkwardly driven in turning into the deanery gate, and upset : the colonel received some iigury to his ankle^ nothings however^ serious he hoped, but such as to put him under the care of the young ladies probably for a few days. After the exclamations which usually follow such details^ Jane yentured to inquire who Colonel Egerton was.

" I understood at the time, from one of the servants, that he is a nephew of Sir Edgar Egerton, and a lieutenant-colonel on half.pay, or furlough, or some such thing/'

'' How did he bear his misfortune, Mr. Francis?" in- Mrs. Wilson.

Certainly as a gentleman, madam, if not as a Christian,** replied the young clergyman, slily smiling : *' indeed, most men of gallantry would, I believe, rejoice in an accident which drew forth so mudi syrapsthyj as both the Miss Jarvis's manifested."

*' How fortunate, you should all happen to be near," said the tender-hearted Clara.

^' Are the young ladies pretty ?" asked Jane, with something of hesitation in her manner.

" Why, I rather think they are; but I took very little notice of dieir appearance, as the colonel was really in evident pain."

*' This, then," cried the doctor, " affords me an additional excuse for calling on them at an early day, so I '11 e'en go to-morrow."

'' I trust Doctor Ives wants no apologies for performing his duty," said Mrs. Wilson.

'* He is fond of making them, though," said Mrs. Ives, speaking with a benevolent smile, and for the first time in the little conversation.

It was then arranged that the rector should make his official visit, as intended by himself ; and on his report the ladies would act. After remaining at the rectory an hour, they returned to the hall, attended by Francis.

The next day the doctor drove in, and informed them the Jarvis family were happily settled, and the colonel in no danger, excepting from the fasdnations of the two young ladiet», who took such palpable care of him, that he wanted for notliing, and they might drive over whenever they pleased, without fear of intruding imseasonaUy.

PBECAITTmi;. 11

Mr. Jarvis received his guests wiCh the frankness of good feelings^ if not with the polish of high life ; while his wife^^ who seldom thought of the former^ would have been mortally offended with the person who ooold have suggested that she omitted any of the elegancies of tliift latter. Her daughters were rather pretty^ but wanted^ both in appearance and manner^ the inexpressible air of haut ton, which so eminently distinguished the easy but polished deportment of Colonel Egerton^ whom they found reclining on a sofa with his leg on a chair^ amply secured in numerous bandages^ but unable to rise. Notwithstanding the awkwardness of his situation^ he was by far the least discomposed person of the party^ and having pleasantly excused the awkwardness of his situation^ he appeared to think no more of the matter.

The captain^ Mrs. Jarvis remarked^ had gone out with his dogs to try the grounds around them ; *' for he seems to live only with his horses and his gun : young men^ my lady^ now-a-days^ appear to forget that there are any things in the world but themselves ; now I told Harry that your Ladyship and daughters would favour us with a call this morning-^ but no : there he went^ as if Mr. Jarvis was unable to buy us a dinner^ and we should all starve but for his quails and pheasants.*'

*^ Quails and pheasants/' cried John^ in consternation, '^does Captain Jarvis shoot quails and pheasants^ at this time of the year ? **

*' Mrs. Jarvis, sir/' said Colonel Egerton^ with a correcting smile, ^'understands the allegiance due from us gentlemen to the ladies, better than the jules of sporting ; my friend, the captain, has taken his fishing-rod, I bfiiieve."

" It is all one, fish or birds," continued Mrs. Jarvis — *^ he is out of the way when he is wanted ; and I believe we can buy fish as easily as birds : I wish he woidd take pattern after yourself, colonel, in these matters.'^

Colonel Egerton laughed pleasantly, but he did not blush ; and Miss Jarvis observed, ^ith a look of something like admiration thrown on his redining figure, " that when

12 PBEOAUTIOK.

Harry had been in the army as long as his friend, he would know the usages of good society, she hoped, as well."

^* Yes," said her mother, '* the army is certainly the place to polish a young man ;" and turning to Mrs. Wilson, she abruptly added, ^^ Tour husband, I believe, was in the army, ma'am?"

*' I hope," said Emily hastily, " that we shall have the pleasure of seeing you soon. Miss Jarvis, at the Hall," preventing by her prompitude the necessity of a reply from her aunt. The young lady promised to make an early visit, and the subject changed to a general and uninteresting discourse on the neighbourhood, the country, the weather, and other ordinary topics.

'^ Now, John," cried Jane in triumph, as they drove from the door, ^^ you must acknowledge my heraldic witchcraft, as you are pleased to call it, is right for once at least."

^^ Oh ! no doubt, Jenny," said John, who was accustomed to use that appellation to her as a provocation, when he wished what he called an enlivening scene ; but Mrs. Wilson put a damper on his hopes by a remark to his mother, and the habitual respect of both the combatants kept them silent.

Jane Moseley was endowed by nature with an excellent understanding, one at least equal to that of her brother, but she wanted the more essential requisites of a weU governed mind. Masters had been provided by Sir Edward for aU his daughters, and if they were not acquainted with the usual acquirements of young women in dieir rank in life, it was not his fault : his system of economy had not enu braced a denial of opportunity to any of his children, and the baronet was apt to think all was done, wheo they were put where all might be done. Feeling herself and parents entitled to enter into all the gaieties and splendour of some of the richer families in their vicinity, Jane, who had grown up during the temporary eclipse of Sir Edward's fortunes, had sought that self-consolation so common to people in her situation, which was to be found in reviewing the former grandeur of her house, and she had thus contracted a d^ree of family pride. If Clara's weaknesses

PRECAUTION. IS

were less striking than those of Jane, it was because she had less imagination^ and because that in loving Francis Ives she had so long admired a character^ where so little was to be found that could be censured, that she might be said to have contracted a habit of judging correctly^ without being able at all times to give a reason for her conduct, or her opinions.

Chapter III

The day fixed for one of the stated visits of Mr. Benfield had now arrived^ and John, with Emily, who was the old bachelor's favourite niece, went in the baronet's post

chaise to the town of F , a distance of twenty miles,

to meet him, in order to accompany him in the remainder of his journey to the Hall, it being a settled rule with the old man^ that his carriage horses should return to their own stables every night, where he imagined they could alone find that comfort and care, to which their age and services gave them a claim. The day was uncommonly pleasant, and the young people were in high spirits, with the expectation of meeting their respected relative, whose absence had been prolonged a few days by a severe fit of the gout.